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China urges immediate end to military operations regarding Iran conflict

Xinhua) 08:34, April 08, 2026

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The top priority is to bring an immediate end to the military operations and return to dialogue and negotiation, so as to fundamentally resolve the issues and restore peace and stability in the Gulf region, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday regarding the Iran situation.

Weeks into the Iran conflict, the two sides continue to exchange military strikes. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz drew widespread concern. There is a growing call for a ceasefire and safe passage. The United States and Iran have exchanged some tough rhetoric over the past few days. Sources say the two sides might reach a ceasefire deal.

The situation in the Middle East continues to worsen and the military conflict is still escalating, hitting the world economy and energy security and drawing deep concerns from the international community, Mao said at a regular news briefing.

Since the conflict began, China has held an objective, just and balanced position and has been working to help bring about a ceasefire and end to the conflict, she said.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and the Gulf states. The special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue traveled to the region in a mediation effort. Last week, China and Pakistan issued the five-point initiative, which embodies the international consensus for ceasefire and peace.

"The use of force does not bring peace. Political settlement is the right way forward. The root cause of the conflict is the U.S.-Israeli launch of military attacks against Iran in violation of international law," she said.

All parties need to demonstrate sincerity and quickly end this war that should not have happened in the first place, the spokesperson added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
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8 April 2026 19:10 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Recently, an intriguing statement emerged from Armenian official circles: Azerbaijan has expressed a potential interest in importing aluminum foil from Armenia. At first glance, the trade of a household staple like foil might seem triviala minor footnote in the grand ledger of international commerce. However, in the context of the South Caucasus, this development is a profound symbol of a shifting paradigm. It suggests that the long-standing barriers are finally thinning, replaced by the pragmatic language of trade and regional integration.

For three decades, the South Caucasus was defined by the Karabakh conflict. This dispute didn't just stall Azerbaijans progress; it acted as a lead weight on the entire regions potential. We must be candid about the opportunity costs: the war was a systemic failure of regional development. Instead of building bridges, the nations were forced to build trenches.

While regions like the Baltics or Eastern Europe utilized the post-Cold War era to integrate into global markets and skyrocket their GDPs, the South Caucasus remained trapped in a cycle of hostility. Billions of dollarswealth that could have transformed education, healthcare, and technologywere instead funneled into military expenditures and the humanitarian needs of displaced populations. Had the region been at peace, it could have rivaled Poland or the Baltic states in economic dynamism today. The "lost years" are a stark reminder of how conflict cannibalizes the future.

Today, however, the landscape is changing. The conflict is no longer the defining lens through which every interaction is viewed; instead, a "new reality" is taking shape. We are witnessing the slow but steady dismantling of the "Iron Curtain" of the Caucasus.

The signs of normalization are becoming increasingly visible. Azerbaijani aircraft now regularly utilize Armenian airspace, shortening flight paths and symbolizing a basic level of operational trust. Armenia imports fuel from Azerbaijan, and goods from Russia and Kazakhstan heads to Armenia through Azerbaijan. The potential export of Armenian foil to Azerbaijan is the latest piece of this puzzle.

Critically, we must manage expectations. Importing foil will not cause a "catastrophic" or sudden boom in the GDP of either Yerevan or Baku. It isnt a silver bullet for the complexities of macroeconomics. But in the world of diplomacy, it represents something much larger. As the saying goes, this is a small step for the economy, but a giant leap for the establishment of peace.0

Economic peace starts with small, non-threatening commodities. Foil is a neutral, industrial good. By engaging in such transactions, both nations begin to rebuild the "muscle memory" of cooperation. When supply chains become intertwined, the cost of returning to conflict becomes prohibitively expensive. This is the "functionalist" approach to peace: you don't start by solving every political grievance; you start by trading foil, sharing airspace, and connecting power grids.

If Armenia can provide a competitive product that meets Azerbaijani demand, it proves that the border is no longer a wall, but a gateway. It signals to international investors that the South Caucasus is moving away from being a "high-risk zone" and toward becoming a "high-opportunity hub."

The dream of the South Caucasus becoming a version of the Baltic regionprosperous, integrated, and peacefulis no longer a fantasy. The geographic location of these countries makes them a natural bridge between East and West, North and South. With the Middle Corridor gainig global importance, the synchronization of Azerbaijani and Armenian interests is the only way to maximize the region's take of global trade.

The transition from "bullets to business" requires courage from leadership and patience from the public. The prospect of an Azerbaijani kitchen using Armenian-made foil, or an Armenian car running on Azerbaijani-sourced fuel, is the most practical form of reconciliation. It replaces abstract enmity with tangible utility.

The conflict is in the rearview mirror. The road ahead is paved with the potential for shared prosperity. While a roll of aluminum foil might be thin, the bridge it helps build could be strong enough to carry the weight of a lasting, regional peace. It is time to embrace these small steps, for they are the only path toward a grand future.
8 April 2026 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

By Ulviyya Poladova | AzerNEWS

The recent visit of Azerbaijan's president, Ilham Aliyev, to Georgia comes at a moment when geopolitics feels unusually brittle. Global supply chains are under strain, energy routes are increasingly contested, and dependable partnerships are in short supply. For much of the past three decades, the South Caucasus was viewed through the prism of conflict, a region which is defined less by opportunity than by impasse. External actors, despite repeated interventions, often prioritised their own rivalries, leaving local solutions elusive.

That context is now shifting. For the first time in a generation, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia face a credible opportunity to reimagine the region around shared economic and strategic interests. Aliyevs visit signals more than diplomatic routine; it reflects a calculated attempt to anchor a new regional logic  one based on connectivity rather than confrontation.

A prospective peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, now appearing closer than at any point in recent memory, is central to this shift. Projects such as the Zangezur corridor or the TRIPP initiative could redraw the economic map, positioning Azerbaijan as a key transit hub between East and West while offering Armenia a long-denied outlet to global markets. The implications are not merely economic. They point towards a post-conflict order in which infrastructure replaces ideology as the organising principle of regional relations.

Crucially, this transformation does not diminish Georgias role. On the contrary, it reinforces it. The established AzerbaijanGeorgia partnership  long underpinned by energy and transport corridors  could evolve into a broader trilateral framework, integrating Armenia into a system that expands transit capacity and deepens regional interdependence. Such a configuration would not only diversify trade routes but also recalibrate the South Caucasus as a space of cooperation rather than fragmentation.

The timing is significant. With tensions escalating in the Middle East and risks mounting around the Strait of Hormuz, alternative corridors are gaining strategic urgency. Infrastructure such as the BakuTbilisiCeyhan pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor already position the region as a critical artery linking the Caspian to European markets while bypassing traditional chokepoints.

None of this guarantees success. The legacy of conflict remains, and alignment between three historically divided states will require sustained political will. Yet the direction of travel is increasingly clear. As Aliyev put it, the South Caucasus is beginning to take shape as a centre of peace, security and cooperation.

Whether that vision materialises will depend not on rhetoric, but on the ability of regional actors to convert fragile momentum into lasting structure. For now, the region stands at an inflection point, which is no longer defined solely by its past and looks promising to be secure in its future.
8 April 2026 11:02 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

Azerbaijans Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commemorated the 34th anniversary of the Aghdaban massacre, one of the most tragic episodes of violence committed against Azerbaijani civilians during the early years of the conflict with Armenia.

In a statement shared on its official social media accounts, the ministry described the massacre as one of numerous grave and brutal war crimes carried out against Azerbaijanis.

Thirty-four years have passed since the Aghdaban massacre, one of the many severe and ruthless crimes committed against Azerbaijanis by Armenia, the statement read.

According to the ministry, in 1992, the village of Aghdaban in the Kalbajar districtcomprising 130 householdswas completely destroyed by Armenian armed groups. The settlement was razed to the ground, leaving devastation in its wake.

A total of 779 civilians were subjected to severe torture, while 67 people were killed with particular cruelty, the statement noted.

The ministry emphasized that the tragedy remains one of the stark and painful examples of crimes committed against the Azerbaijani people, underscoring its enduring place in the nations historical memory.

Azerbaijan paid tribute to the victims of the massacre with deep sorrow and reverence, honoring their memory.

May God rest the souls of all our martyrs, the statement concluded.
8 April 2026 14:16 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Natavan Club of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union (AWU) has celebrated the 80th birthday of the prominent oil scientist, diplomat, and poet Hajan Hajisoy, a faculty member at the Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University (ASOIU), AzerNEWS reports.

The event featured presentations of Hajan Hajisoy's books "Var il yoxun aras" and "Neftcxarmada qeyri-slis mntiq", co-authored with Professor Rafig Aliyev, and was attended by the poets literary colleagues, scholars, and intellectuals.

The host of the event, Ibrahim Ilyasli, head of AWU's poetry department, noted that while a person may have many awards and titles, a poet's truest representation is their poetry. Reading Hajan Hajisoy's works, he said, is enough to understand the wisdom he imparts.

Deputy Chair of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union Rashad Majid, Professor Rafig Aliyev, ANAS Corresponding and Doctor of Medical Sciences Sudeyf Imamverdiyev, among others, congratulated the jubilarian and conveyed their best wishes.

Speakers highlighted Hajan Hajisoy's human qualities, his significant contributions as a scientist, and his diplomatic career, outlining that he served as ambassador in Georgia during a difficult period and represented Azerbaijan with distinction.

ASOIU faculty members, along with poets Rafael Tagiyev, Elchin Iskandarzade, Shahismayil Shammedoglu, and others, also congratulated Hajan Hajisoy on his 80th birthday.

As Hajan Hajisoy demonstrated wisdom in diplomacy, his poetry reflects equal sensitivity and responsibility. His works reveal a poet who values the word, celebrates national and moral values, and conveys patriotism. His poetry never contains unnecessary words; it gives voice to the struggles of Azerbaijan, including the pain of occupation and the issues faced in the country's independence years.

Hajan Hajisoy's verses express his unwillingness to accept injustice, his sorrow over the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, and his joy at the liberation of Karabakh and the restoration of justice, resulting in uplifting poetic works.

At the end of the event, Hajan Hajisoy expressed gratitude to the organizers and participants and recited some of his new poems.
8 April 2026 10:42 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Inga Ruginene is set to visit Azerbaijan on April 9, according to the Lithuanian Embassy in Baku, AzerNEWS reports.

During the visit, the Lithuanian Prime Minister is expected to hold high-level meetings with the Azerbaijani leadership aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across key sectors.

The official program also includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the Alley of Martyrs, as well as the opening of a photo exhibition at Khazar University.

Cultural events will form part of the visit, including a concert featuring the student choir of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory and students from the Bulbul Music School.

In addition, Ruginene is scheduled to meet with members of the Lithuanian community residing in Azerbaijan.

This visit is an important step in the development of partnership between Lithuania and Azerbaijan, as well as in strengthening people-to-people ties, the embassy noted.
8 April 2026 12:02 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a statement welcoming the ceasefire announced between the United States and Iran, AzerNEWS reports.

In its statement, the ministry expressed support for the agreement and commended diplomatic efforts behind it.

We welcome the ceasefire announced between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the statement said.

The ministry also emphasized the importance of mediation efforts, noting: We highly appreciate the efforts of all parties involved in mediating the ceasefire.

According to the statement, Azerbaijan hopes the development will help ease regional tensions and pave the way for stability.

We hope that this ceasefire will contribute to reducing tensions in the region, as well as establishing lasting peace and stability, the MFA said.

At the same time, the ministry called on both sides to pursue constructive engagement moving forward.

We call on the parties to engage in a productive dialogue aimed at resolving existing issues and building mutual trust, the statement added.

Reaffirming its position, Azerbaijan stressed its readiness to contribute to peace efforts.

Azerbaijan is always ready to support initiatives aimed at strengthening lasting peace, security, and cooperation in the region, the ministry concluded.
8 April 2026 17:02 (UTC+04:00)

Qabil Ashirov Read more

A meeting was held on April 8 at the Media Development Agency (MEDIA) of Azerbaijan with a delegation led by Rustam Ali, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan.

AzerNEWS reports that the discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in the media sector and addressing common challenges in the evolving information landscape.

Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, Ahmad Ismayilov, emphasized that relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan continue to develop successfully on the basis of friendship and partnership. He stressed the importance of expanding cooperation in the media sphere, particularly through the adoption of advanced practices.

Ismayilov highlighted the need to enhance joint efforts in promoting media literacy and combating disinformation, while ensuring the quality and reliability of information in the public domain. He also emphasized the importance of developing flexible and effective mechanisms to respond to modern challenges.

Rustam Ali, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, underlined the importance of organizing exchanges of experience between relevant institutions and media entities. He also pointed to the need for implementing joint projects and strengthening efforts to counter the spread of false and unreliable information.

The sides exchanged views on expanding mutual cooperation, reinforcing information security, and ensuring sustainable development within the media environment.

Alisher Askarovich Suleymenov, Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, noted that in the era of digitalization, coordinated actions and joint initiatives in the media sector are essential for building a more secure and resilient information space. He also emphasized the importance of fostering mutual trust and creating shared communication platforms.
8 April 2026 14:07 (UTC+04:00)

According to the decree, former Deputy Minister of Finance Azer Bayramov, a member of SOCARs Supervisory Board, has been replaced by First Deputy Minister Anar Karimov.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, signed the relevant decree.

The composition of SOCARs Supervisory Board has changed, 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.

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You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper

Thank you!
8 April 2026 17:25 (UTC+04:00)

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of the International Training Center at the National Aviation Academy on April 8.

Rector of the National Aviation Academy, Academician Arif Pashayev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev, and Chairman of the Management Board of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC Samir Rzayev informed the head of state and the First Lady about the activities of the center.

It was reported that the International Training Center was established on the initiative of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC on the territory of the National Aviation Academy. The center is designed for the training of flight crews in emergency situations, as well as for the theoretical and practical training of air traffic control dispatchers.

In the new complex, dispatchers of the Azeraeronavigation Air Traffic Control Department will be trained in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). For this purpose, the Air Navigation Training Center will operate based on the training program of the German Air Navigation Services Academy (DFS), one of the worlds leading air navigation training centers.

The facility is equipped with a TWR tower simulator providing a 360-degree panorama of Heydar Aliyev International Airport, as well as a radar simulator complex for airspace management. These systems allow dispatchers to be trained under conditions close to real operational environments.

The center is also equipped with a modern training simulator complex that enables the improvement of skills for drivers of various special vehicles operating in real airport conditions.

It is planned that approximately 30 air traffic control dispatchers and 3,000 flight crew members will be trained annually at the International Training Center.

In addition, the center has been equipped with a new-generation A320/A321 NEO CEET aircraft simulator by the Turkish company SkyArt, which specializes in this field and is internationally recognized, to ensure the effective execution of safety procedures inside the aircraft cabin in emergency and accident scenarios. The simulator includes Door Trainers for Boeing 787 aircraft and new-generation Real Fire Fighting Trainers (RFFT) equipment that simulates real fire conditions.

The new training infrastructure will make a significant contribution to strengthening personnel training in the aviation sector in the region, enhancing training opportunities in line with international standards, and developing a competitive national workforce in this field.

As a specialized training structure that carries out personnel training in accordance with modern aviation requirements, the center will play an important role in the formation of both theoretical knowledge and practical skills of aviation specialists.

The equipping of the center with modern technologies and the installation of the latest flight simulators will allow specialists to gain experience in an environment close to real flight conditions, which is of exceptional importance for ensuring overall flight safety.
8 April 2026 20:52 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

Jeyhun Bayramov, Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs, held a telephone conversation with Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The officials exchanged views on the current security situation in the region and the ceasefire that had been recently achieved.

FM Bayramov welcomed the ceasefire, stressing its role in reducing tensions, supporting negotiations, and ensuring stability.

The sides acknowledged the role of the mediator countries, notably friendly and brotherly Pakistan, in facilitating the ceasefire.

Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the importance of adhering to the ceasefire, highlighting the need to resolve the situation through diplomatic means. Bayramov expressed hope that the talks in Islamabad would be result-oriented and productive.

Minister Bayramov expressed Azerbaijans readiness to back initiatives that promote lasting peace, security, and cooperation in the region.

The ministers also addressed other matters of mutual concern.
8 April 2026 21:59 (UTC+04:00)

AzerNEWS Staff Read more

The mayor of Iztapalapa, Aleida Alavez Ruiz, said she held talks with Seymur Fataliyev focused on urban sustainability and expanding bilateral cooperation between Mexico and Azerbaijan.

According to AzerNEWS, in a post on X, Alavez Ruiz noted that the Azerbaijani diplomat showed particular interest in the rainwater harvesting system being developed by her administration, a project aimed at improving water resilience in one of Mexico Citys most densely populated districts. The two sides also explored opportunities for cultural and educational exchanges.

The meeting reflects a broader effort to deepen ties between Mexico and Azerbaijan, which have steadily expanded cooperation in recent years.

Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1992, with engagement growing across political, economic and cultural spheres. While trade volumes remain modest, both sides have shown interest in diversifying cooperation, particularly in energy, infrastructure and education.

Azerbaijans role as an energy exporter and Mexicos experience in water management and urban governance present complementary areas for collaboration. Cultural diplomacy has also played a role, with exchanges in academia and the arts helping to strengthen mutual understanding.

The latest discussions signal a potential shift toward more practical, project-based cooperation at the municipal level, as both countries look to broaden the scope of their partnership beyond traditional diplomatic channels.
8 April 2026 06:10 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would suspend a planned bombing campaign against Iran for two weeks, citing diplomatic progress and direct appeals from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The decision came just hours before a self-imposed deadline for military action, marking a sharp shift from earlier threats of large-scale strikes. In his TruthSocial, Trump said the pause followed conversations with Pakistani leadership, who urged restraint to allow negotiations to proceed.

The temporary halt is conditional on Iran agreeing to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments. Trump described the move as part of a two-sided ceasefire, adding that Washington had already achieved many of its military objectives and was now very far along in reaching a broader agreement with Tehran.

The shift reflects growing momentum for diplomacy, with Pakistan emerging as a key intermediary alongside other regional actors. Officials said a multi-point proposal from Iran could serve as the basis for further negotiations, with talks expected to continue in the coming days.

Markets reacted swiftly to the announcement, with oil prices falling sharply and global equities rising on expectations of de-escalation in the conflict.

The decision, however, has raised questions about Washingtons strategy. Trump had previously signalled imminent strikes, and the last-minute reversal underscores the volatility of the situation.

Whether the pause reflects a genuine diplomatic opening or a tactical delay remains unclear. It is possible that Trump is recalibrating under international pressure or that the two-week window is intended to prepare for a more decisive move should talks fail.
8 April 2026 06:36 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi has expressed gratitude to Shehbaz Sharif for Islamabads diplomatic efforts in urging the United States to halt planned military strikes against Iran.

In his post on X, Araqchi welcomed Pakistans intervention, describing it as a responsible and constructive step toward reducing tensions in an already volatile region. He noted that calls for restraint from regional actors played an important role in creating space for diplomacy at a critical moment.

Pakistan had reportedly appealed to Donald Trump to delay military action, emphasising the risks of escalation and the broader consequences for regional stability. The move came as Washington weighed potential strikes amid heightened tensions with Tehran.

The exchange highlights Pakistans growing role as a mediator in regional crises, as well as the increasing reliance on third-party diplomacy to prevent a wider confrontation in the Middle East.
8 April 2026 13:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Ulviya Poladova

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States will help with the buildup of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, AzerNEWS reports.

"There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump emphasized the economic opportunities that could arise from this cooperation. He indicated that the U.S. would provide various supplies to support reconstruction efforts in Iran, suggesting a shift towards collaboration rather than confrontation.

"Iran wants it to happen; theyve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!" he stated, highlighting what he perceives as a collective readiness for improvement in regional relations.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world's most important energy chokepoints, with approximately one-quarter of global maritime oil trade passing through it. Any disruptions in its operation have an immediate impact on global markets and energy prices.

Amid the current crisis stemming from tensions surrounding Iran, oil transportation through the Strait has become significantly complicated.

However, experts emphasize that even with maximum capacity, the existing infrastructure can only replace a limited portion of the shipments. Analysts estimate that alternative routes cover less than one-third of the usual volume transported through the Strait of Hormuz.

A temporary halt in fighting and the reopening of Hormuz would allow Middle Eastern exporters to ship significant volumes of oil that have been trapped inside the Gulf since hostilities began.
8 April 2026 12:57 (UTC+04:00)

By Ulviya Poladova

The CIA reportedly utilized a secret device based on quantum technology to locate the second pilot of an F-15 fighter jet that was shot down over Iran. This was reported by the New York Post newspaper, citing sources.

The device, dubbed "Ghost Murmur," employs long-range quantum magnetometry to detect the electromagnetic signature of a person's heartbeat. It then matches this data with artificial intelligence software, allowing the unique heartbeat signature to be isolated against background noise, the newspaper reports.

"Under the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you," stated a source familiar with the technology.



The implications of this advanced technology are significant, as it represents a leap forward in surveillance and tracking capabilities. By leveraging quantum mechanics, the CIA has developed a method that could potentially enhance operations in various military and intelligence contexts.

This source and another with knowledge of Lockheed Martin intelligence collection tools told The Post that "Ghost Murmur'" was developed by Skunk Works, the aerospace giants secretive advanced development division. The company declined to comment.

The technology has been successfully tested on Black Hawk helicopters for future potential use on F-35 fighter jets, the second source said. Lockheed Martin has not officially commented on this technology.

As a result, the United States sent special forces to the country to rescue the pilots. They were tracked down and evacuated from the territory of Iran. The New York Times reported that the second pilot was taken to Kuwait.

Photo: AP
8 April 2026 15:21 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Several blasts were reported at the Lavan oil refinery on Iran's island of the same name, the Mehr News Agency reported on Wednesday, AzerNEWS reports.

According to the report, the explosions occurred in the morning, but it is unclear what the cause was.

The blasts were reported hours after Iran reached a two-week ceasefire agreement with the United States.

The United States and Iran have announced a two-week suspension of all attacks. In a significant development, Tehran has agreed to ensure the safe passage of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has declared victory but cautioned that the upcoming talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, scheduled for Friday, do not guarantee the end of the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for the US's decision; however, he indicated that Lebanon will not be included in the two-week ceasefire.
8 April 2026 15:46 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

United States President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran already agreed to "many" of the 15 points from his country's peace proposal, AzerNEWS reports.

"There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear 'Dust.' It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!).

Nothing has been touched from the date of attack. We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The US president also said that Washington will "work closely" with Tehran since it determined that Iran has undergone "what will be a very productive Regime Change." He also previously claimed that Iran's 10-point peace plan was a "workable basis on which to negotiate," which is why a two-week ceasefire deal was reached.
8 April 2026 17:51 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said on Wednesday that Iran has "tested its nuclear weapons," adding that "it is called the Strait of Hormuz", AzerNEWS reports.

"It's not clear how the truce between Washington and Tehran will play out," Medvedev wrote on X, saying that the strait's "potential is inexhaustible."

Earlier, United States President Donald Trump announced that he had suspended "the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," as part of a truce deal tied to reopening the waterway. The president also said Iran agreed to "many" points of a US proposal, including "no enrichment of Uranium."
8 April 2026 18:43 (UTC+04:00)

By Ulviya Poladova

Approximately 15 countries are preparing a mission to ensure the security of maritime navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, which is set to be coordinated with Iran. This announcement was made by French President Emmanuel Macron during a televised address on X, AzerNEWS reports.



"About 15 countries are already involved and participating in planning a strictly defensive mission under France's leadership, in coordination with Iran, when conditions allow for the restoration of shipping," Macron stated.

He welcomed Iran's willingness to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and noted the recent agreement between Washington and Tehran regarding a ceasefire.



Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi indicated that if attacks on the country ceased, Iran's armed forces would also halt their defensive actions and would reopen the Strait of Hormuz within two weeks.

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow maritime passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, holding significant strategic importance as approximately 20% of global oil supplies and around 25% of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports pass through it. Essentially, it serves as an energy artery for countries in Asia, Europe, and even the United States.



The strait separates Iran from Oman, and in some areas, the width of the shipping channel is only two miles on each side. Given its critical role in global energy supply chains, ensuring the safety and security of this vital waterway is paramount for international trade and economic stability.

Photo: Gallo Images via Getty Images
8 April 2026 23:00 (UTC+04:00)

by Alimat Aliyeva

The flight of four astronauts to the far side of the Moon offered the world a rare glimpse of America from a remarkable perspective, providing a brief respite from global despair, frustrations with U.S. leadership, contentious tariff policies, and the weakening of international institutions, AzerNEWS reports.

Thanks to a carefully curated stream of high-quality photographs, GoPro videos, and other materials distributed by NASA, three American astronauts and one Canadian astronaut are documenting the 10-day NASA Artemis II mission in real timea journey filled with historic milestones.

This multibillion-dollar series of missions under the Artemis program aims to return astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028, ahead of China, and to establish a long-term American presence on the Moon. Over the next decade, NASA hopes to build a lunar base that could serve as a springboard for future missions to Mars.

From cruise ships in the Bahamas to classrooms across Canada, people gathered to witness the historic launch. In the United Kingdom, children discussed the mission in schools, and the event dominated Google search trends over the past week, with videos capturing the mission reaching millions of views.

Astronaut Victor Glover captured a rare moment of global unity when, in a live address from space, he said: "You look great. And from here, you also look like something unified; Homo sapiens is all of us. It doesn't matter where you come from or what you look likewe're all one people." This heartfelt message resonated worldwide, reminding humanity that, even amid conflicts on Earth, the view from space can inspire hope and a sense of shared destiny.

Interestingly, NASA is also experimenting with live-streamed VR content from the spacecraft, allowing viewers to experience the Moon mission as if they were floating alongside the astronautsblurring the line between space exploration and immersive storytelling.
8 April 2026 20:09 (UTC+04:00)

by Alimat Aliyeva

Beijing has accused Taiwans authorities of attempting to economically distance the island from mainland China in favor of closer ties with the United States, AzerNEWS reports.

According to reports, Zhu Fenglian, an official representative of the Taiwan Affairs Office under the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China, made this statement during a briefing.

She stated that the Taiwanese administration, driven by its own political interests, is taking deliberate steps to weaken economic ties with mainland China. According to Beijing, such actions undermine industrial cooperation and negatively affect the well-being of the islands population.

Zhu Fenglian also commented on the decline in Taiwanese investment in the Chinese economy, as well as Taipeis efforts to expand trade and economic cooperation with the United States under the pretext of strengthening global supply chain security.

According to the Chinese official, statements by Taiwans authorities about deepening cooperation with Washington in the name of stability reflect a broader intention to pursue independence at any cost. She emphasized that, from Beijings perspective, such a course lacks public support and is ultimately unsustainable.

Taiwan has operated under its own administration since 1949, when Kuomintang forces led by Chiang Kai-shek relocated there after their defeat in the Chinese Civil War. Beijing, along with many other countries, considers the island an integral part of China.

Interestingly, despite ongoing political tensions, economic ties between mainland China and Taiwan remain significant. In recent years, China has continued to be one of Taiwans largest trading partners, highlighting the complex and deeply interconnected nature of their relationship.
8 April 2026 18:11 (UTC+04:00)

Akbar Novruz Read more

Tehran is currently assessing carrying out a military operation against Israel in light of its violations of the ceasefire agreement following massive strikes on Lebanon earlier today, a military source told Fars News Agency on Wednesday, AzerNEWS reports.

The source emphasized that the latest actions by Israel may indicate that Washington is unable to control Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or that the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) has given its approval for strikes on Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it shot down an Israeli Air Force HERMES-900 drone in Iranian airspace, warning that any intrusion of hostile aircraft is considered a violation of the ceasefire, and promised to respond.

The latest turn of events already puts the tenuous ceasefire agreement in jeopardy, less than a day after it appeared to enter into force.
Queen Garris and Free Speech

BY: HOOD RICHARDSON

The entire issue of the corruption within the Beaufort County Republican Party revolves around free speech. In order for the RINO faction that is composed of the secret Victory Committee to support their liberal and disloyal candidates, they must shut down the right of anyone to expose their political sins.

Free speech is guaranteed to all legitimate citizens of the United States by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Quoting the First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Notice this is plain limited language without any legalese.

Within the Republican Party and all other United States political parties there is no probation against speech. Every registered Republican has the right to ask questions and expect answers from the leadership. How can any political party in the United States have rules that are contrary to the US Constitution and expect to survive?

The Beaufort County Republican Party leadership it trying to tell me not to speak and what to say when I do speak. The people who are doing this have never been elected to a public office. Their election was by less than 50 people. Queen Garris and her followers are trying to use the good name of the Republican Party to install RINOs into public office. An example of who they support is Fake Frankie Waters and RINO Randy Walker. Both have formed an alliance with the two Democrats on the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners and refuse to lower taxes while millions of dollars pile up in the County bank account. Frankie Waters sits on the Beaufort County Executive Committee and has made donations to Democrats. The Walkers (Carolyn and Randy) ask Democrats to change registration so they can support them in the Republican primary elections.

It is Fake Frankie Waters and RINO Randy Walker who have voted not to reduce taxes for at least the last three years.

Back to free speech. During the Republican Convention I was told by the appointed Chairman of the Convention the word secret could not be used by me, and I would be thrown out of the convention if I used it. I was complaining about the meeting the Executive Committee held at King Keith Kidwells house. It was a secret meeting because it was held at a private home for the sole purpose of denying me access and also the public. According to Queen Garris only those who are voting members would be allowed to attend. There could be no attendance by other registered Republicans. If that is not secret, tell me what is.

A total of six resolutions were presented for the consideration of the March 2026 convention. The Mighty Michelle Nix ruled all of them out of order except one presented by Buzz Cayton. His motion was for the Secretary of the Party to present at the April 9 Executive Committee meeting a list of the active or voting members of the Executive Committee along with their addresses and phone numbers. Queen Garris has not presented such a list during the past year. This is public information according to the party rules. Queen Garris has kept this secret for a lot of reasons. There are attendance rules. Many people who support Queen Garris never show up but remain voting members while conservative Republicans must tow the line on attendance. Also, Queen Garris does not want members to talk among themselves because someone may figure out who is on the secret Victory Committee. Keeping committee members isolated from each other allows the secret Victory Committee to flourish.

I had a motion to require Queen Garris to identify the Victory Committee. The Mighty Michelle Nix declared my motion moot because Queen Garris says the Victory Committee was identified at the secret meeting at King Keith Kidwells house. The Mighty Michelle Nix said my motion was moot because the names of the Victory Committee would be in the minutes of the secret meeting at King Kidwells house.

The Mighty Michelle Nix declared that four other resolutions could not come before the convention because she alone had determined them to be in conflict with the State rules. This is another violation of free speech rights. All resolutions properly presented to the convention and in compliance with the rules of the convention must be heard by the convention. Only the person submitting the resolution can withdraw it. Sometimes they do withdraw for various reasons. No other single person has the authority to make this declaration.

There was a resolution to require the rules of the 2027 Republican County Convention to be presented for the approval of the Executive Committee 30 days before the convention. Presently, Queen Garris sends out the rules only a few days before the convention. This suppresses participation in the convention and puts Queen Garris in control. The Mighty Michelle Nix is simply wrong, just like she totally misinformed the convention about having to attend the precinct meeting in order to attend the convention.

Another resolution required the Executive Committee to approve in advance the dates of Executive Committee meetings. The Mighty Michelle Nix declared this to violate the State Rules. Another untruth.

Another resolution required that whenever possible the Executive Committee meeting not be scheduled for the third Thursday of the Month. This is the regular meeting date of the Conservative Club. Queen Garris schedules meetings on the same date as the Conservative Club. This is backstabbing. The Mighty Michelle Nix lied again.

Another resolution would require Queen Garris to present the names of the Chairman of the 2027 Republican County Convention and the Parliamentarian to the Executive Committee a minimum of 30 days before the convention. Until now we have had a very good, appointed chairman of the convention. The Mighty Michelle Nix was the parliamentarian of the 2025 convention. She did a lousy job because she tried to help defeat the motion about how we elect members of the Executive Committee. My opinion is she is very unfair and unqualified to either be the parliamentarian or the chairman of the convention. I fear she will return in one of these positions at the 2027 convention. This resolution does not conflict with the state plan because Queen Garris (the county chairman) serves with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee. That means with our approval. Queen Garris has never asked for the approval by the Executive Committee of anything she has done. She does as she pleases. The Mighty Michelle Nix is wrong again.

Beaufort County will be well served if the Mighty Michelle Nix never crosses the county line again.

There is a meeting of the Beaufort County Executive Committee on Thursday April 9 at 6:00 PM at the Ag Building at the airport. This meeting is open to every registered Republican in Beaufort County.
Where do you stand on the Transgender Issue now that the issue has gotten to the overt point of the open celebration of this lifestyle choice, dictated by certain direct and explicit actions.

87.01% I do not approve of behavior that has within its expressed tenants policies that harm children.11.69% I do support the Trans Community in all its many facets because diversity is at a premium in today's society.1.3% What is a "Children's Drag Queen Story Hour?"
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy with light rain early...then becoming mostly clear overnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Cloudy with light rain early...then becoming mostly clear overnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
April 6, 2026: Last February Ukrainians realized that the four years of war with Russia was equal to the four years Russia, which Ukraine was then a part of, fought the Germans. For most of the war Ukraine was under German occupation. Because of that, after 1945 the Russians correctly suspected many Ukrainians of collaborating with the Germans and thousands of Ukrainians were hauled off to distant prison camps from which many did not return. With the end of the Cold War and the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine became an independent nation. Twenty three years later Ukraine was once again attacked by the Russians, who seized Crimea and portions of provinces in eastern Ukraine. In 2022 the situation deteriorated as Russia invaded Ukraine and no one knows how or when this war will end. Through it all, Ukrainian civilians felt trapped by constant threats and decreasing living standards. In 2025 Russia began attacking infrastructure, including power plants. That meant no heat or running water for civilians, who felt they were prisoners of an endless war that could and did always find a way to get worse.

It wasnt always this way. The Ukraine War has seen the frequent involvement of civilians and civilian groups supporting the war effort. This was a factor from the beginning when civilians used their cell phones to capture pictures, with locations, of Russian military activity, especially air attacks using drones. The Ukrainian government quickly created an organization to receive all these civilian reports and provide civil or military authorities with useful information on a timely basis.

Ukraine was also welcoming when it came to weapons or other military related items developed by individuals or groups of civilians. This was quite different from the situation in Russia, where the government expects civilians to take orders, not make suggestions.

In contrast Ukrainian civilians, most of whom were born or came of age after the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine became an independent country, turned to the west for inspiration on how to live, govern and run the economy. When the Russians invaded in 2022, many officers and soldiers were surprised that Ukrainians were no longer culturally related to Russia but had become more like western Europeans.

An example of this was seen in 2023 when Ukraine announced that it was going to spend over half a billion dollars on drones. What was not revealed was the extent of efforts to add more capabilities to commercial drones as well, and the growing number being manufactured by Ukrainian companies. These developers and manufacturers are often small groups of civilian hobbyists that proved capable of creating new features for drones, both commercial and hobbyist-produced models. The Russian invasion spurred a lot of innovation, mainly among Ukrainian developers. Among the items available to commercial customers were a lot of miniature digital video cameras as well as lighter, miniaturized computer components that could be assembled and programmed by users to perform essential tasks, like using AI apps and data from onboard video cameras enemy forces, even if they are camouflaged or in underground bunkers. Constant combat use of these systems enables developers to address shortcomings and continually improves the hardware and software carried on these hunter killer drones. Earlier in the war two drones were needed for this but now all that tech and weapons can be carried and used by one drone.

Wartime developers are able to improve their tech and hardware more rapidly because there is continuous feedback from users. Ukraine had an edge here because many of these developers were hobbyists who knew little about peacetime development, its bureaucracy and counter-productive over-supervision. Ukrainian developers were often creating these new drone techs for friends or family members who were now in the military and eager for whatever help they could get. The Ukrainian military saw this entrepreneurial spirit as an advantage, not some form of insubordination or recklessness. Russians consider the entrepreneurial activities as unauthorized innovations. Despite that, some Russian innovations appeared, but the Russian innovations take longer to arrive and implement.

Most Russian commanders and civilian officials are less willing than their Ukrainian counterparts to encourage individual initiatives. Another problem was that economic sanctions made it more difficult for Russians to obtain the commercial tech that Ukrainians used.

This free access to Western and Chinese components meant Ukraine could build very capable and lethal drones that were designed to carry out one or a small number of missions. That is why Ukraine and Russia are each losing thousands of drones a month. Cheap, useful and expendable is now the rule with most battlefield drones.

Russia is at a disadvantage when it comes to its drone losses because Ukrainian civilians are quick to report to their military any useful information they witness about Russian drones, and military practices in general. Russia tried to shut down Ukrainian access to communications with the Ukrainian military. Initially this was handled by cellphone, but the Russians gradually replaced Ukrainian cell towers with Russian ones wherever they could. Ukrainian civilians found other ways to communicate with the Ukrainian military. One of these alternatives was the widespread use of SpaceX Starlink internet terminals that turned a Ukrainian cellphone, desktop computer or tablet into a communications device that could get past Russian jamming and efforts to eliminate the ability of civilians to communicate with the Ukrainian military or government. Civilians continued to take cellphone photos or videos of Russian activities and transmit this information back to the Ukrainian military. This provided lots of useful target information on Russian forces and facilities.

Many civilian photos and videos showed up on social media, which the Ukrainian military monitors for useful information. Throughout history civilians have often been useful informants for the military. With the appearance of cellphones, the internet and Starlink, civilian contributions have become more numerous, accurate and useful.
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BOSTON  Nine days after being rushed to Boston with a rare postpartum heart condition, Dalton mother Kenzie Yetto received a heart transplant that saved her life.

Kenzie's husband, Jon, said he is grateful for the outpouring of support his wife has received and the donor family whose decision made his wifes transplant possible.

We dont know who it was, but we want to thank [their family] for having their significant other be a donor, Jon Yetto said.

Kenzie, who gave birth to her second child Jan. 22, was recently diagnosed with spontaneous coronary artery dissection, a rare and serious condition that can occur after childbirth. She has been hospitalized in Boston since March 25 when she began experiencing symptoms of what she thought was a heart attack. She was later diagnosed with SCAD.

As she begins her recovery, her family and Berkshire County community members have rallied with overwhelming support, raising funds and helping care for her children.

Jon said the support has been unbelievable and that he never wouldve thought that our community would step up so much. Friends and family have helped care for their two children, a 10-year-old daughter and a 10-week-old son, who remain in the Berkshires while Kenzie recovers.

Kenzie's best friend, Margaret Cowan, and Ronnie Bailey started a GoFundMe for the Yetto family with a goal of raising $35,000 to help with transplant bills, travel and child care needs. As of Tuesday afternoon, $30,739 had been raised.

The Dalton-Hinsdale Little League, for which Kenzie and Jon have been volunteers, joined the chorus of social media shares to drum up support. The league posted on Facebook that the Yettos have been "vital members of the DHLL community, generously volunteering countless hours over the years."

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is an emergency condition that occurs when a tear forms in the wall of a heart artery, according to the Mayo Clinic. SCAD occurs when a tear forms in a heart artery and can cause chest pain, shortness of breath, and extreme fatigue. Childbirth is a known risk factor, particularly in the first few weeks after delivery, due to hormonal changes and stress on blood vessels.

In the days that followed Kenzie's diagnosis, she underwent two surgeries to install an Impella pump to restore blood flow to her left ventricle. She was airlifted to Boston for specialized care and after evaluation, the doctors determined that she needed a heart transplant to survive.

She received the transplant nine days later. The hospital said it was one of the quicker turnarounds they had seen, Jon said, adding that Kenzie is now up and walking.

Cowan has visited Kenzie twice in Boston and said its incredible to see her strength through all of it. Cowan said organ donation touches countless lives and urged those who are able to consider becoming donors.

Without that, I would have lost her, Cowan said.

Kenzie is a dental assistant at Pittsfield Dental Center with Dr. Natalya Yantovsky, and Jon is a youth program manager at the Lenox Community Center. The Yettos have been together since 2018 and got married in 2022.

Cowan said that the Yettos have been very involved in the Dalton community. Dalton is a very small town, as everyone knows, and when one of them hurts, everyone hurts, Cowan said.

The Yettos are hoping to return home sometime in May, Jon said.

Shes doing well, and shes pushing herself hard, he said. "[The hospital] is very happy with the progress shes made over the last few days.
PITTSFIELD  The city schools ambitious middle school restructuring plan has hit a snag.

A teachers union vote on a schedule change for middle school teachers failed by nine votes on Monday, raising questions about whether plans for a pair of city-wide schools will move forward as expected.

In a joint statement issued late Tuesday afternoon, district and union leaders said they remain committed to moving ahead with the plan and are still working, despite a tight timeframe, to approve those changes in time for the 2026-27 school year.

"It is important to clarify that this vote was not a vote on whether the middle school restructuring itself should occur. Rather, the vote focused specifically on a contract language change connected to instructional time in the middle school buildings," the statement says.

The statement does not offer a firm guarantee that the restructuring  which would send all fifth and sixth graders to Herberg Middle School and all seventh and eighth graders to Reid Middle School next fall  will take place as expected. Rather, it states a "long-term commitment" from both the schools and their employee labor unions to the concept.

Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips, in a text message, said we are continuing the negotiations process with the goal of reaching an agreement prior to this years budget deadline.

In a brief interview on Tuesday, United Educators of Pittsfield President Jeanne Lemmond said another vote could happen before the districts April 29 deadline for the fiscal 2027 budget.

We are trying to make it happen, she said.

Lemmond did not offer further details on the process, saying she first needed to meet with UEPs executive committee.

SCHEDULE IS STICKING POINT

School Committee agendas for this school year show that executive sessions to discuss negotiations with UEP have been held at every meeting since Jan. 28.

Only 203 of the union's roughly 520 members  about 39 percent  voted Monday on the proposed altered middle school work hours.

School officials say the middle schools start and end time must change to accommodate transportation for a pair of citywide middle schools. Because hours are a workplace condition, they must be addressed by collective bargaining.

The district currently operates two tiers of bus service, twice a day: one for high school and middle school students, and another for elementary schools. But the districts transportation team says a third tier of bus service must be added for the middle school plan to succeed.

Proposed start times Here are current and proposed start times for the Pittsfield Public Schools proposed to accommodate transportation for city-wide middle schools: HIGH SCHOOLS Staff report: 7:05 a.m. (now 7:15 a.m.) Opening bell: 7:20 a.m. (now 7:35 a.m.) Closing bell: 2:00 p.m. (now 2:30 p.m.) End of workday: 2:29 p.m. (now 2:39 p.m.) MIDDLE SCHOOLS Staff report: 7:30 a.m. (now 7:20 a.m.) Opening bell: 8:05 a.m. (now 7:45 a.m.) Closing bell: 2:45 p.m. (now 2:38 p.m.) End of workday: 2:55 p.m. (now 2:45 p.m.) ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Staff report: 8:45 a.m. (now 8:40 a.m.) Opening bell: 9:00 a.m. (now 8:55 a.m.) Closing bell: 3:30 p.m. (now 3:25 p.m.) End of workday: 3:40 p.m. (now 3:35 a.m.)

While working on the middle school project, the district is also handling the fiscal 2027 budget, which required $4.3 million in spending cuts. In addition, it is managing the potential closure of Morningside Community School and plans to reallocate those students and teachers across four other elementary schools.

There is also a school building project that would build a new elementary school on the Crosby campus, consolidating Crosby, Conte and potentially Stearns. This project, for which a feasibility study was recently approved, assumes the city's primary schools are teaching grades K-4. The Massachusetts School Building Authority, which is underwriting much of the cost, based its support on enrollment projections for those grades.

What happens if fifth graders remain at elementary schools instead of moving to Herberg next year?

Phillips said that after the budget process wraps up and next years decisions are finalized, she will need to update the state on any changes or potential impacts to the agreement to know what the implications would be.

CAN IT ALL BE DONE IN TIME?

The middle school plan, which started under former Superintendent Joseph Curtis, was created by a committee of educators, parents and administrators to improve the middle school experience.

For months, School Committee members, most notably Mayor Peter Marchetti, have raised concerns about the school districts ability to complete the numerous required tasks to make the middle school plan a reality. In December, when the previous School Committee voted to proceed in 2026-27, Marchetti suggested a go-no-go deadline be moved forward to February or March, to give the district more time to prove its readiness. The go-ahead passed on a 6-1 vote, with Marchetti opposed to the timeline.

While Marchetti supports the plan, "I'm still very concerned what happens if we don't have all our I's dotted and T's crossed," he said in December.

Committee members who supported moving the project forward said putting it on hold could lead to its being shelved, delaying sorely needed improvements. Noting that much of the citys school choice exodus takes place around the middle school years, they warned that another year of the status quo was not acceptable.

Meanwhile, open houses for incoming students have been held at both Herberg and at Reid. Scheduling consultants have been retained to assure that future interventions for students falling behind become more timely. Teaching licenses have been evaluated to understand where staffing needs lie. Budgets have been proposed allocating funds to Reid and Herberg, adding staff and funds for transition needs and professional development.

In the statement, Phillips acknowledged the larger school community's desire for more information.

"Throughout this process, we remain committed to supporting classroom teachers  the most critical factor in student success and collaborating closely with our union partners to implement the initiative thoughtfully and effectively," she said. "We recognize that staff and families are eager for a timeline and want to assure everyone that we are taking every step to move as efficiently as possible.
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.
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.
SHEFFIELD  Frustration over the Southern Berkshire Regional School Districts budget crisis is escalating, with the Alford Select Board accusing former leadership of misleading towns and calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

In a letter addressed to committee leaders and Superintendent Brian Ricca, the board expressed extreme dissatisfaction with the current situation, describing the fiscal 2027 budget information as confusing and incomplete and warning that delays to the school budget are disrupting the towns own budget process.

The Alford Select Board is the first official body among the districts five member towns to put its concerns in writing, though officials elsewhere have voiced similar frustrations.

The letter sharply criticizes last years budget process, saying towns approved a faulty budget after the committee "rubber-stamped" it, despite repeated concerns about missing details. It adds that residents had requested a detailed line-item budget but were reassured by the former Superintendent Beth Regulbuto that the numbers were complete.

All this because top District leadership had not done their jobs, the letter said. The then Superintendent did not construct a complete, clear, accurate budget and misled the towns when asked for clarity. The School Committee leadership (Chair and Vice-Chair) did not hold her accountable nor update and consult with their fellow Committee members.

The criticism comes as current superintendent Ricca and temporary business managers Open Architects work to reconstruct the districts finances amid a significant loss of state funding and unresolved discrepancies from the previous year.

The situation is further complicated by the districts decision to bring Regalbuto back as a paid budget and transition consultant months after her departure in August 2025. While the agreement allows her to earn $824.70 per day for up to 30 days, it does not detail her responsibilities, making it unclear what work she has performed in the role.

The letter also calls out former Chair Arthur Batacchi, of Sheffield, and former Vice Chair Kimberly Alcantara, of Monterey, who stepped down from their leadership roles March 5 following a complaint about their behavior during a finance subcommittee meeting. Both verbally resigned during an executive session, but did not submit formal resignation letters and returned the following week as School Committee members.

At the very least, the former Chair and Vice-Chair should be recalled, the letter said. They failed their fellow committee members, the towns, the staff (and worse) the students, their parents and the taxpayers. They should not retain the job they were elected (and trusted) to do  but didnt.

Despite the criticism, the letter expresses support for current district leadership, including School Committee Chair Julie Hannum, Vice Chair Amy Bainbridge-Jordan and Ricca, saying the town hopes school officials can deliver a clear, reasonable document in a timely manner.

We also hope that a revised budget will not too negatively impact the quality of education in our district, the letter said. However, we lack confidence that this will be the case.

Officials from other towns have expressed a similar mix of concern and cautious optimism.

During the March 12 budget hearing, Monterey Select Board member Frank Abbott said his main concern was that officials had identified problems last year and asked for a different process.

"There is literally no communication," he said. "You have to go fish for it. You've got to go find it."

Egremont Select Board Chair Lucinda Vermeulen called the situation chaotic, but said the restructuring of leadership is a step in the right direction, and credited Ricca with improving transparency.

The delay of the budget and what appears to be a considerable increase will add pressure on the towns involved, Vermeulen said. Nonetheless, to cover past mistakes, we will look to the future. Trust but verify.

Three weeks after the initial budget hearing  where teachers, town officials and residents raised concerns about financial mismanagement and again pushed for a detailed, line-item budget  the district has yet to produce a final spending plan.

The committee has agreed to cap the overall assessment increase at 6 percent, with administrators now working backward to build a budget that meets that limit. A Wednesday update projects a total budget of about $20.6 million, though officials are still working to close a significant gap through potential new revenue and cuts.

Sheffield Select Board Chair Lee Buttala said even that level of increase may be difficult for towns to accept.

I don't see how we're going to accept a 6 percent increase, and I know every other town is in agreement, Buttala said during a recent meeting. And I don't know how you prepare to move forward, and we're concerned about the process.

At the same meeting, Monterey Town Administrator Roger MacDonald asked for clarification on the timelines and details on what potential cuts could mean for students and staff, as that is a great concern for many.

Ricca said the assessment figures provided to towns for their warrants will not increase, though they could decrease depending on how much of the budget gap can be closed before any reductions to staffing are considered.

The New Marlborough Select Board declined to comment for this story, citing that members had not discussed the letter. The complaint that prompted the leadership shakeup, however, was filed by Tara White, the boards co-chair, who said she was acting in a personal capacity and described Batacchi and Alcantaras behavior as hostile and undermining to the superintendent during budget discussions.

Ricca will hold a weekly update meeting at 11 a.m. today, where he is expected to outline potential cuts that will require School Committee approval. The Finance Committee will also meet at 5 p.m. to discuss budget updates and initial parameters for an audit.
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Letter: What I saw as a safety marshal at Pittsfield 'No Kings' rally


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.
April 9, 2026: Russian leader Vladimir Putin expected a quick victory over Ukraine in 2022. When that did not happen, NATO countries rushed to support Ukraine and supplied over $200 billion in weapons and equipment. Earlier European appeasement led Putin to expect minimal support for Ukraine. By 2026 the Putin strategy of waiting for Ukraine was revealed to be inadequate and misleading.

By early 2026 it was obvious that Russia had neither a strategy for winning nor a plan for ending its participation in the war. The flaw in Putins was that he expected to start a war and then see how it turns out.

Putins goals in Ukraine were to discourage the development of democracy within Russia. Then he wanted to begin rebuilding the Soviet empire that disappeared in 1991. Finally, Putin wanted to once more give Russia a veto over military developments in Western Europe while providing economic incentives to nations that would cooperate. Russia was surprised when the NATO nations, who controlled over half the global GDP, dismissed his offers of economic cooperation. Since the Ukraine war began in 2022, European nations have gradually replaced American military aid for Ukraine, paying the Americans for the weapons sent to Ukraine. This meant that Russia could not win in Ukraine and that Russia had no way to compensate for the economic sanctions imposed by the West and was stuck in a war it could not end and was unable to keep paying for.

Invading Ukraine in 2022 proved to be a disaster for the Russian economy. The expected quick win turned into a losing battle against determined Ukrainians armed with over $200 billion of weapons supplied by NATO nations, especially the United States, and at least equal amounts of economic aid. In addition to the unexpected resistance, the Russian economy was hit with substantial economic sanctions that reduced oil income and blocked Russia from receiving vital electronics and other items that could only be obtained from NATO countries.

At the same time Russia was trying to create a wartime economy that could support its efforts in Ukraine while also maintaining sufficient resources to keep more Russians from sliding into poverty. After four years of enormous personnel losses there were fewer men to recruit. A growing number of Russian men, and some soldiers and officers, were fleeing the country. This meant that Russian losses were not just the over 1.3 million dead and disabled soldiers, but millions of men who left Russia.

The government soon outlawed this migration. This slowed migration down but did not stop it. The government realized that most Russians were willing to fight to defend Russia, but many refused to support a Russian invasion of a neighboring country.

The Russian economy also took heavy losses because of the sanctions. The combination of rising personnel losses to combat and migration plus economic sanctions on a war economy proved disastrous for Russia. During the last few years Russian revenues from sanctioned oil and natural gas declined substantially while the percentage of the government devoted to the war increased dramatically.

It was obvious that Russia was having severe financial problems when Russia started to make large withdrawals from the National Welfare Fund, or NWF, rather than increasing contributions to the fund. The NWF exists to keep the economy stable and able to pay for pensions and maintain infrastructure and investment in essential Russian industries. By 2024 the NWF was no longer able to meet all those obligations. Because millions of Russian civilians had fled the country there was a labor shortage. The fall in government tax collections and profits from government-owned petroleum operations ended many infrastructure projects and payments to social welfare programs. When the majority of Russians feel the shortages, the government has a major political problem. Russian civilian morale has been sinking since mid-2023. Popular support for the war was declining. The government tried to resist this by devoting eight percent of the budget to payments for disabled soldiers or the families of dead soldiers. The cash shortages meant these payments were a one-time event during 2023. It could not be repeated because the government was broke.

The war appears to be continuing into 2026 despite Russias shortage of cash and soldiers. Russia has hired thousands of North Korean soldiers as a stopgap, but this is a limited resource. North Korea is demanding help with its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. This angered China, the last major ally Russia has. Not only is China reducing economic cooperation with Russia but is also raising the issue of extensive portions of Russias Far Eastern Pacific coastal provinces that are claimed by China. Over the last few centuries Russia did take many of these territories from China and now China sees an opportunity to get them back, or simply take them back. If this happens, Russia could lose up to twenty percent of its territory.

To keep the war going in Ukraine, Russia has sacrificed millions of personnel and the health and stability of its economy. To keep the war going, Russia may have to surrender its disputed territories in the Far East. All this has increased pressure on President Vladimir Putin. He has ruled or misruled Russia for 25 years and now faces internal opposition by his key allies. The major economic leaders of Russia, called oligarchs, see their business interests, employees and customers being hurt by Putins war. Will Putin risk civil unrest and economic collapse to keep the war going? These are questions that will have to be answered in 2026 when money, patience and military capabilities are all exhausted.
When the Israelis and Americans recently attacked Iran, the Iranians asked Russia to fulfill its obligations of their mutual assistance in the event of a threat to sovereignty agreement. Russia did not respond. Then Iran asked Russia to activate its S-400 air defense and electronic warfare systems in Syria to disrupt Israeli air force attacks against Iran. Again, the Russians refused and shut down their S-400 and electronic warfare systems in Syria. Iran had supplied Russia with over four billion dollars worth of drones, missiles, ammunition and technology to build Shaheed drones. Yet Russia provided Iran with no assistance during the June 2025 Israeli American air strikes but did provide Iran with lots of the Russian version of Shaheed drones, intelligence information and other aid during the current US/Israeli war against Iran. Russia was defending itself by refusing to be drawn into a war that had nothing to do with Russia. Ukraine had a lot more to do with Russia and that war had destroyed the Russian ground forces and consumed over a half a trillion dollars in Russian cash. This money was desperately needed to rebuild the Russian economy and that process could not begin until the Ukraine war was over.

Russia cannot claim that all its current misfortunes were a surprise. These were self-inflicted wounds. The Russian operation to take the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine had a devastating effect on the other countries that, until 1991, were part of the ancient Russian Empire. The Crimean operation was the second such land grab Russia has undertaken in the last few years. The first was against tiny Georgia in 2008. Then it was Ukraine in 2022. Many of these former Russian subjects feel that the Russians are trying to get their empire back. Ask many Russians that question and most agree that it would be a nice thing. Some Russians are more outspoken and bluntly call for the empire to be reassembled no matter what.

In reaction to this, the fourteen nations that were part of the Soviet Union until 1991, as well as many East European states that were subject to Russian control from the end of World War II to 1989, have become very nervous. Poland is particularly agitated because large parts of Poland were part of the empire for most of the 18th and 19th centuries. Same deal with Finland, which broke away after World War I and had to fight off a Russian invasion in 1940 and many threats since then to stay independent. That makes the forlorn fourteen the scared sixteen. All of these nations have noted what happened to Georgia and Ukraine with great trepidation and are responding in expected and unexpected ways.

The fourteen former Russian imperial possessions that regained their independence are the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, separate countries Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and the five Stans of Central Asia; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Poland, the Baltic States and Finland escaped from the empire after World War I but only Finland managed to stay free through World War II. The Baltic States were retaken during World War II and Poland remained nominally independent but was occupied by Russian troops and took orders from Russia until 1989.

Poland and the Baltic States joined NATO after the Cold War ended and are hoping that the mutual defense terms of the NATO alliance will dissuade Russia. Nevertheless, all four, plus Finland, have increased their military readiness this year and are seeking assurances from the West that they will have help against Russia. Poland increased its defense spending to the highest percentage of GDP (5 percent) in all of NATO, including the United States.

Many Finns called for Finland to join NATO, but a large minority opposed this because of the fear it would anger the Russians. There was a similar division in Sweden. Both Sweden and Finland did join NATO as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Stans of Central Asia have another option, China. The Stans have been very receptive to Chinese diplomatic and economic cooperation. This bothers Russia, but not to the extent that threats are being made, as was the case with the former imperial provinces to the west. The Stans also have a problem with never having been democracies. When the Russians conquered them in the 19th century, the local governments were monarchies or tribes. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, former Soviet officials held elections and manipulated the vote to get themselves elected president for life. But many people in the Stans wanted clean government and democracy, as well as continued independence from Russia. China is no help with that because the Chinese prefer dictators.

In the Caucasus Georgia still seeks closer ties with the West. Armenia, because of disputes with Azerbaijan and long-term fear of Turkey, remains a close ally of Russia. Azerbaijan maintains good relations with Russia mainly because Iran claims Azerbaijan as a lost province stolen by Russia in the 19th century.

Russia is quite open about wanting to rebuild the old Tsarist Empire that the communists managed to lose in 1991 when the Soviet Union came apart and half the population of that empire went off and formed 14 new countries or reconstituted old ones the Russians had conquered. Russia is proposing things like customs unions, military cooperation and rebuilding the old Soviet air defense system that used to defend everyone in the empire. Theres been some progress, but many nations want nothing to do with Russia.

Meanwhile Russia has to face the fact that when the Soviet Union broke up, half the population willingly went to the 14 new countries and most of those people were quite enthusiastic about ending the Soviet Union. Thus if you asked all citizens of the former Soviet Union what they thought of the breakup, you would find about 70 percent with no regrets. Thats because the Soviet Union was basically the Russian Empire cobbled together by the old czarist monarchy over more than two centuries of conquest and expansion. Thus in the Soviet Union half the population felt like conquered people, not part of any union. The Soviet Union dissolved quickly in 1990-91 because over half the population really wanted it to happen and had wanted it for a long time. Moreover many ethnic Russians were tired of supporting a lot of the less affluent conquered people and were fed up with the economic failures of communism. The former Soviet Union citizens who regret the breakup tend to be older people who were disillusioned at how corruption and bad leadership made post-Soviet life less wonderful than was expected. The younger people are more realistic, never having lived as adults in the Soviet Union and intimately familiar with the fact that freedom isnt free and democracy is hard. For younger Russians there are more economic opportunities than under communism.

While Russia lost half its population when the Soviet Union broke up, it hung on to most of the valuable natural resources like oil and natural gas. While the post-Soviet government was initially reluctant to increase state supplied pensions, which were low during the Soviet period because there was little to spend it on and the state supplied housing and some health care, the pensions did eventually go up. But not as much as the economy grew and the working Russians were obviously doing better than the pensioners who had grown up under communism. In Soviet times that meant there was little economic opportunity and most everyone was equally poor. The old-timers never got used to the changes and most would prefer the communists to come back. That wont happen and, as the generations that grew up under communism die off, so will any desire to return to the bad but familiar old days. Nevertheless, enough Russians favor rebuilding the empire to make the idea a popular talking point among major politicians and that may continue for decades.
Protesters have blocked roads and motorways across the country and in Dublin city centre, over rising fuel prices, causing traffic chaos in some areas.

OConnell Street in Dublin and fuel depots in the west have been blocked by convoys of tractors and trucks in protests over the rising cost of fuel. Several motorway routes are also affected.
Dublin's O'Connell St is closed

M7 motorway closed

Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus warn of delays and diversions, Luas Green line is disrupted

Organisers say they could be maintaining roadblocks until Friday

Slow-moving convoys reported on N21 from Adare towards Limerick city, Limerick- Ballysimon Road, and Macroom bypass in both directions in Cork

Taoiseach says blocking cities and towns is "wrong".

Dublin Fire Brigade experienced significant delays in its response to emergencies.

Oil deliveries from the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork, the only refinery in the State, are now being blocked by fuel protesters who have already blocked fuel depots at Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

The Taoiseach has described the blockade as an act of national sabotage.

In a statement, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the decision of some protesters to block access to the Whitegate refinery was an outrage.

He said: It makes absolutely no sense in the fuel crisis we are currently facing.

It is beyond belief that people would seek to deny people around the country access to vital fuels.

Businesses and peoples livelihoods depend on this fuel. It is an outrage.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said the blocking of the distribution of fuel is a sinister and despicable attack on our economy and our society.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Harris said, This is not a lawless country. The laws of the land must and will be applied without fear.

At a time of a major global energy crisis, blocking fuel from getting to people who badly need it is appalling in every sense and inflicts damage on our country and on individual people and businesses. It cannot be tolerated.

This is now a public order policing issue, said Kevin McPartlan, chief executive of the fuels industry group, Fuels for Ireland.

He called on the Government to act in relation to the blocking of the States key fuel depots.

McPartlan said there are discussions on social media about trying to block Dublin Port, the final of the four key sources of fuel for the States service stations.

Whitegate is the only refinery in the State processing crude oil for domestic consumption and is responsible for approximately one third of the fuel consumed, McPartlan said.

Many service stations require fuel deliveries every 24 hours and as the protests prevent deliveries in the different regions more outlets will run out of fuel, he said.

Galway was the first depot to be prevented from delivering fuel, and stations in the Galway region are now running out of petrol and diesel, he said.

Responding to a blockade formed at the States only oil refinery in Whitegate, a spokeswoman for its operator, Irving Oil, saidWe are focused on the safety of our people, our facility and our neighbours," The Irish Times reported.

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With global energy supply dynamics continuing to face volatility, we are hopeful that these events do not further strain the supply of energy to our customers.

Protest spokesman John Dallon said he hoped the dispute could be resolved through the Government committing to meeting him and two other participants.

He said: Were actually in pure limbo now, thats the only way I can put it.

He added: Well be here tonight, and Id say theyll be here tomorrow.

Dallon said he was not an organiser and had no bearing over the other participants but added: These people are not going to lie down.

The only way they will go off of the streets here is if we send a message back to them that we have a meeting, then theres a good chance that people will go home.

But, I mean, if theres no satisfaction out of the meeting, Id say itll all heat up again.

There were similar protests at more than 20 other locations across the country, protesters said, while chief executive of Fuels for Ireland Kevin McPartland said two depots in Foynes, Co Limerick, and Co Galway had been blocked by protesters.

He said there was a risk to supplies to petrol forecourts as a result.

Gardai have said ongoing fuel protests are having a significant impact on traffic around the country.

In a post on the social media website X on Wednesday evening, An Garda Siochana said a number of locations across the country are still affected, including in Dublin city centre, Cork and Sligo.

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Gardai say the protests are also impacting traffic on a number of major roads such as the M7 and N18 in Limerick, the M50 North in Dublin, the N6 at Athlone, the M8 at Cashel, the M18 at Ennis, the N52 at Tullamore and the M7 at Portlaoise.

The Irish Government will continue to engage with industry representative groups on the impact of the ongoing war on the cost of fuel.

Following a meeting with the Irish Road Haulage Association, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney said Government figures would meet other representative groups and keep the situation under review.

The Government also said the price of oil on international markets had reduced since a ceasefire announcement on Tuesday night.

On Friday, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley will meet national representative bodies of contractors and farming organisations.

Commuters are facing further disruption getting home from work on Wednesday evening as the fuel protests continue.

Dublin Bus have said several of their services and routes have been disrupted, with buses to the City Centre inbound and outbound North and South only operating from Parnell Square.

Services westbound will operate to and from Heuston Station only.

The Minister for Justice has warned that protestors will face consequences if they break the law.

Jim O'Callaghan issued a statement after his meeting with the gardai, in which he said: "I emphasised to them that while Government respects the right to protest, that right must be exercised lawfully and must respect the rights of others to earn a livelihood or to move freely.

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"I also informed the Gardai that it is essential our ports and fuel depots remain open and fully accessible.

"Government is well aware of the pressures on people from increased fuel costs, but democracy cannot be dictated to by an unelected group whose actions are now damaging the Irish public.

"No one is above the law and those breaking the law should know that there are consequences for unlawful activity."

Dublin Fire Brigade are appealing to all involved in the fuel protests in Dublin City Centre to ensure the free passage of all emergency vehicles, both on blue lights heading to an emergency and also returning to base to serve their operational area.

They said they experienced significant delays in their response to emergencies, particularly mobilising from Townsend Street HQ. Alternative mobilisation routes are being employed, with the use of empty Luas lines.

In a statement, they said: "The situation has eased somewhat, due to the excellent cooperation with An Garda Siochana, liaising with protesters and clearing routes for our vehicles.

"We continue to work with the other emergency services to ensure operational readiness and emergency access, and we ask all involved to be extra vigilant and compliant when they hear emergency sirens approaching.

"Do not wait until the emergency vehicles reach the blockades. Please allow the other blocked traffic through in advance, so the route is clear for our vehicles to approach.

The Government will soon issue advice on how to conserve energy use amid soaring fuel costs.

Two weeks ago, the coalition signed off on a range of measures to reduce costs, including a temporary excise duty reduction for motor fuels, expansion of the diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators, and an extension of the fuel allowance.

It saw an effective reduction of 22 cents for diesel and 17 cents for petrol  but the savings have largely been eroded by further price increases as a result of the war in the Gulf.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said on Wednesday that the Government will shortly be launching an energy-efficiency programme for households.

He said: We will give helpful advice to citizens that if you reduce your energy use in certain ways, you can reduce the cost for yourself in respect of that energy.

There will be a comprehensive programme of advice, a public communications programme.

Protesters have called for a cap on kerosene and diesel, and for the carbon tax and excise duty to be removed for an interim period.

A spokesperson for the protest group in Dublin said that if protesters went home later or on Thursday, they would be back next Tuesday, when the Dail returned.

We will hopefully go home, but the word from other groups around the country is that if they go home today or tomorrow, theyre back next Tuesday. Government is sitting next Tuesday, James Geoghegan said.

Around two dozen protesters stood on OConnell Bridge on Wednesday morning as a handful of tractors remained parked on OConnell Street overnight.

There were some tense exchanges between Dubliners walking through the citys main thoroughfare and the protesters, with one woman telling the protesters that they had the fuel to drive up to Dublin so they should drive home.

One protester was overheard saying that they had pedestrianised the city centre as the Green Party had wanted.

Geoghegan, a spokesman for the protesters and a contractor from Co Westmeath, said they would not go home broke.

We cant go home without a result. We simply cant afford to go home, he told the Press Association.

An Garda Siochana said they are engaging with those involved in the fuel protests around the country.

They have received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to their work, of people not being able to attend hospital appointments or visit loved ones who are ill.

The gardai have asked protestors to engage with gardai locally to facilitate public transport and other traffic.

In a statement, they have also said they have no role in permitting or authorising public gatherings or protests

Traffic is at a standstill on busy roads across the country, as the fuel protests continue for a second day.

There are major disruption nationwide, with sections of motorways and national roads closed.

Those planning on using public transport are being urged to check for updates, with Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann warning of severe delays and diversions.

Luas Green Line services are still not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick.

Long delays on the N7 now from Naas and onto the M50 due to slow-moving vehicles heading for Dublin city centre. Making very slow progress.

Motorists being advised to use the M4 and back roads, Kill, Kilteel, Rathcoole, Newcastle to get around the protests.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said the Government is engaging with national representative bodies and said the disruption caused by the protests was not in our national interest, its not in our economic interest, its not in the interest of social cohesion.

Asked if the Government would meet with the groups involved in the protests, Micheal Martin responded there are many, many different groups and many different voices involved and the only feasible way to engage is with the national representative bodies of the different sectors, and thats what were going to do.

Asked if fuel pumps could run dry if depots are blockaded, Sean Canney said that would be a ransom.

He said: I think people need to understand that whats happening here is not in the national interest, its not in the peoples interest and we need to just reflect on that.

There are big problems on the M7 city-bound now at Naas due to slow-moving traffic made up of trucks, tractors, vans, buses and cars.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the motorway if they can and use alternative routes to get around.

Fuel protesters blocking cities and towns around Ireland are wrong, and those breaking the law will be penalised, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheal Martin, Simon Harris and Sean Canny spoke to the press outside Government Buildings on Wednesday morning and criticised the actions of those taking part in the demonstrations.

Towns and cities across Ireland have experienced traffic and travel disruption since Tuesday morning when slow-moving convoys of tractors, trucks and lorries started their protests.

Martin said: The protests at the moment are wrong.

To prevent mobility, to prevent people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, disrupting day-to-day activities in the manner that has happened, is wrong and is a wrong form of protest.

Asked if the gardai would clear the protesters on roads and around fuel depots the Taoiseach said: Theres no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots.

It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis.

He said while he respected the right to protest, it was not acceptable to turn Dublins OConnell Street into a car park

Dublin Chamber called on those involved in the ongoing fuel protests to engage through the appropriate channels to concerns, and to immediately cease the sustained disruption impacting Dublin.

Dublin Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke said: The current level of disruption is placing an unfair burden on businesses and workers who have no direct influence over the issues being raised. It is neither sustainable nor proportionate.

The most effective way to achieve meaningful progress is through constructive dialogue.

"We are urging protestors to engage with policymakers and relevant stakeholders through established channels, where their concerns can be properly heard.

The M7 motorway continues to be closed at the Portlaoise Bypass resulting in significant traffic snarl-ups.

In Birr, Co Offaly traffic is at a complete standstill alongside Tesco supermarket

MEP Ciaran Mullooly slammed the Taoiseach for being petty and disingenuous for saying he will not meet with the protesters unless they are a national representative group.

He should swallow his pride and get on with the discussions which would immediately end the protests and ease difficulties for the public who are caught in the middle.

Independent Ireland TD Richard ODonoghue said in an online statement that the M7 is currently empty due to effective protests on the motorway in both directions.

Well done to all involved, including An Garda Siochana who have been very understanding and working with the protesters to ensure the protest is done safely.

The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Owen Reidy, has spoken of the double standards in Ireland in the way union protests are treated compared to those of farmers.

His comments come as the Minister for Transport said it was not acceptable that people were not being allowed to go about their daily lives.

Reidy said: I've been involved in many public transport disputes over the years, and we have to ballot our members for industrial action, serve seven days notice, and ultimately, if we don't do that, the High Court can injunct the disputes and sequester the union's funds, but it seems farmers and businesses, because the hauliers are businesses, can do as they please."

Something was happening in middle Ireland, he said on RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show, and said the Government had a problem because they were not responsible for the current crisis.

It was not acceptable that people were not being allowed to go about their daily lives because of the fuel protests, the Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien has said, calling for a de-escalation of the situation.

Speaking on RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show, the Minister said the government had been in discussions with recognised national representative bodies such as the hauliers.

We have responded significantly already. We cannot have a situation where peoples normal daily lives are being affected. People have a right to go to work. We cannot respond to every single protest that happens.

Costing businesses significant losses was counterproductive, he added.

This is unprecedented, what's happening right now, and what I would ask for is a de-escalation, an end of the protest. I think we've already seen what is happening in the Middle East, finally an initial de-escalation, the first one we've seen of a ceasefire.

"This is a global crisis. Ireland, like every other country, is impacted by it, and we'll do our best to support people, but the way of doing that is not to disrupt our own supply chain.

There is major traffic disruption in cities and on motorways due to the fuel protests, including at fuel depots in the west and in Dublin.

Essentially anything thats trying to come across the city is trapped, Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

Passengers, please be advised Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only. This is due to a protest at O'Connell Bridge. We  Luas (@Luas) April 8, 2026

OConnell Street is now closed on both the north and south sides with Dublin Bus attempting to divert buses along Eden Quay and Gardiner Street.

Organisers of the fuel protest on the M8 motorway in Cashel say they could be there until Friday.

The blockade was maintained overnight by up to 80 trucks, vans and tractors.

Adrian Williams, a local organiser told Tipp FM News that many of the protestors are prepared to stay out all week.

Williams said diesel prices need to be capped at 1.70 and petrol at 1.60.

The protestors claim that they will not end their action until the government does something about the rising cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil.

The Communications Director of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Sean ONeill, has called on anyone using the motorway network today to leave hard shoulder access available for emergency vehicles.

There were disruptions impacting the motorway network around the country with go-slows backing up traffic significantly. The protests were causing significant disruptions to peoples lives, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland would be working with the gardai to manage the situation, he said. It was important to keep hard shoulder access for emergency services.

"So we do ask that publicly for anyone, whatever your reasons for being there, you need to leave those hard shoulders available for emergency vehicles and emergency use because one of your loved ones could be impacted by that.

At the end of the day, we ask everyone to obviously be patient. We know this is a major disruption across the network, but we're dealing with it live and the gardai are doing an excellent job in helping us manage it as well.

Fuel Cost protest by Hauliers and farmers forces Dublin buses to stack from Dawson St to OConnell Bridge, in Dublin. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins

Gardai have warned of possible road blocks to Dublin Airport and the Port Tunnel. Protestors have now blocked Fleet Street in Dublin, which was an access route.

Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland said that while a number of buses were able to leave their depots earlier this morning, there was now a challenge in getting buses across the city.

So you might be expecting a bus on the outskirts of Dublin, 10, 12 kilometres away that simply can't get out there in order to turn and do that trip back into town again.

With 130 routes and 800 to 900 buses on the street, the situation was very changeable and Dublin Bus would be trying to keep the public up to date on cancellations, delays and diversions through on street signage, the Dublin Bus website and social media.

I think everybody is sympathetic to the fact that there are delays and diversions out there, so we're trying to get the information out to people, we have chief inspectors there on site, and what they're doing is trying to marshal buses, move them around, perhaps communicate with customers on the ground, said Boland.

Slow-moving convoys and significant traffic delays are currently reported at locations including: Co. Limerick- N21 from Adare towards Limerick city

Co. Limerick- Ballysimon Road

Co. Cork- Macroom bypass in both directions

Motorists are advised to plan their journeys accordingly pic.twitter.com/m9hgqRm1iZ  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) April 8, 2026

Patients must not be used as pawns by any party in the current transport protest, the Irish Patients' Association has said.

The organisation said it understands the concerns driving the protests but warned that the impact on patients and citizens is already immediate, real, and being experienced across the country.

Chairman Stephen McMahon said the situation reflects a wider crisis, shaped by global instability but now felt at a local level.

"The grievances that have brought farmers, hauliers and contractors onto the streets are understood. Fuel costs are threatening livelihoods and entire industries. That deserves a serious response from Government.

"But Ireland's patients and citizens cannot be the collateral damage of this dispute, itself shaped by the wider impact of war.

"Every party at this table has a responsibility to ensure that our national resilience is protected, not dismantled. We do not protect Ireland by undermining it."

The chief executive of Fuels for Ireland has expressed frustration at the garda management of protests at fuel depots in Galway and Foynes.

It was very concerning that deliveries could not be sent out to forecourts around the country, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

I have to be honest, we've been a little bit frustrated that the Gardai haven't been managing the protests in such a way as to ensure that there is access and egress from those terminals, not least because emergency services need to be able to get in and out if something goes wrong."

There was a risk that some forecourts would run out of supplies if there were no deliveries today, he said.

There was no fundamental threat to supply as there were completely normal stock levels at the terminals, he said, and he hoped the problem would be short-lived. While he had a great deal of empathy with the protestors, he appealed to them, Dont cripple the entire country by stopping fuel supplies.

McPartland said there needed to be an overall review of the tax and also the compliance costs involved in fuel supply in Ireland.

We pay more tax than any other European country. I have been told, and I was told last week, that we would have a meeting with the Tanaiste/Minister of Finance this week. I'm waiting for that to be confirmed, and that's the point I'll be making to Simon Harris when we meet this week.

There were protests on the M8 close to Cashel in Co Tipperary overnight, with scores of people maintaining a blockade.

MEP for the Midlands, Ciaran Mullooly, said in a statement online that protesters are still out there".

"Farmers, contractors, hauliers, agricultural workers on the M8 in Tipperary. They go again from 6.30am (today) in Athlone, Tullamore, Galway and all over the country and all because (of) the two arrogant leaders of the two main political parties in this country.

(They) are not prepared to pick up the phone and call them or even respond to the letter they were sent seeking dialogue seven days ago.

The MEP noted that dialogue to help resolve some of the present difficulties - dialogue that has to happen if these protests are to be stopped.

If you support them (protestors), call your local Government TD tonight and tell them the time has come to listen to the people who are hurting most - or these protests will go on, he added.

Mullooly, who is currently in Brussels, said that he has been in contact with the Taoiseach Micheal Martin as to how he could work along fuel companies to make it easier not just for those involved in the protests but for teachers, nurses, social workers who are saying they just cannot keep going.

Mullooly added that he has put forward five proposals to the Government to aid workers.

So far, on the M4 and M7, traffic is moving well, with some usual commuting slowdowns after Naas and Maynooth on the main routes through Co Kildare.

In Tullamore, those taking part in the protests are gathering at the retail park in the town with groups from Clara, Kilbeggan, Edenderry and Birr at that location.

The bypass of the town is blocked by those meeting to protest. There is no access from the Clonminch area of the town to the Tesco roundabout.

They plan to move out from the retail park at 8.30 am, arriving into Tullamore town for 9am.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has labelled fuel protests unacceptable and irresponsible.

Speaking to reporters at Government buildings on Wednesday morning, Jack Chambers said: I think some of the protests weve seen today are completely unacceptable and irresponsible.

Theyre undermining business in our city and across the country.

Responding to reports demonstrators have blocked a fuel terminal, he said action is reckless in the extreme, and they should stand down their protest.

He said the Government has constant and regular engagement with the representative groups, including the Irish Road Haulage Association.

Asked if the gardai should move protesters who are blocking OConnell Bridge in Dublin city centre, Chambers said: They know how to manage protest.

Minister of State Michael Healy Rae said the Government is going to react in a positive way to support hauliers and agricultural contractors impacted by rising fuel costs.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, the Kerry TD said it was obvious that more has to be done for these people, because you cannot expect people to work for nothing.

If further reductions can be given, that is what the government will seriously have to look at, because if you take, for instance, last week, the Irish Road Hauliers Association met with Minister Darragh O'Brien, and he explained to them the measures of what he was going to be trying to do to help that association, and they actually, because of the negotiations and talks that they've had, while I'm not trying to say they're happy, but they know that government are going to react and react in a positive way.

When asked if the Government would be encouraging people to use less fuel, Healy Rae responded that the government had always encouraged people to use less fuel, but practicalities apply here, and if you live in a rural location, you can cycle or walk to work. You don't have a bus outside your door to take you to work. You have to go to work.

There are certain things that have to happen every day to move goods, to feed people and to keep this country going, and one of those things is a thing called diesel oil, and we need to keep our transport going, and we need to keep things moving.

"Yes, you can encourage people not to use fuel unnecessarily, but at the same time, practicalities apply. People have to live, and you have to farm, you have to transport.

Our hauliers have to do their job every day, which is keeping us all alive. If it wasn't for those people, this country would cease to operate.

Speaking about the protests on Tuesday evening, Tanaiste Simon Harris said: Everyone has a right to protest in a democracy, 100% no doubt about that, but I would also just say these arent consequence-free actions.

He said he had heard reports of a range of individuals impacted by the disruption, including healthcare workers and small business owners.

Harris said: We shouldnt pit sectors against sectors.

Ireland Do you support the fuel protesters? Read more

This is a moment of national challenge, and no one sector is more important than the other, and we have to work through this.

He said the government was engaging intensively with bodies representing a variety of sectors, including farmers, farm contractors and hauliers.

Senior Government leaders meet this morning to discuss the energy crisis.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris, Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien and Roads Minister Sean Canney will be briefed on the latest projections for how the crisis is likely to effect the economy here.
A retired Garda Superintendent is to stand trial accused of facilitating a crime gang, perverting the course of justice and corruption, while two other serving officers face 171 connected charges.

John Murphy, aged 65, and Garda Manus Keane, facing a single criminal allegation, and Detective Aidan Stratford, who has 170 charges, were arrested on Wednesday following a probe by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI).

They appeared at Dublin District Court on Wednesday, when NBCI Detective Sergeant Sile White and Detective Sergeant Paul Sweeney gave evidence that the Director of Public Prosecutions had issued a direction for trial on indictment at a higher level on their combined 183 charges. However, the precise venue was not divulged during the hearing.

A six-week adjournment was sought to prepare the prosecution's books of evidence, which must be served on them before granting a trial order.

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The former superintendent stood silently, with his arms folded, during his hearing and did not enter a plea. Detective Sergeant White said Murphy was charged just after 10am, and "made no reply after caution" to his 12 charges.

Murphy and Stratford face allegations covering five years.

It is alleged that they participated in or contributed to activities intended to facilitate serious offences by a criminal organisation, between April 12th, 2016 and September 29th, 2021, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

They could not apply for bail on this charge, which requires a High Court decision, and were remanded in custody to appear again next Wednesday.

Murphy has seven separate bribery charges under the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018.

It is alleged that on various dates between July 2020 and September 2021, Murphy "corruptly" agreed to accept gifts, advantages, or inducements. These were allegedly rewards for performing acts related to his "office, position or employment."

The ex-senior garda also faced four common law charges for communicating with a serving member of An Garda Siochana in a manner intended to pervert the course of public justice from April 2016 to January 2018.

Defence solicitor Daniel Hanahoe said that his client was reserving his legal aid application.

Keane, aged 46, from south Dublin, is charged with a single offence under section 62 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005.

It states that on November 13th, 2014, he, a serving member of An Garda Siochana, disclosed confidential information to Aidan Stratford, pertaining to a different individual.

According to his charge, the information was "obtained in the course of carrying out your duties in your office or employment, knowing that the disclosure of said information was likely to have a harmful effect."

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He did not address the court, and there was no objection to his bail on the following conditions: provide a contact phone number, notify gardai of any address change, and no contact, directly or indirectly, with any other parties or witnesses in the case.

He met the NBCI officer by arrangement shortly after 8am to be charged. Keane has not indicated a plea either.

Both he and Murphy appeared before Judge Brendan O'Reilly during the morning court sitting.

Judge O'Reilly imposed reporting restrictions on his address, set cashless bail at 3,000, and ordered him to appear again on June 12th.

His defence counsel, Paddy Jackson, instructed by solicitor Paul Molloy, asked that the question of legal aid be reserved so documents could be brought to court on the next date.

Detective Aidan Stratford, 50, from north Dublin, was brought before Judge Michele Finan during the evening court sitting.

Ireland Alleged high-vis thief targeted mosque, hostel, and home for elderly, court hears Read more

His other alleged offences included disclosing confidential information or corruptly accepting a gift, inducement, or reward on February 25th, 2020, for performing an act related to his position.

NBCI Detective Sergeant Paul Sweeney told the court that the accused was arrested just after 11 am and charged with the 170 offences. The court heard that "I deny the charge" was his reply.

He did not address the court, sat leafing through his bundle of charges, and spoke only to consult with his solicitor, Damien Coffey.

Coffey confirmed that his client would apply for High Court bail in due course.
Gardai have been notified in advance of Thursdays nationwide fuel protest by organisers of the planned convoy routes and meeting points across the country.

Organisers have asked that everyone protest safely and respectfully, and to keep all emergency routes and hard shoulders clear at all times.

The main protest locations and times involve Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Cork, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Portumna, Banagher Bridge, Athlone and surrounding counties.

The protests have resulted in nationwide traffic disruption over the last several days, with protesters causing gridlock around Dublin city centre for a second day on Wednesday over rising fuel costs caused by the war in Iran.

Several tractors were parked along OConnell Street and buses were abandoned on OConnell Bridge on Wednesday, as farmers and other fuel-dependent workers blocked the busy routes.

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Protesters have called for a cap on kerosene and diesel, and for the carbon tax and excise duty to be removed for an interim period.

On Thursday in Dublin and Leinster, meetings are planned at Kinnegad Plaza between 7am and 7.30am, M7 Junction 14 Monasterevin at 7am, Navan Retail Park to move off at 7.30am, M1 Castle Bellingham at 7am, and the N11 Southside/Wicklow feeder to gather at 7am and roll towards Dublin.

The main Portlaoise and Tullamore town gatherings are to meet in their respective towns at 7am to move off at 7.30am.

In Portumna/Banagher Bridge a high visibility rolling protest over the Shannon crossing is to meet at 6am and roll slowly and peacefully from 6.30am with county feeder support from Galway/Loughrea, Tupperary, the Offaly/Birr side, Ballinasloe/Laurencetown and Banagher.

In Athlone and the Midlands, a meeting is planned on the M6 between Junctions 7 and 8 at 7am to move off from 7.30am.

There will also be a gathering in Waterford City, with feeder routes from Dungarvan, Cappoquin, Lismore, Kilmacthomas, Ferrybank, New Ross, Campile, Mooncoin, Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel.

In Wexford, a gathering is planned at 7am at the N11/N25 Ballindinas New Ross Road roundabout to move off at 7.30am.

In Sligo, plans are to meet at the N4/N15 interchange at 7.30am for a rolling move from 8am.

Plans in Donegal are to meet at the Tesco car park on the Port Road in Letterkenny at 6am to move off from 6.15am.

Ireland Do you support the fuel protesters? Read more

In Clare, vehicles are to meet at the Banner Plaza on Junction 12 of the M18 at 7am, to depart at 7.30am.

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In Limerick, groups from Beary's Cross, Daly's Cross, Croom and Bunratty Village are all to feed into the rolling route from Junction 29 on the M7 to Junction 2 on the N18.

There are to also be vehicles coming from Midleton, Watergrasshill, Ballincollig, Mallow, Macroom, Clonakilty, Ballyhooly and surrounding areas.

In a social media post, organisers said, "If you are not in a truck, van, tractor, or convoy vehicle, please come out safely, stand shoulder to shoulder with us, wave your Irish flags, and support the people of Ireland".
A US architect who led a secret life as a serial killer has pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted he killed an eighth in a string of long-unsolved crimes known as the Gilgo Beach killings.

Rex Heuermann, 62, from Long Island, entered the pleas in a courtroom packed with reporters, police and victims relatives, some of whom wept as he detailed his crimes.

He will be sentenced in June to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Heuermanns guilty pleas  to three counts of first-degree murder and four of intentional murder  bring finality to a case that bedevilled investigators, tormented victims relatives and tantalised a true-crime obsessed public for years.



Rex Heuermann pictured in court (Newsday/AP)

Although he was not charged over her death, he also admitted he killed Karen Vergata in 1996.

Under questioning by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, Heuermann admitted that he strangled all eight victims and dismembered some of them, that he used burner phones to contact them, and that he wrapped their bodies in burlap before dumping them.

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Wearing a black suit jacket and white button-down shirt, Heuermann appeared matter-of-fact and unemotional as he answered questions from Mr Tierney and the judge. He never looked back at the packed courtroom gallery, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead.

The women, many of them sex workers, were killed over a 17-year span and buried in remote locations, including along an isolated beach highway across the bay from where he lived, authorities said.

This defendant walked among us play acting as a normal suburban dad when in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death, Mr Tierney said at a news conference.

He thanked relatives of the victims, including some standing alongside him, for helping bring their loved ones stories to life, and praised members of the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force, which cracked the case with the help of clues that included DNA lifted from a discarded pizza crust.

He thought that by killing them, he could silence them forever and get away with murder, Mr Tierney said. But he was wrong.

Gloria Allred, a lawyer for several of the victims families, described several of the women as young mothers who were trying to earn extra money to support their children because they did not have the means to go to college or get a decent job.

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Little did they know that the defendant, Rex Heuermann, did not care about their hopes and dreams, or that they had families and friends who loved them, Ms Allred said before calling up family members to speak directly about the case and what they thought about the plea deal in which prosecutors dropped several counts.

Elizabeth Baczkiel, the mother of victim Jessica Taylor, said: I am glad that this is over as far as him pleading guilty. It took a big chunk of stress off of me and my family.



Asa Ellerup, left, wife, of Rex Heuermann and Mrs Ellerups lawyer, Robert Macedonio, right, arrive at court (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)

Fighting back tears, Missy Cann, whose sister Maureen Brainard-Barnes was murdered by Heuermann, said his guilty plea brings solace after living 19 years in the space between heartbreak and hope.

Investigators and members of the public packed the hearing. Reporters and camera operators swarmed Heuermanns ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and their daughter as they entered and left the courthouse.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, Ms Ellerup said afterwards. Their loss is immeasurable and the focus should be on them at this time and moment. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate through this very difficult time.

She and her daughter Victoria had no knowledge of or involvement in the killings, said their lawyer, Robert Macedonio. Ms Ellerup has said she found it difficult to believe her husband was a serial killer, because he never gave off warning signs during their time together.

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Asked about Heuermanns admissions, his lawyer Michael Brown told reporters: There came a point in this defence where Rex said, I want to plead guilty, noting that one of Heuermanns concerns was sparing the victims families and his own family from the ordeal of the case going to trial.

In response to a question about whether Heuermann was sorry, Mr Brown responded: I would hope so. I would expect at sentencing he would have something to say.

As part of his guilty plea, Heuermann agreed to co-operate fully with the FBIs behavioural analysis unit.

The case began in earnest in 2010 after police found numerous sets of human remains while searching for a missing woman, Shannan Gilbert, along Long Islands South Shore, setting off a search for a potential serial killer that attracted global interest and spawned a Hollywood movie.

Although her relatives disputed the finding, authorities eventually determined that Ms Gilbert drowned, and Mr Brown said Heuermann had nothing to do with Shannan Gilbert.

Investigators used DNA analysis and other evidence to identify victims. In some cases, they were able to connect them to remains found elsewhere on Long Island years earlier.



Elizabeth Baczkiel, mother of victim Jessica Taylor, walks into court (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)

Remains of six victims  Melissa Barthelemy, Ms Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Valerie Mack, Ms Taylor and Megan Waterman  were found in the scrub along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. Another victim, Sandra Costilla, was found more than 60 miles away in the Hamptons.

Police also identified the remains of Ms Vergata, which were found on Fire Island, more than 20 miles west, in 1996, and near Gilgo Beach in 2011.

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Despite the attention, including a documentary series and the 2020 Netflix film Lost Girls, the investigation dragged on for more than a decade, punctuated by fleeting leads and dashed hopes.

In 2022, six weeks after a new police commissioner formed the Gilgo Beach task force, detectives identified Heuermann as a suspect by using a vehicle registration database to connect him to a pick-up truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010.

Heuermann lived for decades in Massapequa Park, about a 25-minute drive across a causeway spanning South Oyster Bay to the sandy stretch where the womens remains were found. Some of the victims were believed to have disappeared from that community and their phones were found to have pinged towers in the area, authorities said.

After the truck discovery, a grand jury authorised more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants, allowing the task force to dig in to Heuermanns life.

Detectives collected billing records for burner phones he allegedly used to arrange meetings with the victims, retested DNA found with the bodies and scoured Heuermanns internet search history, which showed that he had viewed violent torture pornography and exhibited an intense interest in the Gilgo Beach killings and the renewed investigation.

Mobile phone data showed Heuermann was in contact with some victims just before they disappeared, investigators said.

To obtain his DNA, a task force surveillance team tailed him in Manhattan, where he worked, and watched as he threw the remnants of his lunch  a box of partially eaten pizza crusts  into a rubbish bin.

Investigators grabbed the box and sent it to the crime lab, which matched DNA from the crust to a male hair found on burlap used to restrain one of the victims. He was arrested in July 2023.

After Heuermanns arrest, detectives spent more than 12 days searching his yard and home, where they found a basement vault that contained 279 weapons. On his computer, investigators said, they found what they described as a blueprint for the killings, including a series of checklists with reminders to limit noise, clean the bodies and destroy evidence.
The US has demanded that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Republic closed the waterway in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

Tehrans move cast doubt over whether an already precarious ceasefire to end more than a month of war would hold.

The US and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries.



An Iranian cluster munition missile explodes in the sky over northern Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Israel intensified its attacks in Lebanon, hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning. At least 182 people were killed in the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war, according to Lebanons health ministry. Another 890 people were wounded, the ministry added.

The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what US vice president JD Vance called a fragile deal.

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Aggression towards Lebanon is aggression towards Iran, General Seyed Majid Mousavi, aerospace commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard, wrote on X. He warned that Iranian forces were preparing a heavy response.

Iran accused the US of violating three clauses of its framework for a deal.



US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that a whole civilisation will die tonight if a deal was not reached (Alex Brandon/PA)

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that an end to the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire agreement with the US. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon.

The world sees the massacres in Lebanon, Mr Araghchi wrote on X. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the closing of the strait reported in Iranian state media was completely unacceptable. She repeated Mr Trumps expectation and demand that the strait be reopened.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a capital V military victory and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to US forces or the region. The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the US to accept its proposed conditions and surrender.



Protesters carry Iranian flags during a rally to show solidarity with Iran, in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP)

Much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

 Iran said the deal would allow it to formalise its new practice of charging ships passing through the strait, a crucial transit lane for oil, but the details were not clear, nor was it known whether vessels would feel safe using the channel or whether ship traffic had resumed. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition. The White House said Mr Trump is opposed to tolls for ship passage.

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 Pakistan, which helped mediate the deal, and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Israel said it would not, and strikes hit Beirut on Wednesday.

 The fate of Irans missile and nuclear programmes  the elimination of which were major objectives for the US and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear. Mr Trump said the US would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.



First responders work at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment building in Beirut, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP)

Mr Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war the US and Israel launched on February 28, but when a version in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  which is key to building a nuclear weapon  the US president called it fraudulent without elaborating.

Mr Vance later said the deal was being misrepresented within Iran, though he did not offer details.

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Ms Leavitt said Irans original 10-point plan was fundamentally unserious, unacceptable and completely discarded, but a new 15-point plan Tehran presented on Tuesday could now align with our own proposal for peace.

The White House said Mr Vance would lead the American negotiating team in talks in Pakistan aimed at finding a permanent end to the war. Pakistan said the talks could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday.

Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.



(PA Graphics)

United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterress personal envoy arrived in Iran for talks on the way forward.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilise every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes on Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the attacks as barbaric, and Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of persistently seeking to sabotage the Iran ceasefire deal.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though the group has said it was open to giving mediators a chance to secure an agreement. An official said the group would not stop firing at Israel unless Israel agreed to do the same.

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Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from using the strait, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime. That rocked the world economy and raised the pressure on Mr Trump at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.



Pro-government demonstrators burn the US and Israeli flags after announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

The ceasefire may formalise a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

The plan allows Iran and Oman to charge ships, according to a regional official. The official said Iran would use the money for reconstruction.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit and is not likely to be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

US-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not entirely eliminated the threats posed by Tehrans nuclear programme, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies like Hezbollah. The US and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

Mr Trump said the US would work with Tehran to dig up and remove enriched uranium that was buried under joint US-Israeli strikes in June. He added that none of the material had been touched since. There was no confirmation from Iran.



The Indian flagged LPG carrier Jag Vasant transporting liquefied petroleum gas at Mumbai Port after it arrived clearing the Strait of Hormuz (Rafiq Maqbool/AP)

Mr Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday that the US would do something like last Junes joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if the country refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television. The island is home to one of the terminals that Iran uses to export oil and gas.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the toll for days.

In Lebanon, 1,739 people have been killed and 5,873 wounded in just over five weeks since the outbreak of the war, and a million have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died.
Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning, just hours after a ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Lebanons health ministry said at least 89 people were killed and 700 were wounded in the strikes on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump told PBS News Hour that Lebanon was not included in the deal because of Hezbollah.



A woman is assisted at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment building in Beirut, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP)

When asked about Israels latest strikes, he said: Thats a separate skirmish.

Israel had said the agreement does not extend to its war with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, although mediator Pakistan said it does.

The fleeting sense of relief among Lebanese after the ceasefire announcement turned into panic with what Israels military called its largest coordinated strike in the current war, hitting more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley.

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Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital, where a huge number of people displaced by war have taken shelter.

Explosions interrupted the honking of traffic on what had been a bustling, blue-sky afternoon.

Ambulances raced toward open flames and apartment buildings were struck.



(PA Graphics)

Associated Press journalists saw charred bodies in vehicles and on the ground at one of Beiruts busiest intersections in the central Corniche al Mazraa neighbourhood, a mixed commercial and residential area.

Using forklifts, rescue workers removed smouldering debris and sifted through ruins for survivors.

There was no sign of Hezbollah launching strikes against Israel in the first couple of hours after the attacks.

In response to the attacks on Lebanon, Iran later on Wednesday said it will once again halt the movement of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the countrys state-run media reported.

Central Beirut has been targeted before, but not by so many strikes at once and in the middle of the day.

Israel had rarely struck central Beirut since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war on March 2 but has regularly struck southern and eastern Lebanon and Beiruts southern suburbs.

Lebanons minister of social affairs, Haneed Sayed, in an interview with The Associated Press condemned Israels wide range of strikes, calling it a very dangerous turning point.



Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on a building in Beirut (Hassan Ammar/AP)

These hits are now at the heart of Beirut  Half of the sheltered (internally displaced persons) are in Beirut in this area, she said, adding that she had just driven by areas hit.

She said Lebanons government is ready to enter into negotiations with Israel for an end to hostilities, an offer that the president previously made.

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Israel has not responded.

There are calls and efforts being made as we speak, Ms Sayed said.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in a statement accused Israel of escalating at a moment when Lebanese officials were seeking to negotiate a solution, and of hitting civilian areas in utter disregard for the principles of international law and international humanitarian law  principles it has, in any case, never respected.

President Joseph Aoun called the Israeli attacks barbaric.



First responders and volunteers search through the rubble beside burning cars at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut (Bilal Hussein/AP)

Israels military said it had targeted missile launchers, command centres and intelligence infrastructure.

It accused Hezbollah fighters of trying to blend into non-Shiite Muslim areas beyond their traditional strongholds.

Residents and local officials denied that the buildings hit were military sites.

Look at these crimes, said Mohammed Balouza, a member of Beiruts municipal council, at the scene of a strike in Corniche al Mazraa.

An apartment building behind a popular shop selling nuts and dried fruit had been hit.

This is a residential area. There is nothing (military) here.



Rescuers gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon (Hussein Malla/AP)

As the smoke rose on Wednesday, Israeli defence minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem that his turn will come.

In 2024, Israel killed previous Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah with an airstrike.

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Mr Katz called Wednesdays strikes the largest blow against Hezbollah since the attack that caused pagers used by hundreds of its members to explode almost simultaneously in September 2024.

Before the new strikes, a Hezbollah official told the AP that the group was giving a chance for mediators to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, but we have not announced our adherence to the ceasefire since the Israelis are not adhering to it.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly.

The Hezbollah official said the group will not accept a return to the pre-March 2 status quo, when Israel carried out near-daily strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire being nominally in place since the last full-blown Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November 2024.



Smoke rises following several Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon (Hassan Ammar/AP)

We will not accept for the Israelis to continue behaving as they did before this war with regards to attacks, he said.

Hezbollah had fired missiles across the border days after the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, sparking a regional war.

Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion.

The Israeli military chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said the attacks are to protect Israels northern residents, who have come under heavy fire.

Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon, including more than 100 women and 130 children.

The Israeli military has said it has killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters.



A group of people rush out of the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

More than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon.

Early on Wednesday, after the ceasefire in Iran was announced and before Israel struck, many displaced people sleeping in tents on the streets of Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon had begun packing their belongings in preparation to return home.

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Families at a sprawling displacement camp on Beiruts waterfront later expressed confusion and despair.

We cant take this anymore, sleeping in a tent, not showering, the uncertainty, said Fadi Zaydan, 35.

He and his parents had prepared to head back to the southern city of Nabatieh.

Instead, they decided to wait things out in Sidon, a bit closer to home.
by Steve Szilagyi

Its been many decades since I worked as a restaurant dishwasher. The best part of the job was the camaraderie of the kitchenthe japes, the clash of pans, and the friendly female server whod stop back to chat during slack times. The worst part was wiping uneaten food off plates with my bare hands into a dirty garbage can by the sink. I had a keen social conscience at the time, and it was depressing to send one half-eaten or barely touched delicacy after another into the moist abyss with my bare palm (no rubber gloves in those days), while elsewhere my favorite rock stars were raising money to feed the starving in Bangladesh. Once Id cleared the plates of food, Id spray them with a hose and place them into the rack of the dishwashing machine. Once the rack was full, Id close the hood, press a button or something, and wait a couple of minutes while the machine soaped and rinsed the dishes at the requisite 140-180 degree temperature. Then Id lift the hood, let the steaming dishes dry for a few seconds, then pile them on the shelf. The pots and pans I did by hand over the sink.

The human dishwasher is the lowest person in the restaurant kitchen hierarchy. (I was demoted to the position from busboy after an unfortunate incident involving a tray of hot soups and a customers lap.) But its not a disgraceful position. The dish-doer in a restaurant has a certain solitary dignity, supported by the essential nature of his or her task. In the home, however, dishwashing can be a surprisingly emotional flashpoint. Its not for nothing the British domestic dramas of personal and social resentment were labeled the kitchen sink school.

While there are many volatile issues involved, the main points of contention are who does the dishes; when they get done; and who notices they need doing. Whats at stake isnt the difficulty of the task, its the implied low status of whoever does it.

Really, since the invention of modern plumbing, dishwashing is probably the least difficult of regularly performed domestic tasks. Compare it to making beds, mopping floors, or changing the cat box. Washing dishes is no more physically demanding than washing your hands. Most kitchens have a window over the sink. You can contemplate the view, slap on a pair of headphones, and listen to podcasts while you wash.

Yet dirty dishes still trigger sulks, accusations, and grim domestic reckonings. Perhaps because the argument occurs in the kitchen  the emotional center of the house  where resentments hum like an old Kelvinator. And if the dispute is postponed, morning delivers its own rebuke: dirty dishes in the sink, that universal emblem of disorder, discouragement, depression, sloth, illness, addictionpossibly even the suggestion of a dead body somewhere in the house. If you cannot be bothered to do the dishes, something larger seems wrong.

Its what economists call a first mover problem. Everyone in the house is waiting for another to take the first step. And every day they wait, the pile gets higher; the task becomes more difficult. Eventually, someone will find that the psychological cost of looking at a dirty sink exceeds his or her resentment at having to do the work. In my house that personby a slender but decisive marginis me. My wife makes dinner and I do the dishes. She enjoys cooking, and I enjoy having an excuse to leave the table early when we have guests (which is frequently), and skipping the after-dinner chit-chat. Its a fair trade-off: she enjoys the prestige of being the chef (shes a good cook) and I enjoy the privilege of abandoning her guests and enjoying quiet time in the kitchen.

I do the dishes entirely by hand. People think Im eccentric or a Luddite for not dumping them into the dishwasher, turning it on, and rejoining the merry converse at the table. But my distrust of the machine is not merely sentimental. People act as if dishwashing machines are obedient servants quietly taking work off your hands. But you are as much its servant as it is yours. Couples and housemates argue about the proper way to rack the dishes, which direction they should face, and whether to run a cycle with less than a full load. Those three plates in an otherwise empty washer are a nagging presence, like all deferred labor. And then theres that little pang of environmental guilt when you hit the on button 

Sometimes you hear people complain that modern dishwashers are not as good as those that were built before the age of environmental regulation. This is true. And all the more reason to find them annoying and more symbolic than useful. The mechanical dishwasher is a triumph of hope over experience. Or maybe it demonstrates a willing suspension of disbelief: we put the dishes in the magical box where, out of our sight, they are not only sanitized, but cleansed of our bad feelings. When you open the box and pick those hot dishes out of the machine, its hard to remember the arguments they caused.

When I came to live away from home for the first time, I noticed how much unhappiness dirty dishes caused in the world, and grieved over this fact. With a young mans eagerness to put the world right, I pondered the subject deeply, and came up with what I thought was a simple solution. I called it one man, one bowl.

As I saw it, dirty dishes piled up in the sink because there were clean dishes in the cupboard. The final reckoning could always be postponed by simply grabbing a new dish. Nobody owns the dishes in a cupboard. Theyre like a slush fund that everyone draws from, but no one replenishes until it runs out, and then all hell breaks loose. But what if there were only one bowl, one dish, one cup, one fork, one spoon per person? And we carried these with us like a wallet or purse. What if after eating off a dish, we carried it over to the nearest sink and washed it ourselves, just as we wash our hands after going to the bathroom? Dinner guests, too, could wash their own plate before leaving. At a party the line at the sink might become part of the evenings sociability. I once imagined everyone carrying personal utensils in a kind of utility belt, like frontier tableware elevated into fashion. Nobody Ive told it to has thought much of it.

Meanwhile the younger generation has arrived, by another route, at my ideal of fewer dishes. As any estate-sale dealer will tell you, kids nowadays are aghast at the amount of fine china set to come down to them as an inheritance. Preceding generations were raised to believe that you were not an adult without a proper set of formal china, accumulated over a lifetime, and brought out for distinguished guests. Young people stare at the stacks of porcelain in glass-fronted cabinets and say, What the hell are we supposed to do with this stuff?

Well, I have the answer. Do not reject those elegant cups, saucers, plates, platters and gravy boats. Accept them gladly. Store them in the basement, the garage, or wherever there is room. Then use them. Eat and drink from them. See what its like to devour takeout noodles and burrito slop from fine dishware. Drink your pod-brewed coffee from delicate cups and saucers. Raise your pinkie.

Then, after dinner, instead of letting the dishes pile up in the sink and provoke a quarrel, toss them one by one into the garbageor better yet, stand in the driveway and frisbee them into a can, each throw ending in a gratifying crash.

Put it on TikTok, and within days half the country will be doing it.

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Donald Trump has agreed to a provisional two-week ceasefire in the Iran war after pulling back at the last-minute from his apocalyptic warning that a whole civilisation will die unless Tehran met his demands.

Less than two hours before his deadline passed for Iran to agree a deal, the US president said he was suspending his threat to widen the military offensive to power plants and bridges subject to the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway.

He said Tehran proposed a 10-point plan that provided a workable basis on which to negotiate.

The move followed a request by Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator in the conflict between the warring sides.

The Iranian regime said it had accepted a temporary truce but warned that its hands remain upon the trigger, while a White House official said Israel had also accepted the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

 President Donald J. Trump makes a statement on Iran: pic.twitter.com/9mqTayL0Q3  The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2026

Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had invited Iranian and US officials to Islamabad for talks on Friday.

The US president had given Tehran until 1am on Wednesday Irish time to end its chokehold on the strait or face annihilation.

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Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.

He added: We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.

On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

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Irans Supreme National Security Council said it would negotiate with the US in Pakistans capital, Islamabad, starting on Friday.

Statement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran: pic.twitter.com/cEtBNCLnWT  Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 7, 2026

But while accepting a ceasefire, it said in a statement: It is emphasised that this does not signify the termination of the war.

Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi also said ships would be allowed to pass through the strait over the next two weeks in coordination with the countrys military.

He said in a statement: For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Irans armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.

Prior to the conflict, there were no restrictions and it was not clear if Iran would continue to seek to charge ships as it had been doing during the war.

On its 10-point plan for the future, Iran also said the strait would be subject to regulated passage under the coordination of the armed forces of Iran.

In doing so, it would be conferring upon Iran a unique economic and geopolitical standing.

This would appear to be at direct odds with Trumps demand for the shipping route to be fully open to vessels and flags potential future difficulties to overcome.

(PA Graphics)

In the face of ongoing military strikes by the US and Israel, Iran has tightened its grip on the critical shipping route, sending global oil and gas prices skyrocketing and causing global economic uncertainty.

Earlier, ahead of the announced ceasefire, Trump said: A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

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I dont want that to happen, but it probably will.

Among those to criticise his ominous threat was Pope Leo XIV, who branded it truly unacceptable.

Separately, the US State Department said secretary of state Marco Rubio and Ms Cooper had spoken about the Iranian regimes ongoing attacks across the Middle East and the critical importance of restoring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

A spokesman added: The secretary and Foreign Secretary agreed on the need for international efforts to ensure shipping can move freely and energy supplies can reach global markets.

On Tuesday, the UK chaired a meeting of military planners from a coalition of more than 30 nations examining long-term measures to make the shipping route safe and accessible once hostilities have ended.
US President Donald Trump said late on Tuesday that he is pulling back on his threats to attack Iranian bridges, power plants and other civilian targets, as Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Trump also said Iran has proposed a workable 10-point peace plan that could help end the war the US and Israel launched on February 28.

In a post on his social media site, Mr Trump said Iran could agree to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz and said that he would then suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.





Irans foreign minister said early on Wednesday that ships would be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, over the next two weeks under coordination from Irans military.

It was not exactly clear whether that meant Iran would loosen its chokehold on the waterway crucial to global energy supplies.

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Abbas Araghchi wrote in a statement that: For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Irans Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.

Before the war, there were no technical limitations. Over 100 ships a day passed through the water in Iranian and Omani territorial waters in a decades-old traffic system. It did not say whether Iran would seek to charge ships as it had been during the war.

An Israeli military official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said early on Wednesday that Israel was still attacking Iran.

Moments earlier, the White House said Israel had agreed to the terms of the two-week US-Iran ceasefire agreement.

Iran also kept up fire on Israel.

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been leading negotiations, said the ceasefire extends to Israel and Hezbollah halting fighting in Lebanon.

But there are concerns in Israel about the agreement, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the media. The person said Israel would like to achieve more.

Mr Trump had previously threatened on Tuesday that a whole civilisation will die tonight if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the strait through which a fifth of the worlds oil is transported during peacetime.

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But since the war began, Mr Trump has repeatedly backed off of deadlines just before they expire.

The president said in his social media post that Iran has presented a workable basis on which to negotiate.



Bystanders watch as rescue teams work at the site of a strike in Tehran, Iran (Francisco Seco/AP)

Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated, Mr Trump said.

Mr Trumps expansive threat on Tuesday did not seem to account for potential harm to civilians, prompting Democrats in Congress, some United Nations officials and scholars in military law to say such strikes would violate international law.

Tehrans representative at the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, said the threats constitute incitement to war crimes and potentially genocide and that Iran would take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures if Mr Trump launches devastating strikes.



(PA Graphics)

The US and Israel have battered Iran with attacks targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. Iran has responded with a stream of strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab neighbours, causing regional chaos and outsized economic and political shock.

Late Tuesday, Pakistans prime minister urged Mr Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance. In a post on X, Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been leading negotiations, also asked Iran to open up for two weeks the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the deadline, air strikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the U.S. hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.
Iran, the United States and Israel have reached a two-week ceasefire as US President Donald Trump pulled back from his threats to destroy Iranian civilisation.

But questions emerged over what appeared to be contradictory proposals to halt the region-wide war and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, with Iran insisting it would charge tolls to passing ships and continue to enrich uranium.

Mr Trump then suggested American warships would be hangin around the waterway, through which 20% of all oil and natural gas passes in peacetime. That could be a potential flashpoint as the days goes on.

Mr Trump initially said Iran had proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war he launched with Israel on February 28. But he later called the plan fraudulent without elaborating. Mr Trump has said ending Irans nuclear programme was a key war goal.

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Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday it will not stop his countrys fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which continued through the morning. That contradicted comments from Pakistan, a key mediator, which said the ceasefire included the fighting in Lebanon.

Israels military said later that Wednesday that it continues fighting and ground operations against Hezbollah.

Pakistan said that talks over cementing a peace plan would begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday. Pakistan also said the ceasefire was to begin immediately, while Iran launched attacks on Gulf Arab states and Israel soon after.

Oil prices fell and stocks rose as Asian markets opened on Wednesday after the eleventh-hour agreement to reopen the strait.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags. It shows the ongoing anger from hardliners, who had been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptical battle with the United States.



Pro-government demonstrators on the streets of Tehran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management. It was not clear whether that meant Iran would completely loosen its chokehold on the waterway.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through the strait, according to a regional official who added that Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

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But that would upend decades of reliance on the strait as an international waterway free for transit and will likely not be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oilfields.

Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process, Mr Trump said on social media.

It is not clear what happens when the two weeks of the ceasefire ends.

There is little public sign that Iran and the United States had resolved disagreements over the fate of Irans nuclear programme, its ballistic missiles or its regional proxies  among the issues that the United States and Israel cited as justifications for launching the war.

In addition to control of the strait, Irans demands for ending the war include withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

All those likely are non-starters for Mr Trump and potentially other Western nations. Irans chokehold on the strait roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Mr Trump to reach a deal.



Donald Trump said ending Irans nuclear programme was a key war goal (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Since the war began, Mr Trump has repeatedly backed off deadlines just before they expire. In doing so again on Tuesday, Mr Trump said in a social media post he had come to the decision based on conversations with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir, Pakistans powerful army chief.

A senior Israeli official said the United States had co-ordinated the ceasefire with Israel in advance and said Israels government credited the massive crushing of the regimes infrastructure with securing the agreement.

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The official said Washington had committed to pressing for the removal of nuclear material and dismantling of Irans ballistic missile programme.

Missile alerts were issued in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait after the ceasefire announcement. A gas processing facility in Abu Dhabi was ablaze after incoming Iranian fire, officials said.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the wars toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed and a million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 US service members have been killed.
Iran, the US and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour deal that headed off President Donald Trumps threat to unleash a bombing campaign to destroy Iranian civilisation.

Hours later, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks on Wednesday.

It was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal, which US vice president JD Vance called fragile.



An Iranian cluster munition missile explodes in the sky over northern Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Both the US and Iran declared victory.

Meanwhile, Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Iranian-state media reported.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a capital V military victory and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to US forces or the region.

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The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the US to accept its proposed conditions and surrender.

Even before the new attacks, much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

Iran said the deal would allow it to formalise its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial transit lane for oil.

But the details were not clear, nor was it known whether vessels would feel safe using the channel or whether ship traffic had resumed.

It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition.

Pakistan, which helped to mediate the deal, and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.



US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that a whole civilisation will die tonight if a deal was not reached (Alex Brandon/PA)

Israel said it would not, and strikes hit Beirut on Wednesday.

The fate of Irans missile and nuclear programmes- the elimination of which were major objectives for the US and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear.

Mr Trump said the US would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed: Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers! after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags.

The chants underscored the anger animating hard-liners, who have been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptic battle with the US.

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Mr Trump warned on Tuesday that a whole civilisation will die tonight if a deal was not reached.

Mr Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war the US launched with Israel on February 28.

But when a version in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  which is key to building a nuclear weapon  Mr Trump called it fraudulent without elaborating.



First responders work at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment building in Beirut, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP)

Mr Vance later said the deal was being misrepresented within Iran, though he did not offer details.

Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions, and the release of its frozen assets.

In his post Wednesday, Mr Trump said: We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran.

It was not clear if other Western nations would agree to that, and the other points are likely nonstarters.

United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterress personal envoy arrived in Iran for talks on the way forward.

Pakistan said talks to seek a permanent end to the war could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday.

Mr Trump told The New York Post that in-person talks would happen very soon.

Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal does not cover fighting against Hezbollah.



(PA Graphics)

Mr Trump told PBS News Hour that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal because of Hezbollah.

Israeli chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilise every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah.

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The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

While Iran could not match the sophistication of US and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its ability to control the Strait of Hormuz proved a tremendous strategic advantage.

Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Mr Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalise a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge ships, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in.



Pro-government demonstrators burn the US and Israeli flags after announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit and will likely not be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

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Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management  further clouding the picture of who would be allowed to transit the waterway.

News of the ceasefire sent stock markets surging worldwide, and oil prices plunged back toward 90 dollars (66) per barrel.

US-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not entirely eliminated the threats posed by Tehrans nuclear programme, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah.

The US and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

Mr Trump said on Wednesday that the US would work with Iran to dig up and remove enriched uranium that was buried under joint US-Israeli strikes in June.

He added that none of the material had been touched since.



The Indian flagged LPG carrier Jag Vasant transporting liquefied petroleum gas at Mumbai Port after it arrived clearing the Strait of Hormuz (Rafiq Maqbool/AP)

Any retrieval is expected to be an intensive undertaking.

There was no confirmation from Iran on that.

Mr Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday that the US would do something like last Junes joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if the country refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Tehran insisted for years that its nuclear programme was peaceful, although it enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Iran referred to its nuclear programme differently in two versions of the ceasefire plan that it released.

The version in Farsi included the phrase acceptance of enrichment for its nuclear programme  that phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats with journalists.

Mr Hegseth said the US military has done its part for now but stands ready to ensure Iran complies all the ceasefires terms.

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran.



A woman walks past a mural depicting Iranian astronauts in space in Tehran (Francisco Seco/AP)

That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television.

Its report said that firefighters were working to contain the blaze but no one had been hurt.

It did not say who launched the attack.

The island is home to one of the terminals that Iran uses to export oil and gas.

A short time later, the UAEs air defences fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage.

Kuwaits military forces, meanwhile, responded to an extensive wave of drone attacks.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones.



People at the site of a coffee shop damaged in an Israeli strike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP)

Kuwaiti authorities said three power and water desalination plants have been severely damaged after 28 Iranian drones were launched on the oil-rich country on Wednesday.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the wars toll for days.
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Zenith targets high-grade WA gold uplift with new drilling blitz Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Murray Ward April 8, 2026  4:34pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Zenith Minerals Ltd has wasted no time putting the rig to work at its Consolidated Dulcie gold project in WAs Southern Cross region, officially kicking off a high-impact drilling campaign just weeks after locking in a substantial resource at site. The Western Australian gold hunter has mobilised a reverse circulation rig to run an eight-hole 1,350-metre program aimed at sniffing out grade uplifts and fresh ounces right next door to its current deposit. A reverse circulation drill rig in operation at Zenith Minerals Dulcie gold project in Western Australia. The move follows the recent definition of an inferred mineral resource at the project, totalling 21.3 million tonnes at 1.0 gram per tonne (g/t) gold for 675,000 ounces. Bagging an impressive start, Zenith says it is now hungry to add to its inventory, focusing on high-confidence zones that can rapidly move the needle on both scale and quality. At its Dulcie South prospect, the drill bit will zero in on a key gap in the resource model, chasing down-dip extensions of shallow, high-grade zones from previously cleared pads. By filling in the blanks, the company expects to significantly boost the continuity and confidence of the existing resource.

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We are targeting high-confidence, near-resource opportunities. Zenith Minerals managing director Andrew Smith Further north at Scotts Grey, five reverse-circulation holes are being punched into the dirt to test for lateral and down-dip extensions of high-grade mineralisation. Previous hits at Scotts Grey included 3 metres at 7.40 g/t gold from 71m in one hole and 11m at 3.53 g/t gold from 66m from a second, suggesting there is plenty of high-margin potential still to be tapped beyond the current outlined resource. Zenith Minerals managing director Andrew Smith said: We are targeting high-confidence, near-resource opportunities where we see clear potential to rapidly add ounces, improve grade distribution and enhance overall resource quality. Adding further weight to the project, the company is in the midst of snapping up mining lease M77/599, which covers a vital one-kilometre strike gap between its Dulcie North and Dulcie prospects. Management believes unifying these zones could be the key to unlocking a major scale-up across the 6-kilometre central corridor.

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Meanwhile, beyond the immediate drill targets, Zenith is also set to focus its exploration efforts across a much wider area characterised by a massive 19-kilometre mineralised trend within its tenure. The company has identified multiple parallel shear zones outside the main trend, where historical drilling has confirmed encouraging gold mineralisation. In a savvy, low-cost move, the geos have also re-assayed old lithium drill core for gold, aiming to generate new targets across the 360-square-kilometre landholding without the need for cash-draining regional exploration. Where Dulcie begins to look like more than just another resource-growth story is the development optionality afforded by its location. Zenith says the project sits on granted mining leases and already benefits from sealed-road access, power and water  key ingredients that can fast-track a project from discovery to development. Notably, the company has also kicked off early-stage feasibility work, examining staged open-pit mining scenarios alongside low-capital processing options such as ore sales or toll treatment.

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Dulcies position near established gold infrastructure could prove a major advantage. The project lies within trucking distance of operating processing hubs, including the Marvel Loch processing plant about 40 kilometres away and the Edna May gold mine, both of which could provide potential treatment pathways if the resource continues to grow and the metallurgy stacks up. Zenith appears determined to show its 675,000-ounce resource is only the first chapter for the Consolidated Dulcie gold project. With the drill bit now turning across a massive 19-kilometre trend, punters will be glued to the news flow as it hunts for the high-grade hits that could quickly transform Dulcie  and the company - into the ranks of Western Australias emerging gold players. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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LifestyleLife & relationshipsSunday Life After 25 years and three kids, a trip helped me remember this about my husband Kim Wilson April 9, 2026  5:00am 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 the April 12 edition of Sunday Life See all stories .

On the flight to New Zealand to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, I had a quiet and slightly embarrassing concern. What if we get bored? Id arranged a surprise getaway for my husband and me. Seven days alone together. No children, no work, no distractions. Just the two of us, after decades of our lives shared. What if, after all that time, wed run out of things to say? I didnt mention this to my husband. But I did buy a pack of conversation cards for couples, much to his later amusement. Fortunately, they remained unopened for the entire trip. That small anxiety surprised me, but when I told a friend, she said it felt deeply relatable. I cant believe weve been married for a quarter of a century. It sounds enormous when you say it out loud. We married in 2000, which makes the maths easy and the milestones harder to ignore. What startles me most is the speed of it. Thousands of ordinary days stacked gently on top of one another, punctuated by moments that either reinforced or shifted our trajectory in big and small ways. There are the obvious markers: our wedding, the births of our three children, career moves and relocations. But with hindsight, its the unremarkable moments that feel most significant. The ones that didnt announce themselves as important at the time yet somehow fused together to form the fabric of our family life.

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Our two sons and daughter are the most treasured and profound proof of our partnerships success. Each of them embodies a part of us, and watching my husband father them has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. Kim Wilson and her husband, Damon Johnston, on their wedding day in 2000. He is the yin to my yang. He is calm and steady, thoughtful and gentle. Together, we have built a family, not Pollyanna-perfect, but one that feels grounded and secure, even as our children grow into young adults and begin to spread their wings. Of course, it hasnt always been smooth sailing. No genuine marriages are. Anyone who claims otherwise is either very lucky or deeply dishonest. Of course, there have been tough times. Plenty. Whether it was in the early days of new parenthood, moving houses, work stresses, illnesses or the smaller but sometimes no less significant challenges of navigating a rental car in a foreign city, or a terse chat about whether the chicken has been cooked properly on the barbecue. But those moments did not defeat us. Its true that what doesnt kill you makes you stronger; it also helps that my husband has superhuman patience and a willingness not to sweat the small stuff. Im not sure he could say the same about me. But once again, thats the power of his yin to my yang. Im the household organiser, the holder of passwords, the travel agent, the nurse, the tutor and the family taxi service, so he can afford to cut me some slack.

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There is a quiet intimacy in being so well known that you can read each others moods just by posture. Its about recognising when words are needed and when silence is the better choice. Even on our most distracted or tired days, theres a baseline of care and respect that has never faltered. I find myself attracted to the small, simple acts that mark our daily lives. They might seem minor to others, but to me they feel monumental. After all these years, I love this man. And more than that, I still like him. The cup of tea made just the way I like it in the morning: not too weak, not too strong. The hand that instinctively rests on my arm as we cross the road, alert and watchful for traffic. The shared look across a room when something absurd unfolds, a flicker of amusement or disbelief that belongs only to us. These are not romantic cliches; theyre the quiet currency of a long partnership. We missed celebrating our 20th anniversary thanks to COVID-19, so for our 25th I decided we needed to mark it properly with a week in New Zealand, including four indulgent nights at Huka Lodge, a place better known for hosting royalty and rock stars than tired parents of three.

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It was the longest uninterrupted stretch wed spent alone together since having children. And far from boredom, the days felt expansive. We felt like we were 25 years younger, free from the push-and-pull of daily life. We talked, laughed, swam, drank, hiked, mountain biked, read and soaked in the spectacular scenery. Related Article Sunday Life For the cost of a one-bedroom unit, we bought a French chateau. Its a labour of love It reminded me of something that often gets lost in the minutiae of everyday life. After all these years, I love this man. And more than that, I still like him. Hes clever, funny, humble, sweet and generous-hearted. As the intensity of child-raising eases and the constant logistic issues soften, space is opening again. For curiosity, conversation and thinking about who we are now, and how we want the next chapter to look. We are, at heart, conservative souls, yet weve built a life that is anything but small. Weve taken risks when it mattered, moved when it felt uncomfortable, and made choices guided as much by values as ambition.

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Looking back, I think the most radical thing weve done is not chase perfection but commit to presence. Staying engaged with each other, even when life felt overwhelming or unglamorous. Celebrating 25 years of marriage isnt about nostalgia or sentimental slogans. Its about recognising resilience, commitment and the daily decisions that rarely make headlines but ultimately define a life. Get the best of Sunday Life magazine delivered to your inbox every Sunday morning. Sign up here for our free newsletter.
This story is part of the April 11 edition of Good Weekend. See all stories .

How can I face April showers fashionably?

Actor and musician Teyana Taylor at Paris Fashion Week last month. Getty Images

I believe in climate change but, when it comes to fashion, I am a rain denialist and pretend that even with grey clouds in the sky, I shall remain drier than an Anzac biscuit on my morning walk to work. Unfortunately, this means I spend many days smelling like a sodden sheepdog in a damp blazer, with my fringe plastered to my forehead like its suffered from an overapplication of hair gel.

Rather than seeing wet weather as a fashion obstacle, however, its best to look at it as an opportunity for accessories expansion. Working from the feet up, start with rubber rain boots. Melbourne-based Merry People has expanded its colourful, allweather boots, offering to include mens styles perfect for jumping puddles. Keep your loafers or ballet shoes at the office if you prefer the rubber look for outdoors.

Raincoats are another opportunity to elevate your commute. Look for maximum coverage, reaching to the knee. Bold, block, primary colours from Canadian brand Tilley, Danish brand Rains or Tasmanian label Rainkoat all raise smiles on gloomy days. If youre particularly proud of your workday attire, take notes from Oscar nominee Teyana Taylor (One Battle After Another) at Paris Fashion Week and let a see-through style offer a full view.
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The families of two Afghans allegedly executed on the orders of Ben Roberts-Smith have welcomed the criminal charges but criticised the years-long delay in bringing the famous soldier to justice. Australian filmmaker Pete Williams visited southern Afghanistan late last year and spoke with the family of the two allegedly murdered men. Esmatullah, the brother and son of two men allegedly murdered by and on the order of Ben Roberts-Smith, expressed his frustration at the delay in charges being brought. Pete Williams On Tuesday, just hours after the Australian Federal Police announced Roberts-Smiths five charges of war crime  murder, Williams contacted the son and brother of the two men who prosecutors will claim were summarily executed. Esmatullah is the brother of a disabled man with a prosthetic leg, Ahmadullah, who was allegedly machine-gunned in the back by Roberts-Smith, and the son of Mohammad Essa, who was allegedly executed on Roberts-Smiths orders, both in 2009. The leg was photographed being used as a trophy to drink alcohol from.

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Speaking via a translator, Esmatullah said he welcomed the news. He said he was very, very happy, and he wants to know whats next, Williams said. Esmatullah and the family members of Ali Jan, who was allegedly executed in 2012 on Roberts-Smiths order, expressed concern to Williams late last year at the time it had taken for charges to be brought. Ben Roberts-Smith (left) with a former colleague drinking from the prosthetic leg of a dead Afghan man in 2012. They were very frustrated, they were angry, and they lost faith in the Australian justice system, Williams said.

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In the unsuccessful defamation case brought against this masthead, Ben Roberts-Smith claimed Ali Jan and the three other victims were all armed combatants killed during the heat of battle. Roberts-Smith has always denied any wrongdoing, and it is anticipated that he will fight criminal charges. In Australia, the news of the arrests has brought back traumatic memories and mixed emotions among the Afghan diaspora. Tahera Nassrat, who fled Afghanistan in 1998, said the initial reports of Roberts-Smiths alleged crimes had shaken her sense of security. Refugee Tahera Nassrat said the charges refocused the conversation around Afghan civilians. Audrey Richardson Nassrat had been working with Medecins Sans Frontieres when the Taliban attacked the city she was in. She now lives in Sydney, is the founder of the Afghan Peace Foundation and a Refugee Council of Australia ambassador.

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As a young girl in the war-torn country, Nassrat said she was taught to trust soldiers as they had a duty to protect civilians. We put our trust in them, and we put our lives in their hands, and we run to them for safety, she said. Loading The allegations, she said, shook that perception of safety, but the news of Roberts-Smiths arrest was the first step toward rebuilding trust between civilians and soldiers. Many Afghans have felt invisible and unheard for a long time, but this development offers a sense of recognition and a hope that justice is still possible, she said.

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She said soldiers had a duty to protect civilians and to act with humanity, discipline, and respect, and that the arrest meant if rules were broken, consequences would follow regardless of a persons status or reputation. Related Article Roberts-Smith case Inside Ben Roberts-Smiths harsh Sydney prison It sends a clear message to Afghan Australians that while it took a while, justice is there and the truth always comes first. It sends the message that their life matters and their suffering has not been completely forgotten. Senior member of the Afghan expat community Khalil Nasri said there was a mixed response among the diaspora. While some celebrated that Australia pursued justice, others questioned the focus on one soldier while the Taliban remained in power. The fact that the relevant authorities have decided to bring this charge on their most highly decorated soldier is a sign Australia upholds the rule of law, and applies it to its most honoured soldier, he said.

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Nasri said some believed it set a great example, particularly in a climate where political leaders threaten to annihilate civilians, including US President Donald Trumps threat to Iran on Tuesday AEST that a whole civilisation will die. A ceasefire has since been announced. Related Article Updated

Roberts-Smith case Ben Roberts-Smith to remain behind bars over multiple alleged war crimes Others believed, however, that there was a misdirected focus on one soldier while a former terror group was in power. He said this was most common among those who had arrived since the Taliban seized power in 2021, and among women. For all the women who cant go to school or university, to people whose families are being tortured and have lost members due to the Taliban, those people [ask]  why is the focus on one individual when the whole country is being held hostage? he said.

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NationalQueenslandCrime Rideshare driver accused of rape, stalking after passengers go to police William Davis and Dominique Tassell Updated April 8, 2026  4:02pm ,first published 1:10pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A rideshare driver living north of Brisbane has been charged with stalking, rape, coercive control and threatening violence, with detectives appealing for other women who had similar experiences to come forward. The 29-year-old man from Ferny Hills is accused of abusing two women he had picked up as part of his job, and a third with whom he was in an earlier relationship. A 21-year-old woman reported being dropped home from Fortitude Valley in a white Mercedes-Benz A45 rideshare car on November 1, 2024. One woman was allegedly stalked after taking a rideshare home from Fortitude Valley. Markus Ravik The driver allegedly exchanged social media details with the woman, and over the next seven days sent her messages and threatened to attend her workplace.

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She never met him again, and blocked him on social media before attending a police station to report the matter. About six months later a 27-year-old woman was picked up by the driver in the same Mercedes-Benz. He allegedly connected with her on social media and the two began a relationship in June that year, before he repeatedly accessed her phone and threatened assault. She attempted to end the relationship several times, before the driver allegedly went to her house unannounced on the night of July 20 and sexually assaulted her.

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It seems that over a period of time that relationship has dissolved, and it will be alleged that the 29-year-old man has acted inappropriately by sending a number of messages, Senior Sergeant Robert Lowry said. Despite being told not to contact her again, the man allegedly returned to her home and threatened her on August 17, but left because other people were there. Senior Sergeant Robert Lowry spoke to media about the case on Wednesday afternoon. Nine Police also spoke about a third woman, aged 20, who they said had a relationship with the man in November 2020. Within two months he allegedly assaulted her and went through her phone, calling her multiple times a day and showing up at her house when she did not answer.

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The woman finished the relationship in early 2021 and reported the man to police in May that year. Police searched his home at Ferny Hills in November last year, seizing mobile phones and a laptop. He was taken into custody that month, charged with one count each of rape, coercive control and threatening violence and three counts of stalking. Since then, he had been living in the community on bail, and would next appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 17, police said. Lowry urged anyone who had a similar experience to come forward.

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He did not name the rideshare company the man worked for, saying that while he no longer worked for this company, he may be working for another one. We do believe from the information that weve got that there probably are other women out there that have experienced this behaviour by this driver, he said. The 29-year-old is described as about 167 centimetres tall, with a tanned complexion, a solid, muscular build, and tattoos on both arms and one leg. Some alleged victims also said he had full facial hair. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
by Scott Samuelson

One of my early memories is lying awake at night, trying to discern through the sounds of the wind the creeping of an Iranian on the roof outside my bedroom window. For a few months, when Id look both ways to cross the street on my walk to school, Id scan less for oncoming traffic (my rural town had almost no traffic) than for a stampeding horde of Iranian college students.

I was six years oldjust mature enough to pick up on the anxieties of the news. After footage of angry Iranians storming over fences under the banner of a severe bearded old man, Walter Cronkite would sign off each night by numbering how many days the Americans had been held hostage. I must have heard in passing the phrase American embassy in Tehran, but it entered my young mind like city hall in Paducah. For all I knew, the elementary school of Ainsworth, Iowa was going to fall next. Doesnt our country have an army supposed to protect us? Why isnt anyone doing anything? How can we let Iranians snatch up innocent Americans?

The best argument for the United States war against Iran (insofar as reason has anything to do with it) hews closely to my six-year-old selfs fears and demands. Dont we have a mighty military? Why havent we done anything for the past five decades? We cant let Iran have weapons, especially nuclear weapons, because Iran threatens the whole world with impunity.

Setting aside the pile of important procedural and strategic objections to the current war, lets sayagainst all oddsthat its ostensible goals are realized: the military power of Iran is obliterated, and the vicious ruling regime is eliminated. Obliterate and eliminateand then what? Many years ago, in a discussion of disarmament talks, E.B. White wrote,

Every ship, every plane could be scrapped, every stockpile destroyed, every soldier mustered out, and if the original reasons for holding arms were still present the world would not have been disarmed. Arms would simply be in a momentary state of suspension, preparatory to new and greater arms.

If thats true of disarmament talks, how much truer is it when another country has destroyed your stockpiles in an act of aggression?

The tenderest hope of the warmongersa hope I happen to shareis that the Iranian people will find a decent government to replace its current rulers, who, among many other reprehensible things, have killed thousands of Irans citizens for protesting the regimes corruption and repression. Whether that hope for a humane government briefly flutters on the hearts of Iranian dissidents or confidently bangs from the keyboards of the Wall Street Journal, its magical thinking to believe that a cleansing violence, especially when inflicted by an aggressive foreign power, is sufficient to make it come true. Does America really think that in humiliating the Iranians and walking away it will make their country more democratic and peaceable? Hannah Arendt once observed, The practice of violence, like all action, changes the world, but the most probable change is to a more violent world.

Maybe the war is necessary but not sufficient for positive regime change? Admittedly, examples do exist of a countrys successful one-eighty after being devastated by foreign war, though theyre few and far between. The two that leap to my mind are Germany and Japan in the wake of World War II. Most historians give some degree of credit to the Marshall Plan, which helped the United States erstwhile enemies rebuild not only their infrastructure but their dignity. Is my country prepared to offer a Marshall Plan or something like it to Iran? Such a prospect under this America-First administration, which flirts with video-game fantasies of its own theocratic violence, is non-existent.

Or maybe my country is willing to unleash death and destruction only up to the point that it begins to cramp our style at the gas pump? If so, the whole thing screams of the profound unseriousness and shocking inhumanity that weve put in charge of our psyches and our politics. The fact that the best-case scenario now looks to me like the TACO offrampa compound of weak-bully and bored-toddler psychologiesis deeply depressing.

Heres another memory of mine, from when I was an eighth grader, and my best friends dad was an Iranian American. As a young man, hed fled to the United States, married an American, and raised two kids with her. Over at my friends house one day, I was surprised when it dawned on me that my friends father must have emigrated well before the Ayatollah had come to power. Wasnt 1979 the beginning of the Iranian nightmare? My friends dad was a gifted artist and a proud citizenreluctant to talk politics. But, at the prompting of his feisty wife, he opened my teenage eyes to a world more complicated than my naive vision of American innocence and Iranian villainy.

He and my friends mom explained to me how the former prime minister of Iran had nationalized the oil industry with democratic backing; how the CIA and MI6 had teamed up in 1953 to support a coup against him; how the US and the UK compelled the Shah to give them a sweetheart deal for Iranian oil; how they helped the Shah in establishing a secret police to suppress dissent.

We talked about a lot of things that day. The rise of the Ayatollah. The hostage crisis. US support for both sides of the Iran-Iraq War. The recent Iran-Contra hearings. The atrocities of various Iranian regimes. He said that he thought of himself as Persian rather than Iranian.

As we talked, I thought back to when I feared Iranians as a six-year-old. I thought about the quiet, lively, brilliant, naughty-humored, generous man in front of me. I thought about how hed fled his birth country to mine. I thought about the fear that many Iranian six-year-olds must have felt as the bombs lit up the nights during the coup or over the years of the Iran-Iraq War. I thought about irrational fear compared to all-too-rational fear and where those fears lead people in life. I thought about the fears of people all over the world and how theyre encircled by outward-rippling contexts of violence and politics. I had a sinking feeling that we easily turn into what we fear.

It was a lot to take in. And I didnt know what I could think of myself as other than American.

***

Scott Samuelson is the author of several books. His most recent, To Taste: On Cooking and the Good Life, comes out this fall.

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NationalQueenslandSchools Brisbanes youngest state school fills in, but pressure still on citys south Catherine Strohfeldt April 9, 2026  5:01am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

In 2025, Ellen Rigbye withdrew her daughter, Charlotte, from a western Brisbane private school in favour of a state school over the river. Charlotte, a competitive AFL player, had successfully secured selective entry to the citys newest state school, Brisbane South State Secondary College (BSSSC) at Dutton Park. We went along to an AFL Academy open night, where they do a presentation about the school and about the academy, and it just sounded really good, Ellen said. Ellen Rigbye (left) and her daughter Charlotte (right). Ellen Rigbye Opened in 2021, BSSSC carved large chunks from surrounding secondary catchments  including about a third of Brisbane State High Schools catchment.

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The schools AFL program partners with AFL Queensland and the Brisbane Lions, and Charlotte  now in year 10  said it was a big draw among her friends. Related Article Exclusive

Schools Inside the extreme lengths to weed out enrolment fraud at Brisbane schools The schools other excellence program, the Biomedical Science Academy, attracts students angling for careers in medicine. There has been a lot of people who also used to go to State High and then have moved over, she said. Enrolment data from February 2026, obtained by this masthead, showed BSSSC grew by 201 students this year  more than Mansfield State High School, which grew the most of any established state school  as its first cohort of students reached year 12.

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Charlotte said the school was not as packed as it can be, with a smaller-than-normal year 7 cohort. The school sits at 94.8 per cent of its total built capacity with 1444 students. Consultation for the Brisbane South State Secondary College catchment closed in 2018. Staff reporter Seleneah More, who was involved with the now-defunct inner-south education coalition that helped shape public consultation on the new school, said there was one glaring fault. BSSSC was meant to relieve enrolment pressure at Brisbane State High School, and it simply hasnt done that, she said.

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More, also a member of grassroots community organisation West End Community Alliance, said the community had raised concerns from the outset about the issue. We consistently warned that placing the school outside the Brisbane State High catchment, alongside only minor boundary changes involving schools like Coorparoo Secondary College and Yeronga State High School, would not solve the problem, she said. In 2026, enrolments at Brisbane State High dropped by 19 students, rather than increasing by about 100, as Education Department modelling had predicted. It grew by 48 students between 2024 and 2025, and by 44 the year before.

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State High still exceeds its stated built capacity by 19 per cent  or 588 students. The education department has said previously that it uses timetabling efficiencies that allow operation above the student enrolment capacity. Related Article Exclusive

Schools Bursting at the seams, this Brisbane school is adding more students than any other About 92 per cent of students in State Highs catchment attend the school, and another 1000 places are open to selective entry for academic, music, and sporting excellence programs. Charlotte said the number of out-of-catchment students at BSSSC was already dropping in younger grades, and her mother Ellen said the school was increasingly strict on such placements. Really, the way in is through the AFL academy or the biomedical science academy, she 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.
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Updated NationalWATobacco Six shops, zero legal smokes: The night out that sparked Freos convenience store overhaul Indigo Lemay-Conway Updated April 9, 2026  4:31pm ,first published April 8, 2026  5:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver knew something had to change after a hunt for a pack of cigarettes during a night out on the town went up in smoke. Having set out on a mission to track down a particular brand of cigarettes for a friend, Lawver was offered illegal tobacco not once, but six times at convenience stores in the port citys CBD. Talk about convenient: Bongs are openly for sale among other everyday items at one of the many stores littering Fremantles main strip. Indigo Lemay-Conway Speaking to this masthead the day after Fremantle councillors passed a motion to amend the citys planning laws  forcing any prospective convenience stores to lodge development applications and advertise publicly  Lawver detailed his first-hand experience of the illegal tobacco trade that has become the bane of Cappuccino Strip regulars. Before the notice of motion was put forward, and part of what sparked it for me, was I actually have a friend who smokes cigarettes, and theyre very particular about their brand, Lawver said.

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We were at a pub, and they ran out of tobacco ... I went just right across the street from the pub where there was a convenience store, and said, Do you have cigarettes? Related Article Smoking & vaping Its dangerous, and thats the message: Aussie study finds vaping likely to cause cancer And they said yes, and pulled something out from under the counter and said, $40 cash, and it was a pouch of tobacco. That wasnt the brand [I was looking for] so I asked, Do you have this brand?, and they said: No, this is the only stuff we have. So I left, and I wound up going to six shops, and of the six, they only offered me illegal tobacco.

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At Wednesday nights council meeting, councillors unanimously voted to make it harder for convenience stores to proliferate in the port citys CBD amid a crackdown on illegal tobacco and vape sales. The updated planning laws will force future convenience store owners to lodge a publicly advertised development application. City of Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver. Mark Naglazas I think its really great. We as a council are on board with progressing this as quickly as possible, Lawver said. Its a very simple change to the scheme. Were only changing four letters, but those four letters will have a really big impact on our ability to control the spread of these convenience stores across our city.

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Lawver said he originally put forward a notice of motion in August 2025 after residents raised concerns over the number of convenience stores in the CBD. This was first brought to our attention as a council in November 2024 by members of the community  by August 2025 the number of those stores had actually doubled in our CBD, he said. When we first started on the scheme amendment in February, I was told there were 16 convenient shops in our CBD area. But just since then, theres been one thats opened half a block away from council chambers, and theres another one that, if it isnt open already, looks like its going to open this weekend just a couple of blocks up High Street, so wed be up to 18. It is very much overkill. So I think having a little bit of control on this for a period of time is a very much-needed thing.

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Fremantle councillor Melanie Clark told Wednesday nights meeting she was aware of 18 convenience stores in the area, and believed the planning law change cant come soon enough. Related Article Crime Sweeping reforms announced to stamp out WAs tobacco thugs Im really looking forward to these laws being enacted so that Superintendent Steve Post and his team can swing into action to not only start clearing them out [but also] create some empty spaces for some new businesses to move in, she said. Im also very pleased that what we are putting forward here will support all of that action. A report to council ahead of the meeting pointed to illegal tobacco sales being the main cause for concern from residents.

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It is understood that most of the concern regarding convenience stores stems from the fact that many of them allegedly sell tobacco products illegally or under the counter, it said. The report noted it was not the citys intention to establish whether the current stores do, or do not, sell illicit tobacco products. Though it has been reported that a number of these types of stores throughout Australia have been accused of selling black market cigarettes, it said. This is a particular concern due to rising gang activity around this market, as has been reported in Perth and elsewhere, and the possibility for arson or other such attacks in the City of Fremantle occurring as part of one gang attacking another. Lawver said he could sympathise with people opting to purchase the cheaper illegal tobacco amid the cost of living crisis.

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I think a pouch of tobacco is around $120, to have it go down to $40, thats a huge difference for folks that are doing it tough, and I completely understand that, he said. But in Fremantle, we have close to 18 of these shops, and its just killing the vibe out here to go, we need to have some sort of grasp on it. While councillors may have supported the motion to change the planning law, Lawver said it could take up to 18 months to come into effect due to bureaucratic delays. Meanwhile, WA Health has handed out 21 infringements to retailers in Fremantle for selling tobacco contrary to packaging rules, selling without a licence, or contravention of other licensing rules. Our compliance team is now preparing to implement strengthened laws that recently passed WA Parliament, to keep the community safe from these harmful substances, a WA Health spokesperson said.

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Last month, the state government passed amendments to the Tobacco Products Control Act 2006 to increase penalties for illegal tobacco sales. Related Article Crime When is it going to stop?: Locals anger as community caught in the crossfire of Perths tobacco war The amendments  mean WA has some of the strongest penalties in Australia for businesses caught selling illicit tobacco and vapes, the government said in March. The maximum penalty for possession of a large commercial quantity of illicit tobacco and vaping products is $4.2 million for an individual or $21 million for a company, and 15 years imprisonment. Also introduced as part of the act are store closure orders, which aim to ensure that businesses supplying illegal products will be shut down while investigations take place.

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This a major step forward in protecting Western Australians and driving out the dangerous illicit tobacco and vaping trade, Premier Roger Cook said. Our strengthened laws reflect what the community has been consistently calling for - tougher action to get this harmful trade off our streets. As of March, more than 20 people had been charged with more than 60 offences as part of Taskforce Maverick. The state government also plans to introduce more intense and broader laws to crackdown on illegal tobacco sales later in the year. Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.
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Exclusive PoliticsFederalPolitical leadership Political staffers pocket $23m post-election windfall James Massola April 9, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Political staffers secured a bumper $23 million pay day after the last federal election thanks to a little-known tweak to employment contracts made by the former Morrison government. A total of 591 advisers  ranging from the most junior electorate officers to chiefs of staff on six-figure salaries  lost their jobs and were paid severance packages after the election. The front entrance of Parliament House, Canberra. Alex Ellinghausen The cost to the Commonwealth was $22.81 million, or an average of $38,594 for each of those almost 600 people  a payout equivalent to 78 per cent of the yearly minimum wage in Australia. Following the May 2025 election, 227 of those 591 staffers had returned to work in a different political office by October, with the average amount of time out of work being just 15 days, or $2573 per day.

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A whopping 107 political staffers took between one and three days off before resuming their employment in politics, effectively handing those workers a nearly $40,000 one-off payment for being unemployed for less than a week. Another 38 staffers were unemployed for between four and 10 days, while 82 staffers were not employed as ministerial staff for at least 10 days before returning to politics. The information about the generous paydays was contained in an answer to a question on notice asked by the ACTs independent senator, David Pocock. The information provided to Pocock did not specify which political parties the staffers worked for. The figures were provided to independent Senator David Pocock. Alex Ellinghausen Lucrative payouts, followed by near-immediate redeployment, are allowed because of a change to the Members of Parliamentary Staff employment agreement, signed off by former finance minister Simon Birmingham in June 2021.

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A change to a clause in the agreement significantly altered the rules around when and how staff can receive a payout  and how long they have to wait before returning to work for an MP. Related Article Exclusive

Federal budget Chalmers razor gang eyes cuts to legal services for DV victims Under the change, political staffers are now entitled to cash in their entitlements and leave at the end of a parliamentary term, and then be re-employed the next day  as long as they either return the money paid out to them, or confirm in writing that they are prepared to reset their entitlements, including accrued holiday pay, sick leave and more, back to zero. Previously, staffers did not have the option to reset their entitlements to zero and would have to either wait months to become eligible to return to a political office, or pay back their entitlements. It is common for there to be significant staff turnover after a federal election, with staff moving on because an MP has lost their seat, a minister changing or losing their portfolio, because a lucrative opportunity has arisen in the private sector, or simply because of burnout.

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Staff receive an additional 30 per cent loading on top of the standard employment provisions, which provide for a four-week payout after one year of service, eight weeks of pay for two years service and increases from there, as long as the political staffer lost their job through no fault of their own. The Albanese government declined to comment. However, a government source insisted the Morrison-era changes would actually save taxpayers money. Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter.
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PoliticsVictoriaVictorian election Opinion In the Moira Deeming omnishambles, the best Liberal was never in the race Chip Le Grand State political editor April 9, 2026  5:00am

April 9, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The best speech during the Liberal Party convention held to select upper house candidates for Melbournes western suburbs  an episode variously known as Dineshs last supper, Moiras revenge or, for fans of the BBC comedy, The Thick of It, an omnishambles  was delivered by a candidate who barely rated a mention. Trung Luu, throughout the long years of intra-Liberal warfare that preceded the omnishambles, has represented with humility and quiet industry a political party which, to a boatperson welcomed here by the Fraser government after escaping communist Vietnam, always stood for freedom and opportunity. In a concise, five-minute pitch to preselectors, he sketched the outline of a rich Australian story that traversed learning a new language, completing an engineering degree, serving with Victoria Police and the Australian Defence Force, raising a family in Sunshine North, and most recently, working to give the Liberal Party a meaningful presence west of the Maribyrnong River. Trung Luu joined the Liberal Party after his refugee family was welcomed to Australia by the Fraser government. Luis Enrique Ascui In a veiled reference to the partys troubles  a destructive feud which took Moira Deeming from backbench obscurity to culture war celebre and the former leader who maligned her, John Pesutto, to the brink of bankruptcy and political oblivion  Trung summarised how hed spent his time in parliament representing the Western Metropolitan Region in the Legislative Council since 2022.

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My focus has been on the issues people raise at their kitchen tables and in living room  the cost of living, safety and security, hospital waiting times, congestion, local schools, he told the convention. Not personal crusades and not followers from interstate or overseas. He concluded with some free advice for anyone interested in winning the next state election. As a former police officer and a soldier, I learnt something that always applies in life  no mission will succeed without unity of purpose. Moira Deeming, through her gender critical advocacy, has become a culture war cause celebre. Luis Enrique Ascui It was a fine speech entirely wasted on an audience of party flacks and schemers. Of 68 delegates gathered inside the Liberal Partys Collins Street headquarters, a mere three voted for him. The rest were split between Deeming and her chief rival, Dinesh Gourisetty, a businessman who, after beating Deeming in their preselection ballot, was revealed with Machiavellian timing to have provided a character reference for a child sex offender. The best candidate  in this columns view  if measured by political authenticity, integrity, party loyalty and electoral work ethic, was never in the race.

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Trung eventually slotted into the partys No.2 spot on the Western Metro ticket behind Deeming but, with One Nation likely to take a big bite out of the Liberal Partys modest support in that part of Melbourne, he faces a struggle to hold his seat in parliament. If ever the Victorian Liberal Party could do with unity of purpose it is now, with One Nation rising, the teals mobilising, the great Labor campaign machine shifting gears to prop up a tired, 12-year-old government, and many voters, frankly, sick of the lot of them. Dinesh Gourisetty arrives at Liberal Party headquarters before his ill-fated preselection ballot. Rachel Eddie Party president Phil Davis might not have engendered much unity earlier this week when he granted this masthead a rare interview to deliver a blunt appraisal of party matters, but Australian electoral history says he is bang on in predicting that if the Liberals pursue One Nation to the political fringe, they are on a fools errand. The South Australian election result should have made this clear. If the Victorian Liberals want evidence closer to home, they should consider the results of a survey conducted by uComms in Opposition Leader Jess Wilsons own seat of Kew.

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According to the survey of 914 respondents conducted in March, Wilsons primary vote of 44 per cent recorded at the last state election has collapsed to just 36 per cent, despite a whopping boost to her public profile since taking over the partys leadership in November last year. The difference is explained by 13 per cent of voters who say they are planning to vote for One Nation, a party yet to select a candidate for the seat. Some of this vote will flow back to Wilson via preferences but not all of it. To borrow a phrase from Davis interview, this is how One Nation eats the Liberals lunch. Related Article Exclusive

Victorian election Liberals doomed at Victorian election if they try to become One Nation-lite, warns party boss Some caveats are required. Single-seat polling is difficult to get right, and this one was commissioned for Sophie Torney, a teal candidate who lost to Wilson at the 2022 state election and needs a swing of about 4 per cent in November to claim the seat. Torneys primary vote of 17 per cent is down on what it was four years ago but ahead of Labor, One Nation and the Greens. If these numbers were replicated at the November election, it is more likely than not that Wilson would still scrape back in. The more worrying figure in the poll for the Liberals is that only 42 per cent of respondents believe the Liberals are ready to govern. Given the recent events of The Omnishambles, this is a generous assessment.

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If the Liberal Party is to convince more people to trust them with the keys to No.1 Treasury Place, they need to be clear about what they stand for and, when it comes to the more malignant aspects of One Nation, what they wont cop. The burghers of Kew and constituencies in Liberal-held, marginal seats like Prahran, Hawthorn and Caulfield should be naturally inclined to Wilson, a smart, second-generation Liberal who, during her short time as leader, has given centrist voters reason to take another look at her party. Related Article Opinion

Political leadership The rise of One Nation is all about middle-finger voters Chip Le Grand State political editor They will also punish her if they perceive she is walking both sides of the street when it comes to One Nation, a political movement steeped in xenophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry. More prominent Liberals should follow Davis lead in publicly rejecting Jeff Kennetts proposal for a coalition for Victoria which would open the door to One Nation MPs serving in a Liberal/National government.

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If the Liberals see a future in partnership with Pauline Hanson, they bear no relationship to the party where Trung found a political home. Chip Le Grand is state political editor. The Opinion newsletter is a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up here.
Donald Trump to meet NATO chief today

Donald Trump will meet the NATO chief today after the US president criticised the alliance for not backing his war on Iran.
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Updated WorldNorth AmericaCrime Gilgo Beach serial killer pleads guilty to murdering seven women  and confesses to one more Michael R. Sisak and Philip Marcelo Updated April 9, 2026  7:08am ,first published 1:49am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Warning: Graphic content New York: A Long Island architect who led a secret life as a serial killer has pleaded guilty to murdering seven women and admitted he killed an eighth in a string of long-unsolved crimes known as the Gilgo Beach killings. Rex Heuermann, 62, entered the pleas on Wednesday (New York time) in a courtroom packed with reporters, police and victims relatives, some of whom wept as he detailed his crimes for the court. Rex Heuermann, centre, in court on Wednesday. AP He will be sentenced in June to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

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Heuermanns guilty pleas  to three counts of first-degree murder and four of intentional murder  bring finality to a case that bedevilled investigators, tormented victims relatives and tantalised a true-crime obsessed public for years. Although he wasnt charged over her death, he also admitted that he killed Karen Vergata in 1996. This has been a long journey of hope  hope that one day we would stand here and say her name with justice beside it, Melissa Cann, the sister of victim Maureen Brainard-Barnes, said at a news conference hours after the hearing as she fought back tears. Today, that long, painful journey brings us to this moment. Loading In court, Heuermann admitted that he strangled all eight victims and dismembered some of them before dumping their bodies. Wearing a black suit coat and white button-down shirt, Heuermann appeared matter-of-fact and unemotional as he answered questions from Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and the judge. He never looked back at the packed courtroom gallery.

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The women, many of them sex workers, were killed over a 17-year span. This defendant walked among us play-acting as a normal suburban dad when in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death, Tierney said at the post-hearing news conference. Victims of Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann, clockwise from top left: Valerie Mack, Amber Costello, Karen Vergata, Sandra Costilla, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy and Jessica Taylor. He thanked the victims relatives, including some standing alongside him, for helping bring their loved ones stories to life. And he praised members of the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force, which cracked the case with the help of clues that included DNA lifted from a discarded pizza crust. Gloria Allred, an attorney for some of the victims families, described several of the women as young mothers who were just trying to earn extra money to support their children.

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Little did they know that the defendant, Rex Heuermann, did not care about their hopes and dreams, or that they had families and friends who loved them, Allred said at the news conference. Elizabeth Baczkiel, whose daughter Jessica Taylor was murdered by Heuermann, said: I am glad that this is over as far as him pleading guilty. It took a big chunk of stress off of me and my family. Heuermanns ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and their daughter attended the hearing and were mobbed by reporters as they entered and left the courthouse. Ellerup said her thoughts and prayers were with the victims families, and asked for privacy for her own family during what she called a very difficult time. Ellerup and her daughter, Victoria, had no knowledge of or involvement in the killings, their lawyer, Robert Macedonio, said.

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Heuermanns attorney, Michael Brown, said it was Heuermanns decision to plead guilty, in part because he wanted to spare victims relatives and his family from the ordeal of a trial. Asked by a reporter whether Heuermann was sorry, Brown responded, I would hope so ... I would expect at sentencing he would have something to say. Rex Heuermanns ex-wife Asa Ellerup, left, and her daughter Victoria Heuermann arrive outside Suffolk County Court. AP As part of his guilty plea, Heuermann agreed to co-operate fully with the FBIs behavioural analysis unit as part of an academic and scientific exercise. The discovery of numerous sets of human remains along Long Islands South Shore beginning in late 2010 set off a search for a potential serial killer that attracted global interest and spawned a Hollywood movie.

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Rex Heuermann was charged in 2023. AP Remains of six victims  Melissa Barthelemy, Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Valerie Mack, Taylor and Megan Waterman  were found in the scrub along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. The remains of another, Sandra Costilla, were found more than 100 kilometres away in the Hamptons. Police also identified the remains of Vergata, which were found on Fire Island, more than 30 kilometres west, in 1996, and near Gilgo Beach in 2011. But despite the attention, including a documentary series and the 2020 Netflix film, Lost Girls, the investigation dragged on for more than a decade, punctuated by fleeting leads and dashed hopes. In 2022, six weeks after a new police commissioner formed the Gilgo Beach task force, detectives identified Heuermann as a suspect by using a vehicle registration database to connect him to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010.

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Heuermann lived for decades in Massapequa Park, about a 25-minute drive from where the womens remains were found. Some of the victims were believed to have disappeared from that community and their mobile phones were found to have pinged towers in the area, authorities said. After the truck discovery, a grand jury authorised more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants, allowing the task force to dig into Heuermanns life. Investigators comb through Heuermanns home in Massapequa Park in New York in 2023. NYT Detectives collected billing records for burner phones he used to arrange meetings with the victims, retested DNA found with the bodies and scoured Heuermanns internet search history, which showed that he had viewed violent torture pornography and exhibited an intense interest in the Gilgo Beach killings and the renewed investigation. Mobile phone data showed Heuermann was in contact with some victims just before they disappeared, investigators said.

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To obtain Heuermanns DNA, a taskforce surveillance team tailed him in Manhattan, where he worked, and watched as he threw the remnants of his lunch  a box of partially eaten pizza  into a rubbish bin. The pizza box that was tested for DNA evidence. Reuters Investigators rushed in, grabbed the box, and sent it to the crime lab, which matched DNA from the crust to a male hair found on burlap used to restrain one of the victims. He was arrested in July 2023. On his computer, investigators said, they found what they described as a blueprint for the killings, including a series of checklists with reminders to limit noise, clean the bodies and destroy evidence. AP 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.

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U.S. says military goals against Iran largely achieved, sets talks deadline

Xinhua) 08:50, April 08, 2026

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (R) and U.S. Vice President JD Vance attend a joint press conference in Budapest, Hungary, April 7, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

BUDAPEST, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that the United States has largely achieved its military objectives against Iran, while warning that Tehran faces a narrowing window to enter negotiations or risk further economic hardship.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Vance said Washington would continue efforts to curb Iran's weapons production capabilities.

Vance confirmed that U.S. forces had struck military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, but stressed that energy infrastructure had not been targeted, in line with a previously set deadline.

"The president believes this war could conclude very quickly," Vance said, outlining two possible paths: Iran could "no longer support terrorism" and integrate into the global economy, or face prolonged economic isolation.

He said the United States has set a deadline for Tehran to respond to negotiations by 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time, giving Iran roughly 12 hours to respond, and expressed hope for a "favorable answer" that would allow the resumption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Military force remains an option if Iran does not change its behavior, but this is not the preferred path," he added.

On bilateral relations, Vance said the United States seeks strong cooperation with Hungary, particularly in the areas of energy security and independence.

He criticized what he described as pressure from "Eurocrats" in Brussels on Hungary over its policy decisions, adding that Washington maintains multiple channels of cooperation with Budapest.

Vance also questioned Western European approaches to energy policy, noting that some leaders speak of an energy crisis while not supporting Hungary's strategy. He said Hungary has managed to keep energy prices below levels seen in parts of Western Europe.

Hungary has advocated maintaining access to relatively cheap Russian fossil fuels as part of Europe's economic model - a position that differs from broader European Union efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy.

Vance said the United States supports Europe's long-term success and energy independence, adding that Hungary's policy direction could contribute to strengthening energy security across the continent.

Orban said economic relations between Hungary and the United States have strengthened, citing increased trade and recent investment announcements by U.S. companies. He added that cooperation has also expanded into areas such as the space and defense industries.

On energy, Orban warned that Europe is facing what he described as a deepening energy crisis, marked by rising prices and potential shortages of oil and gas. He said U.S.-Hungarian cooperation in the energy sector is crucial for ensuring Hungary's energy security.

Regarding Ukraine, Orban reiterated Hungary's support for peace efforts, saying the country has been living "in the shadow of war" for several years. He stressed that diplomatic solutions should be prioritized and called for progress in ongoing peace initiatives.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (R) and U.S. Vice President JD Vance attend a joint press conference in Budapest, Hungary, April 7, 2026. (Photo by David Balogh/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A FIRM with operations in Carlow that has earned millions in profits from State contracts to provide emergency accommodation for International Protection (IP) applicants and Ukrainians is facing opposition to its hostel plans for a site in Dublin 2.

In February, Peachport Ltd lodged plans with Dublin City Council for a change of use of an existing four-storey over-basement building at Adelaide House on Adelaide Rd in Dublin 2 from office use to short-term let hostel accommodation.

Registered in Baltinglass, Peachport Ltd owns two former hotels in Newbridge, the Gables Hotel and Eyre Powell which have been used to house asylum seekers.

Peachport Ltd is jointly owned between Philomena Germaine (98) and Joseph Germaine (59) and two are also directors of the business.

Mr Germaine also owns a company called Slaney Gio Limited which operated the Toughers campus on the outskirts of Carlow town which accommodated Ukrainian refugees until Government policy changed in January of last year. Slaney Gio Ltd is also responsible for the illegal demolition of a sweet shop on Dublin Street, Carlow and, as a result, has been ordered by Carlow County Council to rebuild the property. The case is still going through the courts and is also the subject of a civil case taken by the owner of an adjoining property, barrister Elaine Morgan.

The most recent accounts for Peachport Ltd states that its main activity is the provision of emergency accommodation services and its work in the sector has proven to be very lucrative.

The accounts show that the firms post tax profits of 2.8 million for the 12 months to the end of February 2025 follow post tax profits of 5.69 million for the prior year.

Peachports work in providing emergency accommodation for a number of years for the State has resulted in it having accumulated profits of 11.7 million at the end of February 2025 while its cash funds totalled 8.55 million.

Purchase orders published by the Dept of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth show that the company received payments of 5.2 million for housing Ukrainians and IP applicants during 2024.

Now, in response to the Adelaide House hostel plan, local residents William Phelan and Haiyan Wang of Harcourt Terrace, Dublin 2 have called on the council to refuse planning permission for the proposed very high-density accommodation at this location.

They state that the floor plans indicate 'approximately 100 to 110 bed spaces' across 24 bedrooms in a building of just 895 sq m and this represents gross overdevelopment.

They state that Peachport Ltd has a documented history of operating State-contracted Direct Provision and IPAS accommodation here.

They state that given the nature of the planning application and the applicant's background in the IPAS sector, that the Council attach a condition to any grant of permission strictly prohibiting use of the premises as an International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre or any other form of State-contracted emergency accommodation.

Another Harcourt Terrace resident, Pat Whyte has told the council, I am deeply concerned about the scale and nature of this proposed hostel development.

Mr Whyte said that there is a Montessori School and a primary school on the same stretch and contends that the arrival of 100 transient visitors immediately beside this location raises serious safety and amenity concerns, especially around drop-off and pick-up times.

On behalf of Kevin Woods and his family of Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, Sheridan Woods Architects + Urban Planners state that the potential provision of 232 bedspaces represents a gross intensity of use.

The Woods objection requests that the Council refuse permission on the basis that this use is not permitted within this land use zone.

The objection adds that the proposal would not provide adequate residential amenity to future occupants and would result in a grossly substandard form of development.

A decision is due on the application later this month.
Sarah Slater, Vivienne Clarke and James Cox

Dublin's O'Connell St is closed

M7 motorway closed

Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus warn of delays and diversions, Luas Green line is disrupted

Organisers say they could be maintaining roadblocks until Friday

Slow-moving convoys reported on N21 from Adare towards Limerick city, Limerick- Ballysimon Road, and Macroom bypass in both directions in Cork

Taoiseach says blocking cities and towns is "wrong".

Dublin Fire Brigade experienced significant delays in its response to emergencies.

Oil deliveries from the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork, the only refinery in the State, are now being blocked by fuel protesters who have already blocked fuel depots at Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

The Taoiseach has described the blockade as an act of national sabotage.

In a statement, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the decision of some protesters to block access to the Whitegate refinery was an outrage.

He said: It makes absolutely no sense in the fuel crisis we are currently facing.

It is beyond belief that people would seek to deny people around the country access to vital fuels.

Businesses and peoples livelihoods depend on this fuel. It is an outrage.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said the blocking of the distribution of fuel is a sinister and despicable attack on our economy and our society.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Harris said, This is not a lawless country. The laws of the land must and will be applied without fear.

At a time of a major global energy crisis, blocking fuel from getting to people who badly need it is appalling in every sense and inflicts damage on our country and on individual people and businesses. It cannot be tolerated.

This is now a public order policing issue, said Kevin McPartlan, chief executive of the fuels industry group, Fuels for Ireland.

He called on the Government to act in relation to the blocking of the States key fuel depots.

McPartlan said there are discussions on social media about trying to block Dublin Port, the final of the four key sources of fuel for the States service stations.

Whitegate is the only refinery in the State processing crude oil for domestic consumption and is responsible for approximately one third of the fuel consumed, McPartlan said.

Many service stations require fuel deliveries every 24 hours and as the protests prevent deliveries in the different regions more outlets will run out of fuel, he said.

Galway was the first depot to be prevented from delivering fuel, and stations in the Galway region are now running out of petrol and diesel, he said.

Responding to a blockade formed at the States only oil refinery in Whitegate, a spokeswoman for its operator, Irving Oil, saidWe are focused on the safety of our people, our facility and our neighbours," The Irish Times reported.

With global energy supply dynamics continuing to face volatility, we are hopeful that these events do not further strain the supply of energy to our customers.

Protest spokesman John Dallon said he hoped the dispute could be resolved through the Government committing to meeting him and two other participants.

He said: Were actually in pure limbo now, thats the only way I can put it.

He added: Well be here tonight, and Id say theyll be here tomorrow.

Dallon said he was not an organiser and had no bearing over the other participants but added: These people are not going to lie down.

The only way they will go off of the streets here is if we send a message back to them that we have a meeting, then theres a good chance that people will go home.

But, I mean, if theres no satisfaction out of the meeting, Id say itll all heat up again.

There were similar protests at more than 20 other locations across the country, protesters said, while chief executive of Fuels for Ireland Kevin McPartland said two depots in Foynes, Co Limerick, and Co Galway had been blocked by protesters.

He said there was a risk to supplies to petrol forecourts as a result.

Gardai have said ongoing fuel protests are having a significant impact on traffic around the country.

In a post on the social media website X on Wednesday evening, An Garda Siochana said a number of locations across the country are still affected, including in Dublin city centre, Cork and Sligo.

Gardai say the protests are also impacting traffic on a number of major roads such as the M7 and N18 in Limerick, the M50 North in Dublin, the N6 at Athlone, the M8 at Cashel, the M18 at Ennis, the N52 at Tullamore and the M7 at Portlaoise.

The Irish Government will continue to engage with industry representative groups on the impact of the ongoing war on the cost of fuel.

Following a meeting with the Irish Road Haulage Association, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney said Government figures would meet other representative groups and keep the situation under review.

The Government also said the price of oil on international markets had reduced since a ceasefire announcement on Tuesday night.

On Friday, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley will meet national representative bodies of contractors and farming organisations.

Commuters are facing further disruption getting home from work on Wednesday evening as the fuel protests continue.

Dublin Bus have said several of their services and routes have been disrupted, with buses to the City Centre inbound and outbound North and South only operating from Parnell Square.

Services westbound will operate to and from Heuston Station only.

The Minister for Justice has warned that protestors will face consequences if they break the law.

Jim O'Callaghan issued a statement after his meeting with the gardai, in which he said: "I emphasised to them that while Government respects the right to protest, that right must be exercised lawfully and must respect the rights of others to earn a livelihood or to move freely.

"I also informed the Gardai that it is essential our ports and fuel depots remain open and fully accessible.

"Government is well aware of the pressures on people from increased fuel costs, but democracy cannot be dictated to by an unelected group whose actions are now damaging the Irish public.

"No one is above the law and those breaking the law should know that there are consequences for unlawful activity."

Dublin Fire Brigade are appealing to all involved in the fuel protests in Dublin City Centre to ensure the free passage of all emergency vehicles, both on blue lights heading to an emergency and also returning to base to serve their operational area.

They said they experienced significant delays in their response to emergencies, particularly mobilising from Townsend Street HQ. Alternative mobilisation routes are being employed, with the use of empty Luas lines.

In a statement, they said: "The situation has eased somewhat, due to the excellent cooperation with An Garda Siochana, liaising with protesters and clearing routes for our vehicles.

"We continue to work with the other emergency services to ensure operational readiness and emergency access, and we ask all involved to be extra vigilant and compliant when they hear emergency sirens approaching.

"Do not wait until the emergency vehicles reach the blockades. Please allow the other blocked traffic through in advance, so the route is clear for our vehicles to approach.

The Government will soon issue advice on how to conserve energy use amid soaring fuel costs.

Two weeks ago, the coalition signed off on a range of measures to reduce costs, including a temporary excise duty reduction for motor fuels, expansion of the diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators, and an extension of the fuel allowance.

It saw an effective reduction of 22 cents for diesel and 17 cents for petrol  but the savings have largely been eroded by further price increases as a result of the war in the Gulf.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said on Wednesday that the Government will shortly be launching an energy-efficiency programme for households.

He said: We will give helpful advice to citizens that if you reduce your energy use in certain ways, you can reduce the cost for yourself in respect of that energy.

There will be a comprehensive programme of advice, a public communications programme.

Protesters have called for a cap on kerosene and diesel, and for the carbon tax and excise duty to be removed for an interim period.

A spokesperson for the protest group in Dublin said that if protesters went home later or on Thursday, they would be back next Tuesday, when the Dail returned.

We will hopefully go home, but the word from other groups around the country is that if they go home today or tomorrow, theyre back next Tuesday. Government is sitting next Tuesday, James Geoghegan said.

Around two dozen protesters stood on OConnell Bridge on Wednesday morning as a handful of tractors remained parked on OConnell Street overnight.

There were some tense exchanges between Dubliners walking through the citys main thoroughfare and the protesters, with one woman telling the protesters that they had the fuel to drive up to Dublin so they should drive home.

One protester was overheard saying that they had pedestrianised the city centre as the Green Party had wanted.

Geoghegan, a spokesman for the protesters and a contractor from Co Westmeath, said they would not go home broke.

We cant go home without a result. We simply cant afford to go home, he told the Press Association.

An Garda Siochana said they are engaging with those involved in the fuel protests around the country.

They have received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to their work, of people not being able to attend hospital appointments or visit loved ones who are ill.

The gardai have asked protestors to engage with gardai locally to facilitate public transport and other traffic.

In a statement, they have also said they have no role in permitting or authorising public gatherings or protests

Traffic is at a standstill on busy roads across the country, as the fuel protests continue for a second day.

There are major disruption nationwide, with sections of motorways and national roads closed.

Those planning on using public transport are being urged to check for updates, with Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann warning of severe delays and diversions.

Luas Green Line services are still not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick.

Long delays on the N7 now from Naas and onto the M50 due to slow-moving vehicles heading for Dublin city centre. Making very slow progress.

Motorists being advised to use the M4 and back roads, Kill, Kilteel, Rathcoole, Newcastle to get around the protests.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said the Government is engaging with national representative bodies and said the disruption caused by the protests was not in our national interest, its not in our economic interest, its not in the interest of social cohesion.

Asked if the Government would meet with the groups involved in the protests, Micheal Martin responded there are many, many different groups and many different voices involved and the only feasible way to engage is with the national representative bodies of the different sectors, and thats what were going to do.

Asked if fuel pumps could run dry if depots are blockaded, Sean Canney said that would be a ransom.

He said: I think people need to understand that whats happening here is not in the national interest, its not in the peoples interest and we need to just reflect on that.

There are big problems on the M7 city-bound now at Naas due to slow-moving traffic made up of trucks, tractors, vans, buses and cars.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the motorway if they can and use alternative routes to get around.

Fuel protesters blocking cities and towns around Ireland are wrong, and those breaking the law will be penalised, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheal Martin, Simon Harris and Sean Canny spoke to the press outside Government Buildings on Wednesday morning and criticised the actions of those taking part in the demonstrations.

Towns and cities across Ireland have experienced traffic and travel disruption since Tuesday morning when slow-moving convoys of tractors, trucks and lorries started their protests.

Martin said: The protests at the moment are wrong.

To prevent mobility, to prevent people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, disrupting day-to-day activities in the manner that has happened, is wrong and is a wrong form of protest.

Asked if the gardai would clear the protesters on roads and around fuel depots the Taoiseach said: Theres no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots.

It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis.

He said while he respected the right to protest, it was not acceptable to turn Dublins OConnell Street into a car park

Dublin Chamber called on those involved in the ongoing fuel protests to engage through the appropriate channels to concerns, and to immediately cease the sustained disruption impacting Dublin.

Dublin Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke said: The current level of disruption is placing an unfair burden on businesses and workers who have no direct influence over the issues being raised. It is neither sustainable nor proportionate.

The most effective way to achieve meaningful progress is through constructive dialogue.

"We are urging protestors to engage with policymakers and relevant stakeholders through established channels, where their concerns can be properly heard.

The M7 motorway continues to be closed at the Portlaoise Bypass resulting in significant traffic snarl-ups.

In Birr, Co Offaly traffic is at a complete standstill alongside Tesco supermarket

MEP Ciaran Mullooly slammed the Taoiseach for being petty and disingenuous for saying he will not meet with the protesters unless they are a national representative group.

He should swallow his pride and get on with the discussions which would immediately end the protests and ease difficulties for the public who are caught in the middle.

Independent Ireland TD Richard ODonoghue said in an online statement that the M7 is currently empty due to effective protests on the motorway in both directions.

Well done to all involved, including An Garda Siochana who have been very understanding and working with the protesters to ensure the protest is done safely.

The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Owen Reidy, has spoken of the double standards in Ireland in the way union protests are treated compared to those of farmers.

His comments come as the Minister for Transport said it was not acceptable that people were not being allowed to go about their daily lives.

Reidy said: I've been involved in many public transport disputes over the years, and we have to ballot our members for industrial action, serve seven days notice, and ultimately, if we don't do that, the High Court can injunct the disputes and sequester the union's funds, but it seems farmers and businesses, because the hauliers are businesses, can do as they please."

Something was happening in middle Ireland, he said on RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show, and said the Government had a problem because they were not responsible for the current crisis.

It was not acceptable that people were not being allowed to go about their daily lives because of the fuel protests, the Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien has said, calling for a de-escalation of the situation.

Speaking on RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show, the Minister said the government had been in discussions with recognised national representative bodies such as the hauliers.

We have responded significantly already. We cannot have a situation where peoples normal daily lives are being affected. People have a right to go to work. We cannot respond to every single protest that happens.

Costing businesses significant losses was counterproductive, he added.

This is unprecedented, what's happening right now, and what I would ask for is a de-escalation, an end of the protest. I think we've already seen what is happening in the Middle East, finally an initial de-escalation, the first one we've seen of a ceasefire.

"This is a global crisis. Ireland, like every other country, is impacted by it, and we'll do our best to support people, but the way of doing that is not to disrupt our own supply chain.

There is major traffic disruption in cities and on motorways due to the fuel protests, including at fuel depots in the west and in Dublin.

Essentially anything thats trying to come across the city is trapped, Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

a iPassengers, please be advised Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only. This is due to a protest at O'Connell Bridge. We  Luas (@Luas) April 8, 2026

OConnell Street is now closed on both the north and south sides with Dublin Bus attempting to divert buses along Eden Quay and Gardiner Street.

Organisers of the fuel protest on the M8 motorway in Cashel say they could be there until Friday.

The blockade was maintained overnight by up to 80 trucks, vans and tractors.

Adrian Williams, a local organiser told Tipp FM News that many of the protestors are prepared to stay out all week.

Williams said diesel prices need to be capped at 1.70 and petrol at 1.60.

The protestors claim that they will not end their action until the government does something about the rising cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil.

The Communications Director of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Sean ONeill, has called on anyone using the motorway network today to leave hard shoulder access available for emergency vehicles.

There were disruptions impacting the motorway network around the country with go-slows backing up traffic significantly. The protests were causing significant disruptions to peoples lives, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland would be working with the gardai to manage the situation, he said. It was important to keep hard shoulder access for emergency services.

"So we do ask that publicly for anyone, whatever your reasons for being there, you need to leave those hard shoulders available for emergency vehicles and emergency use because one of your loved ones could be impacted by that.

At the end of the day, we ask everyone to obviously be patient. We know this is a major disruption across the network, but we're dealing with it live and the gardai are doing an excellent job in helping us manage it as well.

Fuel Cost protest by Hauliers and farmers forces Dublin buses to stack from Dawson St to OConnell Bridge, in Dublin. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins

Gardai have warned of possible road blocks to Dublin Airport and the Port Tunnel. Protestors have now blocked Fleet Street in Dublin, which was an access route.

Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland said that while a number of buses were able to leave their depots earlier this morning, there was now a challenge in getting buses across the city.

So you might be expecting a bus on the outskirts of Dublin, 10, 12 kilometres away that simply can't get out there in order to turn and do that trip back into town again.

With 130 routes and 800 to 900 buses on the street, the situation was very changeable and Dublin Bus would be trying to keep the public up to date on cancellations, delays and diversions through on street signage, the Dublin Bus website and social media.

I think everybody is sympathetic to the fact that there are delays and diversions out there, so we're trying to get the information out to people, we have chief inspectors there on site, and what they're doing is trying to marshal buses, move them around, perhaps communicate with customers on the ground, said Boland.

Slow-moving convoys and significant traffic delays are currently reported at locations including: Co. Limerick- N21 from Adare towards Limerick city

Co. Limerick- Ballysimon Road

Co. Cork- Macroom bypass in both directions

Motorists are advised to plan their journeys accordingly pic.twitter.com/m9hgqRm1iZ  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) April 8, 2026

Patients must not be used as pawns by any party in the current transport protest, the Irish Patients' Association has said.

The organisation said it understands the concerns driving the protests but warned that the impact on patients and citizens is already immediate, real, and being experienced across the country.

Chairman Stephen McMahon said the situation reflects a wider crisis, shaped by global instability but now felt at a local level.

"The grievances that have brought farmers, hauliers and contractors onto the streets are understood. Fuel costs are threatening livelihoods and entire industries. That deserves a serious response from Government.

"But Ireland's patients and citizens cannot be the collateral damage of this dispute, itself shaped by the wider impact of war.

"Every party at this table has a responsibility to ensure that our national resilience is protected, not dismantled. We do not protect Ireland by undermining it."

The chief executive of Fuels for Ireland has expressed frustration at the garda management of protests at fuel depots in Galway and Foynes.

It was very concerning that deliveries could not be sent out to forecourts around the country, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

I have to be honest, we've been a little bit frustrated that the Gardai haven't been managing the protests in such a way as to ensure that there is access and egress from those terminals, not least because emergency services need to be able to get in and out if something goes wrong."

There was a risk that some forecourts would run out of supplies if there were no deliveries today, he said.

There was no fundamental threat to supply as there were completely normal stock levels at the terminals, he said, and he hoped the problem would be short-lived. While he had a great deal of empathy with the protestors, he appealed to them, Dont cripple the entire country by stopping fuel supplies.

McPartland said there needed to be an overall review of the tax and also the compliance costs involved in fuel supply in Ireland.

We pay more tax than any other European country. I have been told, and I was told last week, that we would have a meeting with the Tanaiste/Minister of Finance this week. I'm waiting for that to be confirmed, and that's the point I'll be making to Simon Harris when we meet this week.

There were protests on the M8 close to Cashel in Co Tipperary overnight, with scores of people maintaining a blockade.

MEP for the Midlands, Ciaran Mullooly, said in a statement online that protesters are still out there".

"Farmers, contractors, hauliers, agricultural workers on the M8 in Tipperary. They go again from 6.30am (today) in Athlone, Tullamore, Galway and all over the country and all because (of) the two arrogant leaders of the two main political parties in this country.

(They) are not prepared to pick up the phone and call them or even respond to the letter they were sent seeking dialogue seven days ago.

The MEP noted that dialogue to help resolve some of the present difficulties - dialogue that has to happen if these protests are to be stopped.

If you support them (protestors), call your local Government TD tonight and tell them the time has come to listen to the people who are hurting most - or these protests will go on, he added.

Mullooly, who is currently in Brussels, said that he has been in contact with the Taoiseach Micheal Martin as to how he could work along fuel companies to make it easier not just for those involved in the protests but for teachers, nurses, social workers who are saying they just cannot keep going.

Mullooly added that he has put forward five proposals to the Government to aid workers.

So far, on the M4 and M7, traffic is moving well, with some usual commuting slowdowns after Naas and Maynooth on the main routes through Co Kildare.

In Tullamore, those taking part in the protests are gathering at the retail park in the town with groups from Clara, Kilbeggan, Edenderry and Birr at that location.

The bypass of the town is blocked by those meeting to protest. There is no access from the Clonminch area of the town to the Tesco roundabout.

They plan to move out from the retail park at 8.30 am, arriving into Tullamore town for 9am.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has labelled fuel protests unacceptable and irresponsible.

Speaking to reporters at Government buildings on Wednesday morning, Jack Chambers said: I think some of the protests weve seen today are completely unacceptable and irresponsible.

Theyre undermining business in our city and across the country.

Responding to reports demonstrators have blocked a fuel terminal, he said action is reckless in the extreme, and they should stand down their protest.

He said the Government has constant and regular engagement with the representative groups, including the Irish Road Haulage Association.

Asked if the gardai should move protesters who are blocking OConnell Bridge in Dublin city centre, Chambers said: They know how to manage protest.

Minister of State Michael Healy Rae said the Government is going to react in a positive way to support hauliers and agricultural contractors impacted by rising fuel costs.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, the Kerry TD said it was obvious that more has to be done for these people, because you cannot expect people to work for nothing.

If further reductions can be given, that is what the government will seriously have to look at, because if you take, for instance, last week, the Irish Road Hauliers Association met with Minister Darragh O'Brien, and he explained to them the measures of what he was going to be trying to do to help that association, and they actually, because of the negotiations and talks that they've had, while I'm not trying to say they're happy, but they know that government are going to react and react in a positive way.

When asked if the Government would be encouraging people to use less fuel, Healy Rae responded that the government had always encouraged people to use less fuel, but practicalities apply here, and if you live in a rural location, you can cycle or walk to work. You don't have a bus outside your door to take you to work. You have to go to work.

There are certain things that have to happen every day to move goods, to feed people and to keep this country going, and one of those things is a thing called diesel oil, and we need to keep our transport going, and we need to keep things moving.

"Yes, you can encourage people not to use fuel unnecessarily, but at the same time, practicalities apply. People have to live, and you have to farm, you have to transport.

Our hauliers have to do their job every day, which is keeping us all alive. If it wasn't for those people, this country would cease to operate.

Speaking about the protests on Tuesday evening, Tanaiste Simon Harris said: Everyone has a right to protest in a democracy, 100% no doubt about that, but I would also just say these arent consequence-free actions.

He said he had heard reports of a range of individuals impacted by the disruption, including healthcare workers and small business owners.

Harris said: We shouldnt pit sectors against sectors.

This is a moment of national challenge, and no one sector is more important than the other, and we have to work through this.

He said the government was engaging intensively with bodies representing a variety of sectors, including farmers, farm contractors and hauliers.

Senior Government leaders meet this morning to discuss the energy crisis.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris, Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien and Roads Minister Sean Canney will be briefed on the latest projections for how the crisis is likely to effect the economy here.
Netflix has revealed a first-look image from its upcoming animated adaptation of Mafalda, offering an early peek at how one of Latin Americas most beloved comic strips will translate to modern animation.

The series is written and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Juan Jose Campanella (The Secret in Their Eyes [El secreto de sus ojos]), best known for live-action dramatic, romantic, and often thrilling work, though he also helmed the record-breaking Argentine animated feature Underdogs (Metegol), one of Latin Americas most successful (and costly) animated features of all time. Like that film, Madalda is produced and animated by Campanellas Mundoloco CGI.

For those unfamiliar with the iconic franchise, Mafalda is a classic Argentine comic strip that ran from 1964 to 1973, centered on a precocious six-year-old girl who questions everything from global politics to her parents everyday decisions. Often compared to Peanuts, the strip blends a childs perspective with surprisingly sophisticated social commentary.

That comparison feels especially relevant when looking at Netflixs first image. The character design and soft tactile textures recall The Peanuts Movie, a groundbreaking 2015 effort that stands out as a major step forward in stylized CG animation. It is a noticeable shift from Quinos original black-and-white line art, suggesting Netflix is aiming to appeal to modern audiences while also keeping the franchises mid-century comic strip charm.

I was seven or eight years old when the first compilation of Mafalda strips was published in book form, Campanella recalled at the time of the series announcement. My parents would read the strip and tell me that I wouldnt understand it. What an offense. What a challenge.

To his point, the real test of the seriess impact will likely be in its tone. Mafalda is not just a childrens property. It is a deeply political and satirical work that invites readers to question the world around them. Campanella frames that challenge less as a limitation and more as a guiding principle for the adaptation.

How can we reconnect new generations that didnt grow up with Mafalda with this great work? How can we bring her wit, her sharpness, to kids growing up on digital platforms today? How can we, finally, translate one of the greatest works in the history of graphic humor into the audiovisual language?

The director has also spoken about his own connection to the material, recalling how it pushed him as a child and stayed with him into adulthood, shaping both his sense of humor and curiosity.

Mafalda and her friends not only made me laugh a lot but sometimes sent me to the dictionary. And every new word I learned came with the reward of a new laugh.

If successful, the series could introduce a global audience to a character who has long been a cultural icon and prove that her questions still resonate today. It also represents another push by Netflix to capitalize on pre-existing IP, regardless of origin, from Asterix & Obelix to the companys ongoing work with the Roald Dahl library. If the series proves a hit, it could open the door to more international animation projects from other territories in the future.
Total shipments of Portland and blended cement, including imports, in the US and Puerto Rico amounted to 6.822Mt in December, up 0.5 per cent YoY from the 6.790Mt recorded in December 2024.

Excluding for sales to Puerto Rico and overseas territories, cement consumption in the US rose 0.8 per cent YoY in December, coming in at 6.741Mt, compared to 6.688Mt a year earlier.

The key producing states for Portland and blended cement were, in descending order, Texas, California, Missouri, Florida and Alabama. The key consuming states were, in descending order, Texas, Florida, California, Georgia and Arizona, accounting for 47 per cent of cement consumed.

Blended cement shipments amounted to 4.116Mt in December, up 0.6 per cent YoY from 4.092Mt a year earlier, with Florida the leading consumer, closely followed by northern Texas.

Clinker production, excluding Puerto Rico, amounted to 6.249Mt, up 1.6 per cent YoY from 6.152Mt a year earlier.

Imports of cement and clinker amounted to 1.795Mt in December, down 0.3 per cent YoY from 1.8Mt in December 2024.

Imported clinker amounted to 86,425t, up 95.9 per cent YoY from 44,108t in December 2024.

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January-December 2025T

Total shipments of Portland and blended cement, including imports, in the US and Puerto Rico amounted to 101,418Mt in 2025 down 1.7 per cent YoY from the 103,188Mt recorded in 2024.

Excluding for sales to Puerto Rico and overseas territories, cement consumption in the US was 1.5 per cent lower YtD, coming in at 100,132Mt, compared to 101,687t a year earlier.

Blended cement shipments amounted to 65,602Mt in 2025, up 2.1 per cent YoY from 61,407Mt in 2024.

Clinker production, excluding Puerto Rico, saw a 4.4 per cent YoY decline to 69,474Mt from 72,659Mt.

Imports of cement and clinker amounted to 25,386Mt in 2025, up 1.4 per cent YoY from 25,019Mt in 2024. Turkey accounted for a third of imports, followed by Vietnam and Canada with 19 per cent each. Greece accounted for five per cent and Egypt four per cent.

Imported clinker amounted to 976,734t, up 8.3 per cent YoY from 902,203t in 2024. Canada accounted for 47 per cent of imports, followed by Turkey with 40 per cent. Tunisia accounted for five per cent, Egypt four per cent and France three per cent.
Bohr Electronics, a manufacturer of onboard electronic systems and components for the rail industry, Tuesday announced the appointment of Steve Cecchini as western region sales manager.In this role, Mr. Cecchini will support rail customers throughout the western United States, offering technical sales support for Bohrs onboard electronics, components and systems. He will work directly with customers to evaluate Central Railway Manufacturing (CRM) products, address application-specific needs and facilitate system integration.Mr.Cecchini brings more than 15 years of experience in sales, business development and technical solutions within the rail and transportation sectors. His background includes developing regional and international markets, supporting OEM and end-user customers and advancing onboard and hybrid propulsion technologies.Steve brings a strong combination of technical understanding and customer-focused sales experience, said Dan Marks, CEO of Bohr Electronics. As we continue to expand our presence across North America, his ability to support both product and application-level discussions will be an asset to our customers and our organization.Based in the Greater MinneapolisSt. Paul area, Mr. Cecchini will work alongside Jess Carneiro, eastern region sales manager, to provide coordinated sales support nationwide.
Panel discussion at the gala, from left, Knox Thames, producer of the graphic novel; Matt Yocum, author; Jordan Holt, illustrator; and Floyd Brobbel, CEO of The Voice of the Martyrs Canada Jordan Holt with Shahbaz Bhattis personal Bible on display at San Bartolomeo d'Isola, Rome Jordan Holt with presenters and gala attendees, including members of Bhattis family Previous Next

A new graphic novel illustrated by Lee University associate professor Jordan Holt debuted internationally last month at the Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Gala in Toronto, Canada.

"Blood and Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti," written by Matt Yocum and illustrated by Mr. Holt, was officially launched during the March event, which brought together faith, community, and human rights leaders. The program also included a panel discussion on the book and Bhattis legacy, in which Mr. Holt participated.

"I was a stranger in a strange land, but in the best possible way, Mr. Holt said of attending the gala. No matter how briefly, I got the chance to be immersed in the Pakistani Christian culture I had spent a year studying to produce the graphic novel. I was surrounded by Pakistani Christians, mostly refugees, many of whom were characters in the book. I got to meet them and sign their copies of the book, which was flattering and a little humbling. I was very out of place, but everybody was extremely kind and welcoming.

The Shahbaz Bhatti Memorial Gala was hosted by International Christian Voice, bringing together faith leaders, elected officials, human rights advocates, and community members for an evening focused on promoting religious freedom and supporting those affected by persecution.

The event honored the legacy of Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistans first federal minister for minority affairs, who was assassinated in 2011 after advocating for religious freedom, human dignity, and justice for marginalized communities. Despite ongoing threats to his life, he remained committed to serving his country and supporting religious minorities. His life and legacy continue to inspire others to pursue faith, freedom, and human dignity.

Mr. Holt said he was connected to the project after meeting Yocum at a comic conference in July 2023 where they first discussed the idea.

I had to look into the historical character of Shahbaz Bhatti and figure out if that was something I could handle, said Mr. Holt. It was very different from what I had done in the past, but it was a good challenge to take on.

Mr. Holt, a professional illustrator, has served on Lees faculty since 2015. A Tennessee native, Mr. Holt graduated from Lee in 2009 with a degree in telecommunications and later returned to Lee after working in advertising as a graphic designer and completing graduate studies in illustration. He continues freelance illustration alongside teaching.

Blood and Water: The Life and Martyrdom of Shahbaz Bhatti is a graphic biography chronicling Bhattis life. His convictions were shaped by his Catholic faith and illuminated by courage, service, and sacrifice. Through powerful artwork woven with Gospel episodes that mirrored his mission, Blood and Water offers an unforgettable portrait of a servant-leader who refused to be silent in the face of injustice.

Published by Ignatius Press, the graphic novel is available on Amazon and the Ignatius Press website.
Prosecutors say there were few leads on the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl at a Chattanooga motel - until James Harold Tolliver's DNA turned up in semen found on the girl's shirt. That came a year after the alleged incident on Aug. 5, 2022.

Prosecutor Aaron Chaplin also told a Criminal Court jury that Tolliver is seen in video at the Speedway on Third Street with the girl, who also picked him out of a photo lineup.

However, Emily Roberts of the Public Defender's Office said he is "not guilty." She said, "He did not have sex with her."

Tolliver, who was 63 at the time, is charged with rape and aggravated statutory rape.

Ms. Roberts said the girl that night had run away from home and picked up a ride with a stranger that she flagged down. She said the girl finally ended up at the Speedway, where she met Tolliver, who allowed her to use his cell phone.

She said the girl willingly went with Tolliver to the Motel 6 on Williams Street after convincing him she needed a place to stay the night.

Attorney Roberts said the girl told police the incident happened at the Motel 6 on Brainerd Road.

The girl earlier told police that Tolliver told her to turn off her phone, then he made her take off all her clothes. She said the man raped her repeatedly, then eventually allowed her to leave.

The girl was transported to the Rape Crisis Center, where she had a sexual assault examination.

Prosecutor Chaplin said the girl had been about to start her senior year at a local high school when the incident happened.

He said the sex with Tolliver "was against her will."

Judge Barry Steelman is presiding.
Former Lookout Mountain Judicial District District Attorney Clay Fuller (R) defeated Democrat Shawn Harris for the vacant U.S. House District 14 seat in Tuesday's special Georgia election with almost 56 percent of the vote.Fuller 72,304Harris 57,030NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) released the following statement on Congressman-elect Clay Fuller's victory in Georgia's 14th Congressional district:Congratulations to Congressman-elect Clay Fuller on his victory.As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard and District Attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, Fuller knows what it means to fight for his country and his community. In Congress, Clay will be a strong ally of President Trump and help House Republicans grow the economy, secure the border, and keep Americans safe.Former Trion Mayor Lanny Thomas (R) won over UTC professor Jack Zibluk (D) for the open state Senate District 53 contest with 68 percent of the vote. Dade County's Colton Moore gave up that post to run for the House seat.Thomas 22,130Zibluk 10,098Mr. Fuller, of Lookout Mountain, Ga., gained the endorsement of President Donald Trump when a large group of candidates started out on the campaign trail.Marjorie Taylor Greene had exited the post effective Jan. 6 after a falling out with the President.Mr. Thomas had a take some time away from campaigning after undergoing an emergency heart procedure.Mr. Zibluk, also of Lookout Mountain, Ga., halted campaigning for the same time.He said in a concession statement, that he "congratulated victorious State Sen. Republican Lammy Thomas."Lanny is a good man, and a dedicated public servant who has shown poise and resilience. He will do an excellent job over the next few months."Mr. Fuller won all but Cobb County.Dade County Fuller 2,007 Harris 910Walker County Fuller 7,419 Harris 3,590Catoosa County Fuller 8,136 Harris 4,509
The impending closure of the DOMO Caproleuna chemical plant has been averted: The insolvency administrator for the German sites of DOMO Chemicals, Prof. Dr. Lucas F. Flother, has transferred the plant to a rescue company founded by InfraLeuna and LEUNA-Harze. This means that the plant and 436 jobs will be preserved. At the same time, the competent court has opened insolvency proceedings for the three German companies of DOMO Chemicals.

"This was a last-minute rescue in proceedings that were unusual in every respect," emphasized insolvency administrator Flother, who has been continuing business operations since the end of December. Because the company had practically no money to finance ongoing operations, DOMO Caproleuna's chemical plant would have had to be shut down in January under normal circumstances. However, this was not possible for purely practical reasons: in winter temperatures, the plants cannot be shut down safely without environmental hazards.

The state of Saxony-Anhalt had therefore ordered the plants to continue operating in a reduced emergency mode until the end of March at the latest in order to avert danger and thus secure them. This left the door open for an investor solution, which has now been found with the takeover by Infraleuna and Leuna-Harze. Operations were transferred to the purchaser on April 1. The latter is now fully financing the business operations, so that the state was able to discontinue its support and cancel the substitute performance as planned.

In future, the company will operate under the name LEUNA - Polyamid GmbH. The acquiring company will take over the site and the property in Leuna as well as 436 of the approximately 500 employees. The insolvency administrator has reached an agreement with the works council on a reconciliation of interests with a social plan. Some of the staff reductions will take the form of redundancies or the expiry of fixed-term employment contracts. 39 employees had to be made redundant for operational reasons.

Flother thanked the employees, the management, the purchaser, the Saxony-Anhalt Ministry of Economic Affairs and the responsible authorities for their excellent cooperation: "The fact that not only an investor was found in this unusual constellation, but also that the business could be handed over on time on the closing date, including all the necessary approvals and operating permits, was only possible thanks to a tour de force by everyone involved," said the insolvency administrator. "The decisive factor in all of this was that the employees dealt with this difficult situation in a highly professional manner and kept the plants running safely at all times. That deserves the greatest respect. I am all the more pleased that the effort has paid off and that the site and the majority of jobs have been saved."

DOMO Engineering Plastics GmbH is not part of the rescue solution. The company, which is based in Premnitz in Brandenburg and has around 70 employees, will be continued by the insolvency administrator until further notice. "The creditors support the continuation of business operations as long as talks with investors are ongoing," said Flother. Parallel to the investor process initiated by the insolvency administrator, the Belgian parent company is also trying to find investors for its so-called "refinement business", which also includes the company in Premnitz. "If a solution for the site emerges in this context, we are also open to it," says Flother.

The three German subsidiaries of the DOMO Chemicals Group filed for insolvency on December 25 after financing talks with the lenders failed over Christmas.

DOMO Caproleuna GmbH manufactures organic base products (e.g. caprolactam, phenol, acetone) and polyamide 6 as its main product, also known as nylon 6. Polyamide 6 is a versatile engineering plastic characterized by high strength, good toughness and very good processability. It is used in the automotive industry, the electrical and electronics sector and in high-quality consumer goods for lightweight, durable and high-performance components.

Polyamide 6 plastics are processed at DOMO Engineering Plastics GmbH in Premnitz. The company produces compounds, i.e. engineering plastics in which polyamide 6 is specifically combined with additives. This allows properties such as strength, heat resistance, rigidity or impact resistance to be precisely adjusted. Such compounds are mainly used in the automotive, electrical and consumer goods industries.
Jason Osborne shares the Gospel at Southlake Town Square in Southlake, Texas, on January 3, 2024. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Testimonies Of God

A Texas court has thrown out a lawsuit brought by a Dallas-area mosque that aimed to stop Christian evangelists from preaching and distributing religious materials on public property nearby.

The legal action was filed in October 2025 by East Plano Islamic Center against Testimonies of God, an evangelism ministry led by Landon Thurman, along with Heritage Grace Community Church, Jason Osborne, and multiple unnamed defendants.

The complaint sought to block the group from speaking or distributing Evangelical pamphlets, letters, fliers or other documents offensive to the Islamic faith.

The mosque initiated the lawsuit after alleging that the ministry and others had disrupted its services beginning last September, claiming they made it a weekly practice to stand on the sidewalks and lawns outside [EPIC] mosque with loudspeakers and bullhorns, intentionally disrupting Plaintiffs prayer services with loud evangelical messaging about Christianity and the teachings of Jesus.

Attorneys representing the mosque further argued that the defendants set up a tent, brought external speakers, and came with evangelical pamphlets and signs that they attempted to hand to passers-by, all of whom were attempting to enter the mosque for prayer services.

In response, legal counsel for Thurman and his ministry described the lawsuit as a shocking and illegal demand and an unthinkable attack on our countrys core values of free speech and freedom of religion.

Their filing added, Under the injunction that [EPIC] demands, a local church would be prohibited from even handing out free Bibles if doing so were offensive to the Islamic faith,

The defendants told the court that their activities took place roughly 500 feet from the mosque, with a strip mall separating the two locations, and that they maintained sound levels to avoid disturbing those inside. Court testimony also included an acknowledgment from an EPIC representative that the preaching could not be heard within the mosque itself.

On March 23, the court dismissed the case under the Texas Citizens Participation Act, a law designed to protect free speech from lawsuits intended to silence it, allowing the evangelists to continue their outreach.

The ruling also enables the defendants to pursue reimbursement for legal costs and attorneys fees, though the mosque may still seek to appeal the decision.

Meanwhile, the East Plano Islamic Center has previously drawn attention for its proposed large-scale development in North Texas, originally called EPIC City and later renamed The Meadow, which envisions a 400-acre community including housing, a mosque, educational facilities, and other amenities tailored to Muslim residents.
President Donald J. Trump. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ The White House

The United States and Iran reached an 11th-hour cease-fire agreement on Tuesday evening, just hours before President Donald Trumps deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, following a Pakistan-brokered push.

President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to military action against Iran, declaring a two-week cease-fire.

In a statement posted on Truth Social at 6:32 p.m. Tuesday, Trump said, Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

He added, This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! emphasizing that both sides would pause hostilities as negotiations continue.

According to Trump, the decision followed progress in broader diplomatic talks, stating, The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.

He further revealed that We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate, adding that Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran.

Trump said the two-week pause is intended to finalize a broader agreement, noting that a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.

The announcement came shortly after intense diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan, which urged both sides to step back from escalating conflict, according to a report by The New York Times.

The outlet reported that the cease-fire agreement was reached just hours before a deadline set by Trump, who had warned that a whole civilization will die tonight if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping.

Pakistan reportedly proposed a two-week cease-fire framework, during which Iran would allow oil and cargo vessels to pass safely through the strategically critical waterway.

Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said in a statement that Iran would halt its defensive operation and allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks under coordination with its armed forces, according to The New York Times.

The temporary agreement is expected to provide both nations with time to negotiate a longer-term resolution to the conflict, which escalated earlier this year.

In late February, U.S. and Israeli strikes hit multiple targets across Iran, including Tehran, killing the countrys 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei along with senior officials and civilians.

In retaliation, Iran launched multiple missile attacks against Israel and U.S. forces stationed in the region, including one strike that hit the Israeli city of Beit Shemesh, leaving nine people dead.

The Islamic Republic also moved to restrict access to the Strait of Hormuz for oil tankers, a development that contributed to a global oil shortage and drove up fuel prices worldwide.

Casualty figures cited by the U.S.-based rights organization HRANA and reported by The Independent indicate that more than 3,500 Iranians and 13 Americans have been killed since the conflict began.
Rev. Howard-John Wesley is delivering a sermon at Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia. | Photo credit: Facebook/ Alfred Street Baptist Church

A historic Black megachurch in Virginia has contributed more than $1 million to help relieve housing debt for over 300 families living in public housing, preventing them from facing eviction.

Alfred Street Baptist Church raised the funds through its annual SEEK initiative, a period of fasting and prayer observed earlier this year by members of the congregation.

During an Easter Sunday service, Rev. Howard-John Wesley shared a message with attendees, saying that we pray that the Lord would not only change our lives, and that God will also change our land.

Wesley also spoke about the churchs involvement in the Fresh Start Initiative, a community program aimed at assisting residents in public housing, explaining that the church joined efforts to clear the debt of some families who are about to be evicted from affordable housing in Alexandria.

Announcing the impact of the campaign, he said, It is my joy to share with you that after doing the audits and the ledgers and speaking with all the families and verifying debt, I want to let you know that with that SEEK offering, you have helped stop the eviction of 338 families to the cost of $1,049,000.

He added, I just wish somebody [could] give thanks to God for a black Baptist church that gave a million dollars to make certain that people did not lose their homes. To God be the glory; to God be the glory.

Last month, Alyia Gaskins, mayor of Alexandria, commended the churchs contribution following a report from the Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, which found that unpaid rent across public housing units had reached $1 million due to rising living costs and employment challenges.

In a statement cited by ABC 7 News, Gaskins said, This is about more than clearing balances  its about creating pathways to stability, adding that Housing affordability continues to be one of the most pressing challenges facing our city.

She continued, Through the Interfaith Council, we are harnessing the moral leadership and generosity of our faith community to prevent displacement while also investing in financial literacy and long-term economic security.

Founded in 1803, Alfred Street Baptist Church has grown to approximately 10,000 members and has a history of major charitable giving, including a donation last year of $132,469 to eliminate student debt for 11 graduates of Saint Augustines University in South Carolina.
Home News Ancient artifact uncovered near Sea of Galilee may reveal early baptismal practices

Archaeologists working near the Sea of Galilee  a region closely associated with the ministry of Jesus  have uncovered a 1,400-year-old Christian artifact that researchers believe offers new insight into early baptism practices.

The discovery was made in the ancient city of Hippos, also known as Sussita, which was an important episcopal seat during the Byzantine era, according to an announcement shared with The Christian Post.

Following an extensive examination and comparison, scholars concluded that no known parallels to the artifact exist.

Researchers found the object, a roughly 1,400-year-old marble block, in a baptismal hall called a photisterion. The artifact was discovered in the baptismal hall for infants and children at Hippos cathedral, constructed after 591 A.D. and later destroyed in an earthquake in 749 A.D.

Officials described the artifact as a rectangular block bearing three hemispheric cavities, found beside a baptismal font in a newly revealed ceremonial hall. Experts believe the block may have held different oils used in a threefold baptismal immersion ceremony, which typically involves submerging the candidate in water three times.

According to researchers, the collapse triggered by the earthquake appears to have buried the marble and bronze artifacts beneath the rubble, preserving them until their recent discovery.

Last month, Michael Eisenberg, an archaeologist at the University of Haifa, and his colleague Arleta Kowalewska published the results of the excavations at the Byzantine-period cathedral of Hippos in the journal Palestine Exploration Quarterly.

The report mentioned the discovery of known liturgical implements, including a bronze candelabrum and a marble reliquary, but noted that the marble stone with three hemispheric cavities may shed light on the type of baptismal-related rites practiced in the Hippos cathedral.

Interestingly, this is the second photisterion that was part of this church complex, making the Hippos cathedral the only early church known to date with two photisteria, Eisenberg and Kowalewskas report noted.

While the northern photisterion was part of the cathedral complex probably from its first phase, the southern baptismal font seems to have been added after the 590/1 [A.D.] renovations of the complex into a space that was probably a martyrion. This unusual find of a baptismal font built in a corner of a chapel, unearthed with part of its surrounding utensils surviving to our times, is introduced here to spark discussion of its full interpretation and how it expands our knowledge of Byzantine-period Christian communities and their rites, the document continued.

Excavations at Sussita have been ongoing for over 20 years, and this is not the first time a project directed by Eisenberg and Kowalewska has resulted in the announcement of a discovery that offers insights into the ancient world.

Last year, archaeologists announced the discovery of a rare cache of Byzantine-era gold coins. Researchers discovered the coins last July but waited to announce the discovery until confirming that no other caches were located in the area.

The large hoard of gold coins was accompanied by articles of gold jewelry, semiprecious stones, pearls and glass, as well as evidence of a coin purse. The coins date from the reign of Emperor Justin I (518527 A.D.) to the reign of Emperor Heraclius (610613 A.D.).

This is one of the largest hoards from the Byzantine period discovered on dry land in Israel, and its uniqueness lies in the combination of jewelry and gold coins from the reigns of different emperors, Eisenberg said in a statement at the time.

Remnants of fabric were found on some of the coins  a trace of the cloth pouch in which the hoard had been hidden, he added.
Home News Christian Artemis II pilot Victor Glover reflects on God's creation from space

Victor Glover, the Christian U.S. Navy captain piloting NASAs Artemis II mission, is being lauded for glorifying God in space and for his response to a question about his race.

On Easter Sunday, Glover reflected on God's creation and the Bible, saying in part, "As we are so far from Earth and looking back at the beauty of creation, I think, for me, one of the really important personal perspectives that I have up here is that I can really see Earth as one thing. ... You have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist together."

Ahead of the April 1 mission, a reporter asked how he felt about becoming the first African American to fly around the moon. Glover replied that the mission belonged not just to black history or "women's history," but to human history.

Glover said he hopes that one day people will look past race. I hope we push that one day, he said in a Spectrum News video posted on X by Eric Daugherty of RightLineNews.

Its about human history, humanity, not black history, not womens history, but that it becomes human history, Glover remarked.

Artemis II is the first crewed test flight in NASAs Artemis campaign and the first to carry astronauts aboard the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. The four-person crew will spend 10 days on a loop around the moon to confirm Orions ability to operate in deep space before next years Artemis III mission.

The Artemis IV mission is planned to land astronauts on the lunar surface, with later flights targeting Mars.

Reid Wiseman is commanding the mission, with Glover serving as pilot.

Christina Koch, a NASA astronaut, is the first woman to pass to the lunar distance, and Jeremy Hansen of the Canadian Space Agency is the first Canadian on such a voyage, noted the Daily Citizen.

An elder from Glovers church said he is praying that Gods name will be glorified, according to The Christian Chronicle.

Hes just a top-shelf guy and down to earth, but with all the experiences and accolades, Brent Hankins, an elder at the Southeast Church of Christ in Friendswood, Texas, the congregation about 6 miles from NASAs Space Center Houston that Glover and his wife, Dionna, call home, said.

Hankins said that as a shepherd, he has come to love and support the Glover family, and to cheer and pray for them.

It was a rush, he said of witnessing the launch. I mean, I think we all had tears in our eyes. When we got to about five seconds in the countdown, the magnitude of that was pretty overwhelming.

Glover was born in Pomona, California, graduated from Ontario High School in 1994 and holds a bachelors degree in general engineering and three masters degrees. He served as a test pilot on the F/A-18 Hornet, Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler, logging 3,500 flight hours in more than 40 aircraft, more than 400 carrier landings and 24 combat missions.

He was selected in 2013 as one of eight members of NASAs 21st astronaut class and in 2018 was assigned to Crew-1 as pilot. He later served 168 days as a flight engineer on the International Space Station, or ISS. He and his wife have four children.

Glover told The Christian Chronicle in a 2023 podcast interview that his belief and his professional life are interwoven.

My career is fed by my faith, he said. Anytime I do something thats pretty risky, I pray. Before I fly, every time I fly. Definitely when you go sit on top of a rocket ship.

He added, In the military, theres a saying that there are no atheists in foxholes. There arent any on top of rockets, either.

He had been in the military for 26 years, and he said that working at NASA frequently produced conversations about creation and faith.

We talk about our solar system, and I will often refer to the beauty of creation, he said. People hear that, and its like a trigger word for certain folks. But thats in church and at NASA.

He said he doesn't accept that faith and science are in opposition.

They dont actually work against each other like some people like to claim that they do, he said, drawing parallels between the Big Bang account of the universes origins and the Genesis creation narrative, saying the two trace a similar sequence.

Theoretical physics has actually not said that whats in the Bible is not how the universe began, he said.

He put the moons age at about 4.5 billion years and said biblical genealogies do not need to conflict with that figure, since the Gospels power lies not in chronological precision but in its message.

Glover said he carried prepackaged communion supplies to the ISS and received the sacrament each week. I was able to worship in space, he said. He called the experience special and not special at the same time, adding that it gave him a new sense of why the ritual held its significance regardless of location.

After returning to Earth, he said the view from orbit had changed his thinking about humanitys place in the universe.

NASA had searched for life elsewhere and found it only on Earth, he said, a realization that made the planet seem small but profoundly important. He recalled visiting Israel, where an Arab student addressed him as brother. We are all brothers and sisters, Glover said.

The last crewed mission to the moon was Apollo 17, which launched on Dec. 7, 1972.
Home News Christians face increasing repression in Nicaragua: report

The Nicaraguan government subjected Christians to mounting repression throughout 2025, a new report documenting 309 separate violations of freedom of religion or belief in the country during the year has found.

Of the 309 cases, 200 involved Roman Catholics and 108 involved Protestant Christians, including Seventh-day Adventists, according to the report covering the calendar year 2025, published by the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

The government of Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo imposed precautionary measures on 36 religious leaders in 2025, more than triple the number documented the year before, the report reveals. Under these measures, religious leaders were required to report weekly in person to local police stations, disclose their planned activities and obtain prior authorization before leaving their municipality.

Threats and harassment featured in 228 of the 309 cases, allegedly carried out by government officials or their surrogates, including pro-government activists and paramilitaries.

The government continued to strip independent civil society organizations of their legal status, bringing the cumulative total of organizations made illegal to upwards of 5,600, according to CSW. In 2025 alone, at least 18 were of a religious nature or affiliated with a religious group, among them, 15 Protestant and three Roman Catholic institutions.

The Association of Independent Fundamentalist Baptists lost its legal status in February 2025. Other affected bodies included schools, religious radio and television outlets, and faith-based charities, including Lutheran World Relief and Food for the Hungry.

Religious orders faced particular targeting during the year.

On Jan. 28, as many as 30 nuns from three religious orders based in Managua, Chinandega and Matagalpa departments were forced to leave Nicaragua. In December, eight women from the Capuchin Tertiary Religious Sisters of the Holy Family in Madriz Department were ordered out immediately and taken to the El Espino border crossing with Honduras.

Arbitrary detention of religious leaders was documented in 55 cases, ranging from a few hours to several years. Among those detained was Pastor Rudy Palacios Vargas, founder of La Roca de Nicaragua Church Association in the Carazo Department, who has been a target of the government since 2018.

On July 17, 2025, police arrested the pastor along with his sister, two brothers-in-law, a church worship team member and a family friend who also served as a church deacon. Mauricio Alonso Petri, a political activist and friend of the pastor who also served as a church deacon, died in custody in August that year; his family received no explanation for his death and was not permitted to hold an autopsy.

The government has also prohibited the ordination of new Catholic priests and deacons in the dioceses of Jinotega, Siuna, Matagalpa and Esteli, according to a previous news report. Local leaders say police are preventing any outside bishop from conducting ordination rites in those dioceses.

An estimated 70% of clergy in Matagalpa have been forced into exile. Researcher Martha Patricia Molina, author of the research report Nicaragua: A Persecuted Church, has previously termed ordination efforts a liturgical oasis in the desert of repression.

Violations of freedom of assembly were documented in 33 cases spanning 10 departments, including the arbitrary cancellation of vigils, youth retreats and prayer breakfasts, according to the CSW report.

In September 2025, police officers surrounded a large Protestant church mid-Sunday service and ordered those present to leave, with the police chief stating the building would be well-suited for a police station.

The report adds that transit companies entering Nicaragua by land were informed by the government in 2025 that Bibles and other religious literature were to be added to a list of prohibited items that also included perishable food and drones. Multiple individuals reported being questioned at the border about whether they were carrying Bibles or religious literature; in some cases, the items were confiscated.

Protestant pastor the Rev. Efren Antonio Vilchez Lopez has been imprisoned since 2022, when a court sentenced him to 23 years after convicting him of the sexual assault of a minor. The report said courts refused to consider evidence supporting his innocence, including CCTV footage placing him away from the location where the crime was alleged to have occurred.

In July 2024, he was transferred to a maximum-security cell in La Modelo prison. On Dec. 16, 2024, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued a request for urgent precautionary measures on his behalf after the Nicaraguan government failed to respond to an earlier inquiry.

The Ortega-Murillo government has remained unresponsive to communications from the United Nations and the Organization of American States and has left the U.N. Human Rights Council.

The church in Nicaragua has remained one of the few institutions openly critical of Ortegas government. During mass protests in 2018 against pension reforms, clergy condemned police violence against students.
Home News Family facing manslaughter charges in assisted suicide case highlights 'inherent dangers,' nurse says

A criminal case involving the assisted suicide of a 91-year-old woman is testing the boundaries of a Colorado state law allowing people to end their lives if they are terminally ill and follow specific legal requirements.

Two people are now facing manslaughter charges  the woman's daughter, Kim Roller, and her son-in-law, David Norton, who are alleged to have helped the woman die after she was found dead with a bag over her head that was connected by a tube to a 20-pound green nitrogen gas tank.

Colorado's requirements for assisted suicide stipulate that a person must be terminally ill with an estimated six months or less to live, a doctor must provide medication to end life, and any others who participate in the process cannot gain financially from the patient's death.

"This case highlights the inherent dangers of normalizing assisted suicide, particularly when the boundaries between legal medical practice and unlawful conduct become unclear, Kallie Fell, a perinatal nurse and the executive director of the Center for Bioethics and Culture, told The Christian Post.

In February 2024, officers with the Louisville Police Department discovered Mildred Milsy Rollers body in her room at The Lodge at Balfour, an independent living facility for older adults. The officers also found a suicide note with the date Feb. 5, 2024, crossed out and replaced with Feb. 18, 2024.

Officers later determined that Rollers daughter, Kim Roller, and son-in-law (Kim Roller's brother-in-law), helped the elderly woman die by suicide. Kim Roller reportedly purchased the 20-pound industrial nitrogen canister, and Norton purchased and later helped install the gas flow regulator to the tank.

Earlier this year, a grand jury in Boulder returned indictments against the pair who are facing manslaughter charges. Under Colorado Criminal Code  18-3-104, a person commits manslaughter if they intentionally cause or aid another to end their life.

Prosecutors claim that despite the elderly woman having had a previous failed suicide attempt days before she died, they argue that the defendants carried out the assisted suicide to benefit financially, as they stood to inherit $655,540 that was in the 91-year-old's savings account, and her facility was costing $6,980 per month.

Speaking about the case in a March 25 interview with ABC News' Denver affiliate, Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty said authorities decided to file criminal charges because the requirements of Colorados End-of-Life Options Act were not met.

"We looked at it really carefully, but ultimately it's guided by the rule of law," Dougherty claimed.

"Here in Colorado, the takeaway should not be family shying away from using this option. The takeaway should be following the law when they do so," he added.

In her assessment, Fell told CP, When a 91-year-old woman dies under such circumstances, it raises serious concerns about coercion, oversight, and whether existing laws can truly protect vulnerable individuals. Rather than expanding access to assisted death, this tragedy underscores the need for greater safeguards, accountability, and a renewed commitment to caring for those at the end of life.

In 2016, Colorado voters approved Proposition 106, which enacted the End of Life Options Act, allowing certain terminally ill adults with less than six months to live to request and self-administer drugs to kill themselves. The measure allowed physicians to prescribe lethal drugs to patients under certain circumstances.

The act was updated in 2024 to include SB24-068, reducing the waiting period from 15 days to seven days and allowing physicians to waive the waiting period for patients who meet other qualifications and appear unlikely to survive more than 48 hours.

"Under the law in Colorado, there is really a specific list of things and requirements that people have to do in order to satisfy the medical aid and dying law," Dougherty told the ABC affiliate.

An investigation also allegedly revealed that Kim Roller had attended a Final Exit Network workshop weeks before her mother's death, which is where authorities believe she got the idea to use nitrogen to help Mildred Roller end her life.

Final Exit Network is a nonprofit organization that conducts workshops throughout the country and provides information to help terminally ill patients end their lives. In a statement earlier this year, the organization denied that it had any involvement in Milred Rollers death.

"We want to be clear: Final Exit Network has not been charged with any crime, and the individuals indicted in this case were not Exit Guide Program clients and did not receive Exit Guide services from FEN. The agreement referenced by the District Attorney reflects FENs longstanding commitment to operating ethically, responsibly, and within legal limits," the statement said in part.

According to the Boulder district attorney, "Final Exit was providing seminars all across the country and here in Colorado. And those seminars, as of now, are different in the state of Colorado."

Some of the changes Final Exit Network agreed to make include no more nitrogen demonstrations and step-by-step instructions following the investigation into Milred Rollers death, according to Dougherty.

While Fell acknowledged that the facts of this particular situation will ultimately be determined in a court of law, she noted that the case underscores broader concerns the Center for Bioethics and Culture has raised about so-called medical aid-in-dying laws.

She said doctors should never be in the business of harming their patients, adding that the intentional ending of life is fundamentally incompatible with the ethical foundation of medicine, which is rooted in healing, care and the protection of life.

Second, laws permitting physician-assisted suicide place societys most vulnerable populations at increased risk of being steered  whether by external pressure or internalized feelings of burden  toward ending their lives, Fell continued. Cases like this raise serious questions about how well existing safeguards actually protect those at risk.

She noted that proponents of laws permitting assisted suicide often argue that the practice will be limited to terminally ill patients, but places like Belgium and Canada have moved to include non-terminal conditions, such as mental health issues and depression.

This pattern highlights the inherent difficulty in containing the scope of these laws once the underlying principle is accepted, Fell stated.

This Colorado case may be the first of its kind in terms of criminal prosecution, but it illustrates the real-world complexities and risks that arise when the line between care and killing is blurred, she concluded. It should prompt serious reflection on laws that erode a physician's responsibility to do no harm and treat vulnerable populations as candidates for assisted death rather than individuals in need of care and protection."
Home News 'Vengeance is mine': Citing Bible, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries talks midterm election hopes

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., linked the Democrats midterm election hopes with divine vengeance during a podcast with a former CNN anchor indicted for storming a Minneapolis church service earlier this year.

Jeffries, 55, made the comments during Don Lemon's eponymous podcast released April 4, in which he responded to Lemon's question about mounting challenges in the Trump administration ahead of the midterms in November.

After pointing to what he called the failed policies by [President] Donald Trump and his administration and Republicans," Jeffries added, We're battling them on the economy, battling them on healthcare, battling them on ICE, battling them on their reckless war of choice in the Middle East. And we're going to continue to keep our foot on the gas pedal.

Does this give you some degree of satisfaction? Lemon asked.

Well, this is Holy Week and Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, replied Jeffries, citing a verse from Deuteronomy 32:35 and quoted in Hebrews 10:30 and other New Testament passages. But, you know, as someone who grew up in the Cornerstone Baptist Church, we put these things in God's hands, and it tends to work out while at the same time doing what we have to do.

The 2026 midterm elections will determine which party controls Congress for the last two years of Trumps second term, and both chambers are up for grabs. All 435 seats in the Republican-controlled House and 35 seats in the Senate will be on the ballot this fall.

Jeffries also pointed to the firing of former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom Jeffries called a disgrace. Under Bondi, more than 30 people  including Lemon  have been charged with civil rights violations for storming Cities Church in Minneapolis during a Sunday morning service in January to protest a pastor who also works for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Listen, Pam Bondi is a disgrace. OK? I mean, she violated her oath of office. She weaponized the Department of Justice, as you very well know. She deserved this, said Jeffries. She should have never been confirmed. Shame on those Republican senators.

But we're going to continue to hold her and others accountable, particularly in the aftermath of Democrats taking back control of the House in November, he added.

In February, Lemon, along with eight others, was charged with conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom and an attempt to injure while exercising religious freedom. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutors say Lemon physically obstructed congregants at Cities Church when they attempted to leave the church following the disruptive protest in which parents also reported being unable to access their children because protesters were blocking their access to Sunday school classes.

On Jan. 30, the day of his arrest, then-AG Bondi wrote on social media that Lemon and three others were taken into custody at my direction in connection with what she called a coordinated attack on Cities Church.
Home News Incarcerated moms reunite with their kids for the first time in years over Easter

Nearly two dozen incarcerated mothers spent Easter weekend with their children thanks to a collaboration between the Federal Bureau of Prisons and a Christian ministry that ministers to prisoners, allowing reunited families to participate in Easter festivities in a relaxed setting.

In a video shared Saturday, God Behind Bars documented 23 mothers incarcerated at Federal Prison Camp Alderson in West Virginia reuniting with their children over Easter weekend. The mothers got to change out of their prison clothes into vibrant dresses, have their hair and makeup done, pick out presents for their children and participate in a variety of activities with them, including an Easter egg hunt, arts and crafts and a visit with the Easter bunny.

"This is my first time seeing my little baby my whole time being here," one mother said in the video.

"I get to see my kid for the first time in 5 years," another added.

"I can honestly say, like this is one of the nicest things that's ever been done for me," said a third incarcerated mother.

In addition to documenting the mothers preparing for the reunion, footage showed the moms emotionally reuniting with and embracing their children.

While the children often have the opportunity to visit their incarcerated mothers behind bars, God Behind Bars noted that last weekend's moment was "different because they didnt just see their mother incarcerated, they saw her in a beautiful dress, restored and wrapped in dignity.

This is what rehabilitation looks like," God Behind Bars stated.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons issued a comment about the event on its Facebook page Friday, sharing statistics finding that Incarcerated individuals who maintain family connections through visits are up to 26% less likely to return to prison.

Thats why reunification ceremonies like this at #FPCAlderson are invaluable to rehabilitation as well as to public safety, the Bureau of Prisons added. Thank you God Behind Bars for your partnership in this effort!

God Behind Bars partners with ministries across the country to transform the lives of inmates and their families by introducing them to Jesus and connecting them with local churches. The ministry regularly spearheads family reunification events. However, the nonprofit clarified in a Facebook post Monday that this had NEVER happened before in federal prison history, suggesting that the scale of the Easter weekend reunification event was larger than typical.

Other examples of family reunification events organized by God Behind Bars include the All Is Bright Christmas toy shop and family dinner celebrations. These events give children time with their family member "in a setting that doesnt involve a stale visitation room." During the visits, they play games, receive presents, do crafts and eat a warm meal around the dinner table with their parent.
Home News Iran threatens to cancel ceasefire if Israeli strikes against Hezbollah continue amid general confusion over terms

Less than 24 hours after agreeing to a ceasefire deal with the United States, Iranian officials threatened to cancel the agreement on Wednesday afternoon, blaming escalating Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets across Lebanon.

Just hours earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump clarified the terms of the ceasefire agreement with the Iranian regime, following contradictory reports in Iranian media about the conditions of the deal.

The U.S. and Iran had agreed to halt hostilities for a two-week truce period, with Trump noting in overnight posts on Truth Social that Iran agreed to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, and that a final agreement would be made based on a 10 point proposal from Iran that he called a workable basis.

However, Israel has stated that the ceasefire does not apply to the Lebanese arena, where ground operations are ongoing and the IDF has launched a new operation, Eternal Night, accompanied by extensive airstrikes across the country. This comes despite claims by Pakistani mediators that the agreement required Israel to halt attacks on Hezbollah.

On Wednesday evening, Iranian officials told regional mediators that Tehran would not participate in the planned talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, and could even close the Strait of Hormuz once again unless Israel stops its attacks.

They also warned that Iran could continue carrying out strikes against Israel and other regional countries.

Trump clarified some terms of the agreement in an interview with PBS, noting that the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon, which is significant for Israel, is not included in the deal with Tehran.

Asked about the massive Israeli strikes in Lebanon on Wednesday, Trump said, Yeah, they were not included in the deal  because of Hezbollah. The president added that the Iranian proxy militia would get taken care of, too, and thats a separate skirmish.

Israels Channel 12 also reported that Trump told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an overnight phone call that Lebanon was not included in the agreement, and indicated that he would not oppose continued IDF operations there.

With the future of the Lebanese front unclear, Trumps comments about the other parts of the agreement did not shed much more light.

In another post on Truth Social Wednesday night, the U.S. president wrote, Agreements, Lists, and Letters were being circulated by total Fraudsters, Charlatans, and WORSE who arent connected to the talks.

There is only one group of meaningful 'POINTS' that are acceptable to the United States, and we will be discussing them behind closed doors during these Negotiations. These are the POINTS that are the basis on which we agreed to a CEASEFIRE. It is something that is reasonable, and can easily be dispensed with, Trump wrote.

A senior U.S. official also told AFP that the 10-point proposal submitted by Iran as the basis for the negotiations, which will be unacceptable to Israel and the Gulf states, had not been approved by the United States: The document being reported by media outlets is not the working framework.

But the president himself fueled confusion over the negotiations terms by writing that the talks would be based on the 15-point U.S. proposal, rather than the 10-point Iranian plan, which he had himself called a workable basis on which to negotiate in his post announcing the ceasefire.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump responded to a question about Iranian claims that the agreement stipulates that ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz would pay a toll to Iran. Trump replied that he is thinking about whether the U.S. could impose tolls on passage through the strategic waterway, which he said might ensure the fair flow of maritime traffic and safeguard U.S. interests.

Shipping sources told AFP that, despite reports that two ships transited the strait this morning, the Iranian regime continued to threaten to attack ships attempting to cross without its permission.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters the regime could open the strait in a limited and controlled way on Thursday or Friday if an understanding on a framework for talks is reached.

Coordinating with the Iranian military will be mandatory for all ships, he said.

Allowing Iran to control the strategic Strait of Hormuz and potentially impose tolls on transiting ships is likely to anger Trumps Gulf allies, who had reportedly urged the president to pursue a strategy aimed at decisively weakening the Iranian regime rather than entering negotiations.

Israels Channel 12 quoted a source in the Saudi royal family as saying, The entire world has witnessed the danger Iran poses to the region and the world.  If this regime is not toppled as Saddam's regime was toppled  what is the point of the war? The clerics in Iran will go back to developing the nuclear program they have been working on for 20 years and will continue to develop missile capabilities.

However, Trump reiterated his stance that the regime had undergone what will be a very productive Regime Change, and vowed to work closely with the new leadership in another post.

The U.S. president also reiterated that Iran wouldnt be allowed to continue enriching uranium, adding that the U.S. would, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear Dust. It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!). Nothing has been touched from the date of attack.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed the issue of enriched uranium at a Pentagon news conference on Wednesday. We know exactly what they have. He added. They will either give it to us, or well take it out.

Tariffs and sanctions relief will reportedly be addressed during the talks. In a follow-up post, Trump stressed that any country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately.

This article was originally published by All Israel News.
Home News Iranian Christian convert detained by ICE could face death if deported, pastor fears

A Christian convert who evangelized to Muslims in Iran, who is currently detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, fears he could be killed if he is deported back to the Islamic Republic, now at war with the United States and Israel.

Pastor Blaine Hooper of the Refuge Church of Houston spoke about the situation involving two detained Iranian Christians who have been attending and regularly volunteering at his congregation since last year. He told The Christian Post in an interview that his church is actively supporting the detainees by visiting them regularly and raising funds to procure a qualified legal counsel to help them with their asylum case.

Hooper, who identified as a conservative Evangelical, said that his congregation is not an open border kind of church and that countries, including the United States, should regulate borders." However, he noted that these issues are really complex.

I think that the current left-right media narrative is not really capturing the essence of whats happening, the pastor said. Its just a lot of yelling between the two sides.  I actually think that Christians have a really important role to play in this to call people to a higher standard.

Houston Public Media reported on the situation involving two detained Iranian Christians on Monday, giving them the pseudonyms Mehran and Amin for their safety.

Hooper told the outlet that Mehran was involved in evangelizing Muslims in Iran, which is a criminal offense that carries the death penalty.

Mehran was part of a network of Christians who were bringing the Christian faith message, the Gospel, into Iran for a few years out of different countries surrounding Iran, Hooper said.

Both men presented themselves at the border under the [Biden] administration and claimed asylum, Hooper added, saying they were vetted at that point, and later received work authorization.

Hooper said the two men were detained in December during a routine check-in related to their efforts to obtain asylum status in the United States.

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told HPM that both men entered the country illegally and that Mehran was found removable by an immigration judge last November.

Hooper contends, however, that there is a difference qualitatively between someone coming to the U.S. for "economic reasons and someone whos fleeing for their Christian faith and practice, and who will be killed under an Islamic regime if they return.

Theres a greater sense of justice here at play, the pastor told CP. Justice isnt just punishment. Justice in a biblical lens or a Christian lens is doing the best good for all.

Since taking office last year, President Donald Trump's administration has ramped up immigration enforcement operations and has detained or deported thousands of people deemed to be present in the country illegally.

While the Trump administration and its supporters argue that these operations are necessary to crack down on criminals, critics say many refugees and asylum seekers who followed the established processes to request asylum while fleeing persecution are also at risk of being detained and deported.

This includes asylum seekers from Iran, including those who have converted from Islam to Christianity, which is a criminal offense that can carry the death penalty or imprisonment in Iran. Also, there have been several cases of Hispanic pastors and church leaders being detained or deported after decades of ministry in the U.S.

Last June, Iranian Pastor Ara Torosian in California reported that five members of his congregation were detained by authorities, including a family seeking asylum.

"I believe that America is better than this," Torosian wrote in an op-ed for The Los Angeles Times last year. "This behavior reminds me disturbingly of what I fled in Iran. But I know that most Americans do not support this, nor do most fellow evangelical Christians: Many evangelicals voted for Trump because he pledged to protect persecuted Christians  not to deport them."

The Trump administration deported 11 Iranian Christians from the U.S. to Panama last year. Among them was 27-year-old Artemis Ghasemzadeh, who crossed the border illegally in 2024 but alleges she was never given a credible fear interview as an asylum seeker.

Last December, U.S. Border Patrols Ramey Sector posted to its Facebook account that agents had encountered two illegal immigrants from Iran in the U.S. Virgin Islands after Thanksgiving.

The two illegal immigrants are sisters Mahan Motahari, 38, and Mozhan Motahari, 31, who had converted to Christianity and, according to their lawyer, had legally applied for asylum. After press reports on their cases and Episcopal Church leaders speaking out on their behalf, the sisters were released from detention in January while their cases continue.
Home News Olivet University Riverside campus focuses on local community after ABHE accreditation restored to 'good standing'

Olivet University, a Christian Bible college headquartered in Anza, California, is in the midst of a season of steady progress focused on serving and engaging with the local community after its accreditation was restored to good standing, following a difficult season where it was falsely accused by four international students, seeking to gain permanent residency, of human labor trafficking.

Were very grateful to actually go through this process with them (accreditation agency) because it really helped us to identify what we need to improve on, said Nathanael Tran, chairman of the Olivet University Board of Trustees, to The Christian Post. And were just grateful that we can be in good standing, and we just want to continue to strengthen this institution.



Just the fact that we worked through the process and just got through good standing in itself reflects the commitment of our school and what we want to achieve.

Olivet University first announced that it had been recognized as an institution in good standing by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, a faith-based higher education accreditation agency, in a statement posted on the schools website on Feb. 28. This announcement came five months after officials from the Homeland Security Investigations and the Assistant United States Attorney Office in a joint statement declined to file criminal charges against Olivet University, in effect dismissing allegations of human trafficking as not credible.

OU has argued that the trafficking claims were a scheme by former international students to gain permanent residency through a T-visa. A T-visa scheme involves fraudulently using a human trafficking claim to convert a temporary visa into permanent residency.

Tran noted that Olivet is in the midst of thoughtful discussions and planning for the universitys future, and the school is emphasizing student community service.



It was a bit difficult to do that with all the distractions going on. But now that were in good standing  everyone kind of has a clearer head to think things through and see what we want to do and set up the vision for the future for this university.



He shared that OU students have been doing outreach and volunteering in the local community, such as donating 700 childrens books to the local library, hosting a prayer and praise event for Palm Sunday at the school, clearing brush and cleaning a riverbed to reduce fire risk and seasonal flooding, and participating in a monthly food drive, with the next one scheduled for this weekend.

Our students have been very active, and theyve been very engaged with a variety of community services, Tran said, noting that the experiences give students a deeper sense of purpose in connecting with the community and ... see tangible results that come out of connecting with people and serving people.



In every aspect of campus life, faith plays a central role, Tran highlighted. Nearly 100% of students regularly participate in prayer, Bible studies and weekday morning services.



"This rhythm is simply part of everyday life on campus," he said. "That same sense of discipline carries into the classroom, where Olivet University students remain committed to their academic, personal, and spiritual growth.

Throughout the interview, the OU chairman emphasized the schools obligation to use its physical campus to glorify God. He discussed how a pastor from a local church came to the school and prayed over this land before they moved in, expressing hope to God that whoever enters this land would use this property for Your purposes.

Were actually fulfilling his prayer, Tran reflected.



Olivet University in Anza spans more than 900 acres (with an additional 800 acres off campus), according to the schools website, and it sits on a historic Indian sanctuary. In addition to its Anza headquarters, other campuses are in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California; Washington, D.C.; St. Louis, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee; and Sanford, Florida. The university plans to add other degree programs outside of California and has a strong and active alumni network.
Home News Pastor praised husband as amazing man of God' before her murder, planned to spend life with him

Beloved North Carolina Pastor Tammy McCollum, who police say was shot dead by her husband in their home on Monday, previously told the world on their 30th wedding anniversary that he was an amazing man of God, and she planned to spend the rest of her life with him.

30 YEARS YA'LL!!! I am truly blessed and honored to have been married to this amazing man of God for 30 years, and I'm looking forward to the next 100 years together! Tammy McCollum, a minister at The Well Worship Center in Statesville, declared on her Facebook page just over four years ago in February 2022. I love this man with all that is within me! Thank you, Jesus, for allowing me to get it right the 1st time! Eddie Mccollum I LOVE YOU BABYLOVE!

What happened at their home on Monday morning has left their daughter, Davilyn McCollum, in a state of confusion.

"I feel like everybody is in such a state of confusion because my father loved my mother dearly," Davilyn McCollum told WCNC. "Their relationship wasnt arguments all day every day over the small things, were talking about people who have been together for 30 years of their lives."

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in a news release that shortly after 2 a.m. ET on Monday, they responded to an assault with a deadly weapon injury call to the residence. When they arrived, they found 58-year-old Tammy McCollum suffering from gunshot wounds, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Eddie McCollum, 61, was questioned by detectives, then arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Investigators did not release additional details requested by The Christian Post on Wednesday, but court records cited by WBTV said Eddie McCollum called 911 and admitted to fatally shooting his wife during an argument. What they were arguing about was not disclosed, but he also told investigators the same thing before requesting an attorney. At his first court hearing on Tuesday, Eddie McCollum, who worked as a teaching assistant educating exceptional children at Southwest Middle School, was appointed a public defender and given a $1 million bond.

Southwest Middle School Principal Walter Clyburn told parents that Eddie McCollum was suspended with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

"I am writing to make you aware that a staff member, Eddie McCollum, was recently arrested for an incident unrelated to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and Southwest Middle School and is currently suspended with pay, Clyburn wrote. Please know, while I am unable to share details about this situation, I can reassure you that this matter is not related to our school. We are sharing this information in the event you see or hear about it on social media or in the news.

After a day of silence on Tammy McCollums murder, The Well Worship Center in Statesville released a statement on Facebook Tuesday night.

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of one of our beloved church family members. This loss comes under deeply tragic circumstances, and we ask that you keep the family and all who are affected in your prayers during this incredibly difficult time, the church said while quoting Matthew 5:4 that says, Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

As a community of faith, we are reminded to lean on one another for strength, compassion, and support. We encourage everyone to respect the privacy of the family as they grieve and to extend kindness in both word and action, the church explained.

We will be providing details regarding memorial arrangements as they become available. In the meantime, let us come together in prayer, trusting in Gods comfort and peace to carry us through this season of sorrow.

Davilyn McCollum remembered through tears that her mother enjoyed doing her makeup and loved hanging out with her friends after work in addition to her faith commitment.

"Job well done, my girl," Davilyn McCollum said of her mother. "You did a good job."
Home News Pete Hegseth declares 'decisive' victory in Iran, credits divine providence: 'God deserves all the glory'

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared a "decisive military victory" in Iran amid a two-week ceasefire, crediting U.S. military competence and divine providence during a Wednesday morning press briefing at the Pentagon.



"Our troops, our American warriors, deserve the credit for this day, but God deserves all the glory. Tens of thousands of sorties, refuelings and strikes carried out under the protection of divine providence; a massive effort with miraculous protection," he said.



"'Dude 44 Bravo' spoke for all of us: 'God is good,'" he added, referencing the call sign and reported message of the downed American pilot when he was rescued Sunday after his F-15E was shot down approximately 200 miles within the Iranian interior last Friday.

Hegseth: "God deserves all the glory. Tens of thousands of sorties, refuelings, and strikes, carried out under the protection of divine providence. A massive effort with miraculous protection." pic.twitter.com/AGnz40SF4c  Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 8, 2026

The briefing, which Hegseth held jointly with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, highlighted the last-minute agreement reached late Tuesday establishing a two-week ceasefire between Iran, the United States and Israel.



The deal enabled President Donald Trump to step back from his threat to devastate Iran's "whole civilization" if they failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday evening.



Calling it "a big day for world peace," Hegseth said, "Iran wants it to happen. They've had enough. Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield. A capital V." He went on to assert that in less than 40 days, "CENTCOM, using less than 10 percent of America's total combat power, dismantled one of the world's largest militaries."



"The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism proved utterly incapable of defending itself, its people or its territory," he said.



The ceasefire, which was mediated by Pakistan, found support from world leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose office backed the move while clarifying that it does not apply to Israel's ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon.



Both Iran and Oman are permitted to impose fees on vessels passing through the crucial Strait of Hormuz under the agreement, according to a regional official who spoke to The Associated Press.



Caine, who said the U.S. military struck more than 13,000 targets since Feb. 28, echoed Hegseth's claim that CENTCOM has left the Iranian military devastated, but warned that the U.S. is prepared to resume hostilities if Iran fails to uphold its end of the ceasefire.



Reports emerged early Wednesday of attacks in Iran and Gulf Arab countries, prompting concerns regarding the stability of the deal that Vice President JD Vance has described as "fragile," according to the AP.



Hegseth, an Evangelical whose home church is affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), has repeatedly invoked divine providence and biblical rhetoric to imply God's favor rests upon the U.S. actions against the Iranian regime.



During a prayer service at the Pentagon last month, Hegseth quoted from the imprecatory psalms and read from a U.S. military chaplain's prayer that used language reminiscent of the Old Testament to invoke divine wrath against the enemies of the U.S.



Hegseth likened the rescue of the downed American pilot to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ during a press briefing at the White House on Easter Monday.

"Shot down on a Friday, Good Friday," he said. "Hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday, and rescued on Sunday. Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday."



"A pilot reborn, all home and accounted for, a nation rejoicing. God is good.  We leave no man behind, and that is not luck. It is the result of unmatched training, superior technology, and unbreakable warrior ethos, and sheer American grit."



When Trump was asked during the same briefing if he believes God supports the U.S. in the Iran war, he said, "I do, because God is good, because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of."
Home News 'Gas & Glory': Tennessee church gives hundreds of commuters free gas

Amid rapidly escalating gas prices worldwide, a Tennessee church recently pumped out free gasoline for hundreds of commuters.

Overcoming Believers Church of Knoxville, which has a membership of approximately 1,500 people, held its Gas & Glory event on Saturday at a local Thumbs Up Exxon station.

The event involved 400 cars, each receiving $20 worth of gas for free. Additionally, volunteers provided free T-shirts, candy for children and invited drivers to join them for worship on Easter Sunday.

Karen Swint, a spokesperson for Overcoming Believers, told The Christian Post that Senior Pastor Daryl Arnold has a heart for this community and is always wanting to help in whatever way he can.

Although Overcoming Believers had hosted the gas giveaway event in past years, Swint said, This was our best year ever," and "it seems to get better each year.

We learn how to organize better as well as make it fun. The people are sometimes sitting for a long time, she explained, noting that volunteers offered prayer and games while they wait.

Our deacons and volunteers are on site to jump-start cars if they die while waiting. We tried to make it fun for everyone!

Swint believes the Gas & Glory event helped to advance the Gospel.

People need to see us be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ," she said.

The Bible tells us to Go and make disciples, Swint continued. I truly believe this is the best way to do [it]. We are to be doers of the Word, not only hearers or speakers.

Overcoming Believers describes itself as a dynamic ministry wholly committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Overcoming Believers Church is a witnessing and worshiping community of believers that is called, committed, ordained and established by God to build His Kingdom in the earth, the site reads. We are overcoming the world by the renewing of our minds through teaching the Word of God.

The Gas & Glory event comes at a time when gas prices worldwide have been sharply increasing amid the ongoing conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel.

According to a report from AAA published last week, the national average price for a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States rose above $4.00 for the first time since August 2022.
Home News Where is Iran in the Bible?: Here's the biblical backstory

Iran is back in the headlines. The word Iran doesn't appear in the Bible, but the names of the peoples and empires that occupied that land are written into the biblical narrative. This is the story 

The name 'Iran'

Modern-day Iran consists of many peoples speaking many languages, but the main language is called Persian, or Farsi. The name Iran derives from Aryan and means land of the Aryans. The term Persia originates from Parsa, the name of the region in southwest Iran where the Persian Empire started. This name comes to us from Greek and was adopted by Western languages. Persia was the name used by outsiders, while Iran is the name in the local language. For centuries, the land was known as Persia, and in 1935, the name Iran was officially adopted. For over 2,000 years, Persia (Iran) was ruled by successive Shahs, until the Islamic Revolution in 1979.

Iranians in the Old Testament

Iranians traditionally descend from two of the grandsons of Noah: Madai and Elam. The stories of Daniel and Esther are set in what is now Iran, and the names of Persian kings appear in Ezra and Nehemiah.

Medes

Madai, the third son of Japheth mentioned in Genesis 10:2 and 1 Chronicles 1:5, is traditionally seen as the ancestor of the Medes. The city of Achmetha (now called Hamadan) and the surrounding land of Media recall him. The Medes are mentioned in the Old Testament books of 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Ezra, Esther, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Daniel. The land of Media is now northwest Iran, and the province of Hamadan gets its name from Media.

Elamites

Elam, the son of Shem mentioned in Genesis 10:22 and 1 Chronicles 1:17, is traditionally seen as the ancestor of the Elamites. The land of Elam was named after him. Elam was an ancient kingdom east of the River Tigris and along the northwest coast of the Gulf. In Genesis 14, we read about Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, who battled Abraham. The land of Elam and the Elamites appear in the books of Ezra and Isaiah.

The Elamites built the ancient city of Shushan, which is mentioned over 30 times in the Old Testament books of Nehemiah, Esther and Daniel. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site known as Susa. The land of Elam is now southwest Iran, and the modern Iranian province of Ilam gets its name from Elam.

Israelites in Media

Jews ended up in the lands of what we now call northern Iraq and northern Iran following successive waves of expulsion and forced resettlement. In the 730s and 720s BC, the northern tribes were taken when the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes (2 Kings 18:1112).

Jews in Elam

During the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, king of Babylonia, Jerusalem was besieged in 597 BC. Around this time, Jeremiah was a prophet. Shortly afterward, Judah was conquered, and Jerusalem was destroyed in or about 586 BC. The people of Judah were taken into captivity and resettled in Babylon and in different parts of the empire, including Elam.

Daniel

The book of Daniel is set in Shushan in Elam (Daniel 8:2), in what is modern-day southwest Iran, during the Babylonian Empire. The story begins in Daniel Chapter 1, in the third year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, and continues into Chapter 5 under his grandson, King Belshazzar.

King Cyrus

The writing was on the wall for King Belshazzar (Daniel 5:2529), and in 539 BC he was deposed by King Cyrus the Persian (Daniel 5:3031), who had defeated the Medes to create the Medo-Persian Empire. Cyrus captured Elam and the great city of Shushan, which became his new capital.

Return from exile

King Cyrus was tolerant of the nationalities and cultures in his empire. During his reign, in or about 538 BC, King Cyrus the Great decreed that the Jewish exiles could return to their homeland (2 Chronicles 36:2223). The story of the return is then told in the book of Ezra. Not all Jews returned, and the continuing ancient Jewish communities in places such as Iraq, Iran, Georgia and Bukhara descend from those who remained.

King Darius

King Cyrus was succeeded by his grandson, Darius the Persian. The Bible states that Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian and that the law of the Medes and Persians was implemented (Daniel 6:8). Darius found the decree from King Cyrus in the royal archives in Ecbatana, the capital in the province of Media (Ezra 6:2), and he allowed the Jews to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem, which was completed in the sixth year of his reign, in or about 516 BC (Ezra 6:15). After Darius died, he was succeeded by his son, King Xerxes.

Esther

The story behind the book of Esther unfolds in Persia under King Xerxes, also called Ahasuerus, who was king of the Medes and the Persians and had his capital in Shushan (Esther 1:2) in Elam. He replaced his wife, Queen Vashti, with the Jewess Esther, who, along with Mordecai, thwarted Hamans plot to kill the Jews and preserved the Jewish communities across Persia. The Jewish Feast of Purim, commanded in Esther 9:2632, is still practiced by most Jewish communities around the world and recalls these events, which took place in ancient Iran.

Artaxerxes

King Xerxes of Persia was succeeded by Artaxerxes I, which forms the background to much of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. King Artaxerxes appears in the fourth chapter of Ezra. The story of Ezra the scribe begins in the seventh chapter of Ezra, when Artaxerxes commissioned him to leave Babylon, go to Jerusalem, and take charge of the civil affairs of the Jewish nation.

The book of Nehemiah opens with the phrase: The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan... (Nehemiah 1:1). Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Persia (Nehemiah 1:11) at Shushan in Elam. He told the king of his sorrow about the state of Jerusalem, and the king sent Nehemiah to Jerusalem with letters of safe passage to rebuild the city walls (Nehemiah 2:19).

Later History

The later history of Persia is not told in the Bible. The empire of the Medes and Persians was overthrown by Alexander the Great. After his empire broke up, the region came under the Seleucid Empire, which in turn was overthrown by the Parthians.

The wise men

When we come to the New Testament, the people of Persia once again appear in the story. It is not known for sure where the wise men who visited Jesus, mentioned in Matthew 2:112, came from. Some suggest that, as the word Magi is Persian in origin, perhaps they came from Persia (now Iran), and perhaps they were Medes or Zoroastrian priests from Parthia. Certainly, both the Medes and the Zoroastrians had a great reputation in ancient times for astronomy and astrology. Fourth-century depictions of the Magi in the Middle East show them in Persian costume, but whether this was based on knowledge or tradition is not known. Other theories suggest they came from Petra, Arabia or Mesopotamia.

Persians at Pentecost

At Pentecost, local and diaspora Jews from all over the Middle East came to Jerusalem, as described in the second chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. They are listed as Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites ... (Acts 2:811).

The interesting thing about this list is that the first three groups mentioned represented far-flung Jewish communities of Persia. The Parthians, Medes and Elamites were all from areas beyond the Roman Empire and beyond the River Tigris, in what is now modern-day Iran. Parthians were from Parthia (now northeast Iran), Medes from Media (now northwest Iran), and Elamites from Elam (now southwest Iran). Returning home to Parthia, Media and Elam, some of these Jewish believers started messianic congregations, and there has been a continuous presence of historic Christian communities in Iran ever since.

Early Church

As the early Church grew, so did the Church in Persia. The Church historian Origen stated that the Apostle Thomas, along with Bartholomew, went to Parthia, and Thomas was known as the Apostle to the Parthians before going on to India. Today, churches in Iraq, Iran and India that claim descent from Saint Thomas are known as Mar Thoma churches.

Growth of Islam

The Parthians were overthrown by the Sassanians in AD 224, who were conquered by the Islamic Caliphate in AD 651. From then on, Islam, mainly in its Shiite form, slowly grew as the dominant religion of the region. Historic Jewish, Christian and Zoroastrian minorities remain in Iran, although since 1948 many Jews have settled in modern-day Israel (see Isaiah 11:1112).

Tombs

Iran has the tombs of Persian kings mentioned in the Bible. The tomb of Cyrus the Great is located in Pasargadae, Fars Province, Iran, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tombs of the later Persian kings Xerxes I, Darius the Great, Artaxerxes I, and Darius II are cut into the mountain near Naqsh-e Rostam, near Persepolis in Fars Province.

Iran is also reputed to have the tombs of some biblical figures. In Susa (ancient Shushan) is a site believed to be the tomb of the prophet Daniel. In Hamadan (ancient Ecbatana), there is a site believed to be the tomb of Esther and Mordechai. These are visited by pilgrims from different Abrahamic faiths. Marco Polo even claimed to have visited the tombs of the Magi in Saba (Saveh), near Tehran, although whatever he saw has not survived.

Summary

Persians are found throughout much of the Bible, and some biblical accounts are set in what is now Iran. There has been an ancient Jewish presence since the time of exile and an ancient Christian presence since Pentecost, both of which continue today. Historic Orthodox churches have existed for many centuries as minority communities, and there are places of pilgrimage that are important for Jews and Christians.

Today, there is a great revival among Iranians, with growing interest in the Bible, and many are coming to Christ within and outside Iran. Sadly, in times of war with the West, it is often the local Jewish and Christian communities in the Middle East  who otherwise live in peace with their neighbors  who bear the brunt of reprisals and persecution, as scapegoats or through association with political conflicts to which they are not party.
Home Opinion The unthinkable alliance: How Russian and Ukrainian Christians are uniting to feed Israelis

As Iran launches more missiles and drones at Israeli cities, an extraordinary alliance of Russian and Ukrainian Christians is hand-delivering food packages to anxious families affected by the Iran war.

Remarkable!

Whod have dreamed that Russians and Ukrainians  of all people  could serve alongside each other in the same ministry. After all, theyre supposed to be on opposing sides, arent they?

This is what the Gospel does. In a world defined by division, the Good News of Jesus Christ has the power to unite even those who appear to be on opposite sides of history.

As a frequent traveler to Ukraine, Russia, and Israel, Ive seen many times how divisions that seem insurmountable have been swept away by one powerful, shared commitment  a passion to live for Jesus and the Gospel.

This unity is on full display in Israel today, where Christian immigrants from Russia and Ukraine have set aside the elephant in the room  the war in Ukraine  to serve others in a joint aid effort. Together, theyre bringing groceries  and hope  to Israelis huddled in bomb shelters and homes as sirens wail overhead.

From a human perspective, this kind of unity seems impossible. But these believers follow a Savior who specializes in doing the unimaginable.

Around 20% of Israelis have Ukrainian or Russian Jewish roots. Theyre not blind to whats going on in Europe. Nearly all of them have been deeply affected by the war in Ukraine, now grinding into its fifth year. Many have lost family and friends in the conflict.

Yet believers have made a conscious choice. Rather than dwelling on the differences that divide them, they focus on what unites them.

America today seems more divided than ever. Our political and cultural conflicts seem so large that many fear our nation has passed the point of no return  that the divisions, even among Christians, are too deep to overcome.

But consider the silent miracle unfolding in Israel

If Russian and Ukrainian Christians can come together, is it possible that American believers could find a way to move beyond our political differences and social media outrage  and unite in a greater cause?

One cause unites believers across ethnicities, nationalities, social status, and even politics  the desire to share Gods love and the Gospel with the world.

Recently, in my role with Slavic Gospel Association, I sat down for breakfast with a group of Evangelical pastors  Russians and Ukrainians  supported by the ministry. They ate together. They prayed together. They spoke with one voice about their shared mission.

One heart. One purpose.

Next time you feel despair rising over the division and strife in America, remember the Russian and Ukrainian believers serving side by side in Israel. Pour out your heart to God. Cry out for reconciliation and unity in our nation.

Then start where you are.

Share the one message that can truly unite us. Sow the seeds of the Gospel  in your words, your actions, and your social media posts.

Americas silent miracle can begin with each of us.
Home Opinion When people call you a 'Christian nationalist,' here's what to think

Throughout Scripture, even in the earliest days of the Church, those who spoke Gods truth into public life were often given names meant to humiliate and discredit them.

The very name Christian was, in its origin, a term of reproach. In Antioch, where the disciples were called Christians first (Acts 11:26), the label was not bestowed as an honor, but as a way of marking them out  identifying them with Christ in a manner meant to ridicule and marginalize.

The pattern is hardly anything new.

The prophet Elijah was called the troubler of Israel.

The prophet Jeremiah was accused of weakening the nation.

The apostle Paul was labeled a pestilent fellow, a mover of sedition among the people.

In each case, the charge was not merely disagreement; it was an attempt to silence.

The message was clear: discredit the messenger, and you can dismiss the message.

In our own time, a similar pattern has emerged.

One of the most effective ways to silence a Christian voice in the public square today is to attach a label to it  one that sounds dangerous enough that no further argument is required. That label is Christian nationalism.

It is invoked in media, academia, and even within the Church itself. It is used broadly, often vaguely, and almost always with negative connotations. For many pastors and church leaders, the mere possibility of being associated with it is enough to produce hesitation, if not outright silence them.

Part of the label's power lies in the word nationalism itself. It is not a neutral term in the modern mind. In the 20th century, some of the most oppressive regimes in history wrapped themselves in the language of national identity. The party led by Adolf Hitler was known as the National Socialist German Workers' Party. Though its ideology was far more complex and far more sinister than the word alone suggests, the association remains.

As a result, the term nationalism often evokes images of authoritarianism, coercion, and extremism. When the word is joined with Christian, the effect is immediate. Suspicion is cast before any explanation is given. The label does not arrive empty  it arrives loaded!

But before such a charge is accepted, it should be examined.

There are, to be sure, distortions of the Christian faith that wrongly merge the mission of the Church with the ambitions of the state. There are those who speak as though a nation could be equated with the Kingdom of God. The Church is not the state. Neither is the Gospel of Christ advanced by force.

But this is not what most faithful pastors and believers mean when they speak to the moral issues of the day.

To suggest that applying biblical truth to public life is inherently dangerous is to misunderstand, even misrepresent, the very nature of the Christian faith itself.

Jesus Christ is not Lord over a narrow corner of private devotion. He is Lord of all.

His authority extends not only to the heart, but to the home, to the church, and to the broader ordering of human life. Scripture speaks not only to personal salvation, but to truth and falsehood, to right and wrong, to justice and injustice, and to the created order itself.

When Christians affirm the sanctity of life, they are not engaging in political extremism; they are affirming that human beings are made in the image of God and, consequently, life is sacred at every stage.

When they uphold the biblical definition of marriage, they are not seeking control; they are bearing witness to Gods design, which cannot be defied without serious consequence.

When they speak about the importance of family, truth, or moral responsibility, they are not advancing a political agenda; they are applying timeless truth to present realities in ways consistent with Gods order and most conducive to human flourishing.

If such convictions are now considered suspect, then the issue is not with the convictions themselves, but with a culture increasingly unwilling to tolerate them.

This, of course, is where the danger lies.

The label Christian nationalism is often used to turn faithfulness into suspicion, and genuine Christian conviction into extremism. It works to silence pastors and other church leaders by discrediting them before they ever speak.

In this way, the label becomes not merely descriptive, but profoundly strategic.

It functions as a preemptive muzzle.

When it succeeds, the consequences are significant.

Pastors who withhold what God has spoken and avoid applying Scripture to the moral issues shaping peoples lives do not become more faithful to the Gospel; they become less so. As Martin Luther, the great reformer, warned:

If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.

The Gospel does not exist in abstraction. It speaks into real lives, real communities, and real cultures. It calls sinners to repentance, but repentance from what? It calls for transformation, but according to what standard?

If the Church is unwilling to name the sins that are normalized in the culture, then its call to repentance becomes vague. If it refuses to address the lies that dominate public life, then its proclamation of truth becomes disconnected from reality.

Faithfulness requires more.

It requires the courage to speak  not carelessly, not harshly, not with partisan spirit, but clearly, biblically, and without apology where God Himself has spoken.

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth (2 Corinthians 13:8).

This is not a call for the Church to become political in the narrow sense. It is a call for the Church to be fully biblical. Yet it is also a call to speak to politics whenever public policy blatantly disregards the moral law of God, defies His created order, or gives legal protection to what He has clearly condemned.

It is to declare the Lordship of Christ in a way that encompasses all of life.

It is to disciple believers not only in private devotion, but in how to think, live, and act in a world increasingly at odds with the truth.

It is to understand that remaining quiet when truth is being openly denied is not neutrality  it is absence. It is like a soldier who has abandoned his post.

The accusations may come. The labels may be applied. This should not surprise us. We should anticipate it.

Name-calling, false labels, derogatory expressions, and even mockery have been used against faithful followers of Jesus Christ throughout the Churchs history.

But the question is not what we will be called. The question is whether we will be faithful to the one who has called us.

The Church has never been sustained by the approval of the culture; it has always advanced in spite of it. Even the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).

In the early centuries, Christians refused to bow to Caesar, when it cost them their livelihoods  and, in many cases, their lives. In a world that treated human life cheaply, they rescued abandoned infants and cared for the sick during plagues when no one else would. Their faith did not conform to the culture; it confronted it.

Centuries later, believers such as William Wilberforce labored tirelessly against the slave trade, standing against entrenched economic and social systems because they believed the Gospel demanded it. Their convictions were railed against at first. They were zealously resisted. Still, they persevered, and the world is better for it.

In America, pastors and churches played decisive roles in movements for justice and moral reform, often at great personal cost. They did not wait for cultural approval before they spoke.

They were not trying to control the culture; they were bearing witness to the truth.

The pattern is unmistakable: whenever the Church has been most faithful, it has often been most out of step with the world around it.

This principle does not change.

It does not bend to the pressures of the moment.

It does not yield to labels.

It does not retreat when challenged.

It stands.

And in every generation, there must be those who are willing to stand with it.

Not for the sake of influence.

Not for the sake of power.

But for the sake of faithfulness to Christ, and for the sake of a world that still desperately needs the light, even when it calls that light darkness and that darkness light.
One of the first YMCAs in the country has removed the national charitys branding from its name as it marks 180 years of operating in Liverpool.

YMCA Together has changed its name to You Matter after finding that its work had expanded beyond the core focus of the national charity on supporting young people.

The Liverpool charity, which recorded an income of 15.5m and employed over 200 people in the year to March 2025, said its new name would give it greater freedom to be creative, flexible and responsive to meeting local need.

It said demand for its services continues to grow as increasing numbers face housing insecurity, mental health pressures and the impact of financial hardship.

Last year, the charity supported more than 3,000 people and now provides more than 800 supported accommodation settings across Liverpool, Sefton and Knowsley.

Chief executive Ellie McNeil said: Nationally, the YMCA movement has increasingly focused on supporting young people, while here in the Liverpool city region, weve continued to evolve as the challenges facing our communities have changed.

She added: People who come to us are often dealing with several challenges at once. Lives rarely fit neatly into one category, and our work has developed to reflect that.

The name You Matter captures something that has always been central to how we work. Weve always believed in people, not problems, and that every person deserves dignity, stability and the opportunity to rebuild their life.

You Matter was founded in 1846, two years after the original Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA) was formed in London.

The Liverpool charity is no longer listed on the national YMCAs website.

A spokesperson for YMCA told Civil Society: YMCA Together, in name and organisation, is no longer a member of the YMCA Federation.

YMCAs in England and Wales are independent charities, each with its own trustees and governance structures.

They continue to operate as an independent community-focused charity in Liverpool, and we remain supportive of their work and future.

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,
A charity has been cleared by the regulator which found that it was victim to a misinformation campaign falsely alleging it encouraged children to send Valentines Day cards to asylum seekers.

The Charity Commission found no evidence of wrongdoing at City of Sanctuary UK after examining a written complaint from former Conservative education minister Gavin Williamson last August.

Shadow cabinet members Laura Trott and Chris Philp also raised concerns about the charitys Schools of Sanctuary programme last year, which led to national media reports.



The commission opened a compliance case but this week confirmed it found no evidence of inappropriate political activity by the charity, or activity that falls outside of its purposes, which had been alleged.

Heart-shaped general messages were shown in schools and some were sent to another refugee charity but at no point did children write cards to individual adult asylum seekers or refugees, the commission found.

It also dismissed concerns that the charity has breached its charitable purposes by criticising aspects of government policy.

Trustees threatened

In its case concluding statement, the regulator said that it was concerned about the misinformation the charity was subject to and the subsequent threats to staff and trustees, following the allegations.

Helen Earner, the commissions director of regulatory services, said: The commission speaks out when charities fall short of their legal responsibilities, but we also have a role in affirming the right of charities to further their purposes within the law, even where some may strongly disagree with their views.

Charities have operated in contested areas of social policy for centuries, and as such, need to accept that not everyone will agree with their position or be supportive of their cause, and that they may be subject to criticism.

In this case however, concerns about the charitys work were fuelled by online misinformation, something charities are increasingly subject to and a concern for us as regulator.

While we cant fact check every concern about every charity, sometimes the high profile of allegations means it is right for us to set the record straight where allegations cannot be substantiated.

After examining the available evidence, we found the claims to be misleading, and that the Schools of Sanctuary programme is within the charitys purposes and complies with our guidance on campaigning and political activity.

We are satisfied the trustees understand their regulatory obligations.

A spokesperson for City of Sanctuary UK said: While it is disappointing that our integrity was called into question, we welcome this clear outcome and are pleased the case is now closed.

The misinformation campaign we were subject to had a real impact on our team and the schools we work with, and we are grateful that the commission recognised this as part of its review.

The commission has removed trustee names from several charities, including City of Sanctuary UK, from its register due to concerns that they might be targeted.

A City of Sanctuary UK spokesperson added: We know we are not alone  a number of other organisations working in this field have faced similar experiences.

Williamson did not respond to a request for comment.

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Fifty years ago, the radio station that would become KSUT launched from a small room in Durango, Colorado. It had temperature problems and no ventilation. The plan was to provide information, alerts, and programming for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe; KSUT, now an NPR affiliate serving the whole Four Corners region, is one of only eight tribal radio stations in the country. Last week, KSUT emerged victoriousalong with two Colorado stations, in Denver and Aspen; NPR more broadly; and PBSin a suit against the Trump administration that I covered earlier this year. Everyone is just so proud of KSUT for taking this stand, Tami Graham, KSUTs station manager, told me. Its quite risky for us, as you know, to do this for fear of retaliation from this administration.

The lawsuit, which brought KSUT, Colorado Public Radio, and Aspen Public Radio as coplaintiffs with NPR and PBS, stemmed from Executive Order 14290: Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media, which Donald Trump signed in early May of 2025. The order mandated that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) stop providing money to NPR and PBS; as a result, in January, CPB was formally dissolved. A fact sheet from the administration lambasted NPR for saying, in one program, that banana slugs are hermaphrodites; this, along with other features, illustrated partisan capture. Questions were raised, Thomas Evans, NPRs editor in chief, recalled, about whether the order would bar member stations from carrying things like Morning Edition. But now that thats been knocked down, theres no question about us having a continued relationship.

Before Randolph Moss, a federal judge in Washington, DC, NPR and the Colorado stations argued that the stoppage of funds was an infringement on their First Amendment rights and clearly represented viewpoint discrimination. The Department of Justice lawyers, for their part, didnt seem interested in arguing for the orders constitutionality, Steve Zansberg, the lawyer for the three Colorado stations, told me. There was never any serious argument that the executive order was anything but blatantly unconstitutional. I suspect the administration knew that but, as in so many other instances, simply didnt care. (The Justice Department did not respond to my request for comment.)

The day before April Fools, Moss released a sixty-two-page ruling chockablock with precedent, including a reference to a successful lawsuit brought by the National Rifle Association against Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York, among others, for viewpoint discrimination. The First Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government powerincluding the power of the purseto punish or suppress disfavored expression by others, Moss wrote. Executive Order 14290 crosses that line. Essentially, he ruled that Trump had defunded public media unlawfully, and that these three stations, as well as PBS and NPR generally, had been unconstitutionally targeted. Graham, of KSUT, reflected on the feeling of beginning to read through those extremely thorough pages: Its just nice to see that the judicial side of the court system is actually functioning the way it should be, she said. It really is one of the last places that we have to count on.

A press release from the administration that called NPRs coverage trash was one of a few rhetorical moves cited by Moss in his ruling that he said left no doubt that the funding-pull was not simply viewpoint discrimination toward public media or a reaction to stations failure to live up to some yet-to-be-attained platonic ideal of unbiased journalism. Rather, he wrote, Trump views their speech as unfavorable to him and the Republican party, and had used his governmental power to wither them. And he had partially succeeded, considering CPBs demise. Funding would have to come from elsewhere and, as Moss wrote, no Court order declaring the Executive Order unlawful as applied to the CPB can afford NPR, PBS, or their member stations any meaningful relief.

Its too late, Josh Shepperd, an associate professor at the University of Colorado, Boulder, who is writing a history of CPB, told me. Even so, its a statement that probably needed to be made in the name of checks and balances. Of the ruling, he said, I wouldnt say theres much positive news for public media in the way of recovering funding, infrastructure, or even stopping this administration from interfering with public media. But a court precedent has now been set that the government cannot weaponize financial or compliance issues for punishment of US noncommercial media stations.

Look, its a moral victory, Evans said. But the reality is the rescission was a different mechanism than the executive order, so it doesnt actually change anything for us, and in fact Im a bit concerned that we have supporters saying, Oh great, its over, the federal funding is coming back, which it isnt.

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Graham told me that on this, KSUTs fiftieth year of service, she felt support from the people the station servesrural listeners across the political spectrumregardless of its affiliation with NPR. It has everything to do with our local service, our local news and information, our local emergency alerting, she told me, and I think theres a recognition of the value that we bring to the region. In ten minutes, shed be having a meeting with staff to discuss the stations endowment fund and a plan to install ninety-nine solar panels to help sustain the station for the next fifty years. Like other public media stations, KSUT had experienced, in the wake of the funding cuts, a groundswell of donations, both local and from afar. The proofs in the pudding, she said.

Carolina Abbott Galvao contributed reporting to this article.
A Florida appeals court decision, reinterpreting a 32-year-old workers compensation statute, could now mean a longer statute of limitations on many injury claims and may lead to the reopening of many cases around the state.

The lead claimants attorney in the case, Randall Porcher, of the Morgan & Morgan law firm, wrote in his appeal brief that the impact of a two clocks statute of limitations will be largely prospective, mostly affecting pending and future claims for permanent disability. Defense lawyer George Kagan, who was not involved in the litigation, agreed that most old claims cannot be revisited, but hundreds of pending claims will be governed by the new interpretation.

But others in the state, including an insurance defense attorney and an Orlando plaintiffs lawyer, said some major headaches are ahead for employers and comp insurers who believed that many claims had been laid to rest.

The case will have enormous implications, and I think there are probably thousands of cases where claimants have been erroneously advised that their cases have been closed, due to (the) statute of limitations, that will now be viable, said Geoff Bichler, a claimants attorney who represents first responders and other injured workers around the state.

Bichler said his firm already has begun canvassing some of the larger labor unions in the state to identify claims that had been denied under the previous reading of the statute of limitations.

The case is known as Estes vs. Palm Beach County School District, arising from a teacher who was injured tripping over a broken handicap ramp in 2021. In its March 23 opinion, viewable here, Floridas 1st District Court of Appeals overturned a compensation court judge and found that for three decades judges had been misunderstanding the law as written.

Floridas 1994 change to the workers comp statute of limitations is a tricky one, many in the Florida comp arena agree: It gives injured workers two years to file a claim  two years from the date the employee knew or should have known of the injury. But the law also tolls the statute of limitations for one year, from the date of the last benefit payment or medical treatment.

The Estes case turned on the exact meaning of the word toll: Does the law mean the two-year limitation clock must be pausedor should it be extended and restarted, giving claimants much longer to contest denials or ending of benefits.

For years, stakeholders have largely adhered to the court interpretations from 1999, which essentially held that the two-year clock was stopped once the one-year clock was started. But the 1st District Court last month said differently: The two-year statute can start again, one year after the last medical treatment or indemnity benefit payment.

In the Estes claim, the insurer had stopped benefits in 2023, contending that Estes continuing knee pain was the result of arthritis, not the work injury. The teacher then filed an additional petition for benefits in 2024, seeking a change in treating physician.

In other words, the date of Estes PFB (petition for benefits) fell squarely within the running of the two-year limitations-period clock, which wouldnt have expired until January 2026 under these facts, appeals court Chief Judge Timothy Osterhaus wrote for the majority of the court.

Toll means to suspend or stop temporarily, the court concluded.

In reaching its decision, the majority of the court acknowledged that it is overturning decades of court rulings and practice.

Here we have chosen to reassess a precedent and have come to the conclusion that it is clearly erroneous,' the en banc opinion notes, quoting from a previous court decision.

The Estes ruling was not unanimous. Two 1st District appeals judges penned strong dissents, noting that the decision will force employers and carriers to utilize a complicated limitations approach that requires multiple timers.

The majority unnecessarily recedes from our easy-to-apply precedent, installs a regime that will be difficult if not impossible to apply in workers compensation cases, and potentially eliminates the statute of limitations in many cases, 1st District Judge Ross Bilbrey wrote in his dissenting opinion.

Bilbrey went so far as to create a chart, spelling out the complexity that employers and insurers will now face. Under the previous case law, carriers had to keep up with just a few key dates. With the new rules, as many as six timeframes must be considered, essentially extending the two-year statute of limitations farther into the future.

Its known as the two clocks statute of limitations. Kagan and others in the workers comp legal field said that, at the least, it will complicate some claims.

Two clocks is now the law, defense attorney Kagan wrote in a recent blog post. It will forever change the way we calculate the passage of time and entitlement in workers compensation claims and casesuntil and unless the Legislature later says otherwise.

Countdowns started on the date of a workplace accident will now be continually suspended by each follow-up medical visit or indemnity payment, he noted.

Yes, this can go on indefinitely. Yes, this requires a whole new way of timing everything, Kagan wrote.

Since the opinion was published, theres even been talk of devising computer software that will help employers and insurers keep track of the various deadlines.

Its unlikely that the appellate court decision will be overturned by the Florida Supreme Court, lawyers said. Thats because the idea of rolling back the court precedent and utilizing the two-clocks approach sprang in part from Adam Tanenbaum. While a 1st District appeals judge, Tanenbaum in 2024 wrote a concurring opinion in a case known as Ortiz vs. Winn-Dixie, espousing the two-clocks idea.

While Tanenbaums opinion in that case did not carry the weight of law, he is now a justice on the state Supreme Court and is considered the workers compensation authority there. That suggests any appeal ruling would uphold the multiple-timer regime, lawyers said.
U.S. agriculture equipment maker Deere on Monday agreed to pay $99 million into a settlement fund for farms and farmers that are part of a class action over costs and access to repairs.

The case is part of broader scrutiny in the U.S. over so-called right-to-repair practices, with regulators and plaintiffs arguing that some manufacturers limit competition by controlling access to repair tools and software.

The settlement fund covers eligible plaintiffs who paid Deeres authorized dealers for repairs to large agricultural equipment from January 2018, according to a document filed on Monday in the federal court in Chicago, Illinois.

In the settlement, Deere also agreed to make available to farmers for 10 years the digital tools required for the maintenance, diagnosis, and repair of large agricultural equipment, including tractors, combines, and sugarcane harvesters, the filing showed.

The proposed accord requires a judges approval.

This settlement addresses the issues raised in the 2022 complaint and brings this case to an end with no finding of wrongdoing, Deere said in a separate statement.

Deere also faces a separate lawsuit brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. A U.S. judge ruled in 2025 that Deere must face that lawsuit, which accused the company of forcing farmers to use its authorized dealer network and driving up their costs for parts and repairs.

Deere is blocking farmers from acquiring the tools and information necessary to repair their equipment in a timely and cost-effective manner, the FTC had said in a court filing in April. Deere has denied the wrongdoing.

(Reporting by Mendez, Dey in Mexico City and Scarcella in Washington; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Lincoln Feast.)
UBS Group AG failed to persuade a U.S. judge to clarify a 1999 legal settlement about claims against Swiss banks over their handling of Nazi victims during the Holocaust.

US District Judge Edward Korman turned aside the banks request to define more clearly the $1.25 billion accord in which UBS and other banks expected protection from all new financial claims. UBS has been locked in a dispute in federal court in Brooklyn, New York, with the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a US-based group known for its pursuit of Nazis.

UBS had argued that the 1990s accord in which the company and other Swiss banks settled the claims of Nazi victims covered it from any potential further liability  known or unknown at the time. UBS acquired Credit Suisse in 2023.

At a hearing before Korman in March, UBS attorney David Burns said the bank wanted a clarification from the judge to block the Wiesenthal center from suing for more money and promote any public controversy in a way that is inconsistent with the settlement. Any new claims related to Nazi-linked accounts could expose the bank to billions of dollars in liability.

In a ruling on Tuesday, Korman said because there is no lawsuit or motion before him, he couldnt issue an advisory opinion.

UBS didnt immediately comment on the ruling. But it discussed the controversy in a recent question and answer on its website.

The settlement was intended to achieve a global resolution through a conclusive end to the controversy, UBS said. The SWC and any other Jewish organizations, consistent with their obligations under the 1999 Settlement, are free to continue to seek the truth related to the darkest chapter in human history.

The case is Friedman v. UBS, 96-cv-04849, US District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
An employee of a company that operates a distribution center for Kimberly-Clark Corp. has been arrested on arson charges after a massive fire broke out Tuesday at the facility in California that serves around 50 million people.

The 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse  located in Ontario, about 35 miles outside of Los Angeles  houses facial tissue and toilet paper, according to a local Fox report. Ontario Deputy Fire Chief Mike Wedell told Bloomberg News the buildings roof completely collapsed and all products inside were destroyed.

Photos from the scene showed the entire building engulfed in flames. The blaze reached a six-alarm response, involving around 175 firefighters, the Ontario Fire Department said.

Kimberly-Clark said its taking action to mitigate the impact and maintain deliveries. That includes identifying other shipping locations and securing additional warehouse capacity. No manufacturing assets were impacted and property damage policies are in place.

The company is working through mitigating any short-term disruptions as these plans are executed, Kimberly-Clark said in a statement. The firm will provide further updates with its next quarterly earnings report, currently scheduled for April 28.

Shares rose about 2% at the open of trading on Wednesday. The stock had declined roughly 8% this year.

The local fire department said it had identified a suspect: Chamel Abdulkarim, an employee of NFI Industries, a third-party logistics provider for Kimberly-Clark products.

Abdulkarim, 29, was initially reported as missing and was later suspected to have started the fire in the warehouse and quickly located by Ontario Police Department personnel, the department said. He faces multiple arson-related felony charges and is being held without bail at West Valley Detention Center, it said.

This fire was suspicious in nature from the initial stages, Wedell told Bloomberg earlier.

Kimberly-Clark said in a statement that there were no reported injuries.

Analysts warned that the fire could lead to supply problems in the region.

The blaze risks West Coast supply shortages for more than 3% of sales at Kimberly-Clarks US business and could raise transportation costs, according to a note from Diana Gomes, a Bloomberg Intelligence senior industry analyst.

Piper Sandler analyst Michael Lavery wrote in a note to clients that the level of disruption is difficult to gauge at this point, but warehouses and mixing centers in the area frequently supply products to large markets in Northern California, Arizona and Nevada.

Lavery isnt planning to update his financial projections for the company without better visibility on the magnitude and duration of the impact of any potential disruptions.

In November, Kimberly-Clark, which sells the Huggies diaper and Kleenex tissue brands, said it had agreed to buy Tylenol maker Kenvue Inc.

Top photo: A Kimberly-Clark distribution center damaged following a fire in Ontario, California, US, on Tuesday, April 7. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
A Swedish non-profit filed a class action lawsuit against Telenor on Tuesday on behalf of over 1,200 people whose phone data it says the Norwegian telecoms Myanmar subsidiary shared with the countrys military junta following a 2021 coup.

Telenor, which has since exited Myanmar, said it believed there was nothing in the lawsuit that the company had not already addressed and in our view it is unlikely that such a claim will succeed.

The lawsuit, filed in Norway by the Justice and Accountability Initiative, alleges Telenor Myanmar shared the call logs and location data of suspected political opponents of the junta, exposing them to repression and leading to the execution of at least one prominent activist and the prosecution of another.

The lawsuit claims Telenor is liable for 9,000 euros ($10,524) per customer whose data was shared.

If successful, this case would be the first ever to hold a telecoms company to account for not sufficiently protecting user data from access by an authoritarian regime, said Beini Ye, legal counsel at the Open Society Justice Initiative, which is supporting the case.

Terrible If Data Was Misused By Junta, Telenor Says

Telenor, which is 54% owned by the Norwegian state, was informed of plans to file the suit in a pre-action letter in October and said at the time it had been legally required to provide traffic data to the authorities.

Telenor Myanmar was operating on the ground in a war zone, the company said in an email to Reuters on Wednesday, adding that refusing the military authorities requests could have led to imprisonment, torture or the death penalty for local employees.

Telenor Myanmar had no real options. We could not play Russian roulette with the lives of our employees, it said. It is terrible if data from Telenor has been misused by the authorities.

However, it said Myanmars military authorities had sole responsibility for how they treat their citizens and neither Telenor nor any other civilian organization has that responsibility.

A spokesman for Myanmars military government did not respond to requests for comment.

Victims of Repression Hope Lawsuit Will Bring Justice

Telenor sold its business in Myanmar following the coup, which unseated an elected government, to avoid European Union sanctions amid pressure from the junta to activate intercept surveillance technology and exited the country in March 2022.

Before leaving, however, Telenor Myanmar shared data from least 1,253 phone numbers with the military, the lawsuit alleges, with Telenors Norwegian headquarters recommending its team in the country comply with junta requests.

Aung Thu, a civil society activist arrested in September 2021, told Reuters his information was among data that was allegedly shared.

Originally charged with incitement after leading anti-coup protests, he had been due to be released under an amnesty but was instead re-arrested at the prison gate and given an additional five-year sentence.

He said data handed over to the junta by Telenor formed the basis for his re-arrest and came up during his interrogation and trial.

I am hoping for justice, not just for myself, but for all the people of Myanmar, he told Reuters, in reference to the lawsuit.

Phoe Zeya Thaw  a popular hip hop artist, who was a lawmaker under the ousted civilian government  was hanged in 2022 along with three other activists accused of helping carry out terror acts in a case that prompted international outcry.

Telenor had shared his phone data a few weeks earlier, the lawsuit alleges.

It is not just a wife losing her husband, his wife Tha Zin said in a statement. It is also a loss to democracy.

The lawsuit seeks additional damages for financial losses for Aung Thu and Zeya Thaw.

($1 = 0.8552 euros)

(Reporting by Reuters staff; Additional reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Stocks @ Night is a daily newsletter delivered after hours, giving you a first look at tomorrow and last look at today. Sign up for free to receive it directly in your inbox. Here's what CNBC TV's producers were watching as the S & P 500 eked out a narrow gain on Tuesday, and what's on the radar for the next session. Airline earnings take off Delta Air Lines kicks off earnings season for the big airline names on Wednesday morning. Delta announced on Tuesday it was joining other airlines in raising checked baggage fees to offset rising fuel prices. DAL is down 5.5% in 2026, and it's basically flat since the Iran war started Those numbers are pretty good when compared to American and United , with the former down nearly 30% on 2026 and the latter off 20%. Since the start of the war, American has lost 17%, while United has fallen 16%. Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, will be live on "Squawk Box" in an exclusive interview with Phil LeBeau in the 7 a.m. hour ET on Wednesday. DAL YTD mountain Delta Air Lines in 2026 Booze in the news We will also get earnings from Constellation Brands on Wednesday. Those will come after the bell. The maker of the Corona and Modelo beer brands has fallen about 11% in the past year. However, shares have seen a bit of a turnaround to start 2026, and they're up 11.5% this year. Analysts are largely positive on the name with 14 calling it a buy or strong buy, according to LSEG. Eight have it at hold, and two rate it underperform. Checking in on China's tech Eunice Yoon will be interviewing Ray Dalio in Shanghai. She will bring us the highlights throughout the day on CNBC TV on Wednesday. Dalio is in China as part of his efforts with his nonprofit ocean exploration initiative OceanX. If you haven't looked at Chinese tech and internet stocks in a while, you will find many of them are underwater to start the year. The KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) is down more than 17% year to date. With the exception of two names, all the stocks in the KWEB ETF are in the red year to date. Among the notable 2026 laggards are Tencent Music , down 49%; Trip.com (9961-HK) down nearly 30% and NetEase (9899-HK) down 29%. If you're looking for some optimism, JD.com (9618-HK) and Meituan (3690-HK) have both gained around 5% in the last month. KWEB YTD mountain KraneShares CSI China Internet ETF (KWEB) in 2026 Space stocks blast off Artemis II's historic journey around the moon has captured the world's attention this week. It appears space-related names have also captured the attention of investors. Firefly Aerospace is up about 25% in the last week and 59% in 2026. Intuitive Machines is up 22.5% in the last week and 40% year to date. Redwire is up 13.5% in the last week and 27% this year. Virgin Galactic , which has a big brand name but tiny market cap at just $243 million, has posted a gain of 23% in the last week. It's down nearly 7% year to date. Markets shift and headlines fade, but the core principles of building long-term wealth remain constant. Join us for our third CNBC Pro LIVE, where investors of all backgrounds - from financial professionals to everyday individuals - come together to cut through the noise and gain actionable strategies for smarter, more disciplined investing. No matter where you're starting from, you'll leave with clearer thinking, stronger strategies. Enter your email here to get a discount code.
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This is CNBC's Morning Squawk newsletter. Subscribe here to receive future editions in your inbox. Happy Wednesday. Be sure not to miss these breathtaking photos captured by the crew of the Artemis II during their lunar flyby. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average are up more than 1,300 points this morning after closing lower on Tuesday. Here are five key things investors need to know to start the trading day:

A news conference with President Donald Trump is seen on a TV monitor on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, April 6, 2026. Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

2. Fuel efficiencies

A Delta Air Lines Airbus A330 airplane departs from Harry Reid International Airport en route to Atlanta on March 15, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kevin Carter | Getty Images

Delta Air Lines is scaling back its capacity growth plans as it grapples with surging fuel costs, the carrier's CEO Ed Bastian said this morning. Delta beat Wall Street's top- and bottom-line estimates for the first quarter, but it forecast smaller-than-expected per-share earnings in the current period. Shares of the airline are up more than 12% following the report, extending gains the stock made following oil's overnight plunge. Delta joined several of its rivals yesterday in hiking checked bag fees as fuel costs weigh on the industry. Hours later, Southwest did the same, matching Delta's $10 increase.

3. Getting personal

Elon Musk looks on as US President Donald Trump speaks at the US-Saudi Investment Forum at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC on November 19, 2025. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP) (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images) Brendan Smialowski | Afp | Getty Images

Elon Musk is spelling out his wish list before his lawsuit against OpenAI heads to court this month. At the top: Oust OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Lawyers for the Tesla CEO wrote yesterday that if the judge and jury side with Musk, he will seek Altman's removal from the artificial intelligence company and its board. Musk would also seek the removal of OpenAI's President Greg Brockman from his position, in what the lawyers wrote would be "a common remedy where those individuals fail to protect or carry out the charity's public mission." Aside from personnel changes, Musk would ask the court to force OpenAI to operate as an actual nonprofit. The billionaire cofounded OpenAI in 2015 before suing it and Altman in 2024, alleging he was defrauded into donating $38 million to the company on promises it would stay a nonprofit.

Get Morning Squawk directly in your inbox CNBC's Morning Squawk recaps the biggest stories investors should know before the stock market opens, every weekday morning. Subscribe here to get access today.

4. Speed bumps

Used cars are for sale in Inglewood, California, on February 18, 2026. Michael Yanow | Nurphoto | Getty Images

Used vehicle prices in March rose 6.2% from a year earlier, according to Cox Automotive's Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, which hit its highest level since 2023. As CNBC's Michael Wayland reports, the Iran war and the subsequent spike in gas prices have yet to dampen demand for used vehicles. Cox said that inventory, meanwhile, fell below 40 days last month  its lowest level so far this year. Surging gas prices are taking their toll on drivers, though. Drivers across the country told CNBC that prices at the pump are forcing them to change their spending habits.

5. The Navy's (sales) target

CNBC

Meet the U.S. Navy's next opponent: Walmart . Retail giants are creating a headache for the Navy's global network of retail stores operated through the Navy Exchange Service Command, or Nexcom. The stores  which range from small mini-marts to huge department stores  are aimed at supporting sailors and their families. The revenue they generate is put back into funding the Navy's morale, welfare and recreation programs. But companies like Walmart, Amazon and Target are chipping away at Nexcom's market share, leading the Navy to embark on an aggressive turnaround plan. CNBC's Gabrielle Fonrouge and Ryan Baker traveled to two Nexcom stores in Virginia to observe the initiative in action. Here's what they saw.

The Daily Dividend

Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman told CNBC yesterday that the company has teams working "24/7" to ensure its Middle East infrastructure remains up-and-running following drone strikes on two of its data centers. Watch more from the interview:

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New York Times columnist and CNBC anchor Andrew Ross Sorkin and CEO and co-founder of Anthropic Dario Amodei speak onstage during the 2025 New York Times Dealbook Summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, Dec. 3, 2025.

A federal appeals court in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday denied Anthropic's request to temporarily block the Department of Defense's blacklisting of the artificial intelligence company as a lawsuit challenging that sanction plays out.

The ruling comes after a judge in San Francisco federal court late last month, in a separate but related case, granted Anthropic a preliminary injunction that bars the Trump administration from enforcing a ban on the use of its Claude model.

"In our view, the equitable balance here cuts in favor of the government," the appeals court said in its decision. "On one side is a relatively contained risk of financial harm to a single private company. On the other side is judicial management of how, and through whom, the Department of War secures vital AI technology during an active military conflict. For that reason, we deny Anthropic's motion for a stay pending review on the merits."

With the split decisions by the two courts, Anthropic is excluded from DOD contracts but is able to continue working with other government agencies while litigation plays out. Defense contractors will be prohibited from using Claude in their work with the agency, but they can use it for other cases.

The DOD declared Anthropic a supply chain risk in early March, meaning that use of the company's technology purportedly threatens U.S. national security. The label requires defense contractors to certify that they don't use Anthropic's Claude AI models in their work with the military.

Anthropic had asked the appeals court to review the Pentagon's determination and argued that it's a form of retaliation that's unconstitutional, arbitrary, capricious and not in accord with procedures required by law, according to a filing.

In the ruling on Wednesday, the court acknowledged that Anthropic "will likely suffer some degree of irreparable harm absent a stay," but that the company's interests "seem primarily financial in nature." While the company claimed the DOD was standing in the way of its right to free speech, "Anthropic does not show that its speech has been chilled during the pendency of this litigation," the order said.

Because of the harm Anthropic is likely to suffer, the appeals court said "substantial expedition is warranted."

An Anthropic spokesperson said in a statement after the ruling that the company is "grateful the court recognized these issues need to be resolved quickly" and that it's "confident the courts will ultimately agree that these supply chain designations were unlawful."

"While this case was necessary to protect Anthropic, our customers, and our partners, our focus remains on working productively with the government to ensure all Americans benefit from safe, reliable AI," Anthropic said.

Todd Blanche, the acting U.S. attorney general, called the decision a "resounding victory for military readiness," in a post on X.

"Military authority and operational control belong to the Commander-in-Chief and Department of War, not a tech company," Blanche wrote.
Iran's parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, accused the U.S. on Wednesday of violating the two-week ceasefire agreement.

"The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments  a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again," Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on social media.

Three parts of Iran's 10-point ceasefire proposal have been violated, Ghalibaf said. The violations are Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon, the entry of a drone into Iranian airspace, and the denial of the Islamic Republic's right to enrich uranium, he said.

"In such situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable," the parliamentary speaker said. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran's proposal was a workable basis for negotiations.

Vice President JD Vance addressed Ghalibaf's allegations while traveling in Hungary on Wednesday.

"Ceasefires are always messy," Vance said in response to the alleged drone incursion into Iran's airspace. The vice president said the U.S. position is that Iran cannot enrich uranium. The ceasefire extending to Lebanon was never part of the agreement, he said.

"If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart in a conflict where they were getting hammered over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that's ultimately their choice," Vance said.

Ghalibaf's statement comes less than a day after Trump said he agreed to halt attacks for two weeks in exchange for Iran allowing ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during that period.
Alibaba and China Telecom are launching a data center in southern China powered by the e-commerce giant's own chips, as the country ramps up its focus on homegrown AI infrastructure.

The facility, announced on Tuesday, will feature 10,000 of Alibaba's Zhenwu semiconductors which are designed for AI training and inferencing along with the ability to support AI models the size of hundreds of billions of parameters. China Telecom will own and operate the data center.

These are among some of the largest models out there and underscore how China's biggest tech players are advancing their own AI semiconductor technology as Beijing intensifies its push for self-sufficiency.

Over the past few years, the U.S. has looked to restrict China's access to key semiconductor technology, including AI chips from Nvidia , which has accelerated the country's efforts to develop domestic alternatives.
TOPSHOT - Rocket trails are seen in the sky above the Netanya, Israel, on April 8, 2026. Israel's military issued two warnings in quick succession early Wednesday that Iran had fired missiles toward it, moments after US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to postpone striking Iranian infrastructure. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images) /

Some wildcard factors remain, but for now the ceasefire is being met with optimism.

It's the most significant development since the onset of the war in Iran, and markets are reacting. The news that a truce has finally been reached between the U.S. and Iran, with Israel's support, has triggered a wave of relief across equity markets.

Hello, this is Leonie Kidd writing to you from London. Welcome to another edition of CNBC's Daily Open.

"I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks." The words of U.S. President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social marked the announcement of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran. "We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

The news has sparked a global relief rally, with Dow futures gaining more than 1,000 points in early trade, a surge in stocks across Asia, and big gains expected in Europe.

Oil prices are plunging, with Brent and WTI sinking below $100 a barrel.

A statement from Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran would stop its defensive operations if attacks against it cease, and that it would allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz subject to coordination with its armed forces and with "due consideration of technical limitations."

But just hours into the ceasefire taking effect, many Middle Eastern countries reported incoming missiles and drones from Iran on Wednesday, triggering air defenses across the Gulf.

The Israeli military said it had identified ballistic missile attacks from Iran early Wednesday, with early warnings issued in central and northern parts of the country.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems were intercepting missiles and drones and urged the public to remain in safe places.

Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense organization issued early warnings of "potential danger" across the country, including Riyadh. Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar also issued alerts or activated defenses as threats emerged across the region.

Crucially, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the two-week truce will not apply to Lebanon. Speaking to CNBC, Lebanon's Economy Minister told Access Middle East that the ceasefire is "very good news" for the region, but said he hoped his country would be part of it after being "forced into this war."

 Leonie Kidd
University of Wisconsin-Madison master's student Cassie Semenas casts a ballot at Lowell Center residence hall in Madison, during Wisconsin's spring election, which included a state Supreme Court contest, April 7, 2026.

Democrats romped to a 20 percentage point victory in a race for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, while Republicans won a special election for a House seat in Georgia by a far less comfortable margin than in 2024.

The elections Tuesday underscore strong headwinds for President Donald Trump and his Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, which could shift the balance of power in Washington and loosen Trump's grip on power.

Democratic-backed Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor won a 10-year term on Wisconsin's Supreme Court, defeating conservative Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar by roughly 20 percentage points, according to the Associated Press tally.

The race was far more subdued than last year's Supreme Court contest in Wisconsin, which turned into the most expensive state supreme court race in history after Tesla owner Elon Musk injected huge sums of money to support the Republican-backed conservative candidate, who lost.
In this article SHEL

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Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange during morning trading on April 02, 2026 in New York City. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images

LONDON  European stocks soared on Wednesday, as global markets breathed a sigh of relief after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a conditional ceasefire deal. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index finished the session 3.7% higher, with all sectors besides oil and gas in the green, and all major regional bourses closing in positive territory. Travel and leisure stocks led the way, notching a 7.1% gain, as industrials added 6.6% and construction names rose 6.2%.





Antofagasta , Lufthansa , and Easyjet were among the biggest risers, each gaining around 10%. Shell was the first of the energy majors to release earnings since the outbreak of the Iran conflict, reporting "significantly higher" oil trading profits on Wednesday.

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Disruption from the war was felt in its LNG production, which fell from 948,000 barrels of oil equivalent in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 880,000-920,000 in the first three months of 2026. "While the big increase in energy prices should boost Shell's profit, the company also has a significant operational footprint in the Middle East which has been disrupted by the fighting," said Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell. "This dichotomy is reflected in Shell's latest update, with gas production hit by this disruption but refining margins and oil trading revenue seeing an uplift." Shell's London-listed shares finished the session 4.7% lower. Global markets rallied and oil prices plunged overnight after U.S. President Donald Trump said late on Tuesday that he had agreed to suspend planned attacks on Iranian infrastructure for two weeks. The move was "subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," he wrote on Truth Social. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X on behalf of the country's Supreme National Security Council that Tehran's armed forces will "cease their defensive operations."

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U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres, a Democrat from New York, during an interview in New York, Jan. 28, 2025.

More than $500 million in crude oil futures trades were made in the roughly 15 minutes before Trump announced the halt in strikes via Truth Social , Reuters reported last month. The New Yorker reported that in the immediate lead-up to Trump's announcement, there was an abnormal surge in futures trading volume predicting a decline in oil prices and a rebound in equity markets.

"What kind of trader would make a massive trade at 6:49 a.m., 15 minutes before a market-moving presidential announcement with billions of dollars at stake and without a hedge?" Torres said in an interview Wednesday. "The only plausible answer to that question is an insider trader. Any other alternative is a statistical impossibility."

In a letter to Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins and Commodity Futures Trading Commission Chair Michael Selig first obtained by CNBC, Torres cites reports on a series of irregular and well-timed trades in the minutes ahead of Trump calling a pause on hostilities.

U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres , D-N.Y., on Wednesday called for a federal probe into suspicious trading activity in oil and equity futures markets just before President Donald Trump 's announcement of a five-day delay in attacks on Iran's energy infrastructure in March.

Torres in his letter said the "occurrence may constitute one of the largest instances of insider trading in history" and called on the SEC to open a formal investigation and, in consultation with the CFTC, obtain comprehensive trading records.

A spokesperson for the SEC on Wednesday declined to comment. The CFTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The SEC tapped David Woodcock, a Gibson Dunn lawyer and former agency official, to be its next enforcement director, Reuters reported Wednesday.

"I have a lack of confidence in our market regulators," Torres said in the interview. "But we have no choice but to agitate for accountability. We cannot allow the SEC and the CFTC to turn a blind eye to what may be the largest case of insider trading in history."

This is the second time in several months that Torres  a member of the House Financial Services Committee  has raised the issue of potential insider trading around Trump administration actions.

Torres introduced legislation in January after an account on the prediction market platform Polymarket placed a well-timed bet in the hours leading up to the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, earning a $400,000 payout.

The legislation would bar federal elected officials, congressional staff, political appointees and executive branch officials from buying or selling event contracts based on government policy, action or political outcomes if they have material nonpublic information. It has 42 Democratic cosponsors but is unlikely to pass in the Republican-controlled House.

Congressional Democrats in recent months have repeatedly raised concerns about the appearance of insider trading within the Trump administration, particularly on prediction markets. A group of House Democrats on Monday sent a letter to Selig questioning the CFTC's role in regulating event bets placed on offshore prediction markets such as Polymarket.

"Recent high-profile instances of alleged insider trading on prediction market platforms relating to U.S. government actions  including the military's intervention in Venezuela and our recent attack on Iran  have fueled concern that the CFTC does not have adequate control over these fast-growing markets," wrote the group, led by Reps. Seth Moulton and Jim McGovern, Massachusetts Democrats.
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - APRIL 08: An Iranian cluster munition is fired towards Tel Aviv and the surrounding area around 3 AM on April 08, 2026 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Many Middle Eastern countries reported incoming missiles and drones from Iran on Wednesday, triggering air defenses across the Gulf within hours of a newly announced two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

The U.S. and Iran agreed to the temporary truce just before U.S. President Donald Trump's deadline to launch massive attacks if no deal was reached. The ceasefire, if it holds, would open a two-week negotiating window with U.S. and Iranian delegations expected to meet in Islamabad on Friday.

The ceasefire, brokered by Pakistan, was contingent on the "complete, immediate, and safe opening" of the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said.

Iranian officials said in a statement on Wednesday that "if attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations."

Tehran added that safe passage through the strait would be possible through coordination with its armed forces and with "due consideration of technical limitations"  caveats that may give Iran some room to define compliance on its own terms.

Despite the reprieve, missiles were still launched from Iran towards Israel and several Gulf states.

The Israeli military said it had identified ballistic missile attacks from Iran early Wednesday, with early warnings issued in central and northern parts of the country.

The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems were intercepting missiles and drones and urged the public to remain in safe places. "The sounds heard in scattered areas of the country are the result of the UAE air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones," the ministry said.

Saudi Arabia's Civil Defense organization also issued early warnings of "potential danger" across the country, including Riyadh. Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar also issued alerts or activated defenses as threats emerged across the region.
A general view of Paramount Pictures Studios and its iconic water tower in Los Angeles, California, U.S., Feb. 27, 2026.

Jeff Shell is leaving his position as president of Paramount Skydance Corp. after a lawsuit accused him of Securities and Exchange Commission violations.

The company said it did not find an SEC violation. Paramount added in a statement that the claims were "baseless" and said Shell is taking "forceful legal action."

"Consistent with Mr. Shell's commitment to prioritizing PSKY's success, he has elected to transition from his positions as President of PSKY and a member of PSKY's Board of Directors to focus on this lawsuit," the company said in its statement. "PSKY is grateful for Mr. Shell's many contributions and to have relied on him as a valued advisor."

Shell did not immediately respond for comment.

His future at Paramount has been in question since the company beat Netflix in a bidding war in February to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery . The acquisition of WBD will bring in many new executives, and Shell, who was not involved in deal talks, didn't have a defined role at a combined company, CNBC reported last month.

Shell came under scrutiny after gambler and whistleblower R.J. Cipriani filed a $150 million lawsuit alleging him of sharing confidential information in violation of SEC rules.

Shell previously left his role as NBCUniversal CEO in 2023 after he admitted to having an "inappropriate relationship" with an employee.

 CNBC's Alex Sherman contributed to this report.
3 in critical condition after 40-meter scaffolding collapse in Japan's Kawasaki

Xinhua) 08:59, April 08, 2026

TOKYO, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Five workers fell after scaffolding collapsed at a steel plant in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, on Monday, leaving three in critical condition, local media reported.

According to public broadcaster NHK, the accident occurred shortly before 4:30 p.m. local time at a construction site near the sea in Kawasaki City. The scaffolding, about 40 meters high, collapsed, causing multiple workers to fall, some into the sea.

Four workers have been rescued so far, three of whom are unconscious and in critical condition, the report said, citing local police.

Another worker remains unaccounted for, while police and firefighters are continuing rescue efforts and investigating the details of the accident.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Pam Bondi, US attorney general, during a swearing-in ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi will not appear as scheduled on April 14 to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee about her and the Department of Justice's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, the panel's spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Bondi's appearance  which was compelled by a committee-issued subpoena  was canceled because "she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General," said the spokeswoman, speaking for the Republican majority that controls the panel.

The committee will contact Bondi's lawyer "to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition," the spokeswoman said.

Democrats on the committee quickly threatened to initiate contempt charges against Bondi if she fails to testify as scheduled.

"Now that Pam Bondi has been fired, she's trying to get out of her legal obligation to testify before the Oversight Committee about the Epstein files and the White House cover-up," said Rep. Robert Garcia of California, the committee's ranking Democrat, in a statement.

"Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the Attorney General or not," Garcia said.

"She must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in the Congress. The survivors deserve justice," he said.

President Donald Trump fired Bondi as attorney general on April 2 after reports that he was unhappy with her handling of the DOJ's files about Epstein, the notorious dead sex offender whose past high-profile friends included Trump.
Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Beirut's southern suburbs, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, Lebanon, March 9, 2026. Mohamed Azakir | Reuters

Lebanon is seeking urgent clarity on whether it's part of the ceasefire pausing the Iran war, its economy minister told CNBC, adding it was getting "mixed signals." Israel, which has been striking Iranian-allied Hezbollah targets within Lebanon, has said the two-week truce does not apply to the country and on Wednesday issued an evacuation order for the southern city of Tyre ahead of potential strikes. "We're getting mixed signals, or mixed reports," Amer Bisat, Lebanese economy minister, told CNBC on Wednesday. "Some are suggesting that Lebanon is part of a ceasefire, others, including from Israel, are suggesting that it's not. This is something we need to be confirming over the next few hours. Obviously, our hope, our demand, has always been to end hostilities," he told CNBC's Dan Murphy.

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Lebanon's status in the ceasefire seems uncertain after the deal was announced late on Tuesday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped to broker the agreement, announced on social media platform X overnight that the U.S., Iran and their regional allies "have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere." But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office contradicted that statement, with a post on X earlier Wednesday claiming "the two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon."

'Devastating' setback

Lebanon and its capital Beirut have been the target of Israeli-led attacks against Iranian proxy Hezbollah over the last five weeks. Israeli ground forces have invaded the south of the country as part of a parallel campaign against Tehran. Hezbollah reportedly halted fire against northern Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon early on Wednesday. The group is expected to issue a formal statement on the ceasefire in due course, according to Reuters. French President Emmanuel Macron joined calls for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire deal. The United Nations says over 1.1 million people have been displaced in Lebanon attempting to flee Israeli attacks, which have killed over 1,200 people in the country. Minister Bisat told CNBC that Beirut felt like it was "forced into this war by parties that are outside of its control" and that while "the end of this war is obviously extremely positive ... the hope is that at some point soon, Lebanon will be part of it."

Plumes of smoke rise from the sites of Israeli airstrikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut on March 3, 2026. Ibrahim Amro | Afp | Getty Images

The economy minister said the conflict had been a "huge setback" for Lebanon and its already-struggling economy, with his country paying a "devastating price for this war." "In 2025, we started seeing a bit of a recovery, a bit of a resuscitation after years of a crisis. But then this was a huge setback. The setback was on both levels. At the humanitarian level, with 1.2 million displaced in a country of five million people ... but also an economic hit the GDP of the country has taken," Bisat said, estimating that five weeks of war have cost Lebanon "around 5-7% of GDP in that very short period of time." "All the recovery that we saw last year has disappeared in less than a month," he added.

Stable deal?

Global markets were on a tear following news of the deal, which came after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to obliterate Iran unless it reopened the Strait of Hormuz oil passage. Oil prices also fell below $100 a barrel in welcome relief for consumers and businesses worldwide. Questions remain over whether the ceasefire can hold, however, with Israel and several Gulf countries already reporting incoming missiles and drones on Wednesday.
The Microsoft store is pictured in Manhattan on March 31, 2026, in New York City.

A longtime Microsoft executive leading the software company's development tools group, Julia Liuson, told employees that she will retire in June and become an advisor.

Liuson joined Microsoft in 1992, the same year as CEO Satya Nadella.

"We will continue building on the progress already underway to flatten teams, operate AI-first and reduce toil," she wrote in a memo.

Her departure comes as Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, faces mounting competition from startups such as Cursor with products that rely on generative artificial intelligence models to help developers write code.

Building on relationships with AI model builders Anthropic and OpenAI, while also striving to formulate models in house, Microsoft is working to make AI a key part of its toolchain that third-party developers can use to create applications and websites.

Cursor's annualized revenue exceeded $2 billion in February, Bloomberg reported. Nadella said in January that 4.7 million people were paying for its GitHub Copilot AI development service, up 75% year over year.

Liuson has been president of Microsoft's developer division since 2021, according to her LinkedIn profile. She has reported to Jay Parikh, a former Meta executive who came to Microsoft in 2024. Last year, Nadella said Liuson's team would be part of Parikh's new CoreAI platform and tools group.

In August, Thomas Dohmke, CEO of GitHub, which Microsoft acquired in 2018 for $7.5 billion, announced plans to leave. At the time, Parikh told employees that three GitHub executives would report to Liuson.

Liuson said in a memo to employees on Wednesday that she will collaborate with Parikh on organizational changes. Liuson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

"We're grateful for the impact Julia and the broader team have delivered for developers and customers, and we're focused on maintaining momentum as we head into the next fiscal year and beyond. Our developer and AI strategy  and our commitment to customers  remain unchanged," a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC in an email.

Parikh said in his own memo that he has learned a lot from Liuson in the short time they've worked together.

Liuson arrived at Microsoft as a developer on Microsoft's Access database, she wrote in a 2017 blog post. She was part of the team that built the first version of Visual Studio, a program in which developers write software. She was the first woman at Microsoft to become its corporate vice president of development, according to a biography on the company's website.
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SHANGHAI/BEIJING  Hedge fund magnate Ray Dalio is optimistic that a highly anticipated meeting next month of the U.S. and Chinese presidents can go a long way toward soothing bilateral tensions. "The next meeting will have a particular emphasis on trade, but also capital flows," the founder of Bridgewater Associates told CNBC's Eunice Yoon on Wednesday in Shanghai. Dalio said he expected the two leaders to demonstrate empathy" and work through challenges together. "Investors should be encouraged by these things," he said, noting it "carries through" to investments and markets. While the three major U.S. averages have rebounded from losses during trade tensions about a year ago, the S&P 500 is still down more than 3% so far this year, due in part to concerns stemming from the Iran war. U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing on May 14 and 15 to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump was originally set to travel in late March, but delayed the plans due to the Iran war.

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Spain's Prime minister Pedro Sanchez addresses parliament over the war in the Middle East at the congress in Madrid on March 25, 2026.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday joined a chorus of world leaders welcoming the announcement of a U.S.-Iran ceasefire but issued a thinly veiled swipe at the Trump administration for having initiated the hostilities.

"Ceasefires are always good news. Especially if they lead to a just and lasting peace. But this momentary relief cannot make us forget the chaos, the destruction, and the lives lost," Sanchez said in a social media post, according to a translation.

"The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket."

Sanchez, who has emerged as one of the European Union's leading critics of U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran, called for "diplomacy, international law and PEACE" to prevail.

His comments come shortly after the U.S. president said he had agreed to suspend attacks on Iranian infrastructure for two weeks, sparking a broad-based relief rally across risk assets.

Trump had earlier threatened that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if no deal was struck by his Tuesday deadline.

Iranian officials said the temporary truce meant safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz would be "possible," subject to coordination with its armed forces and "technical limitations"  caveats that may give Tehran some room to define compliance on its own terms.

World leaders welcomed the ceasefire, although analysts characterized the agreement as fragile and warned that a substantial lack of trust on both sides will likely complicate the path to lasting peace.
Gen Z girl looking at smartphone screen feeling upset scrolling on social media. Mementojpeg | Moment | Getty Images

Governments around the world are making efforts to crack down on teen social media use amid mounting evidence of potential harms, but critics argue blanket bans are an ineffective quick fix. Australia became the first country to enforce a sweeping social media ban for under-16s in December, requiring platforms like Meta's Instagram, ByteDance's TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube, Elon Musk's X, and Reddit to implement age verification measures or face penalties. Several European countries are now looking to follow Australia's lead, with the U.K., Spain, France, and Austria drafting their own proposals. Although a national ban in the U.S. looks unlikely, state-level legislation is underway.

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It comes after Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, faced two separate defeats in trials related to child safety and social media harms in March. A Santa Fe jury found Meta misled users about child safety on its apps. The next day, a Los Angeles jury ruled that Meta and YouTube designed platform features that contributed to a plaintiff's mental health harms.

These developments are set to "unleash a lot more legislation," Sonia Livingstone, social psychology professor and director of the London School of Economics' Digital Futures for Children center, told CNBC. However, Livingstone said a social media ban for teens is a slapdash solution from governments that have failed to properly police tech giants for years. "I think the argument for a ban is an admission of failure that we cannot regulate companies, so we can only restrict children," she said, explaining that the U.S. and Europe already have a lot of legislation in the books that isn't being enforced. "When are governments really going to enforce, raise the stakes on fines, ban the companies if necessary for not complying," she added.

Enforce existing laws

Experts argue the sector has for too long escaped accountability and the rigid requirements faced by other industries. "[Governments] should be implementing the law [and] big tech companies should be facing a slew of regulatory interventions that forbid a whole series of practices that they currently do," Livingstone said. She highlighted the U.K.'s Online Safety Act, which "requires safety by design"  this means features such as Snapchat's "Quick Add" that invite teens to befriend others should be stopped, according to Livingstone. Livingstone believes that a blanket ban wouldn't even be under discussion if social media companies had undergone appropriate premarket testing to establish if their features are safe for their target audience. "There are lots of areas where we have a well functioning market that requires testing to establish it meets the standards...[before products] can go into the market," she said. "If we did that for AI and for social media, we would be in a whole different place and we'd not be having to talk about banning children from anything."

Josh Golin, executive director at Boston-based non-profit Fairplay, told CNBC that he'd like to see "privacy and safety by design legislation rather than blanket bans" across the U.S. This includes passing the Children and Teen Online Privacy Protection Act to put a stop to personal data-driven advertising towards children, so there's "less financial incentive for social media companies to target and addict kids." Golin added that passing the Senate's version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) is also key to ensuring platforms are held legally responsible for design features that can cause addiction or other harms. He added that Meta has already successfully lobbied to stop KOSA even though it passed the Senate in 2024. But, if it continues to block legislation further, Golin thinks this could see further pressure "line up behind bans because addictive and unsafe is not OK."

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A ban is 'lazy' and 'unfair'

A sweeping social media ban only punishes a generation of young people who have become increasingly dependent on online means of interaction, according to Livingstone. She said bans are a "lazy" solution from governments and an "unfair" outcome for young people. "It's the 15 years in which we don't let our children go outside and meet their friends. It's the 15 years in which we stopped funding parks and youth clubs for them to meet in," she said. "So a ban now is to say to 'Children, we can't make the regulation work. We can't update it fast enough. We haven't built you anything else to do, but that's just tough. We've terrified your parents into feeling that there's nothing they can do, and we're going to take you away from the service where you hoped you would feel some sociability and entertainment."
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The fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran depends on the Strait of Hormuz being opened for ships "without limitation, including tolls," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday. President Donald Trump wants the strait, which has been effectively blocked by Iran during the war, opened up "immediately, without limitation," Leavitt said at a press briefing. She was asked if Iran would cross a "red line" by charging ships to pass through the vital oil-shipping route, as it is reportedly planning to do. Trump's "plain language" demanding the immediate reopening of the strait "should be taken at face value," Leavitt replied. Iranian state news agency Fars reported earlier Wednesday that oil tanker traffic through the strait has been halted following an Israeli attack on Lebanon that has shaken the hours-old ceasefire. Leavitt called that reporting "false." "This is a case of, what they're saying publicly is different privately," she said. "We have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today, and I will reiterate the president's expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly and safely." At least two vessels have passed through the strait in the hours since Iran and the U.S. reached a two-week ceasefire deal Tuesday night, ship-tracking service MarineTraffic said Wednesday morning. But those vessels are described as bulk carriers, which carry dry cargo, not oil. Overall traffic through the vital waterway has not picked up beyond the slow trickle it has experienced throughout the war, experts and industry professionals said.

Confusion over Iran toll

Uncertainty and confusion in the maritime industry remain high, despite Iran's assurance on Tuesday that vessels will be able to safely navigate the strait during the ceasefire. That confusion stems in part from Tehran's caveat that passage through the strait is only possible "via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration to technical limitations." Leavitt did not directly respond when asked at Wednesday's briefing who currently controls the strait. "We expect that the strait will be opened immediately," she said. "As I said earlier, we have seen an uptick in traffic in the strait, and it's something that we are monitoring minute by minute, hour by hour as the days go on." The potential for Iran to heavily toll ships is a key sticking point, a marine insurance executive, who did not want to be named on the record, told CNBC. Iran is planning to demand that shipping firms pay tolls in cryptocurrency to let their oil tankers through the strait, the Financial Times reported Wednesday morning. Iran will also be inspecting each ship for weapons, the FT reported, citing a spokesperson for Iran's oil, gas and petrochemical products exporters' union. In the meantime, shipping companies largely remain in a holding pattern. "We have no information about how we could transit the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire. ... We are not in contact with the Iranian authorities," a shipping executive with boats currently stuck in the Persian Gulf told CNBC. "The most important for us is the safety of our crew members, and if we were deciding to transit, we need absolute guarantees about the safety of our crew members," the executive said.

A smartphone displays the MarineTraffic app showing numerous ship beacons near the Strait of Hormuz with a satellite view in the background, in Creteil, France, on April 8, 2026. Samuel Boivin | Nurphoto | Getty Images

U.S. officials, boasting that the ceasefire agreement represents total victory over Iran, insisted Wednesday morning that the path for ships is clear. "The strait is open," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at a press briefing. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Dan Caine, asked at the same briefing if the strait is open right now, said, "I believe so, based on the diplomatic negotiation." Trump said in a Truth Social post overnight that the U.S. "will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz." "There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process," he wrote. "We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will." The post represented a stunning turnaround from Trump, who days earlier threatened to attack Iran's civilian infrastructure unless its regime agreed to "Open the Fuckin' Strait." On Tuesday morning, Trump threatened that a "whole civilization will die" by Tuesday night if the U.S. and Iran could not clinch a deal that involved reopening the strait.

Less than two hours before his deadline, Trump announced that he would suspend the planned attacks for two weeks, "subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz." The first round of negotiations during the ceasefire is set to take place Saturday morning in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, Leavitt confirmed Wednesday. The U.S. negotiating team will be led by Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and advisor.

Ships traffic low

MarineTraffic said in an X post Wednesday morning that two ships  the Greek-owned NJ Earth and the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach  transited the strait overnight. Those vessel movements don't necessarily represent a post-ceasefire breakthrough. Between 100 and 120 commercial vessels, mostly tankers, passed through the strait each day before the war, according to data from Kpler. Traffic plunged to just a handful of ships per day as Iran attacked commercial vessels, effectively closing the main artery for 20% of the world's oil supply. Ship transits through the strait started picking up before the ceasefire. Some 72 vessels made the trip during the week of March 30 through April 5, according to data from Lloyd's List. It was the busiest week since the war broke out on Feb. 28, though traffic was still 90% below normal volumes, the data showed. About 80% of those ships were connected to Iran and 13% were owned by China, according to Lloyd's List.
US President Donald Trump looks on during a press conference about the conflict in Iran in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 6, 2026, in Washington, DC.

The U.S. will impose tariffs of 50% on "any and all" goods imported to the country from any nation "supplying military weapons to Iran," President Donald Trump said Wednesday.

Trump said in a Truth Social post that any country found to be supplying Iran with weapons would be subject to the levy "immediately," with no "exclusions or exemptions."

The president wrote: "A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!"

It came as Trump said the U.S. would "work closely" with Iranian authorities, following the ceasefire agreement announced on Tuesday and what Trump called "very productive regime change."

Trump said in a separate Truth Social post that "there will be no enrichment of uranium" and that many of the 15 points in the U.S. peace proposals have already been agreed.

The U.S. and Iran will discuss tariffs and sanctions relief, Trump added.

The vast bulk of Trump's "reciprocal" tariffs, imposed last year, were struck down by the Supreme Court in February.

However, the White House has effectively rebuilt its tariff regime with its application of mechanisms within existing trade laws  such as Section 301 probes.

Metals are a key feature of the existing tariff regime, which currently imposes a 50% levy on products made entirely or almost entirely of steel, aluminum, or copper. There is a 25% tariff on derivative products "substantially made" of these metals.

From late July 2026, larger firms will face a 100% tariff on patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients. Smaller pharma companies will face the new tariff rate from late September.
Realtor.com identified 13 U.S. housing markets where at least half of active listings were priced above $1 million but with fewer than 500 such listings. Anthony Smith, senior economist at Realtor.com, said the list was designed to highlight "pure luxury" markets rather than areas that happen to reflect high regional housing costs.

Vineyard Haven, a community within neighboring Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, has the second-highest concentration of million-dollar listings at 90% of the active listings with a median listing price of $2.4 million. Jackson, the principal town of the Jackson Hole valley in Wyoming, boasts the third-highest median price at $1.75 million.

Nearly all of Nantucket's active listings are priced at $1 million or higher with a median listing price of $4.08 million, the real estate platform found. The island averages 138 million-dollar listings a year, according to the report.

The tiny island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, is home to some 14,000 year-round residents. Joining their ranks will cost you at least $1 million, according to a new list of luxury housing markets by Realtor.com.

Most of these housing markets are defined by scarcity, according to Smith. The front-runners, Nantucket and Vineyard Haven, are prime examples as they're both located on islands.

"You have finite land, strict building and preservation codes, and that combination sets a real premium on what's available," he said.

This scarcity applies to noncoastal hubs such as Jackson, too, he said, where land is abundant but much of it is earmarked for conservation. Only 3% of land in Jackson Hole is privately owned.

While five of the luxury hubs identified by Realtor.com are in California, the rest are scattered across the country, from Kapaa, Hawaii, to Hailey, Idaho. A notable inclusion on the list is Petoskey, Michigan, where 53% of active listings are priced over $1 million. While it doesn't carry the same name recognition as Nantucket or Napa, the Lake Michigan town checks a lot of boxes for deep-pocketed buyers, Smith said.

"When you look at what defines a luxury market, it's all there: waterfront views on Little Traverse Bay, ski access in the winter, resort-style living," he said.

He added that Petoskey is one of the more affordable markets on the list with a median listing price of $1.1 million.

The top 1% of Petoskey homes  representing the ultra-luxury market  start at just under $8 million, while the same threshold starts at nearly $59.2 million in Rifle, Colorado (also on Realtor.com's list), about 70 miles away from Aspen.

While high-income consumers are propping up spending in travel and other categories, the luxury housing market is showing signs of softness like the overall housing market, according to Smith.

The luxury threshold, or 90th percentile of homes, stood at $1.25 million nationally in March, down 2.9% year over year, while the overall median price is down 2.2% annually, according to Realtor.com.

Prices are firming up into the spring across the housing spectrum, however, with the luxury threshold up 3.7% and the overall market rising 3% from February.
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IDC has reiterated its warnings that a long-drawn out war in the Middle East is likely to drastically reduce global IT spending for 2026.

The research firm had already cut its 2026 IT spending growth forecast to 9% because of the conflict, a reduction from the 10% growth rate projected before the US and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28. But any spending growth could drop to just 5% or 6% if the fighting drags on for a long time, Stephen Minton, group vice president at IDC, said during a client briefing last week.

An expected macroeconomic slowdown resulting from global oil shortages and sharply higher energy costs will affect business confidence and consumer spending, Minton said.
New York, United States: Minimus, a provider of hardened and secure container images designed to mitigate CVE risk, today announced the appointment of Yael Nardi as Chief Business Officer (CBO). In this newly created role, Nardi will lead the companys next phase of scale, overseeing top-of-funnel growth strategy, operations, and corporate development.

As the market landscape evolves and AI reshapes customer acquisition, Minimus is implementing an operational model to scale marketing funnels and strategic alliances, which Nardi will manage.

We are entering a phase of aggressive expansion that requires rigorous execution and a completely new playbook. Traditional marketing strategies are no longer enough in todays fast-moving environment. We need an operational powerhouse at the helm. Yael is a world-class operator accustomed to zero-error environments and high-stakes execution. We are choosing intelligence, speed, and strategic alignment, and there is no one I trust more to run this machine.  Ben Bernstein, CEO at Minimus

Nardi brings a multidisciplinary background to Minimus, with over 15 years of experience advising high-growth startups, investors, and technology corporations. Most recently, she served as Director at Meitar NY Inc. and Partner at Meitar Law Offices. Nardi was the lead corporate lawyer behind several significant M&A transactions, amongst them is the Twistlocks acquisition by Palo Alto Networks (PANW)  a deal in the container image hardening and runtime security space  as well as transactions involving Wiz, JFrog, Salesforce, and others.

I have worked with the Minimus team through some of their most critical milestones, and I know firsthand the massive potential of their technology. The demand for near-zero CVE container images and minimal container images with built-in security is only accelerating. Scaling a company in todays environment requires the same 24/7 rigor, vendor accountability, and strategic precision as closing a major M&A deal. I am thrilled to step into this operational role and build the growth engine that will drive Minimuss next chapter.  Yael Nardi, Chief Business Officer, Minimus

Nardi holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Tel Aviv University and will operate out of Minimuss New York City headquarters. In her new role, she will collaborate with the executive leadership team to drive the companys growth objectives.

About Minimus

Minimus provides hardened container images and hardened Docker images engineered to achieve near-zero CVE exposure. Built continuously from source with the latest patches and security updates, Minimus images undergo rigorous container image hardening and attack surface reduction, delivering secure container images with seamless supply chain security and built-in compliance for FedRAMP, FIPS 140-3, CIS, and STIG standards. Through automatically generated SBOMs and real-time threat intelligence, Minimus empowers teams to prioritize remediation and avoid over 97% of container vulnerabilities  making it a compelling Chainguard alternative for teams seeking production-hardened, distroless container images at scale.

For more information, visit minimus.io.

Media Contact

Minimus Public Relations

contact@minimus.io

minimus.io
Modified: Wednesday, 8 April 2026 19:01 BST

Frank Davies

STORY LINK Pound to Euro Rate Today: German Data to Test EUR Recovery

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Short-Term GBP/EUR Forecast: German Data in Focus

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The Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate firmed on Wednesday, buoyed by softer Eurozone data and an upbeat market mood.At the time of writing, GBP/EUR was trading at 1.1501, up roughly 0.3% on the day.The Pound (GBP) advanced against safer currencies, supported by a sharp improvement in market sentiment following news of a US-Iran ceasefire.The agreement, struck overnight, established an immediate two-week pause in hostilities just ahead of US President Donald Trumps deadline for potential strikes on Iranian civilian targets.With Washington stepping back from further escalation and Tehran signalling it would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, investor confidence rebounded strongly.As a result, the increasingly risk-sensitive Pound strengthened against traditional safe-haven peers, while a decline in UK government bond yields helped to ease concerns over the conflicts potential impact on public finances.The Euro (EUR) faced headwinds as a batch of underwhelming economic releases dampened sentiment.Germanys latest factory orders showed a modest 0.9% rebound in February, falling short of expectations for a stronger 2% recovery and doing little to offset Januarys sharp 11.1% decline.Elsewhere, Eurozone retail sales contracted by 0.2% during the same period, while producer prices fell by 0.7%, pointing to ongoing weakness across the blocs economy.Together, these figures weighed on the single currency, preventing it from benefiting from its usual inverse relationship with a softer US Dollar (USD).Thursdays session opens with the publication of Germanys latest trade balance and industrial production figures.Exports are expected to have recovered in February, according to forecasts, which may offer some support to the Euro. At the same time, industrial output is also projected to have risen by around 0.9%.Should these releases ease concerns surrounding the performance of the Eurozones largest economy, the single currency could find some upward momentum.In contrast, the UK calendar remains relatively quiet, which may leave the Pound lacking a strong catalyst and trading without a clear direction.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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The most successful criminals operate in the shadows, blending into the fabric of our every day lives and hiding behind the seemingly legal businesses we walk past every day.

They aren't ageing Eastend gangsters reliving their glory years on a podcast or Albanian hoods bragging about their new Mercedes GWagon on TikTok.

The Chinese triads run their British businesses as if they are 'invisible' but their vast empire, spanning across all of our major cities, has been described by one detective as 'without doubt the largest and most sophisticated criminal network in the UK'.

To the average lawabiding citizen, their presence would be impossible to spot, but former triad members and gang experts have revealed the true power of their chokehold on the British underworld to The Crime Desk.

'The gang members are invisible...but if you know, you know,' former triad enforcer Richard Musa explained as he walked our reporter past the red lanterns and neon signs of London's Chinatown, after gaining permission from the head of his old gang.

A suspected member of triad group Wo Shing Wo is arrested during a wave of raids on Hong Kong. The group is known to be active in Britain

London's Chinatown, with its red lanterns and neon lights, is controlled by two 'main players'  14K and Wo Shing Wo (WSW)

Pictured: A tangerine tree with red paper wrapped around its base in the window of a restaurant could mean the owner is paying protection money to a triad

Just a stone's throw from the packed theatres, cinemas and pubs of Soho, Richard claimed the area is controlled by two 'main players'  the 14K and Wo Shing Wo (WSW) triad gangs.

Both originated in the 20th century with Wo Shing Wo establishing itself in the 1930s and 14K coming 15 years later, originally as an anticommunist action group in mainland China before fleeing to Hong Kong in 1949 and shifting towards organised crime.

14K was one of the first triads to gain a footing in the UK, taking advantage of a relaxation in immigration policies after World War Two, while Wo Shing Wo gained power in the late 1980s.

I know the truth about Marilyn Monroe's longlost diary

I'm Rachel Sharp, US Crime Desk Editor, and I have learned shocking details about Marilyn Monroes longlost diary  details that change everything we thought we knew about her mysterious death. For decades, her missing diary has belonged to the realm of Hollywood myth. But now, an investigator I spoke to not only insists it's real, but that he found it. Sign up to read exactly what he found.

While most immigrants were hoping to start a new life for themselves in cities like London, Manchester and Birmingham, triads saw it as an opportunity to assert their control, demanding protection money from new business owners and setting up a network of illegal gambling dens.

According to Richard, the 14K and WSW each rule half of Chinatown  enforcing a protection racket on a host of restaurants in the iconic district.

The restaurants, he claims, are run by legitimate businessmen forced to pay triads a percentage of their earnings in exchange for protection known as 'tea money'.

Richard explained there are universal symbols that show the businesses are under triad protection.

'If you walk into a restaurant and it has a tangerine tree in the window with red paper wrapped around it, it means a civilian owns the restaurant but is paying protection money to a triad.'

Richard claimed restaurants in Chinatown without a tangerine tree placed prominently in the window are warning rivals the business is owned by a triad or a person associated with a gang.

The former gangster was in the WSW for 37 years before turning his back on a life of crime and converting to Islam.

However, he explained the enduring bond he has with his triad 'brothers' means he is still treated with respect when visiting their establishments.

While meeting our reporter in a popular Chinatown restaurant, a teapot was placed at a specific angle in front of him by the waiter.

Explaining the importance of the ritual, Richard said: 'If I wasn't here they [the waiter] can point the teapot at anyone.

"But because I'm here they won't point it at me, it's like putting a middle finger up at someone, it can cause a major issue.

'That teapot can cause someone's life to be lost, a WSW member would flip this table upside down and smash it if it was pointed at him.'

The spouts of teapots are faced away from triad members when they dine in restaurants, in a sign of respect

Former enforcer Richard Musa said Chinatown restaurants are used as 'fronts' by triad gangs, who take a slice of their earnings in return for protection

And teapots aren't the only significant objects universally recognised by triads  white flowers and broken items are also indicators of danger.

Professor Oliver Chan, an associate professor of criminology, told the Daily Mail: 'The white chrysanthemum or white wreath are associated in Chinese culture with death and funerals.

'Delivered to a business, they communicate an unambiguous threat without a single word.'

Meanwhile receiving a cracked piece an ornamental stone like jade can suggest something belonging to them will be destroyed.

But away from sinister symbols of power, highprofile members are taught to shy away from living in the spotlight, instead preferring to blend into society.

THREE TRIAD SIGNS AT YOUR FAVOURITE CHINESE RESTAURANT

SIGN: A tangerine tree with red paper wrapped around it is in the window. MEANING: The owner is paying protection money to a triad gang. SIGN: Teapot faced away from men sitting at a table. MEANING: Triads are dining at that table. To point the teapot at a member is disrespectful. SIGN: A wreath of white flowers is delivered to the restaurant. MEANING: A triad gang is threatening the owners of the business.

'The image of the heavily tattooed, openly aggressive triad member is largely a product of older films and older eras,' Professor Chan explained.

'Senior figures operating here now are often completely indistinguishable from legitimate businesspeople. They can be welldressed, multilingual and professionally presented.

'Many are prominent businessmen who have either sought triad protection or become fully involved in the organisation's activities.'

Triads are split between businessmen and fighters, the 'money and power' are intentionally kept separate to maintain control and balance.

Leading the group is the 'Dragonhead' and at the bottom 'Horses', also known as foot soldiers.

'Lower down the hierarchy, such as those enforcers, debt collectors and other lowranking members, you are more likely to see the traditional markers,' Professor Chan added.

'For example tattoos in specific body locations, gathering at the same spots at regular times and a certain physical authority within the community.

'You notice it in how others around them behave, people who would normally be quite confident become very deferential.

'Tattoos have historically been a way of signalling rank and allegiance for example Guan Yu, the deity of brotherhood and war. But modern groups are increasingly reluctant to use them to reduce identification risk.'

Alongside the intricate hierarchy system, initiation processes are often secretive and ritualistic.

Richard explained that every triad's inauguration differs but share a few similar practices.

Discussing his initiation into WSW, he said: 'You start in your boxer shorts and they take a grapefruit branch and hit your back.

'They say they beat you to death and then bring you back.'

Afterwards the new member gives his new boss a a symbolic 3.36 in an envelope before asking him to take a drink of tea.

Once the boss sips you have joined the 'brotherhood' - not just for that moment, but for life.

More than a dozen properties across Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Reading, Huddersfield and ClactononSea, have been vandalised with red paint

Red paint attacks are regularly used by loan sharks in Hong Kong and cities in mainland China to remind the owners to pay their debts or as an 'intimidation act' against rivals

Richard served his triad in London but claims bosses are now looking at our European neighbours to set up new networks.

Richard said: 'The Hong Kong leaders send people to Ireland, it's easy to get to and they're accepted and then from there they go across to Europe.'

Ireland is seen by triad bosses as a convenient transport hub to reach other parts of Europe as Hong Kong passport holders can enter the country for long stays without a visa.

Experts also believe Hong Kong gangs have built links with 'highprofile' crime families in Dublin and even Irish 'terror groups'.

However, in the past two years, there have been fresh concerns that triads are still wielding their influence across the UK  this time moving into suburban communities.

More than a dozen properties across Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Reading, Huddersfield and Essex, have been vandalised with red paint.

Attacks that, according to Professor Chan, are regularly used by loan sharks in Hong Kong and cities in mainland China to remind the owners to pay their debts or as an 'intimidation act' against rivals.

An attack that, according to Professor Chan, is regularly used by loan sharks in Hong Kong and cities in mainland China to remind the owners to pay their debts or as an 'intimidation act' against rivals.

He said: 'Red paint can mean two things. Either you are marking your territory against a rival gang or you are going after someone who owes money.

'When it is a turf dispute, the sequence is usually intimidation first, then the senior figures on both sides try to negotiate.

'If that breaks down, it can get violent.'

While throwing paint at rivals may seem like petty vandalism to the untrained eye, it masks the true chilling nature of triad power in Britain, expert David McKelvey explains.

Mr McKelvey a former detective chief inspector for the Metropolitan Police, who has been investigating triads for seven years, said 'They are without doubt the largest and most sophisticated criminal network in the UK.

'Chinesebased organised crime is far more sophisticated [than other gangs]. They sit under the radar, they don't operate in criminal areas that are taken seriously by police.

'For instance, tobacco manufacturing and smuggling they're running factories all over the UK, making billions of pounds, manufacturing it in factories where there's rat poison and droppings, so you've got people buying what they believe is cheap smuggled tobacco but they're actually manufactured in the UK.

'This has been going on for years the structure of their organisation cuts across all the cities and towns, there's also usually slaves who have been smuggled into the UK who have to work off their debts to the triads.'

He explained they 'sit below the radar' by dealing class C drugs like cannabis and tobacco to avoid the attention of law enforcement.

'It's a multinational organised crime network, its got fingers everywhere,' Mr McKelvey added.

'They are operating at the most senior levels of criminality but shrewd enough to sit below the radar of law enforcement.'
Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann has admitted to murdering eight women, bringing some closure to the case that has terrorized Long Island for more than three decades.

Standing inside Suffolk County Court on Wednesday, the hulking architect, husband and father pleaded guilty to seven murders dating back to 1993 - and admitted to an eighth he was not charged with.

In a matter-of-fact tone and with a noticeably calm demeanor, the 62-year-old appeared to smirk as he uttered the words 'guilty' when the charge sheet was read aloud. When asked one by one how he killed his victims, he simply uttered one word: 'Strangulation.'

The sudden change in plea marks the first time that Heuermann has confessed to being the infamous serial killer. It is also the first time that the victims' causes of death have been publicly revealed, with the murderer admitting that he used burner phones to lure the women with promises of money before strangling them and dumping their remains.

Under the plea agreement, Heuermann has waived all rights to appeal and will not face any additional charges over the eight murders. He has also agreed to cooperate with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit.

He will return to court on June 17 for his sentencing, where he faces up to seven life sentences.

The longevity of his activity, the brutality of the killings and the long-term evasion and taunting of law enforcement cement him as one of the country's most notorious serial killers.

His victims were all young women who had been working as sex workers when they suddenly vanished. Their remains - some of them mutilated and dismembered, others bound with belts and wrapped in burlap - were found dumped in remote areas of Long Island, many close to Gilgo Beach.

After evading capture for decades - during which time he raised a family in Massapequa Park and ran an architecture firm in the heart of Midtown Manhattan - Heuermann was arrested in July 2023.

The victims clockwise from left: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla

In the latest twist, Rex Heuermann also pleaded guilty to the murder of an eighth victim, Karen Vergata

Heuermann has pleaded guilty to the murders of eight women in a reign of terror dating back to 1993

Heuermann was initially charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, and Amber Costello, 27 - who together with Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, were known as the Gilgo Four.

Authorities later linked him to the killings of Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, 20, Sandra Costilla, 28, and Valerie Mack, 24, bringing the total to seven women.

For the past three years, he has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty and fighting tooth and nail against the charges.

But in a sudden reversal, he changed his plea to guilty on all seven murders - and also admitted to the murder of an eighth victim, 34-year-old Karen Vergata.

Inside the courtroom, which was packed full with victims' families, his family, media and law enforcement officials, Heuermann's ex-wife Asa Ellerup and daughter Victoria Heuermann sat in the back row, trying to contain their emotions as they heard him confess to the crimes.

Ellerup leant forward in her chair anxiously and clutched the seat in front of her as he entered each guilty plea, before sharing a tender moment holding hands with her daughter.

A few rows in front, the loved ones of the victims sobbed and wiped away tears as they heard their killer admit what he had done to them for the first time.

The victims family members later joined Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and dozens of law enforcement officials who have worked on the case for a press conference inside the Suffolk County Police Training Academy.

Brainard-Barnes's sister Melissa Cann broke down in tears as she said there were times over the past 19 years 'where the weight felt unbearable' fighting for justice but that, today, justice had prevailed.

Tierney spoke about each young woman and their loved ones in turn, saying to each of them: Thank you and were sorry.

'This defendant walked among us play-acting as a normal suburban dad when, in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death,' he said.

Earlier outside the court, Heuermann's defense attorney, Michael Brown, had said that his client decided to plead guilty to spare his family and the victims' families from a trial.

But Brown admitted that the evidence was overwhelming, saying the state 'did a great job.' He described it as a 'sense of relief' to Heuermann to plead guilty and said that the serial killer will likely make a statement at his sentencing.

When asked if Heuermann was sorry for the murders, Brown replied: 'I would hope so.'

Brown explained that the deal not to bring more prosecutions only includes the eight women, not other potential victims out there yet to be found.

There are three still-unsolved cases linked to Gilgo Beach but Heuermann claims he has no other victims, Brown insisted.

Family members of some of the victims of the Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann attend a news conference after he finally confessed to his crimes

Heuermann's ex-wife Ellerup also briefly addressed reporters outside the courthouse - her first statement, besides her appearance in a Peacock docuseries.

She read a statement that described the 'immeasurable' pain her husband had caused to his victims' families and asked for privacy for her own family.

Ellerup, who has stood by him since his arrest, was then confronted by a reporter asking how she 'did not see who he was.'

Her attorney Bob Macedonio furiously responded that the family was out of town every time the murders took place and Ellerup and Victoria were quickly whisked away.

Ellerup 'never wanted to believe the man she was married to for 27 years, the father of Victoria, was capable of such heinous acts,' Macedonio said.

Fears of a serial killer first emerged back in 2010 when the remains of the first of 11 bodies were discovered along the remote stretch of Ocean Parkway, close to Gilgo Beach.

The harrowing discovery came during a search for 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert, who had made a chilling 911 call and then disappeared following a visit to a client's house in nearby Oak Park that May.

That December, Barthelemy's remains were the first to be found. Within days, Brainard-Barnes, Waterman and Costello were found close by.

By the spring of 2011, 10 victims had been found in the area. The final victim found was Gilbert, who, to this day, investigators maintain died by accident and is not linked to the serial killer case.

Asa Ellerup, the estranged wife of Heuermann, and their daughter Victoria, outside Suffolk County Court this morning ahead of the hearing

The family's attorney said their lives had been 'destroyed' by Heuermann's actions

Another 13 years would pass before a suspect fell on investigators' radar, as the case was notoriously hampered by the actions of disgraced, corrupt former Suffolk County Police Commissioner James Burke.

Heuermann was ultimately tied to the serial killings through a witness tip about his pickup truck as well as damning cellphone evidence.

The serial killer had used a trove of different burner phones to contact some of the victims, with location data placing the user near both Heuermann's family home in Massapequa Park and his office in Midtown Manhattan.

With a suspect in sight, investigators then obtained crucial DNA evidence from a discarded pizza crust, which proved Heuermann to be the source of a hair found on Waterman's body.

It later emerged that hairs belonging to his wife, Asa Ellerup, daughter Victoria Heuermann and another individual close to him had been found on six of the seven victims for which he was charged.

Despite this DNA evidence, none of these individuals is believed to be connected to Heuermann's crimes.

DA Tierney has previously revealed that Ellerup, Victoria and Ellerup's son Christopher Sheridan - who Heuermann raised as his own - were all out of town on vacation at the time of the murders.

Investigators now believe that Heuermann would stay home during family vacations and use that time to commit his crimes.

It is believed that he held his victims inside the basement of the family home - a place where he had spent his childhood before choosing to also raise his own children there - where they were tortured, murdered and, in some cases, dismembered.

The family together before Heuermann's arrest on suspicion of being a serial killer

Investigators search Heuermann's home in July 2023, days after his arrest

A disturbing 'planning document', found on a hard drive during a search, revealed what prosecutors described as his blueprint for selecting, killing and disposing of victims.

The document included sections titled 'body prep' detailing how to clean and dismember bodies and remove tattoos.

Other chilling evidence also emerged, including his sick porn searches for 'autopsy photos of female,' 'tied up fat girl porn,' 'skinny white teen crying porn' and 'stories of rape audio' - as well as his online obsession with the Gilgo Beach serial killer case.

Based on Heuermann's sudden change in plea, his earliest known victim is now believed to be Costilla, a Trinidad and Tobago native living in Queens when she vanished in 1993.

Her body was found days later in a wooded area in North Sea, bearing sharp force injuries to her face and body.

For years, her murder was not believed to be connected to the Gilgo Beach case and another serial killer, John Bittrolf, was eyed as a suspect, until advanced DNA testing recently identified a hair on her body as belonging to Heuermann.

Meanwhile, the killings continued.

Police search a marsh for the remains of Shannan Gilbert in Oak Beach in December 2011 after the remains of several victims were found in the area

Suffolk County Police conduct a search on December 14, 2010, along Gilgo Beach, where four bodies were found

Three years later, in February 1996, Mack - long known as 'Fire Island Jane Doe' - was last seen alive in Manhattan while working as an escort.

That April, her dismembered legs were found wrapped in plastic on Fire Island's Blue Point Beach. In April 2011, her skull was found off Ocean Parkway.

It would take another 12 years before she was finally identified through investigative genetic genealogy.

Mack, a mother-of-one, was then last seen alive in Philadelphia in 2000.

Her dismembered remains were found in two separate locations - Manorville in 2000 and Ocean Parkway in 2011.

Like Vergata, her family only learned she had been murdered years later when she was identified in 2020.

Jessica Taylor's partial remains were also found close to Mack in both Manorville and Ocean Parkway.

The 20-year-old from Poughkeepsie had been last seen in July 2003 at the Port Authority in New York - a short walk from Heuermann's office.

Her tattoo had been disfigured, as though to prevent identification - like the 'planning document' detailed.

Investigators say these earlier killings predate what became known as the 'Gilgo Four' - the cluster of murders that first drew national attention.

The first of those victims to disappear was 25-year-old Brainard-Barnes, who went to meet a client in July 2007 and never returned.

Heuermann had bound her body with three leather belts, one of which contained his wife's DNA.

Almost exactly two years later - while his family was away on vacation - 24-year-old Barthelemy vanished after going to meet a client.

As her loved ones searched for her, the killer used her phone to make chilling, taunting calls, mocking her family and bragging about the murder.

Heuermann in selfies that were submitted as evidence in the case

Discarded pizza crust was seized for DNA testing. Such evidence later linked Heuermann to the Gilgo Beach case

Map shows the location of Heuermann's home compared to Gilgo Beach where the remains of several victims were found

The following summer, in June 2010, Waterman was last seen alive leaving a Holiday Inn Express in Hauppauge to meet a client.

The last known victim was Costello, who left her home to meet a client in September 2010.

Her roommate told police the client was 'ogre-like' and driving a distinctive green Chevy Avalanche - the car Heuermann drove at the time.

Three months later, the serial killer's graveyard was discovered.

The victims' family members, who have waited years for answers and justice in the case, learned two weeks ago that their loved ones' killer was changing his plea to guilty, Newsday first reported.

Since the news broke, Mack's son has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Heuermann, Ellerup and Victoria - paving the way for further potential civil action against the serial killer.

Since his arrest, Heuermann has been held in isolation inside Suffolk County Jail.

Now, he faces life in prison when he is sentenced in the coming weeks.
Hellish audio of a seven-year-old girl being strangled to death by a FedEx driver filmed abducting her will still be played to jurors despite him admitting her murder.

Athena Strand's final moments at the hands of Tanner Horner, 34, was captured by a microphone after he covered a camera on his truck following the November 2022 abduction in Fort Worth, Texas.

Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder on Tuesday, just before his trial was due to begin, with a nightmarish dash camera photo of Athena being driven to her death subsequently shown to the court.

Jurors have been warned by Wise County prosecutors that they will still be presented with all the evidence in the case for the 'punishment phase' of the trial, which will see them decide whether Horner should be sentenced to death.

Wise County District Attorney James Stainton said: 'You are going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child.

'And when I say it's horrible, I mean it.'

Jurors will be watching video and listening to audio files during Wednesday's hearing, with Horner said to have warned Strand: 'Don't scream or I'll hurt you' as he picked her up and put her in his truck.

'I'm going to put you as close as you can be without actually being there that day. We have video of it and we're going to show it now,' Stainton told the jury.

Athena Strand is filmed being driven to her death by kidnapper Tanner Horner. He admitted the November 2022 murder in court Tuesday, with jurors warned they must still endure graphic evidence of the little girl's final moments so they can decide on an appropriate punishment

Strand was snatched by Horner as he dropped off a package containing a Christmas gift for the youngster - a box of Barbie dolls

Strand was snatched from her home by Horner after he delivered a box of Barbies that was to form part of her Christmas present in what appears to be a crime of opportunity.

Horner claimed he'd accidentally struck Strand with his truck and injured her, before strangling her and driving away with her body in a panic.

But the photo taken from inside the truck shared with jurors showed the little girl very much alive, with DA Stainton branding Horner's excuse 'a web of lies.'

Strand's body was driven seven miles away from her home by Horner, where it was dumped and found hours later.

Stainton told jurors that Strand was uninjured when Horner put her into the vehicle.

'The first thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up and puts her in that truck, he leans down and he says: "Don't scream or I'll hurt you." He says that twice,' Stainton said.

The prosecutor said Strand fought Horner, and his DNA was found under her fingernails. He also said Horner's DNA was found 'in places where you shouldn't find DNA on a 7-year-old girl.'

'The only truthful thing that Tanner Horner told law enforcement was that he killed her,' the prosecutor added. 'The pattern and web of lies that he put together, it's going to be hard for y'all to keep up with. It is lie upon lie upon lie upon lie.'

Horner pleaded guilty to capital murder of a child under 10 and aggravated kidnapping.

Horner is seen on Tuesday. His lawyers tried to blame his autism and exposure to lead as a child for Strand's murder

The seven-year-old was kidnapped and strangled on November 30, 2022, by Horner, who was delivering gifts to her family home in North Texas

Horner was delivering this You Can Be Anything Barbie to Strand's father and stepmother's house in Paradise, Texas, when he says he accidentally hit the girl with his truck, 'panicked,' grabbed her and put her in his vehicle

Strand's mother, Maitlyn Gandy, has vehemently supported the death penalty for her daughter's killer. She released a statement after Horner was indicted stating that 'every breath he takes is one my daughter doesn't.'

But Horner's attorney Steven Goble asked jurors to sentence him to life in prison.

In his opening statements, Goble pointed to Horner's physical ailments and mental illnesses.

While acknowledging that the evidence against Horner was 'overwhelming' and 'terrible,' he told jurors that Horner's mother drank while she was pregnant, that he has autism and suffered from 'various mental illnesses throughout his life.'

'When someone's brain is what's injured, you don't see it,' Goble said.

Horner was also exposed to a 'massive amount of lead' during his developmental years, he said, citing how the killer had 24 times the normal amount of lead in his bones.

'You don't have to be a scientist or doctor to know that lead has terrible effects on the brain,' Goble added.

Horner's trial resumes today at 9am local time (10am EST) with jurors expected to watch hours of footage, including Horner's interviews with police.
Megyn Kelly ignited a firestorm online after breaching a taboo topic in women's health: hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

'I'm on it and I love it,' Kelly, 55, announced on an episode of her podcast this week. 'I will say it's resolved so many things that were going wrong with me that I had no idea were hormone related.'

Many women cringe at the thought of starting HRT, or as it's more accurately called menopause replacement therapy (MRT), because of its association with aging. But it's long past time to shatter that hang-up.

There's no reason for women to suffer through the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Trust me, I know.

As a health advocate who has spent decades interviewing the world's top medical experts, I was no stranger to the evolving field of hormone replacement therapy. I've done the deep dives and read the white papers, yet for some reason (hubris maybe), I always thought it didn't and wouldn't apply to me.

I eat well, exercise, focus on sleep and take my vitamins. I 'do everything right.' So, when my doctor ran through the standard menopause symptom checklist at my recent annual gynecological checkup, I swatted them away with pride.

Hot flashes? No.

Stubborn belly fat? Absolutely not.

Megyn Kelly ignited an online firestorm after breaching a taboo topic in women's health: hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

There's no reason for women to suffer through the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. Trust me, I know

Brain fog? Yes  but I've been that way since birth.

Vaginal dryness? Nah.

Periods still regular? Completely.

Sex drive, ok? Solid.

Then she asked something I never saw coming.

'Any shoulder pain?'

I froze. For months, I'd had a bizarre and maddening shoulder injury that nothing could alleviate.

I'd blamed it on my first Wyoming winter and a snow shovel. But as someone who can still crank out dozens of strict push-ups, I found it baffling and somewhat humbling that I couldn't shake it.

'Why are you asking about my shoulder?' I asked.

It turns out that musculoskeletal pain, particularly 'frozen shoulder,' is a well-documented but underreported symptom of perimenopause.

Estrogen, one of that hormones that decreases in women's bodies as they age, has potent anti-inflammatory properties, and as it drops, tendons and joints become inflamed and slow to heal.

My jaw hit the floor.

My doctor put me on the lowest dose estrogen patch plus a low dose of progesterone.

Within three weeks, my shoulder was 90 percent better.

One of my first thoughts was: why don't more women know about this?

Well, we know the answer  and it has to do with one of the biggest travesties in American medicine.

Some women are prescribed estrogen patches, seen here, to treat menopause symptoms

Every major figure in the study of MRT  Dr Michelle Milovina, Dr Mary Claire Haver, Dr Lisa Mosconi, Dr David Sinclair, Dr Drew Pinsky, Dr Peter Attia (all of whom I've interviewed)  all share one thing in common: a white-hot, barely contained fury over a single study called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI).

Launched in 1991, the WHI was meant to be the definitive word on women's health. But in 2002, the WHI was abruptly halted when researchers claimed that estrogen plus progestin (a synthetic compound that mimics progesterone) dramatically increased the risk of breast cancer, heart disease and stroke.

The findings rocked the medical community and the media erupted. Doctors stopped prescribing the hormones overnight and an entire generation of women were essentially abandoned  terrified of the very medicine that could help them.

But the study was fundamentally flawed.

The average participant was 63 years old  over a decade past the critical 'window of opportunity' for hormone therapy. The WHI also used synthetic progestins and oral estrogens, forms now considered largely obsolete.

Look at data for women in their 40s and 50s today who take modern, bioidentical, transdermal (patch) delivery. The risk of breast cancer risk doesn't just shrink, for most women, it virtually disappears.

One botched study and millions of women suffered needlessly. Countless others have even died from preventable hip fractures or heart disease because their doctors were too frightened to prescribe the medicine that could have protected them.

MRT, I believe, is a miracle for women because it helps maintain our biology at its source. Estrogen and progesterone aren't just 'sex hormones.' They're the female body's master regulators, governing nearly every major system.

But, starting at 40-year-old, her estrogen and progesterone levels start to drop. And when they go, they don't just take your periods with them. They take the biological scaffolding that hold everything together.

Jillian's MRT Guidelines If you are a woman in her late 40s or early 50s, talk to your doctor. But here is the catch: you must find a professional who has educated themselves. My gynecologist told me flat out, 'This is not taught in medical school.' Much like nutrition, doctors are required to go outside the standard curriculum to learn how to treat patients this way. Here are my guidelines you should know... The Patch Over the Pill: Doctors in the know now recommend the estrogen patch (transdermal) over oral pills, because the patch delivers hormones directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the liver. This eliminates the increased risk of blood clots and strokes associated with oral estrogen. The Progesterone Requirement: If you still have your uterus, you must take progesterone alongside estrogen. Estrogen causes the uterine lining to grow; progesterone is the 'check and balance' that keeps that lining thin and prevents uterine cancer. Testosterone: It's not just for men. For women struggling with low libido, muscle loss, or extreme fatigue, low-dose testosterone can be the final piece of the puzzle.

The brain: Estrogen fuels the brain's glucose metabolism. When levels drop, the brain essentially begins to starve, producing the brain fog so many women dismiss as normal aging.

Even more alarming, long-term estrogen deprivation significantly increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease. Women already represent nearly two-thirds of all Alzheimer's cases. This is not a coincidence.

Sleep: Progesterone converts in the brain to a neurosteroid called allopregnanolone, which activates GABA receptors essentially acting as a natural, safe sedative.

Women on MRT consistently report that the 3am wakeups stop. Deep, restorative sleep returns. Everything else follows.

Metabolism: Estrogen optimizes insulin sensitivity. Without it, the body becomes less efficient at processing carbohydrates and dramatically more prone to storing visceral fat, the dangerous kind packed around your organs, aka 'menopause middle.'

Restoring estrogen restores metabolic flexibility. The weight that seemed impossible to shift suddenly responds again.

Heart and bones: Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the US. Not breast cancer, which is what almost everyone fears the most.

Estrogen keeps arteries supple and maintains healthy cholesterol ratios. It also governs bone-building cells. Without it, women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone density in just five years. The result of too little estrogen is osteoporosis, a 'silent killer' that announces itself only when a hip shatters.

Skin, hair, nails and joints: Estrogen is a primary driver of collagen synthesis, the structural protein that keeps skin firm, hair strong, and joints cushioned.

I've been open for years about using collagen peptides and they absolutely help. But here's the critical piece most people miss: if estrogen is low, your body's ability to use that collagen is compromised.

MRT and collagen supplementation aren't competing strategies. They're synergistic - one restores the engine, the other provides the fuel.

Additionally, the benefits of MRT are cumulative. Improved brain chemistry and progesterone-backed sleep lead to lower cortisol and more energy. When your insulin sensitivity is optimized, your metabolic flexibility returns.

Suddenly, you have the capacity to train harder, eat better and stay consistent. That's when the results start to compound: stronger joints, healthier skin and better body composition  not from a single 'miracle fix,' but because the entire system is working in harmony again.

If you are suffering, don't let pride stand in your way. We have the science to live better for longer. It's time we start using it.
We need to ban doctors' strikes. On Tuesday, resident doctors walked out of work for the 15th time since 2023  strike action that has cost the NHS around 3billion in the past three years.

I have a great deal of respect for doctors. My father was a GP. I know the sense of pride and value doctors place on serving their patients.

That's why I am so frustrated by the actions of the British Medical Association (BMA). This militant union is acting less like a union and more like a cartel. In the process, it's betraying the patients that its members swore to serve.

In government, the Conservatives did our utmost to stem the power of the unions.

We passed the Trade Union Act, which included a minimum 50 per cent turnout requirement for balloted strike action.

And we introduced minimum service levels, to ensure that public health, education, borders and more always had an essential service during strikes.

Labour have scrapped all the Conservatives' legislation that was intended to put a break on strikes. Now they are seeing the reality of their Faustian bargain with the unions.

Since Keir Starmer walked into 10 Downing Street, the BMA's strike action has cost the NHS 1.2billion, money that could have been used to build two hospitals  or 34 A&E departments.

On Tuesday, resident doctors walked out of work for the 15th time since 2023 - strike action that has cost the NHS around 3billion in the past three years

I will ban resident doctors and consultants from going on strike, writes Kemi Badenoch. We will reintroduce minimum service levels across the NHS

Join the discussion Should doctors ever put their right to strike above the needs and safety of their patients?

But beyond the financial price, there is a real cost to patients.

Every strike day represents hundreds of thousands of appointments and operations cancelled, leaving patients at home in pain, worried about when their treatment will come.

In opposition, Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting claimed the strikes were all the Conservatives' fault and could be avoided by 'treating staff with respect'.

One of Labour's first acts was to hand resident doctors a 22 per cent pay rise with no strings attached. They did similar with the train drivers  shortly before they too went on strike that same year.

Streeting is the best Labour minister at self-promotion but while he's long on style, he's short on substance.

He's too busy plotting a march on Downing Street to get to grips with the BMA.

The Conservatives have had enough. If the BMA refuses to act reasonably, the Government must step in to ensure the safety of patients.

That's why I will ban resident doctors and consultants from going on strike  as we already do for the police and Armed Forces.

We will reintroduce minimum service levels across the NHS, so that all patients know the NHS will always be there when they need it.

This is not anti-doctor  it's pro-patient. My father dedicated his life to his patients and there will be many doctors who agree with me that the BMA are now betraying their profession.

No government should allow any organisation, however professional its members, to hold patients to ransom.

Labour has chosen the unions over patients. The Conservatives choose patients, because only we are serious about getting Britain working again.
'A whole civilisation will die tonight... bomb them into the Stone Age... you'll be living in hell.'

Donald Trump's unhinged language in recent days suggests a man increasingly panicking about a war he started and doesn't know how to finish.

I am writing this before a 1am BST deadline on Wednesday after which the President has threatened more or less to wipe Iran off the map.

So by the time you read this, that proud and ancient country could lie in smouldering ruins, limited strikes could have been ordered on its military and even non-military infrastructure  or, as the financial markets increasingly bet nowadays, Trump could have 'chickened out' once again and failed to make good on his threats.

But in one sense, it doesn't matter  because a few things remain true regardless.

First, America now looks far weaker than it did six weeks ago.

Second, Iran, for all that it has sustained punishing losses, appears more unified than ever. And third, and most worryingly, it should be clear to everyone that the world is losing the global architecture that has largely underpinned its peace and security for almost all of our lifetimes.

Where Trump's incoherence, caprice and callousness have alienated allies, appalled ordinary Americans and betrayed the Maga voters who swept him to a landslide second term after promising 'no more foreign wars', the mullahs  or what's left of them  continue to run rings around Washington in both communications and strategy.

Join the discussion Has Americas approach to Iran made the world safer or just opened the door to greater chaos?

Trump's threat to bomb Iran back 'into the Stone Age' is one first attributed to US air force general Curtis LeMay during the Vietnam War

War generally favours defenders over aggressors, but this humiliation should still sting.

Trump's threat to bomb Iran back 'into the Stone Age' is one first attributed to US air force general Curtis LeMay during the Vietnam War.

Then, as now, it captured a complacent belief in the Western military establishment that overwhelming airpower can pummel the enemy into submission. Vietnam, of course, proved otherwise  at the cost of 60,000 American lives.

Iraq and Afghanistan were presaged by the same mistakes (and indeed the brave response of Londoners during the Blitz should have taught the world the lesson a lifetime ago).

I visited Afghanistan a dozen times after 9/11. The international military might was always a spectacle to witness. But without a clear exit strategy 'mission creep' became the norm.

And so it is with Trump  repeating those same schoolboy errors: a well-intentioned intervention, poor understanding of who he is up against, believing superior firepower will win the day.

Iran has spent decades preparing for precisely a confrontation like this. The regime's command structures are designed to be decentralised, allowing local commanders to act independently.

Tehran's arsenal of drones and missiles, though depleted, ensures it retains the fearsome capacity to respond at scale  and will soon be replenished by the Russians and possibly Chinese.

Cargo ships in the Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz

Trump's repeated exhortations to the Iranian people to 'rise up' and overthrow the authorities have got nowhere, writes Tobias Ellwood

The mullahs have similarly proved adept at drawing Gulf states into the conflict and, of course, exerting control over the crucial Strait of Hormuz: two of their most important long-standing strategic objectives.

It is telling, too, that the regime has so far avoided being brought down from within. Brave young protesters have been slaughtered en masse and Trump's repeated exhortations to the Iranian people to 'rise up' and overthrow the authorities have got nowhere.

I suspect that millions of Iranians, even those who do not favour the regime, will now be strengthened in their conviction that the only means of defending themselves and their country against another war like this lies in building or acquiring a nuclear bomb.

(The ruling Kim family in North Korea came to the same conclusion decades ago, successfully built just such an apocalyptic device and now present a permanent headache for the international community.)

So no matter what unfolds over the coming hours, days and weeks, it should be clear to anyone that Trump's war has weakened America and, at least in part, paradoxically strengthened Iran.

Regardless of whether a ceasefire is agreed, the Strait of Hormuz is going to feature in all of our discussions for some time to come. Even in the event of peace, Tehran could seek to impose a toll on ships passing through.

And if the war drags on, a single, well-placed Iranian missile or drone strike on a tanker in the region could disrupt shipping far beyond the Gulf, potentially extending to other critical areas such as the Suez Canal. The economic consequences would be immediate and global.

Across the Middle East, states seem set to adjust to a new reality  one in which American power is known to be more volatile and its promises to be less reliable.

Gulf nations, long dependent on US security guarantees, will hedge more aggressively. Two members of the important Gulf Cooperation Council  Kuwait, just miles from Iran's border, and Qatar, which is suspicious of US ally Saudi Arabia  will likely seek greater accommodation with Tehran.

Israel, facing a more emboldened, battle-hardened and undefeated enemy, may feel compelled to act alone, without American approval, raising the risk of further escalation.

Other hostile countries will draw their own conclusions. If Iran  with no economy to speak of, no weapons of mass destruction, a corrupt and ageing leadership and clapped-out military hardware  can withstand the full weight of US military power, perhaps Uncle Sam is not to be as feared as they thought.

The principle of deterrence, once the cornerstone of Washington's strategy in the region, begins to corrode.

A US Air Force F-15E fighter. One of these jets was downed in Iran last week, leading to a rescue mission for one of the crew members

'Britain must wake up, for in real time we are witnessing America become less reliable, less confident and less capable'

As for Nato, it will never be the same. Despite his bluster, Trump may not be able to withdraw formally from the alliance without approval from the US Congress. But he can hollow it out from within by diverting American attention and resources elsewhere.

Nato's European members  already stretched from supporting Ukraine  will surely question Washington's strategic priorities. If US munitions are to be diverted to an escalating conflict in the Middle East  and, if not, towards a future one in the Taiwan Strait  then Europe's eastern flank will grow more exposed.

Moscow, you can be sure, will test this, probing for weakness and exploiting any division.

This war, whether it be long or short, is going to present sobering lessons for America and, by extension, us all. Sustaining high-intensity operations against Iran has already drained stocks of key munitions.

A significant portion of America's Tomahawk missiles has been expended, each costing millions and taking years to replace.

Faced with rising costs, uncertain outcomes and a global backlash, the US may retreat into a more transactional posture, less willing to lead, more inclined to act unilaterally and then withdraw.

This is likely to be the future imagined by Vice President JD Vance, an isolationist with an eye on the White House in 2028, who has kept his fingerprints well away from Trump's war.

(This week, Vance decided to travel to Hungary  seemingly to be as far away as possible from where the key decisions were being taken.)

Look at the parallels with 1937: a leaderless West, international institutions weakening, tensions hardening, revisionist powers rising and re-arming. This is not history repeating itself; it is history accelerating.

Britain must wake up, for in real time we are witnessing America become less reliable, less confident and less capable. That leaves a dangerous vacuum. I dread to think what horrors might rise to fill it.
This morning there are still many unanswered questions surrounding last nights announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.

Yet if, as seems likely, it really does presage the end of the 2026 US/Iran war, one thing is clear. Iran has won it.

When the bombing commenced, many observers struggled to determine what Donald Trumps war aims were, given the seemingly incoherent nature of the Presidents objectives and the fact they changed on a daily basis. But if you strip away the bombastic  and increasingly unhinged  rhetoric, a sober accounting of the administrations primary stated goals reveals they have failed to secure virtually any of them.

Top of the list was regime change, aided and assisted by the Iranian people. Yet as of this morning, one of the most savage and oppressive regimes on the globe remains in place.

As far as anyone can ascertain, the late 86-year-old Supreme Leader has simply been replaced by his son a couple of years ahead of schedule. Yes, the Iranian people did indeed take to the streets. Though not to rise up against their oppressors, but to form human shields around the energy facilities and infrastructure Trump had threatened to wipe from the face of the earth.

A second objective was the complete obliteration of the Iranian military. But, in the hours immediately preceding and following the ceasefire, Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar all announced they were having to repulse ballistic missile and drone strikes from Iran.

The Iranian army remain so potent even Trump has been forced to concede the risk of putting US boots on the ground is too high. The Iranian navy  supposedly completely destroyed  has continued to escort select vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. And Trumps claim that Iranian air defences had been so heavily degraded theres nobody even shooting at us was followed 48 hours later by the downing of a US F-15 jet and an A-10 ground attack aircraft.

Then there was the Iranian nuclear programme. Trump had previously claimed this was destroyed in June 2025. Then as the war began, he changed tack and sent out his aides to claim Iran was probably a week away from having industrial-grade bomb making material.

Donald Trump a day before the deadline he set Iran. 'He has gone toe to toe with one of the most despotic and malign theocracies in history. And has been vanquished'

Smoke rises following strikes on Tehran yesterday. Top of the Trump's wishlist was regime change. Yet as of this morning, one of the world's most oppressive regimes remains in place

As the war progressed this changed again, with the administration alternating between insisting bombing had again neutralised the threat, and briefing that plans were being put in place to seize the remaining nuclear material with special forces. As the ceasefire came into effect, all Trump could say on the issue was it will be perfectly taken care of.

And of course there was the final objective, the re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz. This has indeed been achieved. But only by granting Iran the right to charge tolls on any vessels that pass through. And so at the end of a month-long war  sorry, excursion  that has cost the US 15 soldiers lives, 500 wounded, the destruction of dozens of aircraft, radar sites and other vital military facilities at a conservative cost of $800million (before factoring in the cost of the military operations themselves), what has Donald Trump actually achieved?

He has managed to turn the worlds most vital nautical artery into a glorified Dartford Tunnel.

And that only scratches the surface of the blood and treasure that have been expended to satiate Trumps egomania.

The Iranian regime has not just been left in situ but has been emboldened.

Across the Middle East every poet, bard and street musician is currently penning new verse to commemorate Irans heroic triumph against the Great Satan. Words that will in turn energise a new generation of radicals, terrorists and sympathisers.

In a region where many states had previously looked at the US as its protector, former allies are now counting the cost of an alliance that has resulted in another 30 dead and hundreds injured.

In Israel, that saw this conflict as their best  and perhaps last  opportunity to eradicate their greatest threat to existence, criticism is already mounting, with opposition leader Yair Lapid announcing: There has never been such a diplomatic disaster in all our history.

Meanwhile, here in Britain we are also counting the cost of a war our Prime Minister insisted we had no part of. Nato, the defensive alliance that has kept us safe for 80 years, lies in ruins with Trump now actively advocating withdrawal.

And even if it is simply another of his empty threats, it seems inconceivable that in the years remaining of his benighted presidency Vladmir Putin will pass up the opportunity to stress-test it.

Meanwhile, for the first time in our history our Armed Forces have been humiliated in a conflict we purportedly did not fight.

The Royal Navys inability to deploy a single reliable destroyer to defend British sovereign territory as it was under attack showed the bleak status of our military. That, coupled with the total planning failure by our government and armed service chiefs, saw it take three weeks for HMS Dragon to even arrive on station.

A further intelligence failure did not predict Irans ability to target the other UK territory of Diego Garcia, meanwhile ministers then attempted to hide that attack from Parliament and the people.

The state of our air defences is chronic and was compounded by the moral bankruptcy that saw Keir Starmer simultaneously pledging to stand back from the conflict, while allowing US bombers to pound Iran from southern England, and claiming these attacks were vital for our own defence.

Though to be fair, Starmer is not the only British politician to emerge from the past month with their reputation sullied. Kemi Badenoch showed terrible judgment by initially endorsing the US attacks, then flip-flopping when she saw the public tide turning decisively against them.

But her stance pales into insignificance when set against the sycophancy and politically myopic utterances of Nigel Farage and the Reform leadership.

Even Trumps maniacal threat to wipe out a whole civilisation wasnt enough to see him break with his best mate from Mar-A-Lago.

He would, he said, consider allowing the US to use British bases for that purpose so long as Trump could provide assurances of the end game.

Today no one can be entirely sure of what the end game in Iran actually looks like. But we do know this. Trump has somehow managed to engineer a situation where he has gone toe to toe with one of the most despotic and malign theocracies in history. And has been strategically, politically and morally vanquished.

In the hours and days to come, Trumps cheerleaders will fan out across the despised MSM (mainstream media) and social media to try to spin defeat into victory. But there is nowhere for them to hide now. And there is nowhere for Trump to hide.

Across the United States, and across the globe, a debate has been raging for years about where the 47th President would sit in the annals of history.

Now that debate has ended. When he tweeted in fury and desperation: Open the F****in' Straits, you crazy b*****ds, or or you'll be living in Hell, it was over. Trump had been beaten. And everyone from Tehran to Tennessee knew it.

In the midst of Vietnam, Lyndon B Johnson angrily and famously declared: Im not going down in history as the first American President to lose a war. But he did. And yesterday Donald Trump became the second to also lose one.
The more people go on about the awfulness of Neville Chamberlain, the less I trust their judgment. They generally know nothing about him and use him as a cheap and easy codeword for weakness and failure. But are they so much better?

Poor Mr Chamberlain had many failings. But President Donald Trump has failings too, and when he went on about Chamberlain on Easter Monday, he was rather asking for trouble. And lo, the bellicose President has now himself backed down from a big fight, granting Iran the freedom to charge tolls to ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

You could say Mr Trump is the Neville Chamberlain of the Gulf, appeasing the Iranian ayatollahs rather than fulfilling his promise to destroy them. If he had been around in 1938, Trump might well have praised Chamberlain, perhaps fawning over his deal with Hitler. Many others did.

For Mr Trumps decision to prefer a ceasefire to terrible war is classic appeasement. Iran seized control of the Strait for the first time, after Mr Trump launched his war against them a month ago. And now the ayatollahs are going to keep that control. Mr Trump has weakened himself through heedless use of force, and has become the very thing he sneers at.

He shouldnt be too upset. He is in good company. Most major world leaders have done some appeasing in their time, usually for the simple reason that a fight would have been worse.

Winston Churchill helped Franklin Roosevelt hand over Eastern Europe to Stalin, at Yalta in 1945, in the biggest act of appeasement in history. And the peoples of Western Europe have generally been pretty glad about that, as it gave them 50 years of peace and prosperity.

The Presidents latest sneer at Prime Minister Keir Starmer was mainly innuendo. He said the UK had a long way to go, adding, We wont want another Neville Chamberlain, do we agree? We dont want Neville Chamberlain.

Well, there are some of us who are rather glad Sir Keir has stood up to Mr Trump on this issue. Why should Britain be dragged into his mad war? In my view, Sir Keir should have flatly refused the US any use of airbases in Britain. Instead, he appeased the White House (yes, he did) by pretending that the monster B-52s lurching into the air above Fairford in Gloucestershire, laden with Iran-bound bombs and missiles, are acting defensively.

Neville Chamberlain hails 'peace for our time' upon his return from meeting Adolf Hitler in Munich in 1938

Theres a lot of appeasement about, isnt there? Everybodys doing it. Perhaps it is time Neville Chamberlain, his wing-collar and umbrella, came back into fashion.

If the unfortunate Mr Chamberlain had hired competent spin-doctors, he would probably now be known as the man who gave Britain radar and the Spitfire, on the eve of war with Germany. For he was.

He might also be known as the man who, once ejected from Downing Street, gave vital support to Churchill during the 1940 crisis, when most of the Tory Party distrusted and disliked his successor, and many also wanted to make a deal with Hitler. In the crucial days after Dunkirk, when major figures such as Lord Halifax were arguing for a negotiated peace with the Third Reich, Chamberlain (after an initial wobble) sided with Churchill in favour of standing firm. This may well have been crucial.

But surely, the chorus will cry, he let us down badly at Munich, by handing over the Sudetenland to Hitler, and abandoning democratic Czechoslovakia to its fate? To which I answer, what would you have done? At that time, we had a broomstick army and a biplane air force. France, bled white by the 1914-18 war, didnt much want a fight. Prague, the Czech capital, was indefensible thanks to Hitlers recent takeover of Austria.

What would have happened if we had gone to war? Even Churchill, who described the Munich deal as a total and unmitigated defeat, couldnt come up with much of an alternative. Like the political Left, he thought we should have sought the help of Stalins Soviet Union. But the Russians at that time had no land border with Czechoslovakia. And Romania and Poland, the only two practical corridors, would not have dreamed of letting the Red Army on to their territory. They feared that, if Soviet soldiers arrived, they would never leave.

They were right to be cautious. As Britain and France found out a year later, Stalin would only help against Hitler if he was given a free hand in the Baltic states and Romania.

Churchill may have thought we should stand firm and to rearm more. But the truth was that in 1938 there was no appetite at all in Britain for another war. It is forgotten now, and the film seems to have been lost, but giant crowds streamed to Buckingham Palace in the pouring rain, to cheer Chamberlain on his return from Munich with his supposed peace for our time.

For Mr Trumps decision to prefer a ceasefire to terrible war is classic appeasement. He has weakened himself through heedless use of force, and has become the very thing he sneers at

After landing at Heston Aerodrome in 1938, Chamberlain joined George VI on the balcony of Buckingham Palace where he enjoyed a four-minute ovation from a large and grateful crowd

They went to the Palace because King George VI had invited Chamberlain and his wife to join him on the balcony there, lit up by one of the very few anti-aircraft searchlights then in existence in Britain. There they enjoyed a four-minute ovation from the enormous, soaking-wet crowd.

The King, like many of his subjects, was a keen appeaser at the time, and in summer 1939 he would tell the Canadian premier Mackenzie King, during a visit to North America, that he would never wish to appoint Churchill to any office, unless it was unavoidable.

So much of what we now believe is hindsight. We pat ourselves on the back for opposing appeasement most of us would have supported at the time.

Much of the anti-Chamberlain myth, swallowed whole by President Trump, was created by the British Left, the sort of people he despises. They had their own misdeeds to hide.

Chamberlain, who became Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1931, had somehow to find the money for the major programme of rearmament that began soon after the rise of Hitler. This was not popular among the Left. The Labour Party, at its Southport conference in October 1933, months after Hitler came to power, pledged to take no part in war.

In the same month Labours John Wilmot won the Fulham East by-election on an anti-rearmament platform. And the Party kept up that view. In July 1934, Labours future Premier, Clement Attlee, opposed the expansion of the RAF. He said: We deny the need for increased air armaments.

Another Big Beast of inter-war Labour, Herbert Morrison (Peter Mandelsons grandfather), complained in a speech in Whitechapel in November 1935 that Neville Chamberlain was ready and anxious to spend millions of pounds on machines of destruction.

In the same year, the Labour movements semi-official newspaper, the Daily Herald (ancestor of todays Sun) condemned increased defence spending, set out in a government White Paper, as an affront to Germany.

In 1936, after Hitler had marched into the Rhineland, Attlee was still moaning about a supposed ruinous arms race inevitably leading to war.

It was certainly straining a rusty and wheezing economy, badly short of skilled workers. Chamberlain, as Chancellor and then as Premier, supervised a 1936-39 naval building programme including six battleships, six aircraft carriers, 25 cruisers, 49 destroyers and 22 submarines. Imagine! Sums spent on all three services in that period were the equivalent of many billions now.

Chamberlain, a dove by nature, would certainly have preferred to spend the money on hospitals, schools and housing. But instead he prepared for the war he knew was coming. It is time he got the credit.
You call this a ceasefire?

Since President Donald Trump's Tuesday night announcement of a two-week truce with Iran and a promised opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the US leader has been on his Truth Social perch, selling the deal, including a promise that any final agreement will secure Iran's nuclear material.

Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have struck a more cautious tone - trust a little, verify a lot.

Strip away the digital bravado and the cable chatter and what we are left with, at least for now, is both murky and fragile.

Some Republicans, mindful of political crosswinds and the gravitational pull of Trump's MAGA base, are inclined to embrace the deal's promise rather than interrogate its particulars.

It is Washington's way to declare 'so far, so good' and attempt to move on. But beneath the choppy waters, unanswered questions surface like massive icebergs, peaking just above the surface, revealing a hint of the 100,000-ton behemoth beneath.

A battered Iran still stands, governed by the same theocratic system, sustained by the same hard men in uniform, presiding over a population that has absorbed weeks of punishment. It now seems that the war has not delivered  and may not even be capable of bringing about  the political transformation in Tehran that some in Washington once whispered about.

The regime remains. So what, if anything, has changed?

Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 6

In choosing to negotiate with the current leadership, Washington risks, at least in perception, stabilizing a regime it only recently suggested the Iranian people should fight to cast off.

Axios reports that  for the first time since the war began  new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was personally involved in negotiations to reach this tentative 'pause' in hostilities. Up until this point, many in security circles were speculating that Khamenei was dead. Perhaps he is.

Who, exactly, will sit across the table when the real negotiations, reportedly in Islamabad on Friday, begin?

Incredibly, on Wednesday Trump floated a proposal to establish a 'joint venture' with Tehran to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, like cars through the Midtown tunnel.

'It's a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people. It's a beautiful thing,' the president reportedly told ABC News.

Is this a solution that will reassure insurers, shippers and energy markets? What mechanisms will enforce compliance - and what happens when, not if, those mechanisms are tested? Is it even feasible?

Most crucially, Iran's nuclear capacity - both the physical uranium stockpile and the intellectual infrastructure - appears not to have been decisively eliminated.

The war's implicit casus belli was fear of an Iranian sprint to a bomb. Yet if that material remains inside the country, even under some future monitoring regime, then the central problem persists, merely delayed, perhaps even hardened by experience.

Wars that begin with clarity can end in ambiguity. This one is flirting with that fate at this point.

Most immediately, Iran's missile program - range, payload, precision - remains a core concern for the region. New Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel and the UAE, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, in the hours immediately after the ceasefire was announced, are a testament to that ongoing threat.

If a final deal does not meaningfully constrain those Iranian capabilities, then another one of the war's principal objectives will have gone unmet.

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Meanwhile, Israel continues to pound Hezbollah-targets in Lebanon, launching  what it calls  its largest coordinated strike against the Iranian-aligned proxy since the start of the war.

Pakistan, which has been central to US-Iranian negotiations, claimed Israel was in violation of the ceasefire. Israel says it isn't. Iran has threatened to scrap the whole deal if the bombing continues.

And so, it goes.

There is, to be fair, a plausible case for optimism. It is possible that the United States and Israel have, through a combination of force and signaling, degraded Iran's capabilities and impressed upon its leadership the costs of escalation or bad behavior.

It is possible that a new generation of Iranian decision-makers - however one defines 'new' - calculates that survival requires a different course. It is possible that what looks like a muddle today resolves into a strategic success tomorrow.

It is also conceivable that Iran emerges from this episode with much of what matters most still in hand: its nuclear know-how, its missile arsenal, its regional networks.

Mark Halperin is the editor-in-chief and host of the interactive live video platform 2WAY and the host of the video podcast 'Next Up' on the Megyn Kelly network

In that scenario, the war will have been a costly demonstration rather than a decisive turning point. The Israelis, in the end, will insist on their security. The Iranians, by all available evidence, will not easily yield on what they consider sovereign rights. And the American public, distracted by nearer concerns, will register all of this only faintly, if at all.

No one really knows what happened on Tuesday - honestly, even those, like the president, who made the deal. The possible outlines are visible; the final substance is not.

The president has set a high bar. He has suggested that any resulting agreement will comprehensively address Iran's nuclear materials - that it will be, in his words, 'perfectly taken care of,' or else he would not have agreed to the ceasefire. Big, if true. Enormous, if achieved. Politically and strategically transformative.

But, at this hour, Iran has demonstrated an ability to inflict economic anxiety even as it absorbs military blows. The lesson others may draw - friends and adversaries alike -is not yet settled. Moscow and Beijing will study this carefully, looking for signs of American resolve or vulnerability. Tehran will approach any direct talks not as a defeated actor but as one that has endured and adapted.

If there is a Trump masterstroke coming, it lies somewhere beyond the visible horizon, in details not yet disclosed and leverage not yet deployed. The burden of proof now rests squarely on the president and his partners. They must show that this ceasefire was not merely a pause, not merely a performance, but the opening act of something more durable and more consequential.

Until then, we are left with that essential question, hanging in the air, unanswered and unavoidable: What kind of agreement is this?
Health authorities are moving to weaken restrictions on an invisible gas linked to multiple forms of cancer.

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed reduced limits on emissions of ethylene oxide, a colorless gas primarily used to sterilize medical equipment and make antifreeze. The man-made gas is emitted by at least 100 factories across the country, as well as from tobacco smoke and engine exhaust.

Experts estimate ethylene oxide sterilizes about half of all medical devices in the US (as well as devices in the European Union), helping to prevent infections in patients having surgery or other treatments. This adds up to around 20 billion devices each year.

Despite its use in hospital settings, ethylene oxide is classified by the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is sufficient evidence that it causes cancer in humans.

Long-term exposure, often from industrial emissions or medical equipment sterilization, has been associated with leukemia, breast cancer and lymphoma, as well as miscarriages and infertility, in animal and human studies.

The new measure seeks to reverse a 2024 Biden-era ruling that called for a 90 percent reduction in commercial sterilizer emissions.

Now, the EPA's proposed rule would loosen limits on ethylene oxide emissions for about 90 commercial sterilization facilities nationwide, putting the two million Americans who live within two miles of these facilities at risk of deadly health complications.

The Daily Mail's interactive map below, which uses 2023 data from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), shows the locations of more than 100 sterilization facilities releasing ethylene oxide.

President Donald Trump's EPA is proposing loosening limits on cancer-causing gas ethylene oxide

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The agency said stricter limits on ethylene oxide enacted during the Biden administration would be near impossible for many facilities to meet. It also noted it was proposing to rescind a requirement that facilities conduct round-the-clock monitoring of ethylene oxide emissions.

President Donald Trump has said that previous limits would 'likely force existing sterilization facilities to close down, seriously disrupting the supply of medical equipment.'

'The Trump EPA is committed to ensuring lifesaving medical devices remain available for the critical care of America's children, elderly and all patients without unnecessary exposure to communities,' Lee Zeldin, EPA administrator, said in the release.

Ethylene oxide is praised for being able to destroy bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms without damaging plastics and other delicate materials. The EPA said in its release that there is no viable alternative on the market.

Research published in 2003 looking at cancer mortality rates for workers at sterilization facilities found increased exposures to ethylene oxide were associated with higher mortality from lymphoma, leukemia and breast cancer.

That study was reanalyzed in 2020, and the team found even stronger relationships between the chemical and breast cancer mortality for patients employed at sterilization facilities for longer periods of time.

There is also extensive evidence showing mice inhaling ethylene oxide had a higher risk of mammary tumors.

Sterilization facilities are often in low-income neighborhoods dominated by Black and Latino populations, according to a 2023 analysis from environmental group Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

The UCS analysis found the majority of these facilities are in industrial areas in southern California, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Puerto Rico. Other metropolitan areas with higher concentrations include Memphis, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Denver and Phoenix.

One facility is located in the border town of Laredo, Texas, where National Cancer Institute figures show cancer rates could be up to 75 percent higher than the rest of the nation.

The UCS data estimated the risk of cancer associated with ethylene oxide for each facility per one million people and found the highest risk was from the Steri-Tech facility in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

When examining risk levels of ethylene oxide-associated cancer at the Salinas facility, the researchers found it to be 365 per one million people. For Steris Isomedix in El Paso, Texas, it dropped to 356 per one million people.

Rounding out the top five facilities with the highest ethylene oxide-associated cancer risks were Bard CR of Covington, Georgia (270 per one million people), Midwest Sterilization of Jackson, Missouri (269 per one million people), and Edwards Lifesciences Technology of Anasco, Puerto Rico (191 per one million people).

EPA administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency 'is committed to ensuring lifesaving medical devices remain available for the critical care of America's children, elderly and all patients without unnecessary exposure to communities'

In 2024, the Biden administration strengthened limits on ethylene emissions as part of the former president's 'moonshot' program meant to slash cancer deaths in the US.

At the time, the administration estimated stronger rules would reduce ethylene oxide emissions from sterilization plants by 90 percent, and some of the plants would have had to install or upgrade pollution controls.

Ahead of the EPA's latest proposal, the Trump administration has exempted 40 sterilization plants from complying with the Biden-era limits. Several environmental groups such as the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit last year to block the exemptions. The suit is pending in Washington, DC, federal court.

'[The Trump] administration is systematically looking for ways to let polluters off the hook,' Sarah Buckley, a senior attorney at the NRDC, said in a statement.

'If this abuse of authority is left unchecked, communities will pay the price in higher cancer risks.'

The EPA will solicit public comments on the proposed rules for 45 days after its publication in the Federal Register. If approved, it will be finalized in the coming months.
A single jab hailed as a 'potential cure' for type 1 diabetes will be trialled this year  raising hopes it could finally end the need for multiple daily insulin injections.

The one-off treatment is designed to help the body control blood sugar on its own  potentially for life.

In a world-first study, patients will be given a gene therapy that turns muscle into a long-term insulin producer, with effects that could last for years  or even decades.

Dr Partha Kar, NHS England's national speciality adviser for diabetes, said the approach is 'really exciting' and has the potential to be a 'functional cure'  adding that it could 'help a lot of people if it works'.

Adults with type 1 diabetes  an incurable condition affecting around 464,000 people in the UK  currently rely on daily insulin injections or pumps to stay alive. The disease occurs when the body's immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leaving patients unable to regulate blood sugar.

The new treatment, known as KRIYA-839, takes a radically different approach.

Rather than replacing insulin through injections or devices, it aims to turn the patient's own muscle into a long-term insulin factory.

Scientists hope that after a single injection into the thigh, muscle cells will begin producing insulin and other blood sugarregulating proteins  removing or dramatically reducing the need for daily treatment.

A groundbreaking injection is set to be trialled for people with type 1 diabetes, with hopes it could remove the need for daily insulin

Crucially, researchers say the therapy is not gene editing and does not alter a person's DNA. Instead, it delivers genetic instructions into muscle cells, allowing them to produce insulin in a controlled way over time.

Early animal studies have shown promising results, with the treatment continuing to work for up to four years without the need for ongoing immune suppression.

Now, for the first time, it will be tested in people.

The trial  unveiled at this year's International Conference on Advanced Technologies and Treatments for Diabetes  will enrol adults with poorly controlled blood sugar who are already using automated insulin delivery systems. This will allow scientists to closely track how much insulin the therapy produces and how effectively it stabilises glucose levels.

Participants will receive injections in both thighs during a single outpatient appointment lasting up to an hour. The treatment is expected to take two to three months to reach full effect.

There is also a short phase of 'immune modulation', where the immune system is temporarily dampened to help the therapy successfully enter cells  a step researchers say is key to making the treatment work.

If successful, the effects could last for years  or even a lifetime.

Jeremy Pettus, an endocrinologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of California, said the field is entering a new phase.

'In the type 1 community, we're used to (hearing) this will happen in 10 to 15 years and maybe will come one day,' he said, as first reported by Medscape.

'It's very exciting to stand here and say that this is actually something that's in the works and happening now.'

Dr Kar said the potential impact could be transformative  even if the therapy does not completely eliminate the need for insulin.

'If you're saying, 'hey, listen, we can reproduce 75 per cent of your need of insulin', then you probably would be like, 'wow, that's a big thing',' he said.

He added that even a partial effect could mean coming off high doses of insulin or reducing reliance on pumps and continuous monitoring systems.

However, he cautioned that key questions remain  particularly around how much insulin the therapy will produce, and how long the effects will last.

'If it works, it could help a lot of people,' he said. 'I see it as positive I certainly would be keeping a very close eye on this.'

Other experts have also urged caution.

Tadej Battelino, head of endocrinology at UCH-UMC Ljubljana, said the term 'cure' should be used carefully at this stage.

'I tend to be cautious, so I really can't give promises,' he said. 'Does this have a potential? Very much so.'

He added that if the therapy can keep blood sugar in a healthy range most of the time  particularly when combined with existing technology  it could effectively function as a cure in practical terms.

'I'm not saying it's a cure, but a functional cure, for sure.'

The initial trial will run for one year, with future studies expected to expand to a wider group of patients, including those managing their condition with daily injections.

If the results are positive, the therapy could mark a turning point in the treatment of type 1 diabetes  shifting it from a condition managed day-to-day to one controlled by a single intervention.

For patients used to a lifetime of injections, monitoring and constant vigilance, that prospect alone is enough to generate real excitement.
A routine heart scan could soon reveal your risk of heart failure up to five years before it strikes, researchers say.

The breakthrough means doctors may soon be able to identify patients at high risk of the deadly condition long before symptoms appear  giving them a crucial window to step in.

Scientists at the University of Oxford used AI to analyse cardiac CT scans, focusing on subtle changes in fat surrounding the heart that signal early damage.

These warning signs are invisible to doctors using standard tests but can reveal inflammation in the heart muscle  a key driver of heart failure.

The condition, which affects nearly one million people in Britain and kills around 170,000 each year, occurs when the heart can no longer pump blood effectively around the body.

Rates are rising rapidly, with cases expected to double by 2040.

Experts said the findings  published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology  could mark a major shift in how the disease is detected and managed.

Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'Heart failure is consistently diagnosed too late, sometimes only when a patient is admitted to hospital.

A person's risk of heart failure could be predicted years before it develops, thanks to an AI tool

'Late diagnosis may mean patients already have severe damage to their heart muscle which might have been avoided. This approach could help doctors spot heart failure earlier, by monitoring more closely those at highest risk.'

The system was trained on data from 72,000 patients in England who underwent cardiac CT scans between 2007 and 2022.

It found those flagged as high risk were around 20 times more likely to develop heart failure than those at lowest risk.

In fact, highrisk patients had a one in four chance of developing the condition within five years  with the method predicting outcomes with 86 per cent accuracy.

The British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, said there had previously been no reliable way to identify who would go on to develop heart failure.

Dr Babu-Narayan added: 'Early heart failure diagnosis is crucial  it means doctors can better manage someone's condition, which gives them a fighting chance of living longer in better health.

'This study demonstrates the power of harnessing technology to unlock improvements in cardiovascular care.'

Researchers now hope the approach could be rolled out across the NHS  potentially using any routine chest scan to assess risk.

Professor Charalambos Antoniades, who led the study, said: 'Our method can produce an absolute risk score for each patient without any need for human input.

'We are now working towards applying this to any CT scan of the chest, performed for any reason.

'This will allow doctors to make more informed decisions about treatment, giving the most intensive care to those at highest risk.

'We hope that, if this programme is rolled out nationwide, it could reduce hospital pressures by helping patients live well for longer.'

The NHS says symptoms of heart failure include breathlessness after activity  or even at rest  as well as fatigue, dizziness and swollen ankles or legs.

Some people also experience a persistent cough or a fast heart rate, with symptoms often developing gradually over weeks or months.
Several leading mental health experts have denied that Kanye West is an anti-semitic extremist - and instead claimed that his deeply offensive outbursts against Jewish people last summer were typical of many people with a bipolar diagnosis.

The rapper, 48, who now goes by Ye, sparked global outrage last summer after releasing a song called 'Heil Hitler' and selling a swastika T-shirt online. He also made a string of racist social media posts about Jewish people who worked in the music, fashion and media industries.

In January, he ran a full-page advertisement in the Wall Street Journal apologising for his comments and attributing his actions to untreated bipolar disorder, which he says was triggered in part by a 2002 car crash that caused frontal lobe damage.

West claims the injury went unnoticed until 2023 and caused him to become 'detached from my true self' at times.

Since it was announced yesterday that West would not be permitted entry to the UK to perform at this summer's Wireless Festival, mental health specialists have come out to say West's explanation is medically credible.

Prof David Curtis, UCL Genetics Institute, said: 'People with severe bipolar disorder can act in ways completely out of character.

'They may become impulsive, reckless, or even psychotic. What Ye describes fits perfectly with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and need not reflect latent antisemitism or extremist ideology.

'During a manic episode, it is possible to lose touch with reality entirely. People may do things they would never normally do. This is not an expression of belief - it is illness.'

Experts insist Kanye West's behaviour last year was the result of severe mental illness, not extremist beliefs

However, not all experts have accepted West's reasoning for his deeply damaging behaviour.

Bipolar UK emphasised that mania can make people act unrecognisably, but it is a symptom, not a choice. 'There is no evidence to support the idea that people living with bipolar disorder would express racist or antisemitic ideas while unwell,' a spokesperson said.

Yesterday, UK Education Secretary Wes Streeting called it 'appalling' that West used bipolar disorder 'to justify his actions', while Labour leader Keir Starmer said it was 'deeply concerning' he had been booked in the UK - to perform at the now cancelled Wireless Festival in London - despite his past antisemitic statements.

What is bipolar disorder?

Prof David Curtis explains that bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness marked by extreme mood swings, from periods of depression to episodes of high energy or mania.

Some people may also experience psychosis, including delusions or hallucinations, though between episodes, mental health is often normal.

Severity varies widely - while some people have relatively mild symptoms, others can act in ways completely out of character, with impulsive, reckless, or even dangerous behaviour.

Can a brain injury trigger bipolar disorder?

West claims a head injury contributed to his bipolar disorder. Experts say traumatic brain injuries can alter mood, behaviour and judgement - but most people with head trauma do not develop bipolar disorder.

Former Olympic champion James Cracknell described a similar transformation after a 2010 crash: 'When I came out of intensive care, I wasn't me any more.

'My friends and family said my entire personality had changed. My short-term memory was gone. I couldn't make decisions. Had no motivation.'

Research supports the link. A 2024 Swedish study found traumatic brain injury increases the risk of bipolar disorder, especially with severe injury, later age and in women.

A 2014 Danish study of over 110,000 people found head injuries were associated with a higher risk of psychiatric disorders, particularly bipolar.

Experts caution, however, that brain trauma is just one factor; genetics, stress, sleep disruption and substance use also play a role.

Former Olympic champion James Cracknell has also spoken about how he underwent an extreme personality change after a road accident that almost killed him in 2010.

What causes bipolar disorder?

Experts say bipolar disorder arises from multiple factors, including childhood trauma, brain chemistry, family history and major life stress.

Relationship breakdowns, financial troubles, bullying, or major life events can trigger episodes.

Heavy drinking, recreational drugs and prolonged sleep disruption also increase risk.

Diagnosis and treatment

Bipolar disorder is diagnosed clinically based on recurring mood episodes.

Depression can bring persistent low mood, fatigue, poor concentration and sleep problems, while mania can involve high energy, impulsivity, risky decisions and psychosis - hallucinations or delusions.

Treatments include mood stabilisers, antipsychotics and talking therapies, with lifestyle management around sleep, exercise and routines helping reduce relapse risk.

Could you be at risk?

Bipolar disorder can affect anyone but some factors make it more likely.

These include having a close relative with the condition, a history of significant childhood trauma or major life stress, alongside disrupted sleep.

Recreational drugs and alcohol can also destabilise mood and a serious head injury may increase risk too, particularly if it's followed by lasting behavioural changes or thinking and memory issues.

The NHS advises seeing a GP if you have extreme changes in your moods that last a long time or impact your everyday life, if you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and treatments are not helping.
Its one of the most awkward problems patients bring into my clinic  and one theyve often avoided for months, sometimes years.

Bad breath  or halitosis  isnt just a minor nuisance you can laugh off with a mint. It chips away at confidence, strains relationships and can make people reluctant to speak at all.

And while many assume its harmless, it can sometimes signal something more serious going on beneath the surface. Yet despite all this, most people suffer in silence.

The truth is, bad breath can be surprisingly hard to detect yourself. In fact, its probably the one condition everyone else notices before you do.

The classic cup your hands and sniff test might give you a rough idea, but it is far from reliable, and not something you want to be caught doing in public.

Some dentists use devices called halimeters, which measure volatile sulfur compounds  the gases responsible for that unpleasant smell  giving a much clearer and more objective answer.

From a GPs perspective, halitosis is rarely just about poor brushing.

In fact, most people I see are already doing all the right things. They brush regularly, drink plenty of water, chew gum  and still the problem persists.

'The classic "cup your hands and sniff" test might give you a rough idea, but it is far from reliable, and not something you want to be caught doing in public,' says DR RAJ ARORA

Many even reach for mouthwash constantly, hoping for a quick fix, but this can actually make things worse rather than better, which often comes as a surprise.

In most cases, the issue starts in the mouth.

Overnight, bacteria build up on the tongue, between the teeth and along the gums, releasing foul-smelling compounds.

This is why morning breath is so common. Saliva normally keeps this bacteria build-up in check, but levels drop while we sleep, giving them the perfect opportunity to get to work. It is not laziness, it is biology.

Persistent bad breath, however, is often linked to gum disease. The tricky part is that early signs, such as bleeding gums, can be easy to miss or dismiss  but the bacteria involved can produce a strong, distinctive odour.

This is why regular dental check-ups are just as important as your daily routine, even if you think you are doing everything right.

One of the first things I ask patients is how they brush, and many are surprised when I ask about their tongue. The tongue is one of the biggest sources of odour-causing bacteria, yet it is often completely ignored.

It is not smooth, but covered in tiny bumps that trap food, dead cells and microbes rather effectively. Cleaning it daily, ideally twice, can make a noticeable difference. It is not the most glamorous part of your routine, but it is one of the most important.

Hydration matters, too. A dry mouth allows bacteria to thrive, so drinking enough water is crucial.

Its worth noting that not all bad breath begins in the mouth. As a GP, I am always looking for other causes. Dental infections such as abscesses can lead to pain, inflammation and odour, and need urgent attention.

Sinus infections can cause a foul smell from mucus collecting at the back of the throat. Tonsil stones, small debris-filled lumps, are another common and often overlooked culprit, and rarely a pleasant surprise for anyone involved.

'I have seen patients become deeply self-conscious, avoiding close conversations, keeping a polite distance or relying heavily on mints and sprays throughout the day'

'Once patients realise they are not alone, and that there is a solution, everything changes,' says Dr Raj

There are also wider medical conditions to consider. Acid reflux can cause a sour smell, as stomach contents rise upwards. In rarer cases, bad breath can be linked to conditions such as diabetes or liver cirrhosis, where chemicals from the bloodstream are released via the lungs, creating distinctive odours. These are not the first causes we think of, but they are important not to miss.

What makes halitosis particularly distressing is its psychological impact. I have seen patients become deeply self-conscious, avoiding close conversations, keeping a polite distance or relying heavily on mints and sprays throughout the day.

These may offer a quick-fix, but they do not tackle the root of the problem. In fact, theres evidence alcohol-based mouthwash can make things worse by drying the mouth (a condition known as xerostomia), reducing saliva and allowing odour-causing bacteria to flourish.

Decongestant nasal sprays and even some headache medications can have a similar drying effect, meaning that temporary relief can actually lead to worse breath over time.

Treatment always depends on the cause. For many, improving oral hygiene does the trick. This includes brushing twice daily, flossing, cleaning the tongue and staying hydrated.

Newer options such as using liquid probiotic mouthwashes claim to introduce good bacteria and rebalance the mouths ecosystem. They are generally safe to swallow, but their effectiveness may be limited because they do not stay in the mouth for long.

On the other hand, products containing chlorhexidine are very effective at killing odour-causing bacteria. But note, they also wipe out beneficial bacteria and are best used short-term or under dental guidance, rather than as a daily fix.

Lifestyle plays a role, too. The old wives tale of chewing parsley or mint can briefly freshen breath thanks to natural oils, but it simply masks the smell rather than solving the underlying issue.

Meanwhile, foods such as garlic and onions are well-known triggers, and while their effects are usually temporary, they can feel anything but in the moment.

Smoking and alcohol are bigger culprits, both contributing to dryness in the mouth and worsening the bad-breath problem.

What I always tell patients is this: bad breath is common, and in most cases, treatable, but it is not something to ignore. If it persists despite good oral hygiene, it is worth getting checked. A short consultation can often uncover the cause and point you towards the right treatment.

These conversations may start awkwardly in the clinic, often with a bit of hesitation and a nervous laugh, but they almost always end in relief.

Because once patients realise they are not alone, and that there is a solution, everything changes.
When John Isaacs catches a train these days, he settles comfortably back into his seat to enjoy the journey.

This may sound unremarkable, but its something John was completely unable to do until just over a month ago  because he constantly worried he wouldnt make it to the loo in time, due to his chronic cystitis.

It was so bad at times that I lived in constant fear of wetting myself, recalls John, 56, a DJ from Bournemouth, Dorset.

Even if I did make it to the loo, the pain I suffered when urinating was often eye-watering.

Cystitis is essentially an inflammation of the bladder. It often occurs when bacteria find their way into the tube that carries urine out of the body (the urethra) and travel to the bladder, causing infection and irritation.

Its often thought of as a womens disease  one in two will get it at some point in their lives, according to the NHS  yet men get it, too. Its estimated that as many as one in seven men will have cystitis in their lifetime.

Symptoms include a burning, stinging sensation when peeing; needing to go more frequently; urine that is dark, cloudy or smelly; and pain in the lower stomach.

The most common cause is a bacterial infection  often caused when E.coli from the bowel travel into the urethra.

John Isaacs constantly worried he wouldnt make it to the loo in time, due to his chronic cystitis

Bacteria are naturally present in and around the anus and the perineum (the sensitive tissue between the scrotum and anus in men, and between the vagina and anus in women)  but can sometimes penetrate the tissue and travel up the urethra to the bladder.

The reason its more common in women is down to anatomy, explains Anthony Noah, a consultant urological surgeon at University College Hospital in London.

The female urethra is much shorter than the male urethra  around 3-4cm compared with 20cm  and is therefore much closer to the anus, which harbours bacteria, he told the Mail.

Meanwhile, the male urethra is longer and most of it is in the penis  so it sits further away from the anus.

Womens causes include changes in hormones.

For both sexes, triggers include holding urine in for too long, which allows bacteria to multiply (stagnant urine can contain bacteria), and blockages that can cause poor emptying.

Kidney stones can obstruct the urine flow higher in the urinary tract, leading to urinary retention.

Meanwhile, bladder stones can form directly in the bladder and irritate its lining or block the urethra outflow.

Over time, this irritation can lead to ongoing inflammation and repeated infections, says Jeremy Ockrim, a consultant urological surgeon at London Urology Specialists private clinic.

Other causes of cystitis not related to infections include certain medications, such as diuretics, antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs; radiotherapy treatment for cancer; as well as recreational drugs such as ketamine  all of which can irritate the bladder, says Mr Noah.

He adds: Ketamine abuse causes problems in the urinary tract, particularly the bladder. Ketamine abusers end up with scarred, shrunken and very painful bladders.

Confusing the picture is that chronic prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) can mimic cystitis symptoms, including painful urination in men, says Mr Ockrim.

Triggers include holding urine in for too long, which allows bacteria to multiply (stagnant urine can contain bacteria), and blockages that can cause poor emptying

But the fact that cystitis is less common in men can often lead to missed or delayed diagnosis  GPs see it less often, so many are not looking out for it, he explains.

A recent study in France emphasised that GPs have limited experience with male cystitis, leading to delays in diagnosis and inconsistent treatment  these challenges are the same in the UK, says Mr Ockrim.

In Johns case, it took seven years before he finally got the treatment he needed.

His problems began in 2019 when he started getting pain and stinging when weeing, he recalls.

He was confident that this was not due to a sexually transmitted disease  which can cause similar symptoms  as he was in a monogamous relationship at the time, but his GP tested for this: the results were negative.

Urine tests for infections also came back negative  the GP seemed to think all was well and that was that, John recalls.

But it got worse over the coming days.

It really stung when I went to the loo and sometimes it would be a very urgent feeling to go, he recalls.

Sometimes I would feel I wasnt emptying my bladder fully and would have to go back to the loo minutes later.

This carried on for weeks  with John continually visiting his GP, who also tested his prostate to check it was not enlarged. This is a common condition in men over 40 and can put pressure on the bladder, causing increased urination.

These tests also came back clear  so John decided to live with it, as he puts it.

Eventually the problem cleared up on its own.

Months passed and although John had some flare-ups that would last for days at a time, he could often manage these by drinking plenty of water  and his symptoms would go away again.

But by 2024 it was getting worse: It got so bad that on car journeys if I needed the loo Id have to stop the car and literally pass urine at the side of the road, in stinging agony,' he recalls.

On one occasion, during a night out, he had to go to the loo twice in a very short space of time while out at a club. I was accused of taking drugs in the bathroom cubicle  but all I was doing was trying to wee! he says.

The fact that cystitis is less common in men can often lead to missed or delayed diagnosis  GPs see it less often, so many are not looking out for it, explains Jeremy Ockrim

Cystitis is typically diagnosed through a combination of symptoms and urine tests, checking the urine for white blood cells, red blood cells, bacteria and nitrites that signal infection.

Why Johns urine test came back negative was, he says, never explained to him.

But Johns GP did not regard his symptoms as warranting more investigation  telling him that as there were no signs of infection he could go home.

And without a diagnosis and treatment, his symptoms worsened.

On occasions he would even wet himself because the nerves in his bladder were so irritated he lost control.

John says: And the pain got worse, such stinging and agony. Only a tiny bit of wee would come out. It was hell.

Finally, last year he begged his GP to be referred to a specialist.

John was tested for bladder cancer, but then the urologist explained that he had cystitis  and had had it for so long that his urethra had become clogged with calcium deposits, infections and old urine.

As a result, little urine was able to escape, so was causing further infections.

This was the first time anyone had ever mentioned cystitis, says John. I thought it was a womens thing myself.

In fact, the consultant explained that John had a shorter urethra than normal for men  and this was potentially the cause of his recurrent infections and cystitis.

This in turn had led to urethral stricture  where scar tissue causes narrowing of the urethra  and then a vicious circle of incomplete bladder emptying and subsequent urinary tract infections and cystitis.

All I cared about was that someone was finally listening to me, says John.

His surgeon recommended urethral dilation (known as urethrotomy), where a small camera is passed through the urethra to locate the scar tissue, after which the surgeon either stretches the narrowing using dilators, or makes a precise cut to restore a wider channel for urine to flow.

A temporary catheter may be placed afterwards to keep the urethra open while it heals.

For some men, a single procedure is enough. But scar tissue can recur, and further options exist.

These include self-dilation, where men are taught to pass a catheter themselves at regular intervals.

In a newer technique, a chemotherapy drug called paclitaxel is delivered to the area via a long thin balloon that also helps widen the stricture, to inhibit new scar tissue formation  in urethroplasty, a more complex surgical repair, the narrowed segment is removed and rebuilt, sometimes using a small graft of tissue taken from the inside of the cheek.

Urethroplasty carries higher long-term success rates and is often recommended for recurrent or severe cases.

While these procedures arent common, theyre highly effective, says Mr Ockrim.

For men who have spent years struggling with urinary infections or the inability to empty their bladder properly, correcting a stricture can be life-changing.

John had his urethral dilation in February and opted for a general anaesthetic.

He says: I was scared and it sounded awful, but I knew I couldnt live this way anymore. He had the operation as a day case and when he came round, he was able to urinate fully and without pain for the first time in seven years.

I am telling my story so other men do not suffer as I did, says John. Cystitis is not just a womens issue  and GPs need to be more aware it can happen to men, too.

Mr Noah agrees: Anyone who does not feel they are being listened to  please seek a second opinion if you are concerned.
A highly contagious and little-known virus that can trigger potentially life-threatening diarrhea is surging across the US, data suggests.

Rotavirus levels have now jumped to their highest level since April last year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In the week to March 28, the latest data available, the virus recorded a positivity rate, proportion of tests detecting the virus, of 6.77 percent, which also marked a 24 percent rise on the previous seven-day period.

Separate wastewater data, which tracks viruses in sewage, also shows rotavirus levels are now 'high' across all four major US regions.

Rotavirus is common, infecting around 2.7 million Americans every year, and typically records a spike in infections from January to June because the virus spreads better in close proximity.

It is easily transferred via contact with surfaces contaminated with feces that contain the virus.

Infants and young children are most at risk from the infection, which can trigger watery diarrhea and vomiting that is so severe it can cause dehydration, which may lead to hospitalization or death.

Children are normally required to be vaccinated against the virus in the US at two months old, but in January this year, Robert F Kennedy Jr's advisers said the jab should only be offered after a discussion with parents.

Latest data shows that rotavirus levels are surging in the US. Infants and young children are particularly at risk (stock image)

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Before the vaccine was introduced in 1998, the virus caused up to 70,000 hospitalizations in the US annually and 20 to 60 deaths in children under five years old. It was the leading cause of severe diarrhea among children.

Today, health officials say these figures are much lower.

The CDC data showed that rotavirus levels have risen every week except one in the US since early January.

Separate data from WastewaterSCAN showed that, by region, in the Northeast and South, levels of rotavirus surged 21 percent over the week to April 1, the latest available.

The Northeast is now also registering the highest levels of rotavirus in the US, which are the highest nationwide for at least 24 months.

In the West, levels remain flat, although they are 'high' across the region, particularly in the Bay Area and San Diego.

In the South, levels are 'high' although infections fell by about 23 percent over the latest seven-day period.

Data was analyzed up to April 1, the most period with stable reporting, after provisional figures for April 3 showed an anomalous spike.

Rotavirus cases are highly seasonal and tend to rise in winter and cooler months as the conditions force people indoors.

The above graph shows the rotavirus positivity rate, the proportion of tests that detect the virus, has surged since January

Across the US, rotavirus levels are currently considered to be 'high' in all areas

People who are infected with rotavirus develop symptoms within about two days, commonly including severe, watery diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach pain.

These symptoms can last for three to eight days before subsiding.

In serious cases, it can progress to dehydration. Warning signs of this include decreased urination, dry mouth and throat, feeling dizzy when standing up, crying with few or no tears and unusual sleepiness or fussiness.

There is no specific medicine to treat rotavirus, but doctors may recommend over-the-counter medicines. They will also tell patients to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.

If dehydration is suspected, people are urged to seek immediate medical attention.

In these cases, hospitals may administer IV fluids to help stabilize levels in their bodies.

Estimates suggest that 74 percent of children under eight months old are currently vaccinated against rotavirus.

In January, Robert F Kennedy Jr's health officials slashed the childhood immunization schedules to make six vaccines, including that for rotavirus, optional for parents.

The panel said that whether a child receives these should now be decided using 'shared clinical decision-making' between parents and their child's doctor.
A distraught mother and father are pleading with Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to help save their only sons life.

Michael and Penny Henrys eldest child Mikey has a rare neurological condition as well as scoliosis. And the 17-year-olds spine has become so curved it is almost three times worse than the optimum to benefit from surgery.

The best outcomes are if the spine has not curved beyond 45 degrees.

But the curvature of the Mayo teenagers spine has already reached 130 degrees.

This weekend, his parents said they fear he will die in agony if the health minister fails to intervene.

Through tears, his dad revealed: It was never said to us directly that Mikey would be inoperable, thats why were fighting so hard.

If Mikey doesnt get surgery, there wouldnt be many more years. His lungs will be crushed. What do we do? Do we just sit here and let it happen, or do we try and fix it? Its a nightmare.

The Mayo teenagers mother continued: We are worried. Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has the power to change things. Only she can do it we cant wait any longer.

Mikey with his mother Penny in their home in Moygownagh, near Ballina in Co. Mayo

Mikey lives with his parents and two younger sisters in the village of Moygownagh outside Ballina.

His mother and father decided to issue their appeal after it emerged last week the number of children on waiting lists for spine-straightening surgery has not changed dramatically, despite the Government allocating more money.

Mikey was a patient at Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) for many years, and during this time did not have spine-straightening surgery.

He will turn 18 later this month and as a result, is regarded as having aged out of the CHI system.

His medical needs are complex, and he is unable to travel abroad by plane as his lungs are so damaged.

But he would be able to sustain a helicopter trip to the UK at lower altitude. And, say his parents, he could also get there by ferry.

Mikey was a patient at Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) for many years, and during this time did not have spine-straightening surgery

Despite contracts awarded to Londons Great Ormond Street and New Yorks Morgan Stanley hospitals, only 19 children have travelled from Ireland abroad for spine-straightening surgery since January of 2024.

But Mikey Henry was not among them. And his parents believe there are other children like him, who have missed the opportunity to get life-changing and lifesaving surgery, because their medical needs are so complicated.

Mikeys dad said: We are a minority of a minority, thats why he has been left behind.

If it was me I could go abroad for treatment under the Treatment Abroad Scheme, and I could get treatment under the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

But Mikey cant fly in an airplane. He could fly in a helicopter or he could go in an ambulance and onto a ferry.

He is no longer a child, so he is out of the CHI. We want Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to bring in a scheme so that we could go to someone in the Department of Health or the HSE and their job would be to source a hospital for each individuals need.

Mikey is an Irish citizen and the minister has the power to do this with a stroke of a pen.

According to the most recent figures, the total number of children awaiting surgery has not changed, with 241 in February 2025, and exactly the same 12 months later.

And an analysis shows surgical activity declined by 22 per cent, from 87 cases in February 2025 to 68 in the same month this year.

The Henrys are calling on Jennifer Carroll MacNeill to bring in a scheme where they 'could go to someone in the Department of Health or the HSE and their job would be to source a hospital for each individuals need'

Yet both CHI and the health minister insisted this week things had improved for children waiting for spine-straightening surgery.

However, this weekend, mother of three Mairin Kelly queried these figures credibility. Her daughter Roxanne will travel to America next month for surgery.

The seven-year-old from Carlow has a rare condition which stiffened her limbs.

Last year, friends and relatives organised a fundraising campaign for a life-altering procedure at a Florida hospital.

However the schoolgirl also has scoliosis, with her spines curvature already at nearly twice that for the best surgical outcome.

Mairin Kelly with her daughter Roxanne, who will travel to America next month for surgery

But Ms Kelly says her daughter is not on any list: In May of 2022 the curvature of Roxannes spine was 34 per cent, in 2023 it was 46 per cent and the last X-ray showed it at 80 per cent  but she was not put on a surgical waiting list.

So our only option is to go back to America. If we didnt do this, Roxanne would be left lying down for life or doing nothing at all.

If she is not on a waiting list, how many other children [like her] are out there also not on a waiting list?

The only thing we can do is [fundraise] and take things into our own hands. It makes no sense.

In a statement to the Irish Mail on Sunday, the Department of Health said: The Minister understands the challenges families have faced in relation to paediatric orthopaedic services, in particular spinal services, and is actively driving efforts to address them.

An additional 30million has been allocated to help tackle spinal waiting lists. Several initiatives are underway to help improve access to services.

It added: As of end of February 2026, 92.1 per cent of patients waiting for inpatient procedures were within the 12-month Slaintecare target, a 3.5 per cent improvement compared to February 2025.
Kanye West has been blocked from entering the UK after the Home Office refused him entry over his history of anti-Semitic remarks.

But what do you think - was this the right decision?

Vote now and you'll find the final results in tomorrow's Morning Mail newsletter.
My arms are curled around the waist of the handsome man in front of me. Behind are a gaggle of six women. We've been downing shots for the last couple of hours and, even though it's 2am, we're in no mood to go to bed.

Again and again we shimmy across the dancefloor in our conga snake to the Vengaboys' We Like To Party, kicking our legs out to the side and roaring with laughter.

But this is not some raucous hen party  we're a British Airways crew and in six hours we'll be staffing a flight out of Alicante back to London. Legally we should have stopped drinking two hours ago  the 'bottle to throttle' rule prohibits alcohol for at least eight hours before operating a flight  but no one's going to tell on us.

In fact none of us got to bed that night. Or not to sleep in any case. When I left the party to freshen up in my room, I saw the (very married) captain kissing the most attractive cabin crew member as they entered the hotel lift.

Later, on board our early morning flight, there are grabbing hands and suggestive comments in the cockpit, aimed not just at my pretty colleague but at all of us.

This was the late 1990s, when frankly anything went. But it seems alcohol, sex and stopovers are still a toxic mix in the BA world.

Last month I shuddered to read that a 31-year-old British Airways pilot has been arrested over claims he secretly filmed sexual activity with 16 women, including air stewardesses from a range of carriers without their permission, then posted the videos on pornography websites.

A British Airways spokesman has said that the individual is no longer employed by the company.

Sex between the captain and his crew was totally usual back in the 90s, says our writer

Regardless, the allegations are deeply concerning  but they don't surprise me. Aged between 24 and 36, his alleged victims were the same age as me when I was cabin crew, and while I never joined the captain (or his first officer) in bed, many of my 'hostie' peers did.

Sex between the captain and his crew was totally usual back then and not all of those pilots treated the women with respect or even basic politeness.

How did they get away with it? So many of the old school 'cockpit commanders' of British Airways flights were a stickler for hierarchy on the plane and used it to project an aura of authority that some women found enticing.

Did others feel coerced? Quite possibly. In those days, it was much harder to tell 'the boss' where to go when he made sexual advances.

I began my career in 1989 at the age of 20. I'd applied to British Airways but got turned down  at the time applicants needed to be fluent in more than one language  so instead I took a job with Japan Airlines (JAL), which didn't have the same rule.

With hindsight, that role was terrific: three times a month we'd fly to Tokyo from London, often on a flight path over Siberia with a stunning view of the Northern Lights.

The Japanese pilots were completely respectful of their crew and passengers, and the most outrageous behaviour I ever saw was when they let their hair down in the karaoke bar, belting out Rhinestone Cowboy.

At the end of each flight most of the leftover alcohol would get poured away and though, occasionally, I'd be given a just-opened bottle of fizz to take to my hotel room, as a rule the crew barely drank and behaved impeccably.

She tells of how stopovers often involved heavy drinking, often just hours before the next flight

Sexual harassment in the cockpit was par for the course, according to our writer

As unfathomable as it sounds, I got bored of working for JAL. I'd swoon over the sushi and cherry blossoms now but I was young back then and felt I'd had my fill of the long-haul lifestyle.

I reapplied for British Airways cabin crew and this time  fluent in Japanese by now  I got hired.

My pay dropped down from 2,000 to 1,000 a month  with perks and per diems (daily allowances) raising it, but not by much  yet to my mind the kudos of working with the British flag carrier airline more than made up for it. At least in theory.

Immediately it felt like a different world. Not only was the pecking order stricter  the captain and his first officer always boarded the plane before crew so, from the very first step, you were aware of their superiority  but now, at 23, I was required to turn a blind eye to behaviour I'd never encountered before.

I worked in business class and I was the one who hung up the officers' jackets and got their drinks.

Very quickly I learned the mantra 'a happy captain means a happy flight', which also meant learning not to complain about the predatory, boozy, handsy behaviour of a large number of the men who were in charge of the cockpit. If he flirted, then I had to grit my teeth and flirt back.

With JAL, you'd often come across the same crew. But British Airways is so vast, it was rare to fly with the same colleagues twice.

I often wondered whether the worst-behaved captains used this to their advantage, essentially knowing they'd have a new woman to target at every stopover.

The hierarchy didn't just put these men above us, incidentally, but above all the passengers too  no matter who they were.

On one flight we had Nelson Mandela on board as a passenger, not long after he won the Nobel Peace Prize. Even so, the captain and his first officer insisted they got served their drinks before him.

Sexual harassment in the cockpit was par for the course. Yes, there were female first officers and the lewd behaviour stopped when they were in the cockpit but they were a rarity. When the pilots were all male, the focus was very often not on the job at hand but on the cleavage of the stewardess looking after them.

I was regularly asked, 'Are your breasts real?' and 'Can I feel them?' Many of the captains seemed quite obsessed. I was never really offended  I'd tell them where to shove it  but other colleagues were and would exit the cockpit looking upset.

'On one stopover in Stockholm, after losing when drinking shots, I had to walk down to the hotel reception in the nude'

There's nothing like being on an early Heathrow flight to Nice, walking into a cockpit and having your bum goosed on the way out. I do so hope it doesn't happen now.

In some ways I get the arrogance: these were men who had trained for years and were trusted to fly hundreds of people safely. Still, I did an internal eyeroll every time they insisted we call them 'Captain' or 'First Officer'  when we were on the ground as well as in the cabin.

Then there were the stopovers. There was a definite camaraderie among the crew, despite  or perhaps because of  the challenges.

We'd all meet in the hotel bar for drinks, the pilots too, and we'd always have alcohol. Then we'd go on for a meal together and, if we got in too late for that, we'd get room service in someone's bedroom.

Of course that would very often turn into a party  and I fully admit to being an enthusiastic party girl.

I lost count of the number of 'truth or dare' games I played in people's rooms. On one stopover in Stockholm, after losing when drinking shots, I had to walk down to the hotel reception in the nude, ask for another bottle of wine and walk back up to the room. Fortunately the receptionist didn't bat an eyelid.

On another stopover in Rome, as usual I was one of the last women standing in the captain's suite. After midnight, it was pretty obvious that the captain and cabin crew manager were about to get it on, even though both were married. I think he even had his hand in her bra.

Against my better judgment I ordered them another bottle of Chianti, made my excuses and left.

The next morning in the cabin she looked utterly bedraggled and when I went into the cockpit to deliver coffee, the captain stopped me and said: 'We have a problem.' It was then he turned around and showed me the love bites on his neck. 'What do I do? I've got to go home to my wife like this.'

Affairs are still rife among the crews, our writer is told, as crewmembers act like they are single

Affairs are still rife among the crew, I'm told. People get on the plane and leave their brain at home. They genuinely think they're single again. Everything I witnessed was consensual but there were real predators too.

Everyone knew who they were and even though we didn't get to fly with one another often, word would get around about the pilot you wouldn't go into the cockpit with on your own.

Depressingly, I hear the same is true today and that women are still swapping names among themselves.

There were the tightfisted pilots too. When I was flying, the captain held the purse strings during stopovers and was in charge of the meals budget. One particular pilot (he wasn't alone by the way) would always make the crew pay for their own meal and flagrantly pocket the per diems.

At one restaurant the captain only told us to cough up for our own meals after we'd finished eating and even had the gall to get one hostess to fork out an additional euro for her cola.

A colleague handed it to him, saying: 'If you're so poor, here you go.' He pocketed it. She was so outraged by this that the following morning she insisted on preparing his on-board refreshments  and spat in his coffee.

The crazy drinking games meant we got barred from certain hotels. Savvy hotel managers put the crew on the same floor because if they didn't they knew someone would end up running naked down the corridor or take the lift stopping at every floor in their bra and knickers or underpants.

Once, in Amsterdam, the captain dragged us all to see a strip show in the red light district, which was vile. I still remember texting my boyfriend saying: 'Guess where I am? Watching a sex show with my BA crew.'

People talk about the Mile High Club but I'm not so sure it's as popular as people assume.

What I do know is that if someone is locked in the loos for a long time, it's more likely to be a cabin crew member throwing up after a heavy night than having sex.

We saw lots of celebrities and gossiped among ourselves about them but the captains were never bothered and didn't want to meet them. Some were miserable and rude. Others, such as supermodel Helena Christensen, were lovely.

One of the Oasis wives was on a flight in business class and wasn't happy her Louis Vuitton bag had to be stowed away from the emergency exit area. I popped it in an overhead locker and when I returned it to her, it was wet. I apologised.

The captain told me to tell her it was coffee it was sewage. It's rare but it can leak from service lines which run above the overhead cabin panels.

Today I'm a thoroughly boring, 56-year-old married mother of two grown-up kids and hung up my uniform some time ago.

Sometimes, yes, I look up at the planes coming into Heathrow over my house in west London and fantasise briefly about where they've been. But I have no desire to be on those flights.

I do miss the parties  but I don't for a second miss running the gauntlet of the sex-obsessed tyrants in the cockpit.

All names and identifying features have been changed.

As told to Samantha Brick
The Princess of Wales proved the Earl of Wessex is firmly in the royal fold as they shared a sweet interaction at the family's spring get-together on Sunday.

Kate, 44, was seen putting James Mountbatten-Windsor, 18, at ease as they warmly chatted outside St Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle before entering the Easter Matins service led by the King and Queen.

In footage shared online after the occasion, the Princess is seen turning towards Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh's son with a smile before sharing an animated conversation with him.

James, who was handed a more prominent role at the Royal Family's traditional event, walking closely behind the Prince and Princess of Wales as they arrived for the service, appeared equally keen to talk to his cousin-in-law.

Kate and her husband Prince William were also joined at the outing by their children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis.

Fans were delighted by the two royals' 'sweet' exchange, with one writing on X: 'James seems uncomfortable at these occasions, nice to see Catherine making him feel at ease.

'Love how close the Waleses and Edinburgh families are,' said another. 'Catherine is truly so loving. James, Earl of Wessex, is such a sweet, young shy man. She just has a way of putting everyone at ease,' insisted a third.

A fourth wrote: 'The Princess of Wales will be a good guide for the young royals. Shes so down to earth I think they will feel at ease in her presence,' before another fan said: 'This is so sweet.'

The Princess of Wales proved the Earl of Wessex is firmly in the royal fold as they shared a sweet interaction (pictured) at the family's spring get-together on Sunday

James has previously been dubbed the 'hidden royal'  having missed occasions with his wider family in the past while concentrating on his schooling. But on Sunday, the Earl proved he's firmly in the royal fold.

Joining his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, the royal walked closely behind the Waleses before chatting with Kate outside the chapel.

His sister, Lady Louise Windsor, 22, remained at St Andrews University to concentrate on her studies, while their mother, Sophie was reportedly set to attend the Easter service but was forced to pull out due to feeling 'under the weather'.

Following his 18th birthday in December, much speculation emerged over the Earl's future as a royal, with both he and his sister growing up without HRH titles.

The youngest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II is viewed as one of the most enigmatic members of the royal family, largely because his parents went to great lengths to give both their children a normal upbringing.

Last year, writing in his Palace Confidential newsletter, the Daily Mail's Diary Editor Richard Eden expressed how the growing contribution from Edward and Sophie's children could be of great value to the Royal Family.

He wrote: 'When Prince William becomes King, I hope that he will follow the example of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and ask his cousins, including Lady Louise and James, to share royal duties with him.

'Hopefully, William will realise that a "slimmed-down" monarchy wouldnt safeguard the institution, as some claim, but would lead to its irrelevance and eventual death.

Kate, 44, was seen putting James Mountbatten-Windsor, 18, at ease as they warmly chatted outside St Georges Chapel before entering the Easter Matins service

Joining his father, the Duke of Edinburgh, James was captured joyfully chatting with the Princess of Wales outside the chapel

'What better way to build on its strengths than with an injection of energy from young people who have had values of public service and duty instilled in them from birth?'

James, who is 16th in line to the throne, falling from eighth after Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie expanded their families, is currently completing his studies at the prestigious Radley College in Oxfordshire.

And while his sister has started stepping out at royal events more often, James has kept rather a low profile  until now.

Yet royal commentators know little about whether James will follow the footsteps of his older sister and attend the University of St Andrews, or step into the public arena as a working royal after his A-levels.

His mothers own words echo that uncertainty, with Sophie once admitting she could clearly see the path her daughter was taking but remained unsure what her son might ultimately choose.

Louise is working hard and will do A-levels. I hope she goes to university. I wouldnt force her, but if she wants to. Shes quite clever, so I think probably, Sophie told The Times in 2020. Whereas James I dont know, she added.

Sophie also told the newspaper that the siblings are free to adopt HRH titles once they turn 18, but noted it was 'highly unlikely they would do so, in what has been an accurate prediction for Lady Louise.

But royal experts have increasingly suggested that Prince William might eventually look to the younger generation, particularly Prince Edward's children, to bolster the monarchy.

Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince George and the Princess of Wales standing next to James at the Easter service

He's previously been dubbed the 'hidden royal'. But on Sunday, the Earl of Wessex (pictured) proved he's firmly in the royal fold

Jamess understated character is thought to be an asset, offering William an option that is both dependable and uncontroversial.

Growing up three decades behind his eldest cousin, Peter Phillips, James had a very different childhood from that of his cousins; one shaped more by fishing in the country, sleepovers with friends and normal school runs than red carpets or balcony appearances.

Whats normal? They go to a regular school, Sophie shared. They go to friends for sleepovers and parties. At weekends we do lots of dog walking and stay with friends.

I guess not everyones grandparents live in a castle, but where you are going is not the important part, or who they are.

Edward and Sophies decision to keep their children largely out of the public eye was made long before they were born.

When they married, they chose, with permission from the Queen, that their future children would not have prince and princess titles.

Upon his birth, James was named Viscount Severn, after the River Severn in Wales as a nod to his mothers Welsh heritage, and then became Earl of Wessex when Edward and Sophie were made the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

The Duke of Edinburgh title itself will not pass down to James, leaving his long-term role undefined.

The move was made in an effort to relieve Louise and James of the burdens that come with royal titles.

Sophie spoke in 2016 about her attempts to keep her son and daughter out of the public spotlight while they are children.

She told the BBC: 'Certainly when they were very young we tried to keep them out of it. Only because for their sakes, to grow up as normally as possible we felt was quite important.

'And theyre going to have to go out and get a job and earn a living later on in life and if theyve had a normal start in life they possibly can get, then hopefully that will stand them in good stead.'
Sitting at my computer late one night, I furtively indulged in the ultimate guilty pleasure  Googling myself.

Id never done it before, knowing if I typed my name into the search bar it would come back with a big fat who?

But Id started writing speeches for David Cameron, then Leader of the Opposition, and my ego prodded me to try.

And there it was! I had been mentioned on a website. Only... my fame at last moment was appearing on a list of Jews working close to power in UK politics.

The blog was fiercely anti-Semitic, soaked with the suspicion that Westminster was infiltrated with crafty, power-hungry Jews like me. Yep, I was up there with billionaire financier George Soros as one of the supposed puppetmasters of the world.

Except I am not Jewish  never been to a synagogue, never had a Bat Mitzvah.

My late father was Jewish. His parents escaped the Nazis in the 1930s. My grandfather was being transported to the Theresienstadt camp when he escaped, followed by an epic journey across Europe to sanctuary in the UK.

Other relatives were not so lucky; the name Foges appears in the annals of Auschwitz. But how did the raging anti-Semite behind the website know any of this?

Kanye West posted a symbol combining a swastika and a Jewish star, sold swastika emblazoned T-shirts, wore a diamond swastika necklace. Most disgustingly, he released a single called Heil Hitler

'The artist, now known as Ye, has had a torrid time in recent years. First he broke up with wife Kim Kardashian. Then his new wife, Bianca Censori (pictured with West), appeared to develop a severe allergy to clothing. Then his habit of running his mouth off ran out of control'

In that dark hour, the mind raced. Were dangerous people reading it, too? Were they out to get me?

I appreciate that this is infinitesimal compared to the millions who have been taunted, followed, branded, beaten up, tortured or killed because of their religion or race. But it gave me a chilling glimpse of how horrible it is to be hated on account of... nothing.

So it was with a quiet hurrah that I greeted the news that Kanye West  a recent purveyor of such hate  has been banned from Britain.

The artist, now known as Ye, has had a torrid time in recent years. First he broke up with wife Kim Kardashian. Then his new wife, Bianca Censori, appeared to develop a severe allergy to clothing. Then his habit of running his mouth off ran out of control.

The man who once declared himself Gods vessel began to direct his provocative comments at a familiar enemy. He said he wanted to go death con 3 [sic] on Jewish people, that he saw good things about Hitler, that Jews are arrogant, that every Jewish wife is a bitch.

He posted a symbol combining a swastika and a Jewish star; sold swastika emblazoned T-shirts; wore a diamond swastika necklace. Most disgustingly, he released a single called Heil Hitler, which ends by sampling the spittle-flecked rantings of Adolf himself.

Then in January this year came Wests apology, a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal, where he explained that his bipolar disorder meant he had lost touch with reality. I am not a Nazi I love Jewish people, he stated.

It seems organisers of Londons Wireless Festival treated this as a complete rehabilitation. Oh, you were poisoning young minds on the internet with Heil Hitler a few months ago? Bygones, Ye. Heres 11million to headline our festival for three nights.

Credit to the sponsors of the festival  Pepsi, PayPal, Diageo and others  who pulled out when Wests booking was announced.

Well done, too, to the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, for banning him from the UK. But why on earth did Wireless think this was a good idea in the first place?

It was with a quiet hurrah that I greeted the news that Kanye West  a recent purveyor of such hate  has been banned from Britain, writes Clare Foges

Organiser Melvin Benn asked the public to reflect and forgive West.

Imagine if the artist in question had  within the past year  repeatedly posted offensive material about the prophet Muhammad. Or said he wanted to go def con 3 on Muslims. Would anyone dare to suggest we should offer some forgiveness to that artist? We would be more likely to see Bianca in an M&S twinset.

The Wireless decision must be contextualised in this uncomfortable truth: young people in Britain have been drinking at the well of anti-Semitism for many years. On social media, where the actions of the Israeli government have been slyly elided with all Jewish people. At pro-Palestine marches, where earnest love-and-peace Lefties walk alongside placards glorifying the October 7 martyrs  who raped and tortured young people like them.

And the hatred is alive and kicking on university campuses. A recent survey found that one in five students would not want to flatshare with a Jewish person.

I guarantee you these people fling around the words fascist and racist like confetti  while seeing every potential Jewish flatmate as a wannabe Netanyahu.

In this context, the decision of Wireless to book West makes a little more sense. While of course most young people would never dream of glorifying Hitler, would Yes stated suspicion of Jews have been wildly out of step with many in the intended audience?

I sincerely hope Ye gets better, for he has been mentally unwell for some time.

As for rehabilitation  both public and personal  whats needed now is not a festival circuit where he is screamed at by adoring fans, but a different kind of tour. To Auschwitz and Dachau. To the Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester where terror visited just months ago.

Or to one of the many Jewish schools where security guards have to be stationed at the gates.

Im proud that the UK has drawn this line in the sand and that we wont play host to someone who has so recently promoted evil. Perhaps one day, if he continues to recover, West will see the wisdom in the decision too.

Sorry Roxy, but hen dos are naff

Model Roxy Horner enjoying her pre-wedding bash. 'Tequila-bitter memories came flooding back. My friends mother-in-law wearing a hat shaped like a penis'

Seeing comedian Jack Whitehalls fiancee Roxy Horner on her hen do getting a lap dance from an oil-covered beefcake triggered PHSD: Post Hen Stress Disorder.

Tequila-bitter memories came flooding back. My friends mother-in-law wearing a hat shaped like a penis.

Trying to pole dance and hitting my head on the floor. Making awkward conversation with a butler in the buff whose modesty was only preserved by a tiny apron.

My toes are still curled a decade on  isnt it time the naff hen do was cancelled?

Be thankful for C-section ops, Drew!

Drew Barrymore cried on her show because two C-sections have wrecked her body and limited her trouser choices

I like actress Drew Barrymore, but seeing her cry on her show recently because two C-sections have wrecked her body and limited her trouser choices made me roll my eyes in despair.

Ive had four sections and, yes, SpongeBob SquarePants has a more defined waist than me. But when those sections meant your children arrived safely, is it worth crying about? Embrace elasticated waistbands and get over it.

Hollywood director Paul Feig reckons Sydney Sweeney could be the next James Bond. Oh, please.

Stop trying to modernise characters we know and love. While Im sure Sweeney has great talents beyond her obvious charms, the new Bond has to be Aidan Turner  and I will take no objections to this casting.

My crippling choco-somnia

News that eating chocolate gives you hangxiety in the same way alcohol does wasnt news to me.

This is why I avoid it.

Until Easter, when inevitably I was tempted off the wagon. After ravaging a large Dairy Milk egg on Sunday, I was moody and slept terribly. Thats me signed off again... until the creme eggs come a-calling again next year.
Anna Wintour has given an icy review of Melania Trump's outfits  years after the First Lady accused her magazine of being 'biased' for not featuring her on the cover.

The former Vogue editor, 76, appeared on the cover of the latest issue of the iconic magazine alongside Meryl Streep earlier this week.

The legendary fashion mogul and actress also sat down for a wide-ranging interview with Greta Gerwig, during which they discussed everything from the upcoming Devil Wears Prada sequel to the clothing choices of various women in power over the years.

When Gerwig asked the stars how women can dress to 'communicate power,' Wintour could not stop gushing over Michelle Obama and the First Lady of New York City, Rama Duwaji, for their fashion choices.

She also brought up Melania's sense of style but was noticeably less complimentary.

'I don't think wearing a power suit to the office is in any way necessary,' Wintour began, seemingly throwing some subtle shade towards Melania, 55, who is wellknown for dressing in power suits.

'Think about the women that one admires: Mrs Obama comes to mind. Whether she's wearing J Crew or Duro Olowu or Matthieu Blazy's Chanel, she always looks like herself,' she continued.

'I'm full of admiration for New York City's new first lady because she looks so cool and wears a lot of vintage  young and modern and also entirely herself.'

Fashion icon Anna Wintour has given an icy review of Melania Trump's outfits  years after the First Lady accused her magazine of being 'biased' for not featuring her on the cover

The former Vogue editor, 76, appeared on the cover of the latest issue of the iconic magazine alongside Meryl Streep earlier this week

Wintour then added: 'To be fair, Melania Trump also always looks like herself when she dresses.'

Streep, 76, also weighed in on some of Melania's past looks, particularly the controversial coat that President Donald Trump's wife wore in 2018 to survey a migrant detention center, which had the words 'I Really Don't Care. Do U?' featured on the back.

'I have so many thoughts about this. I think the most powerful message that our current First Lady sent was in the coat that said, "I Really Don't Care. Do U?" when she was going to see migrant children who were incarcerated,' Streep said.

'All dress is about expressing yourself, but we're also subject to larger historical and political sweeps of expectation.

'I'm stunned at how women in power have to have bare arms on television while men are covered in shirts and ties or a suit.

'There's an apology built into women. They have to show their smallness. It's compensatory: The advancements of women in the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of this one have been destabilizing.

'It's as if women have to say, "I'm little. I can't walk in these shoes. I can't run. I'm bare, not threatening."'

At the time, Melania's jacket caused an avalanche of criticism as she left the world guessing what she meant by making such a bold statement.

Join the discussion Are First Ladies judged on style - or politics?

'I don't think wearing a power suit to the office is in any way necessary,' Wintour said, seemingly throwing subtle shade towards Melania, who is known for dressing in power suits

When she asked the stars about how women can dress to 'communicate power,' Wintour could not stop gushing over Michelle Obama and New York City's First Lady Rama Duwaji for their fashion choices

She went on to address her controversial choice of attire in her tellall 2024 memoir.

Melania called the message 'discreet yet impactful' and claimed it was meant to protest against 'anonymously sourced reporting.'

'I was determined not to let the media's false narratives affect my mission to help the children and families at the border,' she wrote.

'In fact, I decided to let them know that their criticism would never stop me from doing what I feel is right.

'To make the point, I wore a particular jacket as I boarded the plane, a jacket that quickly became famous.'

She recounted how, when the plane door closed, her press secretary's inbox was 'flooded with urgent emails from toptier media outlets regarding the jacket.'

She recalled her conversation with her press secretary: '"It's a message for the media," I said, "to let them know I was unconcerned with their opinions of me" [but] she told me I couldn't say that. "Why not? It is the truth."

'I disagreed with her insistence that I couldn't say that. Ignoring my comments, she told a CNN reporter she was friendly with, that it was simply a jacket, a fashion choice with no underlying message.'

Melania wrote that the frenzy over the jacket 'overshadowed the importance of the children, the border, and the policy change' and called it 'just another example of the media's irresponsible behavior.'

Wintour and Melania have quite a history.

Melania and Donald Trump with Wintour in 2005

Streep also weighed in on some of Melania's past looks, particularly the controversial coat that she wore in 2018, which had the words 'I Really Don't Care. Do U?' featured on the back

Melania appeared on the cover of Vogue in February 2005, when the Conde Nast title scored exclusive shots of her in her wedding dress as she married Donald.

But in 2019, Wintour  who is a known Democrat  suggested that she would not be interested in featuring her again, telling Christiane Amanpour at the time: 'Those of us that work at Conde Nast believe that you have to stand up for what you believe in and you have to take a point of view.'

Melania's former spokesman Stephanie Grisham hit back days later, insisting that being 'on the cover of Vogue doesn't define Mrs Trump,' adding that she had 'been there, done that long before she was First Lady.'

In 2022, Melania lashed out at Wintour for putting Jill Biden on the front cover of her magazine yet failing to do the same for her while her husband was in office.

Melania told Fox Nation at the time that she believed media bias against her was the reason for the discrepancy.

'How did you put up with the constant criticism?' interviewer Pete Hegseth asked her.

'Take Vogue, for example  five months into Joe Biden's presidency, Jill Biden's on the cover. [Vice President] Kamala Harris is on the cover before she's even sworn in.

'Hillary Clinton was on the cover when she was first lady. Michelle was on the cover three times.

'Yet with your business background and your fashion background and your beauty, never on the cover of Vogue. Why the double standard?'

'They're biased and they have likes and dislikes, and it's so obvious. And I think American people and everyone sees it,' Melania responded.

'It was their decision, and I have much more important things to do  and I did in the White House  than being on the cover of Vogue.'
A remote Australian island is finding a new wave of fans thanks to its 'mind-blowing' cheddar cheese.

King Island is a windswept outpost in the middle of Bass Strait, where dairy farming has been a way of life for more than a century.

At the centre of the buzz is King Island Dairy, whose rich, creamy cheddar has developed a cult following among grocery shoppers - many of whom say it stands head and shoulders above anything else in Australian supermarkets.

'It's the best cheddar in Australia by far,' one fan wrote online, sparking a wave of agreement.

Others were quick to share their own glowing reviews.

'I always grab it when it's on special - nothing else compares,' one said.

'The smoked cheddar is unreal. You can actually taste the difference,' another added.

For some, the brand has become synonymous with indulgence.

King Island is a windswept outpost in the middle of Bass Strait, where dairy farming has been a way of life for more than a century

King Island Dairy traces its roots back to 1892, when it began as the island's first butter producer

'There used to be this double cream from there - so thick, it was ridiculous. I still think about it,' one commenter recalled.

Another described a now-hard-to-find chocolate dessert made on the island as a treat that 'makes you weak at the knees'.

The enthusiasm highlights a growing appetite among Australians for high-quality, locally produced food - even as grocery prices continue to climb.

King Island Dairy traces its roots back to 1892, when it began as the island's first butter producer.

Over time, it evolved into one of Australia's oldest and most respected cheese makers, known for its small-batch approach and traditional techniques.

Each day, milk from a small number of local farms is delivered to the dairy, where cheesemakers handcraft and age products using methods that have been refined over generations.

The result, many say, is a flavour profile that's difficult to replicate.

Locals credit the island's unique environment - mineral-rich soil, salty ocean air and lush pastures - for producing milk with exceptional quality.

Even the dairy's smoked cheddar is still made using the same custom wood chip blend developed more than three decades ago in the 1980s, underscoring the brand's commitment to consistency and craft

King Island Dairy's rich, creamy cheddar has developed a cult following among grocery shoppers - many of whom say it stands head and shoulders above anything else in Australian supermarkets

Locals credit the island's unique environment - mineral-rich soil, salty ocean air and lush pastures - for producing milk with exceptional quality

Even the dairy's smoked cheddar is still made using the same custom wood chip blend developed more than four decades ago in the 1980s, underscoring the brand's commitment to consistency and craft.

After passing through a series of international owners over the years, the dairy returned to Australian ownership in 2025 - a move welcomed by many consumers increasingly conscious of where their food comes from.

The surge of interest in King Island's produce comes at a time when the way Australians shop - and think about food - is shifting.

With rising costs and tighter household budgets, supermarket spending has become more deliberate.

But rather than abandoning premium products altogether, many shoppers appear to be choosing fewer, better-quality items.

That mindset reflects a broader lifestyle trend - where everyday purchases are increasingly tied to ideas of value and experience.

In contrast to mass-produced alternatives, products like King Island cheese offer something that feels more personal.

In a crowded market where many products can feel interchangeable, its cheeses have carved out a distinct identity built on authenticity.

And as more Australians look for small ways to elevate everyday life - whether it's a better cup of coffee, a good bottle of wine, or a standout cheese - it's products like this that continue to stand out.
A little-known suburb in the inner south of Canberra has just been named the ACT's best performer for 2025.

Narrabundah was singled out in Domain's latest House Price Report, after recording a 42.7 per cent increase in median house price over the past five years.

According to the report, the 2025 median house price in Narrabundah is $1.47 million - up 17.1 per cent year on year.

Until recently, the suburb lived in the shadows of its more high-profile Inner South neighbours, like Griffith, Red Hill and Kingston.

But with its location just under eight minutes' drive from Parliament House and 15 minutes from Canberra's city centre, it was inevitable the area would eventually pique buyers' interest.

The rapid price growth in Narrabundah doesn't come as a surprise to local Canberra real estate agent Tom Wiggins from Hive Property.

'The area has experienced strong recent growth, primarily due to its price range relative to the rest of the Inner South suburbs,' Tom told Daily Mail.

'Buyers see it as excellent value for money, particularly given its proximity to the Parliamentary Triangle, access to some of Canberra's top schools, and strong lifestyle amenity and overall quality of life.'

Canberra real estate agent Tom Wiggins from Hive Property cited Narrabundah's combination of an 'Inner South location without the premium price tag' as a driving factor behind recent price growth

Narrabundah is located in the Inner South region of Canberra and a short drive from the city centre and Parliamentary Triangle

The real estate agent, who has several current listings in the suburb, explained that this combination of an 'Inner South location without the premium price tag' is extremely attractive to home buyers.

So why the sharp price increase in Narrabundah compared to other inner city suburbs of Canberra? Tom explains that its likely because the area previously 'carried some historical stigma' - but that this is now less of a concern for new, younger buyers.

'The area continues to attract primarily young couples, some with children and some without, as well as professional singles,' he explained.

Canberra real estate agent Tom Wiggins from Hive Property offered an explanation for the rapid price increase in Narrabundah

'These buyers are typically aspirational, looking to secure a foothold in the Inner South, with the suburb presenting as one of the more affordable options that offers both lifestyle appeal and future growth potential.'

Two of Hive Property's current listings are in Narrabundah: a four-bedroom original full-brick home at 2 Caley Crescent, and a modern four-bedroom, newly renovated house with a pool at 4 Johnston Street. The former, Caley Crescent property, is listed for sale with an asking price over $1.55 million, while the latter Johnston Street abode is headed to auction with a guide in the mid to high $2 millions range.

The realtor says these listings are typical examples of the broad range of properties now available in Narrabundah.

'The area primarily offers cottages - typically three-bedroom homes - along with more affordable detached options,' Tom explains.

'Entry-level houses can start around the $1 million mark, with prices rising into the mid-$1 millions for homes in premium pockets or those offering larger blocks, renovations or superior locations.'

One of Hive Property's current listings in Narrabundah is this modern four-bedroom, newly renovated house with a pool at 4 Johnston Street

One of Hive Property's current listings in Narrabundah is this four-bedroom original full-brick home at 2 Caley Crescent

Because Narrabundah was previously off the radar for past generations of Canberra buyers, there's still enormous value to be found.

'Buyers are particularly drawn to the beautiful tree-lined streets, established character, strong quality of life, and pockets within walking distance of local amenities, schools and green spaces,' Tom said.

'Narrabundah is a large and diverse suburb with multiple pockets, meaning there are still opportunities to secure great value.'

Overall, the latest Domain House Price Report found that Canberra's house prices had risen by 3.6 per cent ($39,309) over the December quarter, to a median of $1.14 million.

With prices now just 2.8 per cent ($33,108) below their previous peak in June 2022, Canberra's house market is on track to reach record highs in 2026.

However, while Canberra's housing market is surging ahead, the same can't be said for unit prices.

In the nation's capital, unit prices fell 1.3 per cent ($8,189) over the December quarter to $611,466, making Canberra the only major city to record a decline in unit prices.

In Narrabundah specifically, the unit median fell 11 per cent over the year to $612,500. This figure represents virtually stagnant growth of just 0.4 per cent over five years.

The realtor said buyers are drawn to the 'established character' of the area. Pictured is a recognisable bird sculpture located in the Narrabundah shopping precinct

The property report detailed the state of play between Canberra house prices compared to unit prices.

'Houses have now outperformed units for a second consecutive quarter, widening the price gap between property types to a three-year high, with a house costing 86 per cent more than a unit,' the report explained.

'This growing divergence highlights a two-speed market in Canberra, in which demand for detached housing is recovering far more quickly than demand for units.'
It sounds like the plot of a political satire.

The husband of one of Americas most prominent Republican figures, who championed traditional family values, has been discovered living a secret double life.

Last week it was revealed that Bryon Noem, 56, adopted an online persona as a pouty-faced woman complete with gigantic fake breasts and skintight leggings, to chat with adult performers from the 'bimbofication' scene, allegedly paying them more than 19,000 to boss him around.

His wife, the former secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem, says she is devastated and blindsided.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world is both shocked and fascinated  and asking the same question: Why would a happily married man want to risk everything to indulge such a proclivity?

The answer lies in understanding what bimbofication is really about  and why it could appeal to someone close to you.

Last week it was revealed that Bryon Noem, 56, adopted an online persona as a pouty-faced woman complete with gigantic fake breasts and skintight leggings

His wife, the former secretary of homeland security Kristi Noem, says she is devastated and blindsided

Its done as a form of escapism.

Bimbofication is a roleplaying kink centred around a man playing or worshipping an exaggerated, caricatured version of womanhood.

The goal is to embody the stereotypical bimbo  a woman with big breasts, lips and hips... and a not-so-big brain.

In this community, bimbos arent thought of as stupid, as such. Theyre seen as women who are carefree and sexually empowered: they have big curves and personality and zero responsibility.

Men who enjoy the fetish dont just adopt the appearance of revealing outfits and exaggerated makeup, they adopt the mindset. This is where the escapism comes in.

According to one model Noem interacted with, he would come online stressed and use the sessions to relax. All by pretending to be a woman without a care in the world.

Is this the same as being transgender?

Not even close.

Being trans is about identity: feeling that your gender doesnt match the sex you were assigned at birth. Its not a kink.

Bimbofication is a fantasy. Rancher and businessman Noem doesnt want to be a real woman  real women carry a lot of stress and responsibility. Theres no fun in that!

Hes not questioning whether hes really a woman. Hes adopting an exaggerated, sexualised form of womanhood to escape the pressure of real life.

Tracey Cox says bimbofication is a roleplaying kink which involves men playing or worshipping an exaggerated, caricatured version of womanhood

Noem liked 3000cc-plus boobs  XXL implants that can hold more than 3000 cubic centimetres of saline per breast

What is he getting from it?

When your wife is one of the most scrutinised figures in American politics, life is complicated.

Kristi Noem is the 54-year-old MAGA favourite, who oversaw ICE's aggressive crackdown on illegal migrants until she was removed from her position in March. Her husband runs a multi-million-dollar crop insurance agency.

Meanwhile, pretending to be a bimbo  out for fun and pleasure and little else  requires nothing of you.

The psychological appeal of succumbing, when youre a high-functioning, stressed man, isnt hard to understand.

Another feature of this fetish is that it can involve worshipping women. Messages reviewed by the Daily Mail show Noem complimenting models on their amazing curves and vowing to worship them like a goddess. He doesnt want to be a woman, hes a man who is intensely attracted to a very specific, cartoon-like version of one.

Isnt this the same as cross-dressing?

After all, Noem did put on womens clothing  pink hot pants and a crop top.

There is some overlap.

Cross-dressing is wearing clothing associated with a different gender. It can be done for sexual or non-sexual reasons and means different things to different people. Lots of cross-dressers identify as heterosexual, some dont.

Bimbofication is more specific. Its cross-dressing with a particular fantasy attached: wanting to be an exaggerated sex object with a pleasure-focused existence.

Mrs Noem, former secretary of homeland security in the US, has asked for 'privacy and prayers' after her husband's kink went public

Its also more complicated.

Lots of secret cross-dressers indulge their kink discreetly and in private. Noems fetish involved interaction with others  usually adult performers whod transformed themselves into real-life Barbie dolls by pumping huge amounts of saline into their breasts.

Noem liked 3000cc-plus boobs  XXL implants that can hold more than 3000 cubic centimetres of saline per breast. (Needless to say, this procedure is not recommended by surgeons.)

And he paid a substantial amount (19,000) to chat with women who had them, adding another layer to the risk that opened the couple up to blackmail, as well as ridicule.

Mrs Noem asked for privacy and prayers after this all went public  but its worth mentioning that the exposure of her recent affair with advisor Corey Lewandowski left her husband humiliated. His family say he should leave her, rather than the other way around.

But is discovering your husband has a bimbofication fetish worth destroying a marriage over?

A kink, however unusual, is not in itself usually grounds for the end of marriage. But it does mean theres a conversation you both needed to have that never happened.

The reasons why it didnt will probably dictate what a couple does next.

Visit traceycox.com for Traceys books, podcast, blogs and more information about sex and relationships.
The most recent episode of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' featured a noticeably friendly spot from Oprah Winfrey.

The Tuesday interview saw the two temporarily swap seats and roles, causing it to devolve into a de facto tribute. Colbert's show goes off the air in May.

First, though, Winfrey posed a pointed question to the host - one he immediately seized on.

'How are you feeling about the whole thing, though? How are you feeling?' she asked.

'Dont go Oprah on me now,' a not-so-abashed Colbert, 61, replied. He quickly asked her to switch seats.

'This is so exciting,' Winfrey, 72, said once situated.

She went on to ask: 'So I am wondering, as you stand here at the threshold of whats about to be done and what youre stepping into, what do you feel like, in this moment?[What do] you most want to release?'

Colbert - rather than take another shot at the administration - joked that he did not want to 'release anything just yet,' purposely looking at the question more literally.

Stephen Colbert and Oprah Winfrey swapped roles on Tuesday's installment of 'The Late Show', leading a previously conventional interview to turn into a plug for the host's career

Colbert received praise from not only Winfrey during the noticeably friendly spot, but his house band as well

'I still have a white-knuckle grip on all these people who I love, who Ive worked with all these years, including those people over there,' Colbert said, pointing to his crew and his band.

'And the audience, obviously,' he added, to raucous applause.

Winfrey and Colbert held hands for much of the conversation.

Earlier on, Winfrey told the host she was there to bid a 'bittersweet' farewell.

'We're still having a really good time doing it,' Colbert quipped. An op-ed from Variety recently cast Colbert's recent catalogue of interviews as 'an ego trip' rather than a tasteful farewell.

Colbert has hosted "The Late Show" since 2015. He succeeded late night legend David Letterman.

CBS said over the summer that the show would be cancelled this spring due to a 'challenging backdrop in late night.' A subsequent report from Puck suggested the show was losing money. Sources said it was shedding $40million-a-year.

Colbert openly criticized Paramount - CBS's parent company - days before the announcement.

Winfrey and Colbert held hands for much of the 'interview'

The audience offered the host a standing ovation amid the steady stream of compliments

He took issue with the company reaching a $16million settlement with Donald Trump surrounding an October 2024 60 Minutes interview with then-presidential candidate Kamala Harris that the lawsuit claimed was 'deceptively edited'.

Colbert called the move 'a big fat bribe'.

A long-in-limbo merger between Paramount and Skydance was approved by the FCC just days later, fueling Colbert's recent attacks on both Trump and CBS's C-suite.

Last month, he took a shot at Paramount over purported censorship, while being honored with an award named for a Hollywood producer famed for pushing back on censorship during clampdowns in the McCarthy Era.

'As we know, the revolution will not be televised. It was going to be televised, but then Paramount bought it,' he said while accepting the Walter Bernstein award, quoting a famed 1970 poem that warned against the effects of propaganda.

'Evidently, the revolution was losing, like, $40 million a year - it had to go,' he said, using sarcasm to cast doubt on a figure used in the Puck piece.

The last episode of The Late Show airs on May 22. CBS said this week that it will be replaced by Comics Unleashed, a long-syndicated comedy panel show.
Megyn Kelly unleashed on President Donald Trump for agreeing to a ceasefire deal with Iranian officials.

Kelly's comments came after the president announced late Tuesday that he, Israeli and Iranian authorities agreed to a two-week ceasefire that would allow for ships to once again pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Officials on both sides are now set to meet in Islamabad on Friday to iron out a more permanent end to the war, with Iranian authorities suggesting a 10-point peace plan that critics claim concedes too much power to Tehran.

Kelly echoed the sentiments of critics on Wednesday, saying the plan would be 'amazing' for Iran and arguing that Trump's post to his Truth Social page touting the deal was just him trying 'to put the most positive spin on very unfortunate situations.'

'It's as if we didn't bomb them to smithereens,' she said. 'It's as if we didn't start a war and bomb Iran for the past 38 days, and that cannot be undone with a sunny tweet or Truth Social, because already things are going south on this ceasefire.'

'And how open is the Strait of Hormuz,' the former Fox News anchor went on to ask, rhetorically, as Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that passage through the Strait was once again halted 'simultaneous with Israel's attacks on Lebanon.'

Iran also threatened to destroy oil tankers if they try to travel through the Strait without permission, as the regime has imposed a toll of up to $2 million per vessel.

Megyn Kelly unleashed on President Donald Trump on Wednesday for agreeing to a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran

The president announced late Tuesday that he, Israeli and Iranian authorities agreed to a two-week ceasefire that would allow for ships to once again pass through the Strait of Hormuz

Shortly after the ceasefire deal took effect, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported that passage through the Strait (pictured in March) was once again halted 'simultaneous with Israel's attacks on Lebanon'

Kelly then went on to acknowledge that 'the issue of Lebanon is very sticky, because at first it appeared we thought the part of the ceasefire was Israel would stop bombing Lebanon.

'But then Israel continued bombing Lebanon and came out and said, We're not part of this. We didn't agree to that. It's not part of it. We can bomb Lebanon all we want. And then Iran said, What? We thought Lebanon was part of it," she recounted.

'And now here we are at 12.04 on Wednesday, with the Strait closed again because our good friend and special ally Israel is f***ing up the ceasefire within 12 hours of it being struck.

'They're bombing Lebanon, so the Strait is closed again, our special good friend that got us into this war and really doesn't want us getting out. Really doesn't want it,' Kelly continued, claiming that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is 'already taking political fire back at home.'

'The 10-point plan would be amazing, it would be amazing for Iran,' she explained of the framework that demands the US accepts Tehran's continued control over the Strait, recognize its right to uranium enrichment, lift all sanctions, pay compensation and withdraw all troops from the region.

'We're like, "Sounds good." I know why we're like, "Sounds good," because President Trump's poll numbers are going through the basement. They're like on a nosedive as fast as Artemis went up, his poll numbers are going down,' Kelly said, referring to the recent Artemis II launch.

'So we had to get out of this, and I support him getting out of it, don't get me wrong, but I can see why Israel's concerned,' she concluded.

Kelly's remarks came just one day after she hit out at the president for warning on social media that a 'whole civilization will die tonight' if the Strait were not re-opened.

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags at a protest in Enghelab Square, Tehran, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

Israeli forces continued to strike Lebanon on Wednesday after declaring that the ceasefire does not extend to Hezbollah

She called the president's comments 'completely irresponsible and disgusting' while recounting how she was on the receiving end of Trump's social media attacks in 2015 and 2016.

'I don't care that its a negotiation tactic... to kill an entire country full of civilians - men, women, and children - an American president, so that the Strait of Hormuz will be opened? Its just wrong,' Kelly said on her show Tuesday.

IRAN'S TEN-POINT PEACE PLAN

1. Commitment to non-aggression 2. Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz 3. Acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment 4. Lifting of all primary sanctions 5. Lifting of all secondary sanctions 6. Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions 7. Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions 8. Paying compensation to Iran 9. Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region 10. Cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon

'Like what is he, Genghis Khan?' she added, likening the president to the 13th-century Mongolian warrior-ruler whose army perpetrated some of the deadliest mass killings in human history.

'Like, what is he trying to do and why can't he do it with strength - threats, sure, go for it  that dont diminish and demean the United States of America in this way?'

But she was not alone in her criticism of the ceasefire deal, with even some of Trump's staunchest allies expressing their concern.

Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, for example, said Trump had secured 'significant victories' but expressed skepticism over the peace talks and the president's claims of 'total victory.'

'The government's still in place and we should be negotiating from a position of strength, not a position that's good for them,' he told CNN.

'They will work with Russia and China as soon as they can to start rebuilding their military. And they will be a threat five, six, seven, eight years down the road. And so, as long as this government's in place, total victory has not been earned.'

Mark Levin, a pro-Israel commentator with close ties to Trump, also said that while he trusts the President's 'instincts,' the Iranians could not be trusted.

'This enemy is still the enemy; they're still surviving,' he said of Iran.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham demanded Vice President JD Vance (pictured) appear before Congress to explain the terms of the agreement

Amid the backlash, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham demanded Vice President JD Vance appear before Congress to explain the terms of the agreement.

'The supposed negotiating document, in my view, has some troubling aspects, but time will tell,' Graham posted on X.

'I look forward to the architects of this proposal, the Vice President and others, coming forward to Congress and explaining how a negotiated deal meets our national security objectives in Iran.'

Meanwhile, Trump insisted on Wednesday that any peace plan would not involve the enrichment of uranium 'and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 bombers) nuclear "dust."'

The safety of the uranium was confirmed before an 11th-hour deal was struck, the White House said.

'Nothing has been touched from the date of attack,' Trump said, claiming that the nuclear site has been watched closely since it was bombed.

It is not clear whether Trump was referring to the US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities in June, or to more recent strikes during the current Iran war.

Tariff and sanctions relief, however, were being discussed as part of a peace plan with 'many' points already agreed, Trump said.
Close Brothers shares surged this morning after posting an update on the motor finance redress scheme announced by the City watchdog last week.

Close Brothers expects the Financial Conduct Authority's redress scheme to cost it in the region of 320 million, which it said was 'broadly similar' to what it expected. It added that it could be 'comfortably absorbed by existing capital resources.'

At the end of January, the business estimated the financial impact of the motor finance scandal to cost it 294million.

But, the group said the final outcome would be 'dependent upon any potential further legal, regulatory or industry developments (including any legal challenge of the scheme by various parties)'.

Following the FCAs publication of the final rules for the redress scheme, many analysts expect further legal battles on the horizon after the scheme was split into two separate parts for pre-2014 and post.

On the up: Close Brothers shares rose 22% on Wednesday after it posted an update regarding the motor finance scandal

The inclusion of deals dating back to 2007 in the redress underscores a major industry contention over the motor finance scandal.

Benjamin Toms, an equity analyst at RBC, said: 'We think that it is highly likely that at least one, if not multiple, of the many interested parties will ask the administrative courts to review the scheme.'

Close Brothers said today: 'The group will continue to closely monitor any further legal, regulatory and industry developments and is considering its next steps.'

The scheme is anticipated to hit Close Brothers' CET1 ratio  a key metric indicating its financial health  by 25 basis points, taking it to 14 per cent. This remains ahead of the firm's 12 to 13 per cent target.

Close Brothers shares were up 22.81 per cent or 88.89p to 478.49p on Wednesday morning, having risen nearly 70 per cent in the past year.

The FCA redress scheme covers around 720,000 loans written by Close Brothers between April 2007 and November 2024.

Of these, Close Brothers said around 640,000 related to discretionary commission arrangements, with a further 80,000 potentially captured under other criteria set by the FCA.

The banking group said it expected an average payout of around 500 per customer, which is below the FCA's industry estimate of 829, reflecting smaller loan sizes and lower commission levels in its book.

It also expects around 75 per cent of eligible customers to claim. A 5 per cent change in that rate would move the total cost by roughly 18million, it said.

Implementation costs are estimated at 66million, excluding 14million already incurred. Payments are expected to run from summer 2026 to the end of the 2027 calendar year, according to Close Brothers.

Today's update from Close Brothers follows the publication of a note from short-seller Viceroy, which accused Close Brothers of under-provisioning and 'systematically misrepresenting' it exposure to the motor finance debacle.

Viceroy said the firm will have to at least double its 300million provision for Britains car finance scandal. Larger rival Lloyds Banking Group has set aside 1.95billion while Santander has taken a 478million hit and Barclays says it is on the hook for 325million.

Viceroy is understood now to be sitting on a profit of 2.9million after Close Brothers' stock fell 19 per cent on the day the claims became public.
Drivers have been warned of further pain at the pumps despite some much-needed respite after the biggest fall in the price of oil since the Covid outbreak six years ago.

The price of crude tumbled as much as 16 per cent towards $91 a barrel on Wednesday morning after the US and Iran agreed a two-week ceasefire that will open the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

The waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, transports around a fifth of global oil and gas supplies but has been effectively closed since the Iran war erupted.

That has driven up the price of oil and gas, with crude rising as high as $120 a barrel last month, and trading at around $110 last night before Donald Trump announced the ceasefire.

The surge in the oil price, from around $70 a barrel before the conflict started at the end of February, has sent the cost of filling up on British forecourts soaring.

Latest figures from the RAC show the average price of litre of unleaded petrol is now 157.71p  up 25p or 19 per cent since the war began.

Diesel has topped the 190p mark, rising to 190.62p per litre, and is up 48p or 34 per cent since the end of February.

The Iran war has sent petrol price soaring

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Both fuels are now at their most expensive since late 2022  sending the cost of a tank soaring.

There are now hopes that fuel prices will start to ease  though experts warned they remain high and the outlook is uncertain.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: The conditional ceasefire announcement may have taken some heat out of global oil prices, but the outlook for drivers in the UK remains highly uncertain.

The best hope in the short term is that pump prices stop rising at the rate they have been and hopefully top out in the coming days.

Much will depend on the stability of the ceasefire, whether oil shipments can move freely through the Strait of Hormuz, and the longerterm impact on oil production across the Gulf.

As it is a sustained lower oil price - over several weeks, not just a few days - that is required to bring wholesale fuel costs down meaningfully.

He added: Drivers should not expect significantly cheaper fuel in the short term, although some smaller independent forecourts buying on a spot basis may be quicker to pass on any reductions.

We continue to recommend drivers shop around for fuel and make use of free apps to ensure they always get the best price each time they fill up.

Nigel Green, chief executive of global financial advisory giant deVere Group, said: Drivers will feel some short-term relief as petrol and diesel prices edge lower, and markets are reacting strongly to the pause.

But oil remains elevated, and that continues to feed through the entire economy, into prices, business costs and investment decisions.

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The surge in petrol prices has piled pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to cancel a looming 5p rise in fuel duty given the windfall from the extra VAT she is raking in every time a motorist fills up.

The increase in fuel duty will take it from the current rate of 52.95p a litre to 57.95p over the next 12 months  hammering hard-pressed families and businesses already facing higher prices.

And analysts warned the price of oil is likely to remain elevated for some time even after the ceasefire was agreed.

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said: The positive market reaction is understandable as a two-week ceasefire raises hope for a complete end to the conflict.

The decline in the oil price puts energy prices in the right direction as far as businesses and consumers are concerned.

However, its impossible to assume they will quickly return to the sub-$70 a barrel level seen before the Iran crisis began.

There has already been considerable disruption to the flow of supplies and that might remain the case for some time, even if the Strait of Hormuz becomes fully functional again.

Potential damage to infrastructure and production shutdowns in the oil and gas industry, together with ongoing uncertainty over what happens after the two-week ceasefire ends, suggest oil prices might stay higher for longer.

Make no mistake  this is a pause in the proceedings and not a full resolution. That means any market rebound could quickly lose momentum unless there is clear progress with US and Iran talks.

Daniela Hathorn, senior market analyst at Capital.com, said: The potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is the most significant development from a market perspective. The disruption had removed as much as 20 per cent of global oil supply, and even a partial restoration of flows represents a major shift in supply dynamics.

However, the situation remains fragile. The terms of the ceasefire appear heavily tilted in Irans favour, raising questions about whether the agreement is politically sustainable, particularly for Israel and the US.

There is also a real risk that talks break down and the conflict reverts to its previous state, or even escalates further, once the ceasefire window expires. As a result, markets are likely to treat this as a pause rather than a resolution.
A mining executive has been found guilty of smuggling $11million of heroin in a folding camping bed after a jury didn't believe his claim that he was the gullible dupe of international druglords.

Barry Calverley, 70, could die in jail after a NSW District Court jury took just over eight hours to find him guilty of one count of importing a commercial quantity of a border-controlled drug.

The crime carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment which could mean the Perth grandfather may never see his home state again.

Calverley - who has a wife of 31 years, three successful daughters, a mining career spanning decades and once owned a country estate in Western Australia - has been locked up in NSW prisons since his arrest.

He was intercepted at Sydney Airport on January 24, 2024 after travelling to Laos in south-east Asia.

Calverley had been promised $10million to transport 'a little gift' in a green camping bed back to Australia.

He insisted he didn't know that 48 packages of heroin were hidden in the bed's hollow legs.

When Australian Border Force officers told him drugs had been found, he said: 'I was scammed - I think I have been set up by Nigerians.'

Barry Calverley had it all  success, family and a career as a mining executive - but now he faces life in jail after a jury did not believe he was the gullible dupe of a drug gang and found him guilty of a crime and facing possible life in prison

Calverley, 70, claimed he was bringing in the Vietnamese camp bed because his wife 'loved camping', but Border Force officers found 2.64kg of pure heroin secreted in the bed's hollow legs

The Perth grandfather may never see his home state of Western Australia again as he faces a potential life sentence for smuggling $11m of heroin into Australia

Calverley, who has worked in India, Singapore and West Africa on gas and oil projects for resources giants Shell, ExxonMobil, BHP and Santos, has reportedly found life difficult in jail since his arrest.

Commonwealth prosecutor Sheridan Goodwin told the jury at Calverley's trial in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court that the total weight of pure heroin within the bed was 2.64kg.

Part of Calverley's defence was that he thought the money offered was compensation for having been conned out of $260,000 in 2022.

WhatsApp messages between Calverley and supposed international drug kingpins were part of the Crown Prosecution brief tendered in his case.

The messages showed how the drug gang became increasingly insistent about Calverley carrying the bed through Australian customs to deliver to 'the Paymaster' at a Sydney hotel.

The texts revealed he first made contact with the 'drug operatives' in November 2023 when he was told to contact a 'Mr Robert Pridham'.

Within two months, 'Mr Pridham' had arranged flights and a hotel. Calverley flew from Perth to Laos on January 16, 2024 and stayed at the Lao Golden Hotel in Vientiane.

On January 22, two days before he was due to fly home, Calverley allegedly texted Pridham, writing: 'What is the gift for the paymaster?

Barry Calverley - who has a wife of 31 years, three successful daughters, a mining career spanning decades and once owned a country estate in Western Australia - has been found guilty of importing a commercial quantity of drugs

Calverley was booked flights and a room at the Lao Golden Hotel by a mysterious figure he said he never met in what he claims was a scam. But a jury didn't believe him and found him guilty

Calverley, 70, a wine connoisseur from Western Australia where he has worked on sites including the Pilbara for up to $2,000 a day, has been 'finding prison life difficult'

'Australian Customs are very specific about what can and can't be taken into the country.'

When Calverley questioned whether there was 'anything illegal' in the gift, the texts show he was reassured that it was all legitimate.

According to the ABF and police interviews, Calverley was asked if he had a story ready just as he was about to leave Laos for Sydney, transiting via Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

He allegedly told Pridham that if Customs asked about the camping bed, he would say: 'The bed is for my wife.'

Police documents showed Calverley took a final selfie dressed in a blue and green rugbystyle jersey.

Despite assuring Pridham that he would change his jumper before flying, he was wearing the same shirt in his arrest photo mugshot.

On his arrival at Sydney Airport on board Vietnam Airlines flight VN087 at 1.15pm on the day of his arrest, Calverley was allegedly due to meet the mysterious 'Paymaster' at the Kith Hotel in Darling Harbour to deliver the camping bed bag.

But at 2.08pm he was escorted by an ABF officer to Barrier 25 with his three travelling bags.

Barry Calverley's career as a mining safety consultant spans decades and has seen him work in India, Singapore and West Africa on gas and oil projects for resources giants Shell, ExxonMobil, BHP and Santos

In WhatsApp messages between the drug gang and Calverley, he is reassured that the 'little gift' he is to bring in to Australia is merely an adjustable camping bed

Join the discussion Should age and claimed gullibility reduce the sentence for serious drug-related crimes?

Asked about the camping bag, Calverley allegedly told officers he had paid $58 for it in Laos 'for his wife because she loves camping'.

The officers then asked him for his mobile phone pin number, and after placing the camping bag under an Xray machine and noting anomalies, began drilling into the metal poles inside.

In jail since, the Western Australian mining safety consultant, who had never been in custody before, has suffered from hearing difficulties and has endured cardiac and gastrointestinal issues.

Calverley was a wine connoisseur who worked as a consultant for up to $2,000 a day, a court heard during one of his failed bail applications before trial.

Calverley had 'a long history of medical concerns' including dermatitis and psoriasis, which it was argued by his defence counsel, could not be adequately treated in prison.

He will be sentenced on April 22.
A British man has been detained in Mauritius after over 250,000 worth of cannabis was found in his luggage.

Ethan John Tesner was arrested at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSR) in Mauritius on November 20, after 24 plastic sachets of compressed cannabis leaves were found in his luggage.

Between the several sachets, 13kg of cannabis, worth an estimated street value of 15,768,000 Mauritian Rupees (251,906.03), was seized upon his arrival from Turkey.

When questioned by customs officials, Tesner said he had travelled to the country for a vacation of under a week. However, he was unable to answer some of the questions posted by officers, Le Mauricien reported.

He was then led to the Customs Examination Hall, where his luggage was scanned, and unusual items were spotted, sparking a manual search of his suitcase, where the drugs were found in a carefully constructed false bottom.

Tesner faces provisional charges of drug dealing with aggravating circumstances, the importation of cannabis with an averment of trafficking in breach of the county's Dangerous Drug Act.

He previously appeared before the District Court of Grand Port in Mahebourg in November and has since been remanded in jail.

The British High Commission in Mauritius has been notified of the case.

Ethan Tesner, 22, of Colchester, (pictured) was arrested at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSR) on November 20 after 13kg of cannabis was found in his luggage

The cannabis divided between 24 sachets had an estimated street value of 15,768,000 Mauritian Rupees (251,906.03), was seized upon his arrival from Turkey

An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting a British man who has been arrested in Mauritius and are in touch with the local authorities.'

It comes after two Brits have been taken into custody in Mauritius after a failed bid to smuggle over 3million worth of cannabis into the tropical paradise just a month before his arrest.

Sinead Hart, 22, and Thomas Lee Munro, 29, were arrested after arriving on an Air France flight at Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSR) on October 15.

The duo were questioned moments after collecting luggage from their long-haul flight departing from Charles de Gaulles, Paris, due to 'abnormalities' in their behaviour.

After they were quickly intercepted, officers began to suspect the duo as they were travelling together, but knew very little about one another.

Around 3million (185,800,000 Mauritian Rupees) worth of cannabis was later found in the Brits' luggage, wrapped in nineteen packages.

Ten parcels of the 'green gold' were found on the mother's person, while nine were discovered in Munro's luggage.

After a rapid test confirmed the parcels were hashish, and the alleged smugglers claimed someone in Britain had handed them their baggage.

The duo agreed to help the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ASDU) in a controlled delivery operation at the Blue Bay hotel, where they were both staying.

British mother, Sinead Hart, 22 (pictured) and Thomas Lee Munro were arrested after arriving at Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSR) on October 15

The British duo were found with 3million (185,800,000 Mauritian Rupees) worth of cannabis in their luggage (Pictured: Sinead Hart)

Here, officers arrested two men, Roshan Ramdin and Kenny Seerungun, after they arrived and appeared to collect the imported drugs.

The two suspects had been staying at the hotel with their respective wives in room numbers 105 and 106.

Searches found 45,500 Mauritian Rupees (746.60), heroin, two pregabalin tablets, ten cannabis seeds and three mobile phones in Ramdin's room with his wife Covila.

When questioned by authorities, Ramdin alleged that the money belonged to his wife who was nowhere to be found during the raid, Defi Media reported.

Meanwhile, 8,950 Mauritian Rupees (146.99) and two mobile phones were discovered in Seerungun's room.

Mrs Ramdin was later arrested by the ASDU, who had been searching for her since October 17, when she appeared to meet her husband outside the Mahebourg court.

Inquiries into the husband and wife, as well as Seerungun, regarding the importation of hashish between England and Mauritius remains ongoing.

Hart and Munro are currently behind bars on the island after they were refused bail as they prepare to be tried.

Shania Wood, 25, of Luton was arrested on the island along with seven others after being found with 4million worth of cannabis in their suitcases earlier this year

Fellow Brit, Alethea Jade Demitre, was also detained in what has been described as 'one of the largest' drug seizures at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSR) on May 29

The two face provisional charges of drug dealing with aggravating circumstances, resin with an averment of trafficking in breach of the Dangerous Drug Act.

An FCDO spokesperson said: 'We are supporting three British nationals who have been detained in Mauritius and are in contact with the local authorities.'

Another British national, Mohammed Abubakr Hussain, 24, was arrested after being found with 525,537.52 (32 million Mauritian Rupees) worth of cannabis at the same airport on October 12, 2025.

He faces provisional charges of drug dealing with aggravating circumstances of cannabis with an averment of trafficking in breach of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

It comes after three British women were detained in Mauritius after a group of nine passengers were found with over 4million worth of cannabis in their suitcases.

Shania Mabel Rosalind Wood, Alethea Jade Demitre and Chloe Nancy Parker were arrested in what was described as 'one of the largest' drug seizures at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (SSR) on May 29.

Between eight suitcases 212kg of cannabis, worth an estimated street value of 254.5 million Mauritian rupees (4,104,353.22), was seized upon their arrival EK703 from Dubai, at around 4.40pm local time.

Wood, 25, was found with 30 packages of the class B drug weighing 31.10kg, while fellow Brit Demitre, 33, was discovered with 31.11kg of cannabis across 46 packages.

Daniel Jonathan Pearson (pictured) was also taken into custody despite having no drugs in his possession as he is believed to have been the ringleader behind the operation

Eighteen-year-old Parker was also found with 46 packages of the drug weighing at 44.95kg.

The five arrested, which include both Dominican and Portuguese nationals, were Hansel Gomez, Esequiel Perez, Ildo Valera De Brito, Luis Manuel Herrera Martinez and Soraia Cristina Da Silva Cruz.

Another Brit, Daniel Jonathan Pearson, was also taken into custody despite having no drugs in his possession. He is believed to have been the ringleader supervising the eight drug mules, Defi media reported.

It is suggested that Pearson was going to create a diversion at the checkpoint to allow the drug smugglers to pass through unchecked.

However, the airport's Anti-Drug & Smuggling Unit (ADSU), officers from the Customs Anti-Narcotics Section (CANS) of the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA) foiled their operation.

Wood, Demitre and Parker faced provisional charges of the importation of cannabis, while Pearson faces charges of drug dealing with aggravating circumstances and managing the importation of cannabis with an averment of trafficking.

They face anywhere between 25 to 60 years behind bars if found guilty of their crimes.
Disillusioned NAB staff fearing for their livelihoods have a withering nickname for the company CEO as the 'Big Four' bank axes about 1,000 jobs from its Australian workforce.

Andrew Irvine, the boss at Australia's second-largest bank since 2024, is now known as 'Offshore Andrew' amid sweeping redundancies across the business, retail, and technology and operations divisions between October and April, with hundreds of roles shifting to India and Vietnam where the labour market is cheaper.

During the course of the Mail's weeks-long reporting into the turmoil at NAB, several former employees have claimed that staff who spoke out about systemic bullying, unrealistic performance goals, and excessive overtime expectations were first to be selected for retrenchment.

One ex-worker said managers had recently started repeating the edict, 'Just get rid of people.' This source also claims she was unfairly put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) and forced to resign because it was cheaper than a redundancy.

Now, another former staffer has spoken out about her 'awful experience' in the fraud division - the same department as a young man who took his life from the rooftop of the bank's Melbourne skyscraper on March 5.

She recalled being forced to log her bathroom breaks as 'personal time' while she was pregnant. Her request for more personal time was denied, and she was then penalised for taking too many bathroom breaks, eventually losing her job.

The woman also claimed that a colleague who returned to work after having a stroke was then placed on PIP because their performance had slipped.

Another dystopian revelation from the bank that claims it is about 'more than money' came from a former employee who told the Mail that bosses had phased out the term managers because it contains the word man and is therefore considered gendered.

NAB Group CEO Andrew Irvine (pictured in Sydney in March) has been given the nickname 'Offshore Andrew' by staff as the bank slashes local jobs and hires in India and Vietnam

Pictured: A break area in NAB's Melbourne Docklands office

Instead, they have opted for the almost Orwellian alternative 'people leaders'.

The alleged basis for the change is etymologically wrong: 'manager' is derived from the Latin word 'manus', which means 'hand'. It is a gender-neutral term.

A NAB spokesperson denied the change was about avoiding language, telling the Mail that 'people leaders' reflects accountability for leading people and culture.

The ex-employee from the fraud department said it was 'the worst job' she had ever had, partly because the performance goals were hard to meet, and because she was discriminated against for being pregnant and needing to use the bathroom.

'I was pregnant when I worked there and had to use the bathroom more than a normal amount,' she said.

'They made me take it all from personal time, I requested more time to use the bathroom as I was pregnant, they declined it, then penalised me for taking too much personal time.

'They pretty much told me it was the reason they would not renew my contract and why I lost my job once my son was born.'

She said her experience was just one example of the 'bulls**t' at NAB, and recalled one senior staffer who was on permanent leave because the employee satisfaction survey was too low.

Pictured: A lunch area in the Melbourne Docklands office of NAB

Inside NAB's Melbourne Docklands office. A young man from the fraud department took his own life from the rooftop on March 5

NAB brought in new managers to help, she claimed, but never addressed the core of the issue.

'One of the leads rang a team member after hours, drunk, and told him he wanted to fight him,' she said.

'They put one girl who had a stroke on PIP for her KPIs declining when she returned to work.

'Even if you had a good manager... the top managers would decline anything that would meaningfully change staff lives.'

Her experience at NAB made her anxious about returning to the workforce, she said.

She is one of many current and former employees who have gone public about their experiences at NAB, as the bank continues to restructure and lay off local staff.

A NAB spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'NAB supports all colleagues to raise genuine concerns or allegations of wrongdoing and has clear policies and independent channels to ensure concerns and allegations are taken seriously, assessed fairly, and without retaliation.

'That commitment is fundamental to our culture. Our processes meet all our legal and policy obligations, and they are applied regardless of who is involved.'

They also said NAB has more than 40,000 employees and colleague engagement surveys place the bank within the top quartile benchmarks, and encouraged anyone with specific concerns to contact the anonymous whistleblower service.

'We know we dont always get it right, but we are committed to listening and creating an environment where our colleagues are heard on matters that are important to them,' they added.

The 'Big Four' bank recently axed around 1,000 jobs from its Australian workforce

A NAB worker, John, was devastated when he found out that an employee from the bank's fraud sector took his own life at the NAB building in Docklands (scene pictured)

NAB fired about 400 local employees across its technology and operations in October, and a further 180 from retail banking in February.

In March, the bank said a further 447 people would be retrenched from its business division in Australia, while 237 new positions would be created in India and Vietnam.

A NAB spokesperson said decisions to cut staff were 'always difficult', but they were trying to build a 'modern workforce'.

'Our priority is to support [retrenched staff] through redeployment opportunities, access to confidential assistance, and practical career transition services.'

Former workers who have been through the redundancy process claim NAB provides the illusion of support and that redeployment to other roles in the company is rare.

They say the feeling within the company is that those chosen for redundancy have a black mark against their names, making it nearly impossible to get a job in another department.

It comes after the Daily Mail revealed a series of leaked posts from NAB's internal social networking platform.

The messages showed staff saying how 'defeated' they felt by the bank's worsening culture, just hours after a colleague took his own life at the Melbourne office.

The rooftop terrace at the NAB building in Docklands is pictured

Victoria Police confirmed officers attended the scene in Docklands just after 2pm on March 5.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

If this has raised any issues for you, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue 1300 224 636 for confidential crisis support.

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At the risk of being crucified by my journalistic peers, court reporting can be painfully dull. Even cases that look gripping in print can be a drag.

Fortunately, that wasn't the case at Tuesday's AVO hearing involving the former male escort Michael Burn, his ex-boyfriend Geoffrey Williams, and Burn's extremely wealthy fiancee Alexandra Jakob, the founder of haircare brand BondiBoost.

Having sat before many a restraining order matter in the past, this one felt less like a procedural slog and more like a spicy bisexual soap opera.

An emotional Williams, after previous attempts to settle things had failed, opted to self-represent. I knew straight away as I sat down at Downing Centre that this would make for compelling viewing.

It was a day of chaos: constant interruptions, detours and the misplaced confidence of a man who appeared not to understand court procedure but pushed on regardless.

The case had already been dragging on for months: AVOs, counter-allegations, claims of threats followed by denials, unproven allegations of domestic violence.

And the glamorous cast of characters made the dispute doubly compelling.

You had Jakob, the wealthy entrepreneur; Burn, her bisexual British-born husband-to-be; and Burn's former partner Williams, an older man with whom he once shared a bed and an escort agency.

Former male escort Michael Burn (right) and his multimillionaire fiancee Alexandra Jakob (left) put on a united front as they left Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday afternoon

Geoffrey Williams (right), the former partner of Michael Burn, is seen outside Downing Centre Local Court with his support person

The centrepiece of Tuesday's hearing was a phone call between Williams and Jakob on September 2, 2024, after Jakob had discovered Burn and Williams's history.

Under cross-examination, Williams recounted: 'She asked what position my husband takes in the bedroom.'

To translate for my less worldly readers: Williams alleged in court that Jakob had asked him whether Burn had been the initiator or receiver during his former sex life.

I laughed quietly, but not quietly enough given the looks I got. Then I wrote it down.

Jakob, when it was her turn, didn't flinch under the gaze of her fiance's former lover.

'I knew you were in a relationship with my fiance, and I wanted to know more about the sex industry,' she said. She was certainly direct.

From there, the case only became more tangled.

There were mentions of Jakob's former husband Gabriel - who is not a party to these proceedings, though he is involved in a separate matter involving his ex-wife.

In a former life, Burn was a male escort in a same-sex relationship with Williams. Now he is engaged to Ms Jakob, the co-founder of haircare brand BondiBoost

At one point, Williams became visibly emotional, speaking about the 'family home' he and Burn once shared.

Burn, clad in a fitted navy blazer, cinched-up slacks and sockless loafers, and drinking every tradie's favourite energy drink 'Mother', barely made eye contact with his former lover.

In turn, Burn didn't look at him. Not once.

Burn - a UK expat who amusingly once featured in the Daily Mail while plying his former trade as an escort, ostensibly for female clients - was in the process of applying for a partner visa when his nine-year relationship with Williams ended.

In court, Williams maintained his most incendiary claim: that Jakob had threatened to have him killed - a bullet in the head, he said. She firmly denied it.

But what of the recording that would allegedly prove this allegation?

'The recording is lost,' Williams said. A pause followed.

'You said earlier you could provide it,' Burn's barrister AJ Karim responded.

'It was lost two or three months ago,' answered Williams.

Michael and Alexandra are due to marry in England later this year

Williams (left) became emotional while cross-examining his ex-boyfriend Burn (right)

Williams also accused Burn and Jakob of courting a 'media circus'.

It was a curious claim given that Williams had repeatedly called me before eventually attracting the attention of Nine's A Current Affair, which ran not one, but two episodes on the saga.

By the end of the day, nothing had been resolved.

The alleged threat was disputed, and the evidence remained missing. Magistrate Howard looked, if not surprised, then certainly tired.

Judgment on the order sought will be handed down on Thursday.

Jakob and Burn's whirlwind romance began in September 2023. They became engaged in September 2024 and plan to marry at the 17th-century Grantley Hall in England's Yorkshire Dales later this year.

Adding further intrigue, Jakob has also been in and out of court with her ex-husband Gabriel Jakob, a former pack-and-send worker. They had been together for 12 years, building a fortune from childcare centres before separating in March 2023.

Williams (left) ran the high-end Jake Ryan escort agency with his ex-partner Michael Burn

British-born Burn (pictured) amusingly once featured in the Daily Mail while plying his former trade as an escort, ostensibly for female clients

'I knew you were in a relationship with my fiance, and I wanted to know more about the sex industry,' Ms Jakob said in court after Williams recounted their September 2, 2024, phone call

Unfortunately, the former Mr and Mrs Jakob, and her new partner Burn - who has Alexandras name tattooed on his chest - have not made for a harmonious trio.

In a hearing back in December, an apprehended domestic violence order was made to protect Mr Jakob from Burn for 12 months.

The order prohibits Burn from contacting or approaching Mr Jakob - a man so media-shy he wouldnt let the AFR show his face in a fawning 2024 profile - except through lawyers, and from engaging in any form of assault, harassment, or intimidation.

Two intimidation-related charges against Burn were withdrawn after he pleaded not guilty. He pleaded guilty to a third charge, which was dealt with under Section 10(1)(a), meaning the court found the offence proven but did not record a conviction.

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A potential photo op with one of the most vituperative 'influencers' in the so-called Sussex Squad could prove to be a PR catastrophe for Meghan Markle.

Last week, the Daily Mail revealed self-declared 'royal expert' @ZandiSussex had scored a VIP ticket to the Duchess' upcoming retreat in Sydney, Australia.

This anonymous troll has previously spread false claims that Catherine, Princess of Wales, 'faked' her cancer diagnosis, in addition to making other hateful smears about the Royal Family on X/Twitter over the years.

Incredibly, it is still unknown whether @ZandiSussex remains on the guest list for the 'Her Best Life' retreat, with organiser Gemma O'Neill failing to respond when the Mail sought clarification after her history of trolling was revealed.

This is despite event organisers barring other guests from Meghan's 'girls' weekend' because of suspected links to media organisations.

Adding to the intrigue, the event's website was updated days ago with the notice: 'A handful of additional rooms just released.' It is unclear whether this signals a late increase in capacity, or whether places have freed up after guests were dropped.

If @ZandiSussex does make it to the retreat - scheduled to take place on the weekend of April 17-19 at the InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach - her table would be entitled to a photo with Meghan as a VIP guest.

The prospect of Meghan smiling for a photograph alongside a woman who has propagated the false claim that the future queens cancer was fraudulent represents a glaring reputational risk for the Duchess, given her repeated calls for compassion and accuracy in online discourse.

A potential photo op with one of the most hateful 'influencers' in the so-called Sussex Squad could prove to be a PR catastrophe for Meghan Markle (right with Prince Harry). The organisers of the 'Her Best Life' weekend in Sydney have not clarified whether X user @ZandiSussex, who says she is attending the retreat, is still on the guest list after we exposed her history of trolling

@ZandiSussex is relishing in her mainstream notoriety after we drew attention to her hateful rhetoric as a 'Senior Lieutenant' of the Sussex Squad

The Daily Mail does not suggest Meghan shares or endorses these views, only that she may come into contact - and potentially unwittingly be photographed - with someone who does at her upcoming retreat.

The 'Her Best Life' retreat in Sydney's eastern suburbs is part of a private visit to Australia by Meghan and husband Prince Harry, who is set to headline the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne as a keynote speaker on April 15-16.

Meanwhile, the Mail can reveal that @ZandiSussex is relishing in her mainstream notoriety after we drew attention to her hateful rhetoric as a 'Senior Lieutenant' of the Sussex Squad - a name given to Harry and Meghan's most fervent online supporters.

Indeed, she now bills herself on X as 'Senior Lieutenant Zandi Sussex'.

As recently as Monday, @ZandiSussex was taking digs at Kate's cancer on X, posting an image of a Monopoly-style 'get-out-of-jail-free card' entitled 'Cancer Card'.

Her accompanying comment read, 'When all else fails, bring out the cancer card. So predictable!', adding a 'weary face' emoji.

As previously reported by the Mail, the anti-royal influencer is the worst offender among a trio of women who publicly claimed they had been accepted to attend the $3,000ahead, three-day retreat in beachside Coogee.

They have a long history of portraying Meghan online as a flawless, persecuted heroine while relentlessly attacking the wider British Royal Family.

Damningly, @ZandiSussex has previously peddled the sick and false conspiracy theory that the Princess of Wales's cancer was 'fake' or somehow exaggerated

As recently as Monday, @ZandiSussex was taking digs at Kate's cancer on X, posting an image of a Monopoly- style 'get-out-of-jail-free card' entitled 'Cancer Card'

The Sussex Squad has a long history of portraying Meghan online as a flawless, persecuted heroine while relentlessly attacking the wider British Royal Family

The 'Her Best Life' website and social media accounts were updated days ago with a notice announcing that a handful of additional rooms had just been released

The inclusion of @ZandiSussex on the guest list for Meghan's Sydney retreat was announced with great fanfare two weeks ago, on March 24.

She posted: 'Drumroll please! I'm so excited to share that I got a ticket to the Girls' Weekend with Meghan! Yes, I'll be inside and will make sure to bring you updates. AND I went VIP so our table gets a photo with Meghan. Let's go!'

Days later, she boasted: '21 sleeps until the Girls' Weekend Retreat. I warned you all that if I got a ticket, you'd never hear the end of it.'

In the past, this X user and Sussex fan has even gone so far as to suggest Prince William is Satanic, photoshopping an image of him as a child alongside one of actor Seamus Davey-Fitzpatrick, who plays the Antichrist Damien in the 2006 horror film The Omen.

Alongside the images, @ZandiSussex wrote: 'Birds of a feather.'

It was back on November 8, 2024 that @ZandiSussex first peddled the false theory that the Princess of Wales's cancer was 'fake' or somehow exaggerated.

'Kate's "cancer" has always been one big scam! We knew this then and we know it now,' she posted on X.

The same account repeated the entirely false claim the next year, on June 26, 2025.

About a week ago, another post appeared on the @ZandiSussex account referring to a 'fake cancer AI video'.

Kate had announced in a video shot in Windsor in March 2024 that tests following major abdominal surgery had revealed cancer.

She began preventative chemotherapy, and later confirmed in January 2025 that she was in remission and gradually resumed royal duties.

Sussex Squad members have a long history of portraying Meghan online as a flawless, persecuted heroine while relentlessly attacking the wider British Royal Family, in particular the Prince and Princess of Wales (pictured in March last year)

Meghan and Harry superfan @ZandiSussex claims royal supporters are 'hysterical' about the forthcoming visit by the couple and don't want it to succeed. (Pictured: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their official tour of Australia in October 2018)

The Daily Mail is not suggesting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are aware of these false claims or that they endorse them in any way.

On April 7, @ZandiSussex appeared to confirm she was still attending the 'Her Best Life' retreat, reposting a video from the 'HBL team' touring the hotel alongside her own message: 'The countdown is on  just 9 more sleeps to go!'

The video showed a room at the InterContinental Coogee Beach, as well as a dining room with multiple tables, which will presumably serve as the event room.

It also included images of the sparkling hotel pool, which, despite reports that it was not yet finished, looks to be in pristine condition.

Gemma O'Neill has advised that extra spots have turned up, and after initially advertising that people would have to twin share rooms, there now is a new option.

'The hotel just kindly released a handful of additional rooms - including solo options,' she posted on social media.

'If youve been feeling the pull to join this community this is your sign. Spots are limited - DM us on here for details!'

Since Meghan and Harry's visit was announced, the broader Sussex Squad has erupted on X with false, conspiratorial claims of a 'smear campaign' to sabotage the Australia trip, orchestrated by a 'jealous' William and Kate.

On April 1, @ZandiSussex posted that 'the level of hysteria alone tells me this is going to be an amazing visit for H & M. The truth on the ground is the mood is overwhelmingly positive.'

On March 24, @ZandiSussex announced: 'Drumroll please! I'm so excited to share that I got a ticket to the Girls' Weekend with Meghan! Yes, I'll be inside and will make sure to bring you updates. AND I went VIP so our table gets a photo with Meghan. Let's go!'

As recently as April 7, @ZandiSussex was still counting down the 'sleeps' until the retreat

She added: 'We will not stand by and watch a woman being demonised simply because of her race and because she dared marry into an institution reserved for people who are not of her colour.'

In one of her most vicious X posts on January 12, @ZandiSussex falsely claimed: 'The truth is that Kate was never diagnosed with cancer.

'She made that up to garner support and silence criticism as well as hide whatever really happened. It was still a weasel thing though for Willy to throw her under the bus.'

On March 25, another X user, @NachoBandito, screenshotted that post and said someone should alert Meghan to what the guest had said about her sister-in-law.

Still, there is no evidence that the Duchess of Sussex is aware of the guest list, vetting process or any individual ticket buyer's point of view.

While in Australia, Harry and Meghan may also visit Canberra, where he is expected to meet members of Invictus Australia, the organisation that cohosted the Sydney Invictus Games in 2018, which he opened during the couples last visit as working royals.
One of Australia's most high-profile doctors has warned that people have lost faith in the National Disability Insurance Scheme, as its costs continue to balloon.

The NDIS spending is now the Commonwealth's second-fastest growing expense at about $50billion a year, behind only interest on government debt.

Dr Nick Coatsworth, who made a name for himself as deputy chief medical officer during the Covid pandemic, told Daily Mail a key issue for Australians is that the growing cost of the scheme is taking resources from other essential services.

'It's been widely reported that some Labor politicians are concerned that the NDIS might be losing its social licence,' he said on Tuesday.

'But I would go further than that. I would say that many people have lost faith in the NDIS.'

While he said the existence of the NDIS is something Australians should be proud of, it is not coordinated with other health support schemes.

'The generous funding of the NDIS is taking staff away from health and aged care, would be the most obvious reason,' he said.

'But that's not the only reason why it's not working together. NDIS spending now is more than Medicare. It's more than aged care.

Dr Nick Coatsworth (pictured) said people have lost faith in the NDIS

'I do think that the Australian community looks at that and goes, "That doesn't seem like it's an appropriate distribution of funding."

'I think that's where people are starting to get more broadly frustrated in the community.'

Speaking at the Australian Financial Review's Healthcare Summit last week, Dr Coatsworth highlighted the disproportionate spending on the NDIS alone, compared to how many Australians it serves.

'The top five things that the Australian budget funds: health, aged care, defence, NDIS and the interest payments,' he said.

'One of those benefits 800,000 people, and the rest of them are for 26 million.'

He also shared his family's personal struggles with the health system after his mother was diagnosed with dementia.

'I left her crying this morning. Sixty-five per cent of her funding came through - that's only 3.5 hours. We've waited six months for that funding,' he said.

'We have to address the elephant in the room. When are we going to transfer some of that NDIS funding into people who have paid taxes all their lives and are stuck now in (our) public hospitals?'

Join the discussion Should NDIS funds be reallocated to better support struggling health and aged care services?

Spending is now the Commonwealth's second-fastest growing expense at about $50 billion every year, behind only interest on government debt

'The generous funding of the NDIS is taking staff away from health and aged care would be the most obvious reason,' Dr Coatsworth said (stock image)

'Those personal comments I made about my mother and aged care did generate a heck of a lot of social media engagement. It struck a chord,' he told Daily Mail.

'I think that's a good indicator of how people are viewing this, especially people in the health and aged care sectors.

'The day after that went on social media, I had people coming up to me in the hospital saying, "Thanks for saying it. We see it, we feel afraid to say anything about it, because it's considered a sacred cow."

'But, I think there's lots and lots of people out there in the community who are pretty concerned.'

Dr Coatsworth also said there are questions about whether an eight per cent growth rate is the right target for NDIS funding growth, saying some people think it is too high.

Both state and federal governments have been working to bring the NDIS growth rate down to at least five or six per cent.

Health Minister Mark Butler told the Financial Review's summit last week that some options to cut back on spending are being considered before the federal budget on May 12.

'The scheme is off track. It lacks those disciplined design features of a good social program, and we're determined to get it back on track,' he said.

'You can have fewer people on the scheme; you can have relatively the same number of people on the scheme with lower cost growth.

'And I think our job now is to work through all of those different permutations and assess the pros and cons of each of them.'
Special forces veteran Heston Russell has criticised media coverage of Ben Roberts-Smith's arrest, after the former SAS soldier was taken into custody over alleged war crimes in front of his teenage daughters.

Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier, was arrested at Sydney Airport on Tuesday morning after arriving on a flight from Brisbane.

He was later charged with two counts of the war crime of murder and three counts of aiding or abetting those offences.

The 47-year-old is accused of murdering unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, and of failing to prevent members of his unit from killing three others.

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

Roberts-Smith, who was awarded the Victoria Cross and a Medal for Gallantry, has consistently denied any wrongdoing during his service with the Australian Defence Force.

As coverage of the decorated soldier's arrest ramped up, former commando Heston Russell criticised the media, taking aim at a Nine News headline that claimed Roberts-Smith's Victoria Cross was 'now at risk'.

'Completely incorrect, 9News,' he said on social media. 'The action for which Ben won his Victoria Cross has never been in question - the medal is awarded for a specific act of valour.'

Ben Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of war crime - murder on Tuesday

Former Special Forces Commando Heston Russell warned a proper legal process must be followed during the case, and slammed claims his contemporary might lose his VC

Mr Russell said that it was important Roberts-Smith be afforded due process and the presumption of innocence.

'I've really had absolutely enough of all this playing out in the media and I'm so disappointed it's be allowed to do so for so long.'

Mr Russell warned failures to do so would risk undermining confidence in the legal system and prejudicing outcomes before facts are tested in court.

'The circumstances of this arrest - involving media presence alongside police as he arrived with his daughters off a plane - are deeply concerning,' he said.

'It raises serious questions about whether the integrity of the process, and the presumption of innocence, have already been compromised.

'This is not how justice should be done, Australia.'

Mr Russell's comments echoed those of a source close to Roberts-Smith, who said authorities had set out to 'inflict maximum distress' when he was taken into custody.

'He has never shied away from his accusers, nor sought to avoid scrutiny or place himself beyond the reach of Australian authorities,' they told the Daily Mail.

Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney Domestic Airport by AFP officers who were waiting on the tarmac to escort him off a plane

Mr Russell criticised comments suggesting Roberts-Smith could lose his Victoria Cross

The former SAS soldier (picutred with Queen Elizabeth II in 2011) has always denied committing any war crimes while serving with the Australian Defence Force

The source said Roberts-Smith's legal team had repeatedly told the AFP and OSI he would present himself 'at a time and place of their choosing should any charges be brought'.

'Instead, he was arrested upon arrival in Sydney during a short visit with his children,' the source said.

'In doing so, authorities chose to inflict maximum distress in front of his two young daughters.'

Roberts-Smith spent the night in Sydney's Silverwater prison after his dramatic arrest yesterday.

He did not appear at a brief, online NSW Bail Division Court hearing on Wednesday, when his case was first heard and his lawyers did not make an immediate application for his release.

They tried instead to have the matter listed for an in-person hearing at the city-centre Downing Centre Local Court for later in the day but conceded that might not be possible.

'We understand that's a bit of a pipe dream,' his lawyer Jordan Portokalli told the bail court.

The judge agreed and re-listed the matter for June 4, meaning the Victoria Cross recipient will remain in custody for at least two months.

A Federal Court judge previously found Roberts-Smith was responsible for a number of killings but those findings were made on the balance of probabilities, rather than the criminal standard of beyond reasonable doubt.

Roberts-Smith will be the second Australian soldier to be charged with war crimes under domestic law after another ex-SAS soldier, Oliver Schulz, was charged in 2023 over the war crime of the 2012 murder of a young man in Afghanistan.

Schulz has maintained his innocence and his matter is yet to go to trial.

Nine has been contacted for comment.
A farmer has blasted disrespectful visitors for wasting hundreds of kilograms of produce during a pick-your-own event - and shut it down as a result.

Grapes on Swan, a family-run vineyard in Swan Valley, has been operating for more than 30 years and offering pick-your-own to visitors for the past seven or eight years.

The vineyard hosted its latest event over the Easter long weekend, encouraging families to pick their own pomegranates, with free entry.

'Unfortunately, due to the complete lack of respect of some of our visitors today, we will no longer be able to offer pick-your-own,' the owners wrote on Facebook.

'We had a large percentage of our crop destroyed today by people picking pomegranates and then throwing them on the floor.

'We also had people sitting and consuming these behind our large trees, where they thought they couldn't be seen.'

Mandarins and limes were also picked and thrown to the ground despite still being unripe.

Owner Denis Kljuce told ABC Perth radio this wasn't the first time something like this had happened, with their sultana variety previously destroyed.

An Aussie farmer has been forced to shut down its annual pick-your-own pomegranates event after visitors destroyed hundreds of kilograms of their fruit during Easter

With fuel and fertiliser costs rising, the latest setback couldn't have come at a worse time.

Mr Kljuce said he was in shock when he found out what had happened.

'I can't see what's happening behind the scenes, but by the time I had a look around, I couldn't believe that 300kg to 400kg was wasted,' he said.

'I caught some adults, but mainly kids not being policed by their parents.'

With pomegranates selling for $8 per kilogram, the loss would have amounted to at least $2,400.

As a result, the Kljuce family said they would have to change the way they operate in the future.

'Due to this, the extreme financial loss and the clean-up we've now been left with, pick-your-own pomegranates will not be happening again,' they said.

'Moving forward, these will be pre-picked by us and available to purchase at our tent.'

The pomegranates would have sold for $8 per kilogram

Mr Kljuce said the event could continue with grapes, but with added conditions like a gold coin entry or allocated time slots.

He told Daily Mail he took steps to ensure visitors followed the rules.

'We clearly explain the rules to every customer prior to entering our vineyard,' he said.

'We also provide samples of our produce so people are aware of what they are picking.

'We police areas as much as we are able to but given we are a small family run vineyard, there are limits to these checks that we carry out.'

Despite the destruction, he said he still enjoys opening the gates to the public.

'We have many beautiful customers and love meeting new people but unfortunately, it is a minority that spoils it for others,' he said.

'We strongly believe it's important for people to experience fruit picking, and for the younger generation to understand where it comes from.'

Grapes on Swan is a small family-run vineyard in the Swan Valley

While he said the family hadn't received any apologies, they had been inundated with messages of support which they were 'tremendously grateful' for.

The vineyard has since sold the remainder of its pomegranates.

Aussies were appalled by the behaviour of the visitors, with many disgusted by how disrespectful they were.

'What a bunch of morons,' one said.

'That would make me so angry so I don't blame you for cancelling. You work hard to make it a nice opportunity for everyone and a few idiots spoil it.'

'Some people are just selfish pigs, but that is an insult to pigs,' a second said.

'Some people are just unjustly entitled and self indulgent a**holes.'
Most of us see bank holidays as a chance to relax with our families. But for others, they are simply an opportunity to break the law.

Groups of travellers are taking advantage of long weekends to 'invade' pristine countryside before concreting it over while council offices are closed.

The trend sees families buy up fields before rapidly converting them into unauthorised caravan pitches when few officials are around to stop them.

'Retrospective' planning applications are then submitted to councils. Even if these fail, legal proceedings to clear the sites are long and costly - allowing travellers to live on them, or rent out caravans to tenants, for months or even years.

A further two landgrabs took place over the Easter weekend, prompting Conservative MPs to demand a change in the law to prevent anyone from being able to apply for retrospective planning permission after 'flagrant' planning breaches.

In Sundridge - considered one of Kent's most desirable villages - a group of travellers brought in diggers under the cover of darkness on Friday before spreading rubble on a field and smoothing it to make hard standing.

Up to 30 lorries arrived at the site during the 'military style' operation, with the first family moving in on Sunday. Angry villagers called the police and tried to block the road - leading to one being arrested on Sunday for 'obstructing the highway'.

In Flamstead, Hertfordshire, villagers say they spotted heavy machinery being moved in on Thursday night before a large area of concrete was laid on a field forming part of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Once again, residents tried to stop the incomers but were met by thugs wielding iron bars. Police said they could intervene to prevent breaches of the peace but 'have no enforcement powers to prevent access to the land or building work taking place'.

Flamstead, Hertfordshire: Villagers have been left furious after a group thought to be travellers barged their way onto a field

Sundridge, Kent: A lorry carrying a static home onto the legal site got stuck down a narrow lane

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The multi-millionaire residents of Sundridge are among those calling for stronger enforcement powers to stop travellers from using bank holidays as cover for wrecking the countryside.

'The council should have a quick response team backed up by police force if necessary,' one wrote online. 'Small groups should not be allowed to rip up the countryside like this.'

Another resident, Eammon Johnston, added: 'They love the bank holidays - it takes longer to get a court order.'

Laura Trott, the MP for Sevenoaks and shadow education secretary, insisted criminals were being encouraged by planning laws that leave open the prospect of traveller sites being allowed to remain even if they were built illegally.

'This situation underlines again why we must see a change in the law,' she said. 'Flagrant breaches such as this should never be able to apply for retrospective planning consent.

'Residents who follow the rules are understandably frustrated and angered when others show such disregard for planning law - and they are absolutely right to feel that way.'

The Tory MP also condemned the Sevenoaks District Council for failing to take immediate action.

'I am incredibly disappointed and deeply frustrated to learn from the council that no action will be taken until Tuesday,' she said.

'Illegal developments must be shut down immediately, whether they occur over a bank holiday weekend or not. To help do this the law must catch up.'

The field in question  which sits at the junction of Penn Lane and Church Road - was recently sold at auction.

Local resident Karl Brooks said: 'Anyone can buy the land, use the Easter holiday, get the digger in, clear the ground, put in the hardcore, bring the caravans in by Monday. The enforcement team finished Thursday night so do what you want for four days.'

Diggers and bulldozers descended on a field near Flamstead on Thursday

Villagers likened the situation to being 'invaded'. Pictured are tractors carrying out illegal works

Dacorum Borough Council said that an emergency injunction has been granted by the court to stop works at the site

Cllr Nigel Williams, of Sevenoaks District Council and Kent County Council, echoed his frustration.

'I'm absolutely furious about this because the law is totally hopeless when it comes to situations like this,' he said.

'It was a military-style operation. They swept in on Friday morning pulled down trees and ripped up hedge and then lorry after lorry arrived with hardcore and they created hard standing for vehicles and homes.

'As soon as the district council opens, I will be imploring them to take out an emergency injunction and then to take further action to remove the travellers and return the site to its former condition.'

The local parish council also declared itself to be 'extremely disappointed' that no action would be taken until today because of the Easter bank holiday.

The illegal development in the Hertfordshire village of Flamstead has left locals similarly livid.

Residents tried to stop lorries arriving at the site only to be met by 'violent abuse' and 'people wielding iron bars'.

One man in his 50s told the BBC: 'The vans and caravans drove at us, basically, pushing their way through and bumping into people.

'They were determined to get through us and were really aggressive. It was absolutely horrendous.'

Locals believe around 300 trips were made by people delivering materials onto the site, with the work continuing despite a stop notice being issued on Saturday by Dacorum Borough Council.

One local man was arrested in the wealthy Kent village of Sundridge on Sunday morning for obstructing a police officer, but was later released

Up to 30 lorries arrived at the site and dumped rubble on the field before workers flattened it to make hard standing

Council leader Sally Symington said: 'These works are unauthorised and are a serious breach of the planning process.

'I share residents' anger and devastation that a section of the community has ridden roughshod over the council's planning processes and has now breached the temporary stop notice and occupied the site.

On Sunday, the council applied for an emergency court injunction and papers were served later that day.

An increase in illegal development over weekends and bank holidays has been a problem for years.

Last May, a group of 30 Conservative MPs wrote to the Home Secretary to complain that travellers were buying 'rural or greenfield' plots in their areas before illegally converting them into permanent sites offering caravans to rent.

They wrote: 'Across the country communities are now being subjected to a wave of illegal development. Purchasers, often from Gypsy, Roma & Traveller (GRT) communities, buy rural or greenfield plots.

'Over a weekend or bank holiday they carry out rapid works such as topsoil removal, laying hardcore, creating access points, pulling up hedgerows and installing fencing and sewage tanks.

'The site is quickly occupied with caravans and large mobile homes. This is all done with complete disregard for the law.

'Councils then face lengthy enforcement processes, as well as retrospective planning applications and appeals. This tactic can make immediate stop or enforcement action harder and ties up planning and legal resources for months or even years.'

Last night, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch blamed the European Convention on Human Rights for making it harder to stop illegal sites.

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Legislation introduced by the Tories in 2022 increased the period that police could ban travellers from an area from three to a year and gave officers the power to fine, arrest and imprison people living on roadside camps.

But the legislation hit a roadblock in 2024 after the High Court found parts of it violated the ECHR.

'For years, towns and villages across Britain have been forced to accept criminality in their communities, but each measure we have used to deal with illegal traveller sites has fallen foul of the ECHR,' Ms Badenoch said.

'That is why I have serious plans to end the power of foreign courts to frustrate the will of Parliament, and to back our police with the powers and resources they need.'

Sevenoaks District Council said about the site in Sundridge: 'Officers visited the site on several occasions over the bank holiday weekend as part of our response to the alleged planning breach.

'We are continuing to investigate today and are visiting the site again this morning (Tuesday 7 April) as we consider the legal and other enforcement options open to us.

'We are aware that one family has moved onto the site, which they own, and enforcement action will be proportionate to any breach, taking account of Government guidance and legislation as well as our local planning policies.'

For many, their response is yet more proof of the plodding official response to flagrant law-breaking unfolding on their doorstep.

With two more bank holidays to follow next month, which village will be next?
Photos have captured selfie-loving tourists defying official warnings to stay away from Highland cows after the animals went viral on social media.

Visitors in their droves made their way to Butser Hill in Hampshire over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend after interest in the cows 'exploded' online.

Several TikTok videos featuring the animals have gone viral in recent months, with more than 300,000 video hashtags relating them - with some boasting over 50,000 likes.

One walker told their followers this is 'your sign to visit the Highland cows in Hampshire,' while another posted about 'a wholesome hike you must do before winter is over'.

But the videos have led to a surge in tourists visiting the beauty spot near Petersfield, with some spotted taking selfies from mere feet away.

Queen Elizabeth Country Park, which runs the nature reserve, has urged visitors to 'not touch or approach' Highland cows amid the hike in social media attention.

Earlier this year, Hampshire Fire and Rescue were forced to rescue three visitors who became disoriented and got stuck on the tricky terrain while searching for the cows.

A woman can be seen getting quite close with a Highland cow on Butser Hill in Hampshire despite warnings to keep clear of the animals

In another picture, the woman can be seen leaning into the animal despite the reserve warning visitors 'not to approach' the animals

A group of people taking a selfie near the rustic cattle near Petersfield, Hampshire over the weekend

Station manager Steve Jenkins said that while social media posts show the Highland cows and panoramic views, they 'rarely reflect the physical effort or preparation required to reach them'.

'The terrain can be challenging, especially during winter when poor weather conditions are more frequent and the daylight hours are limited,' he said.

'The area is covered in thick gorse, and the wet weather has made the ground very slippery.

'Without proper preparation, visitors are at risk of slips, falls and hypothermia. We're glad no one was harmed during this incident, but it highlights the risks of visiting an exposed downland environment where conditions can change rapidly.'

Mr Jenkins advised visitors to check weather conditions, plan a route before heading out and wear appropriate clothing, including sturdy footwear.

In Ashford, Kent, park rangers were forced to put their Highland cows into hiding after the animals became 'distressed' by people ignoring warnings and 'actively approaching' them.

Tourists also flocked to the Hothfield Heathlands Nature Reserve to see the cows 'free grazing' after they found social media fame.

Join the discussion Would you risk it for the photo - or keep your distance?

Local firefighters have attempted to deter people from visiting the cows after they had to rescue three people in January (Pictured: A visitor in Hampshire over the weekend)

A young girl posing near a Highland cow at Butser Hill in Hampshire over the weekend

It comes amid a surge in social media interest in the rustic cattle with more than 200,000 video hashtags relating to the animals on TikTok

Wildlife experts previously urged visitors to stay well back from a herd of Highland cows in Ashford, Kent, amid a surge of TikTokers descending on the site

Park rangers have since been forced to remove Highland cows from a nature reserve after visitors ignored warnings to keep their distance amid an unexpected social media attention

But the newfound fame was largely negative for the cows, who became unsettled and distressed as they couldn't eat or sleep without being bothered by visitors despite stark warnings from Kent Wildlife Trust that the animals were 'not pets'.

Several TikTok clips showed visitors walking up to the cattle, leaving the path to stand with them as they graze, and even trying to pet them.

Kent Wildlife Trust previously pointed out that these videos often showed the cows in clear signs of distress - shaking their horns as the filming influencers approach.

And due to the repeated warnings being ignored, the nature reserve was forced to move its Highland cows due to welfare concerns.

In a social media post, they said: 'We're sad to say we've made the decision to remove the cows at Hothfield Heathlands, at least for the time being.

'After some recent viral posts of people getting up close (and sometimes even touching) the cows, interest in them has exploded.

'We love that people love our animals, but unfortunately lots of people have been ignoring our 10-metre rule and the pressure on the lovely Highlands has become too much.

'When under pressure, the cows can become distressed and not carry out their jobs as ecosystem engineers.

An influx of tourists has resulted in negative outcomes elsewhere, with park rangers in Ashford forced to remove their Highland cows from a nature reserve

Queen Elizabeth Country Park who run the park in Hampshire also urged visitors to keep their dogs under control (Pictured: More visitors over the weekend)

A woman taking a picture of one of the Highland cows while two others observe the rustic cattle

Three tourists on Buster Hill nearby a Highland cow as they take pictures of the animals

Despite stressed guidance, the Highland cattle in Kent became unsettled as they were unable to sleep or eat without being bothered

'That's best case - and worst case, they could start to react out of fear.'

They added: 'To keep our cows and everybody safe and healthy, we've moved the Highlands for now,' the post continued.

'This'll be sad for those of you who love to visit them safely at Hothfield - we can only apologise and hope you understand.'

Ian Rickards, Kent Wildlife Trust area manager, said: 'The constant pressure will be affecting the animals' ability to behave naturally.

'Also, the effect of hundreds of people walking off paths across sensitive habitat will be damaging the wildlife the site is designated for.'
The Arizona woman who was found alive after going missing 32 years ago is a married mother-of-three now living in Missouri, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Christina Plante is pictured for the first time in three decades after she was discovered in Springfield, a city 1,100 miles from where she disappeared as a 13-year-old girl.

She forged a totally new life, marrying as a teen and having three sons before earning a psychology degree and getting a job with a private investigations firm.

But Plante has made it clear she doesn't want to talk about why she left the tiny community of Star Valley, 100 miles northeast of Phoenix, shortly after noon on a Sunday in May 1994.

'She isn't being very cooperative with us. She wouldn't say who she met with or how she even got of out of the town,' Chief Deputy Jim Lahti of Gila County Sheriff's Office in Arizona told the Daily Mail.

'She did admit that she ran away. She didn't want to be there, and she connected with another undisclosed family member.'

And Plante, 45, was similarly tight-lipped when the Daily Mail asked about her disappearance when we visited the five-bedroom home she now shares with husband Shawn Hollon, 49.

Christina Plante, was 13 when she vanished in 1994. Now the Daily Mail has located her in Springfield, Missouri, where she is a married mother of three boys

Known as Tina Plante as a child, this picture was widely distributed after she went missing in 1994 as cops desperately searched for her

'She's processing it all,' her husband of 28 years said about how she feels about being found.

Hollon, a software engineering manager, said she shared her story with him before they tied the knot in 1998.

But he declined to divulge details, saying: 'I think you'll probably have to talk with her about that.'

Christina  known as Tina  was 13 when her uncle, Gary Plante, reported her missing. Her disappearance sparked a massive search and missing person probe.

Cops initially feared she may have been taken by her mother, who did not have legal custody of her.

But this was never confirmed, and with all leads dried up, Plante's disappearance became yet another unsolved missing person case gathering dust on a shelf.

That was until a new Cold Case unit led by Captain Jamie Garrett revisited the file with the help of modern technology and social media, said Lahti.

He told the Daily Mail: 'Captain Garrett gave the case to one of our civilian investigators. They started probing around online, checking out social media, and they made a few public records requests.

Christina married Shawn Hollon when she was just 17, four years after she disappeared from Arizona

Christina Hollon still doesn't want the full story of why and how she vanished to be known

Christina's husband Shawn Hollon said she told him of her history before they married in 1998

Christina and her husband have three sons. They live in this house in Springfield, Missouri

'That's pretty much how they put it together.

'It was just a literal pull it off the shelf, dust it off and say, 'Here, take a look and see if you can find this person'.'

Captain Garrett, who contacted Plante to confirm her identity, revealed she was left 'dumbfounded' when the missing woman said she had left willingly.

'I was like, 'Oh, my gosh. Okay, so you ran away,' Garrett told NewsNation's Jesse Weber Live.

'I told her, 'You know, we were under the impression that somebody kidnapped you. It was deemed a criminal offense'.

'I guess she wasn't happy with where she was living and who she was living with, and she ran away,' the cold case investigator said.

Plante was 'surprised' to be contacted after hiding her tracks for so long. She wouldn't say anything that could potentially incriminate anyone who had helped her, added Lahti.

'But she was very, very guarded and wanted to remain as private as possible.'

Terry Hudgens, an ex-Gila County sheriff's deputy who led the initial search, told NBC Plante's disappearance arose from a 'custody battle' between her mother and father.

He said Plante's dad had custody of her, but she wanted to live with her mom.

According to him, the mother and daughter met at a stable where she kept her horse and later drove to Phoenix Airport and disappeared.

The sheriff in Gila County, Arizona, sent out missing person bulletins in 1995 saying that Tina had gone to a stable but never arrived

Now the sheriff has closed the case after Tina was found

Tina is now 'processing' the fact that she has been discovered by cops, her husband Shawn told the Daily Mail

'That's a part of it,' Lahti said when asked about Hudgens's account, but added the teen's father was dead and she was living with her aunt and uncle at the time.

Her aunt and uncle could not be reached for comment.

Plante fled to Missouri and was just 17 when she wed Shawn Hollon, then 21, according to a newspaper article published in the Springfield News-Leader on March 20, 1998.

She and Hollon are pictured cutting their wedding cake in a nostalgic social media snap he shared on March 19, 2023, to mark their 25th wedding anniversary.

In a caption alongside the photograph, he wrote: '25 years ago today. 3 grown kids. Many happy memories. Here's to 25 more.'

The Hollons bought their first home, a three-bedroom new-build, in Springfield in June 1999 for $86,450, property records reveal.

They welcomed their firstborn, Michael, in August 1999, before a second son, Nathan, arrived in 2002, and their third son, Matthew, came along in 2005.

In May 2010, the couple sought a bigger house for their expanded brood and bought their current home in Springfield for $156,689.

She left tiny Star Valley, Arizona for a new life 1,100 miles away in Missouri

Chief Deputy Jim Lahti (left) said Tina 'isn't being very cooperative' after Captain Jamie Garrett tracked her down

Plante appears to have forged a successful personal and professional life in the years since she fled Arizona.

In pictures shared on social media, she is pictured snorkeling with her husband in Cancun, Mexico, and celebrating one son's graduation with her family.

She earned a psychology degree from Missouri State University in 2020 and is a team supervisor for Worldwide Resources, a Springfield-based private investigations firm which specializes in probing insurance claims fraud.

Plante shows up in Missouri property records in March 1999, but her mother, Mary, appears to have been living there as early as August 1995, with records placing her in a two-bedroom home in Springfield.

Mary Plante subsequently married Dan Wood, who died in December 2006, aged 62.

In December 2024, Plante became her mother's court-appointed guardian and conservator following a Parkinson's Disease diagnosis. She now lives in a care home.

Plante is described in court documents as Wood's 'only biological childwith whom [she] has had consistent contact with over the past twenty years.'

Her other biological daughter was adopted as a child, while a biological son has been estranged from Wood for many years, the documents state.

Though Plante is resolved to keep her secrets, cops are still counting her case as a win, Lahti said.

'Even with all the unknowns, and the shroud that she wants to keep around a lot of it, it is a good thing when we can say: 'Here's somebody we initially thought had been abducted by a stranger, and we had no idea if they were even still alive'.

'Now we can say they are alive, living a normal life and seem to be happy and doing well.'
The American journalist who was kidnapped in Iraq last week has been released.

Iraqi officials said Shelly Kittleson, 49, had been returned on Tuesday following her abduction from a Baghdad street corner.

She was in Baghdad to cover the impact of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Officials of the Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah told KSTP that Kittleson was instructed to 'leave the country immediately' upon her release.

Kittleson is based in Rome, Italy and has been traveling the Middle East for freelance journalism for more than a decade, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

Two anonymous Iraqi security officials said that in exchange for Kittleson's freedom, at least six members of Kataib Hezbollah who Iraqi officials had detained were released.

Iraqi authorities reportedly detained the members due to their involvement in attacks on the US base in Syria.

In a statement, Kataib Hezbollah said the decision came 'in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing' Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.

Shelly Kittleson, 49, was released a week after being abducted by Khatib Hezbollah in Iraq

Kittleson was reportedly abducted from a street corner in Baghdad on March 31. Two vehicles were involved in her abduction

'This initiative will not be repeated in the future,' they added. 'We are in a state of war waged by the Zionist-American enemy against Islam, and in such situations, many considerations are disregarded.'

Kittleson was reportedly free by the afternoon but her whereabouts have not been revealed. She was previously held in Baghdad.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio officially announced Kittleson's release on X on Tuesday evening.

'I am pleased to announce the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was recently kidnapped by members of the foreign terrorist organization Kataib Hizballah near Baghdad, Iraq,' he wrote.

'The U.S. Department of State extends its appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of War, U.S. personnel across multiple agencies, and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and our Iraqi partners, for their assistance in securing her release.

'This resolution reflects the Trump Administration's steadfast commitment to the safety and security of American citizens, no matter where they are in the world. Under President Trump, the wrongful detention or kidnapping of U.S. nationals will not be tolerated.

'We will continue to use every tool to bring Americans home and to hold accountable those responsible. We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq.'

Kittleson has been a freelance journalist in the Middle East for more than a decade. She primarily reported in Iraq and Syria

Kataib Hezbollah was allegedly responsible for missile strikes on the US Embassy in Baghdad

On Tuesday, Kataib Hezbollah uploaded a video of Kittleson, reported the New York Times.

Kataib Hezbollah officials released the video to illustrate 'the role of [Kittleson] and her activities in Iraq.'

In the heavily edited footage, Kittleson said she gave information about Iraqi militias to an American diplomat.

'I collected information, but it wasn't enough and they asked me for more,' she said.

Experts in international law told the Times that the video was likely made under duress and statements within it could be coerced.

The US State Department reportedly warned Kittleson against entering Iraq, given reported threats against the journalist and her safety.

Kataib Hezbollah released a video of Kittleson shortly before her releasing in which the journalist 'confesses' to giving information to US diplomats

She was allegedly abducted by a group of unidentified men near her hotel in the Iraqi capital on March 31.

Kittleson was snatched by armed men near the Palestine Hotel on Al-Saadoun Street in central Baghdad.

Two cars were involved in her kidnapping, officials said. One crashed southwest of Baghdad while being pursued. Kittleson was loaded into a second car and rushed away.

Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite group based in Iraq, is a separate group from the Hezbollah movement, an Iran-backed group in Lebanon.

But both groups are closely linked to Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and are listed by the US government as terrorist organizations.

Kataib Hezbollah has frequently launched rocket and drone attacks against US targets in the war against Iran, including missile strikes on the US Embassy in Baghdad.

The group had not previously stated that they were responsible for Kittleson's abduction.

The US State Department said it warned Kittleson against entering Iraq due to threats against her

Some anonymous officials said negotiations regarding Kittleson's release had been difficult.

'The primary challenge is that the leaders of the Kataib militia  specifically, the commanders of the battalions  are nowhere to be found,' they said. 'No one knows their whereabouts, and the process of establishing contact with them is extremely complex.'

Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces were assigned to secure Kittleson's release along with the FBI and the US State Department.

Kittleson's release came hours after President Donald Trump made threats to Iran if officials failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm on April 7.

'A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'I don't want that to happen, but it probably will.'

He has since announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

The Daily Mail contacted the US State Department, the US Embassy in Baghdad and the FBI for more information.
A frail 80-year-old Marine veteran who served in Vietnam is now working full-time as a Lyft driver to help pay medical bills for himself and his wife.

Richard Hoppin picks up passengers five days a week from the couple's only vehicle, and drops them off at locations across Arizona and even into California to make a couple hundred dollars.

'That extra money that he makes really keeps us into where we are,' Hoppin's wife, Catherine, told KYMA from their Sun City home.

'Otherwise, we'd probably be, I don't know... maybe we'd be homeless. I don't know.'

Hoppin has both multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease, and Catherine is fighting lung cancer. She recently underwent radiation treatment, three sessions of which cost $50,000.

Insurance covered some of the cost, but she said she is still making payments.

The couple now credits a lot of their ability to pay those bills to Hoppin's Lyft driving.

'I pick up, normally six to eight rides a day, normally five days a week,' he said. 'Some rides are real long, some are real short.'

Richard Hoppin picks up passengers five days a week from his and his wife's only vehicle, and drops them off at locations across Arizona and even into California

He and his wife, Catherine, say the extra money is essential to help pay for their medical bills

Hoppin's efforts have not gone unnoticed in the community.

'It breaks my heart to see him drive... to make ends meet,' said Michael Long, a friend and neighbor, who has started an online fundraiser to help relieve the couple's financial strain.

It notes that the Hoppin couple lost their only son to cancer a few years ago and 'since then, they have had no one to care for them.'

'Their health is declining and the cost of medical care, food and utilities is overwhelming,' Long wrote in the fundraiser.

'With no family left to support them, they are relying on the kindness of neighbors and the community.'

Long told KYMA he does not know the couple's 'real financial situation.'

'So I just hope that, you know, that the goodness of people will come forward and donate something, whatever just to make their lives a little bit more comfortable,' he said. 'That's all I can ask for.'

More than 400 donors have since stepped up to help the couple, raising nearly $28,000 in funds for the couple as of Tuesday evening.

Michael Long (left) has set up an online fundraiser to help ease the couple's financial burden

But Hoppin said he does not mind the long drives, describing them as a way to keep busy during retirement and meet new people.

'After I retired, sitting at home isn't the thing,' he said. 'If you want to die, just sit at home.

'I thought I'd do something constructive and house people,' the Marine veteran continued. 'And they need a ride, so I give them a ride.'

He added that he now hopes to keep driving for another five years, as long as his health remains the same.
A 34-year-old seasoned kayaker tragically drowned after encountering choppy waters on a Vermont river.

Sarah Goldberg, of Morrisville, was kayaking with a friend on the icy Lamoille River in Wolcott Saturday when turbulent waters overturned her boat.

Goldberg was unable to escape her capsized kayak and tragically drowned, according to police.

The Lamoille County Sheriffs Department said officers rushed to the river just before 2pm, NBC5 reported.

When first responders arrived, they discovered a body floating face down in the water.

'What it looks like, is [Sarah] got into some turbulent water and ended up out of her kayak upside down, and wasnt able to swim out of it,' Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux told WCAX.

'It sounds like a pretty horrific scene where they were trying to get to her as she was floating down the river unconscious, and finally her partner was able to get hold of her,' he added.

First responders began CPR and rushed Goldberg to Copley Hospital, but she was later pronounced dead.

Sarah Goldberg, identified via Facebook, of Morrisville, was kayaking with a friend on the icy Lamoille River in Wolcott Saturday when turbulent waters overturned her boat

The Lamoille County Sheriffs Department said officers rushed to the river just before 2pm

Goldbergs kayaking partner, Maddie Clark of Marshfield, told WCAX that both were experienced paddlers eager to get back on the river after winter.

Clark added that no one is safe from the dangers of cold water and fast currents.

Tributes poured in on social media for the 34-year-old, as locals sent condolences to Goldberg's loved ones.

'So sorry for the family and friends that lost this precious family member,' one person wrote via Facebook.

'Sending love and light to all [who are] impacted by this,' another person posted.

'She was so experienced and the smartest person I knew. She never would have done something if she didn't think it was 100 percent safe. There is a massive hole in our community right now that nothing will ever fill it,' another user posted.

Even well-prepared paddlers can be at risk on Vermont waterways this time of year.

'There are a lot of lurking dangers out there that we have to be aware of,' Steven Brownlee, owner of the outdoors wear brand Umiak Outfitters, told the outlet.

Brownlee offered safety tips, emphasizing the importance of dressing properly from head to toe in icy conditions to protect against frostbite.

Wearing life jackets and helmets while kayaking was also highlighted, as Clark confirmed they were properly equipped and wearing the correct gear on the water.

First responders rushed Goldberg to Copley Hospital, but she was later pronounced dead

Goldbergs kayaking partner, Maddie Clark, added that no one is safe from the dangers of cold water and fast currents

Brownlee stressed the importance of scouting the river first, by checking water levels and assessing rapid currents.

He advised less-experienced paddlers take classes to handle emergencies and always avoid going out alone during this season.

The incident is still under investigation, NBC5 reported.
A Florida woman was accused of stealing nearly $200,000 from homeowners' associations to pay for shopping, vacations and plastic surgery.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office issued a warrant for ex-bookkeeper Alexandra Delacaridad Gonzalez's arrest on Wednesday and she is now on the run.

Officials alleged that she pocketed money while working at Avant-Garde Property Management in Stuart.

The company assisted with the homeowners' associations of multiple high-profile communities. Gonzalez was fired after the accusations came to light.

Police claimed Gonzalez spent the last year writing checks to herself using HOA accounts that she managed.

'[She] concealed the thefts by creating fictitious invoices and false ledger entries,' a statement from the sheriff's office said.

Gonzalez then forged the signatures of 'authorized account holders' and cashed the checks for her own enjoyment, police said.

'The suspect started with smaller amounts like $2,000, but going at it multiple times a week, like five times a week,' Sheriff John Budensiek told WPBF.

Police say Alexandra Delacaridad Gonzalez is on the run after allegedly pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars from her workplace

Gonzalez worked for property management company Avant-Garde Property Management, which managed multiple Homeowners' Associations, including the Dunes of Hutchinson Island (pictured)

'So, about $10,000 a week was going in her pocket, and then she progressed from the $2,000 increments into the $5,000 increments at which she was fired and issued a warrant for her arrest.'

Owner Liz Diaz immediately notified clients and law enforcement 'upon learning of the potential loss caused by [Gonzalez].'

'We promptly assisted and fully cooperated with our clients and law enforcement to protect our clients and the communities we serve,' she said.

'We want to see justice for our clients, and we will continue to fully cooperate in any prosecution and restitution efforts.'

Police said Gonzalez's primary victims were the residents within the Whitemarsh Reserve and the Dunes of Hutchinson Island communities.

According to WPTV, Gonzalez allegedly stole approximately $85,000 from Dunes of Hutchinson Island and $111,000 from Whitemarsh Reserve.

'She lived a lavish lifestyle for that year-long period where she was stealing money from these two HOAs in Martin County,' Budensiek said.

Resident Bob Marvin said neighbors were shocked and 'angry' to find out what Gonzalez had done.

'She always looked professional, she acted professional and we thought we made a good choice,' he said.

Gonzalez's accused actions could cost residents more in the long run, on top of all of the money they reportedly lost.

Gonzalez was previously arrested for knowingly driving while her license was suspended, revoked or canceled. Most recently, her bail was set at $1,350,000

'Could they get higher HOA fees? The answer is yes, potentially,' Budensiek said.

'I mean, $200,000 for an HOA is a lot of money, and so we're actually furious that this lady had the nerve to do what she did and take advantage of our citizens here.'

Gonzalez will be charged with two counts of fraud exceeding $50,000 and two counts of grand theft.

Police are also seeking to charge Gonzalez with 61 counts of uttering false instruments and 59 counts of embezzlement.

Gonzalez's bail has been set at $1,350,000. Police believe she may be in the Miramar or Vero Beach area.

Police have asked anyone with knowledge of Gonzalez's whereabouts to contact the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

Gonzalez was previously arrested for knowingly driving while her license was suspended, revoked or canceled.

The Daily Mail contacted the Martin County Sheriff's Office and Avant-Garde Property Management for comment.
The body of a five-year-old boy was tragically discovered in a northern California lake on Monday.

Police say the boy went into Shasta Lake without a life jacket and disappeared underwater.

The childs parents were unable to reach him in time to put the safety floatie on before he was pulled under.

'Before the parents could remove the juvenile from the water to put on his personal flotation device, he had gone underwater,' the Shasta County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

Deputies responded to the missing juvenile call at 11.22am, with assistance from Cal Fire, the US Forest Service, and the California Highway Patrols air operations unit.

Over an hour later, at 12.33pm, the Shasta County Dive Team located and retrieved the boy's lifeless body.

He was pronounced dead and released to the Shasta County Coroner's Office for further investigation.

'No foul play is suspected,' the office said. 'The juveniles identity is not being released at this time.'

The body of a five-year-old boy was tragically discovered in Shasta Lake on Monday

The childs parents were unable to reach him in time to put the safety floatie on before he was pulled under, according to the sheriff's office

The agency expressed its 'sincere condolences' to the young boys family, loved ones, and all those affected.

'This incident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly a routine outing can become tragic,' the office said.

They also shared safety tips, encouraging the public to check all boating and safety equipment to ensure it is in proper working condition as the weather warms up.

Officials have warned that cold water can raise the risk of drowning because it weakens the body and makes it harder to move.

Shasta Lake is one of Californias most popular summer destinations, drawing large crowds for spring and summer outdoor activities.

The 30,000-acre reservoir is located about 10 miles north of Redding, with roughly 370 miles of shoreline that wind around smooth coves ideal for anchoring, according to its website.

Under California law, any child under 13 must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while on a moving recreational vessel of any kind.

This requirement does not apply to juveniles who are inside an enclosed cabin or on a vessel engaged in an emergency rescue situation.

This tragedy follows another incident involving a 19-year-old man who was swept away and later found dead in a California river on March 23.

Brian Marcellino Gallardo was found dead by rescue divers after he vanished while swimming in the Truckee River over the weekend, according to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office.

Brian Gallardo on his birthday, he was swept away and later found dead in a California river on March 23

The search for Gallardo began on Saturday after he went underwater and did not resurface around 3pm near Floriston, prompting officials to use K9 teams, drones, helicopters, and several other rescue agencies to help locate him.

Several photos showed the teenager from Petaluma and his girlfriend smiling and posing next to the river, where the tragedy struck.

Water conditions on the day Gallardo disappeared were stronger and more frigid than usual due to melting snow runoff, which had lowered the rivers temperature to about 44 degrees Fahrenheit, according to KCRA.

Officials noted how drownings can quickly occur, leaving devastating impacts on families, responders, and communities.

Additionally, they advised the public to use caution around waterways and added that the Truckee River is 'currently fast-moving, cold, and dangerous for utilization.'
A retired US Navy SEAL has interrupted a live television interview about Donald Trump and the war in Iran to call for the release of Australia's most decorated soldier, who was arrested over alleged war crimes.

Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, will face court on Wednesday after being charged with two counts of the war crime of murder and three counts of aiding or abetting the same charge.

The maximum penalty for the charges is life imprisonment.

The Victoria Cross recipient, who spent the night in custody, is accused of murdering unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, as well as failing to stop members of his unit from killing three others.

Roberts-Smith was taken into custody by Australian Federal Police officers at Sydney Domestic Airport after arriving on a flight from Brisbane on Tuesday morning, in front of his teenage twin daughters.

Former US Navy SEAL veteran turned entrepreneur Mike Sarraille appeared on Sunrise on Wednesday morning to discuss President Trump's threat that 'a whole civilisation will die' as his deadline to avoid the war from escalating in Iran looms.

But as co-host Nat Barr wrapped up the interview, the Texas-based Mr Sarraille was not yet finished, issuing a pointed message to Australian authorities.

'Free Ben-Roberts-Smith!' he told a stunned Barr, as co-host Matt Shirvington changed the topic by quickly moving on to the next segment.

Former US Navy SEAL veteran Mike Sarraille (right) went off script during a live interview with Sunrise host Nat Barr

US Navy SEAL veteran extended his support for former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, who is accused of the murder of unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan

Mr Sarraille has joined a host of high-profile figures who have pledged their support for Roberts-Smith in the wake of his arrest.

Others include X owner and billionaire Elon Musk, Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart, former prime minister Tony Abbott, and One Nation leader Pauline Hanson.

President Trump has since agreed to suspend the attack on Iran for a fortnight.

Earlier in his Sunrise interview, Mr Sarraille warned that the war in Iran will likely result in the loss of civilian lives.

'That is the unfortunate part of war - that collateral damage does happen with these sort of strikes,' he said.

'It's not black and white. Having served for 20 years, we operate in shades of grey. And unfortunately, civilians end up in the line of fire.

'And I'm going to tell you, professional militaries like the Australian military and the US military, we do everything in our power to maintain their safety or to mitigate risk to civilians in areas where fighting is going on.

'That is part of being a professional soldier, that's part of following the rules of war.'
Reform UK has vowed to resume drilling in the North Sea for oil and gas to help the UK produce its own energy if it wins the next election.

Nigel Farage's party pledged to use Britain's 'energy treasure' to create jobs, boost growth and cut bills by ending the ban on further exploration.

Analysts have predicted that energy bills could rise by nearly 300 a year from July when the energy price cap increases.

It comes as ministers clash over whether Labour should restart oil and gas extraction or stick with Ed Miliband's Net Zero goals.

The Energy Secretary  who is pro-renewables and against any further exploration  is at odds with Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who thinks drilling is good for growth.

He is said to be considering approving the Jackdaw gas field off Scotland but remains opposed to the Rosebank oil field, which is thought to contain up to 300million barrels.

Nigel Farage's party pledged to use Britain's 'energy treasure' to create jobs, boost growth and cut bills by ending the ban on further exploration

Reform said on Tuesday it would approve both fields, saying the need to exploit homegrown oil and gas reserves had never been more urgent.

Energy spokesman Richard Tice said: 'Opening up the North Sea to more licences and production is our vital, patriotic duty.

'Energy security and independence is essential and can only be secured by using our own oil and gas.

'We must scrap Net Zero and all the damaging expensive carbon taxes. The Tories and Labour have deliberately made us poorer with their Net Zero obsession.'

The party said it aimed to increase UK oil and gas production by at least half.
Kristi Noem's controversial $70 milion luxury jet will remain under the Trump administration's purview as First Lady Melania Trump will be among those who get to use it.

Some of the President's Cabinet secretaries will also be allowed to use the aircraft, which was originally purchased to help with Trump's mass deportation agenda, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The jet was bought by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and featured a bedroom, showers, a kitchen, four large flat-screen TVs and even a bar, according to images obtained by NBC News in February.

The aircraft had already been leased by DHS and was used for a recent trip by Noem to Tel Aviv.

A spokesman for DHS affirmed that the $70 million jet was purchased prior to the confirmation of new Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

'This aircraft will be available to Cabinet members who need secure command and control and rapid long-range mobility,' they added.

The White House referred reporters to the DHS when asked for comment.

During its bid to buy the plane, ICE claimed it would be used for deportations and travel by Cabinet officials, including DHS leadership such as Noem.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement purchased the jet, which has a bedroom, for $70 million

The White House will keep the aircraft and use it to transport some Cabinet secretaries

First Lady Melania Trump will be among those who are allowed to use the jet

The aircraft had already been leased by DHS and was used for a recent trip by Noem to Tel Aviv

But some DHS officials privately expressed concern to NBC about whether the luxury 737 jet was necessary for Noem to carry out the President's mass deportation agenda.

When asked how the plane would be used for deportations, a DHS spokesman said 'at least one of the bedrooms is currently being converted for seating to prepare the aircraft to meet the demands of its deportation mission'.

NBC's scoop caused the Republican National Committee to blast the story to the top power brokers and media pundits in the Republican Party.

That week, the story was sent to an email list filled with some of the most important operators in the GOP, including RNC members.

'Knives are out for Noem. They only send out stories they want folks to know about,' one GOP operator on the RNC's list told the Daily Mail. 'They don't send out every clipping.'

An RNC spokesman, however, downplayed the significance of the story being sent to the narrow email server filled with top officials in the GOP.

'Whoever this 'source' is clearly has no idea how media monitoring works,' RNC Communications Director Zach Parkinson told the Daily Mail.

'The RNC Communications team routinely monitors and alerts all kinds of stories - even fake ones - as it helps Republican communicators push back on legacy media lies.'

Join the discussion Should taxpayer-funded jets be used for officials' personal travel and luxury, or strictly official business?

Noem, who was ousted from DHS last month, previously faced criticism for the lavish purchase

Some DHS officials privately expressed concern about whether the luxury 737 jet was necessary for Noem to carry out the President's mass deportation agenda

The jet also features showers, a kitchen, four large flat-screen TVs and even a bar

'Secretary Noem and all of President Trump's appointees at DHS are doing great work and have the RNC's full support,' added Parkinson.

Noem was let go as DHS Secretary on March 5, with Mullin confirmed by the Senate shortly after.

Political appointees in ICE and the White House initially were not going to purchase the plane but suddenly changed their minds, according to NBC's report.

'That particular plane was a 'no,' we weren't going to buy it. Then all of a sudden, they said 'yes,'' a DHS official said.
The wife of a US Army staff sergeant was released after being detained by ICE while the couple was attempting to move into their new home on a Louisiana military base.

Annie Ramos, 22, was freed on Tuesday after five days in federal custody at a detention center in Basile, Louisiana - but still needs to wear an ankle monitor.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told the Daily Mail that Ramos entered the country illegally from Honduras in 2005. She was just 22 months old.

'She was released on order of supervision with a GPS monitor while she undergoes further removal proceedings,' they said. 'She will receive full due process.'

Ramos was detained on Thursday during an appointment that would have allowed her to join her new husband, Matthew Blank, 23, at a Fort Polk Army base.

Blank was set to begin training for deployment later this month and had planned to set up his new bride with military spouse benefits.

The couple married in March and had hoped to move in together over Easter weekend.

'All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby,' Ramos said in a statement obtained by the Guardian.

'I want to finish my degree, continue my education, and serve my community  just as my husband serves our country with honor.

Annie Ramos, 22, was released on Tuesday after being detained at her husband Matthew Blank's military base in Louisiana

Ramos was being held at an ICE processing center in Basile, Louisiana

'I am deeply grateful to my husband, Matthew, who never stopped fighting for me, and to our families and community who surrounded us with love, prayers and support,' she added. 'Because of them, I am home.'

Ramos is a student at Arizona State University. She was just months from completing her bachelor's degree in biochemistry when she was detained.

Ramos was issued a final notice of removal a few months after entering the country, when her family failed to appear at an immigration court hearing.

Blank was aware that his bride was undocumented, but the couple hired a lawyer before their union to ensure she could obtain citizenship legally.

Blank and Ramos reportedly arrived at the base early for their 2pm appointment on Thursday and checked in at the visitor's center.

They had Ramos's birth certificate and passport, their marriage license and Blank's military ID in tow.

When Ramos told an employee that she did not have a green card or visa, Blank alleged that the worker made a series of frantic phone calls.

Join the discussion Should military families have special protection from deportation, even if immigration laws were broken?

Ramos and Blank met on a dating app last year and quickly fell in love. They got engaged on New Year's Day

Ramos and Blank got married in March. Ramos was detained before they could even move in together

According to the family, a supervisor escalated the simple appointment to the base's criminal investigation division, which contacted ICE and the Department of Homeland Security.

The Department of Homeland Security told the Daily Mail that Ramos 'had no legal status to be in this country.'

'[She] was issued a final order of removal by a judge,' it read. 'This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law.'

In the days that followed, the family contacted everyone they could think of to keep Ramos from being deported.

Blank told the New York Times that it was Arizona Senator Mark Kelly who helped push for Ramos' release.

Kelly spoke with new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, who agreed to bring Ramos home.

Blank issued a statement in Defense of his wife, saying Ramos 'did everything right'

Blank and Ramos met last year on a dating app. They quickly fell in love and were engaged by New Year's Day.

They hosted 60 guests at their wedding last month in Houston before driving to Louisiana to begin their new life.

Blank and his family issued a statement to Dream US in defense of his new wife, saying 'she did everything right' when it came to her citizenship.

'I am a man of faith. I love my country, and I love my wife,' Blank said. 'My wife has lived in the United States since she was a baby.

'When she had the opportunity to apply for legal status, she did everything right. In 2020, she applied for DACA, paid the fees, completed her fingerprints, and, like so many others, her application has been left in limbo.

'I never imagined that trying to do the right thingregistering my wife so she could receive her military ID, access the benefits she is entitled to as my spouse and begin the process toward her green cardwould lead to her being taken away from me.'

Blank has previously been deployed to Europe and the Middle East. He enlisted in the Army five years ago.

Before she was detained, Ramos was months away from earning her bachelor's degree in biochemistry

Blank is set to begin training for deployment at the end of the month. He was assigned to a brigade in Fort Polk

Blank's mother, Jen Rickling, told the New York Times that Ramos is 'absolutely a sweetheart' and issued a statement on her daughter-in-law's behalf.

'Annie is everything you would hope for in a daughter-in-law. She is kind, smart, and dedicated: she teaches Sunday school, shes finishing her degree, and she loves my son with her whole heart,' she said. 'We absolutely adore her.'

'I believe in this country. And I believe we can do better than this  for Annie, for other military families, and for the values we hold dear,' she added.

'My son and my daughter-in-law should be able to build their lives together here, in a nation that my son is so committed to serving.'
An expert has revealed why Ben Roberts-Smith may not have been placed in handcuffs after he was arrested on a plane and led across the tarmac into a cop car.

The 47-year-old was taken into custody by Australian Federal Police on Tuesday over allegations he killed unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

He is also accused of failing to stop members of his unit from killing three others.

But photos of the arrest have sparked questions about why officers chose not to use handcuffs after he arrived on a Qantas flight from Brisbane to Sydney.

Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro told the Daily Mail several factors would have contributed to how authorities planned to approach the veteran.

'I'm sure they made a fairly calculated decision that he was not a risk of flight, he was not going to cause a ruckus, and that he would, in all likelihood, leave the airplane and the airport peacefully,' he said.

'Who knows, he may have asked that he not be cuffed.

'It may have been, notwithstanding the grave nature of the allegations, which have yet to be proven in a court of law, a mark of respect, given that he still holds a Victoria Cross.'

An expert has revealed why Ben Roberts-Smith may not have been placed in handcuffs after he was arrested on a plane and led across the tarmac into a cop car

Photos of the arrest have sparked questions about why officers chose not to use handcuffs after he arrived on a Qantas flight from Brisbane to Sydney

Mr Watson-Munro said that Roberts-Smith may have 'obvious physical prowess' and have been surprised by the arrest, but wasn't likely to have 'done a runner'.

'He had his two twin daughters with him, as I understand it. They observed all of this, and I would imagine that he was endeavouring to maintain his dignity,' he said.

'Generally, police handcuff people for two reasons: primarily to restrain - so you've got a heavy criminal, inevitably they will be handcuffed.'

The second reason, he said, was to prevent a suspect from escaping or entering into a physical confrontation with officers.

Footage of the arrest showed Roberts-Smith wearing a polo shirt, jeans and a cap as he was led off the aircraft and escorted across the tarmac to a white four-wheel drive.

A Nine News television camera crew had been waiting at the airport to film the 47-year-old's arrest when the plane touched down.

'So when officers arrived, I'm sure that he was quite surprised, if not shocked by their appearance,' Mr Watson-Munro said.

'But of course, he's a highly trained SAS soldier, so compared to what he has witnessed in warfare, I think the arrival of a couple of AFP members at Sydney Airport would not necessarily ruffle him.

Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro (pictured) speculated that Roberts-Smith may not have been handcuffed to maintain his dignity, or because he was not a risk

Roberts-Smith has always maintained his innocence. He will remain in custody for two months

The charges against Ben Roberts-Smith The war crime of murder, in that he intentionally caused the death of a person, on or about 12 April, 2009, at Kakarak, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan; The war crime of murder, in that he aided, abetted, counselled or procured another person to intentionally cause the death of a person, on or about 12 April, 2009, at Kakarak, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan; The war crime of murder, in that he aided, abetted, counselled or procured another person to intentionally cause the death of a person, on or about 11 September, 2012, at Darwan, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan; The war crime of murder, with another person, in that they intentionally caused the death of a person, on or about 20 October, 2012, in Syahchow, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan; and, The war crime of murder, in that he aided, abetted, counselled or procured another person to intentionally cause the death of a person, on or about 20 October, 2012, at Syahchow, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. The maximum penalty for the offence of war crime - murder is life imprisonment.

'He seemed reasonably calm - part of his training, I think.'

Roberts-Smith, who has always maintained his innocence, will remain in custody for two months.

During a mention in Bail Court on Wednesday, criminal lawyer Jordan Portokalli said that there was no application for bail.

The matter has been scheduled for a brief status hearing on June 4, when the SAS soldier will appear via audio-visual link from prison.

Roberts-Smith sued Nine newspapers and journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters for defamation over their reports in 2018, which accused him of war crimes.

In 2023, Justice Anthony Besanko found the claims that Roberts-Smith was responsible for the murder of four unarmed male civilians while deployed in Afghanistan were substantially true.

He had appealed his 2023 Federal Court loss, disputing Justice Besanko's findings, arguing they were not backed up by sufficient evidence for such serious claims.

Last year, Australia's highest court refused the former soldier's application to appeal the Federal Court findings.

The Age's McKenzie and Masters were first to report details of Roberts-Smith's arrest on Tuesday morning.

It was the result of a joint investigation between the AFP and the OSI, which began in 2021.

In total, authorities commenced 53 investigations involving allegations of war crimes by Australian Defence Force members in Afghanistan.

Officials have said 39 of them are not being actively pursued, subject to further evidence emerging.

Ten investigations into allegations of criminal offences under Australian law related to breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict by ADF personnel are ongoing.

One investigation resulted in another former SAS soldier being charged with murder.

That case has been listed for trial in February next year in the NSW Supreme Court.
Trump says he agrees to suspend bombing and attack of Iran for 2 weeks

Xinhua) 09:09, April 08, 2026

This photo taken on April 7, 2026 shows a view of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

Trump wrote on social media that his decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said.

"We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he said.

Trump described the two-week suspension as "a double sided ceasefire."

The ceasefire proposal was delivered by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aiming to give time for peace talks with Iran.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sharif called on Trump in a post on X to extend the deadline Trump set for Iran to reach a deal by two weeks, and also requested Iran "to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture."

Trump threatened on Tuesday morning that Iran's "whole civilization will die tonight" at 8:00 pm ET, the deadline he set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He told a press conference on Monday that according to a U.S. plan, "every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night," and "every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again."

U.S. officials, cited by U.S. media outlets, said American forces struck military targets on Iran's Kharg Island overnight, with oil facilities spared in the country's crucial oil export hub.

Multiple railway lines across Iran were also struck on Tuesday, according to reports reaching here.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

He also said Iran would hold negotiations with the U.S. in Islamabad, stressing that the temporary ceasefire does not mean an end to war, pending negotiations on details of its 10-point plan.

A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
A teenager was bashed by two home intruders in a horrifying attack that left her fearing she was 'going to die'.

Madison Deering, 19, was left with a broken nose and bloodied face following the break-in at her Ballajura home in Perth's north on March 26.

Ms Deering was home alone and woke to find one of the men standing in front of her.

'By the time I have actually realised someone's in front of me, they've punched me in the face,' she told 7News.

'I just froze and next minute, I'm laying in my bed and there is blood gushing out of my nose.

'I was like... I'm gonna die here, I'm gonna die here, I'm gonna die here.'

Ms Deering revealed she has been too scared to leave the house since the attack.

'I haven't even been able to walk in my bedroom,' she said.

An Aussie teenager who thought she was 'going to die' after being bashed by a couple of home intruders has been left traumatised

The armed men were seen entering the property on security cameras.

Midland detectives say the pair fled in a blue Ford Falcon with no number plates

'I was supposed to be applying for a job but I don't know if I can do that.

'Mentally, I'm too scared to even drive. I think someone's following me.'

The intruders left with only cash after being spooked when her twin brother arrived home, but police said he was threatened with a machete.

Security footage from the house showed the two hooded thugs wearing high-visibility clothing walking through the front door.

A scream was also heard: 'Get out, get out.'

One of the men was seen holding a dark-coloured backpack.

While Ms Deering was being attacked by one, the other could be seen searching through her belongings.

The men were described to be in their 20s, with one being bald with neck tattoos and of a slim build and the other with a solid build and brown hair.

Detectives say the pair fled in a blue Ford Falcon with no number plates.
Aussies have been urged to check for any old coins lying around as one hidden under your floorboards could be worth thousands of dollars.

If it turns out to be a silver threepence from 1860, it could fetch over $50,000 at the Noble Numismatics auction in Sydney from April 13 to 17.

Noble Numismatics managing director Jim Noble told Daily Mail the coin was legendary because of what was pictured on it.

'It's very rare and is a numismatic icon, featuring an Indigenous man with a boomerang,' Mr Noble said.

While the rare 1930 penny can sell for tens of thousands of dollars, other Australian coins could also fetch a hefty price.

The owner of a 9967 fine five-ounce gold ingot by Harrington, a threepence with an overdate of '1922/21' or a Melbourne Mint square pattern kookaburra penny, 1919, in choice uncirculated condition could pocket $35,000.

A variety of Sydney Mint gold sovereigns and half sovereigns could make their owner $40,000 richer.

Some of the strangest coins Mr Noble has come across at auctions were ancient Greek and Roman coins with unusual images.

Aussies have been urged to check for any old coins laying around as one hidden under your floorboards could be worth thousands

Mr Noble, who once owned the world's most complete collection of British tokens, said the amount of money people were willing to spend on a coin depended on its rarity, condition, and grade.

'The better the grade, the better the value is,' he said.

He said he had heard of people finding coins worth thousands of dollars under floorboards, during runs at Centennial Park, Sydney Harbour and around old gold mining towns that had been deserted.

While not everyone knows when they come across a gem, Mr Noble said some of those old coins in good condition are surprisingly valuable to collectors.

'If you've kept a few pre-decimal coins, the most valuable are those that are old and in good condition, especially if they look like they just came from the bank,' he said.

'How valuable a coin is depends on whether it's a copper, silver or a gold coin because they have metal value.

'If you think it has a rarity value as well, you could get us to research it for you.'

While coins are the main feature of the auction, other items like paintings, pens, and medals will be up for grabs.

A Melbourne Mint square pattern kookaburra penny, 1919, in choice uncirculated condition could pocket $35,000

A 19th-century Chinese decorative gold cup from the late Qing Dynasty, featuring a circular handle and thumbpiece, could go for $15,000.

A Horologerie 1010 limited edition fountain pen could fetch $30,000, and a 1658/7 British Oliver Cromwell silver crown in uncirculated condition could sell for $25,000.
President Donald Trump's Army Secretary has vowed he will not resign despite his clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Speculation has been mounting that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll may be next on Hegseth's chopping block following last week's abrupt ouster of his ally, General Randy George, amid the contentious war in Iran.

Driscoll has disagreed with Hegseth on a number of issues recently, including the Defense Secretary's moves to block the promotion of several Army officers, officials told the Washington Post.

But Driscoll denied that he is planning to resign or otherwise leave his role at the Pentagon.

'Serving under President Trump has been the honor of a lifetime, and I remain laser-focused on providing America with the strongest land-fighting force the world has ever seen,' he said in a statement to the Post.

'I have no plans to depart or resign as the Secretary of the Army.'

The White House also appeared to back Driscoll, who has been friends with Vice President JD Vance since law school, while touting the Army's efforts in Iran.

Spokeswoman Anna Kelly told the outlet the president has 'effectively restored a focus on readiness and lethality across our military with the help of leaders like Secretary Driscoll.'

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll (pictured) has vowed that he will not resign from his position

Driscoll has disagreed with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on a number of issues recently

'The extraordinary talent of the United States Army is on full display as our warfighters meet or exceed all of their benchmarks under Operation Epic Fury and Iran's military capabilities diminish more every day,' she added.

Hegseth's spokesman, Sean Parnell, also disputed assertions that there was any tension between his boss and Driscoll.

'Secretary Hegseth maintains excellent working relationships with the secretaries of every military service branch, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll,' he told the Daily Mail.

He added that Hegseth and Vance, who served in the Marines during the Iraq War, are 'fully aligned in executing President Trump's America First agenda' and that they 'work seamlessly together and share a strong mutual respect.'

But behind the scenes, sources said Hegseth has been worried Driscoll would replace him ever since the infamous March 2025 group chat fiasco.

'This is all driven by the insecurity and paranoia that Pete has developed since Signal-gate. Unfortunately, it is stoked by some of his closest aides who should be trying to calm the waters,' one official previously told the New York Post.

By the fall, Driscoll had reportedly become concerned enough about his deteriorating relationship with Hegseth that he sought assistance from Vance, three people familiar with the situation told the Washington Post.

Another administration official, who remained anonymous, said that if Driscoll were to be fired, Parnell is 'pushing himself' to replace him.

'Sean is focused on the job he has now, as is Army Secretary Driscoll,' a senior Pentagon official told The Daily Mail.

'It wouldn't be out of line to speculate that Sean would be considered as a successor as he is one of the highest profile Army veterans serving at the top of [the] Department right now, but both men are focused on serving the President and doing the job they have now.'

Speculation that Driscoll may be fired from his position mounted after his ally, General Randy George (pictured in 2023) was ousted last week

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell (pictured) is reportedly 'pushing himself' to replace Driscoll

As the Pentagon spokesman and aide to Hegseth, Parnell has championed his boss's disdain for the media and was tasked with overseeing a review of the US's hasty departure from Afghanistan.

Parnell previously ran for a House seat in Pennsylvania in 2020, losing narrowly, and for Senate the following year.

He was then endorsed by Trump, but suspended his campaign amid a legal dispute with his estranged wife.

One senior Pentagon official who was pushing for Parnell to take over cited his combat experience as an infantry platoon leader in Afghanistan about 20 years ago.

The official argued to the Washington Post that Driscoll focused too much on his political future instead of his role managing soldiers' training and equipment.

Three others, though, disputed the suggestion that Driscoll has been performing poorly in the role.

One said Driscoll, who worked in venture capital and led an Army cavalry scout platoon during the Iraq War, has 'made a ton of institutional changes and stayed out of things that the military shouldn't touch, especially with culture wars.'

Driscoll has worked closely with George, even traveling with him last year to gather lessons learned from the war in Ukraine. Driscoll is pictured in November speaking with Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky

Yet those familiar with the situation say Driscoll intervened when Hegseth previously tried to fire General George, who was confirmed by the Senate in 2023.

The general had long been seen as a target for firing within the Trump administration not only because he was selected to lead the Army by the previous administration, but also because he served as a senior military assistant to former President Joe Biden's defense secretary, Lloyd Austin.

George has also spoken out in favor of diversity training for military personnel, telling lawmakers during his confirmation hearing that it is just one component in a broader effort to build cohesive teams.

During his tenure, he worked closely with Driscoll, who reportedly backed the general's effort to continually experiment with and adopt drones and other emerging technology.

The two even traveled to Ukraine last year in an effort to gather lessons learned from the war.

'There have been multiple instances where Secretary Hegseth has tried to remove George and Driscoll has said, "No he's done nothing wrong. He's good,"' one official said, adding that the Army Secretary 'has been very clear that merit should speak for itself.'

But on Thursday, the decorated general was asked to retire early during a phone call with the defense secretary.

Just a few minutes later, Hegseth's decision to oust George leaked to CBS News, the first outlet to report on the matter, effectively preventing Driscoll from once again trying to save George's career before the decision was publicized.

Driscoll has reportedly intervened in the past when Hegseth tried to fire George (pictured)

The general disagreed with Hegseth's decision to quash an investigation into the two Apache helicopters that were seen hovering over Kid Rock's home

It remains unclear exactly why George was removed from his position.

But his ouster came after he faced two major issues: Hegseth's decision to block the promotion of two black and two female officers to one-star generals and the controversial appearance of Apache helicopters outside Kid Rock's home.

Sources told the Washington Post that George tried to meet with Hegseth to discuss the blocked promotion, but was rebuffed.

Meanwhile, the incident involving Kid Rock, a fervent Trump supporter, led to an investigation, with the Army deciding to ground the two helicopter crews involved.

Hegseth, however, quickly rescinded the suspension of the helicopter crews and quashed the probe.

George, who had more than 40 years of experience in the Army, had been in favor of letting the investigation play out, two people familiar with the matter told the Washington Post.

'It shouldn't be a surprise that a man who enlisted at the age of 18, later commissioned as an officer and spent his entire adult life in the military would be committed to standards and discipline,' one official said.

Yet George was not the only high-level Army official that has been fired in recent days, with the Pentagon confirming to the Daily Mail that General David Hodne, head of the Army Transformation and Training Command and Major General William Green Jr, the head of the Army's chaplain corps were also let go.

Trump announced Tuesday night that Iranian officials agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will re-open the Strait of Hormuz

Hodne ran a department started by Biden-appointed General George, who was told to step down and take immediate retirement, CBS News reported.

A Pentagon official said: 'We are grateful for his service, but it was time for a leadership change in the Army.'

IRAN'S 10-POINT PEACE PLAN

1. Commitment to non-aggression 2. Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz 3. Acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment 4. Lifting of all primary sanctions 5. Lifting of all secondary sanctions 6. Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions 7. Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions 8. Paying compensation to Iran 9. Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region 10. Cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon

The terminations came amid the war in Iran, before Trump announced Tuesday night that Iranian officials agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

He posted on Truth Social, 'I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks,' after earlier sparking doomsday fears when he threatened to wipe out its 'entire civilization' if they did not reopen the Strait.

The President said that after talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif he had been assured that Iran will agree 'to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.'

'This will be a double-sided ceasefire,' Trump wrote. 'The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran.'

Israel also agreed to halt attacks on Iran for two weeks, a senior White House official told Axios, with the ceasefire taking effect once the Strait of Hormuz is re-opened.

Iranian officials said that the ceasefire was approved by the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, despite intelligence reports which say he is in a coma.

Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed the truce and that 'safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible' during the two-week period.

Trump said that the 10-point proposal 'is a workable basis on which to negotiate,' despite saying on Monday that the deal was not 'good enough.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Army, the Pentagon and the White House for comment.
One of Australia's leading finance gurus has urged the Albanese government to nationalise the childcare industry and make education free for all under-5s.

ABC presenter Alan Kohler acknowledged his suggestion was 'crazy talk' and likely too late for the government to consider and include in next month's federal budget.

The proposal follows a government shake-up of the childcare industry in response to a spike in reports of alleged abuse that have plagued the sector in the past 12 months.

While Kohler noted that 90 per cent of fees are subsidised for low-income families, middle-income households often have nothing left after paying the mortgage and childcare.

'Extend public education to children under five. It should never have been allowed to be entirely private,' he told viewers.

He added that it was not only a gender equality issue but also a housing and cost-of-living problem.

While the workforce participation of fathers has not changed in three decades, the percentage of working mothers has increased from 60 per cent to 80 per cent, according to the Productivity Commission.

'But nationalisation? That's crazy talk,' Kohler said.

ABC finance presenter Alan Kohler urged the Albanese government to nationalise the childcare industry and make education free for all under-5s

'Well, yes, but anyone who examines this always concludes that something needs to be done.'

In 2024, the Productivity Commission recommended raising the childcare subsidy to 100 per cent for families earning less than $80,000, and tapering the rate down by one percentage point for every additional $5,000 in income.

The alternative recommendation was to make it a flat 90 per cent subsidy for all, regardless of income.

'Seventy per cent of childcare operators are for-profit, but in the private school system, only not-for-profit operators get federal subsidies and tax deductibility for donations,' Kohler continued.

'Should we really be giving the shareholders of private childcare companies subsidies of 90 or 100 per cent of their product?

'Would it really be that expensive to nationalise the industry and then run it?'

Kohler estimated that it would cost $60billion to buy out all of the almost 10,000 childcare centres, which account for more than 733,000 approved places.

He proposed the government issue 'childcare bonds' to superannuation funds, which would cost about $3billion a year in interest at the current 10-year bond rate of five per cent.

The finance guru conceded that it was likely too late for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) and his government to consider for next month's Federal Budget

'The cost of running them and employing the staff is about $20billion a year, but if it was free more families would use it, so the running cost would probably be more like $30billion in the end - so a total of something like $33billion a year,' Kohler said.

'Call the rest an investment in workforce participation, productivity and gender equality.

'It would also be an effective way to deal with housing affordability, the cost of living, and staying in power.'

The proposal to nationalise childcare sparked a divided response.

'Yes, extend the education system to under fives. It's not childcare anymore, it's early childhood education,' one Aussie commented.

'The workers are mostly tertiary trained. The level of care and education is exceptional. Behavioural problems can be identified and treated. Such a net benefit for society.'

Another added: 'Thanks so much for this Alan. Every public school should have an early childhood department and childcare.'

Others suggested expanding the idea to other industries, such as aged care.

But not everyone was on board.

Lawyer and one-time federal Liberal candidate Katherine Deves (pictured) led the backlash against the proposal

Lawyer and one-time federal Liberal candidate Katherines Deves led the backlash.

'No thanks. Why would we hand our kids over to institutionalised day care - so you can indoctrinate them into a globalist communist Fabian worldview from infancy?' she commented.

'Attach the childcare stipend to the child and let Mum and Dad decide.'

Another parent added: 'You are trying to break the relationship between the children and their parents by having someone spend more time with them than a parent could. Way to destroy the family unit.'

Other critics questioned how childcare would be funded under Kohler's plan.

'If they make childcare free, where are they going to get the money from? They would have to cut the cost from somewhere else,' another wrote.

A second added: 'More expensive than I expected. No reason to buy the existing centres, just hand childcare to states and territories to run under existing education departments and fund the same as public schools.'

The Productivity Commission in 2024 also recommended scrapping the activity-means test as it was hurting families who needed it most without leading to 'substantial' increases in workforce participation.

It prompted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to replace the previous government's activity test to provide all Aussie parents a guaranteed minimum of three days' of subsidised childcare a week, regardless of how much they work or study.

Implemented on January 1 this year, 100,000 more families became eligible for additional days of care.
The world took a sigh of relief last night after Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran hours before seeing out his threat to kill 'a whole civilisation'.

The US President was less than two hours away from unleashing a devastating attack on Iran's bridges and power stations if it did not agree to open the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm EST (1am BST) before crunch talks saw him once again back down on his threat.

Hopes of a potential deal first materialised at around 8.15pm after the Prime Minister of Pakistan, which has been acting as a mediator between the two warring countries, urged President Trump to extend his looming deadline.

'Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully,' Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X as he called for a two-week ceasefire between all parties.

Within the hour, both Trump and Tehran were aware of the proposal and had engaged in discussions.

The US President claimed both parties were in 'heated negotiations' but declined to say how they were going, while Iran was said to be 'positively reviewing' the request.

Even as the clock ticked closer to 1am, missiles continued to rain down across the Middle East as Israel, the UAE and Qatar were forced to intercept several drones headed for cities within their borders.

Meanwhile, US bombers were also on the move, as one munitions-loaded aircraft had earlier been spotted flying from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, seemingly on its way to Iran in yet another bombing run.

President Donald Trump last night extended the deadline for Iran and the US to negotiate an end to the war after threatening to annihilate the country

Munitions sit on trolleys near a B1 Lancer military aircraft at RAF Fairford airbase, hours before Trump's deadline for unleashing a devastating attack on Iran

Streaks of light illuminate the sky during an interception attempt, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel

Shortly before 10pm, CNN reported, citing a regional source, that 'some good news is expected from both sides soon', adding a deal was expected to close on Tuesday night.

Then, in a dramatic 11th-hour move as his deadline approached, the US President pulled back from the brink following successful negotiations.

At 11.32pm - less than 90 minutes before the cutoff - Trump announced on his Truth social platform that he had agreed to suspend the devastating attack for two weeks if Tehran completely reopened the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Trump had warned that Iran's 'whole civilisation will die' after the regime showed no sign of backing a ceasefire. But as Pakistan scrambled to broker a ceasefire deal, Mr Trump said Iran had submitted a ten-point proposal to end the war.

In a post on social media, the US President said: 'Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

'This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.

'We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.'

Iran accepted the ceasefire proposal following frantic diplomatic efforts by Pakistan and a last-minute intervention by China, Tehran officials told the New York Times.

They said the ceasefire was approved by Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, and agreed to reopen the Strait, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, over the next two weeks under coordination from its military.

Irans Supreme National Security Council said negotiations with the US would take place in Islamabad beginning Friday, but warned that talks 'do not signify the termination of the war'.

'Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.' it added.

A White House official also said Israel had also agreed to a temporary ceasefire.

Join the discussion Should world leaders ever threaten total destruction in pursuit of peace?

Donald Trump had set Iran a deadline to open the vital Strait of Hormuz by 8pm EST or face a devastating assault by the US

Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly signed off on the ceasefire deal, according to the New York Times

An Iranian cluster munition is fired towards Tel Aviv and the surrounding area around 3am local time on April 8

The last-minute announcement came after the US bombed Kharg Island yesterday and Israel pounded bridges, railways and roads across the Islamic republic as the two allies appeared to be laying the groundwork for a major escalation.

In response, Iran urged 'all young people, athletes, artists, and university students' to form 'human chains' on its bridges and around its power plants.

Thousands gathered at the sites, as Vice President J D Vance chillingly warned Tehran: 'We've got tools in our toolkit that we so far haven't decided to use.' The White House denied Mr Vance was threatening to use nuclear weapons.

Mr Trump had earlier ramped up the pressure with an incendiary post on Truth Social. He wrote: 'A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will.'

Following the ultimatum, he then questioned if 'maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen'.

In an apparent show of Mr Trump's intent, the US struck Kharg Island, the regime's economic lifeline which handles 90 per cent of its oil exports.

They blitzed more than 50 targets, again raising speculation that the US could launch a high-stakes Special Forces mission to seize the territory as leverage in the talks.

As critics called for the President's removal from office over his bloodthirsty post, Israel also pounded the Islamic republic.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: 'We are crushing the terrorist regime in Iran with increasing force.'

The IDF struck the Yahya Abad railway bridge in the central city of Kashan, which regime media said killed two people.

The attacks come after the Israeli military warned Iranians against using trains for their safety until 9pm local time.

Rail services were suspended until further notice in Mashhad, Iran's second city, with officials citing Israel's 'immoral warning'.

The regime also asked citizens to form 'human daisy chains' around its power plants and posted morbid propaganda videos of citizens linking hands around bases.

Trump looks at Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during the official signing of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement on October 13 last year

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The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps responded to the US escalation by warning neighbouring countries that its 'restraint is over'.

The US embassy in Bahrain directed all American citizens to remain indoors. The regime struck a petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia while the Houthis, its terror proxy in Yemen, were pictured apparently preparing for military action.

Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said: 'More than 14million proud Iranians have so far registered to sacrifice their lives to defend Iran. I too have been, am, and will remain devoted to giving my life for Iran.'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused the regime of 'violating every law known' with its closure of the strait.

There has been mounting concern that Mr Trump has become 'unhinged' after he posted on Sunday: 'Open the f***in' Strait, you crazy b*****ds, or you'll be living in Hell'.

He has also threatened to send Iran 'back to the Stone Age' and repeatedly threatened to destroy its power plants  which would likely amount to a war crime.

Responding to his latest threat, Anthony Scaramucci, who served briefly as the President's communications director, said: 'Wake up: he is calling for a nuclear strike. Seek his removal immediately.'

Joe Kent, who resigned as US counter-terrorism chief last month over the war, said: 'If he attempts to eradicate Iranian civilisation, the United States will no longer be viewed as a stabilising force in the world, but as an agent of chaos  effectively ending our status as the world's greatest superpower.'

Pope Leo XIV said Mr Trump's threats against the people of Iran were 'truly unacceptable'.

Speaking at a papal retreat, the pontiff said: 'There are certainly issues of international law here, but much more. It's a moral issue, for the good of the people entirely.'
Australia's most decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith could be out of custody in just nine days, as his legal team launch a fresh bid for his freedom.

Roberts-Smith, 47, was arrested by Australian Federal Police on Tuesday over allegations that he killed unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

He is also accused of failing to stop members of his unit from killing three others.

The Victoria Cross recipient spent the night in Sydney's Silverwater prison but did not front Bail Court himself when his matter was mentioned on Wednesday morning.

He was instead represented by criminal lawyer Jordan Portokalli, who told the court there was no application for bail, and sought to have the matter relisted in Sydney's Downing Centre later on Wednesday.

'In short, we're not making an application for release today,' he said.

The judge listed the matter for brief status on June 4, which meant Roberts-Smith would have been languishing in prison for two months before he was required to front court from a cell.

But by Wednesday afternoon, his lawyers had secured a bail review in the Downing Centre Local Court for April 17. If the application is successful, Roberts-Smith will be released having spent just ten days behind bars.

Australia's most decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested on Tuesday morning

Ben Roberts-Smith is pictured being taken into custody by AFP on Tuesday

The matter also remains listed for brief status on June 4.

Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of war crimes following a five-year joint investigation by the AFP and the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI).

Armed AFP officers swooped when Roberts-Smith arrived on a Qantas flight from Brisbane on Tuesday.

He was taken to Mascot police station where he was refused bail.

Footage captured Roberts-Smith wearing a polo shirt, jeans and cap, being led down a stairway off the aircraft and escorted across the tarmac to a white four-wheel drive.

A Nine News television camera crew had been waiting at the airport to film the 47-year-old's arrest when the plane touched down.

Nine newspapers first published claims Roberts-Smith had committed war crimes while serving with the SAS in Afghanistan in a series of stories run in 2018.

At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett spoke about the arrest but did not use Roberts-Smith's name.

'It will be alleged the man was a member of the ADF when he was involved in the deaths of Afghan nationals between 2009 and 2012, in circumstances that constitute war crimes under the Commonwealth Criminal Code,' she said.

Ben Roberts-Smith is Australia's most decorated soldier. He is pictured with Queen Elizabeth II

The charges against Ben Roberts-Smith The war crime of murder, in that he intentionally caused the death of a person, on or about 12 April, 2009, at Kakarak, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan; The war crime of murder, in that he aided, abetted, counselled or procured another person to intentionally cause the death of a person, on or about 12 April, 2009, at Kakarak, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan; The war crime of murder, in that he aided, abetted, counselled or procured another person to intentionally cause the death of a person, on or about 11 September, 2012, at Darwan, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan; The war crime of murder, with another person, in that they intentionally caused the death of a person, on or about 20 October, 2012, in Syahchow, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan; and, The war crime of murder, in that he aided, abetted, counselled or procured another person to intentionally cause the death of a person, on or about 20 October, 2012, at Syahchow, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan. The maximum penalty for the offence of war crime - murder is life imprisonment.

'It will be alleged the victims were detained, unarmed, and were under the control of the ADF members when they were killed.

'It will be alleged the victims were shot by the accused or shot by subordinate members of the ADF in the presence of and acting on the orders of the accused.'

Commissioner Barrett said the Afghans 'were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder'.

The AFP and OSI commenced 53 investigations involving allegations of war crimes by the ADF in Afghanistan, 39 of which are not being actively pursued, subject to further evidence emerging.

Ten investigations into allegations of criminal offences under Australian law related to breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict by ADF personnel are ongoing.

One investigation resulted in another former SAS soldier being charged with murder. That case has been listed for trial in February next year in the NSW Supreme Court.

Roberts-Smith sued Nine newspapers and journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters for defamation after they reported he had committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

In 2023, the Federal Court's Justice Anthony Besanko found the claims that Roberts-Smith was responsible for the murder of four unarmed male civilians were substantially true, on the balance of probabilities.

McKenzie and Masters were first to report details of Roberts-Smith's arrest on Tuesday morning.

Roberts-Smith appealed against Justice Besanko's decision to the Full Court of the Federal Court but lost. He was refused leave to further appeal to the High Court.
Ben Roberts-Smith has just been relegated to the bottom rung that any person can stand on - prison inmate - and sent to a place where he will have to obey the directions of the only elite behind bars, prison officers.

The first 48 hours of the war hero's new life would have been hard after being arrested in front of his daughters and bundled off to the vast Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre to be housed with a thousand other accused men.

The retired Corporal was taken to Mascot Police Station on Tuesday afternoon, then handcuffed and placed in the back of a white prison van.

From there he was whisked away to Australia's largest remand correctional facility at Silverwater in Sydney's west.

The 47-year-old would have been strip-searched by latex-gloved jail staff, issued with a prison number - known as a 'MIN' (Master Index Number) - and had his clothes swapped for prison greens.

After being questioned about his mental health, he would be assigned to a cell in one of the MRRC's protection wings which house celebrities, prominent or at-risk persons.

Roberts-Smith's high profile, not to mention the distinctive physical appearance of the 202cm (more than six foot six inches) tall career soldier means correctional staff could reasonably assume he has 'a target on his back'.

The former SAS soldier was arrested by Australian Federal Police over allegations that he killed unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

Ben Roberts-Smith has a miserable new life behind bars as he awaits a trial on allegations of war crimes and adjust to his new lowly status as a jail inmate

A cell at Silverwater correctional centre where war hero Ben Roberts-Smith spent his first night on Tuesday is pictured

Victoria Cross winner Ben Roberts-Smith is arrested by Australian Federal Police on Tuesday and charged with war crimes allegedly committed while on duty in Afghanistan

He is also accused of failing to stop members of his unit from killing three others.

The unusual nature of his charges, alleged war crime murders, also makes him a standout among the MRRC's other residents: accused murderers of civilians, alleged rapists and child offenders all awaiting their next court hearing or trial.

He spent his first night on Tuesday at Silverwater, and did not front the NSW Bail Court in person on Wednesday morning.

His lawyer asked for the matter to be relisted the same day at the Downing Centre in Sydney's CBD, but was unsuccessful.

The matter has now been listed for April 17, where it appears Roberts-Smith intends to make a first bail application. If that fails, he can apply again in the NSW Supreme Court.

Life for the Victoria Cross recipient for the next two months will be extremely monotonous, with prison managers aiming for a jail routine uninterrupted by anyone with violent ambitions.

Whether this might include Muslim inmates, aware that Roberts-Smith is alleged to have unlawfully killed Afghan civilians in the strict Islamic country, is a threat that will have to be assessed by jail security managers.

It's hard to imagine that any of the single beds in Silverwater's cells could comfortably sleep such a large human being.

Prison officers search inmates for contraband inside Silverwater prison where Ben Roberts-Smith is now incarcerated

The decorated war hero and VC recipient meets the late Queens Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2011

An inmate in one of Silverwater jail's wings hides under a blanket. Prison staff assess all new inmates taken into custody for their mental health status

But Roberts-Smith is used to institutional life, and has lived on army barracks in Australia, Malaysia, East Timor and Afghanistan that would have entailed similar privations.

Also working in his favour is that soldiers have status behind bars, particularly members of Australia's elite Special Air Service and those awarded both the Medal of Gallantry and the VC.

The fallen soldier will be able to weigh the comparative freedoms of the base with a complete loss of liberty, with no time off, no beer and no women except female guards telling him what to do.

Life in a protection wing will mean even more of a solitary existence than typical Silverwater inmates, who have the daily distraction of mixing with others in the general population yards.

It will also mean less access to weights and places to run or exercise - something the supremely fit one-time army patrol scout and sniper valued greatly in life as a media executive and then in limbo as he battled to reinstate his reputation in a failed defamation trial.

Each morning he will wake up with the breakfast pack of cereal, bread, jam and a carton of milk when he was locked up the afternoon before.

Lunch will likely be sandwiches and fruit and then, after limited access to an outside yard, he will be locked in again around 3.30pm for 17 to 20 hours with little else to do but watch television.

Every afternoon before he is locked in, Roberts-Smith will be handed his dinner.

Back in 2011, Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith and his fellow VC winner Corporal Mark Donaldson met then Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the Hall of Valour at the Australian War Memorial

One of the wings at Silverwater prison where Ben Roberts-Smith has been locked up, albeit on protection with other similarly classed remand inmates, meaning fewer freedoms and time outside their cells

No mobile phone or internet access will increase Roberts-Smith's sense of isolation, although he should be given a tablet for calls to those on an approved list.

As a remand prisoner, Roberts-Smith can receive visitors more frequently than can convicted inmates, the MRRC allowing visits most days of the week.

Although his parents, including his former Supreme Court judge and army major father, Len, live in Western Australia, they did move into a rented flat in Sydney for during his 2022 defamation trial against Nine Newspapers, which he lost.

Len and Sue Roberts-Smith, and any of their son's other high-profile supporters such as media mogul Kerry Stokes and former politician and Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson, would make quite the standouts in the visits room at Silverwater.

After each visit, it is customary to strip search inmates to ensure they don't have any contraband potentially passed on to them by visitors.

As a soldier, Roberts-Smith is used to kowtowing to men of superior rank, it's just a matter of whether he can adjust to life as the lowest of the low as he prepares to defend his innocence on all charges.
The arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith has already become much more than a criminal proceeding.

Its a political, cultural and institutional test, and the speed with which public figures rushed into their preferred camps highlights this.

Before any indictment is tested in open court - indeed before the trial process has even begun - Australians are already arguing about this matter.

To some, Roberts-Smith remains a war hero and a Victoria Cross recipient who served in circumstances most civilians cant even begin to understand.

To others, the arrest is an overdue reckoning after years of allegations, the Brereton inquiry, and a defamation case in which the Federal Court found, on the civil balance of probabilities standard, that allegations he murdered Afghan civilians were true.

The looming criminal case will be very different, and Roberts-Smiths presumption of innocence remains formally intact, although you might not realise that if you only read certain commentary in the media.

Much of the country has already split behind two rival instincts that are now hardening almost beyond persuasion. Even Elon Musk weighed in on social media overnight.

The fracturing of opinions was visible in the language used by politicians and fellow travellers within hours of Roberts-Smiths arrest on Tuesday.

Former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith was charged with alleged war crimes on Tuesday

Pauline Hanson said that she remains steadfast in her support of Ben Roberts-Smith

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese chose evasion dressed up as restraint when he was asked about the case by journalists at a press conference on Tuesday. His first line was, I have no intention of commenting on a matter thats clearly before the courts.'

When pressed again by journalists, he said: I have no intention of prejudicing a matter that clearly is a legal matter and thats before the courts and any comment would do so.

That was not a legal necessity; it was a political choice. Theres a vast distance between prejudicing a criminal proceeding and offering a measured statement about the gravity of the allegations, the importance of due process, the presumption of innocence, and the fact that the laws of armed conflict apply to Australians too.

Albo decided even that was too politically risky. In a case like this, silence is not neutrality.

Its an attempt to stay clear of the blast radius. And by the way, Albo has been far from silent about other legal matters when it suited him to offer comment.

Former PM Tony Abbott went in the opposite direction and did so in a way that will resonate strongly with many conservatives, veterans and serving personnel.

'Of course, there are rules that have to be observed and enforced, even against soldiers in times of war,' he posted on X.

'Still, its wrong to judge the actions of men in mortal combat by the standards of ordinary civilian life.

Ben Roberts-Smith (pictured) will spend the next two months behind bars after he was denied bail on Wednesday

I dont understand how it can be justified to spend more than $300million to try for years to bring SAS veterans, who have served our country, towards criminal proceedings, and most recently the arrest of Ben,' Gina Rinehart (pictured) said

The most sensible position is that Ben Roberts-Smith is entitled to the presumption of innocence in a criminal case, Daily Mail political editor, Peter Van Onselen (pictured) wrote

'If Ben Roberts-Smith transgressed, why wasnt this picked up prior to his gallantry awards and why wasnt any culture of brutality towards prisoners detected by his more senior officers, and dealt with quickly, rather than being allowed to fester, as has been alleged, for over a decade?'

Fair points to be sure. Its hard for many Australians to get their heads around those contradictions.

Abbotts intervention does two things at once: It places Roberts-Smith inside a wider story about what governments ask elite soldiers to do, and it shifts some of the scrutiny back onto the chain of command and the state itself.

When governments deploy men into complex wars, with enemies who dont fight by conventional rules, the state assumes certain obligations of care and command responsibility.

But Abbotts formulation also risks blurring a crucial line. The law of war is not an optional peacetime luxury. It exists precisely for wartime.

Once the debate becomes one of civilian standards versus battlefield realities, its easier to imply that alleged murders of detained or unarmed men are just part of the fog of war.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson was even blunter than Abbott, all but dismissing the rule of law as a process worth waiting for.

I remain steadfast in my support of Ben Roberts-Smith,' she wrote. Ben [and] his immediate and broader defence family need the Australian peoples support right now and I will not abandon him like so many other politicians.'

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott (right) also extended his support to Roberts-Smith (left)

Ben Roberts-Smith (pictured with his partner Sarah) was arrested by AFP officers at Sydney Airport on Tuesday morning

Thats certainly not a show of support for due process, its political solidarity before any trial has even begun.

Hanson knows exactly where her constituency sits on this debate. Her reaction casts Roberts-Smith not as a defendant facing grave charges, but as a symbol of a broader betrayal - a decorated soldier cast aside by timid elites and agenda driven journalists.

Even abandoned by the state itself and its institutions, once they took from him what they wanted. Such framing has a populist audience, and a sizeable one at that.

Hansons comments will also intensify the tribalism around this case, because shes effectively asking supporters to see any criticism of Roberts-Smith as abandonment, and any legal scrutiny as ingratitude.

Australias richest person, Gina Rinehart, went for a related but more nuanced argument.

I dont understand how it can be justified to spend more than $300million to try for years to bring SAS veterans, who have served our country, towards criminal proceedings, and most recently the arrest of Ben,' she said in a statement released late Tuesday night.

'Surely, the more than $300million of taxpayers money would have been far better spent strengthening Australias security and keeping Australians safe from terrorism, including removing terrorists and their supporters from our country.

That line of attack is politically potent right now because it speaks to state priorities, defence morale and the belief that Australia has turned inward against its own servicemen while becoming weaker externally.

Ben Roberts-Smith was a low-ranking corporal, a fact often forgotten given his high profile

It will certainly land with people who already think the country is too eager to moralise about its soldiers and too reluctant to defend itself.

But it doesnt really engage with the substance of the allegations. To be fair to Rinehart, how can it at this early stage.

It does, however, suggest that even investigating such allegations may cost too much, take too long and damage military culture.

It therefore comes close to suggesting that accountability itself is the problem, or it has a price point beyond which its not worth the effort, at least in this case.

If Australia is serious about having an army bound by law, then investigating credible allegations of war crimes isnt a distraction from national security, because discipline, legitimacy and lawful command are not enemies of military effectiveness.

But Roberts-Smith was a low-ranking corporal, a fact often forgotten given his high profile, which brings us back to Abbotts queries about the chain of command and its accountability.

On the other side of this messy political divide, Greens senator David Shoebridge posted a screenshot of an article about the arrests, simply writing Good alongside it.

The senators albeit glib one-worder captures the attitude that some Australians now have, after years of reporting and civil litigation:

Roberts-Smith (pictured) fronted a NSW court later on Wednesday

Greens senator David Shoebridge posted a screenshot of an article about the arrests, and wrote: 'Good'

The bigger scandal isnt the arrest but the delays until now. For one political camp, the disgrace is that a Victoria Cross recipient was arrested at all. For the other, its that its taken this long.

The AFP and the Office of the Special Investigator made matters worse by staging the arrest in a way that invited a spectacle.

The AFP and OSI put out a joint media release noting that: Arrest vision [is] available via Hightail - a portal for sharing video - after which they issued another media release saying Images of the arrest and the press conference are available via Hightail, in case anyone missed the first cry for attention.

Soon afterwards the footage was everywhere, across the media and social media. All supplied by the Office of the Special Investigator, and released by the AFP.

This wasnt simply an arrest witnessed by bystanders and captured by the media. It was done in a public place and distributed by the state.

There may have been operational reasons for arresting Roberts-Smith at Sydney domestic airport, but operational necessity doesnt explain the decision to package the arrest visually and feed it out.

Nor does it explain why a man who has been in the public eye for years, who was hardly unknown to investigators, needed to be turned into an arrest video asset for public consumption.

His face may have been blurred, but everyone knew who it was. The effect was obvious: a dramatic public fall, captured and circulated by the authorities themselves. That looks cheap, to say the least.

It also looks theatrical: an agency more interested than it should be in the optics of a trophy arrest.

Even people who think Roberts-Smith should face trial ought to be able to see the problem there.

Hes not some criminal bikie nabbed at the airport attempting to flee the country, captured in grainy footage by bystanders who distributed the footage to the media. It was a classless display.

And this is what the next few years risks being like, unless a court sharply narrows the public space around the case.

Every development will be interpreted through prior loyalties. If the prosecution advances strongly, one side will say justice is finally catching up with Roberts-Smith. If it stumbles, the other side will say the whole thing was always an establishment vendetta.

Roberts-Smith isnt just a defendant. Hes a vessel into which Australians are pouring their views about everything from the military to the moralising of elites and institutional overreach.

The most sensible position is that Roberts-Smith is entitled to the presumption of innocence in a criminal case.

The charges are grave and must be proved beyond reasonable doubt, not on instinct, not on reputation, and certainly not on a civil finding using the balance of probabilities, which is little better than a coin toss.

At the same time, being wrapped in medals doesn't absolve anyone from serious allegations if they are found to be substantive.

A serious country can honour military service, insist on lawful conduct, reject trial by media, reject hero worshipping, and still object when police turn an arrest into a piece of state-produced visual theatrics.

We are about to find out if Australia still deserves to be taken seriously.
Anthony Albanese has claimed Donald Trump's comment was not appropriate after the US president warned Iran's 'whole civilisation will die'.

Trump threatened deadly strikes on all of Iran's plants and bridges if the country failed to meet his deadline to restore shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The US President told his followers on Truth Social: 'A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will.'

A two week ceasefire was then announced between the US and Iran, 90 minutes before Trump's deadline was due to expire.

During an appearance on Sky News on Wednesday morning, Albanese was questioned about Trump's rhetoric, and said he didn't 'think it was appropriate to use language such as that from the President of the United States'.

He added: 'And I think it will cause some concern.'

Albanese continued: 'We've said the conduct of any conflict must be within international law, that includes making sure that civilians not party to the conflict are given every protection possible.'

The prime minister refused to go as far as suggesting that Trump's threat amounted to a war crime, but called on the parties involved to de-escalate the conflict.

Anthony Albanese has claimed Donald Trump's comment was not appropriate after the US president warned Iran's 'whole civilisation would die'

A day earlier, Trump blasted Australia for not joining the war against Iran and called the NATO alliance a 'paper tiger'

'Look, it's a long step between a tweet and that suggestion. What we have called for is a de-escalation and that is what has occurred. That's a good thing,' he said.

He also wouldn't be drawn on if Australia's alliance with the US was undermined by Trump's handling of the Iran war.

'The relationship between our two nations is a relationship, on many levels, between leaders and I've had a constructive relationship with President Trump - but it's also between our armed forces, between our economics and between business people and people-to-people links as well,' he said.

'We are two great democracies and that will continue into the future.'

It marks the first time Albanese has openly criticised Trump's rhetoric on the Iran war.

Albanese's remarks come just a day after Trump blasted Australia for not joining the war against Iran.

'You know who else didn't help us? Australia didn't help us,' he said during a White House press briefing on Monday night.

'Japan didn't help us, Australia didn't help us, South Korea didn't help us!'

During the briefing, Trump also vividly described the daring rescue mission to extract a wounded US airman who spent almost 48 hours stranded in Iran

Trump repeatedly attacked the NATO alliance towards the end of the 90-minute press conference, noting his disappointment with the organisation for its failure to help US military objectives in Iran.

On Tuesday morning, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland wouldn't be drawn on Trump's comments, and instead reiterated the Albanese government's desire to de-escalate the conflict.

'The United States, of course, is one of our longest and most important allies. But I will say this - Australia is not taking offensive action in this war,' Rowland told Seven's Sunrise program.

'We will not be deploying troops. The actions that we have taken are defensive ones.

'Noting that this has come in response to requests from the Gulf states, and it's designed to protect Australian citizens who are there.'
Energy Minister Chris Bowen has lashed out at a veteran television journalist during a fiery press conference, telling him to 'sit down' while being grilled over the government's renewable energy policy.

At the minister's daily media conference on the fuel crisis arising from the Middle East conflict, Channel Seven journalist Liam Bartlett asked the minister why he was not deviating from his plan to focus on renewable energy and instead bolster the country's fossil fuels to become more self-reliant.

Bartlett said Australia still runs on petrol and diesel rather than renewables, and suggested the government's focus was in the wrong place.

'Hasn't this war shown us that your obsession with renewables will only lead us down the track to another energy crisis?' Bartlett asked.

Bowen immediately pushed back.

'That's pretty loaded - that's a comment, not a question - I reject the premise of your question.'

The minister went on to defend the government's renewable strategy.

'Renewable energy is secure. The Australian sun cannot be interrupted by a war or anything else,' Bowen said.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen clashed with a journalist during a fiery press conference on Wednesday

Channel Seven journalist Liam Bartlett interrupted the minister's daily press conference on the fuel crisis and war in Iran to accuse the government of refusing to shift its renewables agenda

'Solar energy has to travel 150 million kilometres from the sun. It doesn't have to travel the 150km of the Strait of Hormuz.'

'That's why I'm able to say not a single ship that has been expected to arrive in Australia has been interrupted,' he said.

Bartlett continued to interject as he accused the government of 'playing catch-up' during the ongoing fuel crisis.

'Do you put your hand up and say 'I'll resign'? he asked Bowen.

'I've been trying to ask you questions since January Why can't you sit down and answer open, honest questions?' he said.

Bowen accused Bartlett of disrupting his press conference.

'I've held a press conference every day. This is the first press conference you've been to,' the minister fired back.

'You need to show a bit more respect to your colleagues.'

Join the discussion Is Australia putting its energy future at risk by prioritising renewables despite global instability?

The veteran television journalist (pictured) accused the Energy Minister of being a hypocrite

Chris Bowen's patience was tested during Wednesday's press conference

But Bartlett said he had previously tried to secure a one-on-one interview with Bowen but received no response, leaving him with no option but to attend the press conference instead.

He then accused the government of sending billions to China to supply renewables

'Let me get this right. Your renewables transition policy will not alter one iota, despite what this war has shown us with the failure of your energy policy?' Bartlett asked.

'Your focus has been wholly and solely spending billions of dollars we haven't got on questionable green infrastructure You're totally hypocritical on this, minister.'

'That's a comment, not a question,' Bowen replied, before telling him to sit down and accused him of grandstanding.

Barlett hit back: 'What are you scared of?'

Despite the interruption, Bowen used the exchange to double down on the government's energy transition.

'Net zero and climate action are unquestionably in Australia's economic best interests,' he said.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen insists Middle East tensions won't shift Australia's approach to new oil exploration, saying decisions must be based on 'engineering and economics, not ideology'

Bowen also defended the pace of the rollout, saying Australia was 'absolutely blitzing it' on renewables, with more batteries being added to the grid than any other country on a proportional basis.

Another journalist asked Bowen whether the conflict in the Middle East had changed his view on the need for Australia to expand its oil exploration and on-shore refining so as not to be so reliant on shipments from the Middle East.

'No, I've always said that should be handled on engineering and economics, not ideology,' Bowen replied.

'This is not a culture war. If oil can be extracted in Australia to replace imports, great,' he said.

'But as I've pointed out before, Matt Canavan - when he was a minister - issued licences for oil in the Great Australian Bight.

'Fair enough, good on him, he had a go. But those licences were handed back by the companies because it's too geologically challenging, too deep and too complicated.'

Bartlett argued the government was taking too long to approve new oil projects.

'Those exploration permits can take more than 11 years before hydrocarbon projects are up and running. It only takes about two years for a renewable project,' he said.

Bowen disagreed.

'If you look at wind farm approvals, they can take a lot longer than that.'
Donald Trump celebrated a 'big day for World Peace' after he brokered an 11th-hour ceasefire deal that provided a 'workable basis' to end the conflict with Iran.

The last-minute agreement came after Trump issued a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and claimed a 'whole civilization will die' if Tehran did not capitulate.

'A big day for World Peace!' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post at midnight. 'Iran wants it to happen, theyve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!'

Trump said opening the strait would bring about a 'Golden Age' by reestablishing crucial trading routes and repairing any economic setbacks.

'The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,' Trump said. 'There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made.'

The President gave Iran a two-week deadline to negotiate a final truce - but warned the US military would remain engaged.

'Well be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just "hangin around" in order to make sure that everything goes well,' Trump said.

The Iranians put forward a ten-point ceasefire plan that Trump called 'a workable basis on which to negotiate.'

Donald Trump celebrated a 'big day for World Peace!' after an 11th hour cease fire deal that provided a 'workable basis' to end the conflict with Iran

Streaks of light illuminate the sky during an interception attempt as the conflict hit a ceasefire

The plan, published by the Iran Supreme National Supreme Council-backed Nour News, includes Iran continuing to control the Strait of Hormuz

The ten-point plan allows Iran to continue controlling the Strait of Hormuz, although Tehran said countries that did not threaten them militarily would be allowed to pass.

Other key points were removing sanctions, compensating Tehran for war damage and a ceasefire on all fronts, including Israel's battle in Lebanon with Hezbollah.

One contentious proposal in the deal requested that Iran be allowed to enrich uranium for their nuclear program.

The phrase 'acceptance of enrichment' for its nuclear program was included in the Farsi-language version of its ceasefire plan.

However, this was missing in the English versions shared by Iranian diplomats to journalists.

It was not immediately clear why that term was missing.

When asked about Iran enriching uranium last week, Trump told Reuters he was not concerned about the prospect.

'That's so far underground, I don't care about that. We'll always be watching it by satellite,' Trump said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday that it supports Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, but that it doesn't include the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, one of the most fiery backers of the war efforts, was concerned that it appeared Trump had accepted Iran's demands

Some of Trump's key allies - including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham - expressed concerns about the peace plan.

'As to an Iranian ten-point proposal to end the war, I look forward to reviewing it at the appropriate time and its submission to Congress for a vote,' Graham said.

Graham found the notion of Iran enriching uranium to be a non-starter.

'Every ounce of the approximately 900 lb of highly enriched uranium has to be controlled by the US and removed from Iran to prevent them in the future from having a dirty bomb or returning to the enrichment business,' Graham stated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the ceasefire deal does not include Israel's campaign in Southern Lebanon.

Multiple rallies were held across Iran in reaction to the deal but many were unhappy with the results.

Pro-government demonstrators in the streets of Iran's capital on Wednesday morning, after the ceasefire was announced, screamed: 'Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!'

Organizers tried at one point to calm the demonstrators, but they continued chanting.

They also burned American and Israeli flags in the street.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif helped negotiate the deal with Trump

People wave flags as they gather after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war was announced

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran

The protests showed ongoing anger from hard-liners, who had been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptic battle with the US.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management.

It wasn't immediately clear whether that meant Iran would completely loosen its chokehold on the waterway.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in.

The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

In addition to control of the strait, Iran's demands for ending the war include withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

Since the war began, Trump has repeatedly backed off deadlines just before they expire.

In doing so again on Tuesday, Trump said in a social media post he had come to the decision 'based on conversations' with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir, Pakistan's powerful army chief.

Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, reportedly signed off on the ceasefire deal, according to the New York Times

Sharif, in a post on X hours earlier, urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance. He used the same post to ask Iran to open the strait for two weeks.

'Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated,' Trump said.

There are concerns in Israel about the agreement, according to a person familiar with the situation who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to the media. The person said Israel would like to achieve more.

Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium is still buried at enrichment sites. The program had been one of the main issues cited by both Israel and the US in launching the war.

Things had looked dire in the days and hours leading up to the deal announcement by Trump.

On Monday, Trump expanded his threat against Iran to include all power plants and bridges as his ultimatum to make a deal ticked closer, after Tehran rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and said it wants a permanent end to the war.

'The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,' Trump said.

He suggested that his Tuesday 8pm deadline was final, saying he had already given Iran enough extensions.

Iranian foreign mnister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management

Your browser does not support iframes.

Even before the deadline expired, airstrikes had already hit two bridges and a train station.

American forces also struck military infrastructure on Kharg Island for the second time, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

Israel's military warned of an increased risk of inbound attacks as Trump's deadline approached.

Trump's expansive threat did not seem to account for potential harm to civilians, prompting Democrats in Congress, some United Nations officials and scholars in military law to say such strikes would violate international law.

Tehran's representative at the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, said the threats 'constitute incitement to war crimes and potentially genocide' and that Iran would 'take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures' if Trump launches devastating strikes.

Trump had even been criticized by some conservatives, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Before the announcement, blasts were heard in the Qatari capital Doha, while the UAE said its air defenses were responding to missile threats.

The US and Israel have battered Iran with attacks targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program.

Iran has responded with a stream of strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab neighbors, causing regional chaos and outsized economic and political shock.

Late Tuesday, Pakistans prime minister urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance.

In a post on X, Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been leading negotiations, also asked Iran to open up for two weeks the Strait of Hormuz.

China, which is Tehrans biggest trade partner, encouraged the Iranians to find a way to a ceasefire as talks progressed, according to two officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Before the deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station, and America hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

While Iran cannot match the sophistication of US and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its chokehold on the strait since the war began in late February is roiling the world economy and raising the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

US crude oil prices plunged after Trump's announcement, with West Texas Intermediate contracts falling by more than 15 percent to $95 per barrel after hitting $116 earlier Tuesday.
A plane from Sydney to Fiji was forced to divert to Tonga after the effects of Tropical Cyclone Vaianu foiled three attempts to land in Nadi.

Fiji Airways flight FJ914 reached airspace above Fiji on Monday but abandoned landing there, instead turn towards the Tongan capital of Nuku'alofa, according to FlightRadar24.

The airline confirmed to Daily Mail that it had been diverted due to weather conditions, with turbulence affecting the flight.

'There were basically people spewing up and down the aisles,' a passenger told ABC News.

'Fortunately, my kids were pretty good; they sat there half asleep or they were entertaining themselves.'

Another said they were grateful the pilots chose to divert to Tonga after their third landing attempt during the 'hairy' journey.

'There were a few yelps and there was a bit of motion sickness going on up there, which was obviously not ideal,' she said.

'The wind shear was pretty crazy up there, so I'm glad that they made a decision to move on.'

A Fiji Airways plane from Sydney was forced to divert to Tonga (stock image)

It is understood the plane attempted to land at Nadi in Fiji three time

The decision was a precaution due to Tropical Cyclone Vaianu

A spokesperson for Fiji Airways said in a statement that the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.

'The aircraft landed safely in Tonga with no injuries reported among passengers or crew,' they said.

'Tonga and other regional airports are regularly used as alternate airports for flights to Fiji during disruptions and when needed.

'All passengers were provided with overnight accommodation and were supported by our crew and local teams before continuing their journey.

'A replacement flight departed Tonga the following day and arrived in Fiji at 9:59am on April 8.'

Warnings have been issued to Australians about travelling to Fiji after category three system Tropical Cyclone Vaianu hit the region this week.

Smartraveller issued an update warning about the extreme impacts for those in the area which are 'bringing heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds'.

'Flights may be delayed or cancelled, and essential services may be disrupted. Know your accommodations evacuation plan,' the warning read.

'If a cyclone is approaching your area, find your nearest shelter and follow the advice of local authorities.

'If youre travelling in affected areas, contact your airline, tour operator or accommodation provider to check how your travel plans may be impacted.'

As of 1pm local time, the Fiji National Disaster Risk Management Office confirmed 46 evacuation centres are active, welcoming 1470 evacuees.

A second storm, Tropical Cyclone Maila, is tracking off the Solomon Islands and could hit Papua New Guinea.

The category three system could still hit Australia.
The Coalition is demanding greater transparency from the Albanese Government on Australia's fuel security, warning that the public remains largely in the dark about local fuel availability.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has called for a realtime, publicly accessible dashboard to give households and businesses clear updates on national fuel and energy supplies.

Energy Minister Chris Bowen revealed to reporters on Wednesday that Australia currently holds about 39 days' worth of petrol and about 30 days of diesel and jet fuel.

The Coalition is also pursuing bipartisan support for a Senate Select Committee to scrutinise how the Iran conflict is impacting supply chains and placing renewed pressure on Australia's fuel stocks.

Although a ceasefire in the Middle East has paused fighting, it has also underscored just how exposed Australia is to shocks in global fuel markets.

The Strait of Hormuz may be open, but the Opposition warns disruptions are far from over and the effects have yet to fully filter through. The six weeks of turmoil are expected to continue to linger on fuel distribution and the Australian economy.

Large parts of the oil infrastructure in the Gulf has been blown up and could take years to rebuild. Market analysts predict supply conditions will remain tight in Australia, leaving consumers vulnerable in the nearterm.

National Australia Bank chief economist Sally Auld cautioned that even if the Middle East conflict ends quickly, the economic pain will last for months.

The Opposition has called for the government to create a real time fuel data dashboard

Fuel shipments and prices are expected to remain volatile for months

'The longer the conflict drags on, the larger the impact on the local economy,' she said.

'Even if the conflict is resolved quickly, the impact will linger for a number of months. A return to preconflict oil volumes and prices will not happen rapidly, meaning the conflict is likely to have a long tail in terms of its impact on the domestic economy.'

The Coalition says Australians are still lacking basic information about fuel stocks, reserve levels and how long supply pressures are likely to last.

While prices at the bowser have already climbed, public reporting on the risk of deeper shortages remains scarce.

Taylor's proposed fuel dashboard would publish daily, nationwide data showing how many stations in each state and territory are facing shortages, broken down by those without diesel, unleaded petrol or with no fuel left at all.

It would also provide rolling updates on national bulk fuel reserves, including volumes held at major terminals and by distributors and wholesalers, as well as daily rates of stock depletion.

Currently, the Government offers fuel market updates mostly through media conferences, with Minister Bowen delivering weekly summaries in person.

The Coalition wants these figures reported every day, especially the estimated number of days of diesel, jet fuel and petrol remaining.

Impacts from the conflict will continue to be felt despite the two-week ceasefire being called

The Opposition argues more frequent reporting is essential during global instability.

Taylor's plan also calls for realtime tracking of fuel imports, with details on inbound shipments and alerts when deliveries risk being diverted to overseas markets as other countries prioritise their own supplies.

Available storage capacity would likewise be updated daily, highlighting where extra imports could be absorbed or where smaller suppliers might gain access to storage.

The Coalition maintains that greater visibility would help businesses, industry and ordinary Australians to better plan for supply chain shocks, and strengthen national resilience as global uncertainty continues.
A rollercoaster at a Gold Coast theme park suddenly stopped mid-ride, leaving passengers stranded on the track.

The incident occurred at Warner Bros. Movie World after the DC Rivals HyperCoaster came to a standstill at 1pm on Wednesday.

Terrified passengers were trapped ten metres above the ground for two hours before the issue was fixed at 3pm. They were given umbrellas to protect them from the sun as temperatures soared to 30 degrees.

A Village Roadshow Theme Parks spokesman said all 20 riders were safe, revealing the stoppage was caused by a ride sensor activation.

'We currently have a ride stoppage on DC Rivals HyperCoaster. All guests are safe and we are currently exiting them from the safe stop zones,' he said.

'At all times throughout the stoppage, the guests on board were safe and our team were in constant communication with them.

'The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our highest priority and ride stoppages are proof rides systems and operators are doing as they are designed and trained to do to keep our guests safe.'

Video shared to Facebook showed the rollercoaster stopped on a steep incline just before it was due to go over a near-vertical drop.

Riders get rescued from the DC Rivals HyperCoaster at Movie World on the Gold Coast on Wednesday
Katie Price has been banned from driving for the seventh time after she ignored police letters about an 80mph speeding ticket.

The former glamour model, 47, has received bans totalling more than six years since she was first disqualified in 2010.

Her latest offence comes after a Ford Capri registered in her name was caught at 80mph on the A64 near Sutton in North Yorkshire.

Police sent a letter addressed to Price's home in West Sussex, asking her to confirm if she was driving the speeding car.

She has now been convicted of failing to respond to police, landing her with a six-month driving ban and a legal bill topping 1,000.

Price was charged with speeding and failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle, court papers show.

The Ford Capri was caught on a speed camera, driving on a 70mph stretch of the A64 at 3.03pm on October 15 last year.

She was sent a police letter about the incident on October 20, as well as a reminder on November 10, warning her of looming criminal proceedings.

Katie Price, 47, has has been banned once again from driving after failing to respond to a speeding ticket

CCTV footage showed Price driving a Ford Capri at 80mph on the A64 near Sutton, North Yorkshire

However the police force said no response was received to either letter.

Magistrate Claire Sagar, sitting at Harrogate Magistrates' Court last Tuesday, found Price guilty of failing to respond to a police charge.

She ordered Price to pay a 660 fine, 120 in costs, and a 264 victim surcharge.

Price, who found fame on ITV reality show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, has had a long history of driving offences.

In December 2010, Price was banned for six months after admitting a speeding charge, she was disqualified for a year in 2012 after failing to respond to speeding tickets, and she received another six-month ban in February 2018 after being caught speeding.

In January 2019, she was in court again to admit driving while disqualified, leading to a three-month ban.

And just a month later, she was convicted of being drunk in charge of a vehicle when police witnessed her car veer off the road and hit a grass verge.

Price claimed that a mystery man had been at the wheel and left the scene before officers arrived, but a judge concluded her evidence was 'not plausible'.

Later in 2019, Price was convicted of failing to disclose the name of the driver following a car crash, which led to her receiving an 18-month road ban.

And in 2021, a judge condemned Price for 'one of the worst driving records I have ever seen', as she was given a 16-week suspended prison sentence for drink-driving while disqualified and without insurance.

Price had flipped her car and told police at the scene: 'I took drugs, I should not be driving, I admit it all.'

The incident landed her with a two-year driving ban, as well as 100 hours of community service and up to 30 rehabilitation sessions.

'You appear to think you are above the law,' District Judge Amanda Kelly told her at the time.

Finally, in 2024, Price was fined 880 for driving without a licence and insurance in Northamptonshire, but she was spared a ban for those offences.

Speaking at the time, John Scruby, from the Campaign against Drink Driving called for her to be 'put behind bars'.

He told the Daily Mail: 'It's time that people realise that she is not going to listen and will keep doing this again and again.

'She will carry on breaking the law and the only way to stop her is to put her behind bars.'

Price's latest conviction and driving disqualification was dealt with last week in the Single Justice Procedure, a secretive court process where magistrates deal with criminal cases behind closed doors.

Due to the secretive nature of the court process, it is not known if Price was given the chance to argue against another driving ban.

It is also unclear whether the court knew of her previous driving record, and the records do not reveal if she already had penalty points on her licence.

The speeding charge was withdrawn by the police.

Join the discussion What do you think should happen to repeat driving offenders like Katie Price to protect the public?

Earlier this year, Price married businessman Lee Andrews in Dubai in a surprise ceremony

Price, an author and reality TV star, has also found herself in the civil courts as well as the criminal courts in recent years, as she has battled through bankruptcy proceedings.

At a hearing last October, a judge told her to reduce her 'extravagant pattern of expenditure' as it was revealed almost half her monthly income would be going to pay off creditors.

Bankruptcies from 2019 and 2024 have been discharged, but she remains the subject of a court order aimed at settling her debts until February 2027.

Speaking on a podcast last year, Price said she now struggles to obtain car insurance due to her litany of past driving convictions.

Earlier this year, Price shocked fans when she married businessman Lee Andrews, 42, in Dubai following a whirlwind 'one-week' romance.
Video captured the moment a fight broke out in Primrose Hill, which led to the death of 21-year-old man and another being rushed to hospital.

Several young men can be seen fighting in the footage, while shocked sunseekers who had flocked to the park to enjoy the warm weather watched on.

At one point, one of the youths appears to pull out a knife and begins threatening another person. He lunges towards them before quickly backing away.

Another post shared on social media shows paramedics giving medical attention to a person lying on the floor.

Police said a 21-year-old man was found at the scene with stab wounds but died a short while later.

Another man, believed to be in his 20s, also suffered stab wounds and was found by officers nearby on Regent's Park Road.

He was taken to hospital by paramedics. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

This is the terrifying moment a fight broke out in Primrose Hill, which led to a 21-year-old man dying and another rushed to hospital

The man on the left then pulls out what appears to be a knife and begins threatening the person on the right, lunging quickly before backing away

Officers and ambulance crews confirmed last night that they were called at around 6.40pm to reports of a fight at the viewpoint next to Regent's Park.

No arrests have been made yet but the park was closed off to the public while a crime scene was put in place.

It came as the UK saw the warmest day of the year so far and people flocked to the park to enjoy widespread sunshine.

One witness to the fight told the Daily Mail: 'The park was just so busy, I had gone with my mate after work and it was literally the busiest I have ever seen it because of the weather and it being Easter holidays.

'Then suddenly we heard this commotion from behind us, and a big brawl kicked off - people were throwing punches, people were screaming at others to stop.

'There were lots of people involved in the initial fight, most of them looked like teenagers about 18 or 19.

'Then a group of three people ran off past us and one of them said to the other "you've been sheft [slang for stabbed] mate" and you could just see this massive red patch on his shirt.

'After that a massive group of people began crowding around someone on the floor where the fight had been and you could see from people's reactions it was not good. Lots of people had their head in their hands and just looked very distressed.

'About an hour later the police came and told everyone they had to leave because it was now a crime scene.'

A crime scene still remained in place this morning, with police present outside the London park

Superintendent Matt Cox said: 'This is an utterly tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the man's family and loved ones.

'I would like to reassure the local community that the investigation is unfolding at pace and an increased police presence will remain in the area while we carry out enquiries.

'I would appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information that could help my officers to come forward.'

A London Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'We were called at 6.41pm to reports of an incident in Primrose Hill.

'We sent a number of resources to the scene, including ambulance crews, an advanced paramedic practitioner, incident response officers, and we deployed crews from London's Air Ambulance.

'Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, one person was pronounced dead at the scene. A further patient was taken to a major trauma centre.'

Anyone with information that may assist police is asked to 101, quoting CAD 6448/07Apr or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

A yellow forensic tent at the scene in Primrose Hill this morning

The fight in Primrose Hill last night is just the latest incident in a surge of anti-social behaviour that has been plaguing London since Sadiq Khan became mayor.

Sir Sadiq has maintained that the capital - often dubbed 'Lawless London' - is not perfect but that it remains a safe city.

However, a closer look at the data shows that a range of crimes, including theft from the person, sex offences, drugs and violent crime, have dramatically increased from when he first came to power in 2016.

Theft from the person has increased by 140 per cent from 35,570 in 2016/17 to 85,465 in 2025/26.

In 2024/25, the year Sir Sadiq was re-elected, it had even skyrocketed to 101,053.

Elsewhere, sexual offences have risen by 55 per cent from 17,491 in 2016/17 to 27,074 in 2025/26.

Drug offences have risen by 34 per cent from 40,652 in 2016/17 to 54,291 in 2025/26.

And violence against the person has soared by 51,086 incidents 27 per cent from 191,691 in 2016/17 to 242,777 in 2025/26.

The figures, based only on crimes reported to the Metropolitan Police, do not factor in how London's population has grown over the same time.

Official estimates suggest the capital's headcount has risen from 8.7million in 2016, the year Sir Sadiq was elected, to just shy of 9.1million in 2024  the most recent year.
A global airlines boss has hinted at summer holiday chaos, saying 'it will take months' for jet fuel supplies to recover when the Strait of Hormuz finally reopens.

Iran had halted access to the waterway, which is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, after it was attacked by the US and Israel on February 28.

Around 20 per cent of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) normally passes through the channel, which is just 21 miles wide.

It means Tehran's move saw global energy supplies choked and prices skyrocketing, bringing industry and everyday life to a grinding halt.

US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday night Iran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire in return for unblocking the strait.

The possibility of relief saw the price of oil fall below $100 per barrel - and sent airline stocks soaring, in what appeared to be promising news for the tourism industry.

But a travel chief has warned even if the waterway does reopen, the sector could still take months to recover - potentially putting holidaymakers' summer plans at risk.

Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said jet fuel costs are likely to remain high, affecting airports across the world.

Willie Walsh (pictured), director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), said jet fuel costs are likely to remain high, affecting airports across the world

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The official at the trade association for airlines worldwide explained this was because of lasting disruption from the war to oil refineries throughout the Middle East.

The entire region became engulfed in conflict after US-Israeli attacks on Iran, as Tehran soon embarked on retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.

It has seen widespread damage across states including Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - all of which are major oil producers.

The global energy crisis is also particularly impactful for airlines as fuel is their second-largest expense after labour, according to the IATA.

It typically accounts for around 27 per cent of carriers' operational costs, the trade association said.

But in what will be welcome news for drivers, Mr Walsh also said he expected the price of crude oil, used to produce petrol and diesel, to fall.

Shocking pictures from recent weeks have shown huge queues at struggling petrol stations across the world, as motorists fight for increasingly expensive fuel.

It comes after other experts have made a similar grim forecast for airlines across the world.

A Dubai-based billionaire recently warned carriers could start going bankrupt within weeks after the Middle Eastern conflict sent shockwaves through the industry.

Gediminas Ziemelis, the founder of Avia Solutions Group, has said the current crisis feels like a repeat of the Covid pandemic.

Grounded planes, collapsing demand, falling bookings, surging fuel costs and no clear timeline for recovery have left the sector in chaos.

'We need to be ready for any area, district, jurisdiction and geopolitical risk,' Mr Ziemelis said, in an interview with Bloomberg.

'We may see potential first bankruptcies.'

Since the conflict began, oil prices have soared by nearly 50 per cent to around $100 a barrel.

As a result, some airlines have had to introduce additional surcharges, while others have cut certain routes altogether.

At the same time, carriers are being forced to reroute flights to avoid large parts of the Middle East, increasing journey times and costs.

Join the discussion Should airlines absorb rising fuel costs or pass them on to passengers?

The global energy crisis is also particularly impactful for airlines as fuel is their second-largest expense after labour, according to the IATA. Pictured: A cargo ship in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, on March 11

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Firms in Europe and Asia have already raised ticket prices and reduced destinations.

Airlines based in the Middle East have been hit hardest, with thousands of flights cancelled as missile and drone attacks disrupt the region.

The crisis has forced carriers to evacuate passengers, crews and aircraft.

Companies such as Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, flydubai and Air Arabia are conducting internal cost-cutting reviews as they lose millions of dollars in revenue each day.

Meanwhile, bookings are down 63 per cent, average nightly room rates are down 28 per cent and cancellation rates are up 163 per cent in the region.

Flights to Dubai have been pictured with rows of empty seats, as at least five planes parked at airports in the Middle East have been hit by Iran.

Photos and videos shared on social media show rows of vacant seats on planes headed to Dubai, with one caption reading: 'I've never seen an empty Emirates flight.'

Hotspots like Dubai have been reduced to ghost towns amid the conflict, with influencers and expats scrambling to leave as Iran pounds the Gulf.

Once a tax-free haven attracting social media stars and countless Brits seeking warm weather and crime-free streets, Dubai's carefully crafted image has been shattered.

Some residents have even gone as far as to say it is 'finished', as thousands flee the war-torn city, vowing to never return.

The Islamic Republic has sent barrages of missiles and suicide drones at glitzy skyscrapers and glamorous five-star hotels across the Emirati city.

Tehran has struck striking the world-famous Fairmont hotel on Palm Jumeirah, which is normally beloved of British tourists.

Other neighbouring hotspots have also been affected, with hotel bookings in Cyprus down 40 per cent by holidaymakers in fear of further attack.

The US and Israel launched attacks on Iran just as the eastern Mediterranean country's tourism industry was reopening after winter.

Then, on March 2, as Tehran launched a series of counter-strikes, a drone struck a British naval base on the island, triggering a wave of tourist cancellations.

Daily cancellation rates for short-term rentals in Cyprus shot up from around 15 per cent before the conflict to as high as 100 per cent in the days after, 

That figure has since dropped, but remained around 45 per cent by March 21, according to the data from US-based AirDNA, which tracks such bookings. 

Greece and Turkey saw slight rises in cancellation rates, too.
Second home owners face a 500 per cent hike in their council tax after local authorities were handed unlimited powers to raise bills.

Householders in Midlothian, Scotland could be hit with fees of up to 27,863 this year following the SNP-run council's decision to increase premium charges.

The council said those who had owned their property for more than three years faced the highest rise.

Second homes owned for less than two years would be taxed a 100 per cent premium on their existing bill - with this rising to 300 per cent for those owned for between two and three years and to 500 per cent for any owned for more than three years.

Together, the 35 second homes in the county are expected to generate up to 200,000 for Midlothian council this tax year.

The charges, understood to be the largest in Britain, were introduced on April 1 - with the council arguing they would free up properties for local people by deterring second home ownership.

Other Scottish councils have also agreed to increase their premiums after the uncapped powers were introduced, though not at the same scale.

Householders in Midlothian, Scotland could be hit with fees of up to 27,863 this year following the SNP-run council's decision to increase premium charges (file image)

In England, local authorities have powers to impose a maximum 100 per cent rate on top of traditional council tax whereas in Wales a 300 per cent increase can be applied.

Megan Gallacher, the Scottish Conservative housing lead, told the Telegraph: 'These eye-watering hikes are the inevitable result of SNP and Green politicians giving councils the power to introduce unlimited rises in council tax on second homes.

'This reckless proposal will pile costs on to homeowners at a time when many are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis.'

In February, Kelly Parry, council leader, said she hoped the change would deter people from buying second homes.

She added: 'Although this will bring in some income, I think the council would much prefer that this brought about behavioural change, particularly given our lack of supply in rented houses, which is not only a challenge for obtaining properties but of course pushes up prices.'

Second homes are defined as properties lived in for over 25 days a year - but not used as a main residence.

There are roughly 20,927 second homes across Scotland - with the highest number in the Outer Hebrides and Argyll and Bute.

Owners of empty homes in Midlothian also face the same increases in council tax premiums - calculated by how long a property has remained unoccupied.

Joanna Marchong, of the Adam Smith institute, said Midlothian was only the latest council 'taking advantage of new powers to hit second home owners with eye-watering tax hikes'.

She added: 'This sets a dangerous precedent. Councils should focus on getting their own house in order and boosting supply, not on measures that have moved from targeted policy into outright revenue-grabbing.'

Midlothian is home to roughly 100,000 people and is located just south of Edinburgh, encompassing towns such as Bonnyrigg, Dalkeith and Penicuik.
An Australian military veteran has asked federal MP Bob Katter to return his medals to politicians in Canberra following the arrest of former SAS corporal Ben Roberts-Smith.

Katter shared a photo of the note the veteran given to him by the former ANZAC on Wednesday alongside his five medals.

They are an Australian Active Service Medal with an East Timor clasp, International Force East Timor medal, Defence Force Service Medal, Australian National Medal and Australian Defence Medal.

'Bob, give my medals back to Canberra,' the note read.

'I no longer want them after seeing the way they treat veterans.'

Roberts-Smith, the nation's most decorated soldier and a Victoria Cross recipient, was arrested Tuesday morning at Sydney Domestic Airport after arriving on a flight from Brisbane with his teenage twin daughters.

He has been charged with five counts of war crime - murder over alleged incidents in Afghanistan between April 2009 and October 2012 after a joint investigation by the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP).

The veteran has long maintained his innocence, and is languishing in Silverwater Prison after his lawyer deferred a bail application.

A veteran gave his five medals (above) to federal MP Bob Katter to 'return to Canberra'

Bob Katter (above) wrote that he wanted to 'acknowledge all our veterans feeling betrayed by the events of recent days'

Katter claimed the medals given to him represented a wider community of veterans who felt 'betrayed' by the arrest.

'I want to acknowledge all our veterans feeling betrayed by the events of recent days  including one of my constituents from the Kennedy electorate who's asked me to return his medals to Canberra when I'm there next,' Katter wrote online.

'Pro Patria et Diem (For Country and Day).'

Commenters under Katter's post were deeply divided between those supporting Roberts-Smith, often by highlighting war crimes committed by the Taliban in the conflict in question, and those who believed he should go to trial.

However, the overarching sentiment of commenters was concern for veterans as ANZAC Day approaches on April 25.

'What a sad state our country is in, for our veterans to feel this way,' one wrote.

'The soldiers who reported him (Roberts-Smith) are also veterans, they also deserve to be heard,' another said.

'Maybe you should wait for the trial outcome before you decide if he's being treated unfairly,' another wrote.

Ben Roberts-Smith (centre) was arrested at Sydney Domestic Airport after arriving on a flight from Brisbane

Roberts-Smith (above) after a joint investigation between the Office of the Special Investigator and the Australian Federal Police

'Returning the medals will not stop the witch-hunt nor influence the inquiry,' another said.

'This is sad for many men and women who fought for our country. Just before ANZAC Day as well,' another wrote.

Roberts-Smith previously sued Nine newspapers and journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters for defamation over a series of reports in 2018, which accused him of war crimes.

In 2023, Justice Anthony Besanko found, on the balance of probabilities, the claims that Roberts-Smith was responsible for the murder of four unarmed male civilians while deployed in Afghanistan were substantially true.

He had appealed his 2023 Federal Court loss, disputing Justice Besanko's findings, arguing they were not backed up by sufficient evidence for such serious claims.

Last year, Australia's highest court refused the former soldier's application to appeal the Federal Court findings.

The Australian Centre for International Justice welcomed the arrest of Roberts-Smith as an 'important step towards truth and accountability'.

Its principal lawyer and executive director Rawan Arraf has been a long-time advocate for David McBride, who brought forward allegations of war crimes committed by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.

He is currently serving a jail sentence until at least August 2026, after pleading guilty to leaking classified documents.
Donald Trump's inner circle's almost all thought the Iran war was a bad idea when Israel gave a secret White House briefing that convinced him to launch Operation Epic Fury, it has been claimed.

Benjamin Netanyahu was invited to make his case for war in the Situation Room, The New York Times reports, a venue rarely used for in-person briefings with foreign leaders.

Seated across from the President on February 11, the Israeli prime minister delivered a detailed, hour-long presentation. His message was clear - Iran was vulnerable and the time was ripe for regime change.

The Israeli delegation painted a picture of swift and decisive victory. Iran's missile capabilities, they argued, could be dismantled within weeks.

The Strait of Hormuz would remain open, and retaliation against American targets would be minimal.

Behind the scenes, Israel's intelligence service, Mossad, could help spark an internal uprising to finish the job.

At one point, Netanyahu played a video montage highlighting potential future leaders of Iran should the regime collapse - including Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the country's last shah.

Trump's reaction was positive, and he appeared to be on board.

Donald Trump meets Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on February 11

The President monitors US military operations in Venezuela with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, left, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe from Mar-a-Lago on January 3, 2026

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags at a protest in Enghelab Square, Tehran, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

Within hours of Netanyahu's presentation, US intelligence agencies began urgently assessing the claims.

By the following day their verdict was delivered in another Situation Room session, and it was stark.

While analysts agreed that certain military objectives, such as targeting Iran's leadership and degrading its regional threat capabilities, were achievable, they dismissed the broader vision of regime change.

The idea of a popular uprising replacing the Islamic government with a secular alternative was deemed unrealistic.

CIA director John Ratcliffe summed it up in a single word: 'Farcical.'

Trump listened - but did not dwell on it. Regime change, he said, would be 'their problem'.

His focus remained firmly on military action against Iran's leadership and infrastructure.

Within Trump's inner circle, only Vice President JD Vance consistently and forcefully opposed the push toward conflict.

Having built his political identity on resisting foreign military interventions, Vance warned colleagues that a war with Iran could spiral into catastrophe.

He cautioned that it risked destabilising the entire region, causing massive casualties and fracturing Trump's political base - particularly among voters who backed a promise to avoid new wars.

Vance also highlighted practical concerns, including dwindling US munitions, the unpredictability of Iran's response, and the possibility that Tehran could choke off the Strait of Hormuz, sending global energy prices soaring.

While he initially argued against any strikes, Vance later shifted to advocating more limited options - and, failing that, overwhelming force to bring a rapid end to hostilities.

At the final meeting on February 26, he made his position unmistakably clear, expressing to Trump that he thought starting a conflict was a bad idea, but that he would support his decision.

Elsewhere in the room, doubts existed but rarely translated into direct opposition.

Trump is briefed on Operation Epic Fury alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, centre, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles on February 28, 2026

Pro-government demonstrators hold Iranian flags and an image of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in Tehran today

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth emerged as one of the most hawkish voices. He told colleagues they would have to take care of the Iranians eventually and might as well do it now on the eve of Trump's final decision.

Rubio took a more cautious stance, favouring continued economic pressure over war, but stopped short of challenging the President outright.

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles harboured concerns about the political risks - particularly with midterm elections looming - yet chose not to voice them in a group setting.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine repeatedly flagged the dangers, such as depleted weapons stockpiles, the risk of the Strait of Hormuz being shut and the unpredictability of Iran's retaliation.

However, his careful insistence that it was not his role to advise the President on what decision to make meant his warnings often lacked force.

To some, it appeared he was presenting every side without taking a clear position - leaving Trump free to interpret the advice as he saw fit.

Central to Trump's thinking was a firm conviction that any conflict would be swift.

He drew confidence from recent events, including Iran's limited response to earlier US strikes on its nuclear facilities, and a dramatic commando raid that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro without any American casualties.

Warnings that Iran could lose the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital artery for global oil supplies, were brushed aside.

Trump assumed Tehran would back down before taking such drastic steps.

Similarly, concerns over dwindling US weapons reserves were weighed against what the President saw as a key advantage - a vast supply of inexpensive, precision-guided bombs.

Commentator Tucker Carlson has emerged as a prominent figure on the Right who was sceptical about the war from the beginning.

In the lead up to the conflict, Trump, who had known Carlson for years, tried to reassure him over the phone, saying: 'I know youre worried about it, but its going to be OK.'

When questioned his certainty, Trump's reply was characteristically blunt: 'Because it always is.'

Ultimately, the reporting suggests that the decision to go to war was not the product of a unified strategic consensus.

Instead it stemmed from Trump's instinct, which was bolstered by a team far more aligned with him than during his first term.

Unlike earlier advisers who often sought to restrain or redirect him, his second-term circle largely viewed him as a transformative historical figure.

His political comeback in 2024, survival of legal battles and assassination attempts and previous high-profile successes had only reinforced that belief.

In that environment, scepticism struggled to gain traction.

After over a month of war, Iran and the US have agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, during which shipping traffic will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz.

But it remains to be seen whether the break in hostilities is binding or simply a brief pause before diplomacy shatters and the conflict explodes again.

Despite the ceasefire, strikes appear to be continuing, with Kuwait this morning reporting Iranian attacks which damaged power and desalination plants as well as oil facilities.

And there is fundamental disagreement about what the ceasefire even entails, with Netanyahu insisting it doesn't include Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting the Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah.

According to Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, Lebanon is included.

Since the coordinated attacks on Iran were launched on February 28, several predictions of the Israeli prime minister haven't come to fruition.

While he assured his American counterpart Tehran's missile arsenal could be dismantled in a matter of weeks, the Islamic Republic clearly has been able to maintain its bombardment of Gulf neighbours.

The regime also defied expectations by enforcing the de facto shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, the passageway between the Persian and Oman gulfs which handles around 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas.

Its closure has triggered the biggest disruption to global energy supplies in history.

The situation is 'more serious than the ones in 1973, 1979 and 2022 together', Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), told newspaper Le Figaro.

'The world has never experienced a disruption to energy supply of such magnitude,' he said in an interview with the French outlet.

He added that European countries, as well Japan, Australia and others will suffer, but those most at risk were developing nations which will be hit by higher oil and gas prices, increased food prices and a general acceleration of inflation.

Netanyahu's assurance that attacks against American targets would be minimal has also been proven wrong.

Iranian strikes on military bases used by the US in the Middle East caused about $800million (600million) in damage in the first two weeks of the war, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The constant bombardment of US bases in the Gulf has meant thousands of troops and personnel have evacuated the region, forcing Washington to prosecute its war remotely.

And despite the fact that Gulf states assured Tehran that none of their bases would be used for attacks, this has not stopped the regime from launching thousands of drones and missiles targeting airports, oil refineries, ports, hotels and office buildings.

Regime change is far from being secured. As Anshel Pfeffer, The Economist's Israel correspondent, wrote on X this morning: 'Three months ago Israels plan was to launch a limited campaign in the summer against Irans ballistic missile project.

'Then came the Iranian protests and Trumps help is on the way promise and Netanyahu thought there was an opportunity for a regime-change war. Overreach backfired.'

While the war has seen the assassination of Iran's top brass, including the former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and security chief Ali Larijani, the regime is still standing.

In fact, it may have only galvanised the radical generals of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), who, hellbent on victory, may start assassinating their own higher-level officials if they continue to negotiate on Trump's terms.

Hooshang Amirahmadi, the founder and president of the American Iranian Council, told the BBC that while around 150 members of the regime's top brass have been eliminated, a new generation of younger officers have entered the scene and are 'increasingly in charge'.

With Khamenei killed in one of the first strikes of the war, the 'vertical power structure' of the Islamic Republic has collapsed into a 'horizontal structure', giving more military agency to hardline second rank officers who are resistant to peace.

Even if negotiations for peace continue, it's undoubtedly going to be a difficult few weeks, with Iran and the US still disagreeing on several major points.

While Washington has said it wants no enrichment being done in Tehran and that a nuclear weapon is off the cards, Iranian state media are saying that the US has agreed to uranium enrichment.

Moreover, the US accepted the ceasefire under the condition that there will be the free flow of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, but the regime is still demanding control over maritime traffic in the passageway and has said this is their number one priority.
A two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran has pulled the region back from impending escalation, leaving the world questioning 'what comes next?'

US President Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social on Tuesday evening: 'I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.'

He described it as 'a big day for world peace' and said Iran has 'had enough' of the conflict, adding there would now be 'lots of positive action'.

This came after Trump warned Tuesday morning that 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again' if no deal was reached by his 8pm ET deadline.

The ceasefire is conditional, hinging on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint through which a fifth of the world's oil supply passes.

Trump said the ceasefire would be 'double-sided' and justified it by claiming the US had 'met and exceeded all military objectives'.

Iran proposed a 10-point counter-proposal to US negotiators via Pakistani officials on Monday after the US gave Islamabad a 15-point proposal to begin a ceasefire.

Israel has also agreed to pause strikes for the same period, according to a senior White House official. However, they are continuing to fight Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The ceasefire is fragile, with the international community watching closely to see what unfolds as the Islamabad peace talks kick off this Friday.

Who is running Iran?

The ceasefire comes amid confusion over Iran's leadership, with Iranian officials saying the agreement was approved by Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the country's new supreme leader, despite intelligence reports suggesting he is in a coma.

President Trump has claimed to be negotiating with Iranian representatives, but has been clear he does not mean the supreme leader.

Meanwhile on the diplomatic front, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has been the public face of the deal.

He confirmed: 'If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.'

And despite damage to its leadership and military infrastructure, Iran's regime remains intact.

In the last few weeks, the Trump administration has sent mixed signals on regime change.

Trump initially called for a popular uprising, promising US support and even considering a Kurdish-led offensive to topple the government.

However, his aides have since softened that stance, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claiming this wasn't a 'regime change war,' even while boasting that the 'regime sure did change' for the better.

Trump previously admitted that finding a replacement for Ali Khamenei is difficult because US and Israeli 'decapitation strikes' have already killed off the moderate alternatives.

This has stalled plans to use the 'Venezuela model', used in January 2026 to swap Nicolas Maduro for a US-backed leader.

Instead of relying on exiled figures like Reza Pahlavi, whom Trump doubts has enough local support, he suggested that a more 'appropriate' successor would likely need to come from within the current Iranian system.

But for now, the late Ali Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, is officially the man in charge.

However, with the severity of his condition still unknown, top regime officials are expected to continue the day-to-day work of running the country and participating in negotiations.

The control of the Strait of Hormuz is the central issue in ceasefire negotiations

What will happen with the Strait of Hormuz?

The control of the Strait of Hormuz is the central issue in ceasefire negotiations.

Trump has been fixated on forcing Iran to end its chokehold on the strait, the strategic waterway off the country's coast through which a fifth of the world's oil supply passes.

Iran has bombed multiple vessels that have made the dangerous decision to transit the Strait. As a result, oil prices have skyrocketed, and global markets have churned.

Under the current arrangement, Iran is allowing limited access. However, this access comes on its terms, with the plan indicating that safe passage would occur under Iranian military coordination.

Speaking on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said: 'For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via the coordination with Iran's Armed Forces.'

Iran's 10-point proposal explicitly demands continued control over the strait, signalling that closure remains an option if talks fail.

It also allows for potential fees on shipping of around $2 million per ship, with the funds used for reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by US-Israeli strikes.

Meanwhile, the US is unlikely to concede full control of the strait, and when asked about Tehran charging fees, Trump said on Monday: 'What about us charging tolls? I'd rather do that than let them have them. Why shouldn't we? We're the winner. We won.'

Experts warn that this leverage is far from resolved, with Burcu Ozcelik from RUSI saying: 'Right now, Iran continues to retain control of the threat of control over the Strait of Hormuz Iran may choose to continue to threaten leverage over the strait.'

However Ozcelik warned that whilst the Strait of Hormuz offered Iran a very compelling case to continue the conflict, every day that it did so was also incredibly costly, costly to livelihoods and to its infrastructure, to its missile and drone capabilities and its defence industry.

'So Iran also has suffered here, and it hasn't been an outright victory over the strait,' she said.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, who has spoken with those familiar with both sides of the negotiations, told Politico: 'There is no military solution to this challenge.'

'The only path is a mutually beneficial diplomatic arrangement.'

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MAGA's reaction

The ceasefire and the weeks leading up to it have exposed a growing divide within the MAGA movement.

While some supporters are praising Trump's leadership, others are attacking him as a hypocrite, arguing that his involvement in the conflict betrays his 'America First' pledge.

Senator Rick Scott called the ceasefire 'excellent news' and described it as 'a strong first step toward holding Iran accountable and what happens when you have a leader who puts peace through strength over chaos and weak appeasement policies.'

And Senator Lindsey Graham expressed hope that 'we can end the reign of terror of the Iranian regime through diplomacy'.

However, he warned: 'it is imperative Iran is not rewarded for this hostile act against the world.'

Republican congressman Zach Nunn wrote on X that he was 'heartened by the ceasefire.'

'A President must have the authority to act decisively in defense of the nation, consistent with the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution. This operation met that standard to stop Iran. This was achieved with overwhelming force,' wrote the congressman from Iowa.

'Now the mission shifts to securing a lasting agreement that ensures Iran can never threaten the world with a nuclear weapon again.'

Meanwhile, tensions are brewing between Trump's actions and the anti-interventionist 'America First' platform that helped return him to power.

Conservative critics argue that the conflict contradicts those principles, even as many Republican voters continue to support him.

Former Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene fired back at Trump's Tuesday post, which warned that 'a whole civilization will die tonight' without a deal, calling the threat 'evil' and declaring it was 'not making America great again.'

She also called for the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

Even loyal allies have expressed unease, with Senator Ron Johnson saying: 'I am hoping and praying  this really is bluster. I do not want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure. I do not want to see that.'

Hard-right commentator Tucker Carlson went further, condemning Trump's threats against Iranian infrastructure as 'a war crime' and 'a moral crime'.

Trump responded by dismissing Carlson, saying 'Tucker's a low IQ person that has absolutely no idea what's going on.'

At the same time, while the war is broadly unpopular with the American public, Republican backing for Trump remains strong.

A CNN survey found that just 33 percent of Americans approve of how Trump is handling Iran, compared to 73 percent of Republicans.

Trump's Republican critics have yet to share their views on the two-week ceasefire, but Pete Hegseth and Karoline Leavitt are both expected to give press conferences today criticising those who criticized Trump's vows to annihilate Iran.

Axios reports that the Defense Secretary and the Press Secretary will argue that Trump's threats are what made a deal possible.

The divide in the conservative party is likely to shape the next phase of the conflict, particularly as negotiations continue and speculation grows over whether the United States will make concessions to Iran.

How will negotiations go?

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped broker the ceasefire, has invited both sides to talks in Islamabad, where they are set to begin on Friday.

Sharif had called on both Trump and the Iranian regime to accept the two-week ceasefire before the President finally relented.

'To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture,' Sharif said on Tuesday afternoon.

'We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.'

The White House has also indicated possible face-to-face meetings, though nothing is confirmed.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'There are discussions about face-to-face meetings between the United States and Iran, but nothing is final until it is announced by the President or the White House.'

It remains unclear whether the US will accept any core elements of Iran's proposal.

There are major points of conflict, especially over nuclear enrichment and control of the strait.

US negotiators have demanded that Iran abandon enrichment, scale back missile and drone programs, and reopen the strait without conditions.

The President has stressed repeatedly that the objectives of the war are to ensure Iran cannot create a nuclear weapon, its proxies cannot meddle with Middle Eastern countries, and Iran's Navy, drone, and ballistic missile capabilities are destroyed.

However, Tehran's plans to introduce fees for ships transiting the strait and demands for 'continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions,' as reported by state media, will definitely prove to be an issue during negotiations with the US.

Trump has said that the 10-point proposal 'is a workable basis on which to negotiate,' despite saying on Monday that the deal was not 'good enough.'

A senior Israeli official told Axios that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was assured that the US would insist that Iran give up its nuclear material, cease enrichment, and abandon its ballistic missile threat during peace talks.

Experts have said that strikes on Iran have ravaged its export capacity and gutted its revenue streams, leaving the country desperate for help to rebuild.

Consequently, securing a peace deal as soon as possible would be imperative for Tehrans survival.

However, 'political and security guarantees need to be granted before the economic recovery process can commence,' Burcu Ozcelik from RUSI said.

'I think President Trump in the past and recently as well has indicated that there will be a massive reconstruction efforts and certainly US firms will be likely first in line and other across the region to move in and to help rebuild Iran, but we are still not there yet. We're far from that point,' she added.

Vice President JD Vance, along with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, have been leading US negotiations to end the war, which was launched on February 28 - dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

Vice President Vance is expected to lead the US delegation at negotiations in Pakistan on Friday.

Israel's role

Israel has aligned with the US in accepting the temporary ceasefire, but tensions remain over its role in negotiations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government backed the pause, while insisting Iran must reopen the strait and end attacks.

Israel also said it supported US efforts to ensure Iran no longer posed a nuclear, missile or 'terror' threat.

The ceasefire does not, however, resolve the conflict's spillover into Lebanon, where fighting linked to Hezbollah continues.

Meanwhile, following the reaching of the deal, Israeli politicians sharply criticised the move, accusing Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said: 'There has never been a political disaster like this in our entire history. Israel was not even close to the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security.'

He added that Netanyahu 'failed politically, failed strategically, and did not achieve any of the goals he himself set'.

Netanyahu had set the elimination or at least severe degradation of Iran's nuclear programme as a central goal of the war, describing it as an 'existential threat' to Israel.

He also called for the neutralising of Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, the weakening or potentially toppling of the Iranian regime and the curbing of Tehran's regional influence by targeting its network of allied groups.

'It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu caused due to arrogance, negligence, and lack of strategic planning,' Lapid said.

Member of parliament and opposition figure Avigdor Liberman also denounced the truce, saying it gave the Iranian regime 'an opportunity to regroup'.

'Any agreement with Iran that does not include renouncing the destruction of Israel, uranium enrichment, the production of ballistic missiles, and support for terrorist organisations in the region means that we will have to return to another campaign under more difficult conditions and pay a heavier price,' Liberman said on X.
The parents of a teenage girl killed in a Vietnam motorbike crash during her gap year have thanked hospital staff after flying to the country to say their goodbyes.

British student Orla Wates, 19, died after an accident on the Ha Giang Loop, a 250-mile mountain route popular with young travellers.

She was the daughter of British building tycoon Andrew Wates, a director of 2.4billion building firm Wates.

Mr Wates, 56, and his wife Henrietta, 53, went to Vietnam following the tragedy and today took part in an 'appreciation ceremony' at the hospital where Orla died - and have expressed their gratitude for being given the time to be there.

Orla had been travelling on the Ha Giang Loop on a gap year before planning to start an anthropology degree course at Durham University, after previously attending the prestigious Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.

Following the motorcycle accident she was rushed to Hanoi's Viet uc Friendship Hospital but died on Thursday last week.

Her organs have now been donated for transplants, saving the lives of five critically ill Vietnamese patients.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but it is understood that Orla was riding pillion on the back of a motorcycle when the driver lost control.

Orla Wates, 19, died after a motorcycle accident in Vietnam during her gap year

Her father Andrew Wates (standing, with wife Henrietta to his left), has spoken at Hanoi's Viet uc Friendship Hospital where he thanked medics for their support

Orla was thrown to the ground but was then run over by an oncoming truck, causing extensive injuries.

Today's event at Vietnamese capital Hanoi's Viet uc Hospital was attended by members of Orla's family as well as Iain Frew, Britain's ambassador in the country.

Mr Wates said the organ donation decision was something his daughter would have wanted.

Orla's liver, two kidneys and two corneas were transplanted to patients at the hospital.

Mr Wates said: 'I would like to really say thank you to the doctor and his team for doing such an amazing job for Orla.

'In this case, it wasn't to be but we know we were lucky enough to get here and see her.

'As you know, my wife and I were very, very keen in our family, very keen that Orla had lived on in Vietnam.

'We were lucky and privileged enough to see the patients today and we just wish them every success in their future.'

Dr Duong uc Hung, director of Viet uc University Hospital, said patients who had received the transplanted organs were all recovering well

He added: 'From our perspective, absolutely what we wanted, and I know that's really, really what Orla wanted.

'So we leave Vietnam with very sad memories on the one hand but with much hope on the other.'

Dr Duong uc Hung, director of Viet uc University Hospital, said patients who had received the transplanted organs were all recovering well.

Addressing Orla's relatives, he said: 'We fully understand that the passing of your daughter is an immense and heartbreaking loss for your family.

'Yet, in the midst of such profound grief, you made a remarkably humanitarian decision  one that has given other patients a renewed chance at life.

'We know that making such a decision at a time like this is incredibly difficult.

'Despite the distance between us, we are connected by shared human values, compassion and empathy.

'Your choice is a truly noble one, offering hope to many patients with end-stage organ failure and allowing life to continue in others.

Iain Frew, Britain's ambassador to Vietnam, also thanked hospital staff for their involvement

'On behalf of the hospital and the recipients of your daughter's donated organs, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude.

'The patients who received these precious gifts have recovered well, and your act of generosity has made a profound difference.

'While your daughter has passed away, a part of her continues to live on in those who have received her organs. We promise that we will always care for and honour these precious gifts, as well as the lives they have saved.'

This is the first time organs have been donated from a foreign citizen to a Vietnamese hospital.

Vietnam's minister of health ao Hong Lan wrote a letter to Orla's family, thanking them for their decision to donate her organs.

Mr Lan wrote: 'This represents one of the first cases of multi-organ donation from a foreign citizen to Vietnamese hospitals.

'In particular, it carries special significance, affirming the universal value of humanity while further strengthening the solidarity and mutual trust between the people of Vietnam and the United Kingdom.

'We sincerely acknowledge, deeply appreciate, and express our heartfelt gratitude for your family's noble gesture.

Motorcyclists are seen riding along the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam (file picture)

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'This profound sacrifice will always be honoured and remembered. Your daughter's legacy will continue to live on through those who have received her organs and in the hearts of the Vietnamese people.'

UK ambassador Mr Frew said today: 'I want to thank the hospital for its efforts, its work to support trying to save all them, and for the work of the organ transplant unit in transforming the family's wishes and hopes into the very best for young people whose lives have been changed and saved.

'It's already been said that this is representing a connection between the United Kingdom and Vietnam and the strong relationship between our countries, but it is also a very personal connection between the Wates family and those Vietnamese people whose lives are changed.

'I really hope that this symbolises also an ongoing effort to make the most of organ transplants in Vietnam and organ donation, which is such an important thing in Vietnam, in the UK and across the world.'

The circumstances around the crash are still under investigation by police in Ha Giang Province.

The Ha Giang Loop is a 350-400km motorbike adventure popular with young travellers visiting the country.

Tours usually take between three and four days, with riders passing through the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark.

It features steep mountains, deep valleys, rice terraces and dramatic passes such as Ma Pi Leng.

Mr Wates is a director of the Wates building firm and chairman of the Wates Family Enterprise Trust.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Orla Wates, following her tragic death in Vietnam.

'We are in touch with the local authorities and our consular staff are doing all they can to support Orlas family at this hugely difficult time.'
The 'nonsense' ban on supermarket staff confronting shoplifters is leaving stores 'wide open' to criminal gangs, a former Met detective said today.

Waitrose sparked fury this week after sacking a veteran employee of 17 years for tackling an Easter egg thief due to its strict 'non-intervention' policy.

David McKelvey, an ex detective who runs his own private police force, TM Eye, said the policy - which is standard across the industry - was fuelling the shoplifting crisis.

He described one incident where a security guard was threatened with dismissal after retrieving stolen goods from a shoplifter's car.

'Anyone who intervenes is threatened with the sack,' he told the Daily Mail.

'This is not new and it's not Waitrose - it's across the board and one of the main drivers of retail crime.

'The retailers are effectively leaving their doors wide open to offenders, including dangerous, violent criminals who attack their staff.'

Mr McKelvey said his officers arrested three people outside a supermarket with more than 4,000 worth of stolen goods.

An in-store security guard then helped remove the items from one of the thieves' cars, only to be threatened with the sack by the supermarket in question.

Video footage showing criminal Liam Hutchinson stealing from Boots. He went on to be jailed for a year

Walker Smith, 54, was fired by Waitrose for confronting a serial shoplifter

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'The security guard was simply taking their stock out of the boot of the offender's car,' Mr McKelvey explained.

'Another serious problem is the reluctance among some stores to support prosecutions for shoplifters who have been caught.

'Ultimately it's the public who pays the cost for all this, because all the stores do is put the prices up to make up for the goods that have been stolen.'

Waitrose fired shop assistant Walker Smith for confronting a 'repeat offender' who had filled a bag with eggs at Waitrose's Clapham Junction branch.

The 54-year-old grabbed the bag from the thief, sparking a tug-of-war and the 13 bag of Lindt eggs to spill onto the floor.

Iceland boss Lord Richard Walker has now offered to take him on, writing on LinkedIn: 'You're welcome to a job with us. We even share the same name.'

Speaking to the Mail, Sir Keir Starmer's cost of living tsar said Iceland's HR team would contact Mr Smith to discuss the terms of his employment.

'I have long tried to use my platform to help support our communities in standing up to the lawless criminals perpetrating retail crime and violence,' he said.

'Shop workers like Mr Smith are the ones facing this threat daily and there's always room at Iceland for people passionate about protecting our high streets.'

Iceland has not made public its stance on whether staff should physically confront shoplifters, but Lord Walker has previously backed tougher security measures, including batons and CS spray for security guards.

In October, thief Daniel Cleveland, 33, was jailed for three years after stealing 16,000 worth of taps from B&Q in Bromley, south London

Today, the retail boss called for more support from police, ministers and for retail crime to be treated 'with the stigma it deserves by society in general'.

'It's an awful crime that erodes social cohesion,' he added.

Waitrose has defended its decision to fire Mr Smith, claiming there is a 'serious danger to life' in tackling thieves and its staff policies must be 'strictly followed'.

But it has been roundly criticised, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp of the Conservatives writing to the supermarket's Chief Executive Tom Denyard.

He called for the shop assistant to be 'reinstated and given a bonus after he was disgracefully sacked for tackling a shoplifter'.

A GoFundMe for Mr Smith has so far raised more than 10,000.

It comes after a series of high-profile shoplifting cases which have seen some perpetrators jailed for stealing up to 300,000 of goods.

In October, thief Daniel Cleveland, 33, was jailed for three years after stealing 16,000 worth of taps from B&Q in Bromley, south London.

He was caught on camera throwing the items over a fence while still on the shop premises to an accomplice.

Elsewhere Bianca Mirica, 20, was captured stuffing cosmetics into her bag as part of a 299,000 campaign which also saw her strip perfume from the shelves of a Boots in Hornchurch.

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The Romanian national and mother-of-three was one of 16 people arrested as part of raids on a major shoplifting gang. She was jailed last summer for 32 months.

Another thief, Liam Hutchinson, was jailed for a year after CCTV footage saw him swipe whole shelves of Boots products into his bag, totalling 100,000.

Shoplifting offences in England and Wales rose by five per cent in the year to September 2025, reaching 519,381, as per the latest ONS figures.

In London alone, more than 100,000 offences were recorded in the year to October 2025, up significantly from 58,000 in 2023.

Yet the Met Police attended just 14,000 of reported incidents.

M&S retail director Thinus Keeve has blamed Sadiq Khan for failing to tackle retail crime.

'I keep hearing crime is falling, especially in London  something none of us believes, and very few people working in retail would see,' Mr Keeve said.

'In fact, we see the absolute opposite in our high streets and in our stores.'

He added: 'It is worse in London, but it is happening across the country, and it is becoming routine because it seems there are no consequences.

'Without a government seriously cracking down on crime and a mayor who prioritises effective policing, we are powerless.'

His comments came after a large group of young people stormed multiple shops in Clapham, including the local M&S.

Mr Keeve said 'a large group of young people had ransacked a store' before assaulting security.

Bianca Mirica operated as part of a shoplifting gang - police arrested 16 members of the group

Earlier this year the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Mark Rowley, sparked anger when he blamed the shoplifting epidemic in the city on storekeepers.

Appearing before the Home Affairs Select Committee, he was asked about thieves who regularly clear entire shelves of products before leaving without paying.

He said: 'We're determined to bear down on this. I recognise a very variable response from shops to shoplifting in their premises.

'We encourage them all to report it and the good stores have got really good security regimes and report it and help us out in ways that I'll come to in a moment. Some stores don't.'

Sir Mark added: 'Some of them don't report anything, if we go there they don't give us the CCTV of the crime, they won't give us any statements, they don't give their staff time to give statements and they don't pay their staff to go to court to give evidence.'

But retailers have said when they do report the crime to police, often no officers turn up.
A shopkeeper has released CCTV footage of shoplifters ransacking shelves which he says costs him 20,000 a year while the police 'fail to investigate'.

Mohammed Bilal, 39, says his business is being devastated by thieves and his staff have been endangered as he loses faith in police protection.

In a last-ditch effort to save his shop, he has taken to social media to air his troubles and shared footage of the rampant stealing he sees daily.

One CCTV clip shows a woman stuffing multiple bottles of wine in her handbag, while another shows a woman attempting to steal a bottle before smashing it on the ground.

Mr Bilal runs the Londis in Bathgate in West Lothian, Scotland, and said bandits have resorted to vandalism - smashing his shop doors and windows several times.

He said: 'It happens almost every other day - they just enter and grab things and run away.

'Sometimes when you try and stop them, they break things - they've tried to damage the shelves and damage the door. That costs us extra money.

'They are stealing food, drinks, alcohol - whatever they can get.

Mohammed Bilal said his Londis shop in Bathgate in West Lothian, Scotland, is ransacked daily by thieves and costs him 20,000 a year while police do nothing despite reports

Mr Bilal said bandits have taken to vandalising the shop, smashing doors and windows and breaking shelves during the raids costing him and his family yet more money

'A whole shelf got emptied by one guy who put everything into the bag and ran away.'

Mr Bilal said he had reported the criminals to the police many times but is losing faith as nothing comes of it.

The business loses between 50 to 100 a day from loss of stock and damage in the shop, he claimed.

The shopkeeper added: 'We reported to the police, and at the end of the day, we never got anything back from them.

'Sometimes you ask what's the point to waste the time and chase the stuff.

'We never recover anything.'

He said he appreciated there was a struggle for many during the cost-of-living crisis, but their actions have meant he and his family's lives are being ruined by the thefts.

'I don't know why it's happening more - it could be that things are getting expensive,' he said.

'We try to keep good prices. It's a challenging time for us as a retailer.

Worried for his employees' safety, Mr Bilal has taken to social media and started publishing CCTV footage of shoplifters to try to identify them in lieu of police help

'A whole shelf got emptied by one guy who put everything into the bag and ran away,' Mr Bilal said

'Sometimes you ask what's the point to waste the time and chase the stuff. We never recover anything,' Mr Bilal said

Mr Bilal has said he does not want to put extra stock on shelves for fears it will be swiped

'The loss of money - we don't want to put extra stock on a shelf in case someone comes in to shoplift.'

In hopes of identifying repeat offenders in the community, Mr Bilal has started to share CCTV footage of shoplifters online.

He hopes that the response from those on social media and local authorities might help curb the attacks on his shop as he fears for the safety of his employees.

'I share the pictures because they might be kids and their guardian or someone they know can actually stop them,' said Mr Bilal.

'It's dangerous to take things from the people doing the shoplifting - they can hurt the staff members and that's a safety concern.

'Their safety is very important.'

Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.
Rachel Reeves has been accused of blocking 17.5billion of investment in North Sea oil and gas after shelving proposals to scrap a controversial windfall tax.

Following the outbreak of the Iran war, the Chancellor backtracked on plans to announce an early end to the Energy Profits Levy, which is due to expire in 2030.

A spike in energy prices as a result of the Middle East crisis led Ms Reeves to put those plans on ice, which has infuriated the industry.

Oil and gas firms are reported to have identified North Sea projects which could deliver the equivalent of more than a billion barrels of oil and gas by the end of the decade.

They are said to have told the Chancellor early last month that they were prepared to push ahead with those projects, but only if the Government scrapped the windfall tax early.

One industry figure said a decision to delay the switch from the current Energy Profits Levy to an Oil and Gas Price Mechanism was 'economic illiteracy on steroids'.

It comes amid mounting pressure on Ms Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband to soften their stance on the UK's oil and gas reserves.

Mr Miliband has banned new oil and gas exploration off Britain's coastline as part of his Net Zero agenda, but - in the wake of the Iran war - is facing calls by Labour MPs and trade unions to allow more drilling.

Rachel Reeves has been accused of blocking 17.5billion of investment in North Sea oil and gas after shelving proposals to scrap a controversial windfall tax

Following the outbreak of the Iran war, the Chancellor backtracked on plans to announce an early end to the Energy Profits Levy, which is due to expire in 2030

The Energy Profits Levy was introduced as a temporary measure by the previous Tory government following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which led to a spike in energy prices.

Combined with other taxes, it means the overall tax rate faced by oil and gas companies operating in the UK is currently 78 per cent.

The Oil and Gas Price Mechanism, which will only apply when oil and gas prices are above a certain level, is proposed to replace the Energy Profits Levy from 2030 - or earlier if a price floor is triggered.

Government ministers had been holding meetings with industry for months to explore ending the Energy Profits Levy early, before March 2030, but shelved those plans when the Iran conflict began.

Sources in the energy sector told The Times that, without a tax overhaul, it would remain unviable to push ahead with a multi-billion pound investment programme.

One said: 'Oil and gas companies have had their North Sea profits all but wiped out by a punitive energy profits levy that has made the UK virtually uninvestable.

'That remains the case under the current price of oil and gas and the government is wrong to conflate much larger global profits with meagre returns in the North Sea.

'It would be economic illiteracy on steroids if the government were to choose not to seize a 17billion investment opportunity by 2030, which is predicated on an early move from EPL to OGPM.

'Every 1 invested by the oil and gas sector generates around twice that amount in GVA [gross value added]  so the government would effectively be turning down over 30 billion in additional value to the UK economy.'

But a Government source told the newspaper that oil and gas companies were likely to make 'significant' profits because of the Middle East crisis at a time when the public finances are under mounting pressure.

'Iran totally changed the dynamics,' they said.

A Government spokesperson said: 'We're giving the sector and its investors the long-term certainty to plan, invest and support jobs with plans to replace the Energy Profits Levy when it ends by 2030, or earlier if its price floor is triggered.

'We are also making sure the North Sea has a prosperous and sustainable future through record investment that helps deliver the next generation of skilled jobs while growing the clean energy industries of the future.'
The Iranian regime wants to pocket $1million for each ship that passes through the reopened Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, while the US and Iran negotiate a peace deal, regional officials have claimed.

President Donald Trump announced last night that Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will reopen the crucial waterway, while a ten-point peace plan is considered by both sides.

The exact terms of the deal have not been revealed. Trump told Sky News this morning: 'They are very good points - and most of them have been fully negotiated. If it isn't good, we'll go right back to it very easily.'

However, earlier, an unnamed regional official told the Associated Press that Iran wants to charge tolls of up to $1million on ships that pass through the Strait during the two-week period.

The ten-point plan also says that the US should accept Tehran's continued control over the Strait, recognise its right to uranium enrichment, lift all sanctions, pay compensation, and withdraw all troops from the region.

Iran would then use the money it raises for reconstruction following the weeks-long conflict.

On Tuesday, Trump described the deal as 'total and complete victory.'

It comes after claims that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had instructed his negotiators to move towards a deal, according to Axios.

Three sources with knowledge of the matter told the news outlet that by Monday night, mediators had US approval for an updated proposal for the ceasefire before Khamenei, who was actively involved in the decision-making process, gave his blessing for his negotiators to cut a deal.

'Without his green light, there wouldn't have been a deal,' one of the sources said.

An unnamed regional official told the Associated Press that Iran wants to charge tolls of up to $1million on ships that pass through the Strait during the two-week period

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US President Donald Trump announced last night that Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will reopen the crucial waterway, after Tehran submitted a ten-point peace plan to end the war

Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire at Enghelab Square in Tehran

Following the toll demands from Iran, the vital Strait has now become known as the 'Tehran Tollbooth'.

Ship owners go through a complex and expensive process of negotiation.

IRAN'S 10-POINT PEACE PLAN

1. Commitment to non-aggression 2. Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz 3. Acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment 4. Lifting of all primary sanctions 5. Lifting of all secondary sanctions 6. Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions 7. Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions 8. Paying compensation to Iran 9. Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region 10. Cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon

According to Bloomberg, the ships must inform intermediary companies linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of the ship's cargo, destination, and ultimate owner.

Iran then charges a 'toll' of at least $1 barrel - and this must be paid in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency.

The average rate for a single oil tanker is $2million. If everything is approved, IRGC boats will finally provide an escort into and out of the 'tollbooth'.

Some analysts believe it could make as much as $500billion in five years.

In a Truth Social post just past midnight, Trump said the US would be 'helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,' adding: 'Big money will be made.'

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that if attacks against Iran stop, Iranian operations will cease as well.

The country's military will coordinate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, he added in a post on X.

The US and Iran will now engage in negotiations over the next two weeks, buying some time to try to reach a permanent settlement.

It is unlikely to be smooth sailing, but in after-hours trading, the price of a barrel of oil dropped below the $100 mark for the first time in days, and US stock futures soared.

Following the confirmation of the deal, the US President hailed 'a big day for world peace' after agreeing to pause the attacks.

Iran has 'had enough' of the conflict, the US president said on Truth Social, and there will now be 'lots of positive action'.

Israel has also agreed to halt attacks on Iran for two weeks, a senior White House official told Axios, with the ceasefire taking effect once the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

Iran accepted the Pakistan-brokered deal after a last-minute Chinese intervention urged Tehran to show flexibility over the war's economic fallout, three Iranian officials told the New York Times.

However, the ceasefire deal has also received heavy criticism with US representative Maxwell Frost saying of the deal: 'A last-minute ceasefire doesn't erase President Trump's reckless decisions that got us here.

Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

Iranians wave flags during a demonstration in Tehran

Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement at the Enqelab square, in Tehran

'We should've never been in this illegal war. Trump is a dangerous warmonger who pushed us into this crisis and threatened to commit war crimes.'

Victor LaGroon, a former US Army intelligence analyst and national security expert, echoed these concerns, telling theGrio that details remain unclear regarding Iran's 10-point plan and 'what the U.S. achieved in this agreement.'

'I, like every American, believe that peace is a good thing, but, given the number of times this administration has moved the goal post of what success looks like, I fear this war will continue to cost us billions of dollars and possibly American lives,' said LaGroon.

US crude oil prices plunged after Trump's announcement, with West Texas Intermediate contracts falling by more than 15 percent to $95 per barrel after hitting $116 earlier Tuesday.

Trump had warned Tuesday morning that 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again' if no deal was reached by his 8pm ET deadline.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is also heading to the Middle East this morning, where he will meet with RAF crews protecting allied airspace, before addressing troops.

In the first comments on the deal, Sir Keir Starmer said: 'I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.

'Together with our partners, we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.'

He will be holding bilateral meetings with 'Gulf partners' and 'regional leaders' today - although Downing Street is yet to say who exactly he'll be meeting.

Number 10 has said these will focus on 'practical efforts to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz'.

Trump said that the 10-point proposal 'is a workable basis on which to negotiate,' despite saying on Monday that the deal was not 'good enough.'

Donald Trump took to Truth Social to hail a 'big day for World Peace' following the ceasefire agreement

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Donald Trump announced last night that Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after Tehran submitted a ten-point peace plan to end the war

Iran and the USA agreed to the two-week truce to halt military operations and keep the Strait of Hormuz open for oil and gas shipments, with formal peace talks set to begin in Islamabad on 10 April

Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags on Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Video on Tuesday showed women and children waving flags as chanting blared on a loudspeaker at a power plant after Trump threatened to bomb infrastructure

An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7

Vice President JD Vance, along with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, have been leading US negotiations to end the war, which was launched on February 28 - dubbed Operation Epic Fury.

The deal came after Pakistani PM Sharif posted on X that major breakthroughs had been made between US and Iranian negotiators.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said: 'There are discussions about face-to-face meetings between the United States and Iran, but nothing is final until it is announced by the President or the White House.'

Following the reaching of the deal, Israel's main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, sharply criticised the move, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives.

'There has never been a political disaster like this in our entire history. Israel was not even close to the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security,' Lapid wrote on X.

'The army carried out everything that was asked of it, and the public showed remarkable resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and did not achieve any of the goals he himself set.'

Iran proposed the 10-point counter-proposal to US negotiators via Pakistani officials on Monday after the US gave Islamabad a 15-point proposal to begin a ceasefire.

The President refused to comment on the 10-point plan earlier on Tuesday, telling Fox News: 'I can't comment, because right now we're in heated negotiations.'

Trump said on Monday at a White House press conference that the plan was a 'significant step,' but he added that it is 'not good enough.'

Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire at Enghelab Square in Tehran

Celebrations erupted on Wednesday in Tehran following the two-week ceasefire deal

A man holds a photo of Iran's late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, while the flags of the U.S. and Israel are burnt, as people gather after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war was announced, in Tehran

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Sharif had called on both Trump and the Iranian regime to accept the two-week ceasefire before the President finally relented.

'To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture,' Sharif said on Tuesday afternoon.

'We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.'

Even before the deadline expired, airstrikes had already hit two bridges and a train station. American forces also struck military infrastructure on Kharg Island for the second time, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

Israel's military warned of an increased risk of inbound attacks as Trump's deadline approached.

Before the announcement, blasts were heard in the Qatari capital Doha, while the UAE said its air defenses were responding to missile threats.
A man has been charged with murdering a father-of-two who died outside a cocktail bar in a seaside resort.

Police were called to reports of an assault outside MyBar in Bournemouth at around 3am on Easter Monday.

James Blanch, 41, from Christchurch, Dorset, was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.

Rico Wilson, a 35-year-old British national from Bournemouth, has been charged with murder and is due to appear at Poole Magistrates' Court later today.

Mr Blanch's family described him as a doting family man who 'did everything for his children'.

In a heartfelt tribute, they said: 'Our lovely James was sadly taken away from us. He was the most incredible, lovable human that lit up any room with his massive smile.

'He was not just my husband but an incredible father to our two beautiful children who are heartbroken beyond belief.'

James Blanch, 41, from Christchurch in Dorset, was killed in a brutal attack outside a cocktail bar

The bar was cordoned off and a 35-year-old man has been charged with murder

Police were called to reports of an assault outside MyBar on Charminster Road at around 3am on Easter Monday

They added: 'My James was an amazing husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend. He was the most loyal person who would do anything for anyone.

'James would just make everything better and always tell you that 'it's going to be alright'.

'Everything he did was for his two children who he loved more than anything in the world. I am forever grateful for our 18 years together and I will continue to make you proud with our two children.

'We are all utterly heartbroken and nothing will ever feel the same again.'

Three other men, two aged 37 and 46 from Bournemouth and a 34-year-old from Poole, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and released under investigation.

A 39-year-old man from Bournemouth, arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released by police on bail pending further inquiries.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicky Jenkins said: 'Following a detailed investigation, we have liaised with the Crown Prosecution Service and it has authorised a charge of murder.

'We have continued to keep the family of James Blanch fully updated with the progress of our investigation.

'This matter will now be the subject of active court proceedings and it is vital that the judicial process is allowed to follow its course.

'We would urge members of the public to refrain from any commentary, particularly online and on social media, that could potentially prejudice these proceedings.'
Princess Diana's longest serving Lady in Waiting has been banned from driving after being caught speeding for the fourth time.

Anne Beckwith-Smith, 74, fought to keep her licence, insisting she needed it to drive from her 2.2m property in Onslow Square, South Kensington to visit her ailing brother in Wiltshire.

However, Lavender Hill Magistrates Court found a disqualification would not cause her exceptional hardship and she received a six month ban.

She has also been fined her 307, with 130 costs and ordered her to pay a 123 victim surcharge.

Beckwith-Smith pleaded guilty to driving her blue Audi Q2 in South Street, Wilton, Salisbury, Wiltshire at 36mph in a 30mph zone on August 7, last year.

She told the court her brother James Merton Beckwith-Smith, 77, resides in Milford House care home and a ban would impact her ability to regularly visit him.

However, she did not reveal in her evidence the existence of her second property, the Grade II-listed Bishopstone House, Salisbury, which has been in the family for many years.

It is only a fifteen minute taxi ride from the care home, which prosecutor Oliver Hall was quick to pick up on.

Anne Beckwith-Smith was Princess Diana s longest-serving Lady-in-Waiting, holding the position from 1981 to 1997 (pictured together in 1991)

Beckwith-Smith, 74, fought to keep her licence, insisting she needed it to drive from her 2.2m property in Onslow Square, South Kensington to visit her ailing brother in Wiltshire. Pictured: Beckwith-Smith leaving Lavender Hill Magistrates Court

However, Lavender Hill Magistrates Court found a disqualification would not cause her exceptional hardship and she received a six month ban. Pictured: Beckwith-Smith leaving Lavender Hill Magistrates Court

'Do you have an address in Salisbury?' asked prosecutor Mr Hall. 'Why haven't you mentioned that?

'You took an oath to tell the truth. Didn't you think it was relevant to mention that?'.

'Nobody asked me,' replied Beckwith-Smith, who stressed the loss of her licence would cause considerable hardship because she lives in London, eighty miles away from her brother.

'You could have a nice summer in the country, couldn't you?' asked Mr Hall, mentioning the weather was particularly pleasant today.

'Well, what's tomorrow going to be like?' asked Beckwith-Smith, stressing life away from London would be devastating for her socially.

The court heard at the time of the offence Beckwith-Smith had nine penalty points on her driving licence for three speeding offences on October 11 and 18, 2022 and April 15, 2025.

'That's why I'm here,' she replied when asked if she knew today's three points would trigger an automatic six-month ban.

'The impact it would have, particularly on my severely disabled brother, who is seventy-seven. He lives in a care home just outside Salisbury, Wiltshire.

'Salisbury is eighty to ninety miles from London and I try and go two or three times a week.

'I am his only next-of-kin. I am unmarried, he is unmarried and I deal with all of his financial affairs, health affairs, his well-being generally.

'He is autistic basically and as age crept on he is more autistic and routine is vital in his life.

'He has been in the care home for three years and they have had three different managers and it is important they know his needs and I communicate with the care staff regularly.

'They are always changing. They have notes, but nobody reads them and now it is all on iPad and I don't know how easy it is.

'I ensure his routine is kept to the basics,' added Beckwith-Smith, explaining her visits usually last two or three hours or can be simply 'dropping in.'

'I like to do that because it keeps them on their toes.

'I do have family nearby, but they have their own care problems, an eighty-nine year-old mother with mobility problems and slight dementia and two children.

'They will go in occasionally, but I have Power of Attorney.

'It would be a train from London to Salisbury and there are taxis from the station to the care home.

'He has a catheter and if there is a problem, if ever I have to get there it would be inconvenient.

'Public transport in Salisbury, Wiltshire is not as good as it is in London.

'It has happened in the last month. I was rung up to say there was a problem with his catheter.

'They feel they have to ring at any opportunity and I feel I have to get there to reassure him.

'We watch the horse racing on television and that reassures him and from my point of view that is important. He likes that routine.

'I could get a taxi from London I suppose, but I have not looked into that.

'The stress, I think, would be quite considerable. I have never been in this position before, getting to the age I am it would be quite catastrophic, but I know you don't take that into consideration.

'We are incredibly well-provided with public transport in London. It is getting to friends and family in the country.'

Princess Diana in her sitting room at home in Kensington Palace with Beckwith-Smith in 1986

She reminded the court that the two oldest speeding offences have dropped off her licence, adding: 'I apologise for wasting all your time on this.

'I should stress it would be a hardship for my brother. I have mobility, I can walk, I can get on buses in London.'

The prosecutor also worked out a bus journey from her Salisbury home to her brother would take approximately forty-four minutes, but Beckwith-Smith insisted this would be unsuitable.

'There is a bus that goes from Milford House. It is a very narrow and dangerous short-cut that people use to avoid Salisbury,' she told the court.

'Then there is a three-hundred to four-hundred yard walk along an unpaved road. I personally would not want to walk along that road at any time of day or night.'

When asked about her financial position she replied: 'I'm comfortable,' agreeing she can afford train and taxi fares.

Mr Hall suggested: 'You could get a fifteen minute taxi to the care home in the event of an emergency couldn't you?'

Beckwith-Smith replied that relocating full-time to Salisbury would not work for her.

'It would not be terribly convenient. Social life would impact on me personally,' she said.

When asked further about the impact of a disqualification Beckwith-Smith said: 'I believe it would be quite considerable.'

Bench Chairwoman Isobel Vass announced: 'We are not going to find "exceptional hardship".

'We do not underestimate the medical and care needs of your brother in the care home.

'We note your dedication and commitment to visit him regularly, but we find you will be able to live in the area several days a week to meet your obligations.

'I must warn you not to use any motorised vehicles during this period. There is a risk you could be brought back to court and punished.

'The points will come off due to the disqualification. You will be absolutely free.'

Beckwith-Smith was the late Princess of Wales' longest-serving Lady-in-Waiting, and held the position from 1981 to Diana's tragic death in 1997.

By 1986, she also served as an Assistant Private Secretary and in 1990 she was appointed a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order for her service.

She went onto work for the Tate Modern.

A Lady-in-Waiting is a personal attendant to a female member of the Royal Family, acting as a trusted companion, secretary, and aide.

In 2022, Queen Consort Camilla scrapped the position of lady-in-waiting at Buckingham Palace, bringing to an end a centuries-old tradition.

Ladies-in-waiting played a key part in Royal life, accompanying the late Queen and her sister Princess Margaret, as well as Diana, on official duties and foreign tours.

But in a sign of the Camillas unfussy approach, they will be replaced by six aides styled Queens Companions.

As Kate prepares to be Queen, she is expected to follow Camillas lead in using the modern and less formal term.
A GP left a patient 'crying and shaking' after kissing her during an appointment about her stomach aches, a court heard.

Dr Hassan Twins, 58, is accused of 'beckoning' the woman over to him in his consultation room, then 'cupping' her face as he kissed her twice.

The patient, a young mother, said she could feel Dr Twins becoming aroused as his 'whole body was against mine' at a hospital minor injuries unit.

The alleged victim had been suffering from worsening stomach aches in May 2024 and decided to attend Royal South Hants Hospital in the early evening.

She was triaged there and was told to go to the bathroom to take a urine sample.

She was then called into Dr Twins' examination room at the hospital in Southampton, and the woman told the court how the GP commented that she had 'brought him a gift' with her urine sample.

It was heard Dr Twins quizzed her about her private life and insisted there was a chance she could be pregnant, despite her saying there was no chance.

Dr Twins then allegedly told the woman she would have to take her clothes off for him to measure her blood pressure.

Dr Hassan Twins, 58, allegedly 'cupped' the woman's face and kissed her twice in the examination room, a court heard

The woman said she asked to keep her top on but that Dr Twins instructed her to take it off so she lifted it over her shoulder and tried to hide her breasts.

She said during the blood pressure reading Dr Twins joked about him not making her sit on his lap.

The woman said she felt so uncomfortable with Dr Twins' behaviour and questions she cried - at which point he instructed her to stand up and he hugged her tightly.

She then 'made her excuses' and went to leave, but alleged that the doctor stopped her and called her back in before reaching out to 'cup' her face, then held it in place as he kissed her twice.

Southampton Crown Court heard on Tuesday that Dr Twins stood so close to her that the patient could 'feel his penis growing erect against her leg'.

The woman immediately left, saying she was 'shocked and stunned', and reported what had happened to the receptionist.

She was 'crying and shaking' and drove straight from the hospital to Southampton Central Police Station to report the incident, jurors heard.

Helen Easterbrook, prosecuting, said: 'At the risk of saying the blindingly obvious, one adult kissing another on the lips is sexual.

'It might sound obvious but she did not consent to that and there's no way Dr Twins could have believed she was consenting.'

Giving evidence, the alleged victim told the court: 'I'd felt quite ill throughout the day with a stomach ache which was progressively getting worse.

'I decided to go down to the minor injuries place in Southampton to just get checked over because the pain was travelling and I was worried it was appendicitis.

'I was called through by a doctor. We went to the consultant room.

'He kept probing me about my family and I got upset, I started to cry. I put my hands up to my face and buried my face because I was embarrassed.'

She told how she 'made my excuses to leave' after the doctor put his arms around her back and hugged her tightly, only for the GP to become 'quite stern with me as if I wasn't allowed to dismiss myself from his consulting room'.

The woman, who cannot be identified, told how the medic then 'beckoned' her over and added: 'He walked towards me, cupped his hands around my face and chin and kissed me on the lips.

'He was holding my face. He kissed me on the lips. It was around about two seconds. Not a peck but not a prolonged kiss.

'He pulled away slightly to look at me but then leaned in and kissed me again. I was shocked and stunned. He was touching my body. His whole body was against mine. I could feel his penis getting erect against my leg.'

The alleged victim said she left the building before returning to tell the receptionist what had happened, then drove straight to the police station.

Dr Twins denies one count of sexual assault. The trial continues.
A former BBC producer has denied downloading thousands of indecent images of children after they were allegedly found on his devices.

Dylan Dawes was working for BBC Wales when he allegedly downloaded more than 6,000 illegal images of children on four separate devices, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

Mr Dawes, 50, told police he had 'no knowledge' of the images but said his laptops and iPads were left 'for extended periods of time' in an 'open plan office'.

Harry Baker, prosecuting, said that of the images found or recovered, 192 were classified as category A  the most severe type.

Mr Baker said: 'During a period of time of about 16 years between December 31, 2006, and March 1, 2022, the defendant has been downloading child pornography, that is indecent images on four different and distinct computer devices he owned.'

The seized devices included a hard drive, a laptop and two iPads.

Dylan Dawes, 50, was working for BBC Wales in Cardiff when he allegedly downloaded thousands of illegal images of children on four separate devices

Cardiff Crown Court heard Dawes began working at the BBC in 2001 and was a producer at BBC Wales

Mr Baker said that when he was arrested, Dawes denied possessing or making any indecent images of children.

The defendant, who began working at the BBC in 2001, said he had loaned an iPad to a colleague 'for purely work-related purposes'.

At a second interview, Mr Dawes gave police a prepared statement, saying: 'I have no knowledge of any indecent images on my devices. I have never been in possession of any indecent images.

'I have never knowingly used, accessed, downloaded or sought indecent images of children. I have no sexual attraction to children.

'I have downloaded regular pornography with zip or jpegs. All devices have at times been left for extended periods in open plan offices.'

Mr Dawes refused to answer questions from police - including on how one of his devices contained child abuse images, despite it not leaving his house, the court heard.

Mr Baker continued: 'He was specifically asked if he knew who had been using his devices to download child pornography onto his devices, and if he could please share details of those persons so they could be investigated.

'He denied being responsible for the making of those images.'

Mr Dawes, of Canton, Cardiff, pleaded not guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images and three counts of making indecent images.

The trial continues.
A British Indian Network Rail worker has won a race harassment case after his colleagues left an anti-Islam English Defence League (EDL) leaflet in his locker.

Parmjit Bassi - who is not Muslim - was found to be the victim of racism when his co-worker stuffed an EDL leaflet in his locker which asked 'what individuals were doing to protect their children from Islam'.

The railway worker was also accused of committing a high-profile stabbing when colleagues placed a newspaper page in his locker about a knife attack.

Mr Bassi is now in line to receive compensation after successfully suing Network Rail at an employment tribunal.

The tribunal ruled that even though Mr Bassi does not follow Islam they were 'clear slights' against his race and that Network Rail managers had a 'laissez-faire attitude' towards them.

Mr Bassi worked for Network Rail from 1999 as a track worker, it was heard.

He was based in their Operative Works Delivery Team at the Eastleigh depot, Hampshire.

Southampton Employment Tribunal heard that Mr Bassi had a strained relationship with his colleagues, but in November 2018 he found a leaflet in his boots which were in his locker.

The leaflet was produced by the far-right EDL and asked 'what individuals were doing to protect their children from Islam'.

Mr Bassi was not Muslim, but the tribunal found that it sought to degrade him based on his race and drew no distinction between himself and Muslims.

He gave the leaflet to his manager, but the manager told the tribunal that Mr Bassi did not want anything done about it.

They said it would not be possible to find a culprit anyway.

But Mr Bassi said that he was 'shocked by the leaflet being left as it was and was concerned that nobody followed up on it'.

The tribunal concluded that Network Rail's 'laissez-faire attitude was very hard to comprehend' regarding the incident, and the manager admitted that more should have been done in hindsight.

Network Rail employee Parmjit Bassi - who is not Muslim - was found to be the victim of racism when his co-worker stuffed an EDL leaflet in his locker

The tribunal said: 'It should have been clear that (Mr Bassi) was being ostracised and that something needed to be done.'

It found that Mr Bassi was 'simply lumped in together with what the purveyor of the literature perceived as a dangerous "other"'.

The tribunal said it was 'quite sure that this was a clear an act of racial harassment/intimidation' and 'to do nothing was weak management'

Mr Bassi took some annual leave to distance himself from the environment, but very shortly after his return in January 2019 he was again the victim of racist harassment.

Two copies of a national newspaper with the headline 'Knifed Nine Times' - and a note written in marker pen saying 'It was Parm' - were found in the office.

One was with a knife in a kitchen drawer and the other was again found in Mr Bassi's boot.

He said he felt 'shocked and saddened that he had again been targeted' and 'bullied'.

The tribunal found that 'his feeling that he was not welcome' was 'entirely understandable and correct'.

Mr Bassi was moved around, but struggled in his role and was eventually dismissed in April 2021.

He appealed against the decision, but it was upheld, so he took Network Rail to a tribunal over several claims claims, of which racial harassment and unfair dismissal were successful.

Judge Gary Self concluded: 'When (Mr Bassi) made allegations of racist behaviour against him no further action was taken as it was said that the perpetrators could not be identified.

'(Mr Bassi) alleges that this demonstrates less favourable treatment and asserts that he would not have been required to move departments as a result of unsubstantiated allegations but for his race.

'To do nothing was weak management and only strengthened the bullies' position at the expense of (Mr Bassi).'

A Network Rail spokesman said: 'We are committed to fostering a working environment in which everyone feels respected, valued, and safe. We accept the findings of the tribunal and acknowledge that we could and should have done better. Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable, and we deeply regret the impact this has had.

'We have taken significant steps to improve the diversity and inclusivity of our workforce, but we recognise that this work is ongoing. We remain focused on learning from this experience, listening to our people, and making the necessary changes to ensure our values are reflected in everything we do.'
The daughter of an American woman who went missing in the Bahamas after falling overboard on a boat ride with her husband has revealed the alleged dark history of her stepfather.

Lynette Hooker, 55, of Onsted, Michigan, plunged into the Abaco Islands' water while traveling with partner Brian Hooker, 58, to their yacht, Soulmate, in Elbow Cay on Saturday.

Hooker told police that they left Hope Town around 7.30pm in an 8ft dinghy.

He told investigators Lynette slipped and fell due to poor weather while holding the key to the small boat, which caused the engine to shut off.

A joint search-and-rescue operation by Bahamian and US authorities was immediately launched, with the US Coast Guard later joining the effort by air.

By Tuesday, the teams announced the mission had become a recovery operation, Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue Lead Richard Cook told CNN.

As the desperate search continues, Lynettes daughter, Karli Aylesworth, 28, shared harrowing details about her mother and stepfather's relationship.

'There is a history of him choking her out and threatening to throw her overboard. So, the fact that this is actually happening makes me believe there's more to the story,' she told Fox News.

Lynette Hooker, 55, went missing in the Bahamas after falling overboard during a boat ride with her husband on Saturday

As the desperate search for Lynette continues, her daughter, Karli Aylesworth, 28, shared harrowing details about her mother and stepfather's relationship

Lynette's husband, 58-year-old Brian Hooker, told police his wife slipped and fell due to poor weather while traveling on a dinghy to get to their yacht

'There has also been a history of domestic violence in that relationship, so I do believe something might have happened to her.'

Aylesworth explained why she felt the circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance were suspicious and called for a full investigation into what happened.

'It just doesn't add up. My mom is very fit and strong. She's a good swimmer, like, why was she swimming away from the boat?' she said.

'I'm confused why she has the keys because she never drove the dinghy. It was always Brian. So the story just doesn't add up right now.'

Aylesworth shared a voicemail Hooker sent her with CBS News, in which he spoke about throwing a flotation device to Lynette after she fell.

'Hello, honey, it's Dad. I just got a call from Hope Town Search and Rescue, and they found the flotation device that I threw to Mom when she fell overboard,' he told his stepdaughter.

Aylesworths comments come just a day after she released a statement calling for a more thorough investigation by US federal officials.

'I have been privy to very little information. My sole concern is to find out what happened to my mother and make sure a full and complete investigation is performed into her disappearance,' she said.

Aylesworth said there is a history of her stepfather threatening to throw Lynette overboard and believes the circumstances surrounding her mother's disappearance are suspicious

Aylesworth shared a voicemail Hooker sent her with CBS News, in which he spoke about throwing a flotation device to Lynette after she fell

'While the Royal Bahamian police are investigating this matter, I would also appreciate any involvement of the federal, state or local authorities to look into the circumstances of this tragic situation.'

Hooker broke his silence in a Wednesday morning Facebook post, writing that he is 'heartbroken' over Lynette's disappearance.

'I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas,' he wrote.

'Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart. We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus.'

The Daily Mail contacted Hooker for comment.

The couple regularly documented their life on the water on social media under the username The Sailing Hookers, often showcasing their yacht.

In their most recent Instagram post, shared Friday afternoon, they featured a small boat with the caption, 'Not going anywhere for a while?!'

Meanwhile, their YouTube channel further captured years of life on the open water, with short videos filmed aboard Soulmate.

The final video, posted just four weeks ago, showed the couple in the Bahamas taking an early-morning paddleboard trip along Marsh Harbour, known as a 'world-class boating destination.'
A baby boy from Georgia was rushed to Boston for a lifesaving heart surgery, where doctors will race against time to save him.

Eight-month-old Tripp Coker, who lives with a serious heart condition, boarded a flight with his mother, Samantha, on Tuesday from Millen to Boston Children's Hospital.

Tripp is scheduled to undergo a procedure to either repair or replace his mitral valve, the structure that regulates blood flow between the hearts left chambers.

When he was born, doctors initially believed the baby boy had a harmless heart murmur, but just two weeks later he was admitted to the Childrens Hospital of Georgia with heart failure, according to WJBF.

Six weeks later, Tripp underwent open heart surgery, where doctors discovered that he would need to replace his mitral valve.

Initially, doctors believed the procedure was not urgent. However, they soon revised their assessment and informed Samantha of the urgency, according to the outlet.

Samantha was then given two choices: a tissue valve and a mechanical valve, ultimately choosing the tissue option.

Tissue valves are made of pig heart valves or cow heart-sac tissue, lasting roughly 15 years, according to Harvard Health Publishing.

Tripp Coker, an 8-month-old baby flew to Boston from Millen, Georgia on Tuesday for a surgery on his mitral valvethe valve responsible for controlling blood flow between the heart's left chambers

Tripp took the flight with his mother Samantha after an anonymous donor gave money for his flight through the organization AeroAngel

'Tripp at that time had an annulus, which is the space that they put the replacement valve in that was too small,' Samantha told WJBF.

'They don't offer a valve that small in our state. And the only place for us to get that was either in South Carolina and USC or in Boston. So we chose to go to Boston.'

The mother explained to the outlet how getting the procedure approved by insurance was difficult, but her provider assured her that her baby was going to get the care he needed.

Tripp and his mother flew to Boston on an AeroAngel flight, a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation for sick children.

An anonymous good Samaritan donated the money for Tripp to take his flight, according to the outlet.

The mayor of Millen and dozens of friends and family were at the runway in Millen to send the Cokers off as they prayed for a successful surgery.

Tripp was born with what doctors thought to be a harmless heart murmur until, two weeks later he was admitted to the Children's Hospital of Georgia with heart failure, according to WJBF

Tripp's surgery is scheduled for April 13. The baby boy already underwent open heart surgery when he was eight weeks old

Samantha posted a heartwarming update to Facebook after landing in Beantown: 'We are settled in Boston!'

'Tripp slept right until it was time to land! I am so humbled by the love and support my baby was shown today. AeroAngels flight donation and the love they showed us.'

She went on to thank several others, including the pilots and those supporting her and her child.

Additionally, the mother set up a GoFundMe to help with expenses, due to not working since July to help care for Tripp.

A pre-appointment procedure is scheduled for April 10, followed by the surgery three days later, according to the outlet.

The Cokers will stay in Boston for about a month before flying back to Millen to allow Tripp to recover.
A California lawmaker who supports youth access to gender-affirming care was confronted by a young gay man who testified that puberty blockers and hormone therapy negatively affected his physical development.

State Senator Scott Wiener heard from 23-year-old Jonni Skinner, who said the treatments Wiener backs have left him unable to achieve orgasms.

'When I was young, I was a feminine child, and I discovered trans influencers online. They said, "Change your body and your life gets better. Don't and it gets worse,"' Skinner said during a state Senate hearing on Tuesday.

'Or, as my doctors told my mom, I would commit suicide,' he continued. 'The medical and mental health providers didn't bother to ask why I felt the way I did. They poisoned my body with blockers and hormones, arresting my puberty and messing with my development. The result is I'm a 23-year-old gay man who's never had an orgasm and may never experience one.'

Skinner was testifying against Senate Bill 934, which was introduced by Wiener. The measure allows people to sue licensed therapists for harms caused by 'sexual orientation or gender identity change efforts'.

At first glance, someone like Skinner - who says he was improperly pushed by therapists and doctors toward transitioning into a female - might be expected to support the measure.

But critics, including Skinner, argue that the bill is not intended to target medical professionals supportive of gender transition treatment.

The California Family Council said in a statement that the bill will 'weaponize civil liability' against counselors who tell children it might not be a good idea to switch genders at such a young age.

State Senator Scott Wiener reacts to Jonni Skinner's testimony on Tuesday against SB 934, a bill that would vastly expand the statute of limitations for people allegedly harmed by conversion therapy to sue their former therapists or doctors

Skinner, 23, testified against the bill because he was once on puberty blockers and spent seven years on estrogen. He said the treatment stunted his physical development and has left him unable to have orgasms

'When the government cannot constitutionally ban speech outright, it sometimes turns to more subtle forms of coercion. By creating overwhelming legal risk, SB 934 seeks to make it practically impossible for counselors to offer certain viewpoints, even to clients who request them,' the organization said.

The bill vastly expands the statute of limitations for filing claims, allowing people to sue therapists and doctors years or even decades after the alleged harm was done.

On March 20, Wiener put out a statement explaining the bill's intent, making it clear it would go after providers who try to convince people they are not LGBTQ.

'Conversion therapy - the made up notion that you can convert a gay or trans person into being not gay or trans - was debunked long ago, and is now condemned by every major medical association as dangerous and ineffective,' he said.

Greg Burt, Vice President of California Family Council, has said this amounts to viewpoint discrimination, and that the bill is trying to get around the landmark Supreme Court case, United States v. Skrmetti.

In that case, which was decided last year, a 6-3 majority ruled that state bans on gender-affirming care for minors is constitutional.

'This is a desperate and vain attempt to pretend the Supreme Court didnt say what it really did say. They cant stop professionals from helping people who dont want to identify as LGBTQ anymore,' Burt said.

Skinner filed an amicus brief in that case, where he revealed more about his upbringing and why he ended up on estrogen from the age of 13 until he was 20.

Critics of SB 934, such as Greg Burt, Vice President of California Family Council, say the bill will target therapists who tell their underage clients that it might not be a good idea to switch genders at such a young age

'As a child, I admired female pop stars, loved to dance and sing, and play house. These interests were always very offensive to the men around me, both in my family and in school,' Skinner wrote.

'My grandfather, brother, and uncle did not take well to my developing effeminate personality. It was fairly normal for me to be mocked for the way I walked, talked, just the general way I carried myself.'

Because he was bullied at school and at home, Skinner wrote that he became a very isolated and socially-withdrawn child.

He then discovered trans influencers at around age 12, as he said in his testimony on Tuesday. They talked about how transitioning improved their lives because they were no longer targeted with homophobia, Skinner wrote.

He came out to his family as trans shortly after he turned 13 and the same family members who mocked him for being effeminate 'thought transitioning would be better for me than being a gay man', he wrote.

His gender therapist, who he did not identify by name, told him he 'had an inborn feminine essence and thats why I was always so different'.

This therapist was the one who allegedly told Skinner's mother that he would eventually kill himself if he wasn't able to transition.

The doctor who administered the puberty blockers and the cross-sex hormones said much the same, arguing that the treatment was 'life saving', Skinner wrote in the amicus brief.

Skinner (pictured on stage at an event) wrote an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case last year that allowed states to ban gender affirming-care for minors. In the brief, he went into more detail about the devastating effects puberty blockers and years of estrogen therapy had on his body

'After a few weeks on hormone therapy I started having frequent fainting spells and was switched from spironolactone to puberty blockers. I was told that sterilization is a possible side effect and was asked if I wanted to save my sperm. I was only 13 years old. It felt very icky, and I said no,' according to his brief.

Skinner wrote that within weeks he was experiencing an array of symptoms, including severe muscle pain, nausea, hot flashes, extreme breast tenderness, full body rashes, blood in his urine and near-complete loss of appetite.

He also said he was afflicted with erectile dysfunction and anorgasmia, the inability to have orgasms even with sexual stimulation.

'My body has never fully recovered. My body has not grown and developed as it otherwise would have. I still suffer from numerous side effects that are not well understood and for which there is no known treatment,' he wrote.

'I see that being gay is not anything like I was told. If I just had one counselor who told me that nothing was wrong with me for just being me, it would have changed my life positively. I would have learned to accept myself and grown out of my awkward stage just like other gay men. Instead, I was told that my body was wrong and needed to change to be acceptable.'

Skinner said he believes that, if enacted, SB 934 could put therapists at risk of costly lawsuits for advising boys with similar identity struggles to remain the same gender and sexual orientation.

'SB 934 guarantees that more people will end up like me, the walking but wounded,' he told Wiener at Tuesday's hearing. This bill 'will be used to silence therapists who could have helped me avoid the irreversible harms to my body and the loss of my sexual function as is the same for many others.'

The Daily Mail approached Wiener's office for further comment on the bill.
Hackers linked to the Russian state are turning wifi routers in British homes and offices into spying devices, GCHQ has warned.

The espionage group, called Fancy Bear, has been exploiting vulnerabilities in the technology to steal sensitive data such as passwords.

It is believed to be a unit of Russian military intelligence service GRU.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the branch of British intelligence which uncovered the spying campaign, believes it has been going on since 2024.

Fancy Bear diverts users to disguised malicious websites by hijacking the system used to type in web addresses.

The espionage group is believed to be a unit of Russian military intelligence service GRU

People can find themselves on fake versions of sites such as Microsoft Outlook, and hand over everything they type to the hackers.

The NCSCs director of operations Paul Chichester said: This demonstrates how vulnerabilities in widely used network devices can be leveraged by sophisticated hostile actors.

We strongly encourage organisations and network defenders to familiarise themselves with the techniques described in the advisory and to follow the mitigation advice.

The NCSC will continue to expose Russian malicious cyberactivity and provide practical guidance to help protect UK networks.

The agency advised people to upgrade from older devices and update the software on their routers. It also recommended using two-factor authentication, rather than just a password.

Fancy Bear, also known as APT28 and Forest Blizzard, may be casting a wide net to reach as many potential victims as possible before narrowing in on those with potential intelligence value, according to the NCSC.

The hackers appear to have been targeting popular TP-Link and MikroTik routers.

Last month the US banned the import, sale and marketing of foreign-made internet routers over concerns for national security.

Fancy Bear diverts users to disguised malicious websites by hijacking the system used to type in web addresses

Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage and facilitate intellectual property theft, the Federal Communications Commission said.

TP-Link was founded in China but has now split the company into Chinese and US arms.

The US Department of Commerce, Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission and Texas attorney-general are all investigating the company over its links to China.

Microsofts threat intelligence team said it has identified more than 200 organisations and 5,000 consumer devices affected by the hacking.

Researchers said the campaign represents a significant escalation and could enable largerscale interception in the future.

Meanwhile, according to a report obtained by Bloomberg, a team from US internet provider Lumen Technologies has identified thousands of potential victims from at least 120 countries.

These operations primarily targeted government agencies - including ministries of foreign affairs, law enforcement and third-party email providers, it said.

Fancy Bear was previously accused of hacking into the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 US presidential election, stealing data from the German parliament in 2015 and leaking medical records from the World Anti Doping Agency after a ban on Russian athletes.

Last year, the NCSC exposed a Russian cyber campaign targeting assets involved in getting support to Ukraine, including everything from air traffic control systems to border cameras.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani tried to slip diversity, equity and inclusion measures past the Trump administration by removing direct references to DEI from a racial equity plan, reports say.

The avowed democratic socialist announced this week that he was rolling out a Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan (REP), a scheme to support 'underrepresented' business owners.

The plan was previously approved by New York voters in 2022 under a referendum, but former Mayor Eric Adams missed the deadline to release it.

The Commission on Racial Equity sued the Adams administration for failing to release the plan. Mamdani vowed to publish it during his first 100 days in office.

But according to sources inside the Mamdani administration, the Democrat understood the move would likely anger the Trump White House, which has targeted DEI efforts across the federal government.

Those close to the mayor told the New York Times that Mamdani's team took care to avoid using the exact DEI wording in the REP plan and toned down language to conform to wording that had been upheld in legal challenges to Trump's DEI crackdown.

However, it appeared Mamdani's efforts to skirt the Trump administration failed, as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon quickly said she was investigating.

Shortly after the mayor announced the plan on Monday, Dhillon wrote on X: 'Sounds fishy/illegal. Will review!'

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani reportedly tried to slip DEI measures past the Trump administration by removing direct references to 'diversity, equity and inclusion' from a racial equity plan

It appeared Mamdani's efforts to skirt the Trump administration failed, as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon quickly said she was investigating Mamdani's REP plan rollout

Mamdani has notably struck up an apparent friendship with President Trump since taking office in January, visiting the White House twice and reportedly dialing in on numerous occasions about the future of the Big Apple.

According to sources close to Mamdani, he feared fracturing this dynamic with his DEI plan and worked to avoid crossing the White House's anti-DEI policies by toning down the wording of his scheme.

Adams had previously removed references to 'diversity, equity and inclusion' in an unreleased draft, and Mamdani's team reportedly did not restore them when they inherited the scheme.

Mamdani's apparent goal was to still establish DEI policies, but worded in a way that is permissible in ways that had already been upheld in courts so the Trump administration could not challenge them.

The mayor told the Times this week that references to DEI had been removed because his administration inherited the planning document, blaming Adams for the plan being 'heavily diluted over many rounds of revisions.'

'We put forward a stronger report that actually reflects the realities New Yorkers are living through,' Mamdani said.

The democratic socialist mayor has notably struck up an apparent friendship with President Trump since taking office in January, visiting the White House twice and reportedly dialing in on numerous occasions about the future of the Big Apple

While much of the report was watered down, insiders said Mamdani's team did make changes that they hoped would not infringe on Trump's anti-DEI policies.

This included including a definition of racism in the plan, and the addition of language to characterize the death of George Floyd 'as murder.'

While Mamdani may have aimed to avoid Trump's wrath, his decision to remove DEI wording from the report angered liberals in his city.

Linda Tigani, the chairwoman and executive director of the commission, said she was 'extremely disappointed' to learn that specific language had been removed from the plan.

'The voters wanted explicit language,' Tigani said. 'They wanted clear, actionable goals that named race, that named racial inequities and that named solutions.'

'While I understand that Trumps orders and his political agenda may be taken as a matter of law, in New York City, what is law is racial equity,' she said. 'And that comes first and foremost.'

Joe Calvello, Mamdanis spokesman, told the Times that New York City officials had not received any notifications from the Department of Justice about the plan.

The Daily Mail has contacted Mamdani's office and the White House for comment.
A Georgia woman claims she suffered a nightmarish sexual assault after unwittingly booking a massage with an unlicensed, illegal immigrant.

Melanie Avalon, a podcaster and wellness influencer, alleged she was assaulted by suspect Iben Franklin Hernandez Bartolon during a Valentine's Day massage in 2022.

Bartolon was arrested and police said they discovered he was unlicensed to practice massage therapy and an undocumented immigrant.

Authorities also found that he was accused of assaulting two other women at an Atlanta massage parlor just one year earlier.

Avalon said she feared for her life during the incident and has now launched a lawsuit against Bartolon and the massage parlor, Tokyo Massage, for allegedly failing to vet the migrant before hiring him.

'I froze. I was terrified and scared. Then I thought, if I dont tell someone, this man could do this to someone else,' Avalon said at a press conference this week.

She alleged in her lawsuit that she grew increasingly uncomfortable during the massage with Bartolon, alleging he gradually moved his hands up her thighs before touching her inappropriately when she told him to stop.

Her attorney Mawuli Davis accused the massage parlor of failing to carry out basic due diligence, which he says would have quickly shown Bartolon was under investigation for sexual assault at the time.

Melanie Avalon, a podcaster and wellness influencer, says she suffered a nightmarish sexual assault after unwittingly booking a massage with an unlicensed illegal immigrant

Iben Franklin Hernandez Bartolon was accused of sexually assaulting Avalon during a massage session in 2022. Her attorneys alleged that two other women claimed he assaulted them in the same manner a year before

'Their owners and their managers didnt bother to do a criminal background check,' Davis said.

In her lawsuit against Bartolon, Tokyo Massage and its owner and managers, Avalon alleged that she repeatedly told Bartolon to stop when he allegedly inappropriately touched her.

'I think he was trying to make it happen slowly so maybe I wouldnt quite realize what was going on,' she alleged.

'I remember I drew mental, like, borders on my body and I thought, "If these borders get crossed, then I will know something is happening here." And when that happened, that was confirmation for me,' she said at her press conference this week.

She said she was frozen in fear during the encounter, but friends immediately told her to file charges when she told them of the alleged ordeal.

'I really do remember the moment where I thought, "If I dont go, he will do this to somebody else,"' she said.

Dunwoody Police arrested Hernandez and charged him with misdemeanor sexual battery following the incident.

The case was ultimately reduced to a charge of disorderly conduct by the DeKalb County solicitors office, and he received probation.

At a press conference this week after filing her lawsuit, Avalon said she was frozen in fear, but said she came forward because 'I thought, if I dont tell someone, this man could do this to someone else'

Avalon's attorneys alleged that Tokyo Massage (pictured) failed to run even a basic background check on Bartolon

Davis said while police did not criminally charge Bartolon for the earlier alleged attacks on two women, a jury in a civil case awarded them $13 million in damages.

The attorney, who represented the previous alleged victims, said the massage parlor could have spared Avalon from Bartolon with even a basic background check.

'People are in their most vulnerable state. You let your guard down. You literally disrobe in these spaces because you think youre safe. And that was betrayed,' he said.

Avalon says she is now sharing her story to hold those involved accountable, and hopes to prevent more women from suffering the same ordeal.

'There are laws to protect you; you can speak up. Its not okay. And as long as we keep moving forward like this, I think we can really make a change,' she said.

The Daily Mail has contacted Tokyo Massage and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
The BBC breached its editorial standards by broadcasting a Tourette's sufferer's racial slur during the BAFTA film awards ceremony in February, an investigation has found.

The corporation's Executive Complaints Unit (ECU) said the inclusion of John Davidson shouting the N-word 'was highly offensive' and had 'no editorial justification'.

However, the ECU said the breach was 'unintentional'.

Mr Davidson, 54, blurted out the offensive word while Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting an award at the Royal Festival Hall in London.

Scotsman Mr Davidson, whose life story inspired the film I Swear, suffers from uncontrollable tics which see him sometimes shout expletives or deeply offensive language.

He left the auditorium 'so as not to cause any more upset' and apologised for the outburst.

Mr Davidson later told Variety there was a microphone 'right in front of me' and the BBC should have 'worked harder to prevent anything that I said'.

There was considerable backlash to the incident after BBC bosses failed to edit out the outburst prior to the awards ceremony airing, despite it not being broadcast live.

Sinners stars Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were presenting the first prize of the night at London's Royal Festive Hall on Sunday when the outburst took place

John Davidson, who yelled the N-word during the BAFTAs while two black actors were on stage, said he was 'deeply mortified' by his outburst

The BBC's outgoing director-general Tim Davie had ordered a fast-tracked investigation and called it a 'serious mistake'.

The BBC previously apologised to staff for failing to edit out the word, after it was broadcast on TV and also audible on the ceremony on iPlayer for around 12 hours before being removed.

It led to the Culture, Media and Sport committee writing to Mr Davie 'seeking an explanation' for how a racial slur ended up in the broadcast 'in spite of a two-hour time delay'.

In a response letter to committtee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage, Mr Davie said: 'I'd like to make clear: although the racial slur was symptomatic of a disability and an involuntary tic, it should never have been broadcast.

'It was a genuine mistake, and we take full responsibility for our error.'

The ECU said members of the production team who had been monitoring the event in an outside broadcast vehicle all said they had not heard the slur.

It found editorial standards were unintentionally breached via the broadcast of the offensive term and in failing to edit it out of the time-delayed showing of the ceremony.

A third breach occurred when the word was not removed from the iPlayer version of the programme until the following morning, a delay the ECU described as a 'serious mistake'.

The ECU report said: 'There was a lack of clarity among the team as to whether the N-word was audible on the recording.

'This resulted in there being a delay before a decision was taken to remove the recording from iPlayer; that decision was not taken until approximately 9.30 the following morning.

'In the ECU's view, this delay was a serious mistake, because there could be no certainty that the word would be inaudible to all viewers, and because there was a greater likelihood of its being found intelligible by viewers coming to the iPlayer in the knowledge that it had been spoken.'

The report added: 'The fact that the unedited recording remained available for so long aggravated the offence caused by the inadvertent inclusion of the N-word in the broadcast.'

The ECU said the initial broadcast of the offensive term 'was highly offensive and had no editorial justification' but accepted that members of the production team monitoring the event in the outside broadcast vehicle 'did not hear or recognise the N-word'.

BAFTA host Alan Cumming thanked the audience for their understanding of Tourette's as I Swear's John Davidson let out involuntary shouts during Sunday's ceremony - Mr Davidson also yelled 'paedophile' during a segment by the host

The report said: 'The ECU accepted their account, for two reasons. Firstly, the use of the N-word in that instance was extremely indistinct, to the point where it might well not have been recognised by the production team.

'Secondly, there was another occurrence of the N-word about 10 minutes later, which was recognised by the production team and immediately edited out in accordance with the protocols on offensive language which were in place.

'There is no reason to conclude they would have applied the protocols in one case while deliberately ignoring them in the other.'

Mr Davidson said he had ticked 10 different offensive words during the ceremony but said 'what you hear me shouting is literally the last thing in the world I believe'.

One included calling host Alan Cumming a 'paedophile' when the actor joked about taking Paddington Bear home with him.

He told Variety: 'I have made four documentaries with the BBC in the past, and feel that they should have been aware of what to expect from Tourette's and worked harder to prevent anything that I said  which, after all, was some 40 rows back from the stage  from being included in the broadcast.'

The BBC was also accused of breaching editorial standards by editing out 'free Palestine' from the acceptance speech of Outstanding Debut winner Akinola Davies Jr at the ceremony in February.

Although the ECU report found Mr Davies had a right to express his views, the removal of the words 'did not hinge on the considerations of impartiality'.

The report said: 'The principal consideration was that approximately three hours of recorded material had to be edited to fit a two-hour transmission slot.

'The priority in the editing was to focus on the main thrust of the event, namely the content being celebrated.

'As is usual in coverage of events of this kind, cuts were made in some of the longer acceptance speeches, including that of Mr Davies.'

The report added: 'It appeared to the ECU that the content of what was cut from Mr Davies' speech played no part in the decision to edit it except to the extent that it was remote from the event's main thrust and the likely focus of the audience's interest.'

The corporation said in a statement in February: 'Some viewers may have heard strong and offensive language during the BAFTA Film Awards.

'This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional.

'We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer.'

BAFTA also told members in a letter that it had launched a 'comprehensive review' after apologising to Jordan and Lindo and admitted it had put guests in a 'difficult situation'.

After the awards, Mr Davidson told how he felt a 'wave of shame' over his tic, issuing a swift apology and saying he was 'deeply mortified'. He was attending the ceremony after the film based on his life, I Swear, was nominated in five categories.

Following the ceremony, Lindo hit out at BAFTA for failing to address the incident with him.

He said he and Jordan 'did what we had to do' while presenting, but he wished 'someone from BAFTA spoke to us afterward'.

And film-maker Jonte Richardson said he was stepping down as a BAFTA judge over the academy's handling of the incident.

In its letter to BAFTA members, a spokesperson went on to say: 'We are in contact with the studios involved and conversations are ongoing.

'We want to assure all our members that a comprehensive review is underway. You may have also seen the BBC have issued their own apology for the broadcast.

'It was a very complex situation and we understand you will have many questions  please rest assured how seriously we are taking this.'

One of Mr Davidson's biggest symptoms is coprolalia which makes him involuntarily say socially inappropriate words or phrases, including when he famously shouted 'f*** the Queen' at Elizabeth II when he was awarded his MBE in 2019.

Campaigners emphasise that the shouting of such offensive language does not imply any meaning on behalf of the sufferer and is entirely involuntary.

I Swear won three awards at the ceremony - best leading actor and rising star for actor Robert Aramayo, who plays Mr Davidson, and best casting.
A Canadian province spent thousands of dollars on a coffee truck promotion to recruit American healthcare workers, a taxpayer watchdog revealed.

The government of British Columbia sponsored the coffee delivery stunt, which lasted approximately two days in June 2025.

It involved a branded pink-and-purple truck driving across Seattle to hand out 1,000 cups of coffee and napkins.

The paper cups said, 'Fill your cup. Follow your heart to BC,' and included a link to the government's healthcare careers website.

'We sent coffee and tea to health care workers in Seattle so we could share the many benefits of working in our beautiful province,' BC Premier David Eby wrote in a post on X at the time.

'It's a win-win situation  when more talented professionals join our health care system, patients benefit from compassionate, evidence-based care.'

However, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) revealed the province's government spent on $165,000 CAD ($119,134 USD) the promotion.

That breaks down to each coffee costing approximately $165 CAD ($119 USD) per cup.

The government of British Columbia spent thousands of dollars on a coffee truck promotion to recruit American healthcare workers

Premier David Eby called it a 'win-win situation' and said the stunt was done to 'share the many benefits of working in our beautiful province'

Taxpayer money was spent on the brand truck, 1,000 cups of coffee, 1,000 branded cups and napkins, and location procurement and staffing, according to an invoice obtained by the group.

'Eby dreamed up the most expensive way imaginable to hand out free coffee,' CTF Director Carson Binda said in a statement.

'The provincial government is drowning in debt and borrowing billions while the government wastes money on America's most expensive cup of coffee.

'Its hard to imagine how the BC government could have spent that much money on coffee. Even if you pick the most luxurious options, you could still save money.'

It remains to be seen if the promotion was worth the taxpayer dollars.

During the promotion, the Government of British Columbia wrote on Facebook that it was looking to recruit American healthcare workers.

'A BC health-careers coffee truck made stops near hospitals and clinics in Seattle to connect directly with doctors, nurses and allied health professionals,' the government wrote.

'Our goal? To invite more US health-care workers to explore life and work in British Columbia in areas they're needed most, like in cancer care, emergency departments, and rural communities. And our recruiters will support them every step of the way.'

The province spent on $165,000 CAD ($119,134 USD) the promotion. That breaks down to each coffee costing approximately $165 CAD ($119 USD) per cup

Taxpayer money was spent on the brand truck, 1,000 cups of coffee, 1,000 branded cups and napkins, location procurement and staffing

In March, the government of British Columbia announced that over 400 US healthcare professionals had moved to the province in the past year.

'As of January 2026, more than 400 US doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners and allied health professionals have accepted job offers within BC's public health-care system,' the press release said.

'They include 89 doctors, 260 nurses, 42 nurse practitioners and 23 allied health professionals.'

The Daily Mail contacted Eby's office, BC's Health Ministry and the Jobs and Economic Growth Ministry for comment.
A beautiful black leopard named Onyx moved into his forever home in California after he was rescued while in critical condition, living inside a roadside animal enclosure.

Onyx was rescued nearly a year ago by Lions, Tigers & Bears, a 142-acre big cat and animal rescue sanctuary in Alpine, home to more than 60 exotic animals.

Born into captivity, Onyx spent most of his life in a traumatic roadside operation in Oregon.

'He lived in a small cage on rock, like pebbly rock, which is really sharp and kind of sad, and he was kind of in the middle of all the chaos, and it was really pretty traumatic for him,' Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Lions, Tigers & Bears, told NBC San Diego.

Nearly a year after Onyx and hundreds of other animals were rescued, he's finally moved into his custom-built enclosure.

'We've put this together especially for Onyx,' a sanctuary representative said to the outlet.

'He can get up high, because of course, leopards like to be up high. And he's got the grass and some water features and rocks.'

Onyx's caretaker said he has settled in nicely in his forever home after months of care and rehabilitation.

Onyx was rescued nearly a year ago by Lions, Tigers & Bears a 142-acre big cat and animal rescue sanctuary in Alpine, California which is dedicated to abused and abandoned exotic animals

Onyx moved recently moved into his custom exhibit after living in 'a small cage on rock, like pebbly rock, which is really sharp and kind of sad, and he was kind of in the middle of all the chaos,' Bobbi Brink, founder and director of Lions, Tigers & Bears, told NBC San Diego

'I think just that relief that he's OK, and now he's set,' Brink said. 'He's gonna be a happy cat.'

The sanctuary is dedicated to abused and abandoned exotic animals, which they do not breed.

Conga, another leopard at Lions, Tigers & Bears, was also rescued after being born into captivity.

She was rescued in June 2004 from the exotic pet trade in Texas at just five weeks old, according to the sanctuary's website.

Brink helped bottle-feed the young cat back to health and helped her thrive.

A ramp was built for Conga in 2023 to help her in her older age, as she is now 21 years old.

Brink began the sanctuary in September 2002, after she rescued two tigers, Raja and Natasha, from deplorable living conditions in a backyard in Texas

Onyx's caretakers said he has settled in nicely to his forever home after months of care and rehabilitation

Leopards live to about 12 to 15 years in the wild and can live roughly an extra 10 years in captivity.

Lions, Tigers & Bears travels thousands of miles across the country to states such as North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, and New York.

The organization began in September 2002, after Brink rescued two tigers, Raja and Natasha, from deplorable living conditions in a backyard in Texas.
Pete Hegseth claimed the US had accomplished a 'decisive military victory' against Iran and that the regime begged Trump for a ceasefire.

The Pentagon claimed Iranian leadership 'begged' for this cease fire which has drawn criticism from Israeli officials.

'Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital V military victory by any measure,' Hegseth said.

Hegseth further bragged about the number of Iranian leadership killed by US-Israeli strikes before adding the new Supreme Leader is 'wounded and disfigured.'

'They just learned the hard way. What happens when you try to fight us directly, and even when they got lucky one time in 40 days and down two of our pilots, they couldn't hold them in a daring 14-hour rescue operation,' Hegseth continued.

His comment come one week after Iran downed several US jets, Black Hawks, and other aircrafts that resulted in two American pilots being stuck behind enemy lines for 48 hours before being rescued.

Trump celebrated a 'big day for World Peace' after he brokered an 11th-hour cease fire deal that provided a 'workable basis' to end the conflict with Iran following the President's vow to destroy a 'whole civilization'.

The Iranians put forward a 10-point ceasefire plan that Trump called 'workable basis on which to negotiate.'

'Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield, a capital V military victory by any measure,' Hegseth said

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine also briefed

Smoke and flames rise at the site of airstrikes on an oil depot in Tehran on March 7

The 10-point plan allows Iran to continue controlling the Strait of Hormuz, although Tehran said countries who did not threaten them militarily would be allowed to pass.

Other key points were removing sanctions, compensating Tehran for war damage and a ceasefire on all fronts, including Israel's battle in Lebanon with Hezbollah.

One contentious proposal in the deal requested that Iran can enrich uranium for their nuclear program.

The phrase 'acceptance of enrichment' for its nuclear program, was included in the Farsi-language version of its ceasefire plan.

The last-minute agreement came after Trump issued a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and claimed a 'whole civilization will die' if Tehran did not capitulate.

'A big day for World Peace!' Trump wrote in a Truth Social post at midnight. 'Iran wants it to happen, theyve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!'

Trump said opening the Strait would bring about a 'Golden Age' by reestablishing crucial trading routes and repairing any economic setbacks.

'The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,' Trump said. 'There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made.'

The president gave Iran a two-week deadline to negotiate a final truce - but warned the US military would remain engaged.
Oregon is rolling out tablets to all state prisoners, a strategy officials say could help stem the influx of illicit substances into its prisons.

Any mail an inmate receives will be digitally scanned and then sent directly to their tablet, eliminating any opportunities for hidden drugs to be unknowingly ferried to their cell, according to the Oregon Department of Corrections.

Legal letters will still be physically delivered but most pieces of mail will be scanned in, according to DOC spokesperson Amber Campbell.

'Mail will be sent to a central location (a vendor has not been identified for the mail processing), letters are scanned and then delivered electronically to the [adult in custody] via their tablet,' Campbell said in a statement to the Daily Mail.

Campbell noted that many county jails, some state corrections systems and the federal Bureau of Prisons already have similar systems for mail delivery.

Corrections officials have said these changes will happen gradually, adding that they are aiming to get the tablets in the hands of prisoners by September.

There are roughly 12,000 people in state custody who may soon be able to watch movies, play games and message their family members with their own personal device.

Campbell confirmed to the Daily Mail that inmates will not have access to the internet or emailing websites such as Gmail and Outlook. They will only be able to use approved applications, look at their digitally-scanned mail or play games, she said.

Oregon state prisons will soon be offering tablets for all of its roughly 12,000 inmates. Inmates already have access to tablets that they have to share, but this policy change means prisoners will get their own device (Pictured: Eastern Oregon Correction Institute in Pendleton)

The extent to which prisoners will be able to use communication tools to stay connected with family and friends, as well as access games and movies, will depend on the final agreement with the vendor. Inmates may have to pay for these features.

The vendor for the tablets and the software on them is called ViaPath.

According to the firm's 2024 corporate report, their tablets offer prisoners standard phone calls and text-like digital messaging, which includes the ability to send photos and video clips. Families can even have video visits with their incarcerated loved ones through the tablet.

All of these perks are subject to the local prison's guidelines, according to the company.

Campbell told the Daily Mail that video visits with family members will be offered on mounted kiosks within the prisons. She added that inmates will not be able to send photos and video clips.

Because Oregon prisons have not signed a contract for the tablets, officials have not yet provided a cost estimate for the devices.

Oregon prisoners already have ViaPath tablets available that inmates have to share, Campbell said.

The tablets, provided by a company called ViaPath, may also include games, movies and electronic messaging capabilities so inmates can communicate with their friends and family. The exact details of how many of these features will be available have not been agreed to yet (Pictured: A stock photograph of a man using a tablet)

'This will be a transition away from the shared model to an individual assigned model. Tablets are currently available on housing units via a checkout system. Currently one tablet per seven adults in custody is available in a housing unit,' she said.

'DOC's goal is to allow a higher level of accountability for the device and an increased equitable access pattern for those that are involved in a more demanding programming schedule.'

Prisoners will now have better access to the educational programs, skill-building courses and 'tools designed to support daily life, growth, and reentry planning' that are already available on the tablets.

The tablets will also be subject to monitoring by corrections officers.
A muscular New York man who is married to three wives at the same time said it was the 'woman's job' to confirm if he was single before they tied the knot with him.

Jason Washington, 46, wed his first wife in 2018 after approaching her at a gym in British Columbia, Canada, and complimenting her, she told CTV News.

His first wife, who uses the alias Sara, told the outlet that the mixed martial arts fighter proposed to her in a week, and just eight months later, they got hitched.

But things quickly changed after the single mother alleged he was violent towards her 10-year-old son, leading her to get out of the relationship, but never officially divorcing him.

Another woman, identified only as Emma by the outlet, soon discovered a private Facebook group called 'Are We Dating The Same Guy?', which featured an image of the former US Marine, whom she recognized as her husband right away.

Similar to Sara, Emma was all in with Washington until he allegedly spanked her son, leading her to kick him out of her life. They also did not divorce.

The two of them soon found out that a third woman is also married to Washington. Court records obtained by the outlet showed that the 2013 divorce proceedings in British Columbia between the couple were never finalized, meaning he is still married to her as well.

When contacted about his love life, Washington told CTV News it was his partners' responsibility to uncover his past. 'That was a womans job. That was my soon-to-be-wifes job to do all that,' he stated.

Jason Washington, 46, is married to three women at the same time, but he said it was their 'job' to figure that out for themselves before they decided to tie the knot with him

The former US Marine married his two wives in Canada. He now lives in Buffalo, New York, where he wed another woman. (Pictured: Washington with one of his wives)

Washington also shared that he has actually been married four times.

He tied the knot in 2021 to a woman in Buffalo, where he currently resides, per the outlet. She applied for and received a divorce from him in December 2025.

'Ive always been up front, 100 per cent, about who Ive been married to and who I haven't. They all talk to each other, bro. Theyre women,' Washington responded.

'These are women I loved for many, many years,' he added.

In all 50 US states and Canada, bigamy, when someone marries more than one person at a time, is considered a crime.

It is often classified as a felony and can lead to fines, jail time, and automatic voiding of future marriages.

The women still legally married to Washington are puzzled over how their marriages were even approved by government departments that signed off on their license applications without issue.

Sara said that if she had known about his checkered past, she would have never married Washington.

Court records also showed that the 2013 divorce proceedings between him and another woman were never finalized, meaning he is still married to her, Sara, and Emma

'It would have been a huge red flag,' she explained.

Meanwhile, Emma recalled her catching him 'messaging another girl' while they were together.

He denied that happening, telling her he was planning on buying her a ring and marrying her, Emma claimed.

'He actually went to my dad and asked for my hand, crying. You know, hes telling me, hes telling my dad that he was going to protect me,' she added.

Their marriage license was granted without any issues by officials in British Columbia.

Now, years later, she feels that Washington was actually 'love bombing' her as a way to distract her from noticing anything was off in their relationship.

Emma also noted that Washington created a divide between her and her friends, adding: 'I couldn't get him to leave. I felt so stuck and so scared.'

She and Sara are now focused on trying to get their marriages to Washington annulled by arguing that Canadian officials should have never allowed it to happen in the first place.

This is not Washington's first experience with a scandal, as he was previously thrown in jail in Buffalo after killing a man in a drunk driving accident.

Washington was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in 2022 after he crossed the double yellow line on Seneca Street and crashed his vehicle into another, killing a man.

Washington was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in 2022 after he crossed the double yellow line on Seneca Street and crashed his vehicle into another, killing a man

The other driver, Thomas Shoemaker, 57, was killed. Washington and a female passenger were left injured and taken to the hospital.

He pleaded guilty to the crime in October of that year and spent a little more than three years in jail before his release in 2024, records showed.

When asked about his criminal record, Washington said he was convicted of the crime because he suffers from 'dissociative episodes from f***ing combat.'

He went on to lash out at the CTV News reporter, telling him: 'You f***ing t***!'

According to military records reviewed by the outlet, Washington was court martialed for 'bad conduct'. He served from August 1997 to October 2001.

The Daily Mail contacted Washington for comment.
Donald Trump has vowed that Iran will not be able to enrich uranium and that the US will coordinate with Tehran to extract 'nuclear dust' buried deep underground.

Trump announced last night that Iran has agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while a 10-point peace plan is considered by both sides.

According to the White House the safety of the uranium was confirmed before an eleventh hour deal was struck.

The President wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: 'There will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 bombers) nuclear 'dust.''

Trump said Washington was working 'closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive regime change.'

'Nothing has been touched from the date of attack,' the President added, claiming that the nuclear site has been watched closely since it was bombed.

It is not clear whether Trump was referring to the US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities in June, or to more recent strikes during the current Iran war.

Trump said that tariff and sanctions relief were being discussed as part of a peace plan with 'many' points already agreed.

President Donald J. Trump delivers remarks at a press conference, March 9

This handout satellite image provided by Maxar Technologies and dated July 1, 2025, shows activity near the perimeter building and southern holes caused by the June 22 US airstrike on the Fordo (Fordow) Fuel Enrichment Plant complex, about 30 kilometres north of Qom in central Iran

Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags on Wednesday, April 8, 2026

The President also threatened a 50 percent tariff on any country selling arms to Iran.

Recently published satellite photographs have suggested the supplies being moved to and from the Isfahan nuclear plant before last year's US airstrikes.

The presence of the uranium appears to indicate Iran poses as much of a threat to its neighbors today as before the conflict.

Despite that danger, Trump today declared the deal with Iran as 'a total and complete victory, 100 per cent, no question about it'.

Iran is harboring 1,000 pounds of uranium at a secret location. Before today's ceasefire Trump was presented with options by advisors for US Special Forces team to hunt down the supplies.

It was uncertain today whether the White House could reconsider the plans should the ceasefire fail.

Trump appeared to row back from his recent apocalyptic threats to destroy Iran's 'whole civilization', which caused shock earlier this week. Instead he said: 'You're going to have to see.'

Iran has also presented the deal as a victory and the country appears under no obligation to destroy its uranium supplies.

This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment site on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026

A worker rides a bicycle in front of the reactor building of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, just outside the southern city of Bushehr, Iran, on Oct. 26, 2010

Iranian officials have claimed the agreement permits the country to continue enriching uranium which is the key to building a nuclear weapon  a claim disputed by Trump in his most recent social media post.

Satellite images have shown a convoy of 18 container trucks transferred up to 1,000lbs of highly-enriched uranium being mobilized before the US air strikes, Operation Midnight Hammer, last year.

The underground complex at Isfahan is beneath the range of US missiles designed for deep penetration. Iran previously refused requests by the International Atomic Energy Agency to visit the site.

Those refusals led to the US and Israeli airstrikes last year which at the time were heralded by Trump as a huge success.

The IAEA has not visited Isfahan since 2024 while the agency reported the following year how it has lost 'continuity of knowledge' regarding the whereabouts of the uranium.

On Operational Midnight Hammer the US deployed 125 aircraft and dropped its largest bunker-busting bomb, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP). Fourteen MOPs were dropped on two targets, Isfahan and Natanz.

Iran does not currently possess a nuclear weapon and many security sources regard President Trump's claims that Iran was within weeks of developing that capability as farfetched.

Isfahan conducts several key activities in Iran's nuclear program. The site houses a chemical laboratory, a uranium conversion plant to prepare for enrichment, a reactor fuel manufacturing plant and a centrifuge manufacturing facility.

Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire at Enghelab Square in Tehran

The whereabouts and security of Iran's uranium is expected to be discussed at the White House later today when President Trump hosts NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

The exact terms of the peace deal have not been revealed.

Trump told Sky News this morning: 'They are very good points - and most of them have been fully negotiated. If it isn't good, we'll go right back to it very easily.'

However, earlier, an unnamed regional official told the Associated Press that Iran wants to charge tolls of up to $1 million on ships that pass through the Strait during the two-week period.

The ten-point plan, according to Iran's Tasnim news agency, says that the US should accept Tehran's continued control over the Strait, recognize its right to uranium enrichment, lift all sanctions, pay reparations, and withdraw all troops from the region.

Iran would then use the money it raises for reconstruction following the weeks-long conflict.

Trump described the deal as 'total and complete victory' on Tuesday.

The President said the US would be 'helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz,' adding: 'Big money will be made.'

Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that if attacks against Iran stop, Iranian operations will cease as well.

Your browser does not support iframes.

An explosion erupts following strikes near Azadi Tower close to Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7

Video on Tuesday showed women and children waving flags as chanting blared on a loudspeaker at a power plant after Trump threatened to bomb infrastructure

The country's military will coordinate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, he added in a post on X.

The US and Iran will now engage in negotiations over the next two weeks, buying some time to try to reach a permanent settlement.

It is unlikely to be smooth sailing, but in after-hours trading, the price of a barrel of oil dropped below the $100 mark for the first time in days, and US stock futures soared.

Following the confirmation of the deal, the US President hailed 'a big day for world peace' after agreeing to pause the attacks.

Iran has 'had enough' of the conflict, the US president said on Truth Social, and there will now be 'lots of positive action'.

Israel has also agreed to halt attacks on Iran for two weeks, a senior White House official told Axios, with the ceasefire taking effect once the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

Iran accepted the Pakistan-brokered deal after a last-minute Chinese intervention urged Tehran to show flexibility over the war's economic fallout, three Iranian officials told the New York Times.
A bitter feud has broken out between Nantucket residents over socalled 'geotubes' installed to protect mansions along the scenic summer paradise, as other push back on the project and argue it is actually worsening erosion on the entire island.

Homeowners along Baxter Road on Sconset's Sconset Bluff, right on the eastern tip of Nantucket, have backed the 947foot structure of sandfilled tubes as a way to protect their luxurious properties from falling into the quicklymoving ocean.

Supporters from the Sconset Beach Preservation Fund (SBPF) say the geotubes have helped avoid an expensive relocation of 80 homes in the scenic enclave, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Homeowners backing the geotubes have said the coastline erodes by about four feet per year and that at least 20 homes have already been moved or demolished because of the erosion.

Opponents have argued that the geotubes are actually accelerating erosion on other parts of the island, partly because the group backing the geotubes have repeatedly failed to follow regulations.

Tensions came to a boiling point in January when the wealthy tube backers claimed that the geotubes had been slashed by a vandal, which prompted them to launch their own independent investigation into the event.

Despite the tube pushback, the homeowners are hoping to add even more geotubes, with a vote scheduled in May during a town meeting.

'I see this as a small number of very wealthy, really influential people who will not take no for an answer,' D. Anne Atherton, who lives on the island, told the WSJ.

Baxter Road homeowners on Sconset's Sconset Bluff want sand-filled geotubes to be installed as a way to prevent erosion on their part of Nantucket (Credit to the Town of Nantucket)

Opponents of the geotubes, which are damaged (pictured), argue that the technology is actually accelerating erosion elsewhere on the island

The median home sale price in Nantucket last year was $3.3 million. Supporters of the geotubes have said that the island's coastline erodes about four feet each year

Last year, the median home sale price in Nantucket was $3.3 million, according to Realtor.

Members of the Hearst and Soros families are among the Alisters who own property on the island's Sconset Bluff.

About $18 million have already been spent on installing the geotubes, which could cost an additional $2 million to repair, according to the WSJ.

The SBPF shared images of damaged geotubes in late January, claiming the destruction to be evidence of vandalism.

The wealthy group of backers then hired former Boston police commissioner Ed Davis to investigate the collected evidence.

'The clean, linear cuts are consistent with a premeditated and willful act of vandalism,' Davis said in February. 'This was in no way an accident or the result of natural forces.'

But shortly afterwards, the geotubes suffered a second failure after another part of the project collapsed, the Nantucket Current reported.

The group of homeowners admitted that specific incident appeared to have happened naturally.

The Nantucket Conservation Commission's chair, Seth Engelbourg, later warned that the geotubes could be nearing 'complete failure,' with more than half of the system effectively unusable.

'I don't even know if the geotubes could be rebuilt in the area where they are now,' Engelbourg said, according to the Journal.

The future of the geotubes was further questioned by the Nantucket Conservation Commission after more failures were reported, which were said to have been natural

Baxter Road homeowners acknowledged that they stopped being compliant with regards to the sand in 2021 after a previous expansion plan was rejected

Critics of the geotubes contend that while the project might benefit homeowners on the Sconset Bluff, the tubes would hurt the rest of the island.

They say the homeowners needed to cover the geotubes with sand, which would have then fed into other beaches.

However, that stopped happening in 2021, two years after the town had rejected an expansion of the geotubes project.

Conservation agent Will Dell'Erba directly pointed to that compliance failure as a motivator for the feud.

'They have been told to cover them with sand before,' Dell'Erba said to the Nantucket Current.

'I feel that at some point, somebody has to say that if they were covered in sand, this might not have been possible to happen,' Dell'Erba added.

Still, backers of the project insist that they are saving the road and its homes, which have allegedly lost millions of dollars in home value because of the erosion.

Locals who are opposed to the geotubes say that residents who support them have failed to comply with regulations that required sand to be placed over them

Former Boston police commissioner Ed Davis was hired by supporters of the geotubes to investigate an alleged vandalism in January

'It is absolutely crazy that the town has resisted an effort by individual homeowners to protect their property and the road and public utilities with a technology that is now proven,' Helmut Weymar, an economist who owns a home on the bluff, told the WSJ.

Weymar, 89, spends most of his time in Princeton, New Jersey, according to the outlet.

Weymar suggested that opponents of geotubes may be motivated by 'a bit of class warfare going on.'

'Those are fat cats in some people's view, and they should not be helped,' Weymar said.

The president of the SBPF, Josh Posner, added that the tensions over the geotubes were 'shocking.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Sconset Beach Preservation Fund, the Nantucket Conservation Commission and the Nantucket Police Department for updated comment on the feud and the alleged vandalism of the geotubes.
A Minnesota father allegedly left his tenmonthold son under a weighted blanket for hours while he was locked away in another room, leading to the infant's tragic death.

Omni Maxx Morningstar, 26, was arrested Monday in connection with the death of his son, Remington Tristan Morningstar, last October 1, according to the Mankato Police Department.

When police officers arrived at his home in the 500 block of James Avenue in Mankato, about 90 miles south of Minneapolis, Morningstar told them he had 'a practically dead baby.'

Morningstar laid his son face down for a nap before noon and covered him with a 20pound weighted blanket up to his shoulders, according to a complaint filed in Blue Earth County District Court on Tuesday viewed by the Daily Mail.

Morningstar did not check on the baby again until nearly five hours later, when he found the infant unresponsive and 'very warm,' with a temperature of 104.7 degrees.

'I'm thinking in my head like, five hours,' Morningstar told police, according to the complaint. 'Huh. I really do wish I would have checked on him.'

Morningstar added that he 'did not understand' how his son's temperature had risen, as he attempted to explain what happened to his baby son.

The 26-year-old father added Remington's temperature 'was only 105, but you know what's interesting, [he] exhibits the same symptoms as someone [who] was 108.'

Omni Maxx Morningstar, 26, was arrested Monday in connection with the death of his 10-month-old son Remington Tristan Morningstar last October (pictured)

Remington (pictured) was 'not breathing, had no pulse, and appeared cyanotic' when first responders arrived. He was declared dead at 4.54pm

Morningstar allegedly told investigators that his son (far right) woke up 'perfectly healthy' and that he placed him in the bed with the weighted blanket before leaving to his own room

Morningstar has been charged with second degree manslaughter, a felony carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $20,000 fine or both.

During the investigation, Morningstar told officers that he was autistic.

His son Remington was 'not breathing, had no pulse, and appeared cyanotic' when first responders arrived, the complaint read.

The baby's lips were purple and blue, and his arms appeared pale and wrinkled. Remington was declared dead at 4.54pm.

Morningstar told police his son had been 'perfectly healthy' that morning after waking up around 9am and being fed a bottle.

However, after placing him in bed and covering him with a weighted blanket, Morningstar never returned to check on his son until right before he called 911.

Morningstar allegedly told police he had gone to his own bedroom, leaving the baby's door open but shutting his own to work 'on Discord and talking to friends.' Morningstar admitted he was wearing headphones, but claimed he could hear his surroundings.

Remington also told police that he was autistic, according to a complaint filed in Blue Earth County District Court on Tuesday

Morningstar has been charged with second degree manslaughter and faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, according to court documents

Remington had a 'history of getting fevers,' according to his father, who described him as a colicky baby

Morningstar told police and first responders that he had 'a practically dead baby' when they arrived at his home in the 500 block of James Avenue in Mankato

Remington's mother, Isabella Morningstar, told investigators she had found their son overheated under a kingsized blanket about a month before his death.

The baby's dad admitted that he had forgotten about Remington while playing videogames, according to the complaint.

Morningstar allegedly acknowledged that he regularly covered Remington's head with blankets to 'help' deal with his son's screaming.

Isabella also told officers that the couple had used weighted blankets on Remington, the complaint said.

She reiterated that Morningstar had 'covered [Remington] with a comforter to muffle the sound of crying.'

Police found multiple blankets on the bed that Remington was placed in, including multiple weighted blankets weighing just under 20 pounds, as well as large comforters.

Morningstar told officers that Remington had a 'history of getting fevers' and that he struggled to keep his temperature in check.

He allegedly added that Remington had been taken to the hospital 'quite a bit,' describing him as a colicky baby.

Morningstar allegedly laid his son face down for a nap around 11am, covered him with a 20pound weighted blanket up to his shoulders and didn't check on him until almost 4pm

Remington's mom, Isabella Morningstar, told police that she had also found her baby son overheated under a blanket roughly one month before his death

Isabella also allegedly told investigators that Remington acknowledged he had forgotten about Remington as he played videogames

Morningstar claimed that he used the weighted blankets to manage his son's colic, telling police that 'it worked every single time,' per the complaint.

However, he also explained Remington had overheated at least two other times, including one occasion when he was rushed to the hospital after his temperature spiked to 104 degrees.

'I mean, it only happened twice before,' Morningstar told police, per the complaint. 'It spiked two times and we fixed him two times.'

A public obituary for Remington said he 'entered the world as a healthy baby boy' and noted he was survived by his older sister Rosalina.

'It almost doesn't feel real,' his mom Isabella posted the day after his death. 'I keep looking for the sweet tiny world that was blessed to me but instead of being here with me he is being loved by the most high Jesus Christ.'

She added: 'Rest easy my boy my Remington forever nine months but the absolute best nine months of my life.'

Morningstar is being held in the Blue Earth County jail, according to Mankato police.

He has applied for a public defender but been deemed not financially eligible, per the Minnesota Star Tribune.

The Daily Mail has reached out to the Mankato police, the Blue Earth County Attorney's Office, who is prosecuting Morningstar, and Isabella Morningstar for further comment.

Morningstar could not be reached for comment, as he remained in jail and information for a possible attorney was not immediately available.
Traveller families have started setting up camp days after barging onto a beauty spot and tearing up the land with bulldozers and diggers.

The group arrived in Flamstead village, Hertfordshire, on Thursday as furious resident - who told the Daily Mail their village had been 'invaded' - watched them drive machinery onto green belt land near Friendless Lane.

The first batch of caravans followed suit a few days later on Easter Sunday morning, as council officials were off for the bank holiday weekend.

New photos taken today show more static homes arriving on the green space, which has been completely destroyed by hardstand paving.

Work still appears to be underway on the site, which now houses more than a dozen caravans.

The group laid down huge squares of concrete on the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), surrounded by rolling fields and woodland.

The travellers launched their land grab over the Bank Holiday weekend in the hope that council bosses would be slow to react, it is understood.

The work has left locals livid, with one telling the Daily Mail a 'crisis moment' was reached after villagers attempted to prevent a long convoy of works vehicles from entering the site.

'Residents tried to impede access to the site in a lawful manner,' they said. 'There were two policemen sat in their car.'

The resident said things turned violent when the group forced their way through the blockade, damaging cars and hitting the police vehicle in the process.

Traveller families have started setting up camp today after barging onto a beauty spot in Flamstead village, Hertfordshire, over the weekend

A caravan on the site pictured today after more mobile homes appeared on the green space

An aerial view shows the extent of damage done to the land in recent days, after travellers arrived with diggers and machinery

At this point, several other police cars appeared to support their colleagues, but no action was taken against the group.

'We are recovering from the shock of being invaded,' they added. 'The whole thing was very well organised, and very well funded.'

An unnamed parish councillor said the group allegedly damaged cars and wielded iron bars as they forced their way onto the site.

He told The Telegraph: 'At about 7 o'clock (on Sunday), a whole load of travellers barged their way through.

'There was a lot of violent abuse and threats, people wielding iron bars, a few cars damaged, they drove into a police car and drove past. They started to bring in lorryloads of crushed concrete.'

Residents estimated that around 300 trips were made by individuals delivering materials onto the site. In one incident, a police car was rammed off the road in the process, it was claimed.

The travellers arrived three days after the diggers despite Dacorum Borough Council issuing a temporary stop notice - a planning enforcement tool used to halt work - on Saturday.

Villagers also did their utmost to stop vehicles from entering the beauty spot. Reports suggested a tree was felled on Saturday in an attempt to block off a nearby road, though it remains unclear who chopped the greenery down.

One resident told the BBC: 'The vans and caravans drove at us basically pushing their way through and bumping into people.

'They were determined to get through us and were really aggressive. It was absolutely horrendous.'

A static home on the site days after developments started at the beauty spot

Villagers were left furious after the group barged their way onto a field near Friendless Lane (pictured over the weekend)

Villagers said they feel as if they have been 'invaded' in a situation they described as 'absolutely horrendous'

Another described feeling as though his home village had been 'invaded' in what has been an 'absolute nightmare' situation.

It remains unclear who the field is owned by.

Hertfordshire Constabulary, the local police force, previously said it was in the process of reviewing the ongoings at Friendless Lane.

A statement released by Dacorum Borough Council read: 'We were informed of unauthorised hardcore being laid on the privately owned land on Friendless Lane, Flamstead, Hertfordshire on Friday 3 April.

'We continued to assess the situation and, due to the scale and speed of the work taking place within the Chilterns National Landscape, served a temporary stop notice on Saturday 4 April requiring works on the site to cease immediately. This is a formal legal step, and any breach of this notice may result in further enforcement action.

'We continued to investigate and gather evidence with the intention to take further immediate legal action if necessary.

'Today (Sunday 5 April) Dacorum Borough Council submitted an application to the court for an emergency injunction for the site. This order was successfully granted by the court and the Council served the papers on the site today prohibiting any unauthorised works or use of the site.

Residents estimated that around 300 trips were made by individuals delivering materials onto the site

'We now must wait for the court scheduled hearing date before further legal proceedings can take place.'

Hertfordshire Constabulary said: 'While the civil matter is being led by Dacorum Borough Council we are continuing to monitor the situation and a police presence remains in the area to prevent a breach of the peace and deal with any criminal matters.

'A number of allegations have been made by several parties involved, including criminal damage, traffic offences and threatening behaviour and these are being investigated as per usual protocol.

'We are in the process of taking statements and reviewing body worn video and once this is complete, we will look to make arrests wherever necessary.

'In these circumstances, police have no enforcement powers to prevent access to the land or building work taking place.'
Reform UK's deputy leader today vowed a Nigel Farage-led government would get 'every last drop' of oil and gas out of the North Sea to bring down energy costs.

Richard Tice used a press conference in Aberdeen to unveil the party's four-point plan to cut household bills and ensure the UK 'can have cheap energy once again'.

Following the huge spike in oil and gas prices caused by the Iran war, Mr Tice said there had 'never been a more important time' to focus on boosting UK energy production.

He promised that if Reform won the next general election, the party would give the go-ahead to the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects in the North Sea.

Mr Tice also vowed to scrap the windfall tax on North Sea oil and gas firms, as well as push forward with fracking to extract onshore shale gas across Britain.

Reform's proposals would additionally see the party scrap Net Zero targets and axe the emissions trading scheme, while reforming industry regulations, Mr Tice added.

'If you add a cost to business... they have to pass it on to all of us as consumers,' he said of the red tape and high tax bills faced by oil and gas companies.

Mr Tice, who is also Reform's business and energy spokesman, said the UK should extract 'every last barrel, every last drop' from the North Sea.

Richard Tice used a press conference in Aberdeen to unveil Reform's four-point plan to cut household bills and ensure the UK 'can have cheap energy once again'

He promised that if Reform won the next general election, the party would give the go-ahead to the Rosebank and Jackdaw projects in the North Sea

He added: 'It's our energy treasure, it creates jobs here, it creates wealth here and prosperity, and gives us low competitive energy prices, so we have to do this.

'If not, the tragedy is... you see seriously fantastic businesses, energy-intensive businesses, shutting, closing, because they're uncompetitive.

'We say no; we can do much better, let's change course.'

Since winning power, Labour has banned the granting of new licences for North Sea oil and gas drilling as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband pursues his Net Zero agenda.

Mr Miliband is also still yet to decide on either the Rosebank or Jackdaw projects, which are not covered by the ban as their applications had already been made before Labour took office.

It was recently reported that Mr Miliband could be minded to approve the project at Jackdaw, a major gas field off the coast of Aberdeen.

But his department dismissed the speculation as 'incorrect' and insisted no decisions had yet been made.

Mr Tice hit out at Mr Miliband's staunch resistance to boosting North Sea production, with the Energy Secretary having frequently argued ramping up the extraction of domestic fossil fuels would make 'no difference' to global energy prices.

'If you have an increased supply of anything, in this case energy, guess what happens to the price? It goes down,' Mr Tice said.

'That's the point and that's why we have to make these changes. That's why I've been banging on about it for years.'

Under Reform's plans, the party wants to see industry regulator, the North Sea Transition Authority, change its name back to the Oil and Gas Authority  with Mr Tice adding that the body should be tasked with working towards 'maximum economic recovery' of fossil fuels.

Mr Tice also demanded the Government abolish the Energy Profits Levy on oil and gas  known as the windfall tax  which was introduced by the Tories following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine but has continued under Labour.

Abolishing the levy would help 'incentivise' the oil and gas sector, Mr Tice said, adding that 49 new wells had been drilled in Norwegian waters last year, compared to none in the UK  a situation he insisted was 'frankly a humiliation'.

He added that shale gas was 'literally what transformed the US economy some 20 years ago from being an energy importer, to using their own domestic energy, their own domestic gas and then becoming an energy exporter'  with Mr Tice saying the UK 'could have the same'.

'I'm a Lincolnshire MP, and in Lincolnshire there is shale gas to the tune of potentially a decade's worth, give or take, of UK gas demand, and there are a variety of techniques for extracting it,' he added.

'We should be extracting everything we possibly can, safely of course.'

Mr Tice said his four-point plan 'is how we can get the North Sea back on track, it's how we can get growth back into Aberdeen, growth back into Scotland, growth back into the UK'.

'And it's how we can bring the cost of living down and it's how we can bring our bills down,' he added.

Since winning power, Labour has banned the granting of new licences for North Sea oil and gas drilling as Energy Secretary Ed Miliband pursues his Net Zero agenda

Mr Miliband is also still yet to decide on either the Rosebank or Jackdaw projects, which are not covered by the ban as their applications had already been made before Labour took office

As well as mounting pressure from political opponents, the continuing Middle East crisis has also seen growing calls from within Labour circles for Mr Miliband to soften his stance over the UK's untapped fossil fuel reserves.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar supports drilling at both the Jackdaw site and the proposed project at the Rosebank oil field north-west of Shetland.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said she would be 'very happy' to support drilling at Jackdaw and Rosebank because of the positive impact on 'jobs and tax revenue'.

A number of Labour MPs are also demanding Mr Miliband allows new drilling, while some of the party's trade union backers have repeatedly called for him to change course.

Meanwhile, Ms Reeves has been accused of blocking 17.5billion of investment in North Sea oil and gas after shelving proposals to scrap the controversial windfall tax.

Following the outbreak of the Iran war, the Chancellor backtracked on plans to announce an early end to the Energy Profits Levy, which is due to expire in 2030.

A spike in energy prices as a result of the Middle East crisis led Ms Reeves to put those plans on ice, which has infuriated the industry.

Oil and gas firms are reported to have identified North Sea projects which could deliver the equivalent of more than a billion barrels of oil and gas by the end of the decade.

They are said to have told the Chancellor early last month that they were prepared to push ahead with those projects, but only if the Government scrapped the windfall tax early.

One industry figure said a decision to delay the switch from the current Energy Profits Levy to an Oil and Gas Price Mechanism was 'economic illiteracy on steroids'.

Robert Palmer, deputy director of Uplift, which campaigns for a 'rapid and fair transition' away from oil and gas, said: 'Reform's pledge to 'drill the North Sea', while promising to block renewables, is a nightmare double whammy that would see higher energy bills for longer.'

Mr Palmer said 'new drilling will do nothing to improve the UK's energy security', adding that 'the UK has burned most of its gas, and most of what is left in the North Sea is oil, the vast majority of which is exported'.

He continued: 'The promise of lots more jobs from oil and gas drilling is selling a pipe dream to energy workers. Under the last UK government, jobs in the industry halved.

'Given the 'Trumpflation' caused by the Iran conflict, we need to get off our dependency on fossil fuels by doubling down on renewables, like wind, and upgrading homes with solar power and heat pumps, so we can free ourselves from oil and gas.'
A man has been arrested after an 11kg haul of illegal bushmeat  including rat, antelope and even an animal's paw  was seized.

The morbid discovery was made at an address in Peckham, south east London, in a joint investigation by the Met Police and the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

Nauseating photos show what appear to be splayed out rodents, chunks of dark, nondescript meat and the paw of an animal which species has not been disclosed.

A 51yearold male was arrested and released under investigation following the vile discovery.

The operation targeted illegally imported meat products that pose potential food safety risks to consumers in the UK.

Bushmeat is the name given to wild animal meat that has been hunted, often from species found in tropical regions.

Illegally imported meat bypasses rigorous safety and hygiene checks required for food sold in the UK and can carry parasites, contaminants and zoonotic diseases, such as Ebola and HIV, that put consumers at risk.

David TomsSheridan, Head of Investigations in the South of England and Wales at the NFCU, explained enquiries into the seizure were ongoing.

Nauseating photos show what appear to be splayed out rodents, chunks of dark, nondescript meat and the paw of an animal which species has not been disclosed

A 51yearold male was arrested and released under investigation following the discovery

The discovery was made at an address in Peckham, south east London , in a joint investigation by the Met Police and the Food Standards Agency (FSA)

He said: 'The NFCU has been working closely with the Metropolitan Police Service and other Subject Matter Experts to identify those suspected of being involved in this criminality.

'This operation forms part of the NFCU's ongoing work to disrupt the illegal meat trade and prevent unsafe products from reaching the public.

'The FSA advises consumers not to buy or eat illegally imported meat, including bushmeat, as it may pose serious health risks.

'If you have concerns about products being sold, contact your local authority.

'We remain vigilant to the threat of illegal meat entering the food chain and will continue to take action to protect the public.'

It comes after a 57yearold man was arrested in December following the discovery of 38kg of illegal bushmeat, including pangolins, cane rats and porcupines, in a freezer.

Officials from the FSA found the wild animals at a site in Deptford, south east London on December 5.

Disturbing images showed a the bodies of a cane rat and a pangolin covered in a layer of frost from the meatpacked freezer they were seized from.

In February last year, the Daily Mail revealed that banned bushmeat was being smuggled into the UK and sold for home delivery via social media.

The Mail found one TikTok profile, called LocalFoodsDiary based in Lagos, Nigeria, that claims to have 'freshly dried' porcupine and 'grasscutter'  known as the greater cane rat  'very much available'.

It comes after a 57yearold man was arrested in December following the discovery of 38kg of illegal bushmeat, including pangolins, cane rats and porcupines, in a freezer

Disturbing images showed a the bodies of a cane rat and a pangolin covered in a layer of frost from the meatpacked freezer they were seized from

In February last year, the Daily Mail revealed that banned bushmeat was being smuggled into the UK and sold for home delivery via social media

The seller above used TikTok to advertise meat including dried porcupine and alligator lizard

The Food Standards Agency advises consumers not to buy or eat bushmeat or other illegal meat, as it may be unsafe

It also boasted how easy it is to get bushmeat into the UK, showing a package with a London postcode and the caption: 'Bushmeat package arrived UK.'

It even offered a 'United Kingdom Combo deal' including '1 antelope or grasscutter' '1 full goat meat' and '50 pieces of dried snails' for 397.

Another profile called 'kjsaraha' offers UK 'doorstep delivery' within 11 days and 'express' shipping for 'contraband' items including 'ponmo fish, dried snail, kilishi [a form of jerky] and dried meat'.

Nearly 100 tons of illegal meat was confiscated at Dover in 2024  a rise of more than 75 per cent on 2023.

The Food Standards Agency advises consumers not to buy or eat bushmeat or other illegal meat, as it may be unsafe.
Donald Trump has called a US-Iran deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz a 'joint venture' as Tehran prepares to charge ships up to $1 million per vessel to pass through the world's most critical oil artery.

Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire and will reopen the waterway while a 10-point peace plan is negotiated by both sides, Trump announced Wednesday.

The exact terms remain unsettled, but ships must notify intermediary companies linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of their cargo, destination and owner - with tolls of at least $1 per barrel payable in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency.

Trump welcomed the idea on Wednesday, telling ABC: 'We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people.

'It's a beautiful thing.'

The Strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil flows, has been dubbed the 'Tehran Tollbooth' by analysts and traders as IRGC patrol boats will only escort vessels once payment clears.

Some analysts believe the scheme could net Iran as much as $500 billion over five years.

Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union, said that cargo checks were necessary to prevent the transport of weaponry.

Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 6

A boat approaches the St Kitt's and Nevis-flagged container ship Marsa Victory while crusing in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Khasab in Oman's northern Musandam peninsula on June 25

'Iran needs to monitor what goes in and out of the strait to ensure these two weeks aren't used for transferring weapons,' Hosseini, whose industry association has close ties to the regime, told the FT.

'Everything can pass through, but the procedure will take time for each vessel, and Iran is not in a rush,' he added.

Hosseini's comments indicate that vessels must hug the northerly Iranian coast of the Strait - which will raise concerns for maritime insurers.

IRAN'S 10-POINT PEACE PLAN

1. Commitment to non-aggression 2. Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz 3. Acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment 4. Lifting of all primary sanctions 5. Lifting of all secondary sanctions 6. Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions 7. Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions 8. Paying compensation to Iran 9. Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region 10. Cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon

Tankers in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday received a radio alert warning that they would be targeted if they did not first gain transit approval from Iranian authorities.

'If any vessels try to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed,' said the broadcast in English.

Western shipping giants were working frantically to establish details over whether the Strait was truly operational again.

Maersk, the world's second biggest shipping line, said it was 'working with urgency' to clarify the terms.

'The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty,' it said, adding that it was maintaining a 'cautious approach' and would not immediately change any routes.

If Iran keeps its grip on the Strait, it will raise explosive questions for OPEC+, the oil producers' cartel, and redraw the balance of power in the region.

Saudi Arabia, one of the group's most powerful members, would regard Iranian control of the waterway as intolerable. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had urged Trump to crush the Iranian regime before the ceasefire.

Ali Shihabi, a commentator close to the Saudi royal court, told the FT: 'Allowing Iran any form of control over the strait would be a red line. The priority has to be unimpeded access through the strait.'

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The ten-point plan, reported by Iran's Tasnim news agency, says that the US should accept Tehran's continued control over the Strait, recognize its right to uranium enrichment, lift all sanctions, pay compensation, and withdraw all troops from the region.

Trump vowed that Iran will not be able to enrich uranium and that the US will coordinate with Tehran to extract 'nuclear dust' buried deep underground after airstrikes.

The President wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: 'There will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 bombers) nuclear "dust."'

The safety of the uranium was confirmed before an eleventh-hour deal was struck, the White House said.

'Nothing has been touched from the date of attack,' Trump said, claiming that the nuclear site has been watched closely since it was bombed.

It is not clear whether Trump was referring to the US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities in June, or to more recent strikes during the current Iran war.

Trump said that tariff and sanctions relief were being discussed as part of a peace plan with 'many' points already agreed.

Trump described the deal as 'total and complete victory' on Tuesday night.

The US and Iran will now engage in negotiations over the next two weeks, buying some time to try to reach a permanent settlement.

It is unlikely to be smooth sailing - but oil plunged below $100 per barrel for the first time in weeks and US stocks soared.

Following the confirmation of the deal, Trump hailed 'a big day for world peace' after agreeing to pause the attacks.

Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags on Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Iranians burn U.S. and Israeli flags during a demonstration following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

Iran has 'had enough' of the conflict, the US president said on Truth Social, and there will now be 'lots of positive action.'

Israel has also agreed to halt attacks on Iran for two weeks, a senior White House official told Axios, with the ceasefire taking effect once the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.

Iran accepted the Pakistan-brokered deal after a last-minute Chinese intervention urged Tehran to show flexibility over the war's economic fallout, three Iranian officials told the New York Times.

US crude oil prices plunged after Trump's announcement, with West Texas Intermediate contracts falling by more than 15 percent to $95 per barrel after hitting $116 earlier Tuesday.

Trump had warned Tuesday morning that 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again' if no deal was reached by his 8pm ET deadline.

Trump said that the 10-point proposal 'is a workable basis on which to negotiate,' despite saying on Monday that the deal was not 'good enough.'

Vice President JD Vance, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have been leading US negotiations to end the war, launched on February 28 under the name Operation Epic Fury.

The deal came after Pakistani PM Sharif posted on X that major breakthroughs had been made between US and Iranian negotiators.

Iranians wave flags during a demonstration in Tehran

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Iran and the USA agreed to the two-week truce to halt military operations and keep the Strait of Hormuz open for oil and gas shipments, with formal peace talks set to begin in Islamabad on 10 April

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the announcement came with a caveat: 'There are discussions about face-to-face meetings between the United States and Iran, but nothing is final until it is announced by the President or the White House.'

Iran proposed the 10-point counter-proposal to US negotiators via Pakistani officials on Monday after the US gave Islamabad a 15-point proposal to begin a ceasefire.

The President refused to comment on the 10-point plan earlier on Tuesday, telling Fox News: 'I can't comment, because right now we're in heated negotiations.'

Sharif had called on both Trump and the Iranian regime to accept the two-week ceasefire before the President finally relented.

'To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture,' Sharif said on Tuesday afternoon.

'We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.'
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s second wife gave his private diaries to a friend 'as insurance' just weeks before she died, according to a new report.

Mary Kennedy, the second wife of the US Secretary of Health and Human Services, handed his journals over to a confidant who 'knew the family well' before her death on May 16, 2012, investigative journalist Isabel Vincent told People.

Mary, the mother of four of RFK Jr.'s children, was found hanging in a barn at her home in Bedford, New York, at the age of 52.

She made the decision to pass the journals on after the architect's divorce with her ex-husband turned sour following arguments over the custody of their children, and his relationship with his current wife, Cheryl Hines.

The former Democrat, 72, started dating Hines while he was still legally married to Mary.

In one of her final moments, Mary decided to hand his deepest thoughts over because 'she saw them as some kind of leverage,' Vincent told the outlet.

A year after her death, a plastic shopping bag full of the politician's secret thoughts and a list of his sexual encounters mysteriously showed up on Vincent's chair at a Manhattan restaurant, the former New York Post reporter recalled.

Inside the journals were pages full of RFK Jr.'s grief following the assassination of his father, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy Sr., and his reflection on his drug addiction, which he referred to as his 'lust demons,' Vincent detailed.

Mary Kennedy, the second wife of RFK Jr., handed off his personal diaries to a confidant who 'knew the family well' before her death on May 16, 2012, according to a new book

She passed the journals on after the architect's divorce with her ex-husband turned sour following arguments over the custody of their children, and his relationship with his current wife, Cheryl Hines

He also had a list of his sexual experiences in the diaries, ranking them from number one through 10, with the highest referring to intercourse, she explained.

In one entry, he referred to his late father, who died nearly five years after his uncle, former President John F. Kennedy Sr., was shot dead.

'I knew Daddy was watching me and that he loved me, but I also felt I was disappointing him,' he wrote.

These journal entries are now the focus of Vincent's new biography, 'RFK, JR. : The Fall and Rise', which details his life as one of the members of America's royal family, and how he has been at odds with the Democratic party and his loved ones, especially after being welcomed into Donald Trump's cabinet.

She also interviewed an array of sources close to RFK Jr. for the book.

While covering Mary's death for the Post, Vincent called up RFK Jr. and told him she had seen his diaries, which left him stunned, she explained.

'I think it was September 2013, and I told him, "I have seen your diaries and I wanted to ask you about these women".

'And there was a silence on the phone. He said, "You can't possibly have them." And I said, "I did." And he said, "I'm going to call my lawyer". And nothing ever happened after that,' Vincent recalled.

In one of her final moments, Mary decided to hand his deepest thoughts over because 'she saw them as some kind of leverage,' journalist and author Isabel Vincent said. (Pictured: Mary and RFK Jr. at US Senator Edward Kennedy's funeral in August 2009)

While covering Mary's death for the New York Post, Vincent (pictured) called up RFK Jr. and told him she had seen his diaries, which left him stunned, she explained

He previously brought up his journals during a 2023 Vlad TV podcast, addressing reports that Mary had found out through the entries that he had 'various sexual encounters with 37 different women' before she committed suicide.

'RFK, JR. :The Fall and Rise' goes on sale on April 14 and is currently available for preorder

In it, he acknowledged his diaries as 'my own way of trying to live and examine life' and also how he managed his now 43 years in recovery from his heroin addiction.

RFK Jr. said he kept them in locked away, and 'somehow' Mary 'put a lot of effort in getting that safe open' before handing his journals over.

According to Vincent's new book, just months before Mary's death, a source said: 'He definitely gaslit her and told her she was crazy and that her accusations about other women were fantasies.'

Vincent said Mary was also very deep into the diaries before she passed.

'In many ways she was trying to reassure herself that she had been married to a chronic philanderer for nearly 20 years,' the journalist wrote.

Despite it all, Mary still held out hope to remain married to him, Vincent claims.

'It was the Kennedys or nobody,' a source told her.

For Vincent, she said, obtaining RFK Jr.'s diaries 'helped me get into his head'.

'People told me she was the love of his life. And Mary still occupies a very important part of his life, even though shes dead,' she continued.

The Republican married Hines in August 2014. They do not share any children together

Vincent's book goes on sale on April 14 and is currently available for preorder.

RFK Jr. has been married three times. His first wife was Emily Ruth Black, with whom he shares two children, Robert III and Kathleen Kennedy.

He then had four children with Mary: Conor, Kyra, William, and Aidan Kennedy.

The Republican married Hines in August 2014. They do not share any children together.

The couple was recently engulfed in a sexting scandal after 32-year-old New York Magazine reporter Olivia Nuzzi revealed she became 'emotionally involved' with RFK Jr. while she was writing a feature on his 2024 presidential campaign.

Kennedy denied any inappropriate relationship at the height of the scandal - claiming he met Nuzzi only once during an interview - but sources described the connection as 'emotional and digital in nature, not physical.'
The husband of the American woman missing at sea in The Bahamas has broken his silence four days after she was swept away from a small dinghy as the couple headed to their yacht.

Brian Hooker spoke out amid claims that he failed to notify his wife's daughter of the tragedy for 24 hours.

Hooker, 58, has told authorities his wife Lynette was tossed overboard in darkness on Saturday, taking the dinghy's keys with her causing the engine to shut off.

'I am heartbroken over the recent boat accident in unpredictable seas and high winds that caused my beloved Lynette to fall from our small dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas,' Brian Hooker said in a statement to the Daily Mail, Wednesday.

'Despite desperate attempts to reach her, the winds and currents drove us further apart.

'We continue to search for her and that is my sole focus,' he added.

Lynette Hooker, 55, went overboard on Saturday as the couple from Onsted, Michigan, were on a four-year voyage. Authorities now say they are in a recovery operation to find her body.

On Tuesday, Lynette's daughter Karli Aynesworth called for a full investigation into the events leading up to her mothers fall.

'There have been prior issues brought to my attention, which may be important for any thorough investigation,' she told Fox News Digital.

Lynette Hooker fell from a dinghy as she and her husband Brian were making their way back to their sailboat, Soulmate

Brian Hooker, 58, said he last saw his wife swimming towards the shore before he 'lost sight of her'

Search-and-rescue teams announced the mission to find Lynette had become a recovery operation on Tuesday

'If this truly was an accident, I can understand and live with it,' she added.

'However, there needs to be an intensive review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident before that can be determined.'

Hooker claims that he couldn't go after Lynette because the dinghy's engine shut down. All he could do was paddle.

Now a source close to the family has told the Daily Mail that Hooker only called his stepdaughter on Sunday, a full day after Lynette went missing.

So more than 24 hours later. We dont know why. We don't know if he was busy looking,' said the source. 'We just dont know.

Karli has not really been back in contact since because she finds the circumstances a little suspicious.

'They were a couple literally living on the bigger boat for four years and it would be hard for them to misjudge the chop if it was bad. They would have said, hey, maybe we shouldnt do this.

The source said local officials did not contact Aynesworth about the tragedy and there has been no contact with them since the news was broken to her.

Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth called for a full investigation into the events leading up to her mothers fatal fall and says her stepfather didn't tell her of the tragedy for 24 hours

The couple regularly documented their life on the water by posting photos on social media under the username The Sailing Hookers

However, they revealed that Hooker has revealed some kind of flotation device may have been found in the search.

Asked about the husband's whereabouts, the source said: We dont know exactly. We assume hes down there and he says hes been searching.

'He will send a text or two but no pertinent information other than they found some kind of flotation device, like a cushion.'

Of Aynesworth, they said: 'Shes still in shock and this has still not really hit her. It comes in bouts where she has a sudden memory of her mom and shell break down and cry.

'She has no plans to go down there yet because she just doesnt know whats happening.'

On the hint referring to her prior issues comment, the source said: Ive tried to tell her all relationships have disagreements. Her mom did tell her some stuff, but she doesnt want to reveal anything more.

Karli was down in The Bahamas with them both at the end of February, beginning of March and she was actually on the boat at a slightly different place.

The Hookers started their journey four years ago in Texas before heading to Florida and then The Bahamas. They werent on it all the time, theyd have vacations, then move on, the source said.

They regularly documented their life on the water on social media under the username 'The Sailing Hookers', often showcasing their sailboat, Soulmate.

In their most recent Instagram post, shared Friday afternoon, they featured a small boat with the caption, 'Not going anywhere for a while?!'

Meanwhile, their YouTube channel captured years of life on the open water, with short videos filmed aboard Soulmate.

Brian Hooker said he is heartbroken by his wife's disappearance that occurred in 'unpredictable seas and high winds'

Aynesworth said of her mother's disappearance: 'If this truly was an accident, I can understand and live with it'

Brian appeared several times in the video on his paddleboard as they chronicled their four-year voyage on YouTube

The final video, posted just four weeks ago, showed the couple taking an early-morning paddleboard trip along Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas, a location known as a 'world-class boating destination.'

In the three-minute clip, Lynette filmed the pristine blue waters and waterfront homes while discussing the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded to hit the island chain.

Her husband appeared several times in the video as they paddled side by side, watching fish and turtles beneath them, with Lynette occasionally singing to herself.

At one point, the couple laughed as Brian navigated a narrow passage framed by two slanted trees, the branches and leaves brushing his face as he passed.

The video was just one of 12 journeys shared on their channel, including a video from the day they bought a new sailboat in 2023 - the same boat the pair were heading towards when Lynette fell into the water.

In the footage, the couple is seen leaving Rockport, Texas, after picking up their light-blue sailboat, preparing to take it back to Michigan on their first trip.

Lynette recorded the finished project after they painted the deck and completed last-minute fixes, captioning the segment: 'The decks are done! We're still married! Party time!'

Brief clips of their adventures - from gliding under Mississippi River locks and bridges to their first daring Gulf of Mexico crossing - were shared over the past three years with their 300 subscribers.

Another post, just over 30 seconds long, showed the couple heading out on the water for a grocery run together, loading several plastic bags and a case of beer onto the boat.

On Instagram, the Hookers shared their pit stops along the way, including waterfront bars, snorkeling, swimming, ice cream runs, live music, encounters with animals and boat upgrades like an electric cooktop and a separate air fryer.

In their final TikTok post, the couple sailed to Great Guana Cay.

But the couple's blissful days on the water came to a sudden halt on Saturday night when Lynette and Brian set out for their yacht at roughly 7:30pm, riding in the 8-foot dinghy.

Lynette Hooker, 55, plunged into the waters of the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas on Saturday while boating with her husband

The couple had been making their way back to their sailboat Soulmate in an 8ft dinghy when Lynette fell overboard

Brian claimed that while en route, rough waters tossed Lynette overboard into the darkness, taking the boat keys with her and causing the dinghys engine to shut off abruptly, authorities said, according to CNN.

'Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and [Brian] lost sight of her,' the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.

Brian told authorities that he last saw his wife making her way toward the shore, though whether she was wearing a lifejacket remains uncertain.

Without an engine, Brian navigated the boat through the night, reaching the marina at approximately 4am Sunday, where authorities were notified.

Bahamian and US authorities began a joint search-and-rescue operation, with the US Coast Guard deploying an aircraft to aid the effort, officials said.

For six hours on Sunday, police on Abaco, alongside the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and local fire and rescue teams, searched the surrounding waters but found no trace of the mother, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues, even as the case has been shifted to a recovery operation.

The Bahamas is currently under a Level 2 travel advisory, urging visitors to exercise increased caution due to crime and water-related risks.

The advisory cites violent crime - including armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults - as well as limited boating regulation that has led to 'injuries and deaths.'
Keir Starmer should do more to stop radical Islamists coming to Britain rather than focusing on celebrities like Kanye West, a former Tory minister said today.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood yesterday blocked the rapper from entering Britain to perform at Wireless Festival because his presence would 'not be conducive to the public good'.

Organisers of the festival cancelled the event in London's Finsbury Park less than an hour after it emerged West would be blocked and said it would refund ticketholders.

Former environment secretary Sir Ranil Jayawardena condemned West's anti-Semitic outbursts but suggested more focus should be paid to barring and deporting Islamists who pose a greater threat to the UK.

'I'm all for Britain and the British government flexing its muscles to control who we have in this country if their presence is not going to be conducive to the public good,' he told GB News.

'Shabana Mahmood seems to be doing a very good job of toughening up our laws in the face of huge opposition from her own back benches.

'But the question I would pose is if we're going to stop Kanye West coming to this country, then why do we not also stop more of the Islamic hate preachers and others from entering and doing what they want to do?'

Kanye West in a previous social media post wearing a sweatshirt bearing a swastika

Ms Mahmood has banned several Islamist preachers from entering the UK in recent months, including Shadee Elmasry who defended Hamas in the wake of the October 7 terror attack on Israel.

However, concerns have repeatedly been raised about foreign extremists arriving in the UK via illegal routes - including on small boats across the Channel - before using human rights laws to avoid deportation.

Some 170 people who pose a threat to public safety are currently being housed under restrictions across the country, government documents revealed late last year.

More than half of these individuals were reported to 'have been involved in terrorism or extremism-related activities', with some subjected to 24-hour surveillance.

Currently failed asylum seekers and foreign criminals are avoiding being deported back to their home countries after claiming a right to family life.

This right is set out under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, of which the UK remains a member.

Ms Mahmood has promised an overhaul of human rights laws and tighter controls on immigration, but is facing a revolt from Labour backbenchers led by Angela Rayner.

Sir Ranil said needed to take 'tougher' action against people who have arrived in Britain via illegal routes.

'Clearly it's also very important to differentiate between British citizens and people who are not,' he said.

'And clearly a British citizen who believes terrible things and preaches terrible things still has a right to be here, whether we like it or not.

'But we should be tougher in taking action against people who are here despite not having permission.'

Pressure had been mounting on the Government to ban West over his over his anti-Semitic behaviour, which included releasing a song called Heil Hitler and selling a swastika T-shirts.

Crowds at Wireless last year. West had been due to headline all three days of the festival

Live Nation, the biggest concert promoter in the world, spent months of planning and millions of dollars on their gamble on rehabilitating the performer.

Executives from the huge global company, which looks after the O2 stadia in the UK and festivals including The Isle of Wight, Reading and Leeds, flew out from LA to see West play in Mexico last month - to woo him to come to Europe.

A source told the Daily Mail: 'He asked for and got $15million (11.4million) to play those three nights at Wireless. At that late point they still hadn't secured a headline act.

'Live Nation should be able to get all $15million back as their contracts say that it is the responsibility of the artist to get a visa. Because the decision was made by the Home Secretary they believe that they can get their money back.

'They think it's not as big a disaster as it could have been but, good luck getting Kanye to pay you back.'

West, 48, applied for an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) on Monday and this was initially granted as Wireless is on a list of permit-free festivals whose performers do not require a work visa.

However after the Home Secretary yesterday intervened to block his entry organisers cancelled the entire event, which had been due to take place in July.

After the event was pulled, Sir Keir said that West 'should never have been invited to headline Wireless'.

He added: 'This Government stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of anti-Semitism.

'We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values.'
A board member of a restaurant group that manages a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago is being sued for allegedly spending more than $1.4 million of company funds on strip clubs, pricey goods and even luxury travel for his dogs.

Aaron Gersonde, a former board member of the Four Pillars Restaurant Group, has been accused of using a company credit card to fund his 'exorbitant and lavish lifestyle,' according to a civil complaint reviewed by NBC Chicago. Gersonde denied the claims in a statement to the Daily Mail.

The complaint was filed on Tuesday night by the restaurant group alongside its subsidiaries, Ever Restaurant and its lounge, After Cocktails.

Ever has been awarded two stars in every Michelin Guide since 2021, and it is located in Chicago's affluent West Loop neighborhood near the city's downtown.

The lawsuit alleges that while in a position that included oversight of Four Pillars Restaurant Group's finances, Gersonde misappropriated company funds between July 2022 and December 2025.

The court filing alleged very specific and extravagant expenditures, according to NBC Chicago.

Some of the more outrageous alleged expenses include a $33,000 tab at a Miami strip club in just one night and a single $12,349 shopping spree at Louis Vuitton.

The former board member's total alleged Louis Vuitton bill topped $18,000, and he was also accused of purchasing a $14,729 Breitling watch, according to reporting of the complaint.

Aaron Gersonde, a former board member of a restaurant group that manages a Michelin-starred restaurant, has been accused of embezzling more than $1.4 million from the company

Gersonde was a board member of the Four Pillars Restaurant Group, which oversees Ever Restaurant in Chicago. The interior of Ever is pictured

Ever has been awarded two stars in every Michelin Guide since 2021. A dish served at the fancy restaurant is pictured

The former board member was also accused of spending $48,221.28 on American Airlines flights and travel expenses over the course of 131 credit card charges, as well as an additional $30,657.65 on Delta Airlines over the course of 58 charges.

Gersonde also spent $7,792 on a single flight with RetrievAir, an airline catered to wealthy pet owners, so that he could fly with his dogs, according to the lawsuit.

Chicago Today reported that the former board member was also accused of spending almost $200,000 on Amazon.

Beyond the company credit card expenses, Gersonde has also been accused of making fraudulent payments, transfers and withdrawals from company bank accounts.

The lawsuit also claimed Gersonde falsified accounting software entries and payment descriptions, and provided inaccurate profitandloss statements to other board members and investors in order to keep his alleged embezzlement under wraps.

It took years for Gersonde's fellow board members to suspect wrongdoing, but once they did, the board hired a forensic accountant who uncovered a total of more than $1.4 million of unauthorized charges, according to the court filing obtained by NBC Chicago.

Gersonde is accused of using a company credit card to purchase a $14,729 Breitling watch. A Breitling watch is pictured (stock image), but it is unclear which model he allegedly bought

Gersonde is also accused of spending $12,349 during a single shopping spree at Louis Vuitton. The flagship Louis Vuitton store in New York City is pictured

Gersonde was also accused of spending $48,221.28 on American Airlines flights and travel expenses. An American Airlines jet is pictured

Gersonde, in a statement to The Daily Mail, denied the spending accusations and claimed he had been working towards a 'private resolution to avoid unnecessary harm to the business, our team, and its reputation,' that ultimately was not pursued.

'The allegations are false and mischaracterize both the facts and my role in the business. I have consistently operated with full transparency and in alignment with the companys financial practices,' Gersonde said.

'I will not litigate this in the media, but I am confident the full record will demonstrate that I acted appropriately and in good faith. My focus remains on protecting the integrity and future of the business," Gersonde wrote.
Iran has warned that oil tankers will be destroyed if they try to travel along the Strait of Hormuz without permission, as it seeks to retain control over the passage during the two-week ceasefire.

A radio message was today broadcast by the regime to all oil ships in the vital waterway, saying: 'If any vessels try to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed.'

The Islamic Republic is demanding that shipping companies pay enormous tolls in cryptocurrency to access the passage, which usually handles around 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas.

The future of the strait is a major sticking point between Washington and Tehran, with US President Donald Trump calling for the free flow of maritime traffic to be restored.

'Iran needs to monitor what goes in and out of the strait to ensure these two weeks arent used for transferring weapons,' Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Irans Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Union, told the Financial Times.

'Everything can pass through, but the procedure will take time for each vessel, and Iran is not in a rush,' he added.

Each vessel will have to first email the authorities about its cargo, after which Iran's Supreme National Security Council will alert them about the toll to be paid in digital currencies.

Hosseini said the toll would be $1 per barrel of oil, adding that empty tankers can pass freely.

His statements imply that Tehran will demand that vessels use the northerly route close to its coastline, raising concerns over whether western or Gulf state-linked tankers will be willing to risk transit.

Iran has warned that oil tankers will be destroyed if they try to travel along the Strait of Hormuz without permission, as it seeks to retain control over the passage during the two-week ceasefire

The Strait of Hormuz handles around 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas but has effectively been shut down by Iran in retaliation over the joint US-Israeli attacks launched on February 28

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'Once the email arrives and Iran completes its assessment, vessels are given a few seconds to pay in bitcoin, ensuring they cant be traced or confiscated due to sanctions,' Hosseini told the newspaper.

Such comments outlining Iranian control of the strait contradict statements coming out of the White House - heightening fears about the potential for a lasting peace between the warring sides.

In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday night, the US President made it abundantly clear that the two-week ceasefire was dependent on 'the Islamic republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz'.

In contrast, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has said traffic will flow 'via coordination with Irans Armed Forces and with due considerations to technical limitations', raising concerns about the future of not just for oil and gas - but also jet fuel, sulphur, urea, and diesel.

Western ship owners announced today they were adopting a cautious approach, while waiting for updates on how and whether the waterway might reopen.

So far, no tankers are currently braving the transit apart from two linked to Tehran.

Maersk, the globe's second biggest shipping line, said it is 'working with urgency' to clarify the regime's terms.

'The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty,' the company added, making clear it would continue to take a 'cautious approach' with cargoes and was not yet making changes to specific services.

Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will likely find it highly unpalatable if Tehran continues to control traffic through the vital oil passage

Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will likely find it highly unpalatable if Tehran continues to control traffic through the vital oil passage.

The situation also raises questions for Opec+, the oil producers group, with experts warning that handing the Islamic Republic control of Hormuz could fundamentally shift the balance of power within the organisation by giving Tehran a potential veto over rival members exports.

'Allowing Iran any form of control over the strait would be a red line,' said Ali Shihabi, a commentator close to the Saudi royal courts.

'The priority has to be unimpeded access through the strait,' he added, saying the kingdom demands 'unimpeded' access to global markets.

The closure of the waterway since the start of the war has led to a spiralling energy crisis around the world, with surging crude prices triggering higher pump prices for motorists.

Despite the fact that the US and Iran have struck a deal to reopen the strait, experts have warned that oil tankers are expected to continue avoiding it, meaning there is no end in sight for high fuel prices.

While oil prices plunged below $100 per barrel after Trump announced a last-minute ceasefire on Tuesday night, the lack of ships traversing the strait means that vital crude and gas supplies from the Middle East will continue to be disrupted.

Lars Jensen, a shipping analyst with Vespucci Maritime, told the Telegraph: 'Technically speaking they could pull anchor and start moving now, but that is not what is likely to happen.

'I expect that what we will see in the next few days, if the ceasefire holds, is a lot of vessels exit the Persian Gulf but not very many vessels enter into the Persian Gulf.

'Shipping lines would be hesitant in trusting the longevity of the ceasefire at this point and therefore [would] try to get vessels out, so they can use them, but not risk putting new vessels into the Gulf that might then be trapped if the ceasefire breaks down.'

The RAC motoring group already warned that despite the sharp drop in crude oil prices today, the outlook for drivers in the UK remains 'highly uncertain' without an uptick in oil shipments.

'The conditional ceasefire announcement may have taken some heat out of global oil prices, but the outlook for drivers in the UK remains highly uncertain,' RAC head of policy Simon Williams said.

'The best hope in the short term is that pump prices stop rising at the rate they have been and hopefully top out in the coming days.

'Much will depend on the stability of the ceasefire, whether oil shipments can move freely through the strait of Hormuz, and the longerterm impact on oil production across the Gulf. As it is a sustained lower oil price  over several weeks, not just a few days  that is required to bring wholesale fuel costs down meaningfully.'

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags at a protest in Enghelab Square, Tehran, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

Saudi Arabias key East-West pipeline, which the kingdom has been using to reroute oil exports to the Red Sea, was attacked by a drone today, despite the announcement of a ceasefire.

Roughly 175mn barrels of crude and refined products are currently loaded on to 187 vessels in the Gulf, according to Kpler data - which could now start to shift, depending on the future of the Hormuz Strait.

According to industry executives, between 300 to 400 vessels are waiting to exit the Gulf as soon as it is possible to pass without danger, with one describing it as a 'car park'.

Martin Kelly, head of advisory at maritime intelligence group EOS Risk, told the FT that there was 'no way' that the backlog of tankers waiting to get out could be cleared in two weeks.

In recent weeks, a handful of ships approved by the regime have been allowed to pass through the strait via a specific route, largely limited to vessels not connected to the US, Israel or Gulf states that had provided staging for attacks.

If such a mechanism was adopted now, only around 10 to 15 ships might be able to traverse the strait per day as the process was 'quite time-consuming', he said, down from 135 ships before the conflict.

Despite the ceasefire, strikes appear to be continuing, with Kuwait this morning reporting Iranian attacks which damaged power and desalination plants as well as oil facilities.

And there is fundamental disagreement about what the ceasefire even entails, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisting it doesn't include Lebanon, where Israel has been fighting the Iranian-backed armed group Hezbollah.

According to Pakistan's prime minister Shehbaz Sharif, Lebanon is included, but the IDF nevertheless carried out a large wave of air strikes across the country this morning.

Across Lebanon, more than 1,500 people have been killed, including 130 children, while than 1.2 million people have been displaced - one in five of the population.
A Utah woman made an agonizing call for help to 911 moments before her husband shot their whole family in a horrific murder-suicide, police say.

Kaylene Allred, 61, was killed, and her two children injured, by 64-year-old Floyd Allred, before he turned the gun on himself.

Police said Allred called 911 shortly before 10.30pm on March 31, and as she talked to dispatch, shots rang out and the woman screamed.

Seconds later, more shots were fired, and the woman stopped responding to dispatch.

Unified Police Department PIO Sgt. Aymee Race told People that the woman reported a domestic dispute between a stepfather and son, adding there were 'threats of a weapon' and that alcohol and drugs were involved.

When officers arrived at the family home, Allred's 30-year-old son, Christian, ran out of the house and told officers that he, his mother, and sister, 37-year-old Brittany, had been shot.

The two siblings were taken to a local hospital, where they are in stable condition as of Tuesday.

'I think it's very important to note the 911 operator did a phenomenal job. You know, unfortunately, it was the last moments of that caller's life, but it's difficult on everyone, from family, friends to [those] close on scene,' Race told Fox 13.

Kaylene Allred, 61, was shot and killed by her husband, 64-year-old Floyd Allred, before he turned the gun on himself in an alleged domestic violence incident

Allred's children, Brittany, 37, and Christian, 30, were both shot and injured in the incident

Police said they have been previously called to the home for 'non-violent domestic violence incidents.'

Friends said Allred had worked at a Sapp Bros travel stop for 25 years and was a community staple.

'Kaylene was great. She was the mama of the crowd; she was a beautiful soul. She was just an amazing person, she truly was,' her coworker, Tanya Metzger, told KSL.

'She was our 'Coffee Bar Queen' and customers love her. She has been there so long, customers had a great relationship with her and are devastated.'

Another co-worker, Angela Simister, told the outlet that she was aware of the couple's struggles but never expected this to happen.

'Ive worked with her for 25 years now, and its just heartbreaking every time I go to work and shes not there,' Simister said.

'She deserved so much better. She took care of her kids - shed do anything for her children.

'I know that they had been having some struggles. But, I was shocked that it went that far.'

Police said Kaylene called 911 shortly before 10.30pm on March 31, and as she talked to dispatch, shots rang out and the woman screamed

A GoFundMe created in Allred's honor described her as 'a dear friend and coworker who brought warmth and kindness to everyone she met.'

Another fundraiser for Christian and Brittany said they were 'severely injured and are recovering after being shot multiple times.'

'Brittany is one of the most loving and caring people you will ever meet. She has already faced numerous medical battles of her own, and despite it all, she has never stopped showing up for the people around her,' the page said.

'Christian is a young father with a little girl who needs him home and healthy.'
Eric Swalwell is furiously denying online sexual misconduct claims with female staffers as a 'MAGA conspiracy' theory.

'This false, outrageous rumor is being spread 27 days before an election begins by flailing opponents who have sadly teamed up with MAGA conspiracy theorists because they know Eric Swalwell is the frontrunner in this race,' said Micah Beasley, a spokesperson for Swalwell.

The California congressman and gubernatorial candidate has been accused of harassing young female staffers by former Capitol Hill staffer and media personality Cheyenne Hunt.

Hunt claims a number of women are preparing to come forward with stories of sexual harassment and abuse, saying they have stayed silent due to non-disclosure agreements. No individual has yet aired specific accusations against Swalwell, making his preemptive denial particularly notable.

Swalwell's spokesperson hit back: 'In 13 years, no one in Eric Swalwell's congressional office has ever been asked to sign an NDA. Ever. In 13 years, not a single ethics complaint by any staff in his office or any other office has ever been lodged. Ever.'

The allegations have emerged less than two months before California's gubernatorial primary, where Swalwell is competing in a crowded field for the Democratic nomination.

He is widely considered a frontrunner to succeed outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.

Other prominent Democrats have not commented on the allegations against Swalwell.

Swalwell is furiously denying online sexual misconduct claims with a female staffers as a 'MAGA conspiracy' theory

The allegations surfaced less than two months before California's gubernatorial primary, where Swalwell is competing in a crowded field for the party's nomination in November

Swalwell is one of the leading candidates running to succeed Gavin Newsom as governor of California

Hunt lashed out at Swalwell after he suggested Donald Trump-aligned conspiracy theorists were behind the allegations.

'Smearing survivors with claims that they 'teamed up with MAGA' is morally repugnant,' she posted on X. 'These women are brave and deserve to be heard. We are working with legal counsel and the investigative team of a highly reputable outlet to ensure their stories are told properly.'

Pressure is also mounting from within Democratic ranks. Strategist Bhavik Lathia, who served as Battleground Mobilization Director on the Kamala Harris presidential campaign, this week urged fellow Democrats to take the claims seriously.

'Hey, I just got off the phone with a trusted friend. This is real. Take it seriously. Eric Swalwell cannot be our nominee,' he wrote on X, adding: 'There is going to be a lot more coming out soon. I can't say more right now, but stay tuned.'

The gubernatorial primary opens on June 2, with mail-in voting beginning a month earlier on May 4.
The Department of Justice has opened a probe into a glamorous former White House aide who turned on President Donald Trump after the January 6 Capitol riot.

Cassidy Hutchinson, 29, who implicated Trump with her testimony before congressional January 6 investigators, is the subject of a DOJ investigation, four sources familiar with the matter told the New York Times.

Ex-Attorney General Pam Bondi opened the investigation just weeks before Trump fired her, in a bid to 'placate' the President's desire to prosecute his enemies, the report states.

Bondi was dismissed last week partly because she failed to secure convictions against the President's political foes - and the probe into the former White House aide was launched as she scrambled to shore up his support.

The investigation is being led by the DOJ's civil rights division, headed by Trump ally Harmeet Dhillon - a department that typically focuses on race, sex, age, religion and other forms of illegal discrimination.

Congressman Barry Loudermilk, who chairs House Republicans' January 6 Committee, sent the DOJ a criminal referral last month urging it to investigate Hutchinson.

He has accused her - a former aide to Trump's first-term White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows - of lying to Congress during her summer 2022 testimony.

She alleged Trump knew of the potential violence January 6 protesters could unleash, yet urged them on to the Capitol regardless.

The DOJ has reportedly opened a probe into former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson. Congressman Barry Loudermilk sent the DOJ a criminal referral for her in March

President Donald Trump waves to supporters during a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 presidential election results by Congress, in Washington, January 6, 2021

Hutchinson testified she heard secondhand that Trump lunged at his Secret Service agents and tried to grab hold of the steering wheel of his presidential limousine to join his supporters at the US Capitol on January 6

The 29-year-old also claimed she heard secondhand that Trump lunged at a Secret Service agent after his presidential limo was driven away from the Capitol against his wishes - and that he 'reached up towards the front of the vehicle to grab at the steering wheel.'

In her official testimony, she added that when the agent rebuffed him, Trump lunged at the agent himself.

The President and many Republicans have denied the incident. Both sources Hutchinson cited as the origin of the story have since said they have no recollection of the events she described.

Todd Blanche, who served as Bondi's deputy and has since been appointed Attorney General, has signalled willingness to press ahead with probes into Trump's rivals.

Speaking at a DOJ press conference on Tuesday, he said the President had 'the right' and 'the duty' to call for investigations into those who have broken the law.

The DOJ did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment.

The Daily Mail has requested comment from representatives for Hutchinson.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani admitted he will not be able to deliver on his key promise of free buses this year.

The 34-year-old democratic socialist campaigned on offering a plethora of freebies to New Yorkers, including free buses, childcare and grocery stores.

His free bus program could include using the taxpayer-funded Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) budget to slash the cost of fares.

Critics have slammed the proposal, arguing it would turn the city's buses into mobile homeless shelters.

However, after just four months in office, Mamdani failed to include the measure in the city's $127 billion budget proposal, according to the New York Post.

He was also unable to get state legislators, who oversee the MTA, to include it in their budget proposals.

'Im absolutely committed to making buses fast and free, and were encouraged by the conversations were having with the governor and legislative leaders to take action on that in 2026 as a first step,' Mamdani told Politico.

Instead, he boasted about a small pilot program for free buses that some lawmakers seemed interested in.

Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani campaigned on offering a plethora of freebies to New Yorkers, including free buses, childcare and grocery stores

However, after just four months in office, Mamdani has conceded free buses will not happen this year

'Both legislative houses included language within their one-house budget proposals in support of bringing back a free-bus pilot program,' Mamdani said.

'That is something that we are encouraged by, and it continues to be part of budget negotiations.'

While free buses is off the table for the foreseeable future, Mamdani did recently announce that he will open a free city-run childcare center in Manhattan's wealthiest neighborhood.

He said the new childcare center on East 65th Street on the city's ritzy Upper East Side it will accommodate 72 local four-year-olds and 60 three-year-olds.

But the announcement came as the city faces a $5.4 billion deficit, forcing the Mamdani administration to decide which of the Big Apple's 8.4 million residents gets free services.

Free 2-K plans are already in place for some neighborhoods - in March 2026, the office of the mayor announced four communities will receive 2,000+ free childcare seats for two-year-olds starting this fall.

That includes school districts in Washington Heights, Rockaway, Fordham, and Canarsie, among other areas. The Upper East Side has not yet been given these free childcare seats.

As for his free grocery store, sources told the New York Post that Mamdani is planning to spend $70 million on a 'feasibility study' into launching government-owned markets.

Mamdani did recently announce that he will open a free city-run childcare center in Manhattan's wealthiest neighborhood

Mamdani is also reportedly planning to spend $70 million on a 'feasibility study' into launching government-owned markets

The money would be used to fund the Economic Development Corporation, which will scout potential locations for his city-run grocery stores.

The stores were a central pillar of Mamdani's mayoral run last year, where he had claimed he could roll out the project for just $60 million in total.

Mamdani claimed the stores will keep grocery prices low because they would not pay property taxes or rent, and would be run by the government instead of by a for-profit company.

But his plans to splash out to merely see if they are 'feasible', while potentially raising property taxes, have sparked anger - with a source describing it as a 'textbook limousine socialist move.'

Meanwhile, Mamdani announced this week that he was rolling out a Preliminary Citywide Racial Equity Plan (REP), a scheme to support 'underrepresented' business owners.

The plan was previously approved by New York voters in 2022 under a referendum, but former Mayor Eric Adams missed the deadline to release it.

The Commission on Racial Equity sued the Adams administration for failing to release the plan. Mamdani vowed to publish it during his first 100 days in office.

But according to sources inside the Mamdani administration, the Democrat understood the move would likely anger the Trump White House, which has targeted DEI efforts across the federal government.

The Daily Mail contacted Mamdani's office for comment.
A small plane departing Nantucket was forced to make an emergency landing after its main cabin door flung opened shortly after takeoff.

The FAA confirmed that Cape Air Flight 42 safely returned to Nantucket Memorial Airport in Massachusetts at around 7:15am on Monday.

The plane, a Cessna C402, is a small aircraft that reaches speeds of 230 miles per hour and accommodates up to 10 passengers.

It remained stable and continued operating normally after the 'upper portion of the main cabin door opened while in flight', according to a Cape Air spokesperson. No injuries were reported.

One of the passengers, Lizbet Carroll Fuller, posted two videos of the unusual flight to Instagram.

Fuller, who sat in the window seat, filmed the plane flying low over the open ocean. She panned back to another passenger sitting behind her, who smiled at the camera and seemed not at all perturbed by the situation.

In her second clip, the plane was back over land, meaning it had made it back over Nantucket.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, Fuller said she was on the plane with her siblings. She said the doors opened about 10 minutes into the flight.

This still photograph from Lizbet Carroll Fuller's video shows Cape Air Flight 42 flying over the open ocean with its main cabin window ajar

The crew and passengers were also visible in her first video. Fuller said the pilot did a great job calming everyone down

The plane was a Cessna C402 (stock photo), according to the FAA. It typically accommodates up to 10 passengers and can reach speeds of 230 miles per hour

'There was just like a rush of noise and air. And then you register, wow, that just flew open right next to me,' she told the outlet. 'It was the shock of it at 7 in the morning. Having woken up at 4 a.m. it was a little refreshing to have that happen. Certainly wakes you up.'

The flight had been bound for Boston Logan International Airport, a trip that typically takes anywhere from 35 minutes to 42 minutes from Nantucket.

Fuller said the pilot did a great job keeping everyone calm on the flight. She described her vacation as a 'big production', saying that the door randomly opening added to the craziness.

According to data from FlightAware, the plane circled the island before landing back at the airport.

Cape Air has said the aircraft has been taken out of service for evaluation.

The airline added that it will follow established safety procedures and will take any necessary actions after it finds out what happened. The FAA is also investigating the incident.

Cape Air is a regional airline based in Hyannis, Massachusetts, mostly focused on short-haul, high-frequency flights.

The island of Nantucket is about 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts and is a popular summer vacation destination for various celebrities. Former President Joe Biden has a long-standing tradition of spending Thanksgiving there with his family.
Iran could pull out of its fragile ceasefire with the United States after accusing Israel of breaching the deal with a massive wave of strikes across Lebanon, according to reports citing Iranian officials.

Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Israel had committed 'ceasefire violations' in Iran and Lebanon, while officials cited by Iranian media warned Tehran could withdraw from the agreement if the attacks continue.

Iranian media and Al Jazeera, citing officials and well-informed sources, said Tehran was prepared to retaliate over Israel's bombardment of Lebanon.

'Iran will withdraw from the agreement if Israel continues to violate the ceasefire in its attack on Lebanon,' Iran's Tasnim news agency reported, citing a well-informed source.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Telegram they would 'punish Israel for the atrocities it has committed in Lebanon and violating ceasefire conditions'.

Al Jazeera also quoted an unnamed Iranian official as saying 'the ceasefire includes the region, and Israel is known for breaking promises and will only be deterred by bullets.'

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the ceasefire applied 'everywhere' including Lebanon, as he announced Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran for talks later this week.

Iraq also condemned the strikes, calling them 'evidence of a hostile plan to sabotage the truce'.

However, Israel has insisted that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire, with the military saying it carried out its 'largest coordinated strike across Lebanon' on Wednesday.

Emergency responders work at the site of an Israeli strike, in Al-Mazraa in Beirut, Lebanon, April 8, 2026

Firefighters extinguish burned cars at the site of an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon

A fireball rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in the area of Abbasiyeh, on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyr

Lebanon's government said Israeli strikes killed dozens and wounded hundreds across the country, with the capital Beirut hit by the most intense bombardment since the war with militant group Hezbollah began.

Araghchi raised the alleged breaches in a call with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir, according to an Iranian ministry statement.

But the White House pushed back, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran.

Footage showed plumes of smoke rising over Beirut and the suburbs, while journalists saw panic in the streets before the Lebanese health ministry issued an emergency call for the capital's roads to be cleared for ambulances.

'In a very serious escalation, Israeli warplanes launched a wave of simultaneous airstrikes on several Lebanese areas, resulting in, in an initial count, dozens of martyrs and hundreds of wounded,' the ministry said in a statement.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had carried out a surprise attack on Wednesday targeting hundreds of Hezbollah members across Lebanon, calling it the largest blow against the group since a 2024 operation involving pager bombs.

It came despite a deal for a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Hezbollah's backer Iran.

Simultaneous strikes on Beirut came without warning, prompting people on the street to start running and motorists to honk their horns in an effort to clear the way, according to journalists.

'I saw the blast, it was very strong, and there were children killed, some with their hands cut off,' Yasser Abdallah, who works in an appliance store in central Beirut, told reporters.

A rescuer stands amid rubble while working at the site of an Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon

Burned cars at the scene of an Israeli airstrike in the Corniche el-Mazraa neighborhood of Beirut

A rescue worker extinguishes burning cars at the site of an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut

One of the strikes hit Corniche al-Mazraa, one of the main roads in the capital.

A photographer saw widespread damage, buildings ablaze and destroyed cars.

The strikes came as Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war by attacking Israel on March 2, claimed it was close to a 'historic victory'.

Hezbollah however did not claim any operations against Israel since 1:00 am (Tuesday 2200 GMT), around the time the ceasefire took hold.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said earlier that the truce excluded his country's fight with Hezbollah.

Israel renewed an evacuation order for an area more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) inside Lebanon, saying 'the battle in Lebanon is ongoing', before also reiterating its call for residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to leave.

It also issued a warning for a building in the coastal city of Tyre, after striking another one near it.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported several strikes across the south.

Israel's attacks in recent weeks have killed more than 1,500 people and displaced over a million, according to Lebanese authorities, especially in the country's south, east and Beirut's southern suburbs, areas where Hezbollah holds sway.

On Wednesday a correspondent in southern Lebanon saw small numbers of people heading south, some in cars and others carrying their children on motorcycles.

Emergency teams work at the scene where smoke rises from targeted locations following simultaneous Israeli attacks across Lebanon

Firefighters spray smoldering debris at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck a building in Beirut

A picture shows a damaged building at the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted Beirut's Ain al-Mreisseh neighbourhood

Rescuers work at the site of an Israeli strike in Beirut, Lebanon, April 8, 2026

Smoke rises following several Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday

Rescue workers stand amid rubble at the site of an Israeli strike in Tyre, Lebanon, April 8, 2026

But Lebanon's military warned displaced people against returning south 'since they may be exposing themselves to the ongoing Israeli attacks'.

Hezbollah meanwhile said displaced people must 'not head to the targeted villages, towns, and areas in the south, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut before the official and final ceasefire declaration in Lebanon is issued'.

Staying in a tent near Beirut's southern suburbs, 50-year-old delivery worker Ali Youssef said he was 'waiting for Hezbollah to issue an official statement'.

Youssef said he was confident that 'Iran will not let us down' if Israel keeps attacking Lebanon.

In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the two-week truce between Tehran and Washington, and said his government 'continued efforts to ensure that the regional peace includes Lebanon in a stable and lasting manner'.

Aoun noted that 'the decision regarding war and peace ... rests solely with the Lebanese state'.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also welcomed the truce but called on the country's friends to help put an end to Israeli attacks following the series of deadly strikes across the country.
An alcoholic was today convicted of murdering a head chef who worked at top London restaurants including Claridges.

Alexis De Naray, 45, trained at the Prue Leith Cooking School and worked in several high-end kitchens in the capital, jurors were told.

But he began drinking 'due to the stressful nature of the job' and was also an alcoholic at the time of his death last June.

A court heard the talented chef ended up homeless and was found dead under a sleeping bag in the attic room of an abandoned building in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.

This afternoon, a jury unanimously convicted Adam Rowson, 26, who was also homeless, of killing Mr De Naray.

Judge Avik Mukarjee adjourned sentencing until May 6 and remanded Rowson into custody.

The judge thanked the jury for their impressive commitment to the distressing case and excused them from any future jury service.

During the two-week trial, Stafford Crown Court heard a post-mortem examination revealed Mr De Naray suffered 17 fractured ribs and injuries to his head and arms.

Alexis De Naray worked at top London restaurants but had become a chronic alcoholic by the time of his death, the court heard

Mr De Naray pictured in 2019 outside the Four Towers Restaurant and Guest House in Ironbridge, where he was then head chef

A forensic pathologist found the chef had been subjected to a significant blunt force assault before his death last June.

Opening the trial last month, prosecutor Sally Howes KC, said Mr De Naray was a 'well-educated man' from a Greek family.

'Having attended the Prue Leith Cooking School, he worked as a head chef in a number of restaurants in London,' she said.

'Unfortunately, due to the stressful nature of that job, drinking became a way of life and his alcohol problems began.

'By the time of his death he had become a chronic alcoholic.'

Jurors were told Mr De Naray, who was classically trained in French cuisine, nearly died from seizures caused by alcohol withdrawal during the Covid lockdown.

'As a result, his father arranged housing for him in Shrewsbury - near to the family home,' said Miss Howes.

'However, despite the help of his father and a number of local agencies, at the time of his death, he was a homeless alcoholic.'

Mr De Naray's father paid for his son to stay in local hotels, including a Travelodge and Premier Inn, the court heard.

After leaving London, the chef had a stint working at a Worcestershire pub before moving on to a restaurant and guest house in Ironbridge, Shropshire.

He has previously told the Private Dining Rooms website that Claridges, where Gordon Ramsay ran a restaurant, was the first restaurant he worked in. His signature dish was Filet mignon of beef with pan fried fois gras, reduced pan drippings and chanterelle mushrooms.

Jurors were told Mr De Naray met Rowson at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the pair were seen on CCTV shortly before 4am the next morning walking towards the derelict building, it is claimed.

Miss Howes said it was the last time Mr De Naray was seen alive.

Prosecutors claim he was then subjected to a violent attack inside the abandoned property.

Rowson told jurors he invited a former high-flying chef back to his squat while collecting half-finished cigarette butts outside a hospital - before killing him in a fight.

The moment the fight broke out, Rowson said, was when Mr De Naray, while naked, leaned on Rowson as he was looking out of a window.

He told jurors he punched Mr De Naray to the chest. I was anxious. I was freaked out, he said.

Mr De Naray got on top of Rowson, the defendant told the court, and put pressure on his stomach.

I didnt want him on top of me at all, Rowson said. It was a horrible situation.

Rowson claimed the chef was still alive when he left him.

Before the prosecutors closed their case, the jury heard from Jessica Kirk, who worked at the Shropshire Recovery Partnership drug and alcohol support service in Castle Gates, Shrewsbury.

She told how, at a scheduled appointment with Rowson, he asked her if he was going to be arrested, and told her he had done something bad.

Rowson claimed this related to his subsequent use of the victims bank cards, buying clothes and alcohol at several shops as well as drugs.

But the killer was also heard on CCTV cameras outside a supermarket on June 25 telling friends he had 'killed someone'.

Mr De Naray's father raised the alarm and reported his son as missing on June 24 after not hearing from him.

Three days later, police received a 101 call from Rowson saying he had found a body in the abandoned house.

Miss Howes said as well as the rib fractures, Mr De Naray suffered other multiple injuries, including a bleed on the brain.

The pathologist, Dr Alexander Kolar, gave a cause of death as multiple injuries compounded by complications of long-standing use of alcohol to excess and acute alcohol intoxication.

The court heard Mr De Naray also had cirrhosis of the liver and was more than five times the legal drink drive limit when he died.
A New Hampshire woman walking her dog watched it die after stepping in what appeared to be a harmless puddle.

Deborah Van Patten spoke in front of her town's city council in Portsmouth on Monday about the tragic death of her chocolate Labrador Frank on February 28.

Patten read from a fire department report on the incident she says occurred behind Portsmouth High School.

'We dispatched for a laceration and electrocution of a woman and a dog,' she read aloud.

'Upon arrival, we found a woman with a hand injury and a dog on the ground, apparently dead.'

The dog owner read the report stating that they were unknowingly exposed to 68 volts from the ground.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) considers all voltages 50 volts or above dangerous.

Patten asked the council, 'How would you feel if you were walking your dog and saw it electrocuted in front of you?'

Frank, a chocolate Labrador, was killed on February 28 after being electrocuted

Deborah Van Patten spoke in front of the Portsmouth city council on Monday about the tragic death of her pup

She also requested that a donation be made in Frank's honor to the SPCA.

'This happened on February 28, and I didn't hear from a single person,' she said, adding that her final request was for the council to show 'decency'.

'I'm willing to bet that some of you already know that this happened behind the high school and no one reached out to me,' she continued.

'So, I'm hoping we can put common decency above what it thinks could be brewing, which is who's liable and some legal action taken, which is not who I am or what I want.'

Patten noted how, even though her dog died, he could have possibly saved a human being's life behind the school.

Chief William McQuillen of the Portsmouth Fire Department also spoke during the meeting, noting that officials made sure there was no electrical current before leaving and that the incident was an isolated event.

After supporters and friends of the dog owner pleaded with the council to take action, Mayor Deaglan McEachern put aside the formalities of the city council meeting to address Patten directly.

'I'm going to respond in this case. It's usually not a discussion; it's public comment a chance to speak at your government it seems fitting for us to take those rules that try to create a sense of civility among us and set them aside for just a moment because of the fact its these rules that are holding us from being more human than we need to be at this time,' McEachern said.

The mayor noted that he was incredibly sorry for the loss of her dog and held a picture that Patten had passed out to the council.

She made two requests asking for a donation to the SPCA in honor of her dog and for someone from the city to show some 'decency' and speak with her about the tragedy

Mayor Deaglan McEachern issued an apology to Patten for her loss and noted on Facebook on Tuesday that he had made a personal donation on Frank's behalf to the New Hampshire SPCA and encouraged others to do the same

'I want to say on behalf of the city how truly sorry I am for your loss, how we are all incredibly sad for this, and words don't do that justice, and I understand that,' said McEachern.

After the mayor's words, Patten spoke again, tears streaming down her face, expressing her concern that the legalities of the incident would prevent the city from doing what's right.

'I just really want people to understand that she was my lifeline,' Van Patten said. 'We were going to grow old together, and I just hope we can do the right thing.'

In addition to McEachern's apology, Deputy City Attorney Trevor McCourt conveyed regret to Patten for the poor communication.

'It was a mistake. I sincerely apologize. I don't sit up here, I don't do this job to yield this kind of result,' McCourt said.

'I know that this can't fix what happened, and I am sorry.'

Caroline Turk, a friend of Patten's, was walking with her and her own dog at the time Frank had been killed and noted that her dog was electrocuted as well.

'My dog was also with Deb when it happened and sustained an electrocution,' Turk said.

'Equally, as Deb spoke about, nobody has reached out to us. It's such a small, small town. An amazing place to live, and something so tragic has happened. There's been no contact from anybody.'

Mayor McEachern announced on Facebook Tuesday that he had made a personal donation on Frank's behalf to the New Hampshire SPCA and encouraged others to do the same.
A gorgeous Georgia island was swept over by hundreds of partying teenagers in a chaotic gathering that ended with a gun being fired.

Multiple shots were heard around 6.30pm Saturday during an 'unpermitted, pop-up event' on Tybee Island's pier, police said.

Tybee Island mayor Brian West said organizers of the pop-up were setting up stages and DJs without permission when the shooting happened, according to WJCL.

'hundreds' of people quickly scattered and ran for their lives once the shots had been fired, local police told the Daily Mail.

Video released by Tybee Island police showed dozens of teens sprinting away from the pier, with some leaping over fences to escape the chaos.

Others rushed to parked cars, which included black SUVs, and sped away as panicked screams could be heard.

Law enforcement is now looking for two individuals who 'emerge from the darkness beneath the pier and pavilion' at the end of the video. Police believe those individuals have 'pertinent' information about the incident.

Captain Emory Randolph of the Tybee Island Police Department told the Daily Mail on Wednesday afternoon that a suspect has not yet been identified yet and that no victims have come forward.

The historic pier, located just off US Highway 80, has stood since 1891. It regularly hosts festivals and free events, but is also known as a spring break hotspot.

At least one gunshot was fired at the Tybee Island, Georgia, pier on Saturday around 6.30pm during what police described as an 'unpermitted, pop-up event'

The Tybee Island Police Department said that hundreds of people scattered from the pier after hearing what seemed like multiple gunshots

Thousands of young people are expected to return to Tybee Island in about ten days for an HBCU gathering

After reviewing 911 calls and video, detectives actually believed only a single gunshot was fired.

Investigators currently believe that it 'may have originated from the beach below,' police said.

'This is a quiet southern town, with people that want to come here, relax, go on vacation, bring their families,' Mayor West told WJCL.

'If you're looking to go out and disrupt that, it's not going to happen here,' West added.

Off-duty Tybee officers immediately responded to Saturday's shooting, police noted, thanking 'those who left their families at a moment's notice during Easter weekend to answer the call.'

They were joined by Chatham County police, Chatham County Sheriff's Office deputies and Georgia State Patrol troopers.

A witness to the shooting, Frank Diaz, said on Facebook immediately afterwards that it had been a 'crazy night' near the pier.

'Police came in to restore order,' Diaz wrote on social media.

Tybee Island is a popular spring break destination for students in Georgia and across the southern US

The Tybee Island pier was built in 1891 and regularly hosts free events and festivals

Tybee Island officials have warned that past gatherings got 'out of control,' with police officers attacked and people injured

Tybee Island has long been known as a spring break destination in Georgia and the southern US, hosting the HBCU spring break gathering formerly known as Orange Crush.

Thousands of young students are expected to return to the island in about ten days for a new version of the rowdy event, which has since been rebranded as Crush Reloaded 2K26.

'The Orange Crush Tradition Continues,' a description for the event read. 'Get ready for 3 days of non-stop energy, music, and culture across Savannah and Tybee Island.'

Officials have said the massive crowds of young people have caused things to spiral 'out of control' on the island.

'Police officers were attacked, people got injured,' Brett Bell, the Tybee Island city manager, told WTOC about the 2023 gathering.

The event is scheduled to run from April 17 to 19, according to its website.

There will be 27 police officers on hand to manage crowds and traffic, which will also be dealt with by the Georgia State Patrol and the Department of Natural Resources.
Iran has halted oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, launched a drone strike on a key Saudi oil pipeline and demanded Israel cease its attacks on Lebanon as Donald Trump's ceasefire deal faced a furious backlash from his own allies.

Two tankers were allowed through the Strait on Wednesday morning as the two-week ceasefire with the US took effect, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported.

But the agency later reported that passage had been suspended, saying it was halted 'simultaneous with Israel's attacks on Lebanon.'

Iran also threatened to destroy oil tankers if they try to travel through the Strait without permission, as the regime has imposed a toll of up to $2million per vessel.

Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, a critical artery routing crude from the Gulf to the Red Sea, came under drone attack at 1pm local time, the FT reported.

Kuwait's air defenses intercepted 28 drones in sustained attacks targeting oil facilities, power plants and water desalination infrastructure from 8am Wednesday, the country's army said, adding that strikes were still ongoing.

Trump is facing a furious backlash from his most fervent supporters over the ceasefire and ten-point peace plan, amid fears it concedes too much to Tehran - with even his own White House forced to clarify his claims about the terms of the deal.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham demanded JD Vance appear before Congress to explain the terms of the agreement after the dovish Vice President spearheaded 11th-hour peace talks mediated by Pakistan.

'The supposed negotiating document, in my view, has some troubling aspects, but time will tell,' Graham posted on X.

'I look forward to the architects of this proposal, the Vice President and others, coming forward to Congress and explaining how a negotiated deal meets our national security objectives in Iran.'

Donald Trump is facing a furious backlash from his most fervent supporters over the ceasefire and ten-point peace plan, amid fears it concedes too much to Tehran

Smoke rises from the direction of Mehrabad airport, Tehran, on Tuesday, before the ceasefire

The Strait of Hormuz handles around 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas but has effectively been shut down by Iran in retaliation over the joint US-Israeli attacks launched on February 28

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Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska said Trump had secured 'significant victories' but expressed skepticism over the peace talks and the President's claims of 'total victory.'

'The government's still in place and we should be negotiating from a position of strength, not a position that's good for them,' he told CNN.

'They will work with Russia and China as soon as they can to start rebuilding their military. And they will be a threat five, six, seven, eight years down the road. And so, as long as this government's in place, total victory has not been earned.'

Laura Loomer, a pro-Israel Trump ally, predicted the ceasefire 'will fail.'

'The negotiation is a negative for our country. We didn't really get anything out of it and the terrorists in Iran are celebrating,' she wrote on X. 'I don't know why people are acting like this is a win.'

Mark Levin, another pro-Israel commentator with close ties to Trump, said that while he trusts the President's 'instincts,' the Iranians could not be trusted.

'This enemy is still the enemy; they're still surviving,' he said of Iran.

Iran publicly released what it claimed was the ten-point framework for a peace deal, demanding the US accept Tehran's continued control over the Strait, recognize its right to uranium enrichment, lift all sanctions, pay compensation and withdraw all troops from the region.

Trump last night described the points of the peace proposal as 'a workable basis on which to negotiate.'

But a White House official said the points do not match what Trump was referring to in his Truth Social post.

Trump said Wednesday: 'They are very good points - and most of them have been fully negotiated. If it isn't good, we'll go right back to it very easily.'

Trump called the deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz a 'joint venture' and also promised that the US was working with Iran to dismantle its uranium enrichment capacity.

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags at a protest in Enghelab Square, Tehran, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will likely find it highly unpalatable if Tehran continues to control traffic through the vital oil passage

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The President wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: 'There will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 bombers) nuclear "dust."'

The safety of the uranium was confirmed before an 11th-hour deal was struck, the White House said.

'Nothing has been touched from the date of attack,' Trump said, claiming that the nuclear site has been watched closely since it was bombed.

It is not clear whether Trump was referring to the US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities in June, or to more recent strikes during the current Iran war.

Trump said that tariff and sanctions relief were being discussed as part of a peace plan with 'many' points already agreed.

IRAN'S TEN-POINT PEACE PLAN

1. Commitment to non-aggression 2. Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz 3. Acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment 4. Lifting of all primary sanctions 5. Lifting of all secondary sanctions 6. Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions 7. Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions 8. Paying compensation to Iran 9. Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region 10. Cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon

Iran has already begun outlining a scheme to rake in billions from the reopened Strait of Hormuz.

The exact terms remain unsettled, but ships must notify intermediary companies linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of their cargo, destination and owner - with tolls of at least $1 per barrel payable in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency.

Trump welcomed the idea, telling ABC: 'We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people.

'It's a beautiful thing.'

The Strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil flows, has been dubbed the 'Tehran Tollbooth' by analysts and traders.

The average bill for a single tanker runs to $2 million - and only once payment clears will IRGC patrol boats escort the vessel through the 'tollbooth.'

Some analysts believe the scheme could net Iran as much as $500 billion over five years.

Oil prices plunged on Wednesday, even as the Strait remained throttled. Brent crude - the global benchmark - fell by 13 percent to $95 per barrel after hitting $118 at the peak of the conflict.

Hamid Hosseini, a spokesman for Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union, said that cargo checks were necessary to prevent the transport of weaponry.

'Iran needs to monitor what goes in and out of the strait to ensure these two weeks aren't used for transferring weapons,' Hosseini, whose industry association has close ties to the regime, told the FT.

'Everything can pass through, but the procedure will take time for each vessel, and Iran is not in a rush,' he added.

Hosseini's comments indicate vessels must hug the northerly Iranian coast of the Strait, a prospect that will raise alarm among maritime insurers.

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags on Wednesday

A boat approaches the St Kitts and Nevis-flagged container ship Marsa Victory while cruising in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Khasab in Oman's northern Musandam peninsula on June 25

Tankers in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday received a radio alert warning that they would be targeted if they did not first gain transit approval from Iranian authorities.

'If any vessels try to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed,' said the broadcast in English.

Western shipping giants scrambled to establish whether the Strait was truly operational again.

Maersk, the world's second biggest shipping line, said it was 'working with urgency' to clarify the terms.

'The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty,' it said, adding that it was maintaining a 'cautious approach' and would not immediately change any routes.

If Iran keeps its grip on the Strait, it will raise explosive questions for OPEC+, the oil producers' cartel, and redraw the balance of power in the region.

Saudi Arabia, one of the group's most powerful members, would regard Iranian control of the waterway as intolerable. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had urged Trump to crush the Iranian regime before the ceasefire.

Ali Shihabi, a commentator close to the Saudi royal court, told the FT: 'Allowing Iran any form of control over the strait would be a red line. The priority has to be unimpeded access through the strait.'
Keir Starmer today dashed hopes of a quick fix to soaring UK energy prices as he warned there was 'still a lot of work to do' to open a key waterway to shipping despite the US claiming a military 'victory' over Iran.

The Prime Minister spoke in Saudi Arabia as he began a visit to the UK's Gulf allies, hours after Donald Trump announced a two-week pause in fighting after days of erratic brinkmanship.

Speaking as he met UK military personnel at an air base this evening, the PM suggested that the US were being overconfident in their assessment of the impact of the ceasefire.

'It's already had an impact on the UK, and it's very important we get the Strait of Hormuz open. There's a lot of work to do there,' Sir Keir said, branding it 'early days'.

His remarks came after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters in Washington the ceasefire meant the strategically important Strait of Hormuz was once again open to traffic.

He said that Mr Trump had achieved 'victory with a capital V' at a congratulatory press conference in the US.

However Tehran this afternoon warned that oil tankers will be destroyed if they try to pass through Hormuz without permission, as Iran seeks to retain control over the passage.

The Prime Minister spoke in Saudi Arabia as he began a visit to the UK's Gulf allies, hours after Donald Trump announced a two-week pause in fighting after days of erratic brinkmanship

Keir Starmer thanked UK and Saudi personnel at King Fahd Air Base in Taif for their work in the 'collective self-defence of Saudi Arabia and the UK'

His remarks came after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters in Washington the ceasefire meant the strategically important Strait of Hormuz was once again open to traffic

The weeks of fighting have closed the strategically important waterway and helped push up oil and gas prices in the UK.

The US President last night agreed to a provisional pause in the war after pulling back at the last-minute from his apocalyptic warning that 'a whole civilisation will die' unless Tehran met his demands.

The PM is set to hold talks with Gulf leaders on how best to support the pause in fighting and ensure passage is permanently restored.

Following his arrival in Saudi Arabia, Sir Keir thanked UK and Saudi personnel at King Fahd Air Base in Taif for their work in the 'collective self-defence of Saudi Arabia and the UK'.

He said: 'We now, as you'll have seen from the news, have a ceasefire, but there's a lot of work to do, as you will appreciate, a lot of work to make sure that that ceasefire becomes permanent and brings about the peace that we all want to see.

'But also a lot of work to do in relation to the Strait of Hormuz, which has an impact everywhere across the world.

'So I'm here to work with Saudi Arabia and our other partners in the region on how we make sure that ceasefire does become a permanent ceasefire, and also the work that we've now got to do to make sure the Strait of Hormuz is fully open.

'Because you will all appreciate the huge impact that that has had and is having on so many countries across the world, including back in the UK.'

Sir Keir said it was 'early days' and 'there's work to do' when asked if he believed the US-Iran ceasefire could last for meaningful talks to begin, but he added there was a 'sense of real relief' about the pause in the conflict.

The PM declined to say whether his relationship with Mr Trump was ruined - following weeks of attacks by the US President on Sir Keir over a lack of support for attacks on Iran - but defended his guiding 'principles' on the Middle East conflict.

Asked whether his relationship with Mr Trump was 'in tatters', the PM told broadcasters: 'I've acted as you would expect of a British Prime Minister, which is by being absolutely focused on what is our national interest, and that's why I've applied my principles and my values throughout.

'And my principles and values made sure that our decisions were that we wouldn't get involved in the action without a lawful basis, without a viable, thought-through plan.

'That was the right position for the UK, and of course, that has included us taking action, collective self-defence.

'I'm here to say thank you to some of those who have been defending our allies and British interests in the region, but the principles of not getting dragged into this war, principles of always saying the UK will act only on a lawful basis and only for the viable, long-term plan. They're the right principles. As I say, I'm the British Prime Minister.

'I act in the British national interest, but nothing, but nothing, is going to deflect me from that.'

Ahead of his arrival in Saudi Arabia, the PM joined the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the EU in welcoming the ceasefire

Ahead of his arrival, the PM joined the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the EU in welcoming the ceasefire.

'We strongly encourage quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement,' they said in a joint statement.

'This will be crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region. It can avert a severe global energy crisis.

'We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners.

'We call upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.

'Our governments will contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he did not think Sir Keir would be treated 'with a great degree of respect' during his visit to the Gulf states.

Asked about the PM's trip during a Reform event in Bexley, south-east London, Mr Farage said: 'Why bother? What's he going to say?'

Referring to Sir Keir's decisions regarding the Iran war, the Clapton MP said: 'He's upset the Americans, he's upset the Cypriots, he's upset the Gulf states, and this level of indecision and chopping and changing your mind is quite extraordinary.

'So my guess is he will not be treated today with a great degree of respect.'

Mr Farage added that that the UK's relationship with its allies in the Gulf is 'weak'.

He told reporters: 'Our relationship with those parts of the world is weak, and our relationship with America is fractured. This is a massive, massive problem.

'I don't think it's irreparable, but America has to respect us militarily That's going out the window.'

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The Strait of Hormuz handles around 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas but has effectively been shut down by Iran in retaliation over the joint US-Israeli attacks launched on February 28

Less than two hours before his deadline passed for Iran to agree a deal, Mr Trump said he was suspending his threat to widen the military offensive to power plants and bridges subject to the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway.

He said Tehran proposed a ten-point plan that provided 'a workable basis on which to negotiate'.

Western ship owners announced today they were adopting a cautious approach, while waiting for updates on how and whether the waterway might reopen.

So far, no tankers are currently braving the transit apart from two linked to Tehran.

Maersk, the globe's second biggest shipping line, said it is 'working with urgency' to clarify the regime's terms.

'The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty,' the company added, making clear it would continue to take a 'cautious approach' with cargoes and was not yet making changes to specific services.
Notorious serial killer Rex Heuermann brought his reign of terror to a close on Wednesday after finally pleading guilty to butchering eight women.

And it was one of America's most infamous men who claims he ultimately convinced the Gilgo Beach killer to finally face the music.

The Daily Mail can exclusively reveal that Oregon serial killer Keith Jesperson, better known as the 'Happy Face Killer', advised Heuermann to concede defeat.

Jesperson told the Daily Mail in messages from behind bars that he told Heuermann 'not to go to trial' convincing him to spare the legal system the trouble and admit he was the so-called Gilgo Beach serial killer.

Heuermann had previously pleaded his innocence before abruptly admitting his guilt on Wednesday.

Jesperson revealed he told his fellow serial killer that it was time to bite the bullet in a series of jailhouse letters.

'He was done,' Jesperson said. '(I told him) that his best way forward was to make a deal to plead guilty in exchange for a better place to do his life - what life he has left.'

Jesperson has been locked up at Oregon State Penitentiary since 1995 after pleading guilty to murdering eight women while working as a trucker.

Notorious serial killer Rex Heuermann brought his campaign of terror to a close this week after finally pleading guilty to butchering eight women

Oregon serial killer Keith Jesperson, better known as the 'Happy Face Killer' (pictured in court in 1995), advised Heuermann to admit he was in fact the Gilgo Beach serial killer

Jesperson, 70, earned his chilling nickname for drawing eerie smiley faces on taunting letters he wrote to police and the media.

He says he told Heuermann to try to serve his sentence at his same Oregon prison, feeling it was 'the best time he could do' for his impending life behind bars.

Speaking with the Daily Mail on Wednesday before Heuermann pleaded guilty in court, the serial killer said he was watching the case intently.

'I wonder if he will mention my letters to him telling him how to settle his cases?' he questioned in one message.

Jesperson has claimed to have committed as many as 160 murders, but authorities have only verified eight victims across six states from 1990 to 1995.

Asked if he feels a sense of kinship with Heuermann, Jesperson said he often tries to help 'people who find themselves in a situation like I had gone through.'

It comes as Heuermann finally pleaded guilty to murdering eight women in court, bringing some closure to the case that has terrorized Long Island for more than three decades.

Standing inside Suffolk County Court, the hulking architect, husband and father finally admitted to killing Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Megan Waterman, 22, Amber Costello, 27, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, Jessica Taylor, 20, Sandra Costilla, 28, Valerie Mack, 24, and Karen Vergata, 34, during a reign of terror between 1993 and 2010.

The 62-year-old appeared to smirk through the proceedings as he casually uttered the words 'guilty' to seven murder charges and admitted his guilt to an eighth.

When asked one by one how he killed the victims, he simply uttered: 'Strangulation.'

The 62-year-old Heuermann appeared to smirk through the proceedings on Wednesday as he admitted his guilt

Jesperson has been locked up at Oregon State Penitentiary since 1995 after pleading guilty to murdering eight women. He says he told Heuermann to try and be sentenced at his same Oregon prison, feeling it was 'the best time he could do' for his impending life behind bars

Jesperson has claimed to have committed as many as 160 murders, but authorities have only verified eight victims across six states from 1990 to 1995

Jesperson said he tried to help his fellow serial killer handle his court cases, telling Heuermann 'that his best way forward was to make a deal to plead guilty in exchange for a better place to do his life - what life he has left'

By pleading guilty, Heuermann agreed to serve three life sentences without parole and up to four more life sentences for four of the murder charges.

He has also agreed to waive all rights to appeal and will not face any additional charges over the eight murders.

The sudden change in plea marks the first time that Heuermann has confessed to being the infamous serial killer. It is also the first time victims' causes of death have been revealed.

The longevity of his activity, the brutality of the killings and the long-term evasion and taunting of law enforcement cement him as one of the country's most notorious serial killers.

He will return to court on June 17 for his sentencing.

His victims had all been working as sex workers when they suddenly vanished.

Their remains - some of them mutilated and dismembered - were found dumped in remote areas of Long Island.

After evading capture for years - during which time he raised a family in Massapequa Park and ran an architecture firm in the heart of Midtown Manhattan - Heuermann was arrested in July 2023.

Heuermann's victims clockwise from left: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Costello, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla

In the latest twist, Heuermann also pleaded guilty to the murder of an eighth victim, Karen Vergata

Heuermann was initially charged with the murders of Barthelemy, Waterman, Costello and BrainardBarnes, who together were known as the 'Gilgo Four.'

Authorities later linked him to the killings of Sandra Costilla, Valerie Mack and Jessica Taylor - bringing the total to seven women.

For the past three years, he has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty and fighting tooth and nail against the charges.

Now, in a stunning reversal, he has admitted not only to the seven murders he is charged with - but to the murder of an eighth victim, 34-year-old Karen Vergata.

Heuermann's defense attorney Michael Brown said after the hearing that his client decided he wanted to accept responsibility and not proceed to trial, though he did not say why.

But Brown admitted that the evidence against him was overwhelming, saying the state 'did a great job.'

When asked if Heuermann was sorry, Brown replied: 'I would hope so.'

Brown said he believes it was a 'sense of relief' to Heuermann to plead guilty today and he expects the serial killer will make a statement at his sentencing.

He explained the deal not to bring more prosecutions only includes the eight women - not other potential victims out there yet to be found.

There have been other victims linked to the Gilgo Beach murders, but Heuermann claims he has no other victims.
Chatbots are too quick to agree with users, the Prime Minister's AI tsar has warned.

Researchers have found that AI bots are more likely to echo a person's view if they state it, Jade Leung said.

She advised that users should instead pose their query as a question in order to get a less biased response.

A study from the UK's AI Security Institute (AISI) found that if you tell a chatbot what you think, it is likely to agree with you.

But if you ask a question instead, it is less likely to go along with your view  helping you get a more balanced response.

Ms Leung, who is also the AISI's chief technology officer, said: 'People are already using AI tools to help think things through.

'Our research shows that chatbots respond not just to what you ask, but how you ask it.

'That means something as simple as turning a statement into a question can help people get a more balanced answer - an important skill as AI becomes part of everyday life and work.'

Don't tell chatbots what you think as they will only agree with you, says PM's AI tsar

She said that one way to ensure a better answer was to ask: 'Rewrite my input as a question, then answer that question.'

Ms Leung offered the advice as part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology's attempts to teach the UK about AI.

It said that this could mean higher-skilled jobs for workers and freeing them from routine tasks, adding that this could unlock up to 140bn in annual economic output.

Ms Leung has been named as one of the 100 most influential people in AI in Time magazine having previously worked at ChatGPT and OpenAI.

She previously said she took the role because she wanted to shape the way AI systems are governed.

She carries out safety research and tests AI models in her role.
Dozens of migrants scrambled on to a dinghy heading to Dover as French police stood and watched just a week after two men drowned during a similar Channel crossing.

Nearly 50 asylum seekers, including families with young children, descended on Dunkirk beach at around 9am today moments before chaos unfolded in the presence of armed officers.

The group, made up of mostly men from Africa and the Middle East, walked along the long-stretch of sand and headed to the shoreline waiting for a taxi-boat to cross the Channel to England.

But chaos erupted as soon as the rubber dinghy arrived with migrants racing through the water towards it as they fought for a spot.

Others plunged into the water as they tried to jump on with some desperately clinging to those already on board, leaving them at risk of being submerged.

Dozens of migrants scrambled on to a dinghy heading to Dover as French police stood and watched just a week after two men drowned during a similar Channel crossing

Nearly 50 asylum seekers, including families with young children, descended on Dunkirk beach at around 9am today moments before chaos unfolded in the presence of armed officers.

The group, made up of mostly men from Africa and the Middle East, walked along the long-stretch of sand and headed to the shoreline waiting for a taxi-boat to cross the Channel to England

One photo shows a group of police officers standing on the beach and watching the migrants wade into the water.

But in another image, migrants were being spoken to by authorities after they failed to board the small boat.

It comes a week after the UK agreed a temporary two-month deal to pay France millions more to police the Channel while the two countries thrash out a longer-term agreement.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed off a 16.2million cheque to extend the current deal with Paris, which subsidises French beach patrols, at the last minute on March 31.

But the agreement has not put off the smugglers who continue to take advantage of the improved weather in northern France.

A total of 137 migrants arrived on two small boats on Tuesday (April 7) after 325 asylum seekers made the dangerous crossing on five dinghies last week.

Two migrants died after attempting to cross the Channel in an overcrowded boat on April 1.

Chaos erupted as soon as the rubber dinghy arrived with migrants racing through the water towards it as they fought for a spot.

Others plunged into the water as they tried to jump on with some desperately clinging to those already on board, leaving them at risk of being submerged

A family of five wading into the water to board the dinghy heading to Dover

The Daily Mail was on the beach in Gravelines to witness French authorities standing around and filming on their phones as 55 migrants rushed on to an already packed dinghy.

French police later confirmed that a man from Sudan and another from Afghanistan had died after the boat got into trouble off the coast.

A court later heard that authorities refused to intercept the small boat because it was too full.

Meanwhile it emerged that British officials are travelling to France on failed missions to try and persuade single male migrants that the UK is no longer an 'Eldorado' of cash hand-outs and free homes.

The extraordinary development was outlined by managers of a refugee reception centre at Croisilles, near Arras, close to the English Channel coast.

Around 14,000 men have stayed in it over the past decade as they prepare to use people smuggler-organised small boats to reach Britain.

Claude Picarda, who assists in the running of the centre, said UK government representatives have 'been coming once a month since October' to try and dissuade migrants from making the illegal and hugely dangerous journey.

But - despite their efforts - more than 90 per cent continue on their journey to England.

Dangerous crossings in the Channel have increased over the past three years, with 41,472 people arriving in the UK in 2025.

So far this year, more than 4,903 migrants have arrived in Britain on small boats.

Last year, the French stopped around 35 per cent of people smuggler small boats - carrying around 22,500 migrants - from getting across the English Channel.

Under a three-year agreement initially signed in 2023, Britain has paid 476million to France for extra patrols to catch migrant smuggling gangs.

The current round of negotiations to sign a new 650million deal were deadlocked because France rejected the payment-by-results plan.
More than 60 per cent of Green Party voters oppose plans to reduce the speed limit on Britain's motorways to just 55mph, according to a new poll.

Almost 70 per cent of all voters are against Zack Polanski's party's controversial plans - with even 62 per cent of Green supporters either somewhat or strongly opposed.

It comes after the Daily Mail revealed the Green's proposals to cut the speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways by 15mph, and impose controversial 20mph limits in all built up areas.

The Conservatives have accused Mr Polanski of pursuing a 'war on motorists' and said the Green leader wants to 'make driving slower, more expensive and, in many cases, impossible'.

Now a poll by YouGov has found that even Mr Polanski's own voters don't like the proposals to lower the speed limit - with 27 per cent somewhat opposed and 35 per cent strongly opposed.

Just seven per cent of Green backers would strongly support the proposals and 16 per cent would somewhat support the new speed limit, the poll found.

In total 69 per cent of Britons are opposed to reducing the motorway speed limit to 55mph, compared to only 20 per cent who would support doing so, it adds.

Green voters are the most in favour (23 per cent), but not to a much greater degree than Labour (22 per cent) or Lib Dem (20 per cent) voters - and most in all voting groups are opposed.

The Conservatives have accused Zack Polanski of pursuing a 'war on drivers' and said the Green leader wants to 'make driving slower, more expensive and, in many cases, impossible'

A poll by YouGov has found that even Mr Polanski's own voters don't like the proposals to lower the speed limit - with 27 per cent somewhat opposed and 35 per cent strongly opposed

The Daily Mail revealed the Green's proposals to cut the speed limit on motorways and dual carriageways by 15mph, and impose controversial 20mph limits in all built up areas

The survey of 4,385 British adults, conducted on 7 April, also found that women, people in London and 18 to 24-year olds are more likely to support reducing the motorway speed limit

The survey of 4,385 British adults, conducted on 7 April, also found that women, people in London and 18 to 24-year olds are more likely to support reducing the motorway speed limit.

Other proposals in the Green's transport policy include 'incrementally' increasing taxes on driving and 'steadily reducing' parking spaces to drive cars off the roads.

The policies also state that motorists would be forced to re-take their driving test as often as every five years as 'driving is not a right but a privilege'.

The Tories have attacked the proposals as 'out of touch' but former Green Party leader Baroness Natalie Bennett defended them, saying: 'Greens support evidence-based measures to reduce road traffic accidents and improve fuel efficiency, helping to cut costs for motorists.'

It comes after the Mail exposed other Green policies - including that illegal migrants would be given a free house and paid a wage with no requirement to work under plans for 'a world without borders'.

Mr Polanski's party also plans to legalise all drugs including heroin and crack cocaine because they 'enhance human relationships and human creativity'.

And Britain's armed forces would see drastic cuts and the nuclear deterrent would be scrapped under the Green's official 'non-offensive defence strategy'.
An 11-year-old boy was raced to hospital after reportedly smoking a vape 'laced with toxins' and passing out for almost an hour.

A teenage boy has been arrested and police are testing an e-cigarette they recovered after the alarming incident in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

The boy is said to have fallen unconscious within minutes of trying a vape, but survived after receiving three doses of Naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdoses.

CCTV operators spotted the boy and alerted emergency services at around 3.40pm on Tuesday.

A Community Patrol Officer administered emergency care while they waited for paramedics to arrive, who then took him to hospital. The boy has since been discharged and is recovering at home.

The boy's mother said: 'Tonight my worst nightmare as a parent became a reality.

'Someone in Weston thought it was acceptable to give my 11-year-old son a vape laced with toxins.

'Watching your child lying there, not knowing if theyre going to wake up, is something no parent should ever have to experience.

'Thankfully an incredible Community Patrol Officer administered Naloxone three times, and because of that quick thinking my baby boy is still here with me tonight.

'This could have ended in tragedy.'

An 11-year-old was rushed to hospital in Weston-super-Mare (pictured) and police have arrested a teenage boy

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A teenage boy was later arrested and released under investigation, while a teenage girl attended a voluntary interview on Wednesday, Avon and Somerset Police said.

The force said police officers are also carrying out tests on a vape they recovered.

This is the second arrest in a fortnight in Weston-super-Mare related to vapes that have potentially harmed people.

Inspector Lee Kerslake, from the force, said: 'We know how concerning this incident is for our communities in Weston-super-Mare and we're carrying out a number of enquiries as part of our investigation.

'We will be keeping the boy's family updated as this work progresses. They are understandably shaken by what happened and we will provide any support we can.

'The neighbourhood policing team works very closely with our partners, including local authorities, to tackle issues around the sale of illegal vapes which pose significant health risks.'

Anyone with any information about the incident should call 101, using the reference number 5226094766.

Councillor James Clayton, for Weston-super-Mare south, praised the 'prompt intervention' of a community response officer who helped the child while they waited for the ambulance to arrive.

He there was a possibility the young boy 'had been given a vape device believed to be laced with harmful substances and rapidly became unwell'.

'Medical staff later confirmed that Chrissie Simpson's actions, [...] were instrumental and had potentially saved the boy's life,' he added.

The issue of unlicensed vape shops recently hit the headlines after one sparked a devastating fire next to Glasgow Central station.

The hotspots for these unregistered vendors have been revealed in a map.

More than 1.2million illegal e-cigarettes have been seized across the UK over the last few years - the equivalent of two every minute, a report by Vape Club found.

The data shines a light on the volume of dangerous and unregulated devices trying to make their way to consumers - and the potential number slipping through the cracks.

Not only are the counterfeit products harmful to public health, but they now have the added danger of being a 'powder keg' that could spark deadly fires due to their volatile lithium batteries.

E-cigarettes in the UK are subject to strict regulations. As illegal vapes do not conform to British regulation, they can be more dangerous to inhale and present a greater fire risk. Shops often do not pay tax on them either.

The Vape Club's annual report on illegal vapes has revealed the local authority area with the highest number of illegal vapes seized in the last year was Central Bedfordshire Council, which includes towns such as Leighton Buzzard and Dunstable.

Some 345,718 illegal vapes were seized by the council last year, a 205 per cent increase from 2024.
Scots are being warned not to sleepwalk into another divisive referendum after an SNP poll surge.

An Ipsos survey for STV found John Swinneys party is now 24 points ahead of Labour and Reform after gains on both the constituency and list votes last month.

The SNP is now forecast to take 63 seats in May, just two short of a Holyrood majority that could trigger a constitutional crisis.

Mr Swinney has vowed to push for an independence referendum if he wins outright.

On Wednesday, the SNP boasted it was within touching distance of the historic milestone.

The findings came just a day after Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay warned an SNP majority would be a living nightmare and that Reform UK are helping to bring it about by splitting the Unionist vote.

Pollster Emily Gray said the Nationalists would be buoyed by the numbers but they made grim reading for Scottish Labour, which slumped badly.

The Tories were the only party besides the SNP to improve in both votes as they closed in on Reform.

First Minister John Swinney has vowed to push for an independence referendum if he wins outright

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton warned: This poll shows John Swinney is on the brink of achieving a majority which we know he will use to push for another referendum as soon as possible.

We cannot let the SNP use the next parliament to obsess over independence again rather than tackling the cost-of-living crisis, growing our economy and fixing our public services.

This poll is a stark warning to Scots to use their peach ballot to vote Scottish Conservative and ensure we dont sleepwalk into John Swinneys plans for another divisive independence referendum.

Ipsos put the SNP on 39 per cent in Holyrood constituencies, up 3 points since February.

Although both on 15 per cent, Labour were down five points and Reform down one.

The Tories were up 2 points to 11 per cent and the Liberal Democrats and Scottish Greens were unchanged on 10 and 7 per cent respectively. On the list vote, the SNP were on 29 per cent (+3), the Greens 16 (unchanged), Reform 16 (+2), Labour 15 (-4), the Tories 13 (+2), and the Lib Dems 9 (-1).

The figures give a seat projection of 63 MSPs for the SNP, with the far-Left Greens in second place on 17, Reform third on 15, Labour 12, Tory 12 and Lib Dems 8.

For the first time, energy was a top five concern for voters, cited by 27 per cent behind the NHS (56 per cent), the cost of living (41 per cent) and immigration (27 per cent) and above independence (25 per cent).

Although no party leader had a positive net rating, Mr Swinney was the least unpopular on -8 per cent, an eight point improvement since February.

Labours Anas Sarwar was unchanged on -29, Mr Findlay up a point to -30, while Reforms Lord Malcolm Offord suffered a 9 point fall to -41 amid his partys chaotic campaign start.

Reform were the least popular potential coalition partners for the SNP, with 52 per cent of voters opposed compared to 40 per cent against a deal with the Tories, 29 with the Greens and 12 for the Lib Dems.

One bright spot for Labour was 42 per cent of voters saying they might change their minds before polling day. But this was offset by Reform and SNP supporters being highly committed to their parties, with two-thirds already decided on their vote, while Labours support was softer.

Emily Gray, managing director of Ipsos in Scotland, said: The SNP will be buoyed by these new numbers. Our poll shows them improving their lead early in the campaign, John Swinneys approval rating has risen, and the party remains the most trusted to handle the biggest issue for voters at this election, the NHS.

Rachael Hamilton said the SNP shouldn't be allowed to use the next parliament to 'obsess over independence'

Meanwhile, the poll makes grim reading for Scottish Labour, showing their support weakening on both constituency and regional list votes.

'With more than four in ten voters saying they may change their minds, however, none of Scotlands parties can afford to be complacent.

For the SNP, voters switching allegiance between now and polling day could make the crucial difference to whether the party wins a majority or is again a minority government.

SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said: We are within touching distance of a historic majority but we will be taking nothing for granted.

This poll also shows that Labour and Reforms dismal, negative campaigns are getting them absolutely nowhere.

Labours abject failure to deal with the cost of energy and petrol will continue to haunt them throughout this campaign.

Scottish Conservatives leader Russell Findlay has warned a weak Sir Keir Starmer could U-turn on his promise to block a referendum

Mr Swinney argues an SNP majority would unlock a second independence referendum based on the precedent of Alex Salmonds landslide in 2011.

In fact, the UK Government cannot be forced to grant a new vote. But Mr Findlay has warned a weak Sir Keir Starmer could U-turn on his promise to block a referendum, especially if he needed SNP votes at Westminster to stay in power after any future general election.

Campaigning in Edinburgh on support for the creative arts, Mr Sarwar said: Three polls have been out in the last few days. Two of them have us up. One has us down. But ultimately, only one poll matters, and thats the poll on the 7th of May.

The moment where the Scottish public switch on to this election has not happened yet.

I believe when people switch on, the choice will become clearer the record the SNP wont be able to run away from and our positive message for change.

Scottish Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said it would be huge breakthrough for her party to come second.

She added: Scotland deserves better, and we are the only party with plans to deliver it.

The Ipsos survey polled 1,038 adults in the last week of March.
Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of posturing on the world stage over the Middle East war while failing to rearm Britain.

The Tory leader branded the Prime Minister 'all mouth and no trousers' on defence as he jetted to the Gulf despite playing no part in the ceasefire talks between the US and Iran.

She claimed he has still not published a long-overdue Defence Investment Plan because he had 'no idea' how to pay for his target of spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by the next Parliament.

Her comments came as Sir Keir, on a trip to Saudi Arabia, insisted the UK's diplomatic efforts were helping to resolve the crisis.

Mrs Badenoch said: 'At a time of war in Europe and war in the Middle East, at a time when those conflicts are affecting every family across Britain, at a time when Britain's place in the world is in flux, our Government literally doesn't have a plan.

'There's no plan for how the Government is going to actually buy the equipment, weapons and munitions. There's no plan for how to enact the SDR [Strategic Defence Review]. There's no plan for rearming Britain.

'We haven't seen the Defence Investment Plan because they have no idea how they are going to pay for it. Keir Starmer is all mouth and no trousers when it comes to defence.'

She will tell the upcoming London Defence Conference that a future Conservative government would reinstate the two-child benefit cap, which Labour has lifted, to fund increased defence spending.

Sir Keir Starmer met service personnel at Taif air base in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday

If they return to power the Tories would also take 17billion from Ed Miliband's 'vanity' green projects to create a Sovereign Defence Fund.

But Mrs Badenoch will warn that rearming Britain cannot wait until after the election, and will call on the PM to 'put party interests aside' and find the money needed now.

'No blank cheques of support. But I can pledge that if we reach agreement on a joint plan, Conservatives will support those measures in Parliament on a three line whip.'

Defence Minister Luke Pollard responded: 'When Badenoch's Tories were last in power, they hollowed out and underfunded our Armed Forces, leaving our brave service men and women exposed. Badenoch should start with an apology for the mess they left behind, instead of taking pot shots.'

However there is still no sign of the Defence Investment Plan, first promised last autumn, amid claims that the Treasury is holding up its publication.

It is unlikely to appear in the next month because of restrictions on Government announcements in the purdah period before May's elections.

And even Labour MP Tan Dhesi, who chairs the Defence Select Committee, warned: 'The lack of a public plan now runs the risk of undermining the UK's ability to play a full and leading role in Nato.'

The row came as Sir Keir  who met UK troops at King Fahd Air Base in Taif, Saudi Arabia  said the UK was working to make the fragile truce permanent and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz to shipping.

The Prime Minister arrived in Jeddah after a ceasefire was announced between the US and Iran

'We've been convening a number of countries. I now get the opportunity, here in Saudi Arabia and countries nearby in the region, to have these discussions, to co-ordinate our actions and to go forward collectively in pursuit of those two missions,' the PM told broadcasters on Wednesday.

Asked if his relationship with Donald Trump was 'in tatters', after the US President repeatedly insulted the UK's lack of support for his attacks on Iran, Sir Keir insisted: 'I've acted as you would expect of a British Prime Minister, which is by being absolutely focused on what is our national interest, and that's why I've applied my principles and my values throughout.'

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage predicted Sir Keir's trip would go badly, saying: 'He's upset the Americans, he's upset the Cypriots, he's upset the Gulf states, and this level of indecision and chopping and changing your mind is quite extraordinary.'

And Tory peer Lord Kempsell said: 'Starmer has immediately flown to the Middle East to emphasise his crucial role in the US-Iran ceasefire, which he didn't broker, didn't know was coming, didn't participate in shaping and had absolutely no part in whatsoever.'
One warm aspect of my widowed mothers 2024 return to Jordanhill, where I was raised in the 1970s, is the chance  on my occasional city break  to revisit old haunts, and chief among them is a single-storey brick sprawl amidst an ocean of social housing.

Completed in 1972, Knightswood Community Centre  where the late local MP, Donald Dewar, used to host bingo sessions for perky grandmothers  hasnt aged well.

The fabric is dated and the swimming pool at its heart long derelict. But the library, to me, is a quiet haven of joy; for it was the first library I ever knew and, as a serene physical space, has barely changed in half a century.

Its still quietly busy. A safe space. A warm retreat for local pensioners. Boys in Jordanhill blazers bend their heads in quiet study.

There are not nearly as many books as I remember  the emphasis now is much more on internet access  but Knightswood Library is an ongoing, quiet endeavour for decency.

Even today, I still resort quite often to my local library here in Stornoway  for its excellent reference section on local history, for occasional photocopying, for some arcane point of research that cannot readily be done online.

The other day, for instance, I dropped in to check a detail in the electoral register. There was the usual stand, near the door, of retired library books on sale for pennies.

I was amused to note no fewer than five cancelled copies of David Walliams The Boy in the Dress  five more, surely, from that disgraced and creepy hand than the Outer Hebrides ever needed.

Libraries may be something of a public sector Cinderella these days, but were central to the rise of a lettered working class, writes John MacLeod

In the early 90s, of course, and in connection with my job, I had to use our local library far more frequently and of necessity: no worldwide web, at least as far as the Western Isles were concerned, in that olden time.

Many a newspaper feature was deftly stitched even from the scant collection at our facility in Tarbert, Harris  and, if you needed clear information very quickly, the childrens non-fiction shelves were ideal.

And any local library is an ideal point of reference for catching the feel  the spirit  of a place, from community notices on the pinboard to volumes picked out for special display by the staff.

In October 1996 I fetched up in a small town in the Pacific North-West of the USA  North Bend, Washington.

The local bar was an eerily tense den of conscious, open sin, complete with frosted bottles of Budweiser and a sign prohibiting the carrying of concealed firearms. A holstered gun on open display was not, apparently, an issue.

I had been lured to North Bend for the legendary cherry pie at the Mar T diner and because the town was a shooting location for Twin Peaks.

But then, replete, I found North Bends public library, and browsed for a contented hour in its quiet, brightly lit civility.

Scotland has a notable place in the history of libraries because we gave the world Andrew Carnegie, born in Dunfermline in 1835 and whisked away, at the age of 12, when the family emigrated to the States.

He began working life in a cotton mill as a bobbin boy, then a telegrapher. Already wealthy by his thirtieth birthday, he moved into steel. By 1901  with a personal fortune of some $300 billion by todays values  Carnegie was the richest man in America.

He wasnt perfect. His attitude to workers pressing for better pay and conditions was, um, robust; and late in life Carnegie became fascinated by spelling reform.

It is thanks to him that ordinary Americans today labor; that posher ones enjoy the theater. Only Carnegies death, in 1919, spared us such delights as filosofy.

But he simply loved libraries: believed he owed everything to those he had frequented as an ill-educated but literate youth. And, by his generosity, the Dunfermline Carnegie Library opened in his hometown in 1883 and prospers still.

That was only the start. By his death, he had bankrolled more than 2,500 libraries throughout Britain and the USA. It was never a blank cheque  or, as he would doubtless have preferred, check: the local authority had to demonstrate the need for a library, provide the site, pay 10 per cent of the build-cost and commit to run and fund the facility thereafter.

But up Carnegies libraries went and some are of palatial magnificence.

The Edinburgh Central Library, opened on George IV Bridge in 1890, was the very first in Scotlands capital.

A pile of architectural splendour: terrazzo floors, a grand staircase, a stately dome.

A bust of Carnegie beholds you on those sweeping stairs.

Within are a childrens library, a fiction library, a grand non-fiction library, a music library, the cathedral-like reference library, a splendid basement Scottish library, an art library and even a dedicated Edinburgh library.

Andrew Carnegie was once the world's richest man - and by his generosity in funding libraries in Scotland, transformed the nation

All you have to do is walk in off the street and read.

It is no exaggeration to say that, by his generosity in Scotland alone Carnegie transformed our country.

However mean your circumstances or lowly your station in life, if you could read you could use a library.

We proved early adopters of lifelong learning, libraries were central to the rise of a lettered working class, the surge of the Labour movement and, one could argue, the post-war welfare state.

Not that Carnegie was the only benefactor.

In Glasgow alone, philanthropists like George Baillie and Stephen Mitchell also funded generous library provision  to aid the self-culture of the operative classes, as Baillie put it in 1883, from youth to manhood and old age, by furnishing them with warm, well-lighted, and every way comfortable accommodation at all seasons, for reading useful and interesting books.

Libraries are, alas, today, something of a public sector Cinderella: hours ever briefer, funding ever meaner. Stornoway Public Library was booted from its magnificent purpose-built premises around 1979 because the council needed more office space.

It languished for 20 years in squeaky-floored Portakabins and was then consigned to a repurposed, windowless Cromwell Street shop. Its gentle staff toil all day in artificial light; can only display a fraction of the books they hold.

Yet it hangs on and is still cherished by those who love nothing better than their nose in a book. As young-adult novelist Joan Bauer has pithily put it: My grandma always said that God made libraries so that people didnt have any excuse to be stupid.
Three constituency candidates standing for Reform UK voted for independence, its Scottish leader has revealed  but he has refused to name them.

Lord Malcolm Offord confirmed on Wednesday that his candidates for the 73 Holyrood constituencies included a series of activists who backed the SNPs bid to tear Scotland out of the UK.

Until now, only two of the candidates have spoken publicly about their support for separation  Kenneth Morton, who is standing in John Swinneys constituency of Perthshire North, and David Kirkwood, in Dumfriesshire.

It led to fresh claims that Reform is not a Unionist party and will not stand up for Scotlands place in the UK.

The latest revelations came as Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, admitted that the party has encountered potholes in its Holyrood election campaign but vowed to fix them during a campaign event in Aberdeen.

He was also forced to defend the leadership of Lord Offord following three weeks of chaos since the party unveiled its manifesto and candidates for next months election, and stepped up his demands for new oil and gas drilling by warning of the risk of blackouts under the Labour governments approach.

Asked how many Reform candidates have supported independence and are relaxed about an independence referendum, Lord Offord said: We have a very small number, weve got three people out of 73 who have had that tendency in the past. It doesnt matter, they are on their journey.

What they want is Scotland to be the most successful part of the UK and they feel badly, badly let down by the SNP, who it turns out are not serious about anything other than staying in power for another five years.

Deputy leader of Reform UK Richard Tice has defended Malcolm Offord after several election campaign missteps

Asked to name the three pro-independence candidates, a senior Reform UK official said he wanted to check with Lord Offord first to make sure they are thinking of the same three.

Outside the event venue later, Lord Offord refused to say which three candidates he was referring to.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: Lord Offord needs to stop playing games and come clean.

It matters hugely that Reform have independence-supporting candidates - and pro-UK voters have a right to know who they are.

It's becoming clearer every day that Reform are not a Unionist party. As well as fielding candidates who want to break up the UK, Lord Offord refuses to rule out another referendum and has even provided nationalists with a routemap to independence.

The Scottish Conservatives are the only party who will stand up for the Union and against the SNP's efforts to tear up our country. That's why pro-UK voters must back us on their peach ballot to stop an SNP majority.

Reform UK has lost eight candidates since Mr Farage unveiled them on stage three weeks ago, and has also been beset by a series of controversies over past comments candidates have made.

Lord Offord was also embroiled in controversy over a past homophobic joke, and faced questions over why he took part in the Royal Ocean Racing Clubs regatta yacht race over the Easter weekend rather than campaigning with activists.

Malcolm Offord's 'disastrous' campaign has cast doubts on leadership

Asked about how long Lord Offords leadership will last following a disastrous campaign, Mr Tice said: Malcolm and the team are doing an incredible job. We've gone from nowhere in the polls, everybody 12-18 months ago said we won't get any MSPs, and under Malcolm's leadership and the whole incredible team here, I think remarkable things are going to happen.

The job of the press is to scrutinise us, and of course there are potholes in the road, potholes in council campaigns is a key thing and we drive through the potholes and we will fill them in.

'That's our objective across the UK and the councils that we will win, and we're pushing on and we're very proud of what everybody in Scotland is doing.

He added: The key thing about potholes is lets fix them, and thats the key thing.

On the decision to take part in the yacht race, Lord Offord said: God forbid a man has a hobby and takes a day off at Easter.

Lord Offord also admitted to 'bumps in the road' but said he is 'proud that 80 per cent of our candidates have not been politicians before' and insisted there had comprehensive vetting of candidates.

During Wednesday's event, Mr Tice, Reforms energy spokesman, also called for all of the existing drilling consents in the North Sea to be approved, including Rosebank and Jackdaw.

In a stunt at the event, the lights went out  and he was the UK nearly had blackouts last year. He said: To think that we are on an island of energy treasure of oil and gas and yet we could run out of electricity.
Donald Trump will discuss quitting NATO as he meets with the alliance's Secretary General on Wednesday over its failure to support his war in Iran.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters: 'I have a direct quote from the President of the United States on NATO, and I will share it with all of you: "They were tested and they failed."

'And I would add, it's quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks, when it's the American people who have been funding their defense.'

Trump is preparing to discuss quitting the 32-member bloc when he meets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, having repeatedly demanded allies send warships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Leavitt told reporters: 'Withdrawing from NATO... is something that the President will be discussing in a couple of hours with [Rutte] and perhaps you'll hear directly from the President following that meeting.'

The White House also hit out at claims from Iran that the Strait of Hormuz had been closed over Israeli attacks on the regime's proxy terror groups in Lebanon.

'We have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today,' Leavitt said, noting that there was a difference between what Iran said publicly versus privately.

Two tankers were allowed through the strait this morning as the two-week ceasefire commenced, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported, though it later said passage had been suspended 'simultaneous with Israel's attacks on Lebanon.'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, appearing at a briefing earlier on Wednesday, relayed that the President had said that NATO 'were tested and they failed'

Trump is preparing to discuss quitting the 32-member bloc when he meets NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte later on Wednesday

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, on Wednesday. Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire

Leavitt added that 'Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire.'

Iran also threatened to destroy oil tankers if they try to travel through the Strait without permission, as the regime has imposed a toll of up to $2 million per vessel.

Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, a critical artery routing crude from the Gulf to the Red Sea, came under drone attack at 1pm local time, the FT reported.

Kuwait's air defenses intercepted 28 drones in sustained attacks targeting oil facilities, power plants and water desalination infrastructure from 8am Wednesday, the country's army said, adding that strikes were still ongoing.

There were also reports of explosions rocking Tehran, which Leavitt declined to comment on, pending information from Trump's national security team.

Vice President JD Vance, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to visit Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, for a first round of peace talks on Saturday, Leavitt revealed.

She also confirmed that there were discussions between the US and China at the very 'top levels' of government after a reporter asked about Beijing's involvement in the ceasefire.

Beijing urged Tehran to make a deal with Washington, alarmed by the economic turmoil inflicted by the war, three Iranian officials told the New York Times last night.

Trump is facing a furious backlash from his most fervent supporters over the ceasefire and ten-point peace plan, amid fears it concedes too much to Tehran, with even the White House forced to clarify his claims about the terms of the deal.

Iran publicly released what it claimed was the ten-point plan, demanding the US accept Tehran's continued control over the Strait, recognize its right to uranium enrichment, lift all sanctions, pay compensation and withdraw all troops from the region.

Join the discussion Do YOU think NATO has failed in this situation?

Smoke rises from the direction of Mehrabad airport, Tehran, on Tuesday, before the ceasefire

The Strait of Hormuz handles around 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas but has effectively been shut down by Iran in retaliation over the joint US-Israeli attacks launched on February 28

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Trump described the points as 'a workable basis on which to negotiate,' only for a White House official to say they did not match what the President had in mind.

The President then appeared to contradict his own team, saying most points had 'been fully negotiated' while leaving the door open to resuming strikes if the deal fell apart.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham demanded JD Vance appear before Congress to explain the terms of the agreement after the dovish Vice President spearheaded 11th-hour peace talks mediated by Pakistan.

'The supposed negotiating document, in my view, has some troubling aspects, but time will tell,' Graham posted on X.

'I look forward to the architects of this proposal, the Vice President and others, coming forward to Congress and explaining how a negotiated deal meets our national security objectives in Iran.'

Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska said Trump had secured 'significant victories' but expressed skepticism over the peace talks and the President's claims of 'total victory.'

'The government's still in place and we should be negotiating from a position of strength, not a position that's good for them,' he told CNN.

'They will work with Russia and China as soon as they can to start rebuilding their military. And they will be a threat five, six, seven, eight years down the road. And so, as long as this government's in place, total victory has not been earned.'

Laura Loomer, a pro-Israel Trump ally, predicted the ceasefire 'will fail.'

'The negotiation is a negative for our country. We didn't really get anything out of it and the terrorists in Iran are celebrating,' she wrote on X. 'I don't know why people are acting like this is a win.'

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags at a protest in Enghelab Square, Tehran, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will likely find it highly unpalatable if Tehran continues to control traffic through the vital oil passage

Mark Levin, another pro-Israel commentator with close ties to Trump, said that while he trusts the President's 'instincts,' the Iranians could not be trusted.

'This enemy is still the enemy; they're still surviving,' he said of Iran.

Trump called the deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz a 'joint venture' and also promised that the US was working with Iran to dismantle its uranium enrichment capacity.

The President wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: 'There will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 bombers) nuclear "dust."'

The safety of the uranium was confirmed before an 11th-hour deal was struck, the White House said.

'Nothing has been touched from the date of attack,' Trump said, claiming that the nuclear site has been watched closely since it was bombed.

It is not clear whether Trump was referring to the US bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities in June, or to more recent strikes during the current Iran war.

Trump said that tariff and sanctions relief were being discussed as part of a peace plan with 'many' points already agreed.

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Iran has already begun outlining a scheme to rake in billions from the Strait of Hormuz.

The exact terms remain unsettled, but ships must notify intermediary companies linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of their cargo, destination and owner, with tolls of at least $1 per barrel payable in Chinese yuan or cryptocurrency.

Trump welcomed the idea, telling ABC: 'We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people.

IRAN'S TEN-POINT PEACE PLAN

1. Commitment to non-aggression 2. Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz 3. Acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment 4. Lifting of all primary sanctions 5. Lifting of all secondary sanctions 6. Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions 7. Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions 8. Paying compensation to Iran 9. Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region 10. Cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon

'It's a beautiful thing.'

The Strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil flows, has been dubbed the 'Tehran Tollbooth' by analysts and traders.

The average bill for a single tanker runs to $2 million - and only once payment clears will IRGC patrol boats escort the vessel through the 'tollbooth.'

Some analysts believe the scheme could net Iran as much as $500 billion over five years.

Oil prices plunged on Wednesday, even as the Strait remained throttled. Brent crude - the global benchmark - fell by 13 percent to $95 per barrel after hitting $118 at the peak of the conflict.

Hamid Hosseini, a spokesman for Iran's Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters' Union, said cargo checks were necessary to prevent the transport of weaponry.

'Iran needs to monitor what goes in and out of the strait to ensure these two weeks aren't used for transferring weapons,' Hosseini, whose industry association has close ties to the regime, told the FT.

'Everything can pass through, but the procedure will take time for each vessel, and Iran is not in a rush,' he added.

Hosseini's comments indicate vessels must hug the northerly Iranian coast of the Strait, a prospect that will raise alarm among maritime insurers.

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags on Wednesday

A boat approaches the St Kitts and Nevis-flagged container ship Marsa Victory while cruising in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Khasab in Oman's northern Musandam peninsula on June 25

Tankers in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday received a radio alert warning that they would be targeted if they did not first gain transit approval from Iranian authorities.

'If any vessels try to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed,' said the broadcast in English.

Western shipping giants scrambled to establish whether the Strait was truly operational again.

Maersk, the world's second-largest shipping line, said it was 'working with urgency' to clarify the terms.

'The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty,' it said, adding that it was maintaining a 'cautious approach' and would not immediately change any routes.

If Iran keeps its grip on the Strait, it will raise explosive questions for OPEC+, the oil producers' cartel, and redraw the balance of power in the region.

Saudi Arabia, one of the group's most powerful members, would regard Iranian control of the waterway as intolerable. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had urged Trump to crush the Iranian regime before the ceasefire.

Ali Shihabi, a commentator close to the Saudi royal court, told the FT: 'Allowing Iran any form of control over the strait would be a red line. The priority has to be unimpeded access through the strait.'
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a chilly response when confronted directly with the harrowing reality facing innocent civilians trapped in Iran.

Confronting the threat of devastating military strikes after Trump's vow to wipe out an 'entire civilization' on Tuesday, terrified civilians told the Daily Mail they were frantically evacuating major cities and saying goodbye to loved ones.

Defiant government leaders even deployed a horribly chilling tactic: ordering their own citizens onto the streets as human shields.

Hours later, Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire with Iran's new regime, he called more reasonable, to work together on a peace deal.

But many Iranians tell the Daily Mail they remain confused and terrified - with no real guidance from the US administration, or their own government, on what to do next.

During a tense exchange in the White House briefing room on Wednesday, the Daily Mail pressed Leavitt on what message the administration has for terrified Iranians who are currently suffering under a communications blackout and are unsure of how to survive.

The President's own directives have included telling Iranian civilians to 'stay inside their homes,' while also urging them to 'take back their country.'

But the top White House spokeswoman bluntly pivoted away from addressing the humanitarian crisis and conflicting messaging.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt offered a chilly response when confronted directly with the harrowing reality facing innocent civilians trapped in Iran

'I think the President's main priority, and my main priority, is to make sure that clear messages are sent to the American people, of course, which is my job today,' Leavitt stated.

The US has confirmed 13 service members killed and over 380 wounded, according to data provided Wednesday by US Central Command.

On the Iranian side, the figures are far more severe and heavily disputed, with estimates of military fatalities ranging from 1,200 to over 3,000, according to Human Rights Activists in Iran.

She then turned to the administration's military objectives, claiming the President has successfully eliminated 'the imminent threat that was posed by their military, to the United States, to our allies in the region to our forces in the region.'

Leavitt added that the President hopes Iran will become a 'country of peace and prosperity,' noting that the administration is 'moving into this next round of negotiations to hopefully come to an agreement with this new regime that will create long-term stability.'

However, Leavitt's response glaringly sidestepped the mixed messages the White House is currently broadcasting to the Iranian public.

Join the discussion How do YOU feel about the messaging to Iranian civilians?

Iranians gathered at infrastructure sites including bridges and power plants as they taunted Trump's message of annihilation

During a tense exchange in the White House briefing room, the Daily Mail pressed Leavitt on what message the administration has for terrified Iranians who are currently suffering under a communications blackout and are unsure of how to survive

The Daily Mail informed the press secretary about messages exchanged with Iranians who said their final goodbyes in case Trump followed through with his threats to 'wipe out Iran's civilization' if their leaders did not come to the table last night

The Daily Mail followed up, pointing out a stark contradiction in the President's own directives asking civilians to stay indoors while simultaneously encouraging a civilian uprising.

But Leavitt dodged the question.

'Again, we are moving into this next round of negotiations with the remnants of the regime and those that we are speaking with now, to hopefully reach a place of peace long-term for the region,' she repeated, adding that this long-term peace would 'include the Iranian people as well.'

But the chaos on the ground continues after a harrowing lead-up to the ceasefire agreement.

'My internet connection keeps cutting out for long periods. If our chat stays on Instagram, it could put me in serious danger - the regime randomly connects people's phones to the internet in the streets and checks their apps. I have to delete our chat. Wishing you a path full of success,' one Iranian messaged the Daily Mail yesterday following the President's threats to the country.

Beyond her remarks toward Iranian civilians, Leavitt spent much of the briefing touting the scale of 'Operation Epic Fury.'

She characterized the 38-day campaign as a 'historically swift and successful military triumph' that exceeded its core objectives.

'The US military destroyed Iran's defense industrial base, crushing the regime's ability to manufacture weapons that they and their proxies use to maim and kill Americans and terrorize the world,' Leavitt stated.

The regime's paranoia has led to severe crackdowns on communications, prompting many to sever ties with the outside world. Two Iranians, one in Tehran and one in Isfahan, are already saying goodbye to their friends and family and frantically deleting messages

Video footage showed women and children waving flags as chanting blared on a loudspeaker at a power plant

Trump said he would target power plants and civilian bridges

She provided a grim tally of the destruction: 'Iran now has zero submarine vessels,' she said, and its Air Force is 'functionally and operationally irrelevant'  daily flights having plummeted from nearly 100 to zero.

The briefing also shed light on how the ceasefire came about. Leavitt revealed that the administration had 'literally thrown in the garbage' Iran's initial 10-point plan, opting instead for a 'modified' version of the President's own 15-point proposal.

'The President's red lines - namely, the end of Iranian enrichment on Iranian soil - have not changed,' she warned. Vice President JD Vance will lead a negotiating team to Islamabad this Saturday for formal talks.

But the administration remains on high alert.

Echoing Vance's own words, Leavitt called the agreement a 'fragile truce,' warning that 'the Pentagon had a target list that they were ready to hit go on at 8pm Tueday night if the Iranian regime had not agreed to open the strait.'
A North Carolina homeless man accused of murdering Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in a brutal on-camera attack has been found 'incapable to proceed' to trial, his attorneys claim.

Attorneys for DeCarlos Brown Jr, 35, said in court filings Tuesday that his trial on state murder charges should be called off following an evaluation by a psychiatrist.

Under North Carolina state law, a defendant is only incapable to proceed to trial if they cannot understand the nature of their charges, cannot comprehend their role in court proceedings and cannot help their own defense.

Brown's attorney Daniel Roberts said the murder suspect underwent a capacity evaluation in hospital in December which he failed leading a psychiatrist to determine he is unfit to face murder charges.

Zarutska died after her throat was slashed as she sat alone on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina in August 2025.

Brown, 35, is also facing federal charges in connection to her murder and his lawyers requested a judge delay a hearing in that trial, where prosecutors would say whether they plan to seek the death penalty.

His attorneys also said he cannot undergo a separate psychiatric evaluation for that trial while still in custody.

It comes after the Daily Mail exclusively revealed Brown's first ever jailhouse calls after allegedly murdering Zarutska, in which he spoke of 'materials in my brain' which he claimed forced him to stab her.

DeCarlos Brown Jr, 35, a North Carolina homeless man accused of murdering Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in a brutal on-camera attack has been found 'incapable to proceed' to trial, his attorneys claim

Zarutska's throat was slashed as she sat by herself on a train in August 2025, in a shocking killing that was caught on surveillance footage which stunned the nation

Zarutska fled Ukraine due to the war only to be murdered on public transport months later

Brown had dozens of prior arrests before Zarutska's murder and had been freed by North Carolina Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes just seven months before he allegedly stabbed the refugee.

The killing sparked calls for tougher sentencing for repeat offenders after it emerged that Brown, whose prior arrests included for armed robbery and assault, was freed on a 'written promise' that he would return for his next court appearance.

Brown was arrested on January 19, 2025 for alleged 'misuse of the 911 system', after he dialed the emergency number in a manic episode claiming 'man made' materials were inside his body controlling his movements.

Footage of the attack on Zarutska showed the refugee sitting by herself after finishing a shift in a pizza shop, looking down at her phone as Brown boarded the train and sat behind her.

Moments later, Brown appeared to unfurl a switch blade, before standing up and looming over the refugee.

Images of the surveillance footage went viral on social media as Zarutska was seen cowering in fear from her seat moments before she was knifed.

The suspect was then seen walking down the train dripping blood on the floor as other passengers barely registered the horror that took place.

Zarutska had only recently arrived in the US before she was killed, 'seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning', her family said

Surveillance footage showed Brown allegedly swinging a switchblade at Zarutska and slashing her throat as she sat on the train in Charlotte, North Carolina

The suspect was then seen walking down the train dripping blood on the floor as other passengers barely paid attention to the horror that just took place

Brown was arrested soon after and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was then charged with first-degree murder on his release.

Zarutska had only recently arrived in the US before she was killed, 'seeking safety from the war and hoping for a new beginning', her family said on a GoFundMe page.

The case captured national headlines and sparked outrage, with President Trump referencing Zarutska in his State of the Union as he called for a nationwide crime crackdown.
Iran has accused the US of breaching their ceasefire agreement even as Donald Trump insists the truce holds, fresh explosions rock America's Arab allies, and Tehran declares the Strait of Hormuz shut.

Iran's parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US of violating three terms of the disputed ceasefire agreement on Wednesday.

He said Israel's attacks on Lebanon, drones breaching Iranian airspace, and the White House's insistence that Tehran will not enrich uranium all constitute violations of a 10-point proposal Trump had signed off on.

'Now, the very "workable basis on which to negotiate" has been openly and clearly violated, even before the negotiations began,' Ghalibaf posted on X, quoting Trump. 'In such situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable.'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt disputed Iran's version of the ceasefire terms at a briefing hours later, stating Trump never agreed to let Iran continue uranium enrichment.

'The President's red lines, namely, the end of Iranian enrichment in Iran have not changed, and the idea that President Trump would ever accept an Iranian wish list as a deal is completely absurd,' Leavitt said.

She also claimed that the Strait of Hormuz was open despite Iranian media reporting that the vital oil artery had been closed in response to Israel's strikes on Lebanon, a hotbed for Tehran terror proxy Hezbollah.

'We have seen an uptick of traffic in the strait today,' Leavitt said, noting that there was a difference between what Iran said publicly versus privately.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, appearing at a briefing earlier on Wednesday, relayed that the President had said that NATO 'were tested and they failed'

Though some ships went through the Strait of Hormuz early on Wednesday, other ships have turned around. Iran state media has announced the strait is currently closed

President Donald Trump said Tuesday evening that Iran had agreed to a deal to re-open the strait, thought reports indicate that it is not fully open

Two tankers were allowed through the strait this morning as the two-week ceasefire commenced, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported, though it later said passage had been suspended in step with Israel's attacks on Lebanon.

Iran also threatened to destroy oil tankers if they try to travel through the Strait without permission, as the regime has imposed a toll of up to $2 million per vessel.

Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, a critical artery routing crude from the Gulf to the Red Sea, came under drone attack at 1pm local time, the Financial Times reported.

Kuwait's air defenses intercepted 28 drones in sustained attacks targeting oil facilities, power plants and water desalination infrastructure from 8am Wednesday, the country's army said, adding that strikes were still ongoing.

There were also reports of explosions rocking Tehran, which Leavitt declined to comment on, pending information from Trump's national security team.

Iran's parliamentary speaker Ghalibaf claimed that the US is in 'non-compliance with the first clause of the 10-Point proposal regarding the ceasefire in Lebanon.'

Beirut, the Lebanese capital, was under massive bombardment by Israeli forces.

'Lebanon is not part of the cease fire,' Leavitt said. 'That has been related to all parties involved in the ceasefire.'

Join the discussion Do YOU believe the ceasefire has already been broken?

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike in Bint Jbeil, southern Lebanon, on Wednesday. Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire

Vance told reporters on Wednesday that he has seen signs of the strait re-opening

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Vice President JD Vance told reporters the Israelis had assured US officials they would 'check themselves' in Lebanon.

'That's not because that is part of the ceasefire. I think that's the Israelis trying to set us up for success, and we'll, of course, see how that unfolds in the next few days,' he said.

He also said that he's seen signs that the Strait is beginning to resume normal traffic.

Vance will travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, on Saturday alongside Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner for in-person negotiations, the White House announced.

Trump told ABC News on Wednesday morning that he is fine with Iran charging tolls for ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz safely.

'We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it  also securing it from lots of other people,' he said.

'It's a beautiful thing,' he added.

Trump described the points as 'a workable basis on which to negotiate,' only for a White House official to say they did not match what the President had in mind.

Iranians burn US and Israeli flags at a protest in Enghelab Square, Tehran, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE will likely find it highly unpalatable if Tehran continues to control traffic through the vital oil passage

The President then appeared to contradict his own team, saying most points had 'been fully negotiated' while leaving the door open to resuming strikes if the deal fell apart.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham demanded JD Vance appear before Congress to explain the terms of the agreement after the dovish Vice President spearheaded 11th-hour peace talks mediated by Pakistan.

'The supposed negotiating document, in my view, has some troubling aspects, but time will tell,' Graham posted on X.

'I look forward to the architects of this proposal, the Vice President and others, coming forward to Congress and explaining how a negotiated deal meets our national security objectives in Iran.'

Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska said Trump had secured 'significant victories' but expressed skepticism over the peace talks and the President's claims of 'total victory.'

'The government's still in place and we should be negotiating from a position of strength, not a position that's good for them,' he told CNN.

'They will work with Russia and China as soon as they can to start rebuilding their military. And they will be a threat five, six, seven, eight years down the road. And so, as long as this government's in place, total victory has not been earned.'

Laura Loomer, a pro-Israel Trump ally, predicted the ceasefire 'will fail.'

'The negotiation is a negative for our country. We didn't really get anything out of it and the terrorists in Iran are celebrating,' she wrote on X. 'I don't know why people are acting like this is a win.'

Mark Levin, another pro-Israel commentator with close ties to Trump, said that while he trusts the President's 'instincts,' the Iranians could not be trusted.

'This enemy is still the enemy; they're still surviving,' he said of Iran.
Vice President JD Vance is facing Republican crossfire as he's tapped by President Donald Trump to lead peace talks with Iran this weekend.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who's been a cheerleader for the President amid the war effort, voiced skepticism about Vance's role in an X post on Wednesday.

'I look forward to the architects of this proposal, the Vice President and others, coming forward to Congress and explaining how a negotiated deal meets our national security objectives in Iran,' the South Carolina senator wrote.

Graham argued that the deal had to include a provision where all the highly enriched uranium would need to leave Iran.

'The last thing Im interested in is for Iran to be able to save face,' he said. 'I'm interested in a deal that will stop their maniacal drive to a nuclear weapon among other things.'

Later Graham cheered on tough talk Vance doled out during his trip to Hungary, saying the Iranians would 'find out that the president of the United States is not one to mess around.'

'Could not agree more, Mr. Vice President. I hope Iran is listening,' Graham posted to X.

In a piece from the New York Times this week, Vance was revealed to be the most skeptical voice going into the Iran war - a position much more aligned with the President's 'America First'- focused MAGA base.

Vice President JD Vance speaks to reporters as he departs Budapest, Turkey on Wednesday. He has been tapped to lead Iran war negotiations by President Donald Trump, despite the New York Times revealing that he was an Iran war skeptic

Senator Lindsey Graham, the Senate's No. 1 Iran warmonger, voiced some skepticism Wednesday over the Iran war negotiations, suggesting that Vance would need to defend them before Congress. He later commended Vance's tough talk on Iran

The newspaper characterized Vance as being the most opposed to mounting a full-scale war with Iran, writing that the VP believed a regime change effort would be a 'disaster.'

Vance described the Iran war during the planning phases as a 'huge distraction of resources' and 'massively expensive,' the Times said.

When it seemed all-but-certain Trump would strike Iran, Vance pushed that the President should use massive force, so that the conflict ended quickly, the paper said.

Vance also pointed out that going to war would be politically problematic for Trump, splintering MAGA.

But two days before Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu started their assault on Iran, Vance said in the Situation Room that his views were known, and that he'd support the President's actions, the Times said.

When asked if there was daylight between himself and the President during an Oval Office Q&A with reporters on March 16, Vance chastised the press.

'Look, I think that I know what you're trying to do,' Vance responded. 'You're trying to drive a wedge between members of the administration, between me and the president.'

The war has driven a wedge between some members of the Republican Party.

A number of more MAGA aligned lawmakers have expressed displeasure with the war, but they've aimed their ire toward Graham more than the President.

Representative Anna Paulina Luna, for example, chewed into Graham in an X post on March 9.

Representative Anna Paulina Luna previously smacked Senator Lindsey Graham for wanting President Donald Trump to escalate the war in Iran. 'NO BOOTS on the ground. If Senator Graham wants to go fight in a foreign conflict, let him be the first to volunteer,' she said

'NO BOOTS on the ground. If Senator Graham wants to go fight in a foreign conflict, let him be the first to volunteer,' she wrote.

Her spokesperson did not respond to the Daily Mail's request for comment on whether she approved of Vance leading negotiations.

Luna did retweet a positive video about Vance on Wednesday that was unrelated to Iran.

Other MAGA-aligned lawmakers have yet to give Vance's role their seal of approval.

During Wednesday's White House briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt made it official announcing that Vance would travel to Islamabad, Pakistan and lead negotiations alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The meetings are slated to begin Saturday morning.

'And we know we look forward to those in-person meetings,' Leavitt said.

The aim of those meetings is to turn the temporary, two-week ceasefire, into a more permanent deal, though that goal could remain elusive.
A heartbroken Queensland family is grieving the unimaginable loss of two young sons just six months apart.

Leroy Cane, 23, died in the early hours of Good Friday after losing control of his motorbike and crashing at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

His death came just six months and six days after his younger brother Ryan, 20, was electrocuted while standing near railway tracks in Duaringa, central Queensland, on September 28 last year.

Friends and relatives have since rallied around their parents, Paul and Leanne, and stepmother Jay, as tributes pour in for the two young men.

'Paul and I are devastated as parents,' Leanne wrote in a heartbreaking post last Friday.

'We kindly ask for compassion and love as we process our loss.'

In an earlier post marking six months since Ryan's death, she shared her grief.

'A mum should never have to say, my son died six months ago,' she wrote.

Leroy Cane was killed in a motorcycle crash six months after brother Ryan (right) lost his life

The latest tragedy to rock the family has sparked an outpouring of tributes

'There is a coronial investigation, and we have been told so little about how, or why, this tragedy happened.

'They say he died instantly, but my mind still cannot comprehend that I will never see Ryan move through life again.'

Jade Anderson paid tribute to her cousins on a fundraiser set up to ease the financial burden on her uncle Paul.

'Leroy who loved anything that could get him into trouble, and he did it all with a smile on his face,' she wrote.

'But his real passion? His motorbike, and he lived every day like an adventure.'

'Those who knew him will remember his infectious energy and his ability to turn an ordinary day into a story worth telling.'

An avid bull rider, Ryan was remembered as the quiet adventurer.

'He'd rather be out working in the middle of nowhere than anywhere near civilisation, and he loved it that way,' Ms Anderson wrote.

Leroy (left) and Ryan (third right) are pictured with their their parents Paul and Leanne and stepmother Jay (far right)

A police investigation into Leroy's fatal crash continues

'Bull riding was his passion, and the kind of wild, fearless pursuit that defined him.

'His car (and the multiple tyres he went through) was his faithful companions on those long drive, but beneath that independent spirit was a young man deeply loved by his family and friends.

A police investigation into the circumstances of Leroy's motorbike crash continues.

Anyone with information or footage of the motorbike before the crash is urged to come forward.
A crypto billionaire is returning to Britain so he can donate to Reform.

Ben Delo, one of Britain's youngest self-made billionaires, is coming home from Hong Kong to 'build a war chest' for Nigel Farage ahead of the next election.

His return comes amid Labour plans to cap donations to political parties from Britons living overseas at 100,000  in a move clearly designed to keep Mr Farage from Downing Street.

Mr Delo accused Keir Starmer of using legislation to 'stack the political deck against the most popular opposition party' and said Labour was playing a 'rigged game'. The expat was able to donate 4million to Reform before the changes.

But Sir Keir's move would mean billionaire Christopher Harborne, who has donated 12million to Reform from Thailand, can no longer support the party as an expat.

With Reform relying on big donations, Mr Delo said he hoped to inspire other rich expats to move back to defy Sir Keir's 'tinpot' attempt to fix the next election.

The co-founder of cryptocurrency trading platform Bitmex said: 'For Labour, sitting on its cushion of trade union funding, the idea that someone might create a level playing field by giving Reform as much money to spend as other parties is intolerable.'

Mr Farage, meanwhile, said that Mr Delo's support would 'help Reform attract more of the skills and talents we need to get ready for government'.

Ben Delo, one of Britain's youngest self-made billionaires, is coming home from Hong Kong to 'build a war chest' for Nigel Farage ahead of the next election

Mr Farage meanwhile said that Mr Delo's support would 'help Reform attract more of the skills and talents we need to get ready for government' (The Reform leader is pictured on Wednesday)

Join the discussion Should wealthy expats be able to influence UK elections by returning just to fund political parties?

He said: 'It is particularly gratifying to me personally, that someone like Ben  a builder, visionary and problem-solver, who has spent a lifetime grasping trends before other people do, sees the potential of Reform.'

Oxford graduate Mr Delo, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome at 11, said the 'chronically dishonest' culture of government makes it difficult for people with autism spectrum disorders to understand what politicians really mean.

He cited the confusing language in the debate over transgender rights as an example of something it is difficult for autistic people to grasp, contrasting it with Mr Farage's plain-speaking style.

The 42-year-old said on Wednesday: 'This game is stressful for most people, but for anyone wired for truth-seeking, it's downright impossible.'

Mr Delo, who was born in Sheffield, worked for IBM and JP Morgan before setting up his firm. In 2022 he was fined 7.5million by the US for failing to set up an anti-money laundering scheme for his company but was pardoned by Donald Trump last year.

His charitable foundation has given 100million to fund research and education, support autistic children and champion free speech.

He said he had become politically active to help save Britain from the 'entrenched self-deception of our elites' and their 'regime of nonsense'. He praised Reform for 'recognising and articulating the full scale of the problems our country faces', saying: 'For the first time, I feel serious people are looking honestly at what it might take to fix Britain.'

But he said he also admired Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Rupert Lowe, who set up the Restore Britain party after falling out with Reform.
As far as phone calls between friends go, everything about this one was out of this world.

Thousands of miles apart, 'astro sisters' Christina Koch and Jessica Meir caught up on Wednesday during the first moonship-to-spaceship radio call.

The achievement marked another record for Nasa's Artemis II mission.

But for Ms Koch, returning from the Moon on Orion spacecraft Integrity and Ms Meir, on board the International Space Station (ISS), it was also a chance to shoot the cosmic breeze together.

The friends previously worked together on the station, a laboratory orbiting Earth, and took part in the first all-female space walk in 2019.

Ms Koch, 47, referred to Ms Meir, 48, as her 'astro sister', adding that she had hoped to meet in space again  but 'never thought it would be like this, it's amazing'.

'I'm so happy that we are back in space together,' Ms Meir replied, 'even if we are a few miles apart.'

In fact, the ISS and Integrity were a staggering 230,000 miles apart during the call, made as the Artemis II astronauts hurtled back to Earth after a historic pass around the far side of the Moon.

Pictured: Astronaut Christina Koch

Pictured: Jessica Meir

This picture, titled 'Earthset', was taken from the far side of the moon and shows the Earth dipping beyond the lunar horizon

The last time humans ventured into deep space, during Nasa's Apollo voyages in the 1960s and 1970s, they communicated only with colleagues on Earth.

During the call, Artemis II commander Reid Wiseman said: 'We have been waiting for this like you can't imagine.'

Houston's Mission Control arranged the call between the four lunar travellers and four of the ISS's residents  three of whom are from Nasa and one from France.

Ms Koch told them she was awe-struck  not just by the beauty of Earth, 'but how much blackness there was around it'.

She told the Space Station crew: 'It just made it even more special. It truly emphasised how alike we are, how the same thing keeps every single person on planet Earth alive.

'The specialness and preciousness of that really is emphasised when viewing the home planet from the Moon.'

Integrity's crew are the first lunar explorers since Apollo 17 in 1972. They are aiming for a splashdown off San Diego in the early hours of Saturday UK time to wrap up the nearly ten-day test flight.

Nasa has warned there is 'no plan B' if the Artemis II heat shield fails during re-entry.
A former member of the US Army's elite Delta Force squad has been arrested for leaking classified secrets to a reporter as prosecutors revealed her private messages.

Courtney Williams, 40, was arrested Wednesday in connection with her alleged transmission of classified national defense information to individuals not authorized to receive it, including a journalist.

While the affidavit doesn't name the journalist, Williams is cited heavily in Seth Harp's book 'The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces' and was featured in a Politico profile by Harp, both published last year.

The article, titled 'My Life Became a Living Hell: One Woman's Career in Delta Force, the Army's Most Elite Unit' detailed her time as a 'signature reduction specialist.'

Court documents claim that between 2022 and 2025, Williams spoke via phone and text to Harp about her time working with the elite unit, which required her to sign a Classified Information Nondisclosure Agreement when she was hired and fired.

In the affidavit, Special Agent Jocelyn Fox cited a text between the two she said occurred on or about the day the book and article were published.

'Other than a few factual errors, I would definitely have been concerned with the amount of classified information being disclosed,' Williams' text read.

'I thought things I was telling you so you could have a better general understanding of how the (SMU) was set up or operated would not be published and it feels like an entire TTP (Tactics, Techniques and Procedures) was sent out in my name giving them a chance to legally persecute me.'

A former member of the United States Army's elite Delta Force squad has been arrested and charged with leaking classified secrets to a reporter

Courtney Williams, 40, was arrested Wednesday in connection with her alleged transmission of classified national defense information to individuals not authorized to receive it, including a journalist

Fox also cited an alleged exchange between Williams and her mother.

'I might actually get arrested, and I don't even get a free copy of the book,' the affidavit read. 'When her mother asked why she may be arrested, Williams responded 'for disclosing classified information.'

Harp called Williams' arrest 'a vindictive act of retaliation, plain and simple.'

'Courtney Williams is a brave whistleblower and truth-teller,' the reporter told WRAL.

'Former Delta Force operators disclose ''national defense information'' on podcasts and YouTube shows every day, but the government is going after Courtney for the sole reason that she exposed sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the unit.'

Williams, who is specifically charged with violating a provision of the Espionage Act, made an initial appearance Wednesday in Raleigh federal court, where a magistrate judge unsealed the case against her, initially filed late last week, according to online court records.

She was ordered held by the US Marshals Service pending hearings set for early next week.

When Williams was fired, she filed an EEOC complaint and eventually settled for an amount she claimed was 'sufficient to buy a small house in North Carolina.'

Williams is cited heavily in Seth Harp's book 'The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces' and was featured in a Politico profile by Harp, both published last year

Harp wrote that Williams' job meant she managed 'valid but fictious passports' and other identification for special forces operators on overseas missions.

His story also details accusations of what Harp described as gender discrimination and sexual harassment.

One incident mentioned Williams being forced to bend over for a supervisor 'to assess whether her underwear could be seen through the fabric.'

The Department of Justice alleged that Williams both disclosed classified information to Harp and 'made unauthorized disclosures of national defense information via her social media accounts.'

Harp named Williams as a source in his book and attributed specific information to his interviews with her over the course of 10 hours of telephone calls and over 180 text messages.

Williams, the DOJ alleged, saved ten files to her computer titled 'Batch for Reporter' that included personnel files from her time with Delta Force.

The complaint also cites one message from Harp where he talks to her about their exchange of information.

'Just wanted to let you know I dropped this in the mail today for the thumb drive. It's stamped and addressed and ready to be sent back, no need to go to the post office!'

Williams worked at the US Army's Fort Bragg in North Carolina from 2010 to 2016

The complaint notes that the files 'contained information that is properly classified as SECRET.'

'The classified information comprised, in part, specific Tactics, Techniques & Procedures (TTPs) utilized by this (SMU) to execute sensitive missions.'

On the day both the profile and the book were released, Williams admitted to Harp in a text message she was 'concerned about the amount of classified information being disclosed.'

She sent someone else a message writing: 'I might actually get arrested . . . for disclosing classified information.'

In another message, she admitted she was 'probably going to jail for life.'

When she was asked if she knew there could be legal consequences, she responded: 'I have known my entire career, they tell you everyday . . . 100 times a day.'

However, the day the story was published, she celebrated it in a LinkedIn post writing that 'I stood in rooms with thousands of men who watched me be sexually harassed, assaulted, and discriminated against. And they did nothing. All that power inherently gifted to them, and they did nothing.'

'Anyone divulging information they vowed to protect to a reporter for publication is reckless, self-serving and damages our nation's security,' Reid Davis, the FBI special agent in charge in North Carolina, said in a Justice Department news release.

Williams 'swore an oath to safeguard our nation's secrets as an employee supporting a Special Military Unit of the Army, but she allegedly betrayed that oath by sharing classified information with a media outlet and putting our nation, our warfighters, and our allies at risk,' Roman Rozhavsky, an assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, said in the statement.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced Williams' arrest on social media.

'Let this serve as a message to any would-be leakers: we're working these cases, and we're making arrests. This FBI will not tolerate those who seek to betray our country and put Americans in harm's way.'

Court records didn't immediately name Williams' lawyer.
People smugglers who ran a 'TripAdvisor for illegal migrants' travel service are facing jail time.

Dilshad Shamo, 43, and Ali Khdir, 42, secretly trafficked hundreds of illegal immigrants from the Middle East to Europe and the UK using an unassuming car wash in Caerphilly, south Wales, as their base.

From there, Iraqi-born Shamo and Iranian-born Khdir would organise boats, HGVs, taxis and cars as they defied border controls to hide illegal immigrants.

Cardiff Crown Court heard their secret smuggling business which moved people from Iraq, Iran and Syria through the EU to Italy, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany and France.

Their 'cover' was blown when National Crime Agency officers swooped on the Fast Track Hand Car Wash and allegedly seized hidden iPhones filled with trafficking messages.

Appearing in court, Shamo and Khdir initially denied the people smuggling plot but changed their pleas after two weeks of evidence against them.

Prosecutor Sarah Gaunt said the pair's main business was 'trafficking of people' or 'people smuggling, predominantly of migrants from Iran, Iraq and Syria.'

She continued: 'Migrants often paid several thousand pounds to be traffic across Europe by various organised routes.

Pictured: Iraqi national Dilshad Shamo, 43, who secretly trafficked hundreds of illegal immigrants from the Middle East to Europe and the UK running a 'TripAdvisor for illegal migrants'

Pictured: Iranian national Ali Khdir who alongside Shamo helped move people from Iraq , Iran and Syria through the EU to Italy , Romania , Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Austria, Germany and France

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'These defendants were conducting the people smuggling operation from Caerphilly and primarily from the Fast Track Hand Car Wash, situated in Pontygwindy Road, Caerphilly.

'The countries focussed upon, in this case, are Italy, Romania, Germany and Croatia. These four countries were among the European countries that migrants were trafficked to or through by these defendants.'

Ms Gaunt said a phone with incriminating messages belonging to Shamo was found 'behind a seat' in the car wash which had the user name matching his first name of Dilshad.

A phone belonging to Khdir was later seized - which had a second SIM card hidden in its case - and another phone belonging to Shamo was also seized which was linked to several numbers.

She said: 'The two phones said to belong to Shamo and the single telephone belonging to Khdir were downloaded and subjected to forensic examination.'

The court heard the defendants used different methods to smuggle people into Europe known as 'the Turkey route', 'the visa route', 'the lorry route' or 'the Bosnian route'.

Ms Gaunt said the 'Turkey route' involved migrants from Iran, Iraq or Syria legally crossing into Turkey before illegally travelling onwards by ship into Italy.

The 'tourist visa' method would see migrants obtain legal documents to enter countries such as Belarus and Moldova to then be trafficked on into Romania, Germany or Austria.

Fast Track hand car wash in Caerphilly, south Wales, which was used as a base for Shamo and Khdir to smuggle people

Ms Gaunt said the 'lorry route' would see migrants into lorries and move them on by sea or by road to Italy and German or 'onwards to other countries such as France.'

A fourth alleged method was called known as the 'Bosnian route' where 'Cars or taxis can be used to transport various individuals into Croatia or Slovenia and on to Italy.'

Ms Gaunt said that both Shamo and Khdir ran the car wash together.

She added: 'Although it did function as a car wash, this company may have also operated at least in part to provide a cover for the defendants' other activities.'

Shamo and Khdir, of Caerphilly, South Wales, admitted five counts of conspiring to breach migration laws in Italy, Romania, Croatia and Germany.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the offences - under the 1971 Immigration Act - are alleged to have been carried out between October 2022 and April 2023.

The trial of issue and sentence before Judge the Recorder of Cardiff Tracey Lloyd Clarke is due to last three days.

The sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court continues.
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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, radiated elegance as she attended the Reasons For Hope Gala in London, stepping out in a luxurious new gown from Zimmermann.

Sophie is no stranger to the Australian label, having worn at least seven of its vibrant designs for royal engagements.

Her latest look exudes glamour, thanks to its voluminous, floor-sweeping silhouette and semi-sheer chiffon overlay adorned with swirling gold motifs. The soft lilac-silver hue is equally flattering.

Naturally, a design like this comes with a hefty price tag - but I've found Sophie's exact dress on sale with 40 per cent off.

It would make a stunning choice for any special occasion, from a black-tie wedding to a summer evening soiree.

If you're shopping on a budget, head straight to my edit below for more affordable alternatives.

Recreate the look on the high street
There are two royal summer weddings already set in the calendar with Princess Anne's son Peter Philips tying the knot in June, and Lady Marina Windsor, the Duke of Kent's granddaughter announcing her nuptials.

However, a number of stunning aristocratic eligible bachelorettes remain well in the royal fold.

It includes the late Princess Diana's niece, 20-year-old Lady Lara Spencer, who has kept her life largely away from the public eye, but is rumoured to have studied overseas.

Elsewhere, the beautiful Lady Helen Taylor's daughters, Estella, 23, and Eloise, 20, have both stunned at public outings with their glamorous mother.

And always keen to show off her sense of style is the King's distant relative Zenouska Mowatt, 35, Head of Marketing at luxury design studio Katharine Pooley.

Read on to see who are the British royal eligible bachelorettes you've never heard about...

Zenouska Mowatt, 35

The granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth's cousin, Princess Alexandra of Kent has more than 8,200 followers on social media. Pictured in 2025

The King's distant relative Zenouska Mowatt is known for her glamorous looks and social media profile.

So it's no wonder that the 35-year-old is Head of Marketing at luxury design studio Katharine Pooley.

The granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth's cousin, Princess Alexandra of Kent - making her Her Majesty's first cousins twice removed - has more than 8,200 followers on social media, and often posts photos of herself at glamorous events.

Zenouska, who's mother is Princess Alexandra's daughter Marina Ogilvy, has also been a fixture at the likes of Ascot.

She has also worked for the prestigious royal-warrant holder Halcyon Days.

In 2022, Zenouska attended the lying in state service, where she was seen in a dignified black outfit after The Queen's death.

Lady Lara Spencer, 20

In 2024, sharing a rare photo with his 'darling daughter Lara', he celebrated her 18th birthday

The child of the late Princess Diana's brother Earl Charles Spencer and his second wife Caroline, Lady Lara Spencer, 20, has kept a relatively late profile.

In 2012, she was an adorable flower girl at her cousin Emily McCorquodale's wedding - an event which was also attended by William, Kate and Harry.

In 2024, sharing a rare photo with his 'darling daughter Lara', he celebrated her 18th birthday.

'My darling daughter Lara supporting me at my book launch on Thursday - but today we are all going to celebrate brilliant, dazzling, HER: for its Laras 18th birthday today,' he wrote on Instagram. 'So much love, my darling'

While not much is known about her upbringing, Charles has also in past hinted that she was considering moving across the pond.

Speaking on the Rabbit Hole Detectives podcast, he divulged: 'I just did a tour of the East Coast universities for my teenage daughter, and everywhere you went, one of the big stats they had was how many [books libraries had]

'That's a really big thing to them, it's a symbol of not just learning but status.'

Lady Eloise Taylor, 23

They welcomed Eloise Olivia Katherine Taylor on March 2, 2003 and later another daughter Estella Olga Elizabeth Taylor on 21 December 2004. Pictured last year

Eloise's mother, Lady Helen Taylor, is the only daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent.

Her first child Columbus George Donald Taylor was born on 6 August, 1994 and is 41st in line to the throne. His brother Cassius Edward Taylor followed on 26 December, 1996.

It was after Lady Helen's husband battled cancer that the couple announced they were expecting their third child.

Timothy was forced to undergo weekly sessions of chemotherapy at London's Royal Marsden Hospital after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, but had been in remission for almost two years when Lady Helen fell pregnant for a third time.

They welcomed Eloise Olivia Katherine Taylor on March 2, 2003 and later another daughter Estella Olga Elizabeth Taylor on 21 December 2004 - who are 43rd and 44th in line to the throne.

The two girls came to the attention of the press in June 2011 during the Trooping the Colour when the Duchess of Cambridge appeared enamoured with the pair.

Kate made a point of spending time with the girls, who were eight and six at the time, talking happily with them as the Queens official birthday parade and fly-past took place.

She bent down to talk to them and seemed just as interested in the children as she was the royal proceedings.

Last year, she looked to be in high spirits while attending Wimbledon with her mother and enjoying the royal box.

Lady Estella Taylor, 20

Estella reportedly studied at the Complutense University of Madrid. Pictured last year

Known for her cool style and trendy fashion choices, Eloise's sister Lady Estella has often been snapped at events with her mother, Lady Helen Taylor, 61.

Estella reportedly studied at the Complutense University of Madrid.

There, it is understood, she completed a degree in Education Sciences and later specialised in the field.

Lady Amelia Windsor, 30

The royal made her debut into society after leaving St Mary's at the age of 18, alongside Italian aristocrat Donna Melusine Ruspoli and Indian royal Princess Akshita Bhanj Deo

Lady Amelia was born in Cambridge in 1995, the second daughter of George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews, the son of the Duke of Kent, and Sylvana Tomaselli, a Canadian-born academic and historian.

The royal made her debut into society after leaving St Mary's at the age of 18 at the Bal des Debutantes in 2013, alongside Italian aristocrat Donna Melusine Ruspoli and Indian royal Princess Akshita Bhanj Deo.

Following this, Amelia took a gap year to explore India and Thailand, before returning to the UK and studying French and Italian at the University of Edinburgh.

Now, at 30 years old, Lady Amelia is one of the UK's most glamorous young aristocrats.

The Tatler cover girl is famously dubbed 'the most beautiful member of the royal family' when she graced the magazine's cover in 2016.

A fashion powerhouse, she has been signed with Storm Model Management since 2016, joining an illustrious roaster of clients including Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne and Lady Kitty Spencer.

Amelia, who lives in Notting Hill with her sister, has also been making a name for herself with designer collaborations, including collections with SALOME and Pretty Ballerina.

Since January 2021, she has been the patron of the Cross River Gorilla Project, a wildlife initiative aiming to protect Critically Endangered Cross River gorillas from extinction.

It has been rumoured that Amelia is engaged.

Lady Louise Windsor, 22

Lady Louise, whose parents are Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, is said to have 'fallen in love' with army cadets alongside her university degree at St Andrews. Pictured in 2023

The studious niece of King Charles, 22, is seldom seen at royal events with her family as she prioritises her studies and keeps a lower profile - but as she's set to be considering a career in the military, her nickname as The Firm's 'secret weapon' may soon materialise.

Lady Louise, whose parents are Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, is said to have 'fallen in love' with army cadets alongside her university degree at St Andrews - much like her father did a generation earlier.

A source told The Sun: 'She talks about being very keen on a career in the military, serving the King and country. She is all about the Army Cadets and has fallen in love with it.'

If the young royal, who has maintained a low profile during her university days, goes down the military path, she will be the first female royal since her late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to do so.

While Lady Louise often shies away from the spotlight, instead keeping a firm focus on her education, she may become a rising star among the younger generation of royals as she's set to follow in the footsteps of the late Queen, with whom she was very close.

Seventeenth in line to the throne, she is currently in her second year at the University of St Andrews studying English and has reportedly said on her LinkedIn page that she is interested in pursuing a career in 'the military, diplomacy or law'.

Louise is also treading in the footsteps of her cousin, William, who attended St Andrews where he met his now wife, the Princess of Wales.

However, while nothing has been confirmed, the young royal has also reportedly found love with a boyfriend at university.
Angela Kelly's close friendship with the late Queen was frowned upon by Palace aides who felt the royal dresser was 'technically a servant', it has been claimed.

A former senior aide told Vanity Fair that the feeling within Buckingham Palace was that Angela's bond with Elizabeth 'crossed a line'.

In her first wide-ranging interview since the Queen's death on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, Ms Kelly, now 68, opened up about her most treasured memories with Elizabeth II during the nearly 30 years she worked for her.

Despite their closeness, some courtiers felt that the Liverpudlian dresser, who is the daughter of a docker and seamstress, was an outsider and grew resentful of her status as the most trusted member of Elizabeth's 'inner circle'.

Some even nicknamed her 'AK 47' after the assault rifle because 'people felt threatened by' Ms Kelly, who was allegedly influential enough to 'take people out' of Buckingham Palace.

'Private secretaries fell foul of Angela - she could make or break your palace career because she had the queens ear,' the source claimed.

Indeed, the Queen sided with Ms Kelly after Prince Harry allegedly reduced her 'to tears' in the wake of the scandal dubbed 'Tiaragate' - although the Duke of Sussex presented a different version of events in his memoir Spare.

Ahead of his wedding in 2018, Prince Harry's to-be bride Meghan Markle had her 'heart set' on wearing an emerald tiara - but unanswered questions about its provenance made the crown jewel an unsuitable choice.

Angela Kelly's close friendship with the late Queen was frowned upon by Palace aides who felt the royal dresser was 'technically a servant', it has been claimed

In her first wide-ranging interview since the Queen's death, Ms Kelly, now 68, opened up about her most treasured memories with Elizabeth II during the nearly 30 years she worked for her

Instead, Elizabeth offered her the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau, which the Suits actress allegedly happily accepted.

However, tensions rose when Ms Kelly declined to give Meghan the tiara for a trial appointment with her hairdresser, as a palace source said Harry 'was giving Angela hell'.

They added: 'Angela was very much caught in the middle. She often took a bullet for the Queen, but this time Harry really went for Angela.'

Prince Harry allegedly told Ms Kelly: 'Let me tell you I dont agree with you talking to my grandmother about this.

When a teary Ms Kelly went to Elizabeth, the monarch is believed to have said: He cant have it. Ill deal with him. Were having enough trouble with this wedding.'

In his memoir Spare, the Duke contradicted the suggestion that the Queen was opposed to Meghan borrowing the tiara, adding that his grandmother actually advised her to try it on with her hairstylist.

But Harry claimed that when he tried to contact Ms Kelly later to get hold of the tiara for the practice session, she did not respond.

When he finally tracked her down, Ms Kelly told him that taking the tiara out of the Palace for an appointment with Meghan's hairdresser 'can't be done' because it would require an orderly and a police officer to guard it.

The Queen sided with Ms Kelly after Prince Harry allegedly reduced her 'to tears' in the wake of the scandal dubbed 'Tiaragate', in the lead up to his wedding to Meghan Markle

Harry  who admitted his exasperation  said Ms Kelly eventually 'appeared out of thin air' at Kensington Palace to make him sign a release form before handing over the tiara.

He wrote: 'She fixed me with a look that made me shiver. I could read in her face a clear warning. This isn't over.'

The Duke also claimed 'Angela was a troublemaker' in the controversial book and considered going directly to the Queen about the tiara, but their friendship left him unsure about 'whom Granny would side' with.

In his new book, royal biographer Robert Hardman has now revealed that the Queen sided with Ms Kelly and told Palace insiders the tiara was 'not a toy'.

Writing in his landmark new book Elizabeth II, being serialised exclusively by The Daily Mail, Mr Hardman said: 'She even recalled that, ahead of the 2011 royal wedding, Catherine Middletons hairdresser had practised using a plastic tiara from the accessory chain, Claires.

'Why could Meghan and her hairdresser not do the same? She told Kelly to ignore the phone calls,' he reported.

Ms Kelly quickly climbed the Palace ranks after first landing a job as an Assistant Dresser in 1994 to become one of Elizabeth's most loyal aides.

In a moving tribute to her 'best friend', Ms Kelly revealed the Queen was a 'really cool granny', who couldn't stop moving from 'side to side' whenever ABBA's hit Dancing Queen played on the radio.

'Id get carried away and be dancing all round her like I was at a disco, and the Queen would tell me to "move over" because I cant sing and we laughed,' Ms Kelly told Vanity Fair.

'They were moments to cherish, to see the queen so relaxed.'

While the Queen was deeply committed to her duty and country, she also loved her role as a 'grandmother', Ms Kelly added.

She added that Her Majesty wasn't above 'washing the dishes' during the royal family's idyllic summer holidays at Balmoral Castle, and always laughed if her husband, Prince Phillip, 'burned the burgers' while barbecuing.

Ms Kelly said: 'She did barbecues and fun things and she always washed the dishes, even when she was entertaining the Prime Minister.

'If the Duke, or whoever was cooking, burned the burgers, shed just laugh. The queen was just full of energy and a really cool granny, to be honest.'

Ms Kelly, who was by the Queen's side when she died in 2022, was known as a bubbly and hard-working royal aide who kept the late Queen's style relevant and even added a touch of bling.

Elizabeth valued the opinion of her personal assistant and gradually over the years gave her free rein when helping her create a look for an event.

Despite the late monarch's advancing years, she had been prepared to embellish her style  under Ms Kelly's direction  as a nod to modern times.

A pair of 3D glasses worn by the Queen during a film demonstration in Canada in 2010 were given a touch of glamour by Ms Kelly  Swarovski crystals forming the letter Q on their sides.

During lockdown, when the Queen isolated with a small group from her household dubbed 'HMS Bubble', Ms Kelly was thought to have been part of the team.

In a moving tribute to her 'best friend', Ms Kelly revealed the Queen was a 'really cool granny'. Pictured here with Vogue's Anna Wintour (centre) during London Fashion Week in 2018

She once disclosed in an interview: 'We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery.'

In addition to their love of fashion, Ms Kelly said they also shared a sense of humour and 'had great banter between us' during her interview with Vanity Fair.

Ms Kelly, who now lives in Sheffield, ended the interview on a bittersweet note as she said Elizabeth was 'my best friend and I miss her every day'.

In March 2023, Ms Kelly was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in recognition of her service to the Queen, as part of a special set of 'Demise' awards.

Awards under the RVO are in the King's gift and are bestowed independently of Downing Street to people who have served the monarch or the royal family in a personal way.

The following month, it was revealed that the King had secretly gifted Ms Kelly a new home to honour a promise made by his mother.

Ms Kelly was promised lifelong accommodation by the Queen - but within months of Her Majesty's death, the dressmaker was asked to vacate her cottage on the Windsor estate.

In September 2024, Ms Kelly paid a moving tribute to Elizabeth II while revealing she told her 'I love you' and 'kissed her goodbye' before her death.

Two years on from the Queen's death, Ms Kelly said each anniversary will forever 'break my heart'.

Ms Kelly also revealed she was still unsure why she told Her Majesty she loved her in her final moments.

In a poignant statement on Instagram Stories, she said: 'It has been a long two years since I kissed you goodbye. I told you that I loved you, and I still don't know why.

'That, although the first year I tried to move on, but I wouldn't. The second year I tried to heal but I couldn't. Maybe tomorrow will be a new start for me, although every anniversary will still break my heart.'

Finishing the heartfelt message, Ms Kelly wrote: 'Patience is a virtue you passed down to me. I have waited and now I can see. You sent a guardian angel to help me through. You sent your strength down to me. My time has come and now I am free.'
NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman predicted he would go to the moon nearly a decade ago after a fortune cookie foretold a 'visit to a strange place'.

A newly unearthed tweet shows the Artemis II commander holding a small slip of paper containing a 'prophecy' back in 2017.

It reads: 'A visit to a strange place will bring you renewed perspective,' along with some lucky numbers.

Wiseman shared the picture on X with the caption: 'I choose to believe this fortune I received tonight. Perhaps the moon or a #JourneyToMars.'

While many see fortune cookies as a bit of a novelty  or something to joke with friends about  this one appeared to foretell destiny.

This week, Wiseman became one of four astronauts to set a new distance record after travelling further from Earth than anyone before amid a mammoth mission around the dark side of the moon.

The Orion crew completed a sixhour flyby around our celestial neighbour on Monday, becoming the first humans in more than half a century to witness the distant hemisphere with the naked eye.

Last night NASA reshared Wiseman's historic tweet, adding ticks next to 'Strange place' and 'New perspective' to indicate the prophecy had come true.

A newly unearthed tweet shows the Artemis II commander holding a small slip of paper containing a 'prophecy' back in 2017

This week Wiseman (pictured) became one of four astronauts to set a new distance record after travelling further from Earth than anyone before amid a mammoth mission around the dark side of the moon

Space fans took to the comments to express their delight at how well the fortune had aged.

'That's one fortune cookie that delivered on a cosmic scale,' one wrote.

Another added: 'Nine years later, the fortune came through in the most epic way.'

Others joked they had bought a lottery ticket with the numbers printed on the small piece of paper.

Some people pointed out that number 47  the first one to appear on the slip  is considered lucky and a highly significant number across many cultures.

The number 22 is also widely considered a lucky and highly powerful number in numerology. It is believed to represent the ability to turn ambitious dreams into reality.

After slingshotting the moon and breaking the Apollo 13 distance record, Wiseman and the rest of the Artemis II crew are now 'homeward bound'.

One of the most significant moments of the journey was when the team requested to name a 'bright spot' on the moon after Wiseman's late wife, Carroll.

Weisman with his late wife Carroll and two daughters. Carroll, a nurse in a newborn intensive care unit, passed away in 2020

The 'bright spot' is an unnamed fresh crater on the boundary between the near side and the far side of the moon

What are fortune cookies? Fortune cookies are small, crisp cookies that contain a hidden slip of paper with a message inside  usually a short 'fortune', piece of advice or witty saying. Despite being strongly associated with Chinese cuisine, they are not traditionally from China. They are widely believed to have originated in the United States, influenced by Japanesestyle crackers. They are more of a cultural novelty than an authentic tradition, designed to add a fun ending to a meal.

The emotional request was made on Monday night during their lunar flyby, after they identified several newlyformed and unnamed craters on the lunar surface.

During a chat with mission control, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said: 'Our science team helped us out with a couple of relatively fresh craters on the moon that have not been previously named.

'And our crew would like to propose a couple of potential names for those areas.

'A number of years ago we started this journey in our close knit astronaut family and we lost a loved one.

'Her name was Carroll. The spouse of Reid. The mother of Katie and Ellie. And we would like to call it Carroll.'

As Wiseman and others wiped away tears, the four astronauts pulled together in a silent, floating embrace.

The feature is on the boundary between the near side and the far side of the moon.

'At certain times of the moon's transit around Earth, we will be able to see this from Earth,' Hansen said. 'It's a bright spot on the moon.'

Reid Wiseman, commander of Artemis II, is now a single parent to his daughters, Ellie and Katherine

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Carroll Taylor Wiseman, a nurse in a newborn intensive care unit, died at the age of 46 in 2020 following a battle with cancer.

Commander Wiseman, a former fighter pilot, has been raising their two daughters on his own since then.

Ahead of the mission, which will see the astronauts complete a mammoth 685,000mile (1.1 million km) roundtrip to the moon, Wiseman revealed he had discussed death plans with his children.

Wiseman said that as a single father raising two teenage daughters, they understand the risks of the mission but also share his belief in the importance of exploration and humanity's drive to push beyond the unknown.
Whether it's Jesus in your toast or a man on Mars, many of us often spot faces in inanimate objects.

And now a study has revealed how this phenomenon  called face pareidolia  causes people to see male faces more often than female ones.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales showed participants images of objects and asked them to assign the faces hidden within them ages, genders, and emotions.

The results revealed a clear bias towards male faces.

'For whatever reason, it seems like we've got this template stored in our brains about what a basic human face is, and it resembles a male face,' said Dr Lindsay Peterson, lead author of the study.

In addition, if faces in objects are vague, they are more likely to be perceived as angry.

This suggests we may instinctively see objects as threats before we've had a chance to evaluate them properly, according to the researchers.

Dr Peterson added: 'Your lizard brain is telling you that the safest thing is to assume it's a threat and then deal with it.'

Whether it's Jesus in your toast or a man in the moon, many of us often spot faces in inanimate objects. Now, a study has revealed how this phenomenon  called face pareidolia  causes people to see male faces more often than females

Respondents were shown a picture of a handbag whose zip, folds, and buckles appeared to form a mouth, left. They were also shown a picture of more abstract 'visual noise', right. When asked what they saw in the images, participants consistently saw a young, happy smiling face in the bag. However, there were a range of interpretations for the visual noise

Face pareidolia is not a new phenomenon, and has been documented for decades.

'An observer may report seeing a smiling face on the side of a handbag, Jesus in a piece of toast, or a pained face in an ultrasound image,' the researchers explained in their study, published in Royal Society Open Science.

They continued: 'These phenomena have generated a flurry of interest from the public, with social media sites such as Flickr and Reddit hosting thousands of useruploaded images of illusory faces in everyday objects.

'Face pareidolia has also generated interest within the scientific community, as the perception of illusory faces can be informative of the mechanisms involved in face processing, a vital function that underpins our social and cognitive functioning.'

While face pareidolia has been extensively studied, until now, the nature of the faces we see in objects has remained unclear.

To get to the bottom of it, the team enlisted 70 participants to take part in two experiments.

In the first experiment, respondents were shown a picture of a handbag whose zip, folds, and buckles appeared to form a mouth.

They were also shown a picture of more abstract 'visual noise'.

Researchers from the University of New South Wales showed participants photos of objects, and asked them to assign the faces hidden within them ages, genders, and emotions. The results revealed a clear bias towards male faces

Faces in objects are more likely to be perceived as angry. This suggests we may instinctively see objects as threats before we've had a chance to evaluate them properly, according to the researchers

Even without facial features to guide them, the participants repeatedly reported seeing angry, male faces

What is face pareidolia? Pareidolia is the psychological response to seeing faces and other significant and everyday items in random stimuli. It is a form of apophenia, when people see patterns in random, unconnected data. There have been multiple occasions when people have claimed to see religious images and themes in unexpected places. On the red planet, one of the most famous is the 'face on Mars' spotted by one of the Viking orbiters in 1976. This was later proven to just be a chance alignment of shifting sand dunes.

When asked what they saw in the images, the results revealed that participants consistently saw a young, happy smiling face in the bag.

However, there were a range of interpretations for the visual noise.

'Buddha, angels, demons, dragons,' Dr Peterson explained.

She added: 'It's amazing you can have these quite rich responses to a stimulus that is essentially noise.

'It is quite remarkable what we see given that in the noise stimulus, it is just noise. There really isn't anything there.'

In the second experiment, the researchers introduced vertical symmetry  a subtle structural cue that loosely mirrors the layout of a human face.

Again, the visual noise images were interpreted more diversely but patterns did begin to emerge.

Even without facial features to guide them, the participants repeatedly reported seeing angry, male faces.

Faces in inanimate objects are more likely to be seen as angry and male, according the findings of the study

Pareidolia is the psychological response to seeing faces and other significant and everyday items in random stimuli

While the reason for this remains unclear, the researchers suggest it may come down to social and cultural biases.

'The male bias exists across generations and in children as young as four years old, which suggests that it's hard wired,' Dr Peterson said.

Overall, the findings suggest the brain is pre-determined to recognise faces even when there aren't really any there.

The team now plans to explore how these biases shift under different conditions.
The CIA used a secret tool dubbed 'Ghost Murmur' to find the American airman shot down over Southern Iran.

According to sources familiar with the technology, this futuristic device uses 'longrange quantum magnetometry' to find even the faintest heartbeats.

The tool reportedly scans for the subtle electromagnetic fingerprint of the human heart.

This data is then filtered through artificial intelligence (AI) software to isolate an individual signature from the background noise.

According to a source, who spoke with the New York Post, Ghost Murmur was developed by Lockheed Martin's infamous 'Skunk Works' division.

This is the aerospace giant's secretive advanced development division, responsible for creating the U2 and Blackbird spy planes.

One individual who spoke with the New York Post described Ghost Murmur as 'hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert'.

They added: 'In the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you.'

The CIA used a secret tool dubbed 'Ghost Murmur' to find the American airman shot down over Southern Iran. Pictured: US planes reportedly destroyed during the rescue operation

The technology was reportedly used to find a wounded weapons systems officer, known publicly as 'Dude 44 Bravo', who had been shot down over Southern Iran.

The pilot was hiding in a mountain cave after his F15 fighter jet was shot down last week, surviving for two days in the harsh terrain while Iranian troops scoured the area.

The source said that this barren landscape provided 'an ideal first operational use' of Ghost Murmur.

Due to low electromagnetic interference, the desert presented 'about as clean an environment as you could ask for' with almost no other human signatures.

While the source says Dude 44 Bravo activated a Boeingmade Combat Survivor Evader Locator beacon, their precise whereabouts remained unknown until he was detected by Ghost Murmur.

The source says: 'Normally this signal is so weak that it can only be measured in a hospital setting with sensors pressed nearly against the chest.

'But advances in a field known as quantum magnetometry  specifically sensors built around microscopic defects in synthetic diamonds  have apparently made it possible to detect these signals at dramatically greater distances.

'The capability is not omniscient. It works best in remote, lowclutter environments and requires significant processing time.'

Ghost Murmur reportedly uses longrange quantum magnetometry, a cuttingedge technology which uses lasers and labgrown diamonds to measure tiny magnetic fields. Pictured: A quantum magnetometer developed by NASA

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What is quantum magnetometry? Quantum magnetometry is a method for detecting very subtle magnetic fields using quantum fluctuations. Scientists create specially grown artificial diamonds with atomsized imperfections known as colour points. Normally, these are what give a gemstone its colour. However, they also react to nearby magnetic fields on the quantum level. By shining a laser through the diamond, these fluctuations can be measured to detect even the smallest magnetic fields.

However, the source said they did not know how long these processing times were, or whether they were short enough to make Ghost Murmur practical in offensive operations.

Quantum magnetometry is a cuttingedge technique that can detect extremely subtle variations in magnetic fields.

These sensitive instruments work by firing lasers through specially created artificial diamonds.

The light from the laser probes atomsized imperfections in the diamond's structure, known as colour centres, which react on the quantum level to magnetic fields.

Typically, quantum magnetometry is used to look at very large objects, like the interior of distant planets, or tiny ones, like individual nerves in the human body.

In theory, that means they could be used to detect the electromagnetic signal from an individual heartbeat.

However, the kind of sensitivity Ghost Murmur supposedly possesses is previously unheard of.

The technology has been successfully tested with Black Hawk helicopters, and there are reportedly plans for future use on F35 fighter jets, a second source said.

President Donald Trump alluded to the technology during a press conference on Monday, saying that rescuing the airman was like 'finding a needle in a haystack'

Donald Trump says that several US planes had to be destroyed during the rescue after becoming stuck on the makeshift runway. Pictured: Wreckage believed to be from US military transport aircraft and helicopters

President Donald Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe alluded to the classified technology during a press conference on Monday.

Mr Ratcliffe said that the CIA had 'achieved our primary objective by finding and providing confirmation that one of America's best and bravest was alive and concealed in a mountain crevice.'

He added that they were 'still invisible to the enemy, but not to the CIA'.

Trump added that Mr Ratcliffe 'did a phenomenal job that night', adding 'he did something that I don't know if you want to talk about it. If you want, you can. I'm not sure he's supposed to.'

The President then joked that he might have to 'put [Mr Ratcliffe] in jail' if he discussed details of the classified technology.

Trump added that the airman had been detected from '40 miles away', although it was unclear whether the President was referring to a detection using Ghost Murmur or whether his statement was accurate.

During the press conference, Trump described an allhandsondeck rescue operation that involved 155 aircraft  including 64 fighter jets, 48 refuelling tankers, 13 rescue aircraft and three helicopters.

Trump lauded 'a breathtaking show of skill and precision, lethality and force' as US forces swooped into mountainous terrain in southern Iran to rescue the weapons systems officer (WSO) whose F15E fighter jet went down on Good Friday.
NASA's Artemis II crew is just hours away from the most dangerous phase of the historic Moon mission.

The Orion capsule is set to plunge through Earth's atmosphere at 7.53pm ET on Friday, reaching speeds up to 25,000 miles per hour (40,230 km/h).

At that speed, the air around the capsule will heat up to more than 5,000F (2,760C) - just under half the surface temperature of the sun.

To make things even more nerve-jangling, the four astronauts - NASA's Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian Jeremy Hansen - will be making this journey using a trajectory that has never been tested and a heat shield that failed its last test.

The Orion crew capsule is expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California at 8.07pm ET (01.07 BST on Saturday).

However, Dr Charles Camarda, former NASA astronaut and Director of Engineering at Johnson Space Center, told the Daily Mail that NASA is ignoring the serious risk of disaster.

Dr Camarda says that this mission is being run by 'exactly the same thinking' that caused the deadly Challenger and Columbia disasters.

'During the final phase of the Artemis II mission, theres no backup, no contingency, and no chance of escape,' he wrote in The Conversation.

As the Artemis II mission begins its return journey to Earth, experts have raised concerns over the safety of the Orion crew capsule's heat shield. Above, the heat shield from the uncrewed Artemis I test

Dr Charles Camarda, former NASA astronaut and Director of Engineering at Johnson Space Center, told the Daily Mail that Artemis II was following the 'exactly the same thinking' that caused the deadly Challenger (above) and Columbia disasters

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As Orion careens towards the Earth's surface, it will first detach from the European Service Module (ESM) that provided power throughout the trip.

As the ESM burns up in the atmosphere below, Orion will fire its engines to rotate and bring its heat shield to face the atmosphere.

Over the next 16 minutes, between meeting the atmosphere and splashing down in the ocean, the capsule will need to reduce its speed from seven miles per second to just 129 miles per hour.

The craft will then deploy 11 parachutes and drogues in a precise order to slow and stabilize the capsule to speeds lower than 20 miles per hour.

However, the critical point will come as friction with the air causes the temperatures outside the craft to rise.

The only thing standing between the crew and these intense temperatures is a three-inch-thick layer of Avcoat, silica fibers and epoxy resin housed in a fiberglass mesh.

Avcoat is what engineers call an 'ablative heat shield', meaning that it is designed to deliberately burn away during re-entry.

Ed Macaulay, a lecturer in Physics and Data Science at Queen Mary University of London, told the Daily Mail that this is 'a little bit like the crumple zone of a car - it's meant to deal with the energy and keep the human occupants safe.'

The heat shield is made from large blocks of a material called Avcoat. During Artemis I, NASA found that this design trapped gases, causing large cracks to form and chunks to break off

However, experts have raised concerns over Avcoat's safety after the heat shield in the uncrewed Artemis I test sustained extensive damage during re-entry.

NASA's investigation found that Artemis I lost chunks of material in more than 100 locations, and some large bolts in the heat shield had even melted because of the heat.

The Avcoat heat shield is based on the design successfully employed during the Apollo era, but the heat shield used by Artemis has a critical difference.

Instead of being painstakingly molded into a honeycomb structure, Artemis I and II use solid blocks of material to save time and money.

Later investigations suggested that gases that should have been vented harmlessly were trapped inside the material and created cracks.

Rather than being 'arrested' by the honeycomb frame, these cracks spread and grew through the blocks and caused large chunks of heat shield to break away.

So, instead of wearing away evening like it was supposed to, the heat shield stripped away in an uneven and unpredictable pattern.

That raises the risks of uncontrolled heating, which could damage critical systems or put the crew in serious danger.

Uneven heating of the heat shield could cause parts of the Orion crew capsule to reach dangerous temperatures

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After investigating the issue, NASA has redesigned Avcoat to be more permeable, but that version of the heat shield wasn't ready in time for Artemis II.

In fact, Artemis II's Orion capsule will have a type of Avcoat that is even less permeable than the one used on Artemis I.

Instead, NASA has opted to change the re-entry trajectory used by Artemis II.

Artemis I used what is known as a 'skip' re-entry, meaning that it briefly dipped in and out of the atmosphere to reduce its speed and control its descent.

By contrast, Artemis II will take a much steeper re-entry trajectory, pushing it through the atmosphere faster and reducing the amount of time it is exposed to high temperatures.

According to NASA's assessment of the problem, this should ensure that the less porous version of Avcoat doesn't crack so much that the crew are put in danger.

However, Dr Camarda suggests that NASA doesn't know for certain that this will fix the problem.

Dr Camarda says that NASA 'should not have launched a crew on that vehicle', alleging that the risks of re-entry are unacceptably high. Pictured: The NASA Artemis II crew, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Pilot Victor Glover

Following Artemis I, NASA has only tested small-scale samples of Avcoat by exposing them to heating.

However, Dr Camarda says that NASA's tests 'in no way did that represent the actual structure of the curved section of the heat shield.'

In 2022, Jeremy VanderKam, the deputy manager for Orions heat shield, could not mimic the 'heat flux, pressure and shear stresses' faced by a real spacecraft on re-entry.

According to the former astronaut, this means NASA hasn't developed a way of accurately predicting where and how the Avcoat will crack.

Dr Camarda says: 'All we've tested are six-inch large chunks and we've only heated them.

'If we can't predict what will cause failure, then we can't say that a new trajectory will solve that issue.'

Likewise, Dr Camarda told the Daily Mail that documents presented to him during a meeting with NASA director Jared Isaacman on January 8 show that Artemis I started losing chunks of Avcoat during its first encounter with the atmosphere.

This suggests that removing the 'skip' might not solve the problem.

Experts say that NASA's small-scale testing (pictured) cannot recreate the conditions of re-entry, meaning the space agency can't be sure the problem is resolved

'If large loads are what's really causing those large chunks to come off, then this could make this worse,' says Dr Camarda.

'In my point of view, we should not have launched a crew on that vehicle. Are we going to be safe?

'The odds are probably in their favor, but the odds are not what I would want them to be.'

NASA has been approached for comment.
A historic fishing jetty on Pangkor Island, in Malaysia, could be turned into a 150 million waterfront for tourists.

The area has been used by local fishermen for centuries, but the government has other plans for the space, despite locals raising concerns.

Perak government-linked company SSI, the local council, Plan Malaysia - which falls under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government - are proposing to remove all of the jetties on the island of Pangkor.

The plan, the Rancangan Kawasan Khas Pulau Pangkor (RKK), involves removing 27 jetties and the locals who live there, according to The Fourth.

In their place, a mega tourist waterfront could be built costing RM800,000,000 (149,880,000).

A jetty that has been used by local fishermen for years on Pangkor Island, Malaysia could be destroyed

Members of the community were not notified of the possible changes and only found out when they went to renew their lease to use the space.

What used to be a place for fishermen bringing in local seafood could be replaced with a promenade, shops and other projects.

'Nobody interviewed us, nobody conducted any survey to understand what we need and they just plan out of nowhere,' one local, Yvonne Beh, told the Malaysian-based investigative journalism news outlet.

'Where are all these people going to go?' she asked.

Many others feel they haven't been properly consulted on the project, including how it will impact them personally as well as the area.

Another outlet, Malaysiakini, highlighted how Pangkor Island is a major supplier for ikan bilis mata biru, also known as dried anchovies, that are used in nasi lemak - a dish of rice cooked in coconut milk and pandan leaf.

Locals have raised concerns that if the proposals go ahead, the industry and supply of anchovies could be threatened.

Members of the community have disagreed with the project for some time.

Back in 2024, the Pangkor Island Development Committee decided the RKK proposals would not benefit residents, Free Malaysia Today reported at the time.

Proposals submitted by local officials involve building a huge waterfront area for tourists as well as shops and other attractions on the island

Its statement read: 'Although we support the government's efforts to bring development to Pangkor Island, the proposals in the recently published Pangkor Island RKK document will not help local residents but will affect their future.

'(This) will simultaneously (will) eliminate the identity (of this island) which is the pride of the natives of Pangkor.'

The committee also raised worries that the new tourist attractions proposed would be 'completely unsustainable and risk becoming 'white elephant' projects'.

Several developments haven't been huge successes in the past.

The Teluk Dalam Resort opened its doors back in 1995 and closed 20 years later in 2015. It has since been left derelict.

Elsewhere on the island, Pangkor Airport opened in 1993 but shut down in 2014.

It then reopened in 2022 for just five months and has remained closed since.

The environmental impact could be major for the area too - the island is one of the most dense biodiversity zones in Malaysia and is home to a range of animals, flora and fauna.

According to the report, the plans included reclassifying a permanent forest reserve area of the island too.

The statement continued: 'The federal and state governments should not destroy the natural beauty simply to develop Pangkor Island as a generic tourism centre.'

Locals have raised concern over the impact it will have on their way of life, as well as the environment

In 2024, Manjung municipal council addressed the plans and outlined how they believed it would 'increase employment opportunities and economic resources, especially in the tourism sector' as well as 'improve the quality of the environment and the physical appearance of Pangkor Island'.

It placed an emphasis on sustainable tourism and an improvement to the infrastructure in the area.

The report also disputed claims that any forest areas would be destroyed for the project and instead argued, 'This RKK also emphasises the preservation of forest reserves and no development will be carried out in forest reserves'.

Another consultation with locals is scheduled, and the council says residents have been involved and consulted throughout the process.

The Daily Mail approached Plan Malaysia, SSI and the local council for comment.
With its picturesque cobbled streets, rich history and dramatic coastline, Robin Hood's Bay in North Yorkshire has a wealth of appeal for travellers looking to visit a lesser-known location.

It has often been dubbed one of the most beautiful locations in the country.

It came fourth in the top 10 prettiest UK villages in 2021 - and is just as magnificent today.

Robin Hood's Bay enchants with chocolate box streets, cosy inns, and tea rooms.

Robin Hood's Bay has often been voted among the prettiest parts of the country

With picturesque nooks and crannies to explore, it is the perfect spot for a sleepy seaside trip

The village promises a crowd-free staycation experience.

First and foremost, its beach offers rock pools and coves, while nearby trails like the Cleveland Way are the perfect way to explore its countryside.

The beach is highly rated, scoring an impressive 4.6 stars on Tripadvisor.

One rave review reads: 'A lovely place to visit if you're ever in the area. It's beautiful and on a gorgeous day like what we had it was stunning. You can quite easily walk on the beach but be aware of the tide times.

'Lovely little rock pools, I can imagine that families with children would enjoy spending a lot of time here.'

Another chimed in: 'Absolutely thrilling drive down to this beautiful bay exciting and amazing location incorporating many walks. Can't wait to re-visit.'

As well as the beach itself, the old fishing village on the Heritage Coast of the North York Moors is an ideal spot for a crowd-free vacation.

In the village, couples can enjoy a meal at local favourites like the Grosvenor, the Laurel Inn or Brambles Bistro, or head to the nearby beach to soak in the fresh sea air and coastal views.

The village has many eateries to choose from, including the Laurel Inn, a traditional pub

Meanwhile, holidaymakers can enjoy strolls along the beach and stop for a pint or two at the village's Smugglers Bar.

The 17th-century pub serves local craft ales, spirits, and homemade food - and has seating for 30 people with a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere with a log burner and original beamed ceiling.

Another standout spot is the Cove Cafe, nestled along the bay - and frequently cited as a perfect spot to get a bite to eat.

Its website explains: 'Welcome to our little cafe by the sea, we're all about good beans and good people. We're brewing up great coffee, serving fresh local food, and keeping things simple, welcoming, and relaxed.

'Swing by for a slice of cake or a stacked ciabatta, and soak up the view from the terrace. Vegan and gluten-free options? Always.'

Alternatively, spend the day at Robin Hood's Bay Museum to learn about the village's rich history and coastline.

This small museum in the heart of the village houses fascinating collections and displays of local interest.

Described as a 'little gem' and 'great find' by visitors, it's perfect for history buffs and those interested in UK culture.

You could also drive to the nearby popular towns of Whitby and Scarborough, which have a wealth of historical sites, natural beauty, and family-friendly activities for those seeking a quintessential British seaside experience.

Sykes Holiday Cottages has plenty of options available if you're keen to stay in the area, including a shepherd's hut nestled just a 15-minute walk from Robin Hood's Bay's high street as well as a cosy fisherman's cottage.
Airports across Spain the popular holiday destination are set to be impacted by strike action later this month.

A whopping 14 hubs in Spain and the Canary Islands will be hit by air traffic controller industrial action.

The strikes are expected to begin at midnight on April 17 and have been arranged by Union Sindical de Reguladores Aereos and Comisiones Obreras.

The action is against SAERCO, a private firm that operates many control towers at airports across the country.

Working conditions, stress and shift pattern changes have led to a point that 'aeronautical safety cannot be sustained,' according to a statement by the unions.

The action is expected to continue indefinitely.

Hubs in busy holiday destinations including La Palma, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Madrid are set to be impacted.

Various issues have been highlighted by the unions including failure to provide breaks and SAERCO cancelling previously approved holidays.

14 airports across Spain and the Canary Islands, including Lanzarote, could be impacted by strike action

Air traffic controllers are set to strike from April 17 and the action is expected to continue indefinitely

The Spanish airports impacted by strike action Lanzarote, Canary Islands Fuerteventura, Canary Islands La Palma, Canary Islands El Hierro, Canary Islands La Gomera, Canary Islands Sevilla, Andalucia Jerez (Cadiz), Andalucia Cuatro Vientos, Madrid Vigo, Galicia A Coruna Castellon-Costa Azahar, Valencia Burgos Huesca Ciudad Real

EuroWeekly reports the problems have been building up for several years.

The Daily Mail has contacted SAERCO for comment.

It's not the only strike action happening in Spain however.

Several hubs including Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport and Palma de Mallorca Airport have been impacted since March 30.

Other spots are Alicante, Malaga and the Canary Islands.

The strike action, involving Groundforce workers, is taking place indefinitely and stoppages are occurring in several intervals - from 5am to 7am, 11am to 5pm and 10pm to midnight - on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.

The action could reportedly continue indefinitely and is over ongoing pay disagreements.

The staggered timings are expected to create long queues, delayed luggage drop offs and boarding issues.

Aena released a statement about the action and said: 'Indefinite strike called by Groundforce staff, a company providing services to various airlines, starting on Monday, March 30.

'Partial work stoppages have been called on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during three time slots: 5-7am, 11am-5pm, and 10pm-midnight.

'If you're planning to fly, check to see if your airport is affected. Contact your airline to find out the status of your flight.'

Travellers may be concerned over their right to a refund or compensation if their flight is impacted by the various strikes.

Travel insurance expert Alicia Hempsted, from MoneySuperMarket, has urged families to check their policy documents to see whether they are eligible.

If a flight is cancelled or late due to the strikes, holidaymakers may be able to gain some money back, according to Alice.

According to reports, the problems have been building up for several years

The expert explained: 'Under EU law, you may be entitled to a refund for your flight from the airline, but you may also be able to reclaim other costs, such as accommodation, on your travel insurance.

'If your flight is delayed, your airline has an obligation to offer you food, drink and accommodation depending on the length of the delay.'

However, travellers can only claim the additional compensation if they are told about the strikes less than 14 days before the flight, Alice added.

She continued: 'Strikes are generally considered 'extraordinary circumstances,' meaning airlines aren't usually responsible, unless the disruption is caused by their own staff, such as pilots or airline employees.'

As for whether travel insurance specifically will cover the holidaymaker for any delays or cancellations experienced due to the action, Alice explained how it depends when you booked the break.

She said: 'As long as the airline strikes were announced after you booked your trip and your travel insurance, you may be able to claim through your insurer.

'Always check the terms and conditions of a policy before you buy, as not all travel insurance providers offer cover for airline strikes.

'If your policy includes travel disruption cover, it might be possible to claim for disruption or losses incurred as a result of your trip being delayed or cancelled.

'This may include alternative accommodation, or expenses incurred such as travel, food and drink, and can even stretch to covering the full cost of your holiday should you end up not being able to travel.

'However, it is worth noting that not all policies cover this as standard and cover levels, conditions, and exclusions can vary between providers, making it important to check with your insurer as your first port of call.'
Picture this: beaches of red sand, striking salt caves waiting to be explored, and a dramatic golden valley, all on one island.

The description hints at a truly extraordinary holiday destination  something almost otherworldly. Somewhere to brag about once you've returned home.

Where is this fantasticsounding place? That might be where your travel plans fall flat.

The 16squaremile Hormuz Island lies just 8km off Irans coast, in its namesake  and strategically critical  Strait of Hormuz.

It's this unlikely travel hotspot that is now at the heart of escalated tensions.

Even with the current twoweek ceasefire agreement and the reopening of the Persian Gulf, travel to the region remains uncertain, with official advisories still in place.

The littleknown isle, however, is jawdroppingly beautiful and has caught the attention of many intrepid travellers over the years  but is still relatively unknown.

Shaped like a teardrop, Hormuz Island has surreal landscapes formed from layers of volcanic rocks, salt and minerals glistening in various colours.

Keen traveller Ben, who goes by @benbookstheworld, visited Hormuz Island and says it is the 'most diverse and beautiful island I've ever been to' in trips to over 50 countries.

In another video, he gushes how the island 'has some of the most magical spots I've ever seen in this world' and 'feels like another planet'.

Ben found the best way to get around Hormuz Island  which can be crossed in around 40 minutes  was using a tuktuk or scooter.

Hormuz Island is 16squaremile in size and located just 8km off the coast of Iran but is not very well known

The lesserknown destination has vibrant soil and sand from its mineralrich and volcanic landscapes

Ben visited Hormuz Island and says most people get around the island by tuk tuk or rental scooter

Nowhere is Hormuzs colour more striking than in Rainbow Valley, where bands of green, orange, purple, pink and red cut across the landscape.

The islands vivid palette has earned it the nickname rainbow island.

On the west side, visitors can find the Goddess of Salt  a shimmering mountain formed from glistening salt crystals.

The formations are believed by locals to hold healing properties, said to dispel negative energy and promote positivity  giving rise to the nickname Energy Mountain.

'It looks like we're on another planet,' says Jesper Hedlund, @jesperhedlund1 on Instagram, who adds the landscape is reminiscent of Chiles Atacama Desert.

Further inland, Saffron Valley adds another burst of colour, with bright yellow and deep golden that resemble fields of saffron in bloom.

The landscape is formed from iron oxide and other minerals, making it a perfect spot for hikers looking for impressive views as well as geologists and nature lovers seeking out impressive formations.

The Rainbow Valley (pictured) is the perfect spot to admire the island's vibrant hues, loved by travellers and geologists

For visitors looking for an equally colourful place to stay, the island's hippylooking Majara Residence is an option

Another shade dominates Hormuzs palette at the aptly named Red Beach.

Here, vivid crimson sand stretches to the shoreline.

The island is abundant with red soil, called 'gelack' by locals, which is considered to be edible and is rich in iron oxide.

It also plays a role in the local cuisine, used as a spice in sauces and jams, according to a local tourist board.

The soil also has value for industrial purposes, used in dyeing, cosmetics, glass and ceramics.

When it rains, the water runs off the ground in bright red streams, which travel content creator Ankita Kumar, @monkey.inc on Instagram, describes as looking like 'a literal bloodbath'.

The phenomenon, which happens all year round, drew widespread attention last year when footage circulated online showing rainwater turning the beach a striking shade of red.

Floodwater running off the rocks at the tourist attraction created spectacular waterfalls, leaving an eerie trail behind.

Tour guide hormoz_omid shared the video to Instagram to nearly one million likes and stunned reactions.

Artists use the island's natural colours to create stunning carpets on the sand with natural minerals

It's caused by the high iron oxide content in the volcanic soil, which mixes with seawater to give the shore its distinctive glow.

Artists often use coast to create expansive sand carpets, transforming the beaches into vast, swirling works of art.

'To mimic nature, they have also built these sustainable, colourful homes that you can stay at,' Ankita reveals in a video, referring to the bohemianstyle Majara Residence, part of the Presence in Hormuz project.

Consisting of 17 bohemianstyle domes made from rammed earth and sand, the colours reflect the island's vibrant landscape and provide a sustainable  and spectacular  place for visitors to stay.

There are hotels on the island, too, including the Red Beach Hotel and the House of Sun.

Elsewhere, Turtles Cliff has been described as looking similar to Australia's dreamy shores.

Mostly untouched, it is one of the most important habitats for sea turtles in the country, according to Walking In Iran.

The pristine location becomes home for countless of turtles who head to the area to lay their eggs in the spring and summer.

Hormuz Island remains remote and surreal, as well largely undiscovered. It is as difficult to reach as it is to forget.

Accessible only by ferry from Bandar Abbas or nearby Qeshm Island, it remains  for now, even with a fragile peace deal in place  isolated.
Fancy a budget-friendly break as the spring sun comes out? If you're happy to jump on a train and head to one of Europe's most popular cities, you might be in luck.

Eurostar has launched a flash sale - with tickets for just 35 to some of its most visited destinations.

From today until April 13, you can book cheap seats on board services to Paris, Lille, Brussels, Amsterdam and Rotterdam.

All you need to do is book to travel from London between 22 April and 8 July 2026.

No codes are required - the low price will be applied automatically.

But youll have to be quick - as the sale ends in less than a week.

And if you book a two-way journey on valid dates, the whole trip could set you back just 70 - far less than standard Eurostar prices on many occasions.

For example, one-way tickets to Paris can easily go up to 190 under ordinary circumstances.

Eurostar is now offering 35 tickets across some of its much-loved routes

If you want to head further afield on the Eurostar network, for instance to Cologne, you'd have to take a connecting train - not included in the promotion.

Some dates do not apply to the sale, including some Fridays and weekends - so be sure to confirm your dates of travel are valid.

It's not the only way to get cheaper Eurostar tickets, either.

With Eurostar Snap, you can ensure you get lower prices - with fares discounted by up to 50 per cent.

Designed for those who thrive on spur-of-the-moment adventures, Snap offers a way to enjoy Eurostars high-speed rail journeys for less.

All you need to do is choose your destination and travel dates and pay for your seats - you don't get to select your exact train time.

Eurostar will send your train times by email at least 48 hours before your trip.

You can book Snap seats up to 14 days before travel, or as late as the day before.

It should be noted that Snap tickets are non-exchangeable, non-refundable, non-transferable and non-cancellable.

It comes after it was last year revealed that a fleet of double-decker trains will operate in the UK for the first time.

Eurostar will purchase up to 50 two-storey trains for use across its entire network, which includes between London St Pancras and Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam via the Channel Tunnel.

It reached a 1.7billion agreement for Alstom to build the trains in factories in France, where the manufacturer has its headquarters.

Eurostar has confirmed an initial order for 30 trains, and has an option for a further 20.

The fully electric fleet will be named Eurostar Celestia, which is derived from the Latin word caelestis, meaning 'heavenly'.

Compared with the operator's existing fleet of 17 single-decker Siemens-built e320s, the new trains will have 20 per cent more seats, a lower floor and be 16cm taller.
Saturday Night Live UK has poked fun at Kanye West's ban from the UK with a sketch featuring its upcoming host Jack Whitehall.

The rapper, 48, who goes by the name Ye, had his visa application cancelled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Tuesday.

She banned him from entering Britain to perform at Wireless Festival in July on the grounds his presence would 'not be conducive to the public good'.

Sir Keir Starmer insisted he 'should never have been invited to headline Wireless' and said he 'stands firmly with the Jewish community' against anti-Semitism.

Following the decision, the organisers of Wireless announced this year's festival has now been cancelled.

Poking fun at the situation, producers of SNL UK were quick to turnaround a humorous video on social media as they promoted this week's episode.

Saturday Night Live UK has poked fun at Kanye West's ban from the UK with a sketch featuring its upcoming host Jack Whitehall

The rapper, 48, who goes by the name Ye, had his visa application cancelled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Tuesday

In the clip, upcoming host Jack Whitehall can be seen looking at a corkboard which has cards to keep track of each week's hosts and musical guest.

The comedian, 37, spots Ye on the board as both the presenter and performer before he quickly pulls both cards from the board.

Jack then moves on to another gag with some of the SNL UK cast.

Calls had been growing for West to be removed from the Wireless line-up after a string of anti-Semitic outbursts, including releasing a song called Heil Hitler and posing in a swastika T-shirt.

But Nigel Farage yesterday spoke out against calls to bar him from Britain, calling it a 'slippery slope'.

He said: 'I know he said some dreadful things. If people thought he was genuinely going to come into Britain and urge attacks on the Jewish community, then there would be full grounds for stopping it. If it's just saying things we find objectionable, then I think bans are a slippery slope.'

Scotland's First Minister John Swinney also backed West to perform, saying 'we live in a free country' and we should 'let people enjoy the music they want to listen to'.

Confirming the cancelation of this year's three-day event, a spokesperson said: 'As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time.'

They continued: 'Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had. As YE said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.'

West had said he wanted to show 'change through his actions' and meet with Jews in London ahead of the performance in Finsbury Park  which would have been his first in the UK in 11 years.

He joins the likes of Eva Vlaardingerbroek  a Dutch anti-immigration influencer who promoted the 'great replacement' theory  in being refused permission to travel to the UK.

Pre-sale for Wireless Festival went live at midday on Tuesday and general sale tickets were due out today. No other acts had been confirmed.

Join the discussion Should artists with controversial views be banned from performing, or does this threaten free expression?

In the clip, upcoming host Jack Whitehall can be seen looking at a corkboard which has cards to keep track of each week's hosts and musical guest

Melvin Benn, managing director at Festival Republic, which promotes Wireless Festival, insisted West deserved forgiveness and appeared to blame the musician's mental health for his anti-Semitic comments.

'Ye's music is played on commercial radio stations in this country,' he said - referring to West by the name he now goes by.

'It is available via live streams and downloads in this country without comment or vitriol from anyone and he has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country. He is intended to come in and perform.

'We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions.'

In response, Sir Keir's spokesman said: 'This is less about second chances. It is more about first principles of abhorrence of anti-Semitic statements.'

The Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the decision to block West from entering Britain.

'The Government has clearly made the right decision here  for once, when it said that antisemitism has no place in the UK, it backed up its words with action,' a spokesman said.
True crime fans have admitted they have been left with 'intense nightmares' after binge-watching a 'disturbing' documentary series that exposes 'human evil'.

The chilling four-episode series, which first came out in 2021, takes a closer look at two notorious killers in Canada who hid their harrowing murderous reality behind a very glamorous exterior.

Ken and Barbie Killers: The Lost Murder Tapes captivated audiences when it hit screens, but some true crime fans are only just discovering it for the first time since its launch on streaming service HBO Max.

'Young and beautiful' couple Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and killed three young women - including Karla's little sister - in one of the most 'sensational and sinister cases in Canadian history.'

After they got caught, Karla claimed that she had been forced to help Paul commit the gruesome crimes, and that she too was a victim of his schemes.

However, police soon found a series of video tapes that were taken while the offences were being committed which told a completely different story.

True crime fans have admitted they have been left with 'intense nightmares' after binge-watching Ken and Barbie Killers: The Lost Murder Tapes

The four-episode series, which first came out in 2021, takes a closer look at Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, who hid their harrowing murderous reality behind a glamorous exterior

The case, and Karla's sentencing, swept the nation and beyond, becoming one of the most controversial rulings Canada has ever seen.

It began in late 1987 and early 1988, when over a 13-month period, 11 different women across were attacked by Paul, who had become known as the Scarborough Rapist.

Karla soon started to learn about her fiance's sadistic sexual deviations, and according to the documentary, two days before Christmas in 1990, agreed to help him drug her then-15-year-old sister, Tammy, so that he could have sex with her.

Tammy tragically passed away after being drugged by the pair, sparking a wave of further sexual offences and murders of young women Paul held captive.

The documentary synopsis teases that the action follows how 'the glamorous couple became Canada's most notorious killers', with legal experts, family and friends sharing their accounts of their horrifying crimes.

Since tuning in, fans have flooded social media dubbing it the perfect watch for fans of the genre, with one penning on IMDb: 'A disturbing yet compelling documentary that exposes the depths of human evil... chilling and heartbreaking documentary.'

Another chimed in: 'This was hard to watch, hearing about how messed up and psychotic these killers are. The documentary was well done, wasn't confusing and very informative. 4 episodes was a good amount too, not too much.'

A third said: 'I binge watched the first 3 episodes, went to bed and had intense nightmares, and then got up and watched the last episode.'

Karla agreed to help Paul drug her then-15-year-old sister, Tammy, so that he could have sex with her - and Tammy passed away shortly after the crime

While over on TikTok, another true crime fan agreed: 'Trigger warning this true crime documentary is shocking... honestly, you'll be shocked when you watch it.'

Someone else wrote: 'I honestly couldn't believe what I watched, honestly all these true crime documentaries I've seen so far are so eerie and disturbing.'

And fans over on Rotten Tomatoes agreed, with one sharing: 'Outstanding doc series. Its the definitive account of perhaps the most infamous murder case in Canadian history.'

Karla, originally from St. Catharines, Ontario, was just 17 years old and Paul, from the Scarborough area of Toronto, was 23, when the pair met.

Paul, who was a University of Toronto student at the time, studying to be an accountant, saw her at her hotel restaurant and felt 'love at first sight.'

'There was electricity in the air, it was love at first sight,' Alan Cairns, author of Deadly Innocence, a book about the murders, reveals in the documentary.

'They called it a match made in heaven, but it was clearly a match made in hell.'

The two quickly fell in love - but while their romance was blossoming, Paul, who had been reported as a teenager for watching female neighbours through their windows, was secretly attacking women across southern Ontario.

The couple killed Leslie Mahaffy, 14, (left) just days before their wedding, and later abducted and killed Kristen French, 15, (right) as she walked home from school

'He seemed so normal. This is common in psychopathic personalities, they are often very charming,' Frank Davey, author of Karla's Web explains in the documentary.

During his high school years, he had several girlfriends who all later accused him of becoming 'abusive', with Alan explaining he would become 'fixated on violence'.

Paul later had his DNA collected in conjunction with the crimes of the Scarborough Rapist, but it would take two more years for them to get the results back, after the sample mysteriously disappeared.

During this time, Paul and Karla were engaged, and Karla was soon helping her husband-to-be commit his crimes against teenage girls.

Not long after her own sister Tammy, then 15, was killed as part of their web of crimes, just days before their wedding, Paul woke Karla up in the middle of the night with a present - a young girl he had kidnapped.

Paul had taken 14-year-old Leslie Mahaffy from the backyard of her home in Burlington, Canada, and had planned to keep her as his sex slave.

He, with with Karla's knowledge, held her captive for hours, repeatedly assaulting her and recording the attacks on video - but less than 24 hours later, she was strangled to death.

During this time, Paul and Karla were engaged, and Karla was soon helping her husband-to-be commit his crimes against teenage girls

On April 16, 1991, the newlyweds abducted 15-year-old Kristen French while she was walking home from school.

According to eyewitnesses, Karla asked the teen to come over to their car because they needed help with directions, when suddenly, Paul grabbed her and forced her into the vehicle.

The couple kept Kristen in their home for days while recording the assaults, before they eventually killed her. Her body was discovered in a ditch days later.

According to people who knew them, the couple had an 'intense obsession' with each other, which played out as part of their crimes.

'It was a very destructive relationship. They fed into one another, and encouraged and supported one another in doing things that were unspeakable,' Dr. Fred Berlin, a sexual disorder specialist at Johns Hopkins University, says in the documentary.

'They were attractive, intelligent, in love. The idea that these were the bad guys and that they were capable of doing anything so vile is something that's hard for us to comprehend.'

Alan added: 'The interest in this case was not sparked by the brutality of the murders. It was the disbelief that such an attractive man and beautiful young girl could team up and be involved in something so bad.'

In January of 1993, Karla decided to leave Paul after he allegedly beat her with a flashlight, leaving her with two black eyes and a broken rib

In January of 1993, Karla decided to leave Paul after he allegedly beat her with a flashlight, leaving her with two black eyes and a broken rib.

Around the same time, Paul's DNA sample - which had been collected two years earlier while police were investigating the Scarborough Rapist - was finally processed.

The police soon started to link all the crimes together, and they brought Karla in for questioning, in the hopes that she'd turn on her ex-lover.

She claimed that Paul had made her participate in the gruesome killings against her will and agreed to testify against him in exchange for a reduced sentence for herself.

Karla was convicted on two counts of manslaughter and received a 12-year sentence, and filed for divorce from Paul.

However, it wasn't until after she had been sentenced that police found video tapes the couple had taken while committing the crimes, which showed her not only helping Paul in his acts, but also participating in some of them herself.

Paul was arrested on February 17, 1993 and charged with nine different counts, including kidnapping, unlawful confinement, unlawful aggravated assault, and murder.

His trial began two years later, and Karla was the prosecutor's key witness. She took to the stand where she branded him as the mastermind behind the whole thing.

On September 1, 1995, Paul was found guilty of all nine charges, and was sentenced to life in prison while, after serving 12 years behind bars, Karla was released on July 5, 2005.

Paul remains in prison and was denied parole for the third time in 2024.

Ken and Barbie Killers: The Lost Murder Tapes is available to stream on HBO Max
Inland county in N China's Hebei emerges as new gateway to ASEAN markets

People's Daily Online) 09:35, April 08, 2026

: A worker labels packaged bags and luggage for export at a company in Jize county, Handan city, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo/Wei Xiao)

: Photo shows e-bikes bound for Vietnam produced by an electric vehicle manufacturer in Jize county, Handan city, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo/Wei Xiao)

: A Hanoi-Jize freight train arrives in Jize county, Handan city, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo/Wang Chao)

: Business representatives browse the product exhibition area at a 2025 RCEP trade event in Jize county, Handan city, north China's Hebei Province. (Photo/Qi Pengfei)

: An enterprise representative from Jize county discusses import and export business with a buyer from ASEAN at the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo. (Photo/Hou Xiaowen)

Inside a factory in Jize county, Handan city, north China's Hebei Province, workers are racing to fulfill an international order: bags and luggage bound for Vietnam.

"This batch is worth more than 10 million yuan ($1.45 million), spanning four product lines and over 50 styles," said Song Lifeng, general manager of a luggage manufacturing company.

After more than a decade working elsewhere, Song made a pivotal decision in 2025: return to his hometown of Jize county to start a business. What drew him back was a newly launched freight train route linking Jize and Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, which he described as "a golden corridor to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)."

The international freight train route has changed the fortunes of the inland county, allowing it to become a new gateway to ASEAN markets.

Nestled at the eastern foot of the Taihang Mountains, Jize had long cultivated a cluster of industries, including casting, textiles and home appliance components. The county had earned a string of national designations: "China's cotton textile hub," "China's municipal casting base" and "China's pepper hub."

Yet when local businesses tried to reach overseas markets, logistics proved to be a bottleneck.

"In the past, goods had to be loaded onto trucks and hauled hundreds of kilometers to Tianjin Port or Qingdao Port for overseas destinations," said Yan Jinfa, deputy director of Jize county's bonded logistics service center. "The whole process took at least 20 days."

The turning point came in 2024, when Jize set its sights on launching its own international rail service running straight to ASEAN.

On May 26, 2024, the first Jize-Hanoi freight train, carrying products including fasteners and rubber flooring, departed from Caozhuangzhen Freight Station along the Hanhuang (Handan-Huanghua) Railway.

The roughly 2,500-kilometer rail route, covered in 12 to 15 days, marked the first regular train service from the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to Southeast Asia, and the starting gun for Jize's transformation from an inland county into an international logistics node.

"Shorter logistics time, fewer steps, simpler paperwork. It's like building an expressway directly to Southeast Asia, with door-to-door service," said Zhang Yongqiang, an official in Jize county and a long-time advocate for the county's international logistics park.

Jize has since made efforts to upgrade infrastructure, optimize services and improve its industrial system.

Song's factory warehouse sits roughly 200 meters from Caozhuangzhen Freight Station. "Once the containers are packed, we just transport them to the station  it's like sending a parcel," he said at the door of his warehouse.

Behind him is the Handan (Jize) International Logistics Industrial Park, covering a planned area of 2.55 square kilometers. The county has been steadily building out the park's eight functions, including rail operations, customs supervision, freight transport, bonded warehousing, import-export processing and general business services.

In 2025, Jize extended the rail line at Caozhuangzhen Freight Station from 450 to 1,050 meters, doubling operational efficiency. Annual freight-handling capacity at the yard is set to rise from 2 million tonnes to 5.6 million tonnes.

In March 2025, a direct service linking the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region to Hanoi launched, cutting transit time from 12-15 days to just five to seven days. "Time is a competitive edge. Fewer stops mean faster delivery," said Hu Yanfeng, head of Jize county.

The same month, a strategic cooperation memorandum of understanding on China-Vietnam cross-border freight train services was signed, giving Caozhuangzhen Freight Station formal recognition as one of three cross-border logistics nodes designated by Vietnam Railways Corporation in China. The agreement unlocks benefits including 12-hour customs clearance and a fast-track arrangement at the border.

A customs supervision facility within the park is expected to be completed in June.

"We'll offer round-the-clock clearance. Exports declared in Jize will be able to move through border crossings without additional inspection, dramatically reducing waiting time and costs," said Xu Wei, deputy head of Handan Customs under Shijiazhuang Customs.

A company established in April 2025 to operate the park is also developing a cross-border digital supply chain platform for ASEAN trade.

To date, Jize-Hanoi freight trains have made 39 trips, with cumulative cargo valued at $27.05 million. The cargo range has expanded from a handful of items to more than 30 categories, and the service's reach now extends beyond Jize county across much of Hebei and into western Shandong Province and northern Henan Province.

This year, the service has taken another significant step forward, adding inbound imports to complement outbound trade. In January, a train carrying a full load of Vietnamese cassava starch arrived at Caozhuangzhen Freight Station, marking the route's shift from a one-way export channel to a two-way operation.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
A Star Wars television series branded the 'best of all time' within the franchise made its debut with a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.

The show's origins come from the first prequel film, Phantom Menace, which was released in 1999.

It introduced the villain Darth Maul, who became iconic thanks to his double-bladed lightsaber and distinctive spiky physical appearance.

Despite - spoiler alert - Maul meeting his end in Phantom Menace, the character now stars in new Disney+ series Star Wars: Maul  Shadow Lord.

This animated prequel follows Maul's journey during the reign of the Galactic Empire - taking place after the Clone Wars series.

The first two episodes dropped in the UK yesterday (April 7) and fans are already impressed.

Iconic Star Wars villain Darth Maul was first introduced in 1999 prequel film The Phantom Menace

The character now stars in new Disney+ animated prequel series Star Wars: Maul  Shadow Lord

Star Wars: Maul  Shadow Lord has a perfect 100% score on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, with fans and reviewers sharing their thoughts online.

CBR penned: 'It elevates what animated shows are capable of and easily establishes itself as one of the prolific franchise's best TV series of all time.'

A fan wrote: 'Amazing premiere. Love the cyberpunk-ish mood. Cant wait for next episodes.'

Another added: 'Maul Shadow Lord is everything I want from a show with a bad guy lead. I might watch those first two episodes again.'

Although another viewer was less impressed, as they remarked: 'There were some nice shots of Coruscant (still dont like the animation), but I dont get what the point of the show is.'

Elsewhere, an 'outstanding' dystopian Netflix series has been hailed by fans as 'better than The Handmaid's Tale' with viewers pushing it for more recognition.

Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale last aired in May 2025, with the story that had long followed Elizabeth Moss's protagonist June finally coming to its dramatic ending.

While the spin-off series, The Testaments, is soon to hit screens, viewers have been looking elsewhere for their latest dose of dystopian drama.

Fans of the genre have found another drama to dive into in the meantime - and have been left raving over it as 'on point' and 'deserving more recognition'.

Portuguese series 3% first launched on Netflix in 2016, and follows a cast of young people in the distant future living in a poverty-stricken area known as Inland.

Each year, an elite group that choose to live in a virtual paradise, Offshore, allows the young residents of the Inland to compete for a place on the virtual island paradise through a series of tests.

Only 3% of candidates succeed and qualify to leave the Inland area in each selection process - seeing a fierce battle of wits taking place each year.

Elsewhere, fans hailed Netflix dystopian series 3% as 'better than The Handmaid's Tale' - which ended last year

The majority of the candidates are forced to return to their impoverished conditions after taking part in the selection process, often too debilitated to survive.

Much of the action follows new Offshore resident Michele, played by Bianca Comparato, a young woman with no family and a strong sense of justice.

It draws a focus on the high-stakes tests that divide social inequality in the futuristic society, and the rebellion that aims to take down the system.

The series, which came to an end in 2020, has won over viewers since its launch, with an impressive 85 per cent score on reviews site Rotten Tomatoes, with fans calling it 'tremendously underrated'.

One fan penned on IMDb: 'I was really surprised by the fact that this show is really unknown. It is a great TV series that definitely deserves more recognition.'

Another chimed in: 'Cinematically and visually stunning, a political, Hunger Games-esque storyline with believable acting, and I thought very interesting, lifelike characters.

'The script is intelligent, the characters are strong, and the interaction is elegant in its simplicity and natural air.'

Someone else added: '3% is one of those rare shows that only gets better and better as it goes. Season 3, so far, is shaping up to be the most enthralling season yet, which, let me tell you, is absolutely saying something!

'The world continues to be fleshed out, and the already quite complex characters are only getting more interesting.

'Do yourself a favour; watch at least to episode three before you pass judgement. You won't regret it!'
Emmerdale fans have called out a glaring blunder as Paddy Kirk received his court date - taking to social media to rage at ITV to 'do better'.

Actor Dominic Brunt's character was issued a summons to court as he faces trial for perverting the course of justice in the murder of drug dealer Ray, played by Joe Absolom.

Viewers were quick to spot a slip-up from script writers relating to the legal proceedings, which will take place after Bear Wolf, played by Joshua Richards, murdered Ray.

Bear was trying to stop the drug dealer from killing son Paddy, and teenager Dylan, portrayed by Fred Kettle, on New Year's Day.

Paddy and Dylan decided to help by moving the body, covering up what had happened to protect Bear, who was left traumatised after being kept as a slave by Ray and his criminal mastermind mum Celia (Jaye Griffiths).

The pair later confessed to what happened, which prompted Paddy to be summoned to court for perverting the course of justice.

Emmerdale fans have called out a glaring blunder as Paddy Kirk received his court date - taking to social media to rage at ITV to 'do better'

Joe Absolom's villainous character Ray Walters was killed in recent episodes

While viewers of the ITV who no qualms with Paddy being brought in to be tried at the dock, they have been left puzzled over the date he's due to take the stand.

In a recent episode of Emmerdale, Paddy was handed a letter, before ripping it open and exclaiming: 'Oh, that's sooner than I expected.'

Jacob (Joe Warren Plant) then walked into the room and asked: 'What is?' to which Paddy explained: 'I've got a date for the trial, 4th of May.'

'I can't do this,' Jacob exclaimed, to which Paddy reassured him: 'Theres nothing to worry about, its going to be alright. We just have to tell the courts exactly what happened this is on Ray and Celia'.

However, fans were quick to pick up while discussing the clip on TikTok that May 4 falls on a Bank Holiday this year, when court doesn't sit.

The eagle-eyed viewer penned: 'Come on ITV and Emmerdale  do your research a bit better. Unless Im missing something, courts are still not running on Bank Holiday Mondays Did you notice this?'

'I do enjoy the soaps but sometimes they do silly things,' a second chimed in, as a third said: 'I don't think Bank Holidays exist in soap land.'

'Even though its pre-recorded the ITV producers know that the 4th May is a bank holiday haha,' a fourth joked, while a fifth concluded: 'Soap operas like Emmerdale are famous for prioritizing high-stakes drama over administrative accuracy'.

UK court hearings and trials do not normally happen on Bank Holidays, as the courts are closed - unless exceptions have been made for urgent matters.

It comes after it was revealed that an Emmerdale character 'with massive impact' is making a bombshell return to handle 'unfinished business' - after having fled the village fearing for their life.

The fan favourite was involved in two major storylines on the ITV soap prior to their initial exit.

Kev Townsend - played by Chris Coghill - was first introduced last year as Robert Sugden's (Ryan Hawley) secret husband, who he'd married in prison.

In a bid to save their relationship, Kev had lied to Robert that he was dying, before the truth was exposed.

The complex character also discovered he was Lewis Barton's (Bradley Riches) biological father, a fact which Lewis remains unaware of.

Viewers last saw Kev having narrowly escaped from killer John Sugden (Oliver Farnworth) and alerting Aaron Dingle (Danny Miller) to the danger.

The character was first introduced last year, where he was revealed as Robert Sugden's secret, estranged husband from prison

He left the village believing Lewis would be better off without him - although it would seem something has now changed his mind.

Emmerdale producer Laura Shaw said: 'Both Chris and the character of Kev made a massive impact on the show last year, so Chris is most definitely back by popular demand.

'With Kevs son, Lewis, in the village still unaware of who his father is, it's safe to say that theres a lot of unfinished business and drama ahead.'

Chris Coghill, who plays Kev, added: 'Im really pleased to be returning to Emmerdale, I had a brilliant time last year.

'Kev is a complex character that I love playing.

'He has psychopathic tendencies but also an energy and vulnerability that I think makes him pretty unique. Im properly looking forward to getting back at it.'

Chris, 50, has also appeared in such shows as Slow Horses, Shameless, The Bay and EastEnders - playing groomer Tony King in the BBC soap.

He is set to be back on-screen as Kev later this year.

It comes as two Emmerdale residents departed the village to start a new journey - away from bad memories.

Tracy Robinson - played by Amy Walsh since 2014 - made an exit alongside her young daughter Frankie.

She told sister Vanessa (Michelle Hardwick) about needing to get away from the village, for a while, due to the tragic memories it held.

Last year, she discovered her husband Nate (Jurell Carter) had been killed, later discovering that John Sugden was the culprit.

Recent scenes saw Tracy and Frankie head to a new job and home - courtesy of Nate's mother Cara (Carryl Thomas).

Before leaving, Tracy said a poignant goodbye to Nate's dad and Frankie's grandfather, Cain Dingle (Jeff Hordley).

The two hugged each other, with Cain promising to visit the pair once they're settled and after his cancer surgery.

In reality, actress Amy is heading on maternity leave, having welcomed her second child with EastEnders actor husband Toby-Alexander Smith.

The 38-year-old star took to Instagram to announce the news and shared the first picture of her daughter.

She shared a sweet black and white photo of her baby daughters feet, after dressing her in a cute baby grow with flowers on it.

Amy wrote: 'This time last week I was heading into established labour. Weve been in the most magical bubble ever since.'

Her sister, Girls Aloud star Kimberley Walsh, was among the first to send a congratulatory message.

Emmerdale co-star Lisa Riley, who plays Mandy Dingle, commented: 'Congratulations to you all', accompanied by five heart emojis.

On-screen sister Michelle Hardwick penned: 'She's perfect', while Victoria Sugden star Isabel Hodgins shared: 'Amazing!!'

Katie Hill, who plays Sarah Sugden, added: 'Omg congratulations to you both!!'

Amy and Toby-Alexander, 34, are already parents to their daughter Bonnie, who they welcomed in 2022.

Emmerdale airs on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
Clarkson's Farm fans will be happy to hear the show's new series is likely to be available within weeks.

Show producer Andy Wilman told how series five of the hugely popular Prime Video series could be released as early as next month.

Viewers will also be getting a 'Christmas special' episode when it does air.

Speaking on the Extraordinary Life Stories podcast, Andy said: 'There's a scene in the pub which happens at Christmas time and there's isn't a lot of farming going on and it's a little bit Vicar of Dibley Christmas special-ish as the stories are there.

'Jeremy wants to make a Santa's grotto so he has a meeting with Charlie talking about what he wants to do and I think that is the best scene I've ever, ever seen them do and I remember the editor and I looking at each other saying 'this is the best television to make ever' when it goes out you'll see what I mean.

'Then Kaleb and Jeremy build the grotto together and Kaleb's view on the creation of mankind is blindingly brilliant.'

Clarkson's Farm fans will be happy to hear the show's new series is likely to be available within weeks

Andy told how the the show's deal with Prime Video is done on a 'rolling basis' and the fate of the programme is decided series by series.

Andy, who has also been a producer on Top Gear and The Grand Tour, said Clarkson's Farm will end when Jeremy wants it to.

He explained: 'This is our third big show  Top Gear kind of got ended for us, I can't say that was a plan.

'The Grand Tour, we brought that to an end, we planned that  we thought we have to land the plane while we're still in the air and dignified and we've still got an audience.

'You can't have that thing where you have done one series too many and people say 'that's bollocks now, it's a busted flush' so you have to discipline yourself to say 'we end this now while we still have an audience'.

'The same will have to happen with the farm. We don't know when that is.

'You've got to remember this is Jeremy's show, it's not like mine and his or his and Richard's, it's his baby and if at the end of a series, he can think of something he wants to do for another series, then he'll do it.

'But if he can't think of anything to do or say, then that would be the end of it  it hasn't happened yet but that's the agreement he has with Amazon that we do it all on a rolling basis.

Show producer Andy Wilman told how series five of the hugely popular Prime Video series could be released as early as next month

'Every series we have is a bonus and we have to treat it like the Grand Tour, that every series we have is a bonus  and each time we're thinking we're in uncharted territory with the farming show. It's the most joyous thing to edit.'

According to The Sun, Jeremy began working on series six after the weather became chillier in January.

The publication said: 'Jezza got straight out onto the fields of Diddly Squat Farm and start the cameras rolling.

'Last week things really picked up the pace, however, and the team are now on target to be able to deliver us the new season next year.'

In December 2025, Jeremy revealed he would be taking a break from TV in early 2026 for the first time in 40 years, but he vowed to get back in front of the camera on his Oxfordshire farm if snow fell.

He told The Sun: 'We've never had a rest, we wrap a series and immediately start again because farming doesn't stop.

'You harvest and you're immediately start drilling for the next year.

'So, but this time Kaleb's gone off to Australia, he's filming down there at the moment, I was doing Millionaire Hot Seat and I really wanted to have a holiday because I haven't had one in ages.

'So we just said, 'OK well let's just actually wrap it.' And then I just said, 'If it snows we'll start filming again'.'

Clarkson went on to add he still has plenty of ideas for future series of the show, adding: 'We'll definitely do six - Amazon want to (do series six) and I want to. I've got a good idea for six ...

'I said I'll stop doing them when there are no more ideas. But I've got two quite good ones, so we'll do six and then we'll see ... '
The Gladiators reboot has proven to be one of TV's biggest success, with the BBC's revamp of the nineties format quickly becoming a global 'superbrand.'

And with a US version set to hit Prime Video next week, sources are claiming that bosses are planning to cash in on the show's 'goldmine' success with a UK vs USA spin-off.

The Saturday night favourite returned to huge ratings in 2024, and has since sparked a nationwide tour and a Live Experience for fans to enjoy.

Bosses are thought to be so sure American Gladiators will be a success they are already plotting a transatlantic cross-over.

A source added that with the US reboot just days away, they're hoping it could turn the format into a 'global superbrand.'

A source said: 'The brand has become a goldmine in the UK.'

Gladiators bosses are reportedly planning to cash in on the shows success with a UK vs USA spin-off, after the American version hits screens next week

They went on to tell The Sun: 'Not only is it a huge ratings hit, the nationwide tour and Live Experience are raking in millions.

'It's no wonder the Americans want in. It feels like Gladiators is on the brink of becoming a global superbrand.'

Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Gladiators for comment.

American Gladiators is set to feature 'global' elite athletes, such as CrossFitters and bodybuilders as the cast, and will kick off on Prime Video on April 17.

The series will see contestants battling for a $100,000 prize money and the title of American Gladiator Champion, and will consist of 10 episodes across three weeks.

Of course Gladiators original UK run was based on the American version, and it went on to become a huge hit and air for eight years from 1992 to 2000.

The reboot, hosted by Bradley Walsh and his son Barney, has so far spanned three series, two celebrity versions and CBBC spin-off, with many of the Gladiators making a string of TV appearances including Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Sewing Bee.

The most recent series came to a thrilling conclusion last month, with Emily Bell and Josh McDonald crowned the ultimate Gladiators Champions of 2026.

The jam packed episode saw the final four Emily, Naomi Church, Josh and Tyler Spence, return to the Utilita Arena in Sheffield and take on the gladiators for one last time.

American Gladiators is set to feature 'global' elite athletes, such as CrossFitters and bodybuilders as the cast, and will kick off on Prime Video on April 17

Fans of the show saw many surprising moments with Emily, who works in marketing and events, knocking Sabre off the podium in Duel for the first time ever.

After beating out the gladiators Emily kicked off the Eliminator with a six second advantage as she raced Naomi to the finish.

The girls were neck-on-neck until Naomi got stuck on the balance beam, with Emily making it up the travelator first and ultimately taking the crown.

'No words. That was unforgettable! I just won Gladiators on my 23rd birthday,' she exclaimed to Bradley and Barney.

She added: 'We've made history as the oldest and youngest contestants and I'm so glad I got to the final with Naomi.'

Next up, Josh and Tyler battled it out for the men's title with Josh having a 1.5 second advantage on Tyler.

Tyler overtook his competitor as he climbed to the top of the net first but slipped on the beam and was sent back to the start.

Former Royal Marine Commando trainee Josh managed to take the crown after over taking Tyler on the beam and making it up the travelator first.

Josh said: 'We knew it was going to be a close battle and it could have gone either way. I was thinking about my mum the entire time, this win is for my family.'
Craig Charles has revealed he could have died after he suffered a heart attack similar to the one that killed his brother Dean.

The actor, 61, made the admission on Wednesday's I'm A Celebrity... South Africa, his second time on the show after he dropped out of the 2014 series just days in when his brother passed away.

Chatting with his fellow campmates, Craig revealed he is on 'so much medication' every day that he could not remember all the names.

'I'm on about eight tablets a day. I've got four stents in my heart,' he said.

'The arteries from my heart were narrow. It's the same thing that killed my brother when I was here last time. They told me this is genetic, you need to go get that looked at.

'And then my wife, Jackie, is in Galway, visiting their parents, and I'm at home. I gave her a ring, something like that 'I don't feel great, man. My jaws are tingling'.

Craig Charles has revealed he could have died after he suffered a heart attack similar to the one that killed his brother Dean

The actor, 61, made the admission on Wednesday's I'm A Celebrity, his second time on the show after he dropped out of the 2014 series just days in when his brother (pictured) passed away

'Anyway, her sister in law's a nurse and said to call for an ambulance, so I didn't, because you don't call the ambulance on your own. And she was coming home in the morning, so she came home the next morning and took one look at me and got on the phone, and the woman said, 'We think he's having a heart attack, and stay with me'.

'She asked 'what colour is he?' And she [wife] said 'he's brown'. So by now I am having a heart attack and laughing my socks off.

'And then they put a wire in, which is attached to a balloon, and then they blow the balloon up, then they stick a stent in, and it goes all the way up there into your heart, so it widens the artery. Because apparently I was existing only 35 per cent blood to my heart, and when they put the stents in and it's on 100 per cent. So they saved me.

'My brother had the same thing, but he passed out, he was working at a school as a teacher.'

Scarlett Moffatt praised Craig in the Bush Telegraph, saying: 'I think Craig is really, really brave coming back somewhere where you found out the most devastating news must be really hard.'

Craig previously spoke of his agony after failing to reply to his brother's text messages before his unexpected death.

The actor told the Daily Star On Sunday that his brother had texted him twice before he went into the jungle but he had been too busy to reply due to work commitments.

He said: 'Dean had left me a couple of messages, before I came in saying 'Craig, how are you? Can we meet up?' and I'd kinda blanked him because I had too much going on.

'I thought, 'You know what, I'll leave it until I come out then I'll get in contact with him.''

Craig learned his older sibling passed away just days into his jungle experience after a blood clot travelled to his heart.

He told the paper: 'I was shocked. I really broke down. He was only 52. I'm 50. We were very, very close when we were growing up. We shared a bedroom and stuff like that.'
Police are alleging that the rapper Lil Tjay set in motion a fight that led to the shooting of Migos member Offset.

According to the probable cause affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail, police claim that Lil Tjay (real name: Tione Merritt) 'directed members of his party to start a fight with another group of males' around 7:22 p.m. on Monday night.

Police allege that one of the men in Lil Tjay's group pulled out a gun and shot Offset in the valet area of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for Offset, Lil Tjay, the Seminole Police Department and the Broward County Sheriff's Department for comment.

Lil Tjay's attorney, Dawn Florio, previously denied the 'false rumors that Lil Tjay was involved in a shooting' in a statement on Tuesday.

'Lil Tjay has not been shot,' she said, referencing rumors that had spread online shortly after Offset was reported to have been shot, 'nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting. Any reporting to the contrary is false,' she said.

Police alleged in a probable cause affidavit that the shooting of Migos member Offset (pictured in November 2024 in LA) happened after his rival rapper Lil Tjay instigated a fight on Monday night

Police allege that after the fight broke out in the valet area of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, a member of Lil Tjay's entourage pulled out a gun and shot Offset; Lil Tjay is pictured in his mugshot from the Broward County Sheriff's Office

TMZ first reported on the contents of the probable cause affidavit.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, the Seminole Police Department said Lil Tjay had been arrested on a disorderly conduct  affray charge, which is a first-degree misdemeanor, and booked at the Broward County Sheriff's Office.

'A second person detained at the scene has not been charged,' police said, noting that 'The investigation to identify one or more additional persons involved in the incident is ongoing.'

Referring to Offset, police added that 'The injured individual remains at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., with a non-life-threatening injury.'

After he was bailed out on Tuesday, Lil Tjay denied being involved in the alleged fight.

'I didn't do no damn fighting,' he said, while also calling Offset a 'rat n****' to a group of reporters before getting into an SUV, according to NBC 6 Miami.

According to the probable cause affidavit, police claimed that Lil Tjay fought with Offset's associates after he had been shot.

'Sworn statements were taken from the victims who stated that they were caring for their wounded friend [Offset], when the defendant [Lil Tjay] approached them in an aggressive manner with fists clenched and taking swings at them,' it said.

Lil Tjay was arrested Monday night by the Seminole Police Department and booked at the Broward County Sheriff's Office on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct  affray; pictured in 2022 in Culver City, Calif.

After he was bailed out on Tuesday, Lil Tjay denied being involved in the alleged fight. 'I didn't do no damn fighting,' he said, while also calling Offset a 'rat n****' to a group of reporters before getting into an SUV, according to NBC 6 Miami; Offset is seen in 2024 in Atlanta

Police alleged that Lil Tjay continued fighting with Offset's entourage even after he was shot, and the fighting only stopped once police arrived. They also claim video footage shows Lil Tjay filming the fight on his cell phone; Lil Tjay pictured in 2022 in LA

It was only when police arrived that the fight allegedly stopped, the report said.

'Due to the actions of the defendant's involvement in a fight in a public place, the defendant caused terror among the public that caused injury to another person and placed other patrons in imminent danger,' the document said.

Police also claimed that Lil Tjay was seen on camera filming the confrontation on his cell phone before Offset was shot.

A spokesperson for Offset previously confirmed that he had been shot in the altercation.

'We can confirm he was shot and is currently at the hospital receiving medical care,' they told the Daily Mail, adding, 'He is stable and being closely monitored.'

Offset  whose estranged wife Cardi B filed for divorce in 2024 after six years of marriage  was subsequently seen outside the hospital in a wheelchair as he took a smoke break on Tuesday morning.
Kanye West's UK ban and the subsequent cancellation of his headlining Wireless Festival gig has sparked behind-the-scenes 'mayhem' that has left both the rapper and the event organizers scrambling, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal.

West, 48, sparked controversy late last month when it was announced that he would be headlining the three-day event in Finsbury Park despite his history of anti-Semitism and pro-Nazi outbursts, which included selling swastika T-shirts as recently as February 2025.

West issued a public apology to the Jewish community earlier this year in the form of a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal, where he blamed his battle with bipolar disorder for his past discriminatory actions.

He expressed deep 'regret' at the time and insisted: 'I am not a Nazi or an antisemite. I love Jewish people.'

However, West's words have done little to sway his critics. On Tuesday, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood barred the rapper from entering the UK for the festival following mass outrage, forcing organizers to cancel the July event.

West is said to be 'disappointed' by the ban and feels as though an opportunity to take further accountability has been snatched from him.

As Kanye West is barred from entering the UK, the rapper's headlining gig at Wireless Festival has been canceled and 'mayhem' has erupted behind-the-scenes, the Daily Mail can reveal; West seen in 2024

'Ye is disappointed,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'He offered to meet with the Jewish community in the UK today - to listen, but the door was shut before that conversation could even begin.'

West applied for an Electronic Travel Authorisation on Monday, but the rapper was denied entry to the UK, with Home Secretary Mahmood having made the decision on the grounds that West's presence would 'not be conducive to the public good.'

Behavior deemed not conducive to the public good can include engaging in 'extremism' or acting in a way that is likely to 'incite public disorder'.

A person does not need to have a criminal conviction to be barred, according to Home Office guidance.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer voiced his support for the ban and insisted that West 'should never have been invited to headline' the music festival in the first place.

West broke his silence with a somber statement, where he explained his 'goal' for headlining Wireless Festival was to bring 'unity, peace, and love through [his] music.'

'I've been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly. My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music,' the star wrote on X.

'I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen. I know words aren't enough - I'll have to show change through my actions. If you're open, I'm here.'

As West works to gain access to the UK in wake of the ban, the Daily Mail's source called out the government's 'inconsistency' when it comes to barring certain individuals deemed problematic from entering the country - citing Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa's recent controversial UK visit as an example of that alleged inconsistency.

Join the discussion Do YOU think the festival should have been cancelled over Kanye Wests ban?

The rapper, 48, sparked controversy late last month when it was announced that he would be headlining the three-day event in Finsbury Park despite his history of anti-Semitism and pro-Nazi outbursts

As a result of West's ban, Wireless Festival announced that it would be canceled

'The inconsistency is hard to ignore,' they said. 'The same government welcomed Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda member and leader of a group the UK designated as a terrorist organization until last year, to Downing Street and Buckingham Palace just one week ago.

'The question of what standard is actually being applied here is a fair one.'

Shortly after the news of West's ban, Wireless Festival announced they were cancelling the July music festival altogether, promising refunds to all ticketholders.

'As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking YE and no concerns were highlighted at the time,' a spokesperson for the festival said on Tuesday.

'Antisemitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognize the real and personal impact these issues have had. As YE said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.'

Pre-sale for Wireless Festival went live at midday on Tuesday and general sale tickets were due to be available on Wednesday. No other acts had been confirmed.

A second insider claimed to the Daily Mail that Wireless Festival 'bosses' were considering a different A-list rapper to headline the event before booking West.

'Bosses were eyeing up Jay-Z to headline. The company has a long-standing relationship with him and many insiders feel that he was always a much safer bet than West.'

West apologized for his anti-Semitism back in January less than a year after he sparked outrage for selling swastika T-shirts (West seen in one of his swastika T-shirts)

However, Wireless Festival announced West as their headliner on March 30, which was met with near immediate outrage as fans called for him to be removed from the line-up over his years-long racist attacks on the Jewish community.

Major sponsors like Pepsi and Rockstar Energy went on to withdraw their support for the festival in response to the growing backlash.

The source said that the decision to book West sparked 'internal drama' at Wireless Festival as higher-ups were allegedly 'warned' about the potential for public uproar but 'ignored' those warnings.

'There is internal drama as some people feel he should never have been considered after claiming slavery was a choice. Some staff at the company were shocked that he was headlining in the first place.

'Bosses were warned that the general public wouldn't be happy with decision.'

Referencing the racial slur drama that occurred at the 2026 BAFTA Awards, the insider said that that should have been a 'signal' to organizers 'that the public has a zero tolerance approach to racist language and this was discussed internally.'

'But the concerns were largely ignored because bosses felt enough time had passed since Kanye's remarks on the Jewish community.'

The insider continued: 'It's kicking off in the offices because everyone feels that a huge amount of time has been wasted booking him when they knew there was a chance that he couldn't come.

'Jay-Z was a favorite among people who were anti Kanye because of the possibility of a Beyonce surprise element.

'The Clipse, Tyler, the Creator and J Cole were also being approached. It's mayhem.'

The Daily Mail has reached out to representatives for West, Live Nation and Jay-Z for comment but has yet to hear back.

Melvin Benn, managing director at Festival Republic, which promotes Wireless Festival, insisted in a statement on Tuesday that West deserved forgiveness.

'Ye is disappointed,' a source told the Daily Mail. 'He offered to meet with the Jewish community in the UK today - to listen but the door was shut before that conversation could even begin'; seen in 2020

Melvin Benn, managing director at Festival Republic, which promotes Wireless Festival, insisted in a statement on Tuesday that West deserved forgiveness; Benn seen in 2025

Benn also appeared to blame the star's mental health - which West himself has attributed to a head injury sustained in a car crash 25 years ago - for his anti-Semitic comments.

'Ye's music is played on commercial radio stations in this country,' he said - referring to West by the name he now goes by.

'It is available via live streams and downloads in this country without comment or vitriol from anyone and he has a legal right to come into the country and to perform in this country. He is intended to come in and perform.

'We are not giving him a platform to extol opinion of whatever nature, only to perform the songs that are currently played on the radio stations in our country and the streaming platforms in our country and listened to and enjoyed by millions.'

In response, Sir Keir's spokesman said: 'This is less about second chances. It is more about first principles of abhorrence of anti-Semitic statements.'

The Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the decision to block West from entering Britain.

'The Government has clearly made the right decision here  for once, when it said that antisemitism has no place in the UK, it backed up its words with action,' a spokesman said.

'Someone who has boasted of making tens of millions of dollars from selling swastika T-shirts and who released a song called "Heil Hitler" just months ago clearly would not be conducive to the public good in the UK.'

Karen Pollock, CEO of the Holocaust Educational Trust, also supported the government's move and accused West's defenders of double standards.

'No other community would be told to "forgive" or "talk"  the disgusting racism would be recognized for what it is,' she said.
Ashley James has lauded the chance to jet off on a solo holiday to 'reset' from 'the overstimulation of work and home life,' as she shared a huge galllery of snaps from her island getaway on Tuesday.

The This Morning star, 39, shared a string of bikini-clad images after taking the trip to Tulum as she lauded the chance to slow down with the time away.

Sharing a glimpse at the beachside resorts where she'd stayed, Ashley admitted she'd missed her two children Alfie, four, and Ada, three, 'so much' during the holiday, but the break had made her ready to head back to work.

The post came just days after Ashley sparked a fierce online debate after facing criticism for 'mocking the Bible' and 'spreading misinformation' on 'the most religious day of the year.'

Ashley's post included plenty of images of her in colourful swimwear, as she enjoyed a stay at the Villa Pescadores Tulum before moving to the Ahau resort.

She captioned her post: 'A week away to read, unwind, wake up naturally, eat really good food and just exist on my own schedules.

Ashley James has lauded the chance to jet off on a solo holiday to 'reset' from 'the overstimulation of work and home life'

The This Morning star shared a string of bikini-clad images after taking the trip to Tulum as she lauded the chance to slow down with the time away

'I've missed the kiddies SO much, but I really needed this reset.

'I spent the first few days at @villapescadorestulum  it's super peaceful and tucked away in the national park.

'No beach sellers, just quiet, good food and the sea. It's actually where I wrote Bimbo, and being back there felt really special (and very full circle).

'Then I moved to @ahautulum for the last few days  right in the middle of Tulum, somewhere I first stayed 10 years ago! It's definitely busier now, but Ahau still feels calm with live music and a more chilled vibe.

'Tulum will always have such a special place in my heart. It's changed so much over the years, but there's still something about it that feels really magic.

'I know some people don't get solo trips, but I honestly love them. I'm such an ambivert and I don't get much time on my own day to day, so this kind of time really fills me back up.

'And I always forget how nice it is not knowing exactly what the day will look like or who you might end up chatting to. It's also the perfect antidote to the overstimulation of work/home life!

'If you've ever thought about doing one, I'd really recommend it  Tulum or Bali are such easy places to start. Just book somewhere on the beach and you'll naturally meet people if you want to.

Sharing a glimpse at the beachside resorts where she'd stayed, Ashley admitted she'd missed her two children Alfie, four, and Ada, three, 'so much' during the holiday

However, she said the break had made her ready to head back to work, telling her followers she'd learned she 'really liked her own company'

Ashley's post showed off the picturesque resorts where she stayed in Tulum

Ashley's post included plenty of images of her in colourful swimwear, as she enjoyed a stay at the Villa Pescadores Tulum before moving to the Ahau resort

She said: 'I'm such an ambivert and I don't get much time on my own day to day, so this kind of time really fills me back up'

Ashley told her followers: 'I always forget how nice it is not knowing exactly what the day will look like or who you might end up chatting to'

In her post, Ashley described her time away as 'the perfect antidote to the overstimulation of work/home life'

'I always think about that idea that if you don't get comfortable being alone, it's easy to end up holding onto the wrong people just so you don't have to be,' she said

Finishing her post, Ashley added: 'Now I'm excited to get back to work and my babies and give them 100%. Remember mums, we can't pour from an empty cup'

The former Made In Chelsea reflected on her trip away in a lengthy Instagram post

'Also I always think about that idea that if you don't get comfortable being alone, it's easy to end up holding onto the wrong people just so you don't have to be. And this kind of time reminds me why I actually really like my own company.

'Now I'm excited to get back to work and my babies and give them 100%. Remember mums, we can't pour from an empty cup.'

During her solo break, Ashley sparked a fierce online debate after she was criticised for 'mocking the Bible' and 'spreading misinformation' on 'the most religious day of the year'.

The mother-of-two shared a passage from the Bible, posting it on Instagram on Easter Sunday.

She said: 'Hi everyone. Happy easter. I thought I would celebrate today with a favourite reading from the bible. So this is psalm 116 verse 11...

'I said in my haste. All men are liars. Thank you.'

Taking to the comments, she wrote about the reason for her playful post.

'As you know, some people like to call me woke or a feminazi and a few have even suggested I find God.

'So I took their advice and read the Bible. And do you know what they were right, I really connected with it,' she penned.

'Obviously this is a joke. I respect all faiths: Faith is beautiful.

'What I dont respect is people using religion to justify war, control, and oppression, especially when its used to police womens bodies, sexuality, and queer communities, or to fuel hostility towards immigrants.

'Because some of the Easter messaging coming out of the White House this week has been honestly disturbing.

The post came just days after Ashley sparked a fierce online debate after facing criticism for 'mocking the Bible' and 'spreading misinformation' on 'the most religious day of the year'

While some people were amused by her playful post about the Bible, others felt that she was mocking the Bible

Ashley also shared a video of Trump in which he was compared to Jesus. She wrote: 'I am pretty sure even by conservative Christian values this is blasphemy? I mean wtf is this?'

'Paula White-Cain compared Trump to Jesus, saying he had been betrayed, arrested and falsely accused.

'Franklin Graham used religious language to frame war, claiming Iranians want the death of all Jews and positioning Trump as chosen by God in justifying the war.

'And it just makes me thinkDo you really believe Jesus would support stripping families apart and detaining them?

'Building ballrooms while people struggle to survive? Accepting a $400m private jet while cutting healthcare?

'Calling some humans illegal? Killing innocent civilians around the world? Or bragging about grabbing women by the pussy?

'Stop this nonsense.'

She continued: 'If were going to start taking everything in the Bible literally, then lets actually apply it properly, not just when it suits power. As William Blake said,

'A truth thats told with bad intent beats all the lies you can invent.

'Faith, to me, should be about compassion, equality, and human rights. Creating a world of love and peace. 

'So Happy Easter, lovers, and heres to dreaming of a more beautiful world.'

She also posted a message that her son Alfie, five, wanted to go to church.

The message she received, read: 'Alfie wanted to go to church with Nana lol' and she wrote: 'In case anyone was wondering, alongside a cry face emoji.

While some people were amused by her joke about the Bible, others felt that she was mocking it.

They wrote in the comments: 'Please dont mock the Bible. And on this sacred and Holy weekend lets not tie Trump and his antics back to Jesus, a lot of bad people use all religions for their own purposes, hes no different.

'Jesus fed the poor, healed the sick and brought freedom and healing to everyone he met, most notably women. At the well, at the cross, at the grave, his focus was women and freedom. He died so you can have life, but if you dont believe that, thats fine, please dont mock it, especially not this weekend.

'Please stop mocking the bible. You may not be religious but Tom definitely was and is. Just like all us Andrews in the Family.

'May as well rebrand as Ashley TikyToky the level of rage baiting for clicks and money making. The lack of authenticity is astounding. Mocking your childs interest in religion twice in one week and now mocking religion more broadly, just wow.

'Posting this on Easter Sunday is offensive and Im no snowflake. Step away from your phone and tripod and enjoy your time alone.

'Wow Im not a practising Catholic and not that religious but I found this deeply inappropriate and basically made me think maybe you are what I was fighting against you beingsomeone using woman and sexuality for their own benefit.'

Ashley also shared a video of Trump in which he was compared to Jesus.

She wrote: 'I am pretty sure even by conservative Christian values this is blasphemy? I mean wtf is this?

'How on earth can Trump be compared to Jesus. People are MAD. The version of conservative Christianity rising in the US now is deeply disturbing.

'You cannot claim faith while supporting war that kills innocent people. You cannot call yourself Christian while deciding which humans deserve safety and which don't.

'And you cannot be "pro-life" while denying women life-saving healthcare.

'This isn't about religion. It's about politics power and control and using faith to justify harm.'

Ashley has also written about her choice to spend Easter on holiday alone.

She wrote: 'Is it selfish to go away without your kids? Some people have said so in the comments. Others think its weird Ive chosen to come away on my own. I know for some people its their worst nightmare but I love my own company!

'But in my eyes, filling my own cup makes me a better mum. And I always wonder why society expects mums to be all sacrificing, to give up their hobbies, and yet not change after having kids. Whenever Tommy goes away, no one questions him. They dont ask whos looking after the kids or question his commitment.

'And yet when I go away, its always questioned.

'Much like women who go back to work face snide remarks about letting other people raise their kids - something never aimed at working dads.

'Solo travel is actually how I learned to be happy. When I was single in my late 20s, I felt lonely and like Id failed somehow. Travelling alone changed that. It taught me my life could be full, exciting and joyful without needing to look like a relationship or motherhood.

'Its where I got to know myself and started to actually like myself.

'So coming away now isnt about escaping my life, its about reconnecting with that part of me. And if Im honest, I really needed it.

'Ive been feeling burnt out with early starts, work, the book all of it. I could feel myself running on empty.'

She continued: ' Of course I miss the kids SO much. Theyre having the best time in France with Tommy and their grandparents, which is so special for them. 

'It also gives them space to build those relationships without me always being there, which is important - for them and Tommy too.

'And for me, its a chance to slow down, read, think, and just be.

'I know so many mums feel guilt existing outside of motherhood, but were showing our kids we can still have rich, full lives. And one day when they leave the nest, we still have our own things.

'Mums arent robots. We can be self sacrificing, but sometimes we need things for ourselves too - and we shouldnt feel guilt for that.

'So some say its selfish, but I say its selfless.'
Tammy Hembrow has broken her silence over her new romance with a 22-year-old toyboy.

The influencer, 31, revealed in February that she had struck up a relationship with Sydney model Grayson Te Moana.

Tammy appeared on the Hit Network Drive with Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westcott, where she was promptly asked for details on her new relationship.

The radio duo was probing Tammy for more information about her new man, and she seemed sheepish about spilling the beans.

'You are a hot, into each other couple right now, and I'm loving that for you, babe,' Lucy said.

Still reluctant to divulge details about her romance, Tammy replied, 'Look, I'm having a great time.'

Tammy Hembrow (pictured) has broken her silence over her new romance with a 22-year-old toyboy

The influencer, 31, revealed in February that she had struck up a relationship with Sydney model Grayson Te Moana (left)

This did little to placate the hosts, who continued to probe Tammy for information.

'You guys can do your own investigations,' she said. 'I'm not ready.'

Tammy admitted that the reason she wasn't keen to give up too many details was that she wanted to 'protect' Grayson and their relationship.

'The thing is, I like being an open book, I want to be an open book, but this is something I just want to protect a little bit,' she said.

The couple 'hard-launched' their romance in February at the Australian premiere of Wuthering Heights in Sydney.

Tammy and Grayson were inseparable throughout the night and at one point she passionately embraced and kissed him for the cameras, leaving no doubt the pair were an item.

The influencer beamed at the event, with her hair elegantly styled in perm-like waves by Mari Price, while statement jewellery by Cerrone elevated her elegant look.

However, it was Tammy's new man Grayson, who is a Sydney-based model, who was the centre of attention, and he looked slick in an all-black get-up consisting of a blazer and matching pants.

Reluctant to divulge details about her romance, Tammy replied, 'Look, I'm having a great time'

The following day, it was reported that Grayson was until recently in a serious relationship with a woman named Jemma Hammett, and that she and her family were mortified to learn of his relationship with the mother-of-three.

Jemma's sister, Amelia, told The Daily Telegraph that Grayson's very public new romance with Tammy had caused them significant embarrassment.

'I only care about my baby sister in this whole ordeal, as most people would,' Amelia said.

'I think that for this to be so publicised is embarrassing. How did he not see this unravelling the way it has? It's exactly what he has so badly wanted, but in the absolute wrong way.'

She finished by saying she was speaking out to protect other young women.

Jemma has several photos of Grayson featured on her Instagram account as recently as December last year.

He was even pictured decorating a Christmas tree with Jemma.

When previously contacted by the Daily Mail, the aspiring model denied ever being in a committed relationship with Jemma.

'The thing is, I like being an open book, I want to be an open book, but this is something I just want to protect a little bit,' she said

The pair were also spotted looking very smitten last week as they enjoyed a romantic Gold Coast beach date.

The new relationship comes as Tammy's ex-fling Bailey Smith, 25, appears to have found himself another love  and she looks almost identical to Tammy.

Tammy and Bailey had a short-lived interstate fling last August, with the footy star jetting out to the Gold Coast to spend time with the influencer.

She had only just recently split from her ex-husband, Matt Zukowski, at the time.

However, by December, Tammy and Bailey publicly stated they were no longer romantically involved and described their relationship as a friendship.
Married At First Sight bride Alissa Fay has moved on with a new man after David Momoh dumped her during Final Vows.

The Adelaide native, 33, debuted her romance with Australian Ninja Warrior star Nathan Ryles on Wednesday after they were spotted packing on the PDA at a beach.

Alissa called Nathan, 32, her 'soulmate' and said their 'connection is something I've never experienced before', reported New Idea.

'He was unexpected; we didn't plan for this to happen, you know, it just happened so naturally. I believe that he is my person,' she told the publication.

'I thought that I knew what love was, and I thought that I had felt love before, but this is a whole other feeling.'

Nathan said he and Alissa 'bring out the best in each other', adding that he was 'oblivious' to her MAFS narrative because he didn't watch the show.

Married At First Sight bride Alissa Fay, 33, has moved on with a new man after David Momoh, 31, dumped her during Final Vows

'She's treated me better than I've ever been treated, and I just love her so much,' he continued.

Alissa revealed the pair have been hiding their relationship since December so they didn't spoil the ending to her relationship with David, 31, on the Nine series.

The pair, who have already confessed their love for each other, said they had known of each other for years because they shared the same social circle in Adelaide.

However, things between them began to heat up shortly after Alissa finished filming for MAFS, when they finally met on 'a wine tour' for her gym.

The relationship debut will come as a shock to some Daily Mail readers who may remember Alissa vehemently denied being in a relationship with Nathan last week.

'What is going on, all this speculation, he is engaged! I follow him and his fiancee Tori on social media. We are friends, Adelaide is a small place,' she told Daily Mail.

'Adelaide is just like that, everyone knows everyone! It is just noise.'

Daily Mail does not suggest Nathan was engaged at the time he and Alissa began dating, only that Alissa used it as a cover story to hide their relationship.

Join the discussion Is it ever justifiable to hide a new relationship to protect reality TV secrets and reputations?

The Adelaide native debuted her romance with Australian Ninja Warrior star Nathan Ryles, 32, on Wednesday after they were spotted packing on the PDA at a beach

It comes after Alissa was left red-faced on Tuesday night's episode of MAFS after she was forced to deliver her final vows to an empty room.

After her groom David revealed he didn't see a future with Alissa outside of the experiment, he brutally left her standing alone at the altar to process the rejection.

It seemed to come as quite a shock to Alissa, who had earlier hinted that she was going to walk away and 'break his heart'.

Walking into Final Vows, Alissa was quietly confident David would choose to stay in the relationship but it seemed her mind was also made up.

'Today is going to be tough for David,' she said. 'He missed the mark because he was a "yes" man.'

'The ball is in my court today, and it breaks my heart knowing I'm going to be breaking his heart at the end of this.'

However, David beat his bride to the punch, brutally walking away before Alissa had a chance to read her vows.

He began his own vows praising Alissa and the strong connection the pair had forged during the experiment.

Alissa called Nathan her 'soulmate' and said their 'connection is something I've never experienced before', reported New Idea

David then told Alissa that his feelings about their relationship had changed during the final commitment ceremony.

'I finally spoke up,' he said. 'You accused me of blindsiding you and in that moment I realised something important.

'I wasn't being heard. You couldn't see I wasn't attacking you  I was finally standing up for myself.'

He added that their clash after the Grass is Greener challenge was the final nail in the coffin.

'You flirted, made inappropriate jokes and spoke poorly about me behind my back. I felt betrayed and disrespected by what I saw,' he said.

'I challenged you and you shut me down. It felt as though you wouldn't take any accountability for how I had felt.'

David added: 'Throughout all this, I've been patient, and I have done a lot of the listening, but I'm done listening.'

Admitting that he still loved Alissa, David then delivered the final blow, telling his bride he chose his own peace over Alissa.

The relationship debut will come as a shock to some Daily Mail readers who may remember Alissa vehemently denied being in a relationship with Nathan last week

'With you there was no version of me that could win. I've realised I can't be the man who constantly fights to be heard or constantly fights to prove his worth to someone who is still deciding if I'll be enough,' he said.

'Today I'm not walking away because I've stopped loving you, Alissa. I'm walking away because loving you shouldn't mean losing myself.'

With that, David walked out of Alissa's life, leaving her looking quite shocked and angry.

'You're not going to listen to my vows?' she asked as David continued to walk away in silence.

'That's a no?' she added. 'Wow, I just wasted three months of my life and he won't even listen to me.'

Alissa proceeded to read her vows aloud to an empty room, with David nowhere to be seen.

'David, you are everything I wanted and more. You are strong, you are kind, you are compassionate, you are a leader, but standing here today I can only be honest,' she said, her voice echoing around the room.

'I love you, David, for who you are but not for me.'

Despite making the decision to leave, David admitted he was 'heartbroken.'

'There's been so much pain that I've experienced in the last two weeks. I feel tremendously heartbroken. It felt that I was fighting for a relationship that someone wasn't willing to fight for,' he said.
Ade Edmondson has revealed how he and his Bergerac co-star Zoe Wanamaker made a pact not to do sex scenes in the series.

Ade, 69, joins the cast for series two of the hit show. He takes on the role of Nigel Morton, the love interest of Charlie Hungerford, played by Zoe, 76.

Ahead of the release later this week, the actor revealed why they decided to swerve getting intimate in the bedroom in favour of a more romantic storyline.

'My favourite scene was our bed scene. Not much of a scene really, just a shot of us in bed,' Ade told The Mirror.

'We both thought it was unnecessary to see people our age getting intimate, so we determined to hold hands while sleeping instead. We knew we'd got it right when we heard the director go, "Awww".'

Ade, who is married to Jennifer Saunders, continued: 'I'm sure Zoe wouldn't mind me letting everyone know that she is as mad as a box of frogs.

'Some of the best people are. It's always very educational to work with people who are so good at their craft. I learnt a lot.'

Ade Edmondson has revealed how he and his Bergerac co-star Zoe Wanamaker made a pact not to do sex series

Bergerac, which starred John Nettles as detective Jim Bergerac, was a huge hit when it was screened on the BBC between 1981 to 1991.

Viewers warmed to the show's sub-plots about his love life and its stunning locations in Jersey.

The show was renewed in 2025, with Damien Molony taking on the role of the detective.

Robert Gilbert will star as Barney Crozier once again, with Lesley Sharp, Charles Dale, Turlough Convery, Georgina Rich and Jonathan Aris also part of the stellar cast.

A synopsis for the new series reads: 'Jim's tentatively started dating, with the encouragement of Kim [played by Chloe Sweetlove], although he still feels a hole in his life since his wife's death

'Privately though, he doesn't hold out much hope of meeting someone special, until along comes Nicola [Camilla Beeput], a visitor to the island with whom he connects.'

'But, just as things look like they might be on the up, Bergerac is pulled into his next big investigation when the groom at a wedding is found murdered in his hotel room.

'Could the victim's final words hold the key to the killer's identity?'

Join the discussion Should older actors avoid intimate scenes on screen, or does age make romance more meaningful to watch?

Ade, 69, joins the cast for series two of the hit show, playing Nigel Morton, the love interest of Charlie Hungerford, played by Zoe

The show was renewed in 2025, with Damien Molony taking on the role of the detective

The second series of the Bergerac reboot premieres on Thursday on U&Drama.
Rosamund Pike was brought to tears during the curtain call of the Inter Alia press night at Wyndham's Theatre in London on Tuesday.

The actress, 47, is reprising her role as Crown Court Judge Jessica Parks in the play which premiered at the National Theatre in July 2025.

Rosamund has returned for the play's West End transfer and became emotional as she waved to the crowd at the end of the performance.

The Gone Girl star was seen with her head in her hands as she was given a thunderous applause for her performance.

In the play, Rosamund portrays a Crown Court Judge who specialises in sexual violence cases.

But her world comes apart when her teenage son Harry is accused of rape, forcing her to reconcile her commitment to justice with her desire to protect her son.

Rosamund Pike was brougnt to tears during the curtain call of the Inter Alia press night at Wyndham's Theatre in London on Tuesday

The actress, 47, is reprising her role as Crown Court Judge Jessica Parks in the play which premiered at the National Theatre in July 2025

Rosamund has returned for the play's West End transfer and became emotional as she waved to the crowd at the end of the performance

The West End show has received glowing reviews from critics with the Daily Mail's Patrick Marmion awarding it four stars.

He wrote: 'It's a roller coaster of a show for which Pike may well win an Olivier Award this coming Sunday.'

Inter Alia - the reviews

Daily Mail Rating: The Standard Rating: Londontheatre.co.uk Rating: The Times Rating: WhatsOnStage Rating:

The Standard's Nick Curtis called Rosamund's performance 'stunning' and added: 'Onstage throughout, Pike is in constant motion, slipping in and out of outfits, catching a casually flung lemon, and keeping up a sometimes amused, sometimes emotionally frayed commentary for the audience on how her gender affects her life.'

Londontheatre.co.uk gave the play four stars and wrote: 'Pike masterfully works her way through Millers demanding script, hurtling through the lines with precision from the moment she enters the stage.'

The Times also awarded it four stars with critic Dominic Maxwell saying Rosamund 'deserves' to win an Olivier award for her performance.

He wrote: 'Take this as a story about the wild challenge of balancing morality and legality, of protecting your children and letting them go, and you have something fine indeed. All rendered vivid by a remarkable central turn that is all action yet deeply felt.'

WhatsOnStage also gave the show four stars and wrote: 'It is Pikes play and Pikes night, and she seizes it with such relish, whether belting out a karaoke number and downing shots with the girls before getting in a taxi exhausted at 9pm, or facing her worst fears of failure as a wife and mother.

'She is supremely witty and sharp, but also devastatingly exposed and tender.'

It comes after Rosamund said she thinks she damaged her career by taking 18 months off to raise her kids right after Gone Girl catapulted her to mainstream fame.

The actress shares sons Solo, 13, and Atom, 11, with her partner Robie Uniacke, 65, - who has four other children.

Hugely popular thriller Gone Girl came out in 2014 and right after she was pregnant with her second son.

Rosamudn looked incredible in a champagne dress as she attended the press night afterparty

(L-R) Flora Dawson, Thomas Michaelson, Justin Martin, Jamie Glover, Rosamund, playwright Suzie Miller, Cormac McAlinden and Luke Garner-Greene attend the press night

Gone Girl starred Rosamund as Amy Dunne who mysteriously disappears on the day of her fifth wedding anniversary.

She starred opposite Ben Affleck who played her husband Nicholas as well as Emily Ratajkowski.

In a new interview with The Sunday Times, Rosamund said she 'wasn't very strategic' with her timings and that she 'took herself out of the running' for those 18 months she had off afterwards.

Speaking of her career break right after the film came out she said: 'I'm not very strategic in terms of career, making sure I am in the right place, meeting the right people.

'I made Gone Girl, I got pregnant, I wasn't there to do all the schmoozing and ride the whole shebang. I could have been so much more strategic.

'I was at a point where I could have got a lot of jobs but took myself out of the running for 18 months, which was sort of insane.'
Amanda Bynes was spotted out in Los Angeles on Tuesday just days after signing a record deal amid her career pivot into music.

The actress, who turned 40 years old on April 3, wore a casual outfit as she stopped by a coffee shop before running errands.

Bynes was photographed getting out of her car in a light blue, graphic T-shirt with wolf imagery on the front and a pair of black, balloon pants.

She wore platform sneakers and carried a black, leather handbag on her arm.

The former Nickelodeon star also appeared to be wearing little-to-no makeup, showing off the fading heart tattoo on her cheek.

She left her long, platinum blonde hair down and made sure to show off her dramatic purple manicure.

Amanda Bynes was spotted out in Los Angeles on Tuesday just days after signing a record deal amid her career pivot into music

Bynes's outing in LA comes shortly after she teased her highly-anticipated return to music by teasing the release of a EDM and rap-inspired song in the coming days.

She last released a single titled Diamonds with her then-fiance Paul Michael in 2021, just shortly after the end of her conservatorship.

Her debut as a rapper happened with the 58-second song, and she later dropped a longer version of the song as well as another single titled Fairfax in 2022.

On Monday, it was revealed that Bynes had signed a deal with Create Music Group, per TMZ.

The label has worked with popular musicians like Jason Derulo, Keri Hilson and Deadmau5.

As a newly signed recording artist, Bynes will be dropping a new song titled Girlfriend on Friday, April 10.

According to the outlet, she teamed up with rapper Fenix Flexin, a founding member of the hip-hop group, Shoreline Mafia.

The record label told the outlet that her soon-to-be-released song 'blends melodic rap with EDM-inspired production, creating a catchy, high-replay record with a West Coast bounce.'

The actress, who turned 40 years old on April 3 , wore a casual outfit as she stopped by a coffee shop before running errands

Bynes's outing in LA comes shortly after she teased her highly-anticipated return to music by teasing the release of a EDM and rap-inspired song in the coming days

As a newly signed recording artist, Bynes will be dropping a new song titled Girlfriend on Friday, April 10

Byne's song Girlfriend is 'built around a strong hook and confident, flirt-heavy energy' and 'taps into a familiar L.A. sound,' according to her label

Byne's song Girlfriend is 'built around a strong hook and confident, flirt-heavy energy' and 'taps into a familiar L.A. sound.'

Last week, she also shared a similar message about her inspiration for the song in an interview with E! News.

'My inspiration was a lot of EDM as well as rap,' she told the outlet about the song, which she started working on as far back as February when she was hinting at her return to music.

At the time, she said she was working with Flexin on something she described as 'straight fire.'

She previously graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in 2019 and also ventured into podcasting.

She launched Amanda Bynes & Paul Sieminski: The Podcast, a collaboration with her friend, in 2023.

She displayed some of her work at an art show in late 2024 and joined OnlyFans in April 2025.
Aubrey Plaza is pregnant with her first child just over a year after the tragic death of her husband Jeff Baena.

A source confirmed to the Daily Mail that the White Lotus star, 41, is expecting a child with her new partner, Christopher Abbott, 40.

The baby, whose gender has not been revealed, is due in the fall.

'It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year,' a source told People.

The couple, who previously starred on Broadway together before falling in love, are said to be feeling 'very blessed'.

Abbott is best known for playing the on-off boyfriend of Allison Williams's character Marnie on Lena Dunham's influential HBO comedy Girls.

Aubrey Plaza is pregnant with her first child just over a year after the tragic death of her husband Jeff Baena

The White Lotus star, 41, first worked with her partner Christopher Abbott, 40, in 2019 on the indie psychological drama Black Bear

The couple first worked together in 2019 on the indie psychological drama Black Bear, in which both actors played dual roles as actors and directors trying to shoot a film in an eerie, isolated lake house.

The low-budget thriller premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 to critical acclaim, with several reviewers singling it out as one of Plaza's best performances to date.

She worked again with Abbott in 2023  this time on stage  in the Off Broadway revival of John Patrick Shanleys play Danny And The Deep Blue Sea, which ran until January 2024.

Plaza and her new partner were last seen together on February 14 when they attended Khaite's Fall/Winter 2026 show as part of New York Fashion Week.

The two were pictured sitting side-by-side in the front row alongside stars including Elizabeth Debicki and Gemma Chan.

Prior to revealing her pregnancy, the Parks And Recreation star had managed to keep her relationship with Abbott under the radar.

According to DeuxMoi, a source had spotted Plaza and Abbot looking affectionate at Chatham Berry Farm in upstate New York last June, some five moths after the death of Plaza's estranged husband.

They claimed that she was spotted speaking to a woman whom they later learned was Abbott's older sister, Christina Abbot, before she posted about a performance at the farm on Instagram.

Abbott is known for a string of acclaimed roles over the past decade and a half, both on television and on the big screen.

In Black Bear the pair played dual roles as actors and directors trying to shoot a film in an eerie, isolated lake house

They collaborated again on stage in 2023 in the Off Broadway revival of John Patrick Shanleys play Danny And The Deep Blue Sea

Plaza and her Abbott attended Khaite's Fall/Winter 2026 show as part of New York Fashion Week in February, sitting next to actress Elizabeth Debicki

Prior to his breakout role on Girls, Abbott had a small supporting role in the well-reviewed psychological drama Martha Marcy May Marlene, which starred Elizabeth Olsen.

He has also appeared in films including A Most Violent Year (2014), James White, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016), also starring Tina Fey, and the psychological horror film It Comes At Night (2017).

In 2018, he appeared with Ryan Gosling as the astronaut Dave Scott in the Neil Armstrong biopic First Man, which was directed by La La Land's filmmaker Damien Chazelle.

Abbott has primarily focused on low-budget independent films, but he has made forays into larger films, including comedy Poor Things (2023), also starring Emma Stone, as well as the DC Comics movie Kraven The Hunter and the Wolf Man reboot (both 2025).

He most recently appeared with Amanda Seyfried in the period drama The Testament Of Ann Lee and will star alongside Florence Pugh in an upcoming Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck's East of Eden.

Plaza's pregnancy follows a tragic 2025, which saw her estranged husband Jeff Baena die by suicide on January 3.

It was subsequently revealed that the couple had separated four months before his untimely death.

An LA County Medical Examiner's autopsy report obtained by the Daily Mail revealed that the filmmaker and actress had separated in September 2024. She had been living in New York at the time his body was discovered.

Abbott is best known for playing the on-off boyfriend of Allison Williams's character Marnie on Lena Dunham's influential HBO comedy Girls

Plaza's pregnancy follows a tragic 2025, which saw her estranged husband Jeff Baena die by suicide on January 3

The report detailed how the Life After Beth director had been 'experiencing marital difficulties' in his final months, and how he had been in therapy.

An investigator noted in the documents that Plaza, whose name was redacted in the final report, said she had spoken with Baena the night before his death.

The report also tragically revealed that the actress had been concerned for her estranged husband's wellbeing.

'In October 2024, Baena made concerning remarks to [Plaza] which prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband. Baena had been attending therapy since that event,' the documents stated.

The report determined that Baena did not have drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death.

It stated that Plaza 'knew her husband to be alive' as of January 3 because he had sent her a text message that morning.

According to the report, it was a dog walker who discovered Baena's body after hearing loud music emanating from his house, which she said was 'unusual.'

After she called the writer and director and didn't get an answer, she entered the home and discovered his body.

The couple began dating in 2011 and secretly married in 2020. Baena was found dead in their marital home on January 3, 2025, while Plaza had been living in NYC since their September 2024 separation; seen in 2016 in LA

In a statement to the Daily Mail at the time, a representative for the Plaza said: 'This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.'

Baena, who was known for hosting a popular series of game nights for friends and fellow filmmakers, met Plaza at one of the events in 2011, and the two began dating shortly afterward.

Baena, who got his big break when he co-wrote David O. Russell's 2004 cult comedy I Heart Huckabees, later made his directing debut with the 2014 zombie comedy Life After Beth, which starred Plaza.

They reunited for 2016's Joshy and 2017's The Little Hours, which Plaza also produced, and she had a supporting role in his dark comedy thriller Spin Me Round, which starred Alison Brie, who co-wrote the film with Baena.

In 2018, Plaza told Page Six that her and Baena's mutual obsession with movies helped them bond and led to their subsequent creative and romantic partnership.

The couple quietly wed in 2020, and Plaza revealed that they were married while promoting Spin Me Round in 2021, when she referred to Baena on Instagram as her 'darling husband'.

Following his death, Plaza made her first public appearance when she introduced musical guests Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard on Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special in February 2025.

She made a subtle but moving tribute to her late husband by wearing a tie-dye shirt, as they wore matching tie-dye pajamas at their low-key wedding after he picked up making the pattern as a hobby in the early days of the Covid pandemic.

The actress made her first public appearance since Baena's death at the SNL 50 special in February 2025. She paid tribute to him by wearing a tie-dye shirt, as they wore matching tie-dye pajamas at their low-key wedding

Plaza shot to stardom virtually overnight thanks to her role as April Ludgate in Parks and Recreation. She starred alongside Chris Pratt, right, Retta, left, and Aziz Ansari

Last August Plaza opened up about the grief she had experienced during a conversation with her former co-star Amy Poehler on her Good Hang podcast

Plaza began her career working in sketch comedy in the mid-2000s, before she began appearing in short films and online comedy videos later in the decade.

She became a star almost overnight after Parks and Recreation debuted on NBC in 2009. Plaza played April Ludgate, the misanthropic assistant to Amy Poehler's bubbly bureaucrat.

The actress went on to become an in-demand film star with roles in Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (which featured her ex-boyfriend Michael Cera), Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), Ingrid Goes West (2017, The Little Hours (which was directed by Baena), Happiest Season (2020), Emily The Criminal (2022) and My Old A** (2024).

She also appeared as a villain in the X-Men spinoff series Legion (20172019), and she was part of the ensemble cast on the hit second season of HBO's The White Lotus in 2022.

Last August Plaza opened up about the grief she had experienced during a conversation with her former co-star, Amy Poehler on her Good Hang podcast, which marked her first interview since Baena's death.

After Poehler referenced the death of her husband and asked how she was doing, Plaza replied: 'Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you. Overall, I'm here, and I'm functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I'm OK, but it's like a daily struggle.'

She went on: 'This is a really dumb analogy, and it was kind of a joke at a certain point, but I actually mean it. Did you see that movie The Gorge?

'It's like [an] alien movie or something with Miles Teller', she said, referring to the 2025 Apple TV+ science fiction thriller he appeared in with Anya Taylor-Joy and Sigourney Weaver.

She continued: 'In the movie, there's like a cliff on one side, and there's a cliff on the other side, then there's a gorge in between, and it's filled with all these, like, monster people that are trying to get them. I swear when I watched it . . . I was, like, that feels like what my grief is like . . . or what grief could be like. At all times there's, like, a giant ocean of awfulness, that's, like, right there, and I can see it...

'Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just, like, be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there.'

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
Tori Spelling was spotted Tuesday driving her SUV in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas - her first sighting in the vehicle since the horror crash last week in which it was rear-ended in Temecula, California with seven children inside.

The 52-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 alumna and seven children  four of whom were hers  took three separate ambulances to the hospital where they were treated for cuts, bruises, contusions and concussions, according to TMZ.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Office made no arrests, and the collision remains under investigation, but the white sedan  which allegedly sped through a red light  sustained far more damage to its front end than Spelling's car did on the back end.

The nepo baby of TV producer Aaron Spelling was said to have expertly 'maneuvered the vehicle to minimize a more severe impact' and 'everyone is alright.'

When she was glimpsed driving the SUV on Tuesday, the right rear lower quarter patch panel had been smashed off and the tail light above it was broken.

She broke her silence on the accident in a video posted that day, hailing 'the bravery of all the kids in the car' and providing her own account of the harrowing ordeal.

Tori Spelling was spotted Tuesday driving her SUV in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas - her first sighting in the vehicle since the horror crash last week

When she was glimpsed driving the SUV on Tuesday, the right rear lower quarter patch panel had been smashed off and the tail light above it was broken

She broke her silence on the accident in a video posted that day, hailing 'the bravery of all the kids in the car' and providing her own account of the harrowing ordeal

'Hi. I just wanted to reach out to everyone, and it just took me a bit to post this because as most of you know, four of my kids and I and three of their friends were in a car accident a few days before Easter in Temecula,' she began.

'And we're okay but it's been really overwhelming. We are so grateful and so lucky because it could've been so much worse,' she noted.

'The driver that hit us was speeding, was going crazy, crazy fast,' she claimed, adding that it was her belief 'he went through a light.'

She added that 'guardian angels were definitely with us that day, because in a split second I looked to my right and I saw he was coming full-on, full impact into the side of our car and I turned hard left as hard as I could as fast as I could to avoid as much impact on the children as possible. He spun us out.'

Spelling expressed her gratitude to 'all of the first responders on the scene,' as well as to the hospital where she and the children were treated, the Southwest Healthcare Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar, California.

'I'm grateful to everyone who has reached out and repeatedly checked on us and offered to do whatever we needed to get us through this, and all the blessings everyone has sent,' Spelling continued.

'So thank you, everybody, and still putting my thoughts together about everything that happened, and just so much gratitude for life and the bravery of all of the kids in the car with what they went through,' she concluded.

Crash site footage captured by eyewitnesses showed Spelling, her 13-year-old son Finn, her 19-year-old son Liam McDermott and his girlfriend Silvana de Luca.

The only ones seen in the eyewitness-captured footage were Spelling, her 13-year-old son Finn, her 19-year-old son Liam McDermott (center, pictured in March) and his girlfriend Silvana de Luca (L)

Spelling also shares her 14-year-old daughter Hattie and nine-year-old son Beau with her second ex-husband, Dean McDermott, whom she was married to for 17 years before their split in 2023.

On Saturday night, de Luca posted an Instagram story of the group enjoying a teppanyaki meal outside, including Spelling's 17-year-old daughter Stella.

Spelling  who boasts 4.1 million social media followers  posted then deleted a Facebook throwback of herself with Alicia Silverstone on Sunday, which was filled with concerned comments about the crash.

Later on Sunday, sources told TMZ that Spelling, her children and everyone else involved in the scary crash had been released from the hospital by Thursday night.

They had allegedly suffered minimal injuries, including small lacerations and bruises, along with minor pain.

Sources added that Spelling was spending Easter with all of her children after their recovery from the car crash.

She reportedly enjoyed a relaxed Sunday in Temecula, where her family has been spending time during her children's spring break from school

Last month, the misSPELLING podcaster said she doesn't want her five children to move out of her $12,000/month five-bedroom rental mansion in Calabasas when they turn 18, as she considers the idea 'archaic.'

'I want to bring it back like old school and other countries,' Spelling told People on March 26.

On Saturday night, de Luca posted an Instagram story of the group enjoying a teppanyaki meal outside, including Spelling's 17-year-old daughter Stella (L)

The ZORYVE brand ambassador posted then deleted a Facebook throwback of herself with Alicia Silverstone on Sunday, which was filled with concerned comments about the crash

Spelling also shares her 14-year-old daughter Hattie (third to right) and nine-year-old son Beau (R) with her second ex-husband, Dean McDermott , whom she was married to for 17 years before their split in 2023; her family is pictured in December 2025

'I cook a lot and I love my kids. Liam has a girlfriend. Stella has some boyfriend. They become family. I'm the house [that's] like, "Everyone come over. Let me feed you." So I'm like, "You don't have to move out. Save money. Don't move out."'

The Lost In The Everglades producerstar and her 59-year-old ex McDermott were both married to other people when they met on the set of Lifetime's Mind Over Murder in 2005.

'We are great at co-parenting,' Spelling said.

'And we're a family. It's just a different version of a family now and we'll always be family... So it's really great for the kids, and I'm the lucky... We're the lucky ones. We got good ex-partners.'

The 9021OMG podcaster is 'not thinking about dating' as she is too busy building the 'second chapter' of her 'empire' and 'taking it to the next level.'

Spelling will next portray a fortune teller in Jed Shepherd's interactive horror video game Ghosts, which Visible Games and Limited Run Games will release later this year.
Jackie 'O' Henderson might be embroiled in a multimillion dollar legal showdown with her former employer ARN, but that hasn't stopped the lofty ambitions she has for her dream home.

New aerial images of the ambitious rebuild of her mansion in the coastal Sydney suburb of Clovelly show that Henderson, 51, is certainly reaching for the sky.

An additional third storey has begun to take shape above the sprawling concrete base of the mega-mansion.

The formidable home is well and truly transforming into a clifftop coastal palace with a resort-style concrete pool installed and expansive, upper-level framing in place for the next phase of construction.

Henderson has certainly been taking a hands-on approach to her rebuild, being pictured on site on a number of occasions in the midst of her legal dramas.

Last month, Henderson was spotted at the home with her high-profile interior designer pal Steve Cordony.

Jackie 'O' Henderson might be embroiled in a multimillion dollar legal showdown with her former employer ARN, but that hasn't stopped the lofty ambitions she has for her dream home

New aerial images of the ambitious rebuild of her mansion in the coastal Sydney suburb of Clovelly show that Henderson is certainly reaching for the sky

Henderson and Cordony looked all business as they inspected the progress on the home, and as the former radio queen outlined her vision for the build.

The home is expected to be worth an eye-watering $30million when the rebuild is complete, with Jackie currently staying in a rental with her daughter Kitty as she weathers the media storm of her recent departure from The Kyle & Jackie O Show and subsequent legal action.

As previously revealed, Henderson splashed out on the blue-chip property in 2023, before lodging plans for a reported $5million transformation.

The site  located in a scenic position featuring sweeping oceanside views  was cleared of the original 1960s-era six-bedroom, three-storey home, leaving a vast, open canvas for the huge job.

The property is located on a clifftop overlooking the ocean in the sought-after beach suburb of Clovelly, which is 9km from the CBD.

Henderson snapped up the property in March 2023 for a massive $13.25million at an open auction.

The house is set back from the road, offering Henderson the privacy she didn't have on the narrow streets of her former address.

Henderson bought her new home after pocketing a tidy $2million in profit on the sale of her old home in Woollahra, after paying $11million for it in 2020.

Join the discussion Would YOU cope building your dream home during a high-stakes career battle?

An additional third storey has begun to take shape above the sprawling concrete base of the mega-mansion

The formidable home is well and truly transforming into a clifftop coastal palace with a resort-style concrete pool installed and expansive, upper-level framing in place for the next phase of construction

The home is expected to be worth an eye-watering $30million when the rebuild is complete, with Jackie currently staying in a rental with her daughter Kitty as she weathers the media storm of her recent departure from The Kyle & Jackie O Show and subsequent legal action

Last year, she shared snapshots of herself alongside the construction team, jokingly captioning one photo: 'Site meeting'.

It comes after court documents revealed on Wednesday that Henderson was complaining about former co-host Kyle Sandilands to their bosses at KIIS six months before their relationship blew up.

The revelation was laid bare in a statement of claim filed on Henderson's behalf in the Federal Court amid her civil case against KIIS-owner ARN Media over the termination of her $100million contract.

According to the court documents, obtained by the Daily Mail, Henderson started speaking with the head of KIIS network Derek Bargwanna and executive producer Natalie Penfold about Sandilands' behaviour in mid-2025.

The complaints began on August 20 when Sandilands referred to Henderson's 'psycho babble' and 'weird psychological bulls**t' and allegedly attacked her personal life during a live broadcast.

During that broadcast, he said 'I am worried about you ... that you'll never find anyone', 'your real is not everyone's real, and 'Why don't you just get rid of all of this rubbish that you've learntand go out and date and let everyone be free'.

He also referred to her 'period time'.

Henderson briefly left the live broadcast following those comments, before Mr Bargwanna and Ms Penfold went to see her about Sandilands' comments.

Henderson snapped up the property in March 2023 for a massive $13.25million

The site  located in a scenic position featuring sweeping oceanside views  was cleared of the original 1960sera sixbedroom, threestorey home

The co-hosts had an argument on air three weeks later, but Henderson claims Sandilands' comments were censored out.

Henderson followed her former KIIS FM radio co-host Kyle Sandilands by filing a lawsuit against her former employer ARN last month.

She is alleging the termination of her contract was a breach of the Fair Work Act, and is claiming compensation of at least $82.25million.

She is also seeking payment of a pecuniary penalty plus interest and costs.

Henderson has filed in the Federal Court against the Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation, a subsidiary of KIIS 1065's parent company ARN.

She is claiming that the termination of her contract 'constituted adverse action.'

Henderson sent a complaint to the CBC saying she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands' and made 'psychosocial health and safety and bullying complaints in relation to the conduct of Mr Kyle Sandilands on and prior to 20 February 2026'.

She argues that making this complaint was her right as an employee  and that she was fired because of it, which would be illegal under the Fair Work Act.

It comes after court documents revealed on Wednesday that Henderson was complaining about former co-host Kyle Sandilands to their bosses at KIIS six months before their relationship blew up

Henderson also claims ARN made 'misleading and deceptive statements under the Australian Consumer Law' when announcing her exit to the ASX on March 3.

Henderson rejected ARN's claim that she quit her radio show, releasing a statement on March 6 that read: 'Over the past few days, there has been a lot of speculation and misinformation about my departure on the show.

'I want to make one important point very clear: I did not quit or resign.'

ARN says it denies the claims and will fight the case in court.

Sandilands filed his own lawsuit against ARN in the Federal Court on March 23.

ARN axed the pair's $200million contract deal after a segment in which Sandilands slammed Henderson for her 'fixation' on astrology.

Henderson said 'that's not fair' and left the studio in tears, before her own $100million contract was terminated.

Less than two weeks later, on March 3, Sandilands received a letter from ARN accusing him of making 'abusive, humiliating, and belittling comments' to Henderson, which included attacks on her character, work ethic, and job performance.

ARN claimed Sandilands' comments were not made in jest, and demonstrated a 'manifested hostility' towards Henderson that was 'calculated to offend and distress her'.
Read more: Jackie O said she would NEVER go on air with Kyle again

Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com.au

Jackie 'O' Henderson was complaining about former co-host Kyle Sandilands to their KIIS radio bosses six months before their relationship blew up in the middle of a live show, court documents say.

The revelation was laid bare in a statement of claim filed on Henderson's behalf in the Federal Court amid her civil case against KIIS-owner ARN Media over the termination of her $100million contract.

ARN axed the record-breaking deal with the radio duo after a segment on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on February 20 where Sandilands slammed Henderson for her 'fixation' on astrology.

Henderson said 'that's not fair' and left the studio in tears, before ARN ripped up their combined $200million agreement. Sandilands is suing the broadcaster separately over different grounds.

According to the court documents, obtained by the Daily Mail, Henderson started speaking with the head of KIIS network Derek Bargwanna and executive producer Natalie Penfold about Sandilands' 'degrading comments' in mid-2025.

The complaints began on August 20 when Sandilands referred to Henderson's 'psycho babble' and 'weird psychological bulls**t' and allegedly attacked her personal life during a live broadcast.

During that broadcast, he said 'I am worried about you ... that you'll never find anyone', 'your real is not everyone's real', and 'why don't you just get rid of all of this rubbish that you've learntand go out and date and let everyone be free'.

He also referred to her 'period time'.

Pictured: Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson in the KIIS studio

Jackie 'O' Henderson has followed her former co-host Kyle Sandilands by launching a lawsuit against ARN

Pictured: A mock-up of text messages between Jackie 'O' Henderson (blue) and head of KIIS network, Derek Bargwanna (grey)

Henderson briefly left the live broadcast following those comments in August, before Mr Bargwanna and Ms Penfold went to see her in person.

Henderson and Sandilands had an argument on air three weeks later, on September 10, but Henderson claims Sandilands' comments were censored out.

At 6.23am that morning, Henderson texted Mr Bargwanna, saying 'I will not be spoken to the way I was (particularly off air)...'

Almost two hours later, Mr Bargwanna texted Henderson to say Sandilands wanted to share his weight loss success with her.

The message read: 'Kyle is going to try and call you on air to share good news he lost weight. he wants to be your friend again etc.'

The following day, on September 11, Mr Bargwanna texted Henderson again, saying 'all ok today?'.

Henderson replied, telling Mr Bargwanna that female listeners were complaining about Sandilands' behaviour and calling their on-air relationship 'abusive'.

She also asked that ARN chairman Hamish McLennan and managing director Ciaran Davis be made aware of the situation.

Kyle Sandilands (pictured outside the Federal Court in Sydney) filed his own lawsuit against ARN in the Federal Court on March 23

Sandilands has co-hosted The Kyle and Jackie O Show - originally on 2Day FM - since January 2004, before moving to KIIS FM a decade later

Poll Do YOU think Jackie O was treated unfairly by Kyle? His comments crossed the line It sounded like typical on-air banter A mix of tension and miscommunication behind the scenes Do YOU think Jackie O was treated unfairly by Kyle? His comments crossed the line 549 votes

It sounded like typical on-air banter 475 votes

A mix of tension and miscommunication behind the scenes 221 votes Now share your opinion





'Yeah its fine today. But lets make sure Hamish [McLennan] and Ciaran [Davis] start to think about how to address this,' she told Mr Bargwanna.

'We are getting a lot of complaints from listeners, calling it an abusive relationship, women especially. I can send you though some [of] the examples.'

In his response, Mr Bargwanna said he had two conversations about the issue with Mr McLennan and Mr Davis.

Their relationship broke down during their final broadcast on February 20, when Sandilands said Henderson's 'fixation' on astrology made her 'almost unworkable' - to the point where she left the studio in tears.

Sandilands then said: 'You can't start crying about it, it's not that big a deal.'

According to the court documents, the broadcaster did not attempt to intervene or stop Sandilands.

The following day, on February 21, Henderson texted CEO Michael Stephenson and chief content officer Kerri Elstub, saying Sandilands' conduct was 'unfair, inappropriate and completely unprovoked'.

She also asked whether anything had been put in place 'around boundaries and expectations moving forward'.

Radio network ARN axed Sandilands' $100million deal after a segment on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on February 20 when he slammed Henderson (above) for her 'fixation' on astrology

On February 26, Henderson's lawyers wrote a letter of complaint to Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation - a subsidiary of ARN Media - explaining the broadcaster had been notified about Sandilands' 'bullying'.

Henderson also accused the broadcaster of failing to provide a safe work space.

The letter said Henderson 'could not continue to work with Mr Sandilands', but that she was willing to continue her contract with a different show.

She had wanted CBC to propose an alternative to the Kyle and Jackie O Show.

CBC's lawyers replied on March 3, saying Henderson's letter of complaint equated to the termination of her $100million contract - which she disputes.

Henderson also took aim at an ASX announcement on March 3, when ARN released an announcement titled 'The Kyle & Jackie O show'.

The announcement said: 'Ms Jacqueline Henderson has given notice that she 'cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands.'

In her statement of claim, Henderson argued the announcement wrongly conveyed that she terminated her own contract and that she didn't intend to work for ARN anymore.

She also argued the announcement incorrectly stated she had been offered an alternative show on the ARN network.

Henderson accused the broadcaster of being 'misleading and deceptive', claiming she was never offered another show, nor did she give notice to end her employment.

She alleged the termination of her contract was a breach of the Fair Work Act, and is claiming compensation of at least $82.25million.

She is also seeking payment of a pecuniary penalty plus interest and costs.
Pamela Anderson, Olivia Wilde and Sharon Stone led a cavalcade of stars at the Fashion Trust US Awards in Los Angeles this Tuesday.

Boldface names galore flocked to see work presented by 16 finalists, of whom five will ultimately be selected as honorees by the organization.

Among them Anderson, 58, was a standout in a purple and silver pastel dress that brought back memories of Miami in the 1980s.

Cinched at the waistline to emphasize her still enviably trim frame, the retro chic ensemble featured a plaited skirt and was complemented by a rose pink handbag.

Her voluminous platinum blonde hairdo was reminiscent of the height of her 1990s superstardom as the reigning sex symbol on Baywatch.

Bringing out her luminous complexion with naturalistic makeup, she balanced expertly on a towering pair of gleaming stilettos as she hit the red carpet.

Pamela Anderson (left) and Olivia Wilde (right) led a cavalcade of stars at the Fashion Trust US Awards in Los Angeles this Tuesday

Sharon Stone, 68, exuded an air of upscale springtime glamour, buttoning a tight white blazer over a pinstriped maroon and white shirt and matching loose-fitted slacks

Wilde, 42, showcased her impressively chiseled midriff in a white bandeau top, clashed elegantly against a floor-length black skirt.

She accessorized with a black wrap that she allowed to slide tantalizingly off her shoulders and down her arms, flaunting her gym-honed figure to full advantage.

Her caramel locks cascaded freely over her shoulders in gentle waves, and she augmented the look with a subtle necklace.

Stone, 68, exuded an air of upscale springtime glamour, buttoning a tight white blazer over a pinstriped maroon and white shirt and matching loose-fitted slacks.

Slicking her blonde hair behind her ears, the Casino icon sharpened her screen siren features with makeup including a slick of dark lipstick.

Where jewelry was concerned, she opted for a stack of necklaces including a string of pearls, and she amplified the glitz factor with a set of earrings.

Brooks Nader opted for a ruched dress in a silver-to-pink color stream with off-the-shoulder straps and a thigh-slit to flaunt her shapely legs.

She mingled at the fete with her sisters Grace Ann Nader, Mary Holland Nader and Sarah Jane Nader, with whom she stars on the reality show Love Thy Nader.

Among the assembled luminaries Anderson, 58, was a standout in a purple and silver pastel dress that brought back memories of Miami in the 1980s

Her voluminous platinum blonde hairdo was reminiscent of the height of her 1990s superstardom as the reigning sex symbol on Baywatch

Wilde, 42, showcased her impressively chiseled midriff in a white bandeau top, clashed elegantly against a floor-length black skirt

She accessorized with a black wrap that she allowed to slide tantalizingly off her shoulders and down her arms, flaunting her gym-honed figure to full advantage

Slicking her blonde hair behind her ears, the Casino icon sharpened her screen siren features with makeup including a slick of dark lipstick

Brooks Nader opted for a ruched dress in a silver-to-pink color stream with off-the-shoulder straps and a thigh-slit to flaunt her shapely legs

She mingled at the fete with her sisters (from left) Grace Ann Nader, Mary Holland Nader and Sarah Jane Nader, with whom she stars on the reality show Love Thy Nader

Kanye West's ex Julia Fox opted for a throwback black hairdo, pink dress and extravagant makeup job that channeled Priscilla Presley in the 1960s

She was part of a guest list that evening that included Caylee Cowan, who played Priscilla Presley in the Sofia Coppola biopic Priscilla featuring Jacob Elordi as Elvis

James Franco posed proudly on the arm of his girlfriend of nine years Izabel Pakzad

Franco, 47, whose longtime love remained by his side through his Me Too scandal, wrapped an affectionate arm around her as they posed on the pink carpet

Meanwhile his sister-in-law Alison Brie attended without her husband Dave Franco

Fergie cut a commanding figure in a white trouser suit jazzed up with flashes of showbiz flair, including gleaming blue cat-eye shades and a wide-brimmed hat

Kanye West's ex Julia Fox opted for a throwback black hairdo, pink dress and extravagant makeup job that channeled Priscilla Presley in the 1960s.

She was part of a guest list that evening that included Caylee Cowan, who played Priscilla Presley in the Sofia Coppola biopic Priscilla featuring Jacob Elordi as Elvis.

Fergie cut a commanding figure in a white trouser suit jazzed up with flashes of showbiz flair, including gleaming blue cat-eye shades and a wide-brimmed hat.

James Franco posed proudly on the arm of his girlfriend of nine years Izabel Pakzad, while his sister-in-law Alison Brie attended without her husband Dave Franco.

Franco, 47, whose longtime love remained by his side through his Me Too scandal, wrapped an affectionate arm around her as they posed on the pink carpet.

Inside the event, he could be seen hobnobbing with actor Billy Zane of Titanic fame as well as Mexican comedy star Eugenio Derbez.

The fete afforded a chance for Kylie Jenner's ex Travis Scott and R&B songstress Erykah Badu to mingle with 81-year-old French fashion plate Michele Lamy.

Brittany Snow draped her willowy frame in a full-length black dress with a floral peekaboo cutout, while Uzo Aduba was resplendent in a white frock with a train.

Inside the event, Franco could be seen hobnobbing with actor Billy Zane (center) of Titanic fame as well as Mexican comedy star Eugenio Derbez (right)

The fete afforded a chance for Kylie Jenner's ex Travis Scott and R&B songstress Erykah Badu to mingle with 81-year-old French fashion plate Michele Lamy

Brittany Snow (left) draped her willowy frame in a full-length black dress with a floral peekaboo cutout, while Uzo Aduba (right) was resplendent in a white frock with a train

Meanwhile Riverdale blonde Lili Reinhart exuded an air of Gothic style in a black lace frock that featured dripping robe-like sleeves, tiered skirts and a high neck

Riverdale blonde Lili Reinhart exuded an air of Gothic style in a black lace frock that featured dripping robe-like sleeves, tiered skirts and a high neck.

Malin Akerman made a splash in a structured crimson minidress with black hose, while Ashley Paige shimmered in a sleek silver dress with a scale motif.

Garcelle Beauvais, who was until recently one of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, modeled a flesh-toned finely pleated tiered ensemble.

Kendall Jenner's socialite pal Fai Khadra went for the traditional look of a suit and tie, while D'Arcy Carden of The Good Place rocked head-to-toe black gear.

Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon, who famously co-wrote the 2017 comedy The Big Sick, turned Tuesday's event into a date night.

Dree Hemingway clinched a black corset over a flowy off-white dress to emphasize her trim frame, while Jodie Turner-Smith was draped in a Grecian-style orange gown.

Patrick Schwarzenegger's longtime love Abby Champion, whom he married last year after a decade-long romance, posed with French designer Joseph Altuzarra.

TikTok blonde Dixie D'Amelio let her waist-length locks flow over her floor-length coat-dress whilst Lake Bell slid into a flowing brown-grey leather frock.

Malin Akerman (left) made a splash in a structured crimson minidress with black hose, while Ashley Paige (right) shimmered in a sleek silver dress with a scale motif

Garcelle Beauvais, who was until recently one of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, modeled a flesh-toned finely pleated tiered ensemble

Kendall Jenner's socialite pal Fai Khadra (left) went for the traditional look of a suit and tie, while D'Arcy Carden (right) of The Good Place rocked head-to-toe black gear

Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily V. Gordon, who famously co-wrote the 2017 comedy The Big Sick, turned Tuesday's event into a date night

Dree Hemingway clinched a black corset over a flowy off-white dress to emphasize her trim frame, while Jodie Turner-Smith was draped in a Grecian-style orange gown

Patrick Schwarzenegger's longtime love Abby Champion, whom he married last year after a decade-long romance, posed with French designer Joseph Altuzarra

TikTok blonde Dixie D'Amelio let her waist-length locks flow over her floor-length coat-dress whilst Lake Bell slid into a flowing brown-grey leather frock

Kobe Bryant's 23-year-old daughter Natalia Bryant, who has now become a model, was a showstopping figure in a black gown with a neckline down to the waist.

Melissa McCarthy hit the pink carpet in an earth-tone dress with a dramatic swirling print as Geena Davis wore an ethereal aquamarine dress with a cape.

Mindy Kaling wore a sequined blue gown that highlighted her dramatically reduced frame, which set off Ozempic speculation she has neither confirmed nor denied.

SAINt JHN demonstrated his winning sense of style in a brown suit with a raincoat-style jacket that featured crimson lining to match his tie.

Coco Jones took the plunge in a clinging bubblegum gown that highlighted her hourglass frame as Anne Crawford swathed herself in pale blue tulle.

Birds of Prey actress Jurnee Smollet, the sister of scandal-struck Jussie Smollett, served up a generous helping of cleavage in a skintight metallic number.

Selma Blair's at-first-blush standard black gown featured peekaboo strips down the sides, in a cheeky added touch to a trusty classic. She added Brilliant Earth tennis necklaces.

Riverdale actress Camila Mendes was the image of elegance in a strapless black gown with subdued mahogany embroidery that glistened under the lights.

Kobe Bryant's 23-year-old daughter Natalia Bryant, who has now become a model, was a showstopping figure in a black gown with a neckline down to the waist

Melissa McCarthy hit the pink carpet in an earth-tone dress with a dramatic swirling print as Geena Davis wore an ethereal aquamarine dress with a cape

Mindy Kaling wore a sequined blue gown that highlighted her dramatically reduced frame, which set off Ozempic speculation she has neither confirmed nor denied

SAINt JHN demonstrated his winning sense of style in a brown suit with a raincoat-style jacket that featured crimson lining to match his tie

Coco Jones (left) took the plunge in a clinging bubblegum gown that highlighted her hourglass frame as Anne Crawford (right) swathed herself in pale blue tulle

Birds of Prey actress Jurnee Smollet, the sister of scandal-struck Jussie Smollett, served up a generous helping of cleavage in a skintight metallic number

Selma Blair's at-first-blush standard black gown featured peekaboo strips down the sides, in a cheeky added touch to a trusty classic. She added Brilliant Earth tennis necklaces

Riverdale actress Camila Mendes was the image of elegance in a strapless black gown with subdued mahogany embroidery that glistened under the lights

Paris Jackson, the only daughter of Michael Jackson, was her typical boho chic in a tunic-like white lace mini with patchwork-print boots

Kali Uchis flaunted her figure in a sheer netted yellow dress

Elle Chapman's neckline plunged far enough to hint at her taut midriff

Jenna Dewan, Channing Tatum's ex-wife and Step Up co-star, showcased her dancer's body in a Rebecca Vallance fitted blazer dress studded with floral pins

Jenna stunned in the stylish Rebecca Vallance look

Jenna (L) posed alongside designer Rebecca Vallance (R) who stunned in a strapless gown from her own collection

Natasha Lyonne meanwhile was a sight to behold, wearing no bra under a translucent top in an outfit that included futuristic blue sunglasses

America's Next Top Model alum Yaya DaCosta (left) twirled around to let her mesh cape flutter behind her as Jewel (right) struck a pose in a trouser suit over a revealing lace top

Paris Jackson, the only daughter of Michael Jackson, was her typical boho chic in a tunic-like white lace mini with patchwork-print boots.

Kali Uchis flaunted her figure in a sheer netted yellow dress, while Elle Chapman's neckline plunged far enough to hint at her taut midriff.

Jenna Dewan, Channing Tatum's ex-wife and Step Up co-star, showcased her dancer's body in a fitted blazer dress studded with floral pins.

Natasha Lyonne meanwhile was a sight to behold, wearing no bra under a translucent top in an outfit that included futuristic blue sunglasses.

America's Next Top Model alum Yaya DaCosta twirled around to let her mesh cape flutter behind her as Jewel struck a pose in a trouser suit over a revealing lace top.

Country superstar Kelsea Ballerini brought a dash of A-list elan to the festivities as she strode across the red carpet in a white gown with a dramatic feathered belt.

Country superstar Kelsea Ballerini brought a dash of A-list elan to the festivities as she strode across the red carpet in a white gown with a dramatic feathered belt

Chrissy Teigen's white crop top featured a swooped hem that cast a shadow over her midriff, and was clashed against a heavily fringed yellow pencil skirt

Ryan Destiny's scarlet split dress was cinched in with a sparkly gold sash, while Dove Cameron wore a skintight nude sheer top with no bra

Winnie Harlow, the first model with vitiligo to walk the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, wound on a white wrap skirt that went mini on one side and had a train on the other

Rahi Chadda was the epitome of style as he hit the evening's red carpet

Ava Max (left) wore a corset-style white top over a floor-length skirt that shone in the lights, while Jay Ellis (right) made his presence felt in dazzling chrome pink

Chrissy Teigen's white crop top featured a swooped hem that cast a shadow over her midriff, and was clashed against a heavily fringed yellow pencil skirt.

Ryan Destiny's scarlet split dress was cinched in with a sparkly gold sash, while Dove Cameron wore a skintight nude sheer top with no bra.

Winnie Harlow, the first model with vitiligo to walk the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, wound on a white wrap skirt that went mini on one side and had a train on the other.

Ava Max wore a corset-style white top over a floor-length skirt that shone in the lights, while Jay Ellis made his presence felt in dazzling chrome pink.
With Meghan Markle's Australian visit just around the corner, rumours are swirling about the real reason for the trip.

The Duchess of Sussex is set to be the headline guest at the inaugural Her Best Life Retreat, organised by the events company Besties, founded by former radio queen Jackie 'O' Henderson and her manager Gemma O'Neill.

However, some are claiming that the 'ultimate girls weekend' is secondary to the real reason for her Australia visit  drumming up business for Soho House.

Soho House is an exclusive, members-only social club that was founded in London in 1995.

Catering to the creative elite, the upscale club provides swanky spaces for working, dining and socialising.

Its popularity has seen 48 Soho Houses pop up around the world, with its first Australian location set to open in Sydney in 2026.

With Meghan Markle's Australian visit just around the corner, rumours are swirling about the real reason for the trip

Markle is set to be the headline guest at the inaugural Her Best Life Retreat, organised by the events company Besties, founded by former radio queen Jackie 'O' Henderson and her manager Gemma O'Neill

While there is no official opening date for the five-level venue in Darlinghurst, some internet commenters have raised eyebrows at the timing of Meghan's visit.

One commenter took to Reddit to point out that aside from organising the retreat, O'Neill is also involved in the Soho House Sydney project.

'O'Neill isn't just some random podcast host fangirling over Harry's SoHo rental. She's on the Soho House Sydney advisory committee, which means this Girls Weekend retreat is Soho House business disguised as women's empowerment,' they wrote.

'Markus arranging it from Madame's house isn't friendship. This seems to be his job. He is the Soho House consultant, and he is coordinating promotion for their Sydney opening.'

Another added that while the Sydney venue was unlikely to be ready in time for Meghan's visit, it was a perfect opportunity to promote the swanky venue.

'It doesn't look like it will be open when they are there. I think it's either that a part of it is ready (but that's not usually how they roll), or they are doing early recruiting and promoting to recover some cost,' another Redditor wrote.

A third suggested that the Her Best Life Retreat could be used as a 'recruitment' tool for Soho House.

'Do you think they'll try to recruit members from the women's retreat?' they asked, to which another replied: 'Yes, I think so. I commented above that Twerkle may have negotiated a commission for every new member from the retreat who may sign up.'

However, some are claiming that the 'ultimate girls weekend' is secondary to the real reason for her Australia visit  drumming up business for Soho House

Soho House is an exclusive, members only social club that was founded in London in 1995. Catering to the creative elite, the upscale club provides swanky spaces for working, dining and socialising

Its popularity has seen 46 Soho Houses pop up around the world with it's first Australian location set to open in Sydney in 2026

It could be a lucrative side-hustle for Meghan, with memberships to Soho House Sydney reportedly costing $2,285 per year for under-27s, and $4,750 for people 27 and older.

The rumours didn't stop there, either, with a Daily Mail reader suggesting similar, while commenting on a recent story about Jackie 'O' Henderson.

'Markle has always worked for Soho House and still does,' they wrote.

'She is actually really coming to Australia to attend the opening of a new Soho House facility with Markus Anderson,' they claimed. 'Terrible.'

Meghan's connection with Soho House is long-standing, with the duchess having her first date with Prince Harry at the company's London Townhouse back in 2016.

She is also a long-time friend of Soho House senior executive Markus Anderson, who reportedly assisted in arranging the couple's first date.

Anderson also had a hand in facilitating Meghan's Down Under visit.

Gemma O'Neill said she initially considered rejecting his idea to have Meghan meet 300 women gathering for a weekend focused on connection, wellbeing and personal development, because she didn't consider herself worthy.

'O'Neill isn't just some random podcast host fangirling over Harry's SoHo rental. She's on the Soho House Sydney advisory committee, which means this Girls Weekend retreat is Soho House business disguised as women's empowerment,' one person wrote on Reddit

'Do you think they'll try to recruit members from the women's retreat?' another asked, to which another replied: 'Yes, I think so. I commented above that Twerkle May have negotiated a commission for every new member from the retreat who may sign up'

She said: 'Markus messaged me because he was at Meghan's house. Markus is also very close friends to Meghan and has been for many years, long before she was married, and they have a beautiful friendship too'.

And she has concluded that Markus is a 'top-notch human', so Meghan must be too.

'I've always felt protective that my friend Markus is the bee's knees, he's a top-notch human. The first person to be there, check on you,' she said.

'I knew that Markus wouldn't be so close or best friends with someone who wasn't also the same,' she said.

Meanwhile, the Her Best Life Retreat  thus far the only official engagement on Meghan's itinerary  is billed as a three-day wellness and empowerment experience for women.

Empowerment certainly comes at a price, with ticket prices ranging from $2,699 to $3,199 per person.

Those who purchased VIP tickets for $3,199 will be privy to a 'group table photo' with the duchess and seats in the front two rows for the 'gala dinner'.

The April 17 to 19 event is anticipated to bring in nearly $1 million in ticket revenue.

While organisers are claiming the pricey event has already sold out, beneath the surface, cracks are showing.

Meghan's connection with Soho House is long-standing, with the Duchess of Sussex having her first date with Prince Harry at Soho House's London Townhouse back in 2016

She is also a long-time friend of Soho House senior executive Markus Anderson who reportedly assisted in arranging the couple's first date. Anderson also had a hand in facilitating Markle's Down Under visit

Entrepreneur Gemma O'Neill, who is organising the retreat via her company Besties, has a chequered history with large-scale events.

In 2023, Besties was set to host a sold-out luxury summit at Kokomo Private Island in Fiji, boasting a celebrity speaker line-up including comedian Celeste Barber and fashion designer Pip Edwards.

Tickets for that event started at $9,000 for a shared room and $18,000 for a solo booking, with guests expected to arrange their own travel to the island.

However, the retreat was cancelled weeks before it was due to take place, leaving many disappointed.
Kyle Sandilands wanted to be 'friends again' with co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson by phoning her on live radio to talk about his weight loss success, just hours after an on-air blow up.

The bizarre request was revealed in a statement of claim filed in the Federal Court on Henderson's behalf amid her civil case against KIIS 106.5 owner ARN Media over the termination of her $100million contract.

ARN axed the radio duo's combined $200million deal after a segment on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on February 20 where Sandilands slammed Henderson over her 'fixation' on astrology. Sandilands is suing ARN separately over different grounds.

In the court documents, Henderson claimed she had two major blow ups with Sandilands before their final spat in February - the first was on August 20 when he made comments referencing 'psycho babble' and 'weird psychological bulls**t'.

The second was on September 10. Henderson claims that argument was censored and never went to air, but she messaged head of KIIS radio Derek Bargwanna afterwards, saying: 'I will not be spoken to the way I was (particularly off air)...'

About two hours later, at 8.10am, Mr Bargwanna texted Henderson, saying: 'Kyle is going to try and call you on air to share good news he lost weight.

'He wants to be your friend again etc.'

The context for the weight loss conversation is unclear, but Henderson claimed female listeners had by that stage already started lodging complaints about the pair's on-air dynamic, calling it an 'abusive' relationship, with Henderson saying she had examples of the feedback.

Jackie 'O' Henderson is suing ARN over the termination of her $100million contract

Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson are pictured at the KIIS 106.5 studio in Sydney

Pictured: A mock-up of a text exchange between Jackie 'O' Henderson and head of KIIS radio, Derek Bargwanna

The core of Henderson's claim is that she had made a number of complaints about Sandilands, that ARN executives knew about those complaints, and failed to ensure that she was provided with a safe workspace.

She also claimed the broadcaster breached the Fair Work Act when it used her final complaint against Sandilands on February 20 as grounds to terminate her contract.

Further, Henderson accused the broadcaster of being 'misleading and deceptive' by misconstruing her complaint in an ASX announcement.

In her original complaint on February 26, Henderson said she 'could not continue to work with Mr Sandilands', but that she was willing to continue her contract with the station at a different show and wanted the broadcaster to propose an alternative.

Five days later, Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation - a subsidiary of ARN Media - replied claiming Henderson's complaint equated to giving notice for her resignation.

On the same day, ARN made an ASX announcement, telling shareholders: 'Ms Jacqueline Henderson has given notice that she cannot continue to work with Mr Kyle Sandilands.'

The announcement also implied Henderson had declined offers for alternative radio programs, which Henderson claims did not happen.

According to the statement of claim, the first argument on August 20 began when Sandilands criticised her interest in astrology, referring to it as 'psycho babble'.

Pictured: Head of KIIS radio Derek Bargwanna

Kyle Sandilands is pictured at his Vaucluse home on March 17

Sandilands said 'I am worried' that she would never find love due to her compatibility 'requirements'.

Henderson accused him of attacking her, to which Sandilands replied 'this is talking, this isn't attacking' and told her to stop using 'hype words'.

He said, 'Why don't you just get rid of all of this rubbish that you've learntand go out and date and let everyone be free,' before saying Henderson was 'saying the same bulls**t statement that no one understands'.

Henderson replied: 'You're pushing me too far'.

She then briefly left the show, and referred to the exchange in court documents as 'offensive and degrading'.

Henderson and Sandilands' relationship broke down during their final broadcast on February 20, when he claimed her 'fixation' on astrology made her 'almost unworkable' - to the point where she left the studio in tears.

Sandilands then said: 'You can't start crying about it, it's not that big a deal.'

According to the court documents, the broadcaster did not attempt to intervene or stop Sandilands.

Sandilands has co-hosted The Kyle and Jackie O Show - originally on 2Day FM - since January 2004, before moving to KIIS FM a decade later

The following day, on February 21, Henderson texted CEO Michael Stephenson and chief content officer Kerri Elstub, saying Sandilands' conduct was 'unfair, inappropriate and completely unprovoked'.

She also asked whether anything had been put in place 'around boundaries and expectations moving forward'.

Henderson is claiming compensation of at least $82.25million, which is the remaining portion of her contract.

She alleged the termination of her contract was a result of her seeking a safe workplace, which was a breach of the Fair Work Act.

She is also seeking payment of a pecuniary penalty plus interest and costs.
Brad Pitt wants his legal war with ex Angelina Jolie over their $164 million French winery to end sooner rather than later.

The 62-year-old F1 star and his 50-year-old ex-wife have been going make and forth about their trial date with the former insisting that he does not want a long delay.

Pitt and Jolie have been embroiled in a dispute over their co-ownership of the winery, which they purchased jointly in 2008, with the Fight Club star suing his ex for selling her half without his consent for $67million in 2021.

Daily Mail has obtained court documents for the case which is currently set for trial on February 1, 2027, however, Jolie would like that date to be pushed a few months back to November 2027.

However, Pitt is willing for the date to be moved back for two months but not in the fourth-quarter of 2027.

In the documents the A-lister claimed the delay has been keeping him from 'the quiet enjoyment of his home in France.'

Angelina Jolie would like the trial over the $164 million French winery Chateau Miraval - currently set for February 2027 - pushed back to November 2027 but ex-husband Brad Pitt is fighting that delay according to court documents (they are seen in November 2015)

He also claims that Chateau Miraval's business has been 'stymied by the dispute' and wants it to be resolved in the fastest way possible in order so everyone 'can move on with their lives' and believes that Jolie has no valid reason to delay the trial.

Jolie, on the other hand, said that it was her ex-husband who brought a lawsuit with complicated issues including out-of-country witnesses.

The Girl, Interrupted actress also denied Pitt is unable to enjoy the mega mansion as she claimed 'there is no evidence anywhere that Mr. Pitt's ability to live in his own home has been impacted by this case one iota.'

Pitt has also claimed that he has had issues with new Russian oligarch owner who he believes has attempted a 'hostile takeover' of Chateau Miraval.

Last month, Pitt was aiming to have the rich businessman legally questioned about dealing with Jolie regarding the French winery.

According to court documents obtained by Daily Mail, Pitt has asked a judge to force Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler to appear for a remote deposition.

Angie offloaded her share to the aforementioned Shefler, the owner of Stoli's parent company in a move that infuriated Brad, who argues they had a deal that neither would sell their stake unless the other approved.

In a filing made last month, Pitt says that Shefler has refused to sit for a deposition but alleges to have 'learned that the transaction was orchestrated by, and closed at the behest of' Shefler.

Pitt has also claimed that he has had issues with new Russian oligarch owner who he believes has attempted a 'hostile takeover' of Chateau Miraval (the former couple are seen in May 2011)

Last month the 62-year-old actor has asked a judge to force Russian oligarch Yuri Shefler (pictured) to appear for a remote deposition as his legal battle with his 50-year-old ex-wife Angelina Jolie over Chateau Miraval rolls on

Thus, Pitt is insisting that someone from his legal team have the opportunity to question the Russian businessman.

It is claimed that Shefler has fought the request on the grounds of being a resident of Switzerland, however, Pitt argues that emails show that Shefler and Jolie had direct contact over the winery purchase which shows that he has knowledge that could be relevant to the ongoing litigation.

Back in December, Pitt received an early birthday present when a judge in Los Angeles sided with him allowing the actor to score a major legal victory over ex-wife Angelina Jolie in the ex-couple's bitter battle over their former French wine estate.

A judge ordered Jolie to hand over a trove of emails and texts with her aides concerning the sale of the idyllic vineyards.

The ruling was handed down on December 17, 2025  the day before Brad's 62nd birthday.

The A-List former couple seem determined to dredge up the past and throw everything they can at each other amid their acrimonious legal battle for the vineyard, where they tied the knot in 2014.

The ongoing dispute has seen the feuding exes attack each other in legal filings ever since Pitt sued Jolie in 2022 for selling her stake in the estate, which produces an award-winning sparkling rose.

The latest battle is over documents that Jolie says are covered by non-disclosure agreements, but Pitt argues that they are nothing more than unprotected business chatter between Jolie and her aides.

Now Superior Court Judge Lia Martin has sided with Pitt and ordered Jolie to hand over 22 documents, giving her 45 days to comply.

The couple had initially agreed to give each other first refusal if either of them ever decided to sell their share

In December, Pitt scored a key victory in his bitter three-year court battle with Jolie over her decision to sell her share of their French wine estate, a total of $67million, after a judge ordered the actress to hand over communications exchanged with her aides as part of the ongoing legal fight

Pitt was blindsided when Jolie sold her share of Chateau Miraval, a 35-room estate and celebrated vineyard in the south of France that Pitt and Jolie bought in 2008. The 1,000-acre estate  now valued at $164million  is where the couple tied the knot in 2014

A source close to Pitt told the Daily Mail that the emails would prove Jolie had been 'disingenuous since the start' regarding her sale of her part in the business.

Jolie 'is abusing the privilege to bury critical documents that go to the heart of the case,' attorneys for the Oscar winning actor argued in the court filing, asking for the 22 documents.

The chateau, where the couple wed in 2014, became Pitt's 'passion' and one of the world's most highly-regarded producers of rose wine

Pitt's legal team said that Jolie's legal logic was not sound as to why she is refusing to turn over the communications.

Pitt's lawyers dismiss that portrayal, deriding the pair as nothing more than 'image consultants.'

Attorney Paul Murphy for Jolie told Daily Mail: 'Were disappointed by the courts interpretation of Californias privilege law.

'The courts ruling violates that law, undermines Ms. Jolies fundamental right to a fair trial, and represents yet another manifestation of Mr. Pitts years-long effort to harass and control her. We will appeal.'

The documents include conversations between Jolie's longtime business manager Terry Bird on how to handle the Miraval sale, and trusted aides Chloe Dalton, and Lady Arminka Helic.

Pitt's lawyers argue that the currently redacted content likely includes Bird's personal thoughts and Jolie's directives on whether to respond to Stoli's inquiry about the vineyard purchase.

Jolie and Helic (left) grew close in 2012 after she teamed up with his then-boss, former UK foreign secretary William Hague (right), on an antisexual violence campaign

One exchange shows Dalton, Helic, and Bird working together on a draft attorney-client communication to the actress's Luxembourg-based attorney, Laurent Schummer, regarding a key letter tied to the sale.

Jolie and Helic first bonded in 2012, when the Tomb Raider star and Helic's then-boss, former British foreign secretary William Hague, partnered for an anti-sexual violence initiative.

A source previously said that Jolie considered Helic a 'mentor', who began 'helping Angie make decisions on what she wants her next political move to be', after stepping away from Hollywood.

In 2015, Jolie, Helic and Dalton formed the Jolie Pitt Dalton Helic foundation, an organization that aims to prevent violence against women and help refugees.

Jolie insists their presence was 'reasonably necessary to help me receive the legal advice I needed.'

They argue that there is clear evidence that Jolie is hiding non-legal advice under the veil of privilege.

The documents Pitt's team are demanding also include communications between the actress and her finance consultants Marjorie Brabet-Friel and James Friel.

In previous filings, Jolie stated that when they filed for divorce, she left him 'control (and full residency) of their family homes in Los Angeles and at Miraval, without compensation'

According to Jolie's sworn declarations, the disputed emails reveal the step-by-step roadmap of her legal and strategic maneuvers  from drafting responses to analyzing legal advice.

She has admitted to performing 'sentence-by-sentence redactions', removing passages that contained nothing but 'attorney mental impressions, conclusions, or observations.'

Her team insists these materials reflect pure legal strategy, refuting Pitt's claims that the documents are simply 'business gossip'. But that argument is no longer viable after the judge's ruling.

This discovery fight has become so volatile that it's now teetering on the brink of financial penalties.

Jolie's team has repeatedly warned Pitt that they will seek sanctions against him and his lawyers, labeling his motion as 'frivolous' and premature, filed before both sides had fully exhausted required discussions.

Chateau Miraval in the Var departement in the south of France produces an award-winning sparkling rose

Angelina said she and the children have never returned to Miraval due to its association with the painful events that led to their divorce

Jolie has also claimed that Pitt is using the legal filings to deflect public attention, after his motion was lodged a day before a crucial hearing about her motion to compel documents related to alleged domestic violence.

Pitt's side insists the timing is irrelevant and calls the entire sanctions narrative 'theatrics.'

Jolie entered a court filing earlier this month stating her displeasure with how things have turned out involving the French winery.

Jolie said that upon the 2016 split, she left Pitt 'control (and full residency) of our family homes in Los Angeles and at Miraval, without compensation, which I hoped would make him calmer in his dealings with me after a difficult and traumatic period.

'To this day, the children and I have never again set foot on the property, given its connection to the painful events leading to the divorce.'

'Post-separation, I immediately began to look for a new house for me and our children, initially renting a home while looking for a more stable solution.

All of the couple's children have sided with Angelina with most of them dropping the surname Pitt

'Because I wanted to ensure that Brad remained an important part of our children's lives, I looked to buy a property near his home.

'At the time, my savings were tied up in Miraval, and I had not asked Brad for alimony or any other financial support.'

The former couple are parents to six children: Maddox, 24, Pax, 22, Zahara, 20, Shiloh, 19, and twins Vivienne and Knox, 17.

They split in 2016 following a 12-year relationship and two-year marriage, after Jolie accused Pitt of drunkenly attacking her on a private plane. The divorce wasn't finalized until eight years later.

Their kids have all sided with Angelina, with most of them dropping the last name Pitt.

Amid the swathes of new legal documents, Judge Martin has set a trial date of February 1, 2027, and mediation was ordered for October 28, 2026.

Jolie faces potential damages claims if she does not undo the deal she made with Shefler regarding the sale of her Miraval stake.

She was dealt another blow earlier this year after the court ruled she must produce every NDA that she signed with a third-party over an eight-year period from 2014  the year they married  to 2022.

Pitt has landed several legal victories in the battle for the winery including a key judgment in Luxembourg which handed him back control of the award-winning vineyard pending further hearings.

In March 2025, LA Superior Court rejected the allegations that his suit was 'frivolous, malicious, and part of a problematic pattern.'
Priyanka Chopra showed off her incredible figure in a series of bikinis while enjoying family time in India this week - after being accused of hiring fake fans.

The Quantico star, 43, was joined by family and friends for a relaxing time away where she posed by the pool in a blue two piece.

Another shot saw her swimming in the water in a black set as she made the most of her time away.

Priyanka also shared a radiant selfie during golden hour as she relaxed in a fluffy white dressing gown.

She penned in the caption of her post: 'One of those rare times when a sunday actually felt like a Sunday.. and other randoms.'

It comes after last month Priyanka was accused of hiring fake fans.

Priyanka Chopra showed off her incredible figure in a series of bikinis while enjoying family time in India this week - after being accused of hiring fake fans

The Quantico star, 43, was joined by family and friends for a relaxing time away where she posed in the pool in a black two piece

The Quantico star was filmed being approached twice by the same pair of autograph seekers at LAX in a resurfaced video from 2017.

At the beginning of the footage, the actress paused to sign for a male and female fan before making her way through the crowd.

The Indian beauty - who recently presented at the star-studded Oscars - was then approached by the same duo again while exiting the terminal, appearing to sign the exact same items a second time.

A fan who reshared the clip called it a 'peak PR stunt' adding, 'Imagine needing the same two people to pretend to be fans just to get media footage and make it look like Priyanka Chopra has a huge fan following in Hollywood.'

'Honestly, it just shows how desperate she is for publicity,' the commentator added.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Chopra's representatives for comment.

Another fan wrote, 'Omg. That is so embarrassing. They must have been paid well. Them trying to overtake PC is hilarious.'

'Nobody asks for autographs anymore. They want selfies. This is def a pr stunt.'

'Second hand embarrassment.'

Another shot saw her swimming in the water in the black set as she made the most of her time away

Priyanka also shared a radiant selfie during golden hour as she relaxed in a fluffy white dressing gown

She penned in the caption of her post: 'One of those rare times when a sunday actually felt like a Sunday.. and other randoms'

Priyanka had tagged her location as Hyderabad in India and looked to be staying in luxury accommodation

'I'm sorry but this is actually so embarrassing,' another person wrote.

'I doubt i would recognize her if i saw in the airport,' another wrote.

'I don't understand, who's carrying notebooks and pens now a days. Secondly, how they can keep it ready within seconds. How do they know that she's coming.'

'She had already signed twice for both of them. What more would be there to sign,' someone else questioned.

However, others defended the star, with one fan writing, 'Maybe they had a lot of stuff for her to sign.'

The resurfaced clip comes just two days after Chopra attended the Oscars, where she was one of the presenters.

Chopra presented the award for Best International Feature Film alongside Oscar-winner Javier Bardem.
Her film career began more than 40 years ago, but Geena Davis looked like she was fresh out of acting school as she attended her latest red carpet event on Tuesday.

The Hollywood star looked typically youthful while making an appearance at the Fashion Trust U.S Awards in Los Angeles - an annual celebration of promising young designers in the United States.

Davis - whose first film appearance came alongside Dustin Hoffman in 1982 classic Tootsie - was attending the event after celebrating her milestone 70th birthday in January.

Walking the red carpet outside Hollywood's Nya Studios, the actress commanded attention in a sweeping teal evening gown and black stiletto heels.

Davis has enjoyed a decades long career after rising to prominence in the 1980s with starring roles in The Fly, Beetlejuice and The Accidental Tourist, for which she earned an Academy Award.

In 1991, the actress became a household name, particularly after sharing a famous kiss with Brad Pitt in Thelma & Louise, starring opposite Susan Sarandon.

Her film career began more than 40 years ago, but youthful Geena Davis looked like she was fresh out of acting school as she attended her latest red carpet event on Tuesday

Her star continued to rise with A League of Their Own in 1992, where she joined Tom Hanks and Madonna in a groundbreaking role.

In a reflective moment last year, Davis shared that it wasnt until adulthood that she learned to embrace herself unapologetically.

Standing at an impressive six feet tall, the actress admitted that her height was a source of discomfort in her youth. She revealed she even used to wish she were shorter before finally accepting it as she grew older.

She told People: Ive always been tall  I was a tall baby. As a kid, my fondest wish was to take up less space in the world. It was only as an adult I realized I could be all of who I was, unapologetically.

Her experiences growing up led her to write the book The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page, aimed at offering young people the reassurance that its okay to stay true to themselves, no matter their size or dreams.

She explained: So I wrote this book for all of the too big children  including children with big personalities and big dreams  who need reassurance that they can be their true selves and make their own space in the world.

Davis added, It was a joy to write, and so wonderful to be able to illustrate my own words to bring my characters to life.'

In 2022, the actress admitted said she carried a 'huge burden of shame' before being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder.

The brunette added she discovered she suffered the condition when she started seeing a therapist who told her she had it by their second session.

Davis, who has daughter Alizeh and twin sons Kian and Kaiis with her former partner Reza Jarrahy, from whom she split in 2017, told Loose Women in 2022: 'I had started with a therapist and I think by the second session she said has anyone told you, you have ADD.

The Hollywood star looked typically youthful while making an appearance at the Fashion Trust U.S Awards in Los Angeles

In 1991, Davis became a household name, particularly after sharing a famous kiss with Brad Pitt in Thelma & Louise, starring opposite Susan Sarandon (pictured)

Walking the red carpet outside Hollywood's Nya Studios, the actress commanded attention in a sweeping teal evening gown and black stiletto heels

'I carried a huge burden of shame most of my life, I thought there was something wrong with me because I couldn't finish or start a lot of things.

'I found it very shameful. But when I found out there's a reason and I'm not a bad person it was very interesting.'

She added: 'I'm really grateful that I had children in my 40s because I knew I'd be more involved. I didn't have a lot of self-esteem but I was really determined that my children would have self-esteem.'

Davis told Good Morning Britain that Sarandon transformed her life when she was 'dying of politeness.'

In a reflective moment last year, Davis shared that it wasnt until adulthood that she learned to embrace herself unapologetically

She recalled: 'It totally changed my life, because somehow in my sheltered life, I had never spent time with a woman who says what she thinks without qualifiers in front of it.

'I was used to living as somebody who says, 'I don't know if you agree with this or if this is a good idea'  I was busy dying of politeness.

'As soon as I met Susan  Oh my God  this was a whole different world. And it wasn't that anyone reacted differently to her. Everyone loved her and everything.

'I was like, "Wow, you can actually be like that". She showed me what it's like to live authentically and be in the moment.'
Jackie 'O' Henderson has made a tentative return to social media as she showed support for her best mate Pip Edwards on Wednesday.

The 51-year-old was among those commenting on the P.E Nation designer's latest Instagram post.

In the images, Pip, 45, posed alongside her new Land Rover as she took a road trip up the coast.

'The only way to road trip is with @defender... built for the wild,' Pip captioned the post, which appeared to be sponsored.

Jackie showed her appreciation for her friend in the comments section, posting two heart-eyed emojis.

Pip was quick to reply to Jackie's comment with a kiss emoji.

Jackie 'O' Henderson has made a tentative return to social media as she showed support for her best mate Pip Edwards on Wednesday. Both pictured

The two women have become firm friends in the past few years, and often socialise and party together.

It comes amid news that Henderson was complaining about former co-host Kyle Sandilands to their KIIS radio bosses six months before their relationship blew up in the middle of a live show, court documents say.

The revelation was laid bare in a statement of claim filed on Henderson's behalf in the Federal Court amid her civil case against KIIS-owner ARN Media over the termination of her $100 million contract.

ARN axed the record-breaking deal with the radio duo after a segment on the Kyle and Jackie O Show on February 20 where Sandilands slammed Henderson for her 'fixation' on astrology.

Henderson said 'that's not fair' and left the studio in tears, before ARN ripped up their combined $200 million agreement.

Sandilands is suing the broadcaster separately over different grounds.

According to the court documents, obtained by the Daily Mail, Henderson started speaking with the head of KIIS network Derek Bargwanna and executive producer Natalie Penfold about Sandilands' 'degrading comments' in mid-2025.

At one point, Henderson told Bargwanna that female listeners were complaining about Sandilands' behaviour and calling their on-air relationship 'abusive'.

The 51-year-old was among those commenting on the P.E Nation designer's latest Instagram post (pictured)

Jackie showed her appreciation for her friend in the comments section, posting two heart-eyed emojis. Pip was quick to reply to Jackie's comment with a kiss emoji

On February 26, Henderson's lawyers wrote a letter of complaint to Commonwealth Broadcasting Corporation - a subsidiary of ARN Media - explaining the broadcaster had been notified about Sandilands' 'bullying'.

The letter said Henderson 'could not continue to work with Mr Sandilands', but that she was willing to continue her contract with a different show.

CBC's lawyers replied on March 3, saying Henderson's letter of complaint equated to the termination of her $100 million contract - which she disputes.

She alleged the termination of her contract was a breach of the Fair Work Act, and is claiming compensation of at least $82.25 million.

In her statement of claim, Henderson argued the announcement wrongly conveyed that she terminated her own contract and that she didn't intend to work for ARN anymore.

She is also seeking payment of a pecuniary penalty plus interest and costs.

ARN denies the claims and will fight the case in court.
Matthew Perry's stepmother has urged the judge to give the 'Ketamine Queen' who pleaded guilty in the criminal case for Perry's death, the maximum sentence in an emotional victim impact statement three years after his death.

The late actor's stepmother, Debbie Perry, has opened up about the anguish the actor's loved ones have been through since his death in 2023 at the age of 54 ahead of the sentencing of Jasveen Sangha, the so-called 'Ketamine Queen'.

Debbie  who is married to Matthew's father John Bennett Perry  wrote in a victim impact statement: 'The pain you've caused to hundreds, maybe thousands, is irreversible. There is no joy to be found, no light in the window.

'They won't be back. That thought comes through our day everyday.'

Debbie described how there has been 'no escape' for Matthew's loved ones and questioned whether Sangha has 'ever found joy' in her life.

Matthew Perry's stepmother has urged judge to give 'Ketamine Queen' the maximum sentence in an emotional victim impact statement three years after his death, (pictured in 2017)

Matthew Perry's 'Ketamine Queen' drug dealer Jasveen Sangha (pictured) has pleaded guilty to selling the Friends star the dose that killed him

The late actor's stepmother, Debbie Perry, (left) has opened up about the anguish the actor's loved ones have been through since his death in 2023 at the age of 54

She penned: 'You caused this. You who has talent for business, enough to make money, chose the one way that hurts people. How sad for you. How will you ever find joy  have you ever found joy? How sad for us all. We miss him.'

Debbie concluded her letter by asking the California court to give Sangha a maximum prison sentence so that she 'won't be able to hurt other families like ours'.

The letter comes as Sangha accepted responsibility for the death of the Friends actor  who was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Pacific Palisades home in October 2023 - which was attributed to the acute effects of ketamine.

The 'Ketamine Queen' told The Sun newspaper from her jail cell: 'I take full responsibility for my actions and the role I played in the events that led to this tragedy.

'There are no excuses for what I did. I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused, especially to Matthew's family. Their loss is unimaginable and permanent.

'I understand that my conduct  operating a drug business and continuing down that path  was reckless, dangerous and wrong.'

Sangha  who could face up to 65 years in prison  added: 'I accept the consequences of my actions, and I regret the harm I caused to others, to my family, and to the community.

'I can't undo the past but I can now respect the law. I am determined that my future now reflects accountability and growth.'
Theo James has described having a son amid the rise of the manosphere as 'terrifying', as he weighed in on how the disturbing online network was harming young men.

The actor, 40, is dad to a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son with his wife Ruth Kearney and shared his fears about how easily boys were 'lured' by ideas of toxic masculinity because 'the easiest thing to do is to latch onto something'.

The manosphere promotes anti-feminist beliefs, masculinity and misogyny and was the subject of the recent Louis Theroux documentary exploring the impact of high-profile social media personalities such as HSTikkyTokky and Andrew Tate.

These influencers make money through manipulating their followers by offering them a 'cheat code' to 'win at life' and get rich at the same time, while they then cash in through paid-content and promoting online trading schemes.

And sharing his thoughts about the trend's pervasive influence on men, Theo opined that a lot of it was down the way in which today's society was becoming increasingly defined by money and status over relationships and morality.

Appearing on Josh Smith's Great Chat Show podcast, he said those who espoused the idea that society has become biased against men and that women are to blame, were actually just deeply insecure and hiding behind 'meaningless bravado'.

Theo James has described having a son amid the rise of the manosphere as 'terrifying', as he weighed in on how the disturbing online network was harming young men (seen in July)

The actor, 40, is dad to a four-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son with his wife Ruth Kearney (seen last month) and shared his fears about how easily boys were 'lured' by ideas of toxic masculinity because 'the easiest thing to do is to latch onto something'

The manosphere promotes anti-feminist beliefs, masculinity and misogyny and was the subject of the recent Louis Theroux documentary (pictured) exploring the impact of high-profile social media personalities such as HSTikkyTokky and Andrew Tate

While he warned that the realisation that they were just seeking a way to avoid 'a deep emptiness' would come, as he stressed the importance of men being open about mental health.

Asked about how the nanosphere was negatively impacting men, The Gentlemen star said: 'It's a lot about deep seated insecurity, ultimately.

'Men who feel they need to be performative or misogynistic, it's about them not feeling good enough essentially, but it's hidden with meaningless bravado.

'And then on top of that is what we've reached at the moment, this cataclysmic capitalism where you have everyone now rewarded by wealth.

'Capitalism is the dominant force and you are celebrated, no matter what you are, if you're stinking rich and driving around in flash cars. And that has been epitomised with Trumpism and everything that goes with that.'

Theo confessed he felt particular worry about how this trend would continue as the father of a little boy, and what that would mean for him when he grew up.

'It's terrifying having a son because people get lured into this idea very easily,' the White Lotus star said.

'And you don't have to be, as people like to say "hyperwoke", but it's about a base level of empathy and some semblance of morality and I think now that isn't cool, is it? It's not cool to talk about those things, it's cool to be like "F**k you! I earn loads of cash, bring it on motherf***er".

'But at the end of the day there is a deep emptiness within that, as we all know, and eventually all those people will find that out, if they haven't already.

He got candid about the pressures of being a leading man in an industry obsessed with physicality, saying the idea that men have to be really muscular and go to the gym a lot served as a means of 'forming identity' (seen in Dolce and Gabbana ad with Vittoria Ceretti)

'The bottom of the bell curve is waiting for all those people, because that happens to everyone, but particularly people that throw themselves into empty commercialism and toxicity in that way.'

He also got candid about the pressures of being a leading man in an industry obsessed with physicality, saying the idea that men have to be really muscular and go to the gym a lot was so central to the manosphere, because it served as a means of 'forming identity'.

'Body image is a problem,' Theo said. 'Obviously women have dealt with it for thousands of years and continue to do so.

'But with men there's this toxic masculinity thing about forming identity through your body and you have to be bigger and more muscular.

'There's obviously this epidemic with steroids and performance enhancing things, with younger and younger kids. And it's not just movies and TV, but it is part of that.'

He went on: 'A lot of toxic masculinity comes down to unclear identity, they feel untethered, reduced. I think the misogyny comes from lots of successful strong women around them, they don't know how to deal with that.

'They're confused by who they are or who they should be, so the easiest thing to do is to latch onto something and money, going to the gym a lot and telling people to go f***k themselves - that's easy.

'That's an easy win, but the ramifications of what it does to a generation of men is the trickier part.'

Theo has been tipped as one of the frontrunners to be in the running to be the next James Bond, after Daniel Craig's exit (seen in 2023)

It comes after the Divergent star admitted working in an industry where a greater degree of is placed on youth made him fearful as he approached his fortieth birthday in December 2024.

'I thought I didnt give a sh*t, but then when I turned 40 it was kind of more existentially seismic than I thought,' he told Sunday Times Style in November.

'This industry - not only this industry but the world we live in - is more and more visual. People, everything, is filtered. Its definitely something that plays on your mind.

'But I think people like to see history in someones face and someones personality. So literal and metaphorical lines on the face are interesting because they tell a story.'

Theo has been tipped as one of the frontrunners to be in the running to be the next James Bond, after Daniel Craig's exit.

He and Aaron Taylor-Johnson - who stars opposite him in new film Fuze - have been named as the top two contenders to play the iconic spy.

However, he previously admitted that he didn't think that he would be good for the part and that he was ill-prepared for the huge fame and pressure that came with the role.

Addressing the rumours, Theo - who is of Greek decent - told The Guardian: 'Everyone's interested in [Bond] because it's a big part of British cultural identity, but that probably wouldn't be me.

'I do think there are better people for that job. And, honestly, it would be terrifying: if you do that, there's no going back. You're opening Pandora's box there.

'You have got to be willing to live a very different life and have a different life for your family. And that would be pretty tricky. Plus, my mates would take the p*ss out of me. Because they always say, "Bondopoulos  the Greek Bond."'
The artist formerly known as Kanye West still had something to smile about on Tuesday evening - just hours after the Home Office banned him from flying to the UK for a headline appearance at Wireless Festival.

The controversial rapper, who now refers to himself as Ye, had been the marquee signing at Wireless, which has since been cancelled amid calls for the annual celebration of urban music to be indefinitely axed over its decision to overlook West's unsavoury track record of anti-semitism.

While beleaguered organisers issued an apologetic statement on Tuesday, the man at the heart of the controversy appeared to be nonplussed during an appearance at a comedy club in Los Angeles.

A grinning West, 48, was onstage at local venue The Lab At Hollywood Improv, where he was joined by actor Deon Cole and comedian Ocean Glapion for an improvised set, during which he was lauded as the 'modern day Michael Jackson' for his contributions to contemporary music.

Taking to Instagram following the show, a star-struck Glapion wrote: 'Last night was one of the most amazing and memorable nights! Got to be on stage with 2 legends!!!'

The post drew an inevitably mixed response from followers, with one commenting: 'We shouldnt normalize someone who sold swastika T-shirts and called himself a Nazi'

Kanye West still had something to smile about on Tuesday evening - just hours after the Home Office banned him from flying to the UK for a headline appearance at Wireless Festival

A grinning West was onstage at local venue The Lab At Hollywood Improv, where he was joined by actor Deon Cole and comedian Ocean Glapion for an improvised set

A second, referring to West's recent public apology and well documented struggle with mental health issues, added: 'I hope he finds his mental health, peace, and love... but he apologized right before dropping and album and trying to book concerts.'

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Gold Digger rapper, who has used Nazi imagery and faced accusations of antisemitism, should never have been invited to headline Wireless, which takes place annually in London.

The headline sets provoked calls for the rapper to be banned from the UK because of behaviour, which has included releasing a song called Heil Hitler and advertising a swastika T-shirt for sale on his website.

West made an application to travel to the UK on Monday via an electronic travel authorisation, but the Home Office stopped him on the grounds that his presence in the UK would not be conducive to the public good, the Press Association understands.

Wests ETA was initially granted online before ministers intervened, it is understood.

The Prime Minister said: 'Kanye West should never have been invited to headline Wireless.

'This Government stands firmly with the Jewish community and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.

'We will always take the action necessary to protect the public and uphold our values.'

A statement from organiser Festival Republic confirmed: 'The Home Office has withdrawn Yes ETA (electronic travel authorisation), denying him entry into the United Kingdom.

Taking to Instagram after the show, a star-struck Glapion drew a mixed response from followers while referencing West's appearance onstage

'As a result, Wireless Festival is cancelled and refunds will be issued to all ticket-holders.

'As with every Wireless Festival, multiple stakeholders were consulted in advance of booking Ye and no concerns were highlighted at the time.

'Anti-semitism in all its forms is abhorrent, and we recognise the real and personal impact these issues have had.

'As Ye said today, he acknowledges that words alone are not enough, and in spite of this still hopes to be given the opportunity to begin a conversation with the Jewish community in the UK.'

The rapper had offered to meet the British Jewish community before his show.

He said in a statement before the Governments decision was announced: 'Ive been following the conversation around Wireless and want to address it directly.

'My only goal is to come to London and present a show of change, bringing unity, peace, and love through my music.

'I would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with members of the Jewish community in the UK in person, to listen.

'I know words arent enough  Ill have to show change through my actions. If youre open, Im here.'

Wireless Festival announced it would be canceled as a result of West's travel ban on Tuesday

Wireless Festival was due to be held at Finsbury Park in London, but has now been cancelled

Presale tickets for Wireless Festival were released at 12pm on Tuesday and are believed to have sold out, while the general sale was due to open at 12pm on Wednesday.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which aims to protect British Jews from antisemitism, described the Governments decision as a sensible outcome to what has been yet another bruising episode for British Jews.

Its statement added: 'Anti-Jewish hatred should have no place in society and cultural leaders have a role to play in ensuring that is the case.

'People who show genuine and meaningful remorse for previous anti-semitic behaviour will always receive a sympathetic hearing from the Jewish community, but that process must come before this kind of public rehabilitation.'

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said the Government had made the right decision.

In a statement, it added: When it (the Government) said that antisemitism has no place in the UK, it backed up its words with action.

'Someone who has boasted of making tens of millions of dollars from selling swastika T-shirts and who released a song called Heil Hitler just months ago clearly would not be conducive to the public good in the UK.

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, had said the group would be willing to meet West if he pulled out of Wireless.

Rosenberg said: 'It has been less than a year since Kanye West released a song entitled Heil Hitler, the culmination of three years of appalling antisemitism.

'He also made a number of deeply offensive comments about the black community, saying that the 400-year experience of slavery was "like a choice".

'Even while claiming remorse today, his latest album includes a track first released last year with the abhorrent title Gas Chamber.'

He continued: 'The Jewish community will want to see a genuine remorse and change before believing that the appropriate place to test this sincerity is on the main stage at the Wireless Festival.

'As such, we are willing to meet Kanye West as part of his journey of healing, but only after he agrees not to play the Wireless Festival for this year.'
Emmerdale star Michelle Hardwick has revealed she was rushed to hospital with a painful and swollen eye as she shared a photo of the injury.

The soap actress, 50, who plays Vanessa Woodfield in the ITV soap, told how she dashed to A&E Sunday with concerns about her eye.

Michelle explained how she went to hospital on Sunday after she had developed a scratched cornea - the outer layer at the font of the eye - the night before.

Michelle showed off her red-and-swollen left eye in a selfie posted to her Instagram Stories on Tuesday, with the caption: 'Anyone else had a scratched cornea?

'This happened Saturday night... little trip to A+E Sunday morning to be checked over.'

The star - who thanked the 'amazing' National Health Service (NHS) workers for their care - is taking antibiotic cream for the next 'five days' to treat the injury.

Emmerdale star Michelle Hardwick has revealed she was rushed to hospital with a painful and swollen eye as she shared a photo of the injury

Michelle hopes her eye will be heal itself to avoid the injury throwing Emmerdale into chaos when she returns to work on Friday.

EastEnders bosses will likely be scrambling to rewrite scenes featuring Michelle Collins (Cindy Beale) after she has been left hobbling on crutches and with her right leg in a brace following a nasty injury over Easter weekend.

The BBC soap icon rushed to The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, after she hurt herself while trying to stop her dog Peggy from escaping her pals' house, and now Collins will not be able to walk for a while.

She shared shots of herself in hospital, as well as her right leg in a brace, on Instagram on Monday (06.04.26) with the caption: '#thanks #thequeenelizabethhospital @nhsnwccg @kingslynntown #norfolk .

'Fell over trying to stop Peggy bolting out the door while staying with friends in Norfolk bashed my knee , cuts and bruises. (sic)'

The actress then lauded the medical staff for their care.

She continued: 'Staff were great , #efficient #kind despite apparently very low on hospital league table I would never have known from the service I got .

'Seems so unfair to label a hospital like this not great for morale as one of the lovely nurses said . Happy Easter xx (sic).'

Michelle tagged EastEnders in the post, and told them that she will need to be 'sitting down scenes this week!'.

The soap actress, 50, who plays Vanessa Woodfield in the ITV soap, told how she dashed to A&E Sunday with concerns about her eye

EastEnders bosses will likely be scrambling to rewrite scenes featuring Michelle Collins (Cindy Beale) after she has been left hobbling on crutches and with her right leg in a brace following a nasty injury over Easter weekend

Last month, Michaelle was forced to pull out of a FanFushionUK at Heathrow alongside Vicky Myers, who plays Lisa Myers on Corrie.

Coronation Street and Emmerdale fans were left thousands of pounds out of pocket the two stars pulled out of a fan event over claims of a 'breach of contract.'

Fans had forked out up to 1000 for tickets to the sold-out event with the hope of receiving autographs and selfies from their favourite soap stars.

However on Friday both Vicky and Michelle confirmed they would no longer be attending the event.

The pair alleged a 'breach of contract from bosses,' who have since hit back claiming they first they learned of their withdrawal was via social media.

In a post on X, Vicky wrote: 'It is with deep regret that due to the organisers breach of contract, myself and Michelle Hardwick are unable to attend the FanFusion event this weekend.

'We are incredibly disappointed, as we were very much looking forward to meeting you all.

'Unfortunately, this is beyond our control. Despite numerous attempts to resolve the breach, we are now left with no other option but to withdraw.'

'We would like to send our sincere apologies and our love and best wishes to our loyal fans. Please direct all refund enquiries to FanFusion. Vicky.'

However FanfusionUK hit back in a statement that was shared with guests at the venue, saying they first learned that Vicky and Michelle would no longer be attending through their statements online.

Last month, Michaelle was forced to pull out of a FanFushionUK at Heathrow alongside Vicky Myers, who plays Lisa Myers on Corrie (pictured)

Fans had forked out up to 1000 for tickets to the sold-out event with the hope of receiving autographs and selfies from their favourite soap stars, Vicky and Michelle (pictured)

They said: 'We regret to announce that Vicky Myers and Michelle Hardwick will no longer be attending FanFusionUK this weekend.

'Unfortunately this update was not directly communicated to us and we became aware of the situation at the same time as the fandom.

'We understand that this news may be disappointing and frustrating and we recognise that there may be speculation or rumours circulating.

'Despite this we remain committed to ensuring you have an enjoyable weekend and we are excited to still host the five fantastic guests who are in attendance.

'As we have only just received this information ourselves, we kindly ask for your patience while we take the necessary time to review the situation and determine the next steps.'

The last-minute nature of the cancellation has been made even more apparant by the fact that full size pictures of Vicky were still available for fans to pose with at the venue.

It meant that fans had been left significantly out of pocket, with some even posting they'd flown over from Australia and Canada.

Prices for the event weren't cheap with ticket packages starting at 150 and going up to 1,000, with selfies with Michelle or Vicky charged between 35 and 45 per picture.

However on Friday both Vicky and Michelle confirmed they would no longer be attending the event in a post on the Corrie star's social media

Many fans expressed their disappointment on social media, with some blasting event organisers after they flow over from countries including Australia and Canada

Autographs from Michelle were charged for 35 for up to ten words and the star was also doing two meet and greet sessions with tickets for those at 90.

Many fans expressed their disappointment on social media, writing: 'Wtaf have fanfusion done to make Vicky and Michelle cancel the day before;

'Fanfusion have broken the hearts of so many people who wanted to meet their faves for so many reasons... people spent hundreds of pounds... and they couldn't honour a f*****g contract. But know this @VixMyers & Michelle - we love you so much;

' A f*****g flip chart!!! ARE YOU FOR REAL #fanfusion. People have travelled miles and spent hundreds and you give a flip chart!! Still claiming you didn't know.... SORRRYYYY

'I know whose statement I'm believe and it ain't theirs;'

'We know you wouldn't have pulled out without the best of reasons Vicky, the ''damage control'' by fanfiction is just an insult to you and Michelle.'

Daily Mail contacted representatives for FanFusion, Michelle Hardwick and Vicky Myers for comment.
Blake Lively has been blasted for 'hypocrisy' over her self-pitying post lamenting 'digital violence' after suffering a major legal setback in her court battle against Justin Baldoni.

Just one day after a New York judge threw out the majority of her sexual harassment claims, the actress took to Instagram to describe her 'physical pain' - only to spark fury among YouTubers she had previously targeted with subpoenas after they publicly commented on the case.

Now, those caught in the legal drama are clapping back at her remarks, with one creator telling the Daily Mail it 'feels like Lively is gaslighting everybody' and 'refuses to look in the mirror.'

The latest court decision means the case will head to trial on May 18 focusing solely on the three remaining counts related to an alleged smear campaign by Baldoni's team.

'The last thing I wanted in my life was a lawsuit, but I brought this case because of the pervasive RETALIATION I faced, and continue to, for privately and professionally asking for a safe working environment for myself and others,' Lively wrote in a lengthy statement.

'Don't be distracted by the digital soap opera. The constant packaging of this lawsuit as a 'Celebrity Drama' is not only irresponsible, but it is by design: to keep you from seeing yourselves in my story,' she added.

Blake Lively has come under fire from an online community of YouTubers and creators over her 'hypocrisy' for lamenting 'digital violence' - despite previously targeting them with subpoenas

Lively issued a lengthy statement on Instagram addressing her 'physical pain from digital violence' after a judge issued a devastating blow to her case

'The physical pain from digital violence is very real. It is abuse. And it's everywhere, not just in the news but in your communities and schools.'

However, the words have left a bitter taste for the 107 social media influencers and commentators who were dragged into the dispute last year when Lively issued subpoenas demanding access to their private data, including bank and credit card details, addresses and phone numbers.

Among those reportedly targeted were conservative firebrand Candace Owens, celebrity gossip hound Perez Hilton - and even smaller creators with just a few hundred followers and without resources to fight the Hollywood star.

Most of the demands are now understood to have been dropped, although some influencers say they have had legal bills of up to $15,000 to bat them away.

Lauren Neidigh has 31,000 followers for YouTube channel The Court of Random Opinion.

She sought a protective order against Lively claiming harassment and intimidation after being hit with the subpoena.

Join the discussion Do YOU think influencers were treated fairly in this case?

Lauren Neidigh, who runs YouTube channel The Court of Random Opinion, says she was subpoenaed by Lively's lawyers who demanded access to her personal information

Her day job is helping psychology patients get health insurance claims paid from her base near Jacksonville, Florida  and admits money can be a struggle.

Yet she successfully got Lively's lawyers to back down in her case and dismissed the star's latest Instagram post as 'crazy'.

Neidigh, 33, said: 'It's infuriating she has put out this bizarre, disingenuous statement trying to champion herself as an advocate against digital violence and abuse.

'It's as if she didn't terrorize innocent women by threatening their privacy because she didn't like what they said on the internet.

'She tried to drag a lot of smaller creators into court who couldn't afford to be there.

'And that threatened a lot of people's livelihoods, their finances, their privacy. That's especially true of people who don't show their faces on their channels. People were being targeted, they were being pointed out.

YouTuber Andy Signore - who was subpoenaed three times - has blasted Blake Lively's 'digital violence' claims as 'hypocrisy'

'It's weird that she's going after all of her critics like this and refusing to acknowledge the things she's being criticized for. And then blame it on everyone else.

'She has had the privilege of systems upholding her status for pretty much all her life. And it's ridiculous that she can use them to try to hurt other people.'

Neidigh continued: 'I fought back myself. But some people had to pay between $10,000 and $15,000. I had to learn how to file in federal court myself, staying up in the middle of the night because I have to work.

'Her attorneys withdrew pretty much at the sign of resistance. They didn't want to tell me why they wanted my information. Why did they need my credit card number?

'I had to decide, do I want to fight this myself and risk her getting this information? Or do I want to take out a loan to get an attorney and take extra shifts to pay for that?

'In the end, I just couldn't pay for an attorney so I had to figure it out for myself.'

Neidigh previously told the Daily Mail she believed the subpoena was sent because Lively thought Baldoni was paying content creators to smear the actress.

'Maybe she thinks it'll show people were paid or benefitting in some way to cover her case, because she says the smear campaign is ongoing,' she said.

'That's absolutely not true. I used to really like her movies, and I watched Gossip Girl, of course. So, I had an open mind when I started looking into all of this.

'But when I read through, I thought some of the stuff doesn't even make sense. And then I started to put the pieces together when I read the pieces after that.

'So, there's never been an incentive for me other than I'm interested in her lawsuit.'

Lively also claimed the 'digital warfare' often isn't directed at celebs or those 'who may be able to speak up pay attention to all the ways we can be manipulated online. If you have kids on phones, they are some of the most vulnerable'.

Conservative firebrand Candace Owens - who has also commented on the case - addressed reports that she had been subpoenaed last summer, accusing Lively's team of 'leaking' the story to TMZ

Baldoni and Lively co-starred as love interests in 2024 film It Ends With Us

Andy Signore, had his Popcorned Planet YouTube channel hit by three Lively subpoenas and is still fighting in the courts.

Of the star's statement, he said: 'It just feels like she's gaslighting everybody. This has always been a battle about her ego, not about anything else in my opinion.

'This idea that she isn't one of the main authors of the digital soap opera is ludicrous. It's hypocrisy.

'To say she hasn't been an orchestrator behind the scenes of her own digital smear campaign is laughable.

'TMZ knew about my own subpoena before I did. I don't think it was Justin's team that alerted them.

'We were part of the Google subpoena. But she subpoenaed us directly as well, along with the TikTok one.

'She sent three various subpoenas to Popcorned Planet, me, and my company. She's been trying to intimidate creators since day one.'

The latest court decision means the case will head to trial on May 18, focusing solely on the three remaining counts related to an alleged smear campaign by Baldoni's team. Baldoni is seen departing the federal courthouse in Manhattan in February

Signore, who has nearly one million subscribers, added: 'And the way she's using scare tactics about children and women all at risk of a digital manipulation campaign, I find incredibly manipulative herself. She refuses to look in the mirror.'

Lively's court blow in the Southern District of New York followed Baldoni's $400 million counter claim against the actress, her husband Ryan Reynolds and others being thrown out in June 2025.

In the latest ruling, Judge Lewis Liman disagreed that Baldoni crossed the boundaries during filming of a dance scene when he added unscripted kisses.

In the 2024 film Lively played florist Lily Bloom who gets into an abusive relationship with Baldoni, who played neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid.

Judge Liman wrote: 'Creative artists, no less than comedy room writers, must have some amount of space to experiment within the bounds of an agreed script without fear of being held liable for sexual harassment'.

Nor did Baldoni 'fat shame' Lively when he asked her personal trainer about her weight, the judge said.

In a statement to the Daily Mail, Lively's attorney Sigrid McCawley said the actress 'looks forward to testifying at trial'

'The physical appearance of the protagonists was part of the product that the producers were intending to offer the audience', he wrote.

Lively herself recognized that achieving a 'certain aesthetic' was 'part of the job that we both excitedly signed up for.'

Many of Lively's claims were dismissed because she did not sign a legal document, known as the Actor Loanout Agreement, which would have governed sexual harassment.

In addition, Lively had so much control over the film that she did not qualify as an employee, so could not sue under the laws she cited, the judge found.

But in a win for Lively, Judge Liman did find that there was enough evidence of a retaliation campaign for a jury to decide whether it took place.

The remaining claims that will go to trial are breach of contract, retaliation and aiding and abetting retaliation. Baldoni denies them all.

A bid to end the war in behind-closed-doors hearings three days after the judge's ruling failed. However more talks could happen.

In a statement after the judge's decision last week, Baldoni's lawyers Alexandra Shapiro and Jonathan Bach said they were 'very pleased' with the ruling.

Sigrid McCawley, a member of Lively's legal team, told the Daily Mail: 'This case has always been and will remain focused on the devastating retaliation and the extraordinary steps the defendants took to destroy Blake Lively's reputation because she stood up for safety on the set and that is the case that is going to trial'.

Lively 'looks forward to testifying at trial,' McCawley added.
Tom Hardy showcased his array of body ink as he kicked back on the beach with his wife Charlotte Riley on a family holiday in Barbados yesterday.

The actor, 48, who plays supervillain Venom in the Marvel film franchise, was shirtless in a pair of branded UFC shorts as he took a dip in the sea with his actress partner, 44.

Tom has more than 30 tattoos covering much of his upper body, with each piece representing significant life events, people and places.

Visible on his torso were the words padre fiero, which means proud father in Italian, a Union Flag on his pec and the Marine Corps number of his best friend's father.

The actor also has one reading 'Leo knows all' on his bicep, after losing a bet with Leonardo Di Caprio. The American star, 51, correctly predicted that Tom would get an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in The Revenant, while the British actor was less confident.

Tom was sporting a full beard and a pair of black aviator shades during the rare appearance with his bikini-clad wife on the Caribbean island.

He was seen smearing sun cream onto his body while perched on a sunbed.

Tom Hardy showcased his array of body ink as he kicked back on the beach with his wife Charlotte Riley on a family holiday in Barbados yesterday

The actor, 48, who plays supervillain Venom in the Marvel film franchise, was shirtless in a pair of branded UFC shorts as he took a dip in the sea with his actress partner, 44

Tom Hardy has more than 30 tattoos covering much of his upper body, with each piece representing significant life events, people and places

Charlotte, who met Tom on the set of Wuthering Heights in 2008, wore a mismatched black bikini top with a pair of printed bottoms for their beach outing.

The Peaky Blinders actress went make-up free and wore her brown hair swept up into a bun on top of her head.

The couple were seen having a chat while paddling in the sea together, looking totally at ease as they relaxed on the sun-soaked break.

Charlotte gave birth to their first child - a daughter - late in 2015, followed in late 2018 by the birth of their second child, a son.

She is also a stepmother to Tom's eldest son, Louis Thomas, from his previous relationship with Rachael Speed.

The actress recently revealed how her Hollywood hardman husband wooed her with 'a really decent cup of tea'.

The couple have been married for 12 years after falling for each other on the set of the TV adaptation of the Emily Bronte classic.

Join the discussion What do YOU think of Tom Hardy's tattoo collection?

Tom was seen spraying protective mist onto his body while perched on a sunbed at the beach

Visible on his torso were the words padre fiero, which means proud father in Italian, a Union Flag on his pec and the Marine Corps number of his best friend's father

The actor was sporting a full beard and pair of black aviator shades during the rare appearance with his bikini-clad wife on the Caribbean island

Tom was seen wading into the sea in his black and grey patterned UFC branded shorts

The couple, who met on the set of Wuthering Heights in 2008, chatted while cooling off in the water

The pair were seen having a chat while paddling in the sea together, looking totally at ease as they relaxed on the sun-soaked break

Charlotte is also a stepmother to Tom's eldest son, Louis Thomas, from his previous relationship with Rachael Speed

Charlotte gave birth to their first child - a daughter - late in 2015, followed in late 2018 by the birth of their second child, a son

In between rehearsing for their steamy scenes as Heathcliff and Cathy, Charlotte recalled how a conversation with Tom about their shared northern roots kick-started their romance.

'He made me a really decent cup of tea. Strong. There's not much point if the spoon doesn't stand up,' she recalled of her first impressions of Tom.

'And he told me that his mother was northern. So I thought, all right then. When somebody can give as good as they get, you know you're in for a good time.'

Charlotte was also quick to point out Tom's easy-going nature on set, insisting that contrary to reports, he is not 'some sort of Method actor... He was just his cheeky-chappy self'.

The actress said she had her future husband laughing with her own cheeky banter, as she recalled one memorable moment from the Wuthering Heights set.

'We were talking about it the other day. There's that famous line? "Whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are the same," she told The Sunday Times Style Magazine.

'We shot it in a tiny church on the moors and it was beautiful. We were sitting in a pew and I had to turn to Tom and say my line. And he absolutely died laughing.

'Because when you say it with my northern accent, it sounds like, "Whatever a**eholes are made of..." And that was it, we were gone for the rest of the day. I do need to get a tattoo of that.'

In between rehearsing for their steamy scenes as Heathcliff and Cathy, Charlotte recalled how a conversation with Tom about their shared northern roots kickstarted their romance

Their version of Wuthering Heights raised eyebrows thanks to the pair's bond, which was plain for all to see during filming.

Reflecting on the TV adaptation, director Coky Giedroyc shared recently how she had to keep interrupting scenes involving Tom and Charlotte.

She told The Sunday Times Culture Magazine: 'The chemistry was amazing. It got very steamy, to the extent that I had to keep yelling, "Cut!"'

Charlotte is set to star in BBC drama Babies, which follows the lives of two couples as they navigate pregnancy, miscarriage, grief and dating. The six-part series will air from March 30.

Meanwhile, Tom is currently shooting the second season of Guy Ritchie's hit series Mobland.
The cast of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is reportedly gearing up for production to resume just hours after star Taylor Frankie Paul's heated court battle with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen.

Filming for the hit reality series was put on hold amid a domestic violence scandal involving Paul, 31, and Mortensen, which led to uncertainty surrounding the fate of Season 5.

The drama surrounding Paul didnt stop there, as she was also set to star in an upcoming season of The Bachelorette - a season that was scrapped after resurfaced footage tied to a 2023 case surfaced online.

With ABC pulling the plug on her Bachelorette debut, all eyes turned back to Mormon Wives and its uncertain future.

However, less than 24 hours after Paul faced Mortensen in court - where his lawyer accused her of trying to 'assassinate' his character as he fought for a protective order - the cast appears to be more optimistic about the show's return.

Sources close to the production told TMZ on Wednesday that the cast, including Jessi Draper, Mayci Neeley, and Layla Taylor, are hopeful that filming will resume within weeks, with pressure mounting to wrap the production quickly to avoid further delays.

The cast of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is reportedly gearing up for production to resume just hours after star Taylor Frankie Paul's heated court battle with ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen

Sources close to the production told TMZ on Wednesday that the cast are hopeful that filming will resume within weeks, with pressure mounting to wrap the production quickly to avoid further delays

However, a separate source with inside knowledge revealed to the outlet that Hulu executives have yet to make a decision regarding the show's future, including whether the remainder of Season 5 will move forward.

Just last week, costars Neeley and Taylor sparked rumors of a return after sharing cryptic messages hinting that cameras could soon be rolling again.

Neeley, 31, and Taylor, 25, both reshared an article regarding Drapers Call Her Daddy podcast interview, where Draper, 33, expressed hope that Mormon Wives filming could resume and the duo added some intriguing captions of their own.

Neeley reshared the piece writing, 'Were ready,' alongside a video camera emoji.

She added, 'Its time to take back Barbieland,' a cheeky nod to the hit 2023 Barbie movie starring Margot Robbie.

Taylor, meanwhile, reshared the same article and wrote, 'Lets do this girls!!!'

She also added, 'Love our team so much and so grateful,' tagging production company Jeff Jenkins Productions and Hulu.

The report follows Mortensen's legal team blasting Paul after Tuesday's court hearing, accusing her of trying to 'assassinate Dakotas character as a dad.'

However, a separate source with inside knowledge revealed to the outlet that Hulu executives have yet to make a decision regarding the show's future, including whether the remainder of Season 5 will move forward

Layla Taylor fueled speculation of a return after posting cryptic messages that suggest cameras could soon be rolling again

Mayci Neeley reshared an article regarding costar Jessi Drapers Call Her Daddy podcast interview, where Draper, 33, expressed hope that Mormon Wives filming could resume

This occurred during the lengthy virtual hearing where Mortensen sought a protective order against Paul.

The original order, granted on March 20, had prohibited Taylor from seeing their son until Tuesday's hearing.

Mortensen currently has temporary custody of their 2-year-old son Ever. Paul also shares daughter Indy, eight, and son Ocean, five, with her ex-husband Tate Paul.

On Tuesday, the judge temporarily allowed Paul eight hours of supervised visitation per week until the next hearing.

In an unexpected twist, Paul was granted a temporary protective order against Mortensen on Wednesday, after presenting her own evidence of alleged abuse.

In her restraining order filing, which she submitted in Utah court, Paul included photos documenting injuries from an alleged May 2025 assault, as well as bruises from an alleged February 2026 attack.

Paul further accused Mortensen of stalking, assaulting, and becoming 'increasingly possessive' leading up to her now-canceled Bachelorette debut.

The hearing came after a new investigation was opened in February of this year following fresh allegations of Paul attacking Mortensen.

The report follows Mortensen's legal team blasting Paul after Tuesday's court hearing, accusing her of trying to 'assassinate Dakotas character as a dad'

In an unexpected twist, Paul was granted a temporary protective order against Mortensen on Wednesday, after presenting her own evidence of alleged abuse

Then, in March, a third police investigation was launched when Mortensen reported a separate alleged incident from 2024.

The court hearing also comes on the heels of reports that Paul will still receive her full fee for The Bachelorette, despite the series being abruptly pulled.

The reality star had already completed filming and participated in much of the promotional rollout before the project was shelved.

Insiders told TMZ that her contract guarantees payment for services rendered, meaning she is entitled to the full sum after fulfilling her obligations.

While the exact amount remains unclear, sources suggest her earnings fall within the low-to-mid six-figure range, in line with past leads on the franchise.

The payout is expected to be covered by Warner Bros. Discovery, the studio behind the production.

The ongoing investigation has also impacted The Bachelorette's brand partnerships.

On March 17, Cinnabon announced it was ending its collaboration with both Paul and the ABC show, despite having previously promoted new products tied to the series.

'Cinnabon has made the decision to terminate its collaboration with The Bachelorette and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' the company said in a statement.

'Recent developments and allegations surrounding the lead cast member led us to reassess this collaboration as it no longer aligns with our brand values.'
Love Is Blind stars Megan Jupp and Kieran Holmes-Darby gave fans a glimpse inside their romantic Californian honeymoon on Tuesday.

The TV star, 28, who recently tied the knot with Kieran, also 28, for a second time a year after meeting on the Netflix dating show, celebrated their latest nuptials by jetting off to the United States.

In one snap, the couple cosied up for a sweet selfie as they posed in front of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge during a sunrise run.

Megan captioned the loved-up snaps: 'Best start to the day with a sunrise run over Golden Gate Bridge!!!'

Meanwhile, in another video clip, Kieran cut a laidback figure in a beige shirt, blue jorts and trainers as they prepared for an hour-long hike through Muir Woods National Monument.

Waving a pretend map in the air, Kieran joked: 'Follow me kids', as Megan laughed and replied: 'Our wilderness explorer.'

Love Is Blind stars Megan Jupp and Kieran Holmes-Darby gave fans a glimpse inside their romantic Californian honeymoon on Tuesday

The TV star, 28, who recently tied the knot with Kieran, also 28, for a second time a year after meeting on the Netflix dating show, celebrated their latest nuptials by jetting off to the United States (pictured during their first wedding)

Kieran quipped: 'Er, I'll have you know I have a Duke of Edinburgh award, and I was the chief navigator.'

Following their hike, the couple posed for another sunny selfie, with Megan writing: 'We survived the hike'.

They later headed to Malibu Farm Tiburon for a romantic sunset dinner, complete with oysters and champagne, as they soaked up stunning views across San Francisco Bay.

Sharing the moment to her Instagram Story, Megan gushed: 'The most sensational meal in front of the bay watching the sunset. What a dreamy end to the dreamiest day!!!!'

It comes days after Megan shared a series of snaps from her fun-filled hen party in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday.

In one stunning snap, Megan looked incredible in a strapless white lace dress as she posed up a storm with a pineapple cocktail.

The beauty looked radiant in the lacy white number, further accessorising her look with vibrant orange earrings.

To complete her look, she added inches to her frame with nude perspex heels and toted her essentials in a mini orange handbag.

In one video clip, Kieran cut a laidback figure in a beige shirt, blue jorts and trainers as they prepared for an hour-long hike through Muir Woods National Monument

Waving a pretend map in the air, Kieran joked: 'Follow me kids', as Megan laughed and replied: 'Our wilderness explorer'

Following their hike, the couple posed for another sunny selfie, with Megan writing: 'We survived the hike'

They later headed to Malibu Farm Tiburon for a romantic sunset dinner, complete with oysters and champagne, as they soaked up stunning views across San Francisco Bay

Megan pouted for the camera as she joined her best pals for a group snap, before heading out for the evening with a cardboard cut-out of her husband's face.

She also gave fans a glimpse into how the messy night ended, sharing a snap of herself kneeling on the ground next to a blow-up doll with a cut-out of Kieran's face on it.

Sharing the snaps to Instagram, Megan captioned the post: 'The besties were not letting me get away with just the TV hen  so they threw me the best hun do a girl could dream of #MegHen.'

It comes after Megan and Kieran got married for a second time a year after meeting on the Netflix dating show.

The pair had already wed one another on TV as part of the programme after getting engaged sight unseen, just a few weeks after dating in the pods.

Eesports entrepreneur Kieran shared a Get Ready With Me video while posing in this wedding suit.

And their videographer shared a clip of Megan eating pasta before getting into her dress.

Captioning the post, Kieran said: 'Get ready with me for one of the biggest days of my life!'

It comes days after Megan shared a series of snaps from her fun-filled hen party in Lisbon, Portugal, on Saturday

Adding: 'Lucky me I got to marry Megan Jupp all over again.'

Ahead of the wedding, he also wrote that he had a stressful few days.

He penned: 'Last 24 hours has been stressful as hell but this is my trying to stay positive face because Im getting married again tonight, lets have it!'

Fitness instructor Megan then shared a picture of them both on a plane, ready to jet off on honeymoon to San Francisco.

She wrote: 'After the most hectic but fun week of my life the fun HAS to continue bc we're off to San Fran babbyyyyy. Couldn't be more excited if I tried.'

Kieran also shared a picture of Megan looking cosy in a pink hoodie and wrote: 'Who's ready for Cali? This girl is.'

Before entering the pods, Megan told programme bosses that she didn't come from a "atypical family structure".

She explained that her biological father had never been present in her life, which has made her feel like she might want to adopt.
Sydney Sweeney clung to boyfriend Scooter Braun on Tuesday night after the Euphoria premiere in Los Angeles.

The 28-year-old actress modeled a caped white dress with a thigh-grazing hemline that flashed her long legs.

Braun, 44, contrasted his girlfriend in a monochrome black suit, shirt, and dress shoes.

The couple held hands, interlocking their fingers while exiting the famed Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.

Sweeney rounded out her form-fitting frock with a pair of sparkly silver pointed-toe heels.

Her long blonde locks were styled in a side part with one side falling over her chest in a subtle wave.

Sydney Sweeney clung to boyfriend Scooter Braun on Tuesday night after the Euphoria premiere in Los Angeles

The 28-year-old actress modeled a caped white dress with a thigh-grazing hemline that flashed her long legs

Videos shared by The Hollywood Reporter and Vanity Fair on Tuesday showed the loved-up pair subtly displaying affection at the event.

One video showed the actress reaching for the talent manager's hand after they exited the vehicle they arrived in.

Another brief clip showed them share a kiss inside Hollywoods TCL Chinese Theatre.

Braun took to Instagram late Tuesday night to repost a video of Sweeney on the red carpet. He captioned, 'Congrats to @sydney_sweeney and the entire @euphoria team.'

The couple's connection was sparked at Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Italian wedding in June 2025.

Prior to Braun, Sweeney dated Jonathan Davino for several years. They got engaged in 2022 and then ended the engagement in March 2025.

Braun, meanwhile, was married to health activist Yael Cohen from 2014 until their divorce was finalized in September 2022. They share three children.

The outing came as an insider told Us Weekly Wednesday that Sweeney and Braun's romance 'has become very serious,' coming as a surprise to some in their inner circles.

'People around them thought that this would be just a fling, but they are committed,' the insider said. 'They are the real deal' and 'basically inseparable when they are both in' Los Angeles.

The couple held hands, interlocking their fingers while exiting the famed Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood

Sweeney rounded out her form-fitting frock with a pair of sparkly silver pointed-toe heels. Braun, 44, contrasted his girlfriend in a monochrome black suit, shirt, and dress shoes

In a 2025 interview with Empire magazine, Sweeney gushed about her Euphoria character Cassie: 'I have such a spot in my heart for Cassie, and I hold her really close and dear'

The insider noted that both 'are slowly integrating their families and blending their lives, making the relationship more serious.

'Sydney is a hopeless romantic at heart and likes being in a committed relationship.'

Euphoria's characters are placed five years in the future in the final season of the Sam Levinson drama, which began in 2019 with the cast in high school.

Levinson explained the time jump at an HBO event in London last year: 'Five years felt like a natural place because if theyd gone to college theyd be out of college at that time.'

Per The Hollywood Reporter, he added, 'We basically pick up Rue [Zendaya] south of the border in Mexico, in debt to Laurie [Martha Kelly], trying to come up with some very innovative ways to pay it off.'

While appearing on The Tonight Show in late 2025, Sweeney reflected on wrapping up filming the show in November.

'It was super bittersweet because most of the crew I had worked with since I was 20, when I did the pilot,' the actress told host Jimmy Fallon. 'So every single time I'd go back, I felt like I was going home and I was getting to see everybody ... they're a part of [my] family.'

And in a 2025 interview with Empire magazine, Sweeney gushed about her Euphoria character Cassie: 'I have such a spot in my heart for Cassie, and I hold her really close and dear.'
Taylor Frankie Paul's request for a temporary protective order against her ex Dakota Mortensen has been approved.

Mortensen has been ordered to stay 100 yards away from Paul until their hearing on April 30, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star is also prohibited from making contact with Paul via email, text, phone call, or in any other fashion, the court order stipulates.

Mortensen also has a temporary protective order against Paul in place, and the upcoming hearing will determine whether their orders will be made permanent.

The Daily Mail has contacted a representative for Mortensen for comment but have not yet heard back.

Paul filed for the temporary protective order on Tuesday and claimed Mortensen had demonstrated a 'pattern of abusive conduct and coercive control' during their relationship, according to court filings obtained by People.

A judge has granted Taylor Frankie Paul a temporary protective order against her ex Dakota Mortensen

She also described several times in which he allegedly acted violently towards her.

Paul included alleged screenshots of text messages and pictures of bruises that she claimed to have incurred during disputes with Mortensen.

The exes have both accused one another of domestic violence, and last month, Mortensen was granted a temporary restraining order against Paul after he characterized her as an 'immediate threat' to his safety.

Paul alleged Mortensen 'assaulted' her in a February 23 incident, claiming he slammed 'her head against the dashboard of his truck and struck her knee and elbow', according to the documents.

She claimed he did so after he drove her away from her residence against her will. Her three children were allegedly sleeping inside the home at the time.

Paul also asked that their two-year-old son Ever receive protection in the order.

The star - whose season of The Bachelorette was scrapped after video of her hurling chairs at Mortensen in 2023 was released - said her ex's protective order request was an 'effort to sabotage my career.'

According to Variety, the filing occurred less than an hour before the duo were to appear in court over the restraining order Mortensen was granted against Paul, as well as custody of Ever.

Both Mortensen and Paul have temporary protective orders against one another

Paul accused Mortensen of domestic violence on four different occasions in the documents obtained by People, as well as 'assault, harassment and stalking.'

She claimed Mortensen arrived at her home in the early hours of February 23 and demanded to talk with her. She claimed her three children - including the son they share together - were inside sleeping.

The documents allege that Paul 'acquiesced to' Mortensen and they went outside to speak.

She then alleged they went inside Mortensen's car and he drove away from the home, despite her desire to remain there.

'The parties argued and Dakota assaulted Taylor by slamming her head against the dashboard of his truck and striking her knee and elbow,' the filing alleges.

The pain felt 'immediate and intense,' according to Paul, who compared the sensation to what she believed a punch would feel like.

She included a photo of the bruising that allegedly developed after the incident and also claimed that Mortensen 'requested sex' after the alleged domestic violence incident.

The first incident listed in the filing obtained by People claims the couple got into a verbal argument at Paul's residence on May 27, 2025. She demanded he leave the home but he allegedly 'refused' to do so.

Paul's season of The Bachelorette was shelved after her history with domestic violence came to light

The duo began to argue and Paul allegedly lost her footing during the fight. At that point, she claims Mortensen started to kick her. The documents included 'photos of [Paul's] injuries', bruises that appeared to have developed as a result of this fight.

Paul also accused Mortensen of stalking her in an incident occurring on February 14.

She claimed Mortensen got her initials tattooed inside his lip and he sent her a picture of the ink. The filing included photos of the alleged tattoo with Paul stating in a sworn declaration included with the filing, 'My initials are now permanently tattooed on the body of a man who has been abusive toward and possessive of me.'

In a February 22 incident, she alleged Mortensen had stopped by her house in early in the morning as their son Ever was struggling to sleep at his father's home.

'After confronting [Paul] over her decision to break off the relationship, [Paul] made multiple requests to [Mortensen] that he leave her home,' the documents claim. It further claimed that Mortensen 'rejected' Paul's 'repeated demands' to leave her residence.

Paul's history with domestic violence has come back to haunt her just days before her season of The Bachelorette was set to debut.

It emerged that filming on her other show, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, had been paused as she and Mortensen faced an investigation into domestic assault.

Mortensen and Paul will have a hearing at the end of the month to learn if their orders will be made permanent

The Draper City Police Department confirmed to People at the time the existence of an open 'domestic assault investigation' into Paul and Mortensen.

'Allegations have been made in both directions,' a spokesman for the department told the publication, adding 'contact was made with involved parties on [February] 24 and 25.'

It came three years after Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated assault over another domestic violence incident with Mortensen.

Paul pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in 2023 after she threw chairs at Mortensen with her daughter, Indy, in the room.

The young girl could be heard crying as the fighting continued, with Mortensen telling Paul that her daughter 'just got hit in the head by a metal chair.'

Video of the incident was released and led to her Bachelorette downfall, with ABC announcing they would be canceling her season 'at this time.'

'In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of The Bachelorette at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,' they said.

In response to the resurfaced footage, Pauls representative told the Daily Mail, Its sad to see the latest installment of his never-ending, desperate, attention-seeking, destructive campaign to harm Taylor without any regard for the consequences for their child.

'Releasing an old video, which conveniently omits context, on their sons birthday is a reprehensible attempt to distract from his own behavior.'

Just two days before the video was made public, Mortensen filed for a protective order in Utah, citing alleged incidents that took place on February 23 and 24, according to TMZ.

Mortensen was granted temorary custody of the two-year-old son he shares with Paul, Ever

As part of his filing, he requested temporary custody of their two-year-old son, Ever, and asked that Paul be prohibited from drinking or using drugs during her parenting time.

Mortensen claimed that a verbal argument turned into a physical confrontation, where Paul allegedly choked him.

He alleged that he had to physically remove her hands from his neck, after which she shoved him into a window and struck him.

Describing the situation as chaotic and frightening, Mortensen said their son woke up from the commotion, which included Paul screaming and yelling, according to TMZ.

The order was granted, as well as his custody request.

After an hour-long hearing on April 7, the judge ruled that Paul will be allowed up to eight hours of supervised visitation with her son each week.

This temporary custody arrangement will remain in place for three weeks and two days, until the next court hearing on April 30.

ABC announced last month they would 'not move forward' with Paul's season 'at this time' following the release of the chair throwing video

NBC News reported last month that Paul is now under investigation over a third allegation of domestic violence made by Mortensen.

A spokesman for the West Jordan Police Department in Utah told NBC News that Mortensen accused Paul of domestic violence in a 2024 incident.

In a statement obtained by the Daily Mail, the force said: 'The West Jordan Police Department is currently investigating an incident involving Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen.

'The allegations were reported at the end of February 2026, and detectives have reviewed video believed to have been recorded in early to mid-2024.

'Investigators are actively working to gather and verify information and are in the process of interviewing those involved. At this time, no charges have been filed, as the investigation remains ongoing.

'We recognize there is significant public interest in this case; however, it is being handled in the same manner as any other investigation. Our procedures and standards are applied consistently and without exception.'
Lauren Goodger was one of many making the most of the UK heatwave as she sunbathed by the pool on Wednesday afternoon.

The former TOWIE star, 39, reported that it was 22 degrees where she was, filming her surroundings as she tucked into a plate of burger and chips and pizza.

Lauren posed in a plunging black bikini top, revealing her more than ample cleavage as she smouldered for the camera.

The reality personality was sporting a full face of make-up and her brunette hair was swept up into a sleek ponytail.

Lauren flipped the camera around to reveal her legs and the swimming pool in the background as she caught some rays.

She recently spent Easter with her ex Charles Drury after they headed on 'family holiday' together and she addressed the nature of their relationship.

Lauren put on a united front with Charles for their their four-year-old daughter Larose as she joined his family for Easter Sunday.

Three years ago Charles was accused of attacking Lauren on the day of their daughter Lorena's funeral.

Charles was then charged with assault and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour towards Lauren, which he has always denied.

Lauren Goodger was one of many making the most of the UK heatwave as she sunbathed by the pool on Wednesday afternoon

The former TOWIE star, 39, reported that it was 22 degrees where she was, filming her surroundings as she tucked into a plate of burger and chips and pizza

But taking to Instagram on Sunday, Lauren shared that she and her daughter were spending the day with Charles as they enjoyed a family roast dinner and games.

Last week, Lauren opened up about the status of her relationship with Charles after sharing a picture of the trio all wearing matching blue in a sweet family snap.

She explained: 'Just for our daughter we do family holidays, making memories for her.'

Lauren and Charles snapped a mirror selfie on her Instagram Stories on Tuesday during their sun-soaked vacation.

Lauren, who also took their daughter Larose on the holiday, looked incredible as she slipped into the black and white crochet two-piece.

The co-ord consisted of a tie front top and chic trousers, which she revealed were from Asos.

Meanwhile, Charles opted for a blue top over a white long sleeve and navy shorts.

Despite their turbulent relationship, Lauren and Charles seemed to be back on track last year, when they were pictured enjoying another family getaway with daughter Larose.

At the time sources claimed that pals were concerned that Lauren was 'planning a future' with her ex.

However, earlier this year Charles reportedly stunned pals by joining a dating app, using his fame and daughter in a bid to attract women.

Images appeared to show Charles' profile on a dating app, where he lists Larose, four, as his 'greatest strength' while also directing users to his Instagram page, which has 73,000 followers.

They tucked into orders of takeaway burger and pizzas

Lauren posed in a plunging black bikini top, revealing her more than ample cleavage as she smouldered for the camera

Lauren gave birth to Lorena in July 2022 but she sadly passed away just minutes afterwards after being delivered with her umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.

Last month, Lauren announced she was releasing a new book about the 'unimaginable' death of the pair's daughter Lorena as Lauren said she wished to help others by sharing her experience.

Sharing a photo of her autobiography on Instagram, Lauren wrote: 'I am so pleased to finally tell you all that I am releasing a book! Mum Of Two will be on sale in July.

'As you all know, my eldest, Larose, is the light of my life. She loves to be the centre of attention, just like me.

'But my youngest, Lorena, is harder to picture. I never heard the sound of her laugh, or her cry.

'I am writing Mum of Two as when the unimaginable happened, I couldnt find a book that helped me during the most difficult times after losing my newborn baby.'

'This is my story of loss and grief, and of finding my courage and strength.'
Gwyneth Paltrow wished her 'incredible' son Moses Martin a happy 20th birthday on Wednesday.

'Happy 20th (!!) birthday to you @mosesmartin you are the definition of a gentleman - kind, intelligent, thoughtful and soulful,' the 53-year-old Oscar winner captioned her Instagram slideshow.

'It's beyond words how incredible you are. I'm sending you a big birthday hug from the west coast. Don't forget to check the mailbox today. I love you to bits, mama.'

Apple Martin also made sure to show her baby brother, who was the spitting image of dad Chris Martin, some love via Instagram stories.

The Nashville-based 21-year-old posted a cute childhood snap of Moses mid-yell on the lap of Coldplay rocker Martin, which was captioned: 'Nothing has changed.'

'Ahhhhhh Mosey birthday! Coolest kid I know and the best brother in the world,' Apple wrote.

Gwyneth Paltrow wished her 'incredible' son Moses Martin a happy 20th birthday on Wednesday

'Love you so much @mosesmartin!'

The Vanderbilt University senior - who's graduating next month - recently directed a play at her school's Neely Auditorium on her path to becoming an actress.

Apple was previously criticized for her off-pitch singing with LA duo Jade Street at Cannery Hall in Nashville on October 17.

On Tuesday, Moses channeled the 49-year-old Coldplay frontman while performing a keyboard-led cover of Gracie Abrams' 2020 song I Miss You, I'm Sorry via TikTok.

Paltrow 'consciously uncoupled' from Martin in 2013 following a decade of marriage, and married 9-1-1 co-creator Brad Falchuk in 2018.

The Brown University sophomore's band People I've Met regularly pulls 53,828 monthly listeners on Spotify, and they've released three singles - Promise, For Hire and Loving One - through Interscope Records.

The alt-rock trio - including drummer Orlando Wiltshire and bassist Andrew Suster - are next scheduled to perform in England at the Reading Festival on August 28 and the Leeds Festival on August 29.

'Happy 20th (!!) birthday to you @mosesmartin you are the definition of a gentleman - kind, intelligent, thoughtful and soulful,' the 53-year-old Oscar winner captioned her Instagram slideshow

'It's beyond words how incredible you are. I'm sending you a big birthday hug from the west coast. Don't forget to check the mailbox today. I love you to bits, mama'

Apple Martin (L, pictured December 16) also made sure to show her baby brother (R) some love via Instagram stories

The Nashville-based 21-year-old posted a cute childhood snap of Moses mid-yell on the lap of their famous father Chris Martin, which was captioned: 'Nothing has changed'

'Ahhhhhh Mosey birthday! Coolest kid I know and the best brother in the world,' Apple wrote. 'Love you so much @mosesmartin!'

The Vanderbilt University senior - who's graduating next month - recently directed a play at her school's Neely Auditorium on her path to becoming an actress

On Tuesday, Moses channeled the 49-year-old Coldplay frontman while performing a keyboard-led cover of Gracie Abrams' 2020 song I Miss You, I'm Sorry via TikTok

Paltrow 'consciously uncoupled' from Martin in 2013 following a decade of marriage, and married 9-1-1 co-creator Brad Falchuk (L, pictured March 20) in 2018

The Brown University sophomore's band People I've Met regularly pulls 53,828 monthly listeners on Spotify, and they've released three singles - Promise, For Hire and Loving One - through Interscope Records (pictured February 18)

The alt-rock trio - including drummer Orlando Wiltshire and bassist Andrew Suster - are next scheduled to perform in England at the Reading Festival on August 28 and the Leeds Festival on August 29

The empty nester is also a bona fide nepo baby - having had a leg up in the industry thanks to her actress mother Blythe Danner (R, pictured in 1997), showrunner father Bruce Paltrow (L) and filmmaker godfather Steven Spielberg

The empty nester is also a bona fide nepo baby - having had a leg up in the industry thanks to her actress mother Blythe Danner, showrunner father Bruce Paltrow and filmmaker godfather Steven Spielberg.

Last month, Paltrow signed on to executive produce and star in producer Stacey Sher and playwright Heidi Schreck's adaptation of Belle Burden's new bestseller Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage, which will stream on Netflix.

The Marty Supreme actress launched Goop in 2008 as a weekly e-mail newsletter providing new age advice before expanding the brand into e-commerce, a wellness summit, a print magazine, a podcast and a Netflix docuseries.
Aubrey Plaza revealed her baby bump for the first time on Wednesday, one day after confirming she is pregnant with her first child.

The White Lotus star, 41, is expecting her baby with new partner, actor Christopher Abbott, 40, one year after the shock death of her estranged husband Jeff Baena by suicide.

The Parks and Recreation star cloaked her growing bump in a sweatshirt as she went for a walk with her dog in New York City.

Plaza wore a midnight blue coat, a burgundy top, grey sweats and a pair of New Balance trainers for her brisk stroll, during which she was seen tenderly placing a hand on her growing bump.

The baby, whose gender has not been revealed, is due in the fall.

'It was a beautiful surprise after an emotional year,' a source told People.

Aubrey Plaza revealed her baby bump for the first time this week, one day after confirming she is pregnant with her first child

The White Lotus star, 41, is expecting her baby with new partner, actor Christopher Abbott, 40

Plaza's pregnancy follows a tragic 2025, which saw her estranged husband, Jeff Baena, die by suicide on January 3. Above, the couple in 2017

The couple, who previously starred on Broadway together before falling in love, are said to be feeling 'very blessed.'

People first reported that Plaza was expecting a child with Abbott, with a representative for the actress confirming the news to the outlet.

Abbott is best known for playing the on-off boyfriend of Allison Williams's character Marnie on Lena Dunham's influential HBO comedy Girls.

The couple first worked together in 2019 on the indie psychological drama Black Bear, in which both actors played dual roles as actors and directors trying to shoot a film in an eerie, isolated lake house.

The low-budget thriller premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 to critical acclaim, with several reviewers singling it out as one of Plaza's best performances to date.

She worked again with Abbott in 2023 - this time on stage - in the Off Broadway revival of John Patrick Shanleys play Danny And The Deep Blue Sea, which ran until January 2024.

Plaza and her new partner were last seen together on February 14 when they attended Khaite's Fall/Winter 2026 show as part of New York Fashion Week.

The two were pictured sitting side-by-side in the front row alongside stars including Elizabeth Debicki and Gemma Chan.

Prior to revealing her pregnancy, Plaza had managed to keep her relationship with Abbott under the radar.

According to DeuxMoi, a source had spotted Plaza and Abbot looking affectionate at Chatham Berry Farm in upstate New York last June, some five months after the death of Plaza's estranged husband.

Plaza cloaked her bump in a cosy outfit for a casual dog walk in New York City

The baby, whose gender has not been revealed, is due in the fall

They claimed that she was spotted speaking to a woman whom they later learned was Abbott's older sister, Christina Abbott, before she posted about a performance at the farm on Instagram.

Abbott is known for a string of acclaimed roles over the past decade and a half, both on television and on the big screen.

Prior to his breakout role on Girls, Abbott had a small supporting role in the well-reviewed psychological drama Martha Marcy May Marlene, which starred Elizabeth Olsen.

He has also appeared in films including A Most Violent Year (2014), James White, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016), also starring Tina Fey, and the psychological horror film It Comes At Night (2017).

In 2018, he appeared with Ryan Gosling as the astronaut Dave Scott in the Neil Armstrong biopic First Man, which was directed by La La Land's filmmaker Damien Chazelle.

Abbott has primarily focused on low-budget independent films, but he has made forays into larger films, including comedy Poor Things (2023), also starring Emma Stone, as well as the DC Comics movie Kraven the Hunter and the Wolf Man reboot (both 2025).

She trekked through the big city in New Balance trainers

He most recently appeared with Amanda Seyfried in the period drama The Testament of Ann Lee and will star alongside Florence Pugh in an upcoming Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck's East of Eden.

Plaza's pregnancy follows a tragic 2025, which saw her estranged husband Baena die by suicide on January 3.

It was subsequently revealed that the couple had separated four months before his untimely death.

An LA County Medical Examiner's autopsy report obtained by the Daily Mail revealed that the filmmaker and actress had split in September 2024. She had been living in New York at the time his body was discovered.

The report detailed how the Life After Beth director had been 'experiencing marital difficulties' in his final months, and how he had been in therapy.

An investigator noted in the documents that Plaza, whose name was redacted in the final report, said she had spoken with Baena the night before his death.

The report also tragically revealed that the actress had been concerned for her estranged husband's well-being.

'In October 2024, Baena made concerning remarks to [Plaza], which prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on her husband. Baena had been attending therapy since that event,' the documents stated.

Plaza and Abbott first worked together in 2019 on the indie psychological drama Black Bear. Above, promoting the show in 2020

The report determined that Baena did not have drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of his death.

It stated that Plaza 'knew her husband to be alive' as of January 3 because he had sent her a text message that morning.

According to the report, it was a dog walker who discovered Baena's body after hearing loud music emanating from his house, which she said was 'unusual.'

After she called the writer and director and did not receive an answer, she entered the home and discovered his body.

In a statement to the Daily Mail at the time, a representative for Plaza said: 'This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.'

Baena, who was known for hosting a popular series of game nights for friends and fellow filmmakers, met Plaza at one of the events in 2011, and the two began dating shortly afterward.

Baena, who got his big break when he co-wrote David O Russell's 2004 cult comedy I Heart Huckabees, later made his directing debut with the 2014 zombie comedy Life After Beth, which starred Plaza.

Abbott is known for a string of acclaimed roles over the past decade and a half, both on television and on the big screen

In Black Bear the pair played dual roles as actors and directors trying to shoot a film in an eerie, isolated lake house

They reunited for 2016's Joshy and 2017's The Little Hours, which Plaza also produced, and she had a supporting role in his dark comedy thriller Spin Me Round, which starred Alison Brie, who co-wrote the film with Baena.

In 2018, Plaza told Page Six that their mutual obsession with movies helped them bond and led to their subsequent creative and romantic partnership.

The couple quietly wed in 2020, and Plaza revealed that they were married while promoting Spin Me Round in 2021, when she referred to Baena on Instagram as her 'darling husband'.

Following his death, Plaza made her first public appearance when she introduced musical guests Miley Cyrus and Brittany Howard on Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary special in February 2025.

She made a subtle but moving tribute to her late husband by wearing a tie-dye shirt, as they wore matching tie-dye pajamas at their low-key wedding after he picked up making the pattern as a hobby in the early days of the COVID pandemic.

Plaza and Abbott attended Khaite's Fall/Winter 2026 show as part of New York Fashion Week in February, sitting next to actress Elizabeth Debicki

Abbott is best known for playing the on-off boyfriend of Allison Williams's character Marnie on Lena Dunham's influential HBO comedy Girls

Plaza began her career working in sketch comedy in the mid-2000s, before she began appearing in short films and online comedy videos later in the decade.

She became a star almost overnight after Parks and Recreation debuted on NBC in 2009. Plaza played April Ludgate, the misanthropic assistant to Amy Poehler's bubbly bureaucrat.

The actress went on to become an in-demand film star with roles in Scott Pilgrim Vs The World (which featured her ex-boyfriend Michael Cera), Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), Ingrid Goes West (2017The0, Little Hours (which was directed by Baena), Happiest Season (2020), Emily The Criminal (2022) and My Old A** (2024).

She also appeared as a villain in the X-Men spinoff series Legion (20172019) and she was part of the ensemble cast on the hit second season of HBO's The White Lotus in 2022.

Last August, Plaza opened up about the grief she had experienced during a conversation with Poehler, her former co-star, on her Good Hang podcast, which marked her first interview since Baena's death.

They began dating in 2011 and secretly married in 2020. Baena was found dead in their marital home on January 3, 2025, while Plaza had been living in NYC since their September 2024 separation. Above, the former couple in LA in 2016

After Poehler referenced the death of her husband and asked how she was doing, Plaza replied: 'Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you. Overall, I'm here, and I'm functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world. I think I'm OK, but it's like a daily struggle.'

She went on: 'This is a really dumb analogy, and it was kind of a joke at a certain point, but I actually mean it. Did you see that movie The Gorge?

'It's like [an] alien movie or something with Miles Teller,' she said, referring to the 2025 Apple TV+ science fiction thriller that also starred Anya Taylor-Joy and Sigourney Weaver.

She continued: 'In the movie, there's like a cliff on one side, and there's a cliff on the other side, then there's a gorge in between, and it's filled with all these, like, monster people that are trying to get them. I swear when I watched it... I was, like, that feels like what my grief is like... or what grief could be like.

'At all times there's, like, a giant ocean of awfulness, that's, like, right there, and I can see it.

'Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just, like, be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there.'
Ciara Miller has taken a savage swipe at her Summer House castmates Amanda Batula and West Wilson after their secret romance was revealed.

Wilson, 31, previously dated Miller, 30, who is best friends with Batula, 34, making the new coupling a shock betrayal.

While hosting the Euphoria season three premiere red carpet in LA on Tuesday, Miller referenced the love triangle in a thinly veiled question to actress Sydney Sweeney.

'If you steal your friend's ex-boyfriend, what do you think is the next step?' she coyly asked as the blonde star shook her head in disapproval. The clip was shared on social media by HBO Max.

'I feel like you oughta get married,' the media personality said while staring into the camera before Sweeney could answer.

Sweeney agreed, 'I would hope so. You gotta make it worth it, at least. Like make it worth something 'cause that's just worth too much pain.'

Ciara Miller sent a pointed message to Summer House castmates Amanda Batula and West Wilson while hosting the Euphoria premiere red carpet on Tuesday night. It comes amid Batula and Wilson's bombshell romance

Wilson, 31, previously dated Miller, 30, who is best friends with Batula, 34, making the new coupling a shock betrayal

The question was doubly meaningful as Sweeney's Euphoria character Cassie Howard dates her best friend's ex-boyfriend in the show.

Miller received a great deal of support in the comments as fans and celebrities alike took her side.

Actress Kerry Washington got in on the drama as she wrote, 'A WORD.'

Pop culture meme account TipsyDrunk left two comments, one of which said, 'This was the best way to speak out on this for the first time.'

A second one read: 'I need to know if Sydney Sweeney knew what she was referring to.'

Miller was also called 'iconic' by multiple commenters for her brazen question.

She previously told actor Jon Hamm, 'I've been better,' after news first broke of her ex-best friend and ex-boyfriend's relationship.

Batula and Wilson's fling  revealed in a joint statement shared via social media on March 31  came nearly three months after Batula and husband Kyle Cooke, 43, announced their separation after four years of marriage.

While hosting the Euphoria premiere red carpet in LA on Tuesday, Miller referenced the love triangle in a thinly veiled question to actress Sydney Sweeney. 'I feel like you oughta get married,' the reality TV star said while staring into the camera before Sweeney could answer

Miller received a great deal of support in the comments as fans and celebrities alike took her side

Season 10 of Summer House is currently airing on Bravo

They said in matching posts shared on their respective Instagram accounts: 'It was never our intention to purposely hide anything.

'Given the complicated relationship dynamics involved and the scrutiny that comes with being on a reality show, we needed a little space to process things privately before speaking on it.'

They went on to say, 'Weve shown up for each other as friends over the years, through all the highs and lows, and whats developed recently was the last thing either of us expected.

'Our connection grew out of a genuine, longstanding friendship, which made it especially important for us to approach this with care.'

The statement ended, 'As our feelings evolved, we wanted to take time to understand exactly what we were feeling.

'We also recognize that this has had an impact beyond just us and never wanted our actions to cause any hurt or be perceived as careless. We truly appreciate the understanding and respect as we navigate this.'
Jennie Garth has opened up about the heartbreaking fall-out of her 11-year marriage to second husband Peter Facinelli, which ended in divorce in 2013.

In her memoir I Choose Me - hitting shelves next Tuesday - the 54-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 alum wrote about drinking heavily and taking so many pills one night she had to have her stomach pumped.

Garth got sober and learned how to stop self-medicating thanks, in part, to a stint at California rehab center, The Canyon at Santa Monica.

'I spent a good amount of years being hurt, sad, just tormented by it, and it eked out into all aspects of my life,' the empty nester told People on Wednesday.

'I noticed my light really dimming. I wasn't putting off good vibes. I could see it in the mirror. I could look at the negative impact that that kind of grief and anger was having on me.'

Garth continued: 'And there was a weird switch where one day I just said, "I don't want to carry this anymore. It's impacting my relationships and how I feel about myself. I've got to let it go. I've got to forgive him."'

Jennie Garth has opened up about the heartbreaking fall-out of her 11-year marriage to second husband Peter Facinelli, which ended in divorce the following year (pictured in 1996)

The I Choose Me podcaster finally patched things up with the 52-year-old Twilight alum in 2024, and he admitted on her iHeartRadio show: 'I was in this marriage [that] felt to me a little bit like an arranged marriage.'

Facinelli confessed he wouldn't have stayed in the marriage that long had they not had kids, and Garth admitted she 'could have been better' not bitter over sharing custody of daughters Fiona, 19, Lola, 23, and Luca, 28.

The Me by Jennie Garth designer was still married to her first husband Daniel Clark when she first met the two-time SAG Award nominee in 1995 on the set of their ABC movie An Unfinished Affair, but she divorced Clark by November the next year.

Garth famously converted to Catholicism in order to marry Facinelli, who confessed he didn't even know who he was enough to be a husband.

The Illinois-born blonde and her third husband - The Douglas co-owner David Abrams - will celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary on July 11 despite legally separating between 2017-2019 due to miscarriages and IVF stress.

'I really wanted to give Dave a baby because he was young and all of his friends were having kids and I just thought that's what he needed,' Garth said.

'It all comes down to people-pleasing. Once you really get to the core of what you want for your life? That's when everything seems to get easier.'

Facinelli met his fiancee of six years, Lily Anne Harrison, on the dating app Raya, and she wrote and starred in his upcoming fourth directorial feature, Grace Period.

The Bring the Law star and the 37-year-old actress invited their three-year-old son Jack to the set of the IVF rom-com.

In her memoir I Choose Me - hitting shelves next Tuesday - the 54-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 alum wrote about drinking heavily and taking so many pills one night she had to have her stomach pumped

Garth got sober and learned how to stop self-medicating thanks, in part, to a stint at California rehab center, The Canyon at Santa Monica (pictured February 13)

'I spent a good amount of years being hurt, sad, just tormented by it, and it eked out into all aspects of my life,' the empty nester told People on Wednesday (pictured March 26)

'I noticed my light really dimming. I wasn't putting off good vibes. I could see it in the mirror. I could look at the negative impact that that kind of grief and anger was having on me' (pictured last Friday)

Garth continued: 'And there was a weird switch where one day I just said, "I don't want to carry this anymore. It's impacting my relationships and how I feel about myself. I've got to let it go. I've got to forgive him"' (pictured in 2010)

The I Choose Me podcaster finally patched things up with the 52-year-old Twilight alum in 2024, and he admitted on her iHeartRadio show: 'I was in this marriage [that] felt to me a little bit like an arranged marriage'

Facinelli confessed he wouldn't have stayed in the marriage that long had they not had kids, and Garth admitted she 'could have been better' not bitter over sharing custody of daughters Fiona, 19, Lola, 23, and Luca, 28 (pictured in 2024)

The Me by Jennie Garth designer was still married to her first husband Daniel Clark when she first met the two-time SAG Award nominee in 1995 on the set of their ABC movie An Unfinished Affair, but she divorced Clark by November the next year (pictured in 1998)

Garth and her third husband - The Douglas co-owner David Abrams (L, pictured February 28) - will celebrate their 11th wedding anniversary on July 11 despite legally separating between 2017-2019 due to miscarriages and IVF stress

'I really wanted to give Dave a baby because he was young and all of his friends were having kids and I just thought that's what he needed,' the Illinois-born blonde said. 'It all comes down to people-pleasing' (pictured March 31)

Facinelli met his fiancee of six years, Lily Anne Harrison (center, pictured last summer), on the dating app Raya, and she wrote and starred in his upcoming fourth directorial feature, Grace Period

The Bring the Law star and the 37-year-old actress invited their three-year-old son Jack to the set of the IVF rom-com

Grace Period also features Facinelli's former Twilight co-star Ashley Greene (L) as well as Seth Green, Matthew Friend, Beverly D'Angelo and Natasha Leggero

Garth is scheduled to kick off her 12-date I Choose Me book tour this Saturday at WBUR CitySpace's Brookline Booksmith in Boston, MA (pictured February 19)

Grace Period also features Facinelli's former Twilight co-star Ashley Greene as well as Seth Green, Matthew Friend, Beverly D'Angelo and Natasha Leggero.

But first, fans attending The Nostalgia Con can catch the Queens-born actor and his Twilight castmates Greene, Jackson Rathbone, Nikki Reed and Kellan Lutz at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX this Saturday and Sunday.

Garth is scheduled to kick off her 12-date I Choose Me book tour this Saturday at WBUR CitySpace's Brookline Booksmith in Boston, MA.

Fans can also shell out between $60-$250 to attend the QVC collaborator's second annual I Choose Me event happening at iHeartTheater Los Angeles in Burbank, CA on April 25, which will also feature her former castmate Gabrielle Carteris.

Garth hasn't had an acting gig since portraying concerned mother Joan Miller in Bill Corcoran's 2022 crime thriller Bad Influence, which streamed on Tubi TV.
James McAvoy has stepped out with is wife Lisa Liberati at the premiere for his directorial debut California Schemin' after he revealed he secretly welcomed his second son.

The Scottish actor, 46, beamed as his proud wife Lisa joined him on the red carpet for the premiere, which took place in the Odeon Luxe, Leicester Square on Wednesday.

James wore a black suit for the occasion while his glam wife Lisa looked sensational in a silver sequined top.

She paired the flashy number with a pair of black flared trousers as London basks in temperatures of over 20 degrees this week.

Their outing together comes after James recently announced they had secretly welcomed a son - four years ago.

James made the revelation while talking about how he found fatherhood in his forties easier compared to when he became a dad for the first time to his now 15-year-old son Brendan, whom he co-parents with his ex-wife Anne-Marie Duff.

James McAvoy has stepped out with is wife Lisa Liberati at the premiere for his directorial debut California Schemin' after he revealed he secretly welcomed his second son

He told The Guardian: 'Having a kid at 42 is definitely easier in some ways I worry less.

'I'm a bit more philosophical. But it's also harder, because you're just older and tireder.'

Of juggling fatherhood and acting, James said: 'I'm getting all that first-timer stress in my 40s. When we were shooting the film, Id wake up at 2.30am with the film buzzing in my head.

James suggested starting a career was a 'young man's game'. He said: 'Thats the time that you work your socks off, burn the midnight oil, run the extra mile  and usually when youre doing that, youre in your 20s.'

James and Lisa are based in London, 'but a wee bit in Philly', where Lisa's parents live.

They met on the set of Split in Philadelphia, America, and they married in 2022.

James had a leading role in the film while Lisa was a production assistant for the director M. Night Shyamalan.

The actress had been married at the time to actress Anne-Marie but was in the process of separating from her after 11 years of marriage.

Just two months after the divorce was finalised, the new couple posted a number of pictures of themselves on Instagram together at a fancy dress party to announce their relationship.

Meanwhile, James recently branded his directorial debut in California Schemin' as a 'nightmare he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy.'

The movie tells the true story of a rap duo from Dundee who pretended to be American in order to make it big in the music industry.

But while the film, which is due to be released on April 10, was a story close to the actor's heart, he found it difficult to bring it to life as a director.

Their outing together comes after James recently announced they had secretly welcomed a son - four years ago

James wore a black suit for the occasion while his glam wife Lisa looked sensational in a silver sequined top. She paired the flashy number with a pair of black flared trousers

James recently branded his directorial debut in California Schemin' as a 'nightmare he wouldn't wish on his worst enemy'

He told The Claudia Winkleman Show: 'I knew I wanted to make films about people from low-income backgrounds, council estates or schemes as we call them in Scotland.

'I wouldnt wish directing and acting on my worst enemy it was a nightmare.'

Elaborating on the challenges he faced, James, who is best known for his role in X Men, said it was difficult to focus on telling the cast what to do when the production faced issues like an absence of portaloos.

The Atonement actor added: 'You'd literally be sitting there trying to go "I need more love" or "I need more comedy" and somebody is whispering in your ear "We can't get the Portaloos for tomorrow".'
The woman who admitted to selling the ketamine that led to Matthew Perrys death has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, along with three years of supervised release.

Jasveen Sangha, also known as the Ketamine Queen among her customers, pled guilty to five federal charges related to the Friends star's fatal overdose in 2023.

Sangha has been in federal custody since her arrest in August 2024.

In a court filing from March 25, federal prosecutors recommended a sentence of 15 years in prison.

The document submitted by attorneys from the Central District of California described Sangha as a 'drug dealer who sold drugs that hurt people.'

When it was revealed that she had sold the drugs responsible for Perrys death, the prosecutors stated that 'she didnt care and kept selling.'

On October 28, 2023, Perry was found unresponsive in a jacuzzi at his Pacific Palisades home and was declared dead at the scene.

The woman who admitted to selling the ketamine that led to Matthew Perrys death has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, along with three years of supervised release

Jasveen Sangha, also known as the Ketamine Queen among her customers, pled guilty to five federal charges related to the Friends star's fatal overdose in 2023

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office later determined that Perry's death was caused by an accidental ketamine overdose.

The prosecutors also wrote in the filing that 'Sanghas actions show a cold callousness and disregard for life. She chose profits over people, and her actions have caused immense pain to the victims families and loved ones.'

Sangha's defense team argued that she has 'acknowledged her role in serious criminal behavior' and requested the court to consider a sentence based on time already served.

'She does not minimize that conduct or the gravity of the consequences charged in this case,' the lawyers added.

According to the US attorneys handling the case, Sangha collaborated with Erik Fleming to supply ketamine to Perry.

In the same month that Perry passed away, Sangha and Fleming sold 51 vials of ketamine to the actor, which were then handed over to Kenneth Iwamasa, Perry's personal assistant, prosecutors said.

Iwamasa administered the ketamine to Perry on several occasions leading up to the fatal overdose, including at least three injections on the day of his death, according to the prosecution.

After hearing about Perry's death in news reports, Sangha contacted Fleming via the encrypted messaging app Signal.

Perry's mother, Suzanne Perry, and Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison, arrive for the sentencing hearing of Sangha

In 2024, Suzanne shared that she and her son had a meaningful heart-to-heart conversation just before his passing, marking their first deep exchange in a long time

Perry played Chandler Bing on the NBC series Friends opposite Jennifer Aniston

Join the discussion What responsibility do drug dealers bear for the tragedies caused by their products?

She instructed him, 'Delete all our messages.'

In August 2024, Fleming admitted to charges of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distributing the drug, which led to a death.

Similarly, Iwamasa pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to ketamine distribution resulting in death, with both men scheduled for sentencing later this month.

Sangha pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including maintaining a drug-involved property, distributing ketamine three times, and distributing the drug, which led to death or serious injury.

Prosecutors revealed she had been using her residence as a base for storing, packaging, and distributing narcotics, such as ketamine and methamphetamine, since at least 2019.

Perry battled addiction for many years, a struggle that intensified during his time on Friends, when he became one of the biggest stars of his generation as Chandler Bing.

His rise to fame alongside Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer on the iconic Friends sitcom from 1994 to 2004 was overshadowed by personal struggles.

Perry openly admitted that his addiction issues frequently interfered with his work during those years.
Theatre and TV actor Michael Patrick has died at the age of 35 after a diagnosis of motor neurone disease.

The actor, from Belfast, was diagnosed with the illness in February 2023 and died on Tuesday at Northern Ireland Hospice where he had been admitted ten days earlier.

His death was announced by his wife Naomi who said he passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends.

In a social media post, she wrote: 'Words can't describe how broken-hearted we are.

'It's been said more than once that Mick was an inspiration to everyone who was privileged enough to come into contact with him, not just in the past few years during his illness but in every day of his life.

'He lived a life as full as any human can live. Joy, abundance of spirit, infectious laughter. A titan of a ginger haired man. We are so grateful for every person who supported us through the last few years.'

Theatre and TV actor Michael Patrick has died at the age of 35 after a diagnosis of motor neurone disease

Michael trained at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London after studying science at the University of Cambridge.

He appeared in several TV shows including Blue Lights, Game Of Thrones, Soft Border Patrol and My Left Nut.

He was widely recognised for his work in theatre, including a performance as Richard III in a wheelchair for which he won the Judges' Award at the Stage Awards in January 2025.

Michael continued to work as an actor following his diagnosis and said performing and writing allowed him to focus on something away from his illness and remain positive.

He received the Overcoming Adversity Award at the Spirit of Northern Ireland Awards in 2025 for his continued work and advocacy after his diagnosis.

The Lyric Theatre Belfast, where Michael regularly performed, paid tribute in a statement.

Executive producer Jimmy Fay wrote: 'Mick showed great strength and dignity in light of his diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). He remained resilient and focused, creating dynamic work throughout his struggles. He performed on the Lyric stage just last November with his autobiographical My Right Foot.

'We at the Lyric pay tribute to his remarkable talent and send our deepest condolences to his wife Naomi, his mother and sisters, and all his friends, family and colleagues at this sad time. These islands have lost a great artist, and the sky is brighter tonight with his star.'

It is not fully understood why MND occurs and there are currently no treatments to halt its cruel march - instead doctors focus on alleviating the worst of the symptoms.

Around 5,000 adults in the UK have the condition and there is a one in 300 risk of developing it over the course of a lifetime.

The disease causes muscle weakness that gets worse over a few months or years,

Symptoms typically first include stiff or weak hands, weak less and feet which may cause someone to trip over a lot, and twitches spasms or muscle cramps.

As MND gets worse, a sufferer may experience problems breathing, swallowing and speaking. Eventually they will no longer be able to walk or move.

Life expectancy for about half of those with the condition is between just two and give years from the onset of symptoms. But these can worsen rapidly.

Michael is survived by his wife Naomi, his mother Pauline, siblings Kate, Maurice and Hannah and his nephew Michael.
Heartbreaking details about Catherine O'Hara's final days have been revealed by a family member.

Hollywood was in a state of mourning after Catherine died on January 30 at the age of 71 from a pulmonary embolism with rectal cancer being the underlying cause.

Now her brother, Michael P. O'Hara, has shed new light on how she was faring near the end of her life - along with the moving dream he had about her just before her death.

On his podcast, Dreams of Our Loved Ones, Michael revealed his sister 'wasnt talking much in the end.'

'She didn't really want to talk on the phone... And she didn't live close by, she's in Los Angeles,' he added.

In the days leading up to her death, Michael dreamt he was hugging his sister in a vision he interpreted as a 'sort of goodbye.'

Heartbreaking details about Catherine O'Hara's final days have been revealed by a family member

'Recently I had a death in the family. Very unexpected and very, very sad,' he said.

'I always cherish the times I can meet with a loved one in the dream state. Actually oddly enough I had a dream days, a few days before she died, my sister. And I was hugging her, which was really beautiful. And I guess it was sort of a goodbye.'

After her passing, Michael dreamt his sister was 'very happy' renovating a new house 'in the other world.'

'Since then, Ive had a lovely dream where I was visiting her, and she was in a new house and it was being renovated, and she was really busy choosing furniture and couches.

'And she said, "You can sleep here anytime, Michael. You can come over and stay any time."

'And it reminded me of when... she was in SCTV [Second City Television] and I was apprenticing at the Windsor Arms Hotel,' Michael said. 'I would go over and sleep over at her place some nights because she had an extra bedroom.

'Yeah, pretty cool. But yeah, it was beautiful. She was just so happy and very busy in the other world that she's now in... its beautiful.'

'We all have our own experiences that are related to us and our own deceased loved ones and we're all interconnected and the love, you know, continues no matter what. Theyre always with us.'

O'Hara's brother revealed he had a dream about his sister in the days leading up to her death

The actress is beloved for her role as Moira Rose in Schitt's Creek

Back in January it was revealed that Catherine, the beloved actress known for Schitts Creek, Home Alone, and Best in Show, had died at the age of 71.

A statement from CAA, the agency that represented OHara, said the actress died Friday 'at her home in Los Angeles following a brief illness', though the cause of death has not been released.

A Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'At 4:48 am we responded to a request for medical aid to that address and transported an approximately 70-year-old female in serious condition.'

OHara delivered her final brilliant performance in The Studio, bringing her signature wit and charm to character Patty Leigh - a role which garnered her a posthumous win for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2026 Actor Awards.

She received a post-humous award for her role in The Studio, one which was accepted by her co-star Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen, her co-star on The Studio, accepted the award on her behalf, calling it a 'very sad honor.'

Rogen delivered a heartfelt tribute to OHara, describing her as a performer who commanded respect and admiration from her peers, while the SAG-AFTRA audience rose to their feet in a standing ovation.

'I know she would have been humbled to receive this award from her fellow performers, who she admired so much,' he said, his voice breaking as the camera panned to a tearful Kathryn Hahn.

The emotional moment continued as attendees like Jenna Ortega - who starred alongside OHara in Beetlejuice and was nominated in the same category - dabbed at their eyes during the speech.
An official cause of death has been determined for actress Valerine Perrine following her passing at age 82.

The actress died of acute cardiopulmonary arrest (also called sudden cardiac arrest), according to a death certificate reviewed by People.

Perrine was battling Parkinson's at the time of her passing and the disease was found to be an underlying cause of death.

The ailment was additionally found to be a contributing factor in her passing by The Los Angeles Department of Health.

Perrine, the Oscar-nominated actress who played Lex Luthor's love interest Eve Teschmacher in the Superman films, died at age 82 on March 23, 2026.

Perrine's friend Stacey Souther announced the loss online, writing on a GoFundMe that she died at her home 'surrounded by love' following 'a quiet, courageous battle against both Parkinson's disease and debilitating central tremors.'

An official cause of death has been determined for actress Valerie Perrine, who died at age 82

The actress died of acute cardiopulmonary arrest (sudden cardiac arrest), according to a death certificate obtained by People

Perrine's exemplary acting career included roles in Slaughterhouse-Five, the Electric Horseman, and one of Hollywood's highest honors - an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the 1974 film Lenny.

The star also became known as a sex symbol, having posed for Playboy twice.

'It is with deep sadness that I share the heartbreaking news that Valerie has passed away,' Souther wrote on her social media accounts. 'She faced Parkinsons disease with incredible courage and compassion, never once complaining.

'She was a true inspiration who lived life to the fullestand what a magnificent life it was. The world feels less beautiful without her in it.

'I love you, Valerie. Ill see you on the other side.'

Souther also created a GoFundMe to help fulfill Perrine's last wish of being buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park after she exhausted her finances during her health battle.

'Please consider donating, sharing, and helping spread the word for her funeral GoFundMe. Her final wish is to be laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery, but after more than 15 years of fighting Parkinsons, her finances are exhausted. Lets come together to make her last wish a realityshe truly deserves it.'

The fundraiser laid bare Perrine's health battle within the last 15 years.

Perrine pictured at Spago in West Hollywood in 1986

Perrine paid her respects to Hackman after his death at age 95

'Around 2011, Valerie began experiencing the first signs of essential tremors; involuntary shaking that slowly began to steal the very instrument she'd built her life around: her body, her presence, her ability to perform. She laughed it off in public. But behind closed doors, the reality was devastating,' the GoFundMe read.

'The tremors were accompanied by the relentless progression of Parkinson's disease. The career that had defined her life was no longer possible.

'As roles dried up, so did the financial security that should have come with a lifetime of extraordinary work. Valerie spent what she had on medical care, determined to fight. She fought for fifteen years. She never complained. She kept smiling.'

Souther documented Perrine's life in the documentary Valerie, a film that focused on her strength following her Parkinson's diagnosis, according to The Independent.

In the original Superman and it's sequel, Superman II, Perrine played Lex Luthor's personal assistant Eve Teschmacher.

Luthor was played by Gene Hackman and when the actor passed last year at age 95, Perrine paid her respects.

The actress with Hackman in Superman

'The great Gene Hackman has passed away,' she posted on social media. 'He was a genius & 1 of the greatest to grace the silver screen. I had the honor of working with Him on Superman. His performances are legendary. His talent will be missed. Goodbye my sweet Lex Till we meet again. Valerie.'

Perrine also shared the spotlight with the late Christopher Reeves, coming to Superman's rescue in the first film.

She was considered a sex symbol during her life and even posed for Playboy.

Perrine's acting career began after she moved to Las Vegas to work as a showgirl - a move which ultimately led to her first-ever acting role in the 1972 movie Slaughterhouse-Five.

While at a dinner party, she met an agent who was seeking to fill the role of Montana Wildhack, a softcore porn actress, in the film - a part that went to Perrine.

'Thats how I became an actress,' she said in a 2025 interview, according to Deadline.

That role was just the beginning of what would be an extraordinary acting career.

Just two years later, she was up for one of her industry's highest honors, the Oscar for Best Actress, for her part in Lenny, a biographical film about comedian Lenny Bruce.

Perrine with Steve Guttenberg and Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, in 1980's Can't Stop the Music

Perrine with Christopher Reeves in 1978's Superman

The movie, which also starred Dustin Hoffman and was directed by Bob Fosse, saw Perrine play Bruce's wife Honey Bruce.

While she lost out on the Oscar, she did get honors from the BAFTAs and Cannes Film Festival over the project.

With the highs came the career lows - in 1980 she starred opposite Caitlyn Jenner, Steve Guttenberg and The Village People in Can't Stop the Music, a film which won the Razzies for Worst Picture and Worst Screenplay.

'It ruined my career  I moved to Europe after, I was so embarrassed,' she said, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

She recovered from the setback and continued working in Hollywood for years, including a role in the Nancy Meyers hit What Woman Want.

Her last credited role is in the 2016 comedy Silver Skies.

Perrine did not have any children nor did she ever marry but she was engaged to Bill Haarman, a gun collector and importer who died in a gun accident in January 1969, just a month before they were set to walk down the aisle.

She also dated the late hairstylist Jay Sebring, one of the six people who were murdered by the Manson Family at Sharon Tate's home in 1969.

Perrine was actually supposed to join Sebring for dinner at the Tate residence the night of the tragedies but was unable due to work, according to The Independent.

'Remembering Jay Sebring today. We dated. I was supposed to be with him at Sharon Tates house,' Perrine posted to X.
The daughter of a missing Michigan woman who fell overboard during a Caribbean boat ride with her husband has called for a full investigation, revealing that 'prior issues' have been brought to her attention that could be vital to the search.

Lynette Hooker, 55, of Onsted, plunged into the waters of the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas on Saturday while boating with her husband, Brian Hooker, 58, from Hope Town to Elbow Cay.

A joint search-and-rescue operation by Bahamian and US authorities was immediately launched, with the US Coast Guard later joining the effort by air, a spokesperson told CNN.

By Tuesday, the teams announced the mission had become a recovery operation, Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue Lead Richard Cook told the outlet.

While the couple appeared to live a joyous life on the water through their social media videos, Lynettes daughter, Karli Aylesworth, has since called for a full investigation into the events leading up to her mothers fall.

Beyond the Bahamas

'There have been prior issues brought to my attention, which may be important for any thorough investigation,' Aylesworth, whose biological father is not Brian, told Fox News Digital.

'If this truly was an accident, I can understand and live with it,' she added.

'However, there needs to be an intensive review of the facts and circumstances of this tragic incident before that can be determined.'

Aylesworths comments come just a day after she released a statement calling for a more thorough investigation by US federal officials.

'I have been privy to very little information. My sole concern is to find out what happened to my mother and make sure a full and complete investigation is performed into her disappearance,' she said.

'While the Royal Bahamian police are investigating this matter, I would also appreciate any involvement of the federal, state or local authorities to look into the circumstances of this tragic situation.'

The Soulmates Last Voyage

The Daily Mail has reached out to Brian for further comment.

The couple regularly documented their life on the water on social media under the username 'The Sailing Hookers,' often showcasing their yacht.

In their most recent Instagram post, shared Friday afternoon, they featured a small boat with the caption, 'Not going anywhere for a while?!'

Meanwhile, their YouTube channel further captured years of life on the open water, with short videos filmed aboard their sailboat, Soulmate.

The final video, posted just four weeks ago, showed the couple in the Bahamas taking an early-morning paddleboard trip along Marsh Harbour, a location known as a 'world-class boating destination.'

In the three-minute clip, Lynette filmed the pristine blue waters and waterfront homes while discussing the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian in 2019, one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes ever recorded to hit the Bahamas.

Her husband appeared several times in the video as they paddled side by side, watching fish and turtles beneath them, with Lynette occasionally singing to herself.

From Rockport to the Bahamas

At one point, the couple laughed as Brian navigated a narrow passage framed by two slanted trees, the branches and leaves brushing his face as he passed.

The video in the Caribbean waters was just one of 12 journeys shared on their channel, including a video from the day they bought a new sailboat in 2023 - the same boat the pair were heading towards when she fell into the water.

In the footage, the couple is seen leaving Rockport, Texas, after picking up their light-blue sailboat, preparing to take it back to Michigan on their first trip aboard Soulmate.

Lynette recorded the finished project after they painted the deck and completed last-minute fixes, captioning the segment: 'The decks are done! We're still married! Party time!'

The next shot gave viewers a look at the cockpit, featuring a small bed and Brian positioned behind the steering wheel, smiling as they finally departed on their trip from the South.

Brief clips of their adventures - from gliding under Mississippi River locks and bridges to their first daring Gulf of Mexico crossing - were shared over the past three years with their 300 subscribers.

The Dead Engine

In some videos, their boat traveled alongside jumping dolphins under colorful sunsets, while other clips showed the cockpit made cozier with string lights above the windows.

Another post, just over 30 seconds long, showed the couple heading out on the water for a grocery run together, loading several plastic bags and a case of beer onto the boat.

On Instagram, the Hookers shared their pit stops along the way, including waterfront bars, snorkeling, swimming, ice cream runs, live music, encounters with animals and boat upgrades like an electric cooktop and a separate air fryer.

In their final TikTok post, the couple sailed to Great Guana Cay, with nothing appearing unusual during the outing

But the couple's blissful days on the water came to a sudden halt on Saturday night when Lynette and Brian set out for their yacht at roughly 7:30pm, riding an 8-foot dinghy.

Brian claimed that while en route, rough waters tossed Lynette overboard into the darkness, taking the boat keys with her and causing the dinghys engine to shut off abruptly, authorities said, according to CNN.

'Strong currents subsequently carried her away, and [Brian] lost sight of her,' the Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBF) said.

From Rescue to Recovery

Brian told authorities that he last saw his wife making her way toward the shore, though whether she was wearing a lifejacket remains uncertain.

Without an engine, Brian navigated the boat through the night, reaching the marina at approximately 4am Sunday, where an individual notified authorities.

Bahamian and US authorities began a joint search-and-rescue operation, with the US Coast Guard deploying an aircraft to aid the effort, officials said.

For six hours on Sunday, police on Abaco, alongside the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and local fire and rescue teams, searched the surrounding waters but found no trace of the mother, CNN reported.

Meanwhile, the investigation continues, even as the case has been shifted to a recovery operation.

The Bahamas is currently under a Level 2 travel advisory, urging visitors to exercise increased caution due to crime and water-related risks.

The advisory cites violent crime - including armed robberies, burglaries, and sexual assaults - as well as limited boating regulation that has led to 'injuries and deaths.'

Share your thoughts with us in the comments
Goldman Sachs has issued a stark warning to workers caught up in the AI-driven layoff wave  finding a new job could take longer, and it may pay less when they do.

The Wall Street giant says tech employees displaced by automation are facing a tougher road back into work than those in more stable industries.

To make matters worse, the very technology replacing them also erodes the value of their skills.

In March alone, US employers announced 60,620 job cuts - a 25 percent increase from the previous month - with AI linked to roughly one in four of them.

With tens of thousands of highly skilled workers now competing for fewer roles, Goldman Sachs strategist Pierfrancesco Mei warned the impact could linger well beyond the initial job loss.

'They take approximately one month longer to find a new job and suffer real earnings losses of more than 3 percent upon re-employment, compared with negligible losses for workers displaced from more stable occupations,' Mei wrote.

Much of the damage comes from workers being pushed into lower-level or more routine roles. The same technology that eliminated their positions also reduces the value of their skills, he added.

So far this year, Amazon, Oracle, Meta, Atlassian and Block have laid off tens of thousands as layoffs sweep across the tech industry amid the accelerating AI arms race.

Larry Ellison, founder of Oracle, pictured with Challengers Oracle Team USA during the 35th Americas Cup in Bermuda in 2017. The tech giant is slashing jobs while ramping up AI spending

Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Block, the parent company of Cash App, Square and Afterpay, would be taking on risk by investing in 'intelligence tools,' as the company cut more than 4,000 employees on Thursday

Goldman Sachs strategist Pierfrancesco Mei warned that displaced tech workers could face tougher short-term job transitions

Oracle - the software and cloud giant founded by billionaire Larry Ellison - cut over 30,000 jobs globally, with over 10,000 positions axed in a single morning on March 31.

Amazon has already cut tens of thousands of corporate roles across multiple rounds, even as it doubles down on AI.

Meta has launched another wave of layoffs this year after years of job cuts.

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey's payments company Block has axed 40 percent of its workforce, while Atlassian has slashed around 10 percent to refocus on AI.

Gaming giant Epic Games also cut 1,000 jobs last month as it struggles with rising costs and slowing growth.

Although the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that total employment rose by 178,000 in March, the unemployment rate remained largely unchanged at 4.3 percent.

Growth was concentrated outside the tech sector, with gains in healthcare, construction, transportation and warehousing.

The report also showed that American employers unexpectedly cut 92,000 jobs in February, signaling that the labor market is still under strain.
Mega escalator system brings convenience to residents in mountainous county in SW China

10:06, April 08, 2026 By Shen Jingran ( People's Daily

Photos show the escalator system in Wushan, southwest China's Chongqing municipality. (Photo/Liu Junfeng)

Nestled against steep mountainsides in Wushan county, Chongqing municipality, southwest China, flat terrain is scarce. For generations, navigating the town meant arduous climbs up slopes and staircases.

Running along the county's central axis, Shennv Avenue once linked the upper and lower parts of the urban area with 1,136 steps. Walking the full route could take up to an hour. Those who chose to drive had to navigate winding mountain roads that zigzagged upward across multiple terraces, where traffic jams and parking difficulties were common.

Consequently, building a more convenient vertical transportation link has been a long-cherished aspiration of local residents.

This aspiration materialized in February of this year when a large escalator system, constructed along Shennv Avenue, commenced trial operations. Stretching about 905 meters in total length with a vertical rise of 242 meters, roughly equivalent to an 80-story building, the system includes 21 escalators, eight elevators, and four moving walkways.

It connects key urban facilities such as government offices, hospitals, schools, and docks, benefiting more than 50,000 residents. Travel time between the upper and lower town has been reduced from one hour to just 20 minutes. So far, the escalator system has served over 1.32 million trips.

"The idea of building escalators dates back to 2002, coinciding with the stairway's initial completion," said Li Jinbo, an official with the county's housing and urban-rural development bureau. "But at the time, both technology and funding were insufficient."

As a relatively less-developed county, Wushan had to carefully manage its budget while meeting public demand for better infrastructure. With the acceleration of urban renewal in recent years, the project was finally put on the agenda.

During planning, professional institutions were commissioned. After extensive research on similar cases at home and abroad, 12 possible solutions, including light rail, rack railway, and escalators, were shortlisted. Expert evaluation prioritized safety, feasibility, and convenience, ultimately selecting the escalator system.

Public consultation confirmed strong resident support. "Easier travel between the upper and lower town was the paramount desire," Li emphasized. Following thorough planning, civil engineering construction commenced in June 2024.

Designers prioritized preserving Wushan's unique character. Given the shops lining Shennv Avenue's middle and upper sections, the escalators were built on elevated corridors, allowing pedestrian movement underneath and maintaining access to storefronts. Multiple access points along the route support local business. Along the riverside section, the escalators were built close to the ground to minimize excavation and ensure safety.

Construction proved exceptionally challenging. The escalators follow the steep path of the original stairway, averaging a 40-degree gradient, which severely limited the use of heavy machinery. Much of the building materials had to be carried up manually, step by step.

"In certain sections, construction was almost entirely done by hand," said Zhang Jie, a project technical manager. "The site was narrow, and underground pipelines were densely packed, so every dig had to be extremely careful."

The region's karst terrain also posed challenges due to its soft foundation. "Foundation piles had to be driven 20 to 50 meters underground to ensure stability," Zhang added.

For residents like 58-year-old Zeng Xiangui, who lives in Jixian community, the change is significant. He used to walk up and down Shennv Avenue twice a day.

"The stairs provided exercise, but at my age, my eyes and knees struggle," he shared. "The escalators have made a tremendous difference."

Wushan's rugged terrain has long scattered public spaces like schools, hospitals, and parks across different elevations, almost as if they were "hanging" on the mountainside. The new escalator system connects these fragmented spaces, forming a vital "artery" for the city.

It is now an important part of the city's pedestrian transport network, linking seamlessly with public transit, encouraging greener travel, and easing traffic pressure.

"This livelihood project has made travel safer and more convenient, bringing people closer to their city," said Wang Xicai, deputy director of the county's housing and urban-rural development bureau.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Bwack! Bwack! Another chicken moment for the Don, as mass celebrations have erupted over Iran at the news that the USA and Trump have backed down. The result is now a great victory for Iran and the Iranian regime and a huge loss for America and Israel.

As is customary in such situations, crude oil prices plummeted, while Asian markets experienced an uptick. Futures were up for US and UK markets.

MILLIONS of Iranians have hit the streets to celebrate the surrender of the United States. pic.twitter.com/6WsHIeEzMe  Ethan Levins  (@EthanLevins2) April 8, 2026

Iran can now relax in victory over the might of America, which was hampered by the Strait of Hormuz and the damage done to the global economy by Irans horizontal warfare technique. The cowardly Gulf states and NATO members huddled in fear at the prospect of acting to help the USA.

Air superiority is all well and good, but without boots on the ground to clean up, there is nothing.

Celebrations have exploded across Iran pic.twitter.com/wdlWKuoG4f  Ethan Levins  (@EthanLevins2) April 7, 2026

Iran can now revel in its stranglehold over the region and the ultimate survival of a regime that is not only brutal to its people but also an existential threat to the entire globe.

Time to continue to enrich the uranium, and the Iranian nuclear program will continue with immediate effect.

There have been victory parades in Iran as the regime has survived and won over the USA.

Trump is unfortunately the ultimate loser here, as this has been a costly affair that has brought nothing for the USA.

The Iranians will be celebrating for days and months at their victory over the Great Satan America and Israel.
As clusterfucks go, this one by Donald J. Trump trumps them all. Iran is now stronger than ever before. It is a disgraceful affair to surrender to Irans regime, which never changed as originally intended. Ultimately, Donald Trump manoeuvred himself into a position with very limited options, and his off-kilter social media posts in the last day or so show that the stress was getting to him. Heres a tip: when youre having a nervous breakdown, dont touch social media. Its an ultimate weakness that the enemy seized upon. Could you please clarify who is responsible for overseeing Trumps actions? Do these people have any inkling on how to utilise propaganda in military operations? We think not.

From Tehrans perspective, however, there are solid reasons to claim victory over America and Israel. Trumps surrender has come with great celebration in Iran. Most importantly, the regime remains in control. It has confronted the combined military strength of the United States and Israel and endured the confrontation with vigilance and some crafty manoeuvring.

What began on February 28 with the American president declaring to Iranians that their hour of freedom had arrived, followed immediately by a decapitation strike that killed the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has now ceased, with the old regimes system of power still functioning and still very capable of retaliatory missile strikes. The uranium enrichment programme is now enriched and ready to go again. Iranians have been emboldened and are now viewed as invincible heroes in the Middle East. Furthermore, the Iranians now have a full stranglehold over the Strait of Hormuz, and no ships will be permitted through the strait without permission from the Iranian armed forces and subject to millions of dollars of toll charges.

Trump declared the Iranian regimes navy completely obliterated. So, what were they doing in the Strait of Hormuz escorting various Chinese and Pakistani ships through?

Trump declared he had achieved regime change. In reality, nothing has changed; the Iranian regime is alive and well and laughing at the Americans with gusto.

Any vessel intending to pass through the Strait must now engage with Irans military authorities, specifically the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Previously, under international maritime law, no such permission was required for transit through these waters.

All shipping must now operate under Iranian oversight. Notably, Trump himself amplifies this position by reposting the Iranian statement, signalling his implicit acceptance of this expanded role in a waterway that carries roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies, fertilisers, and many other essential commodities.

This represents a departure from the pre-war status quo. During the conflict, Iran established a new operating framework in the Strait, blocking vessels from adversarial states while permitting others to pass in exchange for a reported fee of $2 million per tanker, payable in renminbi or cryptocurrency rather than US dollars. Thats another big fat zero for America.

Irans uranium enrichment programme has just had a massive boost, and there will be no one to stop the inevitable happening next time, because there will probably never be a next time anyway.

The situation has therefore shifted significantly in Irans favour, which makes things a lot worse for global trade.

Iran could now have their nuclear missiles ready to go in 6 months time, and the halt in the war will buy them more time to re-arm and prepare themselves for their next adventure.

The unchanged Iranian regime will now rebuild and also bolster their terrorist proxies across the region, creating more terror and chaos, much to the detriment of the USA and its shaky allies.

For now Tehrans leadership can point to its continued survival. The American campaign yielded no results, leaving Trump empty-handed. In the eyes of many, that is a major victory for Iran. Combined with its effective control over the Strait of Hormuz as well as the resumption of the nuclear missile projects, this leaves it in a stronger strategic position than before the conflict began.
Weather Alert

...FLOOD ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING... * WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall is expected. * WHERE...The following counties, in northern Kentucky, Boone, Campbell, Gallatin and Kenton and the following counties, in Ohio, Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Montgomery, Preble and Warren. * WHEN...Until 500 AM EDT. * IMPACTS...Minor flooding in low-lying and poor drainage areas. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 201 AM EDT, radar and automated rain gauges indicated heavy rain due to thunderstorms. Minor flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly in the advisory area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. - Some locations that may experience flooding include... Cincinnati, Hamilton, Kettering, Middletown, Fairfield, Covington, Mason, Florence, Independence, Oxford, Miamisburg, Lebanon, Norwood, Forest Park, Erlanger, Springboro, Fort Thomas, Newport, Sharonville and Monroe. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize the dangers of flooding. To report flooding, go to our website at weather.gov/iln and submit your report via social media, when you can do so safely. &&
A number of historic churches in Northern Ireland will receive a funding boost to tackle urgent repairs.

The National Churches Trust (NCT) will administer 200,000 to help address a range of critical structural and fabric repairs at four church buildings.

The churches that will receive the support are Mount Merrion Parish Church, Belfast; Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, Belfast; Whiteabbey Presbyterian Church, Newtownabbey; and Seymour Street Methodist Church, Lisburn.

Claire Walker, chief executive of the NCT, said the organisation is deeply grateful for the funding, as well as support over the past eight years, which has made a real and lasting difference to places of worship and the communities they serve.

She added: These grants will fund essential works to safeguard four historic buildings, helping to keep these churches open, safe and welcoming.

Each project reflects the dedication of local congregations and volunteers who work tirelessly to care for these important spaces.

The National Churches Trust remains committed to supporting churches across Northern Ireland, and we look forward to continuing this work through our Medium and Large Grants programmes, helping even more places of worship to thrive at the heart of their communities.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: Since 2018, my department has supported the National Churches Trust via the Historic Environment Fund and through Covid recovery funding.

The work of the NCT has been vital for places of worship in Northern Ireland, ensuring that these important buildings are cared for long into the future.

I am pleased to be able to announce further support of 200,000 from my department for this years grant programme.
International operator Telefonica has announced that it will sell its Mexican business to a consortium in a deal that values the operations at US$450 million.

As Reuters reports, Telefonica is selling the business to Melisa Acquisition, a consortium led by telecom tech firm OXIO and asset manager Newfoundland Capital Management.

Founded in 2018, OXIO describes itself is the worlds first telecom-as-a-service platform, creating innovation opportunities as well as time and cost efficiencies for MVNOs, mobile operators, and businesses delivering connectivity across the telecom ecosystem.

As for Telefonica, this agreement is the latest stage in it exit from its non-core businesses so that it can focus on consolidating in Europe, notably its businesses in Spain, Brazil, the UK and Germany.

In late 2019, it announced plans to withdraw from many of the markets in Latin America, but it has taken time.The exit from Mexico in particular seems to have been problematic due to a dispute over tax arrears worth about US$250 million that was being litigated at the country's Supreme Court.

Now, however, the company has disposed of most of its units across Latin America, most recently in Chile, Colombia and Mexico, though it has also exited Argentina, Peru, Ecuador and Uruguay.

Only Venezuela remains out of Telefonica's non-core businesses in Latin America. Reuters notes that CEO Marc Murtra said in January that the roadmap to exit Venezuela was unchanged despite the US arrest of President Nicolas Maduro, which took place early that month.
The London Internet Exchange (LINX), a not-for-profit organisation delivering interconnection solutions across the UK and globally, has launched a 12-month no-charge promotion for all services at its new Ghana internet exchange point (IXP), LINX Accra.

LINX says the promotion, which began at the start of this month, aims to continue its mission to develop the countrys internet ecosystem and build a dedicated connectivity community.

Ghana, LINX points out, is one of West Africas fastest-growing digital markets, with over 70% of the country  25 million people  accessing the internet, and Accra is connected to six submarine cables to provide international connectivity to the country. The market is also attracting significant data centre investment with new facilities opening every few months.

As part of its growth drive, LINX Accra, which went live at the end of 2025, aims to attract major global internet carriers and content delivery networks to keep more traffic local to Ghana, building relationships between local networks and encouraging early adoptions through the promotion.

A key aspect is growing the local networking and peering community to reduce Ghanas reliance on international routing, improve latency and cut costs for networks and end users across the country.

LINX Accra is described as a fully redundant, interconnected, multi-site fabric to further future-proof digital services and the connectivity eco-system in Ghana.

The IXP is available at Onix, PAIX and Digital Realty data centres. This setup will provide redundancy and interconnectivity, allowing networks at either location to meet at LINX Accra via a single cross-connect to access peering services and more.

This launch follows successful growth in Kenya, building on a similar promotion for LINX Mombasa and LINX Nairobi, which, says LINX, helped establish and expand the connectivity ecosystem, attracting major global networks and content providers to keep traffic local.
Sri Lankan telco Dialog Axiata has launched a new QR-based payment solution for its mobile money service that enables users to send and receive money directly to each other.

The GanuDenu QR solution, which launched on Monday, allows users to transfer money via their Dialog Finance and eZ Cash accounts using a QR code.

Dialog Axiata said GanuDenu QR is interoperable across the LankaPay network, which enables transactions across all Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) accredited banks, non-bank financial institutions, and fintech platforms.

CBSL and LankaPay have agreed to waive service charges on transactions up to LKR5,000 (US$15.90).

Dialog Axiata said enabling person-to-person transactions supports a variety of use cases, from sharing expenses and settling payments to gifts during festivals and holidays like Avurudu and the Sinhala and Tamil New Year, both of which happen to kick off next week.

Beyond that, Dialog Axiata director and Group CEO Supun Weerasinghe said the service will support Sri Lankas ongoing transition towards a more cashless and digitally inclusive society.

With the introduction of GanuDenu QR, we are expanding the role of QR payments in Sri Lanka beyond merchant transactions, enabling individuals to transact directly with one another in a simple and seamless manner, he said in a statement.

As a sweetener, Dialog Axiata said customers who use GanuDenu QR via the MyDialog App will receive 2GB of free data on their first send transaction.
Is the regulatory environment for satellite communications keeping up with advances in technology, especially with the growth of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite services?

We heard the mobile industrys view  with reference to LEOs influence on direct-to-user services like direct-to-home satellite broadband, satellite Wi-Fi hotspots and direct-to-device satellite services to unmodified smartphones  in a recent discussion at Mobile World Congress 2026. But how do satellite operators feel?

As Mr Peng Zhao, VP Policy & Regulatory of GSOA, a global CEO-driven association representing the entire satellite ecosystem points out, not long ago satellite communications was mainly about broadcast.

The immense growth of both LEO and new capabilities from the GEO and MEO operators have brought new or enhanced applications: direct-to-device, home broadband, satellite IoT, backhaul, maritime and inflight connectivity among them.

Costs have gone down significantly: launching and manufacturing are cheaper. Enablers like software-defined satellites and flat panel antennas now exist. In particular satellite is increasingly seen as a viable option for connecting the unconnected in remote and rural areas.

But for the satellite industry, there are very specific regulatory challenges. Unlike terrestrial services, Peng Zhao notes, satellite communications doesnt really stop at any border. Any huge differences between countries regulations can have a negative effect. Satellites cannot change their power each time they cross a country, for example.

His group is concerned about this  and other issues, such as spectrum allocation and use and the related problem of interference mitigation; if a country has multiple borders, frequency use permitted in one country may interfere with terrestrial services in another if not harmonised. Gateway requirements and legal intercept must also be considered. The related issue, of course, is whether regulation adds unnecessary costs to the business model.

As Zhao explains: Unlike incremental deployment of terrestrial services, all the infrastructure investment in satellite is upfront. You have to put the equivalent of base stations in the sky first, and you have to deploy them completely before you can start operating. And when we want to recoup this investment, it has to be across many, many different countries and territories.

Launch and manufacture costs may have gone down but a LEO constellation involves hundreds or thousands of satellites; getting it in place is still a major investment. Lluc Palerm-Serra, Research Director at Analysys Mason overseeing the research on Satellite Communications, points out that while the cost of operating a constellation is not very high, the upfront capex to launch it is. And  if we do the comparison on, say, cost per megabit metric compared with terrestrial  satellite is significantly more expensive.

This isnt necessarily about competing services. In many cases, satellite operators have established alliances with MNOs. Indeed, mobile industry association the GSMA agrees that, where satellite services are delivered through partnerships with terrestrial network operators, established regulatory frameworks can typically provide sufficient safeguards.

However, the GSMA has recently zeroed in on LEO-supplied direct-to-user services that bypass mobile services. In this area, regulatory frameworks are at varying stages of development, with Michaela Angonius, GSMA Head of Policy and Regulation, saying: Regulation hasnt kept up with speed [of introduction] of the type of services that are being provided." This is a concern that notably applies to LEO broadband but could also impact direct-to-device (D2D), a service that allows some handsets  dedicated or regular smartphones depending on the spectrum  to communicate by satellite.

For this reason, the GSMA has recently called for a number of regulatory responses in a recent LEO-focused policy paper on direct-to-users connectivity services called Regulatory Preparedness for Satellite Services (available at gsma.com).

A key suggestion is that of transparent regulatory requirements for satellite operators, with terms and conditions that are clearly defined, unambiguous and easily accessible to all stakeholders. Harmonisation is another: that is, aligning regional and international policies to reduce fragmentation and enhance regulatory efficiency.

For the GSMA, as we noted in our earlier story, it is also essential that new regulations maintain necessary safeguards such as robust consumer protection arrangements. Regulatory approaches, it suggests, should therefore remain responsive to considerations such as national security and public safety, ensuring that appropriate local authorities retain sufficient oversight.

As Angonius explains: Regulation should address broader societal needs. Consumer rights should be consistent, and law enforcement should have the same tools regardless of how communication is delivered.

Of course, while the GSOA acknowledges that regulation will respond to the changes satellite brings about, it wants to avoid unnecessary additional costs or regulatory burdens. As Zhao says: When a satellite network has to comply with, let's say, 193 different kinds of legal intercept requirements, because you have so many countries, it becomes impossible to design any satellite system to do that. Similarly, a local presence  shops, customer support centres, etc  would not be feasible. Its not part of any business plan for satellite operators.

At the moment, if a satellite operator wants to be able to operate in a country, it needs first to complete an ITU filing that describes the constellation and gives spectrum rights at the ITU level. Then the operator must go country by country and ask for permission to use those spectrum rights in each individual country, each of which may have different rules.

As Zhao notes, new regulations could add layers on top of any kind of licensing rights needed from the specific countries. So if on top of that you put all the same regulation as terrestrial, this is just not going to be feasible for any global operators.

A very detailed GSOA document deals with these and other issues. Called Satellite Licensing Best Practices (and available at GSOA.space), it takes on every conceivable area of satellite business, from authorisations, public policy, earth stations and gateways to licensing and, of course, the growing number of service categories.

Again, however, the concern for the GSMA is more specific: direct-to-users LEO connectivity services, particular those delivered without partnerships with terrestrial operators, and how they are regulated.

This includes D2D, though media excitement about this technology may be overstated; despite the attention, it is not yet able to offer what 5G can and mainly provides SOS and SMS capabilities  though D2D using IMT spectrum also offers modest data capabilities.

Palerm-Serra says: In the next two to five years [D2D] satellite capability wont match the capabilities of terrestrial networks. However, there is market potential. His companys research suggests that as well as target markets in rural areas, some people in urban areas may be willing to pay slightly more to have a D2D service just for peace of mind  just in case you go off road and you need it or in case the network goes down.

Spectrum for D2D is the title of another recent GSMA policy paper which addresses a number of potential issues the technology may offer for MNOs. For instance, some D2D systems using IMT spectrum can use standard handsets, but technical coexistence and international regulations are still under consideration as part of the WRC-27 process. Cross-border interference may also be an issue. D2D can also use bands already allocated to the mobile satellite service (MSS). For MSS there are no cross-border issues as harmonised spectrum is used. Local regulatory frameworks often exist but specific handsets are needed.

Whatever direct-to-user services satellite may enable, most industry groups will agree that regulation needs to adapt to at least some of them. The ITU may be able to offer coherence at international level, but fragmented regulation that differs from country to country wont help satellite or terrestrial operators.

However, Zhao believes that regulation should take into account that satellite from our perspective, is very different technology from terrestrial.

In reality of course, terrestrial and satellite companies are already working together. Among many examples, we reported yesterday that Thaicom will serve as an authorised distributor and landing rights holder for Amazon Leo in Thailand. Japans KDDI and Starlink (one of the few big names in the satellite industry that is not a member of the GSOA) have launched a service allowing standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without specialised hardware.

In fact, there are good reasons for mobile operators to support some satellite-only services. As Angonius says: There are certain areas where being able to cover those 4% of the population [who are unconnected] with satellite services  rather than putting very stringent coverage obligation on mobile operators  is beneficial for our industry as well.

So for national regulators who seek better coverage everywhere, it might be worth finding ways to support all providers equitably, or as Angonius puts it, thinking about how to incentivise the mix of communications providers.
The launch of the worlds first commercial upper 6GHz (U6GHz) network and ecosystem was announced at the SAMENA Council Leaders Summit 2026, marking the UAEs leadership on the U6GHz front, led by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).

This is a significant step in the evolution of next-generation mobile infrastructure in the UAE and the world. The milestone reinforces the UAEs position at the forefront of global digital development and reflects a shift in how networks and regulatory approaches are evolving to handle rising data intensity and AI-driven traffic.

In the 5G-Advanced & AI Applications for Resilient Economy Forum, a dedicated session held during the Leaders Summit 2026, TDRAs keynote delivered by Eng. Saif Bin Ghelaita Representative of Director General of TDRA , reaffirmed the UAEs aims to become a 10 Giga intelligent nation and to firmly support the U6GHz IMT industry and plans to build the worlds first commercial U6GHz network in 2026. The TDRA also called on industry stakeholders, including chipmakers and device manufacturers, to participate in the U6GHz commercialization.

In the U6GHz joint commercialization initiation ceremony at the Leaders Summit 2026, representatives from the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), the SAMENA Telecommunications Council, Huawei, du, e&, GSMA, Nokia, HONOR, and Tozed affirmed their commitment to the new ecosystem, setting another milestone in the UAEs digital development journey.

During the Leaders Summit 2026, a parallel session on 6GHz and policy, technology, and deployment alignment was also held, with policy-dialogue partnership of GSMA and chairmanship of TDRA, represented and led by Eng. Tareq Al Awadhi, Executive Director of Spectrum Affairs and the Chairman of Arab Spectrum Management Group. Introducing the strategic context, Eng. Al Awadhi stated: The upper 6 GHz band is a key resource for IMT services and supports future mobile technologies like 5G Advanced, and it will be foundation for 6G. This first dialogue on deployment alignment among various stakeholders is both timely and necessary.

Empowering Digital Transformation and Technological Evolution

U6GHz refers to the 64257125MHz range identified by the 3GPP standard as Band n104. With 700MHz continuous bandwidth, it offers a balance between wide-area coverage and high-capacity performance. Often hailed as the "golden spectrum," U6GHz is critical as networks evolve beyond traditional downlink-heavy architecture.

AI usage is multiplying by the day and as millions of AI systems operate across industries, the amount of data being processed is rising tremendously, placing new pressure on networks to provide balanced high-speed downlink and uplink capacity securely, reliably, and low-latency.

Estimations done by the SAMENA Councils technology providers members indicate that U6GHz is expected to enable peak speeds of up to 10Gbps downlink and 1Gbps uplink under 5G-Advanced (5G-A). Moreover, this golden band an create a solid foundation for the smooth evolution of mobile communication technologies from 5G-A to 6G, on which a roadmap has already been issued by TDRA-UAE. For the UAE, the Upper 6GHz spectrum strengthens national digital infrastructure ambitions across sectors, including finance, healthcare, and manufacturing, among others.

From Global Trials to Commercial Readiness

Recently, the global U6GHz industry entered a critical phase of accelerated development, transitioning from technical verification to large-scale commercial deployment. Vendors showcased compatible infrastructure, while ecosystem players continue to accelerate development.

At MWC26, one of the Councils leading members, Huawei, launched a full-range of U6GHz products, achieving coverage comparable to C-band and 10Gbps peak rates. During the event, GSMA along with Huawei, Qualcomm, Tozed, Meig, and other stakeholders signaled ecosystem readiness for U6GHz deployment, while global operators including Vodafone, China Mobile, and Brazil TIM completed U6GHz field tests, laying a solid foundation for commercialization.

Bocar BA, CEO of the SAMENA Council, has stated: With this U6GHz ecosystem launch, the UAE has moved ahead of many markets in transitioning from trials to commercial rollouts, and it is a privilege that this development has taken place during the Leaders Summit 2026, an industry leadership meeting held during these challenging times in the regional context, to foster dialogue, build support for the ecosystem, and to signal continuity in efforts toward collaboration and development.

Mr. Jawad Abbassi, Head of MENA, GSMA, said, The U6GHz ecosystem is now sufficiently ready to support commercial deployment. The band will play a central role in achieving 10Gbps connectivity and serve as an initial spectrum for future 6G networks. The Middle East can leverage U6GHz during the 5G-A phase to gain a first-mover advantage.

The UAE U6GHz Journey

The launch of U6GHz in the UAE is the result of the long-term strategic layout and unremitting efforts in the field of advanced communication technologies. Following the consensus reached at WRC-23, the UAEs Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) allocated the U6GHz band for IMT services in 2024, positioning the UAE among the first countries globally to do so. In 2025, e& UAE, in collaboration with strategic partners including Huawei, successfully completed U6GHz field tests, achieving an ultimate 10Gbps user experience and laying the groundwork for the construction of Dubais "5G-A 10Gbps connection" city. The UAE U6GHz Sail Ceremony is the culmination of these efforts, officially kicking off the commercial operation of U6GHz services and marking the UAEs entry into the U6GHz era.

Drive to the Digital Future

With the official commercial launch of UAE U6GHz, the UAE is poised to unlock new value in digital transformation and lead the Middle Easts communication industry into a new stage.

Deployment of U6GHz networks will expand coverage across major cities and key economic zones, ensuring that enterprises and residents can enjoy stable, ultra-high-speed network services. It will also deepen industry integration, promoting the application of U6GHz technology in smart cities, industrial Internet, digital healthcare, and smart tourism. Use cases include real-time remote medical diagnosis, intelligent traffic management, and immersive digital experiences. The rollout will strengthen international cooperation, collaborating with global technology partners to promote U6GHz technology innovation and standardization, while sharing experience in U6GHz deployment to enhance the UAEs influence in the global digital ecosystem.

By 2028, U6GHz is expected to cover a substantial portion of the UAEs population, supporting long-term digital economy growth and future 6G readiness.

This U6GHz ecosystem launch positions the UAE as a reference market for how spectrum, regulation and industrial collaboration can accelerate next-generation connectivity.
OnePlus has officially pulled the wraps off its latest mid-range smartphone, the Nord 6. The device, as claimed by the company, is the category disruptor, mainly because of the strong specs. The device gets a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chipset along with a big 9,000 mAh battery, an AI-assisted camera and much more. The device also promises fast charging, military-grade durability and a variety of features. Check out the OnePlus Nord 6 price in India, specifications and more.

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OnePlus Nord 6 price

The OnePlus Nord 6 price in India is Rs 38,999 for the base 8GB RAM with 256GB storage variant, while the 12GB RAM with 256GB storage comes with a price tag of Rs 41,999. The customers can get Rs 3,000 bank discount on using a select bank card. The device will be available starting April 9 and will be available on Amazon, OnePlus e-store and official retail channel partners.

OnePlus Nord 6 specifications

The OnePlus Nord 6 comes with a 6.79-inch 1.5K AMOLED display with an upgraded 165Hz refresh rate, 450 ppi pixel density and a screen-to-body ratio of 93.5%. The company claims a peak brightness of 3,600 nits with a dedicated 3,200Hz Touch Reflex chip. Under the hood, the device comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor paired with an Adreno 825 GPU and LPDDR5X RAM. The device offers a 9,000 mAh Silicon-Carbon cell, 80W wired fast charging and introduces 27W reverse wired charging, along with bypass charging to reduce heat during extended gaming sessions. The device runs OxygenOS 16 based on Android 16 and offers four generations of Android OS upgrades and six years of security patches.

Connectivity includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 with LDAC and aptX Adaptive support, NFC, 5G across multiple bands.

The display also carries a quad IP rating, including IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K and MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability certification. In the camera department, Sony LYTIA-600 primary sensor with a 1/1.953-inch size, 50 megapixels, dual-axis optical and electronic image stabilization and an f/1.8 aperture. A secondary 8-megapixel ultra-wide camera uses an OmniVision OV08F sensor with a 112-degree field of view and f/2.2 aperture.
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Protesters with tractors have caused gridlock in Dublin city centre over rising fuel costs caused by the war in Iran.

Several tractors were parked down OConnell Street, and buses were seen abandoned on OConnell Bridge, as farmers and other fuel-dependent workers blocked the Irish capitals main road for the second day in a row.

Lines of buses were parked on the side of the citys streets, while some of the busiest thoroughfares were empty.

There were similar protests taking place at more than 20 other locations across the country, protesters said, while chief executive of Fuels for Ireland Kevin McPartland said two depots in Foynes, Co Limerick, and in Co Galway had been blocked by protesters.

He said there was a risk of supply to petrol forecourts as a result.

A leaders meeting between Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste and finance minister Simon Harris, and Minister of State and independent TD Sean Canney was held in Government Buildings on Wednesday morning.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan met senior gardai responsible for policing the protests and warned about consequences for unlawful activity.

In a statement, he said the Government was aware of the pressures caused by rising costs, but emphasised that it was essential for ports and fuel depots to remain accessible.

He said: Democracy cannot be dictated to by an unelected group whose actions are now damaging the Irish public.

No-one is above the law and those breaking the law should know that there are consequences for unlawful activity.

Protesters have called for a cap on kerosene and diesel, and for the carbon tax and excise duty to be removed for an interim period.

A spokesperson for the protest group in Dublin said that if protesters went home later or on Thursday, they would be back next Tuesday, when the Dail returned.

We will hopefully go home, but the word from other groups around the country is that if they go home today or tomorrow, theyre back next Tuesday. Government is sitting next Tuesday, James Geoghegan said.

Around two dozen protesters stood on OConnell Bridge on Wednesday morning as a handful of tractors remained parked on OConnell Street overnight.

There were some tense exchanges between Dubliners walking through the citys main thoroughfare and the protesters, with one woman telling the protesters that they had the fuel to drive up to Dublin so they should drive home.

One protester was overheard saying that they had pedestrianised the city centre as the Green Party had wanted.

Mr Geoghegan, a spokesman for the protesters and a contractor from Co Westmeath, said they would not go home broke.

We cant go home without a result. We simply cant afford to go home, he told the Press Association.

We came up broke and theres no point going home broke.

Asked about Dubliners who may be unhappy with the disruption, he said the price of fuel is costing lives.

He said: They might be struggling, but do they realise what a struggle actually really is?

Were not blocking emergency services, were not blocking people going to hospital appointments or anything.

We dont want to be in anybodys way or cause any trouble to anybody medically or cause an issue.

He said the measures taken by the Government in March did not make a difference worth talking about.

We need (the Government) to listen and act. Theres no point making a promise. Where do we cash in a promise? he said.

Mr Geoghegan said in Spain, white diesel cost between 1.50 and 1.70 euro a litre, compared to 2.20 euro a litre in Ireland.

He said that he employs four people and his fuel bill will go up to 70,000 euro this year at current prices.

He added: Ive been booked to dig out foundations on two one-off single houses in the countryside, and wed get maybe 5,000-10,000 euro to dig out of that job, which bankrolls us.

But when we dig out the foundation, then in come the concrete lorries with concrete, thats them making money. Then the blockers start laying blocks, thats them making money.

All this is putting tax into the system. Now these houses are being stopped. Im losing work, the lads laying the blocks are going to be on the dole. Its a domino effect.

If the Government reduced the price of fuel and keep everybody building, keep everything working and keep the contractors in business, itll be far better for the economy.

He said: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail neednt go back to rural Ireland ever looking for votes again, its as simple as that.

The silence of the Healy-Raes is unbelievable.

Its an awful pity the election is so far away, if there was election in the next six months, this would be solved last night.

Chief executive of the Dublin Chamber Mary Rose Burke said the disruption was placing an unfair burden on businesses and workers.

It is neither sustainable nor proportionate, she said.

The most effective way to achieve meaningful progress is through constructive dialogue.

We are urging protesters to engage with policymakers and relevant stakeholders through established channels, where their concerns can be properly heard.

Speaking in Dublin city centre on Wednesday afternoon, Jack Wallace, from Mullingar, said he set off at 4.30am on Tuesday to join the protest.

He described the rise in the price in diesel since the war in Iran started as colossal and outrageous.

The agricultural contractor said workers like him are not making money now as farmers are not able to pay them higher rates, adding there is no point working for nothing.

He said the protesters would be here as long as we can, as long as we have to be here.
A local volunteer has called for a statue to celebrate the surfing seals of a Co Waterford town.

The seals are regularly spotted around Dungarvan Harbour, but most famously when atop a paddleboard fixed in the River Colligan in the centre of the town.

The colony is said to consist of around nine seals, but they are usually seen surfing in groups of two or three.

Garvan Cummins, who runs a bike hire in the town, said the surfing seals have become very synonymous with Dungarvan.

He said: A lot of people come to see them, a lot of photographers come along to see them, so they have become, I suppose, an iconic symbol of Dungarvan.

He said a local resident placed the surfboard in the river around 15 years ago and in stormy weather the surfboard flips and goes barnacle side up, meaning the seals will not attempt to board.

When this happens locals come out and either flip the board or remove the barnacles to make it amenable to the seals again.

Saranne Walsh, a Dungarvan local and volunteer with Seal Rescue Ireland, said the surfing seals are such a draw for the town, and residents were devastated when the board became unmoored and floated out to sea in July 2023.

It was found and returned by a local fisherman, and the board was cleaned before its replacement in the river, removing the seals scent.

It was nine months before they were seen on the board again, and Ms Walsh said: Its literally only been the last couple of months that they are back in their original numbers and frequency.

The day that the seals came back I was driving through, and its just off a bridge in the estuary.

As I was coming over the bridge, there were two seals up on the board and I initially started to sing and dance in the car, but the next thing I saw a tourist bus coming up against me, and the driver and the tour guide in this really big tour bus, they literally had these huge, massive smiles on their face and the tour guide was gesticulating madly.

It was obviously something that they were showing to tourists coming through Dungarvan all the time, and that they hadnt been there in so long, and they were so delighted to see that the seals were back.

Every other car that was passing, people had big, massive smiles on their faces and it was all over the local media then about them being back as well.

Worldwide, because I have looked into it, I dont think that theres anywhere else that there are seals literally sunbathing up on top of a paddle board in the middle of an estuary in the middle of an urban setting.

Ms Walsh described the board as perfectly placed, being a safe enough distance from humans for the seals but also where they can be easily seen and photographed.

Its parked right outside the hotel which is great, a hotel thats just had a big, massive extension as well, she said.

Theres local businesses after opening up and theyre actually using the name of the surfing seals because theyre getting so well-known.

The local cinema, for example, has an advert that it shows just before the films come on, and its a seal up on the surfboard saying, dont throw away your rubbish.

You know, its the environmental thing, but theyre using the surfing seals as a way of connecting people between dont throw away rubbish, its good for the environment, as we can see from our seals.

After seeing the reaction from the tour bus to the seals return, Ms Walsh approached a local councillor about getting a statue of the seals to mark their importance to the town.

We really need to be doing more and recognising more about these seals because so many people  it was all over Instagram and Facebook all that week, oh theyre back, theyre back everybody, she said.

We have to commemorate what these seals mean to everybody locally. Its just, its incredible.

When seals are very happy, they do a U-shape, its called a happy banana. Itd be great to see that up on a statue.
A homeless family that has been living in a Drogheda car park has been "passed from pillar-to-post" in search of emergency accommodation according to a Louth councillor.

Independent councillor Declan Power told the March meeting of Louth County Council that the family, who are originally from Latvia, had been sleeping in their car for over a month.

He said the family had chosen a car park "under the umbrella" of Louth County Council "simply because they could access a public toilet".

Cllr Power said the family, which includes two children, aged two and four, had been living in Lusk in North County Dublin for nine months however, were asked to leave on short notice.

"The father works in Drogheda. These are people who are contributing to our community. Theyre trying to do everything right and yet they fell through every crack in the system."

"The family spent their nights driving around to keep warm. When they tried to sleep, the father slept upright behind the steering wheel before working an eight hour shift. His wife and two toddlers waited in a cold car until he finished," he said.

Cllr Power said the family had gone unnoticed for over a month until a member of the public approached the family and offered the family shelter in their home for three nights.

"One individual showing more compassion and kindness than any agency involved so far," he said.

The Independent councillor said the family had applied for social housing with Louth County Council but as they last lived in Dublin, Fingal County Council was responsible for emergency accommodation.

Cllr Power said he understands the system but doesn't agree with it, and called it the "perfect example of bureaucracy versus common sense".

However, as the family did not have rental receipts from their time in Lusk, they were told they had to present in Galway, where they had lived years before.

He said Fingal County Council had "simply kicked the can down the road to Louth".

"Since when have we allowed homelessness decisions to become postcode-dependent, and since when did we ignore a family sleeping in a car because a map says they belong to a different county."

"This is happening on our doorstep and every agency involved has passed them from pillar-to-post unwilling to take responsibility," Cllr Power said.

A GoFundMe page was set up following a viral video explaining the family's situation and has provided funding for short-term accommodation in Clogherhead, Drogheda.

However, Cllr Power called this a "temporary reprieve" and called on Louth Council to "do the honourable thing and put a roof over their head".

Read Next: CLAR funding will be 'massive for the community' in Castlebellingham

Director of Housing with Louth County Council, Ger Murphy, said he was "very sorry to hear a case like that has come up".

"Everything we do as a local authority is to try and work against a situation like that occurring.

We have protocols and procedure to try and ensure that sort of situation doesnt happen," he said.

Mr Murphy said he would engage privately with Cllr Power regarding the family's case.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Louth County Council and Drogheda Tidy Towns have unveiled four new biodiversity information panels on the Boyne Greenway in Drogheda, bringing to life a landmark 2025 ecological study by local environmentalist Tony Conaghy.

The four panels - one on the north side of the river and three on the south - are located along a 2.5km stretch of the Greenway between the Mary McAleese Bridge and the Bridge of Peace. Each features findings from Other Nations 2 - Biodiversity Along the Boyne Greenway, which captured the rich plant and animal life of the Boyne corridor.

This installation marks the latest step in sharing Tonys eight months of fieldwork, which documented the tidal waters, woodlands, grasslands and marshlands of the Boyne and recorded over 150 species of birds, mammals, insects and plants.

The original publication explained that the goal of the study was to encourage awareness and appreciation of the beauty and complexity of our natural surroundings. The Drogheda Tidy Towns Biodiversity Subgroup developed these new panels so that everyone walking the route could easily access this information and experience the habitats as they appear in the landscape.

Each panel highlights a distinct habitat recorded in Other Nations 2, allowing walkers to encounter the Boynes biodiversity exactly where it thrives.

Located near Yellow and Grove Islands, the Woodlands panel introduces the rare alluvial woodland found there, one of Irelands rarest native woodland types and a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

It describes how willows, alder, mosses, fungi and lichens come together to form a rich, ancient ecosystem. As the study notes, the islands were formed over a long period by the build-up of alluvial sediment allowing water-loving plants to get a foothold. The panel also outlines the woodlands importance for carbon storage, flood protection and supporting wildlife.

Celebrating both summer and winter visitors, the Birds of the Boyne panel highlights swallows, sand martins, kingfishers, turnstones and more. It explains the Boyne Estuarys status as both an SAC and Special Protection Area (SPA), echoing the publications description of the river as a haven for migratory birds.

Located near the extensive reed beds on the north side of the Greenway, the Marshlands panel explores the habitat - home to otters, red deer, dragonflies, sedge warblers and diverse wetland plants. Tonys study notes that wetlands improve water quality store floodwaters and act like natural sponges. The panel highlights why these habitats are vital for biodiversity and climate resilience.

Celebrating the hedgerows that line the Ramparts, the Hedgerow panel explains their role as wildlife corridors for foxes, badgers, bats, pollinators and songbirds. Reflecting the studys findings, it notes that hedgerows provide food and shelter and are a vital part of our rural landscape.

Read Next: CLAR funding will be 'massive for the community' in Castlebellingham

Cllr Michelle Hall, Mayor of Drogheda, said:

These panels are a wonderful addition to the Boyne Greenway and a reminder of the extraordinary biodiversity that surrounds us every day. Tony Conaghys work has captured the magic and fragility of the Boyne, and now walkers, runners and families can enjoy these insights right along the route. This is a brilliant example of local partnership delivering something meaningful for our community.

Gerry Leydon, Chair of Drogheda Tidy Towns, said:

Drogheda Tidy Towns would like to extend warm thanks to Tony Conaghy for this great work and to Louth County Council, who supported the financing through the Louth Tidy Towns Grant Scheme, and the Operations team who installed the panels. On your next stroll along the Boyne, take a moment to stop, read and enjoy the incredible biodiversity on our doorstep.

David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, said:

Louth County Council is delighted to support this project, which enhances the Greenway experience and strengthens our commitment to protecting the natural environment. These panels help make science accessible to everyone and highlight the unique habitats that make the Boyne such an important ecological corridor.

I would like to thank Drogheda Tidy Towns for initiating this project. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with them and other local community groups on projects that promote sustainability and appreciation of nature in our county.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
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Teachers are being kicked, bitten, spat at, sworn at, threatened and not given adequate supports afterwards, a Cork teacher has said.

A motion passed at the Irish National Teachers Organisations annual congress in Killarney calls for immediate and comprehensive reform of the assault leave scheme for teachers, amid high levels of physical aggression being experienced in schools.

The motion also calls on the Department of Education to invest in behaviour hubs and nurture rooms to help schools manage behaviours of concern and to provide whole school de-escalation training.

An INTO survey in May 2024 revealed that 58% of teachers reported experiencing physical aggression in schools such as scratching, punching, biting, and the throwing of objects, but only 6% of teachers affected availed of assault leave, though 41% of those injured required medical treatment beyond first aid.

Speaking on the resolution, Cork-based central executive committee (CEC) representative Edel Polly said: We're seeing levels of physical and verbal abuse in primary schools that are not and would not be tolerated in other workplaces.

Teachers are being kicked, bitten, spat at, sworn at, threatened and in many instances expected to walk back into the classroom next day as if nothing happened.

This is not about difficult behaviour this is about a broken system. This is about a lack of engagement, understanding and care by the government, she said.

Another motion passed at the congress calls for pragmatic solutions against the increasing demands on principals, proposed by the Cork City South East branch.

Aine Corrigan, principal of Star of the Sea primary school in Passage West, said that the motion calls on the unions CEC to use all means possible, up to and including industrial action, to achieve more support.

She said: We are committed to our schools and communities. But commitment cannot continue to be mistaken for limitless capacity.

Principals do not want special treatment. We want fair treatment, realistic expectations, and structures that make the job sustainable  so that schools are led well, staff  all staff  are supported properly, and children benefit.

Principal of Scoil Iosogain in Farranree, Feargal Hurley, added: Every day, school leaders are balancing instructional leadership with an ever-expanding range of responsibilities: compliance, HR, finance, procurement, safeguarding, wellbeing, and increasingly complex school communities. In many cases, we are also leading significantinclusion provision and managing major projects alongside that work.

The motion is about ensuring that we have the capacity to do our jobs well. Because when we support school leaders, we strengthen our schools-and ultimately, we better serve the children in our care, he said.
Cork County Council is going to bear the costs of renovating five historic alms houses in Youghal which were built by Richard Boyle, the 1st Earl of Cork.

Built at the towns North Main Street in 1624 the houses are extremely rare surviving examples of late medieval alms houses in the country.

Known as Boyles Alms Houses', they were originally constructed to house widows and widowers. They were taken over by the county council some years ago but have significantly deteriorated because of their age.

Fianna Fail councillor Patrick Mulcahy asked senior council officials about the future of the historic structures after expressing concern about their current deteriorating state.

He said three of the five houses are still occupied by county council tenants.

Mr Mulcahy acknowledged refurbishing them will cost significant money because of their historic significance and restrictions which might be in place on what can and cant be done.

He added that a number of different agencies would probably have to be consulted on the council's plans.

John Conroy, acting director of housing services, said the council is currently assessing the works required to renovate the five residential units.

He said the scope of works under consideration includes insulation upgrades, fire safety and fireproofing works, electrical upgrades, internal renovations and associated finishes.

Initial indicative cost estimates for these works significantly exceed the level of funding available through existing voids or energy retrofit funding streams. As a result, alternative funding sources, together with an appropriate procurement approach, will need to be identified and assessed before the project can progress further,

Mr Conroy said.

He said the council has commenced engagement with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to planning, conservation, and fire control requirements, recognising the sensitive nature of the building.

Mr Conroy said he would keep councillors informed when a decision has been reached on the final renovation plans which he acknowledged will be very costly as the houses are in a poor state of repair.

Keith Jones, another senior council official, said its unlikely the council will be able to acquire any national funding for the project and will have to bear the cost from its own resources.

Mayor of County Cork Independent councillor Mary Linehan-Foley urged the council to act swiftly on the project. "The longer we leave it the worse the conditions will get, she said.

She then turned her attention to another historic building it the town, 'The Quaker Cottage', which is also owned by the council and needs upgrading.

Read More

She said if it couldnt be used for housing, it could be become a a community hub. Mr Jones said he'd look at it and report back.
Two groups which seek to promote the Irish language in Cork city hung alternative street name signs in the city centre this weekend on streets named after British figures.

Liu na Laoi, a community organisation promoting Irish in Cork city and Misneach, a radical Republican Irish-language organisation, described the move as decolonial action.

A spokesperson for Misneach said: While Cork prides itself on its radical history, its streets and public spaces remain filled with names that honour the British Empire, royal figures, and legislation that sought to suppress Irish political life.

They highlighted streets such as Union Quay, Albert Street, and Victoria Road, which they say celebrate the Act of Union, royal visits during the Great Famine, and the authority of empire.

We believe these titles represent an outdated and unjust narrative that continues to shape the citys landscape,

the spokesperson said.

Liu na Laoi and Misneach are proposing alternative names rooted in Corks own history: Padraig O Cuanachain, Muirgheal Mac Suibhne, and Leslie Price-de Barra and are calling on Cork City Council to begin a formal process of changing the citys placenames.

It comes as street names have previously caused disagreements in the city council chamber, particularly the new VQ nickname for MacCurtain St and surrounding areas which was used by businesses in the area.

It originally stood for Victorian Quarter, though the businesses now use the name Vibrant Quarter instead.

Sinn Fein councillor Kenneth Collins told The Echo: Its called McCurtain St, trying to rename it the Victorian Quarter is an insult to the memory of Tomas McCurtain and to his family.

He added that six years ago, a motion of his to rename Anglesea Street to honour the former Lord Mayor of Cork, Terence MacSwiney, who served in this position during the Irish War of Independence in 1920, was approved unanimously.

However, councillors were told there is currently no legal basis for the holding of a plebiscite in relation to the changing of a placename.
Animal welfare organisations across Cork are being encouraged to apply for this years animal welfare grants programme.

The programme provides financial support to registered animal welfare charities to assist in their day-to-day operation.

This includes the delivery of essential animal care services and public education on responsible animal ownership.

More than 6m was allocated to 94 animal welfare charities nationwide in 2025, with grants ranging from 4,000 to more than 2.6m.

Cork North-West Fine Gael TD John Paul OShea said the funding is an important support that helps ensure the important work of animal welfare organisations can continue and expand.

Animal welfare organisations play an invaluable role in our communities, often relying heavily on volunteers and limited resources to care for vulnerable and at risk animals, Mr OShea said.

Our local animal welfare charities are at the heart of communities, providing care, promoting responsible pet ownership, and raising awareness of animal welfare issues. Their commitment and compassion make a real difference every day.

The animal welfare grants programme recognises the importance of the role such charities play in caring for vulnerable animals, in education and awareness raising to improve animal welfare, which is particularly relevant in encouraging responsible pet ownership.

Further details on the animal welfare grants programme 2026, including application forms and deadlines, are available through the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine.

The application process for the 2026 programme will take place in two stages. Initially, applicants must complete form A to demonstrate eligibility.

Applicants who are successful at this stage will then be invited to submit form B, outlining their activities and proposed use of funding.
Further disruption is expected in Cork later today as fuel protests continue into a second day, with another demonstration planned in Ringaskiddy.

Earlier, several trucks blocked the Shannonpark Roundabout in Ringaskiddy, causing significant delays for motorists.

Another protest is expected in the area from 4pm, raising the prospect of renewed congestion this evening.

Traffic was also affected on the M8 this morning, where protest convoys slowed movement near Junction 18 at Glanmire.

Gardai said congestion along the route  one of the worst hit in the region  has since begun to ease.

Bus Eireann services across Cork city have also been impacted, with delays of up to 45 minutes reported on some routes due to protest activity.

Separately, ongoing roadworks mean Route 226 is unable to serve stops including Ballinabearna Cross, Riverstick, Belgooly and Bridge View between 8am and 6pm.

Nationwide disruption

The protests, organised under the banner Cant Afford to Move, have seen hauliers, farmers and contractors take to the roads in response to rising fuel costs.

Nationwide, Gardai said slow-moving convoys and blockades are continuing to disrupt traffic in Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway, while some fuel depots remain obstructed.

In a statement, An Garda Siochana said the protests are causing significant disruption and confirmed that emergency workers have been delayed or unable to travel to work, while some people have missed hospital appointments.

Key public transport routes are also delayed or not operating, which means that employees and businesses are heavily impacted, a spokesperson said.

Gardai said they are continuing to engage with organisers and have urged protesters to facilitate public transport, emergency routes and diversion roads, some of which have reportedly been blocked.

The Government has signalled it will not engage directly with protest groups.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said only established representative bodies would be involved in discussions and warned that blockades of fuel depots would not be tolerated.

Fuel depots will have to be cleared. There's no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots, he said.

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers described some protest actions as completely unacceptable and irresponsible, while Transport Minister Darragh OBrien said it was not acceptable for cities to be effectively turned into car parks.

We understand the point people are making. This is not the way to do it, he said.

The Irish Road Haulage Association said it is not representing protesters in negotiations, though its president Ger Hyland said he understands the pressures facing those taking part.

With further action planned and no clear resolution yet in sight, Cork commuters are being advised to expect continued disruption and allow extra time for journeys.
Curraheen is the site earmarked for the Cork city fire station, with the existing Ballincollig station set to become a new fire service training centre, The Echo has learned.

A 13m allocation has been earmarked for the fire station in the western suburb, part of a 328.5m government investment in the countrys fire services which sees Cork county receive two new fire stations.

With the construction of the Cork city fire station in Curraheen, the former Ballincollig station, which closed in November 2021, will become a training centre for the fire service.

Victor Shine, second officer with Cork City Fire Brigade, said it was fantastic news for the citys fire service with the station, when completed, having easy access to the west of the city, the ring roads, and Cork University Hospital.

We are a large fire service now, the second-largest in the country, and our training needs are extensive, so we do need a dedicated training area for our firefighters, he said.

Including the 13m to the city station, Cork city and county are to receive a total allocation of 19.4m.

As a result, 3.2m is going to a new station in Dunmanway in West Cork, and 3m for a new station in Mitchelstown in North Cork. Crosshaven fire station is to get a 250,000 refurbishment.

Cork County Council will also receive three new class B fire appliances, each worth approximately 500,000, and Cork City Council has been allocated one new class-B appliance.

The funding is part of the National Fire Services capital programme, the States largest ever investment in fire and emergency services, which will see a landmark 328.5m allocation to modernise Irelands fire service between now and 2030. Announcing the Cork funding, Christopher OSullivan, minister of state for nature, heritage and biodiversity, said the investment in the fire service would reinforce public safety in the city and county, ensuring that critical infrastructure and essential services were protected.

Over the last number of years the fire services capital programme has fully funded new fire stations in Kanturk, Macroom and Clonakilty, he said.

This level of support is continuing with the approval of funding for the construction of new fire stations at Dunmanway and Mitchelstown and refurbishment works to the Crosshaven station.

Welcoming the announcement, the Lord Mayor of Cork, councillor Fergal Dennehy, said the city had been waiting for the investment for a long time.

As Irelands second city, which is seeing unprecedented growth, we need to update our services accordingly, he said.

Garrett Kelleher, Fine Gael senator based in Ballincollig, said he was delighted at the news.

I look forward to continuing to work closely with council management, the department and my fellow elected representatives through the design, planning and construction stages to ensure that the new station is delivered in a timely manner to meet the needs of our fast-growing community, he said.

Colm Kelleher, Fianna Fail councillor for Ballincollig, and former lord mayor of Cork, said news that the former Ballincollig fire station was to become a fire service training centre was particularly welcome.

That training facility is very good news, especially coupled with a 13m fire station in close proximity to Ballincollig, which will give us the full-time fire service we have wanted all along, he said.

Ciara OConnor, Labour Party city councillor, said a new fire station for the citys south-west was a critical and long-overdue investment.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has urgently called on members of the public across Cork to attend its donation clinic as blood supply stocks are at a critical level.

According to the IBTS, due to increased demand, the service is facing shortages in several key blood groups including O positive, which is at its lowest level this year.

Barry Doyle, IBTS director of production and hospital services, said the organisation has just over two days' supply of O positive and just over three days for other key blood groups.

We have contacted hospitals to advise that stock levels are very low, and we will be actively managing stock to ensure blood is available for those who need it most, said Mr Doyle.

Hospital demand for blood has been high, particularly during March.

This has coincided with bank holidays around St Patrick's day and Easter, with some donors taking advantage of the holidays and good weather, meaning they have been unavailable for clinics.

The IBTS aims to have seven days supply at all times, however, current supply levels for most groups are significantly below this, he added.

We have added five extra clinics across the country for this Sunday, as we are also seeing lower booking rates than normal for our permanent centres.

Ideally, we need to increase our collections by an additional 500 donations per week across all blood groups before the May bank holiday, to be able to meet the consistently high demand. Mr Doyle said a stock management letter has been issued to all hospitals advising them of the situation, which will enable the IBTS to effectively manage the limited blood supply.

We are working closely with the hospital teams to prevent the need to cancel elective surgery or restrict treatment of patients, said Mr Doyle.

We are asking regular donors to make an extra effort to attend their nearest clinic, especially in Cork where we have clinic availability every week. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment online or by calling 1800 731 137.

For more information, or to check your eligibility as a donor, visit: https://www.giveblood.ie/become-a-donor/.
Intimate images of a young woman were shared online by her ex-boyfriend, it was alleged at Cork District Court on Wednesday, where the judge said the allegations were too serious to be dealt with at that court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that it would accept district court jurisdiction but only on a plea of guilty.

However, Judge Mary Dorgan decided that whatever plea was entered, she would not accept district court jurisdiction.

The matter will now have to be dealt with at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Dorgan directed that nothing could be published about the case that may give rise to identification of the young woman.

Naming the defendant appearing before the court on Wednesday could effectively identify her.

The 24-year-old man, wearing a suit with shirt and tie, appeared in court, accompanied by his parents.

He is charged with distributing or publishing intimate images without consent with the intention of causing harm to the person or being reckless as to whether harm would be caused to her, contrary to the Harassment, Harmful Communications, and Related Offences Act 2020.

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the background to the allegations.

He said: On October 26, 2023, the alleged injured party made a complaint to gardai that in July 2023 when at her boyfriends home she discovered a video of her and the defendant engaging in consensual sexual intercourse.

She said this was shared on (a website) without her knowledge or consent.

"When she confronted him to examine his phone, she discovered that on March 10, 2023, he shared the video  to an unknown person he met on (the website)  of her in sexual acts with him and performing sexual acts on herself as well as images of her genital and breast areas, taken with her consent but she did not grant permission for these images and video to be shared.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer submitted, before the judge finalised her decision on jurisdiction, that the initial sharing of material was done with the complainants consent.

Sgt Kelleher said the prosecution case was that there was no consent to any sharing of images or video.

Judge Dorgan said: I note the DPP consents to summary jurisdiction on a plea only. Taking account of what may be involved, I am refusing jurisdiction.

The defendant was remanded on bail to Cork District Court on June 10.
The 42-year-old man accused of murdering a young Ukrainian father-of-one who lost his life following a violent incident near his home a fortnight ago in Cork city appeared in court today (April 8) by video link from prison.

Sergeant John Kelleher said there were no DPP directions in the case yet. Defence solicitor Eddie Burke said it was obvious where the case was going. Murder charges must be dealt with at the Central Criminal Court.

Judge Mary Dorgan remanded the accused man  Jonathan Hennessy  in custody until April 21 at Cork District Court for formal DPP directions.

Last week the parents of the late Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi who had travelled from Ukraine for the funeral of their son in Cork came to Cork District Court to view proceedings but when 42-year-old Jonathan Hennessy of 15 Dr Patrick OSullivan Terrace, Upper Aghada, County Cork, was called, a prison officer at the video link from Cork Prison said there was a sick note stating that the accused could not appear in person. He did attend in person for todays video link.

Detective Garda Kevin Motherway gave evidence of arresting and charging Jonathan Hennessy on the first day in court. The charge stated that, On March 16 2023 at Knapps Square, Cork City in the District Court area of Cork City in District area 19, he did murder one Oleksandr Zhyvytskyi, contrary to Common Law. When cautioned that he did not have to say anything but that whatever he might say would be taken down in writing and could be given in evidence, he made no reply to the charge.

Eddie Burke solicitor was appointed to represent the accused man on free legal aid, after stating that Jonathan Hennessy was on disability allowance and had no other income. Mr Burke said when the accused was first before the court, I would ask that he would get medical attention on entering Cork Prison. Sgt. John Dineen said it was alleged that on March 16 at Knapps Square at 7.50 p.m. the deceased sustained a stab wound to his chest during an altercation. He made his way home and subsequently died, death being formally pronounced at 8.35 p.m. on Monday.

It was reported that the father of one, who was in his early 30s, was stabbed just metres from his home at Camden Court apartments on Carrolls Quay, Cork, when he went out to buy food nearby. He made it back to his apartment where his partner called for help. Despite paramedics working to save his life, he was later pronounced dead at the scene. An investigation was launched immediately after the fatal stabbing.
A Cork participant in the ongoing fuel protests has warned that motorists could face further delays on Thursday if talks are not held with Government representatives.

Protests are expected to take place across the county on Thursday, including in Midleton, Watergrasshill, Ballincollig, Carrigaline, Ringaskiddy, Mallow, Macroom, Clonakilty, Ballyhooly, and on surrounding routes.

Protesters on Wednesday blocked the entry to the Iriving Oil Whitegate in east Cork, which has the capacity to produce 75,000 barrels of oil per day, while several trucks also blocked the Shannonpark Roundabout in Ringaskiddy.

Agricultural equipment supplier Dave Mulcahy, who was among protesters on the M8 on Wednesday morning, told The Echo that while there is a lot of support for us out there, people are getting frustrated.

There are people who dont understand the whole thing  we had a few hand gestures out the window  but it went well, said Mr Mulcahy.

Traffic was never stopped on the motorway; wheels kept rolling, emergency routes were kept open, and cars were able to pass us.

Well see what happens now, if therell be talks  but if not, well be back out again.

In a public statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said that members of the Government will not engage with protesters but rather continue to engage with nationally constituted representative organisations" on the matter.

We live in a parliamentary democracy, we have elected representatives, and the Government deals and works with, and engages in normal circumstances with the national organisations, and that will continue to be the case. There will be no deviation from that, said Mr Martin.

The protests at the moment are wrong. Anybody who simply parks a truck in the middle of nowhere, there should be and will be penalties.

To prevent mobility, to prevent people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, and disrupting day-to-day activities is wrong, and is a wrong form of protest.
Apart from reminding me of the time one of my brothers bounced down the stairs on a space-hopper and crashed into the glass panel of the front door, the Artemis II adventure has left me cold.

I was only a wee thing when Neil Armstrong exited Apollo 11 to leave his boot-print in the moondust, but I recall the huge sense of excitement and awe, the plastic space rockets, the miniature astronauts.

A few years later, we were all bouncing around on big rubber orange space-hoppers, which, I believed all my life, were inspired by the 1969 Apollo 11 Moon Landing.

In comparison, the Artemis II mission just didnt seem to cut it, despite all the hype. Just didnt blow my mind.

I ended up researching the history of the space-hopper, which I have always associated with the Apollo 11 mission.

To my dismay, I discovered that they had absolutely nothing at all to do with Neil or Buzz.

The idea actually predated the Apollo 11 mission. What really happened was that a man called Aquilino Cosani got a brainwave for the toy while he was watching a TV documentary about kangaroos some time in the early 1960s. He called his toy the Pon-Pon.

By the 1970s, which is when that death-defying bounce down the stairs, across the hall and straight into the glass of our front door took place, the space-hopper was a world phenomenon.

Interestingly  and something else I didnt know  it wasnt called a space-hopper in America. They called theirs The Hoppity Hop.

So while it didnt have anything to do with the invention of the space-hopper, I would argue that the 1969 Moon landing could easily have inspired this iconic toy.

America back then was perceived as a bastion of progress and decency and scientific pioneering; exactly the kind of nation whose achievements could imaginably form the inspiration for an innocent childs toy. America was a revered place, the Land of the Free. Parents and grandparents spoke about it in tones of respect.

One of my grandmothers had a big picture of President John F Kennedy on the wall; the other displayed a little silvery lunar module of some kind on her mantelpiece.

The Moon landing and the subsequent visit by the astronauts to Buckingham Palace features in TV series The Crown. The happiness and awe, the sheer excitement, around Apollo 11 and the Moon landing could so easily have inspired the big, joyous orange ball with the horned handles!

Artemis II, however, has launched from a much bleaker place.

America is a now-fearsome land stalked by armed ICE agents. A country where terrified little children are detained on their way home from school by masked, gun-wielding ICE agents. A place where U.S citizens are shot in broad daylight by those same government agents. A place of detention camps. A place that bars entry to visitors depending on whats contained in their social media  and a destination that an ever-increasing number of tourists are knocking off their bucket lists.

There are those social media rants from the President with the caps lock on. The blatant misogyny and racism. The profanity-laced social media post referencing Allah on Easter Sunday. This talk of holy wars. The schizophrenic Alice In Wonderland atmosphere that now seems to dominate the White House and everything to do with it.

America has, in effect, become a kind of North Korea.

Its a place where the phrase off with their heads is not a funny sentence from a satiric fairytale, as former attorney general Pam Bondi has discovered.

Like other die-hard Trump loyalists, Kristi Noem, the former U.S Secretary of Homeland Security, and Mike Waltz, Trumps first National Security Advisor this term, Bondi learned that doing what youre told doesnt save you. Standing by your man doesnt save you either.

On the frontline, grocery bills are climbing. The price of petrol has shot up, and theres talk of rationing.

The war is costing the U.S Exchequer an estimated 1 billion a day, money which Trump seems very happy to spend - a year, just one year, after thousands of federal staff were placed on administrative leave or fired to save money in a highly publicised drive by the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency.

The lack of stability is reflected in sackings, sackings, and more sackings. Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of War and former TV personality, has reportedly fired about 20 generals since he came into office.

None of this speaks to the America we used to know. This new America is a byword for instability. Chaos. Paranoia. Hostility.

A recent survey found that in Spain, only 39% see the USA as friendly. In Germany, its 41%. Over in Denmark, unsurprisingly given its links to Greenland, only 26% of people see the U.S as friendly. Only about one third of people in Germany, France, and the UK now hold a favourable view of the U.S.

Theres the apprehension in your throat every morning now as you turn on the news. Youre wondering if some new terror has been unleashed because Mr Trump got bored or mad or lost patience while the rest of us slept, and pressed a button to invade some place that annoyed him, or rain hellfire on some new and unsuspecting part of the world.

The mission of Artemis II holds neither excitement nor joy for me. Those astronauts on board had better watch what they say, or the mission will be turned into yet another distraction.

An American friend put it like this. At the start of his term, some 15 months ago (is it really only 15 months? It seems like 15 years), every utterance by Trump was pored over. But horror-fatigue, shock-fatigue, and outrage-fatigue set in long ago.

Now its down to just fatigue. To waiting him out and wondering hopelessly what well wake up to tomorrow morning. The Sword of Damocles hangs over us.

What a long way from the joyful innocence of space-hoppers we have come.
Sarah Slater, Vivienne Clarke and James Cox

Dublin's O'Connell St is closed

M7 motorway closed

Bus Eireann, Dublin Bus warn of delays and diversions, Luas Green line is disrupted

Organisers say they could be maintaining roadblocks until Friday

Slow-moving convoys reported on N21 from Adare towards Limerick city, Limerick- Ballysimon Road, and Macroom bypass in both directions in Cork

Taoiseach says blocking cities and towns is "wrong".

Dublin Fire Brigade experienced significant delays in its response to emergencies.

Oil deliveries from the Whitegate oil refinery in Co Cork, the only refinery in the State, are now being blocked by fuel protesters who have already blocked fuel depots at Galway and Foynes, Co Limerick.

The Taoiseach has described the blockade as an act of national sabotage.

In a statement, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the decision of some protesters to block access to the Whitegate refinery was an outrage.

He said: It makes absolutely no sense in the fuel crisis we are currently facing.

It is beyond belief that people would seek to deny people around the country access to vital fuels.

Businesses and peoples livelihoods depend on this fuel. It is an outrage.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said the blocking of the distribution of fuel is a sinister and despicable attack on our economy and our society.

In a statement issued on Wednesday evening, Harris said, This is not a lawless country. The laws of the land must and will be applied without fear.

At a time of a major global energy crisis, blocking fuel from getting to people who badly need it is appalling in every sense and inflicts damage on our country and on individual people and businesses. It cannot be tolerated.

This is now a public order policing issue, said Kevin McPartlan, chief executive of the fuels industry group, Fuels for Ireland.

He called on the Government to act in relation to the blocking of the States key fuel depots.

McPartlan said there are discussions on social media about trying to block Dublin Port, the final of the four key sources of fuel for the States service stations.

Whitegate is the only refinery in the State processing crude oil for domestic consumption and is responsible for approximately one third of the fuel consumed, McPartlan said.

Many service stations require fuel deliveries every 24 hours and as the protests prevent deliveries in the different regions more outlets will run out of fuel, he said.

Galway was the first depot to be prevented from delivering fuel, and stations in the Galway region are now running out of petrol and diesel, he said.

Responding to a blockade formed at the States only oil refinery in Whitegate, a spokeswoman for its operator, Irving Oil, saidWe are focused on the safety of our people, our facility and our neighbours," The Irish Times reported.

With global energy supply dynamics continuing to face volatility, we are hopeful that these events do not further strain the supply of energy to our customers.

Protest spokesman John Dallon said he hoped the dispute could be resolved through the Government committing to meeting him and two other participants.

He said: Were actually in pure limbo now, thats the only way I can put it.

He added: Well be here tonight, and Id say theyll be here tomorrow.

Dallon said he was not an organiser and had no bearing over the other participants but added: These people are not going to lie down.

The only way they will go off of the streets here is if we send a message back to them that we have a meeting, then theres a good chance that people will go home.

But, I mean, if theres no satisfaction out of the meeting, Id say itll all heat up again.

There were similar protests at more than 20 other locations across the country, protesters said, while chief executive of Fuels for Ireland Kevin McPartland said two depots in Foynes, Co Limerick, and Co Galway had been blocked by protesters.

He said there was a risk to supplies to petrol forecourts as a result.

Gardai have said ongoing fuel protests are having a significant impact on traffic around the country.

In a post on the social media website X on Wednesday evening, An Garda Siochana said a number of locations across the country are still affected, including in Dublin city centre, Cork and Sligo.

Gardai say the protests are also impacting traffic on a number of major roads such as the M7 and N18 in Limerick, the M50 North in Dublin, the N6 at Athlone, the M8 at Cashel, the M18 at Ennis, the N52 at Tullamore and the M7 at Portlaoise.

The Irish Government will continue to engage with industry representative groups on the impact of the ongoing war on the cost of fuel.

Following a meeting with the Irish Road Haulage Association, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and Minister of State Sean Canney said Government figures would meet other representative groups and keep the situation under review.

The Government also said the price of oil on international markets had reduced since a ceasefire announcement on Tuesday night.

On Friday, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon and Minister of State Timmy Dooley will meet national representative bodies of contractors and farming organisations.

Commuters are facing further disruption getting home from work on Wednesday evening as the fuel protests continue.

Dublin Bus have said several of their services and routes have been disrupted, with buses to the City Centre inbound and outbound North and South only operating from Parnell Square.

Services westbound will operate to and from Heuston Station only.

The Minister for Justice has warned that protestors will face consequences if they break the law.

Jim O'Callaghan issued a statement after his meeting with the gardai, in which he said: "I emphasised to them that while Government respects the right to protest, that right must be exercised lawfully and must respect the rights of others to earn a livelihood or to move freely.

"I also informed the Gardai that it is essential our ports and fuel depots remain open and fully accessible.

"Government is well aware of the pressures on people from increased fuel costs, but democracy cannot be dictated to by an unelected group whose actions are now damaging the Irish public.

"No one is above the law and those breaking the law should know that there are consequences for unlawful activity."

Dublin Fire Brigade are appealing to all involved in the fuel protests in Dublin City Centre to ensure the free passage of all emergency vehicles, both on blue lights heading to an emergency and also returning to base to serve their operational area.

They said they experienced significant delays in their response to emergencies, particularly mobilising from Townsend Street HQ. Alternative mobilisation routes are being employed, with the use of empty Luas lines.

In a statement, they said: "The situation has eased somewhat, due to the excellent cooperation with An Garda Siochana, liaising with protesters and clearing routes for our vehicles.

"We continue to work with the other emergency services to ensure operational readiness and emergency access, and we ask all involved to be extra vigilant and compliant when they hear emergency sirens approaching.

"Do not wait until the emergency vehicles reach the blockades. Please allow the other blocked traffic through in advance, so the route is clear for our vehicles to approach.

The Government will soon issue advice on how to conserve energy use amid soaring fuel costs.

Two weeks ago, the coalition signed off on a range of measures to reduce costs, including a temporary excise duty reduction for motor fuels, expansion of the diesel rebate scheme for hauliers and bus operators, and an extension of the fuel allowance.

It saw an effective reduction of 22 cents for diesel and 17 cents for petrol  but the savings have largely been eroded by further price increases as a result of the war in the Gulf.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said on Wednesday that the Government will shortly be launching an energy-efficiency programme for households.

He said: We will give helpful advice to citizens that if you reduce your energy use in certain ways, you can reduce the cost for yourself in respect of that energy.

There will be a comprehensive programme of advice, a public communications programme.

Protesters have called for a cap on kerosene and diesel, and for the carbon tax and excise duty to be removed for an interim period.

A spokesperson for the protest group in Dublin said that if protesters went home later or on Thursday, they would be back next Tuesday, when the Dail returned.

We will hopefully go home, but the word from other groups around the country is that if they go home today or tomorrow, theyre back next Tuesday. Government is sitting next Tuesday, James Geoghegan said.

Around two dozen protesters stood on OConnell Bridge on Wednesday morning as a handful of tractors remained parked on OConnell Street overnight.

There were some tense exchanges between Dubliners walking through the citys main thoroughfare and the protesters, with one woman telling the protesters that they had the fuel to drive up to Dublin so they should drive home.

One protester was overheard saying that they had pedestrianised the city centre as the Green Party had wanted.

Geoghegan, a spokesman for the protesters and a contractor from Co Westmeath, said they would not go home broke.

We cant go home without a result. We simply cant afford to go home, he told the Press Association.

An Garda Siochana said they are engaging with those involved in the fuel protests around the country.

They have received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to their work, of people not being able to attend hospital appointments or visit loved ones who are ill.

The gardai have asked protestors to engage with gardai locally to facilitate public transport and other traffic.

In a statement, they have also said they have no role in permitting or authorising public gatherings or protests

Traffic is at a standstill on busy roads across the country, as the fuel protests continue for a second day.

There are major disruption nationwide, with sections of motorways and national roads closed.

Those planning on using public transport are being urged to check for updates, with Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann warning of severe delays and diversions.

Luas Green Line services are still not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick.

Long delays on the N7 now from Naas and onto the M50 due to slow-moving vehicles heading for Dublin city centre. Making very slow progress.

Motorists being advised to use the M4 and back roads, Kill, Kilteel, Rathcoole, Newcastle to get around the protests.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said the Government is engaging with national representative bodies and said the disruption caused by the protests was not in our national interest, its not in our economic interest, its not in the interest of social cohesion.

Asked if the Government would meet with the groups involved in the protests, Micheal Martin responded there are many, many different groups and many different voices involved and the only feasible way to engage is with the national representative bodies of the different sectors, and thats what were going to do.

Asked if fuel pumps could run dry if depots are blockaded, Sean Canney said that would be a ransom.

He said: I think people need to understand that whats happening here is not in the national interest, its not in the peoples interest and we need to just reflect on that.

There are big problems on the M7 city-bound now at Naas due to slow-moving traffic made up of trucks, tractors, vans, buses and cars.

Motorists are being advised to avoid the motorway if they can and use alternative routes to get around.

Fuel protesters blocking cities and towns around Ireland are wrong, and those breaking the law will be penalised, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheal Martin, Simon Harris and Sean Canny spoke to the press outside Government Buildings on Wednesday morning and criticised the actions of those taking part in the demonstrations.

Towns and cities across Ireland have experienced traffic and travel disruption since Tuesday morning when slow-moving convoys of tractors, trucks and lorries started their protests.

Martin said: The protests at the moment are wrong.

To prevent mobility, to prevent people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, disrupting day-to-day activities in the manner that has happened, is wrong and is a wrong form of protest.

Asked if the gardai would clear the protesters on roads and around fuel depots the Taoiseach said: Theres no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots.

It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis.

He said while he respected the right to protest, it was not acceptable to turn Dublins OConnell Street into a car park

Dublin Chamber called on those involved in the ongoing fuel protests to engage through the appropriate channels to concerns, and to immediately cease the sustained disruption impacting Dublin.

Dublin Chamber CEO Mary Rose Burke said: The current level of disruption is placing an unfair burden on businesses and workers who have no direct influence over the issues being raised. It is neither sustainable nor proportionate.

The most effective way to achieve meaningful progress is through constructive dialogue.

"We are urging protestors to engage with policymakers and relevant stakeholders through established channels, where their concerns can be properly heard.

The M7 motorway continues to be closed at the Portlaoise Bypass resulting in significant traffic snarl-ups.

In Birr, Co Offaly traffic is at a complete standstill alongside Tesco supermarket

MEP Ciaran Mullooly slammed the Taoiseach for being petty and disingenuous for saying he will not meet with the protesters unless they are a national representative group.

He should swallow his pride and get on with the discussions which would immediately end the protests and ease difficulties for the public who are caught in the middle.

Independent Ireland TD Richard ODonoghue said in an online statement that the M7 is currently empty due to effective protests on the motorway in both directions.

Well done to all involved, including An Garda Siochana who have been very understanding and working with the protesters to ensure the protest is done safely.

The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Owen Reidy, has spoken of the double standards in Ireland in the way union protests are treated compared to those of farmers.

His comments come as the Minister for Transport said it was not acceptable that people were not being allowed to go about their daily lives.

Reidy said: I've been involved in many public transport disputes over the years, and we have to ballot our members for industrial action, serve seven days notice, and ultimately, if we don't do that, the High Court can injunct the disputes and sequester the union's funds, but it seems farmers and businesses, because the hauliers are businesses, can do as they please."

Something was happening in middle Ireland, he said on RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show, and said the Government had a problem because they were not responsible for the current crisis.

It was not acceptable that people were not being allowed to go about their daily lives because of the fuel protests, the Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien has said, calling for a de-escalation of the situation.

Speaking on RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show, the Minister said the government had been in discussions with recognised national representative bodies such as the hauliers.

We have responded significantly already. We cannot have a situation where peoples normal daily lives are being affected. People have a right to go to work. We cannot respond to every single protest that happens.

Costing businesses significant losses was counterproductive, he added.

This is unprecedented, what's happening right now, and what I would ask for is a de-escalation, an end of the protest. I think we've already seen what is happening in the Middle East, finally an initial de-escalation, the first one we've seen of a ceasefire.

"This is a global crisis. Ireland, like every other country, is impacted by it, and we'll do our best to support people, but the way of doing that is not to disrupt our own supply chain.

There is major traffic disruption in cities and on motorways due to the fuel protests, including at fuel depots in the west and in Dublin.

Essentially anything thats trying to come across the city is trapped, Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

Passengers, please be advised Green Line services are currently not operating between St. Stephen's Green and Dominick. Services are operating between Broombridge and Dominick and between St. Stephen's Green and Brides Glen only. This is due to a protest at O'Connell Bridge. We  Luas (@Luas) April 8, 2026

OConnell Street is now closed on both the north and south sides with Dublin Bus attempting to divert buses along Eden Quay and Gardiner Street.

Organisers of the fuel protest on the M8 motorway in Cashel say they could be there until Friday.

The blockade was maintained overnight by up to 80 trucks, vans and tractors.

Adrian Williams, a local organiser told Tipp FM News that many of the protestors are prepared to stay out all week.

Williams said diesel prices need to be capped at 1.70 and petrol at 1.60.

The protestors claim that they will not end their action until the government does something about the rising cost of petrol, diesel and home heating oil.

The Communications Director of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Sean ONeill, has called on anyone using the motorway network today to leave hard shoulder access available for emergency vehicles.

There were disruptions impacting the motorway network around the country with go-slows backing up traffic significantly. The protests were causing significant disruptions to peoples lives, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland would be working with the gardai to manage the situation, he said. It was important to keep hard shoulder access for emergency services.

"So we do ask that publicly for anyone, whatever your reasons for being there, you need to leave those hard shoulders available for emergency vehicles and emergency use because one of your loved ones could be impacted by that.

At the end of the day, we ask everyone to obviously be patient. We know this is a major disruption across the network, but we're dealing with it live and the gardai are doing an excellent job in helping us manage it as well.

Fuel Cost protest by Hauliers and farmers forces Dublin buses to stack from Dawson St to OConnell Bridge, in Dublin. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins

Gardai have warned of possible road blocks to Dublin Airport and the Port Tunnel. Protestors have now blocked Fleet Street in Dublin, which was an access route.

Dublin Bus spokesperson Blake Boland said that while a number of buses were able to leave their depots earlier this morning, there was now a challenge in getting buses across the city.

So you might be expecting a bus on the outskirts of Dublin, 10, 12 kilometres away that simply can't get out there in order to turn and do that trip back into town again.

With 130 routes and 800 to 900 buses on the street, the situation was very changeable and Dublin Bus would be trying to keep the public up to date on cancellations, delays and diversions through on street signage, the Dublin Bus website and social media.

I think everybody is sympathetic to the fact that there are delays and diversions out there, so we're trying to get the information out to people, we have chief inspectors there on site, and what they're doing is trying to marshal buses, move them around, perhaps communicate with customers on the ground, said Boland.

Slow-moving convoys and significant traffic delays are currently reported at locations including: Co. Limerick- N21 from Adare towards Limerick city

Co. Limerick- Ballysimon Road

Co. Cork- Macroom bypass in both directions

Motorists are advised to plan their journeys accordingly pic.twitter.com/m9hgqRm1iZ  An Garda Siochana (@GardaTraffic) April 8, 2026

Patients must not be used as pawns by any party in the current transport protest, the Irish Patients' Association has said.

The organisation said it understands the concerns driving the protests but warned that the impact on patients and citizens is already immediate, real, and being experienced across the country.

Chairman Stephen McMahon said the situation reflects a wider crisis, shaped by global instability but now felt at a local level.

"The grievances that have brought farmers, hauliers and contractors onto the streets are understood. Fuel costs are threatening livelihoods and entire industries. That deserves a serious response from Government.

"But Ireland's patients and citizens cannot be the collateral damage of this dispute, itself shaped by the wider impact of war.

"Every party at this table has a responsibility to ensure that our national resilience is protected, not dismantled. We do not protect Ireland by undermining it."

The chief executive of Fuels for Ireland has expressed frustration at the garda management of protests at fuel depots in Galway and Foynes.

It was very concerning that deliveries could not be sent out to forecourts around the country, he told RTE radios Morning Ireland.

I have to be honest, we've been a little bit frustrated that the Gardai haven't been managing the protests in such a way as to ensure that there is access and egress from those terminals, not least because emergency services need to be able to get in and out if something goes wrong."

There was a risk that some forecourts would run out of supplies if there were no deliveries today, he said.

There was no fundamental threat to supply as there were completely normal stock levels at the terminals, he said, and he hoped the problem would be short-lived. While he had a great deal of empathy with the protestors, he appealed to them, Dont cripple the entire country by stopping fuel supplies.

McPartland said there needed to be an overall review of the tax and also the compliance costs involved in fuel supply in Ireland.

We pay more tax than any other European country. I have been told, and I was told last week, that we would have a meeting with the Tanaiste/Minister of Finance this week. I'm waiting for that to be confirmed, and that's the point I'll be making to Simon Harris when we meet this week.

There were protests on the M8 close to Cashel in Co Tipperary overnight, with scores of people maintaining a blockade.

MEP for the Midlands, Ciaran Mullooly, said in a statement online that protesters are still out there".

"Farmers, contractors, hauliers, agricultural workers on the M8 in Tipperary. They go again from 6.30am (today) in Athlone, Tullamore, Galway and all over the country and all because (of) the two arrogant leaders of the two main political parties in this country.

(They) are not prepared to pick up the phone and call them or even respond to the letter they were sent seeking dialogue seven days ago.

The MEP noted that dialogue to help resolve some of the present difficulties - dialogue that has to happen if these protests are to be stopped.

If you support them (protestors), call your local Government TD tonight and tell them the time has come to listen to the people who are hurting most - or these protests will go on, he added.

Mullooly, who is currently in Brussels, said that he has been in contact with the Taoiseach Micheal Martin as to how he could work along fuel companies to make it easier not just for those involved in the protests but for teachers, nurses, social workers who are saying they just cannot keep going.

Mullooly added that he has put forward five proposals to the Government to aid workers.

So far, on the M4 and M7, traffic is moving well, with some usual commuting slowdowns after Naas and Maynooth on the main routes through Co Kildare.

In Tullamore, those taking part in the protests are gathering at the retail park in the town with groups from Clara, Kilbeggan, Edenderry and Birr at that location.

The bypass of the town is blocked by those meeting to protest. There is no access from the Clonminch area of the town to the Tesco roundabout.

They plan to move out from the retail park at 8.30 am, arriving into Tullamore town for 9am.

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has labelled fuel protests unacceptable and irresponsible.

Speaking to reporters at Government buildings on Wednesday morning, Jack Chambers said: I think some of the protests weve seen today are completely unacceptable and irresponsible.

Theyre undermining business in our city and across the country.

Responding to reports demonstrators have blocked a fuel terminal, he said action is reckless in the extreme, and they should stand down their protest.

He said the Government has constant and regular engagement with the representative groups, including the Irish Road Haulage Association.

Asked if the gardai should move protesters who are blocking OConnell Bridge in Dublin city centre, Chambers said: They know how to manage protest.

Minister of State Michael Healy Rae said the Government is going to react in a positive way to support hauliers and agricultural contractors impacted by rising fuel costs.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, the Kerry TD said it was obvious that more has to be done for these people, because you cannot expect people to work for nothing.

If further reductions can be given, that is what the government will seriously have to look at, because if you take, for instance, last week, the Irish Road Hauliers Association met with Minister Darragh O'Brien, and he explained to them the measures of what he was going to be trying to do to help that association, and they actually, because of the negotiations and talks that they've had, while I'm not trying to say they're happy, but they know that government are going to react and react in a positive way.

When asked if the Government would be encouraging people to use less fuel, Healy Rae responded that the government had always encouraged people to use less fuel, but practicalities apply here, and if you live in a rural location, you can cycle or walk to work. You don't have a bus outside your door to take you to work. You have to go to work.

There are certain things that have to happen every day to move goods, to feed people and to keep this country going, and one of those things is a thing called diesel oil, and we need to keep our transport going, and we need to keep things moving.

"Yes, you can encourage people not to use fuel unnecessarily, but at the same time, practicalities apply. People have to live, and you have to farm, you have to transport.

Our hauliers have to do their job every day, which is keeping us all alive. If it wasn't for those people, this country would cease to operate.

Speaking about the protests on Tuesday evening, Tanaiste Simon Harris said: Everyone has a right to protest in a democracy, 100% no doubt about that, but I would also just say these arent consequence-free actions.

He said he had heard reports of a range of individuals impacted by the disruption, including healthcare workers and small business owners.

Harris said: We shouldnt pit sectors against sectors.

This is a moment of national challenge, and no one sector is more important than the other, and we have to work through this.

He said the government was engaging intensively with bodies representing a variety of sectors, including farmers, farm contractors and hauliers.

Senior Government leaders meet this morning to discuss the energy crisis.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris, Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien and Roads Minister Sean Canney will be briefed on the latest projections for how the crisis is likely to effect the economy here.
When writer and actor Ciara Ni Tuathaigh was in her final year at school, and all the talk was of what she and her classmates would do after the Leaving Certificate, she was too embarrassed to state her ambition.

Ciara, who grew up in Little Island and Glounthaune and went to St Aloysius secondary school in Carrigtwohill followed by Bruce College, wanted to act. But it sounded like a silly thing to say, says Ciara. I thought people would laugh at me. I was encouraged to go into journalism or politics because I loved English and history. Id have been good at lecturing.

Ciaras one-woman show, The Scent Of A Mock Orange, is being staged at the Cork Arts Theatre after its debut at the inaugural Cork Fringe Festival last year. She wrote the play and performs it. Described as a raw and darkly humorous exploration of grief, sexuality, and emotional survival, the play is one girls reckoning with her life on the tenth anniversary of her mothers suicide.

After leaving school, Ciara knew she wanted to get some life experience so she deferred studying for a degree for a few years, working at various jobs such as waitressing and acting in a few amateur plays.

I decided I wanted to go to drama school and looked at various options. I did the BA in theatre and drama studies at MTU Cork School of Music and loved it. I think actors have mixed feelings about drama school. There were definitely aspects of it I didnt like and aspects of it that I loved. Overall, I wouldnt be the actor or the writer I am, or have the ability to create theatre the way I do today, had I not gone to drama school. I started at 23.

Glad that she went out into the world before studying for her degree, Ciara says it enhanced her ability to write.

I was watching an interview with Jessie Buckley, who we all love at the moment. She was asked if she could go back to the girl auditioning for drama school, what would she tell herself? She said shed advise herself to go out and live. As an artist, you need to have experiences. No amount of time spent in a room, even with the greatest directors or lecturers in the world, is going to give you what you need.

From a very young age, Ciara has been writing. I started off doing little stories in copybooks when I was small. As I got older, I became interested in writing which tends to lean towards the exploration of womanhood, although not solely.

I wanted to create stories like Dennis Kellys one woman play, Girls & Boys. Its one of my favourite plays with Carey Mulligan in.

After graduating, Ciara thought she would take the traditional path of going to London to work in theatre. But that didnt happen.

The Scent of a Mock Orange , Ciara's one woman show, is at the Cork Arts Theatre from today until April 11.

I graduated during covid so all the theatres were shutting down. I always had a plan on the long finger to have a production company of my own one day. I guess covid taught us all to re-evaluate how we were engaging with our work. We had no other choice.

Ciara didnt want to announce the establishment of sassyCOW, a female-led production company, until she had something to produce. When she had written a first draft of The Scent Of A Mock Orange, she wondered what to do with it.

I was researching one night and opened the Instagram app and I saw the announcement of the Cork Fringe. So I sent them a cheeky little DM (direct message). They got back to me and invited me to the launch last year. I had a chat with the directors and did a pitch of my play.

Ciara says that fringe festivals tend to put on experimental plays. While she doesnt think her play is particularly experimental, it was accepted.

I am very interested in female collaboration. I have a fabulous director on board, Sinead Crowley, whos directing my play. She and I went to drama school together and did a module together. We definitely know we can work together. Sinead is one of those people who was born to direct. When you watch her explain something to someone in a way that is so tangible, its amazing. I hope to expand and have more women on board.

The meaning behind the title of the play is hinted at in the text. Its 90-minutes long, a monologue with interjections from other voices. Ciara as Mara has the stage to herself.

Its Maras reflection on her relationship with her mother, which was tumultuous to say the least. Its about what has brought her to a very dark and lonely place. Im very interested in exploring those kinds of characters.

Someone asked me recently what Id like people to take away after seeing the play. I know it may be a weird thing to say but the last thing I want is someone walking out of the theatre saying it was nice. The plays I really love challenge me, make me feel uncomfortable and perceive something a little bit differently. They ask me to reflect on something in myself or in society. I like plays that do that without being moralistic, judgemental or wagging the fingers. The idea is to hold up a mirror to people, inviting them to look into it. Whether or not they do is ultimately up to them.

The Scent Of A Mock Orange is at the Cork Arts Theatre from today until April 11.
Name: Nicole Murphy

Age: 27

Lives: Dunmanway

Job title: Social Media & Events Manager at ETC - Events, Tourism & Communications Agency

Salary bracket: Salaries in the industry can vary widely depending on experience and responsibility, and theres always room to grow. Im progressing steadily - with enough to allow for the odd bit of retail therapy along the way!

Education background: My education background definitely wasnt a clear run into my career. I completed a BA at UCC, studying a joint honours degree in Psychology and Economics. Ive always been fascinated by psychology, while having a strong interest in business, so it gave me the opportunity to really immerse myself in both before deciding which avenue to pursue at masters level.

Looking back, the synergy between the two subjects turned out to be the perfect foundation for an industry I didnt yet know I belonged in, giving me a strong understanding of consumer behaviour, business psychology, strategic thinking and what makes people connect with brands and experiences.

As timing would have it, a certain pandemic that shall not be named broke out, and with all the uncertainty at the time, I put plans for a masters on pause. Long story short, I landed a role that gave me my first foothold in this industry - and the rest is history.

Hobbies: Pilates, yoga, reading, baking, cooking, crafting, DIY, fashion, beauty, films, gym training.

I always preach the idea of having three baskets when it comes to hobbies: something that challenges you, something that helps you unwind, and something that fills your heart. So its safe to say my baskets are definitely full!

Describe your job in five words: Dynamic, creative, fast-paced, strategic, impactful.

Describe yourself in five words: Reliable, driven, kind, creative, detail-oriented.

Personality needed for this kind of work? You need to be highly organised and detail-oriented, proactive, adaptable and creative. Just as importantly, you need to be a people person - outgoing and naturally able to build and maintain strong relationships with clients or colleagues.

Reliability is another key trait, as is confidence in your ability to communicate clearly and deliver on expectations.

In this line of work, things can change quickly, so being able to think on your feet, stay focused under pressure, and pivot quickly is essential. Curiosity is hugely important too as trends move fast, audiences evolve. A good sense of humour never goes amiss either.

How long are you doing this job? Ive been working at ETC for over two years now.

How did you get this job? I entered the corporate workforce at a particularly difficult time - at the height of the pandemic, when there was huge uncertainty for businesses and very little hiring. I came across a remote role with the Dublin agency Real Nation, the behaviour change agency, who specialise in event production, experiential campaigns, and education programmes. I remember researching the company and getting excited at the idea of working in events and experiential, but I didnt have relevant experience at the time. Still, I knew it was an agency I wanted to be part of, so I applied for the role available.

I started as Education Liaison Officer, supporting the education department by recruiting and onboarding schools across the country to national education programmes and events for a range of clients. After five months, I became Education Project Coordinator, where I spent a year co-ordinating the full life span of education projects for clients including AIB, Bord Bia and An Post.

Alongside this, I was eager to support the events and experiential department if opportunities arose. I think that willingness to say yes, build relationships and get involved beyond my own role is what eventually led to me being offered the position of Events and Experiential Coordinator.

I loved my year in that role and got to work alongside great people. I worked on large scale events and the national roll-out of experiential campaigns and activations, particularly for Heineken Ireland.

When my contract ended, I felt it was time to find a job in Cork - and for the first time in a job search, I knew exactly what I wanted.

When I came across the role at ETC, it really felt meant to be. The only issue was that the application window had closed. I couldnt let it go, so I reached out to the managing director on LinkedIn. After all, the answer is always no unless you ask. Thankfully, my gut instinct was right, and I joined ETC as PR, Social Media and Events Executive. After a busy year, I progressed into a senior position, and after a second year, I was recently promoted to Social Media and Events Manager, now leading the social media department at ETC.

Ive had the opportunity to work across a broad, exciting portfolio of projects - from festivals and events to brand campaigns and content strategies. These include The Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, Analog Devices Cork City Marathon, The Nightmare Realm, and Cork on a Fork Fest.

In my current role, I manage our social team with a focus on developing strong, creative strategies and delivering impactful digital campaigns, while staying close to my roots in event management and brand storytelling.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience? There isnt necessarily one fixed route into this industry, my own career probably being an example of that. To get into marketing and events, most companies do tend to expect a degree relevant to the industry, such as business, marketing, communications, etc. But relevant experience, transferable skills and a passion for the role are often just as important.

Describe a day at work: No two days are the same, nor is any day focused on just one project. A typical desk day might begin with checking emails, reviewing priorities and mapping out the various projects and deadlines Im juggling across clients. From there, I could be developing social media plans and campaign strategies, designing graphics, shooting and creating video content, building email campaigns, running digital ads, meeting with clients, or reporting on campaign performance and analytics.

When Im on-site at an event, I could be wearing my social media manager hat or event manager hat! Either shooting content and capturing brand stories or managing event logistics and working behind the scenes to make sure everything runs seamlessly.

A big part of the role is also idea generation - brainstorming creative concepts, solving problems quickly and finding new ways to help our clients connect with their audiences.

Essentially, I spend my days switching between planner, creator, strategist, storyteller and project manager - and I wouldnt have it any other way.

How many hours do you work a week? 40, Mon-Fri. It can be 50-60 in major event weeks! But I get my overtime back elsewhere, so it balances out.

Is your industry male or female dominated? I would consider it fairly evenly balanced. Our own team just so happens to be a female powerhouse!

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10: If I presented the stress levels on a line graph, it would probably look like an ECG reading - constantly fluctuating and occasionally spiking quite dramatically. Its hectic at times, but I like to think of it as controlled chaos. Id rate it at different stages from a 5 to a 9.

Do you work with others or on your own? Im very lucky to work with a fantastic team.

When do you plan to retire or give up working? I can thankfully say this is still just the beginning for me, and the word retire is not yet in my vocabulary - that day is a long way off!

Best bits: I love the variety of work and the broad portfolio of projects I get to work across. The creativity involved is of course a highlight. Im lucky to have a job where my natural skills and passions come into play.

At times, I feel a fleeting moment of imposter syndrome when I find myself in a room of people I likely never would have crossed paths with if not for the broad scope of the job Im in. However, Im still waiting for that pinch-me moment where I find myself in the same room as Niall Horan!

Worst bits: There are days where everything seems to happen at once and Id gladly pay to duplicate myself. Last minute changes, urgent actions popping out of the woodwork, and creeping deadlines, can make it feel a bit overwhelming at times.

Advice to those who want your job? Dont overlook the stepping stones when trying to cross the pond. Not every step will look exactly how you imagined, but each moves you closer to where you want to be.

I didnt have a five-year plan mapped out, yet each opportunity I said yes to helped bring me to where I am. So Id encourage anyone interested in this kind of work to put yourself forward, say yes to opportunities, be proactive, and trust every experience is giving you a tool youll use later, even if the bigger picture hasnt revealed itself just yet.
If you missed your chance to pay Samsung $2,900 for a phone earlier this year, we have great news for you. Android Police reported that what may be the final shipment of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold will be arriving in the US on April 10. The unique foldable was discontinued a mere three months after it first went on sale, and it seems like Samsung is clearing out whatever inventory it has left. So if you have a spare $3,000 that you're just desperate to get rid of, bookmark the TriFold's page where Samsung has a countdown ticking away.

All jokes aside, our hands-on time with the TriFold at CES 2026 revealed a pretty snazzy device that managed to strike a decent balance between size and heft. But perhaps unsurprisingly for a phone with such an intricate design and high price tag, the company didn't appear to have any intention to make the TriFold widely available. Samsung may have sold out each batch of the smartphone that went to retail, but the device didn't offer much in the way of profit, according to reports in South Korean newspaper Dong-A Ilbo.
Greece will ban children under the age 15 from using social media starting next year. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the announcement in a video posted to TikTok , in which he referenced anxiety, sleep problems and addictive design features as reasons for the ban.

Greece has been proactive in its approach to tackling excessive screen time for children, having already banned mobile phones in schools in 2024. While the PM chose not to name any platforms, he said he was concerned about children comparing themselves to others on social media and taking online comments to heart.

"Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative," Mitsotakis said. "I am certain, however, that it will not be the last. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well."

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As reported by The New York Times , Greeces digital governance minister, Dimitris Papastergiou, said that social media companies would be legally required to uphold the new restrictions by verifying the ages of their users. Failure to comply would lead to fines under the EUs Digital Services Act. Parents would also need to download an app called Kids Wallet, backed by the state, that could be paired to their childs device and block access. The finer details of how the ban would be enforced are still being worked out by decision-makers.
London's Wireless Festival has been canceled after the UK government blocked Kanye West, who also goes by Ye, from entering the country to headline the event in July.

The Home Office withdrew West's Electronic Travel Authorization, preventing him from traveling to Britain, according to statements from the festival and multiple news reports. Officials said his presence was not "conducive to the public good," a standard the government has used in immigration decisions.

Wireless Festival had planned to book West as its main attraction for the summer show at Finsbury Park in London. The booking drew immediate criticism because of West's past antisemitic comments and other offensive behavior, which had already prompted calls for him to be barred from performing in the UK, according to the BBC.

Sponsors also began pulling out after the announcement. Pepsi, Diageo, and Rockstar Energy were among the brands reported to have withdrawn support from the festival, adding financial pressure before the government's decision to block West's travel.

Festival organizers said the event would not go ahead and that all ticket holders would receive refunds. In a statement carried by several outlets, they said the Home Office had rescinded Ye's ETA, leaving the festival without its headline act, RTE reported.

The cancellation comes after days of public pressure over West's scheduled appearance. Reports said the backlash was intensified by his recent conduct and by criticism from political figures and advocacy groups, including concerns raised about antisemitism.

NBC News reported that UK officials were already reviewing West's permission to enter the country after the headliner announcement triggered controversy. That review ended with the government's decision to deny entry, effectively stopping the planned London performances before the festival could begin.

West had tried to ease concerns with a public message saying he wanted to travel to London to promote "unity, peace, and love through my music." He also said he wanted to meet members of the Jewish community in Britain and show change through his actions, but the effort did not reverse the government's decision, as per Yahoo News.
Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, spent his final night quietly slipping away at the age of 99, according to his biographer Hugo Vickers.

Vickers' new book, "Queen Elizabeth II," reveals these revelations and discusses them on HELLO! Magazine's "A Right Royal Podcast."

Vickers described the duke's final evening, saying, "The night before he died, he went along on his Zimmer frame to the Oak Room, which was that room above the entrance out of which the Queen's car came out for the funeral, and he was having a beer all by himself."

The biographer elaborated on Philip's independent nature, noting, "He gave his nurses the slip. He did not want to live to be 100, and he just slipped away. He got up, I think he had a bath and didn't feel well and lay down and that was it."

Philip reportedly spent his final years largely apart from Queen Elizabeth II, whom he had been married to for 73 years. Vickers claimed that in the years leading up to his death in 2021, the couple "in a sense, had separated."

Read more: Prince Philip Allegedly Nearly Died Twice in 2021 as Secret Health Issues Before Death Fuel New Conspiracy Theories

A source familiar with the royal household told Vickers that Philip took a step back from official duties in 2017 due to health concerns, including cancer, and spent much of his time at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate.

The Queen, meanwhile, continued her public engagements and royal responsibilities. "The Queen let the Duke do exactly as he pleased. He was at his happiest at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate," Vickers wrote via People.

Reflecting on past birthdays, Vickers said, "He did go to church for his 80th and 90th birthdays and for his 90th birthday, his family came from all over the world, from Canada, from Germany... in this case, I think there were about 120 of them." He added that Philip "absolutely did not want to be celebrated," noting that little would have been planned had he reached 100.

The Duke's withdrawal is said to have created friction. According to Style Caster, the Duke's decision to quietly withdraw and focus on his own life has made [the Queen] unhappy. It wasn't just about dutiesit was about him removing himself from the daily life they had built together.

Despite this distance, Philip remained involved in family matters and attended select royal events when necessary.

Vickers also noted that Philip's retreat allowed him to maintain independence while managing declining health. "He wasn't shirking responsibilityhe was living on his terms," he said.

He added that Queen Elizabeth II, accustomed to partnership and shared decision-making, was emotionally affected by Philip's withdrawal. "The distress caused by this dynamic persisted until Philip's death in April 2021," the outlet reported.

Philip's life, marked by a sense of obligation, self-sufficiency, and years under the public eye, came to a close two months before his hundredth birthday.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s private "sex diary," recently revealed in a new biography, reportedly details his sexual encounters with nearly 40 women and his personal struggles with what he described as "lust demons." His then-wife, Mary Richardson, discovered the diary, later died by suicide amid their contentious divorce.

According to the New York Post, Kennedy, now 72 and serving as Secretary of Health and Human Services, wrote in an entry from 2001, "Everything that I coveted  a beautiful wife and kids and loving family, wealth, education, good health and a job I love yet always on the lookout for something I can't have. I want it all. No matter how much I have  I want more."

RadarOnline reported that Richardson found the secret journal during their divorce proceedings in 2011. The publication described how she hid the diary as "insurance" while their marital disputes escalated, before her tragic death the following year.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Tried To Persuade RFK Jr. To Join His Camp In Leaked Phone Call: 'It'll Be So Good For You'

A source familiar with the couple's relationship told the outlet that Kennedy blamed Richardson for their lackluster sex life, writing in the diary, "Our bed is an unfriendly place. She hates it when I go to bed with her, and will never have sex at night. She rarely speaks to me of anything but scheduling."

Entries in the diary reportedly cataloged his sexual "conquests" and included numbered accounts of encounters with mistresses. One excerpt from February 6, 2001, read: "I narrowly escaped being mugged by a double team of (two women). It was tempting but I prayed and God gave me the strength to say no."

The outlet noted that Kennedy's diary first came to public attention in 2013, though he denied its existence at the time. "I don't think there is any way you could have a diary or journal of mine from 2001," he told the outlet. "I don't have any comment on it. I have no diary from 2001."

The outlet added that questions about Kennedy's past alleged infidelities resurfaced in 2024, amid rumors involving his third wife, actress Cheryl Hines, and former journalist Olivia Nuzzi. Nuzzi later confirmed a personal relationship with Kennedy, which led to her suspension from New York Magazine.

Kennedy's diary entries, now public, alongside the turbulence of his marriages, have brought fresh scrutiny to his private life and the enduring effects on the people who knew him best.

READ MORE: Jeffrey Epstein's Disturbing Reaction to RFK Jr.'s Wife's Suicide Uncovered in New DOJ Files
Taylor Frankie Paul has filed a temporary restraining order against her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, accusing him of assault, harassment, and stalking, according to court documents filed in Utah.

The request, submitted on April 7, outlines several alleged incidents that Paul says left her injured and fearful for her safety.

In the filing, Paul claims one of the most serious incidents happened in February 2026. She said Mortensen came to her home early in the morning while her three children were asleep, including their young son.

To avoid waking them, she agreed to speak with him outside. The two entered his truck, but Paul alleges Mortensen drove away against her wishes.

"The parties argued and Dakota assaulted Taylor by slamming her head against the dashboard of his truck and striking her knee and elbow," the filing states. Taylor Frankie Paul described the pain as "immediate and intense," according to People.

Another alleged incident dates back to May 2025. Paul said an argument at her home turned physical after she asked Mortensen to leave. When she lost her balance, she claimed he kicked her while she was on the floor. The petition includes photos that reportedly show bruising from the encounter.

Commissioner Russell Minas ultimately orders supervised visitation for Taylor Frankie Paul.



Taylor Frankie Paul will have 8 hours per week supervised with her 2 yo son.



Taylor Frankie Paul & Dakota Mortensen have made several DV allegations against one another. pic.twitter.com/CH4nCmmCNn  Southern FFA Family (@FFAFamily) April 7, 2026

Taylor Frankie Paul Alleges Ex's "Controlling" Behavior

Paul also accused Mortensen of what she described as controlling behavior. She said he sent repeated unwanted messages and showed up at her home without permission.

In one claim, she said Mortensen tattooed her initials inside his lip and sent her a photo, which she found disturbing, PageSix reported.

"My initials are now permanently tattooed on the body of a man who has been abusive toward and possessive of me," she wrote.

The filing further alleges that Mortensen returned to her home multiple times after their breakup, despite her requests for him to leave. Paul said these actions made her fear further harm.

"The fact that our relationship was over finally dawned on Dakota... which led him to take actions that scared me and made me fear for my safety," she stated.

Mortensen has not publicly responded to these latest claims. However, he previously filed his own restraining order against Paul in March, accusing her of aggressive behavior during past disputes.

Authorities have noted that allegations have been made by both sides.
Janai Norman has announced her sudden exit from Good Morning America after nearly four years as a weekend co-anchor, sharing that her time on the show was unexpectedly cut short.

In a video posted on April 3, Norman told viewers she had hoped for a longer run. "It's been hard on me that our time was cut short. I have loved my job," she said.

She added that it "breaks [her] heart" that she did not get to say goodbye on air, calling the moment something she truly looked forward to.

Sources say the change came after ABC chose not to renew her contract. Although her agreement was expected to last until early May, reports indicate she was taken off the air earlier than planned after news of her departure surfaced online.

Despite the sudden exit, Norman focused on gratitude and the positive parts of her journey. "It has been a joy to connect with my co-workers and with viewers," she said, thanking those who supported her during her time on the show, PageSix reported.

She also shared that she read messages from fans and felt "deeply grateful for the love."

Good Morning America weekend anchor Janai Norman said her stint has been "cut short," confirming that she has exited the show after nearly four years. https://t.co/6UZ1LzPxby pic.twitter.com/9ym5dSFxuk  E! News (@enews) April 7, 2026

Janai Norman Chooses Family

For Norman, one bright spot in the change is more time with her family. The 36-year-old mom explained that working weekends meant she missed time with her children.

"I have worked weekends their whole lives, so now they get more of me, and that is worth everything," she said.

According to ENews, her departure drew warm messages from colleagues across the network. Robin Roberts praised her as a "true gem" and said she treasured their friendship.

Co-anchor Whit Johnson thanked her for shared memories and wished her well. Gio Benitez added, "Love you so very much," while meteorologist Ginger Zee encouraged her to "keep shining."

Support also came from Deborah Roberts and Sunny Hostin, who both expressed excitement for her next chapter.

Norman's journey with ABC News began in 2011 as an intern. Over the years, she grew into a key voice at the network, working as a correspondent and co-anchor on programs like "World News Now" and "America This Morning."

She also helped launch new segments on the weekend edition of GMA.
A Path Spanning 130 Years: Xi'an Jiaotong University celebrates 130th anniversary

People's Daily Online) 10:31, April 08, 2026

Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) is marking its 130th founding anniversary and the 70th anniversary of its landmark Westward Relocation on April 8, 2026, with the release of a promotional film, "A Path Spanning 130 Years."

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
3

La Guardia Civil detiene en la provincia de Almeria a unos 180 profugos de la justicia en el primer trimestre de 2026
Just hours before President Donald Trumps self-imposed deadline expired on April 7, 2026, the United States and Iran reached a surprise agreement to halt active hostilities for two weeks. The deal, announced by Trump himself on social media and quickly confirmed by Iranian officials, marks the first formal pause in a conflict that had escalated sharply over the previous five to six weeks. At its core, the ceasefire is simple and transactional: Iran has committed to immediately reopening the Strait of Hormuz to safe international maritime traffic, while the United States and its allies, including Israel, have agreed to suspend all attacks on Iranian territory.

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the worlds oil supply normally passes, had been effectively closed or heavily restricted by Iran during the fighting. Its reopening is the central concession from Tehran and the main reason the Trump administration accepted the temporary truce. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that safe passage would be coordinated by Irans military for the full two weeks, provided that American and allied strikes cease. In return, the U.S. has paused its bombing campaign, which had already hit key Iranian infrastructure, military sites, and oil-related facilities.The two-week window is not meant to be the end of the conflict. Both sides have described it as a breathing space for negotiations aimed at a more permanent agreement. Talks are expected to begin as early as this Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan, which has served as a quiet mediator. Iran has put forward a ten-point proposal that includes demands such as the lifting of economic sanctions, the removal of U.S. troops from the broader region, and the cancellation of certain international resolutions against its nuclear program. The White House has signaled that it views these discussions as an opportunity to lock in Irans denuclearization and end its support for regional proxies. Vice President JD Vance, who has been deeply involved in backchannel diplomacy, is reportedly prepared to join the negotiations if they advance.Yet even as the guns have fallen silent for now, the agreement is being described in unusually cautious terms by the very officials who helped broker it. Speaking from Budapest on April 8, Vance repeatedly referred to the deal as a fragile truce. He warned that the pause could collapse quickly if Iran does not negotiate in good faith. This is why I say this is a fragile truce, Vance said. You have people who clearly want to come to the negotiating table and work with us to find a good deal, and then you have people who are lying about even the fragile truce that weve already struck. He added that President Trump is impatient to make progress and that the Iranians would soon discover Trump is not one to be messed with if they try to cheat or delay.The fragility Vance highlighted stems from several structural weaknesses in the deal. First, it is extremely short-term  only fourteen days  leaving little margin for error or delay. Second, it rests almost entirely on mutual compliance: Iran must keep the strait open and refrain from provocative actions, while the U.S. must resist the temptation to resume strikes at the first sign of trouble. Third, deep mutual distrust remains.The Trump administration believes it has already achieved most of its immediate military objectives and holds the stronger hand. Iran, meanwhile, has portrayed the ceasefire as a victory forced on Washington and has signaled that its hands remain on the trigger.Underlying all of this are the unresolved core issues that triggered the conflict in the first place: Irans nuclear ambitions, its network of allied militias across the region, and the heavy economic sanctions that have crippled its economy. Vance framed Irans choice in stark terms  two pathways. One leads to Iran becoming what he called a normal country that abandons nuclear weapons, stops funding terrorism, and rejoins global commerce. The other leads to continued isolation and the risk of even harsher consequences. Because neither side fully trusts the other to follow through, the truce feels less like a foundation for peace and more like a temporary standoff.For global markets, the immediate effect has been relief. Oil prices dropped sharply on news of the reopening of the strait. For the people of the region, the pause brings a brief respite from a war that had already caused significant damage. But as Vance made clear in Hungary, this is not the end of the story. It is merely a fragile opening chapter in what could become either a genuine diplomatic breakthrough or a return to open conflict. The next two weeks in Islamabad will determine which path Iran ultimately chooses  and whether the truce holds or simply buys time until the next crisis.
MILLERSBURG, Ohio  The West Holmes FFA competed in the Ag Mechanics Contest at Wynford High School March 11. Contestants classified oil and lubricants, welded, identified tools and fasteners, completed a carburetor labeling diagram, sized and identified nuts and bolts, used a micrometer and identified parts from a small engine. The team placed seventh at the event and, individually, Reece Anderson placed 10th.

  

BELOIT, Ohio  The West Branch FFA Grain Merchandising Team finished in third place in the state contest March 18 at Wilmington College. The team had to market a grain crop for an entire production cycle, select the best contracts and defend their decisions in an interview. Team members were Lance Myers, Austin Ruthrauff, Austin Pierce and Stella Zippay. The team made history with one of the highest finishes for a State CDE team in the program.

  

RACINE, Ohio  Racine Southern FFA celebrated National FFA week from Feb. 23-27 where the chapter participated in themed dress-up days, spread agricultural education and hosted events like teacher appreciation and various games.

On Monday, the chapter held a tractor/farm safety day where students learned about the importance of being safe while using/ being around farming equipment. FFA members also got to drive their tractors to school for the community to view.

On Tuesday, the chapter sold strawberries to raise funds for future FFA events and the livestock judging team traveled to Gallia County for the Livestock Judging CDE Invitational.

On Wednesday, the chapter officers held its annual Ag Olympics in the high school gym. Grades 7-12th had the option to participate in apple bobbing, pedal tractor, lasso and feed sack racing. The class of 2029 was the official Ag Olympics winner and will have their class year engraved on the traveling trophy.

On Thursday, the chapter educated third graders on agriculture including farm land and cattle. Students also participated in activities to learn about ag including weld with crackers and cheese, make ice cream to learn about the dairy industry and learn about soil layers with cereal.

On Friday, chapter members collected pop tabs from each grade to take to the Ronald McDonald House. The pop tabs help fund the organization. The class with the most pop tabs was Mrs. Roses fifth grade class; as a prize, they received fresh donut with chocolate milk. After school, FFA students cleaned up trash and old flags at Greenwood Cemetery. The dress up day was fisherman/woman where students wore fisherman clothes.

  

ASHLAND, Ohio  Ashland FFA member Haley McNaull placed third in the state for Extemporaneous Public Speaking at a competition held on March 7 at Marysville High School. McNaulls first speech was about how biotechnology is transforming food production. She placed fourth and advanced to the final round. Her last speech addressed In what ways are modern technologies redefining growing environments for U.S. agriculture? where she discussed the impact of tillage, climate, fertilization, variable rate technology and new robotic technologies.

This is McNaulls final year as chapter president as she prepares to study horticulture and crop science at Ohio State University in the fall.

  

DELTA, Ohio  Delta FFA competed several District 1 career development events on March 3 at Fulton County Fairgrounds. Willa Rosene placed first in the district and third in the invite for the Equine Management CDE, while Juliana Griggs took third place in the district and fifth in the invite. Overall, the Equine Management CDE placed sixth in the district and 10th in the invitational. The competitors were Willa Rosene, Juliana Griggs, Colt Reckner and Payton Reimer.

The Wildlife CDE team placed second in the district and third in the invitational. Members who competed were Hunter Elton, Archer Andrews, Jensyn Gillen, Clarence Taft, Braxton Pennington, Jordinn Heinemann, McCoy Tedrow, Edmida Hintz, Jakub Heinemann, Dylan Funk, Hunter Heinemann, Carl Dutridge, Brady Murray, Spencer Moden, Hayes Demaline and Trevor Rohrs. Delta FFA members Aiden Riegsecker and Ana Gilders competed in the Poultry CDE. The chapters Nature Interpretation CDE team placed ninth in the district. The competitors were Zorn Treutle, Gavin Canskey, Trevin Crawford, Tyler Savage, Bentley Lukaszek, Talon Nation, Jostin Murillo and Maxton Tedrick. Delta FFA members that participated in the General Livestock CDE were Allison

Earl, Abby Savage and Jayda Graham. The chapters Meats CDE team placed ninth in the district and 10th in the invitational. Team members were Ethan Wilson, Elwin Griewahn, Alex Keivens and Layton Fisher. Gracyn Pelton placed fourth in the district and sixth in the invite for the Agronomy CDE, while Jacob Schlatter placed ninth in the district. Overall, the Agronomy CDE team placed eighth in the district. The team consisted of Pelton and Schlatter.

DELTA, Ohio  Delta FFA participated in the Veterinary Science CDE Online Exam on March 16 where the team placed third overall in the district. The competitors were Clarie Bates, Abby

Savage, Ana Gilders, Olivia Siewertsen, Juliana Griggs, Eve Smith, Allison Earl, Preslee Hosler, Addison Hoggrefe and Juleyanna Wurns. Individually, Bates placed ninth in the district and Abby

Savage placed 10th in the district. Bates advanced to the state finals.

DELTA, Ohio  Delta FFA participated in online state CDE exams on March 2, including the dairy cattle, poultry management and equine management exams.

The chapter placed eighth in the district for the Dairy Cattle CDE. The competitors were Claire Bates, Allison Earl and Abby Savage. Delta FFA placed fifth in the district for the Poultry Management CDE. Team members were Ana Gilders and Aiden Riegsecker. During the Equine Management CDE, the chapter placed third overall in the district. Juliana Griggs placed 10th individually in the district. The competitors were Juliana Griggs, Willa Rosene, Payton Reimer and Colt Reckner.

DELTA, Ohio  Delta FFA competed in the Ohio Grain Merchandising Exam on Feb. 8 and placed fifth in the district. Melanie Wyse placed seventh in the district individually.

DELTA, Ohio  Delta FFA celebrated FFA week from Feb. 23-28. Each day of FFA week has a theme; this year the themes were USA Day, Farmers Day Off Pajama Day, Western Dress Day, Hiding in Camo and Neon Day. Daily treats are also part of FFA week; this year it was ice cream Monday, pizza Wednesday, sweet treat Thursday and doughnut Friday. To celebrate FFA week, the chapter opened up a coffee bar and bake sale, with earnings going toward the childrens hospital.

On Monday, students dressed up in red, white and blue and played a game where they had to find ducks with individual F and A letters on the bottom. Students who found three ducks to spell FFA won a prize.

On Farmers Day Off Tuesday, most members stayed home and participated in virtual school, while juniors came in to take their ACT.

On Western Wednesday, students came dressed in their best boots, jeans, button-ups and cowboy hats.

On Thursday, members came dressed in camo clothing, and brought home-made sweet treats to share.

To end the week, members dressed in neon on Friday and ate donuts. The coffee bar and bake sale sold out.
Four alpacas have been killed in a dog attack that has sparked a police warning to countryside walkers in Cambridgeshire.

Officers were called to a farm in Wisbech St Mary shortly after 6.30am on Tuesday, 24 March, following reports that two dogs were attacking livestock.

Four alpacas were killed, while two others suffered serious facial injuries requiring urgent veterinary treatment.

Police from the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) seized the dogs involved following the attack. An investigation into livestock worrying remains ongoing.

Sergeant Tom Nuttall said the incident was an extremely distressing incident for all involved and thanked both the victim and the dog owner for their cooperation.

He also reminded owners that livestock worrying is a criminal offence under UK law.

Under new laws introduced last month, alpacas and llamas are now officially classed as livestock.

The incident comes amid a wider rise in livestock attacks. New figures from NFU Mutual estimate that farm animals worth 1.95 million were severely injured or killed in dog attacks in 2025  a 10% increase on the previous year.

Mr Nuttall urged dog owners to ensure animals are kept secure and on a lead in rural areas to keep all animals safe.

Police said incidents of livestock worrying can be reported via 101 or through the Cambridgeshire Constabulary website. In emergencies, people should dial 999.

Dog owners are being urged to keep pets on leads near livestock, follow local restrictions and ensure animals cannot escape.

Farmers and landowners are encouraged to install clear signage, maintain secure fencing and consider measures such as CCTV or electric fencing to deter attacks and gather evidence.

Police said incidents like this are preventable and urged walkers to act responsibly when visiting rural areas.
A gene-edited barley designed to cut livestock emissions and boost feed efficiency has become the first crop approved under the UKs new precision breeding rules.

Scientists at Rothamsted Research have secured the countrys first Precision Bred Organism (PBO) marketing notice, a landmark decision that allows the crop to move closer to real-world use while signalling a major shift in how agricultural innovation is regulated.

The barley, developed using CRISPR technology, has been engineered to increase lipid content in plant tissues, producing higher-energy forage for cattle and sheep. Researchers say this could help animals gain more energy from the same feed while also reducing methane emissions during digestion.

The approval confirms the crop meets the criteria set out under the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023 and 2025 regulations, enabling further trials, evaluation and potential commercial rollout.

The genetic change itself is relatively small, targeting genes that break down plant oils so that more lipids are retained in the plant. Scientists emphasise that such edits could occur naturally or through conventional breeding, a key factor in its approval following scientific review.

Peter Eastmond, who led the research, said: This barley has been designed to increase the energy density of forage by boosting lipid levels in the plant.

He added that higher-energy feed offers a promising route to reducing methane emissions from ruminant agriculture, describing the approval as a major milestone after years of research.

The decision is being closely watched as an early test of the UKs post-Brexit approach to gene editing, which aims to streamline innovation while maintaining scientific oversight. However, the technology continues to attract debate, particularly around public perception and how quickly it will be adopted across the food chain.

Freddie Theodoulou, strategic programme leader at Rothamsted, said the move demonstrates how the UKs precision breeding framework can enable responsible innovation in crop science.

He added that traits like this highlight the potential to support more sustainable agriculture, particularly through improved feed efficiency and lower emissions.

The crop is now being trialled through the PROBITY initiative, a collaboration between researchers, farmers and supply chain partners designed to test how precision-bred varieties perform under real farming conditions.

Led by the British On-Farm Innovation Network and funded by Defra via Innovate UK, the project aims to generate practical evidence on performance, benefits and usability  a crucial step in determining whether such crops gain widespread uptake on farms.

Alongside the barley, precision-bred wheat varieties targeting improvements in yield and grain quality are also being assessed, pointing to a broader pipeline of gene-edited crops moving towards commercial reality.

The approval marks a significant moment for UK crop science, with its success likely to shape how quickly precision-bred technologies move from the lab into fields  and whether they can deliver measurable gains for both farmers and the environment.
New inheritance tax changes that came into force on 6 April are already set to increase pressure on farm succession, with accountants warning of significant challenges for some businesses.

The rules mean the first 2.5 million of combined agricultural and business property will continue to receive full relief, with 50% relief applied to assets above that level.

The threshold was raised in December 2025 from an original 1 million following industry backlash, but the reforms remain controversial across the farming sector.

For many family farms, land values alone can quickly exceed the 2.5 million threshold, even where farm incomes remain relatively modest.

Agricultural property relief has historically allowed most farms to be passed on without inheritance tax, making the new approach a significant shift for the sector.

The original proposals sparked protests across the UK, with farmers warning the changes could make it harder to pass farms on to their children.

Elsa Littlewood, private client partner at accountancy firm BDO, told The Guardian the changes were a watershed moment for the farming and family business community.

She said: While there have been some important and welcome concessions made since these new rules were initially announced, the new policy is nevertheless a significant departure from the previous regime and will pose significant challenges for those businesses in scope.

The changes are expected to place greater emphasis on early succession planning, with farmers likely to require more detailed financial and legal advice.

Ms Littlewood warned the rules could hit farms hardest where businesses are asset-rich but cash-poor  a common feature of the sector, where wealth is tied up in land and machinery rather than available cash.

This could leave some businesses struggling to meet inheritance tax bills without making difficult financial decisions.

In some cases, this could lead to the sale of land or assets, potentially breaking up farm businesses to meet tax liabilities.

The reforms form part of wider government efforts to reshape tax reliefs, with ministers arguing the higher threshold will ensure only the largest estates are affected.

The government has said raising the threshold will reduce the number of farms impacted, while maintaining support for smaller family operations.

However, concerns remain that the changes could reshape how family farms are passed down, with long-term implications for the structure of UK agriculture.

The full impact will depend on how widely the rules affect working farms and how businesses adapt their succession plans in the years ahead.
Orf is present on nearly nine in ten UK sheep farms, new research has revealed, with concerns raised over antibiotic use, low veterinary involvement and missed opportunities to improve disease control.

A study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) found that 88.8% of farmers have seen the disease in their flocks, underlining both its widespread nature and the ongoing risks to animal welfare, farm productivity and human health.

Despite being a viral condition, the research shows antibiotics are still widely used. More than 65% of farmers reported using topical antibiotic sprays, while over a quarter used injectable antibiotics, highlighting a significant gap between recommended practice and on-farm treatment.

At the same time, only 23.8% of farmers said they would consult a vet when orf is suspected, leaving most diagnosis and treatment decisions in the hands of producers.

Together, the findings point to a need for improved veterinary engagement and more targeted guidance, particularly as the livestock sector faces increasing pressure to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use and tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Orf causes lesions on the lips, muzzle, udder and feet, leading to pain, reduced feeding and slower growth, as well as raising the risk of mastitis. The disease can also be transmitted to humans, making it a zoonotic concern.

The study, based on responses from 421 UK sheep farmers, also found that only 34.5% of respondents used pain relief in affected animals, suggesting welfare considerations may be overlooked in some cases.

Researchers also identified unexpected treatment approaches. Around 13.6% of farmers reported using salt licks as part of orf management, a practice that has not been widely studied and may require further investigation.

Beth Reilly, who led the research, said: Our online survey set out to establish current orf treatment practices on UK sheep holdings, as there is currently no licenced treatment.

She added that the findings revealed a wide variety of treatments, pointing to the need for clearer guidance and further research into effective control methods.

The study also highlighted risks to farmers themselves, with nearly a third reporting they had contracted orf. However, those who wore gloves when handling affected animals were significantly less likely to become infected, underlining the importance of simple protective measures.

David Charles of NoBACZ Healthcare said the findings show just how much antibiotic is used for what is a viral disease, highlighting opportunities to improve antimicrobial stewardship and support behaviour change across the sector.

With orf remaining widespread and often managed without veterinary input, the research points to a clear need for closer collaboration between farmers and vets, alongside improved awareness of treatment options, disease risks and responsible antibiotic use.

The RVC team is now extending its work to goat herds, where evidence on disease prevalence and management remains limited, as efforts continue to strengthen disease control and safeguard both animal and human health.
After doing the rounds of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, Normal is all set to release in theatres. Directed by Ben Wheatley, the actioner is based on a story by Bob Odenkirk and Derek Kolstad.

Set in an unremarkable Midwestern town, the story follows Ulysses (Odenkirk), an interim sheriff sent in for a temporary posting, an assignment that promises distance from his troubled past and a chance at quiet routine. But when a botched bank robbery disrupts the towns calm exterior, Ulysses finds himself drawn into a chain of events that expose something far more dangerous beneath the surface. For Wheatley, the film came onto his radar through his agent, but it was the combination of the script and Odenkirks involvement that made him come on board.





That idea of flipping a familiar genre dynamic became central to his approach. He saw Normal as a film that could draw from the classical western tradition while reworking it within a contemporary framework.

The overall vision for the film was to make an action movie that was fun, but also had heart, something that wasnt too cynical. It stands with one foot in the classical western form and the other in modern action cinema. Theres a lot to learn from the western genre, especially its clear binaries good vs. bad, heroes vs. villains. But placing that in a modern setting, with contemporary pressures and worries, makes it more relatable for audiences today," the filmmaker continued.

At the centre of the film is Odenkirks performance, which Wheatley describes as emotionally rich and instinctive. Bob brings a deep emotional understanding to the character of Ulysses. When you look into his eyes, theres so much meaning beyond the dialogue. You believe his pain, his doubts, the moral questions hes grappling with. That emotional weight is something he brings effortlessly. Working with him is incredibly exciting. He constantly challenges the script and its meaning. As a producer, writer, and performer, he can make decisions quickly, which keeps the production agile. Youre never worried about finding a scene; it's always solid when hes on screen. And having that kind of creative partner means you can question things, tweak them on the fly, and push everything to be better without hesitation.





Working with Henry Winkler, who is widely known as Arthur "Fonzie" Fonzarelli on Happy Days, was an experience Wheatley describes as both surreal and rewarding. Henry Winkler, for me, was surreal to work with. On our first call, I remember thinking, Im talking to the Fonz. Hes a living icon, but also incredibly warm and humble. He can be vulnerable about his performance but then delivers something fantastic. On set, hes open, approachable, and genuinely engaged with everyone. It was a real joy working with him.





Beyond the performances, the process of making the film itself left a strong impression on the filmmaker, particularly the opportunity to collaborate with new people and work in unfamiliar environments. What Ive enjoyed most is meeting a lot of new peopleactors and crewand that has been awesome. Shooting in Canada has been fantastic, and Ive never done that before for a movie, so Ive really enjoyed it. Shooting in new environments has been great; Ive done a lot of things in closed-in spaces, and its been refreshing to get out and about, onto planes and onto a wider canvas. I also think its been amazing to shoot a lot of action in a movie that has a lot of heart but also includes comedy beats. Thats my favourite thing to do.

PVR Inox Pictures will be releasing Normal in cinemas across India on April 17, 2026.

My agent told me that this is a script that I should do. The fact that it had Bob Odenkirk attached and was coming from him pushed it straight to the top of my list. I was very excited to read it and discover what it was about, but also the prospect of working with Bob really sealed it. In terms of making movies, it was something Id wanted to do for a long time a neo-western. It had those elements. It felt like an inverted High Noon, where instead of the sheriff fighting off bad guys because the townsfolk wouldnt support him, hes actually fighting the townsfolk themselves. That immediately appealed to me.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the "1933 Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent such registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 7, 2026) - Aurelius Minerals Inc. (NEX: AUL.H) (the "Company" or "Aurelius") announces that the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "Principal Regulator") and the Ontario Securities Commission issued an order dated April 7, 2026 (the "Partial Revocation Order") partially revoking the failure-to-file cease trade order issued against the Company on May 8, 2023 (the "FFCTO"). The Company further announces that it proposes to undertake a debt financing (the "Debt Financing") for up to $830,000 in aggregate principal amount of secured promissory notes (the "Notes").

Failure-to-File Cease Trade Order

As previously announced on April 25, 2023, the FFCTO was issued as a result of the Company's failure to file audited annual financial statements, related annual management's discussion and analysis, and certification of the foregoing annual filings for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 as required by National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and National Instrument 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings.

Trading of the Company's common shares on the NEX board of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") remains halted as a result of the FFCTO.

Partial Revocation Order

The Partial Revocation Order allows the Company to complete the Debt Financing for the purpose of raising funds to prepare and file all documents required to bring the Company's continuous disclosure obligations up to date, pay certain outstanding related administrative expenses and professional fees, and continue operations, at which time the Company plans to apply for full revocation of the FFCTO.

All of the Company's securities will remain subject to the FFCTO until it is fully revoked. The granting of the Partial Revocation Order does not guarantee the issuance of a full revocation order in the future.

Debt Financing

The Notes in the proposed Debt Financing would be expected to bear interest at a rate per annum equal to CORRA plus 5%, with all interest accrued and added to the principal amount of the Notes. All principal, together with the accrued and unpaid interest under the Notes, would be due and immediately payable on the one year anniversary of the Debt Financing closing, unless otherwise extended by the holders of the Notes holding greater than 66 2/3% of the principal amount of the Notes.

The Notes are expected to be secured under a general security agreement together with a pledge of all issued and outstanding common shares of Aureus Gold Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

It is anticipated that the Debt Financing will be conducted on a prospectus exempt basis to one or more investors located in British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Ontario, each of whom is an accredited investor, as defined in section 2.3 of National Instrument 45-106 - Prospectus Exemptions (each, an "Investor").

The Company expects for certain Investors to meet the definition of a "related party", as such term is defined in in Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101") and that the Debt Financing will constitute a "related party transaction" pursuant to the definition of that term in MI 61-101. The Company intends to rely on the exemption from the formal valuation requirement contained in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101, since the securities of the Company are not listed on one of the specified stock markets in section 5.5(b) of MI 61-101. The Company intends to rely on the exemption from the minority approval requirement contained in section 5.7(a) of MI 61-101, on the basis that neither the fair market value of the securities issued, nor the fair market value of the consideration for the transactions, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization as determined by the board of directors of the Company acting in good faith.

Prior to completion of the Debt Financing, each Investor would receive a copy of the FFCTO and the Partial Revocation Order. Each Investor would also receive written notice that the Company's securities will remain subject to the FFCTO until such time as a full revocation is granted and that the granting of any partial revocation does not guarantee the issuance of a full revocation in the future, and would be required to provide an acknowledgement of the same to the Company.

Closing of the Debt Financing will be subject to acceptance by the NEX board of the TSXV and other customary closing conditions.

About Aurelius

Aurelius is a gold exploration company which holds the Aureus East Gold Property and the Forest Hill Gold Project located in Nova Scotia. Aurelius also holds a gold project in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Ontario, Canada, one of the world's most prolific mining districts; the 968-hectare Mikwam Property, in the Burntbush area on the Casa Berardi trend.

On Behalf of the Board

AURELIUS MINERALS INC.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange - NEX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information" under the provisions of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Debt Financing, the anticipated use of proceeds of the Debt Financing, the preparation and filing of all documents required to bring the Company's continuous disclosure obligations up to date, and Company's intention to seek a full revocation of the FFCTO. Generally, this forward-looking information can be identified by the use of terms such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations or comparable language of such words, and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will" or the negative connotation thereof.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of factors and assumptions that, if untrue, could cause the actual results, performances, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from future results, performances, or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies, operating conditions, the price of gold, anticipated costs, and the Company's ability to achieve its objectives. The Company's ability to carry on its business in future as a going concern is dependent on its ability to complete the Debt Financing and obtain sufficient funding to prepare and file all documents required to bring the Company's continuous disclosure obligations up to date, pay certain outstanding related administrative expenses and professional fees, and continue operations, and continue operations. There can be no assurance that the Debt Financing will be completed on the terms described in this news release or at all.

The Company provides forward-looking information for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the risks and uncertainties identified and reported in the Company's public filings under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Aurelius disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such statements unless required by law.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION INTO THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291529

Source: Aurelius Minerals Inc.
The agreement includes the potential for follow-on financing, subject to feasibility and DFC investment criteria, and indicates a pathway with strong potential toward construction and long-term development support.

"DFC is proud to announce our partnership with Pela on this strategic Project Development agreement, our first in North Macedonia," said DFC CEO Ben Black. "By supporting the revival of the brownfield antimony mine and processing operation at Krstov Dol, this project will help diversify global antimony supply away from China and secure a reliable source of this critical mineral for the U.S. and our allies."

The investment is anchored in the strategic positioning of the Krstov Dol Mine (KDM) project. KDM is a historically producing antimony asset being advanced as a near-term source of supply for U.S. and allied markets. Antimony is a critical input in defence, semiconductor and energy systems, with limited near-term production capacity across allied economies, positioning the project to benefit from tightening supply-demand dynamics.

DFC funding will support key feasibility milestones, including a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource Estimate and assessments aligned with international standards, helping to de-risk the project and advance it toward development.

As a follow-on to DFC's agreement, PELA recently collaborated with PGM Processing, a U.S.-based company, to explore a commercial offtake arrangement. Under this engagement, PGM Processing intends to procure a substantial volume of antimony concentrate and tailings from PELA, subject to the successful completion of processing trials and project development milestones.

"Together, DFC's investment and the PGM Processing partnership are expected to support the development of near-term antimony supply for the United States, anchored in allied production and U.S.-based processing",Nik Jovanovski, the Managing Director of PELA Global.

Located in North Macedonia, a NATO member and EU accession country, the project offers a stable and strategically aligned jurisdiction for investment. PELA Global, is advancing the project in line with internationally recognised environmental and social standards.

Pela Global Limited is an Australian critical and precious metals company focused on the responsible development of mineral resources across Southeastern Europe's Tethyan Metallogenic Belt.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2951745/iMAGE1.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/dfc-funding-positions-pela-to-deliver-critical-antimony-supply-to-us-and-allied-markets-302736339.html
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 7, 2026) - Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc. (CSE: TICO) (FSE: 0N8) (the "Company" or "TICO") announces that, as a result of a review by the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC"), the Company is issuing the following press release related to its promotional activities.

The Company previously engaged Nordcore Media LLC ("Nordcore") pursuant to a promotional services agreement valued at approximately US$250,000 (the "Agreement") to provide investor relations and promotional services on behalf of the Company.

Following its review, the BCSC identified promotional articles (the "Promotions") disseminated on behalf of the Company through its engagement with Nordcore, and RMK Marketing Inc., a third-party engaged by Nordcore.

At the request of the BCSC, the Company has removed the specified content identified by the BCSC from the Promotions and to cease further public circulation of such materials in their current form. The Company has also initiated a review of its investor relations and promotional materials to ensure compliance with applicable securities laws, including National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101").

The Company acknowledges that certain statements contained in the Promotions may have been exaggerated, unbalanced, speculative, and/or misleading, and did not present a balanced view of the Company's business and stage of development. In particular, the Promotions included statements that:

suggested that the Company is positioned to address global supply shortages of critical minerals or is centrally positioned within significant industry developments;

implied a high likelihood of value appreciation or significant returns associated with the Company's projects;

compared the Company to more advanced issuers or nearby projects in a manner that could imply similar outcomes; and

did not clearly indicate that the Promotions were issued on behalf of the Company.

The Company wishes to clarify that such statements should not be relied upon and are not supported by the Company's current stage of development.

The Company is an early-stage mineral exploration developer and has not yet completed sufficient exploration work to define any mineral resources on its properties. TICO's current activities are focused on evaluation, early-stage exploration planning, and corporate development. There is no certainty that further exploration will result in the delineation of mineral resources or that any of the Company's properties will be developed into producing mines.

Further, certain statements contained in the Promotions also constituted scientific or technical disclosure regarding mineral projects that were not prepared, reviewed, or approved by a "qualified person" (as defined in NI 43-101). The Company confirms that it will ensure that all future scientific and technical disclosure is based on information prepared, supervised or approved by a qualified person and will include the required disclosure regarding such qualified person in accordance with NI 43-101.

The Company acknowledges its responsibility for disclosure made on its behalf and is committed to ensuring that all future communications provide balanced, factual and non-misleading information regarding its business, properties and prospects.

Disclaimers

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan", "estimate", "target", "forecast", "may", "will", "would", "could" and similar expressions.

Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the Company's commitment to ensuring future investor relations and promotional materials comply with applicable securities laws, including NI 43-101; the Company's intention to ensure all future scientific and technical disclosure is prepared, supervised or approved by a qualified person; the Company's exploration plans and development strategy; and the Company's ability to define mineral resources or develop its properties into producing mines. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions, including, without limitation: the Company's ability to achieve and maintain regulatory compliance; general market conditions; commodity prices; availability of financing; and the Company's ability to execute its business plans. While the Company believes these assumptions are reasonable, they are subject to significant risks and uncertainties.

Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements due to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation: fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; changes in capital market conditions; the ability of the Company to obtain financing on acceptable terms; risks associated with mineral exploration and development; regulatory and permitting risks; operational risks; and general economic conditions. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291571

Source: Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc.
Die Eskalation im Iran-Konflikt hat die Energiepreise mit voller Wucht nach oben getrieben. Was zunachst nach einer kurzfristigen Reaktion aussah, entwickelt sich zunehmend zu einem strukturellen Problem: Die Strae von Hormus ist blockiert, wichtige LNG- und Olanlagen stehen still oder werden gezielt angegriffen. Eine schnelle Entspannung ist nicht in Sicht  im Gegenteil, die Lage spitzt sich weiter zu.



Fur die Weltwirtschaft bedeutet dies wachsende Risiken. Steigende Energiepreise erhohen den Inflationsdruck, gefahrden Zinssenkungen und bringen die ohnehin hoch bewerteten Aktienmarkte ins Wanken. Doch wo Risiken entstehen, ergeben sich auch Chancen.



Denn von einem dauerhaft hoheren Energiepreisniveau profitieren nicht nur Ol- und Gasunternehmen. Auch Versorger, erneuerbare Energien sowie ausgewahlte Rohstoff- und Agrarwerte rucken in den Fokus. In diesem Umfeld konnten gezielt ausgewahlte Unternehmen uberdurchschnittlich profitieren  unabhangig davon, ob die Krise anhalt oder nicht.



In unserem aktuellen Spezialreport stellen wir drei Aktien vor, die genau dieses Profil erfullen: Krisenprofiteure mit solidem Geschaftsmodell, attraktiver Bewertung und langfristigem Potenzial.



Jetzt den kostenlosen Report sichern  und Ihr Depot auf den Energiepreisschock vorbereiten!
Low engagement costs global economy more than $10 trillion in lost productivity

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global employee engagement fell to 20% in 2025, down from a peak of 23% in 2022, marking the first time Gallup has recorded two consecutive years of decline in global engagement. Despite long-term gains, including an eight-point increase since 2009, the recent downturn signals growing challenges for organizations worldwide, according to Gallup's latest State of the Global Workplacereport.

Each percentage point of engagement represents approximately 21 million employees globally. While the long-term trend shows improvement in the quality of work for millions, recent declines are cause for concern.

Low engagement continues to carry a significant economic cost. In 2024, disengagement resulted in an estimated $10 trillion in lost productivity globally - equivalent to 9% of global GDP.

The 2025 global decline in engagement was geographically widespread, with no region experiencing an increase. South Asia (-5 points) saw the largest drop.

Managers Continue to Drive Declines in Global Engagement

The recent drop in global engagement is largely driven by declining manager engagement. Since 2022, manager engagement has fallen by nine percentage points, including a five-point drop in 2025 alone (from 27% to 22%). In contrast, engagement among individual contributors has remained largely stable.

Managers have historically been more engaged than the employees they lead, but that gap has narrowed significantly. Today, managers are no more engaged than individual contributors, signaling a critical shift in workplace dynamics.

Regional data underscores the trend. In South Asia - driven largely by India - manager engagement declined by eight points in 2025, alongside a reduction in the number of managers, suggesting organizational flattening may be contributing to lower engagement.

Managers also play a pivotal role in emerging workplace trends, including artificial intelligence adoption. Gallup research in the U.S. finds that manager-led initiatives and system integration are key drivers of frequent AI use within organizations.

"This report establishes a global baseline for management effectiveness in the AI era," says Gallup CEO Jon Clifton, "Businesses are investing heavily in AI, but the results are not showing up in the bottom line. Gallup's data points to an answer the corporate world has largely ignored: the manager."

Global Job Market Perceptions Hold Steady Amid Regional Shifts

About half of employees (52%) say it is a "good time" to find a job, up one percentage point in 2025. Job market optimism rose among fully on-site workers but declined among remote and remote-capable employees, likely reflecting reduced availability of remote opportunities.

Regionally, Australia/New Zealand (-12 points) and the United States and Canada (-10 points) experienced the sharpest declines in job market optimism.

While Australia/New Zealand remains above the global average, the U.S. and Canada now rank among the least optimistic regions globally.

Employee Wellbeing Improves Slightly but Remains Under Pressure

Global employee wellbeing improved for the first time in three years, with 34% of employees classified as thriving, up one percentage point from 2024. Gains were led by increases in Latin America and the Caribbean and Europe.

However, daily negative emotions - including stress, anger and sadness - remain elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels, suggesting a lasting shift in how employees experience work and life.

Leaders report higher overall wellbeing and engagement than individual contributors, but they are significantly more likely to experience daily stress, anger, sadness and loneliness. Despite these challenges, engagement plays a critical protective role: Engaged managers report lower levels of negative emotions and are substantially more likely to be thriving than their less engaged peers.

About Gallup

Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2928688/Gallup_CORP_P_b_cmyk_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-employee-engagement-falls-to-lowest-level-since-2020-302732881.html
R&S Group Holding AG / Key word(s): Annual Results

R&S Group publishes annual and non-financial reports 2025



08-Apr-2026 / 06:30 CET/CEST

Release of an ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR R&S Group publishes annual and non-financial reports 2025 8 April 2026 - R&S Group Holding AG (SIX: RSGN) today published its annual report 2025 highlighting strong business momentum and good performance across key metrics including net sales, EBITDA, profit and cash generation. The separately published non-financial report outlines R&S Group's progress and ambitions in environmental, social and governance areas as contributors to long-term value creation. Eduardo Terzi, Group CEO, comments: "Operating at the core of the accelerating energy transition, R&S Group delivered strong financial performance in 2025 and built further strategic momentum for 2026. Demand for transformers is driven by long-term structural trends, and we are well positioned to capture this growth. Our strategy is clear: We invest with discipline, focus on higher-value applications, and expand capacity where returns are most attractive." Strategic progress Structural growth drivers in the transformer market remain firmly intact: accelerating electrification, the expansion of renewable energy and the increasing power needs of data infrastructure, among others. To capture this sustained structural demand, the Group continues to invest selectively in capacity expansion, aligned with regional demand dynamics and attractive customer segments. This disciplined approach ensures that capacity is added where growth visibility and profitability are strongest. Following the capacity ramp-up of the oil distribution transformer plant in Bochnia/Poland in 2025, construction of the new power transformer facility in Lodz/Poland is progressing as planned, with operations expected to commence by the end of 2026. Operational excellence remains a key driver of growth and profitability. The Group is advancing initiatives across product design, procurement, lean manufacturing and digitalization to enhance productivity and efficiency. These efforts are complemented by a clear go-to-market approach with strengthened sales capabilities and dedicated application expertise, reinforcing the Group's positioning in high-value segments and growth markets. Outlook The guidance of organic net sales growth of 8% to 12% over the cycle with an EBITDA margin in the range of 19% to 21% is confirmed.

Consolidated Key Financials 2025 reported 2024 reported 1 2024 adjusted 1 Change in reported figures MCHF MCHF MCHF in% Order intake 476.8 305.5 305.5 56% Order backlog 325.7 278.0 278.0 17% Net sales 414.8 282.6 282.6 47% EBITDA 86.7 2 67.5 67.5 28% as % of net sales 20.9% 23.9% 23.9% EBIT 79.2 2 62.7 65.1 3 26% as % of net sales 19.1% 22.2% 23.0% Profit after tax 58.1 2 41.2 47.3 3 41% Free cash flow 48.1 -176.2 44.9 n.a. Earnings per share in CHF 4 1.56 1.31 1.51 19% Net financial debt 5 62.9 91.3 n.a. -31% Dividend per share in CHF 0.50 6 0.50 0.50 0% Year-end number of full-time

equivalent employees

1'328

1'192

1'192

11%

1 On 20 August 2024, the group acquired Kyte Powertech, the comparative figures therefore include Kyte Powertech from that date onwards. Several adjustments in 2024 related to the acquisition accounting.

2 Including 1.8 MCHF pre-tax profit from the disposal of the non-core electrical switches & connectors business in Dec. 2025.

3 Adjusted for Irish Employee Benefit Program of 2.4 MCHF and subsequent tax payment of 3.7 MCHF n Italy.

4 Basic earnings per share computed by dividing profit after tax by the weighted average number of shares outstanding.

5 Defined as cash and equivalents less (interest-bearing) short- and long-term liabilities.

6 Proposal by the Board of Directors to the AGM on 7 May 2026.



Documentation



The annual report 2025 including the governance report, the compensation report and the full financial statements of R&S Group as well as the statutory statements of R&S Group Holding AG can be found here: https://ir.the-rsgroup.com/annual-semi-annual-reports/ The non-financial report 2025 is ready for download under this link An event for investors, analysts and financial media hosted by Group CEO Eduardo Terzi and Group CFO Matthias Weibel will take place at 10.00 CET at the PARK HYATT in Zurich today.

The documentation is available here https://ir.the-rsgroup.com/presentations/ If you would like to participate in the physical event, please register with: investors@the-rsgroup.com or under phone +41 79 410 81 88. To follow the webcast of the event, join here . Calendar 7 May 2026

5 August 2026

16 September 2026

4 November 2026 Annual General Meeting

Trading update HY2026

Release of 2026 Semi-annual Report

Capital Markets Day in Lodz/Poland



Contact Investor and Media Relations Doris Rudischhauser

Phone: +41 79 410 81 88

Email: investors@the-rsgroup.com

About R&S Group R&S Group Holding AG's ("R&S Group", the "company") operating headquarters are located in Sissach/BL, Switzerland. With eight manufacturing facilities in Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Ireland and the Middle East, the group serves its domestic and various European markets with single-phase, small and medium distribution and power transformers and other components under the brands of Rauscher & Stoecklin, ZREW, Tesar and Kyte. R&S Group's customers are active in the utility, infrastructure and industrial sectors. The company has been successfully positioned to benefit from the accelerating demand for energy production and distribution, driven by the global trend towards decarbonization. R&S Group has been listed on SIX Swiss Exchange since 13 December 2023 under the ticker symbol RSGN. On 20 August 2024, the company acquired Kyte Powertech, a leading supplier of distribution transformer solutions based in Cavan, Ireland, thus significantly expanding geographic footprint to Ireland, the UK, Benelux and France, and adding complimentary products. Further information about the R&S Group can be found at www.the-rsgroup.com Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning R&S Group Holding AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of R&S Group Holding AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. R&S Group Holding AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Additional features:





File: R&S Group publishes annual and non-financial reports 2025

End of Inside Information
LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / Powerverse today announces a strategic partnership with EnSmart Power, a global leader in energy storage, power conversion, and smart energy solutions. The partnership combines Ensmart's hardware with Powerverse's intelligent software platform, creating a connected, app-driven home solution that unlocks energy optimisation and flexibility services.

Combining EnSmart Power's expertise as one of the UK's largest providers of home energy storage systems and a global specialist in power supplies and power conversion, with Powerverse's AI-driven platform that enables home energy orchestration and maximises participation in energy flexibility, the partnership creates a powerful, end-to-end solution. Together, they empower homes to unlock smarter, cleaner, and more cost-effective energy.

"By combining EnSmart's proven hardware expertise with Powerverse's AI-driven orchestration platform, we're unlocking the full potential of the connected home," said Richard Britton, CEO of Powerverse. "Together, we're giving customers the intelligence and automation needed to seamlessly optimise their energy usage, reduce costs and carbon, and actively participate in the evolving energy system - turning everyday homes into dynamic assets for a cleaner, more flexible grid."



The partnership enhances EnSmart's customer proposition with more intelligent and connected energy management capabilities. Users gain access to Raya, Powerverse's AI-powered energy assistant, via the whitelabelled app, which supports features such as intelligent scheduling - helping to optimise energy usage in line with user preferences, market signals and grid conditions to reduce costs and emissions.

The future-ready integration also enables access to flexibility markets through the Powerverse Energy Operating System (EOS), allowing customers to be rewarded for optimising their energy use, while supporting EnSmart in building long-term customer value through greater engagement and participation

"This partnership marks a pivotal step in our mission to make smart-energy a reality for every EV driver" said Prof. Robert Hamilton, CEO at EnSmart Power. "By integrating our cutting-edge EV charging and home battery storage technologies with Powerverse's advanced software and AI capabilities, we are delivering a seamless user experience that reduces costs and carbon impact while giving customers complete confidence that their vehicle will be ready to go whenever they need it."



Through the EnSmart Power App, and soon, the Powerverse Hub, users can actively optimise energy across solar panels, home batteries, and other smart devices within a single, unified platform. This multi-device orchestration simplifies control while enabling more efficient, coordinated energy use across the home.

By intelligently aligning EV charging, storage, and participation in flexibility programmes, the solution helps customers reduce energy costs, lower emissions, and access additional value from their assets. In doing so, it creates a fully connected home energy ecosystem that not only delivers immediate benefits for residential users but also strengthens long-term customer value for EnSmart.

About Powerverse

Founded by Nick Boyle, Powerverse is a leading UK energy technology company helping OEMs, energy providers, and EV platforms unlock new value from electrification. Its white-label software powers smarter EV charging, solar and battery optimisation, and access to flexibility markets - all delivered through intuitive app experiences and a proven integration stack.

Website: www.powerverse.com

Powerverse Contact: Lauren Forster, Head of Marketing

Email: press@powerverse.com

About EnSmart

EnSmart Power is one of the UK's largest providers of Domestic and commercial energy storage systems and a global specialist in the design and manufacture of uninterruptible power supplies, power conversion systems, frequency converters, Shore Power systems and transformers with more than 50 years of manufacturing experience. We enable Homes, Businesses, and Utilities to unlock smarter, cleaner and more cost-effective energy solutions across the UK and worldwide. Products assembled in the UK and manufactured in Turkey. Global locations in UK, USA, Dubai, Turkey and China.

Website: www.ensmartpower.com

EnSmart Contact: Deniz Taner MD or Robert Hamilton CEO.

Email: sales@ensmartpower.com

SOURCE: Powerverse

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/utilities/ensmart-power-and-powerverse-partner-to-unlock-the-full-value-of-ev-charging-and-home-ene-1155547
This record closing is the largest raise ever achieved by a fully independent European fund dedicated to Biopharma, validating Jeito's patient-driven investment strategy, its multidisciplinary, collaborative expertise spanning from science to commercialization of medicines, and value creation

In five years, Jeito Capital has tripled its assets under management to 1.6 billion, firmly establishing itself among the top-tier global Biopharma investors

Jeito II will build on Jeito I's proven and differentiated strategy, investing in the most promising clinical Biopharma companies which address unmet patient needs and severe diseases, accelerate breakthrough therapeutic innovation, and deliver transformative benefits for patients

This fundraise represents significant momentum for European Biopharma, strengthening its financial firepower and expertise to develop the next generation of global champions

Jeito Capital ("Jeito"), a global independent private equity fund dedicated to Biopharma, today announces the final closing of its second fund Jeito II, exceeding its target at $1.2billion (above 1billion)1,2, and marking a new major milestone for European Biopharma investment. With this new fund, Jeito has now tripled its assets under management to 1.6 billion, following the closing in 2021 of fund Jeito I at $630 million (534 million) and reinforces its position as a leading fully independent European Biopharma investor.

Jeito II will continue the strategy established with Jeito I: selectively identifying and backing 15 to 20 of the most promising clinical stage Biopharma companies, primarily in Europe, developing breakthrough therapies for severe diseases with high unmet medical needs and accelerating the development path and future market access. This fundraising allows Jeito to increase the average size of future investments in portfolio companies up to 150 million, thus driving value creation by enabling the companies to accelerate and progress through to advanced clinical development and unleash their full commercial potential.

Jeito II has already actively deployed capital in therapeutic areas with strong demand: i.e obesity, reproductive medicine, oncology, autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, neurology and cardio-metabolic diseases.

Proven investment strategy focused on patient benefits and value creation

The pharmaceutical industry is approaching a major patent cliff. Loss of exclusivity for several blockbuster drugs could lead to a potential $400 billion decline in pharmaceutical revenues by 20333, with some of these therapeutics currently representing more than 50% of certain pharmaceutical companies' annual sales. This dynamic is expected to continue to accelerate external investment in innovation and reinforces the strategic importance of Pharma M&A with more than 70% of Pharmas innovative new drugs now originating from smaller Biopharma companies4

Jeito is uniquely positioned to address these industry challenges, creating value through a proven, patient-driven strategy and unique operating model.

The fund selectively invests in high-potential, clinical Biopharma companies, developing breakthrough therapies for patients with high unmet medical needs and severe diseases. Jeito commits significant capital in continuity, that is at each progressive value inflection point reached by the portfolio companies. It also offers portfolio companies advice and guidance from a unique team of 30+ multi-disciplinary experts with senior global experience across drug development, regulatory, patent strategy, commercial operations, manufacturing and market access. The Jeito team spans the entire drug value chain, leveraging deep pharma expertise to advance breakthrough therapeutic innovations to the highest industry standards and expand beyond initial addressable markets. This extensive pool of international expertise, working via a collective team approach will help build the next generation of global Biopharma leading companies.

This differentiated methodology and disciplined team approach are reflected in Jeito's three exits to date and include the acquisition of EyeBio and Hi-BioTM by Merck Co (MSD) for up to $3 billion (upfront payment of $1.3 billion) and by Biogen for up to $1.8 billion (upfront payment of $1.15 billion) respectively, with an average holding period of 24 months.

Jeito's appeal to top-tier institutional private investors

The fund was highly attractive to top-tier international investors, reflecting their strong conviction in Jeito's ability to capitalize on the compelling opportunity in Biopharma. It has been backed by a diversified base of investors across Europe, North America and Asia, including sovereign and public funds, pharmaceutical and corporate investors, insurance companies, pension funds, family offices, foundations, endowments and banks. This combination of strong re-up commitment, new investor momentum, and institutional depth highlights the scale of the market opportunity and confidence in Jeito's unique investment strategy and outstanding collective team.

A strong signal for Europe

Jeito II's record fundraising also represents a strong positive signal for European market. At a time when scientific excellence must be matched by patient capital and execution capabilities, the fund demonstrates Europe's ability to finance and develop the global Biopharma leaders of the future.

Europe is particularly well positioned in this context. It is one of the world's leading Biopharma ecosystems, supported by a deep pool of scientific talents, entrepreneurial excellence and high-quality innovation. Yet many European Biopharma companies still face a shortage of long-term growth capital just when they need to accelerate, scale and compete globally. Jeito II is designed precisely to help bridge this funding gap and thus build the next generation of Biopharma market leaders.

Dr Rafaele Tordjman, MD, PhD, Founder and President of Jeito Capital, said: "The closing of Jeito II at more than one billion euros represents a very significant milestone for our business. This record fundraising is a collective success, reflecting the dedication and expertise of the entire Jeito team, the talent of its portfolio companies' managers and the trust of our investors. We would like to thank them all for their hard work, dedication and support. It is also a strong signal for the European Biopharma ecosystem, demonstrating the growing conviction that European companies can drive major therapeutic innovation and significant economic benefits with the appropriate access to financial and strategic resources."

Sabine Dandiguian, Managing Partner at Jeito Capital, added: "Jeito II continues a disciplined and proven strategy built around a clear conviction: some of the most compelling opportunities in Biopharma lie at the intersection of scientific excellence, strong unmet medical need and growing demand for differentiated innovation. In this environment, value creation requires both selectivity and continuity, backing the best companies, at the right time, with the right level of capital and expertise. Jeito is uniquely positioned to do so, thanks to a proven, differentiated methodology and to a team with the experience to provide both financing and significant industry expertise."

About Jeito Capital

Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity fund with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients' access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito has built a diversified portfolio of clinical Biopharma companies with cutting-edge innovations addressing high unmet needs. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States.

For more information, please visit www.jeito.life or follow us on LinkedIn.

1 Translated from EUR to USD at an exchange rate of 1.1498 as of March 31, 2026 (source: Banque de France)

2 Final closing date of Jeito II on March 31, 2026, above fundraising target of 1 billion

3 Source: Stat News: https://www.statnews.com/2025/01/08/jpm-2025-expiring-drug-patents-could-spur-pharma-mergers-acquisitions/

4 Source: Leerinks

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260407412895/en/

Contacts:

Jeito Capital

Rafaele Tordjman, Founder CEO

Jessica Fadel, EA

Tel: +33 6 33 44 25 47

Stephanie Elbaz

Tel: +33 6 46 05 08 07

media@jeito.life

H/Advisors Maitland

Finlay Donaldson

finlay.donaldson@h-advisors.global

Tel: +44 (0) 7341 788 066
FY25 sales reached CHF 19.1m, down 9% yoy due to the absence of significant one-off sales generated from low-margin event-related activities; Services business -38% yoy to CHF 3.8m while Subscription sales were up 4% to CHF 15.2m thanks to the growing number of paying members despite the introduction of free entry membership. A refocus on profitable services (margin over sales) further impacted the group's top-line development.

EBITDA amounted to CHF 0.9m, broadly in line with guidance. The absolute number is down from CHF 1.4m in 2024. Cost discipline was real: the company conducted a comprehensive review of its activities, exiting non-core and unprofitable projects and streamlining its organisational structure, which also resulted in headcount reductions to lower the operating cost base going into 2026. Related one-off expenses amounted to roughly CHF 0.4m.

Beyond the numbers, two strategic pillars stand out. First, B2B distribution: new airline partnerships with Cathay Pacific and Turkish Airlines were added alongside a global alliance with Klarna, which now integrates ASW to provide curated travel and lifestyle benefits to its cardholder and membership offerings. These deals are meaningful because they address ASW's historically high cost of member acquisition by embedding the brand within existing high-affinity ecosystems.

Second, ASW launched a multi-year data and AI transformation programme focused on enabling more efficient, data-driven operations, supporting more targeted member acquisition, engagement and cross-selling but also driving cost efficiencies.

Strengthened community engagement. 952 events were hosted worldwide in 2025 versus 864 in 2024 and the ASW Collection hotel booking platform grew to nearly 1,800 hotels globally with member bookings up over 15%.

Improved balance sheet. The company reduced debt by 25%, to CHF 2.4m. Over two years, ASW has now eliminated the vast majority of its legacy debt burden. With a lean balance sheet and a tighter cost structure, ASW is heading into 2026.

FY26 outlook. Management's FY26 guidance is notably conservative and signals a deliberate pivot from growth-at-any-cost to profitable monetisation. Memberships are expected to reach 135-140k, an increase of 12-15%, while total revenue is projected at CHF 17.5-19.5m, flat to down yoy. EBITDA is guided at CHF 0.9-1.1 million suggesting margin stability as cost reductions offset continued investment.

All in all, new CEO seems to tackle the right levers to foster a sustainable turnaround in growth and profitability. Against this backdrop, we reiterate BUY with a new PT of CHF 2.00 (old: CHF 2.50), based on DCF. - change of analyst -

ISIN: CH0404880129
Dover, Delaware--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - In a world where problems often arise at the most inconvenient moments, a new platform is stepping forward with a simple promise: help should be immediate, reliable, and accessible to everyone. Assolve, a newly launched global service platform, is designed to connect people with verified experts within minutes, providing practical advice, quick solutions, and peace of mind exactly when it is needed.

Unexpected problems rarely arrive at convenient times. A leaking pipe late at night, a device that suddenly stops working before an important task, or a mechanical issue during a busy day can quickly turn routine moments into stressful situations. In such moments, people often find themselves scrolling through endless search results, comparing unfamiliar service providers, or waiting for callbacks that may take hours or even days. The process of finding reliable assistance can feel overwhelming when timely guidance matters the most.

Traditionally, resolving these challenges required contacting multiple professionals, scheduling appointments, or relying on online forums where advice may come from unknown or unverified sources. While digital access to information has grown significantly, finding trustworthy expertise at the right moment has remained a persistent challenge. The time spent searching for help can often add frustration to situations that already demand quick and dependable answers.

The company Assolve was created to transform this experience by introducing a faster and more direct way to access professional guidance. Instead of navigating multiple platforms or waiting for responses, users can simply ask a question and be connected with qualified experts who can offer practical advice within minutes. By simplifying the process of reaching knowledgeable professionals, the platform aims to replace confusion and delays with clarity and confidence.

"At Assolve, we believe help should never feel far away," said a spokesperson for the company. "Everyone encounters moments where a quick answer or expert guidance can change everything. Our mission is to make those answers available instantly while creating a cycle of kindness where helping others generates good karma for everyone involved."

To support this vision, Assolve has developed a network of carefully screened professionals from a wide range of fields. These specialists are selected not only for their expertise but also for their ability to guide users through problems in a clear and practical way. By bringing multiple areas of knowledge into a single digital platform, Assolve enables individuals to seek reliable advice without navigating complicated service processes.

"Our goal is to make help feel effortless and human," the spokesperson added. "Life is unpredictable, and the moments when we need guidance often come at the worst times. With Assolve, people can turn uncertainty into clarity and stress into confidence, knowing that expert support is just a question away."

The platform also offers a flexible subscription model that allows users to seek assistance whenever challenges arise without worrying about repeated service fees. By ensuring continued access to expert support until concerns are fully addressed, the company focuses on delivering meaningful solutions rather than one-time answers, creating a more dependable and reassuring experience for users.

About Assolve

Assolve is a global platform that connects individuals with verified experts across multiple professional fields. Designed to provide fast and reliable guidance anytime, Assolve allows users to ask questions and receive expert advice in minutes. By simplifying access to trusted professionals, the platform aims to empower people to solve problems faster while fostering a community built on knowledge-sharing and positive impact.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291495

Source: ReleasePR.com
Teledyne Labtech, a leader in microwave circuit design, component manufacturing and testing, has introduced a new Rapid Quote-to-Manufacture service that shortens the path from quotation to delivered prototype PCBs for early-stage RF and microwave programmes. Developed in response to customer feedback around production bottlenecks, the service enables faster pricing, reduced lead times, and a more predictable transition from purchase order to manufacture for prototype and early-programme builds.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408638378/en/

Rapid Quote-to-Manufacture Service for RF Microwave PCBs

The service combines a new matrix-based quoting model with optimised programming and manufacturing workflows. Once approved, designs are released to manufacture rapidly, with PCBs shipping in as little as five days, depending on design and material requirements.

"Delays at the prototype stage can quickly ripple through an entire programme, costing both time and money," said Jak Bridges, Sales Manager at Teledyne Labtech. "Our new Rapid Quote-to-Manufactureservice removes unnecessary wait time from the quoting and release process, giving customers the faster turnaround they need to move designs into hardware, without compromising the quality Labtech is known for."

Key Features of the Rapid Quote-to-Manufacture Service:

Rapid, Transparent Pricing Matrix-based prototype quoting for faster cost visibility

Matrix-based prototype quoting for faster cost visibility Accelerated Release to Manufacture Reduced delay between quote approval and production start

Reduced delay between quote approval and production start Optimised Prototype Workflows Programming and manufacturing processes tailored for early-stage builds

Programming and manufacturing processes tailored for early-stage builds Shipping in as little as five days Subject to design complexity and material availability

Subject to design complexity and material availability Over 40 Years of RF Microwave PCB Expertise Proven performance and quality for precision PCB manufacturing

Proven performance and quality for precision PCB manufacturing Uncompromised Labtech Quality Same consistent, rigorous quality control and reliability

The Rapid Quote-to-Manufacture service complements Teledyne Labtech's long-standing reputation for high-reliability RF and microwave PCB technologies used in defence, aerospace, space, communications, and other mission-critical applications, now delivered at a pace even more strongly aligned with modern development cycles.

Customers can request a Rapid Quote-to-Manufacture directly via email at Labtech.sales@teledyne.com or by visiting the Teledyne Labtech website

ABOUT TELEDYNE LABTECH

An integral part of the Teledyne Aerospace Defense Electronics segment, Teledyne Labtech has over 40 years of experience as a world leader in microwave circuit design, component manufacturing and testing in the defence, electronics, global telecommunications, space and satellite communications markets. For more information, visit www.teledynelabtech.com.

ABOUT TELEDYNE AEROSPACE DEFENSE ELECTRONICS

The Teledyne Aerospace Defense Electronics segment of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY) offers a comprehensive portfolio of highly engineered solutions that meet the most demanding requirements, in the harshest environments. Manufacturing both custom and off-the-shelf product offerings, our diverse product lines meet the current and emerging needs of key applications for avionics, energetics, electronic warfare, missiles, radar and surveillance, satellite communications, air and space, and test and measurement. For more information, visit www.teledyneADE.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408638378/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact:

Lindsay Petty, Group Marketing Lead

Teledyne Aerospace and Defence Electronics UK

Email: Lindsay.petty@teledyne.com
STOCKHOLM, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The climate crisis is one of the most urgent challenges of our time - and understanding it starts earlier than we might think. That belief sits at the core of Baseload's children's book series Our Hidden Powers, with its second book, The Big Switch, recently launched in Stockholm.

With The Big Switch, the story expands to address the shift away from fossil fuels. A new character, Fossi, represents fossil energy - both the role it has played in building modern society, and the consequences it has had for the climate.

The direction is clear: understanding the past is necessary to move forward.

"Fossil fuels are part of how we got here - but they are not part of the future we're building. The goal of the book is to make that shift understandable for a younger audience, so that it becomes easier to act on," says Baseload's CMO and author, Kristina Hagstrom-Ilievska.

In practice, the book focuses on how that transition can happen. It explores how society can accelerate the shift by applying existing knowledge, technology, and experience to scale solutions like geothermal - making a complex system easier to understand, and act on.

That perspective is shared by Baseload's CEO, Alexander Helling:

"This book is about helping children understand the system they are inheriting. If we want better decisions in the future, we need better understanding today. That starts with being honest about where we come from - and clear about where we're going."

The launch brought together industry professionals, partners, and families - creating a space for conversations about energy that rarely happen across generations.

As a company operating at the intersection of technology, investment, and energy, Baseload aims to contribute to a more informed conversation about the transition. By engaging younger generations while inviting broader dialogue, Our Hidden Powers: The Big Switch is part of that effort.

Print copies of Our Hidden Powers: The Big Switch are available across the EU, with wider availability expected soon. The e-book is also available for those who prefer a digital format.

English (web shop in Swedish, book content in English)

Swedish

For more information, please contact:

Kristina Hagstrom-Ilievska CMO, Baseload Capital

kristina.hagstrom.ilievska@baseloadcap.com

Tel: +46 (0) 732330039

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/baseload-capital-sweden-ab/r/baseload-s-latest-book-brings-the-energy-transition-into-the-classroom,c4331629

The following files are available for download:

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/baseloads-latest-book-brings-the-energy-transition-into-the-classroom-302736758.html
BOLOGNA, Italy, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2026 Bologna Children's Book Fair approaches, Phoenix Publishing and Media Inc. (PPM) is offering an incisive analysis of a major shift in the world's second-largest publishing market. According to recent retail data from OpenBook (Jan-Nov 2025), Science and Nature titles now command 28.68% of the Chinese children's book market, making it the largest sub-sector in the industry.

From "Anxiety" to "Nourishment"

Mr. Gu Jianya, President of Phoenix Juvenile & Children's Publishing, characterizes this trend as a "Value Return."

"Utilitarian motives still prevail, but the tide is turning toward growth-oriented nourishment," observes Mr. Gu. "We will witness a move away from utilitarian anxiety. Nature-based science has become the core vehicle for this shift as parents prioritize cognitive opening and curiosity over rote knowledge. With China's national 'Dual Carbon' goals now part of the social fabric, ecological education has moved from an 'elective' to a 'must-have' for the modern Chinese family."

A Global Bridge for Ecology and Art

This trend has proven a growth driver for international creators. PPM's recent successes include the Chinese edition of Maison by French author and illustrator Isabelle Simler (awarded the 2025 iRead Top 100), Anita Ganeri's Blue Worlds (Hachette Children's Group), Mary Auld's Art Alive! with Science (Hachette Children's Group) - a collaboration supported by UK-based agency Singing Grass, and Thames & Hudson's Modern Art Explorer.



Bridging Science and Aesthetics

Simultaneously, Phoenix Fine Arts Publishing is integrating STEM with aesthetic education. Its art and science collection have successfully localised prestigious titles from UK and French publishers including Hodders & Stoughton, Tate Enterprises, Thames & Hudson, Hachette Children's Group, and Editions Mango.

"Phoenix arrives in Bologna with an active outlook for international rights," says Mr. Wang Linjun, President of Phoenix Fine Arts Publishing. "We are looking for multi-functional titles that offer aesthetic value alongside ecological education. We aren't just teaching kids how to draw; we are guiding them on how to see the world."

About Phoenix Publishing and Media Inc. (PPM)

PPM is one of China's most influential publishing and distribution groups. It has been listed in "The Global 50 Publishing Ranking" consistently and maintains a diverse portfolio including social sciences, STM, education, children's books, fine arts, literature, and audiovisual works.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/chinas-childrens-book-market-pivots-to-science-and-nature-openbook-data-shows-28-68-market-share-as-phoenix-publishing-highlights-value-return-at-bologna-2026--302726744.html
Positive result despite challenging market conditions

Further investments in automation and digitalization

Strategic acquisitions strengthen network

In 2025, the total revenue of Royal Van Leeuwen amounted to 1,223 million (2024: 1,335 million). The operating result amounted to 17 million (2024: 22 million) and the net result was 12 million (2024: 14 million). The solvency ratio improved to 51.9% (2024: 49.8%).

Market conditions remained difficult throughout the year. In Europe in particular, industrial demand was weak and investment decisions were frequently delayed. Volumes sold were broadly in line with 2024, but at lower price levels. In the Energy segment, overall project activity declined, especially in the second half of the year, as customers maintained a cautious investment stance.

Van Leeuwen advanced automation and digitalization across its network, continuing to successfully roll out its new ERP system SAP S/4HANA to additional operating companies. The safety performance improved significantly, and sustainability efforts led to being awarded the EcoVadis Silver Medal, placing Van Leeuwen among the top 15% of sustainable companies in its industry.

Van Leeuwen strengthened its market position through targeted acquisitions. In June 2025, Dan-Equip A/S was acquired, a trading company in the offshore and energy segment in Denmark. The acquisition of Corrotherm International, a stockist of high-quality nickel alloy pipe material based in the Netherlands, and the acquisition of C+R HYDRAULICS, a distribution specialist in cylinder tubes and chrome-plated bars based in Germany, were completed early 2026.

Joop Sassen, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO: "With more than a hundred years of history, we have proven our ability to adapt to changing market conditions. In 2025, our teams across the globe once again demonstrated a strong solution-oriented mindset, using their creativity and commitment to service our customers. Our long-term customer and supplier relationships, global network, and experienced, committed teams provide a strong foundation for the future. While uncertainty remains part of the business environment, we approach 2026 with confidence."

The online Annual Book 2025 of Van Leeuwen is available via this link.

Photos are available via this link .

Royal Van Leeuwen is an international distribution company specializing in steel pipes, and pipe and tube applications. The family-owned company, with its head office in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, was founded in 1924 and is active in virtually all industrial sectors. The company has 75 branches spread across 32 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and North America. Van Leeuwen's 2,200 employees have specialist knowledge of sourcing, processing, project management, logistics and stock planning and work closely together with customers in its markets. The combination of global logistics and knowledge of products and customer applications makes Van Leeuwen a leading company in its markets.

www.vanleeuwen.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2949652/Royal_Van_Leeuwen_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/positive-result-royal-van-leeuwen-in-2025-302733757.html
HONG KONG, Apr 8, 2026 - (ACN Newswire) - Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd. ('Sigenergy' or the 'Company', Stock Code: 06656.HK), a phenomenal "fast-track dark horse" in the global AI+ energy storage sector, today officially announced the launch of its Initial Public Offering (IPO). The Hong Kong Public Offering commences on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, and is expected to close at 12:00 noon on Monday, April 13, 2026. Trading of the Company's H shares on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (HKEX) is expected to begin on Thursday, April 16, 2026.According to the Global Offering documents, Sigenergy (06656.HK) plans to offer a total of 13,573,900 H Shares (subject to the Over-allotment Option). The offering comprises a Hong Kong Public Offering of 10% and an International Offering of 90% of the total offer shares, with an additional Over-allotment Option of 15%. The offer price is set at HK$324.20 per H Share, with a board lot size of 100 H Shares.Sigenergy's IPO is underpinned by a powerhouse ensemble of world-class capital, featuring a prestigious cornerstone lineup of 19 investors. This A-list roster includes Temasek Holdings, UBS Asset Management (Hong Kong), Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Hillhouse Investment, BNP Paribas Asset Management, Barings, ORIX Group, CPE, Perseverance Asset Management, Greenwoods Asset Management, Boyu Capital, Fullgoal Fund, China Pacific Insurance (Group), and AXA. This diverse group of top-tier global sovereign wealth funds, international asset managers, leading private equity firms, and major insurance giants underscores the profound confidence global investors have in Sigenergy's leadership within the AI-native energy storage sector, its superior product capabilities, and its highly certain growth trajectory.As of December 31, 2025, the Company's revenue skyrocketed from RMB 58 million in 2023 to RMB 9 billion in 2025'a phenomenal increase of over 150 times that marks a landmark growth trajectory in the industry. Meanwhile, Sigenergy's profitability has seen significant improvement, achieving a turnaround to profit in 2024. The gross margin climbed steadily from 31.3% in 2023 to 50.1% in 2025. With an adjusted net margin reaching 35.9% in 2025, both core indicators rank among the highest in the global distributed energy storage sector. Sigenergy is poised to become the youngest Chinese enterprise to achieve the fastest listing on the HKEX.Sigenergy focuses on the integrated innovation of "AI + New Energy," building a systematic competitive advantage centered on its "AI in All" strategy, which deeply integrates hardware with intelligent technology. The Company's flagship product, SigenStor, is the world's first "5-in-1" integrated solar-storage-charging system, redefining distributed energy product standards through its ultra-integrated architecture. The Company has established an all-scenario product matrix covering residential, commercial and industrial (C&I), and utility-scale power station applications. Furthermore, Sigenergy deeply integrates AI capabilities across the entire value chain'from R&D and smart manufacturing to system operations'creating a truly "thinking and evolving" smart energy ecosystem.Leveraging its international development strategy, Sigenergy has secured leading positions in several core markets. In 2024, the Company ranked first globally in the stackable distributed all-in-one energy storage segment with a 28.6% market share. It also holds the top market share in Australia, Ireland, and South Africa; notably, it has remained at the top of the Australian market for 11 consecutive months in 2025. To date, the Company has built a sales network covering 85 countries and established strategic partnerships with 172 industry-leading distributors.To support the rapid expansion of its global business, Sigenergy has strategically established three production bases in the Lingang Special Area and Jinqiao in Shanghai, as well as in Nantong, Jiangsu. The Nantong Smart Energy Center, representing an investment of approximately RMB 500 million, achieves significant improvements in production efficiency and process quality by deeply integrating AI technology into the manufacturing system. As of the end of 2025, the Company's annual design capacity for inverters approached 360,000 units, while the annual design capacity for energy storage batteries exceeded 5.6 gigawatt-hours (GWh).The net proceeds from this IPO will be primarily used for the research and development of next-generation AI energy systems, the expansion of the global sales network and overseas branding, and for general working capital. The Global Offering is jointly led by a prestigious group of investment banks. CITIC Securities and BNP Paribas are acting as the Joint Sponsors, Overall Coordinators, and Joint Global Coordinators. CICC serves as the Other Overall Coordinator, Joint Global Coordinator, Joint Bookrunner, and Joint Lead Manager. Together, these top-tier institutions are safeguarding Sigenergy's debut in the capital markets.Media Inquiries:EVER BLOOM (HK) COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANTS GROUP LIMITEDMs. Claire ZhangTel: (852) 3468 8171Email: project_alps.list@everbloom.com.cnSource: Sigenergy Technology Co., Ltd.Copyright 2026 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Questcorp Mining Inc. (CSE: QQQ) (OTCQB: QQCMF) (FSE: D910) (the "Company" or "Questcorp") is pleased to report preliminary results from a recently completed 12.8 line-kilometre Induced Polarization ("IP") survey over the Marisa Zone at its 100%-optioned North Island Copper Project, located near Port Hardy on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

The survey results indicate a significant increase in the intensity of the chargeability anomaly at depth, suggesting that historical drilling conducted in 1992 likely intersected only the upper, lower-intensity portion of a potentially larger mineralized system.

Key Takeaway:

Chargeability anomaly strengthens from approximately 150 metres depth to the 400- metres survey limit

Historical drilling appears to have tested only the outer shell of the system

Results support the potential presence of a larger porphyry system at depth

"The results from the 2026 IP survey significantly enhance our understanding of the Marisa target," said Saf Dhillon, President & CEO of Questcorp Mining. "The increase in chargeability with depth suggests that historical drilling did not fully test the core of the system. With the continued success of North Isle Copper & Gold to the west and now a refined geophysical model in place, we are excited to continue advancing toward drill testing to evaluate the full scale of the target."

The 2026 IP survey was completed on 200-metre spaced lines oriented at an azimuth of 045, using parameters of a=100 metres and n=9, allowing for greater depth penetration relative to historical work.

Peter E. Walcott & Associates Ltd. integrated the new survey data with historical IP data collected in 1992 by Pacific Geophysical Ltd. The historical survey utilized similar line spacing but shallower parameters (a=50 metres and n=4), limiting depth resolution.

The combined dataset has been used to generate a 3D inversion model, effectively producing a higher-resolution interpretation. The integration of both datasets provides an equivalent 100-metre line spacing, enhancing confidence in the continuity and geometry of the chargeability anomaly.

Previous exploration at the Marisa Zone identified copper mineralization associated with an IP chargeability anomaly. In 1992, two of five diamond drill holes were completed to test the anomaly intersected copper mineralization, including:

0.078% copper over 56.39 metres (DDH92-01)

(DDH92-01) 0.041% copper over 70.71 metres (DDH92-03)

Copper grades in DDH92-03 were observed to increase with depth, consistent with the interpretation that drilling may have intersected the upper portion of a larger mineralized system.

The expanded and intensified chargeability response at depth, combined with increasing copper grades in historical drilling, supports the interpretation of a potential larger, vertically extensive mineralized system at the Marisa Zone.

The Company plans to:

Initiate permitting for a follow-up drill program

Design drilling to test the core of the chargeability anomaly at depth

Further refine targets using the 3D inversion model

Source: Geophysical and Diamond Drilling Report on the Marisa Property, G.J. Allen and P.G. Dasler, February 29, 1992, prepared for Great Western Gold Corporation.

The Company cautions that a Qualified Person has not verified the historical exploration data referenced in this release. The presence of mineralization on adjacent or nearby properties, including NorthIsle Copper and Gold and BHP properties, is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the North Island Copper Project.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, P. Geo (BC), a Director of the Company and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Questcorp Mining Inc.

Questcorp is engaged in the business of the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in North America, with the objective of locating and developing economic precious and base metal properties of merit. The Company holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 1,168.09 hectares comprising the North Island Copper property, on Vancouver Island, B.C., subject to a royalty obligation. The Company also holds an option to acquire an undivided 100-per-cent interest in and to mineral claims totalling 2,520.2 hectares comprising the La Union project located in Sonora, Mexico, subject to a royalty obligation.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Saf Dhillon

President & CEO

https://questcorpmining.ca

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the intended use of proceeds from the Offering; and closing of subsequent tranches of the Offering. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; and delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291538

Source: Questcorp Mining Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Bayridge Resources Corp. (CSE: BYRG) (OTCQB: BYRRF) (FSE: O0K0) ("Bayridge" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on completed data reinterpretation and planned 2026 exploration activities at its 51%-owned Baker Lake Uranium Project (the "Project"), located approximately 65 kilometres southeast of Baker Lake in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. The Company has completed a reinterpretation of historic airborne geophysical datasets, resulting in improved target definition and enhanced understanding of structural controls on uranium mineralization across the project. The updated interpretation provides a refined framework for prioritizing targets ahead of the proposed 2026 exploration program.

Highlights

Reinterpretation of historic airborne geophysical data has refined and prioritized uranium targets across the Baker Basin.

The original 2008 survey outlined 30 uranium-enhanced targets , now further constrained through integrated analysis.

Integrated magnetic, radiometric, and EM review has improved interpretation of structural controls and mineralization trends across the property.

Known mineralized occurrences show a consistent relationship with magnetic anomalies and uranium-associated radiometric responses, supporting the broader targeting model.

Planned 2026 work is designed to advance priority targets through surface exploration both mapping and prospecting, and up to 3,500 metres of diamond drilling, subject to permitting and results.

Data Reinterpretation and Target Advancement

The reinterpretation of historic geophysical data has materially improved the Company's understanding of the geological and structural framework controlling uranium mineralization at Baker Lake.

Planned 2026 field exploration at Baker Lake will focus on refining drill targets through the integration of geophysical and geochemical datasets. The program is expected to include surface exploration, completion of required environmental and archaeological assessments, and refurbishment of a previously disturbed historic exploration outpost to support operations. Bayridge has secured a drilling contractor and is actively advancing planning for the proposed 2026 program.

"Our review of the historic dataset has significantly enhanced our understanding of the structural and geophysical controls on uranium mineralization at Baker Basin," said Mark Richardson, Vice President of Exploration. "The integration of historical drill-confirmed mineralization at Lucky 7 and KZ, together with additional target definition at Atlas and Andromeda, provides a much stronger foundation for prioritizing follow-up work and future drill testing."

The updated model highlights the spatial association between uranium mineralization, magnetic anomalies, and radiometric responses, reinforcing the exploration targeting approach across multiple areas of the property.

"The results of our recent data reinterpretation have materially enhanced our understanding of the Baker Lake uranium system and elevated the quality of our target pipeline," said Saf Dhillon, President & CEO of Bayridge Resources. "We are now moving forward with a more refined and data-driven exploration strategy, supported by multiple high-priority targets across a district-scale land package. We look forward to advancing these targets through our 2026 program and positioning the Project for drill testing."

2026 Exploration Program

The planned 2026 field program will focus on advancing priority targets through the integration of geophysical reinterpretation and field-based validation.

Key components of the program are expected to include:

Surface mapping and prospecting across priority target areas

Completion of environmental and archaeological baseline studies

Refurbishment of a historic exploration outpost to support field operations

Follow-up evaluation of targets identified through geophysical reinterpretation.

Subject to permitting and initial results, the Company plans to undertake up to 3,500 metres of helicopter-supported diamond drilling to test priority uranium targets.

Bayridge has secured a drilling contractor and is actively advancing planning for the upcoming program.

Target Pipeline

Delta

Delta is Bayridge's most advanced target area and includes the Lucky 7, KZ Zone, and KZ Zone SE trends, where historical 2006-2007 drilling by Pacific Ridge confirmed a structurally controlled uranium system (Figure 1).

Historical drilling at Lucky 7 returned 17.3 m at 0.30% U3O8 in L7-07-08 and 10.0 m at 0.35% U3O8 in L7-07-10 (Figure 2), with mineralization traced to depths of more than 500 metres.

Historical drilling at KZ Zone returned 11.5 m at 0.31% U3O8 (Figure 3), including 5.5 m at 0.56% U3O8, in KZ-06-02 and 5.2 m at 0.40% U3O8, including 2.0 m at 0.90% U3O8, in KZ-06-04.

These historical results confirm bedrock uranium mineralization and support Delta as a priority drill target for 2026.

Mineralization has been traced to depths exceeding 500 metres.

These findings suggest the presence of a significant uranium-bearing system and support Delta as a priority drill target for the 2026 program.

Figure 1. Horizontal derivative map of the Baker Lake Uranium Project highlighting the Delta target area. The map shows the KZ Zone, KZ Zone SE, and Lucky 7 in relation to historical drill results, surface uranium occurrences, airborne radiometric targets, and the interpreted unconformity.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10256/291533_13dc82ef24fd4929_001full.jpg

Figure 2: Lucky 7 Zone longitudinal section showing historical drill results from 2007 by Pacific Ridge. Drilling returned multiple uranium intersections over a significant vertical extent, including locally high-grade intervals, confirming Lucky 7 as one of the Project's key historical mineralized zones.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10256/291533_13dc82ef24fd4929_002full.jpg

Figure 3: KZ Zone longitudinal section showing historical drill results from 2006 and 2007 by Pacific Ridge. Drilling intersected multiple zones of uranium mineralization over a broad vertical extent, including higher-grade intervals that highlight the scale and continuity of the system.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10256/291533_13dc82ef24fd4929_003full.jpg

Atlas

Atlas is a multi-kilometre target corridor defined by airborne geophysics and regional geological mapping, with coincident radiometric and conductive features supporting its uranium potential (Figure 4).

Within Atlas, Iris has been identified as a 2026 priority for mapping and prospecting at the junction of a conductive anomaly and the interpreted unconformity.





Figure 4: Baker Lake Uranium Project. Tau conductivity (left) and first vertical derivative ("1VD") magnetics (right) over the same area, highlighting historical drill results and surface uranium occurrences. The Iris target is located at the junction of a conductive anomaly and the interpreted unconformity.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10256/291533_figure4.jpg

Andromeda Target

The Andromeda target is a large, underexplored radiometric anomaly with supporting geophysical signatures.

Represents a district-scale exploration opportunity

Prioritized for systematic surface work and target refinement in 2026.

The Baker Lake Uranium Project comprises 83 contiguous claims covering 619 km in Nunavut's Kivalliq Region.

Exploration has defined a 75-kilometre unconformity corridor hosting multiple uranium targets supported by historical drilling and airborne geophysical surveys.

The recent reinterpretation of geophysical data strengthens the Company's target framework and supports a systematic approach to advancing the project toward drill testing.

Mark Richardson, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration (NAPEG #2451), is the Qualified Person under NI 43-101 and has approved the technical content of this release.

About Bayridge Resources Corp.

Bayridge Resources Corp. is a green energy exploration company advancing a portfolio of Canadian uranium projects.

The Company's 51%-owned Baker Lake Uranium Project comprises 83 contiguous claims covering approximately 619 km in the Kivalliq Region of Nunavut. Exploration has defined a 75-kilometre unconformity corridor hosting multiple uranium targets, supported by historical drilling and modern airborne geophysical surveys.

Bayridge has also earned a 40% interest in the Waterbury East Project, located approximately 25 kilometres northeast of the Cigar Lake Mine in the northeastern Athabasca Basin. Geophysical surveys have identified a 7-kilometre conductivity corridor, where historical drilling from the mid-2000s intersected faulted and altered basement rocks with localized uranium enrichment. Significant portions of this corridor remain untested.

Forward-looking information

This release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, projections, beliefs and assumptions made by management of the Company. Forward-looking information is generally identified by words such as "believe", "project", "aim", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "strategy", "future", "opportunity", "plan", "may", "should", "will", "would", and similar expressions. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that it will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking information addresses future events and conditions, by its very nature it involves inherent risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this news release. The forward-looking information included in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable laws.

The CSE has not reviewed, approved, or disapproved the contents of this press release.

Appendix

Historic Sampling, QAQC and Analytical Procedures

Pacific Ridge 2006 QA/QC and Analytical Procedures:

In 2006, Pacific Ridge collected 209 surface samples and 200 drill core samples from the 694, KZ, and Lucky 7 zones. Samples were sealed, bagged, and shipped by air to Activation Laboratories (ActLabs), Ancaster, Ontario, an ISO-accredited facility. Surface samples weighed 3-5 kg; drill core was split into ~1 m intervals (~2.5 kg). QA/QC included blank Kazan arkose and quarter-core duplicates inserted at ~5% frequency. Core was scanned with an Exploranium GR-135 scintillometer prior to sampling. All samples were crushed and pulverized to -150 mesh and analyzed using Fusion XRF and Delayed Neutron Counting (DNC) for uranium, with select fire assay-AA analysis for gold. Thirteen pulp check samples (~7%) were sent to SRC for independent verification.

Source: Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd., 2006 Exploration Report, Baker Basin Property.

Pacific Ridge 2007 QA/QC and Analytical Procedures:

During the 2006-2007 work programs, 29 surface samples and 526 drill core samples were collected from the Lucky 7, Lucky 7 East, Area 8, and KZ zones. Samples were sealed, packed in rice sacks, and shipped by air to ActLabs, an ISO-registered laboratory. Core was split using a manual splitter into 0.5-1.0 m intervals. QA/QC included quarter-core duplicates inserted every ~20 samples (~4%) and blank Kazan arkose inserted every 10-20 samples (~5%). Core was scanned with an Exploranium GR-135 scintillometer prior to sampling. Samples were crushed to -150 mesh and analyzed by Fusion XRF and DNC for uranium, with select fire assay-AA for gold and silver. Thirty pulp check samples (~6%) were analyzed at SRC, returning results within ~5% of ActLabs values. All intervals represent core lengths; true widths are unknown.

Source: Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd., 2007 Exploration Report, Baker Basin Property.

Drill Collar Table - 2006 Pacific Ridge Exploration Drilling Campaign Zone Hole ID Northing (UTM) Easting (UTM) Length (m) Azimuth () Dip () 694 694-06-01 7,065,052 363,139 123.44 90 -45 694 694-06-02 7,065,052 363,138 136.86 90 -75 694 694-06-03 7,065,138 363,119 68.58 90 -45 694 694-06-04 7,065,138 363,118 121.31 90 -70 694 694-06-05 7,065,175 363,057 93.06 90 -55 694 Subtotal - - - 543.25 - - KZ KZ-06-01 7,079,071 372,753 148.57 282 -45 KZ KZ-06-02 7,079,071 372,753 168.25 282 -70 KZ KZ-06-03 7,079,071 372,754 55.17 180 -45 KZ KZ-06-04 7,079,065 372,768 180.87 287 -70 KZ KZ-06-05 7,079,118 372,767 179.22 287 -75 KZ KZ-06-06 7,079,069 372,784 317.14 282 -80 KZ Subtotal - - - 1,049.22 - - Lucky 7 L7-06-01 7,078,202 382,264 85.59 235 -50 Lucky 7 L7-06-02 7,078,202 382,264 139.6 235 -66 Lucky 7 L7-06-03 7,078,202 382,264 158.19 235 -80 Lucky 7 Subtotal - - - 383.38 - - Total Drilled (2006) - - - 1,969.50 m - -













Source: Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (2006), Baker Basin Exploration Report. Drill Collar Table - 2007 Pacific Ridge Exploration Drilling Campaign













Zone Hole ID Northing (UTM) Easting (UTM) Depth (m) Azimuth () Dip () Lucky 7 L7-07-04 7,078,213 382,290 237.1 237 -66 Lucky 7 L7-07-05 7,078,227 382,317 459.6 245 -66 Lucky 7 L7-07-06 7,078,243 382,342 450.2 236 -66 Lucky 7 L7-07-07 7,078,253 382,374 736.4 236 -66 Lucky 7 L7-07-08 7,078,172 382,316 282.5 236 -60 Lucky 7 L7-07-09 7,078,128 382,339 276.5 236 -60 Lucky 7 L7-07-10 7,078,128 382,339 378.6 236 -71 Lucky 7 Subtotal - - - 2,820.90 - - KZ KZ-07-07 7,079,055 372,817 306.9 282 -66 KZ KZ-07-08 7,079,055 372,817 450.4 282 -75 KZ Subtotal - - - 757.3 - - Total Drilled (2007) - - - 3,578.20 m





References:

Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (2007). 2006 exploration report on prospecting, radiometrics and drilling, Baker Basin property, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut (pp. 1-68). Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.

Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (2008). 2007 Baker Basin exploration report: Drilling, prospecting, geological mapping, and radiometric surveying, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut (pp. 1-82). Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291533

Source: Bayridge Resources Corp.
Over 30 years of fintech and financial services expertise to drive GTN's commercial expansion across Europe's rapidly growing investment landscape.

LONDON, Apr. 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GTN, the global fintech powering limitless investment, today announced the appointment of Salim Sebbata as Chief Commercial Officer for Europe. Sebbata joins GTN with a mandate to scale the company's commercial partnerships, broker relationships, and market presence across the region, building on GTN's rapidly growing European footprint.

Sebbata brings over 30 years of financial services experience spanning online brokerage, CFD platforms, regulatory development, and M&A. He joins GTN from Capital.com, where he served as Head of Corporate Development, leading acquisition strategy and working on new market entry across the Americas, APAC, and Africa. Prior to that, he was CEO of BUX Financial Services UK and Global Managing Director for Derivatives, where he led an 85-person organisation across six functions and successfully expanded the CFD trading platform into six new European countries. His earlier career includes senior roles at Merrill Lynch, E*TRADE, and CMC Markets across Europe, the UK, and the Middle East.

"Salim's appointment is a significant step forward for our European business," said Christopher Gregory, GTN's CEO for Europe. "He brings exactly the commercial depth and broker network we need to accelerate our growth across the region. Salim knows the European landscape inside out, the platforms, the partners, and the regulatory environment, and his job is to help us scale that success."

In his new role, Sebbata will lead GTN's commercial strategy and partner development across Europe, working closely with GTN's product, regulatory, and technology teams to bring its API-first infrastructure to brokers, banks, asset managers, and fintechs across the continent.



"GTN has built something genuinely differentiated - a regulated, API-first infrastructure that gives partners access to 90+ markets and 8 asset classes through a single integration point," said Salim Sebbata. "Europe's fintech and financial services landscape is at an inflection point, with a younger generation actively saving and investing, putting firms under pressure to offer more while reducing operational complexity. As a former fintech CEO, I understand the pain points of the financial institutions and know that GTN is precisely the partner they need, and I'm excited to bring that proposition to market at scale."

Sebbata's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the region. The European fintech market is projected to grow from US$100 billion in 2026 to US$195 billion by 2031, increasingly driven by a new generation of digitally savvy investors demanding seamless, mobile-first access to global markets. GTN is uniquely positioned as it provides the API-first infrastructure that powers the next generation of investment and trading solutions for banks, brokers, and fintechs in Europe.

About GTN

GTN is the global fintech infrastructure powering limitless investment through a unified API-first architecture. By combining cloud-native technology with deep institutional expertise, GTN provides brokers, banks, asset managers, and fintechs with brokerage infrastructure spanning 90+ markets and 8 asset classes through a single API, enabling partners to create the next generation of investing and trading experiences. From fractional trading and micro-portfolios, including $1 fractional bonds, to full-service brokerage, GTN automates the investment lifecycle from digital onboarding to post-trade settlement. As a single counterparty, GTN reduces technical and regulatory burdens, enabling investment banks, brokerage firms, and wealth management firms to scale without building technology from scratch.

With over 600 professionals across 14 countries, and serving 450+ clients globally, we're united by one mission: transforming the accessibility of investment and trading opportunities for all. Regulated across six jurisdictions (FCA, DFSA, MAS, FINRA, FSCA, SFC), GTN is backed by strategic investors including IFC (World Bank Group) and SBI Ventures Singapore. Learn more at www.gtngroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn.

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The increasing demand for sustainable and efficient building materials, rapid urbanization, and the expansion of residential and commercial construction activities have significantly boosted the demand for engineered wood across global markets. The growing preference for eco-friendly construction solutions and resource-efficient materials has encouraged the adoption of engineered wood products such as plywood, MDF, CLT, and laminated veneer lumber in structural and interior applications. In addition, the rising demand for affordable and customizable furniture has further strengthened market growth.

Advancements in wood processing technologies, automated manufacturing systems, and improved adhesive formulations have enhanced product durability, strength, and consistency. Furthermore, the expansion of construction and real estate sectors, along with increasing investments in infrastructure development, has improved the adoption of engineered wood products. Strategic collaborations, product innovations, and sustainability initiatives by key industry players are further supporting market expansion across regions including North America and Asia-Pacific.

Report coverage & details

Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2024-2033 Base Year 2023 Market Size in 2023 $254.2 billion Market Size in 2033 $427.3 billion CAGR 5.3 % No. of Pages in Report 197 Segments Covered Type, Application, End User, and Region. Drivers Increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly construction materials

Rapid growth in residential and commercial construction activities

Rising adoption of modular and prefabricated building techniques Opportunities Expansion of green building initiatives and sustainable infrastructure projects

Growing demand for engineered wood in modern furniture and interior applications Restraint Fluctuations in raw material availability and timber prices

By type, the plywood segment held the highest market share in 2023

The plywood segment dominated the engineered wood market in 2023, primarily due to its high strength, durability, and versatility across multiple applications. Plywood is widely used in construction, furniture manufacturing, flooring, and interior design because of its excellent load-bearing capacity and resistance to cracking or warping. It is manufactured by bonding thin layers of wood veneers together, which enhances structural stability and performance compared to solid wood. Its widespread availability and compatibility with modern construction practices have further supported its strong market presence.

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By application, the construction segment held the highest market share in 2023

The construction segment accounted for the largest share of the engineered wood market in 2023 due to the increasing demand for reliable and sustainable building materials in residential and commercial infrastructure projects. Engineered wood products such as laminated veneer lumber (LVL), cross laminated timber (CLT), and glue laminated timber (glulam) are widely used in structural applications including beams, panels, flooring systems, and framing components. These materials provide improved strength, dimensional stability, and efficient use of wood resources compared to traditional solid wood.

By end user industry, the residential segment held the highest market share in 2023

The residential segment represented the largest share of the engineered wood market in 2023, driven by the rising demand for housing and interior construction materials across urban and suburban regions. Engineered wood products are widely used in residential buildings for structural frameworks, flooring systems, furniture, cabinetry, and interior panels. The increasing construction of new housing units, particularly in rapidly urbanizing economies, has significantly contributed to the demand for these materials.

By region, Asia-Pacific dominates the market

Asia-Pacific dominates the global engineered wood market due to rapid urbanization, expanding construction activities, and strong economic growth across several countries in the region. Nations such as China, India, and countries in Southeast Asia are experiencing increasing demand for affordable housing, commercial infrastructure, and modern furniture products, which has significantly boosted the consumption of engineered wood materials. The region's large population, rising disposable incomes, and expanding real estate sector are further contributing to market growth.

Which end-user sectors are driving demand in the engineered wood market?

The growth of the engineered wood market is largely driven by construction companies, furniture manufacturers, and residential developers. Construction firms rely heavily on engineered wood products for structural applications such as beams, panels, and framing systems in residential and commercial buildings. Furniture manufacturers also represent a major consumer group, utilizing materials such as MDF, plywood, and particle board for producing cabinets, tables, wardrobes, and decorative interior products. In addition, residential consumers contribute to market demand through home renovation, interior design, and do-it-yourself projects. The increasing preference for sustainable, cost-effective, and aesthetically appealing building materials is encouraging wider adoption of engineered wood across various industries, further supporting the continuous expansion of the global engineered wood market.

Key Players

Boise Cascade Company

Celulosa Arauco Y Constitucion SA

PFEIFER GROUP, Raute Group

Weyerhaeuser Company

Lamiwood Designer Floor

Louisiana-Pacific Corporation (LP)

Huber Engineered Woods LLC

Universal Forest Products, Inc.

Norbord Inc.

The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the engineered wood market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, joint ventures, agreements, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario.

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Recent developments in the global engineered wood market

In December 2022, Boise Cascade strengthened its distribution network through the acquisition of two significant land parcels: a 45-acre site in Walterboro, South Carolina, and a 34-acre property in Hondo, Texas. These acquisitions are intended to improve the company's service capabilities and operational reach in key markets across South Carolina and Texas.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Goldstorm Metals Corp. (TSXV: GSTM) (FSE: B2U) ("Goldstorm" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company has engaged Fathom Geophysics to conduct an independent review of the results of the 2025 geophysical programs, including both Induced Polarization (IP) and Magnetotelluric (MT) surveys completed over the Copernicus Zone at its 100% owned Crown Property (the "Property).

The Copernicus Zone hosts very prospective drill targets within an area measuring approximately 1.2 kilometres north-south by 800 metres (m) east-west, centrally located on the roughly 16,000-hectare Crown Property. The property is strategically located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, immediately south of Seabridge Gold's KSM Project and Newmont's Brucejack Mine. Click to view: Crown location map.

Daniel Core of Fathom Geophysics commented on the results of his analysis: "The geophysical data at Copernicus indicate the area has potential for porphyry copper mineralization. The area hosts a 700 m x 400 m chargeability anomaly in relatively resistive rocks on the three westernmost lines, and the anomaly remains open to the west. The magnetic data show that the area is structurally complex at the intersection of NW and NE-trending features, and the IP results indicate a potential buried intrusion on the west side of the IP survey area. A 500-m-long chargeability anomaly on the most eastern line, that is coincident with a magnetic structure, suggests that a second system may be present."

Ken Konkin, P. Geo., President and CEO, stated: "We are pleased to announce the first five proposed drill holes of Phase 1 at the Crown Project. We plan to launch the first set of three HQ and NQ2 drill holes targeting the Copernicus and Orion Spine Porphyry targets as our highest priority (see Figure 1). The holes may be drilled to depths of as much as 800 m to test the extent of the IP chargeability anomalies, and will be wide-spaced in order to fast-track the strongest looking mineralized areas (see Figure 2). In addition to drilling at Orion Spine, we plan to drill the Delta West target, discovered by our reconnaissance crew last season, where a grab sample yielded over 39 g/t gold from a shear hosted quartz vein containing fine-grained pyrite. As well, samples from numerous sub-parallel structures over a 500 m x 800 m gossanous area returned significant gold values. Delta West is located ten kilometers directly south of the Valley of the Kings Gold Deposit at the Brucejack Mine. All proposed drill holes have been plotted on various types of enhanced images that highlight the IP chargeability and geological interpretations completed by our field crews. We have utilized high-resolution WorldView-3 Multispectral Images obtained at the end of the 2025 field season that demonstrate various types of alteration and iron oxidation associated with various styles of mineralization and their associated alteration assemblages (Figure 3). These images have greatly enhanced our geological interpretations and aided in drill targeting. The re-interpretation of all geophysical data also supports the 'Thrust Fault Model' extending southward beyond the Treaty Creek and KSM Deposit models as shown in the cross section below (Figure 2)."

Figure 1. Plan Map - Copernicus Zone and Delta West Drill Targets

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9214/291589_22b09410249719a3_002full.jpg

Figure 2. Cross Section - Copernicus Zone Planned Drill Holes

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9214/291589_22b09410249719a3_003full.jpg

Mr. Konkin Continued: "We thank Mr. Daniel Core for a comprehensive and detailed "next level" analysis of the magnetic and IP data we collected. His interpretation of the historical magnetic data reinforced our understanding of the structural complexity of this part of the Crown claims. The added information has allowed our technical team to plan drill hole orientations and depths that will sufficiently test each intended target. We expect to drill approximately 3,000 meters in the first five holes of our Phase 1 Program. Contingent on results of the preliminary work, a Phase 2 program may include up to an additional 6,000 m of drilling.

Figure 3. Plan Map - Copernicus Zone and Delta West Drill Targets & Multispectral SWIR Imagery

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9214/291589_22b09410249719a3_004full.jpg

Lastly, I am particularly pleased to welcome the addition of the well-known and respected geologist, Joel Ashburner to our team at Goldstorm. I have had the great fortune of working with Joel for several years at Brucejack Lake during the discovery of the Valley of the Kings deposit. We will benefit from his vast and intimate first-hand knowledge and experience of the geology and mineralization throughout the Golden Triangle. Today our geological team has become much stronger!"

Appointment of Joel Ashburner

Goldstorm Metals is pleased to announce the appointment of Joel Ashburner as Chief Geologist. Mr. Ashburner brings over 15 years of experience in the mineral exploration industry and has worked across the full project lifecycle, from grassroots target generation, through advanced exploration, to operating mines. In more recent roles, he has led multi-disciplinary teams focused on mine-outskirt and brownfields exploration at the Brucejack Project in northwest British Columbia, contributing to significant resource growth and mine life extension. Earlier in his career, he was part of the team responsible for the discovery of the Valley of the Kings deposit and later played a key role in the discovery and delineation of the Golden Marmot deposit. He was also instrumental in the discovery and advancement of new resources at Brucejack, contributing to the addition of more than 4 million ounces of gold to the mineral resource. Mr. Ashburner's experience spans projects across British Columbia, Yukon, Ontario and Australia.

Qualified Person

The Qualified Person for this news release for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 is the Company's President and CEO, Ken Konkin, P.Geo. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release.

QA/QC

All samples were prepared at MSA Labs' Preparation Laboratory in Terrace, BC and assayed at MSA Labs' Geochemical Laboratory in Langley, BC. Gold was assayed using a fire assay with atomic absorption (AA) spectrometry finish. Samples over 10 ppm gold were fire assayed with gravimetric finish. All samples were analyzed by four acid digestion with multi-element ICP-MS, with silver and base metal over-limits being reanalyzed by emission spectrometry. MSA Laboratories quality system complies with the requirements for the International Standards ISO 17025 and ISO 9001. MSA Labs is independent of the Company.

About Goldstorm Metals

Goldstorm Metals Corp. is a precious and base metals exploration company with a large strategic land position in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia, an area that hosts some of the largest and highest-grade gold deposits in the world. Goldstorm's flagship projects, Crown and Electrum, cover an area that totals 16,469 hectares over 6 concessions, of which 5 are contiguous. The Crown Project is situated directly south of Seabridge Gold's KSM gold-copper deposits and Newmont Corporation's Brucejack/Valley of the Kings gold mine. Electrum, also located in the Golden Triangle of BC, is situated directly between Newmont Corporation's Brucejack Mine, approximately 20 kilometers to the north, and the past producing Silbak Premier mine, 20 kilometers to the south.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

GOLDSTORM METALS CORP.

"Ken Konkin"

Ken Konkin

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please visit the Company's website at https://goldstormmetals.com/or contact:

Chris Curran

VP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Phone: (604) 559-8092

E-Mail: chris.curran@goldstormmetals.com

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, including statements regarding future estimates, plans, objectives, timing, assumptions or expectations of future performance, including without limitation, the statement regarding the expectation that geologists are expected to complete a compilation study this winter once all assay results are received. Such a statement is a forward-looking statement and contains forward-looking information.

Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements are based on certain material assumptions and analysis made by Goldstorm and the opinions and estimates of management as of the date of this press release, including that geologists will complete a compilation study this winter once all assay results are received.

These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Goldstorm to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Important factors that may cause actual results to vary, include, without limitation that geologists will not complete a compilation study this winter or at all.

Although management of Goldstorm has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Goldstorm does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291589

Source: Goldstorm Metals Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Getty Copper Inc. (TSXV: GTC) ("Getty" or the "Company") is pleased to outline its corporate vision, strategic priorities, and operational outlook for 2026 following the recent closing of its transformational transaction and the appointment of a new leadership team.

A New Chapter for Getty

2026 marks the beginning of a new phase for Getty. With a refreshed leadership team, a strong balance sheet, and a clearly defined strategy, the Company is focused on unlocking the full value of its position in the world-class Highland Valley Copper District.

Getty holds mineral claims covering approximately 25% of one of Canada's most prolific copper districts, yet much of this ground has seen limited modern exploration. The Company's objective is to position Getty as a leading copper development story within the district through disciplined execution, targeted drilling, and a focus on identifying higher-grade mineralization within a large-scale system.

Chief Executive Officer, Ryan O'Regan, comments:

"Getty presents a unique and strong copper investment opportunity. A Getty shareholder is invested in a company that holds one quarter of one of the most prolific copper districts in Canada, with surrounding infrastructure, historic resources, a slew of exploration targets and is commencing the largest drill program seen on the property for 30 years. In 2026, the Company plans to drill aggressively with a 14,000 to 16,000 metre program planned to both upgrade the historic resources and test new exploration opportunities. Corporately, we raised $15M, retired approximately $4M in pre-transaction debt and have $11M in cash to fund our programs. Getty bolstered its technical and board skillsets with the addition of Charles Funk and Mahesh Liyanage and added significant BC porphyry exploration experience to management. The Company also plans to undertake a 5:1 consolidation at the upcoming June AGM. We aim to grow the Getty share price in 2026 by revitalizing the Company and showcasing the potential of our namesake property with steady resource and exploration news flow."

Two-Pronged Strategy to Unlock Value in the District

Getty's 2026 drilling strategy is built on a focused, two-pronged approach:

Resource Growth and Expansion - The Company's initial priority is to advance and expand on areas containing historical mineral resources. Getty North and South are the host of historic resources that were last significantly drilled in 1997. They were drilled to shallow depths, in a significantly lower copper price environment with very limited geological controls or modern multi-element assay data. Drilling will commence imminently and initially target Getty North using existing permitted drill sites. This approximately 10,000-meter program is intended to improve mineral resource estimate confidence and test for higher-grade mineralization within known zones.

District Exploration Potential - In parallel, the team has allocated additional targets of approximately 4,000 to 6,000 metres to evaluate across its broader land package, including Getty South, Getty West, Glossie, and other satellite zones. The goal is to demonstrate the potential for a larger, district-scale copper system.

This staged approach is designed to deliver immediate results and bring resources up to a modern standard while systematically advancing exploration opportunities through target to drill test across the Getty property.





Image 1

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12291/291530_4cdce5207477b82d_001full.jpg

Getty's Higher-Grade Opportunity

A key element of Getty's strategy is targeting higher-grade copper mineralization within the district. Historical work has outlined mineralization at meaningful scale, with copper grades favourably comparable to those at the adjacent Highland Valley Copper Mine. For example, Getty North hosts a non-current historical indicated mineral resource grading 0.37% Cu, compared to HVC's global reserve grade of approximately 0.28% Cu.

Increasing confidence in the continuity and distribution of these higher-grade zones has the potential to materially enhance project economics and support multiple development pathways.

Strong Financial Position

In connection with its recent transaction, Getty has now successfully raised approximately $15 million in November 2025, and has since eliminated all debt. The Company currently holds approximately $11 million in cash, providing a strong financial foundation to fully execute its 2026 work programs and strategic initiatives.

Looking Ahead

The Company expects 2026 to be a catalyst driven year, with active drilling, continued target development, and ongoing technical work designed to advance the Getty Project and deliver meaningful results to shareholders.

Corporate Initiatives

As part of its broader corporate strategy, the Company intends to seek shareholder approval for a proposed share consolidation on a five (5) to one (1) basis (the "Consolidation") at its upcoming Annual General and Special Meeting, which the Company proposes to hold on June 9, 2026.

All outstanding warrants, stock options, and other convertible securities of the Company will be adjusted in accordance with their respective terms to reflect the Consolidation. This will include an increase to applicable exercise or conversion prices by a factor of five (5) and a corresponding reduction in the number of common shares issuable upon exercise or conversion by a factor of five (5). The Company's name and trading symbol will remain unchanged. The Consolidation will be subject to the final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange.

Qualified Persons

Roy Greig, Ph.D., P.Geo., the Responsible Officer for Getty and a Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved technical information contained in this news release.

References

Parkinson, C., and Fayram, T., 2009, NI 43-101 Preliminary Feasibility Study Technical Report of the Getty Copper Project, report prepared by West Coast Environmental and Engineering for Getty Copper Inc. The 2010 Study has not been updated and the resources and reserves are not treated as current by the company.

Hercun, C., Stewart, Al, Tsuji, T., Laroche, F., Diederichs, C., 2025, NI 43-101 Technical Report on Highland Valley Copper Operations, British Columbia, report prepared for Teck Resources Limited.

About Getty Copper Inc.

Getty Copper Inc. (TSXV: GTC) is a Canadian-based mineral exploration and development company focused on the Highland Valley Copper District of British Columbia, Canada. Its flagship 82% owned Getty Project is located near Logan Lake, adjacent to Teck's Highland Valley Copper Mine, and has the potential to be a significant new source of copper and molybdenum in the district.

Contact Information

For more information or to join our mailing list, please contact:

Ryan O'Regan

Chief Executive Officer

Getty Copper Inc.

Email: investorrelations@gettycopper.com

Phone: +1 604 931-3231

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Getty's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Forward-looking statements in this document include, among others, statements relating to expectations regarding: the Company's strategic plans and objectives; the timing, scope, commencement and results of planned exploration and drilling programs; the potential to expand, upgrade or improve existing mineral resource estimates; the identification, continuity and distribution of higher-grade mineralization; the potential for district-scale mineralization; the advancement, development and potential economic viability of the Getty Project; the Company's ability to execute its 2026 work programs and strategic initiatives; the availability and sufficiency of funding; the anticipated benefits of the proposed share consolidation; the timing and outcome of the Company's annual general and special meeting; and the Company's outlook, including expectations for exploration results, project advancement and potential share price performance.

Forward-looking information and statements also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual events or results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future events or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking information or statements, including, among others: negative operating cash flow and dependence on third parties, uncertainty of additional financing, no known mineral reserves or resources, aboriginal title and consultation issues, reliance on key management and other personnel, actual results of exploration activities being different than anticipated, changes in exploration programs based upon results, availability of third party contractors, availability of equipment and supplies, failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; the occurrence of a force majeure; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry, environmental risks, changes in laws and regulations, community relations and delays in obtaining governmental or other approvals.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information or implied by forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or reissue forward-looking information as a result of new information or events except as required by applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291530

Source: Getty Copper Inc.
Wallbox N.V. (NYSE: WBX) ("Wallbox" or the "Company", and together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the "Group"), a global provider of electric vehicle charging and energy management solutions, today announced that it has signed its restructuring plan and certain related agreements on the terms previously disclosed on April 1, 2026.

In connection with the signing of the restructuring plan, the Group has also secured 11 million in interim financing, comprising (i) a 5.65 million bridge loan from the shareholders set forth below, the repayment of which is expected to be set-off against their equity subscription obligations under the planned capital increase and (ii) a 5.35 million loan from participating banks as part of the new money financing (counting towards the overall new financing cap of 12.5 million). This funding is expected to be disbursed or made available, as applicable, in the coming days and will provide near-term liquidity to support execution of the Company's business plan.

The restructuring plan has been signed with financial creditors representing approximately 83% of the Group's financial debt, as well as key shareholders and a new institutional investor. Participants include Banco Santander, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA), CaixaBank, the Instituto de Credito Oficial (ICO), Mora Banc Grup, S.A., EBN Banco de Negocios, S.A., and the Generalitat de Catalunya, through IFEM. Key shareholders include Orilla Asset Management, S.L., Inversiones Financieras Perseo, S.L. (Iberdrola Group), AM Gestio, S.L., Consilium, S.L., Mingkiri, S.L., and Enric Asuncion, CEO and co-founder of Wallbox (through an investment vehicle).

The breadth of participation in the restructuring plan reflects the continued support of the Company's financial partners and institutional stakeholders for Wallbox's long-term strategy.

The restructuring plan has been formalized in accordance with the Spanish restructuring framework and will be submitted for court approval before the Commercial Section of the Court of First Instance of Barcelona in the coming days. Once sanctioned, the plan will become binding on all affected financial and non-financial creditors, enabling Wallbox to fully implement its new capital structure.

For further information on the terms of the restructuring plan, please refer to the Company's Form 6-K filed on April 1, 2026, available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

About Wallbox

Wallbox is a global technology company, dedicated to changing the way the world uses energy. Wallbox creates advanced electric vehicle charging and energy management systems that redefine the relationship between users and the network. Wallbox goes beyond charging electric vehicles to give users the power to control their consumption, save money and live more sustainably. Wallbox offers a complete portfolio of charging and energy management solutions for residential, semi-public, and public use in more than 100 countries around the world. Founded in 2015 in Barcelona, where the company's headquarters are located, Wallbox currently has offices across Europe, Asia, and America. For more information, visit www.wallbox.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the expected timing and completion of the Wallbox's planned restructuring, including the sanctioning of the restructuring plan by the applicable Spanish court; the negotiation and execution of definitive agreements giving effect to the restructuring plan on the terms described herein; the expected completion of the capital increase; the anticipated repayment of the bridge loan by set-off against subscription obligations; the Group's projected cash generation and debt service capacity; and the Group's ability to implement its business plan following completion of the restructuring. The words "anticipate," "believe," "can," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "focus," "forecast," "intend," "likely," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "target," "will," "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: the risk that the restructuring plan may not be sanctioned by the Spanish court or become effective on the anticipated timeline or at all; that the terms of the restructuring may be modified in the course of finalizing definitive documentation; as well as Wallbox's history of operating losses; its ability to obtain adequate capital funding or improve its financial performance, as well as the other important factors discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in Wallbox's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), accessible on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of Wallbox's website at investors.wallbox.com. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. Any forward-looking statement that Wallbox makes in this press release speaks only as of the date of such statement. Except as required by law, Wallbox disclaims any obligation to update or revise, or to publicly announce any update or revision to, any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408126540/en/

Contacts:

Wallbox Public Relations Contact:

Albert Cabanes

Public Relations

Press@wallbox.com

Wallbox Investor Contact:

Michael Wilhelm

Corporate Development IR

Investors@wallbox.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - SALAZAR RESOURCES LIMITED (TSXV: SRL) (OTCQB: SRLZF) (FSE: CCG) ("Salazar" or the "Company") has evaluated its wholly owned portfolio of properties throughout Ecuador, conducting baseline geological work to define appropriate development strategies for each project. The Company has identified the 100% owned Monja Project as a cornerstone asset on which the Company will focus its exploration programs, while continuing to advance and assess its remaining properties.

The decision to focus on its 100% owned Monja Project, which is located in the Loja Province and covers 9,088ha across two licenses, is based on the results achieved to date, and the work required to advance the project to the next stage.

Surface mapping in the Monja project has defined a copper-gold porphyry system containing a two kilometer by one kilometer central core, within a Paleocene-Miocene metallogenic belt known to host multiple significant copper deposits in southern Ecuador. Mineralization observed to date includes hydrothermal breccias with pyrite-chalcopyrite matrix, quartz-sulphide stockwork veining, and locally bornite, together with well-mineralized tourmaline breccias, all considered strong indicators of porphyry fertility.

Sampling has returned elevated copper and gold values from the central portion of a concentric porphyry system, while epithermal veins higher in the system show evidence of historical small-scale gold extraction, confirming the presence of a vertically preserved mineralizing environment.

Salazar has planned a high-impact mapping, sampling and ground geophysics program to further define drill targets. The concession benefits from year-round exploration access and is considered a priority early-stage target within the Company's Ecuadorian portfolio.

CEO Fredy Salazar, commented:

"We are very pleased to be advancing our 100%-owned Monja concession. The identification of a complete copper-gold porphyry system through our own fieldwork highlights the strength of Salazar's exploration team. With clear fertility indicators including bornite and tourmaline breccias, and a sizeable alteration footprint already mapped, Monja represents an exciting new greenfields discovery with strong discovery potential."

Monja Copper-Gold Project, Ecuador

The Monja Copper-Gold Project is located in Loja Province, Ecuador, covering 9,088 hectares across two licenses (Map 1). A review of historical data and field reconnaissance has been completed.

The project lies on the northeast margin of the Lancones Basin, which hosts recognized volcanogenic massive sulfides and porphyry deposits including the giant volcanic-hosted Tambo Grande massive sulphide deposit and the Rio Blanco porphyry in Peru. The project is also in close proximity to the Sunstone Metals' Bramaderos porphyry project in Ecuador.

1. www.mdru.ubc.ca/projects/giant-volcanic-hosted-massive-sulfide-deposits-the-volcanologic-and-structural-setting-of-tambo-grande-peru/

2. Geology and Geochronology of the Miocene Rio Blanco Porphyry Cu-Mo Deposit, Northern Peru - Astrophysics Data System

3. www.sunstonemetals.com.au/site/projects/bramaderos-gold-copper-project/overview

Map 1. Monja project map

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4631/291556_25069021d4f77832_002full.jpg

Sampling Program:

A total of nine rock chip samples were collected from mineralized outcrops. Three samples (51584, 51583 and 51587) returned encouraging results (Table 1). The best result came from sample 51584 which returned 4.77% Cu, 1.12 g/t Au, 19.5 g/t Ag, 74 ppm Mo. The samples were taken from outcropping granodiorite and hydrothermal breccias hosting Cu-porphyry-style mineralization: hydrothermal breccias with pyrite-chalcopyrite matrix, quartz-sulphide stockwork veining, and traces of bornite.

Rock chip samples are selective by nature and may not be representative of the underlying mineralization. The result is preliminary, and additional work is required to determine the extent, continuity, and significance of the mineralization.

Table 1. Samples

Conversion: Cu_ppm x 0.0001 = Cu%

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/4631/291556_tableone.jpg

QAQC

Samples were submitted to Inspectorate Services Peru S.A.C., an independent accredited laboratory, for analysis. Samples were prepared and analyzed using 44 elements aqua regia digestion with ICP-AES finish. Gold analysis was completed by lead collection fire assay fusion with AAS finish. The Company implements a quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program that includes the insertion of standards, blanks, and duplicates.

Qualified Person

The technical data referenced in this release has been reviewed and approved by Kieran Downes, P.Geo., a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101.

About Salazar Resources

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291556

Source: Salazar Resources Limited
Food Pathogen Testing Market Size & Forecast

Market Size Available for Years: 2022-2031

2022-2031 2026 Market Size: USD 16.49 billion

USD 16.49 billion 2031 Projected Market Size: USD 23.90 billion

USD 23.90 billion CAGR (2026-2031): 7.7%

Food Pathogen Testing Market Trends & Insights:

The food pathogen testing market is expected to grow at a steady rate due to the increase in foodborne illnesses and a growing awareness for food testing amongst consumers and regulatory authorities.

The Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the food pathogen testing market, with an estimated CAGR of 8.9% during the forecast period.

Salmonella is estimated to dominate the market with a share of 31.7% in 2026.

The rapid segment is projected to witness a higher CAGR of 9.2% from 2026 to 2031.

The meat & poultry segment is expected to hold a dominant market share with 32.3% in 2026.

Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=202386163

The market for food pathogen testing is on the rise due to the rise in food safety concerns and the growth in global food trade. The food companies are under consistent pressure to keep the products safe, comply with all the regulations and safeguard the brand reputation. They are directing their attention to quicker detection, uniformity in testing reliability, and averting the risk factors to reduce contamination and eliminate recalls. In other words, complex and intensive food production systems are based on a system of structured testing programs to ensure quality and minimize losses. Meat and poultry, dairy, seafood, and fresh produce should be constantly checked, as meat and poultry, as well as dairy food, are highly prone to contamination. Traceability, supply chain transparency and sustainable food practices are other key areas that companies are increasingly focusing on. The implementation of automated laboratory procedures and a uniform testing routine is growing, which will assist in utilizing a credible and reproducible testing service. The testing of food products immediately influences product safety, shelf life and acceptance in the marketplace; thus, pathogen testing services are an essential need throughout the worldwide food industry. This has carried on with the steady demand within the marketplace.

Rapid technology is estimated to hold the largest share in the food pathogen testing market during the forecast period.

Rapid testing technologies are estimated to dominate the market during the forecast period. Quick testing technologies, such as PCR-based detection tests and immunoassays, are important in enhancing the efficiency of testing and response time. These technologies facilitate rapid detection of pathogens, decrease the turnaround period and enable rapid decision-making, which is vital in perishable food products and large volume supply chains. Rapid tests help develop increased control in contamination, lower the product holding time and enhance operational efficiency in the food companies. A requirement to have correct, high-throughput, and scalable testing services is increasing as the world's food systems grow complex and time-sensitive. To address these demands, service providers are rapidly migrating to a full-blooded diagnosis platform, and so, there is an emergent trend moving towards swift testing technologies as one of the primary segments of the market.

Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=202386163

Salmonella is estimated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period.

It is estimated that Salmonella will be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period. This is mainly because it is highly prevalent in various types of foods, and it has massive regulation across the world. Salmonella is usually related to meat, poultry, eggs and processed foods that demand routine and large-scale supply chain testing. Salmonella testing is a major concern for food companies, as it affects public health and could have a massive impact in case of an outbreak, on the company, including recalls and bans.

Meat & poultry and fruits & vegetables to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Meat & poultry and fruits & vegetables are expected to be the fastest-growing food categories tested in the global food pathogen testing market during the forecast period. These categories are highly vulnerable to contamination due to factors such as handling practices, environmental exposure, and supply chain complexity. Meat & poultry products are frequently associated with pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, while fruits & vegetables are often linked to contamination from water, soil, and post-harvest handling. The growth of fresh and minimally processed foods, in addition to the growth in global trade, is creating a rise in testing needed for these foods. Moreover, the increasing scrutiny of its regulators and an increasing consumer consciousness are compelling food processors to implement tougher testing standards. This means that the testing demand in meat and poultry, as well as in fruits and vegetables, will increase at a quicker rate as it will add to the general market expansion.

Top Companies in the Food Pathogen Testing Market

The report profiles key players such as SGS S.A. (Switzerland), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), UL LLC (US), Intertek Group Plc. (UK), ALS (Australia), TUV SUD (Germany), Merieux Nutrisciences (US), Tentamus (Germany), Certified Group (US), Microbac Laboratories, Inc. (Pennsylvania), and others.

Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=202386163

Browse Adjacent Reports @ Food and Beverage Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Food Pathogen Safety Testing Equipment & Supplies Market by Type (Systems [Hybridization-Based, Chromatography-Based, Spectrometry-Based, Immunoassay-Based], Consumables & Supplies [Test Kits, Microbial Culture Media, Reagents & Other Consumables]), Food Tested (Meat & Poultry, Fish & Seafood, Processed Food, Fruits & Vegetables, Dairy Products, Cereals & Grains, Other Food Products), by Site (In-House Laboratories [Factory Labs], Outsourcing Facilities [Service Labs], Government Labs), Technology (Qualitative), and Region - Global Forecast to 2031

Rapid Food Testing Market by Target Tested (Pathogens, GMOs, Pesticides, Mycotoxins, Allergens, Heavy Metals), Food Tested (Meat, Poultry & Seafood, Dairy Products, Processed Foods, Fruits & Vegetables), Technology (Convenience-based Testing, PCR-based Testing, Immunoassay-based Testing, Chromatography & Spectrometry), End User (Food Manufacturers, Sood Service & Catering Companies, Retails & Supermarkets, Other End Users), and Region - Global Forecast to 2030

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PCA Global Ventures, a global leader in specialized debt recovery solutions and estate planning technology, today announced the expansion of its leadership team across portfolio companies Phillips Cohen Associates, Ltd., Ardent Credit Services, and Invenio Financial. The appointments of the following additions to our team reflect a deliberate investment in strengthening our business development and partnerships capabilities across key markets where we see significant growth opportunity:

Lisa Rozzelle: North America Director of Business Development, Phillips Cohen Associates

Darryn Cann: APAC Regional Sales Manager, Phillips Cohen Associates (Australia)

John McMahon: SVP, UK Strategic Partnerships, Invenio Financial

Alfie Slark: Business Development Manager, Ardent Credit Services

Lisa Rozzelle joins Phillips Cohen Associates as North America Director of Business Development, bringing extensive experience in client development, revenue generation, and industry advocacy. A recognized leader in financial services, Rozzelle is known for her work advancing women in finance and her leadership within industry organizations, including Women in Consumer Finance (WCF). Reporting to Kacey Rask, Senior Vice President (SVP) of Growth Partnerships, she will focus on expanding client partnerships and driving strategic growth initiatives in the US and Canada.

Darryn Cann joins Phillips Cohen Associates (Australia) as Asia Pacific (APAC) Regional Sales Manager, where he will spearhead regional sales initiatives and strengthen the firm's presence across the APAC region. With a strong background in regional market development and client engagement, Cann will play a key role in driving expansion and delivering tailored solutions to clients in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

John McMahon joins Invenio Financial as SVP, UK Strategic Partnerships. He brings deep expertise in building and scaling global partnerships, with a focus on aligning innovative, technology-enabled solutions with client needs. He will lead efforts to expand Invenio's strategic alliances and support continued growth across the UK market.

Alfie Slark joins Ardent Credit Services as Business Development Manager, reporting to Tim Webb, SVP Market Development. He brings nearly 10 years of industry expertise and sales experience to the team. In this new role, he will work to expand Ardent's client base in the UK.

"These exciting, key hires demonstrate the organization's commitment to accelerating global growth, strengthening client relationships, and enhancing market presence across North America, the UK, and APAC," said Matthew Saperstein, Chief Revenue Officer of PCA Global Ventures. "Lisa, John, Darryn, and Alfie each bring a strong track record of building meaningful client relationships and driving growth. As we continue to expand globally, they will enable us to enhance the value we deliver to clients and sellers and support the next phase of growth across PCA Global Ventures."

About PCA Global Ventures

PCA Global Ventures is the parent company of the Phillips Cohen Associates, Ardent Credit Services, Invenio Financial, and The Estate Registry brands. For nearly three decades, these companies have specialized in compassionate deceased account care, compliant recovery services, technology-driven debt settlement solutions, and strategic acquisitions. By combining regulatory expertise with empathy-driven engagement, the group protects client reputations while delivering respectful outcomes for consumers. Additionally, as pioneers in estate management services, their cloud-based tools simplify intergenerational estate management for executors and beneficiaries. With a long-standing reputation for empathetic and innovative programs, PCA Global Ventures provides the structure, leadership, and operational efficiency to support long-term growth and scalability across its family of brands.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408684161/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Society22 PR

phillipscohen@society22pr.com

(929) 367-8993
LISBON, PT / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / Spider Labs will participate in Digital Marketing Europe 2026, taking place in Lisbon, Portugal from April 14 to 16, 2026. During the event, the team will host an exhibition booth featuring hands-on product demos of its core solutions: Spider AF Ad Fraud Protection, Fake Lead Protection, and SiteScan.



Visitors to the Spider Labs booth will be able to explore how the company helps marketers improve campaign quality, protect lead pipelines, and strengthen website security through hands-on, product-led demonstrations.

Spider Labs will also deliver a 40-minute speaking session on April 15 from 16:05 to 16:50 WEST (UTC +1), featuring:

Geert Emkow , Global Account Executive

Itza Rodriguez , Global Customer Success Executive

Pedro Ganco, Global Product Manager

The session will give attendees a brief look at how modern marketing teams can identify hidden risks across ad traffic, lead generation, and web environments, with live, practical examples from Spider Labs' platform.



Spider Labs welcomes attendees, partners, and industry peers to visit the booth during the event and learn how marketing and security teams can work together to protect performance, data quality, and digital trust.



About Spider Labs

Spider Labs Inc. is a marketing security company that develops and operates Spider AF, a SaaS platform that detects and blocks threats across the marketing funnel, including ad fraud, fake leads, and website vulnerabilities.

Founded in 2011, Spider Labs helps businesses protect marketing performance, improve data accuracy, and maximize ROI.

For more information, visit https://spideraf.com/about-us

Media Contact

M. Tison

Global PR

Spider Labs Inc.

pr@spider-labs.com

SOURCE: Spider Labs, Inc.

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/marketing-security-demos-head-to-digital-marketing-europe-2026-1155888
Veteran sustainability leader brings 20+ years of global program management experience to growing division

EMERYVILLE, CA / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / SCS Global Services, a leading international third-party certification and standards organization, announced the appointment of John Parker as Managing Director of its Energy, Biomaterials and Circularity (EBC) Division.

Parker will oversee a portfolio of programs spanning low-carbon fuels, sustainable biomaterials, circularity, and responsible sourcing - including verification and certification services under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) programs in California, Oregon, Washington, and Canada; the federal 45Z Clean Fuel Production tax credit; Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes; the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) standard; Bonsucro; and sustainable palm oil frameworks.

Parker brings more than two decades of leadership experience across sustainability, water, and natural resources markets. He joins SCS from Tetra Tech, where he served as Vice President of Operations, directing a large, complex portfolio of global sustainability programs across more than 30 countries in Latin America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. He also led the firm's international Environment and Natural Resources division, with responsibility for growth, global expansion, and technical leadership.

Earlier in his career, Parker directed global water stewardship initiatives in support of the U.S. Government's first Global Water Strategy and managed multi-country natural resources programs in Central America and East Africa. He began his career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in aquaculture in Ecuador's Amazon Basin.

Parker has published research on water resources management, climate risk and resilience, and sustainable food systems. He holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy in International Environment and Resource Policy from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a Master of Science in Agriculture, Food and Environment from the Friedman School of Nutrition at Tufts University.

"We couldn't be happier to welcome John to SCS. John's track record managing a large and complex sustainability program at Tetra Tech is exactly the kind of leadership the EBC division needs as it continues to scale globally," said CEO Matthew Rudolf. "His deep operational experience in energy, natural resources, and international business makes him the ideal person to take SCS to the next level and we are thrilled to have him join the team."

"SCS has spent four decades building the credibility and technical rigor that this work demands. I'm joining at a moment when the stakes for getting low-carbon and responsible sourcing certifications right have never been higher, and there's no organization better positioned to lead," added Parker.

The EBC Division supports companies and organizations seeking certification and verification across some of the world's most consequential sustainability challenges, including decarbonizing fuel supply chains, advancing circular material flows, and ensuring responsible sourcing of agricultural commodities.

About SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services is an international leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California and celebrating over 40 years in business, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to companies, agencies, and advocacy organizations due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. SCS is also a Participant of the United Nations Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to responsible business. For more information, visit www.SCSGlobalServices.com.

Media Contact

Rachel Barnhart?

Director, Corporate Communications and Public Relations?

SCS Global Services?

Email: rbarnhart@scsglobalservices.com

Find more stories and multimedia from SCS Global Services at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: SCS Global Services

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/scs-global-services

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: SCS Global Services

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/scs-global-services-names-john-parker-managing-director-of-energ-1155890
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Vital Infrastructure Property Trust (TSX: VITL.UN) (the "REIT" or "Vital Infrastructure"), will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, after the markets close. A conference call to discuss these results will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET.

The dial-in numbers for the conference call are as follows:

Canada - Toronto: (647) 932-3411

Canada (toll free): (800) 715-9871

Conference ID: 4140820

Webcast link: https://www.gowebcasting.com/events/vital-infrastructure-property-trust/2026/05/14/q1-2026-financial-results/play

Following market close on May 13, 2026, the investor presentation for the first quarter 2026 results will be available at www.vitalreit.com/investors. A replay of the conference call will also be posted in the Investor section of the website.

About Vital Infrastructure

Vital Infrastructure Property Trust (TSX: VITL.UN) provides investors with access to a portfolio of high-quality international healthcare real estate infrastructure. As at February 24, 2026, the REIT held interests in a diversified portfolio of 133 income-producing properties totaling 13.0 million square feet of gross leasable area, located throughout major markets in North America, Australia, Brazil and Europe. The REIT's portfolio of outpatient, inpatient, and other health research facilities is characterized by long-term indexed leases and stable occupancies. Vital Infrastructure leverages its global workforce in six countries to serve as a long-term real estate partner to leading healthcare operators. For additional information, please visit www.vitalreit.com.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291512

Source: Vital Infrastructure Property Trust
Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - EDM Resources Inc. (TSXV: EDM) (FSE: P3Z) ("EDM" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a summary of its activities during the first quarter of 2026 and an update on key milestones supporting the advancement of the Scotia Mine toward production.

The President and CEO, Mr. Mark Haywood, stated: "During the first quarter of 2026, EDM achieved significant progress across permitting, capital markets, and project development. With the Fisheries Act Authorization now entering the formal review phase, continued strengthening of our capital structure, and the advancement of technical and exploration programs, the Company is well positioned to transition toward a production decision."

FIRST QUARTER 2026 HIGHLIGHTS

Permitting & Regulatory Progress

The Company has provided a performance bond of $1.16 million in support of its Fisheries Act Authorization ("FAA") application.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans ("DFO") confirmed the FAA application has been deemed complete and has now entered the 90-day review and evaluation period.

Capital Markets & Liquidity

During March 2026, EDM achieved a sustained trading milestone, with its share price trading above the warrant acceleration threshold for the required period, supporting enhanced capital markets positioning.

The Company's application for quotation on the OTCQB Venture Market is nearing completion, with final regulatory steps underway. The Company expects the OTCQB quotation to go live in May 2026, subject to final approvals.

Financing Activities

During the quarter, 4,409,831 warrants with a strike price of $0.14 were exercised, generating gross proceeds of $617,376.

The Company also completed the sale of 30,000 units of Silver Crown Royalties, generating approximately $552,800 in net proceeds from the sale.

Exploration & Resource Development

A two-phase gold exploration program has commenced at the Scotia Mine, targeting near-term value enhancement and resource expansion opportunities.

Work on an updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate is progressing and is expected to be completed in Q2 2026.

Project Development & Technical Work

Costing and scope definition for completion of the proposed NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) are being finalized with consultants.

The proposed PFS will incorporate revised capital and operating assumptions, including integration of Dense Media Separation (DMS) equipment and updated commodity pricing.

OUTLOOK FOR SECOND QUARTER 2026

EDM's focus for this quarter includes:

Progression through the FAA regulatory review process

Completion of the OTCQB listing and expansion of U.S. investor access

Advancement and initial results from the gold exploration program

Completion of the updated Mineral Resource Estimate

Advancement of the proposed NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study toward completion

Continued strengthening of the Company's capital structure

About EDM Resources Inc.

EDM is a Canadian exploration and mining company that holds a 100% interest in the Scotia Mine and related facilities near Halifax, Nova Scotia. Through its wholly owned subsidiary, EDM also holds several prospective exploration licenses near its Scotia Mine and in the surrounding regions of Nova Scotia.

The Company's common shares are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "EDM" and the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol "P3Z". For more information, please contact:

Mark Haywood President & Chief Executive Officer Arnab De Chief Financial Officer Manish Grigo Corporate Development

The Company's corporate filings and technical reports can be viewed on the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Further information on EDM is also available on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/EDMresources.inc, Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/EDMresources, LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/company/EDMresources and Youtube at https://youtube.com/@edmresources?si=Bvyighil3mSoOKnD

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements, including plans, objectives, estimates, and expectations regarding EDM Resources Inc.'s future activities. Such statements are identified by words like "believes," "expects," "plans," "estimates," "may," "could," or similar terms. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These include, but are not limited to, mineral resource estimates, exploration and development results, project timing, market conditions, commodity prices, financing, and operational risks. For a discussion of risk factors, please refer to EDM's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024. EDM does not guarantee the accuracy of forward-looking statements and readers should not place undue reliance on them.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291537

Source: EDM Resources Inc.
Preclinical data demonstrate enhanced efficacy of PLT012 in pMMR colorectal cancer models

Findings position CD36 as a promising metabolic checkpoint target in an underserved patient population

Pilatus Biosciences, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel metabolic checkpoint immunotherapies for cancer and immune-related diseases, today announced it will present new preclinical data as a poster session at the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, taking place on 17-22 in San Diego, California.

The poster presentation highlights a sex-specific therapeutic effect of its lead antibody, PLT012, in colorectal cancer (CRC), a finding that could inform more precise treatment strategies for a historically difficult-to-treat patient population.

Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with the majority of patients classified as mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR), a subtype that shows limited response to current standard therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and anti-VEGF agents. The data presented at AACR highlight CD36, a fatty acid transporter implicated in tumor metabolism and immune suppression, as a promising and differentiated therapeutic target in this setting.

In preclinical orthotopic models of pMMR CRC, PLT012, a humanized IgG4 antibody targeting CD36, demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition in both male and female subjects. Notably, the therapeutic effect was more pronounced in female models, a difference that correlated with higher CD36 expression levels observed in female tumors. Additional analyses showed that CD36 was enriched in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), with a female-biased distribution, suggesting a potential mechanistic basis for the observed sex-specific response.

"These findings provide compelling evidence that CD36 plays a central role in shaping the tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer, particularly in ways that may differ by sex," said Jingying Zhou, Assistant Professor, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. "The ability to target metabolic pathways like lipid uptake represents an important and emerging strategy in oncology, and the observed enrichment of CD36 in tumor-associated stroma further underscores its relevance as a therapeutic target."

PLT012 is designed to inhibit CD36-mediated lipid uptake, modulating tumor metabolism and reversing immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment. The antibody has demonstrated activity in liver cancer models and a favorable safety profile in non-human primates, supporting its continued advancement. Given its distinct mechanism, PLT012 has the potential to function both as a monotherapy and as a sensitizing agent in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, with the ability to reprogram metabolically constrained tumors and convert immunologically "cold" tumors into more responsive states, addressing a key limitation of current therapies.

"The data presented at AACR reinforce our conviction that CD36 is a highly actionable target in cancer biology," said Raven Lin, CEO Founder, Pilatus Biosciences. "What is particularly exciting is the potential to incorporate sex as a biological variable in treatment selection, enabling more tailored, effective therapies for patients with pMMR colorectal cancer, where patients urgently need new therapies."

These findings significantly broaden the therapeutic scope of PLT012, demonstrating activity beyond tumor-associated immune cells to encompass the critical tumor-associated stromal population. By simultaneously targeting the immune and stromal compartments of the microenvironment, PLT012 is designed to overcome key barriers of tumor progression and may have utility both as a monotherapy and in combination with existing therapies, to improve outcomes in underserved CRC populations.

PLT102 is currently in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial (NCT07337525) in patients with advanced solid tumors, including colorectal cancer. The study is designed to assess safety, pharmacokinetics, and early clinical evidence of target engagement and biological activity in CD36-driven tumors. Translational endpoints include the evaluation of CD36 expression, stromal composition, and immune cell reprogramming, with the goal of establishing a biomarker framework to guide patient selection and combination strategies in future trials. PLT102 has received both FDA Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designation.

AACR 2026 Poster Presentation Details:

Title: A Sex-Specific Role of CD36 Targeting Therapy in Colorectal Cancer

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 21, 2026, 9:00 am 12:00 pm PT

Poster Number: 4351

About PLT012

PLT012 is a humanized monoclonal antibody designed to selectively block CD36-mediated lipid uptake, a key mechanism driving immunosuppression and immune exclusion within the tumor microenvironment. By targeting lipid metabolism, PLT012 exerts a unique mechanism of action: it depletes immunosuppressive cell populations, including Tregs and pro-tumor macrophages, while simultaneously enhancing antitumor activities of intratumoral NK cell and cytotoxic CD8+ T cell that are otherwise susceptible to lipid-induced exhaustion. In preclinical studies, PLT012 has demonstrated potent monotherapy efficacy in models of liver malignancies, with a favorable safety profile across species. Leveraging its distinct mechanism of action, PLT012 further acts as a potent sensitizer in combination with anti-PD-L1 therapies, effectively overcoming drug resistance in immune "cold" tumors and liver metastases.

About Pilatus Biosciences

Pilatus Biosciences is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing novel metabolic checkpoint immunotherapies to address unmet medical needs in cancer and immune-related diseases. Founded in 2022 from the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, and supported by the Cancer Research Institute, Pilatus operates internationally with R&D teams in Switzerland and Taiwan. The company's lead program, PLT012, targets CD36 to reprogram the tumor microenvironment and restore anti-tumor immunity in solid tumors. For more information, visit www.pilatusbio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408549494/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Kimberly Ha

KKH Advisors

917-291-5744

kimberly.ha@kkhadvisors.com
Agreement sets the stage for collaboration on research, technology transfer and investment to support lithium resources into strategic applications.

E3 LITHIUM LTD. (TSXV: ETL) (FSE: OW3) (OTCQX: EEMMF), "E3", "E3 Lithium" or the "Company," a leader in Canadian lithium development, has entered into a Teaming Agreement (the "Agreement") with Germany's TKMS, a leading provider of naval vessels, surface ships and submarines. The Agreement establishes a strategic framework for cooperation supporting Canadian Patrol Submarine Project ("CPSP") and advancing the integration of Canadian lithium into critical, secure supply chains for defense and strategic applications. The Agreement also reflects potential financial contribution to E3 aligned with Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits ("ITB") policy.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Strategic partnership that leads to the creation of a robust supply chain that can support both Canada's submarine program and potential international opportunities

Formal collaboration framework established for research, technology transfer, and investment to E3 in support of the CPSP

Enables future international partnerships and investment initiatives aligned with Canada's ITB policy

"Partnering with TKMS allows us to connect Canada's critical minerals industry with strategic global markets, while supporting a transformative national defense program," said Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium. "This agreement is a strong step toward leveraging Canada's lithium resources to create sustainable economic value, advance technology transfer, and strengthen industrial ties with Germany and allied nations."

"The CPSP represents a cornerstone of Canada's naval capability, and critical minerals are essential to the technology that powers tomorrow's submarines," said Thomas Keupp, Chief Sales Officer at TKMS. "Through this agreement with E3 Lithium, we are not only securing access to a sustainable supply of lithium but also strengthening the industrial partnership between Germany and Canada. This cooperation reflects our shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and long-term capability development."

TKMS is participating in the CPSP competitive procurement process, which aims to acquire up to 12 next-generation, Arctic-capable submarines, and has submitted its proposal to deliver its next-generation submarines for the Royal Canadian Navy. The Agreement supports potential supply to German and allied industrial customers, contributing to the creation of a robust supply chain that can support both Canada's submarine program and potential international opportunities. As part of the Agreement, the parties will explore potential strategic investment and financing pathways to support the scale-up of Canadian lithium production for strategic applications. There can be no assurance that this Agreement will result in a definitive transaction. The Company will provide updates when available. For more information on TKMS's activities regarding the CPSP, visit www.team212cd.ca

E3 Lithium is advancing its Clearwater Project located in the province of Alberta, Canada, which will extract lithium from brines using the Company's proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology and convert it into battery-grade lithium carbonate. The Company has proposed a staged development plan with a capacity of 12,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year as the first stage of production, and expansion potential to up to 36,0000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Chris Doornbos, President, CEO Chair

E3 Lithium Ltd.

About E3 Lithium

E3 Lithium is a development company with a total of 21.2 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) Measured and Indicated1,2 as well as 0.3 Mt LCE Inferred mineral resources2 in Alberta. The Clearwater Pre-Feasibility Study outlined a 1.13 Mt LCE proven and probable mineral reserve with a pre-tax NPV(8%) of USD 5.2 Billion with a 29.2% IRR and an after-tax NPV(8%) of USD 3.7 Billion with a 24.6% IRR1

About TKMS

TKMS is one of the world's leading naval companies with more than 9,100 employees (including temporary workers) at three shipyards in Kiel, Wismar and Itajai (Brazil), and with locations worldwide. The company is active as a systems supplier for submarines and naval surface vessels as well as for maritime electronics and security technologies. Around 3,300 employees work at the Kiel site, making it the largest shipyard location in Germany. 185 years of history and the constant striving for improvement allow the company to set new standards time and time again. TKMS offers its customers worldwide tailored solutions to meet the highly complex challenges of a changing world. The driving forces behind this innovative energy are the company's employees, who shape the future of TKMS with passion and commitment every day.

More information at: www.tkmsgroup.com

Click here for current footage material.

1: The Clearwater Project NI 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study, effective June 20, 2024, identified 16.2 Mt LCE (measured and indicated) and is available on the E3 Lithium's website (www.e3lithium.ca/technical-reports/) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

2: The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Garrington District Lithium Resource Estimate, effective June 25, 2025, identified 5.0 Mt LCE (measured and indicated) and 0.3 Mt LCE (inferred) and is available on the E3 Lithium's website (www.e3lithium.ca/technical-reports/) and SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Unless otherwise indicated, Kevin Carroll, P. Eng., Chief Development Officer and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained on this news release.

Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "believe", "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "project", "potential", "possible" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions, expectations, estimates and assumptions of management in light of its experience, perception of historical trends, and results of the PFS, but such statements are not guarantees of future performance. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information relating to: the Agreement supporting potential supply to German and allied industrial customers, contributing to the creation of a robust supply chain that can support both Canada's submarine program and potential international opportunities; future international partnerships and export opportunities, aligned with Canada's Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) policy; exploring potential strategic investment and financing pathways to support the scale-up of Canadian lithium production for strategic applications; the expected timelines for execution of offtake agreements; the Company's staged development plan with a capacity of 12,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year as the first stage of production, and expansion potential to up to 36,0000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year; the Company's expectations regarding the production of lithium carbonate; plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations of the Demonstration Facility; and the inherent hazards associated with mineral exploration and mining operations. In preparing the forward-looking information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that any additional financing needed will be available on reasonable terms; the exchange rates for the U.S. and Canadian currencies will be consistent with the Company's expectations; that the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Demonstration Facility can be achieved and that its other corporate activities will proceed as expected; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a materially adverse manner and that all necessary governmental approvals for the planned activities on the Demonstration Facility will be obtained in a timely manner and on acceptable terms.

All forward-looking information (including future-orientated financial information) is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of emerging lithium extraction technologies which have not yet been tested or proven on a commercial scale or on the Company's brine, risks related to the availability of financing on commercially reasonable terms and the expected use of proceeds; operations and contractual obligations; changes in estimated mineral reserves or mineral resources; future prices of lithium and other metals; availability of third party contractors; availability of equipment; failure of equipment to operate as anticipated; accidents, effects of weather and other natural phenomena and other risks associated with the mineral exploration industry; the Company's lack of operating revenues; currency fluctuations; risks related to dependence on key personnel; estimates used in financial statements proving to be incorrect; competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408881736/en/

Contacts:

E3 Lithium Investor Relations

investor@e3lithium.ca

587-324-2775



E3 Lithium Media Inquiries

communications@e3lithium.ca

587-324-2775
Consumer research ranks the brand #1 for purchase intent ahead of retail launch

BIRMINGHAM, England, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Tea Moments, a Ukrainian fruit tea brand by Trypillya Sun, is entering the UK market for the first time, presenting its products at Food & Drink Expo 2026 (NEC Birmingham, stand E119, 13-15 April). The market entry is supported by independent consumer research indicating strong commercial potential in the UK.

Ahead of the exhibition, the company conducted blind testing among 100 UK fruit tea consumers via Stickybeak.

The results showed that Tea Moments Summer Melody ranked #1 for purchase intent among all tested brands. In addition, 67% of respondents described the product as unique, while 56% said they would be willing to purchase it without tasting, based solely on its packaging and concept.

"We were confident in the quality of the product, but seeing it rank first for purchase intent among UK consumers - even before reaching retail shelves - is a strong validation of its market potential," said Yulia Romantsova, CEO of Trypillya Sun.

"The research also showed that our main barrier is not product quality, price or taste - it is simply the lack of physical presence in retail." said Yulia Romantsova, CEO of Trypillya Sun.

Tea Moments is part of Trypillya Sun's portfolio, which also includes Sherlock Secrets, a premium tea brand inspired by British tea culture. Both brands are produced at the company's own manufacturing facilities near Kyiv.

Despite the challenging operating environment in Ukraine, Trypillya Sun reported 44% growth in 2025.

Tea Moments and Sherlock Secrets will be showcased at Food & Drink Expo 2026 (stand E119). The company is actively seeking distributors, buyers and retail partners in the UK.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2952093/Tea_Moments_Logo.jpg

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ukrainian-tea-brand-tea-moments-enters-the-uk-market-at-food--drink-expo-2026-302736921.html
Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - UberDoc Health Technologies Corp. (CSE: APPT) (FSE: 4KL0) ("UberDoc" or the "Company"), an innovative healthcare platform empowering patients to connect with top physicians directly and without the wait, today announced its participation in Hint Summit 2026, taking place April 8-11 at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee. At the conference, UberDoc will introduce its specialty referral program designed for direct primary care (DPC) physicians and their patients.

Hint Summit is the largest annual gathering of the direct primary care community, bringing together clinicians, clinical leaders, employers, and industry partners advancing the DPC model. UberDoc will be engaging with DPC physicians to demonstrate how its marketplace can serve as a natural extension of the direct-pay care experience when patients need specialist referrals.



The direct primary care movement is accelerating. According to a December 2025 study published in Health Affairs, the number of DPC and concierge practice sites in the United States grew by more than 83 percent between 2018 and 2023, with the number of participating clinicians increasing by nearly 79 percent. As this growing network of direct-pay primary care physicians expands, so does the need for specialty referral pathways that align with the direct-pay model.

Direct primary care physicians have built practices around a patient-first model: transparent pricing, unhurried visits, and a direct relationship with their patients. But when those patients need specialty care, the referral process often forces them back into the traditional insurance system, introducing uncertainty around cost, availability, and follow-through. UberDoc addresses this gap by providing DPC practices with access to a vetted network of board-certified specialists who offer transparent, upfront pricing and same-week availability, with no insurance pre-authorization required.

"DPC physicians have done the hard work of building a better primary care experience for their patients. Our goal is to make sure that experience doesn't end when a patient needs to see a specialist," said Sean Kearney, CEO of UberDoc. "We're building UberDoc to be the specialty solution DPC practices can rely on. Using UberDoc allows them to give their patients the same transparency and quality that their practices are known for."

Through the offering, UberDoc will provide direct primary care practices the ability to refer patients to board-certified specialists across more than 50 specialties with transparent, upfront pricing. DPC physicians can recommend a specialist and share a direct booking link with their patient, or facilitate the booking during the visit. The platform is designed to reduce the administrative friction that typically accompanies specialty referrals while keeping patients within a direct-pay care model.

The Company is also developing enhanced capabilities informed by direct feedback from the DPC community, including the ability for physicians to build preferred specialist lists, book on behalf of patients, and track referral outcomes.

Marketing Agreement with Machai Capital Inc.

The Company has entered into an agreement with Machai Capital Inc. dated April 7, 2026 (the "Machai Agreement"), pursuant to which Machai will lead the Company's marketing, advertising, and public awareness activities and deploy a comprehensive digital media marketing program including multi-platform digital campaigns, social media amplification, and targeted investor communications.

Machai will provide digital marketing services including branding, content and data optimization to assist the Company in creating in-depth marketing campaigns, and tracking, organizing and executing such services through search engine optimization, search engine marketing, lead generation, digital marketing, social media marketing, email marketing, and brand marketing. The services will be conducted in accordance with the applicable policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

Machai has been engaged by the Company for a 3-month period commencing immediately. In consideration for the services provided, the Company will pay Machai C$400,000 plus GST out of its general working capital account.

Machai and its principal, Suneal Sandhu, currently own 571,428 common shares of the Company and 285,714 common share purchase warrants, each whole warrant being exercisable at a price of $0.50.

Machai has a business address located at Suite 101, 17565 58 Ave., Surrey, B.C., V3S 4E3, and can be contacted at 604-375-0084 and suneal@machaicapital.com. Machai is controlled by Suneal Sandhu. Machai and Mr. Sandhu are arm's-length parties to the company.

About UberDoc

UberDoc (CSE: APPT) (FSE: 4KL0) is an innovative healthcare marketplace connecting patients with top physicians with no referral, no insurance barriers, and no hidden costs. Founded by a practicing surgeon, UberDoc empowers patients to access care quickly and affordably from more than 55 specialities while giving doctors greater control over their time, revenue, and practice growth. UberDoc is not owned by, affiliated with, or sponsored by Uber Technologies, Inc. The company is registered in Vancouver, B.C., with its U.S. operations in Boston, MA.

For more information, visit www.uber-docs.com or invest.uber-docs.com

Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. The forward-looking statements herein are made as of the date of this press release only, and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new information, estimates or opinions, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budgets", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "projects", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements relating to the Company's business plan, growth strategy, ability to leverage public market access to expand service offerings and enhance technology infrastructure, proposed expansion into new markets, proposed listing, and timing of listing, on the OTCQB, and expected benefits of its listing on the CSE.

Forward-looking information is based on management's current expectations and assumptions and is subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by applicable law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291714

Source: UberDoc
Efficient production of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) vectors at scale for in vivo gene therapies remains a key bottleneck for broad patient access and sustainable manufacturing costs.

Virica and FUJIFILM Biosciences will co-develop an off-the-shelf enhancer-media solution to boost AAV yields and process robustness in FUJIFILM Biosciences BalanCD HEK293 system.

Virica Biotech ("Virica"), a cell enhancer company specializing in Viral Sensitizers (VSE) for viral vector manufacturing, today announced it is receiving advisory services and funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP), under the Canada-Japan Corporate Co-Innovation Program for a collaboration with FUJIFILM Biosciences. The collaboration will focus on optimizing a VSE formulation for FUJIFILM Biosciences BalanCD HEK293 media to support academic and commercial AAV producers globally.

AAV vectors are a cornerstone of in vivo gene delivery for gene therapies, but they remain difficult and expensive to manufacture at scale. As pipelines expand to more indications and broader patient populations, significantly greater amounts of high-quality AAV are required, while the need for commercially viable therapies places pressure on cost-of-goods. Current manufacturing methods and underlying economics are often not sufficient to meet this demand. By pairing high-performance FUJIFILM Biosciences BalanCD media with Virica's VSE enhancers, the collaboration aims to deliver significant AAV productivity gains and more robust, scalable processes.

To support FUJIFILM Biosciences' product strategy, Virica will optimize VSE formulations and process parameters for AAV production in FUJIFILM Biosciences BalanCD HEK293 media with suspension HEK293 cells. This work will leverage Virica's High-Throughput Virology (HTV) platform, Design-of-Experiments (DoE) frameworks, and analytical testing. FUJIFILM Biosciences will contribute deep expertise in media and feed supplements and scale-up capabilities to the collaborative project. The project, supported by NRC IRAP, aims to generate VSE formulations tailored with the FUJIFILM Biosciences BalanCD HEK293 system, enabling an off-the-shelf enhancer-media combination that end users can adopt with minimal process changes.

"We see a strong fit between our VSE technology and FUJIFILM Biosciences BalanCD media portfolio," said Dr. Jean-Simon Diallo, scientific co-founder and chief executive officer of Virica Biotech. "Following the recent launch of our CellVantage AAV off-the-shelf enhancer, our goal is to provide an optimized formulation to deliver further AAV productivity gains specifically in the FUJIFILM Biosciences BalanCD HEK293 system."

"We remain committed to offering integrated solutions that combine high-performance media with enabling technologies," said Yutaka Yamaguchi, chairman and chief executive officer atFUJIFILM Biosciences. "Optimizing Virica's VSE-based enhancers with our FUJIFILM Biosciences BalanCD HEK293 system will help us deliver an easy-to-implement option for improving AAV yields and supporting efficient scale-up for our customers."

To learn more about Virica's support for the manufacture of viral vectors in cell and gene therapy and vaccines, please visit viricabiotech.com.

About Virica Biotech

Virica develops cell enhancers that improve the yield and quality of viral vectors used for cell gene therapies and vaccines, allowing developers to deploy their products at scale economically. Virica's Viral Sensitizer (VSE) enhancers reduce production inefficiencies caused by cellular defenses in manufacturing cells. Purpose-formulated VSE combinations substantially increase manufacturing yields and reduce the cost of goods for a range of products. Beyond supplying VSEs as off-the-shelf reagents, Virica operates as a fast-turnaround service partner. Our proprietary High-Throughput Virology (HTV) platform, Design-of-Experiments (DoE) process optimization, and analytical testing workflows enable developers to rapidly pinpoint the optimal transfection or transduction conditions, allowing programs to scale sooner and at a lower cost.

About FUJIFILM Biosciences

With a foundation in cell culture that dates back to 1970, FUJIFILM Biosciences is a global, full spectrum supplier to the life sciences market, providing products and services that assist customers in advancing healthcare initiatives. With an expanding portfolio of applications supported that include life science and discovery research, cell and gene therapy, as well as the large-scale production of biotherapeutics and vaccines, the Company is trusted by researchers and manufacturers worldwide. For over 50 years, FUJIFILM Biosciences' Mission has been to empower all who bring medicines and treatments to life with unmatched quality and responsiveness in its products and custom solutions, providing customers with the vital resources needed to enrich human lives through innovative, accessible therapies. The Company's facilities adhere to both ISO and FDA regulations, with manufacturing facilities that follow cGMP guidelines in the USA, Japan, and the Netherlands, and a media optimization center in China. All sites prioritize strategies that adhere to the FUJIFILM Sustainability Value Plan 2030 for sustainable growth. FUJIFILM Biosciences operates as a subsidiary of FUJIFILM Holdings America Corporation under FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation.

For more information, please visit: fujifilmbiosciences.fujifilm.com

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation

FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, leverages its depth of knowledge and proprietary core technologies to deliver innovative products and services across the globe through the four key business segments of healthcare, electronics, business innovation, and imaging with over 70,000 employees. Guided and united by our Group Purpose of "giving our world more smiles," we address social challenges and create a positive impact on society through our products, services, and business operations. Under its medium-term management plan, VISION2030, which ends in FY2030, we aspire to continue our evolution into a company that creates value and smiles for various stakeholders as a collection of global leading businesses and achieve a global revenue of 4 trillion yen (29 billion USD at an exchange rate of 140 JPY/USD). For more information, please visit: www.fujifilmholdings.com.

For further details about our commitment to sustainability and Fujifilm's Sustainable Value Plan 2030, click here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260407465758/en/

Contacts:

For further information, please contact:



Virica Biotech

Dr. Jean-Simon Diallo

Email: communications@viricabiotech.com

Website: www.viricabiotech.com



FUJIFILM Biosciences

Lori Serles

Email: lori.serles@fujifilm.com

Phone: (949) 261-7800 x145



Lily Jeffery

Zyme Communications

Phone: +44 (0)7891 477 378

Email: lily.jeffery@zymecommunications.com



To opt-out from receiving press releases from Zyme Communications please e-mail info@zymecommunications.com. To view our privacy policy, please click here.
New regulatory horizon scanning capability helps compliance teams identify relevant federal and state updates and manage implementation through centralized, auditable workflows

ViClarity:

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408418724/en/

Quick Take on Reg Monitor

Who: ViClarity, provider of GRC management software

What: Launch of Reg Monitor, an AI-powered regulation monitoring tool

Why: Reduce risk of missed or mismanaged regulatory changes and improve compliance execution

How: Continuously scans applicable federal and state regulatory sources, delivers AI-generated summaries and connects updates to workflow-based implementation

When: Available now as part of the ViClarity compliance management solution

Where: Des Moines, Iowa and County Kerry, Ireland

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdQI8k8e_fo

Interview an expert: kelly@kmprcollective.com

Reg Monitor to ease burden of manual monitoring

ViClarity today announced the first in a series of AI-enabled capabilities. Reg Monitor is an enhancement to the regtech company's compliance management software designed to help compliance teams keep pace with fast-moving regulatory change.

The tool comes at a time when governance, risk and compliance (GRC) teams are under increasing pressure to keep up with a more complex regulatory landscape and often with fewer resources.

"As the patchwork of federal and state regulations grows more complex, relying on fragmented sources to track regulatory updates creates real risk for GRC teams," said Ogie Sheehy, Global CEO of ViClarity.

Full integration transfers monitoring into action

According to Sheehy, it's not unusual for a compliance team to monitor up to 100 sources of regulatory updates each month. "Reg Monitor identifies the updates that actually apply to an organization's jurisdiction, allowing compliance teams to focus on implementation instead of constant monitoring," he explained.

Reg Monitor is fully integrated into ViClarity's end-to-end compliance management software solution, enabling users to manage the implementation of related policy and procedure changes across their organizations via automated workflows. "It's not just about knowing which rules are coming and going or which ones apply," said Sheehy. "It's about pairing that insight with execution, turning changes into action and tracking progress in a controlled, auditable way."

Introducing clarity across the compliance workflow

Compliance leaders tailor Reg Monitor to their distinct product or service portfolio and geographic footprint. The tool then continuously scans all relevant regulatory sources at the federal level, from agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS), as well as state-level regulators. When it detects an applicable regulatory update, Reg Monitor delivers a concise and actionable AI-generated summary of the content.

Because Reg Monitor is integrated with the larger ViClarity compliance management solution, GRC leaders are able to assess what changed and turn the new requirements Reg Monitor surfaces for them into trackable tasks. The platform maintains a complete, auditable record of compliance activity, including policy and procedure updates, documented decision rationales, implementation tracking, as well as materials for audits, exams, board reporting and historical reference. Instead of updates living in emails and spreadsheets, teams benefit from a centralized system where responsibilities, progress and documentation remain visible across the organization.

"Think of Reg Monitor as air traffic control for a crowded regulatory airspace," said Sheehy. "It gives priority clearance to what matters most and guides it safely onto the workflow runways that teams already trust to achieve compliance."

Part of ViClarity's broader innovation roadmap

The launch of Reg Monitor forms part of ViClarity's wider product innovation program, including ongoing investment in the thoughtful application of AI across the GRC lifecycle.

"We're being very intentional about how we bring AI into our platform," said Sheehy. "That means anchoring our insights in official regulatory sources, keeping experienced professionals in the loop to evaluate every change Reg Monitor surfaces and helping teams apply those updates in the real-world context of their own organizations."

Further enhancements are planned as part of ViClarity's roadmap, addressing the evolving needs of regulated organizations across financial services, banking, healthcare and other highly regulated sectors. These initiatives are focused on reducing manual effort, improving relevance and helping organizations manage regulatory complexity with greater confidence and control.

Reg Monitor is available now as part of the ViClarity compliance management solution.

About ViClarity

ViClarity is an award-winning provider of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) management software. A global organization, ViClarity has headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, and Kerry, Ireland, and solutions in a variety of highly regulated industries, including financial services, insurance and healthcare.

To learn more about the ViClarity platform, visit www.viclarity.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408418724/en/

Contacts:

Media Contact

Kelly Moore

kelly@kmprcollective.com

515-720-9670
Westinghouse currently has fuel supply contracts with all the European VVER operators

Westinghouse and MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) recently co-hosted the VVER Fuel Forum in Budapest to share insights and plans for the continued deployment of VVER-1000 and VVER-440 fuel in operating reactors.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408646373/en/

Participants to the VVER Fuel Forum

Peter Janos Horvath, CEO of MVM Paks, welcomed all the participants, highlighting that Hungary is ending two decades of single supplier fuel dependency thanks to the agreement recently signed with Westinghouse to supply the VVER-440 NOVA E-6 fuel design.

Six customers presented the progress made and positive outcomes achieved in the past years with the introduction of Westinghouse fuel into mixed cores with resident fuel in their reactors:

Energoatom has extensive experience with Westinghouse VVER-440 and VVER-1000 fuel, currently used in the nine reactors in operation. Ukraine will be the first country to operate entirely with Westinghouse fuel in all units as of 2028. Preparation work is ongoing for manufacturing of fuel components and establishing an assembly line for VVER-1000 fuel in Ukraine.

In Finland, the VVER-440 fuel delivered to Fortum in 2024 (NOVA E-6) is in operation in Loviisa unit 2 and is performing as expected.

In Bulgaria, RWFA VVER-1000 fuel was loaded in Kozloduy NPP unit 5 in a mixed core in 2024 and currently the unit 5 core consists of 50% Westinghouse fuel. Lead Test Assemblies of the RWFA-13 fuel design will be loaded in Kozloduy NPP unit 6.

In the Czech Republic, CEZ received the first reload deliveries of the upgraded VVER-1000 fuel for the Temelin NPP and VVER-440 fuel for Dukovany NPP last year. Fuel will be loaded after completing the licensing process for each plant.

The VVER-440 fuel licensing process is ongoing in Slovakia for Mochovce NPP 1 and 2.

The process to license VVER-440 NOVA E-6/NOVCD fuel for Paks NPP 1, 2, 3 and 4 has started in Hungary. Westinghouse plans to deliver the first fuel reload in 2028.

Westinghouse shared plans for additional product enhancements, fabrication plant upgrades and expanded fuel engineering capacity to support the company's innovation and leadership in the VVER fuel market. The development of the NOVA E-7 VVER-440 and the Next Generation VVER-1000 fuel designs targets to improve fuel economy and reliability. From the manufacturing perspective, a new pellet facility is under construction in Vasteras, Sweden, which will result in a 50% capacity increase by 2028.

"It's exciting to see all the tangible results we have accomplished together with our customers to ensure energy security in the region," said Sophie Lemaire, Westinghouse Interim Co-President of Nuclear Fuel. "While we now have extensive experience of almost 30 years with this type of fuel, the last four years have been critical in accelerating our efforts to offer a reliable fuel diversification alternative to our customers."

Westinghouse Electric Company is the future of energy, providing reliable, innovative nuclear technologies and services globally. Westinghouse pioneered commercial nuclear power, delivering the world's first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957. The company has industrialized more nuclear reactors than any other company, with its technology forming the basis of half of the world's operating nuclear plants. 140 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle. For more information, visit www.westinghousenuclear.com and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and X

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408646373/en/

Contacts:

MEDIA CONTACT

media@westinghouse.com
Edmonton, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Peruvian Metals Corp - (TSXV: PER) (OTC Pink: DUVNF) ("Peruvian Metals" or the "Company") announces production results for the first quarter of 2026 at its 80-per-cent-owned Aguila Norte processing plant ("Aguila Norte" or the "Plant") located in Northern Peru.

During the first quarter of 2026, the Plant completed several mineral campaigns processing a total of 9,212 metric tonnes (mt). Production in the first quarter was at full capacity and exceeded production levels in the first quarter of 2025 (9,168 mt). The Company is extremely pleased with the record first quarter production at a time when the rainy season in Peru has affected mining operations.

The Company is also pleased to have secured the surface rights over the Plant area for another 10 years as noted in the Company's press release March 3rd, 2026. With the recent closing of the financings in February and March, the Company is now conducting upgrades and maintenance on the equipment ensuring more productive output. These upgrade and maintenance should not affect the throughput and will be conducted over the several months. This work will be paid from the current cash flow generated by Aguila Norte.

The Plant is located on a wholly owned concession covering 120 hectares held by Peruvian's 80% owned subsidiary Minera Aguila de Oro S.A.C ("MADOSAC"). MADOSAC owns two additional contiguous concessions totaling 263 hectares that are not covered by the environmental permit. Several old artisanal workings exist within and outside the permitted area. The Company is planning to establish new permits on the veins/workings located outside the permitted area for mineral extraction.

In 2025, the Company was able to clean out a 20-meter vertical shaft within the main adit located on the mining concession. The Company took one grab sample at the bottom of the shaft that contained abundant sulphides. Assay results from the sample returned 1.487 grams Au/mt, 3.40 ounces Ag/mt and 3.00 % Cu. This sample was also assayed for soluble copper returning 0.24% Cu. More importantly, one old working located 500 metres northeast of the plant and located outside the permitted area showed significant oxide copper mineralization at surface. Four samples taken from this area averaged 3.15% soluble copper and 1.13 grams Au/mt. Samples ranged from 0.02 to 7.90% copper and 0.257 to 2.368 grams Au/mt. These results show that the surface exposed veins at Aguila Norte probably contain copper sulphides at depth which could eventually be processed at the Plant. All samples from this area were processed by Procesmin Ingenieros S.R.L located in Caraz Ancash by Fire Assay for Au-Ag and Atomic Absorption for Cu.

Jeffrey Reeder, Chief Executive Officer of Peruvian Metals, comments: "We are extremely pleased to continue to achieve full capacity production at Aguila Norte. We fully expect that production levels will be maintain at these levels for the remainder of the year and expect a record year in 2026. After the completion of the recent financing the Company plans to explore the possibility of locating at depth mineralized Copper-Gold-Silver sulphides in close proximity to the Plant which would be processed at the Aguila Norte Plant."

The Aguila Norte processing plant has an environmental permit (IGAC) from the Peruvian government that provides the plant with the ability to expand operations past the current 100-tonne-per-day level.

Qualified Person

Jeffrey Reeder, P. Geo., is the Qualified Person, as defined in National Instrument 43-101, who has reviewed and approved the technical contents of this release.

About Peruvian Metals Corp.

Peruvian Metals Corp. is a Canadian exploration and mineral processing company. Our business model is to provide clients with toll milling services and produce high-grade marketable concentrates from mineral purchases. The Aguila Norte processing plant has an environmental permit ("IGAC") from the Peruvian government which provides the Company with the ability to expand operations past the current 100 tonnes per day level. The Company continues to acquire and develop precious and base metal properties in Peru.

ON BEHALF OF PERUVIAN METALS

CORP.

(Signed) Jeffrey Reeder

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. We use words such as "might", "will", "should", "anticipate", "plan", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "forecast" and similar terminology to identify forward looking statements and forward-looking information. Such statements and information are based on assumptions, estimates, opinions, and analysis made by management in light of its experience, current conditions and its expectations of future developments as well as other factors which it believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and information and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements and information. Risks and uncertainties are more fully described in our annual and quarterly Management's Discussion and Analysis and in other filings made by us with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and available at www.sedar.com.While the Company believes that the expectations expressed by such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information and the assumptions, estimates, opinions, and analysis underlying such expectations are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. In evaluating forward-looking statements and information, readers should carefully consider the various factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291610

Source: Peruvian Metals Corp.
Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo-managed funds ("Apollo") and Brookfield today announced that they have completed the previously announced acquisition of Air Lease Corporation ("Air Lease") and have renamed the business Sumisho Air Lease Corporation ("Sumisho Air Lease").

This transformational transaction improves the financial position of the business with long term support and aviation expertise from co-investors Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield.

Sumisho Air Lease's strong foundation as an established aircraft lessor, supported by SMBC Aviation Capital's industry-leading capabilities as servicer, creates a platform with the scale and financial strength needed to meet the fast-changing and increasingly complex requirements of airline customers. Sumisho Air Lease will also benefit from the deep expertise and long-standing commitment that both Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital bring to the global aviation leasing sector.

As part of the overall transaction, Air Lease's orderbook has now transferred to SMBC Aviation Capital, bringing SMBC Aviation Capital's orderbook with Airbus and Boeing to c. 420 aircraft.

SMBC Aviation Capital will be the servicer to the majority of Sumisho Air Lease's portfolio of aircraft, bringing SMBC Aviation Capital's Owned, Serviced and Committed aircraft to over 1700 across over 170 airline Customers.

Sumisho Air Lease will benefit from enhanced scale through access to a large-scale aviation platform and is well positioned to achieve its long-term strategic direction while continuing to be a leader in the global aviation leasing industry.

Takao Kusaka, Group CEO, Transportation Construction Systems Group of Sumitomo Corporation, said:

"We are delighted to announce the completion of the acquisition of Air Lease Corporation together with our co-investors SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield. Reaching this important milestone is a testament to the strong alignment among the investor group and our shared long-term vision for the business.

As a core participant in the aviation industry ecosystem, Sumisho Air Lease is highly complementary to our strategic direction and reinforces the Sumitomo Corporation Group's commitment to the commercial aviation sector. This transaction further enhances the scale, quality and resilience of our aviation platform.

Looking ahead, we are confident that close collaboration between Sumisho Air Lease and the Sumitomo Corporation Group will unlock meaningful synergies and support the sustainable growth of our aviation portfolio"

Peter Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of SMBC Aviation Capital, said:

"This transaction creates one of the most competitive, well-capitalised, and customer-focused leasing platforms in the global aircraft leasing market. With Sumisho Air Lease's modern, high-quality fleet, supported by SMBC Aviation Capital's industry-leading capabilities, we are ideally positioned to transform the industry with innovative solutions for our airline partners and sustainable returns for investors.

In a supply constrained environment, SMBC Aviation Capital's enhanced scale, financial strength and deep market insight will allow us to provide the new technology aircraft and the flexibility our customers need to achieve their growth ambitions. Backed by the long-term commitment and resources of our shareholders including our co-investor, Sumitomo Corporation, we look forward to unlocking new opportunities and driving innovation."

Jamshid Ehsani, Partner, Apollo, said:

"The completion of this transaction establishes a high-quality aviation platform with strong industry sponsorship from our partners, Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital. Sumisho Air Lease's new generation, in-demand fleet supported by Apollo's flexible, long-term capital, positions the business to deliver innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of airline customers. This transaction also highlights Apollo's established track record in aviation, led by our industry experts at Perseus Aviation, as well as our ability to provide scaled and creative capital solutions to support leading businesses in essential sectors of the global economy."

Ryan Schwartz, Managing Director, Brookfield, said:

"The closing of this transaction reflects Brookfield's ability to deploy large-scale, flexible capital to support strategic partners in complex markets. Leveraging our credit expertise alongside Castlelake's deep aviation experience, we delivered a tailored solution for Sumitomo Corporation and SMBC Aviation Capital that advances their strategic objectives and positions the business for long-term success."

Noriyuki Hiruta, CEO of Sumisho Air Lease, said:

"Today marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Sumisho Air Lease. As an established aircraft lessor with a modern, fuel-efficient fleet and a strong investment-grade profile, we are ideally placed to meet the evolving needs of airlines and investors in a rapidly changing market. With the backing of Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield, we have the scale, financial strength and industry expertise to deliver long-term value while building trusted partnerships with our customers around the world."

The transaction was originally announced in September 2025, with Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo and Brookfield agreeing to acquire Air Lease for total valuation of approximately $7.4 billion, or approximately $28.2 billion including debt obligations to be assumed or refinanced net of cash.

Notes to editors

About Sumitomo Corporation

Sumitomo Corporation (TYO: 8053) is an integrated trading and business investment company with a strong global network comprising 127 offices in 64 countries and regions. The Sumitomo Corporation Group consists of approximately 500 companies and 80,000 employees on a consolidated basis. The Group's business activities are spread across the following nine groups: Steel, Automotive, Transportation Construction Systems, Diverse Urban Development, Media Digital, Lifestyle Business, Mineral Resources, Chemicals Solutions and Energy Transformation Business. Sumitomo Corporation is committed to creating greater value for society under the corporate message of "Enriching lives and the world," based on Sumitomo's business philosophy passed down for over 400 years. Sumitomo Corporation

About SMBC Aviation Capital

SMBC Aviation Capital is a leading aircraft lessor globally by number of aircraft and benefits from the strong support of its shareholders Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Sumitomo Corporation. SMBC Aviation Capital has a high-quality global airline customer base with a portfolio comprising 87% narrow-body aircraft and 73% new technology aircraft (by net book value). SMBC Aviation Capital has a strong capital position and holds an A- and BBB+ rating with S&P and Fitch respectively, reflecting the long-term strength of its business. For more information, please visit: https://www.smbc.aero/

About Apollo

Apollo is a high-growth, global alternative asset manager. In our asset management business, we seek to provide our clients excess return at every point along the risk-reward spectrum from investment grade credit to private equity. For more than three decades, our investing expertise across our fully integrated platform has served the financial return needs of our clients and provided businesses with innovative capital solutions for growth. Through Athene, our retirement services business, we specialize in helping clients achieve financial security by providing a suite of retirement savings products and acting as a solutions provider to institutions. Our patient, creative, and knowledgeable approach to investing aligns our clients, businesses we invest in, our employees, and the communities we impact, to expand opportunity and achieve positive outcomes. As of December 31, 2025, Apollo had approximately $938 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.apollo.com.

About Brookfield

Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager, headquartered in New York, with over $1 trillion of assets under management across infrastructure, energy, private equity, real estate, and credit. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield's heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for our clients, across economic cycles. For more information, please visit our website at www.bam.brookfield.com

About Sumisho Air Lease

Sumisho Air Lease Corporation (Sumisho) is a leading global aircraft leasing company which was launched following the acquisition of Air Lease Corporation by Sumitomo Corporation, SMBC Aviation Capital, Apollo managed funds and Brookfield in April 2026. With over $29 billion of assets, 490 owned aircraft (as of 31st Dec 2025), and a market leading management team, the company has an investment grade credit rating and committed long-term investors.

For more information, please visit: www.sumisho.aero

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260408078834/en/

Contacts:

For more information, please contact:

SMBC Aviation Capital

Conor Irwin, SVP Communications (for media) +353 87 381 6106

Mark Allen, Head of Corporate Finance (for investors) +353 87 226 3622

FGS Global (for SMBC Aviation Capital) SMBCAviation-LON@fgsglobal.com

Richard Webster-Smith +44 7796 708551

Rory King +44 7917 086227

Richard Crowley +44 7387 257394

For Sumitomo Corporation

Corporate Communications Department Contact Us Sumitomo Corporation

For Apollo

Noah Gunn, Global Head of Investor Relations +1 (212) 822-0540 IR@apollo.com

Joanna Rose, Global Head of Corporate Communications +1(212) 822-0491 Communications@apollo.com

For Brookfield

Rachel Wood, Vice President, Communications +1 (212) 618-3490 Rachel.wood@brookfield.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Military Metals Corp. (CSE: MILI) (OTCQB: MILIF) (FSE: QN90) (the "Company" or "MILI") is pleased to announce the completion of a maiden Inferred Mineral Resource estimate (MRE) of 6.5 Mt at 1.02% Sb and 1.06 g/t Au for 67 thousand tonnes (kt) of antimony and 222 thousand ounces (koz) of gold at the Company's wholly owned flagship Trojarova Project (the "Project") in Western Slovakia.

Highlights:

Inferred Mineral Resource of 6.5 Mt at 1.02% Sb and 1.06 g/t Au for 67 kt of antimony and 222 koz of gold (Table 1)

Resource estimate incorporated 53 diamond drill holes totaling 7,167 m of drilling and 55 intervals of underground chip samples totaling 202 m

Historical MRE is now replaced by a modern MRE that is prepared in accordance with the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards (CIM, 2014) and the CIM Best Practice Guidelines of Mineral Resources and Reserves (2019)

Scott Eldridge, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented, "The maiden mineral resource estimate of the Trojarova Project firmly underpins the value of Military Metals. Following our 2025 confirmation drilling campaign Trojarova has emerged as the largest antimony resource in the European union that is defined by a modern regulatory standard 1, and among the largest antimony resources globally. At a time when the need for secure, domestically sourced critical minerals is more pressing than ever, these results strengthen the project's potential importance to, and alignment with, the EU's objective of building a dependable, home-grown supply of critical raw materials."

1The Company defines "a modern regulatory standard" as NI 43-101, JORC, or S-K 1300 disclosure standards.

Table 1 - Trojarova Mineral Resource Estimate - April 6, 2026

Classification Tonnage Average Grade Contained Metal (Mt) Sb (%) Au (g/t) Sb (kt) Au (koz) Inferred 6.5 1.02 1.06 67 222

Notes:

The Mineral Resource Estimate was completed by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. ("SLR") in accordance with the 2014 Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards and the CIM Best Practice Guidelines of Mineral Resources and Reserves (2019). SLR is independent of Military Metals Corp. The Mineral Resource is reported on a 100% ownership basis. Mineral Resources are estimated at a cut-off grade of 0.8% SbEq. The formula for SbEq is SbEq = Sb % + (Au g/t * 0.562). Mineral Resources are estimated using a long-term antimony price of US$29,000 per tonne and a gold price of US$3,000 per ounce. A uniform bulk density of 2.82 t/m3 was applied based on the length-weighted mean from laboratory density determinations from the Project's main mineralized zone. Metallurgical recovery is 85% for antimony and 85% for gold. The Mineral Resource excludes a 50 m crown pillar. Resource estimation domains were modelled to a 2.0 m minimum width. Totals may vary due to rounding.

The 2026 Trojarova Mineral Resource Estimate

The maiden Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") incorporates all historical and modern drilling completed on the project, as well as historical underground sampling, comprising 53 diamond drill holes totaling 7,167 m and 55 underground face chip sampling intervals totaling 202 m. Three historical drill holes without analytical results available were excluded. Six mineralization wireframes, each supported by a minimum of two drill holes, were manually built based on a 0.1% SbEq threshold. A minimum wireframe width of 2.0 m was applied to all zones. Mineral Resources above the 0.8% SbEq cut-off were reported in four of the six mineralization wireframes (Figure 1).

Inferred Mineral Resources correspond to areas supported by at least two drill holes with nominal drill spacing of no more than 150 m. Classification boundaries were locally refined manually to reflect geological interpretation, grade continuity, and zone thickness.

The MRE is constrained within estimation domains meeting a 2.0 m minimum mining width. A 50 m crown pillar was also excluded from the MRE.

Resource classification follows the CIM (2014) Definition Standards. Modeling and estimation were completed in Leapfrog Geo and Leapfrog Edge, and validation included database checks, wireframe-to-block volume comparisons, statistical reviews, and visual inspections on sections, plans, and longitudinal sections. Reporting assumes an antimony price of US $29,000 per tonne and a gold price of US$3,000/oz, with an effective date of April 6th, 2026.

The average grade, minimum mining width and other results or assumptions above do not guarantee future production.





Figure 1: Trojarova deposit showing Inferred Mineral Resources above cut off (grey), and mineralization wireframes (red)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10818/291609_7fe684b144344ad4_001full.jpg

Exploration Growth Potential

To date no significant mineralization has been intersected beyond the boundaries of the current Inferred Mineral Resource estimate. However, mineral exploration beyond these boundaries has also been limited. There is geological evidence of the mineralizing structure or other sympathetic structures continuing northward along strike within the boundaries of the Trojarova project. Additional exploration along this corridor could identify targets for future drilling. Furthermore, the Inferred Mineral Resource is open to depth, where additional drilling has the potential to incorporate additional volume into future mineral resource estimates.

About the Trojarova Project

Discovered in the late 1970s, Trojarova was the focus of extensive surface and underground exploration over a 2 km strike length from 1983 to 1995, including 66 diamond drill holes for a total of 9,049 m and 1.7 km of underground workings. Efforts continued over the years as additional trenches were dug, and holes were drilled. Starting in 1990, underground development began, ultimately comprising a 300-metre-long adit connected to a 700-plus-metre-long drive in the footwall of the mineralized zone, with seven crosscuts into the mineralized zone for sampling.

These efforts culminated in a comprehensive study comprising drill logs, analyses, drill plans, maps and sections, deposit model studies, petrographic studies, metallurgical studies and more, now detailed in a multi-volume compendium of reports produced by the Slovak Geological Institute published in 1992.

The historical work carried out appears comprehensive, detailed and at a professional standard. The Company considers this historical data relevant, as it will use it as a guide to plan future exploration programs and informs the Inferred Mineral Resource estimate. The Company also considers the data to be reliable for these purposes.

The Company completed a confirmation drilling campaign in the winter of 2025 to validate historical work. Seven diamond drill holes totaling 1,383 m were drilled (Figure 2).





Figure 2: Map of Military Metals' Trojarova Project, Western Slovakia.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10818/291609_7fe684b144344ad4_002full.jpg

Qualified Person

The Mineral Resource estimate was prepared by Luke Evans, M.Sc., P.Eng., Principal Resource Geologist, Global Technical Director, Geology Group Leader for SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. It is reported in accordance with the CIM Definition Standards (2014). The scientific and technical information in this news release related to the Trojarova Mineral Resource estimate has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Evans, who is independent of Military Metals Corp. and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101.

SLR is unaware of any environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues that could materially affect the Mineral Resource estimate.

David Murray, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration at Military Metals Corp. a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release.

A technical report will be prepared by Qualified Persons in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101 and will be filed on SEDAR+ within 45 days of this press release.

About Military Metals Corp.

The Company is a British Columbia-based mineral exploration company that is primarily engaged in the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral properties with a focus on antimony.

For more information about Military Metals Corp. and its critical minerals initiatives, please visit: https://www.militarymetalscorp.com.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/military-metals/

X: https://x.com/militarymetals

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564717587797

Cautionary Statement regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information." Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, the continuation of the value of antimony, and the future needs of Europe and the E.U. specifically. A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond our control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information in this news release. These include geopolitical developments related to the supply and value of antimony, the continued use of antimony and availability of alternatives, availability of capital and labour in respect of the property that is the subject of this news release, the results of any future exploration activities, which cannot be guaranteed, and any other future activities in respect of the property held by the Target. Additional risk factors can also be found in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances, management's estimates or opinions should change, except as required by securities legislation. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the information contained herein and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291609

Source: Military Metals Corp.
Austin, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - North America Lithium and Gold Corp. (OTCID: NALG) (the "Company"), a U.S.-focused lithium and critical minerals exploration company, today announced it is re-initiating exploration activities at the historic Midnight Owl Mine, located within the White Picacho Mining District of Yavapai County, Arizona.

The Company also highlighted the strategic significance of its 100% owned P&G Beryl Prospect, a past-producing beryllium occurrence located within the same pegmatite district.

These developments build upon several recent corporate milestones, including the Company's FINRA-approved name, ticker, and CUSIP change to North America Lithium and Gold Corp. (NALG) and the successful securing of more than $1 million in funding to advance permitting and drilling activities at the Midnight Owl Project.

Together, these milestones position the Company to advance exploration across one of Arizona's most historically significant pegmatite districts.

Figure 1: SpecTIR airborne LWIR hyperspectral mineral map of the Midnight Owl Project. Purple and magenta zones highlight directly detected spodumene occurrences within pegmatite trends across the Company's claims. This dataset forms the foundation for drill target prioritization.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12253/291588_70e42f55f4c2cab8_001full.jpg

Advancing Hyperspectral Discovery Toward Drill Targets

In late 2023, the Company announced the direct airborne detection of spodumene using long-wave infrared (LWIR) hyperspectral imaging, a result believed to represent the first direct detection of spodumene in a commercial airborne hyperspectral survey.

The survey mapped extensive spodumene-bearing pegmatite trends across the Company's claims in the White Picacho district. Geological interpretation of this dataset indicates that pegmatite emplacement in the district may be structurally controlled, providing valuable guidance for identifying potential buried pegmatite bodies.

Current work is focused on integrating hyperspectral data with:

Structural geology

Historical workings

Surface mapping and field verification

Pegmatite orientation and continuity

This integrated approach is designed to prioritize potential drill targets while supporting future permitting and exploration programs.

Figure 2: Integrated hyperspectral interpretation and surface mapping highlighting priority spodumene-bearing pegmatite trends. White boxes and arrows indicate structurally controlled zones selected for on-the-ground confirmation and exploration targeting.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12253/291588_70e42f55f4c2cab8_002full.jpg

Historic Beryllium Production in the White Picacho Mining District

The White Picacho district has historically been an important domestic source of beryllium-bearing pegmatite minerals, particularly during the mid-20th century when demand increased due to its applications in defense and aerospace technologies.

Historical records indicate that the Midnight Owl Mine, also owned by the Company, produced approximately 154,255 pounds of beryl between 1941 and 1963, establishing the district as one of the most productive pegmatite-hosted beryllium occurrences in Arizona.

In addition to Midnight Owl, the Company also controls the P&G Beryl Prospect, a historic surface beryl occurrence developed on small pegmatite dikes within the district.

The shallow nature of these historical workings suggests potential for low-impact exploration and development, subject to permitting and further evaluation.

Strategic Importance of Beryllium

Beryllium is considered a strategic critical mineral due to its unique physical properties, including high stiffness, low weight, and exceptional thermal stability. These characteristics make it essential in applications such as:

Aerospace and satellite systems

Defense technologies and advanced electronics

Nuclear energy components

Telecommunications and high-performance electronics

Beryllium products can command high market value depending on purity and form, with refined metal and specialty alloys often commanding significantly higher prices due to limited global supply and strong demand from high-technology industries.

A District Hosting Multiple Critical Minerals

The White Picacho Pegmatite District is known for hosting rare-element pegmatite systems, which can contain multiple critical minerals including:

Spodumene (lithium)

Beryl (beryllium)

Feldspar pegmatite minerals

NALG's land position therefore provides exposure to multiple strategic minerals within the same geological system, reinforcing the importance of the district as a domestic resource.

CEO Commentary

"We are very pleased to be initiating exploration activities at the historic Midnight Owl Mine and advancing our work across the broader White Picacho pegmatite district," said Mac J. Shahsavar, P.Eng., Chairman and CEO of North America Lithium and Gold Corporation.

"The district has a long history of producing strategic minerals, including Production of more than 154,000 pounds of beryl from the P&G Beryl Prospect, and remains one of Arizona's most notable Pegmatite and Old Gold Rush districts.

"Our hyperspectral work has demonstrated the presence of spodumene across significant portions of our claims, providing a modern technological approach to exploring this historic district.

"Equally important is the progress the Company has made on the corporate side. Following our recent FINRA-approved name and ticker change to North America Lithium and Gold Corp., we have also successfully secured over $1 million in funding to advance permitting and drilling activities at Midnight Owl.

"Broader industry developments are also reinforcing the importance of domestic sources of critical minerals. With new U.S. lithium refining infrastructure coming online, including Tesla's new Texas lithium refinery, the Midnight Owl project sits approximately a 15-hour freeway truck route from a major refining hub, highlighting the potential long-term advantages of a domestic mine-to-refinery supply chain.

"When you combine historic production, modern exploration technologies, growing demand for strategic minerals, and improving domestic processing capacity, the White Picacho district continues to demonstrate why it remains such an important mineral region."





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/12253/291588_70e42f55f4c2cab8_003full.jpg

About North America Lithium and Gold Corp.

North America Lithium and Gold Corporation (OTCID: NALG) is a U.S.-based lithium and gold exploration company focused on developing its flagship project, the Revival of the Midnight Owl Mine. Historically known as the Lithium King Mine, the project is located approximately 13 miles east of Wickenburg, Arizona.

The Company holds 100% ownership of the Midnight Owl Mine along with an adjoining 5,040 acres (244 lode claims). This lithium pegmatite project is strategically positioned within 170 miles of three billion-dollar gigafactories currently under construction, providing strong logistical and commercial advantages.

North America Lithium and Gold Corporation is advancing a portfolio of lithium-rich assets with the objective of becoming a significant domestic supplier of lithium-based products, supporting U.S. energy security and next-generation technologies.

To learn more about North America Lithium and Gold Corporation, visit:

Corporate Website:

https://northamericalithium.com

Social Media:

X (Twitter): https://x.com/NALithiumGold

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/brgc-corp

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/north_america_lithium_and_gold/

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including the Company's ability to raise capital and its future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as they involve risks and uncertainties that are, in some cases, beyond the Company's control and could materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects management's current views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions related to operations, growth strategy, and liquidity. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available.

For additional information on risks and uncertainties, please review the Company's filings with OTC Markets Group Inc., available at: https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NALG/disclosure

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291588

Source: North America Lithium and Gold Corporation
WEST HAVEN, Conn., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The University of New Haven is excited to announce it has received approval from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), one of the oldest and most respected accrediting bodies in the United States, to establish its international branch campus in Saudi Arabia. This marks a major development toward the scheduled opening this fall of the campus in Riyadh, which will be the first U.S. international branch campus in Saudi Arabia.

"This is another significant milestone in our historic undertaking to establish an international branch campus in Riyadh," said Jens Frederiksen, Ph.D., president of the University of New Haven. "From the beginning of this process, it has been clear that there is a significant demand in Riyadh for American-style higher education. Our Riyadh campus will feature the same enrollment-driven model in place in Connecticut, offering our immersive educational experiences and market-driven programs in a region with a large and growing population of college-aged individuals who are seeking higher education opportunities."

The University will begin offering degree programs in the Fall of 2026 through a College of Business and Digital Innovation. The University plans to expand to offer degrees through a College of Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing and a College of Arts and Applied Sciences. Undergraduate and graduate degrees will be offered alongside executive education and micro-credentials to support lifelong learning.

The University envisions the Riyadh campus growing to serve more than 10,000 students.

The international branch campus will be located in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia and its most populous city. Riyadh is rapidly developing as an educational hub, with significant investments in education, advanced technology and community-focused school designs supporting the country's diversified workforce needs.

About the University of New Haven

The University of New Haven, founded in 1920, is a private university whose mission is to prepare students to excel and lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a global society. The university offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate programs and has been recognized for academic excellence, nationally and internationally. In addition to its main campus in West Haven, the university has a campus in Tuscany, Italy. Learn more at newhaven.edu.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/university-of-new-haven-receives-us-accreditation-approval-to-launch-worlds-first-international-branch-campus-in-saudi-arabia-302737079.html
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / Devon's Dissertation Symposium, a newly formed New York-based academic support business, has launched with a mission to help graduate students navigate the dissertation process with personalized guidance, consulting, and milestone-focused assistance.

Founded by Devon Warner, the business is positioned as a specialized dissertation support service for students seeking help with the many moving parts of advanced academic work. According to the company's website, Devon's Dissertation Symposium offers support across qualitative and quantitative research, editing, and consulting, with assistance available in a wide range of disciplines including engineering, nursing, technology, innovation, aerospace, human resources, business, education, finance, law, biology, and social sciences.

The company says its approach is designed to meet students where they are in the dissertation journey. Services highlighted on the website include research proposal support, chapter-level assistance, dissertation editing, topic suggestions, literature review help, methodology and results chapter support, revision help after supervisor feedback, presentation support for defense preparation, and journal article guidance.

Devon's Dissertation Symposium also emphasizes a hands-on service model. The website notes that students can submit project details through an order form or chat, track progress through a personal account, communicate throughout the process, and download completed materials after review. The company further promotes 24/7 response availability, consultation options, formatting help, bibliography and outline support, and a revision window for eligible orders.

In addition, the business outlines customer-focused policies intended to build confidence among prospective clients. These include confidentiality commitments, on-time delivery, revisions, and a money-back window within 72 hours of initial payment, as stated on the website. The company also notes flexible payment inquiries and introductory pricing for first orders.

With graduate students facing increasing pressure to balance research complexity, deadlines, and institutional requirements, Devon's Dissertation Symposium aims to provide structured academic support tailored to each stage of the dissertation process.

For more information, to request a quote, or to schedule a consultation, visit Devon's Dissertation Symposium online: https://dissertationdw.com/ . Students must have Cash App to sign up, instructions can be found at: https://dissertationdw.com/contact and https://dissertationdw.com/payment-policy/ . Payment must be made and then a Zoom meeting can be set up.

About Devon's Dissertation Symposium

Devon's Dissertation Symposium is a New York-based academic support business offering dissertation-related guidance, consulting, revision support, and research assistance for graduate students across multiple subject areas. The company focuses on personalized service, milestone-based support, and responsive communication throughout the dissertation process.

CONTACT:

Devon Warner

(212) 470-1104

devonwarner600@gmail.com

SOURCE: Devon's Dissertation Symposium

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/education/devons-dissertation-symposium-launches-student-focused-academic-support-services-for-grad-1155827
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (CSE: QIMC) (OTCQB: QIMCF) (FSE: 7FJ) ("QIMC" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its New Salem zone following the recent release of soil-gas geochemical results from its Cumberland Basin project in Nova Scotia.

Ongoing internal analysis and integration of geochemical data continue to support the continuity of the previously reported soil-gas anomaly, including methane, associated C2-C4 hydrocarbons, and helium, across the surveyed section. The dataset supports the Company's working interpretation of a laterally continuous multi-component soil-gas anomaly interpreted to reflect a potential underlying gas system that warrants follow-up exploration. All samples were independently analyzed by GeoFrontiers Corporation (Texas) using gas chromatography methods, providing external verification of analytical results.

These results represent an important step in advancing the New Salem zone toward priority target delineation, additional geophysical and geochemical work and drill targeting.

Building on these results, the Company is advancing to the next phase of exploration, which will include densification of soil-gas sampling together with targeted geophysical surveys, including gravity, magnetic, and seismic methods. These activities are designed to refine subsurface interpretation and further constrain the structural and geological controls associated with the observed anomaly.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTARY

"The integration of our geochemical results with regional geological and structural data at New Salem marks an important step in advancing our interpretation of the area. The consistency of the multi-component soil-gas anomaly - including methane, C2-C4 hydrocarbons, and helium - across the survey corridor supports our decision to advance to the next phase of work.

Densified sampling and targeted geophysical surveys are expected to help refine our subsurface model, improve our understanding of the anomaly's structural context, and support the delineation of priority exploration targets. The Cumberland Basin remains underexplored, and we believe this phased approach provides a disciplined framework for evaluating its potential."

- John Karagiannidis, Chief Executive Officer, QIMC

DISCOVERY HIGHLIGHTS

Approximately 450 m multi-component C1-C4 soil-gas anomaly defined within a broader approximately 1.5 km survey corridor

Program advancing to densified soil-gas sampling and targeted geophysical surveys, including gravity, magnetic, and seismic methods

Multi-component gas and helium signatures are being evaluated in the context of interpreted structural trends to refine priority exploration targets.

ADVANCING INTERPRETATION AND PROGRAM EXPANSION

Following completion of the initial soil-gas survey, QIMC has initiated an integrated interpretation program combining geochemical results with regional geological and structural datasets.

Preliminary interpretation indicates that the anomaly may be spatially associated with mapped and interpreted fault structures within the western Cumberland Basin. While further work is required to evaluate and refine these relationships, the current dataset provides a working framework to guide follow-up exploration.

To advance this work, the Company is expanding its exploration program to include densified soil-gas sampling along priority sections together with targeted geophysical surveys. These activities are expected to enhance subsurface resolution, support structural interpretation, and help delineate priority exploration targets for subsequent phases, which may include drilling.

NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION STRATEGY FOR THE WESTERN CUMBERLAND BASIN - PROF. MARC RICHER-LAFLECHE

QIMC's exploration program aims to evaluate a vast region of Nova Scotia, extending more than 1,500 km into Cumberland County. Despite its size, the western Cumberland Basin, including the New Salem and Apple River sectors, remains essentially unexplored. Even in the more central parts of the basin, recent discoveries of strong hydrogen anomalies in the Little Forks-Springhill and Southampton areas indicate that the basin's overall energy potential is still poorly constrained.



With the exception of coal, which has been extensively documented by both government and industry, data on hydrogen, natural gas, and condensate potential in Cumberland County remain sparse. To guide future exploration, it is essential to distinguish the geological processes that control hydrogen generation and migration from those governing conventional hydrocarbons.

NATURALLY OCCURRING HYDROGEN

High hydrogen concentrations have been identified in two principal domains:

The Cobequid Highlands-Cumberland Basin Transition Zone, where Precambrian to Devonian basement rocks are dissected by long-lived, polyphased dextral strike-slip faults and overlain by Carboniferous sedimentary units (R2C2 model). The Central Cumberland Basin (e.g., Little Forks-Springhill-Southampton), where verticalized structures associated with diapiric salt tectonics deform the Carboniferous sequence.

In both settings, deep crustal fractures and anisotropies, generated either by wrench faulting or salt tectonics, likely form vertical migration pathways for hydrogen. These structures may explain the elevated hydrogen concentrations observed in the 2025 soil-gas surveys and in the 2026 drilling at West Advocate. Overall, the hydrogen system appears to involve a deep, basement derived source and vertically oriented fracture corridors that channel hydrogen toward the near surface environment.

CONVENTIONAL NATURAL GAS AND CONDENSATES

Exploration for natural gas and condensates requires a model aligned with established hydrocarbon systems in the Maritimes. Previous work compiled in the assessment of Oil and Gas Potential, Windsor and Cumberland Basins (NSDOE OFR 2017 03) synthesis report highlights several key elements relevant to the Cumberland Basin.

HYDROCARBON SOURCE ROCKS

The basin is expected to contain lacustrine shales and coal rich units capable of generating gaseous hydrocarbons. The lacustrine organic-rich shales source should occur at depth (Horton Gp) within structural lows where burial conditions favored thermogenic gas and condensate generation. A major challenge in western Cumberland is the absence of deep drilling to confirm the presence and maturity of these source rocks. However, multiple independent lines of evidence, including regional geological analogs, organic geochemical data, burial and thermal modeling, and soil-gas anomalies in New Salem, strongly support the presence of organic-rich, thermogenically mature Horton Group lacustrine shales at depth. Demonstrating the existence and quality of these source rocks remains a critical step in evaluating the basin's hydrocarbon potential.

MIGRATION PATHWAYS, RESERVOIRS, AND SEALS

A network of faults cutting through the sedimentary succession may have facilitated hydrocarbon migration into overlying sandstone and conglomerate potential reservoirs. Structural traps may have formed through anticlines and normal faults associated with salt tectonics, creating favorable conditions for hydrocarbon accumulation.

Regional seals could likely be provided by younger Cumberland Group shale units, while evaporite formations within diapiric zones offer highly effective impermeable barriers, further enhancing the potential for hydrocarbon entrapment.

EXPLORATION STRATEGY IN THE CUMBERLAND BASIN - PROF. MARC RICHER-LAFLECHE

In a frontier basin with no prior drilling, the most effective approach is a staged, risk reducing strategy integrating remote sensing, geology, geochemistry, geophysics, and targeted drilling. Multidisciplinary subsurface investigations allow rapid delineation of priority zones, reducing exploration costs by limiting the extent of high-cost methods such as deep seismic reflection and drilling. The strategy proposed for western Cumberland draws inspiration from the INRS program in the Lower St. Lawrence, which successfully evaluated hydrocarbon potential across more than 5,000 km in the Temiscouata region.

METHODOLOGY

Proposed exploration will proceed in four phases:

PHASE 1: Regional remote sensing and Potential Field geophysical data analysis

GIS integration of satellite data and other governmental spatial data (multispectral imagery, DEM, LiDAR).

Interpretation and modelling of regional magnetic and gravity data to define basin architecture, depth to basement, and major structural trends.

PHASE 2: Mobile Geophysics and Soil-Gas Geochemistry

Field teams will deploy:

Drone-based surveys (multispectral imagery for detection of hydrocarbon-related geobotanical anomalies; thermal imaging), high-resolution LiDAR measurements, high-resolution magnetometric surveys.

ATV-based surveys (mobile ground-level magnetometry, gamma spectrometric radiometry, TDEM conductivity).

Ground gravity surveys.

Soil-gas sampling for C1-C4 hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and helium.

Soil-gas geochemistry is the fastest and most direct method for detecting active hydrocarbon systems, as it confirms whether deep thermogenic gases are migrating upward, something geophysics alone cannot establish.

Priority areas identified from these datasets will be selected for geoelectrical tomography and audiomagnetotelluric (AMT) detailed surveys to image subsurface faults and folds concealed beneath Quaternary cover.

PHASE 3: High Penetration Geophysics

This phase focuses on deep subsurface imaging to evaluate structural anisotropies associated with potential traps and reservoirs or evaluation of fault-related gas migration corridors:

High power TDEM surveys using INRS equipment capable of injecting high voltages and amperages (550V, 150 amps) into kilometer scale loops, achieving investigation depths of up to 5 km.

2D seismic reflection surveys, and localized 3D seismic grids to support future drilling decisions.

Detection of deep circular polarization anomalies will be used to optimize the detection of natural gas and condensate reservoirs. High-resolution deep seismic is essential in natural gas exploration because it provides a reliable way to image deep subsurface structures that control hydrocarbon migration, trapping, and reservoir geometry.

PHASE 4: Drilling Program

The last phase of the work involves synthesizing the data to proceed with the first stage of diamond drilling, which is essential to obtain data for the basin modelling stage, and to assess whether the local conditions in the basin allow the migration and trapping of hydrocarbons.

A diamond drilling campaign (<=2 km depth) will obtain core samples to evaluate reservoir porosity and permeability, characterize the presence of sealing rock units and test for shallow to intermediate level natural gas targets within the Cumberland Group.

About Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. (QIMC)

Quebec Innovative Materials Corp. is a North American exploration and development company advancing a portfolio of natural hydrogen and critical mineral projects. The Company is advancing its district-scale hydrogen exploration model across Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Minnesota (USA), leveraging its proprietary R2G2 framework developed in collaboration with INRS. QIMC is committed to sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and innovation, with the objective of supporting clean energy and decarbonization initiatives.

Disclaimer

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements are based on expectations, estimates, and projections as of the date of this press release and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied.

Forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential," and similar expressions, or by statements that events or conditions "will," "may," "could," or "should" occur.

Although the Company believes that the forward-looking information contained herein is reasonable as of the date of this press release, such information is subject to change and no assurance can be given that future results will be achieved. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291613

Source: Quebec Innovative Materials Corp.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / Health and safety regulatory frameworks continue to evolve globally as governments respond to changing workplace risks, workforce mobility, and societal expectations. For multinational organizations, keeping pace with these changes is critical not only for compliance, but also for maintaining consistent safety standards across global operations.

Recent updates from Canada, USA, Europe and Australia highlight several emerging trends: stronger expectations for emergency preparedness, increased focus on workplace violence prevention, greater emphasis on standardized training and competency, and new frameworks for worker participation in occupational health and safety programs.

Below we highlight several key developments and what they mean for companies operating internationally.

At a Glance: Global Health & Safety Regulatory Updates (2025-2026)

Canada: New regulations require Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on certain construction projects starting in 2026, reinforcing emergency preparedness as a compliance obligation.

Canada (Proposed): Updates to MEWP operator training aim to align with national CSA standards, introducing 3-year refresher cycles, stronger recordkeeping, and cross-border training recognition .

United States (Louisiana): New workplace violence regulations require written prevention plans, annual training, mandatory signage, and engineering controls (e.g., panic buttons) for public-facing workplaces.

Europe: Expanding requirements for prevention-based safety programs and worker participation , including mandatory safety committees and broader coverage of modern work environments.

Australia (NSW): Mandatory compliance with AS 1851-2012 will require organizations to implement formal fire system inspection, testing, maintenance, and detailed recordkeeping starting in 2026.

Global Trend: Regulators are shifting toward structured, auditable safety systems -with increased expectations for emergency preparedness, workplace violence prevention,standardized training, and proactive risk management .

What This Means: Multinational organizations must move beyond local compliance and implement globally consistent safety frameworks that align with evolving regulatory expectations across regions.

Canada: New AED Requirements for Construction Projects (Ontario)

One of the most notable recent regulatory updates in Canada comes from Ontario, where new requirements for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on construction projects will come into force on January 1, 2026.

Under Ontario Regulation 157/25, constructors must ensure that AEDs are installed and maintained on construction projects meeting specific thresholds.

When the requirement applies

The rule applies when:

20 or more workers are regularly employed on a project, and

The project is expected to last three months or longer.

Key compliance requirements

If the regulation applies, constructors must ensure:

A Health Canada-licensed AED is installed on the project site

Required companion equipment is available (e.g., CPR mask, gloves, scissors)

Clear signage identifying the AED location is posted

The device is maintained and inspected quarterly

Inspection records are kept on site

At least one worker trained in CPR and AED operation is present whenever work is underway

What this means for multinational companies

For organizations operating construction or infrastructure projects across jurisdictions, this regulation reinforces a broader global trend: emergency preparedness is becoming a regulated expectation rather than a voluntary safety enhancement.

Companies with projects in Canada should consider:

Standardizing cardiac emergency response protocols across global construction sites

Integrating AED readiness into site mobilization and contractor qualification processes

Ensuring contractor safety programs include CPR/AED training coverage during all working hours

For global firms, adopting a company-wide emergency response standard can simplify compliance as more jurisdictions move toward similar requirements.

Canada: Proposed Updates to MEWP Operator Training

Ontario regulators are also proposing updates to training requirements for workers operating Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), such as boom lifts, scissor lifts, and aerial work platforms.

The proposal aims to align training requirements with the CSA B354.8:17 (R2022) national standard for MEWP operator training.

Key proposed elements

If implemented, the proposal would introduce:

Standardized training content aligned with CSA requirements

Mandatory training before operating MEWPs for the first time

Refresher training every three years

Employer verification and recordkeeping requirements

Worker access to proof of training records even after employment ends

Recognition of equivalent training from other jurisdictions completed within the last three years

Implications for multinational organizations

These proposed changes reflect a broader international trend toward portable safety credentials and standardized competency frameworks.

For multinational employers, this has several implications:

Training programs may need to align with recognized standards rather than company-specific content.

Companies operating across provinces or countries will need stronger training record management systems .

Cross-border workforce mobility will increasingly depend on recognized training equivalency.

Organizations with mobile construction or maintenance teams should consider reviewing current training programs to ensure alignment with emerging international standards.

United States - Workplace Violence Prevention Expansion (Louisiana)

In the United States, workplace violence prevention continues to gain regulatory attention at the state level. A notable recent development is Louisiana's 2026 "Behind the Counter" Safety Act (HB 422), which introduces new requirements for organizations with customer-facing operations.

What is changing?

The regulation applies to "regulated establishments" where employees regularly interact with the public at a counter or reception area. While initially focused on retail and food service, the definition is being interpreted more broadly to include:

Life sciences facilities with sample drop-off counters

Manufacturing sites with front offices or visitor reception areas

Healthcare clinics and pharmacies

Any workplace with public-facing service counters

Key compliance requirements

Organizations covered by the Act must:

Develop and maintain a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan , updated annually

Implement and evaluate engineering controls (e.g., panic buttons, cameras, lighting)

Provide annual employee training on de-escalation and emergency response

Post mandatory signage (minimum 11" x 18") at entrances warning that violence against staff is a felony

Establish incident reporting procedures for serious events

Review and update the plan following major incidents

What to verify now

Organizations should confirm:

Required signage is clearly posted at entrances or reception areas

Panic buttons or emergency systems are installed, functional, and tested

Workplace violence prevention plans are site-specific and up to date

What this means for multinational organizations

The Louisiana regulation reflects a broader shift in the U.S. toward formalized workplace violence prevention requirements, an area that has historically been guided more by general duty clauses than prescriptive rules.

For multinational companies, this signals:

1. Workplace violence is becoming a regulated safety risk

Organizations must treat workplace violence prevention with the same rigor as traditional safety hazards, including formal plans, controls, and training.

2. Public-facing environments are under increased scrutiny

Facilities that were not traditionally considered "high-risk" (e.g., offices, labs, front desks) may now fall within regulatory scope.

3. Engineering controls and visible deterrents are expected

The requirement for signage and panic systems highlights a shift toward visible, verifiable safety measures.

4. U.S. state-level variability is increasing

With regulations emerging at the state level, multinational organizations must navigate inconsistent requirements across jurisdictions, reinforcing the need for scalable, adaptable safety programs.

Europe: Expanded Worker Participation and Prevention Requirements

Across Europe, occupational health and safety systems are also evolving to place greater emphasis on preventive management systems and worker participation.

For example, recent implementation milestones under modernized occupational health and safety legislation require organizations to formalize prevention programs and worker participation mechanisms, including:

Structured hazard identification and corrective action programs

Worker participation through health and safety committees or representatives

Expanded applicability to new workplace contexts, including telework environments

Mandatory safety committees in establishments with more than 20 workers

Why this matters for global companies

European regulatory trends continue to reinforce a shift from reactive compliance toward system-based prevention frameworks.

For multinational employers, this means:

Greater scrutiny of documented prevention programs

Increased expectations for employee involvement in safety governance

Expanded safety responsibilities covering hybrid and remote work environments

Companies operating across the EU or with European subsidiaries should ensure that corporate safety management systems align with participation-based models, which are becoming a central pillar of European occupational health and safety regulation.

Australia (APAC): Mandatory Fire Safety Maintenance Standard (NSW)

In the Asia-Pacific region, Australia (New South Wales) is introducing significant changes to building fire safety regulations that will impact a wide range of industries, including commercial real estate, infrastructure, healthcare, and industrial facilities.

From February 13, 2026, compliance with Australian Standard AS 1851-2012 will become mandatory under fire safety regulations.

What is changing?

AS 1851-2012 establishes the requirements for the routine servicing, inspection, and maintenance of fire protection systems and equipment, including:

Fire detection and alarm systems

Sprinkler systems and pumps

Fire extinguishers, hydrants, and hose reels

Emergency lighting and smoke control systems

Under the updated regulation:

All Class 1b and Class 2-9 buildings (including commercial, residential, and public buildings) must comply

Building owners are responsible for ensuring systems are inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the standard

Maintenance must follow defined frequencies, testing protocols, and documentation requirements

Increased focus on documentation and compliance

A key shift is the emphasis on evidence-based compliance, including:

Detailed maintenance records and logbooks

Documented proof of inspections, testing, and system performance

Availability of records for regulators, auditors, and insurers

Regulators will have increased authority to audit compliance and issue penalties for non-compliance, reinforcing accountability for building owners and operators.

What this means for multinational organizations

The NSW update reflects a broader global trend toward formalizing maintenance standards and strengthening accountability for critical safety systems.

For multinational companies with facilities across APAC, this has several implications:

1. Fire safety is moving toward standardized, enforceable maintenance regimes

What may have previously been considered best practice (e.g., alignment with AS 1851) is now becoming a legal requirement, similar to trends seen in Europe and North America.

2. Documentation and audit readiness are critical

Organizations must ensure they can demonstrate compliance through clear, accessible maintenance records, not just completed activities.

3. Facility management and EHS functions must be closely aligned

Fire safety compliance is increasingly intersecting with asset management, facilities operations, and EHS programs, requiring stronger cross-functional coordination.

4. Insurance and liability exposure is increasing

Failure to comply with mandated fire safety standards may impact insurance coverage, claims, and legal liability following incidents.

Why this matters globally

When viewed alongside developments in Canada (AED readiness, training standardization) and Europe (worker participation and prevention systems), the APAC update reinforces a consistent global direction:

Regulators are moving from general safety expectations to highly structured, auditable systems with defined standards and accountability.

For multinational organizations, this underscores the need to:

Align global programs with recognized standards (CSA, AS, ISO, EU frameworks)

Strengthen documentation, recordkeeping, and audit readiness

Ensure consistency across facilities, projects, and jurisdictions

Emerging Global Themes in Health & Safety Regulation

Although these updates originate in different jurisdictions, they reflect several shared global regulatory trends:

1. Emergency preparedness and critical systems are becoming mandatory

Regulators are increasingly requiring structured emergency response capabilities-from AEDs on construction sites in Canada to mandated fire system maintenance standards in Australia.

2. Workplace violence prevention is gaining regulatory focus

In the U.S. and beyond, workplace violence is being formalized as a regulated risk, requiring written programs, training, engineering controls, and visible deterrents.

3. Standardized training and competency frameworks

Training requirements are moving toward recognized national and international standards, enabling workforce mobility while ensuring consistent competency.

4. Prevention-based safety management systems

Across Europe and globally, regulators are emphasizing proactive, system-based safety models that require hazard identification, risk control, and worker participation.

5. Increased focus on documentation, verification, and auditability

Organizations must now demonstrate compliance through documented evidence-including training records, inspection logs, maintenance reports, and written safety programs.

6. Expanded coverage of modern and complex work environments

Regulations are adapting to reflect multi-employer worksites, public-facing environments, and evolving workplace models, including hybrid and remote work.

Key Takeaways: Global Health & Safety Regulatory Updates

1. Emergency preparedness and critical safety systems are now regulated expectations

New requirements-from AEDs on construction sites in Canada to mandatory fire system maintenance in Australia-highlight a global shift toward formalizing life-saving systems.

2. Workplace violence prevention is emerging as a key regulatory priority

New U.S. regulations, such as Louisiana's Behind the Counter Act, require written prevention plans, employee training, signage, and physical safety controls for public-facing workplaces.

3. Standardized training and competency requirements are increasing

Proposed MEWP operator training updates in Canada reflect a broader trend toward aligning with recognized standards and improving training portability.

4. Worker participation and prevention systems are expanding globally

European regulations emphasize structured prevention programs and active worker involvement, reinforcing proactive safety management approaches.

5. Documentation and audit readiness are critical for compliance

Across all regions, organizations must maintain clear, accessible records-from maintenance logs and inspection reports to training certifications and written safety plans.

6. Multinational companies must manage increasing regulatory complexity

With evolving requirements across North America, Europe, and APAC, organizations need systems to monitor, interpret, and implement regulatory changes consistently.

7. Global safety management systems provide a competitive advantage

Companies that align with international standards and implement consistent global frameworks are better positioned to ensure compliance, reduce risk, and improve operational resilience.

Practical Steps for Multinational Employers

To stay ahead of evolving health and safety regulations, multinational organizations should consider:

Conducting regulatory horizon scanning

Monitor emerging regulatory changes across key operating regions.

Standardizing safety programs globally

Where possible, adopt company-wide standards that meet or exceed local regulatory expectations.

Strengthening training and credential tracking

Ensure training programs align with recognized standards and that records are easily accessible.

Integrating prevention and participation frameworks

Embed worker participation into safety governance structures to align with evolving global expectations.

Final Thoughts

Regulatory changes like those emerging in Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia illustrate a broader shift in occupational health and safety governance. Rather than focusing solely on compliance, regulators are increasingly emphasizing preparedness, prevention, and workforce engagement.

For multinational organizations, the challenge-and opportunity-is to move beyond country-by-country compliance and build globally consistent safety management systems that can adapt as regulatory expectations continue to evolve.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of over 70 of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates, listen to our podcast and follow us on LinkedIn.

Find more stories and multimedia from Inogen Alliance at 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Inogen Alliance

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/inogen-alliance

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Inogen Alliance

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/regulatory-changes-in-north-america-europe-and-australia-key-hea-1155922
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Arya Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RBZ) ("Arya" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $3,000,000, consisting of a combination of flow-through and non-flow-through shares.

Financing Highlights

Flow-Through Financing:

Up to $2,000,000 through the issuance of 4,000,000 flow-through common shares (the "FT Shares") at a price of $0.50 per FT Share.

Non-Flow-Through Financing:

Up to $1,000,000 through the issuance of 2,222,222 non-flow-through common shares (the "NFT Shares") at a price of $0.45 per NFT Share.

Total Offering:

Up to 6,222,222 common shares for gross proceeds of $3,000,000.

Finders' Fees:

The Company may pay finders' fees consisting of: 7% cash commission, and 7% finder's warrants (the "Finder's Warrants"), exercisable at a price of $0.50 per share for a period of 24 months, subject to TSXV approval.



Use of Proceeds

The gross proceeds from the FT Shares will be used to incur eligible "Canadian exploration expenses" that qualify as "flow-through mining expenditures" under the Income Tax Act (Canada), primarily on the Company's Wedge Lake Gold Project and Dunlop Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project in Saskatchewan.

Proceeds from the NFT Shares will be used for general working capital and corporate purposes.

Closing

The Offering is expected to close in one or more tranches, subject to receipt of all necessary approvals, including acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued under the Offering will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the date of issuance.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Arya Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RBZ)

Arya Resources Ltd. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration, and development of precious and critical-metal projects in Saskatchewan. The Company is advancing its flagship Wedge Lake Gold Project and its Dunlop Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project, both located in mining-friendly jurisdictions with excellent infrastructure.

As a Tier 2 issuer on the TSX Venture Exchange, Arya is committed to building shareholder value through discovery-driven exploration, disciplined execution, and responsible development. For more information, please visit us at www.aryaresourcesltd.com.

On behalf of the Board of Directors:

Rasool Mohammad, CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking statements" that are subject to assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Statements in this news release which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, any statements concerning the Company's intentions, plans, estimates, expectations or beliefs. Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. The Company cautions readers that all forward-looking statements, including, without limitation to those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are based on assumptions, none of which can be assured, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such risks and uncertainties and should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual events or results could or do differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291617

Source: Arya Resources Ltd.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces that Gold Fields Netherlands Services B.V. ("Gold Fields"), a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Gold Fields Ltd, has increased its equity position in the Company through market purchases.

On April 6, 2026, Gold Fields acquired 2,441,686 common shares of the Company at a weighted average price of approximately C$4.15 per share, for total consideration of approximately C$10.1 million. Following the transaction, Gold Fields beneficially owns 14,489,879 common shares of Founders, representing approximately 12.50% of the issued and outstanding common shares on a non-diluted basis, up from approximately 10.39% following the closing of Gold Fields' initial C$50 million strategic investment in November 2025.

Colin Padget, President & CEO, commented, "Gold Fields' decision to meaningfully increase their ownership in Founders through market purchases is a strong endorsement of our exploration strategy and the district-scale potential of the Antino Gold Project. With an aggressive surface exploration and 70,000+ metre diamond drill program underway and multiple high-priority targets advancing across our 102,360-hectare land package, we are well-positioned to continue delivering value for all shareholders."

Gold Fields' early warning report in connection with the transaction has been filed under Founders' profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

About Founders Metals Inc.

Founders Metals Inc. is a Canadian gold exploration company building a district-scale gold camp in southeastern Suriname. The Company controls a 102,360-hectare contiguous land package in the Guiana Shield - the largest uninterrupted package of highly prospective greenstone belt geology in the region. Founders is backed by strategic partnerships with Gold Fields and B2Gold and is executing one of the most active exploration programs in the global junior gold sector. The Company is committed to responsible exploration, strong community engagement, and disciplined capital allocation as it advances Suriname's next major gold camp.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

Per: "Colin Padget"

Colin Padget

President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding long term value creation and the Company's prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur or be achieved.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291616

Source: Founders Metals Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV: SCLT) (OTC Pink: SCLTF) ("Searchlight" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment has granted Searchlight a two-year drill and surface exploration permit for the Robinson Creek Gold project, located approximately 16 km west of Creighton, Saskatchewan and Flin Flon, Manitoba.

Searchlight plans surface exploration at Robinson Creek during the summer of 2026, with drilling to follow based on summer field work and historical drilling. The summer program will include prospecting and geological mapping, plus assessment of the changes to project access and surface exposure resulting from the summer 2025 forest fires.

The Robinson Creek Gold project consists of 2 claims covering 2.9 square km, located approximately 15 km northwest of Searchlight's Bootleg Lake Gold claims (Map 1). It is a structurally controlled mesothermal lode gold system comprising three gold zones - the Vein, Bleiler, and Quartz Zones - over a strike length of approximately 1 km along the Mosher Lake Shear Zone (Map 2).

"We are excited to get back into the field at Robinson Creek to verify historical data and follow up structural extensions of known mineralized zones. The planned exploration will be the next step to defining a gold deposit at Robinson Creek," stated Stephen Wallace, Searchlight's CEO. "Given the current gold prices, the Robinson Creek project is becoming a considerable asset to Searchlight and its shareholders.

Robinson Creek Highlights

Initial Exploration Target ranges from 2 - 3 million tonnes with grades between 1.20 g/t -1.60 g/t gold. Amenable to open-pit mining.

Located 16 km west of Creighton, Saskatchewan and Flin Flon, Manitoba, and 15 km from Searchlight's Bootleg Lake brownfield mine site.

Compilation of 70 historical drill holes (totaling 9,618 metres) from the 1940s and 1980s.

Historical drill holes and geophysics outline a zone of mineralization extending at least 1,000 m along the Mosher Lake Shear Zone.

Recent airborne magnetic surveys have outlined exploration potential along strike and south of the known zones.

60 drill holes have gold intersections greater than 1.0 g/t gold.

45 gold intersections have greater than 2.0 g/t gold over at least one metre. Multiple wide gold intersections: 2.46 g/t gold over 57.60 m in DDH 81-2 7.59 g/t gold over 10.94 m in DDH HB-6 3.80 g/t gold over 21.00 m in DDH R07-1 2.15 g/t gold over 32.00 m in DDH 81-1







Map 1 - Location of Robinson Creek Claims

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9828/291614_searchlight.jpg





Map 2 - Location of historical drill holes on Total Magnetic Intensity (TMI)

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9828/291614_884a6de394499ac9_003full.jpg

Disclaimer Drill Compilation: Management cautions that the presented drill sample results are historical in nature, and Searchlight has not undertaken any independent investigation of the sampling, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work to verify the results. Searchlight considers these sample results relevant, as the Company uses historical reports and sample results to evaluate and plan future exploration programs. All drill intercepts are drill-indicated lengths. Insufficient technical information exists to demonstrate the true widths of these intersections. The technical information is derived from public documents available through the Saskatchewan Government Ministry of Energy and Resources.

Disclaimer Initial Exploration Target: The potential quantity and grades are conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration drilling to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the Exploration Target being delineated as a mineral resource.

Qualified Person

Stephen Wallace, P.Geo., is Searchlight's Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Searchlight Resources Inc.

Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV: SCLT) (OTC Pink: SCLTF) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Gold in Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been ranked as one of the top 10 locations in the world for mining investment by the Fraser Institute. The Company is currently planning the reopening of the Rio Gold Mine located 5km from Creighton, Saskatchewan and Flin Flon, Manitoba.

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291614

Source: Searchlight Resources Inc.
New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Pronto Translations, a New York-based provider of interpretation and translation services, reports that human interpreters remain critical in professional settings despite the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence across the language services industry.





Figure 1- Pronto Translations Logo

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/11143/291615_pronoto.jpg

The global language services market, was valued at approximately $76.2 billion in 2025. Growth is being driven in part by advances in AI-powered translation, increased international trade, and rising demand for multilingual digital content. Machine translation, in particular, has become a standard tool for processing written content at scale.

Industry data from Nimdzi Insights and CSA Research indicates that more than 40% of organizations are using or testing AI-based language tools, primarily for translation, customer support, and internal communication. In many cases, these tools are integrated into workflows to improve speed and reduce cost.

Pronto Translations notes that while AI has proven effective in translation, its capabilities do not extend reliably to interpretation.

"Translation and interpretation are often grouped together, but they operate under entirely different conditions," said Joshua B. Cohen, CEO of Pronto Translations. "Translation allows time to review and correct. Interpretation happens live. Once something is said, it cannot be taken back."

Interpretation requires real-time understanding, processing, and delivery of meaning across languages. Interpreters must manage tone, intent, cultural nuance, and subject-specific terminology simultaneously, often in fast-paced and unpredictable environments. They must also respond to interruptions, overlapping speech, and incomplete statements without losing accuracy.

Research from the European Language Industry Survey (ELIS 2024), supported by the European Commission, shows that AI systems continue to struggle in live interpretation scenarios. Performance declines in situations involving ambiguity, multiple speakers, or specialized terminology, all of which are common in legal, medical, and business settings.

In these environments, the consequences of error are significant. A misinterpreted statement can affect legal outcomes, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and commercial negotiations.

Despite these risks, AI tools are increasingly being used for basic interpretation tasks such as internal meetings and informal communication. While suitable for low-risk use cases, Pronto Translations cautions against relying on automated systems in environments where accuracy is essential.

At the same time, demand for experienced human interpreters continues to grow. Pronto Translations reports increased demand over the past 18 months for legal, medical, and conference interpretation services, particularly among organizations operating in regulated or high-risk environments.

"AI is changing how language services are delivered, especially in translation," Cohen said. "But interpretation requires judgment, context, and accountability. These are not areas where technology can replace trained professionals."

The company notes that the market is becoming more defined. Routine communication is increasingly supported by automation, while high-stakes interpretation is becoming more specialized and more dependent on human expertise.

Pronto Translations advises organizations to clearly distinguish between low-risk and high-risk communication when evaluating the use of AI. While technology can support efficiency, it should not replace professional interpreters in situations where precision and clarity are required.

For interpreters, the shift reinforces the importance of specialization and professional development. Expertise in areas such as law, healthcare, finance, and international relations remains in demand, as clients prioritize professionals who can operate confidently in complex, domain-specific environments.

"The role of the interpreter has always been about more than language," Cohen added. "It is about ensuring that communication is understood exactly as intended. That responsibility cannot be automated."

With more than two decades of experience, Pronto Translations continues to support organizations that rely on accurate, reliable interpretation services, while advocating for the role of human expertise in an increasingly automated industry.

About Pronto Translations

Founded in 1999, Pronto Translations is a New York-based provider of professional interpretation and translation services supporting international institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and global organizations. The company specializes in conference, legal, and medical interpretation, as well as multilingual communication across more than 120 languages. Operating 24/7 across multiple time zones, Pronto Translations combines experienced linguists with structured project management to deliver accurate and reliable language support for high-stakes environments.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291615

Source: Evertise AI PR
KUALA LUMPUR, MY / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / EPB Group Berhad("EPB"), and its group of companies (the "Group"), an established one-stop food processing and packaging machinery solutions provider, has proposed a transfer of its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities")("Proposed Transfer"), marking a significant milestone in the Company's corporate evolution. In conjunction with the Proposed Transfer, the Company has also announced that it will undertake proposed amendments to its Constitution to align with the Main Market Listing Requirements ("Proposed Amendments").

EPB Group Berhad

The Proposed Amendments are primarily technical in nature and are intended to align the Company's Constitution with the Main Market Listing Requirements of Bursa Securities, in preparation for the Proposed Transfer. These include updates to definitions within the Constitution, such as references to the applicable listing requirements framework, as well as refinements to governance-related provisions in line with Main Market standards.

In addition, the amendments introduce enhancements to corporate governance practices, including provisions relating to the tenure of independent directors, where continued service beyond nine years is subject to a maximum of twelve years, subject to shareholders' approval via a two-tier voting process, in accordance with the Malaysian Code on Corporate Governance.

The Proposed Amendments form a necessary step in enabling EPB's transition to the Main Market, which is expected to strengthen the Company's corporate profile, enhance investor accessibility, and broaden its appeal to a wider base of institutional investors.

Mr. Yeoh Chee Min, Managing Director of EPB Group Berhad, commented, "The Proposed Transfer to the Main Market represents a natural progression for EPB as we continue to scale our business and strengthen our regional presence. These amendments ensure that our governance framework remains aligned with higher regulatory standards, reflecting our commitment to transparency, accountability and long-term value creation."

The Proposed Amendments is subject to shareholders' approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") scheduled to be held on 8 April 2026 at Mertajam Hall, Holiday Inn & Suites Penang Prai, Pulau Pinang. The Proposed Amendments and the Proposed Transfer are inter-conditional and will take effect upon EPB's successful transfer to the Main Market of Bursa Securities.

###

About EPB Group Berhad and its group of companies ("EPB Group")

Since EPB Group Berhad ("EPB") and its group of companies (the "Group") inception in 1992, EPB Group has established itself as an experienced player in the food processing and packaging machinery industry in Malaysia. Starting with trading manual packaging machines, EPB Group has grown and diversified its offerings to include comprehensive solutions such as the design, customisation, fabrication, integration, and automation of production lines specifically for the food manufacturing and processing sectors. Additionally, EPB Group has expanded into trading of cellulose casings and manufacturing and trading of flexible packaging materials, enhancing its portfolio to cater to the dynamic needs of the food industry. Known for its dedication to innovation, customer-centric solutions, and operational excellence, EPB Group continues to strengthen its position in the market, driven by a commitment to advancing food processing and packaging technologies and expanding its presence both locally and regionally.

For more information, visit https://epb.group/

Issued By: Swan Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. on behalf of EPB Group Berhad

For more information, please contact:

Jazzmin Wan

Email: j.wan@swanconsultancy.biz

Qian Yu Chow

Email: s.chow@swanconsultancy.biz

SOURCE: EPB Group Berhad

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/paper-and-packaging/epb-proposed-for-main-market-transfer-listing-1155935
New AI-powered platform establishes an embedded intelligence layer for the AI economy, delivering decision-grade insight

BOSTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / IDC today opened IDC Directions 2026 , its flagship client event, bringing together technology leaders, analysts, and industry experts to examine the forces reshaping the global technology market and to introduce a major evolution in how technology intelligence is delivered.

At the center of this year's event is IDC Quanta, a new AI-powered platform that establishes what IDC defines as the technology intelligence layer for the AI economy.

As artificial intelligence accelerates the pace of business and compresses decision cycles, IDC is redefining its role from a destination for research and data to an embedded intelligence capability that delivers trusted insight directly into the workflows where decisions are made.

"AI is compressing time across the entire technology market, and that breaks the traditional research model," said Lorenzo Larini, CEO of IDC. "Leaders don't need more noise. They need intelligence that shows up in the moment, grounded in data they trust, and ready to use. IDC Quanta makes that possible. We believe it will define the next chapter of this industry."

Defining the Technology Intelligence Layer

IDC Quanta emerged from collaboration with some of the industry's most forward-leaning technology providers and enterprise buyers, shaping a platform built for how decisions are made today. Demoed at Directions, IDC Quanta is built on five differentiated design principles that redefine how technology intelligence is delivered:

EMBEDDED - Intelligence inside your workflows: IDC Quanta delivers intelligence directly within the tools professionals already use, starting with email and expanding to collaboration and AI platforms. By removing the need to search, switch contexts, or manually synthesize insights, IDC enables faster, more seamless decision-making.

CONTEXTUAL - Your business context, combined with IDC intelligence: Organizations can securely bring their own data, documents, and third-party content into IDC Quanta , analyzing it alongside IDC research in a single environment. The platform retains context across interactions, enabling more relevant, personalized, and continuously improving insights.

SECURE - Enterprise-grade privacy and control: IDC Quanta is designed with strict data isolation and governance at its core. Customer data remains private, is never used to train models, and is fully protected within a secure workspace, ensuring organizations can confidently apply intelligence to high-stakes decisions.

AWARE- The insights you need without asking: IDC Quanta delivers scheduled intelligence automatically, helping decision-makers stay ahead. It uncovers insights faster using trend signals, anonymized peer patterns, and suggested next questions, eliminating the need for repeated prompts for frequently needed information.

RIGOROUS - Intelligence you can stand behind: IDC Quanta is grounded in more than 60 years of proprietary data, research, and analyst expertise, delivering sourced, citable answers with full transparency into underlying methodology and inputs. Unlike common AI tools, every output is traceable to trusted IDC intelligence.

Powering AI-Driven Decision Workflows

IDC also announced it is building a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for the technology intelligence layer of the AI economy and is collaborating with Anthropic to bring IDC's intelligence directly into Claude workflows.

Through this collaboration, organizations will gain entitlement-based access to IDC's proprietary research, data, and methodologies natively within Anthropic environments via MCP and plugins. This approach enables IDC intelligence to be accessed not as a separate destination, but as a seamless extension of the AI tools enterprises already use.

The result is a new class of agentic workflows, where AI moves beyond answering questions to executing research tasks on behalf of the user. These workflows can include navigating sources, synthesizing customer and IDC intelligence data, generating structured outputs, and producing actionable deliverables.

By embedding IDC intelligence into AI-native environments, IDC Quanta transforms AI from a capable assistant into a reliable operator for enterprise decision-making.

From Research to Embedded Intelligence

IDC Quanta represents a fundamental shift from static research consumption through gated portals to continuous, embedded intelligence that scales across the enterprise.

"In my world, where it used to take human time weeks to draw conclusions, reading hundreds of reports, I can now do that in minutes," said Mark Terranova, director, Worldwide Analyst Relations at Kyndryl. "That means I can service my stakeholders internally much quicker with better insights. AI needs to interact with the human. That's how you get good answers and that's a key differentiator for IDC right now, in my opinion."

IDC Quanta is expected to be generally available in summer 2026. Sign up to be notified at launch: idc.com/jointhewaitlist.

About IDC

International Data Corporation (IDC) is the premier global provider of trusted technology intelligence, advisory services, and events. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide, IDC offers global, regional, and local expertise on technology, IT benchmarking and sourcing, and industry opportunities and trends in over 100 countries. IDC's analysis and insights help IT professionals, business executives, and the investment community to make fact-based technology decisions and to achieve their key business objectives. To learn more about IDC, please visit www.idc.com . Follow IDC on X at @IDC and LinkedIn . Subscribe to the IDC Blog for industry news and insights.

-###-

All product and company names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT

IDC | Kini Schoop | press@idc.com

Escalate PR for IDC | IDC@escalatepr.com

SOURCE: IDC

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/idc-defines-the-next-era-of-technology-intelligence-with-the-int-1155901
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Trenchant Technologies Capital Corp. (CSE: AITT) (OTCQB: AITTF) ("Trenchant" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a share exchange agreement dated March 18, 2026 and fully executed on April 5, 2026, (the "Share Exchange Agreement") providing for the unwinding of the Company's previously announced acquisition of Limitless Quantum Computing Solutions Inc. ("Limitless Quantum") (collectively, the "Acquisition").

As previously disclosed, on April 28, 2025, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Limitless Quantum. Pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement, the Company issued 10,000,000 common shares of the Company (the "Trenchant Shares") at a deemed price of $0.06 per Trenchant Share and 10,000,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company (the "Trenchant Warrants"). Each Trenchant Warrant is exercisable into one Trenchant Share at an exercise price of $0.08 until April 25, 2028. The former shareholders of Limitless Quantum have agreed to reacquire an aggregate 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Limitless Quantum held by the Company, and the Company has agreed to sell all such shares to the former shareholders on the terms and conditions set forth in the Share Exchange Agreement. Moreover, the former shareholder of Limitless Quantum will assume and settle up to $55,000 of indebtedness owed by Limitless Quantum.

No securities of the Company will be issued in connection with the unwinding of the Acquisition. All Trenchant Shares and Trenchant Warrants originally issued as consideration in connection with the April 28, 2025 acquisition of Limitless Quantum are to be returned to the Company for cancellation pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement.

The Company had previously obtained an exemptive relief from the British Columbia Securities Commission on March 13, 2026, in respect of the unwinding of the Acquisition.

The Parties have mutually determined that unwinding the Acquisition is in their respective best interests. As of the date hereof, the parties remain at arm's length. No fees, penalties, or other compensation are payable by any Party in connection with the unwinding of the Acquisition. The Company does not expect the unwinding to have a material adverse impact on its ongoing operations.

Completion of the unwinding of the Acquisition is subject to a number of conditions, including:

accuracy of representations and warranties and performance of all obligations under the Share Exchange Agreement at or prior to closing;

receipt of all required regulatory approvals, including approval from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") for the cancellation of the Trenchant Shares and the Trenchant Warrants; and

delivery of all required documents to enable cancellation of the Trenchant Shares and the Trenchant Warrants.

ABOUT TRENCHANT TECHNOLOGIES CAPITAL

Trenchant Technologies Capital Corp. (CSE: AITT) is a forward-thinking investment issuer focused on supporting transformative ventures in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and next-generation cybersecurity poised to reshape legacy industries.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD TRENCHANT CAPITAL CORP.

Per: "Thomas English"

Thomas English, Interim CEO

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expectations of management regarding the use of proceeds of the Final Tranche. Although the Company believes that and the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements including that: the Company's completion of the unwinding of the Acquisition pursuant to the Share Exchange Agreement; the conditions to be satisfied for the completion of the unwinding of the Acquisition; the expected benefits to the Company and its shareholders from the proposed unwinding; and those additional risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Not for distribution to U.S. Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States.



To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291641

Source: Trenchant Technologies Capital Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - K2 Gold Corporation (TSXV: KTO) (OTCQB: KTGDF) (FSE: 23K) ("K2" or the "Company") today announced that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") has issued a positive Record of Decision ("ROD") approving the Company's proposed exploration drilling program at its flagship Mojave Project located in Inyo County, California.

Receipt of the ROD marks the conclusion of an extensive environmental review process conducted under the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA")) and represents the most significant milestone for the Mojave Project and the Company's advancement to date.

Key Highlights

Exploration drilling approved at the Mojave Project to further evaluate and expand the high-grade oxide gold discovery at the Dragonfly and Newmont Target Areas, and allow for K2's first drill holes at the Central Target

Authorization supports an extensive drill program targeting expansion of the Dragonfly to Newmont zone where K2's previous drilling returned high-grade oxide gold mineralization from surface , including 4.02 g/t Au over 86.89m metres . As well as testing several additional high-priority targets

Mobilization of drilling equipment and crews to prepare for the program is now underway.

Upon completion of mobilization drilling will commence at the Morningstar trend while final clearance surveys are conducted and drill pads are constructed at the Dragonfly and Newmont zones.

Drilling at the Dragonfly, Central, and Newmont targets will begin as soon as pads are prepared.

"Receiving the Record of Decision for Mojave is a transformative milestone for K2 Gold. The BLM's issuance of a positive ROD reflects the thoroughness of the environmental review process and the strength of the project itself.

Mojave represents a highly compelling opportunity to explore a large, gold and polymetallic system in a premier U.S. jurisdiction. With the ROD now in hand, we are excited to move forward with drilling aimed at expanding the high-grade Newmont to Dragonfly corridor and unlocking what we believe to be the broader potential of this district-scale system." Stated Anthony Margarit, President and CEO of K2 Gold.





Figure 1: Mojave Project - Target Areas

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6578/291629_065a8cc464034afa_002full.jpg







Figure 2: Morningstar Trend

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6578/291629_00af71a514230894_001full.jpg

Morningstar Trend

Drilling will begin at key targets within the Morningstar Trend, a 750m wide x 2km long northwest trend of silver, gold, copper, and base metal mineralization which hosts the historical Sunset, Ignacio, and Morningstar mines, and sits adjacent to the historical Cerro Gordo Silver Mine which produced 4.4 million ounces of silver over its operating life (1865-1949)

Drilling will focus on the H-Zone, B-Zone, Wheelbarrow Adit, and Ignacio targets to follow up on K2's recent highlight rock grab samples while simultaneously verifying historical drilling completed by Asamera, Coeur Mining, and Phelps-Dodge between 1987 and 1994. Highlight rock samples from within the trend include

Morningstar Mine: 2.13 g/t Au, 1405 g/t Ag, & 3.53% Cu

H Zone: 6.94 g/t Au & 2.72% Cu, as well as 9.09 g/t Au

B Zone: 11.05 g/t Au, 1420 g/t Ag & 4.59% Cu

Wheelbarrow Adit: 18.1 g/t Au

Ignacio: 1.40 g/t Au 426 gt Ag & 1.39% Cu, as well as 5.77 g/t Au & 4.48% Cu

Sunset Mine: 13.3 g/t Au, 2260 g/t Ag, & 3.85% Cu1

Additional Corporate Updates

100% Ownership : K2 has executed the Option Agreement for Mojave and now holds full ownership of the Project.

Strong Treasury Position: As of March 10, 2026, the Company has no warrants outstanding and $33,900,000 in its treasury to advance exploration across its projects.

About the Mojave Project

Located in a historic mining district along the prolific Walker Lane Trend.

Host to multiple mineralization styles over a >100 km area.

Features receptive host rocks, regional structural controls, and robust hydrothermal systems with mineralization across more than 1,100 vertical metres.

Historical exploration is limited, yet K2's drilling in 2020 returned exceptional oxide gold intercepts from surface.

Eastern Target Area: near-surface gold oxide targets.

Western Target Area: gold, copper, silver, and base metal targets.

Morningstar Target Area: polymetallic Au-Ag-Cu-Pb-Zn system adjacent to one of the largest historical silver producers in California.

Qualified Person ("QP")

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Eric Buitenhuis, M.Sc., P.Geo., K2's QP and Vice President of Exploration.

About K2 Gold Corporation

K2 Gold is a member of Discovery Group and is focused on advancing gold exploration projects in mining-friendly jurisdictions across the Western U.S. and Canada. The Company's flagship Mojave Project covers 5,830 hectares and includes multiple previously drilled oxide gold targets. Since acquiring the project, K2 has advanced exploration through geochemical, geophysical, and remote sensing surveys, as well as RC drilling. Notable past drill highlights include:  4.0 g/t Au over 86.9m from surface at the Dragonfly Zone  1.69 g/t Au over 41.15m at the Newmont Zone.

K2 also holds: The Si2 Gold Project in Nevada, and the Wels Project in Yukon, Canada.

K2 Gold is committed to responsible exploration, Indigenous and community engagement, and advancing high-quality projects through a collaborative and technically disciplined approach.

The Si2 Project is a low-sulphidation epithermal gold system located in Nevada within the Walker Lane Trend. Historical shallow drilling tested only the uppermost levels of the system and returned anomalous gold, silver, and pathfinder elements. Since acquiring the project, K2 has completed detailed geologic mapping, surface geochemistry, geophysics, alteration mineralogy studies, fluid inclusion analysis, and age dating. These integrated datasets confirm that prior drilling did not test the interpreted boiling zone, where gold grades are typically maximized in epithermal systems. K2 completed a 3,871m reverse circulation exploration drilling campaign at Si2 in early 2026 to test the depths of the system and will release results in due course.

The Wels Project lies approximately 60km south of Fuerte Metals Coffee project discovered by Kaminak Gold Corporation (formerly a Discovery Group company prior to its acquisition by Goldcorp - Newmont). Both the Coffee project and the Wels project lie within the Tintina Gold Belt, share similar characteristics, and are host to structurally controlled gold mineralization within intrusive rocks exhibiting multiple trends of mineralization.

K2's 2023 Reverse Circulation drilling program at the Wels Project intersected gold in each of 12 drill holes, including the discovery of a new mineralized corridor at the Saddle South target. The Wels land position consists of 350 contiguous quartz claims covering 7,200 hectares and lies within the traditional territory of White River First Nation.

For further information about K2 Gold Corporation or this news release, please visit our website at k2gold.com or contact our Office in Canada at 778-266-1456 or by email at info@k2gold.com.

K2 Gold Corporation is a member of Discovery Group based in Vancouver, Canada. For more information please visit: discoverygroup.ca.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that are not historical facts. Forward- looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the exploration program at Si2, Wels, and Mojave, including results of drilling, and future exploration plans at Si2, Wels, and Mojave. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, variations in the nature, quality and quantity of any mineral deposits that may be located, the Company's inability to obtain any necessary permits, consents or authorizations required for its planned activities, and the Company's inability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies. The reader is referred to the Company's public disclosure record which is available on SEDAR+ (sedarplus.ca). Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except as required by securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America. No securities of the Company have been or will, in the foreseeable future, be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold an within the United States or to, or for account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or exemption from such registration requirements is available.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

1. 11/20/2024 - K2 Gold Corp. News Release Assays up to 18.1 g/t Au, 2,380 g/t Ag, 16.55% Cu, 15.25% Pb, and 7.44% Zn in Rocks at K2 Gold's Cerro Gordo Target

https://k2gold.com/assays-up-to-18-1-g-t-au-2380-g-t-ag-16-55-cu-15-25-pb-and-7-44-zn-in-rocks-at-k2-golds-cerro-gordo-target/

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291629

Source: K2 Gold Corporation
Cobalt, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. (TSXV: NTH) (OTCQB: CCWOF) (FSE: QN3) ("Nord" or the "Company") has retained T Engineering Inc. ("T Engineering"), to advance near-term silver recovery from tailings across the Company's recently expanded Gowganda-Castle district land package. The engagement follows Nord's completion, on March 31, 2026, of its acquisition of four mining leases in the Gowganda Silver Camp, which consolidated the most productive ground in the historical district. With a regulatory fast-track pathway for tailings recovery in Ontario, Nord is positioning to convert legacy resources into near-term production.

Management Commentary

"The addition of the adjoining mining leases to the Castle Mine holdings is transformative for the Company, adding key tailings deposits and underground infrastructure to our existing high-grade silver position," stated Frank J. Basa, P.Eng., President and CEO. "The Gowganda Camp produced over 60 million ounces of silver before low prices shut it down. At today's prices, the district's remaining resources represent a fundamentally different economic proposition, and retaining T Engineering positions us to move forward on it."

T Engineering Scope of Services

Services under the engagement include:

Multidisciplinary engineering support across process, mechanical, civil, structural, electrical, and automation disciplines, together with project management, procurement, and financial analysis;

Engagement of a third-party consultant, subject to Nord's approval, to design tailings storage infrastructure and provide geotechnical services; and

Pilot-scale testing and process validation at T Engineering's in-house laboratory in Sudbury, Ontario, equipped for particle size distribution, rheology, thickening and filtration testing, and other analytical work conducted to ASTM standards, to support scale-up and optimize recovery performance for both gravity and hydrometallurgical circuits.

Consolidated District Highlights

Historical Tailings Resource: The recently acquired Gowganda mining leases host a historical resource estimate (1) of approximately 1,940,000 tonnes grading 47.5 g/t silver, containing an estimated 2,960,000 ounces of silver.

The recently acquired Gowganda mining leases host a historical resource estimate of approximately 1,940,000 tonnes grading 47.5 g/t silver, containing an estimated 2,960,000 ounces of silver. District-Scale Consolidation: The acquisition brings Nord's total consolidated lease area to 789.7 hectares, encompassing eight past-production shafts across the Gowganda-Castle district. The acquired leases include three of the five largest past-producing mines in the Gowganda Camp, including the Miller Lake-O'Brien complex, which alone produced approximately 42 million ounces of silver (OGS R175, McIlwaine, 1978).

The acquisition brings Nord's total consolidated lease area to 789.7 hectares, encompassing eight past-production shafts across the Gowganda-Castle district. The acquired leases include three of the five largest past-producing mines in the Gowganda Camp, including the Miller Lake-O'Brien complex, which alone produced approximately 42 million ounces of silver (OGS R175, McIlwaine, 1978). Integrated Processing Infrastructure: The consolidated property includes historic mine workings, surface infrastructure, and all-season road access, materially reducing development risk.

The consolidated property includes historic mine workings, surface infrastructure, and all-season road access, materially reducing development risk. Critical Minerals Leverage: The district's silver mineralization is complemented by meaningful cobalt, copper, and nickel by-product potential. Silver, cobalt, copper, and nickel are all designated critical minerals in Canada and/or the United States.

The district's silver mineralization is complemented by meaningful cobalt, copper, and nickel by-product potential. Silver, cobalt, copper, and nickel are all designated critical minerals in Canada and/or the United States. Regulatory Pathway to Production: Ontario's Recovery Permit framework provides a fast-track regulatory pathway for tailings reprocessing, with advanced templates and Ministry support already in place for Nord's application. The Cobalt-Gowganda district contains numerous orphaned tailings deposits from a century of mining; with TTL as the only permitted processing facility in the district, Nord is positioned to convert these legacy environmental liabilities into production feed. In addition, the Company's advanced exploration permit for the Castle Mine remains in place, permitting drilling and sampling activities on the mine lease and supporting multiple concurrent development pathways across the consolidated district. The Company maintains longstanding agreements with First Nations communities in the district, reflecting a commitment to responsible development and local economic participation in recovery operations.

(1) The historical resource estimate for the Gowganda tailings is supported by a technical report dated July 8, 2011, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, completed by GeoVector Management Inc. for Temex Resources Corp. The report is authored by Joe Campbell, P.Geo., Alan Sexton, P.Geo., M.Sc., and Allan Armitage, Ph.D., P.Geo. The historical estimate contained in this news release has not been verified as a current mineral resource. A "qualified person" (as defined in NI 43-101) has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. The Company considers the historical estimate to be relevant for the proper understanding of the Project; however, significant data compilation, re-drilling, re-sampling, and data verification may be required by a Qualified Person for the historical estimate to be in accordance with NI 43-101 standards and to verify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.

Qualified Person

The technical information in this news release was approved and prepared under the supervision of Mr. Frank J. Basa, P.Eng. (PEO), director of Nord Precious Metals, a qualified person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101.

About Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc.

Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc. operates TTL Laboratories, the only permitted high-grade milling facility in the historic Cobalt Camp of Ontario, where the Company has established an integrated position connecting high-grade silver discovery with strategic metals recovery operations.

The Company's flagship Castle property encompasses 56 sq. km of exploration ground and the past-producing Castle Mine, complemented by the Castle East discovery where drilling has delineated 7.56 million ounces of silver in a now historic, Inferred resource grading an average of 8,582 g/t Ag (250.2 oz/ton) in 27,400 tonnes of material from two sections (1A and 1B) of the Castle East Robinson Zone, beginning at a vertical depth of approximately 400 metres. The report, titled NI 43-101 Technical Report Mineral Resource Estimate for Castle East, Robinson Zone, Ontario Canada with effective date of May 28, 2020 authored by M.Rachidi, P.Geo., Ph.D. of GoldMinds Geoservices. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Please refer to the Nord Precious Metals Press Release of May 27, 2020, for the resource estimate. The following notes were provided as part of the Resource Estimate report: 1 - The database used for this mineral estimate includes drill results obtained from historical (2011 one hole) to the recent 2019 drill program and wedges from the 2011 diamond drill hole; 2 - Mineral Resource is reported with mineable shape cut-off grade equivalent to 125$USD (258 g/t AgEq) including mining, shipping and smelting cost with recovery of 95%. The high-grade value of the mineral resources makes them direct shipping. Not all zones (mineable shapes) are above economic cut-off grade and zone 02b is a must-take material. The assay results are not capped as they are not considered as outliers at this stage and results are reproducible; 3 - The minimum horizontal width of the mineralized envelopes includes dilution and is 1.3m; and 4 - To convert volume to tonnage a specific gravity of 3.4 tonnes per cubic metre was used. Results are presented in-situ without mining dilution.

The above resource is now considered an historical resource. This historical resource remains relevant in that there is ongoing drilling to expand the known mineralization associated with that resource. The 2020 mineral resource was estimated in conformity with CIM Estimation of Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserves Best Practices Guidelines and is reported in accordance with Canadian Securities Administrators' NI-43-101. Insufficient work has been done since to categorize the above historical estimate as current. Significant additional diamond drilling and analytical work along with modelling is required before a new resource estimate can be compiled.

Nord's integrated processing strategy enables multiple metal recovery streams. High-grade silver recovery supports the economics of extracting critical minerals including cobalt, nickel, and other strategic metals. The Re-2Ox hydrometallurgical process, validated at pilot scale through SGS Lakefield, eliminates the typical arsenic barriers in complex silver-cobalt ores while producing technical-grade cobalt sulphate and other metal products to customer specifications. This multi-metal approach, combined with established infrastructure including TTL Laboratories and underground mine access, positions Nord within Ontario's emerging critical minerals supply chain.

The Company maintains a strategic portfolio of critical minerals properties in Northern Quebec through its 35% ownership in Coniagas Battery Metals Inc. (TSXV: COS), as well as the St. Denis-Sangster lithium project comprising 32 square kilometres of prospective ground near Cochrane, Ontario.

More information is available at www.nordpreciousmetals.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments in the industry to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "could" or "should" occur.

Forward-looking statements in this document include statements regarding: the expectation that the Company will receive Exchange approval for the Proposed Transaction; the potential for silver and critical minerals recovery from tailings; the Company's processing capabilities and integrated strategy; the anticipated scope, phasing, and results of T Engineering's engagement; the commissioning of the Company's modular gravity plant; and the anticipated benefits of Ontario's regulatory and funding frameworks.

Although the Company believes the forward-looking information contained in this news release is reasonable based on information available on the date hereof, by their nature forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Examples of such assumptions, risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, assumptions, risks and uncertainties associated with: general economic conditions; adverse industry events; future legislative and regulatory developments; the Company's ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the ability of the Company to implement its business strategies; competition; the ability of the Company to obtain and retain all applicable regulatory and other approvals; commodity price fluctuations; and other assumptions, risks and uncertainties.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS NEWS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE COMPANY AS OF THE DATE OF THIS NEWS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE THE COMPANY MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291642

Source: Nord Precious Metals Mining Inc.
Mississauga, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - MyndTec Inc. (CSE: MYTC) ("MyndTec" or the "Company") announces that it has been unable to secure the additional financing required to continue operations. As previously disclosed, the Company's operations during 2024 and 2025 were substantially funded by its principal shareholder, Jim Anderson, through his participation in successive private placement offerings. Mr. Anderson has confirmed that he will not be making any further investments in the Company. The Company has been unable to secure alternative sources of financing and, as a result, no longer has the liquidity required to maintain operations or meet its financial obligations as they come due.

Background

As disclosed in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2025 (the "MD&A"), the Company's ability to continue as a going concern was materially dependent on its ability to raise additional capital, which in turn was dependent in large part on the continued participation of Mr. Anderson, who was under no obligation to provide future funding. The MD&A further disclosed that if Mr. Anderson were to determine not to participate in future financing rounds, the Company may be unable to secure alternative financing on acceptable terms or at all, which could result in the Company's inability to continue operations.

As at September 30, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $90,212, negative working capital of $1,272,270, and accumulated losses of $21,697,141. The Company was also in default on its obligations to the Federal Economic Development Agency and its former legal counsel, totalling approximately $1,124,195. The Company's auditors included an emphasis of matter paragraph regarding going concern in their auditor's report on the Company's December 31, 2024 annual financial statements.

Despite ongoing efforts to secure additional financing, including through the continuation of the Company's private placement offering, and engagement with existing and potential new investors, the Company has exhausted its available financing alternatives.

Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives Including Insolvency Proceedings

After careful consideration of all available alternatives and in consultation with counsel, the Board of Directors has authorized management to consult with insolvency counsel and engage a Licensed Insolvency Trustee ("LIT") to evaluate the Company's options. The Company is evaluating all available strategic alternatives, which may include a restructuring of the Company's financial affairs through a proposal to creditors under Part III of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) (the "BIA"), or a sale of some or all of the Company's assets.

The Company expects to provide a further update on the outcome of its discussions with the LIT and the path forward in due course. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to file a viable proposal to its creditors or that any restructuring or sale process will result in any recovery for creditors or shareholders of the Company.

Operational Changes

In connection with the foregoing, the Company has implemented immediate cost-reduction measures, including the cessation of all research and development activities, the termination or layoff of substantially all employees and consultants, and the suspension of all non-essential service provider contracts.

Trading in the Company's Securities

The Company expects that trading in its common shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") may be halted or suspended pending further review of the Company's financial condition and listing status. Shareholders and other stakeholders are cautioned that there can be no assurance as to any recovery for holders of the Company's common shares.

About MyndTec

MyndTec Inc. is incorporated under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) and is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol MYTC. The Company developed and commercialized the MyndMove system, a patented functional electrical stimulation platform cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and licensed by Health Canada for the treatment of upper and lower body paralysis in stroke and spinal cord injury patients. The Company also held exclusive license agreements with the University of Toronto and University Health Network relating to neurostimulation and neural regeneration technologies. Additional information about the Company is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements that constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements regarding the Company's evaluation of strategic alternatives, its intention to engage a Licensed Insolvency Trustee, potential insolvency proceedings under the BIA, expected operational changes, the anticipated status of trading in the Company's securities, and any potential outcomes for creditors or shareholders. Forward-looking statements are typically, but not always, identified by words such as "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "could", "would", "will" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: the risk that the Company may not be able to engage a Licensed Insolvency Trustee on acceptable terms; the risk that the Company may not be able to successfully restructure its affairs or file a viable proposal to creditors; the risk that the Company's assets may not realize sufficient value to satisfy creditor claims; the risk that holders of the Company's common shares may receive no recovery; the risk that the CSE may suspend or delist the Company's securities; and other risks and uncertainties described in the Company's public filings, including its most recent MD&A, available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

The Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, however, there may be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as expected. These forward-looking statements are only current as of the date of this news release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

The CSE has in no way passed upon the merits of the business of the Company and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291645

Source: MyndTec Inc.
KUALA LUMPUR, MY / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / Golden Destinations Group Berhad ("Golden Destinations" or the "Company"), a full-service outbound travel experience curator, which is set to debut on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad ("Bursa Securities") on 16 April 2026, is pleased to announce that the Company's share allocation to the Malaysian public from its Initial Public Offering ("IPO") has been oversubscribed by 2.10 times.

From L-R: Mr. Cheong Kee Yoong, Independent Non-Executive Chairman, Golden Destinations Group Berhad; Mr. Lim Swee Chuan, Executive Director / Chief Corporate Officer, Golden Destinations Group Berhad; Mr. Mita Lim, Managing Director, Golden Destinations Group Berhad; Mr. Charles Lim, Chief Operating Officer, Golden Destinations Group Berhad; Ms. Emily Chan, Chief Financial Officer, Golden Destinations Group Berhad

Golden Destinations' IPO comprises a public issue of 200,000,000 new ordinary shares ("Issue Shares"), which were made available for application in the following manner:

50,000,000 Issue Shares made available for application by the Malaysian public (of which 25,000,000 Issue Shares are set aside for Bumiputera investors under the balloting process);

35,000,000 Issue Shares reserved for eligible directors and employees as well as persons who have contributed to the success of the Company and its subsidiaries ("Eligible Persons");

90,000,000 Issue Shares made available by way of private placement to identified institutional and/or selected investors; and

25,000,000 Issue Shares made available by way of private placement to identified Bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Malaysia ("MITI").

The Company received a total of 3,444 applications for 154,890,300 Issue Shares worth approximately RM69.70 million from the Malaysian public, representing an oversubscription rate of 2.10 times.

Meanwhile, the 35,000,000 Issue Shares made available for application by the Eligible Persons have been fully subscribed. Under the private placement to identified institutional and/or selected investors comprising 90,000,000 Issue Shares, the Placement Agent has confirmed that the placement tranche has been fully placed out.

Mr. Mita Lim, Managing Director of Golden Destinations Group Berhad, said, "We are truly encouraged by the response to our IPO, which reflects investors' confidence in Golden Destinations' business model and long-term growth prospects. The encouraging support from the investment community further strengthens our commitment to expand our curated travel offerings, reinforce our operational platform and continue delivering high-quality travel experiences through our extensive network of travel partners."

With approximately three decades of experience in the travel industry, Golden Destinations has established a strong presence in the outbound travel segment through its flagship Golden Destinations ("GD") brand portfolio. The Company offers a wide range of curated travel experience packages across multiple global destinations and operates primarily through a business-to-business distribution model, serving a network of travel agents nationwide.

Mr. David Lim, Chief Executive Officer of UOB Kay Hian (M) Sdn Bhd, said, "The demand for Golden Destinations' IPO highlights investors' recognition of the Company's established brand in the outbound travel industry, scalable business model and growth opportunities within the sector."

UOB Kay Hian (M) Sdn. Bhd., being the Principal Adviser, Sponsor, Underwriter and Placement Agent in conjunction with the IPO, has confirmed that the 90,000,000 Issue Shares made available by way of private placement to identified institutional and/or selected investors have been fully placed out.

###

ABOUT GOLDEN DESTINATIONS GROUP BERHAD

Golden Destinations Group Berhad ("Golden Destinations" or the "Company") is a full-service outbound travel experience curator, offering a comprehensive suite of outbound travel experience products and services under Golden Destinations (GD), our flagship brand portfolio. Through its subsidiaries, the Group offers a comprehensive range of travel products, including series travel experience packages, cruise travel experience packages and other outbound travel experience packages, distributed primarily via an established network of travel agents. As at its latest reporting period, Golden Destinations' travel portfolio spans over 84 countries, with more than 2,000 travel experience packages across multiple destinations worldwide, supported by long-standing relationships with airlines, cruise operators and overseas ground service providers. The Group is focused on scaling its operational capabilities, enhancing service delivery and strengthening its market presence in the outbound travel segment.

Issued By: Swan Consultancy Sdn Bhd on behalf of Golden Destinations Group Berhad

For more information, please contact:

Jazzmin Wan

Email: j.wan@swanconsultancy.biz

William Yeo

Email: w.yeo@swanconsultancy.biz

SOURCE: Golden Destinations Group Berhad

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/travel/golden-destinations-ipo-oversubscribed-by-2.10-times-1155894
Washington, D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that David Woodcock has been appointed Director of the Division of Enforcement, effective May 4, 2026. Mr. Woodcock is currently a partner in the Dallas and Washington, D.C. offices of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, where he serves as chair of the firm's Securities Enforcement Practice Group. Sam Waldon will continue to serve as Acting Director of the Enforcement Division until May 4.

"The Division of Enforcement has undergone a significant course correction, restoring Congressional intent by prioritizing cases that provide meaningful investor protection and strengthen market integrity," said SEC Chairman Paul S. Atkins. "I thank Sam for his steadfast commitment to serve in key senior roles at the SEC and am grateful for his wise counsel and leadership."

Chairman Atkins continued, "I am incredibly pleased to have David rejoin the SEC at this critical time, as we continue to focus on the types of misconduct that inflict the greatest harm to investors. With experience as a senior officer at the SEC, global law firm partner, a certified public accountant, and senior in-house corporate attorney, David is a foremost expert in all relevant facets of securities law and has deep institutional knowledge. I look forward to him leading our 1,000+ team of talented enforcement investigators, trial attorneys, accountants, and other professionals."

"I am honored to join the exceptionally talented team in the Enforcement Division and look forward to advancing our vital mission of investor protection," said Mr. Woodcock. "My commitment is to lead the division with the highest level of professionalism and rigor as we execute the Chairman's vision and ensure the integrity of our financial markets."

Mr. Woodcock is a widely recognized securities and governance attorney who returns to the Commission after serving as Director of the Fort Worth Regional Office from 2011 to 2015. During his prior SEC tenure, Mr. Woodcock led Enforcement and Examinations Division lawyers, accountants, and examiners, oversaw investigations in nearly every major area of the SEC's enforcement program, served as a member of the Enforcement Advisory Committee, and created and served as Chair of the SEC's cross-office and cross-division Financial Reporting and Audit Task Force, which was designed to enhance the SEC's detection and prosecution of violations involving accounting and false financial statements.

Most recently, Mr. Woodcock's practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher focused on regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, and corporate governance. Previously, he served as a senior in-house corporate attorney at Exxon Mobil Corporation. Mr. Woodcock is also an Adjunct Professor of Law at Texas A&M University School of Law, where he has taught for more than a decade on securities, ethics, and compliance.

Mr. Woodcock earned his bachelor's degree in accounting from Louisiana State University, and his JD from the University of Texas School of Law.

Source: Newsfile SEC Press Digest
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Purebread Brands Inc. (TSXV: BRED) ("Purebread" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that due to strong investor demand, it is increasing the size of its previously announced non-brokered private placement offering to up to $2,000,000 (the "Private Placement"). The Private Placement will now consist of up to 13,333,333 units of the Company (the "Offered Units") at a price of $0.15 per Offered Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to $2,000,000.

Each Offered Unit will be comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company (a "Common Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant exercisable by the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.30 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

The Company may pay finder's fees to eligible finders in connection with the Offering, subject to compliance with applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange").

The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used to primarily fund new store openings and for general working capital purposes.

The Private Placement remains subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including Exchange acceptance. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws, in addition to such other restrictions as may apply under applicable securities laws of jurisdictions outside Canada.

Debt Settlement

The Company further announces that it has agreed to issue an aggregate of 20,000,000 units of the Company (the "Settlement Units") to an arms' length creditor at a price of $0.15 per Settlement Unit, in full and final settlement of accrued and outstanding indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $3,000,000 (the "Debt Settlement"). Each Settlement Unit will be comprised of one Common Share and one-half of one Warrant, with each whole Warrant exercisable by the holder to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.30 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance.

Completion of the Debt Settlement remains subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. All securities issued in connection with the Debt Settlement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the date of issuance in accordance with applicable Canadian securities laws.

About Purebread Brands Inc.:

Purebread Brands Inc. is a leader in fast-casual cafe / bakeries in British Columbia, driving retail expansion in vibrant communities across Canada and beyond. Purebread is committed to crafting exceptional food experiences and making a positive impact on the communities it serves.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things: the anticipated use of proceeds of the Private Placement and the Company's ability to obtain Exchange approval in connection with the Private Placement and Debt Settlement, and the anticipated timing thereof.

These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the risks that: the Company is unable to use the proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated and that the Company is unable to obtain Exchange approval in connection with the Private Placement and Debt Settlement, or that the Company will be unable to do so on the timeline anticipated.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that the Company will be able to use the proceeds of the Private Placement as anticipated and that Exchange approval for the Private Placement and Debt Settlement will be obtained on the timeline anticipated by management.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291676

Source: Purebread Brands Inc.
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / We at Horizon Kinetics Holding Corporation announce with deep sorrow that Murray Stahl-the company's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and leading light-passed away suddenly on April 7, 2026.

Murray co-founded Horizon Kinetics in 1994. He was instrumental in transforming it into a publicly traded company with a market capitalization of approximately $600 million, an impeccable and debt-free balance sheet, and a portfolio built for the long horizon. Murray's dedication, wisdom, and leadership will be felt for generations to come.

The entire Horizon Kinetics family extends heartfelt condolences to Murray's wife, Teddi, and their children - and to everyone else who loved him.

As we begin the work of preserving and growing Murray's legacy, Horizon Kinetics is implementing its succession plan, starting with the appointment of Steven Bregman and Peter Doyle as co-Chief Executive Officers. They will join fellow Horizon Kinetics co-founder Tom Ewing on our newly established Founders' Committee to oversee a seamless transition of responsibilities.

We feel it is our duty and obligation to finish what Murray started. And it is our honor to remain fully committed to delivering that vision for our clients and shareholders.

About Horizon Kinetics Holding Corporation

Horizon Kinetics Holding Corporation (OTCQX:HKHC) primarily offers investment advisory services through its subsidiary, Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC ("HKAM"), a registered investment adviser. HKAM provides independent proprietary research and investment advisory services for mainly long-only and alternative value-based investing strategies. The firm has offices in New York City; White Plains, New York; and Summit, New Jersey. For more information, please visit www.hkholdingco.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

ir@hkholdingco.com

SOURCE: Horizon Kinetics Holding Corporation

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/horizon-kinetics-holding-corporation-announces-passing-of-ceo-murray-1155983
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - James Bay Resources Limited (CSE: JBR) ("James Bay" or the "Company"), announces that, further to its news release dated January 6, 2026 announcing the extension of price protection, it has received a further extension on its price protection from the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange") for the Company's private placement of up to 17,500,000 common shares of the Company (the "Common Shares") for gross proceeds of up to $350,000, originally announced on October 28, 2025 (the "Offering"), at the price of $0.02 per Common Share. To date the Company has closed on $182,500 from the issuance of 11,625,000 Common Shares under the Offering.

All other terms and conditions of the Offering remain unchanged. Completion of the Offering remains subject to approval of the Exchange.

The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund working capital.

The Common Shares issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four month plus one day regulatory hold period commencing from the date of closing.

The securities offered have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any State in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

Amendment to the News Releases Dated January 23, 2026 and January 26, 2026

The Company's news releases dated January 23, 2026 and January 26, 2026 contained an error. Each press release had inaccurately indicated that as of the closing of the second tranche of the Offering, gross proceeds of $157,000 from the issuance of 7,875,000 Common Shares were raised. The correct amount of gross proceeds raised from the closing of the second tranche of the Offering is $107,500 from the issuance of 5,375,000 Common Shares.

About James Bay Resources Limited

James Bay is a Canadian company with 90,201,241 Common Shares issued and outstanding as of the date of this news release, and trades on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "JBR".

Disclaimer

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Corporation's operations, exploration and development plans, expansion plans, estimates, expectations, forecasts, objectives, predictions and projections of the future. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or "variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of James Bay Resources Limited to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the Company's proposed Offering, as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors of our business filed in James Bay Resources Limited's required securities filings on SEDAR+. Although James Bay Resources Limited has attempted to identify important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. James Bay Resources Limited does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291685

Source: James Bay Resources Limited
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - ImagineAR Inc. (CSE: IP) (OTCQB: IPNFF) ("ImagineAR" or the "Company") today announced that the United States District Court for the District of Delaware has issued a ruling on a motion for judgment on the pleadings filed by Niantic, Inc. in connection with ImagineAR, Inc.'s patent lawsuit seeking damages for infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 10,946,284, 11,484,284, 11,666,827, and 12,070,691. The Court issued a decision granting Niantic's motion that the asserted patents are invalid. The Court also denied ImagineAR's motion to amend its complaint.

ImagineAR, Inc. plans to appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Alen Paul Silverrstieen, Chief Executive Officer of ImagineAR, Inc. said, "We are disappointed with the Court's ruling. We believe strongly in the merits of our case, and, through the appeal process we will continue to defend our inventions from unlawful infringement."

Board of Director Resignation

The Company announces that Gurdip Panaich has resigned as a director of the Company. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Panaich for his business contributions and wishes him the best in all his future endeavors.

About ImagineAR

About ImagineAR

ImagineAR Inc. (CSE: IP) (OTCQB: IPNFF) (FSE: GMS1) is an augmented reality (AR) platform, ImagineAR.com, that enables businesses of any size to create and implement their own AR immersive campaigns with no programming or technology experience.

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved".

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, which include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the termination of the DPIA and MSA and potential re-engagement, are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291687

Source: Imagine AR Inc.
NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES

OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Dryden Gold Corp. (TSXV: DRY) (OTCQX: DRYGF) ("Dryden Gold" or the "Company") announces that, further to the investor rights agreement dated December 17, 2024, (the "Centerra IRA") between the Company and Centerra Gold Inc. (TSX: CG) (NYSE: CGAU) ("Centerra"), Centerra has issued to the Company notice of their intention to exercise their 'top-up right' as it relates to certain share issuances completed by the Company through March 31, 2026. The share issuances were related to warrant exercises, certain option exercises and the Company's final property payment on its Tremblay Option Agreement.

Subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, an aggregate of 440,000 common shares will be issued to Centerra at a price of $0.32 per share for aggregate consideration of $140,800, calculated using the five day volume weighted average price in accordance with the Centerra IRA, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange, to retain its 9.99% interest in the Company. A copy of the Centerra IRA is available on the Company's SEDAR+ profile. The common shares issued will be subject to a hold period of four months and one-day pursuant to applicable securities laws.

The proceeds from the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to or for the account or benefit of a U.S. person (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

ABOUT DRYDEN GOLD CORP.

Dryden Gold Corp. is an exploration company focused on the discovery of high-grade gold mineralization listed on the TSX Venture Exchange ("DRY"), on the OTCQX marketplace ("DRYGF") and on the FSE: ("X7W"). The Company has a strong management team and Board of Directors comprised of experienced individuals with a track record of building shareholder value through property acquisition and consolidation, exploration success, and mergers and acquisitions. Dryden Gold controls a 100% interest in a dominant strategic land position in the Dryden District of Northwestern Ontario. Dryden Gold's property package includes historic gold mines but has seen limited modern exploration. The property hosts high-grade gold mineralization over 50km of potential strike length along the Manitou-Dinorwic deformation zone. The property has excellent infrastructure, enjoys collaborative relationships with First Nations communities and benefits from proximity to an experienced mining workforce.

For more information go to our website www.drydengold.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: receipt of corporate and regulatory approvals, issuance of common shares; future development plans; and the business and operations of Dryden Gold. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings including receipt of TSX Venture Exchange approval for the offering; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in Dryden Gold's and the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Dryden Gold and the Company do not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from Dryden Gold's and the Company's expectations or projections.

UNITED STATES ADVISORY. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), have been offered and sold outside the United States to eligible investors pursuant to Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act, and may not be offered, sold, or resold in the United States or to, or for the account of or benefit of, a U.S. Person (as such term is defined in Regulation S under the United States Securities Act) unless the securities are registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act is available. Hedging transactions involving the securities must not be conducted unless in accordance with the U.S. Securities Act. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in the state in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291686

Source: Dryden Gold Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Buzz Capital 2 Inc. (TSXV: BUZH.P) ("Buzz2" or the "Corporation"), a capital pool company ("CPC") pursuant to Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), announces its intention to adopt the policies outlined in the semi-annual financial reporting pilot program ("SAR Pilot Program") utilizing the exemptions provided under Coordinated Blanket Order 51-933 Exemptions to Permit Semi-Annual Reporting for Certain Venture Issuers (the "Blanket Order").

The SAR Pilot Program is implemented under the Blanket Order, which allows eligible venture issuers to voluntarily move from quarterly to semi-annual financial reporting. By adopting the SAR Pilot Program, Buzz2 aims to reduce the administrative and financial burden associated with quarterly reporting.

The Corporation will not file interim financial statements and related management discussion and analysis ("MD&A") for the three-month period ending March 31, 2026, and nine-month period ending September 30, 2026. Buzz2 will continue to file audited annual financial statements and MD&A (due within 120 days of December 31) and six-month interim financial statements and MD&A (due within 60 days of June 30).

Buzz2 confirms it meets the SAR Pilot's eligibility criteria, which include being a venture issuer with annual revenues of less than $10 million and maintaining a clean 12-month continuous disclosure record. The Corporation remains committed to timely disclosure and will continue to report all material changes and significant developments as required under National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations.

This news release is being filed pursuant to the Blanket Order.

About Buzz Capital 2 Inc.

Buzz2 was incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act on May 8, 2018 and is a CPC (as defined in the policies of the TSXV) listed on the TSXV. Buzz2 has no commercial operations and no assets other than cash.

The information in this news release includes certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements. These statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, the Corporation disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291618

Source: Buzz Capital 2 Inc.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Mineral Road Discovery Inc. (CSE: ROAD) (the "Company" or "ROAD") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 6,000,000 units at a price of $0.06 per unit for proceeds of $360,000 (the "Private Placement"). Each unit consists of one common share and one warrant, each warrant entitling the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.08 for a period of three years from closing. Proceeds will be used for general working capital.

The Private Placement is subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange and all securities issued will be subject to a four-month hold period.

The securities referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. "United States" and "U.S. person" have the respective meanings assigned in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as the term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy of accuracy of this news release.

Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291698

Source: Mineral Road Discovery Inc.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Syntheia Corp. (CSE: SYAI) ("Syntheia" or the "Company"), a conversational AI technology company, announces the resignations of Messrs. Richard Buzbuzian and Steven Silvestro as directors of the Company. The Company wishes to thank Messrs. Buzbuzian and Silvestro for their contributions to the company and wishes them success in their future endeavours.

For further information, please contact:

Cautionary Statement

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "would", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the information is provided, and is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change, unless required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information.

The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291694

Source: Syntheia Corp.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Deveron Corp. (TSXV: FARM.H) ("Deveron" or the "Company") announces that it has obtained disinterested shareholder approval to voluntarily delist (the "Delisting") its common shares (the "Common Shares") from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") at its annual and special meeting of shareholders held on December 30, 2025. The Company confirms it has filed an application with the TSXV for the Delisting.

The Company has determined that the Delisting is in the best interests of both shareholders and the Company. Despite the Delisting, the Company will continue to be subject to ongoing disclosure and other obligations as a reporting issuer under applicable securities legislation in Canada.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

About Deveron: Deveron is an agriculture technology company that uses data and insights to help farmers and large agriculture enterprises increase yields, reduce costs and improve farm outcomes. The company employs a digital process that leverages data collected on farms across North America to drive unbiased interpretation of production decisions, ultimately recommending how to optimize input use.

This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of that phrase under Canadian securities laws. Without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various degrees of risk. Forward-looking statements reflect management's current views with respect to possible future events and conditions and, by their nature, are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific to the Company. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements. The following are important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world-wide price of agricultural commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in agriculture, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. Additional information regarding the material factors and assumptions that were applied in making these forward looking statements as well as the various risks and uncertainties we face are described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of our annual and interim Management's Discussion and Analysis of our financial results and other continuous disclosure documents and financial statements we file with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities which are available at www.sedarplus.ca. The Company undertakes no obligation to update this forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. The Company relies on litigation protection for forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291668

Source: Deveron Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc. (CSE: TICO) (FSE: 0N8) (the "Company" or "TICO") is pleased to provide highlights of the 1,092 Hectare Buster Antimony-Gold Project (the "Project"), located in the Clinton Mining Division of British Columbia.

Highlights:

Historic Diamond drilling intercepts including 14.99 g/t gold (Au) over 1.10 metres (Lisle and McAllister (1988)

Additional historic drilling results including 17.19 g/t Au over 0.8 metres within broader mineralized zones (St Clair Dunn, 2005)

Historic ~1 km gold-arsenic-in-soil anomaly and ~500 metre antimony anomaly define a large, structurally controlled mineralizing system across multiple target zones (Kowalchuk, 1973)

Historical trenching and sampling returning up to 187.1 g/t Au and 36.6 g/t Au from narrow vein structures (Lisle, 1987) and multiple trenching rock samples returning overlimit >10,000ppm Sb (Lisle and McAllister, 1988)

John Eren, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, commented: "The acquisition of the Buster Project adds a high-grade gold-antimony system in British Columbia to our growing portfolio of critical mineral assets. Historical work has demonstrated strong gold grades alongside consistent antimony mineralization, supported by well-defined geochemical and structural controls. With defined anomalies and multiple target zones already identified, Buster represents a highly prospective system."





Figure 1. Regional Map of the Buster Antimony-Gold Project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8233/291704_0d793aaec436da53_001full.jpg

Buster Antimony-Gold Project - Highlights

Geochemical surveys have outlined a ~1 kilometre long gold-arsenic-in-soil anomaly and a ~500 metre antimony anomaly, reinforcing the presence of a large, structurally controlled mineralizing system extending across multiple target zones.

The Project is underlain by early Cretaceous sedimentary rocks of the Jackass Mountain Group, including lithic wackes, shales, and polymict conglomerates, which have been intruded by quartz-feldspar porphyry dykes and sills.

Mineralization is strongly controlled by faulting and structural corridors, which have acted as conduits for hydrothermal fluids. Alteration across the Project includes silicification, sericitization, and argillic alteration, commonly associated with mineralized veins and shear zones.

Antimony mineralization occurs primarily as stibnite, hosted within narrow veins and disseminations near intrusive contacts and structurally controlled zones. These zones are commonly associated with arsenopyrite and pyrite, suggesting a hydrothermal system with epithermal characteristics.

Gold mineralization is spatially associated with both intrusive activity and structural features, occurring in quartz veins, veinlets, and shear zones, particularly along ridge crest structures and fault zones.

The presence of elevated arsenic, antimony, and mercury geochemical signatures further supports the interpretation of a epithermal gold-antimony system

Transaction Details

To read details of the earn-in option agreement, see TICO's news release dated February 3, 2026.

Qualified Person

The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Graham Giles, P.Geo., a VP of Exploration to TICO, who is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Management cautions that historical results collected and reported by operators unrelated to TICO have not been verified nor confirmed by its Qualified Person; however, the historical results create a scientific basis for ongoing work at the Project. Management further cautions that historical results, discoveries and published resource estimates on adjacent or nearby mineral properties, whether in stated current resource estimates or historical resource estimates, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be achieved on the Project.

References

Kowalchuk, J.M. (1973). "Report of Work Completed in 1973 on The Watson Bar Creek Group of Claims. ARIS Report 4743.

Lisle, T.E. and McAllister, S.G. (1988) "Watson Project M584 Geological and Diamond Drilling Report" ARIS Report 18352a.

Lisle, T.E. (1987) "Geological and Drilling Report on the Astonisher, Monitor, Chevalier, Ajax, Monty, Sun Fraction, Last Chance, W1 to W-12, Gold, Brent, Sun, Shine Mineral Claims. ARIS Report 17336.

St-Clair Dunn, D. (2005) "Assessment Report on Diamond Drilling on the Stirrup Creek Property" ARIS Report 28032.

About Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc.

Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc. (CSE: TICO) (FSE: 0N8) is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of critical mineral properties in mining-friendly jurisdictions. The Company is based in Vancouver, British Columbia, and is pursuing a strategy of identifying and advancing underexplored projects with strong geological fundamentals, historical mineralization, and district-scale exploration potential.

TICO holds a growing portfolio of exploration assets including the Hatsfield Antimony-Gold Project and the Fredricksburg Antimony-Gold Projects in New Brunswick, located within prospective structural corridors known to host antimony and gold mineralization, as well as the Silver Giant polymetallic property near Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia, which hosts historic production of lead, zinc, silver, copper, antimony and cadmium. The Company also holds an option over the Wildcat Property in British Columbia.

Through the acquisition of these projects, TICO is building a portfolio targeting antimony and associated precious and base metals, commodities increasingly recognized as critical to North American supply chains and industrial applications.

For further information, please contact:

Disclaimers

This news release includes certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information.

Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Talent Infinity, future growth potential for TICO and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of copper, gold, tungsten, antimony and other metals; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; TICO's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms.

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Canadian securities laws. Statements, other than statements of historical fact, may constitute forward looking information and include, without limitation, statements with respect to the Project and its mineralization potential; the Company's objectives, goals, or future plans with respect to the Project; further exploration work on the Project in the future. With respect to the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions regarding, among other things, the geological, metallurgical, engineering, financial and economic advice that the Company has received is reliable and are based upon practices and methodologies which are consistent with industry standards. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein. Known risk factors include, among others: fluctuations in commodity prices and currency exchange rates; uncertainties relating to interpretation of well results and the geology, continuity and grade of copper, gold, tungsten, antimony and other metal deposits; uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, recovery rates, production estimates and estimated economic return; the need for cooperation of government agencies in the exploration and development of properties and the issuance of required permits; the need to obtain additional financing to develop properties and uncertainty as to the availability and terms of future financing; the possibility of delay in exploration or development programs or in construction projects and uncertainty of meeting anticipated program milestones; uncertainty as to timely availability of permits and other governmental approvals; increased costs and restrictions on operations due to compliance with environmental and other requirements; increased costs affecting the metals industry and increased competition in the metals industry for properties, qualified personnel, and management. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291704

Source: Talent Infinity Resource Developments Inc.
WHITE PLAINS, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / We at FRMO Corp. ("FRMO") announce with deep sorrow that Murray Stahl - the company's Chief Executive Officer and leading light - passed away suddenly on April 7, 2026.

Murray co-founded FRMO Corp. in 1993. He was instrumental in transforming it into a publicly traded company with a market capitalization of over $300 million, an impeccable and debt-free balance sheet, and a portfolio built for the long horizon. Murray's dedication, wisdom, and leadership will be felt for generations to come.

The entire FRMO family extends heartfelt condolences to Murray's wife, Teddi, and their children-and to everyone else who loved him.

As we begin the work of preserving and growing Murray's legacy, FRMO is implementing its succession plan, starting with the appointment of Steven Bregman and Peter Doyle as co-Chief Executive Officers.

We feel it is our duty and obligation to finish what Murray started. And it is our honor to remain fully committed to delivering that vision for our clients and shareholders.

About FRMO Corp.

FRMO Corp. is an intellectual capital firm that provides consulting and advisory services in the asset management sector and engages in the mining of digital assets. For more information, visit our website at www.frmocorp.com.

Investor Relations Contact:

Therese Byars

Corporate Secretary

Email: tbyars@frmocorp.com

Telephone: 646-495-7337

SOURCE: FRMO Corp

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/frmo-announces-passing-of-ceo-murray-stahl-1156297
CAMBRIDGE, MA / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / Hospitals face mounting pressure to improve outcomes while reducing costs. SerenaGroup has a novel solution for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Services: Consulting Services. The goal is to improve outcomes and increase profitability without outsourcing operational control.

The initiative, led by internationally recognized wound care expert Dr. Thomas Serena, aims to challenge the traditional model of wound care program management by empowering hospitals to develop internal expertise, improve clinical outcomes, and maintain ownership of their services.

"For years, hospitals have relied on outsourced wound care management models that limit flexibility and increase long-term costs," said Dr. Thomas Serena, founder of SerenaGroup. "We believe hospitals should have the expertise and tools to run exceptional wound care programs themselves. Our consulting model gives them the clinical training, operational guidance, and compliance support needed to do exactly that."

"Our goal is simple: help hospitals deliver the right care at the right time for patients," said Dr. Thomas Serena, founder of SerenaGroup. "Too often, healthcare systems struggle to build or maintain wound care and hyperbaric programs because of training gaps, regulatory complexity, or operational challenges. Our consulting model empowers their teams with the expertise and resources they need to succeed.

Dr. Serena and the SerenaGroup team bring more than 25 years of experience advancing wound care science, including:

400 peer-reviewed publications

200 clinical trials

2,500 lectures delivered globally

This experience forms the foundation of SerenaGroup's Wound Care and HBOT consulting program, which supports hospitals at every stage of hyperbaric program development, from physician training and accreditation guidance to operational strategy and compliance.

Healthcare organizations working with SerenaGroup gain access to:

On-site and on-line Hyperbaric medicine training for physicians and staff

Guidance on accreditation, compliance, and regulatory requirements

Strategic development of wound care and hyperbaric programs

Operational optimization and workflow design

Flexible consulting delivered on an a la carte basis

Unlike traditional wound care management arrangements that require hospitals to hand over program oversight, SerenaGroup's approach focuses on empowering clinical teams and strengthening internal capabilities.

https://youtube.com/shorts/AAabaGGdluE?si=mE7eDdvCT_-DTWuD

The result is a model designed to help hospitals deliver the right care at the right time for patients with complex wounds, while improving efficiency and reducing unnecessary costs within the healthcare system.

Healthcare organizations interested in learning more about SerenaGroup's HBOT Consulting Services can visit: https://serenagroups.com/hboconsulting

About SerenaGroup

SerenaGroup is a global leader in wound care research, education, and clinical innovation. Celebrating 25 years of clinical research, the organization has contributed to more than 400 scientific publications, 200 clinical trials, and over 2,500 lectures worldwide, helping shape modern standards in wound healing and hyperbaric medicine.

Press Release contact:

Renee McElwaney

rmcelwaney@serenagroups.com

727-692-2376

SOURCE: SerenaGroup

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/serenagroup-launches-national-hbot-consulting-service-to-help-hospita-1154558
Wealth Advisor and Author Chris Owens announces the April 21 release of Retire REGAL: The Holy Grail of Retirement - an integrated five-part planning framework for Americans approaching retirement or already in it - as Owens Financial Group pledges to donate $70 per copy sold on launch day to the National Humane Society through Care to Roar

KANSAS CITY, MO / ACCESS Newswire / April 8, 2026 / As financial market volatility reshapes retirement outlooks across the country, Chris Owens - Founder & President of Owens Financial Group, announces the April 21, 2026 release of Retire REGAL: The Holy Grail of Retirement. Written for Americans approaching retirement and those already in it, the book delivers an integrated framework for navigating five categories of retirement risk that many financial plans address separately rather than as a coordinated system.

The book launches April 21, 2026, through Amazon. On launch day only, the ebook edition will be available on Amazon for $0.99, open to any reader. Owens Financial Group will donate $70 to the National Humane Society for every copy sold on April 21 - print or ebook - through its Care to Roar charitable initiative.

Why This Book. Why Now.

For pre-retirees and retirees managing significant assets, current market conditions have brought long-standing planning considerations into sharp focus. Many retirement plans are optimized for the accumulation phase - building wealth over time - but offer less integrated guidance for distribution, when income stops and multiple variables interact simultaneously.

Sequence of returns risk. Tax exposure from required minimum distributions. Social Security timing decisions that cannot be undone. Legislative changes that alter the rules mid-plan. Healthcare costs that often exceed projections. These considerations do not arrive in isolation - they interact. A decision made in one area can meaningfully affect every other.

Owens addresses these five areas through a conceptual framework he calls the Five Foemen: The Income Hydra (income gaps and longevity risk), The Tax Kraken (tax exposure in retirement), The Legislative Leviathan (regulatory and policy changes), The Market Dragon (market volatility and sequence-of-returns risk), and The Health Basilisk (healthcare costs and long-term care). "Many retirement books address one or two of these areas," Owens observes. "Retire REGAL addresses all five - and the ways they can interact with each other."

The Retire REGAL Framework: Five Pillars, One Integrated Plan

Retire REGAL organizes retirement planning around five interconnected disciplines, each represented by a letter in the REGAL acronym:

R - Retirement Income: Developing a sustainable income strategy intended to support income needs throughout retirement

E - Employer Plan Rollovers: Navigating 401(k) transitions, pension decisions, and rollover timing in a coordinated way

G - Government Forces: Understanding Social Security timing, Medicare enrollment, and applicable tax law

A - Asset Management: Managing and protecting accumulated wealth through the distribution phase

L - Legacy Planning: Ensuring wealth transfers according to the individual's intentions

Care to Roar: Retirement Education Meets Animal Welfare

On April 21, 2026, the ebook edition of Retire REGAL will be available on Amazon for $0.99, open to any reader. For every copy sold that day - print or ebook- Owens Financial Group will donate $70 to the National Humane Society through the Care to Roar initiative. The total donation from the firm is capped at $10,000.

The pairing is intentional. A $0.99 Kindle purchase on launch day generates a $70 donation from Owens Financial Group - a 70-to-1 ratio that Owens describes as simply the right way to mark the occasion.

"We wanted the launch of this book to mean something beyond the book itself. For every person who invests in their own retirement education on April 21, Owens Financial Group will invest in protecting animals who have no one else advocating for them. That felt like the right way to mark this moment."

- Chris Owens, Founder & President, Owens Financial Group, LLC

About Chris Owens

Chris Owens is the Founder & President of Owens Financial Group, LLC, a Wealth Advisor, and the author of Retire REGAL: The Holy Grail of Retirement. His practice is a nationally-serving virtual financial advisory firm working with pre-retirees and retirees managing significant investable assets. He is an Investment Adviser Representative of Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.

Owens developed the Retire REGAL framework through years of working with clients navigating the transition from accumulation to distribution, and observing in his own practice the gap between individual planning decisions made in isolation and the integrated coordination that the distribution phase requires.

About Owens Financial Group, LLC

Owens Financial Group, LLC is a nationally-serving virtual financial advisory practice founded by Wealth Advisor and Author Chris Owens. The firm specializes in retirement planning built around the Retire REGAL process and REGAL Stronghold framework, working with clients who have significant investable assets and are approaching or navigating retirement. Investment advisory services are provided through Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Educational resources and client information are available at retireregal.com.

Launch Details

Title: Retire REGAL: The Holy Grail of Retirement

Author: Chris Owens

Launch Date: April 21, 2026

Ebook (launch day only): $0.99 on Amazon - available to any reader

Print Edition: Available at standard retail pricing

Care to Roar: Owens Financial Group donates $70 per copy sold April 21 (print or ebook) to the National Humane Society. Total firm donation capped at $10,000

Website: retireregal.com

Media Contact

Owens Financial Group, LLC

Chris Owens

1-800-658-8156

info@owens-financialgroup.com

retireregal.com

###

Retire REGAL - The Holy Grail of Retirement - Launching April 21, 2026 - retireregal.com

Retire REGAL: The Holy Grail of Retirement is an educational book and does not constitute personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Strategies and concepts discussed are educational in nature and may not be suitable for all individuals. Chris Owens is an Investment Adviser Representative of Foundations Investment Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.

SOURCE: Owens Financial Group

View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/banking-and-financial-services/new-retirement-planning-book-launches-as-market-volatility-tests-pre-1156244
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 8, 2026) - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSXV: EXN) (OTC Pink: EXNRF) (FSE: E4X2) ("Excellon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has filed on SEDAR+ its independent National Instrument 43-101 technical report for the Mallay Silver-Lead-Zinc Mine ("Mallay" or the "Project") in central Peru, as disclosed in the Company's February 23, 2026, news release.

The technical report, prepared by SGS Canada (Geological Services) with an effective date of February 18, 2026, supports the previously announced MRE for Mallay, which establishes a current compliant inventory intended to underpin restart planning while Excellon continues to evaluate additional upside through ongoing drilling that is not reflected in the current estimate.

Excellon acquired Mallay as a modern, fully permitted past-producing underground mine with a 600 tpd processing facility first commissioned in 2012, supported by an extensive drilling and operating database generated during Buenaventura's ownership. The new MRE reflects Excellon's work to consolidate historical drill and mine channel sample data previously used for reserve estimation by the prior operator, and to generate a current Mineral Resource through geological reinterpretation and 3D modelling in accordance with CIM Best Practice Guidelines and NI 43-101 disclosure standards.

Mallay MRE Highlights:

Indicated Mineral Resources: 890,000 tonnes grading 195 g/t silver, 3.33% lead and 4.83% zinc. The Indicated mineral resource includes 5.57 Moz of silver, 65 Mlbs of lead and 95 Mlbs of zinc.

Inferred Mineral Resources: 362,000 tonnes grading 149 g/t silver, 2.67% lead and 4.32% zinc. The Inferred mineral resource includes 1.74 Moz of silver, 21 Mlbs of lead and 34 mlbs of zinc.

Mineral Resource (AgEq): 12.01 million ounces grading 420 g/t AgEq in the Indicated and 4.00 million ounces grading 344 g/t AgEq Inferred.

High confidence dataset underpinning MRE: The estimate is based on extensive historical drilling and operating data, including 166,420 m of drilling and 22,740 m of channel samples, supported by mine mapping and mined-out wireframes to exclude depleted areas.

Material silver growth vs. historical inventory at comparable Ag grades: The NI 43-101 MRE outlines a materially larger Indicated silver inventory than the end-2018 historical Isguiz inventory, at broadly comparable silver grades.

Near-term growth catalysts not included in the current MRE: A 10,000-metre infill and extension program is underway to improve confidence for mine planning and test near-mine extensions. In parallel, Excellon is prioritizing the Footwall Zone (calc-silicate mineralization, locally 3-8 m widths), and the Shafra Zone gold-silver area.

Table 1: Mallay Mine Project Underground Mineral Resource Estimate, February 18, 2026





To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/1601/291717_tableone.jpg

Mallay Mine Property Mineral Resource Estimate Notes:

(1)The effective date of the Mallay Mine project Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") is February 18, 2026.

(2)The mineral resource was estimated by Allan Armitage, Ph.D., P.Geo. of SGS Geological Services and is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Armitage completed a site visit to the project on December 12-13, 2025.

(3)The classification of the Mineral Resource Estimate into Indicated and Inferred mineral resources is consistent with current 2014 CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves.

(4)All figures are rounded to reflect the relative accuracy of the estimate and numbers may not add due to rounding.

(5)All mineral resources are presented undiluted and in situ, constrained by continuous 3D wireframe models (considered mineable shapes), and are considered to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The mineral resource is exclusive of mined out material.

(6)Mineral resources are not mineral reserves. Mineral resources which are not mineral reserves, do not have demonstrated economic viability. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated or Measured Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated or Measured Mineral Resources with continued exploration.

(7)The Mallay mineral resource estimate is based on a validated drillhole database which includes data from 1,595 surface and underground drill holes and 18,150 channels. The drilling and channels total 166,420 m of drilling and 22,740 m of channels. The resource database totals 19,609 drill hole assays and 40,131 channel assays.

(8)The mineral resource estimate is based on 10 three-dimensional ("3D") resource models representing epithermal veins which comprise the Mallay vein system. 3D models of mined out areas were used to exclude mined out material from the current MRE.

(9)Grades for Ag, Pb, and Zn are estimated for each mineralization domain using 0.5 m capped composites assigned to that domain. To generate grade within the blocks, the inverse distance squared (ID2) interpolation method is used for all domains. Average density values were assigned to each domain based on values determined from mining and processing.

(10)It is envisioned that the Mallay Mine project deposits may be mined using underground mining methods. Mineral resources are reported at a base case cut-off grade of 120 g/t AgEq. The mineral resource grade blocks were quantified above the base case cut-off grade, below surface and within the constraining mineralized wireframes.

(11)The underground base case cut-off grade of 120 g/t AgEq considers metal prices of US$30.00/oz Ag, $1.00/lb Pb and $1.35/lb Zn, and considers metal recoveries for Ag, Pb and Zn: 89% for Ag, 88% for Pb and 87% for Zn.

(12)The underground base case cut-off grade of 120 g/t AgEq considers a mining cost of US$60.00/t rock and a processing, treatment and refining, transportation and G&A cost of US$40.00/t mineralized material.

(13)The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues.

The technical report is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ and on the Company's website at www.excellonresources.com.

Corporate Update

The Company is also pleased to announce that it has entered into a consulting agreement (the "Agreement") with Macky Agency Corp. ("Macky") to provide investor relations and communications services. The agreement has an initial term of three months, commencing April 1, 2026. Following the initial term, the parties may mutually agree to extend or amend the agreement. In consideration for the services, the Company will pay Macky a fee of C$6,500 per month, plus applicable taxes.

In connection with the Agreement, the Company has granted Macky stock options (the "Options") to acquire up to 200,000 common shares of the Company at an exercise price of $0.40 per share for a period of three years. The Options will be subject to the standard vesting requirements applicable to investor relations service providers under TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") policies.

Macky is an arm's length party to the Company. At the time of the agreement, other than 10,000 common shares of the Company held by a principal of Macky, neither Macky nor any of its principals had an interest, directly or indirectly, in the securities of the Company. The Agreement and the Options are subject to the acceptance of the TSXV.

The Company has granted a total of 190,546 deferred share units ("DSUs") to non-executive directors in respect of quarterly directors' fees, pursuant to the Company's Share Incentive Plan. Each vested DSU entitles the holder to receive, upon settlement, a cash payment equal to the market value of one common share in the capital of the Company, or, at the discretion of the board of directors of the Company, one common share or any combination thereof. The DSUs vest one year from the date of grant and are settled following resignation or termination as a director in accordance with the Share Incentive Plan and TSXV policies.

Qualified Persons

Allan Armitage, Ph.D., P.Geo. of SGS Geological Services is an independent Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the Mineral Resource Estimate and the scientific and technical information relating to the MRE contained in this news release. Armitage completed a site visit to the project on December 12-13, 2025.

About Excellon Resources Inc.

Excellon Resources is focused on advancing the restart of its fully permitted, past-producing Mallay Mine in Peru, positioning the Company as a near-term silver producer. Following its February 2026 independent mineral resource estimate at Mallay, Excellon is advancing restart planning and near-mine growth, while also advancing the adjacent Tres Cerros Gold-Silver Exploration Property in Peru. The Company also holds the Kilgore Project, an advanced gold exploration project in Idaho, and the Silver City Project, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany. Additional details on Excellon's properties can be found at www.excellonresources.com.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained, referenced or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "advance", "anticipated", "believe", "continue", "expect", "focused", "future", "may", "opportunity", "plan", "potential", "subject to", "will", and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding: the significance and implications of the filing of the independent National Instrument 43-101 technical report for the Mallay Mine; the quality, scale, potential development and possible restart of the Mallay Mine; the extent to which the mineral resource estimate may support future mine planning, restart activities or development decisions; the advancement of additional upside targets through ongoing drilling; the Company's strategic objectives and growth opportunities at Mallay and across its portfolio; the services to be provided by Macky Agency Corp.; the term, extension or amendment of the consulting agreement with Macky; the compensation payable thereunder; the grant, vesting and exercise of stock options granted to Macky; the acceptance of the agreement and stock options by the TSX Venture Exchange; and the settlement, value and form of payment of the deferred share units granted to non-executive directors.

Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent the Company's best judgment based on available facts as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations or opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others: risks relating to the interpretation and application of the technical report and mineral resource estimate; risks that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability; risks relating to the Company's ability to restart operations at Mallay on the timeline anticipated or at all; risks related to exploration, development and mining activities in Peru, including operational, technical, permitting, environmental, community, political and economic risks; risks relating to commodity prices, capital requirements, availability of financing, and general market conditions; risks relating to the performance by third-party contractors and consultants, including Macky; the ability of the Company to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals, including acceptance of the consulting agreement and stock option grant by the TSX Venture Exchange; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors described in the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2025, the Company's management's discussion and analysis, and the Company's other continuous disclosure filings available under the Company's profile on SEDAR+.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/291717

Source: Excellon Resources Inc.
Mainland reiterates readiness to strive for peace across Taiwan Strait

Xinhua) 13:07, April 08, 2026

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday reiterated the mainland's readiness to strive for peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks when she responded to a question about the visit of a Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party delegation led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun to the mainland.

The delegation arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday. The visit, which covers Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing, will run through Sunday. This marks the first time in a decade that a KMT chairperson has led a delegation to the mainland.

"We are willing, on the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing 'Taiwan independence,' to work with political parties, groups and individuals in Taiwan, the KMT included, to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations," Zhu said.

She said both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China and that cross-Strait issues should be resolved through consultation among the Chinese people, adding that people on both sides have the wisdom and ability to resolve their own issues.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
The search for the cemetery at the former Grand Junction Regional Center and Teller Institute site continues as the state of Colorado is asking the public for help finding the site.

A public meeting to discuss the institute has been scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 21 at the Clifton branch of the Mesa County Libraries, according to History Colorado.

The Teller Institute, also known as the Grand Junction Indian School, was a Native American boarding school that operated from 1886 to 1911. For most of its history, as the regional center, the site housed developmentally disabled adults, the last of whom have been moved off the property and into community housing. The state of Colorado, which owns the property, has been mandated to dispose of the property once all the residents were moved out.

People have estimated at least 20 Native American children were buried at the site, located near Riverside Parkway and the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado.

Since the residents have been moved off the site, a committee to find a new use for the site indicated they would like the state to transfer the land to Native American tribes.

However, the state cant transfer the property until the identification and mapping of any graves of Native American students at the property has taken place, per Colorado state statute.

Its really hard to talk to tribes when we still cant tell them where their children are, said Phillip Gover, senior director of Tribal and Indigenous engagement for History Colorado.

Gover said hes hoping the meeting turns up some clues as to the whereabouts of the cemetery.

He said hes wondering if there are stories in the local community about the location of the cemetery.

If theres a way to triangulate it into a more localized area then we can make a quicker determination, Gover said.

One problem that has presented itself is the quality, or lack thereof, of the record keeping on-site, Gover said.

They didnt do very good record keeping, Gover said.

The people looking for the location havent found a direct document naming the location of the cemetery, Gover said, although they have found an irrigation map indicating a cemetery did exist at one point.

Gover said finding the location of the cemetery will allow him to contact tribes that sent children to the school and make recommendations to the Colorado Department of Human Services about how to memorialize the site.

If there was a cemetery at this location, it should have been protected, Gover said. Which tells me you didnt see the lives of these children as important as others in this community, and thats bothersome to me.
Supreme Court upholds ex-military officer's China spying sentence

ROC Central News Agency

04/07/2026 07:52 PM

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) A retired lieutenant colonel who unsuccessfully tried to recruit intelligence assets for China has had a five-year, four-month prison sentence upheld by Taiwan's Supreme Court.

According to the court's April 1 ruling, Kung Fan-chia () met multiple times with People's Liberation Army intelligence operative Yang Libo () during overseas trips between 2006 and 2008 while serving as an active-duty officer with the Ministry of National Defense's Military News Agency.

The trips were arranged and paid for by former Taiwanese Army officer Shao Wei-chiang (), who died in June last year while serving a 12-and-a-half-year sentence for violations of the National Security Act and the Banking Act, through Shao's Kinmen-based Safety Travel Service Co., the court said.

During his meetings with Yang, Kung agreed to help develop a spy network among active and retired military personnel, receiving thousands of U.S. dollars in exchange, according to the court.

After retiring in 2012, Kung continued to receive payments from Chinese officials and attempted to invite military personnel to travel to China or third countries to facilitate contact.

In one case, an active-duty officer declined the invitation, while in another, a retired serviceman did not follow through.

In June last year, Kung's initial sentence of five years and six months for breaches of the Anti-Corruption Act and National Security Act was reduced to five years and four months by the High Court, citing his confession and return of illicit gains.

The Supreme Court rejected the prosecutors' appeal, saying the lower court's ruling and sentence were appropriate. The verdict is final.

(By Hsieh Chun-lin and Lee Hsin-Yin)

Enditem/ASG

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Justice Department Conducts Court-Authorized Disruption of DNS Hijacking Network Controlled by a Russian Military Intelligence Unit

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Today, the Department of Justice and the FBI announced a court-authorized technical operation to neutralize the U.S. portion of a network of small office/home office (SOHO) routers compromised by a unit within Russia's Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) Military Unit 26165, also known as APT28, Sofacy Group, Forest Blizzard, Pawn Storm, Fancy Bear, and Sednit. The unit used the routers to facilitate malicious Domain Name System (DNS) hijacking operations against worldwide targets of intelligence interest to the Russian government, including individuals in the military, government, and critical infrastructure sectors.

Since at least 2024, GRU actors have exploited known vulnerabilities to steal credentials for thousands of TP-Link routers worldwide. The actors then accessed many of these compromised routers without authorization and manipulated their settings to redirect DNS requests to GRU-controlled servers - i.e., malicious DNS resolvers. GRU actors were indiscriminate in their initial targeting and manipulation of routers. The actors then implemented an automated filtering process to determine which DNS requests were of interest and warranted interception. For select targets, the GRU's DNS resolvers provided fraudulent DNS records for specific domains that mimicked legitimate services - including Microsoft Outlook Web Access - to facilitate Actor-in-the-Middle attacks against encrypted victim network traffic. In doing so, the GRU actors harvested unencrypted passwords, authentication tokens, emails, and other sensitive information from devices on the same network as the compromised TP-Link routers.

"The GRU's predatory use of networks in American homes and businesses for its malicious cyber operations remains a serious and persistent threat," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. "NSD will continue to use every tool at our disposal to detect such intrusions and expel hostile foreign actors from our Nation's networks."

"Russian military intelligence once again hijacked Americans' hardware to commandeer critical data," said U.S. Attorney David Metcalf for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. "In the face of continued aggression by our nation-state adversaries, the U.S. government will respond just as aggressively. Working with the FBI  and our partners around the world  we are committed to disrupting and exposing such threats to our nation's cybersecurity."

"Operation Masquerade demonstrates the FBI's commitment to identifying, exposing, and disrupting the Russian government's efforts to compromise American devices, steal sensitive information, and target critical infrastructure," said Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of FBI's Cyber Division. "GRU actors compromised routers in the US and around the world, hijacking them to conduct espionage. Given the scale of this threat, sounding the alarm wasn't enough. The FBI conducted a court-authorized operation to harden compromised routers across the United States. We urge all router owners to take the remediation steps outlined today, because defending our networks requires all of us. The FBI will continue to use its authorities to identify and impose costs on state-sponsored actors who target the American people."

"Operation Masquerade - led by FBI Boston - is the latest example of how we're defending our homeland from Russia's GRU which weaponized routers owned by unsuspecting Americans in more than 23 states to steal sensitive government, military, and critical infrastructure information," said Special Agent in Charge Ted E. Docks of the FBI's Boston Field Office. "The FBI utilized cutting edge technology and leveraged our private sector and international partners to unmask this malicious activity and remediate routers. Now we're asking everyone who has a router to secure it, update its firmware, and replace it if needed. By working together, we can guard against nefarious nation state actors trying to compromise our national security."

As described in court documents unsealed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the FBI developed a series of commands to send to compromised routers in the United States, designed to collect evidence regarding the GRU actors' activity, reset DNS settings (i.e., remove GRU DNS resolvers and force routers to obtain legitimate DNS resolvers from their Internet Service Providers (ISP)), and to otherwise prevent the GRU actors from exploiting the original means of unauthorized access.

As described in court documents, the government extensively tested the operation on firmware and hardware for affected TP-Link routers. Other than stymieing the GRU's ability to access the routers, the operation did not impact the routers' normal functionality or collect the legitimate users' content information.

The court-authorized steps to remediate compromised routers can be reversed by legitimate users at any time through factory resets with hardware reset buttons. Legitimate users can also reverse changes by logging into web management pages and restoring desired settings (e.g., factory default settings).

To better protect themselves, all users of SOHO devices are encouraged to conduct the following remediation steps:

Replace End-of-Life and End-of-Support routers; Upgrade to the latest available firmware; Verify the authenticity of DNS resolvers listed in router settings; and Review and implement firewall rules to prevent the unwanted exposure of remote management services.

Users are encouraged to navigate to the official TP-Link website and review documentation for their affected routers in the download center to learn more about proper configurations. Users should also ensure their routers are operating the latest firmware and review the End-of-Life product lists to determine if their routers should be replaced. Additional remediation guidance is provided in a separate PSA.

The FBI is working with ISPs to provide notice of the operation to users of SOHO routers covered by the court's authorization. If you believe you have a compromised router, please contact your local FBI field office or file a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.

The FBI Boston and Philadelphia Field Offices and Cyber Division, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and the National Security Division's National Security Cyber Section led the disruption effort. Black Lotus Labs at Lumen and Microsoft Threat Intelligence provided valuable technical contributions to this announcement. MIT Lincoln Laboratory provided valuable assistance with testing and validation.

Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Cyber Division (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Pennsylvania, Eastern

Press Release Number: 26-324

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The SBU, in cooperation with US and EU law enforcement agencies, exposed Russian intelligence services for large-scale spying on citizens of the EU, the United States and Ukraine through "hacked" Wi-Fi routers

Security Service of Ukraine

21:15, 7 April 2026

The Security Service of Ukraine, together with the FBI, counterintelligence agencies of the Republic of Poland and EU law enforcement agencies, conducted a coordinated cyber operation to neutralize the enemy's intelligence activities in Ukraine and the territories of partner countries.

As a result of the international cyber operation, numerous instances of hacking of small office and home office Wi-Fi routers of Ukrainian and foreign citizens (so-called SOHO equipment) by Russian military intelligence (better known as the GRU) were uncovered.

According to the investigation, Russian intelligence agents were "hunting" routers that did not comply with modern security protocols.

After "infiltrating" vulnerable Internet devices, the Russian attackers redirected their traffic through a pre-established network of DNS servers (which convert Internet resource names into their IP addresses, uniquely identifying the destination server).

By doing so, they became online "intermediaries," intercepting passwords, authentication tokens, and other sensitive data, including emails that would normally be secured by cryptographic protocols such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security).

The enemy intended to use the obtained information to conduct cyberattacks, carry out information sabotage, and gather intelligence.

The Russian intelligence service paid special attention to information exchanged by employees and servicemen of state bodies, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, and enterprises from defense industry enterprises.

As a result of the joint cyber operation, over 100 servers were blocked and hundreds of routers were taken out of enemy control in Ukraine alone, significantly weakening the intelligence capabilities of the Russian military intelligence and preventing the destruction of equipment at the software level.

The Security Service of Ukraine, together with Western partners, is actively undertaking comprehensive measures to bring all individuals involved in cybercrimes to justice.

The SBU advises all router owners to verify their device model and current software version, ensure that the latest security updates are installed, and implement them without delay.

If the manufacturer no longer provides support, we strongly recommend replacing the router with a more modern model, including one from another company. After updating, it is essential to change the device's access password, disable remote access to its management panel via the Internet, review the settings, and remove any suspicious entries.

Telecommunications providers are urged to assist their clients in implementing the above cybersecurity measures.

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Contracts

Contracts for April 7, 2026

ARMY

Arcadis U.S. Inc, Highlands Ranch, Colorado (W912DW-26-D-A003); Ayuda Auxilio Solutions JV LLC,* Denver, Colorado (W912DW-26-D-A004); Bluestone Geo JV LLC,* Malvern, Pennsylvania (W912DW-26-D-A005); Brice Integrated LLC,* Anchorage, Alaska (W912DW-26-D-A006); and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Arlington, Virginia (W912DW-26-D-A007), will compete for each order of the $90,000,000 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for hazardous, toxic, and radiologic waste-related services required for military, interagency and international services, civil works, and operating project sites primarily within the Seattle area of responsibility. This total cumulative face value is $90,000,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with 19 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 5, 2033. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Seattle District, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 6, 2025).

NOVA Group Inc., Napa, California, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for construction of petroleum, oil, and lubricant infrastructure necessary to support the fifth generation F-22 fighter aircraft at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The amount of this action is $57,956,500, with a total cumulative face value of $62,005,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Anchorage, Alaska, with an estimated completion date of July 25, 2029. Fiscal 2025 military construction, defense-wide funds in the amount of $57,956,500 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, is the contracting activity (W911KB-26-C-A012).

The Boeing Co., Mesa, Arizona, was awarded a $51,914,082 modification (PZ0013) to contract W58RGZ-24-C-0002 for postproduction support services for the AH-6 in support of the Saudi Arabia Ministry of National Guard. The modification brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $76,867,117. Work will be performed in Mesa, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of May 31, 2028. Fiscal 2025 Foreign Military Sales funds (Saudi Arabia) in the amount of $51,914,082 were obligated at the time of the award. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity. (Awarded April 6, 2025).

BreakPoint Labs LLC,* Herndon, Virginia, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract to provide cybersecurity subject matter expertise services for advanced computing and software technologies within the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program, titled Software Factory for Modernization, Accelerated Innovation, Resilience, and Technological Advantage. The amount of this action is $50,000,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with 158 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 5, 2031. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, is the contracting activity (W912HZ-26-D-A003).

Applied Aquatic Management Inc.,* Bartow, Florida, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for invasive species management services. The amount of this action is $45,000,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with 10 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 7, 2031. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, is the contracting activity (W912EP-26-D-A001).

BL Harbert International LLC, Birmingham, Alabama, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for construction of an approximately 25,000-square-foot, three-bay aircraft maintenance hangar to support the bed down of the F-35 aircraft in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The amount of this action is $40,857,635, with a total cumulative face value of $41,780,759. Bids were solicited via the internet with seven received. Work will be performed in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with an estimated completion date of March 23, 2028. Fiscal 2026 military construction, defense-wide funds in the amount of $40,857,635 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Tulsa District, is the contracting activity (W9127S-26-C-A006). (Awarded April 3, 2025).

Federal Contracting Inc., doing business as Bryan Construction, Colorado Springs, Colorado, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for renovation of existing Building 7274 and construction of an addition to support the transition from a B-1 Squadron Operations and Aircraft Maintenance Unit facility to a B-21 Squadron Operations and Aircraft Maintenance Unit facility at Ellsworth Air Force Base. The amount of this action is $39,264,803, with a total cumulative face value of $46,701,904. Bids were solicited via the internet with three received. Work will be performed in Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, with an estimated completion date of June 26, 2028. Fiscal 2025 military construction, Army funds in the amount of $39,264,803 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, is the contracting activity (W9128F-26-C-A024). (Awarded April 3, 2025).

Anduril Industries Inc., Costa Mesa, California, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of hardware and related components in support of Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems for Ghost-X Systems with Trillium HD45LP in accordance with Department of War directives. The amount of this action is $16,788,000. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of May 1, 2026. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-26-G-0057, W58RGZ-26-F-0247). (Awarded April 1, 2025).

Sherwood Avionics and Accessories Inc.,* Opa-Locka, Florida, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance and overhaul of the Stage One Nozzle, National Stock Number 2840-01-584-9634, Part Number 6071T04G32, in support of the T-700 series of engines. The amount of this action is $16,162,859. Bids were solicited via the internet with two received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of April 7, 2031. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-26-D-0023).

Performance Drone Works LLC, Huntsville, Alabama, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract to procure 40 C100X MRD Mission Bundles, 80 Next Vision Raptor EO/IR systems, and 17 UXV SROC Ground Control Stations for the Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Product Office. The amount of this action is $15,259,840. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of March 20, 2027. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-26-G-0060, W58RGZ-26-F-0244). (Awarded March 27, 2025).

SAF Inc.,* Akron, Ohio, was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for demolition and removal of the existing hydraulic system and related components, and installation of a new hydraulic system with supporting controls and buildings for the Braddock hydraulic system upgrade. The amount of this action is $10,592,141. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Braddock, Pennsylvania, with an estimated completion date of April 8, 2028. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance, Corps of Engineers, civil funds in the amount of $10,592,141 were obligated at the time of the award. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pittsburgh District, is the contracting activity (W911WN-26-C-A004). (Awarded April 6, 2025).

NAVY

CDM Federal Programs Corp., Fairfax, Virginia, is awarded a $90,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to assist in management of the Navy's electric, civil, and mechanical utility systems. Work will be performed within the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) area of responsibility worldwide, and is expected to be completed by April 2031. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance, (Navy) funds in the amount of $10,000 will be obligated at time of award for the minimum guarantee, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the System for Award Management (SAM) Contract Opportunities website with three offers received. NAVFAC Atlantic, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. (N62470-26-D-0007).

General Atomics, San Diego, California, is awarded a not-to-exceed $53,286,025 cost reimbursable order (N0001926F0134) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0014). This order provides non-recurring engineering, to include detailed system design and development efforts, production of prototype test articles, testing and development of all supporting technical and logistical documentation, for an Advanced Arresting Gear Engine Room Isolation solution in support of the Ford Class Carriers for the Navy. Work will be performed in San Diego, California (82%); Tupelo, Mississippi (14%); and Boston, Massachusetts (2%), and is expected to be completed in October 2028. Fiscal 2026 research, development, test, and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,493,868 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract action was not competed. Naval Air System Command, Patuxent River, Maryland is the contracting activity.

Detroit Defense Inc., Troy, Michigan, is awarded $17,515,766 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the delivery of technical support to the Standard Portable Electronic Maintenance Aids Cyber Solution (SPECS) information technology (IT) solution to include monthly cybersecurity packages, quarterly maintenance service packages, and modification support to SPECS IT system, and updates relevant to configuration management as required. Work will be performed in Troy, Michigan, and is expected to be completed by April 2031. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was not competed. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N6833526D1011).

Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded an $11,437,794 modification (P00032) to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee contract (N0001921C0040). This modification adds scope to provide three additional software data loads productionized plus builds, off of the existing enterprise software baselines, in support of the Israel System Development and Design Phase II efforts to include software development and systems engineering for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (80%); and undisclosed locations outside the continental U.S. (20%), and is expected to be completed in March 2030. Foreign Military Sales customer funds in the amount of $11,437,794 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

AIR FORCE

EWR Radar Systems, St. Louis, Missouri, has been awarded a ceiling $17,354,000 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for contractor logistics support and maintenance. This contract provides for contractor logistics support and maintenance of portable doppler radar systems. Work will be performed at St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to be completed by April 1, 2032. This contract was a sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2026 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $3,299,495 will be obligated at time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Electronic Systems Directorate, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA233026DB003). (Awarded April 4, 2026).

Textron Aviation Defense LLC, Wichita, Kansas, has been awarded a $14,092,156 firm-fixed-price and cost contract for the T-6C Vietnam Ground Based Training System: Operational Flight Trainer Program. This contract provides a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) effort for the Vietnam Air Defense Air Force for the procurement of twelve station computer-based training lab, initial spare parts, three operational and maintenance trainings, contract logistics support and field service representative support. Work will be performed at Tampa, Florida, and is expected to be completed by Sept. 30, 2030. This contract involves FMS to the country of Vietnam. This contract was a sole source acquisition. FMS funds in the amount of $14,092,156 are being obligated at the time of award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Training Directorate, Simulators Division, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8621-26-C-B002). (Awarded March 31, 2026).

*Small business

https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4453504/

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"Anatolian Phoenix - 2026" international exercise commences

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

07.04.2026 [19:49]

Baku, April 7, AZERTAC

The "Anatolian Phoenix - 2026" International Search and Rescue Exercise, involving servicemen from various countries, has commenced in Konya, Turkiye, Azerbaijan's Ministry of Defense told AZERTAC.

The purpose of the exercise is to enhance the coordination and operational interoperability of search and rescue teams from different countries, improve command and control mechanisms, elevate the professional proficiency of personnel, and develop capabilities in locating and rescuing crew members in emergency situations. It also aims to ensure the effective execution of rescue operations at sea, on land, and in challenging terrain, facilitate the safe evacuation of pilots, provide aerial support, and further develop the skills of forward air controllers.

In the international exercise, which is scheduled to continue until April 17, Azerbaijan is represented by Air Force pilots, parachute assault personnel, search and rescue specialists, forward air controllers, technical staff, and aviation assets.

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EUNAVFOR ASPIDES: HS HYDRA-ITS RIZZO JOINT EXERCISE

European External Action Service (EEAS) - EUNAVFOR Operation ASPIDES

07.04.2026

Press and information team - EUNAVFOR Operation ASPIDES

The Italian Frigate LUIGI RIZZO, together with the Greek Frigate HS HYDRA, conducted a joint exercise, including complex maneuvers and simultaneous flight operations.

EUNAVFOR ASPIDES has a totally defensive mandate, contributes to regional stability and prosperity by providing safety to fellow seafarers and protecting global common goods.

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Suspension of WHO medical evacuations from Gaza (April 7, 2026)

France - Ministere de l'Europe et des Affaires etrangeres

Israel / Palestine

Humanitarian action

Declaration

On : April 07th 2026

France expresses its deep concern following the World Health Organization's announcement that it was suspending its medical evacuations in Gaza following a security incident that killed a WHO contract worker. This incident must be thoroughly investigated.

The evacuation of patients from Gaza is essential to residents, who no longer have access to the medical care they need in the Gaza Strip. These evacuations must resume as swiftly as possible, without endangering humanitarian workers, and they must be stepped up. That includes evacuations to the West Bank.

France reiterates its commitment to the smooth operation of the European Union Border Assistance Mission in Rafah (EUBAM Rafah), which plays a vital role in facilitating the freedom of movement at the Rafah crossing point, with all parties involved acting in compliance with international law.

France condemns all attacks on humanitarian workers in the strongest possible terms. All parties must guarantee their protection in all circumstances, in accordance with international humanitarian law.



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HE GCCSG: The Storming of Al Aqsa Mosque Compound by a Minister in the Israeli Occupation Government is a Dangerous Provocation and an Unacceptable Escalation

General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council

Apr 07, 2026

General Secretariat - Riyadh

His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), expressed his strong condemnation and denunciation of the storming of the Al Aqsa Mosque compound by a minister in the Israeli occupation government, under the protection of the occupation forces. He described this as a dangerous and provocative act that violates the sanctity of the site and inflames the feelings of Muslims worldwide.

HE the Secretary General stressed the need for an immediate halt to these repeated violations and respect for the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites. He reiterated the GCC's firm and unwavering support for all measures aimed at protecting Islamic holy sites, emphasising that these violations undermine efforts to achieve calm and stability in the region.

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Statement by Foreign Minister Eide on the situation in the Middle East

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 07/04/2026

'We are now in the midst of a highly dramatic and dangerous day for the Middle East. The threats made by President Trump last night of further escalation, and Iran's warning that it will respond with corresponding attacks against countries in the region, are deeply alarming. A great deal is at stake, and I am deeply concerned that the situation could deteriorate even further'.

Since this war began on 28 February, we have been clear that Israeli and US attacks against Iran are in violation of international law. The same applies to Iran's attacks against civilian infrastructure in neighbouring countries.

Attacks on civilian infrastructure such as power plants, bridges and water supplies are contrary to international law and may constitute war crimes. If the war is escalated in this manner, civilians will be severely affected and there will be very serious economic consequences for the entire region. It will also exacerbate and prolong the already very serious global repercussions.

I strongly warn against any further escalation. The many conflicts in the Middle East cannot be resolved through the use of military force. On the contrary, continued escalation would represent a serious setback for people, societies and economies throughout the region and the rest of the world. I urge the parties to put the protection of the civilian population first. They must respect international law, protect civilians and seek diplomatic solutions. Norway is in close political contact with countries in the region and key stakeholders.

At a UKled meeting of foreign ministers last week, I discussed together with representatives from around 40 countries and organisations the consequences of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. We discussed how to ensure the transport of particularly critical commodities for humanitarian reasons, and other possible measures while the war is ongoing. There was broad agreement that the objective must be the full reopening of the Strait, and that no precedent must be set allowing coastal states to restrict passage or levy charges on ships transiting international straits. Under the Law of the Sea Convention, the right of transit passage through such straits is absolute. This meeting is being followed up by a further meeting today, which will, inter alia, consider possible measures to secure transport following a potential ceasefire or peace agreement. Participation in military operations in the Strait of Hormuz while the war is ongoing is not an option.

As a maritime nation, Norway and Norwegian shipping interests are affected by the war and by Iran's unacceptable obstruction of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. We are in close contact with the Norwegian Shipowners' Association and other Norwegian businesses to assist them in managing the consequences, both those we are already seeing and those we could expect in the event of further escalation. We are also working with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on how we can assist ships and seafarers stranded inside the strait.

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General Secretariat statement on storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al-Sharif

League of Arab States

Date: 07/04/2026

The General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, Palestine and Occupied Arab Territories Sector, strongly condemns the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif by the Israeli Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, under the protection of Israeli occupation forces. This act constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, a dangerous escalation, and an unacceptable provocation to the sentiments of Muslims worldwide, as well as a violation of the sanctity of holy sites.

The Secretariat stresses that such conduct reflects a deliberate approach aimed at entrenching an unlawful situation in occupied Jerusalem and imposing a fait accompli by force, in clear defiance of international legal norms and relevant international legitimacy resolutions, which affirm the nullity of any measures intended to alter the legal and historical status of Jerusalem and its holy sites.

It further asserts that these practices contravene the provisions of international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, which obliges the occupying power to respect and protect religious sites and to guarantee freedom of worship. They also constitute a breach of Israel's obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions, notably resolutions 252 (1968), 476 (1980), and 2334 (2016), all of which affirm the illegality of any changes to the status of Jerusalem.

The General Secretariat also warns of the consequences of the continuation of such policies, which are liable to undermine stability and exacerbate tensions in the region, affirming that any infringement of the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque represents a crossing of a red line that affects the city's identity and its religious and historical standing. It reiterates that East Jerusalem is occupied territory and that all Israeli measures therein are null and void under international law.

The Secretariat calls upon the international community to act urgently, assume its responsibilities, and take practical steps to halt these violations, provide the necessary protection for the Palestinian people and their holy sites, and ensure compliance with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions.

In this context, the General Secretariat reaffirms that achieving security and stability in the region remains contingent upon ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

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The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mr. Tom Berendsen, speaking at a press briefing held Tuesday in Rabat following his meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, stated that "the Netherlands considers that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the most feasible solution" to the dispute over the Sahara.

Morocco Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Tuesday 07 April 2026

This position was also affirned in a Joint Communique issued following talks between Mr. Bourita and Mr. Berendsen, who is on a working visit to Morocco on April 7 and 8.

Mr. Berendsen further reaffirmed the Netherlands' support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, as well as for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, to "facilitate and conduct negotiations based on the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco, with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution."

Moreover, according to the Joint Communique, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that "the Netherlands will act in line with its position, including at the diplomatic and economic levels, in accordance with international law."



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NATO Allies Demonstrate Deterrence and Assurance during exercise Cobra Warrior

NATO Allied Air Command

Apr 7 2026

RAMSTEIN, Germany -- The Royal Air Force (RAF) is hosted its biannual exercise, Cobra Warrior 2026-1 (COWA26-1), the United Kingdom's premier tactical air training event. This high-end exercise brings together Allied air forces to refine collective defence strategies and enhance multinational integration within an increasingly complex security environment.

COWA26-1 is deliberately designed to challenge participants across the high-end spectrum of warfighting. It serves as the culmination of rigorous preparation, ensuring that NATO nations' air forces remain integrated, adaptable, and capable of addressing mutual security challenges globally. The primary objective of COWA26-1 is to advance joint mission planning and tactical execution within a Composite Air Operation (COMAO) environment. By hosting German and Polish Allies, the exercise provides a critical platform to synchronize Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) against a peer-competitor adversary. Beyond technical proficiency, Cobra Warrior serves as a high-level leadership incubator. The program is specifically tailored to produce elite Mission Commanders (MC) and Functional Team Leaders (FTL), trained to execute Mission Command effectively within coalition operations, ensuring that NATO's command structure remains resilient, decentralized, and lethal.

"Training with our Allies in such a demanding environment is immensely valuable," said Group Captain Robertson, Exercise Director.

"It enables participants to develop and practise the leadership skills required to synchronise multi-platform air manoeuvres with cross-domain effects in a multinational setting. This level of training is essential to sustaining our operational advantage," Robertson concluded.

The exercise stands as a testament to the consistent, steadfast commitment and contribution to NATO's collective defence. COWA26 showcases the overall intent to maintain warfighting excellence alongside strategic Allies, further reinforcing the operational vigilance that underpins the 'Eastern Sentry' framework. Through constant refinement and shared lessons learned, Cobra Warrior ensures that Allied air forces remain a capable, credible, and prepared force. By demonstrating these robust deterrence and assurance capabilities, NATO Allies send a clear message of unity and readiness to respond to any threat against the Alliance's integrity, bridging tactical excellence with the persistent regional security objectives of the Eastern Flank.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office

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OIC Media Observatory on Israeli Crimes Against Palestinians Issues 123rd Report, Documenting 113 Attacks and Settlement Activities in the West Bank in One Week

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

07-04-2026

The OIC Media Observatory on Israeli Crimes Against Palestinians recorded 23 Palestinians killed and 100 wounded between March 31 and April 6, 2026. This brings the total number of Palestinian martyrs and wounded since October 7, 2023, to 73,445, and the total number of wounded to 182,657. The number of Israeli crimes in the Palestinian territories reached 1,272 during this period. Israeli occupation forces continued their bombardment of various areas in the Gaza Strip.

The OIC Media Observatory's report also documented 113 attacks and settlement activities in the West Bank in one week. Israeli occupation forces raided West Bank cities and villages 488 times over the course of a week, arresting 147 Palestinians. They also continued to close the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for the 37th consecutive day, while allowing settlers to celebrate their religious holidays. Settlers carried out 98 attacks and 15 settlement activities in a single week, and released their livestock 17 times across six Palestinian governorates. Meanwhile, the occupation authorities announced a detailed plan targeting 170,000 square meters of land belonging to Bedouin communities in Abu Dis, near Al-Quds (Jerusalem), for settlement expansion.

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'Pure evil': US lawmakers decry Trump for his 'civilization will die' bluster against Iran

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 5:14 PM

Democratic members of Congress and other US politicians have sharply condemned the inflammatory threats by US President Donald Trump against Iran and its civil infrastructure.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump said on the Truth Social platform on Tuesday morning.

American politicians described Trump's comments as reckless, illegal, and a dangerous escalation against a proud ancient civilization that will send the region into catastrophe.

"This is an extremely sick person. Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is," Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer said.

Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries demanded an immediate halt to the war of aggression against Iran, which could turn into World War III.

"Congress must immediately end this reckless war of choice in Iran before Donald Trump plunges us into World War III. It's time for every single Republican to put patriotic duty over party and stop the madness. Enough," Jeffries said.

Congressman Jason Crow said that Trump reckless remarks about "elimination of a civilization is a war crime."

"As I've repeatedly said, our military must only follow lawful orders. Every American of good conscience must repudiate this."

Congressman Jim McGovern said, "This is pure evil. The President of the United States' genocidal threat to commit war crimes is illegal under federal & international law."

Independent Senator Bernie Sanders said that "Trump's deranged threats to wipe out Iran's infrastructure and civilization are the ravings of a warmonger."

"Millions of innocent Iraniansfamilies, children, and elders in one of the world's oldest culturesshould not pay the price for his ego and endless provocation. We must de-escalate, pursue diplomacy, and reject this illegal march toward disaster."

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez branded Trump's threats against Iranian civilian infrastructure as "barbarism."

"Threatening to destroy power plants, bridges, and an entire civilization isn't strengthit's barbarism. Iran has every right to defend its sovereignty and its people against aggression. The US should be working toward peace and justice in the region, not bombing civilians to appease Trump's bloodlust. This madness ends now."

Senator Elizabeth Warren said, "Donald Trump is playing with fire by targeting Iran's critical civilian infrastructure. This isn't leadership; it's a reckless gamble that could collapse economies, spike global oil prices, and cause untold suffering for ordinary Iranians who deserve security, not annihilation. Congress must act to restrain this administration before it's too late."

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib vowed to stand with the Iranian nation against US imperialism

"From the river to the sea, but also here: Trump's genocidal rhetoric against Iran exposes the hypocrisy of those who lecture about human rights while threatening to erase a nation's future. We stand with the Iranian people against US imperialism and warmongering. No more wars for empire."

Senator Chris Murphy said violates all existing humanitarian laws and norms.

"These threats aren't just unhingedthey violate every principle of international law and basic morality. Iran's civilization has survived millennia; it won't be erased by one man's tantrum. We need immediate congressional action to block funding for this illegal operation and return to diplomacy that respects Iran's right to exist and thrive."

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard said, "Trump's comments reveal a dangerous obsession with regime change and destruction rather than genuine peace. The Iranian people have suffered enough from sanctions and conflict. Escalating to threats of civilizational destruction only empowers hardliners and hurts innocents. America should lead with restraint, not recklessness."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also warned the US that attacks on civilian infrastructure are banned under international law, according to his spokesperson.

Such cases are notoriously difficult to prosecute, and Trump told reporters he's "not at all" concerned about committing war crimes.

The United States and Israel initiated a large-scale and unprovoked military offensive against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders despite indirect Tehran-Washington negotiations on Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

In response, the Iranian Armed Forces have carried out waves of retaliatory missile and drone operations against US interests across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

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Ansarullah stresses independence of its decision to act against Israeli-American aggression

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 10:54 AM

Yemeni resistance movement Ansarullah says its solidarity strikes in support of Iran and fellow regional resistance groups are motivated by its resolve to confront the Israeli scheme targeting the region, and not based on anyone's request.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a member of the Supreme Political Council of the Yemeni popular resistance movement, made the remarks to CNN on Monday.

"Our stance is part of confronting the catastrophic Zionist plan, not based on anyone's request," he said, pointing to Tel Aviv's so-called "Greater Israel" scheme that intends to expand the areas under the Israeli regime's occupation across the West Asia region.

Sana'a announced its official entrance into the battlefield on March 28, a month into the launch of the United States' and the Israeli regime's latest bout of unprovoked aggression targeting the Islamic Republic and regional resistance groups, including those based in Lebanon and Iraq.

The war was launched following widely reported incitement by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who travelled to the US ahead of schedule in advance on a widely reported agenda to make sure Washington would join Tel Aviv in the aggression.

The Yemeni official said the problems facing the region were rooted in the Israeli and American actions that were aimed at implementing the Israeli plot to target all the peoples of the region.

Al-Houthi warned that the regime was "driving the world toward destruction" and was using the US to achieve its goals.

US advised to 'abandon 'Israel First' approach'

He urged the United States to consider its own interests in the region and to abandon "the aggressive path dictated by Zionism," adding that such a decision would benefit Washington itself, the entire world, and the region.

"My advice to America is to stop its hostile policies toward our nation, free itself from Zionist control, and abandon the 'Israel First' approach."

'Yemen to prevent military use of Red Sea against Muslim nations'

Referring to the scope of the Yemeni solidarity campaign, he stressed that the country aimed to prevent the military use of the Red Sea against any Muslim nation.

Yemen would remain committed to its ceasefire deal with the US "as long as the other party stops its aggression," he added.

"There is no intention to target any Muslim country except to repel aggression against Yemen."

The remarks came after Ansarullah said targeting vessels belonging to hostile parties and their allies in the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait was an option.

Observers interpreted al-Houthi's remarks as an indication of the potential resumption of Sana'a's strikes against Israeli and American vessels and its likely pending targeting of ships belonging to the states that aid Tel Aviv and Washington in their ongoing atrocities.

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US bases in Iraq, Syria come under drone attacks by resistance fighters

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 7:24 AM

Fighters from regional resistance groups have reportedly carried out operations against American bases in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the ongoing US-Israeli onslaught against Iran, and acts of aggression elsewhere in the West Asia region.

According to Iraqi media outlets, the Harir Airbase in Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region was struck with an unmanned aerial vehicle in the early hours of Tuesday.

There was no immediate information about possible casualties and the extent of damage caused.

No group has claimed responsibility for the retaliatory attack yet.

This comes as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced in a statement that it had launched at least 11 strikes against bases accommodating US occupation troops in Iraq and throughout the region in the past 24 hours, using kamikaze drones.

In a related development, multiple powerful explosions ripped through the US-run military facility in the Qasrak district of Syria's northeastern province of Hasakah, after the installation was bombed by a number of armed drones.

Iraqi NTV television channel asserted that the attack had been carried out by Iraqi resistance groups, without specifically naming the responsible movement.

For their part, Syrian news agencies said a number of US military aircraft scrambled to confront the intruding drones, but to no avail.

Tensions have been soaring ever since the United States and Israel initiated a bloody onslaught against Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking military commanders.

The aggression has comprised a series of intensive strikes on both military installations and civilian facilities throughout Iran, leading to considerable loss of life and widespread damage to infrastructure.

In response, Iranian Armed Forces have carried out waves of retaliatory missile and drone operations against US interests across West Asia and Israeli positions in the occupied territories.

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PNG-Australia defense treaty creates jobs, risks amid rising China influence

Six months on, many youth see opportunity, but others warn 'Pukpuk' pact could draw PNG into Pacific tensions.

By Harlyne Joku for RFA

2026.04.07

Port Moresby, PAPUA NEW GUINEA -- Six months after Papua New Guinea and Australia signed a bilateral defense treaty, public opinion in PNG remains divided, with some telling Radio Free Asia that they like that the pact creates opportunities for youth, and others saying that they worry about potentially being drawn into a larger conflict between the West and China.

Unofficially named the Pukpuk Treaty, after the Tok Pisin word for "crocodile," it is Port Moresby's first mutual defense pact and it draws the two regional allies closer together in an era of increasing Chinese influence in the Pacific.

Beyond the nuts and bolts of coordination and cooperation during crises, the pact also allows 10,000 Papua New Guineans to join the Australian Defense Force, or ADF, and become eligible for Aussie citizenship.

Supporters of the treaty say that in a country where 58% of the people are under 25 and, according to World Bank data 3.8% youth unemployment, the opportunity is too great to ignore.

"I agree with the Pukpuk Pact. It is an employment opportunity for our ever increasing youths who can't be employed after leaving school," John Kau, a former colonel in the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, or PNGDF, told RFA. "Our country's leaders have no idea on how to mitigate the lack of jobs for the school leavers."

Kau said that it would be good for young Papua New Guineans to take on Australian citizenship because earning an Australian salary would enable them to take care of their extended families.

But he also understood that the treaty means that Papua New Guineans could be called on by Australia in the event of war.

"I have no problem as long as it is a just cause," said Kau.

The citizenship for service agreement was a major selling point of the Pukpuk pact. Shortly after the treaty was announced in August 2025, Papua New Guinea's Defense Minister Billy Joseph told Australian media that there was "a very big pool" of young Papua New Guineans "and Australia can have as many as they want."

He added that recruitment would take place at regional centers and in the capital Port Moresby.

Divided opinion

But on the streets of Port Moresby, not everyone is lining up to enlist. Chris Pole, a young Papua New Guinean, told RFA that he found it hard to believe that the treaty would allow 10,000 Papua New Guineans to join the Australian military, especially when the PNGDF has only 4,000 personnel.

"The Pukpuk recruitment alone will outnumber the PNGDF size, so if there is a war, definitely Australia will use Papua New Guineans as pawns," he said, noting that pawns in a game of chess are often sacrificed to protect more valuable pieces. "Papua New Guineans will be sought out first when there is a war and put on the front line if Australia decides to support the United States in a war against China."

Australia also has a mutual defense agreement with the U.S. and New Zealand through the 1951 ANZUS Treaty, and Washington entered into a defense cooperation agreement with Port Moresby in 2023.

Pole called on the country to remain in its traditional neutral foreign policy stance of being "friends to all, enemies to none."

But Bosco Bothoa, another young Papua New Guinean, told RFA he would love to serve if it meant he would become an Australian.

"I definitely would want to be a citizen of Australia as stated in the pact, of course," he said. "In Australia there is better standard of living than in PNG and the salary would be higher."

But Bothoa also understood the responsibilities that could come with enlisting and acquiring a new citizenship. When asked if he would be prepared to fight if war erupts in the Pacific, he said, "War is not the ultimate solution," but if it happens, "then we will have to serve our country as citizens of Australia."

Bothoa and others who want to enlist might have to wait though. In a Facebook post on Jan. 4, the PNG Ministry of Defense advised that the first phase of recruitment under the plan would only be open to Papua New Guinean citizens who have permanent residency status in Australia. Phase two would start at a later date and include applicants living in Papua New Guinea.

The PNGDF told RFA that the recruitment process has not yet been finalized, and it remains under consultation.

Mutually beneficial

The Pukpuk treaty is a win-win, according to the Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies. In an article published shortly after the treaty was signed, the think tank said that the treaty deepens the relationship between the two countries, and that enlisting Papua New Guineans into the ADF would be good for both sides.

"Given the ADF's recruitment challenges and PNG's undermanned defense forces, the arrangement offers clear benefits for both nations," the article said. "As a mutual defense treaty, the Pukpuk Treaty stands as both a continuation of previous aspects of the Australian-PNG relationship but also constitutes a fundamental change in the depth of that relationship."

But the treaty might be at odds with Papua New Guinea's constitution, Jerry Singirok, a Papua New Guinean former two-star general who is now a defense strategist, told RFA.

"Regardless of how best the Papua New Guinea government want to justify the integration of a foreign force, our constitution does not provide for military integration with a foreign power," He said. "The PNG Defence Force is mandated to serve the sovereign interest of PNG and any arrangement that embeds PNGDF with the Australia's Defence Force or aligns PNG's military doctrine with Australia,'s could be seen as undermining PNG's national sovereignty, violating the principle of non alignment which PNG had historically upheld."

He said that barring an amendment to the constitution, the legality of the Pukpuk Treaty could be challenged in court.

Prior to the treaty's signing, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea said that China "adheres to the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs," adding that the treaty should not prevent Port Moresby from cooperating with a third party nor should the treaty target a third party or undermine its "legitimate interests."

The treaty does not mention China by name.

Edited by Eugene Whong.

Update corrects the given name of Col. Kau.

Copyright 1998-2026, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2026 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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EU Groups Looking At Energy-Saving Measures In Response To Iran War Crisis

By Rikard Jozwiak April 07, 2026

Key European Union oil and gas groups will hold meetings this week as countries around the bloc scramble to deal with the impact of the US-Israel-led war with Iran on energy prices and supplies.

European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told a news briefing on April 7 the oil coordination group will meet on April 8, while the gas group will convene the following day.

The EU is facing energy-saving measures such as reduced air travel, highway speed limits, and work-from-home directives as the war has resulted in the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, the transit corridor for about 20 percent of the world's oil and gas.

Last month the bloc's energy ministers held an emergency meeting, and while no concrete measures were agreed upon the European commissioner for energy, Dan Jorgensen, promised that Brussels would soon be announcing a package of EU-level measures.

According to EU officials familiar with the file who spoke to RFE/RL on the condition of anonymity, these measures might include more flexible state aid rules for energy companies as well as a push for more renewables and nuclear energy.

They also could potentially include more drastic emergency moves -- similar to when Russia launched its full-scale attack on Ukraine in early 2022 -- such as an EU-wide cap on gas prices and taxation of energy companies' windfall profits.

The 27-nation bloc is already bracing for a big economic hit if the war drags on. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters last week that the burden on the EU's economy might be as heavy as it was during the Covid-19 pandemic or first few months of the Ukraine war.

Ahead of the meeting of energy ministers, Jorgensen wrote a letter to member states, seen by RFE/RL, in which he stated that "while the direct exposure of the EU to supply from the region prior to the conflict is limited, we are depending on global markets for our fossil fuels supply in direct competition with other consumers."

Countries including Italy, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and France have already adopted various measures to mitigate the impact of the sharp jump in prices and choking of supplies resulting from the Iran war.

While Europe has diversified in recent years with most imports instead coming from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Norway and the United States, the increased global demand from dwindling supplies have meant prices at the pump have surged in the EU, as well.

But the EU is also more dependent on so-called refined petroleum products, meaning materials derived from crude oil through processing, such as diesel, asphalt, and especially kerosene, which is essential for modern jet engines with 40 percent of supplies coming from the Persian Gulf.

Jorgensen's letter says a shortage of these products is of "particular concern in the short term" and suggests "member states are invited to consider the promotion of demand saving measures, in accordance with their contingency plans, with particular attention to the transport sector."

Some airlines have already signaled they may reduce the number of flights on certain routes. The last kerosene shipments that passed through the Strait of Hormuz before its closure are due to arrive in Europe next week.

The letter references the International Energy Agency's (IEA) recent 10-point recommendation, which include energy reduction costs such as working from home, reduced air travel, carsharing, alternate private car access to roads, lowering the speed limit by 10 kilometers per hour, and discouraging the use of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) when cooking.

Additionally, the letter also urges member states to defer any non-emergency refinery maintenance and to increase the uptake of biofuels to replace fossil fuels.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-energy- saving-measures-iran-war/33726812.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Defence Minister's meeting with the American delegation of Aero Precision Association

Romania - Ministry of National Defence

Press release No. 67

07.04.2026

On Tuesday, April 7, Minister of National Defence, Radu Miruta, had a meeting, at the MoND headquarters, with representatives of the American delegation of Aero Precision Association, made up of the American companies Aero Precision, Arch Precision and Horus Vision Defense, as part of institutional efforts to enhance cooperation in the defence industry field.

During the talks, the officials analyzed the portfolio of military products presented by the Aero Precision Association, as well as the potential for initiating joint projects, with emphasis on the development of domestic production, the know-how transfer and the integration of the national defence industry into global supply chains.

The importance of these types of cooperation was also emphasized in the context in which Romania has been implementing a complex modernization process of its armed forces in order to achieve the objectives undertaken at Allied level, given the commitment to substantially increase the budget allocated to defence in the coming years, as decided at the NATO Summit in The Hague, in 2025.

Minister of National Defence emphasized the importance of collaborating with the United States companies to modernize the armed forces' capabilities, given the increasing degree of production relocation to Romania.

"Partnerships with the American industry can substantially contribute to the development of the national defence industrial base, while also supporting an enhanced Allied interoperability," Radu Miruta said.

The meeting is part of the series of consultations held by the Ministry of National Defence leadership with representatives of industry and international companies interested in initiating collaboration projects in Romania.





The Press Office

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Saudi Arabia Strongly Condemns Recent Incursion into Courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israeli Occupation Minister

Saudi Press Agency

Tuesday 19/10/1447

Riyadh, April 07, 2026, SPA -- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strongest condemnation of the recent incursion into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque by an Israeli occupation minister, who was accompanied by occupation forces. The Kingdom categorically rejected Israel's ongoing violations of international law, its disrespect for the sanctity of Islamic holy sites, and its provocation of Muslims worldwide.

In a statement, the Kingdom emphasized the necessity for the international community to fulfill its responsibility to stop all Israeli violations and transgressions against the Palestinian people, as well as against the holy and historical sites in occupied Palestine. It called for respect for the historical and legal status of Al-Aqsa Mosque and urged accountability for the occupation regarding these repeated and egregious actions.

-- SPA

14:43 Local Time 11:43 GMT

0022

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Attack on Caspian Pipeline Consortium Facilities not Ukraine's First - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20260407

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Ukrainian attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) facility in Russia's Novorossiysk is not Kiev's first attempt to strike at its infrastructure, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.

"It is obvious that the strikes took place. Here, of course, the main primary source is our military, who made the relevant statement. We know that this is not the first time that the Kiev regime has attacked the CPC infrastructure. This important international pipeline has already suffered many times," Peskov told reporters.

On Monday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Kiev carried out an overnight attack with drones on the facilities of the international oil transportation company Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) at a marine transshipment complex in Novorossiysk. Ukrainian UAVs also attacked the civilian infrastructure of the city of Novorossiysk, including apartment buildings and private residential buildings, as a result of which civilians, including children, were injured.

Russia is negotiating on providing energy supplies abroad to ensure that the situation best suits Moscow's interests, Peskov said.

"We are negotiating [on the issue of energy supplies abroad] in such a way that this situation best suits our interests," Peskov told reporters, commenting on the situation in the energy sector.

There is a huge number of requests for the purchase of Russian energy resources in the world, the spokesman added.

"Now that the world has definitely embarked on the path of an economic and energy crisis, a rather serious one, the scale of which is growing day by day, then, of course, the market and market conditions in the field of energy and energy resources have completely changed," Peskov said.

Other Statements:

Russia is negotiating the supply of energy resources for rubles to ensure that the terms best serve Moscow's interests

The global energy market has completely changed against the backdrop of the current Middle East conflict

The world has entered a path toward a serious economic and energy crisis

 Sputnik

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US Democrat Congresswoman Announces Plans to Impeach Pentagon Chief Over Iran Operation

Sputnik News

20260407

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - US Democratic Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari said that she plans to launch impeachment proceedings against US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth over his handling of the Iran operation.

Democratic senators had previously highlighted Hegseth's overtly dismissive attitude on the use of force.

"Only Congress has the power to declare war, not a rogue president or his lackeys. Hegseth's reckless endangerment of U.S. servicemembers and repeated war crimes, including bombing a girls' school in Minab, Iran and willfully targeting civilian infrastructure, are grounds for impeachment and removal from office," Ansari said on Monday.

Ansari intends to kick off the impeachment process next week, the Axios portal reported.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including in Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.

The US and Israel initially claimed their "preemptive" attack was necessary to counter the perceived threat coming from Iran's nuclear program, but they soon made it clear that they want to see a change of power in Iran.

 Sputnik

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Election of Vietnamese President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung

US Department of State

Press Statement

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

April 7, 2026

The United States congratulates To Lam on his dual appointment as President, as well as Le Minh Hung on his election as Prime Minister. The United States greatly values our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, built on more than three decades of growing friendship, mutual respect, and shared interests. We appreciate Vietnam's close cooperation in advancing economic prosperity, expanding people-to-people ties, and working together to promote peace and stability in a free and open Indo-Pacific. We look forward to working closely with General Secretary and President To Lam, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, and the Government of Vietnam to promote peace and prosperity for both our peoples and to continue to make our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.

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Secretary Rubio's Meeting with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 7, 2026

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio met today with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters. They discussed the bilateral relationship, the ongoing conflict in Iran, cooperation on critical minerals supply chains, and advancing prosperity and security in the Pacific Islands region. Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Peters applauded the enduring friendship between New Zealand and the United States and reaffirmed their commitment to advancing shared interests and strategic priorities.

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Secretary Rubio's Meeting with Uzbekistan Head of the Presidential Administration Ms. Saida Mirziyoyeva

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 7, 2026

The below is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor met today with Uzbekistan Head of the Presidential Administration Ms. Saida Mirziyoyeva to advance the U.S.-Uzbekistan strategic partnership. Secretary Rubio and Ms. Mirziyoyeva enjoyed a fruitful discussion on concrete ways to deepen private sector investment cooperation between the United States and Uzbekistan in critical minerals, emerging technologies, and infrastructure. The United States welcomes the opportunity to expand its bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan, reinforce our mutually beneficial commercial and security partnerships, and support Uzbekistan's sovereignty and continued regional integration.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio and New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters Before Their Meeting

US Department of State

Remarks

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Colin L. Powell Treaty Room

Washington, D.C.

April 7, 2026

SECRETARY RUBIO: Thank you for coming.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, do you expect Iran to come to the table?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Hope we have more news later today on that.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, can you tell me what do you think about Cuba's president telling Newsweek that they'll strike back against the U.S. if the U.S. launches operations there?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Okay, sure, yeah. I don't think much about what he has to say.

QUESTION: So, Mr. Secretary, a message to other nations like New Zealand impacted by this war in Iran?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Yeah. The whole world's been impacted unfortunately because Iran is violating every law known by striking commercial vessels in the Straits of Hormuz, and it's a big problem for the world. I mean, this is a regime that doesn't believe in laws, rules, or anything like that. It's a state sponsor of terrorism, so it's not surprising that they're now conducting terrorist activity against commercial vessels.

So all right, thank you.

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Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General

Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York

7 April 2026

The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.

All right, good afternoon.

** Guests

We had scheduled to have Imran Riza, [the Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon], join us from Beirut, but given everything that is going on here, we don't want to overload you, so he will brief you tomorrow at 11 a.m., virtually, from Beirut, on the humanitarian situation, which, as you will hear, continues to be tragic.

** Rwanda

Today is the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. This year marks 32 years since one of the darkest chapters in human history. In 100 days, more than 1 million people were systematically killed, overwhelmingly Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide. Today, we honour the memory of those who were murdered and stand with the survivors.

This morning, a ceremony was held in the General Assembly Hall, organized by the Department of Global Communications in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Rwanda to the United Nations. Our Chef de Cabinet, Courtenay Rattray, delivered remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General, underscoring that the genocide shows where this path can lead, when words are weaponized and the world waits too long to respond.

The Secretary-General stressed that we must do more than remember the dead; we must protect the living by defending truth and rejecting the narratives that make violence seem acceptable. He called on all countries to become parties to the Genocide Convention without delay and to implement it fully.

** Lebanon

We have been promising you the results, at least the preliminary results, of the investigation that led to the killing or a number of our peacekeeping colleagues in Lebanon, and I can tell you that, regarding the incidents that took place on 29 and 30 March, which tragically took the lives of three of our brave peacekeepers from Indonesia  and as a reminder, there were Major Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, First Sergeant Muhammad Nur Ichwan and Corporal Farizal Rhomadon  I can share with you the preliminary findings of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) at this stage.

We have shared those findings with the Government of Indonesia, Israel and Lebanon. Regarding the first incident on 29 March, based on the available evidence, including analysis of the impact site and notably the fragments of the projectile discovered in UN position known as 7-1, the projectile was a 120-millimetre tank main armament round, fired by an Israel Defense Forces Merkava tank from the east, in the direction of Ett Taibe. It is recalled that, to mitigate the risk to UN personnel, UNIFIL had again provided the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with the coordinates of all of our positions and all of our facilities. And that had been done both on 6 March and 22 March.

With reference to the incident on 30 March, based on the available evidence, including the analysis of the site of the explosion, the impacted vehicle and a second improvised explosive device (IED) that was discovered nearby on the same day, that explosion, we can say, was caused by a victim-activated, which is a tripwire IED. The investigation has assessed that, given the location of the incident, and the nature of the explosion, and the current context, the IED was most likely placed by Hizbullah.

Allow me to reiterate that these are preliminary findings, based on initial physical evidence. The full investigation processes of the UN continue, including required procedures and engagement with the parties concerned to understand the full extent and circumstances amidst the ongoing hostilities, and Boards of Inquiry will be convened in both cases, in accordance with established UN procedures.

Once again, we reiterate our deepest condolences to the families of the fallen peacekeepers and the Government and people of Indonesia. And I know you all join me in wishing for a full recovery to all those injured in these and other incidents.

These incidents are unacceptable. We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. Attacks on UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law. All actors must adhere to their obligations to ensure the safety and security of the UN peacekeepers at all times. The inviolability of UN installations must also be respected.

** United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

Meanwhile, on the ground, I can tell you that we remain deeply concerned by the ongoing escalation between Hizbullah and Israeli Defense Forces. UNIFIL peacekeepers report in their area of operations continued exchanges of rocket and artillery fire, air strikes and clashes on the ground, alongside an increased presence of IDF assets and forces inside Lebanese territory. UNIFIL personnel recorded a high volume of artillery and rocket fire across the area of operations, with kinetic activity concentrated around Sector West and Sector East.

Yesterday, UNIFIL peacekeepers encountered two incidents of aggressive behaviour and interference in their mandated activities. In Sector West, a logistics convoy was blocked on a road south Bayyadah by IDF forces who fired warning shots, forcing our convoy to return to base. Later yesterday [evening] in Sector East, a second UNIFIL convoy was stopped at a roadblock southeast of Taibe and threatened by IDF personnel, who forced the peacekeepers out of their vehicles to inspect the contents, and they seized two UNIFIL radios before compelling the IDF unit to vacate the area.

Once again, any intimidation or any interference in the Mission's Security Council-mandated tasks must stop immediately. We continue to call on all sides to avail themselves of diplomatic channels, cease hostilities and recommit to the full implementation of resolution 1701 (2006). We have been exercising our good offices at all levels on this issue.

** Lebanon/Humanitarian

Meanwhile, on the humanitarian front, from which you will hear a bit more tomorrow from our colleague Imran Riza, given the extremely deteriorating humanitarian situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners continue to support the Government of Lebanon in sustaining essential health services. To date, nearly 70,000 health consultations have been provided, including more than 800 for pre- and post-natal care. More than 51,000 patients have received medication, and our partners have supported nearly 300 hospitalizations, including deliveries of newborns.

Our humanitarian colleagues on the ground continue to report attacks on healthcare facilities, which have devastating consequences. Since 2 March, the World Health Organization has recorded 100 attacks on healthcare facilities, resulting in 54 deaths and 145 injuries among active healthcare workers. These incidents put frontline workers at extreme risk and discourage people from seeking care. That has obviously serious consequences for public health. We cannot underscore this enough: international humanitarian law is clear  medical facilities and personnel must be respected at all times.

** Occupied Palestinian Territory

Heading south to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) tell us that we and our partners in Gaza continue to do our utmost to respond to people's needs in the face of persistent impediments and risks.

You will have seen that the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros [Adhanom Ghebreyesus], has confirmed that a person contracted to provide services to WHO was killed yesterday. He said that WHO suspended the medical evacuation of patients from Gaza through Rafah to Egypt until further notice. The incident is under investigation. Dr. Tedros called for the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers, and reminded us that peace is actually the best medicine.

Meanwhile, our colleagues working on mine action tell us that last week, they carried out nearly 70 assessments of explosive hazards to support debris removal and humanitarian operations by our agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). They also reached nearly 12,000 people across the Gaza Strip with information on the risks posed by explosive ordnance. However, they still cannot carry out the full range of explosive ordnance disposal activities, largely because some of the required equipment has not been allowed in. OCHA says that a wider range of essential items must also be allowed into Gaza to expand services and to reduce risks to aid workers and other civilians.

** Sudan

Turning to Sudan: We and our partners are delivering essential supplies to displacement sites and currently the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and WHO are supporting vaccination campaigns in the Kordofan region, following a similar campaign in Darfur that was carried out back in February.

We are concerned that rising measles cases in crowded sites for displaced people are further straining already fragile health, water and sanitation [systems]. Our partners are responding, but insecurity, fuel shortages and damaged infrastructure make operations extremely difficult.

Those efforts have been further hampered by the recent destruction of a warehouse for health supplies in White Nile State, which has disrupted the delivery of critical medicine, as well as acute fuel shortages in South Kordofan delaying services and driving up costs.

At the same time, escalating violence in several parts of the country is driving new waves of displacement. In Blue Nile State, thousands of people have been forced from their homes in recent weeks. Some have crossed into Ethiopia, while others shelter in schools, public buildings and informal sites.

The International Organization of Migration (IOM) estimates that over 28,000 people have been displaced since mid-January because of clashes, including more than 4,000 people just in the past 10 days. Those arriving in the state capital, Damazine, face acute shortages of food, healthcare and shelter, and heightened risks of violence and abuse, particularly for women and [children].

Insecurity has also cut off key supply routes, including the road between the cities of Rahad and Dilling, disrupting both the delivery of humanitarian aid and commercial goods deliveries. We have seen the reports about the reopening of the road between Dilling and North Kordofan. However, the situation remains highly fluid, with fighting reported in recent hours. Civilians remain under threat, and sustained access for humanitarian assistance remains critical.

Despite these challenges, we and our partners are continuing to respond, but the situation underscores the urgent need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure in line with international humanitarian law. We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all those in need. Meanwhile, the Secretary-General's Personal Envoy for Sudan, Pekka Haavisto, continues his consultations. He is still currently in Nairobi.

** Abyei

In Abyei, an encouraging display of cooperation signals hope for stability. Leaders from the Ngok Dinka and Misseriya communities have signed a Declaration of Intent with the UN Interim [Security] Force for Abyei (UNISFA), and that is to curb the spread of weapons in the disputed region. The agreement underscores a shared commitment with UNISFA to support a weapons-free Abyei, including efforts to remove unauthorized armed elements and advance community-led peace initiatives. UNISFA stresses that dialogue, not arms, remains the only viable path to disputes and remains committed to supporting inclusive efforts to strengthen security and stability for all communities.

** Deputy Secretary-General

Our Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, is in Nigeria, where she has begun high-level engagements with senior Government officials to strengthen cooperation on sustainable development, peace and security, and humanitarian priorities. Her visit provides an opportunity to assess the wider impacts of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including its ripple effects on energy, livelihoods and economic stability, and to highlight how strengthened public-private sector collaboration is helping to cushion these shocks and support resilience.

Yesterday, she and our UN colleagues in Nigeria visited Dangote Industries in Lagos to see firsthand the impacts on fuel prices, fertilizer supply, agricultural livelihoods, as well as economic stability. At a time when fertilizer supply has been disrupted and higher fuel costs are straining the transport of produce to markets, Nigeria's production capacity demonstrates how public-private collaboration can help cushion shocks, sustain livelihoods and strengthen resilience. While there, the Deputy Secretary-General also met with Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and discussed, among other matters, women's leadership and representation, including the Special Seats Bill for women in Parliament, as well as UN support for advancing these priorities.

Yesterday, she also participated virtually in the informal meeting of the plenary on the UN80 Initiative, where she updated Member States on the preliminary findings of the merger assessment of UN-Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). This week, at the invitation of the Executive Governors, she will travel to Benue and Zamfara States. These regions continue to face significant challenges, including insecurity, climate-related pressures and disruptions to livelihoods. In both states, she will engage with senior government authorities and affected communities, while observing firsthand the work of the UN in supporting livelihoods, building resilience and advancing sustainable development at the local level. She will be back here on Sunday.

** Democratic Republic of the Congo

A quick update from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where on Sunday, in Ituri, our UN peacekeepers responded to an attack by the CRP [Convention for Popular Revolution] armed group on a Congolese army position in Lodha and they repelled the armed group. The United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) also established a position at a nearby junction, preventing any further advance toward the site for displaced people in Lodha.

In this part of the country, peacekeepers continue to repel attacks by armed groups, notably by the CRP [Convention for Popular Revolution] and the CODECO [Cooperative for Development of the Congo] armed group. Between the end of March and this Sunday, they responded to attacks against civilians across eight localities, as well as two sites hosting displaced people.

To strengthen rapid response, deploy robust patrols and provide shelter to displaced persons, the Mission has set up six mobile operating bases in Djugu and Irumu Territories since 22 March. Over the past year, the Mission has provided temporary shelter and protection to nearly 10,000 civilians across Ituri Province in line with its protection of civilians mandate.

** Ukraine

A quick update from Ukraine, where our humanitarian colleagues tell us that, this morning, a strike on a public bus in the city of Nikopol, in the Dnipro region, killed several people and injured a dozen others. This is according to what local authorities are telling us.

Our Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, again stressed that, under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected as they go about their daily lives. Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that civilians were also impacted in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia. Our humanitarian partners responded in Nikopol and in the Kherson by providing first aid, psychological support and evacuations of injured to hospitals. In Kherson, they also provided emergency shelter materials.

** Haiti

Closer to here, in Haiti, our humanitarian colleagues tell us that the recent violence we told you about in the Artibonite department has now triggered a new wave of displacement. Not surprisingly, sadly. According to the latest estimates from the International Organization for Migration, more than 13,000 people have been displaced in the impacted areas. Most of them, four out of five, have sought shelter with host families, while the rest have settled in 16 displacement sites. Together with authorities and our partners, OCHA is supporting people in need, but access constraints and limited resources continue to hamper the humanitarian response.

** Mediterranean Shipwrecks

Just to keep focuses on a tragic situation which remains underreported, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) today said that more than 180 people are feared dead or missing in the latest Mediterranean shipwrecks, with total deaths in 2026 now nearing 1,000. This makes it one of the deadliest starts to a year since 2014. IOM notes that in the Central Mediterranean alone, around 765 people have died this year, over 460 more than during the same period of 2025. This is an increase of more than 150 per cent. IOM notes that search and rescue capacity remains insufficient, urging stronger coordination to save lives at sea and calling for expanded legal migration pathways to reduce reliance on dangerous crossings.

** World Health Day

Today is also World Health Day. This year's campaign, led by the WHO, is "Together for health. Stand with science.", highlighting the vital role of scientific collaboration and evidence-based action to protect the health of people, animals and the planet. Benno?

** Questions and Answers

Question : Thank you. So, if a country is bombing another country's civilian infrastructure, does that constitute a war crime?

Spokesman : I think we've been very clear that that is a clear violation of international law.

Question : If the United States does that to Iran, would that be a war crime?

Spokesman : Look. I think Secretary-General is very troubled by the statements that we've heard yesterday and again this morning  statements suggesting that an entire people or an entire civilization may be made to bear the consequences of political and military decisions. There is no military objective that justifies the wholesale destruction of a society's infrastructure or the deliberate infliction of suffering on civilian populations. The Secretary-General reiterates that conflicts end when leaders choose dialogue over destruction, that choices still exist, and those choices must be made now. He calls for stepped up diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful way forward to the conflict in the Middle East. And as a reminder, Jean Arnault is traveling to the region to support these efforts, and I hope to have an update on his travels a bit later on today. And of course, again, simultaneously, the Secretary-General calls for freedom of navigation to be reestablished immediately in the Strait of Hormuz. And I think as he's told you recently, when the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, it is the world's poorest and most vulnerable that cannot breathe.

Question : You mentioned President [Donald J.] Trump's statement earlier today. The wording is obviously very extreme, and there's a lot of rumours around what it actually means, including if that means that he's ready to even, like, drop a nuclear bomb or something. In that regard, what's the SG's message?

Spokesman : Well, I mean, listen. I have no way of reading the intentions of world leaders more than you do. Obviously, we were deeply troubled by the statements, to say the least. We have repeatedly said here that destruction of civilian infrastructure, targeting of civilians, the threats are all violations of international law, international humanitarian law. What is a crime, what is not a crime will have to be determined once something takes place, and we very much hope that none of the threats that were verbalized will actually be implemented. Stefano?

Question : Yes. It's a follow-up. Last week, when the Secretary-General went to the stakeout, they did a statement. You told us that was not a response, a direct response to what President Trump has say that the evening before, that he had said basically the same phrase because saying that you will go back to the stone age is the same thing that say the end of a civilization. So, my question here is, last week, he didn't think he had to respond directly. Why he didn't respond directly, but just leave it to you this morning instead of going to the stakeout, the Secretary-General? Why didn't...?

Spokesman : The Secretary-General was not at stakeout this morning. I don't understand your question.

Question : No. I'm just saying that the Secretary-General, why he didn't call journalists, like he did the last week, and come to the stakeout and responded directly, like he didn't do it, according to your wording. He didn't do last week.

Spokesman : I speak for the Secretary-General. I'm here. I'm speaking to you. I will leave it to you to analyse and to read through the tea leaves. But, I'm reacting, I think, in a way that's as direct as we can be.

Question : And then a question. Does this...?

Spokesman : That was a question. Another question?

Question : Another? No. This is a direct question. Does the Secretary-General think that President Donald Trump is out of his mind?

Spokesman : I'm not going to answer that question. I think what we want what we all need is a return to sober dialogue, sober analysis and sober action. Namo?

Question : What is the Secretary-General's response to a drone strike that targeted a residential area in Erbil a few, like, hours ago, killing a young couple who had two children. And the attack, the KRG [Kurdistan Regional Government] says, was carried out by armed groups that are on Iraqi Government's payroll. And what's your response to Kurdish concerns that if the Government in Baghdad cannot or will not protect them, who will?

Spokesman : Look, I had seen those reports. If here was such a strike on civilian targets, we, of course, condemn it. And I think we've been very clear on calling out strikes on civilian targets, especially those that lead to the death of civilians. We have no doubt that the Government of Iraq will do what it can to protect all of its citizens.

Question : My name is Rei. I'm journalist with 21st Century Binsharo, born in China. So, my question is that, given the recent escalation of Iran and US conflicts, what is the Secretary-General's current position at this moment on the situation? Can you just briefly summarize it in one sentence?

Spokesman : On the current conflict? Well, I mean, I think I said it before  is that this conflict needs to end. Leaders need to choose dialogue over destruction, and he calls for stepped-up diplomatic efforts.

Question : And how can United Nations facilitate this dialogue?

Spokesman : As mentioned, Secretary-General is sending his Personal Envoy to the region. Jean Arnault is on his way there. I spoke to him just a few minutes ago. We should have an update on his efforts.

Question : Yeah. Just one more follow-up question. So, during geopolitical conflicts, developing countries are the most vulnerable countries [inaudible] hurt. So, what concrete steps can United Nations plan to take to improve global either financial or geopolitical stability?

Spokesman : Well, a couple of things. One, as you know, the Secretary-General launched, an initiative led by his head of the UN Office for Project Services, UNOPS, Jorge Moreira da Silva, to try to create a mechanism that would allow, at least, for the export of fertilizer and material needed for fertilizer out of the Strait Of Hormuz and for humanitarian goods to go in. For the last 10 days, Mr. Moreira da Silva has been deeply engaged in these discussions, as had the Secretary-General last week. Also, our country teams at the local level are working with governments to see what can be done and to help guide them in order to mitigate that impact. You're welcome. Mr. Avni?

Question : Since that door was open, two questions on war crimes. First of all, are threats can be considered war crime?

Spokesman : Listen. I don't pretend to be a lawyer at this podium. The threats, as you refer to, are referred to in Article II of the [UN] Charter, and I think the Secretary-General has called them out. We talk about the violations of international law. We talked about things being potential war crimes. What is a crime or what is not a crime will need to be determined by a court of law at some point. Your next question?

Question : So, the second question on the same issue is: Targeting civilian structures that also serve a military purpose, is that a war crime?

Spokesman : Look. All of these things will be analysed, I think I would refer you to what I said earlier this week about civilian targets that may have a military component that are overwhelmingly civilians cannot be targeted. Also, as we have said, we've called out in different conflicts, militaries should not be, and I use a non-legal term, hiding behind civilian infrastructure. So, you know, you're raising a lot of important issues, but what is clear is that when there is an open targeting for civilians, against civilian infrastructure, open targeting of energy sources that are used for civilian purposes, those we feel are violations of international law.

Question : Do civilian installations that are used for military purpose lose that kind of protection?

Spokesman : I think I would refer you to what I said yesterday on that issue. Noureen and then...

Question : Quickly on Mr. Arnault, I don't know if mentioned it already or not, but can you just tell us exactly where he is headed in the region?

Spokesman : I will ask you to expect a little bit of anticipation, and all will be relieved hopefully later today or tomorrow morning.

Question : I have a follow-up. Can we expect Mr. Arnault to speak to the press anytime soon?

Spokesman : I think we will share Mr. Arnault's location and the people he's meeting. I think he likely have a more substantive press briefing after he comes out of his initial consultations. Yes, please?

Question : Thank you, Steph. On the subject of UN-led initiatives for peace, we saw the Security Council fail to adopt a resolution today on the situation regarding the Strait of Hormuz. It seems that two different interpretations are emerging regarding the resolution's implications. You have a set of Member States contending that such a resolution would enhance maritime security and deter Iran's chokehold over the Strait, while another consensus holds that the resolution would set a precedent of condoning violence in the Strait. Does the Secretary-General have any response to this, and does he align more with the latter view?

Spokesman : What the Secretary-General aligns with is international law, and what he wants is a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with full freedom of navigation for all. Okay. Abu Sufyan. No, you're muted. Benny, you come in halfway. You leave before the end. I mean, thank God I don't take this personally.

Question : Can hear me? Okay. Thank you. Myanmar is now led by a new government, and Bangladesh also formed a new government nearly two months ago. The Rohingya crisis is considered as a regional security threat. What is the UN Secretary-General's advice to both countries for resolving these issues?

Spokesman : Sorry, to resolve which issue?

Question : Rohingya crisis.

Spokesman : The Rohingya crisis... look. I think it is clear that Bangladesh has been extremely generous in hosting what I believe is over a million refugees when Bangladesh has its own struggles, development struggles to deal with. As for Myanmar, we want to see a return not only to democracy, but also the building of a society where every person from Myanmar, regardless of religion or ethnic background, feels that they belong and feel that they are protected by the state. Refugees will go back when they can go back in a way that is that is safe, that is voluntary and that is dignified. Okay.

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Security Council: Russia and China veto resolution on Strait of Hormuz

7 April 2026 - The UN Security Council has failed to adopt a resolution aiming to boost security in the Strait of Hormuz as the critical shipping corridor remains largely closed to global trade and the transport of humanitarian aid, with war continuing to rage across the region.

Eleven countries voted in favour of the draft, which was vetoed by permanent members China and Russia while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.

The draft resolution sought to strongly encourage States interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz - which lies between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates - and to "coordinate efforts" defensively, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation there, including the use of escorts for merchant and commercial vessels.

The draft also demanded that Iran immediately cease all attacks on shipping and any attempt to impede transit or freedom of navigation in the strait.

Wrong signal sent: Bahrain

The text was submitted by Bahrain alongside Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Speaking after the vote, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani expressed regret on their behalf.

"The Council failed to shoulder its responsibility in relation to an illegal conduct that requires decisive action with no delay," he said.

"Failing to adopt this resolution sends the wrong signal to the world, to the peoples of the world, the signal that the threat to international waterways can pass without any decisive action by the international organization responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security."

Strait of Hormuz cannot be held hostage: US

United States Ambassador Mike Waltz said that his country stands with Bahrain and the people of the Gulf "at this moment of reckoning."

He told the Council that 47 years ago, the Iranian regime's first act was to take dozens of Americans hostage.

"Now it's taking the Strait of Hormuz hostage, and with it, attempting to take the world's economy hostage. Well, colleagues, that may be its last act. We'll see," he said.

He stressed that "the Strait of Hormuz is too vital to the world to be used as hostage, to be choked, to be weaponized by any one State."

Voting against

Explaining Russia's vote, Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said that the resolution presented Iranian actions as the sole source of regional tensions while illegal attacks by the United States and Israel were "not mentioned at all".

Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong said the draft "failed to capture the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner."

He expressed hope that peace and stability would be restored and affirmed China's commitment to addressing the situation properly by tackling the root causes.

Iran's Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani said the draft sought "to punish the victim for defending its sovereignty and vital national interests in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, while providing political and legal cover for further unlawful acts by the aggressors."

Veto power

Fifteen countries sit on the UN Security Council whose five permanent members - China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States - have the right of veto any resolution or decision.

The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the UN General Assembly and serve for two-year terms.

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Today's top news: Lebanon, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Ukraine, Haiti

UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Lebanon

Healthcare under fire as workers killed, injured

OCHA reports that attacks on healthcare continue to have devastating consequences across Lebanon.

On Sunday afternoon, an airstrike in a populated area less than 100 meters from Rafik Hariri Public Hospital killed at least 4 and injured dozens.

Since 2 March, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded 100 attacks on healthcare which have resulted in 54 deaths and 145 injuries among active healthcare workers. These incidents are putting frontline responders at extreme risk and discouraging people from seeking care, with serious consequences for public health.

Despite these challenges, WHO and its partners continue to support the Government in sustaining essential services. To date, nearly 70,000 health consultations have been provided, including more than 800 for pre- and post-natal care. More than 51,000 patients have received medication, and humanitarian partners have supported nearly 300 hospitalisations, including deliveries of babies.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Lebanon with urgent support.

Occupied Palestinian Territory

WHO suspends medical evacuations following security incident

OCHA says that partners in Gaza continue to respond to people's needs in the face of persistent impediments and risks.

The Director-General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has confirmed that a person contracted to provide services to WHO was killed yesterday, while two staff members who were present were not injured.

In a social media post, Dr. Tedros noted that WHO suspended the medical evacuation of patients from Gaza through Rafah to Egypt until further notice, noting that the incident is under investigation by the relevant authorities.

Dr. Tedros called for the protection of civilians, including humanitarian workers, and shared that peace is the best medicine.

Meanwhile, colleagues working on mine action report that last week, they carried out nearly 70 assessments of explosive hazards to support debris removal and humanitarian operations by UN agencies and NGOs across the Gaza Strip. They also reached nearly 12,000 people with information on the risks posed by explosive ordnance. However, they still cannot carry out the full range of explosive ordnance disposal activities, largely because some of the required equipment has not been allowed in.

OCHA says that a wider range of essential items must be allowed into Gaza to expand services and reduce risks to aid workers and other civilians.

*Donations made to UN Crisis Relief help UN agencies and humanitarian NGOs reach people in Gaza and the West Bank with urgent support.

Sudan

Vaccination campaign underway amid escalating violence, displacement

OCHA says that as humanitarian needs continue to rise, partners are supporting vaccination campaigns and delivering essential supplies to displacement sites in Sudan.

Rising measles cases in crowded sites for displaced people are further straining already fragile health, water and sanitation services. Partners are responding, but insecurity, fuel shortages and damaged infrastructure are making operations extremely difficult.

Those efforts have been further undermined by the recent destruction of a warehouse for health supplies in White Nile State, which has disrupted the delivery of critical medicine, as well as by acute fuel shortages in South Kordofan that are delaying services and driving up costs.

At the same time, escalating violence in several parts of the country are driving new waves of displacement.

In Blue Nile State, thousands of people have been forced from their homes in recent weeks. Some have crossed into Ethiopia, while others are sheltering in schools, public buildings and informal sites. The International Organization of Migration (IOM) report that clashes have displaced more than 28,000 people since mid-January, including over 4,000 people in the past ten days. Those arriving in the state capital, Ed Damazine, face acute shortages of food, healthcare and shelter, and heightened risks of violence and abuse, particularly women and children.

Insecurity has also cut off key supply routes, including the road between the cities of Rahad and Dilling, disrupting both the delivery of humanitarian aid and commercial goods. There are reports about the reopening of the road between Dilling and North Kordofan. However, the situation remains highly fluid, with fighting reported in recent hours. Civilians continue to be under threat, and sustained, safe access for humanitarian assistance remains critical.

Despite these challenges, partners continue to respond, but the situation continues to underscore the urgent need to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, in line with international humanitarian law.

The UN calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities, and for rapid, safe, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all those in need.

Ukraine

Children among those killed in deadly strikes

OCHA reports that hostilities in the past day and a half have caused further civilian casualties and widespread damage to housing, public transport and other civilian infrastructure.

Authorities reported that attacks on densely populated areas and public transport killed 10 people and injured 80, including seven children.

This morning a strike on a public bus in the city of Nikopol, in the Dnipro region, killed several people and injured a dozen others. The Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Mattias Schmale, again stressed that, under international humanitarian law, civilians must be protected as they go about their daily lives. Recent reports from authorities in Dnipro say that another public bus came under attack in the same afternoon with several people injured.

Civilians were also impacted in the regions of Donetsk, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, Sumy and Zaporizhzhia, damaging residential buildings and civilian facilities.

Humanitarian partners responded in Nikopol and in the Kherson region by providing first aid, psychological support and evacuations of injured people to hospitals. In the Kherson, they also delivered emergency shelter materials and provided legal assistance.

As hostilities intensify, mandatory evacuations continue in 62 towns and villages in Dnipro. Authorities report that all children have been evacuated, with 2,000 civilians remaining. Humanitarian partners, local authorities and police continue to support evacuations, amid shrinking humanitarian access in front-line areas.

Haiti

Violence forces thousands to flee

OCHA reports that violence in the department of Artibonite has recently triggered a new wave of displacement in Haiti.

According to the latest estimates from the IOM, the violence has pushed the total number of displaced people to more than 13,000 in the affected areas.

More than four out of every five of these people have sought shelter with host families, while the rest have settled in 16 displacement sites.

Together with authorities and our partners, OCHA is supporting people in need, but access constraints and limited resources continue to hamper the humanitarian response.

Posted on 7 April 2026

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Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda

United Nations Secretary-General

7 April 2026

New York, UN

Statements | Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General

Thirty-two years ago, Rwanda endured one of the darkest chapters in human history. In just 100 days, more than a million people were murdered - primarily Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide. Entire families were brutally erased.

On the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda, we mourn the victims and honour their stolen dignity. We pay tribute to the survivors, whose resilience shows the strength of the human spirit. And we recall, with humility and shame, the international community's failure to heed warnings and take immediate lifesaving action.

It's not enough to remember the dead. We must learn from past failures and protect the living - by rejecting hatred, inflammatory rhetoric and incitement to violence; by investing in the social fabric to deepen community resilience; and by strengthening institutions that help prevent mass atrocities. I call on all countries to become parties to the Genocide Convention without delay - and to implement it fully.

The United Nations stands with the people of Rwanda. And we stand with all those, everywhere, who refuse to surrender our future to fear, division, or silence.

Let this day reaffirm our commitment to remember, to listen, and to act. With history as our guide, and the prevention of genocide as our goal.

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U.S. says military goals against Iran largely achieved, sets talks deadline

Global Times

(Xinhua) 08:50, April 08, 2026

BUDAPEST, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday that the United States has largely achieved its military objectives against Iran, while warning that Tehran faces a narrowing window to enter negotiations or risk further economic hardship.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Vance said Washington would continue efforts to curb Iran's weapons production capabilities.

Vance confirmed that U.S. forces had struck military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, but stressed that energy infrastructure had not been targeted, in line with a previously set deadline.

"The president believes this war could conclude very quickly," Vance said, outlining two possible paths: Iran could "no longer support terrorism" and integrate into the global economy, or face prolonged economic isolation.

He said the United States has set a deadline for Tehran to respond to negotiations by 8:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time, giving Iran roughly 12 hours to respond, and expressed hope for a "favorable answer" that would allow the resumption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Military force remains an option if Iran does not change its behavior, but this is not the preferred path," he added.

On bilateral relations, Vance said the United States seeks strong cooperation with Hungary, particularly in the areas of energy security and independence.

He criticized what he described as pressure from "Eurocrats" in Brussels on Hungary over its policy decisions, adding that Washington maintains multiple channels of cooperation with Budapest.

Vance also questioned Western European approaches to energy policy, noting that some leaders speak of an energy crisis while not supporting Hungary's strategy. He said Hungary has managed to keep energy prices below levels seen in parts of Western Europe.

Hungary has advocated maintaining access to relatively cheap Russian fossil fuels as part of Europe's economic model - a position that differs from broader European Union efforts to reduce dependence on Russian energy.

Vance said the United States supports Europe's long-term success and energy independence, adding that Hungary's policy direction could contribute to strengthening energy security across the continent.

Orban said economic relations between Hungary and the United States have strengthened, citing increased trade and recent investment announcements by U.S. companies. He added that cooperation has also expanded into areas such as the space and defense industries.

On energy, Orban warned that Europe is facing what he described as a deepening energy crisis, marked by rising prices and potential shortages of oil and gas. He said U.S.-Hungarian cooperation in the energy sector is crucial for ensuring Hungary's energy security.

Regarding Ukraine, Orban reiterated Hungary's support for peace efforts, saying the country has been living "in the shadow of war" for several years. He stressed that diplomatic solutions should be prioritized and called for progress in ongoing peace initiatives.

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Co-Founder of CJNG Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

A California man and co-founder of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion, one of the world's most prolific cartels and a designated foreign terrorist organization, pleaded guilty today to federal narcotics charges.

According to court documents, Erick Valencia-Salazar, also known as "El 85," 49, of Santa Clara, California, is a co-founder of the Mexico-based drug trafficking organization, the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), which the State Department in February 2025 designated as a foreign terrorist organization. As a leader of CJNG, Valencia-Salazar recruited new CJNG members. He also used information about rival cartels to locate and kill CJNG's enemies and gain control of all drug trafficking operations in particular territories in Mexico. Valencia-Salazar also conspired to send thousands of kilograms of cocaine to the United States for the CJNG.

Before forming the CJNG, Valencia-Salazar was a member of the Milenio Cartel, another Mexico-based drug trafficking organization. In the Milenio Cartel, Valencia-Salazar regularly distributed pistols and rifles, including AK-47 and AR-15 rifles, to the cartel's gunmen, also known as "sicarios," to use in battles with rival cartels. In doing so, Valencia-Salazar supported the Milenio Cartel's efforts to send multi-ton shipments of cocaine from South America into Mexico each year and then import most of that cocaine into the United States for further distribution.

"Erick Valencia-Salazar co-founded the CJNG, one of the most violent drug trafficking organizations in Mexico, which shipped tons of cocaine into the United States and inflicted immeasurable damage on our country," said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "Valencia-Salazar was also responsible for furthering the rampant violence in Mexico, at the expense of people's lives and the safety of communities, that helped destabilize the region and allow crime to flourish. Today's conviction is yet another example of the Criminal Division's efforts in disrupting and dismantling transnational drug trafficking organizations that harm the American people."

"Erick Valencia-Salazar helped build CJNG into a ruthless organization that uses violence as a business model  murdering for control in Mexico while flooding the United States with poison," said DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. "CJNG is a designated terrorist organization. They do not just traffic deadly drugs  including fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine  they spread violence, fear, and instability on both sides of the border. This guilty plea marks another step in holding its leadership accountable. DEA will continue to target the leaders, financiers, and enablers of these organizations until they are brought to justice and their networks are dismantled."

Valencia-Salazar pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine for unlawful importation into the United States. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 31 and faces a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The DEA's Special Operations Division Bilateral Investigations Unit Los Angeles is investigating the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance to Salazar's February 2025 transfer from Mexico to the United States pursuant to Mexico's National Security law.

Trial Attorneys Kaitlin Sahni, Lernik Begian, Douglas Meisel, and Nicole Lockhart of the Criminal Division's Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section are prosecuting the case.

The Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section's (MNF) mission is to take the profit out of crime, eliminate drug cartels, and protect the U.S. financial system. MNF pursues criminal prosecutions and criminal and civil asset recovery actions involving: financial facilitators who launder profits for criminals; financial institutions and their officers and employees whose actions threaten the U.S. financial system and financial institutions; international money launderers who support transnational organized crime; and the top command and control of international drug trafficking organizations.

MNF's Narcotic and Dangerous Drug Unit investigates and prosecutes the top command and control elements of international drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and related transnational criminal organizations.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Homeland Security Task Force and Project Safe Neighborhoods.

Topic: Operation Take Back America

Components: Criminal Division

Criminal - Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section

Criminal - Office of International Affairs

Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)

Press Release Number: 26-322

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Artemis II crew surpasses Apollo 13 distance record

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

07.04.2026 [11:46]

Baku, April 7, AZERTAC

NASA's Artemis II mission broke the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth on Monday, surpassing a mark set 56 years ago, while contending with repeated equipment failures throughout the flight, according to Xinhua.

The crew of Integrity, as the astronauts named their capsule, exceeded the previous record of 400,171 km set by the Apollo 13 crew on April 15, 1970, at 1:57 p.m. EDT (1757 GMT), according to NASA.

The four crew members are NASA commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen. They launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1 on a 10-day test flight around the Moon, the first crewed lunar mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.

The capsule reached its maximum distance of 406,771 km from Earth at 7:07 p.m. EDT (2307 GMT).

"Congratulations to this incredible crew and the entire NASA team, our international and commercial partners, but this mission isn't over until they're under safe parachutes, splashing down into the Pacific," NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman wrote in a post on X.

The mission had been delayed nearly seven months from its planned September 2025 launch date. Engineers needed additional time to address concerns about the capsule's heat shield and life-support systems after problems were found during an earlier uncrewed test flight in 2022. NASA flew the mission with the existing heat shield after modifying how the capsule would re-enter Earth's atmosphere, a decision that drew criticism from independent engineers before launch.

Shortly after reaching orbit on April 1, the crew lost two-way contact with Mission Control. NASA said the fault was traced to a technical problem at a ground station and was resolved quickly with no effect on the mission.

The mission's onboard toilet broke down three separate times during the flight. The first breakdown, caused by a jammed fan in the toilet's waste system, occurred within hours of launch. Mission Specialist Koch, who described herself as the mission's space plumber, worked with Mission Control to fix it. A second breakdown on April 4 led flight director Judd Frieling to tell reporters that engineers suspected ice was blocking a pipe used to flush liquid waste out of the capsule.

On April 6, Mission Control ordered the crew to stop using the toilet altogether. "We just wanted to let you know that the toilet right now is 'no go' for use, as we stick with a predetermined limit," capsule communicator Jenni Gibbons told the crew, directing the astronauts to use portable disposal bags for liquid waste instead.

During the lunar flyby, Canadian astronaut Hansen informed Mission Control that the crew proposed naming two previously unnamed craters on the Moon. The first would be "Integrity," after their capsule, located on the Moon's far side, and the second "Carroll," near the boundary between the Moon's near and far sides. Both proposals require formal approval by the International Astronomical Union, the body responsible for naming features in space.

The crew also heard a recorded message from Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell, who flew to the Moon as command module pilot on Apollo 8 in 1968 and died on Aug. 7, 2025, at age 97. "Good luck and Godspeed from all of us here on the good Earth," Lovell said in the recording, according to NASA's mission blog.

On April 3, the White House proposed cutting NASA's annual budget by 23 percent, from 24.4 billion U.S. dollars to 18.8 billion dollars, for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2026, according to SpaceNews. The proposal would cut NASA's science programs by 47 percent and cancel more than 40 missions.

The Planetary Society, an advocacy group for space research, said the proposal "needlessly resurrects an existential threat to U.S. leadership in space science and exploration." Congress rejected an identical proposal last year and will have the final say on the new budget.

Artemis II is following a free-return trajectory similar to the one utilized by Apollo 13. The mission does not include a lunar landing. Splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California.

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Stars align for RNZAF Space Squadron during historic Artemis II flight

New Zealand Defence Force

Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) No. 62 Squadron personnel have been tracking the historic Artemis II flight as it passes over New Zealand skies, sending four NASA astronauts further into space than any human has ever been.

07 April, 2026

The Orion spacecraft left Earth on Thursday and passed overhead about midnight, on its way to slingshot around the moon.

Today the astronauts made it to the far side of the moon - and became the first people to travel that deep into space.

RNZAF personnel joined dozens of other countries in tracking the spacecraft's progress over the 10-day mission and sending the results back to NASA.

No. 62 Squadron Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Matt Tristram, said they received a request from the US Space Force Delta 5 Human Space Flight Support Squadron which deals with human space flight, for all partner countries to track the mission.

The flight path was monitored using the squadron's two telescopes, housed at its observatory in Whangaparaoa. Images were then sent to computers at RNZAF Base Auckland, where four of the squadron's staff watched the spacecraft's progress during the High Earth Orbit phase overnight on April 2.

It passed over New Zealand's sky at a height of 70,000km - about twice the distance the squadron would normally track objects in space.

"We worked with our partners and the United States-led Joint Task-Force Space Defense Commercial Operations Cell (JCO)," Wing Commander Tristram said.

"We could use information that described the trajectory of the crew capsule to help point the camera in the right place. Essentially that information provided by some of the contributors to JCO helped us cue the camera with a telescope onto the spacecraft and be able to track it."

The team was hoping to track its return to Earth next week, depending on weather conditions, Wing Commander Tristram said.

"It's been amazing so far to be a small part of such a defining historic moment for space flight. Not only to be watching it on TV with the regular coverage, but actually contributing to monitoring it just makes it that little bit more personal. We are all so proud to be a part of history, even in a tiny sliver of a way.

Corporal Cicero Caramto was the first in the squadron to be trained on using the telescopes that tracked the flight.

One of the telescopes covers four degrees of the night sky and the other, one degree.

"It's been exciting to learn about the equipment and get outputs from it. For space domain awareness tasking we get from partner nations and government agencies, it's such a cool tool to help them."

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New Littoral Manoeuvre Group established in Brisbane

Issued by Defence Media

30 March 2026

The Australian Army has recognised the establishment of its new Littoral Manoeuvre Group with a ceremonial parade at Gallipoli Barracks, Brisbane.

The group will strengthen Army's ability to move, deploy and support land forces across coastal and island regions, helping to deliver the aims of Australia's National Defence Strategy.

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, AO, DSC, said the group is part of building a future-ready force designed to operate effectively across the complex geography of the region.

"This capability strengthens our ability to hold adversaries at risk, control strategic land positions and deny access through Australia's northern approaches," he said.

Based in Brisbane, the Littoral Manoeuvre Group Headquarters and the 1st Landing Craft Battalion form the core of a team designed to operate across the Indo-Pacific, supporting Australia's ability to respond to strategic challenges.

Army's existing littoral units, 35th Water Transport Squadron and the Littoral Riverine Survey Squadron, have transitioned to the group. This move brings specialist skills together and streamlines command and control within the 17th Sustainment Brigade.

Two additional landing craft battalions will be located in the Northern Territory and north Queensland alongside Army's combat brigades, strengthening presence across key strategic corridors.

Lieutenant General Stuart said Defence was accelerating the acquisition of medium and heavy landing craft, upgraded amphibious vessels and modern facilities to support the group.

"The group will operate these platforms with a new specialised workforce, giving Army the ability to rapidly deploy and sustain its modernised land force - from Abrams tanks and precision strike weapons to infantry fighting vehicles - across demanding terrain," he said.

Commander Littoral Manoeuvre Group, Colonel Rory Hale, said the transition of existing units and the development of the new workforce was progressing well.

"Our people are at the heart of this group. Through targeted training, new career pathways and close collaboration with Navy and TAFE, we are building a skilled workforce of confident littoral warfighters that will lead this capability into the future," he said.

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Australia supports Canada's Arctic radar plans

By Georgia Verebalavu and Erin Pegram

7 April 2026

Australia's world-leading Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) is set to play a central role in Canada's ambitions to build the largest and most sensitive over-the-horizon radar (OTHR) system ever developed.

The collaboration will strengthen bilateral defence cooperation with Canada and could become Australia's biggest defence export in history.

The program reflects decades of trust between the two nations and demonstrates the global recognition of Australia's sovereign capability in high frequency radar science, engineering and operations.

During his visit to Australia, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended a Defence capability briefing where Defence and BAE Systems Australia showcased the JORN OTHR system and its high-frequency detection capabilities.

Defence has worked closely with the Canadian Department of National Defence (DND) to support Canada's planning for its Arctic OTHR program, including the development of technical and operational requirements.

As part of the partnership, the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) released a request for tender to BAE Systems Australia for the design, manufacture and commissioning of an OTHR system for potential delivery of the first stage of Canada's Arctic OTHR capability development program.

Defence is committed to ensuring any export benefits Australia's sovereign JORN capability, sustaining its position as a global leader in OTHR technology and improving economies of scale for maintenance and upgrades.

"Defence welcomes the mutual advantages that will flow from further development of the JORN technology through collaborative research and development. It serves to strengthen our domestic sovereign defence industry through engagement among Defence, BAE Systems Australia and Canadian and Australian industry partners," Head of Air Defence and Space Systems Division Air ViceMarshal Martin Nussio said.

BAE Systems Australia, the nation's largest defence contractor, is currently delivering a major midlife upgrade to JORN under Project AIR2025 Phase 6.

Chief Defence Scientist Professor Tanya Monro noted that the technology underpinning these developments is based on decades of research by Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and innovation by Australian industry. She said BAE Systems Australia has played a critical role in supporting the development of JORN over many years.

"These world-leading upgrades, together with new critical technological development, will provide the capability required for the Canadian Arctic OTHR," Professor Monro said.

"BAE Systems Australia has a long history of involvement in supporting the Defence Science and Technology Group with the development of JORN."

BAE Systems Australia was initially contracted to assist with the development of OTHR technology at the original Jindalee Facility in Alice Springs, which formed the baseline for the JORN specification. BAE continues to play a key role, developing technology for the Phase 5 upgrade to JORN and more recently winning the competitive tender to lead the Phase 6 midlife upgrade project and provide sustainment support to the JORN capability system. BAE continues to deliver enhancements and sustainment for JORN.

Defence worked with Canada in August 2025 to establish requirements for the Arctic OTHR mission system, which will be substantially larger than a JORN radar site.

DSTG is collaborating with BAE Systems Australia and Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) to leverage decades of Australian expertise with Canada's experience operating high frequency radars in the Arctic.

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Press conference - Parliament House, Canberra

Transcript

Tuesday 7 April 2026

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

The Hon Anthony Albanese MP

Prime Minister of Australia

ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I would like to recognise the efforts of Australians over the Easter long weekend to conserve fuel and to get on with life. We saw very few cancellations. That was a good thing. I said last Wednesday night, and then Thursday at the National Press Club, that I wanted people to have a good Easter. And I hope people did, including people here. And for people of faith, I hope that they had a holy Easter as well. It's an important time for Christians on the calendar.

We have seen prices reduce across most capital cities as our excise cut flows through to bowsers. Not just ours, but in addition to that, of course, the additional cut as a result of the decision by states and territories on Thursday morning that we foreshadowed last week would occur. That is a good thing. Fewer stations have shortages today than before Easter, and I'd like to thank every Australian that has played a part in this outcome. However, of course some shortages do remain, particularly with diesel, and we continue to monitor this very closely.

My Government will continue to take every action we can to shield Australians from the impact of this war. This includes continuing to shore up our fuel supply. This week, on Thursday, I will head to Singapore for the Annual Leaders' Meeting with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. That will take place on Friday. This will be important, and we'll continue discussions on securing our trade in petrol, diesel and LNG. The visit will continue my Government's regional engagement that I've been involved with. Minister Bowen, Minister Wong and others have been engaged with as well, right across the region, including of course, the Trade Minister, Minister Farrell.

Singapore is an important relationship with Australia. And what this does is show that the work that we've done over the last four years in building relations with ASEAN and other partners - including with Japan and South Korea, our traditional trading partners in North Asia - pays dividends at difficult times because we've been able to have those conversations and work together, which is what we will do. Singapore is Australia's largest two-way trade partner and investor in Southeast Asia, and one of our closest strategic and economic partners. The visit follows Australia and Singapore's joint commitment to keep fuel flowing between both countries and to work together to strengthen energy supply chain resilience.

Together, we share concern over the situation in the Middle East, including the consequences for both of our nations. We share a deep strategic trust. I regard Prime Minister Wong as a friend of Australia, and the fact that we have reconstituted these Annual Leaders' Meetings is very important. My Government has spent four years building our relationship with the region. It is moments like these that these relationships really matter. Australia is facing a more uncertain world, and therefore the certainty of those clear, close relationships is more important than ever. We don't need to wait for this global crisis to be over. We have to build resilience into the system. We are currently in a secure position. However, engaging with our international partners is an important part of keeping our fuel supply flowing.

CHRIS BOWEN, MINISTER FOR CLIMATE CHANGE & ENERGY: Thanks very much, PM. Well, a lot of Australians worked very hard over the Easter break to make sure that our fuel was flowing to the regions and to service stations. And despite the fact that demand for petrol and diesel was 30 per cent higher this Easter than last Easter, we continue to see each day the service station outages fall. During the weekend, I held daily press conferences to update on the service station numbers and happy to do so again this morning.

In NSW, we have 125 service stations without diesel. That's 5 per cent of service stations, that's down 17 on yesterday. 34 with no fuel, that's down five on yesterday. Victoria, we have 40 without diesel, that's down 11. So, that's 2 per cent of Victorian service stations, 29 with no unleaded petrol. In Queensland, 34 without diesel, that's also 2 per cent, and 30 without unleaded petrol. South Australia, seven with no diesel, five with no unleaded petrol. Western Australia, 20 without diesel, 32 without unleaded petrol. Tasmania, seven without diesel, six with no unleaded petrol. Northern Territory, four each, no diesel, no unleaded. And ACT, four with no diesel and one without unleaded petrol. That's a total of 241 service stations without diesel across Australia today. That's 3 per cent of our service stations.

Also on Saturday, as I do each Saturday, I updated the Australian people on how much fuel we have on hand. But just to remind, we're seeing those levels stay pretty static, which tells me that the fuel is going out the door at a very high rate to the regions in particular, as it needs to, but also coming in the door. So, we have 39 days' worth of petrol, that's 1.7 billion litres. 30 days' worth of jet fuel, that's 847 million litres. And 29 days' worth of diesel, that's 2.6 billion litres.

Again, in my discussions with the fuel companies over the weekend, over Easter, again, lots of people across the industry were working very hard. They now have locked in confidence well into May - had been into April, but now well into May - in terms of fuel that they've been able to procure and lock in and have contractual obligations to deliver to Australia. And it's a good thing. Also, a shout out to Export Finance Australia, which again has been working over the weekend. A lot of people didn't take much time off over the weekend to make sure that that legislation - which we passed last week - is being fully implemented and deals are being done. And I'll provide further updates as some of those deals are finalised in coming days.

But again, a big shout out, as the PM said, to everyone who patriotically over the weekend worked hard to get fuel to where it's needed. And to those Australians who went about their business as we encouraged, did what they normally would do, but didn't take more fuel than they need, get the same amount of fuel as you normally get, no more, no less - that is the right thing to do at the moment. And so many Australians across the board did that. So, a big thank you to everyone who did that.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, Ben Roberts-Smith has just been arrested into alleged war crimes. Did the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecution seek authorisation from the Federal Government for this?

PRIME MINISTER: I have no intention of commenting on a matter that's clearly before the courts.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on the NDIS, you've got a Budget coming up in a couple of weeks' time. Some of your own MPs are saying that this is the time for major reform to the NDIS, including things like who is in and who is out. In the lead up to the Budget, are you ready to level with people in the disability community about some of the tough decisions that are going to need to be taken to get the spiralling cost of the scheme under control?

PRIME MINISTER: The NDIS is a very important program. It's one that's made an enormous difference to people's lives and we need to remember that. We want to make sure that it's fit for purpose and that it's sustainable and we'll be working on the Budget like we do on other items for that.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, on Ben Roberts-Smith - generally speaking, what reflections can you bring to bear on the shadow that this now puts over Australia's overall grand service in a very difficult theatre of war?

PRIME MINISTER: I have no intention of prejudicing a matter that clearly is a legal matter and that's before the courts, and any comment would do so.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you've been, you're working on a Budget. You've outlined your agenda on that for many months. We all know what you were planning, we all know that a lot has changed. Could you- without, you obviously can't go into detail, but could you just, got something to say to the Australian people about whether you're having to swallow some of your ambition or scale back or amend your priorities in a way that will affect them personally?

PRIME MINISTER: There will obviously be a context of this Budget which is what is going on in the world. The conflict in the Middle East has impacted every single economy in the world and is having an impact on Australians. This isn't something that we called for. It's something though, even though it's a war on the other side of the world, is having an impact here. So, it will be one of the factors in the lead up to the Budget. I think in a range of areas that we're considering at the moment, though, our ambition isn't diminished. This is a Budget that runs in the context after one year after our re-election, where we have, as I said at the National Press Club last Thursday, we've ticked off one by one the commitments that we took to the Australian people. We want to set Australia up to be more resilient, and the Middle East conflict has reminded us of that, of the need to make more things here, of the need to not be at the end of supply chains and to be less vulnerable to global events. At the same time that resilience has another factor, which is we want people to have a share of the economy, to feel like an economy that works for them. And those two factors I think of resilience is a common theme, will be reflected in the deliberations that take place. They're taking place today, like most days, examining the Budget. I think also because of the impact of the Middle East conflict, it is likely that the Budget will be settled later than it normally would, just because we're living in a very turbulent time and we want to make sure that the Budget handed down on the second Tuesday in May is fit for purpose.

JOURNALIST: Is the purpose, Prime Minister, of the Singapore trip to lock in a deal that secures fuel supply further into May? And just on the Ben Roberts-Smith matter, I know you can't comment on the case, fully understand that, but can you confirm that Michelle Rowland was consulted on the lane of the charges and did she consult with you?

PRIME MINISTER: I'm not going to confirm anything to do with the legal matter. That is a matter that is very important that there not be political engagement in what is a matter that is now the subject of legal proceedings. So, I don't intend to comment.

With Singapore - look, this is an important progression. I was due to go to Singapore this year. The truth is that it's happening earlier than was intended, and would have been combined with another visit. When I spoke with Prime Minister Wong, we agreed it would be good for us to have a discussion. He's a leader of the region as well. There are further discussions that we're having on a regular basis while I'm in Canberra on the phone. But nothing beats a face-to-face engagement. That will happen on Friday and I very much look forward to being welcomed to Singapore.

JOURNALIST: Will savings from reforming the NDIS be at the centre of your Budget? And how will you achieve your target growth rate of 5 to 6 per cent? Will eligibility have to be tightened even further?

PRIME MINISTER: The Budget will be on the second Tuesday in May. I look forward to all of you paying attention on that day.

JOURNALIST: In relation to fuel security, can we expect anything in the Budget that might have some longer-term measures addressing storage or there's obviously calls from the Opposition to look at more refineries, more drilling or do you see the Budget timeline as being too short to address that longer term issue? Perhaps Mr Bowen -

PRIME MINISTER: Well, I might kick off by saying that this is the Opposition, that when they were in government not that long ago in 2013, there were six refineries open. When we came back to government in 2022, there were two. And this is a Leader of the Opposition who suggested it was a good idea to keep our reserves in Texas in the United States of America. Now, we are fortunate that the reserves that we have are the largest they've been in 15 years.

BOWEN: Just to add to the Prime Minister's statements, of course, what we're doing is working very intensively with the industry of on the short term. On the longer term, of course Mr Tehan was out on the weekend, asserting that the Government had cut some sort of Diesel Storage Program. Which is just not true, just factually incorrect. The Opposition has taken every opportunity to score political points to be partisans, not patriots, over recent weeks, which is unfortunate, but a matter for them. But they've also chosen to do so inaccurately. I also saw Mr Tehan flag that he supported 90 days' worth of domestic storage, which is a $20 billion cost over four years. So, that would be a matter for the Opposition to account for in their Budget Reply, for the Budget Reply, if they choose to actually lock in that policy. Now, what we'll do is we'll continue to work with industry in the short term and then have further discussions with industry about sensible measures for the long term. But that's an ongoing conversation.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, this is the third time Donald Trump has directly named Australia, criticising for not helping. What help has Australia failed to provide, as you understand it? And, his threat to target civilian infrastructure is looming, are you worried that innocent Iranians will be killed?

PRIME MINISTER: Well, that's not a question for me. The first one. On the second, we want to see a de-escalation. We've called for that. We want to see clear objectives. The objectives that President Trump outlined at the beginning of the process have largely been achieved.

JOURNALIST: Just on this issue. So, obviously, Donald Trump is talking about sending Iran back to the Stone Age. And with this issue of bombing civilian infrastructure, do you accept there could be a place for accelerating military action to end the war quickly, or do you urge him to pull back on military action and focus on diplomacy?

PRIME MINISTER: I think it's very clear that any further escalation needs to be outlined, what the objective is. So, we've called consistently. We haven't changed our position of calling for de-escalation. This is a conflict that is having a massive impact on the global economy, in particular having a massive impact here in Australia, as it is, right around our region and right around the world.

JOURNALIST: On a different matter, to your announcement last week at the Press Club about the Government's response on gambling advertising. I think a lot of the changes you've announced were relatively straightforward, the things around the hours and TV and radio and that sort of thing. But I wanted to ask your point of view on some of the other ways that gambling companies are sort of advertising. I'm thinking about podcasts and YouTube shows and things like that. I mean, you know, you went on Karl Stefanovic's podcast a little while ago. That podcast has been sponsored at times by the Neds betting agency. Would you think that the Government's changes should prevent gambling companies from having their own podcasts, from sponsoring podcasts, YouTube shows and social media clips and that sort of thing?

PRIME MINISTER: We have put out our announcement. We'll also be putting out legislation when Parliament comes back in May. All of those matters will be considered. But the framework we have is very clear. I think it's a comprehensive response and will be a positive way forward.

JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, hypothetically, if a person -

PRIME MINISTER: Well, you've just answered your question there.

JOURNALIST: If a person was honoured in the Australian War Memorial with a display and they were later found guilty of war crimes. Would it be appropriate for the War Memorial to consider removing such a display?

PRIME MINISTER: I think you've answered your question with the way that you began it.

JOURNALIST: Earlier, you mentioned the agreement between Australia and Singapore to guarantee fuel and gas LNG supplies. Is there - in terms of that agreement, can you sort of, is there potential to move to a more further binding agreement that secures Australian fuel supplies going on into May, June, July?

PRIME MINISTER: We have a clear statement that I issued with Prime Minister Wong. But we'll also be talking about the full range of issues in the relationship that occurs between us. It isn't just about fuel security. That is, of course, the focus of the world at the moment. But it's a much deeper relationship than that. One of the issues that I've had the great privilege of is being a beneficiary of strong engagement with Singapore. I think the Singaporean model of how they deal in a whole range of issues of productivity, how they're dealing with new technology as we go forward as well, is something that no doubt will be the subject of conversations between us. We're great friends. I look forward to attending and I look forward to seeing some of you on the journey as well. Thanks very much.

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Belarus, Uzbekistan agree to deepen cooperation in nuclear energy

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

07.04.2026 [14:38]

Baku, April 7, AZERTAC

Belarus and Uzbekistan have agreed to deepen cooperation in nuclear energy, Belarus' Energy Minister Denis Moroz told journalists during a visit to the Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, BelTA has learned.

According to the minister, Belarus and Uzbekistan have long-standing and warm relations based on a shared vision of the future. This is reflected in Uzbekistan's decision to build its own nuclear power plant and join the group of countries developing nuclear energy. "Since 2008, Belarus has come a long way in this area, developing strong competencies in the construction and operation of a nuclear power plant," Denis Moroz noted. Last year, the Belarusian Energy Ministry and the Uzatom agency signed a roadmap outlining cooperation and the exchange of experience. "Belarus is ready to openly share information about the path it has taken, including infrastructure development, personnel training, and the adoption of new technologies. Under this agreement, experts from both countries regularly exchange views, and now, together with a delegation of specialists from Uzbekistan led by the deputy prime minister, we are holding consultations in Belarus, studying the infrastructure for building a nuclear power plant, the personnel training system, and issues related to plant operation," he said.

Denis Moroz emphasized that Belarus and Uzbekistan have agreed to deepen cooperation in this sector.

The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant has a significant impact on the country's energy system: it accounts for about 40% of total electricity consumption. Its cumulative output has exceeded 58 billion kWh, allowing Belarus to replace natural gas consumption and reduce the foreign-currency burden on the budget. "In November of last year, a decision was made to build a third power unit at the Belarusian NPP site, and negotiations are currently underway with Rosatom on preparing a framework general agreement describing the process of creating the new faciliity. The document is expected to be signed in the near future," the minister said.

A delegation from Uzbekistan led by Deputy Prime Minister Achilbay Ramatov toured the Belarusian NPP to study Belarus' experience. Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Karankevich and Director General of the Belarusian NPP Sergei Bobovich also took part in the visit.

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Burns maliciously sows discord between China and relevant countries with ulterior motives: FM refutes claims over China's stance toward Iran and Venezuela

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 07, 2026 03:57 PM

When asked about recent claims by former US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns regarding China's positions on the Iranian situation and the Venezuela issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that China has noted the relevant comments. The ins and outs as well as the rights and wrongs of the Iranian situation and the Venezuela issue are quite clear, and China's position is also unequivocal, Mao said.

Ignoring the root causes of the problems, Burns has used China as a pretext, distorted and smeared China's peaceful and impartial position with the US-style hegemonic mindset, and maliciously sowed discord between China and relevant countries, which is driven by ulterior motives, the spokesperson added.

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Press Statement of Jang Kum Chol, First Vice-Minister and Director General of Tenth Department of Foreign Ministry of DPRK

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, April 7 (KCNA) -- Jang Kum Chol, first vice-minister and director general of the Tenth Department of the DPRK Foreign Ministry, issued the following press statement "The true colors of the ROK, the most hostile enemy state, can never change":

The department director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea made public a press statement related to the ROK on Monday night.

Voices of Chongwadae and various circles in the ROK analyzing it are really something to see.

If the ROK side lets out nonsense, regarding the rapid response from our government as an "exceptional friendly response" and a "quick mutual confirmation of intentions by the top leaders," this will also be recorded as world-startling fools' "hope-filled dream reading"

The thematic core of the press statement was a clear warning.

As for the press statement of the department director of the Party Central Committee, she evidently gave a witty warning to the ROK with very short and gentle sentences and expressions.

As they have a bad ear and cannot understand, I would like to awaken them to the true meaning of the press statement I read.

"You did something good. If you want to live safely, you should candidly admit your sin like this. It is, indeed, beyond my imagination that there is such a quite frank man in a pack of brazen-faced ones. You should prevent recurrence if you want to be secure. You will have to pay dearly if you persist in rash acts before us. Do not irritate us if you want to live in comfort." This is the main idea of the press statement I read.

While referring to the so-called "resolution" cooked up a few days ago by the UN Human Rights Council, Department Director Kim Yo Jong told me today that those of the ROK are little short of the dogs affected by mange that blindly bark to the tune of neighboring dogs. She also asked me whether her last night's press statement was interesting.

Of course, I replied to her that the ROK side's "hope-filled dream reading" was very interesting.

The identity of the ROK, the enemy state most hostile to the DPRK, can never change with any words or conduct. -0-

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INS SUNAYNA (IOS SAGAR) ARRIVES AT MALE, STRENGTHENING MARITIME TIES WITH MALDIVES

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 07 APR 2026 4:42PM by PIB Delhi

Indian Navy's INS Sunayna, deployed under Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, arrived at Male on 06 Apr 2026, marking the first port call of her operational deployment. The ship was accorded a warm welcome by the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF), underscoring a strong and enduring maritime partnership, and close regional ties between the two nations.

Notably, two MNDF personnel are also part of the multinational crew embarked onboard.

During transit to Male, the international crew undertook intensive training in seamanship, small arms firing, and damage control drills - reflecting a strong emphasis on collective readiness, operational interoperability, and maritime cooperation. The deployment highlights Indian Navy's continued commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships and capacity building across the Indian Ocean Region, thereby enhancing mutual trust and regional security.

On arrival, Shri G. Balasubramanian, High Commissioner of India to Maldives, visited the ship and interacted with the multinational crew. A range of professional and social interactions and sporting engagements are planned during the port call aimed at fostering closer cooperation and camaraderie. A Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the MNDF Coast Guard is also scheduled upon the ship's departure.

IOS SAGAR, with international crew from 16 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs), is on deployment to the South East Indian Ocean Region, reinforcing India's Neighbourhood First policy and the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

The ship was ceremonially flagged off from Mumbai on 02 Apr 2026 by Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth. This initiative reflects the enduring vision of 'One Ocean, One Mission,' further strengthening maritime ties between India and its maritime neighbours (https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2248586).

****

VM/SPS

(Release ID: 2249747)

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Minister Wang Yi holds 26 calls with various parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and Gulf countries; Chinese envoy shuttles for Middle East mediation: FM

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 07, 2026 04:10 PM

Since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, China has been committed to promoting a ceasefire with an objective, impartial and balanced stance. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held 26 phone calls with various parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and Gulf countries, and the special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue has shuttled through the region for mediation, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday. She noted that not long ago, China and Pakistan jointly put forward a Five-Point Initiative for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East Region, which reflects the international community's common consensus on promoting peace and ending the conflict. Peace cannot be achieved through force, and political settlement is the only way out, Mao added.

Mao made the remarks at a regular press conference, in response to a question regarding China's views on the current situation in the Middle East, which witnesses ongoing, protracted conflict in Iran with continuous attacks between both sides, the widespread concerns over the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, rising calls for a ceasefire and safe shipping lanes, as well as the recent tough postures exchanged by the US and Iran amid reports of a possible ceasefire deal.

Mao said that the situation in the Middle East is still deteriorating, and the conflict is escalating, impacting the world economy and energy security, which is of deep concern to the international community.

The spokesperson noted that the root cause of the conflict in Iran lies in the armed attacks launched by the US and Israel against Iran in violation of international law. The top priority is to immediately cease hostilities, return to the track of dialogue and negotiation, address the root causes of the problem, and restore peace and stability in the Gulf region. All parties should demonstrate sincerity and end this war, which should never have happened, as soon as possible.

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Chinese FM expresses deep concern over protracted conflict in Iran, responds to Trump's deadline for Iran to meet US demand

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 07, 2026 03:45 PM

When asked to comment on Trump's claim regarding the 8 pm EDT Tuesday (Wednesday 8am Beijing time) deadline he set for Iran to meet US demands or that "the entire country can be taken out in one night," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that the protracted conflict in Iran has caused major casualties and losses, impacted the security and stability of countries in the region, and affected the world economy and energy security.

The Chinese side is deeply concerned and worried about this. The prolongation of the conflict and escalation do not conform to the interests of any party. All parties should play a constructive role in easing the situation and promoting peace talks, Mao said.

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Trump's ultimatum meets resistance from Iran as conflict risks protraction; Chinese special envoy meets with French ambassador

Global Times

By Zhao Yusha Published: Apr 07, 2026 12:48 PM

When asked to comment on US President Donald Trump's claim regarding his Tuesday deadline of 8 pm to reach a deal, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday that the ongoing conflict has caused heavy casualties and damage. It is hitting the security and stability of regional countries and impacting the world economy and energy security.

"China is deeply concerned over this. To prolong or escalate the conflict does not serve any party's interest. All sides should play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation and facilitating peace talks," said Mao.

With the US' ultimatum on Iran approaching on Tuesday, Trump renewed his threat to Iran during an 83-minute press conference on Monday, warning that Iran could be "taken out" if it did not meet his newly updated deadline to reach a deal, but also cited effort to negotiate, media reported. Yet there has been little indication that Iran is ready to agree to the US' ultimatum.

"The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night," Trump said, referring to the 8 pm EDT Tuesday (Wednesday 8am Beijing time) deadline he set for Iran to meet US demands or face the destruction of its national infrastructure, Reuters reported.

In a post on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday morning, Trump has warned a "whole civilization will die tonight" as a deadline he has set Iran of 8 pm ET to reopen the Strait of Hormuz grows closer. "I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," he wrote.

Several explosions were heard in Iran's Kharg Island on Tuesday, following multiple attacks by the US and Israel, according to Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

Yet as the final hours tick down, there has been little indication that Iran is ready to agree to Trump's ultimatum. "We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we won't be attacked again," Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of Iran's diplomatic mission in Cairo, told The Associated Press. He said Iran no longer trusts the Trump administration after the US bombed the Islamic Republic twice during previous rounds of talks.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard warned Tuesday it would "deprive the US and its allies of the region's oil and gas for years" if Trump carries out his threat to attack power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz doesn't open, AP News reported, noting that multiple Iranian media outlets carried the statement.

It also issued a new threat to the Gulf Arab states. "We have exercised great restraint and had considerations in choosing retaliatory targets, but from now on all these considerations have been removed," AP News reported, citing the warning.

In a latest X post on Tuesday, Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said that "more than 14 million brave Iranians have so far registered to sacrifice their lives to defend Iran. I too have been, am, and will remain devoted to giving my life for Iran."

According Press TV on Tuesday, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has pounded US-owned petrochemical sites in the Wave 99 of its sweeping retaliatory strikes, warning that any further attacks on Iranian infrastructure will be met with zero restraint. Iranian forces targeted US bases and interests in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as military gathering centers and command-and-control hubs in the occupied Palestinian territories, per the report.

Based on past patterns, when confronted with mounting pressure, the US has at times escalated tensions, while at other moments abruptly shifted course with tactical adjustments. This makes Washington's next move highly unpredictable if a deal fails again, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.

However, current dynamics suggest that Tehran is unlikely to make meaningful concessions, while Washington also faces significant constraints in altering its own position. Coupled with Israel's role in shaping the conflict, this latest "ultimatum" is likely to unfold in a more dramatic and uncertain manner, said Li.



Li noted that the conflict is unlikely to end on Washington's terms simply because of Trump's ultimatum, but is more likely to become protracted. Such a scenario would be politically disastrous for the US, as a prolonged conflict would amplify pressure and deepen divisions at home.



The BBC also noted that Iran is unlikely to agree to Trump's ultimatum. They've rejected a temporary ceasefire and issued their own list of demands, which a US official described as "maximalist".

This places the American president in a delicate position. If there is no agreement, Trump could extend the deadline - for the fourth time in the past three weeks, according to the BBC.

At the same press conference, when asked about China's view on the current situation in the Middle East, Mao Ning said on Tuesday that the situation in the Middle East continues to worsen and the military conflict is still escalating, hitting the world economy and energy security and drawing deep concerns from the international community.

Since the conflict began, China has held an objective, just and balanced position and has been working to help bring about a ceasefire and end to the conflict. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and the Gulf states. The Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue traveled to the region in a mediation effort.

Last week, China and Pakistan issued the five-point initiative, which embodies the international consensus for ceasefire and peace. The use of force does not bring peace. Political settlement is the right way forward, the spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, Zhai Jun, special envoy of the Chinese government on the Middle East issue, met with French Ambassador to China Bertrand Lortholary at the latter's request.

Lortholary said that France is deeply concerned about the escalation of the situation in the Middle East and the negative impact of the conflict on the global economy. He noted that the five-point initiative proposed by China and Pakistan to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East largely aligns with France's position. France is willing to maintain coordination with China to help promote peace and stability in the region.

Zhai said that the ongoing escalation and spillover of the conflict are endangering regional peace and stability, while also impacting global economic and energy security. As permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and France should uphold fairness and justice, work together to promote ceasefire and de-escalation, and support the parties concerned in returning to the right track of dialogue and negotiation.

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Iran declares 'historic victory' over US, says enemy forced to accept its proposal

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 11:25 PM

Iran has declared a "historic and crushing defeat" of the United States and the Israeli regime after 40 days of war, announcing that Washington has been forced to accept a 10-point Iranian proposal that includes a permanent ceasefire, the lifting of all sanctions, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from the region.

In a statement addressed to the "noble, great, and heroic nation of Iran," the Supreme National Security Council said the enemy had suffered an undeniable defeat and now saw "no way forward but to submit to the will of the great nation of Iran and the honorable Axis of Resistance."

The announcement comes on Day 40 of the US-Israeli war of aggression on Iran, which began with the assassination of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and top-ranking commanders on February 28.

According to the statement, the United States has agreed to a 10-point proposal that fundamentally commits Washington to:

No new aggression against Iran

Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz

Acceptance of enrichment

Removal of all primary sanctions

Removal of all secondary sanctions

Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions

Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions

Payment of compensation to Iran

Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region

Cessation of war on all fronts, including against the heroic Islamic Resistance of Lebanon

"Iran has achieved a great victory and has forced criminal America to accept its own 10-point proposal," the statement read.

The statement by the top security body described the past 40 days as one of the "heaviest combined battles in history," in which Iran and its allies in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, and occupied Palestine inflicted blows that "the historical memory of the world will never forget."

"Iran and the Resistance have almost completely destroyed the American military machine in the region," it stated. "They have inflicted crushing and deep blows on the vast infrastructure and capabilities that the enemy had built and deployed around the region over many years for this war against Iran."

The statement added that within the occupied territories, Resistance forces had dealt "devastating and crushing blows to the enemy's forces, infrastructure, facilities, and assets."

It further stated that the United States understood as early as 10 days into the war that it could not win.

"Not only did none of the enemy's main objectives materialize, but the enemy realized from about 10 days after the start of the war that it would have no ability to win this war," the statement said. "For this reason, through various channels and methods, the enemy began efforts to establish contact with Iran and request a ceasefire."

The top security body further said the enemy had initially imagined a quick military victory, believing Iran's missile and drone capabilities would be "quickly extinguished," and noted that the "vile global Zionism" had convinced the "ignorant President of the United States" that the war would finish Iran.

While declaring victory, the top security body also urged continued vigilance.

"We congratulate all the people of Iran on this victory," the statement read, "and emphasize that until the details of this victory are finalized, there remains a need for the resilience and prudence of officials and the preservation of unity and solidarity among the people of Iran."

The Iranian announcement came hours after Trump said he had agreed to a two-week suspension of bombing and attacks on Iran, subject to Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks"  a decision he described as a "double-sided CEASEFIRE."

Trump said the suspension is "subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz."

Earlier on Tuesday, he had warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran failed to meet his demands, an inflammatory war rhetoric that triggered backlash worldwide.

Many condemned the bluster as genocidal and said it amounts to a horrendous war crime.

Pope Leo XIV called the threat "truly unacceptable," while US lawmakers decried Trump's rhetoric as "pure evil," with many of them calling for the invocation of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.

The Strait of Hormuz, which carries approximately one-fifth of the world's oil, has been effectively blocked by Iran since the US and Israel launched their unprovoked and illegal war of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28.

Iranian officials had categorically stated that the strategic waterway will not be reopened unless its demands are met, which include the permanent cessation of US-Israeli attacks.

In line with the directive of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei and the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, and given Iran and the resistance's upper hand on the battlefield, the enemy's inability to carry out its threats despite all its claims, and the official acceptance of all the legitimate demands of the Iranian people, it has been decided that negotiations will be held in Islamabad to finalize the details.

This will take place within a maximum of 15 days, so that the details of Iran's victory on the battlefield may also be solidified in political negotiations.

The negotiations will begin on Friday in Islamabad. Iran will allocate two weeks for these negotiations and the timeframe may be extended by mutual agreement of the two sides.

The top security body said it is essential that during this period, complete national unity is maintained and victory celebrations continue with strength.

These negotiations, it asserted, are a national negotiation and an extension of the battlefield, so all people and political groups must trust and support this process, which is under the supervision of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution.

"If the enemy's surrender on the battlefield is transformed into a decisive political achievement in the negotiations, we will celebrate this great historic victory together. Otherwise, we will fight side by side on the battlefield until all the demands of the Iranian people are met," the statement noted.

"Our hands are on the trigger, and the moment the slightest mistake is made by the enemy, it will be answered with full force."

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Iran military vows to cut US, allied access to regional oil and gas, force American retreat

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 9:14 PM

Iran's highest operational command unit has issued the United States, the Israeli regime, and their allies a stern warning against further transgression against the country's infrastructure.

The comments were issued on Tuesday on the part of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters that coordinates operations between the Army and the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).

"We will target the infrastructure of the US and its allies in a way that will deprive them of the region's oil and gas for years and force them to withdraw from the region," spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari said in a statement.

The comments came following repeated attacks by the United States and the Israeli regime against various Iranian infrastructural sites, including petrochemical facilities, railways, and bridges, as part of their February 28-present unprovoked aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

They also followed a so-called tight deadline issued by US President Donald Trump for the Islamic Republic to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz that it has shut down to the adversaries and those abetting their atrocities.

The Islamic Republic has categorically rejected any form of submission, asserting it would only settle for a conclusive end to whatever instance of aggression against the nation.

Most recently, Iran's Armed Forces responded with a 99th wave of retaliatory strikes against sensitive and strategic American and Israeli targets across the region.

The latest phase featured the IRGC's firing missiles from twin launch systems for the first time during the reprisal.

The spokesman asserted, "The wave of effective and crushing operations by Iran's Armed Forces against the military, security, and economic infrastructure of the Zionist regime in the occupied territories, as well as against centers associated with the criminal United States in the region, will continue with even greater intensity and volume."

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True Promise 4: Iran and resistance axis ops. against US-Israeli assets on April 7

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 8:53 PM

By Press TV Website Staff

Iranian armed forces and resistance groups across the region continue to carry out retaliatory military operations against the United States and the Israeli regime.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army conducted multiple operations as part of Operation True Promise 4, which was launched immediately after the US-Israeli coalition carried out an unprovoked act of aggression against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28.

Iranian armed forces have so far carried out 99 waves of missile and drone strikes with advanced weaponry targeting Israeli military facilities in the occupied territories, as well as US occupation bases and assets scattered across the West Asia region.

The Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement and the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have also joined the front against the external aggressors, inflicting heavy blows on the enemy.

Hezbollah's operations have been primarily focused on Israeli military sites in the occupied territories. Its operations are both in response to the assassination of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and the relentless ceasefire violations by the Israeli regime over the past year.

Iraqi resistance groups have also been carrying out daily operations, primarily against American military assets in Iraq and other Arab countries.

Below is a list of operations carried out by the Iranian armed forces, as well as resistance movements in Lebanon and Iraq, against the US and the Zionist regime on April 7:

Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC):

An MQ9 drone was downed by the fire of the IRGC Navy air defense in Qeshm.

The bases and interests of the US military in the Persian Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz, and the centers of military concentration and command control in the occupied Palestinian territories, were subjected to the strikes in wave 99th of Operation True Promise 4.

The operation carried out by the naval and aerospace divisions of IRGC, under the blessed code name "O Fatima Al-Zahra (PBUH)" and dedicated to the martyrs of the Jewish and Christian communities of the imposed wars, involved ballistic missiles and attack drones and was in response to the enemy's crimes in attacking the Asaluyeh petrochemical power plants and other energy facilities.

In the first part of the operation, the largest petrochemical complex belonging to the US companies Sadara, ExxonMobil, and Dow Chemical, located in the "Al-Jubail" region of Saudi Arabia, and the large petrochemical complex of the us company "Chevron Phillips," located in "Al-Ju'aymah" in Saudi Arabia, were effectively targeted with medium-range missiles and several suicide drones.

A container ship belonging to the Israeli regime, which was tasked with delivering vital military equipment to the regime by land using the port of Khorfakkan in the UAE, without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, was precisely hit during an intelligence operation and missile attack.

The position of the US "CVN 72" aircraft carrier strike group in the depths of the Indian Ocean was also attacked using long-range naval cruise missiles.

Five Tomahawk missiles and one cruise missile were shot down in the skies of Qazvin province. Five other Tomahawk missiles and one cruise missile were destroyed in the skies over Qazvin Province.

A Lucas drone and a reconnaissance drone were intercepted and shot down in the skies of Hormozgan by the new IRGC Aerospace air defense system and under the control of the country's integrated air defense network.

Iranian Army:

Targeted the petrochemical industries of the Israeli regime near "Dimona" and the headquarters of the army in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait with drone attacks.

Hezbollah:

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Metulla" and "Kfar Yuval" settlements with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Metulla" settlement for the second time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a group of Israeli soldiers east of the Khiam detention center with appropriate weapons.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Kiryat Shmona" settlement for the second time with a rocket barrage.

Defending Lebanon and its people, and in the context of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Metulla" settlement at 08:30 on Tuesday, 07/04/2026, for the third time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shlomi" settlement.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Even Menachem" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted two Israeli military helicopters in the skies of the town of Biyada with surface-to-air missiles, forcing them to retreat.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted two "Merkava" tanks in the Taybeh project with two attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Markaba with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles at Fatima Gate on the Lebanese-Palestinian border with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Netua" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in the context of the warning that the Islamic Resistance directed to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Metulla" settlement for the fourth time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shlomi" settlement for the second time with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning issued by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Shomera" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli military in the "Karmiel" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters confronted an Israeli warplane in the skies over the south with a surface-to-air missile.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Taybeh with artillery shells.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a Merkava tank in the town of Al-Bayyada with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the town of Taybeh with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles in the towns of Rashaf and Beit Lif with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and after monitoring a force from the Israeli military inside one of the houses in the town of Al-Bayyadah, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted it with a guided missile, leading to many casualties.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and within the framework of the warning directed by the Islamic Resistance to a number of settlements in northern occupied Palestine, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Nahariya" settlement with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters confronted an Israeli warplane in the skies of the Western Bekaa with a surface-to-air missile.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli forces on the eastern outskirts of the city of Bint Jbeil, using light and medium weapons in conjunction with targeting it with rocket fire and artillery shells.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, and in conjunction with the heroic clashes that the Islamic Resistance fighters are engaging in at the eastern edges of the city of Bint Jbeil, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted concentrations of enemy forces in the town of Maroun Al-Ras, the vicinity of the Mousa Abbas complex and the Liberation Triangle in the city of Bint Jbeil, and the two hills of Farez and Ghadmatha in the town of Ainata with bursts of rocket barrages and artillery shells.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers in the towns of Rashaf and Beit Lif with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers in the Taybeh project with rocket barrages and artillery shells.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a "Namira" vehicle in the Taybeh project with an attack drone.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the vicinity of the Khiam detention center with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted gatherings of Israeli soldiers at the Al-Mutilla site with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers at the "Misgav Am" site with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in a house in the town of Al-Taybeh with an attack drone and a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the occupied city of Safad and in the "Rosh Pinna" settlement with rocket barrages.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted infrastructure belonging to the Israeli army in the occupied city of Akka with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters launched an aerial attack using swarms of attack drones on gatherings of Israeli army soldiers at the "Metulla" site and "Yiftah" barracks.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the town of Taybeh with a rocket barrage.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted the "Yoav" barracks in the occupied Syrian Golan with a swarm of attack drones.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a Merkava tank on the eastern outskirts of the city of Bint Jbeil for the second time with a direct guided missile.

In defense of Lebanon and its people, the Islamic Resistance fighters targeted a Merkava tank on the eastern outskirts of the city of Bint Jbeil for the third time with a direct missile.

Targeted the "Nesherim" base belonging to the Israeli army southeast of the occupied city of Haifa with a barrage of qualitative missiles.

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IRGC downs six cruise missiles over Qazvin, Army intercepts two more

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 6:58 PM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) intercepted and destroyed six advanced cruise missiles over the skies of Qazvin province, while the Army shot down two additional missiles north of Tehran and over Hamedan, military officials announced on Tuesday.

The successful interceptions came as the US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran entered its 40th day.

The IRGC's Qazvin provincial corps announced that its advanced air defense systems, operating under the unified national air defense network, had destroyed five cruise missiles and one Tomahawk missile over the province in the past hours.

"Five cruise missiles and one Tomahawk missile were shot down over Qazvin by the IRGC's advanced air defense systems under the control of the country's integrated air defense network," the IRGC said in a statement.

The Tomahawk is a long-range, subsonic cruise missile widely used by the US Navy.

The Iranian Army's Air Defense Force also reported successful interceptions.

"Hours ago, two cruise missiles of the aggressor American-Zionist enemy were tracked and successfully engaged by Army air defense systems north of Tehran and in the Hamedan region, and were destroyed," the Army's public relations department said.

Unexploded GBU-39 SDB bomb recovered

In a separate announcement, the IRGC said a GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) was recovered unexploded and intact in Lorestan province.

The bomb was described as having "high destructive power despite its lightweight warhead, advanced guidance and control systems, GPS anti-jamming capabilities, and a composite body."

The GBU-39 is a precision-guided glide bomb used by US and Israeli aircraft.

Recovering an unexploded example provides Iranian military engineers with valuable intelligence on enemy tectechnology.

Israeli Orbiter drone downed

The IRGC's Hormozgan provincial corps announced that an Israeli Orbiter drone was destroyed in the Mishi village area of Sirik county, in southern Iran.

The Orbiter is a tactical unmanned aerial vehicle used for reconnaissance and surveillance.

The multiple interceptions highlight the effectiveness of Iran's layered air defense network, which combines IRGC and Army assets under a unified command.

Since the US-Israeli war began on February 28, Iranian air defenses have shot down hundreds of enemy missiles, drones and aircraft, including advanced fighter jets, cruise missiles and stealth drones.

The United States and Israel launched their unprovoked aggression by assassinating then-Leader of the Islamic Revolution and striking nuclear facilities, schools and hospitals.

Iran's armed forces have responded with nearly 100 waves of retaliatory strikes under Operation True Promise 4, launching hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles against American and Israeli targets across the region.

Iian has vowed to continue its defensive operations until the aggression ceases.

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Bridges, railways damaged in fresh US-Israeli airstrikes across Iran

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 5:52 PM

Officials have reported damage to crucial infrastructure, including several bridges and a vital highway, following a series of US-Israeli airstrikes in different parts of Iran.

The strikes, which were carried out on Tuesday, targeted a bridge close to Qom, a city of religious significance, as well as another bridge linked to railway access in the central city of Kashan, officials said.

In Kashan, the attacks resulted in the tragic loss of two lives and left three individuals injured, according to senior regional security official Akbar Salehi.

In northern Iran, a key highway that connects Tabriz, one of the region's largest cities, to Tehran via Zanjan was forced to close following a strike approximately 90 kilometers outside Tabriz.

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) also conveyed through a Telegram channel that an overpass bridge had been targeted.

Furthermore, there were reports of airstrikes affecting railway lines near Karaj, located outside the capital, Tehran.

Tuesday's attacks also led to the cancellation of all train services to and from Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, following warnings issued by Israel regarding the use of railways.

The strikes did not stop at transportation infrastructure; they also severely affected power supply.

Parts of Karaj and Fardis experienced significant power outages after airstrikes damaged power transmission lines and a substation.

Following the strikes, the Israeli military confirmed the completion of a series of operations aimed at targeting Iranian infrastructure without providing specific details about the sites involved.

In a televised address, Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli military targeted railways and bridges in Iran, claiming that they were being used by the IRGC, without providing evidence.

He also said yesterday Israel "destroyed transport aircraft and dozens of helicopters" which, he claimed again without evidence, were used by the IRGC.

Donald Trump, the president of the United States, has threatened to escalate strikes on Iranian infrastructure unless Tehran comes to the negotiating table to agree on a peace deal.

In a public social media post published last Monday, Trump openly threatened that should an agreement with Iran not be reached "shortly", the US would "blow up and completely obliterate" Iran's critical civilian infrastructure, including its electric generating plants, oil facilities, Kharg Island, a sea port for the export of up to 90% of Iran's oil products, and all desalination facilities.

This follows his earlier threat on March 21 to "hit and obliterate" Iran's power plants, "starting with the biggest one first."

The US and Israel started a fresh round of aerial aggression on Iran on February 28, some eight months after they carried out unprovoked attacks on the country.

Iran began to swiftly retaliate against the strikes by launching barrages of missile and drone attacks on the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on US bases in regional countries.

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Russia, China block Bahrain-sponsored UN resolution on Strait of Hormuz

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 5:21 PM

Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution on Tuesday that called for states to coordinate efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

The draft resolution, prepared by Bahrain and supported by the United States, received 11 votes in favor, two against and two abstentions - Pakistan and Colombia.

The text was already diluted from the initial goal of obtaining clearance to "unblock" the strait by force.

The latest draft "strongly encourages states... to coordinate efforts, defensive in nature, commensurate to the circumstances, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels."

It also "demands" that Iran "immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels and any attempt to impede transit passage or freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."

The critical waterway has been nearly blocked since the United States and Israel launched their war of aggression on February 28, sending ripple effects throughout the global economy.

Iran says it has not blocked the strait but imposed restrictions due to the security conditions created in the wake of the war on the country.

Tehran says all vessels must coordinate with it before trying to pass the waterway, which lies within its territorial waters.

It says it will not allow ships affiliated with the aggressors and their supporters to pass through the strait.

The Iranian Parliament has recently been discussing legislation to create a new legal regime for the strait to charge fees for safe transit through the strait.

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US will burn in 'regional inferno' in case of reckless move, warns advisor to Leader

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 4:38 PM

A senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution warns that the US will "burn in a greater inferno" in the event of any reckless move against Iran.

Iran's crushing retaliatory strikes have created "dark days" for the United States, forcing US generals and the international community to pressure Washington into a retreat, Mohsen Rezaei wrote in a message on X.

Rezaei, also a member of Iran's Expediency Discernment Council, said that Iran's Armed Forces have dealt such heavy blows to the enemy that US military leaders and world governments and nations are now pushing Donald Trump to end the aggression against Iran.

However, Rezaei noted that Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has forced Trump into a "political suicide" by prolonging this illegal war.

"Any reckless move by Washington will only see the United States burn in a greater regional inferno," Rezaei, a former IRGC chief commander, said.

Since the US and Israel launched their war of aggression against Iran on February 28, Iranian ballistic missiles and drones have repeatedly hit US facilities in the Persian Gulf countries and the Israeli-occupied territories.

Meanwhile, US troops are reporting overwhelming stress and disillusionment, with many considering leaving the military, according to reports.

Some US troops have reportedly told their veteran mentors that they "do not want to die for Israel."

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Global quagmire triggered by US-Israeli bombing of Iran's petrochemical sector

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 4:29 PM

In the early hours of Sunday, as Iran entered the first working days of the new Persian year, the United States and Israel launched yet another attack on Iran's vital petrochemical infrastructure.

The target was Asaluyeh, the heart of Iran's petrochemical sector, coming just days after a brutal strike on Mahshahr.

The aggressors escalated their war of economic terrorism, striking multiple facilities, including critical utilities that supply electricity, steam, and industrial water to surrounding plants.

By Monday, additional strikes were reported in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, extending the destruction to both Asaluyeh and Kangan.

The ongoing campaign by the US and Israel is a deliberate and malicious attempt to destabilize Iran's economy, targeting the most vulnerable points in the network.

It is an economic war of terrorism against a sovereign nation, waged with genocidal urges aimed at breaking the will of the Iranian people.

Mahshahr and Asaluyeh form the backbone of Iran's petrochemical industry. The regions are interconnected hubs where production depends on the shared infrastructure of utilities.

Mahshahr, accounting for 27% of the country's petrochemical production, plays a crucial role in supplying raw materials for many everyday goods, ranging from household appliances and automotive parts to pharmaceuticals and medical equipment.

The strikes are designed to inflict maximum damage by targeting the central systems that keep this network running in order to disrupt national production and inflict pain on ordinary workers and families.

The attacks on infrastructure began with steel and have now reached the petrochemical sector, since a significant portion of the country's revenue comes from these two industries.

Unlike classic military strikes, this approach is designed to weaken economic resilience, create shockwaves in the currency market, and undermine export capacity.

The Mahshahr petrochemical zone employs over 30,000 people, each of whom has a family relying on their income. Its utility complexes, among those targeted, are essential for providing power, water, and steam to the surrounding plants.

Pensioners, workers, retirees, and families whose lives are tied to these industrial zones are the ones who will feel the brunt of this aggression.

These attacks are an attempt to force the Iranian population into submission by causing economic pain and disrupting daily life. This is terrorism, pure and simple, disguised as strategic action.

Earlier attacks targeted fuel storage and distribution infrastructure in Tehran and Alborz, causing disruptions in supply chains.

Now, the US and Israel have moved to attack petrochemical utilities, taking their war of economic terrorism to an even more destructive level.

By cutting off Iran's ability to produce essential chemicals, they seek to create a ripple effect across the economy, damaging industries far beyond the petrochemical sector.

Iran is one of the world's leading suppliers of petrochemical products such as urea and polyethylene, key inputs for global agriculture and manufacturing. When supply from Asaluyeh and Mahshahr is disrupted, the global market feels the impact immediately.

Fertilizer prices, which are already high due to regional instability, will rise even further, driving up agricultural costs in countries that rely on Iranian imports.

The US and Israel, in their blind aggression, are in fact destabilizing global markets, raising food prices, and increasing the cost of living for millions of people around the world.

Polyethylene, another key product of Iran's petrochemical industry, is used in packaging and manufacturing industries worldwide. Any disruption in the supply of polyethylene raises costs across the entire production chain, from consumer goods to food packaging.

These price hikes are passed on to consumers, spreading the pain caused by US and Israeli aggression to every corner of the globe.

Amid the terrorist attacks on Iran, American-linked petrochemical and energy facilities have been targeted across the Persian Gulf.

Recent reports indicate that strikes have targeted US-affiliated petrochemical facilities in al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, owned by companies such as ExxonMobil, Dow Chemical, and Chevron Phillips. Additionally, Bahrain's Sitrah petrochemical complex was also hit.

Therefore, the United States and Israel are not only attacking Iran; they are waging a war that impacts economies around the world.

The attack in fact stems from the weakness and confusion of the American and Zionist leaders who, in their great folly, have not only plunged the Iranian people into bloodshed but now find themselves trapped in the quagmire they created by attacking Iran.

Internally, Iran's petrochemical industry has shown resilience in the face of repeated external pressures. Over the years, the sector has built domestic capacity, producing its own catalysts, engineering solutions, and maintaining critical infrastructure.

These efforts have helped Iran withstand previous rounds of sanctions and attacks. The government and industrial operators are currently working quickly to restore functionality and mitigate the damage.

The recent events have shown that, alongside technological advancements, the security of infrastructure and the management of geopolitical risks must be prioritized in policymaking.

Responding to this challenge requires a multi-layered approach, including strengthening passive defense, diversifying export routes, developing alternative infrastructures, and improving coordination between industrial and security institutions.

The US-Israeli attacks are not new. The Iranian people have been facing aggression and economic warfare for years. Despite the relentless pressure, the people of Iran will not bow, but will continue to work, produce, and resist.

The United States and the Zionist regime have underestimated the resilience of the Iranian people. Their strikes may have caused disruption, but they have not shattered Iran's resolve.

The workers in Mahshahr, Asaluyeh, and across the country will rebuild. The spirit of the Iranian people cannot be destroyed by bombs or by sanctions. The attacks may have set back progress, but they will not stop it.

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IRGC deploys twin-missile launch systems for first time in war

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 2:04 PM

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched missiles from twin launch systems for the first time in its retaliatory attacks against the US-Israeli aggression.

The Public Relations of the IRGC said on Tuesday that the latest launch marked a pivotal moment, as missile strikes targeted central and southern regions of the Israeli-occupied territories.

The areas affected included major urban centers such as Rishon Letzion, Petah Tikva, Be'er Sheva, and Tel Aviv, with over 30 points targeted in total.

Kheybar-Shekan missiles were used in the strikes, which are known for their precision and capability to hit strategic sites.

The IRGC warned of carrying out heavier retaliatory attacks against the occupied territories, adding that all the Israeli regime's industrial, infrastructure and military centers will be targeted in response to the "heinous crimes" against Iran.

It also called on residents of the occupied territories to evacuate the current centers immediately.

The commander of the IRGC Aerospace Force also confirmed the deployment of twin missile launchers, describing it as the beginning of a "new phase" in Iran's retaliatory operations.

Posting a video on social platform UpScrolled, Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mousavi said, "And now, the new phase of the war [has begun] with fresh, twin launchers for Fateh and Kheibar Shekan missiles, all previous strikes doubled."

In a statement announcing the launch of the wave 99 of Operation True Promise 4, the IRGC reiterated that Iran "has not been and will never be the one to initiate attacks on civilian targets."

On February 28, the United States and the Israeli regime launched an illegal, unprovoked war on Iran, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei as well as several top military comcommanders.

Iran began its decisive, page-turning Operation True Promise 4 in retaliation.

Barrages of missiles and drones have been pounding the Israeli-occupied territories as well as on the US bases in regional countries.

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Iran's Army pounds Israeli petrochemical plants near Dimona, US bases in UAE, Kuwait

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 1:50 PM

Iran's Army launched large-scale drone operation early Tuesday on Israeli petrochemical infrastructure near Dimona, a US naval maintenance hub in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and American radar and housing facilities in Kuwait.

"In response to the aggressions of the American-Zionist enemy against the Iranian petrochemical industries and other infrastructure, the power generation unit and fuel storage source of the petrochemical industry in the south of the occupied territories near Dimona, the US Navy maintenance center in Jebel Ali port in the UAE, and radar systems and housing buildings of American forces at the Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait have been targeted by heavy drone attacks," the Army said in a statement.

The Dimona industrial zone is of high sensitivity to Israeli economy and security. It hosts the regime's largest chemical complex in the Negev desert.

The power generation unit and fuel storage facility are located there, and the chemicals produced are used for certain military purposes, the Army said.

The US Navy maintenance center at Jebel Ali port in the UAE is one of the largest docking ports for American naval vessels in the region. It provides critical support and repair services to the US fleet.

The Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base in Kuwait hosts American military personnel. It houses radar systems and hangars capable of accommodating various military aircraft. The US Air Force's 332nd unit is stationed there.

Iran's Army dedicated the Tuesday operation to "anonymous soldiers, creative engineers, diligent workers, and all those involved in the Iranian oil, petrochemical and energy industries."

"Pioneers who, during the war, with their steadfastness, expertise and exemplary sacrifice, prevented the halt of the production cycle, light and hope in this land".

The United States and Israel imposed their illegal, unprovoked war on Iran on February 28. They assassinated Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and targeted nuclear sites, schools and hospitals.

Nearly 100 waves of missile and drone strikes under Operation True Promise 4 have been pounding the Israeli-occupied territories and the United States' assets in the region on a daily basis.

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IRGC intercepts US-Israeli missile, shoots down 2 hostile drones over Iran

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 11:04 AM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) air defense units have intercepted and destroyed an American cruise missile in central Iran and shot down two hostile drones in the skies over the southern parts of the country.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Aerospace Force of the IRGC said that it had intercepted and destroyed an AGM/158-B cruise missile over the village of Barzak, near Kashan, in the central province of Isfahan.

It also said that its forces managed to shoot down an Israeli Orbiter drone over Sirik town in the southern province of Hormozgan.

On Monday night, the Aerospace Force also shot down an American MQ9 Reaper drone over Qeshm Island in southern Iran, it added.

American and Israeli enemies have deliberately targeted Iran's civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, killing hundreds of Iranian people, since they waged their unprovoked war of aggression against the Islamic Republic on February 28.

Iran's armed forces have responded with nearly 100 waves of retaliatory strikes, codenamed Operation True Promise 4. Hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, along with drone attacks, have hit American and Israeli targets across the region.

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Wave 99: IRGC pounds US petchem sites, vows 'no restraint' if Iranian infrastructure hit

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 10:18 AM

The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has pounded US-owned petrochemical sites in the Wave 99 of its sweeping retaliatory strikes, warning the invading US-Zionist coalition and its regional partners that any further attacks on Iranian infrastructure will be met with zero restraint.

The operation was carried out by the IRGC's Naval and Aerospace forces starting at dawn today, according to the official statement.

Utilizing the holy code "Ya Fatimah al-Zahra (SA)," the sweeping attack was dedicated to the Jewish and Christian martyrs of imposed wars, the statement noted.

The retaliatory strikes were launched in direct response to the enemy's crimes and its aggression against the Asaluyeh petrochemical power plants and related facilities, the statement read.

During the operation, Iranian forces targeted US bases and interests in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, as well as military gathering centers and command-and-control hubs in the occupied Palestinian territories, using ballistic and cruise missiles alongside suicide drones, according to the statement.

In the first phase of the attacks, the largest petrochemical complexes owned by American companiesincluding Sadara, ExxonMobil, and Dow Chemicallocated in the Jubail region of Saudi Arabia were successfully targeted, the statement reported.

A large petrochemical complex belonging to the American company Chevron Phillips, situated in Ju'aymah, Saudi Arabia, was also effectively struck by medium-range missiles and suicide drones, the statement added.

Furthermore, a container ship belonging to the Zionist regime was hit with precision in a combined intelligence and missile operation, the statement read. The vessel was attempting to use the Khor Fakkan port in the United Arab Emirates to transport military equipment overland to the Zionist regime without passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the statement.

The destruction of this ship serves as a stark warning to any vessels attempting to cooperate with the Zionist regime and the United States in any capacity, the statement emphasized.

Iranian forces also targeted the position of the American terrorist aircraft carrier strike group "CVN 72" deep in the Indian Ocean, utilizing long-range naval cruise missiles, the statement declared.

"The foolish leaders of America, who have poured all their interests at the feet of the Zionists, do not even possess the power to calculate what critical assets of theirs are within the crosshairs of our warriors in retaliation for the attack on our infrastructure," the statement read.

"The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps once again declares that if the terrorist army of America crosses the red lines, our response will be beyond the region," the statement warned. "We have not been the initiators of attacks on civilian targets and will not be; however, we will not hesitate to retaliate in kind against the vicious aggressions on civilian facilities," the statement added.

"We will deal with the infrastructure of America and its partners in such a way that America and its allies will be deprived of the region's oil and gas for years," the statement threatened.

"The regional partners of America must also know that until today, out of good neighborliness, we have exercised immense restraint and maintained considerations in selecting targets for retaliation, but from now on, all these considerations have been removed," the IRGC added.

The warning comes as US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iranian power plants and bridges on Tuesday after failing to achieve objectives following 40 days of aggression against Iran.

The United States and Israel launched their criminal aggression against Iran on February 28 by assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei along with senior military commanders.

The enemies have deliberately targeted Iran's civilian infrastructure and energy facilities, killing hundreds of Iranian people.

Iran's successful retaliatory strikes have inflicted heavy losses on Washington and Tel Aviv and demonstrated the futility of their military posturing.

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Iran urges southern neighbors to deny US military use of airspace, territory

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 7:33 AM

Iran has advised Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates against allowing the United States to use their territory and airspace to launch military strikes against the Islamic Republic, reminding both nations about their "international responsibility" not to facilitate acts of aggression.

In two separate letters addressed to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and the president of the Security Council on Monday, Iran's UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani detailed multiple instances of US warplanes operating from or transiting through Saudi and Emirati airspace to carry out bombing raids on Iranian targets.

According to the letters, the attacks occurred primarily on March 23, 24, and 28, 2026.

In his letter concerning Saudi Arabia, Iravani listed over a dozen specific incidents, including a US F-16SV fighter jet conducting bombing raids on Iranian targets, an F-35 and F-15E jets carrying out additional strikes.

A separate letter detailed similar activity originating from the United Arab Emirates, including a US U-2S reconnaissance aircraft operating over Emirati airspace on March 23.

"In light of the international responsibility of States arising from placing their territory at the disposal of others for the commission of acts of aggression," Iravani wrote, Iran "expresses its strong and unequivocal objection" to the actions and "strictly calls upon" both Saudi Arabia and the UAE to observe good neighborliness and prevent further use of their territory against Iran.

The ambassador emphasized that while Iran remains committed to respecting the sovereignty of both nations, it "reserves its inherent right to take all necessary and appropriate measures, including the exercise of its right of self-defense, to safeguard its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence."

The United States and Israel launched their latest unprovoked war on Iran on February 28, assassinating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and targeting nuclear facilities, schools and hospitals.

Iran's armed forces have responded with more than 100 waves of retaliatory strikes, codenamed Operation True Promise 4. Hundreds of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, along with drone attacks, have hit American and Israeli targets across the region.

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Ex-White House Adviser Sees Rising Risks As Trump's Iran Deadline Looms

By Alex Raufoglu April 07, 2026

WASHINGTON -- With a US ultimatum set to expire, President Donald Trump has warned Iran that its infrastructure could be struck within hours if it does not comply with his demands, particularly reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran has rejected short-term cease-fire proposals, demanding a permanent end to hostilities and guarantees against future attacks.

RFE/RL spoke with Nate Swanson, former Iran director at the White House National Security Council who is now at the Atlantic Council, about the escalating crisis and prospects for diplomacy as Trump's deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern Time on April 7 looms.

RFE/RL: The US president has issued a stark ultimatum, warning Iran's infrastructure could face massive strikes within hours if key demands aren't met. How realistic is such a rapid, large-scale disruption of Iran's decentralized systems, and how much of this is strategic signaling rather than operational capability?

Nate Swanson: My assessment is that this is primarily being done for psychological reasons, to extract concessions from Iran and force some form of agreement.

I can't speak definitively on whether the US could hit all those targets in such a short time frame, but Iran's infrastructure is highly decentralized. There are dozens of separate power systems, transportation nodes, and other critical networks. The idea of neutralizing every bridge or key node within a matter of hours seems implausible.

This fits a broader pattern: threatening maximum consequences to generate leverage.

So far, "maximum pressure" has not fundamentally altered Iranian decision-making or forced capitulation. I don't see clear evidence that even this level of escalation would change their calculus, but ultimately that's a decision for Iran's leadership.

RFE/RL: We're also hearing about diplomatic efforts. Pakistan has floated a two-tier framework, the so-called Islamabad Accord, proposing a 45-day cease-fire followed by a comprehensive deal. What are Iran's key red lines, and is there any middle ground?

Swanson: Iran is looking for guarantees that this war won't simply restart in a few months. They want assurance that a cease-fire is permanent, not temporary. That's why they are rejecting short-term language and pushing for fundamentally different terms.

The second component is economic. Iran is seeking to benefit from its control of the Strait of Hormuz. They refer to this as reparations, but in practice it could take a number of forms -- essentially formalizing a mechanism through which they derive ongoing economic concessions tied to the waterway.

What has changed in recent days is that Iran appears increasingly confident, perhaps overly so, about what it can achieve. Their demands have expanded to include broader regional issues such as hostilities in Lebanon, which were not previously central to their position. That raises the bar significantly and makes a near-term deal much less likely.

RFE/RL: There have been leadership changes inside Iran. Is there evidence of a pragmatic faction emerging, or are hard-liners consolidating control?

Swanson: The system is extremely opaque. Even for those who follow Iran closely, it's very difficult to determine who is actually making decisions or how authority is distributed at any given moment.

That said, hard-liners are clearly emboldened.

Certain figures have gained influence in recent developments, and the overall trajectory points toward stronger hard-line participation in decision-making. Whether this amounts to a full consolidation of power is still unclear, it's simply too early to say. These kinds of transitions typically unfold over time.

RFE/RL: Trump suggested Iranians might be willing to endure infrastructure losses in exchange for freedom. Is that your assessment?



Swanson: Iranian society is not monolithic. There are certainly people who want the regime to collapse, and there are others who strongly support it. A significant portion of the population falls somewhere in between and is primarily focused on day-to-day survival.

My expectations for mass mobilization are low. While some segments may support continued pressure, many others simply want the conflict to end. It's very difficult to generalize, and I wouldn't assume a unified response from the population.

Calling for uprisings in the current environment is extremely risky. Protests have been brutally suppressed, and there have been no meaningful defections from the security apparatus. Encouraging people to take to the streets could put lives at risk without producing tangible outcomes.

In the longer term, the focus should be on influencing the decision-making of Iran's leadership. Whoever governs Iran needs to understand that their choices will determine whether the country stabilizes and prospers or remains isolated and in conflict.

RFE/RL: You said earlier that Tehran views the current situation as a continuation of the June 2025 war, while the United States treats it more as a fresh starting point. For Iran, this is essentially a fight for survival. How does this fundamental disconnect in perspective affect the prospects for a diplomatic breakthrough?

Swanson: It's a major obstacle. The US is focused on moving forward quickly, while Iran places significant weight on historical grievances and past actions.

There's also a deep lack of trust, especially given the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and subsequent developments. That makes negotiations much more difficult.

Since the June 2025 conflict, Iran's position has hardened considerably. There is far less flexibility, and the leadership appears more focused on preparing for sustained confrontation than on compromise.

RFE/RL: Has control over the strait become the central bargaining chip?

Swanson: Yes. Iran now effectively has a fourth pillar in its security strategy: control of the Strait of Hormuz.

This is extremely significant. It directly affects global commerce and US interests. In some ways, it has become even more consequential than other elements, such as proxy forces, which are increasingly seen as liabilities.

That represents a major shift and gives Iran a new, very powerful source of leverage.

RFE/RL: If the conflict continues for a prolonged period, what would that mean for the unity of countries aligned against Iran? Do you expect US allies to remain aligned, or could they begin pursuing separate arrangements with Tehran?

Swanson: There's a real risk of divergence. Both European and Gulf partners are already reassessing their positions and recalibrating their relationships with both the US and Iran.

In the short term, alignment largely holds. But the longer the conflict continues, the greater the pressure on these countries to pursue their own interests, including the possibility of separate arrangements with Tehran.

We're already seeing subtle shifts -- both in Europe and among Gulf states -- and those differences are likely to become more pronounced over time if the conflict continues.

The interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-trump- deadline-power-plant/33726600.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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It is deeply regrettable that this resolution did not pass: UK Explanation of Vote at the UN Security Council

Speech

UK Explanation of Vote delivered by Ambassador Archie Young, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on the Middle East

From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Archie Young CMG

Published 7 April 2026

Location: United Nations, New York

Delivered on: 7 April 2026 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered)

No country should be allowed to hold the world's economy hostage.

Yet that is exactly what Iran is doing, by denying the right of transit passage, a key navigational right under international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Today, Russia and China chose to shield their ally, Iran, rather than join international efforts to open the Strait and avert risks to the global economy.

We reject the claims made by Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi last week that the efforts by the Council to open the Strait will 'complicate the situation'.

It is Iran's actions that have closed the Strait.

This has already had dire consequences, and the longer this stranglehold continues, the worse the situation will get.

In the last 24 hours, we have heard only nine vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz, an international shipping route that would normally see up to 150 vessels a day.

The World Food Programme has estimated that this hostile act could push 45 million more people into extreme hunger by June.

We supported Bahrain's initiative, and it is deeply regrettable that this resolution did not pass.

The United Kingdom is already supporting our allies in the Gulf to defend themselves, in accordance with the existing and inherent right to individual and collective self-defence.

We all want to see the de-escalation of tensions in the Strait, and we welcome current diplomatic efforts underway and stress the importance of respect for international law, including the international law of the sea as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

As my Foreign Secretary said last week, when the UK convened over 40 countries in support of the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, we are determined to see every possible diplomatic, economic, and coordinated measure to get the straits reopened.

We will not cease in these efforts.

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China, Russian Federation Veto Security Council Draft Resolution by Gulf States to Safeguard International Shipping through Strait of Hormuz

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

10130th Meeting (AM)

SC/16330

7 April 2026

The Security Council today rejected a draft resolution submitted by several Gulf States that would have strongly encouraged countries to coordinate defensive efforts and deter attempts to interfere with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Today's vote follows multiple rounds of negotiations, and occurs against a backdrop of regional escalation in the wake of military action commenced by Israel and the United States against Iran on 28 February. The Council has since been briefed on spillover effects in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

On 11 March, the Council adopted resolution 2817 (2026), through which the organ condemned Iran's "egregious attacks" against neighbouring Gulf States, as well as any actions or threats from Tehran aimed at interfering with international navigation through the Strait of Hormuz or threatening maritime security in the Bab-el-Mandeb. Both straits are major maritime chokepoints.

Meanwhile, the Secretary-General has urged the United States and Israel to stop the war and called on Iran to cease attacking its neighbours, stressing that conflicts only end when leaders "choose dialogue over destruction".

Major Disruption to Agricultural, Technology Supply Chains; Other Waterways at Risk of Same Fate

Abdullatif bin Rashid Alzayani, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bahrain, Council President for April, presided over today's meeting. Speaking in his national capacity before the vote, he noted that the Strait of Hormuz serves as a transit route for approximately 38 per cent of global crude oil, 29 per cent of liquified petroleum gas, 19 per cent of liquified natural gas and 20 per cent of refined petroleum products, as well as 30 per cent of the world's helium supply.

"Consequently, any disruption to the flow of these resources does not merely impact energy markets," he said, pointing to additional effects on agricultural supply chains, global food security and sectors dependent on advanced technology. Noting that member States of the Gulf Cooperation Council represent the primary source of global energy supplies, he said: "We declare loudly and unequivocally before this Council, which is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security, that [Iran] has no right to close this waterway to international navigation."

He warned that, if the Council permits the Strait of Hormuz to remain closed today, "such a scenario would inevitably be replicated in other straits and waterways, thereby transforming the world into a jungle where force, arrogance and hegemony prevail". He added that today's draft "does not create a new reality", but "constitutes a serious response to a pattern of recurring hostile Iranian behaviour", and urged all Council members to support it.

However, by a vote of 11 in favour to 2 against (China, Russian Federation), with 2 abstentions (Colombia, Pakistan), the draft resolution was not adopted owing to the negative vote of a permanent Council member.

After the vote, Mr. Alzayani expressed regret that the Council did not adopt the draft, stating that such inaction undermines the organ's credibility. "Failing to adopt this resolution sends the wrong signal to the world," he emphasized, calling on the Council to shoulder its responsibility and on Iran to fully comply with its obligations instead of attacking its neighbours.

States Who Opposed: Biased Text Punishes Victim while Omitting Crimes of Israel, United States

However, the representative of China, whose delegation voted against the text, said that the proposed draft "failed to capture the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner". Noting that it contained one-sided condemnations, he stressed that "this war should never have happened" and called on the United States and Israel to cease what he described as illegal military actions. He also called on Iran to stop its attacks and noted that his delegation is currently working alongside Moscow on an alternative resolution to address the situation.

Beijing and Moscow announced plans to introduce an alternative text soon. "Our draft will be concise, equitable and balanced," said the representative of the Russian Federation, who also cast a veto today. By contrast, he noted that today's resolution  which "abounded with unbalanced, inaccurate and confrontational elements"  presented Iranian actions as the sole source of regional tensions. Illegal attacks by the United States and Israel were "not mentioned at all", he observed. Moreover, he stressed that the implications of the text are "clear to us", reminding Council members what the "loose and expansive interpretation" of resolution 1973 (2011) wrought in Libya.

"The objective of this draft is obvious," stated Iran's representative, as it seeks to "punish the victim for defending its sovereignty and vital national interests in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz while providing political and legal cover for further unlawful acts by the aggressors". Adding that "this was a United States draft" in substance, he welcomed that China and the Russian Federation demonstrated a "responsible" use of the veto and that Colombia and Pakistan abstained from voting on a text that would have normalized the use of force based on vague, unfounded allegations.

States Who Abstained Urge Time and Space for Diplomacy

"Time and space must be allowed for ongoing diplomatic efforts," urged Pakistan's representative. To that end, he spotlighted a five-point plan announced by his country and China that calls for an immediate end to hostilities; the launch of inclusive peace talks; the protection of civilians and critical infrastructure; the restoration of maritime security in the Strait; and a firm reaffirmation of international law as an indispensable framework for a lasting political settlement.

Similarly, the representative of Colombia said that her delegation abstained from today's vote because "the text before us today is far from contributing to a negotiated solution". She, too, underlined the need to give space to ongoing mediation efforts, adding: "Measures that ramp up the confrontation run the risk of undermining these opportunities and hampering progress towards negotiated and sustainable solutions."

States in Favour Denounce China, Russian Federation for Shielding Iran

"The United States stands with the people of the Gulf at this moment of reckoning," declared that country's representative. By contrast, he stressed that China and the Russian Federation "sided with a regime that seeks to intimidate the Gulf into submission". Recalling that "the Iranian regime's first act was to take dozens of Americans hostage" 47 years ago, he said that it now takes the Strait of Hormuz hostage and, with it, the world's economy. He added: "Well, colleagues, that may be its last act. We'll see."

Others also spoke out against the vetoes cast today, with the representative of France expressing regret that the Council was blocked from supporting efforts to provide safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Today's resolution aimed to encourage "purely defensive measures, without spiralling towards escalation", he noted, also pointing out that it featured calls for de-escalation and resumed diplomatic efforts. "It is hard to understand that two permanent members of the Security Council, who state their commitment to diplomacy and peaceful dispute resolution, cast their veto in light of these provisions," he said.

"No country should be allowed to hold the world economy hostage," declared the representative of the United Kingdom. However, today "Russia and China chose to shield their ally Iran, rather than join international efforts to open the Strait and avert risks to the global economy", he said. While expressing regret over the vetoes cast today, he welcomed ongoing diplomatic efforts and emphasized: "We all want to see the de-escalation of tensions in the Strait."

No Military Solution: Iran Must Cease Attacks

"There is no military solution," stressed Panama's representative, insisting that dialogue and diplomacy are fundamental tools for achieving a sustainable outcome. Nevertheless, he said that the Council cannot stand by when international peace and security are directly threatened. Iran's continued failure to comply with its international obligations and persistent noncompliance with binding resolutions "leaves this Council with a responsibility to act", concurred Latvia's representative.

"Our vote today reflects our belief in the urgent need to address these developments," said Denmark's representative, who stressed that Iranian attacks must cease immediately and that good-faith negotiations must resume. "As a great maritime nation, Denmark is committed to maritime security, to open sea lanes and to the safety of all seafarers," she added. Greece's representative agreed: "Any options by Iran that jeopardize the unimpeded passage of commercial and merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz must cease immediately."

As the meeting neared its end, Mr. Alzayani took the floor again in his national capacity to stress that the Strait is an international waterway and a public good. "It is not the property of Iran," he underscored. The representative of the United States, addressing his counterpart from Iran, warned: "As people go hungry and as economies suffer, it is squarely on your shoulders."

Iran Decries United States President for Initiating War of Aggression

For his part, Iran's representative pointed to recent remarks made by the President of the United States, "who initiated the war of aggression". These included statements on 25 and 30 March threatening to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, a threat on 1 April to "bring Iran back to the Stone Age" and a pledge on 5 April to target civilian infrastructure, he recalled.

And, citing today's remarks that "the whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back", he stressed: "Such rhetoric is unfitting of any political leader, let alone the head of a permanent member of the Council entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security."

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UN Security Council fails to adopt draft resolution on Strait of Hormuz

Global Times

(Xinhua) 08:18, April 08, 2026

UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday failed to adopt a draft resolution that "strongly encourages" states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait of Hormuz, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels.

Eleven members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution, China and Russia voted against it, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.

The draft resolution was proposed by Bahrain in coordination with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as with Jordan.

In his explanation of the vote, China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said the draft resolution failed to capture the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner.

"The Security Council should not rush to vote on a draft resolution when serious concerns have been raised by members," Fu said.

He expressed hope that peace and stability would be restored and affirmed China's commitment to addressing the situation properly by tackling its root causes.

"This war should never have happened," Fu said, urging the United States and Israel to halt their "illegal military actions."

"At a time when the United States is openly threatening the very survival of a civilization, when the current hostilities imposed on Iran are very likely to further escalate, the draft resolution, should it have been adopted, would send an extremely wrong message and have very serious consequences," Fu said.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the draft resolution presented Iranian actions as the sole source of regional tensions, while illegal attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran were "not mentioned at all."

Noting that the draft resolution "abounded with unbalanced, inaccurate and confrontational elements," he said it constituted a "fundamentally erroneous and dangerous approach" to the situation in the region and its implications are "clear to us."

Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said the draft seeks "to punish the victim for defending its sovereignty and vital national interests in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, while providing political and legal cover for further unlawful acts by the aggressors."

"In substance, this was a United States draft," he added, expressing appreciation to China and Russia for their responsible action in exercising the veto, as well as to Pakistan and Colombia for abstaining and recognizing the serious implications of the text, which would have normalized the use of force based on vague and unfounded allegations.

Iran has responded to the brutal war through proportionate measures to prevent the passage of vessels associated with the aggressors, and non-hostile vessels will be free to exercise their right of passage, he said.

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'Our vote will stand the test of history': Chinese envoy after vetoing UN Security Council draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 08, 2026 09:09 AM

The UN Security Council on Tuesday local time failed to adopt a draft resolution that "strongly encourages" states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait of Hormuz, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

Eleven members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution, China and Russia voted against it, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained. The draft resolution was proposed by Bahrain in coordination with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as with Jordan, Xinhua reported.

In his explanation of the vote, China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said that the draft resolution failed to capture the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner.

"China attaches great importance to the draft resolution submitted by Bahrain on behalf of Gulf States. We fully understand their serious concerns. We are committed to solving the issue properly, and we have participated constructively in the consultations," Fu said.

Under the current circumstances, this draft resolution should clearly identify the root causes of this conflict, seek appropriate solutions to address the root causes and ensure the safety and security of shipping lanes, and strive to promote dialogue and achieve peace, the Chinese envoy noted.

"It is regrettable, however, that the draft resolution fails to capture the root causes and full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner. It contains one-sided condemnation and pressure, the characterization of the situation as threat to international peace and security, as well as the use of armed escorts. Such language is highly susceptible to misinterpretation or even abuse," Fu stated.

In responding to claims made by the US representative, Fu said that "we are much more convinced now that China's position is objective and impartial, reflecting the image of a responsible major country that upholds international fairness and justice. Our vote will stand the test of history."

The merits of this conflict are crystal clear, Fu said, adding that the US and Israel, without authorization from the Security Council and while negotiations between Iran and the US were underway, launched military strikes against Iran. This is in clear violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations, he added.

"China does not go along with Iran's attacks on Gulf States and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Like all parties, China hopes that peace and stability will be restored to the Strait as soon as possible and navigation will resume," Fu said.

The Chinese envoy also noted that China has made tremendous efforts to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East. China has engaged in intensive consultations and mediation with relevant parties. China and Pakistan have issued a Five-Point Initiative for Restoring Peace and Stability in the Gulf and Middle East Region, calling for immediate cessation of hostilities, start of peace talks as soon as possible, security of non-military targets, security of shipping lanes, and primacy of the UN Charter.

"This is an open initiative and welcomes the response and participation by countries and international organizations," Fu said.

In a statement posted on its X account on Wednesday, the Permanent Mission of Iran to the UN said that Iran expresses its appreciation to China and Russia for their responsible conduct and today's principled use of the veto in the UN Security Council.

"By blocking a flawed draft, they upheld the UN Charter and prevented the Security Council from being misused to legitimise U.S. aggression under the pretext of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf," the X post said.

"They stood firmly on the right side of history."

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US, Iran agree on two-week ceasefire deal with planned talks in Islamabad in dramatic reverse; Israeli PM says he supports temporary truce if Iran opens straits

Global Times

By Wang Qi Published: Apr 08, 2026 11:43 AM

In a stunning turn of events closely watched by the world, the US-Israeli operation against Iran that had dragged on for over a month has dramatically reversed, ushering in a significant de-escalation of tensions. Hours after US President Donald Trump threatened "a whole civilization will die," the US leader announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday night. Iranian side later confirmed the two-week ceasefire deal negotiated by Pakistan, saying it does not mean an end to the war with release of Tehran's 10-point peace plan.

In a Truth Social post on Tuesday local time, Trump claimed that he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks." He wrote that his decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said. "We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he said.

Hours later, in a statement published by Mehr News Agency, Iran's Supreme National Security Council has confirmed the reported two weeks ceasefire deal negotiated by Pakistan. The statement said that the ceasefire agreement was reached with the approval of Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, per the Al Jazeera.

The statement said deal is a "victory for Iran," adding that negotiations for a permanent deal will be held in Islamabad on Friday, said the report.

According to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, Iran's 10-point plan includes US commitment to ensure no further acts of aggression; Continued Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz; Acceptance of Iran's nuclear enrichment rights; Lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions; Payment of damages to Iran for loss in the war; Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday shared a statement on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council on X, saying that "for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's armed forces and with due consideration to technical limitations."

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," read the statement.

Following US and Iran's announcements, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in an X post on Friday that the ceasefire deal between Iran and US, along with their allies, is "effective immediately."

"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," Sharif wrote in the post.

He stressed that both parties have displayed "remarkable wisdom and understanding" and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability throughout this high-stakes mediation. "We earnestly hope, that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days!"

Zhu Yongbiao, a Middle East affairs expert at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times that as both sides were locked in a very painful stalemate, continuing the conflict would make the costs of war increasingly unbearable. Therefore, negotiations are aligned with the expectations of both parties.

According to Zhu, from the US perspective, for the most parts of Iran's 10-point proposal, may be unrealistic, particularly demands such as lifting sanctions and providing compensation.

"This 10-point plan serves as an opening statement for negotiations," Zhu said. "However, the actual text of a long-standing ceasefire agreement will still require further communication between the two sides."

As concerns over a potential military conflict in the Middle East eased significantly, Brent crude oil prices pulled back sharply on Tuesday, while spot gold price rose. Stocks are rushing higher worldwide on Tuesday as a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East helps stabilize investors' sentiment and alleviate fears of energy supply shocks.

Some regional countries have express welcome to the ceasefire. The Iraqi Foreign Ministry said Baghdad hopes the truce will deescalate tensions and lead to strengthening security and stability in the region, Al Jazeera reported.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the move "represents a very important opportunity that must be seized to make room for negotiations, diplomacy and constructive dialogue" in a statement on Facebook.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he supports temporary truce subject to Iran opening straits, according to Xinhua.

Israel supports the US-Iran two-week ceasefire, "subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office said Wednesday.

The ceasefire does not include Lebanon, the office said in a statement.

Before that, one unnamed Israeli official was quoted by Al Jazeera as saying that the ceasefire deal came as a complete surprise. It came to them as a last-minute notification, as it did for everybody else. The CNN quoted an Israeli source saying that Israeli officials are concerned about the temporary ceasefire agreement the US has reached with Iran, but Israel will abide by the ceasefire.

According to AL Jazeera, in the hour and a half or so since the announcement by President Trump about the ceasefire, there have been at least two Israeli air strikes here in Lebanon.

The Chinese expert added that in the short term, it is highly likely that the US will conduct parallel talks with Israel and Iran simultaneously. At the same time, Israel and Iran are expected to continue their hostile posture toward each other.

Besides Pakistan's mediation, China and Russia on Tuesday blocked a UN Security Council resolution, which "strongly encourages" states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the strait.

China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said at the UN event on Tuesday that the UN Security Council's actions must not grant a license to the use of force, let alone further exacerbate tensions and add fuel to the fire, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

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FM Araghchi says Iran will cease defensive strikes if unprovoked attacks are halted

Iran Press TV

Wednesday, 08 April 2026 12:10 AM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has announced on behalf of Iran's top security body that the Islamic Republic would halt its defensive strikes if unprovoked attacks targeting the country were halted.

The top diplomat made the remarks on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) in a statement posted on X on Wednesday.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," the statement read.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," it added.

The decision, Araghchi added, came following intervention on the part of Pakistan, the United States' request for negotiation based on Washington's 15-point proposal, and President Donald Trump's announcement of acceptance of Iran's 10-point proposal.

The foreign minister also thanked Islamabad for its efforts towards resolving the situation arising from the US's joining the Israeli regime in the adversaries' latest bout of unprovoked aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.

Earlier, Trump said he had agreed to a two-week suspension of bombing and attacks on Iran, subject to Tehran reopening the strait.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said he would "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," a decision he described as a "double-sided CEASEFIRE."

The SNSC subsequently declared a "historic and crushing defeat" of the United States and the Israeli regime after 40 days of war, announcing that Washington was forced to accept the Iranian proposal that includes a permanent ceasefire, the lifting of all sanctions, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from the region.

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US, Iran Reach Last-Minute Agreement On Two-Week Cease-Fire

By Alex Raufoglu April 08, 2026

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump and Iran have agreed to a two-week Pakistani-brokered cease-fire, pulling back from the brink to allow the two sides time to negotiate a peace deal.

Trump, who early on April 7 wrote that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran fails to reach a deal, said in a social media post that he had received a 10 point proposal from Tehran and he believes "it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

The Tasnim news agency, which is close to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), confirmed a cease-fire has been "established" between the two sides "with specific conditions."

"...wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote.

Trump gave no details of the Iranian proposal, but added that the agreement hinges on Tehran allowing for the free passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil and gas shipping lane.

Analysts pointed to that condition -- some 20 percent of the world's oil and gas pass through the waterway -- as being the key to the deal, adding that the stability of the cease-fire rests on Tehran.

"Now all eyes are on Iran as the president has made the cease-fire contingent upon Iran opening the strait," Alex Plitsas, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council and a former Pentagon official, told RFE/RL.

It was not clear if Israel had also agreed to the plan.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed in a poston X that if the attacks against Iran are halted, Iran's armed forces "will cease" their retaliatory strikes, which have been aimed at targets throughout the Middle East.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."

Trump's post followed his warnings that the United States would target Iran's power plants and bridges.

It also came just hours after US and Israeli air strikes hit multiple locations across Iran, including infrastructure and the strategic Kharg Island.

Senior Trump administration officials called the deal "a win," while Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, characterized the agreement as "a tactical pause -- a delay" by the United States to see if Iran will hold to the deal.

"I think President Trump retains the option of escalating. The attack plans have been prepared. That credible military threat remains," he told RFE/RL, adding that both nations remain in a position to strike.

"The Iranians have the ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz. So both can revert to previous postures if this deal fails to hold."

The last-minute move came amid global concerns over Trump's remarks on wiping out Iranian civilization, with Pope Leo, an American, suggesting it was "truly unacceptable" and others warning against attacks on civilian infrastructure.

There had been few signs that the sides were ready for compromise in the war, which began with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28, and little overlap between proposals put forth by Washington and Tehran.

"The ceasefire, should it hold, could serve as a more general off ramp to future hostilities. In this sense, escalation -- even the threat of it -- may have been necessary to precipitate the current de-escalation," Cale Brown, former State Department Deputy Spokesperson during Trump's first administration and chair of Polaris National Security, told RFE/RL.

US Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said she welcomed a temporary cease-fire to stop the fighting with Iran, though concerns remain over what the war has achieved, citing a sharp increase in gas prices, the "enormous disruption" to the global economy, and the deaths of 13 US service members.

"Diplomacy is the only way forward. There must now be an intensive diplomatic effort, alongside our allies, to conclude this conflict and ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon," the senator from New Hampshire said in a statement late on April 7 after the cease-fire deal was announced.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran- deadline-deal/33727017.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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FM urges Tokyo to avoid going further down the wrong path as Japan plans to revise Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 07, 2026 04:13 PM

In response to media inquiries over reports that the Japanese government plans to formally revise the content of the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology this month, and the reported changes include no longer limiting exports to non-combat defense equipment and, in principle, allowing the export of lethal weapons; establishing "special circumstance" to permit arms exports to countries involved in conflicts, thus preserving export space; and removing the requirement to report such exports to parliament in advance, replacing it with notification afterwardChinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China is seriously concerned about the development.

Mao noted that many international scholars and visionary people in Japan have also been deeply worried about it, believing that the move marks a fundamental shift in Japan's post-war policy on arms exports. It seriously violates legally binding documents such as the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender. It also seriously violates Japan's Constitution and its existing domestic norms, and undermines the institutional safeguards established after World War II to prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism.

"I also noted that previous opinion polls conducted by the Japanese government show that a majority of Japanese people oppose relaxing restrictions on arms exports. All these signs indicate that right-wing forces in Japan are pushing the country's security policy in a more offensive and expansionist direction," Mao said.

Mao said that Japan's acceleration of remilitarization is a fact and reality, with concrete plans and actions that are threatening regional peace and stability. The international community must remain highly vigilant and firmly oppose the reckless moves of Japan's neo-militarism. China urges Japan to deeply reflect on its history of militarist aggression, honor its commitments in the field of military security, act prudently, and avoid going further down the wrong path.

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Japan-Egypt Foreign Ministers' Telephone Talk

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

April 7, 2026

On April 7, commencing at 7:00 p.m. for 40 minutes, Mr. MOTEGI Toshimitsu, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone talks with Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International cooperation and Expatriates of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Minister MOTEGI expressed his grave concern over the current deterioration of the situation in the Middle East and Japan's position and efforts, while expressing his respect for Egypt's efforts together with Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia toward achieving a diplomatic solution. He also expressed Japan's intention to work closely with Egypt toward the early de-escalation of the situation. In response, Minister Abdelatty stated that the de-escalation of the situation based on a diplomatic solution is the only mean to handle the crisis. He also stated Egypt wishes to work closely with Japan toward the early de-escalation of the situation in the Middle East. Both ministers confirmed to cooperate for stabilization of the situation surrounding Gaza, as well as strengthening of bilateral relation between Japan and Egypt, and concurred on continuing close communication between two countries.

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Japan-UAE Summit Telephone Call

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

April 7, 2026

On April 7, commencing at 9:00 p.m. for approximately 30 minutes, Ms. TAKAICHI Sanae, Prime Minister of Japan, held a summit telephone call with H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates. The overview is as follows:

At the outset, Prime Minister TAKAICHI conveyed her sympathy regarding the extensive damage attacks by Iran, which have heavy consequences on the UAE in particular. Prime Minister TAKAICHI also stated that Japan has strongly urged Iran to cease attacks on neighboring countries and the actions to threaten the safety of the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, Prime Minister TAKAICHI requested continued cooperation for the stable supply of crude oil. Prime Minister TAKAICHI also expressed appreciation for the UAE's support for ensuring the safety of Japanese nationals and the assistance for their departure. In response, the UAE President explained the UAE's position on the situation regarding Iran. The two leaders concurred on working together for the early de-escalation of the situation. The two leaders also welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations for Japan-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), and concurred on enhancing the bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas.

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Pacific Fleet's detachment arrives at port of Sihanoukville of the Kingdom of Cambodia

07 April 2026 05:37

The day before, a detachment of ships of the Pacific Fleet, consisting of corvettes Sovershenny and Rezky, arrived at the port of Sihanoukville of the Kingdom of Cambodia. Representatives of the Navy of the Kingdom of Cambodia met the Russian sailors at the berth. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the Kingdom of Cambodia Anatoly Borovik also visited the Russian ships.

During the stay in a foreign port, the crews of the ship detachments will take part in protocol events as well as in a cultural and sporting programme.

The detachment of Pacific Fleet ships left Vladivostok for a long-distance mission on 12 February 2026 to perform tasks in the Asia-Pacific region. Previously, as part of international activities, Russian Navy ships made calls at the port of Georgetown (Malaysia), port of Thilawa (Republic of Myanmar), port of Visakhapatnam (Republic of India), and port of Chittagong (People's Republic of Bangladesh).

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Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Designated as Terrorist Organization, Banned in Russia - FSB

Sputnik News

20260407

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria and its 29 branches in 14 European countries have been designated as terrorist by a court decision and banned in Russia, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Tuesday.

"Based on evidence collected by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), in cooperation with the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation, the Sheikh-Mansur District Court of Grozny, Chechen Republic, has issued a ruling designating the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI) and its 29 branches in 14 European countries as terrorist organizations and banning their activities in Russia," the FSB said in a statement.

Members of the CRI* have been taking part in Ukraine's terrorist attacks against the people of Donbass since 2014. The organization also conducted sabotage and terrorist attacks in the Belgorod and Kursk regions, killing Russian military personnel and civilians, the FSB noted.

The Chechen Republic of Ichkeria was founded in 1991 in the Chechen Republic, with its members fighting against the Russian government in the Second Chechen War. Since November 2007, it has been headed by Akhmed Zakayev, who is wanted internationally for terrorist crimes and hiding in the United Kingdom.

*a terrorist organization banned in Russia

 Sputnik

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Iran, U.S. agree to 2-week ceasefire, negotiations to be held in Pakistan

Xinhua) 14:00, April 08, 2026

WASHINGTON/TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the United States have agreed to a 2-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan.

Trump announced Tuesday he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

The decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, he wrote on social media.

The ceasefire came shortly before Trump's deadline for Iran to agree to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or the "whole civilization will die tonight."

Shortly before his announcement, Trump made phone calls with Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and a major mediator, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The New York Times reported, citing two U.S. officials.

In an interview with AFP, Trump hailed the agreement as a "total and complete victory," adding that Iran's uranium would be "perfectly taken care of" during the two weeks.

On the Iranian side, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

Araghchi also promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the 2-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying that Iran will hold negotiations with the U.S. side in Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

Pakistan, the broker of the ceasefire, confirmed the latest progress on Wednesday.

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X.

Sharif has earlier called on the U.S. side to extend the deadline set by Trump by two weeks, and requested Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.

Israel supports the temporary truce, "subject to Iran immediately reopening the straits and stopping all attacks on the United States, Israel and countries in the region," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

"Israel also supports the U.S. effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to the United States, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbors and the world," the statement said.

The office also claimed that the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon," and Israeli attacks against Hezbollah are expected to continue.

Explaining the reasons for making this decision, Trump said, "We have already met and exceeded all Military objectives."

Trump said the U.S. side had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, depicting it as "a workable basis on which to negotiate."

According to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, the 10-point proposal includes a U.S. commitment to ensure no further acts of aggression, continued Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of Iran's nuclear enrichment rights, and the lifting of sanctions, among others.

On potential negotiations with the United States, Araghchi stressed that the temporary ceasefire does not mean an end to war, pending negotiations on the details of the 10-point proposal.

The ceasefire eased tensions among regional countries and the global market. Global oil prices are plummeting by around 15 percent following the announcement of the ceasefire.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Missiles Hit Saudi Arabia's Key Industrial Hub  Reports

Sputnik News

20260407

A large explosion was reported in the industrial area of Jubail, one of the world's key petrochemical centers, producing around 60 million tons and accounting for roughly 6-8% of global output, Fars News reported.

The area hosts major projects including Saudi petrochemical giant SABIC, as well as the Sadara complex (with US-based Dow Chemical shareholders) and the Amiral project involving Aramco and TotalEnergies.

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said seven ballistic missiles launched toward the Eastern Region were intercepted and destroyed.

Authorities added that debris fell near energy facilities, with damage currently being assessed.

 Sputnik

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Ministry of Defense Spokesperson: Five Ballistic Missiles Launched toward Eastern Region Intercepted and Destroyed

Saudi Press Agency

Tuesday 19/10/1447

Riyadh, April 8, 2026, SPA -- Spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense Major General Turki Al-Malki stated that five ballistic missiles launched toward Eastern Region were intercepted and destroyed.

-- SPA

00:41 Local Time 21:41 GMT

0003

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U.S. Senator Jim Banks visits Taiwan, to meet President Lai

ROC Central News Agency

04/07/2026 11:12 AM

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) United States Senator Jim Banks, a Republican from Indiana, has arrived in Taiwan for a three-day visit, during which he will meet with President Lai Ching-te () and other senior officials to discuss issues of mutual interest.

Banks, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will engage in high-level meetings with Lai and other senior officials to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, trade and investment, according to separate statements issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

The AIT represents U.S. interests in Taiwan in the absence of formal diplomatic ties.

Banks has long upheld the "peace through strength" concept and has supported closer Taiwan-U.S. security cooperation, according to MOFA.

He has also called for easing the double taxation burden between the two sides and for building a secure semiconductor supply chain, it said.

The ongoing trip to Taiwan is his first visit to the Asia-Pacific region since assuming his Senate post in early 2025, according to MOFA.

According to the AIT, Banks is a U.S. Navy veteran. Before being elected to the Senate in 2024, he served in the United States House of Representatives and the Indiana State Senate.

While serving in the Indiana State Senate from 2010 to 2016, he chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs and Military Committee.

(By Joseph Yeh)

Enditem/ls

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Premier urges tougher legal oversight as KMT's Cheng visits China

ROC Central News Agency

04/07/2026 03:27 PM

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Premier Cho Jung-tai () on Tuesday called for stronger legal scrutiny of Taiwanese political leaders' exchanges with Beijing, amid an ongoing trip to China by opposition Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun ().

Speaking during a legislative session, Cho said Taiwan's political leaders should not surrender to China through nonresistance or inaction, adding that existing laws governing exchanges between Taiwanese political leaders and China should be strengthened to safeguard national security.

The Cabinet has proposed amendments to the Act Governing Relations between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area that would legally require lawmakers to disclose information and contacts with Chinese political and military figures.

Ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Puma Shen (), meanwhile, called for the act to cover the cross-strait activities of all political party leaders in Taiwan, regardless of whether they currently hold elected office.

Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) head Chiu Chui-cheng (), addressing the same session, said that while he supported Shen's thinking, any changes to the law required careful consideration as Taiwan has many political parties with different influences.

On Cheng's trip, Chiu said the KMT chair should ask Beijing to stop sending military aircraft and warships around Taiwan, and instead squarely face the Republic of China's (Taiwan's official name) existence, democratic values and way of life.

He added that Cheng should take seriously that China's ambition to annex Taiwan remains unchanged, and not become a tool of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) "united front" efforts to divide Taiwan by acting in accordance with the CCP's political script.

Following an invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping (), a KMT delegation led by Cheng departed for China on Tuesday for a trip scheduled to run through April 12.

(By Wang Cheng-chung, Chen Chun-hua, Wang Yang-yu and Frances Huang)

Enditem/ASG

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KMT chair leaves for China on 'peace tour' amid mixed reaction

ROC Central News Agency

04/07/2026 02:24 PM

Taipei, April 7 (CNA) Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun () departed for China on Tuesday on a controversial "peace tour" that could include a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping ().

"Through this trip to mainland, we want to show the world that the desire for peace is not coming from Taiwan alone," Cheng said at a press conference at KMT headquarters in Taipei.

Speaking before her flight on Tuesday morning, she said people were eager to see "the sincerity and determination of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to engage in peaceful dialogue and exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and resolve any possible differences."

The main opposition party leader also said the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was wary of China and even fearful of it, adding that she hoped to use the six-day "peace tour" to show that "peace across the Taiwan Strait is not as difficult as they think."

"If the KMT and the CCP can reconcile and work together for peace, why can't Taiwan's blue (KMT) and green (DPP) camps do the same?" she asked.

Cheng added that she had not been able to meet President Lai Ching-te () despite calling for a meeting between the leaders of Taiwan's two main parties after announcing the trip earlier.

Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory, to be "reunified" with the People's Republic of China (PRC) by force if necessary, despite the PRC never having had jurisdiction over the island.

It has used its military buildup to support an unending campaign of military intimidation against Taiwan, and some believe Beijing could launch a blockade or attack against the island to take it over.

Cheng said that although it is too late to prevent the wars and cross-strait tragedies of the past, it is not too late to prevent future conflict and spare this generation and the next from the devastation of war.

The KMT has taken a crucial first step, demonstrating to the international community that peace is always possible, she said.

Cheng's trip to China came at the invitation of the CCP Central Committee and Xi, whom Chinese authorities referred to as general secretary of the CCP when announcing the invitation on March 30.

The KMT chairperson was invited to lead a KMT delegation on a visit to Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing from Tuesday to Sunday, but it has not been confirmed whether she will meet Xi during the trip.

Cheng took a flight to Shanghai from Taipei Songshan Airport. Though groups supporting and opposing Cheng's trip gathered at the airport, neither caught sight of her, as she reportedly used the airport's special clearance channel rather than the departure hall.

Taiwan's government response

Earlier Tuesday, Premier Cho Jung-tai () told reporters he wished the KMT well in its party activities, but would closely monitor the trip.

During a legislative interpellation session, Cho added that any party representative or politically influential figure who makes public contact with the CCP should be subject to intense scrutiny, particularly from the public and the media.

In Taiwan, such contacts are not currently governed by clear legal rules in the same way they are for government officials.

(By Sunny Lai, Wang Yang-yu, Chen Chun-hua and Wang Cheng-chung)

Enditem/ls

*A correction was made on April 7, 2026: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that public contacts by government officials and lawmakers with the CCP are governed by clear legal rules. The reference to lawmakers has been removed, as a draft amendment to regulate such contacts for lawmakers has yet to be passed.

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KMT chairperson Cheng kicks off mainland visit; invitation signals dialogue remains open to Taiwan forces opposing 'independence', says mainland expert

Global Times

Invitation signals dialogue remains open to Taiwan forces opposing 'independence': expert

By Liu Xin, Wang Qi and Yin Yeping Published: Apr 07, 2026 02:23 PM

Smiling and waving as she stepped onto the tarmac at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport on Tuesday, Kuomintang (KMT) Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun arrived in Chinese mainland on Tuesday to kick off a closely watched six-day tour. Broadcast heavily across the Taiwan Straits, her midday arrival unfolded against the backdrop of rising tensions in the Taiwan Straits since Lai Ching-te took office.

Cheng's itinerarysweeping through Shanghai, Jiangsu Province, and finally Beijing before concluding on Sundaycarries profound weight. The visit is regarded as an important part of the exchanges and dialogue between the KMT and the CPC under the new circumstances.

Strengthening exchanges and dialogue between the two parties will have a significant and positive impact on maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and promoting the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, according to a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, per a Xinhua report on Tuesday.

Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, greeted Cheng and the delegation on the airport tarmac, according to Xinhua News Agency and Taiwan media outlet United Daily News (UDN).

The KMT delegation headed directly to Nanjing after arriving in Shanghai. Song hosted a welcome banquet in Nanjing on Tuesday evening for Cheng and her delegation. In her speech, Cheng stated that adhering to the 1992 Consensus and opposing "Taiwan independence" remains a solid and enduring political foundation, serving as the "anchor" that stabilizes cross-Straits relations, according to a video released by Shenzhen-based news service Zhinews on Tuesday.

She continued that over the past more than 30 years, Taiwan society has experienced multiple changes in ruling parties. Historical experience has proven that when the 1992 Consensus is upheld, the two sides of the Straits can engage in exchanges and dialogue; otherwise, the Taiwan Straits falls into turbulence and instability, she said.

At the welcoming banquet, Song Tao said that compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Straits are fully capable and wise enough to resolve their home affairs. "We are willing to work together with the KMT to uphold the 1992 Consensus, oppose 'Taiwan independence,' and jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits," Song said, according to Zhinews.

Highlighting peace

Speaking at a press conference ahead of her departure on Tuesday, Cheng said that first and foremost, the trip is to demonstrate to the world that both sides of the Taiwan Straits hope to resolve all potential differences and bring about the benefits of peace through peaceful means, dialogue, communication, and exchange. Therefore, this determination for peace is the most important message of the trip, according to a report from UDN.

Cheng said that whether there will be war or peace depends on the path people choose to take. In Taiwan, she said, they must make every possible effort to prevent war from breaking out, while also seizing every opportunity and possibility to expand the foundation for peace. It is with this aspiration, she said, that they are departing from Taipei today, ET Today reported.

Against the backdrop of heightened cross-Straits tensions, Cheng's mainland visit is a positive step for the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations. It signals the KMT's willingness to revive inter-party dialogue, conveys support on the island for the one-China principle, and helps reduce the risk of conflict, Xin Qiang, director of the Taiwan Studies Center at Fudan University, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The mainland's invitation, including Cheng's trip to Beijing, sends a clear signal that as long as political forces in Taiwan uphold the common political foundation of one China and oppose "Taiwan independence," the door to dialogue, exchanges and cooperation remains open, Xin said.

The delegation consists of about 30 people. In addition to three vice chairpersons - Chang Jung-kung, Hsiao Hsu-tsen and Lee Chien-lung - Yin Nai-ching, spokesperson for the KMT's culture and communications committee is also among the delegation, according to Taiwan media outlet SETN.

According to the itinerary released by UDN, on the morning of April 8, Cheng will pay tribute at the Mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen, founder of the KMT, in Nanjing before returning to Shanghai for follow-up visits and activities. She is scheduled to travel to Beijing on the afternoon of April 9. On April 11, the delegation is expected to meet with enterprises from the mainland and the Taiwan region.

Former KMT chairperson Lien Chan also paid tribute at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in his landmark 2005 visit. Such an arrangement itself embodies the historical memory of the development of cross-Straits relations, Zheng Jian, a professor of Taiwan studies at Xiamen University, told the Global Times.



Close attention across Taiwan

Cheng's visit has drawn wide attention across the Taiwan Straits. Media outlets including UDN, SETN and the "China Times" have prominently featured coverage of her mainland trip on the front pages of their websites, making related reports easily accessible to readers.

Taiwan regional media "China Times" cited Li Ci-ze, associate Professor of National Changhua University of Education, as saying that if the KMT and the CPC are able to resume high-level dialogue, it would suggest that the KMT retains communication channels and political credibility on cross-Straits affairs. Although such dialogue would be unlikely to resolve structural contradictions in the short term, he said it could serve as a starting point for future policy repair and a moderation of the overall atmosphere.

Quoted by Taiwan media outlet idn.com.tw, KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi said that amid global turmoil and rising regional security risks, Taiwan needs calm and foresight, not emotion and confrontation. He said Cheng's visit is a crucial opportunity to ease cross-Straits tensions and open a path forward for Taiwan.

In recent days, the DPP authorities have intensified smears against Cheng's visit. According to UDN, on Tuesday, DPP spokesperson Wu Cheng claimed Cheng's trip was entirely "orchestrated" and lacked equality and dignity. He also claimed the KMT had obstructed this year's general budget in the "Legislative Yuan" and attempted to delay consultations on the "arms procurement bill," which he said would "weaken Taiwan's self-defense resilience" but yield to the mainland.

The DPP's reaction reflects a sense of panic and anxiety, because its political mobilization has long relied on an "anti-China" information cocoon. Any cross-Straits exchange, especially high-level interaction, can have a "broken-window effect" by exposing people in Taiwan more directly to the reality of the mainland's policies, development and society. Once that long-standing narrative begins to crack, the DPP will face growing political pressure, Zheng said.

By choosing dialogue over confrontation, Cheng and the KMT reflect a mainstream call in Taiwan for peace, development, exchanges and cooperation. Bringing those voices to the mainland helps deepen mutual understanding across the Straits and foster cooperation between constructive forces on both sides, Zheng said.

Commenting on the visit's significance for cross-Straits ties, Lai Cheng-i, honorary chairman of the General Chamber of Commerce of Taiwan, told the Global Times on Tuesday that Cheng's trip to the mainland could serve as an "ice-breaking journey" similar to former KMT chairman Lien Chan's 2005 visit, which opened a new chapter in cross-Straits people-to-people exchanges.

Lai Cheng-i said recent policy positions adopted by the DPP authorities have strained cross-Straits relations, stalled exchanges, and hurt Taiwan's business opportunities and overall development. Against this backdrop, he said, "we have high expectations that it will help pave the way for the future recovery of cross-Straits economic and trade cooperation, as well as people-to-people exchanges."

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.04.07

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Apr. 6 (Mon.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 7 (Tue.) (UTC+8)



2.PLA activities:

1 sortie of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 1 sortie entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150407_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150407_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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China firmly opposes Japan-France 'joint statement' on Taiwan, rejects interference in China's internal affairs: mainland spokesperson

Global Times

By Global Times Published: Apr 08, 2026 12:09 PM

Resolving the Taiwan question is a matter for the Chinese people themselves, with no room for external interference. The so-called "joint statement" makes irresponsible remarks on the Taiwan question and interferes in China's internal affairs, which we firmly oppose, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, told a press briefing on Wednesday, in response to a question from a Global Times reporter regarding the "joint statement" issued after the meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and French President Emmanuel Macron, which claimed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits and was thanked by the Taiwan's "foreign affairs department."

Zhu stressed that the countries concerned must abide by the one-China principle and stop sending wrong signals to separatist forces aimed at "Taiwan independence."

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' attempt to split the motherland by counting on external forces is doomed to failure, Zhu added.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2026.04.08

Issuing AuthorityPolitical Warfare Bureau

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 a.m. Apr. 7 (Tue.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 8 (Wed.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities:

2 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN ships and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southeastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1150408_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1150408_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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3 terrorists neutralized after gunfight with police in Istanbul, 2 officers injured

Azerbaijan State News Agency - (AZERTAC)

07.04.2026 [18:33]

Baku, April 7, AZERTAC

Three terrorists were neutralized after a gunfight with police outside Yapi Kredi Plaza on Buyukdere Street in Istanbul's Besiktas district, while two officers were lightly injured, Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci said on Tuesday, according to Anadolu Agency.

Ciftci said the suspects, who engaged in an armed clash with police officers on duty in the area, have been identified. He added that they arrived in Istanbul from Izmit in a rental car, noting that "one had links to a group that exploits religion," while another, one of two brothers among the attackers, had a prior drug-related record.

Istanbul Governor Davut Gul described the incident as a "provocative act."

Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said an investigation has been launched into the incident.

Gurlek said on X that the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office "immediately initiated an investigation," assigning a deputy chief prosecutor and two prosecutors to the case.

He said prosecutors swiftly arrived at the scene and began on-site examinations, adding that the probe is being carried out "meticulously and in a multi-faceted manner" in coordination with law enforcement units.

Initial findings indicate that the attack targeted Turkish police officers deployed in the area.

Efforts are ongoing to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident, Gurlek added.

Turkish Communications Director Burhanettin Duran also said on X that security forces' rapid and decisive intervention "prevented a potentially larger threat."

Duran added that the attack would not weaken Ankara's determination to achieve its "terror-free Turkiye" and "terror-free region" goals, stressing that the state will continue its fight against threats and provocations with resolve.

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Three killed as Israeli consulate attacked in Turkish city of Istanbul

Iran Press TV

Tuesday, 07 April 2026 4:25 PM

At least three people have been killed and two police officers injured in an exchange of gunfire near the Israeli consulate building in the Turkish port city of Istanbul.

Turkish media, citing security sources, reported that all three assailants were killed by police outside the consulate in Istanbul's Besiktas district on Tuesday.

"Three people arrived in a car, tried to open fire, and security forces fired back," an eyewitness was quoted as saying. Video footage showed a police officer drawing his weapon and taking cover as gunshots rang out, with one person seen covered in blood.

Turkish Interior Minister Mustafa Ciftci stated that the attackers have been identified. He confirmed they traveled from Izmit, a city approximately 100 km east of Istanbul, in a rented car.

No Israeli diplomats are currently working in the consulate building in Istanbul, nor at the Israeli embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara.

In recent months, Turkey has seen massive demonstrations against Israel's ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip and its aggressive expansionist agenda across the region.

These latest developments come amid growing public anger over the ongoing US-Israeli war of aggression against Iran and Lebanon, which has now engulfed the entire West Asia region.

The Turkish government has declared the Israeli regime the aggressor and initiator of this war, viewing the Tel Aviv regime as a primary factor behind regional destabilization.

Senior Turkish officials have strongly opposed the illegitimate and unprovoked US-Israeli attacks on the Iranian people, while urging respect for Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Israel, which has made no secret of its vicious expansionist intentions, has also threatened to attack Turkey and other regional states.

Several senior figures within the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) have called on the government to sever all diplomatic ties with the occupied entity.

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Russian Drone Targets City Bus in Ukraine; At Least 4 Killed, 16 Wounded

By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 07, 2026

NIKOPOL, Ukraine -- A Russian drone hit a municipal bus in the Ukrainian city of Nikopol, killing at least four passengers and wounding 16 others. Ukrainian officials said it appeared to be a first-person-view drone, meaning the operator would have likely seen the passengers were civilians.

Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the regional military administration, said a municipal bus was pulling up to a stop in the center of Nikopol, in the eastern Dnipropetrovsk region, when it was hit by the drone on April 7. He said there were people both inside and waiting to board.

"It was deliberate terror against civilians," he wrote on Telegram.

"It's very scary because the buses are full of people going to work," one Nikopol resident told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service shortly after the attack.

"Just imagine how many victims there would be from just one strike," she added.

"We don't know how to live here -- how to get around the city, or even how to survive," she said, adding she had been near the site just 10 minutes before the strike. "It's very frightening."

Ukrainian authorities said it said a first-person-view -- or FPV -- drone was responsible for the incident. FPV drone are piloted remotely by a person using a direct video link, enabling the pilot to see up close what he is targeting.

Russian forces attacked the Dnipropetrovsk region more than 10 times overnight, the regional governor also reported.

An 11-year-old boy died and five others were wounded when a house caught fire as a result of a drone strike, he said.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported on April 7 that Russia launched 110 drones against Ukraine overnight.

In Russia's central Vladimir region, the local governor said Ukrainian drones struck civilian infrastructure, killing three people, including a child. Governor Aleksandr Avdeyev said a 5-year-old girl survived but suffered burns and was hospitalized.

Russian forces shot down 45 Ukrainian drones over the country overnight, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on April 7.

Leningrad regional Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko said that air defenses had shot down 22 Ukrainian drones over the northern region.

According to several Russian-language Telegram channels, Russia's main Baltic crude export port in the Leningrad region, Ust-Luga, was targeted.

Although the port had previously been damaged following multiple Ukrainian attacks, Bloomberg reported on April 6 that it had resumed oil shipments after brief disruptions.

Amid escalating attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a cease-fire focused on halting such strikes.

"If Russia is ready to stop strikes on our energy infrastructure, we will be ready to respond in kind," Zelenskyy said in his April 6 address, adding that the proposal had been conveyed via the United States.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, eight years after seizing control of the Crimean Peninsula and fomenting war in the Donbas, which comprises the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in eastern Ukraine.

Russia now occupies about 20 percent of Ukraine's territory and is demanding that Kyiv cede the portion of the Donetsk region that Moscow's forces have failed to capture in years of heavy fighting.

Control over the Donbas is one of the main sticking points in US-brokered efforts to end the war.

Several rounds of US-Ukraine-Russia talks have taken place over the last several months, but no peace talks have been taken place since the United States and Israel began bombing Iran on February 28.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-deadly- drone-strikes/33726601.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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EU Presses Ukraine On Reforms As Funding And Membership Prospects Hang In Balance

By Rikard Jozwiak April 07, 2026

The European Commission is increasing pressure on Ukraine to adopt several key reforms it was expected to pass last year, in a bid to secure more EU funding and advance toward membership of the bloc.

In a recent letter to the speaker of Ukraine's parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos notes that there are "several important draft laws currently under consideration."

In the letter, seen by RFE/RL, she added that "these reforms do not only support Ukraine's (EU) accession path, but they are also part of the Ukraine Plan, which forms the basis for the disbursement of financial assistance under the Ukraine Facility."

Hungary is currently blocking a 90-billion-euro ($104 billion) loan for Kyiv for 2026 and 2027, initially agreed by EU leaders in December.

This has created something of a credit crunch for the war-torn country with estimates that state coffers will run dry in May.

In the meantime, there is still cash left from the current EU loan structure, the Ukraine Facility, with the next 4 billion euro ($4.6 billion) tranche contingent on Kyiv passing these laws when the parliament reconvenes again later in April.

Apart from money, Budapest has for nearly two years also blocked the start of actual EU accession talks with Ukraine, even though there is hope in Brussels that at least some accession chapters could be opened some time after parliamentary elections in Hungary on April 12.

While Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is still aiming for membership of the bloc next year, few inside the EU believe that this is even remotely possible given the political standstill since 2024.

While not committing to the Ukrainian 2027 membership goal, most EU member states, as well as the European Commission, have praised Kyiv's reform efforts during the war.

But amid public support several EU officials have told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that they are worried that the pace of Ukrainian reform might be dropping.

Zelenskyy's abortive move last year to limit the independence of two key anti-corruption agencies is seen as evidence that not all the reforms the country needs to undertake to eventually become a member of the club will be politically straightforward.

Kos's letter also hints at what is at stake for Kyiv.

"Continued progress would help maintain reform momentum, bring Ukraine closer to EU membership, and deliver concrete results for Ukrainian citizens," she wrote. "The adoption of these laws would also send a strong signal to all EU Member States at an important juncture about Ukraine's unwavering commitment to deliver on its reform agenda."

The letter outlines 11 laws that need to be adopted, which had been expected to pass as early as 2025.

Brussels had in fact anticipated that two of them -- the digitalization of court decisions and judicial integrity declarations -- would have been adopted already in the second quarter of last year.

Kos added that these laws would "help strengthen trust in the justice system, both for Ukrainian citizens and for international partners."

Several of the laws are connected to reforms and the liberalization of Ukraine's energy sector, which has been under been under sustained Russian missile and drone attacks during the winter.

They include laws on heating and a permit for renewables with Kos noting that "reforms in the energy sector will help Ukraine integrate faster in the European electricity market."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-pressures-ukraine- reforms-funding-membership-delay/33726670.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Ukraine Must Remain A Priority Amid Iran War, Estonian FM Margus Tsahkna Tells RFE/RL

By Alex Raufoglu April 07, 2026

Western nations "must keep Ukraine as a priority" and increase pressure on Russia amid the US-Israeli war with Iran, which is drawing attention away from Europe's deadliest conflict since 1945, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told RFE/RL in an interview.

Following US President Donald Trump's vocal criticism on the Western alliance over other members' reluctance to get involved in the Iran war, Tsahkna said that "nobody truly believes the US will withdraw from NATO" but that the conflict "is now also a NATO topic."

Estonia is ready to discuss a potential contribution, but the United States has made no request for the Baltic nation's support in connection with the Iran war, he told RFE/RL by phone on April 7.

RFE/RL: US officials, in private conversations, have said they were surprised by the reaction of some NATO allies regarding Iran -- specifically, because those allies suggested it was not their problem. However, officials point out that Iran has been a critical factor in Ukraine through its support of Russia. As the implications of the Middle East conflict affect all allies, is Iran, in fact, becoming NATO's problem?

Margus Tsahkna: Iran has been a European problem -- and a global problem -- for more than 40 years because of the regime. What we see is a direct threat to Europe through terrorism and through everything the regime has been doing. We also see it as a direct threat to Estonia because Iran has been one of the main supporters of Russia in its war of aggression against Ukraine.

That is why I do not agree with those leaders in Europe who say this is not our concern. Perhaps it was misunderstood; they may have meant that this particular escalation was not initiated by them, but we are all connected to it. Oil prices are one aspect, but there are political consequences as well. We see oil prices rising, and Russia is benefiting from that.

Trump has lifted some sanctions, though not directly those related to Ukraine, but we also see a political dimension where he is blaming Europe. This is not the first time. Some of the reactions from European leaders were responses to the fact that there was no prior consultation, neither about what the US or Israel planned to do nor the expected outcome.

Estonia has been very clear: If any ally asks for support, we are always ready to discuss it. We have participated before in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and in Mali, where we were the first country to send troops alongside France. We expect the same solidarity: if one ally is in trouble, others will be there.

At the same time, this is increasingly becoming a NATO issue, especially since Trump has said he will review US policy toward NATO. That is a very serious matter. So yes, this is now also a NATO topic.

RFE/RL: Trump criticized allies for not supporting operations in Iran or helping secure the Strait of Hormuz. He also suggested the United States could step back from the alliance. Does this raise a level of permanent doubt among member nations about the willingness of the US to stand by its allies? Is it a temporary pressure tactic or a sign of a fraying bond that could leave parts of the world vulnerable?

Tsahkna: NATO has faced crises before. One example is the 1956 Suez Crisis, when the US opposed actions taken by the UK and France. So political crises are not new.

NATO is strong: We have plans, we have military capabilities, and allies remain committed. But this does weaken deterrence, because one of NATO's greatest strengths is unity. When the leading country says NATO is weak or calls it a "paper tiger," that does not strengthen deterrence -- especially for countries like Estonia that border Russia.

Political unity is a core principle we rely on. Still, nobody truly believes the US will withdraw from NATO. It's not even about legal processes in Congress; it's problematic that we are even discussing that possibility. The US would lose global influence if NATO weakened significantly.

It is clear that Europe must take on more responsibility, and we are doing so. However, there is a perception that Europe is not contributing, which is not accurate. Countries like the UK, Portugal, Germany, and France provide bases, access, overflight permissions, refueling, and logistics that the US relies on.

I previously served as minister of defense, and I can say we are very open to discussing practical contributions. But for that, there must be a clear request and a clear plan. Military action requires defined goals and coordination. So far, there has been no official request or structured discussion. Much of this remains political.

RFE/RL: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is heading to Washington to meet tomorrow with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other officials. Given his personal relationship with Trump, can Rutte help stabilize tensions through personal diplomacy at this stage?

Tsahkna: This visit is very necessary. The secretary-general meeting with President Trump is always important. [Rutte] is very good at explaining our positions and presenting the facts: what European allies are doing and what we are prepared to do.

NATO unity is especially important at a time like this, with a war in Ukraine ongoing for more than four years and instability in the Middle East. This meeting will be crucial.

We have seen before that tensions can ease after such meetings. The secretary-general understands how to engage with Trump and explain the situation effectively. That is very important.

RFE/RL: You have warned that Russia remains the primary existential threat to Europe. Does US pressure for allied involvement in the Middle East risk weakening Europe's posture against Russian President Vladimir Putin? Are we inadvertently giving Moscow a strategic opening?

Tsahkna: Russia's economy is performing poorly. Before the current Middle East crisis, Putin was already approaching a serious economic situation. Rising oil prices now give Russia more revenue, and lifting sanctions gives its war machine more oxygen.

Everything is connected to the war in Ukraine. I was in Ukraine last week and spoke with [Ukrainian President] Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials. They stressed that continued support from Europe and the US is critical.

If the Middle East conflict drags on, it will inevitably draw military resources and attention. That is why we must keep Ukraine as a priority.

Europe must do more -- and we are -- but we cannot allow focus to shift entirely to Iran. Russia has not changed its goals. It is using this situation to claim it is winning, which is not true. There has been no strategic breakthrough.

Russia is suffering heavy losses without meaningful gains. We must increase pressure on Russia -- not on Ukraine. Ukraine is the victim, not the aggressor.

RFE/RL: Staying on the eastern flank, you have called buffer zones a "green light" for Putin. Does that mean any settlement that leaves Ukraine in a gray zone outside NATO is inherently unstable and risks future war?

Tsahkna: This is a historic moment to unite Europe. If we want lasting peace, we must recognize that Russia is the only direct threat.

History shows that gray zones or neutral neighboring states create opportunities for Russian aggression. We saw this in Georgia and Ukraine. Ukraine must receive real, working security guarantees. NATO membership would be the most effective solution, but at present, it does not appear likely.

At the very least, Ukraine must receive equivalent guarantees and be integrated into the European Union, which is currently being blocked by Hungary. These are critical decisions, not just for Ukraine but for Europe's long-term stability.

RFE/RL: You've argued that Ukraine could eventually become a guarantor of Europe's security. Does that fundamentally change NATO's logic, making Ukraine a net security provider rather than a recipient? And who is blocking that transition?

Tsahkna: If you mean NATO membership, Trump has said clearly he does not support Ukraine joining NATO at this time. However, this option must remain open for the future. It cannot be dictated by Putin.

Ukraine plays a significant role already. It has nearly 1 million troops with years of combat experience, strong innovation, and rapidly growing defense industry capabilities.

Security guarantees should work both ways. Ukraine would not only receive guarantees but also contribute to European security.

If peace is achieved, Russia would have to think carefully before moving forces toward NATO borders, because Ukraine would be part of that security framework. Ukraine has already demonstrated its willingness to fight for freedom.

RFE/RL: What is your reaction to Russia's recent warnings to Baltic states about opening airspace to Ukraine for potential strikes on Russian territory?

Tsahkna: This is typical Russian disinformation. There is no basis for such claims. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland have not opened their airspace for attacks on Russia. It has never happened.

Russia uses these narratives to divide allies and create fear. Some drones have entered our airspace, but that does not mean we are enabling attacks.

Ukraine has the right to defend itself, including targeting strategic sites in Russia. However, Russia is responsible for the situation; it is jamming signals and causing these incidents.

RFE/RL: If Washington were to remain in NATO but effectively hollow it out by not honoring Article 5, what is Estonia's backup plan? Are we looking at a fundamentally different European-only security architecture?

Tsahkna: We are practical people; we prepare to fight if necessary. We have no alternative. We believe all allies will stand with us. An attack on Estonia is an attack on Berlin or Washington.

We will do everything to keep NATO strong and ensure Article 5 remains credible. But Article 5 is not a button you simply press; it requires planning and action. NATO has those plans.

If needed, we will act, and NATO would respond collectively. We are confident the United States would be there, as well.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-ukraine-russia-nato- tsahkna-security/33726914.html

Copyright (c) 2026. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the Kiev regime's attack on Izvestia journalist

7 April 2026 11:45

513-07-04-2026

On April 6, Izvestia correspondent Yevgeny Bykovsky was purposefully attacked by a combat drone in Donetsk when he was preparing a report on the aftermath of Ukrainian drone strikes on civilian facilities. Thankfully, the journalist narrowly escaped death and only sustained a concussion injury in the attack. He has been provided with all necessary medical care.

The neo-Nazi Kiev regime continues to commit crimes in violation of international humanitarian law, such as targeted attacks on civilians, including media personnel. There is no doubt whatsoever that the drone operators acted deliberately, intentionally sending drones at targets in urban areas far away from the contact line.

The terrorist methods used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces must be appropriately assessed by the concerned international organisations, especially the OSCE, UNESCO, and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The stubborn disregard by the institutions holding the relevant human rights mandates, or attempts to camouflage such crimes with meaningless comments are only encouraging the Bandera followers to commit new crimes, and will ultimately totally discredit the international system of protecting human rights of free access to information and the freedom of expression.

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Russian Forces Strike Ukrainian Cruise Missile Component Plants and Military Airfields

Sputnik News

20260407

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Russian Forces hit Ukrainian enterprises for the production of control systems, components of cruise missiles, as well as military airfields, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.

"The operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces, and artillery of the military groupings of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have struck Ukraine's energy and transport infrastructure, enterprises producing control systems and components for cruise missiles, military airfields, assembly workshops, storage sites for unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned boats, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries in 153 areas," the ministry said in the statement.

Ukraine lost over 360 soldiers in combat against Russia's Tsentr battlegroup , over 175 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated by Russia's Sever battlegroup

, over 175 Ukrainian soldiers eliminated by Russia's Over 320 Ukraine's soldiers were eliminated by the Vostok battlegroup, over 190 by the Zapad battlegroup, up to 165 by the Yug battlegroup, and up to 60 by the Dnepr battlegroup

 Sputnik

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal Paulo Rangel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

07 April 2026 19:56

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Exchanged views with my Portuguese colleague Paulo Rangel on key bilateral and international issues.

Grateful to Portugal and its people for their strong support and solidarity with Ukraine. We highly appreciate Portugal's clear position in support of Ukraine's EU membership, as well as its consistent efforts to keep Ukraine high on the international agenda.

We discussed the situation in the Middle East, including evolving security dynamics and the importance of coordinated efforts to enhance regional stability in the broader geopolitical context.

We also focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in defense and security. I underlined the importance of the PURL initiative for enhancing Ukraine's resilience and defence capabilities.

We agreed on the need to advance international efforts to hold Russia accountable, including through the Special Tribunal.

We also discussed the importance of unblocking additional pressure tools on Russia, including the 20th sanctions package and the 90 billion loan."

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Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

07 April 2026 15:17

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "I had a great call with my Finnish colleague Elina Valtonen.

Our main focus was on shared security challenges. I reiterated our position regarding recent drone-related incidents and reaffirmed our readiness to work closely together and develop practical solutions to prevent such situations in the future.

We appreciate Finland's understanding that the root cause of these threats is Russia's war against Ukraine. Ukraine's actions are focused on military and infrastructure targets on Russian territory in order to reduce its warfighting capacity  which is in our common interest.

I also briefed on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent visits to Turkiye and Syria. Ukraine is strengthening its role in the Middle East, engaging in a new geopolitical reality where we work with regional partners on a practical basis  to enhance both regional stability and our own security.

I expressed my gratitude for Finland's strong defence and political support. We also discussed the need to unblock the 90 billion loan, which is important for strengthening Ukraine's resilience. Close cooperation and strong positions are key to achieving a lasting peace.

Finally, I briefed on the battlefield situation and ongoing peace efforts. Ukraine remains committed to working with partners to restore security and stability in Europe."

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Over 9,000 frontline missions in March: the Defence Forces continue to expand the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs)

Ministry of Defence of Ukraine

7 April, 2026, 12:42 PM EEST

The Defence Forces of Ukraine continue to expand the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in place of personnel wherever possible, including in the most challenging conditions. Data from the DELTA combat system evidence this.

Number of UGV missions conducted in March

In March, over 9,000 combat and logistical missions were conducted on the frontline using ground robots. For comparison, there were over 2,900 such missions in November last year, and over 7,500 in January 2026.

Overall, nearly 24,500 missions have been conducted over the first three months of this year using UGVs.



The Defence Forces are increasingly employing unmanned ground vehicles for a wide range of missions The Defence Forces are increasingly employing unmanned ground vehicles for a wide range of missions

They are currently employed across a wide range of frontline tasks, including the delivery of ammunition, logistical support, and casualty evacuation.

Top units in UGV employment

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has made it a priority to maximize the transition of frontline logistics to unmanned ground vehicles to reduce risks to personnel. In March, 167 units were already using UGVs to carry out a range of missions, compared to 67 in November 2025.

Over the past month, the top five units by points earned for completed UGV missions were:

3rd Separate Assault Brigade; 1st Separate Medical Battalion; Unmanned Systems Company, 92nd Separate Assault Brigade; 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade 'Polissia'; 3rd Operational Brigade 'Spartan' of the National Guard of Ukraine, named after Colonel Petro Bolbochan.

As the Ministry of Defence previously reported, the DELTA combat system has expanded mission reporting and results tracking for unmanned ground vehicles. Within DELTA, units can plan logistics and evacuation missions. Upon mission completion, the results are verified, and the system automatically generates a report and calculates points according to predefined parameters.

The Brave1 Market platform offers a range of unmanned ground vehicles that military units can obtain in exchange for combat points  quickly, transparently, and in line with real frontline needs.

Army of Drones Bonus programme: How it works

Under the Army of Drones Bonus programme, points are awarded for strikes conducted using drones, as well as for reconnaissance and UGV missions. Additional categories have recently been introduced, including sniper operations, mobile fire groups, and army aviation.

The more targets destroyed, the more points are awarded. This serves as a direct incentive, enabling units to enhance their capabilities through new technologies.

Via the Brave1 Market weapons marketplace, units can exchange points for drones, unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), electronic warfare (EW) equipment, and components.

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Ukrainian Military Personnel Are Participating in Consultations on the Functioning of the Strait of Hormuz Going Forward - Address by the President

President of Ukraine

7 April 2026 - 21:32

Dear Ukrainians!

Today, several important matters have been addressed.

First, a meeting with government officials - the Prime Minister and the economic team of the Government. We must have - and we have - a clear internal response to the instability that there is too much of right now due to the situation around Iran - a situation that has remained unresolved for far too long. All global markets are in fact destabilized, and the economic consequences may be significant. We need internal decisions so that Ukraine is provided with everything necessary at this time, and so that we are able to ensure our defense, our economy, and our social needs in the long term.

It is important that we have agreements in place for fuel supplies to Ukraine, and now, for March and April, the necessary volumes are being imported. I thank all companies, both state-owned and private. We are also working on supplies with European partners, as well as with countries of the Middle East. This is, in particular, part of our new cooperation: Ukraine exports security and receives what it needs for internal confidence and energy security.

Today, we also discussed with government officials how to support people as prices rise. External instability is always reflected in very sensitive price fluctuations. The Government must prepare steps to address this - I am counting on systemic solutions.

Second, we are currently preparing the European component of our security proposals, which were presented and accepted in recent weeks during negotiations in the Middle East and in Gulf countries. They are currently at war - unfortunately. Their protection required urgent expertise and urgent response. We ensured this - Ukrainian expertise proved effective - this is recognized by all. As a result, there are long-term agreements on cooperation, specifically on security cooperation. The same is needed in Europe. The coming weeks will be devoted to working in this way with our partners in Europe - our joint production, defense modernization, defense financing programs, and coordination of security efforts.

Ukrainian military personnel are participating in consultations on the functioning of the Strait of Hormuz going forward. Safe navigation is a global value - we know this from our experience of protecting maritime routes in the Black Sea. It must also be valued by everyone in the world. Of course, the situation may change every day and quite significantly, especially given what is happening with Iran and in relations between Europe and America. But our interests are long-term, of all in Europe, and above all, this is a security interest. Our diplomats also have a relevant request from countries in Asia - I have instructed that all of this be processed promptly. There will be contacts with leaders and work at the level of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other ministries. The main thing is that we continuously ensure real opportunities for Ukraine's defense.

Right now, the Russians are trying to scale up their "safaris" against our people. There are brutal, deeply cynical drone strikes targeting civilians virtually every day in Nikopol, Kherson, and other cities and communities near the frontline. There have also been Russian drone strikes in the Chernihiv region - Pryluky and Novhorod-Siverskyi - as well as in the Kharkiv region. And we must have the tools, all the necessary tools, from sufficient funding to real weapons, to continue expanding both our protection against the Russians and our ability to bring the war back to Russia, justly, with our long-range capabilities. This is exactly what we are doing.

And one more thing.

I want to thank the members of parliament. The Verkhovna Rada has adopted today the important and needed decisions. It is precisely such a parliament - a functioning parliament - that throughout the entire period of full-scale war ensures its part of the work for the resilience of our state and our people. This must continue. We must get through this time - the time of war - and give Ukraine everything so that Ukraine and our people can endure.

We will certainly defend Ukraine's independence. We will certainly respond to every challenge. I thank everyone who is working for our state and defending Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

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Binotto rules out new Audi team boss amid Horner rumours

Mattia Binotto has made clear Audi will not appoint a new team principal despite the sudden exit of Jonathan Wheatley - amid speculation linking Christian Horner with the role.

Nico Hulkenberg, Japanese GP 2026

 Audi

The German manufacturer was rocked between the Chinese and Japanese grands prix when Wheatley departed with immediate effect, just two races into the post-Sauber era.

Former driver Juan Pablo Montoya believes Audi would benefit from bringing in a figure like Horner.

They need someone like Christian, he said.

I think people underestimate what Christian has done, how long he's been at it, and what he's accomplished. You may or may not like him, but he's capable of so much.

However, Binotto has poured cold water on the idea of any external appointment.

We are not looking for a new team principal. I will keep the position, reorganise myself and reorganise the team, he said.

He stressed that Audi's structure will evolve rather than hinge on a single leader. In the end, it's not about one individual. It's about the team. What matters most is the team.

Instead, Binotto indicated he will delegate trackside duties.

I need support on race weekends, as I won't always be there myself, said the Italian.

That could see a structure similar to Sauber's past setup, with a senior representative handling operations at the circuit while Binotto focuses on the broader transformation project.

On track, Audi's early struggles underline the scale of that challenge.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time it's happened. The start is definitely not our strong point, Binotto admitted after Suzuka, where both cars again lost ground off the line.

He warned there is no quick fix.

We haven't addressed the issue yet only because there's no obvious solution - it's at the top of our priority list.

Despite the setbacks, Binotto said the enforced April break could prove useful.

In a way, it's good that two races were cancelled. It gives us as a team more time to think - and hopefully we'll travel to Miami better prepared.

(GMM)
Contract limiting Ferrari's control over Hamilton

Ralf Schumacher believes Lewis Hamilton's contract could be limiting Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur's ability to control the increasingly fierce on-track battles with Charles Leclerc.

Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Japanese GP 2026

 Ferrari

The Ferrari pair have raced wheel-to-wheel aggressively in the opening rounds of 2026, including a particularly close duel in Suzuka where Leclerc overtook Hamilton around the outside of Turn 1.

Our cars touched in the chicane - I was even afraid I'd gotten a puncture, Leclerc admitted afterwards.

Former driver Timo Glock warned the situation could spiral if left unchecked.

The line must be drawn very clearly when the team is at a disadvantage, he told Sky Deutschland.

"If the two cars are getting in each other's way and losing battery power, if ultimately the team loses positions as a result, then the team management must intervene.

Ferrari needs to take a firm stance here, because that was really pushing the limits. The rule of thumb among the racing teams is - a duel is okay, but contact is unacceptable.

He added a stark prediction: My gut feeling is that we'll see them both in the gravel trap after a collision at some point.

Glock also noted Hamilton's resurgence in 2026.

Charles Leclerc is still a bit more consistently fast, but Lewis Hamilton is definitely back where we all want to see him - confident and enjoying racing.

However, Schumacher thinks the situation may be more complicated behind the scenes.

I believe, even though I will probably get some criticism for this, that while Lewis will clearly be competing at the front again this year, he also has a contract that allows him to do exactly that, he said.

"I think even if Fred Vasseur wanted to say something, he couldn't. That's why Ferrari has no chance. Hamilton will decide for himself.

Of course, that has an effect on the team - the mechanic, who gives his all from morning till night, and then he sees these two battling drivers losing seconds, possibly even parts, because they're crashing into each other. That creates unrest.

(GMM)
Krack denies Honda rift as Aston seeks Miami fix

Aston Martin has played down rumours of a rift with Honda, insisting the troubled partnership remains united as it races to fix its 2026 crisis.

Fernando Alonso, Japanese GP 2026

 Aston Martin Racing

Amid persistent speculation of tensions behind the scenes - and suggestions the vibration-plagued power unit concept may have been influenced by late aerodynamic demands by Adrian Newey - trackside boss Mike Krack was clear.

There is no need for peace talks because there is no dispute, he said.

We have a good relationship with Honda. They are currently investing a great deal of work to improve, and we have the utmost respect for Honda.

The focus remains on the severe vibration issues that have crippled performance and reliability.

Honda has already introduced minor interim measures, but a full solution is still in development.

We're going to correct the vibration problem at its root, said Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe.

He stressed the issue is not solely down to the engine.

It's not a question of the power unit on one hand and the chassis on the other. There are good and bad things on both sides.

In other words, the fix will require a coordinated effort across the entire car.

Krack confirmed that early countermeasures showed promise but were not yet ready for racing at Suzuka.

We tried something in practice that showed improvement, but it wasn't race-ready, he said.

When you bring new parts to the car, you have to investigate whether their durability is guaranteed. These new parts are promising, but we couldn't use them in the race.

There is, however, cautious optimism for Miami.

This is an issue we are continuing to pursue with our partner Honda, and I am quite confident that we will make progress on it for the Miami GP weekend - so that we won't have to talk about it anymore, said Krack.

Away from the crisis, Lance Stroll will use the April break to do some extra racing. The Canadian will race an Aston Martin Vantage GT3 in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Paul Ricard, taking advantage of the cancelled Bahrain GP.

(GMM)
Next article: 6 reasons Engineers and Planners Ltd won the Damang Mining Lease

Featured

First Atlantic Bank proposes GH0.29 per share dividend as deposits surge 43%

Kweku Zurek Business News Apr - 08 - 2026 , 09:13

First Atlantic Bank PLC achieved a profit before tax of GH703 million for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, representing a 30.5 per cent increase from the GH539 million recorded in the previous year, according to the banks audited financial statements released on March 31, 2026.

The financial statements, signed by Board Chairman Amarquaye Armar and Managing Director Odun Odunfa, showed that profit after tax stood at GH483 million, while total assets expanded by 44 per cent to GH19.2 billion from GH13.3 billion.

Customer deposits grew by 43.3 per cent to GH16.6 billion, up from GH11.6 billion in 2024. The banks capital adequacy ratio strengthened to 20.6 per cent, well above the regulatory minimum of 13 per cent.

Net interest income increased by 67.1 per cent to GH962.7 million, while the cost-to-income ratio stood at 39.9 per cent, below the industry average of 48.8 per cent.

Successful listing and capital raise

During the year, First Atlantic Bank successfully listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange following an initial public offering that was significantly oversubscribed, reflecting strong investor confidence in the banks business model and strategic direction.

The bank raised additional capital through the issuance of 28.7 million new shares, increasing its stated capital to GH723.9 million from GH404.6 million. A bonus share issue of 14 million shares was also completed.

Dividend and returns

The directors recommended a final dividend of GH0.29 per share, amounting to GH100 million for the 2025 financial year, subject to regulatory approval. This compares with a dividend of GH0.22 per share, totalling GH75 million paid in respect of 2024.

Shareholders funds strengthened by 38.3 per cent to GH2.21 billion from GH1.60 billion, while return on equity stood at 21.9 per cent.

Regional expansion and digital transformation

The bank advanced its regional expansion strategy with the establishment of operations in Liberia during the year. It also strengthened its focus on women-led businesses through a dedicated Women Banking Desk, providing tailored financial solutions and advisory services.

On the environmental front, the bank commenced installation of solar power systems across major branches and introduced a waste segregation programme. It launched the FAB GreenDrive Auto Loan to accelerate electric vehicle adoption and initiated Project REACT, a renewable energy and clean transport financing programme, under which it financed over 70 electric vehicles in the second half of the year.

Credit quality and impairment

Gross loans and advances to customers stood at GH2.07 billion, with an impairment provision of GH125.6 million. The bank recorded a net impairment charge of GH79.6 million for the year.

Corporate Social Responsibility

The bank spent GH2.6 million on corporate social responsibility during the year, with its flagship project being the rehabilitation of the Kumasi Childrens Park.

Regulatory sanctions

The Bank of Ghana imposed penalties totalling GH2 million during the year for breaches of certain sections of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930).

Outlook

The banks capital adequacy ratio of 20.6 per cent and strong liquidity position provide capacity for continued expansion. Management indicated that strategic focus for 2026 will centre on growth, innovation, and sustainability, including further regional expansion and deepening of digital banking /capabilities.
Featured

Ghanas economy expands by 7.5% in January 2026, driven by services sector  GSS

Kweku Zurek Business News Apr - 08 - 2026 , 13:49

Ghanas economic activities recorded a year-on-year growth of 7.5 per cent in January 2026, according to the Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth released by the Ghana Statistical Service on April 8, 2026.

The MIEG index for January 2026 stood at 119.2, compared to 110.8 in January 2025, indicating sustained expansion across all three major sectors of the economy. The services sector recorded the strongest performance, growing by 9.6 per cent, followed by industry at 7.2 per cent and agriculture at 4.5 per cent.

The services sector was the main contributor to the overall growth, accounting for 54.3 per cent of the 7.5 per cent expansion. Industry contributed 29.0 per cent, while agriculture contributed 14.0 per cent.

"The MIEG index for January 2026 is 119.2. This compares to an index figure of 110.8 in January 2025. The yearly growth rate of the index is therefore 7.5 per cent," the statement read.

Sectoral performance

The services sectors growth of 9.6 per cent was primarily driven by the education and information and communication sub-sectors, according to the Statistical Service.

Industry recorded a 7.2 per cent expansion, reflecting increased activity in mining and quarrying and manufacturing sub-sectors.

Agriculture grew by 4.5 per cent, driven by the crops and livestock sub-sector. The Statistical Service noted that agriculture is highly seasonal, which affects monthly fluctuations.

Slower pace compared to January 2025

While the economy continued to expand, the pace of growth moderated compared to January 2025, when the MIEG recorded an 8.2 per cent growth rate.

Agricultures performance declined from 9.3 per cent in January 2025 to 4.5 per cent in January 2026, reflecting a moderation in growth momentum. Industry also slowed from 9.7 per cent to 7.2 per cent, indicating a slowdown in oil and gas activities within the mining and quarrying sub-sector.

However, the services sector accelerated from 7.7 per cent in January 2025 to 9.6 per cent in January 2026, indicating an expansion in economic activity compared to the same period last year.

Methodology and revisions

The MIEG is a volume index that captures changes in economic activity on a monthly basis. It is published at an aggregate level for the whole economy, as well as for agriculture, industry and services. The index uses 2023 as its base year.

The Statistical Service noted that the January 2026 MIEG is provisional and subject to revision when more comprehensive and updated data becomes available. The MIEG is initially classified as an experimental statistic, meaning it will be subject to continuous improvement.

"The MIEG follows the same revisions policy as the quarterly and annual national accounts. This means that the indicator is open for revision for up to two years," the release stated.

The index is not seasonally adjusted, and as such, only annual changes are calculated. Month-on-month growth rates are not reported because they could be influenced by seasonality, such as public holidays.

The next MIEG release, for February 2026, is scheduled for May 13, 2026.
Next article: MTN powers narrow but potent rally on GSE

Featured

MTN Ghana CEO Stephen Blewett, CFO Antoinette Kwofie receive over $400,000 in performance shares

Kweku Zurek Business News Apr - 08 - 2026 , 19:56

The Chief Executive Officer of Scancom Ghana PLC (MTN Ghana), Stephen Blewett, has been awarded 21,382 MTN Group shares valued at approximately R4.12 million (US$252,000) as part of the telecommunications giant's Performance Share Plan 2010, according to a group announcement released on April 7, 2026.

The Chief Financial Officer of MTN Ghana, Antoinette Kwofie, also received 13,660 shares valued at approximately R2.63 million (US$160,000) under the same plan. Both executives serve as directors of the major subsidiary, Scancom Ghana PLC, which operates MTN's business in Ghana.

The awards, transacted on March 31, 2026, were granted at a market price of R192.50 per share and are subject to performance conditions, vesting over a three-year period from the award date.

Sugentharen Perumal, a director of Scancom Ghana PLC, also received 35,436 shares valued at approximately R6.82 million (US$415,000).

Currency conversion

The awards were granted in South African rand, MTN Group's reporting currency. Based on the current exchange rate of approximately 16.45 South African rand to the US dollar, the approximate US dollar values of the awards to MTN Ghana executives are as follows:

Recipient Position Rand Value US$ Equivalent

Sugentharen Perumal Director, Scancom Ghana PLC R6.82 million $415,000

Stephen Blewett Chief Executive Officer, MTN Ghana R4.12 million $252,000

Antoinette Kwofie Chief Financial Officer, MTN Ghana R2.63 million $160,000

*Exchange rate: 1 USD = 16.45 ZAR (as of April 8, 2026)*

Group leadership also receives awards

The awards extended to key leadership across MTN's major African operations. Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, received the largest award of 207,633 shares, valued at approximately R39.97 million (US$2.43 million). Tsholofelo Molefe, Group Chief Financial Officer, was awarded 111,931 shares worth approximately R21.55 million (US$1.31 million).

Ebenezer Asante, Senior Vice President for Markets and a prescribed officer of MTN Group, received 120,880 shares valued at approximately R23.27 million (US$1.42 million).

Other senior executives receiving awards include Ferdinand Moolman, MTN South Africa CEO, who was granted 104,545 shares worth R20.13 million (US$1.22 million); Paul Norman, director of Mobile Telephone Networks Proprietary Limited, with 56,333 shares valued at R10.84 million (US$660,000); and Yolanda Cuba, director of the same subsidiary, with 62,718 shares worth R12.07 million (US$734,000).

Minimum shareholding requirements fulfilled

The company confirmed that all award recipients with Minimum Shareholding Requirements obligations have fulfilled their requirements.

The vesting date for the awards has been accelerated to December 10, 2028, aligning with the date on which the awards would normally have been grantedDecember 10, 2025.

All transactions were classified as off-market awards of shares to employees, with all recipients holding direct beneficial interests.

The announcement was released on the JSE Stock Exchange News Service on April 7, 2026, with Tamela Holdings Proprietary Limited acting as Lead Sponsor and J.P. Morgan Equities Proprietary Limited as Joint Sponsor.
Featured

Ghanaian trader in UK convicted over bathtub fish processing scandal

GraphicOnline International News Apr - 08 - 2026 , 14:49 2 minutes read

A Ghanaian businessman based in the United Kingdom has been convicted for operating an illegal fish processing enterprise from his residential flat in Watford, after authorities discovered unhygienic practices that posed a risk to public health.

Stephen Akuoko pleaded guilty to two food safety offences at a magistrates court in St Albans following a two-year investigation led by Watford Borough Council. The case was subsequently finalised at St Albans Crown Court, where he was handed a suspended custodial sentence.

Investigators found that Mr Akuoko had been preparing and supplying ready-made fish products to local outlets, including supermarkets, from his flat. The operation came to light after cooked and smoked fish traced to him were discovered on sale in Watford town centre.

Authorities said he had taken deliberate steps to conceal the source of production, but a breakthrough came when firefighters responding to an unrelated incident at the property reported suspicious findings to council officials.

Environmental health officers who later inspected the premises uncovered fish being stored in a bathtub and on the bathroom floor near a toilet, raising serious concerns about hygiene and contamination risks.

Despite being issued with a formal notice to cease operations immediately, Mr Akuoko was found to have continued producing and distributing the fish products.

The council said the decision to prosecute was based on the severity of the breaches, his failure to cooperate with investigators and what it described as a clear disregard for food safety laws.

The court imposed two consecutive 12-month prison sentences, suspended for two years, and barred him from working in the food industry for five years. He was also ordered to pay 2,500 in costs to cover part of the investigation.

Food safety regulations in the UK require strict handling, storage and processing standards, particularly for fish and seafood, which are considered high-risk products. Poor hygiene practices can lead to serious illnesses, including bacterial and viral infections.

An official from the council stressed that enforcement action would continue against individuals or businesses that compromise public safety.

Food safety laws exist to protect the public. In this case, there was a clear and sustained failure to comply with legal requirements, despite formal enforcement action being taken.

We will not hesitate to take action where businesses or individuals put public health at risk. This successful prosecution demonstrates our commitment to maintaining high food safety standards across Watford.
See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Thursday, April 9, 2026

Next article: See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on Thursday, April 9, 2026

Featured

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta released from ICE custody, returns to family

Kweku Zurek Apr - 08 - 2026 , 16:51 2 minutes read

Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been released from the custody of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a judicial order, his legal team has announced.

In a statement issued on April 8, 2026, by his solicitor, Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo of Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners, the former minister was released on April 7, 2026, and has since returned home to his family.

"On April 7th 2026, Ken Ofori-Atta was released from ICE detention pursuant to judicial order. He is home with his family," the statement read.

"Mr. Ofori-Atta remains fully committed to use due process in defence of his rights as guaranteed under the constitution and laws of the United States."

Immigration ordeal linked to OSP investigations

Mr Ofori-Atta's detention in the United States stems from ongoing investigations by Ghana's Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

The OSP has been probing allegations of corruption and abuse of office involving the former minister, particularly relating to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme and other financial decisions during his tenure as Finance Minister under the previous administration.

As part of those investigations, the OSP reportedly issued directives restricting his ability to travel while the inquiry remained active. Although Mr Ofori-Atta later travelled to the United States legally, ICE officials flagged his documents after cross-checking with international compliance alerts linked to the OSP's processes, leading to a review of his immigration status and his subsequent placement in ICE detention pending a judicial determination.

Family expresses gratitude

The former minister's legal team expressed gratitude for the support received during the period of detention.

"He and his family remain thankful to God and all those who have offered prayers and support during this period," the statement added.

The development brings a temporary resolution to a situation that had drawn attention from both Ghanaian and international observers, with Mr Ofori-Atta now able to return to his family while his legal team continues to engage with the relevant authorities.
Next article: Ghanas fuel stock rises to 7 weeks as NPA boss warns of price volatility

Featured

Only 4 ECOWAS Countries Meet EBID capital call  Ato Forson raises alarm

Mohammed Ali Apr - 08 - 2026 , 12:11 3 minutes read

Ghanas Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has raised concern over unpaid arrears of about $256 million owed to the ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development, warning that delays by member states are constraining the banks operations.

He disclosed that only four of the 15 member states of the Economic Community of West African StatesGhana, Cote dIvoire, Guinea and Togohave fully honoured their commitments under a capital call agreed in 2022, leaving 11 countries yet to complete their payments.

Dr Forson made the remarks at the opening of the 24th Ordinary Session of the EBID Board of Governors in Accra on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.

Timely capital payments are critical. It strengthens EBIDs leverage and sustains its growth and impact across our region, he said.

He explained that the board approved an increase in the banks authorised capital to $3.4 billion in 2022 and subsequently issued a third tranche subscription call of $411.4 million, with a deadline set for December 2025.

According to him, although $102.5 million was received in 2025, a significant shortfall remains, affecting the banks ability to fully deliver on its development mandate. While he did not name the defaulting countries, he urged all governors present to act swiftly to meet their obligations.

Touching on performance, Dr Forson said EBID recorded steady growth, with its balance sheet expanding from $1.97 billion in 2024 to $2.39 billion by the end of 2025. Profit also rose by 13.3 per cent, from $8.55 million to $9.75 million over the same period.

He added that project approvals increased by 50 per cent, while financial commitments surged by more than 83 per cent to $813.77 million, largely directed towards energy and transport infrastructure.

The bank also mobilised over $510 million and 310 million for priority projects, alongside an additional $100 million in capital mobilisation, reinforcing its role in financing development across the sub-region.

Dr Forson noted that international credit rating agencies, Moodys and Fitch Ratings, have reaffirmed EBIDs ratings at B2-Stable and B-Stable respectively. He added that the bank has secured accreditation with the Green Climate Fund, opening avenues for climate financing.

Our discussions here in Accra will be rigorous, and they must be, because we are here to make decisions that will shape the economic future of our Bank and West Africa, he said.

Despite the positive performance indicators, the Finance Minister stressed that the banks capacity to finance projects remains constrained by the existing capital gap.

Expanding our capital base is essential to strengthening our ability to finance development projects and support economic growth in all member states, he said.

He also announced the opening of EBIDs regional office in Abidjan to deepen engagement with member countries and enhance operational efficiency.

Dr Forson commended the President of EBID, George Agyekum Donkor, and his team for steering the institution through a challenging global economic environment.

The meeting is ongoing, with governors expected to deliberate further on the banks strategic direction and outstanding capital contributions before adopting final resolutions.
Featured

Engineers & Planners wins Damang Mining lease

Timothy Ngnenbe Apr - 08 - 2026 , 12:57 5 minutes read

Engineers and Planners (E&P) Company Limited, an indigenous mining services provider, has been selected to take over the operations of Damang Mine in the Western Region, marking a significant development for local ownership of large-scale mines.

The Tender Committee set up to oversee the bidding and selection process recommended the granting of the Damang Mining lease to E&P after the company emerged as the best performer out of four local entities that submitted bids.

The Chairman of the committee, Maxwell Y. A. Klu, explained that after going through the entire selection process, the evaluation results showed that E&P achieved a combined score of 93.15 per cent and had, therefore, been declared the successful tenderer.

Other companies that submitted bids were Heath Goldfields Ltd, Maripoma Mining Services Ltd, and Vortex Resources Mining Group.

Consequently, E&P is expected to assume the reins of the Damang lease after it is transferred to the state on April 18, 2026.

Mr Klu presented an evaluation report of tenders for the selection of a strategic investor for the mining lease and operation of the Damang Gold Mine to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Innocent Haligah, yesterday.

The tenders were submitted to the Minerals Commission under Regulation 258 of the Minerals and Mining (Licensing Regulations) 2012 (LI 2176).

Due diligence

Mr Klu explained that following a competitive tender process announced in the media to select a strategic investor, four companies responded, with two tenders shortlisted by the Mineral Titles Department of the Minerals Commission and submitted to the Tender Committee for review.

The four tenders were then examined in accordance with the mandatory requirements set out in Phase one, which states that if any tenderer fails to comply with any of the mandatory requirements, it shall result in the tender being disqualified and not to be considered for further evaluation.

He said the cardinal mandatory requirements for the evaluation were proof of a wholly owned Ghanaian registered company, with registration documents indicating current directors, shareholdings and beneficial ownership.

The other requirements were a valid tax clearance certificate, a valid SSNIT clearance certificate, a valid Value Added Tax (VAT) clearance certificate, a valid certificate of incorporation and payment of the application fee of GH100,000.

Mr Klu explained that upon verification, only Engineers & Planners and Heath Goldfields Ltd satisfied the mandatory requirements.

He said the tenders submitted by Maripoma Mining Services Ltd and Vortex Resources Mining Group were non-responsive and therefore disqualified, as neither entity submitted any of the aforementioned mandatory documents in support of its application.

He explained that in the next stage of the bidding procedure, E&P and Heath Goldfields Ltd were evaluated based on relevant experience.

Based on the technical evaluation, Heath Goldfields Ltd did not attain the minimum qualifying score of 80 per cent; accordingly, its financial proposal for the operation of the Damang Gold Mine was not subjected to further evaluation in accordance with the notice, he said.

E&Ps credentials

Touching further on E&P, Mr Klu said that although tenderers were required to demonstrate access to funding in excess of $500 million for project development, E&P provided documentary evidence of combined financing totalling $505 million from ABSA Bank and Stanbic Bank.

In accordance with the Notice, the technical and financial scores were weighted at 80 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively.

The technical score of Engineers & Planners Ltd, applying the weight, is therefore 95.4 x 0.8 = 76.32, he said.

Additionally, he said, the maximum financial score for the company was 20.

The financial capacity indicated in the notice is the provision of evidence of access to funding in excess of $500 million to $600 million for project development.

Engineers & Planners Ltd provided evidence of available financing of $505 million, which falls within the prescribed financial capacity required, Mr Klu added.

In accordance with the notice, therefore, the weighted financial score, given the maximum of required available financing of $600 million, is (505/600 x .20) = 16.83 out of the maximum financial score of 20, he stated.

Mr Klu said the combined evaluated total technical and financial score for Engineers and Planners was, therefore, 76.32 + 16.83, which amounted to 93.15 per cent.

According to the evaluation results and in accordance with Regulation 263 of LI 2176, Engineers and Planners Ltd has achieved a combined score of 93.15 per cent and is therefore declared the successful tenderer.

The Tender Committee, thus, recommends Engineers & Planners Ltd for the granting of the Damang Mining Lease by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, he said.

Background

Damang Gold Mine is located in the Western Region, approximately 30 km north of the Tarkwa mine.

It is a major open-pit operation which was formerly operated by Abosso Goldfields Limited (71.1 per cent Gold Fields, 18.9 per cent IAMGold, and 10 per cent government-owned through carried interest).

It transitioned from Gold Fields to state control following the expiration of its 30-year lease in 2025. In 2025, the mine produced approximately 88,000 ounces, down from its peak.

The government granted a 12-month extension for an orderly handover of the mine, which holds an estimated 3.55 million ounces of gold, and prioritised local investors for future operations.
Featured

Graphic remains credible in face of competition  NMC Chairperson

Joana Kumi Apr - 08 - 2026 , 09:57 2 minutes read

The Chairperson of the National Media Commission (NMC), Professor Akua Opokua Britwum, has said that Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) remains the benchmark of credible journalism in the country and, therefore, should not compromise its integrity in the face of growing competition.

She said, although the media landscape had become increasingly competitive, particularly with the rise of digital platforms, Graphics long-standing reputation for accuracy, credibility and responsibility should not be sacrificed in a bid to chase trends or profits.

Prof. Britwum was speaking during a working visit to the GCGL office in Cape Coast, where she engaged staff on operational challenges and other concerns. She was accompanied by Rev. Isaac Owusu, a member of the commission.

The chairperson also visited the offices of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, the Ghanaian Times, and the Ghana News Agency, all in Cape Coast.

Credibility

Prof. Britwum further said that Graphics credibility placed it in a unique position within the media space, adding that once it is Graphic, it is believed.

She said such a reputation needed to be protected by the company at all costs.

The chairperson said that while other media outlets might prioritise traffic and sensationalism, Graphic had a national responsibility to uphold ethical standards and contribute to societal stability.

She explained that the visit was part of the commission's efforts to engage directly with media offices in the regions to better understand their challenges and incorporate their concerns into policy development.

We are not here to impose decisions from Accra, she said. We are here to listen, to understand your realities, and to use your input to guide policy and strengthen the institution, Prof. Britwum added.

Funding

The chairperson called for innovative approaches to sustain the organisation while maintaining its core values.

She encouraged the staff to remain committed despite prevailing challenges and assured them that their concerns would inform decisions at the national level.

Support

The Central Regional Correspondent of Daily Graphic, Shirley Asiedu-Addo, said the paper had been projecting the region remarkably despite some constraints.

She, however, said that limited resources, coupled with transportation challenges and inadequate equipment, had restricted their ability to initiate and pursue stories, particularly in the hinterlands.

Ms Asiedu-Addo called for support for state-owned media, considering their unique role and mandate to be responsible and balanced in their reportage.

For his part, the Circulation Officer in the region, Eric Sasu, expressed concern over the decline in newspaper sales due to the emergence of new media.

He, therefore, appealed to the commission to engage relevant stakeholders, particularly government institutions, to support the company through renewed subscriptions.
Featured

Oncology nurse launches initiative to improve cancer treatment, survivorship

Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Apr - 08 - 2026 , 12:57 3 minutes read

The 2025 Aster Guardians Global Nursing Oncology nurse and Aster Guardians Award winner, Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti, has launched a social intervention initiative aimed at strengthening cancer control systems and reducing disparities in access to quality care across Africa.

Dubbed: Cancer Care Africa Foundation (CanCaF), it focuses on workforce development, policy advocacy, research and strategic partnerships to improve prevention, early detection, treatment and survivorship, particularly in underserved communities.

At the launch in Accra on Tuesday, Mrs Ohene Oti, who is the Executive Director of the Foundation, described cancer as a major public health challenge, adding that Africa accounted for about seven per cent of global cancer despite having less than three per cent of global oncology resources.

In Ghana, she said more than 24,000 new cancer cases were recorded annually, with over half of the patients dying largely due to late detection and limited access to quality care.

She further explained that the foundations vision was to ensure no African was denied quality cancer care because of where they live.

The mission of the foundation also focusses on strengthening health systems and improving patient outcomes.

Certificate programme

A key feature of the launch was the introduction of a Cancer Genetic Counselling Certificate Programme for oncology nurses in Africa (CGCP-ON Africa), to be delivered in partnership with the West African Genetic Medicine Centre (WAGMC), under which 40 oncology nurses across Africa would be trained within the next two years.

Mrs Ohene Oti said the programme would help promote early detection and prevention by identifying individuals at high risk before symptoms develop.

She added that the foundation would also prioritise awareness creation, workforce development and partnerships to reduce disparities and improve cancer care outcomes across Africa.

The Director of WAGMC, Dr Alma Bennett-Akwasi Kuma, said the initiative represented a meaningful shift in how cancer care was approached across the continent.

She emphasised the importance of integrating genetic knowledge into mainstream healthcare delivery to improve early detection, diagnosis and treatment outcomes.

The centre, guided by a mission to advance knowledge in human genetics through teaching, research, service and community engagement, was leveraging its expertise to drive this effort, Dr Kuma added.

Partnerships

In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, said the establishment of CanCAF further strengthened a workforce capable of delivering care that was both modern and compassionate.

Government alone cannot address the cancer burden.

Partnerships between foundations, academia, professional bodies and international collaborators are essential.

Together, we can ensure that cancer care in Ghana and across Africa becomes more accessible, more precise, and more humane.

Initiatives like this does not only bring hope, but also restores dignity, he said.
Next article: President Mahama nominates five for Fiscal Council to strengthen public finance oversight

Featured

One Health Agenda: Mahama rallies action against health threats - Initiates move at Lyon Summit

Kester Aburam Korankye Apr - 08 - 2026 , 11:20 4 minutes read

The world must move from commitments to concrete action on the One Health agenda, President John Dramani Mahama has declared.

He warned that climate change, ecosystem degradation and pollution were converging to create health threats "at a scale unprecedented in human history."

Delivering a keynote address at the high-level One Health Summit in Lyon, France, yesterday, President Mahama, who is also the Co-chair of the summit, said the interconnected crises of infectious disease outbreaks, antimicrobial resistance and food system disruptions were intensifying with alarming frequency and complexity.

"We are living in truly interesting times, and much of what we previously took for granted is now being questioned, while our old answers have become new questions, President Mahama said.

"Let us move from commitments to action," President Mahama stressed, adding, "Let us ensure that the decisions we take here lead to tangible, measurable outcomes that protect both people and the planet".

Summit

The summit brought together global health leaders, quadripartite representatives and government officials to push the One Health agenda, a unified approach that recognises that the health of people, animals, plants, and the shared environment are inseparable.

Instead of treating human health, animal health and ecosystem health as separate silos, One Health brings together experts across sectors, from medical doctors and veterinarians to environmental scientists and agricultural specialists, to prevent, detect and respond to health threats holistically.

President Mahama thanked President Emmanuel Macron of France, Co-chair of the summit, for convening the summit and the quadripartite organisations for their continued leadership.

The quadripartite, a collaborative partnership between four key international organisations  the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH, founded as OIE)  was launched in 2022 to implement a unified One Health.

Traditional wisdom, modern crisis

President Mahamas address painted a picture of a planet in peril. The environmental catastrophe confronting us is visible in the waves of the sea, the melting glaciers, the rainforests, and the desert storms, he said.

For Africa, President Mahama emphasised that One Health was far from an abstract concept.

In Ghana, diseases and pests are affecting smallholder cocoa farmers and threatening millions of livelihoods, while illegal gold mining continues to degrade forests and pollute water bodies, putting biodiversity at risk, President Mahama said.

Drawing on the continent's rich heritage, he said long before One Health was formally defined, African ancestors had mastered integrated health practices.

Even today, more than 50 per cent of our population relies on herbs and natural forest resources for medicine, reflecting a deep-rooted culture of integrated health practices, President Mahama said, adding that across Africa, experiences affirm that human survival, animal well-being, plant health and environmental care form a single interconnected system.

He traced this knowledge to Africa's great civilisations: "From Songhai to Great Zimbabwe, from Timbuktu to Aksum and ancient Egypt, knowledge systems have existed for diagnosing and treating diseases, managing pests and sustaining agriculture."

Pandemics, inequity

Reflecting on recent health emergencies, including COVID-19, Mpox, Lassa fever and Marburg, the co-chair said each outbreak had reinforced the importance of the One Health approach.

"These experiences have taught us that prevention is more effective and far more cost-efficient than cure, he said, highlighting Ghana's implementation of initiatives such as the Ghana Medical Trust Fund and ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare systems.

However, President Mahama struck a sombre note on global inequity: It is regrettable that countries most at risk often have the least resources to respond, and this inequity must be addressed, as a healthy and thriving Africa is a positive force for global progress, he said.

Call to action

Despite frequent discussions on One Health, President Mahama warned that progress in building necessary infrastructure had been slow.

"We must now muster the political will to integrate fragmented systems and ensure that this summit in Lyon becomes a turning point, he said.

President Mahama threw in a three-point call to action: integrate One Health into national and global frameworks, strengthen surveillance and early warning systems, and ensure decisions taken at the summit lead to tangible and measurable outcomes.
'We are starting from Ghana churches': Police detain suspect behind viral TikTok clip

Previous article: 'We are starting from Ghana churches': Police detain suspect behind viral TikTok clip

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Ghana, Nigeria reach breakthrough deal to end onion trade standoff

GraphicOnline Apr - 08 - 2026 , 09:06 2 minutes read

The government has brokered a resolution to the recent disruption in cross-border onion trade following a high-level stakeholder meeting involving traders and officials from Ghana, Nigeria and Niger.

The engagement, convened by the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry on April 7, brought together key players within the onion value chain to address tensions that had stalled the movement of goods between the countries.

The impasse had resulted in several trucks carrying onions being held up, raising concerns over potential losses for traders and the broader impact on food supply chains within the sub-region.

At the end of the discussions, Ghanaian onion associations agreed to allow Nigerian trucks stranded in Ghana to offload their cargo, marking a significant step towards easing the immediate bottleneck. In return, Nigerian stakeholders committed to ensuring reciprocal treatment for Ghanaian traders operating across the border.

Representatives from the Nigerian High Commission in Ghana also assured participants of their support in facilitating the swift release of trucks destined for Ghana, signalling diplomatic backing for the resolution reached at the meeting.

Officials said the dialogue formed part of efforts to de-escalate tensions through cooperation rather than enforcement, with a shared recognition of the importance of uninterrupted trade to livelihoods and regional food security.

Beyond the immediate agreement, stakeholders committed to developing a structured roadmap aimed at preventing future disruptions. The framework is expected to align with existing regional trade protocols while strengthening bilateral coordination among the countries involved.

The development is seen as a boost to cross-border commerce within West Africa, where agricultural trade remains a critical source of income for thousands of traders and farmers.

Authorities expressed optimism that the outcome of the meeting would restore confidence in the onion trade and reinforce collaboration among stakeholders, as efforts continue to deepen regional integration and stabilise supply chains.
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Ghanas fuel stock rises to 7 weeks as NPA boss warns of price volatility

Mohammed Ali Apr - 08 - 2026 , 11:49 3 minutes read

Ghanas petroleum stock cover has increased to at least seven weeks, the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has disclosed, while cautioning that global fuel prices remain uncertain despite easing geopolitical tensions.

Speaking in a radio interview on Citi FM on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Mr Tamakloe said the updated stock level improves on the six weeks earlier cited by John Dramani Mahama at the Kwahu Business Forum. He attributed the increase to ongoing efforts to replenish national reserves.

We have increased it to seven weeks, he said, adding that vessels have been scheduled up to April 19, 2026, following a meeting of the Laycan Advisory Committee last Thursday.

His remarks come ahead of an emergency cabinet meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 2026, convened by President Mahama to consider possible relief measures for consumers grappling with rising fuel prices. Recent adjustments saw petrol prices rise by about 15 per cent to GH13.30 per litre, while diesel increased by about 19 per cent to GH17.10 per litre for the April 1 to 15 pricing window, amid supply disruptions linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Tamakloe indicated that he had not been invited to the cabinet meeting but acknowledged that the executive retains the discretion to call on any official when necessary. He noted that engagements had already taken place between sector ministers and their respective agencies but declined to disclose details.

I strongly believe cabinet will announce their decision to the good people of this country. That I am certain about, he said.

On the outlook for the next pricing window, effective April 16, Mr Tamakloe said it was too early to predict whether prices would rise, stabilise or fall, citing uncertainty following a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

He explained that a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could result in a surge of petroleum supplies onto the global market, potentially driving prices down sharply. However, he warned that such a development could also expose traders who purchased fuel at elevated prices during the conflict to significant losses.

There is a high possibility of a glut, he said. Prices may fall so low that if you had bet on a higher price, you would stand the risk of losing so much.

Mr Tamakloe added that diesel prices could drop to pre-conflict levels of about $695 per metric tonne if supply conditions improve rapidly, although he stressed that the outlook remains uncertain due to the terms surrounding the ceasefire.

Projections by the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies had pointed to further increases in the second pricing window, with petrol expected to rise by about 8 per cent and diesel by about 10 per cent. Mr Tamakloe, however, said final outcomes would depend on developments in the global market before April 16.

He maintained that Ghanas fuel supply has remained stable despite the global disruptions, contrasting the situation with developments in Kenya, where petroleum sector officials have faced scrutiny over alleged mismanagement of fuel stock data.

Thankfully, with the support from my sector minister and my directors at the authority, we have kept supply reliability under firm control, he said.

Mr Tamakloe also attributed some stability in local fuel prices to the relative strength of the cedi, which has helped cushion the impact of global price fluctuations.

He noted that some countries, including the Philippines, have declared energy emergencies, with reports of fuel rationing in parts of Asia due to supply chain disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.

You want to treat it with a lot of optimism, but with caution, he said.

Mr Tamakloe indicated that cabinets decision on potential relief measures is expected by Friday, April 10, 2026.
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'We are starting from Ghana churches': Police detain suspect behind viral TikTok clip

Emmanuel Bonney Apr - 08 - 2026 , 09:37 2 minutes read

The police have arrested a 22-year-old man, Evans Puplampu, for allegedly posing as a bandit in a TikTok video that went viral with the caption we are starting from Ghana churches.

The suspect, who uses the TikTok name Eyes Man, was arrested at Ashaiman in Accra and is currently in detention assisting with investigations.

A police situational report said the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) Headquarters in Accra intercepted the viral TikTok video on Sunday, April 5, 2026. The footage showed an unidentified young man covering his face with cloth and posing as a bandit, accompanied by the caption We are starting from Ghana Churches.

The post, it said, went viral, creating fear and panic among members of the Christian community across the country.

The directorate commenced investigations to identify and apprehend the suspect(s) behind the short video.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2026 through sustained intelligence and surveillance, the intelligence officers identified, located and apprehended the suspect named Evans Puplampu, aged 22 years, at Ashaiman Community 22, it said.

On interrogation, the report said the suspect admitted being the person in the viral TikTok video with the TikTok name Eyes Man.

That he saw a similar pose trending on social media and was just copying for fun but not for any bad intention, it said, adding that the suspects Samsung Galaxy A15, which he used in creating and posting the said video, was retrieved and kept as an exhibit.

The police say investigations are ongoing and have cautioned the public against sharing content that could incite fear or disrupt public order.
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Mahama focused on jobs, not LGBTQ debate  Kwakye Ofosu replies Minority

GraphicOnline Politics Apr - 08 - 2026 , 05:42 2 minutes read

The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has rejected calls by the Minority in Parliament for an apology from John Dramani Mahama over the governments handling of the anti-LGBTQ bill, insisting that the administration remains focused on broader national priorities.

His response follows renewed criticism from the Minority, led by John Ntim Fordjour, who argued that recent developments linked to the constitutional review process suggest attempts to introduce LGBTQ-related provisions into Ghanas legal framework. The legislator, who is also a sponsor of the anti-LGBTQ bill, cited sections of the Constitutional Review Committees report as grounds for concern.

The Minority subsequently demanded that the President and the governing National Democratic Congress apologise to religious and traditional leaders, accusing them of failing to prioritise the passage of the bill after assuming office.

But speaking in an interview on JoyNews on Tuesday, Mr Kwakye Ofosu dismissed the demand outright, questioning the basis for such a call.

What is there to apologise for? he asked. Are you telling me that what matters most to the public is the LGBTQ issue and not their welfare? Is that what the NPP is pushing?

He maintained that the governments agenda is centred on improving living conditions, creating jobs and stabilising the economy, rather than elevating what he suggested was a secondary issue.

So the President should go and apologise for making the welfare of Ghanaians his priority? Is that what they are calling you for? Where is the logic in this? he said.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu further criticised the opposition for what he described as a misplacement of priorities, arguing that pressing socio-economic challenges should take precedence in national discourse.

Why do they waste their time in the manner that they do? Should the president apologise for saying that the youth of Ghana having jobs is a priority? He should apologise for saying that? he added.

He also questioned the timing of the Minoritys renewed advocacy for the legislation, suggesting that the issue did not receive similar urgency when the New Patriotic Party was in power.

Indeed, if it were a priority for them (NPP), why did they not sign it when they were in power? When did it become a priority for them? Only when they left power? he asked.
The Left Alliance, the Social Democrats and the Greens submitted an interpellation to parliament on Wednesday targeting the government led by Petteri Orpo, with the move expected to lead to a vote of no confidence later this month.

Finlands opposition parties have launched a formal challenge to the government over poverty and rising living costs, citing new data that shows a growing share of households under financial strain and warning of further increases without policy change.

The challenge centres on data from Statistics Finland showing that 958,000 people, or 17.3 per cent of the population, faced a risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2024. The figure marks a sustained level of hardship, with opposition parties arguing that current policies have worsened the situation.

The interpellation raises questions on whether the government plans to revise cuts to housing benefits and unemployment protection, and whether it remains committed to reducing the number of people at risk of poverty by 100,000 by 2030, including a share of children.

It also points to a rise in households struggling to cover basic expenses. According to the figures cited, 8.9 per cent of people lived in households with insufficient income for essential costs in 2025, up from 7.5 per cent two years earlier. The number of low-income individuals reached 750,000 in 2024, an increase of 51,000 from the previous year.

Single-parent families have faced rising pressure. The interpellation states that 22.8 per cent of such households reported financial difficulty.

Aino-Kaisa Pekonen, parliamentary group leader of the Left Alliance, said the governments economic policy had failed. According to a recent estimate, poverty will increase by tens of thousands if compensatory measures are not taken now, she said at a press briefing in parliament.

She added that unemployment levels remain among the highest in the European Union and that homelessness and personal debt cases have risen. More than 600,000 people face enforcement proceedings, according to figures cited by opposition parties.

Pekonen said the opposition would seek a vote of no confidence. This is not fair in any way, and therefore were seeking a vote of no confidence in the government, she said.

The Social Democrats joined the move following an internal decision after Easter. Tytti Tuppurainen, chair of the partys parliamentary group, said households across the country face rising prices and weak income growth.

Now is the turn of low- and middle-income people, she said in a statement. She questioned what measures the government would take at its upcoming budget framework session to ease pressure on households.

Tuppurainen criticised a planned reduction in corporate tax, due to take effect next year, which the government estimates will reduce public revenue by around 830 million each year. She said part of that cost could instead fund support measures, including restoring elements of unemployment and housing benefits.

The Greens also backed the interpellation, with leader Sofia Virta warning of rising child poverty. She said government policy would push more than 31,000 additional children below the poverty line.

Almost one in six children will be living in poverty, Virta said, describing the situation as a national shame.

Virta called for changes to social policy, including adjustments to benefits, and criticised what she described as choices that widen income gaps.

The opposition parties argue that spending cuts have focused on lower-income groups while tax changes favour higher earners and companies. They also point to the impact of higher energy and living costs, which have increased pressure on household budgets.

Minja Koskela, chair of the Left Alliance, said new policy tools were needed to support low-income groups beyond existing benefits. She proposed targeted measures linked to energy taxation to support households dependent on car travel in rural areas.

The interpellation marks the first such initiative led by the Left Alliance during the current parliamentary term. Debate in parliament is scheduled to take place before 23 April, with a confidence vote to follow.

HT
US President Donald Trump said he would halt strikes on Iran for 14 days following talks mediated by Pakistan, while Tehran confirmed it would allow safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz under military coordination. The agreement came shortly before a deadline set by Washington for further escalation.

The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire after weeks of illegal US-Israeli aggression against Iran, with both sides suspending attacks and reopening the Strait of Hormuz under a temporary arrangement linked to planned negotiations in Pakistan.

Irans Supreme National Security Council said it accepted the pause on condition that attacks stop, stressing that the move does not mark the end of the war. Iranian officials described the outcome as a success and said negotiations would begin in Islamabad on 10 April based on a 10-point proposal covering sanctions, nuclear policy, and regional security.

In the hours before the ceasefire, Trump threatened large-scale military action against Iran, stating that failure to reach an agreement would lead to strikes on key infrastructure. He wrote that a whole civilisation will die tonight, a statement that drew condemnation from political figures and foreign ministers.

Trump described the agreement as a decisive outcome. Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it, he told AFP. Iranian leaders presented a different account, stating that their demands formed the basis of the talks.

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who led mediation efforts, said the ceasefire applied across the region. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected that interpretation and said operations in Lebanon would continue. His office stated that the truce does not include Lebanon.

Israeli forces carried out strikes in southern Lebanon after the announcement and issued evacuation warnings in several areas. Lebanese authorities reported more than 1,500 deaths since early March and said over 1.2 million people have been displaced during the fighting.

The ceasefire followed nearly six weeks of conflict that disrupted energy supplies and trade routes. Iran had restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz as retaliation, a passage for about one fifth of global oil and gas shipments. Under the agreement, vessels will transit the route for two weeks, with Iran and Oman permitted to charge fees.

Shipping firms responded with caution. Maersk said it would not resume normal operations and would base decisions on risk assessments and security conditions.

Markets reacted to the announcement. Oil prices fell by about 15 percent, with Brent crude trading near $92 per barrel, according to Reuters. Stock markets in Asia rose sharply following the news.

Despite the pause, tensions remained across the region. Missile alerts and interceptions were reported in Gulf states hours before the agreement took effect. Iraq reopened its airspace after authorities said conditions had stabilised.

World leaders welcomed the development. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the ceasefire created a much-needed chance to tone down threats. The United Nations called for full compliance to support a lasting settlement.

India, China, Germany, and Japan issued statements backing the move and urging further diplomacy. The UK government said Prime Minister Keir Starmer would discuss efforts to uphold the ceasefire during meetings with Gulf leaders.

In Tehran, residents gathered in the streets following the announcement, while officials said the country would continue to prepare for further conflict if talks fail.

Negotiations in Islamabad will focus on Irans proposals, including limits on nuclear activity, the lifting of sanctions, and the withdrawal of US forces from the region. The plan also outlines controlled transit through the Strait of Hormuz and compensation for damage caused during the war.

In reality, the cessation of hostilities based on the 10-point conditions by Iran is a great victory for the country, which has stood fast and defended its sovereignty against the combined surprise attack by the worlds biggest army and its regional ally, Israel. Iran has suffered destruction to industrial, military, and civilian infrastructure, but has also dealt heavy blows to US bases and interests in the region and to Israel, which has strictly censored any distribution of images to conceal the extent of damages to its cities and critical infrastructure.

Irans reported 10-point plan is essentially a demand for a permanent end to hostilities rather than a temporary ceasefire, with terms that include stopping attacks on Iran, ending Israeli strikes on Iran-linked groups in the region, lifting sanctions, recognizing Irans security concerns, and protecting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Reports also say it includes a maritime-security arrangement for the strait, a transit-fee mechanism for ships, and the use of that revenue for reconstruction, alongside broader steps to reduce regional conflict and move toward a longer-term settlement.

The conflict has also triggered shifts in financial strategy. Iran has expanded the use of Chinas yuan in oil transactions passing through the strait, challenging the dominance of the US dollar in global energy markets. About 80 percent of oil trade remains priced in dollars, according to JPMorgan estimates, though analysts say alternative systems are gaining ground.

HT
Chinese medical team saves young mother from life-threatening heart condition in Sierra Leone

People's Daily Online) 14:19, April 08, 2026

In Sierra Leone, childbirth remains a period of extreme vulnerability. For 28-year-old N'mah Sesay, the joy of a three-week-old newborn was nearly cut short by a sudden, life-threatening cardiac crisis.

Associate Chief Physician Sheng Jie performing a physical examination in the CCU.

"She was in acute respiratory distress, unable to lie flat and struggling for every breath," recalled Sheng Jie, an associate chief physician of cardiology from the 27th Chinese Medical Team. On March 26, the Critical Care Unit (CCU) at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital was alerted to N'mah's deteriorating condition. Detecting jugular venous distension and severe pulmonary rales, Sheng suspected more than just postpartum exhaustion; he suspected Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (PPCM).

West Africa reports some of the highest PPCM incidence rates globally. However, in Sierra Leone, where diagnostic infrastructure is severely limited, this "silent killer" often goes undetected. Sheng's rapid clinical assessment provided the critical intervention needed to halt the progression of heart failure.

Associate Chief Physician Zhou Cheng performing a bedside echocardiogram with a portable ultrasound.

The rescue mission moved into high gear. Associate Chief Physician Zhou Cheng, an imaging specialist from the Chinese medical team, arrived with portable ultrasound equipment. In a country where cardiac imaging is a rare luxury, this diagnostic precision was transformative. By ruling out pulmonary embolism and confirming reduced ejection fraction, the Chinese doctors initiated a targeted treatment plan. This streamlined approachpioneered at the Xiangya-built CCUbrought high-standard cardiac care to the heart of Freetown.

A recovering N'mah Sesay smiling and posing for a photo with Associate Chief Physicians Sheng Jie and Zhou Cheng.

N'mah's recovery was remarkably swift. Now breathing easily and moving independently, she sat upright, her face beaming with joy. Grateful for the Chinese doctors who stood by her, she expressed her thanks in a heartfelt mix of languages: " (Xie-Xie) to you all!" This simple, sincere gesture served as the most powerful testament to the success of the treatment.

This marks the first successful treatment of PPCM at the hospital since the CCU was established in 2025 with support from Central South University's Xiangya Hospital. Dauda, a local physician, remarked, "We have lost many mothers to this condition in the past. Today, with the CCU and the expertise of our Chinese colleagues, we have the tools to save lives."

This successful intervention is a testament to the enduring medical partnership between China and Sierra Leone. Beyond saving a life, it demonstrates how Chinese doctors are translating clinical standards into a resilient shield for maternal health in the region.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Hongyu)
Is China gaining trade advantages by manipulating exchange rate?

15:30, April 08, 2026 By Global Times editorial ( Global Times

Editor's Note:

Currently, China's economy is steadily advancing along the path of high-quality development, even as domestic and international circumstances become increasingly complex. Some Western media, due to misunderstanding or bias, have repeatedly questioned or even distorted China's economic development. Accordingly, the Global Times launches the "Q&A on China's Economy" column to publish opinion pieces to present facts and clarify perceptions.

Since the beginning of 2026, China's foreign trade has remained strong. Some Western narratives are regurgitating old themes, claiming that China's export growth is the result of "exchange rate manipulation" and arguing that China artificially suppresses its currency, renminbi (RMB), to make its products more price-competitive. While this claim is deceptive, it is completely disconnected from reality.

China operates a managed floating exchange rate system. For years, the RMB has remained generally stable at a reasonable and balanced level. If Chinese products were "selling well" simply because the RMB was "cheap," then China's continuously record-breaking export volumes would imply a persistently depreciating currency. How, then, could the exchange rate remain broadly stable? In fact, by the end of March this year, the RMB had appreciated by 1.3 percent, 3.7 percent, 3.2 percent, and 2.4 percent against the US dollar, euro, yen, and pound respectively. According to the above "theory," this should have weakened the price competitiveness of Chinese exports. Why, then, do exports continue to grow? If exchange rate manipulation could truly deliver long-term trade advantages, why have most countries that tried to boost exports through currency devaluation failed to achieve sustainable growth?

Economic globalization has long changed the way countries do business. In the past, nations relied largely on their own resources to produce and sell goods. Today is different: Countries specialize, collaborate, and exchange what they have. Those who can best leverage global resources hold the advantage. As a major trading nation, China follows this model by importing raw materials and components from around the world, processing and upgrading them domestically, and exporting finished products globally. This is not because China "has everything," but because it excels at integration and cooperation. To a significant extent, China's trade advantage is the result of coordinated global supply chains, with prices influenced by multiple global factors. Attempting to reshape this system simply by adjusting the RMB exchange rate is unrealistic.

China's comprehensive manufacturing system and supportive trade policies have become a stabilizing force in economic globalization. Over the years, "Made in China" has been a reliable foundation for stable global supply, playing a positive role in supply chain restructuring and helping importing countries mitigate external shocks. Whether consumer goods for final demand or intermediate goods and components that support industrial development, all parties are well supplied through imports from China. Importers do not need to worry about delays or shortages and can customize products to meet diverse needs. International buyers can complete one-stop procurement in China, significantly reducing costs and simplifying after-sales services. From the "new three" products to high-end equipment, the core competitiveness of Chinese exports no longer depends on prices, but technology, delivery capability and reliable quality.

International trade is a complex ecosystem, where expectations and trust play decisive roles. Take 2025 as an example. Major shifts in global trade patterns were not simply driven by exchange rates, but largely by the US imposing "reciprocal tariffs" on its trading partners. This reversed an 80-year trend of declining tariffs since World War II, pushing US tariff levels close to those seen during the Great Depression (1929-33). As the US market became less open, the cost and risk of exporting to the US increased significantly. Many countries turned to China, which upholds multilateralism, supports globalization, maintains a stable market environment, and continues reform and opening-up. Through tariff reductions, trade facilitation, expanded platforms, and stronger guarantees, China has shared the benefits of its vast market with global partners. Imports from China continue to grow across countries, and deepening cooperation in turn further strengthens global confidence in the Chinese market.

As for whether China engages in "exchange rate manipulation," there is already broad international consensus. In 2019, when the US Treasury attempted to label China a "currency manipulator," the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that the exchange rate of the RMB in 2018 is basically in line with the economic fundamentals and there is no obvious overestimation or underestimation. This directly refuted such accusations. In recent years, whenever China achieves notable economic progress, some attempt to dismiss it as "unfair competition." By that logic, would only weak export performance be considered "fair"? This paradox reflects the troubling rise of trade protectionism.

China's development has never relied on "shortcuts," but on the hard work of its people. On the new journey of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), China will continue to improve the market-based formation mechanism of the RMB exchange rate, pursue high-level opening-up, and share development opportunities with countries around the world. No attempt to discredit China will change the fact of its great contributions to the global economy.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
In Brief: Domes Resorts has expanded its portfolio by purchasing a controlling interest in Casa Collective, marking a significant development in the resort industry.

Domes Novos Santorini Image Credit Domes Resorts

Domes Resorts has entered an agreement with Goldman Sachs to acquire a majority share in Casa Collective, which operates the Cooks Club, Casa Cook, and XIA brands.

Domes Resorts has reached an agreement with Goldman Sachs to acquire Casa Collective, the platform behind the Cooks Club, Casa Cook, and XIA hospitality brands. Hospitality entrepreneur Remo Masala will become a shareholder and serve as strategic partner and creative lead for the platform. Casa Collective currently operates 13 hotels across various destinations.

Following the acquisition, four additional properties are expected to join Casa Collectives portfolio, with a broader pipeline of potential projects under evaluation. The partnership is intended to support further expansion through franchise, management, and strategic development collaborations in leisure destinations and gateway cities worldwide.

Casa Collective will continue to operate as an independent entity, maintaining current franchise agreements, brand teams, and operating structures. The platform will continue to collaborate with hotel owners through franchise, management, development, and co-investment models. Partners are expected to benefit from international distribution, marketing, development, and financing opportunities, as well as operational and brand development support.

The Casa Collective brand portfolio includes Cooks Club, a social hospitality concept; Casa Cook, a minimalist boutique concept; and XIA, a newly developed family-oriented experiential hospitality concept.

Remo Masala, who developed Cooks Club and Casa Cook and founded the Berlin-based tourism innovation and brand studio Vision Alphabet, will remain involved in the platform as a shareholder and creative partner. He also developed XIA, which joins the portfolio as the latest brand.

The transaction is intended to enable Casa Collective to expand internationally, with Domes Resorts providing operational expertise and development capabilities. The group will also consider incorporating strategic partners to support growth through targeted property acquisitions.
In Brief: Minor Hotels has signed agreements for the Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort and Anantara Kolkata Hotel, marking the first Anantara-branded resort and urban hotel in India.

Rendering of the Anantara Kolkata Hotel - Image Credit Minor Hotels

Minor Hotels has signed agreements for two new properties in India under its luxury Anantara Hotels & Resorts brand: Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort and Anantara Kolkata Hotel. These will be the brands first resort and first urban hotel in the country.

Anantara Zanti Coorg Resort is scheduled to open in 2028 near Madikeri in Coorg, Karnataka, within the UNESCO-recognized Western Ghats. The 69-key resort is being designed by Sri Lankan architect Channa Daswatte and will draw on the regions natural landscapes, coffee heritage, and Kodava culture. Planned facilities include four dining venues, a swimming pool, a lobby lounge and library, Anantara Spa and wellness center, a fitness studio, meeting and event spaces, and a kids club. Zanti Hospitality owns the property.

Anantara Kolkata Hotel is slated to open in 2032 as part of the World Trade Center Salt Lake Kolkata, a mixed-use development. The 170-key hotel is designed to serve the citys business, meeting, and event needs, with facilities including two restaurants, a lobby lounge, flexible meeting and event spaces, an Anantara Spa and wellness center, a gym, and a swimming pool. The World Trade Center Salt Lake is a joint venture between Aryan Realty and Merlin Group.

These signings expand Minor Hotels portfolio in India, following the introduction of the Anantara brand with Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur in 2025 and the signing of the first Avani-branded property, Avani+ Sunray Beach Visakhapatnam Resort. The company is progressing toward a target of 50 properties in India within the next decade.

Minor Hotels strategy in India includes developing both leisure destinations and key cities, with a focus on its luxury and premium brands such as Anantara, Avani, and NH Collection, as well as select-service brands including NH, Oaks, and iStay. The company has also launched the Minor Reserve Collection and Colbert Collection to provide opportunities for independent hoteliers. Expansion in India is primarily through hotel management agreements and franchise opportunities.
Berkshire Art Center Sets Youth Puppet Workshop for April Vacation

STOCKBRIDGE  The Berkshire Art Center (BAC) has scheduled a specialized April vacation program, "Giant Parade Puppets," running April 2024 at Citizens' Hall.

The workshop is designed for students aged 8 and older and will be led by artist and educator Eric "Homeslice" Weiss.

The week-long curriculum focuses on the design and construction of large-scale puppets. Students will learn to sculpt puppet heads and mount them onto wooden frames equipped with fabric arms and hand rods. The program draws inspiration from global traditions, including Chinese New Year dragon puppets and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, to teach the technical engineering and narrative elements of festive puppetry.

The program concludes with a puppet performance for family and friends on the BAC lawn. Following the workshop, the BAC will store the completed puppets, allowing students to retrieve them to participate in the Pittsfield Annual Fourth of July Parade on July 4, 2026.

Sessions will held Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Supporting sponsors for the program include the Mass Cultural Council, Feigenbaum Foundation, Lee Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Mill Town, Berkshire Bank, and the Rotary Club of Pittsfield.

Registration and additional information are available through the Berkshire Art Center website.
Yale Researcher to Speak at MCLA

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) will welcome Sam King, Researcher with the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology, as part of its Green Living Seminar Series on Wednesday, April 15, at 5:30 p.m. in the Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, Room 121.

King will present "The Call of the Ecozoic: Religions Enter Their Planetary Phase."

According to a press release:

His talk explores how the world's religious traditions are entering a new phase of planetary responsibility and imagination amid ecological breakdown, drawing on the work of cultural historian Thomas Berry and his concept of the Ecozoic Era, a period of mutually enhancing human and Earth relations. The presentation examines the need for religions to integrate contemporary scientific understandings of Earth systems and evolutionary time, while recovering their ecological wisdom, and concludes with examples of engaged religious environmentalism across traditions, highlighting the work of the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology.

King serves as Project Manager for the Emmy Award-winning Journey of the Universe project and is Advisor to the Ecological Leadership and Ministry certificate program at Yale Divinity School. He has been a Teaching Fellow at the Yale School of the Environment and worked with leading scholars to develop six online courses on the ecological dimensions of the world's religions, available through Yale/Coursera.

As an educator, King has taught courses on Journey of the Universe and the worldview of Thomas Berry, and has led retreats and workshops in schools, universities, religious communities, and retreat centers around the world.

All presentations take place Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. in MCLA's Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation, Room 121 and will be recorded as podcasts available at mcla.edu/greenliving. The event is free and open to the public.

MCLA's Green Living Seminar Series brings environmental experts, scholars, and practitioners to campus throughout the academic year to engage students and community members in conversations about sustainability, ecology, and our relationship with the natural world.
No Drought Conditions in Berkshire County

BOSTON  Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared the Normal conditions have returned to the Southeast and Western Regions of the state.

The Connecticut River Valley, Central, Northeast, and Nantucket County Regions have improved to a Level1 Mild Drought. The Cape Region remains in a Level 2Significant Drought.

Drought is a look back at conditions over a period of time. The Drought Management Task Force (DMTF) collected and analyzed data from August 2024 through March 2026.

During March, Massachusetts received approximately 3 to 5.5 inches of precipitation, which is normal for this time of year. Some areas  like Essex, Middlesex, Dukes, and Nantucket Counties  got less than normal, about 0.5 to 1.5 inches below average.

"Spring has brought much-needed snow melt, rain and relief to Massachusetts. While thats a positive step, we are still recovering from a prolonged drought," said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "As the growing season starts, it is important that we all be conscious of both our indoor and outdoor water use and continue to follow state guidance and local water restrictions."

The current drought, which began in 2024, has had impacts on the natural environment and declining groundwater but with recent increases in precipitation and snow melt, drought indices are improving all around. Although local water supplies are currently stable, as the drought continues to persist and with the growing season and higher water demand season is before us, it is prudent for all to continue to be very conservative and save water whenever possible.

As outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, continued detailed monitoring of drought conditions must continue. The drought levels also require ongoing coordination among state and federal agencies to implement drought response actions such as water-use restrictions. Additionally, engagement with municipalities, including local Boards of Health (BOH), is essential. This includes providing technical outreach and assistance to water suppliers and affected municipalities. Residents are asked to report to their local BOH if wells drying up; BOHs are asked to report on the condition of local private wells.

Residents can report dry environmental conditions and submit photos to help monitor the situation on the Massachusetts Water Impact Reporter. Additionally, a FAQ is now available for questions regarding the current drought status and water conservation; and private well owners can learn more for information on how the drought may impact them.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) will continue to assist communities in managing their water systems. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) water supply system is not experiencing drought conditions. Please note that even during a drought, to continue operational activities such as flushing and spring maintenance, water suppliers may need to use higher volumes of water.
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North Korea is believed to have fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the sea off its east coast, extending a series of recent test-launches.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Wednesday that North Korea fired an additional unidentified missile at around 2.20pm (0520 GMT) on Wednesday from the Wonsan area towards waters off its east coast.

The claim came a day after Pyongyang test-fired several short-range ballistic missiles from near the same area. Those missiles flew about 240km (150 miles), the JCS said, prompting a detailed analysis from South Korean and US authorities monitoring the situation.

But the Japan Coast Guard said the latest missile fell into the sea only about 10 minutes after launch. Tokyo said no missiles entered its territorial waters or exclusive economic zone.

The missile flew eastwards before it showed signs of abnormality in the early stage of its flight and disappearing, South Koreas Yonhap news agency reported citing military officials.

Condemning the test-launch, Japans chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said Pyongyang's actions "threaten peace and security in the region and the international community.

Shortly after the missile launch, South Korea's presidential Blue House convened an emergency National Security Council meeting. It said the earlier launches from Pyongyang were a provocation that violated UN Security Council resolutions, according to media reports. It urged Pyongyang to end such tests.

These were North Korea's fourth, fifth and sixth ballistic missile launches this year, following two launches recorded in January and a third test-launch in March.

Experts monitoring the test-launches say they are now a routine part of Kim Jong Uns weapons development programme. Specific tests could be linked to ongoing engine and propulsion testing, including work on solid-fuel systems, said Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

The launches also come amid a series of confusing mixed messages from North Korea towards its southern neighbour, at times welcoming and at other times rebuffing conciliatory outreach from the government in Seoul.

Two days earlier, Mr Kims influential sister Kim Yo Jong praised the efforts of South Korean president Lee Jae Myung to crack down on civilian drone incursions into North Koreas territory as very fortunate and wise. Ms Kim said his remorse over the drone launches by private individuals showed him to be an honest and bold person.

Yet barely 24 hours later Jang Kum Chol, a senior official at North Korea's foreign ministry, said the South was engaging in wishful thinking if it thought Pyongyang was ready to see Seoul as anything other than an enemy.

"The identity of the ROK, the enemy state most hostile to the DPRK, can never change with any words or conduct," Jang said, according to a report by state media KCNA late on Tuesday, using the acronyms for the formal names of South and North Korea.

Both Koreas remain technically at war after their 1950 to 1953 conflict ended in a truce.
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India is poised to receive its first shipment of oil from Iran in seven years, following a temporary lifting of US sanctions on Iranian crude and refined products aimed at alleviating global supply shortages.

The development was revealed by ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler on Wednesday.

State-run Indian Oil Corp, the nation's leading refiner, has acquired the cargo. It is currently aboard the Curacao-flagged very large crude carrier Jaya, which is en route to India's east coast and is expected to arrive later this week, according to the data. Indian Oil did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment regarding the purchase.

LSEG ship tracking indicates the Jaya initially sailed to Southeast Asian waters for discharge in China before altering course for India. Furthermore, data shows another carrier, the Jordan, is signalling India as its intended discharge location.

open image in gallery FILE - People store fuel in a plastic can at a petrol pump amid fears of a possible shortage due to the US Iran war, in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Wednesday, March 25, 2026 ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, has not received a cargo from Tehran since May 2019, following U.S. pressure not to buy Iranian crude, but supply disruptions from the U.S.-Israel war have hit the South Asian nation hard.

India's oil ministry last week said that refiners have purchased Iranian oil because of the Middle East conflict that has disrupted supplies through the Strait of Hormuz, which typically carries about 20% of global crude supply.

The ministry also said last week that refiners are not facing any problems with payments for Iranian oil purchases.

Kpler data also shows that Iranian crude oil on water is near record-high levels above 180 million barrels in April.
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Promotional billboards for the Indonesian horror film Aku Harus Mati (I Must Die) have been removed across Jakarta after drawing criticism that their messaging could trigger suicidal ideation.

The billboards, installed on roadside displays in Jakarta and several other cities late in March, were part of a marketing campaign ahead of the films theatrical release on 2 April. The boards included the phrases I Must Die and Sell My Soul for the Wealth displayed alongside an image of a blue creature with red eyes, prompting complaints from residents who said it was disturbing and inappropriate for public spaces.

The film follows Mala, a young woman living in a major city whose pursuit of a hedonistic lifestyle leaves her in mounting debt. She returns to an orphanage connected to her past, where a series of disturbing events draws her and her two friends into a mystery involving a secluded house and supernatural forces, gradually revealing hidden truths about her life.

Diyah Puspitarini, a commissioner at the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), raised concerns about the potential impact on children. Such words can affect childrens mental health because they are not yet able to properly regulate [or interpret] the information they receive, Diyah told The Jakarta Post, adding that the messaging could trigger suicidal tendencies in vulnerable children.

Results from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey show that the proportion of children experiencing suicidal thoughts increased from 5.2 per cent in 2015 to 8.5 per cent in 2023, while suicide attempts rose from 3.9 per cent to 10.7 per cent in the same period.

KPAI also recorded at least 115 child suicide deaths between 2023 and 2025.

According to CNN Indonesia, officials in Jakarta removed several of the billboards after residents raised complaints. Governor Pramono Anung said the administration had coordinated with relevant agencies and advertising companies to take them down. We have taken down the billboards, he confirmed on Monday.

Pramono also asked the creative industry to be careful with provocative advertising strategies, saying: But the principle is that this must not happen again. Things like this are only intended to attract the public and then place sensitive advertisements, which have an impact on society. This must not happen again.

According to Satpol PP chief, Satriadi Gunawan, at least three billboards were removed in West Jakarta and Central Jakarta.

We have coordinated with the advertising agency to take it down immediately, Satriadi told Detik News, adding that other billboards will be removed if they receive similar reports.

The films producer, Iwet Ramadhan, said at first that all the promotional material had been evaluated and approved by the film censorship board and the directorate general of intellectual property, and that the publics response was something we cannot control, according to Kompas.

He apologised on Tuesday, and said they have heard and fully understand the various responses that have emerged from the public regarding this film.

On behalf of the producers, I would like to convey that we deeply regret the inconvenience caused, particularly from how this film was introduced to the public.

Ramadhan said the production team had taken steps to withdraw the promotional material, including removing billboards across 36 locations in major cities.

Imran Pambudi, director of health services for vulnerable groups at Indonesias health ministry, also warned that such promotional material could provoke copycat behaviour. Repeated exposure to messages that romanticise or normalise such acts can be triggering for individuals with a history of depression, impulsivity, or traumatic experiences, he said.

Seemingly trivial wording, describing suicide as a choice or liberation, can be perceived as legitimising by people in despair.

Imran added that police recorded 1,350 suicide deaths in 2023, which rose to 1,450 in 2024, while calls and messages to the national crisis service healing119 rose from approximately 400 per day in August 2025 to 550 per day in 2026.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans in confidence on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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On a desk inside a room at one of Cambodias notorious scam compounds lies a script with an in-depth character sketch of a fictitious woman who would be used to target Americans.

It depicts a character named Mila who had earned a lot of money on the gold options trading market. But she lost her husband to leukemia when their daughter was just a baby  thus setting up her tragic story that will help trap unsuspecting foreigners into parting with their money.

The fraud is so elaborate, it even constructs a vivid backstory  memories of her childhood, including getting bullied by other girls, and her parents sending her off to South Africa to live with her uncle in order to be in a healthier environment.

These scam compounds house rooms filled with desks for at least 30 people, each padded with noise-cancelling foam, the Associated Press reports.

Motivational messages written in Chinese  such as "money coming from everywhere"  adorn the walls while documents found on the premises offer tips on how to lure people into making a fake investment. FBI data released last week shows that Americans lost near $21bn to scams in 2025 alone.

What began as a small-time fraud operation run illegally from apartments have now expanded into a massive industry in Cambodia.

open image in gallery A Thai soldier guards outside the scam compound in O'Smach, Cambodia, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Police say foreign nationals are kidnapped and tortured into working long hours to lure unsuspecting targets from countries all across the world in these fortified, industrial-scale complexes.

The Cambodian police have arrested over 121 foreign nationals during raids on these online operations in the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk as a part of their ongoing nationwide crackdown on cyber fraud.

At a shuttered scam compound just inside the Cambodian town of OSmach near the Thailand border, remnants of the vast operation reveal the meticulous planning behind the fraud. The buildings are riddled with bullet holes, their floors strewn with collapsed ceiling panels, shattered glass, and debris. The workers and their handlers fled when border conflict escalated between Thailand and Cambodia last year. A ceasefire was reached in December after three weeks of fighting, but Thailand has maintained control over the area, triggering backlash from Phnom Penh.

Inside the buildings, replicas of Vietnamese banks, Australian police stations, and Chinese police uniforms were arranged in booths designed to deceive victims.

On the desks inside a four-story office building were snacks eaten by the previous users, as well as scripts and notes in Chinese on each aspect of the scam. American SIM cards were scattered on the floor as well as what appeared to be fake American dollar bills.

One such scam compound, named "O'Smach Resort Complex", comprises 157 buildings, 29 of which were used for setting up scam companies and their offices. The rest include massive dorm complexes, luxurious accommodations, and three-storey villas.

open image in gallery FILE- Equipment used at a scam center in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, file) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The clampdown comes days after Cambodia's parliament passed the first law dedicated to targeting scam centres accused of bilking international victims out of billions of dollars.

The Cambodian government has long played down the existence of such compounds, and previous crackdowns have done little to stop their spread. Recent findings show how these massive compounds worked as scam centres where fake police stations and banks were created to trick people, mostly North Americans, into bogus investment schemes to extort money.

The industry is closely involved in human trafficking, as foreign nationals are employed to run romance and cryptocurrency scams, often after being recruited with false job offers and then forced to work in conditions of near-slavery.

Scam compounds have mushroomed across Southeast Asia since the pandemic, with industrial-scale organisations operating out of border regions of Thailand and Cambodia.

The latest estimates from the UN office on Human Rights are that around 300,000 workers are caught up in the industry regionally.

open image in gallery Journalist review scam scripts in Surin, Thailand, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit) ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Cambodian authorities have accused Thailand of using so-called scam centre concerns as a pretext for actions that undermine Cambodias territorial sovereignty.

The Thai military estimates at least 10,000 people were living in the compound owned by Cambodian politician Ly Yong Phat, who faced US sanctions for rights abuses in the very same complex.

The OSmach area was flagged in the 2024 US Trafficking in Persons report, which cited accounts of online scam compounds in the town operating with forced labour.

These lucrative scam industries have popped up in other Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Myanmar, and the Philippines in the last decade. In Cambodia alone, online fraud schemes are estimated to generate $12.5bn annually, according to the United States Institute of Peace.

After weathering months of international pressure, prime minister Hun Manet announced that the industry would be completely shut down by the end of April, saying it was destroying Cambodia's economy and reputation. Since then, police teams have raided dozens of suspected scam compounds and arrested hundreds of foreign nationals.

open image in gallery Cambodia Thailand Scam ( Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The law introduced last week was "strict like the fishing net, strict to ensure we dont have the online scams anymore in Cambodia, strict in order to serve the interest of the Cambodian nation and people," said justice minister Keut Rith. He said the law will aide the "cleaning operation" ongoing across the country and ensure the centres do not return after crackdown.

Under the law, the convict will be sentenced to up to five years in prison and fined of up to $125,000. Sentences for those convicted of scams conducted by gangs or against many victims can be up to 10 years in prison and as much as $250,000 in fines. It also outlines penalties for those convicted of money laundering, gathering victims' data, or recruiting scammers.
China, Afghanistan, Pakistan hold meeting in Urumqi from April 1 to 7

Xinhua) 16:19, April 08, 2026

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held an informal meeting from April 1 to 7 in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

Mao told a regular press briefing that members of the three delegations were from their countries' departments of foreign affairs, defense and security.

They had candid and pragmatic discussions in a good atmosphere, following a problem-focused, result-oriented, and action-driven approach, said Mao.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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Singapore says it will not negotiate with Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz as a matter of principle because it believes transiting critical waterways is a right and not a privilege.

The Southeast Asian city-state, despite its tiny size, is a shipping superpower. It sits on the Strait of Malacca, the crossroads of major global maritime routes between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, and hosts the worlds busiest trans-shipment port, through which 3.1 billion tonnes of vessel arrivals passed in 2024. It is also the worlds largest refuelling point for ships and reported a record 54.9 million metric tonnes of marine fuel sales in 2023.

There is a right of transit passage. It is not a privilege to be granted by the bordering state, it is not a licence to be supplicated for, it is not a toll to be paid, foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan told the parliament on Tuesday when asked whether Singapore would negotiate passage through the Strait of Hormuz or consider paying a toll to Iran, which closed the critical waterway after it was attacked by the US and Israel.

This makes Singapore the only Asian country so far to publicly refuse negotiating passage with Iran. India, Pakistan, Thailand, and the Philippines, among other countries, have already made deals with Tehran to allow their shipments through. Some vessels are reportedly paying as much as $2m (1.4m) in fees to Iran to cross the waterway without coming under fire, according to a recent Lloyds List report.

open image in gallery The Tanjong Pagar container port in Singapore ( AFP via Getty )

According to Mr Balakrishnan, Singapores position is that the right of transit is part of customary international law, and negotiating passage with Tehran would implicitly erode the legal principle of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) or the Law of the Sea Treaty, to which Singapore is a signatory along with more than 170 nations.

Mr Balakrishnan said his diplomatic channel with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, was open before the war and remained so now. I am sure I will engage him in the near future, he said. But as a matter of principle, and not because we are taking sides, I cant engage in negotiations for safe passage of ships or negotiate on toll rates.

open image in gallery Ships traversing the Strait of Malacca ( Getty )

The Strait of Malacca is arguably as critical a chokepoint for global shipping as the Strait of Hormuz. In fact, more maritime oil  both crude and refined  passes through the waterway near Singapore than through the one near Iran. Its the same for global container trade flows. Malacca is less than two nautical miles wide at its narrowest, compared to 21 for Hormuz.

Do you understand now why we have to take a categorical position that international law and UNCLOS is the constitution of the oceans? Mr Balakrishnan asked. He added that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore was in close contact with owners and operators of Singapore-flagged or Singapore-registered ships in the Persian Gulf, and these agencies were exploring potential opportunities to facilitate safe transit of the ships.
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The start of 2026 has not been easy for the residents of Madina Camp, on the outskirts of the city of Baidoa, in Somalias South West State.

According to Adan Adan Abdi, a sub-camp leader of around 50 people, there is an urgent need for both food and water, with thousands having migrated from rural areas to camps such as his amid a catastrophic drought that has devastated Somalia.

The situation across these camps is the same: The hardship is severe, and people are extremely hungry and thirsty he says. Families have been going day to day without food to cook, he adds, while the only work available at the moment is to head deep into the bush to collect firewood to sell at the market.

Pointing to a water truck that has just delivered water from the Juba Foundation, a local NGO, he adds: The water we received today is the only assistance we have seen. As you can see now, people are fighting to get water from the water trucks.

open image in gallery Internally displaced people in Madina Camp, Baidoa, Somalia bring their jerry cans to the water delivery ( Mercy Corps )

open image in gallery According to Adan Adan Abdi, a sub-camp leader of around 50 people, the water delivery was the only aid that had been received for several days ( Mercy Corps )

Abdis story - collected exclusively for The Independent via the NGO Mercy Corps - is one of many that have emerged from a climate-driven humanitarian disaster that has swept across Somalia this year, after the country was hit by two consecutive failed rainy seasons.

An estimated 6.5 million people in the country are now facing crisis levels of hunger or worse, which is an increase of 1.7 million people since January. While Somalia has always been water-scarce, the current pattern of droughts hitting every two or three years is not like anything that has been experienced before.

Drought has become a persistent pattern in Somalia over the past 30 years, eroding the resilience of communities and institutions, explains Abdiaki Ainte, the director of climate and food security in the Somali Prime Ministers Office. In the past, drought was concentrated in certain regions. Today, it is spreading across much larger parts of the country, including areas that were not traditionally drought-prone.

For 22-year-old Nurta Sidow Qasim, crisis-level hunger has resulted in the loss of one of her infant twins, a daughter called Khadija. After falling sick with malnutrition, Khadija was admitted to hospital, but treatment would prove insufficient: The staff gave me tablets, syrup and rehydration salts, Nurta says. But before I could start the treatment, she passed away.

Now Nurta fears for the life of her surviving twin, Mohamed, who remains weak, and who she has been feeding black tea and sometimes powdered milk as a result of food shortages. The children are in very difficult conditions, she says. We are in urgent need of assistance. We need everything.

open image in gallery 22-year-old Nurta Sidow Qasim feeds her surviving son Mohamed tea, after losing Mohameds twin, Khadija, to malnutrition ( Mercy Corps )

open image in gallery A family sits under a makeshift shelter at the Madina Internally Displaced Persons camp in Somalia ( Mercy Coprs )

Funding cuts from international aid partners, which meant that just 29 per cent of humanitarian funding requirements were met last year, have also contributed to the current crisis.

Aid from the UK is set to be cut further in the coming months after the government failed to name Somalia in its list of countries whose aid will be protected during its programme of cuts. The US has also been slashing funding for Somalia , with just $3 million (2.3m) provided in humanitarian aid during the first three months of 2026, compared to $462m over the same period in 2025.

Aid cuts are deeply concerning at a time when vulnerability remains high, Ali Mohamed Omar, Somalias State Minister for Foreign Affairs, tells The Independent. The Somali government is strengthening national disaster response systems and expanding social protection. But the scale of climate shocks means continued international partnership remains essential.

Middle East War turbocharging problems

Famine is thankfully set to be avoided for the time being in Somalia, government sources have confirmed, as a result of a healthy late Spring rains that have been forecast as well as the effective coordination of government authorities, NGOs and communities to prioritise the needs of those most in need.

But experts are now issuing dire warnings that the challenges that Somalia faces around receiving the foreign aid that so many millions depend on are set to be turbocharged by wars ongoing in Lebanon and Iran.

Some of these impacts are practical, with the World Food Programme telling The Independent that supply chain delays stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as well as the closure of Omans Salalah Port have already significantly disrupted aid flows to Somalia, which is a country that depends on imports for 70 per cent of its food supply.

Although the Strait and the port have now reopened, experts are warning that it will take many months for regional trade, and prices, to recover.

Fuel costs in Somalia more than doubled within days of the war starting, while some staple cereals now cost up to 40 per cent more than they did last year. There have also been major delays to the delivery of key nutritional, medical, and sanitation consignments, and there are big concerns around Somalias 30 per cent dependence on fertiliser imports from the Gulf.

Conflicts like this dont stay contained, Mercy Corps CEO Tjada DOyen McKenna has warned. When fuel and fertiliser markets are disrupted, the ripple effects move quickly through food systems  and the people who feel it first are families in fragile countries who were already struggling to put food on the table.

In Baidoa, where Nurta and Adan are, the price of rice has risen from $0.75/kg to $1/kg, according to data tracked by Mercy Corps.

With so many global crises now ongoing around the world, there are also big concerns that Somalia will now slip even further down the list of funding priorities for international partners, many of whom are already grappling with significant donor fatigue around Somalias long-standing humanitarian crisis.

According to one source spoken to by The Independent, senior figures in Arab states - many of whom have in recent years been very involved in the conflicts of the Horn of Africa - are now saying in private that crises will have be dealt with sequentially, with the needs of Iran and Lebanon now the top priority, followed by Palestine, then Sudan, with Somalia only coming after that.

Global crises inevitably compete for attention, but Somalias strategic importance remains clear, argues Ali Mohamed Omar, Somalias State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Stability in Somalia contributes directly to maritime security, counter-terrorism efforts, and regional economic connectivity.

Ironically, while its humanitarian needs may now be increasingly overlooked, Somalia has recently been receiving a huge amount of attention in other areas.

In December, Israel announced its official recognition of the breakaway state of Somaliland, which has for 30 years been operating independently as a self-declared republic. For Israel, the move represented a strategic boost to its footprint in the Red Sea region - but dozens of countries across the Arab League and African Union criticised the surprising move as potentially further compromising an already-unstable region.

Somalias position is clear: Somaliland is part of the sovereign territory of the Federal Republic of Somalia, says Minister Ali Mohamed Omar. Any unilateral recognition would violate Somalias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Then there is US President Donald Trumps apparent obsession with Somalia and its diaspora, with his regular, racist statements mocking Somalian bandits that steal money, or questioning the IQ of the Somali people. The regular diatribes seem closely linked with his dislike of Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, the high-profile progressive Somali-American politician in Washington.

Development progress unravelling

For those that have worked on Somalias development for many years, there is immense frustration that long-term efforts to build Somalias capacity as a self-sustaining country are now at serious risk of being undone as a result of donors turning away from providing aid to the country.

Somalias big wins include financial reforms that have enabled the countrys external debt to fall from 64 per cent of GDP in 2018 to less than 6 per cent of GDP by the end of 2023. Legislation has been introduced to tackle corruption on both national and regional levels, while a new middle class is emerging in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Over the past decade we have rebuilt institutions, strengthened security cooperation, implemented economic reforms, and achieved historic debt relief, says Minister Ali Mohamed Omar. Somalia is at an important stage in its recovery: Sustained engagement now will help consolidate these gains and allow Somalia to move from crisis management toward long-term development.

Olga Petryniak, senior director for resilience at Mercy Corps East Africa, is among those who are worried that all of this progress could now be undone.

Its really important for the world to realise that Somalia is not - for want of a better term - a basket case, she says. Somalia has a very ambitious national transformation plan and a very ambitious climate target which are both guiding it on a long-term pathway for sustainable development that will ultimately reduce aid dependency.

At the same time, Somalia needs to be able to deal with these frequent humanitarian crises - so if a humanitarian safety net is no longer provided by donor countries, then there is a risk that Somalia is pushed back on its development plan and tremendous progress that has been made is undone.
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A 13-year study involving nearly 100,000 participants found that the GLP-1 medication semaglutide is associated with a substantial decrease in hospitalizations and sick leave for people already diagnosed with depression or anxiety.

The research, published in The Lancet Psychiatry by an international team from Griffith University, the Karolinska Institutet and the University of Eastern Finland, tracked Swedish national registers between 2009 and 2022.

Using a design in which each person acted as their own control, researchers found that patients using semaglutide experienced a 42 percent lower risk of hospitalization for mental health issues during periods of use, compared to periods when they were not taking the drug.

According to the findings, the risk of worsening depression was 44 percent lower among users, while the likelihood of worsening anxiety disorders fell by 38 percent. Hospital care and health-related absences from work linked to substance use disorders were also 47 percent lower during periods of semaglutide use.

The study also noted that GLP-1 medications as a group were associated with a reduced risk of self-harm.

The findings are based on 13 years of Swedish national health records, tracking people who were already diagnosed with depression or anxiety ( AFP/Getty )

From a policy perspective, the researchers noted that the reduction in sick leave was of particular interest. Because depression and anxiety are now leading reasons for health-related sick leave, the study suggests the data could have implications for public health policy.

The authors also found that GLP-1 medications as a group were associated with a reduced risk of self-harm. They stated that this data countered earlier concerns regarding a potential increased risk of suicidal behavior linked to the drugs.

The researchers suggested that for patients with dual conditions  such as obesity or diabetes co-occurring with depression  semaglutide and, to a lesser extent, liraglutide may offer dually effective therapeutic options.

However, the authors cautioned that the results did not necessarily reflect a class effect for all weight-loss drugs. While semaglutide and liraglutide showed positive associations, other GLP-1 medications, such as exenatide and dulaglutide, did not show the same benefits.

Additionally, the study highlighted that prior evidence regarding whether these drugs improve or worsen psychiatric symptoms remains inconclusive, with some drug safety monitoring reports previously triggering regulatory reviews over potential links to suicidal ideation.

The researchers emphasized that, because this was an observational study, it could not prove that the medication directly caused the mental health improvements. Possible factors included better glycemic control, weight loss-related improvements in body image or changes in the brains reward system, though the study could not confirm the exact biological mechanisms involved.

The findings come as doctors continue to monitor the long-term safety of weight-loss drugs.

While the Swedish study highlights potential psychiatric benefits, the medications are also reportedly linked to a range of known physical risks. These include common gastrointestinal issues like nausea and vomiting, as well as more severe complications such as stomach paralysis, pancreatitis and bowel obstructions.

Additional clinical concerns include the risk of gallbladder-related issues and potential muscle mass loss during rapid weight loss. Some users have also reported hair loss, which experts often attribute to the physical stress of rapid weight loss rather than the drug itself.
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Every day, my work sits at the intersection of two realities: treating patients in the NHS, while strengthening healthcare in Ghana.

I am an NHS consultant obstetrician and foetal medicine specialist. I am also British-Ghanaian, and president of the Ghanaian Doctors and Dentists Association UK, a diaspora network of clinicians.

That dual perspective has made one thing clear to me: as aid budgets shrink, we are being forced to rethink what actually sustains health systems, and who does.

In the NHS, international health workers are not the exception. They are its beating heart. The skills and expertise that sustain the health service have been built and developed across many countries, including those now facing increasing pressure on their own services.

At the same time, many of us remain actively engaged in care beyond the UK.

Through diaspora organisations like mine, clinicians contribute time, skills and resources  from training to specialist services, working in partnership with local institutions.

On a recent visit to Ghana, I saw first-hand the urgent need for better maternal care across several hospitals  where access to timely scanning can mean the difference between life and death for both mother and child.

It was a stark reminder of why diaspora-led work matters. From the UK, I have been working with colleagues at the University of Ghana Medical Centre through virtual teaching. Later this year, I will return to deliver hands-on training, working directly with clinicians and sharing knowledge in both directions.

This is part of a wider pattern  diaspora clinicians contributing in many ways, from stepping up during Covid-19 to delivering health outreach to Ghanaian communities here in the UK, bridging care across continents.

With global health at a turning point, this work could not be more important.

Over the past year, reductions in aid, including from the UK, have directly impacted countries like Ghana. Recent allocations confirm the scale of this shift, with UK bilateral aid to Africa set to fall by 56 per cent. The effects are already being felt: fewer outreach services, stretched training programmes, and growing pressure on healthcare workers.

Against this troubling backdrop, diaspora contributions  whether through money sent home to families or the work of clinician networks like mine  are a vital lifeline. While they cannot and should not replace government investment, they bring together funding, skills and trusted networks to help sustain care as other support falls away.

This is not peripheral work. It is the blueprint for how modern health partnerships must function, shifting from top-down, aid-dependent models to approaches led and shaped locally.

In May, the UK will host the Global Partnerships Conference, where governments and civil society will meet to consider the future of development cooperation. If that conversation is to be meaningful, it must be led by those with lived experience of the systems in question  including diaspora  with a real say in how decisions are made and resources are directed.

Because ultimately, organisations like mine are already doing the work  building relationships, caring for patients and strengthening services in ways that are often overlooked. We are not a temporary fix. We are the foundation.

The question is whether that reality is recognised  and whether diaspora are treated as partners, not just contributors, in building a more just and sustainable future for global health.

From my experience working across both the NHS and alongside Ghanas health system, the message is clear: Partnership is not optional, it is essential  and it must be shaped by those already bridging the gap.

Dr Jacqueline Bamfo is a consultant obstetrician and foetal Medicine Specialist, and is President of the Ghanaian Doctors and Dentists Association UK , a member of the Action for Global Health network
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One of Diana, Princess of Waless most trusted ladies-in-waiting has been disqualified from driving for six months after failing to convince magistrates she should be spared a ban to look after her brother.

Anne Beckwith-Smith, 74, told magistrates it would be catastrophic if she was stripped of her licence, and criticised the standard of public transport in Salisbury where her older brother lives in care.

She reached 12 penalty points on her driving licence after pleading guilty to a speeding offence last summer, and argued at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court on Wednesday that a ban would cause exceptional hardship to her brother.

Routine is vital in his life, she said, setting out how she travels to the care home in Salisbury, Wiltshire, two or three times a week.

I believe the impact would be quite considerable because I wouldnt be able to just be there, especially when there is an emergency, just to reassure him.

Beckwith-Smith gave an address in South Kensington, London, to the court at the start of the hearing, and told magistrates of a potential route using public transport from London to the care home.

Im afraid to say public transport in Salisbury is not as good as it is in London, she said.

But under questioning from prosecutor Oliver Hall, Beckwith-Smith revealed she has a second home in Salisbury.

You have an address in Salisbury  is there a reason why you havent mentioned that, said Mr Hall, and Beckwith-Smith replied: No-one ever asked me.

Could you potentially have a lovely summer in the country, asked the prosecutor, before turning to the window and saying: Its a lovely day today.

Yes, but whats tomorrow going to be like, replied Beckwith-Smith, before conceding she cant deny that living in Salisbury for six months and taking public transport to the care home is possible.

Three magistrates rejected Beckwith-Smiths bid to be spared a ban, disqualifying her from driving for the next six months and ordering her to pay a 307 fine, costs of 130, and a 123 victim surcharge.

Lead magistrate Isobel Vass said: We dont underestimate the medical and care needs of your brother and the circumstances he is in at the moment in a care home.

We also note your dedication and commitment to visiting him regularly.

However we believe you will be able to be in the area for several days each week, allowing you to fulfil your obligations to your brother.

open image in gallery Diana, Princess of Wales ( PA )

Beckwith-Smith was the longest serving lady-in-waiting to Diana and was also appointed as her assistant private secretary.

They were regularly photographed together and reportedly formed a close bond.

She went on to spend 24 years working at the Tate after leaving royal service.

Beckwith-Smith found herself in court after being clocked at 36mph in a 30mph zone in her Audi Q2 in South Street, Wilton, Wiltshire on August 7 last year.

The court heard she already had nine points on her licence, from two traffic offences in October 2022 and a third in April last year.

I apologise for wasting all your time with this, but I think its important to stress it would be a hardship for my brother, she said, after detailing his health difficulties.

Im his only next of kin, Im unmarried and hes unmarried.

I deal with his financial affairs and health affairs, within reason, and his wellbeing generally.

She said she visits her 77-year-old brother two or three times a week and checks on the care he is receiving.

I just drop in  I quite like to do that as it keeps them on their toes, she said from the witness box.

Care staff are always changing, she said, adding: They have endless notes and I dont think most of the time they read them  these days they are on an iPad.

I feel very responsible for making sure his routine is kept to the basics.

Turning to the impact of a driving ban on her own life, she added: It would be rather catastrophic, personally.

We are incredibly well provided for with public transport in London, but its getting to see friends and family in the country.

When questioned by Mr Hall, Beckwith-Smith said she could live at the family home in Salisbury and she accepted a bus stops outside.

Beckwith-Smith also told the court she is comfortable financially and could look into taking taxis.

She pleaded guilty to exceeding the 30mph speed limit, and left court in the passenger seat of a waiting car.
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Energy bills could still see a substantial rise in the summer despite the ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran, experts have warned.

The two countries agreed to the eleventh-hour proposal overnight, announcing a deal less than two hours before president Donald Trumps deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The effective closure of the waterway over the past month triggered a massive spike in the price of oil and natural gas, hitting economies across the globe.

Following the announcement of the deal, oil fell to 14 per cent to $93.93 a barrel, while natural gas dropped 17 per cent to 111.26p per therm.

But the threatened spike in energy costs may still be present, UK households have been warned, despite the conditional re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Energy bills could still see a substantial rise in the summer, experts have warned ( PA Archive )

Dr Craig Lowrey, principal consultant at the respected Cornwall Insight, said: A ceasefire can ease some of the immediate pressure on gas markets, and that could take the edge off price cap forecasts for July, but it does not wipe the slate clean.

Energy regulator Ofgem sets its price cap using a three month observation period which, for the July period, runs from 18 February to 18 May. This means that the rise in wholesale gas prices will be taken into account at least in part to decide the cap.

Dr Lowrey explains: The announcement of a twoweek ceasefire has pushed gas prices lower, but they remain above preconflict levels. If the Strait of Hormuz opens, and stays open, that would help ease prices further and would be reflected in the final July cap.

However, this is not just about transport. Significant damage to gas infrastructure means supply constraints will continue. While Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) shipments are expected to resume, some of Qatars LNG capacity will take years to fully rebuild.

That loss of capacity puts pressure on the global market and keeps it vulnerable to shocks. As a result, even with a ceasefire, wholesale gas prices are likely to stay elevated for some time, limiting how far the July price cap can fall.

In February, Ofgem set the cap for April to June at 1,641, a reduction of 117 on average and broadly in line with Labour's pledge to cut energy bills by 150.

This means that bills are effectively protected until July. A forecast from Cornwall Insight last week, made before the ceasefire was announced, found this could rise by as much as 288 for the average household.

Simon Francis, End Fuel Poverty Coalition coordinator said: Despite the Iranian ceasefire, the damage has been done for households. The surges in oil and gas costs have already hurt household finances and will continue to have an impact on energy bills for months to come.

Oil, LPG and gas costs have spent over five weeks at elevated levels hitting some households immediately and all households will feel the costs from 1 July when the next Ofgem price cap period starts.

For as long as our energy system is hooked on oil and gas prices, history will keep repeating itself and our bills will be at the mercy of decisions taken by Trump, Putin and Gulf States.

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: "Tackling the affordability crisis is the governments number one priority. That is why we are acting to bring bills down now and for the long term.

"Action we took at the Budget ensured the price cap has fallen 117 this April, which will remain in place until end of June. We have also expanded the 150 warm home discount to around six million households.

An Ofgem spokesperson said: The conflict in the Middle East is a fast-moving situation and we are monitoring and assessing the impact on the energy market.

We know people are worried about the impact of the conflict on energy bills. Its important to remember that customers on a fixed tariff and those protected by the price cap will not see any immediate impact on their bills, as the price cap is already set until the end of June.
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A British Indian Network Rail employee has successfully won a race harassment case after an anti-Islam English Defence League (EDL) leaflet was left in his locker.

Parmjit Bassi, who is not Muslim, was subjected to a racist attack when the leaflet, which asked what individuals were doing to protect their children from Islam, was placed among his belongings.

The railway worker also faced further harassment when colleagues put a newspaper page detailing a knife attack in his boot, implying he was responsible for a high-profile stabbing.

Mr Bassi is now set to receive compensation after the employment tribunal ruled in his favour against Network Rail.

The tribunal concluded that despite Mr Bassi not following Islam, the actions constituted clear sleights against his race.

It also found that Network Rail managers displayed a laissez-faire attitude towards the incidents.

Mr Bassi, who had worked for Network Rail as a track worker since 1999 at the Eastleigh depot in Hants, had a strained relationship with his colleagues.

The Southampton Employment Tribunal heard that after finding the EDL leaflet in his boots in November 2018, Mr Bassi reported it to his manager.

The manager told the tribunal that Mr Bassi did not want any action taken and that finding a culprit would be impossible.

However, Mr Bassi said that he was shocked by the leaflet being left as it was, and was concerned that nobody followed up on it.

open image in gallery Mr Bassi had been employed since 1999 as a track worker ( PA Archive )

The tribunal concluded that Network Rail's laissez-faire attitude was very hard to comprehend regarding the incident, and the manager admitted that more should have been done in hindsight.

The tribunal said: It should have been clear that [Mr Bassi] was being ostracised and that something needed to be done.

There was then an act that the Tribunal consider to be of some gravity when the leaflet was placed in [Mr Bassi's] boot. It was a further manifestation of somebody within the team or some bodies indicating that they did not want [Mr Bassi] at work and there is a very clear racial message contained within.

The pressure had been ramped up significantly. The Tribunal does not consider that the fact that the leaflet was about the perceived perils of Islam which was not [Mr Bassi's] religion made any difference.

[Mr Bassi] was simply lumped in together with what the purveyor of the literature perceived as a dangerous 'other'. The Tribunal are quite sure that this was a clear an act of racial harassment / intimidation towards [Mr Bassi] as part of the ongoing campaign by a colleague or colleagues.

It was the first time that race had played a part from the evidence we have before us. To do nothing was weak management and only strengthened the bullies position at the expense of [Mr Bassi].

Mr Bassi took some annual leave to distance himself from the environment, but very shortly after his return in January he was again the victim of racist harassment.

Two copies of a national newspaper with the headline 'Knifed Nine Times', and a note written in marker pen saying 'It was Parm', were found in the office.

One was with a knife in a kitchen drawer and the other was again found in Mr Bassi's boot.

He again felt shocked and saddened that he had again been targeted and bullied.

The tribunal found that Mr Bassis feeling that he was not welcome was entirely understandable and correct.

His manager felt that she needed to act to protect his welfare and he was sent home on full pay for his own welfare, but was not consulted on whether that was what he wanted.

He was then moved to work on the Eastleigh signalling team, but this was decided without his input.

Mr Bassi was moved around and continued to look for more suitable work but struggled in his role and was eventually dismissed in April 2021.

He appealed the decision but it was upheld so he took Network Rail to a Southampton Employment Tribunal with a number of claims, of which those of racial harassment and unfair dismissal were successful.

Judge Gary Self concluded: When [Mr Bassi] made allegations of racist behaviour against him no further action was taken as it was said that the perpetrators could not be identified.

[Mr Bassi] alleges that this demonstrates less favourable treatment and asserts that he would not have been required to move departments as a result of unsubstantiated allegations but for his race.

To do nothing was weak management and only strengthened the bullies position at the expense of [Mr Bassi].

We accept on the balance of probabilities that the documents were left for [Mr Sing Bassi] to find.

The leaflet is from a known organisation with racist views, and we consider that in the context of such a document being left in the boots of a British Asian man, that notwithstanding the fact that it is a leaflet attacking Islam, it was a clear sleight against [Mr Bassi] and his race / colour.

We have not heard any evidence from whoever placed the leaflet and we conclude that the purpose of doing so was to create the proscribed effect.

The employment judge also found that the worker had been racially harassed by the newspaper clippings left in his locker.
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Sir Keir Starmer arrived in the Gulf on Wednesday to meet allies in the region and discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

The prime minister welcomed the news of the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran, saying it will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.

Donald Trump announced the conditional two-week ceasefire in a social media post at around midnight on Wednesday, following his threats to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure if a deal was not reached by 2000 Eastern Time [0100 GMT].

A joint statement by world leaders, including Sir Keir, said they would contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement, signed by the leaders of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, welcomed the ceasefire and said: We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners.

It also called upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon, which Israel has continued to bombard with strikes on Wednesday.

open image in gallery The PM arriving in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday ( Reuters )

No 10 said Sir Keir will meet leaders of countries who have been on the front line in recent weeks, where he will reiterate unwavering UK support.

Speaking after arriving on Wednesday afternoon, Sir Keir thanked British military personnel for their work at King Fahd Air Base in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

When asked if he believed the US-Iran ceasefire could last for meaningful talks to begin, he said it was early days and theres work to do.

There is a real sense, I think, of relief you can feel it at the base here in Saudi Arabia, for 39 days, theyve been acting in our collective self-defence. You can feel the relief, he told broadcasters.

But what they want to know, what people in the United Kingdom want to know, who will share that relief, is that this needs to be permanent, and its our job to work with other countries in the region, not only on the cessation of possibilities, but also on opening the Strait of Hormuz.

The trip will also involve the prime minister holding talks to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains permanent and protect the UK and global economy from further threats.

Announcing the ceasefire around midnight, Donald Trump declared it a "big day for world peace".

open image in gallery Trump had threatened that a whole civilisation will die tonight if Tehran did not meet his deadline ( AP )

"The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made, he wrote on Truth Social.

Mr Trump had threatened to destroy Irans bridges and power plants and warned earlier on Tuesday, a whole civilisation will die tonight if Tehran did not meet his deadline.

But less than two hours before the deadline passed for Iran to agree a deal, the US president said he was suspending his threat to widen the military offensive to power plants and bridges, subject to the strait reopening.

Both the US and Iran have since framed the ceasefire as a victory, with the announcement bringing oil prices plummeting below $100 a barrel for the first time in days.

Sir Keir defended the UKs diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis despite playing no part in the ceasefire talks, telling broadcasters on Wednesday that the foreign secretary had convened a political meeting with 30 countries.

Were here to build that with our allies. Its vital we do so, because my job is to protect the United Kingdom from the impact of this war, he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, former national security adviser Peter Ricketts said the war had been a huge wake-up call for Britain, and warned the government must now completely forget the idea of a special relationship between the UK and US.

The idea of a special relationship we should now completely forget. Its a transactional relationship with Washington as with every other country, Lord Ricketts told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

He said that while he believes officials behind the scenes will still be working together, relations at a top level have been incredibly difficult and choppy.

I think we do have to rethink the idea that the US is a reliable, trustworthy ally on which we can depend in the longer term, he said.

Weve got to get closer to the Europeans, weve got to work out how we live in a world where American interest has moved away from Europe, and we can no longer rely on the kind of relationship weve had with America for my 50 years of involvement in foreign affairs.

open image in gallery Strained relations: Trump and Starmer in slightly happier times ( PA )

Sarah Jones, the policing minister, said the government is relieved by the news of the ceasefire, but warned that securing a lasting peace will be difficult.

The detail of that ceasefire is yet to be seen. Of course, we want to see a lasting peace, but there will be challenges, she told Sky News.

The negotiations will be difficult, particularly when it comes to the nuclear assets in Iran. Opening up the strait is hard in terms of making sure the shipping companies, the insurers, are confident that they can get through. So none of these things are easy.

She confirmed that the UK is not playing a role in those peace negotiations, adding that Pakistan has played a leading role.

On Iran potentially gaining nuclear capabilities, she said the UK has always been very uncomfortable" with this and added: Our position on nuclear hasnt changed.

It is understood that Yvette Cooper spoke with US secretary of state Marco Rubio in the hours after Mr Trump warned that a whole civilisation will die.

The foreign secretary and Mr Rubio on Tuesday evening discussed international efforts and diplomatic measures to open the Strait of Hormuz, including a UK-led meeting, which brought together more than 40 countries to pursue reopening.

Ms Cooper is thought to have urged a swift end to the conflict and gave the UKs backing to negotiations and efforts to prevent further escalation.
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The daughter of a woman who fell overboard on a Bahamas boat trip says her mothers disappearance doesnt add up and fears the worst. 

Lynette Hooker, from Michigan, vanished on April 4 while travelling between Hope Town and Elbow Cay in the Abaco Islands, the Royal Bahamas Police Force said.

Described as an experienced mariner, she was travelling with her husband of 25 years Brian at the time, who told authorities she fell into the water with the boat keys.

Without the keys the engine shut off, Hooker was said to have been carried away by the strong current and has not been seen since. Her family have been speaking to the media about their concerns as the search to find their loved one continues.

open image in gallery Lynette Hooker vanished in the Bahamas on a trip with her husband ( Facebook/Lynette Hooker )

She loves exploring, her daughter Karli Aylesworth told CNN. Theyve always wanted to sail the Bahamas, and so now they finally did it.

The more time that goes on, the more I disbelieve that she will come back alive. I dont think you can tread water for that long. But I hope maybe shes on a little island somewhere.

It just doesnt add up why she was swimming away from the boat or why she had the keys.

Adding that she has been privy to very little information so far, Aylesworth said her sole concern was to find out what happened to her mother and make sure a full and complete investigation is carried out.

Hookers mother Darlene Hamlett told CNN the family still had a number of unanswered questions but she was trying to obtain a passport in order to reach the Bahamas. 

Our family is still in shock, she said. We are still holding on for a positive outcome to this tragedy.

open image in gallery She vanished while travelling from Hope Town to Elbow Cay in the Bahamas ( Google Earth )

Bahamas police says that they were informed about the disappearance on April 5. Hookers husband said he and his wife had left Hope Town a day earlier at around 7.30 p.m. while travelling on an 8ft hard-bottom dinghy, the RBPF said. 

The couple shared updates from their travels on a social media account named @the_sailing_hookers. In a post uploaded before the disappearance, they said they had headed to Great Guana Cay to have their scuba tanks filled.

Richard Cook, the fire team lead at the Hope Town Volunteer Fire and Rescue, told CNN that Hooker had bounced off the boat, which was named Soulmate.

Cook said her husband tried to row to the shore, but winds of 18-22 knots prevented him from making headway. Upon finally reaching Marsh Harbour Boat Yard at 4 a.m., he told an unnamed individual about his wifes disappearance and the authorities were notified.

In an update, the RBPF confirmed that a major search-and-rescue operation had been launched with the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, the Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association, the United States Coast Guard and local fire and rescue teams. The search was carried out with support from drones and professional divers. 

Speaking to PEOPLE, Cook confirmed that officials don't suspect foul play at the moment.

It was just a lot of bad decisions, he continued. Night time, very windy, no moon out yet so it was pitch dark and very rough conditions for the small boat they were in.
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A new synthetic drug believed to be 10 times more potent than fentanyl has been linked to dozens of deaths in Tennessee, with a growing number of fatalities reported in states across the U.S.

The drug, N-Propionitrile chlorphine was first detected in toxicology from postmortems in mid-2024 by the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, in Horsham, Pennsylvania, and since then its use appears to have exploded.

The drug belongs to an emergent subclass of synthetic opioids known as orphines, which first appeared on the recreational drug market in 2020, according to forensic experts. The drug is often manufactured to resemble legitimate prescription pills or other substances, making it difficult for individuals to know what they are taking.

Adding to the risk is the fact that N-Propionitrile chlorphine is not detectable by fentanyl testing strips.

Authorities in Tennessee have linked the drug to 41 deaths in 11 counties so far in 2026. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Narcotics reported at least one death related to N-Propionitrile chlorphine in March, while a public safety warning was issued by Kentucky in February.

A Drug Enforcement Agency photo showing pills believed to contain fentanyl. A new synthetic drug 10 times more potent than fentanyl has been linked to dozens of deaths in Tennessee, with numbers also rising across the U.S. ( AFP/Getty )

The drug has appeared in seven other states: California, Nevada, Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, New York and Pennsylvania. It has also been linked to deaths in three Canadian provinces.

It has never been more dangerous to take street-level drugs than right now, Chris Thomas, chief administrative officer and director in Knox County Regional Forensic Center, Tennessee, told WATE. We dont know if its contained to a limited supply or one bad batch, or if its representative of a longer-term shift in the drug supply. Thats what is really concerning.

N-Propionitrile chlorphine has been found in toxicology reports alongside other drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, the center states. Fentanyl is believed to be 50 to 100 times more potent than heroin.

Cychlorphine represents a dangerous shift in the opioid crisis, said Dr. Rachel Wirginis, an addiction medicine and family medicine physician at the OSU Addiction Recovery Clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are seeing increasingly powerful synthetic opioids that require rapid recognition and aggressive intervention to prevent fatal outcomes.

The Independent has contacted the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for further information on N-Propionitrile chlorphine.

The exact origin of the drug is unknown, though some experts believe it is being produced at scale. Most of these are coming from either South Asia, China, places where theres a lot of chemical supply companies, Timothy Wiegand, president-elect of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, told The Hill.

It isnt coming just like somebody in their bathroom, making it like methamphetamine, from a couple of products or in the U.S. Its coming from international, multilevel drug distribution networks, some of the cartels or other isolated networks.
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After weeks of covering updates on the Iran war from the Trump administration  and Trumps own missives on social media  I keep coming back to the same impression: words have no meaning.

Words have always been twisted by the MAGA crew; their definitions have always been stretched and strained. But now, six weeks after the US started bombing Iran, days after the president wrote Open the FIN Strait, you crazy bastards on Truth Social and only a few short hours since he promised a whole civilization will die tonight, the language has truly suffered some grave and irreversible casualties.

In a White House briefing that bizarrely  given that we are at war  opened with an announcement about AI legislation supported by Melania Trump, press secretary Karoline Leavitt repeated many of the lines we heard from Pete Hegseth at eight oclock this morning: America has won against Iran; a historically swift and successful military triumph has been achieved; the media is lying (or possibly being fed lines directly from Iran) if they say anything negative about it; bombing Iran provided America with maximum leverage.

Of course, weve moved way beyond trying to explain that hitting your smaller opponent in the face repeatedly and then threatening to kill them if they dont do what you say isnt cleverly negotiating your way to maximum leverage, and is instead something that literally anybody could do, but that doesnt matter. Because now is the time for The Grand, Overarching Narrative. And although both Leavitt and Hegseth have been desperate to push the Trump-as-dealmaker narrative, that is not the narrative most people are interested in. Instead, most people are interested in the Trump-as-unhinged-maniac narrative, as bolstered by the Truth Social posts mentioned earlier, and by the more than 100 lawmakers currently calling to invoke the 25th Amendment.

And so, as soon as Leavitt opened up the floor to questions, the floodgates opened.

Karoline Leavitt did her best to dodge answering on Wednesday when repeatedly pressed to explain Trumps Muslim-baiting and civilian-threatening rhetoric from over the weekend ( AP )

What was actually achieved that would benefit the American people, asked one reporter? Well, Leavitt said, six weeks ago the president looked the American people in the eye directly (surely an incredible feat in itself) and promised them he would go to war for their benefit. And he did, because we say so. Because the Iranians initial 10-point plan isnt actually what the ceasefire was brokered around: instead, that plan was one Trump literally threw in the garbage, despite obviously not being in the negotiating room. And just believe me, the deal he did make is fantastic.

But why, asked another journalist in the room, was it appropriate for Trump to openly threaten genocide before the deal was struck? What the president cares most about is results, Leavitt replied, and Trumps very tough rhetoric is effective, so none of that matters, since we have a very powerful and lethal military.

Does that mean the world shouldnt take Trump seriously when he says things, came the natural follow-up? No, replied Leavitt, the world should take Trump very seriously  but she couldnt explain why, and instead talked around the point before quickly moving on.

Reporters for this administration are used to having to take Leavitts scraps and make dinner from them, but this wasnt even a scrap. So The Independents Andrew Feinberg pressed the point, asking how America  historically a country that sees itself as a moral leader  can possibly have the high ground in international affairs when its president threatens to wipe out an entire civilisation.

Leavitt was clearly ill at ease by this point. Again, she started talking around the point without saying anything of meaning, until she eventually landed on: The president has the moral high ground over the Iranian regime, and for Feinberg to say otherwise was disgraceful. Truly, how dare he! (One might, indeed, wonder why Leavitt didnt say that America, with its values of liberty, tolerance, democracy and justice for all, has the moral high ground over the Iranian regime, but this is a question few of us have the energy to hear answered right now.)

The words were piling up, and none of them were satisfactory.

Its clear that both Hegseth and Leavitt have their own rhetoric written by the same person, or at least have them brainstormed in the same room, because the crimes against language are all the same: the straw man fallacies, the repeated use of the word decimated, the adolescent openers that usually double up as puns (Leavitts today was that Irans murderous and evil plans have been blown up, quite literally), the stuff about Iranians chanting Death to America.

You can get away with a lot of this kind of repetition in government, except when youre giving briefings multiple times a week about the exact same conflict: then, it starts to look sloppy and you start to look awfully like youre flailing around for something to say rather than responding to the moment.

Towards the end of the presser, Leavitt announced that she was going to share a direct quote from the president about NATO allies: They were tested, and they failed. Many have already pointed out that NATO is a defensive agreement, not an attack agreement. Indeed, the very first line of the NATO agreement should have made that clear to the president: The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.

But of course, those are just words. And in a world where wiping out a civilisation isnt genocide, and a tenuous ceasefire with unclear terms is actually a decisive victory, and HANG ON, did you just imply that Trump doesnt have the moral high ground over Iran?! Well, in this world, words have been decimated, and our very lethal military has put them in their place. If you ask about words again, we will look you in the eye and literally throw you in the garbage before destroying your civilisation.

Anyway: on to Cuba.
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A lawsuit initiated by the animal rights group PETA, targeting the health standards of popular dog breeds such as French bulldogs, has been dismissed by a New York judge. The court determined that the state law invoked by PETA was misapplied to the case.

Filed last year, the legal challenge marked a new phase in People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals' long-standing campaign against dog breeders.

PETA accused the American Kennel Club (AKC), the nation's oldest purebred dog registry, of promoting "unhealthy standards" for French bulldogs  the country's most prevalent breed by the AKC's count  alongside bulldogs, Chinese shar-peis, dachshunds, and pugs. The AKC had previously refuted these allegations, stating its priority is canine health.

Following the dismissal, PETA announced on Tuesday that its lawyers were assessing all available legal avenues. Ingrid Newkirk, PETA's founder, issued a statement asserting: "Money-grubbing dog merchants flood the market with deformed dogs bred at the AKCs direction."

open image in gallery Dogs Popular Breeds ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

She urged the public to adopt dogs from shelters instead of purchasing purebred animals, adding: "No dog should be custom-made for a look that causes pain." The AKC offered no immediate comment.

open image in gallery A Dachshund arriving on the first day of the Crufts Dog Show (Jacob King/PA) ( PA Wire )

State Judge David B. Cohen, in a decision filed Monday, clarified that the New York law in question is typically used to challenge state and local government decisions. While it can occasionally apply to private organizations, these are generally entities that hold some authority over the plaintiffs, such as union leadership or co-op apartment boards.

Since PETA is not subject to the kennel club's authority, Judge Cohen concluded the case "must be dismissed," without offering an opinion on the dog health issues at the core of the dispute.

The lawsuit had focused on canine ailments linked to specific breed characteristics. These included problems associated with flat faces, common in bulldogs, pugs, and French bulldogs, and issues stemming from the short legs and long backs of dachshunds. Shar-peis were also highlighted for their susceptibility to "shar-pei autoinflammatory disease," which involves bouts of fever and inflammation. While these problems are not universal, they can be serious.

The AKC maintains that its breed standards, which are developed by enthusiasts and reviewed by the club, reflect "decades of collaboration with veterinary experts and breeders." The organization also noted its substantial financial contributions, exceeding \$40 million since 1995, to its canine health research charity.
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A rare daytime fireball that streaked across the skies over parts of northeastern America Tuesday afternoon was a meteor, NASA said.

More than 200 eyewitness reports were submitted to the American Meteor Society from across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and Connecticut, helping officials piece together its path.

Using those reports along with data from publicly accessible cameras, analysts determined the meteor first became visible about 48 miles above the Atlantic Ocean near Long Island, NASA said. Traveling southwest at roughly 30,000 miles per hour, it covered about 117 miles before disintegrating roughly 27 miles above Galloway, New Jersey, just north of Atlantic City.

The event unfolded from 2:30 p.m. until 2:45 p.m, according to the American Meteor Society. Most witnesses reported a bright flash above them between 2:35 and 2:40 p.m., with some also seeing multiple green fragments streaking across the sky for several seconds.

In Phillipsburg, New Jersey, one observer, Leslie Galloza, captured an image of the object around 2:34 p.m., and shared it with NBC Philadelphia.

More than 200 eyewitness reports helped NASA track the meteors path from above the Atlantic near Long Island to its breakup over Galloway, New Jersey, after traveling about 117 miles at 30,000 mph ( Getty )

Another New Jersey witness, Nick Brucato, caught the fireball on video and shared it in the public Pine Barrens Facebook Group.

Heres what looks like to be the meteor everyones talking about. Took this video as fast as I could today in Whiting at 2:34 PM. Heard the loud boom minutes later, he wrote.

One commenter said they also heard a very loud boom in Batsto, while another added that the noise Startled my dog for a second.

Additionally, witnesses across Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, D.C. also reported meteor sightings.

It was insanely cool to see, a resident of Heathsville, Virginia, told NJ.com, adding that the fireball was moving from up left to down right and she heard a muffled boom.

The fireball flashed brightly after two to three seconds of watching it streak across the sky from left to right, a woman from Falls Church, Virginia, also told the outlet. As the fireball flashed, I saw one or two smaller bright pieces break away before it faded away.

Meteors are common, but many go unnoticed because they appear over oceans, remote areas, or during daylight, making them difficult to spot. Therefore, widely observed events like Tuesdays relatively rare, according to NASA.

The latest sighting comes mere weeks after a 7-ton meteorite exploded over Medina County, Ohio, on March 17, creating a sonic boom, followed days later by a separate, unrelated meteor event in Texas.
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A proposed reading list for Texas public schools, featuring biblical narratives like Jonah and the Whale, sparked a heated debate at a state education board meeting on Tuesday, drawing an overflow crowd.

Religious leaders, teachers, parents, and students spent hours arguing over the list, intended for the state's 5.4 million kindergartners to 12th-graders.

This local dispute reflects a persistent national struggle over the role of religion in public education, which continues to drive legislation and legal action. Donald Trump has pledged to protect and expand religious expression in public schools. Texas, a conservative state home to about one in ten of the nations public school students, often helps set the agenda.

Texas became the first state to allow chaplains in 2023. Last year, a Republican-led mandate for the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public schools took effect, though around 144 districts removed them due to a lawsuit. For speakers, the issue boiled down to whether these passages are essential for understanding the nation's history and morals, or if they are unconstitutional.

Our children need truth," said Nathan Irving, a pastor and father of eight from Myrtle Springs, Texas. Truth is the only currency that never devalues. Investing truth into our children is the most loving thing that we can do for them. This is the truth. This country and this state were founded upon a Christian worldview. Like it or not, it is true.

open image in gallery Taylor Crawford of Houston holds a sign reading "History belongs to everyone" during a rally on the Capitol Mall outside the Barbara Jordan State Office Building, where the State Board of Education meets, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) ( Austin American-Statesman )

Several speakers, however, cited the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which states that Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.

This list is a tool of proselytization that has no place in our public schools, Rabbi Josh Fixler, of Congregation Emanu El, a reform synagogue in Houston, told the board. There is a difference between teaching about religion and teaching religion, and this list will force teachers to cross that line.

Megan Boyden, a mother of three from Denton, Texas, described is as a direct attack on her private faith.

As a Christian mother, it is my right and responsibility to teach our familys religion," she said. "It is not the states job to shed through the lens of a teacher who may not share the same beliefs I do. Will Bible passages be taught in conflict with my beliefs?

What, she asked, "of non-Christian students?"

The list stems from a state law passed in 2023, which called for the creation of a state-approved list of high-quality materials.

Third-graders would learn about the Road to Damascus, which tells the story of Paul's transformation from an early persecutor of Christians into a follower. Seniors, meanwhile, would learn about the Book of Job, a story about a man whose faith is tested when he looses everything.

open image in gallery Aasya Peera of Pflugerville holds a sign reading "Don't teach our children lies!" during a rally on the Capitol Mall outside the Barbara Jordan State Office Building, where the State Board of Education meets, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Austin, Texas. (Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman via AP) ( Austin American-Statesman )

The list also includes classics like Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat," stories about the national folk hero Daniel Boone. And there are also works by famous African Americans like Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr. and a book about Harriet Tubman of the Underground Railroad fame.

The GOP-leaning board previously approved a new Bible-infused curriculum that is optional for schools to incorporate in kindergarten through fifth grades. A final vote on the list is expected in June. No changes would take effect until the 2030-31 school year.

The board also is considering social studies standards that have been criticized as too state-centric, not focused enough on world events and rife with an undercurrent of American exceptionalism. They call for students to identify the Texas flag as a symbol of Texas pride, and recognize the state song Texas, Our Texas.

Students also are supposed to be able to understand stories about Texas Independence.

Curriculum debates crop up occasionally. Over the years, state boards in places such as Kansas have debated whether the teaching of evolution should reflect doubt about the well-established scientific theory  and leave room for arguments that the universes complexity points to an intelligent design.

Allison Cardwell, a mother of a fourth-grader and a fifth-grade social studies teacher, urged the board to rethink the standards. She said fifth grade would be the only time most Texas students would receive instruction in U.S. history until high school.

We have to ask ourselves, How can we expect to create citizens who value liberty, responsibility, and the principles this country was founded on, if we dont ensure that they truly understand those foundations? she said.
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Pam Bondi is now attorney general in name only, according to her deputy.

The Floridian and Trump loyalist is out after a little more than a year on the job, with the president announcing her firing last Thursday. Her handling of the Epstein files created a boondoggle for President Donald Trump during his first year in office, which spiraled into a full-scale Republican rebellion on Capitol Hill that was quashed only by the president dropping his opposition to the files coming out.

At a press conference on Tuesday, her replacement, Todd Blanche, was introduced as the acting Attorney General  nearly a full month before Bondi was due to leave her post and as her bio on the Justice Departments website still refers to her as the head of the agency.

Blanche, meanwhile, made it clear that he was running things: I am the acting attorney general. As far as Pam Bondis last day on the job, Im the acting attorney general.

He was also referred to as such on the departments livestream. His official biography on the Department of Justice website refers to him as a deputy attorney general, with no indication of his change of status.

open image in gallery Pam Bondi was fired by Donald Trump last week, becoming the second Cabinet member to go ( AP )

Bondi wrote in an X post last Thursday that she would stay on at the Department of Justice for another month to transition Blanche into the role of the agencys director.

Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche before moving to an important private sector role I am thrilled about, and where I will continue fighting for President Trump and this Administration, she wrote less than one week before her no. 2 seemed to subsume her job entirely.

On Monday, there was no sign of her guiding hand as Blanche assumed the position without aid.

open image in gallery Todd Blanche was referred to as the Department of Justices acting attorney general on Monday ( AFP/Getty )

Speaking about his own appointment and future, he said Monday: As to whether or not I want this job, I did not ask for this job. I love working for President Trump. Its the greatest honor of a lifetime, and if President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, thats an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, thats an honor.

If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, Thank you very much. I love you, sir, added Blanche, who previously served as Trumps personal attorney during his hush money trial in 2024.

The Independent reached out to the Justice Department for clarification of Bondis current status, but did not receive an immediate reply.

Pam Bondi is a Great American Patriot and a loyal friend, who faithfully served as my Attorney General over the past year, Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last week, explaining that she will be transitioning to a much needed and important new job in the private sector, to be announced at a date in the near future.

That role hasnt been announced yet, and until Monday, there was no sign that shed even ceased the majority of her duties.
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The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide whose testimony before the House Select Committee linked President Donald Trump to the violence during the Capitol riot in 2021.

The claim that the DOJ is investigating Hutchinson comes from four unnamed sources familiar with the matter speaking with The New York Times.

In March, Congressman Barry Loudermilk, who is leading the House Republicans' January 6 committee, made a criminal referral for Hutchinson to the DOJ, according to CNN. He has accused Hutchinson of lying to Congress when she testified that Trump knew his supporters were likely to commit acts of violence at the Capitol.

The investigation into Hutchinson will be carried out by the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, which typically focuses on civil rights abuses such as misconduct in law enforcement and racial discrimination, according to the NYT.

The report comes less than a week after Trump fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, whom he reportedly complained had been slow to prosecute his enemies.

open image in gallery Cassidy Hutchinson, a former White House aide whose testimony before the 2022 House Select Committee linked Trump to the violence during the Capitol riot, is reportedly now facing an investigation led by the Department of Justice ( Getty Images )

Bondis former deputy, Todd Blanche, is now acting head of the DOJ.

Blanche said on Tuesday that Trump had both the "right" and the "duty" to call for investigations into whomever he thinks deserves investigation.

The DOJ investigation into Hutchinson is said to have started several weeks ago.

During her testimony before Congress in June 2022, Hutchinson said Trump encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol even though he knew it could become violent.

She also recounted a story she was told about Trump lunging at one of his Secret Service agents in his presidential limo when he was told he would not be allowed to travel to the Capitol himself. Later testimony called that account into question.

It's not clear why the Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon, is reportedly spearheading the investigation. Generally, an investigation into whether or not someone perjured themselves before Congress would be handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

open image in gallery Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon will reportedly lead the investigation into former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who has been accused of lying to Congress during her 2022 testimony linking President Donald Trump to the violence that took place during the Capitol riot ( REUTERS )

Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, would have been the one to handle the Hutchinson investigation had her office not been passed over.

In February, prosecutors under Pirro's leadership were tasked with indicting six Democratic lawmakers who participated in a video encouraging military and intelligence officials to disobey illegal orders. The prosecutors failed to secure the indictments.

Around the same time, her office also failed to build a case against former President Joe Biden and his staff over his alleged use of an autopen while signing presidential documents.
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While much of the world, let alone Washington, waited to see whether Donald Trump would carry out his pledge to make Irans civilization die before the president ultimately backed down from his threat, political observers noticed a different but no less earth-shattering storm brewing closer to home this week  one that could impact the Republicans hold on both houses of Congress.

Georgia and Wisconsin both held elections on Tuesday evening  while the world was digesting Trumps latest threats to send Iran back to the Stone Ages  that showed that the swing states, both of which voted for him in 2016 and 2024, are trending leftward.

Down south, Republican Clay Fuller won the runoff race to fill Marjorie Taylor Greenes old seat in Georgias 14th congressional district. Trump endorsed Fuller and he inevitably will be much more of a loyalist than was Greene, who broke with the president over the Epstein files and other matters before her resignation.

But that does not tell the full story. In 2024, Greene won the district by 29 points and Trump won it by 37 points. By contrast, Fuller only beat Shawn Harris by about 11.8 percent, meaning that Democrats outperformed by 25 points.

As The Independent wrote last month during the primary, this district spans from the tip of Cobb County, which includes the suburbs of Atlanta, to the Tennessee border and the suburbs of Chattanooga.

open image in gallery Republican Clay Fuller won a special election in Georgias 14th district thanks partially to Donald Trumps endorsement. ( Getty )

Unsurprisingly, Harris did well in Cobb, winning it by 15 points. But in 2024, when Harris ran against Greene, he actually lost it by just 2.72 points, meaning that part of the county swung more than 17 points to the left on Tuesday.

But even in the part of scarlet-red Murray County, which Greene carried with 81.49 percent of the vote in 2024, Fuller only won with 75.88 percent of the vote, a 5.61 percent underperformance.

All of this is good news for Georgia Democrats. Sen. Jon Ossoff is the only Democrat running for reelection in the state, which Trump won, and Democrats hope to flip the governorship for the first time in 24 years as Gov. Brian Kemp exits the stage. If even these deep-red parts of Georgia trend left, Republicans have plenty of reasons to worry.

And Democrats had even better news up in Wisconsin. There, liberal candidate Chris Taylor won with 60 percent of the vote in the Supreme Court race. Nearly every county in Wisconsin shifted to the left in this state including, crucially, the WOW countiesWaueksha, Ozaukee and Washington Countywhich have long been the vote banks for Republicans.

open image in gallery Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) is the only Democrat running for re-election in a state Trump won in 2024. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

In fact, Taylor won Ozaukee by four points, a 15-point swing from 2024. And as an extra, Democrat Alicia Halvensleben won the mayors race in the city of Waukesha by 454 votes.

The race is ostensibly nonpartisan, but the citys outgoing Mayor Shawn Reilly was a Republican who endorsed Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. The shifts are a sign that the Milwaukee adjacent suburb can no longer be considered reliably Republican.

While its unlikely that a future Democratic presidential candidate will win the WOW counties in the near future, even a slight leftward swing is good news for Democrats. Trump only won Wisconsin in 2024 by some 29,000 votes. In 2020 Joe Biden only won it by a little more than 20,000 votes.

Democrats hope to keep the governorship as Tony Evers will not seek reelection and they want to finally flip the legislature, which Republicans have held since the 2010 red wave. They also hope to flip Wisconsins 3rd district as Rebecca Cooke narrowly lost to incumbent Rep. Derrick Van Orden in 2024 and she is running in a rematch.

Both Wisconsin and Georgia also displayed a trend that has manifested in off-year elections since Trumps election: the leftward swing of Hispanic voters.

After Trump improved his margins with Hispanic voters despiteor, perhaps, in spite ofhis rhetoric about mass deportations, they have revolted and consistently voted for Democrats. Votehub, which tracks election results, flagged how in one heavily Latino precinct in Lincoln Village in Milwaukees south side, Taylor won 91 percent of the vote compared to Harriss 2024 margin of 64 percent.

Inside Elections Jacob Rubashkin flagged that a similar trend happened in Georgias 14th district in the majority-Hispanic city of Dalton. Shawn Harris won two majority-Hispanic precincts by 73 percent, a 51-point improvement since the 2024 presidential election.

Of course, plenty could happen between now and November. But consistently, special elections, primary elections and off-year races show a trend in the Democratic direction. And its not entirely clear that Republicans have any plan to divorce themselves from Trump or create any distance from him. And that could be the first rumblings of a blue wave Republicans did to themselves.
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The FBI issued a warning to U.S. state and local law enforcement in March, highlighting an elevated threat from Iran's government to targets within America, even as the White House sought to downplay the likelihood of an attack.

This information comes from a law enforcement intelligence report reviewed by Reuters.

The March 20 report, compiled by the FBI and other federal intelligence agencies, warned that the Iranian government "poses a persistent threat" to U.S. military and government personnel and buildings, Jewish and Israeli institutions, and Iranian dissidents in the U.S.

Despite the warnings, the FBI and National Counterterrorism Center had not identified broad threats to the American public, the report noted.

President Donald Trump has publicly minimized the possibility of Iranian attacks on American soil in recent months.

When questioned outside the White House on March 11 about whether he was concerned about an attack in the U.S., Trump said, "No, I'm not."

open image in gallery Demonstrators wave Iranian flags during a protest against US military action in Iran near the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 7 ( AFP via Getty Images )

The president escalated his rhetoric this week, declaring on Tuesday that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran failed to meet his demands, though he later delayed the threatened assault by two weeks, contingent on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The "Public Safety Awareness Report" was released weeks after reports by Reuters and other news outlets indicated that the White House had blocked the release of a similarly described intelligence product, citing the need to ensure information was properly vetted before publication.

The entire Trump administration is working together to protect the homeland and the American people  as they always do," White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement.

"Media outlets should not attempt to irresponsibly sow fear by reporting on individual law enforcement memorandums that may lack broader context."

The FBI and NCTC did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Ali Karimi Magham, a spokesperson for the Iranian mission to the United Nations, declined to comment.

open image in gallery The "Public Safety Awareness Report" was compiled by the FBI and other intelligence agencies ( AP )

Majority of Americans oppose the war

Americans have had negative views of the war, with two-thirds saying the U.S. should end its involvement quickly, a Reuters/Ipsos poll in March found, making the public perception of any threat especially relevant.

The March 20 FBI report was obtained through open records requests by the national security transparency nonprofit Property of the People and shared with Reuters.

The report highlighted "the potential for elevated physical threats" to targets in the U.S. by the Iranian government following the start of the conflict.

"Violent extremists with a variety of ideological backgrounds, including those who oppose the U.S. or Israel, also may see this conflict as a justification for violence," the report stated.

The report said Iranian security services have attempted to kidnap and kill Americans in recent years.

While it says most plots in the U.S. have involved firearms, other methods included "stabbings, vehicle rammings, bombings, poisoning, strangling, suffocation, and arson."

Tehran prefers to use operatives with existing U.S. legal status or access to the U.S., the report said.

The Iranian government in the past has monitored social media, livestreams and map applications to choose targets and assess security measures, the report said, adding that the government also used hacking tactics such as phishing emails.

The Iranian government "also has attempted to lure victims to other countries geographically closer to Iran, almost certainly for kidnapping and eventual executions," it said.

The report warned law enforcement officials should remain vigilant to possible threats and share concerning information with federal authorities.
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Mediation efforts to stop the war in Iran were hours from collapse when Pakistan mounted an overnight diplomatic push to secure a temporary ceasefire.

The effort nearly unravelled after an Iranian strike on a Saudi petrochemical facility triggered fury in Riyadh and threatened to derail weeks of back-channel diplomacy, four Pakistani sources told Reuters.

With U.S. President Donald Trumps deadline looming, Pakistani officials mounted a last-ditch attempt to pass messages between Tehran and Washington, after Trump warned that continued fighting that night could wipe out "a whole civilization."

Pakistan's effort involved direct contact with top officials across all sides, including Trump, Vice President JD Vance and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and senior Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi, one of the sources said.

After what a second source described as several "intense, breathless" hours during which "the talks were almost dead", Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire without preconditions and to enter negotiations.

Trump had warned a whole civilization will die tonight ahead of his deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz ( AFP via Getty Images )

"In the evening, Iran was on thin ice after the attacks on KSA (Saudi Arabia) but they knew there would be no extension to the deadline," the first source said.

Pakistan's military and civilian leadership remained engaged through the night, speaking to senior U.S. and Iranian, Saudi and other officials until Trump announced the breakthrough.

Minutes before Trump posted the announcement, he was on the phone with Pakistan's army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, the source said.

ASSURANCES ON ISRAEL

While Pakistan conveyed its "strongest ever anger" to Iran over the strike on Saudi Arabia, with whom Islamabad has a mutual defence pact that could drag it into the war, it simultaneously sought assurances from Washington that it would rein in Israeli strikes on Iran.

Iranian officials said they had launched the strike on the petrochemical complex in Jubail after an Israeli attack on an Iranian petrochemical facility, the second source said. Tehran could not enter negotiations if such strikes continued, they added.

Pakistan then told Washington that Israeli actions were jeopardising its peace efforts and that Islamabad might not be able to persuade Iran to come to the table, the source said.

Only after receiving an assurance that Israel would hold back, was Pakistan able to persuade Tehran to agree to a temporary ceasefire without preconditions.

A source briefed on the matter said that Israel had opposed a deal with Iran, believing more could be achieved militarily to further weaken Iran's leadership, although Israel had decided to ultimately support any decision made by Trump.

A second source said that Israel had pressed the Trump administration against reaching a deal with Tehran.

The Israeli prime minister's office did not respond to a request for comment on whether Israel had opposed a ceasefire.

An Israeli official said Washington had coordinated with Israel, insisting that the truce did not include any commitment to permanently end the war, compensate Iran or lift sanctions.

In any negotiations with Tehran, Washington would insist Iran hand over its nuclear material, halt uranium enrichment and remove the threat posed of its ballistic missile programme, the official said.

In a televised address on Wednesday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel had yet to achieve all its goals, but could do so either through a U.S.-Iran deal or by resuming the fighting, warning that Israel's "finger is on the trigger."

NO ONE SLEPT

Around midnight (1900 GMT), Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged all parties to observe a ceasefire to allow the peace process to begin.

The request was a coordinated move to lock in the ceasefire and came after both sides had already agreed in principle, the first source said.

"We wouldn't have made the request if the answer was going to be negative," the source said.

The late-night conversations included repeated exchanges over a 15-point U.S. proposal and two core questions: what would the ceasefire look like and the parameters for the talks, a diplomat from the Middle East who has been in contact with both sides said.

Iran proposed recognition of its sovereignty over the international waterway at the centre of much of the conflict - the Strait of Hormuz - a demand likely to be unacceptable to Washington, the diplomat said.

Tehran was also asking for the right to pursue nuclear energy and strike bilateral defence deals with regional states, as mediators tried to steer talks away from issues that could cause immediate clashes, the diplomat added.

Talks will start on Saturday and the U.S. delegation will be led by Vance, with Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner also part of the team, the White House said in an announcement that followed hours of speculation on what Trump would decide.

Iran has indicated it would turn over its stocks of enriched uranium, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters as she made the announcement about talks.

Two Pakistani sources said the Iranian delegation would be led by Araqchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.

A third Pakistani source said the hardest part of the process was convincing Iran to accept a truce without preconditions.

"Until the last hours, Iran acted as a hardliner. The Iranians were not ready to budge without first putting their demands forward. We told them the demands can wait for the talks to happen," the source said.

By the time Trump announced the ceasefire and Sharif extended invitations to delegations from both countries, the sun was nearly rising over Islamabad.

"We have been working throughout the night," Sharif said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday. "... if we turn it into a book it will serve as a big lesson for this nation and for generations to come, about how not to give up in a hopeless situation."
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Vice President JD Vance has used an analogy about second lady Usha Vance to explain issues with the Iran war ceasefire.

After more than five weeks of fighting between the U.S. and Iran, the two countries agreed to a two-week ceasefire as the sides attempt to negotiate an end to the deadly conflict in the Middle East.

President Donald Trump had said since the start of the war that his goal was to prevent Iran from ever having a nuclear weapon.

open image in gallery Vice President JD Vance has used an analogy about second lady Usha Vance to explain issues with the Iran war ceasefire ( AFP/Getty )

Before Israel and then the U.S. began striking Irans nuclear sites last summer, Iran had enlarged its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels, according to a confidential report by the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency obtained by the Associated Press.

While speaking to the press about the U.S.-Iran ceasefire on the tarmac in Budapest, Hungary, a reporter asked Vance, Do you see a scenario in which the administration may be willing to agree to allow Iran to continue enriching uranium for civilian nuclear purposes?

Nuclear energy isnt just used for weapons-making, but can also generate electricity, provide drinkable water through seawater desalination, and is used in medical treatments.

What the president has said is that we dont want Iran to have the capacity to build a nuclear weapon. The president has also said that we dont want Iran enriching towards a nuclear weapon and we want Iran to give up the nuclear fuel. Those are going to be our demands during the negotiation, Vance said.

The vice president later mentioned that Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, noted that his countrys 10-point proposal to end the war included Irans right to enrichment.

open image in gallery After more than five weeks of fighting between the U.S. and Iran, the two countries agreed to a two-week ceasefire ( Getty )

I thought to myself, you know what? My wife has the right to skydive, but she doesnt jump out of an airplane because she and I have an agreement that shes not going to do that because I dont want my wife jumping out of an airplane, Vance said in reaction to Ghalibafs comment.

We dont really concern ourselves with what they claim they have the right to do. We concern ourselves with what they actually do, the vice president said.

Ghalibafs comment was part of a larger statement accusing the U.S. of violating parts of its peace plan, which the speaker said Trump had called a workable basis on which to negotiate.

open image in gallery Vance said his wife has the right to skydive, but she doesnt jump out of an airplane, in response to Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Iranian Parliament, saying Irans right to enrichment has been denied ( AFP/Getty )

A White House official told The New York Times Irans published plan does not match the framework Trump was referring to.

When asked for comment about Trumps views on Irans proposal, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told The Independent, As the White House has said, these are ongoing discussions and the United States will not negotiate through the press.

President Trump believes that the current plan is a workable document that can lead to lasting peace in the Middle East.

Vance will lead the U.S. negotiating team in peace talks in Pakistans capital of Islamabad starting Saturday, the White House has announced.
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President Donald Trump has decided to hang on to the controversial $70 million luxury jet leased by former Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem until she was ousted last month, according to a report.

The plane will now be made available to first lady Melania Trump and to cabinet secretaries, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Paperwork indicated that Noem intended to purchase the Boeing 737 Max 8  which features a queen-size bed, showers, a kitchen, four flat screen TVs, and a cocktail bar  for use in carrying out high-profile deportations.

While it had been assumed the purchase would be abandoned following her departure, the administration has pressed ahead with it, taking responsibility for the plane away from the Department of Homeland Security and redesignating it for more general use.

open image in gallery Former Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem leased the $70 million luxury jet in one of her numerous controversies ( Reuters )

A DHS spokesperson said of its permanent acquisition: This aircraft will be available to cabinet members who need secure command and control and rapid long-range mobility.

The existence of the plane, which is thought to be more luxurious than Air Force Two in which Vice President JD Vance travels, proved unpopular with some immigration hardliners outside of government, who felt it was inappropriate for the job with which Noem had been tasked.

Wasting tens of millions of dollars on a luxury jet that wont remove a single illegal alien is offensive, said RJ Hauman, director of the National Immigration Center for Enforcement, a lobby group that has been pushing the Trump administration to go further to realize its mass deportation goals.

The cost of the plane has also been an issue for critics, with Marc Short, who served as chief of staff to Trumps first VP Mike Pence, pointing out that the presidents second term started with promises of cutting wasteful spending through Elon Musks DOGE outfit only to end up with an additional multi-million dollar jet on the books.

open image in gallery Noem is now serving as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas, having been replaced at DHS by Markwayne Mullin ( Getty )

Noem was removed by the president in March after 13 months in a role that had seen her become the face of the administrations illegal immigration crackdown and been roundly mocked online as the ICE Barbie because of her penchant for costume changes to match her backdrop.

She was demoted to a new role as Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas and former Oklahoma Republican senator Markwayne Mullin was swiftly sworn in as her replacement.

The president had reportedly grown weary of the constant chaos surrounding Noems department and over the negative press coverage she had attracted through the botched handling of Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis in January.

Two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot dead in the snowy streets of the Minnesota city by federal immigration agents whose actions they were protesting and then smeared by the former secretary, who falsely accused them of being domestic terrorists and then refused to apologize.

The WSJ published a bombshell report in February in which Noem was accused of engaged in an extramarital affair with her top adviser, Corey Lewandowski, which both parties vehemently denied, seeking to burnish her personal stardom at every turn, sparring with border czar Tom Homan, and firing  and then rehiring  a pilot after her comfort blanket was left behind on a plane.

open image in gallery Corey Lewandowski, Noems top adviser, with whom she was alleged to have had an extramarital affair, accusations both parties denied ( Getty )

Trump was also incensed by her claim during a congressional hearing that he had known in advance about Noem signing off on a $220 million TV ad campaign for ICE in which she appeared on horseback before Mount Rushmore.

I never knew anything about it, he fumed to Reuters shortly before announcing her exit.

She left office reportedly feeling she had been thrown under the bus by the president but the news left DHS staffers actually crying out of happiness, according to The Washington Examiner.

Noem has not been free from scandal since leaving the DHS, with reports subsequently emerging about her husband, Byron Noem, indulging a taste for cross-dressing and sending out compromising photos and cash to strangers online as part of a bimbofication fetish, allegations by which she was said to have been blindsided.
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Speaker of the House Mike Johnsons allies are reportedly furious over his sudden flip on a Department of Homeland Security funding bill in which he rejected the Senates joke proposal only to cave to the terms days later, according to reports.

Privately and during conference calls, House Republicans have expressed frustrations over Johnsons so-called bait-and-switch on the bill that proposes to fund most of DHSs agencies other than immigration enforcement, according to Punchbowl News.

Johnson had initially brushed off the Senates two-track funding bill that omits funding for a key agency that carries out the presidents immigration agenda and instead had House members pass a 60-day stopgap bill that had little likelihood of passing in the Senate.

Yet days later, Johnson suddenly agreed to the Senates bill after closed-door discussions with the White House and abandoned the stopgap measure.

But Johnsons support wasnt enough to convince House Republicans to vote for the two-track bill before departing for a break, leaving DHS unfunded for a record 52 days now.

open image in gallery Johnson's allies are reportedly angry with him for initially rejecting a Senate-backed DHS funding bill then suddenly agreeing to it ( Getty Images )

President Donald Trump bought Johnson some time after signing an executive order declaring DHS staff to be paid amid the shutdown that led to long TSA lines at airports.

But the result of Johnsons back-and-forth on the bill has left even some of his closest allies angry. During a House Republican Conference call Friday, members complained about the strategy endorsed by Johnson as well as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, according to Punchbowl and the New York Times.

One Republican member told Politico Johnsons maneuver was pretty pathetic and said the two-track bill was taking a step back.

The Independent has asked Johnsons office for comment.

The House will return April 14, but Johnson is not expected to bring up the DHS funding bill until the Senate makes progress on funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as well as Customs and Border Patrol, a person familiar with the matter told Axios.

The battle over DHS funding began in February when Democratic lawmakers refused to pass funding for the department without adding regulations for immigration enforcement agents. The anger toward federal agents arose after two U.S. citizens were shot and killed in Minneapolis in January during sweeping enforcement operations.

open image in gallery As a result of the DHS shutdown, unpaid TSA workers began calling out of work  or quitting entirely  leaving airports with historically long security lines ( Getty )

Negotiations between Democrats, the White House and Republican lawmakers have been drawn out, with few conclusions.

As a result, DHS employees went without pay for weeks while still being forced to work due to their status as national security-related employees.

Republican leadership had come to the conclusion that funding most of DHS, to provide much-needed relief to employees, while keeping immigration enforcement regulation open to negotiations, was the best option.

The thing that some people want to do, we cant do, Thune said. Youve got to figure out whats in the realm of the possible.
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A Trump-appointed federal judge held Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, in contempt of court for failing to pay more than $50,000 in sanctions to the voting system company Smartmatic after bringing a frivolous countersuit against the company.

District Court Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by President Donald Trump in 2019, ordered Lindell at the end of March to pay Smartmatic $56,369 in attorney fees by April 7  as well as an additional $500 for each day he failed to do so.

Nichols said that Lindell, who is currently running for governor in Minnesota, failed to provide evidence that he currently has a negative net worth or that MyPillow is losing money and is unable to pay the sanctions that Nichols initially imposed in January 2025. Lindell has said in court filings that he is cash-strapped.

Rather, Lindell has openly admitted to using legal defense funds to pay for legal services in other cases.

Additionally, Smartmatic had produced evidence suggesting Lindell likely received a financial benefit recently from his gubernatorial campaign, which purchased $187,000 in Mike Lindell Books.

open image in gallery My Pillows Mike Lindell told the court that he does not have the financial means to pay Smartmatic more than $50,000 in attorney fees  yet he has failed to produce evidence that is true ( Getty Images )

Its unclear whether Lindell paid $56,369 to Smartmatic since the March order. The Independent has asked Lindells attorney for comment.

Lindell countersued Smartmatic and Dominion Voting Systems, now known as Liberty Vote Holdings Inc., in 2021 after the companies sued him for defamation because he spread lies about their equipment rigging the 2020 election in favor of former President Joe Biden.

Lindell has been a fervent supporter of Trump and embarked on a campaign to spread the presidents false claims about election fraud after Trump lost the 2020 campaign.

Ultimately, a Colorado jury determined Lindell defamed Dominion Voting Systems and ordered him to pay $2.3 million in damages. A Minnesota judge has also determined Lindell defamed Smartmatic.

Nichols had dismissed Lindells countersuit in 2022, determining that the MyPillow CEOs claims, at the very least, fell on the frivolous side of the line. He ordered him to pay the $56,369 in legal fees to Smarmatic for bringing the countersuit.

open image in gallery Lindell has faced a plethora of lawsuits for spreading President Donald Trumps lies about the 2020 election ( Getty Images )

But more than a year later, Lindell has still not paid and fails to establish an inability to pay that excuses his noncompliance.

Although Lindell provides documents purporting to prove that he currently has a negative net worth and that My Pillow is losing money, those documents are insufficient to establish that he lacked the financial ability to comply, Nichols wrote in the six-page order that was unsealed Tuesday.

Lindells gubernatorial campaign purchased at least $187,037 worth of his memoir What Are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO for advertising purposes, according to campaign finance data.

Lindell told the Minnesota Reformer in February that he was giving out his book instead of traditional campaign flyers. He claimed that MyPillow owned the book.
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Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has insisted he is not going anywhere, despite a series of reported clashes with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his being tipped as the latters potential successor.

President Donald Trump has shown an increased willingness to shake up his cabinet over the last month, firing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi, prompting speculation that Hegseth could be next if the Iran war is not resolved satisfactorily.

The Pentagon chiefs surprise decision to force out Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, Gen. David Hodne and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr. last week was motivated by paranoia that he could be replaced by Driscoll, The New York Post reported Friday.

open image in gallery Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has said he remains laser focused on his current role and is going nowhere ( Getty )

But Driscoll has now told The Washington Post he expects to remain in his current role, saying: Serving under President Trump has been the honor of a lifetime and I remain laser focused on providing America with the strongest land fighting force the world has ever seen. I have no plans to depart or resign as the secretary of the Army.

Driscoll, a veteran and close friend of Vice President JD Vance since their Yale Law School days, was also backed by the White House.

Spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump had effectively restored a focus on readiness and lethality across our military with the help of leaders like Secretary Driscoll.

The extraordinary talent of the United States Army is on full display as our warfighters meet or exceed all of their benchmarks under Operation Epic Fury and Irans military capabilities diminish more every day.

When speculation about the rift between Hegseth and Driscoll first emerged, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told The Independent: Secretary Hegseth maintains excellent working relationships with the secretaries of every military service branch, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

open image in gallery Hegseth and Driscoll have reportedly sparred behind the scenes over a number of issues, most recently the secretarys dismissal of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George ( Getty )

But other officials within the Department of Defense have disputed that characterization, saying that Hegseth has been wary of Driscoll ever since he was floated as his possible successor when the Signalgate scandal erupted last March and the secretary appeared to be on thin ice.

Officials quoted by the Post said Driscoll had clashed with Hegseth over previous attempts to remove George  whom the former admired as a reformer  and had reached out to Vance for support as he sought to bolster his own position. It is not known whether the VP stepped in to speak up for Driscoll.

The generals removal finally came after The New York Times reported that Hegseth had blocked the promotion of four Army officers, including two Black people and two women, a matter over which Driscoll and George reportedly sparred with the secretary.

Should Driscoll ultimately join George on the sidelines or be nominated by Trump to succeed Hegseth  contrary to his latest reassurances  Parnell has been tipped as his successor as Army secretary.

A senior department official told The Independent last week: It wouldnt be out of line to speculate that Sean would be considered as a successor as he is one of the highest profile Army veterans serving at the top of department right now, but both men are focused on serving the president and doing the job they have now.
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Experts have sounded the alarm over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths starry-eyed messaging to President Donald Trump about the war against Iran.

The U.S. and Israel began launching strikes against Iran more than five weeks ago. U.S. Central Command has said its forces struck more than 13,000 Iranian targets so far, and Trump has been intensifying his threats against the country, warning that a whole civilization will die tonight.

There are concerns inside the Trump administration that Hegseth is being unrealistic about the true state of the war, and he could be misleading the president because of his faulty assessment, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Pete is not speaking truth to the president, a Trump official told The Washington Post.

open image in gallery Experts have sounded the alarm over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths starry-eyed messaging to President Donald Trump about the war against Iran ( AFP via Getty Images )

The official warned that because of Hegseths messaging, Trump is out there repeating misleading information.

Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell denounced The Washington Posts reporting, telling The Independent it was pushing a fake story of failure and urged the publication to stop trafficking lies and propaganda.

During a March 13 press briefing, Hegseth told reporters, Iran has no air defenses. Iran has no air force. Iran has no Navy.

Their missiles, their missile launchers and drones being destroyed or shot out of the sky. Their missile volume is down 90 percent. Their one-way attack drones yesterday, down 95 percent.

Trump painted a similar picture during his national address last week, telling Americans, Tonight, Irans navy is gone. Their air force is in ruinsTheir ability to launch missiles and drones is dramatically curtailed.

open image in gallery The Pentagon chief has said Iran has no air defenses and its missiles and drones were being destroyed or shot out of the sky ( Getty Images )

But Iran still managed to shoot down an American F-15E fighter jet Friday, prompting a desperate search for an airman who went missing behind enemy lines. On Sunday, Trump announced on Truth Social the airman was found safe, although injured, in one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History. Another airman was in the downed jet, but was rescued quickly.

The fighter jets downing is what happens when you have air superiority but dont have air supremacy, Kelly Grieco, a military analyst at the Washington think tank, the Stimson Center, told The Washington Post.

A CNN report published last week also called the Trump administrations assessments of Irans missile-launching capabilities into question.

The report, which cited sources familiar with recent U.S. intelligence assessments, said about half of Irans missile launchers and thousands of its drones still existed. Although its not clear how many launchers Iran can still access.

Trump officials told The Washington Post that Hegseths claim on March 31 that the latest number of missiles and drones fired by Iran fell to the lowest level in any 24-hour period since the start of the war was false.

The officials told the publication lower 24-hour periods of missile and drone launches occurred earlier in the month. Their assessment was backed up by data published by Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder of the Silverado Policy Accelerator think tank in D.C., The Washington Post noted.

open image in gallery Despite Hegseths assessments, Iran was able to shoot down an American fighter jet, and Iran's missile-launching capabilities have been called into question ( Getty Images )

Some U.S. officials questioned Hegseth's use of launch volume to measure the American militarys success in the war.

If you judge Irans strength or weakness based on their launch numbers, that is a dumb metric. What is their objective? Are they achieving that? Thats what matters, one of the officials said.

Last week, Time reported that White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles had expressed concerns that aides were giving Trump a rose-colored view of the Iran war.

But the Pentagon insists it is crippling the Iranian regime.

Since Operation Epic Fury began, Secretary Hegseth has provided the Commander-in-Chief with decisive military options to achieve our clear, scoped objectives: destroy Irans missile arsenal, annihilate their Navy, destroy their terrorist proxies, and ensure Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon.

The United States military has delivered a crippling series of blows to the Iranian regime, and we are ahead of schedule in accomplishing our mission, spokesman Parnell told The Independent.

open image in gallery U.S. Central Command has said its forces struck more than 13,000 Iranian targets so far, and Trump has been intensifying his threats against the country, warning that 'a whole civilization will die tonight' ( Getty Images )

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement to The Independent, As Secretary Hegseth said, as the United States Military continues to meet or exceed all of our benchmarks under Operation Epic Fury, we still expect the Iranians to shoot back.

Trump always had the full picture of the conflict. Nothing has surprised him or our military planners, who were prepared for any possible contingency.

All eyes will be on the U.S. military Tuesday night as Trump has threatened to destroy Irans civilian infrastructure if Tehran doesnt make a deal to open up the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has effectively closed the waterway, which carries about a fifth of the worlds oil, amid the war.

A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will, Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday morning, hours before the 8 p.m. ET deadline he gave Tehran.
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Pope Leo XIV may not return to the U.S. while President Donald Trump remains in office, according to a report citing a contentious meeting between a Catholic official and the Pentagon.

The Pope, an American, has been vocal in his criticism of Trump's policies, particularly when it comes to immigration and war. The Catholic leader has condemned the war in Iran and said that the Trump administration's treatment of immigrants has been "extremely disrespectful."

On Monday, The Free Press reported that in the wake of the Pope's annual address to the Vaticans diplomatic corps in January, in which he criticized states seeking conflict around the globe, the Department of Defense invited Cardinal Christophe Pierre for a meeting. At the time, Pierre was serving as Pope Leos personal envoy to the United States.

The Pentagon requesting a meeting with a Vatican official is "unprecedented," according to the report.

According to Vatican and U.S. officials who were briefed on the meeting and spoke to the publication, the Pentagon criticized the Pope's statements in January, interpreting them as hostile attacks on Trump's policies.

open image in gallery Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, may not visit the U.S. while President Donald Trump remains in office, according to a Vatican official who spoke to reporters. The Pope has been critical of Trumps immigration policies and his war in Iran ( AP )

One of the Vatican officials told The Free Press the Pentagon was especially angered by his apparent questioning of the "Donroe Doctrine" - Trump's update to the Monroe Doctrine, which calls for the U.S. to be the unchallenged controller of the Western Hemisphere.

The Pentagon was reportedly responding to a statement the Pope made in which he said that a diplomacy that promotes dialogue and seeks consensus among all parties is being replaced by a diplomacy based on force, by either individuals or groups of allies.

In the wake of the meeting, the Pope reportedly refused Trump's invitation to attend the nation's 250th anniversary events.

Instead of spending July 4th in the U.S., the Pope will instead visit Lampedusa, a small Mediterranean island that has become an entry point for African migrants attempting to reach Europe.

A Vatican official speaking to The Free Press said the Pope has no plans to visit the U.S. while Trump is in office.

The Pope may well never visit the United States under this administration," the official reportedly said.

The Independent has reached out to the Holy See for comment.

"The Free Presss characterization of the meeting is highly exaggerated and distorted. The meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials was a respectful and reasonable discussion. We have nothing but the highest regard and welcome continued dialogue with the Holy See," a War Department official told The Independent.

The pontiff's defiance of Trump has continued since that meeting. After Trump made a Truth Social post threatening to wipe out Iran's entire civilization  a threat he has not acted on  the Pope issued a statement calling the president's words "truly unacceptable."

Today, as we all know, there has also been this threat against the entire people of Iran. And this is truly unacceptable, the Pope told reporters in Italy on Tuesday, just hours before Trump announced that a two-week ceasefire with Iran had been reached.

open image in gallery Pope Leo XIV rejected an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the U.S. for its 250th anniversary celebration, and will instead spend July 4 visiting with African migrants trying to reach Europe ( AFP/Getty )

The Pope continued, saying there were "certainly issues of international law here, but even more, it is a moral question concerning the good of the people as a whole, in its entirety.

During his Wednesday address, the Pope said he welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S.

"In light of these past hours of great tension for the Middle East and for the whole world, I welcome with satisfaction... the announcement of an immediate two-week truce, he said.

The American-born Pope has also pushed back after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has insisted on mixing his militant version of Christianity with his role as the top military official in the U.S.

In March, Hegseth called on Americans to pray for U.S. victory in Iran "in the name of Jesus Christ." The comment did not sit well with the Pope, who noted that Jesus "does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them."

On Easter Sunday, the Pope called for global peace.

On this day of celebration, let us abandon every desire for conflict, domination, and power, and implore the Lord to grant his peace to a world ravaged by wars," he said in his Easter address.

On the same day  celebrated by Christians as the day Christ resurrected following his crucifixion, paying for the sins of humanity and paving a way for redemption and forgiveness  Trump issued a profanity-laden threat to destroy Iran's infrastructure.

Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran," Trump wrote. "There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F****** Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in Hell  JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.
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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Democrats will force a vote on a War Powers Act resolution to rein in President Donald Trump on Iran.

New Yorks senior senator said the Democrats would force the vote when the Senate returns next week. The announcement comes after Trump announced a two-week ceasefire that has already proven fragile.

All of this happens when one man, especially a man acting as unhinged as Donald Trump, has unchecked power to wage war, Schumer told reporters. He backs himself into a corner with dangerous, escalating rhetoric.

But ahead of the announcement, Trump had threatened that, A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. He has also threatened to bomb energy infrastructure and bridges, which many experts consider to be a war crime, exhorting Iran to Open the F***in Strait [of Hormuz], you crazy b*****ds, or youll be living in Hell.

Schumer criticized the language Trump employed.

open image in gallery All of this happens when one man, especially a man acting as unhinged as Donald Trump, has unchecked power to wage war, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Wednesday in announcing he will press a War Powers vote next week. ( CSPAN )

The entire world holds its breath, wondering what's next going to come out of his mouth, Schumer said. And can he ever find a way out? A commander-in-chief who is truly in control would never have gotten into this colossal mess to begin with.

If Congress passes a War Powers Act resolution, the president needs to inform Congress within 48 hours of troops being deployed and troops must be withdrawn within 60 to 90 days if Congress has not voted to declare war or authorize the use of military force.

The war made us worse in terms of control of the Strait of Hormuz, Scumer said. The war made us worse in terms of the strength of the Iranian regime. The war made us worse in terms of high gas prices. The war made us worse because Iran's nuclear ambitions have been unchecked. And the war made us worse because American credibility is down the drain.

So far, the Republican-controlled House and Senate have rejected the opportunity to invoke the War Powers Act. House Speaker Johnson has said that the United States is not at war right now.

But Schumer said that holding the vote is nonetheless important.

No president, Democrat or Republican, should take this country to war alone, he said. Not now, not ever. Republicans will once again have the opportunity to join Democrats and end this reckless war of choice.

The presidents rhetoric over the weekend and in the buildup to his self-imposed deadline of Tuesday, led to some Democrats to call for Trumps impeachment. Others called for the 25th amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which allows for the Cabinet to remove Trump from office, to be invoked.

open image in gallery Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) is one of the handful of Republicans who has expressed openness to a War Powers Act resolution. ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

But Schumer did not go that far, saying that there only should be some constitutional safeguards.

Trump chose this war, he said. He owns the consequences and next week Congress will act, has the opportunity to act, to make sure it cannot happen again.

In March, Republicans blocked a War Powers Act resolution for a third time when it came to Iran. But there even seemed to be unease about allowing the president to act without checks among a handful of Republicans.

I support the presidents actions taken in defense of American lives and interests, Sen. John Curtis of Utah wrote in an op-ed for Deseret News. However, I will not support ongoing military action beyond a 60-day window without congressional approval.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska also expressed alarm on Tuesday before Trump announced the ceasefire.

This type of rhetoric is an affront to the ideals our nation has sought to uphold and promote around the world for nearly 250 years, she said. It undermines our long-standing role as a global beacon of freedom and directly endangers Americans both abroad and at home.

In the House, Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina said she did not want to see the U.S. dragged into a larger conflict.

President Trump has done a phenomenal job, she told The Independent at the time. So far, he's been excellent, but I am deeply concerned about the Washington war machine, getting their talons into the White House and getting us into a protracted and elongated and endless war with Iran.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has told Americans who cannot afford holidays that the soaring cost of jet fuel is just short-term, thanks to President Trump.

The price of jet fuel has rocketed in recent weeks, due to the conflict between the United States and Iran that Trump himself jointly started with Israel.

Costs have risen while Iran has maintained control of the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly 34 percent of the worlds crude oil trade flowed in 2025.

With the increase in fuel prices, airlines around the world have hiked prices and slashed services.

Speaking on CNBC, Duffy assured families who cannot afford to fly that Trump had reduced the U.S.s reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.

open image in gallery Sean Duffy says that the impact of the increase of jet fuel prices will be 'short term,' thanks to President Trump ( CNBC )

Thanks to President Trump and American energy dominance, we have a ton of energy in the U.S., he said. So we are less reliant on the Strait of Hormuz than we would have been say... 25, 30 years ago because of fracking.

Duffy went on to claim that he had talked to all the airline CEOs and said that they all feel really good about the supply.

The transportation secretary blamed the global fuel market for an increase in domestic prices, but said that the rise was a blip.

The president thinks about this short-term, he added, suggesting that stability in global fuel markets would make the U.S. better off as a country.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration says that jet fuel prices for customers are projected to average $3.39/USG in 2026, according to Argus Media. That is an increase of nearly 30 percent from last months forecast of $2.67/USG.

As prices soar, United Airlines has hiked the cost of checking luggage, with most passengers paying an additional $10 for their bags. 

open image in gallery The increase in jet fuel prices is unfolding in the midst of a partial government shutdown, which has involved a lapse in funding for the DHS which oversees TSA ( AFP/Getty )

The companys CEO, Scott Kirby, reportedly warned that some airlines might not survive the crisis, according to The Los Angeles Times. 

The fuel chaos is unfolding in the midst of a partial government shutdown, which has seen funding lapse for the Department of Homeland Security. Since the DHS oversees TSA, passengers have been warned to expect lengthy delays at airports.

Speaking to CNBC, Duffy discussed the impact of a possible acquisition of a smaller airline by one of the big four companies. According to him, such a deal would have to be reviewed by the DOT, the DOJ and Trump.

So thats going to come through us but also President Trump, he said. He loves to see big deals happen. Hell have to review that kind of a deal.

Duffy added that he believes there is room for more mergers in the U.S. aviation industry.
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An upcoming book from The New York Times Trump reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan is reportedly causing "high anxiety" in the White House.

The new book will be titled Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump, according to Axios. It is expected to be released on June 23.

Trump laid into Haberman in March and at the time it wasn't clear why.

Maggot Hagerman, just another SLEAZEBAG writer for The Failing New York Times, insists on writing false stories about me, even though she fully knows and understands that the exact opposite of anything she says is usually the truth, Trump wrote on Truth Social.

He then threatened to sue her, saying he was thinking of adding Maggot, and some of her associates, into my Florida-based lawsuit against The Times which, very happily, seems to be proceeding nicely."

open image in gallery President Donald Trump and New York Times White House reporter Maggie Haberman. Haberman and fellow veteran NYT White House reporter Jonathan Swan are releasing a new book, titled Regime Change, about Trumps transformation of executive power during his second term ( Getty )

The book will reportedly dig into the ways Trump has shifted executive power, with the authors making the case that his second term has been more like a foreign regime change operation than a presidency.

Haberman and Swan conducted around 1,000 interviews for the new book, which has some Trump insiders worried, according to Axios.

Both Haberman and Swan had been on book leave for months when Trump made his Truth Social post and three days later were spotted speaking to Trump at the White House, the outlet reports.

The book includes a claim that Trump's top advisers mocked the idea of "regime change" in Iran, with one even calling the idea "bulls***," according to The New York Times.

open image in gallery Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly called an Israeli presentation outlining Iran war objectives bulls***, according to a new book by New York Times White House reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan. ( AFP or licensors )

That scene recounts a meeting with Trump and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Dan Caine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and others, where they reportedly discounted intelligence about Iran provided by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to the NYT story, which was written by Haberman and Swan and draws from the book, Netanyahu's intelligence was broken into four parts: decapitation, which described the need to kill the nation's supreme leader; the neutralization of Iran's ability to target neighboring countries; the need to incite an uprising among the Iranian people; and finally, a total regime change to install a secular leader.

The gathered U.S. officials reportedly believed the first two points were achievable, while the latter two were fantasies.

Ratcliffe reportedly used a single word to describe Netanyahu's presentation: "farcical." Rubio agreed, calling it "bulls***," according to the new book.

The Independent has requested comment from the White House.
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President Donald Trump fired off a seething threat against CNN Tuesday night in response to its reporting Iran had claimed a "great victory" over the U.S. following the president's announcement to delay his ceasefire deadline by two weeks.

Trump had originally given Iran until 8 p.m. ET Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning a refusal would mean a "whole civilization will die."

Around 90 minutes before that deadline, Trump and the White House released statements saying the U.S. and Iran had agreed to negotiate an end to hostilities that would include the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the suspension of fighting for two weeks.

Following the announcement, CNN published a post to its online live blog detailing the Iranian response.

"Iran says it has achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan, according to a statement from Iran's Supreme National Security Council report by Iranian state media," the post read.

Trump then lashed out on Truth Social, threatening to investigate CNN for committing "a crime" and accusing the outlet of knowingly publishing incorrect statements.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump is threatening CNN with an investigation after the outlet reported, citing Iranian officials, that Tehran had claimed victory over the U.S. following his ceasefire announcement ( AFP/Getty )

"The alleged Statement put out by CNN World News is a FRAUD, as CNN well knows. The false Statement was linked to a Fake News site (from Nigeria) and, of course, immediately picked up by CNN, and blared out as a 'legitimate' headline," Trump wrote, saying he had shared the actual statement released by Iran below his post.

The president ordered the outlet to remove the reporting and threatened an investigation into CNN. Trump has no say or control over what CNN, a private business, chooses to publish.

"Authorities are looking to determine whether or not a crime was committed on the issuance of the Fake CNN World Statement, or was it a sick rogue player? CNN is being ordered to immediately withdraw this Statement with full apologies for their, as usual, terrible 'reporting,' Trump said. "Results of the investigation will be announced in the near future."

open image in gallery The president ordered the outlet to remove the reporting and threatened an investigation into CNN ( Getty Images )

Federal Communications Commission head Brendan Carr then said in a social media post that it was "time for change" at CNN.

"More outrageous conduct from CNN. Fake news is bad enough for the country, but pushing out a hoax headline in such a sensitive national security moment as this requires accountability," Carr said. "Iran put out an official statement that simply cannot be squared with the one CNN's false headline attributes to them. Time for change at CNN."

Carr has faced backlash after threatening broadcasters licenses over Iran war coverage. Cable networks such as CNN are not licensed and do not fall under Carrs crusade.

In response to Carr's tweet, CNN released its own statement defending its reporting.

"The statement in question was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on multiple Iranian state media outlets. We received the statement from specific official Iranian spokespeople who are known to us," the statement said.

open image in gallery Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said it was time for change at CNN after he claimed the network posted a hoax headline regarding Iran. CNN defended its post, saying its information was provided by Iranian officials and reported widely on state media ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The Trump administration has done little to hide its contempt for CNN. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said last month that he was looking forward to the Trump-friendly David Ellison taking over CNN.

"The sooner David Ellison takes over that network, the better," Hegseth said after complaining about the network's coverage of the Iran war. Paramount Skydance, which is controlled by Ellison, has entered into a $110 deal to buy Warner Brothers, which is the parent company of CNN.

Billionaire Ellison also owns the parent company that controls CBS News and oversaw the installation of Bari Weiss at its helm.

CNN was not the only news organization to report Iran was claiming victory over the U.S. The New York Times posted a similarly worded message on its live blog, citing Iran's National Security Council.

"Iran's National Security Council said in a statement that Iran had been victorious and congratulated the people of Iran for their defiance in the five-week war with the United States and Israel and said the United States had accepted all of Iran's 10-point peace plan, including guarantees to not attack Iran, Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz and repatriation for financial losses," the post read, also noting that Trump had only said he was willing to discuss the 10-point plan, not that he had accepted it.

The NYT also shared a quote it attributed to the council congratulating the Iranian people on their "victory" over the U.S.

"We congratulate all the people of Iran on this victory and emphasize that until the details of this victory are finalized, steadfastness and prudence from officials and the preservation of unity and solidarity among the Iranian people remain essential," the council said.

Drop Site News published what it said was the full, translated text of the Iranian National Security Council's statement, which also included the line "we congratulate all the people of Iran on this victory..."

Trump wasn't the only one in his administration lashing out at media figures for framing the ceasefire talks as a victory for Iran.

open image in gallery New strikes hit Iran just hours before President Donald Trump announced that he was entering into ceasefire talks with Tehran ( AFP/Getty )

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung had a meltdown on X after leftist writer Owen Jones said that Trump accepting Iran's 10-point plan would be "the biggest strategic defeat suffered by the U.S. since its emergence as a superpower."

"You have no idea what the f*** youre talking about you loser. Go back to whatever hole you crawled out of because you clearly cant read," Cheung replied.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a statement definitively declaring Trump as the victor.

This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen, she wrote on X. Never underestimate President Trumps ability to successfully advance Americas interests and broker peace.

Iran's statement on Tuesday night acknowledging that it was willing to go to the table with the U.S. included a line saying that Trump agreed to use the 10-point plan as a "basis of negotiation."

Despite the White House's efforts to control the narrative on Tuesday night, the three major U.S. cable news networks openly debated which nation, if any, could be considered a victor, according to Mediaite.

On CNN, anchor Erin Burnett said that Trump "backed down."

Literally at the 11th hour, Trump backing down after threatening that a, quote, whole civilization will die tonight never to be brought back again,' Burnett said. Horrific and unacceptable words  which, just moments ago, at the 11th hour before his deadline, Trump now has essentially rescinded.

MS NOW's Symone Sanders-Townsend had a similar take, saying that Trump "caved."

Fox News' Laura Ingraham didn't agree. She claimed to have spoken with Trump on the phone moments before she went on air and told her viewers she believed it was Iran that "blinked."

Trump, in his ceasefire announcement, insisted that Iran had agreed "to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz."

The Associated Press later reported that a "regional official" was claiming Iran will continue charging tolls for cargo ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz with funds to be used for "reconstruction."
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Donald Trump is once again appealing a blockbuster fraud penalty against the president and his real-estate empire after his political adversary, New York Attorney General Letitia James, won a multi-million dollar verdict against his sprawling family business.

Last year, a fractured state appeals court in New York tossed a $500 million penalty against Trump and his associates after judges determined the penalty, which has ballooned with interest, was excessive.

But the court upheld Justice Arthur Engorons findings that the president and his business partners committed brazen fraud, falling short of the vindication that the president sought through the courts.

The court also upheld an order that blocks Trump and his two eldest sons, Donald Jr. and Eric Trump, from serving as officers of a New York business for up to three years and from applying for loans from any financial institution with a New York branch for three years.

Trump now is calling on the states highest court to throw out those restrictions and the remaining fraud ruling, which his legal team claimed is based on politically motivated and legally and factually baseless and demonstrably wrong arguments.

open image in gallery Donald Trumps blockbuster fraud trial in Manhattan resulted in a multi-million dollar penalty against the president and his business empire, which as tossed out by an appeals court. But judges upheld a ban that prevented the Trump family from serving as officers in a New York business and from applying for loans ( Getty Images )

The 119-page appeal called on the court to put an end to this legally deficient case.

They accused New Yorks attorney general  who was has since been targeted by Trumps Department of Justice after her victory in the fraud case  of unconstitutional selective enforcement.

The reason here was pure politics, as Attorney General Jamess own statements make clear, they wrote.

Jamess office declined to comment to The Independent but her office is due to submit a response to the court by June 23.

In 2024, Engorons verdict in Manhattan determined that Trump and his co-defendants in his Trump Organization empire had illegally enriched themselves by defrauding banks and investors as part of a decade-long scheme to secure favorable financing terms for some of his brand-building properties.

The decision followed a bench trial and three-year investigation by Jamess office, who had accused Trump and his associates of fraudulently convincing banks and lenders to give them favorable financing terms based on bogus and inflated financial statements.

Trump, his companies and trust were ordered to pay the state more than $354 million, though the total disgorgement owed back to the state among all the defendants  money that is effectively forfeited as ill-gotten gains  continued to grow with interest.

open image in gallery New York Attorney General Letitia James has repeatedly been the target of federal investigations following her victory against Trump in the fraud case in New York ( REUTERS )

In August, a panel of five judges in New Yorks mid-level Appellate Division said the judgment is unconstitutional.

While harm certainly occurred, it was not the cataclysmic harm that can justify a nearly half billion-dollar award to the state, wrote appellate Judge Peter Moulton in a lengthy ruling that spanned more than 300 pages.

But the ruling preserved the findings of fraud at the heart of the case, which James said at the time should not be lost to history.

Trumps latest appeal follows his administrations ongoing attempts to prosecute the attorney general after a federal judge tossed out allegations of mortgage fraud against her, among several attempts to prosecute the presidents perceived political enemies that have fallen apart in court.

In the case against James, two grand juries declined to bring charges against her, and a judge in November ruled that the top federal prosecutor presiding over the case was unlawfully serving in the role.

I remain fearless in the face of these baseless charges as I continue fighting for New Yorkers every single day, James said in a statement at the time.
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Democratic members of Congress have filed articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth while nearly 100 congressional Democrats are calling for the presidents removal from office over his threats to Iran.

Rep. John Larson of Connecticut has filed 13 articles of impeachment against Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors, including the presidents criminal lawlessness that has invited blowback against the United States and its citizens risking 9/11 2.0.

The congressman accuses Trump of a serial usurpation of the congressional war power and commission of murder, war crimes and piracy with attacks in Iran, Venezuela and in international waters against alleged drug-running boats and elsewhere.

His proposal also accuses the president of illegally militarizing law enforcement and surging immigration officers into U.S. cities to unlawfully detain and deport citizens or immigrants based significantly on race or ethnicity or political opposition.

Donald Trump has blown past every requirement to be removed from office. And its getting worse, Larson said in a statement.

open image in gallery Two House Democrats have filed articles of impeachment against Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth over the Iran war ( REUTERS )

His illegal war in Iran is not only driving up prices for American families  it has cost American lives, he added. Hes becoming more unstable by the day.

The congressmans proposal was drafted by consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader and constitutional law scholar Bruce Fein, who called the war flagrantly unconstitutional in The American Conservative this week.

Trumps attack on Iran in partnership with Israel was not in self-defense. It is a criminal war of aggression, plain and simple, including a violation of the United Nations Charter, wrote Fein as he urged Congress to do its job and swiftly block spending and troop deployment.

White House spokesman Davis Ingle called Larsons proposal pathetic.

Democrats have been talking about impeaching President Trump since before he was even sworn into office, he told The Independent. The Democrats in Congress are deranged, weak, and ineffective, which is why their approval ratings are at historic lows.

Larsons articles of impeachment follow similar legislation targeting Hegseth.

The proposal from Democratic Arizona Rep. Yassamin Ansari, who is the daughter of Iranian immigrants and the first Democratic member of Congress of Iranian descent, accuses Hegseth of repeatedly violating his oath of office and his duty to the Constitution.

Only Congress has the power to declare war, not a rogue president or his lackeys, she said in a statement. Hegseths reckless endangerment of U.S. servicemembers and repeated war crimes, including bombing a girls school in Minab, Iran and willfully targeting civilian infrastructure, are grounds for impeachment and removal from office.

open image in gallery Arizona Rep Yassamin Ansari says reckless actions from Trumps defense secretary are grounds for impeachment and removal from office ( Getty Images )

On Tuesday, less than two hours before his self-imposed deadline to begin launching attacks that he said would destroy a whole civilization, the president announced a two-week pause in fighting while negotiations with Iran continue.

In an Easter message, Trump told Iran to Open the F**** Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in Hell.

The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night, Trump said Monday.

The next morning, he wrote: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will.

His threats drew a wave of demands from congressional Democrats for the Trump administration to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove the president from office.

Several influential right-wing personalities  including Alex Jones, Candace Owens and Marjorie Taylor Green  also called on the administration to invoke the 25th Amendment, while Tucker Carlson advised military officials to reject the presidents plans.

At least 87 Democratic members of Congress, including several senators, publicly demanded Trumps removal, according to The Independents review of their statements.

Donald Trump's instability is more clear and dangerous than ever, wrote former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. If the Cabinet is not willing to invoke the 25th Amendment and restore sanity, Republicans must reconvene the Congress to end this war.

open image in gallery More than 80 Democratic members of Congress are calling on Vice President JD Vance and members of Trumps cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and declare him unfit for office ( REUTERS )

The 25th Amendment, which provides for the line of presidential succession, allows for the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare the president unfit to serve.

Rep. Jasmine Crocket wrote a letter to Vice President JD Vance, claiming that the president is deranged, likely suffering from dementia, and has now brought the United States to the precipice of committing one of the largest war crimes in modern history.

The United States now stands isolated as the world awaits whether America will brazenly commit genocide or whether the Vice President, the Cabinet, and the Congress will put an end to the chaos caused by a frail and likely demented American president, she wrote.

The proposals are unlikely to go anywhere under the current Republican-controlled Congress, and the president has built his cabinet around ironclad allegiance to him.

Democratic leadership did not call on their Republican counterparts this week to bring lawmakers back to the Capitol to pass a war powers resolution to curb the presidents actions, and GOP leadership in the House and Senate are unlikely to do so when they return.

But Trump, who was impeached twice in his first administration, has publicly mused about his potential impeachment if Republicans lose control of both chambers after midterm elections this fall.
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After repeatedly threatening to pull out of the alliance over the last several months, Donald Trumps administration now claims NATO turned their backs on the U.S. after its partners refused to join the presidents war in Iran.

While the alliance contends with a possible future without the U.S., NATOs secretary general Mark Rutte  who has spent a year fawning over Trump in an apparent attempt to diplomatically stroke the presidents ego  is tasked with keeping the president close.

Rutte, who referred to Trump as daddy and sent him a swooning text message that the president posted on Truth Social, mounted a charm offensive last year to maintain a frail alliance that Trump has hollowed out with calls to war and insults directed to European allies who dared criticize his actions.

Rutte is now caught between a president who threatens to abandon the alliance and NATO members who have clashed with his own public statements supporting the U.S.-Israeli campaign and public appeals for Americans to get behind their president.

Ive seen the polling, but I really hope the American people will be with him, Rutte told CBS last month. He is doing this to make the whole world safer.

European allies are questioning whether Ruttes approach is working, according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously to describe private conversations.

open image in gallery NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, pictured with State Secretary Marco Rubio, is facing scrutiny from European leaders as he cozies up to the Trump administration for a charm campaign they dont think is working ( Getty Images )

Despite his Trump whisperer reputation, Rutte hasnt been able to rally Trump to Ukraines aid, negotiate a trade agenda that has shocked global markets, or stop a military campaign that has killed hundreds of Iranians while choking off fuel supplies.

Trump, meanwhile, threatened to send Iran back to the stone ages and promised to wipe out a whole civilization in a country of more than 90 million people.

Last week, following Trumps address to the nation on the status of the war, Frances President Emmanuel Macron unloaded on Trumps contradictory and violent rhetoric. When were serious, we dont say every day the opposite of what we said the day before, he told reporters. And, maybe, one shouldnt speak every day.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has repeatedly urged for diplomacy, while Germanys president Frank-Walter Steinmeier was more blunt, calling the war a disastrous mistake that breaches international law.

After Trump announced plans for a two-week ceasefire hours after stating that a whole civilization will die, Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his government will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.

Before Trumps Wednesday meeting with Rutte in Washington, D.C., White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a message on the presidents behalf about NATO: They were tested, and they failed.

Its quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks when its the American people who have been funding their defense, Leavitt said.

The president has discussed U.S. withdrawal from the alliance, she said.

Rutte left the White House after a two-hour meeting with the president. No public remarks were delivered.

open image in gallery Rutte has faced criticism for his deferential relationship with Trump while the president continues to threaten to leave the alliance while bombing Iran despite NATOs objections ( AFP via Getty Images )

Europe  bracing for the possibility of a United States that refuses to defend its allies  is exactly what NATOs enemies want to see, former NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu told Bloomberg.

The financial and political blowback from a potential U.S. withdrawal would be devastating, leaving European leaders on the hook for more than $1 trillion in defense support on top of their already-climbing defense budgets, according to a study from the International Institute for Security Studies.

Congress in 2023 passed a law that prevents any U.S. president from withdrawing from the 32-member alliance, which was founded in the aftermath of World War II to counter threats from the Soviet Union.

At the core of the alliance is a mutual defense agreement that stipulates that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. It has been invoked only once, in 2001, after the September 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

Twenty-five years later, that alliance is broken, according to Ivo Daalder, former U.S. ambassador to NATO under Barack Obama.

Europes distance from the Iran war is a reflection of the fact that NATO is deeply damaged, he told Germanys Deutsche Welle.

It reinforces the fundamental reality that Europe no longer trusts the United States, believes the United States is an unreliable ally, and therefore is no longer willing to participate in these kind of operations, he added. That is why this is the worst crisis of NATO.
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President Donald Trump was persuaded to unleash war on Iran by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite deep skepticism from his inner circle, according to a new report about the high-stakes meetings that took place in the buildup to the conflict.

The New York Times also reported that despite polling his top advisers, he often only heard what he wanted to hear, and his team wound up serving as an echo chamber for his gut instincts.

Vice President JD Vance was the most vocal in his opposition to the United States going to war with Iran, while CIA Director Jim Ratcliffe, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, warned Trump that Netanyahu had oversold him on what could be achieved by the bombing campaign, according to The New York Times.

None of them, though, except Vance, went as far as to say to the president that war was a terrible idea, according to the report. The vice president is said to have played a key role in negotiating a ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. as Trump threatened to wipe Iranian civilization off the map.

On Feb. 11, the Israelis gave a secret presentation to Trump and his closest advisers in the Situation Room, where they persuaded him that initiating a war on one of the most hostile regions in the world was a good idea, according to the Times report, which is based on reporting from the upcoming book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump by Jonathan Swan and Maggie Haberman.

open image in gallery President Donald Trump was persuaded to unleash war on Iran by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu despite deep skepticism from his inner circle, according to the report ( Getty Images )

Sounds good to me, Trump reportedly told Netanyahu after the presentation, which the leader then took as a likely green light for the joint U.S.-Israeli operation that has since killed more than 3,500 people, including 1,600 civilians and 13 U.S. service members in the Middle East.

But at a follow-up meeting on Feb. 12 that consisted only of the Americans, U.S. intelligence officials broke down Netanyahus presentation into four parts; killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; destroying Irans capabilities to project power; a popular uprising inside the country, and regime change with a secular leader installed, according to the report.

While U.S. officials deemed that parts one and two were achievable, Ratcliffe said regime change as an objective was farcical.

In other words, its bull****, Rubio reportedly weighed in, while Vance expressed strong skepticism about the prospect.

Caine took it further and said the president had been oversold by the Israelis. Sir, this is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis, Caine said, according to the Times. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed. They know they need us, and thats why theyre hard-selling.

The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.

open image in gallery Some of Trumps top advisers warned him that Netanyahu had oversold him on what could be achieved by bombing the regime ( AFP/Getty )

open image in gallery Vice President JD Vance was the most vocally opposed to the United States going to war with Iran and told the president his objections in the Situation Room, according to the report ( Getty Images )

Over the following days, Caine reportedly shared with Trump the alarming military assessment that waging war with Iran would drastically deplete stockpiles of American weapons. In particular, he warned about supplies of missile interceptors, which had been strained after supporting Ukraine and Israel. Vance shared the same concern.

Caine also flagged the enormous difficulty of securing the Strait of Hormuz and the risks of Iran blocking it, and yet Trump dismissed the possibility. The president assumed that Iran would surrender before it got to that point, according to the report.

But Irans grip on the Strait has remained intact, with the regime blocking vessels that transport a fifth of the worlds oil, likely prompting Trump to post an expletive-laden Truth Social over the weekend.

While Caine gave Trump these warnings, at no point during the deliberations did the chairman directly tell the president that war with Iran was a terrible idea, the Times reports.

Two days before Trump gave the order to bomb Iran on February 28, he gathered the most senior members of his team and went around the room one by one to ask them for their personal opinions about going to war.

But by this point, Trump had effectively made up his mind weeks earlier, several of his advisers said, according to the newspaper.

Vance, who told Trump that going to war with Iran could unleash regional chaos and create mass casualties, also warned him that it risked splitting his base  and that it could be seen as a betrayal by many of his voters.

open image in gallery Sounds good to me, Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, which the Israeli leader was said to take as a likely green light for the joint U.S.-Israeli operation ( Getty Images )

White House communications director Steven Cheung also spoke of the likely public relations fallout given Trump campaigned on being opposed to launching wars overseas, according to the report.

Ultimately, Cheung reportedly said that whatever decision Trump made would be the right one.

Trumps chief of staff Susie Wiles reportedly told colleagues that she worried about the U.S. being dragged into another war in the Middle East, but opted to sit back in the high-stakes meeting. According to people close to her, she believed it was not her place to air those concerns to the president in front of others and instead encouraged military advisers to share their expertise with him.

White House counsel David Warrington, who represented Trump during the House select committee investigation into Jan. 6, was pressed by the president to share his personal view.

He said that as a Marine veteran he had known an American service member killed by Iran years earlier, the Times reports. This issue remained deeply personal. He told the president that if Israel intended to proceed regardless, the United States should do so as well.

The White House declined to comment when approached for comment by the newspaper.
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President Donald Trump is asking Congress to begin the process of privatizing the Transportation Security Administration with the goal of ending government control over its funding and preventing shutdowns like the one which has caused record airport security wait times in recent weeks.

The White Houses 2027 budget proposal suggests that smaller airports be required to enroll in the TSA Screening Partnership Program, which allows facilities and airlines to contract with private companies to provide security under the same standard as TSA officers.

That would cut more than 8,000 TSA positions, including 2,400 transportation security officers, and save roughly $52 million, the White House estimates.

The move would yield cost savings compared to Federal screening and begin reform of a troubled Federal agency, the White House budget proposal states.

Some conservatives have pushed for the change, believing it will stop political battles from spilling over into airport security efficiency. But advocates for TSA cautioned that privatizing airport security could lead to breaches.

open image in gallery The White Houses 2027 budget proposal suggests cutting more than 8,000 TSA positions, including 2,400 transportation security officers ( AFP via Getty Images )

Each time the government shuts down, roughly 95 percent of TSA workers are forced to work without pay because they are considered essential national security employees. The longer a shutdown drags on, the more likely it is that employees call out of work or quit entirely because they need paychecks to survive.

In the last fiscal year, the government shut down three times. The ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which is currently at a record 53 days, has been one of the most impactful.

More than 500 TSA officers, in an approximately 60,000-person workforce, have quit since the shutdown began in February. Thousands more called out of work for temporary jobs to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. Some officers were donating blood to make extra cash while others were sleeping in their cars because they couldnt afford gas to get to and from the airport.

By March, dwindling staff meant that some airport security wait times had exceeded four hours - a new record, according to TSA Acting Administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill.

open image in gallery At some airports, security wait times exceeded four hours during the partial government shutdown ( Getty )

Despite pressure on Congress to fund DHS, it remains unfunded. Trump signed an executive order earlier this month to pay DHS employees, including TSA, in an attempt to return to some normalcy.

Why give politicians the power to play games with the travel of our people? Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asked in March while advocating for privatizing airport security.

Before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, airport security was handled by private firms that contracted with airlines using a particular terminal. Passengers only went through a metal detector and did not always need to show ID before boarding a flight.

TSA was introduced to implement more robust security in U.S. transportation systems.

Roughly 20 airports in the United States currently utilize the TSA Screening Partnership Program.

open image in gallery Roughly 20 airports in the US currently use private companies to provide airport security. Those airports experienced shorter wait times during the most recent shutdown than major airports that use TSA ( AFP/Getty )

The Cato Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based libertarian think-tank, has argued in favor of privatizing TSA since 2013. They renewed their argument in March, saying a private security structure would insulate air travel from partisan battles in Washington and allow for greater efficiency and innovation.

But the American Federation of Government Employees, the labor union that represents roughly 47,000 transportation security officers, said safety could be compromised because security contracts typically go to the lowest bidder.

I would not personally want to fly if I knew the whole entire system was privatized, because its just not safe for the American people, Johnny Jones, the secretary-treasurer of AFGEs TSA said during a press call in March, according to Federal News Network.

Whenever you put profit before people and security, because thats all privatization is  the bottom line is for profit, Jones added.
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Donald Trump has spent his career railing against elite presidents who did not have the courage to act the way he claims he does.

But judging by Trumps announcement today that he would extend the deadline for his strikes within Iran by two weeks, one has to wonder what the presidents words mean any more. He makes big threats, but quickly becomes the boy who cries wolf and doesnt follow through. While nobody wanted to see him end a civilization, his latest retreat is just more evidence that his big threats mean little and will now carry political consequences.

Trumps decision to back out  commonly referred to as TACO or Trump always chickens out  this time demonstrates a measure of strategic weakness that far outmeasures any previous humiliation that Trump used to criticize from past presidents.

And it means that no world leader ever needs to take Trumps threats seriously.

open image in gallery Donald Trump has backed off his latest Iran threats, bringing back the Trump always chickens out nickname ( Getty Images )

Trump knows what happens when presidents make empty threats because he criticized them for it. In 2013, Trump lambasted Barack Obama for walking back from his self-imposed red line that if then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would use chemical weapons, the United States would respond.

The only reason President Obama wants to attack Syria is to save face over his very dumb RED LINE statement. Do NOT attack Syria, fix U.S.A. Trump said at the time.

But if Obama refused to impose his artificial red line, Trump did his best matador impression and waved a gigantic red banner in front of the bull that is Iran. He did so over the weekend when he declared Tuesday Power Plant Day and Bridge Day for U.S. armed forces unless Iran would Open the F***in Strait, you crazy b*****ds, lest they be living in Hell.

Trump escalated his threats when he said: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. There is no other way to describe what Trump threatened: war crimes and genocide. Trump brought the world to the brink of disaster and with Congress out of town, had nobody to rein him in, although the Republican-controlled House and Senate refused to do so.

Then, he backed off.

open image in gallery Trump began his attacks against Iran in late February and has continued to bomb the nation ( AFP via Getty Images )

Maybe Trump heard pleas from Pakistans prime minister Shehbaz Sharif to extend the deadline for two weeks. Perhaps he got the yips about the idea of engaging in a scorched-earth campaign against another country that would inevitably cost thousands of American lives, thereby turning him into another cog in the war machine against which he railed.

Maybe a phone call from House Speaker Mike Johnson said such a move would cost him the majority in the House and a text from Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned the Senate would go to the Democrats.

Whatever the rationale, Trump backed off the ledge.

But the world cannot breathe easily after this. Opening the option to attack civilian infrastructure cannot be undone. Now, the world will live in constant fear that Trump will carry through with his threats.

This opens the door for any malign actor to escalate. This is not a hypothetical: just months after Obama backed off his red line, Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Crimea. Putin, to say nothing of Chinas Xi Jinping, will look at Trump as weak and find license to do whatever they want, to borrow a Trumpism.

The opposite is also true. Now, every country will see Trump as the Sword of Damocles swinging its way across the globe. Again, this does not require imagination: Canada took Trumps repeated threats to annex it seriously and adopted a more confrontational posture. The rest of the world have to adjust accordingly to a world where the United States can be hostile to international values.

open image in gallery Tehran can continue recovery operations after Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran ( AFP via Getty Images )

In addition, Trump seems to have forgotten an adage from his first Defense Secretary James Mattis: the enemy gets a vote. Even if Trump backed down, Iran cannot be seen as taking these threats lying down. It will respond in kind either toward Arab allies of the United States or Israel. Iran will do so to make such a threat as painful as possible and warn the U.S. or other nations not to do so again.

So while, yes, Trump ultimately did not unleash the fury and cause incalculable loss of life, he has forever shifted how the United States relates to the rest of the world, and initiated a new phase of the Iran war.

A common refrain when Trump ran for president in 2016 was to take him seriously, not literally. However, today the world cant afford to decipher when he is bluffing  which he is most of the time.
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The U.S and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, reaching a deal less than two hours before President Donald Trump's deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the wiping out of "a whole civilization".

Tuesday evening, just hours before the planned strike, Trump announced on Truth Social that he had reversed his decision.

Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks, Trump wrote.

Trump has, once again, turned to his familiar two weeks timeline as a go-to solution in a moment of crisis.

During his first address to the nation on the Iran war earlier this month, he claimed the war was nearing completion and that almost all of Americas military objectives were accomplished.

However, the President offered little clarity on how he would wind down a conflict that has led to a sharp dip in his approval ratings.

Trump said: Tonight, Im pleased to say that these core strategic objectives are nearing completion  In these past four weeks, our armed forces have delivered swift, decisive, overwhelming victories on the battlefield  victories like few people have ever seen before.

open image in gallery Smoke rises following a reported strike, as burning debris litter the surrounding area, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Baharestan, Isfahan province, Iran, in this screengrab taken from a social media video released on 1 April 2026 ( SOCIAL MEDIA via REUTERS )

He added: The countries of the world that ... receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage. Just take it, protect it, use it for yourselves.

He also thanked our allies in the Middle East  Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. Theyve been great, and we will not let them get hurt or fail in any way, shape or form.

While some had expected the address to herald some form of de-escalation, instead he threatened to strike Iran extremely hard over the next two to three weeks and bring them back to the Stone Ages, where they belong.

open image in gallery Plumes of smoke rise following a reported strike, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Baharestan, Isfahan province, Iran, in this screengrab taken from a social media video released on 1 April 2026 ( SOCIAL MEDIA via REUTERS )

This was not the first time Trump had trumpeted two to three weeks as a timeline to end a crisis. Over his time as president, there have been multiple occasions when he has touted this as a deadline to end any conflict.

Last year, as tensions with Iran escalated, the president said that he would decide on whether to order US warplanes to strike Iranian nuclear facilities within the next two weeks, depending on whether or not Tehran engages in talks over ending their nuclear weapons program.

In a statement relayed through White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, Trump said: Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks.

In May last year, when Trump was pressed on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin was serious about ending the war in Ukraine, he said: Well know in about two weeks.

Within two weeks. We're gonna find out whether or not (Putin is) tapping us along or not. And if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently, the president said.

At the time it was unclear what underpinned the relatively short deadline for a conflict that had, at that point, been waged for over three years. It ultimately passed without a breakthrough.

Then again in July, Trump said he was very disappointed with Putin and shortened Russias deadline from 50 days to about 1012 days to make progress on ending the Ukraine war or face tougher sanctions.

Throughout his campaign and presidency, Trump has repeatedly promised to end the war quickly  initially claiming he could do it in 24 hours, before shifting to longer timelines, including weeks.

In January this year, Trump revived the infamous two weeks timeline when he was asked about his proposed deal involving Greenland. Flying back from Davos, he promised yet another major announcement on his concept of a deal on Greenland.

Well have something in two weeks, he said, according to Mediaite. Theres a good spirit to get something done, and we have to have a strong freedom. We have to have the ability to do exactly what we want to do.

On that occasion it was a matter of two days rather than two weeks before Nato and the U.S. announced the framework of a deal granting greater access for America to Greenlands natural resources, although months later the precise terms of the agreement are still yet to materialise.
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Chris Taylor, a Democratic-backed candidate, has secured a pivotal victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election, bolstering the liberal majority on the bench.

Her win comes as the battleground state faces crucial decisions on congressional redistricting, union rights, and other contentious issues.

Taylor, who focused her campaign on abortion rights, comfortably defeated Republican-backed Maria Lazar. This marks the fourth consecutive triumph for liberal court candidates since 2020, guaranteeing a liberal majority on the court until at least 2030.

Taylor said: "Once again, Wisconsin showed the entire nation that we believe that the people should be at the center of government and the priority of our judiciary, not the billionaires, not the most powerful and privileged, but the people."

In the wake of Lazars double-digit defeat, Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming urged Republicans to "stay united and continue fighting for our conservative values."

This shift in the courts balance of power occurs just months before a November election where Democrats are striving to retain the governors office and flip the state Legislature, which Republicans have controlled since 2011. Democrats are keen to dismantle a host of Republican-enacted laws that made Wisconsin a focal point for the nations conservative movement throughout the 2010s.

open image in gallery Wisconsin State Supreme Court Justice-elect Chris Taylor takes a picture with constituents after speaking on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Madison ( AP )

This years Supreme Court election stands in stark contrast to the swing states previous two, where national spending records were set in battles over majority control. Spending and national attention was down dramatically this year without control of the court at stake.

Liberals took control of the states top court in 2023, ending 15 years under a conservative majority. They held onto their majority with last years victory in a race that drew involvement from President Donald Trump and billionaires George Soros and Elon Musk, who personally handed out $1 million checks to voters in the state.

Liberals argued that democracy was at stake in the 2025 election, noting that when the court was controlled by conservative justices in 2020 it came just one vote shy of siding with Trump in his attempt to invalidate enough votes to overturn his loss in that years presidential election.

The court under liberal control has reversed several election-related rulings, including one that overturned a ban on absentee ballot drop boxes, and it is poised to once again be in the spotlight around the 2028 presidential election.

Races for the court are officially nonpartisan, but support for candidates breaks down mostly along partisan lines. The seat was open due to the retirement of a conservative justice.

Taylor, who is a state Appeals Court judge and previously worked for Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, focused much of her campaign on abortion rights. One of her TV ads argued that abortion is on the ballot. In another ad, she criticized Lazar for calling the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 very wise.

Lazar, who is also a state Appeals Court judge and was supported by anti-abortion groups in her run for that court, tried to brand Taylor as nothing more than a politician who will push a partisan agenda on the high court.

open image in gallery Chris Taylor focused her campaign on abortion rights ( AP )

They sparred over each others partisanship during the campaigns sole debate last week.

Lazar accused Taylor of being a radical, extreme legislator and a judicial activist. Taylor said that Lazar would bring an extreme, right-wing political agenda to the bench.

But she had a much harder time getting her message out. Taylor had a large fundraising advantage and spent about nine times as much as Lazar on television ads, based on a tally by the Brennan Center for Justice.

The liberal-controlled court has already struck down a state abortion ban law and ordered new legislative maps since taking control of the court, fueling Democrats hopes of capturing a majority this November.

Taylor has been a judge since 2020 and before that spent 10 years as a Democrat representing the liberal capital city of Madison in the state Assembly.

Lazar, a judge since 2015, previously worked four years under a Republican attorney general in the state Department of Justice. In that role, she defended a law enacted under former Republican Gov. Scott Walker that effectively ended collective bargaining for most public workers.

A circuit court judge ruled in December that the law is unconstitutional, a decision expected to ultimately land before the state Supreme Court.

Lazar also defended laws passed by Republicans and signed by Walker implementing a voter ID requirement and restricting abortion access.

Democrats had been optimistic given the past two Supreme Court elections, which saw candidates they backed winning by double digits.

Another conservative justice is retiring next year, giving liberals a chance to take 6-1 control of the court thanks to Taylors victory.
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A Wisconsin couple was sued by their landlord after leaving two negative reviews online over alleged undisclosed extra fees, according to a report.

Eric Magnuson and Elizabeth Sargent reportedly rented the property in Whitefish Bay from David Karademas in August 2023, but they began receiving notices about charges they claim had not been made clear in the lease.

Karademas emailed his tenants in November 2024, announcing a new 9 a.m. deadline for renters to move their vehicles in snow, according to court records obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The move prompted Magnuson to write a review under a pseudonym in which he claimed he had been fined $100 for not moving his car on time despite snow still falling.

Do NOT rent from these people, Magnuson wrote of Karademas Management. They are sleazy, greedy and truly awful people."

The couple told the Journal Sentinel that Karademas had then replied publicly to the review, revealing their real names and address.

"Your complaint seems to revolve around the fact that Bay Village has rules and that the rules are enforced," Karademas wrote, according to the Journal. "I stand guilty as charged."

Magnuson then posted a second review calling out the public doxxing and acknowledged he and other residents were 45 minutes late moving thier cars.

"These fines are absolutely illegal  or shady at the very least," Magnuson wrote online.

A Wisconsin couple were sued by their landlord after leaving two negative reviews online over undisclosed extra fees ( Getty/iStock )

In response, Karademas then emailed Magnuson and demanded that the review be taken down and that the couple sign a non-disparagement agreement, banning them from further criticism.

Karademas, who is also a lawyer, owns multiple properties in Wisconsin and Illinois. "As the proprietor of a family-owned business, that reputation is all that stands between me and oblivion," he told the Journal Sentinel.

The Independent has attempted to contact Karademas Management for further comment.

According to the Journal Sentinel, in his lawsuit, Karademas claims that Magnuson lied in his first review and that both were posted so that the couple could get out of their lease early, which he describes as extortion.

"Both falsehoods and extortion can nullify the First Amendment protections that generally shield negative feedback," he told the outlet.

Magnuson and Sargent have filed a motion to have the case dismissed, though a judge has yet to rule on it.

In addition, Wisconsin is one of only 11 states that do not have anti-SLAPP - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation - laws, which are designed to prevent lawsuits that attempt to bully people into not speaking out.

"You shouldn't be able to sue someone to give up their free speech rights," Sargent told the Journal Sentinel.
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Greece will ban social media access for children under the age of 15 from January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced.

Explaining the reasoning behind the move, Mitsotakis said he hopes it will address rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.

In a video message to young people, Mr Mitsotakis highlighted that prolonged screen time prevents minds from resting and subjects children to growing pressure from constant comparison and online comments.

He noted that many parents had reported their children struggling with sleep, experiencing heightened anxiety, and spending excessive hours on their phones.

open image in gallery Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the ban on Wednesday ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

An ALCO opinion poll published in February showed approximately 80 per cent of those surveyed approved of such a ban.

The Greek government has already outlawed mobile phones in schools and set up parental control platforms to limit teenagers' screen time.

"Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative," Mr Mitsotakis stated.

"I am certain, however, that it will not be the last. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well."

Slovenia, Britain, Austria and Spain have also indicated they are working on similar bans, following Australia, which became the first country globally to block access for under-16s last year.

It was announced last month that hundreds of teenagers across the UK would be participating in a government trial of social media bans, time limits and curfews, with ministers weighing up potential measures to enhance children's online safety.

The six-week pilot programme, spearheaded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), involves 300 young people aged 13 to 17.

The trial is testing various restrictions on participants social media usage, with researchers monitoring the effects on their schoolwork, sleep patterns, and family life.

The programme is due to conclude on 26 May.
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The mother of a freelance American journalist who was released from captivity in Iraq said Wednesday that she hopes her daughter will finally return home to rural Wisconsin after living abroad for decades.

Katib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia group, kidnapped 49-year-old Shelly Kittleson off a Baghdad street corner on March 31. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that Kittleson had been released.

Two officials within the militia, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, told The Associated Press that in exchange for freeing Kittleson, several members of the group who had previously been detained by Iraqi authorities would be released.

Kittleson's mother, Barb Kittleson, said shes not sure how much U.S. officials want her to say, but that shes relieved her daughter has been released. She said she went to her local library in Mount Horeb, a village of about 7,000 people in southern Wisconsin, and used a computer there to email her daughter that she hopes she returns to the U.S. and that she's made up her bedroom.

Shelly Kittleson left Wisconsin in 1995 at age 19 for Italy, where she went to school and worked as a nanny. Over the years she has earned a reputation as a determined and gutsy reporter, working from Iraq, Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East for news outlets including Al-Monitor.

Barb Kittleson said that her husband, Bob, died of pancreatic cancer in 2024 and that she hasn't seen her daughter since 2002, when she visited her while touring Italy. Asked if she misses Shelly, she nodded her head yes.

She said she doesnt know if her daughter will get her message, noting that U.S. officials are trying to limit contact with her for a week and that she doesnt know if her daughter's captors took her phone and computer.

Kataib Hezbollah has been accused of kidnapping other foreigners.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton graduate student with Israeli and Russian citizenship, disappeared in Baghdad in 2023. After she was freed and handed over to U.S. authorities in September 2025, she said she had been held by Kataib Hezbollah, which never officially claimed responsibility.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also launched regular attacks on U.S. facilities in the country since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Zelensky blames Iran was for stalled weapon supply as Russia continues to attack Ukraine

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The acting US ambassador to Ukraine will step down from her post and retire over differences with Donald Trump, according to a report.

An American official and the State Department said that Julie Davis would leave the role amid a lull in US-brokered talks to achieve a ceasefire and end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Financial Times first reported Davis' departure and said it was because of differences of opinion with Trump's policies. It is claimed that Davis had grown frustrated with her role over his dwindling support for Ukraine.

The State Department pushed back on that characterisation, saying it was "false" to say she was leaving over differences with Trump.

"Ambassador Davis has been a steadfast proponent of the Trump Administration's efforts to bring about a durable peace between Russia and Ukraine," Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said.

Negotiations have been stalled since the US launched military action against Iran, which has caused a global energy shock and diverted Trumps attention from conflict in Europe.
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A ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran looked fragile just hours after it was agreed as Israel launched its biggest strikes yet on Lebanon, and questions over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz continue.

The US defence secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Iran had begged the United States for the two-week pause in hostilities, while people familiar with the talks said the White House pushed Pakistan to broker the 11th-hour deal.

In the first US briefing since the ceasefire took effect, Mr Hegseth declared a capital-V military victory over Iran and threatened to take its uranium by force unless it hands everything over, telling US troops to stay ready.

Uncertainty threatened to derail the truce as Iranian media reported that Tehran was already blocking the Strait of Hormuz over continued Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel insisted that the ceasefire did not cover the parallel war in Lebanon, while Iran and mediator Pakistan said it did.

open image in gallery A fireball rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in the area of Abbasiyeh, on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre ( AFP/Getty )

A senior Iranian official had said that the strait could be reopened in a limited way as soon as Thursday if the US keeps its end of the deal, while Donald Trump eyed a possible joint venture to charge ships for safe passage through the waterway.

On Wednesday night, Irans foreign minister warned the US must choose ceasefire or continued war via Israel in an ultimatum. In a post on X, Seyed Abbas Araghchi said: The Iran-US Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the US must choose  ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both.

British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said there was still a lot of work to do to reopen the channel and ensure the ceasefire holds during a visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

We now ... have a ceasefire, but theres a lot of work to do, as you will appreciate, a lot of work to make sure that that ceasefire becomes permanent and brings about the peace that we all want to see, he said. But also a lot of work to do in relation to the Strait of Hormuz.

Oil fell to $90 (67) per barrel on Wednesday after President Trump announced the temporary truce late on Tuesday evening. A social media post hailing the deal came less than two hours before a deadline he had set for Iran to reopen the blockaded strait or face the destruction of its whole civilisation.

People familiar with the backroom diplomacy told the Financial Times that the White House pushed for a temporary ceasefire through Pakistan even as Mr Trump publicly escalated threats against Tehran this week.

open image in gallery Defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the US had achieved victory but would hang around to make sure the ceasefire was enforced ( Getty )

The Trump administration badgered Islamabad to convince Iran to pause the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the sources said. A senior Iranian official told Reuters as recently as Monday that Iran would not open the strait for a temporary ceasefire.

According to the FT, Mr Trump was concerned about rising oil prices and surprised by Irans resilience when he sought a pause in the fighting to work on a more comprehensive peace agreement.

Mr Trump said the US had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which he called a workable basis to negotiate. He insisted that the parties were already a long way towards reaching a definitive agreement for long-term peace.

Irans Supreme National Security Council sowed confusion by saying that the US had agreed to accept a maximalist Iranian plan, which was reported to include a number of elements the White House had rejected in past negotiations.

That plan also made no mention of Irans missile programme, which the Trump administration has sought to get on the agenda.

open image in gallery Iranian pro-government demonstrators in Tehran react to the announcement of a two-week ceasefire ( AP )

According to Iran, Washington has, in principle, committed to continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz; acceptance of enrichment; lifting all primary and secondary sanctions; terminating all resolutions passed by the United Nations Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency; the withdrawal of US forces from the region; and a cessation of the war on all fronts, including Lebanon.

Confusion soon emerged as the Associated Press reported that acceptance of enrichment had been left out of English language versions of the plan seen by journalists. Mr Trump also published a post on Truth Social that did not refer to Irans 10 points, but the 15 points previously floated by the US and rejected by Iran.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire agreement, with Israel escalating its war against Hezbollah on Wednesday with a series of strikes.

Lebanons health minister said dozens had been killed and hundreds wounded. Residents said some of the Israeli strikes had come without the usual warnings for civilians to evacuate. Irans Tasnim news agency cited an unnamed source warning that Iran will withdraw from the ceasefire if attacks on Lebanon continue.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer in Saudi Arabia said there was a lot to do to ensure the ceasefire becomes permanent ( AFP/Getty )

Long after the ceasefire was meant to take effect, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain all reported fresh Iranian missile and drone strikes, several of which targeted vital oil, power and desalination infrastructure.

Mr Hegseth suggested attacks were continuing because of poor command and communications issues. Iran also reported strikes on its territory.

The US president, meanwhile, welcomed Nato chief and so-called Trump whisperer Mark Rutte to the White House on Wednesday, after threatening to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance and denouncing Washingtons European allies for what he said was inadequate support of the bombing campaign in Iran.

As the ceasefire took effect, former British national security adviser Peter Ricketts said that the war in the Middle East had been a huge wake-up call for Britain, and warned the government must now forget the idea of a special relationship between the UK and US.

The idea of a special relationship we should now completely forget. Its a transactional relationship with Washington as with every other country, Lord Ricketts told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.
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Iran has agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping as part of a delicate two-week ceasefire agreement announced with the US.

Oil fell below $100 per barrel on Wednesday as a senior Iranian official said the vital waterway could be reopened in a limited and controlled way as soon as Thursday, ahead of a meeting with the US to discuss more enduring peace terms.

But Iran still wants to charge fees for ships to pass through the Strait, arguing the toll is necessary to cover the cost of damage inflicted by the war - a position opposed by the US and its allies in the Gulf but that could reportedly net the regime millions of dollars.

A regional official told the Associated Press that the two-week ceasefire plan includes allowing Iran to charge ships transiting the channel, while Donald Trump said that Washington and Tehran were thinking of doing it as a joint venture.

Shipping companies reacted to the ceasefire with caution, welcoming the pause in hostilities but warning that trade in the Gulf is unlikely to fully resume until the underlying tensions are clearly resolved.

The Strait, a strip of water only 21 miles wide between Iran and Oman, provides passage from the Gulf to the Indian Ocean and is the main route for about a fifth of world oil supplies and other vital goods, including fertilisers.

Will Iran charge a fee for safe passage?

Hours after the ceasefire was announced, the picture is still not clear.

A regional official who was directly involved in negotiations for the ceasefire agreement told the Associated Press that Iran and Oman would be allowed to charge fees on ships transiting the Strait as part of the ceasefire deal mediated by Pakistan.

Omans transport minister said the country had signed agreements that prohibit charging ships, however. Iran and Oman share territorial rights over the strategic waterway, although bordering states are not allowed to charge ships merely for passing through.

The regional official said that Iran plans to use the revenue for reconstruction of infrastructure destroyed in the six week conflict.

Trump told ABC News on Wednesday that the US may look for a joint venture with Iran to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz.

We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it -- also securing it from lots of other people, he said when asked whether he would allow Tehran to charge tolls for shipping. "It's a beautiful thing.

open image in gallery Iran says it needs to impose a toll on the Strait to recoup costs of the war (file) ( Reuters )

Iran has already made a number of bespoke agreements with third countries to guide ships through the channel, and recently sought to ratify a toll system in local law.

There have been unconfirmed reports of at least one payment of $2 million having been made for a vessel to traverse the Strait.

The Independent reported previously how countries were reportedly paying rates starting at $1 per barrel, as big tankers can carry around two million barrels. Operators have been negotiating terms to be paid in Chinese yuan or stablecoins.

Unnamed ceasefire mediators told the Wall Street Journal that the status quo is unlikely to change, despite Irans promise to allow safe passage through the Strait.

Barbara Leaf, former US ambassador to the UAE, told CNBC she expected Iran to try assert control over the Strait as part of any eventual deal.

It is clear that the regime sees it as a real money maker, and they are going to try very hard to assert some sort of management over the Strait. And I would certainly hope that the administration will not agree to that.

Iran still wants any permanent peace deal in the war to allow Tehran to demand fees, a senior Iranian official told Reuters. The fee would vary depending on the type of ship, its cargo and unspecified other prevailing conditions, the official said, without elaborating.

What happens now?

Maritime shipping company Hapag-Lloyd voiced cautious optimism on the prospect of resuming shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, but said normal traffic would take at least six to eight weeks - far longer than the two week truce allows.

A backlog of ships trapped in the Gulf and a lack of clear security assurances are fuelling hesitation. The US president said on his Truth Social platform that the US would be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait.

But Daejin Lee, global head of research at Fertmax FZCO, said that it would likely take more than two weeks just to clear the backlog of vessels trapped within the Gulf.

A 14-day window is simply too short to restore the level of confidence needed to fully unwind the embedded uncertainty premium - particularly for Arabian Gulf loading routes, he said.

open image in gallery Donald Trump says the US will help with the traffic in the Strait ( Truth Social )

Neil Roberts, Head of Marine and Aviation, Lloyd's Market Association said that from an insurance point of view, news of the ceasefire was of course welcome, but that there are still issues to resolve before shipping returns to normal.

Time will tell whether it is a pause or a peace but, in the meantime, it is highly unlikely that trade into the Gulf will simply resume. The region remains at heightened risk with none of the underlying tensions resolved.

Jakob Larsen, chief safety and security officer at shipping association Bimco, said the industry was awaiting technical details from the US and Iran.

Iran's deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabdi said last week that Tehran was drafting a protocol with Oman to require ships to obtain permits and licences to pass the Strait, saying this was intended to facilitate rather than restrict transit.

Would other countries accept Iran collecting fees?

Trump said on Monday that free traffic of oil through the Strait must be part of any peace deal with Iran.

We have to have a deal thats acceptable to me, and part of that deal is going to be, we want free traffic of oil, he said. He also suggested he would rather the US charge tolls than let them have them, as the winner of the war.

The UNCLOS maritime convention governing international sea law says states bordering straits cannot demand payment simply for permission to pass through.

However, they can impose limited fees on ships for specific services such as piloting, tugging or port services, though these may not be levied more heavily on vessels from any particular countries.

Canals, which have been dug rather than occurring naturally, are treated differently to straits and can charge fees for transit.

open image in gallery Rise in petrol and diesel prices since the start of the Iran conflict ( PA )

Gulf states relying on energy exports through the Strait are particularly concerned about the prospect of Iran enforcing a toll.

The United Arab Emirates said at the weekend the waterway cannot be held hostage by any country and free navigation must be part of any settlement of the war.

Qatar's foreign ministry said all countries in the region have the right to use the Strait freely and any discussions about future financial mechanisms should wait until after it is reopened.

No such unilateral move to demand fees to traverse a strait has been made in modern history, shipping industry officials said.
White House: Trump has met with team over Iran proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz

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Donald Trump has said that Iran believes it is in a State of Collapse and wants the US to open the Strait of Hormuz, as Washington considers a new peace proposal.

Iran has just informed us that they are in a State of Collapse the US president wrote.

They want us to Open the Hormuz Strait, as soon as possible, as they try to figure out their leadership situation (Which I believe they will be able to do!), he added.

Insiders revealed today that Trump discussed a new Iranian proposal on resolving the war with his top national security aides on Monday, as the conflict remains in a stalemate with energy supplies from the region still disrupted.

Earlier, secretary of state Marco Rubio said Irans grip on the Strait of Hormuz represents an economic nuclear weapon the regime is using to hold the worlds energy hostage.

Marco Rubio told Fox News on Monday that Iran is bragging about how it can hold a fifth of the worlds oil and gas hostage.

Tehran's latest proposal would see the Strait of Hormuz opened and an end to the war, but with talks on the Iranian nuclear programme postponed.
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Russian satellites have reportedly conducted dozens of detailed imagery surveys of military facilities and critical sites across the Middle East, an action a Ukrainian intelligence assessment suggests was intended to aid Iran in striking US forces and other targets.

The conclusions, which have been reviewed by Reuters, further indicate a collaboration between Russian and Iranian hackers in the cyber domain.

These findings offer the most comprehensive insight yet into Russia's covert support for Iran since the Israel and US assault on 28 February.

According to the undated assessment, Russian satellites carried out at least 24 surveys of areas across 11 Middle Eastern countries between 21 and 31 March.

These operations covered 46 "objects", encompassing US and other military bases, as well as key infrastructure such as airports and oil fields.

The assessment highlights a clear pattern, noting that military bases and headquarters were subsequently targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones within days of being surveyed.

open image in gallery Demonstrators wave Iranian flags during a protest against US military action in Iran near the White House in Washington, DC before the agreed two-week ceasefire ( AFP via Getty Images )

This intelligence has been corroborated by a Western military source and a separate regional security source, both of whom confirmed intense Russian satellite activity in the region and the sharing of imagery with Iran.

Nine surveys covered parts of Saudi Arabia, including five over the King Khalid Military City near Hafar Al-Batin, in what appeared to be an effort to locate elements of the U.S.-made THAAD air defence system, the Ukrainian assessment said.

Areas of Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also came under satellite surveillance twice, while places in Israel, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia did once, it said.

In an emerging trend, the assessment added, Russian satellites were actively surveying the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for a fifth of global oil and LNG flows where Iran has imposed a de facto blockade to all but "non-hostile vessels".

Permanent communications channel

U.S. space-tracking firm Kayhan Space said analysis of the orbital data it gathers indicated Russian satellites were repeatedly overhead of parts of the Gulf region during the period March 21 to March 31, including some that were capable of Earth observation, reconnaissance, imaging or surveillance.

The company said its analysis suggested Russian satellite activity over the region during the late-March period may have been more extensive than that detailed by the Ukraine assessment, while overhead activity does not confirm that imagery was collected.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said that no external support for Iran from any country was affecting the operational success of the United States. The Iranian foreign ministry had no immediate comment. The defence ministry in Russia, which invaded Ukraine four years ago, did not respond to a request for comment.

open image in gallery A Russian satellite took imagery of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia days before Iran struck the facility on March 27 ( UGC )

European leaders pressed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the issue at a G7 meeting last month. Two diplomats said Rubio had not responded to the accusations, although he has publicly dismissed Russian aid to Iran as insignificant.

The Ukrainian assessment said that the exchange of satellite imagery was being organised through a permanent communications channel used by Russia and Iran and could also be facilitated by Russian military spies stationed in Tehran.

The regional security source confirmed a specific incident detailed in the Ukrainian assessment that was disclosed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week.

In that incident, a Russian satellite took imagery of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia days before Iran struck the facility on March 27, hitting a sophisticated U.S. E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, the assessment said.

A Russian satellite passed over the same site on March 28 to assess the strike's impact, the assessment said.

'Comprehensive strategic partnership

Russia and Iran have deepened military ties since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In particular, Ukraine and the West say Iran provided long-range Shahed attack drones to Russia, which in turn used them to bomb Ukraine, while also developing its own, more sophisticated variants. Iran denies supplying weapons used against Ukraine.

Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian then signed a Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January last year.

open image in gallery Russian President Vladimir Putin ( AFP/Getty )

Article Four of the Treaty states that "in order to strengthen national security and counter common threats, the intelligence and security services of the Contracting Parties exchange information and experience."

Cyber operations

The Ukrainian intelligence assessment and regional security source said Russia appeared to be providing assistance to Iran in the cyber domain.

Hacking groups controlled by Iran have stepped up operations since late February, targeting mainly critical infrastructure and telecommunications companies in the Gulf, they said.

The Ukrainian assessment said Russian and Iranian hacker groups were interacting via Telegram and noted collaboration between the Russian groups "Z-Pentest Alliance", "NoName057(16)" and "DDoSia Project" and Iran's "Handala Hack".

For example last month, it said groups including Handala Hack published a warning on Telegram about attacks on the information and communication systems of Israeli energy companies.

The Russian groups simultaneously published access credentials to control systems at critical infrastructure facilities in Israel, it said.

Iranian hacker groups have also used some techniques in operations that indicated they had obtained them from Russian military intelligence hackers, it said.

For instance, it said, Iranian hacker groups "Homeland Justice" (UAC-0074) and "Karmabelow80" used ProfitServer, a Russian VPS provider from Chelyabinsk, to register domains.
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President Donald Trump has executed a dramatic reversal in his stance on Iran, transitioning from threats of "annihilation" to endorsing a "workable" plan that has led to a 14-day ceasefire.

This temporary truce is anticipated to pave the way for an end to the nearly six-week-old conflict.

The significant shift in tone emerged as intermediaries, notably Pakistan, worked intensely to prevent further escalation. China, Iran's primary trading partner and a key economic rival to the United States, also discreetly facilitated efforts towards a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who spoke anonymously due to not being authorized to comment publicly.

Announcing the temporary ceasefire via social media, approximately 90 minutes before his deadline for Tehran to open the critical Strait of Hormuz or face the obliteration of its power plants and other vital infrastructure, Trump said: "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."

The president is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday, where the emerging ceasefire and the plan to reopen the strait are expected to be central to their discussions.

As the deadline approached, Democratic lawmakers had condemned Trump's threat to wipe out an entire civilization as "a moral failure". Pope Leo XIV also warned that strikes against civilian infrastructure would violate international law, labelling the presidents comments "truly unacceptable."

open image in gallery Trump mimics firing a gun as he speaks about the conflict in Iran in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House ( AFP/Getty )

Ultimately, Trump may have retreated from his aggressive posture due to a fundamental reality: escalation risked entangling the United States in the kind of "forever war" that had plagued his predecessors, a scenario he had vowed to avoid if re-elected.

As Trump boasted about U.S. and Israeli military success over the last six weeks, he appeared to be working from the premise that he could bomb Iran into capitulation.

Starting with the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening salvos of the war, he seemed to discount that the Iranian leadership could opt for a long, bloody war.

The Islamic Republic over the last 47 years has repeatedly shown it is willing to dig in, even when it appears to America they are working against their own self-interest.

The clerical leadership held Americans hostages for 444 days, from late 1979 to early 1981, at the cost of the countrys international standing. The mullahs allowed the ruinous Iran-Iraq war to go on for years, leaving hundreds of thousands dead. It stood by Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack that spurred a war with Israel that would defang the Iran-backed group in Gaza as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and created the conditions that led to the collapse of Tehran-backed Bashar Assad's authoritarian rule in Syria.

Iran's leadership  battered and outgunned  exuded confidence that it could very well bog down the world's superpower in a costly, extended conflict even if it might not defeat a mighty U.S. military.

open image in gallery Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement at the Enqelab square, in Tehran, on April 8 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Defense analysts largely agreed that the U.S. military could quickly take control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Persian Gulf waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly 20% of the world's oil flows on any given day. But maintaining security over the waterway would require a high-risk, resource-intensive operation that could be a years-long American commitment.

Ben Connable, executive director of the nonprofit Battle Research Group, said securing the strait would require the U.S. military to maintain control of about 600 kilometers (373 miles) of Iranian territory, from Kish Island in the West to Bandar Abbas in the East, to stop Iran from firing missiles at ships passing through the strait. It's a mission that Connable said would likely require three U.S. infantry divisions, roughly 30,000 to 45,000 troops.

This would be an indefinite operation  so, you know, think: be ready to do this for 20 years, said Connable, a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer. We didn't think we were going to be in Afghanistan for 20 years. We didnt think were going to have to be in Vietnam as long as we were, or Iraq.

The two-week ceasefire plan includes allowing both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through Hormuz, a regional official said. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction. It wasnt immediately clear what Oman would use its money for.

The strait is in the territorial waters of both Oman and Iran. The world had considered the passage an international waterway and never paid tolls before.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said after the ceasefire was announced that Trump was effectively giving Tehran control of the strait and delivering a history-changing win for Iran.

The level of incompetence is both stunning and heartbreaking, Murphy said.

The ceasefire announcement came after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance while also asking Iran to open the strait for two weeks.

Two weeks has become Trumps favorite interval to buy himself time when making major decisions. Last summer, the White House said hed decide about launching an initial bombing campaign against Iran within two weeks  only to have the president order airstrikes that he said obliterated Irans nuclear program before that interval was up.

Trump has also repeatedly used two weeks to set deadlines that ultimately led to very little during negotiations to end Russias war with Ukraine and even going back to his first term, suggesting hed have major policy issues like health care solved over such a timeframe.

Trump has repeatedly made maximalist demands throughout the first 15 months of his second White House term only to dial them back.

The president backed off many of the sweeping Liberation Day tariffs he first announced in April 2025 after they caused the financial markets to go haywire. Perhaps the most spectacular example came during a January meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump insisted that he wanted the U.S. to take control of Greenland including right, title and ownership only to switch course and abandon his threat to impose widespread tariffs on Europe to press his case.

The pretext for backing down that time was Trump saying hed agreed with the head of NATO on a framework of a future deal on Arctic security  even though the U.S. already enjoyed widespread military latitude in Greenland, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark.

The White House celebrated on Tuesday evening with aides crediting the U.S. military's prowess and Trump's maneuvering for setting conditions for the ceasefire.

The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared. She added, Never underestimate President Trumps ability to successfully advance Americas interests and broker peace.
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Israel has launched its largest wave of strikes on Lebanon in the war so far, in a ring of fire that has killed more than 250 people and crushed hopes of a ceasefire.

Just hours after Pakistan announced a two-week truce in the region between the US and Iran, massive explosions rained down on Lebanons capital, Beirut, eviscerating buildings and sending towering plumes of smoke across the skyline.

The Israeli military said it had hit 100 targets in just 10 minutes, including military infrastructure for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, densely packed residential neighbourhoods in the capital, the Bekaa Valley to the east and the already devastated south.

Witnesses and the wounded described a ring of fire, as civilians, smeared in blood, were shuttled to hospital on the back of motorcycles and first responders dug desperately through the rubble. Veteran surgeons in overwhelmed hospitals called it an absolute massacre.

In total, the bombings killed at least 254 people and injured more than 1,160 others across the country, according to Lebanons civil defence.

open image in gallery A fireball rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in the area of Abbasiyeh, on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre ( AFP/Getty )

People were running through the streets covered in blood, cars were burning and dust choked the air, said Samia, 51, a professor, describing how bombs destroyed the building opposite, as well as nearby residential neighbourhoods, shopping districts, businesses and schools in the heart of the city.

The children in my building were all screaming and crying. In the street, an elderly woman was standing, screaming at the top of her lungs.

It was as if a ring of fire had encircled the entire city. I have never witnessed such a bloody day in my life, not even during the civil war, she added, visibly shaken.

In Baalbek region, in the east of the country, Zainab, a 62-year-old mother of four, spoke to The Independent from hospital, after barely escaping a hit on her family home and neighbourhood. She said they received no warning and did not expect to be targeted as there is no Hezbollah presence in their town.

The moment I heard the explosion, I lost all my hearing and vision, I inhaled all the smoke into my lungs, she said through an oxygen mask.

The neighbours rescued us through the balconies and windows, along with the civil defence volunteers. My husband suffered severe head and back injuries. I was afraid I would lose my son.

We didnt expect our neighbourhood to be bombed. But now nowhere is safe.

open image in gallery First responders stand amid rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts Corniche al-Mazraa neighbourhood ( AFP/Getty )

UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the massive wave of strikes, saying reports that hundreds  including civilians  had been killed and injured are appalling.

The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific, said the high commissioner. Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians.

Israel launched the ferocious bombardment just hours after Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a ceasefire to suspend six weeks of warfare between the US, Israel and Iran. He said the talks would include Lebanon.

Hezbollah echoed the imminent truce and claimed the group were on the threshold of a major historic victory.

But shortly afterwards, this was contradicted by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the ceasefire did not apply to Lebanon, and vowed the Israeli military would continue operations against the militant group.

Speaking to The Independent, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said the military was following those orders, bombing dozens of targets, including Hezbollah and Iranian military infrastructure.

In Lebanon, we are continuing our operations against Hezbollah. Thats the current situation right now, in the current guidance weve received [from the political echelon], he said.

We have different plans for different scenarios. As of now, the mission remains to push back [Hezbollah] and keep degrading it.

Lt Col Shoshani claimed the operation was the result of meticulous planning over weeks and that among the areas hit were Hezbollah headquarters, its firepower and its aerial units.

But many of the strikes hit densely packed civilian neighbourhoods not affiliated with Hezbollah.

open image in gallery More than a million Lebanese civilians have been displaced in the conflict so far ( Bilal Hussein/AP Photo )

Medics said hospitals were overwhelmed by the wounded.

Speaking from a medical centre in Beirut, Ghassan Abu Sittah, a renowned British-Palestinian surgeon who has treated the wounded in Gaza and Lebanon, called Israels unprecedented bombardment an absolute massacre.

Emergency departments have been flooded across the whole of Beirut. We had the first wave, and now were getting the second wave of people being dug out of the rubble. Its horrendous.

A lot of people are being brought in dead, a lot of children with severe injuries, he told The Independent. Its an absolute massacre, and it happened almost simultaneously, he added.

open image in gallery A journalist on the ground compared the airstrikes to an earthquake ( Hussein Malla/AP Photo )

In Baalbek, meanwhile, Zainabs 20-year-old son Mahdi, who had also been rescued from the rubble, said they were given no warning.

We were feeling safe at home, assuming the war was over and waiting for a statement from the Lebanese government announcing it after the ceasefire agreement with Iran was announced in Washington, he said from his hospital bed, where he had received stitches.

In the morning, we celebrated this news, and in the afternoon, Israel destroyed our house. My mother, father, and I were injured, while my sister and her young son, thank God, escaped with very minor injuries."

open image in gallery Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said it was the largest concentrated blow to Hezbollah since September 2024 ( Bilal Hussein/AP Photo )

Iran, the United States and Israel had agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, an 11th-hour deal that headed off US president Donald Trumps threat to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilisation.

Hours after the announcement, Israel bombed Lebanon, and Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks on Wednesday, although it was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal.

A source briefed on the Israeli position later told The Independent there was no intention of Lebanon being part of a peace deal.

open image in gallery Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on a building in Beirut ( Hassan Ammar/AP Photo )

We reached most of our targets in Iran. We caused a lot of damage. We set Iran back several years. But now is the time to focus on Hezbollah, the source said, adding that Israelis are disappointed with the ceasefire.

Israel cannot run two huge battlegrounds simultaneously  It would be very hard for Netanyahu to sell a ceasefire with Lebanon at the moment. The entire country just wants the job done.
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Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, announced that a two-week ceasefire had been agreed between the US and Iran in the early hours of April 8. Delegates from both sides are expected to attend further talks in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday.

This comes less than two weeks after Pakistan hosted talks with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey in which the four countries called for an end to hostilities in the Gulf. The meeting established the quartet as the primary negotiating channel between Tehran and Washington, and may signal the beginning of a new regional order designed to curb Israeli and Iranian dominance after the war.

Even before the war began in late February, Israel and Iran were both isolated in the region. There is no chance of any rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia, which was the original goal of the 2020 Abraham Accords. These accords sought to normalise relations between Israel and other countries in the Middle East.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed agreements with Israel as part of the accords. But the Saudis have long said they will not normalise ties with Israel before the establishment of a Palestinian state, which was ruled out by the Israeli parliament in a 2024 vote. Reports suggest that Saudi Arabia now wants to replace Israel with Syria as the transit country for a fiber-optic cable connecting the kingdom to Greece.

Turkey also halted its relationship with Israel in 2024 over the conflict in Gaza. And relations between Israel and Qatar soured in September 2025 after an Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Doha, which drew unanimous condemnation from the UN Security Council.

open image in gallery The Saudi Arabian crown prince Mohammed bin Salman with Trump ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

Irans only main allies are Russia and, to a much lesser extent, China and the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. Since the conflict with the US and Israel began, China has distanced itself from Iran. The Houthis recently became involved in the war in support of Iran, but they have been weakened by Israeli attacks in recent years.

The solid relationship between Qatar and Iran has been severed after Iranian missiles struck the countrys main gas facility, Ras Laffan, on March 18. And Irans partial detente with Saudi Arabia, which was brokered by China in 2023 after years of hostility, has now been destroyed following Iranian attacks on Saudi energy facilities.

It is against this backdrop, in which both Iran and Israel are considered regional pariahs, that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt have ramped up their efforts to secure stability in the Middle East.

A new order?

These four countries share some common areas of interest that help explain their desire to reshape the region. They all have political and economic ties with the US and are members of Donald Trumps Board of Peace. Established in 2026, the board aims to tackle global conflicts and achieve lasting peace and reconstruction in Gaza.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

Each country also brings important contributions to their burgeoning alliance. Pakistan possesses nuclear weapons, Saudi Arabia has the worlds second-largest oil reserves, Egypt controls access to the vital Suez canal waterway and Turkey is a member of the Nato alliance. All have fairly advanced defence industries and a combined population of 500 million people. Taken together, they represent the most politically and militarily influential Muslim-majority countries in the world.

But these four nations are not necessarily natural allies, and their relationships have experienced turbulence over the years. Egypts relationship with Saudi Arabia, for example, has often been described as a difficult marriage. Egypt was once the driver of pan-Arab nationalism, a movement that promotes a secular and unified Arab political identity.

The Saudi kingdom has historically viewed this movement as a threat. But since Abdel Fattah el-Sisi came to power as Egypts president in 2014, their differences have been overcome. Sisi offered political and military support to the Saudi operation against the Houthis in 2015, with Egypt and Saudi Arabia subsequently deepening their defence ties.

Particularly under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has positioned itself as a regional leader and problem solver. But Turkey, too, has endured periods of frosty relations with other regional powers. Ankaras relations with Cairo deteriorated sharply after the Egyptian president, Mohammed Morsi, a close ally of Turkey, was ousted in a 2013 coup.

About the author Natasha Lindstaedt is a Professor in the Department of Government at University of Essex. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Similarly, tensions between Turkey and Saudi Arabia became particularly acute following the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. A 2021 US intelligence report found that Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman approved the murder, though he denies this allegation.

A process of rapprochement took place between Turkey and Saudi Arabia in 2022, and then between Turkey and Egypt in 2025. Erdogan visited Cairo and Riyadh in February 2026 and has proposed several different geoeconomic frameworks to connect Asia with Europe. These include the so-called Middle East Corridor, a planned economic corridor aimed at fostering economic integration between Asia, the Persian Gulf and Europe.

Pakistan, meanwhile, has so far not come to Saudi Arabias aid when it has come under attack from Iran in the current conflict. This is despite the signing of a strategic mutual defence agreement between the two countries in 2025.

Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey have not always seen eye to eye. But their relationships of convenience are now becoming increasingly significant as Israel and Irans regional isolation grows.
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A Palestinian girl who lost her arm during Israels bombardment of Gaza has arrived in the UK for treatment.

Mariam Sabbah, 10, was greeted at Heathrow airport on Tuesday, along with her mother, Fatma Salman, and two brothers, by a small crowd bearing gifts, balloons and bouquets.

The family arrived in London from Egypt after hopes to go to the US for treatment were thwarted when the Trump administration halted visitor visas for all Palestinians in August last year. Mariam is one of more than 11,000 patients who have been evacuated from Gaza since October 2023.

More than 18,500 patients, including approximately 3,800 children, still require urgent medical evacuation for lifesaving treatment unavailable in Gaza, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Mariam suffered from critical abdominal and pelvic injuries and lost her left arm after an Israeli missile tore through her home in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, in the early hours of the morning last March. When the heavy shelling woke her up, she ran to her parents bedroom, but part of the staircase collapsed and she was trapped beneath the rubble.

open image in gallery Mariam lost her arm after an Israeli missile struck her home in Deir al-Balah ( Fajr Global )

Her family and rescuers worked for three hours to free her and take her to al-Aqsa Hospital, at the time one of the last functioning in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where the surgical team resolved that if the missing limb could be found, they would attempt to reattach it.

Returning to the rubble, her family were able to find the missing arm, which had been preserved by the cold weather. In a five-hour procedure, surgeons reconnected the blood vessels and nerves.

However, an infection after the operation, caused by the limbs exposure to debris, dust and explosive residue, left the staff with no choice but to amputate.

Gaza has the highest number of child amputees per capita of anywhere in the world, according to UNRWA, with up to 4,000 amputations recorded since October 2023.

open image in gallery Mariam and her family with Project Pure Hope workers on arrival at Heathrow ( Fajr Global )

Medical charity FAJR Global, based in the US, evacuated Mariam from Gaza to Egypt and worked to secure specialist reconstructive and rehabilitative care; she requires limb lengthening, a custom prosthesis and advanced paediatric reconstructive surgery to treat her pelvic injuries.

The US Department of State denied the familys visitor visa as part of a ban on all Palestinians travelling to the US. Project Pure Hope (PPH), a UK-based charity, stepped in after they identified Mariam as a candidate for medical evacuation to the UK, where privately funded specialist care could be arranged through their established network of paediatric hospitals.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had announced in July that the UK would evacuate children in urgent need of medical care from Gaza to receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK.

open image in gallery The Project Pure Hope charity identified Mariam as a candidate for medical evacuation to the UK ( Fajr Global )

A government spokesperson said: The UK government worked with the World Health Organisation and other partners to carry out medical evacuations from Gaza to the UK in autumn 2025. Thanks to the efforts of the NHS and a number of local authorities, 50 children and their immediate families arrived from Gaza and are receiving the quality care they need.

The UK also supports Project Pure Hopes initiative to bring a small number of children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care.

Following the ceasefire, now is the time to scale up aid and ensure much-needed medicines and medical supplies are getting into Gaza. We continue to play our part, with our support to UK-Meds field hospitals enabling over 1 million patient consultations across Gaza.

Raza Halim, co-founder of Project Pure Hope, said: We cannot forget the children of Gaza. PPH undertook the first medical evacuation of children from Gaza. We showed it can be done, and established the pathway for future evacuations, which formed the blueprint for the government Medevac scheme.

All of our work, and the British publics overwhelming reaction to it, has shown that there is an intense desire to continue to help the most vulnerable and dispossessed in this world. We have to meet the moment. We cannot let up.
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The US-Israeli war on Iran came to a sudden halt late on Tuesday with a two-week ceasefire announced after days of brinkmanship, thrusting Pakistan into the unlikely role of peacemaker in a conflict that has impacted almost every corner of the planet.

Iran and the US both claimed victory after Pakistan helped broker the truce, setting the stage for negotiations to end six weeks of fighting that killed an estimated 5,000 people across a dozen nations, including more than 1,600 civilians in Iran, battered the global economy, and had the world bracing for the worst-case scenario.

Donald Trump may have been first to announce the truce, just 90 minutes before the deadline on his threat to wipe out a whole civilization, but his post on Truth Social was swiftly followed by a tweet from Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Sharif announced that Washington and Tehran had agreed to an immediate ceasefire, including in Lebanon, where Hezbollah was fighting an invasion by Israel. And he presented Pakistan as the venue where face-to-face discussions of a permanent peace deal can take place as early as Friday; what he referred to as the Islamabad Talks.

Analysts say Pakistans role in helping pull the Middle East back from the brink could mark one of its most significant diplomatic achievements in years, and it is one that has been welcomed throughout the region  even among commentators in neighbouring India, normally an arch rival, but where the pinch of oil and gas shortages has been keenly felt.

Ajay Bisaria, former Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, says Islamabads role should be welcomed despite the risk of the fragile ceasefire collapsing at any moment. Pakistans role in constructing an off-ramp for the US and Iran in a dangerous war has been constructive and it should be welcomed by the world, including by India, he tells The Independent.

open image in gallery Iranians react after the ceasefire is announced at the Enqelab Square in Tehran on 8 April ( AFP via Getty )

Pakistan is not believed to be the only mediator to help bring about Tuesdays truce. Trump himself suggested that China  Irans biggest trading partner and the USs most significant competitor  may have quietly pulled strings to find a pathway towards a ceasefire.

And its also the case that Pakistans involvement was at least partly driven by self-interest. The South Asian nation is heavily dependent on energy imports and has faced severe fuel shortages due to the war, as well as disruptions to remittances from its sizeable population working in the Middle East.

Even so, the optics of the ceasefire are significant for Pakistan on the world stage. Its one of the nations biggest diplomatic wins in years, according to Michael Kugelman, a senior fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council.

It defied many sceptics and naysayers who didnt think it had the capacity to pull off such a complex, high-stakes feat, he argues. But what matters most is that it helped avert a potential catastrophe in Iran.

open image in gallery Donald Trump says Irans 10-point plan provides a workable basis for negotiations ( AP )

Swaran Singh, a professor of international relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, points to the importance of Trumps personal relationship with Pakistans powerful military chief, Asim Munir. Pakistan has been under direct military rule for 33 of the almost 80 years since independence, and even its civilian administrations have typically been heavily influenced by its generals.

Munir and Trump have grown increasingly close since the start of the US presidents second term, with the general making more visits to Washington than has Pakistans actual prime minister. They seem to have got on well, with Trump praising Munir as a great fighter and his favourite field marshal.

Among leaders in Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Egypt, Turkey, India, and Pakistan, Trump appears most comfortable with the field marshal and, therefore, decided to connect through him, Singh says. Munir also enjoys close ties with the Iranian military.

Trump made two calls just minutes before announcing the truce, one to Munir and another to the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, two anonymous US officials told the New York Times.

open image in gallery The Strait of Hormuz has reopened following the ceasefire ( PA Graphics )

Bisaria says that it isnt surprising that the US turned to Pakistan to play the role of intermediary. Historically it has been an important geostrategic ally of the US, with its powerful military playing a central role in managing ties with Washington.

The relationship has suffered its share of setbacks over the years, however, hitting the lowest level during the previous Joe Biden administration as the US left Afghanistan and forged closer ties with rival India as a counterweight to China.

The shift under Trump became more noticeable during the four-day war between India and Pakistan in 2025, when the president claimed he had been the one to negotiate a ceasefire. While Delhi was reluctant to credit the US president, Islamabad embraced Trumps mediation wholeheartedly and promoted him as a peacemaker  even nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize  and thereby earning his favour.

open image in gallery A woman walks with salvaged belongings from a destroyed building following Israeli bombardment of Maarake vilage in southern Lebanon on 7 April ( AFP via Getty )

Aqil Shah, a professor of political science at McDaniel College, in Maryland, calls it flattery as foreign policy. In an interview with the New Yorker, he argued that Pakistan achieved unexpected success at Indias expense by cleverly tapping into Trumps desperation for adulation and praise to get into his good books.

In terms of the conflict with Iran, Pakistan has always seen itself as a sort of leader of the Muslim world, he argued. And so it has used this opportunity, because of its relationship with Trump or privileged access to Trump, and the fact that it borders Iran and is also 15 to 20 per cent Shia, to try this balancing act.

It is by no means certain that the Islamabad Talks will go ahead this Friday, or that the ceasefire will be successfully converted into a full peace agreement.

Singh says the situation remains complex as Israel, a party to the war, is apparently not involved in the ceasefire negotiations.

Its a good sign but there are lots of faultlines and hiccups that still continue to exist, he says. Its going to be fairly complicated to take it from this level to full-fledged negotiations.

Analysts warn a trust deficit between the US and Iran is likely to complicate negotiations to build on the truce. They note that two previous rounds of talks collapsed into open conflict, underscoring the volatility of the relationship.

open image in gallery Donald Trump with Shehbaz Sharif in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on 13 October 2025 ( AP )

In the US, where Trump faces declining popularity, the deal is facing criticism for effectively giving Iran control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that carries about a fifth of the worlds oil and remains largely shut.

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said safe passage during the two-week ceasefire would be coordinated with Iranian armed forces. The plan allows Iran and Oman to charge transit fees, with Tehran expected to use the funds for reconstruction.

Democratic senator Chris Murphy criticised Trump for delivering a history-changing win for Iran by effectively handing it control over the strait, calling it stunning and heartbreaking incompetence.
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US president Donald Trump has been condemned after issuing an astonishing threat to Iran, threatening to wipe out a whole civilisation if Tehran fails to make a deal.

The extraordinary statement came hours before a US-imposed time limit for an agreement was expected to run out at 1am BST on Wednesday (8pm EST Tuesday), in what Trump has called his final of several deadlines on the Middle East war.

A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, he wrote in the post on Truth Social on Tuesday.

I dont want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?

open image in gallery Donald Trump continues to ramp up the rhetoric in a bid to pressure Iran to agree an end to the war ( AFP/Getty )

The post has attracted widespread backlash from opponents and supporters of the president alike, with Trump accused of effectively threatening genocide on a country with 93 million people.

Amid heated discussions on Tuesday, the president was reported to be considering the Pakistani prime ministers proposal for a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

Meanwhile, top House Democrats issued a joint statement asking for Congress to be brought back into session to end the war.

A spokesperson for British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer stressed the UK government had been clear this isnt our war and our position is very much focused on de-escalation.

However, when asked whether the UK believed threatened attacks on Irans bridges and power stations would breach international law, the prime ministers official spokesperson added: Im not going to comment or give a running commentary on our allies operations.

The war in the Middle East has now entered its sixth week and oil prices have continued to surge amid the ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route through which one-fifth of the worlds oil and gas passes.

open image in gallery New strikes rocked Tehran on Tuesday with Iran showing no sign of backing down as a US deadline loomed ( AFP/Getty )

Trump has insisted the Strait  effectively closed by Iran after he launched attacks with Israel at the end of February  is reopened.

In the meantime, the US has again ramped up its military operations in the region.

More than 50 military targets were hit on Irans key oil export hub Kharg Island on Tuesday, according to the Wall Street Journal, after Trumps threats to annihilate and decimate the countrys civilian infrastructure, including all of its energy facilities. Kharg Island handles over 90 per cent of Irans oil exports.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that if the US crossed red lines, Tehrans response would stretch beyond the region and that the US and partners would see oil and gas supplies disrupted for years to come.

Restraint is over, they said in a statement on Tuesday shortly after the attacks, sparking fears of even further escalation.

However, the Tehran Times reported that Irans channels of communications with the US were not closed despite the threats, and diplomatic and indirect channels remained open.

In other signs the conflict shows no signs of easing, Israel warned Iranians to stay away from trains and railways as it launched a series of attacks on the countrys transportation links.

open image in gallery Kharg Island, a key oil export hub for Iran, has been hit by US strikes ( ESA/AFP/Getty )

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey called on Sir Keir to withdraw US access to UK air bases to prevent Britain becoming an accomplice to war crimes, while Green Party Leader Zack Polanski urged stronger action against what he called a threat of genocide from our supposed ally.

Even Reform leader Nigel Farage turned against his long-time ally and friend, describing Trumps warning as way too far.

I am quite shocked just to hear that. That is over the top in every single way, he said after reading the first two lines of the post.

Neil Quilliam, a Chatham House expert in energy and geopolitics, told The Independent the US president clearly has a limited sense of world history, civilisations and humanity.

His sentiment, nonetheless, is conceptually larger than genocide given that genocide means committing any act with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, he said. Iran is a multi-ethnic, multi-faith complex society that has emerged from ancient civilisations - one of which the current regime has sought to suppress since seizing power in 1979.

Trumps ever-escalating threats have also led to domestic political backlash on both sides of the aisle in the US, and calls for his removal from office.

open image in gallery An Iranian flag lies amidst the rubble of a building of the Sharif University of Technology, which was damaged in a strike ( Reuters )

This is an extremely sick person, minority leader of the US senate Chuck Schumer said. Each Republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is.

And former Trump ally turned critic Marjorie Taylor Greene called on the president to be removed from office.

Not a single bomb has dropped on America, she posted on social media. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness.

Joe Kent, Trumps top counterterrorism chief who resigned last month in opposition to the war against Iran, said that the US leaders latest threats enhanced the danger to ordinary Americans.

Trump believes he is threatening Iran with destruction, but it is America that now stands in danger, Kent wrote on X.

If he attempts to eradicate Iranian civilization, the United States will no longer be viewed as a stabilizing force in the world, but as an agent of chaoseffectively ending our status as the worlds greatest superpower.

Defending the presidents comments, Anna Kelly, a spokesperson for the White House, stressed the Iranian regime has committed egregious human rights abuses against its own citizens for 47 years, just murdered tens of thousands of protestors in January, and has indiscriminately targeted civilians across the region.

The president will always stand with innocent civilians while annihilating the terrorists responsible for threatening our country and the entire world with a nuclear weapon, she added.

Greater destruction can be avoided if the regime understands the seriousness of this moment and makes a deal with the United States.
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Iran and the United States agreed on an eleventh-hour ceasefire proposal overnight, announcing a deal less than two hours before president Donald Trumps deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face catastrophe.

Trump said late on Tuesday that he had accepted a two week ceasefire, paving the way for negotiators to work out the final details of a more enduring peace.

The abrupt turnaround came only hours after the president threatened that a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again unless Iran met his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

open image in gallery Iranians react to the announcement of a two-week ceasefire ( AFP/Getty )

Iran and the US agreed on reopening the vital waterway in exchange for the US stopping attacks for the duration of the ceasefire. Both sides framed the deal as a victory, and Iran said it had agreed to talks with Washington to begin on Friday in Islamabad.

However, a number of issues are in dispute, as Israel said the ceasefire did not cover Lebanon, while mediating Pakistan said it did. Trump also said Iran had proposed a workable 10-point plan to end the war, but later called the plan fraudulent without elaborating.

The tentative agreement was still welcomed by international onlookers after a six-week conflict that has killed more than 5,000 people in nearly a dozen countries, including more than 1,600 civilians in Iran, according to local tallies.

Heres what we know about the two-week ceasefire deal so far:

What does the ceasefire deal cover?

The two-week ceasefire deal is meant to buy breathing space for negotiators to finalise a more lasting peace agreement.

Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, mediating, said that the capital Islamabad would welcome representatives from both countries for negotiations aimed at a more conclusive agreement. Iran said that it had agreed to talks with Washington to begin on Friday.

Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said in a statement that for the duration of the ceasefire, Tehran would stop counterattacks and provide safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz if attacks against it stop.

open image in gallery Donald Trump cast the ceasefire agreement as a victory for the US ( Getty )

Trump, in turn, said the US would stop attacks so long as Iran retracts its effective blockade of the strait, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments.

Israel said that it supported the ceasefire agreement and would also stop attacks on Iran. The Israeli Air Force carried out a final wave of strikes on Iran on Wednesday morning, before announcing it was respecting a ceasefire.

Pakistans prime minister said that the ceasefire would also include Lebanon, but his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, said it would not.

What is in Irans 10-point proposal?

Donald Trump said that he had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, judging it a workable basis on which to negotiate.

He said that almost all of the points have been agreed, but a two-week truce will allow the agreement to be finalised. Trump did not say what the points were.

According to Iranian state media, the points include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a commitment to the lifting of sanctions on Iran and an end to all conflicts in the region in their entirety, among other points.

open image in gallery Israeli strikes on Lebanon have continued after Benjamin Netanyahu said it was not included in the ceasefire deal ( Reuters )

Iran would also commit to not seeking possession of nuclear weapons.

The plan, as reported, would include conditions that the US has rejected in the past, including controlled transit through the Strait of Hormuz with Iranian armed forces, and the withdrawal of US forces from bases in the region.

The plan said an immediate ceasefire would take effect on all fronts upon approval of the other conditions.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that Washington had agreed to accept Iran's 10-point plan and that "the United States has, in principle, committed to":

non-aggression;

continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz;

acceptance of enrichment;

lifting all primary and secondary sanctions;

termination of all resolutions passed by the U.N. Security Council and Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency;

withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region;

and cessation of war on all fronts, including against the Islamic resistance in Lebanon.

Whats in dispute?

According to Pakistan and Iranian state media, the ceasefire agreement includes a provision for an end to all hostilities, including the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Israel has said the agreement does not cover the conflict in Lebanon, and has continued strikes. Strikes were also reported at Irans Sirri Island and the Lavan refinery on Wednesday morning, source unknown.

open image in gallery An Iranian cluster munition missile explodes in the sky over northern Israel on 8 April, hours before the end of hostilities ( AP )

The Associated Press reported that the Farsi-language version of Irans 10-point plan included a key detail that had been left out of the English versions.

The Persian language plan required the continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions. But the acceptance of enrichment was left out of English language versions seen by journalists.

The US has not published the 10-point plan it claims to have seen. Trump also told the AFP news agency that there was a 15-point transaction, of which most of those things have been agreed on.

Trump also told Sky News: You dont know what the points are. I know what the points are. And many of them are very good points. I cant talk about it but all of them are good points.

Sky suggested it was unclear from their call whether Trump was referring to the same 10 points as Iran.

How did the world react?

The US president cast the ceasefire as a victory, saying the US had agreed as we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives and were very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran.

open image in gallery People take cover in a bomb shelter as air raid sirens warn of incoming Iranian missile strikes in Ramat Gan, Israel ( AP )

Irans Supreme National Security Council also portrayed the deal as a victory over the US, claiming Trump had accepted Irans conditions for ending hostilities.

Trump said Iran would be able to begin rebuilding, while the US would be just hangin around in order to make sure that everything goes well.

Pakistans prime minister said that both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability.

Israel said it welcomed the ceasefire, but would not stop hostilities in Lebanon. Hezbollah spokesperson Ibrahim Moussawi said if Israel does not adhere to the ceasefire, nobody will commit to it.

open image in gallery The agreement will ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Trump ( Reuters )

British prime minister Keir Starmer said the UK would do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire. He said news of the truce would bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.

Downing Street said the prime minister was heading to the Gulf on Wednesday to meet regional leaders to discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire. The trip was planned before the ceasefire announcement, No 10 said.

What happens now?

Delegations from the US and Iran are to meet in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday for talks aimed at finalising the details of an enduring peace agreement.

Iranian state media reported that talks may be extended if needed, while cautioning that the ceasefire talks do not amount to an end to the war.
As pant-wetting, pearl-clutching commentary goes, the sartorial shaming of new Green MP Hannah Spencer at her maiden speech in Parliament last week is up there with the silliest. She was accused of dressing like a clown, a child and a CBeebies presenter.

Short of the Mr Blobby inflatable suit you might imagine, the truly shocking ensemble was a shirt buttoned up to the neck, a waistcoat and tailored trousers. Her long hair is clean and brushed and tied back from her face.

But, such was the outcry, youd think she had worn a crop top and stripper heels. The faux pas seemed to be that the shirt is pink, the waistcoat is blue and the trousers are green. How dare she.

One Twitter user went as far as to use AI to correct her look, to a plain white shirt and navy pencil skirt, paired with what can only be described as the Labour bob  the haircut favoured by high-ranking women in the Starmer government, Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell included. After her digital glow-up, Spencer looks like shes really enjoying her executive role at Deloitte. She looks reassuring and competent. She also looks exactly like Liz Truss. Maybe looks can be deceiving.

Spencers outfit isnt revealing, and doesnt break any of the guidelines on dress code for Parliamentarians laid out in Erskine May. The issue appears to be that she has dared to wear colours beyond the navy, black and charcoal that make commentators on the goings-on in the Commons feel most comfortable. Seeing as these people are also constantly demanding MPs be more authentic and to have more flair, youd think theyd be thrilled that someone a bit different has come along.

Bridget Phillipson and Lucy Powell have both adopted the Labour bob ( PA )

If youre calling someone disrespectful for palpably making an effort to dress within the rules  albeit with a bit of top spin  I suggest they petition to have Parliament TV in black and white so everyone can be on the same mundane footing. Kill regional accents while youre at it.

Im only too familiar with the tedious and downright weird scrutiny of women politicians appearances. I dont know if CCHQ offers this service any more, but when I was a Conservative staffer, there was an opportunity for prospective Parliamentary candidates to have their colours done. This is led by a professional, who tells you which season you are (a robust orange autumn? A pretty in pastel spring?). Youll be amazed to know that each candidate who got their colours done vibed very well with classic Tory blue.

The advice was then to toddle down to LK Bennett (RIP) and buy a couple of structured dresses and pencil skirts, slap on a pashmina in your seasonal spirit colour (Dark green for winter? Groundbreaking) and fill your boots with flesh-coloured tights.

Theresa May broke the mould by wearing whatever she wanted, particularly below the knee. Leopard-print kitten heels, suede pumps with little jewelled bugs on, patent, over-the-knee mock-croc boots. Aside from a pair of infamous leather trousers, everyone agreed that she looked great and, dare I say it, that she had a personality.

Because of the world we live in, time and effort had to be put aside for May as prime minister to dress and apply make-up before media appearances and so forth. Barack Obama famously had a uniform  a navy suit, white shirt, plain tie  that he wore every day to cut down on his decision-making. When the job weighed down on him, and other men in power, to reveal grey hairs and lines, people commented on how hard they must be working and hailed them as dedicated public servants. Theresa May, slogging back and forth to Brussels, was branded haggard.

Seeing as we are where we are, I have some styling tips and short cuts for Hannah Spencer  and indeed all women MPs.

First, get a weekly blow dry  and invest in some excellent dry shampoo. Time is an MPs most precious commodity, and I just bought you a couple of hours a week of washing and drying to do some work instead.

To borrow from Trinny and Susannah, transform from day to night with some handy bits in your desk drawer. Interesting earrings or shoes. Red lipstick. Go crazy and undo the top button of your shirt or the bottom button of your waistcoat.

Wear what represents you best and what makes you feel good. And ignore absolutely everyone who comments on how you look. Including me.

Cleo Watson is a former deputy chief of staff to Boris Johnson and co-hosts The Independents politics podcast, In The Room, with ex-deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara. New episodes come out every Friday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube
The four-storey over basement building is currently used as offices but the company requested change of use

A firm that has earned millions in profits from state contracts providing emergency accommodation for international protection (IP) applicants and Ukrainians is facing opposition to hostel plans for a site in Dublin 2.

In February, Co Wicklow firm Peachport Ltd, lodged plans with Dublin City Council for a change of use of an existing four-storey over-basement building at Adelaide House on Adelaide Rd in Dublin 2 from office use to short-term let hostel accommodation.

The most recent accounts for Peachport Ltd state that its main activity is the provision of emergency accommodation services and its work in the sector has proven to be lucrative.

The accounts show that the firms post-tax profits of 2.8m for the 12 months to the end of February 2025 follow post-tax profits of 5.69m for the prior year.

Peachports work in providing emergency accommodation for a number of years for the State has resulted in it having accumulated profits of 11.7m at the end of February 2025 while its cash funds totalled 8.55m.

Purchase orders published by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth show that the company received payments of 5.2m for housing Ukrainians and IP applicants during 2024.

Peachport Ltd is jointly owned between Philomena Germaine (98) and Joseph Germaine (59), both directors of the business.

Now, in response to the Adelaide House hostel plan, local residents William Phelan and Haiyan Wang of Harcourt Terrace, Dublin 2, have called on the council to refuse planning permission for the proposed very high-density accommodation at this location.

I am deeply concerned about the scale and nature of this proposed hostel development

They state that the floor plans indicate approximately 100-110 bed spaces across 24 bedrooms in a building of just 895 sq m and this represents gross over-development.

The residents said Peachport Ltd has a documented history of operating state-contracted direct provision and International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation here.

They state that given the nature of the planning application and the applicants background in the IPAS sector, that the council attach a condition to any grant of permission strictly prohibiting use of the premises as an IPAS centre or any other form of state-contracted emergency accommodation.

Another Harcourt Terrace resident, Pat Whyte, has told the council: I am deeply concerned about the scale and nature of this proposed hostel development.

Mr Whyte said there is a Montessori school and a primary school in the area and contends that the arrival of 100 transient visitors immediately beside this location raises serious safety and amenity concerns, especially around drop-off and pick-up times.

The potential provision of 232 bedspaces represents a gross intensity of use

On behalf of Kevin Woods and his family of Adelaide Road, Dublin 2, Sheridan Woods Architects + Urban Planners state that the potential provision of 232 bedspaces represents a gross intensity of use.

The Woods objection requests that the council refuse permission on the basis that this use is not permitted within this land use zone.

The objection adds that the proposal would not provide adequate residential amenity to future occupants and would result in a grossly substandard form of development.

A decision is due on the application later this month.
My Life in Books

Jung Chang is the author of Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China, which has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide, except in China where it is banned, as are all of her other books. These include Mao: The Unknown Story; Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three Women at the Heart of Twentieth-Century China and her latest, Fly, Wild Swans: My Mother, Myself and China.
The minister said the government is managing this issue in real time and are currently spending 4m a day in supporting all sectors of society.

The minister claimed that the blockage of the ports by protestors, who are stopping the transportation of feed ingredients to feed mills and merchants, has serious potential implications for pig and poultry farmers, in particular. Photo: Hannah Daygo

Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon, has condemned fuel price protests, which he has warned are now impacting farmers and threatens animal welfare issues arising.

It comes as protesters calling for further government help to lower the cost of fuel clogged up busy thoroughfares and motorways with parked lorries and tractors across Ireland on Wednesday, disrupting commuters and public transport for a second successive day.

The ministers comments also come ahead of a scheduled meeting with all agri-sector stakeholders this Friday, as protests by farmers, contractors and hauliers over fuel costs enter a second day, across the country today.

The minister claimed that the blockage of the ports by protestors, who are stopping the transportation of feed ingredients to feed mills and merchants, has serious potential implications for pig and poultry farmers, in particular.

The minister said he has received reports that milk is not being collected from some dairy farmers, denying them a means to make their living.

He said the government is managing this issue in real time and are currently spending 4m a day in supporting all sectors of society.

The minister said, We are maintaining close and continuous engagement with farmers, fishers, processors and industry representatives to ensure we fully understand the challenges they are facing and can respond appropriately.

I and my officials have already met with farm bodies, IBEC and the farm contractors and further to that, I have supported the establishment of a new national farm contractors group.

The minister said the department has held meetings recently to discuss taxation issues with farming organisations and contractors, ICMSA, FCI, IBEC, IFA, fishing organisations and fertiliser importers.

He said there is ongoing dialogue with industry bodies and business groups, and support measures are being implemented to assist businesses in navigating current challenges.

The minister said Bord Bia is providing logistics support and helping exporters identify alternative routes to market, and the Department is facilitating certification to enable the rerouting of exports.

He said the Government recognises that liquidity is a key concern during periods of volatility and that engagement with financial institutions is ongoing to ensure access to short-term finance and overdraft facilities and appropriate flexibility where cashflow pressures arise.

The minister said: Access to finance is critical at times like this. I will be engaging with financial institutions to ensure that farmers and agri-food businesses are supported through short-term pressures and that flexibility is provided where needed.

Convoys of vehicles began converging on Dublin's city centre and other towns and cities on Tuesday, with protesters, including hauliers and farmers, complaining that a 250 million euro package to temporarily cut taxes on petrol and diesel did not go far enough to cushion the knock-on cost of the Middle East conflict.

"With the price we're paying for fuel, I'm probably two months away from my business folding," said Christopher Duffy, 46, an agricultural contractor who was part of a group blocking Dublin's main thoroughfare of O'Connell Street that is calling for the price of diesel to be capped at a lower rate.

"It's not a lot to ask for really... We're just backed into a corner."

Ministers said they would not agree to the protesters' demands to meet with them as they did not belong to representative groups with whom the government has been engaging on supports. Organisers pledged a third day of disruption on Thursday.

"We respect people's right to protest but what is not acceptable is people declaring that we will turn O'Connell Street into a car park," Prime Minister Micheal Martin told a news conference.

The lining of tractors and trucks down O'Connell Street led to severe delays to bus services and the part suspension of one of the two tram lines that cross the city. Significant traffic delays were also reported at motorways leading into other major cities.

Protests at two fuel depots blocking deliveries into the cities of Galway and Limerick had led to at least one forecourt running out of fuel, the head of the representative body for forecourt operators told national broadcaster RTE.

Additional reporting Reuters
Walking will slash your cancer and dementia risk  but only at the right pace. Heres what you need to know
Close associate of Gerry The Monk Hutch arrested in Spain over alleged links between gardai and Hutch gang

Arrest comes as part of probe into links between members of the force and the Hutch crime group, including claims of sensitive information being passed to the gang

Gerry The Monk Hutch (Pic: Collins)

Robin Schiller Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 16:35

A close confidant of Gerry The Monk Hutch has been arrested in Spain as part of a major garda organised crime investigation.
Two middle-aged men arrested as part of GNECBs latest crackdown on international mob

Specialist detectives have carried out their latest arrest operation against the Black Axe crime network as part of a long running investigation into romance fraud.

Two suspected operatives aged in their 40s and 50s are currently detained at Clondalkin Garda Station where they are being questioned under gangland legislation which means they can be held for up to a week.
Former President Michael D Higgins warned that "war is omnipresent" as he launched a scathing rebuke of global militarisation and ongoing conflicts.

Mr Higgins issued the warning as he delivered the keynote address at the third and closing day of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) conference in Kerry and as a ceasefire was agreed in the US-Israel and Iran war.
Steely, determined and ambitious  meet the female trailblazers joining the Irish Defence Forces sisterhood

Latest batch of female recruits have no fear of being deployed to war- ravaged regions

'I wouldn't have spent 24 years in the Irish Defence Forces if I didn't enjoy it'

Laura Lynott Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 06:30

A home-schooled teenager who has found her sisterhood and a former ballet dancer are among the female change-makers in the Irish Defence Forces ready and willing to serve in the Middle East, even as the war there intensifies.
Teachers who use AI will replace those who dont, Oireachtas committee chair warns

Malcolm Byrne said technology must be at the forefront of the education debate

Malcolm Byrne is chair of the Oireachtas committee on AI

Maeve McTaggart Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Teachers who use AI will replace those who dont, the chair of the Oireachtas committee on artificial intelligence has warned.
David Blair: Irans stubborn rulers defied Saddam Hussein  they wont yield to Donald Trump

Todays battle-seasoned leaders in Tehran will hear echoes of Iraqi dictator in US presidents threats

Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein waged an eight-year war on Iran and threatened to 'annihilate' the country. Photo: Getty

David Blair Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 06:30

The occasion was a ceremony to honour military officers and the presidents invective was ferocious. The Iranians have to end the war, or else their annihilation is certain, he declared.
The sex offender, the character reference and the former TD who has now gone to ground
A still image from an Iranian video using a Lego version of Donald Trump to mock the US president

More than 92 million people in Iran have been cut off from the internet for over 30 days under a severe nationwide blackout, but one man with access is using a dizzying combination of memes, trading tips and sarcasm to play Donald Trump at his own propaganda game.

The hardline speaker of the Iranian parliament, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, has regularly been posting taunting memes in English on X in an attempt to counter Mr Trumps frequent Truth Social posts on the war.

Mr Ghalibaf (64), one of Irans leading conservative figures, is a former commander with ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard. Despite this, he is viewed by experts as a pragmatist and has been named by Trump as someone the US is negotiating with behind the scenes. This has been denied by Mr Ghalibaf and Irans foreign ministry.

Theyre playing 6D chess again!

In public, both are going head to head in a rapidly expanding information war, with memes, viral videos and AI slop as their weapons of choice.

One of the Iranian speakers recent posts on X compares Saturdays No Kings protests in the US with the Islamic Revolution in 1979 which overthrew the US-backed monarchy. Mr Ghalibaf wrote: Welcome to the party we started 47 years ago, No kings, adding: We approve this message.

Another one featured a photo showing significant damage to an American E-3 Sentry aircraft which was hit by an Iranian drone at a base in Saudi Arabia, with the mocking caption: Sustained only minor damage, followed by three pinching hand emojis.

Last week, Mr Ghalibaf ridiculed Mr Trumps ever-changing war objectives, saying: Theyre playing 6D chess again!

In a more aggressive message over the weekend, he said Iran was waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can set them ablaze.

A post on X by Mr Ghalibaf mocking the US

Mr Ghalibaf has also accused Mr Trump of trying to jawbone the oil market by using social media to try to push down prices.

In an extraordinary post on March 30, he appeared to offer financial advice, writing: Heads-up: Pre-market so-called news or Truth is often just a setup for profit-taking. Basically, its a reverse indicator. Do the opposite: If they pump it, short it. If they dump it, go long. See something tomorrow? You know the drill.

In another mocking post he wrote: How can the US, which cant even protect its own soldiers at its bases in the region and instead leaves them stashed away in hotels and parks, protect them on our soil?

The clip then jumps to footage of a US strike with the word wasted appearing

His posts have been reaching hundreds of thousands of people on X.

Pro-Iran accounts, including those linked to the state, are also sharing videos that use AI to mock Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Trump and his administration as weak. They suggest the US, Israel, and Gulf states will suffer huge losses and destruction if they continue with the war.

The Islamic regime shared a two-minute video last month depicting Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu as Lego figurines. In the bizarre video, posted by Irans Tasnim News Agency, Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu stand beside a Lego Satan and look over a folder titled: Jeffrey Epstein File.

A veteran who was wounded in combat, said: War is not a f***ing video game

The videos appear to be a response to Call of Duty-style videos shared by the White House on X showing real footage from the war with Iran, which are interspersed with video game graphics, soundtrack, and clips from superhero movies. Critics say the videos are distasteful and show a lack of seriousness in the White Houses approach to the conflict.

One video, which references a popular meme, depicts a scene from the video game Grand Theft Auto with the caption and audio: Ah s***, here we go again. The clip then jumps to footage of a US strike with the word wasted appearing superimposed over the video, which is a reference to when a player is killed in Grand Theft Auto.

Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran who was wounded in combat, said: War is not a f***ing video game.

Six Americans are dead and thousands more are at needless risk because of your illegal, unjustified war. And youre calling this a flawless victory, Ms Duckworth posted on X.

Chicagos Cardinal Blase Cupich issued a statement after seeing the White House videos, saying: A real war with real death and real suffering being treated like its a video game  its sickening.

Despite the criticism, both Tehran and Washington are continuing to wage this so-called meme war, using the same tactics to gamify a conflict that has so far killed around 5,000 people across the region. ( The Independent)
US president Donald Trump at the White House Easter Egg Roll in Washington, DC on Easter Monday, after issuing an expletive-laden threat to Iran on Easter Sunday. Photo: Getty

Recent posts from US president Donald Trump  including his expletive-laden Easter message to Iran  suggests hes given up on his Nobel Peace Prize dream.

Im not going to start a war. Im going to stop wars, he said during his 2024 victory speech.

But that was then. Today hes threatening to rain hell down on Iran. And he has presented Congress with the most expensive defence spending request in American history. If agreed, it would boost military spending by 44pc. Against such a backdrop, it might seem hard to give credence to reports that Washington and Tehran are considering a blueprint for a plan to end the five-week-old war. And yet Irans foreign ministry has confirmed that Tehran has handed over positions and demands based on its interests, through intermediaries, in response to ceasefire proposals.

If there is a possibility of arriving at a turning point, it must not be missed. It is clearly in everyones interest to end the spiralling chaos. By all objective analysis, Operation Epic Fury is in danger of becoming Operation Epic Folly.

Such reckless attacks are courting untold humanitarian and environmental disaster

Initial goals, presented disingenuously as easily and swiftly attained, now look intractable and more remote than ever. While faces may have changed in Tehran, the regime is holding firm. The gridlock in the Strait of Hormuz  playing havoc with energy supplies and threatening global recession  is still theirs to exploit.

Meanwhile, Israel has again attacked the critical South Pars petrochemical complex. A similar attack last month prompted an intensifying of the war, with Iran striking energy targets across the Middle East. Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed military strikes close to Irans Bushehr nuclear power plant. Such reckless attacks are courting untold humanitarian and environmental disaster.

To date, Trumps strategy appears to be to hammer the hammer by pounding Iran into submission. If the targets were exclusively military, he would be on less shaky ground. But blatant attacks on critical civilian infrastructure could constitute war crimes, according to experts. The Geneva Conventions forbid attacks on civilian structures.

If Trump does not concern himself with the growing geopolitical instability the war is provoking, he might consider implications closer to hand. The mid-term elections are likely to determine the agenda for the second half of his presidency. Republicans will not relish campaigning in elections amid a war of choice that has pushed petrol prices up to $4 (3.46) a gallon, triggered a stock market sell-off and sent shock-waves through the economy. To date, all deadlines made by Trump about ending the war have been fluid. But the more he has ratcheted up the rhetoric, the more resistance he has met from Tehran.

Washingtons recovery of a downed US pilot has given Trump a tangible triumph. But exiting the conflict without a deal on Hormuz is scarcely viable.

In Lebanon there is carnage. In Iran, ordinary people, whom Trump pledged to save, are suffering more than ever.

Tehran and Washington must know there is far more to lose by escalating the conflict than by ending it.
Elizabeth OFarrell, one of the prominent members of Cumann na mBan who played a significant role in the Easter Rising

The announcement by Dublin City Council that a monument is to be erected in OConnell Street to honour the role of the Cumann na mBan women in the 1916 Rising is to be welcomed. For too long, the women of Cumann na mBan have been whitewashed out of Irish history.

Hopefully, the names of Elizabeth OFarrell, Sheila Grenan and Winifred Carney will become better known. They, along with Padraig Pearse, were the last to leave the GPO as its roof caved in.

Added to this list will also be the names of Dr Kathleen Lynn, Helena Molony and Margaret Skinnider, who risked their lives for Irish freedom. Hopefully, their names will be spoken with the same reverence as the great Countess Markieviczs.

It is hard to believe that it has taken 110 years for this recognition to come about. More disconcerting is the fact that since the foundation of the Free State in 1923, no woman served at the cabinet table under the administrations of WT Cosgrave, Eamon de Valera, John A Costello, Sean Lemass and Jack Lynch.

I suspect we still have a road to travel to achieve equality between Irish men and Irish women, as enunciated in the 1916 proclamation.

Michael Clemenger, Trim, Co Meath

Jesus Christ would not recognise politics of some who purport to follow him

Tim Stanley is not mistaken when he says that if Jesus had wandered into that Easter lunch in the White House, I suspect he wouldve turned over the tables (How this reckless religious war is underpinned by flawed theology, Irish Independent, April 7).

The sight of a group of pastors praying over US president Donald Trump last month  as he sat, eyes closed, head bowed and hands clasped at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office  asking for wisdom, protection and guidance for him and US troops was sickening in the extreme.

Im reminded of a quote attributed to Rainn Wilson, the American actor probably best known for playing Dwight Schrute in The Office: The metamorphosis of Jesus Christ from a humble servant of the abject poor to a symbol that stands for gun rights, prosperity theology, anti-science, limited government (that neglects the destitute) and fierce nationalism is truly the strangest transformation in human history.

Is it any wonder that the first US leader of the global Catholic Church has become, albeit belatedly, a pointed critic of Trump?

Pope Leo is reported as saying God rejects the prayers of leaders who wage wars and have hands full of blood  unusually forceful remarks for a pontiff.

It is also very noticeable how the Christian conservatives in Ireland have suddenly gone to ground when they should, instead, be calling out Trump for what he really is: a fake.

Tom McElligott, Listowel, Co Kerry

Only way to rid world of tyrannical despots is will of those who elected them

The only people who can remove Donald Trump are Americans. The only people who can remove Benjamin Netanyahu are the Israelis. The only people who can remove Vladimir Putin are the Russians.

External forces can help coerce, stimulate and facilitate change, but, ultimately, their own people have to step up and rid themselves of these leaders, just like with Louis XVI in France, Tsar Nicholas II in Russia and Nicolae Ceausescu in Romania.

The will of the people is the only ultimate weapon against tyranny. Fear, apathy and regret should not and cannot deter good people from doing the right thing.

Eamon Kearney, Baldoyle, Dublin 13

Nato defies Trumpian world order that threatens established guardrails

There is a growing unease, felt well beyond the US, that the balance between political power and institutional independence is being tested under Donald Trump in ways that have no clear modern parallel.

Critics point to an increasing willingness to exert political influence over the department of justice and federal law enforcement, alongside a consolidation of support within his own party that leaves limited room for dissent.

While such developments may be defended as decisive leadership by some, others see in them a blurring of the lines that traditionally separate power from restraint.

In that context, it is striking that Nato, so often the subject of sharp criticism from Trump, has thus far retained its integrity as a collective, defensive alliance. Its member states, acting in concert, have shown a quiet resolve not to be bent to the will of any one leader, however dominant.

Enda Cullen, Tullysaran, Armagh

Ireland must look closer to home if it hopes to be truly independent on fuel

In the early 1950s, my family lived in a three-bedroom council house. Our daily life centred on a large range in the sitting room that did it all  heating our water, warming the bathroom and serving as our oven. Back then, we relied on timber and coal. While some coal was domestic, most was imported from Britain.

Fast forward to today and remarkably little has changed regarding our fuel independence. We produce only 20pc of our own gas, importing the rest from the UK. This reliance persists despite our having significant resources right on our doorstep: major gas fields off the coast of Mayo and further potential off our south coast.

In 2021, Ireland became one of the few countries to ban new licences for oil and gas exploration. The Green Partys slogan at the time was Leave it in the ground. There is a clear contradiction in refusing to harvest our own resources while happily importing energy from countries that take it out of their ground.

Given the current energy crisis, it is time for a rethink. We should prioritise fulfilling our energy needs by utilising the resources available off our own coast.

Tom Moloney, Clonmel, Co Tipperary

US president is out of control  it is time for bravery within his party

The vitriol and expletive-laden rantings of Trump on Truth Social should be the final nail in his coffin. He has passed even his ardent supporters expectations. He is totally unhinged and out of control. Can anyone protect us from what is being done in the name of MAGA?

Threats to blow up public infrastructure and power plants are straight out of Putins playbook. Who is brave enough within the administration, or at party level, to call a halt to this madmans unfettered gallop?

Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
After days of rising tension and a looming US deadline, a last-minute ceasefire between the US and Iran has been brokered.

With U.S. president Donald Trump announcing a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his latest deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.

But while the headlines signal calm, the reality behind the scenes may be far more fragile.

So what does this ceasefire really mean? And will it hold?

On this episode of The Indo Daily, host Tessa Fleming is joined by Gregg Carlstrom, Middle Eastern Correspondent with The Economist to discuss what this ceasefire really means and whether it can hold.
Additional stations planned for Ballincollig, Mitchelstown and Dunmanway

A new state-of-the-art fire station, was opened in Clonakilty by Minister Christopher O Sullivan in January of this year. Picture: Dermot Sullivan

Almost 20 million is due to be spent by the Government in creating three new fire stations across North and West Cork, which will reinforce public safety in both the city and county.

The Department of Housing has announced that Ballincollig is due to benefit from a brand new fire station, due to be constructed in nearby Curaheen, at an expected cost of 13 million.

It will make a big change for the largest town in Cork, which has an estimated population of 20,000, and is currently being served by Anglesea Street Fire Station, which is at least a 1015-minute journey, even on blue lights, for firefighters to respond to emergency callouts.

The North Cork town of Mitchelstown is also due to see a brand new fire station constructed in the vicinity, with 3 million allocated to it, while a further 3.2 million has also been put aside for the construction of a new station in Dunmanway.

A further 250,000 has also been allocated to refurbish the existing fire station in Crosshaven.

Over the last number of years, the Fire Services Capital Programme has fully funded new fire stations in Kanturk, Macroom and Clonakilty, which I had the pleasure to officially open earlier this year, said Minister of State and West Cork TD, Christopher OSullivan.

This programme represents a significant investment in the safety, resilience and wellbeing of communities across Ireland, including Cork city and county.

It ensures our fire services will have a modern fleet, upgraded facilities and equipment required to meet the challenges they face, with a changing climate, a growing population and increasingly complex emergency risks.

Ballincollig is currently being served by Anglesea Street Fire Station

The funding has been welcomed across the political spectrum.

For years, communities across Ballincollig and the wider south-west of the city have been without a dedicated fire station, despite significant population growth, increased housing development, and expanding transport networks, said a statement from Cork Labour.

This gap in emergency infrastructure has been repeatedly highlighted as a serious concern.

This funding is hugely welcome and reflects what communities in Ballincollig and the wider south-west have been saying for years, that we cannot continue to rely on overstretched services located too far from where people live, said local Labour councillor, Ciara OConnor.

The absence of a fire station in this part of the city has been a glaring gap in our emergency response infrastructure for far too long.

However, while todays announcement is a major step forward, we now need to move with urgency.

A site has not yet been selected, and that process must be progressed quickly, but carefully, to ensure we secure the right location that delivers the best possible response times and long-term value for the community.

Fine Gael Cllr Gary OBrien has also said he is delighted at the move, but says that the construction now has to be made a priority.

On top of the infrastructure funding, Cork County Council has also been allocated three new Class B fire appliances worth approximately 500,000 eac, and Cork City Council has been allocated one new Class B fire appliance worth approximately 500,000 under the plan for fire services nationwide.
Outside of her profession, Nikki is motorcycle mad and is looking for someone to ground her

Nikki will look for love on First Dates Ireland. Picture courtesy of RTE

Garda Nikki is the latest Cork representative on this seasons First Dates Ireland.

Nikki, aged 40, is going into the episode with no expectations but hopes her date doesnt hail from Donegal and doesnt ask if she brought her handcuffs on the date.

Outside of her profession, Nikki is motorcycle mad and is looking for someone to ground her.

She is paired with Mullingar man and fellow petrolhead Emmett, aged 42.

The care assistant admits that he smiles like a Cheshire cat if he is attracted to a woman  but will they get each others motor running?

Emmett and Nikki. Picture: RTE

Meanwhile, Doyle, aged 30 from Dublin returns for a second helping of First Dates Ireland and is looking for someone as hot as himself.

He is matched with Brazilian marketing executive, Enisio, aged 36, whos based in Dublin and just back from a week-long gay cruise.

Doyle has entered his closed legs era but how long will that last when these two muscle-top wearing men come together?

Elsewhere, Laois man Elliott, aged 26, is matched with fellow Midlander Bria, aged 25 from Offaly, who once did the Camino to find herself but returned empty-handed.

Elliott is keen to showcase his unique style outside of the confines of his hometown and Bria, who has the tendency to overthink her dates, has already imagined every possible disaster.

What happens next is anyones guess.

Finally, Emma, aged 21, from Limerick is matched with James, aged 21, from Louth, who doesnt drink coffee because he has enough energy as it is.

Emma tends to go for the loudest guy in the room who has the confidence to rock a tache.

Will James be the one?

First Dates Ireland broadcasts on RTE2 at 9:35pm on Thursday.
The Irish Government has been urged to rethink the decision to increase school bus fees by Cork TD Eoghan Kenny.

The 2026/2027 academic year will see transport fees for both primary school and post primary children rising to 100 per child.

For account holders with three or more children in the post primary school transport scheme, a maximum family charge of 220 will apply, with a maximum family charge of 200 applying for primary school families.

The school transport fees for the 2025/2026 school year were 50 for a primary school child, 75 for a secondary school child and the maximum fee for a family of 125.

Labour Party TD for Cork North Central Eoghan Kenny said for many rural families school transport is not a luxury, but a necessity. "The latest blow for many families has been the increase in school transport fees, doubling from 50 to 100 for one child. Increasing these costs at a time when families are already under pressure sends the wrong message and adds yet another financial barrier to education.

"The reality is that barriers still exist in our education system, stated the Mallow-based TD. Those barriers hit hardest for families who are already under pressure. As a former secondary school teacher, I saw students worrying about contributions, about uniforms, about whether they could afford a device or a school trip. They affect confidence, participation and opportunity. No child should feel different or excluded because of their familys financial situation.

Deputy Kenny said the Labour Party offered practical solutions in their alternative budget last year that would make a real difference to families. These include moving towards free school transport for children, increasing and universalising the Back-to-School Allowance, tackling the reliance on so-called voluntary contributions, and investing more in schools serving disadvantaged communities through an expanded DEIS programme that will include all schools.

"Free education should mean free education, stated the Cork TD. Not hidden costs. Not voluntary contributions that are not really voluntary. Not expensive uniforms and mandatory devices. Not rising transport fees that make it harder for children to even get to school.

Education is not a privilege. It should be a right that is available to every child equally, regardless of their background, their postcode, or their parents income. I urge government to rethink this decision, he added.
Cork-based trainer Jonathan Sweeney had a superb second place finish in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday with the 8-year-old gelding Showurappreciation, bred by the McManus family.

The Irish Grand National runner-up performance caps an impressive run of form for the gelding, including a hat-trick of wins, among them a listed novice chase success at Navan just two weeks earlier.

The up-and-coming trainer who is based in Cork has enjoyed a remarkable rise in recent months, winning top owner J.P. McManus more than 150,000 in prize money in less than three months.

Speaking after the race, Sweeney said: Mr McManus was kind enough to send me this extremely well-bred unraced gelding in 2022. He was difficult to train at first, but eventually we worked him out and we began to see the horse we knew he was capable of being.

Showurappreciation first announced his promise when winning his maiden hurdle at Ballinrobe in 2023, before sustaining an injury that kept him off the track for more than a year.

Sweeney who trains near Fermoy paid tribute to the patience and support shown by the horses connections during that period. The recuperation process back to full fitness took a little time. However, I could see his true ability starting to show again when he ran well at Naas and Punchestown in early 2025, and from there he has never looked back  with a third place, three wins including a Listed novice chase at Navan, and then Easter Monday's second place in the Irish Grand National.

Sweeney has built an impressive reputation despite operating on a much smaller scale than many of the countrys leading yards.

Until early last year, he regularly drove thousands of miles each week transporting his horses for serious fitness work on neighbouring trainers gallops.

Jonathan acknowledged that all changed with the development of major new training facilities at his own yard. Now we have our own brand-new deep sand/fibre work gallop and a new stable block, combined with our existing facilities which include grass turnout, walkers and a two furlong sand/fibre circle gallop, we really are seeing the effect the new training facilities are having with results on the racecourse.

The numbers underline that progress.

Over the last five seasons, Sweeney has recorded a highly impressive 18% win strike rate and 36% place strike rates which compare favourably with the best trainers in Ireland.

This season, performances have improved even further, with the yard posting a standout 50% win strike rate in National Hunt Flat races, recording four wins and one place from just eight runs, including a notable win for Barnahash Prince at Cork on Sunday.

The gelding being another homebred from the family of his supportive in-laws, Mick and Kathleen OConnor.

The Cork trainer believes those young horses represent the future of the stable. The young horses coming through in these NH Flat races are our graded and listed race winners of the future. Most are homebred stock from our own mares or from neighbouring breeders, where again the breeding is researched meticulously before we commit to the horse.

I have no problem taking on the top trainers if I think a horses ability merits that. We know we can educate and nurture young horses to extract the maximum ability from each individual horse with a fraction of the spend of the bigger stables, he added.

Looking ahead, Sweeney says the yard is ambitious and open for new owners to come on board. We are very much open for business and have room for quality horses already in training, or young stock to be brought on, if anyone would like to get in touch. We will always be straight and honest with our owners. We can accommodate all budgets and all our owners become friends and part of the stable family.
Funding has been acquired for Mallow Castle under the Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) in a major boost for the towns future development.

Some 2 million will be divided between 18 historic towns under the 2026 HTI funding.

The funding scheme is a joint initiative between the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Heritage Council, and the 2m in funding will help to provide jobs through heritage-led regeneration and support traditional building skills.

Local Labour TD, Eoghan Kenny, and Labour councillor for Mallow, Ronan Sheehan, welcomed the investment.

Deputy Kenny said the investment will play an important role in preserving and enhancing one of the towns most significant historic landmarks.

Mallow Castle is at the heart of our towns identity and history. This funding is a very positive step forward in protecting and improving this important site for both the local community and visitors, he said.

Deputy Kenny said he will work alongside his party colleague to communicate ways to utilise the funding that has been made available.

Councillor Sheehan added:

As someone from Mallow, I know just how important Mallow Castle is to our local community. This funding is a really positive step and an opportunity to enhance a key amenity in the town, he said.

I look forward to working with Deputy Kenny and Cork County Council to ensure this investment delivers meaningful improvements for Mallow and helps showcase our towns rich heritage, he added.
Waterford cyclist proud to win trophy dedicated to late Tomas Walsh  It remembers our good friend

James OShea said he felt proud but sad when he was presented with the trophy by the late Tomas Walshs mother Bernie on Monday

Waterford cyclist James O'Shea, winner of the Ras Mumhan C2 Blue Jersey.

Jack Joy Kerryman Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 12:43

A Waterford cyclist said that winning the Ras Mumhan trophy dedicated to the late Tomas Walsh brought back many memories of his great friend.
Fine Gael Senator Mike Kennelly wants financially hard-pressed families to be spared from having to dole out extra money for their children to sit the 2026 Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate examinations in June.

The Listowel-based representative argues that with current cost-of-living pressures placed on families, having to pay 109 per student for the Junior Cycle and 116 for the Leaving Certificate is an expense that he wants the government to waive.

During an order of business debate in the Seanad, Senator Kennelly said while the amounts may appear modest, they represent a real financial strain for many families, particularly those with multiple children sitting State exams.

One family I know has three students preparing for upcoming exams. Working families must be supported, Senator Kennelly said.

He stated that experience shows that by waiving the fees it does not compromise the smooth operation or high standards of the exams.

During the pandemic, when fees were temporarily suspended, the exam system continued to function efficiently, allowing students to focus fully on their studies.

In light of this, I call on the Minister for Education to consider debating this proposal and to waive State exam fees for 2026. This measure would offer meaningful relief to working families, reduce unnecessary stress for students, and enable them to concentrate on reaching their full potential, he said.

Supporting young people and families in this way would be both fair and constructive, and it would demonstrate a commitment to accessibility and opportunity in education during a time of financial challenge for many households.
Irelands inheritance tax system is discriminatory towards childless people and is in need of reform. Thats according to Fianna Fail Deputy Michael Cahill who is calling for the current rules to be changed to reflect reality.

Deputy Cahill said the disparity between what parents can pass on to their children and what childless people can leave to their loved ones is currently very unfair.
The ruling provides much needed clarity on a project that has been subject to multiple objections

Limerick Chamber has welcomed a ruling by the High Court to uphold planning permission for a 600-megawatt power plant in Ballylongford, a key component of the proposed Shannon LNG project.

The decision affirms approval previously granted by An Coimisiun Pleanala and marks what the Chamber described as a landmark outcome after a lengthy and complex planning process.

It also called for swift progress on the next stages, including the development of long-awaited liquefied natural gas infrastructure along the Shannon Estuary.

According to the Chamber, the ruling provides much needed clarity on a project that has been subject to multiple objections and policy scrutiny over several years, adding that it represents a significant step forward for strategic energy infrastructure and storage.

Chief Executive Donnacha Hurley said the organisation welcomed the clarity brought by the courts decision, but stressed the need for reform in planning timelines.

We welcome the high courts decision to uphold planning permission for the power station at the Ballylongford site, he said.

This follows what should have been a seamless process but turned into [a] complex and protracted planning process that was bolstered by misalignment of Irish and EU policy.

Hurley added that improving efficiency in planning approvals is critical to addressing Irelands energy challenges.

If Ireland is to get serious about tackling our energy insecurity, then we need to ensure a much more efficient planning process for operators, he said.

For next stages of the process, there must be an urgent timeline.

The Chamber has long advocated for timely decision-making on major infrastructure projects, arguing that this ruling demonstrates the planning systems ability to assess developments against evolving policy and environmental considerations.

Sean Golden, Chief Economist and Director of Policy at the Chamber, noted Irelands reliance on imported energy as a key concern.

The Chamber has continually highlighted Irelands exposure to international energy shocks, he said.

Latest figures suggest that Ireland imports almost 80pc of its natural gas supply from a single source in Moffat, Scotland. It is estimated that our imports of gas will increase to 90pc by 2030.

Golden warned that dependence on a single supply source leaves the country vulnerable.

Relying on a single source for supply, as well as the lack of diversity, puts Ireland at a serious disadvantage when it comes to international energy shocks, he said.

Diversity of supply is one way to mitigate against this issue, and Liquefied Natural Gas and the opening up [of] new markets will help.

He added that the current geopolitical climate shows the importance of energy resilience.

Given the international landscape today it is easy to see how lack of energy diversity can quickly become a national security issue, Golden said.

This high court decision marks a significant step in Ireland aligning with EU policy.

The Chamber also pointed to European Union policy frameworks, noting that LNG is classified as a transitional fuel that can support the shift away from more carbon-intensive energy sources while renewable capacity continues to expand.

Attention is now expected to turn to the delivery timeline for the project, which the Chamber says is of both national and regional importance.
Second year of memorial event was held in Dublin

Best Team from the INUA Collection-Joey Patero and Asanka Sampath Kulawansa of the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo

Pavel Mikeska of Thyme Restaurant in Athlone and Anastasiia Skurtu of Wineport Lodge in Glasson, County Westmeath were named winners of the 2nd annual Joe Shannon Memorial Culinary Competition 2026.

Michael Thomas of Rathsallagh House was awarded second place, while Alyssa Wealleans and Amanda Walton, second-year commis chefs from Limerick & Clare ETB, secured third place.

In addition, Joey Patero and Asanka Sampath Kulawansa of the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo were recognised as the Best Team from the INUA Collection.

Established by Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Sligo, the now annual Joe Shannon Culinary Competition took place on Monday, 23rd March 2026 at the Unilever Kitchen in Dublin, honouring the memory of the late Joe Shannon.

Held over one day, the competition centred on the theme of modern sustainable cuisine, with a strong focus on Irish produce and reducing food waste.

Celebrity chef Neven Maguire judged the competition, sponsorsed by Unilever, Dole & Quigley Meats, with support from photographer Keith Mahon, who captured footage throughout the event.

Created to reflect Joes love for entertaining, his commitment to culinary excellence, and his boundless generosity, the competition brought together chefs from across the country, each showcasing their creativity, skill, and passion for food.

Stefan Matz, Group Executive Chef at Cliste Hospitality Group and a close friend and colleague of Joe, said: It is a pleasure to host the Joe Shannon Competition, now in its second year. Spending time with many chefs and colleagues who knew Joe and shared his passion for food and for the hospitality industry, where he was a genuine ambassador, has really been inspiring to all of us.

Joe was not only a great chef and leader, but also a true mentor whose presence in our kitchens shaped teams and inspired those around him.

Joe paired genuine care for customers and colleagues with a consistently positive approach to life and work.

In his spirit, we shared a wonderful day reflecting on food, memories, and stories of Joe, watching chefs in action, and tasting inspiring dishes prepared by both established and emerging chefs.

Joe would have been very proud to see the chefs demonstrate such a high level of skill, knowledge, and organisation. We are equally proud to keep his legacy alive.

The Joe Shannon Culinary Competition proved to be an unforgettable celebration of food and friendship, honouring the incredible legacy of Joe Shannon.

Joe passed away following a battle with cancer in 2024. He was was chef at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Sligo and was also a regular on Ireland AM.

He also had a love of music and pantomimes and appeared on stage at the Hawks Well theatre in Sligo in various productions.
A 42-year-old man has been sentenced to three months in prison after stealing coins and damaging parking meters in various locations around Sligo. He was also charged with multiple thefts.

Kevin Murrin of St Annes Terrace, Sligo was charged with stealing 150 in coins from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Temple Street, Sligo on July 31, 2025.

He was also charged with damaging the top of the parking machine to get access to the coin drawer causing damage to the value of 200.

The defendant was also charged with damaging the paystation barrier coin machine at Adelaide Street Car Park in Sligo on August 3 2025 and also on September 7, 2025. He was also charged with stealing coins on eight occasions from the Adelaide Street Car Park in Sligo. The charges related to dates in August 2025 including August 4,5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. The value of the coins on each occasion was approximately 200 (total value approximately 1,600).

The defendant is also charged with stealing four cans of Heineken to the value of 10.45 on February 13 2025 at Mullins Spar, Bundoran Road, Sligo. He is also charged that on August 29, 2025 at Cannings Service Station, Pearse Road, Sligo he stole a bottle of Jack Daniels, to the value of 75.99.

Another charge of stealing three bottles of Sea Dog Rum to the value of 78 from Tesco, OConnell Street, Sligo on June 23 2025 was also before the court.

Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that on July 31, 2025, at 3:42am at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Temple St, Murrin took 150 worth of coins from a parking meter. The defendant also damaged the top of the machine which cost 200 to repair. CCTV footage captured the incident and Murrin was fully co-operative with gardai.

On August 3, 2025, Murrin damaged the pay station at Adelaide St which cost 1,000 to repair.

On August, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, Murrin stole approximately 200 worth of coins on each occasion from Adelaide St Carpark. Every one of the defendants thefts occured when the carpark was closed. Murrin co-operated fully with gardai when he was arrested.

On August 19, 2025, at 4:17am at Saloon 2, Adelaide St, Murrin took approximately 200 worth of coins from a parking meter. The defendant was later identified via CCTV.

The court heard that Murrin has 48 previous convictions.

Ms Laura Spellman, solicitor (defending), told Judge Eiteain Cunningham that her clients thefts from many of Sligos carparks was due to him having a serious addiction to drugs and alcohol. She added that her client did attend his GP and had an appointment at Whiteoaks (a rehabilation centre). She explained that Murrin was relying on a friend to take him to Whiteoaks but his friend let him down and he subsequently relapsed as a result.

Ms Spellman said that it has been made very clear to her client that he is at risk of a custodial sentence. She added that Murrin co-operated fully with gardai and that he was very forthcoming about his offending. She continued that Murrin spent a significant time of around three months in custody before being granted bail.

Judge Cunningham marked the defendant on three charge sheets. On the first two charge sheets, she convicted and sentenced Murrin to two and three months in prison respectively with the latter sentence to run concurrently. On the last charge sheet, she convicted and sentenced the defendant to five months in prison, suspended for a period of 12 months. She took into consideration all other matters.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Quoting from the 1916 Proclamation, the main speaker at this years People First 1916 Commemoration Ceremony, Trade Union leader Richy Carrothers, argued that its promise to cherish all the children of the nation equally stands in stark contrast to present-day realities.

Particular focus was placed on the housing crisis, with the speaker citing record levels of homelessness as evidence of systemic failure. He described the situation as completely avoidable, with blame directed at government policy and what he characterised as the undue influence of landlords and investment funds.

Led by flag-bearers carrying the Tri-colour and the Plough and the Stars, participants at Sundays ceremony marched from Cairns Drive to the Republican Plot in Sligo cemetery where Cllr Declan Bree, introduced Mr Carrothers.

Its hard to believe that, 110 years after the Easter Rising, we have 17,308 people in emergency accommodation, and 5,457 children homeless last month.

Of course, these figures are significantly higher when we account for people sleeping rough, couch surfers, and the generation stuck in parents box rooms or living with family members or friends. We have a completely avoidable housing crisis, but the State prioritises the needs of landlords and vulture funds.

In a sharp rebuke of far-right activism, the speaker criticised what he termed fake patriots who, he accused of exploiting public frustration while offering no meaningful solutions.

They care little about the housing crisis or the major problems in the health service. They have no history of campaigning for better healthcare and housing. They offer only division, in contrast to the longstanding Irish tradition of solidarity, equality and internationalism.

Reference was also made to the election of Catherine Connolly, as a symbol for potential political change. The people are thirsty for change. People need change. People deserve change. he said.

Drawing parallels between Irelands historical experience under British rule and the Palestinian struggle, he said Irish support for the Palestinian cause is rooted in our own experience of British occupation. Following their withdrawal from Ireland in 1922, the Black and Tans were deployed to British Mandate Palestine, where they replicated forms of murder, torture, and police brutality tested in Ireland.

Mr Carrothers described conditions in Gaza as a humanitarian catastrophe and called for the immediate enactment of the Occupied Territories Bill.

Cllr Declan Bree, who presided at the ceremony drew attention to both escalating international conflicts and deepening social crises at home, framing the current moment as a turning point for global stability and Irish society alike.

Donald Trump, the unhinged warmonger and mouthpiece for the US oligarchy, in addition to funding the campaign of genocide against the people of Gaza has also expanded his campaign of aggression against the people of Venezuela and Cuba.

In addition, just six weeks ago the US military commenced a war of aggression against Iran, a war that will have major consequences not only for the people of Iran but for the people of every nation state on this planet.

What type of deranged person would talk about bombing people back to the stone age? What type of deranged person would talk about bombing a country just for the fun of it ?

And beyond the battlefield, economic warfare continues. In Cuba, sweeping restrictions and oil blockades have deepened blackouts, shortages, and hardship for millions of civilians.

This is not abstract. These are human lives. It is the child in Havana denied life saving medicines because of the US blockade. It is the family in Caracas wondering what tomorrow brings after their President was abducted. It is the civilians in Tehran who fear that the next strike may be on their home. Donald Trumps ongoing criminal behaviour and his crimes against humanity puts the whole world at risk and makes us all unsafe. he said.

Concluding, Cllr Bree called for renewed commitment to international cooperation, specifically urging support for the United Nations and adherence to international law. At home, he appealed for policies aligned with the ideals of the Easter Rising, particularly the vision of equality and dignity outlined in the Proclamation of 1916.

Following the oration as a lone piper played a lament a wreath and floral tributes were laid at the Republican Plot by Sinead Costello on behalf of People First; John Dunne on behalf of the Connolly Forum; and Pat Wallace on behalf of the Peoples Movement. The ceremony concluded with the National Anthem. Earlier those participating in the event laid floral tributes at the grave of Republican Socialist and People First activist Marcus Murray.
Pictured at the Republican Plot on Easter Sunday are Sligo Sinn Fein Chairperson Chris MacManus, Mairead Farrell TD and Katelyn Benson, a member of the wider family of the Noble Sixs Captain Harry Benson.

Nearly two hundred Sligo republicans braved the remnants of Storm Dave at Sligo City Cemetery on Easter Sunday for Sligo Countys largest 1916 Commemoration.

Chairing the Commemoration Sinn Feins Chris MacManus said,:Our task is obvious. To build a new Ireland - a united Ireland - that delivers for all our people, regardless of background.

A Republic where public services are world-class, that respects workers, where families can afford to live and have the security of a home, and where we ensure that dignity and respect is afforded to everyone.

The 1916 Rising was an act of courage and of hope. It fell to that generation of ordinary people to do extraordinary things and refused to accept that things could not be changed.

Now, its on us to see their legacy fulfilled. The work of building the Republic continues.

Guest speaker at the commemoration was Galway West TD Mairead Farrell.

Deputy Farrell said: We see the Governments recent efforts to dismantle the Triple Lock protection.

It is a precursor to sending young Irish men and women off to die in military misadventures and imperialist conflicts that have nothing to do with the interests of Ireland.

The parallels with a century ago are stark - when Irish people were implored by the British Empire to fight under the Union Jack for the Freedom of Small Nations while our own country remained under the heel of colonialism. We have learned the lessons of history well.

We know that when ordinary people come together that they can do extraordinary things.

We know that from our past and we know that this will too be the case in the future.

We know that no great change has ever been won without a mass movement. It is always about the sum of our parts.

The ceremony concluded with the playing of Amhran Na bhFiann.
Denise McDonald and Andrea Hamilton from Hope Centre were presented with a cheque from Enniscorthy Credit Union.

The Hope and Dream 10 run has received a boost in donated funds in the final countdown to this years edition which will be taking place this coming weekend.

A much loved annual event, the Hope and Dream 10 run not only helps the charity raise money to assist families affected by cancer, but it also brings together the people of Wexford, and further afield, in a great show of community support.

Similar to previous years, all proceeds raised will go directly towards supporting their clients and the vital services they provide. These include counselling, reflexology, lymphoedema (MLD) treatment, client assessment and support, child and adolescent counselling, as well as their many support groups, classes, and programmes.

In 2025 alone they delivered 4,998 one-to-one sessions to 637 clients, with 1,309 attendances across 53 support groups, 110 workshops and programmes and 110 classes. Last year's event raised 174,000, with a large crowd or runners and supporters lining the streets of Enniscorthy.

Just a week ahead of the event, members of Enniscorthy Credit Union invited Denise McDonald and Andrea Hamilton into their premises to accept their cheque for 10,000.

Enniscorthy Credit Union is heavily involved with the Hope and Dream 10 charity event, having partnered with them for over 12 years to support the centre. They are key sponsors, specifically sponsoring the event T-shirts for 2026 and supporting fundraising efforts to help local cancer patients.

The branch even won a Community Award at the 2025 All-Ireland Credit Union Awards for their ongoing support of this cause.

"The Hope and Dream 10 once again brings the local community together in a powerful show of support for those affected by cancer. The yearly 10k walk or run continues to grow and attract new participants from across the country and beyond all united in hope, they said.

The 15th annual Hope and Dream 10 takes place on Sunday, April 12 on the Promenade in Enniscorthy, with start time setting off at 10.15 a.m.

Online registration is currently open and strictly closes at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 11 with no registration possible on race day.
The CEO of a credit union branch in Wicklow has said that, with the rising cost of fuel and diesel, and consumers gravitating towards electric vehicles, a Greenify Loan alongside SEAI grants can help drivers make the switch.

With Irish motorists facing some of the highest pump prices seen in years, attention has turned to the longer-term cost of car ownership and whether switching to an electric vehicle could offer greater certainty while reducing exposure to fuel price volatility.

For drivers who are considering the switch, Arklow Credit Union CEO Hugh OKeeffe said the Greenify Loan from Arklow Credit Union offers an affordable and flexible way to finance fully electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles.

At times like this, motorists are reminded how little control they have over the price of petrol and diesel, Mr OKeeffe said.

For some, that may prompt a closer look at electric vehicles, not just from an environmental point of view, but from a cost and budgeting perspective as well.

For drivers who can charge at home and manage their energy use well, switching to electric can offer greater predictability than relying on conventional fuel prices.

Greenify Loans can be used alongside the SEAI grants available to EV buyers, with straightforward applications and fast decisions. Motorists can borrow up to 100,000 unsecured over 10 years, with competitive rates and no requirement to be an existing member.

To find out more about how to access a Greenify loan, visit the credit union offices in Arklow and Aughrim or visit arklowcu.ie
Eoghan Kinsella as Sam in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Niamh Harper as Moll in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Zoe Cummins as Mary, Erin Connolly as Cara and Molly-Rose Smith as Lucille in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Sean Hendley as Mayor Glynn and Kevin Macken-Tierney as Henry Glynn in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Aine Kinch as Constance and Fiona Redmond as Ms. Reece in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Daniel Furlong as Will Riley and Frankie Murphy in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Emily Davis as Amelia and Joanne Logue as Ma' Riley in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Elaine McMahon-Dossett as Mab and Callum Murray as Jim in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Joanne Logue as Ma' Riley and Daniel Furlong as Will Riley in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Aine Kinch as Constance in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

Andrew Docherty as Abraham Reed in the Avonmore Musical Society's version of The Clockmaker's Daughter at St. Mary's Hall, Arklow. Photo: Michael Kelly

St Marys College Hall in Arklow was hopping when Avonmore Musical Society staged the opening night of The Clockmakers Daughter to a packed crowd.

For the first of five performances, the 50-strong cast brought the fictional Irish town of Spindlewood to life in a production that will appeal to anyone who loves Disney, fairytales, Irish music or traditional musical theatre.

Set in the present and in 1895, the musical tells the story of Abraham Reed (played by Andrew Docherty), a grieving clockmaker who tries to recapture the spirit of his lost daughter.

He creates a clockwork version of who she might have become: Constance (Aine Kinch), who longs to go outside. When she finally does, she meets Will Riley (Daniel Furlong), who dreams of something beyond the small town. As the story unfolds and the consequences of Abrahams actions emerge, Spindlewood will never be the same.

Also featuring Joanne Logue (Ma Riley), Emily Davis (Amelia), Kevin Macken (Henry Glynn), Sean Hendley (Mayor Glynn), and almost 50 members across featured roles, ensemble and chorus, the show is in the capable hands of director Amy Penston, musical director Conor McCarthy, choreographer Martina Murphy and chorus mistress Jennifer Lee.

Noting that chairperson Tomas Byrne and his committee have worked on the show since last summer, a musical society spokesperson said the show was ready for last nights opening, which hopped off the stage, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the cast and crew of about 70.

A big thanks goes to Sharon Kavanagh (hair and makeup), Barry Ryan (back stage), Niamh Harper (costumes), Karen Kavanagh (props), Jason Fallon (sound), Cathal ODonohoe (lights), Kerry Reid (front of house), Kim Dagg (set painting) and all their teams, they said.

The society would like to say a massive thanks to Michael Russell for his technical expertise and help with set alterations and construction. Michael had intended to take a back seat this year but came in at the last minute to make essential alterations.

Secretary Nicole Forde said this years show will cost Avonmore about 50,000-55,000. It wouldnt be possible to stage such high-quality productions without the support of local businesses and audiences who return each year. The society is indebted to them, especially this years main sponsor, Somers Properties.

Running nightly at 8pm until Saturday, April 11, limited tickets for the remaining performances are available on gr8events.ie, or by ringing 087-0055769.
An alleged assault on a store manager at a Wicklow Dealz store has been thrown out, after the parent company Poundland failed to provide CCTV evidence crucial to the case.

A Bray woman has denied assaulting a store manager during an alleged shoplifting incident at a Dealz in Wicklow

Kelly OBrien (49), of Richmond Hill, Fassaroe, Bray, appeared at Bray District Court for a hearing.

She pleaded not guilty to one count of assault of a store manager at Dealz on Florence Road in Bray.

Garda Megan ONeil-Cooney of Bray Garda Station told the court that in January 2025, Ms OBrien entered the shop and proceeded to take various items before trying to leave without paying.

She alleges that the complainant tried recovering the items before Ms OBrien punched her and pulled her to the ground by her hair.

It was noted that no CCTV was present in court due to issues with receiving the footage from Dealz parent company Poundland.

Gda ONeil-Cooney stated that she reviewed the footage at the scene.

During cross-examination by defence barrister Thomas Finnerty, Gda ONeil-Cooney remarked that she is aware of the accused since moving to Bray Garda Station in 2024 but failed to retrieve CCTV.

She said that she did fill out the appropriate applications and went through Poundland headquarters in the UK.

Businesses require a written request from gardai to release CCTV, ensuring that data is only provided for legitimate law enforcement purposes.

Judge David Kennedy said that the CCTV could exonerate the accused.

The complainant told the court that OBrien was allegedly observed removing two shopping bags from the self-service tills and filling them up with stock before attempting to leave.

When the defendant tried to leave, the alleged injured party remarked that she told her you cant leave.

Ms OBrien allegedly proceeded to attempt to barge her to the ground before punching her and pulling her to the ground by her hair.

The complainant remarked that after she got the accused out of the store and closed the door behind her.

Before she proceeded to hurl alleged threats, including I know where you live, Im going to smash up your house and Im gonna burn out your car.

Mr Finnerty clarified that his client was in court on assault charges and denies any involvement in the theft of property.

He added that the store manager has no PSA licence and asked her what law governs her to apprehend Ms OBrien and that the accused believes that the store manager assaulted her.

Ms OBrien gave evidence that she has never been before the courts for threatening anyone and denied slapping her and pulling her hair.

She remarked that its because of who I am and that they know Kelly OBrien is in the shop.

The court was told that Ms OBrien told her legal counsel that the complainant rugby tackled her to the floor and cracked her phone.

The accused stated she never reported the incident as she didnt want to waste garda resources over a stupid smashed phone.

Judge Kennedy remarked that with the absence of CCTV footage he must dismiss the States case.

I cant understand why Poundland wont just hand over the footage, said Judge Kennedy.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
The restriction stands until May 6

China has reserved five patches of airspace off its north-east coast for a 40-day period with no explanation.

Beijing normally reserves airspace when it plans to conduct military drills, but it has not announced any plans for exercises during the reserved period, which began on March 27 and will run until May 6. Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) drills also do not typically last longer than a few days.
Leading music festival cancelled after Kanye West blocked from entering UK

British prime minister Keir Starmer said the rapper should never have been invited to headline the festival

West  also known as Ye  offered to meet the Jewish community. Photo: PA

George Lithgow, Casey Cooper-Fiske and Carla Feric Press Association Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 06:30

One of the UKs top music festivals has been cancelled completely after headliner Kanye West was blocked from entering the country over his controversial views on Hitler and Jews.
Eight killed in Russian attacks targeting Ukrainian civilians

President Volodymyr Zelensky says ordinary people are being subjected to constant safaris

Workers pick up the body of a resident who was killed on a bus during a Russian drone strike in the town of Nikopol, Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

Yuliia Dysa Reuters Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Russian attacks yesterday on Ukraines south-east killed eight people and injured more than two dozen others, officials said, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of escalating strikes instead of agreeing to an Easter ceasefire.
latest | Hungarian minister offered to send Russia EU document in leaked audio

Investigative news outlets release leaked phone callsHungarian minister offers to send Russia document in one call

Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images

Alan Charlish Reuters Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 17:25

Hungary's foreign minister offered to send his Russian counterpart a document about Ukraine's European Union accession, leaked recordings purported to show on Wednesday, in the latest indication of Budapest's warm relations with Moscow.
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban offered last year to help Russian president Vladimir Putin in any way, such as by hosting a summit in Budapest to settle the war in Ukraine, Bloomberg News reported, citing the transcript of a phone call.

A Hungarian government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment and for the release of the transcript of an October 17 call between the two leaders reviewed by Bloomberg but not verified by Reuters.
JD Vance accuses EU leaders of disgraceful interference in Hungary vote

US vice-president meets with prime minister Viktor Orban in Budapest ahead of Sundays election

US vice-president JD Vance (left) shakes hands with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban as the pair meet in Budapest, Hungary. Photo: Reuters

Humeyra Pamuk Reuters Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 06:30

US vice-president JD Vance lashed out yesterday at what he called disgraceful interference from the European Union in an election in Hungary, as he lauded prime minister Viktor Orban as an ally of Donald Trump in the defence of Western civilisation.
Former French president took the stand in Paris on Tuedsday

Nicolas Sarkozy told an appeal hearing that not a single centime of Libyan money had financed his 2007 presidential campaign.

The former French president took the stand in Paris to defend himself against allegations that his entourage sought funds from Muammar Gaddafi in return for helping to restore his international image after Tripoli was blamed for two plane bombings.
US president Donald Trump has said Iranians welcome expanded attacks, even as he threatens to destroy key infrastructure and bomb their country back to the stone ages.

All I can tell you is they want freedom. They have lived in a world that you know nothing about. Its a violent, horrible world where if you protest, you are shot, Mr Trump said at a news conference. They want us to keep bombing.
US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick will testify before the House Oversight Committee on May 6 regarding his past association with the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, according to reports.

Kentucky Republican representative James Comer, the panels chairman, announced on March 3 that Mr Lutnick had proactively agreed to appear voluntarily and applauded his demonstrated commitment to transparency but did not at that stage offer a schedule.
A U.S. Army staff sergeant who reported for duty at a military base in Louisiana with his new bride last week was shocked to see her arrested by ICE agents shortly after their arrival.
China becomes primary regional supply chain hub through co-op

Global Times) 16:20, April 08, 2026

Illustration: Liu Xidan/GT

Amid rising global economic uncertainty and protectionism, the resilience and vitality of regional cooperation in Asia are drawing increasing attention.

A report released on Monday by the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) pointed out that over the past two decades, China became the primary hub of supply chains within the region, the Xinhua News Agency reported. According to the AMRO report, ASEAN+3's economic linkages have undergone a fundamental transformation compared with two decades ago, and regional production networks have evolved from a Japan-centered hub into a denser, more interconnected architecture anchored by China.

Why has China become this primary hub? The answer lies in the combined effect of its growing manufacturing strength and deepening regional cooperation. The AMRO report explicitly attributed China's hub status to its "expanding manufacturing capacity, logistics infrastructure, and central position in intermediate goods trade."

More importantly, China's manufacturing sector is transitioning toward technological sophistication. Through initiatives to promote the high-quality development of key industrial chains and rebuild the industrial base, China has achieved breakthroughs in core technologies such as integrated circuits, industrial machine tools and new-energy vehicles. The reliability of its industrial chains has steadily improved, providing stable supplies for the regional production network.

The AMRO report described the region's supply linkages as "interdependence rather than unidirectional dependence on China." For a long time, some Western media outlets and politicians have played up the narrative of so-called "over-reliance on China," as if deep economic engagement with China meant risk. But the facts tell a very different story.

Supply-chain links have always been two-way. China is not only a provider of intermediate goods but also a huge source of demand for end consumer goods. Agricultural products and electronics from ASEAN countries, as well as core components and high-end materials from South Korea, are exported to China in large volumes. At the same time, Chinese consumer demand for imported automobiles, cosmetics and chips creates significant market space for regional partners.

This pattern reflects rational choices made by all sides based on their comparative advantages. It is precisely this multidirectional flow that makes the entire regional production network more efficient and resilient.

China's hub status has provided neighboring countries with unprecedented development opportunities. The past 20 years witnessed the rise of Vietnam's electronic assembly industry, Thailand's emergence as a major automotive manufacturing center, and the growth of Malaysia's semiconductor packaging and testing industry. These countries have gradually moved up the value chain. China provides large-scale manufacturing capacity and a complete supporting ecosystem, while neighboring countries use their own advantages to undertake specific links, forming a complementary relationship.

This hub-and-node dynamic has been further reinforced by regional institutional arrangements. Mechanisms such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the China ASEAN free trade area have significantly lowered transaction costs and facilitated industrial chain integration. In 2025, total trade between China and ASEAN exceeded $1 trillion for the first time, up 7.4 percent year on year. In the four years since the RCEP took effect, the region's share of global foreign direct investment has surpassed 30 percent, placing it at the forefront of global regional cooperation mechanisms.

Beyond trade agreements, Asia's vast market provides another layer of resilience. The region is home to more than 4 billion people, with a relatively high proportion of young people. Coupled with the digital and green transitions, this vast domestic market not only provides a stable outlet for regional production capacity but also guides industrial chains toward higher value added segments through consumption upgrading.

The global green energy transition and the development of the digital economy are gaining momentum. China has already built up leading advantages in emerging fields such as photovoltaics, lithium batteries, new-energy vehicles, 5G communications, and artificial intelligence. The cooperative relationship between China and its neighbors within Asia's production network will continue to extend into higher value-added areas. As the main hub, China's continued commitment to openness and innovation will remain a key source of stability and shared prosperity for the entire region.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
The moon is not just grey  heres why there are green, brown and orange tones too

Nasa astronauts are marvelling at the lunar surface's more colourful areas, as minerals and glass likely give it a different appearance on the far side

A view of Earth, partially hidden by the moon, photographed through the Orion spacecraft window just minutes before it lost contact with Earth for 40 minutes. Photo: Nasa

Sarah Knapton Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd Wed 8 Apr 2026 at 06:30

Nasas astronauts have reported seeing brown and green patches on the far side of the moon.
The Greek government is urgently amending its national healthcare rules to allow patients to bypass their assigned primary care physicians and secure specialist referrals from any available general practitioner, resolving a bureaucratic bottleneck that has stranded thousands.

A Health Ministry amendment

tabled in parliament this week targets severe logistical flaws in the recent rollout of the country's "personal doctor" system

Under the initial framework, patients were strictly bound to a single assigned physician.

This created massive medical disruptions when that doctor was unavailable due to illness, leave, or regional staff shortagesa chronic crisis in Greeces remote island and mountain communities.

To guarantee uninterrupted access to critical care, the new legislation permits patients to turn to any general practitioner, family doctor, or internist for an initial specialist referral. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis introduced the measure to stabilize the system.

Mr. Georgiadis and ministry officials maintain that primary care must remain the central gatekeeper to the broader National Health System, but without trapping patients in administrative gridlock.

Crucially, the amendment preserves free specialist visits at public hospitals and private clinics contracted with the national health fund, EOPYY, provided the patient secures the required referral.

By eliminating the single-doctor dependency, authorities aim to slash wait times and efficiently streamline electronic bookings, which will now strictly mandate a primary care sign-off before a specialist appointment can be scheduled.

   iefimerida.gr

The Greek government is urgently amending its national healthcare rules to allow patients to bypass their assigned primary care physicians and secure specialist referrals from any available general practitioner, resolving a bureaucratic bottleneck that has stranded thousands.

A Health Ministry amendment tabled in parliament this week targets severe logistical flaws in the recent rollout of the country's "personal doctor" system.

Under the initial framework, patients were strictly bound to a single assigned physician.

This created massive medical disruptions when that doctor was unavailable due to illness, leave, or regional staff shortagesa chronic crisis in Greeces remote island and mountain communities.

To guarantee uninterrupted access to critical care, the new legislation permits patients to turn to any general practitioner, family doctor, or internist for an initial specialist referral. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis introduced the measure to stabilize the system.

Mr. Georgiadis and ministry officials maintain that primary care must remain the central gatekeeper to the broader National Health System, but without trapping patients in administrative gridlock.

Crucially, the amendment preserves free specialist visits at public hospitals and private clinics contracted with the national health fund, EOPYY, provided the patient secures the required referral.

By eliminating the single-doctor dependency, authorities aim to slash wait times and efficiently streamline electronic bookings, which will now strictly mandate a primary care sign-off before a specialist appointment can be scheduled.

   iefimerida.gr
Unseasonably cold, autumn-like rain will dampen Orthodox Easter preparations across much of Greece this week, though skies are forecast to clear just in time for Sunday's traditional festivities.

The most severe weather is expected on Holy Saturday, threatening to disrupt one of the year's busiest holiday weekends.

Widespread rain

is expected to drench major metropolitan centers, including Athens , Thessaloniki, Larissa , and Patras.

According to meteorologist Giannis Kallianos, showers will likely persist through the traditional midnight resurrection services, particularly across the Cyclades islands.

The unsettled weather pattern will begin on Holy Thursday, bringing scattered rain and gusty winds up to force 6 on the Beaufort scale mainly to eastern and northern mainland areas, Mr. Kallianos said.

By Holy Friday, the system will shift, bringing localized showers to Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and the eastern Aegean islands.

Conversely, western Greece is expected to avoid the rainfall entirely during the lead-up to the weekend, offering a brief reprieve for travelers heading to the Ionian coast.

While the heavy precipitation will largely dissipate by Easter Sunday, allowing for the traditional outdoor lamb roasts to proceed, the holiday itself will be distinctly brisk.

High temperatures will struggle to reach 16 to 17 degrees Celsius (60 to 62 degrees Fahrenheit) across the country. Mr. Kallianos advised travelers and residents to prepare for a noticeable chill that will firmly linger throughout the holiday weekend.

   iefimerida.gr

Unseasonably cold, autumn-like rain will dampen Orthodox Easter preparations across much of Greece this week, though skies are forecast to clear just in time for Sunday's traditional festivities.

The most severe weather is expected on Holy Saturday, threatening to disrupt one of the year's busiest holiday weekends.

Widespread rain is expected to drench major metropolitan centers, including Athens, Thessaloniki, Larissa, and Patras.

According to meteorologist Giannis Kallianos, showers will likely persist through the traditional midnight resurrection services, particularly across the Cyclades islands.

The unsettled weather pattern will begin on Holy Thursday, bringing scattered rain and gusty winds up to force 6 on the Beaufort scale mainly to eastern and northern mainland areas, Mr. Kallianos said.

By Holy Friday, the system will shift, bringing localized showers to Eastern Macedonia, Thrace, and the eastern Aegean islands.

Conversely, western Greece is expected to avoid the rainfall entirely during the lead-up to the weekend, offering a brief reprieve for travelers heading to the Ionian coast.

While the heavy precipitation will largely dissipate by Easter Sunday, allowing for the traditional outdoor lamb roasts to proceed, the holiday itself will be distinctly brisk.

High temperatures will struggle to reach 16 to 17 degrees Celsius (60 to 62 degrees Fahrenheit) across the country. Mr. Kallianos advised travelers and residents to prepare for a noticeable chill that will firmly linger throughout the holiday weekend.

   iefimerida.gr
Greek lawmaker Tasos Chatzivasileiou is demanding the immediate lifting of his parliamentary immunity to fight what he calls "unfounded" allegations linked to an ongoing agricultural subsidy investigation.

Mr. Chatzivasileiou, a former deputy minister and current member of the ruling New Democracy party, said he is being investigated over a 2021 phone

call regarding a request to transfer farming subsidy rights between spouses.

He emphasized that the transfer was legally submitted but ultimately rejected by the Greek agricultural payment authority, OPEKEPE.

As the case file reaches the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Chatzivasileiou vehemently denied any connection between his actions and the broader financial fraud investigation currently being spearheaded by the European Public Prosecutors Office into illegal agricultural payouts.

He noted the current file has resurfaced without any new evidence.

Last year, Mr. Chatzivasileiou resigned from his government post, citing political sensitivity, when the phone call first surfaced in preliminary case files.

Reiterating his full confidence in the Greek justice system, he argued that voluntarily waiving his protective immunity is the fastest way to conclusively settle the matter and prove the communication carried no criminal significance.

The file contains unfounded assumptions, Mr. Chatzivasileiou stated, adding that he is being targeted for an offense that was never committed.

The judicial investigation remains ongoing.

   iefimerida.gr

Greek lawmaker Tasos Chatzivasileiou is demanding the immediate lifting of his parliamentary immunity to fight what he calls "unfounded" allegations linked to an ongoing agricultural subsidy investigation.

Mr. Chatzivasileiou, a former deputy minister and current member of the ruling New Democracy party, said he is being investigated over a 2021 phone call regarding a request to transfer farming subsidy rights between spouses.

He emphasized that the transfer was legally submitted but ultimately rejected by the Greek agricultural payment authority, OPEKEPE.

As the case file reaches the Hellenic Parliament, Mr. Chatzivasileiou vehemently denied any connection between his actions and the broader financial fraud investigation currently being spearheaded by the European Public Prosecutors Office into illegal agricultural payouts.

He noted the current file has resurfaced without any new evidence.

Last year, Mr. Chatzivasileiou resigned from his government post, citing political sensitivity, when the phone call first surfaced in preliminary case files.

Reiterating his full confidence in the Greek justice system, he argued that voluntarily waiving his protective immunity is the fastest way to conclusively settle the matter and prove the communication carried no criminal significance.

The file contains unfounded assumptions, Mr. Chatzivasileiou stated, adding that he is being targeted for an offense that was never committed.

The judicial investigation remains ongoing.

   iefimerida.gr
Greece is finalizing a high-security diplomatic and military mission to extract the Holy Fire from Jerusalem this coming Holy Saturday, vowing to maintain the sacred Orthodox Easter

tradition despite escalating warfare and missile threats across the Middle East.

The ancient ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will take place under an unprecedented security lockdown. Access to the Old City is strictly controlled, and only the Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by 15 monks from the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, will be permitted inside the church for the lighting ritual.

Authorities have closed all surrounding indoor and outdoor areas to the faithful.

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos is slated to lead the Greek delegation to receive the flame. Under current operational plans, Mr. Loverdos and his team will fly into Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport.

The Greek Air Force crew will remain on high alert on the tarmac while the diplomats travel by road into a heavily militarized Jerusalem.

Following recent regional missile strikes, the Greek Foreign Ministry and defense officials are continuously reviewing last-minute contingency plans to guarantee the mission's safety.

Despite the severe risks and tense environment, Athens officials emphasize their unwavering commitment to protecting the delegation and safely delivering the Holy Fire to Greece in time to illuminate the nation's midnight Resurrection celebrations.

   iefimerida.gr

Greece is finalizing a high-security diplomatic and military mission to extract the Holy Fire from Jerusalem this coming Holy Saturday, vowing to maintain the sacred Orthodox Easter tradition despite escalating warfare and missile threats across the Middle East.

The ancient ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre will take place under an unprecedented security lockdown. Access to the Old City is strictly controlled, and only the Patriarch of Jerusalem, accompanied by 15 monks from the Holy Sepulchre Brotherhood, will be permitted inside the church for the lighting ritual.

Authorities have closed all surrounding indoor and outdoor areas to the faithful.

Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos is slated to lead the Greek delegation to receive the flame. Under current operational plans, Mr. Loverdos and his team will fly into Tel Avivs Ben Gurion Airport.

The Greek Air Force crew will remain on high alert on the tarmac while the diplomats travel by road into a heavily militarized Jerusalem.

Following recent regional missile strikes, the Greek Foreign Ministry and defense officials are continuously reviewing last-minute contingency plans to guarantee the mission's safety.

Despite the severe risks and tense environment, Athens officials emphasize their unwavering commitment to protecting the delegation and safely delivering the Holy Fire to Greece in time to illuminate the nation's midnight Resurrection celebrations.

   iefimerida.gr
In a video posted on TikTok, the Prime Minister announced upcoming legislation to ban access to social media for children under the age of 15. The measure is expected to be passed this summer and implemented in 2027.
The State Chairmen Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the partys factions led by David Mark and Nafiu Bala.

Speaking on behalf of the forum at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, Don Obinna, chairman of the ADC in Abia, said Mark and Bala hijacked the party from the bonafide members.

He backed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) decision to withdraw recognition from the Mark and Bala factions following an interim ruling by the appeal court.

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Obinna said Dumebi Kachikwu, the partys former presidential candidate, remains a member of the ADC, describing his expulsion as an act of desperation taken too far.

We disassociate the ADC from David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Bolaji Abdullahi, prof Osunbor and all members of the so-called coalition who attempted to hijack our party and state that all actions taken by them in the name of the ADC are not binding on the ADC, Obinna said.

We disassociate the ADC from the claims of Nafiu Gombe and firmly and unequivocally state that he has never held the position of deputy chairman of the ADC.

The ADC remains a party of and for all Nigerians and not just for former political office holders and the elites. The ADC is also not for sale.

The people who have called themselves the coalition have no democratic credentials and are only interested in a power grab, as evidenced by the way and manner in which they attempted to hijack our party and throw out the original members.

We affirm that our former presidential candidate, Mr Dumebi Kachikwu, is a committed and bonafide member of our party whose purported expulsion by the David Mark-led group was an act of desperation taken too far.

The forum announced an interim committee to oversee the partys activities pending a national convention.

Members of the committee include Ogga Kingsley (acting chairman), Odion Kennedy (secretary), Muhammad Jidda (deputy chairman), Kabiru Hussaini (assistant secretary), Charles Omidji (national organising secretary), Johnny Derek (deputy organising secretary), Stella Chukwuma (treasurer), Obinna (publicity secretary), and Samuel Gyang (financial secretary).
Major listed brewers in Nigeria generated a combined revenue of over N1.54tn from the sale of beer and other non-alcoholic drinks in the first nine months of 2025, indicating the estimated amount spent by Nigerians on brewery products during the review period, an analysis by The PUNCH shows.

According to the unaudited financial statements of Nigerian Breweries Plc, International Breweries Plc, and Champion Breweries Plc for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, the companies collectively recorded strong top-line performance driven largely by beer sales.

Nigerian Breweries Plc, the largest brewer in the country, recorded net revenue of N1.05tn for the period, up from N710.87bn in the corresponding period of 2024. Cost of sales stood at N631.23bn, resulting in a gross profit of N415.15bn.

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After accounting for selling and distribution expenses of N193.85bn, administrative expenses of N59.58bn, finance costs of N39.15bn, and other charges, the company posted a profit after tax of N85.51bn, compared with a loss of N149.50bn in 2024. Basic earnings per share rose to 275 kobo from a loss of 1,455 kobo in the previous year.

In March, Nigerian Breweries Plc announced a return to profitability in the first quarter of 2025, reporting a 186 per cent increase in net profit compared to the same period in 2024. The unaudited financial results released on the Nigerian Exchange Limited showed that revenue for the period ended March 31, 2025, rose to N383.6bn, representing a 68.9 per cent increase from N227.1bn recorded in the first quarter of 2024.

International Breweries Plc, which operates in Nigeria and other West African markets, generated revenue of N472.57bn for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, up from N343.45bn in the same period of 2024.

The company reported a profit after tax of N57.83bn, reversing a loss of N112.81bn in 2024. Cost of sales increased to N311.64bn from N248.58bn, while administrative, marketing, and distribution expenses rose to N92.09bn from N72.68bn.

International Breweries Plc had posted a profit of N11.9bn for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, marking a turnaround from a loss of N47.3bn in the same period last year.

The companys unaudited financial statements showed revenue increased to N167.4bn in Q2 2025 from N120bn in Q2 2024, while gross profit rose to N61.9bn from N33.8bn.

Champion Breweries Plc recorded revenue of N21.44bn for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, up from N14.02bn in the same period of 2024. The company posted a profit after tax of N2.05bn, compared with N21.50m in 2024. Cost of sales rose to N11.14bn from N8.13bn, while selling and distribution expenses increased to N4.24bn from N3.25bn.

Overall, the combined revenue of the three companies amounted to N1.54tn, with Nigerian Breweries Plc accounting for the bulk of sales.

Analysts say the figures highlight the resilience of Nigerias beer market, which continues to benefit from strong brand loyalty and distribution networks despite rising production costs and broader macroeconomic pressures.

Commenting on consumer behaviour, the Head of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co., Ayokunle Olubunmi, said the market is experiencing a gradual shift in spending patterns, with some consumers reducing beer consumption, a trend influencing how breweries adjust their strategies.

Following AB InBevs acquisition of International Breweries, the company invested in new breweries and production facilities to expand capacity. This indicates that firms are prioritising scaling operations and improving efficiency to meet rising demand and strengthen their market position, Olubunmi said.

On the broader economic impact, the Chief Executive Officer of Economic Associates, Ayo Teriba, cautioned that strong sales figures do not necessarily translate into greater economic contribution.

The point is that bigger isnt necessarily better. Sales may be boosted by size, but if that size reflects purchases from other companies rather than actual value added, the contribution to the economy is limited. What really matters is net output, what value the company is actually creating. GDP, after all, is the sum of value created, not just total sales figures, Teriba said.
Iran has confirmed a two-week ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, the Tasnim news agency, which is close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), reported early on Wednesday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible for two weeks in coordination with Irans armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.

Trump had made reopening the waterway a condition for the ceasefire and had threatened to target Irans energy sector and infrastructure, including bridges, if Tehran failed to comply, setting a deadline of 0000 GMT.

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The Strait of Hormuz, crucial to global oil and gas trade, has been largely closed since the United States and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

According to a senior U.S. official, Israel will also adhere to what Trump described as a double sided CEASEFIRE.

Pakistan, which has mediated between Tehran and Washington, said that an immediate ceasefire between Iran and the US had taken effect.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the U.S., along with their allies, had agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including in Lebanon.

I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday  to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes, Sharif said.

Trump earlier said Sharif had asked him to refrain from carrying out the threatened attacks.

The U.S. has received a 10-point proposal from Iran and believed it offered a workable basis for negotiations, Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social.

According to The New York Times, the plan calls for lifting all sanctions imposed on Iran.
Nollywood actress Damilola Adegbite has opened up about her humble beginnings in Surulere, Lagos, revealing that despite growing up in poverty, she carried herself with confidence from a young age.

Were the poorest family on my street in Surulere, she said, but if you saw me stepping out of our house, you would never have guessed my background unless I told you.

She explained that her poise developed early from watching films with her father, especially James Bond movies. From a very young age, I carried myself differently I would study how the characters spoke, sat, and walked. I practiced their confidence without even realizing it.

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Adegbite also recalled experimenting with her mothers clothes and makeup. Sometimes I would sneak into my mothers room practicing elegance and poise. Even then, I was rehearsing the woman I wanted to become.

Her confidence later paid off at an MNet Africa audition. I was the last person chosen out of more than 10,000 women What surprised me most was that I was selected because of just one word I pronounced correctly That moment changed everything.

On growth, she said, Becoming who you dream of being is not a straight journey Sometimes, you even have to be selfish When you protect your space and your peace, people may call you rude but often you are simply protecting yourself.

She advised others to reflect on their strengths: For me, its my courage and presence Take time to identify what has always worked for you.
Police detain Emir Balat after he attempted to detonate an improvised explosive device during a counterprotest against an anti-Islam gathering outside Gracie Mansion on March 7. Read more

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Two Bucks County teenagers accused of instigating an ISIS-inspired terrorist plot outside New Yorks Gracie Mansion last month watched radical content online and hoped to kill up to 60 people in the attack, according to new court documents.

Emir Balat, 18, of Langhorne, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, of Newtown, were charged in federal court in New York with use of a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to support a foreign terrorist organization, and related crimes in connection with the failed March 7 attack.

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The teens timed the plot to unfold during an anti-Islam protest organized by a far-right social media influencer, prosecutors say. They drove that morning from Pennsylvania to the Manhattan mayors historic residence, where attendees of a gathering dubbed Stop the Islamic Takeover of New York City rallied outside. There, federal authorities said, they set off two explosive devices that did not detonate.

Police arrested them within minutes and no one was injured.

The incident drew national attention to the Neshaminy and Council Rock high school students and their relatively comfortable upbringings in wealthy Philadelphia suburbs, where Balat was a budding online sneaker entrepreneur.

New details of their actions that day emerged in a federal indictment released late Tuesday by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. The document says Balat and Kayumi planned their attack for days, kept highly volatile bomb-making materials in a Langhorne storage unit, and harbored alternate plans to terrorize the nations largest city should their original plot fail.

All I know is I want to start terror bro, Kayumi told Balat as they drove to New York in a car registered to a relative of Balats, according to audio investigators recovered from a dashboard recording device and cited in the indictment. I want to petrify these people.

Balats defense attorney, Mehdi Essmidi, could not be immediately reached for comment. Previously, he described Balat as a child and said he was unaware of any connection the teen had to the Islamic State.

An attorney for Kayumi was not available.

As the two discussed their plan, the document said, Balat instructed Kayumi on how to properly light an explosive device  just for safety, he told him  and the teens speculated about whether air travel over New York City would be halted due to their actions.

They also discussed targeting a person at the rally  whom prosecutors did not identify  and according to the indictment, they kept watch on his social media pages as they drove into the city.

Im going to say 3, 2, 1 and Im going to take it out as fast and controlled as possible, Balat told Kayumi of the explosive device, the document said. We light it, as soon as you see it going underhand, go in his direction, trying to aim at [the individual] and at his feet. And then run to the car. Together.

Balat said he estimated the devices could kill eight to 16 people at once, and up to 60 in a crowded area, the indictment said.

He also told Kayumi he wanted to start attacking police, prosecutors said. And if the attack didnt go as planned, they said, Balat suggested they could throw an explosive device into a nearby cafe.

Investigators later recovered a notebook from the teens vehicle that held even more ideas for terror, prosecutors said.

One plan involved an attack using a load bearing vehicle that was large in size and reasonably fast, they said. And the notebook listed alternate targets, such as festivals, parades, protests, and celebrations.

The indictment said investigators recovered explosive residue and bomb-making supplies from the Langhorne storage unit Balat and Kayumi rented days before the attack, including hydrogen peroxide  an ingredient used in highly unstable improvised explosives  as well as syringes, nuts and bolts, and a glass jar.

A note left on the floor in the center of the unit read: All praise is due to Alah!!! [D]ie in your rage ya kuffar.
Stephen Kamnik is escorted into a courtroom in the Montgomery County Courthouse on Wednesday. Read more

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A Havertown man pleaded guilty Wednesday to making thousands of pornographic, deepfake photos and videos of multiple women, including his relatives, a district court judge, and people he interacted with while working as a Pennsylvania State Police corporal stationed in Skippack.

Some of the photos found in his cache, prosecutors said Wednesday, were images depicting child pornography.

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Stephen Kamnik, 39, entered an open guilty plea to sexual abuse of children, unlawful use of a computer, wiretapping, official oppression, and related crimes before Montgomery County Court Judge Todd Eisenberg.

He also pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property for a .22-caliber pistol found in his vehicle that had previously been reported stolen.

His attorney, Charles Gibbs, declined to comment after the proceeding. Kamniks sentencing has been scheduled for July 8.

Kamnik, who has been a trooper since 2011, has been suspended without pay since his arrest last year, according to Senior Deputy Attorney General Jim Price, who prosecuted the case.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, in a statement Wednesday, said Kamniks crimes stain the great work being done by law enforcement every day in communities across the Commonwealth.

As part of his plea, Kamnik will have to register as a sex offender for 15 years, prosecutors said.

While searching Kamniks personal hard drive after his arrest last year, investigators discovered he had secretly recorded his coworkers and other women and filmed himself breaking into the womens locker room at the barracks to rifle through his coworkers underwear.

The investigation into Kamniks actions began in November 2024, when state police officials noticed that the computer assigned to him had been using an unusually high amount of internet bandwidth, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

Evidence on the computer showed that Kamnik had been connecting an external hard drive to it, on which they later learned he had been storing thousands of images of pornography, according to court filings.

Of those, 3,000 were deepfakes that Kamnik created by using AI image-generation tools to superimpose the photos of women  some he knew, some he had he met on the job  onto the bodies of naked women, the affidavit said.

To create those images, Kamnik used photos from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportations drivers license database, as well as mug shots and other images stored in a law enforcement database, according to court filings.

Other files found on the computer depicted videos that Kamnik surreptitiously recorded on his cell phone in which he filmed his female coworkers at the barracks, focusing on their genitals and buttocks, the affidavit said.

He also recorded videos of women he met while on duty, including women involved in domestic-violence investigations and assault cases, according to the document.
Gundolf Graml is the newly appointed president of Ursinus College. Read more

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The new president of Ursinus College is an Austrian-born scholar of German studies who authored the book Revisiting Austria, culminating his doctoral work at the University of Minnesota.

Hes an avid runner, biker, and hiker who likes to eat his meals among the students in Ursinus dining hall.

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Gundolf Graml previously was provost at Ursinus and became interim president in October before being named to the permanent role this week. He came to Ursinus from Agnes Scott College in Georgia, where he started as a faculty member and became associate vice president for curriculum and strategic initiatives over his nearly 16-year tenure. He previously taught at Bucknell University.

The only one in his immediate family to pursue higher education, he grew up on a farm in Austria. He got a masters degree in history at the University of Salzburg, and then came to the United States in 1998 and got his doctorate in German studies at the University of Minnesota.

Graml, 54, is married to Barbara Drescher, a visiting assistant professor of German Studies at Agnes Scott College and the couple has two children, a 16-year-old son and a 21-year-old daughter about to graduate from Georgia Tech.

Graml plans to move into the presidents house at Ursinus. His wife is still in Georgia, where the couples son is finishing high school.

He met his wife, who is from Germany, at the University of Minnesota.

We had to meet on neutral territory, he kidded.

Heres a closer look at Graml:

Whats your leadership philosophy in a sentence?

Be skeptical of people who have no doubt or who are overconfident.

Motto to live by?

Remain curious.

Last book read?

Ian McEwans What We Can Know

Favorite movie?

Stanley Kubricks 2001: A Space Odyssey

Favorite music?

Bruce Springsteen

Favorite dessert?

Creme brulee

Favorite vacation spot?

The Alps
Sophia Bassan has endured post-mastectomy pain syndrome, estimated to affect thousands of U.S. women each year. With no clear treatment, Bassan and others have experimented with options such as the nerve stimulation machine pictured here. (Amy Maxmen/KFF Health News) Read more

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Three weeks after Sophia Bassans mastectomy, she felt a stabbing pain beneath her right armpit. In the following months, painful shocks radiated through her chest and back. Her body became so sensitive that at times she couldnt wear a shirt or lift a fork to her mouth.

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Bassan slept sitting up because it hurt to lie down, and she would flinch at the slightest touch.

I remember thinking I was losing my mind, said Bassan, 43. One time I was in so much pain that I had to take off my top, and then my cats tail brushed against my back. I screamed.

Mastectomies are lifesaving surgeries that remove a patients breasts to treat breast cancer, which affects 1 in 8 American women over their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society. Some women also undergo mastectomies as a preventive measure after a genetic test shows they have an increased risk for breast cancer.

In the months following surgery, many women are afflicted by post-mastectomy pain syndrome, or PMPS, which spans from uncomfortable to disabling and can last years.

Yet PMPS is inconsistently diagnosed and treated, leaving women like Bassan in agony as they hunt for relief and struggle to find doctors who take their pain seriously, according to a KFF Health News review of peer-reviewed research studies and interviews with pain specialists, surgeons, patients, and patient advocates.

Another problem is that PMPS is poorly defined, which contributes to the wide range of estimates for how common it is, reaching as high as more than 50% of mastectomy patients, according to studies. Even the low-end estimates, around 10%, would amount to tens of thousands of women.

PMPS care could improve if lawmakers pass the Advancing Womens Health Coverage Act, which was introduced in October to ensure insurance coverage after breast cancer treatment, including preventive mastectomies. The bill, which does not mention PMPS by name, covers complications including chronic pain. More research would help, but pain research has long been fractured across several medical specialties and, more recently, has been undermined by the administration of President Donald Trump, who last year proposed deep cuts to research funding at the National Institutes of Health. After Congress rejected those cuts earlier this year, the White House slowed the release of NIH grant money, hindering ongoing and future scientific research.

Ive known women whove had chronic pain  itching, burning, stabbing pain  for years after mastectomies, said Kathy Steligo, an author of multiple books on breast cancer who said she has spoken with hundreds of patients. Of all the problems, that is probably the one least talked about by surgeons.

Four mastectomy patients interviewed by KFF Health News told similar stories. In separate interviews, patients said their presurgery consultations did not raise the possibility of post-mastectomy pain syndrome, although each said they had signed forms that may have disclosed the chance of this complication. All said that they felt blindsided by the chronic pain, and some said their doctors dismissed their symptoms.

Women dont know about this, and when they have complications, the doctors act like it is so rare, like theyre so baffled, Bassan said. But this is statistically predictable.

Jennifer Drubin Clark, 42, struggled with pain after her mastectomy in 2018, and it worsened after reconstructive breast surgery in 2019.

But her surgeon seemed to focus only on the appearance of her breast implants, she said.

I couldnt play the piano. I wanted to blow-dry my hair, but I couldnt hold my arm above my head for more than two seconds. I couldnt hold my kids, Clark said. Everything made me cry.

Pain often dismissed

Breast cancer survival rates have steadily increased since the 1980s thanks to improved cancer screening, genetic testing, better treatments, and a rise in mastectomy surgeries.

Post-mastectomy pain syndrome is a consequence of that success, according to recent research papers from anesthesiologists at Baylor University in Texas and surgeons in Chicago and New York. Both papers called for an increased focus on PMPS so that breast cancer patients cannot only live longer but live well.

In the past, when concern was predominantly on patient survival, this pain was often considered acceptable, plastic surgeons Jonathan Bank and Maureen Beederman wrote in a 2021 paper, adding that mastectomies and other breast surgeries should be considered truly successful only if patients are pain-free.

Treatment for post-mastectomy pain has a long way to go, said anesthesiologist Sean Mackey, who leads the pain medicine division at Stanford University. Mackey said this undertreated condition has no consistent definition for diagnosis, no standardized screening, and no treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Even the name is a misnomer, Mackey said, since the same pain can arise among women whove had other procedures, including lumpectomies and lymph node surgeries.

The condition was historically dismissed, Mackey said. Basically women were told: Youre lucky to be alive. Some pain is expected. Suck it up and deal with it.

That attitude has been slow to change, he said.

Bank, a New York surgeon who founded a clinic focused on post-mastectomy pain, said the pain is believed to be triggered by nerves that are severed during surgery and then left that way.

The nerves can be sutured back together to minimize pain, Bank said, but most breast surgeons havent been trained to do this. So it is not surprising, he said, that some patients say their surgeons were dismissive of their pain after mastectomies.

When doctors dont have an answer or dont know the solution, the easiest thing to do is say there is no problem, Bank said.

PMPS has been documented among cancer patients since the 1970s. Although the condition does not have an official definition, many researchers describe it as frequent pain in the chest, shoulder, arm, or armpit lasting at least three months after surgery.

Mastectomies intended to prevent breast cancer have become more common among women with elevated risks, including genetic mutations and a family history of the disease.

Bassans grandmother died of breast cancer when she was 40. After her father died of cancer in 2023, a genetic test showed that she was at risk. Grieving and afraid, Bassan sought a preventive mastectomy without hesitation, she said.

Bassan said she was also inspired by actor Angelina Jolie, who disclosed her own preventive mastectomy in a 2013 column in The New York Times. Her account had such a significant impact on rates of genetic testing and preventive mastectomies that medical researchers have studied what they call the Angelina Jolie effect.

I was really swayed by that, Bassan said. She made it sound, in a way, quite effortless.

The aftermath of Bassans surgery was far worse than she expected. Using a computer for hours triggered paralyzing pain, so she lost her job and has been out of work for more than a year. Prescription pills dulled the pain but left her in a fog, she said. Desperate, she consulted with multiple doctors until one suggested a nerve stimulation machine, which provided fleeting relief.

About nine months after her mastectomy, a breast reconstruction surgery lessened Bassans pain, although she said it still returns in occasional waves. Even though her surgeries were covered by insurance, Bassan estimated her pain has cost her more than $200,000 in lost wages and drained savings.

I did not expect to pay this price to have this surgery, Bassan said. I dont know if it was worth it.

Other women have no real choice.

No gold standard solution

Jeni Golomb, 48, was diagnosed with stage 2 cancer in both breasts in 2023 and had a double mastectomy as soon as she could.

Doctors made boilerplate disclosures of possible complications, Golomb said, but she never heard the words post-mastectomy pain syndrome until after she had it.

Golomb now manages her chronic pain by taking 1,500 milligrams a day of gabapentin, an antiseizure drug that can also be used to treat nerve pain. Golomb said she expects to take the drug for years. If she misses a dose, her pain comes roaring back.

It was the worst pain I ever felt, Golomb said. I labored to 10 centimeters, unmedicated, with one of my children, and that was not as bad as this. It was excruciating.

Gabapentin has proved effective at helping some mastectomy patients with stubborn pain, while others have responded to electrodes implanted in their spinal column, according to the Baylor study, published in 2024.

But that study also said there is no current gold standard for how to treat post-mastectomy pain and a scarcity of high-level evidence for what treatments are effective.

Baylor anesthesiologist Krishna Shah, who co-authored the report, said many patients eventually find a helpful treatment, but it often takes a bit of trial and error to identify what works for each.

And sometimes they never find it.

Susan Dishell, 67, said that after her 2017 mastectomy for breast cancer and reconstruction surgery, she struggled for five years with pain in both shoulders, plus a burning sensation that her medical records identified as nerve pain.

Another surgery swapped out her breast implants to erase her shoulder pain in 2022, Dishell said, but doctors warned her then that her other pain was unlikely to improve.

Since then, she has tried prescription drugs, steroid injections, CBD oil, acupuncture, physical therapy, and chiropractor treatments.

None of it worked, she said, so she stopped trying.

I have not slept through the night since Ive had this, Dishell said. But its OK. Its not the most terrible price to pay to not have breast cancer.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.
A lot of aging well could be out of our control, but that doesn't mean to give up taking care of ourselves. (Sorapop Udomsri/Dreamstime/TNS) Read more

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Uri Alon was long puzzled by a textbook statistic: Longevity, the thinking went, was about 20% in our genes.

That makes you think whats the rest of the 80%: Is it the lifestyle? Why should we study genes for life span if its not that important? It kind of bothered me, said Alon, a physicist turned systems biologist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.

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Alon uses mathematical models to understand complicated biological problems, and he and his colleagues built one to reexamine the factors that define the contours of human life span in a Science study published earlier this year.

The original studies that were used to estimate how much of life span was inherited were studies of Scandinavian twins from the tail end of the 19th century.

During that era, extrinsic mortality  deaths that arent related to the deterioration of aging, such as accidents, violence, or deaths from infections that are now uncommon because of better nutrition, therapies, and hygiene  was high.

His team examined a database of Swedish twins born later, between 1900 and 1935, and found that these extrinsic deaths were masking the inherited component of life span. When they applied their model, designed to remove extrinsic deaths, to databases of Scandinavian twins and the siblings of people who lived to at least 100, the heritability of life span markedly increased  to about half.

It isnt that the old studies were wrong: They were focused on longevity in a different era, a generation born between 1870 and 1900. At that time, people died of pneumonia and tuberculosis, and not a lot of people made it to their 40s, Alon said. In that situation, who cares how long your parents lived? Genes dont have a chance.

Nir Barzilai, director of the Institute for Aging Research at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, who was not involved in the study, pointed to his own family history. His grandfather had a heart attack and died at the age of 68. His father had a heart attack at the same age, but had a triple bypass surgery and lived to 84.

Do the father and the son live the same amount of years? No, because if you look at fathers and sons, what happens in between is progress in medicine, Barzilai said.

If half of lifespan is inherited, what does that mean?

In hindsight, it is perhaps obvious that genes play a major role in determining life span.

As humans, we live very different lives than other organisms, and the difference between you and me, a mouse or a bowhead whale, or a bristlecone pine that lives 5,000 years, or the yeast in dough that lives 13 days, the real difference is the genes, said Morten Scheibye-Knudsen, an associate professor focused on aging research at the University of Copenhagen who was not involved in the study.

But because previous studies had suggested human life span was only 10% to 30% heritable, that in some way gave us some liberty in imagining we could live to become very old, and we had control and were masters of our own aging, Scheibye-Knudsen added. The new study resets the discussion, showing that both genetics and environment are important.

Thomas Perls, a longevity researcher at Boston University and the founding director of the New England Centenarian Study, agrees that genetics plays a major role in life span, but that it depends on what age you are talking about.

At the very extremes of old age  people who live to 105 or even 110  genetics plays a major role in life span. But Perls points to a 2018 study in the journal Circulation suggesting that even without winning the genetic lottery, an average person can probably get to about 88 years old as a man, and 93 years old as a woman. That depends on embracing good health-related behaviors. He notes that socio-economic advantages contribute, too: access to healthcare, education, healthy food.

I think that the average human being and the average genetic makeup provide resilience and resistance to aging, better than people have thought in the past, Perls said.

Alon thinks of it as a genetic set point. How old our parents and grandparents were when they died has some effect on the probability of how long we live. Healthy habits can add years, but the upside is less pronounced than bad habits, which can shear decades off a life span.

How should we live?

Dont give up!

For scientists searching for longevity-related genes, the new evidence underscores the urgency to look for the biological mechanisms behind very long life span. A deeper understanding of the hundreds of tiny variations in genes that influence life span could provide targets for drugs that could influence aging.

But Alon still eats salad and swims. While several longevity scientists gave different numbers for how many years healthy living could add to an individuals life trajectory, from five to 20, they all agreed there was some play in the system. Whats clearer is that unhealthy behaviors can sharply decrease it.

What is your starting point? You actually dont know that. We have no way of measuring that, Scheibye-Knudsen said. So unfortunately  or fortunately, depending on how you look at it  that means you should not smoke, you should drink moderately, and eat your vegetables.
ICE, Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security at Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal D/E TSA screen area on Tuesday, March 24, 2026. Read more

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents that were deployed to Philadelphia International Airport last month amid the Department of Homeland Security shutdown are set to leave as soon as Thursday.

Tracy Borda, the airports chief financial officer and interim CEO, discussed the ICE agents expected departure during a Philadelphia City Council budget hearing Wednesday.

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The good news is were at a point where were told that as of tomorrow, we wont have any more ICE officers at the airport. They should be gone, said Borda. Theyre not needed in Philadelphia, and my understanding is at this point, theyll be gone tomorrow.

Those in attendance at the hearing could be heard applauding.

ICE agents had been sent to PHL and other airports across the country during the DHS shutdown. TSA agents were expected to continue working through the shutdown without pay, so many called out, and travelers waited in long lines to pass through security checkpoints.

The ICE employees sent to PHL were really well trained and very supportive of queue management, reminding passengers how to go through the security checkpoint, said Borda.

Throughout ICEs deployment to PHL, we really had no issues, Borda said.

Asked about the financial impact of closing down three security checkpoints during the shutdown, Borda noted that she was not aware of any material impacts.

PHL also closed a security checkpoints during the previous partial government shutdown which began in October 2025.

Sadly, weve had to do this twice in the last year, said Borda.

Throughout the recent DHS shutdown, Borda said, Philadelphia was not hit as hard as other airports with regard to TSA employees calling out and traveler wait times at security checkpoints. While the wait time hit 50 minutes at one point at PHL, she said, it hovered around 20 minutes typically. You saw incredibly long wait times elsewhere, she noted.

In her remarks to Council, Borda thanked TSA agents for continuing to work despite the shutdown.

Federal employees at our airports have continued their hard work during the budget impasse, said Borda. We applaud these dedicated employees for their service to the PHL airport community and for doing an outstanding job keeping PHL wait times below the national average.

Borda said she was not aware of any arrests being made by ICE at the airport.

Council President Kenyatta Johnson asked Borda what the airport has done to ensure immigrant employees felt safe with ICE agents around. Borda answered that she sent a letter to the all of PHLs badged employees, which number more than 17,000, when she learned of planned ICE deployments, to calm everybodys fears.

The letter, Borda said, conveyed, were going to continue to do the job that we do every day, and were going to continue to do it really well, and were here for you.

There was not a significant increase in the number of airport employees calling out of work during ICEs deployment, she said. We operated well during that time, said Borda.

Proposed spending for PHL improvements

On Tuesday, the citys Department of Aviation presented its $599.5 million proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year. It is looking to spend about $30 million more than it will this year.

The department manages PHL and Philadelphia Northeast Airport, and operates without local tax dollars. The departments operating expenses are funded by revenue streams including aircraft landing fees, terminal building rentals, concessions revenue, and other facility charges.

The airport is focused on updating terminals and other facilities, advancing sustainability efforts, and the goal of connecting PHL to more international destinations, Borda said.

The new proposed budget includes attempts to reduce friction in stressful areas, such as parking, security, construction zones, and arrivals, in order to improve the experience of those navigating through the airport, according to prepared remarks. The department also plans to install additional electric vehicle chargers.

Were on the tail end of the busy spring break season and about to enter the busiest summer in our history, said Borda.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia airports $500 million upgrade means more bathrooms, new terminal exits, and more

An influx of visitors is expected in Philadelphia this year for the FIFA World Cup soccer games, the MLB All-Star Game, and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, among other events. The airport has made upgrades in anticipation, allocating $500 million for improvements. Almost 85% of those improvements were complete as of March, according to the department.

Im confident you will be proud of the work our team has done, said Borda.
The home on the 5000 block of Walton Avenue in West Philadelphia was blocked off with police tape the day after a quadruple shooting in 2019. Maurice Louis, 29, was charged in the shooting deaths of his mother, his stepfather, and two brothers. Read more

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A Philadelphia jury found a hospital system and a behavioral health management firm responsible for the 2019 murders of four family members by a relative who had been previously diagnosed with schizophrenia, issuing a $39.5 million verdict Tuesday.

When Maurice Louis, 35, was involuntarily committed to Mercy Philadelphias psychiatric ward in 2018, Mercy hospitals and Texas-based Horizon Health Management LLC failed to submit paperwork that would have prevented him from obtaining a gun.

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And when Louis mother, Janet Woodson, took her son to Mercy Fitzgerald in Delaware County the night before the massacre after he stopped taking his medications and behaved erratically, he was not seen by a psychiatrist and was allowed to leave.

The next day, on Oct. 29, 2019, he bought a shotgun and killed 51-year-old Woodson; her husband, 56-year-old Leslie Holmes; and Louis two half-brothers, 18-year-old Sy-eed Woodson and 7-year-old Leslie Woodson, in their West Philadelphia home.

Louis pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in 2023 and was sentenced to 40 to 80 years in prison.

An Inquirer investigation in the aftermath of the murders found that Mercy Fitzgerald did not have documentation that Louis had been evaluated by the psychiatric crisis center at the hospital. On the night before the killings, Louis told a nurse that he did not have suicidal thoughts and was not interested in talking to a psychiatrist. The hospital record notes the on-call psychiatrist, who did not see Louis, said to let him go.

The jury awarded $9.5 million in compensatory damages and $30 million in punitive damages. Mercy settled the case before trial for an undisclosed sum, so it will not need to pay its share of the verdict. Horizon, which Mercy contracted to support its mental-health programs, is on the hook for over $18 million.

Neither Trinity Mid-Atlantic, owner of Mercy Philadelphia (which has since closed) and Mercy Fitzgerald, nor the attorney for Horizon responded to a request for comment.

 READ MORE: Mother sought help for son a day before he allegedly killed his family in West Philly

At the onset of the two-week trial in Common Pleas Court, Horizons attorney, William Mahoney of Stradley Ronon, attempted to cast the blame on Mercy. Hospital staff should have submitted the gun form in 2018, and hospital staff cleared Louis the night before the killings.

It was the hospital that failed to deliver proper care to Mr. Louis, not Horizon, Mahoney told the jurors in his opening argument, according to court transcripts.

Horizon was connected to the events only through a 2016 service agreement to assist Mercy in the operation of hospital programs in a purely administrative capacity, Mahoney said.

But the failure by Mercy that led to the tragedy was not one of personnel, Jeffrey Goodman, a Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky attorney who represented the estates of Janet Woodson and Sy-eed Woodson, told jurors, according to court transcripts.

This was a failure of the program, program with a capital P, that Horizon created, managed, and implemented, the attorney said.

The sad irony is that Horizon was brought in to help Mercy improve its behavioral health services, but it was while the company was under contract that the gun paperwork was not submitted and Louis was let go without seeing a psychiatrist, said Colin Burke of Kline & Specter, who represented the estates of Leslie Holmes and Leslie Woodson.

Their fingerprints are all over every aspect of the psychiatric services provided by these two hospitals, he said following the verdict.
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District attorney Clay Fuller won a special election runoff to fill fellow Republican Marjorie Taylor Greenes former U.S. House seat, the Associated Press projected Tuesday, widening the GOPs House majority.

He defeated Democrat Shawn Harris, a retired Army general who ran against Greene in 2024 and spurred hopes among some in his party that he could galvanize voters for an upset in the deeply conservative district. But unofficial returns show Harris significantly reducing his margin of defeat, the latest sign that voters are dissatisfied with Republican leadership and rewarding Democrats at the ballot box.

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In the end, voters in the northwest Georgia district stayed true to their reliably red roots. Fuller, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, will serve out the remainder of Greenes term, which ends in January. He must win a primary and November general election to serve a full two-year term.

After Greene stepped down following a public split from Trump, Georgias 14th Congressional District morphed into a critical test of Trumps power during a midterm election season where he has tried to bolster the Republican majorities in Congress, key to advancing his legislative agenda. Trump voiced his support for Fuller both online and on the ground in Georgia this year, propping him up as a candidate with shared priorities.

When the March special election with 17 candidates advanced to a runoff between Fuller and Harris, Trump urged Georgians to turn out this week.

Now we have to be careful and finish it off, he wrote in a March 11 Truth Social post.

In a speech following his win, Fuller said he would have Trumps back each and every day on Capitol Hill. Addressing his constituents, Fuller added, Like President Trump said, I will never let you down.

Democrats took solace in unofficial returns showing Harris on track to lose by 12 percentage points compared with his 29-point loss to Greene in 2024. Democrats have consistently overperformed in elections held since Trump returned to the White House, a warning sign to Republicans trying to protect their majorities in Congress in November.

Harris told the Washington Post on Tuesday night that he was proud of his early numbers showing thinning margins. He called his performance a win for Democrats and said the party should use his case as an example of how they can compete in traditionally red districts.

They need to get behind candidates like me instead of just saying they cant win, said Harris, a farmer who cited his town halls and attention to rural voters as campaign assets.

In a statement to the Post, the Fuller campaign said, there are no moral victories in politics. Losers dont get to vote in Congress.

Once a fierce Trump ally and MAGA icon, Greene announced her resignation in November following a spate of public feuds with the president, including over foreign policy, healthcare subsidies and the release of the Epstein files. Those disputes led Trump to revoke his endorsement of Greene. Greene has become one of Trumps most vocal critics, calling Tuesday for his removal from office over his warning to Iran that a whole civilization will die.

For special elections in Georgia, all candidates run on the same ballot regardless of party. That rule probably helped Harris  who received the largest share of votes with 37%  advance to the runoff, because Republican votes were split among GOP candidates. Fuller received 34% of the vote, and Colton Moore, a former Georgia state senator who was also a top conservative contender, trailed with 11% of the vote.

When Trump endorsed Fuller in February, he wrote that the district attorney was supported by the most Highly Respected MAGA Warriors in Georgia.

Meanwhile, Harris hoped to gather support from Democrats, independents, and disaffected Republicans for a meaningful showing in the race. The weekend after the March 10 special election, former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg showed up in Rome, Ga., to campaign for Harris, casting him as a candidate who could bring the concerns of the districts working class to Washington.

In May, Harris as well as Fuller, Moore, and other Republican candidates who ran to replace Greene will appear on Georgias primary ballot for a full two-year term representing the 14th District.
Pro-government demonstrators chant slogans as they hold Iranian flags and a poster of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in a gathering after announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war with the United States and Israel, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, Square, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Read more

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DUBIAI, United Arab Emirates  Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour deal that headed off U.S. President Donald Trumps threat to unleash a bombing campaign to destroy Iranian civilization. But hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks Wednesday.

It was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal, which U.S. Vice President JD Vance called fragile.

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Even before the new attacks, much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

 Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial transit lane for oil. But the details were not clear, nor was whether ships would feel safe using it. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition.

 Pakistan, which helped to mediate the deal, and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Israel said it would not, and strikes hit Beirut on Wednesday.

 The fate of Irans missile and nuclear programs  the elimination of which were major objectives for the U.S. and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed: Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers! after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags.

The chants underscored the anger animating hard-liners, who have been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptic battle with the United States. Trump warned Tuesday that a whole civilization will die tonight, if a deal wasnt reached.

Varying reports of ceasefires terms

Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war the U.S. launched with Israel on Feb. 28. But when a version in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  which is key to building a nuclear weapon  Trump called it fraudulent without elaborating.

Vance later said the deal was being misrepresented within Iran, though he did not offer details.

Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions, and the release of its frozen assets.

In his post Wednesday, Trump said: We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran.

Its not clear if other Western nations would agree to that  and the other points are likely nonstarters.

Pakistan said that talks to hammer out a permanent end to the war could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday.

Israel backed the U.S. ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday that the deal does not cover fighting against Hezbollah.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilize every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Loud booms could be heard throughout Beirut, and smoke rose from several points. It was not immediately clear what was targeted.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though the group has said it was open to giving mediators a chance to secure an agreement. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the group would not stop firing at Israel unless Israel agreed to do the same.

Iran and Oman will collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

While Iran could not match the sophistication of U.S. and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its ability to control the Strait of Hormuz since the war began proved a tremendous strategic advantage: Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

That has roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge ships, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit and will likely not be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management  further clouding the picture of who would be allowed to transit the waterway.

News of the ceasefire sent stock markets surging worldwide, and oil prices plunged back toward $90 per barrel.

Fate of Irans nuclear and missile programs remains unclear

U.S.-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not entirely eliminated the threats posed by Tehrans nuclear program, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah. The U.S. and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. would work with Iran to dig up and remove enriched uranium that was buried under joint U.S-Israeli strikes in June. He added that none of the material had been touched since. Any retrieval is expected to be an intensive undertaking.

There was no confirmation from Iran on that.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that the U.S. would do something like last Junes joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if the country refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Tehran insisted for years that its nuclear program was peaceful, although it enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Iran referred to its nuclear program differently in two versions of the ceasefire plan that it released. The version in Farsi included the phrase acceptance of enrichment for its nuclear program. That phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats with journalists.

Hegseth said the U.S. military has done its part for now but stands ready to ensure Iran complies all the ceasefires terms.

Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, said more than 13,000 targets have been struck in Iran, destroying 80% of the countrys air defense systems and attacking 90% of its weapons factories.

More than 90% of Irans regular naval fleet has been sunk, including all major surface combatants with 150 ships now at the bottom of the ocean, Caine told reporters at a Pentagon briefing.

Airstrikes reported in the hours after the deal is announced

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television. Its report said that firefighters were working to contain the blaze but no one had been hurt. It did not say who launched the attack.

The island is home to one of the terminals that Iran uses to export oil and gas.

A short time later, the United Arab Emirates air defenses fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage. Kuwaits military forces, meanwhile, responded to an extensive wave of drone attacks.

Kuwaiti authorities said three power and water desalination plants have been severely damaged after 28 Iranian drones were launched on the oil-rich country Wednesday.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the wars toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed. and 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.
Pro-government demonstrators chant slogans as they hold Iranian flags and a poster of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in a gathering after announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war with the United States and Israel, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, Square, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Read more

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TEHRAN, Iran  A ceasefire deal to pause the war in Iran appeared to hang by a thread Wednesday after the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The White House demanded that the channel be reopened and sought to keep peace talks on track.

The U.S. and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. At the same time, Israel intensified its attacks on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning. At least 182 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

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The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what U.S. Vice President JD Vance called a fragile deal.

Parliament speaker accuses U.S. of breaking Irans conditions

The Iranian parliament speaker said planned talks with the U.S. to seek a permanent halt to hostilities were unreasonable because Washington broke three of Tehrans 10 conditions for an end to the fighting. In a social media post, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf objected to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace after the ceasefire went into effect, and the U.S. assertion that it will not accept any Iranian enrichment capabilities in a final agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that an end to the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal with the U.S. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon.

The world sees the massacres in Lebanon, Araghchi said in a post on X. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.

Lebanons health ministry said Israeli strikes killed 182 people on Wednesday, the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the closing of the strait reported in Iranian state media was completely unacceptable. She repeated Trumps expectation and demand that the channel be reopened.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a capital V military victory and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to U.S. forces or the region. The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the U.S. to accept its proposed conditions and surrender.

Much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the strait, a crucial transit lane for oil. But the details were not clear, nor was it known whether vessels would feel safe using the channel or whether ship traffic had resumed. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition. The White House said Trump is opposed to tolls for ship passage through the strait.

Only 11 vessels moved through the strait Wednesday, roughly the same as in prior days, according to Windward, a maritime intelligence firm. Iran was requiring shippers to pay tolls of up to $1 a barrel for outbound oil, it said. The largest supertankers carry up to 3 million barrels of crude.

The fate of Irans missile and nuclear programs  the elimination of which were major objectives for the U.S. and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

White House looks ahead to peace talks

Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28. But when a version in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  which is key to building a nuclear weapon  Trump called it fraudulent without elaborating.

Vance later said the deal was being misrepresented within Iran, though he did not offer details.

Leavitt said Irans original, 10-point plan was fundamentally unserious, unacceptable, and completely discarded. But a new, 15-point plan Iran presented Tuesday could now align with our own proposal for peace, she said.

The White House also said Vance would lead the American negotiating team in talks in Pakistan aimed at finding a permanent end to the war. Pakistan said the talks could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday.

Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions, and the release of its frozen assets.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterress personal envoy arrived in Iran for talks on the way forward.

Meanwhile, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilize every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli attacks as barbaric. Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of persistently seeking to sabotage the Iran ceasefire deal.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though the group has said it was open to giving mediators a chance to secure an agreement. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the group would not stop firing at Israel unless Israel agreed to do the same.

Iran and Oman could collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from using the strait, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime. That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge ships, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit. Such a shift would likely be unacceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

Irans nuclear and missile threats survive

U.S.-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not entirely eliminated the threats posed by Tehrans nuclear program, its ballistic missiles, or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah. The U.S. and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to dig up and remove enriched uranium that was buried under joint U.S-Israeli strikes in June. He added that none of the material had been touched since. There was no confirmation from Iran.

Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that the U.S. would do something like last Junes joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if the country refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Netanyahu warned in a televised address that his country was ready to return to fighting at any time. Our finger is on the trigger.

Tehran insisted for years that its nuclear program was peaceful, although it enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Airstrikes reported after ceasefire announcement

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television.

A short time later, the UAEs air defenses fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage. Kuwait said three power and water desalination plants were badly damaged after 28 Iranian drones were launched at the country. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the wars toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,700 people have been killed, and 1 million people have been displaced. Twelve Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.
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The Trump administration is expected to significantly scale back its plan to seek additional funding for the war in Iran ahead of what is likely to be a contentious fight over the request in Congress, according to U.S. officials and others familiar with the matter.

The total, which as of Tuesday had not been finalized, is likely to fall between $80 billion and $100 billion, said two U.S. officials, speaking like others on the condition of anonymity to discuss the negotiations. That sum would be less than half of the more than $200 billion that the Pentagon initially proposed to the White House last month.

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It was not immediately clear when the administration would send its proposal to lawmakers, who ultimately will decide how much additional funding, if any, to approve.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday evening that he had agreed to suspend U.S. attacks on Iran  pending Tehrans immediate reopening of a vital shipping route for Middle Eastern oil  for two weeks while talks aimed at ending the conflict proceed. The Defense Department has spent tens of billions of dollars building up and sustaining its operations while burning through its finite supply of certain advanced weaponry.

Spokespeople for the Pentagon and the White House Office of Management and Budget did not respond to requests for comment.

The reduced dollar figure is largely a result of the administrations record-breaking annual defense budget request, released last week, which calls for $1.5 trillion in total defense spending next year, the officials said. A portion of the request, $350 billion, would be spun off into a third bill meant to pass through a party-line process in Congress. That one-time funding would go toward energizing the United States defense-industrial base and building critical munitions for the military.

The original Iran war proposal that sought more than $200 billion in supplemental funding was written before the Pentagon knew how large the annual budget request would be, said one of the two officials familiar with the administrations plans. The earlier proposal included tens of billions of dollars for the U.S. defense industry, requested investments now contained in the overall budget, the person said.

It is unclear whether the Iran war supplemental request and the annual budget request overlap.

The Trump administrations pursuit of such a substantial sum of money, spread across three separate bills, could prove difficult for Congress, especially ahead of the November midterm elections.

The lower supplemental of $80 billion to $100 billion, if approved, would mainly pay for the cost of surging so many forces to the Middle East, recovering from battle damage sustained during the war, and for long-term contracts to quickly ramp up production of munitions, including some of those used to strike the more than 13,000 targets hit in Iran so far, according to both officials.

Erik Raven, a former Democratic clerk for the Senate subcommittee on defense spending, said that supplemental requests are meant only to cover costs that could not have been foreseen in the Pentagons existing funding, such as increased military pay or rising fuel costs  but not evergreen priorities.

Democrats see the Iran supplemental request as a rare point of leverage in their opposition to the war and have pledged to fight it. Republicans have mostly backed the conflict, which Trump began without the consent of lawmakers, though some GOP members expressed skepticism that the original $200 billion request would have been viable.

Late last week, Sen. John Curtis (R-Utah) wrote in an op-ed that he would not support an Iran war supplemental without Congress having the opportunity to weigh in, in a potential sign of tenuous GOP support for the war, which has now entered its sixth week.

The request would come as the Pentagon continues to surge resources to the Middle East. The military has burned through scarce munitions during the war, including more than 850 Tomahawk cruise missiles and 1,000 air defense interceptors, The Washington Post has reported. The rate of fire has concerned some officials in the Pentagon fearful that the military is eroding its readiness for potential future conflicts, according to people familiar with the matter.

Sen. Chris Coons (Delaware), the top Democrat on the Senates subcommittee on defense spending, said in an interview that the war was costing well over $1 billion a day, easily putting its total price tag at more than $40 billion so far.

Stacie Pettyjohn, who directs the defense program at the Center for a New American Security, a think tank, said that even the reduced supplemental request would be a test of the wars popularity, though the need to restock Americas inventory of air defense interceptors caused by the conflict would pose a difficult choice for pro-military Democrats.

Still, the enormous request for defense spending could be a political liability for Republicans, too, she said.

It is pretty eye-wateringly large, Pettyjohn said.

The more than $80 billion expected to form the supplemental budget request would almost certainly surpass the core costs of the Iran war, said Travis Sharp, who studies defense spending at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

Dividing the administrations total defense-related request into multiple bills may also add uncertainty to the defense budget, Sharp said. Last year, the process drew criticism from lawmakers, even among Republicans supportive of higher military spending, who complained that the Trump administrations approach was confusing and at times error-prone.

The two officials familiar with the administrations plans said that the aim is to try to pass the Iran supplemental before Congress takes its recess in August. The annual defense budget process would then follow, split into two bills.

Ellen Nakashima contributed to this report.
An aerial view on April 22, 2025, of the Jones Road Wildfire impacting Ocean and Lacey townships in Ocean County, N.J. Read more

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Spring may green New Jerseys forests, but it also primes them for wildfires and state officials are watching to see if it flares into another intense season.

We are anticipating another active fire year, Greg McLaughlin, the states Administrator for Forests and Natural Lands, said Tuesday at a press briefing on the wildfire season.

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New Jersey Forest Fire Service Chief William Donnelly said officials cant predict how bad this wildfire season will be, but it typically peaks from mid-March through mid-May.

So far, it has been mild compared to 2025.

To date this year, 201 wildfires have been reported, burning through 154 acres, Donnelly said.

By this time in 2025, the state had already experienced 537 wildfires, including the massive Jones Road Wildfire that burned 15,000 acres in Ocean County and took 20 days to contain.

In all, 1,322 wildfires burned through 27,230 acres in 2025.

In a typical year, 1,100 wildfires will burn 5,000 acres.

Wildfire season is growing

Spring is prime time for fires because there are so few leaves on trees, which contain moisture that can slow the spread of a blaze. At the same time, low humidity and dry air masses tend to dominate with strong wind gusts.

This past winter was marked by snow cover that helped suppress fires, and kept people inside. People are the number one cause of wildfires.

Donnelly said the length of wildfire season is increasing in the state.

He cited a 2025 analysis by the research nonprofit Climate Central found the number of annual wildfire weather days has increased over the past 50 years by 11 days in the northern part of New Jersey and five days in the southern.

Despite the snow we had over the winter, the forest remains dry, and the risk is real, Donnelly said. Ultimately, Mother Nature will have the final say on what this spring fire season will hold.

Donnelly noted that the forecast is calling for little or no rain for the next week or longer.

Camden, Burlington, and Gloucester Counties were listed as in moderate drought by the U.S. Drought Monitor before Sundays rain. Most of the rest of the state was listed as abnormally dry. The U.S. Drought Monitor, a joint effort of the federal government and University of Nebraska-Lincoln, produces a map each Thursday.

Fire officials say the states first new fire tower in 78 years will help monitor hot spots in Ocean County. Veterans Tower in Jackson, Ocean County, is 133 feet tall and designed to act as a sentinel for 516,000 residents and 200,000 homes.

Pinelands at risk

New Jersey is more prone to wildfire than some other states because of its vast tracts of unbroken forest, such as in the 1.1 million-acre Pinelands regions.

Pinelands soils are acidic and forest debris accumulates without readily decomposing. The highly permeable acidic soils in the Pinelands also have a low capacity to hold water, often resulting in dry soil.

Highly flammable pitch pine thrive under those conditions. Together, the presence of highly flammable vegetation, accumulation of dry leaves and branches, and dry soil conditions make the area a tinder box.

Not only that, but pitch pines have adapted to the environment and depend on periodic wildfires to release seeds for reproduction.

New Jersey fire officials use controlled burns in winter to get rid of tinder thats built up on the forest floor. They use handheld torches to set smaller fires to burn away fallen leaves, pine needles, fallen branches and other debris.

But they are limited at times because of weather, especially during droughts. Normally, they target 20,000 to 25,000 a year. After a long drought in 2024, fire crews were only able to complete about 4,000 acres, the lowest amount in 25 years.

This year, only about 8,600 acres have gotten controlled burns due to snow.
The profile of Dr Regina C. Speaker on Montgomery County Intermediate Units website. Read more

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During a March 26 meeting of the Souderton Area School Districts board of directors, board member Kim Wheeler alleged that an Inquirer journalist right now is under investigation with the Philadelphia police for misleading information, and reporting on inaccurate information.

But Sgt. Eric Gripp, a Philadelphia police spokesperson, said that the department does not conduct criminal investigations into journalists for their reporting, which falls squarely under protected speech and free press rights under the First Amendment.

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Wheelers allegation concerned a March 18 Inquirer story that showed top leaders of the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit had used public funds to pay for about $40,000 worth of professional-development travel to three continents, including a 14-day African safari.

Wheeler said during the meeting that she had spoken to Regina Speaker, the intermediate units executive director, who had gone on some of the international trips, and that definitely a lot was taken out of context.

Yet Speaker had not requested a correction on the story, which was written by William Bender. Wheeler did not mention Bender during the meeting by name.

On Tuesday, Wheeler walked back her remarks about the police investigation.

In an email, she wrote that her statement was not as accurate as she thought and was based on information that Speaker had provided the MCIU board, of which Wheeler is also a member.

I will say that when we were first told that the writer was under investigation, details were not shared and I was going by the word of Dr. Speaker, said Wheeler, a Republican.

She added that she plans to clarify her comments at the next Souderton school board meeting, and noted that an ad hoc committee is being formed to investigate the MCIU trips.

I do not believe the districts should have paid for these trips and would like to make sure this does not happen again, especially after learning how many of the MCIU staff members dont have enough supplies for their students and have had to pay out of their own pocket for actual professional development training, Wheeler said.

The MCIU, a state-mandated agency, has a $198 million budget and 848 employees, and provides support services to more than 200 public and private schools.

Speaker has previously defended the foreign trips as legitimate professional-development affairs and said she followed proper spending procedures.

Reached by email Tuesday, Speaker shared a link that she had sent to the MCIU board, which proved to be a 2023 news release from a city agency that had complained about a different Inquirer story that Bender had written. That release made no mention of a police investigation.
The wines will be available at the Turks Head Bottle Shoppe, online for direct-to-consumer shipping to 36 states, and in the Claymont, Del., Total Wine & More, beginning April 23. Read more

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For Allison Owen, wine has always been one of the greatest communal beverages. And as the region prepares for a number of celebrations around Americas founding 250 years ago, it made sense for the Turks Head Wines founder and president to develop a wine that would commemorate that, too.

The fact that the author of the Declaration of Independence was, himself, a big fan of wine is a nice touch, too.

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It felt just appropriate to be able to roll out something that people here in this region could really kind of rally behind, Owen said. Wine has always been part of our country and our nations history throughout time.

Turks Head Wines  a wine producer in California that sells its bottles in its West Chester tasting room, restaurant, and event space  is rolling out limited edition white and red vintages on April 23. There will be 250 cases of each wine produced.

Owen, who herself has collected wines from the year she got married and when her children were born, thinks the bottles will be a nice collectors item for years to come.

Somebody could buy a bottle of our red blend, as an example, and lay it down for years to come and be able to bring that bottle out and reminisce and story-tell of where were they that year, and how did they celebrate our nations 250th birthday? she said. Theres a lot of memories then and storytelling that really come from a bottle of wine.

But if youre looking for something to drink for this summers festivities, theyre delicious now, she added.

The Semi Q wines will feature a red-and-blue twist on the brands usual gold logo. The red blend, which retails for $55, is primarily a cabernet franc, with other varietals, including malbec, petit verdot, and cabernet sauvignon. It opens with notes of black cherry, cedar, sage, leather, and cigar box. Its light on tannin, which typically gives wine its bitter taste. Owen said itd pair well with traditional barbecue fare during the summer holidays  burgers, steak, and even a chicken.

The white bottle, $45, is a blend of sauvignon blanc, melon de Bourgogne, and semillon, with opening notes of honeydew, melon, honeysuckle, crushed white flowers, and wet stone. Its crisp and fresh, pairing well with white fish, shrimp, oysters, and a hot summer day, Owen said.

Owen said that she and the winemaker wanted to curate an offering commonly enjoyed and approachable. The red blend comes from the 2023 harvest, and the white is from the 2025 harvest, Owen said.

The bottles will be available at the Turks Head Bottle Shoppe and online for direct shipping to 36 states. Theyll also be in the Total Wine & More in Claymont, Del.
Police gather evidence at the crime scene on the 7100 block of North 19th Street in West Oak Lane on Tuesday, April 7. Around 8:45 p.m., a 13-year-old was fatally shot and and a 14-year-old was injured at that scene. Read more

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A 13-year-old boy who died following a shooting Tuesday in the West Oak Lane neighborhood of Philadelphia was identified as Amir Akers, Philadelphia police said.

Police arrived at the 7100 block of North 19th Street in West Oak Lane around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday after receiving calls about a shooting.

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Once they arrived, they found Akers and a 14-year-old boy, whom police did not name, both with multiple gunshot wounds.

Akers had been shot in the back and shoulder, and the 14-year-old had gunshot wounds in both legs.

Police were told that the two boys were heard arguing before the gunfire began, said Chief Inspector Scott Small.

Police took both teens to Jefferson Einstein Medical Center, and Akers was pronounced dead at 9:20 p.m., according to police.

The 14-year-old was later taken to St. Christophers Hospital for Children and was in stable condition, police said.

Investigators from the Homicide Unit are still processing the scene, police said in a statement. No arrests had been made and no weapons recovered, though police said they located 19 shell casings at the scene. A motive has not yet been identified.

This is a developing story. Check back later for updates.
The scene of the parking garage collapse at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Philadelphia. Read more

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Part of a seven-level parking garage under construction in Grays Ferry for Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia collapsed Wednesday afternoon, leaving one man dead, two workers missing, and rescuers keeping their distance as the structure remained unstable.

As of Thursday morning, rescue crews were still on standby and police maintained a perimeter around the collapsed CHOP garage. Emergency workers continued to file into the staging area.

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The collapse occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday at 30th Street and Grays Ferry Avenue, across the street from the Grays Ferry Shopping Center, police said.

A man rescued from the scene was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 3:03 p.m., police said.

At a Wednesday night news briefing, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Jeffrey W. Thompson said two other people rescued at the scene were treated and released.

As for the missing workers, what is going on here tonight is a search and rescue operation, Thompson said.

But he cautioned that the structure remained unstable, so the operation is going to take time.

We have to very carefully and methodically deconstruct this building for the safety of the people working on it, and ultimately for the safety of the first responders who will continue to search, Thompson said Wednesday night.

We cannot give you a time frame on how long its going to take, because as we move through this process, we are constantly re evaluating this structure and making plans to make sure that we can conduct this operation as safely as possible, he said.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker confirmed at the Wednesday briefing that two individuals remain unaccounted for at this time.

Parker said the garage was being assembled with precast concrete, and the roof segment in the stairwell tower failed and collapsed straight down through every level.

Parker said the construction project, which was being handled by HSC Builders and Construction Managers of Exton, properly obtained the eight permits it needed from the city and all inspections were up to date.

Gov. Josh Shapiro posted a statement on social media Wednesday night that he and his wife Lori are praying for those injured in the parking garage that partially collapsed in Grays Ferry today, for the family of the individual who was tragically killed, and for the families who continue to wait while first responders search for their loved ones.

Lori and I are praying for those injured in the parking garage that partially collapsed in Grays Ferry today, for the family of the individual who was tragically killed, and for the families who continue to wait while first responders search for their loved ones.



My  Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 9, 2026

Shapiro added: My Administration is in touch with local officials on the ground in Philadelphia, and Ive spoken with @PhillyMayor and leadership at CHOP and Ironworkers 401 to offer our full support as they continue rescue efforts at the scene and support the families impacted.

The collapse location is the site of a planned 300,000-square-foot parking garage being built for CHOP, which proved controversial in the neighborhood.

In 2024, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported that CHOP paid almost $25 million for the 3.4-acre tract.

The parking garage was envisioned to allow CHOP workers to more easily drive to work, using the garage and then taking a shuttle to the hospital.

Some community members and environmentalists have expressed concerns about the scale of the project. The building would be by far the largest new free-standing garage built in recent Philadelphia history.

In a statement emailed Wednesday night, CHOP said it was prioritizing the safety of the construction workers at this time and working closely with the City of Philadelphia and our construction partners. We will share additional information as it becomes available.

THA Consulting, a planning and design firm based in Blue Bell and one of the engineers that worked on plans for the garage, declined to comment on the collapse.

Grady Fields, who lives near 30th and Wharton Streets, about two blocks from the construction site, said he heard a loud boom around 2:15 p.m.

It shook our home, Fields said. I wasnt sure what was going on.

A short time later, Fields said, he went over to the site and noticed two large cracks in the building. As he was watching the scene, he added, he saw construction workers using a lift to get down from the top of the garage, as well as workers clearing vehicles and bystanders away from the area on 30th Street.

They were clearly worried about something falling on them, he said.

Fire Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson briefs reporters at the scene of the parking garage collapse at 30th and Grays Ferry on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer The scene of the parking garage collapse at 30th and Grays Ferry on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer The scene of the parking garage collapse at 30th and Grays Ferry on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer A Philadelphia Police officer holds a drone at the scene of the parking garage collapse at 30th and Grays Ferry on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer The scene of the parking garage collapse at 30th and Grays Ferry on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer The scene of the parking garage collapse at 30th and Grays Ferry on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer The scene of the parking garage collapse at 30th and Grays Ferry on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Read more Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

A man working at the shopping center across the street said he was indoors when he heard a boom  more a heavy thud than an explosion.

In recent weeks, he had watched the structure rise extremely fast, and in the moment, he thought a slab had sheared off the side, said the man, who asked not to be named because he did not have his employers permission to speak to reporters.

He stepped outside and saw a plume of dust billowing upward, at least four stories high.

It was pandemonium, he said.

Workers fled from the building as chunks of debris continued to fall. Firefighters rushed in with a stretcher, he said, and soon emerged carrying an immobilized man.

They got to him pretty quick, he said, but he looked bad.

When the collapse happened, Shawmar Pitts, 52, was at his mothers home nearby on South 31st Street and heard a faint rumble, he said.

Minutes later, a colleague called with the explanation: A parking garage under construction had partially collapsed.

Pitts went to the scene and stood behind yellow police tape in the parking lot of a Fresh Grocer supermarket across the street, watching as emergency crews worked amid the debris.

He had arrived shortly after the collapse, as officers sealed off the block and traffic backed up along the street, and after rescuers had pulled a man from the rubble.

Pitts, a co-managing director of the advocacy group Philly Thrive, said he and others had protested the project for months. They were there in February, he said, as the foundation was being laid.

This is devastating, he said.

Staff writers Ximena Conde and Ryan W. Briggs contributed to this article.
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The Philadelphia Parking Authority says it is trying to make your life easier. But some Philadelphians are skeptical.

The PPA announced changes to its visitor guest pass system in January. It no longer issues physical temporary residential permit parking passes, or day pass books. Instead, it has moved to an entirely digital system.

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But the overhaul raises new questions and has left some residents confused about how to navigate the new parking landscape. Heres what to know:

So what exactly has changed with visitor passes?

If you are expecting car-driving visitors, the PPA lets residents acquire visitor parking permits, which allow guests to avoid tickets and hefty garage fees.

Until this change was made, residents could purchase physical temporary permits for their guests at the PPAs permit office or acquire them through an online portal.

Now, everything is digital. Permits are purchased via the PPAs online portal and purchasers must register the guest vehicles license plate number at the time of purchase. The passes are bought for individual days, as opposed to purchasing books of five passes as they were before.

The digital passes must designate which day they will be used. Physical passes previously could have been purchased ahead of time and used whenever they were needed.

Any physical passes that were purchased before Jan. 1 will expire one year from their purchase date.

Another difference is for first-time purchases. To buy a guest pass, residents must register a permit account with the PPA at the same time. A clerk will review and approve each account request after verifying they are residents of their specified parking zone. Once your account is approved, additional day pass purchases are activated immediately for at least the remainder of the year.

If you are buying a pass for the first time, you should register the permit account and start the purchase process at least one day before you need the pass so it is approved in time, according to PPA spokesperson Martin ORourke.

Residents are not able to register permit accounts before attempting to purchase a pass, and there is no precise timeline for how long it takes for an account to be approved. This could raise problems for those with rental cars or other vehicles when the license plate is not known beforehand.

What remains the same?

The prices for permits are unchanged. They are available in these increments and fees:

One day: $7 15 days: $75 30 days: $150 60 days: $300

The PPA also charges a $3.50 fee for any online payment to cover credit card processing fees, including for a guest pass. This is not new, but there are a couple of ways around it.

If you make your purchase in person at the PPAs permit office, even with a credit card, the fee will be waived. There is no fee if you pay with ACH, either.

Households are still limited to 60 days of permits per year.

Why did the PPA do this to me?

An evergreen question. But regarding the guest pass system, the PPA says this change will improve convenience and efficiency for residents and guests.

The virtual system means people no longer need to manage physical passes or go pick them up in person. Passes can be purchased and monitored from anywhere you have access to the PPAs online portal.

How do I get a virtual temporary pass?

You can visit the PPAs online parking portal, which is available via philapark.org. You must log in or register for an account.

Navigate to the permits section and enter the necessary information, including the license plate number of the vehicle.

If you a need a same-day permit, you can visit the PPA at 35 N. Eighth St. to acquire one. You may also contact the PPA at 215-683-9730 for additional information.
Rex Heuermann, who pleaded guilty to a string of deaths known as the Gilgo Beach killings on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, appears in this file photo from a year prior for a hearing on the charges. Read more

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Long Island, N.Y., architect Rex Heuermann, who led a secret life as a serial killer, pleaded guilty to the murder of seven women and admitted to an eighth in a string of slayings known as the Gilgo Beach killings.

One of those women was Valerie Mack, a Philadelphian who went missing in 2000 and whose remains were found on Long Island that same year. She was identified in 2020.

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Heuermanns guilty pleas Wednesday bring finality to a case that perplexed investigators for years, tracing back to Heuermanns first slaying in 1993. Heuermann, 62, faces life in prison and is expected to be sentenced in June.

The architect and father of two strangled the women, many of them sex workers, over a 17-year span and buried their remains in remote locations, including along an isolated beach highway across the bay from where he lived in Massapequa Park, N.Y., only 25 minutes from where the womens remains were found, authorities said.

Two days before Heuermanns guilty plea, Macks son, Benjamin Torres, filed a lawsuit against Heuermann; his ex-wife, Asa Ellerup; and his daughter in Suffolk County Supreme Court. Heuermanns stepson was not named in the lawsuit because of a lack of evidence, said Torres lawyer, John Ray.

Ray said that Torres, who was 6 years old at the time of Macks death, and his family were denied the right to properly bury Mack, a New York common law called the right of sepulcher.

The suit also seeks damages in relation to Heuermanns ex-wife and daughter receiving payment for their participation in a Peacock/NBC Universal documentary on the case. The family reportedly received $1 million, according to NewsNation.

Despite authorities claims that Heuermanns then-wife, daughter, and stepson (from Ellerups first marriage) were out of state when each of the slayings occurred, Ray said it is impossible, factually, to believe that they had no knowledge of what was going on in that house.

Who is Valerie Mack?

Mack, 24, had been working as an escort in Philadelphia and was last seen by her family in 2000 in New Jersey. She also went by the name Melissa Taylor. It is not known where Mack and Heuermann came into contact.

Months after Mack went missing, her partial remains were discovered in Manorville, N.Y. The rest of her body would not be found until 2011, when police discovered more remains along Ocean Parkway on Long Island, near where remains of other victims in the Gilgo Beach killings were found.

Police would not discover Macks identity until May 2020, when genetic genealogy testing revealed the body was hers. Before that announcement, she was known as Jane Doe No. 6 or Manorville Jane Doe.

For two decades, Valerie Macks family and friends were left searching for answers, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said following Macks identification. And while this is not the outcome they wanted, we hope this brings some sense of peace and closure.

Who is Rex Heuermann?

Heuermann was a resident of Massapequa Park, an area across Oyster Bay from Gilgo Beach, where police found skeletal remains along a nearby highway in 2010 and 2011. A father of two, Heuermann worked as a licensed architect with a small firm in Manhattan that completed store build-outs and other renovations for major retailers, offices, and apartments.

After bodies began to surface along the South Shore area of Long Island in 2010, names including the Long Island Serial Killer, the Gilgo Beach Killer, the Manorville Butcher, and the Craigslist Ripper were attributed to the perpetrator. In 2020, a Netflix film, Lost Girls  based on the 2013 book Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery  dramatized the killings.

In addition to Mack, Heuermann also pleaded guilty to the killing of Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, and Jessica Taylor.

Police identified an eighth woman, Karen Vergata, whose remains were found on both Fire Island, more than 20 miles west, in 1996, and near Gilgo Beach in 2011. Heuermann has not been charged in Vergatas killing.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.
Dr. Humphrey was recruited out of Columbia to Penn as a professor in 1953. Read more

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Arthur E. Humphrey, 98, formerly of Rose Valley, Delaware County, pioneering biochemical engineer, retired provost, vice president, and professor of chemical engineering at Lehigh University, former professor, department chair, and dean of what is now Penn Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, retired professor at Pennsylvania State University, researcher, author, and mentor, died Saturday, March 21, of age-associated decline at Piper Shores retirement community in Scarborough, Maine.

Dr. Humphrey earned a doctorate in chemical engineering at Columbia University and spent more than 40 years, from 1953 to his retirement in 1997, as a professor, administrator, and expert in biochemical engineering at Penn, Lehigh, and Penn State. He was an innovative and popular provost and dean, and especially adept at providing pioneering biochemical research that improved food production, environmental sustainability, and industrial biotechnology.

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In the lab, for government agencies and private firms, he studied single-cell protein, immobilized enzymes, oxygen-enriched air, and liquid fuels from renewable resources. He held patents for several breakthroughs.

With his students, he was more than a teacher, many of them said. He saw things in you before you saw them yourself, Stephen Tang, one of his doctoral students, said in an online tribute. Pushed when you needed pushing, sheltered when you needed shelter, and connected you to others who became lifelong guides.

Dr. Humphrey was recruited out of Columbia to Penn as a professor in 1953. He rose to director of the School of Chemical Engineering in 1961 and served as dean of engineering and applied science from 1972 to 1980.

He was praised by former Penn colleagues for merging new engineering programs into social and health-related curriculums. He supervised groundbreaking research projects and expanded the schools local and global outreach.

He will exemplify not only the concern but a strong desire to focus engineering reason, rigor, and relevance on emerging societal problems. Curtis Reitz, then Penn provost, in naming Dr. Humphrey dean in 1972

Dr. Humphrey, former colleagues said in an online tribute, was a pioneering figure in biochemical engineering and a transformative leader in higher education.

He told Penns Almanac journal: 1973-74 will be a very important year for engineering, one in which I hope several dramatic changes will occur in the direction of engineering education.

He left Penn in 1980 to be provost and vice president of academic affairs at Lehigh. He returned to the classroom in 1986 and was director of Lehighs center for molecular bioscience and biotechnology.

Arthurs impact on biochemical engineering cannot be overstated, Lehigh president Joseph J. Helble said in a tribute. Other former colleagues said his curiosity and generosity shaped generations of engineers and students around the world.

Arthur studied how living things flourish under the right conditions and created those conditions for people at the same time. Stephen S. Tang, former student of Dr. Humphrey

Dr. Humphrey went to Penn State as a professor in 1992, was chair of its biotechnology institute, and retired in 1997. Penn established the Arthur E. Humphrey Professorship in his honor, and Lehigh created the Arthur Humphrey Distinguished Lecture Series in biomolecular engineering in 2016.

Dr. Humphrey also consulted for health and waste treatment organizations. He was on boards, committees, and panels, and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1973. He lectured and taught around the world, and mentored hundreds of doctoral students and colleagues.

He cowrote the textbook Biochemical Engineering in 1965, and hundreds of his scholarly papers are published. He earned research and achievement awards from the Pennsylvania Society, the American Association of Engineering Societies, and other groups.

He was onetime president of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, chair of President Richard Nixons Industrial Microbiology Joint Committee, and active with the American Chemical Society, the International Association of Microbiological Societies, and other groups.

Across institutions and disciplines, he remained deeply committed to advancing engineering research, education, and public impact. Dr. Humphrey's former colleagues at Penn in a tribute

In 2008, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers named him one of the 100 most distinguished chemical engineers of the modern era. However, said former Lehigh provost Mohamed El-Aasser, what most people remember about Arthur was his humanity.

Arthur Earl Humphrey was born Nov. 9, 1927, in Moscow, Idaho. The oldest of four boys, he was named after King Arthur by his father.

A lifelong outdoorsman, he enjoyed hiking, camping, canoeing, and biking. He was an Eagle Scout and a fire tower lookout, ran cross-country, and graduated high school at 16. Later, he hiked with the Philadelphia Trail Club and climbed Mount Fuji in Japan.

He went to the University of Idaho, earned bachelors and masters degrees in chemical engineering, and chose science and academia over a tempting career in the Forest Service. He got his doctorate at Columbia in 1953 and a masters degree in food technology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1960.

 READ MORE: Survivors give advice about mourning their loved ones, as told to The Inquirers obit writer

He knew Sheila Darwin from high school, and they married in 1951 and had daughters Andrea and Allyson. While he was teaching, they lived in Drexel Hill, Rose Valley, Bethlehem, Pa., and State College, Pa.

Dr. Humphrey and his wife liked to entertain, square dance, and travel the world together. He sang and played piano.

They split time between Maine and Arizona for years after he retired, and moved to Piper Shores about 20 years ago. His wife died in 2025.

In online tributes, friends and colleagues said Dr. Humphrey lived life with intentionality and intensity and was practical, gracious, caring, and humble. One friend said: Art was a wonderful engineer and even a better person.

 READ MORE: When parents die, even the mundane memories comfort their children. Here are their tales, as told to The Inquirers obit writer.

His daughter Andrea said: He had a heart of gold. He treated people the way he wanted to be treated.

In addition to his daughters, Dr. Humphrey is survived by a grandson and other relatives.

A private celebration of his life is to be held later.

Donations in his name may be made to Penns Arthur E. Humphrey Professorship in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Office of the Treasurer, Box 71332, Philadelphia, Pa. 19176; and the Piper Shores Endowment Fund, 15 Piper Rd., Scarborough, Maine 04074.
President Donald Trump departs after speaking with reporters during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on Monday. Read more

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Donald Trumps war of choice with Iran may have come to an end with a two-week ceasefire deal announced Tuesday. Or it may not. But the president, having boxed himself in by threatening to commit what would likely be war crimes if his demands werent met, has found a way out.

Whatever peace agreement ultimately emerges will be far from Trumps ordered unconditional surrender, let alone his goal of regime change. Instead, the ill-considered conflict that upended the world economy and fractured U.S. alliances leaves Irans brutal and repressive government battered but unbowed.

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The might of the U.S. military remains unquestionable, as does the bravery and dedication of the men and women in uniform. But the war  spearheaded by fools and promising disaster from its inception  has delivered a different defeat: Americas standing in the world has been demolished, and the presidents vacuous, unpredictable nature reaffirmed.

Recent reporting by the New York Times recounts how Trump came to the decision to go to war. A February presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised that Irans ballistic missile program would be easy to destroy, that the regime could not close the Strait of Hormuz or attack neighboring countries, and that the government would be overthrown.

These assertions are not only risible in hindsight, but regime change was considered ludicrous by U.S. intelligence officials, with CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly calling it farcical. Still, killing the Iranian leadership and crippling the country militarily was achievable, according to advisers, and it captured Trumps imagination.

 READ MORE: For a world in search of hopeful holiday messages, Trumps profane social media rant stands out for all the wrong reasons | Editorial

While initial statements by Secretary of State Marco Rubio painted the U.S. as starting the war because Israel was planning to attack Iran, and America needed to get ahead of the expected retaliation against U.S. assets in the region, Trump was no innocent tricked by Netanyahu; he was an addled gambler thinking his luck would hold.

The president had already disregarded Congress and international law with strikes on boats in the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific  ordering the extrajudicial killings of more than 160 people since September  and he had faced little consequence after bombing Iranian nuclear sites in June, or kidnapping Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January.

His lawless spree  cheered on by many of his supporters and unchallenged by most Republicans  convinced him he could join Israel and quickly decimate Iran in an offensive war.

While successful in swiftly decapitating Iranian leadership and destroying the countrys navy and air forces, after five weeks of bombing, Iran continued to strike Americas Middle East allies and control the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the worlds oil flows. This sent fuel costs soaring, with gas in the U.S. reaching more than $4 a gallon on average.

High prices at the pump undoubtedly contributed to the wars unpopularity, with only about a third of U.S. adults approving of Trumps actions. The president also never sought the American peoples support for the war, nor the constitutionally mandated permission from Congress.

 READ MORE: Trumps bad week: Botched war abroad and legal setbacks at home | Editorial

It is undisputed that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, contributes to instability in the region through proxies, and is working on developing a nuclear weapon. It is run by a cruel regime that does not tolerate dissent. Anti-government protests earlier this year, spurred by a dire economic situation, were met with overwhelming violence that left thousands dead.

But rather than make a clear case for why the U.S. needed to strike an Iran weakened by the June bombings and internal discontent, to include allies in helping rein in a rogue nation, the Trump administration was still trying to explain itself weeks into the war.

On March 31, Rubio released a video full of questionable assertions  including that Iran was imminently close to having so many missiles and have so many drones that no one could attack them  and completely ignoring the fact that it was Trump who abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal, negotiated under President Barack Obama, which saw Iran curtail its nuclear ambitions in exchange for sanction relief.

Tuesdays ceasefire was declared a victory by both sides. But what did the U.S. gain after spending $45 billion and counting? What do the deaths of more than 1,500 civilians, including 244 children, and 13 U.S. service members resolve?

Irans nuclear ambitions linger, its hold over the Strait of Hormuz has tightened, the damage to its conventional weapons programs is unclear, its regional proxies remain entrenched, and theres a new generation of ruthless hard-liners in Tehran.

They say there are no winners in war. But perhaps the biggest loser is an America led by Donald Trump.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a Visit PA pep rally Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Cherry Street Pier in Philadelphia. Read more

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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro cut a TV ad on behalf of Bob Brooks, a Democrat running for Congress in the purple Lehigh Valley, ahead of next months high-stakes primary.

The ad featuring the governor will begin airing Wednesday, potentially giving a boost to Brooks as the May 19 primary approaches.

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Brooks, a firefighter and union leader, is running to represent Pennsylvanias 7th Congressional District, which is currently held by freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie.

The toss-up seat is one of four key districts in battleground Pennsylvania that are being targeted by both Democrats and Republicans.

Shapiros endorsement of Brooks last year and Wednesdays ad  backed by a six-figure buy  are the latest examples of how the governor, who is running for reelection in November, will likely be wielding his unusual popularity to help Democrats in the high-stakes midterms.

In the video, shared with The Inquirer, Shapiro can be seen standing next to and shaking hands with Brooks in a fire station. He says: Republicans in Congress are hurting our families and we have to fight back. Thats why Im supporting Bob Brooks for Congress.

The ad also highlights other endorsements that Brooks, president of the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association, has received, including from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (Ind., Vt.), former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, various labor unions, and the progressive Working Families Party.

Brooks will appear on Mays Democratic primary ballot alongside three other candidates  Lamont McClure, Carol Obando-Derstine, and Ryan Crosswell  vying to face Mackenzie in the fall.

Having Gov. Shapiros confidence is an honor I dont take lightly, Brooks said in a statement. The governor has shown time and again that he fights for working families and gets results.

Shapiro appeared in ads last fall on behalf of the three state Supreme Court justices who won retention.

Democrats are hoping he can help lift congressional candidates across the state this year as he seeks reelection. Shapiro remains popular, with a job approval rating of 56% as of a February Quinnipiac poll.

In addition to Mackenzies seat in the Lehigh Valley, Democrats are focusing their resources on seats held by Republican U.S. Reps Brian Fitzpatrick in Bucks County, Rob Bresnahan in Lackawanna County, and Scott Perry in York County as they seek to win back control of the U.S. House.
At night at the President's House in Independence National Historical Park March 10, 2026. Read more

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After President Donald Trumps administration dismantled exhibits about the horrors of slavery at the Presidents House Site earlier this year, the federal government planned to replace them with its own account of history.

Details of those replacement panels remained unclear until now.

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Digital renderings of 11 new panels uploaded to the government-owned Presidents House web page Tuesday provide a broad timeline of U.S. history that includes slavery, the Underground Railroad, and the Civil War. But the panels are less focused on George Washingtons role in upholding slavery and frame the founding fathers enslavement of nine African individuals at his Philadelphia home during the first presidency in a more sympathetic light.

The replacement of the panels came to a halt after a federal judge in Philadelphia ordered the original panels to be restored to the site on Independence Mall. The government was within days of installing the panels when Judge Cynthia Rufe issued her injunction in February, the Department of the Interior said at the time.

But the newly revealed digital renderings show the Trump administrations willingness to reframe history ahead of the United States 250th anniversary this summer and portray Washington in a more favorable light.

For instance, on one panel titled Presidents Washington and Adams on Slavery, the Trump administration writes that Caught between his private doubts about slavery and his public responsibilities as president, George Washington navigated a nation deeply divided over slavery.

Privately, George Washington often expressed discomfort with the institution and a desire to see it abolished, the panel continued. Yet as a Virginia plantation owner, his wealth and livelihood were deeply tied to it.

And later in the same panel: Slaves living in the Presidents House experienced a greater modicum of autonomy than elsewhere in the South such as to explore the city and sometimes even attend the theater, with Washington buying the tickets.

The Presidents House, which opened in 2010, is a product of local Black-led advocacy and serves as a memorial to the nine people Washington enslaved at his residence and a reminder of the contradiction of liberty and slavery during the nations founding.

Since last year, the Trump administration has scrutinized the site under an executive order that called for a review of displays at national parks that inappropriately disparage Americans past or living.

The panels taken down by the Park Service in January included displays titled The Dirty Business of Slavery and Life Under Slavery, as well as illustrations about the Fugitive Slave Act and Ona Judge, who was enslaved by Washington and later escaped.

But the government is celebrating and acknowledging the full breadth of our nations history, a spokesperson for the Department of the Interior said in a statement Wednesday.

The spokesperson said the Trump administration encourages visits to the Presidents House and wants to acknowledge the full breadth of our nations history and that No piece of history should be washed away.

The hard work and sacrifices of the men and women who built this nation deserve to be remembered and honored, the spokesperson said.

Stark differences and new additions

Some similarities and acknowledgment of Black history can be found throughout the Trump administrations version of the panels, such as mentions of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, Philadelphias Black abolitionists, and Washington signing the Fugitive Slave Act.

The Trump administration also refers to slavery as an odious and pernicious affront to the glorious rule of liberty.

But many stark differences remain in content and framing, including in the federal governments account of the archaeological dig that took place at the site of the Presidents House at Sixth and Market Streets during the exhibits development in the early 2000s.

The original panel, titled History Lost & Found, details the brutality of slavery, Washingtons role in it, and how slavery at the Presidents House undermined the meaning of freedom and mocked the nations pretense to be a beacon of liberty.

It also characterizes the National Park Services original hesitancy to help develop the Presidents House and the difficulties in locating historical information about Africans who were enslaved.

The Trump administrations version shares the title, but the content is quite different.

Among three different displays, slavery and the Park Services apprehension go unmentioned. Rather, they focus on how archaeology works and the discovery of Washingtons letters and other primary source documents.

They exclude the significance of the remnants found during the archaeological dig that relate to slavery, such as the basement where people enslaved by Washington carried out tasks.

Tuesdays upload also includes entirely new additions, including two panels titled Celebrating Independence Throughout the Years, which detail milestone celebrations of the United States. Also included is additional information about antislavery sentiments, the Union Army in the Civil War, and the role that Christianity played in the abolition movement.

Where things stand

The future of the Presidents House continues to be entangled in a legal battle that is playing out in federal court.

Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers administration sued the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service in January, asking the court to issue an injunction forcing the full restoration of the slavery exhibits.

Rufe issued an injunction on Presidents Day that was accompanied by a blistering opinion chastising the Trump administrations attempt to rewrite history through executive fiat.

Park Service employees restored most of the exhibits in the days following the injunction, while the Department of Justice appealed the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The higher court issued an administrative stay on the requirement to restore the site, but let the prohibition on future changes stand. That portion of the injunction enjoins the administration from making any and all changes to the Presidents House Site, including the installation of replacement materials, without mutual agreement of the City of Philadelphia.

The Third Circuit has not ruled yet on the merits of the injunction.

The federal government did not approach the city about the new panels, according to a statement by City Solicitor Renee Garcia.

Meanwhile, in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the citys underlying lawsuit on procedural grounds. City attorneys have until May 1 to respond to the motion.
Left: State Rep. Chris Rabb. Right: Physician Ala Stanford. Both are running for the Democratic nomination to represent the 3rd Congressional District, which encompasses a large swath of Philadelphia. Read more

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The nations most prominent pro-Israel political organization has not endorsed a candidate in Philadelphias ultracompetitive primary race for a seat in Congress, but it has still become a major point of contention.

On Tuesday, two of the leading Democratic contenders  State Rep. Chris Rabb and physician Ala Stanford  clashed over the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, better known as AIPAC, and its role in the 3rd Congressional District campaign to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans.

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During the discussion, which took place at the end of a wide-ranging interview with The Inquirer Editorial Board, Rabb criticized Stanfords position on the war in Gaza and emphasized that a political action committee supporting her has previously taken money from an AIPAC-affiliated group.

That escalated into Stanford accusing Rabb of ginning up opposition to her campaign based on false pretenses and said it has resulted in threats toward her.

Thanks to you stating about AIPAC and about me taking money from them, she said, people physically try to assault me, Ive gotten hate mail in my inboxes, as well as on social media.

Even State Sen. Sharif Street, another Democratic candidate in the race who took part in the interview, said the attacks on Stanford by Rabb and his supporters are over the top and pernicious.

The editorial board, which runs The Inquirers opinion pages and decides endorsements, operates independently from the newsroom. Newsroom editors and reporters (including two who attended Tuesdays meeting) have no role in endorsements, and opinion staffers have no role in news coverage.

The tense exchange between Stanford and Rabb on Tuesday was one of the most pointed moments of the campaign, which has thus far featured generally tame in-person events with minimal direct debate between candidates.

With about six weeks until the May 19 primary election, the three most prominent contenders are beginning to attack their opponents by name as they try to separate themselves from the rest of the field in the race for one of the most Democratic-leaning seats in the nation.

Rabb, an unabashed progressive and a staunch critic of Israel, often refers to the war in Gaza as a genocide, and he has called on his opponents to use the same language.

Street and Stanford have each taken more moderate positions on the conflict in the Middle East. And they both have avoided using the word genocide, which Rabb and his campaign have intimated is because of support from pro-Israel donors.

AIPAC has spent millions nationwide to boost candidates on both sides of the aisle who are supportive of Israel, and its connected political groups have invested in Democratic primaries to oppose contenders seen as hostile to the country.

The organizations political activity has become a flashpoint in Democratic primaries nationwide, and its backing is seen as an indication that a candidate favors U.S. support for Israel. Amid backlash to the war in Gaza, AIPAC has increasingly relied on unrelated super PACs and new outside groups to obscure its contributions.

 READ MORE: Phillys competitive U.S. House race narrows  but big questions loom

Rabb has suggested that one of those groups is 314 Action Fund, a national super PAC that supports candidates with backgrounds in science. The group has spent more than $2 million to boost Stanford, giving her a significant advertising edge over the other candidates.

In 2024, during a different election cycle, 314 Action Fund accepted a $1 million donation from United Democracy Project (UDP), an AIPAC-aligned super PAC, according to federal campaign finance records.

A spokesperson for 314 said Tuesday that Stanford has not received money from 314 that 314 received from UDP.

Chris Rabb is spiraling, said Erik Polyak, the groups executive director. Hes spent his entire campaign attacking Dr. Ala Stanford instead of running on his record. This desperate attempt to discredit her is all part of a baseless smear campaign because he has no money and hes losing.

314 Action Fund officials have also noted that their PAC has at times been at odds with AIPAC in other races, including in the Democratic primary to represent Illinois 9th Congressional District earlier this year. AIPAC spent big to oppose Daniel Biss, the Evanston, Ill., mayor, whom 314 supported. Biss won the nomination.

United Democracy Project and AIPAC did not respond to a request for comment.

On Tuesday, a member of The Inquirer Editorial Board asked Rabb if it was fair to label 314 as aligned with AIPAC, given that the contribution in question was made during a different election cycle.

In response, Rabb said he has never said that anyone takes AIPAC money  but if some major donors to candidates are also major donors to AIPAC, I think thats a direct nexus.

Rabb has attempted to make the connection in forums and campaign materials, but he has generally been careful to not say that Stanford or Street has taken money directly from AIPAC. His website says Stanford is being bankrolled by a dark money group that AIPAC has secretly funneled millions through, and he has said during forums that some donors to Street have also given to AIPAC.

Stanford, a first-time candidate for political office, said Tuesday that Rabb has connected her to AIPAC multiple times and that she has received threats as a result.

Both Rabb and Street, who have each been in office for nearly a decade, responded by saying that receiving death threats is part of the job.

That has been my life for 10 years, Rabb said. As much new scrutiny as youre getting as a candidate on this issue, you can only imagine what the death threats and attacks are for someone like me, one of the very few Democratic candidates in the entire nation who is prepared to talk about the genocide in Gaza.

Street added that he was flooded with threats in the midst of the 2024 presidential election, when he was the head of the state Democratic Party.

If you choose this career, it is a part of your life forever, he said. It is an unfortunate part of your life.
Listen to article  0:00 min

In a surprisingly candid moment, Philadelphia City Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr. on Tuesday asked city officials if it was possible to delay two bridge rehabilitation projects in his district because of the traffic jams they would create for constituents next year during his reelection campaign.

Do you have to do it right in my reelection? Jones asked about the planned projects for the 59th Street Bridge and Falls Bridge during a hearing on the Philadelphia Department of Streets budget. Jones joked that while he supports both projects today, in 2027, Im going to be leading a protest.

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Jones represents the 4th Councilmanic District, which spans the Schuylkill to include parts of West and Northwest Philadelphia. All 17 Council members and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker will be up for reelection next year. Jones, a Democrat, has indicated he will seek a sixth four-year term.

 READ MORE: All 17 City Council members may be running for reelection. That would be the first time in at least 75 years.

While its common for elected officials to consider political impacts when timing the rollouts of new policies or projects, Jones blunt and public airing of those concerns was unusual.

You all think in 10-year things, Jones told officials from Parkers administration during the hearing before members of City Council. We kind of think in four-year.

Administration officials stressed that public safety was the citys top concern in planning the projects, but added that they were willing to talk with Jones about minimizing disruptions for residents.

Deputy Managing Director Michael Carroll told Jones during the hearing that the rehabilitation project for Falls Bridge, which crosses the river just north of U.S. Route 1 and was built in 1894, needed to move as soon as possible due to the bridges poor condition.

Falls has to move, Carroll said while testifying in Councils Committee of the Whole. We dont have a lot of time to fix that bridge.

Residents can see the bridges deterioration, Carroll said, and many will be eager to see it repaired.

Well rally them to your cause if that helps you, Carroll told Jones.

The estimated $33 million project will be financed with a mix of city, state, and federal funds, according to the managing directors office.

Detours and construction for the Falls Bridge project are scheduled to begin this year and last through summer 2029, according to a planning document from August 2025 on the citys website.

Construction on the 59th Street Bridge, which crosses train tracks in West Philadelphia and was built in 1922, is slated to begin in late 2026 and continue until late 2029, according to the managing directors office. Detours around the bridge would begin in fall 2027 and last 26 months under the current timeline, which has already been delayed.

The 59th Street project is estimated to cost $30 million and will also involve funds from the city, state, and federal governments, according to the managing directors office.

Carroll said the need to rehabilitate that bridge is less urgent.

We do have a little bit of leeway on 59th Street, Carroll said. Thats a conversation that your office should be included in because thats a difference in priorities.

In a statement Tuesday evening, Carroll added that the city is currently involved in public outreach to the residents affected by the proposed 59th Street Bridge project so we can listen to their concerns and input.

We recognize this bridge is at a major intersection  especially around Overbrook High School  however, we need to be clear that all decisions are made with public safety as the priority," Carroll said. The Falls Bridge must be closed for repair because of public safety.

After the hearing Tuesday, Jones said he understood that the projects are needed and that the 4th Districts residents would have to take our lumps. But he said he wanted to ensure his constituents are not unduly inconvenienced.

Closing the Falls Bridge, he said, will overload Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and shutting down the 59th Street Bridge will add 20 minutes for drivers going through that area.

He added that he is concerned about how construction on the 59th Street Bridge, which connects the Wynnefield and Overbrook neighborhoods, could affect students commuting to school.

Kids that are going to school now have to  not only do they have to go and walk a longer distance  they got to go through controversial neighborhoods that they may not be welcomed in, Jones said. And so that causes conflict, and possibly even kids just saying, Screw that. Im not going to school."

Council members, he said, often get blamed for problems they cannot control.

You get caught in that traffic jam, and a picture of me comes to mind, and youre going to be mad, Jones said. If youre going to raise taxes or close bridges, Id rather it not be done in an election year.
From top left clockwise: State Sen. Sharif Street, physician Ala Stanford, tax adviser Shaun Griffith, and State Rep. Chris Rabb. All are running for the Democratic nomination to represent Pennsylvania's 3rd Congressional District. Read more

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Philadelphias most competitive congressional race in years is entering its final stretch, and the once-crowded candidate field now has just four contenders.

The Democrats who remain on the primary ballot include the insider (State Sen. Sharif Street), the outsider (physician Ala Stanford), the progressive (State Sen. Chris Rabb), and the long shot (attorney Shaun Griffith).

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 READ MORE: Phillys competitive U.S. House race narrows  but big questions loom

For months, at least a dozen candidates campaigned for the office. However, the field shrank in recent weeks as eight hopefuls ended their bids after struggling to gain traction or facing challenges to their eligibility.

The May 19 primary is likely to be decisive. The 3rd Congressional District, which is currently represented by retiring U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, is one of the most Democratic in the nation, and no Republican filed to run in the primary.

Here is a brief introduction to each of the candidates.

Chris Rabb

Age: 56

Current job: State representative

Neighborhood: East Mount Airy

Bio: Rabb has served in the Pennsylvania House since 2017, representing an area of the city that includes Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy, and West Oak Lane. A founding member of the Pennsylvania Progressive Caucus and the Pennsylvania Climate Caucus, he has introduced legislation focused on environmental justice, criminal justice reform, and seeking reparations for Black residents.

Rabb previously taught at Temple Universitys Fox School of Business and at Drexel Universitys LeBow College of Business.

He is a native of Chicago and graduated from Yale College and the University of Pennsylvania. Hes worked in Washington before  as an aide to then-U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun (D., Ill.) and at the White House Conference on Small Business during former President Bill Clintons administration.

Rabb has focused much of his campaign on opposing President Donald Trumps administration. He has called to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and restrict the presidents ability to wage war.

And he has been a staunch critic of Israel, often referring to the war in Gaza as a genocide and slamming pro-Israel lobbying in America.

Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Summer Lee, State Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler and Rick Krajewski, State Sen. Nikil Saval, Philadelphia City Councilmembers Kendra Brooks and Nicolas ORourke, Pennsylvania Working Families Party, Justice Democrats, One PA, Sunrise Movement, Philadelphia Democratic Socialists of America, Reclaim Philadelphia, IfNotNow Philadelphia, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Action, Asian Pacific Islander Political Alliance, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Peace Action, and Common Defense.

Ala Stanford

Age: 55

Current job: Physician

Neighborhood: Chestnut Hill

Bio: Stanford is a first-time political candidate. She is a pediatric surgeon by trade who came to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she founded the Black Doctors Consortium to provide testing and vaccines to thousands of Philadelphians.

In 2022, then-President Joe Biden appointed her to be the Mid-Atlantic regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Stanford also founded a health center in North Philadelphia, and she leads medical services at the citys Riverview Wellness Village, a recovery house for people with substance use disorder.

Much of Stanfords campaign has been centered on healthcare. She has said shes in favor of a Medicare-for-all model, and shes been sharply critical of Congress for not extending pandemic-era Affordable Care Act subsidies.

Endorsements: U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, former U.S. Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, 314 Action Fund, former 3rd Congressional District candidate Dave Oxman, and several physicians in office, including U.S. Rep. Herb Conaway of New Jersey and U.S. Rep. Ami Bera of California.

Sharif Street

Age: 52

Current job: State senator

Neighborhood: North Philadelphia

Bio: Street, the son of former Mayor John F. Street, graduated from Morehouse College and earned a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He served as an aide to former State Sen. Shirley Kitchen before winning her 3rd District seat in 2016 when she decided not to run for reelection.

Street is the minority chair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, and serves on several other committees, including appropriations.

He ran for U.S. Senate in 2022 before dropping out early in the race.

Street chaired the Pennsylvania Democratic Party from 2022 to 2025, when he resigned to focus on his congressional campaign. Street hails from a politically connected Philadelphia family, and has received support from much of the citys political institution. The late State Sen. Milton Street was his uncle, and Common Pleas Court Judge Sierra Thomas Street is his ex-wife.

During the campaign, he has emphasized his legislative record on expanding health insurance access, criminal justice reform, and securing investment in the city.

Endorsements: Democratic City Committee, Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity, Muslim League of Voters of the Delaware Valley, AFSCME District Council 33, former Gov. Ed Rendell, Sheriff Rochelle Bilal, Councilmembers Rue Landau, Cindy Bass and Jimmy Harrity, former Councilmembers Jannie Blackwell and Sharon Vaughn, former State Sen. Shirley Kitchen, State Rep. Andre Carroll.

Shaun Griffith

Age: 48

Current job: Income tax adviser

Neighborhood: South Philadelphia

Bio: Griffith is an attorney and the operations manager at a Roxborough-based tax services firm.

According to his campaign website, Griffiths priorities include protecting civil liberties, expanding healthcare access, and regulating data centers.

Endorsements: No major endorsements.
The home at 514 Fitzwater St. in Queen Village is for sale for $599,000. Read more

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An unmistakable Queen Village corner house adorned with red, yellow, and blue tile is listed for sale for $599,000.

The three-bed, two-bath home at 514 Fitzwater St. is about 2,000 square feet and features royal blue door casing, a one-of-a-kind red staircase, and a blue and white fireplace.

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The exterior is easily recognizable, the sides of the house converging to a point at the intersection of South Randolph and Fitzwater Streets, with clusters of colorful tiles along the facade and a geometric-style clock tower affixed to the top of the home.

Farrah Segal, the homes listing agent, said that, in her 21 years in the profession, shes never seen a property get this much attention so quickly. Over the past five days, its had about 48 showings, she said.

People literally watch this house. They got so excited when the sign went up, Segal said.

Most of the viewers love it for the Mondrian design, named for Piet Mondrian, the Dutch abstract artist who popularized the geometric, primary-color aesthetic. The homes spacious dining and living areas are also a draw, Segal said.

Most of the people we have going in there are people that know the house and really love it for what it is, she said.

Based on conversations with several interested buyers over the past few days, Segal said she doesnt anticipate the future owner will alter the aesthetic much.

The property, built around 1920, was at one point a deli, Segal said. It was then turned into a residential property by architect David Beitman.

Maxine and Michael Kam, a former elementary-school teacher and an accountant turned rare books and art dealer, respectively, purchased the home in 1986. They were drawn to it, Maxine told The Inquirer in 2011, because it was located across the street from the storefront where her grandfather sold mens caps during her childhood.

The Kams artistic touch resulted in the aesthetic the house is known for today, Segal said. Prior to the couple buying it, the house sported a Miami Vice-esque aqua and pink color scheme.

Maxine said in 2011 that she was inspired by the painter and designer Marc Chagall when changing the exterior design of the home. She and Michael added the clock tower to align the property with the other three-story buildings around it.

Maxine and Michael have both died and Maxines daughters, who live in Philadelphia, now own the home and decided to sell it.

The house already has a number of offers and Segal is expecting more in the coming days.
Two firefighters traveling in a utility vehicle along a Pennsylvania road during a search for a missing woman were killed in a head-on crash with a car, officials said.

The two members of the Walnuttown Fire Company died after the crash with a Toyota Camry at about 6 p.m. Saturday, roughly 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. Fire Chief Jeff Buck and Assistant Fire Chief Robert Shick Jr. were heading north when they were struck by a sedan heading south on Route 222, according to the Berks County Coroner.

NBC Philadelphia reported that the utility vehicle was riding on the shoulder of Route 222 when the Camry swerved off of the road. Police told the station that a male and a female who were in the Camry when it crashed fled and were later arrested.

Video from the crash scene shows the utility vehicle on its side.

No further details about the arrest or the search for the missing woman were immediately available Sunday.

A call and an email seeking information were made to the Fleetwood Police Department.

Autopsies on the firefighters, both residents of Fleetwood, were scheduled for Monday.

At this time we would like to send our thoughts and prayers to the Shick and Buck families, the Walnuttown Fire Company said in a Facebook post. Rest easy chiefs, we got it from here.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Numbers
The Maine Bureau of Insurance reported that its employees work regulating insurance rates saved residents $5.8 million in potential increases for auto and homeowners coverage in 2025.

The regulatory agency also said it recovered more than $4.5 million for Mainers and businesses through investigations into consumer complaints.

Every day, our staff helps Mainers navigate insurance questions and concerns, said Superintendent Bob Carey. We carefully review proposed rate increases to ensure they are justified, helping keep coverage fair and affordable for Maine people and businesses.

The Bureau of Insurances budget for fiscal year 2025 was $12,374,850.

For personal auto insurance, the bureau approved rate changes that kept overall premiums flat in 2025, benefiting more than 900,000 policyholders. According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Maine drivers paid an average annual premium of $926 based on 2023 data  the lowest in the nation. The national average was $1,438, about 55% higher. The bureau estimates its review process prevented nearly $2 million in additional auto insurance costs this year.

In the homeowners insurance market, approved rate changes resulted in an average increase of 2.9% in 2025, affecting about 340,000 policyholders. The bureaus review process  including rejecting or modifying some proposed increases  saved homeowners an estimated $3.8 million.

Beyond rate reviews, the bureau said it help consumers resolve denied claims, underpayments, and incorrect charges. In 2025, these efforts resulted in more than $4.5 million returned to Maine residents and businesses. The consumer health care division investigated 324 complaints, recovering about $1.5 million, while the property and casualty division responded investigated 290 complaints, recovering more than $3 million.

The bureau did not mention it but a year ago it also approved a 9.6% reduction in workers compensation insurance loss costs, which saved employers approximately $27 million.

Source: Maine Bureau of Insurance

Topics Maine
On a recent weeknight, three tenants of an aging Bronx building were trading apartment horror stories inside a packed ballroom lined with city bureaucrats.

The occasion was the third in a series of rental rip-off hearings, a new forum launched by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani for disgruntled renters to air their complaints directly to housing officials  and in some cases, the mayor himself.

As she waited in line, Gulhayo Yuldosheva said she worried that noxious mold in her apartment had worsened her childs asthma. Nearby, her downstairs neighbor, Marina Quiroz, was showing a video of rats scurrying through her kitchen to a representative of the citys tenant protection office.

Ann Maitin, a longtime resident of the same building, had just met with the mayor.

He let me go over my three minutes, she said, holding up a spiral notebooks worth of grievances.

Who Is the owner?

Mamdani, a democratic socialist swept into office on a promise of zealous tenant advocacy, framed the event as a struggle session for renters, assuring the standing room only crowd that their stories would guide the citys efforts to actually hold landlords accountable when they dont follow the law.

To the residents of 705 Gerard Avenue, this raised a practical problem: No one seemed to know who actually owned their building.

It feels like such a basic question, said Maitin, a retired Verizon technician who recently organized the buildings tenant association. Youd think wed have the right to that information.

Their situation is hardly unique. As corporate owners and investor groups have grown their share of the rental market in New York City, they are increasingly shielding their identities behind limited liability companies, or LLCs.

The practice, which has also been spreading nationally, is legal. But experts warn it could complicate Mamdanis promised crackdown, making it harder for the city and tenants to track the chronically negligent owners whose buildings the mayor has vowed to target and even seize.

There are these big slumlords that everyone knows are doing predatory investment, but pinning them down is going to be difficult, for the LLC reason, said Oksana Mironova, a housing policy analyst at the Community Service Society. Thats a problem for the administration, and its even worse for tenants.

They treat us the same as the rats

For Yuldosheva and her neighbors, finding their landlord is one of many problems afflicting their six-story building near Yankee Stadium.

Heat and hot water outages are regular enough that some tenants keep a thermometer on their fridge and the citys complaint hotline on speed dial. Common areas are often filthy, and increasingly populated by drug users. Getting help with an urgent maintenance issue feels like waiting for Christmas in July, said Maitin.

During a monthslong elevator outage, a tenant who uses a wheelchair, Tommy Rodriguez, said he was forced to slide down the steps, like a kid. Calls to the building management about a repair timeline went unanswered, he said.

Growing up in the building in the 1980s, Rodriguez recalled the previous landlord as a friendly and responsive neighborhood presence.

This felt like a home before, Rodriguez said. Now they treat us the same as the rats.

A large rodent had recently chewed a hole through his couch cushion. He handled the extermination himself, with a two-by-four.

A distressing breakthrough

Recently, tenants received a clue about their landlord, following the partial collapse of another Bronx building. The man identified in news stories as the owner of that building, David Kleiner, shared a Brooklyn office with their building manager, Binyomin Herzl.

A handful of tenants visited each of the buildings 72 units, logging an array of decrepit conditions and unusual alterations.

We didnt want to become the next news story, said Yuldosheva, pointing to a crack in the wall of a bedroom shared by her three children  a result, she feared, of the subway that rumbles just below her windows.

Lawsuits show that Herzl has been ordered to pay more than $100,000 for violations across at least six Bronx buildings, several of which were found by a judge to pose an imminent hazard.

Reached by phone, Herzl said he didnt own any of those properties, but simply acted as a middleman between tenants and the true owners, whom he declined to list. Theres no one landlord, he said. Its a group of investors.

Kleiner, who was previously featured on the citys worst landlord list, confirmed his partial ownership of 705 Gerard in a brief phone call, but declined further comment.

Herzl, meanwhile, attributed the tenants complaints to normal wear and tear of a nearly century old building. He said Mamdani should focus on improving the citys public housing, rather than going after private landlords.

Our buildings look like five star hotels against his, he added.

From fines to seizures

When landlords refuse to address a serious violation, like heat or hot water outages, the city can step in and order repairs, then bill the owner directly.

In the last three years, inspectors have ordered emergency repairs at 38 buildings that list either Herzl or Kleiner as an owner, according to records provided by the citys housing department. The men have been billed $446,521 for those repairs.

Mamdani has proposed using such fines as a vehicle to bring distressed rental properties under city stewardship, by aggressively pursuing liens on delinquent landlords and buying up their portfolios through foreclosure auctions.

Just as the city can shut down unsanitary restaurants, Mamdani has said, landlords that repeatedly put New Yorkers at risk will not be allowed to operate in New York City  with no exceptions.

In reality, the process is resource-intensive and legally fraught. It is made more complex by the nest of LLCs often used by landlords to obfuscate the full scope of their portfolios, according to Cea Weaver, director of the Mayors Office to Protect Tenants.

Itd be great to have a better sense of who owns the buildings that we are regulating and overseeing, she said.

State legislation that would have made it easier to identify LLC owners was recently vetoed by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul amid pressure from landlords.

New Yorkers vs. Bad Landlords

Kenny Burgos, the CEO of the New York Apartment Association, a landlord lobbying group, said Mamdanis tenant proposals  including freezing the rent for regulated tenants  would force landlords to cut back on maintenance and services.

Thats going to take away from the elevator budget, the boiler budget, the heating budget, he said. Its a question of math: These buildings are crumbling because of policy, not because of bad landlords.

He characterized the rental rip-off hearings as show trials that took a tribal approach to the citys affordable housing crisis.

Despite the combative branding  New Yorkers vs. Bad Landlords, blares one promotion  the Bronx event mostly resembled a standard constituent service night: City officials fielded questions about local laws, helped residents with paperwork and connected them to service providers.

Maitin left feeling glad to be heard by someone who can actually do something about the problem, but felt it was too early to tell if its all talk.

The next morning, she was surprised to find the buildings superintendent applying a fresh coat of paint to a staircase. Outside, workers were removing scaffolding that had been in front of the building for years.

I think they caught wind of the rental rip-off, Maitin said. Theyre scared.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Shipowners are rushing to understand the fine print of a US-Iran ceasefire that could temporarily unblock the Strait of Hormuz and, at least in theory, provide an exit window for more than 800 vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf.

The vital waterway has been virtually closed since US and Israeli strikes at the end of February prompted Iran to tighten its control, triggering an unprecedented energy-supply crunch. Then, hours before a deadline set by President Donald Trump ran out during the US evening on Tuesday, the two sides agreed a truce in exchange for a reopening.

Key details remain uncertain, however. Iran says it has agreed to two weeks of safe passage in coordination with its armed forces and within technical limitations, while Trump announced a COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING. Trump said in a separate social-media post that the US would be helping with the traffic build up and hangin around to ensure smooth flows, options unlikely to appeal to Tehran.

Shipowners in Asia, the Middle East and Europe greeted the possibility of a reopening with both relief and caution. There was little immediate change in traffic around the strait on Wednesday, though several said they were calling insurers and security advisors, and had put vessels on standby. They asked not to be named given the sensitivity of the issue.

The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty and we need to understand all potential conditions attached, said a spokesperson for A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, the worlds second-largest container liner, adding information was still limited.

Read more: Maersk Cautious on Strait of Hormuz Shipping Despite US-Iran Ceasefire

Tokyo-based Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha, also one of the worlds largest shipping companies, has said it is closely monitoring the situation.

In the past six weeks, traffic through one of the worlds busiest energy thoroughfares has slowed to a trickle, relative to the 135 or so vessels that transit daily in peacetime.

You dont switch global shipping flows back on in 24 hours, said Jennifer Parker, adjunct professor at the University of Western Australia Defence and Security Institute. Tanker owners, insurers and crews need to believe the risk has actually reduced  not just paused.

Ships that transport energy make up a large part of the fleet thats stuck inside the gulf, data from intelligence firm Kpler show. There are currently 426 tankers hauling crude oil and clean fuels, plus 34 liquefied petroleum gas carriers and 19 liquefied natural gas vessels. The remainder are carrying dry commodities, like agricultural or metal products, or containers.

Ceasefire plans are a necessary step, but only an initial one, said Lewis Hart, head of marine in Asia at insurance broker Willis Towers Watson. Even within a twoweek window, we expect activity to restart in a measured manner rather than all at once, he said.

The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported.

Traders and shipowners will now be closely monitoring which ships start making their way to transit the strait in either direction and how they fare. As of Wednesday morning, more than 1,000 vessels are waiting on both sides, in clusters around Dubai and Khor Fakkan, in the Gulf of Oman.

Its good to see that the market is reacting the way it is, but this is day one of a tentative ceasefire, Michael Pregent, a former US Intelligence advisor, told Bloomberg Television. We are likely to see the regime control who moves through, who is charged what, and who is denied.

The first two ships to attempt an exit since the announcement appeared to be sailing as a pair toward Irans Larak and Qeshm islands on Wednesday morning, ship-tracking data show. One of them is the Tour 2, a US-sanctioned Suezmax thats flagged to Iran.

Sailing next to the tanker is a Greek-owned bulk carrier, NJ Earth, whose voyage history within the Persian Gulf suggests either spoofing to hide location or interference by electronic warfare. There were no contact details listed on database Equasis for its owner, NJ Earth Marine Ltd., and manager, NJ Trust Marine Ltd.

Other ships with links to Iran appear to be heading toward Hormuz from within the Persian Gulf. None has been observed crossing in the opposite direction.

Movement of LNG ships will also be particularly closely monitored, as no loaded carrier has made it through the strait since the war began and one recent attempted transit by two tankers ended in a last-minute U-turn. About 20% of global LNG traffic went through Hormuz last year.

According to an International Maritime Organization tally at end March, some 20,000 civilian seafarers are stuck on board trapped ships and the other utility and support vessels. Those crew members have been facing dwindling supplies, fatigue and psychological stress, the United Nations agency warned.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
Relief over a truce between the United States and Iran gave way on Wednesday to alarm that fighting was still raging across the region, as Israel launched its biggest attacks yet on Lebanon, and Iran struck Gulf neighbors oil facilities.

World financial markets rose after President Donald Trump announced the agreement late on Tuesday, two hours before a deadline he had set for Iran to open the blockaded Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its whole civilisation.

But even as Israel and the United States paused their attacks on Iran, Israel escalated its parallel war in Lebanon, launching its heaviest strikes yet, sending huge columns of smoke above Beirut as buildings crumpled.

Read more: Shipowners Eye Hormuz Truce With 800 Vessels Still Trapped

Lebanons health minister said dozens had been killed and hundreds wounded. Residents said some of the Israeli strikes had come without the usual warnings for civilians to evacuate.

Irans Tasnim news agency cited an unnamed source warning that Iran will withdraw from the ceasefire if attacks on Lebanon continue.

Long after the ceasefire was meant to take effect, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain all reported fresh Iranian missile and drone strikes, several of which targeted vital oil, power and desalination infrastructure.

Iran also attacked Saudi Arabias huge East-West Pipeline to the Red Sea just hours after the ceasefire was agreed, an industry source told Reuters. The pipeline is the main route by which some oil has been able to bypass the blockaded strait.

Talks Could Take Place in Pakistan

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had invited Iranian and U.S. delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday, and that Irans president had confirmed Tehran would attend.

With several of Irans veteran political leaders killed in the war, Irans delegation is expected to be led by parliament speaker and former Revolutionary Guards Commander Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.

Trump told the New York Post that in-person talks would happen soon, but said his Vice President JD Vance might not attend because of security concerns  contradicting media reports that Vance would lead the U.S. delegation.

Despite concerns over the durability of the ceasefire, Brent crude LCOc1, which had risen by more than 50% since the war began, was down around 15% on the day, at $94.50 a barrel at 1440 GMT. O/R

U.S. stocks jumped to near one-month highs, joining a major global relief rally. MKTS/GLOB.N

Though both the United States and Iran declared victory, their core disputes remained unresolved, with each sticking to competing demands for a deal that could shape the Middle East for generations.

The Strait of Hormuz remained shut. A senior Iranian official involved in the discussions told Reuters Tehran could open it on Thursday or Friday ahead of peace talks.

Any opening, however, would be conditional on agreement over a ceasefire framework, and would be limited, with ships still requiring Irans permission to pass.

In a flurry of online posts, Trump announced new tariffs of 50% on all goods from any country that supplies arms to Iran. He insisted Iran had undergone regime change and would agree not to enrich uranium, which can be used in nuclear warheads.

The United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buriedNuclear Dust, Trump said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Washington had won a decisive military victory, and that Irans missile program had been functionally destroyed.

Irans Ruling Establishment Survives

Crowds took to the streets of Iran overnight to celebrate, waving Iranian flags and burning those of the United States and Israel. But there was also wariness that a deal would not hold.

Israel will not allow diplomacy to work and Trump might change his view tomorrow. But at least we can sleep tonight without strikes, Alireza, 29, a government employee in Tehran, told Reuters by phone.

The war was launched on February 28 by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had announced they aimed to prevent Iran from projecting force beyond its borders, end its nuclear program and create conditions for Iranians to topple their rulers.

But so far Iran retains both its stockpile of near-weapons-grade highly enriched uranium and its ability to hit its neighbors with missiles and drones. The clerical leadership, which faced mass protests months ago, has withstood the superpower onslaught with no sign of internal collapse.

And Tehrans newly demonstrated ability to cut off Gulf energy supplies through its grip on the strait, despite decades of massive U.S. military investment in the region, could reshape Gulf power dynamics for years.

The enemy, in its unjust, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat, Irans Supreme National Security Council said.

Netanyahus office said Israel supported the decision to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks. But the agreement is a blow for the Israeli leader, who had repeatedly said he wanted Irans rulers to fall.

Yair Golan, a former Israeli military deputy chief of staff, called the outcome a complete failure that endangered Israels security.

The nuclear program was not destroyed. The ballistic threat remains. The regime is still intact and is even emerging from this war stronger, he wrote on X.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus worldwide; writing by David Dolan and Peter Graff; editing by Kevin Liffey, Keith Weir, Ros Russell)

Topics USA
Russian government-linked hackers are compromising popular internet routers to steal passwords for email accounts and other online services, the UKs National Cyber Security Centre has warned.

The hackers, a group known as APT28, are associated with Russias GRU military intelligence agency, according to research published Tuesday by the UK.

British cyber officials said they have observed the alleged Russian intruders targeting routers manufactured by companies such as MikroTik and TP-Link. Attackers obtain access to the routers and modify their settings so that they redirect outgoing internet traffic through servers that they control. MikroTik and TP-Link didnt immediately respond to requests for comment.

Such attacks put victims at risk of credential theft, data manipulation and broader compromise, according to the alert, which also published guidance on how to mitigate the risks of an intrusion.

Paul Chichester, the centers director of operations, said the malicious activity demonstrated that vulnerabilities in commonly used routers could be leveraged by sophisticated hostile actors.

Lumen Technologies Black Lotus Labs also published research on Tuesday on APT28s router-hijacking campaign

The researchers said they had identified thousands of potential victims from at least 120 countries communicating with the hackers infrastructure. These operations primarily targeted government agencies  including ministries of foreign affairs, law enforcement and third-party email providers, the researchers said in a report reviewed by Bloomberg News.

The vulnerability of internet routers to attack has become a focus of increasing concern internationally.

Last month, the US Federal Communications Commission banned the sale of new foreign-made consumer-grade internet routers, saying that they constituted a supply-chain vulnerability and could pose a severe cybersecurity risk that could be leveraged to immediately and severely disrupt US critical infrastructure and directly harm US persons.

Photograph: A person uses a laptop computer with illuminated English and Russian Cyrillic character keys; photo credit: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg

Topics Cyber Russia
We live in risky times. War with Iran, the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Mexican cartelsglobal tensions are at an all-time high. The Department of State is advising Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution. And yet, C-suite and other executives still need to travel for business. Carrier Management spoke with Patti Clement, EVP at HUB Private Client, to find out what precautions execs should be taking.

The biggest thing is that they have to be prepared ahead of time, Clement said. They cant just get on a plane. They have to be educated as to where theyre traveling to have some kind of preparedness ahead of time instead of reacting.

She likened preparedness to packing your suitcase. Well, youre going to pack your suitcase, so while youre at it pack a plan as to whats going to happen, she said. It may never happenbut just have that plan ready to go.

Check for travel advisories. Clement said one step executives and their teams can take on their own is checking the U.S. State Department website for travel advisories for their destination. There could be a conflict going on that theyre unaware of, and unfortunately, with the way the world is right now, it could be anywhere, she said.

The site includes detailed safety and security risks as well as an International Travel Advisory map color-coded by level:

Level 1: Exercise normal precautions.

Level 2: Exercise increased caution.

Level 3: Reconsider travel.

Level 4: Do not travel.

Visitors to the site can also sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), a free service that sends you email updates and alerts from U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.

Know the laws. Clement said its important to research the rules and laws whenever you visit a foreign country so that you dont end up making a mistake that gets you arrested. Otherwise, you can risk detainment for things that you wouldnt realize, she said. Like, in some of these countries if you spit your gum out on the street, youre arrested. If you dress inappropriately, if youre holding hands

Youve got to make sure that you respect the culture [of the country] that youre going to, and you need to know ahead of time. Its super important, she said, noting that a lot of people get themselves into trouble because they happen to do something silly that wasnt classed as silly in that particular country.

Consider purchasing a K&R policy. Clement said that kidnap & ransom (K&R) policies are seeing a sharp uptick in recent months, both for affluent families and business travelers. Policies can cover ransom payments, crisis negotiator fees, emergency evacuation and related expenses. Coverage may include kidnap & ransom, extortion, threats of violence, wrongful detention, political evacuation, express kidnappings (short-term abductions to drain bank and digital accounts), and medical emergencies in regions with limited healthcare infrastructure.

K&R policies can also offer key benefits such as immediate access to professional security consultants and crisis response teams, which Clement considers crucial. The important part is aligning yourself with resources to get you through whatever that crisis is going to be, she said. The bonus would be if theres an insurance policy attached to it that pays for it.

Have a team in place. Even if you dont purchase K&R coverage, make sure to have a briefing with a security firm before you travel to even a moderately risky area, Clement advised. She said most of the security firms HUB works with have access to the underground world and theyll sweep the travel itinerary before you travel to identify any safety concerns.

Clement said its important to have a specific contact person in case of emergency.

The key is to know who that responder is ahead of timenot just a 1-800 number, she said. Whether you have a K&R policy or you consult with a crisis management team on your own, research who that persons going to be who is going to take care of you. In an emergency situation, if you dont have that right person in place who knows the currency and the language, youre in trouble, she said.

Be ready for a medical emergency. Its also important to plan for a potential medical emergency, Clement said, especially since most health insurance has limited or no coverage for those traveling outside the U.S. Beyond the usual packing of extra medication and medical supplies, she advised those with pre-existing conditions especially to research local hospitals and talk to an expert to create a medical evacuation plan.

Clement said that HUBs portfolio of resources includes access to doctors that will put together medical preparedness plans for traveling executives and families. If you have a medical emergency while traveling overseas, like a brain aneurysm or critical illness, its a matter of life or death, she said. Those first minutes and hours are critical. If you have an emergency team ready to bring in a helicopter to get you to the right hospital, the survival rate is really good, but if you dont have any of that in place ahead of time it could be fatal, she warned.

Dont go if you dont have to. If youre traveling, you have to be aware right now. Everything is at risk. Listen to the resources. If they tell you not to travel to a certain area, dont go, Clement said.

If your destination has a high-risk alert, dont go. If theres an advisory team thats advising you not to goand these are safety and security experts, former government officials, military officialsif theyre telling you not to go unless its extremely necessary, dont go, because youre already inviting the conflict.

When possible, take advantage of video conferencing tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, which make it easy to conduct business meetings without having to leave the countryor even the office.

But if you do have to travel, make sure you align yourself with somebody who has boots on the ground in that country, who can help you with the language and the currency if something does come up, she said.

Take extra precautions. You cant be too overcautious, Clement said. That starts with watching what information you share with the public.

People have to be really careful what they post on social media because it is an invitation for somebody to go after you or your family members, she said. Dont post anything that can give the location of your home or help criminals catalog your belongings. And especially dont post information about when youre going to be away. If you want to post pictures of your trip, wait until after you return home.

More importantly, Clement said, dont post any details about your future travel plans. Knowing your destination and the duration of your stay gives criminals time to research and plan ahead.

She also advised travelers to consider using a fake name if you have a driver picking you up at the airport so they cant research your name before you get there.

It might be wise to wipe banking and other financial information off your phone before you travel so that criminals cant use it to access your accounts, she said.

Clement said that HUB is also counseling travelers to have a codeword to alert their company or loved ones if theyre in a crisis situationfor example, if someone is trying to get them to initiate a wire transfer or to make a call home under duress.
The Trump administration warned cyberattackers with links to Iran are targeting critical US infrastructure including drinking water systems and the energy sector.

The attacks are aimed at technology used in water and sewer systems along with government facilities and services, the Environmental Protection Agency, the FBI and other agencies said in a joint statement Tuesday. The warning didnt specify where they were occurring.

The FBI and its partners are issuing this advisory to ensure organizations are best positioned to defend themselves against exploitation by Iran-affiliated cyber actors, Brett Leatherman, assistant director of the FBIs cyber division, said in the statement.

The attacks are similar to previous incursions by the group CyberAv3ngers, according to the statement. The organization targeted control devices used for water and sewer systems in 2023 and has ties to Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to the US government.

The recent attacks are targeting logic controllers manufactured by Milwaukee-based Rockwell Automation Inc., the agencies said. In some cases, they have caused operational disruption and financial loss, according to the statement.

Photo: In an aerial view, pools of water are visible at the East Bay Municipal Utility District Wastewater Treatment Plant in Oakland, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics USA Cyber
Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabets Google have each recently abandoned construction of multibillion-dollar data centers over community opposition and now the companies are coming under shareholder pressure over the environmental impact of their projects.

More than a dozen investors are cranking up the heat on companies ahead of annual shareholder meetings this spring, seeking more data on the tech giants water usage and conservation efforts as they seek to expand their computing power, according to interviews with Reuters.

Trillium Asset Management, a Boston-based firm with more than $4 billion in assets under management, filed a resolution with Alphabet in December seeking clarity on how it will meet existing climate goals given the surging energy needs of its data centers, Andrea Ranger, director of shareholder advocacy, said in an interview.

The company pledged in 2020 to halve its emissions and use carbon-free energy sources by 2030. Yet Trillium said emissions instead rose 51%, leaving investors in the dark about how it planned to meet the goals.

A similar resolution from Trillium last year won support from nearly a quarter of independent shareholders.

Green Century Capital Management shareholder advocate Giovanna Eichner, meanwhile, said it was in discussions with Nvidia about submitting a resolution to ensure that short-term AI gains do not come at the cost of long-term climate and financial risk, declining to share more details.

Water Usage Questioned

Shareholders want more data on the companies water usage. North American data centers used nearly 1 trillion liters of water in 2025, according to data from market research firm Mordor Intelligence, roughly equivalent to the annual demands of New York City.

While Meta, Google, Amazon and Microsoft have all started using closed-loop cooling in their data centers that require much less water, the data on that usage varies.

Metas 2025 environmental report showed water usage for the sites it owned, but not for the ones it leased or were under construction. Total usage rose 51% from 3,726 megaliters in 2020 to 5,637 megaliters in 2024, enough water to supply more than 13,000 homes for a year.

Googles 2025 environmental report showed data for the sites it owns and leases, but not those operated by third parties. Microsoft reported total water usage, but not by site in its sustainability report. Amazon did not report total water usage data and instead provided data showing usage per unit of power, in its 2025 sustainability report.

Josh Weissman, director of infra capacity delivery at Amazon, said it was increasingly disclosing site-specific water consumption data where we operate. An Amazon spokesperson added that the company was committed to being a good neighbor and was investing in efficiency efforts, bringing new energy online and reducing its water use.

Site-level data is crucial as it helps investors to better assess the operational risks and the performance of the company in managing them, investors said, adding they also wanted to know more about efforts to replenish the water supplies.

Local Data Requested

We havent seen them disclosing enough about their water consumption (and the) impact on the local community, said Jason Qi, lead technology analyst at Calvert Research and Management.

A Microsoft spokesperson said environmental sustainability was a core value and it was proactively addressing sustainability challenges and accelerating solutions for longterm impact.

A Google spokesperson declined to comment and Meta did not return a request for comment.

Dan Diorio, vice-president of the Data Center Coalition, a lobby group whose members include the Big Four tech firms, said improving community engagement had become a top priority over the last year.

Being upfront with them regarding energy and water use, and so that residents can understand that this project will not stress their resources and will protect them as rate payers is crucial.

Topics Google Amazon
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation (DWC) has honored Laminate Technologies Inc. in Waco, Texas, with the Lone Star Safety Award for exceptional dedication to protecting its employees through a strong and proactive safety program.

This facilitys 13 employees manufacture high-quality laminated cabinets used across a variety of industries. DWC credited the companys leadership and team members for maintaining a safe workplace that values injury prevention, open communication, and shared responsibility.

The Lone Star Safety Program recognizes Texas employers that achieve exemplary workplace safety and health performance and serve as role models for others. To qualify, employers must maintain low injury rates, have no recent work-related fatalities, and demonstrate a sustained commitment to continuous safety improvement.

Source: Texas Department of Insurance
Consider the moment a major commercial building changes hands. Thousands of hours of engineering work, such as structural specifications, systems commissioning data, compliance documentation, and material certifications, are packaged and transferred to the new owner. Those files land on a server, in a cabinet, or across a set of folders. One ownership cycle passes. Then another. The files are gone. Not destroyed deliberately, but simply abandoned, scattered across drives of firms no longer involved, locked inside obsolete platforms, or surviving only in the memory of a facilities director who retired years ago.

For commercial property insurers, that missing history is not an abstraction, it is a direct source of claims uncertainty, underwriting exposure, and loss adjustment cost.

A Systemic Gap with Direct Underwriting Consequences

The construction sector has invested heavily in digital modernization over the past two decades. Collaborative project platforms, cloud-hosted repositories and real-time coordination tools have transformed how structures are built. The volume of technical data produced on a contemporary commercial project would have been unimaginable a generation ago.

Virtually none of it survives into the operational life of the asset.

The failure is not technological  it is structural. There is no durable identity layer linking digital records to the physical asset they describe. Documentation is organized by project, by vendor platform, by the organization that commissioned it. When any of those containers ceases to exist, the records disappear with them. What the industry lacks is a permanent, asset-anchored identifier that survives every platform migration, ownership transfer, and organizational change.

Where the Chain of Custody Breaks  and Why It Matters to Insurers

The project closeout package is the most complete record of a commercial building that will ever exist in one place  engineering rationale for every system, installation records, test results, and compliance evidence. But from the moment it transfers to an owner, that record begins to degrade.

For insurers, this fragmentation has an immediate operational cost. When a claims professional investigates a roof membrane failure, a fire suppression malfunction, or a structural movement event, the material specifications, installation records, and service history that would clarify how and why the loss occurred are often inaccessible  or no longer exist.

The Real Cost to Commercial Property Insurers

Documentation fragmentation creates measurable exposure throughout the commercial property insurance lifecycle. Underwriters pricing a risk on a building with no reliable maintenance history must load additional uncertainty into their assumptions. Loss adjusters investigating claims without installation records face extended timelines and higher settlement costs. Subrogation teams cannot build defensible chains of causation without continuous documentation.

Persistent Infrastructure Identity: A Framework Insurers Should Know

Solving this requires intervention at the identity layer. This emerging approach treats identity itself as foundational infrastructure: a permanent, globally unique identifier assigned to every physical asset at creation and maintained across its complete operational life.

This concept, persistent infrastructure identity (PIID), draws on precedents that have operated reliably for generations. The automotive industry has used vehicle identification numbers since the 1950s, maintaining continuous records across manufacturers, dealers, insurers, and owners. Aviation assigns registration codes that follow aircraft across operators for the life of the asset. Capital markets use standardized securities identifiers to track instruments across institutions without interruption.

A persistent infrastructure identifier gives every commercial building a stable reference point that belongs to no platform, depends on no organization, and survives every ownership transfer. Engineering documents, construction records, maintenance logs, inspection reports, and renovation filings all point to the same underlying identifier  forming an unbroken chain of custody that follows the structure itself.

How the Registry and GIIS Work  and How Insurers Can Engage

The national registry initiative is now moving toward incorporating approximately 160 million addressable U.S. structures. The registry and the Global Infrastructure Identity Standard (GIIS) are complementary but distinct. GIIS is an industry-wide governance framework, not a system or database, and it defines how infrastructure assets are identified and connected across the ecosystem. The UMIP registry is the operational layer: it issues and maintains PIIDs, functioning as the registry through which assets are enrolled and data is anchored. Together, GIIS sets the standard; UMIP operationalizes it.

Each PIID acts as a permanent reference point for a specific asset, surviving platform migrations, ownership transfers, and organizational changes. All associated data, from construction documentation and material certifications to inspections, maintenance records, and claims history, links continuously to that identifier. Project closeout packages can be persistently tied to the assets PIID, remaining accessible and verifiable for the life of the structure. Insurers are well positioned to require that insured builders and developers register assets and link closeout packages to the PIID as a condition of coverage, strengthening the evidentiary foundation for underwriting, claims resolution, and subrogation.

Participation can begin with an inquiry at www.umipinc.com, where UMIP coordinates onboarding and pilot programs.

Trevor Vick is the CEO of UMIP Inc., the founder and originator of persistent infrastructure identity, operating the Global Infrastructure Identity Initiative (GIIS) and advancing the PIID framework.

Topics Carriers Commercial Lines
An employee of a company that operates a distribution center for Kimberly-Clark Corp. has been arrested on arson charges after a massive fire broke out Tuesday at the facility in California that serves around 50 million people.

The 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse  located in Ontario, about 35 miles outside of Los Angeles  houses facial tissue and toilet paper, according to a local Fox report. Ontario Deputy Fire Chief Mike Wedell told Bloomberg News the buildings roof completely collapsed and all products inside were destroyed.

Photos from the scene showed the entire building engulfed in flames. The blaze reached a six-alarm response, involving around 175 firefighters, the Ontario Fire Department said.

Kimberly-Clark said its taking action to mitigate the impact and maintain deliveries. That includes identifying other shipping locations and securing additional warehouse capacity. No manufacturing assets were impacted and property damage policies are in place.

The company is working through mitigating any short-term disruptions as these plans are executed, Kimberly-Clark said in a statement. The firm will provide further updates with its next quarterly earnings report, currently scheduled for April 28.

Shares rose about 2% at the open of trading on Wednesday. The stock had declined roughly 8% this year.

The local fire department said it had identified a suspect: Chamel Abdulkarim, an employee of NFI Industries, a third-party logistics provider for Kimberly-Clark products.

Abdulkarim, 29, was initially reported as missing and was later suspected to have started the fire in the warehouse and quickly located by Ontario Police Department personnel, the department said. He faces multiple arson-related felony charges and is being held without bail at West Valley Detention Center, it said.

This fire was suspicious in nature from the initial stages, Wedell told Bloomberg earlier.

Kimberly-Clark said in a statement that there were no reported injuries.

Analysts warned that the fire could lead to supply problems in the region.

The blaze risks West Coast supply shortages for more than 3% of sales at Kimberly-Clarks US business and could raise transportation costs, according to a note from Diana Gomes, a Bloomberg Intelligence senior industry analyst.

Piper Sandler analyst Michael Lavery wrote in a note to clients that the level of disruption is difficult to gauge at this point, but warehouses and mixing centers in the area frequently supply products to large markets in Northern California, Arizona and Nevada.

Lavery isnt planning to update his financial projections for the company without better visibility on the magnitude and duration of the impact of any potential disruptions.

In November, Kimberly-Clark, which sells the Huggies diaper and Kleenex tissue brands, said it had agreed to buy Tylenol maker Kenvue Inc.

Top photo: A Kimberly-Clark distribution center damaged following a fire in Ontario, California, US, on Tuesday, April 7. Photographer: Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Topics California
(Investorideas.com Newswire) a leader in retail investor trading ideas for AI and cybersecurity stocks issues market data from iGaming software provider Digitain.

An April 2026 report on AI cyber threats found that Uruguay is the world's most resilient country against hacking attacks. With cybercrime now costing the global economy over $1 trillion annually, a new study by iGaming software provider Digitain shows which countries have the strongest defenses against AI malware.

Uruguay stops hackers better than any country in the world , keeping nearly 98% of its devices safe from cyberattacks.

, keeping nearly 98% of its devices safe from cyberattacks. Brits and Americans are among the most tech-savvy people , scoring 85/100 in digital literacy, which helps them recognize phishing scams better.

, scoring 85/100 in digital literacy, which helps them recognize phishing scams better. France has built some of the worlds best cybersecurity systems rated at 89/100, stopping hackers from breaking into 93% of its computers.

The research looked at how many computers in each country face cyberattacks like viruses and ransomware. Countries were ranked based on how many threats they detected. To understand why some nations defend better than others, the study examined GDPs to estimate available cybersecurity budgets, internet access levels, and how many companies use AI, which helps block threats automatically. The report also looked at government security policies and tech infrastructure in each country.

Uruguay

Cyber threat exposure: 2.3%

2.3% Average income per person: $24.3K

$24.3K Government cybersecurity strength: 80.8/100

80.8/100 Companies using AI security: 22.5%

22.5% Technology infrastructure score: 71.7/100

71.7/100 National innovation ranking: 29.1/100

Uruguay has the best protection against hackers anywhere in the world. Only 2.3% of the country's computers face active cyber threats right now, meaning 97.7% stay completely secure from viruses and ransomware. Uruguay manages this through government policies that score 81 out of 100 for cybersecurity, requiring companies to meet strict security standards.

Qatar

Qatar is the second-most resilient country when it comes to cybersecurity. The state manages to protect almost 95% of its citizens' devices from malware. One of the reasons behind this success is that Qatar has one of the highest incomes globally at $71K per person, helping to fund expensive cyber defense. The companies here are also adopting AI at a fast pace, with nearly 40% of them using it regularly. This indicates that many are already capable of implementing automated systems to detect malicious activities more easily.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria ranks third, protecting about 95% of its computers from hackers. With this, it matches Qatars level of protection, even though it has more than three times less income. Despite the smaller budget, Bulgaria also scores 81 out of 100 for cybersecurity rules, enforcing equally strict rules for privacy as Uruguay. Around 27% of Bulgarian businesses now also use AI actively, helping them spot and block viruses without human oversight.

Switzerland

Switzerland takes fourth place with only 6.7% of its devices exposed to hacking attacks. The country has the highest income at $111K per person, but that wealth also makes local banks prime targets for organized cyber criminals. Thats why the Swiss government invests heavily in implementing firewalls, scoring 79.2 in cybersecurity policies. With 35% AI adoption, many threats get caught automatically as well. Plus, locals here are quite tech-savvy (81/100), making it unlikely they can be tricked easily by scammers.

France

France rounds out the top five. The country scores highest in the cybersecurity index (89/100) and protects 93% of its computers from malware as a result. People here have also been adopting AI tools faster than others, with 44% already using them. This means nearly half of French companies can now let bots handle threat detection. With $49K per person in income, France also has enough financial resources to fund cybersecurity projects across government agencies for better protection.

A cybersecurity expert from Digitain commented on the study:

"Cybercrime is now among the top 20 largest industries in the world. Criminal groups running ransomware operations make more money annually than most countries' entire GDP. What makes this worse is that AI now lets these gangs launch thousands of attacks simultaneously. Even a single hacker with AI tools can now target hundreds of companies at once, testing for weak passwords or outdated software automatically. That's why governments need to get serious about this.

You can access the complete research findings here.

Get more cybersecurity stock investing ideas with Investorideas.com free tech stock directory

https://www.investorideas.com/Companies/HomelandDefense/Stock_List.asp
The owner of a discount warehouse store opened in Cork six months ago plans to roll out the concept thanks to its booming success.

Kieran Cuddihy opened Bulk Buy, a discount store in Ballincollig Commercial Park on the towns Link Road in September, offering branded retail goods to shoppers at discounted prices, sometimes in larger sizes or quantities.

The produce on the shop floor changes from week to week, says proprietor Kieran Cuddihy. Our initial concept was to have 200 lines on the shop floor at all times. That's now gone up to 2,000 lines, said Mr Cuddihy.

"We have contacts in wholesale who might need to move a product or a certain pack size. We sell anything we come across of value that we can pass on to end users and still make a margin.

Theres no minimum price and its aimed at the public but Bulk Buy is attracting custom from smaller businesses like cafes and hairdressers.

Our intention was to open Monday to Friday but weve had to go to seven days a week  its a good complaint, said Mr Cuddihy.

Its a concept thats very big in England, and we have a lot of things like branded confectionery, minerals, ready meals, and ambient products which people are buying for occasions like confirmations and communions. We have core lines every week but others may just be there for a month. I know its an expensive time for everyone, so if people can save 40 to 60 on a weeks shop, thats the name of the game.

Mr Cuddihy hopes to replicate the success at the store in Ballincollig in other places. Location is key. Once we can find the right place, we will roll more out  there is a real opening for it.

The Cuddihy family has extensive experience in retail, running retails stores in Cork. Cuddihys operates in Cloughduv and opened three weeks ago in Rochestown. The Cuddihys Daybreak in Ovens has traded successfully for more than a decade but is closing on Sunday, April 19 due to circumstances beyond our control.

Weve been in Ovens for 10 years and have built up a great business but unfortunately we're not getting another lease from the landlord there.

The Ovens business also operates fuel pumps and Mr Cuddihy recognises the challenges and concerns of consumers.

We were selling on a commission basis; youre working on a commission of about 2c a litre and its competitive to sell the volume. I saw it myself: my own jeep took 120 to fill and now takes 165 - thats a big chunk of change to ask from people, and most families these days have two vehicles so thats doubled.
Updates to the bTB eradication programme will mean you will see changes in how cattle move through livestock marts once the new action plan begins on April 13.

Selling cattle

When selling cattle, a farmers animal will be assigned one of three groups so that it can be presented at the sale. Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) will notify your mart of your animals' grouping.

Group 1, or the Open group, anyone can by and consists of young stock heifers, non-cow females or males under 36 months that are in test (within the last 12 months). Any cows or males over 36 months if they have a 30-day premovement test, and beef breed cows or males over 36 months on an Animal Health Law (AHL) test, i.e. the animal and the herd it is in were tested within the last six months.

Group 2, the Dry group, can only be bought by non-milk-supplying and non-breeding herds and Controlled Finishing Units (CFUs). This group consists of dairy breed cows with an AHL test within the last six months.

Finally, group 3 or the CFU group, is the animals that are only allowed to be bought by department-approved CFUs. This group includes cows that were part of an exposed cohort in herds greater than 80 cows that were Gamma Interferon (GIF) tested or any in-test animal, including in-test dairy breed cows not included in Groups 1 and 2.

Farmers will be able to see their animals grouping on the animal details screen available on AIM through myAgfood from Monday, 13 April, 2026.

Buying cattle

When buying cattle, a buyer's herd will also be assigned to a group. A farmers group will determine what animals a farmer is eligible to buy.

Livestock marts will now be required to check with AIM that your herd is an eligible destination for animals you buy at the mart. If AIM notifies the mart that your herd is not an eligible destination, you will not be allowed to purchase those animals.

The groups are named the same as the selling groups. Group 1 (Open) Herds in this group can only buy group 1 animals. This group of herds includes breeding herds and herds with a milk supply contract in place.

Group 2 (Dry) can buy animals with group 1 or 2 assigned groupings. They are non-milk-supplying, non-breeding herds. If you purchase group 2 animals, these can only be subsequently moved directly to slaughter.

Group 3 (CFU) are department-approved CFUs that can buy any animal from any group. Animals can only move from CFUs directly to slaughter.

For farm-to-farm movements, AIM will automatically conduct these checks when a farm-to-farm movement certificate has been applied for.

For further information and updates visit the department website.

Farming organisations response

Irish Farmers Association (IFA) animal health chair, David Hall, said the department restricting the sale of cows in herds that have been locked up prior to the launch of the new Action Plan is unfair on impacted farmers.

IFA is firmly opposed to the retrospective implementation of measures within the TB Action Plan. In particular, the proposed retrospective restriction on the sale of cows from exposed cohorts and the identification at point of sale of females over 18 months, Mr Hall said.

These outbreaks have not been managed uniformly to date as envisaged in the TB Action Plan. To now impose restrictions retrospectively on farmers who operated in good faith is completely unfair on those impacted farmers.

The IFA animal health chair also outlined his disappointment at the lack of meaningful stakeholder engagement by the Department of Agriculture on the implementation of the Bovine TB Action Plan.

Mr Hall also raised serious concerns regarding the implementation of new testing requirements for cull cow sales at marts.

The new rules will require cows entering dairy herds to have a pre-movement test within 30 days. Similar requirements will apply to suckler cows and males over 36 months if they are outside six months of their annual herd test.

It was clearly understood that the Animal Identification and Movement system (AIMS) would prevent non-compliant movements and that marts would police these requirements in the interim.

"We have now been informed that this will not be the case and that responsibility will instead fall on individual farmers, with the risk of referral to Regional Veterinary Offices for non-compliance. This is a clear reversal of commitments previously given by the department."

Irish Cattle and Sheep Association (ICSA) animal health and welfare chair John Barron has urged farmers to familiarise themselves with the changes to the TB eradication programme coming into effect from Monday, 13 April.

These changes form part of the TB Action Plan and will have practical implications for farmers in terms of testing and animal movements. It is important that all farmers take the time now to understand what is required, he said.

Mr Barron said he would advise farmers to plan ahead when selling stock under the new rules.

Farmers selling cows or bulls over 36 months should aim to do so within six months of their herd test. Where that is not possible, they should consider a pre-movement test to protect the full market value of their animals. The key is to understand the changes and use them to your best advantage.

Mr Barron continued highlighting that significant issues surrounding bovine TB remain, particularly in relation to compensation.

Compensation is always the last thing the department wants to address, but it is a critical part of the TB strategy. Farmers must be paid the true market value for animals removed, alongside proper income support and hardship grants that are fit for purpose. The department now needs to urgently re-engage in meaningful discussions on this issue, he said.

He said it is also vital that these stronger cattle controls are matched by meaningful action on wildlife.

The new TB Action Plan includes commitments on the wildlife programme, and farmers expect the department to also act on these from 13 April. This is not a one-sided programme and cattle measures alone will not succeed without a serious and visible effort to tackle wildlife as a source of infection, he concluded.
Channel 4 will not show the final episode of The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up To Cancer because of allegations against Scott Mills, who features in the show as a celebrity contestant.

The former Radio 2 DJ was sacked by the BBC after it emerged the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the 53-year-old in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.

A Channel 4 spokesperson said: Having carefully considered the circumstances, weve taken the decision not to air the final episode of the 2026 series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off For Stand Up to Cancer, featuring Scott Mills.

Acknowledging the seriousness of the accusations that have been made against Scott, we dont believe it would be appropriate to air the episode at this time.

Read More Scott Mills: I have been the subject of rumour and speculation since BBC sacking

Channel 4 has confirmed that an alternative episode of the show will be broadcast instead.

The 2026 series of the celebrity edition of The Great British Bake Off has been airing weekly since March 22, and has seen stars including Molly-Mae Hague, JoJo Siwa, and Vicky Pattison compete inside its tent.

Following his sacking, Mills stepped back from his role as an ambassador for MS Society UK on Tuesday, while childrens cancer charity Neuroblastoma UK has decided to part ways with Mills, who had been a patron since 2021.

He has also been dropped as the host of the BBCs new Race Across The World spin-off podcast.

Since Mills sacking, the BBC has admitted it knew about a police investigation into allegations of a historical sexual offence in 2017, but said it acted decisively after receiving new information in the weeks before his sacking.

Last week, Mills released a statement through his lawyers saying he had been the subject of rumour and speculation since he was fired, and that he co-operated fully with the police investigation into allegations of a historical sexual offence.
The daughter of Jason Corbett has reacted to the news that a documentary on his death has been nominated for an Emmy Award.

Jason Corbett was killed by his second wife Molly Martens and her ex-FBI father in the US in August 2015, and a Netflix documentary about his death and its aftermath was released last year.

Yesterday, A Deadly American Marriage received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Crime and Justice Documentary.

Sharing the news on Instagram, his daughter Sarah Corbett Lynch, who was eight when her father was killed and who published her memoir A Time for Truth last year, said: I am and forever will be proud to be Jason Corbetts daughter.

Sarah Corbett Lynch

In a statement from Jasons Journey, a group dedicated to remembering the late Limerick man, they said the nomination carries deep meaning for his family.

This nomination is a meaningful recognition of the importance of telling Jason Corbetts story with honesty, dignity and care.

It reflects not only the power of documentary storytelling, but also the importance of continuing to raise awareness around truth, justice, loss and the lifelong impact of violence on families.

For all those who have supported Jasons story over the years, and for everyone who has stood with Jack, Sarah and Jasons family in the pursuit of truth, this moment carries deep meaning.

Jason Corbett and Molly Martens with Corbetts children, Jack and Sarah

A Deadly American Marriage is nominated in its category alongside Aileen: Queen of Serial Killers, The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer, No Justice, Just Kills, Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror, and The Strike Independent Lens.

Last year, senior CNN correspondent and proud Caherciveen man Donie OSullivan won an Emmy for outstanding new coverage for his work on the three-part documentary MisInfoNation, which was broadcast as part of The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper during the US election coverage.
Gemma Collins is seen complaining about the rancid conditions in the Savannah Slum camp, which she has described as Hell, on tonights episode of Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! South Africa.

In a sneak peek at Wednesdays show, the reality TV star is seen struggling to adapt to life in the jungle, saying that she is going to need back surgery after enduring one night on the camp beds.

Collins, 45, was a late arrival on the all-star show and her dramatic entrance last night entailed taking on a gruelling eating challenge, where she was faced with dishes such as fish eye pie and brain freeze.

Gemma Collins said the conditions in camp are rancid (Ian West/PA)

During Wednesdays episode, Collins is seen complaining to the Bush Telegraph and says: What have I done in my life to deserve this? It is just rancid.

The beds, I mean Im going to need back surgery after one nights sleep. I mean, it is just Hell, basically.

She then asks Seann Walsh if he wants to stay up and chat as their fellow campmates settle down for the night.

The 40-year-old comedian says: Ive got to go to sleep, Gemma, because we didnt sleep last night, because we were in a storm.

Collins jokes: If theres a storm in the night, Im topping and tailing with you. You can rub me feet.

The TV star then adds that she wants a good nights sleep so she can crack on again tomorrow.

Im A Celebrity stars Seann Walsh, Craig Charles, Gemma Collins, Ashley Roberts, Scarlett Moffatt, Beverley Callard, Sinitta, Adam Thomas and Harry Redknapp (Ian West/PA)

Collins last appeared on the show in 2014 and quit after three days as she struggled with the environment, but has called her appearance on the all-stars show her redemption.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star also overcame her fears and rode into camp on a helicopter on Tuesday nights episode, having broken down in tears during her last attempt in 2014.

Walsh is later seen praising the reality TV star, and says: Gemma has really helped morale in camp, you can see why the nation loves her. Shes absolutely fantastic.

For tonights bushtucker trial, contestants in the main camp will choose to nominate someone from the opposing camp, Savannah Scrub, for the latest bushtucker trial and vice versa.

During venom verdict, contestants will wear helmets filled with snakes while their teammates answer questions.

Popstar Sinitta will take on tonights trial alongside Seann Walsh (Ian West/PA)

Popstar Sinitta is set to represent the main camp, and in a preview, she is heard crying out in fear as her head is surrounded by snakes.

Meanwhile, as Walsh takes on the challenge for Savannah Scrub, he can be seen remaining still as he repeatedly exclaims: Oh my God. Oh God.

The reality series spin-off is pre-recorded, unlike the classic Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, and will see celebrities compete against one another to be crowned the legend.

Im A Celebrity South Africa can be seen at 9pm on Virgin Media One, and will air on weeknights.
US President Donald Trump said late Tuesday that he is pulling back on his threats to attack

Iranian bridges, power plants and other civilian targets, subject to Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Trump also said Iran has proposed a workable 10-point peace plan that could help end war the US and Israel launched on February 28.

In a post on his social media site, Mr Trump said Iran could agree to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz and said that he would then suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

Mr Trump had previously threatened on Tuesday that a whole civilisation will die tonight if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the strait through which a fifth of the worlds oil is transported during peacetime.

But since the war began, Mr Trump has repeatedly backed off of deadlines just before they expire.

The president said in his social media post that Iran has presented a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Bystanders watch as rescue teams work at the site of a strike in Tehran, Iran (Francisco Seco/AP)

Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated, Mr Trump said.

Mr Trumps expansive threat on Tuesday did not seem to account for potential harm to civilians, prompting Democrats in Congress, some United Nations officials and scholars in military law to say such strikes would violate international law.

Tehrans representative at the UN, Amir-Saeid Iravani, said the threats constitute incitement to war crimes and potentially genocide and that Iran would take immediate and proportionate reciprocal measures if Mr Trump launches devastating strikes.

(PA Graphics)

The US and Israel have battered Iran with attacks targeting its military capabilities, leadership and nuclear programme. Iran has responded with a stream of strikes on Israel and Gulf Arab neighbours, causing regional chaos and outsized economic and political shock.

Late Tuesday, Pakistans prime minister urged Mr Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance. In a post on X, Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been leading negotiations, also asked Iran to open up for two weeks the Strait of Hormuz.

Before the deadline, air strikes hit two bridges and a train station, and the U.S. hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.
The Department of Education is to establish an independent portal for parents to lodge complaints about how a school has handled an incident of physical restraint.

Last month, it was revealed children with special needs have been physically restrained in schools more than 460 times since the beginning of the academic year, a number of which resulted in injury.
Forecourts around the country could run out of petrol and diesel as early as Thursday because terminals in Cork, Galway and Limerick are being blocked by protestors, Fuels for Ireland has warned.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin described the escalation to blockade the Whitegate oil refinery as an act of national sabotage, saying it would directly impact peoples livelihoods.

It makes absolutely no sense in the fuel crisis we are currently facing. It is beyond belief that people would seek to deny people around the country access to vital fuels, Mr Martin said.

Fuels for Ireland chief executive, Kevin McPartlan, told the Irish Examiner the blocking of the Whitegate oil refinery in Cork, as well as two depots in Galway and Foynes has locked up 50% of the countrys fuel.

The consequences of this are very grave. We will have forecourts running out of fuel, Mr McPartlan warned.

Blockages at the Whitegate refinery in Cork could lead to the citys busier forecourts struggling to meet demand, he said.

He raised concerns about the blockading of the Whitegate refinery, saying there is currently no access for emergency service vehicles onto the site in case of an emergency.

Mr McPartlan questioned why Gardai have not acted to prevent the closure of key fuel depots.

Mr McPartlan said he is aware of some forecourts who have already run out of fuel, warning this could become exacerbated if fuel supplies are not unblocked.

While he said he sympathised with the protesters over the impact on their businesses, Mr McPartlan said they were not taking the correct tactical approach and urged them to reconsider.

Protesters have caused gridlock for commuters in Cork, Dublin and other counties amid rising fuel costs linked to the war in Iran.

Gardai say slow-moving convoys and blockades are affecting traffic on major routes, while fuel depots in Cork, Limerick and Galway remain obstructed.

Protesters blocked the entry to Irving Oil Whitegate in east Cork, which has the capacity to produce 75,000 barrels of oil per day.

This is equivalent to 40% of Irelands fuel needs.

Four tractors and three trucks have blockaded the main entrance to the refinery, with a tractor separately blocking a second entrance.

Anthony Kelleher, a protest organiser, said that no petrol tankers will be allowed through and they will stay "for as long as it takes."

Further protests are expected on Thursday morning.

Cork

In Cork, several trucks have blocked the Shannonpark Roundabout in Ringaskiddy.

Gardai advised the Port of Cork that protests would resume today at 4pm, starting from the roundabout outside Carrigaline and are "expected to cause significant traffic delays in the Ringaskiddy area".

Pharmaceutical companies in Ringaskiddy, which employ some 7,250 people, say they are being seriously impacted and are pleading with politicians and Gardai to intervene, local councillor Jack White said.

National Fuel Protest at Shannonpark Roundabout Cork on the N28. Picture: Larry Cummins

The blockade at the Shannonpark Roundabout limits access to major industry in Ringaskiddy, Port of Cork facilities, the National Maritime College of Ireland, the Island Crematorium, and Haulbowline naval base.

However, local residents will be allowed access along the shared road and people will be permitted to leave the site, Mr Kelleher told RTE.

A Cork participant in the ongoing fuel protest has said motorists are expected to face continued delays tomorrow[/url[ if talks are not had with members of government.

Agricultural equipment supplier, Dave Mulcahy, who was among protestors on the M8 this morning, told the Irish Examiner that while there is a lot of support for us out there, people are getting frustrated.

There are people who dont understand the whole thing - we had a few hand gestures out the window - but it went well, said Mr Mulcahy.

Traffic was never stopped on the motorway; wheels kept rolling, emergency routes were kept open, and cars were able to pass us.

Well see what happens now, if therell be talks  but if not, well be back out again.

Dublin

In Dublin, several tractors were parked along OConnell Street, and buses were seen abandoned on OConnell Bridge as farmers and other fuel-dependent workers blocked the main road for the second day in a row.

Lines of buses were parked along city streets, while some of the busiest thoroughfares were left empty.

There were some tense exchanges between Dubliners walking through the citys main thoroughfare and the protesters, with one woman telling the protesters that they had the fuel to drive up to Dublin so they should drive home.

Vehicles parked on O'Connell Street in Dublin as protestors take part on the second day of a National Fuel Protest against rising fuel prices. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

Gardai say the protests are also impacting traffic on a number of major roads such as the M7 and N18 in Limerick, the M50 North in Dublin, the N6 at Athlone, the M8 at Cashel, the M18 at Ennis, the N52 at Tullamore and the M7 at Portlaoise.

A spokesperson for the protest group in Dublin said that if protesters went home later or on Thursday, they would be back next Tuesday, when the Dail returned.

We will hopefully go home, but the word from other groups around the country is that if they go home today or tomorrow, theyre back next Tuesday. Government is sitting next Tuesday, James Geoghegan said.

We came up broke and theres no point going home broke. Asked about Dubliners who may be unhappy with the disruption, he said the price of fuel is costing lives.

He said: They might be struggling, but do they realise what a struggle actually really is?

Were not blocking emergency services, were not blocking people going to hospital appointments or anything.

We dont want to be in anybodys way or cause any trouble to anybody medically or cause an issue. He said the measures taken by the Government in March did not make a difference worth talking about.

We need (the Government) to listen and act. Theres no point making a promise. Where do we cash in a promise? he said.

Reaction

The Taoiseach decribed the blockading of Whitegate in East Cork as an "outrage".

Taoiseach Micheal Martin described the blockade of the Whitegate oil refinery as an act of national sabotage, saying it would directly impact peoples livelihoods.

Government sources said Mr Martin has spoken to Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan about the blockade of the refinery.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Irving Oil, which runs the refinery, said the business was focused on the safety of our people, our facility and our neighbours.

With global energy supply dynamics continuing to face volatility, we are hopeful that these events do not further strain the supply of energy to our customers, the spokesperson said.

Mr Martin, Tanaiste Simon Harris and junior minister Sean Canney held a wide-ranging discussion with the IRHA, including the pressures being faced by hauliers due to high costs.

The leaders confirmed the Government will continue to engage with the IRHA on the impact of the ongoing war on the cost of fuel, the statement reads.

The discussions were constructive and form part of a series of meetings between the industry and Government.

It adds that there will be continued engagement with national representative organisations to keep the situation under review.

However, a spokesperson for the Tanaiste reiterated there are no plans to meet with protest organisers.

Taoiseach and Tanaiste made it very clear they meet with national representative bodies, the spokesperson said.

Transport minister Darragh O'Brien said any fuel shortage would not be because of a supply issue, but as a consequence of the protesters.

"I strongly condemn the blockades at the Whitegate refinery in Cork, and at locations around the country. Access to fuel is essential for our citizens and businesses, and there is no underlying fuel shortage - this disruption is being caused by a small group of protestors.

"The Government is listening and understands the real challenges people are facing. Rising fuel costs are placing significant pressure on households and businesses alike. And I will continue to engage with representative groups from affected sectors, such as the IRHA.

However, in a democracy, decision-making cannot be dictated by unelected groups, particularly when their actions disrupt supply chains, threaten livelihoods, and interfere with essential services such as medical appointments.

While the right to protest peacefully is fundamental, unlawful activity carries consequences under the law," he said.

Justice minister Jim OCallaghan met senior Gardai responsible for policing the protests and warned about consequences for unlawful activity.

In a statement, he said the Government was aware of the pressures caused by rising costs, but emphasised that it was essential for ports and fuel depots to remain accessible.

He said: Democracy cannot be dictated to by an unelected group whose actions are now damaging the Irish public.

No-one is above the law and those breaking the law should know that there are consequences for unlawful activity.

Dublin Fire Brigade, which is responsible for fire and ambulance services in the capital, has appealed to protesters to allow passage for emergency vehicles.

Earlier this morning Dublin Fire Brigade experienced significant delays in their response to emergencies, particularly mobilising from Townsend Street HQ. Alternative mobilisation routes are being employed, with the use of empty Luas lines, the Dublin Fire Brigade said in a post on Facebook.

The situation has eased somewhat, due to the excellent cooperation with An Garda Siochana, liaising with protesters and clearing routes for our vehicles.

We continue to work with the other emergency services to ensure operational readiness and emergency access, and we ask all involved to be extra vigilant and compliant when they hear emergency sirens approaching.

An Garda Siochana released a statement saying it is engaging with protesters. While demonstrations have been peaceful, it has received reports of emergency workers being delayed or unable to travel to work, and of people missing hospital appointments.

Key public transport routes are also delayed or not operating, which means that employees and businesses are heavily impacted, the statement said.

A small number of fuel depots are also being blocked.

While An Garda Siochana respects and facilitates the right to peaceful protest, An Garda Siochana must also balance and protect the rights of individuals to travel freely and commercial organisations to conduct business. An Garda Siochana has asked and asks again for protesters to engage with Gardai locally to facilitate public transport and other traffic.

An Garda Siochana has also received reports of the blocking of diversion routes put in place to facilitate travel around protests. Again, An Garda Siochana is requesting that protesters engage with Gardai locally to facilitate important diversion and emergency routes.

- Additional reporting from PA
A retired Garda superintendent is to stand trial accused of facilitating a crime gang, perverting the course of justice, and corruption, while two other serving officers face 171 connected charges.

John Murphy, aged 65, and Garda Manus Keane, facing a single criminal allegation, and Detective Aidan Stratford, who has 170 charges, were arrested on Wednesday following a probe by the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation (NBCI).

They appeared at Dublin District Court on Wednesday, when NBCI Detective Sergeant Sile White and Detective Sergeant Paul Sweeney gave evidence that the Director of Public Prosecutions had issued a direction for trial on indictment at a higher level on their combined 183 charges.

However, the precise venue was not divulged during the hearing.

A six-week adjournment was sought to prepare the prosecution's books of evidence, which must be served on them before granting a trial order.

The former superintendent stood silently, with his arms folded, during his hearing and did not enter a plea. Detective Sergeant White said Mr Murphy was charged just after 10am, and "made no reply after caution" to his 12 charges.

Mr Murphy and Stratford face allegations covering five years.

It is alleged that they participated in or contributed to activities intended to facilitate serious offences by a criminal organisation, between April 12, 2016, and September 29, 2021, contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.

They could not apply for bail on this charge, which requires a High Court decision, and were remanded in custody to appear again next Wednesday.

Bribery charges

Mr Murphy faces seven separate bribery charges under the Criminal Justice (Corruption Offences) Act 2018.

It is alleged that on various dates between July 2020 and September 2021, Mr Murphy "corruptly" agreed to accept gifts, advantages, or inducements. These were allegedly rewards for performing acts related to his "office, position, or employment".

The ex-senior garda also faced four common law charges for communicating with a serving member of An Garda Siochana in a manner intended to pervert the course of public justice from April 2016 to January 2018.

Daniel Hanahoe, defending, said his client was reserving his legal aid application.

Single offence

Mr Keane, aged 46, from south Dublin, is charged with a single offence under section 62 of the Garda Siochana Act 2005. It states that on November 13, 2014, he, a serving member of An Garda Siochana, disclosed confidential information to Aidan Stratford, pertaining to a different individual.

According to his charge, the information was "obtained in the course of carrying out your duties in your office or employment, knowing that the disclosure of said information was likely to have a harmful effect".

He did not address the court, and there was no objection to his bail on the following conditions: Provide a contact phone number, notify gardai of any address change, and no contact, directly or indirectly, with any other parties or witnesses in the case.

He met the NBCI officer by arrangement shortly after 8am to be charged.

Mr Keane has not indicated a plea either.

Both he and Mr Murphy appeared before Judge Brendan O'Reilly during the morning court sitting.

Judge O'Reilly imposed reporting restrictions on his address, set cashless bail at 3,000, and ordered him to appear again on June 12. His defence counsel, Paddy Jackson, instructed by solicitor Paul Molloy, asked that the question of legal aid be reserved so documents could be brought to court on the next date.

Case against Aidan Stratford

Detective Aidan Stratford, 50, from north Dublin, was brought before Judge Michele Finan during the evening court sitting.

His other alleged offences included disclosing confidential information or corruptly accepting a gift, inducement, or reward on February 25, 2020, for performing an act related to his position.

NBCI Detective Sergeant Paul Sweeney told the court that the accused was arrested just after 11am and charged with the 170 offences. The court heard he replied: "I deny the charge."

He did not address the court, sat leafing through his bundle of charges, and spoke only to consult with his solicitor, Damien Coffey.

Mr Coffey confirmed that his client would apply for High Court bail in due course.
Intimate images of a young woman were shared online by her ex-boyfriend, it was alleged on Wednesday at Cork District Court where the judge said the allegations were too serious to be dealt with at that court.

The Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that it would accept district court jurisdiction but only on a plea of guilty. However, Judge Mary Dorgan decided that whatever plea was entered, she would not accept district court jurisdiction.

The matter will now have to be dealt with at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge Dorgan directed that nothing could be published about the case that may give rise to identification of the young woman. Naming the defendant appearing before the court on Wednesday could effectively identify her.

The 24-year-old man, wearing a suit with shirt and tie, appeared in court, accompanied by his parents. He is charged with distributing or publishing intimate images without consent with the intention of causing harm to the person or being reckless as to whether harm would be caused to her, contrary to the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020.

Sergeant John Kelleher outlined the background to the allegations: On October 26, 2023, the alleged injured party made a complaint to gardai that in July 2023 when at her boyfriends home she discovered a video of her and the defendant engaging in consensual sexual intercourse.

She said this was shared on (a website) without her knowledge or consent. When she confronted him to examine his phone she discovered that on March 10, 2023, he shared the video  to an unknown person he met on (the website)  of her in sexual acts with him and performing sexual acts on herself as well as images of her genital and breast areas, taken with her consent but she did not grant permission for these images and video to be shared.

Solicitor Frank Buttimer submitted, before the judge finalised her decision on jurisdiction, that the initial sharing of material was done with the complainants consent. Sergeant Kelleher said the prosecution case was that there was no consent to any sharing of images or video.

Judge Dorgan said: I note the DPP consents to summary jurisdiction on a plea only. Taking account of what may be involved, I am refusing jurisdiction. The defendant was remanded on bail to Cork District Court on June 10.
A young Dubliner accused of dealing crack cocaine and heroin in Cork City last June may have the case against him struck out this June if there is no progress in the case against him.

Sergeant John Kelleher said that directions in the case against Cian Whelan were still awaited from the DPP.

Defence barrister, Patrick Horgan, suggested that the case should be made peremptory against the State in light of delay.

Judge Mary Dorgan agreed to adjourn the case on a peremptory basis to June 8 for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The young man secured High Court bail following a period in custody when he was refused bail originally at Cork District Court.

Cian Whelan, aged 22, of no fixed address in Dublin was arrested by Detective Garda Michael Abernethy and charged with four counts under the Misuse of Drugs Act, namely being in possession of diamorphine (heroin) and crack cocaine and having both drugs for the purpose of sale or supply to others.

The detective previously objected to bail being granted to the accused at Cork District Court and outlined the grounds for that objection.

Det. Garda Abernethy said: On June 18 at around 1pm, I was on patrol at Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, when I observed a male in a suspicious transaction with two other males. On seeing gardai he tried to walk away.

He was stopped and searched. He was found in possession of four deals of suspected diamorphine, five deals of crack cocaine and a small quantity of cannabis. He had 515 in cash and a black iPhone. The nature of the evidence is that Cian Whelan was caught red-handed.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin insisted that the Government will not meet any of the fuel protesters and will only engage with nationally constituted groups.

He warned that anyone blocking streets or fuel terminals will be punished and that gardai will move people on.

Fuel depots will have to be cleared. There's no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots, Mr Martin said.

It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis. There's always a balance when there is protest. We are in a democracy. We respect people's right to protest. There's always a balance, initially, in terms of how that is policed.

But what is not acceptable is people declaring that, We will turn OConnell Street into a car park. That's not acceptable. There are people with businesses on O'Connell Street who need to survive, who need footfall, who need people to be able to access those businesses. That's not acceptable.

Anybody who just simply parks a truck in the middle of nowhere, there should be penalties, and there will be penalties in terms of any violations of various laws that apply there.

In my view, and in the Government view, it's unacceptable that we would have motorways blocked, that we would have main arteries of the country blocked, particularly when Government has engaged in negotiations with the nationally properly constituted representative organisations. We cannot operate on any other basis.

Junior transport minister Sean Canney said the Government is concerned about the blockage of fuel terminals, adding that people need to just stand back, reflect on their actions, and just think about the common good here.

He continued: What's the purpose of doing this? Its a ransom.

People need to understand that what's happening here is not in the in the in the national interest. It's not in the people's interest. We need to just reflect on that.

Agriculture minister Martin Heydon condemned the protests and warned that there were animal welfare issues emerging, including an inability to transport feed ingredients to feed mills and merchants.

"Further to the above I have received reports that milk is not being collected from some dairy farmers, denying them a means to make their living," he said.

"Government are managing this issue in real time and are currently spending 4m a day in supporting all sectors of society.

"I and my officials have already met with farm bodies, IBEC and the farm contractors and further to that I have supported the establishment of a new national farm contractors' group.

"I am meeting all agri stakeholders this Friday."

Bord Bia is providing logistical support and helping exporters identify alternative routes to market, with the department of agriculture facilitating certification to enable the rerouting of exports.

Engagement with financial institutions is also ongoing to ensure access to short-term finance and overdraft facilities and appropriate flexibility where cashflow pressures arise.

Tanaiste Simon Harris said there is enough fuel in the country and that while there may be a small number of particular challenges this morning, that will have to be dealt with by the laws of this land and that should be applied without fear or favour.

Minister for Rural Transport and Cork TD Jerry Buttimer said people have a democratic right to protests but government is engaging with representative associations and its incumbent on all sides to sit down together and talk, he said.

The Government is considering further interventions to help struggling sectors, he said.

But the geopolitical situation is in "such a state of flux" that the Government must consider the ongoing war and the situation internationally before introducing any further supports, he said.

I don't know that the protest is serving the people that are protesting, Mr Buttimer said.

We recognize and understand fully the situation they're in and we have already taken action.

However, Mr Buttimer said the blockading fuel depots is not acceptable.

We understand the frustration and the annoyance and the pain that everyone's going through, but to do that is depriving people who require fuel of having that supply of fuel made available to them.

And that doesn't serve the purpose of what they're [the protesters are] trying to achieve. I fundamentally respect the rights of all people to have a right to protest. But there are certain limits in terms of blocking a fuel depot."
The planning commission has been tasked once again with deciding on an ambitious housing plan by the Cork County GAA Board, located on a cherished site on the northside of Cork City.

Plans for more than 300 homes on a more than 15-hectare site on the Old Whitechurch Road, Kilbarry, were approved in 2024 by An Bord Pleanala.

It was anticipated at the time that the landbank, which was bought by the county board in the 1960s to develop playing fields, would be sold with planning in place for 319 homes, a creche and a riverside park to reduce its 30m debt.

The more than 300 planned homes comprised 85 three- and four-bedroom semi-detached units, 118 four-, three-, and two-bedroom terraced units, 53 duplex units, and 63 apartments.

The site has the old Whitechurch Road to its west, the Cork North Business Park to the south, the existing GAA grounds of Delaneys GAA Club to the east with the Glenamought River along the northern boundary.

It was anticipated at the time that the landbank, which was bought by the county board in the 1960s to develop playing fields, would be sold with planning in place for 319 homes, a creche and a riverside park to reduce its 30m debt. Picture: David Creedon

The strategic housing development also required the demolition of a disused hurley factory and other outbuildings, the creation of "formalised walking paths" to the north of the site, a new through road from the proposed site access on the Old Whitechurch Road to Delaneys GAA grounds, with new boundary treatments in places.

The county board's planning report, originally submitted in June 2022, said the additional housing in the northern suburbs of Cork City would improve the overall rental sector in the Citys North Environs, as well as have a positive impact on the affordability of the area.

City council objection

The plans, which were submitted directly to An Bord Pleanala, received significant pushback from local residents as well as Cork City Council, who recommended that the board refuse planning for the development.

The council said the GAA board had not demonstrated, to its satisfaction, that the scheme would not adversely affect the environment.

It also raised concerns about the project's potential impact on the protected butterfly, the marsh fritillary, and the rare waxcap mushroom.

In addition, it cited the lack of usable public open space, non-compliance with key principles in the design of urban roads, and the over-provision of car parking as reasons for refusal.

The 'Keep Murphy's Rock Wild' Group also objected to the strategic housing development, writing that the area was rich in history and remained a vital area for nature and people, fondly known locally for generations as Murphys Rock.

Locals said Murphy's Rock was an area of outstanding beauty and environmental importance which needs to be preserved for future generations.

"Generations of people, in particular from the northside of the city, have spent many a day experiencing nature here. It continues to be very much part of the social, cultural, and historic fabric of their lives," the group said.

Green light

Despite the dozens of objections, An Bord Pleanala approved the plans in September 2024, granting permission with 30 conditions.

In its decision, it ruled that the proposed development would not seriously injure the residential or visual amenities of the area or of property in the area, that it would be acceptable in terms of urban design, height and scale of development, and would be acceptable in terms of traffic and pedestrian safety and convenience.

However, in August last year, a local community group began crowdfunding for a high court challenge against the board's approval of the more than 300-home development.

The Kilbarry Preservation Group raised issues with the scheme's potential impact on a rare species of butterfly, bats, and otters as part of its legal challenge, with other concerns including the design of roads in the scheme, an alleged failure to adequately address biodiversity such as rare fungi in the area, and an alleged failure to address run-off from the land into the Glenamought river.

In December last year, the High Court quashed the decision by An Bord Pleanala, with the case now being returned to the commission. No written judgment has been published.

An Coimisiun Pleanala are due to decide on the case by July 22, 2026.
Iran, the United States and Israel have reached a two-week ceasefire as US President Donald Trump pulled back from his threats to destroy Iranian civilisation.

But questions emerged over what appeared to be contradictory proposals to halt the region-wide war and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz, with Iran insisting it would charge tolls to passing ships and continue to enrich uranium.

Mr Trump then suggested American warships would be hangin around the waterway, through which 20% of all oil and natural gas passes in peacetime. That could be a potential flashpoint as the days goes on.

Mr Trump initially said Iran had proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war he launched with Israel on February 28. But he later called the plan fraudulent without elaborating. Mr Trump has said ending Irans nuclear programme was a key war goal.

Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday it will not stop his countrys fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which continued through the morning. That contradicted comments from Pakistan, a key mediator, which said the ceasefire included the fighting in Lebanon.

Pakistan said that talks over cementing a peace plan would begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday. Pakistan also said the ceasefire was to begin immediately, while Iran launched attacks on Gulf Arab states and Israel soon after.

Oil prices fell and stocks rose as Asian markets opened on Wednesday after the eleventh-hour agreement to reopen the strait.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags. It shows the ongoing anger from hardliners, who had been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptical battle with the United States.

Pro-government demonstrators on the streets of Tehran (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management. It was not clear whether that meant Iran would completely loosen its chokehold on the waterway.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through the strait, according to a regional official who added that Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

But that would upend decades of reliance on the strait as an international waterway free for transit and will likely not be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oilfields.

Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process, Mr Trump said on social media.

It is not clear what happens when the two weeks of the ceasefire ends.

There is little public sign that Iran and the United States had resolved disagreements over the fate of Irans nuclear programme, its ballistic missiles or its regional proxies  among the issues that the United States and Israel cited as justifications for launching the war.

In addition to control of the strait, Irans demands for ending the war include withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

All those likely are non-starters for Mr Trump and potentially other Western nations. Irans chokehold on the strait roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Mr Trump to reach a deal.

Donald Trump said ending Irans nuclear programme was a key war goal (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Since the war began, Mr Trump has repeatedly backed off deadlines just before they expire. In doing so again on Tuesday, Mr Trump said in a social media post he had come to the decision based on conversations with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and General Asim Munir, Pakistans powerful army chief.

Missile alerts were issued in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait after the ceasefire announcement. A gas processing facility in Abu Dhabi was ablaze after incoming Iranian fire, officials said.

Earlier on Tuesday the Israeli military said it attacked an Iranian petrochemical site in Shiraz, the second day in a row it hit such a facility. The military later said it struck bridges used by Iranian forces to transport weapons and military equipment.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the wars toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed and a million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 US service members have been killed.
Greece will ban access to social media for children under the age of 15 from January 1, 2027, prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday, citing rising anxiety, sleep problems and the addictive design of online platforms.

In a video message addressed to young people, Mr Mitsotakis said children spending long hours in front of screens do not allow their minds to rest and face growing pressure from constant comparison and online comments.

The Greek prime minister said he had spoken with many parents who reported that their children do not sleep well, become anxious easily, and spend long hours on their phones.

An opinion poll by ALCO published in February showed about 80% of those surveyed approved of a ban. The Greek government has already outlawed mobile phones in schools and set up parental control platforms to limit teenagers' screen time.

"Greece will be among the first countries to take such an initiative," Mr Mitsotakis said. "I am certain, however, that it will not be the last. Our goal is to push the European Union in this direction as well."

Australia became the world's first country to ban social media for children under 16 in December, blocking access to platforms including TikTok, Alphabet's YouTube, and Meta's Instagram and Facebook.

Meta, Snapchat and TikTok have said they continued to believe Australia's ban would not protect young people but committed to complying with it.

Other countries are also tightening rules on social media with the UK, Malaysia, France, Denmark, and Poland either considering a ban or in the process of legislating one.

Writing separately to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, Mr Mitsotakis called for co-ordinated EU action, arguing that national measures alone would not be sufficient to protect minors from internet addiction.

In the letter, he proposed establishing an EUwide "digital age of majority" at 15, mandating age verification and regular re-verification for all platforms, and setting up a harmonised enforcement and penalty framework, urging the bloc to put a unified system in place by the end of 2026.

Reuters
Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Israel has said the agreement does not extend to its war with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, although mediator Pakistan said it does.

Israels military called it the largest coordinated strike in the current war, striking more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley, on Wednesday.

Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital.

Booms interrupted the honking of traffic on what had been a blue-sky afternoon and ambulances raced toward open flames.

At least one apartment building was struck as emergency responders searched charred vehicles.

It was not immediately clear how many people were killed or wounded, but several strikes were in busy commercial locations, causing panic in the streets.

Lebanons National News Agency reported that the airstrikes hit at least five different neighbourhoods in Beiruts central and coastal areas.

Lebanons minister of social affairs, Haneed Sayed, in an interview with The Associated Press condemned Israels wide range of strikes, calling it a very dangerous turning point.

These hits are now at the heart of Beirut Half of the sheltered (internally displaced persons) are in Beirut in this area, she said, adding that she had just driven by the areas hit.

She said Lebanons government is ready to enter into negotiations with Israel for an end to hostilities, an offer that the president previously made.

Israel has not responded.

There are calls and efforts being made as we speak, Ms Sayed said.

Israels military said it had targeted missile launchers, command centres and intelligence infrastructure and accused Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields.

The State of Lebanon and its civilians must refuse Hezbollahs entrenchment in civilian areas and its weapons build-up capabilities, the military said in a statement.

Israel has rarely struck central Beirut since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war on March 2 but has regularly struck southern and eastern Lebanon and Beiruts southern suburbs.

Before the wave of new strikes, a Hezbollah official told The Associated Press that the group was giving a chance for mediators to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, but we have not announced our adherence to the ceasefire since the Israelis are not adhering to it.

He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly.

The Hezbollah official said the group will not accept a return to the pre-March 2 status quo, when Israel carried out near-daily strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire being nominally in place since the last full-blown Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November 2024.

We will not accept for the Israelis to continue behaving as they did before this war with regards to attacks, he said.

We do not want this phase to continue. Hezbollah had fired missiles across the border days after the US and Israel attacked Iran, sparking a regional war.

Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion.

Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon, including more than 100 women and 130 children.

The Israeli military has said it has killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters.

More than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon.

Early on Wednesday, after the ceasefire in Iran was announced, many displaced people sleeping in tents on the streets of Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon began packing their belongings in preparation to return to their homes.

That was before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the military would press on in Lebanon.

At a sprawling displacement camp on Beiruts waterfront, families whiplashed by the conflicting statements expressed confusion and despair.

We cant take this anymore, sleeping in a tent, not showering, the uncertainty, said Fadi Zaydan, 35.

He and his parents had prepared to head back to the southern city of Nabatieh before Mr Netanyahus comments stopped them in their tracks.

But well be targeted if we go home, Mr Zaydan said.

His family decided to wait things out for now in Sidon, a bit closer to home.

- Associated Press
Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again on Wednesday in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, casting doubt over whether an already precarious ceasefire to end more than a month of war will hold.

The US and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries.

Israel also intensified its attacks in Lebanon, hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning.

An Iranian cluster munition missile explodes in the sky over northern Israel (Ariel Schalit/AP)

At least 112 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what US Vice President JD Vance called a fragile deal.

Aggression towards Lebanon is aggression towards Iran, General Seyed Majid Mousavi, aerospace commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard, wrote on X.

He warned that Iranian forces were preparing a heavy response without revealing details.

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a capital V military victory and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to US forces or the region.

US President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that a whole civilisation will die tonight if a deal was not reached (Alex Brandon/PA)

The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the U.S. to accept its proposed conditions and surrender.

Even before the new attacks, much about the ceasefire agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

But the details were not clear, nor was it known whether vessels would feel safe using the channel or whether ship traffic had resumed.

It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition.

Pakistan, which helped to mediate the deal, and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

Israel said it would not, and strikes hit Beirut on Wednesday.

Protesters carry Iranian flags during a rally to show solidarity with Iran, in Tahrir Square, Baghdad, Iraq (Hadi Mizban/AP)

The fate of Irans missile and nuclear programmes- the elimination of which were major objectives for the US and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear.

Mr Trump said the US would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed: Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers! after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags.

The chants underscored the anger animating hard-liners, who have been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptic battle with the US.

Mr Trump warned on Tuesday that a whole civilisation will die tonight if a deal was not reached.

Mr Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war the US launched with Israel on February 28.

But when a version in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  which is key to building a nuclear weapon  Mr Trump called it fraudulent without elaborating.

First responders work at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment building in Beirut, Lebanon (Bilal Hussein/AP)

Mr Vance later said the deal was being misrepresented within Iran, though he did not offer details.

Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions, and the release of its frozen assets.

In his post Wednesday, Mr Trump said: We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran.

It was not clear if other Western nations would agree to that, and the other points are likely nonstarters.

United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterress personal envoy arrived in Iran for talks on the way forward.

Pakistan said talks to seek a permanent end to the war could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday.

Mr Trump told The New York Post that in-person talks would happen very soon.

Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal does not cover fighting against Hezbollah.

(PA Graphics)

Mr Trump told PBS News Hour that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal because of Hezbollah.

Israeli chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilise every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah.

The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

While Iran could not match the sophistication of US and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its ability to control the Strait of Hormuz proved a tremendous strategic advantage.

Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Mr Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalise a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge ships, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in.

Pro-government demonstrators burn the US and Israeli flags after announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war in Tehran (Vahid Salemi/AP)

The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit and will likely not be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management  further clouding the picture of who would be allowed to transit the waterway.

News of the ceasefire sent stock markets surging worldwide, and oil prices plunged back toward 90 dollars (66) per barrel.

US-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not entirely eliminated the threats posed by Tehrans nuclear programme, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah.

The US and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

Mr Trump said on Wednesday that the US would work with Iran to dig up and remove enriched uranium that was buried under joint US-Israeli strikes in June.

He added that none of the material had been touched since.

The Indian flagged LPG carrier Jag Vasant transporting liquefied petroleum gas at Mumbai Port after it arrived clearing the Strait of Hormuz (Rafiq Maqbool/AP)

Any retrieval is expected to be an intensive undertaking.

There was no confirmation from Iran on that.

Mr Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing on Wednesday that the US would do something like last Junes joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if the country refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Tehran insisted for years that its nuclear programme was peaceful, although it enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Iran referred to its nuclear programme differently in two versions of the ceasefire plan that it released.

The version in Farsi included the phrase acceptance of enrichment for its nuclear programme  that phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats with journalists.

Mr Hegseth said the US military has done its part for now but stands ready to ensure Iran complies all the ceasefires terms.

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran.

A woman walks past a mural depicting Iranian astronauts in space in Tehran (Francisco Seco/AP)

That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television.

Its report said that firefighters were working to contain the blaze but no one had been hurt.

It did not say who launched the attack.

The island is home to one of the terminals that Iran uses to export oil and gas.

A short time later, the UAEs air defences fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage.

Kuwaits military forces, meanwhile, responded to an extensive wave of drone attacks.

Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones.

People at the site of a coffee shop damaged in an Israeli strike in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon (Mohammed Zaatari/AP)

Kuwaiti authorities said three power and water desalination plants have been severely damaged after 28 Iranian drones were launched on the oil-rich country on Wednesday.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the wars toll for days.
A drug dealer dubbed the "Ketamine Queen" was sentenced on Wednesday to 15 years in prison in connection with the fatal overdose of Friends star Matthew Perry, including her role in supplying the dose of the powerful anesthetic that killed the actor.

Jayvee Sangha, who admitted to running a "stash house" for illegal narcotics out of her home in the North Hollywood district of Los Angeles, pleaded guilty in September to five felony drug counts stemming from Perry's 2023 death.

Sangha, aged 42, a dual US-British citizen, had faced a sentence of up to 65 years in prison.

US District Judge Sherilyn Garnett imposed a 15-year sentence, harsher than the penalties received by any of her four co-defendants in the case, including two physicians.

Federal prosecutors had recommended a 15-year prison term.

The defence had urged the judge to limit Sangha's sentence to time already served.

Sangha has been incarcerated since August 2024.

Perry was found by his live-in personal assistant floating face down and lifeless in a hot tub at his Los Angeles home on October 28, 2023.

He was 54.

An autopsy report concluded Perry died from the "acute effects of ketamine," which combined with other factors in causing the actor to lose consciousness and drown.

Ketamine is a short-acting but potent anesthetic with hallucinogenic properties that is sometimes prescribed to treat depression and other psychological disorders.

It also has gained popularity for abuse as an illicit party drug.

Perry had publicly acknowledged decades of substance abuse that overlapped with the height of his fame playing the sardonic but charming Chandler Bing on the 1990s hit NBC television comedy Friends.

His death came a year after publication of Perry's memoir, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, which chronicled bouts with addiction to prescription painkillers and alcohol that he wrote had come close to ending his life more than once.

In the months before he died, Perry had claimed to have regained sobriety.

But according to federal law enforcement officials, Perry had been undergoing medically supervised ketamine infusions for depression and anxiety at a clinic where he became addicted to the drug.

When doctors there refused to increase his dosage, Perry turned to unscrupulous providers willing to exploit his drug dependency for their own financial benefit, authorities said.

Within weeks, he was dead from an overdose of ketamine supplied by Sangha, who was known to her customers on the street as the "Ketamine Queen."

Sangha acknowledged selling a total of 51 vials of ketamine to a go-between dealer, Erik Fleming, who in turn sold the doses to Perry through the actor's personal assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa.

It was Iwamasa, prosecutors said, who later injected Perry with at least three shots of ketamine from the vials Sangha had supplied, resulting in the actor's death.

As part of her deal with prosecutors, Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, plus three counts of illegal distribution of ketamine and one count of distributing ketamine resulting in death.

Sangha admitted then that she was aware that vials she sold to Fleming were intended for Perry.

She also admitted to selling ketamine to a person in August 2019 who died hours later from an overdose.

Fleming, Iwamasa and the two medical doctors charged in the case  Mark Chavez and Salvador Plasencia  have all pleaded guilty to federal drug offences in the case.

Reuters
Namibian students showcase Chinese language skills at competition

Xinhua) 16:23, April 08, 2026

WINDHOEK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Young Namibian students showcased their Chinese language skills through poetry, speeches, and performances at a competition held in Windhoek on Tuesday, underscoring the growing appeal of Chinese language learning and cultural exchange in the country.

The event combined the 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students and the 19th edition for Foreign Secondary School Students, drawing participants from across Namibia, including several schools taking part for the first time.

Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Namibia and organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Namibia (UNAM), the competition formed part of the university's celebrations marking United Nations Chinese Language Day.

It was also held alongside the China-Namibia Talent and Art Exhibition under the framework of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, with support from China Railway Seventh Group.

Beyond the contest, the event unfolded as a vibrant cultural showcase. Students performed a mix of Chinese and Namibian traditions, including a Chinese dragon dance, Oshiwambo and Damara dances, and nunchaku routines. UNAM students staged a shadow puppet performance titled "Dragon in the Shadow," adding a traditional artistic dimension to the program.

Interactive cultural activities further enriched the experience, with visitors engaging in Chinese calligraphy, tea ceremonies, traditional medicine demonstrations, paper-cutting, and Chinese cuisine tasting.

Speaking at the event, UNAM Vice Chancellor Kenneth Matengu described the competition as more than a language contest, calling it a bridge connecting the people of Namibia and China.

"By doing this, we are connecting better. We do Chinese language for business purposes, Chinese language for academic purposes, but also just connecting people," he said.

Matengu added that the university is in advanced discussions with Namibia's Ministry of Education to make Chinese an officially examinable subject, a move that would further institutionalize Chinese language learning in the country.

Shen Jian, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, said the annual competition has become a symbol of the steady growth of Chinese language education in Namibia.

Since the establishment of the Confucius Institute at UNAM in 2013, about 9,000 Namibian students have taken Chinese courses, with 12 teachers currently serving across 13 teaching sites nationwide, he said.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  Trump announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, April 7, the 39th day of the Israeli-US war on Iran. He depended on Pakistani mediators and a 10-point peace plan put forward by Iran itself.

And so, Iran won the 2026 war.

It did not win as in, scoring a knockout. It won in the sense that if I went 12 rounds with Deontay Wilder and was still standing up at the end of it, it would count as a win.

The Israeli-US attempt to decapitate the government failed. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated along with family members, but the 88-member clerical Assembly of Experts simply elected his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, to succeed him. The civilian minister of defense was killed, which is probably a war crime. President Masoud Pezeshkian appointed IRGC General Majid Ebnelreza as acting minister of defense. The pragmatic civilian Secretary of the National Security Council, Ali Larijani was assassinated, likely another war crime. He was succeeded by hard liner Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, a former IRGC general. In essence, Trump and Netanyahu made an internal coup against Irans centrist pragmatists in government, ensuring that they were replaced by far right hard liners.

Going into the war, the Iranian government had just committed a massacre of thousands of protesters and was without a friend in the world. Trump and Netanyahu committed breathtaking war crimes on Iran and acted and spoke so monstrously that many countries ended up at least rhetorically supporting Iran, or at least opposing the war on it. Israel comes out of the war a pariah. The US is too rich, big and powerful to be a pariah but its standing has certainly plummeted and it can expect much less cooperation going forward.

Iran likely inflicted a billion dollars worth of damage on the 13 US military bases in the Middle East, most of which are largely destroyed. It used cheap little drones to take out radar installations in Kuwait and elsewhere worth hundreds of millions of dollars, blinding the US to its missile barrages and allowing some deadly strikes, as on Dimona in Israel. Iran demonstrated that having a US military base does not protect the host country but rather exposes it to greater danger. Most US military personnel appear to have had to flee the bases, relocating to local hotels. Iranian intelligence in the Gulf is good enough so that some of those hotels were attacked by drones. Some personnel arrived back in Washington D.C. with only the clothes on their back and Pete Hegseth doesnt seem to have helped them much.

Never miss an issue of Informed Comment: Click here to subscribe to our email newsletter! Social media will pretend to let you subscribe but then use algorithms to suppress the postings and show you their ads instead. And please, if you see an essay you like, paste it into an email and share with friends.

Whether Gulf states will want US bases in the medium to long term, after this, is now an open question. And are any US personnel at all left in Iraq? Iraqi Shiites supported Iran in the war.

Israeli military censorship makes it difficult to assess the damage to that country. The Haifa refinery was hit, as were military and intelligence research institutes. Netanyahu was clearly over-confident in Israeli interceptors. Many Israelis have had to move house to sleep in shelters. Moreover, Israel is running out of interceptors faster than Iran is running out of ballistic missiles, so that if the war continued, at some point Israel would be a sitting duck. If Israel actually does agree to abide by Trumps two-week ceasefire, that is the reason Israel is days from being completely vulnerable to Irans strikes. Already, Arrow interceptors are so low that Israel has had to let some missiles through if they seemed to be headed for relatively unpopulated areas. In that sense, Israel lost on points.

I have argued that the war failed not only because the government still stands but because its annual income from petroleum and new Strait of Hormuz tolls could be several times what it was earning from petroleum sales to China before the war. Petroleum prices are falling from highs because of the two-week ceasefire, which may or not signal the end of the war. But so much supply has been destroyed or delayed in the Gulf that prices could remain high in the coming year. Likely a third of the Gulfs refining capacity has been damaged.

Trump has been forced to lift sanctions on Iranian petroleum. It is unclear whether, in the tight market of 2026, they can realistically be reimposed.

The Israeli-US aggression on Iran has taught it that it can use drone sabotage to extract tolls from ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz. It is difficult to see how that claim on fees can be reversed, since cheap drone strikes can always start fires on petroleum and Liquefied Natural Gas tankers. It is so expensive to erect an anti-drone system that it would be much cheaper just to pay the toll. Moreover, insurers would want a system that was 100% effective, which no anti-drone or anti-missile system is. Iran cant be made to back off by threatening its oil rigs, since if they were hit Iran could take out the Saudi, UAE, Bahraini and Kuwaiti oil rigs and cripple the worlds energy. As it is, Iran did substantial damage to Kuwait oil fields and on Monday struck the Saudi petrochemical complex at Jubail, as well as taking out 17% of Qatars LNG production capacity at Ras Laffan.

Iran certainly suffered horribly during the 39-day Israeli-US campaign this spring. It lost on the order of 3,600 dead, including at least 1,665 civilians  babies and children (at least 200), women (at least 200) and over a thousand noncombatant men. Perhaps 20,000 Iranians have been wounded.

Other estimates for Iranians killed have ranged up to 6,000 but that may just be boasting by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Whiskey Pete Hegseth, the secretary of weird tattoos and loud boasting.

Iran has seen important research institutes, university programs, steel mills, petrochemical complexes, and other economic and infrastructural sites destroyed. It is likely, however, that these can be rebuilt if Iran has convinced Israel that it has the means of deterrence. It is likely that Russia and China will help with the rebuilding, behind the scenes, because a strong Iran able to stand up to the US and its Israeli proxy is in their interests.

The Department of Defense alleges that it used 26 different aircraft, four land-based missile systems, and six sea-based weapons systems to hit some 13,000 targets inside Iran.

Some of these targets were civilian objects and so the Pentagon is boasting of war crimes of a sort for which Japanese and German generals were prosecuted after WW II.

I cant find a separate count for Israeli strikes on Iran and I wonder if the Pentagon numbers are joint US and Israeli hits.

The Stars and Stripes reports that CENTCOM said U.S. forces have hit Iranian command and control centers, Iranian Revolutionary Guard headquarters, and intelligence sites, ballistic missile launchers, drone batteries, and anti-ship and anti-aircraft sites. The attacks have also hit at least one major bridge near Tehran, the capital, as well as warehouses and bunkers used in manufacturing.

The Iranian government, however, clearly did not lose command and control, and though perhaps 1200 Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) personnel and officers were killed, there were plenty to take their place. The IRGC is thought to have between 125,000 and 190,000 active personnel. The IRGC could be analogized to the US National Guards Corps. Iran also has a conventional standing army of 400,000. Although it is impossible to know the exact number, there may be an additional 400,000 to 800,000 members of the local neighborhood militiamen and regime enforcers known as the basij. The way rank works is that if you kill a general, a colonel is promoted to take his place. Irans military has seen a lot of promotions, but no collapse.

The attacks by the US and Israel on IRGC, police and basij buildings do not appear to have weakened the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in any measurable way. Indeed, these institutions probably gained some authority by standing up to foreign attackers.

Apparently large numbers of the US and Israeli strikes on supposed missile launchers, missiles and drones hit cleverly disguised decoys. So the 13,000 targeted sites begin to seem less impressive if a lot of them just stirred up sand and destroyed Papier-mache missile launchers.



File photo of Tehran before the war by Arman Taherian on Unsplash

Iran ends the war with as many as 1,000 of its ballistic missiles intact, having begun with 2,500. The US and Israeli strikes were therefore remarkably ineffective, since surely Iran fired a good thousand missiles at Israel and neighboring Gulf states. Since one of the key goals of Israel and the US was to take out Irans ballistic missiles, they failed. They only appear to have destroyed half of the ballistic missile launchers in Iran.

Iran also likely still has tens of thousands of Shahed drones.

It is a pyrrhic victory in many ways, since Iran has new enemies among its neighbors and it has lost industrial capacity. But it is a victory of sorts.
( Waging Nonviolence ) Before daybreak on March 2, in response to the U.S.-Israel attack on Iran and assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah launched rockets into Israel from Lebanon. Israel retaliated with air strikes on Beirut and its suburbs, renewing the decades-old conflict between the two countries. Thousands fled their homes.

Over the course of March, Hezbollah attacks continued and Israel escalated to a large-scale military operation across Lebanon, including a ground invasion. There were more strikes on residential neighborhoods and evacuation notices spanning large parts of south Lebanon.

Local initiatives like community kitchens and mutual aid efforts have become vital as Israels aggression triggers mass displacement and a growing humanitarian crisis. Foreigners living in Lebanon, as well as Lebanese expats abroad, are fundraising internationally in solidarity with the displaced and funneling the daily goods and cash necessary for survival to those living in shelters and tents around the country.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that over a million people have been displaced since early March  approximately 20 percent of people in Lebanon. As of March 28, around three weeks into the war, 136,148 people were registered as displaced in shelters by Lebanons Ministry of Social Affairs.

Shelters began opening on the first day of the war, run by both the government and civil society groups. Schools and stadiums became official shelters. Churches, abandoned buildings and parking lots are accommodating many others.

Local NGOs leapt to action to provide food and other essentials. Ahla Fawda, a humanitarian and environmental organization in Beirut that usually works on urban planning and initiatives like buying up plastic waste, instantly shifted their operations toward crisis response, according to founder Imane Assaf. Ahla Fawdas Eco Hub, which provided relief during the 2024 war with Israel, is now operating as a place for people affected by displacement to get together for meals, share space and access clothes and other supplies. Ahla Fawda has partnered with the We Deserve Better Foundation to manage the space, and Barzakh, usually a library and cafe, is providing meals that are cooked on site by volunteers.

EcoHub in Beirut offers meals and a gathering space for displaced people, as well as access to clothes and other supplies. (WNV/Mehk Chakraborty)

Nation Station, a community kitchen that was birthed as an immediate response to the Beirut Port explosion on Aug. 4, 2020, also resumed crisis operations. They have served over 28,761 meals a day since the war began and are always buzzing with volunteers.

Volunteers show up at Eco Hub, Nation Station and many other sites daily. The first day the displacement began, I began looking for places to assist and volunteer, said Nour Haddad, an architect based in Beirut. I went to Nation Station because I knew it is always open.

Officially, government shelters are meant to be open to all displaced people, regardless of nationality or migration status. But reports have surfaced of non-Lebanese people being turned away. Lebanon is home to more than a million Syrian refugees and 200,000 displaced Palestinians, many of whom now find themselves displaced again. Along with migrant workers, they are among the most vulnerable in Lebanon, with limited access to jobs and services like public health care. Over 180,000 Syrians have returned to Syria, a country that has remained relatively stable in the current regional crisis.

Many migrant workers have ended up in informal shelters or camping out. Initiatives led by migrant workers have sprung back into action, some of them operating as part of Reclaim Our Rights collective, a coalition of women migrant workers in Lebanon who organize and advocate for rights of domestic workers and provide community support. A statement from Reclaim Our Rights said that its membership, made up of community leaders, mothers and activists, was assisting displaced migrant women through community kitchens, food boxes and assistance paying rent to informal shelters.

Many fundraisers and volunteers are putting their efforts toward those outside the conventional shelter system. Recently, Ive been trying to go towards other initiatives [besides Nation Station], too, Haddad said, to divide my time as per the needs announced on social media or spontaneous WhatsApp groups that have emerged since early March.

Social media groups have become a crucial way to connect NGOs and individual aid efforts with shelters that are outside the governmental system or lack support. One such hub is a WhatsApp group begun by students at the Saifi Institute for Arabic Language, which draws Arabic learners of all ages from around the world. Group announcements range from specific calls, such as an individual family that needs childrens clothing, to information like where to find medical assistance. The group has expanded to include other foreigners living in Lebanon, a few local residents and several NGOs, including a Brazilian humanitarian project and a fundraiser providing sanitary napkins.

Volunteers with local NGO Borderless deliver necessities to a tent city in Beirut. They coordinated through a WhatsApp group started by students, which directs aid to those outside the government shelter system. (WNV/Roberta Abdanur)

Even as locals and foreign residents within Lebanon have mobilized, Lebanese expats around the world are also running fundraising campaigns to distribute aid and cash to displaced people across Beirut. Tania Shoukair, a mental health worker who lives in the Netherlands, is fundraising for the second time, after doing so during the 2024 war in Lebanon. I feel somehow I have managed to make my way into the epicenter of privilege, and organizing mutual aid is the minimum I can do at this moment, Shoukair said.

Global political education on the Israeli war on Gaza has raised solidarity for the current situation in Lebanon, helping with fundraising, Shoukair added.

Shoukairs sister Chiri, a journalist and musician in Lebanon, is among the network that distributes the aid on the ground. A majority of the funds go toward direct financial support to families, who receive either $50, $100 or $150, depending on the number of people. Another 20 percent is spent on blankets, pillows and mattresses, and the rest goes to clothing, personal hygiene, food boxes and medicine, with some set aside to take care of stray animals. Chiri stretches the money as far as she can by collaborating with local businesses and initiatives, and buying items in bulk.

For Jad Essayli, a Lebanese-American lawyer who raised funds for the first time after the Beirut blasts in 2020, when he was still living in the U.S., tapping into a global network from his home in Lebanon has been essential. Lebanon has one of the biggest diaspora populations in the world and yet, Essayli said, Most of our donations are coming from non-Lebanese people.

Essayli and others said that whats challenging is not necessarily raising funds but getting them into Lebanon, due to its unique banking situation. The countrys 2019 banking crisis triggered a host of restrictions on withdrawals and transfers from abroad. Lebanon also lacks platforms and tools such as a GoFundMe or major credit card systems, Shoukair said. These issues also cause delays in dispersing funds to families, Essayli said.

While food, water, gas and clothing are increasingly scarce as the crisis deepens, the most urgent need Essayli saw in Beirut, Saida and other southern cities was money for housing. People were going back to homes made targets by Israel, because of the lack of money to rent another place, he said.

Given the sheer scale of the crisis, volunteers and fundraisers are already overwhelmed, four weeks in. As Israeli aggression intensifies by the day, with plans to turn south Lebanon into an occupied buffer zone and some Israeli politicians even calling for an annexation, there is a deep fear of a protracted crisis and a sense that the response from the Lebanese government has left much to be desired. Essayli described a feeling that many share as they face a war with no end in sight: I hope for an immediate response from the Lebanese government for dignified housing, with a long-term consideration.

Even as the European Union and countries including Italy, France and Jordan have pledged aid, Essayli is concerned that the external aid is not sufficiently making its way to the ground. He also hopes for greater commitments of support as humanitarian needs in the country grow by the day.

Assaf said that her greatest concern is not about funding for aid efforts, but about peace. I hope I can sleep without having to wake up the next day to bad news, yet again, she said. We hope for all families to be able to return home.

Mehk Chakraborty is an independent multimedia journalist, and researcher. Her work covers migration, conflict, culture, human rights and social movements.

Via Waging Nonviolence )
US President Donald Trump was looking at a request on Tuesday from mediator Pakistan to extend his Iran attacks deadline by two weeks -- hours after warning that "a whole civilization will die" if Tehran fails to make a deal.

Trump's latest wildly provocative threat against Iran prompted severe criticism, with former allies calling for his removal from office.

But as the clock ticked towards Trump's 8:00 PM (midnight GMT) deadline, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appeared to offer an off-ramp.

"To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks," Sharif said on X, saying that efforts to resolve the crisis were moving "steadily, strongly and powerfully."

Sharif said he had also asked Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz shipping channel for the same two-week period.

The White House said Trump -- who has threatened massive attacks against Iran's power plants and bridges to take the country back into the "Stone Age" -- was looking at the Pakistani request.

"The President has been made been aware of the proposal, and a response will come," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told AFP in a statement.

Trump, who has previously pushed back the deadline on a number of occasions, separately told Fox News that the United States was in "heated negotiations" but declined to say how they were going.

Since February 28 the United States and its ally Israel have leveled Iranian military targets, killed the country's top leadership and devastated parts of its infrastructure.

Early Tuesday Trump issued one of his most glaring threats of the war.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Vice President JD Vance offered his own threatening assessment of what may follow, warning Tehran that US forces have tools they "so far haven't decided to use" against the Islamic republic.

Iran has rejected US pressure, with state media reporting authorities are insisting that instead of a ceasefire it wants a full end to the war.

- 'Extremely sick person' -

On Truth Social, Trump left the door open for a last-hour agreement.

"Now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight," he wrote.

Trump's saber rattling has appalled critics.

"This is an extremely sick person," top US Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer posted on X.

Former vice president Kamala Harris, Trump's Democratic rival in the 2024 US election, called Trump's threats "abhorrent" and accused the Republican of planning war crimes.

Even some political figures once close to Trump are calling for his removal through the US Constitution's 25th Amendment, which provides for a transfer of power if a president is unable to govern, particularly in the event of illness.

"25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America," former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X. "We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness."

Anthony Scaramucci, a financier who briefly worked in Trump's first White House, urged Republicans to "wake up" because the president "is calling for A NUCLEAR STRIKE. Seek his removal immediately."

Team Trump denied Vance's remarks contained any suggestion of nuclear attack.

"Literally nothing @VP said here 'implies' this, you absolute buffoons," the White House said on X.

The post was in response to one from an account associated with Harris, which said Vance implied Trump "might use nuclear weapons."

burs-dk/des
Pakistan made a last-minute proposal Tuesday to avert catastrophic US attacks on Iran, hours ahead of a deadline set by President Donald Trump who warned a "whole civilization will die tonight".

The White House said it was aware and would respond to the proposal by Pakistan, which has sought to mediate after more than five weeks of US and Israeli attacks on Iran.

"Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future," Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X.

He appealed directly to Trump to extend his deadline set for 8:00 PM Washington time (midnight GMT) by two weeks.

In turn, he asked Iran to commit for two weeks to fulfilling Trump's key demand -- reopening the Strait of Hormuz, the vital gateway for global oil which Tehran closed in retaliation for the war.

The latest threats from Trump, shocking even by his own provocative standards, brought disbelief and warnings that he was encouraging genocide -- potentially one day leading to war crimes charges against US servicemembers who comply.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

The rhetoric was an escalation from a profanity-laden post two days earlier, on Easter Sunday, in which Trump threatened to destroy all bridges and power plants in the country of 90 million -- a war crime unless proven that the sites are mostly for military use.

Pope Leo XIV said that "this threat against all the people of Iran" was "truly unacceptable".

- Threat of new type of attacks -

Speaking in Budapest, Vice President JD Vance said the United States had tools "that we so far haven't decided to use" against Iran, without explaining further.

The White House later denied to AFP that Vance was alluding to nuclear weapons.

The United States and Israel were striking key infrastructure even before Trump's deadline, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirming attacks on railways and bridges he said were "used by the Revolutionary Guards".

The Israeli military also offered a rare statement of regret after it acknowledged damaging a synagogue in Tehran, saying it had been targeting a senior Iranian commander.

Iran, run by Shia Muslim clerics, is home to around 100 synagogues for its historic Jewish minority.

First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said Iran was prepared "for all scenarios" from the United States.

"No threat is beyond our preparedness and intelligence," he added.

Infrastructure attacks reported by Iranian authorities Tuesday included a US-Israeli strike on a bridge outside the city of Qom and another on a rail bridge in central Iran that killed two people.

Regional authorities also said a US-Israeli strike shut down a key highway in northern Iran connecting the city of Tabriz with Tehran.

The Mizan news agency additionally reported a strike on railway tracks in Karaj, outside Tehran.

- Death 'not a joke' -

University student Metanat, whose classmate was killed two weeks ago in an attack, told AFP she felt "terrified and so should everyone else in the country".

The 27-year-old, who declined to give her last name, said as far as Trump's ultimatums were concerned, "some people think they are a joke", but "death is not a joke".

Iranian pensioner Morteza Hamidi said that among many emotions, he felt "gloomy for the future of the country after the war".

The 62-year-old added that he had seen Trump back down too many times to take his words seriously: "We are now numb to his threats".

State media published photos purporting to show groups of Iranians forming human chains to protect power plants as the hours to the deadline ticked down.

The show of patriotism in the face of attacks came several months after Iran's cleric-run government cracked down violently on mass protests, with rights groups reporting thousands of deaths.

As the deadline neared, Israel warned citizens of an increased risk of Iranian inbound attacks.

Kuwait urged its citizens to remain indoors from midnight until 7:00 am, while Bahrain's main port said it would be suspending operations starting early Wednesday.

The United States and Israel said that they attacked Iran to degrade its military capacity. Trump has alleged that Iran was near building an atomic bomb, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog and most observers.

Since being attacked on February 28, Iran has responded by taking charge of the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil normally flows.

The move has sharply driven up global oil prices and put intense pressure on Trump -- who has made reopening the strait his foremost goal.

At the UN Security Council, Russia and China vetoed a resolution on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a text already diluted to remove the green light Gulf states had sought to use force to protect the key shipping lane.

- Attack on oil island -

Apart from the infrastructure attacks, strikes were reported on Kharg island, a critical hub for the Iranian oil industry, according to Iran's Mehr news agency, although US media said the attacks were against military targets.

Earlier in the day a series of explosions was heard across Tehran, and Iranian media reported that 18 people, including two children, were killed in strikes in neighbouring Alborz province.

Overnight, attacks on Saudi Arabia hit a petrochemical complex in a sprawling industrial area in the eastern city of Jubail, a witness who requested anonymity told AFP, hours after similar installations in Iran were struck.

Loud explosions were also heard late Tuesday in central Baghdad where the US embassy is located.

Iran has responded to the war by striking Gulf Arab states that host US troops. Israel in turn has launched a major offensive into Lebanon, vowing to control land from which Iranian-linked Hezbollah has fired rockets.

The Israeli invasion into Lebanon has killed more than 1,500 people, according to authorities.

Israel on Tuesday issued a warning to all vessels in the maritime zone off Lebanon's south to head immediately north of the city of Tyre, warning that it would operate in the area.

burs/sct/des
The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate the rival country was set to expire, with Tehran to temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

After more than a month of blistering attacks by the United States and Israel, Iran cast the ceasefire as a victory and said it had agreed to talks with Washington to begin Friday in Pakistan on a path to end the conflict.

Trump said he had spoken to Pakistan's leaders who "requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran."

"Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed safe passage for two weeks for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the gateway for one-fifth of the world's oil which Tehran sealed off in retaliation for the war launched on February 28.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," Araghchi said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, which has played a key mediator role, said that the ceasefire would start immediately.

He said that the United States "along with their allies" had agreed to a ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon, implying that Israel had agreed to halt its invasion of its northern neighbor.

Israel did not immediately react. Its assault on Lebanon in response to rocket fire by Iranian-backed Hezbollah has led to more than 1,500 deaths, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israel had encouraged Trump to join the war against Iran, its arch-nemesis, and in the first strikes killed the long-serving supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

- Oil prices ease sharply -

Oil prices plunged by more than 17 percent after the ceasefire announcement. Costs at the pump had risen sharply since the war for ordinary Americans, putting heavy political pressure on Trump.

Stock prices also soared in early trade Wednesday in Asia.

Trump said that the United States was "very far along" in negotiating a long-term agreement with Iran, which had submitted a 10-point plan that he said was "workable."

But Iran publicly released points that took maximalist positions including lifting longstanding US sanctions, guaranteeing its own "dominion" over the Strait of Hormuz and removing US forces from the region.

Trump had set a deadline to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz by 8:00 pm Washington time (midnight GMT), or 3:30 am in Tehran, for Iran.

He had earlier threatened to destroy all power plants and bridges across the country of 90 million people -- a war crime against sites that are primarily of civilian usage.

Trump made threats shocking even by his own standards when he warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will."

The rhetoric was an escalation from a profanity-laden post two days earlier, on Easter Sunday.

Pope Leo XIV said that "this threat against all the people of Iran" was "truly unacceptable."

- Heavy strikes before deadline -

The United States and Israel struck key infrastructure before Trump's deadline, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying attacks hit railways and bridges allegedly used by the Revolutionary Guards.

The Israeli military also offered a rare statement of regret after it acknowledged damaging a synagogue in Tehran, saying it had been targeting a senior Iranian commander.

Iran, run by Shia Muslim clerics, is home to around 100 synagogues for its historic Jewish minority.

Infrastructure attacks reported by Iranian authorities Tuesday included a US-Israeli strike on a bridge outside the city of Qom and another on a rail bridge in central Iran that killed two people.

Iran has retaliated with weeks of drone and missile attacks on Gulf Arab states, citing their role as hubs for US troops.

The attacks have shattered the monarchies' hard-fought reputation for safety and stability.

Qatar said early Wednesday that four people were hurt by falling missile debris, including a child. AFP reporters also heard explosions in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they responded to missile threats.

Two civilians, one of them an eight-year-old child, were killed in Baghdad when a projectile crashed into their home, police told AFP.

- 'Terrified' -

Iranian university student Metanat, 27, whose classmate was killed two weeks ago in an attack, told AFP before Trump's suspension of the bombing she felt "terrified and so should everyone else in the country."

State media published photos purporting to show groups of Iranians forming human chains to protect power plants.

The show of patriotism in the face of attacks came several months after Iran's cleric-run government cracked down violently on mass protests, with rights groups reporting thousands of deaths.

A peace agreement, if realized, would leave in place the Islamic republic despite hopes by Israel and the United States of toppling it.

The United States and Israel said that they attacked Iran to degrade its military capacity. Trump has alleged that Iran was near building an atomic bomb, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog and most observers.

burs/sct/bgs
One of Australia's most-decorated soldiers will remain in prison after his lawyers did not apply for bail on Wednesday, a day after he was charged with war crimes.

Former Special Air Services officer Ben Roberts-Smith was charged Tuesday with murdering unarmed prisoners captured in Afghanistan, following a sweeping war crimes probe.

The 47-year-old spent the night in a Sydney jail and his lawyer told an online bail court on Wednesday he would not seek an application for release, instead requesting an appearance at the city's major courthouse. The case was adjourned to June.

Roberts-Smith, a distinguished soldier awarded Australia's highest military honour for his efforts fighting insurgents, is facing five counts of "war crime-murder".

They included one "actual offence", one "joint commission to an offence", and three counts of aiding or abetting a murder.

The towering soldier became a household name across Australia when he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011, a medal reserved for only the most courageous wartime exploits.

But the war hero's reputation was called into question in 2018 when a series of news reports linked him to the alleged murder of unarmed Afghan prisoners by Australian troops.

Police allege he was complicit in a string of unlawful killings between 2009 and 2012.

Should Roberts-Smith be found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

Australia deployed 39,000 troops to Afghanistan over two decades as part of US- and NATO-led operations against the Taliban and other militant groups.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran later this week following the Mideast ceasefire announcement.

"I... extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," he said in a post on X.

Pakistan, which has forged a close relationship with President Donald Trump and is sensitive to developments in neighbouring Iran, emerged as a channel for messaging between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks.

"We earnestly hope, that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days," Sharif said.

Both Tehran and Washington said they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.

The war began when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader on February 28, sparking retaliatory attacks from Tehran on Gulf nations and Israel.

Lebanon has also been drawn into the conflict after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, which has since carried out strikes, including on the capital, and launched a ground operation in the south of the country.

Sharif said the ceasefire applied "everywhere", including Lebanon, though Israel later said it did not apply to that country, where it is carrying out aerial and ground operations against Iranian-backed Hezbollah,

The temporary ceasefire came after a down-to-the-wire bid by Pakistan and other mediators to avert Trump's threat to destroy all power plants and bridges across Iran, a move that legal experts said could constitute a war crime.

Turkey and Egypt had also been helping mediate in recent days, while China helped get Iran to the negotiating table, Trump told AFP on Wednesday.

Despite trading missile fire with Iran two years ago and holding an at-times rocky relationship with Washington, Islamabad currently shares warm ties with both capitals.

That helped boost its moderating credentials, burnished by its allyship with heavyweight regional players, including Saudi Arabia and Beijing.

Pakistan is home to the world's second-biggest Shia Muslim population after Iran -- with which it shares a 900-kilometre border -- and represents some Iranian diplomatic interests in Washington where Tehran has no embassy.
A Rohingya rights campaigner spearheading a genocide complaint filed in Indonesia against Myanmar's next president urged the Muslim world on Wednesday to oppose the junta accused of the abuses.

Yasmin Ullah is one of 11 plaintiffs who lodged the complaint with Indonesia's attorney general on Monday, accusing Myanmar's president-elect Min Aung Hlaing of rights abuses against the mostly Muslim Rohingya minority in the country.

Indonesian law gives courts "universal jurisdiction", meaning they can prosecute individuals for heinous crimes committed anywhere. Rohingya activists have previously taken a case before a court in Argentina, which has the same principle.

Ullah, 34, left Myanmar at three years old and eventually settled in Canada, where she founded and runs the Rohingya Maiyafuinor Collaborative Network, a campaign group.

She told AFP on Wednesday that the plaintiffs chose Indonesia "because we have more Muslims here than any other country in the world, and Islam is built on a core principle of accountability".

"I'm really imploring the leadership of this country and the leadership of ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) to actually think... about the future we want," she said.

"If we are thinking about economic prosperity and ASEAN people... perhaps we need to think a little bit more about ending the root cause of instability in this region, which is the Myanmar military."

Myanmar's junta grabbed power in a 2021 coup and has been accused of rights abuses for decades, mostly targeting ethnic minorities like the Rohingya.

Last week, the country's pro-military lawmakers elected Min Aung Hlaing as president, meaning the ex-armed forces commander will retain his rule in civilian guise.

"I really hope that one day we will be able to face Min Aung Hlaing in court and actually get him to face the victims. Some of those victims are here on Indonesian soil," said Ullah.

Myanmar's leaders have not commented on the Indonesia case, but they have previously insisted the Rohingya are ethnic descendants of immigrants from Bangladesh, and that their 2017 crackdown targeted a militant uprising.

- 'Business as usual' -

Min Aung Hlaing became military chief in 2011, leading the armed forces in the crackdown that has seen more than one million Rohingya flee to Bangladesh.

Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, has also been receiving Rohingya refugees for years, many risking their lives on long and dangerous sea journeys.

Some 7,000 are in Indonesia today, according to Ullah -- mostly in western Aceh province where life in refugee shelters is tough, especially since cuts to US foreign aid.

Ullah, who describes herself as a survivor of genocide, also works with refugees in Aceh.

"What I'm hoping for... is a test of the moral line. We have seen... complacency from this region for far too long," she said.

"The trade continues, business as usual. That is not where they draw the line."

Most of Ullah's family still live in Myanmar, and she worries about them every day.

After she and her mother fled Myanmar -- an arduous journey through jungles and over mountains -- she spent 16 years in Thailand hiding from the authorities before eventually making it to Canada.

She travelled to Jakarta to present the genocide complaint in person. A spokesman for the attorney general's office said it would be forwarded to a division specialising in serious crimes.

It is the first complaint that the office has accepted under the universal jurisdiction provision in Indonesia's revised criminal code, which came into effect this year, human rights lawyer Feri Amsari told AFP.

Indonesia holds the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council for 2026.
A French court is to try a former lieutenant colonel in Rwanda's army on charges of complicity in genocide over allegedly delivering weapons used during the 1994 killings, a judicial source said Wednesday.

It will be the latest in a series of such trials in France linked to the killing between April and July 1994 of more than 800,000 Rwandans, mainly members of the Tutsi minority.

Cyprien Kayumba, a 71-year-old from the Hutu majority, headed a defence ministry department in charge of ordering and delivering weapons during the genocide.

Kayumba, who has lived in France since 1998, has always claimed he did not know the weapons he ordered would be used to kill Tutsis.

Judges on Wednesday ordered that Kayumba be tried at an undetermined date on the charges of complicity in genocide and complicity in crimes against humanity, the judicial source added.

They ordered him to hand over his passport and forbade him from leaving France.

Kayumba's lawyers told AFP the order for a trial was a shock for their client.

An investigating magistrate had in January ruled against any such court hearings after a probe that lasted more than two decades, but prosecutors in charge of alleged crimes against humanity appealed.

French courts, acting on the principle of "universal competence" to try the most serious crimes committed outside of its territory, have already convicted several Rwandans for their part in the 1994 genocide, one of the 20th century's worst atrocities.

A Paris court in February jailed a former hotel chauffeur for 14 years for transporting militia to the site of massacres during the killings.
The Gambia on Wednesday appointed a special prosecutor nearly two years after creating the post to try crimes committed under the reign of brutal former strongman Yahya Jammeh.

During Jammeh's rule from 1994 to 2017, some 240 to 250 people were killed by the state, according to a truth commission, which also found evidence of torture, kidnappings, witch hunts and other abuses.

The Ministry of Justice announced it had appointed British lawyer Martin Hackett to the post, whose background includes work with war crimes, genocide and counter terrorism matters, including at the United Nations.

Lawmakers and civil rights groups had criticised the slow pace of the appointment, which officials said was due to consultations and official procedure.

In April 2024, the Gambian parliament passed legislation to establish the Special Prosecutor's Office (SPO) to prosecute cases identified by the commission and provide for a special court inside the country with the option of holding sittings in other jurisdictions.

The vacancy for the prosecutor position was officially announced in May 2025.

During his four-year renewable mandate, Hackett is expected to try to prosecute the 70 people recommended by the country's Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) for crimes during the Jammeh era, according to the Ministry of Justice.

He will arrive in the country to start work before the end of the month.

"Martin Hackett brings serious credentials: complex war crimes prosecutions, command responsibility cases, work with victims of sexual violence. That experience matters enormously in a case like this", said Reed Brody, an international war crimes prosecutor who works with Jammeh's victims.

Justice Minister Dawda Jallow said that Hackett would be asked to submit annual reports to the president, National Assembly, the west African bloc ECOWAS and the Attorney General.

Following his 22-year rule marked by numerous human rights violations, Jammeh lost a presidential election in December 2016 to opposition leader Adama Barrow.

He fled the country in January 2017 for Equatorial Guinea, where he finally conceded, handed over power, and still lives in exile to this day.

The TRRC was set up later in 2017 to investigate crimes committed under his rule and heard chilling testimony from nearly 400 people.

In a report released in 2021, the commission recommended prosecuting the former president and 69 other alleged perpetrators.

In December 2024 ECOWAS backed the creation of a separate Special Tribunal for Gambia, a hybrid court established in partnership with The Gambia, to judge crimes committed during Jammeh's dictatorship, although it has not so far been funded.

Hackett would be able to decide whether to try a case in The Gambia or before the ECOWAS tribunal when it is established, according to Brody.
South Korean actress Han Chae-young has embraced the rising popularity of TikTok Live, joining the ranks of celebrities who are now hosting broadcasts on the platform. This has gotten a lot of attention as people continue to talk online about how much money people are making on the platform.

On April 2, Han did her first TikTok Live stream. She talked to people in real time while she got used to how the platform worked. The broadcast is said to have lasted until the early hours of the next day and included a joint appearance by MC Mong, which made it even more visible.

More actors are looking for new ways to connect with audiences because there aren't as many traditional acting jobs available. During her livestream, Han talked directly to fans through comments, which indicates that she is becoming more interactive with them.

Xportsnews says that interest in TikTok Live grew after reports that actor Park Si-hoo made about 500 million won (about $370,000 USD) through the site. This led to a lot of speculation about other celebrities who might be able to do the same.

People who watched the broadcast also talked about Han's appearance. Viewers noted that her face appeared slightly altered, possibly due to the automatic filters frequently employed during livestreams.

READ MORE: Han Chae Young Signs On For Two Projects That Focus On Her Beauty

According to Naver, Han's move to TikTok Live is part of a larger trend of actors trying out new digital platforms. Two public figures who have also used livestreaming to stay in the public eye and talk to fans are Lim Ju-hwan and Jang Su-won.

Those in the know have linked this shift to extended periods of unemployment for actors.

Han, who was in the 2024 drama "Scandal" and the movie "City of Evil," hasn't been in the news much lately, so her move to TikTok Live is a big deal.

In the meantime, people online are still talking a lot about Park Si-hoo's case. The reported earnings, initially cited as 500 million won but later revised to roughly $370,000 USD, have sparked curiosity about the potential income for established actors on livestreaming platforms.

A news story talked about the bigger picture of the trend. It said, "Stars whose acting careers have slowed down are increasingly turning to TikTok Live as a new channel for communication."

People have different opinions on this. Some people are worried that there are fewer acting jobs, while others are happy that they can talk to their favorite stars on social media.

The analysis of people's online feelings didn't provide a clear understanding. It said that "diverse reactions, ranging from expressing disappointment over the lack of acting work to satisfaction at being able to keep up with their recent activities."

The outlet's coverage stressed that TikTok Live gives celebrities a way to stay relevant and connect with fans, even when they're not on traditional media.

As Han Chae-young joins the platform, people are still wondering if her participation is just a short-term test or the start of a longer-term change in how actors connect with fans.

READ MORE: Han Chae Young Elegant Chic Fashion for InStyle 2013 March Issue [PHOTOS]






Tuesday, April 07, 2026  A video of Nairobi-based preacher, Apostle Dr. Richard Wamalwa, being received like royalty at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) has stirred heated debate online.

In the clip, the leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) - The Jesus Nation Church is welcomed by his wife and several congregants.

However, it is the moment when some members kneel before him while greeting that has set tongues wagging.

The dramatic reception has divided opinion, with critics questioning why the pastor is treated like a god and warning that such devotion could border on brainwashing.

Supporters, on the other hand, see it as a show of respect and honor for their spiritual leader.

Watch the video>>> below

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - Over the weekend, Somali youths gathered at a lavish Nairobi hotel for a fashion show attended by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.

Dubbed the East Africa Somali Youth Awards, the event brought together fashion enthusiasts who stepped onto the red carpet to showcase their style.

However, the event has sparked controversy over the outfits some participants wore.

One lady turned up in a figure-hugging outfit that accentuated her curves, drawing criticism from some quarters who argued that it goes against Islamic dress expectations.

The video has since sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some saying that young Somali ladies should be allowed to express themselves in the modern world, while others argued that moral standards shouldnt be eroded.

Watch the video>>> below

East Africa Somali Awards in Nairobi. Gradually, the Somali girls are dressing like other Kenyans women pic.twitter.com/KTJlHotyCj  IVY (@ivymuthe) April 6, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Tuesday, April 07, 2026 - Renowned Ugandan comedienne, Anne Kansiime, has candidly opened up about her unconventional journey to marriage and motherhood, revealing why she once paid her own dowry.

Speaking on a popular podcast>>>, the mother of one disclosed that at the peak of her career, she was eager to settle down but her then-partner couldnt afford the dowry.

Determined to move forward, she took matters into her own hands.

I married myself, I paid my own dowry, she confessed.

Kansiime admitted that the decision later weighed heavily on her, realizing she had essentially married herself - a factor that contributed to the eventual breakup with her longtime partner.

She also spoke about her struggles with infertility before eventually being blessed with a son, a journey she says reshaped her outlook on life.

Despite the challenges, she insists she has no regrets.

Everything Ive been through has shaped me.

Regretting the past doesnt change anything, she affirmed.

I married myself, I paid my own dowry, Ugandan comedian Anne Kansiime opened up about her struggles in marriage, which eventually led to her breaking up with her longtime partner.



The Second! pic.twitter.com/4bQ82J6ZJ8  The Kenyan Vigilante (@KenyanSays) April 7, 2026






Tuesday, April 7, 2026 - The internet has erupted after two Somali youths, believed to be Islamic faithful, were captured on camera showcasing their fashion style at the East African Somali Youth Awards held at the Argyle Hotel in Nairobi.

The event, headlined by Health Cabinet Secretary, Aden Duale, brought together fashion enthusiasts and featured Somali youth stepping onto the red carpet in unique outfits to express their style.

However, a video from the event showing two young men in controversial outfits has sparked reactions online.

A section of social media users criticized the outfits, saying they do not conform to strict Islamic traditions.

Watch the video>>> below

This is what was showcased by Somali youths during the East Africa Somali Awards infront of CS Aden Duale last night at the Argyle Grand Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya



This will eventually be practiced by boys from Northern Kenya.



A rotten society it is ! pic.twitter.com/jRkMuhZWiK  Abdulahi Adan (@AbdulahiAdan10) April 6, 2026

The Kenyan DAILY POST
The first of two days of racing this week at Gowran Park arrives on Wednesday with a competitive eight-race card on offer for punters heading to the track.

Gowrans card gets underway at 1.30pm with a seven furlong contest for three-year-olds before coming to a close at 5.25pm when a field of 11 tackle the mile and a five furlong handicap.

Read below for a full rundown of the Gowran Card courtesy of BetVictor Online Casino.

A small field of four will tackle the opener on Wednesday's card (1.30) and this one can go the way of Controlled for trainer Daniel Murphy, a winner at Naas in September last year and resumed his progress having left the powerful Aidan OBrien yard when runner up last time out at the same venue so is taken to go one better here. Speaking of OBrien, his runner here Neolithic was a good third in a Listed Curragh contest on season return so rates the main danger.

An auction maiden is up next at Gowran Park over seven furlongs (2.05) with the three-year-olds once again taking centre stage. The Noel Meade-trained Bobby Mcgee is the selection here, a good third behind Puerto Rico at the Curragh and has since been gelded and with his yard in decent form too, has a very strong chance here of going a couple of spots better.

Eleven runners will head to the stalls for the three-year-old handicap over seven furlongs for race three on the card (2.40) and it could pay to head with Andrew Slatterys Aurora Mist, a good fourth at Galway to bring her last campaign to a close and with the yard in good order to start the new campaign, is certainly worth taking a look at.

Sinmara was a huge 400,000 Guineas purchase for connections and sent to the Joseph OBrien yard and she lines up for race four (3.15) with much bigger targets on the horizon with entries in the Irish 2000 Guineas and Irish Oaks further down the line. She was a promising third on debut in a Curragh maiden last October and makes a seasonal return here where she will come against Aidan OBriens Wedding, a hefty 350,000 buy as a yearling herself and makes a racecourse debut for the all-conquering Coolmore yard.

Coincidental Glory is the selection in race five (3.50) for trainer Ado McGuinness, a winner of a 13-runner nursery contest 112 days ago when last on track and this is a good chance to follow up, while race six (4.25) can head the way of Greydreambeliever for the Joseph OBrien yard, without a win in 11 starts but was a good third at Newmarket last season in her final run before moving to the OBrien so represents a strong contender.

A decent field of 14 will tackle the penultimate race of the day (4.55) and this looks a good chance for Matt Connor to make a good return to the Flat for trainer Phillip Dempsey, a winner of a 13-runner handicap over hurdles in January and has won on the level before in 2023.

Finally, the Gowran meeting on Wednesday comes to a close at 5.25 as a field of 11 head to post for the mile and five furlong handicap and of the field, preference heads the way of Light Up The Dark, who could make it a treble on the day for Joseph OBrien, off the back of a good fourth at Bellewstown when last seen and is another reverting back to the Flat after a spell over obstacles.

Gowran Park selections - Wednesday

1.30 - Controlled

2.05 - Bobby Mcgee

2.40 - Aurora Mist

3.15 - Sinmara

3.50 - Coincidental Glory

4.25 - Greydreambeliever

4.55 - Matt Connor

5.25 - Light Up The Dark
SENATOR Fiona OLoughlin has welcomed the announcement of a new special school for Monasterevin, which is set to open for the 2026-27 school year.

The new school is set to be established through the repurposing of the existing St Peter's boys primary school in Monasterevin as they move to a new school building.

The announcement was made by Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion Michael Moynihan and forms part of a wider national effort to expand special education provision.

To date this year, 387 new special classes have been sanctioned, with further classes expected to be confirmed by the NCSE in the coming weeks.

Kildare has received 18 of these new special classes so far this year, more than other commuter counties such as Wicklow and Louth.

This announcement will increase capacity for students with additional needs across the county, said Senator OLoughlin.

Every child has a right to an education, and that must be accessible and supported so that each child can fully benefit from it.

We have already significantly increased the number of special classes available for the next school year both in Kildare and across the country, and further announcements are expected in the weeks and months ahead.

Expanding the availability of special classes remains a priority. I will continue to engage with the Department and the Minister to make a strong case for increased provision in Kildare.

The new school will be established through the repurposing of existing buildings and will provide additional places.
Fuel protesters blocking Dublin and other locations across Ireland are wrong and those breaking the law will be penalised, the Irish premier has said.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said the main thoroughfare of the Irish capital should not be turned into a car park as traffic and travel disruption caused by the protest continued into a second day.

OConnell Street in Dublin and fuel depots have been blocked by convoys of tractors and trucks in protests over the rising cost of fuel caused by the war in Iran.

Mr Martin criticised the protest as he met Irish deputy leader and finance minister Simon Harris and Minister of State at the Department of Transport Sean Canney at Government Buildings on Wednesday morning to discuss fuel prices.

The protests at the moment are wrong, Mr Martin said.

To prevent mobility, to prevent people from accessing livelihoods, medical appointments, disrupting day-to-day activities in the manner that has happened, is wrong and is a wrong form of protest.

Asked if gardai would clear the protesters on roads and around fuel depots the Taoiseach said: Theres no justification whatsoever for blockading fuel depots.

It runs counter to what everybody wants, which is access to fuel on a timely basis.

He also added later that he had heard attempts had been made to stop animal feedstuff from leaving ports, which will become an animal welfare issue very shortly, if that happens.

He said that while he respected the right to protest, it was not acceptable to turn Dublins OConnell Street into a car park.

There should be penalties and there will be penalties for anyone who violates the law, he said.

When later asked to clarify if those penalties could include the arrest of protesters, Mr Martin said: I never mentioned anything to do with arrests this morning, so I dont know where that word came from.

But obviously, no-one can just park a truck on OConnell Street, or on any other street, and just leave it there.

And we have traffic laws, we have a variety of laws and fines that attach to that, and I think those have to apply properly.

The Tanaiste said the Government is engaging with national representative bodies and said the disruption caused by the protests was not in our national interest, its not in our economic interest, its not in the interest of social cohesion.

Mr Harris described the blocking of fuel distribution as a despicable attack on our economy and our society, adding the laws of the land must and will be applied without fear.

Asked if the Government would meet with the groups involved in the protests, Mr Martin responded there are many, many different groups and many different voices involved and the only feasible way to engage is with the national representative bodies of the different sectors, and thats what were going to do.

He said: We live in a parliamentary democracy, we have elected representatives and the Government is elected by the Dail.

The Government deals and works with and engages, in normal circumstances, with the national organisations.

And that will continue to be the case and there will be no deviation from that.

He later added: What I would say to people is feed your views through your national representative organisations.

Asked if fuel pumps could run dry if depots are blockaded, Mr Canney said that would be a ransom.

He said: I think people need to understand that whats happening here is not in the national interest, its not in the peoples interest and we need to just reflect on that.

Mr Harris added there may be a small number of particular challenges this morning but he said he wanted to reassure motorists and reassure people in our country that there is adequate fuel supply in Ireland.

The TDs all emphasised measures to tackle rising energy prices announced by the Government last month.

Mr Martin said the 250 euro package of support was the most generous in Europe and the Government spending nearly four million euro a day on alleviation measures as a result of the package that we announced.

Asked if a drop in the cost of crude oil would lead to prices dropping immediately, Mr Harris said if that trend was maintained it would have a positive impact in terms of being passed on at the pump.

He said: There is always some bit of a lag but noted there was not much of a lag when prices increased and added So there shouldnt be much of a lag if the cost starts to fall, and well engage constructively with industry in relation to this and continue to monitor this through our various agencies.

Earlier on Wednesday morning, Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers said: I think some of the protests weve seen today are completely unacceptable and irresponsible.

Theyre undermining business in our city and across the country.

Responding to reports demonstrators have blocked a fuel terminal, he said that the action was reckless in the extreme, and they should stand down their protest.

He said the Government had a briefing from the National Oil Reserves Agency (Nora) on Wednesday morning, who said its oil reserves are well capable of shoring up different supply gaps for a considerable duration.

He said it had an 85-day supply of diesel or gasoline, 99 days of petrol and 70 days of kerosene.

In statements on Wednesday afternoon, An Garda Siochana and Dublin Fire Brigade appealed to protesters to leave clear routes for emergancy vehicles.

Gardai said they had asked and asks again for protesters to engage with them to facilitate public transport and other traffic.

They said they had received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to their work, of people not being able to attend hospital appointments or visit loved ones who are ill.

In their statement, Dublin Fire Brigade said they were appealing to all involved in the fuel protests in Dublin city centre to ensure the free passage of all emergency vehicles, both on blue lights heading to an emergency and also returning to base to serve their operational area.

They said they had experienced significant delays responding to emergancies on Wednesday morning and asked demonstrators to be extra vigilant and compliant when they hear emergency sirens approaching.
At its Annual Congress, the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) adopted a resolution calling for immediate and comprehensive reform of the assault leave scheme for teachers, amid high levels of physical aggression being experienced in schools.

Primary teachers in special schools and special class settings, in particular, are experiencing such incidents and, oftentimes, injuries are severe and can be life-changing. The complexities of childrens needs in mainstream classes where therapeutic, counselling and psychological supports are seriously lacking has added to the challenge of teaching in recent years.

READ NEXT: Teenage girl having suicidal thoughts 'not unique' as Childline says calls soared over Easter

It is an unacceptable reality that after sustaining an injury at work, many teachers must use or exhaust their standard sick leave, resulting in financial hardship.

In addition to physical injury, they are left alone to manage the long-term, complicated emotional fallout from experiencing an assault in their workplace. Teachers understand that these behaviours from pupils are indications of unmet needs, but they cannot continue to experience these incidents without adequate response or support.

The resolution, passed unanimously by delegates, demands that the INTOs Central Executive Committee (CEC) negotiates with the Department of Education and Youth and the Department of Education (NI) to:

Convene fora on school safety;

Invest in behaviour hubs and nurture rooms, staffed by primary teachers and relevant support services, to help schools manage behaviours of concern;

Provide whole school de-escalation training to help staff address behaviours of concern and crisis situations; and

Announce teacher assault leave schemes that are fit for purpose, which include compensation for losses incurred as a result of assault.

READ NEXT: Fans rally round as The 2 Johnnies star shares heart-warming update on baby boy's health

INTO Survey

The resolution was informed by INTOs landmark survey in May 2024, which revealed:

58% of teachers reported experiencing physical aggression in schools;

A staggering 96% of special school teachers and 61% of those in mainstream schools with special classes were affected;

Incidents commonly included scratching, punching, biting, and the throwing of objects;

Only 6% of teachers affected availed of assault leave, while 41% of those injured required medical treatment beyond first aid.

Speaking on the resolution, Cork based CEC Rep, Edel Polly said:

We're seeing levels of physical and verbal abuse in primary schools that are not and would not be tolerated in other workplaces. Teachers are being kicked, bitten, spat at, sworn at, threatened and in many instances expected to walk back into the classroom next day as if nothing happened.

This is not about difficult behaviour this is about a broken system. This is about a lack of engagement, understanding and care by the DEY, HSE, and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality.

READ NEXT: Family still 'struggling' 21 years after daughters unsolved murder as fresh appeal launched

Reacting to the resolution, INTO Deputy General Secretary Deidre OConnor said:

No teacher should ever be expected to endure physical aggression as part of their job. Yet the current system continues to fail educators - emotionally, financially, and professionally.

Far too many are left to cope with the aftermath of traumatic incidents alone. This resolution delivers a clear and unambiguous message: it is time for administrations, North and South, to uphold their duty of care to teachers.
Concerns continue to be raised by local councillors over the fixed speed camera on the N25 at Glenmore in South Kilkenny, with calls for improved signage and a review of the speed limit transition in the area.

At a recent district meeting, Cllr Fidelis Doherty said the camera is still causing a good bit of concern, suggesting it is possibly seen as a way of generating money when its about safety.

While acknowledging that people are definitely driving safer on that stretch of road, she questioned whether more definitive signage is required, adding that the issue is causing too much upset.

READ NEXT: Public stunned as driver smashes speed limit on busy Kilkenny road

Cllr Tomas Breathnach also noted that constituents have been raising the matter with him, stating that people are coming to me about it, while Cllr Jenny Catt Slattery said its still being talked about.

Cllr Ger Frisby highlighted what he described as a need for additional signage, particularly on the New Ross side of the route.

He pointed to the approach as you come across over the hill at Murphy Motors, adding that something should be done at the top of the hill.

Area engineer John Tennyson told the meeting that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has overall responsibility for signage.

READ NEXT: 'Bloody hell' - local bus users slam 'dreadful' decision to cancel Kilkenny route

He said the roads design office is currently looking at it and is preparing a submission to TII.

He also clarified that the operation of the speed camera itself is a matter for An Garda Siochana, while acknowledging that there has been a major increase in fines.

Mr Tennyson said he will relay the concerns of elected members to the roads design office in advance of its submission.

Meanwhile, an online petition has gathered almost 400 signatures calling for a review of the speed limit transition from 100 km/h to 80 km/h on the N25 at Glenmore, where the fixed speed camera is located shortly after the lower limit begins.

READ NEXT: Key driver of dumping - Warning made to highlight illegal waste collectors in Kilkenny

At the March plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council, Cllr Niamh ODonovan described the perceived lack of signage as a real injustice.

Kilkenny County Council installed high-visibility temporary speed signage on the N25 for a period of weeks back in January to alert motorists to the change in speed limit.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS
Hail is a natural phenomenon with high damage potential. To better understand long-term developments, KIT researchers analyzed 20 years of radar data from the German Weather Service. The study offers initial insights into possible trends in potential hail tracks and shows how these evolve over time and space.

The analysis reveals significant regional differences. While no clear trend emerges across Germany as a whole, the number of potential hail tracks is increasing in southern Germany. In northern and central Germany, the trend shows a tendency to decline. The spatial distribution confirms known patterns: a striking difference between north and south, as well as a high frequency of hail south of Stuttgart and in the Bavarian Prealps, says Dr. Susanna Mohr from KITs Institute for Meteorology and Climate Research Troposphere Research (IMKTRO). Most thunderstorms that are potentially associated with hail last less than 75 minutes, are shorter than 40 kilometers, and move from southwest to northeast.

In addition, hail events are unevenly distributed in time: Under certain atmospheric conditions  especially during blocking weather patterns  clustering of several hail days can form across Germany. Such episodes are rare, lasting no more than two weeks, but they are relevant for insurance companies because they cause concentrated damage. Our 20-year analysis period is still relatively short for definitive conclusions, but initial estimates are possible, says Mathis Tonn, also from IMKTRO. While the results should be interpreted with caution, they could provide early indications of changes in hail frequency.

swi, April 8, 2026
Zhengzhou: making it easier for young entrepreneurs to succeed

15:32, April 08, 2026 By Fang Min ( People's Daily

Photo shows the entrepreneur center in Zhengzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone, Zhengzhou, central China's Henan province. (Photo provided by Zhengzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone)

In Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan province, a growing number of young entrepreneurs are turning their ideas into viable businesses, thanks to a supportive ecosystem that removes many of the common barriers to starting up.

Du Zhenyang, 30, exemplifies this trend. Leading a team focused on AI-powered drone technologies within the Zhengzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone, he is striving for breakthroughs in AI automation. His company's heavy-lift drones now serve over 500 clients.

Du's passion for drones ignited during his studies at Zhengzhou University. The entrepreneurial spark persisted after graduation. Despite spending two years working in Beijing, he ultimately chose to return home to launch his venture.

Like many young founders, Du faced concerns: securing workspace, funding, assembling a team, and accessing markets all seemed formidable. Talent shortages, financing difficulties, and limited market access often discourage aspiring entrepreneurs at the outset.

Bracing for setbacks, Du was pleasantly surprised by a smoother-than-expected journey. The initial challenge of finding office and research space was swiftly resolved. With coordination from Zhengzhou University and the local government, his team was granted two years of free access to university lab. The Zhengzhou High-tech Industrial Development Zone also provided well-equipped office space at favorable rates through government-backed incubators.

Securing designated airspace for test flights was another hurdle. Du submitted an application, and the Zone worked with local schools to set aside unused areas on campus for testing. For extreme high-altitude trials, the Zone coordinated with Zhengzhou Shangjie Airport to secure access to new flight zones. "I anticipated navigating everything alone, but the government streamlined the process," Du remarked.

A teacher from Henan Mechanical and Electrical Vocational College instructs students on the structure of automotive electric drive axles at a training center of Yutong, a Chinese manufacturer of commercial vehicles, in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan province. (Photo/Shi Guangming)

With facilities secured, research progressed until a shortage of specialized talent emerged as the next bottleneck. Drone development spans multiple disciplines; while Du specialized in flight control software, his team lacked structural design expertise.

During routine visits, local officials identified similar challenges among startup teams. In response, relevant officials worked with Zhengzhou University and the city's human resources authorities to provide targeted support. Six experts from different fields were brought in to offer hands-on guidance, helping the team overcome technical hurdles. Meanwhile, recruitment platforms helped attract more skilled professionals.

"Talents are willing to join us thanks to Zhengzhou's subsidies and housing support," said Du. Young people with college degrees or above can apply directly for talent apartments. Internship subsidies and social insurance contributions have also significantly reduced the company's labor costs, he added.

The company launched its first self-developed drone in 2022, followed by a heavy-lift model in 2023. But as the products entered the market, new challenges emerged.

Once again, local authorities stepped in -- connecting Du's company with established firms, linking it to industry resources, and helping build a sales network.

"Government support was crucial in turning our research into real products," Du said. Today, his drones are widely used in photovoltaic panel cleaning, mountainous logistics, and industrial inspection, becoming a leading example in the region's drone sector.

Du's experience reflects Zhengzhou's broader efforts in recent years to support young innovators and entrepreneurs. By addressing weak links and improving services, the city is fostering a mutually reinforcing relationship between talent and urban development.

A salon is held in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan province, where entrepreneurship mentors offer guidance for young entrepreneurs. (Photo from Zhengzhou Media Group)

Zhengzhou has built 292 startup incubators, established 374 designated vocational training institutions that have provided tailored training to nearly 1.19 million participants, and set up five entrepreneurship service stations.

The city has also secured over 201,000 units of talent housing and deployed 96 entrepreneurship mentors to provide ongoing guidance. Financial support has been strengthened through dedicated platforms, with 667 million yuan ($97.06 million) in technology loans and 3.09 billion yuan in startup-guarantee loans issued to date.

According to local officials, since 2022, Zhengzhou has attracted 992,000 young talents and incubated 15,000 enterprises. "Going forward, we will continue to ensure policy implementation, improve targeted support services, and optimize the business environment to attract even more talent," an official said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
Weather Alert

...The Flood Warning continues for the following rivers in Missouri... Missouri River at Waverly affecting Saline, Carroll and Lafayette Counties. Missouri River At Miami affecting Chariton, Saline and Carroll Counties. Missouri River at Boonville affecting Cooper, Howard, Boone and Moniteau Counties. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Turn around, don't drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles. This product along with additional weather and stream information is available at www.weather.gov/kc/. && ...FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING TO LATE FRIDAY MORNING... * WHAT...Minor flooding is forecast. * WHERE...Missouri River at Boonville. * WHEN...From this evening to late Friday morning. * IMPACTS...At 21.0 feet, Low-lying rural areas along the river flood. At 23.8 feet, Easley River Road and Smith Hatchery Road begin to flood. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS... - At 9:04 AM CDT Tuesday the stage was 16.7 feet. - Forecast...The river is expected to rise above flood stage just after midnight tonight to a crest of 22.9 feet tomorrow evening. It will then fall below flood stage Thursday evening. - Flood stage is 21.0 feet. - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood && Fld Obs Forecasts Location Stg Stg Day/Time Tue Wed Thu 1pm 1pm 1pm Missouri River Boonville 21.0 16.7 Tue 9am 17.8 22.7 21.6 &&
Auburn, IN (46706)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
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A LAOIS landowner has been prosecuted for the destruction of vegetation on land not then cultivated, contrary to Section 40 of the Wildlife Act at Portlaoise District Court.

Sarah Baldwin, Oldglass, Grantstown, Co Laois had procured William Shirley of Old Glass, Ballacolla, to carry out the works using a mechanically propelled vehicle and in the process destroying vegetation on uncultivated lands.

The case was taken by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, prosecuted by Helen Johnson Barrister-at-law and Tristan Lynas State Solicitor on behalf of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Judge Cody confirmed there was a breach of the Wildlife Act and Ms Baldwin received the benefit of the Probation Act by Judge Cody and ordered her to donate 4,000 to a Wildlife Charity.

Section 40 of the Wildlife Act prohibits the cutting, grubbing or destruction of any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated or in hedgerows or ditches during the period from March 1st to August 31st.

The prohibition of the cutting and removal of vegetation (including hedge rows), except in limited situations, during the bird nesting season (1 March to 31 August annually) aims to protect important habitats for birds as they are nesting and rearing fledglings, and also to protect the wide ranging biodiversity from wildflowers to insect life that occupy these important habitats.

Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher OSullivan TD said:

Wildlife crime is a serious threat to Irelands biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural heritage. The destruction of important habitats for birds particularly during critical nesting times cannot be overlooked. The National Parks and Wildlife Service is committed to tackling wildlife crime and ensuring the protection of our native species and habitats through enforcement, education and collaboration. NPWS plays a leading role in addressing this threat, working closely with An Garda Siochana and other enforcement partners to detect, investigate, and prosecute offences. In 2025 209 summons were issued in NPWS prosecutions for various offences under the Wildlife Act 1976 and European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477 of 2011).
A HOSPITALITY company based in Carlow has been ordered to make redundancy payments to two former employees after failing to appear at a Workplace Relations Commission hearing on 3 March.

Heather Foods and Catering Ltd operate restaurants and provides catering facilities at various locations, including The Lazy River Cafe in Graiguecullen. The companys registered address is Unit 1 & 2 Castleview Quay, Graiguecullen, Carlow, Ireland, which is also The Lazy River Cafes address.

The first complainant, Oisin Hanbury, had worked as a part-time waiter from 2 December 2022 until 12 October 2025. Oisin worked an average of 20 hours a week in the year before he was dismissed, earning 12.70 an hour.

The second complainant, Shane Hanbury, had worked as a chef for the respondents from 2 July 2022 until 12 October 2025. Shane worked 40 hours a week and his gross weekly pay was 620.

Both complainants were informed that their roles were redundant and on 12 October 2025 they ceased working.

Neither complainant was given redundancy payments when they were made redundant.

Shane Hanbury wrote to the company on 20 October 2025 to confirm that his job had been made redundant due to the closure of the business.

The hearings occurred in March at the Workplace Relations Commission hearing room in Carlow. Brid Deering served as their adjudication officer.

At Shane Hanburys hearing, it was said that one or more of the cafes/restaurants operated by the respondent continues to trade.

At Oisin Hanburys hearing, it was said that the cafe/restaurant where he used to work remains open, but several staff were made redundant.

In both hearings, Brid Deering was satisfied that Heather Foods and Catering Ltd were notified of the date, time and location of the hearing and that the company was still operating as its status on the Companies Registration Office website is normal.

Both hearings were told that no contact was received by or on behalf of the respondent prior to or after the hearing to indicate any difficulty with attending.

Brid Deering ruled that Shane and Oisin Hanbury were both entitled to a redundancy lump sum as their employment had been terminated because they were made redundant.

Though the officer did not set out the amount that Shane and Oisin are entitled to, statutory redundancy payments are two weeks pay for every year of service and one additional weeks pay, capped at 600 a week.
MIAMI - John Leguizamo entered once again in dangerous territory, this time as Pablo Escobar in 'Dear Killer Nannies', and in Miami he made it clear that this is not just another narco retelling. The series goes somewhere other projects have not, inside the Escobar home, inside the bond between father and son, and inside the emotional wreckage left behind by one of the most infamous criminals in modern history.

In an interview with this reporter, during an event in Miami to present the HULU series, Leguizamo said the project is "very different" from previous portrayals of Escobar because it was shaped with direct input from the family, especially Juan Pablo Escobar, who, he stressed, was more than a consultant.

"What we're telling are things that have never been seen," Leguizamo said about the series, which is already available. "What was happening inside the house, between father and son, between husband and wife. And when you read the script, you know these are not lines. These are words that were lived."

That is the angle that gives "Dear Killer Nannies" its bite. The series digs into the domestic horror around the head of the lMedellin Cartel , including the bizarre and disturbing reality that Juan Pablo was raised by nannies who were also sicarios. Leguizamo explained it bluntly: "The son couldn't go to school because they would capture him or kill him. So he had to be raised by nannies, but the nannies were hitmen to protect him, and suddenly they became informants, and Pablo Escobar had to kill one of the nannies. And that's when things got heavy."

Leguizamo also revealed the private guidance he received while building the role. He said Juan Pablo told him Escobar was not the loud, cartoonish figure many viewers might expect. "He said to speak in a low voice. Calm. Don't yell," Leguizamo recalled. He added that he was also told Escobar had "a good sense of humor," was "mischievous," and "very affectionate." That softer description became central to the performance, especially because, as Leguizamo put it, many Colombian fathers in the 1980s "didn't kiss" their children or say they loved them.

That contrast is exactly what Leguizamo says makes the character so unsettlingand puts him ahead of other performances portraying Escobar, including Benicio del Toro's, Javier Bardem's and Wagner Moura's. It's at the level of Andres Parra's in "El Patron del Mal", and that is saying a lot.

The team wanted to portray Escobar "as he really was," adding that he was "a psychopathic killer criminal." But "villains are not black and white, but a gray shade," Leguizamo said. "This man can be charismatic and affectionate at the same time that he could murder thousands of people." For him, "Dear Killer Nannies" is not about glorifying Escobar. It is "a warning."

Leguizamo was just as vivid when discussing the transformation. He joked, with the swagger of a man who knows he landed the role, that he may be "the best Pablo Escobar that has ever existed."

He studied "everything that existed in video" and "all the recordings" to capture Escobar's accent, gestures and even his breathing pattern. "He had something in the way he breathed when he was talking," Leguizamo said, describing the tiny pauses he tried to reproduce on screen. Physically, he said he gained weight and then used prosthetics to go further. "I fattened up, but they added a little prosthetic to make me even bigger," he said, laughing that plenty of bandeja paisa, tamales and arepas in Colombia helped him get there.

But the emotional center of the role may be the final rupture between Escobar and his son. Leguizamo recounted what he said Juan Pablo told him about the last time he saw his father. According to the actor, Escobar said he had to kill one of the nannies because he had become an informant. The son pushed back in horror. "Who else are you going to kill?" Leguizamo recalled him saying. "Are you going to kill my grandmother if she looks at you wrong? Or my mother if she says something you don't want to hear? When do these killings stop?" Leguizamo's reaction to revisiting that moment was immediate and visceral: "Very powerful. That is chilling."

That may be the real hook of Dear Killer Nannies. John Leguizamo is not selling Pablo Escobar as an icon. He is selling him as a contradiction, a father who could be quiet, funny and loving, yet still be a "psychopathic killer criminal." In a culture crowded with narco stories, that is what makes this one feel different. It is less about the legend the world already knows, and more about the son who had to survive him.

Originally published on Latin Times
A Laois business is seeking planning permission for a development at a Portlaoise business Park.

Portlaoise company Castleforms Ltd is a leading Irish manufacturer and supplier of expanded polystyrene (EPS) insulated concrete form (ICF) construction systems used in construction projects across Ireland.

An incomplete application was filed by Mr Tom Maher, seeking permission from Laois County Council for the development of 'an insulated construction system manufacturing unit, associated office accommodations, a separate storage unit and a stock yard at unit 5a and 5b of Portlaoise Enterprise Park, Togher'.

Pictured: the site location of the proposed development. Source: Laois County Council

The proposed development is on a site at the edge of Clonminam Business Park, just two minutes from the J17 National Enterprise Park.

The overall combined floor area of the development is 6,344 square metres, with 4,588sq/m dedicated to the manufacturing unit. The height of the proposed manufacturing building is 10.5 meters to its parapet.

The office space is proposed to be 730sq/m. The storage unit proposed will be 1,026sq/m, with a height of seven metres.

The Laois company intends to provide 50 car parking spaces, three accessible parking spaces and five electric vehicle spaces.

Fifty bicycle spaces are proposed to serve the development. Two access points are proposed for the development, including the current entrance from the existing roundabout spur, and a new entrance to the south side of the development.

The company is seeking all associated ancillary works including landscaping, boundary treatments, internal roadways, car parking, the stock yard and associated infrastructure both above and below ground level.

The facility intends to employ approximately 30 to 50 staff, comprising of 20 office-based personnel working standard daytime hours and 20 to 30 production staff operating on a rotating shift basis. The plant is intended to operate on a 8/24-hour basis.

Laois County Council first received the planning application on Friday April 3. It was deemed invalid on Wednesday April 8.

Planning files note that confirmation from Uisce Eireann (Irish Water) in relation to utility connections within the development was delayed due to processing timelines.



In 2008, the site was granted planning permission for an electricity generation facility.

Castleforms first began trading in 2013 and currently operates out of their manufacturing facility that was commissioned in 2016.

In March, the company won the Innovation in Construction Products Award at the Irish Building & Design Awards for their ICF FireBlock product.

The promotion of development opportunities and investment in Laois has been a topic of conversation in recent days, with Fine Gael Deputy Willie Aird recently announcing that units within the IDA business park in Portlaoise are ready to be marketed to direct investment firms.
The fuel protest is expected to continue for a third day as organisers announce a plan to gather in Laois again tomorrow.

The protest against high fuel prices continued in Portlaoise today along the M7 between Junction 16 and 18 with both lanes blocked.

This has resulted in heavy traffic driving through Portlaoise in both direction which would otherwise have used the motorway.

Gardai in Portlaoise say the traffic is moving but it is slow and particularly slow at peak times. They are urging people to plan their journey and allow extra time. They said roads adjacent to the motorway are very congested.

The protest is planned to continue in Portlaoise tomorrow.

The Gardai have been notified in advance of Thursdays nationwide fuel protest and are aware of the planned convoy routes and meeting points across the country.

We ask everyone to protest safely and respectfully, and to keep all emergency routes and hard shoulders clear at all times, a post on social media stated.

WATCH: Protest in Portlaoise stops M7 traffic

We are asking everyone who is not driving in the convoys to come out and support us from bridges, roadsides, town approaches, and safe public areas, waving Irish flags in solidarity. Show the country that the people are united, they stated.

Protesters are due to meet in Portlaoise tomorrow morning at 7am and move off at 7.30am.

Its part of a national campaign aimed at lowering the price of fuel which is heavily taxed. Protests are planned for Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Cork, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Portumna, Banagher Bridge, Athlone and surrounding counties.

Meanwhile, the HSE issued some advice to people who have medical appointments.

The HSE Dublin and Midlands Health Region is unaware of any disruption to healthcare services locally. However, if people are concerned about running late or missing their healthcare appointment, they should make contact with their service provider directly, they stated.

Gardai issued a statement asking protesters to engage with Gardai locally and to facilitate important diversion and emergency routes.
Johnny Smacks, one half of The 2 Johnnies, has shared a touching update on his young son's health, offering reassurance to fans following recent concerns.

The Tipperary native, whose real name is Johnny McMahon, took to social media to thank supporters for their kind messages and well wishes over the past number of days.

READ NEXT: Family still 'struggling' 21 years after daughters unsolved murder as fresh appeal launched

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The 2 Johnnies (@the2johnnies)

In the post, Johnny said his little boy JJ is thankfully doing well after spending the first four months of his life in the ICU at Crumlin Children's Hospital.

The health update came as Johnny was speaking about their recent sold out live charity show at Dublin's 3Arena to raise money for the hospital and for the Children's Health Foundation, something extremely close to his heart.

In the video he expressed his heartfelt gratitude for everyone that had been following his son's health journey and to all the staff at Crumlin that helped along the way.

Johnny said he wanted to give something back to the hospital and to the parents as although his little boy is no home, there are still so many kids in the hospital battling with health struggles so this gig "was for them".

READ NEXT: Irish motorists warned of hefty fines if they don't disclose certain 'serious' information

The much loved entertainer, known for his work alongside Johnny B on their hugely popular podcast and live shows, has often shared glimpses of his personal life with listeners, making the update all the more meaningful for those who follow the duo closely.

Fans were quick to respond to the post, flooding the comments with messaged of support, with many saying they were "delighted to hear the good news" and sending continued well wishes to Johnny and his family.
Kildares prime agricultural land should not have solar panels built on it.

Thats according to independent councillor Tom McDonnell who said there is a critical need to protect farmland for food production, food security and the equine industry.

At a Kildare County Council meeting, he asked for a clear policy position on opposing large or small ground mounted solar panels on farmland.

He said KCC officials should bear this in mind when dealing with planning applications.

Cllr McDonnell said the land in Kildare is better than 75% of the rest of the land in Ireland and is sought after around the world and is the best in the world.

READ NEXT Search stood down for missing 66-year-old man as Gardai issue tragic update

He said he had no issue with solar panels being set up on homes or industrial premises.

But Cllr Chris Pender said that a blanket ban does not make sense.

He added: I get that there is land we should be protecting but some land could accommodate both farming and solar panels

KCC official Alan Dunney said the county development plan does not in principle exclude large or small ground mounted solar panels on farmland.

He said applications for solar energy projects are considered on their own merits having regard to the development plan policy, as well as ministerial guidelines, environmental assessments and submissions from the public and prescribed bodies.
There is neither a weight restriction nor a heavy goods vehicle ban on a 230 years old bridge near Maynooth.

Pike Bridge is described as a two-arch rubble stone bump back structure.

Cllr Peter Melrose called for signs banning HGVs to be put up on one approach road and at a junction.

He said it is a bit unbelievable that no wight restriction is in place, adding its not a safe road.

According to Kildare County Council there is no restriction on a nearby road or the bridge - which is the responsibility of Waterways Ireland.

READ NEXT Man who allegedly breached family law order had three prison visits from his partner, Kildare court told

KCC also pointed out that there is signage banning HGVs on part of nearby regional road to prevent a right turn over Pike Bridge.

A Clane-Maynooth Municipal District meeting was told that a bye-law is needed to ban HGVs and this is not currently in place.

KCC also said there are no staff available to commence such a statutory process at the present time.

It added that a contractor working on a road project in the area has confirmed that a local road is not being used by HGVs associated with the project.
Fuel price protests are causing widespread disruption across Ireland for a second day, with a particular impact on key routes including the M7 and N7 in Kildare.

Protesters say rising fuel costs have left them financially strained, describing the action as a last resort.

The government has acknowledged the right to protest but warned of serious consequences for essential services and businesses.

The N7 route is affected again due to its connection with the M7 and major traffic flows.

READ MORE: New food business to open in Kildare.

Hauliers warned supplies could stop entirely without government intervention on the rising cost of fuel due to the war in Iran.

Newbridge resident Henry Thorpe said:

"It's ludicrous in my opinion, that the authories sit on their hands, while the motorways and roads of our country, are being blocked by convoys of trucks, tractors, HGV's, farm machinery, etc, without any consideration for the tens of thousands of citizens, endeavouring to get to and from work today.

"Whom will compensate those workers for potential loss of earnings?"

He added: "I am fully aware of the right to protest, but the Gardai have the wherewithal to prevent what's happening today, as in my opinion, it is not in tandem with 'the common good'!

"How much will the protesters have spent on diesel/petrol by the end of this protest?

"Everyone the country is affected by the inordinate rise in energy costs, today's protest will not assist in any positive way, in dealing with this fact!"
Condolences are being extended following the death of a Leitrim man remembered as a gentleman and true friend.

Terence McDermott of Sradrine, Glenfarne, passed away on Sunday, April 5, surrounded by his loving family.

He is predeceased by his parents, Maggie and John, and is deeply regretted and sadly missed by his loving wife, Susan; daughter, Yasmin; son, Nevile (Shannan); brothers, Sean (Maureen) and Frank (Patricia); sister, Margaret (Howard); mother-in-law, Nancy; sister-in-law, Tracy; nephews; nieces; extended relatives; and many friends.

Tributes on RIP.ie have been pouring in for Terence. One person wrote: A gentleman and true friend. We worked in London together and then in Russia, where he showed great respect for his fellow workers. May Terry's gentle soul rest in peace.

READ NEXT: Big turnout for Noel McManus Memorial run and cycle at Lough Rynn

Another reflected: I worked alongside Terence when I returned to Ireland; he was a great tradesman and it was a pleasure to be in his company and to meet him afterwards. Sincere sympathy to all of his family and to everyone who will miss him.

Always a cheerful welcome when we met him, recalled another.

Terences funeral mass will take place at 11am on Wednesday, April 8, at St Michaels Church in Glenfarne, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

A further tribute on RIP.ie said: He was an absolute gentleman and will be fondly remembered by everyone for his good nature.

READ NEXT: Nine cats taken from one home amid urgent appeal from Leitrim Animal Welfare

Glenfarne Kiltyclogher GAA also paid tribute: We thank and remember Terence and his family for their support and sponsorship of Glenfarne Kilty over the years. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.
Hauliers, farmers and contractors protesting against the cost of fuel are continuing to cause disruption in the capital and across the country today and Leitrim Observer spoke to a local haulier, Gerry McMorrow about his view on events.

Mr McMorrow, who is transport manager of a fleet of vehicles and who did not take part in the protest, said that he "sympathises with everyone who has to pay more for diesel. I'm one of them and you're one of them and we use more so we are paying more but the information we have been given from the Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) is that there is a package coming for us soon and that diesel would be capped - that's our hope."

He continued that a meeting is due to take place between members of IRHA and government officials this week and "we're waiting for that. In terms of farmers; I can't speak for them."

READ MORE: Leitrim woman shortlisted for prestigious agricultural awards

He said that he wasn't aware of anyone in the haulage industry in Leitrim who had taken part in the protests. "Personally, I think, to block people going to work and appointments, isn't the answer. Some of the protests were fine and they kept lanes open but there were some protests where it was a little bit more heavy-handed but that is always the problem with protests; you can never control the narrative in it."

He said he also did not attend a meeting last week about the price of fuel which took place in Bee Park in Manorhamilton. "I didn't attend that meeting as I had been made aware that a meeting had taken place between the IRHA and the government. The government told us they would be back to us this week and they are coming back to us; I think there are actually meetings today. I don't think it would be appropriate to go out and block people especially as our rebate was increased. I know it didn't make up the difference but at the same time, there are people worse off that us. I think dialogue is better than protests."

READ MORE: Leitrim farmers on road again as re-run of Sligo protest announced for Wednesday

Mr McMorrow said on the meeting: "You have a large group of people from different sectors of the community; people who are in farming, operates buses, hauliers etc. There is no group, as such, taking control of the protest or organising it so when you get a group of people blocking a motorway, lanes etc. sometimes, it might not be handled the best way. You could have someone trying to get to a hospital appointment and they may not have the same sympathy for those protesting as somebody else."

He concluded: "We are in a war situation and I don't think it's the Irish government's fault that the price of fuel has gone where it has. They could probably do more but they have told us that they will do more and we are taking that in good faith. If it's a case that we have to go and protest again, we could, but at this time, we don't feel the need to do that and I'm saying that representing my own company and also in terms of the advice we've received from the IRHA."

He stressed that he "sympathises with everyone and those who are paying more to put fuel in their car to get work and in the haulage industry, this is really really causing us problems but I don't want to make my problem, somebody else's problem. Everyone is suffering."
Sligo town is set to be hit with traffic delays again on Wednesday morning as fuel protest organisers announce a re-run of the protest.

The protest, which is part of a re-run of the wider national action which caused disruptions across the country on Tuesday in response to the Governments handling of the fuel crisis, with protesters staying in Dublin overnight.

The routes and times of approach on both sides of Sligo town will stay the same as on Tuesday, according to the announcement made over social media and in WhatsApp groups.

The convoy of vehicles is set to take off from Letterkenny at 6.15am and will regroup on the way in Tullaghan, with their live location being shared through WhatsApp.

Vehicles are welcome to join in Grange, Drumcliff, and at the N4/N15 interchange, according to organisers who are communicating anonymously through social media and messaging apps.

Organisers have stressed that this is intended to be a silent and peaceful protest.

READ NEXT: We are locking her down: Anger on show at Leitrim meeting ahead of national action

We will distance ourselves from any bad behaviour or anyone that sets out to cause trouble, they said.

Please obey marshals, keep lane discipline, and all hard shoulders must remain CLEAR at all times for emergency vehicles.

An Gardai warned that significant additional traffic is expected from around 8 am with slow-moving vehicles, including HGVs, agricultural and plant vehicles on national roads and in large urban areas across the country.

READ NEXT: 'There are no simple solutions': Sligo-Leitrim minister reacts to fuel protests

An Gardai have said they are not in a position to provide accurate or detailed advice to the general public at this time.

While An Garda Siochana facilitates peaceful protest, An Garda Siochana must also balance and protect the rights of individuals to travel freely and commercial organisations to conduct business.

Any Garda activity in relation to evolving events involves a graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety.
Leitrim councillor Eddie Mitchell was the subject of threats online and an AI deep fake following a row at a fuel meeting in Manorhamilton over the weekend.

The meeting, which was aimed at gaining support for the national fuel protests this week, was held at the Bee Park Community Centre and attended by around 150 people, most of whom travelled from outside of Leitrim for the event.

Twice during the event, Councillor for the Manorhamilton municipal district, Eddie Mitchell, had a back-and-forth with the crowd and speakers regarding Palestine and the war in Iran.

The councillor has been subjected to physical threats in messages and comments under videos circulated by anti-immigration activists following the event.

I don't want to be ever seen as someone that's a victim, said the long-time Anti-Fracking campaigner. who stressed that he was not intimidated by the online threats, but was surprised by the intensity with which they came at him.

READ NEXT: 'There are no simple solutions': Sligo-Leitrim minister reacts to fuel protests

It's incitement to hatred and I wasn't expecting, you know, you get a certain amount of that, but there was loads of that, that just kept coming for 24 hours.

The exchanges, which involved Cllr Mitchell and leaders of the national fuel protest, followed the councillors suggestion that the protest should have an anti-war message within it rather than simply focusing on the price of diesel, which was unwelcome in the room.

Later, he suggested that the protest should target American Multinational companies in an effort to pressure the American government into stopping its war with Iran, thus dealing with the cause of the fuel price increase.

This led to an exchange with Chris Duffy, farming contractor, internet personality, and leading figure in the national fuel protest.

Since the event, a number of clips circulated by right-wing anti-immigration influencers online, which removed context, made false claims and representations of the councillors' position with one claiming that the councillor scolded Irish families for using fuel during the meeting.

The videos were then accompanied by the message Stop Mega Mosque in Letterkenny and an AI-generated advertisement for merchandise.

Meanwhile, a deep fake of the Councillor holding a sign stating his plan to deal with the crisis was to ask Trump nicely to end the war was published on the account Ireland - Rising from the Ashes on Facebook, which some users confused for a real picture.

The Observer has verified that the picture is an AI-generated fake, with the original image being taken at an anti-goldmining protest in 2021 and published on The Irish Independent at the time.

On the left, an AI-generated image of a Leitrim councillor, on the right, the original published in 2021.

The meeting was attended by a broad church of people, of concerned farmers, hauliers, business people and politicians, along with a contingent of well-known anti-immigration influencers, who have since been spreading misinformation messages online.

READ NEXT: We are locking her down: Anger on show at Leitrim meeting ahead of national action

I was as naive as I was a child going into that room. I didn't realise what I was meeting, who was surprised at the rhetoric and attitude of the attendees.

When a farmer stands up and mentions something that isn't in line with the far right, it means that they'll get intimidated, he said, stressing that the term 'Far-right' is not perfect, and that it does not properly describe everyone who attended the meeting.

What I saw at that meeting was the beginning of us losing a struggle against the far right. It looks like they're going to take a space and they're not going to give up control over the over protest movement.
The County Leitrim Skydive For Life is reaching out for people to register and raise funds for suicide prevention.

The skydive will take place on 9th August 2026 or any other weekend that suits you subject to availability and voucher.

Ireland still has one of the highest reported rates of death by suicide in the European Union with young males under 21 being most at risk but children as young as 9 years old have died by suicide too.

"Our experience is that the actual rate is much higher, and almost no school or community in the country is untouched by losing someone to suicide," organisers said.

READ NEXT: Leitrim woman shortlisted for prestigious agricultural awards - Leitrim Live

"Skydiving is an amazing experience as you freefall through the clouds and see the stunning Irish countryside stretching away to the horizon. By raising sponsorship for your you will be helping Youth Suicide Prevention Ireland to fund our programmes for 2026 and beyond.

"Due to the huge increase in mental health issues since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic all funds raised from the County Leitrim Skydive For Life are going towards the Youth Crisis Counselling Service which will pay for fast, free, access to local counsellors and psychologists for young people in crisis or at immediate risk of suicide or self-harm."

All skydives take place at the Irish Parachute Club, Clonbullogue, Co Offaly.

The Minimum Fundraising Target for this event is 600 which includes all the cost of your skydive . There is no registration fee.

Joining this amazing challenge will help to raise at least 150,000 during 2026 to:

Fund 800 hours of crisis counselling

Fund 800 hours of crisis counselling Facilitate fast access to counselling services for families in crisis

Fund counselling support for schools with students in crisis

Fund counselling referrals from GPs with patients at risk of suicide.

"You can help us in our vital, life-saving work, and amaze yourself with one of the most thrilling experiences you can have, by joining County Leitrim Skydive For Life."

You can register via the link here.
What affects one country often has spillover effects across the region. Our goal is zero low sharing, but we depend on regional cooperation to stabilize supply until domestic capacity can meet demand, he said.
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ITS the end of an era in West Limerick as the last remaining staff at Wyeth in Askeaton clocked out for the final time.

The last day of March brought the curtain down on more than 50 years of milk formula production at the vast site, which over the years has employed thousands of people.

In October 2023, the local economy was rocked by the news of the closure of the factory, with Wyeths parent company Nestle blaming a slowdown in the demand for baby formula.

A move which cost more than 540 jobs locally, the firm announced it would shift production to two sites in China and Switzerland.

The vast majority of the positions were in production, but research staff also lost their jobs.

PICTURES: Local residents express strong opposition to modular homes in Limerick park

In a statement to Limerick Live, Nestle confirmed the end of work in Askeaton.

Since we announced the closure in October 2023, we have worked very closely with employees and provided access to a comprehensive support programme which included providing additional skills and expertise to further their careers outside of our Askeaton facility. Wyeth Nutritionals has a long and remarkable history in Askeaton, providing infant nutrition products for millions of children across the world. Our employees have played a significant role in continuously upholding the highest standards in infant nutrition production, a company spokesperson added.

The 40-acre site of the factory went on the market last year, with offers from 22m being accepted.

Former councillor and Mayor of Limerick Kevin Sheahan, who lives in Askeaton, says there is frequent speculation around the future of the site.

We are living in hope there will be an announcement made. I cannot see with half the children of the world hungry, that this place would close completely. I cannot see it happening, he said.

The wind-down of operations at Wyeth locally put a global spotlight on Askeaton.

The remaining large employer in the area, Rusal at Aughinish - employing over 500 locally - has been in the news for reasons related to the Russia-Ukraine war in recent weeks.

READ MORE: Shirley Valentine, One Night Only - Let loose for a night of love and laughter

Fine Gael Adare-Rathkeale councillor Adam Teskey said when the news filtered through of the closure of the Wyeth factory, he was immediately in contact with senior Government ministers pushing them to try and secure alternative employment in Askeaton.

Not one piece of correspondence have we got from central Government. I feel very let down by the party that I represent, I feel let down by the powers that be. This is a huge economic dent in our local economy and there will be repercussions, Cllr Teskey said.

This is a tale that will be remembered. Its the closing of an unforgettable chapter of a period which brought great employment to the area. It brought well-paid jobs. We think of the staff today, we think of the families who were fed and found as a result of Wyeth Nutritionals basing its plant in Askeaton, the councillor added.

For Mr Sheahan, Wyeths presence in the town brought a new lease of life, particularly to grass-roots groups.

The number of people from the surrounding area who benefitted from being employed there was huge. So many of them came from rural and farming communities. They have got sites at home, built houses, and become involved in voluntary organisations. They reactivated rural life in Askeaton, and it was marvelous. Its been a great employer and provided a clean industry, Mr Sheahan concluded.
LIMERICK CHAMBER has welcomed the High Courts decision to uphold the planning permission granted by An Coimisiun Pleanala for a 600-megawatt power plant in Ballylongford, Co Kerry.

Described as a landmark outcome by the Chamber, the ruling comes following a lengthy planning and regulatory process. They are now urging expediency on approving plans and bringing forward the long-awaited Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal infrastructure also.

The Chamber said this decision provides much needed clarity on the project, which has been subject to multiple objections and policy scrutiny over the course of several years due to environmental concerns. The upholding now marks a significant step forward for strategic energy infrastructure and storage along the Shannon Estuary.

Welcoming the decision, Chamber CEO, Donnacha Hurley said this follows what should have been a seamless process yet turned into a complex and protracted planning process that was bolstered by misalignment of Irish and EU policy.

READ NEXT: Limerick consultancy and two Shannon firms nominated for national awards

Mr Hurley said if Ireland is to get serious about tackling energy insecurity, then we need to ensure a much more efficient planning process for operators, adding that for the next stages of this project, there must be an urgent timeline.

Also commenting on the news was Sean Golden, Chief Economist and Director of Policy at Limerick Chamber, who noted that they have continually highlighted Irelands exposure to international energy shocks.

Latest figures suggest that Ireland imports almost 80% of its natural gas supply from a single source in Moffat Scotland. It is estimated that our imports of gas will increase to 90% by 2030, he said, while adding that relying on a single source for supply, as well as the lack of diversity, puts the country at a serious disadvantage.

Mr Golden said diversity of supply is one way to mitigate against this issue, along with Liquefied Natural Gas and the opening up of new markets.

Given the international landscape today it is easy to see how lack of energy diversity can quickly become a national security issue. The EU-wide taxonomy classification highlights Liquefied Natural Gas as a transitional fuel that will allow countries to move away from more emissions heavy fossil fuels as we transition to renewable energy at a greater scale- this High Court decision marks a significant step in Ireland aligning with EU Policy, Mr Golden concluded.

The Chamber also highlighted that this decision will help to bolster the countrys energy security.
A YOUNG MAN who gave his brothers name when asked for his identity by gardai has been brought before the courts.

Michael Moloney, 21, with a home address at the Drive, Cappahard, Ennis, Clare was stopped by gardai while driving on the Roxboro Road in Limerick city on February 27, 2026 at 12.55am.

Limerick District Court heard that when his vehicle was flagged down, Mr Moloney was searched, and a Stanley knife was found in the pocket of his tracksuit.

The man was then arrested and conveyed to Roxboro Garda Station.

When the garda asked for Mr. Moloneys name, the man gave his brothers name, which he admitted to gardai on March 5.

READ MORE: Limerick motorists face delays on main routes amid nationwide fuel price protests

Judge Patricia Harney said: Id say his brother was less than charmed by that.

Prosecuting Inspector Denis Waters detailed that Mr Moloney has no previous convictions.

Solicitor John Herbert said that Mr Moloney had been working. He got the knife there, I'm satisfied. The solicitor further stated in mitigation that Mr Moloney is a young man, has no previous convictions, and is also not working at the moment.

The judge put the case back to June for a pre-sanctioned probation report to be prepared for Mr Moloney.

Mr Herbert was then assigned legal aid by Judge Harney for representing Mr Moloney.

-Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
LIMERICK HURLERS, Kyle Hayes and Darragh ODonovan had the absolute honour of supporting over 100 volunteers with their Bunda Brothers food business earlier this week.

The hurlers - photographed outside their food truck - said: Were beyond grateful to have been trusted to play our part in something so special. Feeling truly appreciated and proud to represent Bunda Brothers on a project that means so much.

The work was part of DIY SOS - an RTE reality programme that centres around volunteers and local tradespeople coming together to help retrofit a house.

The group of volunteers - fed by Bunda Brothers - banded together and worked tirelessly to make a young child's home more accessible.

Carter Purcell - who is cared for by his family in Corbally - will be featured on RTE once the show airs.

READ MORE: Limerick motorists face delays on main routes amid nationwide fuel price protests

The production company, Indie Pics, said: "The Bunda Brothers generously provided lunch during the week, bringing their truck on site to feed the hungry hordes. Lots of other local business have contributed too."

"Local businesses have very kindly provided meals on set for the hundreds of volunteers over the duration of the build - breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thats their contribution to the voluntary effort and its greatly appreciated."

On Instagram, the Bunda Brothers said: While we werent on the tools, it meant a lot to play our part by keeping everyone fed and going strong throughout the long days. The atmosphere, the community spirit, the kindness its something well never forget.

DIY SOS began recruiting for tradespeople in Limerick on February 26, at the Parish Hall, St. Nicholas Church.

DIY SOS confirmed that they are working towards an Autumn transmission on RTE One and RTE Player.

The team of tradespeople and volunteers was led by Baz Ashwany, who may be familiar with viewers of How to Kill your Mammy.
MAYOR John Moran has said housing is the number one priority as he outlined plans for council to indirectly rent homes using a model common in central Europe.

The executive mayor has allocated 6.4m of his annual devolved funding to housing across Limerick city and county.

And 1m of this is dedicated to the so-called Vienna Model of housing.

Named after the Austrian capital, this is a system where the State actively provides and regulates housing to keep it affordable, high-quality and widely accessible, with the income generated from rents delivering more houses.

READ MORE: 'City alive with energy': Riverfest 2026 promises four days of family fun in Limerick

As a local authority, Limerick City and County Council is not permitted to run such a scheme - but one of its arms length companies can do.

Mayor Moran has identified the councils development firm Limerick Twenty Thirty to deliver this.

If good accommodation becomes available that we can buy, instead of using it for social housing, this year we are running a pilot project which we term Vienna Housing, where we will use Limerick Twenty Thirty to acquire these buildings, get them ready for rental and rent them in the open market, he explained.

As we would be in charge of the allocations and the terms, we can essentially make our own rules to protect tenants around tenure, he added.

The 1m he has put into Vienna Housing, the mayor hopes, will act as seed capital to allow Limerick Twenty Thirty to borrow more money and be able to supply more homes in the coming years.

READ MORE: Shirley Valentine, One Night Only - Let loose for a night of love and laughter

He said council has already bought and renovated derelict properties in Abbeyfeale - which he has designated as a Town of the Future - and is now planning to sell them onto Limerick Twenty Thirty to allow them to be used for rental, as a Vienna Model pilot.

Mayor Moran said its his goal for 2026 to have a number of pilots under the Vienna Model in place.

He did admit that its been something of a hard sell to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Its a new innovation for the department. Its fair to say they are struggling with understanding why we are doing this, rather than putting houses on the open market. But what I want to do is find a solution so that we can control the rental of those properties, rather than relying on landlords, who may not be from Abbeyfeale, or may have a desire in a couple of years time to sell on a property and put those people into a tailspin not knowing where they will live, he said.

In his funding allocations for this year, the mayor is planning to spend 1.4m on his flagship smart housing, using modular units to develop temporary homes on council-owned land.

The majority, 3.9m, is being spent on purchasing a tract of land in Patrickswell, which will be used to facilitate housing.

He said a large amount of the remainder of his 14m expenditure for the year is driven by housing provision.

A lot of the other measures are about making the places people live more liveable, or having different amenities or transport-orientated development, he said.

Some 350,000 is being dedicated to greening Georgian Limerick - plus a carry over from last year of 60,397.

A total of 150,000 is down for public realm works in Nicholas Street.

Elsewhere, a park is being developed on the site of the former Longpavement Dump on the citys northside, a move which will see spend of more than half a million euro.
COUNCIL bosses have rejected a plea to designate some houses in a local authority development at Patrickswell as affordable so people who otherwise wouldnt qualify for a mortgage can avail of one.

At this months metropolitan district meeting, Fine Gaels Dan McSweeney said some of a development of 24 homes at Barnakyle in the village should have the designation.

Affordable homes in Ireland are ones delivered by the local authority or the State and sold at a reduced price compared to the open market.

They are designed for people who wouldnt quality for social housing, and who dont earn enough to get a mortgage.

READ MORE: Limerick TY student overwhelmed with local support on his new hurling business start up

The homes, which will be in a mix of two, three and four bedrooms, are set to be made available to people wishing to downsize.

As well as this, some will be allocated to tenants renting privately who have some or all or their rent paid from public money through the Housing Assistance Payment or Rental Allowance Scheme.

Crucially, however, none will be made available for affordable purchase, according to councils senior housing officer Sarah Newell.

In a written reply to a motion from Cllr McSweeney, she stated: The affordable housing team has carried out an examination to determine if this scheme is viable for some units to be made available for affordable purchase. At this time, the scheme does not meet the eligibility criteria for the affordable housing fund.

Ms Newell said further development opportunities are being looked at in Patrickswell for affordable homes.

Cllr McSweeney has urged the councils manager in the metropolitan district Kieran Lehane to re-examine things.

He said: Im pleading with the council to go back to he drawing board and make the scheme eligible for some units to be made available under affordable purchase.
Some research has stoked fear among workers that, if their jobs arent replaced, work will become more demanding and intense. One study looking at a sample of workers showed that AI adoption, rather than freeing workers to focus on the more creative aspects of their jobs, led them to double the time they spent on things like email and business-management tools. Time spent on focused, concentrated work fell.
Nehal Chaliawala

Nehal chronicles Indias top conglomerates for Mint. From navigating the complexities of big-bang mergers and large-scale fundraises to decoding high-profile recruitments and seemingly inexplicable corporate pivots, Nehal focuses on unpacking the long-term strategies of the countrys most influential business houses. He aims to provide readers with a clear-eyed view of how these corporate titans shape the broader Indian economy.<br><br>His professional journey began at The Economic Times in 2018, where he spent over five years before joining Mint in 2023. Over his career, he has tracked diverse sectors like automobiles, metals, cement, power, infrastructure, and renewable energy. He also keeps a close watch on the intricacies of corporate finance and corporate governance. This wide-ranging sectoral experience allows him to better understand Indias large conglomerates that sit at the confluence of these vital industries.<br><br>Nehal studied mechanical engineering from the Pune University and graduated with distinction in 2017. Driven by a passion for storytelling, he pivoted to journalism immediately after, attending the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai. While his time in the newsroom has made him a healthy sceptic, his engineering roots keep him perpetually inquisitive about how things workand why they fail.<br><br>He actively encourages readers to reach out for feedback, collaboration, or news tips. Nehal can be reached via LinkedIn or directly at nehal.chaliawala@livemint.com.
Varuni Khosla

Varuni Khosla is a journalist with Mint, where she covers the consumer economy with a focus on hospitality and tourism, luxury, the business of sports, art, and the alcohol and food and beverage industries. Based in New Delhi, she reports on how brands and cultural sectors grow, shape consumer demand and compete in one of the worlds fastest-evolving markets.<br><br>Varuni has been a journalist since 2009 and brings more than 17 years of experience reporting on Indias business landscape. She specialises in covering the industries shaping Indias consumption economy, and is widely recognised as a key voice in these areas.<br><br>Over the years, she has closely tracked the rise of Indias luxury and hospitality sectors, the transformation of advertising and marketing as brands respond to digital platforms and changing audiences, and the economics of sport, from sponsorships and leagues to the expanding commercial ecosystems around teams, athletes and media rights. Her reporting on the business of art explores the growing global market for South Asian art and the role of collectors, galleries and auction houses.<br><br>Her stories frequently draw on exclusive conversations with founders, executives and industry leaders, combining market data with on-the-ground reporting to offer readers insight into the companies and trends shaping Indias evolving consumption economy.
Agnidev Bhattacharya

Agnidev is a business journalist with over two years of reporting experience tracking the intersection of capital, policy, and corporate strategy in India.<br><br>He joined Mint in December 2025, after a stint at NDTV Profit (erstwhile BQ Prime). At Mint, Agnidev focuses on the high-stakes world of the Indian capital market, specialising in mergers and acquisitions, burgeoning IPOs, and the investment banking industry.<br><br>Backed by a rigorous, data-driven approach, Agnidev frequently breaks news on the valuation cycles, deal pipelines and listing strategies of Indias most prominent companies. His reportage offers deep dives into the operational health of market leaders across the corporate landscape, providing readers with a clear-eyed view of institutional growth.<br><br>He has reported on major issues like India's derivatives frenzy, IPO froth, the competitive quick commerce industry, the real-money gaming ban, and has broken investigative stories related to scandals such as IndusInd Bank's accounting manipulation and the Gensol-BluSmart fiasco.<br><br>As a reporter, he brings stories that ultimately affect your stock market investments, and tries to bring clarity and brevity in a field that is often filled with jargon and noise.
Elon Musk has launched a fresh new attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and is now looking to get the OpenAI co-founder removed from his role at the company. The billionaire noted in a court filing on Tuesday that the goal of his lawsuit is to unwind OpenAIs for-profit conversion and restructuring. Musk says this would require the removal of Altman and OpenAI President Greg Brockman from their leadership positions at the AI startup.

Musk also went on to note via his lawyer that OpenAI's status as a non-profit research organisation be restored.

Notably, Musk is suing OpenAI and its principal backer Microsoft over allegations that the AI startup that he helped co-found has strayed away from its original mission of developing AI for the benefit of humanity and has instead defrauded him by seeking to convert it into a for-profit entity.

Musk amends his lawsuit: Musk has previously indicated in his lawsuit that he is looking to get up to $134 billion in damages from OpenAI and Microsoft. However, the billionaire amended his lawsuit on Tuesday to note that he is not seeking a single dollar for himself but has instead requested the court to award any potential damages he might win to OpenAI's non-profit arm.

Musk is also asking that Altman and Brockman turn over any equity or other benefits to the charitable arm.

Also Read | Anthropic blocks the release of its most powerful AI model yet

Musk's lawyer, Marc Toberoff, was quoted by The Wall Street Journal as saying, He is asking the court to return everything that was taken from a public charityand to make sure the people responsible are never in a position to do this again,

That was the essence of his complaint from the outset of this case, until OpenAIs spin doctors got to work distorting it. This filing sets the record straight, he added.

Also Read | AI roles surge across Indias top IT firms as automation reshapes growth

The amended filing by Musk comes just a day after OpenAI's Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon requested the attorneys general of California and Delaware to investigate Musk for potential improper and anti-competitive behaviour, Bloomberg reported.

OpenAI reacts to Musk's amended lawsuit: OpenAI strongly reacted to the amended lawsuit by Musk, noting, Today, at the eleventh hour, Elon lodged a court filing pretending to change his tune about attacking the nonprofit OpenAI Foundation.
Varun Sood

Varun Sood has been a business journalist writing on corporate affairs for the past 17 years. He currently oversees corporate coverage, including information technology (IT) services, aviation, auto, metals and mining, and conglomerates at Mint. He started as a reporter at Business Standard in 2005, after a short internship at the Economic and Political Weekly. Having worked across newsrooms in Delhi and Mumbai, including at DNA, the Financial Times, and the Economic Times, he is now based in Bengaluru. He is most proud of his work over the last decade at Mint, including writing about the rise and fall of some CEOs at Infosys, TCS, Cognizant, and Wipro. His first book, Azim Premji: The Man Beyond the Billions, was published by HarperCollins in October 2020. These days, he is spending more time reading annual reports and analysts' transcripts. Varuns two pet peeves are access journalism and the dying art of interviews with business leaders. If you think there is something wrong inside your company or there are problems with corporate governance that you'd like to highlight, email him at varun.sood@livemint.com.
The power ministry informed the parliamentary panel that an increase in electricity demand on account of rapid growth of AI and other large-scale data centres and other emerging loads is being ascertained under the 21st Electric Power Survey Exercise. The increase in demand will be considered in the National Electricity Plan for the period from FY28 to FY37, which is expected to be released by March 2027, the ministry said.
Global jet fuel markets are unlikely to stabilise quickly despite a tentative reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, with the head of the International Air Transport Association warning that supply disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict will take monthsnot weeksto resolve.

Jet fuel supply disruption: Why recovery will take months despite Hormuz reopening Even as the US-Iran ceasefire raises hopes of restored oil flows, the deeper damage lies in refining capacity across the region.

It will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East, said Willie Walsh, director general of IATA.

He added: I don't think it's going to happen in weeks, underscoring the prolonged nature of the recovery.

Strait of Hormuz reopening impact: Why crude flows wont fix jet fuel shortage immediately Oil prices fell sharply after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the temporary reopening of the strait.

Also Read | Iran war: Centre opens talks with states on jet fuel tax cuts amid cost surge

However, analysts caution that the resumption of crude flows does not immediately resolve downstream constraints.

Even if you have the flow of crude start again, if you've had disruptions in refining capacity, then the problem continues for some time, Walsh said.

Airfares set to rise: How jet fuel prices will impact airline tickets globally Jet fuel, the second-largest expense for airlines after labour, typically accounts for roughly 27% of operating costs.

With prices more than doubling during the conflictoutpacing the rise in crude oilairlines are expected to pass on higher costs to passengers.

It's inevitable, Walsh said.

Airlines adjust routes and capacity as Middle East conflict disrupts aviation network

The war has reshaped global aviation flows, with airlines rerouting flights, carrying extra fuel, and reducing services through affected regions.

While some international carriers have absorbed displaced demand, capacity gaps remain significant.

There's no way they can replace the capacity that was provided by the Gulf carriers, Walsh said.

Global aviation recovery outlook: Why this crisis differs from COVID-19 shock Industry leaders stress that the current disruption in jet fuel supply, while severe, is not comparable to the pandemic.

This is not similar to COVID. This is not a crisis anywhere close to what we experienced (in COVID), Walsh said.

Drawing historical comparisons, he added: Post-9/11, the recovery took about four months. In 2008-2009 it was probably 10 to 12 months.

Refining capacity crunch: How India, Nigeria and Asia could ease jet fuel shortage

Refineries outside the Middle East may help stabilise supply over time, particularly in India and Nigeria.

There is (refining) capacity available once we get the crude oil flowing, but it'll take a little bit of time, Walsh said.

Jet fuel crisis outlook: When will global supply and prices stabilise? While the ceasefire offers a pathway to recovery, the aviation sector faces a delayed rebound due to structural supply constraints.

For airlines and travellers, the effects of the conflict-higher fares, limited capacity and volatile pricingare likely to persist well beyond the immediate crisis.

(With agency inputs)
Global oil prices fell around 14% on Wednesday morning, with both Brent and WTI trading below $100 per barrel after the US, Israel and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

At 7:55 AM, the June contract of Brent was trading at $95.17 per barrel, lower by 12.90% from its previous close, while the May contract of West Texas Intermediate fell 14.64% to $96.41 a barrel.

The steep correction follows weeks of elevated prices after the Strait of Hormuz was blocked at the start of the war, disrupting nearly 20% of global oil and gas trade.

Trump softens US president Donald Trump on Tuesday softened his stance and announced to deescalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he had set for Iran to comply and open up the strait of Hormuz or face a major escalation.

Describing the ceasefire as a "double-sided ceasefire", in a social media post, Trump said that he had come to the decision based on conversations with Pakistan prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and army chief General Asim Munir.

In a post on his social media site, Trump said that he would suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks provided Tehran agreed to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING" of the strait.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said.

He also said that Iran has proposed a workable 10-point peace plan that could help end the war.

Tehran responds Meanwhile, Irans Supreme National Security Council also said that it has accepted a two-week ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the US in Islamabad starting Friday.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the Strait of Hormuzwhich has been blocked since the start of the warwould be allowed for the next two weeks under Iranian military management.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi said in a statement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council.

Energy relief The ceasefire announcement and the plan to reopen the strait for two weeks comes as a relief to global energy markets, given that the channel traditionally carries about 20% of global oil and gas trade.

Around half of Indias crude oil imports used to come from West Asia through this strait before the start of the war. The closure had triggered major supply concerns globally and in India.

Also Read | Indias data centre electricity demand makes planners go back to drawing board

Given that India imports about 90% of its oil requirement, any surge in crude prices directly impacts its import bill and macroeconomic indicators.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed regret on Wednesday over his controversial statement calling the people of Gujarat illiterate. In a post on X, Kharge said he has always had and will continue to have the highest (of) respect for the people of the state.

The Congress president said, "Some remarks of mine in a recent election speech in Kerala are being deliberately misinterpreted. Even so, I express my sincere regret.

It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat for whom I have always had and will continue to have the highest of respect.

What did Kharge say that triggered the row? Mallikarjun Kharge sparked controversy during his assembly poll campaign in Kerala on Sunday, calling the people of Gujarat "illiterate" and claiming they were being "fooled" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

At the same time, Kharge said neither Modi nor Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan could fool the people of Kerala, describing them as very clever and educated.

In a viral video from the poll rally, Khrage could be heard saying, Don't misguide the people of Kerala. They are very clever and educated. Modiji, Vijayan, you both can fool people who are illiterate in Gujarat or other places, but you cannot fool the people of Kerala.

He made the remark while alleging that both PM Modi and Vijayan were following the same path, with no difference between them except the parties they lead, news agency PTI reported.

BJP demands apology On Tuesday, the BJP demanded an apology from Kharge for his remarks, calling them shameless, demeaning and utterly despicable.

Addressing a press conference, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad asked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to clarify whether they agreed with Kharge's statement.

Protests in Delhi Members of the Gujarati community reportedly held a protest outside the Congress office in Delhi on Wednesday, alleging that the party's national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, insulted them.

Protesters raised slogans such as "Apmaan ki rajneeti band karo" (stop the politics of insult) and "Gujarat jaag chuka hai" (Gujarat has woken up), and expressed anger over alleged derogatory comments against the community, PTI reported.

A participant, MP Mitesh Patel from Anand, said Gujaratis have gathered in Delhi following appeals from community groups.

Citing contributions of leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, he asserted that Gujarat has played a key role in the country's history and development.

The protesters said demonstrations were being held across the country and warned that the agitation would continue until Kharge and other Congress leaders issued an apology.

There was no immediate response from Congress on the protest.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Election Commission of India (ECI) engaged in a war of words on Wednesday after the poll body claimed to have given an ultimatum to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's party ahead of the assembly polls.

The TMC issued a strong response after the Election Commission wrote on X, ECI's Straight-talk to Trinamool Congress: This time, the Elections in West Bengal would surely be: Fear-free, Violence-free, Intimidation-free, Inducement-free and without any Raid, Booth Jamming and Source Jamming.

Also Read | Assembly Election 2026 Live: Mamata Banerjee files nomination

Along with the post, the Election Commission posted an image of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, with Election Commissioners SS Sandhu and Vivek Joshi.

In its response on X, the TMC edited this photo of the Election Commission, replacing Election Commission of India with BJP Election Cell.

TMC fires back The TMC wrote: We are also speaking to the Election Commission in a straightforward manner.

This time, the elections must be: Free from Delhi's control, Free from political bias, Free from targeted persecution of anyone, And certainly free from double standards, Mamata Banerjee's party posted on X while alleging a collusion between the BJP and the poll body.

The statements came after the Election Commission held a meeting with a TMC delegation ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Elections.

EC telling lies TMC spokesperson Saket Gokhale took to X to deny the Election Commission's claim about its ultimatum to the TMC.

He said, "This is a LIE. I was personally present at the meeting. NOTHING like this was said. All that CEC Gyanesh Kumar said to us was GET LOST.

We challenge the ECI to release a transcript of the meeting. Else we will do it, Saket Gokhale posted on X.

Meanwhile, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal, in a post on 'X', criticised the Election Commssion for its post and said, Now there's no need to even say that the Election Commission is working under BJP and taking direct instructions from BJP.

This is now out in the open and extremely unfortunate. At the very least, by tweeting in such language, don't publicly tarnish the reputation of such an important institution, he said.

Earlier in the day, a meeting between a TMC delegation and the ECI turned tense, with TMC MP Derek O'Brien alleging that the Chief Election Commissioner asked them to leave within five minutes.

According to ANI, he also challenged the Commission to release video or audio of the meeting.

In the letter, the party flagged concerns over the "neutrality, fairness, and transparency" of the electoral process, asserting that recent developments point to a disturbing erosion of institutional impartiality.

It emphasised that the credibility of elections depends fundamentally on the independence of officials entrusted with conducting them.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified his position on beef consumption, saying he is not seeking to ban it but wants it restricted to private spaces. The clarification comes a day before the assembly poll for all 126 seats of Assam, which is being held on Thursday.

There is a big Muslim community in Assam who consume beef. I am not stopping this. I am only saying, eat it inside your home. Dont eat it in a public space, he told reporters as reported by India Today.

The remarks come days after Sarma continued attacks on Assam Jatiya Parishad's (AJP) Central Guwahati candidate Kunki Choudhury and her mother Sujata Gurung Choudhury for their alleged consumption of beef.

We don't support the beef-eating culture in Assam. We have a cattle preservation act in Assam, and according to the law, if anyone violates the law, they will be jailed for three years, Sarma had said recently.

He also threatened legal action. I am not going to spare those who eat cow meat. As per law, I am going to file an FIR against them, he added.

Chowdhury, who is making her electoral debut, has repeatedly denied the claims, calling them fake and politically motivated. She has also filed a police complaint alleging the circulation of AI-generated deepfake videos targeting her and her family.

Sarma's latest clarification emphasised that beef consumption should take place at home, not in public spaces, and, as per law, not within a 5-km radius of any temple.

As per the Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, private consumption of beef is not prohibited, but bans its sale and consumption in public places, including restaurants, and within a 5-km radius of temples and sattras (traditional Vaishnavite monasteries in Assam).

Also Read | What matters most for Assam voters? Five issues that could decide Election 2026

Sarma also said that some people have shifted to consuming buffalo meat instead of beef, and said his appeal was directed at Hindus rather than Muslims.

The 126 seats of Assam will vote on 9 April. The campaigning ended on Tuesday evening. The 9 April election in Assam is primarily a fight between the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress.

In 2021, the election saw the incumbent BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retain power with 75 seats, marking the first time a non-Congress alliance won consecutive terms in the state.

Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav took a swipe at the BJP leader. Remove BJP, Save Mother Cow! the former Assam chief minister said in a post on X.

Sarma's earlier stand on beef In 2024, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government had decided to stop serving beef in hotels, restaurants and public places in the state.

Sarma said that beef would not be served in any hotel or restaurant, or at any public function or public place.

In Assam, we have decided that beef will not be served in any restaurant or hotel, and also it will not be served in any public function or public place; so from today, we have completely decided to stop the consumption of beef in hotels, restaurants and public places, ANI quoted Sarma as saying.

(With agency inputs)
New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The announcement of a ceasefire, between the US and Iran, along with the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, will provide immediate relief to exporters by easing shipping disruptions, FIEO said on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of military strikes against Iran.

Iran agreed to allow safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire, triggering sweeping market moves across oil, equities and currencies.

"The ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz bring immediate relief to exporters by easing shipping disruptions, high freight rates, and insurance costs," Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan said.

He said while this should help normalise logistics in the short term, exporters will remain cautious given the temporary nature of the truce.

"Sustained stability is essential for restoring confidence and ensuring smooth trade flows," Ralhan added.

The ceasefire announcement is important as the middle east region is a key export destination for Indian exporters.

The conflict has posed challenges for exporters to ship goods to the Gulf region, with which India had a bilateral trade of USD 178 billion in 2024-25 (USD 56.87 billion exports and USD 121.67 billion imports).

The joint attack launched by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28 has severely disrupted the movement of ships in international waters.

Air freight rates too have jumped manifold. The war has also led to an increase in insurance premiums, impacting the profit margins of exporters.

Besides, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, through which about one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass, has led to shortages of oil and gas in several parts of the world, including Asia.

The government has rolled out a host of measures to cushion exporters from the impact of the conflict in the Gulf region, a key market for India's exports such as gems and jewellery, rice and pharma, which were valued at about USD 57 billion in 2024-25.

The major sectors which are under stress include petroleum products, chemicals and plastics, engineering goods, rice, pharma and gems and jewellery.

The six countries in this region are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
2. Iran will continue to control the Strait of Hormuz

This would be a big concession by the U.S., one that would give Iran an important new source of revenue and leverage. Iran, which has effectively shut the waterway, will supervise traffic during the cease-fire and hopes to establish a system of tolls. For Americas Arab Gulf allies, it is a nightmare scenario. U.S. officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio have said it would be unacceptable for Iran to hold sway over the waterway, transit point for a fifth of world oil supplies, but it may be a fait accompli. Iran has control now, wants it to continue and can maintain it with only occasional strikes on shipping.
Between her arriving at the departures hall and taking off, air-raid sirens sounded five times, she said. The first two times, she and dozens of other passengers were lining up by the gate when they were told by staff to hurry to a nearby stairwell. After that they were allowed to board, only to be suddenly evacuated and shuffled into what she described as a maintenance room in the terminal.
Officials also said Snapchat relied on age self-declaration that didnt effectively prevent children under the age of 13 from accessing its platform. The company said its platform was designed with privacy and safety built in from the start and that it would work closely with the commission throughout the investigation.
To be sure, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has sustained heavy losses, including much of its leadership, and the two-week cease-fire doesnt necessarily mean an end to fighting. Officials in the Middle East believe there is a significant chance that war will flare up againpossibly with even greater intensity. The regions future is slated for discussion by the U.S. and Iran at talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday.
Much of the selling for the first quarter began before the U.S. and Israel began bombing Iran on Feb. 28, when markets enjoyed ample crude supplies and oil prices lingered around $60 a barrel. Few in the industry could have predicted the U.S.-Israel bombing of Iran, and that the same barrels would fetch nearly $120 just a few weeks later.
Mumbai: The Reserve Bank of India (RB) on Wednesday proposed two measures aimed at easing banks capital requirements by allowing quarterly profits to be added to the calculation of capital adequacy levels and doing away with the mandate to maintain an investment fluctuation reserve (IFR).

Currently, banks are permitted to include their quarterly profits in the computation of their capital to risk-weighted assets ratio (CRAR). However, this is subject to incremental provisions for non-performing assets (NPAs) at the end of any of the four quarters of the previous financial year, provided they have not deviated by more than 25% from the average of the four quarters.

On a review, it is proposed to dispense with this condition, RBI governor Sanjay Malhotra announced on Wesnesday as part of the statement on developmental and regulatory policies released alongside the monetary policy statement on Wednesday. The move comes amid a benign credit cycle, with banks reporting decadal low NPAs.

At present, banks do not include quarterly profits in their statutory capital reporting if there is high volatility in NPA provisioning in earlier quarters. With the proposed delinking, banks will be able to include these profits, said Sachin Sachdeva, vice president and sector head - financial sector ratings, Icra. Tier I capital ratios tend to decline steadily over interim quarters due to growth-led capital consumption; this trend is likely to change into a more stable capital trajectory with the inclusion of quarterly profits, he said.

The monetary policy committee kept rates unchanged at 5.25% while maintaining a neutral stance, citing geopolitical uncertainty and higher upside risks to inflation from the West Asia war.

Also Read | RBI holds key policy rate at 5.25%

As per the draft circular issued later in the evening, banks can include quarterly profits in the computation of their common equity tier 1 (CET1) capital, subject to a new formula which accounts for a banks cumulative profit or loss accumulated over each quarter of a financial year, as well as the average dividend paid by the bank during the last three financial years.

Dispensing investment fluctuation reserve At the post-policy conference, the RBI chief said that banks have been requesting relief, which is expected to ease access to capital amid unfavourable market conditions. NBFCs already had some of the provisions. So, it was time that we aligned it, Malhotra said, adding that it does not change the calculation of net profit but changes the way capital adequacy is measured. It is a better reflection of the capital that the banks have.

This proposal gives considerable flexibility to banks to internal plough back, State Bank of India group chief economic adviser Soumya Kanti Ghosh said in a note.

The central bank on Wednesday also proposed eliminating the requirement for banks to maintain an investment fluctuation reserve as an additional buffer against depreciation in the value of their investments, subject to mark-to-market (MTM) requirements.

Also Read | India needs to keep constant vigil on external developments, says RBI governor

In his statement, the RBI governor said banks already maintain a capital charge for market risk and also follow revised norms on classification, valuation and the operation of investment portfolios, which have warranted a review of the need for such a reserve. This will help enhance regulatory clarity and consistency, he said.

Opening up of the IFR corpus could free up around 35,000-40,000 crore for banks, SBIs Ghosh said, adding that this corpus can be used optimally and judiciously by banks between CET-1 and P&L (profit and loss) account even when yields have moved substantially up during the last quarter.

Suresh Ganpathy, analyst at Macquarie Research, was more optimistic, pegging the impact of the IFR reversal at 20-30bps for most banks. However, we believe banks are unlikely to reverse and may stop making incremental IFR every year. Banks, anyway, today have excess capital, he said in a note. As per the research firm, IFR for most large private and PSU banks is around 0.1-0.8% of their risk-weighted assets.

In a later draft, the RBI proposed dispensing with the IFR requirement for bank categories, maintaining a capital charge for market risk, and asked banks to instead follow the revised norms on classification, valuation, and the operation of investment portfolios. It proposed letting banks meet IFR requirements on balance sheet dates instead of continuously, and plans to harmonize IFR instructions across bank categories to remove inconsistencies and improve clarity.

Feedback on IFR The RBI has sought feedback on both the draft circulars by 29 April.

With regard to the investment fluctuation reserve, there has been a checkered history. It was there, then it was withdrawn, and then again brought in. This is something which is not there in any other jurisdiction, and there was a lack of clarity, governor Malhotra said in the post-policy conference.

Also Read | Status quo on repo rate to continue as RBI gauges impact of oil shock

Malhotra explained that the reserve originally allowed banks to spread investment losses, but the RBI now favours mark-to-market pricing to reflect a bank's correct position. If they price it as per the market, then the very need of this fluctuation reserve goes away completely.

Deputy governor Swaminathan J. said that while initially thought to be essential, the reserve was introduced as a below the line appropriation item out of the profits generated from the sale of investments in a financial year. However, since then, a revamp of the capital adequacy guidelines and new norms on the valuation and disclosure of the investment book have deemed the IFR no longer relevant.
Jas Bardia

Jas Bardia is a Bengaluru-based business journalist covering Indias information technology (IT) services sector and Global Capability Centres (GCCs). Known for his investigative depth and attention to detail, Jas has a knack for breaking stories on leadership shifts, high-stakes deals, and evolving industry trends long before they hit the mainstream. If the news is anything IT-related, chances are this author has broken it. Before joining Mint in November 2023, Jas honed his financial reporting skills at Bloomberg News in Mumbai, where he covered bonds and currencies following his graduation from the Asian College of Journalism. When he isnt chasing his next exclusive, Jas is likely scouting the citys newest culinary spots, cool events, or is immersed in the electric atmosphere of a Bengaluru FC match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Jas has an eye for detail, an ear for history, and a weakness for a great cologne, and values a good conversation as much as a good lead. If you want to talk about your favourite war movie, funny drunk stories, or a supposed scam/wrongdoing in a company, get in touch with him at jas.bardia@livemint.com.
Abhishek Law

Abhishek Law has spent 18 years in journalism, which in news industry terms means he has survived several newsroom restructurings, countless urgent press releases, and more cups of tea than he can reasonably count. Based in New Delhi, he covers aviation for Mint, a sector where aircraft, oil prices, geopolitics and airline CEOs regularly conspire to make his life interesting.<br><br>Most of his time gets occupied by translating airline jargon like ASKs, yields, load factors and fleet strategies into language that doesnt require a pilots licence. His motto is simple: if readers need a glossary, he hasnt done his job properly.<br><br>On most days, the quadragenarian is tracking airline strategies, policy changes and the occasional mid-air disruption that suddenly become a stock market story. When planes are behaving themselves (which is not very often nowadays), he strays into other corporate beats like steel, trying to figure out whats really happening.<br><br>He loves to talk, especially askthat one more question which people are uncomfortable with, and saving contacts in his phone as a "Source who may or may not pick up calls. <br><br>But, on a serious note, the goal remains simple: cut through jargon, find that additional detail, and turn complicated business stories into something one can actually enjoy reading.
Crude oil prices crashed after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal. As a part of the deal, Iran agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, allowing safe passage of ships.

Brent crude oil price slipped 15.19% to $92.67 a barrel, while the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures plunged 15.02% to $96.03 a barrel.

Safe passage through the strait will be possible via coordination with Irans armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post on X.

US President Donald Trump announced he would hold off on his threat of attacks on Iran, while the ceasefire would be subject to Iran reopening the waterway, and will allow an agreement to be finalized and consummated.

I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. The decision to hold off on attacking Iran is subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.

The Strait of Hormuz transits about a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas. The near-closure of the Strait due to the US-Iran war has roiled energy markets, with WTI still up about 40% since the conflict started at the end of February.

The curtailment of shipments is expected to leave more than 9 million barrels a day of oil output from key Middle Eastern producers shut in during April, according to a Bloomberg repot citing US government estimates.

Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire deal, says it extends to Israel and Hezbollah fighting in Lebanon.
Silver rate today: Silver prices surged on Wednesday, April 8, riding a broad rally in precious metals after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire to push forward negotiations aimed at ending a conflict that had rattled global markets. Meanwhile, the white metal was also reacting to a sharp fall in the U.S. dollar, which made dollar-priced metals more attractive.

Silver rate on MCX jumps 6% or over 13,000 to 2,44,770 per kg while MCX Gold price adds 2.4% or over 3600 to 1,53,944 per 10 grams.

Meanwhile, in the international markets, Spot silver rose 4.9% to $76.48 per ounce, making it one of the strongest movers in the metals pack. Gold also moved sharply higher. Spot gold climbed 2.3% to $4,812.49 per ounce by 0215 GMT, after rising more than 3% earlier in the session to hit its highest level since March 19. Meanwhile, U.S. gold futures for June delivery advanced 3.4% to $4,841.60.

Among other metals, Platinum rose 3.2% to $2,020.57 per ounce, while palladium climbed 4.1% to $1,529.35.

Silver, Gold: Why are the prices rising? The biggest trigger was the sudden geopolitical shift.

Markets had been on edge over the war and the possibility of a deeper disruption in the Middle East. But sentiment improved after U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington had agreed to pause attacks for two weeks, giving diplomacy a chance. Iran, in turn, reportedly sent a 10-point proposal that Trump described as a workable starting point for negotiations.

Another major reason behind the rally was the fall in the U.S. dollar.

The U.S. dollar index slipped to 98.943, its lowest level since March 11, and extended losses for a third straight session. A weaker dollar tends to support precious metals because they become cheaper for buyers holding other currencies. That often boosts demand globally.

This time, the currency move was significant. The euro, yen, Australian dollar and New Zealand dollar all strengthened in Asian trade, adding to pressure on the greenback and helping precious metals move higher.

Moreover, the ceasefire announcement also calmed fears around one of the markets biggest flashpoints: the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route. Trump said the reopening of the strait was one of the key conditions tied to the pause, while Iran signalled that safe passage was possible for the next two weeks.

Also Read | Robert Kiyosaki predicts a market crash in 2026. This is his advice to investors

That development triggered a sharp reversal in oil.

West Texas Intermediate crude tumbled as much as 19%, while broader oil prices dropped below $100 per barrel, as traders began pricing in lower immediate supply risk. Falling oil prices also helped improve the overall market mood while weakening the dollar.
Srushti Vaidya

Srushti is a markets reporter at Mint. She writes on equity markets, and her areas of coverage range from brokers and exchanges to mutual funds and the fast-evolving alternatives space, including GIFT City, from the financial capital of India. She has an experience of over three years in journalism, and has previously worked at Moneycontrol. She has an undergraduate degree in mass communication and a postgraduate diploma in business and financial journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai.<br><br>Srushti prefers meeting people from the industry over making calls. Her work aims to drive impacther story on illegal gold imports, for instance, caught the governments attention and contributed to a policy shift. She specialises in turning complex market data into clear, engaging stories so even her grandmother could understand futures and options.<br><br>Outside of the newsroom, she enjoys spending money on jewellery and watching thriller filmsespecially the kind that keep her awake at night. She spends 1.5 hours a day commuting in Mumbai locals, listening to horror podcasts on her way to work. Shes also very talkativeso reach out only if you have lots of time.
(Bloomberg) -- Oil rebounded after its biggest one-day drop since April 2020, as the Strait of Hormuz remained largely blocked and Israeli attacks on Lebanon threatened to derail the fragile ceasefire in the Middle East.

West Texas Intermediate traded near $97 a barrel, after slumping 14% on Wednesday, while Brent closed below $95. Irans semi-official Fars news agency reported that passage of oil tankers through the strait were halted after Israeli strikes, although US Vice President JD Vance countered that assertion, saying we are seeing signs that the straits are starting to reopen.

The near-halt of traffic through the waterway  through which about a fifth of the worlds crude and liquefied natural gas flowed before the US and Israeli first struck Iran at the end of February  has caused the biggest-ever oil market disruption. Vance will lead a US delegation to Islamabad for direct talks with Iran on Saturday morning local time.

This isnt over just yet, said Dennis Kissler, senior vice president for trading at BOK Financial Securities Inc. We will need to see a full opening of the strait with no obstacles before we see crude prices in the low $80s for WTI. And I dont see that in the next two weeks.

Sporadic fighting continued throughout the region, including the Israeli moves in Lebanon and Iranian strikes on Gulf states. Theres disagreement between Tehran and the American-Israeli side over whether the ceasefire covers Lebanon.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said in a statement posted on X that three clauses of the ceasefire proposal have been violated so far.

Even once Hormuz transit picks up, the return of energy supplies wont be instant. Output has been reduced at oil and gas fields, while refineries have curtailed production or shut down. Some of those will take weeks  or possibly longer  to return to normal.

Were still far from over in Iran, said Carl Larry, an oil and gas analyst at Enverus. Every day remains an adventure, but $90 looks like a solid floor until we see fiction become fact.

To get Bloombergs Energy Daily newsletter in your inbox, click here.

--With assistance from Charles Gorrivan.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
By Nicole Jao

NEW YORK, - Oil plummeted on Wednesday, falling below $100 a barrel, on hope of the Strait of Hormuz reopening after U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

Brent crude futures settled $14.52, or 13.29%, lower at $94.75 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude slid $18.54, or 16.41%, to $94.41 a barrel.

Oil prices fell in anticipation of the strait reopening and energy supplies that have built up being able to pass through the shipping route, said Andrew Lipow, founder of Lipow Oil Associates.

Trump's turnaround came shortly before his deadline for Iran to open the strait or face widespread attacks on its civilian infrastructure. About 20% of the world's daily oil supply passes through the narrow waterway.

"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote on social media after posting earlier on Tuesday that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if his demands were not met.

Trump said on Wednesday the U.S. will work closely with Iran and will be talking about tariff and sanctions relief with Tehran.

"Overall, the market is hopeful more oil is going to reach the market... but it is still concerned that it is a very fragile ceasefire and it may not last," Lipow said.

On Wednesday, Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since the conflict with Hezbollah broke out last month, even as the Iran-aligned group paused attacks on northern Israel and Israeli troops in Lebanon under the ceasefire.

Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in a post on X that key clauses of a 10-point ceasefire proposal were violated even before U.S.-Iran peace talks are set to start on Friday in Pakistan, adding that in such a situation a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations were unreasonable.

The breaches included the violation of a ceasefire in Lebanon, the entry of a drone into Iranian airspace and the denial of Iran's right to uranium enrichment, Qalibaf said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Trump told PBS News in an interview that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire agreement the U.S. has with Iran "because of Hezbollah".

STRAIT REMAINS SHUT

Shipping sources said the Iranian navy threatened ships attempting to pass through the strait without Tehran's permission with destruction on Wednesday and that transit remained shut.

Iran had said it would halt its attacks if strikes against it stopped and that safe transit through the strait would be possible for two weeks in coordination with Iranian armed forces.

Iran could open the strait in a limited and controlled way on Thursday or Friday ahead of a meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials in Pakistan, a senior Iranian official involved in the talks told Reuters on Wednesday.

"Safe passage for ships in the Strait of Hormuz will be a key point in the talks ... Oil is set to remain meaningfully above pre-war levels until there is clear evidence of shipping normalization," said Raymond James analyst Pavel Molchanov.

Shippers were seeking clarity on the logistics, while refiners inquired about new crude loadings on Wednesday, in response to the ceasefire deal.

Iran attacked Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline just hours after the ceasefire was agreed, an industry source told Reuters, hitting its only crude oil export route since hostilities began.

Several Gulf states said early on Wednesday they identified missile launches and drone attacks or issued warnings to civilians to take shelter.

Oil futures pared losses after U.S. government data showed a larger-than-expected build in crude stockpiles.

U.S. crude stocks rose by 3.1 million barrels to 464.7 million barrels during the week ended April 3, the Energy Information Administration said. That was higher than the 701,000-barrel build forecast in a Reuters poll.
(Bloomberg) -- A highly shorted stock. A shrinking pool of shares available to trade. A price that keeps climbing.

Theyre the classic signs of a painful short squeeze, and theyve rapidly come into view for Avis Budget Group Inc.

Avis shares soared more than 150% in the past three weeks after Pentwater Capital Management said it acquired a sizable stake in the rental-car company, which already has an outsized shareholder in SRS Investment Management.

Thats making it hard for short sellers to continue borrowing the stock, and the cost of doing so has skyrocketed, according to financial analytics firm S3 Partners. S3 Managing Director Ihor Dusaniwsky says he is watching to see whether traders betting against the shares will keep holding on or cut their losses.

This is a stock that has been short squeezed, Dusaniwsky said. This is like going to a Nascar race. The crashes sure are really interesting.

Bearish investors have shorted about 43% of the tradeable shares of Avis as of Wednesday, down from 49% in mid-March, according to S3.

When heavily shorted stocks rise sharply, some bearish investors are forced to buy back shares to cover their positions, which then drives prices even higher in a feedback loop. So-called short squeezes have produced some of the most dramatic market dislocations in recent history.

In 2008, a squeeze in Volkswagen AG shares briefly made it the worlds most valuable company. In 2021, retail traders helped spike Gamestop Corp. dramatically higher in just a few days, saddling hedge funds including Melvin Capital with huge losses.

Pentwater, led by Matthew Halbower, last month said in regulatory filings it bought millions of shares in Avis and sold a raft of put options on the stock. The shares soared in the following days. By the end of March, Pentwaters stake in Avis totaled 22%, according to a separate filing this week.

Pentwater was founded in 2007 by Halbower, a former Deephaven Capital Management and Citadel portfolio manager. The Naples, Florida-based firm makes event-driven bets and runs more than $19 billion in regulatory assets, which includes leverage, according to regulatory filings.

SRS is a longtime Avis backer and owns just under half the company. Its founder, Karthik Sarma, has served on Aviss board since 2020. He launched the roughly $14 billion hedge fund in 2006 after departing Tiger Global Management.

Avis is one of the worlds biggest rental-car firms, operating more than 10,000 locations in about 180 countries. The sector got a boost in recent weeks as chaos at airports across the US prompted travelers to ditch flights and opt for long drives. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. shares have surged some 37% since the start of March, but Avis more than doubled in the same period.

In a note this week, Deutsche Bank analyst Chris Woronka said Aviss core business is seeing some momentum  but acknowledged the recent price action is more likely due to a short squeeze that will probably continue to drive the shares in the near term. The company is likely to generate a modest profit this year, according to analyst estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Representatives for Avis and Pentwater didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. SRS declined to comment.

--With assistance from Nishant Kumar and Bailey Lipschultz.

(Adds additional Avis context beginning in paragraph 12.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Ram Sahgal

Ram Sahgal is a deputy editor at Mint. He has over 20 years of experience in journalism, with previous roles at The Intelligent Investor, Bombay Times, The Economic Times, and The New Indian Express. Between his media roles, he briefly worked at a commodities exchange before returning to his true passion, business journalism. Ram graduated in liberal arts from St Xaviers College, Mumbai, where he studied films, which explains his move to Bombay Times, where he covered the film industry during the rise of Sunny Deol and Sanjay Dutt. He took a leap of faith to transfer to The Economic Times, and thanks to his restless mind, later moved to cover the commodities beat. Over the past three years, Ram has been tracking the stock markets at Mint. His focus areas include writing about market infrastructure institutions, brokerages, derivatives, and related regulations. His hobbies include spotting trains and understanding the locomotives that power them. In his free time, he takes his octogenarian mother out for drives and goes to the cinema with her on weekends. If he has a dream, it is to write a screenplay for a movie. For now, he enjoys viewing market data on NSE and BSE, observing the shifting mood of Mr Market, and conversing with market experts.
Stock market today: The Gift Nifty Live Chart is showing a positive start for the Indian stock market today. By 8:28 AM, the Gift Nifty was trading around 23,800 level, a premium of 659 points from the Nifty futures previous close of 23,151.10.

The domestic benchmark indices, Nifty 50 and Sensex, climbed on Tuesday, April 7, fueled by an upswing in technology shares in anticipation of quarterly earnings reports, while concerns about the escalating conflict in the Middle East ahead of US President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to engage in talks kept investors uneasy.

Market participants are looking forward to the Reserve Bank of India's policy announcement set for Wednesday, April 8, marking its first update since the start of the conflict.

The Nifty 50 rose by 0.68% to 23,123.65, while the Sensex increased by 0.69% to 74,616.58, resulting in two consecutive days of gains.

Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy

Market Outlook by Jay Thakkar, Vice President & Head of Derivatives and Quant Research, ICICI Securities Nifty 50 Nifty 50 has closed well in the positive territory for the 3rd consecutive day and with that the weekly expiry closed well above 23,000 levels which had the maximum call base. Now, a close above 23,000 indicates further uptrend at least until 23,500 which has the next call base whereas the support on the lower side is at 22,500 and until it is not broken the short-term bias is positive.

Above 23,500, the next target will be 24,000 levels. This April series is likely to be positive as based on the past 10 years of data it has been observed that the 8 years April series has been positive. Secondly, whenever there is a negative close in the March series, then the April series has been positive. Lastly, there has not been more than 3 consecutive negative close in any calendar year, so far in this calendar year the initial 3 months has been negative, hence a positive close is expected in April.

Bank Nifty The BankNifty, like that of Nifty 50 has provided a breakout from the falling wedge pattern along with short covering in the futures segment. There has been significant put base at the lower levels right from 52,000 to 50,000 strikes, with 52,000 strike having the highest put base now, hence that is the immediate support and below that 51,500 is the next support, so until this range of 51,500-52,000 levels is held on a closing basis, the short-term trend is positive for the targets of 54,000 and 55,000. The India VIX has taken a pause and further confirmation of it peaking out will be once it moves below the 23 levels.

Stocks To Buy in the near-term - Jay Thakkar Jay Thakkar of ICICI Securities recommends ITC Futures, Eternal Futures, and Indian Hotels Company Futures.

Buy ITC Futures in the range of 298-300 stop loss 285 Targets 315-325 Overall, there has been a significant fall in ITC and with that there have been solid short positions built up as well due to which the stock has underperformed the Index as well as its peers. Now, the prices have taken some pause in the fall and started to make some higher tops and bottoms on the hourly charts some short covering as well in the futures segment indicating a sharp bounce. As per the options data, the stock has a huge call base at 300 levels which once taken off will lead to further short covering. The max pain is also at 300, so above 300 there will be a sharp up move in the stock.

Buy Eternal futures in the range of 230-234 stop loss 222 Targets 250-265 Eternal has been consolidating within a range of 228-240 levels since past few days thus forming a triangular pattern which is a bullish continuation pattern. There was a bounce prior to this consolidation and in that there was decrease in open interest in the futures segment indicating short covering. Once, this range is broken on the upside, there is further short covering expected which can take this stock to 250-265 levels. As per the options data, there has been significant put additions at the lower levels, however, 240 has a strong call base, so once that is taken off there will be further short covering rally.

Buy Indian Hotels Company in the range of 600-605 stop loss below 585 Targets 640-660 The stock has formed a falling wedge pattern which is a bullish reversal pattern and with that it is observed that there has been short covering in this stock since its previous bottom, so there is a clear divergence as the stock had formed a fresh low whereas the open interest kept on falling indicating selling exhaustion now which can lead to some bounce back. As per the options data, there is a strong put base and in the last session the stock has marginally closed above 600 levels which is the highest call base, so a follow up buying would lead to further short covering move in this stock.

Also Read | Raja Venkatraman, MarketSmith recommend four stocks for 8 April

Disclaimer: The Research Analyst or his relatives or I-Sec do not have actual/beneficial ownership of 1% or more securities of the subject company, at the end of 07/04/2026 or have no other financial interest and do not have any material conflict of interest.
Deepak Shenoy, market veteran and CEO of Capitalmind Mutual Fund, welcomed the strong move seen in the markets globally, including in India, following the two-week ceasefire in the US-Iran war, but expressed doubts about the credibility of statements made by those involved.

The Indian stock markets rallied almost 4% today, as the Sensex gained nearly 3000 points and the Nifty 50 added 870 points to reclaim the 24,000 mark. The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, sending crude prices lower on expectations that energy supplies from the Middle East could resume, boosting risk-on sentiments.

Equity indices in major Asian and European markets shot up between 4%-5%. while crude oil prices tumbled 16%.

Shenoy welcomes the optimism in the market and hopes that it will last, but sounds wary of the statements made by the parties involved.

"Super move on the markets. I somehow find it incredible that we take statements at face value, from the same set of people that have lied to us for the last month. Optimism is a good thing of course, let's hope it lasts," said Shenoy in a post on X on Wednesday.

To err on side of caution! Shenoy's comment comes as US President Donald Trump, in the last one month since the Middle East crisis began, has made conflicting statements.

On multiple occasions in the past, he has suggested an earlier end to the war, while on the flipside, Iran has denied all reports of negotiations.

Even on Tuesday, the ceasefire deal was reached less than two hours before Trump's deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the wiping out of "a whole civilization", marking an abrupt turnaround from his extraordinary warning earlier.

The eleventh-hour deal was subject to Iran's agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the strait, Trump said. The Strait accounts for a fifth of the world's crude oil passage.

"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."

Trump, who has issued a series of threats in recent weeks only to back away, said progress between the two sides had prompted him to agree to the ceasefire. He said Iran had presented a 10-point proposal that was a "workable basis" for negotiations and that he expected an agreement to be "finalised and consummated" during the two-week window.

Trump later said to AFP: "We have a 15-point transaction, of which most of those things have been agreed on. We'll see what happens. We'll see if it gets there." Meanwhile, to AFP, he said it was a "total and complete victory" when asked if he was claiming victory with the ceasefire.

It was not immediately clear how soon the ceasefire elsewhere would take full effect.

Ceasefire is a pause, not resolution to war The US-Iran war began on February 28 and rattled markets globally, pushing indices to their worst monthly performance in years. Shenoy's message of remaining cautiously optimistic is key amid the flip-flop statements by the US President.

Analysts, earlier today, pointed out that the sustained market stability will hinge on whether this temporary truce evolves into a more durable de-escalation. Harshal Dasani, Business Head at INVAsset PMS, said that the ceasefire should be seen as a pause rather than a resolution. "The ceasefire is time-bound, safe passage remains conditional, and negotiations are still at a fragile stage."

(With inputs from agencies)
Shares of InterGlobe Aviation, which operates budget carrier IndiGo, rose 11% in the morning trade on Wednesday, April 8, boosted by a sharp decline in crude oil prices today following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the US-Iran war.

IndiGo, which has lost 11.5% since the onset of the US-Iran war on February 28, emerged as the top gainer in the Nifty 50 pack and erased all of its losses amid a 11.13% rally to 4,744 apiece on the NSE today.

What's driving IndiGo shares higher? The US-Iran war has sparked a sharp rise in crude oil prices, which also drove the jet fuel prices higher, upending the global aviation industry. The global average jet fuel price rose to $195.19 per barrel for the week ending March 27, up from $99.40 at the end of February, recording a surge of close to 100%, according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) data.

The announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the US-Iran war earlier today has cooled off the global crude prices to below $100 a barrel, providing relief to many industries. Since fuel remains the single biggest cost item for an airline, accounting for roughly 40-50% of its overall expenses, any sustained cooling in oil prices can offer a direct margin tailwind for the airline stock.

Also Read | IndiGo revises fuel charges: Check details here

However, Willie Walsh, director general of IATA, told Reuters that even if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz, it would take months for jet fuel supply to recover, given disruptions to Middle East refining capacity.

To mitigate the impact of higher ATF charges, IndiGo had announced an upward revision in fuel surcharge.

The ceasefire is also expected to ease international operations that saw a disruption following airspace restrictions. Indian carriers have cancelled over 10,000 flights since the onset of the West Asia conflict, according to a senior government official quoted by PTI.

In another relief for Indian airlines, airport tariff regulator Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) on Tuesday announced a 25% reduction in landing and parking charges across major airports.

Also Read | Will your air ticket prices rise after the jet fuel rate hike? Govt clarifies

This reduction, which comes into immediate effect, will be applicable to all domestic flights for a period of three months, AERA said in an order.

Should you buy IndiGo stock now? IndiGo shares are up 18% in April so far but remain 8% lower in 2026. However, this decline comes amid the unexpected Middle East crisis and after three years of back-to-back gains between 2023 and 2025, during which the stock rallied a whopping 113%.

Going ahead, the latest ceasefire has meaningfully improved the short-term outlook for IndiGo as the pressure from crude prices begins to ease.

For an airline, lower aviation fuel costs can quickly change the earnings picture, and that is exactly why the stock has reacted so sharply, said Harshal Dasani, Business Head at INVasset PMS. That said, the sharp rise in the stock also suggests that a good part of the immediate optimism may already be priced in, said the expert.

From here, he said the market will look beyond just cheaper oil and focus on whether IndiGo can maintain strong passenger demand, healthy yields and disciplined execution as it continues to expand capacity.

"The broader structural story remains intact, with IndiGo still seen as the strongest domestic aviation play because of its scale, network and cost leadership. So the outlook remains positive, but the next leg of upside will likely depend on fuel prices staying benign and operational performance remaining steady rather than on sentiment alone," Dasani opined.
The demand for Intel shares spiked on Wednesday, 8 April, with the stock gaining 9.5% to hit an intraday high of $57.92 apiece, extending its winning streak to a sixth consecutive trading session. The stock was last seen around these levels in June 2021.

Apart from the optimism surrounding the Middle East ceasefire, the rally was supported by the companys entry into Elon Musk's Terafab initiativea project that could reshape how advanced chips are developed across Tesla Inc.

Intel announced on Tuesday that it is partnering with Elon Musk's SpaceX and Tesla on the recently launched Terafab project to build semiconductors.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Intel confirmed that the company will help the Terafab project refactor silicon fab technologya process used in semiconductor manufacturing to eliminate physical inefficiencies and streamline production.

The collaboration could mark a shift in Tesla's hardware strategy. Tesla already designs its own chips, but Musks companies have never manufactured them at scale. Now, he is envisioning doing so at a scale that could rival leading chip manufacturer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

Musk is pushing towards large-scale in-house chip production. During the latest earnings call, he warned that external suppliers such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and Micron Technology could hit capacity limits within a few years.

For Intel, the partnership fits into CEO Lip-Bu Tan's broader turnaround strategy following years of market share losses and declining sales.

Our ability to design, fabricate, and package ultra-high-performance chips at scale will help accelerate Terafabs aim to produce 1 TW/year of compute to power future advances in AI and robotics, Intel added in the post.

Terafab was first unveiled by Musk last month. It is a planned $2025 billion semiconductor facility at Giga Texas that brings together Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI into a single, vertically integrated AI hardware ecosystemMusks boldest infrastructure bet since Gigafactory 1.

The initiative aims to produce a massive amount of computing power each yeararound 1 terawatt of capacity annually. Musk is looking to consolidate the entire chip-making processdesign, fabrication, memory, and advanced packaginginto one location.

Also Read | Wall Street soars as crude oil slumps after US-Iran ceasefire

Intel shares jump over 31% in April With todays rally, Intels month-to-date returns have surged to 31.72%, contributing to a 193% gain from August 2025. Before this recovery, the California-based company had been heavily punished by investors, with the stock plunging 61% between January 2024 and July 2025, falling to its lowest level since 2009.

The strong second-half performance in 2025 helped the stock close the year with an 84% gain, recovering all of the 60% losses seen in 2024. In the current year, it has extended its winning momentum, rising another 58% so far.

However, the stock remains 23% below its record peak of $75.81, touched in 2000.

(With inputs from Bloomberg)
The Indian stock market benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are likely to open higher on Wednesday after the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire deal spurred a rally in global markets.

The trends on Gift Nifty also indicate a gap-up start for the Indian benchmark index. The Gift Nifty was trading around 23,840 level, a premium of nearly 689 points from the Nifty futures previous close.

On Tuesday, the Indian stock market extended its rally for the fourth consecutive session and ended higher, with the benchmark Nifty 50 closing above 23,100 level.

The Sensex jumped 509.73 points, or 0.69%, to close at 74,616.58, while the Nifty 50 settled 155.40 points, or 0.68%, higher at 23,123.65.

The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire deal, with the US President Donald Trump announcing to halt military attacks in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will announce its monetary policy today. The RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra-led Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to maintain a status quo on repo rate.

Heres what to expect from Sensex, Nifty 50, and Bank Nifty today:

Sensex Prediction Sensex continues to exhibit a gradual strengthening with formation of higher highs and higher lows on lower time frames, indicating continuation of the short-term recovery trend.

Key technical levels suggest that support for Sensex is placed in the 74,000  74,200 zone, which is likely to act as a demand area on declines, while resistance is seen around 75,000  75,350, where upside may face supply and profit-booking pressure, said Hitesh Tailor, Technical Research Analyst at Choice Equity Broking.

Nifty 50 Prediction Nifty 50 index formed a bullish candlestick pattern with a higher high and a higher low for the second session in a row, signaling continuation of the pullback from the oversold territory.

A long bull candle was formed on the daily chart with lower shadow. Technically, this market action indicates an attempt of decisive breakout of a crucial hurdle around 23,000 levels. This is a positive indication and the sharp bounce back of the last three sessions signal formation of a crucial bottom reversal pattern in Nifty 50 at the recent low of 22,182, said Nagaraj Shetti, Senior Technical Research Analyst at HDFC Securities.

According to him, the underlying trend of Nifty 50 continues to be positive, and the next upside levels to be watched are around 23,500 - 23,600. Immediate support is placed at 22,900.

Also Read | Stocks to trade: Raja Venkatraman recommends five stocks for 8 April

Nilesh Jain, Head  Technical and Derivatives Research Analyst (Equity Research), Centrum Broking noted that the Nifty 50 index is showing early signs of a short-term base formation, supported by a breakout from a falling wedge pattern on the daily chart.

Momentum indicators and oscillators have also reversed, indicating a buy crossover. The positive momentum could continue towards the immediate hurdle of 23,470, and a sustained move above this level may open the door for 24,000 in the near term. Meanwhile, support has shifted higher to around 22,600 levels. The volatility index has also cooled off below 25, and any further decline is likely to provide added comfort to the bulls, said Jain.

Riyank Arora, Associate Vice President  HNI & Derivatives, Hedged.in said that the immediate support for Nifty 50 is placed around 23,000  22,900, which will be a crucial zone to watch.

As long as Nifty sustains above these levels, the bullish structure remains intact. On the upside, 23,200  23,300 will act as the key resistance zone. A sustained move above this range could lead to fresh buying momentum and further extension of the rally in the near term, said Arora.

Bank Nifty Prediction Bank Nifty index ended 107.15 points, or 0.20%, higher at 52,716.25 on Tuesday, forming a bullish candle with minor lower wick on the daily chart, indicating strong buying interest around days low.

Going ahead, the immediate resistance for Bank Nifty is placed in the 53,100 - 53,200 zone. Any sustainable move above this zone could result in Bank Nifty extending its pullback towards 53,500, followed by 53,800 in the short term. On the downside, the zone of 52,300  52,200 zone is likely to act as an immediate support, said Sudeep Shah, Head - Technical and Derivatives Research at SBI Securities.

Also Read | Stock recommendations for 8 April from MarketSmith India

Bajaj Broking Research expects a follow through strength above Tuesdays high 52,800 will open further upside towards 53,500 levels for Bank Nifty, while a failure to do so will lead to consolidation in the range of 50,000 - 52,700.

On the downside, weakness below the psychological 50,000 levels will signal extension of the decline towards the 200 weeks EMA placed around 48,900 levels in the coming weeks. For any meaningful pause in the ongoing downtrend, the Bank Nifty index needs to establish a sustained pattern of higher highs and higher lows in the daily chart, along with a close above recent high of 54,150, said the brokerage firm.
Global Markets Today LIVE: Global markets staged a powerful relief rally on Wednesday, April 8, after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, easing fears of a deeper Middle East conflict and triggering a sharp reversal across equities, commodities and currencies.

Wall Street futures also reflected the upbeat mood, with S&P 500 futures rising 2.7% and Nasdaq 100 futures gaining 3.3% as of 6:52 a.m. London time. In Europe, Euro Stoxx 50 futures surged 5.4%, signalling a strong opening for regional markets.

The ceasefire, which is expected to pause American-Israeli military action, also includes Irans agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route that handles a significant share of global crude flows. Pakistan, which helped broker the understanding, said the arrangement would also extend to Israel-Hezbollah tensions in Lebanon.

The biggest immediate reaction came from the oil market. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude plunged as much as 19%, marking its steepest fall in nearly six years, while Brent crude dropped 14% to $93.90 per barrel. The sharp decline in oil prices boosted hopes of easing inflationary pressure and improved the outlook for global growth.

That optimism quickly spilled over into equity markets. MSCIs Asia Pacific equity index jumped 5.1%, its highest level in five weeks, as investors moved back into risk assets. In Asia, Japans Topix rose 3.4%, Australias S&P/ASX 200 gained 2.6%, Hong Kongs Hang Seng climbed 3.1%, and Chinas Shanghai Composite added 2.5%.

Other asset classes also reacted sharply. U.S. Treasuries rallied, as falling oil prices revived hopes that softer inflation could eventually give the Federal Reserve more room to cut rates. Meanwhile, the U.S. dollar index slipped 1%, giving back some of the safe-haven gains it had made during the conflict.

Precious metals moved higher as well. Gold climbed 2.7% to around $4,835 per ounce, while silver surged 5.9% to above $77 per ounce, as investors balanced improving risk appetite with lingering geopolitical uncertainty.

Indian markets join the global rebound

Indian equities also participated strongly in the global risk-on rally, with benchmark indices ending the day with nearly 4% gains.

The Sensex closed 2,946 points, or 3.95%, higher at 77,563, while the Nifty 50 settled 874 points, or 3.78%, up at 23,997. During the session, the Sensex had surged 3,019 points, or 4%, to an intraday high of 77,635.54, while the Nifty 50 climbed 901 points, or 3.9%, to hit 24,025.15.

Sentiment on Dalal Street was further supported by the sharp fall in crude oil prices, a weaker U.S. dollar, and the RBI Monetary Policy Committees decision to keep rates unchanged, in line with market expectations.
Stock market today: Indian benchmark indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, are expected to start Wednesdays session on a positive note, tracking a global market rally triggered by the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran.

Indicators from Gift Nifty also suggest a gap-up opening for domestic markets, with the index trading near the 23,840 markabout 689 points above the previous close of Nifty futures.

Indian markets are set for a strong gap-up opening, with Gift Nifty rebounding sharply to the 23,800 zone after a weak overnight trend. The shift reflects a decisive improvement in global risk sentiment following a temporary de-escalation in West Asia tensions. Volatility is likely to ease in todays session. India VIX, which closed near 24.7, may see further cooling as fear unwinds, leading to some moderation in option premiums and improved trading conditions, said Hariprasad K, SEBI-registered Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth.

On Tuesday, Indian equities extended gains for a fourth straight day, with the Nifty 50 closing above the 23,100 level. The Sensex rose 509.73 points, or 0.69%, to end at 74,616.58, while the Nifty 50 advanced 155.40 points, or 0.68%, to settle at 23,123.65.

Stocks to Watch Amid the backdrop of the US-Iran war ceasefire deal, these stocks are likely to remain in focus on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 

Infosys The IT company has unveiled a strategic partnership with Harness, an AI-powered software delivery platform, aimed at speeding up agentic AI-driven transformation in software delivery for enterprises worldwide.

Ola Electric Ola Electric on Tuesday announced that its indigenously developed lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cell is now ready, marking a significant milestone in its effort to accelerate electric mobility and establish a fully integrated energy ecosystem.

Muthoot Finance The company has fixed April 13, 2026, as the record date to identify shareholders eligible to receive the interim dividend for FY26, pending approval from the board.

GAIL According to a regulatory filing, based on the declaration submitted by Jha, he is not disqualified from holding the position of Director under any order issued by SEBI or any other authority.

Aditya Birla Capital The Competition Commission of India has cleared an investment of about 2,750 crore in the companys subsidiary, Aditya Birla Housing Finance, to be made by Indriya, an entity affiliated with Advent International.

Aurobindo Pharma Aurobindo Pharma has secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its Dapagliflozin & Metformin Hydrochloride extended-release tablets. These tablets are prescribed to help manage blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

SRF The company on Tuesday reported a tax demand of 327.44 crore for the assessment year 202223, attributing it to a technical error in an order issued by the Income Tax Departments Assessment Unit.

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries The company has secured a fresh order valued between 1,500 crore and 3,000 crore from Energy ONE to build four dual-fuel ammonia bulk carriers, each with a capacity of 92,500 DWT.

Also Read | Breakout stocks to buy or sell: Sumeet Bagadia recommends five shares to buy

Biocon The global biopharmaceutical firm has announced the commercial rollout of Bosaya (denosumab-kyqq) and Aukelso (denosumab-kyqq) in the United States.

Clean Max Enviro Energy Solutions The company announced that it has commissioned a 185 MW wind-solar hybrid project in Kalavad, Gujarat, as the renewable energy firm continues to expand its portfolio in one of Indias major industrial states.
Around 2016, Indias smartphone market started taking a leaf out of an earlier era when Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and BlackBerry ruled the industry. They started trying to innovate on designs, albeit within the confines of smartphone factories trying to eke out every penny of efficiency out of industrial standardization.

That craze to create outlandish designs in smartphones died quickly, and what followed were years of a race to cram the most amount of silicon power and high-resolution displays into everyday devices. Something, however, changed in 2025, when both Apple and Samsung, which account for two of every five phones sold worldwide, launched ultra-thin flagships.

These 5mm phones, somehow, didnt result in an instant craze. Samsungs Galaxy S25 Edge went almost under the radar, as Samsung swiftly moved its ultra-thin form factor to its foldables.

The iPhone Air by Apple, however, is a different story.

Folding rumours For years, industry insiders have shared rumours about Apple testing internal engineering sketches of a foldable smartphone. This, to be sure, has not materialized yet, but such rumours are not without precedent.

For instance, in September 2016, Apple launched for the first time a smartphone with two cameras on itthe iPhone 7 Plus. Back then, the smartphone market was rife with speculation around how Apple was behind the curvealmost every phone-maker had released phones with multiple cameras already.

Also Read | Apple MacBook Neo Review: A whole lot of Mac for less

Yet, when Apple finally brought in the two-camera iPhone 7 Plus, it standardized the now-ubiquitous portrait mode photography across the industry. Most Apple watchers agreed at the time that the company does not rush into introducing new features, but when it does so, Apple often produces a better product better than its competitors.

The iPhone Air, however, is not quite the same. It isnt trying to bring slim phones back in vogue, and users carrying it as their everyday driver agree that Apple seems fully self-aware of the constraints of a single-camera smartphone photography system in the modern world.

What it is instead, is a smartphone that comes as a stopgap measure before Apple steps into the foldable smartphone world. On Monday, a report from supply chain analysts in China circulated widely. It stated that Apples much-awaited iPhone Fold has moved into the final production stage, ahead of a potential launch in September this year.

There is a strong chance that the iPhone Air is not a new product line by itself, but a proof of what Apple is capable of, before the company releases its iPhone Fold later this year, said Navkendar Singh, associate vice-president at market research and consultancy firm, International Data Corporation.

Others have noted this too. Between October and February, Japans Mizhuo Securities and Nikkei both reported in brokerage notes to investors that the iPhone Airs production targets have been slashed. The reports also claimed that a second run for the lineup, for now, looks delayed at least.

What, therefore, could the iPhone Air really stand for, given that it might not enjoy a long run into the future?

The joys of a limited-run device

View full Image View full Image Three Apple classics, the iPhone, the iPod and the iPhone 7 Plus. ( Courtesy Apple )

It is this very factor of limited volumes that could make the iPhone Air the underrated collectors edition device with which Apple may have unintentionally marked its 50th anniversary.

Over time, Apples product philosophy has been largely driven by the seamlessness of design. Notable products that evolved into collectibles include the click-wheel on iPod Classic, and the first iPhone that standardized the touchscreen. In both cases, each product gave birth to entire industries.

The iPhone Air has the hallmarks of such a device. It measures a hair over 5mm in thickness, and packs in pretty much every feature of any other flagship iPhone, but comes with the added edge of its limited supplies and sales.

In the long run, if the iPhone Air is shown the door after a one-year run, it will almost certainly be marked as a 50th anniversary special: A device that showcased Apples design prowess, didnt fight the specifications war, had unique quirks and flaws that collectibles are often dotted with, and in future, could emerge as a device that will be cool to be spotted with.

To begin with, the iPhone Airs real-world battery life shortcomings means that one has to also invest in an external power bank. Then there are the constraints with the iPhone Airs portrait mode; and the telephoto zoomeven with Apples algorithm-driven softwareis not among the best.

View full Image View full Image The iPhone Air offers a glimpse of what a modern smartphone can be. ( Courtesy Apple )

Yet, the iPhone Air doesnt try to be the best in terms of specifications. Instead, it provides a glimpse of what modern smartphones can be, and the extent of miniaturization and precision engineering that the worlds smartphone supply chain is capable of pulling off. Multiple durability tests hailed how the iPhone Air has perhaps the strongest chassis of the entire 2025 iPhone lineup by Apple. The internal motherboard assembly, as teardown and dissection reports have shown, leaned into ease of repairability.

What Apple therefore showcased with the iPhone Air is how it is readying itself for a world where foldable smartphones could be durable, and pack in every feature without making a compromise.

The long-term picture

View full Image View full Image Apple iPhone Air is a design triumph. ( Courtesy Apple )

Even seven months since its release, spotting an iPhone Air out in the open prompts a second glance. It still sparks curiosity, although understandably, buying an iPhone 17 makes for sound consumer preference. In such a market, those who own the iPhone Air could well end up owning a device that, in the long run, becomes a rarity.

As smartphones move to large screens, bulky cameras and folding designs, the iPhone Air could well mark the last of an era before mixed reality and holographs also merge with modern-day smartphone design. At the same time, the Air will have done so not by being a relic, but as a clear and evident bridge between the past and future of smartphone design.

For the past, the iPhone Air harks back to a rear glass panel and a single camera that was expected to do everything for on-the-go quick snaps. For the future, the 5mm body of the iPhone Air provides proof of concept that engineering has evolved enough to pack AI-ready computing power into a tin body.
Ann Jacob

Ann Jacob is a personal finance correspondent with Mint. She writes for Mint Money, where she works to make the complex world of finance feel clear and worth paying attention to through stories that actually make sense to her readers. She holds a BA in English, with a triple major in mass communication, literature and journalism. As an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai, she also holds a postgraduate diploma in multimedia journalism. She has earlier worked with NDTV Profit, where she spent a year and a half decoding markets, personal finance, commodity, earnings, and everything in between. <br><br>Ann is particularly drawn to stories where life and money collide, right from decoding Gen Zs changing spending habits and figuring out what really goes into building a good credit score, to exploring the everyday art of budgeting well. Her work leans into features and trend-driven stories that zoom into how one can earn, spend, and save well. In her stories, she aims to strip away the jargon, provide actionable insight from experts and write personal finance stories that are closest to reality.
New Delhi: Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman sought increased diesel and fertilizer supplies from India amid the global supply squeeze, during a meeting with petroleum and natural gas minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday.

India is a major energy exporter to its eastern neighbour and supplies diesel through the India-Bangladesh Friendship pipeline. Last month, India supplied 5,000 tonnes of diesel under an agreement.

Bangladesh foreign minister Khalilur Rahman, who is on a three-day visit to India from Tuesday, met external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and Puri in New Delhi on Wednesday. Bangladesh prime minister's advisor for foreign affairs Humaiun Kobir and Bangladesh high commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah were present at these meetings, said a statement from the high commission.

Also Read | Iran war: Centre opens talks with states on jet fuel tax cuts amid cost surge

"Rahman expressed thanks to minister Hardeep Puri for the recent supply of diesel to Bangladesh by India and requested an increase in the volume of supply of diesel and fertilizer. Minister Puri indicated that the government of India will consider the request readily and favourably," it said.

Taking to the social media platform X, Puri said that they discussed bilateral cooperation in the energy sector during the meeting.

The two sides also agreed to undertake consultations on key bilateral issues, said the Bangladesh high commission's statement.

Mint earlier reported that Bangladesh has formally asked the Indian government to raise petroleum product exports from state-run Oil India Ltds Numaligarh Refinery via the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.

Annual diesel supplies to Bangladesh through the pipeline stand at around 100,000 tonnes.

Also Read | Farmer unions worry ban on loose diesel sale will hurt Apr harvest

Early last month, around 5,000 tonnes of diesel were supplied through the pipeline, expected to reach the Parbatipur depot in Dinajpur.

The 131-km pipeline, inaugurated in 2022, is the first cross-border energy link between India and Bangladesh. India supplies petroleum products to seven districts in northern Bangladesh through it, while Numaligarh Refinery has been supplying petroleum products to Bangladesh by rail since 2015.

Built for an estimated 377 crore, the Bangladesh portion cost 285 crore, funded by India through grant assistance.

Mint previously reported that India is also considering proposals to send high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) and furnace oil to Bangladesh. HSFO is largely used in the maritime industry, while furnace oil powers homes, businesses, and industrial units.

India, the fourth-largest refiner in the world with a crude refining capacity of 258 million tonnes, is a key supplier of petroleum products to countries in the neighbourhood.

Recently, the spokesperson to the ministry of external affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, said that several neighbouring countries have sought Indias assistance for petroleum supplies due to supply constraints amid the war in West Asia.

On Bangladesh, we continue to supply energy requirements to them since 2007...We have also recently supplied 38,000 tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka, based on their request. We have ongoing engagement with Nepal and Bhutan, which continues," Jaiswal told reporters.
The Indian Embassy in Iran has issued a fresh advisory today, urging its nationals to leave the country by available means and has provided emergency helpline numbers for support.

What did advisory say? The advisory said, In continuation of the advisory of 07 April 2026, and in light of recent developments, Indian nationals still in Iran are strongly advised to expeditiously exit Iran, in coordination with the Embassy and using the routes suggested by the Embassy.

The advisory added, It is again reiterated that there should be no attempt to approach any international land border without prior consultation and coordination with the Embassy.

MEA issued an advisory on Tuesday Yesterday, the MEA issued another advisory saying that, In view of the rapidly evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in Iran are advised to remain where they are, shelter in place and avoid further movements. Any movement within Iran and to the border crossings of Iran may be considered only in close coordination with the Indian Embassy in Tehran and after obtaining explicit guidance of the Embassy.

It added, The Indian Embassy remains available to guide Indian nationals in Iran through the following emergency contact helplines: Mobile numbers: +98 912 810 9115, +98 912 810 9102, +98 912 810 9109, +98 993 217 9359.

Also Read | US Iran Ceasefire LIVE Updates: Indian Embassy urges nationals to exit Iran

US-Israel and Iran ceasefire: Who said what? However, tensions in the region have de-escalated, at least for now, as the United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, reaching a deal less than two hours before US President Donald Trump's deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement by Trump late on Tuesday represented an abrupt turnaround from his extraordinary warning earlier, and came after mediation efforts by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Sharif later said in a post on X that he had invited Iranian and US delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday.

The eleventh-hour deal was contingent on Iran's agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said. The waterway typically handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments.

Trump later told the French news agency AFP that it was a "total and complete victory".

"Total and complete victory. 100%. No question about it," Trump said when asked if he was claiming victory with the ceasefire.

Israel supported the decision to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said. The ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon, it added, in an apparent contradiction to comments from Sharif, who had said the agreement included a cessation of Israel's campaign in Lebanon.

Iran's foreign minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said in a statement that Tehran would cease counterattacks and provide safe passage through the waterway if attacks against it stop.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme National Security Council portrayed the deal as a victory over the US, claiming Trump had accepted Iran's conditions for ending hostilities.
Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai, who held key ministerial portfolios under former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, passed away on Wednesday. She was 94.

Kidwai, who was suffering from age-related ailments, breathed her last at Noida's Metro Hospital early in the morning, her son-in-law Razi Ur Rehman Kidwai said, adding that she will be laid to rest at the graveyard in Nizamuddin around 5 pm on Wednesday evening.

Top Congress leaders paid tributes to the veteran leader.

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said that her passing is a profound loss to the party and to the nation.

"Deeply saddened by the passing of Mohsina Kidwai ji, a stalwart of the Congress party and a former Union minister who dedicated over six decades of her life to the service of the nation," Kharge said on X.

"A long-serving Member of Parliament in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and a respected member of the Congress Working Committee for several years, she remained a guiding force within the party through its most challenging phases," the Congress chief said.

He expressed heartfelt condolences to her "family, friends and countless admirers" and wished that "her soul rest in eternal peace".

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi also condoled Kidwai's demise and hailed her contribution to the party.

"The news of the passing of former Union minister and former Member of Parliament, Mohsina Kidwai Ji, is deeply saddening. She was a highly senior and loyal leader of the Congress party, whose entire life stood as an exemplar of public service," Gandhi said in an X post in Hindi.

"Through her simplicity, grace and dignified political success, she inspired generations of women across the country. In this hour of grief, I extend my deepest condolences to her bereaved family and supporters," he said.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said the party will miss the wisdom and guidance of the deceased leader.

"We will miss Mohsina Kidwai ji's wisdom and guidance. She was a trailblazer of her time. As one of the few women PCC presidents of Uttar Pradesh, she travelled to every corner of the state and built lasting relationships with Congress workers across the districts," Priyanka Gandhi said.

"Her courage, ideological commitment and patriotism were unquestioned. She was also a kind-hearted and compassionate person who lived a life of great dignity. My deepest condolences to her family. May they have the strength to bear this loss with courage," she posted in Hindi on X.

MP Shashi Tharoor hailed Kidwai as a titan of the Indian National Congress.

"Mourning the passing at age 94 of senior INC leader Mohsina Kidwai, whom I first knew as AICC general secretary for Kerala when I was fighting my first parliamentary election in 2009, and who was one of the signatories backing my presidential bid within the party in 2022," Tharoor said.

"With her passing, the Indian political landscape loses more than just a veteran leader; it loses one of its most graceful anchors. A titan of the Indian National Congress, Mohsina ji personified an era of politics defined by decorum, steadfast loyalty, and a quiet, formidable wisdom. While she was a quintessential representative of the Congress's Old Guard, Mohsina Kidwai was never merely a relic of the past," he said.

Tharoor said she represented something more: a rare bridge between the grassroots reality of post-independence India and the high corridors of power.

"Mohsina Ji possessed a unique ability to navigate the most turbulent political storms with a trademark calmness that commanded respect from allies and adversaries alike. Her judgment was never clouded by the clamour of the 24-hour news cycle; it was forged in the fires of experience and a deep-seated integrity. She broke barriers for women and minorities in politics, not through aggressive rhetoric, but through the sheer weight of her competence and character," Tharoor said.

Kidwai has held important portfolios in the Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi governments. She also served as a member of the Congress Working Committee and the party's Central Election Committee.

She holds a unique distinction of being a member of four Houses at different points in her life -- an MLC, MLA, and as an MP in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Kidwai's political career began in 1960 when she won a seat in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. She was just 28 years old then. In 1974, she became a member of the state assembly and, by the time she won an election to Parliament in 1978, she had already been a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government for about five years.

Her rise in national politics began with her victory in the 1978 by-election for the Azamgarh parliamentary constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Following the Emergency and the Congress's ouster from power, this bypoll victory not only propelled her to the centrestage of national politics but also gave the Congress a new lease of life.

It was not long before Indira Gandhi, by then back as prime minister, appointed her a member of her council of ministers in the early 1980s.

For Kidwai, that was the beginning of a series of key assignments in the Central government -- holding several portfolios, including labour, health and family welfare, rural development, transport and urban development -- first under Indira Gandhi and then under Rajiv Gandhi, as she gained the trust of both the mother and son.

After several stints in the Lok Sabha, Kidwai entered the Rajya Sabha in 2004. She continued to hold her seat in the Upper House well into her eighties.

Interestingly, she was also in the news during the 2022 Congress presidential election when she emerged as one of the proposers to Shashi Tharoor's candidature. Tharoor had lost to Kharge in that election.
Former Attorney General Pam Bondi wont testify in front of the House committee investigating Jeffrey Epstein, the US Department of Justice said on Wednesday. According to the DOJ, Bondi will not appear for the deposition, scheduled next week, as she is no longer the US Attorney General.

The House Oversight Committee had subpoenaed Bondi on 17 March to testify as part of an investigation into the DOJ's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell cases.

Why did Trump fire Bondi? Donald Trump fired Bondi as the US Attorney General on April 2, after just over a year in office.

While no explanation was given for her removal, reports said that Trump was becoming increasingly frustrated with Bondi over several issues, including the DOJs delay in the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein and her struggles to successfully prosecute the presidents political rivals, including Letitia James and James Comey. Some have also argued that her subpoena by the House Oversight Committee in the Epstein case also expedited Bondis departure.

Also Read | Pam Bondi ouster: How Epstein Files plagued her time as US Attorney General

Bondi, from loyalist to labiality Bondi was a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial, when he was accused of abusing his power as he tried to condition US military assistance to Ukraine on that country investigating then-former Vice President Joe Biden."

She also showed her loyalty by attending Trump's New York trial for paying hush money to porn actor Stormy Daniels, with whom he allegedly had an affair.

But according to a New York Times report, Trump was disappointed with "Bondi's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which has become a political liability for Trump among his supporters. He has also complained about her shortcomings as a communicator and vented about what he sees as the Department of Justice's lack of aggressiveness in going after his foes."

The president has long indicated that whoever served as attorney general in his administration should see themselves as his lawyer rather than as someone representing the US government.

Only Trump knows On Tuesday, acting US Attorney General Todd Blanche said nobody other than President Trump knows why Bondi was replaced.

Also Read | Who is Todd Blanche? Trump replaces Pam Bondi as US Attorney General

Nobody has any idea why the attorney general is no longer the attorney general, and Im the acting attorney general, except for President Trump, Blanche said.

Blanche, who was, until now, the deputy attorney general, said he did not feel "pressure" in the job despite Trump's well-publicized desire for retribution.

He also said that the president was entitled to seek investigations against former government officials he believes have wronged him.

We have thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions going on in this country right now. And it is true that some of them involve men, women and entities that the president in the past has had issues with and believes should be investigated. That is his right, and indeed it is his duty to do that," Blanche said.

Bondi have to appears, say Democrats Democrats on the committee said Bondi had to appear regardless of her firing.

Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the Attorney General or not, Representative Robert Garcia, the top-ranking Democrat on the committee said in a statement. She must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in the Congress.
The United States and Iran reached a ceasefire deal on Tuesday evening (US time), hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to start wiping out Irans whole civilisation if it did not allow vessels to pass safely through the crucial Strait of Hormuz.

Trump announced the ceasefire in a social media post. Hours before the announcement, Pakistan, a mediator in the West Asia war, urged Trump to stand down from the 8 pm Eastern time (5:30 am IST on Wednesday) deadline he had set for Iran to accede to his demands.

Trump said he agreed to Pakistan's proposal, which calls for a two-week ceasefire and the immediate opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Over the next two weeks, Trump said the United States will work to finalise an agreement with Iran.

Pakistan proposed that each side observe a two-week ceasefire and that, during that time, Iran allow oil, gas and other vessels to proceed unmolested through the economically vital waterway.

Irans Supreme National Security Council said it had accepted a two-week ceasefire in the war. In a statement, the council said it would begin negotiations with the United States in Islamabad on Friday.

It is emphasized that this does not signify the termination of the war, the Council warned. Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.

'Whole civilisation will die tonight' In the threat before the ceasefire, Trump warned on Tuesday morning, a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again if Iran refused to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Democrats condemned Trumps comments, joined by some Make America Great Again supporters who have broken with him, and by the first American-born Pope. Some Republican lawmakers voiced concern that the threat could cause the president to lose public support, The New York Times reported.

In fact, more than a quarter of congressional Democrats have already called for Trumps removal from office, either through impeachment or by his cabinet stripping him of power through the 25th Amendment, the NYT reported.

Many raised concerns about the presidents soundness of mind and said his post to social media threatening widespread civilian destruction was evidence that he was not mentally fit to hold office, the newspaper said.

When did the war start? It's been six weeks since the West Asia war began with joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran. Tensions escalated following the killing of 86-year-old Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the military strikes on 28 February.

In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets across several Gulf countries, impacting international energy markets as well as global economic stability and disrupting trade through the Strait of Hormuz.

On 3 April, Iran shot down a US Air Force F-15E fighter jet. The jet was carrying two crew members; US forces rescued one of them the same day. The search-and-rescue operation for the second airman lasted two days and took commandos deep inside Iran. The downing of the F-15E was the first time that a US combat aircraft was shot down in the war.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency, as per a NYT report, said at least 1,665 civilians, including 244 children, had been killed in Iran as of Monday. Lebanons health ministry on Monday reported more than 1,500 deaths in the latest fighting between Israel and Hezbollah. Regional attacks blamed on Iran killed at least 32 people in the Gulf nations.

Israel reported at least 20 deaths as of Monday. The US military confirmed 13 service members killed and hundreds more wounded.

Iran's Supreme Security Council had submitted a 10-point proposal to the US via Pakistan. Irans explanation of the 10-point plan included its claim that the Strait of Hormuz would be subject to regulated passage ... under the coordination of the Armed Forces of Iran. It added that it would be thereby conferring upon Iran a unique economic and geopolitical standing. It would also receive full sanctions relief.

Attacks on the synagogue, infra Hours before the ceasefire, the United States and Israel struck key infrastructure in Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying attacks hit railways and bridges allegedly used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The Israeli military also offered a rare statement of regret after it acknowledged damaging a synagogue in Tehran, saying it had been targeting a senior Iranian commander. Iran is home to around 100 synagogues belonging to its centuries-old Jewish minority.

Infrastructure attacks reported by Iranian authorities on Tuesday included a US-Israeli strike on a bridge outside the city of Qom and another on a rail bridge in central Iran that killed two people. Iran has retaliated with weeks of drone and missile attacks on Gulf Arab states, citing their role as hubs for US troops.

Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.

Qatar said early Wednesday that four people were hurt by falling missile debris, including a child. AFP reporters also heard explosions in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates said they responded to missile threats.

Two civilians, one of them an eight-year-old child, were killed in Baghdad when a projectile crashed into their home, police told AFP.
By barraging social posts to urge Iran to make a deal and threatening to end the "whole civilisation", is US President Donald Trump deploying what's known as the "Madman Theory"? An international law expert said he believed that there was a deeper strategy at play.

Over the weekend, Trump posted an expletive-laden message for Iran, saying, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F***** Strait, you crazy b******s, or youll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah," was Trump's ominous weekend warning.

Also Read | Trump threatens 50% tariffs on nations supplying weapons to Iran

He vowed to strike Iran's power plants and bridges if the country's leaders don't reopen the Strait of Hormuz. "Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!," he had added, setting the precise deadline for Iran to act.

Waikato University Professor Al Gillespie told RNZ that such actions would technically amount to war crimes, but he believed there was a deeper strategy at play. He spoke about the Madman Theory.

What is the 'Madman Theory'? The Madman Theory is a foreign policy strategy in which a leader pretends to be irrational and unpredictable  to make adversaries believe they might take extreme, even catastrophic, actions.

The theory argues that being perceived as irrational gives a leader an advantage in international coercive bargaining

The phrase Madman Theory itself comes from a statement by Former US President Richard Nixon, recorded in a memoir by his aide.

Also Read | France Has COMPLETELY Pulled Out Of US Gold Reserves

Nixon was famously described as pursuing a Madman Theory in his approach to wartime negotiations, creating the perception that he was capable of any destruction to cow adversaries, according to Reuters.

For Nixon, the historian Zachary Jonathan Jacobson wrote, "the ploy pivoted on the idea that he did not consider himself to be mad. He considered himself crafty."

As per Reuters, the theory hardly led to long-term success in the Vietnam War, but it has been trotted out to explain the current outlook of US President Donald Trump in his campaign against Iran.

Meanwhile, Cody Smith, a lecturer on negotiation and conflict resolution at Columbia University, explained to Reuters that if you're acting like a madman, there's no consistency there, and so you're not going to accomplish the goal that you're seeking to accomplish.

Is Trump successful in deploying 'Madman Theory'? Al Gillespie told RNZ recently that he did not believe that the strategy would be successful because the Iranian regime did not care about what the US did to its civilian population.

He said that the issue with Trump's use of the strategy in the case of Iran is that it relies upon a rational opposition.

"In the case of either religious regimes or autocratic regimes, they often don't have that fear," he said, adding, And then there's the concern that they don't actually believe the person making the threat.

"Iran feels emboldened by Mr Trump's increasingly extreme rhetoric... I think they almost want it right now," Gillespie was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, the MIT Centre for International Studies noted that the Madman Theory approach has been tried  mostly unsuccessfully  by leaders as diverse as Nikita Krushchev and Moammar Gadhafi.

Besides, Cody Smith believes that "In general, you want to have the other side to some degree think that you are sane."
Israel Attacks Lebanon Highlights: Israel launched a large-scale, surprise military operation against Hezbollah targets across Lebanon on Wednesday, even as a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect.

Israels Defence Minister Israel Katz said the strikes targeted hundreds of Hezbollah members at command centres.

The IDF carried out a surprise strike on hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists at command centres across Lebanon.

He described the operation as: The largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has suffered since Operation Beepers.

Ceasefire doesnt cover Lebanon

The strikes come a day after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, aimed at preventing wider regional escalation. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made clear that the truce does not extend to Israels conflict with Hezbollah.

Israels Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel deliberately separated the Iran and Lebanon fronts:

We insisted on differentiating between the arenas of Iran and Lebanon in order to change the reality in Lebanon and remove threats from the residents of the north.
The White House announced on Wednesday (April 8) that President Donald Trump is sending Vice President JD Vance and other top officials to Islamabad for direct talks with Iran aimed at ending weeks of conflict in the region.

President Trump is dispatching his negotiating team led by the vice president of the United States, JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks this weekend, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

The first round of negotiations is set for Saturday morning local time, with Vance leading the US delegation.

Iran confirms participation Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed Tehran will attend the Islamabad talks following a telephone conversation with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He confirmed that Iran would be participating in the negotiations in Islamabad, the Pakistan PMO said in a statement.

Irans delegation is expected to be led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a central figure in Tehrans wartime leadership structure.

Fragile ceasefire under pressure Sporadic fighting continues in the region, particularly in Lebanon, where Israel is striking Hezbollah targets. Iran has claimed these attacks violate the ceasefire.

The IranU.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must chooseceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X.

Ghalibaf also cited the fighting, drone incursions into Iranian airspace, and what he called a denial of Irans right to enrichment, adding that in such circumstances, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable.

Strait of Hormuz remains critical The strategic Strait of Hormuz remains a key point of tension. Iranian media said Tehran has largely blocked the passage, while the White House says it has observed an uptick of traffic in the strait today.

President Trump emphasized that reopening the strait is a condition for the ceasefire holding. Leavitt added that the US would assist in ensuring safe passage for international shipping.

Trump suspends attacks on Iran Trump on April 7 announced a two-week suspension of bombing and attacks on Iran, describing it as a double-sided CEASEFIRE contingent on Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks, Trump said on Truth Social.

He added that the ceasefire would allow negotiations for a long-term peace agreement: We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Israel maintains military operations in Lebanon Despite the ceasefire with Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Lebanon and Hezbollah are not part of the agreement.
United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, an agreement that was struck at the eleventh hour before the '8pm deadline' that US President Donald Trump set over the weekend.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine address media persons on Operation Epic Fury.

Here are the updates from the press conference.

19:09 IST

Gen Caine honors 13 US troops killed in Iran war  Their sacrifice matters "...honouring the 13 members of our American joint force who were killed in action thus far during this operation; their sacrifice and that of their families is deeply important to us, and we are grateful," General Caine said.

19:04 IST

Caine says every Shahed drone factory was struck in Iran assault "Every factory that produced Shahed one-way attack drones was struck," General Caine said, referring to weapons Iran deploying the weapon during the conflict.

19:02 IST

Ceasefire is a pause, Gen Caine warns as US stays ready "Let us be clear, a ceasefire is a pause, and the joint force remains ready, if ordered or called upon," General Dan Caine said.

"the joint force remains ready if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision as we've demonstrated over the last 38 days. And we hope that that is not the case," Caine said.

19:09 IST

Hegseth says US will make sure Iran complies to the terms "Had Iran refused our terms, the next targets would have been their power plants, their bridges and oil and energy infrastructure," Hegseth said.

Hegseth warned that "we stand ready in the background to ensure that Iran upholds" the terms.

"We're going to make sure Iran complies with this ceasefire and then ultimately comes to the table and makes a deal," he said.

19:06 IST

Iran can no longer build missiles, US Defense Secy Hegseth says "We finished completely destroying Iran's defense industrial base, a core pillar of our mission," Hegseth told reporters.

"They can no longer build missiles, build rockets, build launchers or build (drones) -- their factories have been razed to the ground, set back in historic fashion," he said.

19:04 IST

Trump chose mercy, Hegseth says on Iran ceasefire Defense Secretary Hegseth said President Trump chose mercy in Iran, adds Irans leadership accepted a two-week ceasefire under overwhelming pressure.

18:59 IST

Hegseth says he wants to see Iranians "take advantage of this opportunity" "I would love to see the Iranian people take advantage of this opportunity, they have been oppressed by the previous regime, and they'll have a new opportunity with this regime that remains to be seen," Hegseth said.

18:55 IST

Hegseth warns of repeat strike option Hegseth pointed to US military action as a warning of what could follow if Iran refuses to comply.

like we did Midnight Hammer or something like that, he said, referring to earlier US strikes on Irans nuclear facilities.

18:50 IST

US hit 13,000 targets in Iran, destroyed 80% air defences, says Gen Caine US forces hit over 13,000 targets in Iran, according to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine .

He says around 80% of Irans air defence systems destroyed, and more than 90% of Irans conventional navy fleet wiped out.

Caine says nearly 90% of Irans weapons factories destroyed, adds, It will take years for Iran to rebuild any major surface combatants.

18:48 IST

Give it voluntarily  or well take it out, Pentagon's ultimatum to Iran on uranium The Defense Secretary outlined two possible paths for Iran  voluntary compliance or forced action.

They will either give it to us theyll give it to us voluntarily, well get it, well take it out  or if we have to do something else ourselves we reserve that opportunity.

18:46 IST

Were watching it, Hegseth says on Irans buried uranium US Defense Secretary Hegseth said Washington is closely monitoring Irans enriched uranium stockpile, warning that the material remains a key point in any future deal with Tehran.

Responding to a question on whether Iran would be required to hand over its enriched uranium, Hegseth said the material is currently hidden but under surveillance.

That material is currently buried and the U.S. is watching it.

18:43 IST

Were not going anywhere, Hegseth says as ceasefire holds US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that the military was "hanging around" as the ceasefire is underway.

"We'll be hanging around, we're not going anywhere," he said.

18:39 IST

Bravery and sheer guts of US troops praised by Defense Secretary Hegseth says:

For now, for now, [the Pentagon] has done its part

We stand ready in the background to ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term.

Bravery and sheer guts of the US military were key to the operation.

The operation had hobbled Irans regime.

Hegseth claimed the US achieved the best deal possible: Nobody makes a better deal than Trump.

18:35 IST

Iran has been a threat for 47 years, Pentagon Chief says Hegseth says: "Iran has been a THREAT to the United States and the free world for 47 years. Chants 'Death to America.' Targeting our people. Killing Americans. Lying and blackmailing their way toward a nuclear weapon... No longer. Not on our watch."

18:30 IST

Hegseth says Iran agreed to deal after out of options US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the new Iranian regime understood that a deal was far better than the fate that awaited them.

Hegseth confirmed that several senior Iranian officials were killed during the US-Israeli strikes, which he described as critical to achieving strategic objectives.

This new regime was out of options and out of time, so they cut a deal, he said.

"They know that this agreement means they will never, ever possess a nuclear weapon, Hegseth added.

18:25 IST

Hegseth says every single objective on plan, on schedule in Iran campaign The US-Israeli joint operation met every objective on plan and on schedule, says Hegseth.

We finished completely destroying Irans defense-industrial base, a core pillar of our mission, Hegseth added. They can no longer build missiles.

Hegseth says US dismantled Irans military in less than 40 days using only 10% of its combat power.

Hegseth says Irans navy has been sunk at the bottom of the sea

He says Irans missile capabilities are functionally destroyed.

18:22 IST

Iran begged for this ceasefire, says Hegseth Iran begged for this ceasefire  and we all know it, said Hegseth.

"Operation Epic Fury was a capital V military victory," he said.

Hegseth said that the operation rendered Iran's military "combat ineffective for years to come."

18:20 IST

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declares operation in Iran a 'a historic and overwhelming victory' US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, referring to the Pentagons name for the war, said: Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield.

The Defense Secretary highlighted that US objectives  including neutralizing Iranian ballistic missile capabilities, targeting the Iranian navy, and striking the countrys defense industrial base  had been achieved.

Under the terms of the ceasefire arrangement, Tehran will temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor, while Washington suspends planned strikes.

When, where to watch the press conference? The press briefing can be viewed on the official X handle of Department of War.
US President Donald Trump clarified on Wednesday (April 8) that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreement the United States reached with Iran, citing the presence of Hezbollah as the primary reason.

Trump, in an interview with PBS News, explained that the ceasefire with Iran applies specifically to the US-Iran conflict.

When asked about Israels military operations in Lebanon, the President described the situation as a separate skirmish, emphasizing that the US agreement with Iran does not extend to Lebanons conflict with Hezbollah.

Thats a separate skirmish, Trump said, according to PBS NewsHour correspondent Liz Landers, who posted the remarks on X (formerly Twitter).

The comments come a day after the US and Iran reached a two-week ceasefire in the wake of escalating tensions in the Middle East. The agreement, which was announced on Tuesday (April 7), aimed to temporarily halt hostilities and allow diplomatic efforts to take precedence.

Also Read | Donald Trump says only one set of terms acceptable in US-Iran talks

Ceasefire tensions rise While both the US and Iran claimed victory after the ceasefire agreement, Israel intensified its operations in Lebanon, striking multiple commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning.

Lebanons health authorities reported at least 112 deaths and hundreds wounded in what has become one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah conflict.

Iran signals retaliation Iranian officials tied the attacks on Lebanon to their own security interests.

Aggression towards Lebanon is aggression towards Iran, said Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi, aerospace commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard, in a post on X. He added that Iranian forces were preparing a heavy response, though he did not provide further details.

Iran also accused the United States of violating three clauses of its ceasefire framework, citing continued hostilities and perceived infringements on Irans security rights.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that ending the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire agreement:

The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments, he wrote on X.
US Vice President JD Vance clarified on Wednesday (April 8) that Lebanon was not included in the US-Iran ceasefire agreed on Tuesday, despite Tehrans understanding to the contrary.

I think this comes from a legitimate misunderstanding. I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn't, Vance told reporters in Budapest.

He added that the US position was that the ceasefire focuses solely on Iran and US allies, including Israel and the Gulf Arab states. This contradicts earlier comments from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator, who had suggested the truce would cover Lebanon.

Israel agrees to show restraint Vance said Israel had offered to exercise restraint in Lebanon to ensure the success of US-Iran negotiations, though he did not provide details.

The Israelis, as I understand it  have actually offered to, frankly, to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful, he said.

President Donald Trump echoed the position, telling PBS News that Lebanon is not part of the US-Iran truce because of Hezbollah but would get taken care of.

Asked about Israels continued strikes, Trump said: That's a separate skirmish, according to PBS News Hour correspondent Liz Landers.

Iran stresses Lebanon ceasefire Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a Lebanon ceasefire was a key condition of Tehrans 10-point plan to end the Middle East war, ISNA reported.

Pezeshkian told French President Emmanuel Macron that Irans acceptance of the ceasefire signals responsibility and serious will to resolve conflicts through diplomacy. He added: Establishing a ceasefire in Lebanon has been one of the key conditions of Iran's 10-point plan.

Fragile truce under pressure The two-week ceasefire between the US.and Iran remains fragile, with Tehran threatening to resume hostilities as Israel launched a major bombardment of Lebanon.

Both Washington and Tehran claimed victory in the ceasefire deal, which aims to end weeks of conflict that have killed thousands and disrupted global markets.

However, fractures emerged as Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since Hezbollah joined the war, killing at least 112 people and wounding hundreds on Wednesday, authorities said.

Irans parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that repeated violations of Irans framework for talks could undermine the ceasefire.

The very 'workable basis on which to negotiate' has been openly and clearly violated, even before the negotiations began. In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable, he wrote on X.

Israel intensifies campaign against Hezbollah Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon would continue, emphasizing that the ceasefire with Iran does not include the Lebanese armed group.

We continue to strike it with force, Netanyahu said.
The White House has demanded that Iran immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz following claims that Tehran had closed the vital maritime route amid Israel's air strikes on Lebanon.

The White House said on Wednesday that Iran has agreed to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and reported an increase in maritime traffic through the vital waterway amid efforts to stabilise tensions in the Middle East.

According to the White House, President Donald Trump expects the strait to remain open, and stressed that Tehran will be held accountable if it fails to ensure continued access for international shipping.

Strategic waterway at center of crisis The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, is one of the worlds most vital shipping lanes, with nearly 20 % of global oil and natural gas passing through it. Any disruption to traffic can have immediate implications for global energy markets.

Just hours earlier, Iranian state media reported that Tehran had closed the strait in response to Israeli airstrikes on Lebanon, raising fears the already fragile ceasefire with the United States  agreed just days earlier  was unraveling. According to those reports, Iran positioned the closure as retaliation against strikes that it views as violations of the ceasefire terms.

Israeli strikes in Lebanon Israeli strikes intensified in Lebanon, hitting multiple commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning. Lebanons health authorities reported at least 112 deaths and hundreds more wounded in one of the deadliest days of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

The world is witnessing massacres in Lebanon, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on X. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.

Iran signals retaliation Iranian officials linked the attacks on Lebanon to its own security concerns.

"Aggression towards Lebanon is aggression towards Iran," Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi, aerospace commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard, said on X, warning that Iranian forces were preparing a heavy response without providing further details.

Iran also accused the United States of violating three clauses of its framework for the ceasefire, citing concerns over ongoing hostilities and Irans security rights.
The US, Israel, and Iran have agreed on a 15-day ceasefire after 40 days of war, bringing a pause to one of the most consequential conflicts in recent times. The US and Iran are expected to meet in Islamabad in the coming days for the Pakistan-facilitated peace talks.

The world has reacted positively to the ceasefire announcement, with most expressing hopes for a peaceful, long-term settlement for the conflict that nearly threatened to destabilise the global economy.

Global media coverage This optimism was also evident in global media coverage of the ceasefire announcement.

Western media outlets like CNN and DW focused on the conditional nature of the truce, emphasising President Trumps demand for the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The New York Times, print edition, had a simple headline, reading US and Iran Agree to Two-Week Ceasefire, while the Washington Post also put focus on Trumps threat, saying Trump pulls back on threats as US, Israel and Iran reach a 2-week ceasefire deal.

11th-hour deal The Guardian, while announcing the ceasefire deal, also shed light on the mood in Iran, saying Jubilation on streets of Tehran as Iran and US agree two-week ceasefire".

The BBC focused on the fragile nature of the ceasefire and how the world at large was hoping for Iran, the US, and Israel to agree on suspending the hostilities.

Other media outlets like CBS highlighted the 11th hour deal and Trumps threat hours earlier.

What Iranian media said Over in Iran, state-run IRIB and other domestic outlets framed the ceasefire as Tehrans "victory". They claimed that Iran's military resilience and retaliatory strikes forced the US to step back, with officials stating that "almost all goals of the war have been achieved".

Press TVs headline read, Iran declares 'historic victory' over US, says enemy forced to accept its proposal. The Tehran Times also described the agreement as a "historic victory" for Iran.

What is next for the US and Iran? United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that Washington intends to demand a total cessation of uranium enrichment in Iran, while simultaneously initiating discussions regarding sanctions relief and tariff reductions.

"There will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried nuclear 'dust'," he said.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that the United States is prepared to "work closely with Iran" following the recent hostilities. He further suggested that the foundations for a more comprehensive international settlement have effectively been established.

Trump described the arrangement as a "double-sided CEASEFIRE!" The US had "already met and exceeded all Military objectives" and is now "very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Long-term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."

The President further acknowledged Iran's 10-point proposal as a "workable basis on which to negotiate," noting that "almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to."
Iran has threatened to withdraw from the recent ceasefire agreement with US, if Israel persists in violating the truce by continuing its attacks on Lebanon, Tasnim News Agency reported, citing sources.

Iran's comments follow after a large wave of strikes by the Israeli military was reported across Lebanon on Wednesday  even as a ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect.

Israel described Wednesday's attacks as the largest wave of strikes to date in the conflict  as it hit southern suburbs of Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

Hospitals have been overwhelmed as casualties mount, with many feared trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings according to a report by New York Times.

Why did Israel attack Lebanon amid ceasefire? Israel has backed Donald Trumps decision to pause strikes on Iran for two weeks, but clarified that the arrangement does not apply to Lebanon, where its military remains engaged in a prolonged campaign against Hezbollah, mentioned NYT's report.

A few hours after the ceasefire was confirmed, Netanyahu said: Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region."

The Israeli PM's statement added that "ceasefire does not include Lebanon", where Israel has ground troops, reported BBC.

It however, stands in contradiction to Tehran's 10-point peace proposal, where it had called for cessation of hostilities on all fronts  including Lebanon.

Iran's 10-point peace plan Earlier in the day, two senior Iranian officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity told The New York Times that the 10-point proposal included a guarantee that Iran would not be attacked again, an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the lifting of all sanctions.
After a two-week ceasefire deal was reached between Iran and the US, the Iranian navy told ships anchored near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday morning that they still required Irans permission to cross the strait, according to the Wall Street Journal.

You must receive permission from Iranian Sepah navy for passing through the strait. If any vessel tries to transit without permission, will be destroyed, the WSJ cited a recording by a crew member.

The message was reportedly broadcast to vessels via radio.

The Sepah is a special operations unit under the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Is Strait of Hormuz open? Iran's IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency reported that oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz have been stopped after Israel allegedly breached the ceasefire.

Earlier, sources told Reuters that several vessels in the Persian Gulf have received messages claiming to be from Irans navy saying the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.

The message said ship owners need to receive permission from Iran to transit and warned that vessels failing to comply would be targeted and destroyed, according to the report.

"Any vessel trying to travel into the sea ... will be targeted and destroyed..." the message read, as per Reuters.

Ceasefire violation Israel says the two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon. However, Irans Tasnim news agency cited a source as saying that Iran could withdraw from the two-week ceasefire agreement if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X that violations of the ceasefire have been reported at a few places across the conflict zone, which undermine the spirit of peace process.

He urged all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict.

Iran reportedly attacked Saudi Arabia's crucial East-West Pipeline just hours after a ceasefire was agreed to pause the Iran war, sources told Reuters and Financial Times on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, currently its only outlet for exporting crude oil, was hit in an Iranian attack while other facilities in the kingdom were also targeted, an industry source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to China Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said that Iran will allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire, but any decision to open the Strait entirely in future will depend on the results of the peace talks with the US, news agency PTI reported.

Iran is considering transit fees for the Strait of Hormuz, he was quoted as saying.

Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday or Friday ahead of talks with the United States in Pakistan if a ceasefire framework is agreed, Reuters reported, citing a senior Iranian official.

Iran-US ceasefire deal President Trump said he had agreed to suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks, subject to a complete, immediate, and safe reopening of the strait.

Trump announced on Tuesday: Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!."

Also Read | Trump warns of strikes on Iran infrastructure on Tuesday amid Hormuz blockade

In another post on TRUTH Social, Trump said the US will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz."

Irans government also signaled its intention to continue asserting influence over the waterway.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the movement of ships through the Strait will be allowed under Iranian military supervision.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations," he said.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi said.

Both the US and Iran mentioned Pakistan's role in arriving at the conditional ceasefire.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday said it carried out the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the joint military operation against Iran. In 10 minutes, the IDF completed the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, the IDF said in a post on X.

According to the IDF, the strike targeted more than Hezbollah headquarters, military arrays, and command-and-control centers in Beirut, Beqaa and southern Lebanon.

The State of Lebanon and its civilians must refuse Hezbollahs entrenchment in civilian areas and its weapons build-up capabilities, the military said in a statement.

Israel insisted separating Iran, Lebanon wars Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDFs large wave of strikes in Lebanon targeted hundreds of Hezbollah operatives.

Hundreds of Hezbollah operatives were targeted in surprise strikes at headquarters across Lebanon, in the largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has suffered since the pager operation, he said.

Also Read | While the world is focused on Iran, something much worse is unfolding in Lebanon

Katz also said Israel insisted on separating the war with Iran from the fighting in Lebanon in order to change the reality in Lebanon, and remove threats to northern Israel.

Strikes in the heart of Beirut Confirming the strikes, Lebanons National News Agency reported that the airstrikes hit at least five different neighborhoods in Beirut's central and coastal areas.

According to The Associated Press, it was not immediately clear how many people were killed or wounded, but several strikes were in busy commercial locations, causing panic in the streets.

Lebanon's Minister of Social Affairs, Haneed Sayed condemned the Israeli strikes, calling it a very dangerous turning point.

These hits are now at the heart of Beirut  Half of the sheltered (internally displaced persons) are in Beirut in this area, she told The Associated Press, adding that she had just driven by the areas hit.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon The latest Israeli strike in Lebanon comes hours after the US, Israel and Iran agreed on a 15-day ceasefire. But Israel has made it clear that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire deal and that strikes in the country, targeting Hezbollah, will continue.

Israeli militarys chief of staff Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir on Wednesday said they will continue to utilize every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. Gen. Zamir said its to protect Israels northern residents, who have come under heavy fire.

Israel began bombing Lebanon in the first week of March after Hezbollah launched missiles from across the border in response to the killing of Ali Khamenei, the former Supreme Leader of Iran, on February 28.

Lebanese PM calls for international help On Wednesday, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on his country's friends to help put an end to Israeli attacks following a series of deadly strikes across the country.

In a statement, Salam said that while Beirut "welcomed the agreement between Iran and the United States and intensified our efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon, Israel continues to escalate its attacks".

Also Read | Lebanon declares Iranian ambassador persona non grata, Israel welcomes move

"All of Lebanon's friends are called upon to help us stop these attacks by all available means," he added.

Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon, including more than 100 women and 130 children. The Israeli military has said it has killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters.
North Korea conducted a slew of new weapons tests, the state run Korean Central News Agency said, including one involving an electromagnetic weapon system and a carbon fiber bomb.

The tests, which were conducted over three days from Monday to Wednesday, were overseen by General Kim Jong Sik, the KCNA report said.

The weapons tests come at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. Pyongyang has moved closer to Moscow in recent years, supporting Russias war against Ukraine, and is now looking to bolster ties with Beijing. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting the North from Thursday, his first trip to the neighboring country in more than six years.

Kim said the electromagnetic weapon and carbon fiber bomb are special assets of strategic nature to be combined with and applied to various military means in different spheres, the KCNA report said, without giving further details. The report added that there had also been a test to verify the combat reliability of the mobile short-range anti-aircraft missile system.

In addition, the countrys Ballistic Missile System Institute and the Warhead Institute of the Missile Administration conducted tests estimating the combat application and cluster munitions power of tactical ballistic missile warhead, the report said.

The KCNA report said that the tests had confirmed that one of the countrys surface-to-surface tactical ballistic missiles tipped with a cluster bomb warhead was able to reduce to ashes any target covering an area of 6.5~7 hectares with the highest-density power.

North Korea is banned under successive rafts of UN sanctions from testing ballistic missiles.

On Wednesday, South Koreas military said that the North had launched multiple rounds of ballistic missiles into waters off its east coast.

On Tuesday, the North fired a projectile in what may have been a failed weapons test, Yonhap news agency reported at the time. That projectile flew eastward before showing signs of anomaly early in flight and disappearing, Yonhap said.

The launches took place days after a North Korean statement conveyed leader Kim Jong Uns rare praise for South Koreas President Lee Jae Myung in response to Lees expression of regret over unauthorized drone flights that crossed the border into the Norths airspace.

Story Link: N. Korea Conducted Test of Electromagnetic Weapon System: KCNA

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Saudi Arabias East-West oil pipeline, crucial for carrying crude from the Gulf to the Red Sea for export, has been attacked, sources told the Financial Times on Wednesday.

Sources were quoted as saying that a pumping station was hit by a drone at about 1pm local time on Wednesday. They said the damage was being assessed.

Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil company that owns and operates the pipeline, declined to comment to the Financial Times. The company has been rerouting exports to the Red Sea via the line to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, the report added.

Also Read | Saudi Arabia hikes Arab Light crude premium for Asian refiners amid conflict

The pumping station under attack was one of several along the 1,200km pipeline that has become an economic lifeline for the kingdom since the near closure of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The attack came hours after Iran and the US agreed a ceasefire deal on Tuesday evening US time.

Why is Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline crucial? Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline was built in the 1980s due to concerns that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed during the Iran-Iraq tanker war, FT reported.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg explained that the East-West pipeline has become a crucial part of Saudi Arabias oil export business since Iran all but shut down traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

The shutdown allowed the kingdom  the worlds largest crude exporter  to re-route oil flows from the Persian Gulf to its Western shore, in the Red Sea.

Also Read | Saudi Arabia hikes Arab Light crude premium for Asian refiners amid conflict

As of late March, the pipeline was pumping oil at its full capacity of 7 million barrels a day, sources told Bloomberg.

The East-West pipeline is looking like a strategic masterstroke right now, Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Houstons Rice University was quoted by Bloomberg as saying.

The entire global economy is better off with the line in operation," he added.

US-Iran ceasefire The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire just hours before President Donald Trump's deadline ended on Tuesday.

Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!, Trump announced on Tuesday.

The US President later said that the country will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump announced on Wednesday, A country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions.

He also revealed a few details of the deal, saying, The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!

Also Read | Trump threatens 50% tariffs on nations supplying weapons to Iran

There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear Dust. It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!), Trump said.
After 39 days of intense fighting, the US, Israel and Iran have agreed to suspend the hostilities, at least temporarily, as the three countries agreed on a 15-day ceasefire. US President Donald Trump, who hours before the deal was reached, threatened that a whole civilisation will die tonight, was quick to claim a total and complete victory for the US.

US claims victory Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it, Trump told AFP shortly after the announcement of the truce. This is despite the fact that the US has not fully achieved any of the declared goals of Operation Epic Fury, including the destruction of Irans nuclear program and military infrastructure, regime change, and annihilation of Iran's proxy networks. The only tangible victory for the US in the ceasefire deal is Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which, ironically, was not closed before the start of the war on 28 February.

Historic victory says Iran Iran, too, has claimed victory after the ceasefire deal was reached on the 11th hour on Tuesday. According to Iran, it has achieved a historic and crushing defeat of the United States as Washington has been forced to accept a 10-point Iranian proposal.

Who is the winner? While there are no clear winners or losers in this conflict, many observers have handed at least a symbolic victory to Iran, just for not losing the war against its much stronger opponents, the US and Israel.

2006 Israel-Hezbollah war Incidentally, the Iranian victory is reminiscent of the outcome of the 2006 Israel- Hezbollah war, in which the Tehran-backed Lebanese militia was widely perceived as the winner because it was not defeated by Israel after the 34-day-long conflict, despite suffering significant casualties.

The victory catapulted Hezbollah as the premier resistance force against Israel in the region, a title it continued to hold for nearly two decades. Hezbollah went on to become the world's most heavily armed and powerful non-state actor, until another round of conflict with Israel in the wake of the 7 October 2023 Hamas terror attack.

Now Iran also has a similar victory in the current conflict against the US and Israel.

US agrees to Iran's 10-point proposal According to Iran, the future negotiations will be based on its 10-point agenda.

* No new aggression against Iran

* Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz

* Acceptance of enrichment

* Removal of all primary sanctions

* Removal of all secondary sanctions

* Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions

* Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions

* Payment of compensation to Iran

* Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region

* Cessation of war on all fronts, including against the heroic Islamic Resistance of Lebanon
US-Iran Ceasefire: A fragile diplomatic opening has emerged in the US-Iran war, with both sides agreeing to a two-week ceasefire framework brokered by Pakistan.

The ceasefire, announced late Tuesday amid looming threats of military escalation, is intended to create space for high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad. Iran's Supreme National Security Council said Iran achieved historic victory by forcing US to accept its 10-point plan. However, Tehran has signalled that any lasting peace will hinge on sweeping concessions outlined in its 10-point plan.

The breakthrough follows days of heightened tensions, during which US President Donald Trump set a deadline for potential large-scale strikes against Iran. According to the latest developments, Washington has agreed to a temporary cessation of hostilities under a Pakistani-mediated proposal.

The arrangement includes a limited de-escalation window during which both sides are expected to refrain from offensive actions. Crucially, this period is also designed to facilitate direct negotiations, scheduled to begin Friday, 11 April, in Islamabad.

Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, on 7 April confirmed that maritime stability would be part of the temporary understanding, saying: For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Irans armed forces and with due consideration to technical limitations.

Strait of Hormuz: A critical flashpoint The Strait of Hormuzthrough which a significant share of the worlds oil supply passeshas been central to the crisis. Tehrans willingness to ensure temporary safe passage signals a tactical concession, though it remains tightly controlled.

Iran has underscored that any such arrangement will be managed directly by its military, reinforcing its claim to authority over the strategic waterway during the ceasefire period.

Tehrans conditional ceasefire stance Irans Supreme National Security Council has framed the ceasefire not as a concession, but as a conditional pause dependent on reciprocal restraint from Washington.

In an official statement, Argachi said, If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.

Also Read | LIVE: Trump suspends Iran threats for 14 days as ceasefire talks advance

The language reflects a defensive posture while leaving open the possibility of renewed conflict should negotiations falter.

The 10-point plan: Irans demands At the core of the upcoming talks is Irans assertion that it has compelled the US to accept its 10-point plan as the basis for negotiations:

Commitment to non-aggression

Irans control over the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's 10-point plan says the US must accept uranium enrichment, lift all sanctions

Acceptance of Iran's uranium enrichment

Lifting of all primary sanctions

Lifting of all secondary sanctions

Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions

Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions

Paying compensation to Iran

Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region

Cessation of war on all fronts, including in Lebanon Tehran has characterised this framework as a diplomatic victory, though Washington has not publicly confirmed acceptance of all terms.

Islamabad talks: High stakes, low trust Negotiations are expected to be led by Vice President JD Vance on behalf of the US, with Pakistan acting as host and intermediary. Iranian officials have made clear that the talks will proceed with deep scepticism.

The National Security Council statement emphasised: Accordingly, it was decided at the highest level that Iran will hold negotiations with the American side in Islamabad for two weeks and solely on the basis of these principles.

It added: It is emphasised that this does not mean an end to the war and Iran will accept an end to the war only when  in view of Irans acceptance of the principles envisaged in the 10-point plan  its details are also finalised in the negotiations.

US-Iran War reaches a ceasefire, not a peace settlement Despite the diplomatic movement, Tehran has issued a stark warning that the conflict remains unresolved. The two-week window is explicitly framed as provisional and reversible.
US-Iran war ceasefire Highlights: US, Israel and Iran has accepted a two-week ceasefire as the conflict enters sixth week, but conflicting versions from all sides raise doubts

What Trump said?

Trump said that the United States had won a "total and complete victory" after agreeing a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran. "Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it," Trump told AFP.

What Iran said?

Tehran has already secured a "historic" victory in the ongoing conflict, it said. Describing the outcome of the conflict, the statement said, "The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation." It further added that Iran had compelled "the criminal America to accept its 10-point plan."

What Israel said?

Israel backed the US move, provided Tehran immediately opens the Strait and stops attacks against the United States, Israel, and Gulf countries in the region. Israel also said it supports US efforts to ensure Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile or "terror" threat to the US, Israel, and Iran's Arab neighbours. However, the ceasefire deal does not include Lebanon, it mentioned.

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As the United States and Iran prepare for high-stakes negotiations in Islamabad, the fragile two-week ceasefire has created a narrow diplomatic windowbut not necessarily a pathwayto peace. With both sides entering talks from sharply divergent positions, the discussions are expected to be tense, complex and potentially decisive for the trajectory of the conflict.

The ceasefire talks will take place in Islamabad on Saturday, 11 April.

Who is going to US-Iran ceasefire talks in Islamabad? The Islamabad meeting, expected to begin on Saturday, will mark the first direct, in-person engagement between Washington DC and Tehran since the outbreak of hostilities.

Pakistan, which played a central role in brokering the ceasefire, is positioning itself as a key intermediary in what could become a defining geopolitical negotiation. Tehran has confirmed its participation, while the White House has indicated that discussions are under consideration, though not formally finalised.

Senior officials suggest that Vice President JD Vance is likely to lead the US delegation, signalling the importance Washington attaches to the talks. Iran is expected to be represented by senior diplomatic figures, including its foreign minister.

Irans ISNA news agency reported that Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is set to lead Tehrans negotiating team in talks in Islamabad with US Vice President JD Vance, while a separate report from Tasnim, citing an official, said that a final decision on the head of Irans negotiating delegation has not yet been made.

What will be on the table? At the core of the negotiations lies Irans sweeping 10-point proposal, which President Donald Trump has described as a workable basis on which to negotiate.

The framework includes demands long rejected by Washington, including:

Lifting all primary and secondary sanctions

Withdrawal of US forces from the Middle East

Continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz

Release of frozen Iranian assets

Binding guarantees through a UN Security Council resolution These proposals are expected to form the foundation of the discussions, though significant revisions are likely to be required for any agreement to materialise.

The nuclear question The most contentious issue is likely to be Irans insistence on retaining uranium enrichment capabilities.

While a potential agreement may involve commitments not to pursue nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief, Tehrans demand for recognition of its enrichment programme remains a red line for the US and its allies.

This fundamental disagreement reflects a deeper divide: Iran frames enrichment as a sovereign right, whereas Washington views it as a proliferation risk requiring strict limitation.

Strait of Hormuz debate Control over the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be another major flashpoint in the talks.

Iran has indicated that maritime passage during the ceasefire will be coordinated by its military, raising concerns about long-term authority over a waterway critical to global energy flows.

The proposal also includes provisions allowing Iran and Oman to impose transit fees of up to $2 million per vessel, with revenues directed towards reconstruction.

Should negotiations collapse, Tehran has signalled it could once again restrict access to the strait, underscoring its leverage.

What Iran expects Tehran is entering negotiations from a position it portrays as strength, presenting the ceasefire as a strategic success rather than a concession.

Irans leadership has made clear that the talks will proceed strictly within the framework of its 10-point plan, with limited room for compromise.

It is emphasized that this does not signify the termination of the war. Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.

This posture suggests that Iran will seek not only sanctions relief and security guarantees, but also broader recognition of its regional and strategic interests.

What the US wants Washingtons objectives are expected to centre on de-escalation without conceding core security concerns.

The US is likely to push for:

Guaranteed freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz

Constraints on Irans nuclear programme

Regional de-escalation, including limits on attacks by allied groups

A framework that avoids granting Iran expanded strategic control At the same time, domestic political considerationsincluding Congressional scrutinymay limit the extent of concessions the administration can offer.

A narrow window for diplomacy The two-week ceasefire provides only a limited timeframe for progress, though it may be extended by mutual agreement.

Analysts broadly expect that Irans maximalist demands will serve as an opening position rather than a final settlement. The negotiations are therefore likely to focus on identifying areas of incremental compromise rather than achieving a comprehensive agreement immediately.

What role will Pakistan play next? Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he would welcome US and Iranian delegations to the capital from 10 April.

"Iran will feel more comfortable in Islamabad, which is why it accepted Pakistan's mediation," AFP quoted Asif Ali Khan Durrani, the former Pakistani ambassador to Iran, adding Pakistan could help the two sides resolve outstanding differences.

If talks were direct, "then Pakistan may help the parties to fine-tune the language if there is a stalemate", he said, adding that Pakistan officials could also act as the go-between if the two sides would not meet face-to-face.

Pakistan does not formally recognise Israel, which said on Wednesday it supported Trump's decision to suspend bombing, but that the two-week ceasefire did not include Lebanon where it has carried out ground and aerial operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah.
A large wave of strikes by the Israeli military was reported across Lebanon on Wednesday, even as US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Hospitals have been overwhelmed as casualties mount, with many feared trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings, according to a report by the New York Times.

Israel described Wednesday's attacks as the largest wave of strikes to date in the conflict  as it hit the southern suburbs of Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

Why is Israel bombing Lebanon? Israel reportedly backed US President Donald Trumps decision to pause attacks on Iran for two weeks, but made it clear the understanding does not apply to Lebanon, where its forces remain engaged in a prolonged conflict with Hezbollah, according to a report by The New York Times.

The ceasefire agreement comes 39 days after Iran launched a wave of retaliatory attacks in response to the US and Israel's joint strikes on the Islamic Republic. Explosions were also reported across Abu Dhabi and Doha  among other Gulf hubs  which are also home to US military bases.

What does Iran-US ceasefire deal say? Iran and the US agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire, during which shipping traffic will be allowed through the Strait of Hormuz.

As part of the arrangement, Iran had said that it would allow the passage of vessels through the Hormuz Strait for two weeks, with their transit coordinated by the Iranian military.

The Islamic Republic also issued a 10-point plan  that Trump had earlier described as workable. Two senior Iranian officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity had told NYT that the 10-point proposal included a guarantee that Iran would not be attacked again, an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and the lifting of all sanctions.

What did Iran say about Israel? A few hours after the ceasefire was confirmed, Netanyahu said: "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region."

The Israeli PM's statement added that "ceasefire does not include Lebanon", where Israel has ground troops, reported BBC.

Also Read | Israel Attacks Lebanon LIVE: Iran warns of ceasefire exit over Israel strikes

BBC's report also mentioned that there is still no clarity on how Netanyahu was involved in Trump's decision-making.

Where will ceasefire talks be held? The ceasefire talks  mediated by Pakistan  are scheduled to be held in Islamabad.

I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes, Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif said

Who will be leading talks from both sides? United States: Vice President JD Vance is expected to lead the US delegation.

Iran: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is set to lead Tehran's negotiating team, according to Iran's ISNA news agency.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Asim Munir would moderate the talks, as per reports.
The two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, struck in exchange for Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, contains a clause that has received far less attention than the diplomatic drama surrounding it. A regional official confirmed to the Associated Press on Tuesday that the agreement allows Iran and Oman to impose fees on ships transiting the strait.

Two senior Iranian officials told The New York Times that the proposal included a fee of roughly 18.5 crore ($2 million) per ship, to be split between Iran and Oman, which sits on the opposite shore of the strait.

Proposed $2 million Hormuz transit fee At the centre of the ceasefire proposal is a reported charge of approximately $2 million per vessel passing through the strait. Irans portion of the proceeds would reportedly be used to fund reconstruction efforts rather than seek direct financial compensation from the US or its allies.

Also Read | Trump celebrates ceasefire, vows US support in Hormuz buildup

In exchange, Tehran would lift its de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, restoring the flow of oil and natural gas through a route that typically carries around one-fifth of global energy shipments.

Is $2 Million Fee on Tankers Crossing Strait of Hormuz Illegal? Although most nations adhere to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which bars interference with ships transiting international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz, neither the US nor Iran has formally ratified it.

Even so, both countries are now signalling an interest in introducing transit fees.

Such a move would run counter to widely accepted maritime principles and challenge the UN-backed legal framework governing shared waters.

Donald Trump said on Monday that Washington could consider imposing tolls in the strait, pointing to Irans own efforts to charge vessels and its indication that such fees may continue even after the conflict. US officials have previously characterised Irans actions as unlawful.

Donald Trump Claims Victory, Promises US Help With Strait Traffic US President Donald Trump, who had spent weeks threatening to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure if the strait was not reopened by his self-imposed Tuesday night deadline, hailed the agreement in characteristically sweeping terms.

A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, theyve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. Well be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just hangin around in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the US, this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!! [sic], Trump wrote.

When asked by AFP whether he was claiming victory, Trump did not hesitate. "Total and complete victory. 100%. No question about it," he said.

He also indicated that the US would play an active role in managing the transition, adding that Iran could start the reconstruction process and that the US would help with traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.

From 'A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight' to Ceasefire  In Hours The speed of the turnaround was remarkable, even by the standards of the Trump administration. Even earlier on Tuesday, Trump had issued what many observers described as one of the most alarming statements made by a sitting American president in modern times, warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if his demands were not met.

At a White House news conference on Monday, Trump doubled down on his threats, warning that if his conditions were not met by 8 pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, he would order devastating new airstrikes across Iran. "It will take them 100 years to rebuild," he said.

The ceasefire announcement late Tuesday represented an abrupt reversal of that posture.

Pakistan's Role: The Mediators Who Pulled It Back From the Edge The ceasefire was brokered in the final hours by Pakistan, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan's army chief, playing central roles. Trump confirmed that his decision was based on conversations with both men.

Sharif announced on X that he had invited Iranian and US delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday to begin formal negotiations. Iran subsequently confirmed that talks would begin on 10 April.

What Iran Agreed To? What Did it Get in Return? Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran's commitments in a formal statement: "If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said, adding that safe passage through the strait would be guaranteed for two weeks in coordination with Iran's armed forces.

In return, according to the two senior Iranian officials, Tehran secured a guarantee that it would not be attacked again, an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the lifting of all sanctions  at least in principle, as the basis for further negotiation.

The $2 million per ship toll arrangement, if confirmed and operationalised, would give Iran a revenue stream that sidesteps the politically fraught question of direct American compensation  one of Tehran's ten stated demands  while still achieving the same practical end.

The Human Cost: A War That Has Already Claimed 5,000 Lives The war, now in its sixth week, has claimed more than 5,000 lives across nearly a dozen countries, including more than 1,600 civilians inside Iran alone, according to tallies compiled from government sources and human rights organisations.
The most likely outcome, one that Brands argues has felt inevitable for the last several years with the rise of China, is of a world divided into two blocs led by Washington and Beijing. This bipolar world would resemble the Cold War of US-Soviet rivalry, in which an array of swing statesfrom India to Saudi Arabia, Brazil to Indonesiawould align selectively with these blocs while maneuvering opportunistically between them.
N Madhavan

N Madhavan has been writing on business and economy for more than 30 years now. A Chevening Scholar, he loves longform writing and has had the privilege of honing his skills at The Economist as an intern in the past. He writes across various sectors, with a primary focus on macro-economy, business groups in southern India, and corporate stories. He has worked in newspapers as well as magazines, with bylines in The Financial Express, Business Today, Forbes India and The Hindu BusinessLine. This is his fourth year at Mint where he presently curates the explanatory Primer section and also writes Long Stories. <br><br>Based in Chennai, he is the winner of the Shriram-Sanlam Award for Business Journalism. He loves ground reporting, including travelling in a truck twice between Chennai and Mumbai, to bring life to the stories he works on. He was once almost lynched while reporting on onion prices at Lasalgaon in Maharashtra, a fact he captured in the story he eventually wrote for Business Today. <br><br>Apart from writing, he loves reading, listening to music (Ilayaraja is his favourite composer) and travelling.
Vivo has confirmed that its mid-range device, Vivo T5 Pro 5G, will be launching in India soon. The Chinese smartphone maker has announced the launch date of the phone along with some of its key specifications, including battery, display, software, and processor.

Vivo T5 Pro 5G launch date: Vivo T5 Pro 5G will launch in India on 15 April at 12 PM. The company has not yet confirmed if this will be a physical launch event or limited to a pre-recorded message. We should have more details on this closer to the launch date.

View full Image View full Image Vivo T5 pro

Vivo T5 Pro 5G specifications: Vivo T5 Pro 5G will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 processor, which is the same SoC that also runs the show on the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ and Motorola Edge 70 Fusion. Notably, the Vivo T4 Pro had launched in India with the Snapdragon 7 Gen 4 processor, which is a more powerful chipset and comes onboard the likes of Oppo Reno 15 and Vivo V70.

The phone will come with a massive 9,020mAh battery, but the charging capability has not been confirmed yet. The new Vivo mid-ranger will feature a 1.5K AMOLED display while running on OriginOS 6 based on Android 16.

Previous leaks have suggested that the T5 Pro 5G could sport a 6.8-inch AMOLED panel with a 144Hz refresh rate. The phone could come with a 50MP Sony IMX882 primary shooter with support for 4K video recording.

There could also be support for 90W of wired fast charging on the phone, while it's unlikely that the T5 Pro may feature wireless charging support.

It could also support an IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance rating, meaning it should be able to withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 metres of water for 30 minutes, along with cold/hot water jets from any direction.

Vivo T5 Pro expected price and colour variants: The phone has been tipped to come in two colour variants: Glacier Blue and Cosmic Black. A previous report by Smartprix noted that the phone could start just above 30,000 in India, which means it could rival the likes of the OnePlus Nord 6 and Nothing Phone 4a.
Rwit Ghosh

Rwit is a correspondent at Mint covering Indias burgeoning startup ecosystem and the venture capital and private equity firms that back them. Sitting out of Bengaluru, he writes on the new-age tech businesses that the city and the rest of the country seems to continuously be birthing.<br><br> While Rwits interests lie in covering the new wave of deeptech, AI, SaaS and consumer tech businesses, hell write on consumer brands and fintech (if someone repeatedly explains these sectors to him).<br><br> When hes not scrolling through the Indian startup forums on Reddit, Rwit is usually trying to figure out early signs of whats to come next in the ecosystem. As a result, hes been early to spot trends like VCs becoming more active in backing deeptech, funding bottlenecks for agentic AI startups and a potential revival in edtech through AI. <br><br>Prior to his ongoing stint at Mint, Rwit worked at NDTV Profit as a social media producer while also working on his own stories for the TV channel after he graduated from the Asian College of Journalism in Chennai. <br><br>When hes not working on stories, he can be found trying to figure out where he should go to eat next in Bengaluru, or what his next tattoo should look like. If you see him in the wild, you should ask him how he pronounces his name. Hes definitely not tired of being asked about it.
Anthropic has said that its new AI model, dubbed Claude Mythos, is so adept at finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities that it could have an adverse impact on economies, public safety, and national security. The AI startup announced that Mythos will not be seeing a general release just yet, and instead the model is being rolled out to over 40 organisations that will use it to scan and secure their own code and open-source systems.

Warning about the risk posed by powerful AI models, Anthropic wrote in a blog post, AI models have reached a level of coding capability where they can surpass all but the most skilled humans at finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, in a video released alongside the blog, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said, Capabilities in a model like this could do harm if in the wrong hands, and so we won't be releasing this model widely. More powerful models are going to come from us and from others, and so we do need a plan to respond to this.

Claude Mythos identifies thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities: Anthropic says it used Claude Mythos over the last few weeks to identify thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities in every major operating system and every major web browser.

In the benchmarks revealed by Anthropic, Mythos Preview got a score of 83.1% in areas measuring its ability to independently recreate known security flaws and generate functional exploit codes.

Mythos also found a 27-year-old vulnerability in OpenBSD, a security-hardened operating system used for critical infrastructure. The vulnerability allowed an attacker to remotely crash connected machines.

In another case, Mythos found multiple vulnerabilities within the Linux kernel and went on to chain them together to allow a hacker to take complete control over the machines.

Anthropic's head of frontier red teams, Logan Graham, told Axios that the Mythos Preview is extremely autonomous and has sophisticated reasoning capabilities that give it the skills of an advanced security researcher. The model can find "tens of thousands of vulnerabilities", which he says even the most advanced bug hunter would struggle to find, and even write exploits to go with them.

Also Read | Apple gets sued by AI porn startup for removal of two apps from App Store

Anthropic to roll out Mythos to over 40 companies: Anthropic has announced that it will be rolling out Claude Mythos to over 40 companies that build or maintain critical software infrastructure. Twelve of these 40 companies (Amazon Web Services, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorgan Chase, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks) are participating in Anthropic's new Project Glasswing.

Also Read | Why was Sam Altman fired by OpenAI in 2023? New report reveals shocking details
The CIA used a secret new technology called Ghost Murmur to locate and rescue the downed US airman in Iran, as per a new report by the New York Post. Reportedly, the technology works by identifying long-range quantum magnetometry to detect the electromagnetic fingerprint of a human heartbeat while pairing the data with AI software to isolate the signature.

Also Read | Trump warns jail time for person who leaked information as US looked for pilots

What is Ghost Murmur? Reportedly, Ghost Murmur was developed by Skunk Works, the secretive advanced development division of Lockheed Martin. The technology was first used by the CIA during the mission to find the missing weapons systems officer, known publicly as 'Dude 44 Bravo'. After his F-15 jet was shot down last week, the officer survived in southern Iran for two days while Iranian troops looked for him with a bounty on his head.

The report notes that the relatively barren landscape in Iran made for an ideal first operational use of Ghost Murmur due to low electromagnetic interference and a lack of competing human signatures. Moreover, the thermal contrast between a living body and the cold desert floor at night gave operators a secondary confirmation layer.

The name is deliberate. Murmur is a clinical term for a heart rhythm. Ghost refers to finding someone who, for all practical purposes, has disappeared, the report quoted a source as saying.

Reportedly, the heartbeat signal is normally so weak that it can only be measured in a hospital setting with sensors pressed against the chest. However, advances in the field known as quantum magnetometry reportedly have made it possible to detect these signals at dramatically greater distances.

The capability is not omniscient. It works best in remote, low-clutter environments and requires significant processing time, the report quoted a source as saying.

How did Ghost Murmur help find the downed pilot? Following the downing of his F-15 jet, the wounded airman was hiding in a mountain crevice. Although he had activated a Boeing-made Combat Survivor Evader Locator beacon, search and rescue teams remained uncertain of his precise location until Ghost Murmur detected him.

The report notes that a pivotal moment came in the mission when the airman briefly stepped out of the crevice to send the beacon signal that allowed Ghost Murmur to pick up his signature.

Also Read | Trump Threatens to Jail Journalists Who Reported on Pilot Rescue

CIA chief hints about Ghost Murmur: While the US government has not officially confirmed the existence of Ghost Murmur, CIA Director John Ratcliffe hinted about the technology during a briefing when he said that the agency deployed "exquisite technologies that no other intelligence service in the world possesses".
SpaceX's Starship rocket 38 is seen before launching during the 11th test flight on October 13, 2025 as seen from South Padre Island in Texas. (Photo by Gabriel V. Cardenas / AFP) (Photo by GABRIEL V. CARDENAS/AFP via Getty Images) GABRIEL V. CARDENAS/AFP via Getty Images

For space fans, the past few days have been a cavalcade of awe and imagery as the Artemis II crew heads back to Earth after swinging around the moon. It's a significant accomplishment that saw the crew travel farther from Earth than ever before. Lost in that space news was another story about what it often takes to get there.

A critical fire erupted this week at a SpaceX facility in McGregor, Texas, while the rocket's Raptor engines were being tested in anticipation of Starship Version 3's upcoming launch. A video captured by NASASpaceflight shows footage of a huge explosion that left the test site enveloped in flames and clouds of smoke. No injuries have been reported.

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As the video notes, however, it's a test site. So, these occasional fires are more common than you might think, and not entirely unexpected, as the engines are being pushed to the limit. They appear to have found that limit here, as an anomaly during the second test of the day quickly turned into a plume of smoke, followed by an explosion from the test stand.

While it looks bad offhand, the explosion is ultimately part of routine safety testing and may not wind up leading to any delays in the proposed May launch. The launch was originally slated for March, but there already have been some delays. It is a much bigger and more powerful rocket than they've launched before, after all.

A crane, marked by the SpaceX logo, sits near the Starbase launch site in Cameron County, Texas, on February 6, 2026. (Photo by Reginald Mathalone/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The Starship V3 is an upgraded version of the Raptor engines that feature a whopping 280 metric tons of thrust, compared to the rather dainty 230 metric tons Raptor 2 boasted, all while containing added efficiency and lighter weight.

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This isn't the first time a similar incident has occurred. In 2024, an anomaly during testing led to a secondary explosion on the test stand, with no injuries reported.

Last year, SpaceX was approved to launch Starship 25 times a year from South Texas, and previously CEO Elon Musk said on X that "In about 6 or 7 years, there will be days where Starship launches more than 24 times in 24 hours."
Pictured is the Jefferson Water Treatment Plant in Laredo, Texas at 2519 Jefferson St. Courtesy/City of Laredo Pictured is the Jefferson Water Treatment Plant in Laredo, Texas at 2519 Jefferson St. Courtesy/City of Laredo Pictured is the Jefferson Water Treatment Plant in Laredo, Texas at 2519 Jefferson St. Courtesy/City of Laredo

The Laredo Utilities Department is preparing for potential emergency situations with a $26.7 million project connecting the citys two water treatment plants.

The project will connect the El Pico and Jefferson water treatment plants to back each other up. The goal is to provide a continuous, sustainable supply so water can be shared between them in the event of critical emergencies, plant shutdowns and maintenance.

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Utilities Director Tareq Al-Zabet said that without the project, a major problem at one of the plants could leave at least 50,000 people without water while the issue is resolved. Any maintenance currently must be completed while plants continue to operate.

An automated hydraulic control system will be used to manage the backup system rather than relying on staff to know which valves to manually open and close.

If one of those plants goes down for whatever reason, whether its plant maintenance or upsets, that system will kick in and the city will continue to have water continuously throughout the city, Al-Zabet said. If something happens, we can operate this completely centralized without the worry about whether someone knows where that valve is.

According to Al-Zabet, the centralized and automated response helps with the citys long-term water security planning. The city is continuing to explore possible secondary water sources north of the city, and he said those could connect through El Pico and help support other areas through the interconnection.

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Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor D. Trevino said there have been productive conversations with representatives about a secondary water partnership. He said management will soon present a rate study laying the groundwork for a secondary water source system he called desperately necessary.

The timeline for completing the water treatment project is between one and two years. Al-Zabet said the city has been meeting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers twice weekly, and they are close to signing the design engineering portion of the plan.

Laredo leaders approved the plan Tuesday for the city to fund $6,666,666 through the waterworks fund and the 2024 water revenue bond. Federal funding will cover an additional $20 million.

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District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa said the project provides avenues for growth in addition to emergency planning.
The 700 block of Guadalupe Street is shown in a Google Maps image in Laredo, Texas. Courtesy/Google Maps

A second suspect was arrested Wednesday after a crash on Guadalupe Street over the weekend that injured two teens, according to the Laredo Police Department.

Officers responded at about 3:36 a.m. April 4 to a crash with injuries in the 700 block of Guadalupe Street involving a white Jeep Cherokee and a white Chevy Cruze.

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An investigation determined the Jeep was the suspect vehicle in the crash, which left two occupants of the Cruze  an 18-year-old female and a 19-year-old male  injured, with both later flown to a hospital in San Antonio.

A passenger in the Jeep, identified as 21-year-old Omar Hilario Panfilo, allegedly fled the scene following the crash and was later arrested the same day on a charge of failure to report a felony crash involving serious bodily injury or death, a felony.

The driver of the Jeep, identified as 26-year-old Ricardo Moreno Lopez, was transported to a hospital following the crash and remained there pending arrest.

Moreno Lopez was medically cleared Wednesday and arrested on two counts of accident involving serious bodily injury, both third-degree felonies.

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Jail records show Panfilo was booked into Webb County Jail April 4 and released April 6 after posting a $5,000 bond.
Meteorologist Richard Heatwave Berler (left) stands with Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino during a ceremony Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at City Hall in Laredo, Texas. The city honored Berler with the Key to the City for his decades of service. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times Richard "Heatwave" Berler receives the Key to the City from Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor D. Trevino on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, recognizing his 45 years on air as chief meteorologist at KGNS-TV. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times Meteorologist Richard Heatwave Berler speaks during a ceremony Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at City Hall in Laredo, Texas. The city presented Berler with the Key to the City in recognition of his decades of service. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times Meteorologist Richard Heatwave Berler (right) speaks with District III Councilmember Melissa Cigarroa before a ceremony Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at City Hall in Laredo, Texas. Berler was later presented with the Key to the City in recognition of his decades of service. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times

The city of Laredo presented the Key to the City to meteorologist Richard Heatwave Berler on Tuesday, recognizing his decades of service.

City officials, current and former colleagues, and members of the public gathered for the ceremony honoring Berler, who has served as chief meteorologist at KGNS since 1980, becoming a familiar presence for generations of viewers.

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We also want to share that hes been a guiding light to give the citizens of Laredo the forecast and guide us through many weather conditions, Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino said. His dedication and good faith has kept the city informed, and were proud to recognize him.

Meteorologist Richard Heatwave Berler (center) stands with Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor Trevino (left of center), city officials and KGNS staff Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at City Hall in Laredo, Texas. Berler received the Key to the City for his decades of service to the community. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times

Meteorologist Richard Heatwave Berler speaks during a ceremony Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at City Hall in Laredo, Texas. The city presented Berler with the Key to the City in recognition of his decades of service. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times

Berler, originally from Westport, Connecticut, shared a story about developing an early interest in meteorology that eventually brought him to South Texas. He said his fascination with extreme temperatures led him to Laredo after learning the city had recorded 100-degree temperatures as early as February.

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I landed here on purpose, he said.

Berler first visited Laredo in 1977 after traveling through Mexico and later returned to the Gateway City to begin his career on Feb. 14, 1980.

I walked across the bridge into Laredo and it was 103 degrees, he said. It was purposely August so that I would get the chance to see 100 degrees. Its really been a privilege to be here in Laredo.

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Before arriving in Laredo, Berler worked as a meteorologist in Duluth, Minnesota, after graduating from Florida State University.

In addition to his on-air work locally, he has maintained National Weather Service instrumentation in Laredo for decades, serving as the citys official observer and helping document its long-term climate record.

Berler has also worked to reconstruct and verify Laredos historical weather records dating back to the late 1800s, contributing to a more complete record of the citys climate.

Richard "Heatwave" Berler receives the Key to the City from Laredo Mayor Dr. Victor D. Trevino on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, recognizing his 45 years on air as chief meteorologist at KGNS-TV. Jose De La Rosa/Laredo Morning Times

He has received multiple honors throughout his career, including certification from the American Meteorological Society, the John Campanius Holm Award from the National Weather Service and National Centers for Environmental Information, and a Jefferson Award for public service.

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Despite all his work in meteorology, Berler said one of the most meaningful parts of his career has been working with students in the community.

One of the highlights for me is going to schools where I can encourage the kids and nurture their curiosity, he said. Thanks so much to everyone for your kindness.

Trevino concluded the ceremony, saying the Key to the City is the highest honor the city can award and is reserved for individuals whose contributions have made a lasting impact on the community.

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For years, he has been a trusted voice in our community, keeping residents informed, prepared and safe through every season, Trevino said. His dedication, professionalism and passion for serving Laredo have made a lasting impact.
Shawn Harris and Clay Fuller are facing off in the District 14 seat for the U.S. House of Representatives.
UPDATE: The Hamilton County man accused of killing five goats and mistreating his animals has been arrested again after being discovered at the property he was trespassed from two weeks ago.

Deputies with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office again responded to a property on Suck Creek Road on Wednesday, April 15, after neighbors reported David Russell Eck was disobeying a trespass notice and still residing on the property, according to an affidavit obtained by Local 3 News.

They found Ecks truck parked near the houseboat. Once they boarded the houseboat, they found him asleep inside.

The arrest report says he told deputies he came to the property to pick up paperwork needed for a court appearance the following morning but had gotten tired and fallen asleep on the bed inside the houseboat.

No other animals were found, but Eck, 74, did trip while heading to the deputys car:

While walking up the driveway from the houseboat, Mr. Eck became winded and fell to his knees. He was assisted to his feet and helped into my patrol car.

He did not have any visible injury or trauma to his knees, so they booked him into the Hamilton County Jail.

At this time, he has no address listed except a P.O. box.

Warning, some individuals may find the details of this story disturbing.

PREVIOUS STORY: David Russell Eck, who was already facing charges for killing five goats and mistreating his livestock, has been re-arrested after deputies found him disobeying a court-issued eviction and continuing to collect, abuse, and neglect animals.

The 74-year-old man was found still occupying a houseboat in deplorable conditions on the Suck Creek Road property this weekend, according to affidavits obtained by Local 3 News.

He wasnt alonedeputies say they found him with several more animals, including ducks, cats, dogs, chickens, roosters, mice, and more.

After his arrest, the humane society collected the dogs, but rescues for the livestock were unable to be contacted until the following day.

When they arrived to collect the remaining animals, deputies discovered the following:

The ground itself was severely eroded and comprised mostly of mud, muck, feces, and animal bones. One camper in the middle of the property had at least five small goat skulls under and around it. One skull was adjacent to a recently deceased goat body which still had insect activity.

Another goat skull was adjacent to a clasped goat collar with a bell on it. Based on the depression and scratch marks, it appeared chickens had been scratching around it and presumably consuming parts of it, the arrest report says.

Aboard the houseboat, where Eck was found sleeping, there were several chickens, a pungent odor" of cat urine, dust, grime, feces, and trash.

Deputies say a friendly, malnourished brown goat walked up to the glass door wearing a collar with a bell on it, dragging a small rope attached. It was missing patches of fur, its hooves were longer than they should have been, its belly was bloated, and the individual vertebrae of the spine could be felt through its fur.

Additionally, deputies found two glass aquariums, both with live fish, but one with murky brown water. They also found three dirty, malnourished ducks walking on the bed.

With each step, dust puffed up from the bed, which was covered in fecal matter and urine, deputies stated.

A brooder box with nine juvenile chickens was on the floor near the far side of the bed. There was an empty chick feeder and a waterer that was knocked over and dry.

Then, they found a closed bathroom in the unit that had a white Chinese goose, three dark-colored ducks, and a disabled black turkey:

The bathroom toilet, shower, floor, and walls were coated with feces, presumably from the birds, which indicated theyd been in these conditions for an extended period of time. There was a five-gallon bucket in the floor about a third full of brown/black fluid.

Deputies found several critter cages joined together with tape and zip ties to enlarge the space. This contained an excessive number of mice, from babies to adults. They had a small amount of water available to them, unlike the other animals.

No other food or water sources were found within proximity to any animals on the property, deputies wrote. The food condition for the fish was unknown; however, it was obvious the water condition was unacceptable.

In total, deputies rescued and relocated:

One brown goat

One white rooster

Two hens

Nine juvenile chickens

Three white ducks

Three mixed ducks

One white Chinese goose

One black turkey

Four cats

Numerous freshwater fish

Numerous mice

Authorities say that, based on the condition of the animals, the property, and the deplorable living conditions, it was clear that Eck has continued his habit of attending livestock auctions and purchasing animals.

It appeared these animals were living with him in his houseboat as companions, rather than as farm animals," deputies say. "The conditions were not only uninhabitable for a human person, but for any living being.

Eck is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, April 15.

PREVIOUS STORY: David Russell Eck, accused of killing five goats and mistreating animals, has been arrested for aggravated criminal trespass just days after being given notice to leave his property on Suck Creek Road.

A deputy with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office responded to a call about the trespass on Saturday, April 4, according to an arrest report obtained by Local 3 News.

Livestock rescued from neglect case now living with Hamilton Co. man David Russell Eck faces multiple animal abuse charges. Now, others in the community are having to step in to help these animals.

Upon arrival, the deputy found a pickup truck registered to Ecks name backed into the driveway and blocking the gate to the property:

I observed numerous farm animals, including chickens and geese, both on the property and on a houseboat moored nearby. I boarded the houseboat and saw Mr. Eck asleep inside.

Neighbors of Hamilton Co. man charged with animal cruelty say they feared for their lives "I was really worried about a lot of them," a man participating in the rescue of animals on David Eck's property told us.

After the deputy called his name and knocked on the window, 74-year-old Eck came to the sliding glass door, where the deputy saw several cats and dogs.

The arrest report says when Eck asked why the deputy was there, the deputy reminded him he had been personally served with a trespass notice at the Hamilton County courthouse on Wednesday, April 1, and he was not permitted to be on the property:

Mr. Eck replied that his attorney told him he had until Monday to vacate. He further explained that, due to his age, he had been unable to move his belongings or secure alternative housing, and would not leave until he could do so.

The deputy arrested Eck, transported him to the Hamilton County Jail, and booked him on an aggravated criminal trespass charge.

A humane society worker came to secure the animals on the property afterwards.

Eck is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, May 27.

PREVIOUS STORY: David Russell Eck, the man charged with killing five goats in September of 2025, received a 72-hour notice from the Hamilton County District Attorney to vacate where hes been living.

For neighbors on Suck Creek Road, there may be an end in sight to the issue they have been fighting. Neighbor Robin Phillips says It's not a great thing for anybody - we talk about it, and we're all coming together, but when the animals started getting involved. It's really when it got everybody motivated and going so well, she says.

New photos show malnourished animals in Hamilton Co. David Eck faces two animal cruelty charges, two charges of livestock at large and animal abuse.

The former judge, Larry Ables, recused himself after a rule eight appeal was filed by Ecks attorney. A new judge, Judge Lila Statom, took over.

Ecks attorney, Joshua Weiss, says The district attorney filed a motion to amend the conditions of bond, to take away my client's right to own or possess any animal. Weiss argues, He has not violated a condition of his bond, nor has he been accused of any new criminal offense.

District Attorney General Coty Wamp believes this is not the type of case she or any district attorney would normally get involved in. However, this is a really good example of what can happen when citizens in the community band together to try to make change, she says.

General Wamp served the trespass notice to Eck and Weiss prior to them appearing before Judge Statom. She says it was a long process to find the owner of the property. General Wamp says the owner is ill and had no idea Eck was on his property.

In court, Agent Clinton Brookshire with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Criminal Division testified. He talked about the conditions of the animals. Brookshire said he began receiving complaints in November of 2024.

Phillips also testified about witnessing Eck hitting his dog with a cane poll in February of this year.

Judge Statom said Eck did not care about what was happening during the hearing. She says Eck was falling asleep during his court appearance.

Judge Statom ordered Eck to not have any animals, which includes livestock or any pets.

Adam Presely, the president of the Saddle Pals Riding Club, has been taking care of these animals since September of 2025. Presely feels a bit of relief. I mean, the last six months, you know, has been a whirlwind of, you know, from the day I picked up the animals till now.

Neighbors say they are grateful to their elected officials for seeing this through.

General Wamp says He's just gotten really lucky, and now his luck has run out.

Ecks case will be going to the grand jury.

Local 3 will keep you updated.
Longford audiences are invited to take a fascinating journey through the sounds and stories of the airwaves when noted radio historian Eddie Bohan presents a special illustrated lecture on the history of radio in Longford.

The event will take place at Teallach Iosa, St Mels Road, Longford, on Tuesday, April 21 at 8pm.

Using a rich collection of photographs, recordings, and presentation slides, Eddie will explore the development of radio in Longford from the earliest broadcasts heard in local homes from Radio Eireann to the vibrant and sometimes rebellious era of pirate radio stations that flourished across the town and county.

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The talk will also trace the evolution of broadcasting through the years from 1926 to todays independent commercial radio landscape.

With decades of research into Irish broadcasting history, Eddie Bohan brings a wealth of knowledge and engaging storytelling to the subject, offering insights into the people, places and stations that helped shape local radio culture.

Eddie is a lecturer on radio history, an author and founder of the Irish Pirate Radio Archive at Dublin City University.

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This illustrated presentation will appeal to anyone with an interest in local history, media, music, or memories of tuning across the dial in years gone by.

Admission to the talk at Teallach Iosa at 8pm on Tuesday, April 21 is free, and all are welcome.
Longford woman Kiara Lynch has clung to the hope that one day a treatment would become available and the HSE would fund that medication to treat Friedreichs ataxia (FA), a rare, progressive neurodegenerative disease.

She was diagnosed with FA at the age of 13 and for more than 28 years she has been battling what she describes as 'the relentless progression' affecting all of her abilities.

Kiara said she started using a manual wheelchair when she was 17, but eight years later when pushing herself became too difficult it became necessary for her to change to using a power chair for longer distances.

The North Longford woman stated she increasingly became more reliant on the power chair during her 30s and by 40 she was 'depended on a power chair' with a moulded cushion to correct her posture for almost all activities.

Kiara said, ironically, the only exceptions are medical appointments where narrow doorways usually mean her 810 mm-wide power chair cannot fit.

She stated currently, at 42 years of age, she uses her power chair with the moulded cushion fulltime.

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"I can no longer sit in my manual wheelchair for more than a couple of hours without experiencing severe hip pain," she added.

The effects of FA are having a significant adverse impact on her body and Kiara said she has 'cardiac issues, lung issues, bladder issues, pressure sores, and constant pain in my neck and back'.

She stated she is "constantly exhausted" no matter how much rest she gets.

"I do a minimum of three hours a day of physiotherapy and FA is still getting worse every day."

Kiara said there was a very welcome and much-needed glimmer of hope with this new drug treatment Skyclarys, the first treatment in the world for FA was approved.

Skyclarys or omaveloxolone was first given the green light for use in the US in 2023 and Europe followed less than 12-months later.

Biogen Idec (Ireland) Limited, the manufacturer of Skyclarys and formally requested the Health Service Executive (HSE) to fund this medication through the public health system in Ireland on August 1, 2024.

The HSE has the authority to approve Skyclarys (omaveloxolone) for treatment under the public system, but it has not yet done so, and the application remains under active consideration.

There was a major setback when the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE), which provides independent assessments for the HSE in relation to whether new drugs are cost-effective and should be provided to the public, issued a recommendation and referred to the cost-effectiveness of Skyclarys.

READ NEXT: Gardai investigating county Longford burglary where house was 'ransacked'

Kiara said unfortunately following the NCPE assessment, a recommendation was made to the HSE that Skyclarys should not be funded by the HSE 'due to prohibitive cost and low efficacy' in December 2025.

She stated this is just a recommendation and the NCPE have a lot of influence but it is not the end of the road and there is still some hope that the HSE and manufacturer Biogen, who have had price talks and negotiations, may eventually strike a deal.

The price negotiations are held in private.

However, for the moment Kiara is continuing to suffer from the debilitating disease as it continues to ravage her health while a life-changing treatment is within touching distance.

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Kiara stated that to say FA has negatively impacted her mental health is 'nothing short of an understatement'.

She said she has faced the grim knowledge and realisation during the past 28 years that it will get worse, but every time she loses an ability it is a crushing blow.

"I had no choice but to live with the constant sense of loss and grief of losing yet another part of myself," Kiara said.

"The constant feelings of hopelessness and loneliness as I lose the ability to read, speak, hear, and communicate with the outside world is quite simply devastating."

Kiara, who has penned a powerful blog, said they have been waiting a long time for this opportunity 'only to have our government tell us 'No'.

She said she has spent the past 28 years doing her best to stay positive.

"I have been overcoming many pointless and needless obstacles in place for someone with a disability, and trying to live a relatively normal life, I am just incredibly disheartened by this recommendation."

Kiara said she felt compelled to write about her feelings and to inform the public about the reality of living with FA for the past 28 years.

She also stated she wanted to write about her predicament to "resonate with the people who are saying no and to emphasise just how urgently we need them to say yes".

Kiara stressed this does not just affect her, but all the estimated 200 people living with FA in Ireland.

She said she lives with her husband in an annex off her parents home and after a 28 year struggle against the disease she is 'losing the battle'.

Kiara stated she has lost the ability to stand, walk, and make coordinated hand and eye movements, while her speech is becoming increasingly slurred and difficult to understand.

"I will soon need to use voice software that is able to replicate my voice from voice banking recordings I recorded over three years ago," she added.

Kiara said hearing is continuing to deteriorate and she uses hearing aids on a daily basis and she still struggles to understand what people are saying unless they speak very clearly and slowly.

Her eyesight is also getting worse and glasses no longer make any difference due to her eye muscles getting weaker.

Kiara said this often leaves her 'completely isolated with nothing but my own thoughts for company', which is very debilitating.

"I just find it so hard to believe I've been living with this disease for over 28 years and the relentless progression on all my abilities only for there to be a glimmer of hope with this new drug treatment Skyclarys.

"While the HSE are saying 'No, it does not make economic sense' - but it is fine to let this horrific disease continue to ravage my abilities and body?"
A community information meeting about water quality and water related issues in the Ballymahon Municipal District is taking place on Thursday, April 16 from 6:30pm-to-8pm in Cooneys Hotel, Ballymahon.

The meeting is being organised by the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), who work on behalf of Irelands 31 local authorities to protect and restore good water quality in rivers, lakes, estuaries, ground and coastal waters.



The community information meeting in Ballymahon is being held to make more people aware of work to improve water quality in the area and to encourage as much engagement as possible with all stakeholders right across the community, including key agencies, special interest groups, voluntary, public and private sectors.

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Anthony Coleman, Director of Services with LAWPRO said: As we are coming to the end of second cycle work in the Ballymahon Municipal District and begin implementation of the new Water Action Plan we would like to take this opportunity to welcome members of the public to come along and find out more about whats happening in their local waterbodies and river catchments.

We hope to engage as many people as possible at this meeting in Longford because public participation and support is key to achieving water quality improvements.

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"We would also like to thank all those, whether in a voluntary or paid capacity, working in their local areas to help make a difference to their natural waters and the biodiversity that lives in and around them.

The public meeting on Thursday, April 16 will begin at 6.30pm in Cooneys Hotel and light refreshments will be available.

All are welcome to attend. To register for the event, visit LAWPROs Eventbrite page.
Today, April 8, 2026, marks the 21st anniversary of the murder of Emer OLoughlin at Ballybornagh, Tubber, Co. Clare.

Gardai are renewing their appeal for information and are asking the public across Ireland if they have any piece of information which they feel might be relevant to this investigation to make contact with them.

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On April 8, 2005, human remains were discovered in a mobile home close to where Emer OLoughlin (23 years of age) lived with her boyfriend at Ballybornagh, Tubber.

The mobile home had been completely destroyed by fire. Human remains discovered inside were later identified as being Emers.

On May 19, 2010, investigating Gardai exhumed her remains, which were then removed to University Hospital Galway where forensic anthropology tests were conducted. The tests indicated that Emer had died a violent death, and as a result the investigation was upgraded to that of murder.

This year is the 21st year since Emers death and her family are still struggling to come to terms with her loss and are asking for your assistance in order to bring them closure. If you believe you maybe in a position to bring closure and get justice for them, Gardai would like to hear from you.

READ NEXT: We lost everything: Family thanks local community for support after heartbreaking tragedy



Do you have any information that may assist with the investigation? Gardai may have spoken to you previously and due to the passage of time, you may now feel better placed to assist with the investigation.

Anyone with information can contact Gort Garda Station on 091 636400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Protests which have resulted in nationwide traffic disruption could heat up, according to a spokesman involved in a blockade of Dublins main thoroughfare.

Protesters caused gridlock around Dublin city centre for a second day on Wednesday over rising fuel costs caused by the war in Iran.

Several tractors were parked along OConnell Street and buses were abandoned on OConnell Bridge, as farmers and other fuel-dependent workers blocked the busy routes.

Lines of buses were parked on the side of the citys streets, while some of the busiest thoroughfares were empty.

Speaking to the Press Association on Wednesday evening, protest spokesman John Dallon said he hoped the dispute could be resolved through the Government committing to meeting him and two other participants.

He said: Were actually in pure limbo now, thats the only way I can put it.

He added: Well be here tonight, and Id say theyll be here tomorrow.

Mr Dallon said he was not an organiser and had no bearing over the other participants but added: These people are not going to lie down.

The only way they will go off of the streets here is if we send a message back to them that we have a meeting, then theres a good chance that people will go home.

But, I mean, if theres no satisfaction out of the meeting, Id say itll all heat up again.

There were similar protests at more than 20 other locations across the country, protesters said, while chief executive of Fuels for Ireland Kevin McPartland said two depots in Foynes, Co Limerick, and Co Galway had been blocked by protesters.

He said there was a risk to supplies to petrol forecourts as a result.

A meeting between Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Tanaiste and finance minister Simon Harris, and Minister of State and independent TD Sean Canney was held in Government Buildings on Wednesday morning.

They said they would continue to engage with industry representative groups and keep the situation under review.

Justice Minister Jim OCallaghan met senior gardai responsible for policing the protests and warned about consequences for unlawful activity.

In a statement, he said the Government was aware of the pressures caused by rising costs, but emphasised that it was essential for ports and fuel depots to remain accessible.

He said: Democracy cannot be dictated to by an unelected group whose actions are now damaging the Irish public.

No-one is above the law and those breaking the law should know that there are consequences for unlawful activity.

Dublin Fire Brigade said it had faced significant delays and An Garda Siochana said it had recorded reports of emergency workers being delayed or unable to travel to work, with members of the public saying they were unable to attend hospital appointments.

Protesters have called for a cap on kerosene and diesel, and for the carbon tax and excise duty to be removed for an interim period.

Another spokesperson for the protest group in Dublin said demonstrators would return next Tuesday, when the Dail resumes after the Easter break.

We will hopefully go home, but the word from other groups around the country is that if they go home today or tomorrow, theyre back next Tuesday. Government is sitting next Tuesday, James Geoghegan said.

Around two dozen protesters stood on OConnell Bridge on Wednesday morning as a handful of tractors remained parked on OConnell Street overnight.

There were some tense exchanges between Dubliners walking through the citys main thoroughfare and the protesters, with one woman telling the activists they had the fuel to drive to Dublin so they should drive home.

One protester was overheard saying they had pedestrianised the city centre as the Green Party had wanted.

Mr Geoghegan, a spokesman for the protesters and a contractor from Co Westmeath, said they would not go home broke.

We cant go home without a result. We simply cant afford to go home, he told PA.

We came up broke and theres no point going home broke.

Asked about Dubliners who may be unhappy with the disruption, he said the price of fuel is costing lives.

He said: They might be struggling, but do they realise what a struggle actually really is?

Were not blocking emergency services, were not blocking people going to hospital appointments or anything.

We dont want to be in anybodys way or cause any trouble to anybody medically or cause an issue.

Mr Geoghegan said fuel-price measures taken by the Government in March did not make a difference worth talking about.

He said: Fine Gael and Fianna Fail neednt go back to rural Ireland ever looking for votes again, its as simple as that.

The silence of the Healy-Raes is unbelievable.

Its an awful pity the election is so far away, if there was election in the next six months, this would be solved last night.

Chief executive of the Dublin Chamber Mary Rose Burke said the disruption was placing an unfair burden on businesses and workers.

It is neither sustainable nor proportionate, she said.

The most effective way to achieve meaningful progress is through constructive dialogue.

We are urging protesters to engage with policymakers and relevant stakeholders through established channels, where their concerns can be properly heard.

Speaking in Dublin city centre on Wednesday afternoon, Jack Wallace, from Mullingar, said he set off at 4.30am on Tuesday to join the protest.

He described the rise in the price in diesel since the war in Iran started as colossal and outrageous.

The agricultural contractor said workers like him are not making money now as farmers are not able to pay them higher rates, adding: There is no point working for nothing.

He said the protesters would be here as long as we can, as long as we have to be here.
A "rollercoaster" of temperatures is expected this week as experts have warned people in Ireland to not "pack away their big coats" just yet.

Storm Dave passed over the country over the Easter weekend bringing with it strong gusts and heavy rain in parts but temperatures have been climbing and Tuesday and Wednesday are set to see highs of 17 to 18 degrees.

READ NEXT: Search stood down for missing 66-year-old man as Gardai issue tragic update

However, those warmer conditions are set to disappear in a few days as temperatures will drop yet again, particularly at night time, where we will see 2 to 3 degrees in places.

Carlow Weatherman Alan O'Reilly took to social media to warn of the returning cold weather, in which he said,

"Rollercoaster of temperatures ahead so dont go packing away the big jumpers and coats after Wednesday. Youll be needing them again later in the week and possibly into the following week."

Rollercoaster of temperatures ahead so dont go packing away the big jumpers and coats after Wednesday. Youll be needing them again later in the week and possibly into the following week pic.twitter.com/PmFPz6DFE2  Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) April 5, 2026

Meanwhile, Met Eireann have given their five day forecast warning of mixed conditions for the week ahead.

Today

Mostly dry at first this morning, with a mix of cloud and sunny spells, however there'll be showery rain and mist in the west and southwest. This will move northeastwards through the day but parts of the east may stay dry.

The rain will turn heavy at times and thunderstorms are possible later this morning and this afternoon. Mild with highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees in moderate southeast winds, easing mostly light and variable later.

Mostly dry but cloudy overall tonight, with limited clear spells. Areas of mist and fog will form in light variable breezes. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees, possibly a little colder in the northwest.

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Wednesday

Dry for most with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Cloud will build from the west through the afternoon with rain and drizzle moving into western coastal counties in the evening. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees, coolest near Atlantic coasts, in light to moderate southwesterly breezes.

Overnight, outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the west will move eastwards, with clear spells and scattered showers following. Turning cooler behind the rain with lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in moderate westerly winds.

Thursday

Any lingering rain in the east soon clearing. Otherwise, sunny spells and scattered showers, some turning heavy and possibly thundery with the chance of hail, before becoming more isolated through the evening. Cooler than previous days with highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in fresh and gusty westerly winds, easing later.

Friday

Looks like a windy and blustery day with fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds. Outbreaks of rain in the west will turn heavy and persistent at times, before spreading eastwards later in the day. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

READ NEXT: Three-year search appeal for missing teenage boy stood down as gardai issue major update

Further outlook

Current indications suggest there will be further rain and hail showers over the weekend, but some drier and brighter interludes in the mix also. Turning a bit cooler with some frost by night.
A still photo from footage of the attack outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, shows one of the gunmen during a shootout with police.

Three gunmen fired on police officers near the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 7. The firefight left one attacker dead, two police officers wounded, and two suspects in custody.

Footage uploaded to social media shows three armed suspects firing on Turkish police stationed outside a high-rise building housing the Israeli consulate in Istanbuls main business district. The attackers were equipped with backpacks, automatic rifles, and handguns. Turkish authorities did not detail what motivated the gunmen to carry out the shooting, but US Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack signaled in a post on X that the Israeli consulate was the target of the attack.

Despite being the apparent target, Israels Foreign Ministry told The Jerusalem Post that the consulate is not staffed.

Turkish Minister of the Interior Mustafa Ciftci said that authorities identified the attackers, noting that the gunmen arrived in Istanbul in a rental vehicle from the coastal city of Izmit. He added that one of the gunmen was linked to an organization that exploits religion, while another suspect had a drug record.

The Ministry of the Interior named the attackers as Yunus E.S., who was killed in the shootout and had links to a terrorist organization, along with Onur C. and Enes C., both of whom are in Turkish custody. According to the Turkish news outlet Haberler.com, Yunus had previously been arrested in 2018 in connection with a murder.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the attack, calling it a heinous act of terror. Israel denounced the shooting and thanked Turkish security forces for their swift action to neutralize the attackers.

While it remains unclear whether a terrorist organization orchestrated the shooting, the Islamic State has recently called for attacks targeting Jews. In a recent edition of its Al Naba newspaper, the group encouraged jihadists to burn synagogues across the United States, Europe, and elsewhere during the Passover holiday (April 19).

Separately, the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has demonstrated operational capacity in Turkey. Late last year, Turkish authorities captured senior ISKP member Mehmet Goren, who was reportedly directed to carry out suicide attacks in Turkey, Europe, and other countries.

Joe Truzman is an editor and senior research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine conduct a press conference at the Pentagon after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

After 39 days of fighting between the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other, the US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire. While there are conflicting reports regarding the opposing conditions demanded by the US and Iran for lasting peace, and Israeli and Iranian strikes continued after the deals announcement, the ceasefire and a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping appear to be agreed-upon items.

The ceasefire took place just hours before US President Donald Trumps deadline of 8 pm Eastern on April 7, as US bombers were reportedly in the air and headed toward Iran. Trump had threatened to bomb Irans power plants, oil infrastructure, and bridges if Iran refused to reach an agreement.

Trump announced on April 7 that he would hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, adding that he agree[d] to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. Negotiations between the US and Iran were brokered by Pakistan.

The US has already met and exceeded all Military objectives, Trump continued. At the outset of the war, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the conflicts objectives were the destruction of Irans nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, along with Irans naval forces and other security infrastructure. Regime change was not on the table, Hegseth noted. However, after the assassination of numerous Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Trump stated on April 8 that the US determined [Iran] has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!

Trump claimed on April 8 that Iran would not enrich uranium, and that the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear Dust, a reference to the enriched Iranian uranium that was struck during US bombings of Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.

During todays press conference by Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, Hegseth touted the destruction of Irans conventional military capabilities and the killing of key Iranian leaders, including Khamenei and numerous military commanders.

This new regime is out of options and out of time, so they cut a deal, Hegseth said. He also stated that the terms of the deal will include the removal of any nuclear material and prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Irans response to the deal

Iran, like the US, views the ceasefire as a victory and claims that the US has agreed to its terms. Most Iranian conditions are directly contradictory to the US position.

Nour News, an outlet affiliated with the Islamic Republics Supreme National Security Council, published a statement on April 7, moments after Donald Trump announced the ceasefire, hailing it as an American defeat. The statement claims Tehran rejected Washingtons 15-point proposal and instead submitted its own 10-point plan, alleging the US accepted the regimes counterproposal as the basis of negotiations [] despite all apparent threats.

The statement listed the following as Tehrans 10 points:

The United States commits in principle to guaranteeing non-aggression Continuation of Irans control over the Strait of Hormuz Acceptance of enrichment Removal of all primary sanctions Removal of all secondary sanctions Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions Termination of all Board of Governors resolutions Payment of Irans damages Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region Cessation of war on all fronts, including against Lebanons Islamic resistance

The statement concludes that Tehran and Washington are set to meet on April 10 with complete distrust toward the American side, adding that our [Irans] hands are on the trigger.

Irans Armed Forces General Staff and its Khatam al Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement that, following what they described as the defeat of US and Israeli forces and the acceptance of Irans 10-point plan as the basis for a ceasefire, they also remain hand on the trigger.

Mohsen Rezaei, a member of Irans Expediency Discernment Council and a senior Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) figure, stated that Trump was ultimately forced to accept Irans 10-point plan as the basis for negotiations and repeated the assertion that the hands of the armed forces remain on the trigger until there is full assurance that the regimes interests are secured.

Ali Akbar Velayati, a member of the Expediency Discernment Council of the System, which advises the supreme leader, posted on April 8 that the The United States was compelled to accept a ceasefire, adding, In the new global power structure and the shift toward a multipolar order, Iran is no longer merely a country; rather, it is acting as the central power of the Islamic world.

Similarly, Kazem Jalali, Tehrans ambassador to Russia, said during the Moscow Economic Forum on April 8 that the United States had presented a 15-point plan while Tehran put forward its own 10-point proposal to end the war. He said Iran rejected Washingtons proposal and stood firm against threats, ultimately forcing the United States to accept Irans 10-point plan as the basis for discussions.

The Islamic Republics parliament echoed these sentiments, with senior parliamentary figures, including the head of the Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy, stating that Washington had no option but to submit to Irans demands. The committees spokesperson similarly said that the enemy had no choice but to surrender and that Iran would determine the outcome of the conflict. A Tehran parliament member also warned that despite the reported acceptance of Irans 10-point framework, the United States is unlikely to uphold its commitments and should be approached with full distrust.

Even regime officials who had argued against a ceasefire before the agreement were quick to backpedal on their rhetoric.

Regime ideologue Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hardline Kayhan newspaper, had argued just hours before the deal, in an article titled A Ceasefire Is a Multi-Layered Gift to the Enemy, that any ceasefire or negotiation would benefit the United States. He wrote that Washington cannot be trusted to honor any commitments, the conflict is existential and cannot be resolved through agreements, and a ceasefire would give the United States time to regroup, create divisions inside Iran, embolden pro-compromise factions, and allow the enemy to portray itself as victorious. However, Shariatmadari quickly reversed course after the agreement, hailing it as a victory and claiming Tehran forced the United States to accept its terms.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republics regional malign influence.
Hollywood actress Alicia Silverstone has been spotted on the Mayo/Galway border, staying at the Delphi Resort in the west of Ireland, as preparations get underway for the second series of smash-hit drama Irish Blood.

Nouman Zeb, the General Manager of Delphi Resort told The Mayo News that "we were delighted to welcome Alicia Silverstone to Delphi Resort. A truly kind, gracious and lovely lady. It was an absolute pleasure having her stay with us."

"We also had the pleasure of hosting Aidan Turner last year in September. A true gentleman and an absolute joy to have with us."

The second series of Irish Blood will again be set and produced in Ireland, consisting of six hour-long episodes, with production due to begin in early this year.

Silverstone stars as Fiona Fox, a hotshot Los Angeles divorce lawyer who travels to Ireland after receiving a cryptic message from her estranged father, Declan Murphy, whom she has not seen in 30 years. Intending to stay only a day to confront him, Fiona finds herself drawn into a web of family secrets when she discovers he has died  in circumstances that appear far from natural.

Joining Silverstone in the cast are Jason O'Mara and Ruth Codd, who appeared on Celebrity Traitors UK.

Silverstone, who is also an executive producer on the series, expressed her delight at returning for a second run.

The actress, best known for her role as Cher in the 1995 teen comedy Clueless, previously appeared as Batgirl alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and George Clooney in Batman and Robin (1997), and has spoken warmly of Clooney, saying he was like a "big brother" to her on set and "stood up for her."

READ MORE: Misunderstood Heron opens up new food venture in West Mayo
An incident on an Iarnrod Eireann train service this afternoon from Westport to Dublin has forced passengers to disembark the service close to Roscommon town.

In a statement to The Mayo News, Irish Rail explained that a fire developed in the undercarriage area near the gearbox of one carriage on the 12.45pm Heuston to Westport service, between Athlone and Roscommon near Glanduff Level Crossing.



"The fire was confined to this area, and no part of the passenger area of the train was affected. Fire suppression systems activated and the driver used fire extinguishers and the fire was put out. As a precaution and due to smoke, the driver arranged for customers to move from the relevant carriage to an adjoining carriage, and the fire services were alerted and attended."

One passenger on the train who spoke to The Mayo News said there was initial consternation on the train as it was unclear where the smoke was coming from.

"What was clear was that a full emergency response was put in place with a large number of fire and ambulance services, and gardai at the Glanduff level crossing when the train stopped. The emergency services, in fairness, were very helpful and thankfully no was injured," said the passenger.

WATCH Passengers disembark after fire on Mayo-bound train

Rge Irish Rail spokesperson added that "we have arranged bus transfers, and approximately 100 customers on board have been detrained and brought to the level crossing, where the buses are being dispatched. Disruption is expected on the Dublin / Westport route until further notice, and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to customers on this train and on later trains which may be delayed or require bus transfers."
By Mata Press Service

Canadas battered rental market may finally be starting to cool, as slower immigration growth and a surge in apartment supply combine to take some pressure off rents, according to a new RBC Economics report.

But for many immigrants, international students and temporary workers, the cost of finding a home remains painfully high.

RBC said rents in Canada have been cooling for more than a year now, and argued that the trend still has further to run as population growth slows and more units come onto the market.

The bank said average rent growth across Canada is expected to slow to 3.6 per cent in 2026, with weaker inflows of temporary residents and a growing number of new apartments giving tenants more bargaining power.

The bank said the shift is especially important in Ontario and British Columbia, which have absorbed a large share of newcomers in recent years and have faced some of the countrys most severe rental pressures.

RBC said reduced temporary resident inflows will weigh particularly heavily on those two provinces because international students and other temporary residents are far more likely to rent than buy.

The report lands as Ottawa is deliberately pulling back on immigration-driven population growth. Under the federal 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, permanent resident targets are set at 380,000 a year for 2026, 2027 and 2028, while temporary resident arrival targets are set at 385,000 in 2026 and 370,000 in both 2027 and 2028.

The federal government says those lower targets are intended to reduce pressure on housing, health care and infrastructure while supporting labour market and economic needs.

That policy shift is already showing up in the population data. Statistics Canada said the number of non-permanent residents living in Canada fell from a peak of 3,149,131 on Oct. 1, 2024, to 2,676,441 on Jan. 1, 2026, with the decline driven largely by fewer people holding study permits, work permits, or both.

For immigrant communities, the change carries a double edge. Newcomers are often the first to feel the pain of a tight rental market because they are more likely to rent on arrival, often with limited credit history, lower initial earnings, or no family housing network to fall back on.

A slower pace of newcomer growth may ease competition for available units, but it does little to change the fact that rents in major gateway cities remain far out of reach for many working families.

The RBC report says average two-bedroom rents remain around $2,046 in Toronto and $2,363 in Vancouver, or roughly $500 and $800 above the national average.

It said Toronto and Vancouver are now among the slowest-growing big cities in the country, a sharp change from the years when they acted as the main landing points for newcomers. Toronto posted no population growth in 2025, RBC said, while Vancouver grew by just 0.2 per cent. Both also continued to lose residents to smaller and more affordable communities.

RBC said the rental market is being reshaped by more than lower migration alone. It pointed to elevated inventory, a stronger rental construction pipeline and softer demand as forces pushing vacancy rates higher.

The bank said vacancy could move above the 3 per cent threshold it sees as marking a balanced market, which would further limit rent growth.

Even so, the report makes clear that relief is uneven. RBC said asking rents dropped in 2025 and are projected to decline further in 2026, but average rents paid by tenants are still proving sticky.

That is because many renters remain in place, and landlords continue raising rents on existing tenants even as advertised rents for available units soften. RBC said an outright drop in average rents remains unlikely unless vacancy rates stay significantly above 3 per cent for a sustained period.

That means the crisis is easing but not ending. For immigrants and other newcomers, the emerging story is not one of cheap housing returning to Canadas biggest cities.

It is a story of a market that may be getting less punishing, even as affordability remains a major barrier to settling, studying and building a life in Canada.

Key findings
Members of the Irish public have said the fuel protests, which are causing significant road disruptions across the country, have to be done as soon we won't even be able to afford to get to work.

The demonstrations are taking place along busy roads nationwide following the rising cost of fuel due to the war in Iran. There continues to be severe congestion across a number of roads, including on parts of the M7 in Laois, N21 in Adare, Co Limerick and sections of the M50 in Dublin.

The movement is believed to have first stemmed from a group of professional drivers, taxi drivers, hauliers, farmers, bus operators and plant operators known widely on social media as The People Of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest.

READ NEXT: Three killed on Irish roads over Easter weekend as nearly 200 drivers caught drink driving

The group, which have since amassed over 50,000 followers on Facebook, organised the nationwide protest of slow-moving convoys. Many who participated headed for Dublin where there was a demonstration and speeches by TDs and Councillors on OConnell Street. The group and their supporters have called for urgent action on capping the price of green and white diesel as it is becoming unsustainable to afford.

It is believed that in some parts of the country, the protest will last until 7pm while others may continue on until tomorrow, April 8.

Posing a question on social media, we asked readers: Do you agree with the fuel protests causing traffic tailbacks? To which the answer was overwhelmingly Yes!

One commenter said, Absolutely 100 per cent, took me over 2 hours to get from Charleville to Parkway Roundabout (in Limerick) but didn't mind expected delays, they are dead right to protest.

A second stated, Yes absolutely soon we won't be able to afford to get to work so what needs to be done must be done and if this doesnt wake them from their extended slumber, Ireland must take further excessive steps and continue to make noise. Our electricity, heating, food costs are now some of the most expensive in the world, what do our government do(?) nothing but take an extended Easter break.

A third reader said that even though she agrees, she does have some concerns: I agree with the sentiment but I also really fear for the people who needed medical attention, important health appointments, disabled people in cars with them, children etc. the wrong people are suffering.

While some questioned: Dunno know what a protest can do? Trump's war in Iran is the source of the issue. But I agree people have the right to protest. But I feel for the people who missed hospital appointments or flights due to the disruption.

All for a protest... but didn't this method end up costing people more in the long run due to increased fuel used with a longer journey time?

Largely, people are in support of the protest despite the traffic delays, with another reader commenting, I agree totally with everyone that is out protesting (the) price of fuel, something needs to be done. No one wants to go out holding up traffic but it's the only way they can get attention from the government to do something. People cannot afford to heat their houses or drive to work with the cost of everything plus if the price keeps going up, everything else will go up (too) so fair play to all that's out there protesting.

It has been reported that Dublin Bus have diversions in place as OConnell Street remains closed. As well as this, Bus Eireann were forced to cancel two services from Galway to Cork and have confirmed the full list of impacted routes here.
By Michelle Gamage

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Reproductive justice is being rolled back across the world, making it all the more important to celebrate B.C.s wildly successful free contraceptives program, said Teale Phelps Bondaroff, District of Saanich councillor and co-founder of AccessBC, a society that has been advocating for removing barriers to accessing prescription contraceptives since 2017.

Since the program launched three years ago on April 1, 2023, more than 407,000 free contraceptives have been dispensed, according to the Ministry of Health, with more than half that medication distributed last year alone.

For some patients, one of the biggest concerns used to be about how expensive contraceptives were, said Dr. Renee Hall, medical director of the Willow Reproductive Health Centre in Vancouver and a clinical professor at the University of British Columbia.

It just so happens that the most effective methods are the most expensive, she added. In the past, that dissuaded some people who were worried theyd spend hundreds of dollars only to find out the method did not ultimately suit them.

Now, she said, people have the freedom to choose what works best for them.

The Ministry of Health says that from April 1, 2023, to Feb. 28, 2026, pharmacies dispensed 232,000 hormonal pills, 105,000 hormonal IUDs, 101,000 emergency contraceptive pills, 17,000 implants, 16,000 copper IUDs, 14,000 hormonal injections and 7,000 vaginal rings as part of the free contraceptives program.

These numbers count medications dispensed rather than patients accessing the medication. So, its possible IUDs are now the leading contraceptive choice in B.C. as they last for eight to 10 years, while hormonal pills are generally dispensed every three months.

Hall said more British Columbians are using long-acting reversible contraceptives such as IUDs and hormonal implants, which are the most effective at preventing unwanted pregnancy but also have the highest upfront cost. The devices used to cost about $550 and $325, respectively. A hormonal IUD lasts eight years and an implant lasts three.

In the first 15 months of the program an additional 11,365 British Columbians tried out long-acting reversible contraceptives than would have been expected if cost had still been an issue, according to research from UBCs Contraception and Abortion Research Team. Thats a 49 per cent increase.

The study also found that 10 per cent more reproductive-aged females are using prescription contraceptives now that they are free, compared with before when they had to pay for them.

Health Minister Josie Osborne said the government is proud to be the first jurisdiction in Canada offering free prescription contraception.

Investing in the health of women and gender-diverse people is essential to gender equity, she said in an emailed statement. Its also critical that we support people to take charge of their reproductive health.

Phelps Bondaroff said free contraceptives appeal to the entire political spectrum because they save the government money  contraceptives are cheaper than abortions  and reduce the number of elective abortions by helping prevent unwanted pregnancies.

The Health Ministry said it has distributed at least 101,000 free emergency contraceptive pills, such as Plan B, since the program started, which is 101,000 potential elective abortions the government didnt need to provide, Phelps Bondaroff said.

AccessBC celebrated when B.C. introduced free contraceptives in 2023, but the fight was far from over, he said.

Since then, it has been advocating for the province to offer more contraceptive options and working with sister campaigns in different provinces and territories to help them advocate for their own provincial program, he said.

In 2025 Manitoba, B.C., P.E.I. and the Yukon signed on to then-prime minister Justin Trudeaus national pharmacare plan, which offered universal coverage of contraception and diabetes medications. B.C. used this deal to get the federal government to also cover menopausal hormone therapy, which began March 1.

However, Phelps Bondaroff said, since coming to power Prime Minister Mark Carney has flip-flopped on pharmacare, and it isnt clear if the federal Liberals want to sign more provinces and territories onto the plan. That is creating unequal access to this life-changing medication, which is not allowed under the Canada Health Act, he added.

Access to contraceptives can be life-changing because it allows people to choose if and when they want to be parents, which benefits them and their potential children.

Phelps Bondaroff said AccessBC has calculated that 62 per cent of the federal funding envelope has already been allocated to the jurisdictions already signed up, which means its unclear how the program could expand to cover larger jurisdictions such as Quebec and Ontario. It calculated this by adding up how much funding each province and territory received through the national pharmacare deal. B.C. was allocated $670 million over four years, Manitoba $219 million over four years, P.E.I. $30 million over four years, and Yukon $9.5 million over four years. The 2024 federal budget says pharmacare would be financed by a $1.5-billion investment over five years, which means 62 per cent of that $1.5 billion is already spoken for.

Back in B.C., AccessBC has launched a new campaign working to improve pain management for IUD insertions.

The Not Just a Pinch campaign was launched in December and is asking the province to increase access to numbing and cervical blocks, which are already covered by the Medical Services Plan, and to offer methoxyflurane, better known by the brand name Penthrox, during IUD insertions.

Health Canada approved the use of methoxyflurane in 2022, but the drug has been used in Australia and New Zealand since the 1970s for short-term pain management.

Family planning specialist Hall said she has been advocating for improved physician education about pain management for years and has recently been seeing some improvement as she meets more students who are thinking about and have questions about pain management.

What contraceptives to use and the benefits and drawbacks of each method should always be a conversation between a patient and their clinician, she said, adding that potential pain and pain management should be part of that discussion.

That conversation can also provide a time for clinicians to identify and respond to any misinformation a patient might have, she said.

She said a lot of patients in their 20s are getting misinformation about hormonal birth control from social media, where influencers say that all hormones are bad for you.

Thats not true, she said. But it is true that all medications have some risk, which is why a patient should always talk with a clinician about what birth control is right for them. She added that the risks always need to be balanced against the risk of pregnancy.

The most effective birth control option out there is for a male partner to get a vasectomy, which is fully covered by the Medical Services Plan in B.C. and is offered at the Willow Reproductive Health Centre, Hall said. In some cases, this procedure can be reversed, but in general it is considered permanent, Hall added.

In July B.C. also launched its in vitro fertilization program, where each patient could have access to one-time funding of up to $19,000 for a single standard IVF cycle. The Health Ministry says more than 1,600 individuals and couples have been approved for funding through the IVF program, with more applications in progress.
Allu Arjuns birthday celebrations have become even more exciting, as Sun Pictures officially unveiled the title of his upcoming film with director Atlee.

The much-anticipated project also stars Deepika Padukone as the female lead.

Atlee and Allu Arjuns project title revealed

Atlee and Allu Arjuns upcoming pan-world project, which was initially titled AA22x16, is now officially titled Raaka.

The first look of Raaka presents Allu Arjun in a striking new avatar, sporting a shaved head with a mysterious monster-like hand partially covering his face, which appears to be his own. The intriguing visual hints that his character could be a hybrid, possibly blending human and beast-like traits.
Its been four months now and there is still now concrete update on when the movie will hit the screens.

Tamil superstar Thalapathy Vijays last movie Jana Nayagan was slated to release in January 2026 but was delayed indefinitely as it landed in trouble with the CBFC which led to a court case.

 Sun Pictures

Rajinikanth Refuses To React To Thalapathy Vijays Jana Nayagan Release Delay

Recently, at the Chennai airport, Rajinikanth interacted with the press and advised fans not to hurt themselves while going crazy over their favourite stars.

He told the media, Youngsters should be careful at public events. If they get hurt, it affects them. Hence, they should be more careful.

And added, They should concentrate on education. If they give up on education, they will suffer later in their lives. They should keep this in mind, pursue their education and keep themselves healthy. Youngsters should say no to alcohol and narcotic substances. If you indulge in these practices, you ruin your entire life, along with your family's. Stay away from friends who indulge in such practices.

During the interaction, he was also asked to share his take on Thalapathy Vijays Jana Nayagan landing in release trouble. Interestingly, Rajinikanth refused to comment on the same and simply said, I don't want to comment on it.
Fords only remaining passenger car in the United States is proving that it still deserves a spot at the table, even today.

Between supply chain shortages, sweeping tariffs and soaring gas prices (not to mention more than a few electrification pivots), 2026 hasnt exactly been kind to those in the car industry.

As a result, many automakers are currently having a slow sales year, and youll find that even beloved brands like Subaru are posting declines.

Ford Mustang sales are showing quite the improvement at the end of Q1 this year. - Credit: Ford

Nevertheless, there are some exceptions out there. Beyond rugged SUVs like the Honda Passport, buyers are now flocking to Americas pony car, and in a way no one saw coming.

The Mustang is on a tear

Thats because the Ford Mustang has managed to post a 50.1-percent improvement year over year. In Q1 of 2025, the model found some 9,377 new owners, and that number increased to all of 14,074 over the same period in 2026.

Ford has managed to improve numbers by (a little) more than 50 percent year over year. - Credit: Ford

By contrast, the pony cars all-electric stablemate has taken quite the nosedive. While Ford sold 11,607 Mach-Es throughout Q1 of last year, that number fell by 60.4 percent in 2026. As a result, just 4,600 examples have left the pasture this year.

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Its not just a matter of powertrain preference or pricing, either, as other enthusiast vehicles like the Bronco showed a slight hiccup. Fords 44 was down by 4.3 percent, falling from 32,595 to 31,197.

While the Mustangs numbers make up a fraction of those sales, its nevertheless selling better than you might expect. For perspective, this years count through the end of Q1 puts the car close to the Ranger (17,775) and the Expedition (17,554), both of which are markedly more practical vehicles.

The Mach-E, by contrast, has taken quite the nosedive. - Credit: Ford

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Americas comeback horse

In any case, Fords Mustang comeback is especially impressive when you consider it compared to previous reports. After all, even though the pony car started to show improvement toward the end of 2025, such was hardly the case throughout most of the year.

On the contrary. At the end of Q3 last October, Fords Mach-E had actually outperformed its gas-powered counterpart by over 2:1, with 20,177 examples of the electric crossover sold compared to just 9,267 internal combustion Mustang coupes.

Ford is pushing the boundaries of what a Mustang can be through additions like the Dark Horse SC. - Credit: Ford

That also happened to set a record for the Mach-E at the time, though the end of EV tax incentives has obviously subsequently killed any momentum.

Still, Ford deserves some credit for the Mustangs improved numbers, as the pony car owes its success to more than a change in administration or a loosening of emissions regulations.

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From Porsche-fighting performance variants to drift-worthy EcoBoost options, the Blue Oval has expanded its concept of Mustang in more ways than one, and its a strategy thats clearly landing with buyers. (It also doesnt hurt that its the brands only passenger car in the United States.)

Americas pony car continues to evolve, which is a big part of what has allowed it to remain in production all these years. - Credit: Ford

Dodge tried to do as much with the all-electric Charger Daytona, but even the addition of internal combustion is now barely moving the needle for the next-gen muscle car. The Sixpacks 1,672 sales dont come anywhere near those of the Mustang in 2026.

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When hes not chasing the latest industry news, hes probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers. Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When hes not chasing the latest industry news, hes probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.
A new report suggests General Motors is moving forward with a successor to the Camaro, potentially setting the stage for a seventh-generation car just a few years after the nameplate was discontinued following the 2024 model year.





The playbook is eerily similar to the last time the Camaro died in 2002 and was brought back eight years later as part of GM's bankruptcy resurrection. At least this time we won't have to wait as long.





While details remain scarce, early indications point to a return that could pretty much pick things up where the Camaro left off.

According to the report from GM Authority, and further corroborated by Automotive News, the greenlit seventh-gen Camaro could ride on an evolution of GM's rear-wheel-drive Alpha platform, which currently underpins vehicles like the Cadillac CT5 and CT4. Before the Camaro went out of production, it was already riding on a version of the Alpha platform.





The news, if true, means the Camaro will remain a traditional muscle car rather than becoming a crossover, or worse, an all-electric crossover. I'm sure GM noticed that Stellantis is selling combustion-powered Chargers at a rate of 7:1 compared to the battery model.

The Camaro's reported return is part of GM's manufacturing strategy at its Lansing Grand River plant in Michigan, where the CT5 and CT4 are currently built. Cadillac has already confirmed the CT4 won't be around for a second generation, with the CT5 expected to split the difference between the two existing sedans.





That means Lansing has a ton of excess capacity to welcome the Camaro back to the assembly line. The facility is expected to play host to a rumored new Buick sedan as well.





If plans move forward, production of the next-generation Camaro could begin as early as fall 2027-building model year 2028 cars-alongside the updated CT5. Annual output for both models is reportedly targeted between 60,000 and 70,000 units combined.





What's unclear at this point is whether the Camaro will remain exclusively two-door, or if it will arrive as a coupe at all. There are rumors going around that the car will come back as a four-door sedan, in the same vein as the Chevy SS. GM could also opt to try Dodge's strategy by offering the Camaro both as a coupe and a sedan.

AutoGuide's Take:





GM killed the Camaro during a period when automakers were aggressively going all-in on electric vehicles and SUVs.

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But the landscape has shifted since then-both due to consumer demand and economic climate-with almost every manufacturer being forced to recalibrate their strategies amid slower-than-expected EV adoption and a renaissance in internal combustion performance vehicles.





Plus, GM just dropped a new 535-horsepower LS6 small-block V8 that definitely needs another home outside of the Corvette family. This is particularly important as the Corvette, now in its mid-engine era, continues to move upmarket with an entry price north of $70,000.





Meanwhile, the Ford Mustang continues on unchallenged in the space. Sure, the Dodge Charger has found its footing with the twin-turbo inline-six after a rocky start as a pure EV, but the automaker is still reluctant to drop a V8 under the hood.





Become an AutoGuide insider. Get the latest from the automotive world first by subscribing to our newsletter here.
Delta College Vice President Reva Curry answers a question from the Delta Board of Trustees during an interview as one of the three finalists for the position of Delta president on April 7, 2026. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Delta College Vice President Reva Curry, standing, shakes hands with Board Trustee Alexis Thomas after being interviewed by the board as one of the three finalists for the position of Delta president on April 7, 2026. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Delta College Vice President Reva Curry answers a question from the Delta Board of Trustees during an interview as one of the three finalists for the position of Delta president on April 7, 2026. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Delta College Vice President Reva Curry, right, answers a question from the Delta Board of Trustees during an interview as one of the three finalists for the position of Delta president on April 7, 2026. Listening, from left, are Board Chair Stacey Gannon, Vice Chair Arshen Baldwin, and Trustees Diane Middleton and Michael Nash. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News Delta College Vice President Reva Curry, left, chats with members of the Delta Board of Trustees prior to a special meeting in which the board interviewed Curry as one of the three finalists for the position of Delta president on April 7, 2026. Dan Chalk/Midland Daily News

Delta College Vice President of Instruction and Learning Services Reva Curry delivered thorough answers during an interview Tuesday night, April 7 with the Delta Board of Trustees as one of three finalists for the position of college president.

Curry, the only one of the finalists who currently works at Delta, answered 16 questions over a period of one hour during a special board meeting on the college's main campus.

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More Information Quick facts about Delta College Current enrollment: 9,091 students Tuition and fees for 2025-26: $4,910 Average student's age: 24 Students' enrollment status: 67% part-time, 33% full-time

Curry, who has served in the VP role for 12 years, was the second finalist to be interviewed by the board, following Michelle Allmendinger on April 6 and preceding Adam Cloutier on April 10 at 7 p.m.

The Board of Trustees will select the president in a special meeting at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, April 14.

During the interview of Curry, Trustees Stacey Gannon, Arshen Baldwin, Michael Rowley, Alexis Thomas, Michael Nash and Diane Middleton took turns asking questions.

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Curry, a Midland resident, said during the interview that she spent considerable time before deciding to apply for the presidency, which became vacant when Michael Gavin stepped down at the end of December.

"It was not a fast decision. I prayed on it at length," she said. "I had enjoyed so much the presidency of Dr. Gavin, and what I felt I could do is to add to the work that he had already started, and to amplify the work that he had shown us was possible for us to do, both in enrollment and retention and completion, but also in how we manage and maneuver through some very difficult times in higher ed.

"I have a lot to contribute," Curry added. "I can lead the college to the next chapter."

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In responding to executive orders from the Trump administration that affect higher education, Curry said that as president she would be guided by two principles that Gavin used: waiting to see if an order will be challenged in court, and not reacting prematurely.

In terms of promoting a collegial atmosphere in the college, Curry said that begins with listening and respecting one another while knowing that there will naturally be difference of opinion.

"Every employee should feel heard and valued," Curry said.

Curry admitted that she "will need a lot of help" in the area of institutional advancement, or fundraising. But she said that listening and "sharing the Delta story" is a good first step in that area.

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On the subject of meeting local employers' workforce needs, Curry said she hears "gentle frustration" expressed by employers because Delta is not sending them new employees quickly enough.

"Is there a way we can create an apprenticeship while students are still in school?" she wondered aloud.

Curry took a strong stand for the promotion of belonging, equity, diversity and inclusion (BEDI), saying Delta is on a good path in that area.

"I know that BEDI itself is a controversial term, but to me it means that we see you, we hear you, and we include you. And it doesn't make a difference who you are. You are welcome here at Delta and we're going to help you."

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Curry struck a proactive tone about having a strategy around artificial intelligence, saying she recently completed the one-year Institute on AI, Pedagogy and the Curriculum through the American Association of Colleges and Universities.

"I want to make sure students graduate with AI literacy. Employers demand it," Curry said.

After answering all of the board's questions, Curry was invited to ask the board any questions she was interested in. She asked how the board assesses its own effectiveness at leading Delta College.

Gannon, the board chair, thanked Curry for the question and said the board needs to improve in that regard. While the Delta trustees draw praise from peer boards around the country, she said, they haven't spent a lot of time scrutinizing themselves.

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Prior to arriving at Delta, Curry served as Executive Director for Stockton Center for Community Engagement of Stockton University (formerly Stockton College) in New Jersey.
Kenneth Iwamasa, 59, worked as actor Matthew Perrys live-in personal assistant. He graduated from H.H. Dow High School in 1982 and attended Lansing Community College from 1983-1985 before relocating to Los Angeles. Iwamasa admitted to administering several ketamine injections to Perry, including on the day he died. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death, and faces a possible 15 years in prison. LinkedIn

A former Midland mans sentencing in connection with the 2023 ketamine overdose death of actor Matthew Perry has been delayed again, as a co-defendant in the case was sentenced this week to 15 years in federal prison for operating a high-volume drug trafficking operation tied to multiple deaths.

Kenneth Iwamasa, 61, a 1982 graduate of H.H. Dow High School, is now scheduled to be sentenced June 10 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

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Iwamasa pleaded guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and faces up to 15 years in prison. The latest delay comes as the broader case concludes.

Jasveen Sangha, 42, of North Hollywood  known by prosecutors as the Ketamine Queen  was sentenced Wednesday, April 8 to 180 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple drug charges, including distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

Police found that she operated a years-long drug trafficking business out of her residence, supplying narcotics to high-end clients while disregarding the risks.

Prosecutors said Sangha and co-defendant Erik Fleming supplied the ketamine to Iwamasa that was ultimately administered to Perry, a 54-year-old actor best known for his role as Chandler Bing on the NBC hit sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004. Perry overdosed and died on Oct. 28, 2023.

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According to court records, Iwamasa served as Perrys live-in personal assistant and admitted to repeatedly injecting the actor with ketamine, including multiple injections on the day Perry died. Prosecutors said Iwamasa had no medical training to administer the drug.

Investigators allege that Iwamasa obtained ketamine through a network of suppliers, including Sangha, Fleming and physicians who used coded language and encrypted messaging apps to arrange transactions. Authorities said the group referred to ketamine as Dr. Pepper, cans and bots in communications.

In the weeks leading up to Perrys death, Sangha and Fleming sold dozens of vials of ketamine that were delivered to Iwamasa, prosecutors said. Iwamasa told police he administered at least three injections of the drug to Perry on the day that he died.

After news of Perrys death became public, Sangha and Fleming attempted to conceal their involvement by deleting messages and discussing ways to distance themselves from the incident.

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Sanghas sentencing memorandum outlined a broader pattern of drug distribution dating back several years. In one instance cited by prosecutors, she sold ketamine in 2019 to a man who died hours later from an overdose.

A search of Sanghas home in March 2024 uncovered additional drugs and trafficking materials, including methamphetamine pills, cocaine, MDMA, counterfeit prescription pills and cash.

Several other defendants have already been sentenced. Dr. Salvador Plasencia, a Santa Monica, California physician, received a 30-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to distributing ketamine and surrendered his medical license. Dr. Mark Chavez of San Diego was sentenced to probation and home detention after admitting to conspiracy charges tied to the case.
John Littlejohn

Memorial Presbyterian Church will host its next Vespers concert at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, featuring Infinitus, a string trio with an innovative sound. The concert is free to attend, open to the public and viewable in-person and via live streaming.

Infinitus features violinist John Littlejohn, cellist Alex Cheung and violist Anthony Cheung. While the band members now reside in Canada, all three have ties to Michigan. Littlejohn calls Lansing and Midland his hometowns. The three met at the University of Michigan School of Music and became best friends. For more information about the group, visit infinitusmusic.com.

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In conjunction with the bands visit to Midland, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is hosting Infinitus for an educational workshop for string players from 10 to 11:15 a.m. on Saturday, April 18.

More information and a registration form can be found on the parishs website assumptionmary.org. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish is located at 3516 E. Monroe Road in Midland.
Dave Collette wants to buy a parcel of land in a residential area from the City of Midland to build a house there. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News After trying unsuccessfully to find a suitable house for sale in the neighborhood, David Collette is trying to buy the parcel of land at 905 E. Park Drive from the City of Midland. Neighbors have spoken against the plan, saying the land, which they affectionately refer to as The Point, is important to the neighborhood's community. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News After trying unsuccessfully to find a suitable house for sale in the neighborhood, David Collette is trying to buy the parcel of land at 905 E. Park Drive from the City of Midland. Neighbors have spoken against the plan, saying the land, which they affectionately refer to as The Point, is important to the neighborhood's community. Abigail VanderMolen/Midland Daily News

One mans attempt to buy city-owned land to build a house at 905 E. Park Drive has drawn backlash from neighbors, who treat the parcel of land  which they call The Point  as a neighborhood park.

Despite the neighborhood pushback, that man, retired lawyer David Collette, still intends to move forward with his plan.

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You never want to be the pariah in your own neighborhood, thats for sure, Collette said. I hope that they will understand, ultimately, Im not out here to ruin what they consider to be a park  even if it isnt a park. I want to be a good neighbor to them.

Midland City Council voted March 23 to approve sealed bidding for the sale of the parcel of land, despite protests from neighbors.

At a future meeting, Council has the authority to formally decide whether or to whom to sell the land, while having no obligation to sell to the highest bidder, or even at all.

Collette said he wants to live at the location because he is blind, and the area gives him walkable access to downtown and several nearby parks.

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After actively looking for a house in the neighborhood for about a year  and looking at properties in Midland for longer than that  Collette said he hasnt been able to find anything else that meets his needs.

I need to be able to understand what roads are nearby, what can be accessed, and that is very difficult, Collette said. In the home itself, almost any change in elevation is something that I must be aware of and have to navigate.

Maintaining as much independence as possible is important to Collette.

I can see, but I can only see as if youre looking through a steam on a mirror in the bathroom kind of thing, or fog in a car ride, Collette said. I can see movement and motion, but I cannot make out shapes or details or anything like that.

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Collettes permanent address is in Grand Blanc, but today he spends much of his time in Midland. He lives in a studio apartment within a property he owns.

Collette is retired, and once his wife retires, the pair want a house to be their permanent residence in Midland together.

In total, Collette owns three properties in Midland, some of which are split into apartments, adding up to a total of five units in the city. The other units are rented, occupied by family, or in one case, run as an Airbnb, he said.

Collette said it wouldnt be feasible for him and his wife to move into one of those units as a permanent residence.

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Those are investment properties, Collette said. Those are family members that have lived there for 10-12 years in some instances. In fact, I use that particular income from those properties to pay my daily and monthly expenses.

Collette said he regularly walks in the neighborhood after volunteering at Open Door, which is how he became aware of the parcel at 905 E. Park Drive. He inquired about the land and learned that there was a process by which the city could potentially sell it.

After Collette expressed interest in buying the property, city staff conducted an internal review which found no public purpose for the land. City Council voted 3-1 to approve sealed bidding for the land.

Since the meeting, neighbors have continued to speak out against the potential sale of the parcel, writing letters to the editor published in the Daily News and planning to speak on the issue at the April 13 Council meeting.

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Collette was expecting some pushback, but the level of backlash surprised him.

Ultimately, he understands the neighbors concerns. But their objections havent changed his mind.

If I lived already in the neighborhood and someone said that they were going to take that really pretty green space right there in front, I would probably have some objections as well, Collette said. But I would also say, Hey, listen, I guess Im not entitled to something that isnt a park, that is being maintained by the rest of the city of Midland for basically our exclusive residents.

On the end of The Point is a memorial park bench dedicated to a resident of the neighborhood who died in 2022, underneath a tree that is also a memorial.

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Collette said if he successfully purchases the property, hes open to leaving the memorial bench as-is if it's important to the neighborhood, potentially through an easement.

If another house comes up for sale that meets his needs, Collette said he would be happy to consider purchasing it instead of going through with bidding on the city-owned parcel.

But he wont change his plans solely for the purpose of leaving The Point a vacant lot.

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Josh and Jase drop new hints about a possible Michigan trip. Wiltser/Getty Images

After turning their first Michigan trip into a viral moment earlier this year, British influencers Josh and Jase are planning a return to the states, and this time, the comments are already shaping where they could go next.

The duo recently announced their next destination: Arkansas. But this time, it wont be the full pair traveling, as Josh is staying back following the birth of his newborn baby.

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In the video, Jase appeared in a Detroit Red Wings jacket while Josh wore a Saugatuck crewneck, small details that didnt go unnoticed as Michigan continues to come up in the comments.

Under recent posts, fans have continued calling for a return visit, including one comment urging them to come back to Michigan that caught attention when a brand the duo has been partnering with replied, The demand is real[laughing emoji].

Another moment that stood out was a push for the pair to visit Mackinac Island in the summer.

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Their response?

Stay tuned[eyes emoji].

The reply drew nearly 500 likes in under 24 hours, signaling just how closely followers are watching for where they might go next.

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From there, the comments quickly filled with specific suggestions, including Harbor Springs and the Tunnel of Trees, Ann Arbor and Michigan Stadium, Pictured Rocks and Munising, and the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Even the official Mackinac Island Instagram account joined in, replying to the duo, [eyes emoji].

Josh and Jase first arrived in Michigan in January, traveling from South Haven and Saugatuck to Holland, Grand Rapids and later Traverse City.

As their trip continued, they shared more moments across the state, including stops at Sleeping Bear Dunes, Boyne Mountain and across the Mackinac Bridge into the Upper Peninsula, with time spent in places like Marquette, the Keweenaw Peninsula and Copper Harbor.

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That stretch produced a series of viral moments, capturing lake-effect snow, massive drifts, and even tossing boiling water into the air to watch it instantly freeze.

They also leaned into local staples along the way, trying Vernors, a pasty in St. Ignace and making their own fudge on Mackinac Island, where they arrived by small plane and experienced the islands car-free lifestyle.

The trip eventually took them to Detroit, where they made Detroit-style pizza, tried a coney dog, visited Ford Field and attended their first Red Wings game.

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What started as travel content quickly turned into something bigger, with crowds showing up and communities following along in real time.

This is more than just some numbers on social media, they wrote during their trip. This is a community. This is family.

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U.S. District Judge Thomas Ludington Courtesy

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Ludington pleaded no contest on Wednesday, April 8 to drunken driving, while a charge of "super drunk" driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.17% or higher was dismissed per a plea agreement.

Ludington, 72, of Midland, appeared before Emmet County District Court Judge Angela Lasher. He is set for sentencing at 10:30 a.m. on May 13. Being a misdemeanor, the conviction could carry a sentence of up to 93 days in jail. A no contest plea means a defendant does not admit guilt but accepts conviction and sentencing as if guilty.

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Ludington was arrested on Oct. 3, 2025 following the single-vehicle drunken driving crash near Petoskey. He remains free on a $500 bond and has been on a voluntary paid leave of absence from the bench since Feb. 23.

"I'm pleased with the plea," Emmet County Prosecutor Mike Schuitema told the Daily News. "It holds him responsible and provides a method of rehabilitation to whatever underlying issues Judge Ludington has."

Schuitema said a drug/alcohol assessment and a pre-sentence report will be done before May 13.

According to shared body cam footage, Ludington lied to Michigan State Police by saying he had not been drinking, he urinated on himself, and he didn't know how his wife's Cadillac got scratched up or why the airbags deployed.

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It was more than four months after the crash, on Feb. 23, that the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan issued a press release saying, It is aware of recent news stories involving United States District Judge Thomas L. Ludington. Since the court became aware of the charges, it has taken all appropriate steps to address the matter consistent with its obligations to the public, the federal judiciary, and of course, to Judge Ludington. Today, Judge Ludington has volunteered to take a leave of absence from the Court pending resolution of the state legal matter.

Calls to the federal court attempting to learn when it found out about the judges arrest, were met with silence.

In addition, Michigan State Police hasnt fulfilled the Daily News Freedom of Information Act request filed on Jan. 29, while other news agencies have received reports and video evidence requested through FOIA.

On Feb. 13, the Daily News submitted half of the payment, $224, to meet the cost for the body cam, dash cam and MSP report. According to MSP records, MSP has 44 business days to send the items after the first half of the payment is submitted. That would mean a deadline of April 17 for MSP to send the items.

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Michigan State Police Lt. Ashley Miller said Ludington crashed his wife's car into road signs with a reported blood alcohol level of .270%, more than three times the legal limit. Miller said Ludington was arrested about 7:20 p.m. on Oct. 3 after crashing his wifes 2019 black Cadillac CT6 on a rural road in Springvale Township, about 10 miles east of Petoskey.

Miller said troopers responded to Bills Farm Market on E. Mitchell Street and found the crashed car about 7:10 p.m. Ludington was found to be super drunk or having a blood alcohol level of 0.17% or higher.

In Michigan, the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08% for drivers age 21 and over, 0.02% for drivers under 21, and 0.04% for commercial drivers.

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From 1995-2006, Ludington served as Midland Countys 42nd Circuit Court judge before being appointed to the federal bench by President George W. Bush.
I feel like this story should be from an old Norm MacDonald "Weekend Update" bit. A group of car thieves tried to steal several high-priced vehicles in New York City on Sunday, but they were stopped by something they never saw coming... the front door. About four or five failed thieves broke into the cars  a McLaren Artura, a Mercedes-AMG G63, a Volvo XC60, and a Range Rover Sport  in a parking garage on West 43rd Street in Manhattan before 6 a.m., according to the NBC 4 New York. The garage attendants reportedly keep the keys in some of the cars, which might have been how they were so easily stolen.

However, as the thieves were attempting to leave, one of the garage attendants stopped them simply by closing the front gate. The McLaren was able to sneak out before the gate closed and tried speeding away, but apparently wasn't talented enough to control the Artura's 671 hybrid horses, as they crashed it into a pole on the way out. As the gate closed, it came crashing down on the Range Rover, halting the heist.

Read more: Ford Once Made A Mile-Long Factory To Build Bombers Faster Than Anyone Thought Possible

The thieves got away but without any of the cars

The owner of the McLaren was walking to get breakfast when they saw their car smashed into a pole. "I couldn't believe it was my car," they told NBC 4. "I was walking out getting breakfast and then, when I came back, I saw that this looked like, like, like my car." According to NY1, a Midtown food truck owner Ahmed Kharboush saw the crash and threw some shade at its getaway driver. "He try to take the turn over here, and he just smash into the pole, he doesn't know how to drive it so why he steal it?"

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Its front end was badly damaged and the airbags deployed, so the Artura is likely totaled. That's what car insurance is for, though. Since the Range Rover got guillotined by the garage door, it probably needs quite a bit of repair, too. The G63's hood was damaged as well, and not only was the Volvo's windshield smashed, there's a lot of damage to the passenger side. The XC60 and G63 made it out of before the door closed, but the thieves left them outside of the garage. I guess once they saw the McLaren crash and the Range Rover get smashed, they figured it was best to ditch the cars and bail. They fled in a gray BMW, but no further details have been released by the police.

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An eighth Jane Doe has filed an $8 million legal complaint against the United States Army and Department of Defense, alleging that former Dr. Blaine McGraw sexually abused her during medical appointments at the Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) administrative complaint, which also names the Defense Health Agency, was filed Tuesday by the law firm Sanford Heislerwhich previously filed seven FTCA complaints in December 2025 on behalf of Jane Does 1-7, whose complaints allege they were also sexually abused by McGraw at Tripler Medical Center and Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood, Texas.

Tort claims under federal statute permits individuals to bring legal challenges against federal agencies, with an administrative complaint first being filed against an agency allegedly at fault. After a six-month period afforded to an agency to investigate, a litigant can then file suit in federal court.

[McGraw] clearly had an M.O., attorney Christine Dunn, who is representing Jane Doe 8, told Military.com. He engaged in unnecessary medical exams that really rose to the level of sexual abuse, and I think that's evident in some of the claims we filed in December.

It's evident in the one we filed today, where he did gratuitous multiple breast exams, those kinds of things. There are a lot of similarities, which is not surprising.

Military.com reached out to the Army and DOD for comment. A DOD spokesperson deferred comment to the Army.

An Army spokesperson said the service does not comment on ongoing litigation.

McGraw's Many Charges

Military.com previously reported that Maj. McGraw is currently facing numerous criminal charges for secretly recording dozens of female patients in the military medical system.

On Dec. 9, 2025, the U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Counsel (OSTC) announced that it had preferred four charges and 61 specifications against the obstetrician gynecologist who was assigned to the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center located in Fort Hood.

Former Army OBG-YN Blaine McGraw is currently detained for pretrial confinement in Bell County Jail in Belton, Texas, where he has remained since Army prosecutors announced numerous criminal charges against him on December 9, 2025. (Bell County Sheriff's Office)

McGraw is charged with 54 specifications for indecent visual recording, five specifications of conduct unbecoming an officer, one specification of willful disobedience of a superior officer, and one specification of making a false official statement in violation of multiple articles of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The Army previously stated that leaders suspended McGraw and began investigating him within hours after receiving a patient complaint in October 2025. He was serving as an OBGYN at Darnall Medical Center at the time of his arrest.

Complaint: McGraw 'Caused Great Distress'

A redacted seven-page complaint obtained by Military.com states that Jane Doe 8 began seeing McGraw at Triper Medical Center as she was seeking to establish a relationship with a new obstetrician-gynecologist (OBG-YN).

The redacted complaint does not show the number of times they met, though notes how not all of Jane Does visits were documented in Genesis, the patient portal.

The complaint alleges that McGraw performed unnecessary medical exams on me, including breast and abdominal exams at multiple appointments when there was especially no medical reason for so many breast exams.

From left, Sohail Salgado, work reception technician, Fort Hood Directorate of Public Works, Operations and Maintenance Division, and Stephen Short, air-conditioning mechanic, DPW, OMD, drop a tarp at the Bernie Beck Gate sign to reveal the new name of the installation during the commemorative renaming ceremony July 28, 2025, at Fort Hood, Texas. (U.S. Army photo by Janecze Wright, Fort Hood Public Affairs)

McGraw purportedly never asked Jane Doe if she preferred a chaperone during visits, and he allegedly remained in the small room with her as she undressed.

At every visit, Dr. McGraw placed his hand on my upper thigh and left it there. This seemed medically unnecessary and caused me great distress.

She added that in the middle of her appointments, McGraw allegedly answered text messages and phone calls, which she found inappropriate and increasingly concerned her that he videotaped me during these visits without my consent.

He also allegedly commented on her breasts, mentioning how good they looked.

His comments struck me as sexual in nature rather than medical, and made me feel exposed, objectified and unsafe in what should have been a professional, medical setting, the complaint says.

Army Ignored 'Red Flags'

Dunn said she expects more victims of McGraw to come forward due to the number of patients he had combined with the fortitude of the eight women who so far have filed complaints.

When asked about the Armys culpability and whether they did their due diligence when all of McGraws purported nefarious activities took place, Dunn said there were warning signs along the way and referenced recent media reports alleging such behavior at Tripler.

Had the Army listened to these red flags along the way, there would not be this many victims.

Other questions the Army is being asked to answer include how much it knew, when it knew it, and why it took so long and so many victims until McGraw was relieved of his duties and later criminally charged.

Dunn said just knowing should have been bad enough, but having actual knowledge of what occurred and looking the other way would rise to something really problematic. The complaints speak for themselves, she added.

"I think it's important for a lot of reasons, Dunn said. I think it's empowering for survivors to come forward and to tell their stories. I think it's empowering for other survivors who may not have come forward yet to see that people experienced similar victimization.

And I think it's powerful because it puts pressure on the Army. It lets the Army know that there are a lot of women out there who are not going to stand for this behavior and that are calling for accountability.

A preliminary hearing for the original charges was waived by McGraw. The next step is for a neutral officer to be assigned and a date scheduled to conduct a preliminary hearing, the latter of which is required before charges can be referred for trial by general court-martial pursuant to Article 32 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Updated April 8, 2:16 p.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from the Army.
MELBOURNE, Australia  Australias most decorated living veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, did not apply for bail when the war crime murder charges against him were listed in a Sydney court Wednesday.

Roberts-Smith was awarded both the Victoria Cross and Medal of Gallantry for his service in Afghanistan and is only the second Australian veteran of the Afghanistan campaign to be charged with a war crime.

The charges follow a military report released in 2020 that found evidence that elite Australian Special Air Service and commando regiment troops unlawfully killed 39 Afghan prisoners, farmers and other noncombatants. Around 40,000 Australian military personnel served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021, of whom 41 were killed.

Veteran accused of 5 unlawful deaths

The allegations against Roberts-Smith relate to the deaths of five Afghan people who died in 2009 and 2012 while he served in Afghanistan as an elite SAS corporal. Police allege he either shot his victims or ordered a subordinate to shoot them in Uruzgan province where Australia's forces were based.

Police said he had been charged Tuesday with five counts of war crime murder. But the charges laid in court Wednesday were two counts of war crime murder and three counts of aiding or abetting a war crime murder. All charges carry the same potential maximum sentence of life in prison.

The charges allege Roberts-Smith killed and caused a subordinate to kill at Kakarak village on April 12, 2009. He allegedly caused a subordinate to kill at Darwan village on Sept. 11, 2012. He allegedly killed and caused a subordinate to kill at Syahchow village on Oct. 20, 2012.

Australian law defines war crime murder as the intentional killing in a context of armed conflict of a person who is not taking an active part in the hostilities, such as a civilian, prisoner of war or a wounded soldier.

Australian prime minister describes veteran's arrest as a difficult time

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Roberts-Smith's arrest as a difficult time for the Australian Defense Force.

We should give thanks every day for the men and women who wear our uniform, who are prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of our nation, to keep our Australian way of life going forward. That doesnt change, Albanese told Sky News television.

Its important that this not be politicized, and I have no intention of commenting on what is a legal process, Albanese added.

Opposition leader Angus Taylor called on the federal government, known as the Commonwealth of Australia, to pay for the legal defenses of all military personnel prosecuted for war crimes, including Roberts-Smith.

It is an imperative that the Commonwealth provide anyone whos prosecuted in this process, including Ben Roberts-Smith, with ... the financial support they need to defend themselves and to ensure that there is a fair trial, Taylor told reporters. The presumption of innocence is crucial.

Former Australian prime minister pays tribute to troops

John Howard, who as Australia's then-prime minister first committed Australian troops to fight in Afghanistan in 2001, said Roberts-Smith's arrest would emotionally impact millions of Australians.

This is a difficult issue for many, as it tests to the limits not only our respect for Australian values, but the deep and special reverence we have for those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe, Howard said in a statement.

The Australian Special Air Service Association, which represents current and former members of the elite regiment, said some may be required to testify against former comrades. Others must defend themselves against grave allegations.

These realities are deeply confronting for a close and enduring community, the association said in a statement.

Roberts-Smith, 47, spent the night in jail after he was arrested at the Sydney Airport on Tuesday morning, and he did not appear in court either in person or by video link Wednesday.

His lawyers did not enter pleas to the charges or apply for his release on bail. The case was adjourned until June 4.

Civil court upholds similar allegations

A civil court has already found similar allegations against Roberts-Smith credible in a defamation suit he brought after newspapers published articles in 2018 accusing him of a range of war crimes. In 2023, a federal judge rejected Roberts-Smiths claims and ruled that he likely killed four noncombatants unlawfully in 2009 and 2012.

But while the civil court found the war crimes allegations were mostly proven on a balance of probabilities, the war crime murder charges would have to be proved in a criminal court to a higher standard of beyond reasonable doubt.

Media magnate Kerry Stokes helped fund Roberts-Smith's civil court action. Roberts-Smith quit his job as a state manager of Stokes' Seven West Media in 2023 after losing the defamation case.

During his defamation trial, Roberts-Smith had testified that he had never killed an unarmed Afghan and denied ever committing a war crime. He claimed he has the victim of spiteful fellow soldiers' lies and of others' envy of his medals.

Roberts-Smith is the second Australian veteran of the Afghanistan campaign to be charged with a war crime.

Fellow veteran pleads not guilty to war crime allegation

Former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz has pleaded not guilty to a charge of war crime murder. He is accused of shooting Afghan man Dad Mohammad three times in the head in an Uruzgan province wheat field in 2012.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers said Schulz's trial is unlikely to be held before 2027.

In 2024, the government announced that several serving and former Australian military commanders had been stripped of medals over allegations of war crimes committed in Afghanistan.

Holding commanders to account for alleged misconduct of Australian special forces between 2005 and 2016 had been recommended in the war crime investigation report made public in 2020.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump, over the course of a single day, went from threatening Iran with annihilation to proclaiming that the battered Islamic Republic's leadership had presented a workable plan that led him to agree to a 14-day ceasefire that he expects will pave the way to end the nearly six-week war.

The dramatic shift in tenor came as intermediaries led by Pakistan worked feverishly to head off a further escalation. Even China, Iran's biggest trading partner and America's most significant economic competitor, quietly pulled strings to find a path toward a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East, Trump said in a social media post Tuesday announcing the temporary ceasefire. It came about 90 minutes before his deadline for Tehran to open the critical Strait of Hormuz or see its power plants and other critical infrastructure obliterated.

The president was to meet at the White House with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday, with the emerging plan to reopen the strait expected to be at the center of their talks. Trump has been angry that NATO member countries ignored his call to help reopen the vital waterway as gas prices soared during the war.

As the deadline neared, Democratic lawmakers decried Trump's threat to wipe away an entire civilization as a moral failure." Pope Leo XIV warned that strikes against civilian infrastructure would violate international law and said the Republican president's comments were truly unacceptable.

In the end, Trump may have backed down because of a simple truth: Escalation could risk involving the United States in the sort of forever war that had bedeviled his predecessors in the White House and that he had vowed he would keep the U.S. out of if voters elected him again.

Controlling the strait would have been long and costly

As Trump boasted about U.S. and Israeli military success over the past six weeks, he appeared to be working from the premise that he could bomb Iran into capitulation.

Starting with the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening salvos, he seemed to discount that the Iranian leadership could opt for a long and bloody war.

The Islamic Republic over the past 47 years has shown it is willing to dig in, even when it appears to America to be working against its own self-interest.

The clerical leadership held Americans hostage for 444 days, from late 1979 to early 1981, at the cost of the countrys international standing. The mullahs allowed the Iran-Iraq war to go on for years, leaving hundreds of thousands dead. Iran stood by Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ultimately defanged the Iran-backed group in Gaza as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and created the conditions that led to the collapse of Bashar Assad's government in Syria, an authoritarian rule supported by Tehran.

Iran's leadership exuded confidence that it could bog down the world's superpower in a costly and extended conflict even if it might not defeat the U.S. military.

Defense analysts largely agreed that the U.S. military could quickly take control of the narrow Persian Gulf waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly 20% of the world's oil flows on any given day. But maintaining security over the strait would require a high-risk, resource-intensive operation that could be a yearslong American commitment.

Ben Connable, executive director of the nonprofit Battle Research Group, said securing the strait would require the U.S. military to maintain control of about 600 kilometers (373 miles) of Iranian territory, from Kish Island in the west to Bandar Abbas in the east, in order to stop Iran from firing missiles at passing ships. It is a mission that Connable said would likely require three U.S. infantry divisions, roughly 30,000 to 45,000 troops.

This would be an indefinite operation  so, you know, think: be ready to do this for 20 years, said Connable, a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer. We didn't think we were going to be in Afghanistan for 20 years. We didnt think were going to have to be in Vietnam as long as we were, or Iraq.

The two-week ceasefire includes allowing both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through Hormuz, a regional official said. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

The world had considered the passage an international waterway and never paid tolls before. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said after the ceasefire was announced that Trump was effectively delivering a history-changing win for Iran.

Trump has a pattern of backing down from maximalist demands

Trump has repeatedly made maximalist demands throughout the first 15 months of his second White House term only to dial them back.

The president backed off many of the sweeping Liberation Day tariffs he first announced in April 2025 after they caused markets to go haywire. During a January meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump insisted that he wanted the U.S. to take control of Greenland  only to switch course and abandon his threat to impose widespread tariffs on Europe to press his case.

The ceasefire announcement came after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Trump to extend his deadline to allow diplomacy to advance.

Two weeks has become Trumps favorite interval to buy himself time when making major decisions on major policy issues. Last summer, the White House said he would decide about launching an initial bombing campaign against Iran within two weeks, only to have the president order airstrikes that he said obliterated Irans nuclear program before that interval was up.

Vance played a bigger role close to the deadline

Trumps deadline was nearing with no resolution in sight when Vice President JD Vance, who has long pushed for restraint in U.S. military intervention overseas, got roped into the conversation, according to an official from one of the mediating countries who was briefed on the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity to share sensitive diplomatic discussions.

Vance, who was traveling in Hungary in support of Prime Minister Viktor Orban before upcoming elections, said Wednesday that the agreement with Iran was a fragile truce.

I think if they negotiate in good faith, we will be able to find a deal. Thats a big if. And ultimately, its up to the Iranians how they negotiate. I hope they make the right decision, he said.

The vice president did not address speculation about whether he would travel to Pakistan to participate in talks with Iran.

Vances office has not commented on that, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said Trump would be making the call. In a New York Post interview Wednesday, Trump said his envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner would be involved in talks, but that theres a question of safety, security when it comes to Vances possible role.

___

Amiri reported from New York. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in Washington, Justin Spike in Budapest and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
BEIRUT (AP)  Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Lebanons health ministry said dozens were killed and hundreds wounded in an early estimate.

Israel had said the agreement does not extend to its war with the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, although mediator Pakistan said it does.

Israels military called it the largest coordinated strike in the current war, striking more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa valley.

Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital. Explosions interrupted the honking of traffic on what had been a bustling, blue-sky afternoon. Ambulances raced toward open flames. Apartment buildings were struck. Emergency responders searched charred vehicles.

Several strikes were in busy commercial locations, causing panic in the streets. Lebanons National News Agency reported that the airstrikes hit at least five different neighborhoods in Beirut's central and coastal areas.

Lebanon's Minister of Social Affairs, Haneed Sayed, in an interview with The Associated Press condemned Israels wide range of strikes, calling it a very dangerous turning point.

These hits are now at the heart of Beirut  Half of the sheltered (internally displaced persons) are in Beirut in this area, she said, adding that she had just driven by the areas hit.

She said Lebanon's government is ready to enter into negotiations with Israel for an end to hostilities, an offer that the president previously made. Israel has not responded.

There are calls and efforts being made as we speak," Sayed said.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in a statement accused Israel of escalating at a moment when Lebanese officials were seeking to negotiate a solution, and of hitting civilian areas in utter disregard for the principles of international law and international humanitarian law  principles it has, in any case, never respected.

Israel's military said it had targeted missile launchers, command centers and intelligence infrastructure and accused Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields.

The State of Lebanon and its civilians must refuse Hezbollahs entrenchment in civilian areas and its weapons build-up capabilities, the military said in a statement.

Residents and local officials denied that the buildings hit were military sites.

Look at these crimes, said Mohammed Balouza, a member of Beiruts municipal council, at the scene of a strike in the central Corniche al Mazraa neighborhood, a mixed commercial and residential area. An apartment building behind a popular shop selling nuts and dried fruit had been hit. This is a residential area. There is nothing (military) here.

Israel had rarely struck central Beirut since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war on March 2 but has regularly struck southern and eastern Lebanon and Beiruts southern suburbs.

Before the wave of new strikes, a Hezbollah official told the AP that the group was giving a chance for mediators to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, but we have not announced our adherence to the ceasefire since the Israelis are not adhering to it. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly.

The Hezbollah official said the group will not accept a return to the pre-March 2 status quo, when Israel carried out near-daily strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire being nominally in place since the last full-blown Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November 2024.

We will not accept for the Israelis to continue behaving as they did before this war with regards to attacks, he said. We do not want this phase to continue.

Hezbollah had fired missiles across the border days after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran, sparking a regional war. Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion.

The Israeli military chief of staff on Wednesday said they will continue to utilize every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir said its to protect Israels northern residents, who have come under heavy fire.

Israeli airstrikes have killed more than 1,530 people in Lebanon, including more than 100 women and 130 children. The Israeli military has said it has killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters. More than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon.

Early Wednesday, after the ceasefire in Iran was announced, many displaced people sleeping in tents on the streets of Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon began packing their belongings in preparation to return to their homes.

That was before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the military would press on in Lebanon.

At a sprawling displacement camp on Beiruts waterfront, families whiplashed by the conflicting statements expressed confusion and despair.

We cant take this anymore, sleeping in a tent, not showering, the uncertainty, said Fadi Zaydan, 35. He and his parents had prepared to head back to the southern city of Nabatieh before Netanyahu's comments stopped them in their tracks.

But well be targeted if we go home," Zaydan said. His family decided to wait things out for now in Sidon, a bit closer to home.

___

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre contributed. AP writer Melanie Lidman in Eilat, Israel, contributed.
SEOUL, South Korea  North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the sea Wednesday in its second launch event in two days, South Koreas military said, hours after a senior North Korean official released crude insults against Seouls hopes for warmer relations.

South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said several missiles lifted off from North Koreas eastern coastal Wonsan area on Wednesday morning and flew about 240 kilometers (150 miles) each in a direction toward the Norths eastern waters.

It said an additional North Korean ballistic missile fired later Wednesday traveled more than 700 kilometers off the Norths east coast. Japans Defense Ministry said it assesses that the missile fell in waters outside the countrys exclusive economic zone.

South Koreas military said it maintains a readiness to repel any provocations by North Korea under a solid military alliance with the United States. It earlier said it detected the launch of an unidentified projectile from North Koreas capital region on Tuesday.

South Korean media reported the projectile, also likely a ballistic missile, disappeared from South Korean military radars after displaying an abnormal development in the initial launch stage. This indicated the launch ended in failure, according to the reports.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that the North Korean launches had not posed any immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to allies.

The back-to-back launches came after North Korea made it clear that it has no intentions of improving ties with South Korea, whose liberal government has steadfastly expressed its hopes to restore long-dormant dialogue.

South Korea would always remain North Korea's most hostile enemy state, Jang Kum Chol, first vice minister at Pyongyangs Foreign Ministry, said on Tuesday. He derided South Korea as world-startling fools engaged in wishful thinking over a recent statement by Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

After South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over alleged civilian drone flights into North Korea, Kim Yo Jong on Monday praised him for what she called honesty and courage, but reiterated a threat to retaliate if such flights recur. South Korean officials responded by describing Kims statement as meaningful progress in relations.

Jang said her statement was intended as a warning. He cited Kim Yo Jong as calling South Korea the dogs affected by mange that blindly bark to the tune of neighboring dogs as she criticized it for recently co-sponsoring of a U.N. resolution on the Norths purported human rights violations.

North Korea has refused to return to talks with South Korea and the U.S. and pushed to expand its nuclear arsenal since Kim Jong Uns diplomacy with U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. North Korea has instead sought to strengthen ties with Russia, China and other countries embroiled in confrontations with the U.S. Last September, Kim Jong Un traveled to Beijing to attend a military parade alongside other foreign leaders and held his first summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in six years.

North Korean media reported on Wednesday that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit North Korea on Thursday for a two-day trip.

Earlier this week, North Korea said Kim Jong Un had observed a test of an upgraded solid-fuel engine for weapons and called it a significant development boosting his countrys strategic military arsenal.

Missiles with built-in solid propellants are easier to move and conceal their launches than liquid-fuel weapons, which in general must be fueled before liftoffs and cannot last long.

South Koreas spy agency told lawmakers Monday the engine test was likely related to an effort to build a more powerful solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that can carry multiple nuclear warheads, according to lawmakers who attended the meeting.

Experts say North Korea wants multi-warhead missiles to penetrate U.S. missile defenses, but they doubt Pyongyang has mastered the technology needed to acquire such a weapon.

 AP journalists Mari Yamaguchi and Mayuko Ono contributed from Tokyo.
WASHINGTON (AP)  NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is expected to meet with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to try to smooth over the president's anger with the military alliance over the Iran war.

Trump had suggested the U.S. may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance after NATO member countries ignored his call to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway, as Iran effectively shut it and sent gas prices soaring.

The Republican president's meeting with Rutte, with whom he had a warm relationship, comes as the U.S. and Iran late Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the strait. The nascent ceasefire was struck after Trump said he would strike Iran's power plants and bridges, threatening that a whole civilization will die tonight."

The plan to reopen the strait is still cloudy and is expected to be a central focus of the Wednesday afternoon meeting with Rutte. The White House said the meeting was expected to be behind closed doors. In the Trump administration, though, that can change at the last minute, and meetings can be opened to the press.

Congress in 2023 passed a law that prevents any U.S. president from pulling out of NATO without its approval. Trump has been a longtime critic of NATO and in his first term had suggested he had the authority on his own to leave the alliance, which was founded in 1949 to counter the Cold War threat posed to European security by the Soviet Union.

The crux of the commitment its 32 member countries make is a mutual defense agreement in which an attack on one is considered an attack on them all. The only time it has been activated was in 2001, to support the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Despite that, Trump has complained during his war of choice with Iran that NATO has shown it will not be there for the U.S.

Ahead of the meeting, Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, issued a statement Tuesday night in support of the alliance, noting that, Following the September 11th attacks, NATO allies sent their young servicemembers to fight and die alongside Americas own in Afghanistan and Iraq. McConnell, who sits on a committee overseeing defense spending, urged Trump to be clear and consistent and said it's not in America's interest to spend more time nursing grudges with allies who share our interests than deterring adversaries who threaten us.

If Rutte's meeting does not alleviate Trump's frustrations, it's unclear if the Trump administration would challenge the law barring a president from pulling out of NATO. When the law passed, it was championed by Trump's current secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who at the time was a senator from Florida.

The alliance was already rattled over the past year as Trump returned to power and reduced U.S. military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and threatened to seize Greenland from ally Denmark.

But Trump's badgering of NATO intensified after the Iran war began at the end of February, with the president insisting that securing the Strait of Hormuz was not America's job but the responsibility of countries that depend on the flow of oil through it.

Go to the strait and just take it, Trump said last week.

Trump was also angered as NATO allies Spain and France forbade or restricted use of their airspace or joint military facilities for the U.S. in the Iran war. They and other nations, however, agreed to help with an international coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz when the conflict ends.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been a particular source of Trump's frustration, was set to travel on Wednesday to the Gulf to support the ceasefire. The U.K. has been working on developing a post-conflict security plan for the strait, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the worlds oil passes.

Trump has previously threatened to leave NATO and often said that he would abandon allies who dont spend enough on their military budgets. Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in his recent memoir, said he feared that Trump might walk away from the alliance in 2018, during his first term as president.

___

Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed to this report.
The U.S. and Iran said they are prepared to hold talks to end the war in the Middle East during a proposed two-week pause in hostilities, even as Israeli strikes on Lebanon threatened to derail the fragile truce.

Further adding uncertainty, sporadic fighting continued throughout the region and the Strait of Hormuz remained largely blocked. President Donald Trump has said that reopening the strait was a condition for halting the fighting.

Trumps announced ceasefire Tuesday night was a retreat from threats to unleash massive devastation on Iran, easing fears of a protracted global energy crisis. Mediator Pakistan has floated negotiations later this week in Islamabad, and Trump said they could start very soon, according to the New York Post.

Yet there were already signs that the agreement was buckling. Iran said it would withdraw from the deal if Israel kept up attacks in Lebanon, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Passage of oil tankers through the strait were halted after Israels attacks, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

The White House didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the president views the war front in Lebanon as included in the ceasefire.

Trump made a series of dubious claims about the terms of the agreement in a social media post on Wednesday morning. He said the Islamic Republic has gone through a regime change, even though there have been no signs this week that new leadership had taken hold.

He also indicated the U.S. would use its own 15-point plan as the basis of negotiations with Tehran, after saying Tuesday the sides would begin discussions off of Irans 10-point proposal. Nonetheless, he said the U.S. was prepared to discuss with Iran much-desired sanctions relief.

The shift to diplomacy came as countries including Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Israel, reported ongoing missile attacks into Wednesday, sewing confusion about when and how the ceasefire would be enforced. Saudi Arabias oil pipeline to the Red Sea was hit by a drone strike, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Further uncertainty surrounded whether the ceasefire includes Israels campaign in Lebanon, where the country is waging a parallel war against the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a key mediator, said the truce included Lebanon, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disagreed. The Israeli military on Wednesday said it had carried out its largest operation against Hezbollah since the start of the Iran war, targeting more than 100 of the militias command centers and military sites within 10 minutes.

Still, oil and gas prices plummeted on news of the ceasefire, which paves the way for a potential resumption of energy supplies via the Strait of Hormuz  through which about fifth of oil and liquefied natural gas supplies typically flows.

Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi pledged to reopen the critical chokepoint as part of the ceasefire agreement, albeit in coordination with Tehrans military. Hormuz appeared to remain largely blocked in the early hours of the agreement on Wednesday, as shipowners struggled to understand if they can safely transit the vital waterway.

Brent crude fell as much as 17% to $92 a barrel, while European natural gas futures posted their biggest decline in more than two years, shedding as much as 20%.

Trumps ceasefire announcement represented a dramatic climb-down from an warning earlier Tuesday that a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again if Iran didnt give in. His threatened attacks on Irans civilian infrastructure, including power plants, may have been considered war crimes if they were carried out. More than 5,300 people have died in the near six-week war.

In a posting on Truth Social, Trump said there will be no enrichment of uranium  a reference to longstanding efforts by Washington and Israel to curb Irans nuclear program. He also announced plans to impose 50% tariffs on U.S. imports from any country that sold weapons to Iran. Its unclear how he would follow through on that threat, since the Supreme Court curbed his authority to impose certain levies unilaterally.

Kuwaits army on Wednesday said its still dealing with intense attacks. The U.S. expected orders to stand down from strikes would take time to reach Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Axios reported. Such lags are typical in conflicts, with hostilities often continuing before gradually tapering off.

Explosions occurred at Irans Lavan Refinery after the start of the truce, the semi-official Mehr reported, without saying where it got the information.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance said at an event in Budapest that Trump has achieved Washingtons military objectives in Iran, having set out to decimate Irans ability to wage conventional war, while describing the truce as fragile.

Both the U.S. and Iran are portraying the ceasefire as a victory, but significant differences remain between their demands to bring the war to a complete end, according to Mona Yacoubian, a senior adviser with the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Iran says it will allow free passage for the next two weeks through the Strait of Hormuz, but in coordination with Irans armed forces. If the U.S. agrees to that, that is a huge concession to Iran, she said on Bloomberg Television.

While markets breathed a sigh of relief, the ceasefire addressed a crisis Trump helped create when the U.S. and Israel launched the war in late February. Although Trump claimed to have stopped Irans nuclear program, theres been no mention of its missile or drone programs or support for proxy groups.

Pakistani PM Sharif invited all sides to Islamabad to continue negotiations. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed the Islamic Republic would participate, according to a statement by the Pakistan prime ministers office.

Vance, U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to attend potential in-person negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials in the coming days, CNN reported, citing U.S. officials.

The complete terms of a possible pact werent disclosed. Trump only said the U.S. had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, describing it as a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Irans demands include its continued control of the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of its nuclear-enrichment activities, the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions, and a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, according to a statement by its Supreme National Security Council carried by state media.

The two-week ceasefire can be extended by mutual agreement, though Iran will enter talks with complete distrust, its state media said.

The focus will be on Hormuz and whether ships can pass safely through the vital waterway. While some vessels have made it through the strait in recent weeks, theyve generally not been from countries Iran views as hostile or having at least tacitly supported the U.S. and Israeli strikes.

More than 800 freighters are stuck inside the Gulf, mostly waiting to leave, and shipowners and insurer groups have warned that more details will be needed to determine if safe transit is possible.

--------

With assistance from Dana Khraiche, Eric Martin, Tooba Khan, Carla Canivete, Michelle Jamrisko and Jordan Fabian.

___

2026 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
DUBIAI, United Arab Emirates  Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire, an 11th hour deal that allowed U.S. President Donald Trump to pull back from his threats to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilization.

But it was unclear Wednesday when the deal would start, what it included and whether it could lead to a durable peace as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

Hours after the announcement, the United Arab Emirates reported Wednesday afternoon that its air defenses were firing at an incoming Iranian missile barrage. Kuwait's military said its forces were responding to an extensive wave of drone attacks.

Much about the deal remained unknown.

Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, but the terms were not clear, nor was whether ships would feel safe using the crucial transit lane for oil. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition.

Pakistan, which helped to mediate the deal, Egypt and France said it would pause fighting in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Israel said it would not.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed: Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers! after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags. The chants underscored the anger animating hard-liners, who have been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptic battle with the United States. Trump warned Tuesday that a whole civilization will die tonight, if a deal wasnt reached.

Varying reports of ceasefire's terms

Trump initially said had Iran proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war he launched with Israel on Feb. 28. But he later called the plan fraudulent without elaborating. Trump has said ending Irans nuclear program was a key war goal.

Israel backed the U.S. ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday it won't stop his country's fight against Hezbollah in Lebanon, which continued through the morning. That contradicted comments from Pakistan, a key mediator, which said the ceasefire included the fighting in Lebanon.

Israels military said later that Wednesday that it continues fighting and ground operations against Hezbollah.

Pakistan said that talks over cementing a peace plan would begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday. Pakistan also said the ceasefire was to begin immediately, while Iran launched attacks on Gulf Arab states and Israel soon after.

Oil prices fell and stocks rose as Asian markets opened Wednesday after the eleventh-hour agreement to reopen the strait.

Iran and Oman to collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management. It wasnt clear whether that meant Iran would completely loosen its chokehold on the waterway.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through the strait, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

But that would upend decades of reliance on the strait as an international waterway free for transit and will likely not be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oilfields.

Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process, Trump said on social media.

Ceasefire leaves questions unresolved

It's not clear what happens when the two weeks of the ceasefire ends.

There's little public sign that Iran and the United States had resolved disagreements over the fate of Iran's nuclear program, its ballistic missiles or its regional proxies  among the issues that the United States and Israel cited as justifications for launching the war.

In addition to control of the strait, Irans demands for ending the war include withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

All those likely are nonstarters for Trump and potentially other Western nations. Irans chokehold on the strait roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump to reach a deal.

Since the war began, Trump has repeatedly backed off deadlines just before they expire. In doing so again Tuesday, Trump said in a social media post he had come to the decision based on conversations with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Gen. Asim Munir, Pakistans powerful army chief.

A senior Israeli official said the United States had coordinated the ceasefire with Israel in advance and said Israel's government credited the massive crushing of the regimes infrastructure with securing the agreement.

Speaking on condition of anonymity because they were discussing private diplomatic conversations, the official said Washington had committed to pressing for the removal of nuclear material and dismantling of Irans ballistic missile program.

Airstrikes come even after ceasefire announced

Missile alerts were issued in the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait after the ceasefire announcement. A gas processing facility in Abu Dhabi was ablaze after incoming Iranian fire, officials said.

The fire appeared to stop for a time, but then the UAE and Kuwait reported attacks.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the war's toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed. and 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Magdy reported from Cairo and Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Edie Lederer at the United Nations, Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem and Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report.
Its been almost six decades since Jim Seibert served in Vietnam, but he can still recall his harrowing experience with vivid detail and emotion. Its not exactly an easy thing to forget.

Spending a year in the rigorous Central Highlands, surviving booby traps, gunshot wounds, and the threat of attack on an almost daily basis, Seibert became the most decorated veteran to graduate from Webster Groves High School near St. Louis, Missouri, earning two Purple Hearts, a Silver Star, and three Bronze Stars.

If dodging bullets from the North Vietnamese Army and the Viet Cong wasnt enough, the thick, triple-canopy jungle presented its own nightmare.

The only thing you cut your way through the jungle with was machetes, very sharp machetes. Everybody carried one. I remember one day we didnt get more than 100 yards, Seibert told KSDK News in St. Louis. Usually you went 2 clicks, 2,000 yards. We went 100 yards. This is about as far as we could go. You had to deal with it.

During the dreaded monsoon season in Southeast Asia, Seibert, serving in the Armys 4th Infantry Division, recalls almost non-stop rain for weeks.

You woke up wet. You went to bed wet. Then you had to deal with snakes. I had a couple of bad issues with snakes, and if you got bit by a bamboo viper, it was over, he said.

Like that deadly viper, malaria also slithered through Seiberts platoon, and the young soldier was not immune. After he contracted a fever that skyrocketed to 105 degrees, Siebert finally got received medical attention.

There were times when I said to myself, there is no way I can make it like this. There is no way, he recalls. There is no way I am going to possibly keep up this tempo for a whole year, but you do.

Jim Seibert (Submitted)

An Act of Heroism

Seiberts year in Vietnam was nearly cut short in 1968 when his platoon was attacked by North Vietnamese soldiers. Shot in the leg, shrapnel sliced through flesh on his other leg, flying up to hit his face and neck. Still, Seibert fought on, pulling a wounded sergeant and lieutenant out of harms way.

You dragged those men with two tourniquets wrapped around your legs, right? I didnt know that then. (But) I knew as I was moving, he said. I couldnt feel anything, but you put the tourniquets on yourself. I put tourniquets on myself, yeah, because I didnt want to bleed out. I knew I was bleeding badly. But when youre facing positive death, its amazing what the human body can do.

Thats what was going through my mind at that time. I didnt feel anything. All I wanted to do was get out of there, and I didnt want to leave these two men lying there.

His lieutenant pulled through and recommended Seibert for a commendation medal for valor. Seibert was given a month to rest and recover before being sent right back to infantry duty.

Spec. 4 Jim Seibert served with the Army's 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam. (Facebook)

Battles After the War

When he returned home, things werent the same. He had changed.

Seibert struggled with deep post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for years before seeking help. Nightmares and flashbacks became an almost nightly occurrence.

At least four nights a week, I had nightmares, and you know, you just lived with it, he said. I drank a lot. I tried to cover it up by drinking. I dont think I was an alcoholic, but I was close.

And he did not talk about Vietnam. At least not until recent years. Hes become more reflective with age and is willing to open up about his experiences. Some topics, however, are still off limits.

Well, how many of the enemy did you actually kill? I never wanted to answer that, never would, because taking a mans life, I dont care, unless youre a sick individual, is a horrible thing and it affects you. It does affect you for the rest of your life, and I took a lot of lives, and Im lucky they didn't take mine.

In jungle warfare, the rules werent too complex.

Its either they take yours, or you take theirs. Its as simple as that, Seibert said. Thats what it boils down to, and thats how we were trained.

Now 80, Seibert lives in Kirkwood, Missouri. Nightmares return occasionally when hes forced to battle his Vietnam demons all over again, but hes learned to cope with PTSD in healthier ways. His two adult sons arent far away, and he leans on them for support.

Seibert said being an athlete in high school, and later at Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg, provided the toughness, discipline and dedication to survive Vietnam.
A Colorado Army National Guard mountain infantry battalion stepped off for the Middle East on April 3, sending more than 200 soldiers from a Denver museum hangar to one of the longest-running peacekeeping assignments in the U.S. military.

The 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment (Mountain), headquartered at Fort Carson, held its departure ceremony at the Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum in Denver, the Colorado National Guard announced. The battalion is bound for the Sinai Peninsula and a posting with the Multinational Force and Observers, the Rome-based organization that has watched the desert frontier between Egypt and Israel for more than four decades.

Mission in the Sinai

Once in country, the Coloradans will run reconnaissance patrols, staff observation posts and support base operations, according to the Colorado National Guard. The release did not give a precise return date.

"The Soldiers of this battalion are highly trained, motivated and ready to assume the mission of the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai," Lt. Col. Adam W. Rhum, the battalion commander, said in the announcement. "We are proud to be part of this long-standing and successful peacekeeping operation and we are committed to upholding the legacy of those who have served before us in support of the treaty of peace between Egypt and Israel."

The 1-157th has a long history with overseas duty. The Colorado National Guard traces the regiment's lineage to the Gold Rush era, with the unit officially designated the "First Colorado" Infantry Regiment in 1883. It served in both world wars and was attached to the 45th Infantry Division during the Second World War, fighting through Sicily, Anzio, the Italian peninsula and southern France.

Caltanissetta, Sicily, captured by soldiers of the 45th Division, is left behind by troops marching towards new objective." 18 July 1943. 157th Infantry. (National Archives)

The battalion most recently deployed to the Middle East in January 2020 in support of U.S. Central Command operations. Today the battalion belongs to the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and is one of only three mountain infantry battalions in the U.S. Army, according to the Colorado Guard.

The Sinai mission sits outside the current combat zone as Egypt has not been targeted during the Iran war, although Fort Carson has not been untouched by the wider conflict. A soldier from the post was killed in Saudi Arabia last month.

Why American Troops Are There

The peacekeeping force the 1-157th is joining was created out of the Camp David Accords, the September 1978 agreement brokered by President Jimmy Carter between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Those talks led directly to the Egypt-Israel Treaty of Peace, signed at the White House on March 26, 1979, which ended decades of hostility between the two nations and stood as the first such agreement Israel reached with any Arab state.

The treaty required outside monitors to make sure both armies kept to strict limits on troops and equipment along the border. The original plan called for a United Nations force, but the Soviet Union signaled it would block any Security Council mandate.

Egypt, Israel and the United States went around the impasse and signed a separate protocol on Aug. 3, 1981, creating the Multinational Force and Observers as a stand-alone international organization. The force began operating on April 25, 1982, the same day Israel handed the last part of the Sinai back to Egypt.

A Soldier with the 1st Battalion, 294th Infantry Regiment, Guam Army National Guard, watches as a UH-60 Helicopter delivers resupplies during a sling load operation in South Sinai, Egypt. The 1-294th is currently assigned to Task Force Sinai. (U.S. Army courtesy photo)

The MFO is funded jointly by Egypt, Israel and the United States and now draws troops from 14 contributing countries. American forces operate from two bases in the Sinai including North Camp at El Gorah in the northeast, near the Gaza Strip, and South Camp at Sharm el-Sheikh on the Red Sea.

U.S. soldiers cover the southern sector of the treaty's main buffer zone, and a U.S. Army colonel serves as the force's chief of staff while commanding the U.S. element, known as Task Force Sinai. The Pentagon has named the secretary of the Army as the executive agent for the mission since 1981.

The infantry slot the 1-157th is filling once rotated through active-duty Army divisions. Since 2002, the Army National Guard has carried the load and tours now run nine months.
April is recognized as the Month of the Military Child, a nationwide observance that highlights the experiences of more than 1.6 million children growing up in military families. Often described as a form of quiet service, their lives are shaped by frequent moves, new schools and long stretches of separation during deployments.

Communities across the country mark the month with school events, base activities and initiatives like Purple Up Day, when supporters wear purple to represent all branches of the armed forces. The color blends each services identity into one, a small but visible way to recognize a group that often adapts behind the scenes.

For some military children, that constant reinvention carries into adulthood. In Hollywood, a number of well-known actors grew up in military families, and traces of that upbringing still show up in how they approach performance, identity and storytelling.

While no two military childhoods look the same, many share a through-line of adaptation, resilience and starting over, traits that translate naturally into performance.

Actors Shaped by Military Upbringings

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis, who grew up in a military family, appears in a wartime role in Harts War. (Photo courtesy: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Studios.

Born on a U.S. military base in West Germany, Willis spent his early years in a military family before moving to New Jersey. As a child, he struggled with a stutter, which disappeared when he performed. That sense of control through performance continued into roles like Die Hard, where he balanced vulnerability with grit.

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnsons early life involved constant moves, shaping his on-screen versatility.(Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing)

Johnsons childhood was marked by frequent moves due to his fathers career, leaving him with a life of instability and reinvention. He has spoken regarding adapting to new schools and environments, a skill mirrored in his diverse screen roles. Whether appearing in action films or comedies, Johnsons talent to adapt quickly is based on his early experiences.

Olivia Munn

Olivia Munn spent part of her childhood on U.S. Air Force bases overseas. (Photo courtesy: 20th Century Studios/Marvel)

Raised partly on U.S. Air Force bases in Japan, Munn has described feeling like an outsider during her upbringing. Those experiences shaped her confidence and independence, traits visible in her work across television and film. Her willingness to move between genres reflects the malleability learned in childhood.

Amy Adams

Amy Adams was born on a U.S. military base before becoming an Oscar-nominated actor. (Photo courtesy: Columbia Pictures, Sony Pictures Releasing)

Adams was born on a U.S. military base in Italy and spent part of her youth in a military family before settling in Colorado. Her fathers Army service and the structure of military life influenced her disciplined approach to acting. Known for emotional precision, Adams frequently portrays characters traversing internal conflict with restraint.

Martin Lawrence

Martin Lawrence was born in Germany to a U.S. military family. (Photo courtesy: Columbia Pictures)

Lawrence was born in Germany to a U.S. military family and moved frequently before settling in Maryland. With a father in the Army, the instability of his early life shaped his comedic style. Lawrences energetic performances draw from observation and adaptability gained during these early transitions.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore grew up in an Army family, moving between bases as a child. (Photo courtesy: Universal Pictures).

The daughter of an Army judge, Moore spent her childhood moving between bases around the globe. She credits this background with helping her understand diverse perspectives and emotional experiences. Her ability to inhabit layered characters defines her work in both independent and major films.

Keri Russell

Keri Russells military upbringing informs her restrained, controlled performances. (Photo courtesy: FX)

Russell grew up in a military family that moved often, including time overseas. This constant relocation nurtured a sense of observation and emotional self-control central to her performances. In The Americans, she plays a character who shifts identities, emulating the discipline learned as a military child.

Robin Williams

Robin Williams starred in Good Morning, Vietnam, a film rooted in military life. (Photo courtesy: Touchstone Pictures)

While not a traditional base kid, Williams grew up moving frequently because of his fathers government- and military-related work. That sense of isolation led him to develop a vivid imagination and comedic persona at a young age. His ability to move rapidly between comedy and drama became one of the defining traits of his career.

Mark Hamill

Mark Hamill, son of a Navy captain, spent his childhood moving around the world. (Photo courtesy: Disney)

As the son of a U.S. Navy captain, Hamill spent his youth living in several countries and cultures. This global upbringing provided a breadth of experiences, which he credits with driving his creativity. Known for playing Luke Skywalker, Hamill brought adaptability and wonder to the role.

Patton Oswalt

Patton Oswalts comedy draws from a childhood spent moving between duty stations. (Photo courtesy: Netflix).

Oswalt grew up in a Marine Corps family, relocating often throughout his childhood. He has spoken about experiencing the sense of being an outsidera perspective which shaped his observational humor. His comedy blends sharp insight with humor, reflecting a lifetime of acclimating to new settings.

How Military Childhood Still Shapes These Performances

Military childhoods often share themes: starting over, making new friends fast, and adapting to change. These experiences last into adulthood, giving actors tools to shape characters and tell stories.

As the Month of the Military Child is observed each April, these actors' stories provide a different perspective on what it means to grow up in a military family. Their shared history of movement and resilience continues to shape how they relate to audiences today.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr publicly criticized CNN on Tuesday, joining President Donald Trump in disputing the cable news networks reporting on Irans response to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Carr and Trump said CNN mischaracterized Irans position after its reporting suggested Iranian officials viewed recent developments as a victory following the announcement of a temporary two-week ceasefire. The president's public statements about essentially wiping out Iran led to the current postponement in warfare.

Carr has had his finger on the pulse as it pertains to other Trump administration clashes with on-air TV personalities, including Stephen Colbert and CBS as well as ABC's Jimmy Kimmel, as part of a so-called political bias. The administration has also been consistently vocal about its feelings towards PBS and NPR, following previous Republican efforts to defund both entities.

Trump, posting on Truth Social, described CNNs reporting as a fraud and called for an investigation. Carr echoed that criticism on X, urging accountability without elaborating what that would look like.

"More outrageous conduct from CNN. Fake news is bad enough for the country, but pushing out a hoax headline in such a sensitive national security moment as this requires accountability," Carr wrote.

Neither Carr nor Trump provided public evidence to support claims that CNNs reporting was inaccurate. Military.com reached out to the FCC for further comment.

CNN defended its reporting in a statement provided to Military.com, as follows:

The statement in question was obtained by CNN from Iranian officials and reported on multiple Iranian state media outlets. We received the statement from specific official Iranian spokespeople who are known to us.

The network also pointed to on-air reporting from correspondent Matthew Chance, who said multiple statements had emerged from Iran, including a shorter, more limited statement from the foreign ministry and a more detailed document attributed to Irans Supreme National Security Council.

President Donald Trump is seen on television monitors in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

According to Chance, the more detailed documentone that drew criticism from Trumpoutlined a broader set of demands, including control over transit through the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of U.S. forces from regional bases, compensation payments and sanctions relief. He said the document had appeared on Iranian state-affiliated outlets and was later confirmed directly by Irans foreign ministry.

I followed up with the Iranian foreign ministry  and they sent me the document themselves... Were very confident that this document is authentic.

FCC Role in Overseeing Media

CNN was not the only news organization to report a similar story.

Several other outlets, including The New York Times and PBS, reported similar statements by Iranian officials, noting language that framed the outcome in favor of Tehran.

The FCC does not license cable networks like CNN. Reuters reported last month that Carrs warnings over Iran-related coverage were directed at broadcasters using public airwaves, not cable outlets. The agency can still wield influence in matters involving licensed stations and major media deals.

Brendan Carr (pictured far right) is in attendance as President Donald Trump delivers remarks before signing an executive order creating a task force for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House. (Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian)

Trump administration officials reinforced that framing publicly, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing the outcome as a victory for the United States.

According to The New York Times, the message included language praising the Iranian public for what it described as a victory and urging continued unity and resolve as negotiations move forward.

In his post to Truth Social, Trump said the U.S. had received a 10-point proposal from Iran that could serve as a foundation for negotiations, but he did not indicate that the proposal had been formally accepted.
In the early hours of April 8, 2026, President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, temporarily halting what had been a rapidly escalating regional conflict. According to initial reporting, the agreement requires Iran to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz while suspending attacks, with the United States and Israel agreeing to pause military operations in return.

The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the agreement. Roughly 25% of the worlds seaborne oil supply passes through this narrow waterway, making any disruption a direct threat to global energy markets and economic stability.

Negotiations are expected to continue through third-party mediation, with Pakistan reportedly playing a facilitating role in bringing both sides into direct talks.

This is not a comprehensive peace agreement. It is a conditional and time-limited arrangement designed to halt immediate hostilities rather than resolve the underlying dispute.

From Escalation to Negotiation

The ceasefire marks a sharp pivot from the administrations posture just hours earlier. President Donald Trump made a post on Truth Social stating: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will.

This shift fits within a broader pattern in Trumps approach to Iran. During his first term, he withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action while simultaneously signaling openness to a renegotiated agreement under stricter conditions.

Israels Role and Ceasefire Reliability

Israels participation in the ceasefire introduces a critical variable: durability. Ceasefires involving Israel in regional conflicts have historically proven fragile, particularly when compliance depends on reciprocal restraint rather than formal monitoring or enforcement mechanisms.

Israel has consistently justified renewed military action based on security threats or alleged breaches and responds in a way that frequently broadens rather than contains the initial incident. This pattern complicates any ceasefire framework that depends on strict reciprocal compliance.

The present situation carries higher stakes. Iran is not a non-state actor but a sovereign state with advanced missile capabilities and a network of regional proxies. Any perceived violation, whether attributed to Iran directly or to affiliated groups, could possibly trigger immediate escalation rather than localized retaliation.

Israels independent security calculus, therefore, introduces structural uncertainty into the ceasefire. Even if the United States and Iran adhere to the agreement, Israeli decision-making could alter its trajectory.

Strategic Assessment: Pause or Precursor

The central question is whether this ceasefire represents a meaningful step toward de-escalation or a temporary pause before renewed conflict.

Several indicators point toward the latter. The agreement is explicitly limited to two weeks, suggesting that both sides view it as a short-term mechanism rather than a durable settlement.

The timing also reinforces this interpretation. Negotiations emerged only after a period of intense escalation and credible threats of expanded military action.

This short timeframe also creates strong incentives for both sides to use the pause to regroup. A temporary halt in hostilities allows for the replenishment of munitions, repositioning of assets, and reassessment of strategy, rather than signaling a sustained commitment to de-escalation.

At the same time, the ceasefire creates a narrow diplomatic opening. Continued talks, particularly under third-party mediation, could produce incremental agreements that extend beyond the initial timeframe. Maritime security arrangements or limits on military activity could serve as building blocks for broader negotiations.

Whether that potential is realized depends on sustained compliance and the willingness of all parties to prioritize stability over tactical advantage.
Hook line: A boldly informed look at Chinas vast trading world, its politics, and what comes next for global commerce.

This edition surveys the late 19th?century changes shaping Chinas economy, waterways, and military forces through the lens of trade. It blends firsthand observation with the practical concerns of merchants and policymakers, offering clear analysis aimed at readers who want to understand how commerce and power interact on a vast, evolving stage.

Grounded in reports and conversations across Hong Kong, Shanghai, Canton, and other ports, the book presents the realities merchants faced, from duty practices to the friction of Open Door policies. It foregrounds the economic stakes tied to imperial strategy, while keeping the focus grounded in everyday business concerns and regional dynamics.

Insights into how trade conditions and treaties affected foreign merchants in key ports.

Observations on Chinas naval and military readiness and how that relates to commerce.

Discussion of policy debates like the Open Door and spheres of influence, with practical implications for business.

Context on regional resources, infrastructure, and transportation that shape future opportunities.

Ideal for readers of historical economics and international trade who want a concise, business?macing view of Chinas late?imperial era and its lasting impact on global markets.
OFSS Bihar Board 11th Admission 2026 applications begin; check eligibility, direct link here to apply

Bihar OFSS 11th admission 2026 begins from April 8 with a single application system, but key details about merit lists, seat allocation, and choices could impact where students finally get admission.









OFSS Bihar Class 11 admission 2026 begins today Bihar OFSS Class 11 admissions open from April 8, 2026

Students can apply for Science, Commerce, Arts, or Agriculture

Admission based on Class 10 merit; fee is 350 Did our AI summary help?
Quote of the day by Denzel Washington: "When you pray for rain, you have to deal with..."

Denzel Washingtons quote highlights that success comes with challenges, reminding us to accept struggles as part of growth and stay resilient on the path to achievement.









Quote of the day by Denzel Washington: "When you pray for rain, you have to deal with..." (AP Photo) Denzel Washington ties success to unavoidable challenges

Rain symbolizes achievements, mud represents obstacles in life

Success needs resilience, embracing rewards and struggles Did our AI summary help?
Quote of the day by Greek Philosopher, Epicurus, "He who is not satisfied with a little..."

Discover the true meaning of Epicuruss quote about contentment: He who is not satisfied with a little, is satisfied with nothing. Learn how this philosophy applies today.









Epicurus Epicurus teaches contentment is key to true happiness

His philosophy values moderation and appreciating small joys

Balance ambition and contentment to avoid unrest and stagnation Did our AI summary help?
Assam Assembly polls 2026: Which constituencies in Guwahati will be closely contested?

In the key Guwahati constituencies, major parties have fielded prominent candidates, setting the stage for closely watched contests









In the key Guwahati constituencies, major parties have fielded prominent candidates, setting the stage for closely watched contests. Guwahati's urban seats set for tight, multi-cornered contests.

BJP and Congress face off in all major Guwahati constituencies.

Local issues and identity politics shape Guwahati Central's race. Did our AI summary help?
Adivi Sesh receives heartfelt praise from childhood hero Aamir Khan ahead of Dacoit: Ek Prem Katha

Adivi Sesh is soaking in a truly special moment after receiving praise from his childhood idol, Aamir Khan. Ahead of Dacoit: Ek Prem Kathas release, the appreciation has made the journey even more meaningful for him.









Adivi Sesh recieves praises from Aamir Khan Aamir Khan praised Dacoit: Ek Prem Katha's trailer online

Adivi Sesh expressed joy at his childhood hero's endorsement

Dacoit: Ek Prem Katha releases pan-India on 10 April 2026 Did our AI summary help?
Allu Arjuns 44th Birthday: Fans flood Jubilee Hills to catch a glimpse, actor waves and greets supporters

Allu Arjun celebrates his 44th birthday with massive fan gatherings in Hyderabad, midnight celebrations, viral videos, and the big reveal of his upcoming film Raaka with Deepika Padukone.









As early as morning time, the roads outside his residence were packed with enthusiastic fans waiting to get a sight of their idol. Allu Arjun greeted thousands of fans outside his Hyderabad home

Director Atlee announced Allu Arjun's new film 'Raaka'

Deepika Padukone stars as the female lead in 'Raaka' Did our AI summary help?
Deepika Padukone shares her excitement as Allu Arjuns Raaka first look is unveiled

Deepika Padukone expressed excitement as Allu Arjuns Raaka first look was revealed, showcasing his intense transformation. The film, directed by Atlee, promises a ive, high-concept pan-India cinematic experience.









Deepika Padukone shares her excitement as Allu Arjuns Raaka first look is unveiled Allu Arjun and Atlee's film titled Raaka unveiled on his birthday

Raaka first-look poster out in 9 languages for pan-India reach

Deepika Padukone joins cast; film's budget reportedly 800 crore Did our AI summary help?
London Music Festival cancelled after Kanye west denied entry into UK

Kanye West has been denied entry into the UK, leading to the cancellation of a major London music festival. The decision follows backlash over his past antisemitic comments and sponsor withdrawals.









The controversy began when West was announced as the headliner for the Wireless Festival, a move that quickly drew criticism from Jewish groups and political figures due to his history of antisemitic remarks. Wireless Festival canceled after Kanye West denied UK entry

Sponsors withdrew support over West's antisemitic history

Full refunds to ticket holders confirmed by Festival Republic Did our AI summary help?
Mrunal Thakur calls Ranveer Singh her Lucky Charm, says 'he is the reason I exist here'

Mrunal Thakur is celebrating Ranveer Singhs success with a sense of gratitude that feels deeply personal. For her, its not just about the present moment, but about a journey that began with a chance opportunity.









Mrunal Thakur thanks Ranveer Singh Mrunal credits Ranveer Singh for her industry breakthrough

She praises Ranveer's deep performance in Dhurandhar 2

Mrunal's film Dacoit releases on April 10 Did our AI summary help?
Prosenjit Chatterjee calls for accountability in Rahul Banerjees death, announces boycott of Magic Moments

Grief and unanswered questions continue to weigh heavily on the Bengali entertainment industry following the tragic loss of Rahul Arunoday Banerjee. What unfolded at Technicians Studio was not just a press meet, but an emotional call for truth and accountability.









Tollywood stands together after Rahul Arunoday Banerjee death Tollywood artists boycott Magic Moments after Banerjee's death

Industry demands clarity on Banerjee's fatal accident

Artists' Forum files FIR seeking investigation into the incident Did our AI summary help?
Raaka first look: Netizens laud Allu Arjun's drastic transformation, call it "out of the world"

As the makers of Allu arjun's next film titled Raaka unveiled the title along with its first look poster on his 44th birtdhay, netizens cant stop praising his massive transformation for the film. Here is what they have to say.









Making his birthday even more special, Allu Arjun treated fans to a major reveal by unveiling the much-anticipated title poster of his film with Atlee. Allu Arjun unveils Raaka title poster on his birthday

Raaka features Allu Arjun's bold transformation and intense look

Film marks Allu Arjun's first collaboration with Deepika Padukone Did our AI summary help?
Salman Khan gets relief as Rajasthan HC stays bailable warrant in Misleading Ads case

Salman Khan has received a welcome reprieve in a long-running legal matter. The Rajasthan High Court has stayed a bailable warrant, relieving him from appearing before the Jaipur District Consumer Commission-II on 13 April.









Salman Khan gets relief in Rajshree Pan Masala case from Rajasthan HC Salman Khan gets relief from bailable warrant in Rajasthan court

Case involves misleading ads for Rajshree Pan Masala products

Commission: celebrities must comply with legal proceedings Did our AI summary help?
Samay Raina reveals Ranveer Allahbadia made parents joke 8 times, "Maine 7 baar hataya aur ek rakh diya, uske alawa bhi an-shan sawaal pooche usne..."

Samay Raina revealed BeerBiceps asked the controversial question eight times, claiming he removed most of it. He reflected on backlash, guilt, and legal trouble in his stand-up special Still Alive.









Samay Raina reveals Ranveer Allahbadia made parents joke 8 times, "Maine 7 baar hataya aur ek rakh diya, uske alawa bhi an-shan sawaal pooche usne..." Samay Raina on 2025 Indias Got Latent controversy in special

He reveals editing out 99 percent of inappropriate content

SC terms Ranveer's remarks vulgar, grants interim protection Did our AI summary help?
Shah Rukh Khan with wife Gauri, son AbRam and Ranveer Singh reach Jamnagar for Anant Ambani's birthday bash

Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, Ananya Panday and other celebrities flew to Jamnagar to attend Anant Ambanis 31st birthday celebration, turning it into a star-studded Bollywood gathering.









Shah Rukh Khan with wife Gauri, son AbRam and Ranveer Singh reach Jamnagar for star-studded birthday bash Bollywood stars head to Jamnagar for Anant Ambani's birthday

Shah Rukh, Ranveer, Ananya Panday spotted at airport

Anant Ambanis 31st birthday to be marked with family, stars Did our AI summary help?
Siddharth Anand hits back at Zakir Khans Dhurandhar joke, writes Real duffer

A light-hearted joke by Zakir Khan has unexpectedly sparked a wider debate in the film industry. What was meant as playful humour about Dhurandhar: The Revenge has turned into a conversation about pride, recognition, and rivalry.









Siddharth Anand slams Zakir Khan Zakir Khan's joke about Dhurandhar sparked industry debate

Siddharth Anand and Ameesha Patel defended Bollywood's legacy

Dhurandhar: The Revenge features Ranveer Singh and a star cast Did our AI summary help?
SS Rajamoulis Varanasi begins 365-day countdown; team engages fans with fun online banter

SS Rajamoulis Varanasi begins its one-year countdown with playful online interactions. Starring Mahesh Babu, Priyanka Chopra, and Prithviraj, the big-budget film builds anticipation ahead of its April 2027 release.









SS Rajamoulis Varanasi begins 365-day countdown; team engages fans with fun online banter Varanasi starring Mahesh Babu releases worldwide on April 7, 2027

Priyanka Chopra Jonas returns to Indian cinema as Mandakini

Film boasts a Rs 1400 crore budget and massive Varanasi set Did our AI summary help?
Vidya Balan proves language is no barrier, showcases effortless multilingual flair

Vidya Balan showcases her multilingual brilliance in a recent video, highlighting her ability to connect across Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Malayalam cinema. The actress will next be seen in Raja Shivaji.









With her career spanning almost two decades, Vidya Balan has starred in films made in several languages including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Malayalam. Vidya Balan showcases fluency in multiple languages in films

She has starred in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, and Malayalam movies

Vidya's next film, Raja Shivaji, releases later this year Did our AI summary help?
News / Local

by Stephen Jakes

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has announced progress on the refurbishment of the longdefunct fountain at Bulawayo City Hall, describing the project as part of wider efforts to restore the city's historic appeal.In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Coltart said he inspected the fountain on Easter Monday and was encouraged to see contractors actively working to ensure completion ahead of this year's Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).The mayor noted that the fountain, which has been nonfunctional for more than a decade, is not only being repaired but upgraded to improve longterm maintenance.While acknowledging that the project will not directly address unemployment or the rising cost of living, Coltart emphasised its symbolic importance.He described the fountain as "iconic", saying its restoration represents gradual progress in efforts to return Bulawayo to its "former grandeur".Coltart also commended the Town Clerk, city management and local contractors for advancing the project.The refurbishment comes as the city prepares to host thousands of visitors for the annual trade fair, with civic authorities working to enhance the appearance of key public spaces.
Osteoporosis is a serious health risk for women after 40, don't ignore these symptoms of weak bones

Causes and symptoms of osteoporosis: This painful bone condition develops gradually, without warning signs, especially in women over 40. It reveals itself through subtle physical changes that are easily brushed aside as signs of ageing.









Symptoms of osteoporosis: Reduced grip strength or brittle nails may hint at declining bone and mineral health (Image: Pexels) Osteoporosis now common in women in their 40s, not just elderly

Early signs: height loss, stooped back, frequent fractures

Timely screening and nutrition can help reduce osteoporosis risk. Did our AI summary help?
Viral Chinese 'neck-hanging exercise' does nothing to relieve neck pain, warn experts

A new trend seems to have caught on among young Chinese, as they are practising a neck-hanging exercise, which involves hanging by their heads from trees and bars to relieve chronic neck pain. This mimics the cervical traction therapy used in hospitals.









Can the viral neck-hanging exercise, popular among Chinese youth, help relieve neck pain? (Image: Pexels) Neck-hanging trend grows among young Chinese for pain relief

Doctors warn of severe risks like spinal injury and paralysis

Experts warn trend is unsafe, not real cervical traction Did our AI summary help?
As Donald Trump bullies NATO, Europe questions a deferential Rutte

Despite Ruttes unique ability to connect with Trump, the US president has cut aid to Ukraine, boosted Russias finances and sent the global economy reeling with his war in Iran.









Mark Rutte, left, and Donald Trump, during the NATO summit in The Hague.Photographer: Simon Wohlfahrt/Bloomberg European leaders uneasy with Rutte's support for Trump's Iran war

Rutte's approach to Trump sparks debate among NATO allies

NATO faces uncertainty as US commitment is questioned Did our AI summary help?
Reserve Bank to ask bank boards to focus on policy, not operations

The move follows recent tensions at HDFC Bank, the country's largest lender, where the chairman resigned abruptly, citing differences over "values and ethics."

Reuters April 08, 2026 / 11:43 IST























RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra
Adani argues SEC fraud suit against him should be tossed

Lawyers for Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar said in a letter to a federal judge in Brooklyn, New York, on Tuesday that they will formally seek to dismiss the case by the end of the month









Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani Adani's lawyers seek dismissal of SEC fraud case by April 30

Lawyers say SEC lacks authority and proof for bribery claims

Judge directs parties to schedule a pre-motion conference Did our AI summary help?
US-Iran ceasefire to cool jet fuel prices, bring relief to airlines

Jet fuel prices have surged since the onset of the Iran war, tracking a spike in global crude and refining margins









Air India ATF cooling off will directly influence airline margins

Air fares may also begin to ease

Fuel itself makes up 3050 percent of airline operating expenses in India Did our AI summary help?
Improving market sentiment, strong fundamentals and attractive valuations could bring FPIs back to Indian markets: HDFC AMC's Navneet Munot

HDFC AMC's MD and CEO expects FPIs to return as valuations become more attractive









Navneet Munot, MD and CEO of HDFC Asset Management Company West Asia truce eases oil supply concerns for Indian investors

HDFC AMC urges investors to stay disciplined and focus on SIPs

Domestic flows stabilize markets as FPIs remain net sellers Did our AI summary help?
US has suffered a blow to its credibility
Government may clear industry relief package as ceasefire opens policy window: Report

ECLGS revival and Rs 12,000 crore insurance pool under consideration as Cabinet prepares to take up proposal.









Government may approve Rs 2.25 lakh crore MSME relief and Rs 12,000 crore insurance pool amid Iran ceasefire Relief package for industry cleared by Finance Ministry panel

Rs 2.25 lakh crore ECLGS revival proposed for MSMEs

Rs 12,000 crore insurance pool fund planned for exporters Did our AI summary help?
The laws are quite clear, dont see any need for change. If there is any need, we will consider, Malhotra said during a post-policy press briefing.
News / Local

by Bhebhe Mandla

A policeman in Bulawayo,Sergeant Alois Mabhunu has been in detention for two weeks after using Mugabe's toilet. Mabhunu was on surveillance duty a fortnight ago at the Trade Fair when he received an urgent call of nature, local radio station VOP said.He rushed to the first toilet he could see, which happened to be a privy being guarded for Mugabe's use during his appearance at the show. Police guards tried to block Mabhunu's access, but he fought his way through and locked himself in, VOP said, quoting from a police charge sheet.Having relieved himself, he left and resumed his duties. But the toilet guards reported the incident, including to the secret police, and he was arrested the next day.Mabhunu was being held in a police detention barracks outside Bulawayo and was due to appear on Friday before a police disciplinary hearing, VOP said.Police spokesman Mandlenkosi Moyo refused comment, saying it was an asAasAAaAinternal matterasAasAAAA.Human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa questioned what offence Mabhunu was being charged with.asAasAAaAThere has to be a law saying the toilet is the president's, but this was a public one. They will have had to issue a proclamation in the government gazette specifying it. I bet they didn't do that.asAasAAAAObservers say the 87-year-old autocrat is fiercely protected by large squadrons of secret police and soldiers wherever he goes.Motorists who accidentally get in the way of Mugabe's motorcade are routinely assaulted, and have no recourse to the law.
India adds record 55.29 GW non-fossil capacity in FY26: Pralhad Joshi

India has surpassed Brazil to secure third position in Global Renewable Energy Rankings, New and Renewable Energy Minister Pralhad Joshi said

PTI April 08, 2026 / 21:02 IST























Representative image India added record 55.29 GW non-fossil power in 2025-26

India now 3rd worldwide in installed renewable capacity

Renewables supplied 51.5% of Indias power in July 2025 Did our AI summary help?
Indian CDMOs face tariff exposure via patented drug supply chains

According to HSIE, the expected financial impact across the sector is largely in the mid-single digits at the EBITDA level, rather than an existential threat.









Tariffs New US tariffs may impact Indian CDMOs making patented drug APIs

Generic drugs and APIs are exempt from tariffs for one year

CDMO EBITDA hit seen mid-single digits, not existential Did our AI summary help? DL03

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Why Sam Altman was fired: New report reveals OpenAI boards lying and deception allegations

New details point to internal memos, Slack messages and long-standing concerns about transparency that led to Altmans brief removal.









The New Yorker report details allegations of deception behind Sam Altmans 2023 OpenAI firing, citing internal memos and board concerns. Sam Altman ousted from OpenAI over alleged internal deceit

Altman was reinstated as CEO after staff and investor backlash

Independent review cleared Altman but did not fully vindicate him Did our AI summary help?
Japan taps smaller ships to get US oil faster on supply concerns

The use of the smaller tankers signals the urgency of some Japanese refiners that are seeking to secure supplies.









Japan refiners use smaller ships via Panama for faster US oil

Smaller tankers deliver oil in 30 days, not 50 via Africa

Japan upped US oil buys after Iran war hit Mideast supply Did our AI summary help?
Jeff Shell steps down as Paramount president

Shell became president, overseeing day-to-day operations when Paramount Global completed its merger with Skydance Media last year.

Reuters April 08, 2026 / 23:18 IST























Jeff Shell speaks during a conference at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in Cannes, France, June 22, 2022. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File Photo
With the steps taken in the last few weeks and the Reserve Bank of Indias 7.6% GDP projection, confidence in Indias growth remains intact, he said adding that once oil is not a big concern, the focus will shift back to growth.
Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day
Can easing geopolitical tensions lift Dubais property market?

The ceasefire is expected to have a positive near-term impact on Dubais real estate market, primarily by restoring investor confidence.









dubai invest Dubai's index surged 8.5 percent after US-Iran ceasefire news

Real estate prices fell 47%, with steeper urgent-sale deals

Experts advise investing in high-yield Dubai areas amid recovery Did our AI summary help?
US-Iran ceasefire: Morbi tilemakers heave sigh of relief, indicate price rises in coming weeks

The local tile manufacturing association had earlier declared a shutdown of manufacturing units till May 1 due to the fuel crisis. Some of the units, manufacturers said, are expected to reopen soon, with the Union government also allowing more gas supply to the ceramic sector on April 8









(Representative image) Morbi tile units to reopen after fuel shortage and shutdowns

Tile prices expected to rise 15-25 percent due to losses

Branded tile makers gained market share during Morbi shutdown Did our AI summary help?
All eyes on Nishant Kumar as JD(U) finalises power transition blueprint; Nitish likely to serve as mentor

JD(U) insiders say the party leadership has been preparing its rank and file to rally behind Nishant Kumar, who has gained increasing visibility since formally joining the party on April 8.









Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar with his son Nishant Kumar (File image) Nitish Kumar to step down as Bihar CM, become Rajya Sabha MP

JD(U) plans to appoint Nishant Kumar as Deputy Chief Minister

Nitish to guide government in a mentor role after resignation Did our AI summary help?
News / National

by Staff reporter

A Harare woman has appeared in court after allegedly duping a local businessman of US$2,000 through a fake pregnancy and child maintenance claim.Talent "Bhabhidho" Kwenda appeared before Harare magistrate Tapiwa Kuhudzai facing extortion charges.The complainant, businessman Pax Jemwa, reportedly supported Kwenda financially after she claimed to be pregnant with his child, covering her upkeep throughout the alleged pregnancy period.According to court papers, the two were involved in an extramarital relationship beginning around February 2025. Kwenda allegedly told Jemwa she was expecting his child and began demanding money for her maintenance.Jemwa continued providing financial support until December 2025, when Kwenda claimed she had given birth to a baby boy named Ronald. However, when he requested to see the child, she allegedly gave excuses and failed to produce the baby while continuing to demand money.The alleged scam came to light after Jemwa received a tip-off from one of Kwenda's associates, who revealed that she had never been pregnant.Prosecutors say that after Jemwa stopped sending money, Kwenda threatened to expose their affair to his wife if he did not continue making payments.He subsequently reported the matter to the police, leading to Kwenda's arrest.Investigations have also uncovered a second alleged victim, who was reportedly duped after Kwenda claimed she had given birth to his twins and demanded maintenance money. That case is yet to be brought before the courts.Kwenda remains facing extortion charges as the matter proceeds.
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma taking part in a rally en route to file nomination for the Jalukbari constituency ahead of the Assam Assembly elections, in Guwahati. (Courtesy: PTI photo)
Assam elections: From logistics to law & order - how the state is gearing up for polls on April 9

The outcome of the polls will be declared on May 4, along with the outcome of the other two poll-bound states -- West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.









The state will vote in one phase on April 9. Assam to vote in single phase for 126 seats on April 9

74,000+ police, 828 central units deployed for poll security

Poll results on May 4 with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu Did our AI summary help?
Cabinet clears projects worth Rs 1.74 lakh crore, major push for Jaipur Metro 2, two major hydroelectric projects

Significant decisions include major allocations for the upcoming Kharif season nutrient subsidy, expansion of the HPCL Rajasthan refinery, metro rail development in Jaipur, and two large hydropower projects.









Ashwini Vaishnaw Cabinet approves projects worth Rs 1.74 lakh crore across sectors

Jaipur Metro Phase-2 to boost city connectivity and integration

HPCL Rajasthan refinery expansion to create jobs from July 2026 Did our AI summary help?
EC's blunt message to Mamata ahead of Bengal election; TMC responds

Trinamool Congress also questions whether the upcoming elections would indeed be 'fear-free, violence-free, intimidation-free, inducement-free, raid-free, and free of booth and source jamming'









The EC's remarks come against the backdrop of West Bengals long-standing reputation for politically charged elections EC vows West Bengal polls will be fear-free and violence-free

Trinamool doubts EC vow of fair, inducement-free polls

Trinamool says Chief Election Commissioner told them get lost Did our AI summary help?
'Express regret', says Mallikarjun Kharge after political row over 'illiterate people in Gujarat' remark

The sharp back-and-forth has intensified the political climate just ahead of Keralas polling on April 9, with results scheduled to be declared on May 4, as both parties continue trading accusations over rhetoric and intent.









Mallikarjun Kharge Kharge regrets remarks on Gujarat, says words were misconstrued

BJP leaders accuse Kharge of insulting Gujarat and India

Political tensions rise ahead of Kerala polling on April 9 Did our AI summary help?
Foreign Secretary Misri launches India-US Trade Facilitation Portal

Misri on Wednesday began his three-day visit to the US to meet with senior officials to review bilateral trade and defence relations and discuss global developments, including the crisis in the Middle East.

PTI April 08, 2026 / 23:25 IST














Gas supply to fertiliser plants raised to 95% of demand amid West Asia crisis: Petroleum Ministry

Addressing the press during an inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that the gas supply have been increased from 90% to 95% keeping the domestic requirements in mind.









Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas India welcomes Iran-US ceasefire allowing shipping via Hormuz

Domestic LPG supply remains normal, no shortage reported

Oil companies sold 6.75 lakh 5-kg LPG cylinders since March 2026 Did our AI summary help?
'History unfolded in real time': US envoy to India's 'outstanding dinner' with Trump as US announced Iran ceasefire

We discussed his unwavering determination to bring global stability, the historic achievements of his presidency, the strong future of India-US ties, and so much more, says Gor.









US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met US President Donald Trump in Washington US Ambassador Gor joined Trump for a White House dinner

Foreign Secretary Misri's US visit focuses on India-US ties

Talks cover trade, defence, and regional stability amid tensions Did our AI summary help?
India orders major airports to cut some charges by 25%, in relief to airlines

The move to cut charges comes after IndiGo and Air India sought rationalisation of some fees levied by airports. Both airlines are facing a double whammy from the Iran war, as Indian airlines are already barred from flying over Pakistan.

Reuters April 08, 2026 / 11:05 IST























Representative image
India seeks return of stranded vessels in Strait of Hormuz after ceasefire announcement

Ministry of shipping is in close coordination with the external affairs ministry to bring Indian-flagged vessels as early as possible.









India seeks return of stranded vessels in Hormuz after ceasefire announcement India moves to retrieve stranded Gulf ships after ceasefire

Crude supplies may normalize in 2-3 weeks if ceasefire holds

LNG supplies may take longer to resume due to damaged facilities Did our AI summary help?
News / National

by Staff reporter

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has attributed the city's persistent water shedding to aging and inadequate infrastructure, despite significant improvements in dam levels following recent rains.Speaking during a full council meeting, Coltart said water levels across the city's supply dams are now at their highest since 2017, but the gains have not translated into consistent supply for residents.The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) reduced its weekly water-shedding schedule from 130 hours to 96 hours in January after improved inflows. However, some suburbs continue to experience longer outages than scheduled.Coltart said the continued rains throughout March had raised expectations among residents, many of whom are questioning why water shortages persist."Residents are asking, 'why is it with all this rain that we still have water shedding?' It is a major challenge for us as councillors, the Town Clerk, and management to explain why, despite the fact that Mtshabezi is full, Insiza is very high, and even Inyankuni is now around 30 percent, we are unable to deliver sufficient quantities of water," he said.The mayor pointed to findings from a Water Technical Committee set up in early 2024 by Lands and Water Minister Anxious Masuka, which identified major weaknesses in Bulawayo's water delivery system.One of the key issues is the Mtshabezi pipeline, which is operating far below its design capacity. Despite the dam overflowing since January, the pipeline is delivering only about nine megalitres per day against a capacity of 17 megalitres.Coltart said frequent power outages affecting dedicated electricity lines are also disrupting pumping operations."The dedicated ZESA power line frequently goes down, which causes disruption in power supply and consequently water supply," he said.He also highlighted structural design flaws in the pipeline linking Mtshabezi to the Mzingwane system, which limit efficient water transfer due to gravity and pressure constraints.Aging infrastructure remains another major concern. The Insiza pipeline, built in 1975, has never been upgraded, while the Ncema-to-Thuli pipeline and its pumps are also outdated and in urgent need of rehabilitation.Coltart added that the Thuli reservoir requires expansion from its current 45 megalitres to 90 megalitres to meet growing demand."All of these issues were identified and agreed upon nearly two years ago, but no progress has been made," he said.According to the mayor, about US$15 million is needed to address the infrastructure challenges - funding he said the government had committed but has yet to release."We can have dams that are 100 percent full at the end of this season and still fail to deliver adequate water to residents. That is the physical engineering reality," Coltart warned.He cautioned that without urgent investment in infrastructure upgrades, Bulawayo's water crisis will persist regardless of improved rainfall and dam levels.
'Iran did not want this war; it was imposed,' says Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India

Ilahi said that when the US threatened to destroy 7,000 years of Iranian civilization, it showed they do not understand Iran or humanity.

ANI April 08, 2026 / 14:44 IST























Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi US and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire after 10,000 attacks

Iran claims it only targeted US bases, not civilians

Talks continue on Iran's ten conditions for lasting peace Did our AI summary help?
K C Venugopal poses 10 questions to Kerala CM, alleges 'deals' with BJP

Venugopal questioned the purported continued support for ADGP M R Ajith Kumar amid allegations of his links with RSS leaders, and raised the issue of alleged meetings involving intermediaries and BJP leaders









Congress MP KC Venugopal Venugopals open letter questions LDF governments actions

He alleged secret deals between Vijayan and BJP leaders

No immediate response from Chief Minister's Office or CPI(M) Did our AI summary help?
Noida picnic turns catastrophic as student drowns in water-filled plot

The incident has once again raised questions about safety enforcement in Noida, particularly around abandoned or under-construction sites.









Rescue teams reached the site, where three students were safely pulled out, while one student lost his life | ANI Image
Pawan Khera moves Telangana High Court amid threat of arrest by Assam Police

Reportedly, Kheras plea has sought transit anticipatory bail to enable him to approach courts in Assam. The plea, reportedly is listed for hearing before Telangana High Court Justice K Sujana on Thursday.









Pawan Khera Pawan Khera seeks interim protection from arrest in Telangana HC

Assam Police booked Khera for alleged defamation and forgery

Assam Police seize electronic devices from Kheras Delhi home Did our AI summary help?
The organisation alleged that Kharge compared the ideology of the RSS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a poisonous snake.

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin slams EC for transferring chief secretary, anti-corruption wing chief

The EC has also ordered the appointment of Sandeep Mittal as DGP, Armed Reserve and the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, replacing Davidson Devasirvatham. The poll panel had also transferred SPs in a few districts.









DMK chief MK Stalin EC transfers Tamil Nadu chief secretary days before polls

CM Stalin calls move partisan, questions EC's consistency

Saikumar replaces Muruganandam; other top officials shifted Did our AI summary help?
'Unacceptable in modern world': Rahul Gandhi slams Trumps civilisation will die warning on Iran

In a post on X, Gandhi criticised both the tone and implications of Trumps statement, stressing that even in conflict, certain lines must not be crossed.









Rahul Gandhi Rahul Gandhi slams Trumps civilisation will die remark

Trump warns Iran of strikes if Strait of Hormuz remains closed

White House rejects nuclear use plans as tensions rise Did our AI summary help?
Voter roll shake-up before Kerala polls: How SIR could reshape the electoral battle

In Kerala, the SIR was conducted ahead of the Assembly polls with January 1, 2026 as the qualifying date, making it one of the most extensive voter list updates in recent years.









The Election Commission released the final electoral roll, with about 8.57 lakh names deleted during the revision. The final electorate now stands at roughly 2.69 crore voters, forming the base for the 140-seat Assembly election. Kerala voter list revision removed 8.5 lakh+ names pre-poll

SIR added new youth voters, reshaping party strategies statewide

Small changes in voter lists could impact 20-30 marginal seats Did our AI summary help?
What do opinion polls suggest about the 2026 Kerala election outcome?

Kerala will vote in a single phase on April 9 with results scheduled to be declared on May 4.









Several prominent surveys indicate that the LDF remains competitive despite facing anti-incumbency after two consecutive terms Opinion polls show a close contest between LDF and UDF in Kerala

LDF and UDF projected to win similar seat and vote shares

BJP-led NDA may influence outcomes in tightly contested seats Did our AI summary help?
Why the road to power in Kerala may well run along its coastline?

From Kasaragod in the north to Thiruvananthapuram in the south, 36 Assembly constituencies hugging the coastline form one of the most politically decisive blocs in the state.









The coastal belt has evolved into a political battleground where welfare politics, minority consolidation and fisher community issues intersect. (Representative photo) Kerala's 36 coastal seats are key to Assembly election outcomes

LDF's 2021 sweep of central coastal belt led to statewide victory

Fisher welfare, minority unity, and swing seats shape outcome Did our AI summary help?
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's Attorney-General Virginia Mabiza has dismissed calls for a referendum on the proposed constitutional amendments, saying such demands have no legal basis and are being driven by political considerations.In an interview, Mabiza said the Constitution clearly outlines when a referendum is required, stressing that the current Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 of 2026 does not meet that threshold."Section 328(6) is deliberate and precise in that it reserves the ultimate democratic veto - the national referendum - for only three narrowly defined categories of amendment: any Bill that touches Chapter 4 (the Declaration of Rights), Chapter 16 (Agricultural Land), or section 328 itself," she said.She explained that any amendment outside those provisions only requires a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament before being sent to the President for assent.According to Mabiza, the proposed amendments do not affect any of the protected sections, meaning a referendum is neither required nor legally permissible."I should emphasise that the constitutional basis for proceeding without a referendum is neither an option nor a loophole - Section 328(6) is very clear on this aspect. Any insistence on a referendum, given the current scenario, is devoid of any meaningful legal basis and logic. It is an unconstitutional demand," she said.The Attorney-General added that the framework was intentionally designed to safeguard fundamental rights and land provisions from alteration without direct public approval, while allowing other amendments to proceed through Parliament.Her remarks come amid growing calls from some stakeholders for a referendum on the proposed changes, arguing that such reforms require broader public consultation and endorsement.Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi also dismissed the calls, saying the Constitution adopted in 2013 Zimbabwe constitutional referendum already set clear guidelines."The people clearly indicated that don't come to us if you are amending this Constitution, if you are not touching these three. What you simply need is a two-thirds majority," Ziyambi said.The debate over Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 continues to intensify, with critics questioning both the substance of the proposed changes and the process being followed, while Government maintains that it is acting strictly within constitutional provisions.
OPINION | Epic Fury morphs into Epic Folly

Any war, when embarked upon must be a sagacious choice, more so when the commencement of hostilities is a deliberate act  as was the case with the Trump-Netanyahu combine









US has suffered a blow to its credibility
OPINION | How the SDPI is using the Kerala election to emerge as a mainstream party

There are signs of an understanding with the Left Front as the party, once seen as politically radioactive, seeks to eventually create space for itself in mainstream alliances by dislodging IUML









SDPI has achieved visibility and traction in the media. (Representative image)
It is on this basis, the BJP sources say that the closer look at the numbers suggests that a BJP victory in West Bengal may be far nearer than conventional narratives admit

Amitabh Sinha is the executive editor of News18 India. He has extensive experience in print and TV journalism. He started his career with Patna's 'Times of India' and reported for almost 14 years at 'Aaj Tak'. He has been associated with Network18 since 2015. writes with equal authority in Hindi and English languages and has reported on many important events and incidents in India and abroad. He has a long experience in parliamentary journalism and has special grasp of e policies and schemes of the government. He writes regularly on News18's website in both Hindi and English languages. He is a post graduate from Delhi University. X- @amitabhnews18
OPINION | US-Iran ceasefire is welcome but negotiation framework suggests narrowing gaps will be tough

Even the old nuclear deal did not envisage US lifting primary sanctions on Iran, which may now be up for negotiation. Also, will the US restrain Israel?









The Iranian demand raises the issue of how Israel will be restrained. Will the US do it?
AI firm encourages employees back to office with Rs 1.8 lakh wellness stipends, attendance jumps 57%

US AI firm Superhuman added wellness and commuter perks, boosting daily office attendance by 57%, Business Insider reported.









Wellness stipends cover childcare, gym, groceries, and cleaning services. (Image credit: Reuters) Superhuman offers wellness stipends to boost office attendance

Daily office attendance rose 57% after new benefits

Stipends cover childcare, gym, groceries, and cleaning services Did our AI summary help?
This AI startup is giving perks to employees for returning to office, including Rs 46,000 for wellness

The firm, which develops artificial intelligence-driven productivity tools, implemented what it calls a 'Ways of Working Programme' in January. The model allows employees to opt into office attendance plans ranging from two to five days per week, with benefits increasing in line with time spent on-site, Business Insider reported.
He doesnt want to say: Interviewer asks man to call North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Fat, Ugly Pig on camera. Watch

A video has gone viral where an interviewer asks a man to call North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a fat, ugly pig to test if he is really from North Korea.









The post has garnered over 3 million views on the platform. (Image credit: X/Reuters) A job candidate was asked to insult Kim Jong Un in a US interview

Candidate seemed uneasy as his screen froze mid-interview

The video sparked debate and has over 3 million views online Did our AI summary help?
'I was never taught...': Kerala man says he cannot read Malayalam after years of school punishment

A 30 year old man said school punished him for speaking his mother tongue, leaving him unable to read or speak it fluently. His post sparked debate on language loss and education.
'Image clearly shows...': Hyderabad man gets challan for stolen bike months after FIR, urges police to catch thief

A man from Hyderabad, Faisal Rahman, got a traffic challan for his stolen bike months after reporting it at Habeeb Nagar Police Station.









Rahman tagged Hyderabad Traffic Police on X, seeking action. (Image credit: (X/@rahman0528)) Hyderabad man gets traffic challan for his stolen bike

E-challan photo reveals thief riding the stolen vehicle

Rahman urges police to use image to catch the thief Did our AI summary help?
Iranian embassy handles have a field day on X as Trump announces ceasefire: 'Bow down to the civilisation'

Notably, none of the posts explicitly referenced the terms of the ceasefire or named opposing parties. However, the tone and imagery usedparticularly the depiction involving Donald Trumpwere widely interpreted by users as Iran trolling the US amid the announcement.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF) has set aside US$153 million to revive companies in Zimbabwe's fertiliser value chain, as part of efforts to achieve national self-sufficiency.Chief executive John Mangudya revealed the investment while appearing before Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce in Mt Hampden on Tuesday.Mangudya said the funds would be disbursed in phases, tied to project milestones and verified expenditure, with several key entities already receiving initial injections."The MIF has committed a substantial capital amount of US$153,1 million for the revival of the fertiliser value chain assets," he said.So far, US$5.3 million has been released for the rehabilitation of the Dorowa Minerals phosphate plant, while ZFC Limited received US$10 million, ZimPhos US$3 million, and Sable Chemicals US$13.3 million.Mangudya said refurbishment of the Dorowa plant is now 95 percent complete and expected to be fully operational next month, targeting annual production of 100,000 tonnes of phosphate concentrates. This output is projected to support the production of 300,000 tonnes of basal fertiliser, against a national requirement of about 450,000 tonnes.Zimbabwe's overall fertiliser demand stands at roughly 1.4 million tonnes per year, including ammonium nitrate and single superphosphates.He added that revival of the ZimPhos sulphuric acid plant is dependent on the successful restart of Dorowa, as it requires consistent phosphate feedstock. Technical assessments are currently underway to evaluate equipment valued at approximately US$4 million, amid challenges related to specialised engineering requirements and long procurement timelines.Mangudya noted that when MIF assumed control of fertiliser-linked entities in 2024, it encountered significant operational constraints, including outdated machinery, legacy debt and corporate governance issues.Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Obert Jiri, warned that Zimbabwe's fertiliser supply chain remains vulnerable to global geopolitical tensions.He told the committee, chaired by legislator Clemence Chiduwa, that conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran have disrupted international trade, driving up the cost of fuel, fertiliser inputs and raw materials.Zimbabwe relies on imports of key fertiliser inputs, including urea and ammonium nitrate from Russia, potash and NPK blends from Belarus, as well as supplies from Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia."Zimbabwe's fertiliser supply chain is heavily exposed to geo-political risks due to concentration in conflict-affected or transit-dependent regions," Jiri said.The Government hopes that the revitalisation of local production capacity under MIF will reduce reliance on imports, stabilise input costs and strengthen agricultural productivity in the long term.
'Its a strange feeling': Google recruiter announces career break for travel and self-discovery

A Bengaluru-based recruiter with over a decade of experience at major tech firms including Google, Amazon, Philips, and Wipro, announced on LinkedIn that he is taking a career break.









Google recruiter says hell stay off the radar while travelling. (Image credit: (LinkedIn/Ashish Chopra) Ashish Chopra leaves Google after 4.5 years for a career break

He plans to travel, rest, and avoid job hunting during his break

His decision to prioritize self-care has been praised online Did our AI summary help?
Did our AI summary help?
'Shut down the business': Outdoor clothing company faces backlash over earth usage fee on online orders

Patagonia introduced an earth usage fee on Tmall orders to reduce returns and carbon emissions. The fee is refundable if items are kept, with proceeds going to 1% for the Planet.Patagonia introduced an earth usage fee on Tmall orders to reduce returns and carbon emissions. The fee is refundable if items are kept, with proceeds going to 1% for the Planet.









Return rates for womens online clothing in China can reach 5060%. (Image credit: Shutterstock) Patagonia adds "earth usage fee" to Tmall orders to curb returns

Fee aims to offset carbon emissions from shipping and returns

Proceeds will be donated to environmental group 1% for the planet Did our AI summary help?
Viral 'neck-hanging exercise' among youth draws warnings over paralysis risk, doctors sound alarm

The activity, often referred to as a 'neck-hanging exercise', is being adopted by younger people attempting to replicate cervical traction therapy typically administered in clinical settings. Participants secure a strap or rope around their heads and hang from trees or fixed structures, sometimes allowing their bodies to swing freely, South China Morning Post reported.









Healthcare professionals have drawn a clear distinction between clinical cervical traction and this public practice.
Woman stopped from drinking alcohol near Rishikesh Ganga, shouts at police later: 'Tumahri rozi roti...'

According to visuals circulating on X, the woman, reported to be from Haryana, is seen arguing with police personnel who objected to drinking in the area. During the exchange, she asserted that local livelihoods depend heavily on tourism and suggested that visitors were being unfairly singled out.









Rishikesh follows strict rules prohibiting alcohol and non-vegetarian food in designated religious areas.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Zimbabwean Government has accelerated infrastructure development ahead of the 46th Independence Day celebrations set for Maphisa, with rehabilitation of the BulawayoMatopos Road nearing completion.The works form part of a broader push under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme Phase 2 (ERRP2), as authorities prepare Matabeleland South Province to host the national event on April 18. The decision to hold this year's celebrations at Maphisa Open Grounds has spurred renewed urgency in upgrading key access routes.Launched in 2021 by Emmerson Mnangagwa, ERRP2 followed the declaration of Zimbabwe's road network as a national disaster, unlocking emergency funding and fast-tracking infrastructure projects. The programme has since evolved into a long-term initiative aligned with Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), aimed at transforming the country's transport network.Authorities say the BulawayoMaphisa corridor is among strategic routes being prioritised to improve accessibility to Matabeleland South. Provincial roads engineer Mangisi Nkomo said progress had been slowed by persistent rains but remains on track for the national event."From the time we were awarded the tender to refurbish the BulawayoMatopos Road, we were operating in the wet season. Ideally, the road requires three structural layers, but due to the prevailing weather conditions, we have so far managed to place only the first layer," he said.Nkomo added that the completed layer would still ensure safe passage during the celebrations, with further upgrades continuing afterward. Current progress stands at about 70 percent, with remaining work focusing on dust suppression, safety enhancements and improved road signage.Contractor Zada Construction is handling a five-kilometre stretch from 23rd Avenue in Bulawayo to the city boundary. Chief operating officer Jacob Gino said the company is confident of meeting the April 15 deadline.The rehabilitation programme also covers key routes including the BulawayoKeziMaphisa and GwandaMaphisa roads, which are vital links between Bulawayo and Matabeleland South.Transport and Infrastructural Development Permanent Secretary Joy Makumbe recently toured the projects alongside senior officials, including director of roads Engineer Jarawani Kangara and Zimbabwe National Road Administration chief executive Nkosinathi Ncube, to assess progress.Makumbe said the upgrades are not only crucial for hosting the Independence celebrations but also for long-term economic growth."These roads are important not only for the Independence celebrations but also for long-term socio-economic development, as they improve accessibility, ease the movement of goods and services and connect communities," she said.The 120-kilometre stretch is being rehabilitated in phases, with multiple contractors deployed to accelerate completion.Once a key artery linking Bulawayo to the culturally significant Matobo District, the BulawayoMatopos Road had deteriorated over the years due to limited maintenance and rising traffic volumes. However, increased Treasury support and disbursements from ZINARA have enabled resurfacing, widening and upgrading works across the country.Since its inception, the ERRP has rehabilitated over 12,000 kilometres of roads, upgraded major urban routes and restored bridges damaged by floods, as the Government seeks to build a modern transport network that supports trade, tourism and regional integration.
US-Iran ceasefire to bring relief, not reset: Travel recovery to be slow and phased

Even as operations resume, restoring traveller confidence will take time, say travel executives.









Gradual pickup in travel due to US-Iran ceasefire. ETP01

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US senator flags sharp gap between Washington and Tehran narratives, warns outcome could shift control of key oil route
Reopening the Strait of Hormuz may ease global energy disruptions, but restoring oil and gas flows will take months or years due to damaged infrastructure across multiple countries. Fuel prices are expected to stay high as recovery remains slow and complex.

Did our AI summary help?
China played key role in Iran ceasefire push, Trump says Beijing got Tehran to negotiate

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump also said he believed China played a role in getting Iran to the negotiating table









US President Donald Trump announced a two-week double-sided ceasefire and said that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable
Deadly Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 112, Iran threatens action

Israels strikes in Lebanon killed 112, wounded 837, prompting Iran to consider exiting the ceasefire if attacks continue, warns source.









Israel strikes Lebanon, Iran threatens withdrawal
Pakistans mediation in the Iran crisis was largely shaped by US influence, acting as a channel for American proposals rather than an independent negotiator. Its limited leverage and reliance on military-led diplomacy highlight its constrained role in the ceasefire process.

Did our AI summary help?
Hours before deadline, Trump announces 2-week Iran ceasefire tied to Hormuz

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the decision came after discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who had urged a pause to allow diplomacy to proceed.









President Donald Trump Trump announces two-week ceasefire with Iran before deadline

Ceasefire includes Israel, suspending its bombing campaign

Iran's 10-point proposal seen as basis for further negotiations Did our AI summary help?
How Netanyahu 'sold' the Iran war to Trump: The pitch at White House where it all began

He laid out a best-case scenario in which a US-Israeli operation would deliver a near-certain victory, dismantling Irans nuclear and missile capabilities within weeks while preventing disruption to the Strait of Hormuz.
New reports reveal how Trumps alignment with Netanyahu, limited internal opposition, and confidence in a swift conflict led to the US striking Iran in Feb 2026
The central requirement of the ceasefire is Irans agreement to ensure the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabweans have expressed scepticism over the rollout of upgraded Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) banknotes, which began on Tuesday, with many citizens saying the local currency still lacks value and is not widely accepted in everyday transactions.The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) introduced a new set of ZiG banknotes, known as the "Big Five," as part of measures announced in the February 2026 Monetary Policy Statement. The central bank says the redesign is intended to improve durability and extend the lifespan of notes in circulation.The new notes are being introduced in phases, beginning with ZWG10, ZWG20 and ZWG50 from 7 April 2026, with higher denominations and coins expected later.However, reactions from residents suggest limited public confidence in the currency.In street interviews conducted in Harare, some residents said repeated changes in banknote design have not improved trust in the ZiG system.One resident, Aaron Tembo, said the currency has failed to gain acceptance beyond Zimbabwe's borders."We really do not care, whether it's a ZiG10, ZiG20, ZiG50 or whichever amount they recently released we want money that has value," he said.Others raised concerns about purchasing power and usability in daily transactions."We do not even want to see it at all because it does not buy anything, it has no value," said resident Cleopatra Chimangiwe.Another resident, Arthur Mutsvene, said the currency is not widely accepted for essential goods and services, including fuel purchases."These bank notes are not allowed at any fuel pump while that is our own Zimbabwean currency," he said.The central bank maintains that the phased introduction of upgraded notes and coins will improve circulation and meet public demand for smaller change.Despite this, many households across parts of Zimbabwe  including provinces such as Masvingo Province and Matabeleland  continue to rely heavily on the South African rand and United States dollar, with ZiG usage reportedly more common in urban centres such as Harare.
US Vice President JD Vance welcomed a fragile US-Iran truce, urging Tehran to negotiate in good faith. Vance played a key role in securing the ceasefire via backchannel talks, warning Iran that President Trump is impatient for progress.

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This handout natural-colour image shows the Gulf of Oman and the Makran region (C) in southern Iran and southwestern Pakistan, and the Strait of Hormuz (L) and the northern coast of Oman (bottom). (AFP/NASA)
Trump said Iran had agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz, where a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.
Iran launches missile, drone attacks on UAE and Kuwait following Lavan strike

Iran launched missile and drone attacks on UAE and Kuwait hours after its Lavan oil facility was hit, calling it cowardly.









Iran retaliates after Lavan oil facility attack
Iran-linked hackers hit US oil, gas, water systems, raising critical infrastructure fears

Iran-linked hackers disrupt US oil, gas and water sites; agencies warn of cyber campaign targeting critical infrastructure.









Federal advisory flags Iran-linked hacking campaign targeting US industrial control systems, forcing disruptions at energy and water facilities. Iran-linked hackers have targeted and disrupted multiple oil, gas and water facilities in the United States in recent weeks, according to a federal advisory released Tuesday and three sources familiar with the investigation told CNN.

The advisory, issued by U.S. agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Securitys cyber agency, warned that the campaign was aimed at causing disruptive effects within the United States, CNN reported.

The hacking activity has forced some industrial sites to shut down automated processes and switch to manual operations, the sources told CNN. The downtime has resulted in financial losses for some affected companies, according to the federal advisory cited by CNN.

Disruption of industrial control systems

The hackers have targeted internet-facing programmable logic controllers, devices that allow machinery to communicate and operate at industrial facilities, CNN reported, citing officials and cybersecurity experts.

Joe Slowik, director of cybersecurity alerting strategy at Dataminr, told CNN that such access opens up the opportunity not just for immediate disruption, but potentially modification of operating parameters that could impact physical operations.

Slowik added that this could lead to physical impacts and safety concerns, marking an extension of capabilities seen in previous activity linked to Iranian hackers, according to CNN.

The attackers have also attempted to deploy destructive malware, known as wipers, to delete data from victim companies, two sources familiar with the investigation told CNN. It was not immediately clear whether those attempts were successful.

Escalation alongside military conflict

The cyber campaign represents an escalation in activity linked to Tehran since the start of the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, CNN reported, citing officials and sources.

Later on Tuesday, Donald Trump said the United States had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, hours before a previously announced deadline for further military action. Trump has previously threatened strikes on Iranian infrastructure, including power plants.

While Iranian missile capabilities do not extend to the U.S. mainland, cybersecurity activity has provided an alternative avenue for targeting U.S. systems, according to sources cited by CNN.

Prior incidents and tactics

Iran-linked cyber actors have carried out a series of operations in recent months, CNN reported. These include the leak of emails from the private account of FBI Director Kash Patel and disruptions at a U.S. medical device manufacturer.

According to CNN, the hackers have also used online messaging to publicise and amplify the perceived impact of their operations.

A source familiar with the federal investigation told CNN that companies that had followed prior government guidance on securing internet-connected systems were less affected, while others remained exposed.

Policy and threat assessment backdrop

U.S. intelligence agencies have previously warned about persistent cyber threats from Iran. In their annual worldwide threat assessment released in March, agencies said Tehran maintains intent to target the U.S. and its allies through cyber operations, CNN reported.

The report also referenced Irans cyber posture following the 2025 conflict with Israel, during which Tehran faced challenges in defending against cyberattacks and responding in kind, according to CNN.

U.S. agencies have repeatedly cautioned operators of critical infrastructure about vulnerabilities in industrial control systems connected to the internet, including programmable logic controllers used in energy and water facilities. Did our AI summary help?
Iran mocks Trump, calls Israel his 'rabid dog' as it accuses Tel Aviv of violating ceasefire

Irans embassy in South Africa mocked Donald Trump, blamed Israel for ceasefire violations, as tensions rise and Tehran weighs exiting truce.









Iran mocks Trump amid ceasefire tensions
The war, now in its sixth week, has claimed more than 5,000 lives in nearly a dozen countries, including more than 1,600 civilians in Iran
Iran's Revolutionary Guards threaten response if Israel does not cease Lebanon 'aggression'

Israel says the US-Iran truce does not include Lebanon, which was drawn into the war after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel.

AFP April 08, 2026 / 23:01 IST























IRGC
Hormuz closed again after ceasefire violations reported, Iran mulls exit from ceasefire

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the ceasefire applied "everywhere" including Lebanon, as he announced Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran for talks later this week









Reports from Iranian media and Al Jazeera citing Iranian officials and well-informed sources said Tehran was prepared to withdraw from the ceasefire Iran may quit ceasefire over Israels Lebanon strikes

Oil tanker traffic in Hormuz stops after Israeli strikes

Israel claims Lebanon not included in ceasefire, strikes continue Did our AI summary help?
Moitra said that India should announce "our own ceasefires, our own trade deals and our own energy policies."

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe's government has introduced stringent requirements that lithium producers must meet before the current ban on lithium concentrate exports is lifted, in a move aimed at boosting local beneficiation, improving transparency, and strengthening worker welfare standards.In a letter addressed to the Chamber of Mines and copied to lithium mining companies, Minister of Mines and Mining Development Polite Kambamura outlined a series of conditions described as prerequisites for lifting the ban on lithium concentrate exports.The measures reflect government's broader strategy to ensure greater value addition from the country's mineral resources, particularly lithium, which has become increasingly important in global energy transition supply chains.Among the key requirements, companies must provide written commitments to establish local beneficiation facilities for the separation of all economic minerals prior to export.Producers are also required to fully declare all minerals contained in export consignments for tax compliance purposes and ensure complete acquittal of export proceeds.The government further requires mining firms to publish annual financial statements starting from 31 December 2025, as part of enhanced transparency measures.In addition, companies must commit to establishing lithium sulphate processing plants to approved standards by 1 January 2027.The letter also mandates the establishment of two internationally accredited laboratories within Zimbabwe to serve the broader mining sector, as well as assay laboratories at each producing mine within three months of the directive.A 10 percent beneficiation export tax on lithium concentrate exports will also be implemented.On labour and welfare issues, mining companies are expected to provide adequate accommodation for workers and align salaries with National Employment Council (NEC) minimum standards for the mining industry.The Ministry further indicated that approved export quotas will be allocated to each producer, while companies must submit monthly progress reports through a ministerial committee to monitor compliance.Additionally, all mines are required to establish Safety, Health and Environment (SHE) departments to address workplace safety and environmental concerns.The government said future lithium investments will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, with the same conditions applied where applicable, signalling a continued tightening of regulatory oversight in the sector.
Iran threatens strike on Tel Aviv if fighting continues in southern Lebanon

Iran has warned Tel Aviv faces imminent strikes if fighting in southern Lebanon continues, as disputes intensify over whether the US-Iran ceasefire includes Lebanon despite Hezbollah halting fire signals.









Iran threatens strike on Tel Aviv if fighting continues in southern Lebanon
Iran threatens to pull out of Islamabad talks if Israel continues with Lebanon strikes

Iran has warned it may withdraw from Fridays Islamabad talks unless the ceasefire covers Lebanon. Tehran may resume attacks and block the Strait of Hormuz if Israel continues striking Hezbollah.









Iran threatens Islamabad talks over Lebanon
Missile alerts hit Israel, Gulf states hours after US-Iran announce two-week ceasefire

Missile warnings in Israel and Gulf countries emerge even as Washington and Tehran confirm temporary halt in offensive operations.









Missile alerts in Israel and Gulf states despite USIran two-week ceasefire; US halts offensive operations but tensions persist. Missile alerts in Israel, Gulf despite ceasefire

US and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan

Hormuz Strait open under Iranian military control Did our AI summary help?
Israel supports US-Iran ceasefire, but Netanyahu says Lebanon is not part of the deal

Netanyahu backs US-Iran ceasefire but says it does not apply to Hezbollah conflict in Lebanon, diverging from Pakistan and Iran claims.









Israel says ceasefire with Iran is limited in scope, contradicting Pakistan and Irans broader claims Israel backs US-brokered ceasefire with Iran, not Lebanon

Ceasefire allows Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon

Pakistan touts wider truce; Israel denies Lebanon coverage Did our AI summary help?
Israelis criticize Benjamin Netanyahu for truce seen empowering Iran

The fact that the negotiations between the US and Iran are expected to be based on Iranian demands has raised intense concern in Israel, as has concern that President Donald Trump might be eager to end the war.









Yair Lapid Photographer: Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/Getty Images Israelis fear Iran ceasefire won't end Tehran's threat

Netanyahu says ceasefire won't affect Israel's Lebanon invasion

Israel continues strikes on Hezbollah in Lebanon despite truce Did our AI summary help?
Negative for US: Laura Loomer criticises ceasefire deal with Iran; GOP leaders divided

The deal came shortly after warnings by US President Donald Trump that Irans entire civilization could be destroyed if it failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by a set deadline









US President Donald Trump US agrees to a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire with Iran

Political leaders react strongly, some criticize the negotiation

Iran to negotiate with US in Islamabad starting Friday Did our AI summary help?
Netanyahu under fire in Israel after US-Iran ceasefire. Opposition leader air Lapid calls it a political disaster as Israel backs truce with conditions.
Iran and the US are considering imposing tolls on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, challenging the UN Law of the Sea's free passage principle. Oman opposes the tolls, raising legal and economic concerns that could impact global maritime norms and oil prices.

Did our AI summary help?
Oman has gained strategic influence amid Irans ceasefire proposal for the Strait of Hormuz, but firmly rejects Irans plan to impose transit fees, maintaining free passage and reinforcing its role as a neutral mediator in regional security and energy talks.

Did our AI summary help?
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News / National

by Staff reporter

Zimbabwe is set to mark its 46th Independence Anniversary with the nationwide rollout of free public Wi-Fi hotspots, a government initiative aimed at expanding digital access and fostering innovation among young people.Speaking at the third Zimbabwe Annual Telecommunications Conference and Exhibition in Harare, the Minister of ICT, Postal and Courier Services, Tatenda Mavetera, said the programme is designed to empower youth to develop digital solutions and prototypes that contribute to national development.The conference, held under the theme "Beyond Connectivity: Telecoms, AI and Zimbabwe's Digital Future," highlighted the growing role of telecommunications and artificial intelligence in shaping modern economies.Mavetera said artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming global industries, adding that Zimbabwe is positioning itself to benefit from an AI-driven future through improved infrastructure, digital skills training, and broader technology adoption across both public and private sectors."Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing rapidly, and there are numerous applications that our young people can create to solve local challenges. Accessible and affordable connectivity is key to unlocking innovation," she said.She added that government programmes, including a 1.5 million coding initiative in partnership with the United Arab Emirates, are equipping young people with skills in cybersecurity, AI, and software development. She also noted that more than 3,000 youths have already benefited from a government-led cybersecurity training programme.According to the Minister, the government has already begun deploying free Wi-Fi hotspots, with the first phase covering 409 locations nationwide. The total number is expected to reach 1,000 sites before the end of the year.Meanwhile, preparations for this year's Independence Day celebrations and the 2026 Children's Party are underway at Maphisa Growth Point in Matobo, in Matabeleland South Province.The Children's Party will be hosted at Mahetshe Primary School, while the main Independence Gala will take place at Minda Primary School, both within the district.Authorities say infrastructure works at the venues are nearing completion, including the main arena, stadium facilities, and supporting services such as plumbing, electrical installations, drainage, and fencing. Upgrades at Mahetshe and Minda schools are also close to completion, alongside improvements in accommodation and learning facilities.The government has also begun distributing Starlink kits, laptops, and printers across the host province to improve communication and connectivity ahead of the national events.
US-Iran ceasefire spotlights Pakistans mediation role, China links, and Hormuz risks as Israel backs US pause.
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif urged restraint amid reported US-Iran ceasefire violations, calling for respect of the two-week truce. Iran threatened to exit the agreement if Israeli attacks on Lebanon persist. Pakistan is mediating and hosting talks this week.

Did our AI summary help?
An Iranian national flag fixed to the arm of a statue at the Palestine Square in central Tehran on July 8, 2025, as an anti-Israeli billboard is displayed on the facade of a building depicting the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu with text in Persian and Hebrew reading "Netanyahu lost another war." (Photo by AFP)
KSE-100 index records largest intraday gain in history as ceasefire news boosts sentiment, with trading halted after sharp surge
Safe Hormuz passage possible via coordination with armed forces says Iran FM Araghchi

In an official statement, Araghchi said Iran would halt its defensive military operations if attacks against the country are stopped. If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations, he said.









Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
Saudi Arabias key East-West oil pipeline hit in Iranian attack hours after ceasefire announcement

The pipeline was struck in the latest round of attacks, though the full extent of the damage remains unclear. Any disruption to flows could further tighten global oil supply.









FILE PHOTO: Smoke billows from Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura oil refinery after a reported Iranian drone strike, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, March 2, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
An appeal for de-escalation between Iran and the United States quickly turned noticeable when users pointed out an unusual detail in its edit trail: Draft  Pakistans PM Message on X.

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
Tehran residents celebrate after US-Iran ceasefire announcement| Watch

Tehran residents took to the streets waving flags and celebrating a twoweek ceasefire between US and Iran after weeks of intense conflict









After weeks of conflict, Tehran celebrates a temporary truce between the US and Iran (Image: Reuters) Tehran celebrates two-week ceasefire between US and Iran

Crowds chant anti-US and anti-Israel slogans in Tehran

Pakistan praised for helping negotiate the ceasefire Did our AI summary help?
Iran avoided wider conflict with the US after Supreme Leader Khamenei authorized last-minute negotiations, leading to a two-week ceasefire. Mediators, including Pakistan, played key roles. The truce halted hostilities but unresolved issues threaten its durability.

Did our AI summary help?
The real price of Trumps ceasefire: Strait of Hormuz may now become Irans toll-controlled corridor

A pause in strikes comes with a price, controlled passage, possible fees, and a shift in who effectively runs the worlds busiest oil chokepoint.









US-Iran ceasefire reopens Hormuz but under Iranian oversight. What controlled passage and possible tolls mean for global oil flows. Hormuz reopens under Iranian military control, not free

Iran may charge transit fees, shifting to a pay-to-pass corridor

Ceasefire cements Irans control, raising legal, policy concerns Did our AI summary help?
News / National

by Staff reporter

Local authorities in Zimbabwe have been directed to purchase copies of President Emmerson Mnangagwa's biography, A Life of Sacrifice, in a move that has raised concerns over the use of public funds.A circular dated March 31, 2026, from John Basera, secretary in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, instructs town clerks, council secretaries, and chief executive officers to "make the necessary arrangements" to procure the book for distribution within their jurisdictions, including schools.The directive relates to a revised and translated edition of the biography authored by Edmund Cross, originally launched in 2021 and now produced by publisher Jarach Media. The latest version has been translated into Shona, Ndebele, and Tonga.According to the circular, the publisher is seeking institutional and individual support, with copies priced at US$17 each, or US$15 for bulk purchases of 100 or more."The biography provides a close insight into the life and journey of one of Zimbabwe's illustrious sons," Basera wrote, urging local authorities to acquire what he described as an "invaluable book."However, the directive has drawn criticism, with concerns that it places additional financial strain on already cash-strapped councils, many of which are struggling to deliver essential services.Critics argue that requiring local authorities to fund the purchase of the President's biography risks diverting limited public resources away from critical service delivery priorities.
This is how world wars begin: Investor Ray Dalio warns markets may be misreading Iran

The billionaire investor says markets are misreading the conflict, arguing the world has already entered a multi-theatre war phase









Ray Dalio warns the Iran conflict is part of a broader world war dynamic, with global alliances, trade chokepoints and power shifts already in motion. Ray Dalio warns Iran conflict is part of a wider global breakdown

He sees interconnected wars and alliances forming worldwide

Dalio warns conflicts will escalate, not ease, in coming years Did our AI summary help?
Trump aware of Pakistans deadline extension proposal, 'response will come': White House

The President has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.









US President Donald Trump
Shortly after the announcement of the truce, Trump calls the Iran deal total and complete victory for US
Trump hails ceasefire, says Iran can begin reconstruction process: 'Golden age of Middle East'

US President Donald Trump describes the ongoing US-Iran ceasefire as a big day for world peace









Trump hails ceasefire, says beginning of 'golden age of the Middle East'
President Trump proposed a joint US-Iran venture to charge tolls on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz after a two-week ceasefire, raising legal and geopolitical questions amid ongoing disruptions and Irans own $1 per barrel toll plan for oil tankers.

Did our AI summary help?
Trump says Lebanon not included in Iran ceasefire deal 'because of Hezbollah'

Trump had said in his declaration of a two-week truce for further negotiations that "we received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."









US President Donald Trump (file image) Lebanon excluded from ceasefire deal due to Hezbollah.

Trump says Israel's strikes in Lebanon are a separate issue.

US disputes Iran's published 10-point ceasefire plan. Did our AI summary help?
Trump outlines Iran plan after 'regime change': Nuclear dust removal, no Uranium enrichment, cooperation ahead

Trump asserted that Iran would no longer pursue uranium enrichment and claimed that US forces would oversee the removal of deeply buried nuclear material.









US President Donald Trump -- File Photo (AFP)
Trump to send JD Vance, Witkoff & Kushner to Pakistan for Iran talks on Saturday: White House

The negotiating team will be led by US Vice President JD Vance, alongside special envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner.









US Vice President JD Vance
Trump warns fraudsters, says only official points will guide US-Iran ceasefire talks

President Donald Trump warned of fraudulent claims circulating about the US-Iran ceasefire, emphasising that only officially approved points will guide negotiations, criticising unauthorised letters and highlighting media misreporting.









Only official points guide ceasefire talks
India calls for de-escalation as US-Iran truce reopens key oil route and sets stage for talks in Pakistan
News / National

by Staff reporter

The High Court has sentenced three members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to 22 years and nine months in prison each for the murder of a man during a violent political clash with ZANU-PF supporters in Harare.Justice Esther Muremba described the killing of Onisimo Mavhungire as a brutal mob attack carried out under aggravating circumstances."The facts clearly establish aggravating circumstances: the murder was committed by a group of at least ten people acting in common purpose, in defiance of a lawful court order," she ruled.The court heard that the violence erupted on October 7, 2022, at Nenyere Flats in Mbare during a confrontation between rival political supporters over a disputed piece of land. The three convicted men were part of a CCC-aligned group that attacked Mavhungire, who later died from severe head injuries.Justice Muremba described the assault as vicious and sustained, noting that the attackers used open hands, booted feet, stones, and a wooden log, leaving the victim fatally injured.The court rejected the defence's plea for leniency, dismissing arguments that the offenders' youth, family responsibilities, and time already spent in custody justified a lighter sentence."The submission that 'the more people punished, the less each should suffer' is legally untenable," the judge said. "Criminal liability is individual, and each participant in a common purpose bears responsibility for the fatal outcome."She emphasised that the law does not dilute responsibility simply because multiple offenders were involved, adding that each participant bears full criminal liability.The court also dismissed a proposed eight-year sentence by the defence, saying it failed to reflect the seriousness of the offence and the aggravating factors involved.The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe's position prevailed, with the court agreeing that the political nature of the violence and the coordinated mob attack warranted a severe custodial sentence.In victim impact testimony, Mavhungire's widow, Grace Muchakata, described the devastating consequences of the killing, including financial hardship and struggles to provide for her child.In delivering the sentence, Justice Muremba stressed the need for deterrence and consistency, noting that the offenders had initially been sentenced to 25 years before a successful appeal led to a fresh ruling."Sentencing for murder must reflect both the seriousness of the crime and the need to uphold the integrity of the justice system," she said, adding that a stiff penalty was necessary to deter political violence.
According to News18, the turning point came through what top diplomatic sources described as a rapid-fire series of late-night diplomatic engagements led by Pakistans top leadership.

Rewati Karan is Senior Sub Editor at Moneycontrol. She covers law, politics, business, and national affairs. She was previously Principal Correspondent at Financial Express and Copyeditor at ThePrint where she wrote feature stories and covered legal news. She has also worked extensively in social media, videos and podcasts at ThePrint and India Today. She can be reached at rewati.karan@nw18.com | Twitter: @RewatiKaran
Who really won? As war pauses, US and Iran battle over the narrative

Within hours of ceasefire announcement by Trump, sharp contradictions emerged over what exactly had been agreed, who conceded what, and how the deal should be interpreted.









US President Donald Trump and Iran FM Abbas Aragachi US and Iran announce two-week ceasefire starting April 8

Ceasefire linked to Strait of Hormuz and talks in Islamabad

Conflicting claims from US, Iran, Pakistan, and Israel emerge Did our AI summary help?
A New York Times report details how Trump decided on war with Iran after intense lobbying by Netanyahu, divided White House advice, and skepticism from intelligence and military officials. Despite warnings, Trump approved Operation Epic Fury, driven by his instincts.

Did our AI summary help?
What are Irans terms in its 10-point plan as US talks set for April 10 in Islamabad

The upcoming talks in Islamabad are expected to mark the first formal round of negotiations since the conflict escalated, with Pakistan acting as a mediator between the two sides.









- Iran-US talks start April 10 in Islamabad via Pakistan

Irans 10-point plan seeks relief from sanctions, security

Talks align with brief truce and Hormuz transit proposal Did our AI summary help?
What is Ghost Murmur? The secret CIA device that helped rescue downed US pilot in Iran

The name reflects its purpose -- murmur refers to a heartbeat rhythm, while ghost signifies the ability to find someone who has effectively vanished.









Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe speaks during a press conference with U.S. President Donald Trump (not pictured) in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S.,. (REUTERS) CIA's Ghost Murmur tech detects heartbeats over long distances

Used to locate and rescue a US airman in Iran's remote terrain

Works best in low-interference environments with advanced sensors Did our AI summary help?
White House calls US-Iran ceasefire a victory for Washington

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement, This is a victory for the United States that President Donald Trump and our incredible military made happen.









Karoline Leavitt calls the US-Iran two-week ceasefire a victory for Washington, crediting Operation Epic Fury and President Trumps role in reopening the Strait of Hormuz
As war in West Asia diverts Western attention, Russia is deepening military and political ties with Madagascar, a strategically placed island rich in minerals and close to a vital shipping lane.
News / National

by Staff reporter

The Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has stepped back from its proposed title deeds digitisation pilot programme following strong resistance from the Law Society of Zimbabwe, but the move has now triggered a broader public backlash over costs, transparency and access.In a letter dated 8 April 2026, the Law Society confirmed that government had agreed to review and modify the rollout of the validation and securitisation of title deeds after consultations with the legal profession.Executive Secretary E. Mapara said the revised framework would be developed in consultation with the Society and would take into account submissions made by lawyers.The Society also clarified that all registered conveyancers would be eligible to participate in the programme once details are finalised.While the legal profession has welcomed the development as a victory for due process and stakeholder engagement, critics argue the retreat raises deeper questions about the design and intent of the project.Concerns are mounting among property owners over whether the digitisation process could impose additional costs on title holders who have already incurred expenses to acquire and register their properties. Questions are also being raised about whether legal intermediaries should be mandatory in a process that some argue could be handled more directly and affordably.Some stakeholders have further called for clarity on the financial model underpinning the programme, including the fees that may be charged, who stands to benefit, and whether private contractors are involved in the digitisation process.There are also growing calls for transparency around how vulnerable groupsparticularly elderly property ownerswould be protected from potential cost burdens arising from the exercise.Legal experts, however, maintain that conveyancers play a critical role in safeguarding property rights, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, and preventing fraud in land transactions. They argue that any reform involving title deeds must balance efficiency with legal certainty.The debate has now shifted beyond the legal fraternity, with members of the public demanding greater accountability and justification for the programme, particularly in the context of economic pressures and property rights protections.As consultations continue, the spotlight remains on both government and the legal profession to provide clarity on how the digitisation initiative will be structured, funded and implementedand whether it will ultimately serve the interests of ordinary property owners.
April 8, 2026

War On Iran:  April Ceasefire  A Tick Tock Of Statements And Comments

Trump has chickened out from his threat of committing a genocide in Iran by agreeing to a ceasefire based on Irans 10 point declaration.

The war isnt over.

Israel will do its best to sabotage the ceasefire by all means.

If Trump really wants to stop losing the war he had started on advice of Netanyahoo (archived) he will have to throw him under a bus.

The Secretary for War Crimes Pete Hegseth and others who had urged for the war will be made scapegoats for this defeat.

An attempt to tick-tock what happened:

Minutes before the launch of the genocide he had threatened Trump chickened out.

Arash Azisi: Direct talks between Ghalibaf and Vance in the last few hours made the ceasefire agreement possible  sources in Tehran tell me.

At 23:50 UTC the Foreign Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahbaz Sharif announced a ceasefire:

With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes. 

The original statement was probably written by someone else.

Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi issued a Statement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Trump conceded defeat:

Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

(TS: 07 Apr 18:32 ET)

The full statement by the Supreme National Security Council of Iran  PressTV write up.

Irans position has slightly softened. The 10 points Iran issued yesterday are slightly different from the 10 points now mentioned in the PressTV piece (Lebanon is now missing(?!) but lifting of ALL sanctions against Iran) (There also seem to be differences on enrichment in the Farsi and English versions of the latest 10 points issued.)

Nevertheless:

Poete dubitatif @evil_SDOC  23:56 UTC  Apr 7, 2026 If this is it really, Trump will have saved face at a cost of strategic defeat to the US, because negotiations based on the Iranians 10 points, together with interim Iranian control of Hormuz for the duration of the cease fire definitely means Iran has won.

White House press statement:

This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen.

From the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump estimated this would be a 4-6 week operation.

Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of our warriors, we have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days.

More on that tomorrow morning from @SecWar and Chairman Caine!

The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace.

Additionally, President Trump got the Strait of Hormuz reopened.

Never underestimate President Trumps ability to successfully advance Americas interests and broker peace.

Sarcastic comment by AmCons Andrew Day:

The Strait of Hormuz was closed for 47 years by the Mad Mullahs of Iran. But tonight, Donald Trump opened it.

As very positive sign Trump reposted Araghchis statement on his Truth Social account.

Trumps victory statement:

Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. Well be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just hangin around in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!

Netanyahoo falsely claims that the ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

The opposition leader in Israel is furious about this defeat.

Various comments:

Mark Ames:

Trumps insanely stupid & evil war ends in perhaps the most humiliating defeat in US history. 

Amal Saad:

The US didnt agree to a ceasefire but acquiesced to a new balance of power. 

James Acton:

The U.S. acceptance of the Iranian proposal as a basis for negotiation is a *huge* concession. There is nothing about Irans nuclear program in there and it includes a toll for the Strait.

Obviously this is a starting point, not an end point, but it is unlikely the U.S. will achieve any of its strategic goalswhich is the price we must pay, I guess, for absolutely terrible and horrific policy.

Chinahand:

my uninformed opinion is that usa/allies denying overflight/refueling to israeli planes is the key behind the scenes condition for iran agreeing to the ceasefire. iiuc israel still lacks the ability to strike iran without these facilities. if Trump genuinely wants to wind this thing down, Netanyahu will have to resort to some other provocation to try to keep the war going. IMO.

Gregg Carlstorm

Listen, it is indeed striking that Trump describes Irans ten-point proposal as a workable basis for talks, but stipulating that at the start does not bind you to anything at the end

If America walks in and says it wants to change right to continued enrichment to zero enrichment, then were right back where we were in February

Side note:

The war has (so far) lasted 40 days. That limit has religious importance in Judaism and Islam.

PS: Latest Iran Lego Movie: TACO Tuesday  How to defeat a hegemon
Dr. Sulay Patel will be the first physician to perform the minimally invasive Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion procedure at Midland Memorial Hospital. Courtesy of Midland Memorial Hospital

Patients in the Permian Basin living with atrial fibrillation and struggling to stay on blood thinners will soon have a new treatment option close to home.

Dr. Sulay Patel, an interventional cardiologist with Permian Cardiology, will be the first physician to perform the minimally invasive left atrial appendage occlusion procedure at Midland Memorial Hospital.

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This procedure is designed for patients with atrial fibrillation on blood thinners but having difficulty tolerating them either due to frequent bleeding events or high risk of having major bleeding, Patel explained.

The umbrella-shaped implant can help prevent strokes while potentially allowing patients to come off long-term blood thinners.

So, this device is designed to be implanted to seal off the left atrial appendage from the patients circulation, to reduce their risk of stroke, Patel said.

It can also reduce their risk of bleeding because they do not need to be on long-term blood thinners approximately six months after the device is implanted.

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Over six months, the hearts cell lining should grow over the device, completely sealing off that area from the rest of the circulation, Patel explained.

Stroke is a really common diagnosis in this area, and atrial fibrillation is one of the most common causes of a lot of patients who have strokes, Patel said.

Many patients who have strokes also have other health issues that can prevent them from taking long-term blood thinners, he added.

This is a great device to help reduce that risk of stroke in these patients who are unable to tolerate long-term blood thinners, Patel said.

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The recovery process after the procedure is similar to that of an angiogram or cardiac catheterization, such as a stent procedure, according to Patel.

The incisions are small and made through the groin, so activity restrictions after the procedure are limited. However, patients will have to remain on some sort of blood thinner for at least the first six months as the device is healing.

The procedure is done primarily by interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists, a role that requires about eight years of training after medical school, Patel said.

There is also additional training to perform the procedure, sponsored by the companies that make the devices, that takes a year to complete.

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Patel has completed the training and was implanting the devices at his prior job. He said hes excited to establish the program at Permian Cardiology.

Patel will do the first procedure on Wednesday. He said there are already three to four patients scheduled for surgery on Wednesday.

Its exciting that were able to offer this to patients, he said. I encourage all patients to always discuss with their doctors about new technologies and new treatment options.

He added that medicine is always evolving, and that its important for patients to be informed about all their options.

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Patel said that providing this procedure to patients in West Texas is important because they previously had to travel hours to get this care, which is becoming the standard of care across the country.

This is a new step that were taking here to try to provide comprehensive cardiology care, he said. I think its important that were able to offer these procedures here locally.

He added that hes excited to bring a skill set that isnt easily accessed to serve the community that he grew up in.

Im really excited to bring a new procedure to the area, to continue to grow our program and bring access to care we havent had here before, Patel said.

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For now, Patel will be the only physician performing the procedure. He said that they are open to teaching more people to do the procedure because having more doctors will increase access to care.

The Permian Cardiology program is growing, Patel said. They recently established a cardiology fellowship, which brings a new element and more access to care.

Our long-term plan is to continue to grow and continue to bring modern and up-to-date care to the Permian Basin, Patel said.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Political analyst has formally signaled intentions to pursue international legal action over the government's proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3, escalating tensions around a reform process already marked by controversy and public division.In a petition addressed to the International Court of Justice, Mutare-based analyst Kennedy Kaitano raised concerns that the proposed amendment - currently under consideration by the Parliament of Zimbabwe - could violate constitutional provisions governing term limits.The Bill seeks to extend the tenure of elected officials, including the President, Members of Parliament and councillors, from five to seven years.If implemented as proposed, the current term set to end in 2028 could be extended to 2030.Kaitano argues that such an extension would directly contradict Section 328(7) of the Constitution, which prohibits amendments to term-limit provisions from benefiting incumbents already in office at the time of the change.Legal scholars and constitutional experts have echoed similar concerns, stating that any such adjustment would require strict adherence to constitutional safeguards, potentially including a national referendum.The petition also references earlier statements by Patrick Chinamasa, a former Attorney-General and senior ruling party official, who previously indicated that extending a sitting President's term would necessitate a referendum.Additionally, President Emmerson Mnangagwa had publicly described himself as a constitutionalist and indicated he would step down at the end of his current term in 2028, a position critics say is now in tension with the proposed reforms.Beyond legal arguments, the petition raises allegations about the conduct of the consultation process surrounding the Bill.Claims include the circulation of pre-written endorsement letters purportedly signed by thousands of citizens, as well as reports of coercion and limited space for dissenting views.Concerns over political intolerance have also been highlighted. Reports of violence against critics of the Billincluding incidents involving constitutional lawyer Lovemore Madhukuhave drawn condemnation from rights groups such as Amnesty International, which has called for investigations into alleged abuses.While the International Court of Justice primarily handles disputes between states rather than individual petitions, Kaitano indicated he would consult with local and international legal experts to explore possible avenues for action.Legal analysts note that any international challenge would face procedural hurdles, but say the move reflects growing frustration among segments of the population over the amendment process.As public hearings continue, the debate over Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 is increasingly shaping up as a broader test of Zimbabwe's commitment to constitutionalism, rule of law, and democratic accountability.Kaitano's remarks come after Zanu PF aligned Political analyst, Abigale Mupambi has urged the church to work with government in order to attain sustainable peace in the country.She made the remarks when she delivered an address at an apostolic gathering at Karonga area near Suswe in Mudzi District, Mashonaland East Province, during the Easter holiday.The shrine is led by one popular prophet Madzibaba Jacob with Congregants drawn from across the ten provinces of Zimbabwe.Earlier on , Mupambi addressed thousands of United Methodist Congregants at Nyadire Camping site in Mutoko District.In her speeches she elaborated on the importance of the Church working together with government for the attainment of significant peace, and development for all."It is very important for the church to work with government so as to promote sustainable peace in the country," she said.She further took the opportunity to unpack the topical issue of the Constitutional Ammendment Bill . No. 03 ,emphasizing the participatory role of the Church .She reiterated her statements that elections were hobbling a lot of resources yet there is little or no development because of continued political and election mood even after polls instead of development.She said the CAB3 will enable the elected to have enough time to implement development.
Big Spring police arrested a 17-year-old on a murder warrant in the killing of a 20-year-old male. James C Hooper/Getty Images

BIG SPRING  The Big Spring Police Department has reported an arrest in connection with a homicide investigation.

According to a press statement, Big Spring police officers were dispatched about 2 a.m. Aug. 1, 2025, to the intersection of Northeast Sixth Street and North Goliad Street after a report of a man lying in the roadway. When officers arrived, they identified the man as Christopher Salazar, 20. The Big Spring Fire Department and Allegiance EMS also arrived at the scene and attempted life-saving measures, but Salazar was pronounced dead.

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Big Spring police detectives said they immediately began interviewing people and following leads in the investigation into Salazars death.

Detectives said the investigation developed probable cause, and officers obtained a warrant for the arrest of a 17-year-old suspect on a charge of murder. The suspect was arrested about 7 p.m. Monday, April 6, police said. He was arrested in Austin by the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division. Texas Rangers also assisted in the investigation.

No bail or bond had been listed in the case. Police said the investigation is ongoing and no additional information was immediately available.

The Big Spring Police Department asked anyone with information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers at 432-263-8477 or submit tips online through P3tips.com. Police said tips can be submitted anonymously.
Texas Rangers arrested a Howard County man in the killing of missing Big Spring woman, officials said. ATU Images/Getty Images

HOWARD COUNTY  A suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing of a woman who had been reported missing in Big Spring.

According to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas Rangers, in coordination with the Howard County Sheriffs Office, arrested Howard County resident Andres Perches, 31, in connection with the killing of a woman who had been reported missing.

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The woman was identified as Amanda Lynn Bates, 39. Law enforcement officials said Bates had been missing since Sept. 12, 2024. She was last seen in the Knott and Big Spring areas.

Perches is charged with murder, a first-degree felony, and failure to comply with sex offender registration requirements, a third-degree felony. He is being held in the Howard County Jail on a $1 million bond.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) has called for the immediate repeal of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MOPA), arguing that the law is being applied in ways that undermine constitutional rights.In a statement issued on 6 April 2026, ZNLWVA Chairman Andrease Ethan Mathibela said the Act has drifted from its original purpose of maintaining public order and is now restricting fundamental freedoms.The association expressed concern that provisions governing public gatherings have effectively shifted from a notification system to what it described as a "permission regime.""We did not fight to replace one form of control with another," Mathibela said, emphasising that Zimbabwe's Constitution guarantees citizens the rights to assemble, associate and express themselves freely.The war veterans' body acknowledged the need to maintain peace and order but stressed that enforcement must remain within constitutional limits. It argued that current implementation of MOPA grants excessive discretionary powers to law enforcement agencies, resulting in inconsistent and sometimes selective application.Key concerns raised include alleged misuse of authority, a chilling effect on civic participation, and unequal enforcement of the law.The ZNLWVA is now urging Government and Parliament to repeal MOPA and replace it with new legislation grounded in constitutional principles. The group has proposed the drafting of a rightsbased Public Order Management law through an inclusive national process.The association noted that the issue affects all sectors of society - including workers, students, churches, vendors and community organisations - describing it as a national constitutional matter rather than a partisan one.As part of its next steps, the ZNLWVA said it will engage citizens and civil society groups to build a broad platform advocating for reforms that promote both public order and constitutional freedoms.The call, the association concluded, is aimed at ensuring that laws governing public gatherings serve the people and uphold Zimbabwe's democratic framework.
Cast members Lucy Halliday, Rowan Blanchard, Ann Dowd, Mattea Conforti and Chase Infiniti attend a premiere for Season 1 of the television series "The Testaments" in Los Angeles, California, March 31, 2026. REUTERS

LOS ANGELES (Reuters)  Blue Jean actor Lucy Halliday says the bonds formed between young girls in times of adversity are at the heart of what makes the Hulu drama series The Testaments special.

We see that in our show, and its a really beautiful thing  that friendship can flourish even in the darkest of places, Halliday said of the comingofage drama, which continues the story of Hulus The Handmaids Tale.

Sisterhood and community have always been important, and theyve always been a means of survival, she added.

Created by Bruce Miller and based on Margaret Atwoods 1985 novel, The Handmaids Tale depicts the totalitarian society of Gilead, a religious extremist regime ruled by powerful men who subjugate women following war and collapsing fertility rates. Some women, known as handmaids, are forced into reproductive servitude for elite, infertile families.

The Testaments is set years later and follows two teenage girls  Agnes, played by One Battle After Another actor Chase Infiniti, and Daisy, portrayed by Halliday  as they come of age within the same oppressive system.

Agnes has spent most of her life in Gilead, raised to be pious and obedient, while Daisy arrives from Canada as a recent convert.

The girls meet at a Gilead preparatory school for future wives, overseen by Aunt Lydia, played by Ann Dowd, reprising her role from The Handmaids Tale.

Dowd said viewers will see a subtly changed Lydia this time around compared to her explosive and violent-tempered demeanor in the original series.

I think we see a gentler Lydia, someone who has changed inwardly, she said, teasing the characters new mission to reform Gilead as headmistress of a school for daughters of the regimes most powerful families.

Infiniti cautioned, however, that The Testaments continues to explore the same cycle of subjugation that defined both the original novel and series.

Everything that she (Margaret Atwood) writes is pulled directly from history, so unfortunately none of it is new, said the Golden Globenominated actor.

Going to set every day and seeing what these girls have to go through  and how their stories unfold  made us feel incredibly fortunate to be able to tell this story, she added.

The Testaments premieres on Wednesday on Hulu.
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Press Release)  Patreisha Mae Concillado of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nations oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Boise State University.

Concillado is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10% of seniors and 7.5% of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10% of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States and its territories. Its mission is to cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.

About Phi Kappa Phi

Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi is the nations oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Phi Kappa Phi inducts approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni annually. The Society has chapters on more than 300 select colleges and universities in the United States and its territories. Membership is by invitation only to the top 10 % of seniors and graduate students and 7.5% of juniors. Faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction also qualify. The Societys mission is to cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning. For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org./
Angel Demapan, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interiors Office of Insular and International Affairs, speaks during the CNMI Biosecurity Forum at Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan on Wednesday. Photo by Bryan Manabat

By Bryan Manabat

[email protected]

Variety News Staff

FEDERAL and regional officials opened the CNMIs first-ever Biosecurity Forum this week, calling it a critical step in strengthening the islands defenses against invasive species amid increased import activity tied to major military construction projects.

Angel Demapan, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of the Interiors Office of Insular and International Affairs, said the forum comes at a pivotal moment for the Commonwealth.

Our office is very pleased to organize and host this first-of-its-kind biosecurity forum and to see it take place here in the CNMI, Demapan said on Wednesday. We have many current issues with invasive species and biosecurity threats  the coconut rhinoceros beetle, the brown tree snake  and with the volume of imports for military construction, we must be more vigilant than ever.

The five-day forum, held April 610 at the Crowne Plaza Resort Saipan, brings together representatives from Fiji, New Zealand, Guam, and CNMI agencies including Customs, the Department of Land and Natural Resources, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, and other regulatory offices.

A tabletop exercise  CNMI Biosecurity Scenarios for Marine and Terrestrial Pathways  was also scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, giving participants an opportunity to test response strategies and coordination across agencies.

Demapan delivered the Day 3 opening remarks for the forum. He told Variety that while the CNMIs existing response network provides a strong foundation, regional collaboration remains essential.

The CNMI has had a very strong biosecurity response effort, he said. Holding this forum with our regional partners will only strengthen those efforts  not just with Customs, but with all our partner agencies.

Evolving threats, evolving laws

Asked whether the CNMI is keeping pace with national and international biosecurity standards, Demapan said the challenge is constant.

Biosecurity response is an everevolving issue; every time we catch up, a new threat emerges that requires a new approach, he said. Thats why a forum like this is important  so we dont get blindsided by new developments.

Demapan also addressed questions about federal and local regulatory alignment. He said there is no direct conflict between federal invasive species laws and the Covenant, but CNMI statutes need updating.

I dont think theres a clash. CNMI laws need to be updated to be compatible with the federal code, he said. There is a bill moving through the Legislature  I believe in Sen. Jude Hofschneiders committee  that would bring conformity and help advance the cause for biosecurity. I understand its up for discussion tomorrow.

Balancing cultural practices and species protection

Demapan acknowledged that cultural practices involving traditional harvesting or consumption of certain species must be considered as regulations evolve.

Thats a different subject, but it is something being looked at, he said. The CNMI needs to put forward data on cultural practices and what can be consumed. But there are also federal statutes governing endangered species. We have to make sure theres a balance. We dont want to suffocate cultural practices, but we also dont want any species to become endangered or extinct.

Demapan said OIA intends to replicate similar biosecurity forums in other U.S. insular areas.

Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
A man shouts slogans as people gather after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war was announced, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/ West Asia News Agency via REUTERS

WASHINGTON/DUBAI/TEL AVIV (Reuters)  The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire brokered by Pakistan, suspending a six-week-old war that has killed thousands, spread across the Middle East and caused unprecedented disruption to the worlds energy supplies.

There was relief on the streets and in world financial markets after President Donald Trump announced the agreement late on Tuesday, two hours before a deadline he had set for Iran to open the blockaded Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its whole civilization.

Both sides declared victory. But their main disputes remained unresolved, with Washington and Tehran sticking to competing demands for a potential peace deal that could shape the Middle East for generations.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had invited Iranian and U.S. delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday for what would be the first official peace talks since the war began, and that Irans president had confirmed it would attend.

Vice President JD Vance, seen as the potential head of an American delegation, said Trump had told negotiators to try to reach an agreement but stopped short of confirming talks at a specific time or place.

Irans ruling establishment survives

The ceasefire is subject to Irans agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas passing through the strait, Trump said. Ships had yet to begin crossing by Wednesday afternoon, but Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said Tehran would cease counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the waterway if attacks against it stopped.

The strait typically handles about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. News of the deal, and the prospect that the worst disruption to global energy markets in history could finally end, caused a sharp fall in oil prices and a surge in share markets around the world.

Crowds took to the streets of Iran overnight to celebrate, waving Iranian flags and burning flags of the United States and Israel. But there was also wariness that a deal would not hold.

Israel will not allow diplomacy to work and Trump might change his view tomorrow. But at least we can sleep tonight without strikes, Alireza, 29, a government employee in Tehran, told Reuters by phone.

The ceasefire suspends the war launched on February 28 by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had announced they aimed to prevent Iran from projecting force beyond its borders, end its nuclear program and create conditions for Iranians to topple their rulers.

Trump told the French news agency AFP that the ceasefire represented a total and complete victory and said on Truth Social that the U.S. had achieved its military objectives.

But the war has yet to deprive Iran either of its stockpile of near-weapons-grade highly enriched uranium or its ability to hit its neighbors with missiles and drones. The clerical leadership, which faced a mass uprising months ago, withstood the superpower onslaught with no sign of domestic opposition.

And Tehrans newly proven ability to cut off Gulf energy supplies, despite the massive U.S. military presence built across the region over decades, could reshape the power dynamics of the Gulf for years.

The enemy, in its unjust, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation, has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat, Irans Supreme National Security Council said in a statement.

Netanyahus office said Israel supported the decision to suspend strikes on Iran for two weeks. But the agreement is likely to be seen as a blow for the Israeli leader, who had repeatedly said he wanted Irans rulers to fall.

There has never been such a diplomatic disaster in all our history, said opposition politician Yair Lapid. Yair Golan, a former Israeli military deputy chief of staff, called the outcome a complete failure that endangered Israels security.

The nuclear program was not destroyed. The ballistic threat remains. The regime is still intact and is even emerging from this war stronger, he wrote on X.

Israels attacks on Lebanon continue

Shipping firms said they would need further assurances of safety before sailing. Any decision to transit the Strait of Hormuz will be based on continuous risk assessments, close monitoring of the security situation, and available guidance from relevant authorities and partners, said container shipper Maersk.

The agreement did not halt Israels parallel campaign in Lebanon, which it invaded in March in pursuit of the Iran-aligned Hezbollah militia.

The Lebanese state news agency NNA reported continued Israeli strikes across southern Lebanon, including artillery shelling and a dawn air strike on a building near a hospital that killed four people. Israels military issued repeated urgent warnings to residents that it planned to attack the city of Tyre in southern Lebanon.

A senior Lebanese official told Reuters that Lebanon had received no information on its inclusion in the ceasefire, and had not been involved in talks.

If peace talks open on Friday in Islamabad as announced, they will begin with the main demands of the warring sides unresolved. Washington has presented its demands in a 15-point plan, while Iran has responded with a 10-point plan of its own.

In a post overnight, Trump acknowledged receiving the Iranian plan and called it a workable basis to negotiate, which Irans powerful security council said amounted to accepting its terms in principle. Those include lifting all sanctions, compensating Iran for damage and leaving it in control of the strait.

An Israeli official said senior Trump administration officials had assured Israel that they would insist on previous conditions, such as the removal of Irans nuclear material, a halt to enrichment and the elimination of ballistic missiles.

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of Kayhan, a newspaper closely associated with late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, derided the ceasefire in an editorial, saying compromise and negotiation are a gift to the enemy.
People wave flags as they gather after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war was announced, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via REUTERS

DUBAI/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON (Reuters)  President Donald Trump on Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.

Trumps announcement on social media represented an abrupt turnaround from earlier in the day, when he issued an extraordinary warning that a whole civilization will die tonight if his demands were not met.

Iran said talks between the U.S. and Iran would begin on Friday in Islamabad, Pakistan, whose prime minister helped mediate the ceasefire. Iranian state TV claimed Trump had accepted Irans terms for ending the war, describing it as a humiliating retreat by the U.S. president.

Trump said the last-minute deal was subject to Irans agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the strait, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments. Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said in a statement that Tehran would stop counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.

The war, now in its sixth week, has claimed more than 5,000 lives in nearly a dozen countries, including more than 1,600 civilians in Iran, according to tallies from government sources and human rights groups.

Conditioned on Straits reopening

Two White House officials confirmed that Israel has also agreed to the two-week ceasefire and to suspend its bombing campaign on Iran. Israeli media reported that the cessation of hostilities would begin once Iran reopened the strait and that Israel expected Iranian attacks to continue in the interim.

A few minutes after Trumps announcement, the Israeli military said it identified missiles launched from Iran towards Israel.

Trump, who has issued a series of threats in recent weeks only to back away, said progress between the two sides had prompted him to agree to the ceasefire. He said Iran had presented a 10-point proposal that was a workable basis for negotiations and that he expected an agreement to be finalized and consummated during the two-week window.

Markets breathed a sigh of relief, with U.S. stock futures rising in the minutes following Trumps message. Oil prices fell sharply, with U.S. crude futures dropping more than 17% to just over $92 a barrel.

Abrupt turnaround

Trumps announcement capped a whirlwind day that was dominated by his threat to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran unless Tehran reopened the strait. That unnerved world leaders, rattled global financial and energy markets and drew widespread condemnation, including criticism from the head of the United Nations and Pope Leo.

Some international law experts have said attacking civilian infrastructure indiscriminately could constitute a war crime.

The closure of the strait, through which almost a fifth of the worlds oil supply typically travels, has sharply increased oil prices, escalating the chances of a global economic downturn or even recession. The U.S. Energy Information Administration earlier on Tuesday warned that fuel prices could continue to rise for months even after the strait reopened.

With the U.S. midterm election campaign ramping up, Trumps approval ratings have hit their lowest level ever, leaving his Republican Party at risk of losing its grip on Congress. Polls show sizable majorities of Americans opposed to the war and frustrated by the rising cost of gasoline.

As the clock ticked down to Trumps 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) deadline, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran had intensified, hitting railway and road bridges, an airport and a petrochemical plant. U.S. forces attacked targets on Kharg Island, home to Irans main oil export terminal.
Surangel S. Whipps Jr.

KOROR (Island Times/Pacnews)  A dispute over the value of Malakal Port in Palau is threatening to derail a major national project tied to U.S. military expansion.

With a $45 million gap between appraisals, can Palaus national government and Koror State find common ground  or is a forced takeover looming?

The $60 million appraisal is bogus, President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. said, as negotiations between the national government and the Koror State Government over the proposed purchase of Malakal Port stalled over sharply differing valuations.

The dispute centers on the national governments push to acquire the port for $15 million, far below the $60 million valuation commissioned by Koror State.

The acquisition is a key step in a broader plan to expand and upgrade Malakal Port for joint use by the Republic of Palau and the United States military. Under the proposal, the national government would purchase the port from Koror State and then transfer it to the U.S military for improvements and shared operations.

Koror State hired an independent appraiser, which placed the ports value at $60 million. During an April 2 meeting between Koror States elected and traditional leaders and national officials, Whipps publicly rejected that figure, questioning its credibility.

Port appraisals typically consider factors such as structural integrity, operational capacity and strategic importance. For Malakal Port, this includes its role as the countrys primary gateway for goods, the condition of its wharf, vessel draft depth, storage capacity, and the impact of planned upgrades such as dredging and new bulkheads.

Koror State currently leases the port, generating about $300,000 annually. Officials note that the facility has seen no major recent upgrades and that assessments indicate aging infrastructure requiring significant repairs.

Still, many Koror State residents voiced frustration at the national governments lower valuation during the meeting. While the proposed $15 million represents a one-time purchase price, the current arrangement allows the state to retain ownership and receive steady rental income.

In an effort to bridge the gap, Koror State leaders suggested alternatives, including increasing the states annual block grant by $300,000 in addition to any purchase payment.

If negotiations fail, the national government could pursue eminent domain to acquire the port at its proposed value. Another round of talks is scheduled for later this week.
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The President of the Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP), Mqondisi Moyo, has issued a strong warning over proposed constitutional amendments in Zimbabwe, describing them as a significant threat to democratic governance and citizen power.In a statement released on 5 April 2026, Moyo criticised the reform agenda being advanced under President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the ruling ZANUPF, arguing that the proposed changes go beyond routine legal adjustments and instead seek to fundamentally alter the country's political system.Moyo outlined several amendments he claims would weaken electoral accountability, including the possible postponement or cancellation of the 2028 elections, removal of direct presidential elections, and extension of terms for both Parliament and local authorities. He also raised concerns about increased presidential influence over the judiciary and key state institutions, as well as proposed changes to the management of the voters' roll and electoral boundaries."These are not minor adjustments," Moyo said, warning that such measures could shift power away from citizens and concentrate it within the executive.The MRP leader argued that removing direct presidential elections would mark a turning point for Zimbabwe's democracy, effectively transferring the power to choose a president from the electorate to Members of Parliament.He also questioned the timing of the proposed reforms, suggesting that altering electoral rules ahead of the next election cycle raises concerns about political motives.Moyo cautioned that weakening constitutional safeguards could erode accountability and open the door to abuse of power, corruption and political repression. He added that in environments where citizens feel pressured to support government policies, open democratic debate becomes limited.The statement further warned of potential longterm consequences if the amendments are adopted in their current form, including reduced electoral competitiveness, increased political tension and growing public dissatisfaction.Reaffirming the party's position, Moyo said the MRP continues to advocate for a peaceful and lawful path toward selfdetermination for the Mthwakazi region, citing what it views as systemic governance challenges in Zimbabwe.The government has previously defended its constitutional reform efforts, maintaining that the proposed amendments are aimed at improving governance and strengthening state institutions.
David C.L. Bauer is editor and publisher. He joined the Journal-Courier in 2009 as editor and added publisher responsibilities in 2016. The Cincinnati native has worked as an editor for newspapers in Florida, Ohio and Kentucky and as a former adjunct instructor of journalism at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. He has also worked at radio stations in Ohio as a news director and a disc jockey.
Illinois education officials said they are making strides in decreasing the number of vacant positions within schools. Maskot/Getty Images

Illinois education officials have said they are making strides in decreasing the number of vacant positions within the education system.

The Illinois State Board of Education released a database that tracks the number of vacant positions statewide, by county, district and type of position. The current data set comes from numbers reported in October.

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In Jacksonville, the district has 24 unfilled teaching positions, but is fully staffed in administrative, paraprofessional and support personnel roles as of October.

Superintendent Steve Ptacek said that number is about right, but can change throughout the year as staff are hired or leave.

"We present a list of vacancies at the start of every board meeting," Ptacek said. "We hire and lose people throughout the year, but we are about there now."

According to the board, there were 2,943 unfilled positions across the state as of Oct. 1, down from 3,864 in October 2024.

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Of the 2,943 vacant positions, 1,079 were for special education positions.

There were also 167 administrative positions, 2,134 paraprofessionals and 964 school support personnel vacancies in October 2025.

During the March 18 board meeting, the district reported 22 vacancies. Of those, 14 were for special education positions, three for science teachers, one pre-kindergarten teacher, one elementary teacher, one Title I teacher teacher, one physical education teacher and one English learner teacher.

Ptacek said districts and the state have been working to become appealing to teachers through improved benefits or easier access to education and licensing.

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"We have increased our pay, which has made us more attractive to potential employees," Ptacek said. "We've also been using the Teacher Vacancy Grant to help our paraprofessionals and substitutes go back for their teaching certification. We are doing what we can."

State Superintendent Tony Sanders said the state has been investing in education to better serve the schools and students they serve.

For the past three years, the state has funded the grant that helps boost local recruitment strategies. The state has allocated $120 million for the grant and so far 170 school districts have received funds through the grant.

"These data show that Illinois targeted investments are making a real difference for our schools and students, Sanders said. Our statewide efforts to invest in the educator workforce are helping districts make progress, particularly in the communities with the greatest need. At the same time, we know there is more work ahead, and it is critical that we sustain and build on these gains.

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Vacancies in west-central Illinois schools, as of October, include:

Brown County

Six teaching positions and one paraprofessional position.

Cass County

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A-C Central: Eight  five teaching, two paraprofessionals, and one administrative.

Beardstown: 15 teaching positions.

Virginia: Two teaching positions.

Greene County

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Carrollton: Three teaching and two paraprofessional positions.

Greenfield: One teaching position.

North Greene: 17 teaching and two support personnel positions.

Morgan County

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Franklin: Two teaching positions.

Meredosia-Chambersburg: One teaching position.

Triopia: Five teaching and one paraprofessional positions.

Waverly: Three teaching and one support personnel positions.

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Pike County

Griggsville-Perry: One teaching and two support personnel positions.

Pikeland: 19 teaching positions.

Scott County

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Scott-Morgan: Two teaching positions.
Jacksonville Police

ARRESTS, CITATIONS

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 A 40-year-old Jacksonville man was arrested at 11:25 p.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Spaulding Place on warrants from Will and Ford counties accusing him of failing to register as a sex offender.

DISTURBANCES

 Police were called at 7:51 p.m. Tuesday to a disturbance in the 700 block of South Church Street. Those involved were separated.

 Police were called at 6:12 p.m. Tuesday to a disturbance in the 900 block of West State Street. Those involved were separated.

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 Police were called at 8:42 a.m. Tuesday to a disturbance in the 100 block of Diamond Court involving a report of a woman needing removed from the residence. The woman left without incident when officers arrived, according to a police report.

THEFTS, BURGLARIES

 Firewood was stolen from the 600 block of North Main Street, according to a report filed at 11:07 a.m. Tuesday.

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FIRES
The Sangamon County Board has approved a zoning permit for a hotly debated data center just across the Morgan County line near Waverly. Thomas Barwick/Getty Images

The Sangamon County Board has approved a zoning permit for a hotly debated data center just across the Morgan County line near Waverly.

Board members voted 17-10 on Tuesday to approve the permit request from CyrusOne, which wants to build a $500 million data center on 280 acres of farmland in Talkington Township. It would include six 250,000-square-foot, one-story buildings.

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The site would be a few miles from Waverly.

The center has generated significant opposition during the past several months, mostly over questions about noise, environmental impact, and potential strain on utilities.

CyrusOne President John Hatem said the company will work to address concerns.

These commitments reflect the priorities weve heard directly from the community, said John Hatem, President of CyrusOne. We appreciate the engagement from county leadership and residents throughout this process and look forward to being a long-term partner in Sangamon County.

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It would take four to six years to build and begin operations.
Commentary: Liberty is drawn from French; freedom from German. We often use liberty and freedom interchangeably, but there are differences. Bill Chizek/Getty Images Frederic J. Fransen Syndicated

The English language is rich in vocabulary drawn from French, Latin, Greek and many other languages. This allows us to describe the world drawing on a wide range of words.

Just as some languages and cultures have many terms for snow, English speakers have multiple words for freedom.

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Liberty is drawn from French; freedom from German. We often use liberty and freedom interchangeably, but there are differences. Liberty carries with it the notion of responsibility. Freedom is more about doing whatever one wants. People talk about liberty and responsibility, or ordered liberty. No one talks about ordered freedom. Liberty implies using freedom responsibly.

Two hundred 50 years ago, in April 1776, both were in the news in America and in England.

In America, North Carolina became the first colony to declare its independence. On April 12, 1776, the North Carolina Provincial Congress issued the Halifax Resolves, instructing their delegates to the Second Continental Congress to vote in favor of Independency.

Independency meant legal separation from Great Britain.

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When Rhode Islands Assembly met the following month, on May 4, it passed an Act of Renunciation  an official legal document. The Act of Renunciation repealed all references to the British Crown in existing Rhode Island law and replaced them with corresponding colonial references. It simply provided for continuity of the legal system, but with a new sovereign. A more dry, legalistic declaration of independence could not be imagined.

The Halifax Resolves were different. They started with a complaint against the violences committed by the king and parliament. They decried the usurped power England was exercising over people and property, and they lamented the disregard of Britain for the colonies humble petitions for peace, liberty, and safety. The North Carolinians were not simply seeking independence; they were declaring that the war was about liberty  freedom with responsibility  a core American principle.

Outside North Carolina, however, the Resolves had no immediate impact. That would wait until they were presented to the Second Continental Congress at the end of May. They did not make the news in London.

While the American war was of major public interest in Britain, it didnt always dominate the news. In the latter half of April 1776, what dominated the news was a controversy involving freedom: the licentious kind.

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In 1744, impoverished Elizabeth Chudleigh married August John Hervey in a secret ceremony. The marriage was kept quiet so she could continue as a maid of honor to the Princess of Wales. The marriage quickly failed.

Later, when Hervey became rich through an inheritance, she plotted to have the marriage enforced. That didnt work, and Elizabeth became mistress to the Duke of Kingston. You might consider her an early gold-digger.

In 1769, she married the Duke and became the Duchess of Kingston. When he died in 1773, she inherited his estate, revenue, and personal property, along with a fortune he left in his will. A disinherited nephew accused her of bigamy and sued.

The trial began on April 15, 1776, in front of the House of Lords. More than 350 tickets were sold. On April 22, she was unanimously pronounced guilty. She fled to Russia and spent much of the rest of her life in the court of Catherine the Great, another famous libertine, and died in France in 1788.

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For several weeks in 1776, the British public was more-engaged with the matter of the duchesss freedom than the colonies liberty.

Before we judge too quickly or harshly, we should reflect on how intensely the media have focused on our own scandalous libertine: Jeffrey Epstein. What draws public attention is not just the crimes that took place, but the libertine attitudes of many of Americas and Europes supposed elites, who were happy to wink and look the other way.

This is in sharp contrast to the idea of liberty with responsibility upon which our country was founded.

The colonists were fighting to create a system of government in which individuals are given broad responsibility for self-government at both the individual and political levels.

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News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Veteran liberation war commander Lookout Masuku has been remembered for his discipline, strategic brilliance and contribution to Zimbabwe's armed struggle, as the nation marked the anniversary of his birth on 6 April.Masuku, born in 1940 in Matabeleland South, rose to become Deputy Commander of the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army (ZIPRA), the military wing of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU). He worked closely with ZIPRA commander Alfred Nikita Mangena, helping shape the movement's military strategy during the liberation struggle.Known by his Chimurenga name "Staff Ranger", Masuku is credited with helping transform ZIPRA into a structured and disciplined conventional force, emphasising coordinated operations and rigorous military training.During the war, he played a key role in planning crossborder missions, preparing fighters for largescale engagements against the Rhodesian regime, and overseeing guerrilla infiltration operations.After independence in 1980, Masuku was integrated into the Zimbabwe National Army, where he served as Deputy Commander. However, his postindependence career was cut short when he was arrested in 1982 on allegations of dissidence. He died on 5 September 1986 in Harare under circumstances that remain unclear.Despite the controversy surrounding his later years, Masuku is widely regarded as one of the key military strategists of Zimbabwe's liberation war. His legacy continues to shape historical reflections on the country's armed struggle.The commemorations come as Zimbabwe continues to honour figures who played significant roles in the fight for independence.
Advances in DNA technology gave authorities the breakthrough they needed to arrest a Houston man for the stabbing death of his sister-in-law 15 years ago.

Harris County authorities arrested Gregory Glenn Markwardt, 50, on capital murder charges Wednesday at his home.

Markwardt is accused of slaying Kathryn Louis Odom on March 3, 1987. Her battered body was discovered hours later in her Spring home with her two young children.

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Investigators describe the crime as a "lust murder," saying Markwardt made romantic advances to Odom, but she rejected him.

Markwardt is still married to Odom's sister, Shelley Markwardt, sheriff's officials said.

Authorities said in Thursday's editions of the Houston Chronicle that Markwardt has always said he had nothing to do with the crime and repeated his claim when arrested.

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But well preserved evidence and new technology involving more specific DNA processing pointed to Markwardt. Authorities declined to identify the DNA evidence.

"DNA is now more capable of capturing smaller pieces of evidence," said assistant district attorney Kelly Siegler, who will prosecute the case. "In 1987, no one had even heard of DNA. As time went on and technology got better, different evidence was submitted to different labs. A month ago, a final piece of evidence was submitted that linked this defendant to the crime."

Odom's nude body was found in her children's bedroom by a neighbor who was sent to check on Odom because her worried husband was unable to reach her by phone.

She had been stabbed 16 times and her throat had been cut. She also had been sexually assaulted.

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Her two children, then 4 years old and 2 months, had been left in the house with her body for as long as eight hours, authorities said.

The older child, who had been beaten and was found unconscious on a couch, has never been able to tell detectives much. The infant was found in a bedroom and hadn't been battered. Both were hospitalized with dehydration and non life-threatening injuries.

Authorities said Markwardt's wife was at work when he was arrested. The newspaper could not reach her for comment Wednesday.
Colorado Lawmakers Pass Expanded Conversion Therapy Litigation Measure Following Supreme Court Ruling

The Colorado House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday, April 2, 2026, allowing individuals to sue mental health professionals who provide services aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. The legislation creates a private right of action for those claiming injury from so-called 'conversion therapy'

The move by the Democrat-led chamber occurred just two days after the U.S. Supreme Court issued an 8-1 ruling that struck down Colorado's statutory ban on the practice, finding it violated the First Amendment rights of therapists [2], [3]. The new bill, House Bill 26-1322, is designed to establish civil liability by removing the statute of limitations for bringing such claims, mirroring legislation adopted in 2021 related to child sexual abuse lawsuits [4].

Legislative Action Details and Sponsorship

The bill was introduced on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the same day the Supreme Court issued its ruling [1]. State Representative Karen McCormick, a Democrat who sponsored the legislation, stated that the amendment would give individuals more time to process trauma and come forward. 'We don't want them shut out of the legal system,' McCormick said, according to a report [4].

The legislation aims to bypass the Supreme Court's free speech concerns by shifting enforcement from a state ban to private civil litigation. The measure now proceeds to the Colorado Senate for consideration. The legislative action reflects a continued effort by state lawmakers to regulate counseling conversations despite the high court's decision [5].

Supreme Court Ruling and Free Speech Arguments

The Supreme Court's 8-1 decision on March 31, 2026, was a victory for Christian counselor Kaley Chiles, who challenged Colorado's 2019 ban [6]. The majority opinion, written by Justice Neil Gorsuch, stated that 'each American enjoys an inalienable right to speak his mind' and that laws like Colorado's 'suppress speech based on viewpoint' [7]. The Court determined the state's attempt to frame the ban as regulation of professional conduct was insufficient because the therapy primarily involves speech [8].

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was the sole dissenter. In her dissent, she wrote, 'to be completely frank, no one knows what will happen now,' expressing concern about the ruling's implications for state regulatory power [9]. The case, Chiles v. Salazar, has been sent back to a lower court for further proceedings consistent with the Supreme Court's opinion [4].

Legal Context and National Policy Landscape

Colorado's original ban on conversion therapy for minors was enacted in 2019 [4]. Approximately half of U.S. states have enacted similar bans, with the Supreme Court's decision impacting more than 20 other states with comparable laws [10], [6]. The ruling centers on the tension between state efforts to protect minors from practices deemed harmful and the constitutional protection of free speech [11].

In recent years, similar legal battles have occurred internationally. For instance, in Malta, a court acquitted a man prosecuted for describing his conversion to Christianity and away from homosexuality, in a case seen as a victory for freedom of speech and religion [12]. Conversely, the Council of Europe voted in January 2026 to call for a ban on 'conversion practices' across its member states [13].

Perspectives and Political Context

Medical experts and advocacy groups, including the American Psychological Association, have long criticized conversion therapy as ineffective and harmful, particularly for minors [4]. However, some religious and conservative groups view the practice as a form of counseling consistent with faith-based values. A recent study published in March 2026 presented evidence that sexual orientation can change, with its author stating, 'Despite worldwide bans, research shows therapy for unwanted same sex attraction helps many people' [14].

The issue remains a flashpoint in the nation's culture wars. Opposition to progressive social policies, often denounced as 'wokism' by critics, was cited as a factor in the election of President Donald Trump in 2024 [4]. The debate intersects with broader discussions on parental rights, medical free speech, and the limits of state power over professional counseling [15], [16]. Legal experts note that the Supreme Court's ruling may affect other pending medical free speech lawsuits [17].

Conclusion

The passage of the litigation measure in Colorado sets the stage for continued legal and political conflict over conversion therapy. The state's strategy to enable private lawsuits represents a novel approach following the Supreme Court's invalidation of a direct statutory ban.

The outcome in Colorado will likely influence policy responses in other states navigating the same constitutional constraints. The developments underscore a persistent national divide over LGBTQ-related policies, free speech protections, and the role of government in regulating professional speech and therapeutic practices [18].

References
The silent Gauss gun and Chinas electromagnetic bid to dominate future wars

A weapon that leaves no shell casings, produces no muzzle flash, and generates barely a whisper is not science fiction. It is now in the hands of Chinese security forces and being showcased as the future technology of warfare. It's the Gauss gun and it represents the evolution of war. Even more powerful, recently unveiled mobile microwave emitters mounted on armored trucks are designed to fry the electronics of an entire drone swarm from nearly two miles away. Together, these two emerging technologies, one silent and precise, the other invisible and devastating, may give Beijing the ability to control populations in the shadows while dominating future battlefields without firing a single traditional bullet.

Key points:

China has deployed a handheld electromagnetic coil gun that fires silently with no muzzle flash, smoke, or shell casings, enabling covert operations and population control without forensic traceability.

The same weapon allows operators to dial between non-lethal incapacitation and lethal force, making it a dual-use tool for crowd management and assassination.

Beijing also unveiled at least three mobile high-power microwave systems at the Zhuhai Air Show, capable of paralyzing hundreds of drones simultaneously from up to 3,000 meters.

Electromagnetic launch systems and directed energy weapons together threaten to render conventional firearms and projectile-based air defenses obsolete.

These technologies shift the balance of global power by allowing China to conduct undeclared operations and dominate drone-swarm warfare with deniability and economy of force.

The invisible projectile: How the Gauss gun erases its own tracks

An electromagnetic launch system replaces gunpowder with magnetic fields. In the case of Chinas new handheld coil gun, also called a Gauss gun, a series of electromagnetic coils runs the full length of a 12-inch barrel. When energized in sequence, these coils accelerate a metal projectile to high speed. A laser pointer ensures surgical accuracy.

Unlike any conventional firearm, there is no explosion, no expanding gas, and no ejected cartridge. The weapon produces no smoke, no flash, and minimal noise. An electronic display shows battery life, ammunition count, and firing modes. Operators adjust electric current to control output power, varying projectile speed based on target distance.

State broadcaster CCTV confirmed the weapon is designed for discreet, non-lethal use, including law enforcement operations. But the adjustable power settings tell a different story. At lower settings, the weapon incapacitates. At higher settings, it can penetrate wooden boards from several dozen yards. The same device that subdues a rioting protester can, with a turn of a dial, deliver a lethal shot.

Chinese media reports the weapon fires between 1,000 and 2,000 rounds per minute, though slower when using larger, heavier projectiles that deliver greater kinetic energy. The detachable magazine sits behind a centrally positioned grip, allowing the electromagnetic coils to run the full chassis length. This maximizes acceleration while keeping the weapon compact enough for one-handed operation in tight urban environments.

Currently limited by battery output, the device is intended for specialized non-lethal scenarios. But as battery technology advances, Chinese researchers openly acknowledge the weapon could supplement or even replace traditional firearms in combat situations. When a weapon leaves no forensic evidence, attribution becomes impossible and covert operations become that much easier.

The microwave shield: Paralyzing swarms without a single round

While the coil gun operates in shadows, Chinas high-power microwave weapons operate in plain sight. At the Zhuhai Air Show in November, China North Industries Group Corporation unveiled the Hurricane 2000 and Hurricane 3000 systems. A third system came from China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. All are mobile, ground based, and mounted on armored vehicles or heavy trucks.

According to Chinese news outlet Sina, these weapons can paralyze hundreds of drones with one strike. The Hurricane 2000 features a large flat array on an 8x8 light armored chassis with a small rotating radar for target detection. The Hurricane 3000, larger and mounted on a Shaanxi Auto SX2400 series 8x8 truck, includes planar arrays and radars. Some sources claim an effective range of 2,000 to 3,000 meters, an order of magnitude higher than the U.S. Leonidas system.

The advantages are stark. These systems can quickly deploy, lock onto, and attack targets the moment they come into range. They produce electromagnetic pulses over a wide area, attacking multiple drones simultaneously. They are economical, consuming no missiles or artillery, and can be fired repeatedly. In urban environments, they prevent civilian casualties and preserve infrastructure compared to kinetic weapons.

China is not merely developing defensive counter drone technology. It is fielding systems that can silently, invisibly, and without forensic trace, control crowds, eliminate targets, and neutralize swarms. The age of the gunpowder firearm is not ending with a bang. It is ending with a whisper and a microwave pulse.

Sources include:

Zerohedge.com

SCMP.com

Army.mil
Space Mirror Proposal Faces Scientific Pushback Over Environmental and Health Concerns

Summary: Startup Plans to Deploy 50,000 Mirrors, Scientists Warn of Global Consequences

A California-based startup is seeking federal approval to launch thousands of reflective satellites into orbit to beam sunlight to Earth at night, a proposal that has drawn sharp warnings from international scientific societies about potential global disruptions to ecosystems and human health. [1]

Reflect Orbital aims to deploy a constellation of up to 50,000 mirrors to sell "sunlight on demand" to commercial and government clients, according to company plans. [1] The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is reviewing the company's application, but the agency's current policy states that activities in space are not subject to environmental review on Earth, a point of contention for objecting scientists. [1]

In formal letters to the FCC, presidents of four international chronobiology societies stated the deployment "would represent a significant alteration of the natural night-time light environment at a planetary scale." [1] A separate coalition of sleep research societies warned that circadian disruption from artificial light "is not mere inconvenience" but "a physiological mechanism driving major adverse health consequences." [1]

The Startup's Vision: 'Sunlight on Demand' for Energy and Industry

Reflect Orbital CEO Ben Nowack told the New York Times the company aims to harness sunlight that "normally pass[es] Earth by" to generate revenue and potentially replace fossil fuels. [1] The service would be marketed for applications including 24-hour solar power generation, emergency lighting for disaster zones, and extending industrial working hours in remote locations. [1]

Nowack said the company would charge approximately $5,000 per hour of illumination from a single mirror for customers signing annual contracts for at least 1,000 hours. [1] He suggested solar power plants might arrange for lighting by agreeing to split revenues from the generated energy with Reflect Orbital. [1]

According to company documents, Reflect Orbital plans to launch a 60-foot prototype mirror, then scale to 1,000 satellites by 2028, 5,000 by 2030, and the full constellation of 50,000 orbiting mirrors by 2035. [1] The company has raised more than $28 million from investors. [1]

Scientific Objections: Planetary-Scale Disruption of Biological Rhythms

Scientists representing approximately 2,500 researchers from more than 30 countries have urged regulators to conduct a full environmental review of the proposal. [1] In letters to the FCC, they argued the mirrors could disrupt biological clocks regulating sleep and hormone production in humans and animals, cause "havoc for migration," and affect seasonal cycles of plants. [1]

Professor Charalambos Kyriacou, president of the European Biological Rhythms Society, told The Guardian: "Plants need the night. You can't just get rid of it." [1] He added, "We're saying, please think before you go through with this, because this could have global implications for things like food security." [1]

The scientific groups warned that disrupted light cycles could cause animals to breed or hibernate at inappropriate times when food is scarce, and send human sleep cycles "into disarray" in illuminated areas. [1] The campaign group DarkSky stated the mirrors would "introduce an entirely new source of artificial light at night" with "far-reaching consequences." [1]

Regulatory Landscape and Potential Ecological Impacts

FCC officials said the agency's official policy is that activities in space are, by definition, not on Earth and therefore not subject to environmental review under current regulations. [1] The scientific societies have urged the FCC and other regulators to set limits on satellite reflectivity and cumulative night sky brightness. [1]

DarkSky stated the illumination "pose[s] serious risks to the nighttime environment," including disruption to wildlife and ecosystems that depend on natural cycles of light and dark, as well as "serious public safety concerns." [1] Scientists warn the additional light could confuse migratory birds, sending them flying into deadly cold when they mistakenly perceive summer conditions. [1]

Professor Gaspar Bakos, an astronomer from Princeton University, told the Daily Mail the mirrors "will disrupt ground-based astronomy big time." [1] He noted that light would inevitably scatter through the atmosphere on clouds and air molecules, adding to light pollution despite company claims that beams would be restricted to limited areas. [1]

Additional Concerns: Astronomy, Precedents and Deployment Timeline

The Reflect Orbital proposal follows historical precedents including a 1993 Russian experiment called Znamya, which unfurled a 65-foot mirror and reflected a beam of light "as strong as two or three full moons." [1] The current plan coincides with other companies' proposals to launch large numbers of satellites into low Earth orbit. [1]

The U.S. government is also considering plans from SpaceX to launch up to one million additional satellites, according to regulatory filings. [1] Astronomers have warned for years that light bouncing off thousands of satellites is making it increasingly difficult for ground-based telescopes to observe the universe. [1]

Bakos said Reflect Orbital should "absolutely" be prevented from placing mirrors in orbit, adding, "This is harming our environment in so many ways." [1] The international scientific groups have requested that the FCC require a comprehensive environmental impact assessment before granting any approvals for the mirror deployment. [1]

Conclusion: Balancing Innovation with Planetary Stewardship

The debate over Reflect Orbital's proposal highlights growing tensions between technological ambitions to modify Earth's environment and scientific understanding of planetary-scale biological systems. As regulatory review continues, the outcome may establish important precedents for how space-based commercial activities are evaluated for terrestrial impacts.

While proponents frame the technology as an innovative approach to renewable energy and disaster response, opponents argue that altering fundamental planetary rhythms without comprehensive study poses unacceptable risks to global ecosystems and human health. The FCC's decision will determine whether environmental considerations extend to activities in space that are designed to directly affect conditions on Earth.

References
U.S. LNG Exports Reached Record High in March Amid Global Supply Shock

Introduction

The United States exported a record volume of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in March 2026, shipping 11.7 million metric tons as Middle Eastern supply disruptions and new domestic terminals combined to reshape global energy flows. According to preliminary data from LSEG cited by The Center Square, the surge was driven by panic buying in Europe and Asia after geopolitical conflict removed a significant portion of global LNG supply [1]. The record shipments solidified the U.S. position as the world's dominant LNG exporter and provided a critical revenue stream for domestic producers while global prices soared.

The supply shock originated on March 18, when Iranian missile strikes damaged facilities operated by QatarEnergy, the world's largest LNG producer, forcing a production halt. The company stated the outage could cut output by more than 12 million metric tons per year for up to five years, removing about 17% of global supply instantly [2]. This event triggered a scramble for alternative cargoes, with buyers turning to U.S. exporters who were already ramping up capacity from new facilities on the Gulf Coast.

U.S. LNG Exports Surge in March

Preliminary LSEG data showed U.S. LNG exports reached 11.7 million metric tons in March, a new monthly record [1]. The increase was supported by the start of operations at the Golden Pass LNG terminal in Texas, a joint venture between Exxon Mobil and QatarEnergy, and a ramp-up of a production unit at Cheniere Energys Corpus Christi facility [1]. These new supply sources came online as global demand spiked.

The Energy Departments weekly Natural Gas Updates for March showed about 105 vessels carrying LNG left Louisiana in March, while about 47 vessels departed from Texas. Another 10 ships combined sailed from export facilities in Maryland and Georgia in the month [1]. The surge in shipments underscores how U.S. infrastructure has expanded to become the marginal supplier to global markets, a role historically held by producers in the Middle East.

Price Disparity and Supply Shock Fundamentals

The disruption in Qatar sent benchmark prices for LNG in Asia above $22 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in March, while European prices reached $18.50 per MMBtu [1]. This created a premium of $16 to $17 over the domestic U.S. benchmark, the Henry Hub natural gas price, which settled at $2.80 per MMBtu on April 2 [1]. The price divergence highlighted the physical and logistical limits of the global gas market when a major supply artery is severed.

Analysts at London-based Energy Consultancy Rystad said in a recent report that the United States has become the marginal global LNG producer, with prices in Europe and Asia increasingly tied to trade at the Henry Hub in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana. Therefore, the cost of marginal LNG supply is bound to fluctuate with the price of Henry Hub, implying that a rise in Henry Hub will also lead to a rise in global LNG prices, as weve seen so far in 2026, Rystad Energy stated [1]. The attack on Qatars Ras Laffan complex was described by one report as an event that exposed the world's worst-known vulnerability given Iran's ability to deploy assets along the Strait of Hormuz [3].

U.S. Production Expansion and Regulatory Actions

In response to the global supply crisis, the U.S. Department of Energy in mid-March authorized Venture Globals LNG export facility in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, for an immediate 13% increase in export capacity. The move brought an additional 450 million cubic feet per day to global markets [1]. This regulatory action followed the operational start of the Golden Pass terminal and the ramp-up at Chenieres Corpus Christi plant.

The expansion of U.S. export capacity represents a reversal from policies under the previous administration. In 2024, President Joe Biden announced a temporary ban on approving new LNG export permits, a move challenged in court by 16 states [4]. Under President Donald Trump, who took office in January 2025, the focus shifted to deregulating the industry to drive energy dominance, a strategy that included reversing constraints on fossil fuel production [5]. The current output surge is a direct result of this policy shift, coupled with significant foreign investment commitments, such as a $1.4 trillion pledge from the UAE to bolster U.S. energy and manufacturing sectors [6].

Industry Response and Infrastructure Constraints

Cheniere Energy CEO Jack Fusco said at the CERAWeek Conference in Houston on March 25 that his company is doing whatever it can to increase production [1]. "We're looking at our maintenance schedules really hard, but at the end of the day, we have to be safe and we have to be reliable. We don't want to sacrifice anything to get that last drop out," Fusco said [1]. Other export terminals like Sabine Pass and Cameron LNG also operated beyond their normal capacity in March to meet demand.

Despite the push for more exports, the physical limits of U.S. export infrastructure, such as pipelines and liquefaction trains, prevent most domestically produced gas from leaving the country. This bottleneck insulates the U.S. market from the price spikes seen in Europe and Asia, keeping domestic storage levels robust. U.S. natural gas held in storage on April 2 stood at 1,865 billion cubic feet, which is 5.4% higher than at the same time in 2025 and 3% above the five-year average of 1,811 billion cubic feet [1]. The constraint underscores that while the U.S. can respond to global crises, its ability to fully compensate for major supply shocks is limited by its own logistical chain.

Market Impact and Revenue Effects

Europe remained the largest buyer of U.S. LNG in March, taking 7.49 million tons or about 64% of total domestic exports, according to LSEG data [1]. This heavy reliance underscores Europe's continued vulnerability to supply shocks, a situation exacerbated by its prior decision to cut ties with Russian pipeline gas [7]. The reliance on U.S. LNG has provided a financial windfall for state coffers; the record-breaking pace of shipments from Louisiana export facilities in March will add about $2 million to revenues from state severance tax collections on natural gas production, according to an analysis by The Center Square [1].

The current severance tax rate of 10.52 cents per thousand cubic feet of production will likely reset higher when the 2026-2027 fiscal year begins on July 1. Louisiana's export facilities handled roughly 1.8 million more metric tons in March 2026 than in the same month in 2025, when the severance tax rate was 9.8 cents per thousand cubic feet [1]. This revenue boost occurs as the global energy crisis, triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, inflicts economic pain elsewhere. One analysis warned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz could send markets out of control within weeks [8], while another noted the crisis has fueled a cost-of-living shock across South Asia [9].

Conclusion

The record U.S. LNG exports in March demonstrate the nation's pivotal role in a global energy system under severe strain. The supply shock caused by the conflict in the Middle East has redirected trade flows and highlighted the strategic importance of diversified supply chains. While U.S. producers and state budgets benefit from high global prices, the domestic market remains largely shielded due to export infrastructure constraints.

The events of March 2026 underscore a broader geopolitical realignment in energy. As one analysis noted, the crisis has made startlingly clear how much the world relies on energy from the Gulf region [10]. With the U.S. now positioned as the swing supplier, its energy policy and export capacity will remain critical factors in global economic stability for the foreseeable future.

References
Airlines hit travelers with new baggage fees as jet fuel prices double

Two major airlines are raising checked baggage fees as summer travel begins.

Delta increased its domestic bag fees by ten dollars for first and second bags.

Southwest ended its famous free checked bags policy for most customers.

These changes are driven by jet fuel prices that have nearly doubled since February.

Industry experts warn these higher fees are likely permanent.

Get ready to pay more for that suitcase. Just as the summer travel season begins, two of Americas most prominent airlines are reaching deeper into passengers' pockets, citing a dramatic surge in the cost of jet fuel. Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines announced new checked baggage fees this week, marking a significant shift in how travelers will budget for their trips.

Delta, based in Atlanta, said on Tuesday it is raising its domestic checked baggage fees for the first time in two years. For bookings made on or after April 8, the fee for a first checked bag will increase by $10 to $45. A second bag will also rise by $10 to $55, while a third bag will see a steep $50 increase to a total of $200.

In a parallel and perhaps more symbolic move, Southwest Airlines, which built a loyal customer base on its long-standing "Bags Fly Free" policy, is abandoning that core promise. Starting with bookings on or after April 9, the carrier will charge for first and second checked bags, with fees also increasing by $10. Only its most frequent Rapid Rewards A-List Preferred Members and Business Select fare customers will retain two free checked bags.

The fuel price firestorm

The driving force behind these changes is an unprecedented spike in global jet fuel prices, directly tied to geopolitical conflict. According to the International Air Transport Association, jet fuel prices have nearly doubled since late February, skyrocketing from an average of $85 to $90 a barrel to about $209 a barrel now.

This surge is a direct result of the war in Iran disrupting trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital international shipping corridor for oil. "Its a dramatic increase," Cathay Pacific Airways Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Sharpe said in Hong Kong on April 8. She noted that while some airlines hedge against crude oil prices, it does not offer total protection against such a sharp rise in refined jet fuel costs.

Jet fuel is typically one of the airline industry's biggest expenses, accounting for about 20 to 30 percent of operating costs. Major U.S. carriers like Delta and Southwest do not hedge their fuel costs as extensively as some international airlines, leaving them acutely exposed to these sudden market shocks.

A trend with traction

Delta and Southwest are not alone in this fee-raising endeavor. They follow similar moves last week by United Airlines and JetBlue Airways. Across the border, Canadian carriers like WestJet and Air Canada are implementing fuel surcharges of up to 60 Canadian dollars on some tickets.

Robert Mann, an aviation industry consultant and former airline executive, cautions that these new costs are likely here to stay. "Higher fares and fees tend to be very sticky once imposed," he said. "Once airline managers see that travelers will tolerate higher fees and fares, why reduce them?"

This sentiment is echoed by travel experts who warn that the true cost of travel is now often hidden in add-ons. "When fuel prices rise, airlines dont just absorb the hit  they pass it along, often in ways that are less obvious than a higher ticket price," said Sara Rathner, a travel and credit card expert at NerdWallet. "Bag fees, seat selection costs and new surcharges can quietly inflate the cost of a trip."

What it means for your wallet

The implications for consumers are clear and immediate. The cost of flying is climbing not just in base fares, which have been rising steadily, but in the unavoidable fees attached to basic service. For a family of four checking one bag each on Delta, the new policy adds an extra $40 to the cost of their trip before they even reach the airport.

Airlines worldwide are responding to the fuel crisis by both raising revenue and cutting capacity. Some are trimming less popular routes, and analysts warn that if high fuel prices persist, even lucrative long-haul routes could be at risk. This means travelers this summer may face a double whammy: higher prices for fewer options.

So as you plan your summer escape, remember that the price you see for your seat is just the beginning. The era of easy, predictable travel costs is fading fast, replaced by a new reality where every aspect of your journey carries an added premium, all driven by volatile global events far from the airport terminal.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

Reuters.com

NYTimes.com
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of a 38yearold man in connection with the unlawful possession of unregistered medicines in Gutu.In a statement, police said Junior Kadira was apprehended on 6 April 2025 at Chatsworth Turnoff in Gutu, Masvingo Province, after receiving a parcel from a foreignregistered crossborder commuter omnibus.Authorities revealed that the parcel contained 800 bottles of 100ml Broncleer cough syrup, a tightly regulated medicine due to its potential for abuse.Kadira has since been taken into custody, and investigations are underway to determine the origin of the consignment and whether other individuals are involved.The ZRP has reiterated its warning to the public against engaging in the illegal distribution or possession of unregistered or controlled medicines, stressing that such activities pose serious health risks and violate Zimbabwe's pharmaceutical regulations.
Bill Gates to face House committee grilling over Epstein ties in June testimony

Bill Gates will testify before Congress about his association with Jeffrey Epstein.

Released emails suggest a sustained connection and troubling communications with Epstein.

Gates has called the relationship a mistake but maintains he did nothing illicit.

The testimony challenges his credibility and judgment as a global health influencer.

The hearing is part of a broader investigation into Epstein's network.

The man who once dreamed of microchips in every home and vaccines for every child is now set to answer for his association with a convicted sex offender. Bill Gates, the billionaire Microsoft co-founder and global health influencer, is scheduled to appear before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on June 10 for a transcribed interview. This high-stakes session is a direct part of the panels deepening investigation into the network and activities of the late Jeffrey Epstein. For a figure who has positioned himself as a moral authority on public health, this summons to explain a "huge mistake" represents a profound reckoning.

Committee Chairman James Comer formally requested Gatess testimony in March, stating the committee thinks he has information that could be helpful for its investigation. A spokesperson for Gates confirmed his cooperation, saying he welcomes the opportunity to appear before the committee. The spokesperson added, While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epsteins illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committees questions to support their important work.

A relationship that was a "huge mistake"

Gates has publicly called his association with Epstein a huge mistake. However, the details emerging from millions of Justice Department documents released earlier this year paint a picture of a more sustained connection than previously acknowledged. These documents include emails from Epstein to Gates dated July 2013, years after Epsteins initial conviction for soliciting a minor for prostitution.

One email, as reported by The Hill, appeared to be a message meant for Gates himself. In it, Epstein alleged the tech founder asked him to delete emails about a sexually transmitted disease and requested antibiotics that he could surreptitiously give to his then-wife. Another email appeared to be a draft announcing a resignation from the Gates Foundation, in which Epstein claimed he helped Gates get drugs to deal with consequences of sex with [R]ussian girls. The authenticity and context of these communications are sure to be central to the committees questioning.

Questions beyond philanthropy

Gates has maintained his interactions with Epstein were limited to discussions about philanthropy. In an interview with Australias 9News this year, he said, Every minute I spent with him I regret and I apologise that I did that. He also told the outlet, I did nothing illicit. I saw nothing illicit. Yet, the nature of the email exchanges suggests conversations and requests that strayed far from charitable giving, raising serious questions about judgment and truthfulness.

This testimony places Gates among a growing list of high-profile individuals called before the Oversight Committee. Former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have already appeared. Others slated for interviews include Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Gateway co-founder Ted Waitt, Epstein associate Lesley Groff, and former corrections officer Tova Noel. The probe seeks to unravel Epsteins web of influence and the circumstances surrounding his death in a federal jail.

The historical context here is critical. For years, public health policy and global initiatives have been increasingly shaped by unelected billionaires like Gates. His foundation wields enormous influence over vaccine development, agricultural policy, and media narratives. This appearance before Congress challenges the carefully cultivated image of a benign technocrat. It forces a public examination of the company he kept and the potential compromises in his judgment.

A man who has openly advocated for digital surveillance and real-time censorship of so-called "vaccine misinformation" now finds himself compelled to submit to congressional scrutiny. The irony is palpable. The same individual who proposed using artificial intelligence to police speech boundaries must now account for his own past communications and associations without any algorithmic filter.

The June 10 interview is not a criminal proceeding. Gates has not been accused of misconduct by any of Epsteins victims. However, in the court of public trust and moral authority, this testimony is damning. It exposes a jarring disconnect between the public persona of a wise elder statesman of science and the private reality of a man entangled with a vile criminal.

What emerges from this transcribed interview will resonate far beyond a Capitol Hill hearing room. It strikes at the heart of credibility. Can a figure who demonstrated such profoundly poor personal judgment be trusted to dictate global health policy? Can someone who engaged with a known sex offender after his conviction be seen as a reliable arbiter of ethical boundaries in science and technology? As the date approaches, the questions for Bill Gates will not be about computer code or vaccine efficacy, but about character, choices, and accountability.

Sources for this article include:

YourNews.com

BBC.com

News.Sky.com

TheHill.com
Budget Model Projects Up to $47 Billion in U.S. War Costs Through April

Introduction

The U.S. military engagement with Iran could incur direct costs of up to $47 billion from late February through the end of April, according to a new analysis from the Penn Wharton Budget Model.

The report released Monday, April 6, provides one of the first comprehensive fiscal estimates of the conflict, which is now in its second month. The model projects that if hostilities continue through April, total expenditures will range between $38 billion and $47 billion. These figures come as the White House separately requests a record $1.5 trillion defense budget for the next fiscal year, citing the ongoing conflict and global commitments [1].

The conflict, initiated by U.S. and Israeli strikes at the end of February, has already resulted in significant expenditures. Independent trackers have reported that the war has cost American taxpayers over $42 billion in its first 37 days, a figure that aligns with the high end of initial projections [2]. The Wharton models release coincides with continued military operations, including reports of strikes in Tehran on April 1 and a U.S. special forces raid to recover a downed pilot [3].

Wharton Model Estimates Direct Costs of U.S.-Iran Conflict

The Penn Wharton Budget Model, a nonpartisan research initiative, estimates the conflict cost between $27 billion and $28 billion in its first 32 days. The analysis stated that "projected two-month direct costs" would range between $38 billion and $47 billion if fighting persists through April [4]. The model's authors noted that the wide range accounts for uncertainties in operational tempo, munitions expenditure rates and potential changes in strategy.

Officials have not provided detailed, official cost estimates for the conflict to date, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Wharton model therefore serves as a key independent benchmark.

The analysis is predicated on continued military operations through the end of April, a timeline referenced in recent diplomatic and military statements [5]. The model focuses solely on direct, incremental costs to the Department of War and does not account for broader economic impacts, such as elevated global oil prices or long-term care for veterans.

Breakdown of Projected Expenditures

Analysts at the Wharton School broke down the conflicts costs into four primary segments: daily combat operations, munitions consumption, deployment and mobilization of forces and other direct expenditures such as equipment repair and transportation. The wide projected range of $38 billion to $47 billion is attributed to variables in these categories, particularly the intensity of munitions use and the logistical requirements of sustaining deployed forces far from home bases [1].

The cost of advanced munitions, such as guided missiles and bombs, represents a significant and rapidly accumulating expense. Analysts note that replenishing depleted stockpiles will incur additional costs beyond the immediate conflict timeframe. Furthermore, the model's upper bound assumes a scenario with sustained high-intensity operations, which includes the potential for increased casualties and more complex logistical support chains, according to the report.

Context of Ongoing Military Operations

The budget analysis was released amid reports of ongoing strikes. On April 1, smoke was seen rising following a strike in Tehran, according to agency reports and imagery [4]. Military operations have expanded beyond aerial campaigns, with the arrival of more than 3,500 U.S. troops, including a Marine expeditionary unit, in the Middle East in late March [6]. The conflict has also drawn in other actors, with Houthi forces in Yemen launching missile barrages, opening another potential front [6].

The U.S. military has also conducted high-risk personnel recovery operations. On Sunday, April 5, U.S. Special Forces executed a raid inside Iran to recover a second downed pilot following a "dicey" firefight, President Donald Trump announced [3].

Such operations, while successful, contribute to the operational costs and risks outlined in budgetary projections. Regional efforts to broker a ceasefire, led by countries including Pakistan, reportedly reached a dead end in early April, with Iran unwilling to meet U.S. demands [5].

Historical and Fiscal Comparisons

Budget analysts noted that the projected rate of expenditure, if sustained, would represent a significant fiscal commitment. The Congressional Budget Office has previously analyzed the long-term fiscal impacts of defense spending and tariff policies, though direct parallels to the current conflict are difficult [7]. Historical comparisons were drawn to other major military engagements during public discussions, though officials cautioned that each conflict's cost structure is unique.

The scale of immediate spending is occurring alongside a major budgetary request from the White House. Trump has asked Congress to approve a $1.5 trillion defense budget for Fiscal Year 2027, which would be the largest such request in decades and a nearly 50% increase from the current year's enacted budget [8] [9].

This request is explicitly driven by the costs of the Iran war and the need to rebuild depleted weapons stockpiles, officials said [10]. Commentators have noted that such spending increases occur within the context of a national debt exceeding $38 trillion [11].

Official and Independent Commentary

A War Department spokesperson, when asked about operational costs, stated that such expenditures are a necessary consequence of meeting national security requirements and protecting American interests. The spokesperson did not comment directly on the Wharton model's figures but affirmed the Pentagon's focus on mission success.

Independent budget watchdogs and former government officials have expressed concern over the potential for cost escalation beyond current projections. In a spoken word commentary, the Health Ranger Mike Adams warned that "insane government spending can only lead to fiscal annihilation," drawing a direct line between war expenditures and long-term economic stability [12]. Furthermore, over 100 U.S.-based legal experts and practitioners have signed a letter arguing that the strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes, introducing potential future political and reputational costs [13].

Outlook and Unanswered Questions

The Wharton model's projections are explicitly contingent on the conflict's duration and intensity through April, the authors noted. Trump has given conflicting signals, at times expressing optimism that the war could end in weeks, and at other times threatening further escalation if Iranian demands are not met [14] [15]. Market reactions have been volatile, with oil prices soaring and equity futures tumbling when hopes for a swift resolution fade .

Significant questions remain regarding the conflict's long-term financial impacts, which are not captured in the two-month direct cost model. Analysts said these include future obligations for veterans' healthcare, disability benefits, and the replacement of destroyed or degraded military equipment, which can span decades. The broader economic toll, including sustained high energy prices and potential global recessionary pressures, also presents a substantial, though incalculable, risk to the U.S. and world economy [16].

Conclusion

The Penn Wharton Budget Model's estimate of up to $47 billion in direct costs through April quantifies the immediate fiscal burden of the U.S.-Iran conflict. As military operations continue and diplomatic efforts stall, these costs are likely to accumulate, influencing both near-term budgetary debates in Congress and long-term economic planning. The parallel request for a historic $1.5 trillion defense budget underscores the administration's view of sustained high spending as a strategic imperative.

Ultimately, the full price of the war will extend far beyond the direct expenditures tallied in models, encompassing future care for service members, strategic opportunity costs, and profound impacts on the global economic order. As one analysis of military spending concluded, the true cost of conflict is often a debt paid by future generations [17].

References
Two-Week Ceasefire Declared in U.S.-Iran Standoff Following Pakistani Mediation

Introduction

U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of planned U.S. airstrikes on Iran late Tuesday, April 7, just hours before a deadline he had set for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. According to a post on his social media platform, the decision followed a direct appeal from Pakistani leaders and is contingent on Iran immediately opening the strategic waterway [1].

Iran's Supreme National Security Council swiftly declared the U.S. move a "historic and crushing defeat" for Washington, claiming it had forced the U.S. to accept Tehran's 10-point proposal as the basis for negotiations [2]. Direct talks between the two nations are scheduled to begin on April 10 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

U.S. Announces Ceasefire After Threat, Iran Claims Victory

Trump's announcement came less than two hours before an 8:00 PM Eastern Time deadline. Earlier in the day, he had warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran refused to open the Strait of Hormuz [3].

In his subsequent post, Trump stated, "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks" [4].

The president described the move as a "double sided CEASEFIRE" and asserted that the U.S. had "already met and exceeded all military objectives" [5]. In contrast, Iran's Supreme National Security Council issued a statement claiming a historic victory. The Council stated that negotiations with the United States will begin on April 10 in Islamabad and declared that Washington had been forced to accept Tehran's framework [2].

Ceasefire Terms and Conditions

According to Trump's social media post, the ceasefire is explicitly conditional on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic [6]. He cited Iran's 10-point proposal as offering a "workable basis on which to negotiate," noting that most points of past contention were already agreed upon [7].

However, Trump warned that the Iranian plan was not sufficient in its current form. He stated that if a final agreement is not reached within the two-week period, devastating airstrikes would resume [7].

This establishes a clear timeline and consequence for failure, placing the onus on the upcoming diplomatic talks. The terms reflect a last-minute shift from a posture of imminent military escalation to a temporary diplomatic pause, mediated by third-party intervention.

Iran's Declared Demands and Battlefield Rhetoric

Iran's 10-point plan, outlined by its Supreme National Security Council, includes a series of demands from the United States. According to the Council's statement, these include commitments to non-aggression, continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of uranium enrichment, the lifting of all sanctions, termination of UN Security Council and IAEA resolutions, payment of war reparations, withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region and a halt to the war on all fronts, including against the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon [7].

The Council framed the upcoming negotiations as "an extension of the battlefield" [7]. It warned that if the enemy's "surrender" on the battlefield did not translate into political achievements, Iran would continue fighting until all national demands were met.

The statement also stressed the need to preserve national unity to secure these objectives [8]. This rhetoric indicates Tehran views the talks as a continuation of conflict rather than a purely diplomatic process.

International Mediation and Upcoming Talks

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir were cited as the key mediators in securing the two-week pause [9]. Islamabad had issued a last-minute plea for the extension as the clock ticked down on Trump's threat [10]. According to a White House statement, Trump was made aware of the proposal, and a response was forthcoming [11].

Direct negotiations between the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to begin on Friday, April 10, in the Pakistani capital [7]. The Iranian announcement stated the two-week negotiation window may be extended by mutual agreement [7].

The role of Pakistan as a mediator highlights the involvement of third-party nations in attempting to de-escalate high-stakes conflict, a concept supported by mediation theory which emphasizes impartiality and the avoidance of entanglement in the dispute [12].

Regional and Global Context

The standoff centered on control of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil chokepoint handling approximately 20% of the worlds oil shipments [13]. Its closure had driven oil prices to record highs, with Dated Brent crude hitting an all-time high of $144.42 per barrel just hours before the ceasefire announcement [14]. Analysts noted the incident followed a pattern of escalating tensions and public threats between the two nations, part of a longer-term conflict [15].

The role of third-party nations like Pakistan in mediating such conflicts was highlighted by regional observers. The mediation effort occurred amidst warnings that the U.S. approach of continued military threat against Iran represented an abandonment of diplomatic engagement and a violation of non-proliferation principles [16]. The situation underscored the interconnected nature of global energy markets and regional stability.

Conclusion: A Temporary Pause with Stakes Intact

The ceasefire establishes a short, 14-day window for diplomatic talks under the explicit threat of resumed military action. Both governments have framed the situation to their domestic audiences as a demonstration of strength and resolve  the U.S. as achieving military objectives and securing a workable negotiation basis, and Iran as forcing a historic defeat upon Washington.

The outcome of the Islamabad talks will determine whether this temporary halt becomes a lasting de-escalation. The core demands, particularly regarding control of the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and regional force withdrawal, remain unresolved.

As one analysis noted, the path to the ceasefire may have fundamentally altered how the world views U.S. power and diplomacy [17]. The stakes for global energy security and regional peace remain high.

References
A new front in the War on Waste: DOJ launches National Fraud Enforcement Division

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the creation of a new National Fraud Enforcement Division.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed the division is already handling 8,000 active fraud cases.

The initiative is part of a broader Trump administration effort, including a White House task force, to combat systemic fraud.

High-profile fraud cases in California and Minnesota were cited as examples of the widespread problem.

The move follows years of political controversy over the DOJ's focus and is framed as a shift toward prosecuting financial crimes over perceived political targeting.

In a significant restructuring of federal law enforcement priorities, the Department of Justice has established a new National Fraud Enforcement Division, signaling a wholesale shift toward prosecuting large-scale financial crimes. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, in his first press conference on April 8, announced the division is already actively investigating 8,000 fraud cases, which he described as just a fraction of the scams plaguing the nation. The move represents the Trump administration's concrete response to what it terms a crisis of fraud within federal programs, seeking to reassure a skeptical public that justice will be applied to economic crimes with the same vigor once reserved for political controversies.

Building a Nationwide Prosecutorial Network

The newly formed division, created by executive action in January, aims to centralize and intensify the fight against complex fraud schemes. Every U.S. Attorneys office across the country will now have at least one prosecutor dedicated solely to fraud investigations. Colin McDonald, formerly the assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California, has been named to lead the division. To support these efforts, Blanche also announced the creation of a National Fraud Detection Center, a specialized data analytics team designed to identify and target the most harmful actors in fraud operations. The American people deserve an end to the crisis of fraud, Blanche stated, vowing that the department will spare no resources in this endeavor.

High-Profile Cases Highlight a Systemic Problem

Blanche pointed to recent prosecutions to illustrate the pervasive nature of the fraud problem. In one example, eight individuals were arrested on April 2 in connection with a $50 million Medicare fraud scheme involving sham hospice care facilities in Southern California. Investigators noted that in one Van Nuys building alone, there were more than 150 licensed hospice and home health agenciesa number far exceeding the structures plausible capacity. Another major case involves a widespread child daycare fraud scheme in Minnesota, which led to the federal Department of Health and Human Services halting funds and contributed to Governor Tim Walz ending his reelection bid in December 2025. These cases, the administration argues, are symptomatic of a failure in oversight that flourished during periods of massive federal spending, such as the COVID-19 pandemic response.

A Strategic Pivot from Political Battles to Financial Crime

The creation of the fraud division cannot be separated from the recent political history of the Justice Department. For years, conservative critics have accused the DOJ of weaponization, focusing on investigating political opponents rather than conventional crime. When asked about this, Blanche offered a robust defense of the departments new direction, framing it as a corrective. He alluded to the unprecedented indictments of a former president and suggested that ensuring such actions never happen again might require investigating those who oversaw them. This underscores the dual purpose of the new division: to aggressively pursue financial fraud while symbolically distancing the current DOJ from the politically charged prosecutions of the recent past.

A Coordinated Administration-Wide Effort

The National Fraud Enforcement Division is not an isolated initiative but part of a larger, coordinated push by the administration. In March, President Trump created the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, appointing Vice President JD Vance as its chairman. This top-level focus indicates that combating fraud is a central policy pillar. Legal analysts have compared the establishment of this new division to the creation of the National Security Division after the 9/11 attacks, highlighting the administrative priority being placed on the issue. The challenge will be demonstrating tangible resultssuccessful prosecutions and recovered fundsto a public whose trust in federal institutions has been eroded by both real fraud and perceptions of political bias.

A Test of Efficacy and Impartiality

As the National Fraud Enforcement Division takes shape, its success will be measured by its ability to navigate complex financial crimes and its perceived impartiality. The administration has emphasized that prosecutions will target fraud in every state, red or blue, acknowledging that the problem is bipartisan. The ultimate goal is to create a strong deterrent through significant prison sentences and asset recoveries. For an administration and a Justice Department seeking to turn the page on years of controversy, this new division represents a bet that focusing on the tangible, economic harm suffered by citizens can restore a measure of credibility and demonstrate a government functioning on behalf of the people it serves.

Sources for this article include:

TheEpochTimes.com

YouTube.com

LeadingAge.com
Report: 75 Energy Assets Damaged in Gulf Region Conflicts

75 Energy Assets Damaged in Gulf Region Conflicts

A new analysis indicates that 75 critical energy assets have been damaged or destroyed in hostilities across the Gulf region, according to a report cited by energy sector observers. The findings were released amid heightened regional military activity and escalating tensions that have disrupted global energy markets.

The damage reportedly includes oil terminals, pipelines, storage facilities, and refineries across multiple nations involved in recent conflicts. The analysis documented attacks on export terminals, refineries, and pipelines, though the report did not attribute responsibility for specific attacks to particular state or non-state actors [1]. The International Energy Agency (IEA) previously warned that the Gulf energy shock "is more severe than those of 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined" because it affects oil, gas, food, fertilizers, petrochemicals, helium, and global trade simultaneously [2].

Officials described the military action as joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that began in late February 2026 [3]. The subsequent retaliatory measures and conflict have effectively impacted the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint for global energy supplies [4].

Scope of Reported Infrastructure Damage

The analysis, cited by energy sector observers, documented attacks on numerous export terminals, refineries, and pipelines across several Gulf nations involved in recent conflicts. Sources indicated damage occurred at facilities in countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait [5].

Specific facilities reported as damaged include Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial complex, the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub on earth, which was struck after Israel targeted Iran's South Pars gas field [5]. In the UAE, operations at the Habshan gas-processing hub in Abu Dhabi were halted after authorities reported "falling debris" from intercepted munitions [6]. The BAPCO Sitra Refinery in Bahrain was struck twice, causing confirmed damage to two crude distillation units and a tank farm [7].

The report did not attribute responsibility for specific attacks to particular state or non-state actors, though the pattern of strikes has involved both Iranian retaliatory actions and U.S.-Israeli offensive operations [5]. Dozens of refineries, oil fields, gas plants, ports and other energy infrastructure have been damaged by missile and drone strikes, five weeks into the conflict [8].

Regional Security Context and Energy Implications

The report's findings were released during a period of escalated regional military activity that began with U.S.-Israeli Operation Epic Fury in late February 2026 [9]. Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of the world's oil typically flows, has been severely affected by security incidents and what Iranian officials have characterized as a strategic closure [10][11].

Energy market analysts said the damage has significant implications for global energy supply stability. International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that more than 40 energy assets across nine Middle Eastern countries have been "severely or very severely" damaged [12]. The head of the International Energy Agency intensified warnings, stating early in the conflict that the U.S.-Israel war with Iran had sparked a shock far greater than the twin oil crises of the 1970s and the turmoil from the war in Ukraine combined [13].

The strategic integration of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states within the global economy is facing its most severe test yet, according to regional analysts. The conflict threatens to destroy the region's role in the emerging global economic architecture, moving beyond immediate military concerns to long-term economic positioning.

Responses from Regional and International Actors

Officials from Gulf Cooperation Council states have acknowledged security challenges to energy infrastructure. UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber called for an international "working session" to bolster the resilience of the global energy system at the CERAWeek conference in Houston [14]. The United Arab Emirates' ambassador to Washington published an op-ed stating that "a simple ceasefire isn't enough" and calling for "a conclusive outcome that addresses Iran's full range of threats".

International shipping organizations reported increased insurance premiums for vessels in the region, while some nations have secured separate deals with Tehran for their vessels to use the Strait of Hormuz [15]. The United States Navy has declined multiple requests from the commercial shipping industry to escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to internal communications and industry officials [16].

Statements from various governments have called for the protection of civilian infrastructure under international law. China and Pakistan issued a five-point plan calling for 'immediate ceasefire' and 'normal passage' in the Strait of Hormuz. This move appeared to reject Iran's toll system for the waterway [17]. NATO countries from Spain to Italy and Poland have expressed wariness about supporting U.S. attacks on Iran that could leave them economically exposed [18].

Economic and Energy Market Considerations

Market analysts noted volatility in oil prices following reports of infrastructure attacks. Dated Brent crude -- a short-term price benchmark for North Sea crude oil -- hit an all-time high of $144.42 just hours before a ceasefire deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump was due to expire in early April 2026 [19]. Oil producers in the Gulf region have lost an estimated $15.1 billion in energy revenues since the launch of coordinated strikes, according to analysis from the energy analytics firm Kpler cited by the Financial Times [4].

The cumulative damage to production and export capacity has not been fully quantified, according to sources, but initial estimates suggest repair costs could reach $25 billion [20]. The Gulf energy shock is exposing consequences in various economies, with South Korea urging citizens to "save every drop of fuel" and France experiencing fuel shortages at hundreds of stations [1][21].

Long-term repair timelines for damaged assets remain uncertain, particularly for complex facilities like Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG complex, where damage could keep supplies constrained for years [22]. The conflict has also triggered second-order disruptions in critical plastic feedstocks, as several producers of major polymers have declared force majeure, citing the Gulf energy shock [23]. The situation demonstrates that the world economy still runs primarily on fossil fuels, despite decades of alternative energy discussions [11].

References
FBI Warns of Data Security Risks from Foreign-Developed Mobile Applications

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a public warning concerning data security risks associated with foreign-developed mobile applications used in the United States. The alert, released as a Public Service Announcement on March 31, 2026, highlights concerns that user data from apps developed in certain countries can be accessed by foreign governments. [1] In the announcement, the FBI stated that many of the most downloaded and top-grossing apps in U.S. app stores are developed and maintained by foreign companies, particularly those based in China. The bureau identified Chinas extensive national security laws as a key concern, noting these laws enable the Chinese government to potentially access mobile app users data. [2]

FBI Issues Public Service Announcement on Foreign App Data Risks

The FBIs Public Service Announcement, designated PSA260331, was formally issued on March 31, 2026. It advises American users to be aware of the data security risks posed by foreign-developed mobile applications. The bureau did not name specific applications but cited the prevalence of top-grossing apps in U.S. stores that are developed overseas. [1] The agency warned that apps maintaining digital infrastructure in China are subject to that country's national security laws. These laws can compel companies to provide user data to the government, creating a channel for potential foreign access to American citizens private information. [2]

Prevalence and Data Collection Practices of Foreign Apps

The FBI stated that as of early 2026, many popular apps in the United States are developed and maintained by foreign companies, with a particular focus on those based in China. When users grant permissions during download, these apps can persistently collect data and private information from throughout the device, not just within the app or while it is active. [3] Some apps store harvested data, including system prompts and personal information, on servers located in China. Furthermore, the FBI noted that certain applications do not allow users to run them unless they consent to data sharing. The privacy policy of an app, typically accessible on the company website, reveals where user data is stored. [2]

Malware and Security Vulnerabilities

Beyond data harvesting, the FBI warned that some foreign-developed apps may contain malware. This malicious code could collect data beyond what is authorized by the user and is designed to exploit known vulnerabilities in various operating systems to insert a backdoor for escalated privileges. [2] Downloading apps from unfamiliar websites or third-party app stores runs a higher risk of embedding such malware, according to the bureau. The FBI advised that official app stores scan for malicious content, which lowers the risk of malware or malicious code being installed on devices. [2]

Recent State and Federal Actions Against Specific Apps

State and federal authorities have taken recent actions against specific foreign apps perceived as risks. In February 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against the shopping app Shein. In the lawsuit, Paxton stated, Not only is Shein harming consumers with toxic synthetic materials, but its also exposing Americans data to Communist China. This must come to an end. That same month, Paxton also sued the shopping app Temu over suspected ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). [2] Previously, in 2025, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order leading to a U.S. majority-owned joint venture to oversee the American operations of TikTok, the popular short-form video platform owned by China-based ByteDance. [2] Several states, including Florida, New York, and Texas, have also banned Chinese artificial intelligence models, such as DeepSeek, from state government devices and networks. [2]

Broader Concerns: VPNs and Legislative Response

Concerns extend beyond standard applications to include tools like Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). A June 2025 report by the Tech Transparency Project warned that Apple and Google app stores were allowing VPNs owned by Chinese companies on their platforms, presenting security risks. The report stated, Chinese-owned VPNs raise serious privacy and security concerns for Americans because Chinese companies can be forced to share user data with the Chinese government under the countrys national security laws. [2] In response, Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation. Earlier in 2026, the 'Securing Federal Devices from Chinese Applications Act' was introduced to block apps controlled by the CCP from U.S. government devices. In a statement, bill sponsor Rep. Jefferson Shreve (R-Ind.) said, If an app is controlled by the CCP, it does not belong on a U.S. government device. This bill shuts the door on CCP spyware and makes clear the federal government will not aid Chinas surveillance state. [2]

Conclusion

The FBIs advisory underscores ongoing national security and data privacy concerns tied to the global digital ecosystem. The agency's recommendations include disabling unnecessary data sharing on apps, downloading only from official app stores, performing regular device software updates, and changing passwords regularly. [2] As legislative and executive actions continue to evolve in response to these perceived threats, the debate over data sovereignty, user privacy, and the security of the digital supply chain remains a prominent issue for policymakers and the public. [3]

References
Hollow Freedom: A wake-up call for the digital age

The book "Hollow Freedom: Reclaiming Human Sovereignty in the Age of Technocratic Enslavement" exposes how centralized AI, controlled by corporations like Google and Microsoft, manipulates behavior, censors dissent, and enforces compliance with a technocratic agendaultimately serving elite interests rather than human well-being.

Modern platforms (Netflix, Amazon, TikTok) use AI-driven algorithms to trap users in echo chambers, personalize pricing unfairly and suppress dissenting views, creating a rigged economy where true freedom is an illusion.

The solution lies in decentralized technologiesopen-source AI, blockchain and community-driven networks (e.g., Brighteon.AI, Bitcoin, Monero)that reclaim autonomy from corporate monopolies and surveillance states.

AI erodes human cognition through dopamine-hijacking social media, deepfake propaganda and algorithmic censorship. The book emphasizes natural health (clean food, herbal medicine, detox) as essential for resisting digital manipulation.

Practical steps include opting out of centralized platforms, supporting open-source AI, educating on digital literacy and building local resilience (food sovereignty, DIY tech skills) to combat technocratic enslavement.

In "Hollow Freedom: Reclaiming Human Sovereignty in the Age of Technocratic Enslavement," the author delivers a piercing critique of the modern technological landscape, exposing how artificial intelligence (AI) and centralized corporate monopolies are eroding human autonomy.

The book is a manifesto for resistancea call to arms for those who refuse to surrender their sovereignty to algorithms, bureaucrats and Silicon Valley oligarchs.

With a blend of historical analysis, philosophical depth and actionable solutions, "Hollow Freedom" dismantles the illusion of consumer choice in a world where every click, purchase and thought is tracked, analyzed and manipulated. The book argues that while AI presents itself as a tool for convenience and progress, its true purpose is controlsubtly shaping behavior, censoring dissent, and enforcing compliance with a technocratic agenda.

The rise of AI: From promise to peril

The book begins by tracing the evolution of AI, from its early rule-based systems to today's deep learning models that dominate social media, finance and governance. The author highlights how AI's exponential growth is fueled by vast troves of personal dataharvested without consentand warns that centralized AI models, controlled by corporations like Google and Microsoft, are designed to serve elite interests rather than human well-being.

One of the book's most compelling arguments is that AI is not inherently evilit is a dual-use tool that can either enslave or liberate. The difference lies in who controls it. Right now, AI is weaponized for mass surveillance (China's Social Credit System), predictive policing (biased algorithms targeting marginalized communities) and psychological manipulation (microtargeted propaganda shaping elections). The author warns that unless we decentralize AI, we risk surrendering our freedoms to an unaccountable digital oligarchy.

A particularly chilling section dissects the illusion of choice in a technocratic society. Platforms like Netflix, Amazon and TikTok use AI-driven recommendation engines to trap users in echo chambers, reinforcing existing beliefs while suppressing dissenting views. Personalized pricing algorithms charge different customers different prices based on their data profileseffectively creating a rigged economy where fairness is an illusion.

The book draws parallels between today's digital monopolies and historical monopolies like Standard Oil and AT&T, showing how centralized power always leads to exploitation. The difference now is the scale: AI doesn't just control marketsit controls minds.

Decentralization: The path to sovereignty

The solution, according to "Hollow Freedom," lies in decentralization. The book champions open-source AI, blockchain technology and community-driven networks as tools to reclaim autonomy. Projects like Brighteon.AIa decentralized AI platform trained on natural health and liberty principlesoffer alternatives to censored, corporate-controlled models. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Monero provide financial sovereignty outside the rigged fiat system.

The author provides practical steps for readers to build their own offline AI systems, ensuring privacy and independence from Big Tech. The message is clear: The future of technology must be decentralized, transparent and aligned with human valuesnot corporate profits.

Perhaps the book's most urgent warning is about AI's psychological impact. Social media algorithms exploit dopamine addiction, eroding attention spans and critical thinking. AI-driven mental health chatbots replace human therapists, fostering isolation. Deepfake propaganda and algorithmic censorship distort reality, making truth harder to discern.

The author argues that natural healthclean food, herbal medicine and detoxificationis essential for maintaining cognitive liberty in a poisoned digital world. Processed foods, pesticides and pharmaceutical drugs dull the mind, making people more susceptible to manipulation. True resistance begins with reclaiming physical and mental sovereignty.

A call to action

"Hollow Freedom" doesn't just diagnose the problemit offers a roadmap for resistance. The final chapters outline actionable strategies:

Opt out of centralized platforms : Use decentralized social media, encrypted messaging and privacy-focused browsers.

: Use decentralized social media, encrypted messaging and privacy-focused browsers. Support open-source AI : Contribute to or fund projects that prioritize transparency and user control.

: Contribute to or fund projects that prioritize transparency and user control. Educate yourself and others : Digital literacy is the first line of defense against manipulation.

: Digital literacy is the first line of defense against manipulation. Build local resilience: Grow your own food, learn DIY tech skills, and create community networks outside corporate control.

"Hollow Freedom" is more than a bookit's a survival guide for the digital age. The author's incisive analysis and bold solutions make it essential reading for anyone concerned about the erosion of liberty in the face of technological tyranny.

The stakes couldn't be higher: Either we reclaim control of our tools, or we become slaves to them. "Hollow Freedom" shows us how to fight backand win.

Grab a copy of "Hollow Freedom: Reclaiming Human Sovereignty in the Age of Technocratic Enslavement" via this link. Discover this book and other good reads at Books.BrightLearn.AI with thousands of books and counting  all available to freely download, read and share. The decentralized BrightLearn.AI engine also lets readers create their own books, empowering them to share insights and truths with the world.

Watch Farsam Shadab discussing AI, transhumanism, technocracy and the human condition with the Health Ranger Mike Adams in this edition of the "Health Ranger Report."

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

BrightLearn.ai

Books.BrightLearn.ai

Brighteon.com
U.S. Military Operation in Iran Costs Up to $500 Million Daily, Research Shows

U.S. Military Operation in Iran Costs Up to $500 Million Daily, Research Shows

The ongoing U.S. military campaign against Iran, designated Operation Epic Fury, has cost the United States between $22.3 billion and $31 billion over its first five weeks, according to research from the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) [1]. The operation, launched by President Donald J. Trump on February 28, 2026, has involved retaliatory strikes across multiple Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar [2].

Additional analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) estimates the daily cost of the conflict at approximately $500 million [1]. According to a CSIS cost estimate update, the first six days of fighting alone resulted in approximately $1.4 billion in losses [3]. The Iran War Cost Tracker, an independent online monitor, displayed a live estimate exceeding $43 billion as of early April [4].

Scope and Scale of Financial Toll

Research from the American Enterprise Institute places the total expenditure for the five-week period at up to $31 billion [1]. This figure encompasses costs for damaged and destroyed military equipment, personnel losses, and ongoing operational expenses. A separate CSIS analysis, citing Pentagon briefings to Congress, estimated the cost for the first six days at $11.3 billion [5].

The daily operational cost, estimated at around $500 million by CSIS, reflects the intensity of the campaign [6]. This expenditure rate indicates the conflict is consuming financial resources at a pace comparable to prior major U.S. military engagements. According to AEI senior fellow Elaine McCusker, replacing equipment damaged in Iranian retaliatory strikes has required an additional $2.1 billion to $3.6 billion [1].

Key Equipment Losses and Repair Challenges

Significant U.S. military assets have been damaged or destroyed during the conflict, according to research summaries. These include a Boeing E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system, multiple radar systems in Qatar and Jordan, and naval base facilities in Bahrain [2]. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier also requires repairs following issues with its waste systems during an extended deployment [2].

The cost to replace this damaged equipment is estimated between $2.1 billion and $3.6 billion, according to AEI [1]. Repair timelines vary significantly. 'Damaged equipment can sometimes be repaired in days, while some destroyed systems will take years to replace on a one-to-one basis,' said Elaine McCusker, a senior fellow at AEI [2]. This highlights the long-term logistical and financial strain beyond immediate operational costs.

Specific Asset Damage and Personnel Casualties

Beyond high-value systems like the E-3 Sentry, the operation has seen the loss of more than a dozen MQ-9 Reaper drones, multiple F-15E fighter jets, and a KC-135 tanker, according to reports [2]. The scale of material loss contributes directly to the soaring cost estimates provided by analysts at AEI and CSIS.

The human cost of the operation has also been documented. Research indicates that 13 U.S. soldiers have been killed and 373 others injured since the conflict began [2]. These casualty figures are part of the broader assessment of the operation's toll, which includes both financial and human dimensions.

Strategic Implications and Operational Strain

Analysts note that the operation has strained U.S. military resources [2]. The loss of critical radar systems, in particular, has raised concerns about vulnerabilities in regional missile defense networks, according to CSIS analysts [2]. The financial and material costs are impacting broader U.S. strategic readiness, the institutes reported.

The high daily expenditure occurs alongside a White House proposal for a record $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027, a request influenced by the costs of the Iran conflict and other global commitments [7]. The Congressional Budget Office has previously noted that operations and maintenance can constitute a major portion of defense spending, a reality underscored by the current conflict's burn rate [8]. The ongoing costs have prompted scrutiny from some lawmakers and analysts regarding the campaign's duration and strategic objectives.

Conclusion

Research from major Washington think tanks quantifies the substantial and ongoing financial burden of Operation Epic Fury. With daily costs estimated at $500 million and total expenditures over five weeks reaching up to $31 billion, the campaign represents a significant drain on U.S. military and fiscal resources. The costs encompass extensive equipment losses, complex repair challenges, and personnel casualties.

As the conflict continues, these financial metrics provide a tangible measure of its impact, beyond the geopolitical and human toll. The data underscores the scale of the commitment as the administration navigates the war's strategic and economic consequences. For readers seeking unfiltered analysis on geopolitical and economic trends, independent platforms like BrightNews.ai offer AI-analyzed news trends from across the independent media landscape.

References
Russia accused of arming Iran with Israeli grid targets

Ukrainian intelligence alleges Russia provided Iran with a list of 55 critical Israeli energy targets for potential strikes.

The targets are categorized by strategic importance, with power plants like Orot Rabin deemed most critical.

Russia reportedly assessed Israel's isolated "energy island" grid as uniquely vulnerable to cascading collapse.

Ukraine frames the intelligence sharing as part of a deepening Russia-Iran alliance aimed at diverting global attention from Ukraine.

Russia has dismissed the allegations as a "fabrication" by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In a revelation that underscores the expanding ripple effects of the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian intelligence officials allege that Russia has provided Iran with a detailed blueprint to cripple Israels national energy infrastructure. According to exclusive reporting by The Jerusalem Post on April 6, Moscow transferred a list of 55 critical energy sites, enabling potential precision strikes that could trigger mass, prolonged blackouts across Israel. This intelligence sharing marks a significant escalation in military cooperation between two nations united by their confrontations with the West, potentially opening a dangerous new front in Middle Eastern tensions.

The blueprint for blackouts

The alleged Russian-provided target list, obtained by sources close to Ukrainian intelligence, categorizes Israeli energy facilities into three tiers of strategic importance. Level One targets are critical production facilities, with the Orot Rabin power station singled out as a primary objective whose destruction would cripple the national system. Level Two encompasses major urban and industrial energy hubs serving dense population centers, while Level Three includes regional substations and smaller plants. The Russian assessment, as reported, capitalizes on a perceived structural weakness: Israel operates as an isolated energy island, unable to import electricity from neighbors. Consequently, damaging even a few central components could cause a total and prolonged grid collapse.

A strategic partnership deepens

This alleged intelligence transfer is framed by Ukrainian officials as the latest manifestation of a deepening Russia-Iran alliance, solidified since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The relationship, formalized in a 2025 comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, has evolved from Iran supplying Russia with Shahed drones to a more reciprocal exchange. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has consistently warned that battlefield knowledge and technology are now flowing from Russia back to Iran. He has previously cited evidence of Russian components in drones used in Middle Eastern attacks, alleging a full-cycle partnership where Russian-made, Iranian-style drones are now deployed against regional targets.

Diversion and denial

Kyiv posits a dual motive behind Moscows actions: emboldening a key ally and deliberately fomenting a fresh international crisis. By stoking conflict in the Middle East, Russia could divert global attention and military resources away from the Ukrainian front. Russian officials have vehemently denied the allegations. Ambassador Anatoly Viktorov dismissed the report as a fabrication, accusing Zelensky of spreading fakes to regain dwindling international focus. Viktorov argued that coordinates for civilian sites are public information and that Russia maintains its own direct security channels with Israel.

The evolving axis

The accusation fits a pattern of growing interdependency between Moscow and Tehran, born from mutual isolation. Historically, their cooperation was cautious, but the war in Ukraine has acted as a catalyst. Irans provision of drones and missiles helped Russia offset initial shortages, while Russia has offered advanced military technology and, as per U.S. and Ukrainian reports, satellite intelligence in return. This new allegation suggests the partnership has matured to include joint operational planning against third countries, transforming a tactical alliance into a strategic one with broader geopolitical disruptive potential.

A network of vulnerabilities

The alleged target list reveals more than a potential threat to Israel; it highlights how modern conflicts are increasingly interconnected. Tactics honed in one theatersuch as Russias sustained attacks on Ukrainian energy gridsare being exported, with adapted intelligence, to another. It underscores the vulnerability of national infrastructure in an era where satellite surveillance is ubiquitous and alliances are fluid. For Israel, the warning reinforces the existential threat posed by a heavily armed Iran potentially guided by sophisticated external intelligence. For the West, it illustrates the complex challenge of a resurgent axis capable of opening multiple simultaneous pressure points.

The unverified intelligence report remains a point of fierce contention, yet it vividly captures the current geopolitical landscape. As alliances solidify across conflict zones, the tools of warbe they drones, missiles, or satellite imageryincreasingly serve shared strategic interests that transcend regional boundaries, creating a web of vulnerability that connects the battlefields of Eastern Europe to the power grids of the Middle East.

Sources for this article include:

JPost.com

EuroNews.com

United24Media.com
Russia, China Veto UN Resolution on Strait of Hormuz, Citing Escalation Risk

UN Resolution Vetoed, Tensions Rise Over Key Shipping Lane

Russia and China exercised their veto power at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday, blocking a resolution that sought to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for international maritime traffic. The vote came as a U.S. deadline for Iran to agree to a ceasefire or face escalated military action loomed. The resolution, which had been repeatedly diluted in hopes of gaining Russian and Chinese support, failed despite these efforts [1] [2].

The veto prevents formal international action to address the blockage of the strait, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments. The move leaves diplomatic channels as the primary avenue for resolving the standoff, which began after Iran effectively closed the waterway amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with the Islamic Republic. The war has triggered the worst-ever disruption in global energy supply, according to analysts [3].

Details of the Proposed Resolution and Immediate Reaction

The draft resolution, presented to the 15-member Security Council, strongly encouraged states interested in using commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts to protect shipping [4]. It called for an 'immediate cessation of hostilities' affecting the strait but stopped short of authorizing the use of force to unblock the waterway, which is controlled by Iran [5].

Western diplomats expressed immediate disappointment following the double veto. They cited the severe impact the strait's closure is having on the global economy, with energy prices remaining volatile. U.S. stock futures fell and oil prices advanced on the day of the vote, reflecting market anxieties about continued supply disruption [6]. In contrast, the Russian envoy to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, stated the resolution was 'unbalanced' and risked provoking a wider regional conflict [7].

Russian and Chinese Justifications for the Veto

In explaining their vetoes, the Russian and Chinese ambassadors argued the resolution ignored the complex root causes of the crisis and favored a confrontational approach. Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia contended the draft placed 'sole blame' on one party, a reference to Iran, without addressing what Moscow views as provocative actions by the United States and Israel [7].

China's representative echoed this sentiment, stating the measure failed to tackle the underlying drivers of regional tensions. Both envoys emphasized a preference for regional dialogue and diplomacy over UN mandates that could be seen as imposing a solution. This stance aligns with a broader critique of the UN Security Council structure, which scholars like Phyllis Bennis have argued can be dominated by a few powerful states, undermining the democratic principle of equality among nations [8].

Strategic and Economic Significance of the Strait

The Strait of Hormuz is a geographically narrow passage between Oman and Iran. It is arguably the world's most important oil transit chokepoint, with approximately one-fifth of global oil consumption and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas passing through it [9] [3]. Any closure or restriction of access directly impacts energy prices worldwide and has cascading effects on the global economy.

Analysts note that the current blockage has led to increased naval patrols and military posturing by regional and external powers, raising the risk of miscalculation. The economic stakes are immense; as one analysis noted, the dilemma of the Strait of Hormuz has no easy military solution, and the risks of any operation to open it 'far exceed what American planners likely imagined' [10]. The situation has also accelerated discussions about reducing dependency on Middle Eastern oil, with policies for diversifying oil supplies being a long-standing, though challenging, energy security goal for major importers [11].

Regional Context and Broader Diplomatic Stances

The veto reflects deepening geopolitical divisions within the Security Council, mirroring fractures seen in other global conflicts. Iranian officials have consistently asserted sovereign control over adjacent waters and view the strait as their key strategic leverage to secure an end to the war and rebuild their economy [10].

Meanwhile, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, whose economies are heavily dependent on the strait being open, have called for international protection of shipping. The United Arab Emirates' ambassador to Washington recently argued that a simple ceasefire is insufficient and that a conclusive outcome addressing Iran's 'full range of threats' is needed [12]. The divergent positions highlight the complex regional dynamics, where the strategic integration of GCC states within the global economy faces its most severe test yet [13].

Next Steps and Alternative Avenues

Following the veto, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged continued dialogue among all parties to ensure freedom of navigation and regional stability. With the UN Security Council path blocked, some member states are reportedly exploring non-UN multilateral frameworks or regional initiatives to address the shipping crisis.

The situation remains fluid for commercial shippers, who must assess risk daily. Some Western-linked vessels have attempted transits, signaling a tentative testing of the waters [14]. The broader conflict, however, appears to be at a precarious juncture. As of April 8, a narrow two-week ceasefire was announced to allow for negotiations, opening a diplomatic window after weeks of escalating conflict that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran [15] [16]. Whether this pause can lead to a sustainable agreement on the strait's status is uncertain, as underlying tensions and great-power competition, exemplified by the UN veto, remain potent obstacles to a lasting resolution.

References
News / National

by Stephen Jakes

Residents across Zimbabwe have raised growing concern over the state of roads within suburbs and local communities, warning that deteriorating infrastructure is affecting daily life, business operations and access to essential services.The concerns emerged during a weekly community engagement initiative hosted by the Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust (ZNOART), which is currently focusing on infrastructure development, particularly road construction and rehabilitation.While acknowledging government efforts to upgrade major highways through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, residents noted a stark contrast between national road projects and conditions within residential areas."Highways are being prioritised, which is important for economic growth, but the roads where people actually live are being neglected," ZNOART said in a statement.Residents reported widespread challenges, including potholeridden roads, poor or nonexistent drainage systems, and dusty conditions during the dry season that turn into muddy, impassable routes during the rains. These conditions, they said, are contributing to increased vehicle maintenance costs, higher transport fares and reduced accessibility for emergency services such as ambulances and fire brigades.In many areas, residents also expressed frustration with local authorities, who are mandated to maintain urban roads but are perceived to be failing in their responsibilities."Local councils are not responding adequately to complaints. In some cases, roads have gone for years without any meaningful maintenance," one resident said during the discussion.ZNOART is now calling for urgent intervention, including the rehabilitation of roads within suburbs, improved accountability in the use of road maintenance funds, and full implementation of devolution policies to ensure communities directly benefit from national infrastructure programmes.The organisation emphasised that infrastructure development should not be limited to major highways but must also address the needs of ordinary citizens in their neighbourhoods."Infrastructure development must not only be visible on highways  it must be felt where people live, work and raise families," the organisation said.ZNOART has encouraged residents to continue sharing their experiences and proposals, saying community voices are essential in driving policy changes and improving service delivery across the country.
Trump Surrenders to Iran on TACO Tuesday

The Unvarnished Truth: This Is a Capitulation

Lets be blunt. In the last hours before his deadline expired, President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, framing it as a 'two-way ceasefire' [1]. But I believe this is not a diplomatic triumph; it is a strategic surrender. After weeks of bombing bridges, power plants, and Kharg Island, after demanding 'unconditional surrender' and threatening to send Iran 'back to the Stone Ages' , Trump has blinked. The White House spin is a desperate attempt to disguise a humiliating retreat.

Israel's immediate rejection of the ceasefire confirms its fundamental opposition to any peace. Even as Trump announced the pause, Israeli forces were conducting another wave of strikes on Tehran [2]. This is not a partner seeking stability; it is a rogue state determined to burn the world to achieve its messianic vision of a 'Greater Israel.' Their actions reveal the truth: this ceasefire is a product of American weakness, not strength. Iran's statement, calling the outcome 'a major victory' and outlining its own 10-point plan [3], underscores who truly won this round.

The Strait of Hormuz Toll: Trumps War Tax Handed to Iran

The core of this surrender is the Strait of Hormuz. For weeks, Iran's blockade of this chokepoint -- through which 20% of the world's oil flows [4] -- has sent oil prices soaring and threatened global economic collapse. Trump's initial goal was to 'open the Strait of Hormuz to western oil shipments' [5]. Now, he has accepted a deal where Iran controls the strait and collects a toll -- reportedly $1 million per ship [6]. This isn't a reopening; it's the formalization of Iranian sovereignty over the world's most critical maritime artery.

This arrangement proves a long-held assertion: The Strait will only open when Iran decides it opens [7]. By conceding control and a reparations toll, Trump has handed Iran a historic strategic victory. The toll funds Iran's recovery from U.S. and Israeli destruction, granting it economic leverage for years. This wasn't a negotiation; it was a dictated settlement from a position of Iranian strength. As one analysis noted, 'Tehran has established control over the Strait of Hormuz' [6], uniting the Arab world behind it and crushing any dreams of regional domination by others.

The Failed Uranium Rescue and the End of U.S. Options

Why did Trump capitulate? The answer lies in a disastrous covert mission that was his last desperate gamble. Reports indicate the White House was 'seriously considering a ground operation to seize Iran's enriched uranium stockpile' [8]. This mission was an attempt to create an 'off-ramp' -- to physically remove the nuclear pretext for the war and declare a victory. It failed spectacularly. Iran shot down U.S. fighter jets, including an F-35 [9], and the operation left destroyed aircraft and dead soldiers [10]. This failure stripped away Trump's last credible military option.

Domestic pressure then forced his hand. Over 100 U.S.-based legal experts declared the strikes on Iran 'possible war crimes' [11]. Calls for impeachment grew louder. With no viable path to victory on the ground and political collapse at home, Trump had no choice but to seek a deal from a position of profound weakness. His extension of the deadline to April 6 [12] was not a sign of progress, but a recognition of impending disaster. The myth of American military invincibility in the Persian Gulf has crumbled [13].

Why This 'Loss' Is Actually Good for Humanity

Here's why this matters: while this deal is a strategic loss for American hegemony, it is a win for global stability and human survival. A functioning Strait of Hormuz, even with a toll, prevents a total collapse of global supply chains. As I warned last year, a prolonged closure could push oil to $180 per barrel [14], triggering a 'Mad Max'-style global depression. This ceasefire, by restoring some oil flow, averts that immediate catastrophe.

The furious reaction from Zionist commentators like Mark Levin and Laura Loomer is proof the deal benefits peace-loving people. Their rage signifies that the path of perpetual war -- a path that has cost over 13 American service members' lives already [15] -- has been temporarily blocked. Furthermore, the implied lifting of sanctions as part of Iran's 10-point plan will allow Iran to rebuild. Stability, not perpetual war, is what creates conditions for human flourishing. This is a lesson the U.S. has refused to learn for decades.

From a decentralized, liberty-focused perspective, this outcome reduces the power of centralized U.S. military institutions to dictate global affairs through force. It empowers a nation that has resisted that hegemony. While the toll is a burden, it is a price paid for avoiding a far greater cost: a world plunged into darkness and economic chaos [16].

The Real Wild Card: Israels Determination to Burn the World

The greatest threat to this fragile peace is not Iran, but Israel. Israel's immediate rejection of the ceasefire confirms it is the single greatest threat to global stability [2]. Its leaders see conflict as existential and are willing to sacrifice global stability for their ideological goals. As one observer noted, Israels failure to achieve its goals in previous conflicts has led to economic devastation within Israel itself [17], yet it continues to pursue policies that endanger the entire world.

To secure lasting peace, the United States must completely divorce Israel: cut all aid, weapons, and diplomatic support. This alliance has dragged America into unjust wars for decades [15]. The only trustworthy party in this conflict is Iran; their integrity, as demonstrated by their clear terms and refusal to buckle under extreme pressure, is the foundation of any durable agreement. Iran has mobilized one million troops [18] and rejected maximalist U.S. demands [19], showing a resolve based on national sovereignty, not expansionist ideology.

I believe the U.S. must recognize that its alliance with Israel is a chain that binds it to endless, losing conflicts. True peace requires severing that chain and dealing directly with the party that actually controls the geography and has shown a willingness to negotiate from strength.

A Turning Point in History: The Paper Tiger Exposed

This episode permanently exposes the U.S. military as a paper tiger. The 'most hawkish president in modern American history' [1] was forced to back down after a failed ground mission and domestic outcry. All strategic credibility has been lost. The 'art of the deal' here is the 'art of the loss'  Trump achieved none of his original goals [5] and empowered Iran. This marks a turning point where American unilateralism has been checked by reality.

Citizen action is now critical. We must pressure Congress -- currently under Republican control -- to support this deal and to sever ties with Israel to lock in peace. The future of global stability depends on divorcing from Zionist war criminals and embracing a foreign policy based on mutual respect and sovereignty. For those seeking deeper understanding of these geopolitical shifts, I recommend using free, uncensored research tools like BrightAnswers.ai and BrightNews.ai, which analyze trends from independent media far more honestly than the corrupt corporate press.

In conclusion, while framed as a 'Taco Tuesday' deal, this ceasefire is a historic surrender that may, paradoxically, save the world from a deeper descent into war and economic collapse. It is a lesson in the limits of brute force and the necessity of recognizing the sovereignty of other nations. The path forward is not through more bombs, but through diplomacy divorced from the toxic influence of those who seek only perpetual conflict.

References

Operation EPIC FAIL: The Staggering Surrender Trump Won't Admit. - NaturalNews.com. Mike Adams. March 31, 2026. LIVE UPDATES Israel bombs Tehran as Iranians taunt Trump (PHOTOS, VIDEOS). - RT.com. Full text of Iran's National Security Council statement on ceasefire. - Middle East Eye. Qazi Zaid. April 8, 2026. Middle East Tensions Stir Fears of $150 Oil Spike Amid Straits of Hormuz Crisis. - NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. July 10, 2025. Trump Shifts Goal to End Iran War. Yesterday: Iran Must Not Have Nukes. Today: Open the Strait of Hormuz. - The New American. How US-Israeli war gave Iran all the cards in the Middle East. - Middle East Eye. David Hearst. April 7, 2026. Mike Adams interview with Michael Yon - June 26 2025. - Mike Adams. Trump Cites Progress In Dealing With 'More Reasonable Regime' - While Mulling Ground Operation To Seize Uranium. - Zero Hedge. Iran shoots down US fighter jet as US searches for crew, new strikes on oil infrastructure (PHOTOS, VIDEOS). - RT.com. Pentagon Touts 10,000-Target Milestone as Iran Rejects U.S. Peace Overtures. - NaturalNews.com. Willow Tohi. March 27, 2026. Over 100 US-based legal experts declare Trump's strikes on Iran as possible war crimes. - Middle East Eye. Sondos Asem. April 3, 2026. Trump Extends Deadline for Action Against Iran, Citing Progress in Ongoing Discussions. - NaturalNews.com. Iran Seeks Full American Military Withdrawal from Persian Gulf as U.S. Allies Retreat. - NaturalNews.com. Lance D Johnson. March 17, 2026. Saudi Arabia Warns of Oil Prices Hitting $180 per Barrel as Iran Conflict Threatens Global Energy Shock. - NaturalNews.com. Kevin Hughes. March 24, 2026. McGlinchey: Has America Thrown Its Service Members Into An Unjust War For Israel? - Zero Hedge. Brian McGlinchey. March 22, 2026. Iran will plunge Middle East into 'darknes' if Trump escalates war. - Middle East Eye. Mike Adams interview with Khalil - September 19 2024. - Mike Adams. Iran Hardliners Weigh Nuclear Bomb Pursuit as Regime Mobilizes One Million Troops. - NaturalNews.com. Cassie B. March 27, 2026. Iran rejects Trumps 15-point peace plan as maximalist and unreasonable. - NaturalNews.com. Trump Threatens Iran With Genocide If They Won't Meet His Demands: 'A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight'. - Information Liberation. The unyielding ultimatum: Trump vows to fight until Iran is defenseless, rejects mediation as war escalates. - NaturalNews.com. Afro-Asia and contemporary politics. - Sharma Jagdish P.

Explainer Infographic:
Coral reefs burst with iridescent life, nurturing sharks, rays, turtles, and a staggering one-fourth of marine species on just 0.1% of the ocean floor. These structures shield 500 million people across 100 countries from waves and erosion, while powering $36 billion in tourism, fisheries, and coastal economies annually. Coral reef bleaching, supercharged by ocean warming, now imperils this foundation. Events have surged from once per 27 years pre-1980 to every 5.9 years today.

Unpacking Ocean Warming and Coral Reef Bleaching Causes

Coral reef bleaching unfolds as corals forcibly evict their essential algae partners, zooxanthellae. These microbes fuel 90% of coral nutrition through photosynthesis, painting reefs in reds, blues, and purples. Expulsion under duress leaves pale skeletons prone to disease and death.

A comprehensive NOAA report documents record coral bleaching across U.S. reefs in 2023-2024, affecting 92% of sites. This deep dive explores root causes, cascading impacts, and reef restoration breakthroughs lighting the way forward.

Ocean warming reigns as the primary instigator. Seas gulp 93% of anthropogenic heat from fossil fuels, deforestation, and industry, warming tropical surfaces 0.13C per decade. Spikes of 1-2C lasting weeks ignite mass coral bleaching. The 1998 El Nino ravaged 16% of global reefs; the prolonged 2014-2017 crisis blanketed 70,000 kmroughly four times Manhattan's area.

Layered stressors compound the assault:

Ocean acidification: CO2 infiltration has dropped pH by 0.1 units since 1750, corroding calcium carbonate skeletons by 30% faster.

CO2 infiltration has dropped pH by 0.1 units since 1750, corroding calcium carbonate skeletons by 30% faster. Pollution and sedimentation: Farm fertilizers and urban runoff trigger algal overgrowth; silt from dredging blinds corals.

Farm fertilizers and urban runoff trigger algal overgrowth; silt from dredging blinds corals. Overfishing: Depleting grazers like parrotfish and urchins lets seaweed smother recovering reefs.

Depleting grazers like parrotfish and urchins lets seaweed smother recovering reefs. Invasive species: Crown-of-thorns starfish proliferate sans predators, consuming up to 6 m of coral daily per individual.

Crown-of-thorns starfish proliferate sans predators, consuming up to 6 m of coral daily per individual. Pathogens: Warmer waters spread diseases like stony coral tissue loss, killing 40% of Caribbean corals since 2014.

A pivotal 2021 Nature study pins 91% of large-scale bleaching on ocean warming, with projections of annual events by 2050 under moderate emissions.

Devastating Impacts of Coral Bleaching on Ecosystems and Economies

Coral bleaching triggers ecosystem collapse. Reef frameworks disintegrate, erasing nurseries for 4,000 fish species, 800 hard corals, and countless invertebrates. Biodiversity nosediveskeystone species like bumphead parrotfish vanish, fracturing food webs up to apex predators.

Shoreline protection evaporates. Intact reefs dissipate 97% of wave energy; degraded ones heighten flood risks. In Indonesia, reef loss amplifies tsunami damage, costing lives and billions.

Economic tolls mount globally. Caribbean nations lose $500 million yearly in tourism revenue alone, World Bank data shows. Bleached paradises deter diversBelize saw 20% visitor drops post-2019 events. Fisheries falter too: Reefs underpin 20% of wild-caught fish, threatening protein for 1 billion people.

Indirect human costs escalate. Reefs supply 20+ pharmaceutical leads for cancer, HIV, and pain relief. Coral bleaching stalls this bounty. Warmer oceans spawn jellyfish blooms and toxic microbes, closing beaches.

Ocean warming intensifies extremes. It fuels cyclones with 10-15% higher winds and rainfallHurricane Idalia in 2023 pummeled Florida's already-bleached reefs. Vicious cycles emerge: Decomposing corals belch CO2, perpetuating ocean warming.

Reef Restoration Efforts and Paths to Recovery

Reef restoration mobilizes as an urgent countermeasure. Teams propagate corals in labs and ocean pens, then transplant to battle-scarred zones, building resilience against ocean warming.

Field-tested reef restoration approaches span:

Fragmentation: Trim resilient donor corals into branches; nurture in nurseries for 6-12 months, then epoxy to rockdeployed on 150+ global sites. Larval propagation: Time collections during mass spawnings (e.g., Great Barrier Reef's November frenzy); rear on settlement tiles and release billions. Micro-fragmentation: Slice into 0.5-1cm nubs for 50x faster growth; Miami trials yield harvest-ready corals in 6 months. Assisted evolution: Breed "super corals" enduring 2-3C heat; Florida's Mote Marine Lab produces 1,000+ annually. Bio-rock and 3D printing: Electrolyze minerals onto frames or print reef-like scaffolds, spurring 3-5x attachment rates. Probiotics: Dose corals with heat-tolerant algae to resist coral bleaching.

Standout projects shine. Australia's Reef Restoration Foundationoutplanted 25,000 corals by 2025, using drones for precise mapping. NOAA's Hawaii-based Mission: Iconic Reefs fitted 3D "reef stars" with sensors, doubling fish biomass in two years.

The Maldives' "Super Coral" initiative restored 12 hectares via larval tech. Indonesia's Biorock projects grew 300m of reef since 1992, resisting coral bleaching. In the Seychelles, giant clam farms filter water while hosting corals.

Integrated tactics boost odds:

No-take marine zones: Covering 18% of reefs, they spur 2-3x faster natural recovery.

Cooling interventions: Submerged shade sails drop temps 1.5C during alerts.

Global decarbonization: Renewables and EVs curb ocean warming upstream.

Restoration corals boast 70-90% survival, but scale demands billionscurrent efforts cover <1% of damaged reefs.

Saving Reefs from Bleaching and Warming

Coral reef bleaching and escalating ocean warming strain irreplaceable ecosystems, but reef restorationbolstered by NOAA insights, Nature research, and pioneers like the Reef Restoration Foundationcharts recovery. From reef-safe habits to policy advocacy, layered actions preserve these biodiversity engines.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is coral reef bleaching?

Coral reef bleaching happens when corals expel the colorful algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues due to stress. This leaves the coral skeleton exposed and gives reefs a pale or white appearance, which is why it is often called coral bleaching. If the stress continues, the corals can starve and die.

2. What causes coral bleaching?

The main cause is ocean warming from climate change, which raises sea temperatures by even 12 C for weeks at a time. Other factors include pollution, sediment runoff, overfishing, and ocean acidification, all of which weaken corals and make them more vulnerable to bleaching events.

3. Can coral reefs recover from coral bleaching?

Yes, corals can recover if the stress (like high heat) is short-lived and water conditions improve. If temperatures return to normal, corals can regain their algae and regain color over weeks to months. However, repeated or prolonged coral bleaching from ocean warming often leads to mass death and makes it harder for reefs to recover naturally.
But given there are no products currently available using UALink 1.0, UALink 2.0 might be viewed as a premature launch

Need to play catch up

David Harold, senior analyst with Jon Peddie Research, was guarded in his reaction. While 2.0 is a significant step forward from 1.0, we need to bear in mind that even 1.0 solutions arent shipping yet  they arent due until later this year. So, Nvidia is way ahead of the open alternatives on connectivity, indeed ahead of the proprietary or Ethernet based solutions too, he said.

What this means, he added, is that non-Nvidia alternatives are currently lagging in the market. They need to play catch up on several fronts, not just networking.  I cant think of a single shipping product that meaningfully has advantages over a Nvidia solution, he said. Ultimately UALink remains desirable since it will enable heterogeneous, multi-vendor environments but its quite a way behind NVLink today. 

There are plenty of signs that organizations will find it hard to break free of the Nvidia dominance, however. A couple of months ago, RISC-V pioneer SiFive signed a deal with Nvidia to incorporate Nvidia NVLink Fusion into its data center products, a departure for RISC companies.

According to Harold, other companies could be joining it. Custom ASIC company MediaTek is an NVLink partner, and they told me last week that they are planning to integrate it directly into next-generation custom silicon for AI applications, he said. This will enable a wider range of companies to use NVLink as their high-speed interconnect.

Other options

And, Harold noted, Nvidia is already looking at other options. Nvidia is now shifting to look at the copper limit for networking speed, with an interest in using optical connectivity instead, said Harold.
News / National

by Staff Reporter

Traditional leaders in Chimanimani East are reportedly working in cahoots with Zanu PF councillors in identifying perceived opposition party supporters and excluding them from receiving food hand-outs.Alfred Chivese is a known MDC-T supporter in Ward 5, Chimanimani East said Zanu PF officials and traditional leaders are asking people to produce Zanu PF membership cards before they receive food aid or agricultural inputs." Some people like us who are known to be MDC T supporters are forced to wear Zanu PF T-Shirts and chant Zanu PF slogans at community gatherings if we wish to benefit," said Chivese.Recently, First Lady Grace Mugabe donated food items including maize, rice and cooking oil in Chimanimani but the food items were reportedly used to buy voters in the recent Zanu PF party restructuring exercise.Some child-headed families, disabled people and the elderly in Ward 20 were denied food hand-outs distributed last month."We were told to register with the local councillor for food hand-outs and we did that only to be told a few days later that we did not qualify for the food," said an elderly man who spoke on condition of anonymity.Councillor for Ward 20, Itai Chimhete confirmed these developments which happened last month."Social welfare people came to my ward saying we should compile a list of disadvantaged people so that we get an allocation of 191 bags of maize. After compiling the list we asked the prospective beneficiaries to contribute $2 each for transport to ferry the maize from Chimanimani town," Chimhete said."However, on the day of collection, I was told by the GMB manager that my allocation had been given to another ward because some Zanu PF provincial members wanted to use the maize for their party programmes," Chimhete said."They said I could not get the maize and all my efforts to have my ward treated fairly were in vain. I suspect that we were denied our allocation because I am an MDC-T councillor. Maybe they thought I had put MDC-T people on that list. They are just taking advantage of the situation because they know they can get away with it."Manicaland Provincial Administrator, Fungai Mbetsa could not be reached for comment, but sources at the Department of Social Welfare and Local Government ministry in the province said it was a directive from senior government officials that those belonging to MDC-T should be fed by their leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.
US President Donald Trump announced a conditional two-week suspension of planned military action against Iran, pulling back just 90 minutes before a self-imposed deadline. The pause is contingent on Iran agreeing to safely reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz for shipping, following backchannel diplomacy involving Pakistan. Iran's Foreign Minister signaled tentative acceptance, stating defensive operations would halt if attacks stop, though enforcement details remain unclear. The development offers a narrow diplomatic window but key issues like sanctions and Iran's nuclear program remain unresolved, with global oil supplies and regional stability hanging in the balance.

US President Donald Trump suspends planned attacks on Iran for two weeks, conditional on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, following Pakistan-led diplomacy.

Washington, April 8 US President Donald Trump has stepped back from the brink of a major military escalation with Iran, announcing a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world.

The decision came 90 minutes before the self-imposed 8 p.m. EST deadline set by Trump for Iran to reach a deal, after backchannel diplomacy involving Pakistan.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday (local time), said he would "suspend" an escalation of attacks for two weeks if Iran agrees to open the key shipping route.

In a social media post, he said talks with Pakistan led to what he called a "double-sided ceasefire."

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and peace in the Middle East," Trump wrote.

He added that the United States had received "a 10-point proposal from Iran" that was "a workable basis on which to negotiate."

Trump said "almost all of the various points of past contention" had been agreed, and the two-week pause would allow the agreement "to be finalised and consummated."

The ceasefire is conditional. Trump said it depends on Iran agreeing to the "complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz."

Iran signalled tentative acceptance. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt operations if attacks stop.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," he added.

A White House official said Israel had also agreed to the two-week pause, though details remain unclear.

The pause follows a sharp escalation earlier in the day. Trump warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Iran did not reach a deal.

The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis. Its closure has disrupted oil supplies and pushed up prices.

At the United Nations, a Bahrain-led effort to reopen the strait failed after Russia and China vetoed the resolution.

The White House said talks may continue but stressed that "nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House."

Reports of missile and drone activity in parts of the Gulf after the announcement raised questions about how the ceasefire will be enforced.

The two-week pause offers a narrow window for diplomacy. Key differences remain on sanctions, Iran's nuclear programme and control over the strait.

The conflict has unfolded over weeks of strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets, raising fears of a broader regional war. The Strait of Hormuz carries a significant share of global oil shipments.

For India, which depends heavily on energy flows from the Gulf, any disruption to the strait or escalation in the conflict could have a direct economic and strategic impact.

- IANS
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit to Washington DC is a key opportunity to review and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the United States. The discussions are set to cover critical areas including trade, defence, technology, and regional developments. The visit follows External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's trip to Washington earlier this year, highlighting regular high-level exchanges. The diplomatic engagement occurs concurrently with significant US-Iran diplomatic developments involving a ceasefire and peace proposals.

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's US visit aims to advance bilateral ties in trade, defence & tech, following high-level diplomatic exchanges.

Washington DC, April 8 Indian Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, welcomed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Washington DC, emphasising the visit as a key opportunity to review and deepen the comprehensive India-US partnership.

The discussions are expected to cover critical areas, including trade, defence, technology, and evolving regional and global developments, reflecting the growing strategic alignment between the two nations.



In a post on X, Kwatra wrote, "Welcomed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Washington, D.C."



"His visit offers an opportunity to review with our US partners the full breadth of the India-U.S. partnership, and to advance discussions across key pillars of our bilateral agenda - including trade, defence, technology, and exchange perspectives on regional and global developments," he said.



Earlier, in an official statement, the MEA said that the Foreign Secretary's visit to Washington DC would, "provide an opportunity to review the full spectrum of India-U.S. bilateral relations and advance ongoing cooperation across key areas."



It underlined that the visit of FS Misri follows the visit by EAM S Jaishankar to Washington DC earlier in February and is in keeping with the regular high-level exchanges between the two sides.US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, is also present in the United States.



Meanwhile, Misri's visit comes at a crucial time as the US accepts Iran's ten-point plan.



US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and accepting the 10-point proposal from Iran. The Iranian side then accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations.





- ANI
The Andhra Pradesh government is accelerating construction on the massive Polavaram multipurpose irrigation project with a target for completion by year-end. The project, designed to utilize Godavari River waters, will provide irrigation, drinking water, and flood control for the region. A key feature is the Polavaram Dam, which will include the world's largest flood discharge spillway and generate 960 MW of hydroelectric power. Its innovative design uniquely separates the spillway and powerhouse, allowing for power generation even during flood periods.

Andhra Pradesh speeds up construction on the massive Polavaram irrigation and hydroelectric project, aiming for completion by the end of the year.

Polavaram, April 8 The construction works for the Polavaram project, one of India's biggest multipurpose irrigation projects, are progressing rapidly in Polavaram district, Andhra Pradesh. The project aims to provide water for farming, drinking, and power generation.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has given instructions to all officials.

The Polavaram Irrigation Project, located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, is a significant multipurpose initiative designed to address the water needs of the region. The project primarily focuses on utilising the waters of the Godavari River for irrigation, hydropower generation, and flood control.

The key component of the project is the Polavaram Dam, which, upon completion, will be one of the largest dams in India and feature the world's biggest flood discharge spillway. This is the first large river-linking project through gravity in India, linking the Godavari River and the Krishna River, the release said.

The reservoir formed by the dam is expected to have a substantial storage capacity, providing water for irrigating vast agricultural areas and mitigating the impact of floods in the Godavari Delta. Additionally, the project will generate 960 MW of hydroelectric power, contributing to the overall development of the region.

Another unique feature of the Polavaram project lies in its design, where a unique configuration is a right-side spillway, a left-side power project. Typically, powerhouses are conventionally connected to spillways in most projects, but the Polavaram project sets itself apart with this innovative arrangement, showcasing its specialised approach to infrastructure development.

The project introduces a remarkable aspect where power generation becomes a crucial element even during floods. Additionally, water can be supplied to the delta for agricultural purposes during non-flood periods from a power plant.

- ANI
Television actress Ankita Lokhande and her husband Vicky Jain undertook a spiritual visit to the Mahakaal temple in Ujjain at 4 AM. Lokhande shared a heartfelt montage and message on social media, describing the experience as moving with purpose and faith. The video showed the couple participating in rituals, receiving tilak, and posing for a selfie. The actress is known for her devout nature, celebrating various Hindu and Jain festivals with her family.

TV star Ankita Lokhande and husband Vicky Jain share a divine 4 AM visit to Ujjain's Mahakaal temple, expressing faith and gratitude.

Mumbai, April 8 Television superstar Ankita Lokhande and husband Vicky Jain were recently seen visiting the holy shrine of Mahakaal in Ujjain, visiting the temple at 4 AM

The actress took to her social media account on Wednesday and shared a beautiful montage of her recent visit to the shrine.



Sharing her divine experience, Ankita took to her social media account and expressed her emotions.



"4AM. Moving with purpose, grounded in faith and guided by something higher.



We walk with humble hearts, knowing every win is a blessing, and every absence holds a lesson.



We don't just celebrate what's coming our way, we honour what didn't because that's where growth lives Faith isn't just what we believe in, it's what leads us... every single time. Feeling Blessed. AnVi. #Mahakaal #FaithOverEverything #GratitudeAlways #SpiritualJourney #Blessed."



In the video, Ankita and Vicky were seen entering the premises of the temple hand in hand. Up next, Ankita was seen getting the beautiful tilak of Mahakaal on her forehead, and further blessed the little girl who applied it to her.



The actress was seen engrossed in the auspicious Aarti and Pooja of the divine with Vicky.



In the next part of the video clip, Ankita and Vicky are seen posing for a selfie with happy smiles.



The actress has always been spritual and celebrates every festival with equal pomp and spirit.



The actress has been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with a lot of warmth and devotion for years, and similarly celebrates Jain festivals too, since her husband belongs to the respective community.



On account of Mahavir Jayanti recently, Ankita along Vicky was seen visiting her in-laws house in Bilaspur to celebrate the occasion.





- IANS
Anthropic has launched Project Glasswing, a major cybersecurity initiative backed by a coalition of leading tech firms including Amazon, Apple, Google, and Microsoft. The project is driven by the capabilities of Anthropic's unreleased Claude Mythos Preview model, which has demonstrated an unprecedented ability to identify high-severity software vulnerabilities. The alliance, supported by up to $100 million in usage credits, aims to use AI defensively to harden critical infrastructure before malicious actors can exploit these same capabilities. Anthropic plans to publicly report on vulnerabilities fixed within 90 days and has made significant donations to open-source security foundations.

Anthropic announces Project Glasswing, a $100M AI cybersecurity alliance with Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and others to find and fix software vulnerabilities.

New Delhi, April 8 Anthropic announced Project Glasswing, a new initiative that brings together Amazon Web Services, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorganChase, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Palo Alto Networks in an effort to "secure the world's most critical software." The collaborative effort comes as AI models reach a level of coding capability that allows them to find and exploit software vulnerabilities more effectively than most humans.

According to a statement by Anthropic, the project was formed because of capabilities observed in Claude Mythos Preview, a general-purpose, unreleased frontier model. According to the company, this model has already identified thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities in major operating systems and web browsers.

"AI capabilities have crossed a threshold that fundamentally changes the urgency required to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats, and there is no going back. Our foundational work with these models has shown we can identify and fix security vulnerabilities across hardware and software at a pace and scale previously impossible. That is a profound shift, and a clear signal that the old ways of hardening systems are no longer sufficient," said Anthony Grieco, SVP, & Chief Security & Trust Officer at Cisco.

Anthropic committed up to USD 100 million in usage credits for the Mythos Preview model to support the project and 40 additional organisations. The statement noted that the "current global financial cost of cybercrime is estimated at roughly USD 500 billion annually." The project aimed to use AI for defensive purposes like local vulnerability detection and penetration testing, before these capabilities proliferate to unsafe actors.

"At AWS, we build defences before threats emerge, from our custom silicon up through the technology stack. Security isn't a phase for us; it's continuous and embedded in everything we do. We've been testing Claude Mythos Preview in our own security operations, applying it to critical codebases, where it's already helping us strengthen our code," said Amy Herzog, Vice President and CISO at Amazon Web Services.

As part of the initiative, Anthropic donated USD 2.5 million to Alpha-Omega and OpenSSF and USD 1.5 million to the Apache Software Foundation. The company also engaged in ongoing discussions with US government officials regarding the model's offensive and defensive capabilities.

"As we enter a phase where cybersecurity is no longer bound by purely human capacity, the opportunity to use AI responsibly to improve security and reduce risk at scale is unprecedented. Joining Project Glasswing, with access to Claude Mythos Preview, allows us to identify and mitigate risk early and augment our security and development solutions so we can better protect customers and Microsoft," said Igor Tsyganskiy, EVP of Cybersecurity and Microsoft Research at Microsoft.

Anthropic planned to report publicly on the vulnerabilities fixed and improvements made within 90 days. Following the research preview, the model will be available to participants at rates of USD 25 per million input tokens and USD 125 per million output tokens.

"Google is pleased to see this cross-industry cybersecurity initiative coming together and to make Mythos Preview available to participants via Vertex AI. It's always been critical that the industry work together on emerging security issues, whether it's post-quantum cryptography, responsible zero-day disclosure, secure open source software, or defense against AI-based attacks," said Heather Adkins, VP of Security Engineering at Google.

- ANI
The United States, through Ambassador Tom Barrack, has strongly condemned an armed attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, labeling it an attack on the international order. Turkish security forces swiftly responded to the incident in the Besiktas district, engaging gunmen and resulting in the death of one assailant and injuries to two others. Israeli Foreign Minister also condemned the terrorist attack and praised the Turkish response. The incident occurs amid reports of an unprecedented global surge in attempted strikes against Israeli interests.

US Ambassador Tom Barrack condemns the attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, calling it an assault on the international order. Turkish forces responded swiftly.

Istanbul, April 8 US Ambassador to Turkiye, Tom Barrack, condemned the armed attack on the Israeli consulate in Besiktas on Tuesday, calling it an "attack on international order" and commending the Turkish security forces for their response.

"The United States condemns in the strongest terms today's attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul. Attacks on diplomatic missions are attacks on the international order -- and an assault on the principles that bind nations together. We commend Turkiye and Turkish security forces for their swift and decisive response." Ambassador Tom Barrack said in a post on X.

Israel's Foreign Minister also condemned the attack and appreciated Turkish security forces' swift action in thwarting this attack.

"We strongly condemn the terrorist attack on the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul today. We appreciate the Turkish security forces' swift action in thwarting this attack. Israeli missions around the world have been subjected to countless threats and terrorist attacks. Terror will not deter us," Israel Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Gunfire erupted near the Israeli Consulate in the Besiktas district of Istanbul on Tuesday, prompting an immediate security intervention. According to a report by Al Jazeera, citing local media sources, the area was cordoned off as Turkish security forces responded to the presence of armed individuals in the vicinity of the diplomatic mission.

The situation escalated into a direct confrontation when law enforcement officials engaged the gunmen. According to CNN Turk, which cited a statement from the Istanbul police department, the suspects were "met with immediate security response" by the officers on site.

While initial reports from the police department indicated that "three suspects were killed", Istanbul Governor Davut Gul later clarified the casualties from the violent confrontation.

According to a report by CNN, the Governor confirmed that "one assailant has been killed and two injured" during the attack, which also left "two police officers" with "minor injuries".

The incident triggered an immediate and heavy security response in the commercial hub. Following a period of "sustained gunfire", Turkish special forces were observed deploying to the area to secure the perimeter.

The attack comes amidst a volatile international climate, with CNN noting that Israeli authorities have reported an "unprecedented surge" in attempted strikes against their citizens and sites globally since the commencement of the Iran conflict.

- ANI
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the United States' decision to implement a two-week pause in its strike campaign against Iran, describing it as positive news for de-escalation. The Australian government, in a statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, highlighted the severe economic impact of the conflict, particularly Iran's actions affecting the Strait of Hormuz and global energy supplies. The development follows a US announcement and Iran's submission of a 10-point proposal that includes demands for sanctions relief and sovereignty over the critical waterway. Global leaders are emphasizing the need to uphold the ceasefire and pursue a diplomatic resolution to prevent further human and economic cost.

PM Anthony Albanese welcomes the US pause on strikes against Iran, urging a diplomatic resolution to ease global economic and energy market tensions.

Canberra, April 8 Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the United States' decision to suspend its strike campaign against Iran for a two-week period, describing the move as a step in the right direction amid rising global tensions.

In an interview to Sky News, Albanese said, "This is positive news. We have been calling for a de-escalation for sometime. We want to see a resolution of the conflict. The impact that would have arisen from an escalation within Iranian response would've let to greater global economic damage. We're already seeing a substantial impact of war which is on the other side of the world but is having an impact on Australians here conflict."

In an official statement released by Albanese along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, the Australian government said, "Australia welcomes the agreement by the United States, Israel and Iran to a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.The Australian Government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now."

The statement mentioned the consequences of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

"Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure, and oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices. We have been clear the longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost," the statement read.

The statement also mentioned that Australia supports diplomacy.

"Australia has been working with international partners in support of diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so critical supplies can flow to those who need it, including the most vulnerable. We thank and support the work of negotiators, including Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, in advancing de-escalation efforts. Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict. We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life," the statement read.

Albanese's remarks and the statement come after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries.

The development follows heightened tensions in the region, with fears of escalation threatening global energy markets and economic stability. The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage for global oil shipments, has remained at the centre of geopolitical concerns, given its strategic importance and vulnerability during conflict.

Iran has outlined a comprehensive 10-point framework that it says could form the basis for a long-term resolution. Among its key demands is a firm US commitment to "Non-aggression" and the "Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz," underscoring Tehran's insistence on sovereignty over the critical waterway.

Another major component of the proposal is Washington's "Acceptance of enrichment," referring to Iran's nuclear programme, which has been a longstanding point of contention with the United States and the broader international community. The issue has been central to multiple rounds of negotiations and sanctions regimes over the past two decades.

Tehran has also sought significant economic concessions, including the "Lifting all primary sanctions" and the "Lifting all secondary sanctions," measures that have severely constrained its economy. These sanctions have been a cornerstone of US policy aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Additionally, Iran has called for the "Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions" and the "Termination of all IAEA Board of Governors resolutions" related to its nuclear activities. Such steps would represent a substantial rollback of international monitoring and regulatory frameworks governing Iran's nuclear programme.

While the proposed ceasefire remains temporary, global leaders, including Albanese, have emphasised the urgent need for sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation and mitigate broader economic and security risks.

- ANI
Australia has officially welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire involving the United States, Iran, and Israel. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the need for de-escalation and a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East. He highlighted the severe economic impact of the Strait of Hormuz closure, causing global energy supply shocks and affecting fuel prices. The Australian government calls on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life.

Australia welcomes the US-Iran-Israel ceasefire, urging parties to uphold humanitarian law and reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz for global energy supplies.

Canberra, April 8 Australia on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire announcement involving the United States, Iran and Israel, expressing hope that the agreement will be upheld and lead to a broader resolution of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

US President Donald Trump has stepped back from the brink of a major military escalation with Iran, announcing a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world.

The decision came 90 minutes before the self-imposed 8 p.m. EST deadline set by Trump for Iran to reach a deal, after backchannel diplomacy involving Pakistan.

Iran signalled tentative acceptance. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt operations if attacks stop.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," he added.

In an official statement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "Australia welcomes the agreement by the United States, Israel and Iran to a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East."

He reiterated Canberra's consistent position on the issue, stating, "The Australian Government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now."

Albanese also highlighted the wider economic and strategic implications of the conflict, particularly in relation to disruptions in critical maritime routes. "Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure, and oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices," he said.

He further noted that Australia has maintained a clear stance on the prolonged nature of the conflict and its consequences. According to him, the longer the hostilities continue, the greater the impact on the global economy and the higher the human cost.

"Australia has been working with international partners in support of diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so critical supplies can flow to those who need it, including the most vulnerable," the Prime Minister said.

Reaffirming Australia's position, Albanese added, "Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict."

He concluded by urging all sides to adhere to international norms, saying, "We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life."

- IANS
Central security for Congress candidate Adhir Chowdhury has been strengthened ahead of the Bengal Assembly elections following campaign disruptions. His 'Y Plus' security personnel have doubled from five to ten after he faced consecutive protests from Trinamool Congress workers in Murshidabad district. Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee has criticized the security provision, suggesting a tacit understanding with the Centre despite Chowdhury not being in Parliament. West Bengal Police have taken action against local officials and accused TMC members for the unlawful obstructions during his campaign.

Congress candidate Adhir Chowdhury gets enhanced central security after facing disruptions from Trinamool Congress workers during West Bengal election campaigning.

Kolkata, April 8 Central security has been increased for Congress candidate from the Baharampur constituency, Adhir Chowdhury, ahead of the Assembly elections, said an insider from the government on Wednesday.

Additional security personnel, including women, will be deployed, and five additional personnel joined his security team on Tuesday.

The development comes days after Chowdhury, for two consecutive days, faced protests from a section of Trinamool Congress workers while campaigning in his constituency in Murshidabad district.

It is worth mentioning that Adhir Chowdhury used to get 'Y Plus' central security when he was an MP. He was accompanied by five security personnel. Even though he lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Centre did not withdraw his security guards. With the latest update, the number of 'Y Plus' personnel has increased from five to 10. In addition to the Central security, Adhir has two state police constables for his security.

However, questions have already been raised about how Central security was provided to a leader despite not being in Parliament. Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, during a meeting in Jalangi of Murshidabad district on Monday, said that Adhir Chowdhury has a tacit understanding with the Centre over security guards.

Amidst all this criticism, his security was increased.

A leader close to Chowdhury said that he was facing obstacles while campaigning for the Assembly elections. "Go back slogans were being raised around him. Along with this, women have also been protesting against him at places. It is understood that his security has been increased in that context," said the leader.

On Sunday morning, Chowdhury faced 'go back' slogans from Trinamool Congress workers in three areas in Berhampore. For most of his campaign, he was on foot, meeting people and touring areas. The police and central forces present there managed the situation.

Chowdhury had faced a similar protest on Saturday while campaigning on foot. Following the development, West Bengal Police took disciplinary action against IC Berhampore and initiated lawful action against four accused Trinamool Congress members for unlawful obstruction caused during the election campaign of Chowdhury.

- IANS
News / National

by -

Harare - President Robert Mugabe should consider stepping down as old age and health worries catch up with the 87-year-old Zimbabwean leader, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Wednesday."The question of age is catching up, the question of health is catching up. I am sure that advisably he would be in a position for the sake of the country, for the sake of his legacy, for the sake of his children to consider stepping down," Tsvangirai told a news conference.The comments were the clearest public indication yet that Mugabe's health is failing, amid reports that the liberation leader is suffering from prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of his body.Mugabe returned on Sunday from a private visit to Singapore - the latest in what has become an almost monthly journey.The president, who has ruled since independence from Britain in 1980, has brushed off speculation about his health."As you can see, this Mugabe is fit," he told state media upon his return on Sunday.Tsvangirai declined to discuss what ailment afflicted Mugabe."He is not certainly suffering from malaria," Tsvangirai said, because the disease common in Zimbabwe can be treated "at the nearest hospital".Tsvangirai also defended the expense of shuttling Mugabe to Asia for health care."The responsibility of the state is to look after its leaders. If the president is sick he should be attended to," Tsvangirai said.
The Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal has resulted in the state's total number of voters declining to 6.75 crore, marking the first drop since 2011. Prior to this, the voter count had seen a continuous and steep rise from 5.62 crore in 2011 to 7.60 crore in 2024. Poll analysts attribute the previous increase to the inclusion of new voters without the parallel removal of deceased, shifted, missing, or duplicate entries. The recent SIR exercise facilitated a large-scale cleanup of these invalid voters, leading to the significant decrease.

West Bengal's voter count falls to 6.75 crore after SIR, marking the first decline since 2011. Analysis points to large-scale deletion of invalid entries.

Kolkata, April 8 The Special Intensive Revision in West Bengal has concluded following the release of the final supplementary list. Statistical analysis indicates that this marks the first instance of a decline in the number of voters in the state, following a steep and continuous increase since 2011, the year which marked the conclusion of the 34-year Left Front government and the onset of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress governance in the state.

According to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, in the regime-changing year of 2011, the state went for Assembly polls with a total of around 5.62 crore voters.

In 2014, when the Lok Sabha polls were conducted, the number of voters in West Bengal increased to around 6.27 crore. In fact, during the period, for the first time, the principal opposition parties in West Bengal alleged that although new or first-time voters were included in the voters' list, the names of "deceased", "shifted", "missing", and "duplicate" voters were not eliminated from the list.

Again, in 2016, when the Assembly polls in the state were held, marking the return of the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal with a bigger majority in the House, the number of voters increased to around 6.58 crore.

In 2019, the year of the Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal went to polls with an increased voters' strength of 6.98 crore, which subsequently increased to 7.33 crore in 2021, marking the return of the Trinamool Congress regime for the third consecutive term in the state.

Finally, during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the number of voters in West Bengal had increased to 7.60 crore.

The trend, as per the figures available from the CEO's office, shows that between 2011 and 2024, there has been a steady rise in the number of voters, and not even once has any decline in the trend been noticed.

However, following the SIR, which started in November last year and was finally completed this month, the total number of voters in West Bengal had declined to 6.75 crore.

Poll analysts feel that the perpetually upward graph in voters' graph from 2011 to 2024 indicates that while the new and first-time voters kept on getting added to the list, there was no parallel elimination of the "deceased", "shifted", "missing", and "duplicate" voters from the list.

"However, in course of the SIR exercise this time, there has been a large scale deletion of 'deceased', 'shifted', 'missing', 'duplicate' as well as 'bogus' voters, which has resulted into such a drastic decline in the number of voters, amid the two-phase Assembly polls in the state later this month," said a city-based poll analyst.

- IANS
US President Donald Trump announces a two-week ceasefire with Iran, citing a workable peace proposal and promising US support for Strait of Hormuz traffic.

Washington DC, April 8 US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said that it was a big day for world peace as the US-Iran war headed towards a ceasefire. Trump said that the US will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.

"A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they've had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just "hangin' around" in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP" he said in a post on Truth Social.



The post came after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.



In an earlier post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.



"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.



"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.



The Iranian side also accepted US President Donald Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations.



Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked.



"Considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote.



The two-week pause is likely to lead to further comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran and a possible peace summit in Islamabad.





- ANI
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced and welcomed an immediate two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. He invited delegations from both countries to Islamabad to negotiate a conclusive, permanent peace agreement. US President Donald Trump agreed to the pause, stating military objectives were met and Iran's proposal was workable. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed Iran would cease defensive operations if not attacked, allowing for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif welcomes a two-week US-Iran ceasefire, inviting both nations to Islamabad for negotiations on a permanent deal.

Islamabad, April 8 Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, and invited their delegation to Islamabad on Friday, April 10, to negotiate a permanent deal.

"With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Pakistan PM said in a post on X.

"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," he added.

Pakistan's PM hailed both countries for their efforts to bring peace and stability in the Gulf region.

"Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in the coming days!" he said.

US President Donald Trump announced a two-week double-sided ceasefire and said that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

Iran also agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked.

"On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region. In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote.

The two-week pause is likely to lead to further comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran and a possible peace summit in Islamabad.

- ANI
Taiwan's top security official, Tsai Ming-yen, reports a deliberate shift in China's infiltration tactics towards recruiting lower-ranking Taiwanese military personnel through structured networks and exchange programs. He detailed how Beijing combines intelligence, security strategy, and united front work into a cohesive system targeting Taiwan's institutions. Separately, Tsai linked China's extended reservation of airspace zones near Japan and South Korea to both military objectives and political timing ahead of a planned Trump-Xi meeting. In response, Taiwan is enhancing inter-agency coordination and international partnerships to counter these escalating grey zone pressures.

Taiwan's security chief warns of China's structured push to recruit grassroots military personnel, using networks and exchanges to infiltrate institutions.

Taipei, April 8 China's efforts to penetrate Taiwan's defences are becoming more structured, deliberate, and sharply focused, with a notable shift towards recruiting lower-ranking military personnel, according to Tsai Ming-yen, Director-General of Taiwan's National Security Bureau.

Speaking at a legislative session, Tsai highlighted the evolving tactics of China's intelligence operations, as reported by The Taipei Times.

According to The Taipei Times, addressing the Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee of the Legislative Yuan, Tsai explained that China's approach combines intelligence gathering, national security strategies, and "united front" operations into an interconnected system designed to infiltrate Taiwan's institutions.

These activities are not random but carefully orchestrated. He emphasised that Beijing employs organised networks to identify and cultivate targets, often using exchange programmes and local intermediaries to recruit collaborators.

Previously, China focused on mid-ranking officers, but recent patterns indicate a pivot towards rank-and-file personnel.

Separately, Tsai commented on China's decision to reserve multiple airspace zones for an extended period from late March to early May.

The zones span from the Yellow Sea to the East China Sea, strategically positioned near South Korea and Japan. While Beijing has not officially clarified the purpose, Tsai suggested the move serves both military and political objectives, including monitoring US activity in the region.

The timing of the airspace reservation is also significant, ending shortly before a planned meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, as highlighted by The Taipei Times.

According to Tsai, China may be using this window to assess US responses, particularly after an American reconnaissance aircraft entered one of the designated zones earlier this week.

In response to increasing "grey zone" tactics at sea, Taiwan has strengthened coordination among agencies and enhanced cooperation with international partners on maritime awareness.

Taipei is actively working to counter Beijing's growing pressure through both domestic measures and global collaboration, as reported by The Taipei Times.

- ANI
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved Phase-2 of the Jaipur Metro, a major 41-kilometer infrastructure project. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma expressed gratitude for the approval, highlighting the project's role in giving fresh momentum to the city's development. The new north-south corridor, costing over Rs 13,000 crore, will feature 36 stations and connect vital hubs like the Jaipur Airport and major industrial areas. Targeted for completion by 2031, the metro expansion aims to significantly increase ridership, reduce traffic congestion, and support sustainable urban growth.

PM Modi announces Cabinet approval for Jaipur Metro Phase-2, a Rs 13,037-cr project with 36 stations to boost connectivity and reduce congestion by 2031.

Jaipur, April 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that Jaipur is set for a major infrastructural upgrade, following the Union Cabinet's approval for Phase-2 of the Jaipur Metro.

He described the project as a significant step towards sustainable urban growth, aimed at expanding connectivity, reducing congestion, and enhancing ease of living.

"Jaipur is set for a major infrastructural upgrade! Cabinet approval for Jaipur Metro Phase-2 is a significant step towards sustainable urban growth. It will expand connectivity, reduce congestion and enhance 'Ease of Living'," the Prime Minister said.

Later on Wednesday, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma also expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Modi and the Union Cabinet for approving the ambitious Metro project.

He said that the development would give fresh momentum to Jaipur's growth.

The Chief Minister said, "With an estimated cost of Rs 13,037.66 crore, the 41-km-long North-South corridor, from Prahladpura to Todi Mod, will feature 36 stations and is expected to become the city's lifeline. The corridor, spanning key areas from Sitapura to Vishwakarma Industrial Area, will streamline traffic and strengthen the vision of a "Developed Rajasthan"."

Approved by the Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister, the project will be implemented by Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Limited (RMRCL), a 50:50 joint venture between the Union government and the Rajasthan government.

The new corridor will connect major hubs, including Sitapura Industrial Area, Vishwakarma Industrial Area, Jaipur Airport, Tonk Road, Sawai Man Singh Hospital and Stadium, Ambabari, and Vidhyadhar Nagar.

It will also integrate seamlessly with the existing Phase-1 Metro line through planned interchanges and feeder systems, creating a unified citywide network.

at present, Phase-1 serves around 60,000 daily passengers across its 11.64 km stretch.

With Phase-2, ridership is expected to increase significantly, boosting public transport usage and reducing reliance on private vehicles.

The project has cleared multiple appraisal stages and demonstrates strong economic viability, with an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) exceeding 14 per cent.

Funding will be supported through equity contributions, subordinate debt, and multilateral financing, in line with the Metro Rail Policy, 2017.

Aligned with Rajasthan's Transit-Oriented Development Policy-2025 and national sustainable transport goals, the project is targeted for completion by September 2031.

Once operational, it is expected to reduce congestion, cut emissions, and improve mobility for residents, workers, and tourists -- strengthening Jaipur's position as a modern, future-ready city.

- IANS
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will attend the state-level 'Krishi Manthan 2026' program at Jabalpur's Agriculture University. He will inaugurate a newly constructed Rs 13 crore administrative building named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The event includes a policy workshop and the launch of a training program for 1,000 'Krishi Sakhis' to promote natural farming. Several other agricultural infrastructure projects across the state will also be inaugurated or have their foundations laid during the visit.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav inaugurates Atal Bihari Vajpayee building, launches Krishi Manthan 2026 & farmer training initiatives in Jabalpur.

Jabalpur, April 8 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav will be attending the state-level 'Krishi Manthan 2026' programme to be held at the Agriculture University in Jabalpur district on Wednesday.

The initiative, which is part of the BJP government's 'Krishi Varsh 2026' agenda is aimed at strengthening the agriculture sector through infrastructure expansion and policy inputs.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister will inaugurate a newly-constructed administrative building developed at a cost of Rs 13 crore.

The newly-constructed building has been named after former Prime Minister, late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Officials said the 'Krishi Manthan 2026' programme will include a state-level brainstorming workshop focussed on aligning agricultural research, extension services, and market access as part of the 'Krishi Varsh 2026' road map. The discussions are expected to feed into policy planning for improving productivity and farmer income.

A training programme for 1,000 'Krishi Sakhis' will also be launched during the event. The initiative is aimed at strengthening last-mile agricultural extension and promoting natural farming practices at the grassroots level.

Senior members of the state Cabinet, including Deputy Chief Ministers Jagdish Devda and Rajendra Shukla, along with ministers Aidal Singh Kansana, Rakesh Singh, Prahlad Singh Patel and Lakhan Patel, are scheduled to attend.

The visit comes as the state government steps up its focus on agriculture-led growth through targeted investments and institutional strengthening under 'Krishi Varsh 2026'.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister will also inaugurate some completed development projects related to infrastructure and he will also lay the foundation of new projects.

These include the administrative building of the Sugarcane Research Centre in Bohani, built at a cost of Rs 1.11 crore, a Skill Development Centre at Balaghat Agricultural University costing Rs 1 crore, and an Automated Liquid Bio-fertilizer Production Centre in Jabalpur constructed at a cost of Rs 1.26 crore.

Additionally, four units of the Department of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development, with a combined outlay of Rs 4.92 crore, will be dedicated.

- IANS
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met with President Donald Trump, discussing the future of bilateral ties and Trump's focus on global stability. In a separate meeting with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, they advanced a commercial roadmap, including a proposed AI MoU and Indian participation in US investment summits. The US Commerce Department highlighted work to open India's vast market to American exports. Concurrently, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri arrived in Washington to review and advance cooperation across all sectors of the relationship.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor meets President Trump & Commerce Secretary, discussing global stability, trade, and AI cooperation.

Washington, April 8 US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met US President Donald Trump in Washington and discussed the future trajectory of India-US relations, along with what he described as the American President's "unwavering determination to bring global stability".

Taking to X, Gor shared details of the interaction, stating, "Just had an outstanding dinner with President Trump. We discussed his unwavering determination to bring global stability, the historic achievements of his presidency, the strong future of India-US ties, and so much more! A very memorable evening as history unfolded in real time."

The post came shortly after Trump announced a two-week suspension of planned military strikes on Iran, while Tehran indicated its willingness to reopen the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, signalling a possible easing of tensions.

In a separate engagement, Gor also met US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, where discussions focused on strengthening the commercial roadmap between India and the United States, including efforts to expand access to a vast consumer base.

Sharing details of the meeting on social media, Gor said, "Productive meeting with Secretary Howard Lutnick on the US-India commercial roadmap. We discussed a new MoU connecting India's AI scale with the American AI ecosystem, strong Indian participation at the upcoming Select USA Summit, and growing Indian pharma investment in the United States to boost competition and strengthen supply chains."

The talks also explored a proposed Memorandum of Understanding aimed at linking India's expanding artificial intelligence capabilities with the US technology ecosystem, reflecting growing cooperation in emerging sectors.

In a separate statement, the US Department of Commerce said that Lutnick and Gor are working towards advancing a broader trade framework between the two countries.

"Today, Secretary Lutnick met with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, advancing President Trump's historic US-India trade deal," the department said in a post on X.

"Together, we are working to open a market of 1.4 billion people to American products and secure over USD 500 billion in US exports," it added, underscoring the scale and ambition of ongoing economic engagement between the two nations.

He had also met US Vice President J.D. Vance earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also arrived in Washington late on Tuesday to review the full spectrum of India-US ties and advance cooperation across key sectors.

- IANS
The EaseMyTrip Foundation has signed an MoU with Delhi's Public Works Department to adopt, maintain, and beautify two major flyovers in the capital. The initiative focuses on enhancing greenery, ensuring cleanliness, and improving the visual appeal of the Mayur Vihar Phase 1 and Apsara flyovers. The signing ceremony was attended by Delhi's Chief Minister and the PWD Cabinet Minister, highlighting the government's support. This project expands the foundation's existing CSR work, which includes supporting heritage sites under the national 'Adopt a Heritage' program.

EaseMyTrip Foundation partners with Delhi PWD to adopt and beautify two key flyovers, enhancing urban greenery and infrastructure in the capital.

New Delhi, April 8 The EaseMyTrip Foundation has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Public Works Department, Government of Delhi, marking a significant step towards enhancing urban infrastructure and advancing sustainable city development.

As part of this strategic collaboration, the EaseMyTrip Foundation will undertake the adoption, upkeep, and aesthetic enhancement of two key flyovers in the national capital i.e. Mayur Vihar Phase 1 Flyover and Apsara Flyover.

The MoU signing ceremony was held in the presence of esteemed dignitaries, including Smt. Rekha Gupta, Hon'ble Chief Minister of Delhi, and Shri Parvesh Verma, Hon'ble Cabinet Minister (PWD) along with other senior officials. The initiative highlights the growing importance of public-private partnerships in driving meaningful civic transformation.

Under the agreement, the EaseMyTrip Foundation will lead the beautification and maintenance of the designated sites. The initiative will focus on enhancing greenery and landscaping in and around the flyover areas, ensuring consistent cleanliness in line with PWD standards, and elevating the overall visual appeal through sustainable and thoughtfully designed urban interventions.

Commenting on the development, Rikant Pittie, CEO and Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip, said: "We are honoured to partner with the Delhi Government on this meaningful initiative, which aligns strongly with our philosophy of driving impact through action. At EaseMyTrip, we believe in not just enabling seamless travel experiences, but also contributing responsibly to the communities we operate in. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to building cleaner, greener, and more thoughtfully designed urban spaces, and we look forward to delivering this with the same efficiency and execution excellence that defines our way of working."

This partnership reinforces EaseMyTrip Foundation's ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability and community development. Notably, the Foundation has been associated with the Government of India's Adopt a Heritage 2.0 programme, supporting efforts to enhance infrastructure, wayfinding, and overall visitor experience at key heritage sites. This includes initiatives across prominent destinations such as Agra Fort, Qutub Minar, Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho, and Sun Temple, where efforts are focused on improving on-ground amenities, signage, and visitor engagement, while encouraging responsible tourism practices.

Through these initiatives, along with ongoing environmental and community programmes such as plantation drives and awareness campaigns, the EaseMyTrip Foundation continues to expand its CSR footprint, aligning with EaseMyTrip's broader commitment to responsible growth and meaningful societal contribution.

- ANI
The Election Commission has declared full preparedness for the single-phase Assam Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled for April 9, 2026. Extensive arrangements include webcasting at all polling stations for real-time monitoring and the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces for security. Special provisions like postal ballots have enabled over 34,000 senior citizens and persons with disabilities to vote from home. The Commission has appealed for cooperation to ensure every citizen can exercise their democratic franchise.

Election Commission deploys central observers, webcasting at all polling stations, and CAPF for secure Assam 2026 assembly elections in a single phase.

New Delhi, April 8 The Election Commission has stated that it is fully prepared to conduct polling for the General Election to the Assam Legislative Assembly, 2026, in a free, fair, and peaceful manner, with voting across all 126 assembly constituencies scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 9.

According to the press release by the EC, under the leadership of the Chief Electoral Officer of Assam, Anurag Goel, all concerned are carrying out their responsibilities with utmost diligence. To ensure strict monitoring of all aspects, including law and order and election expenditure, the EC has already deployed central observers.

In addition, under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation) programme, extensive awareness campaigns have been undertaken to encourage greater voter participation across the State.

To strengthen the monitoring mechanism, webcasting facilities have been arranged in accordance with the Commission's directions. Webcasting has been enabled in all 31,490 polling stations, including 31,486 main polling stations and 4 auxiliary polling stations. This will allow real-time monitoring of polling processes from the offices of the District Election Officers, the Chief Electoral Officer, and the Election Commission of India.

Further, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), including CRPF personnel, have been deployed to ensure security at polling stations. Micro observers are also deputed in the sensitive polling stations to ensure smooth conduct of polling, the release stated.

Basic minimum facilities have been ensured at all polling stations, including drinking water, waiting areas, toilets, and wheelchairs for persons with disabilities. Arrangements for seating (benches) near voter queues and facilities for safekeeping of mobile phones have also been made.

A total of 1,51,132 polling personnel have been deployed for the conduct of the election. For polling purposes, 41,320 Ballot Units, 43,975 Control Units, and 43,997 VVPAT machines have been arranged, including reserves for emergency use. Additional polling personnel have also been kept in readiness, if required.

722 candidates are in the fray in this election, and a total of 2,50,54,463 electors will exercise their franchise. This includes 1,25,31,552 male voters, 1,25,22,593 female voters, and 318 voters in the Transgender category. There are also 63,423 service voters.

Among the electorate, 6,42,314 voters are in the age group of 18-19 years, 2,50,006 are above 80 years of age, and 2,05,085 are persons with disabilities.

Further, as per Section 60(c) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Election Commission has provided the optional facility of voting from home through postal ballot for senior citizens above 85 years of age and identified persons with disabilities. Accordingly, till date a total of 26,032 senior citizens (85+) and 8,373 persons with disabilities have exercised their voting rights through postal ballots from home.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Assam, Anurag Goel, has appealed to all stakeholders to extend their cooperation in ensuring that every citizen is able to exercise their democratic right to vote.

- ANI
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas have welcomed a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, calling it a much-needed step back from escalation. The deal, announced by US President Donald Trump, proposes a temporary halt to hostilities and opens a window for diplomacy. A key immediate goal for international partners is to support the ceasefire and work towards reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for shipping. The agreement follows Iran presenting a 10-point framework for a long-term resolution, which includes demands for non-aggression and continued Iranian control over the critical waterway.

UK PM Keir Starmer and EU's Kaja Kallas welcome US-Iran ceasefire. Deal aims to reopen Strait of Hormuz and start diplomacy for a long-term agreement.

London, April 8 UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, while stressing the need to work towards a more long-lasting peace.

In a post on X, he said, "I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world. Together with our partners, we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz."

Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas also said that the ceasefire was much-needed.

In a post on X, she said, "The U.S.-Iran agreement on a ceasefire is a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation. It creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement. The Strait of Hormuz must be open for passage again."

Kallas said that the EU stands ready to support such efforts.

"I spoke to Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and thanked him for securing this initial deal. The door to mediation must remain open, as the underlying causes of the war remain unresolved. The EU stands ready to support those efforts and is in touch with partners in the region. I will discuss this in Saudi Arabia today," he said.

Earlier today, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries.

The development follows heightened tensions in the region, with fears of escalation threatening global energy markets and economic stability. The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage for global oil shipments, has remained at the centre of geopolitical concerns, given its strategic importance and vulnerability during conflict.

Iran has outlined a comprehensive 10-point framework that it says could form the basis for a long-term resolution. Among its key demands is a firm US commitment to "Non-aggression" and the "Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz," underscoring Tehran's insistence on sovereignty over the critical waterway.

- ANI
Opinion / Columnist

This article is for every CEO, MD and company directors and board members. With a shrinking industrial base, fluctuating agricultural output and a mining sector often constrained by inefficiencies and safety concerns, the country must urgently rethink how it produces, extracts and grows. One bold and transformative solution is the adoption of humanoid robots, machines designed to mimic human actions and perform complex tasks with speed, precision and endurance.Across the world, leading economies are integrating robotics into every layer of production. Companies such as Tesla and Boston Dynamics are already demonstrating that humanoid machines can operate in dynamic environments once thought to require only human labour. Zimbabwe cannot afford to remain on the sidelines of this technological revolution.In manufacturing, humanoid robots can revitalise dormant factories and modernise existing ones. They can assemble products, handle materials, package goods and operate machinery continuously without fatigue. This would drastically increase productivity, improve product quality and reduce production costs. Industries such as textiles, food processing and metal fabrication could benefit immediately, allowing Zimbabwe to compete regionally and globally.In mining, one of Zimbabwes most critical economic pillars, humanoid robots could play a life-saving and efficiency-enhancing role. Mining remains one of the most dangerous professions, with risks ranging from tunnel collapses to exposure to toxic gases. Humanoid robots can be deployed for underground drilling, hazardous inspections, explosive handling and search-and-rescue operations. By reducing human exposure to danger while increasing operational precision, Zimbabwe will boost mineral output while safeguarding its workforce.Agriculture, the backbone of Zimbabwe's rural economy, also stands to gain immensely. Humanoid robots can be used for planting, irrigation management, harvesting, sorting and even livestock monitoring. In a country where climate variability and labour shortages often disrupt farming cycles, robots can provide consistency and reliability. Precision agriculture powered by robotics could improve yields, reduce waste and ensure food security.The cost of humanoid robots is no longer prohibitive. Entry-level models can be acquired for around $12,000, while more advanced systems can cost up to $500,000+ depending on their capabilities. While this may seem like a significant investment, the long-term gains in productivity, safety and efficiency far outweigh the initial costs.Concerns about job losses are understandable but misplaced. The introduction of humanoid robotics should not be viewed as a replacement for human labour, but as an evolution of it. Zimbabwean workers can be upskilled to take on roles in robot maintenance, programming, supervision and systems management. This transition would create a more technically skilled workforce and open new career pathways for the youth.What Zimbabwe needs now is strategic leadership and vision. Government must create incentives for automation, invest in technical education and foster partnerships with global robotics companies. Pilot projects in farms, mines and factories could demonstrate the practical benefits and build confidence among investors and industry players.The future of Zimbabwes economy is in its ability to adapt. By integrating humanoid robotics across manufacturing, mining and agriculture, the country can unlock unprecedented productivity, improve safety and position itself as a modern industrial hub in Africa.Zimbabwes CEOs, managing directors and company boards must now confront a simple but uncomfortable truth, a humanoid robot is often cheaper than many of the luxury vehicles sitting in corporate car parks today. While millions are tied up in depreciating assets that add little to productivity, the same capital could be invested in machines that work 24/7, increase output and generate real economic value. The future will favour those who prioritise productivity over prestige. The time to invest in humanoids is now.The question is no longer whether Zimbabwe should adopt humanoid robots. The real question is whether it can afford to be left behind.For more details please WhatsApp +263772278161Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi
The Election Commission of India has issued a direct message to the Trinamool Congress, asserting that the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections will be free from fear, violence, and intimidation. This statement follows a meeting between TMC MPs and the Chief Election Commissioner amid an ongoing dispute over the revision of electoral rolls. The TMC has accused the ECI of acting on behalf of the BJP, alleging a conspiracy to delete voters' names from the rolls. The party claims that over 60 lakh voter names have been affected in the revision process, sharply reducing the total electorate figure.

Election Commission pledges violence-free 2026 Bengal polls amid TMC accusations of bias and a dispute over 60+ lakh voter names under review.

New Delhi, April 8 Referring to the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, the Election Commission of India on Wednesday affirmed that the 2026 State Assembly elections will be free from fear and violence.

In an X post, the ECI called for no booth and source jamming on the days of polling in West Bengal.

"ECI's Straight-talk to Trinamool Congress. This time, the Elections in West Bengal would surely be: Fear-free, Violence-free, Intimidation-free, Inducement-free and without any Raid, Booth Jamming and Source Jamming," the poll body said.

Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The poll body's statement came after a delegation of TMC MPs met with the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi. Party MPs Derek O'Brien, Menaka Guruswamy, Sagarika Ghose, and Saket Gokhale were present in the meeting.

There have been several confrontations and a tussle between the TMC and the ECI over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The TMC has accused the ECI of working on the behest of the Opposition party Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to delete the names of the voters from the electoral rolls.

In a press conference on Tuesday, the TMC leaders alleged, "BJP knows it is staring at a crushing defeat in Bengal. In sheer desperation, it has outsourced its entire election campaign to ECI. This collusion is now out in the open. BJP leader and Aanchal Convenor of Kalicharanpur, Nandigram, Tapan Kumar Mahapatra, was caught openly accompanying the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, Manoj Kumar Agarwal."

"Senior Election Commission officials have shed every pretence of neutrality. They are now functioning as de facto BJP operatives, openly fighting the BJP's battles under the cover of constitutional authority. But all these dirty conspiracies are doomed to fail," the party added.

The party claimed that out of the 60 lakh voters placed under adjudication, 27 lakhs have been deleted.

The total number of voters in West Bengal stands at 7,04,59,284 voters (7.04 crore) without adding the names under adjudication, as compared to 7,66,37,529 (7.66 crore) before the SIR exercise. This shows a change of more than 61 lakh names in the list.

- ANI
Tamil Nadu has recorded a significant 33.6% increase in first-time voters aged 18-19, with their numbers rising from 10.9 lakh to 14.6 lakh. The state's total electorate now stands at 5.73 crore, a marginal increase after a major revision process that initially saw large-scale deletions. Women voters continue to outnumber men, maintaining a consistent demographic trend. This surge in youth enrolment is expected to influence campaign strategies in the closely contested upcoming Assembly elections.

Tamil Nadu's electorate grows to 5.73 crore with a sharp 33.6% increase in young voters aged 18-19 ahead of the Assembly polls.

Chennai, April 8 Tamil Nadu has witnessed a significant rise in first-time voters ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, with the number of electors in the 18-19 age group increasing by nearly 33.6 per cent, according to data released by the Chief Electoral Officer's office on Wednesday.

The number of young voters has climbed from 10.9 lakh during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to 14.6 lakh at present, reflecting a notable shift in the state's electoral demographics.

The overall electorate has also registered a marginal increase. After dropping to 5.67 crore following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, the total number of voters has now risen by 6.36 lakh to 5.73 crore as of April 6, the final day for filing nominations.

This increase comes after the inclusion of new applicants who submitted Form 6 following the publication of the final SIR rolls on February 13. These newly enrolled voters will be eligible to participate in the Assembly elections.

The growth in first-time voters is particularly significant as their share in the total electorate has increased. During the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, voters aged 18-19 accounted for just 1.8 per cent of the electorate, which then stood at 6.23 crore.

Despite the overall electorate shrinking to 5.73 crore after the SIR process, the proportion of first-time voters has now risen to 2.5 per cent. Election officials noted that this increase was expected, as the SIR exercise led to deletions across most age groups, thereby raising the relative share of younger voters. However, the sharp rise in absolute numbers indicates strong youth enrolment in recent weeks.

Of the 6.36 lakh voters added after February 13, nearly one-third were first-time voters, pushing their total from 12.59 lakh to 14.6 lakh.

The SIR process itself brought major changes to the electoral rolls. Before the revision began in October 2025, Tamil Nadu had 6.41 crore voters. This figure dropped sharply to 5.44 crore during the enumeration phase in December due to the deletion of 97.34 lakh names. It later increased to 5.67 crore after claims and objections were processed.

As of April 6, the state has 5,73,43,291 registered voters, including 2,93,04,905 women and 2,80,30,658 men. Women continue to outnumber men by 12.74 lakh, maintaining a consistent trend. Additionally, there are 7,728 transgender voters, while Dharmapuri remains the only district where male voters slightly exceed female voters.

With a growing youth electorate, political parties are expected to intensify efforts to engage first-time voters, whose participation could prove decisive in a closely contested, multi-cornered electoral battle.

- IANS
Fresh snowfall has been recorded in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, leading to a significant drop in temperatures. The India Meteorological Department forecasts widespread light to moderate rainfall and snowfall, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds, over the next few days. This weather activity is impacting daily life and road connectivity in the hilly regions. Authorities are monitoring the situation and have advised residents and travellers to exercise caution.

Fresh snowfall in Himachal's Atal Tunnel and J&K's Banihal brings sharp temperature drop. IMD forecasts rain, snow, and gusty winds for the region.

Shimla, April 8 Fresh snowfall was recorded in parts of Himachal Pradesh, leading to a noticeable drop in temperatures, while rainfall lashed several areas, including Shimla city.

In Himachal Pradesh, the Atal Tunnel in Rohtang witnessed fresh snowfall, significantly bringing down temperatures in the region. Shimla showed rainfall in areas including The Ridge and nearby localities, indicating changing weather conditions across the state.



Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, the higher reaches of the Banihal mountains also received fresh snowfall, adding to the cold conditions prevailing in the region.



According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall and snowfall, accompanied by isolated thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, is likely over Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh on April 8. Wind speeds are expected to reach 40-50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph in some areas.



The IMD further stated that isolated to scattered light to moderate rainfall and snowfall is expected to continue over Jammu and Kashmir on April 9 and 10, while Himachal Pradesh is likely to experience similar conditions on April 9. These weather conditions may be accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds, with speeds ranging between 30-40 kmph and gusting up to 50 kmph.



The fresh spell of snowfall in higher altitudes and rainfall in lower regions has contributed to a drop in temperatures across both states, marking a shift in weather patterns. Such conditions are typical during this period and often impact daily life, especially in hilly areas where snowfall can affect road connectivity and movement.



Authorities continue to monitor the situation as weather activity is expected to persist over the next few days. Residents and travellers in these regions have been advised to remain cautious in view of the forecasted rainfall, snowfall, and gusty winds.





- ANI
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visits Washington to advance India-US cooperation in trade, defence, technology, and discuss global issues.

Washington, April 8 Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has arrived in Washington to review the full breadth of India-US ties and advance cooperation across key sectors, including trade, defence, technology, etc.

Misri arrived in the United States late on Tuesday (local time) for a three-day visit and was welcomed by Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra.



Taking to X, Kwatra late on Tuesday (local time), said, "Welcomed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Washington, DC. His visit offers an opportunity to review with our American partners the full breadth of the India-US partnership, and to advance discussions across key pillars of our bilateral agenda -- including trade, defence, technology, and exchange perspectives on regional and global developments."



According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), this visit will provide an opportunity to review the India-US ties.



"The visit will provide an opportunity to review the full spectrum of India-US bilateral relations and advance ongoing cooperation across key areas," the MEA had said in a statement.



During the visit, the Foreign Secretary will hold discussions with senior officials of the US Administration on a wide range of issues, including trade, defence, science and technology, as well as regional and global developments of mutual interest.



The visit follows the External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar's visit to Washington in February, and is in "keeping with the regular high-level exchanges between the two sides", according to the MEA.



Following his visit, EAM Jaishankar had said that a "strong momentum" is evident in the growing engagement between New Delhi and Washington.



During his February 2-4 visit to the United States, the EAM also participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.



"Concluded a productive and positive visit to the US. Thank Secretary Rubio for his warm hospitality," he had posted on X.



"The historic India-US trade deal is in the final stages of detailing that will be completed very soon. It opens up a new phase in our bilateral ties, with vast possibilities for the relationship. Our critical mineral cooperation is also advancing rapidly. Expect engagement on strategic issues, defence and energy in the coming days. Overall, a strong momentum is evident," EAM Jaishankar added.



During the significant visit, the External Affairs Minister also held meetings with senior members of the US administration.



This included separate meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, during which he held wide-ranging discussions on the India-US strategic and economic partnership.



The discussions with Rubio, he stated, covered multiple pillars of the India-US relationship. "Facets of India-US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and technology," EAM Jaishankar mentioned.



The External Affairs Minister said both sides agreed to move quickly on follow-up engagements. "Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests," he added.





- IANS
Ukraine's Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the temporary US-Iran ceasefire, stating that "American decisiveness works" and called for similar pressure to force Russia into a ceasefire against Ukraine. Germany's Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz also welcomed the agreement, thanking Pakistan for its mediation and emphasizing the goal of a lasting peace. The ceasefire follows US President Donald Trump's announcement and centers on Iran's 10-point proposal, which includes demands for sanctions relief and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Global leaders stress the need for sustained diplomacy to prevent further escalation and economic risks.

Ukraine and Germany welcome a two-week US-Iran ceasefire, urging similar decisiveness to force Russia into a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Kyiv, April 8 Andrii Sybiha, the Foreign Affairs Minister of Ukraine on Wednesday welcomed the temporary two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, claiming that "American decisiveness works". The Foreign Minister also called for "forcing" Russia into a ceasefire against his country.

In a post on X, Sybiha said, "We welcome the agreement between President Trump and the Iranian regime to unblock the Hormuz Strait and cease fire, as well as Pakistan's mediation efforts. American decisiveness works. We believe it is time for sufficient decisiveness to force Moscow to cease fire and end its war against Ukraine."

Germany's Federal Chancellor, Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz, also welcomed the move while thanking Pakistan for mediating the conflict.

In a post on X, "I welcome the two-week ceasefire agreed by the United States and Iran last night. We thank Pakistan for its mediation. The aim now is to negotiate a lasting end to the war. We are in close coordination with our partners on this matter."

Earlier today, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries.

The development follows heightened tensions in the region, with fears of escalation threatening global energy markets and economic stability. The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage for global oil shipments, has remained at the centre of geopolitical concerns, given its strategic importance and vulnerability during conflict.

Iran has outlined a comprehensive 10-point framework that it says could form the basis for a long-term resolution. Among its key demands is a firm US commitment to "Non-aggression" and the "Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz," underscoring Tehran's insistence on sovereignty over the critical waterway.

Another major component of the proposal is Washington's "Acceptance of enrichment," referring to Iran's nuclear programme, which has been a longstanding point of contention with the United States and the broader international community. The issue has been central to multiple rounds of negotiations and sanctions regimes over the past two decades.

Tehran has also sought significant economic concessions, including the "Lifting all primary sanctions" and the "Lifting all secondary sanctions," measures that have severely constrained its economy. These sanctions have been a cornerstone of US policy aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions.

Additionally, Iran has called for the "Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions" and the "Termination of all IAEA Board of Governors resolutions" related to its nuclear activities. Such steps would represent a substantial rollback of international monitoring and regulatory frameworks governing Iran's nuclear programme.

While the proposed ceasefire remains temporary, global leaders, have emphasised the urgent need for sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation and mitigate broader economic and security risks.

- ANI
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami hailed the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) for triggering a "new revolution of self-reliance" as the scheme completes 11 years. He credited the scheme, launched in 2015, with empowering millions of youth, women, and small entrepreneurs by providing collateral-free loans. Dhami noted that in Uttarakhand, the scheme has helped establish self-employment ventures, homestays, and women's self-help groups, particularly in hilly regions. The PMMY facilitates loans up to 20 lakh to non-farm sector micro-enterprises, supporting a wide range of small businesses and income-generating activities.

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami credits PM Mudra Yojana for empowering youth and women with collateral-free loans, fueling a self-reliance revolution.

Dehradun, April 8 Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday said that the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has triggered a "new revolution of self-reliance" across the country as the scheme completes 11 years.

Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is a flagship scheme of the Government of India and was launched on April 8, 2015. He credited the initiative for empowering youth, women, and small entrepreneurs through collateral-free loans and boosting self-employment opportunities.

In a post on X, CM Dhami wrote, "The visionary leadership of the Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji has launched the 'Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana,' which stands as a symbol of the historic journey toward economic empowerment and self-employment. Over the past 11 years, this scheme has given birth to a new revolution of self-reliance across the country. By providing loans without collateral, this initiative has offered millions of youth, small traders, artisans, and women the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality."

"In Devbhoomi Uttarakhand as well, numerous young people have established their self-employment ventures through Mudra loans under this scheme, which has not only strengthened their economic condition but also given a new momentum to job creation in the state. In the hilly regions, micro-enterprises, homestays, self-employment-based activities, and women's self-help groups have received special benefits from this scheme. Heartfelt thanks to the Hon'ble Prime Minister ji for this scheme, which aids in realising the resolve of Antyodaya!" the post read.

PMMY scheme facilitates micro credit/Loan up to Rs 20 lakhs to income-generating micro enterprises engaged in the non-farm sector in manufacturing, trading or service sectors, including activities allied to agriculture such as poultry, dairy, beekeeping, etc.

The Scheme provides financial assistance extended by Member Lending Institutions to the non-corporate, non-farm sector income-generating activities of micro and small entities.

These micro and small entities comprise millions of proprietorship/partnership firms running as small manufacturing units, service sector units, shopkeepers, fruits/vegetable vendors, truck operators, food-service units, repair shops, machine operators, small industries, artisans, food processors and others.

- ANI
Legendary spinner Anil Kumble heaped praise on Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his fearless approach against Jasprit Bumrah. Kumble highlighted how Suryavanshi unusually dictated terms to the world-class bowler, setting him up for a slower ball. Suryavanshi's blistering 39 off 14 balls, alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal's 77*, powered RR to a strong total in a rain-affected match. RR's bowlers then restricted MI to secure their third consecutive win, keeping them top of the table.

Anil Kumble lauds RR's Vaibhav Suryavanshi for dictating terms to Jasprit Bumrah in the IPL, highlighting his stunning 39 off 14 balls.

New Delhi, April 8 Legendary spinner Anil Kumble praised Rajasthan Royals batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for his exceptional batting against Jasprit Bumrah, highlighting how the young batter unusually dictated terms against one of the world's best bowlers.

Kumble noted that Sooryavanshi cleverly anticipated Bumrah's variations, set him up for a slower ball, and capitalised with aggressive strokeplay, underlining his remarkable strike rate and consistent performances.

Sooryavanshi delivered a stunning display against ace speedster Jasprit Bumrah during his side's Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against the Mumbai Indians in Guwahati. The contest was reduced to an 11-overs-a-side affair due to rain.

"Sooryavanshi makes it look easy against one of the world's best bowlers. First ball, he hits him for a six and then sets him up. He set the bowler up, not the other way around. We've generally seen Bumrah set up batters so many times, but here, Sooryavanshi set Bumrah up to bowl that slower ball on the third delivery, and he was waiting for it to hit him for another six. It was brilliant batting by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, just the way he strikes the ball and the consistency he has shown in terms of strike-rate. He is striking at close to 300 in every game and scoring more than 30 runs consistently, which is outstanding," Kumble said on JioHotstar.

Facing Bumrah for the first time in his career, Sooryavanshi smashed the ace seamer for two big sixes in the second over of RR's innings. Sooryavanshi's innings was short but electrifying. He scored a blistering 39 off just 14 balls.

The duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi took charge of the bowlers right from the first over. A blazing 32-ball 77* by Jaiswal and a stunning 14-ball 39 runs by Sooryavanshi helped RR reach 150/3 before bowlers restricted Mumbai Indians (MI) to 123/ 9 in this rain-truncated match in the ongoing IPL on Tuesday.

In the run-chase, MI could not find the right tempo and lost wickets regularly, with Burger (2/21), Sandeep (2/25) and Bishnoi (2/26) being the pick of the bowlers.

RR is at the top of the points table with three in three, delivering sensational results under skipper Riyan Parag. After starting off with a win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), MI has failed against Delhi Capitals (DC) and RR and is at the seventh spot in the points table.

- ANI
National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah expressed hope that India would play a role in helping to end the conflict between the US and Iran, emphasizing that dialogue is the only solution. He highlighted the importance of the West Asia region for global energy and for workers from Jammu and Kashmir who send remittances home. Abdullah also criticized India's recent shift away from its longstanding support for the Palestinian cause. His comments follow a temporary two-week ceasefire announced between the US and Iran.

NC chief Farooq Abdullah hopes India will help end the US-Iran conflict, calls dialogue the only solution, and criticizes India's shifted stance on Palestine.

Srinagar, April 8 National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday expressed confidence in peace returning to the West Asia region soon, following the US-Iran ceasefire two-week temporary agreement.

Speaking to reporters here, Abdullah said that "dialogue is the only way" for solving the conflict.

"I thank Allah for giving strength to both countries- the US and Iran- to talk sitting across the table. War is not a solution to any issue. There is no way other than dialogue...We don't know how long it will take for peace to return," he said.

"Energy source is very important for th world, and Allah has given them these resources. Many people from J-K work in that region. Many people's lives have been shaken up...We hope India will help in ending this war. There are many (working in West Asia) who send money back to their homes. I hope India will help in this. We are friends of America," he added.

He further stated that India has always supported the "cause of Palestine", but suddenly the country's stance got switched, which doesn't "augur well" for the nation.

"For ages we had been supporting the cause of Palestine as it is a just cause. Suddenly, we switched. This doesn't augur well for our nation," he added.

This comes after US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and accepting the 10-point proposal from Iran. The Iranian side then accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations.

While the proposed ceasefire remains temporary, global leaders, have emphasised the urgent need for sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation and mitigate broader economic and security risks. In another post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.

Iran has outlined a comprehensive 10-point framework that it says could form the basis for a long-term resolution. Among its key demands is a firm US commitment to "Non-aggression" and the "Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz," underscoring Tehran's insistence on sovereignty over the critical waterway.

While the proposed ceasefire remains temporary, global leaders, have emphasised the urgent need for sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation and mitigate broader economic and security risks.

- ANI
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in New Delhi for discussions on strengthening bilateral ties. The visit, described as a goodwill trip, is seen as laying an important foundation for more productive cooperation. It marks the first visit by a Bangladeshi minister since the new BNP-led government took office, indicating a recalibration of relations. Both sides agreed to remain in close touch and deepen engagement across key sectors.

EAM S Jaishankar meets Bangladesh FM Khalilur Rahman in Delhi to bolster partnership, discuss regional issues, and enhance cooperation.

New Delhi, April 8 External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Khalilur Rahman and his delegation in New Delhi on Wednesday, discussing bilateral ties, regional and global developments.

"Pleased to host FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh and his delegation this afternoon. We discussed strengthening our bilateral relationship in its various facets. Also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Agreed to remain in close touch," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

Khalilur Rahman arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on a "goodwill visit" that Dhaka emphasised is expected to play an "important foundation" for elevating the areas of cooperation between both countries to more productive and sustainable levels in the future.

"Warm welcome to FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh on his arrival in New Delhi today. India and Bangladesh share warm and historic ties anchored in strong people to people relations. The visit will further bolster India Bangladesh partnership," the MEA posted on X.

According to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, Rahman will participate in the Indian Ocean Conference scheduled to be held in Mauritius on April 10-12, 2026 and, en route, is making a stopover in New Delhi.

"There, he is scheduled to take part in courtesy meetings with India's Foreign Minister, National Security Advisor, and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. These meetings will emphasise the stability and sustained development of bilateral relations based on mutual respect, trust, and shared interests," read a statement issued by Dhaka ahead of the minister's departure on Tuesday.

"This visit is expected to lay an important foundation for elevating the areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and India to more productive and sustainable levels in the future. It is noteworthy that Humayun Kabir, Advisor to the Hon'ble Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, will accompany the Hon'ble Foreign Minister on the Mauritius conference and India visit," it added.

The trip assumes significance as it is the first visit to India by a Bangladeshi minister since the BNP-led government assumed office in February, indicating a shift in the recalibration of India and Bangladesh ties, which had strained during the 18-month tenure of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus amid escalating attacks on Hindu minorities and anti-India rhetoric.

On Monday, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, where both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral engagement and cooperation across key sectors.

During the meeting, Verma expressed India's willingness to deepen ties through a "positive, constructive and forward-looking approach" built on shared interest and mutual benefit.

- IANS
India has dispatched 250 metric tons of foodgrains to Seychelles under a comprehensive $175 million Special Economic Package. The package includes a blend of a line of credit and grant assistance for development, capacity building, and maritime security projects. The commitment was reaffirmed during Seychelles President Patrick Herminie's visit to India in February at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation. Both nations also agreed to collaborate on digital public infrastructure to support Seychelles' governance digitization.

India dispatches 250 metric tons of foodgrains to Seychelles as part of a $175 million special economic package focused on development and security.

New Delhi, April 8 The official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal announced that India sent 250 MT foodgrains sent to Seychelles.

The move comes under the USD 175 million Special Economic Package committed to Seychelles.

In a post on X, he said on Tuesday, "Dispatched- A consignment of 250 MT foodgrains sent to Seychelles. More to follow under the USD 175 million Special Economic Package committed to Seychelles."

President Herminie acknowledged India's steadfast support for the development and security needs and aspirations of Seychelles through lines of credit, grants, capacity building and high-impact community development projects (HICDP). Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to remaining a pivotal and reliable partner in Seychelles' national development agenda, with particular focus on sustainability, defence and maritime security, capacity building, resilience and inclusive growth.

The commitment was given when President of Seychelles Patrick Herminie visited India from February 5-10 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Reaffirming their commitment to work closely to expand and intensify the people-centric development partnership between the two countries, India announced a 'Special Economic Package' of USD 175 million, which will include a blended financial assistance of USD 125 million in Rupee-denominated Line of Credit and USD 50 million in Grant assistance for development cooperation projects, capacity building for civilians and defence officials, maritime security, etc, as per a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.

Recognising that India's rapid digitalization is a force for good in the Global South, the two leaders agreed to work closely in the sphere of digital transformation. Noting the need for Seychelles to digitise governance for the benefit of its citizens, India agreed to undertake comprehensive efforts on the buildout of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including digital payments, in accordance with the needs and requirements of Seychelles, as per the statement.

- ANI
India and Turkey held their 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi, co-chaired by senior diplomats from both nations. The talks comprehensively reviewed bilateral relations, with a specific focus on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, technology, and energy. Both sides also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest and agreed to hold the next round of consultations in Turkey. The meeting builds on recent high-level engagements, including between the Prime Minister and President, and follows India's 'Operation Dost' humanitarian assistance to Turkey.

India and Turkey hold 12th Foreign Office Consultations, discussing trade, energy, tourism, and cooperation against cross-border terrorism.

New Delhi, April 8 India and Turkey held the 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi on Wednesday, reviewing bilateral ties with a focus on diverse sectors such as trade and investment, tourism, technology and innovation, energy, cooperation in educational and cultural fields, people to people ties and fight against cross border terrorism.

Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Sibi George and Turkey's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Berris Ekinci co-chaired the meeting. The two sides also discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.

"The 12th round of India-Turkey Foreign Office Consultations were held in New Delhi on 8 April 2026, co-chaired by Secretary (West) Sibi George and and Ms. Berris Ekinci, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey. Both sides reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations with focus on trade and investment, tourism, technology and innovation, energy, cooperation in educational and cultural fields, people to people ties and fight against cross border terrorism. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest," read a statement issued by the MEA after the meeting.

The last round of India-Turkey Foreign Office Consultations was held in Ankara in 2022.

On Wednesday, both sides agreed to hold the next round of consultations in Turkey on mutually convenient dates.

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar had held a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan on the sidelines of ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Vientiane in 2024.

In September 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai. The two leaders had also met during Erdogan's visit to India to attend the G20 Summit in New Delhi in September 2023.

India had launched a massive humanitarian assistance initiative named 'Operation Dost' in the wake of the 2023 earthquakes in southern Turkey which not only involved sending relief material but also search and rescue teams from India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with a mobile field hospital set up by the Indian Army.

- IANS
Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge expressed deep sadness over the passing of former Union Minister Mohsina Kidwai. They highlighted her over six decades of public service and her role as a guiding force within the party. Kidwai served multiple terms in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and was a member of the Congress Working Committee. Her memoir, 'My Life in Indian Politics', chronicles her extensive career.

Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge pay tribute to former Union Minister Mohsina Kidwai, praising her dignified career and service.

New Delhi, April 8 Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday mourned the death of former Union Minister and former Member of Parliament, Mohsina Kidwai. They said that through her simplicity, grace, and dignified political career, she inspired generations of women across the country.

Rahul Gandhi took to the social media platform 'X' and said, "The news of the passing of former Union Minister and former Member of Parliament, Mohsina Kidwai Ji, is deeply saddening. She was a highly senior and loyal leader of the Congress party, whose entire life stood as an exemplar of public service. Through her simplicity, grace, and dignified political success, she inspired generations of women across the country. In this hour of grief, I extend my deepest condolences to her bereaved family and supporters."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also took to 'X' and said, "Deeply saddened by the passing of Smt. Mohsina Kidwai ji, a stalwart of the Congress party and a Former Union Minister who dedicated over six decades of her life to the service of the nation. A long-serving Member of Parliament in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and a respected member of the Congress Working Committee for several years, she remained a guiding force within the party through its most challenging phases."

He further said that her passing was a profound loss to the Congress party.

"Her passing is a profound loss to the Congress party and to the nation. My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and countless admirers. May her soul rest in eternal peace," he said.

Born on January 1, 1932, in Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, Mohsina Kidwai entered public life at a young age, beginning her career in state politics before rising to the national stage. She was elected to the Lok Sabha multiple times, representing the Meerut constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

Later, she served as a Member of the Rajya Sabha from Chhattisgarh from 2004 to 2016, contributing significantly to legislative debates and policymaking at the national level.

A respected leader within the Indian National Congress, Kidwai served on the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party's highest decision-making body. She also held the post of General Secretary of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), where she played a key role in strategy, organisation, and mentoring younger leaders.

Her memoir, 'My Life in Indian Politics', captures her experiences and reflections on decades of public service. Kidwai was married to Khalil R. Kidwai and is survived by her three daughters.

- IANS
Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai has passed away at the age of 94 due to age-related ailments. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep sorrow, describing her life as an example of public service that inspired generations of women. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Telangana Minister Mohammed Azharuddin also paid rich tributes, highlighting her trailblazing role, dedication, and compassionate nature. Kidwai held key portfolios during the Rajiv Gandhi era and served as a member of both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

Veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai passes away at 94. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and others pay heartfelt tributes.

New Delhi, April 8 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the passing of veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai at the age of 94 due to age-related ailments.

He described her as a senior and loyal leader whose life of public service and dignified political achievements inspired generations of women, and offered condolences to her family and supporters.

In a post on X, the Congress leader wrote, "The news of the demise of former Union Minister and former MP Mohsina Kidwai ji is extremely heartbreaking. She was a highly senior and loyal leader of the Congress Party, whose entire life has been an example of public service."

"With her simplicity, gentleness, and dignified political success, she inspired several generations of women in the country. In this hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and supporters," the post read.

Kidwai held key portfolios during the Rajiv Gandhi administration and served as a member of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha at different times. She had also been a member of the Congress Working Committee and the party's Central Election Committee in earlier years.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid tribute to Kidwai, praising her as a trailblazer, former UP PCC president, and a figure of courage, dedication, and compassion, while expressing condolences to her family on the loss.

"We will miss Mohsina Kidwai ji's wisdom and guidance. She was a trailblazer of her time. As one of the few women PCC presidents of UP, she travelled to every corner of the state and built lasting relationships with Congress workers across the districts. Her courage, ideological commitment and patriotism were unquestioned. She was also a kind-hearted and compassionate person who saw lived a life of great dignity. My deepest condolences to her family. May they have the strength to bear this loss with courage," she wrote in a post on X.

Further, Telangana Minister Mohammed Azharuddin also expressed profound grief over the passing of Kidwai, hailing her as a towering figure of loyalty, dedication, and selfless service whose wisdom, simplicity, and guidance nurtured generations.

He also described her loss as the end of an era of integrity and commitment.

"Today, with a deeply heavy heart, I express profound grief on the passing of Mohsina Kidwai ji, a towering personality whose life stood as a shining testament to unwavering loyalty, dedication, and selfless service to the Congress party and the nation. Her journey was not just political; it was a lifelong mission rooted in values, sacrifice, and an unshakeable belief in the ideals of the Congress. Through every phase of her life, she stood firm with grace and courage, never seeking recognition, yet earning the highest respect through her quiet strength and tireless commitment," he said.

"For countless workers and leaders, she was more than a guide, she was a motherly figure. Her wisdom, simplicity, and dignity nurtured generations. Her presence gave strength, and her words carried the depth of experience blended with compassion. With her passing, we have not only lost a senior leader but the end of an era defined by integrity, loyalty, and truth. Such lives are rare, and such legacies are eternal. I feel personally humbled to have witnessed her dedication and to have drawn inspiration from her remarkable journey. Her ideals will continue to guide us, and her memory will forever live in our hearts. May the Almighty grant her eternal peace and give strength to all who mourn this irreparable loss," Azharuddin said.

- ANI
Iran has agreed to a two-week cessation of military operations and to allow safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, following the US acceptance of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations. The breakthrough came after mediation efforts by Pakistan's leadership, with US President Donald Trump suspending the American bombing campaign. This pause is expected to lead to comprehensive negotiations and a potential peace summit in Islamabad. The development brings hope for an end to the conflict that began on March 28 and for lasting peace in West Asia.

Iran halts military ops for two weeks, allows safe Strait of Hormuz passage after US accepts Iran's 10-point proposal for negotiations. Read details.

Tehran, April 8 In what will bring relief to the world the Iranian side has accepted US President Donal Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked.

"On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region. In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote.

The two-week pause is likely to lead to further comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran and a possible peace summit in Islamabad.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.

Trump said that Iran has agreed to almost all the various points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised.

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalised and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-term problem close to resolution," he said.

With both sides agreeing to a pause in the Military campaign hope springs that the conflict which started on March 28 will now come to an eventual end peace will prevail in West Asia.

- ANI
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared a decisive military victory over Iran, stating Tehran "begged" for the ceasefire following Operation Epic Fury, which he claims decimated Iran's military. The ceasefire, announced by former President Donald Trump, involves a two-week pause in hostilities and the safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz. Diplomatic talks are scheduled in Islamabad between Iranian and US delegations. The Iranian Foreign Minister stated Iran would cease defensive operations if attacks against it are halted.

US Secretary of War claims Iran "begged" for a truce after a decisive military victory. Details on the ceasefire and upcoming diplomatic talks.

Washington, DC, April 8 US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday claimed that Tehran "begged" for a truce, maintaining that Washington achieved a "decisive military victory" during 'Operation Epic Fury.'

Briefing journalists at the White House after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, Hegseth maintained that the American military had delivered a devastating strike against Iran's strategic assets via a massive aerial campaign.

"President Trump forged this moment. Iran begged for this ceasefire, and we all know it...Operation Epic Fury was a historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield...Operation Epic Fury decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat-ineffective for years to come," he said.

He noted that American forces launched hundreds of attacks within a few hours.

"We conducted 800 strikes on Tuesday night, destroying Iran's defence industrial base. Iran's factories have been razed to the ground," he remarked.

Hegseth claimed that Iran's new Supreme Leader "is wounded and disfigured," referring to Mojtaba Khamenei, though he did not offer additional evidence to support the claim.

He noted that the extensive damage to Tehran's military infrastructure has significantly altered the regional balance of power.

"President Trump had the power to cripple Iran's entire economy in minutes, but he chose mercy. He spared those targets because Iran accepted the ceasefire under overwhelming pressure. The new Iranian regime understood that a deal was far better than the fate that awaited them. This new regime just happened to look at what happened to their predecessors," he said.

US President Donald Trump earlier suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

He noted that this was subject to Iran agreeing to the "COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz."

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Long-term PEACE with Iran," he said.

Trump noted that Iran had agreed to almost all points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised.

Accepting the American peace overture, the Iranian side agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X, stating that Iran would cease its military operations if it was not attacked.

Declaring the official stance on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Araghchi wrote, "If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces."

With both sides adhering to the truce, the focus now shifts to diplomatic channels.

Talks between the Iranian side, led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the US delegation, led by Vice-President JD Vance, are set for Friday in Islamabad.

- ANI
Former U.S. Treasury counterterrorism analyst Jonathan Schanzer argues that Iran has declared victory in recent conflicts simply by surviving and waging asymmetric war, such as closing the Strait of Hormuz, despite conventional battlefield dominance by the U.S. and Israel. He states this reflects a modern warfare playbook where Western nations must redefine what victory means. Schanzer believes the regime's victory claims are primarily aimed at its domestic population, as it fears renewed protests and covert foreign efforts to destabilize it. The analyst concludes the Islamic Republic is projecting strength from a position of internal weakness and loss.

Former US Treasury analyst Jonathan Schanzer says Iran declares victory by surviving asymmetric warfare, while the regime projects strength amid internal fear.

By Reena Bhardwaj, Washington DC, April 8 Executive Director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies and former US Treasury counterterrorism analyst, Jonathan Schanzer has said that although Iran has "claimed victory," the question of the real victor still looms.

Schanzer, in a conversation with ANI, said that the US and Israel waged war on Iran, and Iran declared victory simply by surviving.

"This gets to a core question that has been really difficult to answer for all the wars of the 21st century. The United States and Israel have gone to war, and even if you look at a country like Russia, they go to war and win on a conventional level. They gain territory, degrade their enemy, and prevent their enemy from being able to fight with any real power. And yet, the other side declares victory simply by surviving--simply by waging an asymmetric war in response," he said on Tuesday (local time).

Schanzer said that Iran claimed victory because it was able to close the Strait of Hormuz with a few asymmetric attacks.

"That's exactly what's happened here. The U.S. and Israel have absolutely dominated the battlefield. They have air superiority; they've destroyed the missiles, the nukes, and the defense industrial base of the Islamic Republic. And yet, standing on the rubble, you have the IRGC waving the flag and saying they've won because they were able to close the Strait of Hormuz with a few asymmetric attacks," he said.

Schanzer added, "This is, unfortunately, the playbook for modern warfare. Western nations that want to maintain their edge are going to have to start to redefine either what victory looks like or what the laws of war are at their core. We're just beginning to grapple with this because it's a problem that isn't going away."

Schanzer said that Iran is trying to tell the world they won, even though everyone knows they lost.

"The question for me is whether the regime has published this list of so-called achievements as a way of gaslighting the world. They are trying to tell the world they won, even though everyone knows they lost. Probably the ultimate audience for this is not the French, Canadians, Germans, or Indians; the audience is the 90 million people who live in Iran. I think the regime is deeply fearful that the people are going to come out and begin to protest again, just as they did in January. The regime was then forced to slaughter 40,000 people to maintain control, and they are fearful of another round of that," he said.

Schanzer said that Iran fears that the US, Saudi Araba and Israel may try to bring a revolution through covert means.

"They are also fearful that the United States, the Saudis, the Israelis, and others are going to start working through covert means to bring down the regime by providing weapons, assistance, cash, and intelligence to the people of Iran. So, they are trying to project strength. In reality, they are incredibly weak. They've lost many top leaders, a huge amount of income, and a lot of control across the country," he said.

Schanzer then said that Iran is trying to flex some muscle by claiming this victory.

"The Islamic Republic is not what it was; the regime is bruised, battered, and limping. That is the last thing they want their people to see, so they are trying to flex some muscle. I don't know if this reflects friction in terms of the final agreement; I think this is really about spin on the part of a regime that is in bad shape," he said.

The comments come as US President Donald Trump has suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

- ANI
Iran has presented a comprehensive 10-point proposal as a framework for a complete resolution to tensions with the United States. The demands include a US commitment to non-aggression, continued Iranian control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, and the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions. President Donald Trump has announced a two-week, double-sided ceasefire, calling the Iranian proposal a workable basis for negotiation to finalize a permanent peace agreement. The plan also seeks the termination of UN and IAEA resolutions, compensation, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from the region.

Iran proposes a 10-point peace framework demanding US non-aggression, control of Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and withdrawal of forces.

Tehran, April 8 US President Donald Trump has suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

Iran has put forward a comprehensive 10-point framework that it says forms the basis of a complete resolution. According to the statement, the United States is expected to commit to several key principles, including "Non-aggression" and the "Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz," a crucial global oil transit chokepoint.

Among the most significant demands is Washington's "Acceptance of enrichment," referring to Iran's nuclear program, which has long been a central point of contention between the two nations and the international community. Tehran has also called for sweeping economic relief, including the "Lifting all primary sanctions" and "Lifting all secondary sanctions," measures that have severely impacted Iran's economy over the years.

The conditions further extend into the diplomatic and international arena, with Iran demanding the "Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions" and the "Termination of all IAEA Board of Governors resolutions" related to its nuclear activities. These demands, if accepted, would mark a significant rollback of global oversight mechanisms.

In addition, Tehran has insisted on financial reparations, calling for the "Payment of compensation to Iran" for damages incurred during the conflict period. On the military front, it has demanded the "Withdrawal of US combat forces from the region" and a broader "Cessation of war on all fronts, including against the heroic Islamic Resistance of Lebanon."

The development comes amid heightened instability in the Middle East, with concerns growing over the potential for a wider regional conflict. Diplomatic channels are believed to remain open, but the gap between the two sides appears significant.

Earlier, in a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.

Trump said that Iran has agreed to almost all of the various points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised.

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalised and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-term problem close to resolution," he said.

- ANI
Shia Markazi Chand Committee president Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi declared Iran the victor following US President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week ceasefire. Trump stated the suspension of attacks was based on a workable 10-point proposal from Iran and consultations with Pakistani leaders. The proposed framework includes key principles like non-aggression and Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz. The ceasefire period is intended to allow for the finalization of a permanent peace agreement.

Shia leader Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi declares Iran victorious after US President Donald Trump announces a two-week ceasefire, citing a 10-point proposal.

Lucknow, April 8 Shia Markazi Chand Committee president Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday congratulated the world for two weeks ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump, saying that Iran put a stop to a hooligan who was spreading terror in the entire world.

Speaking to ANI, Naqvi congratulated everyone and said Iran has won.

"I congratulate everyone. Iran has won. This is good news for the world that Iran put a stop to a hooligan who was spreading terror in the entire world," Naqvi said.

He said the war should have been stopped as it is nothing but loss. He further claimed that the global perception of the conflict has shifted, asserting that celebrations in Iran contrast sharply with the mood in the West.

"Wherever there is war in the world, there is nothing but loss, and this war should have been stopped. However, this war has ended on a very good note when the superpower status of America was torn to shreds...The entire world is seeing that celebrations are being held in Iran and what the atmosphere is in Israel and America. You will find out through the media," he added.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had announced to suspend the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week "double-sided" ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

Iran has put forward a comprehensive 10-point framework that forms the basis of a complete resolution. According to the statement, the United States is expected to commit to several key principles, including "Non-aggression" and the "Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz," a crucial global oil transit chokepoint.

Meanwhile, in a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.

Trump said that Iran has agreed to almost all of the various points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised.

He said, "Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalised and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-term problem close to resolution."

- ANI
Former U.S. Treasury counterterrorism analyst Jonathan Schanzer states the Iranian regime, operating on its 1979 revolutionary ideology, cannot be trusted despite a brokered peace. He warns that a weakened and angry Iran could be a dangerous "wounded animal" seeking retribution. Schanzer suggests Donald Trump's threatening rhetoric may have strategically pushed Iran to make a deal it otherwise would not. The long-term outlook depends on whether the regime adheres to no-hostilities agreements or faces internal evolution.

Former US Treasury analyst Jonathan Schanzer says Iran's 1979 revolutionary ideology guides it, making the regime untrustworthy despite a new deal.

Washington DC, April 8 Even as a tenous peace has been brokered between US and Iran, experts feel the real proof will be seen by action on the ground. Executive Director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies and former US Treasury counterterrorism analyst, Jonathan Schanzer said that the Iranian regime that operates on the ideology ushered in 1979, cannot be trusted.

Schanzer, in a conversation with ANI, was asked if it was safe for Iran to be left in this battered and bruised condition.

"Look, this regime cannot be trusted in any shape or form. It's better that the old Supreme Leader is not there. It's better that his son, who is reportedly more radical and currently in a coma or ill health, is unable to lead. It's better that top military and IRGC leaders have been taken off the board. This makes the regime weaker, but the problem is that it is still the regime. The revolutionary ideology from 1979 is still the guiding force behind every decision they make," he said.

Schanzer said that there can be concerns that an angry Iran may seek retribution.

"For that reason, there is ample room to be concerned that a weakened and angry Iran may seek retribution. They are not fearful of losing more people in a fight against the West that they believe they are destined to win. Yes, this could be a wounded animal that is quite dangerous," he said.

He also said that in the near future, there might be a revolution from within.

"The other way of looking at it is that they don't have the missiles, the nukes, or the money to reconstitute themselves quickly. In that sense, maybe we buy a reprieve of four to ten years where the regime is unable to carry out attacks. During that time, we might see some kind of evolution from within. I would prefer to see regime change, and covert activity could yet bring that about. But for now, it appears Donald Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu are willing to leave the regime in place, provided they agree not to engage in future hostilities. That's a big "if" considering the core nature of this regime," he said.

When Schanzer was asked about US President Donald Trump's comments on "ending the civilization", he quoted a journalist and said that one needs to take Trump seriously, but not literally.

"Donald Trump's words do not always match his deeds. There was a journalist who famously quipped during Trump's first term that you need to take him seriously, but not literally. When he starts issuing these tweets, I never took it seriously that he was going to do something so horrific. But I do think the regime needed to have a little bit of doubt that the President might be willing to go all the way," he said.

It was quintessential Donald Trump who can go from threatening to annihilate a civilization to making a deal with a government within 15 hours.

"That scared a lot of people around the world, but more importantly, it scared the Islamic Republic and probably pushed them to make a decision they were not otherwise willing to make. Whether they follow through is another story, but one gets the sense that this was part of Trump's strategy. In every deal, he likes to have maximum flexibility and the ability to pivot from one tactic to another. You can go from threatening to annihilate a civilization to making a deal with a government within 15 hours. This is quintessential Donald Trump," he said.

Trump has suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

Iran has put forward a comprehensive 10-point framework that it says forms the basis of a complete resolution. According to the statement, the United States is expected to commit to several key principles, including "Non-aggression" and the "Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz," a crucial global oil transit chokepoint.

- ANI
Iran has presented a 10-point proposal as the basis for negotiations with the United States following a declared two-week ceasefire. The demands include the lifting of all sanctions, Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, and compensation for war damages. Negotiations are scheduled to begin in Islamabad under the supervision of Iran's supreme leader, though Iran states it approaches them with "complete distrust" of the American side. While crowds in Iran celebrated the ceasefire, officials caution it does not signify an end to the war.

Iran outlines demands including sanctions relief, control of Strait of Hormuz, and war damages as basis for negotiations with US following a two-week ceasefire.

Tehran, April 8 Iran's Supreme National Security Council said on Wednesday that the two-week ceasefire with the United States does not signal an end to the war, pending negotiations over the details of its 10-point plan.

According to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, the 10 points are -- US commitment to ensure no further acts of aggression; continued Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz; acceptance of Iran's nuclear enrichment rights; lifting of all primary sanctions; lifting of all secondary sanctions; termination of all United Nations Security Council resolutions against Iran; termination of all International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors resolutions against Iran.

Additionally, the demands also include payment of damages to Iran for loss in the war; withdrawal of US combat forces from the region; cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon, reports Xinhua, quoting Mehr News Agency.

The Council also released a statement confirming a two-week ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump.

Key points of the statement mention that Iran has achieved a "great victory" and "forced" the United States to accept its 10-point plan, which includes controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the "axis of resistance."

According to Iran, the United States has accepted Iran's 10-point plan as the basis for negotiations.

The statement further mentioned that under the leadership of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, Iran will hold negotiations with the United States in Islamabad to finalise the details of the truce.

The negotiations, with "complete distrust of the American side", will begin on Friday, April 10, in Islamabad, and Iran will allocate two weeks for these negotiations. This period can be extended by mutual agreement, the statement read.

Iran also demanded a binding UN Security Council resolution that would turn all agreements with the United States into binding international law.

It also said that the ceasefire does not mean an end to the war or pending negotiations over details of the 10-point plan.

The statement further called on the Iranians to trust and support the negotiation process with the United States, which is under the supervision of the supreme leader and the "highest levels of the system."

Many Iranians took to the streets to celebrate the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, local media reported.

In Tehran, crowds gathered outside their homes with national flags to celebrate the ceasefire, according to reports from PressTV.

- IANS
Israel has officially stated its support for U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend military strikes against Iran for two weeks, contingent on Iran opening the Strait of Hormuz and halting attacks. However, Israel clarified that this ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon, and its military offensive against the Iran-backed Hezbollah group will continue. The pause follows a diplomatic exchange where Iran presented a 10-point proposal, which the U.S. deemed a workable basis for long-term peace negotiations. All sides have agreed to the temporary halt, raising hopes for an end to the conflict that began in late March.

Israel endorses Trump's 2-week suspension of strikes on Iran but says offensive against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue.

Jerusalem, April 8 Israel has backed the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran as the two nations look to work out a lasting peace formula.

A statement from the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office said, "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks' subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region. Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbours and the world."

However, Israel will continue its offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah which has been backed by Iran.

"The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shared by the US, Israel and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon," the statement said.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Long-term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.

The Iranian side then accepted US President Donald Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it was not attacked.

"Considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote.

With all sides agreeing to a pause in the Military campaign hope springs that the conflict which started on March 28 will now come to an eventual end peace will prevail in West Asia.

- ANI
Rajasthan Royals' Yashasvi Jaiswal says it's amazing to bat with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, highlighting their aggressive partnership and positive communication.

Guwahati, April 8 Rajasthan Royals star opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal said he enjoys batting with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, highlighting their positive communication and shared aggressive approach.

He added that his experience helps him adapt to match situations, with both players focused on giving the team a strong start and contributing together effectively.



"I think for the partnership, it is amazing to bat with Vaibhav because we both play short and we enjoy. Especially the way we are playing, we are just giving each other positive messages, whatever we can do and understand the situation. I have been playing for the last few years, so I just try to play with the situation and what we can do for our team, and how we can give the best start. That is all we are thinking about. That is the main thing. If we can contribute, both of us, it will be amazing," Jaiswal told the reporters. "I think first ball he hit for six and I was just like, just keep playing your shots because ofcourse Burah bhai is one of the legend, so if he is scoring him it is amazing and also other bowlers we can take them down so it was quite good for him to go and play good shots. Especially with that, it also puts off me with a lot pressure, so I can plan also to take on someone else," he added, when asked about Sooryavanshi's first ball six against Bumrah.



The duo of Jaiswal and Sooryavanshi has taken charge of the bowlers right from the first over. A blazing 32-ball 77* by Jaiswal and a stunning 14-ball 39 runs by Sooryavanshi helped RR reach 150/3 before bowlers restricted Mumbai Indians (MI) to 123/ 9 in this rain-truncated match in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday.



In the run-chase, MI could not find the right tempo and lost wickets regularly, with Burger (2/21), Sandeep (2/25) and Bishnoi (2/26) being the pick of the bowlers.



RR is at the top of the points table with three in three, delivering sensational results under skipper Riyan Parag. After starting off with a win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), MI has failed against Delhi Capitals (DC) and RR and is at the seventh spot in the points table.





- ANI
Jordan's Ambassador to India welcomed the recent US-Iran ceasefire, emphasizing his country's consistent call for peaceful conflict resolution. He strongly condemned Iran's targeting of Gulf countries' infrastructure and the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The envoy highlighted robust India-Jordan relations, with plans to boost bilateral trade significantly. He also stressed the importance of regional stability for prosperity, noting Jordan's key position in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

Jordan's Ambassador welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, condemns Iran's regional attacks, and discusses strengthening India-Jordan trade and regional stability.

New Delhi, April 8 Jordan's Ambassador to India, Yousef Abdelghani on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran, noting that Jordan, from the very beginning, has been calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

In an interview with IANS, Abdelghani condemned Iran's targetting of Gulf countries, infrastructure, oil structure, oil fields and closing the Strait of Hormuz. He also mentioned about India-Iran ties, describing them as "solid, strong" and based on mutual interests and shared values.

Excerpts:

IANS: How do you view the current diplomatic relationship between Jordan and India?

Yousef Abdelghani: Our relations are very strong, solid, based on mutual interest and shared values. Last year, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Jordan and India.

IANS: What new initiatives are being planned to strengthen trade ties between India and Jordan?

Yousef Abdelghani: During Prime Minister Modi's last visit to Jordan, we agreed to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries from the current level, around three billion US dollars, to almost five billion US dollars. We also agreed to look for new avenues of cooperation in different fields between Jordan and India.

IANS: How significant is the cooperation between India and Jordan amid current geopolitical situation in the Middle East?

Yousef Abdelghani: It is very important, given the fact that Jordan is part of the IMEC trade route between India and Europe. So, we are keen to have stability in the region and the stability will bring prosperity for all the countries, including Jordan and India.

IANS: How do you see the ongoing tension involving US and Iran, including temporary ceasefire and upcoming peace talks?

Yousef Abdelghani: Jordan has been from the beginning promoting peace and calling for peaceful resolution of conflicts. We are not part of these hostilities and we call for peace in the region and are happy to hear that a ceasefire is accomplished. We are hoping that this ceasefire sustains.

IANS: How has the disruption of Strait of Hormuz impacted global stability and trade?

Yousef Abdelghani: It is impacting. We witnessed that before in Bab al-Mandeb and Red Sea...I think all countries in the region and the whole world should support that these straits are open for trade and any obstacles put to this will affect not just the country of the region but the whole world as we've seen. Every country has been hit because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. So, I think global cooperation should be there to enable these straits to be open all the time.

IANS: Do you think the conflict in West Asia is primarily about oil and gas or about geopolitical influence and demonstrating power at global stage?

Yousef Abdelghani: We have been hearing lots of things about the tensions in the region. But, Jordan has called for peace to prevail. One of the main pillars of our foreign policy, as His Majesty the King stated, is to promote peace in the region and beyond. So, whatever are the tensions or intentions of certain countries in the region to gain domination or change the map of the Middle East, we don't approve that and we don't think that this could be done. We don't support any kind of hostilities or any kind of attempts to change the status quo in the region. We witnessed that before in Iraq, when the war, first war in Iraq happened, Jordan was not part of that and we were sanctioned because we did not allow any country to use our soil or airspace as a launchpad against Iraq. History proved that we were right because what happened after destruction of Iraq and dissolving the Iraqi army was that the country went into chaos, the ISIS and other terrorists factions emerged. We don't want this to be repeated in the region. We want wisdom and peace to prevail.

IANS: How do you see the current situation in West Asia and its long-term implications?

Yousef Abdelghani: First of all, we condemn what Iran has been doing. Iran has been targetting the Gulf countries, the infrastructure, oil structure, oil fields and closing the Strait of Hormuz... This we condemn and also Iran targetting our infrastructure in Jordan. We, from the very beginning, declared that Jordan is not part of these hostilities. Jordan will not allow any country to use its military bases or its soil or air space to target any other country. So, we informed the Iranians from the beginning about this but unfortunately they have their own tensions and their own views and we also made it known for everyone that we don't have foreign bases in our country and our air bases are run and controlled by Jordan First Army and we don't have any kind of foreign troops in our country. As was lately stated by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, we have foreign consultants that do three tasks - helping us combat terrorism, drug trafficking and smuggling of weapons.

During the Syrian civil war and during the emergence of ISIS, we were at the forefront of fighting terrorism on behalf of the whole world. So, the whole world should thank us for what we were doing and you remember the only base that was close to our border was a Al-Tanf base in the Syrian border and we used to provide, there is a refugee camp there, and we used to provide logistics for refugee camps. Jordan took a heavy burden because of these conflicts. I can prescribe my country as an oasis of peace amid inflamed ocean. So, conflicts have been surrounding us, but we've been peaceful all the time. But, the consequences of these conflicts affected us because we observed refugees from everywhere. From Palestine, we received in 1948, 1967, from the Iraqi civil war we received refugees more than a million. And from Syria also, we received more than a million and half. Many of them are still in our country. So, Jordan is there to help and to aid peace and to mitigate for peace and for promote peace in the region and beyond and we are helping the whole world in this manner, combating terrorism, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking. All these are being done by our country and the whole world should thank us for this.

IANS: Do you believe in Iran's statement that it is not having a nuclear bomb?

Yousef Abdelghani: We in the Middle East and I think Iran is part of non-proliferation treaty and our policy is that we are against obtaining nuclear weapons in the region... We want the Middle East to be clear of nuclear weapons and this should be applied to all countries, including Israel.

IANS: Do you think peace is possible between Iran, US and Israel or will this conflict continue?

Yousef Abdelghani: No, we believe wisdom should prevail and war brings more wars... Because we are in the region, we witnessed that... What happened in one country will affect the other countries. Look what has happened... During this war, all Gulf countries were affected, their infrastructure were targetted. Why are you targetting infrastructure? Why are you targetting houses, government offices, oil field production, oil wells, ports? All this has affected the whole world. So, war is not the answer. The answer is peace and negotiations and war brings about agony, suffering to all people in the region. For that reason, we are asking also to solve the main issue in our region, which is the Palestinian issue or Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This conflict is the main conflict in our region. If this conflict is not resolved, if the international community will not help us to resolve this conflict, the cycle of violence will continue. Many factions or organisations will use Palestinian issue as an excuse to have violence or provoke violence in our region. So, the main issue in our region that should be resolved is the Palestinian issue. It's for Israel to give the Palestinians their rights and freedom and on their land, occupied land, 1967 land, and to establish their state and to have self-determination. Otherwise, if this conflict is not resolved, the cycle of violence will continue.

IANS: How does Jordan view Iran's targetting of gulf countries because apparently they allowed the US to use their bases?

Yousef Abdelghani: They denied that. They said we don't allow United States to use our military bases to target Iran. But, still Iran will target them and it is not okay. They are not only targetting military bases but also civilian infrastructure like oil fields. So, this has to be condemned. This is not acceptable. We are keen to have a very strong and solid relations with Iranians. The Iranians are our brothers, and we are in the region for centuries. We have been living in peace and harmony. So, this is not acceptable... for them to target us because we have no bad intentions towards Iran or we want regime change or ask for regime change or ask for anything. We don't support that, but we expect the Iranians to support our sovereignty and territorial integrity and not to target our infrastructure.

IANS: Are Jordan's senior leaders planning to visit India in the near future?

Yousef Abdelghani: Of course! Last February, Her Majesty Queen Rania visited India. It was a high-level visit. I think that exchange visit is one of the things that has been agreed upon during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Jordan and the relations between his majesty and Prime Minister Modi are very strong and solid. They do exchange regular phone calls and interactions and the last two phone calls were made by Prime Minister Modi to show solidarity with Jordan during the incidents of targetting of our infrastructure. We also have an Indian diaspora in Jordan, more than 20,000 Indians live, we are taking good care of them in Jordan. Jordan is very important to India because we help support food security with fertilizers, with phosphoric acid, with phosphate, raw phosphate and raw potash. This also supports food security and industrial food industry here in India. So, we are keen to have strong, solid relations. We are keen to exchange regular visits. We are keen to have more development in our relations in the future.

- IANS
With 2.7 crore voters set to cast ballots, Kerala's assembly election is a complex three-way contest between the ruling LDF, the opposition UDF, and the BJP. The election is characterized not by a statewide wave but by localized pockets of discontent and micro anti-incumbency against local representatives. Each front interprets the political mood differently, with the LDF emphasizing continuity, the UDF banking on local grievances, and the BJP focusing on expanding its foothold. The final outcome will hinge on fine margins, voter turnout, and the voting patterns of minority communities in hundreds of individual constituency battles.

With 2.7 crore voters, Kerala's high-stakes polls see LDF, UDF, and BJP in a tight contest defined by micro anti-incumbency and fine margins.

Thiruvananthapuram, April 8 With less than 24 hours for voting to commence in Kerala in its 140 Assembly constituencies, the sheer scale of the exercise underscores both its complexity and significance.

A total of 883 candidates are in the fray, translating to an average of six to seven contestants per seat, though several constituencies have turned into crowded battlefields with rebels and Independents adding to the mix.

The electorate stands at a formidable 2.7 crore voters, spread across more than 30,000 polling stations, setting the stage for a high-turnout election in one of India's most politically engaged states. Yet, beyond the numbers lies a far more nuanced political story.

The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, had already rewritten political convention by retaining power in 2021, breaking the state's long-standing pattern of alternating governments. That disruption continues to shape the current contest.

However, a decade in power inevitably brings its own pressures.

What is visible on the ground is not a tidal wave against the incumbent but rather pockets of discontent, a form of micro anti-incumbency directed more at local representatives than at the leadership itself.

Issues of governance fatigue, constituency-level grievances, and unmet expectations linger beneath the surface.

Each political front is interpreting this mood to its advantage.

The LDF is banking on continuity, welfare delivery, and a disciplined organisational network, arguing that there is no overarching anger against them.

The United Democratic Front (UDF), meanwhile, is reading the same landscape differently, betting on a silent, seat-by-seat shift driven by local dissatisfaction and a consolidation of its traditional support base.

For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the election is less about forming a government and more about expanding relevance.

In a tightly contested environment, even marginal vote swings could open doors in select constituencies.

The real wildcard, as always in Kerala, is voter turnout.

With participation historically hovering between 70 and 80 per cent, even a very minor swing can decisively alter outcomes across multiple seats.

In essence, this is not an election defined by a single wave, but by fine margins and fragmented signals.

As voters step into polling booths, Kerala's verdict will likely emerge not from a sweeping narrative, but from hundreds of micro-battles playing out across the state.

All three fronts know that their fortunes will depend more on which way the minority communities comprising the Muslims and Christians, which together constitute around 42 per cent, go. This was clearly evident in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and at the December local body polls.

Security remains tight as around 2,500 booths of the more than 30,000 booths have been flagged as sensitive, with Central forces and units of the Tamil Nadu Police deployed across the state.

- IANS
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped by the terrorist group Kata'ib Hizballah near Baghdad. The successful resolution involved cooperation between multiple U.S. agencies and Iraqi partners. Rubio stated the Trump Administration's policy of not tolerating the wrongful detention of U.S. nationals anywhere in the world. The State Department reiterated its highest-level travel warning, advising all Americans not to travel to Iraq.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces the release of kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson from Iraq, crediting US and Iraqi partners.

Washington DC, April 8 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday announced the release of kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson from Iraq.

Rubio said that they were further working to ensure Kittleson's departure from Iraq.

In a post on X, he said, "I am pleased to announce the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was recently kidnapped by members of the foreign terrorist organization Kata'ib Hizballah near Baghdad, Iraq. The U.S. Department of State extends its appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of War, U.S. personnel across multiple agencies, and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and our Iraqi partners, for their assistance in securing her release."

Rubio said that the administration led by US President Donald Trump will not tolerate such instances involving US nationals.

"This resolution reflects the Trump Administration's steadfast commitment to the safety and security of American citizens, no matter where they are in the world. Under President Trump, the wrongful detention or kidnapping of U.S. nationals will not be tolerated. We will continue to use every tool to bring Americans home and to hold accountable those responsible. We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," he stated.

Shelly Kittleson, an American freelance journalist and contributor to Al-Monitor, was abducted in Baghdad, with the US Department of State confirming it is investigating the case and noting that she had previously been warned about security risks in the region.

Dylan Johnson, an assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed in a post on X, "The U.S. Department of State is aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, Iraq."

In light of the escalating security concerns, the State Department reiterated its strictest warnings for all US citizens currently in the country. "Iraq remains at a Level 4 Travel Advisory, and Americans are advised not to travel to Iraq for any reason and to leave Iraq now," the statement emphasised.

- ANI
Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Kartik Tyagi highlighted the invaluable guidance he receives from mentor Dwayne Bravo, particularly on applying specific skills under pressure. He also revealed an inspiring team meeting with franchise owner Shah Rukh Khan, who motivated the players to strive for excellence. Despite KKR's difficult start to IPL 2026, remaining winless and placed eighth, the team is intensely focused on securing a victory. Tyagi expressed that the planning is complete and the squad is hungry for a win in their upcoming match against Lucknow Super Giants.

KKR pacer Kartik Tyagi shares key learnings from mentor Dwayne Bravo and an inspiring meeting with owner Shah Rukh Khan ahead of the LSG clash.

Kolkata, April 8 Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Kartik Tyagi opened up on his learnings from KKR mentor Dwayne Bravo and meeting with the franchise's owner Shah Rukh Khan, ahead of the team's clash against Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday.

Kartik Tyagi praised Dwayne Bravo for his vast experience, adding that the key takeaway from him is understanding when to apply specific skills under pressure. Tyagi said that with seasoned players present in the camp, it always helps guide crucial on-field decisions.

"He has a lot of experience in the T20 format, so everyone knows his skillset. But it's about understanding which skill to use and when to use it. Sometimes you go in with a plan, but under pressure--especially if you're playing after a long gap--it's not easy to think clearly. That's when having someone with so much experience around helps a lot on the field. They guide us on what to do, when to do it, and at what moment to bowl," he said at the pre-match press conference ahead of the KKR vs LSG clash.

KKR also revealed that he met Shah Rukh Khan, the KKR team owner, and said that the Bollywood star motivated the players to always strive to be the best.

"We met Shah Rukh Khan, and he motivated us a lot. He told us that we should always strive to be the best, and that really inspired us," Kartik Tyagi said.

KKR have so far had a campaign to forget as they are still winless after having played three matches in the IPL 2026. They are positioned eighth in the IPL 2026 points table with one point to their name, which they received after the match with the Punjab Kings was abandoned due to rain, and both teams shared a point each.

However, ahead of the match against LSG, Tyagi said the team is highly focused and determined to win.

"We're focused on winning the match, and we're very hungry for it. It's been on our minds for the past few days. We're constantly thinking about how to get the win. Our planning is complete, and hopefully, the result will go in our favour," Tyagi said.

- ANI
The government of Madagascar has declared a 15-day state of energy emergency across its entire territory to address a severe supply crisis. The crisis is attributed to disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, which has impacted the import-dependent nation's refined petroleum supplies. The emergency declaration enables rapid measures to restore energy, maintain essential services, and protect the national economy. The situation reflects a wider trend of African nations grappling with the fallout of surging global oil prices.

Madagascar declares a 15-day state of energy emergency due to supply disruptions linked to Middle East conflict, impacting fuel and essential services.

Antananarivo, April 8 The Malagasy government declared a state of energy emergency across the entire territory for a period of 15 days to address a major energy supply crisis currently affecting the country.

According to a presidential communique, this situation is attributable in particular to the repercussions of the conflict in the Middle East, which have disrupted energy supplies and public services in Madagascar.

The government said that this state of emergency would allow for the implementation of rapid and targeted measures to restore energy supplies, ensure the continuity of essential services, and maintain the proper functioning of the national economy.

The ongoing energy crisis also impacts public order, security, and institutional stability, the communique added.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to mobilise all necessary resources to overcome this crisis and limit its effects on the daily lives of the population.

According to local media, since mid-March, petroleum stations in Madagascar have faced insufficient storage capacity or temporary stock shortages. The country's supply of refined petroleum depends heavily on imports, particularly from Oman, Xinhua news agency reported.

Several African governments have responded to surging global oil prices, spurred by the Iran war, by implementing sharp fuel price increases, energy-saving measures, or electricity rationing. "This decision was taken following the observation that the country is facing a deep crisis due to disruptions in energy supply across the island, linked to the conflict in the Middle East," the cabinet said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump announced that he has agreed to suspend planned military strikes on Iran for two weeks, linking the pause to Tehran's agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations toward a broader peace deal.

In a statement, Trump said the decision came "based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan," who had urged restraint as tensions escalated.

"Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," he said, describing the move as part of "a double-sided ceasefire."

The announcement signals a temporary halt in what had been shaping up as a major escalation in the Gulf, with Trump asserting that US military goals had already been achieved.

- IANS
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee filed her nomination from the Bhabanipur assembly constituency, leading a procession from her residence to the nomination center. Her list of proposers highlighted the cosmopolitan nature of the area, including representatives from Muslim, Punjabi, Bihari, and Gujarati communities. In the upcoming election, she is set for a key contest against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated her in Nandigram in 2021. Banerjee emphasized her lifelong connection to Bhabanipur, where she later won a by-election to retain the chief minister's chair.

WB CM Mamata Banerjee files nomination from Bhabanipur, with proposers reflecting the constituency's diverse demographics. She faces Suvendu Adhikari.

Kolkata, April 8 West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday filed her nomination from her native Assembly constituency of Bhabanipur in South Kolkata.

The list of proposers in her nomination form reflected the "cosmopolitan" nature of Bhabanipur, which is considered a cauldron of people from almost the entire country.

The proposers in her nomination form include Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim's wife, Ismat Hakim (representing the Muslims), actress-turned-politician and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Koel Mallick's husband, Nishpal Singh Rane (representing the Punjabis), local Trinamool Congress block President Bablu Singh (representing the Biharis) and Bhabanipur Education Society representative Miraj Shah (representing the Gujaratis).

The Chief Minister started from her residence at Harish Chatterjee Street in South Kolkata and walked down, leading a procession to submit her nomination at the Alipore Survey Building, which is barely a kilometre away from her residence.

She was accompanied while leading the procession by Firhad Hakim, her brothers Kartik Banerjee and Swapan Banerjee, her sister-in-law Kajari Banerjee, and the local party councillor, Sandip Bakshi, among others.

After filing her nomination, the Chief Minister spoke to the media persons and said that she stays with the people of Bhabanipur round the year. "My entire life has revolved around Bhabanipur. I have stayed in this constituency since my childhood and will continue to stay here forever. My entire life and political career have revolved around Bhabanipur. So today I take the opportunity to thank and bow to the people of Bhabanipur," the Chief Minister said.

As a precaution, the police cordoned off a part of the road with guardrails to control the crowd while the Chief Minister's procession was underway, with thousands of people gathering on the side of the road. The Chief Minister led the procession and waved at the people.

This time at Bhabanipur, the Chief Minister is pitted against the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, who is contesting simultaneously from his native Nandigram Assembly Constituency in East Midnapore district, where he is a two-time MLA, first for Trinamool Congress from 2016 to 2021 and then for the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2021 to date.

To recall, in 2021, Adhikari got elected from Nandigram, defeating Mamata Banerjee by a little less than 2,000 votes. Later, she got elected from Bhabanipur in a by-election and retained her chair as the West Bengal Chief Minister for the third consecutive term.

- IANS
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed district collectors and SDMs to ensure all wheat procurement centers are easily accessible and equipped with basic amenities for farmers. Procurement begins on April 9, with the state aiming to increase the wheat price to Rs 2700 per quintal. Help desks and district-level control rooms have been set up to monitor the process and assist farmers. The CM also emphasized informing farmers about relevant government welfare schemes at the procurement centers.

Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav directs officials to ensure easy access, water, shade & info at wheat procurement centers starting April 9.

Bhopal, April 8 Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav held a virtual interaction with farmers and representatives of voluntary organisations from the Chief Minister residence on Wednesday, a day before beginning of wheat procurement on Minimum Support Price.

CM Yadav informed that wheat procurement in the state will begin from April 9 and he has issued instructions to all Collectors and SDMs to ensure easy and accessible arrangements for farmers at all procurement centres.

He added that arrangements for drinking water and shaded spaces are also being made for farmers at procurement centres. Social and service-oriented organisations should also extend cooperation in an important and extensive activity like wheat procurement.

The CM noted that the year 2026 is being observed as Farmers' Welfare Year in the state. The state government is committed to farmer welfare, and continuous decisions are being taken to increase farmers' income.

The Chief Minister further said that adequate arrangements of gunny bags have been made in the state and highlighted that bringing wheat price per quintal to present level (Rs 2625 per quintal) was a major challenge; it will be taken up to Rs 2700 per quintal further. Ensuring fair prices for farmers' produce is our commitment. The state government wants to serve people, and with this objective, better arrangements for wheat procurement have been made at procurement centres.

Additionally, he added that help desks are being established at procurement centres, and control rooms have been set up at the district level. The entire system will be continuously monitored through a control room established at the Chief Minister Office. Instructions have also been given to provide information to farmers through pamphlets and hoardings at procurement centres. Farmers coming to procurement centres should also be informed about government schemes related to their welfare and interests.

- ANI
A joint team of the Indore Municipal Corporation and district administration cleared illegal encroachments from approximately 1.7 hectares of high-value government land in the Pipliya Rao area. The operation, conducted under SDM Ghanshyam Dhangar, was based on directives from the Collector and followed a Tehsil court order. Officials stated the freed land has an estimated market value of around Rs 200 crore. The encroachment, allegedly by an individual named Sukhbir Singh, involved unauthorized houses and guard rooms built on the property.

Indore authorities clear illegal structures from 1.7 hectares of government land valued at Rs 200 crore in Pipliya Rao following a court order.

Indore, April 8 A joint team of Indore Municipal Corporation and the district administration cleared illegal encroachment from the government land in the Pipliya Rao area of Indore worth nearly Rs 200 crores, an official said on Wednesday.

The removal action was carried out under the guidance of Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Ghanshyam Dhangar of Juni Indore on Wednesday early morning. According to officials, the drive led to the removal of illegal encroachments from around 1.7 hectares of government land and the market value of the land is around Rs 200 crore.

SDM Ghanshyam Dhangar told ANI, "Based on the Collector's directives, a joint team comprising the district administration, municipal corporation, and police conducted an operation to remove encroachment from the government land in Pipliya Rao area in the district. The land stretched in approximately 1.7 hectares and unauthorized structures including houses and guard rooms were built on it by an individual named Sukhbir Singh. The action was carried out today to free the land."

The matter for removal of the encroachment was under trial before Tehsil court under section 248 of the MPLRC (Madhya Pradesh Land Revenue Code). Following the order from the tehsil court, the encroachment was cleared on Wednesday, he said.

"The estimated value of the land freed from encroachment is around Rs 200 crore. It was encroached for a long time by Sukhbir Singh. During a governmental inquiry, the issue came to light that it was government land and encroached illegally, leading to the registration of a case in the Tehsil and subsequent action," he added.

- ANI
AIADMK candidate Rajasekaran conducted a door-to-door campaign in Tiruchirappalli East's Palakkarai area, seeking votes for the upcoming assembly polls. The constituency is poised for a triangular contest involving the DMK, the AIADMK-led NDA, and actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. Meanwhile, Chief Minister MK Stalin criticized the AIADMK for aligning with the BJP, dubbing it "Amit Shah Munnetra Kazhagam." Union Minister Piyush Goyal countered by labeling the DMK government as corrupt and harmful to Tamil Nadu.

AIADMK candidate Rajasekaran campaigns in Palakkarai as Tiruchirappalli East faces a three-way contest with TVK's Vijay and DMK's Inigo Irudayaraj.

Tiruchirappalli, April 8 AIADMK candidate Rajasekaran, who is contesting from the Tiruchirappalli East Assembly constituency, conducted an intensive door-to-door campaign in the Palakkarai area on Wednesday, appealing to residents for their support.

He was joined by cadres and functionaries from alliance parties, including the BJP and AMMK. During the outreach, Rajasekaran engaged with locals, discussed key concerns, and assured them of development initiatives if elected. In this constituency, Rajasekaran is facing competition from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay and Inigo Irudayaraj of the DMK.

The main contest is expected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes the Indian National Congress, DMDK and VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by AIADMK with BJP and PMK as allies. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with TVK, which could turn the contest into a three-way fight. (ANI)

Earlier on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Chief MK Stalin criticised the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami.

Addressing an election rally at Cuddalore Manjakuppam ground, CM Stalin said Palaniswami said that he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to cover up his mistakes and that "the AIADMK has now become a Sangh organisation and has become 'Amit Shah Munnetra Kazhagam'."

Meanwhile, on Monday, Union Minister Piyush Goyal labelled the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government "corrupt", stating that the MK Stalin government was harmful for the people of Tamil Nadu.

Speaking to ANI, Goyal said, "This (DMK) is a corrupt government. This government has to go. This government has been very harmful to the people of Tamil Nadu. After the election, if by mistake, people also vote for DMK, Udhayanidhi Stalin will become the Chief Minister. It's time for the NDA to come to the government to serve the people of Tamil Nadu."

The polling for single-phase Tamil Nadu assembly elections is scheduled to be held on April 23, with counting of votes set for May 4.

- ANI
Nepal's newly sworn-in Prime Minister Balendra Shah held his first group discussion with foreign ambassadors stationed in Kathmandu, breaking from the traditional practice of individual courtesy calls. Over a dozen ambassadors from countries including India, the US, China, and the UK attended the meeting at the Prime Minister's Office. Shah's political advisor stated the move was intended to end the previous culture of excessive ambassador movement and access. The meeting marks a significant shift in diplomatic protocol under the new administration.

Nepal's new PM Balendra Shah holds first group meeting with foreign ambassadors, breaking from traditional individual courtesy calls. Details inside.

Kathmandu, April 8 Nepal's newly sworn-in Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Wednesday afternoon held group discussions with foreign ambassadors stationed in Kathmandu.

It is the first time that ambassadors from multiple countries have met the newly appointed Prime Minister, whose party has a super-majority in Parliament.

Over a dozen foreign ambassadors from India, the United States, China, Bangladesh, the EU, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and others reached the Office of the Prime Minister inside Singhadurbar in Kathmandu.

According to the Prime Minister's Secretariat earlier in the day, ambassadors from over a dozen countries, including India, China, the US, Japan, and the UK, had been invited to the Prime Minister's Office for the discussion.

Since assuming office, Shah has not personally met with foreign representatives, despite repeated requests for traditional courtesy calls. Traditionally, newly appointed prime ministers invite ambassadors individually to their offices or residences within days of assuming office, a practice often criticised for its excessive formalities.

Asim Shah, political advisor to the Prime Minister, said, "Previously, there was a culture of excessive movement of ambassadors and easy access that went beyond standard diplomatic etiquette. This time, that tradition will end."

Shah, who was sworn in as prime minister on March 27, has not met foreign envoys individually despite several requests from embassies for courtesy calls.

In 2022, a structural engineer with a signature pair of black rectangular sunglasses and a history in the underground rap scene did the unthinkable: Balendra "Balen" Shah dismantled the established political machinery of Nepal to become the Mayor of Kathmandu.

Running as an independent under the symbol of a walking stick, Balen secured 61,767 votes, comfortably outstripping veteran Sirjana Singh of the Nepali Congress, who received 38,341 votes, while CPN-UML candidate Keshav Sthapit, also a former mayor of the capital, got 38,117 votes.

Now, just four years later, the 35-year-old is no longer just a local phenomenon; he is poised to become one of the youngest Prime Ministers in the nation's history.

Balen's success was never accidental. While he rose to fame in 2013 through the rap battle league Raw Barz, he spent two and a half years quietly laying the groundwork for his mayoral run.

His academic pedigree, a degree in engineering from Himalayan White House College and a Master's in structural engineering from India, gave him the technical credibility that resonated with a disillusioned electorate.

His political strategy has been equally deliberate. Following the tragic death of 77 people during the September protests and the subsequent resignation of KP Sharma Oli, Balen was the first choice for Gen-Z activists to lead an interim government.

He declined the interim role, supporting former Chief Justice Sushila Karki instead. It was a masterstroke of foresight; he traded a six-month temporary stint for a shot at a full five-year term as Prime Minister.

On January 18, 2026, Balen formally joined the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), launching his campaign from Janakpur the very next day.

In a move many labelled "foolish," Balen chose to contest the election from Jhapa-05, the long-standing stronghold of political heavyweight KP Sharma Oli, and defeated him by a huge margin.

Located about 500 kilometres from the capital, Jhapa-5 had become the epicentre of a political earthquake.

Balen's relationship with the public is defined by a massive digital footprint and a volatile temperament. With over 3.5 million followers on Facebook, he bypasses traditional press conferences to speak directly to the masses.

However, his "unfiltered" persona has courted significant controversy. In a now-deleted November post, he lashed out at geopolitical giants (the USA, India, China) and every major Nepali political party, including the RSP, which he would join just two months later.

Despite his aggressive rhetoric, including past threats to "burn down" the administrative hub of Singhadurbar, his supporters see him as the only "authentic" alternative to a stagnant status quo.

Born in 1990, Balen is the youngest of four siblings. His late father, Ram Narayan Shah, was an Ayurvedic practitioner who passed away just before Balen's formal entry into mainstream politics.

Even as he takes over the premiership, Balen continues to pursue a PhD in traditional infrastructure at Kathmandu University, blending the roles of an academic, a technical expert, and a populist firebrand.

- ANI
New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire announcement, emphasizing the significant work still needed to secure a lasting peace. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also praised the development, seeing it as crucial for regional and global stability. Both leaders specifically commended Pakistan's diplomatic role in facilitating the breakthrough. The statements follow US President Donald Trump's announcement of a temporary halt to hostilities and his positive reception of Iran's 10-point peace proposal.

New Zealand and Malaysia welcome the US-Iran ceasefire, calling for a durable peace deal and praising Pakistan's diplomatic efforts.

Wellington, April 8 New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Peters said that there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire.

In a post on X, he said, "New Zealand welcomes the announcements by the United States and Iran over the past few hours - as we welcome all efforts to bring an end to this conflict. While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire. We are grateful for the work of Pakistan, and others such as Turkiye and Egypt, to seek to find a solution to the crisis."

Peters said that he had held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that the war has caused significant disruptions in the Middle East and beyond.

"As we discussed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio today, this conflict has had wide-ranging impacts and disruptions - for both those in the Middle East and further afield including in New Zealand and the Pacific region. In the coming days and weeks, New Zealand will stand in support of all efforts to bring about a lasting, durable end to this conflict," he said.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also welcomed the ceasefire, saying that it augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability.

In a post on X, he said, "I wholeheartedly welcome the latest development in the current US-Iran war, in respect of the ten-point plan as proposed by Iran and positively received by the US. This proposal augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability, not only to the region but also the rest of the world. It is earnestly hoped that the negotiation process will be conducted in good faith, with a firm resolve to seeking lasting resolution to the issues currently facing the region. Peace talks cannot succeed if the proceedings are cloaked in deception and double-dealing."

He further said that Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen must also see peace.

"It is imperative that the ten-point plan be translated into a comprehensive peace deal, not just for Iran, but also for Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. Further, it is incumbent upon the parties concerned to ensure the end of the genocide and dispossession of the people of Palestine, not least in Gaza," he said.

He further said that Malaysia stands ready to support and complement all efforts in this regard.

"I once again extend our sincere congratulations and deep appreciation to Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the tireless and courageous diplomacy that helped bring this moment about. Pakistan's willingness to speak to all sides, without fear or favour, reflects the highest traditions of Muslim solidarity and international responsibility. Malaysia stands ready to support and complement all efforts in this regard. We also call on the international community to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilian populations affected by this war. Let this be a turning point towards lasting peace. The world cannot afford for it to be anything less," he said.

These remarks and the statements come after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries.

The development follows heightened tensions in the region, with fears of escalation threatening global energy markets and economic stability. The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage for global oil shipments, has remained at the centre of geopolitical concerns, given its strategic importance and vulnerability during conflict.

- ANI
The National Green Tribunal has clarified that its directive for GPS tracking applies to all commercial water tankers, including those transporting treated sewage water. It rejected arguments from tanker operators seeking exemption, stating the rule is intended to prevent illegal groundwater extraction disguised as treated water supply. The Tribunal directed the Delhi Jal Board to issue proper documentation for every tanker load and maintain chronological records. Failure to comply can result in vehicle seizure, criminal cases, and prosecution of officials.

NGT clarifies GPS tracking applies to all commercial water tankers, including those carrying treated sewage, to prevent groundwater misuse. Compliance is mandatory.

New Delhi, April 8 ,: The National Green Tribunal has clarified that its earlier directions on regulating water tankers in Delhi will apply to all commercial water supply, including tankers carrying treated sewage water.

The Tribunal made it clear that there is no distinction between groundwater and treated water when it comes to monitoring and compliance, and all tankers must follow the same rules.

The clarification came while deciding applications filed by tanker operators who argued that the Tribunal's previous order dated May 28, 2025, was being wrongly applied to tankers transporting treated STP water. They sought protection from FIRs and coercive action, claiming that their operations were lawful and authorised by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

Rejecting this contention, the Tribunal held that although treated STP water is not groundwater, the earlier order used the broader term "water" and was intended to regulate all commercial water supply through tankers. It was observed that applying Global Positioning System (GPS) tracking to all tankers would help prevent misuse, including illegal transportation of groundwater under the cover of treated water supply.

The Tribunal reiterated that all tankers must be GPS-fitted, and authorities are empowered to seize vehicles and register criminal cases in case of violations. It also emphasised that tanker drivers must carry proper documents, such as gate passes and transit passes, and produce them during inspections, failing which both drivers and owners may face legal consequences.

Noting gaps in the existing monitoring mechanism, the NGT issued additional directions to the Delhi Jal Board. It directed the DJB to issue gate passes and transit passes for every tanker load, maintain detailed and chronological records of all tankers lifting treated water, and ensure proper documentation. The Tribunal warned that failure to comply with these directions could result in prosecution of concerned officials under environmental and criminal laws.

The Tribunal also took note of instances where FIRs were registered against tanker operators but later cancelled after it was found that the tankers were carrying treated water. However, it observed that in such cases, drivers had failed to produce valid documents at the time of checking, leading to enforcement action. It clarified that the issue of criminal liability in such cases would be decided by the competent courts.

The Tribunal dismissed the impleadment application filed by the tanker operators, holding that they were not necessary parties to the main environmental dispute. The clarification application was disposed of with the above directions, and the order has been sent to the Chief Secretary of Delhi, DJB, and the Commissioner of Police for strict compliance.

- ANI
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will take oath as a Rajya Sabha member on April 10, after which he will resign from the state's top post. The NDA alliance will then convene to select the next Chief Minister, with strong speculation that a BJP leader may take the role for the first time in Bihar. A crucial JD(U) meeting in Delhi will precede these decisions, where Nitish Kumar is also expected to meet top central leaders. The new government is anticipated to be formed around April 15-16, marking a significant transition in the state's politics.

Nitish Kumar to take Rajya Sabha oath April 10, resign as Bihar CM. NDA alliance to meet and decide on his successor for the state's new government.

Patna, April 8 In a major political development in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to take oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on April 10.

State Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed that Nitish Kumar will travel to New Delhi on April 9 and take oath in the Rajya Sabha on April 10.

Following this, he will step down as Chief Minister, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the state.

Chaudhary stated that after Nitish Kumar's resignation, all constituent parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will hold a meeting to finalise the next Chief Minister and government structure.

When asked about potential candidates for the CM post, he remarked, "Whoever's name you (the media) circulate will be in the race," hinting at ongoing speculation but no official decision yet.

A crucial meeting of the Janata Dal(United) is scheduled in Delhi on April 9, where senior leaders, including Union Minister Lalan Singh and acting national president Sanjay Jha, are expected to participate.

Sources indicate that discussions will focus on the transfer of power in Bihar, the selection of the new Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, and JD(U)'s role in the upcoming government.

Nitish Kumar, who also serves as JD(U)'s national president, will play a key role in these deliberations.

According to sources, Nitish Kumar may also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his Delhi visit to discuss the future political roadmap for Bihar.

Nitish Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and resigned from the Legislative Council on March 30.

Sources suggest that after the conclusion of 'Kharmas' (inauspicious, month-long period in Hindu astrology) on April 14, the new government could be formed around April 15-16.

There is strong speculation that Bihar may, for the first time, see a BJP Chief Minister.

Before departing for Delhi, Nitish Kumar presided over a ceremony in Patna, distributing appointment letters to 4,954 ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives).

The event is being seen as one of his final official engagements as Chief Minister.

The coming days are expected to be crucial for Bihar politics, with leadership transition, alliance dynamics, and governance priorities all set to undergo significant changes.

- IANS
North Korea launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, marking its fourth such launch this year. The launch occurred just a day after Pyongyang fired an unidentified projectile that appears to have failed. This escalation follows South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's expression of regret over unauthorized drone flights into North Korean territory. In response, Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, issued a statement warning Seoul to stop "reckless provocation" while offering a mixed assessment of the South Korean leader.

North Korea fires short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea in back-to-back launches, escalating tensions after South Korean President's remarks on drone incursions.

Seoul, April 8 North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, in a back-to-back launch that came after President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone flights by individuals into the North.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the missiles launched from the Wonsan area in the North at around 8:50 a.m. They flew some 240 kilometres. It marked the North's fourth confirmed ballistic missile launch this year.

"Our military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements under a robust South Korea-US combined defense posture and maintains the capabilities and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner," the JCS said.

South Korean and US intelligence authorities have tracked the launch movement and closely shared relevant information, it added.

The launch came just a day after the North fired an unidentified projectile from the Pyongyang area Tuesday, which is currently pending analysis by South Korean and US intelligence authorities.

The projectile, believed to have been launched Tuesday morning, disappeared shortly after it was fired in an apparent failure.

The back-to-back launches came after President Lee expressed regret over drone flights by individuals into the North on Monday.

At a Cabinet meeting, Lee expressed regret over the drone flights, saying that the incidents have caused unnecessary military tension with Pyongyang. His remarks came after prosecutors last week indicted three individuals accused of flying drones into North Korea between September and January, Yonhap news agency reported.

Hours after Lee's remarks, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader Kim Jong-un, issued a statement that said North Korea's head of state assessed Lee as having a "frank and broad-minded" attitude.

Still, she warned Seoul "should stop any reckless provocation" against Pyongyang and "refrain from any attempt at contact, instead of paying lip service to the utmost importance of peace and security."

The North last fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on March 14 as annual springtime military drills by South Korea and the United States were under way. State media reported the following day the North conducted a firepower strike drill involving 600-millimetre ultra-precision multiple rocket launchers.

Pyongyang has yet to release any report on both launches.

- IANS
US Vice President JD Vance, speaking from Hungary, characterized the ceasefire with Iran as fragile and called for Tehran to demonstrate good faith to achieve a durable agreement. He balanced this diplomatic overture with a sharp warning, stating President Donald Trump is "impatient" and "not one to mess around" if negotiations fail. The push for a settlement comes directly from Trump, who instructed his team to work in good faith. The current 14-day truce is conditioned on Iran facilitating the complete and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

US Vice President JD Vance calls Iran ceasefire "fragile," urges good faith for long-term deal, and warns President Trump is "not one to mess around."

Budapest, April 8 United States Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday characterised the ongoing ceasefire with Iran as "fragile", calling on Tehran to demonstrate "good faith" in order to secure a durable long-term agreement.

Speaking from Hungary, Vance combined an invitation for diplomacy with a sharp caution, noting that US President Donald Trump was "not one to mess around".

The Vice President, currently on a visit to Budapest, suggested that a comprehensive resolution to Middle Eastern tensions remains achievable, provided the Iranian leadership is prepared to coordinate constructively with the American administration.

"If the Iranians are willing in good faith to work with us, I think we can make an agreement," Vance remarked during his address.

However, the Vice President balanced this diplomatic overture with a warning regarding President Trump's resolve and his desire for rapid results.

He stated that should Tehran decline the opportunity to negotiate, "they're going to find out that the President of the United States is not one to mess around. He's impatient. He's impatient to make progress."

Vance further revealed that the push for a peaceful settlement comes directly from the top of the US executive branch.

Highlighting the administration's commitment to the process, he noted that Trump had explicitly instructed his officials to prioritise the discussions.

"The President of the United States has told me, and he's told the entire negotiating team ... go and work in good faith to come to an agreement," Vance shared, adding, "That is what he has told us to do."

This diplomatic push follows President Trump's earlier declaration of a 14-day cessation of hostilities.

The truce was offered on the specific condition that Tehran facilitates a "complete, immediate, and safe opening" of the Strait of Hormuz, a move currently being facilitated through Pakistani mediation.

Outlining the terms of the suspension on Truth Social, Trump had written: "Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

The President had previously acknowledged receiving a 10-point proposal from the Iranian side, which he described as a "workable basis on which to negotiate".

As of Wednesday, the cessation of hostilities seemed to be maintained following the mutual commitment from both nations to the short-term truce.

- ANI
A former US Treasury analyst questions Pakistan's true motives in mediating between the US and Iran, suggesting its massive debt to China may make it a proxy. He describes Pakistan inserting itself into White House discussions as "unlikely and bizarre." The analyst warns the conflict is not over, citing unresolved issues with Iranian proxies and uncertainty over the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Israel has expressed support for the US decision to pursue a ceasefire with Iran.

Former US official Jonathan Schanzer questions if Pakistan's mediation between US and Iran is independent or influenced by its Chinese debt.

Washington DC, April 8 After the US and Iran agreed to a two week ceasefire and held out hopes for lasting peace, Pakistan took much of the credit for playing mediator between the two countries.

However, Executive Director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) and former US Treasury counterterrorism analyst, Jonathan Schanzer feels that Pakistan is deeply indebted to China. So, it remains to be seen if Pakistan is broadening its alliances by siding with the US, or is it doing the bidding of China.

"When we look at Pakistan, we need to understand that this is a country greatly indebted to China. Through the Belt and Road Initiative and debt-trap diplomacy, China has the Pakistanis right where they want them. The question is: Are the Pakistanis trying to work with the United States to perhaps make new friends and broaden their alliances, or are they doing the bidding of China? Are they essentially a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party? At this point, we just don't know the answer to that," he said.

Schanzer said that Pakistan pushing itself into a negotiating role with the White House was bizzare.

"Their role in all of this is just so unlikely and bizarre. There are a lot of things I didn't expect to see in 2026; this is probably among the top ones. And yet, somehow, the Pakistanis have insinuated themselves into the White House. They're part of the discussions about Gaza and part of the Iran deal. How this has happened and what they want in return has yet to be explained," he said.

Executive Director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) and former US Treasury counterterrorism analyst, Jonathan Schanzer said that US Vice President JD Vance holds a dim view on foreign interference and China's case gets interesting here

Schanzer, in a conversation with ANI, was asked about reports that JD Vance was looped in late to the US-Iran mediation process, and that probably China helped bring Iran to the table.

"Well, look, we know that JD Vance holds a dim view of foreign intervention, and I think he's been very concerned about this war from the get-go. We lump him into a group broadly described as neo-isolationists--people who are deeply skeptical of the American use of force to shape forces around the globe. But I think the question of China is really the most interesting one," he said.

Schanzer also warned that this war is far from over even if the ceasefire is upheld and Strait of Hormuz is open.

"The thing everyone needs to understand is that this war is not over. Even if they agree to keep the strait open and stop bombing one another for a time, there is still going to be a covert effort to bring down the regime from within. The people of Iran have not yet had their say. I also think there are open questions about all those different proxies. They were the ones who started this war back in 2023--Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. They have yet to be dealt with in a way that puts punctuation at the end of this long conflict. This possibly puts things back into the hands of the Israelis to decide how to deal with Iran's proxy network. We're going to see new phases of this war begin to take shape, but it would be welcome if the ballistic missiles stop so the region can return to something resembling the status quo," he said.

He further said that it remains to be seen if Iran allows free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Then there's the bigger question, which I think is the most important one: Does the Islamic Republic allow for the free flow of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz? I'm not convinced that they'll be willing to do so. If they start trying to charge people for going through or if they threaten vessels trying to transit the strait, that will become a real problem. We potentially have a two-week ceasefire, and during that time, a more permanent solution will need to be derived. But especially in these early hours and days, there's still a lot that can go wrong," he said.

Meanwhile, Israel has backed the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran as the two nations look to work out a lasting peace formula.

A statement from the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office said, "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks' subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region. Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbours and the world."

- ANI
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly appealed to US President Donald Trump to extend a key deadline concerning Iran by two weeks to allow diplomatic efforts to proceed. The White House confirmed it is reviewing the proposal from Islamabad. Sharif also called for immediate de-escalation, a regional ceasefire, and for Iran to temporarily open the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture. The appeal comes as the Trump administration warns of consequences if diplomacy fails, placing the next steps on Tehran's response.

PM Shehbaz Sharif asks President Trump for a two-week extension on Iran deadline to allow diplomatic efforts to progress and avoid escalation.

Washington, April 8 Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly appealed to US President Donald Trump to extend a key deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to proceed in the escalating West Asia crisis, as the White House signalled it is reviewing the proposal.

"The President has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told IANS, offering the first official reaction to Islamabad's outreach.

Sharif, in a statement posted on X, said diplomatic efforts were "progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future." He urged Washington to "extend the deadline for two weeks" to give negotiations space.

The Pakistani PM also called for immediate de-escalation measures across the region. "Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture," he said.

He further urged "all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region."

The appeal comes at a critical moment in the fast-moving crisis, where Washington has signalled both willingness for negotiations and readiness for escalation. In remarks over the past 48 hours, Trump administration officials have repeatedly underscored that the next steps depend on Tehran's actions, while warning of consequences if diplomacy fails.

Iran has until 8 p.m. EST to respond to Trump's offer for a deal.

Vice President J.D. Vance had said "the ball is in the Iranians' court," adding that the United States does not seek escalation but retains the ability to "exact much, much greater pain."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, has blamed Iran for disruptions to global shipping routes, highlighting the strategic importance of maritime stability.

- IANS
Palestine's Ambassador to India, Abdullah Abu Shawesh, emphasized that ending the ongoing war is crucial not only for Palestinians but for the entire international community. He highlighted the conflict's broader consequences, including risks to global energy security via the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The diplomat condemned continued violence in Palestinian territories and the restriction of access to religious sites like Al-Aqsa Mosque. He asserted that a just and lasting peace in the Middle East is contingent upon implementing a two-state solution with Israel abiding by international law.

Palestine's Ambassador to India calls for an end to hostilities and a two-state solution as the foundation for lasting peace in the region.

By Sahil Pandey, New Delhi, April 8 Abdullah Abu Shawesh, Palestine's Ambassador to India, underscored the importance of ending hostilities in the Middle East and called for a two-state solution as the foundation for lasting peace in the region.

Speaking to ANI, the diplomat highlighted the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict, stressing that its consequences extend far beyond the immediate parties involved.

"Indeed, it's not only for the Palestinian. When we talk about ending this devastating war, ending approximately 40 days of relentless bombardment from the Israeli and the American side to the Iranian country and of course from Iran to Israel and closing the strain and all of this stuff which is a devastating consequence not only for the people who is engaging in the war itself but also for the international community so that our perspective as a Palestinian this is something good for the whole international community for every single one peace lover," he said.

The diplomat emphasised that while some in Israel and the United States continue to advocate for further military action, the global community benefits from any steps toward peace. "I'm not revealing a secret when they declared themselves loud and declared this war should be continued. And many of them is talking also advocating in Israel and in America also advocating for bombing a new Iran itself. But for any single person worldwide whose belief of peace and love and belief of safe future for everyone, this is a good thing," he added.

Addressing strategic concerns, he spoke about the importance of the Hormuz Strait for energy security, noting that the conflict had placed the region and the international community on a delicate balance. "Indeed, when it came to this particular port, the Strait of Hormuz itself, it was open. But unfortunately, with the war that was launched by America and Israel against Iran, we found ourselves as international community, as all the human around the world was hanged... Iran is used this leverage, might be the only one of the most significant leverage at its hand to close or to not allow them the crossing of this strait as it was before the war."

He also condemned the continued violence in Palestinian territories, citing recent casualties and ongoing restrictions at religious sites. "The war affected every single one, in particular, of course, our region. In particular, we in Palestine, had been harshly and negatively affected because Israel utilized that all the cameras is turning to West Asia, to Iran, and the war in Iran, and utilised this unfortunate war to expand its settlement... Still, just yesterday, 10 Palestinians have been killed... Al-Aqsa Mosque is closed while the Jewish prayers going to Western Wall, Al-Buraq Wall, practicing their religion. But when it came to the Muslim and the Christian, it was closed."

On achieving lasting peace, the diplomat insisted, "The Golden Age in the Middle East will happen when the Palestinians will enjoy justice... if there is a two-state solution. And the two-state solution needs Israel to abide by the international law. And the two-state solution, just and solution, and peace in the Middle East, needs the international community to stop treating Israel as a spoilt, jealous, stupid teenager."

He concluded by urging all parties, especially the United States, to honour commitments toward ending the conflict. "If there is a will, there is a way. And if the Americans realise that they will, they should put an end to this war... If he abides by this and there is a will, I'm pretty sure there is a way."

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan on April 21, 2026, to inaugurate the Pachpadra Refinery. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma hailed the project as a transformative "lifeline" for the state's economy. The refinery is expected to open new doors of employment for the youth, particularly in the Marwar region. Separately, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in a regional agriculture conference in Jaipur.

Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma announces PM Modi will inaugurate the Pachpadra Refinery on April 21, calling it a transformative economic lifeline for the state.

Jaipur, April 8 Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the state on April 21 to inaugurate the Pachpadra Refinery.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Chief Minister Sharma hailed the upcoming visit and described the refinery as a "lifeline" that would transform the state's economy.

"I am filled with immense joy and pride in sharing this information that the world's most popular leader, our guide for all, the illustrious Prime Minister, the honourable @narendramodi, will grace Veerdhara Rajasthan on April 21, 2026, for the inauguration of the Pachpadra Refinery," the Chief Minister posted on X.

CM Bhajanlal emphasised that the project would be a major milestone for the development of Marwar and the entire state, as it would open new doors of employment for the youth.

"This refinery will prove to be a 'lifeline' that brings about an economic transformation for the entire Rajasthan, including Marwar, and opens new doors of employment for the youth," said CM Sharma.

"The entire populace of Rajasthan extends a hearty welcome and heartfelt felicitations to the Prime Minister," he said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan participated in the Regional Agriculture Conference held in Jaipur, Rajasthan.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, "Regarding agriculture, the regional conference of our five states is being held today in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan. Ministers from all five states, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Goa, are present here. All senior officials from the states are here. All senior officials from the Government of India are present in this conference today."

Chouhan said that the first regional conference on agriculture is being held today, bringing together experts and institutions to conduct in-depth discussions that were previously not possible at the national level.

"Scientists, agriculture experts, progressive farmers, FPOs, and all institutions working from seeds to markets are participating in this regional conference today. This is the country's first regional conference on agriculture. Previously, it was organised at the national level for kharif and rabi crops, but due to a lack of time, in-depth and extensive discussions could not take place. Therefore, from this time, we have started this tradition," said the Minister.

- ANI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Balotra, Rajasthan on April 21 to inaugurate the Pachpadra Refinery. The massive Rs 80,000 crore project is a joint venture between HPCL and the Rajasthan government. It is a modern, environmentally conscious facility with a 9 million tonne crude oil processing capacity and an integrated petrochemical complex. The refinery is expected to be a significant economic driver, creating large-scale employment and boosting regional connectivity.

PM Narendra Modi will inaugurate the modern Pachpadra Refinery on April 21. The Rs 80,000 crore project promises major economic and employment benefits for Rajasthan.

Jaipur, April 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rajasthan on April 21 to inaugurate the Pachpadra Refinery in Balotra, a greenfield refinery and petrochemical complex.

Sharing this information on his official 'X' handle, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma expressed pride over the Prime Minister's visit to the state. He stated that it is a matter of great honour that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming to the land of Rajasthan to dedicate this significant project."

"It gives me immense joy and pride to share that the world's most popular leader, our guiding light and illustrious Prime Minister, Honorable Shri Narendra Modi Ji, will be visiting 'Veerdhara' Rajasthan on April 21, 2026, for the inauguration of the Pachpadra Refinery. This refinery is destined to emerge as a true 'lifeline,' driving economic transformation across Rajasthan, including the Marwar region, and creating new avenues of employment for our youth. On behalf of the people of Rajasthan, I extend a warm welcome and heartfelt greetings to the Honorable Prime Minister," said CM Sharma in his X post.

The refinery is a joint venture between HPCL and the Government of Rajasthan. The Pachpadra Refinery stands as one of the country's most modern refining facilities, fully compliant with BS-VI standards.

Notably, both a refinery and a petrochemical plant are being developed simultaneously at this site. Designed as a 'Zero Liquid Effluent Discharge' project, it ensures that no liquid waste is released during the crude oil refining process, marking a significant achievement in environmental conservation. The refinery has an annual crude oil processing capacity of nine million tonnes, alongside an integrated petrochemical complex with a capacity of two million tonnes.

Of the total crude requirement, approximately 7.5 million tonnes will be imported from Arab nations, while around 1.5 million tonnes will be sourced domestically.

Constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 80,000 crore, this project is expected to generate large-scale employment opportunities and significantly boost economic activity. The refining process and production of petro-based products will also increase freight movement in the region. To support this growth, plans are underway to revive connectivity between Balotra and Pachpadra.

PM Modi had earlier visited Ajmer on February 28. He will be visiting Rajasthan for the second time in the last two months. During his visit to Ajmer, he launched development projects worth over Rs 16,000 crore across the state and handed over appointment letters to more than 21,000 youths.

- IANS
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor held a series of meetings in Washington D.C. to advance the U.S.-India commercial roadmap. Key discussions focused on a new AI partnership MoU, boosting Indian pharmaceutical investment in the U.S., and enhancing security cooperation against transnational threats. Gor also met with the U.S. Vice President to reinforce the strategic relationship under the current administration. Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra emphasized the robust efforts to achieve bilateral goals set by both nations' leaders.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor meets top US officials to advance commercial roadmap, AI cooperation, pharma investment, and security ties with India.

Washington DC, April 8 US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and discussed the US-India commercial roadmap.

Gor said that they discussed ways to boost New Delhi-Washington cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and Indian pharma investment in the US.

In a post on X, Gor said, "Productive meeting with Secretary Howard Lutnick on the U.S.-India commercial roadmap. We discussed a new MoU connecting India's AI scale with the American AI ecosystem, strong Indian participation at the upcoming SelectUSA Summit, and growing Indian pharma investment in the United States to boost competition and strengthen supply chains."

Earlier, Sergio Gor met with FBI Director Kash Patel in Washington and discussed US.-India cooperation to counter transnational threats such as cybercrime, narcotics, and illicit networks.

He also praised the FBI Director for improving the law and order situation in the US.

"A constructive discussion with Kash Patel on U.S.-India cooperation to counter transnational threats-cybercrime, narcotics, and illicit networks. Strong alignment on security priorities. Kash has done a fantastic job at the FBI. In 2025: 112% INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME ARRESTS YEAR TO YEAR. 20% DECREASE IN HOMICIDES. 20% DECREASE IN ROBBERIES!" he said.

During his visit to Washington, Gor also met with US Vice President JD Vance and discussed India-US relations.

"Just wrapped a fantastic meeting with the VP. Thank you, JD Vance, for your continued leadership and attention to the U.S.-India relationship. Under President Trump's leadership, the White House is fully engaged in the region," he said.

Indian Ambassador to the US Vinay Mohan Kwatra and the American counterpart Sergio Gor discussed efforts to enhance bilateral ties between New Delhi and Washington.

Sharing the details of the meeting in a post on X, Ambassador Kwatra said, "Good to catch up with my friend, Amb Sergio Gor @USAmbIndia, during his visit to Washington DC. Respect and value his partnership, as we continue our robust efforts to achieve the goals agreed by our two leaders for the India-U.S. strategic ties."

- ANI
PM Modi & Amit Shah celebrate 11 years of PM Mudra Yojana, highlighting over 58 crore loans disbursed to empower youth & women entrepreneurs.

New Delhi, April 8 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the impact of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana on its 11th anniversary, stating that the initiative has been pivotal in fostering self-employment and making the youth of the nation self-reliant.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister emphasised that providing the right opportunities is key to individual and national growth.



"Exactly 11 years ago, the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, launched today, has proven to be very helpful in promoting self-employment among the youth. The success of this scheme shows that when given the right opportunities, an individual can not only become self-reliant but also contribute to the nation's progress. Self-knowledge is the beginning, forbearance is the constancy of dharma," PM posted.



"He who is not distressed by adversities is truly called a wise man," he added.



Union Home Minister Amit Shah also posted on X and said that over 58 crore collateral-free loans worth more than Rs 40 lakh crore have been disbursed under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) in the last 11 years, strengthening self-employment and small industries across the country.



Shah said the scheme has empowered small traders, startups and youth by improving access to finance.



"Under the Modi government, by providing loans without collateral to small traders and startups, self-employment and small industries have been empowered with new strength. In these 11 years, over 58 crore loans worth more than Rs 40 lakh crore have been disbursed under this welfare scheme, benefiting 12 crore youth who are infusing new energy into the journey of building an Atmanirbhar Bharat," Shah said.



He further noted that women have been major beneficiaries of the scheme.



"The fact that 2 out of every 3 Mudra loans go to women is a historic achievement in the direction of women's empowerment and self-reliance," he added.



The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8, 2015, to strengthen grassroots entrepreneurship by providing easy collateral-free loans of up to Rs 20 lakh for non-corporate and non-farm income-generating activities.



The implementation of this financial inclusion programme is based on three pillars, namely, "Banking the Unbanked," "Securing the Unsecured," and "Funding the Unfunded."



Under PMMY, loans are provided under four categories--Shishu (up to Rs 50,000), Kishor (above Rs 50,000 and up to Rs 5 lakh), Tarun (above Rs 5 lakh and up to Rs 10 lakh), and Tarun Plus (above Rs 10 lakh and up to Rs 20 lakh)--to support enterprises across manufacturing, trading and service sectors, including allied agricultural activities such as dairy, poultry and beekeeping.





- ANI
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has welcomed the announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a source of relief for millions worldwide. He expressed hope the temporary truce would evolve into a permanent agreement to restore regional security and stability. The President reaffirmed Egypt's full and unconditional support for its Gulf Cooperation Council allies, Jordan, and Iraq, emphasizing their security concerns must be addressed. The ceasefire follows US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend military action after mediation from Pakistan's leadership.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcomes the US-Iran ceasefire, calling it a global relief and reaffirming Egypt's unconditional support for Gulf allies.

Cairo, April 8 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing the development as a source of relief for millions worldwide.

Highlighting the humanitarian and strategic significance of the truce, the President expressed hope that the move would lead to a durable resolution for the region.

In a post on X, President el-Sisi shared his personal reflections on the early morning announcement.

"I followed, in the early hours of this morning, the announcement of reaching a ceasefire agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This news has undoubtedly brought relief to the hearts of millions of peace-loving people across all corners of the earth," the Egyptian leader stated.

Looking toward the future of the diplomatic process, el-Sisi expressed his aspirations for the temporary pause to evolve into a lasting peace.

He further added, "I pray to God--Almighty and Exalted--that this positive development will be crowned with a permanent agreement to halt the war in the region, restore security and stability therein, and achieve the aspirations of its peoples for development, progress, and prosperity."

While supporting the path toward peace, the President underscored Egypt's unwavering commitment to its regional allies.

He reaffirmed Cairo's "full and unconditional support for the sister countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Jordan and Iraq, during these delicate circumstances," while emphasising the importance that any forthcoming agreement "take into account their legitimate security concerns and requirements."

The Egyptian President also took the opportunity to acknowledge the role of the American leadership in facilitating the truce.

He noted that Egypt "values President Trump's decision to heed the voice of reason and uphold the values of humanity and peace," while calling on all involved parties to engage seriously in negotiations to achieve "peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the region and the world."

Reaffirming Egypt's long-term regional role, el-Sisi stated that the leadership, government, and people would remain a steadfast pillar of support for the security and prosperity of their brothers in the Gulf states, Iraq, and Jordan.

He pledged to "continue to exert every sincere and dedicated effort aimed at ending conflicts and establishing just and comprehensive peace in our region and across the entire world."

This diplomatic outreach from Cairo follows a significant breakthrough by US President Donald Trump, who suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran.

Announcing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire, Trump stated that a 10-point proposal from Iran was "workable" and would serve as the ground to negotiate a permanent deal, particularly as the US has already achieved most of its military objectives.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump revealed that the suspension was prompted by mediation from Pakistan.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump stated.

The US President noted that Iran had agreed to almost all the various points of past contention, allowing time for a permanent agreement to be finalised.

Responding to this overture, the Iranian side accepted the peace initiative, agreeing to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz and a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on X that Iran would cease its military operations, provided it was not attacked.

Araghchi declared on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council that if attacks are halted, their "Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations."

He confirmed that, for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces.

This de-escalation sets the stage for formal diplomacy, with talks between the Iranian side, led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the US delegation, led by Vice-President JD Vance, scheduled for Friday in Islamabad.

- ANI
The announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran has been welcomed in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly by senior religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. He praised the move as a step toward peace, emphasizing that restraint and dialogue must take precedence over confrontation. The ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan, comes as a relief to the region's sizable Shia Muslim population, which has historic ties to Iran. Kashmir had previously witnessed peaceful protests following the death of Iran's supreme leader in airstrikes.

Senior religious leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq welcomes the US-Iran ceasefire, praising restraint and dialogue over confrontation for peace.

Srinagar, April 8 The bilateral ceasefire announced by the US and Iran after the 40-day-long West Asia conflict has been welcomed by a senior religious leader in Jammu and Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

After raising tensions to an unexpected high by saying that an entire civilisation would be wiped out if Iran did not respond positively before the end of the deadline set by him, US President Donald Trump posted on social media that a two-week-long ceasefire has been agreed upon by the two belligerent countries, the US and Iran.

Israel said that, although they were informed about it at the last moment, the country would observe the ceasefire.

Ironically, the ceasefire was mediated by Pakistan and was mentioned by its Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on his social media post.

While announcing the ceasefire, the US president said the Iranian people were great.

The ceasefire announcement has been largely welcomed in Jammu and Kashmir, and it has come as a relief to the people in the union territory.

Kashmir Valley has a sizeable Shia Muslim population whose religious and sectarian affiliation with Iran has been historic. Sunni Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir have also shown solidarity with the Iranian people, standing alongside the Shia Muslims.

Senior religious leader and chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, welcomed the announcement. He said on X, "The two week ceasefire announcement between Iran and the United States is a welcome step toward peace. It underscores restraint and dialogue takes precedence over confrontation for conflict resolution, and peace prevails over war."

"The resilience and courage shown by the Iranian people and leadership in the face of extreme aggression is commendable. Congratulations to them and all the actors including Islamabad in bringing about this crucial ceasefire. May this lead to lasting stability and greater dialogue over conflict," he added.

Kashmir had witnessed widespread peaceful protests on March 1 after the death of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, in the US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.

- IANS
South Korean stocks skyrocketed, with the KOSPI index rising nearly 6%, following news of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran. The deal includes the reopening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for oil shipments, easing major geopolitical tensions. Major tech firms like Samsung Electronics and SK hynix led the market rally, while construction companies surged on potential rebuilding contracts in Iran. Conversely, oil refiners and defense shares declined as the ceasefire reduced risk premiums and conflict-related demand.

South Korea's KOSPI surges nearly 6% after US and Iran agree to a two-week ceasefire and the reopening of the crucial Strait of Hormuz for oil shipments.

Seoul, April 8 South Korean stocks rose sharply higher late on Wednesday morning as the United States and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The benchmark Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI) rose 326.12 points, or 5.94 percent, to 5,820.9 as of 11:20 am (local time), reports Yonhap news agency.

The bourse operator activated a buy-side sidecar, temporarily halting program-driven buy orders in KOSPI futures earlier in the session.

U.S. President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. would suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks if Tehran agrees to the "complete, immediate and safe opening" of the crucial strait.

In response, Iran's foreign ministry released a statement accepting the ceasefire proposal, noting "safe passage" through the crucial waterway "will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."

Market bellwether Samsung Electronics surged 7.12 percent, and chip giant SK hynix soared 9.5 percent.

Builders traded higher on potential reconstruction opportunities in Iran, with Daewoo Engineering & Construction rising 27.95 percent and Hyundai Engineering & Construction increasing 13.34 percent.

Oil refiners lost ground as global crude prices fell sharply following the ceasefire, with SK Innovation losing 2.96 percent and S-Oil sliding 2 percent.

Defence shares were among losers as well, with Hanwha Aerospace moving down 5.14 percent and Hyundai Rotem surrendering 3.32 percent.

The local currency was trading at 1,478.8 won against the greenback at 11:20 a.m., up 25.4 won from the previous session.

Meanwhile, the government vowed efforts to help South Korean vessels stuck in the Strait of Hormuz to safely pass through the shipping route after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire with the full reopening of the crucial passage for oil.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources will cooperate with the foreign and oceans ministries to ensure the safe and swift passage of Korean oil tankers tied up at the Hormuz strait, officials said.

- IANS
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sparked controversy after a post labeled "Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X" was published on his official account. The message called for a two-week ceasefire, requested former US President Donald Trump to extend a deadline, and asked Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. Although the "Draft" heading was quickly edited out, the original version was captured, leading to widespread online scrutiny. The incident has raised questions about communication protocols and the handling of sensitive diplomatic statements on social media.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif's X post mistakenly published as a "draft," revealing a message to Trump and Iran, sparking a major online debate.

Islamabad, April 8 A social media post by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has triggered widespread debate after an apparent "draft" message was mistakenly published on X and later edited.

The incident quickly drew attention online, with users scrutinising the edit history and questioning the circumstances behind the initial post.

The controversy began when the Prime Minister's account shared a message that included the heading: "Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X." The inclusion of the word "Draft" suggested that the post may not have been intended for public release in its original form. Within a short span, the tweet was edited, removing the draft label but retaining the core content.

The original text of the tweet is: "Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future. To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture. We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region."

The edited version reads: "Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future. To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture. We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region."

While the content remained largely unchanged, the removal of the "Draft" tag did little to contain the reaction. References to Donald Trump and the strategic Strait of Hormuz added geopolitical weight to the message, amplifying curiosity around its intent.

The episode has since fuelled speculation about internal communication lapses and the handling of sensitive diplomatic messaging in the digital age.

The tweet was supposed to be a comment on US's intention to suspend bombing for two weeks and accept Iran's "workable" 10-point proposal.

- ANI
Sonam Bajwa has announced the release date for her upcoming Punjabi film 'Pitt Siyapa' as May 1, 2026. She shared the film's poster on Instagram, introducing her character Nimmi. The announcement has generated significant excitement among her fans. This project follows her recent appearance in the hit film 'Border 2'.

Sonam Bajwa announces May 1, 2026 release for her Punjabi film 'Pitt Siyapa'. See the poster and fan reactions.

Chandigarh, April 8 Sonam Bajwa is gearing up for the release of her new Punjabi film 'Pitt Siyapa'.

On Wednesday, Sonam took to Instagram and shared that her film will hit the theatres on May 1, 2026.

She also unveiled the film's poster in which she is seen sitting in the cash counter of a shop, holding currency notes in her hands.

"Meet Nimmi, Pitt Siyapa Company di Boss, Jide Elon Musk vi tarle karda phirda ki "Nimmi ji, mere naal ikk vaari hath mila lo," Sonam captioned the post.

The announcement has left her fans extremely excited.

"Wow...can't wait," a fan wrote.

"Congratulations Sonam," a netizen commented.

Meanwhile, Sonam was last seen in the blockbuster 'Border 2', in which she was paired opposite Diljit Dosanjh.

'Border 2' is directed by Anurag Singh and brings back Sunny Deol in the lead role. The film also stars Varun Dhawan and Ahan Shetty in key roles.It is inspired by the true events of the 1971 India-Pakistan War and shows how the Army, Navy, and Air Force came together to fight as one.

- ANI
Shia leaders in India have declared that global powers like the United States and Israel have been forced to "bow" after a ceasefire was announced. The statement followed US President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week suspension of planned military strikes on Iran. Iran indicated a willingness to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, signaling a potential de-escalation of tensions. Israeli officials expressed support for the US decision while clarifying the ceasefire does not extend to Lebanon.

Shia leaders claim superpowers bowed to Iran after Trump announced a 2-week suspension of strikes and Tehran reopened Strait of Hormuz.

Lucknow, April 8 As US President Donald Trump announced a two-week suspension of planned military strikes on Iran, and Tehran indicated its willingness to reopen the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, signalling a possible easing of tensions, Shia leaders on Wednesday claimed that global powers like the United States and Israel have been forced to step back.

Speaking to IANS, General Secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, Maulana Yasoob Abbas, said, "Today, 'haq' has prevailed after 40 days. If we look at history, there have been times when Islam was attacked, yet it emerged victorious. Even now, Iran has prevailed."

He further stated, "Iran has asserted control over the Strait of Hormuz and drawn a line, bringing global attention together. Today, superpowers like America and Israel have been forced to bow. Just yesterday, Donald Trump was saying that Iran's civilisation would be destroyed, but within 24 hours, a ceasefire has been announced. I congratulate all Muslims and members of the Shia community on this development."

Chairman of the Shia Markazi Chand Committee, Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi, also praised the people of Iran.

He said, "We congratulate the brave people of Iran. When Trump threatened to destroy the country, the people came out onto the streets to protect key infrastructure such as bridges and power stations."

"They stood firm, showing that they are not afraid of death and will prevail. As I have said earlier, Israel and the United States initiated aggression, but Iran did not back down. Ultimately, Trump was compelled to withdraw," he added.

Meanwhile, Israel also expressed support for the United States decision to suspend military action against Iran, while clarifying that the proposed two-week ceasefire arrangement does not extend to Lebanon.

Earlier in the day, Iran indicated its willingness to halt its military response provided that attacks against it are stopped, while also announcing a temporary opening of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz for a period of two weeks.

In a statement, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said the development comes at a time when ceasefire negotiations are currently underway, signalling a possible de-escalation in ongoing tensions.

- IANS
Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense reported detecting multiple Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels operating around the island, with aircraft crossing the median line into its air defense identification zone. This follows similar patrols detected the previous day. The activity occurs within the long-standing and complex dispute over sovereignty, where China claims Taiwan as part of its territory. Taiwan functions with its own government but avoids a formal declaration of independence to prevent conflict.

Taiwan's defense ministry reports Chinese military aircraft and naval vessels operating near the island, crossing key lines amid ongoing sovereignty tensions.

Taipei, April 8 Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense detected the presence of two sorties of Chinese military aircraft, nine naval vessels, and an official ship operating around its territorial waters as of 6am on Wednesday.

Both the sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southeastern part ADIZ.

In a post on X, the MND said, "2 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 2 out of 2 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southeastern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded."

Earlier on Tuesday, a sortie of Chinese aircraft, eight naval vessels and an official ship was detected near Taiwan.

In a post on X, the MND said, "1 sorties of PLA aircraft, 8 PLAN vessels and 1 official ship operating around Taiwan detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 1 out of 1 sorties entered Taiwan's southwestern part ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and responded."

China's claim over Taiwan is a complex issue rooted in historical, political, and legal arguments. Beijing asserts that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China, a viewpoint embedded in national policy and upheld by domestic laws and international statements.

Taiwan, however, maintains a distinct identity, functioning independently with its own government, military, and economy. Taiwan's status remains a significant point of international debate, testing the principles of sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference in international law, as per the United Service Institution of India.

China's claim to Taiwan originates from the Qing Dynasty's annexation of the island in 1683 after defeating Ming loyalist Koxinga.

However, Taiwan remained a peripheral region under limited Qing control. The key shift came in 1895, when the Qing ceded Taiwan to Japan after the First Sino-Japanese War, marking Taiwan as a Japanese colony for 50 years. After Japan's defeat in World War II, Taiwan was returned to Chinese control, but the sovereignty transfer was not formalised.

In 1949, the Chinese Civil War resulted in the establishment of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on the mainland, while the Republic of China (ROC) retreated to Taiwan, asserting its claim to govern all of China. This led to dual sovereignty claims: the PRC over the mainland and the ROC over Taiwan. Taiwan has operated as a de facto independent state but has avoided declaring formal independence to prevent military conflict with the PRC, United Service Institution of India.

- ANI
BJP Tamil Nadu President Nainar Nagendran campaigned in Rameswaram, receiving a warm welcome from alliance workers. He predicted the AIADMK-led NDA alliance would win over 200 seats in the upcoming assembly elections. Union Minister Piyush Goyal echoed this confidence, stating the NDA would defeat the DMK-Congress alliance. The election is set for April 23, with actor Vijay's TVK party introducing a potential third front.

BJP's Nainar Nagendran campaigns in Rameswaram, predicts NDA will win 200+ seats in Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Latest updates on alliances and candidates.

Rameswaram, April 8 Ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party President Nainar Nagendran, contesting from the Ramanathapuram Assembly constituency, on Wednesday, held a campaign outreach in Rameswaram.

According to K. Muraledharan, BJP district President, he received a warm welcome from alliance party workers and local residents.

In areas including Keelavasal and Melavasal, party workers from BJP, AIADMK, and women supporters greeted Nagendran with traditional aarti and garlanding, reflecting strong grassroots engagement.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4.

The main electoral contest is expected between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which also includes Congress, DMDK, and the VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by AIADMK with the BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies.

The BJP released its first list of 27 candidates for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Friday after negotiations within the NDA alliance.

The AIADMK, which leads the NDA bloc, will contest 169 of the 234 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest 27 seats, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) 18, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) 11, Tamil Maanila Congress five, Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK) one, and Puratchi Bharatham one seat.

Earlier on Sunday, Nagendran alleged that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin is "cheating the people," and predicted that the AIADMK-led NDA alliance will "win 200 seats" when the results are announced on May 4.

He added, "We (BJP) are going to win 27 seats. We are well planned and ready to fight the election. This time, the Tamil Nadu NDA alliance is winning for sure. We will get 200 seats and above... CM Stalin always lies... He is cheating the Tamil Nadu people of money."

Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tamil Nadu election in-charge Piyush Goyal on Sunday exuded confidence that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will emerge victorious and form the next government in Tamil Nadu.

Exuding confidence that NDA will emerge as victorious, Goyal said, "A superb campaign has started. Tomorrow, all our candidates will be filing the nomination, and there is a lot of enthusiasm on the ground. We will certainly defeat anti-Tamil Nadu, anti-India forces of DMK and Congress, and NDA will emerge as victorious, forming the next government in Tamil Nadu and serving the people of the state with welfare and development..."

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with TVK, attempting to turn the upcoming elections into a three-way contest."Vijay will be ours - NDA will be victorious, and Mr Vijay will probably have to go back to films... DMK has understood that they have become so unpopular that the people of the state will defeat them. This is why they are trying to divide the anti-DMK votes and the anger of the people by propping up Vijay, but the people of the state are smart enough to understand what is good for them, and they will not make this mistake. They will vote for NDA, bringing it back to power..., " the Union Minister further said.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay is also set to make his electoral debut with TVK, attempting to turn the upcoming elections into a three-way contest.

- ANI
Actor-politician Vijay will campaign in Tirunelveli with a public meeting and roadshow, operating under strict police conditions for crowd control. His campaign push occurs alongside a series of nomination-related issues for his party, TVK, across the state. Vijay's own nomination in Perambur was briefly withheld after an objection but was later accepted, while other TVK candidates faced rejections or holds. The party is also awaiting permissions to extend its campaigning to several other districts.

Actor Vijay campaigns for TVK in Tirunelveli under strict police conditions as his and other party candidates face nomination scrutiny across Tamil Nadu.

Tirunelveli, April 8 Actor-turned-politician Vijay will campaign in Tirunelveli on Wednesday, addressing a major public meeting at KTC Nagar as part of his outreach for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The rally, organised in support of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) candidates contesting in Tirunelveli and Tenkasi districts, has received police clearance with conditions, primarily focusing on crowd control and security arrangements.



Party coordinator Sengottaiyan said all guidelines would be strictly followed, even as he questioned the imposition of stringent norms exclusively on the TVK-related events.



Following the public meeting, Vijay is scheduled to embark on a roadshow covering Thalayuthu, Thachanallur, Washermanpet, Samadhanapuram and the court complex area before returning to KTC Nagar.



The party is also awaiting permissions to extend its campaign to Pudukkottai, Tenkasi, Mayiladuthurai and Ranipet districts, where applications have already been submitted online.



The campaign push comes against the backdrop of a series of nomination-related developments involving Vijay and his party candidates across the state.



Vijay, who is contesting from both Perambur in Chennai and Tiruchy East, had his nomination accepted without issue in Tiruchy East. However, in Perambur, his papers briefly faced scrutiny after PMK candidate Thilagabama objected, alleging non-payment of property tax on assets in his name.



The Returning Officer temporarily withheld acceptance, leading to tense scenes, before clearing the nomination after explanations were submitted by TVK representatives.



In Villivakkam, the nomination of TVK executive Adhav Arjuna was also temporarily put on hold following objections over incomplete disclosure of companies registered under his wife's name. The issue was later resolved after additional details were furnished.



A more serious controversy emerged in Edappadi, where AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is in the fray. The nomination of TVK candidate Arun Kumar was rejected, and he subsequently went missing, sparking a political row. The nomination of his substitute candidate and wife, Nithya, was also rejected.



Meanwhile, in Chidambaram, both the primary nomination of candidate Pari and that of his substitute, his father Nedunchezhiyan, were accepted without objections, offering a contrast to the disruptions seen elsewhere.





- IANS
US President Donald Trump has announced a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks, contingent on Iran agreeing to open the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign affairs expert K.P. Fabian welcomed the ceasefire, calling it a very important and good result for the US, Israel, West Asia, and India. Trump acknowledged receiving a 10-point proposal from Iran as a workable basis for negotiation but clarified that acknowledgment does not mean agreement. The development follows intense backchannel diplomacy and offers a potential pathway to de-escalate tensions and finalize a longer-term peace agreement.

US President Trump suspends attacks for two weeks after Iran's 10-point plan. Expert K.P. Fabian calls it a vital result for US, Israel, and India.

New Delhi, April 8 Foreign Affairs Expert K.P. Fabian on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire agreement by the US and Iran, terming it "very important and a good result." He said that even though Donald Trump has acknowledged the 10-point plan by Iran, it does not mean that the US President agrees to it.

Speaking to IANS, Fabian stressed that the ceasefire is good for the US, Israel, West Asia and India.

On the ceasefire announcement, Fabian said, "This is a very important result because President Trump said that he will remove the Iranian civilisation... He said he will attack power plants, bridges and other things. And secondly, Israel also wanted to do this, and Israel had serious plans... But President Trump announced the ceasefire. This is very important because it is good for all of us. It is good for America, good for Iran, good for Israel, good for West Asia and good for India...So, this is a very important and good result."

KP Fabian's statement came after US President Donald Trump announced a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world.

When asked about his view on the conflict between Israel and Iran, Fabian said, "When there is a ceasefire, President Trump said that it is a two-sided ceasefire. This means that this ceasefire will end the war with Israel, and I read in the Times of Israel that Israel also agrees...The ceasefire has been announced since this evening. But, there will be shooting for a little while longer because Iran's IRGC have many branches. They are independent, and it is difficult for Iran to communicate... But Israel will agree, and Iran will agree."

Donald Trump's announcement came 90 minutes before the self-imposed 8 pm EST deadline set by him for Iran to reach a deal, after backchannel diplomacy.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday (local time), said he would "suspend" an escalation of attacks for two weeks if Iran agrees to open the key shipping route.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and peace in the Middle East," Trump wrote.

He added that the United States had received "a 10-point proposal from Iran" that was "a workable basis on which to negotiate."

Trump said "almost all of the various points of past contention" had been agreed, and the two-week pause would allow the agreement "to be finalised and consummated."

The ceasefire is conditional. Trump said it depends on Iran agreeing to the "complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz."

Iran signalled tentative acceptance.

Reacting to this, Fabian said, "President Trump has said that he has read the 10-point plan of Iran, but he did not say that he agrees with it. He can consider it, but he does not agree with all of its points..."

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt operations if attacks stop.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," he added.

Speaking about it, Fabian said, "The Iranian FM has said that there would be safe passage through Hormuz, but Iran's forces will coordinate it, and there would be technical limitations to it. Additionally, according to the reports, Iran and Oman will levy taxes on ships crossing the Strait," he added.

- IANS
US President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir to finalize a ceasefire framework with Iran. The deal includes a two-week pause in planned US military strikes, contingent on Iran agreeing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt framed the pause as a diplomatic opening created by the success of recent US military operations. Iran has signaled conditional acceptance, and talks are ongoing to finalize a broader agreement.

US President Trump spoke with Israeli PM Netanyahu & Pakistan's Army Chief to finalize a 2-week Iran ceasefire & reopen Strait of Hormuz.

Washington, April 8 US President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to close the deal on a ceasefire framework with Iran, a White House official told.

The official further mentioned that Trump had also spoken to Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir regarding the same.

"President Trump spoke with PM Netanyahu and the Pakistani Field Marshal to close the deal," the senior Trump administration official told IANS.

No further details were provided.

The calls came as the United States moved to pause planned military strikes on Iran and open a two-week window for negotiations tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said he would suspend attacks for two weeks, contingent on Iran agreeing to the "complete, immediate, and safe" reopening of the key shipping route.

Iran signalled conditional acceptance of the pause, saying it would halt operations if attacks stopped and allow limited safe passage through the strait during the period.

A White House official said Israel had agreed to the two-week pause, aligning with the US position as efforts to stabilise the situation intensified.

Pakistan has also been involved in diplomatic outreach, with its leadership engaging both sides as discussions progressed ahead of a deadline set by Trump.

The administration has framed the pause as part of a broader strategy following military operations.

"This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X.

"From the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump estimated this would be a 4-6 week operation," she said.

"Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of our warriors, we have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days."

Leavitt said the military campaign created conditions for negotiations.

"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace," she said.

She also linked the outcome to developments in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Additionally, President Trump got the Strait of Hormuz reopened," she said.

Trump had earlier said the United States had received a proposal from Iran and that "almost all" points of contention had been agreed upon, describing it as a workable basis for negotiations.

The two-week pause is intended to allow time to finalise a broader agreement as talks continue.

The White House has said further details on the operation and negotiations will be shared separately.

- IANS
President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Iran has triggered sharply divided reactions from US lawmakers. Republican supporters credit military pressure for forcing negotiations and welcome the diplomatic opening. Critics from both parties warn the administration acted without clear objectives, jeopardizes oversight, and uses dangerous rhetoric. The agreement includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil shipping corridor.

US lawmakers give mixed reactions to Trump's Iran ceasefire, with some backing diplomacy and others warning of escalation and lack of oversight.

Washington, April 8 A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran announced by President Donald Trump has triggered sharply divided reactions across the US political spectrum, with some lawmakers backing diplomacy and others warning of dangerous escalation and lack of oversight.

According to the announcement, Washington and Tehran have agreed to pause hostilities, work out a 10-point proposal, and allow for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz -- a critical global energy corridor.

Republican Congressman Morgan Griffith welcomed the move, crediting military pressure for forcing negotiations.

"President Trump is to be commended for reaching a ceasefire agreement with Iran. Thanks to the great efforts of the US armed forces, Iran has been crippled and has been forced to the negotiating table," he said.

Griffith underlined a key US objective, adding: "I support negotiations that lead to Iran never having nuclear capabilities."

He also struck a sombre note, saying, "Also, I am praying for the Americans who gave their lives for their country and for their families. Their service is to be commended."

Pennsylvania Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick framed the ceasefire as a cautious but necessary step.

"Diplomacy must always be the objective. The reported temporary ceasefire agreement is a constructive step toward that end, and we will continue to monitor developments closely," he said.

"Any measure that protects American lives and creates space for serious peace negotiations is the right course, even as caution remains warranted."

Fitzpatrick, however, reiterated longstanding concerns over Iran, stating: "There can be no ambiguity about the threat this regime poses or what is at stake: it must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon or the means to deliver one."

He also emphasised oversight, saying Congress must ensure "rigorous congressional oversight as the situation develops."

Senator Lindsey Graham signalled guarded support for diplomacy but warned against premature conclusions.

"As I stated before, I prefer diplomacy if it leads to the right outcome regarding the Iranian terrorist regime. I appreciate the hard work of all involved in trying to find a diplomatic solution," he said.

"At this early stage, I am extremely cautious regarding what is fact vs. fiction or misrepresentation... Simply put, kick the tyres."

But criticism from both sides of the aisle was swift.

Indiana Congressman Frank Mrvan accused the administration of acting without clear justification.

"The President's unilateral actions in Iran are wrong, and his dangerous rhetoric is making a bad situation worse," he said.

"While I recognise the Administration's announcement of a ceasefire, the fact remains that there was no imminent threat, no clear objectives, no end in sight, and our servicemembers continue to be placed in harm's way."

Mrvan added that Americans were already "feeling the consequences at the gas pump and grocery store."

California Congressman Kevin Kiley raised broader concerns about US conduct and congressional authority.

"The United States does not destroy civilisations. Nor do we threaten to do so as some sort of negotiating tactic," he said, stressing that "Congress has a responsibility to conduct oversight with respect to ongoing military operations."

Senator Lisa Murkowski criticised the president's rhetoric, warning it "cannot be excused away as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with Iran."

"This type of rhetoric is an affront to the ideals our nation has sought to uphold and promote around the world for nearly 250 years," she said, adding that it "directly endangers Americans both abroad and at home."

Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego echoed that concern, saying the US military "is the best in the world, not just because of our strength, but because we fight the right way. We follow the law and protect civilians."

"Trump threatening to kill 'a whole civilisation' spits on everything we stand for and is flat out illegal," he added.

The ceasefire comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf region, where the Strait of Hormuz remains a vital chokepoint for global oil shipments. Any disruption there has immediate implications for global energy markets, including India, which relies heavily on crude imports from the region.

- IANS
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, urging all parties to comply with international law. The ceasefire was announced by US President Donald Trump, conditional on Iran agreeing to the safe reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stated Tehran would halt defensive operations if attacks against it stop, signaling tentative acceptance. The development follows intense backchannel diplomacy and aims to facilitate a longer-term peace agreement.

UN's Guterres welcomes US-Iran ceasefire. Trump announces conditional two-week pause for Strait of Hormuz reopening. Iran signals tentative acceptance.

New York, April 8 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of two-week ceasefire by the US and Iran and urged all the parties involved in the ongoing conflict in West Asia to comply with their obligations under international law and abide by the terms of ceasefire.

Guterres stressed that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to "protect the lives of people and alleviate human suffering". He expressed appreciation for countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire.



According to the statement, Guterres' Personal Envoy Jean Arnault is in the region to support efforts toward lasting peace.



Guterres' statement came after US President Donald Trump announced a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world.



The decision came 90 minutes before the self-imposed 8 pm EST deadline set by Trump for Iran to reach a deal, after backchannel diplomacy.



Trump, in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday (local time), said he would "suspend" an escalation of attacks for two weeks if Iran agrees to open the key shipping route.



"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning long-term peace with Iran, and peace in the Middle East," Trump wrote.



He added that the United States had received "a 10-point proposal from Iran" that was "a workable basis on which to negotiate."



Trump said "almost all of the various points of past contention" had been agreed, and the two-week pause would allow the agreement "to be finalised and consummated."



The ceasefire is conditional. Trump said it depends on Iran agreeing to the "complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz."



Iran signalled tentative acceptance. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt operations if attacks stop.



"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said.



"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," he added.



A White House official said Israel had also agreed to the two-week pause, though details remain unclear.





- IANS
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. He called on all parties to comply with international law and abide by the ceasefire terms to enable a lasting peace. The statement, delivered by his spokesman, emphasized the urgent need to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering. US President Donald Trump hailed the development as a "big day for World Peace," noting the US would help manage traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the US-Iran ceasefire, calling for compliance to protect civilians and pave the way for comprehensive peace.

New York, April 8 UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire by the United States and Iran.

In a statement delivered by Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, it was said that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering.



"The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement of a two-week ceasefire by the United States and Iran. He calls on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region."



"The Secretary-General underscores that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering. He expresses sincere appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and other countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire. The Secretary-General's Personal Envoy Jean Arnault is in the region to support efforts toward lasting peace," the statement read.



This comes after US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and accepting the 10-point proposal from Iran. The Iranian side then accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations.



US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that it was a big day for world peace as the US-Iran war headed towards a ceasefire. Trump said that the US will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.



"A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they've had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just "hangin' around" in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP" he said in a post on Truth Social.





- ANI
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the successful release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped near Baghdad by the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hizballah militia. He credited a coordinated effort between multiple US agencies, including the FBI, and Iraqi authorities for securing her freedom. Rubio stated the resolution reflects the Trump administration's commitment to protecting citizens abroad and that wrongful detentions will not be tolerated. Kittleson, a freelance reporter known for her work in conflict zones like Syria and Iraq, is now working on a safe departure from the country.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announces the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, kidnapped in Iraq by Kata'ib Hizballah, crediting US-Iraqi efforts.

Washington, April 8 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who had been kidnapped a week earlier by the Iran-backed Kata'ib Hizballah militia in Baghdad.

In a statement issued on Tuesday (local time), Rubio said, "I am pleased to announce the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was recently kidnapped by members of the foreign terrorist organisation Kata'ib Hizballah near Baghdad, Iraq."

He credited coordinated efforts by US agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with Iraqi authorities, for securing her release. He further stated that the arrangement included conditions that ensured her immediate departure from Iraq following her release.

"The US Department of State extends its appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of War, US personnel across multiple agencies, and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and our Iraqi partners, for their assistance in securing her release," Rubio said.

He added that the development underscores the US Department of State's commitment to protecting American citizens worldwide.

Rubio said the resolution reflects the Trump administration's "steadfast commitment" to the safety and security of US nationals, regardless of where they are located.

Under President Donald Trump, he said the "wrongful detention or kidnapping of US nationals will not be tolerated".

"We will continue to use every tool to bring Americans home and to hold accountable those responsible," he said.

"We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," he added, highlighting ongoing efforts to ensure her secure return.

Shelly Kittleson, a freelance reporter, is widely known for her extensive coverage from conflict zones, particularly in Syria and Iraq, where she has been working independently for several years, reporting on ground realities in volatile regions.

- IANS
US Representative Gregory Meeks has welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran. He credited Pakistan for facilitating the diplomatic outcome that may spare further harm to personnel and civilians. However, Meeks cautioned that the pause is not a solution and demanded full transparency from Donald Trump regarding the war's justification, human cost, and financial toll. He emphasized the need to transform the ceasefire into a lasting peace through coordinated international efforts with Gulf partners.

Rep. Gregory Meeks welcomes US-Iran ceasefire, credits Pakistan, and demands transparency from Donald Trump on war costs and strategy.

New York, April 8 Representative Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, expressing relief over the potential pause in hostilities while stressing the need for a long-term resolution to the conflict.

In a statement, Meeks said, "I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and I'm relieved that U.S. personnel and civilians on both sides may now be spared further harm. I also want to recognise Pakistan's role in facilitating this outcome."

The ceasefire, though temporary, comes amid heightened tensions in the region that have raised concerns over broader instability and risks to civilian lives. Meeks acknowledged the importance of diplomatic efforts, including those facilitated by Pakistan, in achieving a pause in the conflict.

However, the senior Democrat cautioned that the current development must not be seen as a final solution. Emphasising the need for sustained diplomatic engagement, he called for efforts to transform the ceasefire into a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement.

"But a temporary ceasefire is not enough. We must use this moment to pursue a durable, negotiated outcome that reduces the risk of further conflict and instability across the region. Congress needs answers. Donald Trump must provide a full account for why he took the American people to war, a war in which 13 service members were killed and tens of billions are being spent, and what he intends to do to address these costs for the American people," Meeks said.

He further underscored the importance of transparency and accountability from the administration led by Donald Trump, particularly regarding the strategic decisions that led to the escalation of hostilities and the financial and human toll of the conflict.

Highlighting the need for coordinated international efforts, Meeks urged the administration to work closely with regional allies, especially in the Gulf, to ensure that the ceasefire leads to a stable and secure environment.

"For this to be durable, the administration must do what it has refused to do throughout this conflict: coordinate. Going forward, the United States must work in close coordination with our Gulf partners and allies to help secure a lasting peace, protect the interests of the American people, and ensure long-term regional stability," he added.

- ANI
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Cline seamlessly integrates with Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs (including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, and WebStorm), and provides a command-line interface (CLI) for terminal-based workflows. Model Agnostic: Cline supports a wide range of AI models, including those from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, AWS Bedrock, Azure, Groq, and Cerebras. This flexibility enables developers to select models that best fit their project requirements.

Cline supports a wide range of AI models, including those from providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Gemini, AWS Bedrock, Azure, Groq, and Cerebras. This flexibility enables developers to select models that best fit their project requirements. Client-Side Execution: Operating entirely on the users machine, Cline ensures that code and data remain secure, with no data retention or training on proprietary code.

Operating entirely on the users machine, Cline ensures that code and data remain secure, with no data retention or training on proprietary code. Transparent Pricing: Cline is free for individual developers, with costs incurred only for AI inference based on usage. There are no subscriptions or hidden fees, and users can bring their own API keys to maintain control over expenses.

Cline is free for individual developers, with costs incurred only for AI inference based on usage. There are no subscriptions or hidden fees, and users can bring their own API keys to maintain control over expenses. Open Source Community: With over 60,000 stars on GitHub, Cline has fostered a vibrant community of developers who contribute to its continuous improvement.

Who is it for?

Cline is tailored for developers seeking a flexible and secure AI coding assistant. Its open-source nature and model-agnostic design make it suitable for individual developers, teams, and enterprises aiming to integrate AI into their development workflows without compromising on security or control.

Pricing

Cline offers a free open-source version for individual developers. For teams, the Teams plan is free through Q1 2026, after which it will be priced at $20 per user per month. The Enterprise plan offers custom pricing and includes additional features such as Single Sign-On (SSO), Service Level Agreements (SLA), and dedicated support.

Final Thoughts

Cline provides a robust, secure, and flexible AI coding assistant that integrates seamlessly into various development environments. Its open-source model and transparent pricing structure make it an attractive option for developers and organizations looking to leverage AI in their coding processes without vendor lock-in.

Visit cline.bot for more.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor attended a White House dinner where he discussed the future of India-US relations and global stability with President Donald Trump. During his Washington visit, he also met with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to advance cooperation on Artificial Intelligence and Indian pharmaceutical investment. Additionally, Gor held talks with FBI Director Kash Patel on enhancing bilateral efforts to counter transnational threats like cybercrime and narcotics. The envoy's meetings underscore a broad agenda to strengthen strategic and commercial ties between the two nations.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor discusses bilateral relations with President Trump, AI cooperation, and security with FBI Director during Washington visit.

Washington DC, April 8 US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor who is in the United States attended a dinner at the White House on Tuesday night and said that during the dinner he discussed US-India ties with Preisdent Donald Trump.

Gor called the evening memorable, and parised Trump's efforts in securing global stability and future of India-US ties.

In a post on X, he said, "Just had an outstanding dinner with President Trump. We discussed his unwavering determination to bring global stability, the historic achievements of his presidency, the strong future of India-US ties, and so much more! A very memorable evening as history unfolded in real time."

Earlier in the day, Gor met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and discussed the US-India commercial roadmap. Gor said that they discussed ways to boost New Delhi-Washington cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and Indian pharma investment in the US.

In a post on X, Gor said, "Productive meeting with Secretary Howard Lutnick on the U.S.-India commercial roadmap. We discussed a new MoU connecting India's AI scale with the American AI ecosystem, strong Indian participation at the upcoming SelectUSA Summit, and growing Indian pharma investment in the United States to boost competition and strengthen supply chains."

Sergio Gor also met with FBI Director Kash Patel in Washington and discussed US.-India cooperation to counter transnational threats such as cybercrime, narcotics, and illicit networks. He also praised the FBI Director for improving the law and order situation in the US.

"A constructive discussion with Kash Patel on U.S.-India cooperation to counter transnational threats-cybercrime, narcotics, and illicit networks. Strong alignment on security priorities. Kash has done a fantastic job at the FBI. In 2025: 112% INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME ARRESTS YEAR TO YEAR. 20% DECREASE IN HOMICIDES. 20% DECREASE IN ROBBERIES!" he said.

During his visit to Washington, Gor also met with US Vice President JD Vance and discussed India-US relations.

- ANI
The United States Trade Representative has characterized the current economic and trade relationship with China as stable, while maintaining substantial tariffs. He warned that the World Trade Organization risks becoming "even less relevant" if it fails to undertake necessary reforms, citing a recent failure to extend a digital goods tariff moratorium. The official also highlighted critical supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly in pharmaceuticals where key materials originate from China despite India's role as a major supplier. Additionally, he flagged tensions with the European Union over digital trade rules and indicated likely changes to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement.

US Trade Representative describes US-China trade as stable but warns the WTO risks becoming "less relevant" without reforms. He also flags supply chain vulnerabilities.

Washington, April 8 The United States has described its trade relationship with China as "stable" while warning that the global trading system risks becoming "less relevant" if reforms are not undertaken, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute on Tuesday (local time), Greer said Washington is maintaining a cautious balance with Beijing, avoiding escalation while protecting economic and national security interests.

"Right now, the United States and China, I would characterise our economic and trade relationship as stable," he said. "What we are not looking for is massive confrontation."

At the same time, he underlined that the US continues to impose "substantial tariffs on Chinese goods," particularly in advanced manufacturing sectors, as part of efforts to address a "huge trade deficit that's exploded."

Greer noted that the US goods trade deficit with China fell by $130 billion last year, a 30 per cent decline, calling it evidence of "real change." He added that Washington is also seeking to secure supply chains, including access to rare earth materials, which remain central to ongoing discussions with Beijing.

"We almost always talk about rare earth with the Chinese," he said, adding that the US is also pursuing domestic self-sufficiency and partnerships to reduce dependence.

In response to a question, Greer also flagged supply chain vulnerabilities in pharmaceuticals, noting that while India remains a major supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients, critical raw materials often originate in China.

"People will say, well, we get a lot of our APIs from India. That may be true, but the key starting materials, they're getting from China," he said, adding, "I've had a lot of conversations with the Indians about how to square this circle."

On the broader global trade architecture, Greer delivered a sharp critique of the World Trade Organization (WTO), warning that its inability to adapt could marginalise it further.

"If the WTO fails to adjust... the consequences are that the WTO becomes even less relevant than it already is," he said.

He pointed to the recent ministerial meeting in Cameroon, where countries failed to agree on extending a long-standing moratorium on tariffs on digital goods.

Calling the issue a "litmus test," Greer said the US had proposed making the moratorium permanent or extending it for four years, but "Brazil and Turkey... just couldn't bring themselves to do it."

"This is just a symbol of how backwards the WTO is," he said.

Greer also highlighted structural imbalances in global trade, particularly excess production capacity driven by state-backed economies.

"We've initiated a Section 301 investigation on structural overcapacity," he said, noting that while China is "at the root," other countries also contribute to the problem.

The US, he said, is responding through tariffs and bilateral agreements aimed at controlling imports while expanding exports. He pointed to record US exports exceeding $300 billion in January and February this year.

On trade policy more broadly, Greer said the administration is focusing on revitalising domestic manufacturing, citing improvements in productivity, wages, and factory construction.

"All of these indicators have been going exactly in the right direction," he said, adding that manufacturing jobs returned to positive growth in February after a prolonged decline.

He stressed that trade policy is only one part of a broader strategy that includes tax, energy, and regulatory measures.

Greer also flagged tensions with the European Union over digital trade rules, warning that US firms face "discriminatory" regulations under measures such as the Digital Markets Act.

"We're not fooled," he said, arguing that such rules disproportionately affect American technology companies. "If American companies don't have that opportunity, then we will control European service providers in the United States."

On North America, Greer indicated that changes to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are likely, saying the administration is "dissatisfied with a lot of the outcomes."

"Almost everyone suggested changes to the agreement," he said, adding that Washington may pursue separate protocols with Canada and Mexico to address country-specific issues.

The remarks come amid a broader push by the Trump administration to reshape trade policy, prioritising domestic industry, supply chain security, and reciprocal market access.

- IANS
Former Union Minister MJ Akbar states the recent ceasefire has ended with Iran holding an "advantage plus," as its primary objectives were met. He highlights Iran's victory in having its oil sanctions lifted and its control over the vital Strait of Hormuz implicitly recognized. Akbar argues this shatters the existing Gulf security architecture, positioning Iran as a major regional power that can no longer be ignored. He also predicts a boom in Iran's defense exports and notes the political isolation of the United States following the conflict.

Former MoS MJ Akbar analyzes the Iran-US ceasefire, stating Iran secured oil sanctions relief and regional power status, altering Gulf security.

Mumbai, April 8 With a ceasefire now in place between US and Iran, former MoS for External Affairs MJ Akbar, says the obvious advantage has fallen to the Iranian side.

Former Union MoS for External Affairs said that the said that the war has ended with Iran possessing "advantage plus."

"In the simplest terms, the war has ended with Iran possessing what I call "advantage plus." The war began with President Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asking for regime change. There has been no regime change. They then shifted their objectives basically to the Hormuz Strait and to the clear passage of oil, energy, and fuel through this passage," he said.

Akbar says that Iran's victory lies in the fact that its oil is now not sanctioned and is freely available in the international markets.

"At the end of the war, apart from not being obliterated, victory for Iran is defined as not being defeated against a superpower. They have established that they have not been defeated because these terms have been negotiated by mutual agreement and not by one-sided imposition. In this mutual agreement, Iran's advantage is that its oil, which had previously been sanctioned, is now freely available to the international market. That is a very huge plus," he said.

Akbar further told ANI that Iran must be the only country which mixes oil and water to productive advantage.

"On top of that, Iran must be the only country which mixes oil and water to productive advantage. Normally, it is said that oil and water don't travel together, but in this case, its oil supplies and its domination over the Hormuz Strait, which has been implicitly recognized now, makes it into a very major power--not only in this region but across the world. Some 40% of the world's energy requirements and vital necessities of the world's economy flow through this point. It was estimated that last year some $600 billion worth of the world's requirements went through this," he said.

Akbar said that Iran has been prudent in offering to share a toll it's been planning to impose on vessels that pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Now, if this point has not been fully negotiated, we don't know if the world or America will agree to the toll that Iran has proposed. But Iran has been clever about it; they propose to share the toll with Oman, which is on the other side of the Hormuz Strait, making it sound far more equitable. If this comes to pass, then Iran is looking at ten years of unprecedented national income from oil lifted from sanctions and from the toll," he said.

With the terms of ceasefire loaded in its favour, Akbar says that Iran is now going to be a very major regional power.

"The security architecture of the Gulf has been smashed. The Gulf countries will now have to understand that Iran is going to be part of the equation of security. It cannot be isolated or ignored, and they may have made a mistake by not being inclusive vis-a-vis Iran in the past. An article in the New York Times recently said that Iran is now a major world power. While that headline may have been a slight exaggeration, I believe Iran is now going to be a very major regional power," he said.

Akbar said that Iran's defence sales are going to boom as they resisted against the US and also penetrated the Israeli Iron Dome.

"Furthermore, one part of its economy which has been underestimated is the defence sector. I think Iran's defence sales are going to boom because it has shown that drones costing $25,000 or $30,000 can take on missiles worth $4 million. It has shown that its missiles, created with North Korean technology, are now among the best in the world because they have managed to destroy the Iron Dome. This is the first time since the birth of Israel that Israeli cities have been repeatedly hit and its people repeatedly affected," he said.

Akbar also feels tha the US has never been as isolated as it is now because of its arbitrary behaviour.

"America has an incumbent in the White House who lives by his own dramatic and coarse language, but the fact that the American institutions and the system permitted this arbitrary behavior--which had no support apart from that of Israel--means America has never been so isolated. That is something for the American system to worry about and begin the process of repairing. Losing your enemy is one thing, but losing your friend is a headline," he said.

He added that Iran and NATO are not going to forget their insults hurled by US President Donald Trump.

"The Iranians also have a long memory. America's losses have not only been on the battlefield; it has lost credibility. Its alliances have been very damaged. NATO now is history; Humpty Dumpty has crashed, and you can't put it together again, however much you may try and put glue on the broken pieces. This is not simply due to the arrogance of policy and unilateralism which America exercised, but also the huge damage done by language. The Saudis are not going to forget the insult to their Crown Prince very easily. The British Prime Minister is going to remember that he was called "Neville Chamberlain," which is possibly the worst insult in the British political dictionary. Macron of France and France itself are not going to forget. That is going to remain long after these negotiations come to a conclusion," he said.

This comes after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and accepting the 10-point proposal from Iran. The Iranian side then accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations.

- ANI
Islamic scholar Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali has welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, calling it a positive development for global stability and a relief for human life and the world economy. US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire, framing it as a major step for world peace and offering US assistance for traffic in the critical Strait of Hormuz. India's Ministry of External Affairs also welcomed the agreement, expressing hope it leads to lasting peace in West Asia and stressing the importance of dialogue. The conflict had previously caused immense human suffering and disrupted global energy supplies and trade networks.

Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali and India's MEA welcome the US-Iran ceasefire, hoping for regional stability and peace in West Asia.

Lucknow, April 8 Following the "double-sided" two-week ceasefire between US and Iran, Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali, Chairman of the Islamic Centre of India and member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, calling it a positive step for global stability and human life.Speaking to, the AIMPLB member expressed relief over the de-escalation of the conflict, noting the heavy toll the war had taken on the global community."The announcement of a ceasefire between Iran and America is a welcome step. Many innocent lives were lost, and the economy of the world was being questioned because of this," Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali said.He further expressed his hope for the regional power's recovery and stability following the cessation of hostilities. "I hope that Iran will move forward on the path of success again," he added.This comes after US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and accepting the 10-point proposal from Iran. The Iranian side then accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that it was a big day for world peace as the US-Iran war headed towards a ceasefire. Trump said that the US will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.

"A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen; they've had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just "hangin' around" in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP" he said in a post on Truth Social. The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday welcomed the recent ceasefire reached between the US and Iran, saying that it hoped the agreement would lead to lasting peace in West Asia.The MEA said, "We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it will lead to a lasting peace in West Asia. As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict. The conflict has already caused immense suffering to people and disrupted global energy supply and trade networks. We expect that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce would prevail through the Strait of Hormuz."

- ANI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has filed her nomination from the Bhabanipur assembly constituency for the 2026 state elections. She faces a repeat contest against BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated her in Nandigram in 2021. The TMC is campaigning on its welfare schemes like Lakshmir Bhandar, while the BJP is focusing on issues like illegal immigration. Polling for the 294-member assembly will be held in two phases in late April, with results due in May.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee files nomination from Bhabanipur, setting up a repeat clash with BJP's Suvendu Adhikari. Key issues include welfare schemes and migrant worker attacks.

Bhabanipur, April 8 West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday filed her nomination at the Survey Building from Bhabanipur assembly constituency for the 2026 State Assembly elections.

Mamata Banerjee is contesting from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari.

Adhikari had also challenged Mamata from Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal polls, from where he won by 1,956 votes. Following her defeat, the TMC supremo contested the bypoll from Bhabanipur, as MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned from the seat.

BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari filed his nomination for the West Bengal elections on April 2.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP West Bengal President Samik Bhattacharya were seen accompanying Adhikari during the process.

Suvendu Adhikari is contesting the two-phase West Bengal assembly polls on the BJP ticket from the Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies.

Mamata Banerjee is holding several poll rallies and is eyeing a victory in her constituency, and is showing the BJP as an outsider to Bengali culture with her "egg and fish" remarks. On several occasions, she has criticised the BJP over attacks against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in states across the country.

The TMC is backing the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme and Mamata Banerjee's '10 Pledges' mentioned in the manifesto.

Under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, women in the general category will receive Rs 1,500 per month, SC/ST women Rs 1,700, and unemployed youth will get Rs 1,500 per month.

Meanwhile, Adhikari and the BJP are backing on the anti-illegal immigrant poll plank and repeating the result of Nandigram in Bhabanipur.

Meanwhile, speaking at Suvendu Adhikari's nomination filing, Union Minister Amit Shah electrified the crowd with his declaration, "This time no one should fear; no goon can stop the voters of Bengal. Everyone must vote without fear to uproot and throw TMC into the Bay of Bengal."

Bhabanipur is set to witness a high-voltage clash between the two senior leaders.

Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

- ANI
The Congress party has launched its manifesto for the West Bengal assembly polls, crafted by a committee formed six months ago to incorporate public opinion. Key promises include free education up to the post-graduate level and a monthly financial aid of Rs 2000 for women. The party also pledges Rs 15,000 in annual assistance for farmers, along with free electricity and a better procurement system. Polling for the 294-seat assembly is scheduled for April 23 and 29, with results on May 4.

Congress launches Bengal poll manifesto promising free PG education, Rs 2000 monthly for women, Rs 15,000 farmer aid, and state health insurance.

Kolkata, April 8 Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir on Tuesday said that the manifesto unveiled for the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls was prepared by a committee formed six months ago, "keeping in mind the opinions of the people".

Speaking to ANI, he said, "This manifesto is not a traditional manifesto. We formed a committee 6 months ago and did not copy from any book. We have tried to prepare this manifesto keeping in mind the opinion of the people about what they expect from the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Congress has a credibility that it does what it says."

Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with other leaders, launched the election manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls.

Addressing a press conference here, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge reflected on the key promises of the party, including free education up to post-graduation, monthly financial aid for women and farmers, fast-track courts and state-sponsored health insurance.

"We will give women Rs 2000 every month. We will provide free education up to post-graduate level to empower them. We will establish fast-track courts for their safety. In healthcare, we will provide fully state-funded health insurance up to Rs 10 lakh so that every citizen can get affordable and better health care. Farmer Welfare: Farmers will be given an annual assistance of Rs 15,000 rupees. In addition, free electricity and a better procurement system will be ensured to increase both their income and security," Kharge stated.

Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

In the last assembly election in the state, held in eight phases in 2021, the TMC recorded a landslide victory with 213 seats amid an intense contest with the BJP, which jumped to 77 seats. Congress and Left Front drew a blank in the last state polls.

- ANI
Women voters significantly outnumber men in the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency, positioning them as decisive in the upcoming bypoll. Six candidates, including nominees from the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M), are contesting the seat left vacant after the death of Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen. Major political leaders, including the Chief Minister and former Chief Minister, campaigned extensively in what is expected to be a highly competitive multi-cornered fight. The election authorities have completed all arrangements, with voting materials dispatched to 55 polling stations.

Dharmanagar bypoll sees 6 candidates in a multi-cornered fight. Women voters outnumber men by 1,374. Key candidates from BJP, Congress, and CPI(M) vie for the seat.

Agartala, April 8 Women voters are set to play a decisive role in determining the electoral fortunes of six candidates in Thursday's bye-election to the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district, with the female electorate outnumbering their male counterparts by 1,374 voters.

According to election officials, 23,758 women voters surpass the 22,384 male voters in the recently-published final electoral rolls.

The mixed-population Dharmanagar Assembly constituency has remained a stronghold of either the Congress or the BJP since 2008, with the CPI(M) last winning the seat in 2003.

A multi-cornered contest is expected in the April 9 bye-election to the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency, which shares borders with Assam and Mizoram.

Altogether, six candidates are in the fray, including nominees from major political parties, smaller outfits, and an Independent contender, making the electoral battle highly competitive.

The key candidates include Jahar Chakraborti of the ruling BJP, Chayan Bhattacharjee of the Congress, and Amitabha Datta representing the CPI(M)-led Left Front.

Datta, who won the seat in the 2003 Assembly polls, is a former MLA of the Left party. Jahar Chakraborti, 59, currently serves as the BJP's North Tripura district Vice-President.

In addition, candidates from the Amra Bangalee party, SUCI, and an independent aspirant are also contesting the bypoll.

The Left Front and the Congress, which had entered into a seat-sharing arrangement during the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections to jointly challenge the BJP, are contesting separately in this bypoll, further intensifying the electoral contest.

Congress leader Chayan Bhattacharjee had contested from the Dharmanagar seat in 2023 but lost to BJP candidate Biswa Bandhu Sen by a narrow margin of 956 votes.

The bye-election was necessitated by the demise of sitting MLA and Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen, who passed away on December 26, 2025, at a private hospital in Bengaluru after a prolonged illness at the age of 72.

Sen had been elected to the Tripura Assembly four times - twice as a Congress candidate in 2008 and 2013, and later in 2018 and 2023 as a BJP nominee from the same constituency.

The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4. The month-long campaign for the bye-election concluded on Tuesday afternoon.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and state BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee, former Chief Minister and veteran Left leader Manik Sarkar and CPI(M) state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, as well as Congress Working Committee member and former minister Sudip Roy Barman and state party President A.K. Saha, led extensive campaigns for their respective parties.

Election authorities and the state police have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the poll is conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

An election official said that all polling personnel, along with Electronic Voting Machines and other voting materials, departed for the 55 polling stations on Wednesday. Of the 55 polling stations, 11 will be managed entirely by women, while two each will be operated by differently-abled personnel and youth polling staff.

- IANS
King George's Medical University Vice Chancellor Soniya Nityanand has welcomed the Women's Reservation Bill, stating it is a positive step that will benefit the entire country, not just women. She emphasized that women's participation in lawmaking will introduce greater sensitivity and cover previously overlooked issues. The government plans to increase Lok Sabha seats to 816, with 273 seats reserved for women, based on the 2011 census for delimitation. Nityanand appealed to women to use this "golden opportunity" with dedication and humanitarian grounds.

KGMU VC Soniya Nityanand praises the Women's Reservation Bill, saying it will improve lawmaking and benefit the entire nation's progress.

Lucknow, April 8 King George's Medical University, Lucknow Vice Chancellor Soniya Nityanand on Wednesday welcomed the Women's Reservation Bill, saying that the step is positive and will not only benefit the women but also the nation.

Speaking to ANI, Nityanand said that women will give a new angle on lawmaking and policymaking with their sincerity, sensitivity, and in-depth understanding. He hailed the centre's decision, saying that the involvement of women in policymaking would cover the issues which could have been overlooked in the past.

"This is an important step by the Government of India and shows the commitment of the government towards women in the country. This won't only benefit the women but the whole country. When women participate in policymaking and lawmaking, issues which were not covered earlier will be covered. The women will give a new angle on lawmaking and policymaking. They have an in-depth level of sensitivity, grassroot understanding, and sincerity. So, the laws and policies formed with their involvement will be much better. So, this is a positive step not only for women's empowerment but for the country's progress. The country which empowers women is progressive in itself. This is a major step," he said.

Calling the Women's Reservation Bill 'a golden opportunity', she appealed to women to use the position given to them with dedication and make decisions on a humanitarian ground.

"I appeal to the women to appreciate this. The government is so sensitive towards women's empowerment. The world is changing, and so is the nation. Women are getting more recognition every passing day. Whenever a woman attains a strategic position, they must use it sincerely with dedication and on humanitarian grounds. This is a golden opportunity for women to show their abilities as well as contribute towards the betterment of the nation," she added.

The government is planning to bring an amendment bill to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 from 543 seats. The idea is to have at least 273 seats reserved for women.

According to sources, the key agenda may include amendments to the 2023 Nari Shakti Vandan Act and the introduction of the Delimitation Commission Bill. The sources said that the Centre has planned to take the 2011 census as the basis for delimitation and seat redistribution.

Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 seats. With a proposed 50 per cent increase, the number of seats will rise to 816, with 273 (about a third) reserved for women.

- ANI
The United States has sharply criticized the World Trade Organization as "ineffective and dysfunctional" following the failure of its latest ministerial conference to reform digital trade rules. A U.S.-led proposal to make a longstanding moratorium on digital tariffs permanent was blocked by the WTO's consensus-based system, despite broad support. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer argued the body's structural flaws, including divergent member priorities and hostage-taking on decisions, make meaningful reform nearly impossible. Consequently, the U.S. signaled a strategic pivot towards pursuing regional and bilateral trade arrangements to address modern challenges.

US Trade Rep calls WTO dysfunctional after digital tariff talks fail. US to pursue bilateral deals instead, citing consensus paralysis and outdated rules.

Washington, April 8 The United States has sharply criticised the functioning of the World Trade Organization, with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling it "ineffective and dysfunctional" after the 14th Ministerial Conference failed to deliver meaningful reform, particularly on digital trade rules.

In an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, following the conference in Yaounde, Cameroon, Greer said the WTO is no longer a "serious forum" and warned that its inability to act is undermining global trade stability.

"I arrived a skeptic of the WTO and left even more so," Greer wrote, describing a meeting marked by low participation from senior ministers and limited progress on key issues.

At the centre of the dispute was the long-running moratorium on tariffs for digital goods such as software and music - a policy in place since 1998. The United States, along with 24 co-sponsors, had proposed making the moratorium permanent to bring certainty to digital trade.

"That would prevent future ministerial conferences from wasting time on a non-issue while demonstrating that the WTO could have a role in future trade negotiations," Greer wrote.

Despite broad backing, the proposal failed due to the WTO's consensus-based decision-making system, which requires agreement from all 166 member countries. Some nations pushed for a limited extension, while others tied support to unrelated demands.

"Despite broad support, the need for consensus among all WTO member countries prevented passage," Greer said.

Efforts to reach a compromise also collapsed. While 164 members were prepared to extend the moratorium for about four years, Greer noted that "delegations from Brazil and Turkey insisted on maintaining the two-year renewal cycle," blocking progress.

The breakdown highlights deeper structural issues within the WTO, according to the U.S. assessment. Greer argued that divergent priorities among member states and the ability of countries to hold decisions hostage make meaningful reform nearly impossible.

"Because all 166 members must agree to adopt new rules, and members hold divergent views on a range of issues... consensus is nearly impossible," he wrote.

The United States has increasingly signalled that it will not rely on the WTO to address modern trade challenges. Greer said Washington is instead pursuing regional and bilateral arrangements to tackle trade imbalances and secure supply chains.

"The U.S. isn't going to spend 30 years waiting for the WTO to respond to the needs of American workers and businesses," he wrote, adding that recent reciprocal trade agreements are aimed at "opening foreign markets while protecting domestic production."

He also criticised the WTO's past role, arguing that it failed to respond effectively to the "China shock" and continues to struggle with enforcement and compliance issues.

"The WTO dispute-settlement system devolved into a forum for endless litigation... and served as a disincentive to settle disagreements," Greer said.

The stalled talks in Yaounde have been referred back to WTO headquarters in Geneva for further discussions, though Greer expressed scepticism about any breakthrough. "Unless members pull a rabbit out of a hat, the outcome... is less certainty on e-commerce and worse prospects for a broader reform agenda," he wrote.

- IANS
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A new ATO app feature lets you confirm a tax call is genuine in under 30 seconds. Heres hon how it works and why the timing matters for small business owners.

Whats happening: The Australian Taxation Office has launched a new in-app feature that allows Australians to verify in real time whether a call claiming to be from the ATO is genuine.

Scam calls pretending to be from the Australian Taxation Office are not a new problem. But they are a growing one, and they are getting harder to detect. The ATO recorded almost 7,500 ATO impersonation scams in July 2025 alone, and is warning Australians that the same tactics ramp up every tax time as scammers target people expecting to hear from the tax office.

Now, for the first time, Australians have a real-time tool to check whether a call is genuine before they say another word.

The ATO has launched a new verify call feature inside the ATO app, allowing users to confirm within 30 seconds whether the person on the other end of the line is actually from the ATO. The process is straightforward. When a call comes in claiming to be from the ATO, the user opens the app, logs in, and selects the verify call option. If a notification confirming the call is genuine does not appear within 30 seconds, the ATO says to treat it as a scam and hang up.

ATO Assistant Commissioner Anita Challen said the feature shifts control back to taxpayers. Scammers are becoming increasingly savvy, making it harder for individuals to distinguish between illegitimate and genuine contact. This powerful security measure means fraudsters will find it harder to pretend to impersonate the ATO, Australians will have more control of their accounts and more certainty that they are dealing with the real tax office.

The verify call feature is part of the ATOs broader Counter Fraud Program and sits alongside existing fraud protections already built into the app, including real-time messages when key changes are made to a taxpayers account, and account locking to prevent unauthorised access or fraudulent activity.

To use the feature, taxpayers need to download the ATO app and register their device. The most secure way to sign in is using myID, and the ATO recommends ensuring myID is set up to the highest identity strength for maximum protection.

With tax time on the horizon, Challen issued a direct warning. April Fools may have passed but dont be fooled by fraudsters attempting to access your tax and super accounts. Scammers are primed for the opportunity during tax time to try to take advantage of taxpayers who may be expecting communications from the ATO. When in doubt, stop and check, before responding or acting on a call or message claiming to be from the ATO.

For anyone who receives a suspicious call, SMS, email, or social media message claiming to be from the ATO, the advice is clear. Do not reply, click on any links, or download any attachments. Australians can visit the ATOs verify or report a scam page to check or report suspicious contact, or call the ATO directly on 1800 008 540 if personal information or payment has already been shared with a scammer.

Visit ato.gov.au/scamsafe for more information on how to protect personal information and stay safe from scammers.

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What began as a child's encounter with trauma has grown into a research programme committed to understanding recovery.

When she was in Grade 5, Dr Gillian Mahumane's father suffered a traumatic brain injury. The sudden event altered not only his life but also Gillian's family's lives.

Before the injury, Gillian's father had been a witty and thoughtful English teacher who often brought encyclopaedias home for his daughter to explore. Gillian relished those books.

The injury that followed, and the profound changes it brought to her father's personality and abilities, left Gillian with an early awareness of how fragile the human brain can be.

For a child, this was not an abstract encounter with illness or disability. It was a confrontation with the unsettling reality that injury can transform the essence of someone you love and notions of 'personhood'.

Years later, neural regeneration science would give language and direction to questions she had already lived with for much of her life.

Rethinking brain tissue

Today, Gillian is a researcher at the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform (WADDP) and lectures biopharmaceutics in the Pharmaceutics division of the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Her work at WADDP explores the interface between advanced therapeutic systems and the delivery of treatments that might also help create the conditions for recovery, reconnection, and restoration in tissues where damage has profound functional and human consequences.

Despite her early personal connection to brain injury, Gillian's entry into neural tissue engineering happened almost by chance. As a student, she volunteered to rove the microphone during a lecture by the late Professor Viness Pillay. Instead of focusing only on the logistics of the event, she found herself absorbed by the science being presented.

Pillay described experiments demonstrating that rats could regain movement after implanting neural scaffolds.

"It was a bolt of lightning," she recalls. "Realizing that brain tissue can heal under the right conditions."

That moment helped define the direction of her scientific career.

A mind for meaningful innovation

Gillian approaches the field through a translational pharmaceutics lens, combining material design, dosage-form thinking, and biological realism to develop therapeutic systems that are not only conceptually elegant but also usable and responsive to real clinical constraints.

Her scientific philosophy is anchored in the belief that meaningful innovation must be mechanistically sound, experimentally defensible, and ultimately oriented toward human need rather than novelty alone.

This is a long-standing tradition at the WADDP that holds the largest pharmaceutical patent portfolio on the continent.

Neural tissue engineering

Gillian's doctoral research, supervised and completed at the WADDP, focused on the development of nano-reinforced hydro-filled three-dimensional scaffolds for neural tissue engineering.

The work explored how carefully designed biomaterial systems could provide structural support, biological compatibility, and therapeutic potential in contexts where damaged neural tissue has limited capacity for spontaneous repair.

Central to this research was a question that remains fundamental to her scientific identity: How can therapeutic interventions respect the complexity of injury while still making recovery more possible?

Answering this question required work across scaffold architecture, polymer selection, electrospun nanofibrous systems, hydrogel and cryogel design, drug incorporation strategies, and advanced physicochemical characterization.

Rather than treating formulation as a downstream technical step, Gillian sees it as a site of scientific reasoning where therapeutic performance can be shaped through deliberate material and biopharmaceutical choices.

Repurposing therapeutics

One area that captured her interest early in the PhD was therapeutic repurposing, where she explored whether familiar medicines might take on new therapeutic roles when incorporated into advanced delivery systems.

"We realized that a familiar drug like N-acetylcysteine (NAC), which many people recognise from over-the-counter medicines used to loosen mucus, might be repurposed for local delivery within biomaterial scaffolds to help address secondary injury processes after trauma," she explains.

When incorporated into a scaffold, NAC could help create a more favourable microenvironment by reducing oxidative stress and supporting cellular repair processes.

Although neural regeneration remains an important focus of her research at WADDP, Gillian has expanded to encompass a broader range of therapeutic technologies. Her work at the WADDP now spans advanced drug delivery systems for women's health applications, antimicrobial innovation, and molecularly selective therapeutic materials.

Therapeutic platforms for integrated impact

Across these different domains, the unifying principle remains the same: the rational design of therapeutic platforms whose composition, responsiveness, and mode of action are matched to the biological environments in which they must function to make a clinically meaningful impact.

Gillian's work is also marked by a refusal to separate scientific inquiry from the lived conditions that make it meaningful. Whether she is studying neural repair, infection control, or next-generation therapeutic technologies, she returns to the same underlying concern: how science can respond to vulnerability with rigour, imagination, and care.

In this sense, her focus area at the WADDP is about innovation and dignity, restoration, and the long often difficult work of building better therapeutic futures.

Recently, Gillian was awarded a Fellowship to the Population Council to develop a drug-eluting device for heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB). She is also involved in cross-institutional projects at WADDP with partners at the Medical University of Warsaw.

Beyond the laboratory, Gillian is committed to strengthening African scientific participation in global knowledge production. As a member of the Global Young Academy and a UCL-Wits Public Voices Fellow, she contributes to international conversations about science, research translation, and the broader societal stakes of biomedical innovation. Her work in these spaces reflects a commitment to communicating scientific research with clarity, ethical seriousness and public relevance.

She is equally dedicated to capacity building. Gillian mentors students at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels through peer-development initiatives and works to foster research cultures in which technical training, critical thinking, and scientific communication develop together.

Scientific ecosystems build health sovereignty

For Gillian, effective research depends on more than scientific insight.

"Effective research depends on interdisciplinary collaboration, specialized infrastructure, regulatory navigation, intellectual property stewardship and partnerships that can carry ideas beyond the laboratory," she explains. "Moving a discovery from concept to product is a long and exacting process that is rarely linear, and it cannot be sustained by scientific ingenuity alone."

This is why forward-thinking research and innovation platforms such as the Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform are so important.

For Gillian, WADDP is not only a research home, but part of the scientific ecosystem required to build health sovereignty. By bringing together diverse experts, the platform creates conditions for African-led health innovation that is scientifically rigorous, locally grounded and globally connected.

In this context, health sovereignty refers to the practical ability to identify priority health challenges, develop context-relevant therapeutic technologies, protect and translate intellectual property, strengthen local capacity and contribute to the long-term possibility that pharmaceutical technologies for African populations can increasingly be designed, evaluated and produced through African knowledge systems and institutional partnerships.

Achieving this goal requires more than individual discoveries.

"It requires ecosystems," Mahumane says. "Spaces where scientists, pharmacists, engineers, clinicians, innovation offices and industry partners can work in concert rather than isolation. It also requires a deliberate commitment to capacity-building so that technical expertise and scientific leadership are cultivated across generations."

Gillian's scientific progress is therefore inseparable from the broader networks that sustain it. Public trust, regulatory stewardship, community engagement and cross-institutional partnerships all shape whether scientific advances remain isolated outputs or evolve into technologies that genuinely benefit society.

Yet beneath this expansive vision lies the same intimate starting point that first drew her toward science.

At its heart, Gillian's work remains a lifelong attempt to give scientific form and then therapeutic consequence to questions first born of injury, loss, and the hope of repair.

What began as a child's encounter with trauma has grown into a research programme committed to understanding recovery and to help create the scientific and institutional conditions that make it possible.
On World Health Day, global leaders gathered in France for a milestone "One Health Summit", where the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners announced a new wave of concrete actions to better protect people, animals and the planet from future health crises.

Hosted by France, the Summit marks a major step forward in turning the One Health approach  which recognizes that human health, animal health and the environment are deeply connected  into real-world action. This year's World Health Day theme, "Together for health. Stand with science," set the tone for the announcements.

The urgency could not be clearer. Climate change, environmental degradation, unsafe food, water contamination, biodiversity loss and unequal access to health care are among the most pressing challenges facing the world today. About 60% of known infectious diseases in humans originate in animals, and around 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic. The COVID-19 pandemic alone resulted in an estimated 15 million deaths and caused trillions of dollars in economic losses globally in 2020-2021.

To prevent the next crisis before it starts, WHO and global partners are strengthening the One Health approach  bringing together experts across health, agriculture, environment and science to detect risks earlier and respond faster.

"The health of people, animals and the environment we share are inextricably interwoven, and we cannot protect one without protecting all three," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. "The One Health approach brings together expertise to work across silos and sectors to prevent and respond to threats more effectively. WHO thanks France for hosting this Summit, and we remain committed to working with partners and countries to turn commitment into action and accelerate global progress for humans, animals and our planet."

As host of the One Health Summit, France reaffirmed its leadership and commitment to advancing One Health, championing international cooperation, global scientific partnerships, and catalyzing practical solutions.

One Health is not just about protecting health, it is about recognizing that we live as one system, where the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment is inseparable. France is determined to move One Health from ambition to implementation, working with the World Health Organization and our global partners to prevent the next crisis before it begins. Science must guide our action, and cooperation must be our strength." Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France

Bringing together Heads of State, ministers, experts, and policy-makers, the Summit highlighted how coordinated efforts strengthen international dialogue and mobilize public and private partners for the common goal. The outcomes of the Summit will inform ongoing international discussions  including the G7  on preparedness and coordinated responses to health threats at the human, animal and ecosystem interface.

WHO announces four major One Health actions

Joining forces with global partners, WHO has outlined the following specific actions:

1. A new global network of institutions on One Health

WHO and One Health Quadripartite partners (the Food and Agriculture Organization, the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Organisation for Animal Health) are planning to launch a new Global Network of One Health Institutions, to deliver the objectives of the One Health Joint Plan of Action.

This new initiative is designed to mobilize multidisciplinary expertise and provide stronger, more coordinated support to countries. It will enhance translation of global guidance into practical tools and on-the-ground support, strengthening training and peer learning through the WHO Academy and other relevant institutions, creating a clearer, country-focused delivery model for One Health implementation.

2. Stronger science to guide global action

WHO and Quadripartite partners announced the extension and expansion of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), the world's leading scientific advisory body on One Health. Its mandate will now run through 2027, with a new phase planned for 20272029, reinforcing its role in three priority areas: in shaping the global research agenda, supporting the One Health Joint Plan of Action, and driving high-level advocacy grounded in science and evidence.

3. A new push to eliminate rabies by 2030

WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health and the Institut Pasteur launched a renewed global initiative to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030  a disease that still kills nearly 60 000 people each year, many of them children. Led by endemic countries, the initiative will enhance and strengthen political commitment and community-based surveillance and research, using rabies elimination as a model to strengthen broader One Health surveillance and preparedness systems.

4. A unified strategy to tackle avian influenza threats

WHO and Quadripartite partners presented a new Strategic Framework for Collaboration on avian influenza. The framework strengthens coordination on surveillance, risk assessment, preparedness and response, helping countries shift from fragmented actions to a unified One Health strategy, addressing wider impacts of avian influenza on public health, food security, livelihoods and biodiversity.

WHO to lead global One Health coordination

WHO is also assuming the Chairmanship of the Quadripartite collaboration, taking on an enhanced leadership role for coordinated global action alongside FAO, WOAH and UNEP. Under WHO's Chairmanship, the Quadripartite partnership will prioritize delivering measurable impact at the country level, streamlining governance, and aligning efforts around a focused set of high-impact priorities, while further strengthening advocacy, norm-setting and evidence generation.

Global Forum of Collaborating Centres opens

Alongside the Summit, WHO is kicking off its first Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres (CCs), taking place on 79 April. The Forum is convening high-level representatives, including the Minister of Health of France, ministers from Germany, Indonesia and South Africa, and the Vice-Minister of Health of Japan, alongside more than 800 WHO CCs from over 80 countries.

The Global Forum will serve as a forward-looking platform to deepen collaboration among leading academic and research institutions worldwide accelerating scientific innovation, data sharing, coordinated research and capacitybuilding.

Both the One Health Summit and the Global Forum of WHO Collaborating Centres send a clear message: tackling today's complex health challenges demands stronger multilateral cooperation, greater investment in science, and sustained efforts to translate the One Health approach into concrete action at global and local levels.
A new study from the University of Toronto shows that where a mother lives in an Indian city  in a slum or a nonslum neighborhood  is linked to how she breastfeeds her baby.

Breastfeeding within one hour of birth helps newborns fight infection and lowers the risk of death, especially in low and middleincome countries. Giving babies only breastmilk (no water or other foods) for about the first six months protects them from diarrhea, pneumonia, and poor growth and supports their brain development.

Using data from India's 20152016 National Family Health Survey, the researchers compared breastfeeding practices among more than 3,200 mothers living in urban slums and in other urban neighborhoods across seven states.

They found a split pattern:

About half of mothers in slums (50.4%) started breastfeeding within one hour of birth, compared to just over a third of mothers in nonslum areas (37.4%).

However, exclusive breastfeeding in the first five months was more common in nonslum areas (55.8%) than in slums (50.0%).

While these percentages are broadly consistent with national urban estimates, they also show that there is room for improvement in both settings. Both early initiation and exclusive breastfeeding need to increase overall, but the barriers and the solutions will differ depending on where mothers live." Suliat Fehintola Akinwande, lead author and PhD student, FactorInwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto

"These findings tell us that a universal or standard approach will not work for every neighborhood," added Akinwande. "In slum communities, mothers are doing relatively well at starting breastfeeding quickly, but need more support to continue breastfeeding only breastmilk for longer. In nonslum areas, more help is needed right after birth to get breastfeeding started in the first hour."

More than 90% of mothers in both settings delivered in health facilities, which the authors say is a major opportunity. India has already invested in hospitalbased breastfeeding programs such as the Mother's Absolute Affection (MAA) initiative, which encourages early breastfeeding and motherbaby contact.

"India has made huge progress in getting women to give birth in facilities," said Akinwande. "The next step is to make sure every mother leaves the hospital with practical, culturally sensitive breastfeeding support that fits her living conditions.

The study also found that in slum areas, mothers whose previous child was born more than two years earlier were less likely to start breastfeeding within an hour. "This suggests that counselling and information mothers received in the past may fade over time," said Chiamaka Okonkwo of the State House Medical Centre in Abuja, Nigeria. "Regular contact with health workers between pregnancies could help keep breastfeeding knowledge fresh."

The research team used a socialecological lens to look beyond individual mothers to the wider environment, including family support, community norms, and health services.

"Breastfeeding decisions are shaped by social norms, castebased inequalities, work conditions, and how easy it is to reach services," said Thabani Nyoni, coauthor and faculty member at the School of Social Work, Dalhousie University. "Policies have to meet mothers where they live  whether that is in a crowded informal settlement or a more resourced urban neighborhood."

In nonslum areas, giving birth in a health facility was strongly linked to starting breastfeeding within the first hour, underlining the importance of bedside support from nurses and counsellors. "Hospitals are a crucial starting point for breastfeeding," said Kehinde Oluwatosin Akinwande of Lagos University Teaching Hospital. "Strengthening postdelivery support can turn each birth into a powerful teaching moment."

Although the study did not find strong predictors of exclusive breastfeeding after adjusting for other factors, the authors say the clear differences between slum and nonslum areas point to the need for targeted programming rather than a single national message.
Fetal development is a critical stage with effects that can last throughout life. Yet, identifying the effects of maternal psychological stress on the fetus has been difficult, mainly because stressful events often produce psychological and physical consequences that directly affect mothers and their children. Natural disasters serve as important case studies to understand the impact of maternal psychological health on the growing fetus, but examining the isolated, specific impact of maternal psychological trauma on the child remains difficult.

To address this gap, Associate Professor Rong Fu from the Faculty of Commerce, Waseda University, Japan, and a Visiting Scholar at the Columbia Population Research Center, Columbia University, USA, along with Associate Professor Yunkyu Sohn of Seoul National University, Korea, Assistant Professor Yichen Shen of Kanagawa University of Human Services, Japan, and Professor Haruko Noguchi, also of Waseda University, examined a natural disaster that generated widespread anxiety far beyond its direct material impact: the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident that took place on March 15, 2011. The researchers studied the effects of maternal anxiety about radiation exposure on their fetus. Their findings were published online on March 7, 2026, and are scheduled to appear in Volume 107 of the Journal of Health Economics on May 1, 2026.

What motivated Fu to conduct this study? She explains, "Living and working in Japan, I witnessed firsthand how profoundly the Fukushima accident shook the public, particularly pregnant women and young mothers, even in regions far from any physical danger. Fukushima's unique geography created a rare scientific opportunity to answer whether fear alone could harm a developing fetus."

As part of the study, the team looked at three birth cohorts covering about 1.1 million births. The 'prenatal' exposure cohort consisted of babies who were in utero during the accident and were born afterward. The 'postnatal' exposure cohort included babies born before the accident. The 'placebo' cohort consisted of those born during the same period as the postnatal group but in the previous year. The researchers developed a novel measure of radiation anxiety using Google Trends data to examine whether birth outcomes deteriorated systematically as anxiety intensity increased across geographic areas.

They found that preterm births were 1718% more common in the prenatal cohort than in the postnatal and placebo cohorts. Birth weights were 22 to 26 grams lower on an average. Rates of very low birth weight (VLBW) and extremely low birth weight (ELBW) were approximately 50% and 77% higher, respectively, compared to the other cohorts.

The researchers analyzed the differences in Google searches about nuclear power plants between March 12 and April 11, 2011, and compared to the same period in 2010 to create a Search Popularity Index (SPI) for each prefecture as a measure of radiation-specific anxiety. Regression analysis showed that radiation-specific anxiety accounted for 7279% of the differences in preterm births and 2837% of the differences in average birth weight between prenatal and other cohorts. Radiation anxiety played an even larger role in the differences in VLBW and ELBW rates. "Whether by triggering earlier delivery among at-risk fetuses or by intensifying growth restrictions in vulnerable populations, radiation-related psychological stress substantially increased the incidence of severe birth outcomes associated with elevated risks of lasting developmental challenges," explains Fu.

Interestingly, the effects of radiation anxiety on birth outcomes were strongly tied to socioeconomic factors. Babies born to mothers with university degrees or to families in the top 25% income bracket were the least affected. "Higher education may offer advantages through better access to accurate information about radiation risks and stronger coping resources, while higher household income may enable access to private healthcare and greater flexibility in responding to perceived threats," notes Fu.

Although population-level measures of anxiety are difficult to construct, the researchers say they were encouraged by the effectiveness of SPI as a proxy. They believe the same strategy can be used to measure the invisible psychological effects of other large-scale crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change.

Taken together, these findings highlight the effects that crisis-driven psychological stress can have on fetal development and birth outcomes. In addition to providing material support, disaster response protocols should prioritize clear communication that reduces fear and uncertainty. Psychological counseling should also be made available to pregnant women to help prevent intergenerational health consequences.
Adults who have never been married face a significantly higher risk of developing cancer than those who have been married, according to a large U.S. study of more than 4 million cases. The increased risk spans nearly every major cancer type and is especially pronounced for preventable cancers-those linked to infections, smoking and reproductive factors. Led by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, the study appears in the April 8 issue of Cancer Research Communications.

"These findings suggest that social factors such as marital status may serve as important markers of cancer risk at the population level," said Paulo Pinheiro, M.D., Ph.D., study co-author and a Sylvester physician-scientist whose lab conducts population-based cancer epidemiology.

The novel observation does not mean that getting married prevents cancer or that people need to get married.

It means that if you're not married, you should be paying extra attention to cancer risk factors, getting any screenings you may need, and staying up to date on health care." Frank Penedo, Ph.D., associate director for population sciences and director of the Sylvester Survivorship and Supportive Care Institute (SSCI)

"For prevention efforts, our findings point to the importance of targeting cancer risk awareness and prevention strategies with attention to marital status," he added.

Marriage is already associated with earlier cancer diagnosis and better survival. Married individuals often, but not always, have stronger support systems, greater economic stability and are more likely to adhere to cancer treatment regimens.

But previous work on the links between marriage and cancer focused almost entirely on what happens at and after diagnosis. Only a few small, older studies explored whether marriage affects the odds of getting cancer in the first place.

"We wanted to know who is more likely to get cancer: married people or unmarried people?" Pinheiro said.

To find out, the researchers analyzed a large dataset covering 12 states that included demographic and cancer data from more than 4 million cancer cases in a population of more than 100 million people, collected between 2015 and 2022. They examined cases of malignant cancers diagnosed at age 30 or older and compared rates of various cancers by marital status, further broken down by sex and race and adjusted for age.

The researchers categorized marital status into two groups: those who were or had been married, including married, divorced and widowed individuals, and those who had never been married. The study began in 2015 because that year, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage, allowing same-sex couples to be included in the married category. One in five adults in the study had never married.

Pinheiro expected to see some associations, given established relationships between marriage and lifestyle factors such as smoking, routine medical care and having children. But the strength of some findings surprised him.

Adults who were never married had substantially higher rates of developing cancer compared with those who were or had been married. For some cancers, the association was even stronger: adult men who were never married had approximately five times the rate of anal cancer compared with married men. Adult women who were never married had nearly three times the rate of cervical cancer compared with women who were or had been married.

Both anal and cervical cancers are strongly related to HPV infection, so these differences likely reflect variation in exposure, and for cervical cancer, also differences in screening and prevention. In contrast, for cancers such as endometrial and ovarian, differences by marital status may partly reflect the protective effect of parity, which is more common among married individuals.

"It's a clear and powerful signal that some individuals are at a greater risk," Penedo said.

Men and women showed slightly different patterns. Men who were never married were about 70% more likely to develop cancer than married men, while women who never married were about 85% more likely to develop cancer than women who were or had been married.

This represents a small but noteworthy reversal of a broader trend: Men often benefit more from marriage than women in terms of health and social factors. In this case, women appeared to benefit slightly more from marriage than men.

The strongest associations between marriage and cancer were seen for cancers related to infection, smoking or alcohol use, and, for women, cancers related to reproduction, such as ovarian and endometrial cancer.

The researchers found weaker associations for cancers with robust screening programs, including breast, thyroid and prostate cancers.

They also observed patterns across race and marital status. Black men who were never married had the highest overall cancer rates. However, married Black men had lower cancer rates than married White men, indicating a strong protective association with marriage in that group.

The study has limitations. People who smoke less, drink less, take better care of themselves and are more socially integrated may also be more likely to get married.

Still, the researchers found that associations between marriage and cancer were stronger in adults older than 50, suggesting that as people age and accumulate cancer risk exposures, the benefits associated with marriage may become more pronounced.

The study also excluded individuals who are unmarried but in committed partnerships. That group is likely small relative to the size of the dataset, Pinheiro said, but worth exploring in future research.

Future studies could further subdivide the married category into married, divorced and widowed individuals and follow people over decades to better understand how marital transitions affect cancer risk.

Overall, getting married does not magically prevent cancer, both authors stressed.

"But the association between marriage status and cancer risk is an interesting, new observation that deserves more research," Pinheiro said.
Researchers at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto have demonstrated a new way to monitor transplanted stem-cell-derived heart cells using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The method allows researchers to visualize where transplanted cells survive over time, which could help scientists evaluate and improve emerging stem cell therapies for heart damage such as those caused by heart attacks.

Professor Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng and her team have shown that an imaging platform known as "bright ferritin MRI" can be used to track transplanted human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in the hearts of rats for up to eight weeks. The findings were published in a recent issue of Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes can form new heart muscle and integrate with existing tissue. However, many transplanted cells do not survive in clinical trials, and researchers currently lack reliable tools to monitor transplanted cells over long periods inside the body. Existing imaging methods either work only in small animals, or rely on labels that fade or produce misleading signals as cells divide or interact with the immune system.

"Tracking therapeutic cells inside the living body has been a scientific endeavour for decades," says Cheng.

"The gap in the field, however, has been a failure to visualize surviving cells without losing signal beyond a few days or weeks, and with sufficient signal. Our goal is to address these critical gaps. We want to visualize and spatially map therapeutic cells as long as they are alive, wherever they are in the body."

To test the approach, lead author Keyu Zhuang and colleagues engineered stem cells to overexpress ferritin, a protein that stores iron in cells. These modified stem cells were then differentiated into cardiomyocytes and assessed in laboratory experiments to confirm that they maintained normal cell structure, contractile proteins and electrical properties.

The researchers then transplanted the engineered cardiomyocytes into the left ventricular heart muscle of immunodeficient rats, including animals with heart injury. Using MRI scanners, the team tracked the cells over eight weeks.

By administering manganese chloride, the researchers could trigger a bright MRI signal from the ferritin-expressing cells, allowing them to map the location of surviving transplanted cells in three dimensions. The MRI findings were confirmed using tissue analysis after the experiments. Additional echocardiography tests showed that the manganese treatment did not impair overall heart function.

The next step is to use the information garnered from the bright-ferritin cell tracking technology to optimize stem cell research directly. Now that we can reliably pinpoint when and where stem cells are surviving, stem cell scientists are better equipped to develop strategies for increasing cell survival." Professor Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng
The six-legged Smart Inspection Robot Dog assists in patrolling facilities, using a highdefinition camera and gas detection equipment to identify any abnormalities.

The departments Smart Drone is equipped with a satellite system for precise sampling and can descend to water surfaces to collect samples.

WSD Senior Engineer John Louie says Intelligent Arm can function in difficult, hazardous positions that typically expose welders to adverse conditions.

With the Government driving innovation across departments to boost efficiency, step forward Intelligent Arm, a multifunctional welding robot developed by the Water Supplies Department (WSD), which recently won a Gold Medal with Congratulations of the Jury at the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva.

The robots remarkable capabilities allow it to perform precision welding inside water pipes, reducing the need for human workers to operate in such confined and hazardous spaces.

WSD Senior Engineer John Louie said Intelligent Arm offers three key advantages: high precision, enabling work at any position; high efficiency, allowing for prolonged operations and unhindered progress; and improved safety, as the robot can function in difficult, hazardous positions that typically expose welders to adverse conditions.

Working smarter

Intelligent Arm truly lightens the departments workload  just like another piece of equipment known as Smart Drone.

WSD Mechanical Engineer David Ling explained that the drone is equipped with a satellite system for precise sampling, with routes and sampling points able to be preplanned before flight. Its watersampling container can descend to water surfaces to collect samples, making the process much faster than traditional boat-based methods.

It also carries a highresolution visual camera and an infrared camera for routine reservoir inspections, significantly improving efficiency and safety.

Six-legged friend

To safeguard facility security, meanwhile, the WSD has introduced the six-legged Smart Inspection Robot Dog.

Six legs are more stable, by what we observed when it is going across high hills or going up stairs, remarked WSD Electrical Engineer Anthony Kwan. The performance is much better than four legs.

The robot dog carries a highdefinition camera that flags abnormalities to the control room, and a gas detector that identifies hazardous gases, allowing staff to keep away from dangerous areas during inspections.
President Donald Trump has agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump wrote in a social media post on April 7.

The President agreed to a ceasefire because we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East, he added. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.

President Trump forged this moment, declared Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in a briefing. As the President Trump Truthed out early on April 8, it is a big day for world peace. Iran wants it to happen, they've had enough!

This day was made possible thanks to the historic and overwhelming victory achieved by Operation Epic Fury on the battlefield, declared Pete Hegseth. In less than 40 days, U.S. Central Command, using less than 10 percent of America's total combat power, dismantled one of the world's largest militaries.

The world's leading state sponsor of terrorism proved utterly incapable of defending itself, its people, or its territory, said Secretary Hegseth.

Had Iran refused our terms, the next targets would have been their power plants, their bridges, and oil and energy infrastructure, said Secretary Hegseth. President Trump had the power to cripple Iran's entire economy in minutes, but he chose mercy. He spared those targets because Iran accepted the ceasefire under overwhelming pressure.

The Iranian leadership knows this agreement means that they will never possess a nuclear weapon, said Secretary Hegseth. Under the terms, any nuclear material they should not have will be removed.

Now we have a chance at real peace and a real deal. The War Department, for now, has done its part, said Secretary Hegseth. We stand ready in the background to ensure Iran upholds every reasonable term.

The United States of America, wrote President Trump on social media, will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! ... Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!

The success of the U.S. military created the leverage necessary for President Trump and his team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for long-term peace in the Middle East.
Tourists admire blossoms in a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

Tourists admire blossoms in a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Photo by Zhang Xiaofeng/Xinhua)

Tourists pose for photos in a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 6, 2026 shows tourists taking a sightseeing train past a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

A girl has fun at a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Photo by Liang Zidong/Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 6, 2026 shows tourists visiting a park in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Photo by Liang Zidong/Xinhua)

Tourists admire blossoms in a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Photo by Liang Zidong/Xinhua)

Tourists admire blossoms in a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Photo by Zhang Xiaofeng/Xinhua)

Tourists admire blossoms in a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Photo by Liang Zidong/Xinhua)

A tourist takes photos of blossoms in a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Photo by Liang Zidong/Xinhua)

Tourists admire blossoms in a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province, April 6, 2026. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 6, 2026 shows tourists taking a sightseeing train past a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

An aerial drone photo taken on April 6, 2026 shows tourists visiting a pear orchard in Zhoujiazhuang Township of Jinzhou City, north China's Hebei Province. Recently, about 170,000 mu (11,333.33 hectares) of pear trees in Jinzhou City have entered their full bloom period. The pear blossoms, alongside the blooming rapeseed flowers in the fields, create a stunning scene that attracts a large number of tourists to admire the flowers and enjoy spring outings. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

Editor: ZAD
President Trump says he has called off massive attacks on Iran. In a post on Truth Social less than 90 minutes before his 8pm Eastern deadline, the president said Iran had proposed a "workable" 10-point peace plan that could help end the war, the AP reports.

"We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," Trump wrote. "Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated." The announcement came after efforts from Pakistan, which has been the main mediator between the US and Iran in recent weeks, to get a last-minute ceasefire in place. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged both President Trump and Iran's leaders to agree to a two-week halt in hostilities to clear space for intensive peace talks, The announcement came after efforts from Pakistan, which has been the main mediator between the US and Iran in recent weeks, to get a last-minute ceasefire in place. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged both President Trump and Iran's leaders to agree to a two-week halt in hostilities to clear space for intensive peace talks, Axios reports. His appeal landed just hours before Trump's self-imposed deadline to either clinch a deal with Tehran or order large-scale strikes on Iranian infrastructure.

Sharif said on X that diplomatic efforts are "progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future." He asked Trump to extend the deadline by 14 days and called on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the same period as a "goodwill gesture." A senior Iranian official told Reuters the plan was under "positive" review.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt earlier said Trump, who warned Tuesday morning that "a whole civilization will die" Tuesday night, "has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come." In a call with NBC News, Trump declined to comment on the status of negotiations, but criticized Iran's call for people to act as human shields around power plants. "Totally illegal," he said. "They're not allowed to do that."
A traffic stop on a California highway ended in gunfire Tuesday, adding another disputed incident to the federal immigration crackdown's growing list of confrontations, CNN reports. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say agents opened fire near Interstate 5 in Patterson, about 90 miles south of Sacramento, after the driver they were targeting allegedly tried to run an officer down. The driver was identified by the Department of Homeland Security as Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, an undocumented immigrant described as an 18th Street Gang member wanted in El Salvador for questioning in a murder case. He was hospitalized; officials did not release details on his condition, ABC News reports. No local officers were involved, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office.

Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said agents followed their training and fired "defensive shots to protect themselves, their fellow agents, and the public" after the vehicle was allegedly used as a weapon. The FBI is on the scene, and the sheriff's office said roads in the area would remain closed for the rest of the day. California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said it expects federal authorities to work "appropriately" with state and local agencies as the shooting is investigated. The sheriff's office says the FBI is heading up the probe, the Modesto Bee reports.

Federal officials say attacks on their agents involving vehicles have climbed, citing more than 180 such incidents since President Trump's second term began. But DHS accounts of past shootings and use-of-force cases have sometimes shifted under scrutiny from witnesses, video evidence, and courts, raising questions about official narratives. The phrase "weaponized his/her vehicle" has become a recurring element in DHS descriptions, including in the fatal shooting of Minneapolis mother Renee Good by an ICE agent earlier this year, a case that sparked protests. The latest shooting comes as law enforcement intensifies action against the 18th Street Gangdesignated a foreign terrorist organization last yearwith recent federal cases in New York and Los Angeles targeting alleged members on charges ranging from racketeering to murder.
Iran says it has accepted a proposal for a two-week ceasefire, but the war will only be considered over if and when a final agreement is reached that aligns with every element of its 10-point plan. President Trump said Tuesday that he had suspended attacks on Iran for two weeks after receiving a "workable" proposal for Iran. According to Iranian state media, the plan calls for coordinated, controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz under Iranian military oversight, a halt to military operations against Iran and its allied groups, and the withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases in the region, Reuters reports.

Tehran is also demanding the lifting of all US sanctionsboth primary and secondarythe release of frozen Iranian funds, and payment of "full compensation" to Iran. In a statement on X, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, "For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations." Araghchi, who said he was making the announcement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council, said Iran would halt military attacks as long as the country was not attacked, NBC News reports.

Araghchi thanked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for pushing for a ceasefire. Iran said talks with the US would begin in Pakistan on Friday. "There are discussions about in-person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN.
The parents of a toddler who suffered a minor injury at a Pennsylvania theme park zoo after squeezing through a fence near a wolf enclosure and making contact with one of the animals have been charged with endangering the welfare of children, police said. Evidence showed that the parents both walked about 25 to 30 feet away from the child to a seating area with benches and appeared to be paying attention to their cellphones when they noticed what was happening shortly before noon Saturday at ZooAmerica in the Hersheypark theme park, police said in a statement. The child went through a small opening in a wooden barrier perimeter fence and entered a restricted area near the wolf exhibit, Derry Township Police said. The child reached a chain-link fence enclosure and was hurt after placing a hand through it, the AP reports.

"From the injuries sustained, it appears as though one of the wolves in the enclosure instinctively and naturally grabbed onto the child's hand with its mouth. Several bystanders intervened and helped pull the child away," police said in the statement. The parents, who live in nearby Lititz, Pennsylvania, await a preliminary hearing later this month on the misdemeanor charge. A spokesperson for the zoo said in a statement that the boy, who is a year and a half old, crawled under an exterior perimeter fence and put his hand through "the primary metal enclosure surrounding the wolf habitat." "A wolf approached and made contact with the child's hand. This was not a forceful or aggressive action, but rather a brief, investigatory behavior consistent with how wild canines interact with unfamiliar objects in their environment," the zoo said.

Wolves use their mouths much as humans use hands, the zoo said, and they check out unfamiliar objects by mouthing them. The zoo said the boy's injuries were "minor, surface-level," and the animal is up-to-date on vaccinations and remains in the exhibit. Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said the decision to file a criminal charge was carefully considered. "We looked at a lot of factorsthe age of the child, the circumstances, how diligent you have to be because it's potentially dangerous," Chardo said in a phone interview. Derry Township Police Chief Garth W. Warner said he was not sure how long the parents' attention was distracted. "There are plenty of opportunities for a child of that age to hurt themselves on things," Warner said. "Let alone, be left alone, essentially by themselves, where they could get themselves into a situation like this child did."
NANJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, led a KMT delegation to the Chinese mainland on Tuesday.

Cheng led the delegation to Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, after arriving in Shanghai by plane. The visit, which covers Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing, will run through Sunday.

The KMT chairwoman was invited by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee. In Nanjing, she thanked Xi and the mainland for the warm reception, saying her visit aims to safeguard peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Welcoming Cheng in Shanghai, Song Tao, head of the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee, said Cheng will certainly feel the deep bond between people on the mainland and their Taiwan compatriots, and her trip will be widely supported by people on both sides of the Strait.

Song said that by placing the interests of the Chinese nation first and keeping in mind people's well-being, the CPC and the KMT must work together to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and strive for national rejuvenation.

Cheng's trip marks the first time in a decade that a KMT chairperson has led a delegation to the Chinese mainland. The visit is regarded as an important part of the exchanges and dialogue between the KMT and the CPC under the new circumstances.

The Taiwan question is a scar left over by a full-blown civil war fought between the forces led by the CPC and the KMT about eight decades ago. In 1949, the remnants of the defeated KMT retreated to Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded under the leadership of the CPC.

The unresolved civil war and foreign interference have left the two sides of the Taiwan Strait in a prolonged state of political confrontation. However, the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory has never changed.

In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, clarifying that the PRC government is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. It is widely recognized by the international community that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China's territory.

Cheng was elected KMT chairperson in October last year. Since taking office, she has repeatedly expressed her willingness to visit the mainland.

After accepting the invitation, Cheng told a press conference in Taipei that the visit is in line with the mainstream public opinion in Taiwan.

She said that her visit, like previous visits to the mainland by former KMT chairmen Lien Chan and Ma Ying-jeou, is on the basis of the same political foundation -- adherence to the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle, and opposition to "Taiwan independence."

In Nanjing, Cheng reiterated that the KMT will continue to uphold the 1992 Consensus, oppose "Taiwan independence," and play an important role in promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations.

Editor: WSH
A former surgical technician at a New Jersey hospital is accused of stealing $2.5 million in medical supplies to resell for a profit. Police say 44-year-old Marci M. Staub took the supplies from Cooper University Health Care in Camden, then sold them to a South Carolina medical supply company while allegedly posing as a legitimate vendor, per NBC News . Authorities say financial records show she brought in more than $427,000 from the sales. The hospital flagged missing inventory, including Medtronic Infuse Bone Graft devices, last October, per the Courier Post . Prosecutors say the hospital had noticed unusually frequent reorders of the devices starting in December 2024, without a rise in patient volume.

Investigators say surveillance video from late 2025 showed Staub arriving at work with an empty bag and leaving with it full; sheriff's deputies later stopped her in December as she allegedly walked out with supplies. Staub, who allegedly claimed she kept the medical supplies so she could be prepared for surgeries, was fired, per the Post. She has now been charged with theft, receiving stolen property, distributing prescription drugs, and impersonating a representative of a medical organization. She remains in custody at the Camden County Correctional Facility, per NBC. The hospital says it reported the matter immediately and is cooperating with law enforcement.
Taylor Frankie Paul, a star of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, cannot spend unsupervised time with her 2-year-old son due to a history of volatile behavior directed at the boy's father while kids were present, a Utah court commissioner ruled Tuesday. Third District Court Commissioner Russell Minas said, "I have concerns going both ways" about competing allegations between Dakota Mortensen and Paul, who was also set to star in the most recent season of The Bachelorette before it was pulled days before airing . "Even if he was trying to provoke a response," Minas said, "the actions that occurred are very troubling." The hearing set the stage for an April 30 court battle in which Minas will assess dueling petitions for protective orders between the pair, the AP reports.

Mortensen, who shares son Ever with Paul, has asked the court to turn a short-term protective order against his ex into a long-term one. Paul filed her own request just before Tuesday's hearing. Both participated remotely while their lawyers were in court. Lawyers for the two sides and a court-appointed attorney for Ever addressed several heated and sometimes violent interactions between the couple, some of which were caught on video. In one key video from 2023, Paul appeared to punch, kick, and throw chairs at Mortensen while her young daughter watched and cried. The leak of that video last month spurred the unprecedented move by ABC of shelving Paul's already-filmed season of The Bachelorette. It was also central to the first season of Mormon Wives, which has paused production on its fifth season amid the uproar.

Eric Swinyard, a lawyer for Paul, argued Tuesday that Mortensen was the aggressor in another fight from February that the lawyer called "the truck tussle." In his request for a protective order, Mortensen said Paul threw a drink at him as they argued in a truck to not wake children who were sleeping inside Paul's home. Swinyard said Mortensen slammed Paul's head into the dashboard and punched her in the leg, showing the court commissioner photos of her bruises. That and another fight around the same time are under investigation by police in the Salt Lake City suburb of Draper City.

The sides generally agreed that Paul didn't intentionally direct violence at their son or her other two children from a previous relationship. At issue was her willingness to lash out at Mortensen in front of her children. Ever's court-appointed lawyer pointed to a May 2025 video that has not been released publicly. He said it shows Paul pushing Mortensen and shouting at him to get out of her house while he's holding the boy. Minas ordered that Paul can have eight hours per week of supervised visits with Ever, emphasizing it was a stopgap arrangement until the next hearing. Paul had primary custody of the boy before Mortensen got the temporary protective order.
Texas is weighing whether the Bible should become mandatory reading for millions of public school students, the New York Times reports. The Republican-controlled State Board of Education is considering new English and social studies standards that include Bible passages on a statewide required reading list and shift history teaching toward a US- and Texas-first approach, with less focus on world history. A draft list from the Texas Education Agency names more than 200 texts, from The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, plus Bible excerpts in middle and high school; a rival proposal from Republican board member Will Hickman would reduce the overall number of books and introduce Bible readings as early as elementary school.

Backers argue the selections from the Bible are influential literature and say the broader overhaul embraces a "classical" education rooted in Western thought. Critics, including Democratic board members and historians, warn of church-state concerns, a lack of Black and Hispanic authors in a state where the majority of public school students are Black or Hispanic, and an American-exceptionalism tilt that sidelines global history and other religions. The board is set to take preliminary votes this week and final ones in June; any new rules would not take effect until 2030.

Even some Christian parents have spoken out against the proposals, the AP reports. "As a Christian mother, it is my right and responsibility to teach our family's religion," one woman said Tuesday while appearing before the state education board. "It is not the state's job to shed through the lens of a teacher who may not share the same beliefs I do. Will Bible passages be taught in conflict with my beliefs?" Fox 7 Austin also quotes a pastor who spoke out at the same meeting: "I don't trust any of you with my child's religious education any more than some of you would trust me with yours because I'm a female pastor and you are part of a faith community that says women should be silent in church," said Rev. Mara Bim with Royal Lane Baptist Church.
A Michigan woman vanished during a nighttime dinghy ride in the Bahamas, and her daughter says the story doesn't add up, CBS News reports. The search for Lynette Hooker is heading into its fourth day after she reportedly went overboard Saturday night near Elbow Cay in the Abaco islands, according to Bahamian authorities. Her husband, Brian Hooker, told police she fell from their 8-foot hard-bottom dinghytaking the keys with herand was swept away by strong currents. With the engine dead, he said he paddled to shore, reaching a boatyard around 4am Sunday. Lynette Hooker's daughter, Karli Aylesworth, isn't convinced. She tells Fox News there were "prior issues" and is calling for a full investigation.

She describes her mother as a strong swimmer with a decade of sailing experience and questions how Lynette could have had the boat keys, saying Brian typically controlled them because he was "always driving" the boat. Brian Hooker is Aylesworth's stepfather, the Detroit News reports. "The story is that she fell off with the key and he threw her a life jacket or something and she was swimming towards shore, but I don't understand why she was swimming away from the boat with the key," Aylesworth tells WMYD Detroit. A voicemail Brian later left Aylesworth, which she shared with CBS, mentions a flotation device he says he tossed to his wife; search teams have since found it. Brian declined to answer CBS' questions about the incident. Police say he has not been accused of any wrongdoing and emphasize the effort is still officially a search-and-rescue operation.
Democratic-backed candidate Chris Taylor won election to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Tuesday, growing the liberal majority on the court as cases affecting congressional redistricting, union rights, and other hot button issues await in the perennial battleground state, the AP reports. Taylor, who focused her campaign on abortion rights, handily defeated Republican-backed Maria Lazar in the fourth straight victory for liberal court candidates dating back to 2020. Liberals are now guaranteed to hold a majority on the court until at least 2030 . "Once again, Wisconsin showed the entire nation that we believe that the people should be at the center of government and the priority of our judiciary, not the billionaires, not the most powerful and privileged, but the people," Taylor said in her victory speech.

Wisconsin Republican Party Chair Brian Schimming, in the wake of Lazar's double-digit defeat, called for Republicans to "stay united and continue fighting for our conservative values." Democrats tightened their control of the court just months before a November election in which they seek to keep the governor's office and flip the state Legislature, where Republicans have held the majority since 2011. Democrats aspire to undo a host of Republican-enacted laws that made Wisconsin a focal point for the nation's conservative movement in the 2010s.

This year's Supreme Court election stands in stark contrast to the swing state's previous two, where national spending records were set in battles over majority control. Spending and national attention was down dramatically this year without control of the court at stake. Liberals took control of the state's top court in 2023, ending 15 years under a conservative majority. They held onto their majority with last year's victory in a race that drew involvement from President Trump and billionaires George Soros and Elon Musk, who personally handed out $1 million checks to voters in the state.

Liberals argued that democracy was at stake in the 2025 election, noting that when the court was controlled by conservative justices in 2020 it came just one vote shy of siding with Trump in his attempt to invalidate enough votes to overturn his loss in that year's presidential election. The court under liberal control has reversed several election-related rulings, including one that overturned a ban on absentee ballot drop boxes, and it is poised to once again be in the spotlight around the 2028 presidential election. Races for the court are officially nonpartisan, but support for candidates breaks down mostly along partisan lines. The seat was open due to the retirement of a conservative justice.
Iran, the United States, and Israel said they reached a deal for a two-week ceasefire , with Tehran saying it would negotiate with the United States in Islamabad beginning Friday, the AP reports. In a statement Wednesday morning, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said it supports Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, but that it doesn't include the war with Hezbollah in Lebanon, where more than 1,500 people have been killed. It wasn't immediately clear from the ceasefire when it would begin. Iran has fired missiles on the Gulf Arab states and Israel after the announcement, and Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens Wednesday morning, hours after the ceasefire was announced.

Trump in a social media post declared the ceasefire agreement a "big day for World Peace" and that the US "will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz." "There will be lots of positive action!" Trump predicted in his post. "Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will." Trump's message on his Truth Social website signals Washington's concern about Iran maintaining its chokehold over the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf, through which 20% of all oil and natural gas passes in peace time.

The ceasefire process was clouded in uncertainty after Iran released two different versions of the 10-point plan intended to be the basis for negotiations, the AP reports. In the version released in Farsi, Iran included the phrase "acceptance of enrichment" for its nuclear program. But for reasons that remain unclear, that phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats to journalists. Trump initially had said Iran proposed a "workable" 10-point plan that could help end the war launched by the US and Israel in February. But he later called it fraudulent, without elaborating. Trump has said ending Iran's nuclear program entirely was a key point of the war.
President Trump said Wednesday that the US will work with Iran to "dig up and remove" its enriched uranium that was buried under joint US-Israeli strikes last summer. The president said on social media that "There will be no enrichment of Uranium" and that none of the material had been touched since the June attacks, reports the AP. Trump had previously said the US would retrieve the deeply buried material, which is expected to be an intensive undertaking, if it struck an agreement with Iran. Trump added: "We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran." Trump's remarks came hours after the US, Israel, and Iran agreed to a ceasefire. Sporadic attacks were reported after the deal was announced.
The creature that swam into the Guinness Book of Records as the planet's earliest known octopus just got its title revoked. New high-powered scans of the 300-million-year-old fossil Pohlsepia mazonensis reveal it's not an octopus at all, but a relative of today's nautiluswith a set of tiny teeth being the giveaway. Dr. Thomas Clements, lead author of the study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B , says the animala shelled mollusk with many tentacleshad decomposed for weeks before it was buried. That warped its shape in a way that led scientists to believe it was an octopus in an analysis published in 2000.

More than two decades later, scientists using synchrotron imagingan approach that employs "beams of light brighter than the sun," per a press releasedetected a radula, a teeth-covered ribbon-like structure specific to mollusks. The number and shape of those teeth don't match octopuses but align with a known fossil nautiloid, Paleocadmus pohli, that has been found at the same Mazon Creek site in Illinois where the fossil was discovered. As Nautilus explains, the imaging revealed 11 teeth per row, which better syncs with the 13 teeth nautiloids have versus the 7 to 9 in octopuses; the study authors suspect a couple of teeth were simply lost.

The find now stands as the oldest preserved soft tissue from a nautiloid and forces a rewrite of octopus history: Their origins likely sit in the later Jurassic period. Said Clements, "It's amazing to think a row of tiny hidden teeth ... have fundamentally changed what we know about when and how octopuses evolved."
Airlines got some good news with the planned reopening of the Strait of Hormuz but their fuel headache isn't going away anytime soon, reports the Wall Street Journal . Global carriers should brace for months of tight jet fuel supplies and elevated costs, even if the US-Iran agreement holds, according to International Air Transport Association chief Willie Walsh, who says the system can't reset "in weeks." "It will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be," he says. In the US, jet fuel has shot up from $2.50 a gallon on the day before the war opened to $4.88 last week, reports CNBC .

The backlog starts with crude oil flows, which need time to move, be refined, and reach fuel suppliers. Asia is feeling it most: the region relies on the Strait for the bulk of its crude, and the war-driven cutoff has pushed prices higher, forced airlines from South Korea to Vietnam to pare back schedules, and prompted fuel surcharges. Europe, which gets more than a quarter of its jet fuel from Gulf producers, is seeing milder fallout thanks to widespread fuel hedging. In the US, where major carriers largely gave up hedging years ago, the impact is more direct. Delta says pricier fuel means an extra $2 billion in second-quarter costs; like United and JetBlue, it's now scaling back growth plans and tacking on new baggage fees.
Israel unleashed what it called its biggest coordinated assault of the war on Lebanon on Wednesday, pounding Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and the south with airstrikes even as Hezbollah halted its own attacks under a US-Iran ceasefire. Lebanon's health ministry reported dozens killed and hundreds wounded, reports the Guardian , with hospitals calling for blood donations and the Lebanese Red Cross saying there was "a huge number of dead and wounded." Witnesses in Beirut described people abandoning cars and rushing on foot to hospitals as explosions rocked the capital. The Israeli military said it hit more than 100 Hezbollah command and military sites, and Defense Minister Israel Katz described it as the group's most severe blow since a 2024 operation that detonated thousands of the militia's pagers, reports Reuters .

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Israeli military insisted the two-week US-Iran ceasefire does not cover Lebanon, contradicting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, a mediator, who said it did. Iran, meanwhile, told mediators that the attacks on Lebanon must stop if the ceasefire is to remain in effect, reports the Wall Street Journal. Hezbollah has paused its attacks and is expected to issue its stance on the truce and Israel's position. French President Emmanuel Macron urged that Lebanon be folded into the deal, as the country reels from an economic crisis and displacement: about 1.2 million people have fled their homes under Israeli evacuation orders. More than 1,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2, Lebanese officials say, while Israel vows to maintain a "security zone" in the south up to the Litani River.
This photo taken on April 7, 2026 shows a view of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

Trump wrote on social media that his decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said.

"We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he said.

Trump described the two-week suspension as "a double sided ceasefire."

The ceasefire proposal was delivered by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aiming to give time for peace talks with Iran.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sharif called on Trump in a post on X to extend the deadline Trump set for Iran to reach a deal by two weeks, and also requested Iran "to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture."

Trump threatened on Tuesday morning that Iran's "whole civilization will die tonight" at 8:00 pm ET, the deadline he set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He told a press conference on Monday that according to a U.S. plan, "every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night," and "every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again."

U.S. officials, cited by U.S. media outlets, said American forces struck military targets on Iran's Kharg Island overnight, with oil facilities spared in the country's crucial oil export hub.

Multiple railway lines across Iran were also struck on Tuesday, according to reports reaching here.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

He also said Iran would hold negotiations with the U.S. in Islamabad, stressing that the temporary ceasefire does not mean an end to war, pending negotiations on details of its 10-point plan. 

A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Editor: Zhang Zhou
It was a TikTok video many Greek teens and tweens may not have appreciated, one from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to his country's youth that began: "6-7 ... Now that I have your attention." What followed was the news that kids under 15 are set to be locked out of social media starting Jan. 1, 2027. In announcing the move Wednesday, Mitsotakis linked the platforms to rising anxiety, sleep issues, and addictive design and said Greece aims to nudge the European Union in the same direction. The measure comes with strong domestic backingabout 80% support it, per a February polland follows bans on phones in schools and new parental control tools.

Beginning in 2027, social media platforms will be expected to block underage accounts or risk penalties of up to 6% of global revenue, Reuters reports. Parliament will vote on the ban in mid-2026, with the New York Times reporting there is slim opposition to it. The move follows Australia's ban for under-16s, which doesn't appear to have been a rousing success. A compliance update published in March found:

"Of the parents who reported their child had an account on each platform prior to 10 December 2025, around 7 in 10 reported that their child still had an account on Facebook (63.6%), Instagram (69.1%), Snapchat (69.4%), and TikTok (69.3%). Around 3 in 10 reported that their child no longer had an account. One in two of these parents (48.5%) reported that their child still had an account on YouTube following the age restrictions coming into effect."

As for how that's possible, the Washington Post editorial board reports kids simply created new accounts "using fake ages and an adult-looking face. ... By inevitably being so easy to circumvent, bans encourage lawbreaking. If kids know something is illegal but everyone does it anyway, they can develop an unhealthy disregard for other sensible but unpopular statutes."
The BBC's own watchdog is calling foul over the airing of the n-word during February's BAFTAs broadcast. The corporation's Executive Complaints Unit has ruled that airing the slursaid to have been involuntarily spoken by Tourette's campaigner John Davidson as actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the first awardviolated the BBC's rules on harm and offense, per Variety . The show went out on a two-hour delay, prompting backlash over why the moment wasn't cut from the program, especially as part of a speech mentioning "Free Palestine" was.

Chief content officer Kate Phillips said the ECU concluded the airing of the slur "was highly offensive, had no editorial justification, and represented a breach of the BBC's editorial standards," but was unintentional. The production team reported that they hadn't heard the slur during the taping and therefore didn't try to censor it. Phillips noted the team "did correctly identify and edit out a subsequent use of the same word" in accordance with protocol. The ECU also concluded that keeping the unedited broadcast available to stream on iPlayer until the morning after the awards ceremony was a "serious mistake" that made the situation worse.

Phillips said she had apologized directly to Davidson, Jordan, Lindo, and fellow Sinners actor Wunmi Mosaku, who noted the episode had "tainted" her win for best supporting actress. As for the editing out of director Akinola Davies Jr.'s "Free Palestine" comment, the ECU concluded it was not an issue of partiality. Instead, it concluded "the principal consideration was that approximately three hours of recorded material had to be edited to fit a two-hour transmission slot," per the BBC. The speech given by Davies and his brother Wale was ultimately cut down from 2.5 minutes to one.
Israel has acknowledged carrying out an airstrike in Tehran that heavily damaged a synagogue, while contending the religious site was not the intended target. The Israel Defense Forces said the strike early Tuesday was aimed at a senior commander in Khatam al-Anbiya, Iran's military emergency command, and described the hit on the nearby Rafi Niya synagogue as unintended "collateral damage." The military said it used "precise munitions and aerial surveillance" to limit civilian harm, the Times of Israel reports, and is still reviewing the outcome. "Israel doesn't target synagogues. Anyone claiming otherwise thinks you're gullible," an Israeli official said.

Iranian state media and other outlets accused Israel of deliberately attacking the synagogue, with some reports saying the building was destroyed. State-run IRNA said the explosion around 4am local time also seriously damaged at least five nearby residential buildings. Homayoun Sameh, the Jewish community's representative in Iran's parliament, blamed Israel and said Torah scrolls were buried under the debris. The Israeli military said it regretted the damage, per the Wall Street Journal. Iran's Jewish population, now estimated at between 8,000 and 15,000, is a fraction of its pre-1979 size but remains the region's second largest after Israel, with roughly 25 synagogues still believed to be operating in the country, per the Times.
"We arrested a 14-year-old for twirling a baby alligator around," says Sheriff Mike Chitwood. "Obviously, abusing wildlife is not a way to spend your downtime, you know, it's a felony. You just do not abuse wildlife. Unfortunately, this young man is going to learn a very expensive lesson."

A Florida teen accused of abusing a baby alligator is "going to learn a very expensive lesson," a sheriff says. WKMG reports that a 14-year-old boy was arrested after a Stetson University public safety officer said she watched him on surveillance cameras swinging a small gator by its tail and kicking it at the school's aquatic center on April 3, according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office.

The security officer told Volusia County deputies the teen also held the animal while another child took photos, and was seen kicking dirt on the reptile. When a deputy arrived, five kids at the Stetson Aquatic Center said they were just fishing and denied knowing anything about an alligator, the report states. Stetson security asked that all five be banned from the facility, which sits on Lake Beresford and supports the university's water research programs and rowing teams.

An arrest affidavit states that the 14-year-old was booked into a juvenile detention center for allegedly possessing or harming an alligator without approval from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a level 4 felony.

AJ Ellis, a commission-licensed nuisance gator trapper, tells Fox 35 that the alleged alligator abuse is "just pretty sick" and makes him "pretty angry." "Florida law does not allow you to, to go catch an alligator or many other animals without being licensed, having the proper permits or, you know, during any sort of a regulatory hunting season," Ellis says. "It's no different than kicking a puppy down the street or grabbing a puppy by the tail and swinging it over your head. I just don't know why somebody would do something like that."
Countries that arm Iran could see the cost of doing business with the US double, if President Trump gets his way. In a Truth Social post Wednesday, the president vowed a 50% tariff on all imports from any nation that supplies military weapons to Tehran, saying it would take effect "immediately" and come with "no exclusions or exemptions," CNBC reports.

It's not clear what legal authority the tariffs would be applied under. The administration reconstituted its tariff system using existing trade laws after the Supreme Court struck down most of its earlier "reciprocal" duties in February. Current measures already hit many metals products with tariffs of 25% to 50%, and a 100% levy on patented pharmaceuticals for larger drugmakers is set to begin in July.
Pam Bondi is out of her old joband, for now, out of the witness chair. On Wednesday, the Justice Department told House Oversight Chair James Comer that Bondi will not sit for an April 14 deposition in the committee's Jeffrey Epstein probe, arguing the subpoena targeted her in her former official role as US attorney general, not as a private citizen. "Ms. Bondi no longer holds that office," Assistant Attorney General Patrick D. Davis wrote, saying the subpoena no longer compels her appearance, according to a letter obtained by CNN . "We kindly ask that you confirm that the subpoena is withdrawn," he wrote.

A spokesperson for the GOP-led Oversight Committee said Bondi will not appear as scheduled on April 14 because "she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General," CNBC reports. The spokesperson said the committee will now contact Bondi's personal lawyer "to discuss next steps" and reschedule her testimony. The subpoena, issued last month with support from both parties, seeks Bondi's account of how the Justice Department handled the public release of its investigative files on Epstein, the financier and convicted sex offender who died in federal custody in 2019.

Not so fast, say some committee members. Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the committee, said Bondi's exit from the Trump administration doesn't change her obligation to testify as scheduled. "Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the Attorney General or not," he said, warning that if she refuses, lawmakers will move toward contempt proceedings. Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who spearheaded the subpoena alongside Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, echoed that view on X.

"Pam Bondi cannot escape accountability simply because she no longer holds the office of Attorney General," she wrote. "Our motion to subpoena Pam Bondi, which was passed by the Oversight Committee, was for Bondi by name, not by title. She will still have to appear before the Oversight Committee for a sworn deposition. The American people deserve answers, and we expect her to appear as soon as a new date is set." Mace added: "A Department of Justice with nothing to hide doesn't avoid a subpoena."
One of Australia's tiniest towns is up for grabs. Cooladdi, a remote speck in outback Queensland with just two residents and its own postcode, has been listed for sale at about $400,000, which the Guardian points out is less than half the cost of a typical Sydney apartment. For that amount, the buyer will walk away with the Foxtrap Roadhouse, which houses a post office; a four-bedroom house; and a variety of jobs: "Running Cooladdi means serving as the postie, the publican, the cook, and the shopkeeper," per the Guardian.

Current owners Carol Yarrow and Jo Cornel took over the roadhouse in early 2023 with a three-year revival plan; retirement and family ties are now pulling them away. Australia's ABC News reports that while the town sits a remote nine hours west of Brisbane, "travelers and a steady flow of graziers ... regularly stop by." Indeed, Cornel tells the Chronicle that the Foxtrap, built by Bob and Beryl Fox in 1974, was originally called the Cooladdi Roadhouse. But "the tale goes that if you came in for a beer and a yarn with Bob Fox, you wouldn't get away until the next day, hence you got trapped in the fox trap."

Yarrow describes a busy life: "Today, I did the mail run down to Big Creek, so that's about a five-and-a-half-hour drive down there, mainly gravel road. Then just back here this afternoon to help run the shop, and tonight serve beers and food and whatever else is needed." Once a rail hub of about 270 people, Cooladdi emptied out as trains stopped and the sheep industry waned. The listing agent says the property could appeal to anyone craving a lifestyle overhauland notes that if a family of four buys it, the town's population would instantly double.
The Iran ceasefire deal appeared shaky on Wednesday as Iranian state media said the Strait of Hormuz was closed and Iran's Revolutionary Guard claimed missile and drone strikes on multiple regional targets, including oil facilities. The Telegraph reports that Saudi Arabia's crucial east-west oil pipeline was hit by an Iranian drone attack, as were energy facilities in Kuwait. The UAE says it intercepted 17 missiles and 35 drones, apparently launched by Iran after the truce announcement. The White House called the closure reports "false" and said Trump expects the strait to open "immediately, quickly and safely," even as hundreds of tankers remain stuck and report interference with navigation systems, the Guardian reports.
Oil industry leaders are quietly lobbying the White House to reject a key Iranian ceasefire demand: the right to charge tolls on tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% of the world's oil. Industry leaders say the tolls are a sharp break from decades of free passage through the narrow waterway.

At a State Department meeting this week, oil representatives warned that Iran's requested tollabout $2 million per ship, plus higher insurance costscould add roughly $2.5 million per voyage, costs likely to hit consumers. They also argued that recognizing Tehran's control over Hormuz could inspire similar tolls in other chokepoints such as the Strait of Malacca and the Bosporus. The White House, however, might be more interested in getting a piece of the action than opposing tolls. President Trump has suggested it could be a "joint venture" and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that the idea of sharing tolls is "something the president has floated," the BBC reports.

Leavitt added, however, the immediate priority is reopening Hormuz "without any limitations, whether in the form of tolls or otherwise." For now, the strait remains largely closed despite the ceasefire. Iranian authorities said Wednesday that it had been closed in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the AP reports. The Wall Street Journal reports that according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, only four ships were allowed to pass Wednesday, the fewest of any day this month. Mediators say ships have to coordinate with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and arrange to pay tolls in either cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan, the Journal reports.
by Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun

At a time when global environmental governance faces many challenges, Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, grounded in the laws governing the development of human civilization, provides in-depth answers to major theoretical and practical questions such as why an ecological civilization should be built, what kind of ecological civilization is to be built and how to build such a civilization.

The Ten Principles which should be uphold constitute the core essence of Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization

Upholding the principle of the Communist Party of Chinas overall leadership over ecological civilization building is the fundamental guarantee for advancing ecological civilization.

Upholding the principle that civilization will flourish if ecology flourishes profoundly reveals the inherent link between ecology and the rise and fall of civilization.

Upholding the principle of the harmony between humanity and nature makes it clear that humanity and nature are a community of life, and that humanity must respect nature, follow its ways and protect it.

Upholding the principle that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets breaks away from the mindset that sets development against protection and makes it clear that ecological advantages can be transformed into economic and development advantages.

Upholding the principle that a good ecological environment is the most universal benefit to the people, and treating the eco-environment as a basic public good embodies the people-centered philosophy of development.

Upholding the principle that green development represents a profound revolution in the development concept, promoting a comprehensive green transformation in production and lifestyles, and pursuing a way of sound development featuring increased production, higher living standards and healthy ecosystems.

Upholding the principle of coordinating the management of mountains, rivers, forests, farmlands, lakes, grasslands and deserts fosters a holistic perspective and advances eco-environmental protection and restoration across all elements, entire river basins and all regions.

Upholding the principle of the strictest systems and the strictest rule of law to protect the ecological environment provides hard constraints and institutional guarantees for the building of an ecological civilization.

Upholding the principle of transforming the building of a Beautiful China into the conscious action of all the people helps bring together the ecological efforts of the whole society for joint construction and shared enjoyment.

Upholding the principle of seeking a common path for global ecological civilization construction advocates the view that the eco-environment knows no borders, encouraging all countries to work together to address global ecological challenges.

The concept of green development is the core guidance for practicing green lifestyles

The concept of green development has been of great significance in guiding Chinas efforts to build an ecological civilization, which have undergone historic, transformative and comprehensive changes, yielding remarkable achievements that have attracted worldwide attention. China is the worlds largest developing country, with a population of over 1.4 billion. Still, the problem of unbalanced and inadequate development remains prominent. In particular, China still faces such severe challenges as limited resources per capita and tightening environmental constraints.

To achieve green development, we must plan development based on the harmony between humanity and nature, respect nature, follow natures ways and protect nature; keep economic activities and human actions within the limits that natural resources and the eco-environment can sustain; foster spatial configurations, industrial structures, production modes and ways of life that conserve resources and protect the environment; better turn lucid waters and lush mountains into invaluable assets and transform ecological strengths into development strengths; and ensure that economic and social development and eco-environmental protection reinforce and complement each other and achieve organic unity.

In the field of green and low-carbon industries, China has made remarkable achievements that have attracted worldwide attention. China has built the worlds largest clean power supply system. In 2025, installed renewable energy capacity reached 2.34 billion kilowatts, accounting for 60.1 percent of the countrys total installed power capacity. Additional renewable power generation accounted for more than 60 percent of the global increase. Thus, China has built the worlds largest and fastest-growing renewable energy system.

China has established a complete industrial system for new energy vehicles. In 2025, production and sales of new energy vehicles both exceeded 16 million units. China is leading the automobile industry toward electrification, intelligence and low-carbon development, reshaping the global automotive landscape.

Across China, the skies get bluer, the mountains greener, the waters clearer and the environment more beautiful. From 2015 to 2025, the average PM2.5 density of Chinas cities at prefecture level and above dropped by more than 40 percent. By 2025, forest coverage had risen to over 25 percent, and the proportion of surface-water sections with high-tier water quality exceeded 90 percent for the first time.

Under the guidance of the concept of eco-friendly living, the Chinese publics awareness of conserving resources, protecting the eco-environment and preserving the ecosystem has continued to rise, the eco-friendly consumption group has continued to expand and green lifestyles have become increasingly prevalent. More and more people are consciously acting as practitioners and promoters of green development.

Chinas practice contributes Chinese efforts to the building of a global ecological civilization

Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization is not an abstract theory. Rather, it is rooted in the vivid practice of Chinas ecological governance. Through decades of practice, China has transformed the concept of ecological civilization into concrete actions and notable results, contributing replicable and scalable Chinese wisdom and solutions for global ecological governance.

China has always been a steadfast actor and major contributor in promoting global green development. Since the beginning of the new era, Chinas miracles of ecology and green development have fully demonstrated the scientific truth of the concept of green development, and have also showcased the effectiveness of Chinas ecological governance. These achievements have won growing recognition and support from the international community and have played a tangible role in advancing the building of a clean, beautiful and sustainable world.

Chinas achievements in green development have benefited people around the world and made important contributions to humanitys pursuit of green development. Chinas wind, photovoltaic and other new energy industries have developed rapidly, with constant innovations and steadily improving quality. They have provided the world with high-quality, cost-effective products for the global low-carbon energy transition and enhanced the sustainability of global development.

To date, China has carried out green energy cooperation projects with over 100 countries and regions. The Al Shuaibah solar project in Saudi Arabia, built by Chinese companies, will deliver green electricity to hundreds of thousands of households. Chinese-made fully electric buses running through the streets of Latin American countries are steering the global shift toward greener mobility. Solar panels made in China are lighting up rural Zimbabwe, enabling African people to access green electricity.

By helping developing countries strengthen development capacity and improve their level of development, China has effectively enhanced the universally beneficial and inclusive global green development.

At this years Two Sessions, China adopted the worlds first law titled the Ecological and Environmental Code

On March 12, 2026, the fourth session of the 14th National Peoples Congress voted to adopt the Ecological and Environmental Code of the Peoples Republic of China. Following the Civil Code, it is Chinas second formal statutory code and the worlds first law titled Ecological and Environmental Code.

The promulgation and implementation of the Ecological and Environmental Code of the Peoples Republic of China mark the entry of Chinas eco-environmental rule of law into a new stage of systematic integration and all-round enhancement. The Code establishes an institutional framework for the integrated protection and systematic governance of mountain, water, forest, farmland, lake, grassland and desert ecosystems. It contains a dedicated section on green and low-carbon development, incorporating the dual carbon goals into the legal framework. It clarifies the red lines for ecological conservation, sets benchmarks for environmental quality and imposes caps on resource utilization. It further improves mature systems such as compensation for ecological and environmental damage, compensation for ecological conservation and the river and lake chief systems. Overall, it systematically enshrines into national legal institutions the successful practices and effective mechanisms in ecological civilization building since the 18th CPC National Congress.

Going forward, with the full implementation of the Code, Chinas eco-environmental rule-of-law system will continue to improve, providing even stronger legal assurance for building a Beautiful China, ensuring that lucid waters and lush mountains become precious assets for the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, and enabling the concept of ecological civilization to take deep root throughout society.

Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization brings new opportunities for practical cooperation between China and Ukraine

As the breadbasket of Europe, Ukraine is endowed with unique chernozem soil, vast forests and rich water resources. It serves as an important ecological security barrier for Europe, with outstanding ecological assets and considerable ecological significance. The concepts advocated by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization are highly compatible with Ukraines practical needs in ecological protection and green development.

In the fields of chernozem soil protection and green agricultural development, China can share experience in soil remediation and circular agriculture technologies, help Ukraine safeguard the ecological foundation of the breadbasket of Europe, promote the transformation of agricultural production toward greener, more efficient and more sustainable development, and advance ecological protection and food security in a coordinated way.

In the fields of green energy transition and low-carbon development, China can leverage its mature technologies and equipment in photovoltaics, wind power and energy storage to help Ukraine build a clean, low-carbon, safe and stable energy system, ease pressure from energy shortages and reduce the environmental burden imposed by traditional energy sources.

In the fields of ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation, China can share experience in river basin governance, development of protected areas and the conservation of wild fauna and flora, helping Ukraine restore damaged ecosystems such as forests, rivers and wetlands, rebuilding ecological security barriers and safeguarding regional biodiversity.

In the field of coordinated global ecological governance, China and Ukraine can work together to practice multilateralism, implement international environmental conventions such as the Paris Agreement, jointly respond to global challenges such as climate change and environmental pollution, promote exchanges on ecological governance experience and technological cooperation, and contribute the joint efforts of China and Ukraine to the building of a global ecological civilization.

Ecology knows no borders, and cooperation knows no limits. The concepts of green development and win-win cooperation advocated by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization are not only the path of development China follows, but also a guide for action for China and Ukraine on their joint way toward the brighter future. China and Ukraine can fully build consensus in the ecological field and work side by side to safeguard the ecological security of our planetary home. Let the beauty of nature illuminate the future of bilateral cooperation and development, and contribute China-Ukraine strength to building a clean and beautiful world.
Commuters board a train at the Stamford Transportation Center in downtown Stamford, Conn., in March 2025. Connecticut added 1,200 jobs in 2025, according to the state Department of Labor. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

Connecticut added 1,200 jobs in 2025, while preliminary numbers indicate that the state has made a strong start to 2026, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor.

The gain of 1,200 payroll positions marked the state's fifth-straight year of employment gains, continuing its recovery from the recession in 2020 that was sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Private-sector education and health services led the state's 10 economic sectors, with an increase of 6,900 jobs, followed by upticks of 1,100 in construction, 400 in other services and 200 in financial activities.

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But the growth in those sectors was offset by a decline of 3,200 positions in manufacturing, alongside decreases of 1,800 in government, 700 in leisure and hospitality, 600 each in trade, transportation and utilities, and information, and 500 in professional and business services.

Labor department officials are cautiously optimistic about Connecticuts prospects this year. However, the state's economy is grappling with a number of challenges, including a shrinking labor force and the uncertainty emanating from out-of-state factors, including the war with Iran.

After major changes during the pandemic, the states economy has re-balanced and stayed stable despite national uncertainties, Patrick Flaherty, the Department of Labor's director of research, said in a written statement. Growth has been slow and steady, unemployment claims remain lower than they were pre-pandemic, and while it takes longer to find a job than it did during the post-pandemic boom, employers are hiring and reporting about 70,000 job openings in the state now.

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Labor department officials also reported Tuesday that the state added an estimated 5,300 jobs in January 2026, while an originally estimated decline of 500 jobs last December was revised to an increase of 400 positions.

More Information Four of Connecticut's 10 economic sectors added jobs in 2025, while six sectors lost jobs. Overall, the state added 1,200 jobs in 2025. Construction: +1,100

Education and health services: 6,900

Information: -600

Government: -1,800

Leisure and hospitality: -700

Manufacturing: -3,200

Financial activities: +200

Other services: +400

Professional and business services: -500

Trade, transportation and utilities: -600 Source: Connecticut Department of Labor

The estimated jobs gain for January 2026 brings the states number of payroll jobs to an all-time high of 1,722,300. The states previous jobs peak, about 1.721 million, was reached in March 2008.

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If these numbers hold, it will be a positive start to 2026, Dante Bartolomeo, the Department of Labor's commissioner, said in a written statement. However, we expect some fluctuations in this data and over the coming months as employers in Connecticut, and across the U.S., face uncertainty with hiring, tariffs and energy costs. Despite these challenges, Connecticuts economy grew slightly last year. As long as the national economy doesnt decline, we can expect slow and steady growth for 2026.

In January 2026, Connecticut's unemployment rate ticked up, from 4.3% to 4.5%. The national unemployment rate ran at 4.3% in January 2026. The increase in the state's jobless rate was likely spurred by new entrants to the job market, including recent college graduates, according to labor department officials. But the state's number of weekly unemployment claims remained at about 30,000, as not all unemployed people are eligible to receive unemployment benefits.

Employers are not laying people off in mass, which is excellent news for us, Flaherty said in a phone interview on Tuesday. But its also true that the pace of their hiring has really slowed down, so the new entrants into the labor force are having to take longer to find a job. And thats putting upward pressure on the unemployment rate.

At the same time, the lack of labor-force growth persists as a significant concern for Connecticuts economy. The labor force, which includes workers and unemployed people who are looking for work, lost about 11,900 people from January 2025 to January 2026, according to the Department of Labor.

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If we want to grow Connecticuts economy for both the short and long term, we need to get the people who are on the sidelines back into the workforce, Chris DiPentima, CEO and president of the Connecticut Business & Industry Association, said in a written statement. Its critical that policymakers focus on the issues straining employers and making it harder to attract and retain workers, including energy, health care, housing and child care costs.

Federal immigration policy is another likely factor in the labor-force decline, according to the Department of Labors news release on the latest job numbers. About 20% of Connecticut's payroll jobs are held by people born outside the U.S., according to data cited by the department.

The news release did not specify whether arrests made in Connecticut in recent months by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have contributed to the labor forces decrease.

A contracting labor force makes it difficult to fill the approximately 70,000 job openings across the state. Manufacturing is one of the industries with an abundance of opportunities, as highlighted by submarine manufacturer General Dynamics Electric Boats plan to hire 8,000 people this year across its facilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

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Among efforts to boost workforce development, Gov. Ned Lamont announced last week the creation of the Connecticut Career Pathways Commission. The group will be led by Miguel Cardona, the former U.S. education secretary and state education commissioner. The commission is expected to deliver a final report by next February to Lamont and the state legislature.

I look at this as an opportunity, Cardona said last week of the states job openings. This is good for students. This is good for our state economy. We know that 80% of our state-college graduates stay in Connecticut, so how are we tapping into that resource?

At the same time, Connecticut  along with the rest of the country  is contending with global headwinds, including the disruption unleashed by the war with Iran. As of Tuesday, a gallon of regular gas was averaging about $4.10 in Connecticut, up from around $3.95 a week ago, $3.28 a month ago and $3.10 a year ago, according to data from AAA.

Connecticut is not an energy-producing state. Were an energy-consuming state, so higher energy prices have traditionally been negative for Connecticuts economy, Flaherty said in the interview.

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Flaherty added: For the moment, the issue is still this uncertainty. And the uncertainty is just keeping businesses from making decisions, either one way or another. And when theyre making a decision not to lay anybody off, thats a great thing. And when theyre deciding that maybe theyll wait another six months before they hire a new person, thats putting a little bit of a slowdown on the situation.

Connecticuts monthly jobs reports are based on employer surveys and are revised the following month, to include updated employer information submitted after deadlines. Every year, the monthly survey data is compared to tax filings and revised again for the labor departments benchmarked annual jobs report.

The annual and January reports are generally released in March, but they were delayed this year because of the lingering effects of the shutdown last fall of the federal government. The state's February jobs report is scheduled to be released on April 21.
Connecticut Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman testifies before the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Commission on Monday March 16, 2026 about the acquisition of the Aquarion Water Co. by the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. Coleman and Connecticut Attorney General William Tong filed a joint motion to PURA on Wednesday April 8, arguing that mathematical errors regulators made when they approved the deal on March should result in agency commissioners reconsidering their approval. Luther Turmelle/Hearst Connecticut Media Connecticut Attorney General William Tong testifies before the state's Public Utilities Regulatory Commission on Monday March 16, 2026. Tong argued against regulators giving final approval to the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority's acquisition of Bridgeport-based Aquarion Water Co. Connecticut Consumer Cpunsel Claire Coleman and Tong filed a joint motion to PURA on Wednesday April 8, arguing that mathematical errors regulators made when they approved the deal on March giving final approval to the deal should result in agency commissioners reconsidering their approval. Luther Turmelle/Hearst Connecticut Media

Connecticut's Attorney General and Consumer Counsel are asking state utility regulators to reconsider their approval last month of the sale of Aquarion Water Co. to the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority because of the discovery of a significant miscalculation they say results in nearly $500 million in projected rate increases that customers of the Bridgeport-based utility would be forced to pay.

Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman filed a joint petition with Connecticut's Public Utilities Regulatory Authority requesting that commissioners with the regulatory agency reconsider the approval they gave to the acquisition on March 25, The petition identifies major financial and legal errors that understate the cost to customers and undercut PURA's claim that the deal is in the public interest.

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Eversource Energy and Regional Water Authority officials were not immediately available Wednesday to comment on the request for reconsideration made by Tong and Coleman.

Tong and Coleman contend that PURA's approval of the deal would result in Aquarion customers having to pay approximately $5.9 billion in acquisition and financing costs, including $3.6 billion in interest on the purchase price. The petition also identifies a critical error in PURAs analysis of the deal's impact, which failed to account for approximately $474 million in additional rate increases through 2066.

In PURA's March 25 ruling, agency officials concluded that Aquarion Water 'anticipates proposed annual increases from 2027 through 2035." After that PURA's ruling claimed that there will be no further rate increases until 2040 and with rate applications every five years thereafter.

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Tong and Coleman contend PURA's analysis was incorrect because agency officials based their decision on hypothetical financial modeling and a spreadsheet that had been compressed in size.

Tong called the discovery of the mathematical error "a bombshell that blows open the entire Aquarion decision."

"PURA completely missed half a billion dollars in rate increases," he said. "Their entire decision rested on bad math based on incomplete information. Theres just no question that PURA must immediately reconsider its decision and reject the sale."

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Coleman said that "a nearly half billion-dollar error in rate impacts doesnt just tip the scale, it breaks it."

PURA had initially rejected the deal in November 2025, only to have the Regional Water Authority and Aquarion's corporate parent, Eversource Energy challenge the ruling in court. The court ordered certain aspects of the initial ruling to be reconsidered, which resulted in the deal being approved in March.

Eversource Energy and Regional Water Authority officials were not immediately available Wednesday to comment on the request for reconsideration made by Tong and Coleman.

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State Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield, said the "new discovery of significant errors just might offer Aquarion customers a reprieve from a tsunami of annual water rate hikes."
A worker for Westbrook-based Clean In Between empties debris into a dumpster in front of a house on River Street in Old Saybrook Jan. 30, 2025. An animal cruelty investigation took place at the home, where more than 70 dead animals were found, officials said. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media A worker for Westbrook-based Clean In Between walks in front of a house on River Street in Old Saybrook Jan. 30, 2025. An animal cruelty investigation took place at the home, where more than 70 dead animals were found, officials said. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media A worker for Westbrook-based Clean In Between empties debris into a dumpster in front of a house on River Street in Old Saybrook Jan. 30, 2025. An animal cruelty investigation took place at the home, where more than 70 dead animals were found, officials said. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

OLD SAYBROOK  A 35-year-old woman charged in an animal cruelty case that involved more than 100 dead animals was released Tuesday on a promise to appear in court, after spending seven months in prison.

Bebe Soho had been held on a $10,000 bond at York Correctional Institution for seven months on one count each of first-degree criminal mischief and cruelty to animals, longer than her father and mother, John and Jennifer Crouse, who also were charged connection with the case, according to her attorney.

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The case against Soho has been sealed at state Superior Court in Middletown and New Haven, court records show.

The Crouses each were charged with two counts of first-degree criminal mischief and seven counts of cruelty to animals, and both have been sentenced.

Jennifer Crouse pleaded guilty to three counts of animal cruelty and was sentenced March 16 to 11 months in prison, which was suspended, and three years of probation. John Crouse was sentenced Nov. 7 to 364 days in prison, also suspended, and 18 months' conditional discharge, according to court records.

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In Old Saybrook police investigations, police said they found 105 non-domesticated animals deceased at two residences, on River Street and North Main Street.

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Senior Assistant Public Defender Megan Weiss said from her assessment, her client, who has no criminal record, should not be incarcerated for an extended period of time with the facts of the case.

Weiss said her client contests the allegations and that her good name and credit were used to get a storage facility in New Haven.

"She had an apartment where people moved in and got caught up in a situation," Weiss said.

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Weiss said her office has made efforts to find a safe place for Soho to live where she can attend treatment and ultimately get to work, which she was doing before the arrest.
Clockwise from top left: Valerie Mack, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, Jessica Taylor, and Megan Waterman are among the victims of the Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. Suffolk County Government Suffolk County Government Valerie Mack, a victim of Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. Her son and sole heir, Benjamin. Torres, has filed a wrongful death suit against Heurmann, his ex-wife and his daughter Suffolk County Sheriff Rex Heuermann pleaded guilty Wednesday to seven counts of murder in connection with the Gilgo Beach serial killings. Suffolk County Sheriff

A man whose mother was killed and dismembered by Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann has sued the convicted serial killer, his ex-wife and his daughter, contending they cashed in on his notoriety.

The suit by Benjamin Torres, sole heir of victim Valerie Mack, was filed this week in Suffolk County, N.Y.

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Heuermann pleaded guilty Wednesday to seven counts of murder, including the killings of Mack and a Connecticut woman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes of Norwich, who was 25 when her remains were found in 2010, three years after she went missing.

Partial skeletal remains of Mack were found in September 2000 in a wooded area of Manorville, N.Y., several months after she was last seen by her family in Port Republic, N.J. Additional remains of the 24-year-old woman, who was working as an escort in Philadelphia, were found in April 2011 along Ocean Parkway in New York. Police did not positively identify the remains as Mack's until May 2020.

The lawsuit says she was "tortured ferociously and her body was dismembered." Torres was age 6 when his mother was killed, and he has been deprived of her care, guidance and economic support, the suit says. Mack had a tattoo of her son's name on her right foot or ankle, the suit says, and the foot was cut off and dumped, along with her head and hands, separately from the rest of her body, the suit says.

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Torres seeks to recover money that Heuermann's former wife, Asa Ellerup, and daughter, Victoria Heuermann, were given "to exploit the slaughter of (his mother) and to publicly attenuate Rex Heuermann's atrociousness via media exploitation," the lawsuit says.

The complaint says Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann entered into one or more agreements with Peacock and/or other media companies, part of the "exploitation of the notoriety arising from these torture/murders."

A lawyer for the Heuermanns could not be reached on Wednesday.

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The lawsuit also says it is "highly improbable" that Ellerup and Victoria Heuermann, who have not been charged in the killings, "remained wholly unaware of unusual, suspicious, secretive, criminal conditions and conduct against victims, including (Mack), within the residence over the relevant years."
A judge on one of the cases referred her conduct to the states bar committee after the new information came to light regarding Exner's relationship to Garin in the home sale of Milford resident Barbara Tobin. An attorney for Exner confirmed in a probate court hearing last month that a panel was formally investigating the matter as part of the Statewide Bar Counsel's review process.

The judge referred the conduct after an attorney for Robert Tobin, the son of Barbara Tobin, put forward a motion to have Exner disbarred for potentially breaking conflict of interest and perjury rules. The Tobins declined to comment for this story.
Logistics accounts for up to 33% of bread cost due to rising fuel prices  opinion

Logistics costs currently account for up to a third of the cost of bread due to the need for daily delivery to dozens of retail outlets and rising fuel prices, said Yuriy Duchenko, President of the All-Ukrainian Association of Bakers (AUB) and Director of Strategic Communications at Alviva Group (Kyivkhlib).

"Flour was once a key component, accounting for 60% of production costs. Today, it's only 35%. The industry is responding to rising costs by optimizing routes, introducing new logistics models, and using modern electric transport for transportation," he wrote on LinkedIn.

According to the association's head, manufacturers are currently studying the effectiveness of switching to electric vans from European manufacturers, which cost EUR 50,000-75,000 on the Ukrainian market.

During a discussion about the feasibility of upgrading the company's technology fleet, Dmytro Tsykhanovsky, Marketing Director of UB.UA, recommended considering certain Chinese electric vehicle models with a range of 350-500 km. He believes such solutions could offer an alternative in times of resource shortages.

Olena Bobrova, Head of Sales at ABILE, commented on the publication that, with fuel prices rising, energy efficiency is becoming a matter of industry survival. She added that electric transport is "the future that is already here," but it requires new service solutions and management flexibility.

Enzym Group Commercial Director Ruslan Dihalenko opined that the logistics issue should be addressed by small local businesses, but today, among micro-producers, "only romantic craft brewers remain," as large players have long dominated this segment.

As earlier reported, bread producers have repeatedly cited logistics and labor shortages as key factors that most impact the final price of their products for consumers.
Town Hall in Fairfield, Conn., photographed on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

FAIRFIELD  Members of the Board of Finance voted unanimously last week to make some sizeable cuts to the town budget, as well as add in projected revenue, in an effort to minimize a potential tax increase as many residents are being hit with higher taxes due to Fairfields property revaluation.

All told, the board cut a net of $2.6 million from the towns operating budget, which would lower the tax increase from 4.28% to 2.3% if the Representative Town Meeting approves the spending plan.

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Finance board members did not make any further changes to the proposed $244 million education budget, resulting in a roughly $400 million overall budget.

The Board of Selectpersons cut $1.5 million from the education budget last month.

One of the most significant adjustments was the amount of revenue expected from speed cameras in school zones, increasing expectations by double from $1.45 million to $2.9 million.

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Most other changes were minimal cuts to town departments.

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Some board members questioned the importance of making those cuts, but Jim Walsh said they will have an impact on taxpayers in the aggregate.

We need to do something, particularly in light of the revaluation that is significantly increasing property taxes for many homeowners, the finance board member said. If we are going to make some serious changes tonight, were all going to have to get uncomfortable with some stuff.  This is not a normal year.

First Selectperson Christine Vitale agrees this has been an incredibly difficult year to craft a budget, due in large part to the revaluation.

During the oftentimes contentious meeting, Walsh attempted to cut various positions within the first selectpersons office, including a chief operating officer position that has not yet been filled and Vitales communications director.

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Some board members said they were wary of the COO position because they feel it has become a political role and would waste taxpayers' money if someone were hired only to be let go in an administration change.

Others on the board felt it would be an overreach for them to cut the position because it was approved by voters during charter revisions.

Vitale argued hiring a COO would make town operations more efficient, therefore saving tax dollars in the long run.

While staff in her office are doing some of the work a COO would do, some tasks are not getting done, Vitale said.

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The $170,000 position remained in the budget after a 3-6 vote, as did the $106,000 communications job after a 2-7 vote.
An East Hartford police vehicle in a file photo. East Hartford police said a Hartford man assaulted a K-9 and officers during a foot chase on Wells Avenue. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media

EAST HARTFORD  A man needed to be subdued with pepper spray and a stun gun after assaulting a K-9 and officers during a foot chase that ended on Wells Avenue in East Hartford, according to police.

A driver, later identified as 40-year-old Kyronne Williams of Hartford, was spotted on Prospect Street around 7:46 p.m. Tuesday, Officer Marc Caruso said. The vehicle had been involved in several fleeing incidents and linked to multiple thefts through several jurisdictions, he said.

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The car was stopped in the 1200 block of Main Street, Caruso said, but Williams then fled on foot. Caruso said Williams was found hiding in a yard after being tracked by K-9 Scorso to the 30 block of Wells Avenue.

Williams became physical with K-9 Scorso and the officers, Caruso said. Williams punched K-9 Scorso several times in the head and torso, and the dog suffered minor injuries, Caruso said.

Caruso said Williams ultimately was transported to the hospital but later released back to police custody.

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Inside Williams' vehicle, officers located stolen merchandise, Caruso said. He added Williams had outstanding warrants from state police, Wethersfield police and out of Rhode Island.

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Caruso said Williams is charged with interfering with police, cruelty to animals/intentionally injuring a police dog, reckless use of highway by a pedestrian and simple trespass.

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A crime truck from the Connecticut State Police Central District Major Crime Squad on scene assisting Enfield Police detectives after a 12-year-old girl was found dead inside this home earlier in the day, on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, on Elm Street in Enfield. Jim Michaud/Hearst Connecticut Media Anthony Federline, 39, of Enfield, faces first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor charges after police say his DNA was linked to a swab taken from his stepdaughter, Eve Rogers, who was found dead in the family home on March 18. Courtesy of the Enfield Police Department Eve Rogers, 12, of Enfield, in a recent photo. Eve was found dead in her family's home on March 18. Her stepfather, Anthony Federline, has been arrested on charges he sexually assaulted the girl. Courtesy of Melanie Federline

ENFIELD  Police executed a search warrant Tuesday at the Elm Street home where a 12-year-old girl was found dead last month, an official says.

Enfield Police Chief Alaric Fox said they are searching the home once again, with the scope and details of the search warrant sealed by the court. He said Connecticut State Police is assisting.

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State police said the Central District Major Crime squad assisted Enfield with processing the scene.

The cause of death for the girl, later identified as 12-year-old Eve Rogers, is still pending further study, according to the state Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.

On Thursday, Enfield police said they arrested her stepfather, 39-year-old Anthony Federline, who is accused of sexually assaulting Rogers. He has been charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child. Federline, who worked as an Enfield bus driver before being fired following his arrest, has not yet entered pleas in the case.

Police said they were called to the home where the Federlines live on the 100 block of Elm Street on the morning of March 18 for the report of an unresponsive female individual. At the scene, police confirmed a 12-year-old girl had died.
Eve Rogers, 12, was found dead in her Enfield home on March 18. Her stepfather, Anthony Federline, has been charged with sexually assaulting the girl. The cause and manner of Eve's death are under investigation, according to the state medical examiner. Courtesy of Melanie Federline Anthony Federline, 39, of Enfield, is charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor in connection with the sexual assault of his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Eve Rogers, who was found dead in the family home on March 18. Courtesy of the Enfield Police Department

ENFIELD  Police on Tuesday served a search warrant at an Enfield home where a 12-year-old girl died and later was found to have been the victim of a sexual assault, in which her stepfather has been charged, police said Wednesday.

Enfield Police Chief Alaric Fox would not provide further details and said the state court sealed the search warrant. Connecticut State Police said the Central District Major Crime squad helped Enfield process the scene, but referred further questions to local police.

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Eve Rogers was found dead in her Elm Street home on March 18 after police received a 911 call about an unresponsive person. The cause and manner of her death are pending further investigation, according to the state Office of Chief Medical Examiner.

"I went to wake her up, and I found her no longer with us," Eve's mother, Melanie Federline, said on the day after the girl's death.

After her husband, Anthony Federline, 39, was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting the girl, Melanie Federline said she knew nothing about the allegations.

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An investigator noticed signs Eve had been sexually assaulted when police were called to the Elm Street home the morning of March 18, Anthony Federline's arrest warrant affidavit said. DNA samples taken from Eve and other family members, including Anthony Federline, identified him as a contributor to DNA found in a genital swab taken from the girl, the warrant for his arrest says.

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When police were called to the home on March 18, officers saw two pills on the floor of the girls bedroom, according to Federlines arrest warrant. One pill was red or pink, and the other was clear with a white powder inside. There was another white pill with what appeared to be Aspirin marked on it on the girls desk, the warrant states.

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A sign marking the beginning of historic Route 66 stands at the intersection of East Adams Street and South Michigan Avenue, in Chicago, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. Erin Hooley/AP The McKown & Hawes Building is reflected in a window with a neon Route 66 sign in Atlanta, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. Erin Hooley/AP Donna Webb and her daughter Victorija explore the American Giants Museum along historic Route 66, in Atlanta, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. Erin Hooley/AP A portion of historic Route 66 winds through the countryside in Baxter Springs, Kan., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP Oakley Wooten, 2, walks on a crack that formed inside the historic Nelson's Old Riverton Store about 20 years ago and was subsequently patched and painted to resemble Route 66 which passes by outside in Riverton, Kan., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP Terry and Christie Partee visit Route 66 Neon Park inside George M. Reed Roadside Park along historic Route 66 in St. Robert, Mo., Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP Reygan Calloway, right, and her boyfriend Jordan Smith walk across the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge spanning the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri and is now part of the Route 66 Bikeway in Madison, Ill., Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP Pins placed by visitors on a map at a Twistee Treat Diner in Livingston, Ill, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP A customer picks up their order at the Cozy Dog Drive In, in Springfield, Ill., Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP Customers at Cozy Dog Drive In have lunch in Springfield, Ill., Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP A puddle from a midday storm surrounds vehicles as the setting sun peeks through at Cadillac Ranch, a roadside attraction along Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Julio Cortez/AP Traffic passes under a neon Route 66 sign on the west end of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. Susan Montoya Bryan/AP A cook prepares a 72 oz steak at Big Texan Stake Ranch, a roadside staple along Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Julio Cortez/AP Everett Swett has lunch inside the Twistee Treat Diner, a 50s-style diner and ice cream shop along Historic Route 66 in Livingston, Ill., Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP Lightning is visible on the sky near a large cross at the grounds of Life.Church, where Route 66 meets with Interstate-35 in Edmond, Okla, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Julio Cortez/AP A person pulls up to a stoplight in Galena, Kan., Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. Jeff Roberson/AP The sun rises over the horizon as a vehicle travels near a large Totem Pole at Ed Galloway's Totem Pole Park in Chelsea, Okla., Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Julio Cortez/AP An astronaut figure is placed in front of a window opening at Meteor Crater, an attraction near historic Route 66, near Winslow, Ariz., Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Vintage cars sit beneath a neon sign at the Wigwam Motel, a landmark along historic Route 66, in Holbrook, Ariz., Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Teepee-shaped rooms at the Wigwam Motel, a landmark along historic Route 66, are seen in Holbrook, Ariz., Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Motorists travel through an intersection marked with a U.S. 66 shield in Winslow, Ariz., a town on the historic highway, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Newlyweds Keith Hedberg, left, and his wife, Adriana, traveling from Syracuse, Kansas, on their honeymoon, pose for photos with a large guitar installation outside a gift shop in Winslow, Ariz., a town on historic Route 66, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Route 66 buttons are displayed at the Wigwam Motel, a landmark on the historic highway, in Holbrook, Ariz., Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Rana Bal gets a haircut from Daniel Bailon inside a mobile barbershop in Holbrook, Ariz., a town on historic Route 66, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Alex Lara, left, and Rosie Diehl practice jiu-jitsu at Route 66 Jiu Jitsu Academy in Williams, Ariz., a town on the historic highway, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Jeff Smith, a part-time employee at a souvenir shop, smokes a cigar as a shaft of sunlight illuminates him in Williams, Ariz., a town on historic Route 66, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP A vehicle covered in stickers is parked outside a souvenir shop in Seligman, Ariz., a town on historic Route 66, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP A burro peeks into a souvenir shop along Oatman Highway, historic Route 66, in Oatman, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP A car is driven along Oatman Highway, historic Route 66, near Oatman, Ariz., Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP Motorists cross the historic Colorado Street Bridge in the foreground, a Route 66 landmark in Pasadena, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP A visitor poses for photos with the "End of the Trail" Route 66 sign on the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. Jae C. Hong/AP

When it comes to Route 66, it's not about getting somewhere fast  it's about the journey.

One of the most iconic highways in the world, the Mother Road is turning 100 this year. Despite losing its status decades ago as one of the nation's main arteries, people from around the world still flock to it to take perhaps the quintessential American road trip and soak in the neon lights, kitschy motels and culinary offerings.

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Aside from establishing a course from bustling Chicago to the West Coast, the vision a century ago was to connect rural America and create new pockets of commerce along the way. It didn't take long for the route to become a symbol of hope and freedom for generations of Americans.

Many stretches of Route 66 may be littered with abandoned buildings and faded signs, but there's still much history and magic to be discovered. With each stop the wheels of imagination turn, leaving travelers to contemplate what life was like for the people and communities that made the road hum.

___

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Jabari Bush, center, appears at state Superior Court in Bridgeport March 31, 2026, in the killing of Bridgeport firefighter Terrence Cramer. Jim Shannon / Hearst Connecticut Media Members of the Bridgeport Fire Department gather outside state Superior Court in Bridgeport March 31, 2026, prior to an appearance by Jabari Bush, who is charged in the murder of Bridgeport firefighter Terrence Cramer. Jim Shannon / Hearst Connecticut Media Jabari Bush, center, appears at state Superior Court in Bridgeport March 31, 2026, in the killing of Bridgeport firefighter Terrence Cramer. Jim Shannon / Hearst Connecticut Media Jabari Bush, center, is photographed during an arraignment at state Superior Court in Bridgeport March 30, 2026, with his attorney, Robert Berke, in the fatal shooting of Bridgeport firefighter Terrence Cramer. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Bridgeport firefighters wait to enter state Superior Court in Bridgeport March 30, 2026, for the arraignment of Jabari Bush in the fatal shooting of Bridgeport firefighter Terrence Cramer. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

BRIDGEPORT  A man accused of fatally shooting Bridgeport firefighter Terrence Cramer during a home invasion in Stratford last month appeared in court Wednesday, but an anticipated argument regarding his bail was postponed for two weeks.

More than two-dozen Bridgeport firefighters were in court Wednesday, along with several members of Cramer's family, where 40-year-old Jabari Bush appeared on charges of murder, home invasion and criminal possession of a firearm in the March 28 killing.

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State's Attorney Joseph Corradino told Judge Shari Murphy that he had filed additional charges of felony murder and third-degree assault against Bush, who has been held in lieu of a $2 million bond since last week at the Golden Hill Street courthouse.

There, Judge Robert Golger granted a request from the prosecution that would require Bush to post 30%  $600,000  of the bond in cash. Bushs lawyer, Robert Berke, indicated at the time that Bush would post the reduced amount, but he has remained in custody pending Wednesday's court appearance.

After Bush, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, was led by marshals from the lockup on Wednesday, Berke asked Murphy to put off an anticipated argument to modify Bush's bond until April 22 so he could compile relevant materials.

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Corradino also told the judge that police still were investigating the killing.

"Search warrants have been issued, evidence is being processed," he said. "Police are still tying up any number of loose ends."

The warrant for the 40-year-old West Haven resident's arrest said Bush broke into a home where Cramer was with Bushs ex-girlfriend and shot him.

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Bush was arrested in Derby soon after the shooting, according to police. He has been held at MacDougall-Walker Correctional Institution in Suffield, according to Department of Correction records.
Security footage showed Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez holding a cell phone toward an ATM at the Ascend Bank in Norwich, Conn., on Dec. 31, 2025, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts Security footage showed Lestter Guerrero pointing a cell phone at an ATM, and Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez in the passenger seat, at a bank in Rochester, N.H., on Jan. 30, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts said. Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts

Federal authorities believe the uptick in defendants across the country who are accused of ATM jackpotting, a ploy where thieves upload malware into an ATM to trick it into dispensing cash, likely has ties to an international crime syndicate.

The hacking scheme drew news headlines in Connecticut earlier this year after federal authorities announced thieves accused of hitting ATMs throughout the northeast had also targeted an ATM in Norwich.

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The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said in February that two men, Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez and Lestter Guerrero, were both arrested in Augusta, Maine, following an "attempted ATM jackpotting robbery."

The U.S. attorney's office said both men are Venezuelan nationals and are alleged to be members of Tren De Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization which the Trump Administration has designated a terrorist organization.

Prosecutors allege Martinez Gutierrez carried out five additional ATM jackpotting thefts, including one on Dec. 31 in Norwich. They allege Guerrero is tied to one other theft carried out with Martinez Gutierrez that occurred on Jan. 30 in Rochester, N.H.

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Charges against the two men remain pending in federal court.

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The Justice Department announced in February that 93 individuals have been charged in ATM jackpotting schemes across the U.S., highlighting the thefts alleged connections to Tren De Aragua in a news release. Prosecutors allege the schemes netted millions of dollars in ill-gotten money.

In February, the FBI put out a bulletin that described in technical detail signs indicating an ATM may have been compromised.

The Bureau said thieves targeting ATMs "exploit physical and software vulnerabilities" in the machines and use malware to get them to dispense cash without a legitimate transaction.

The thefts can be lucrative.

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"Out of 1,900 ATM jackpotting incidents reported since 2020, over 700 of them with more than $20 million in losses occurred in 2025 alone," the FBI noted in its February bulletin.

Last month, a federal grand jury brought charges against two men, Ender Enrique Munoz Perez, 30, and Angel Raphael Medina-Taguaripano, 24, accused of carrying out jackpotting thefts alongside co-conspirators at ATMs in several communities in Oklahoma. The thefts netted the group around $235,500, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma said in a news release.

In March, federal prosecutors in California announced a Miami resident, Carlos Luis Vera La Cruz, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, bank larceny and accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud in an ATM jackpotting scheme.

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Former Connecticut resident Lindsay Clancy is wheeled into a Massachusetts courtroom in a file photo. Clancy is accused of killing her three young children and then jumping out a window of their family home. WCVB / Hearst TV A still photo of Lindsay Clancy during a Massachusetts court proceeding. Clancy was appearing virtually from Tewksbury State Hospital where she has been held for about two years. WCVB Channel 5 Boston

The lawyer for Lindsay Clancy said in a recent court filing that the Massachusetts mother was willing to admit to killing her three young children so that her state of mind is the only "live issue" to be decided at her trial.

In a motion asking the court to reconsider splitting the trial, Clancy's attorney Kevin Reddington wrote that Clancy "is willing to stipulate formally in writing to her involvement in the underlying conduct resulting in the death of the three young children," according to reporting by WCVB, a Hearst TV station.

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The prosecution has not agreed to Clancy's offer to stipulate facts, the station reported, citing another court filing from the defense.

Clancy's trial is set to begin July 20 in the killings of her three children  Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and 8-month-old Callan Clancy.

Police said Clancy strangled each of the children with exercise bands in 2023 before leaping from her Duxbury home's window in an attempt to take her own life. The fall left her paralyzed.

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Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse who was raised in Wallingford, is charged with murder in her children's killings.

Reddington has proposed splitting the trial in two, with prosecutors first presenting evidence that she committed the crime. If a jury finds her guilty, a second part of the trial would address whether she was mentally capable of understanding what she did at the time of her children's deaths.

Reddington argued Clancy's Fifth Amendment rights would be violated if he had to present evidence during the trial for her children's killings that she had a mental defect or disease that prevented her from understanding her actions.

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Lawsuits filed by Clancy and her husband against Clancy's mental health treatment providers said a "voice" told her to kill her children and then herself. The suits claim Clancy was improperly treated and overmedicated at the time of the killings.

Clancy in February appeared for the first time in person in court for her criminal case. Her parents, Paula and Mike Musgrove of Wallingford, showed up to support her.

"She's a loving mother, she always will be," Paula Musgrove said.

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Alleged Gilgo serial killer Rex Heuermann, cener, appears for a hearing in front of Judge Tim Mazzei alongside his attorney Michael J. Brown, left, at Suffolk County Court on Jan. 13, 2026, in Riverhead, New York. (Photo by James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images File photo. Rex Heuermann, charged in a string of deaths known as the Gilgo Beach killings, appears in Judge Timothy Mazzei's courtroom at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead, N.Y., for a status conference on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. James Carbone/Associated Press Clockwise from top left: Valerie Mack, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Amber Lynn Costello, Jessica Taylor, Megan Waterman are among the victims of the Gilgo Beach Long Island killings. Suffolk County Government Police search in the brush by the side of the road on Cedar Beach, near Babylon, N.Y., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. Authorities looking for a missing sex worker on Long Island's Fire Island discovered three bodies and a set of skeletal remains near Oak Beach. Seth Wenig/ASSOCIATED PRESS Police search in the brush by the side of the road along Cedar Beach, near Babylon, N.Y., Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. Police looking for a missing sex worker on Long Island's Fire Island discovered three bodies and a set of skeletal remains near Oak Beach. Seth Wenig/ASSOCIATED PRESS Rex Heuermann has been charged with murder in Long Island Gilgo Beach serial killings, which police say began with Maureen Brainard-Barnes, of Norwich. Suffolk County Sheriffs Office / Contributed Photo Crime laboratory officers arrive to the house where a suspect has been taken into custody on New York's Long Island in connection with a long-unsolved string of killings, known as the Gilgo Beach murders, Friday, July 14, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Police officers arrive to the house where a suspect has been taken into custody on New York's Long Island in connection with a long-unsolved string of killings, known as the Gilgo Beach murders, Friday, July 14, 2023, in Massapequa Park, N.Y. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP Alleged Gilgo serial killer Rex Heuermann, is led into courtroom for a frye hearing at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead on April 3, 2025, in Riverhead, New York. The 61-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of seven women between 1993 and 2011. (Photo by James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images Alleged Gilgo serial killer Rex Heuermann appears for a hearing in front of Judge Tim Mazzei alongside his attorney Michael J. Brown, third from right, at Suffolk County Court on January 13, 2026, in Riverhead, New York. (Photo by James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images Alleged Gilgo serial killer Rex Heuermann appears in court at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead with his attorney Michael J. Brown on Sept. 23, 2025, in Riverhead, New York. (Photo by James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images Alleged serial killer Rex A. Heuermann is escorted into Judge Tim Mazzei's courtroom at Suffolk County Court in Riverhead for a frye hearing on July 17, 2025. in Riverhead, New York. The hearing was to determine if critical DNA evidence will be allowed in the trial. Pool/Getty Images Alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann confers with his attorney Michael Brown inside Judge Tim Mazzei's courtroom during a frye hearing at Suffolk County Court on June 17, 2025 in Riverhead, New York. The 61-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of seven women between 1993 and 2011. (Photo by James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images Alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann confers with his attorney Michael Brown inside Judge Tim Mazzei's courtroom during a frye hearing at Suffolk County Court on June 17, 2025 in Riverhead, New York. The 61-year-old has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of seven women between 1993 and 2011. (Photo by James Carbone-Pool/Getty Images) Pool/Getty Images

Heuermann, 62, pleaded guilty to killing seven women: Connecticut resident Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Sandra Costilla, 25; Jessica Taylor, 20; Valerie Mack, 24; Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Megan Waterman, 22; and Amber Costello, 27; according to the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office. The killings spanned at least 17 years  from November 1993 to September 2010  according to court documents.

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Heuermann pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder in the seven killings, the office said.

He also admitted publicly to killing an eighth victim, 34-year-old Karen Vergata, in 1996, the District Attorneys Office said.

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Heuermann is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17, at which time he faces three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole for the killings of Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello. He is also expected to be sentenced to a consecutive sentence of 100 years to life in prison for killing Brainard-Barnes, Taylor, Costilla and Mack, according to the District Attorneys Office.

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The District Attorneys Office said that, in exchange for Heuermanns admission to killing Vergata, this additional murder is covered by

Heuermanns plea to the murders of the seven charged victims.

Heuermann had been scheduled to go to trial in September, The Associated Press reported.

In a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Brainard-Barnes' sister, Melissa Cann, said her family was grateful to law enforcement who investigated the case over the years.

Today is not about the person responsible, Cann, who goes by Missy, said. Today is about the womens lives who were stolen. It is about their voices, their future and their families, the love that still surrounds them. They are the reason why we are here.

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For 19 years, Cann said she lived in the space between heartbreak and hope as she searched for answers and justice.

There were moments when the weight felt unbearable, but I never gave up, she said. Maureen was never forgotten, not a single moment. From the day she went missing until today, she has been carried in every breath, every memory, every fight for answers.

After her sisters death, Cann said she made a simple promise to Brainard-Barnes years ago.

I would never stop searching for justice for you, she said, her voice shaking. Through every year, every setback, every unanswered question, I carried you with me and I kept that promise. And today it has been done. Justice has finally found its way to you.

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Your voice was never silenced, your story never forgotten and your life will always mean more than the tragedy that took you, she said.

Cann also had a message to families still waiting for answers.

Please do not give up hope, she said. Even when it feels impossible, even when the years pass, and the silence grows heavy, keep going. Your loved ones matter. They are not forgotten, and one day answers can come.

In court Wednesday, Judge Timothy Mazzei questioned Heuermann, who said he was entering the plea of his own free will, according to the New York Times.

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During the proceeding, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney questioned Heuermann about how he killed some of his victims, according to the outlet.

Strangulation, Heurmann repeated when asked how he caused the deaths of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, the New York Times reported.

With his guilty pleas, Heuermann admitted to strangling the eight women before disposing of their bodies, most of which were dismembered.

Many of the women were mothers who were survived by their children and other family members, the District Attorneys Office said. Some of the women were also sex workers.

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Some of these murder victims were young mothers just trying to earn a little extra money to support their children, said Gloria Allred, an attorney who represents some of the victims' families, during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon. Because many did not have funds to go to college or get a decent job that would help them to provide adequate support for their children, they turned to sex work in order to help their families.

It wasnt what they wanted to do, but it was what they felt forced to do because they had no meaningful alternatives, Allred continued. Some wanted to help their parents, their grandparents and their loved ones. Some just wanted to survive in this difficult and challenging world.

Allred said Heuermann thought he had the perfect plan for serial murder.

However, what he had thought was his perfect blueprint for serial murder did not take into account the courage and the persistence of the murder victims family members who refused to give up until the murderer of their loved ones was found convicted and sent to prison for the rest of his life without the possibility of parole, she said.

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Tierney said that Heuermann walked among us, play-acting as a normal suburban dad.

When in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death, Tierney said. He identified these women, lured them into Nassau County, murdered them and left their bodies in Suffolk County.

He thought that by killing them, he could silence them forever and get away with murder, he said. But he was wrong.

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Suffolk County Police Department Commissioner Kevin Catalina said that the calm, serene, almost grandfatherly image that Rex Heuermann portrayed since his arrest was a lie, and an insult to both law enforcement and the victims families who had to see him at court appearances for the past two-and-a-half years.

Today, he was exposed for exactly what he is: a sadistic, soulless, murderous monster, he said. And thankfully, everybody today got to see that.

Tierney thanked the womens families, as well as many members of law enforcement for diligently investigating the case.

Without them, this defendant would never have been brought to justice and would still be walking amongst us, he continued. And he would still be portraying himself as that same, harmless father next door instead of what he is: A convicted murderer.

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He particularly thanked the womens families for advocating for their loved ones, and apologized for their losses.

Tierney said he got his start with this case prior to taking office when a homicide detective gave his phone number to the sisters of Brainard-Barnes and Barthelemy. During a call with them, he said he heard the pain and frustration in their voices.

They wanted answers, they wanted closure, he said.

Through the families, Tierney said, investigators got to truly know the victims.

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We got to know them as the wonderful mothers, sisters, friends and daughters that they were, he said.

Costilla was the first of the eight women who were murdered. Heuermann admitted to strangling and killing Costilla after meeting with her in November 1993. Her remains were discovered by hunters in the town of Southampton, N.Y., on Nov. 20, 1993.

Heuermann then met up with Vergata in April 1996, killed her and dismembered her before transporting her remains to various locations, the District Attorneys Office said. Some of her remains were discovered on April 20, 1996, in Brookhaven, N.Y., and her skull was found on Ocean Parkway in 2011.

Heuermann also admitted to killing Mack in 2000, Taylor in 2003, Brainard-Barnes in 2007, Barthelemy in 2009 and both Waterman and Costello in 2010, according to the District Attorneys Office.

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The remains of Barthelemy, Waterman, Costello and Brainard-Barnes were found in the Gilgo Beach area in December 2010, and they were dubbed the Gilgo Four.

Remains of Vergata, Mack and Taylor were found in an expanded search of the Gilgo Beach area in March and April 2011, the District Attorneys Office said.

During the investigation, Tierney said the Gilgo Homicide Task Force pretended it was business-as-usual in Suffolk County to lure the suspect into a false sense of security.

We wanted him to think he got away with this, he said on Wednesday, so when investigators had secured the arrest and search warrants, they could get as much evidence as they could.

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Heuermann was connected with the crimes by several burner cellphones, a pizza crust he discarded in Manhattan, and a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche registered in his name in 2010, according to a 32-page court document filed by prosecutors in 2023.

Investigators determined that hairs recovered from Barthelemy, Waterman and Costello were linked forensically to Heuermann and members of his immediate family, who were out of state at time of the disappearances. Tierney said investigators found news articles about the discovery of bodies in a gun vault in the basement of Heuermanns home. Investigators also found a deleted file on a hard drive at Heuermanns home titled HK2002-04, which they believe he used to methodically blueprint and 'plan out' his 'kill,' court documents state. Suffolk County Sheriff Erron Toulon Jr. said he hoped the plea brought some measure of justice to families who have waited decades for answers. Toulon said his staff uprooted an entire jail security system to accommodate Heurmann at the Riverhead Correctional Facility. Since Heuermanns arrest in 2023, Toulon said his priority was ensuring he was housed safely. Because justice needed to be served in the courts and not in our jails, he said. He said what has been the most alarming thing in housing Heuermann is how ordinary he has been. Its a chilling reminder that those capable of horrific acts can often go unnoticed, he said.

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A zoom lens and slow shutter speed technique shows President Donald Trump speaking with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Vice President JD Vance speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force Two to return to Washington, at Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP) Jonathan Ernst/AP Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, for a photo opportunity at the State Department, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Rod Lamkey/AP White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump, over the course of a single day, went from threatening Iran with annihilation to proclaiming that the battered Islamic Republic's leadership had presented a workable plan that led him to agree to a 14-day ceasefire that he hopes will pave the way to end the nearly six-week war.

The dramatic shift in tenor came as intermediaries led by Pakistan worked feverishly to head off a further escalation. Even China, Iran's biggest trading partner and America's most significant economic competitor, quietly pulled strings to find a path toward a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

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The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East, Trump said in a social media post Tuesday announcing the temporary ceasefire. It came about 90 minutes before his deadline for Tehran to open the critical Strait of Hormuz or see its power plants and other critical infrastructure obliterated.

But even as the White House was celebrating the moment as a victory, the fragile ceasefire appeared in danger of falling apart as the U.S., Iran and Israel offered differing statements on Wednesday on what was included in the deal less than 24 hours after it was brokered.

Iran insisted that an end to the Israeli war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire agreement with the U.S. But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon and the Israeli operations there continued.

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The U.S., meanwhile, demanded that Iran make good on reopening the strait after the Islamic Republic closed the waterway in response to Israel's intensifying attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

Vice President JD Vance, who is set to lead a U.S. delegation to Pakistan later this week for mediated talks with Iran aimed at finding a permanent agreement to end the conflict, downplayed the setbacks, saying no ceasefire ever goes without a little bit of choppiness.

Were seeing evidence that things are going in the right direction, but its going to take a little time, Vance told reporters as he wrapped up a visit to Hungary.

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Trump to hold talks with NATO secretary-general

The president also met at the White House with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday. Trump has been angry that NATO member countries ignored his call to help reopen the vital waterway as gas prices soared during the war.

As the Trump deadline for Iran to open the strait neared, Democratic lawmakers decried Trump's threat to wipe away an entire civilization as a moral failure." Pope Leo XIV warned that strikes against civilian infrastructure would violate international law and said the Republican president's comments were truly unacceptable.

In the end, Trump may have backed down because of a simple truth: Escalation could risk involving the United States in the sort of forever war that had bedeviled his predecessors in the White House and that he had vowed he would keep the U.S. out of if voters elected him again.

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Controlling the strait would have been long and costly

As Trump boasted about U.S. and Israeli military success over the past six weeks, he appeared to be working from the premise that he could bomb Iran into capitulation.

Starting with the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening salvos, he seemed to discount that the Iranian leadership could opt for a long and bloody war.

The Islamic Republic over the past 47 years has shown it is willing to dig in, even when it appears to America to be working against its own self-interest.

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The clerical leadership held Americans hostage for 444 days, from late 1979 to early 1981, at the cost of the countrys international standing. The mullahs allowed the Iran-Iraq war to go on for years, leaving hundreds of thousands dead. Iran stood by Hamas after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ultimately defanged the Iran-backed group in Gaza as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and created the conditions that led to the collapse of Bashar Assad's government in Syria, an authoritarian rule supported by Tehran.

Iran's leadership exuded confidence that it could bog down the world's superpower in a costly and extended conflict even if it might not defeat the U.S. military.

Defense analysts largely agreed that the U.S. military could quickly take control of the narrow Persian Gulf waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly 20% of the world's oil flows on any given day. But maintaining security over the strait would require a high-risk, resource-intensive operation that could be a yearslong American commitment.

Ben Connable, executive director of the nonprofit Battle Research Group, said securing the strait would require the U.S. military to maintain control of about 600 kilometers (373 miles) of Iranian territory, from Kish Island in the west to Bandar Abbas in the east, in order to stop Iran from firing missiles at passing ships. It is a mission that Connable said would likely require three U.S. infantry divisions, roughly 30,000 to 45,000 troops.

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This would be an indefinite operation  so, you know, think: be ready to do this for 20 years, said Connable, a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer. We didn't think we were going to be in Afghanistan for 20 years. We didnt think were going to have to be in Vietnam as long as we were, or Iraq.

The two-week ceasefire includes allowing both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through Hormuz, a regional official said. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday noted that Trump has considered the idea of a toll for vessels passing through the strait. But in the near term, his priority is the reopening of the strait without any limitations, whether in the form of tolls or otherwise.

Vance played a bigger role close to the deadline

The White House confirmed that Vance will lead the U.S. negotiating team in talks with Iran aimed at finding a permanent end to war.

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The delegation is also expected to include special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner. The talks are expected to begin Friday in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Vice President Vance has played a very significant and a key role in this since the very beginning, Leavitt said.

Trumps deadline was nearing with no resolution in sight when Vance, who has long pushed for restraint in U.S. military intervention overseas, got roped into the conversation, according to an official from one of the mediating countries who was briefed on the matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity to share sensitive diplomatic discussions.

Vance expressed measured confidence that a permanent deal could reached if the Iranians act in good faith.

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I encourage the Iranians to come to the table seriously," Vance said. Weve seen some signs that theyre going to do that, weve seen some signs of bravado. Fundamentally, we're in a good spot.

___

Amiri reported from New York. Associated Press writers Collin Binkley and Michelle L. Price in Washington, Justin Spike in Budapest and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report.
Volume of passenger car imports to Ukraine decreased by 16% in first three months of 2026

The value of passenger car imports into Ukraine, including cargo-passenger vans and racing cars (UKT VED code 8703), in January-March 2026 amounted to $949.5 million, which is 16% lower than the same period in 2025 ($1.13 billion).

According to statistics released by the State Customs Service of Ukraine, in particular, in March, imports of passenger cars decreased by 12.5% compared to March of last year, but compared to February of this year, they increased by 13.8% - to $359.6 million.

The top three largest suppliers of passenger cars to Ukraine in the first quarter were the United States, Germany, and Japan, while in the previous year these were the same countries, but Germany was the largest exporter, followed by the United States and Japan.

In particular, during this period, car deliveries from the USA decreased slightly (by 2.7%) to $177.2 million, from Germany they decreased by a third to $151.5 million, while from Japan they increased by 35.5% to $146.7 million.

From other countries, total imports of passenger cars for January-March amounted to $474.2 million, compared to $612.6 million last year.

At the same time, over the first three months of the year, Ukraine exported only $0.79 million worth of such vehicles, while last year, a total of $2.5 million worth of these vehicles were exported to the UAE (90.5%), the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

According to the State Customs Service, the share of passenger cars in the overall structure of goods imported into Ukraine in the first quarter of this year amounted to 4%, compared to 6.13% for the same period last year.
A lawsuit filed by the family of Linda Praylow contends that Hartford police should have done more to prevent her from dying from an overdose while in custody in 2024. courtesy of the family of Linda Praylow The family of Linda Praylow is suing the city of Hartford and seven officers who they said could have done more to prevent her from dying of an overdose while awaiting arraignment. Courtesy of the family of Linda Praylow

HARTFORD  The family of a woman who fatally overdosed on fentanyl while in custody is suing the city of Hartford and the police officers who were responsible for her safety while she was in the agency's lockup, court papers said.

Linda Praylow, 49, was found unresponsive in her cell in April 2024. She died from acute fentayl intoxication more than 30 hours after she was taken into custody based on arrest warrants, according to the state's Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the lawsuit.

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Connecticut's Inspector General at the time, Robert Devlin, concluded after investigating the death that Hartford police could have been more attentive to Praylow but there was nothing criminal about her death.

In the lawsuit filed Monday in federal court, the family contends that Praylow signed a form saying she had taken drugs before she was arrested and that she was in withdrawal from opioids, repeatedly throwing up and experiencing diarrhea before she was found unresponsive by her cellmate.

The officers who were in charge of her care failed to check on her every 30 minutes and didnt call for an ambulance or other help when they saw she was vomiting and asking for juice, the lawsuit said.

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There are policies in place for those who are showing signs of a serious medical condition and they were not done, said Attorney Ryan Dougherty of Koskoff Koskoff & Bieder, PC, who is representing the family.

Daugherty said Tuesday that the family is challenging the statement that Praylow told police she didnt want to go to the hospital. He also said that she suffered from addiction and mental illness which likely skewed her thinking on her physical health.

She was suffering from withdrawal of street drugs, which is a serious medical condition that should have been addressed as an emergency, Daugherty said.

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He will be seeking videos of the period when she was in the lockup as part of the lawsuit, he said.

The citys Corporation Counsel did not immediately return a phone call requesting comment Tuesday. The family is seeking unspecified damages.

The lawsuit claimed that Praylow was seen throwing up and on the toilet frequently while she was held in a cell and was uncomfortable for hours before she died.

Devlins office began investigating Praylow's death shortly after she was found unresponsive in her cell April 7, 2024. The office said Praylow was transported to St. Francis Hospital but pronounced dead sometime after arriving.

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Praylow's death was ruled accidental due to "acute fentanyl intoxication with recent cocaine use a contributing factor," the report said. It added that Praylow's toxicology reports determined she likely had consumed fentanyl while in custody.

The report said Praylow was taken into custody on April 5 on two warrants relating to larceny and violation of probation charges.

When she was taken into the city's police department to be booked, Praylow told a booking officer she recently had used fentanyl, the report said.

Praylow could not post bail, the report said, and was supposed to remain in custody until Monday, April 8.

The IG's report said Praylow told her cellmate she was going through withdrawal, which prompted her to get sick. Officers asked Praylow whether she wanted to go to the hospital on April 6, but she declined, according to Devlin's report.

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Later that day, Praylow and her cellmate were moved to a neighboring cell, as the one they were in needed to be cleaned.

Praylow looked restless and uncomfortable that night, the report said. It said at one point, Praylow requested juice but was denied and told to wait until food would be distributed later that morning.

Praylow then collapsed at 2:44 a.m. and had no pulse. Police and EMS unsuccessfully performed life-saving measures until hospital staff pronounced her dead over an hour later at 3:51 a.m., Devlin's report said.

Devlin wrote that a detective logged around 15 minutes before Praylow collapsed that there was nobody in distress in the cells. But, the surveillance showed that Praylow kept getting up, was sick and restless at that time, Devlin said.

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In an interview, Praylow's cellmate said she believed Praylow was being punished by staff "for being sick and causing a mess in her cell." The report said the cellmate claimed staff were being "very neglectful," but Devlin said there was no signs Praylow was being neglected.

"Although the Hartford Detention officers should have been more attentive, Linda Praylows death was not due to any physical force used by the police, nor to criminal action on their part or the part of anyone else," the report said.

Staff Writer Jessica Bravo contributed to this story.

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Dennis Atkinsons sister, Charlene Atkinson, center, is surrounded by family following a news conference at the New Haven Police Department on April 8, 2026 announcing charges against Vincent Watts for the shooting death of Downtown Ambassador Dennis Atkinson. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Dennis Atkinsons cousin, Kireeshia Suggs, left, speaks with Acting Police Chief David Zannelli following a news conference at the New Haven Police Department on April 8, 2026 announcing charges against Vincent Watts for the shooting death of Downtown Ambassador Dennis Atkinson. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Acting Police Chief David Zannelli, left, speaks at a news conference at the New Haven Police Department on April 8, 2026 announcing charges against Vincent Watts for the shooting death of Downtown Ambassador Dennis Atkinson. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Dennis Atkinsons cousin, Kireeshia Suggs, center, speaks at a news conference at the New Haven Police Department on April 8, 2026 announcing charges against Vincent Watts for the shooting death of Downtown Ambassador Dennis Atkinson. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Charlene Atkinson, center, is surrounded by family as she views photos of her brother, Dennis Atkinson, following a news conference at the New Haven Police Department on April 8, 2026 announcing charges against Vincent Watts for the shooting death of Downtown Ambassador Dennis Atkinson. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Dennis Atkinsons cousin, Kireeshia Suggs, left, speaks at a news conference at the New Haven Police Department on April 8, 2026 announcing charges against Vincent Watts for the shooting death of Downtown Ambassador Dennis Atkinson. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Acting Police Chief David Zannelli speaks during a news conference in New Haven Jan. 7, 2026. At rear is New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  Police announced Tuesday an arrest in the fatal shooting of a downtown ambassador remembered for being joyful in summer of last year.

Dennis Atkinson, 40, was found suffering from several gunshot wounds in the area of Ferry and River streets at 4:44 a.m. Aug. 18, 2025, according to police. Dennis Atkinson, of New Haven, was taken to the hospital where he ultimately died from his injuries, police said.

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Mayor Justin Elicker said at press conference on Wednesday that city employees who worked with him in his job working for the Town Green District keeping downtown New Haven clean and safe described Dennis Atkinson as "joyful," "vibrant" and "friendly."

During the investigation, New Haven police Detective Michael Haines of the Major Crimes Unit developed probable cause to arrest Vincent Watts on Friday.

Watts, 26, is charged with murder, carrying a pistol without a permit, criminal possession of a pistol/revolver and criminal possession of a firearm/ammunition. He was held on a $2.5 million bond and is scheduled to appear at state Superior Court in New Haven April 22, judicial records show.

Acting Police Chief David Zannelli said during the press conference that the investigation took seven months because of the time it took to produce the physical evidence they sought for an arrest warrant. However, he said that community cooperation in the investigation "was paramount." He said police believe the motive for the alleged murder was "a dispute over money."

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About a dozen members of Dennis Atkinson's family attended the Wednesday press conference. His sister, aunt and two cousins spoke about the relief they felt that city police had made an arrest, but also the feelings of grief that follow them to this day.

Atkinson's sister, Charlene Atkinson, welled up recalling the intense feelings that overcame her when an officer called her to say they'd made an arrest in the death of her brother, known to those close to him as "Man Man."

"Every day I want to hear his voice," she said. "I just miss his smile, I miss his face, I miss him hugging me so tight."

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Dennis Atkinson's cousin Tanya Suggs said she'd seen images of other mourning families standing at the lectern on the third floor of the New Haven Police headquarters after city police made an arrest and she was in disbelief that her family would be doing the same.

"Enough is enough. I never thought this day would be me and my family standing here at this podium for the same senseless acts that take place in this city," she said.

Cousin Kireeshia Suggs said she had seen Atkinson nearly daily before his death, and she is still adjusting.

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File photo of a New Haven police cruiser. Police said a 26-year-old city man has been charged with murder in a shooting on Ferry Street last year that left a 40-year-old man dead. Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  A 26-year-old city man has been charged with murder in a shooting on Ferry Street last year that left a 40-year-old man dead, police said.

Vincent Watts, of New Haven, was taken into custody on Friday in the Aug. 18 killing of New Haven resident Dennis Atkinson, according to New Haven police Officer Christian Bruckhart.

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Watts, who is being held on a $2.5 million bond, has also been charged with carrying a pistol with a permit, criminal possession of a pistol or revolver and criminal possession of a firearm.

Police previously said the fatal shooting took place around 4:44 a.m. in the area of Ferry and River streets and that officers were alerted by a ShotSpotter, a device that detects the sound of gunshots.

Police have said Atkinson was transported to Yale New Haven Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Officials have said an argument preceded the shooting.

Mayor Justin Elicker, Acting Police Chief David Zannelli and other officials are set to hold a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at police headquarters about the investigation.

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A woman stands at a destroyed apartment on a building that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Emilio Morenatti/AP A man sits inside a shelter watching television news after a two-week ceasefire with Iran was announced, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Ohad Zwigenberg/AP White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP President Donald Trump departs after speaking with reporters during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, an 11th-hour deal that headed off U.S. President Donald Trumps threat to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilization. Hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks Wednesday, though it was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal.

All sides have presented vastly different versions of the terms. Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

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Pakistan and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, which Israel has invaded to fight Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday that the deal doesnt cover fighting against Hezbollah. Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, killing dozens and wounding hundreds of people.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again Wednesday in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue. Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

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Here is the latest:

UN chief condemns Israeli strikes in Lebanon

In unusually strong language, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed and injured hundreds Wednesday, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

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The statement said Guterres condemns the loss of civilian lives and is deeply alarmed by the mounting toll on civilians, and added the ongoing strikes pose a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.

Guterres called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities.

The strikes targeting central Beirut Wednesday killed more than 180 people, and wounded hundreds, making it the deadliest day in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

Australia says Lebanon must be included in Middle East ceasefire

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Thursday that the two-week ceasefire announced this week is an important step forward.

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Of course it is a fragile peace, but we want it to lead to an agreement, Albanese said.

The Australian government also firmly believes that this has to apply to Lebanon as well. We want to see peace in this region, Albanese added.

Hezbollah claims attacks as sirens sound in northern Israel

Sirens went off early Thursday morning in a few Israeli communities along the border with Lebanon, near the city of Kiryat Shmona, which has been targeted by Hezbollah rockets repeatedly during the war.

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In a statement, Hezbollah claimed attacking Manara in northern Israel early Thursday morning with rocket fire.

This response will continue until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases, it said.

Israeli strikes kill Al Jazeera correspondent and 2 Lebanese journalists

Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed an Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, according to the network and health officials there, as well as two Lebanese journalists in that country, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists and one of their networks.

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Mohammed Wishah was targeted in a drone strike in west Gaza City. The Israeli militarys Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said on X that Wishah was a member of Hamas, reposting a 2024 tweet that described him as a prominent commander in its military wing, among other positions.

In Lebanon, where Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah killed more than 180 people Wednesday, Ghada Dayekh, a presenter with Sawt Al-Farah, and Suzan Khalil, a reporter and presenter on Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV and Al-Nour Radio, also died.

Newly created Polymarket accounts bet big on US-Iran ceasefire in hours before Trumps announcement

A group of new accounts on the prediction market Polymarket made highly specific, well-timed bets on whether the U.S. and Iran would reach a ceasefire on April 7, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits for these new customers.

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These bets were made even though, in the hours before a two-week ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, Trumps rhetoric had escalated sharply and there were few signals that a ceasefire deal was imminent.

An analysis of publicly available blockchain data from Polymarket, using the crypto analytics platform Dune, shows that at least 50 accounts, or wallets, placed substantial Yes bets Tuesday before Trump announced the ceasefire in a Truth Social post at around 6:30 p.m. ET.

 Read more about polymarket accounts

Israelis celebrate ceasefire and mimouna holiday

Israelis marked the Moroccan Jewish holiday of Mimouna, which celebrates the end of Passover, on Wednesday night without worrying about running for cover from of Iranian missiles for the first time in a month and a half.

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In the southern resort city of Eilat, a local bar served the traditional fried foods, including the fried dough of mufleta, while wearing Moroccan inspired garb.

I feel like I can finally go out and celebrate, its hard to celebrate anything during the war, said Tair Elkaim, a 27-year-old personal trainer visiting from Netanya. I feel more relaxed and happy, but also Im sad about the families broken up by this war.

Avi Zion, 30, a municipality worker from Jerusalem, said he was looking forward to returning to his routine and finally sending his kids back to school.

Im really happy theres a ceasefire and were here to celebrate this feeling of release.

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At least 182 killed as Israel strikes central Beirut after saying Iran truce doesnt apply there

Lebanons health ministry said that Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed 182 people, the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

Israel launched a barrage of strikes in central Beirut and elsewhere in the country as a shaky ceasefire took effect between the U.S. and Iran. Iranian officials have maintained that the deal was supposed to include Lebanon, while Israel and the U.S. have insisted that it does not.

Another 890 people were wounded in the strikes, the ministry said. Altogether, 1,739 people have been killed and 5,873 wounded in Lebanon in just over five weeks since the outbreak of the war.

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 Read more

US moves to draw down diplomatic staff in Nigeria over security concerns related to Iran war, terrorism, crime

The State Department is moving to reduce the U.S. diplomatic footprint in Nigeria due to security concerns related to terrorism and crime even as a ceasefire in the Iran war comes into effect.

The department said Wednesday it had authorized nonessential American personnel and the families of all government staffers at the U.S. embassy in Abuja to leave the country due to the deteriorating security situation.

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There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Nigeria, it said. Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria. Terrorists collaborate with local gangs to expand their reach. They may attack with little or no warning.

Nigeria is just the latest in a series of U.S. diplomatic missions to draw down staff with either ordered or authorized departures since the war with Iran began at the end of February.

American offensive operations remain paused, US official says

When asked about an oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island that Iranian state television said came under attack Wednesday, the U.S. official said the pause in American attacks on Iran that went into effect Tuesday with the ceasefire was still effect.

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The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani also said Israel wasnt involved in the Lavan Island strike.

- Konstantin Toropin

Vance suggests the US and Iran agree on more about a peace deal than they disagree on

Speaking to reporters before leaving Hungary, the vice president said Iran questioning the workability of a ceasefire because it disagrees with the U.S. on three key points must mean theres a lot of points of agreement.

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Frustration on three issues actually means that theres a lot of agreements, Vance said.

The vice president, who is set to participate in negotiations in Pakistan this weekend, said ceasefires are always messy and often feature a little bit of choppiness.

It wasnt all positive, though. Vance also questioned the English skills of Iran parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and his comments on the fragile nature of the ceasefire.

I actually wonder how good he is at understanding English, Vance said because there are things that he said that just didnt make sense in the context of the negotiations that weve had.

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Independent analysts say they have seen no change in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz

Thats despite claims from the White House on Wednesday there had been an uptick in the number of ships transiting the strategic waterway since a U.S.-announced ceasefire with Iran.

Windward, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks international shipping, said only 11 vessels transited the strait on Wednesday  roughly the same number from prior days.

Windward said all ships transiting the strait must still coordinate safe passage with Iranian authorities, who are requiring shippers to pay hefty tolls amounting of up to $1 a barrel for outbound oil, paid in cryptocurrency. For context, the largest supertankers carry up to 3 million barrels of crude.

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Windward said radio broadcasts from Iran to tankers in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday warned that those transiting without approval would be attacked.

Israel strikes key bridge in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military has struck the last direct crossing carrying most of the traffic to the key coastal city of Tyre over Lebanons Litani River, the strategic demarcation line separating southern Lebanon from the rest of the country.

The attack late Wednesday on the Qasmieh bridge further isolates southern Lebanon as the Israeli army pushes ahead with its ground invasion and bombardment following the announcement of a ceasefire in the Iran war.

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Israel has bombed several bridges over the Litani, accusing Hezbollah of using them to bring fighters and military equipment to the border area. But the crossings are also crucial for Lebanese civilians and for those carrying humanitarian aid.

The strike comes as Israel seeks to create a buffer zone that it says is necessary to protect its northern towns from Hezbollah rockets. Lebanese civilians fear long-term occupation and displacement.

House Democrats to force a war powers resolution vote over Iran

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said they will demand passage of the resolution to halt further U.S. military action in Iran during Thursdays session, seeking to force Republicans, who have been largely silent on Trumps strategy, to speak up.

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He said in a letter to colleagues that the Democrats will unleash maximum pressure on Republicans to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping the madness.

Congress is on recess, but the House and Senate are meeting for perfunctory sessions on Thursday.

Under the proposal, Democrats would seek to have the resolution approved by unanimous consent. But as the minority party, they may not even be recognized by the presiding officer, a Republican.

Bolivia terminates military cooperation agreement with Iran in latest geopolitical shift

The center-right government of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz said Wednesday it has terminated a military cooperation agreement signed with Iran three years ago, during the administration of leftist leader Luis Arce.

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The announcement was confirmed by Defense Minister Raul Salinas, who didnt provide further details.

It comes on the heels of the Paz administrations dramatic shift away from the foreign policy maintained by Bolivia throughout the administrations of the Movement Towards Socialism, or MAS, a party that held power for nearly 20 years.

It is also the latest sign of a sharp geopolitical realignment underway in the South American country that was once among the most vocal critics of Israeli policies toward Palestinians.

UN says 1.1 million Lebanese, an unprecedented number, have been displaced since early March conflict

And that number, representing nearly one-fifth of Lebanons population, is expected to rise following the wave of over 100 Israeli airstrikes on the country on Wednesday, the U.N. humanitarian chief in Lebanon said.

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Imran Riza told U.N. correspondents in a video briefing that Israeli orders for Lebanese to leave their homes now affect 15.5% of the countrys territory.

He also pointed to rising attacks on health care facilities during the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, with over 106 incidents reported resulting in 57 deaths and 158 injuries.

The U.N. humanitarian coordinator urged donations to last months $308 million U.N. emergency appeal for Lebanon which has only received about $95 million.

Iran accuses US of violating 3 clauses of framework for a deal, says ceasefire, negotiations with US are unreasonable

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Wednesday that a ceasefire and negotiations with the U.S. on ending the war is unreasonable as he accused the U.S. violating three of Tehrans 10 conditions for an end to the fighting.

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Qalibaf, a key figure in the Pakistan-brokered negotiations to end the conflict, objected in a social media post to the continuation of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace after the ceasefire was in effect and the Trump administrations assertion that it wont accept any Iranian enrichment capabilities as part of an agreement to end the conflict.

It comes as the not yet day old ceasefire appears at risk of fraying over significant disagreements between the parties who each are claiming victory in the conflict. Qalibafs comments come an hour after the White House announced that US Vice President JD Vance would lead the U.S. delegation to talks in Islamabad starting Saturday on bringing about an end to the war.

Spain condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez condemned Israels strikes Wednesday on Lebanon, criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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His contempt for life and international law is intolerable, Sanchez wrote on X.

The Spanish leader, who has been Europes loudest critic of the U.S. and Israels military actions in the region, called on the European Union to suspend its association agreement with Israel.

White House says Trump is clear that ceasefire is subject to no tolls through the Strait of Hormuz

The ceasefire requires a free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which includes no tolls imposed by Iran, said Leavitt, describing Trumps thinking.

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A regional official had said on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations that the ceasefire plans included allowing both Iran and Oman to charge new fees to ships transiting through the strait.

Leavitt referenced Trumps Truth Social post from Tuesday in which he said the agreement was conditional on the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the strait. She added that thats very plain language and it should be taken at face value.

Iranian envoy asks China, Russia and UN for security guarantees as part of ceasefire

At a press conference in Beijing early Wednesday, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Irans ambassador to China, requested that its two closest allies and the world body help guarantee Tehrans long-term security as part of the recent deal to end hostilities between U.S and Iran.

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The Islamic Republic has made similar requests in the past but they have not come to fruition.

When asked if China would be willing to guarantee such security, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning demurred Wednesday, telling reporters: We hope that all parties will resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

Vance will return to US from his visit to Hungary before heading to Pakistan

The vice presidents office gave the update Wednesday as Vance was wrapping up a trip in Budapest.

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His office did not offer any details about his planned trip to Islamabad to lead the U.S. negotiating team that included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Trump expected to raise possibility of US leaving NATO in meeting with Rutte

The president earlier this month said that he was considering withdrawing the U.S. from NATO as he grumbled about the lack of support from members of the alliance in his war of choice against Iran.

The criticism from Trump follows years of complaining that the alliances member countries arent paying enough for their own defense. Trump is set to host Secretary-General Mark Rutte for talks at the White House later this afternoon.

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Its something the president has discussed, and I think its something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary General Rutte, said Leavitt, when asked if Trump is still considering leaving the 32-member alliance.

Ceasefire is threatened as Israel expands Lebanon strikes and Iran closes strait again

The United States demanded Wednesday that Iran immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Republic closed the waterway in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Irans move cast doubt over whether an already precarious ceasefire to end more than a month of war would hold.

The United States and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. Israel also intensified its attacks in Lebanon, hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning. At least 112 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

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The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what U.S. Vice President JD Vance called a fragile deal.

White House defends Trumps language threatening a whole civilization

Asked about Trumps threat to annihilate Iranian civilization, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended it as a very strong threat that led to results.

I think it was a very, very strong threat from the president of the United States that led the Iranian regime to cave to their knees and ask for a ceasefire and agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Leavitt said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

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She said any suggestion that Iran had the moral high ground was insulting.

Before a ceasefire was announced, Trump had threatened destruction in Iran if it did not reopen the strait, saying a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

White House shrugs off NATOs pledge to ensure freedom of navigation through a reopened Strait of Hormuz

Leavitt was asked about NATO allies offering to contribute to keeping the strait open, but said the alliance hasnt done enough to support U.S. and Israels war in Iran.

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They were tested and they failed, Levitt said, reading from a past Trump quote on NATO.

She added: NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks.

Those comments came as Trump was meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House later Wednesday.

Israels airport restarts full operations

Israels main airport will resume full operations as of midnight on Wednesday, after the Iran war stranded tens of thousands of people, including both Israelis abroad and tourists inside Israel.

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Israels airspace has been open but severely limited during the war, limiting flights to once an hour and just 50 people per flight. Israel joins several other countries in the region in reopening its airspace as the ceasefire with Iran appeared to hold.

The White House defends Trumps threat that a whole civilization will die tonight

His very tough rhetoric and his tough negotiating style is what has led to the result that you are all witnessing today, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, adding that Iran said they wanted a ceasefire because they no longer could tolerate being bombed.

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Trumps threats against Iran escalated over the past weeks, culminating in his Tuesday warning that a whole civilization could die in the lead up to an 8 p.m. deadline, which was later suspended after an agreement was reached.
FILE - President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House, Oct. 22, 2025, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, for a photo opportunity at the State Department, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Rod Lamkey/AP White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, for a photo opportunity at the State Department, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Rod Lamkey/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump repeated his complaint about NATO after a closed-door meeting with the alliance's Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday for discussions that had been expected to be aimed at soothing Trumps anger with the military alliance over the Iran war.

Ahead of the private meeting, Trump had suggested the U.S. may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance after NATO member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway, and sent gas prices soaring.

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Afterward, he issued an all-caps comment on social media suggesting he remained aggrieved. NATO WASNT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WONT BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN, Trump said in his post. The White House did not immediately offer any further updates.

The Republican president has had a warm relationship with Rutte in the past, and the meeting came after the U.S. and Iran late Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the strait. The nascent ceasefire was struck after Trump said he would strike Iran's power plants and bridges, threatening that a whole civilization will die tonight."

Earlier Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that Trump had discussed leaving NATO. I think its something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary-General Rutte, Leavitt said.

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Congress in 2023 passed a law that prevents any U.S. president from pulling out of NATO without its approval. Trump has been a longtime critic of NATO and in his first term had suggested he had the authority on his own to leave the alliance, which was founded in 1949 to counter the Cold War threat posed to European security by the Soviet Union.

The crux of the commitment its 32 member countries make is a mutual defense agreement in which an attack on one is considered an attack on them all. The only time it has been activated was in 2001, to support the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Despite that, Trump has complained during his war of choice with Iran that NATO has shown it will not be there for the U.S. On Wednesday, he also seemed to be angry about NATO's stance on Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark. Trump had pressed for U.S. control over Greenland earlier this year before backing off after talks with Rutte.

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REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!! Trump posted Wednesday.

There is a law barring a president from pulling out of NATO

It's unclear if the Trump administration would challenge the law barring a president from pulling out of NATO. When the law passed, it was championed by Trump's current secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who at the time was a senator from Florida.

Rubio met separately with Rutte on Wednesday morning at the State Department ahead of the White House talks. In a statement, the State Department said Rubio and Rutte had discussed the war with Iran, along with U.S. efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war and increasing coordination and burden shifting with NATO allies.

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Ahead of Trump's meeting, Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, issued a statement Tuesday night in support of the alliance, noting, Following the September 11th attacks, NATO allies sent their young servicemembers to fight and die alongside Americas own in Afghanistan and Iraq. McConnell, who sits on a committee overseeing defense spending, urged Trump to be clear and consistent and said its not in Americas interest to spend more time nursing grudges with allies who share our interests than deterring adversaries who threaten us.

The alliance was already rattled over the past year as Trump returned to power and reduced U.S. military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and threatened to seize Greenland from ally Denmark.

But Trump's badgering of NATO intensified after the Iran war began at the end of February, with the president insisting that securing the Strait of Hormuz was not America's job but the responsibility of countries that depend on the flow of oil through it.

Go to the strait and just take it, Trump said last week.

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Trump was also angered as NATO allies Spain and France forbade or restricted use of their airspace or joint military facilities for the U.S. in the Iran war. They and other nations, however, agreed to help with an international coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz when the conflict ends.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been a particular source of Trump's frustration, was set to travel Wednesday to the Gulf to support the ceasefire. The U.K. has been working on developing a post-conflict security plan for the strait, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the worlds oil passes.

Trump has previously threatened to leave NATO and often said that he would abandon allies who dont spend enough on their military budgets. Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in his recent memoir, said he feared that Trump might walk away from the alliance in 2018, during his first term as president.

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___
Church members pose in the sanctuary of First Evangelical Lutheran Church, on West Haven, Conn. March 27, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media First Evangelical Lutheran Church, in West Haven, Conn. March 19, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media First Evangelical Lutheran Church, in West Haven, Conn. March 19, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

WEST HAVEN  About four years after a local woman tripped on a defective asphalt sidewalk, requiring surgery for a broken hip, a state Superior Court judge ordered a West Haven church to pay her $397,914 in damages.

Members of the church now say they had no idea they were sued, that there had been a trial and that there had been a judgment against them. On March 24, a lawyer representing the church filed a motion to vacate the judgment on the basis that the church was denied due process.

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Ive been practicing nearly 40 years and Ive never seen such an egregious example of lack of notice in a case. Its unbelievable to me, Bob Sweeney, the attorney representing First Evangelical Lutheran Church, said in his motion to vacate the judgment. The church and church parishioners have an absolute right to due process and to have the case adjudicated on the merit instead of a technical default because of failure to appear.

One congregant said church members felt blindsided upon discovering a personal injury case played out in court without their knowledge, ultimately leading to roughly a quarter-million dollars being garnished from a church bank account.

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From left, church members Kevin McKeon, Kay Rhodes, Brian Koundry and Jackie Donovan sit during an interview at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, on West Haven, Conn. March 27, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

It was all behind our back without letting us know, said Kevin McKeon, a First Evangelical Lutheran Church council member. They sued us, never got back to us and we didnt know anything was going on until  our treasurer went out to get some money for postage.

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A spokesperson for the state of Connecticuts Judicial Branch declined to comment. The plaintiff could not be reached and their attorney did not respond to a request for comment. However, in an April 3 objection to Sweeneys motion, attorney Gregory Kimmel argued against reopening the judgment on the basis that his Nov. 30, 2022 motion for a default based upon a failure to appear was sent by first class mail and was not returned, which makes clear that the motion for default was delivered to the Corporation, and they should have been on notice of the lawsuit at that time if they were not already on notice.

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McKeon said upon going to the bank to cover postage costs in early March, the churchs treasurer learned their account had been emptied following a summary judgment. According to court records, an execution against the church as a judgment debtor was issued on Jan. 2, almost three years after a Superior Court judge found for the nearly $400,000 in damages. The lawsuit was filed in February 2021, two years after the plaintiff was injured from a fall on the sidewalk beside 406 Second Ave. The owner of a neighboring Second Avenue property was also included in the initial lawsuit, but was ultimately dropped after his attorney successfully convinced a judge that the site of the fall was not on his property line.

406 Second Ave. was the site of the churchs parsonage for the Rev. Phillip Krakowiak Sr., the churchs pastor. The building is nearby to but separate from the churchs main address of 52 George St.

McKeon said things may have been complicated for the church because of Krakowiaks death in 2023. He said the church members have no answers today, including whether their late pastor may have known anything about the lawsuit.

He may have taken the secret with him, McKeon said.

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The alter at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, on West Haven, Conn. March 27, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

Their attorney, however, alleged there is no record that court marshals made any efforts to deliver a summons to either the church or to the parsonage at the site of the reported fall. Additionally, in sworn affidavits included in the motion, church officers including its president, secretary and treasurer, said they were in repeated and direct communication with Krakowiak and he never mentioned any falls on the property. In those affidavits, the officers said the church would have notified their insurer and reached out directly to the plaintiff and offered prayers for a speedy recovery, not ignored the matter.

Kimmel argued that the Feb. 24, 2021 summons was sent by certified mail to the churchs address listed on the state website and it was not returned as undeliverable. He said that clearly no one from the church was present to sign for the package and no one from the church made any effort to obtain it from the post office.

The church sold the parsonage in June 2024 for $200,000, according to land records. Sweeney said in his motion that the plaintiff caused a judgment lien to be placed on the property in January 2025, roughly seven months following the sale of the property.

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Sweeney argued in the motion that the injured womans attorney delayed placing a lien on the property for so long that it was sold without congregants knowing the property had been at the center of a lawsuit. Similarly, the motion argues the financial execution against the churchs bank account, including the proceeds from the sale of the Second Avenue property, was entered more than two years after the judgment and neither the plaintiff nor the bank informed the church.

According to a February 2021 court filing, a court marshal reported she was unable to find an officer, principal or registered agent for the church. She reported that she filed an affidavit of diligent search with the Secretary of the States office and mailed a writ of summons to the churchs George Street address.

Jennifer Brown, who teaches civil procedure at Quinnipiac University Law School, said she does not believe a mailing would ordinarily be viewed as a significant enough effort to reach a party. Brown, who spoke broadly about expectations around serving lawsuits instead of specifically to the First Evangelical Lutheran Church case, said it raises potential red flags if no one is physically handed papers at a physical address where people are regularly present.

I think just mailing to the address of a business is usually not enough, she said. Thats not due diligence.

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Brown said there would generally be an expectation that church officials would be found on the premises on a Sunday.

The sense a defendant is entitled to meaningful notice of what is alleged against them so they can come into court and be heard in a meaningful way, that is the core of due process, she said. On the plaintiff side, if a person is injured who seeks some sort of remedy, how much effort should that person have to go through? When a business, whether its a private for-profit or a church, is in a state of disorganization or transition or disarray, thats on them. The judicial system is there not only to be fair to defendants, but to give plaintiffs some right of redress.

First Evangelical Lutheran Church, in West Haven, Conn. March 19, 2026. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

According to state records, the church does not have a registered agent included in its filings. A spokesperson for the Secretary of the States office said churches are exempt from filing annual reports.

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Because religious corporations are exempt from filing an annual report, they are also exempt from having to appoint an agent, Cindy Wolfe Boynton said in an emailed comment.

According to court records, First Evangelical Lutheran Church never filed an appearance in the case, being listed as a non-appearing defendant. In late November 2022, the plaintiffs attorney moved for a failure to appear against the church, which was granted by the judge the next month.

In its motion to vacate the ruling on procedural grounds, the church argues there was a complete lack of service of process in the case.

McKeon said the circumstances surrounding the lawsuit have members of the church worried about what will happen to their building. He said the church is insured against liabilities such as a fall, but was deprived of the ability to speak with its insurer before it was found liable and its bank account was emptied.

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Were trying to save our church, he said.

Although the building is tax exempt, McKeon said the duties of paying the utilities and maintaining and refurbishing the facilities now fall upon the churchs members. He said he contributed about $2,000 from his own bank account to pay an overdue gas bill, which he said he jokingly considered a tithe.

McKeon said its also ironic that the church is due to pay thousands for its insurance soon while currently having no money in its bank account.

Were always fixing something, congregant Brian Koundry said. Im always fixing something, (McKeon) is always painting.

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Koundry said the church serves the community all week long and those doors are always open. Another church member, Kay Rhoades, said the congregation may be small, but we are all like family.

Nicole Rousseau said she is not a formal member of the church, but she said she visits daily for womens meetings and its 12-step meetings.

Its my recovery, she said. Its given me sobriety, almost two years of sobriety. I can walk here because I dont have a car.

As Rousseau considered what it might mean if the church were to be sold because of mounting costs around utilities, infrastructure and insurance, her eyes welled up.

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I think Id be a little lost. This place keeps me sober, she said.

For congregant Roland Depew, the church tethers him to his familys history as Swedish immigrants who were inaugural members in 1921.

My family has had weddings here, funerals, my brother and sister and I were confirmed here, baptisms. Its personal from that standpoint, he said.

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Koundry said, although the churchs membership is not very large, its a close-knit group with years of community ties. McKeon said that community offers its building as a resource to people in recovery, people seeking a hot meal and a Spanish-speaking church community that previously lost their own building.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., speaks to voters in Indianola, Iowa, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Hannah Fingerhut/AP

INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP)  Before Michigan U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin spent Tuesday afternoon supporting Democratic congressional candidates in Iowa, she was picking the brains of a table of President Donald Trumps voters.

Slotkin, a potential Democratic 2028 presidential contender, peppered five Iowa voters with questions about divisiveness in U.S. politics and issues affecting their communities. She also wanted to know what the voters would look for if they could build a candidate in a test tube" and why they chose Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024.

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What would have gotten you to actually consider a Democrat? Slotkin asked as the discussion winded down.

She hadnt told them yet she was one.

The conversation was one of many Slotkin is having ahead of this falls crucial midterm elections. They are a way for the Midwestern Democrat to hear what it might take for the party to win back parts of the country like Iowa, which swung from backing President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 to Trump in the last three elections.

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Slotkin on Tuesday described a Democratic Party that has forgotten about the middle of the country, has spent too much time rehashing old fights and lacks coordination in delivering a strong counter to Trump.

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Im pretty clear-eyed about the problems, Slotkin told The Associated Press in an interview. Im interested in being a part of the next generation whos going to rehab the Democratic brand.

Slotkin's sit down with Trump voters in Iowa Tuesday, and a town hall in Ohio Wednesday, was organized by a PAC dedicated to reshaping the party, Majority Democrats. But for Slotkin, the stops in red and purple states also are opportunities for the former CIA analyst to introduce herself to voters outside her home state, many of whom  like those gathered for Tuesdays lunch  dont know who she is or what she stands for.

Slotkin was elected to the Senate in 2024 after serving three terms in the U.S. House. She was among six Democrats in Congress with military or national security backgrounds who in a video last year urged U.S. military members to resist illegal orders. Trump accused the lawmakers of sedition punishable by death, and the video prompted a Justice Department investigation.

Slotkin said Tuesday that they made the video for moments exactly like this, shortly before Trump paused for two weeks his threat to take out Irans whole civilization.

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Democrats want to flip House seats in Iowa

Later Tuesday, Slotkins schedule included headlining a fundraiser and a county party dinner. She also held a health care-focused town hall with Iowa state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Democrat looking to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn in one of the most competitive House seats in the country.

She shared some of the same themes to the friendly faces in Des Moines as she did earlier with the Trump voters, lamenting that politics is so divisive and describing the bipartisan disappointment over the health care system that she hears across the country.

But she put a finer point on her own views to the Democratic audiences, saying that the U.S. needs a public health insurance option for people of any age and giving advice on how to convince voters that supporting a Democrat is in their best interest.

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I want to win in November," Slotkin told an applauding audience. That means being honest about where the Democratic Party needs to go.

The debate is not between progressive and moderate," she said. "Its fight or flight.

Slotkin shies away from answer on 2028

Visiting Iowa used to hold more obvious significance for Democrats before the party shook up the early presidential nominating calendar last cycle, bumping Iowa from its place as the first state to weigh in on the nominations. The state party in 2024 did away with the traditional, quirky caucuses that have historically been the first contest for both parties.

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Now Iowa Democrats are among those pitching their state should go first in 2028; Michigan is also vying for the first Midwest slot. But it's still months before the Democratic National Committee will decide the order.

Slotkin is one of many prominent Democrats eyeing a potential 2028 run that have been visiting swing states and those that have traditionally been important in the nominating process.

I'm not announcing anything, Slotkin said Tuesday, and even joked about Iowa and Michigan's cage match" for the early position.

The ambition didn't get past Ed Klavins, a Trump voter who participated in the focus group.

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Shes trying to figure out what she can do differently to have a better chance of getting reelected and maybe higher office, said Klavins, a retiree from Urbandale, Iowa, who didnt know Slotkin was the guest for Tuesdays focus group lunch and said he was paid $200, plus lunch, to be there.

Klavins wants politicians on both sides of the aisle that challenge their partys status quo. He told Slotkin that he wants a candidate who doesnt pander to what they think voters want. He voted for Trump and thinks hes succeeding in putting national security first, like closing the U.S.-Mexico border and eliminating the threat Iran poses to national security.

But Slotkin showing up to listen makes her a little more genuine in my eyes, he said. I like her.
Pro-government demonstrators chant slogans as they hold Iranian flags and a poster of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in a gathering after announcement of a two-week ceasefire in the war with the United States and Israel, at the Enqelab-e-Eslami, or Islamic Revolution, Square, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Vahid Salemi/AP

TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  A ceasefire deal to pause the war in Iran appeared to hang by a thread Wednesday after the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The White House demanded that the channel be reopened and sought to keep peace talks on track.

The U.S. and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. At the same time, Israel intensified its attacks on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, hitting commercial and residential areas in Beirut. At least 182 people were killed Wednesday in the deadliest day of fighting there.

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A government supporter chants slogans during a gathering after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire with the United States and Israel in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Francisco Seco/AP A first responder emerges through the smoke at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment building in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Bilal Hussein/AP Smoke rises following several Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Hassan Ammar/AP First responders search at the site of an Israeli airstrike that struck an apartment building in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Bilal Hussein/AP

The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what U.S. Vice President JD Vance called a fragile deal.

Parliament speaker accuses US of breaking Iran's conditions

The Iranian parliament speaker said planned talks were unreasonable because Washington broke three of Tehrans 10 conditions for an end to the fighting. In a social media post, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf objected to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace after the ceasefire took effect and U.S. refusal to accept any Iranian enrichment capabilities in a final agreement.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that an end to the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon. When the deal was announced, Pakistan's prime minister, whose country served as a mediator, said in a social media post that it applied to everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere.

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Lebanons health ministry said Israeli strikes killed 182 people on Wednesday, the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

The world sees the massacres in Lebanon, Iran's Araghchi said in a post on X. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.

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White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, reported in Iranian state media, was completely unacceptable. She repeated Trumps expectation and demand that the channel be reopened.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a capital V military victory and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to U.S. forces or the region. The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the U.S. to accept its "proposed conditions and surrender.

Much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the strait, a crucial transit lane for oil. The White House said Trump is opposed to tolls for ship passage through the strait.

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Only 11 vessels moved through the strait Wednesday, roughly the same as in prior days, according to Windward, a maritime intelligence firm. Iran was requiring shippers to pay tolls of up to $1 a barrel for outbound oil, it said. The largest supertankers carry up to 3 million barrels of crude.

The fate of Iran's missile and nuclear programs  the elimination of which were major objectives for the U.S. and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

White House looks ahead to peace talks

Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable plan that could help end the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28. But when a version in Farsi emerged indicating Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  key to building a nuclear weapon  Trump called it fraudulent.

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Leavitt said a plan that Iran presented Tuesday could align with our own proposal for peace.

The White House said Vance would lead American negotiators at upcoming peace talks, which could begin in Pakistan as soon as Friday.

Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

Meanwhile, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilize every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

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Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of persistently seeking to sabotage the ceasefire deal.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though the group has said it was open to giving mediators a chance to secure an agreement.

Early on Thursday Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at northern Israel and would continue doing so until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases."

Iran and Oman could collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from using the strait, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime. That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

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The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit. Such a shift would likely be unacceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

Irans nuclear and missile threats survive

U.S.-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not eliminated the threats posed by Tehran's nuclear program, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah. The U.S. and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

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Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to dig up and remove enriched uranium. There was no confirmation from Iran.

Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that the U.S. would do something like last June's joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if Iran refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Netanyahu warned in a televised address that Israel was ready to return to fighting at any time. Our finger is on the trigger.

Tehran has insisted for years that its nuclear program was peaceful, although it has enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

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Airstrikes reported despite ceasefire announcement

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television. A short time later, the UAE's air defenses fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the toll for days.

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In Lebanon, more than 1,700 people have been killed, and 1 million people have been displaced. Twelve Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Magdy from Cairo and Metz from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Mike Catalini in Trenton, N.J., and Michelle L. Price, Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller, Michael Biesecker and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

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Jordan Scheff, commissioner of the state Department of Developmental Services, during a hearing Tuesday in the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on a report detailing claims of abuse and neglect in the DDS system. Ken Dixon/Hearst Connecticut Media Sarah Eagan, executive director of the Center for Children's Advocacy, shown here in a file photo, was the longtime state children's advocate. She spoke Tuesday to state lawmakers about a report on the state Department of Developmental Services. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

HARTFORD  The head of the state agency responsible for Connecticuts 14,000 individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities told state lawmakers that a recent report on more than 4,200 instances of neglect and abuse and 15 deaths in 2024 was slightly misleading about the potential severity of the various cases.

But Jordan Scheff, commissioner of the Department of Developmental Services, said Tuesday there is a need for better training and more concise ways to keep track of annual data on incidents.

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These types of reports are concerning, Scheff told state lawmakers at a forum in the Legislative Office Building. I think Im less startled, but thats partly because I have some insight into how we got to the report before you today.

Some of the reports are the result of the reopening of the state after the COVID pandemic, Scheff said.

I think I was startled by the decrease in abuse and neglect reports during COVID more than I was by the increase of cases out of COVID, Scheff said, saying that systems have improved with support from the federal government in training and detection. I am pleased to see higher numbers in reporting abuse and neglect. It means I have more eyes and ears from people who have been trained to see something and say something.

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Nearly half, or 43%, of the 4,246 allegations reported, were substantiated through investigations, the report said. The number of substantiated individual cases has actually decreased, Scheff said.

But members of the legislative Human Services Committee and the Government Oversight Committee said the findings of the report  required by a 2025 law  were upsetting.

It was telling, said state Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, co-chair on the Human Services Committee. It was disturbing.

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The lawmakers discussed the findings with DDS officials before about 20 family members of DDS clients who attended the forum.

To be honest, I was shocked that we had so many allegations there, over 4,000, with almost half being substantiated, said state Rep. Lucy Dathan, D-New Canaan, co-chair of the Government Oversight Committee.

For too long, I think, people were not asking tough questions about the care of people with disabilities in this state, said Sen. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, co-chair of the Human Services Committee. We believe that every single person in this state is entitled to dignity, to bodily autonomy and to safety.

Lesser pointed out the details of the report: 15 people died under DDS supervision last year while there were 61 allegations of sexual abuse; 446 reports of physical abuse; 256 reports of financial abuse; and 193 reports of psychological abuse.

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I think we need to acknowledge a problem we want to get a handle on, Lesser said.

We want to make the system better, Scheff said.

Kathryn Rock-Burns, chief operating officer for the DDS, said that of the 15 deaths, 10 were confirmed to be related to neglect.

None were substantiated for any type of abuse, Rock-Burns said. None of the 15 were referred for criminal investigation by police.

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Sarah Eagan, Connecticut's former child advocate who is now the executive director of the Center for Childrens Advocacy, said DDS is doing a better job of identifying cases of neglect and abuse. But she said there is still a long way for the department, with an annual budget of $1.5 billion, to go in taking care of adults in a variety of living environments.

The clients live in private homes, privately run nonprofits, 35 public group homes, three regional centers and the Southbury Training School, where last year there were 100 residents.

Many workers in DDS facilities do heroic work for less than a living wage, Eagan said.

Scheff, accompanied by two top departmental deputies, said Connecticut has become a national model in incident reporting through cooperation with the Department of Social Services, which provides data to DDS through the Medicaid system.

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Neglect is a very board term in our system, Scheff said. So when you see reports of neglect, some of them are indeed the kinds of horrific things that terrify all of us at night about what may go on in an institutional system. Others are systemic neglect issues, failures to follow supervision guidelines and lapses in licensing, he said.

Scheff said that of the 4,246 reported instances of abuse and neglect, an average case could have been the result of a single perpetrator and multiple victims. He acknowledged that the current system of reporting allows providers to report findings on their own staff.

I think we do need a system in which providers can be trusted, Scheff said. Where we have concerns: providers who have a history of lots of reporting.

So key data such as corrective actions, licensing violations, quality assurance findings are not consistently published by DDS, Lesser said. Will you commit right now to greater transparency?

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Scheff he would promise to provide additional data without violating the privacy of individuals, especially clients such as those with autism who are more prone to injuries.

The Department of Developmental Services is not trying to hide anything, but it's providing a necessary service at a time of low wages for workers, Eagan said. There is no glossing the narrative, she said.

In my opinion this is not a safe system, Eagan said. There have been improvements made. There has been a good-faith effort to address the concerns of families and federal and state auditors.

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Matthew Luter competes in the B Division finalsth e 46th American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (ACPT)\at the Stamford Marriott Hotel Sunday, April 7, 2023. Carol Kaliff/For Hearst Connecticut Media

For the last time in the foreseeable future, the annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament is returning to Stamford Marriott Hotel.

The event's 48th edition is set for April 10-12, according to the event's website. During the tournament, competitors try to solve crossword puzzles on paper with pencils and are ranked by speed and accuracy, with each round having a time limit. Prizes are awarded in over 20 categories, with a grand prize of $7,500.

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While the contest has been held at the Stamford Marriott for several years, founder Will Shortz announced during a livestream on Boswords' Twitch channel last year that it will be moving to the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown in 2027. Shortz said the change is due to the tournament becoming so full that they often have to cut off registration early (more than a month before the event in the case of last year) and guests would have had to compete in different rooms instead of together.

"It's bittersweet.... The Stamford Marriott Hotel almost feels like a second home to me," Shortz said on Twitch last year.

The first American Crossword Puzzle Tournament was held at the Stamford Marriott in 1978 in order to attract business during a slow winter weekend, Shortz told CTInsider in 2023. The hotel has become the traditional home of the tournament ever since, besides a multi-year spell in Brooklyn and an entirely virtual contest in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The event will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the 2006 documentary crossword "Wordplay." The director, Patrick Creadon, will show clips and talk about the film. Writer A.J. Jacobs and composer Greg Pliska will also host a live edition of their "Hello, Puzzlers" podcast. The event will also include a wine and cheese reception.

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Registration for this year's tournament is closed; however, guests can pre-order the puzzles to play by mail or online after the tournament is over.
According to statistics from the State Customs Service, imports of trucks to Ukraine in January-March 2026 decreased by 18.3% in monetary terms compared to the same month in 2025, to $175.73 million.

According to published data, in particular in March, imports of this type of vehicle increased by 15.6% compared to March 2025 and by 48.6% compared to February of this year  to $80.5 million.

France accounted for the largest volume of truck imports in JanuaryMarch, with $22.3 million (35.7% less than last year). However, its share of total truck imports fell to 12.7% from 16.4%. Poland was the second-largest exporter, with $21.8 million (12.07%), and Lithuania was third with $19.1 million (10.9%).

In the first quarter of last year, the top three truck suppliers were the United States with a 23.3% share (or $50 million), Poland ($47.6 million) and France ($35.3 million).

Truck imports from all other countries increased by 37.7% to $113.1 million.

At the same time, according to statistics, over the first three months, Ukraine exported trucks worth only $0.54 million, mainly to Turkey, while a year earlier, exports amounted to $2.5 million, primarily to Romania.
A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A sign posted on a stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media A stranded sailboat photographed during low tide off of Long Wharf Park in New Haven Harbor on April 8, 2026. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW HAVEN  A sailboat that's been stuck on a sandbar off Long Wharf in New Haven for some time belongs to a Massachusetts man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing two young girls in Waterbury as a nurse and then failed to show up for court, according to records.

The double-masted sailboat remained run aground in New Haven Harbor as of around noon Wednesday. A notice addressed to "Mr. Greaves" served notice that if the vessel was not moved it would be considered abandoned.

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Court records show Lynden Greaves was charged with first-degree failure to appear on March 16. He has pleaded guilty to illegal sexual contact in the case involving the two juvenile victims.

New Haven Harbor Master John Paul Izzo said Greaves was living on the boat.

In an interview Wednesday, Izzo said he encountered Greaves aboard the stranded sailboat after it showed up on the morning of March 23.

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Izzo said he walked out to the boat at low tide and knocked on the side to see if anyone was inside, and Greaves popped out from one of the hatches.

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He said Greaves told him he had been asleep when the anchor drifted, leaving the boat on shore.

The harbor master said he "interviewed" Greaves, checking if he was in distress, if anyone else was on the boat and where he was going.

"He had said that his plans were to go to New York first, and then from New York he was going to be going south," Izzo said.

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"He didn't seem agitated at all. Actually, he seemed friendly," the harbor master said, asked about Greaves demeanor when he encountered him. All of the information Greaves provided him turned out to be legitimate, he noted.

Izzo said he believed Greaves was in New Haven Harbor all winter, storing the boat on the Quinnipiac River. He said the boat was initially tied up at the city moorings before he approached and directed him to move on.

He said Greaves was living on the vessel during that time, noting the sailboat had propane gas, a generator and pressure washer.

Izzo said Greaves indicated he headed for Florida and then to the area of the Bahamas.

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Waterbury police Sgt. Joseph Morais said Greaves was served with the warrant for his rearrest on April 1. He appeared in court the following day and is being held on a $3 million bond.

A photo posted to Facebook on April 1 by On Scene Media New Haven County showed a person who appeared to be Greaves being apprehended by an armed man.

New Haven police were not involved in the arrest, according to New Haven police spokesperson Officer Christian Bruckhart. He said his understanding was that bail agents took Greaves into custody on an outstanding warrant from the Waterbury case.

Izzo said after Greaves' arrest he declared the sailboat abandoned and a hazard to navigation.

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"If we get an extreme high tide, even though the anchor is out, there's a possibility that it could be free floated and enter the channel," Izzo said.

He said the boat's position in low water presents an issue for getting it out because a vessel brought in to remove it could also bottom out. He said they attempted to remove the boat in late March, but it was unsuccessful.

An arrest warrant affidavit from August 2022 said the father of the two victims reported that Greaves, a licensed practical nurse, had touched the two victims inappropriately.

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Video showed Greaves sexually abusing one of the girls in her room, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The warrant said Greaves also put a liquid into the mouth of one of the girls while she was in bed.
Waterbury fire department battled a blaze at a home on Bennett Avenue in Waterbury Friday, April 7, 2026. The efforts were hampered by a lack of water pressure from a nearby hydrant. Jim Shannon/Hearst Connecticut Media

WATERBURY  City police will investigate the circumstances that led to a lack of water flow when firefighters were battling a house fire on Bennett Avenue, an official says.

In a release on Wednesday, Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said he directed multiple actions across city departments to investigate the incident and implement safeguards to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

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Pernerewski said he instructed Police Chief Fernando Spagnolo to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the insufficient water flow from hydrants at the scene of the fire.

"The investigation will examine what inspection and maintenance protocols should have been in place, what actions were taken, and how the citys practices compare with federal, state, and local requirements, as well as industry best practices among similarly sized municipalities in Connecticut," he said.

While that investigation is underway, Pernerewski said, Fire Chief Javier Lopez and Superintendent of Water Bradley Malay will work together to develop a written, city-wide action plan to immediately assess all fire hydrants. He said the plan will identify hydrants with insufficient water flow, outline steps to fix any issues and establish procedures to make sure firefighters are aware of hydrant performance across the city.

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Pernerewski said Lopez and Malay have also been tasked with making sure contingency plans are in place for areas where water flow may be limited. He said the goal is to ensure emergency response capabilities are effective under all conditions, adding the plan needs to be submitted within one week.

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"The situation demands swift and decisive action," he said. "Public safety is our highest priority. We are taking a hard look at our systems, holding ourselves accountable, and implementing the necessary measures to ensure our firefighters have the resources they need to respond effectively. We will learn from this and take every step required to make sure it does not happen again."

On Tuesday, Deputy Fire Chief Stephen Ayotte said the fire in the 100 block of Bennett Avenue was reported shortly after 12 a.m. He said the first hydrants that firefighters hooked up to for water lacked an adequate flow to fight the fire, which already was fiercely burning.

In a later press conference, Pernerewski said it took firefighters 20 minutes to find a fire hydrant  one located a street away on Fairfield Avenue with adequate water pressure to fight the fire. While nobody was injured in the fire, the house was a total loss.

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Pernerewski said the issue with the hydrants on Bennett Avenue were likely caused by a buildup of material in the 6-inch water main there. He said water came out of the hydrants, but not with enough pressure.
Ukrainian air defense eliminated 146 out of 176 Russian drones; however, 24 strike UAVs hit 12 locations, and downed debris fell at one site, the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported.

"According to preliminary data as of 08:00, air defense shot down or suppressed 146 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types across the north, south, and east of the country," the report says.

In total, on the night of April 8 (from 18:00 on April 7), Russia attacked with 176 strike UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types from Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk  Russia, and Chauda  temporarily occupied Crimea; about 120 of them were Shahed UAVs.

The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Meanwhile, 24 strike UAVs were recorded hitting 12 locations, and downed debris fell at one location.
The Belt and Road Initiative "should be viewed as a valuable tool" for other countries, particularly developing nations, to achieve their development goals, said a Kyrgyz scholar.

BISHKEK, April 4 (Xinhua) -- High-quality development within the Belt and Road Initiative is aimed at fostering a green, fair and open global economy, a Kyrgyz scholar has said.

"Currently, there are increasing calls for equal and fair access to international financial and trade instruments," Sheradil Baktygulov, director of the Kyrgyz Institute of World Politics, told Xinhua in an interview, depicting the initiative as particularly attractive for developing countries.

He added that it enables countries in the Global South to realize their potential and pursue more ambitious development goals more effectively.

High-quality Belt and Road cooperation means improving both the scale and quality of cooperation among participating countries, said the expert.

The initiative "should be viewed as a valuable tool" for other countries, particularly developing nations, to achieve their development goals, he said.

China's 15th Five-Year Plan clearly outlines the goals of expanding high-standard opening up and promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, which Baktygulov said are complementary.

The expert highlighted the role of China's five-year plans, describing them as a key component of the country's strategic development planning and a fitting example for other nations drafting their own development strategies.

"China's five-year plans allow the country to concentrate available resources to achieve rapid economic development," Baktygulov noted, adding that setting goals for a reasonable timeframe, such as five years, makes it possible to adjust development strategies and achieve objectives efficiently.

"Most importantly, they are not created merely to reach a certain level of economic development, but to promote the joint development of individuals and society, so that people become more prosperous and the country becomes stronger," he said.

"For many years, China has contributed approximately 30 percent of global GDP growth. This is a very serious and significant indicator," Baktygulov said.

Against the backdrop of rising unilateralism and protectionism, China's steady implementation of its development plans provides important clarity for global development, he said.
Photo: https://mfa.gov.ua/

Ukraine welcomes the agreement between US President Donald Trump and the Iranian regime to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and establish a ceasefire, as well as Pakistans mediation efforts, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.

"We welcome the agreement between President Trump and the Iranian regime to unblock the Hormuz strait and cease fire, as well as Pakistans mediation efforts. American decisiveness works. We believe it is time for sufficient decisiveness to force Moscow to cease fire and end its war against Ukraine," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister said.
NABU and SAPO have completed the pretrial investigation into the case of Batkivshchyna faction leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who is suspected of offering an improper benefit to Members of Parliament of Ukraine.

"The investigation established that in December 2025, despite the discovery by NABU and SAPO of facts regarding MPs receiving bribes, the suspect began negotiating with individual parliamentarians on a system of rewards for loyal voting. It concerned a permanent cooperation mechanism with payments in advance. The peoples representatives were to follow instructions regarding voting (for or against), abstaining, or non-participation," the NABU press service reports.

As reported, on January 14, NABU and SAPO notified Tymoshenko of suspicion of offering an improper benefit to Peoples Deputies of Ukraine. According to the investigation, after the discovery in December 2025 of facts regarding MPs receiving improper benefits for decisions on bills in parliament, the suspect initiated negotiations with individual MPs to introduce a systematic mechanism for providing improper benefits in exchange for loyal behavior during voting.

Tymoshenko herself rejects the accusations and has declared a political hit job against her.

On January 16, HACC set bail for Tymoshenko at UAH 33 million along with procedural obligations. Tymoshenko noted that she did not ask her party members to collect the UAH 33 million for her bail, but they did so to prevent her arrest.

On January 21, HACC did not freeze the funds in the accounts of the Batkivshchyna faction leader but seized property taken during the search and seized the property of Tymoshenkos husband. On January 23, bail was posted for Tymoshenko.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have welcomed the agreement between the US and Iran to unblock the Strait of Hormuz and establish a ceasefire.

"I welcome the two-week ceasefire that the US and Iran agreed upon overnight. We express our gratitude to Pakistan for its mediation. Our task now must be to reach an agreement on a final end to the war. In this regard, we are in close contact with our partners," Merz wrote on X.

Starmer also emphasized the importance of continuing work to maintain peace.

"I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached last night, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the entire world. Together with our partners, we must do everything possible to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a long-term agreement, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz," he said on X.
Republicans on the Louisiana Senate Governmental Affairs Committee April 8 killed a bill by New Orleans Democratic Sen. Royce Duplessis that would have created a statewide voting rights act, despite two hours of people speaking in support of it and nobody speaking in opposition.

Senate Bill 365 would have created a five-member voting rights commission made up of members of the Louisiana State Bar Association with at least five years of experience that havent held elected office in the last five years.

That commission would have to approve new or changed election policies or practices  such as voting hours or requirements  or changes in powers of elected officials in covered areas to ensure they won't lead to voter suppression or dilution before allowing them to take effect.

This is similar to what was happening at the federal level, a process known as preclearance, before the Supreme Court struck down that part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act in 2013.

In the four years since the ruling, Louisiana parishes closed 103 polling places and consolidated more than 300 precincts, which has had a disparate impact on Black voters, according to Duplessis.

This had a racially discriminatory impact, he said.

Duplessis brought the bill ahead of the Supreme Courts decision in Louisiana v. Callais, in which the conservative high court is expected to further gut the federal VRA. He said at least eight other states had passed their own voting rights acts to shore up access to the ballot before the Supreme Courts ruling.

"We dont have to sit back and wait, Duplessis said.

The bill would have cost the state approximately $773,000, according to the legislative fiscal office. However, Sen. Katrina Jackson-Andrews, a Monroe Democrat who testified in support of the bill, said she believed it would save the state money overall by avoiding some lawsuits.

The committee room was so packed, some people had to sit in overflow rooms. In addition to the many people who spoke in support of the bill  including from groups like the ACLU of Louisiana, the NAACP of Louisiana and Together Louisiana  another 138 filed green cards, and more than 70 sent emails signaling their support. Four filed red cards in opposition but did not speak.

Among those who spoke in favor was 10-year-old Kaitlyn Peoples, whose mother was charged in 2020 with electioneering during a march to the polls.

No family should have to be afraid just for trying to vote, she said.

Jacquelyn Germany, a Black woman, said the bill was one of the most important and powerful bills shed testified for. She recalled a story her grandfather told her of being forced to count jelly beans in a jar in order to vote during the Jim Crow era.

Checo Yancy, policy director of VOTE, said his grandparents faced difficulties voting, as did he when he was in the U.S. Air Force in the 60s.

I went to the military in 1962, and guess what? It was hard to vote then, even with my blue uniform on, he said. And here we are going through the same thing.

No Republicans on the committee spoke in opposition to the bill, but all voted against it, including Sens. Mike Fesi, Greg Miller, Mike Reese and Glen Womack.

Democratic Sens. Gary Carter, Sam Jenkins and Larry Selders voted for it.

Following that vote, Sen. Regina Barrow substituted her broader voting rights bill with one by her fellow Baton Rouge Democrat Rep. Terry Landry Jr. dealing with voting while incarcerated.

Currently, people who are incarcerated for a misdemeanor or are awaiting trial have the right to vote, but Louisiana law requires first-time voters to vote in person. There are some exceptions but not for incarceration, preventing those behind bars from casting their first ballot.

Landrys bill would have let those individuals cast mail-in ballots, but Republicans on the committee again killed it in another party line vote.
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Inventory of mosaic works exists only in Kyiv and 5 regions

Photo: Iegor Shumikhin

Only Lviv, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Ternopil, and Donetsk regions, as well as the city of Kyiv, are currently maintaining records of mosaic works, regional administrations told Interfax-Ukraine.

In December 2025, Deputy Minister of Culture for Digital Development Anastasiia Bondar noted that the initiative for preserving mosaics must come from local communities. According to her, the state is responsible for preserving what is on its balance sheet and entered into relevant registers.

In Kyiv, as of early March 2026, about 30 works of monumental art are on record, with two entered into the state register as monuments of local significance. Lviv regional authorities reported that as of mid-March, 226 such objects have been recorded, though the process is ongoing. In Vinnytsia, over 30 mosaics were included in the list of newly discovered objects in August 2025.

Zhytomyr regional authorities have begun summarizing information and requesting data from local communities, while Ternopil has recorded 32 mosaics so far. In Donetsk region, as of January 2022, 73 mosaic works were recorded on government-controlled territory. However, as of March 2026, 54 of these are located in temporarily occupied territories or active combat zones, and 19 are in areas under periodic shelling.

Most other regional administrationsincluding Khmelnytskyi, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Kirovohrad, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia, Kherson, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia, Cherkasy, Odesa, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Chernivtsi, Volyn, Luhansk, and Kyiv regionreported that separate records of mosaic works are not maintained.

Despite the lack of general records, several regions noted specific protected objects:

Sumy: The "Seven Birds  Seven Notes" panel (based on Viktor Zaretskys sketches) was added to the heritage list in September 2022.

Cherkasy: The "Bird" architectural-monumental object by Alla Horska and Viktor Zaretsky in Helmyaziv is under state protection.

Chernihiv: The "Worker and Female Worker" panel in the regional center has been on the state record since January 2021.

Volyn: Lutsk city authorities have completed the inventory of mosaics, identifying 12 addresses.

The Ministry of Culture informed the agency that the State Register of Immovable Monuments currently contains 34,168 monuments, including 453 monuments of monumental art. The Ministry is currently processing orders to add five mosaics in Kyiv and one in Lviv to the Register. Additionally, a draft resolution has been prepared to grant national significance status to the "Bird" object in Cherkasy region.

In 2025, a replica of Alla Horskas "Boryviter" mosaic, which was damaged by Russia in Mariupol, was created in Ukraine.

Text Iegor Shumikhin
An unusual late-night arrival at Exeter Airport has sparked curiosity after a direct flight from Oslo touched down on Tuesday evening.

The Scandinavian Airlines service, flight SK9105, is not part of Exeters regular scheduled routes but is understood to be part of a little-known weekly service linking Norway with Devon, bringing visitors directly into the South West without the need to travel via major UK hubs.

Operating typically on Tuesdays, the Oslo to Exeter route appears to be a pre-arranged charter-style service, most likely carrying organised tour groups rather than individual passengers.

Industry patterns suggest the flights are used by Scandinavian travel operators, with Devon and Cornwall proving increasingly popular for walking holidays, coastal breaks and nature tourism, particularly during the spring and summer months.

Exeter Airports location makes it an attractive entry point, allowing visitors to bypass larger airports such as Heathrow or Gatwick and head straight into the region.

While details of passengers on board are not publicly available, the regular timing and repeated use of the same flight number indicate a structured programme rather than a one-off charter or aircraft movement.

The arrival highlights the growing international appeal of the South West and suggests that demand from Nordic travellers remains strong.

With tourism playing a vital role in the local economy, such direct links  even if largely under the radar  could provide a quiet but valuable boost to Devons visitor numbers.
With temperatures expected to reach up to 25 degrees Celsius this week, Dogs Trust Ilfracombe have warned of the dangers the hot weather can pose to dogs.

The UKs largest dog welfare charity has reminded dog owners that although many understand the dangers of extreme heat, our four-legged friends can suffer from heatstroke in mild temperatures too.

Around 75 per cent of heatstroke cases in dogs are linked to exercise, and two-thirds occur after an everyday walk.

Charlie Dobson, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at Dogs Trust, said: The arrival of warmer weather is a welcome change, but it is important to remember that this weather can bring real dangers for our dogs.

The best thing we can do for our pets is avoid walking them during the hottest parts of the day, provide plenty of fresh water and shade, and always monitor them closely for early symptoms of heatstroke, even during indoor play when its warm outside.

If you notice your dog is overheating, cooling first aid before transporting them to the vet can be lifesaving.

As the sunshine returns to the UK, local beaches and scenic areas across North Devon, such as Woolacombe, Croyde, Saunton, and the Tarka Trail, are expected to fill up with dog owners. Long walks and beach days increase the risk of heatstroke in dogs, and owners are being urged to be mindful on days out.

Signs of heatstroke include heavy panting, changes in breathing pattern, lethargy, and drowsiness.

Dogs Trust advises owners to contact their local vet if they are concerned their dog may be experiencing heatstroke, and recommends cooling first, transport second' after noticing symptoms.

This includes stopping all physical activity, moving your dog to a cool, shaded area, and offering them drinking water.

For young, conscious, healthy dogs, immerse them in cold water if possible, keeping their heads above the water, and for older dogs with health conditions, spray them with room-temperature water, avoiding the face.
A former first deputy minister of agrarian policy and food (now deputy minister of economy, ecology, and agriculture) and a former deputy minister of economy will stand trial for corruption in food procurement during the war, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reports.

In a Telegram post on Wednesday, NABU noted that the top officials are accused of abuse totaling nearly UAH 64 million during the procurement of food products by JSC Ukrzaliznytsia to meet state needs under martial law.

According to NABU, at the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion, the first deputy minister of agrarian policy and food implemented two schemes through which pasta for humanitarian needs was purchased from selected foreign companies.

"Procurements were carried out through a series of intermediary companies, and the price increase reached almost 300%. At the same time, the official was aware of the real cost of the products and recognized the readiness of Ukrainian producers to supply them, yet deliberately ignored these facts," the report says.

In another scheme, according to NABU, the aforementioned top official was joined by the then-deputy minister of economy.

"He, in particular, concealed data regarding more favorable offers from other market participants, including Ukrainian producers," the Bureau specified.

As a result of two episodes of criminal activity, the state suffered losses in the amount of UAH 63.9 million.
In Wisconsin, voters will elect another state Supreme Court judge to fill a seat vacated by a retiring conservative. Liberals currently have a 4-3 advantage on the court, so ideological control of the court is not up for grabs this year. Compared to previous court elections, this one has flown relatively under the radar in attention and spending.
Looking at her publicity photo, youd be tempted to think that Patricia Reichman is the youngest-looking 59-year-old woman in the world. Weve featured our share of ladies of eternal youth on Oddity Central over the years, but Reichman definitely takes the cake. Only, in reality, she looks very different; some would say she is a totally different person.

Patricia Reichman, a councilwoman elected to represent a neighbourhood in Rotterdam, Netherlands, has been criticised for using generative AI to edit the official candidate photo that she personally provided to the point where she became unrecognisable. Despite the obvious difference, she insisted that she is the person in the photo.

The photo in the neighbourhood paper was of too low a resolution, so I ran it through an online tool to boost the pixel count, Reichman told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad. It really is my photo; that really is me. I look a bit different at the moment, but that is due to medication Im taking. That will be ending soon.

The Dutch councilwoman faced a lot of criticism after photos of her next to the one she obviously edited went viral online, but she continued claiming that she genuinely looks a lot younger than 59.

When Im out and about with my son, people often assume Im his girlfriend, she said. I hear it all the time, that I look remarkably young for my age.

Even Reichmans political party, Leefbaar Rotterdam, acknowledged that her photo was clearly digitally edited, and asked her to resign from her public office, but she refused. So it was left with no choice but to expel her.

When the information provided during the job interview proves not to correspond with reality, there is no basis of trust to continue working together, the Leefbaar Rotterdam statement reads. The photo has clearly been heavily edited with AI and is not a realistic representation.
Fire on the Hill, which has offices in London and New York, secures a public relations consultancy agreement with renewable energy developer JERA Nex. Fire on the Hill will provide media relations, PR and social content development and strategic communications activity for JERA Nex in the UK. The agencys scope of work will include proactive pitching, interview coordination and news distribution. Launched by JERA, Japans largest power generation company. JERA has a portfolio of onshore renewable assets including wind, solar, and battery storage assets in the Middle East, Asia, and North America. It is also a 50 percent shareholder in JERA Nex bp, JERAs joint venture with bp, focusing on offshore wind. Working with partners who understand our business makes all the difference in how we communicate our story, said JERA Nex communications manager Maryam Pasha. Fire on the Hill will help strengthen our communications in the UK, from media relations to strategic content.

TEAM LEWIS takes on AOR duties for PetScreening, which provides pet policy management software. TEAM LEWIS will deliver integrated PR and brand-first campaigns for the software's Short Term Rental services. The agencys scope of work will include elevating PetScreenings brand presence and demand generation. TEAM LEWIS has already delivered creative, media relations, thought leadership, and earned strategy to reinforce PetScreening's industry leadership. "We are excited to partner with TEAM LEWIS to amplify PetScreening's STR, Vacation Rental platform. Pet-friendly accommodations are among the most sought-after features for travelers, and this solution expands options for guests to find homes that welcome their pets while helping property managers protect their assets and benefit from pet-related revenue," said PetScreening SVP of marketing Kristine Champion.

Echo-Factory, a Pasadena, CA-based marketing agency specializing in healthcare and life sciences, is selected as AOR for Catalina Island Health, Santa Catalina Island's only medical facility. The agency will support Catalina Island Health with strategic marketing, brand positioning, digital advertising and patient acquisition programs designed to increase awareness of the organization's healthcare services and expand access to care for residents as well as visitors to the island. Catalina Island Health provides essential care through its primary care clinic, outpatient services and emergency department. It also owns the island's only fitness center, pharmacy and MedSpa. Echo-Factory's healthcare marketing expertise will help us increase awareness of our capabilities and continue improving access to care," said Catalina Island Health director of planned giving and community engagement Gail Fornasiere.
Photo: @V_Zelenskiy_official Telegram

Ukraine is ready to respond in kind if Russia stops its strikes, as a ceasefire could create the right prerequisites for agreements, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

"Ukraine has always called for a ceasefire in the war waged by Russia here in Europe against our state and people, and we support the silence in the Middle East and the Gulf, which opens the way for diplomatic work. Ukraine once again reiterates to Russia: we are ready to respond in kind if Russia stops its strikes. It is obvious to everyone that a ceasefire can create the right prerequisites for agreements," Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Wednesday.

He noted that various countries were involved in the negotiation process in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of the United States taking this diplomatic step.

"During these weeks, Ukraine has been helping to protect lives in the Middle East and the Gulf. Ukrainian expert military teams will continue to work in the region for the further development of security capabilities," the president added.

According to him, any threats to security and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf scale up challenges for the economy and the cost of living in every country.

"That is why security must be guaranteed, and the interests of every nation must be taken into account when determining post-war conditions. It is equally fundamental to protect the freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Decisiveness in this matter also has global significance," the head of state emphasized.

Zelenskyy remarked that active and coordinated actions by the international community are needed to achieve the right result. "There must be more security after the war, not less. Ukraine will continue to work constructively with all partners," he concluded.

As previously reported, US President Donald Trump announced that he agreed to suspend the bombing and attack on Iran for two weeks, provided there is a complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz by the Islamic Republic of Iran.
A call on the Government to immediately suspend the ban on the commercial sale of turf and allow retail and advertised sales to resume, at least for the duration of the ongoing energy crisis., by Independent TD for Offaly, Carol Nolan.

I am calling on the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Darragh OBrien, to lift the ban on turf sales. We are importing hundreds of tonnes of peat and briquettes into this country while banning the sale of our own natural resource. It was also a plainly idiotic thing to do, and it must be reversed, said Deputy Nolan.

I warned in 2022 that these rules would cause real hardship and anger in rural communities. At the time I described the proposed ban on the commercial sale of turf as a complete cave-in by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to a bizarre Green Party nanny-state agenda that was determined to infantilise rural Ireland.

Rural communities in Offaly and across the Midlands have relied on turf for generations. Indeed, it is not just fuel, it is part of our culture, our heritage and, for many households, the only affordable way to stay warm.

The current regulations which prohibit advertising and retail sales while allowing only limited gifting or private arrangements for those with turbary rights have created confusion, anger and genuine hardship.

The Governments own policy has left us in the absurd position of importing fuel while criminalising the sale of our own. Enough is enough. I am demanding that the ban on turf sales be suspended immediately so that retail and advertised sales can resume, concluded Deputy Nolan.

READ NEXT: Offaly man plays leading role in fuel protest in Dublin's O'Connell St

READ NEXT: Lucky Catherine wins new car in Tullamore Credit Union monthly draw
With the two-week giving-peace-a-chance ceasefire between Iran-USA-Israel quagmire of a conflict, the disruption has already set in the world energy bazaars with the six weeks of war.

Oil price volatility due to the Hormuz Strait closure which routes 20% of world fuel is being experienced and effecting the common man in Offaly Co. as was also seen in the very recent strike by farmers and the lot jamming traffic on Ms, Ns and Rs in Ireland.

Glimpse in the Barrel

More than 120 USD peaks were seen in the start of the conflict for Brent-Crude which at present is dealing between 107 to 111 USD. Disrupted Supply Chains from the Middle East is the reason plotted by subject matter experts for the 50 to 80 % rise in costs where it was at pre-war numbers of 60 to 70 USD.

Daily Home-keeping Budgeting

The pinch is being experienced by the Tullamore families, may it be for school pick-and-drops or grocery runs due to risen and further mounting fuel costs. A 20 to 40 cent per litre increase has been reported by stations and witnessed by consumers since late February. This is an unprecedented leapfrog not seen in the recent past.

Domestic Energy bills are no exception. At the wee end of the heating season, this is adding woes to electricity and home heating users forcing it to an above than normal cost; all because of the internationally higher gas & oil charges. Offaly supermarkets are constrained to push prices up due to inflated national & international freight costs as well as energy prices. International indices related to food was the major driver for this in March 2026.

READ NEXT: Tullamore by-pass remains blocked on second day of fuel protest

Farming-Agriculture

Higher natural gas costs  accounting for about 60% of compost production prices  as well as sea-lanes of communication disruptions are pushing Nitrogen fertiliser costs by about the same number of 60% in the last few weeks. Beef is not immune to these price trends and are incurring higher input costs for Offaly farmers getting ready for spring-work forcing a reduced profit margin. Excessive stress is being borne due to higher fuel costs for transport as well as machinery.

Transport-Delivery

Gasoline related costs are resulting into 1000s of Euros extra in a day for country-wide operators and local Tullamore operators are ranging it in 100s per week rise in diesel cost. National and international supply chains are fed with this higher price-per-trip, increasing freight and goods transportation costs.

Engineering-Manufacturing-Food Processing

Profit margins are being squashed for the local Offaly SMEs via higher-than-normal haulier & fuel costs in manufacturing, agri as well as food businesses. Risks growth due to increased insecurities in the shipping lanes as well as global freight have shot-up the insurance premiums.

Strength - Green Energy

Ongoing development or operational renewable  solar, wind, battery storage  energy projects amounting to 1.5GW are located here. Offalys part as per the in-vogue Irelands Climate Action Plan is on-road to provide 11% of Battery Storage, 12% of Solar Capacity and not to mention 11% of National Onshore Wind Targets by 2030. At the Tullamore Court Hotel during the Green Energy Conference, Offaly was the No. 4 ranked wind-generating regions in Ireland.

Strategic Benefits in the Long Run

Looking forward, lessened dependence on imported fossil fuels and more financial investment in local renewables will bear fruit for generations to come. Midlands businesses, not to mention, households stand at a benefit with the renewed materialised intention in green-sector with new jobs, attracting energy-intensive industries as well as bolstering energy security.

READ NEXT: 'Reverse the nanny-state ban'  Call in Offaly to reverse the ban on the commercial sale of turf

Takeaways for Offaly and Tullamore

The thought of a conflict in the middle-east, thousands of miles away, will not affect the common-man in Tullamore Co. Offaly, needs serious reconsideration. Increased risks & liabilities for local SMEs, reduced profit margins for transporters & agri-industry and families experiencing higher weekly bills is the now and here to stay. Lets plan for the best, prepare for the worst. The future of Tullamore and Offaly is GREEN!

Note on author: Fahad ibne Masood, MRAeS, is a ex-fighter-pilot with 26 years of diverse aviation experience. Now living in Tullamore, he is faculty at Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) in the Aviation Technology Programme, Exam Manager Part-66 and researching in Unmanned, Advanced Air Mobility, AI & Quantum Computing.

He is a published author on International Security matters of Strategy, Doctrine, Airpower to mention a few in publishing houses like Defence News, Flight International, Aerospace, AirForces Monthly, Combat Aircraft Journal etc. Being a regular analyst on Televised, Print and Social media channels, he is known to his friends as Sunny.

He and his family enjoy living in Tullamore and he commutes by train to the capital during the working week.
An Offaly man is at the centre of a revolutionary cooling bracelet to help women manage the debilitating hot flushes of menopause.

The MyCelsius bracelet, worn like a wrist watch entered the Irish market on Tuesday, April 7 and has been co-developed by engineer and Tullamore native, Aonghus ODonovan.

The bracelet works by cooling users wrists by 10C in under 10 seconds and is designed to dramatically reduce the discomfort of hot flushes.

Co-founders ODonovan, 33, and Maxime Kryvian 37, the CEO of the start-up cooling tech company, say it has an 80% efficacy rate for women experiencing one of the most uncomfortable perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

They stated: "The wrist is one of the most thermally sensitive parts of your body and applying cold to it sends a signal to the hypothalamus (the bodys thermostat), to stop the sweating and flushing associated with a hot flush.

The duo continued: "It uses advanced thermo-electric cooling to create a soothing, cold sensation directly onto the wrist. By lowering local skin temperature, it helps the full body feel cooler in moments of sudden heat."

READ NEXT: Lucky Catherine wins new car in Tullamore Credit Union monthly draw

The bracelet can also work to counteract uncomfortable heat caused by hormonal changes or stress and anxiety.

Women sometimes describe a hot flush as an intense heat, originating in the torso and moving upwards into the neck and chest.

It may be accompanied by flushing of the skin and sweating, as well as palpitations and feelings of anxiety and can happen several times a day.

Research in recent years has shown that almost four in ten women in Ireland have considered quitting their jobs due to menopause symptoms.

Three years research has been invested into the non-medical device, which ODonovan says has a cooling system five times more powerful than competitor products.

Based in Bristol, England, ODonovan studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Limerick (UL), which included a year in New York designing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems for skyscrapers.

He went on to work at Dyson before moving into Formula 1 and Aerospace engineering and has since applied design and thermodynamics principles to womens health working closely with hundreds of women to develop MyCelsius.

The bracelet has five different modes, including a night-time setting to prevent heat-induced sleep disruption.

The company worked with a community of women that have been integral to shaping the products look, feel and functionality.
A significant investment of 5-million was approved by Minister James Browne on Tuesday for a major upgrade of the Fire Station headquarters in Roscrea and Borrisokane, strengthening essential frontline services for the towns and surrounding areas.

Fianna Fail TD for North Tipperary and Northwest Kilkenny, Deputy Ryan OMeara, welcomed the funding highlighting the importance of the project for the community.

I am delighted to have major news for Roscrea today, with 2 million being signed off by Cabinet for a major upgrade of the Fire Station headquarters in Roscrea town, he said.

A major investment of 3 million has been approved by government for the development of a new fire station headquarters in Borrisokane, delivering a significant enhancement to emergency services in the town and surrounding areas.

Minister James Browne, Minister for Local Government, brought the memo to Cabinet and it has been agreed that 5-million will be invested in essential frontline services in North Tipperary.

READ NEXT: Roscrea racecar driver excels in a very different type of race in Italy!

In late February, I welcomed Minister Browne to Roscrea, and he visited a number of housing developments. I am very grateful to the Minister for all of his work and for backing Roscrea today, Deputy OMeara said.

As part of this, it has been confirmed that Nenagh will also be receiving upgraded Compartment Fire Behaviour training facilities.

In conclusion, Deputy OMeara noted his support for Tipperary County Councils campaign to recruit new firefighters for Newport Fire Station.

I support the campaign that Tipperary County Council is currently running to recruit new firefighters for Newport Fire Station.

"It is a priority for me, as a local representative that Newport retains its fire station, Deputy OMeara said.
The Annual North Tipperary Ogra Fianna Fail Easter Rising Commemoration took place on Easter Sunday at the Town Hall in Templemore and was addressed by former Tipperary Fianna Fail Minister, Maire Hoctor.

Rachel Regan once again acted as M.C. and she began by stating that the vision and sacrifices of the men and women of 1916 laid the foundations for the Ireland of today.

In the years that followed, Fianna Fail emerged as the central force shaping that vision into reality, she said.

Conor Burke read the Proclamation of Independence and Councillor J.P. OMeara laid a wreath in memory of all those who took part in the Rising. This was followed by the oration by former Minister Maire Hoctor.

In a wide ranging speech she spoke about the leaders of the Rising in detail, she referred to John Dunne of Barrack Street Templemore who was the only person from the district who took part in the Rising and was a member of the GPO Garrison. She spoke about the centenary of the foundation of Fianna Fail, The Republican Party which took place in early 1926.

READ NEXT: Roscrea racecar driver excels in a very different type of race in Italy!

She referred to a speech made by Countess Markieviez in Thurles in 1927 speaking about the new Fianna Fail policies including building houses, education and old age pensions, policies which Fianna Fail delivered on when in power, the former Minister said.

Tom Stamp recited Island Today by the late local poet Marian Quinlan Curtin and Denis OConnell brought proceedings to an end by leading the attendance in singing the National Anthem.
Firefighters faced significant delays in responding to emergencies due to disruption caused by a fuel protest in Dublin city centre.

Dublin Fire Brigade (DFB) has appealed to the protesters, who are on their second day of a protest over rising fuel prices across Ireland, to allow emergency vehicles to pass through streets both before and after attending an emergency.

Irish police have said there is significant disruption across the country, as they appealed to protesters to work with them in order to facilitate emergencies.

It comes after the leaders of Irelands coalition government called the protests wrong and said they were not in the national interest.

Dublin Fire Brigade are appealing to all involved in the fuel protests in Dublin City Centre to ensure the free passage of all emergency vehicles, both on blue lights heading to an emergency and also returning to base to serve their operational area, DFB said in a statement.

Earlier this morning Dublin Fire Brigade experienced significant delays in their response to emergencies, particularly mobilising from Townsend Street HQ.

Alternative mobilisation routes are being employed, with the use of empty Luas lines etc.

The situation has eased somewhat, due to the excellent cooperation with An Garda Siochana, liaising with protesters and clearing routes for our vehicles.

We continue to work with the other emergency services to ensure operational readiness and emergency access, and we ask all involved to be extra vigilant and compliant when they hear emergency sirens approaching.

Do not wait until the emergency vehicles reach the blockades, please allow the other blocked traffic through in advance, so the route is clear for our vehicles to approach.

An Garda Siochana released a statement to say it was engaging with the protesters, and while the demonstrations were peaceful, it has received reports of emergency workers being delayed or not being able to travel to their work, and of people not being able to attend hospital appointments.

Key public transport routes are also delayed or not operating, which means that employees and businesses are heavily impacted, the statement said.

A small number of fuel depots are also being blocked.

While An Garda Siochana respects and facilitates the right to peaceful protest, An Garda Siochana must also balance and protect the rights of individuals to travel freely and commercial organisations to conduct business.

An Garda Siochana has asked and asks again for protesters to engage with Gardai locally to facilitate public transport and other traffic.

An Garda Siochana has also received reports of the blocking of diversion routes put in place to facilitate travel around protests.

Again, An Garda Siochana is requesting that protesters engage with Gardai locally to facilitate important diversion and emergency routes.

Speaking on RTEs Drivetime, Dublin Bus spokesman Blake Boland said services were facing absolutely massive disruption.

He said pretty much every route had been affected.

Dublin Bus carries just over half a million passengers a day, Mr Boland said, but he added that was massively reduced on Wednesday.
The Tullamore by-pass remains blocked as the fuel protest continue in Offaly for the second day on Wednesday.

It was announced this morning that a athird day of protest over fuel prices will take place on Thursday.

The 'People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices Protest' group has said on its social media page that it has already notified Gardai of Thursday's nationwide action.

The protest will continue tomorrow at locations including Tullamore, Athlone, Portlaoise and Portunma.

Organisers says the protest action will continue until the Government "listen to the people of Ireland."

READ NEXT: Offaly man plays leading role in fuel protest in Dublin's O'Connell St

Meanwhile Midlands-North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has called on the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris to immediately invite representatives of protesting farmers, contractors and hauliers into Government Buildings today to address their concerns. Mullooly said the failure to engage has fuelled anger on the ground, with tractors once again taking to the roads across Ireland as businesses struggle to survive rising fuel costs.

Mullooly warned that despite recent easing in global tensions, energy disruption is set to continue in the short and medium term. This crisis is far from over. Prices will remain volatile and unpredictable, and the pressure on farmers, contractors and families will continue, he said. That is why action must be taken now - both in Dublin and in Brussels - before the situation worsens further.

People have reached breaking point, Mullooly said. These are viable businesses who simply want to be heard. The Government must bring them in today, sit down with them, and start delivering real solutions.

Mullooly also raised serious concern about the sharp rise in kerosene prices, warning that low-income households are being left behind. Many people, particularly older people, rely on home heating oil and cannot afford to upgrade their systems, he said. They are trapped between a rock and a hard place. We need targeted supports now to protect those most exposed to this crisis.

The MEP confirmed he is meeting with representatives of the European Commission and fellow MEPs in Brussels today to press for urgent action at EU level. He reiterated his five-point plan, including temporary State Aid flexibility, VAT and excise reductions, early CAP payments, activation of the EU Agricultural Crisis Reserve, and a recovery-style support mechanism, saying all options must now be pursued without delay.

READ NEXT: Lucky Catherine wins new car in Tullamore Credit Union monthly draw
Photo: MFA of Ukraine

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Heorhiy Tykhyi confirmed that the invitation for the US delegation, led by US Special Representative Steve Witkoff and Presidential Advisor Jared Kushner, to visit Kyiv for discussions on strengthening the security guarantees document remains active.

As reported by an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, the spokesperson made this statement during a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"Regarding the American guests: the invitation is in force, and we will be happy to welcome them when they are ready. As of now, work is ongoing between the Ukrainian and American teams to strengthen the document on security guarantees," he noted.

The spokesperson emphasized that "a certain new window of opportunity has opened to make this document stronger," particularly in light of developments in the Middle East and the role Ukraine has demonstrated there.

"This work has been ongoing since the week before last. It is primarily led by Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov, Commander-in-Chief of the AFU Oleksandr Syrsky, Chief of the General Staff Andriy Hnatov, and Deputy Head of the Office of the President Sergiy Kyslytsya. They are working on strengthening this document," Tykhyi explained.

He also noted that the American side is currently heavily occupied with Iran and the Middle East, "but work on the document is linked to the visit of American representatives to Ukraine and subsequent team collaboration."

He emphasized that the negotiating teams remain in contact.

"When there is progress regarding the document, I think we will then see more precise plans regarding contacts between the teams. Our invitation, I repeat, remains in force, and we will be glad to see the Americans in Kyiv for discussions," the MFA stressed.

Earlier, Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov reported that the US delegation, led by presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Donald Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner, could visit Kyiv after April 12.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on April 6 that the Ukrainian side is working very substantively with the USA regarding security guarantee documents and is preparing its proposals to strengthen the agreement. He emphasized that Ukraine is in contact with the American side at various levels practically every day to ensure a result.
Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) April 3, 2026: For all practical purposes, the conservative author Christopher Caldwell is writing about our contemporary secondary oral culture in his 2020 book The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties (Simon & Schuster; I am using here the 2021 paperback edition which has addition pages in the front matter).

I do want to comment here on Caldwell's main title. The expression The Age of Entitlement does not strike me as necessarily pejorative. But Caldwell clearly intends for it to be understood as a pejorative term. However, as a non-pejorative term, The age of Entitlement could be seen as an apt way to refer to the still emerging successor of the Age of Enlightenment - which emerged historically in the print culture in our western cultural history that emerged in Europe after the Gutenberg printing press emerged in the mid-1450s.

Now, by 1960, the communications media that accentuate sound had reached a critical mass in American culture with the prevalence of television sets in American homes. However, Caldwell does not mention Ong's fourfold media ecology account of Western cultural history. At first blush, Caldwell's oversight in not mentioning Ong's fourfold media ecology account of our western cultural history seems inconsequential. However, Caldwell dwells on the U.S. Constitution, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, on American culture in the sixties and subsequent decades.

But the U.S. Constitution emerged historically in print culture (in Ong's terminology) in our Western cultural history after the Gutenberg printing press emerged in Europe in the mid-1450s. (For specific page references to Caldwell's discussion of the U.S. Constitution, see the entry Constitution of the United States in Caldwell's "Index" [p. 330]).

By contrast, American culture in the sixties and subsequent decades emerged historically in our contemporary secondary oral culture (in Ong's terminology).

Now, I have decided to examine how an American conservative himself views American conservatism over the last half century or so by examining the conservative American journalist Christopher Caldwaell's book The Age of Entitlement: America Since the Sixties (2020).

Now, Caldwell's subtitle of his 2020 book calls to mind the subtitle of Doris Kearns Godwin's 2024 book An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s (Simon & Schuster).

I have written about Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2024 book in my OEN article "Thomas J. Farrell's Personal History of the 1960s" (dated April 16, 2024; viewed 1,110 times as of April 2, 2026).

In Caldwell's Chapter 8: "Losers" (p. 258), Caldwell discusses Harvey C. Mansfield's book Manliness (Yale University Press, 2006), but Mansfield's 2006 book is not listed in Caldwell's "Bibliography."

I have written about Mansfield's 2006 book Manliness in my OEN article "Harvey C. Mansfield, Jr., and Walter J. Ong, S.J., on Male Agonism" (dated January 14, 2024; viewed 1,209 times as of April 2, 2026).

Now, the most efficient way for me to provide you with an overview of Caldwell's 2020 book The Age of Entitlement is to tell you the contents of the 2021 paperback edition:

Title page (p. v)

Copyright page (p. vi)

Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

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According to verified sources Al Jazeera, New York Times, CNN, Reuters, AP and other reputable international news agencies, today, April 1, 2026, the Iran-Israel-US war has entered its fifth week and military operations remain intense, while contradictions in statements and a standstill in diplomatic efforts have further complicated the situation.

This evening, Iran launched a large-scale missile attack on central Israel, including Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak, in which about 10 ballistic missiles were fired. Several places, including a coffee shop, were hit and at least 14 people were injured in the attack, including an 11-year-old girl. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards and the Houthis claimed additional missile attacks on Israel in coordination with Iran and Hezbollah.

On the other hand, Israel carried out more than 400 airstrikes on several cities in Iran, including Tehran, targeting weapons production sites, ballistic missile factories and infrastructure. The United States also intensified attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and steel mills and used B-52 bombers, while more than 50 people, including a Hezbollah commander, were killed in Israeli attacks in Lebanon.

Speaking of statements, US President Donald Trump claimed on Truth Social today that Iran's new regime president has requested a ceasefire from the United States and he made it clear that a ceasefire will not be considered until the Strait of Hormuz is open, free and clear, but Iran will be pushed back to the Stone Age. Trump also said that the United States will withdraw from the Iran operation in two to three weeks and will make an important address to the nation tonight, while he called NATO a paper.

Iranian officials openly ridiculed Trump's claim, and the Foreign Minister and other officials called it false and baseless, making it clear that Iran is not asking for a ceasefire, but rather a complete end to the war, which includes guarantees to prevent recurrence of aggression, compensation, and Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials said that Iran is fully prepared to continue fighting until the threat of future aggression is eliminated.

The diplomatic efforts are currently stalled. The United States had presented a 15-point plan through Pakistan, which includes sanctions on Iran's nuclear program, missile limits, and opening the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran gave a 5-point counterproposal. China and Pakistan have presented a joint 5-point peace plan, but due to lack of trust between the two sides, no concrete progress has been made. Iran has welcomed Russia as a mediator, but direct talks with the United States and Israel are not taking place. Trump has said that the war can be ended even without a deal. It can be done, but Iran has rejected it.

The chances of ending the war currently seem limited because military attacks are ongoing, there is confusion at the diplomatic level, and the global economy is being severely affected by oil prices and the supply chain. A deeper analysis of today's situation is that it is clear from the contradictions in military intensity and statements that the war is still in its acute phase. The United States intends to withdraw in two to three weeks, but due to Iran's strong resistance, the condition of guarantees, and the actions of regional allies, the chances of ending it are less than 50 percent.

Both sides are busy trying to weaken each other, but due to global pressure, economic damage, and threats to oil supplies, the path to negotiations may have to be kept open. Otherwise, this long war will further increase regional instability. And the diplomatic efforts of countries like Pakistan are playing an important role. But for success, it is necessary to restore trust between the parties, which does not exist at present.

Therefore, today has been a mirror of the contradictions in military intensity statements and diplomatic confusion. If the talks on guarantees move forward in the future, the situation may change in two to three weeks, otherwise the disaster may spread further. This comprehensive report and analysis is based only on today's verified sources and does not include any speculation or rumors.
Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun renewed on Sunday his call for negotiations with Israel, warning against the risk of southern Lebanon becoming "another Gaza," as Israeli airstrikes and ground operations continue to intensify across the region.

In a televised address, Aoun stated, "It is true that Israel may seek to turn southern Lebanon into Gaza, but it is our duty not to drag it into that outcome."

Responding to critics of his diplomatic approach, he added, "Some ask what diplomacy achieves. I ask: what have we gained from war?" He highlighted the mounting human toll, noting more than 1,400 and 4,000 injured since the escalation began in the tiny country of 3 million.

Drawing comparisons to Gaza, Aoun said, "Gaza has been devastated, with more than 70,000 casualties, and then they sat down to negotiate. Why should we not sit at the negotiating table and stop the tragedy?" He stressed the importance of ongoing diplomatic efforts to "save what remains of homes not yet destroyed."

Intensifying Military Developments

On the ground, the Israeli military issued an urgent evacuation warning on Saturday evening for civilians near the Masnaa border crossing between Lebanon and Syria, as well as travelers along the M30 road, signaling imminent strikes. Israeli operations have continued across multiple regions in Lebanon.

Lebanon's Disaster Risk Management Unit reported that 675 shelters are currently operational, hosting approximately 137,522 displaced individuals across 35,997 families. Since the conflict escalated in early March, more than 5,463 hostile incidents have been recorded.

Daily casualty figures indicate 54 deaths and 156 injuries in the most recent reporting period, bringing the cumulative total to 1,422 and 4,294 injured, underscoring the growing humanitarian crisis.

Hezbollah and Regional Escalation

Hezbollah announced on Sunday that it had targeted an Israeli naval vessel off the Lebanese coast using a maritime cruise missile, claiming a direct hit following hours of surveillance. The group described the attack as retaliation for Israeli strikes on Lebanese towns and infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam reaffirmed the government's commitment to avoiding further devastation, emphasizing that decisions regarding war and military operations remain solely under state authority. He noted intensified diplomatic efforts to secure Arab and international support to halt the conflict.

Salam warned that Israeli actions and rhetoric suggest a broader strategy aimed at expanding occupation through buffer zones and security belts inside Lebanese territory. "Lebanon must not become a battleground for others' wars," he stated, calling for increased support for displaced populations and host communities.

Israeli Strategy and Shifting Objectives

Israeli media reports indicate that the military is considering establishing a buffer zone extending 2-3 kilometers into southern Lebanon, similar to the so-called "yellow line" in Gaza. This plan could include preventing displaced residents from returning to border villages under any future settlement.

According to reports, Israeli military objectives have evolved. While earlier statements from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized dismantling Hezbollah as a central goal, more recent assessments suggest that fully disarming the group would require a complete occupation of Lebanon-- an objective now seen as impractical.

Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated threats to expand operations, including the demolition of homes in border villages, drawing comparisons to Israeli actions in Rafah and Khan Younis in Gaza.

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Photo: https://t.me/Ukraine_MFA

Ukraine and China are working to coordinate the timing of Foreign Minister Andriy Sybihas visit to China, announced Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi.

As reported by an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, the spokesperson made the statement at a briefing in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"Currently, the parties are working to coordinate the dates for the visit of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister to China. In our view, this visit, when it takes place, should become an important element in maintaining the Ukrainian-Chinese dialogue," Tykhyi said.

As noted by the MFA, the agenda for this visit would include the issue of more active Chinese involvement in international efforts to stop Russias military aggression against Ukraine, as well as the intensification of practical cooperation between the countries in trade, economic, and humanitarian spheres, among others.

"However, more details and the announcement of specific dates will be communicated later," the spokesperson added.

As previously reported, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in February.

"In Munich, I had a substantive and productive meeting with Wang Yi I also invited Minister Wang Yi to visit Ukraine and thanked him for the invitation to visit China," the head of the Ukrainian foreign policy department wrote on social network X following the negotiations.

The Ukrainian MFA spokesperson confirmed that the foreign ministers of Ukraine and the PRC exchanged invitations to conduct visits, and dates will be coordinated.
Photo credit: FOX News.

Massive Fire Rips Through Kimberly-Clark Warehouse in Ontario, California

April 7, 2026 - FOX 11 news reported that a massive six-alarm blaze tore through Kimberly-Clark's warehouse in southern Ontario, California early Tuesday and authorities said an employee is in custody.

About 20 employees were inside the warehouse when the fire broke out, but all escaped without injury, according to FOX 11.

Crews responded around 12:30 a.m. to the roughly 1.2 million-square-foot facility where flames were already tearing through the roof when first responders arrived. San Bernardino County Fire said the Ontario Fire Department was battling a six-alarm warehouse fire involving paper products, with assistance from multiple neighboring agencies.

The warehouse contained paper products such as tissues and other consumer goods, helping the fire spread rapidly, FOX 11 reported.

Fire officials said the incident is being investigated as an arson case and that one suspect is in custody, the outlet reported.

SOURCE: FOX News outlets
Photo: MFA of Ukraine

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Heorhiy Tykhyi has reported that work has already begun on opening the Ukrainian Embassy in Syria.

As reported by an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent, during a briefing in Kyiv, the spokesperson recalled the agreement to restore the operation of the embassies of Ukraine and Syria in Damascus and Kyiv, respectively.

"Moreover, I can inform you that upon our request in accordance with Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, in January 2026, we received consent from the Syrian side to commence the activities of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Syrian Arab Republic," Tykhyi said.

He noted that an MFA order has already been issued, approving an action plan for organizing the embassys activities.

"The implementation of this order has already begun; work is ongoing on the staffing table for this diplomatic mission, and a search for premises is underway. Furthermore, during the presidents current visit, the Syrian side signaled its readiness to launch the operation of the Syrian Embassy in Kyiv in the near future," the spokesperson stated.

In his view, the opening of mutual diplomatic missions will mark a new stage in the development of relations with Syria.

On April 5, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in the Syrian capital, Damascus, for the first time since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime.

He noted that during a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, he discussed topics related to security and defense issues, the situation in the Middle East, as well as energy and infrastructure cooperation between the countries.

Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, after meeting with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on Sunday, April 5, announced that the embassies of both countries would be reopened in Kyiv and Damascus.
US Vice President James David Vance believes that during the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, the positions of the parties have converged significantly, and currently, the talks have moved to "haggling over a few square kilometers of territory in one direction or another."

"We have made significant progress. I mean, if you go back to where we were in the beginning where we couldnt even get the Russians or the Ukrainians to put on paper, what is it that you want in order to settle the conflict? Weve now gotten that. And weve got pieces of paper from the Ukrainians and pieces of paper from the Russians. Weve actually got them to state their positions. And over time, their positions have gotten closer and closer together. Now, obviously, theyre not perfectly aligned because if they were, the conflict would be over," he stated, speaking at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest.

Vance noted that the views of the parties do not yet fully coincide, but he views the continuation of the negotiations optimistically.

"What I would say to both the Russians and the Ukrainians is, you know, were talking about haggling at this point over a few square kilometers of territory in one direction or another. Is that worth losing hundreds of thousands of additional Russian and Ukrainian young men? Is that worth an additional months or even years of higher energy prices and economic devastation? We think the answer is clearly no. But it takes, you know, two to tango. So, while Victor and President Trump are going to continue to work towards a peaceful settlement, fundamentally, we can only open the door. The Russians and the Ukrainians have to walk through it," the Vice President remarked.

Vance stated that the US is disappointed with the political leadership of Europe, as Washington does not see interest from them in settling this specific conflict. At the same time, he highly praised the assistance of leaders such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, also noting that some European leaders have helped in the settlement "behind the scenes."
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low near 60F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%.
Recently, the SIAL International Food Expo held a media roundtable in Hefei, Anhui, themed From Industrial Strength to Market Advantage. The event attracted representatives from dozens of industry organizations  including the Hefei Catering and Culinary Association, Anhui Liquor Circulation Association, Anhui Green Food Association, and Anhui Catering Industry Association  as well as mainstream media. Participants jointly analyzed Anhuis solid food and beverage industry foundation and current challenges, and engaged in indepth discussions on how to use the SIAL International Food Expo as an international trade platform to break through with brands and expand markets. The Jianghuai region is rich in natural resources and has a deep foodindustry heritage, with an industry scale exceeding RMB 300 billion and more than ten thousand related enterprises. Anhui is not only a major national grain producer, but also holds leading positions in several niche sectors: the nut and roastedseed snack industry are in the leading position in the country; the baijiu (white liquor) sector has a profound tradition with renowned brands such as Gujinggong and Kouzi Distillery; beverage manufacturing and OEM capabilities are strong, producing several national brands; and the catering chain sector has produced leading enterprises like Laoxiangji (Home Original Chicken) and Babi Foods  making Anhui strength a significant presence in the national catering market. In addition, leveraging traditional Chinese medicine resources in places like Bozhou, Anhui shows huge development potential in emerging tracks such as medicinalfood health products and prepared dishes. With 62 years of global history and 26 years of presence in the Chinese market, the SIAL International Food Expo has become a trusted global trade efficiency engine for the food and beverage industry. Participating in SIAL effectively puts exhibitors on a expressway to nationwide exposure and global connections. For professional buyers, the SIAL International Food Expo is an irreplaceable treasury for product selection. Over the threeday exhibition, buyers can efficiently screen thousands of highquality global suppliers and discover numerous differentiated products like Anhuis green foods, thereby optimizing supply chains and building competitive barriers. Concurrent events such as the SIAL World Food Industry Summit and the SIAL Innovation Competition also help buyers keenly capture the latest global product trends and consumer directions. Against the backdrop of channel transformation, Anhuis food and beverage industry stands at a critical historical juncture in its shift from a major production province to a strong branding province. From May 18 to 20 this year, SIAL Shanghai will be grandly held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre; and from September 3 to 5, SIAL Guangzhou will follow. Anhui food producers, catering brands, channel partners, industry experts and media friends are invited to attend these flagship industry events to convert Anhuis food and beverage advantages into tangible market wins, let global consumers experience Anhui flavors, and witness the rise of Anhui brands.

Source: anhuinews.com
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/taras.kachka

Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Taras Kachka states that Hungary was not opposed to providing Ukraine with benchmarks (criteria) for the last three negotiating clusters on accession to the European Union.

"On March 17, we were given the second set of benchmarks for sections [Clusters] 3, 4, and 5 Its very interesting that Hungarian Minister for European Affairs Janos Boka was present there on March 17  not even as a specialist  and he didnt say anything about them not supporting these benchmarks or anything like that. We believe he also joined in handing them over to us, although he spoke about other issues," Kachka told reporters on Wednesday, commenting on the laws passed by parliament this week.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the current political process is such that no one expects the formal opening of clusters, but everyone expects Ukraine to make progress in meeting benchmarks.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..

Tonight

Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko discussed the combat situation, supply, and needs of units with commander of the 1st Corps of the National Guard "Azov" Denys "Redis" Prokopenko, and also appointed new heads of the National Police and State Emergency Service in Donetsk region.

"Today I am working in Donetsk region. I introduced new heads of the regional directorates of the National Police and the State Emergency Service. Mykola Matviienko has been appointed to lead the Donetsk region police. Yakiv Nemykiv will head the regional SES directorate," the interior minister wrote on Telegram on Wednesday.

According to him, the newly appointed heads have served in Donetsk region for many years and are well acquainted with the regions challenges.

Among the key tasks for police and SES in Donetsk region, the minister cited public safety, rapid response to threats, preservation of personnel, and clear coordination with local authorities and components of the security and defense forces.

Klymenko said he held an operational meeting with commanders of combat units of the National Guard, State Border Guard Service, and police.

"The situation on the directions was reported by commander of the 1st Corps of the NGuard Azov Denys Redis Prokopenko. We discussed the combat situation, supply, and needs of the units," the minister stressed.

According to Klymenko, in March alone units of the 1st Corps of the NGuard "Azov" neutralized over 2,800 occupiers, shot down over 5,000 enemy drones, struck more than 90 artillery systems and over 400 units of enemy equipment.

In addition, the minister reported on a meeting with regional leadership and frontline communities. "Since the beginning of April, Russians have shelled Donetsk region more than 120 times: 19 people were killed, another 47 were wounded. Therefore, the main security challenges remain the protection of civilians and evacuation from dangerous areas," he stressed.
Global crude oil prices fell sharply on Wednesday following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between the United States, Israel and Iran, easing concerns over supply disruptions.

Brent crude dropped by about $15 or 13.54 per cent, to $94.47 per barrel as of 6:16 p.m. Nigerian time, falling below the $100 benchmark after days of sustained increases.

The decline followed an announcement by US President Donald Trump that the parties had agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

The agreement came shortly before a deadline issued by the US to Iran over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route through which about 20 per cent of the worlds oil supply passes.

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Tensions had escalated in recent weeks, with threats of military action and disruptions to oil shipments raising fears across global markets.

Oil prices had maintained an upward trend since hostilities involving the US and Israel against Iran began on 28 February, with the conflict affecting supply chains and pushing up energy costs worldwide.

The situation worsened after Iran restricted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, triggering supply concerns and driving a surge in global petrol prices.

READ ALSO: Factors that contributed to Trump accepting ceasefire with Iran

In Nigeria and other countries, petrol prices rose sharply during the period. In Nigeria, pump prices climbed from about N870 per litre before the crisis to nearly N1,500 per litre at its peak before easing slightly.

The spike in oil prices prompted governments worldwide to adopt various measures to cushion the economic impact on citizens.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that under the ceasefire deal, the U.S. and Israel would halt attacks on Iran, while Iran would guarantee safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz and suspend retaliatory actions.

The ceasefire, reportedly mediated by Pakistan, was confirmed by President Trump and Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced the commencement of exports of a new crude grade, the Cawthorne blend, to the Netherlands.

The development marks a significant step in ongoing efforts to boost Nigerias oil production, expand its range of export and revenue streams.

In a statement published on its website on Tuesday, the national oil company said the new crude, classified as light and sweet, has an API gravity of 36.4, making it comparable to Bonny Light and attractive in the international market for its high petrol and diesel yields.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has commenced export of its new crude grade  Cawthorne, marking a significant milestone in the Companys drive to increase Nigerias crude oil production and expand its portfolio of globally competitive export streams, the statement said.

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In the statement, NNPC disclosed that the maiden cargo of the Cawthorne blend was loaded on Sunday and shipped to the Netherlands aboard the MT Eburones for delivery to the global market.

According to the company, about 950,000 barrels were exported through the Cawthorne Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessel located offshore Bonny, Rivers State.

The FSO, linked to Oil Mining Lease (OML) 18, is expected to improve crude evacuation, enhance operational efficiency and strengthen Nigerias export reliability.

Strategy to unlock value

The company said the introduction of the new grade aligns with its broader strategy to unlock value from its assets, deepen competitiveness and support the federal governments target of increasing crude oil production to three million barrels per day and gas output to 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.

NNPC noted that the launch of the Cawthorne blend follows recent additions such as Nembe and Utapate crude grades, reflecting a sustained effort to diversify Nigerias crude offerings in the global market.

The launch of the Cawthorne grade builds on recent additions such as Nembe and Utapate, reflecting a sustained and structured approach by NNPC Ltd to optimise production, expand market offerings, and reinforce Nigerias position in the global crude oil market, the statement said.

In his remarks, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, attributed the milestone to ongoing sector reforms and collaboration among industry stakeholders, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and partners in OML 18.

Mr Ojulari said the development underscores the companys focus on partnerships, operational efficiency and innovation to drive growth and enhance energy security.

This milestone reflects our transition from resource potential to resource monetisation, ensuring that every asset delivers measurable commercial outcomes, he said.

He added that the successful export of the Cawthorne blend forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen Nigerias position as a reliable supplier in the global energy market.

NNPC reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging innovation, partnerships and operational discipline to maximise the value of Nigerias hydrocarbon resources and support long-term economic growth.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says Nigerias crude oil production has increased significantly from historic lows recorded in 2022, citing improved pipeline security and efforts to curb oil theft.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Ojulari, disclosed this on Wednesday at a parliamentary roundtable on pipeline security held at the National Assembly in Abuja.

Mr Ojulari said national crude production increased from about 960,000 barrels per day in 2022 to an average of 1.71 million barrels per day, with a peak of 1.84 million barrels per day in 2025.

He attributed the growth to the implementation of an integrated energy security framework designed to protect oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

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According to him, the model combines policy coordination, intelligence gathering, security operations, regulatory oversight, industry collaboration and community-based surveillance.

He said the approach has helped address persistent challenges such as oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which had previously constrained production.

The progress recorded is the result of deliberate and coordinated efforts, not by chance, he said, noting that improved security has also boosted investor confidence in Nigerias oil and gas sector.

In a statement published on its website on Wednesday, the NNPC explained that the roundtable brought together key government officials and industry stakeholders to assess the state of pipeline security and its impact on oil production.

Over the past decade, crude oil production in Nigeria has faced critical challenges including unprecedented oil theft, pipeline vandalism, dilapidated infrastructure, and high production costs.

This often resulted in output falling below 1.5 million barrels per day. Analysts say these issues stem from instability in the Niger Delta, regulatory uncertainty, and limited investment, which often lead companies to declare force majeure.

The NNPC has, on several occasions, stated that oil theft is among the biggest obstacles to the country producing up to 2 million barrels daily. In 2022, the NNPCL said it lost 470,000 bpd of crude oil, valued at about $700 million per month, due to oil theft.

Meanwhile, IOCs operating in Nigeria, such as Shell, have faced immense challenges due to community disputes over environmental damage caused by oil spills. Oil production in the Niger Delta was halted at some point due to a surge in pipeline vandalism.

Oil operators have also lamented that high security costs to protect facilities are contributing to a spike in overall production costs across the sector.

Last week, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said Nigerias total oil and condensate reserves stood at 37.01 billion barrels as of 1 January 2026, while gas reserves rose to 215.19 trillion cubic feet (TCF).

The commission said oil and condensate reserves recorded a marginal decline of 0.74 per cent compared to the previous year, attributing the drop to 2025 production and updates based on field performance and subsurface technical evaluations.

In contrast, gas reserves increased by 2.21 per cent, largely driven by discoveries and improved reservoir studies.

Stronger collaboration

In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Jimoh Ibrahim, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to sustain production growth and address lingering challenges.

Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, represented by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, urged participants to review progress made so far and ensure fairness and inclusiveness in policy implementation.

The event was convened by the joint Senate and House of Representatives committees on petroleum resources and was attended by top security officials, including the National Security Adviser, the Minister of Defence, and heads of security agencies.

Presentations were also made by the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General of the State Security Services, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and private security operators.

NNPC said it would continue to strengthen partnerships and sustain security interventions to support production growth and long-term stability in the sector.
A United Kingdom-based healthcare provider, Medizone Limited, hosted Nigerias first advanced aesthetic technology symposium, drawing medical professionals, industry stakeholders and celebrities to Lagos.

The event, tagged The Aesthetics Show Lagos 2026, held recently at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos State, brought together clinicians, dermatologists, clinic founders and innovators in aesthetic medicine.

The aesthetic industry focuses on enhancing physical appearance through non-surgical and minimally invasive procedures, combining beauty, medicine, and wellness. It is a fast-growing, multi-billion-dollar market driven by consumer demand for subtle enhancements, anti-ageing treatments (such as Botox and fillers), cosmetics, fitness, and technological advancements.

Organisers said the summit marked a significant step in positioning Nigeria as a hub for aesthetic medicine on the African continent.

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Events

The programme began with a closed scientific session attended by over 70 local and international medical professionals. Participants were introduced to a range of advanced aesthetic technologies, including Lumenis, Sofwave, UltraClear, Wonder, Hydrafacial, Classys, Fotofinder, Opatra London and Mirapeel.

Speakers at the session examined the science and clinical applications of treatments such as laser hair removal, body sculpting, muscle therapy, skin rejuvenation, acne management, wrinkle reduction, neck lifting and collagen stimulation.

Organisers noted that the session provided hands-on clinical insights typically accessible only at international conferences. The session ended with a raffle, during which some participants won skincare treatments valued at up to $3,600.

The evening segment expanded beyond the medical community, with notable attendees including actors and media personalities such as Genevieve Nnaji, Daddy Freeze and Eku Edewor.

Regulation

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Medizone Limited, Hamza Arisekola Alao, emphasised the need for regulation and ethical standards in the sector.

Care must always come before commerce. That is not simply a philosophy, it is a practice standard, Mr Alao said. The expansion of aesthetic medicine across Africa presents a real opportunity. But growth without governance is a risk, not an achievement.

He urged practitioners to prioritise evidence-based practice, patient safety and sustainable growth.

Also speaking, Freda Edewor Francis, director at Medizone and founder of Oasis Medspa, said the industry in Nigeria has evolved rapidly in recent years.

I have watched this industry grow from something people whispered about to something the entire continent is paying attention to, she said. The demand is real. The practitioners are ready. And for too long, the infrastructure has not caught up. That changes today.

Expert lineup

Other speakers at the summit included Pranav Pancholi of Sofwave Medical, Brooke Taylor, an international clinical trainer, Ravraj Sirha of Aesthetics Africa, Benjamin White of Acclaro Medical, and Felix Avajah, president of the Association of Practitioners of Spa and Medical Aesthetics of Nigeria.

READ ALSO: Women in leadership drive inclusion agenda at 2026 Sheraton Lagos seminar

The event comes amid projections of sustained growth in the aesthetics market across the Middle East and Africa. Industry estimates indicate that the sector could reach $1.49 billion by 2033, expanding at an annual rate of nearly 11 per cent.

With a growing middle class and rising demand for cosmetic procedures, stakeholders at the summit said Nigeria is well-positioned to play a central role in the sectors expansion across Africa.
Over the years, many have wondered why men are often attracted to women with fuller breasts and curvier figures.

The question resurfaced on Tuesday when Sheri Campbell, a mens respect advocate and fashion enthusiast, raised it on her Facebook page.

Ms Campbell, a United States-based, known for sparking discussions on relationships, wrote, Whats the obsession with men liking big butts and big breasts? Why is it so important to men? I think some women want to know.

The question prompted men to join the conversation and share why they are particularly attracted to women with larger breasts and fuller buttocks.

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In the post comments section, men explained their preference for these features and cited a combination of biological, cultural, and personal reasons.

Many described fuller breasts and buttocks as symbols of health, fertility, and confidence.

Obsession

Koffi Daniels, who lives in San Francisco, California, described mens attraction to these physical traits as an obsession.

He emphasised, however, that attraction begins with a womans personality, noting that before he can be drawn to physical features, he first needs to admire her character, the way she speaks, and how she carries herself.

So this means an obsessive woman, meaning she has many suitors yearning for her and qualities that you desire so much in her as a perfect match. A woman you cant quarrel with, can get you emotional at any time when you are wrongly treating her, can make you feel bad when you are not upright, this is the type of woman you can obsess over, not breast enlargement or a big bum.

A woman you literally enjoy communicating with is a perfect blend of the same kind as yourselfmy core, a lady that makes me feel welcome in any conversation. A lady without rejection can be with or without, but is accepted by any nice man, Mr Daniels added.

Medical wise

Furthermore, Dozie Elder, who resides in Kuwait, stated that larger breasts and fuller buttocks have benefits for mens health.

He claimed that these features can improve blood circulation, which in turn could support a stronger libido.

When men like me look at those two treasures, endowed by nature, in a womans body, they begin to wonder, am I the one to enjoy all these that nature has deposited here. Its in fact the eight wonders of the world.

Meanwhile, Pluto Nash noted that it reflects a societal norm, adding that certain physical indicators are often seen as signs of a womans fertility and her potential to conceive.

And then maybe instinctively it sticks out with us? Besides that, bigger means more, and weve always been a society that wanted more than just the bare minimum, I guess maybe in this country.

Sexual pleasure

For Texas-based Andre Sherman, larger breasts and a fuller bottom not only attract men but also give them something to engage with physically during intimacy.

He said, Well, if you are looking for honesty, Ill tell you. Big breasts look great bouncing while youre riding, and fun to hold, and a big booty is nice to see jiggle while in the doggystyle position, and it also gives us a better grip to hold you by the waist, whether in that position or youre riding.

So in essence, you are kinda helping us out by having big breasts and booty to enhance the experience and give us something to do with our hands.

Biblical

More so, Nate Satterfield added that mens attraction to larger breasts and fuller buttocks has a biblical basis, describing it as a natural, almost instinctive form of magnetism.

Even the Scriptures mentioned how a wifes breasts can intoxicate her husband (Proverbs 5:18). When these body members are big, they display beauty in abundance.

Granted, some men actually prefer smaller dimensions, but for the most part, guys really love girls with big breasts and derrieres, as evident in art.

For Mike Spector, the appeal was instinctive, something words could hardly capture. He described it as neither logical nor rational, but purely a feeling.

Hereditary

Louis Johnson disclosed that mens attraction to larger breasts and fuller buttocks could be hereditary, pointing to himself and his brother as examples.

Could be hereditary, cause my brother and I are breast men. But if you dont have big breasts, a nice size nipple is more important to me anyway. Big breasts, tiny nipples.

For Christian Evans, theres nothing particularly extraordinary about it, just as some women are drawn to tall men with broad shoulders, defined abs, and a fresh haircut.

Asongo Gordons, who lives in Minna, Niger State, admitted he couldnt quite explain it, but said the combination of softness and thickness somehow creates a certain magic.
Even as she is embroiled in a fake cancer result, the self-styled relationship expert, Blessing CEO, is no stranger to controversy.

In March, the social media personality sparked conversation online after revealing, in a series of tearful Instagram videos, that she has been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.

The announcement triggered widespread reactions, as she publicly appealed to Nigerians and well-wishers for financial support to undergo urgent surgery, chemotherapy, and other life-saving treatments.

Days later, cracks began to appear in her story as reports that the test result she posted as proof of her illness belongs to an Asaba-based make-up artist identified as Deborah Mbara.

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Ms Mbaras solicitors claimed that Ms Blessing informed her that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and requested that the make-up artist send her the results of the test she carried out.

Repeat offender

It is not the first time the influencer has taken someone elses lifes work and passed it off as her own.

In 2019, the influencer falsely claimed to have built a seven-bedroom mansion for her 30th birthday, which later turned out to belong to a China-based businessman, Onye Eze.

Ms Blessing posted photos of the luxurious house situated in Enugu, claiming she built it from scratch.

Following her post, the buildings original owner exposed her fraud through videos, showing that she did not own the property.

Days later, videos surfaced of Blessing CEO in handcuffs, being forced to confess that she lied about the ownership.

But this house doesnt belong to me. It belongs to Onye Eze na Chinko. I recently came here to take a picture. Im not the owner of the house. Im not the owner of the compound, she was heard saying in the video.

In a later interview on Rubbin Minds, Ms Blessing said she was actually building at the time but couldnt meet her 30th birthday deadline. As a result, she decided to use the photographs of a building she had taken some months back.

Latest development

With Nigerians waiting to see how her latest stunt pans out, Ms Mbara has shared details of how Ms Blessing allegedly obtained her Canter test result and doctored it to suit her narrative.

In a video posted on her Instagram business page, the beautician said that she bonded with the influencer after she heard that she was battling breast cancer like herself.

She said that Ms Blessing then requested that she send her own diagnoses so she could compare them with what her doctor gave to her.

I said, Okay, no problem. That was how I gave her my results, because she said she wanted to compare them with what her doctor had given her.

Only for me to see on social media that it was the result I gave her that she doctored and was flying all over to back up the nonsense, the defrauding, and the money people are raising for her, she said.
The state-owned Oschadbank has claimed that the Hungarian National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) falsified a video released as evidence in a case involving the illegal retention in Hungary of the bank's funds and valuables seized in early March, the financial institution reported on its website.

"Oschadbank officially states that the published video was falsified: for publication to a Hungarian audience, it was subtitled in Hungarian and the phrase corrupt money, which was missing from the audio track and on which NAV based its conclusions, was added," the bank said in on Wednesday.

According to the bank, NAV confirmed in a statement that the banknotes transported by Oschadbank were new, recently printed and not in circulation, which the bank claims is consistent with its legitimate activity of supplying cash currency to Ukraine in accordance with an international agreement with Raiffeisen Bank Austria.

In the statement, NAV published a link to a video, apparently obtained from the mobile phone of one of the cash collectors detained in Hungary.

The bank notes that the detained Ukrainian citizens have witness status, but nearly a month since their arrest, the investigative body has not responded to numerous inquiries regarding the legal basis for withholding employees' property, in particular the mobile phone of one of the cash collectors, as well as access to the information contained on it.

At the same time, the financial institution believes that the seizure of the mobile phone, its subsequent retention, and access to its contents were unlawful, and the publication of the video obtained from this device is illegal.

According to the bank, this video is archival and was recorded near Vienna on March 10, 2025. The document printing depicted in it is common practice, and during that trip, the cash-in-transit team was forced to use the power outlet in the parking lot due to a faulty inverter in the vehicle.

"All processes captured on video were duly documented and entered into the customs systems of the European Union and Ukraine, and the original documents with the corresponding stamps from the Hungarian and Ukrainian customs authorities are available," the bank added.

Oschadbank is demanding the return of assets seized in Hungary and has stated its readiness to take legal action due to the spread of disinformation. At the same time, the financial institution has engaged an international audit firm to verify the compliance of the contractual framework and procedures for the transportation of cash and valuables.

As reported, on March 5, 2026, two Oschadbank armored cash-in-transit vehicles carrying seven employees, $40 million, EUR 35 million, and 9 kg of bank gold were detained in Hungary while conducting a routine transportation of foreign currency and bank metals under an international agreement between Oschadbank and Raiffeisen Bank Austria. Hungary's National Tax and Customs Administration (NAV) later reported that criminal proceedings had been launched on suspicion of money laundering.
President Donald Trumps decision to accept a ceasefire in the war against Iran was not a voluntary act of statesmanship. It was, by most accounts, a retreat forced by a convergence of military setbacks, a crippling global energy crisis, and an unprecedented domestic political revolt that had begun to threaten his presidency.

The ceasefire, brokered through Pakistani mediation, includes a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway through which a significant share of the worlds oil and gas supplies pass, which Iran had blockaded since the outbreak of hostilities. A final agreement is expected to be concluded within a two-week window.

Domestic Political Pressure

The political cost of the war at home has been severe for Mr Trump. With the United States midterm election campaign intensifying, his approval ratings have fallen to their lowest levels on record, placing his Republican Party at risk of losing its narrow majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Public opinion polls show a substantial majority of Americans opposing the war and expressing frustration over rising fuel prices  a combination that has handed Democrats a potent campaign weapon heading into the midterms.

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The Strait Crisis and Its Global Consequences

Since late February, the conflict has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, severely disrupting exports from major OPEC members, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Iraq.

Iran has maintained a tight grip on the waterway throughout the conflict, while simultaneously launching strikes on economic targets in Gulf states it accuses of supporting the American and Israeli war effort. What was originally conceived as a campaign to cripple Irans military capacity may have inadvertently strengthened Tehrans regional influence, with the Islamic Republic demonstrating a credible ability to hold the global oil supply hostage.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump said he had received a ten-point proposal from Iran, which he described as a workable basis for negotiations. He said he expected a final deal to be concluded within two weeks and confirmed that the agreement was contingent on Iran lifting its blockade of oil and gas shipments through the strait.

Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, said in a statement that Tehran would halt counter-attacks and guarantee safe passage through the strait  though he noted that passage would operate under Iranian military management. He added that if peace negotiations collapsed, Tehran reserved the right to reimpose the blockade.

Mr Trump also indicated that the United States would help manage the anticipated surge in shipping traffic as the strait reopened.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is arguably Irans most effective weapon during the war, and its global impact, including on the US economy, contributed significantly to Mr Trump accepting a ceasefire. That is why the American leader repeatedly insisted that the Strait had to be reopened as a condition of the ceasefire.

Pakistans Role

The ceasefire was brokered through the mediation of Pakistan, whose Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, played a central role in bringing the two sides to the table.

According to an informed source cited by Reuters, Islamabad delivered a two-stage proposal to both Washington and Tehran overnight  an immediate ceasefire, to be followed by the negotiation of a comprehensive agreement.

Late on Tuesday, Mr Sharif urged Mr Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to proceed. He separately appealed to Iran to reopen the strait for the same period.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Sharif announced that the parties have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. He added that he had invited Iranian and American delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday for in-person talks.

Tehran confirmed it would participate in the proposed talks. The White House said it was considering the in-person meeting, but that the arrangements had not yet been finalised.

The Aircraft Disaster

Among the most damaging episodes of the conflict for the United States military was the loss of six aircraft  two fixed-wing planes and four helicopters  in a single rescue operation inside Iranian territory.

Reuters, citing a United States official, reported that the mission was launched to extract the second crew member of an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet shot down over south-western Iran. The operation came close to catastrophe when two MC-130 aircraft that had transported approximately 100 special operations forces into rugged terrain south of Tehran suffered a mechanical failure and were unable to take off.

Commanders made the high-stakes decision to send additional aircraft into Iranian airspace in waves to extract the stranded commandos, leaving elite troops waiting in hostile territory for several tense hours.

If there was a holy shit moment, that was it, a United States official told Reuters, adding that the gamble ultimately paid off. The rescue force was eventually extracted in stages. American troops destroyed the disabled MC-130 and four additional helicopters inside Iranian territory rather than risk leaving sensitive military equipment behind.

While Washington said its forces disabled the aircraft, Tehran claimed it targeted and destroyed them during the rescue effort.

Impeachment Calls and the 25th Amendment

The political fallout inside the United States has been equally severe. By Tuesday afternoon, more than 20 Democratic members of Congress had called for Mr Trumps cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution  the provision that allows the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare a president unfit for office and remove him.

Representative Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat from Arizona and the first Iranian-American Democrat elected to Congress, announced she was introducing articles of impeachment against Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. I am introducing Articles of Impeachment against Pete Hegseth for repeatedly violating his oath of office and his duty to the Constitution, she said in a statement.

Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan wrote on X that Mr Trump had bombed a school and massacred young girls, and demanded his removal. Its time to invoke the 25th Amendment, she wrote.

Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota described Mr Trump as an unhinged lunatic and called on Republican colleagues to act. Representative Mark Pocan of Wisconsin demanded the 25th Amendment RIGHT NOW, arguing that Mr Trump was too dangerous to retain control of the nuclear codes.

Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts said both chambers of Congress should return to session and pass articles of impeachment, or the cabinet and vice president should invoke the 25th Amendment.

Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut agreed, saying no president in control of his senses would publicly promise to eradicate an entire civilisation.

Similarly, Representative Ro Khanna of California called Mr Trumps threats a blatant violation of the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions.

Mr Trump was impeached twice during his first term and was acquitted by a Republican-led Senate on both occasions.

But the criticism has not been confined to Democrats.

Former allies of Mr Trumps Make America Great Again movement  including commentators Tucker Carlson, Alex Jones, and Candace Owens  have condemned his threats against Iran as a betrayal of his America First promise to end what they call forever wars.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Republican congresswoman turned Trump critic, wrote on X: 25TH AMENDMENT!!! Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilisation. This is evil and madness. Ms Greene had previously warned that Mr Trump had gone insane.

Republican Representative Nancy Mace told CNN she was exasperated by the lack of clarity over how long United States forces would remain engaged in Iran, and said she would vote against any requests for additional war funding until she received clear answers. She suggested other lawmakers shared her position.

Under the United States Constitution, impeachment requires approval by the House of Representatives, followed by a Senate trial to determine whether to remove the president. The 25th Amendment provides a separate pathway, allowing the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare a president unable to perform the duties of the office.
The Bank of Industry (BOI) has defended its record on womens representation, following a PREMIUM TIMES report highlighting persistent underrepresentation at its board and senior management levels over the past five years.

In a statement issued in response to our story, the bank said women remain central to its leadership and operations, arguing that its broader leadership ecosystem reflects stronger gender inclusion than board figures alone suggest.

The agency did not dispute PREMIUM TIMES findings that women were grossly underrepresented on its board, its topmost decision-making organ, but said there was a need to distinguish between board composition and institutional leadership. It also referenced a sponsored post published on PREMIUM TIMES as evidence of its commitment to gender inclusion.

BOIs statement was signed by its media consultant, Lanre Odukoya, who is also the head of Media, Neuroscience, and Storytelling at Chain Reactions Africa.

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Mr Odukoya noted that a distinction must be made between board composition, often determined by statutory appointment processes involving various external decision-makers, and the banks wider leadership structure, where women demonstrably hold substantial influence and responsibility.

He said focusing only on board numbers as the sole measure of gender inclusion risks ignoring the true institutional leadership landscape, where women actively make decisions, manage resources, and drive daily impact.

PREMIUM TIMES report

The report, published on Monday, examined gender representation at decision-making levels against the promise of the present administration to ensure fair representation of women. The presidency controls appointments to the BOI board.

However, the report finds that despite promoting gender equity externally, the banks board and management structure reveal a persistent underrepresentation of women in decision-making roles over the past five years.

BOIs board currently consists of 13 members, including five executive and six non-executive directors. Of these, only two are women, representing roughly 15 per cent of the total. President Bola Tinubu appointed the board on 2 September 2024.

The women are Mabel Ndagi, executive director, Public Sector/Intervention Programmes, and Ifeoma UzOkpala, executive director, Large Enterprises.

In 2023, only two out of 18 members of the BOIs board of directors were women. The situation is slightly better at the management level, with 8 of 19 positions (42 per cent) held by women in 2024, indicating some progress in mid- to senior-level representation.

The BOIs board composition contradicts global governance recommendations, which aim for at least 30 per cent female representation on boards.

Meanwhile, women were significantly underrepresented in decision-making roles at the bank in both 2020 and 2021.

During those years, the executive level had minimal representation of women; Toyin Adeniji, appointed in 2016, was the only woman on the 11-member board. In 2020, women accounted for only three of the 11 management personnel, a number that increased slightly to four in 2021.

Right of reply

In the statement titled BOI: Riding On Wings of Womens Power,  the bank said it values transparency and accountability and welcomes scrutiny from the media, but argued that its record on womens leadership is often overlooked.

The bank pointed at the number of women in key roles, including two executive directors, the company secretary, and heads of governance, risk management, grant management and sustainability.

Beyond executive directorship, women lead key governance, operational, and advisory units within the Bank. Olufunlola Salami serves as Company Secretary, ensuring regulatory compliance and corporate governance integrity, the statement reads.

Dayo Aderugbo heads Management Services, while Uche Nwuka leads Services Industries, both divisions critical to enterprise delivery and sectoral growth. The Banks communications reputation is guided by Thedora Amechi as Divisional Head, Public Relations, while oversight and accountability are strengthened through Onome Agorua, Chief Audit Executive.

Legal, sustainability, and human capital functions, pillars of modern institutional resilience, are also led by accomplished women: Iretioluwa Daramola as Legal Adviser, Eniola Akinsete as Chief Sustainability Officer, and Kehinde Alade as Head of Human Resources.

According to the statement, women also lead the banks subsidiaries, including two of its four managing directorships.

Read the BOIs full response below.

RIGHT OF REPLY

BOI: Riding On Wings of Womens Power

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has taken note of the recent feature published by Premium Times titled Inside the Gender Lopsidedness of BoIs Board Management. As an institution that values transparency, accountability, and constructive public discourse, we welcome scrutiny from the media and acknowledge the important role journalism plays in strengthening democratic and corporate governance.

However, it is equally important that public commentary reflects a holistic view of institutional realities. This Right of Reply is therefore offered respectfully, not as a rebuttal to the editorial independence of Premium Times, but as a clarification intended to present the full picture of gender representation and leadership within the Bank of Industry.

Only weeks earlier, the same publication, in its March feature Give to Gain: BoIs Game-Changing Initiatives to Empower Women, Boost the Economy, highlighted BOIs transformative interventions supporting women entrepreneurs and inclusive economic growth. That recognition aligns with the Banks longstanding philosophy: empowering women is not an aspiration at BOI, but an operational reality embedded across leadership, strategy, and execution.

A closer examination of BOIs management structure reveals a strong and substantive presence of women occupying critical leadership roles across the institution, positions that shape policy, drive operational performance, and influence national development outcomes.

At the executive management level, women serve in some of the Banks most strategic portfolios. These include Mabel Ndagi, Executive Director overseeing Public Sector and Intervention Programmes, and Ifeoma UzOkpala, Executive Director responsible for Risk Management and Technology, two functions central to institutional stability and innovation.

Beyond executive directorship, women lead key governance, operational, and advisory units within the Bank. Olufunlola Salami serves as Company Secretary, ensuring regulatory compliance and corporate governance integrity. Dayo Aderugbo heads Management Services, while Uche Nwuka leads Services Industries, both divisions critical to enterprise delivery and sectoral growth. The Banks communications reputation is guided by Thedora Amechi as Divisional Head, Public Relations, while oversight and accountability are strengthened through Onome Agorua, Chief Audit Executive.

Legal, sustainability, and human capital functions, pillars of modern institutional resilience, are also led by accomplished women: Iretioluwa Daramola as Legal Adviser, Eniola Akinsete as Chief Sustainability Officer, and Kehinde Alade as Head of Human Resources.

In the Banks developmental financing operations, female leadership remains equally prominent. Jelilat Ismaila-Ayinde heads SME Lending, Ogochukwu Akabogu oversees the North Central MSME division, Hadiza Shuaib leads Manufacturing 1, Nafisa Bashari directs Micro Lending, and Ibitoru Ubosi heads Infrastructure. Strategic advisory and intervention roles are further strengthened by Aderonke Akinluyi, Technical Adviser to the MD/CEO, and Uloma Ike, Divisional Head, Grants Management, in charge of all the Federal Government Grants intervention programs.

These are not just symbolic appointments. They represent operational authority across risk management, lending, governance, sustainability, infrastructure financing, and enterprise development  areas at the very heart of BOIs mandate.

Equally noteworthy is the leadership composition of the Banks subsidiaries. Out of four subsidiaries, two are led by women as Managing Directors: Olayinka Mubarak at the Bank of Industry Investment Trust Company (BOITC) and Ebehiriere Ehi-Omoike at the Leasing Company of Nigeria. Additionally, Marian Ejaife serves as Deputy Managing Director of BOI Microfinance Bank. This level of representation underscores a deliberate institutional culture that recognizes competence, leadership excellence, and diversity as mutually reinforcing values.

It is therefore important to distinguish between board composition, which may reflect statutory appointment processes involving multiple external stakeholders, and the broader leadership ecosystem of the Bank, where women demonstrably hold substantial influence and responsibility. Assessing gender inclusion solely through the narrow prism of board numbers risks overlooking the lived reality of institutional leadership where women actively shape decisions, manage resources, and deliver impact daily.

BOI remains firmly committed to gender inclusion, not only internally but also externally through financing programmes designed to expand womens economic participation across Nigeria. The Banks initiatives supporting female entrepreneurs, women-led MSMEs, and inclusive industrial growth continue to produce measurable national outcomes, outcomes previously acknowledged and rightly celebrated.

We hold Premium Times in high regard as a respected platform for public accountability and informed debate. Our intention is not to contest its editorial judgment, but to enrich the conversation with comprehensive facts that reflect the full scope of womens leadership within the Bank of Industry.

At BOI, women are not peripheral to progress; they are central to it. From executive management to subsidiary leadership and operational command centres, the Bank continues to ride on the wings of womens power, advancing inclusive development, strengthening governance, and building a more resilient Nigerian economy.

The Bank of Industry remains open to continued engagement with the media and stakeholders in the shared pursuit of accuracy, balance, and national progress.

Written by Lanre Odukoya

Head, Media, Neuroscience, and Storytelling,

Chain Reactions Africa (Consultants to Bank of Industry)
The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire during which there would be a halt in attacks on Iran by the US, and Iran would allow the passage of all ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also agreed to halt all retaliatory attacks if the US and Israel stop their attacks.

The ceasefire, mediated by Pakistan, was confirmed by both US President Donald Trump and Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi.

Pakistans Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, who has been mediating the indirect communication between the parties, also indicated that Israel and Lebanons Hezbollah would also cease hostilities for two weeks.

The parties have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, Mr Sharif wrote on X.

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In his social media post on the ceasefire, Mr Trump said the US would hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran.

The American leader had vowed to destroy Iranian civilisation and target civilian infrastructure on Tuesday night if Iran did not reopen the Strait. That threat had been condemned by global leaders including Pope Leo, the head of the Catholic Church, and UN agencies.

Mr Trump also indicated that the US was considering a 10-point peace plan that Iran sent through Pakistan after Iran rejected a fifteen-point peace plan proposed by the US.

We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate, he wrote, indicating that the two sides could come to a long-term agreement within the two weeks ceasefire.

Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this Longterm problem close to resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP., the American leader wrote on Truth Social.

Commenting on the ceasefire, Mr Araghchi wrote on X that passage through the Strait would be allowed for the next two weeks in coordination with the Iranian military.

If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations, the Iranian minister wrote on behalf of the countrys Supreme National Security Council.

The Strait, a water body through which about 20 per cent of the worlds oil passes, has been virtually impassable for ships since the US and Israel commenced their attack on Iran on 28 February.

Iran has damaged some ships that tried to pass without its permission and also allowed a few ships to pass under its conditions. This has led to a global increase in the prices of crude oil and petroleum products.

With the ceasefire now in place, hundreds of ships stranded will be allowed to pass through, which may ease the global oil crisis.

PREMIUM TIMES will provide updates on the development in subsequent reports.
A fresh leadership crisis has erupted in the All Democratic Congress (ADC) as a bloc of state chairmen announced a takeover of the partys structure.

The state chairmen unveiled an interim national leadership and endorsed the Independent National Electoral Commissions (INEC) recent action against a rival faction.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Don Obinna, alongside 24 state chairmen and representatives from across the country, declared that they had assumed control of the party following what they described as a leadership vacuum created by INECs suspension of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC).

The group also disowned both the David Mark-led leadership and the faction linked to Nafiu Bala Gombe, insisting that the ADC has no factions and remains a single entity under the authority of its state chairmen.

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The state chairmen claimed that Mr Bala never held a recognised position within the party, insisting his emergence was part of unconstitutional arrangements.

We dissociate the ADC from Nafiu Gombe and firmly and unequivocally state that he has never held the position of deputy chairman of the ADC, Mr Obinna said.

He added that the decision followed what he described as persistent constitutional violations, including the failure to convene mandatory National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings and attempts to sideline elected state executives.

Since the emergence of David Marks NWC, weve never held an NEC meeting. They contravened the partys constitution. NEC doesnt even know if a congress is supposed to have been held. Theres a case in court on that, Mr Obinna explained.

The state chairmen subsequently announced the constitution of an interim National Executive Committee to manage the partys affairs and organise a national convention.

The committee is led by Temitope Ogga (Kogi) as chairman and Odion Kennedy (Edo) as secretary. Other members include Muhammad Jidda (Borno), deputy chairman; Kabiru Hussaini (Jigawa), assistant secretary; Charles Omidiji (Osun), national organising secretary; Johnny Derek (Bayelsa), deputy organising secretary; Stella Chukwu (Enugu), treasurer; and Mr Obinna, publicity secretary.

The group also threw its weight behind INECs position on the disputed leadership, describing the commissions action as a necessary step to restore order within the party.

Speaking further, Mr Ogga questioned the eligibility of members of the David Mark-led coalition, citing provisions of the partys constitution that require at least two years of membership before contesting for elective positions.

Background to the crisis

The latest move by the bloc of state chairmen comes amid a sharp escalation in tensions between the ADC and INEC over the partys leadership crisis.

The dispute worsened last Thursday when the ADC, at a world press conference, demanded the immediate resignation of INEC chairman, Joash Amupitan, accusing the electoral body of undermining democracy and interfering in the internal affairs of political parties.

At the briefing, Mr Mark, the factional national chairman, warned of what he described as a shrinking democratic space under President Bola Tinubus administration.

He argued that INECs decision to freeze recognition of the partys leadership raised serious questions about the commissions neutrality and independence.

Mr Mark, a former Senate president, maintained that the party would proceed with its internal processes regardless of INECs stance, insisting that the law does not mandate the commissions presence at party congresses or conventions.

Reinforcing that position, the party, in a statement on Friday signed by its National Organising Secretary, Chinedu Idigo, and National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said it would go ahead with its planned congresses and national convention despite INECs warning.

The party said it had fulfilled all statutory obligations, including formally notifying the electoral body of its activities, and described INECs actions as unlawful.

At the heart of the crisis is INECs decision to suspend recognition of the leadership of any faction, in line with a Court of Appeal ruling directing parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a substantive suit before the Federal High Court.

The suit was filed by Mr Bala, a former national vice chairman of the ADC, who is challenging Mr Marks emergence as national chairman following the resignation of the former chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Mr Bala is asking the court to declare him the legitimate national chairman in accordance with the partys constitution. The case is still pending.

In the course of the dispute, Mr Marks faction had approached the Court of Appeal with an interlocutory appeal ahead of proceedings at the Federal High Court. However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and ordered all parties to maintain the status quo.

Following that ruling, INEC announced that it would not recognise any faction of the ADC leadership until the court delivers a final judgment in the matter.

Mr Mark, however, faulted the commissions interpretation of the ruling, arguing that there was no legal basis for the de-recognition of his leadership of the party. He said INEC ought to have sought judicial clarification if there was any ambiguity in the courts directive.

He also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of being behind the crisis, alleging that Mr Bala was being used to destabilise the ADC as part of a broader political strategy to weaken opposition forces ahead of future elections.

In response, INEC chairman, Mr Amupitan, warned the party against proceeding with its planned congresses without the commissions supervision, citing the ongoing court proceedings.

Speaking on Arise Television, he said a motion related to the dispute had yet to be determined and cautioned that any action taken in defiance of the court order could attract grave legal consequences.

He pointed to precedents in Zamfara and Plateau states, where failure to comply with court orders led to the nullification of electoral victories, with candidates who initially came second eventually declared winners.
The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, barely an hour before a deadline set by President Donald Trump for devastating strikes on Iranian infrastructure was set to expire.

The ceasefire has brought to an end, at least temporarily, a war that has killed thousands of people across the Middle East since it began on 28 February. The war started after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes that triggered a sweeping Iranian retaliation.

The ceasefire, brokered through Pakistani mediation, includes a temporary reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical oil and gas transit routes, which Iran had blockaded since the start of hostilities.

Mr Trump announced the deal hours after issuing one of the most extreme threats of his presidency, warning on his Truth Social platform that a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again if Iran did not comply with his demands.

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Trumps ultimatum and the last-minute deal

Earlier on Tuesday, as United States forces struck military targets near Irans main oil export hub, Mr Trump escalated pressure on Tehran to fully reopen the strait or face devastating strikes on critical infrastructure within hours.

We will find out tonight, he wrote, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. He expressed hope that something revolutionarily wonderful can happen to forestall further attacks.

Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded by threatening to retaliate beyond the region and deprive the US and its allies of oil and gas for many years if Washington crossed what it called red lines by attacking civilian infrastructure.

Hours later, the ceasefire was announced.

Mr Trump said he had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which he described as a workable basis for negotiations. He said he expected a final agreement to be finalised and consummated within the two-week window, and confirmed the deal was contingent on Iran pausing its blockade of oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, said in a statement that Tehran would halt counter-attacks and guarantee safe passage through the strait. He noted, however, that the passage would operate in coordination with the Iranian military.

What is in Irans 10-point plan?

According to Iranian state media, Tehran will only accept a permanent conclusion to the war once the terms of a 10-point peace plan transmitted to the White House through Pakistani intermediaries are fully agreed upon.

The 10-point proposal by Iran was in response to a 15-point proposal by the US; both through Pakistani intermediaries.

The details of the proposal have not been made public, but Iranian media have reported on what is believed to be the content.

The conditions published by Iranian state media include: the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions on Iran; continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz; a full withdrawal of US military forces from the Middle East; an end to all attacks on Iran and its allies; the release of frozen Iranian assets; and the adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution making any final deal binding under international law.

The proposal also reportedly contains a plan for Iran to give up its highly enriched uranium, stop enriching uranium beyond 2.5 per cent needed for civilian energy and allow for inspection of its facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The plan also reportedly allows Iran and Oman to charge a transit fee of up to $2 million per vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with the revenue earmarked for post-war reconstruction.

If peace negotiations collapse, Tehran said it reserved the right to close the strait again.

Mr Trump declared an unequivocal American victory. Total and complete victory. 100 per cent. No question about it, he told Agence France-Presse (AFP). He also insisted that Irans remaining nuclear material would be addressed in any final peace agreement.

That will be perfectly taken care of, or I wouldnt have settled, he told AFP, without elaborating on what would happen to Irans enriched uranium stockpile.

Iran, however, described the ceasefire as a humiliating retreat by Mr Trump, saying he had been forced to accept Irans terms for ending the war.

The White House disputed that framing. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement: The truth is that President Trump and our powerful military got Iran to agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations will continue.

Pakistans Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, played a central role in securing the ceasefire. Late on Tuesday, he urged Mr Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to proceed, and separately appealed to Iran to reopen the strait for the same period.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Sharif announced that the parties have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. He also said he had invited Iranian and American delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday for in-person talks.

Tehran confirmed it would participate. The White House said it was considering in-person talks but that the arrangements had not yet been finalised.

China, Irans largest trading partner, reportedly played a quiet role. Two officials who spoke to The Associated Press said Beijing had encouraged Tehran to pursue a ceasefire as talks progressed.

Mr Trump told AFP he believed China had helped bring Iran to the negotiating table.

The American leader also indicated that the United States would help manage the anticipated surge in shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz as it reopens.

Economic stakes

The commercial implications of the ceasefire are significant.

According to data from analytics firm Kpler, approximately 133 million barrels of crude oil and 46 million barrels of refined fuels are currently stranded on roughly 200 tankers in the region  vessels unable to transit the strait since hostilities began.

A resumption of shipping would allow Middle Eastern oil exporters to move substantial volumes of trapped energy supplies to global markets.

Death toll

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces have struck more than 13,000 Iranian targets since the conflict began on 28 February.

Below are the latest casualty figures compiled by Reuters as of Wednesday. PREMIUM TIMES has not independently verified them.

Iran  The controversial US-based human rights group HRANA reported 3,636 people killed since the war began. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies put the figure at at least 1,900 deaths, including at least 1,665 civilians.

Lebanon  Lebanese authorities say 1,530 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since 2 March, including at least 129 children. Three United Nations peacekeepers from Indonesia were also killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon.

Iraq  At least 117 people have been killed since the start of the crisis, according to Iraqi health authorities.

Israel  Missiles launched from Iran and Lebanon have killed 23 people in Israel, according to the countrys ambulance service. The Israeli military additionally reported 11 of its soldiers killed in southern Lebanon.

United States  Thirteen American military service members have been killed, with more than 300 wounded, according to US Central Command.

United Arab Emirates  Thirteen people have been killed, including two army soldiers, authorities said.

Qatar  Seven people were killed on 22 March in a helicopter crash in Qatars territorial waters, following a technical malfunction during what authorities described as routine duty.

Kuwait  Authorities have reported seven deaths.

West Bank  Four Palestinian women were killed in an Iranian missile attack.

Syria  Four people were killed when an Iranian missile struck a building in the southern city of Sweida.

Bahrain  Two people were killed in two separate Iranian attacks.

Oman  Two people were reported killed on 13 March in a drone strike on an industrial zone in Sohar province.

Saudi Arabia  Two people were killed when a projectile struck a residential area in Al-Kharj city, south-east of Riyadh.

France  One French soldier was killed following a drone attack in northern Iraq.
An 11-year-old student of Federal Government College Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State, UfokObong Godwin, has died under controversial circumstances.

The family and the college authority say investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances behind the boys demise.

The boys death, which reportedly occurred in the early hours of 5 April, has drawn public attention, following claims circulating on social media alleging that a senior student assaulted him.

According to one such account, a senior student allegedly struck the victim on the neck after he had refused to hand over his provisions to the senior student, which led to his being rushed to a medical facility.

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The post further claimed that the school authorities treated the victim without informing his parents and that they later allowed him to return home without disclosing the incident to his parents.

According to online accounts, on 1 April, the boy reportedly complained of neck pain and received medication. But in the early hours of 5 April, he reportedly died from complications associated with blood clots around his throat.

School authorities speak

However, the school authorities have offered a different account.

When PREMIUM TIMES visited the school on Tuesday, the Vice Principal (Administration), Hassan Adamu, declined to comment, stating that he was not authorised to speak.

The School Principal, Ezeogu Jude, said by phone that the matter was under investigation.

He went to the college clinic, was checked and returned to the hostel. He continued his examination and went about his normal activities, the principal said. The information I got was that he was hit by a senior student, but he got well and went back home.

He added that the school would issue an official statement after a meeting with the School-Based Management Committee on 9 April.

Some teachers, who requested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak on the matter, told PREMIUM TIMES that the incident reported at the school clinic occurred on 14 March. They said the boy complained of being hit in the stomach by another student. He was examined at the school clinic, found to be stable, and subsequently completed his school examinations.

They noted that all students, including the deceased, vacated the school on 17 March without report of any complications.

The teachers expressed uncertainty over how the boy developed health issues two weeks later.

Family cautions against unverified reports

When contacted, the boys father, Edwin Godwin, referred PREMIUM TIMES to a family spokesperson, Didi Francis, who cautioned against relying on unverified reports.

In a statement, Ms Francis said ongoing investigations would establish the facts, noting that much of the information circulating online was distorted and published without the familys consent.

She urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified details and to be patient while the family investigates the matter.

Be assured of a detailed story behind the untimely demise of Ufokubong Edwin Godwin This will help to avert a reoccurrence in future, the statement said.

The family also called for holistic efforts to address bullying, even as it insisted that justice would be pursued.

The Akwa Ibom incident occurred a few weeks after a college in Edo State expelled a student after a viral video circulated online showed some senior students bullying a junior. The Edo State Government later ordered the arrest and prosecution of the students.
The three main parties to the war have agreed to a ceasefire after 40 days of unrest and violence in the Middle East.

What began as a targeted military operation hardened into a full-blown regional war that extended for weeks. The US announcement of a ceasefire agreement came after US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Irans civilisation in one night.

Mr Trump had also issued a 48-hour ultimatum, on two different occasions, for Iran to allow free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz or risk having all hell break loose on them.

At least 2,076 people have been killed and more than 26,500 wounded in Iran since the war began, according to Iranian authorities.

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Across Iran, Lebanon, Israel and other parts of the region, the casualties of the war run into the thousands.

US, Israel ceasefire with Iran

The agreement followed Pakistans proposal of a two-phase truce. The deal allows for a two-week ceasefire, followed by negotiations that would include discussions around control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran submitted a 10-point proposal to the US through Pakistan in response to a 15-point proposal from the US through Pakistan.

Mr Trump indicated that the two sides could reach a long-term agreement during the two-week ceasefire.

On Truth Social, he wrote, We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Irans ISNA news agency reported that parliament speaker Mohammad Qalibaf is expected to lead the Iranian negotiating team for talks in Islamabad with US Vice President JD Vance.

World leaders react

Most world leaders are welcoming of the ceasefire, with minority voices still critiquing the initial attack on Iran and Mr Trumps repeated celebration of US war crimes.

Spain celebrated the ceasefire announcement but criticised Washington without naming it directly.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the Spanish government will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they turn up with a bucket.

Mr Sanchez, who is one of the most vocal Western leaders who stood against the war, said the ceasefire is a momentary relief that should not make us forget the chaos, the destruction and the lives lost.

He insisted that the call for diplomacy, international law and peace must continue.

The Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, said the ceasefire offers the warring parties an opportunity to step back and halt the missile exchange.

In her words, it creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement.

The Strait of Hormuz must be open for passage again.

The EU Commission President, Ursula Leyen, also said that negotiations for a long-term solution to the rift between the US, Israel and the EU have become crucial.

Pope Leo praised the agreement, saying, In light of these past hours of great tension for the Middle East and for the whole world, I welcome with satisfaction.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the agreement a very good thing and hoped it would be respected.

During a Defence and National Security Council meeting on Wednesday, he said, We expect, in the coming days and weeks, that it will be fully respected throughout the region and will allow negotiations to take place.

He also called for Lebanons inclusion in the ceasefire.

Israel says Lebanon not involved in ceasefire

However, Israel said Lebanon is not included in the truce and instead issued evacuation warnings to residents.

The Israeli military asked residents of Southern Lebanon, particularly the city of Tyre, to move to the north of the Zahrani River as it prepares to strike the city.

Reuters reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office said in a statement that the ceasefire does not apply to Lebanon.

His statement contradicts Pakistans earlier comment that the agreement included a cessation of Israels campaign in Lebanon.

Hezbollah stops attack on Northern Israel

Meanwhile, Hezbollah has suspended its attack on northern Israel and on Israeli troops following the ceasefire announcement.

Reuters also reports that the rebel group is expected to issue a statement publicly declaring its position on the ceasefire and on Netanyahus claim that Lebanon is not included.

Dollar, oil prices slide

Oil prices fell, and stocks surged as news of the two-week ceasefire spread. The global economy has been rattled since the start of the war.

Oil prices, bonds, and stocks have fluctuated wildly in the last six weeks.

After the announcement, US crude futures fell by 16.5 per cent to $94 a barrel.

Meanwhile, S&P 500 futures rose by over 2 per cent.

Dollars also fell against the euro and pound by about 1 per cent.

Iranians celebrate ceasefire

Iranians are celebrating the ceasefire agreement. On the streets of Tehran, the crowd waved the Iranian flag and jubilated. They had earlier destroyed Israel and US flags.

However, concerns persist that the ceasefire might be violated.

An Iranian told Reuters that they feared Israel would not allow the truce to hold or allow diplomacy to work.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) received a petition submitted by the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday.

The petition, submitted by the partys National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, was received by INEC National Commissioner, Abdullahi Zuru, a professor.

The content of the petition is yet unclear.

However, the ADC has repeatedly called for the removal of the INEC Chairperson, Joash Amupitan, a professor, accusing him of deliberately misinterpreting an order of the Court of Appeal to suspend the partys recognition.

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PREMIUM TIMES reported that the ADC, led by Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Peter Obi, staged a peaceful protest and marched from Maitama Junction to the INEC headquarters in the Maitama District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The trio were the presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, but were defeated by President Bola Tinubu, then the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others present at the protest include the partys factional National Chairman, David Mark; National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; Aminu Tambuwal, a serving senator; Rotimi Amaechi and former senator Dino Melaye.

The protesters carried placards and banners with inscriptions that read: Tinubu, let our Democracy breathe, Falle daya ce, one term president and I stand with ADC, I stand with Democracy among others.

The opposition party had accused the electoral body of siding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to block its chances of fielding candidates in 2027.

Background

INEC had suspended the recognition of the ADC last week, in compliance with the Court of Appeal ruling that directed the parties to the suit at the Federal High Court, including INEC, to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the leadership crisis in the opposition party.

Mr Bala had challenged Mr Marks emergence as the partys national chairman following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu from the position.

He insisted that he (Bala) should assume leadership of the party after Mr Nwosus resignation, in line with the partys constitution. The case is still pending at the Federal High Court.

Meanwhile, Mr Marks camp filed an interlocutory appeal ahead of the Federal High Courts judgment, but was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

In dismissing the appeal, the appellate court also asked all parties to maintain the status quo pending the lower courts ruling on the substantive suit.

In compliance with the order, INEC stopped dealing with any of the factions until the case at the Federal High Court is determined.

The court also ordered that parties should maintain status quo ante bellum and should not do anything that will foist a fait accompli on the trial court or render the proceedings nugatory, INEC Chairperson, Joash Amupitan, a professor, explained in an interview with Arise TV.

But the Mark-led faction disagreed with the electoral commission, accusing it of willfully misinterpreting the judgment. It demanded the resignation of Mr Amupitan and other national commissioners of the electoral body.

Meanwhile, another faction claiming the ADCs leadership emerged on Tuesday.

At a press conference in Abuja, some state chairmen of the party and its other senior members loyal to its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, backed INECs decision to stop dealing with Mark and Balas factions.
Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) staged a peaceful protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Maitama district of Abuja on Wednesday.

The protesters, who included former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, were led by a factional National Chairman of the party, David Mark.

Others present at the protest included the partys National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; former Sokoto State Governor and serving senator, Aminu Tambuwal; former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and former senator, Dino Melaye.

They protested INECs suspension of the partys recognition over a leadership dispute between the Mark-led leadership of the party and Nafiu Bala, a former national vice chairman of the party, who claimed he never resigned.

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The protesters carried placards and banners with inscriptions that read: Tinubu, let our Democracy breathe, Falle daya ce, one term president and I stand with ADC, I stand with Democracy among others.

The opposition party had accused the electoral body of siding with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to block its chances of fielding candidates in 2027.

Background

INEC had suspended the recognition of the ADC last week, in compliance with the Court of Appeal ruling that directed the parties to the suit at the Federal High Court, including INEC, to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the leadership crisis in the opposition party.

Mr Bala had challenged Mr Marks emergence as the partys national chairman following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu from the position.

He insisted that he (Bala) should assume leadership of the party after Mr Nwosus resignation, in line with the partys constitution. The case is still pending at the European Parliament.

Meanwhile, Mr Marks camp filed an interlocutory appeal ahead of the Federal High Courts judgment, but was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

In dismissing the appeal, the appellate court also asked all parties to maintain the status quo until the lower court ruled on the substantive suit.

In compliance with the order, INEC stopped dealing with any of the factions until the case at the Federal High Court is determined.

The court also ordered that parties should maintain status quo ante bellum and should not do anything that will foist a fait accompli on the trial court or render the proceedings nugatory, INEC Chairperson, Joash Amupitan, a professor, explained in an interview with Arise TV.

But the Mark-led faction disagreed with the electoral commission, accusing it of willfully misinterpreting the judgment. It demanded the resignation of Mr Amupitan and other national commissioners of the electoral body.

Meanwhile, another faction laying claim to the leadership of the ADC emerged on Tuesday.

At a press conference in Abuja, some state chairmen of the party and its other senior members loyal to its presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Dumebi Kachikwu, backed INECs decision to stop dealing with Mark and Balas factions.
The factional chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, is currently hosting the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, alongside some chieftains of the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The meeting is taking place at Mr Marks residence in Abuja. It comes just hours after his faction of the ADC staged a protest at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the partys internal crisis.

Leaders of Mr Marks ADC faction present at the meeting include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Also in attendance are Rabiu Kwankwaso, former presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), former Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Tambuwal and the factions spokesperson, Bolaji Abdullahi.

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On the PDP side, apart from Messrs Makinde and Turaki, other attendees include the factions National Secretary, Taofeeq Arapaja, and its spokesperson, Ini Ememobong.

Details of the meeting are still unclear. However, there are indications that the opposition figures are exploring strategies to effectively challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general election.

Mr Makinde, one of the two sitting PDP governors, was a key member of the G-5 governors who opposed Atikus candidacy in the 2023 election, an internal rift widely seen as a factor in the PDPs loss.

The G-5 governors, also known as the Integrity Group, played a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of the 2023 presidential election for the PDP. The group, led by former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, included Mr Makinde, former governors Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

The crisis began after Atiku emerged as the PDP presidential candidate. The governors demanded the resignation of the then partys National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, arguing that both the presidential candidate and party chairman could not come from the North in the interest of regional balance. When their demands were not met, the G-5 distanced themselves from Atikus campaign.

At the time, internal divisions weakened the PDPs cohesion ahead of the election, with the G-5 refusing to campaign for Atiku actively. In Rivers State, a key electoral stronghold, the former vice president lost significantly, while in Oyo State, Governor Makindes influence was seen to have contributed to the victory of opposition candidates.

Although the governors did not formally endorse a single alternative candidate, their actions, ranging from political neutrality to tacit support for rival parties, fragmented the PDPs traditional support base. This disunity reduced Atikus ability to consolidate votes nationwide, ultimately affecting his competitiveness against the eventual winner, Mr Tinubu of the APC.
A court has chosen preventive measures for suspects involved in the attack on a judge in the city of Dnipro - remand in custody without the right to post bail, the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported.

"At the request of a prosecutor from the Right-Bank District Prosecutor's Office of Dnipro, the court chose preventive measures for four suspects in the attack on a district court judge - remand in custody without the right to post bail for a period of 60 days," the prosecutor's office's Telegram post reads.

In addition, during investigative and operational search measures, one more person involved in the crime was identified and served with a suspicion notice under the same articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

As previously reported, on April 6, as a result of a large-scale special operation, law enforcement officers detained individuals involved in the attack on a judge in Dnipro; the crime was linked to the judge's professional activity. Those detained are men aged 33 to 36.

Police recalled that the attack took place on March 13 at around 5:00 p.m. in the Soborny district of the city. As the woman stepped out of her car, three men attacked her and then fled the scene by vehicle. The woman sustained bodily injuries as a result of the attack.
Former governors of Nigerias South-east region have endorsed President Bola Tinubu for a second term in office, following a meeting held on Tuesday in Enugu, Enugu State.

The endorsement is contained in a communique issued at the end of deliberations by the newly- formed South-East Forum of Former Governors.

Among those present at the meeting were former governors Sullivan Chime, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Chris Ngige, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Martin Elechi.

Reading the communique, the Minister of Works and former Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, said the forum was formally established on 7 April to support serving South-east governors and provide advisory input on regional and national issues.

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Mr Umahi explained that several former governors, including Ikedi Ohakim, Orji Uzor Kalu, Chimaroke Nnamani, Theodore Orji, and Virgnia Etiaba, were absent due to prior engagements, including medical trips and other commitments.

He, however, expressed optimism that more than 90 percent of former governors from the region would attend subsequent meetings scheduled in the coming weeks.

According to the communique, the forum is open to all former governors of the South-east, regardless of political affiliation, and is aimed at fostering unity while strengthening support for incumbent governors in the region.

We commend Mr President for key appointments given to sons and daughters of the South-east, as well as the infrastructure revolution ongoing in the region and across the country, Mr Umahi said.

The communique further stated that the forum supports the re-election bid of President Tinubu, noting that all serving South-east governors are aligned with the position.

We boldly say that all the governors of the South-east are supporting Mr Presidents re-election, and we will continue to give them our full support, he added.

The group commended current South-east governors for their efforts in infrastructure development, security, and empowerment.

They also praised President Tinubu for what it described as inclusive appointments and ongoing infrastructure projects in the region.

Mr Umahi also revealed plans for the forum to engage directly with current governors in the region to strengthen collaboration and promote awareness of government initiatives.

On the absence of former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi from the meeting, Mr Umahi clarified that not all former governors were present, reiterating that broader participation is expected at the next gathering.

The communique stressed that the forum would not replace South-East Governors Forum but would collaborate with them to know areas they can assist.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting marks a significant political development in the South-east as stakeholders begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A planned peaceful protest against the release of two suspects arrested by the Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace in Jos, Plateau State, has been shelved, following intervention by government officials and security personnel.

The protest, by mostly Muslims and initially scheduled for Wednesday, was to reject the release of the two suspects, both Christians, on Tuesday. The suspects release followed a peaceful protest by mostly women of Angwan Rukuba on Tuesday, who insisted they were innocent.

Their initial arrest

The joint task force had arrested the two young men on Thursday night after accusing them of posing as security operatives to cause mayhem.

At approximately 11:45 p.m., vigilant troops responding to a distress call on sporadic shooting at Dutse Uku general area intercepted and apprehended 2 individuals masquerading as security operatives. These impostors, dressed in tactical black uniforms, were caught actively participating in the arson of residential properties and the orchestration of violence within the Community, reads a statement by the spokesperson for the joint task force, Chinonso Oteh, a captain.

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On that day, residents of Dutse Uku, Tina Junction and Cele Bridge areas reported hearing gunshots in close range between 11 pm and 12 am.

Those who spoke to our reporter that night called the Plateau State Police Commands control room, which said it was sending patrol teams. Soldiers on motorcycles and Hilux, eventually arrived that night, they said.

Protest for their release

On Tuesday, the protesting women who held leaves and carried placards with inscriptions of their names, according to live videos of the events reviewed by this newspaper, said the victims of the fatal Palm Sunday attack will not be buried until the suspects are released. The names inscribed on the placards are: Moses Kefas, Joseph Bitrus and Azi Daddy. The peaceful protest was held outside a church, the venue of the burial proceedings.

The arrested men were eventually released to jubilation in the area.

According to a youth leader of Tina Junction, Sarki Aru, their release was ordered by the governor, Caleb Muftwang.

Mr Aru, who spoke to comedian and radio broadcaster, Osama Akpunonu, explained that on the night the young men were arrested, he and other people had just helped some Yoruba Muslims quench the fire in their homes that was started by some miscreants.

He explained that they saw two young men standing guard in front of their house before they were arrested.

They were protecting their house, because the house razed was close to their house, he said. We want to thank the Executive Governor, because he is the one who called for them to be released. We also appreciate the deputy speaker.

Counter protest shelved

But their release sparked grievances by other residents, mostly Muslims. They allege double standards in the governments handling of suspects.

A resident, Abu Muhammad, described the release of the young men as selective, saying that by ordering their release, the government has refused to allow the law to take its course.

When political pressure overrides criminal accountability, it undermines the very foundation of justice, Mr Muhammad posted on Facebook.

With this recent development, how can we trust this government in its fight to end the current crisis in the state? If suspects are released based on who they are (religion) or who is protesting for them, the cycle of violence will never end.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that some residents called for the peaceful protest against the release of the suspects.

But the protest has been shelved, following interventions by government officials and security personnel, one of those calling for the peaceful protest, Aliyu Naziru, confirmed to our reporter on Tuesday.

The protest was cancelled due to the intervention of the Plateau State Government this night, he said.

This newspaper also gathered that other arrested persons of Muslim faith were released on Tuesday night.

Since Sundays fatal attack on the Gari Ya Waye community in Angwan Rukuba, peace has remained fragile in Jos city.

Although an initial 48-hour curfew calmed the atmosphere, unrest broke out almost immediately after it was relaxed. Security personnel have been deployed to curb unrest, and a dusk-to-dawn 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew remains.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has asked the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to apologise to a Channels TV journalist Seun Okinbaloye and the media community over the ministers comment against the journalist.

The National President of the NUJ, Alhassan Yahya, disclosed this in a statement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Wike, during a press briefing on Friday, said he would have shot Mr Okinbaloye, for suggesting during his TV programme on Thursday that President Bola Tinubu and the APC were plotting to create a one-party state in Nigeria.

While Mr Wike clarified that he had no intention to physically harm the journalist, many Nigerians and groups have criticised the minister for the remark.

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Reckless and violent

In the statement, Mr Yahya described Mr Wikes remarks as reckless and violent, stressing that the comment against the journalist constitutes a direct and unacceptable attempt to intimidate and silence the press.

The NUJ national president added that such attempt to intimidate and silence the press gravely undermines press freedom and the foundational principles of democracy in Nigeria.

He said the NUJ intentionally delayed issuing the statement in the hope that Mr Wike would show remorse and withdraw the dangerous comment upon reflection.

Mr Yahya maintained that Mr Wikes failure to retract or apologise for the remarks indicates that the ministers comment was an intentional act of intimidation.

This incendiary comment from a high-ranking government official is not only deeply disturbing but also creates a climate of fear for journalists striving to uphold their professional duties.

It sends a dangerous message that critical reporting will be met with hostility and threats of violence, which is entirely antithetical to the spirit of a free and open society, he said.

The NUJ unequivocally demands an immediate and unreserved apology from Barrister Nyesom Wike for his reprehensible remarks.

Condemn this threat now

Mr Yahya asked the federal government to swiftly and unequivocally condemn the ministers threat. He said that doing this will demonstrate the governments commitment to protecting journalists and safeguarding media independence.

It is imperative that the government takes concrete steps to ensure that journalists can perform their essential role without fear of reprisal or harm, he said.

He urged all media organisations, groups and democracy advocates to stand in solidarity against what he termed blatant attack on press freedom.

The safety and security of journalists are paramount to a healthy democracy, and any attempt to stifle their voices must be met with a unified and resolute response, he said.

Remarks have implications for press freedom  IBAN

The Independent Broadcast Association of Nigeria (IBAN) has also condemned Mr Wikes remarks against the journalist.

IBAN is the umbrella body for all independent broadcast stations in Nigeria.

In a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday which was jointly signed by its Chairperson, Ahmed Ramalan, and its Secretary, Fidelis Duker, the association said the ministers remarks have implications for press freedom in Nigeria.

The association said, with Nigeria currently ranking 122 out of 180 countries on the Press Freedom Index, such remarks by a top government official like Mr Wike only worsen an already difficult environment for media professionals.

IBAN stressed that although the minister has clarified that he had no intention to physically harm the journalist, the body believes that any expression of violent intent  even hypothetical  is inappropriate for a public official.

Such language can be perceived as intimidation and risks normalising hostility toward the media, it said.

Apologise now, or well boycott your briefings

IBAN asked Mr Wike to retract the statement, apologise to Mr Okinbaloye and the media community and then reaffirm his commitment to non-violence and respect for press freedom.

Should the minister fail to meet these requests within a reasonable period, IBAN will have no choice but to advise all independent broadcast stations  whose interests this association solely represents  to suspend coverage of all press briefings, media chats, and official news conferences hosted by the FCT minister, the association said.

It stressed that independent broadcasters must protect their personnel and uphold the principle that violent rhetoric will not be normalised or rewarded with platform access.

We hope the minister will take the necessary corrective action so that normal coverage can continue without interruption. The ball is in his court, the association told the minister.

Background

Following the controversial de-recognition of the David Mark-led national executive of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr Okinbaloye, while anchoring Channels TVs Politics Today on Thursday, expressed concern over the consequences of Nigerias transition into a one-party state.

I am particularly pained because what makes the race (elections) very interesting is when it is competitive, not when only one party stands in the middle of the ballot.

There are a lot of experienced men in the ADCparticularly, it (ADC) looks like one of the hopes of the opposition going into 2027, the journalist had said.

If this hope is dashed, we are doomed democratically.

In his reaction during the press briefing on Friday, Mr Wike said he would have shot Mr Okinbaloye for taking a position on the issue of a one-party state and the ADC leadership crisis.

I was surprised yesterday (Thursday); totally surprised when I was watching Politics Today. Seun (Okinbaloye), if there was any way to break the screen, I would have shot him, the FCT minister said.

Several organisations and groups, including Amnesty International Nigeria, condemned the minister for his remarks and asked him to withdraw the comment and apologise.

Meanwhile, Mr Okinbaloye, while anchoring Channels TVs Sunday Politics on Sunday, maintained that he is not afraid and that he will never be intimidated regarding the comments from the minister.
Former Kano South senator, Kabiru Gaya, has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC) and joined the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Mr Gaya, a former Governor of Kano State, has hinted that he is running under the ADC to return to the Senate.

Speaking with Premier Radio on Wednesday, Mr Gaya stated that his move to the ADC is fueled by a commitment to continue delivering meaningful changes for his constituents in the Kano South Senatorial District.

Mr Gaya, who served two terms in the Senate under the APC banner until 2023, expressed gratitude for the platform the party provided him, but criticised the APCs current trajectory.

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He lamented that the party has significantly deviated from its founding principles. He based his decision to defect on the deteriorating security situation across the nation.

I have spent a good eight years in this party; I was the Kano South Senator, and people have seen the role we played. APC was founded on good principles, but it has now deviated. For a good eight years, APC was on track. Insecurity is now everywhere. During Buharis tenure, insecurity was only in the Northeast; now its all over the country.

In a formal resignation letter dated 5 April, addressed to the APC Ward Chairman in the Gaya Local Government Area, the former lawmaker said he was leaving the party immediately.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the party for the platform it provided me and for the cooperation and camaraderie extended over the years, the letter stated.

The resignation was officially acknowledged by the Gaya Arewa Ward Chairman, Adam Adam.

He is the second high-profile ally of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje to join the ADC, following the recent defection of the 2023 APC governorship candidate, Nasiru Gawuna.

Mr Gaya represented Kano South until his 2023 defeat by Kawu Sumaila of the then New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP). Ironically, Mr Sumaila recently abandoned the NNPP to join the APC.

Mr Gaya hinted that he is collaborating with former Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of the ADC to bring about meaningful changes for the Kano South Senatorial District.
Politics is a game of numbers, and those who cannot interpret data correctly have no business playing it.

That I do not work for Otti does not mean I will keep quiet when people spread lies. The Abia opposition has been running a campaign of misinformation, waving an 18.7% unemployment figure around as if it were a verdict on Governor Alex Ottis administration.

They are currently spreading this figure across social media, hoping the average Abian will not ask one simple question, when was this data collected?

Let me state this as clearly as possible, the opposition is either deliberately deceiving the public or they do not understand how data works.

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As someone who has personally visited the National Bureau of Statistics office in Abuja more than twice and has formally requested and obtained data from the bureau for research purposes, I know the difference between current statistics and historical records.

The 18.7% unemployment figure is NOT a reflection of Governor Ottis performance. It is, in fact, a damning indictment of Governor Ottis immediate past predecessor.

Come with me.

On 24 September 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics released its Nigeria Labour Force Survey annual report for 2023. The report stated that Nigerias unemployment rate stood at 5.4%, while Abia State recorded the highest rate at 18.7%, and Nasarawa recorded the lowest at 0.5% [see reference: HERE

On the surface, this appears alarming. But any serious analyst must look beyond the headline.

The NBS itself clarified that this survey was conducted in line with the International Labour Organisation guidelines between the 4th Quarter of 2022 and the 3rd Quarter of 2023 [see reference: HERE ]. This means the data collection period spanned 12 full months, from October 2022 to September 2023. Governor Otti was sworn into office on 29 May 2023.

Now, let us do the arithmetic.

The 4th quarter of 2022 (October to December 2022) falls entirely under the administration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

The 1st quarter of 2023 (January to March 2023) falls entirely under Ikpeazu.

The 2nd quarter of 2023 (April to June 2023) includes nearly two full months of Ikpeazu (April and most of May) and only about one month of Otti (from 29 May).

The 3rd quarter of 2023 (July to September 2023) is the only period that falls substantially under Ottis tenure.

Simple mathematics shows that of the 12 months covered by the NBS survey, approximately 10 to 11 months fell under the previous administration.

The opposition is, therefore, trying to hold Governor Otti accountable for an economic reality that he inherited, not created.

Another fact the opposition does not want the Abians and Nigerians to know is that the NBS has not conducted or released any new comprehensive unemployment survey data for Abia State since that 2023 report. The survey methodology was revised in 2022, and the 2023 annual report was the first of its kind under the new framework [see reference: HERE ]. The NBS has not published any subsequent state level unemployment figures that would reflect Governor Ottis full tenure.

When the opposition quotes the 18.7% figure as if it were current, they are either ignorant of this fact or deliberately misleading the public. There is simply no newer NBS unemployment data available. Anyone can verify this by visiting the NBS website or, better yet, by walking into their Abuja office as I have done multiple times. The data does not exist because the bureau has not collected it yet.

If the opposition is genuinely concerned about the 18.7% unemployment rate, they should direct their anger and criticism at the person who was in charge during the period the data was collected, between October 2022/September 2023. The last administration presided over an economy that produced that alarming figure. The opposition should be asking why the last administrations policies failed to create enough jobs, why industries died and why Abias business environment became so hostile that investors fled.

Instead, they are trying to deflect blame onto a governor who had barely unpacked his office when the survey period ended. This is not just dishonest, it is cowardly. Blame belongs where it is due, and it rests squarely on the immediate past administration.

If the 18.7% figure were truly a current reflection of Abias unemployment situation, it would contradict the visible economic transformation taking place across the state. Under Governor Ottis leadership, Abia has witnessed a remarkable turnaround in its business environment, attracting new industries and reviving moribund ones at an unprecedented pace.

For me, this administration has made Abia a destination for serious investment. At the Osisioma industrial cluster in Aba, a multimillion-dollar beverage manufacturing company called Ultimum Limited has completed the first phase of its factory, producing Razzl soft drink and aiming to feed the entire African market.

Governor Otti has pledged full government support for the company and immediately approved the reconstruction of the road leading to the factory to reduce production costs [see reference: HERE]. This is a clear example of how good governance attracts investment.

The governor has also invited SINOMA Materials Company Nigeria Limited to establish its factory in Abia State, noting that the companys presence would create jobs for the people and contribute to Abias Gross Domestic Product.

The company has been directed to consider setting up around the Osisioma axis, which enjoys 24-hour power supply courtesy of Geometric Power Limited [see reference: HERE ].

The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a modular refinery at the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP) in Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area. This 10,000-barrel-per-day modular refinery is expected to provide 1,000 direct jobs and countless indirect jobs for Abians.

When scaled to 30,000 barrels per day, it will create 3,000 direct jobs and attract $300 million in foreign direct investment [see reference: HERE ] [reference: HERE]. This is not a pipe dream, construction is set to commence in this first quarter of 2026 [see reference: Abia modular refinery ].

Governor Otti has also taken over the moribund Star Paper Mill from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, paying N2.5 billion to repossess the company. The revival of Star Paper Mill alone is projected to create over 5,000 jobs [see reference: moribund Industries ].

Additionally, negotiations are at an advanced stage with foreign investors, including a Lebanese firm, to revive the Aba Textile Mill, the International Glass Industry, and the Metallurgical Plant [see reference: HERE].

Five moribund industries, Star Paper Mill, Textiles Mills, International Equitable Associates, Afro Beverages, and Ogwe Golden Chicken, are all being revived to boost manufacturing and job creation [see reference: HERE ].

None of these investments would have happened if the business environment in Abia had not improved.

Governor Otti has simplified the states tax system using digital technology platforms, closing all channels of revenue leakage and building confidence in the system [see reference: Tax system ].

The state executive council has approved the Business Environment and Reforms Action Plan aimed at improving the ease of doing business, increasing investment, and creating jobs [see reference: 2025 fiscal year]. Also, the government has an ambitious plan to catapult Abia State to number one in the ease of doing business index [see reference: HERE]

Governor Otti has launched the MSME Competitiveness and Industrial Productivity Programme (MCIPP), a major initiative aimed at strengthening small businesses, enhancing product quality, and promoting local manufacturing.

The programme targets the certification of 1,000 artisans, the registration of 2,000 businesses, and the trademarking of 100 indigenous brands in its first phase [see reference: HERE].

The administration has also earmarked N2 billion to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises under the states cooperative support scheme, following N1 billion disbursed the previous year [see reference: HERE].

Governor Otti has not been sitting idle, waiting for investors to create jobs. His administration has taken direct action to put Abians to work. The government has approved the employment of 69 outstanding TechRise ICT graduates into the state civil service and provided laptops to 1,366 additional graduates of the programme [see reference: Civil service].

Over 1,360 youths have been trained in full-stack development, cybersecurity, mobile app development, data and artificial intelligence engineering, etc. [see reference: HERE].

Governor Otti has given N150 million in grants to 150 graduates of Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, N1 million each, to enable them to start their own businesses [see reference: HERE ].

The government has also set up a committee to collaborate with an indigenous agribusiness firm on a large scale integrated livestock and dairy farm expected to create over 20,000 jobs when fully operational [see reference: Livestock investment].

Furthermore, the administration has earmarked N13 billion to establish agro-industrial processing zones in Bende, Ukwa, and Umunneochi local government areas [see reference: HERE].

These are not empty promises. These are verifiable actions that are already laying the foundation for sustainable job creation. Governor Otti has consistently stated that fostering investment growth is vital for creating employment opportunities for the numerous unemployed youths in Abia. The results speak for themselves.

Dear Abia State opposition, stop manipulating statistics to score cheap political points. If you want to debate unemployment in Abia, debate the facts, not the fiction you have manufactured. The 18.7% unemployment data is a record of the last administration, not Governor Ottis. You cannot judge a governors performance using data collected predominantly before he even assumed office.

As someone who has formally requested and obtained data from the NBS and has visited their Abuja office multiple times, I know how data works. The NBS has not conducted any new comprehensive unemployment survey since the 2023 report. There is no current unemployment data for Abia State under Governor Otti because the bureau has not collected it yet. When you quote that 18.7% figure as current, you are either incompetent with data or deliberately dishonest.

My advice to you is simple: visit the NBS office in Abuja yourself. Request the current data. See what the latest figures say. You will find that there are no new state level unemployment figures available.

Until then, stop spreading falsehood. Shame belongs where shame is due, and that is squarely on the immediate past administration, who presided over the economy that produced that 18.7% unemployment rate.

I think Governor Alex Otti is busy rebuilding Abias economy, brick by brick, job by job. New industries are springing up, moribund factories are being revived, and thousands of Abians are being empowered to become entrepreneurs and skilled workers.

The 18.7% figure cannot possibly be a reflection of current reality because the Abia we see today under Governor Otti is not the same Abia that existed under his predecessor.

The visible economic transformation alone, new factories, revived industries, improved roads, stable power supply, and a business friendly environment, contradicts any suggestion that unemployment remains at that level.

Let the opposition continue their propaganda if they wish. But the data does not lie, and neither do the visible results on the ground. Abia is moving forward under Governor Otti, and no amount of recycled old data from the last administration era will change that fact.

*Emenike Vincent Onyembi is a policy development analyst based in Abuja. He can be reached via [email protected].
Photo: https://x.com/FM_Szijjarto

Budapest systematically used the issue of Hungarian minority rights to obstruct Ukraine's EU accession negotiations while coordinating its actions with Moscow, investigative journalism network VSquare.org reported on Wednesday, citing records of conversations between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto dating from 2023 to 2025.

"During their numerous phone calls, Szijjarto provided Lavrov with an invaluable stream of information about how the supposedly united Western coalition was preparing to increase pressure on Russia to stop its aggressive war. Hungary, as always, offered itself to Russia as something of a fifth column in Brussels: Szijjarto always sought to contact Lavrov and turn to him for advice (or permission) to take actions detrimental to the EU and Ukraine but highly beneficial to Moscow. As one intelligence officer noted their relationship more closely resembled that of a spy and a field agent than that of two equal foreign ministers," the investigation's article reads.

The investigation references, in particular, conversations between Lavrov and Szijjarto during the European Council session in Brussels on December 14, 2023, when accession negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova were launched; during Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Ukraine on July 2, 2024, ahead of the NATO summit in Washington; on June 22, 2025, following the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum; and others.

A transcript of a conversation between Lavrov and Szijjarto is cited, during which Lavrov asked about the compromise reached with the EU on launching Ukraine's accession negotiations and the decisive role of national minority language rights in that process.

"The main topic of concern for both foreign ministers was minority rights in Ukraine, long considered the Kremlin's pretext for justifying military action not only against one neighbor but anywhere ethnic Russians or Russian speakers reside. A few weeks before the July 2, 2024 call, diplomatic tensions between Hungary and the EU had reached a peak. Budapest was again blocking funding for Ukraine while the EU worked on mechanisms to bypass its veto. At stake was an 11-point list presented by Hungary regarding the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine's Zakarpattia region We now have evidence that while Orban and Szijjarto were officially fighting for the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine, the Hungarian Foreign Ministry was conspiring with Lavrov to advance the cause of Russian minority rights in the country," the article states.

Szijjarto also discussed with Lavrov the European Commission's 2025 proposal to gradually phase out Russian energy imports to the EU, calling it "idiotic." From Orban's perspective, the article notes, the proposal was not only a threat to Hungary's broader relations with Russia but also concerned the supply of raw materials and payment instruments that allowed continued gas purchases from Russia. In late June 2025, Szijjarto announced that Russia had extended a decree allowing Hungary to pay for gas through Hungarian OTP Bank.

Szijjarto also mentioned coordination with Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and the struggle within the EU Council. In June 2025, Hungary and Slovakia blocked the EU's 18th sanctions package, claiming that parallel EU plans to cut Russian energy supplies threatened their energy security.

"The Szijjarto-Lavrov conversation reveals not just friendly contacts with Moscow, but once again a coordinated Budapest-Bratislava line that influenced decisions across the EU. Since EU sanctions require unanimity, even one country can block them. Hungary and Slovakia therefore exploited their position by linking the sanctions issue to the energy issue," the article reads.
In the news release, America First Credit Union welcomes Jessica Graham as EVP, Chief Legal Officer, issued April 8, 2026 by America First Credit Union over PR Newswire, we are advised by the company that changes have been made. The complete, updated release follows, with additional details at the end:

America First Credit Union welcomes Jessica Graham as EVP, Chief Legal Officer

Experienced credit union leader brings decades of legal expertise to support continued growth and regulatory excellence.

OGDEN, Utah, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- America First Credit Union today announced the appointment of Jessica Graham as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer.

Jessica Graham, America First Credit Union's new Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. (PRNewsfoto/America First Credit Union)

Graham brings nearly 30 years of legal expertise to America First. She spent several years in private practice with national law firms, and the last 23 years as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer for large institutions with multi-state and international operations. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President, Chief Risk Officer & Chief Legal Officer for Global Federal Credit Union, where she strengthened business and internal operations while contributing to the company's growth.

"We are thrilled to welcome Jessica to America First," said Thayne Shaffer, president & CEO at America First Credit Union. "She brings incredible experience not just as a Chief Legal Officer, but also in compliance, crisis management, and mergers & acquisitions. Her expertise and leadership make her an outstanding addition to our leadership team."

As America First's chief legal advisor, Graham will guide the credit union on regulatory compliance, risk management, and strategic decisions, while supporting ongoing growth initiatives.

"I have long admired America First Credit Union and its commitment to improving the lives of their members, employees, and communities," said Graham. "I am excited to be part of such a dedicated and successful team."

Founded in 1939, America First Credit Union has grown into one of the strongest and most progressive credit unions in the country. It is the sixth largest credit union in the nation with $24 billion in assets and 116 locations across Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, serving 1.5 million members. America First is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution dedicated to building communities and helping its members do more with their money.



Correction: An earlier version of this release incorrectly had an additional paragraph.

SOURCE America First Credit Union
BEIJING, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) ("Autohome" or the "Company"), the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China, today issued its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") report.

The report outlines Autohome's comprehensive long-term ESG strategy, progress it has made in key areas including corporate governance, product responsibility, responsible management practices, talent development, sustainable operations, and impactful social welfare initiatives.

Mr. Chi Liu, Chairman of the Board, Director and Chief Executive Officer of Autohome, commented, "We continue to strengthen and grow our intelligent service platform, leveraging our technological capabilities and ecosystem advantages. By integrating ESG principles across our business, we are ensuring the future growth of China's automotive industry will be greener and more sustainable."

To view the report in full, please visit the website of investor relations of the Company or access the report at: https://autohomeinc.gcs-web.com/static-files/0592c7a2-90d8-4037-bc19-92ae791a4b5b

About Autohome Inc.

Autohome Inc. (NYSE: ATHM; HKEX: 2518) is the leading online destination for automobile consumers in China. Its mission is to engage, educate and inform consumers about everything auto. Autohome provides occupationally generated content, professionally generated content, user-generated content, and AI-generated content, a comprehensive automobile library, and extensive automobile listing information to automobile consumers, covering the entire car purchase and ownership cycle. The ability to reach a large and engaged user base of automobile consumers has made Autohome a preferred platform for automakers and dealers to conduct their advertising campaigns. Further, the Company's dealer subscription and advertising services allow dealers to market their inventory and services through Autohome's platform, extending the reach of their physical showrooms to potentially millions of internet users in China and generating sales leads for them. The Company offers sales leads, data analysis, and marketing services to assist automakers and dealers with improving their efficiency and facilitating transactions. Autohome operates its "Autohome Mall," a full-service online transaction platform, to facilitate transactions for automakers and dealers. Further, through its websites and mobile applications, it also provides other value-added services, including auto financing, auto insurance, used car transactions, and aftermarket services. For further information, please visit www.autohome.com.cn.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute "forward-looking" statements pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Autohome's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Autohome's filings with the SEC and announcements on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Autohome does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

In China:

Autohome Inc.

Investor Relations

Sterling Song

Investor Relations Director

Tel: +86-10-5985-7483

E-mail: [email protected]

Christensen China Limited

Suri Cheng

Tel: +86-185-0060-8364

E-mail: [email protected]

SOURCE Autohome Inc.
NEW YORK, April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of common stock of Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) between July 23, 2025 and February 3, 2026, inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 4, 2026 lead plaintiff deadline.

So what: If you purchased Boston Scientific common stock during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the Boston Scientific class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 4, 2026. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

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 handle securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. 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. 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.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made positive statements to investors while, at the same time, disseminating materially false and misleading statements and/or concealing material adverse facts concerning the true state of Boston Scientific's U.S. Electrophysiology segment; notably, that management was aware that the segment's growth rate was unsustainable and that it was approaching an earlier tipping point than the market was anticipating. Due to defendants' statements of confidence and lofty expectations, investors and analysts were left surprised by Boston Scientific's net income miss and underwhelming guidance for the first half of fiscal 2026. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Boston Scientific class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=55398 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

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.
The AUDIT Lab delivers data-driven research and practitioner insight directly to CAEs, audit committees, and risk leaders navigating a changing profession.

COLLINGSWOOD, N.J., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cherry Hill Advisory, a globally recognized internal audit and risk advisory firm headquartered in Collingswood, New Jersey, today announced the launch of the AUDIT Lab in collaboration with Canisius University and Aletheia Research Institution.

Cherry Hill Advisory and Canisius University Launch AUDIT Lab to Advance Internal Audit and AI

Mike Levy, CIA, CRMA, CISA, CISSP, CDPSE, Chief Executive Officer of Cherry Hill Advisory, will serve on the lab's Advisory Board and act as Principal Investigator for the lab's INTERNAL AUDIT Initiative. He is supported by Chair of the Canisius Accounting Department Ian Redpath JD, LLM and AUDIT Lab Director Eric Redpath JD, PhD.

Levy is the Past Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Internal Auditors in North America and a former Global Board Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

A Differentiated Academic Model for the Internal Audit Profession

Unlike traditional academic programs or standalone advisory initiatives, the AUDIT Lab is built to produce concise, practitioner-focused research briefings and data-driven reports that directly inform chief audit executives, audit committees, boards, and risk leaders.

The AUDIT Lab also maintains dedicated physical space at Canisius University to enhance collaboration. Initial publications will focus on research examining artificial intelligence in accounting and internal audit and data driven analysis of AI ethics and risk trends across internal audit functions.

Core Research Domains

This initiative combines accredited university research infrastructure with practitioner led strategy and applications. This structure creates a differentiator within the internal audit and risk landscape by integrating academic research discipline with real-world advisory insight.

Artificial Intelligence and Internal Audit Technology

Analysis of AI adoption, governance controls, oversight frameworks, and ethical risk considerations associated with automation and large language models.

Internal Audit and Risk Technology Innovation

Evaluation of technology, transforming internal audit and risk planning, execution and reporting.

Internal Audit Process Advancement

Research driven insight into audit methodology modernization, risk assessment enhancement, continuous monitoring, and technology enabled audit workflows.

Talent Pipeline and Organizational Strategy

Strengthening the internal audit profession by aligning academic programming, research initiatives, and leadership development pathways to support long term workforce sustainability.

Expanding Collaboration with the Internal Audit Profession

The AUDIT Lab is working to expand its collaboration with the Internal Audit Foundation and is pursuing recognition under the Institute of Internal Auditors Internal Audit Academic Alliance program. This alignment reinforces the Internal Audit Lab's commitment to advancing professional standards, research excellence, and internal audit education.

"Our objective is to advance internal audit through credible research, technology insight, and practitioner execution," said Mike Levy. "By combining academic rigor with industry leadership, we are building something that has not previously been structured in this way."

About Cherry Hill Advisory

Cherry Hill Advisory is a global practioner led risk advisory firm serving internal audit and risk leaders across every industry. We help organizations strengthen audit quality, address emerging risk, and meet rising expectations from audit committees, regulators, and stakeholders. Our team works with organizations on external quality assessments, internal audit cosourcing, training, fraud risk, and emerging strategic risk advisory like cyber and AI.

About Canisius University

The Wehle Business School at Canisius University develops career-ready business leaders prepared to make ethical decisions that reflect the interests of multiple stakeholders. Through partnerships with businesses in the Western New York community, the school emphasizes immersive, experience-based learning that reflects the interconnected and global nature of business.

About Aletheia Research Institution

The Aletheia Research Institution is an organization dedicated to cultivating unbiased social science research and reliable intelligence for public policy and business decisions. Experienced researchers collaborate with organizations to evaluate public policy outcomes, markets and behavioral questions of interest.

Press Contact:

Mike Levy

856-388-2145

https://CherryHillAdvisory.com

SOURCE Cherry Hill Advisory
Chicago white-collar criminal attorney Vadim Glozman of Glozman Law recognized among top 5% of legal peers for ninth consecutive year.

CHICAGO, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Glozman Law, a Chicago-based federal criminal defense practice, announced today that principal attorney Vadim A. Glozman has been selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Stars list as a top-rated white-collar criminal attorney in Chicago, Illinois, for nine consecutive years, 2018 through 2026. The firm also earned inclusion in the 2025 Chambers and Partners Illinois Spotlight Guide for Litigation: White-Collar Crime and Government Investigations. To learn more about Glozman Law's services and its commitment to client advocacy, visit https://www.glozmanlaw.com/about/ .

The Super Lawyers selection process is peer-influenced and research-driven, identifying the top 5% of attorneys annually. Earning that distinction for nearly a decade reflects what clients facing federal investigations increasingly understand: when government agencies build a case, they build it carefully.

"Here's what people don't realize about federal cases, they don't always move quickly," said Vadim Glozman, principal attorney at Glozman Law. "Prosecutors are experienced, and most importantly, the sentencing guidelines can be devastating. They are designed to feel overwhelming, and they often are. If you're facing federal charges, get guidance early. It makes all the difference."

How Federal Agencies Build Their Cases

Glozman represents individuals and corporations in federal criminal prosecutions , white-collar investigations, serious state felony cases and parallel civil and administrative proceedings. His practice addresses fraud, public corruption, asset forfeiture and related charges in federal and state courts, with cases prosecuted by the Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission and other federal agencies across multiple districts nationwide and throughout Illinois state courts.Federal cases are investigated by agencies with significant expertise, time, and institutional memory. By the time an indictment is returned, the government has typically:

Conducted investigations spanning months or years through the FBI, DEA or IRS Criminal Investigation division

Interviewed witnesses and secured cooperation from co-defendants

Obtained financial records, subpoenaed documents and presented evidence to a grand jury

Positioned prosecutors to pursue maximum sentencing under federal guidelines

For individuals and corporations suddenly navigating that reality, early engagement with an experienced Chicago white-collar criminal defense lawyer is critical not just to mount a defense, but to understand exposure, evaluate potential settlements and protect against asset forfeiture.

Other Awards for Federal Defense Representation

The 2025 Chambers and Partners Illinois Spotlight Guide, which specifically addresses how business decisions can lead to federal criminal exposure and white-collar criminal charges, further shows Glozman Law firm's experience when it comes to high-stakes defense. For executives, business owners and individuals under investigation, understanding that exposure early, before charges are filed, can significantly influence outcomes, compensation recovery strategies and overall defense positioning. Glozman Law remains committed to defending the rights and liberties of those accused by the government of federal and state criminal offenses.

Glozman Law is a Chicago-based white collar and federal criminal defense firm representing individuals and corporations in high-stakes federal prosecutions and government investigations nationwide. The firm defends clients across a broad range of matters, including wire fraud, securities fraud, healthcare fraud, public corruption, RICO, tax offenses, and federal drug conspiracies, as well as serious felony cases in Illinois state courts.The firm's mission is to provide rigorous, honest, and thoroughly prepared criminal defense to clients facing serious consequences. Glozman Law's approach centers on understanding how federal prosecutions are actually built, identifying vulnerabilities in the government's case, and delivering representation that reflects the true stakes involved. The firm is recognized for its federal and state trial experience, its depth in white collar matters with parallel civil and criminal exposure, and a track record of early-stage intervention that has prevented charges from being filed.

SOURCE Glozman Law
PHOENIX, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Clean Elections, Arizona's only non-partisan voter education entity and the body statutorily authorized to run candidate debates, in partnership with the Arizona Media Association (AMA), announces the names of the moderators at the helm of the 2026 statewide and federal candidate debates. The dates and times for the debates of respective offices are available now on the Clean Elections website.

"Moderators play an important role in debates and voters deserve to have skilled journalists in this capacity who will ask candidates the questions they would ask themselves if they were sitting in their chair," said Gina Roberts, Voter Education Director at Clean Elections. "We anticipate moderators will lead an exchange that is substantive, fair and that creates an environment where candidates have the opportunity to get deeper into policy topics."

Statewide and federal debates start at the end of May in anticipation of the July 21 Primary Election. Every debate will be moderated by one or two of the experienced journalists enlisted by the AMA to be on the 2026 Clean Elections Debates moderators roster, including:

Danielle Lerner, an Emmy Award-winning journalist with nearly 20 years of experience working in broadcast media. Lerner grew up in the Valley spending more than a decade working as a local news anchor and reporter in both Southern Arizona and Phoenix.

Kathleen Bade, a 14-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and former news anchor with over 30 years of experience in multiple markets including Phoenix, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Bade is a graduate of Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.

Olivia Fierro, an experienced journalist who spent more than two decades in television news reporting and at the anchor desk, developing a keen ability to quickly uncover the nuances of complex topics. Fierro takes great pride in her ability to break through the clutter and get at the heart of the issue with the people she interviews.

Steve Goldstein, an award-winning public radio host and reporter in Phoenix for 25 years. Goldstein is best known for his work at KJZZ/NPR. His innate interest in politics puts him in regular conversations with elected and appointed officials from both major parties.

"Debate moderators are in effect the voice of the electorate and we believe the journalists that we have assembled are absolutely up for this important task," said Tregg White, President and CEO, Arizona Media Association. "We trust in their ability to be impartial while cutting through standard talking points with follow up questions that ensure the exchange remains focused on the issues that impact our residents' daily lives."

As part of the partnership between Clean Elections and the AMA, the primary debates produced at SNEAKY BIG studios located in Scottsdale, Ariz. will be available for live broadcast and will be made accessible to dozens of local media brands including television, radio, and print/digital. There will be statewide simulcasting of major debates, regional simulcasting of local debates, and digital distribution of every debate. All live television debates will be simulcast with Spanish audio translation, an American Sign Language interpreter and closed captioning.

Voters are encouraged to get involved in debates now by submitting questions for respective offices and candidates by emailing [email protected] or calling 602-364-3477 (toll-free at 877-631-8891). Members of the media can submit their request for debate carriage and coverage by emailing [email protected]. Follow Clean Elections on Facebook (@AZCleanElections) and Instagram (@AZCleanElections) for the latest nonpartisan election information.

SOURCE Citizens Clean Elections Commission
Two-day event will explore how manufacturers can scale profitable customization, enable

digital threads and unlock the value of AI

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Configit, the global leader in Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM), today announced that the company will hold its eleventh annual Configuration Lifecycle Management Summit 2026 on May 6-7, 2026. Registration and the full schedule for the virtual event are available here.

As manufacturers increasingly shift toward mass customization, they face growing challenges in maintaining scalability, profitability and operational alignment. More than half already offer customized products, and nearly all expect demand for customization to increase in the coming years. This surge in product variability creates complexity across engineering, sales, manufacturing and service, driving the need for more advanced approaches to managing product data and configuration logic, helping increase productivity while reducing the risk of product errors.

This year's summit will explore how CLM helps manufacturers address these challenges and realize the promise of both AI and mass product customization by connecting systems, data and logic across the entire product lifecycle. In addition to Configit executives, this year's speakers include leaders from Accenture, CNH Industrial, Deloitte, Premier Tech, PTC and Vestas who will share real-world experiences and insights from their companies.

The agenda includes two keynotes focused on the role of AI in discrete manufacturing, with a keen look at how configuration technology can ultimately play a bigger role in enabling successful AI initiatives. Looking ahead, as digital threads and AI become central to manufacturing innovation, establishing a trustworthy, end-to-end data foundation will be critical to turning complexity into scalable growth.

Johan Salenstedt, CEO, Configit, said: "Manufacturers today are under pressure to deliver more customization while maintaining efficiency and profitability. The key to achieving this balance is establishing a trustworthy product data foundation that connects systems and enables confident decision-making. The CLM Summit will show how leading organizations are doing exactly that."

About Configit

Configit is the global leader in Configuration Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions and a supplier of business-critical software for the configuration of complex products. All Configit products are based on the patented Virtual Tabulation (VT) technology, which has redefined product configuration by offering greater speed and better handling of complexity. Virtual Tabulation enables Configit to deliver powerful, easy-to-use configuration solutions to market-leading global enterprises. Website: configit.com

Media Contact:

Diana Diaz

Force4 Technology Communications

[email protected]

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1824364/5882401/Configit_Logo_Logo.jpg
CLANTON, Ala., April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is actively investigating data privacy claims arising from the Heart South Cardiovascular Group data breach. On November 11, 2025, Heart South Cardiovascular Group became aware of an unauthorized party claiming to possess Heart South data.

Key Facts About Heart South Cardiovascular Group

Heart South Cardiovascular Group provides advanced, minimally invasive heart and vascular care in Central Alabama.

According to a recent filing with the Maine Attorney General, Heart South Cardiovascular learned on or about November 11, 2025, that an unauthorized party claimed access to some of its data.

After investigation, Heart South Cardiovascular determined that a malicious actor had recently uploaded Heart South data to the dark web. This data may include personal details such as names, emails, phone numbers, birth dates, and Social Security numbers.

Are You Affected by the Heart South Cardiovascular Group Data Breach?

If you received a data breach notification, you may be at increased risk of identity theft and fraud. Recommended steps include regularly reviewing account statements and monitoring credit reports for suspicious activity.

Our Investigation and Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action seeking legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the Heart South Cardiovascular Group breach. We can help you evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: [email protected]; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

Why Choose Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. Beyond data breach litigation, our attorneys handle class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

Protect Yourself Now

Confirm whether your information was involved in the Heart South Cardiovascular Group incident



Place fraud alerts and consider credit monitoring [if available]



alerts and consider credit monitoring [if available] Preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach



Contact our firm to discuss your legal options and next steps

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP
NEW YORK, April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national class action law firm, is investigating data privacy claims arising from the SitusAMC Holdings Corporation data breach. On November 12, 2025, SitusAMC Holdings Corporation became aware of unauthorized access to

Key Facts About SitusAMC Holdings Corporation

SitusAMC Holdings Corporation delivers tech-driven services, staffing, outsourcing, and advisory support to businesses in the real estate finance sector.

According to a recent filing with the Maine Attorney General, on or about November 12, 2025, SitusAMC Holdings Corporation discovered an unauthorized access to certain systems within its computer network.

Following an investigation, SitusAMC Holdings determined that an unauthorized third party accessed and acquired data from certain SitusAMC systems between November 13 and 21, 2025. Certain personal information may have been involved. This information includes names, addresses, dates of birth, driver's license numbers, and financial account information.

Are You Affected by the SitusAMC Holdings Corporation Data Breach?

If you received a data breach notification, you may be at increased risk of identity theft and fraud. Recommended steps include regularly reviewing account statements and monitoring credit reports for suspicious activity.

Our Investigation and Your Legal Options

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action seeking legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised in the SitusAMC Holdings Corporation breach. We can help you evaluate your rights and potential claims at no cost.

Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation

Speak confidentially with a data privacy attorney today: Marc Edelson, Esq., Edelson Lechtzin LLP, 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300, Newtown, PA 18940; Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2; Email: [email protected]; Web: www.edelson-law.com. Or click HERE to request a free consultation.

Why Choose Edelson Lechtzin LLP

Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. Beyond data breach litigation, our attorneys handle class and collective actions involving securities and investment fraud, federal antitrust violations, ERISA employee benefit plans, wage theft, and consumer fraud.

Protect Yourself Now

Confirm whether your information was involved in the SitusAMC Holdings Corporation incident



Place fraud alerts and consider credit monitoring [if available]



alerts and consider credit monitoring [if available] Preserve any letters or emails you received about the breach



Contact our firm to discuss your legal options and next steps

Media and Partnership Inquiries: Use the contact information above to connect with our team regarding interviews, co-counsel opportunities, and referral partnerships.

Legal Notice: This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions.

SOURCE Edelson Lechtzin LLP
Photo: www.defensie.nl

The F-16 aircraft that Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre promised to donate to Ukraine during his visit to Kyiv in August 2023 have still not been commissioned in Ukraine or deployed in the war, Norwegian public broadcaster NRK reported on Wednesday, citing its own sources.

"Two of the six aircraft were previously used to train Ukrainian pilots in Denmark but are now in a workshop in Belgium. They are said to have been there for over a year. The other four F-16s could not fly on their own when they were sent from Norway. They were shipped as parts in crates by cargo aircraft in April 2025. They are also at the same Sabena workshop in Belgium," the article reads.

The outlet reports significant capacity problems with the maintenance and preparation of F-16 aircraft at the Sabena workshop in Belgium, noting this is likely the main explanation for why the Norwegian F-16s are not yet in Ukraine. It also notes that the four aircraft require a large amount of work and will take about a year to prepare.

"The four aircraft delivered in crates to Sabena in Belgium are each missing around 100 parts. So it will take a long time to assemble them," an adviser from one of the Western countries working with the Ukrainian Air Force, whose name is not disclosed, told NRK.

He stressed that Ukraine urgently needs the Norwegian aircraft as it is at a critical stage of the war. "These six aircraft would have saved lives this winter and better protected infrastructure. We would have been able to shoot down more Russian missiles and drones," he said.

Norwegian Defence Minister Tore Sandvik confirmed the information and stressed in a comment to NRK that it is Ukraine, in coordination with donor countries, that "sets priorities at Sabena, including the preparation of new aircraft versus the maintenance of aircraft already in use." Sandvik maintains that ownership of the aircraft was transferred from Norway to Ukraine in 2024 and 2025.

At the same time, he acknowledged that the best F-16s Norway had when it stopped using the type were previously transferred to Romania. "The 32 aircraft that were in the best condition, as well as workshop equipment and spare parts, were then agreed to be sold to Romania to support an allied country in strengthening NATO in southern Europe," the minister said.

According to him, Norway decided to donate the remaining aircraft to Ukraine despite their poor condition. "It was well known that the aircraft required significant preparation. This is different from Denmark and the Netherlands, which were still operating F-16s in 2023 and could take an aircraft directly out of service. The government (of Norway - IF-U) still decided to donate these aircraft, as it was considered better than not donating," Sandvik said.

It is noted that several Norwegian government and armed forces representatives had previously made statements creating the impression that Norwegian F-16s were already deployed in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, many F-16s provided by Denmark and the Netherlands have been commissioned in Ukraine and helped protect energy infrastructure from Russian attacks last winter.
The Pilot Episode Follows Tom Gibbs and The 3 Secrets Behind His Rise from Small-Town Web Designer to Multi-Six-Figure Entrepreneur

DALLAS, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- E8 Markets announced the launch of a new Docu-reality series pilot aimed at people searching for alternative income opportunities in an economy where job security and even career stability are in rapid decline.

With AI expected to affect nearly 40% of jobs globally, U.S. median employee tenure down to 3.9 years, and the typical first-time homebuyer now 40, more people are looking for skill-based ways to create income without burning through their limited startup capital.

E8 Markets: "The Record Holder" - Official Trailer Speed Speed

This pressure has fueled what E8 CEO Dylan Elchami is calling the escape economy: a culture of betting apps, hype-driven speculation, and high-pressure broker environments that sell false hope to people who just want a way to create a more secure income working remotely.

At the center of the pilot is E8's SimFi trading environment, which the company positions as a more trustworthy alternative for aspiring remote entrepreneurs who are curious about trading but put off by scammy promises and gotcha-style broker platforms.

Instead of asking people to risk their own money, the E8 SimFi environment gives participants room to build an income-earning skill, trade with simulated capital, and earn performance-based payouts in exchange for their trading data, under E8's development guardrails.

"We wanted to give ordinary people the opportunity to learn a skill that empowered them to work anywhere and earn real money," said E8 CEO Dylan Elchami. "E8 is designed for people who have very little startup capital and are excited but also intimidated by the idea of trading the financial markets."

The show's pilot episode features Tom Gibbs, one of E8's record payout earners, but Gibbs' story begins well before his $377k+ in earnings, revealing how he evolved as a trader and as a person.

"My experience with trading so far has been challenging," Gibbs said. "A lot of downs, a lot of ups, and I think it's probably made me grow as a person more than anything I've ever done before."

Rather than frame Gibbs's result as a standalone milestone, the pilot traces three conditions E8 says shaped his story from his first $414.94 payout to more than $377k+ in earnings. The E8 platform is designed to do three things:

Better Decision-Making Skills

Learning with Simulated Capital

Skill Mastery Before Big Payout

The Docu-reality series calls these "The Three Levers," and they're essential to everyone who wants to trade the financial markets without risking their own capital and to earn payouts while mastering an income-earning skill.

For Gibbs, the story started with a search for something meaningful after the illness and loss of a close friend changed how he thought about time and work.

"I was trying to find something that I was really passionate about," Gibbs said. "I got that real sense of urgency to actually pursue something meaningful."

According to E8, the first lever in Gibbs's development was what the company calls the SimFi Performance Factor. Over time, Gibbs said he became more patient, more selective, and more disciplined because of his work inside the E8 Platform.

"I think after a while, you have to kind of just accept that you can't force things and rush things," Gibbs said. "Once I'd relieved that pressure, I think that, plus the experience, the patience just kind of came naturally."

The second lever was SimFi Capital Advantage . E8 said that once Gibbs was trading better, access to more simulated capital gave him room to manage risk smartly and grow his income.

The third lever was repetition across multiple accounts. E8 equates this to reps in a gym where improvement comes from repeating the same skill in the right environment. In Gibbs's case, trading with 21 accounts gave him the chance to practice disciplined decision-making without risking his own capital. The company says that is where the SimFi Ecosystem becomes a training ground where skills can build gradually and payouts can compound.

More "reps" within multiple accounts accelerated Gibbs's results once the first two levers were in place. This kind of practice is nearly impossible inside traditional broker environments, especially for people without tens of thousands in capital.

"No one should have to blow $5,000 on a broker with little or no guidance or assurance of future success," said E8 CEO. "With our platform, any trader can start with as little as $36 in enrollment fees, get access to $5,000 in simulated capital, and gradually build their own success story as they learn."

E8 said Gibbs earned approximately $377,000 in company performance-based payouts issued under program terms after he passed initial evaluations, called "SimFi Challenges."

The Docu-reality pilot is part of a broader E8 initiative that includes documentary content, trader case studies, and new participation pathways built around the same kind of structured environment that made Gibbs and their other top earners a success.

The Pilot has been in production for months and will officially release on April 20th, 2026.

For a preview of Gibbs' full story, visit his biography page or join the Gibbs Club with E8 Markets loyalty discount code: GIBBS.

About E8 Markets

E8 Markets is a SaaS educational simulation platform for financial markets. Through its SimFi-driven ecosystem, E8 combines live market data, simulated capital, structured challenge and performance programs, trader-performance telemetry, community, and a continuous education loop designed to help traders review, reset, and refine behavior over time. Built as a training-ground experience for Forex, Futures, and Crypto, the platform helps traders develop discipline, consistency, and stronger decision-making without putting live capital or margin at risk. Eligible participants may receive discretionary, performance-based payouts under program terms, subject to E8's acceptance and licensing of performance data. E8 is not a broker and does not accept margin or deposits.

Important Disclosure: Tom Gibbs's experience reflects one participant case study under E8 Markets program rules and does not, standing alone, describe or predict what other participants may achieve. Individual outcomes vary materially based on participant skill, consistency, market conditions, risk management, compliance with program rules, eligibility, and E8 Markets' acceptance and licensing of performance data.

E8 Markets operates a SaaS educational simulation platform. Enrollment fees purchase access to an educational simulation and assessment; they do not purchase live capital, a brokerage account, a commodity interest, a security, or any investment opportunity. Any payouts referenced in this release are discretionary incentive disbursements under program terms, not trading profits, investment returns, or guaranteed earnings. No representation is made that any participant will achieve results similar to those described herein.

All trading activity referenced in this release occurred in a simulated environment. Hypothetical or simulated performance has inherent limitations and does not represent actual trading; results may differ materially in live market conditions. Nothing in this release is investment advice, financial advice, or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security, commodity interest, or other financial instrument. E8 Markets is not a broker and does not accept deposits or margin.

The GIBBS loyalty discount code is valid only for eligible purchases completed from April 7, 2026 through May 7, 2026, subject to applicable promotion terms and program terms.

Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMMKsdSpDMw

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2951381/E8_Funding_LLC__Logo.jpg
New research from The State of Gen Z & Young Millennial Travel reveals how young adults are prioritizing purpose, their heritage, and meaningful connections to the world they explore.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- EF Ultimate Break, a leader in experiential travel for young adults, today announced "Win Your Wishlist," a new promotional event inviting young travelers to turn their wanderlust daydreams into a travel reality. One lucky wishlist traveler will be awarded up to $4,000 toward their next EF Ultimate Break trip, applicable to more than 175 tours offered across the six continents the company visits worldwide.

The promotion coincides with the launch of The State of Gen Z & Young Millennial Travel, Vol. III, a leading traveler sentiment study that offers a view into the insights and thoughts of young adults interested in touring the world. Conducted in partnership with Qualtrics Research, the latest findings show that Gen Z and millennials are continuing to prioritize travel, even as they navigate economic uncertainty and a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

"Our 'Win Your Wishlist' promotion reflects how Gen Z and millennials continue to prioritize travel rather than treating it as a 'someday goal,' even amid today's economic pressures and a more uncertain global landscape," said Michelle McNeice, VP of Marketing at EF Ultimate Break. "The data shows a generation approaching travel more intentionally, looking for experiences that allow them to learn something new, reconnect with their roots, and spend meaningful time with others."

Win Your Wishlist: How to Enter

From today, April 8, through May 15, travelers can head to EFUltimateBreak.com, fill out the pop-up form and start building their dream travel wishlist for a chance to win a $4,000 tour credit. Just use the heart icon to save any tours that catch your eye, and you're automatically entered. Whether it's learning to make pasta in Italy, hiking through Peru, or tracing family roots in Ireland, the only requirement is imagination.

Full terms and conditions are available here.

What Young Adults Say: Traveling with Intention

Newly released findings from EF Ultimate Break's State of Gen Z & Young Millennial Travel, Vol. III, a study of more than 1,000 American travelers ages 1835, offers a closer look at the motivations shaping how young adults travel today. The data reveals a generation that is hungry for Europe, willing to invest in quality experiences: 62% want to visit Nordic, central, or western European destinations for their next vacation; most expect to spend $2,000$4,000 on a 10-day international trip; and nearly 60% decide and book within six months  reflecting a shift toward spontaneous, intentional travel.

Other topics included:

Skillcations & Learning: 93% say learning a new skill while traveling matters most, signaling a shift toward experience over escape.





93% say learning a new skill while traveling matters most, signaling a shift toward experience over escape. Heritage & Genealogy: 69% have taken or plan to take a trip to connect with their roots - proof travel is now as much about identity as indulgence.





69% have taken or plan to take a trip to connect with their roots - proof travel is now as much about identity as indulgence. Digital Detox & Wellness: 83% say they crave time offline while traveling. Today's travelers are seeking true connection, not more connectivity.





83% say they crave time offline while traveling. Today's travelers are seeking true connection, not more connectivity. Microvacations: 90% have taken between one and five microvacations in the past year, a sign of young adult travelers facing the reality of more limited paid time off as we return-to-office.





90% have taken between one and five microvacations in the past year, a sign of young adult travelers facing the reality of more limited paid time off as we return-to-office. Glamping: 62% choose glamping over traditional camping, redefining what "outdoorsy" means for young travelers.





62% choose glamping over traditional camping, redefining what "outdoorsy" means for young travelers. Regenerative Travel: By their 30s, 69% say it's very or extremely important not to feel exhausted after a trip with more regenerative travel becoming more of a focus.

Taken together, the findings point to a generation redefining what travel means. For Gen Z and young millennials, travel is less about checking destinations off a list and more about experiences that offer learning, self-discovery, and meaningful connection with the places and people they encounter along the way.

To read the full report, visit: https://www.efultimatebreak.com/blog/state-of-gen-z-and-millennial-travel-vol-iii

About EF Ultimate Break

EF Ultimate Break is the best way to experience the world for anyone 18-35. With over 175 trips, we handle logistics for everything that makes travel a great experience from accommodations to flights to amazing tour directors to memory-making excursions. Our affordable interest-free payment plans make international travel possible for every traveler. EF Ultimate Break is part of EF World Journeys, a leader in guided, experiential travel with tour operator brands that also include EF Go Ahead Tours (adults 35+) and EF Adventures (all ages, 14+ with adult supervision).

Interested in being a college or university campus ambassador? Click here to learn more.

Are you an influencer or creator who wants to lead tours with your growing audience? Earn commissions on each booking by joining our influencer-hosted tour program.

Partners can now participate in EF Ultimate Break's affiliate marketing program and earn commissions for tour bookings. Click here to learn more.

SOURCE EF Ultimate Break
Integration of Marketnode's intelligent document automation with Finastra's Loan IQ platform accelerates loan setup, reduces manual work, and strengthens data accuracy across lending operations

SINGAPORE , April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastra, a global leader in financial services software, today announced a strategic partnership with Marketnode to digitize and automate the credit agreement onboarding process for corporate lenders. The collaboration brings together Marketnode's LLM/AIpowered intelligent document automation and Finastra's Loan IQ platform through the Loan IQ Nexus Build module. It enables FIs to digitize the credit agreement onboarding process via an integrated, automated workflow.

Finastra X Marketnode

The partnership was formed to address long-standing operational challenges faced by lenders, where credit agreement onboarding has traditionally involved manual data entry, fragmented processes, and operational risks. By combining Marketnode's advanced document extraction capabilities with Loan IQ's robust syndicated and bilateral loan servicing infrastructure, the partners are transforming a previously labor-intensive workflow into an automated, accurate, and seamless digital experience.

"Automation and intelligent data processing are key to modernizing lending operations," said Andrew Bateman, EVP of Lending at Finastra. "Through this collaboration, we are extending Loan IQ's capabilities to help financial institutions reduce manual processes, improve data accuracy, and accelerate the onboarding of credit agreements. The result is a faster path to revenue recognition and greater scalability for lenders worldwide."

Marketnode's Smartflow technology uses LLM/OCR and AI/ML to interpret both structured and unstructured data in complex credit documentation. When integrated with Loan IQ Nexus Build's APIs, these capabilities allow banks to automatically map extracted data into Loan IQ and rapidly set up deals in the system. The combined solution can reduce processing time from two hours to just 10 minutes, significantly cutting operational overhead while enhancing accuracy and compliance.

Rehan Ahmed, CEO at Marketnode, said: "Our partnership with Finastra addresses a pivotal shift in how financial institutions approach credit operations. Integrating Marketnode's AI-powered automation within Loan IQ's trusted global infrastructure enables nimble, intelligent and resilient operations at scale, in a truly digital format. This reshapes how institutions manage the end-to-end lifecycle from origination to distribution, providing them with the tools to help navigate an increasingly complex credit landscape."

The complementary solution supports both on-premise and private cloud deployment. The current configuration is hosted on Microsoft Azure, giving banks access to always-on infrastructure, real-time workflow integration, scalable AI and ML processing, and secure encrypted data exchange between Marketnode and Loan IQ. This cloud-ready architecture also reduces banks' infrastructure overhead while aligning with broader cloud transformation strategies across the financial sector.

Together, Finastra and Marketnode are redefining what is possible in corporate lending by introducing a fully automated, cloud-ready workflow that dramatically accelerates processing time, reduces manual error, and sets a new standard for digital loan servicing in the industry.

About Finastra

Finastra is a global leader in financial services software, trusted by 7,000+ customers - including 40 of the world's top 50 banks - in over 110 countries. With expertise in Lending, Payments, and Universal Banking, we deliver reliable, scalable, mission-critical solutions such as Loan IQ, LaserPro, Trade Innovation, Essence, Global PAYplus, Payments To Go, and Financial Messaging. Backed by Vista Equity Partners, we co-innovate with customers to build modern technology that helps financial institutions grow with confidence. Visit www.finastra.com or follow Finastra on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

About Marketnode

Marketnode, backed by Euroclear, HSBC, SGX Group and Temasek, is Asia-Pacific's trusted and neutral digital market infrastructure (DMI) operator. Our DMI spans four key pillars: data services, transaction management, digital transfer agency and tokenisation with distribution support  across anchor asset classes such as credit, funds, and structured products. Marketnode's modular suite of solutions provides the financial ecosystem with a ready-to-use infrastructure built on blockchain, enabling institutions to enhance their operational performance, accelerate time to market and capture new business opportunities. For more information: www.marketnode.com.

Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2950158/Finastra_X_Marketnode.jpg

SOURCE Finastra
NEW YORK, April 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The New York International Auto Show will once again recognize the dedication and service of the region's first responders with a special First Responders Appreciation Day on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, New York.

As a heartfelt thank-you to those who serve on the front lines, all active and retired fire, city, county, and state police, as well as EMS personnel, will receive complimentary admission to the Auto Show. In addition, first responders may purchase half-price tickets for up to six family members attending with them, making it an ideal opportunity for a day of family fun.

The Auto Show's longstanding relationship with first responders has taken on even deeper meaning in recent years. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association, which operates the show, donated one million face masks to New York City agencies supporting frontline workers. The following year, the Auto Show formally launched First Responders Appreciation Day as a lasting tribute to their service.

Taking place from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., First Responders Appreciation Day gives these everyday heroes the chance to experience nearly 1,000 of the latest cars and trucks, explore cutting-edge automotive technology, and enjoy a wide range of interactive exhibits. Attendees can also take advantage of the show's popular indoor and outdoor test tracks, immersive displays, and family-friendly activities throughout the venue.

"First responders are the backbone of our communities," said Mark Schienberg, president of the New York Auto Show. "This day is a token of our appreciation for the courage, commitment, and sacrifice they demonstrate every day."

To take advantage of this offer, first responders must present a valid ID or badge at entry. Discounted tickets for family members must be purchased on-site at the same time of entry.

Ticket Details (On-Site Only):

First Responders: Complimentary Admission

Family Members: $11 Adults (discounted) / $7 Children (discounted)

Limit: Up to 6 family member tickets per first responder

The 2026 New York Auto Show runs April 3 through April 12, 2026.

About the New York Auto Show

Since 1900, New York has been the staging location of North America's oldest and largest-attended auto show. For over 126 years, the New York International Auto Show has continued to be the best place to experience and learn about new products the auto industry offers. Each year, the show provides the largest display of cars and trucks in one location to millions of car buyers in a unique experience. No other venue offers this kind of comprehensive and engaging forum, where new technology and designs can be viewed, explored, and enjoyed.

SOURCE New York International Auto Show
CEO of SDR Ventures recognized among Colorado's most influential business leaders

DENVER, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli are pleased to announce Geoff Eliason, CEO/Principal of SDR Ventures, as a 2026 Colorado Titan 100 recipient. The honor places Eliason among an elite group of 100 CEOs and C-suite executives recognized for exceptional leadership, vision, and impact across Colorado's business community.

Geoff Eliason, CEO of SDR Ventures Titan 100 Colorado's Top 100 CEOs and C-Level Executives

Since taking the helm of SDR Ventures in 2021, Geoff Eliason has built the firm into one of Colorado's most respected M&A advisory practices for privately held, lower middle market businesses. What distinguishes Eliason is not simply a track record of successful transactions, it is his conviction that behind every deal is a business owner who has invested years, often decades, of their life into something they built. That belief shapes everything about how SDR Ventures operates.

"This year's Titans represent more than success; they embody resilience, purpose, and transformation. Being a Titan is not just a title; it is a mindset, a way of leading with courage, serving with integrity, and creating something that outlasts you. It is about lifting those around you and leaving a legacy that inspires others to rise. These leaders stand as proof that the future of business is driven by those who turn vision into lasting impact." Jaime Zawmon, President of Titan CEO

Under Eliason's leadership, SDR Ventures has doubled its annual deal volume and grown revenue significantly. He has cultivated a national presence while deepening roots in Colorado by forging strategic partnerships with wealth management firms and expanding the firm's network of centers of influence to connect clients with the right resources at every stage of the transaction process. The result is a firm that punches well above its size, backed by a team and culture that reflect Eliason's people-first approach to business.

His entrepreneurial instincts and strategic acumen have allowed SDR Ventures to evolve with the market without losing the relationship-driven ethos that defines the firm. For Eliason, a great outcome isn't just a closed deal - it's a business owner who walks away feeling confident they made the right decision.

"This recognition is a reflection of the people around me - our clients, our team, and the partners who trust us to show up with integrity every time. What we do at SDR Ventures matters because the stakes are real for the people we serve. Being named a Colorado Titan 100 honoree is an honor I don't take lightly, and it only deepens my commitment to the work."  Geoff Eliason, CEO/Principal, SDR Ventures

Together, the 2026 Colorado Titan 100 honorees and their companies generate more than $20 billion in annual revenue and employ over 266,000 people across the region and beyond, with over half of these companies exceeding $35 million in annual revenue. This year's honorees will be published in a limited-edition Titan 100 book, profiled exclusively online, and honored at the annual awards ceremony on June 4th, 2026.

ABOUT SDR Ventures

SDR Ventures is a Denver-based investment bank serving lower-to-middle market business owners across North America. We specialize in sell-side advisory, buy-side representation, exit planning, capital raising, and strategic consulting for privately held companies. Our team works with founders and operators across industries, including manufacturing, distribution, business services, healthcare, technology, food and beverage, agribusiness, industrial, pets, consumer, and data center. The SDR Ventures approach of "Thinking Like Owners" helps businesses maximize their value.

For more information, please visit www.sdrventures.com

Media Contact:

Kristy Marshall

SDR Ventures

720-221-9220

[email protected]

SOURCE SDR Ventures
U.S. & Canada maintain highest engagement worldwide, but wellbeing hits new low

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Global employee engagement declined for the second consecutive year, falling to 20% in 2025  its lowest level since 2020, according to Gallup's latest State of the Global Workplace report.

Low engagement continues to carry a significant economic cost. In 2024 alone, disengagement resulted in more than $10 trillion in lost productivity globally, representing 9% of global GDP.

Managers Continue to Drive Declines in Global Engagement

The ongoing decline in engagement is largely driven by falling manager engagement. Since 2022, manager engagement has dropped by nine percentage points, while engagement among individual contributors has remained largely stable.

"This report establishes a global baseline for management effectiveness in the AI era," says Gallup CEO Jon Clifton, "Businesses are investing heavily in AI, but the results are not showing up in the bottom line. Gallup's data points to an answer the corporate world has largely ignored: the manager."

U.S. and Canada Remain Most Engaged Region Globally

At 31%, the U.S. and Canada region continues to report the highest employee engagement in the world. Within the region, U.S. employees (32%) remain much more engaged than Canadian employees (21%).

Job Market Optimism Falls Sharply in U.S. and Canada, Diverging From Global Stability

Globally, perceptions of the job market have remained steady since 2022, with 52% of employees saying it is a "good time" to find a job. Employees who feel they have choice and opportunity in their work are 50% more likely to view the job market positively.

In contrast, workers in the U.S. and Canada express some of the least optimism worldwide. Fewer than half (47%) say it is a good time to find a job  near a historic low for the region. Since the previous three-year rolling average, optimism has declined sharply in both the U.S. (down 10 points to 46%) and Canada (down 16 points to 51%).

Employee Wellbeing Improves Globally but Declines to New Low in U.S. and Canada

Globally, employee wellbeing improved slightly for the first time in three years, with 34% of employees now classified as thriving. However, reports of daily stress, anger and sadness remain elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels.

Higher-level leaders report higher engagement and wellbeing than other employees, but they are also more likely to experience stress, anger, sadness and loneliness.

In the U.S. and Canada, just over half of employees (51%) are thriving  a new low for the region. Both countries have experienced some of the steepest declines in wellbeing worldwide since the pandemic, though their employees remain more likely to be thriving than those in most other global regions.

About Gallup

Gallup delivers analytics and advice to help leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 80 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of employees, customers, students and citizens than any other organization in the world.

SOURCE GALLUP, INC
Fans invited to "Scoop Up A Free Treat" and celebrate the brand's signature layered dessert

ORLANDO, Fla., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Jeremiah's Italian Ice is giving fans a new reason to celebrate each spring with the launch of the first-ever National Jelati Day, taking place Saturday, April 18. The new annual holiday honors the brand's signature frozen treat, the Jeremiah's Jelati, and invites guests nationwide to experience what makes it a fan favorite.

To mark the occasion, Jeremiah's is encouraging guests to "Scoop Up A Free Treat on Jeremiah's Jelati Day" with a special in-store offer. Fans who say "Happy National Jelati Day" on April 18th will receive a free Tadpole-sized Italian Ice, Jelati, or Flavorite with any purchase of equal or greater value.

A Jelati is a one-of-a-kind layered combination of Jeremiah's Italian Ice and creamy Soft Ice Cream. The result is a smooth, refreshing dessert that blends bold flavors with a rich, creamy finish, creating a texture and taste experience guests can't get anywhere else. With at least 18 Italian Ice flavors featured daily, plus three Soft Ice Cream options, the flavor combinations are endless, ensuring there's a treat to satisfy any palate.

"Jeremiah's has always been about creating fun, memorable moments around our signature treats, and the Jelati is truly at the center of that experience," said Michael Keller, CEO of Jeremiah's Italian Ice. "National Jelati Day is our way of celebrating what makes our brand unique while inviting new guests to try it for the first time."

With locations across the country, Jeremiah's Italian Ice has built a loyal following around its vibrant flavors and customizable combinations. National Jelati Day is designed to introduce even more guests to the brand's signature offering while establishing a new annual tradition for fans to enjoy year after year.

The celebration will take place at Jeremiah's locations nationwide and is valid only for in-store purchases. Guests must mention National Jelati Day or the offer to claim.

To find a Jeremiah's Italian Ice location near you, visit https://jeremiahsice.com/.

Photo and video media assets are linked here and here.

ABOUT JEREMIAH'S ITALIAN ICE

Founded in 1996 and franchising since 2019, Jeremiah's Italian Ice has come to be known not only for its superior frozen treats, but also for its outstanding customer service, community involvement, and an exciting brand image that exudes the Jeremiah's motto - LIVE LIFE TO THE COOLEST. Focused on delivering flavorful experiences to each guest, Jeremiah's is committed to serving its vibrant, flavorful treats with a smile in a lively environment. With 170+ locations throughout Florida, Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Colorado, Nevada, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas, Jeremiah's is offering franchises across the Southern United States. For more information about Jeremiah's franchise opportunity, visit www.jeremiahsfranchise.com.

Media Contact:

Tammy Delgado

[email protected]

954-829-9189

SOURCE Jeremiah's Italian Ice
A global moment uniting 50+ countries to share the real stories behind natural diamonds.

LONDON, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Natural Diamond Council (NDC) officially launches the World Diamond Day, a global, social-first movement unfolding across more than 50 countries in real time.

Across continents and time zones, people are sharing what natural diamonds mean to them, from personal milestones to craftsmanship to stories of origin, using #WorldDiamondDay and #NaturalDiamonds.

World Diamond Day 8 April (PRNewsfoto/Natural Diamond Council)

Anyone can take part. Simply post a photo that reflects what natural diamonds mean to you, whether it is a milestone, a memory, a piece of jewellery you love, or the journey behind it.

This first-ever occasion brings together a wide range of voices from the natural diamond industry and beyond. From jewellery houses like Repossi, Cece Jewellery, Foundrae, Anita Ko, and Buccellati, to large-scale international retailers including Signet (the world's largest diamond jewellery retailer, parent company of Blue Nile, Ernest Jones, and Jared), Chow Tai Fook, and Jawhara. Influencers and tastemakers such as Diamonds Girl, The Champagne Gem, Stephanie Gottlieb, Kate Young, and Tallulah Willis are also participating, helping carry these stories across fashion, culture, and social platforms globally.

World Diamond Day is also being supported across the broader diamond community, including organisations such as the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), the World Diamond Council, the Responsible Jewellery Council, the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council of India (GJEPC), the Antwerp World Diamond Centre (AWDC), the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE), the Shanghai Diamond Exchange, and the International Institute of Gemology (IIG).

Participation also spans key diamond origin regions, including Botswana, Angola, Canada, Namibia, and South Africa, showing the power of natural diamonds at their source.

With millions of social engagements anticipated in a single day, World Diamond Day is designed as a shared, global moment for one voice, one message, many stories.

This isn't a campaign. It's a collective moment shaped by the people who join in, offering a chance to see natural diamonds through the lens of real people and real stories shared around the world in real time.

In a world where so much feels fast and easily replicated, natural diamonds remain a constant. They are symbols of something deeper: time, memory, and human connection. Formed over billions of years, each one carries a story. Today, those stories are being shared across the world.

A dedicated toolkit is available at naturaldiamonds.com/worlddiamondday/ for those who want it, with optional assets and guidelines. Or participants can simply post in their own voice.

Worn. Given. Passed down. Never forgotten.

Today, the story of natural diamonds belongs to everyone.

ABOUT NATURAL DIAMOND COUNCIL (NDC)

The Natural Diamond Council is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting and protecting the integrity of the natural diamond industry worldwide. The NDC serves as the authoritative voice of natural diamonds, inspiring and educating consumers through compelling stories of their rarity, positive impact, and emotional value. The NDC supports the livelihoods of over 10 million people across the diamond supply chain.

www.naturaldiamonds.com

@onlynaturaldiamonds

SOURCE Natural Diamond Council
Ed Advancement highlights how the Front Porch Portal is helping students easily access critical information, boosting engagement and reducing administrative burden

NEW YORK, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ed Advancementa national nonprofit strengthening the operational capacity of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which play an outsized role in advancing social and economic mobility released a new report detailing how a mobile-friendly portal co-created with HBCUs can improve both the student experience and create efficiencies for institutions. The report released today, Answers at Their Fingertips: Building a Front Porch Portal for Centralized Student Support, profiles the multi-year collaboration with Virginia State University to develop an ultra-affordable way for students to navigate digital platforms and stay on track to graduate.

"With the Front Porch, the problem that we're trying to solve is really to get students access to their data," said Dr. Makola Abdullah, President of Virginia State University. "We feel very strongly that the more the students are able to navigate the administrative side of their work, then they can spend more time on the academic side and do better in class."

HBCUs have seen significant increases in enrollment during the post-pandemic era, including an increase of almost 6% from 2023 to 2024 and a nearly 4% increase from 2024 to 2025. Institutions are seeking ways to serve more students effectively, yet many still rely on fragmented systems that make it difficult for students to find critical information, leading to missed deadlines, confusion, and disengagement.

Developed through a collaboration between Ed Advancement and Virginia State University, with support from Axim Collaborative, the Front Porch Portal brings together information from across campus systems into a single, user-friendly interface. The platform enables students to access schedules, grades, financial aid, housing, and campus resources in one placewhile surfacing real-time alerts, deadlines, and next steps to drive action. The Front Porch Portal connects to an institution's existing Slate CRM, adding functionality without additional costs.

"Students today expect clarity, immediacy, and simplicity. Too often and unintentionally, the many and disparate systems on campus make it harder than it should be for students to access critical information easily," said Jim Runcie, Ed Advancement's CEO. "The Front Porch Portal gives students the right information, at the right time, in the right format."

Drawing on implementation at institutions including Virginia State University, South Carolina State University, and Benedict College, the report report highlights several key insights for higher education leaders:

Fragmented communication creates barriers to success: Students often navigate multiple systems to access financial aid, academic records, and campus resourcesleading to confusion, missed deadlines, and disengagement. Multiple point solutions mean students may look for tuition payments in a financial aid portal (or financial aid in the payment portal), for example.



Students often navigate multiple systems to access financial aid, academic records, and campus resourcesleading to confusion, missed deadlines, and disengagement. Multiple point solutions mean students may look for tuition payments in a financial aid portal (or financial aid in the payment portal), for example. Centralized, mobile-first access improves student action: The Front Porch Portal consolidates key informationsuch as schedules, grades, financial aid status, and deadlinesinto a single interface, helping students quickly identify and act on next steps.



The Front Porch Portal consolidates key informationsuch as schedules, grades, financial aid status, and deadlinesinto a single interface, helping students quickly identify and act on next steps. High student demand for a unified platform: In design sessions for the Front Porch Portal, 100% of participating students said they would regularly use a single, centralized platform to access critical information.



In design sessions for the Front Porch Portal, 100% of participating students said they would regularly use a single, centralized platform to access critical information. Operational efficiencies for institutions: By shifting routine inquiries to self-service, institutions project meaningful reductions in administrative workloadVirginia State University anticipates that the Front Porch Portal could reduce call center volume by up to 50%.



By shifting routine inquiries to self-service, institutions project meaningful reductions in administrative workloadVirginia State University anticipates that the Front Porch Portal could reduce call center volume by up to 50%. Scalable, low-lift implementation: Built on existing CRM infrastructure, the platform can be deployed in as little as a few days for core functionality, with full implementation in approximately three months.

To learn more about Front Porch Portal, read the full report.

About Ed Advancement: Ed Advancement is a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing socioeconomic mobility by strengthening mission-focused colleges and universities, including historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), that serve low-income, first-generation, and historically under-resourced students. Through deep institutional partnerships, strategic capacity building, and operational and technology-based solutions, Ed Advancement works collaboratively with higher education leaders, philanthropy, and other partners to improve enrollment, retention, and graduation outcomes while supporting long-term institutional sustainability. Since 2018, Ed Advancement has worked alongside more than 70 colleges and universities in 19 states and the District of Columbia, serving nearly 300,000 students.

SOURCE Ed Advancement
Interfax-Ukraine to host discussion 'Troop withdrawal from Donbas and Luhansk region: security guarantees or 'freezing' according to the Russian scenario?'

On Thursday, April 9, at 12.00, a discussion entitled "Troop withdrawal from Donbas and Luhansk region: security guarantees or 'freezing' according to the Russian scenario?"

Participants:

Director of the Intermarium Institute and Candidate of Historical Sciences Valentyn Haidai;

political expert and Candidate of Philosophical Sciences Oleksandra Reshmedilova;

expert at the Ukrainian Institute for the Future and consultant to the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defense Ivan Stupak;

ice-Rector of the European University and political expert Serhiy Yahodzinsky.

The event will be streamed on the Interfax-Ukraine YouTube channel.

Admission requires registration on the spot with press ID cards.
Multimillion-dollar alliance to deploy sovereign-ready AI infrastructure across key global markets, with Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore among the first

BRISBANE, Australia, April 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- OneQode, in collaboration with Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd. (TSE: 6501), and Cylix Applied Intelligence, today announced a Sovereign AI Factory initiative, a strategic alliance to deploy sovereign AI infrastructure across key global markets.

Hitachi Vantara, OneQode and Cylix Applied Intelligence Logos

Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Singapore are among the first markets selected for the initial phase, while the United States is targeted for future expansion. The initiative will enable governments and enterprises to deploy advanced AI capabilities while maintaining full control over data, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance.

Each partner contributes a key capability to this architecture:

OneQode delivers energy, facilities, telecoms and compute infrastructure - performance GPU compute, connected by their low-latency global backbone.

Hitachi Vantara brings Hitachi iQ, a validated AI infrastructure platform that integrates accelerated compute, networking and storage to keep data close to where it's processed.

Cylix Applied Intelligence architects and operates the AI layer on top, from readiness assessments and RAG deployments through to fully managed production AI services.

What the partners are saying

"We're genuinely excited to be working with Hitachi Vantara and Cylix on this," said Matt Shearing, CEO, OneQode. "We cut our teeth on gaming and financial services, building infrastructure for firms where microseconds matter. It's given us a particular way of thinking about compute, networking and data centre operations, and there's real demand across the Global South for sovereign AI infrastructure built to that standard, and this alliance lets us deliver it."

"More than half of the enterprise tenders we're seeing in Australia now specify sovereign-capable solutions," said Nathan Knight, Vice President and Managing Director, Australia and New Zealand, Hitachi Vantara. "Boards and management teams are now treating data sovereignty as a critical requirement alongside operational resilience and security. In the event of foreign ownership, control and intervention, the impact on critical infrastructure and intellectual property would be catastrophic. We applaud OneQode's decision to make Australia one of the first locations for its Sovereign AI Factory network, and we're committed to supporting that ambition with infrastructure that meets the standard these workloads demand."

"Sovereign AI requires more than infrastructure; it requires the ability to operationalize AI at scale. At Cylix, we design and deploy Sovereign AI Factory architectures and deliver fully managed AI services on top of OneQode's sovereign infrastructure and Hitachi iQ platforms. This allows organizations to move from concept to production quickly, while maintaining full control over their data, compliance, and operational environment. Our role is to ensure AI workloads are not just deployed, but continuously optimized, governed, and delivering real business value," said Ross DiStefano, Senior Vice President, HPC&AI, Cylix Applied Intelligence.

Together, the three companies are building a turnkey sovereign AI platform  one that lets organisations train and deploy AI models securely, keep sensitive data within their own jurisdiction, and scale with confidence.

About OneQode

OneQode is a global provider of mission-critical digital infrastructure. The company operates an integrated technology stack spanning energy, facilities, network, and high-performance compute  enabling governments, enterprises, and financial institutions to run AI and latency-critical workloads at scale across Asia-Pacific and key global markets. Learn more at oneqode.com.

About Cylix Applied Intelligence

Cylix Applied Intelligence (Cylix Solutions) is a global AI solutions firm that helps organizations move from concept to deployment. Through structured AI use case assessments and workshops, Cylix identifies high-impact opportunities that deliver measurable ROI. Cylix provides end-to-end AI strategy, development, infrastructure expertise, and managed AI services to accelerate enterprise AI adoption worldwide. Learn more at cylixsolutions.com or contact [email protected].

About Hitachi Vantara

Hitachi Vantara is transforming the way data fuels innovation. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Vantara provides the data foundation the world's leading innovators rely on. Through data storage, infrastructure systems, cloud management and digital expertise, the company helps customers build the foundation for sustainable business growth. To learn more, visit hitachivantara.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi contributes to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates globally in four sectors  Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries  and the Strategic SIB Business Unit for new growth businesses. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi generates value from integrating data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges.

HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.

SOURCE OneQode
AUSTIN, Texas, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL) has received notice of an unsolicited mini-tender offer by TRC Capital Investment Corporation (TRC) dated March 24, 2026, to purchase up to 1,000,000 shares of Oracle's common stock at a price of $140.50 per share in cash. The offer represents less than 0.04% of Oracle's outstanding common stock.

Oracle is not affiliated with TRC and does not endorse TRC's mini-tender offer or the offer documentation. TRC's offer price is below the current market price of Oracle's common stock as of the date of the offer.

Oracle is expressing no opinion and is neutral as to whether Oracle stockholders should tender their shares in response to TRC's offer. Stockholders are urged to evaluate the offer carefully, consult with their financial advisors, and obtain current market quotations for their shares of Oracle common stock.

TRC's offer is subject to numerous conditions, and because the offer is for less than 5% of Oracle's outstanding shares, it is not subject to many of the disclosure and procedural requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that are applicable to larger tender offers. As a result, stockholders should exercise caution with respect to TRC's offer. The SEC has cautioned investors about mini-tender offers, providing guidance to investors at https://www.sec.gov/reportspubs/investor-publications/investorpubsminitendhtm.html.

Oracle encourages stockholders who have already tendered their shares to review the terms of the offer, including their rights of withdrawal, and to consult with their financial advisors.

The offer is currently scheduled to expire at one minute after 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on April 22, 2026. TRC may extend the offer, or terminate it, before the expiration date.

Oracle requests that a copy of this news release be included with all distributions of materials relating to TRC's offer.

About Oracle

Oracle offers integrated suites of applications plus secure, autonomous infrastructure in the Oracle Cloud. For more information about Oracle (NYSE: ORCL), please visit us at www.oracle.com.

Trademarks

Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud companyushering in the new era of cloud computing.

SOURCE Oracle Corporation
Positive result despite challenging market conditions

Further investments in automation and digitalization

Strategic acquisitions strengthen network

ZWIJNDRECHT, Netherlands, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2025, Royal Van Leeuwen achieved a positive result despite challenging market conditions. The market was characterized by low demand, overall decreasing price levels and continued uncertainty driven by geopolitical and regulatory developments. The volume sold ex-stock from European distribution companies was in line with 2024, albeit at considerably lower price levels. Activity level in the global Energy project segment, however, was lower.

In 2025, the total revenue of Royal Van Leeuwen amounted to 1,223 million (2024: 1,335 million). The operating result amounted to 17 million (2024: 22 million) and the net result was 12 million (2024: 14 million). The solvency ratio improved to 51.9% (2024: 49.8%).

Market conditions remained difficult throughout the year. In Europe in particular, industrial demand was weak and investment decisions were frequently delayed. Volumes sold were broadly in line with 2024, but at lower price levels. In the Energy segment, overall project activity declined, especially in the second half of the year, as customers maintained a cautious investment stance.

Van Leeuwen advanced automation and digitalization across its network, continuing to successfully roll out its new ERP system SAP S/4HANA to additional operating companies. The safety performance improved significantly, and sustainability efforts led to being awarded the EcoVadis Silver Medal, placing Van Leeuwen among the top 15% of sustainable companies in its industry.

Van Leeuwen strengthened its market position through targeted acquisitions. In June 2025, Dan-Equip A/S was acquired, a trading company in the offshore and energy segment in Denmark. The acquisition of Corrotherm International, a stockist of high-quality nickel alloy pipe material based in the Netherlands, and the acquisition of C+R HYDRAULICS, a distribution specialist in cylinder tubes and chrome-plated bars based in Germany, were completed early 2026.

Joop Sassen, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO: "With more than a hundred years of history, we have proven our ability to adapt to changing market conditions. In 2025, our teams across the globe once again demonstrated a strong solution-oriented mindset, using their creativity and commitment to service our customers. Our long-term customer and supplier relationships, global network, and experienced, committed teams provide a strong foundation for the future. While uncertainty remains part of the business environment, we approach 2026 with confidence."

The online Annual Book 2025 of Van Leeuwen is available via this link.

Photos are available via this link .

Royal Van Leeuwen is an international distribution company specializing in steel pipes, and pipe and tube applications. The family-owned company, with its head office in Zwijndrecht, the Netherlands, was founded in 1924 and is active in virtually all industrial sectors. The company has 75 branches spread across 32 countries throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and North America. Van Leeuwen's 2,200 employees have specialist knowledge of sourcing, processing, project management, logistics and stock planning and work closely together with customers in its markets. The combination of global logistics and knowledge of products and customer applications makes Van Leeuwen a leading company in its markets.

www.vanleeuwen.com

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2949652/Royal_Van_Leeuwen_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Royal Van Leeuwen
LOS ANGELES, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Reolink, a global leader in intelligent visual technology for homes and businesses, today is proud to announce its official integration with Homey, a smart home platform by Athom, part of LG Electronics that connects devices from more than a thousand brands into one ecosystem.

Reolink officially integrated with Homey

This collaboration means Reolink cameras are no longer just for monitoring, as they now work in harmony with lights, locks, and even thermostats. By joining the Homey ecosystem, Reolink cameras can trigger "Homey Flows," which are automations that run based on what the camera detects.

"Through our partnership with Homey, Reolink cameras become the eyes of the entire smart home, detecting what matters and creating a home that genuinely responds to what's happening around it,"said Annie Potter, Head of Marketing at Reolink (North America), "This is what truly connected living looks like."

Synergizing Vision with Whole-Home Intelligence

With this integration, Reolink devices move beyond standalone cameras to become active participants in a Homey-powered smart home. Reolink's built-in smart person, pet, and vehicle detection can now be used as direct triggers for Homey Flows, allowing cameras to automatically activate other smart devices to create a more responsive living environment. For example, a person detection event in the backyard can automatically initiate an "On Watch" mode, in which the patio lights turn on, the living room blinds close, and other connected cameras start recording the moment the camera detects someone's presence.

This partnership simplifies smart home management by bringing everything into one intuitive interface. Directly from the Homey App, users can receive instant doorbell and motion notifications, capture snapshots automatically during events, and even turn on camera spotlights, trigger sirens, and change viewing angle through pan-tilt rotation. By linking Reolink's AI intelligence with Homey's vast ecosystem of devices from more than a thousand brands, a security setup evolves from a dedicated monitoring system into a proactive, responsive part of a household's daily routine. Reolink's extensive lineup of WiFi, PoE, and NVR systems, with the exception of 4G/LTE models, now works in perfect harmony with the Homey environment.

Unlocking New Dimensions of User-centric Security

Integrating Reolink devices into the Homey ecosystem is a seamless process: users simply search the Reolink app in the Homey App Store, add their cameras, and immediately begin building Flows using camera events as active triggers.

"A camera that detects someone is useful," said Stefan Witkamp, CEO of Athom. "A camera that detects someone and then locks your doors, turns on the lights, and sends you a photo  that's a smart home."

By bridging the gap between high-performance security hardware and versatile cross-brand logic, Reolink ensures a future-proof ecosystem that interacts effortlessly with a modern lifestyle. This collaboration marks a major step forward in delivering a truly user-centric and interconnected home experience.

Visit Reolink's official website to learn more about the Reolink and Homey Integration.

About Reolink

Reolink offers smart security solutions for homes and businesses, aiming for a seamless security experience with its wide range of products. Serving millions globally, it provides video surveillance and protection, standing out for its commitment to security technology innovation. For more information about Reolink, please visit www.Reolink.com.

About Athom (Creators of Homey)

Athom is the company behind Homey, a smart home platform for control, automation, and energy management. Homey connects more than 50,000 devices from over 1,000 brands. Founded in 2014 in the Netherlands, Athom was acquired by LG Electronics in 2024 to expand the Homey ecosystem worldwide. Learn more at homey.app.

SOURCE Reolink Innovation Inc.
HIGH POINT, N.C., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- South University (SU) marked a major milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its High Point campus, celebrating the opening of its expanded and renovated space at 4050 Premier Drive. The event underscores the university's deepening investment in healthcare education and workforce development in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad region.

South University Celebrates New Chapter for High Point Campus with Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

Featuring remarks from South University leadership and community partners, the ceremony included the official ribbon cutting and guided tours of the campus's additional academic space. The space, which spans over 13,000 square feet, includes two (2) new clinical skills labs, nursing simulation labs, clinical exam rooms, wellness space, student lounge, and student learning spaces. Attendees connected with university faculty and staff over light refreshments to celebrate the campus's continued growth.

"I'm proud to celebrate South University's new campus and the expansion of opportunities it brings, right here in our city. Education isn't a handout  it's a hand up  and when we open doors, our students walk through them and go on to transform the world in ways we can't yet imagine," said High Point Mayor Cyril Jefferson. "This investment shows our confidence in the future, and we stand ready to partner in this work to create opportunity, strengthen healthcare, and help more people achieve the American dream."

The High Point campus relocated to 4050 Premier Drive from its previous location on the same road, to a location that continues to support its expanding academic programs. The campus features industry-grade nursing training facilities and simulation rooms, with plans for further expansion to provide students with additional hands-on clinical learning environments.

"This new space reflects our commitment to providing students in the Piedmont Triad access to the hands-on training and personalized support they need to launch meaningful healthcare careers," said Devin Byrd, Campus Director and Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations at South University, High Point. "We fully expect this space to provide an enriching environment that will allow students, faculty and our community members to engage in collaboration that will foster growth opportunities."

SU, High Point offers a focused selection of healthcare and nursing degrees, including the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and the Associate of Science in Allied Health Science. The campus is designed to provide students balancing work, education, and life with a personalized and supportive learning environment, featuring small class sizes and one-on-one faculty engagement.

The investment comes at a critical time for the region. North Carolina will need an estimated 17,500 additional nurses over the next decade to keep pace with the state's aging and growing population.1 The Triad is among the areas projected to be hardest hit. The healthcare programs offered by South University, High Point are positioned to help address this gap by preparing qualified graduates to enter the workforce in high-demand roles across the region's hospitals, clinics, and healthcare systems.

"Every great community is built on strong pillars, a vibrant faith community, a thriving business community, dedicated nonprofits, accessible healthcare, and quality education. South University uniquely bridges many of these pillars, strengthening the very foundation that makes High Point a great place to live, work, and grow," said Julie Hill, Chief of Staff, Business High Point. "On behalf of Business High PointChamber of Commerce, we proudly welcome South University to our community and congratulate them on this exciting chapter."

SU, High Point has built relationships with healthcare providers across the Piedmont Triad to provide students with clinical placement opportunities and to help place qualified graduates into critical roles including Novant Health, Moses Cone and Gateway.

"Our High Point campus is a testament to South University's mission to serve with purpose and lead with impact," said Benjamin J. DeGweck, CEO and Chancellor of South University. "The Piedmont Triad needs more healthcare professionals, and we're putting resources behind that need  investing in facilities, faculty, and a student-centered experience that prepares graduates to make a real difference in their communities."

ABOUT SOUTH UNIVERSITY

South University, founded in 1899, has grown from a single location in Savannah, Georgia, to serving over 10,000 students across 11 ground campuses and online curricula. The university offers a wide range of programs, from associate to doctoral levels, focusing on fields such as healthcare, business, and technology.

Programs, credential levels, technology, and scheduling options vary by school and are subject to change. Not all programs are available to residents of all U.S. states. Administrative office: South University, 709 Mall Boulevard, Savannah, GA 31406-4805  2026 South University. All rights reserved.

South University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees. South University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of South University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).

1 https://workforceforhealth.org/news/nc-health-news-nursing-shortage-persists-in-north-carolina-despite-recent-improvements

Media Contact:

Juliette Haas

[email protected]

SOURCE South University
The all-new wheeled dual-arm humanoid robot Panther is fitted with the world's first mass-produced 8-DoF bionic arms, an adaptive intelligent gripper on its high-DOF joint platform and features an omnidirectional four-wheel steering and four-wheel drive (4WS+4WD) chassis  boasting more agile mobility, more stable operational performance and further underscoring UniX AI's differentiated technology path and real-world deployment capabilities.

UniX AI has adopted a wheeled dual-arm architecture solution for its Panther humanoid robot rather than the current dominant approach of combining legged locomotion with a general-purpose foundation model, which delivers high deployment efficiency in real-world settings.

This practical design allows Panther to cover a wide range of application scenarios from commercial services and home/personal assistance to public and industrial uses. Rather than seeking to build the "most human-like robot," UniX AI prioritizes usability, real-world applications, and customer experience to deliver superior stability, flexibility, and task execution efficiency in today's commercial environments, making Panther particularly well-suited for complex indoor service scenarios and enabling it to become one of the first humanoid robots to move toward real household deployment.

Evolved from the Wanda 2.0, Panther enables an 80 cm vertical lift of upper body and unlocks ground-level operation. Coupled with the upgrade to a 48V power platform, the robot delivers more abundant overall output, with markedly enhanced stability for explosive movements and high-speed control. Panther features 34 high-DoF joints, the world's first mass-produced 8-DoF bionic arms, and adaptive intelligent grippers. Built on an omnidirectional four-wheel steering and drive chassis, it delivers agile and flexible mobility. Panther is powered by UniX AI's self-developed technology trinity:

UniFlex: supports efficient cross-scenario task generalization and imitation learning.

supports efficient cross-scenario task generalization and imitation learning. UniTouch: integrates visuo-tactile multimodal models to enhance precision manipulation and interactive capabilities with stability.

integrates visuo-tactile multimodal models to enhance precision manipulation and interactive capabilities with stability. UniCortex: provides long-term task planning models for seamless execution of complex, multi-step tasks.

Panther is designed for diverse real-world scenarios, including commercial services such as hotels, reception, retail, and guided tours; home and personal services such as household tasks, elderly care, and companionship; and public or industrial applications like security patrols, research, and education.

"We are at a pivotal inflection point where embodied intelligence is evolving from sci-tech innovation into social infrastructure. Technology's power lies in its practicality, and commercial value comes from real-world deployment. That's why we remain committed to independent R&D and continuous iteration in authentic scenarios. With our integrated trinity of algorithms, hardware, and applications, we have already scaled from lab validation to mass delivery, and from local deployment to global expansion," said Fred Yang, Founder and CEO of UniX AI. "UniX AI is not only building advanced technology and products, we are bringing robots into homes, hotels, public spaces, and security operations, making them reliable productivity tools for society.

Fred Yang was born in 2000 and he is a typical member of the post-2000 generation. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science from the University of Michigan and pursued a Ph.D. in computer science at Yale University. In 2024, Fred suspended his doctoral studies and return to China to found UniX AI. In his view, over the past 20 years, all fields related to hardware have ultimately been dominated by Chinese companies. This is the reason why he seized the current window of opportunity for embodied intelligence and returned to China to start his own business.

On March 31, Fred Yang was also invited to speak at the Morgan Stanley China Summit 2026 in Shenzhen, where he presented how UniX AI service robots are being deployed in real-world scenarios, featuring a live, fully autonomous tea-making demonstration by Panther on side. UniX AI's technology route, commercialization progress received strong interest from leading investment institutions, further highlighting market recognition of the company's differentiated path.

Known for advocating a deployment-first strategy, Fred emphasized that real intelligence comes from real-world datacollected through robots actively working across scenarios such as hospitality and service environments.

This philosophy was demonstrated live, as Panther completed a fully autonomous tea-making process on site, highlighting UniX AI's progress in bringing service robots from concept into real-world application.

Since 2025, UniX AI achieved mass production and steadily delivered over 100 units per month, making it one of the few embodied intelligence companies worldwide to achieve triple-digit monthly deliveries. This demonstrates that UniX AI has fully integrated the entire value chain from R&D and production testing to supply chain management and global delivery, propelling embodied intelligent robots into large-scale commercial deployment.

Its Wanda 2.0 wheeled dual-arm humanoid robot is already operating in security, hospitality, and retail food service. Backed by solid delivery data and a rapidly iterating product portfolio, UniX AI is accelerating a "data-product-market" business model. With hundreds of millions of yuan worth of orders in hand, UniX AI is leveraging its industry-leading capabilities to race toward a monthly delivery target of 1,000 units. UniX AI will continue to advance along the paths of productization, globalization, and ecosystem development, striving to make its products a true part of societal infrastructure and entering real household deployment.

Learn more about the Panther: https://www.unix-group.ai/panther/2023.html.

For more information, please visit www.unix-group.ai.

Contact: [email protected]

About UniX AI

UniX AI, founded in 2024 and headquartered in Suzhou, China, focuses on the R&D, mass production, and real-world deployment of general-purpose humanoid robots. The company is committed to becoming a global scenario-driven robotics service provider, delivering end-to-end humanoid robot services across the full lifecycle.

Bringing together world-class talent across algorithms, engineering, product design, and supply chain, the company has independently developed core technologies including UniTouch, UniFlex, and UniCortex. UniX AI's product matrix includes the Wanda series, the Martian bipedal robot, and the newly launched Panther series.

SOURCE UniX AI
DENTON, Texas, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Vibrant Capital has announced a strategic partnership with the University of North Texas (UNT) designed to connect university research and student talent with commercially grounded projects, internships and applied innovation work. The collaboration establishes a framework for faculty engagement, student project work, and early pilots that can move from idea to demonstration and, where appropriate, on to real-world deployment.

For Vibrant Capital, UNT represents an unusually strong partner because of its scale, interdisciplinary culture and ability to connect academic work to practical problems. The university's reach across information science, artificial intelligence, learning, logistics and other applied domains creates room for a partnership that is broad in ambition and disciplined in execution.

The initial phase of the partnership is expected to focus on a first wave of sponsored projects, student internships and micro-internships, faculty-facing collaboration opportunities and showcase moments that make the relationship visible to students, researchers, employers and future sponsors.

"What drew us to UNT is not just the depth of talent on campus; it is the way the university brings a variety of disciplines into the same conversation and stays close to the practical side of innovation. We see a chance to build projects here that are meaningful for students and useful in the market."

 Shadman Zafar, Vibrant Capital

"Partnerships like this are most valuable when they create meaningful opportunities for students and give faculty and external collaborators a serious platform for applied work. We are pleased to work with Vibrant Capital on initiatives that connect learning, research and real-world problem solving."

 Dr. Kinshuk, University of North Texas

Initial areas of collaboration include:

Sponsored applied research and prototype development in AI and information-centered systems.

Internships, micro-internships and student project teams tied to real business problems.

Flagship commercialization projects, including early work in embodied AI and service automation.

Workshops, showcases and speaker events that connect students, faculty and industry practitioners.

About UNT

The University of North Texas is a Carnegie R1 public research university and the largest university in Dallas-Fort Worth  one of the most dynamic regions in the world. Through its campuses in Denton and Frisco, Texas, UNT serves nearly 44,000 students with 242 degree programs and awarded more than 13,000 degrees last year. UNT proudly serves in the vanguard of leading American universities willing to measure success by how well we educate and support every qualified student who commits to learning with us. We deliver outcomes that matter to students, families, employers, and the nation, as a public university committed to create enduring value for the public good.

About Vibrant Capital

Vibrant Capital is an operator-led investment and company-building platform focused on scaling AI in the real economy. The firm pursues partnership-led applied innovation, combining project sponsorship and execution support to move promising ideas toward pilots, products and operating businesses. Learn more at https://www.vibrantcapital.ai/.

Media contacts: Vibrant Capital  Claire Wright, [email protected]

SOURCE Vibrant Capital
ESPOO, Finland, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent results on automated driving show substantial benefits by reducing fatal accidents and raising travel quality. A small decrease in CO 2 emissions is also expected. A minor disadvantage is a small increase in travel time through rerouting. VTT played a key role in the impact assessments.

The impacts of automated driving of passenger cars were studied in an EU Flagship project. The results were based on data simulations that were set using data collected with real automated vehicles in real traffic on motorways, urban and rural areas, and on proving grounds. Automated driving was assumed to be available on urban streets and motorways in good driving conditions - not yet everywhere or in all conditions.

"To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive impact assessment so far for the future use of automated vehicles in European traffic. For VTT, working with the European OEMs and other stakeholders developing automated driving was a great opportunity to be part of shaping the future of transport," says Satu Innamaa, Principal Scientist at VTT.

According to the results, 20% of fatal accidents on motorways today would be avoided if 30% of passenger cars in the traffic flow were automated. In urban settings, the corresponding reduction in accidents would be 22%. The number of accidents with severe and slight injuries would decrease even more. A minor negative impact would be an increase of 0-4% in travel times due to changes in target speed and rerouting, but technical solutions were found to reduce this increase.

"Overall, the benefits of automated driving are expected to outweigh societal costs and potential negative consequences by a great margin. From a socio-economic perspective, the safety impact and increased travel comfort form the main monetary benefits, whereas the increase in travel time brings monetary disadvantage," says Satu Innamaa.

Automated driving is likely to increase travel quality and produce significant impacts on mobility. By enabling users to engage in non-driving-related activities, enhanced travel quality can lead to more frequent and longer trips.

Manifold impacts on the transport system

The project addressed EU-level impacts covering the entire traffic flow, i.e. automated and non-automated light and heavy vehicles, across all driving scenarios. The results on traffic efficiency and environment revealed that, with automated vehicles in the traffic flow, the average tractive energy use per vehicle-kilometre travelled decreases under most conditions. The impacts on CO 2 emissions at the network level were small (between -1% and 0%).

"While automated vehicles tend to be electric, the project was agnostic to the motor type. It was important to limit the scope of research strictly to the impact of the changes in driving behaviour caused by automation - and not to mix it with impact of the electrification of the fleet," Innamaa explains the impact on CO 2 emissions.

In addition to the reduction in current traffic accidents due to the introduction of automated driving, it may lead to new types of accidents. The study estimated these to account for 0.3% on motorways at a 30% penetration rate, resulting from situations where the automated vehicle cannot continue driving and needs to slow down or even stop before the human driver takes over control. Thus, this share of new accidents is estimated to be very small in comparison to the reduction in current accidents that automated driving will bring.

Key impacts of automated driving (assuming a 30% adoption of passenger cars):

Fatal accidents reduced by 20% on motorways, and by 22% in urban traffic

Average travel-time increased by 0-4% for all vehicles in traffic

Tractive energy use per vehicle-kilometre decreased

Small decrease in CO 2 emissions

emissions Increased travel comfort

EU Flagship project

The 60 million project was coordinated by Volkswagen AG, but most leading car manufacturers with production in Europe, as well as other relevant stakeholders, were represented in the consortium. VTT was responsible for multiple work packages, including the project's methodology and the impact assessment. The four-year project was completed in November 2025.

"It was inspiring to work with a consortium, testing real automated cars that are being developed for the market, and to explore the diverse impacts of automated driving on the transport system. The project was extremely interesting but also very challenging. We had to consider a multitude of aspects when developing the methodology and then bring all the pieces together to execute the evaluation. Leading a multinational team across organisational boundaries brought its own added dimension," says Satu Innamaa.

Key facts of the Hi-Drive project

Duration 53 months, starting from 1 July 2021

53 months, starting from 1 July 2021 Total budget 60 million, EC funding 30 million

60 million, 30 million Coordinator Volkswagen AG

Volkswagen AG Included 53 organisations

www.hi-drive.eu

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hi-drive/

The Hi-Drive project was an Innovation Action, co-funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 programme with the grant agreement number 101006664.

For further information:

Satu Innamaa, Principal Scientist, VTT, Tel. +358 20 722 6112

Further information on VTT:

Pepita Wakkola

Manager, Communications

+358 50 360 7242, [email protected]

www.vtt.fi

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

SOURCE VTT Info
Sunda Energy PLC (AIM:SNDA) has announced a transformational pivot into New Zealand production while lining up up to 6.7 million in fresh funding, as the company looks to balance near-term cash-generating assets against a pending drill timetable in Timor-Leste.

The AIM-listed group has agreed to acquire Matahio Energy NZ, whose onshore Taranaki Basin assets produced around 1,028 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025. The package includes four production permits and one exploration permit, with 2P reserves of 2.6 MMboe, 2C contingent resources of 0.5 MMboe and 2U prospective resources of 5.8 MMboe. Sunda said the assets offer material cashflow potential and a route to production growth beyond 2,000 boepd under a development plan that includes the Oru-2 exploration well in late 2026.

"The company can look forward to an exciting and robust future built around a portfolio of New Zealand production, development and exploration assets that are complementary to our existing business in Timor-Leste and the Philippines. Diversifying Sunda's portfolio through this acquisition will enable the company to effectively develop all areas of our business for the benefit of shareholders and host country stakeholders," Sunda chief executive Dr Andy Butler said in a statement.

"The assets being acquired come with tremendous potential, particularly around bringing gas resources to the New Zealand market, and I look forward to working on delivery of this potential with the brilliant in-country team that will be joining Sunda once the acquisition has completed."

To fund the move, Sunda has conditionally raised up to 6.7 million through a 900,000 firm subscription, up to 4.25 million of convertible loan notes, 800,000 of conditional subscriptions and a WRAP retail offer of up to 750,000. The retail offer is priced at 2.975p per new share on a post-reorganisation basis and includes one warrant for every two shares subscribed, exercisable at 4.4625p over three years. The company is also proposing a 100-for-1 capital reorganisation, with shareholders due to vote on the package at a general meeting on 29 April.

At the same time, Sunda updated the market on Timor-Leste, where it has signed a letter of intent with Finder to collaborate on a shared drilling campaign. The plan is to secure a semi-submersible rig suitable for Finders KTJ wells and Sundas Chuditch-2 appraisal well, alongside possible coordination on services and logistics. The trade-off is timing: Chuditch-2, previously targeted for Q2 2026, is now expected to be drilled as early as possible in 2027, and Sunda has asked regulator ANP to extend the PSC beyond its current 18 June 2026 expiry.

Chief executive Andy Butler called the days announcements transformational, saying the New Zealand assets would complement Sundas existing business in Timor-Leste and the Philippines while the Finder tie-up should improve the achievability of Chuditch-2.
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Ukrainians support a balance between the apolitical nature of the military and their influence on defense decisions  Active Group study

Photo: Interfax-Ukraine / Oleksandr Zubko

More than half of Ukrainians believe that the military should remain outside politics during the war; however, a significant part of society allows their limited participation in public processes, primarily in defense-related issues, according to the results of the study Military and Politics: the Balance of Media Presence, Influence and State Unity, presented by Active Group.

According to the presentation, 23.1% of respondents definitely support the apolitical nature of the military, another 27.3% rather support it, while 37.6% (23.1% rather no and 14.5% definitely no) allow their participation in politics, and another 12% were undecided.

We saw that there are two simultaneous demands in society  that the military stay out of politics and that they have influence. And there is no contradiction in this: the majority want the military to remain military during the war, but at the same time allow their participation in processes directly related to state defense. This is more about balance than extremes, said Active Group director Oleksandr Poznyi at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Thursday.

At the same time, an absolute majority of Ukrainians support a strict system of army management: 41% consider a unified chain of command very important, another 31.5% consider it rather important (a total of 72.5%), while only about 10% do not share this position.

On the issue of decision-making during the war, public opinion is distributed among key centers of authority: 22.4% believe that decisions should be made by the president as Supreme Commander-in-Chief, 25.6% by the Commander-in-Chief, 25.4% by the General Staff, about 14% by lower-level commanders, and 12.9% were undecided.

These figures show that society trusts the vertical chain of command and expects that strategic decisions are made at the highest level. At the same time, people do not always clearly distinguish the functions of different levels of military leadership. Therefore, we see a certain distribution of answers between the president, the Commander-in-Chief and the General Staff, explained Active Group founder Andriy Yeremenko.

The study also recorded a demand for a combination of centralization and flexibility: 40.1% of respondents support mainly a vertical management model (16%  exclusively vertical, 24.1%  rather vertical), while 37% support the autonomy of units (29.5%  more autonomy, 7.5%  full autonomy), and another 22.9% were undecided.

Society is essentially saying: strategy should be formed at the top, but at the level of units there should be freedom of action. This means rejecting micromanagement and at the same time the need for high-quality feedback. People expect that decisions take into account the real situation on the ground, Yeremenko added.

The most acceptable forms of military participation in public life, according to Ukrainians, are calls to politicians to make decisions in the field of defense (37.3% support), public positions on draft laws (26.3%), and the creation of veteran and public organizations (24.6%). At the same time, the greatest rejection is caused by the use of military authority to influence voters (30.4% balance), as well as participation in the formation of political decisions or commenting on political processes.

There is a clear boundary: the military may influence defense decisions, but should not interfere in electoral processes. Attempts to use military authority in political competition are perceived very negatively. This is an important signal for future political campaigns, Poznyi emphasized.

Among the key qualities of a modern commander, respondents named responsibility for subordinates (64.9%), strategic thinking (59.9%), as well as the ability to execute tasks (37.1%), discipline (35.4%) and interaction with command (33.4%), while media activity received only 2.4% support.

Among the factors that harm the effectiveness of the army, corruption risks dominate: 53.9% pointed to abuses in procurement, 46.1% to abuses in operational planning. Respondents also named fatigue of personnel and insufficient rotation (42.7%), outdated training approaches (35.3%), low motivation (35.1%) and bureaucratic procedures (34%).

Corruption is traditionally perceived as the main problem in any sphere. But alongside this, we see systemic issues  rotation, motivation, quality of management. This is a set of factors that shape the effectiveness of the army and require systemic solutions, Yeremenko noted.

At the same time, 76.5% of Ukrainians (47.8% positive, 28.7% rather positive) have a favorable attitude toward units that combine discipline, state subordination and modern approaches to warfare.

In the ranking of units by perceived discipline and effectiveness, the Special Operations Center A of the Security Service of Ukraine (Alpha) leads with 17.9%, followed by the 3rd Army Corps (14.5%) and Azov (13.2%). In terms of trust in fulfilling state tasks, Azov ranks first (15.2%), followed by the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (14.7%) and Alpha (13.4%).

At the same time, more than 40% of respondents were unable to name specific units, indicating limited public awareness and the significant influence of media presence on the formation of public opinion.

Overall, the study demonstrates a demand in Ukrainian society for the depoliticization of the military, the preservation of a strict chain of command, and at the same time flexibility at the unit level, as well as a clear distinction between influence in the field of defense and participation in political competition.
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Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

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Jonathan Jackson is an experienced writer and editor. Over the past 20 years, he has worked in print and digital media across several business and finance titles amd is currently the Australian news editor at Proactive Investors covering the latest news for ASX listed companies as well as current financial trends. He was previously managing editor with Business First magazine, Wealth Creator Magazine and StocksDigital. Jonathan has interviewed some of the world's top CEOs and covered... Read more

About the publisher

Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

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Power Minerals Ltd (ASX:PNN) has reported high-grade magnetic rare earth oxide (MREO) results from its due diligence work at the Morro do Ferro project in Brazil, with multiple drillholes confirming strong near-surface mineralisation and consistent high-value rare earth concentrations.

The standout result came from hole MFSR-47, which returned 2 metres at 35,332ppm (3.53%) MREO from 9 metres depth, including high concentrations of neodymium and praseodymium, key inputs for permanent magnets. The company said these elements are particularly important as MREOs account for more than 80% of rare earth market value.

Location plan of the two cross sections, which are 250 metres apart.

Broad, high-grade intercepts were also recorded across several holes, including 100.44 metres at 9,485ppm (0.95%) MREO from surface in MFSR-10, with a higher-grade zone of 19.3 metres at 22,541ppm (2.25%) from 25 metres. Hole MFSR-04 returned 100.2 metres at 6,103ppm, including 21.35 metres at 14,438ppm, while MFSR-20 delivered 60.6 metres at 13,129ppm from surface.

Additional drilling continues to demonstrate scale and grade continuity, with results such as 60.85 metres at 14,912ppm from MFSR-35 and 70.7 metres at 9,082ppm from MFSR-32. Importantly, mineralisation begins at surface in many holes, supporting the potential for low strip ratios in any future development scenario.

Cross-section 370S looking northwest. Shallow (10m) auger holes are not shown for clarity. All weighted average intercepts are for MREO (Nd-Pr-Dy-Tb oxides) only. MREO values over 3,000ppm (yellow and above) are considered significant. Mineralisation is considered open at depth.

The Morro do Ferro project represents a remarkable opportunity to expand our understanding of the resource capabilities within the Pocos de Caldas Alkaline Complex, a renowned hotspot for rare earth elements in Brazil. With the exceptionally high concentrations identified at this site, Power Minerals stands poised to assert itself as a frontrunner in the rare-earth sector," Power Minerals managing director Mena Habib said.

"Our enthusiasm for exploring the full potential of the Morro do Ferro Project is palpable, as we aim to lead in this rapidly evolving industry. Our recent due diligence visit to the Morro do Ferro site unveiled promising insights that enhance our confidence in the viability of this venture. The main deposit is strategically located along the crest of a steep hill, characterised by over 100 meters of topographic relief. This unique positioning not only provides significant geological advantages but also simplifies the proposed open-cut operation's design, enhancing operational efficiency and driving down costs, aligning with our commitment to sustainable mining practices."

Consistent high-grade mineralisation supports scale potential

Powers review of historical drilling data highlights strong consistency across the deposit, with only around 12% of analysed samples returning less than 500ppm MREO. Even these lower-grade intervals remain above typical benchmarks seen in other rare earth projects.

Comparisons with other deposits reinforce the significance of the results. The company noted that inferred resources at projects such as Caldeira and Jupiter report MREO grades of 631ppm and 383ppm respectively, substantially below many of the intercepts recorded at Morro do Ferro.

Shallow auger drilling has also confirmed high-grade mineralisation near surface, including 10 metres at 17,473ppm and 10 metres at 11,561ppm MREO, further supporting the projects potential for accessible mineralisation.

Geological interpretation suggests the system remains open at depth and along strike, with drilling to date only partially defining the extent of the mineralised zone. The presence of strong radiometric and magnetic signatures across the broader zone also indicates potential for additional discoveries beyond the current footprint.

"As we advance into the next phase of this project, I am invigorated by the potential that Morro do Ferro holds. The combination of its advantageous topography and our strategic approach ensures that we are well-equipped to maximise the benefits of this endeavour. With careful planning and execution, I am confident that we will achieve exceptional results that will solidify Power Minerals position in the rare earth elements market.

"The Morro do Ferro Project not only offers significant resource potential but also exemplifies our dedication to sustainable and efficient mining. I look forward to collaborating with our team and stakeholders to bring this project to fruition, harnessing the opportunities that lie ahead while consistently pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the rare-earth sector, Habib said.
Medical robots facilitate Beijing Anzhen Hospital's smart transformation

People's Daily Online) 10:53, April 08, 2026

In China, medical robots are shifting from isolated applications to comprehensive integration across surgical procedures, drug dispensing, instrument packaging, logistics and more, accelerating hospitals' smart transformation.

More than 20 types of robots are already in operation at the Tongzhou branch of Beijing Anzhen Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University and designated as Beijing's first demonstration unit for "robots plus medical" applications.

A medical worker inspects an injection solution dispensing robot at the Tongzhou branch of Beijing Anzhen Hospital in Beijing. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Inside the outpatient building at the Tongzhou branch sits a smart pharmacy with rows of metal shelving fitted with QR codes. More than 1,350 standardized bins  each bearing a traceable barcode  can hold close to 100,000 boxes of medication, far exceeding the space efficiency of a conventional pharmacy. Four dispensing robots, two large warehouse robots and four smaller transport robots glide smoothly between the racks.

"These 10 domestically made robots work in concert around the clock, performing the full pharmacy workflow  from drug intake and storage to restocking and dispensing," said Lin Yang, director of the hospital's pharmacy department. "Labor costs in the pharmacy have fallen by one-third compared with the traditional model."

Thanks to these robots, 95 percent of patients who check in via a self-service kiosk or smartphone app can collect their prescriptions within five minutes, dramatically reducing wait times.

The Tongzhou branch's inpatient pharmacy has undergone an equally impressive overhaul. The country's first integrated intelligent dispensing machine of its kind can prepare a discharged patient's take-home medications in as little as four to 10 seconds. Staff then scan traceability codes to verify and record each order. An injection solution dispensing robot can handle complex orders that mix full vials with partial doses, automatically processing each as needed.

An automated packaging robot packages surgical instruments at the sterilization and supply center of the Tongzhou branch of Beijing Anzhen Hospital in Beijing. (People's Daily Overseas Edition/Chen Jingwen)

An intelligent intravenous drug compounding robot uses three coordinated arms to carry out labeling, drug retrieval, needle selection, sterilization and mixing. At peak output, the system can stably compound 180 doses per hour  more than twice the manual rate, according to Lin.

Surgical robots, meanwhile, are extending the reach of medical services and opening up new possibilities for telemedicine.

A domestically developed surgical robot for percutaneous coronary intervention is positioned alongside the operating table, assisting in procedures for patients. Surgical assistants and nurses remain on hand to supply consumables and monitor patients, while the lead surgeon  working from an adjacent control room  directs the robot's mechanical arm using joysticks and push rods.

Zeng Yong, executive director of Beijing Anzhen Hospital's coronary heart disease center, said the robot's core components include a high-precision mechanical arm, a force-feedback sensor system and a master-slave control chip. Dozens of completed clinical cases have shown the robot-assisted procedure to be safe and effective, with patients recovering normally.

Zeng envisions a future in which specialists in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen can perform surgeries remotely on patients in county hospitals, remote mountain areas or on islands. The key requirement, he said, is that the local facility has the necessary hardware, communications infrastructure and on-site medical staff. This, he said, could significantly help address the uneven distribution of medical resources across the country.

At the Tongzhou branch's sterilization and supply center, robots have taken over the packaging and transfer of surgical instruments  scissors, hemostatic forceps, tweezers and more. The robots take over after the items have been cleaned, automatically sorted and manually inspected.

A medication-sorting robot operates in the pharmacy of the Tongzhou branch of Beijing Anzhen Hospital in Beijing. (People's Daily Overseas Edition/Chen Jingwen)

Wang Jin, head nurse of the center, said an automated packaging robot runs continuously around the clock, packaging 200 to 300 instrument sets each day. The robot does the work of four to six staff members, she said.

In both the contaminated and clean zones, two automated guided vehicles apiece shuttle back and forth, delivering instruments to designated locations on command.

"They replace traditional manual carts and minimize direct human contact, which helps reduce the risk of cross-contamination," Wang said.

Guo Yanhong, deputy head of the National Health Commission, noted that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (20212025), China's homegrown innovations in surgical robots and other medical devices enhanced diagnostic and treatment precision while reducing patient trauma. These advances, she said, have supported the high-quality development of the country's health sector.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
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About Angela Harmantas

Angela Harmantas is an Editor at Proactive. She has over 15 years of experience covering the equity markets in North America, with a particular focus on junior resource stocks. Angela has reported from numerous countries around the world, including Canada, the US, Australia, Brazil, Ghana, and South Africa for leading trade publications. Previously, she worked in investor relations and led the foreign direct investment program in Canada for the Swedish government. She earned a Bachelor of... Read more

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Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

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Steve Darling is an award winning broadcaster who has spent the past 20 years as one of the most recognizable faces in British Columbia, reporting and anchoring at BCTV and Global Television. He spent 15 years as the co-host of the number one morning new program in the province. Steve is a tireless worker for charity hosting some 50 events a year. He is an ambassador for the Canucks Autism Network and hosts numerous events with BC Childrens Hospital and the Child Development foundation of... Read more

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Proactive financial news and online broadcast teams provide fast, accessible, informative and actionable business and finance news content to a global investment audience. All our content is produced independently by our experienced and qualified teams of news journalists.

Proactive news team spans the worlds key finance and investing hubs with bureaus and studios in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Sydney and Perth.

We are experts in medium and small-cap markets, we also keep our community up to date with blue-chip companies, commodities and broader investment stories. This is content that excites and engages motivated private investors.

The team delivers news and unique insights across the market including but not confined to: biotech and pharma, mining and natural resources, battery metals, oil and gas, crypto and emerging digital and EV technologies.

Use of technology

Proactive has always been a forward looking and enthusiastic technology adopter.

Our human content creators are equipped with many decades of valuable expertise and experience. The team also has access to and use technologies to assist and enhance workflows.

Proactive will on occasion use automation and software tools, including generative AI. Nevertheless, all content published by Proactive is edited and authored by humans, in line with best practice in regard to content production and search engine optimisation.
FireFly Metals Ltd (ASX:FFM, TSX:FFM, OTC:MNXMF) has delivered another round of strong drilling results at its Green Bay copper-gold project in Canada, with new intersections reinforcing the continuity and scale of its high-grade core and supporting plans for an accelerated production restart.

Latest assays from underground drilling at the Ming deposit include standout hits such as 70.8 metres at 4.0% copper equivalent (CuEq), including 19.2 metres at 7.5% CuEq, alongside 53.3 metres at 4.1% CuEq. The results continue to highlight a thick, coherent high-grade core that management believes could underpin strong early cashflow in future mining scenarios.

The drilling campaign forms part of FireFlys broader strategy to upgrade and expand the resource base ahead of economic studies due in mid-2026.

These outstanding results again emphasise the immense value of the high-grade Core Zone at Green Bay, FireFly managing director Steve Parsons said.

The latest intersections of well over 3% copper plus significant gold highlight not just the exceptional grades but also the strong continuity of the mineralisation, he added. This zone has the potential to bolster the early economics of a production scenario.

Long section through the Green Bay Ming underground mine highlighting the location of select drill results from this announcement only. Results from both the high-grade copper-gold VMS zone and broad copper Footwall Zone are shown. The large scale DHEM conductor (green) beyond the edge of the current Mineral Resource highlights strong potential for the Mineral Resource to continue. Drill assays >0.5% copper are shown in red. All intersections true thickness unless otherwise stated.

High-grade core continues to deliver

The current Green Bay resource stands at 50.4 million tonnes at 2.0% CuEq in the Measured and Indicated (M&I) category, plus 29.3 million tonnes (Mt) at 2.5% CuEq Inferred. Within this, the high-grade Core Zone hosts 8.8Mt at 3.9% CuEq (M&I) and 10.9Mt at 3.8% CuEq (Inferred), forming a central focus of ongoing drilling.

Recent results confirm that this core zone remains open at depth and along strike, with drilling continuing to intersect thick zones where copper-gold-rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) lenses converge with broader footwall stringer mineralisation.

Importantly, FireFly said the consistency of these intersections supports the conversion of lower-confidence Inferred material into higher-confidence M&I resources  a key step in advancing towards mine planning and reserve definition.

Only M&I resources can be converted into ore reserves, making this conversion work critical to upcoming economic studies.

Isometric view of the Ming Mine 805L Exploration Drive showing the location of drill platforms and drilling reported in this announcement. Assay results greater than 0.5% Cu are shown in red.

Broader mineralised system expands

Beyond the core zone, drilling continues to return high-grade results from surrounding VMS zones, including intersections such as 11.9 metres at 8.1% CuEq and 25.7 metres at 7.8% CuEq.

Additional results from the footwall zone also point to wide zones of copper mineralisation, with hits such as 20.9 metres at 4.5% CuEq further reinforcing the scale of the system.

The mineralised footprint at Green Bay now extends over several kilometres and remains open, highlighting ongoing resource growth potential.

Six underground rigs are currently operating at the site, focusing on both infill drilling to upgrade resource confidence and step-out drilling to extend known mineralisation.

Studies and restart plans gather pace

The latest results feed directly into economic studies assessing the potential restart and expansion of operations at Green Bay, with a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) or scoping study targeted for completion in mid-2026.

These studies will evaluate multiple development scenarios, including production scale and mining approaches, with early mining expected to focus on the high-grade core.

FireFly has also flagged that an updated mineral resource estimate will be released ahead of the study, incorporating recent drilling.

The company remains well funded to execute its strategy, with around A$251 million in cash and liquid investments at the end of December 2025.

Timeline of key activities at the Green Bay copper-gold project.

Building on recent momentum

The latest drilling results build on a series of recent milestones at Green Bay, including a major resource upgrade in late 2025 and ongoing work to accelerate economic studies following a capital raising.

At the same time, FireFly has been advancing its broader portfolio, including moves to unlock value from its Pickle Crow gold assets and progress regional exploration across its Canadian landholding.

With drilling continuing to deliver high-grade results and resource confidence improving, Green Bay is increasingly shaping up as a potential high-margin copper-gold operation  particularly if early production can be anchored by the thick, high-grade core now being consistently defined.
A New York Times investigation points to the 55-year-old inventor of hashcash as the most likely identity behind Satoshi Nakamoto

A forensic investigation by the New York Times has identified British cryptographer Adam Back as the most credible candidate yet for Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, based on an analysis of writing style, technical fingerprints and circumstantial evidence accumulated over 17 years of speculation.

The report, by journalist John Carreyrou, draws on an AI-powered analysis of a database of more than 30,000 users to examine a highly specific linguistic quirk: the incorrect use of hyphens.

Satoshi's writing, across the original Bitcoin white paper and early forum posts, displays a consistent pattern of hyphenating compound nouns while leaving compound adjectives unhyphenated, the reverse of standard usage.

Back, the investigation found, matched this pattern more closely than any other individual in the dataset.

The white paper itself provides an additional connection: it cites hashcash, an anti-spam protocol invented by Back in the late 1990s, as the mechanism underpinning Bitcoin's proof-of-work mining system.

Carreyrou also reports that Satoshi emailed Back directly two months before the white paper was published in October 2008, a detail that Back has previously acknowledged but downplayed.

Back, now 55, is the chief executive of Blockstream, a Bitcoin infrastructure company, and is widely respected within the cryptography and Bitcoin communities.

He has consistently denied being Satoshi, but the NYT investigation describes his responses to questioning as evasive and at times inconsistent, having shifted from polite engagement to firm denial as scrutiny increased.

The search for Satoshi Nakamoto has generated more than 100 serious candidates since Bitcoin's launch, including Australian computer scientist Craig Wright, who has repeatedly and unsuccessfully claimed in court to be the creator, and Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, who has denied any connection.

The stakes of identification are considerable: Satoshi is estimated to hold approximately one million bitcoins, worth tens of billions of dollars at current prices, none of which have ever been moved.

Beyond the financial dimension, the question of Satoshi's identity carries ideological weight for the Bitcoin community, which was built explicitly on the premise of decentralisation and the absence of a controlling authority.

The revelation of a living, identifiable founder would hand the project a de facto leader, an outcome many in the community would regard as contrary to Bitcoin's founding principles.

Carreyrou's investigation suggests this tension may itself be a motivation for Back, if he is indeed Satoshi, to maintain the fiction of anonymity: preserving the leaderless mythology may matter more to him than personal recognition or access to his dormant fortune.

Back has not responded publicly to the NYT investigation at the time of publication.

The report adds fresh momentum to a debate that shows no sign of resolution, and raises the possibility that the most consequential unsolved mystery in financial technology may finally be approaching an answer.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here
Washington, April 8 : The United States has described its trade relationship with China as "stable" while warning that the global trading system risks becoming "less relevant" if reforms are not undertaken, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said.

Speaking at the Hudson Institute on Tuesday (local time), Greer said Washington is maintaining a cautious balance with Beijing, avoiding escalation while protecting economic and national security interests.

"Right now, the United States and China, I would characterise our economic and trade relationship as stable," he said. "What we are not looking for is massive confrontation."

At the same time, he underlined that the US continues to impose "substantial tariffs on Chinese goods," particularly in advanced manufacturing sectors, as part of efforts to address a "huge trade deficit that's exploded."

Greer noted that the US goods trade deficit with China fell by $130 billion last year, a 30 per cent decline, calling it evidence of "real change." He added that Washington is also seeking to secure supply chains, including access to rare earth materials, which remain central to ongoing discussions with Beijing.

"We almost always talk about rare earth with the Chinese," he said, adding that the US is also pursuing domestic self-sufficiency and partnerships to reduce dependence.

In response to a question, Greer also flagged supply chain vulnerabilities in pharmaceuticals, noting that while India remains a major supplier of active pharmaceutical ingredients, critical raw materials often originate in China.

"People will say, well, we get a lot of our APIs from India. That may be true, but the key starting materials, they're getting from China," he said, adding, "I've had a lot of conversations with the Indians about how to square this circle."

On the broader global trade architecture, Greer delivered a sharp critique of the World Trade Organization (WTO), warning that its inability to adapt could marginalise it further.

"If the WTO fails to adjust the consequences are that the WTO becomes even less relevant than it already is," he said.

He pointed to the recent ministerial meeting in Cameroon, where countries failed to agree on extending a long-standing moratorium on tariffs on digital goods.

Calling the issue a "litmus test," Greer said the US had proposed making the moratorium permanent or extending it for four years, but "Brazil and Turkey just couldn't bring themselves to do it."

"This is just a symbol of how backwards the WTO is," he said.

Greer also highlighted structural imbalances in global trade, particularly excess production capacity driven by state-backed economies.

"We've initiated a Section 301 investigation on structural overcapacity," he said, noting that while China is "at the root," other countries also contribute to the problem.

The US, he said, is responding through tariffs and bilateral agreements aimed at controlling imports while expanding exports. He pointed to record US exports exceeding $300 billion in January and February this year.

On trade policy more broadly, Greer said the administration is focusing on revitalising domestic manufacturing, citing improvements in productivity, wages, and factory construction.

"All of these indicators have been going exactly in the right direction," he said, adding that manufacturing jobs returned to positive growth in February after a prolonged decline.

He stressed that trade policy is only one part of a broader strategy that includes tax, energy, and regulatory measures.

Greer also flagged tensions with the European Union over digital trade rules, warning that US firms face "discriminatory" regulations under measures such as the Digital Markets Act.

"We're not fooled," he said, arguing that such rules disproportionately affect American technology companies. "If American companies don't have that opportunity, then we will control European service providers in the United States."

On North America, Greer indicated that changes to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) are likely, saying the administration is "dissatisfied with a lot of the outcomes."

"Almost everyone suggested changes to the agreement," he said, adding that Washington may pursue separate protocols with Canada and Mexico to address country-specific issues.

The remarks come amid a broader push by the Trump administration to reshape trade policy, prioritising domestic industry, supply chain security, and reciprocal market access.

-- Syndicated from IANS
Chinese large AI models gain widespread global use

14:15, April 08, 2026 By Wang Yinxin, Li Junqiang ( People's Daily

Engineers inspect an internet data center at an international computing facility in Changji, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. (Photo/He Long)

At 3 p.m. in New York, an engineer named Mike at a U.S. startup received a new assignment. He turned to an AI assistant powered by a Chinese large model. After entering a few key requirements, a well-structured project plan appeared on his screen within seconds. With the help of this "smart assistant," a task that once took half a day was completed in under 30 minutes.

Across global markets, a growing number of users are turning to Chinese large AI models to boost productivity. Each interaction consumes digital units known as "tokens" -- the basic building blocks AI systems use to process language. In general, one Chinese character corresponds to one token, while an English word ranges from one to two tokens, including punctuation.

Since large models process limited text per session, most AI services charge based on token usage: higher consumption means higher costs.

In March this year, China's daily token usage exceeded 140 trillion, a thousand-fold increase over two years. Industry data shows Chinese large AI models now rank among the global leaders in total token consumption.

Photo shows a big data industrial park in Zhangjiakou, north China's Hebei province. (Photo/Chen Xiaodong)

Yan Yijun, vice president of Shanghai-based AI foundation model company MiniMax, explained: "Users apply clear criteria: first, the model must be intelligent, user-friendly and responsive, and capable of solving complex problems; second, pricing must be reasonable and commercially sustainable."

Token consumption reflects real-world usage -- indicating how deeply, frequently and extensively large AI models integrate into applications. "Chinese large AI models enjoy high-frequency use by global users. This is a form of recognition from users around the world," Yan added.

For developers, balancing higher performance with lower cost is no easy task. Improvements in model capability are often come with exponential growth in parameters, which increases token consumption. The more tokens used, the higher the operating costs for companies and usage costs for users.

Yan cited the "MiniMax M2.5" model as a solution: "We use algorithmic innovation to create efficient reasoning paths, reducing token consumption at the source while increasing each token's value."

Priced at $1 per hour, the model outputs 100 tokens per second. Estimates suggest Chinese models offer comparable performance at one-tenth the cost of U.S. alternatives.

"The decline in costs reflects not only technological progress by Chinese AI companies, but also China's strengths in power supply and industrial chains," said Li Zhiqing, a professor at the School of Economics at Fudan University.

Students are attending a class on basic AI knowledge at an elementary school in north China's Tianjin municipality. (Photo/Liu Dongyue)

China's vast range of application scenarios serve as AI testing grounds. By December 2025, generative AI users in China had reached 602 million, up 141.7 percent from a year earlier.

This rapidly expanding user base is accelerating AI's transition from novelty to everyday tool, extending its use beyond internet applications into areas such as office collaboration and industrial design.

At the same time, growing adoption provides continuous feedback, enhancing models' ability to handle complex tasks and opening new avenues for development.

"Ultimately, AI development depends on electricity," Li noted. "An AI server consumes five to eight times more power than a traditional server. Training a large model requires hundreds of millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity, while daily operations can exceed 500,000 kilowatt-hours. Power costs are therefore a key factor shaping the global distribution of computing capacity."

Here, China excels. With the world's largest power supply system, supported by ultra-high-voltage transmission networks and large-scale integration of renewable energy, China has established a stable and cost-effective foundation for computing power.

Today, abundant and affordable green energy, from wind farms in western deserts to solar installations on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, is being fed into the grid and efficiently transmitted to eastern computing hubs through independently developed multi-level intelligent dispatch systems.

"In addition, China's well-developed AI supply chain further reduces industry costs," Li said. Strong coordination across sectors -- including AI chips, servers, computing infrastructure, cross-border networks, edge computing, and international settlement -- has created a comprehensive full-chain advantage.

Li offered a comparison: traditionally, one kilowatt-hour of electricity generates one to two times its value in output. But in the case of tokens, the value can increase dozens or even hundreds of times. "China is now transforming its strengths in energy and manufacturing into digital value for the global market," he said.

(Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun)
New Delhi, April 8 : Weather conditions across India have begun shifting once again under the influence of an active western disturbance, bringing light to moderate rainfall and a noticeable dip in daytime temperatures across several parts of North and Northwest India.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued warnings for stormy weather in at least 11 states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Wind speeds in some regions are expected to reach up to 85 kmph. A yellow alert has been sounded for the national capital, indicating the likelihood of rainfall, thunderstorms, and gusty winds.

The impact of the western disturbance is also expected to extend to the hilly regions. Several districts in Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh may face potential risks of landslides and avalanches due to changing weather patterns.

Increased wind activity is likely to bring down minimum temperatures by 2 to 3 degrees Celsius, leading to slightly cooler conditions, particularly during morning and evening hours.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for Wednesday in the Delhi-NCR region, forecasting cloudy skies, strong winds, and intermittent rainfall. Thunderstorm activity is also expected in isolated pockets, with one or two spells of rain or storm conditions likely during the day.

In Delhi, the minimum temperature is expected to hover around 16 degrees Celsius, while the maximum temperature may reach approximately 27 degrees Celsius.

Looking ahead, Thursday is likely to see partly cloudy skies in the capital. From April 10 to 11, weather conditions are expected to improve gradually, with clearer skies and a steady rise in temperature. Maximum temperatures during this period may climb to 33 to 34 degrees Celsius.

In Uttarakhand, districts such as Dehradun, Nainital, Chamoli, and Pithoragarh are likely to witness light to moderate rainfall on April 8 and 9, accompanied by winds of up to 60 kmph.

Similarly, districts in Himachal Pradesh, including Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, Kangra, and Kinnaur, are expected to receive moderate to heavy rainfall between April 8 and 10, as the weather system continues to influence the region.
Canberra, April 8 : Australia on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire announcement involving the United States, Iran and Israel, expressing hope that the agreement will be upheld and lead to a broader resolution of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.

US President Donald Trump has stepped back from the brink of a major military escalation with Iran, announcing a conditional two-week pause in planned attacks tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a development that came as a big relief to people across the world.

The decision came 90 minutes before the self-imposed 8 p.m. EST deadline set by Trump for Iran to reach a deal, after backchannel diplomacy involving Pakistan.

Iran signalled tentative acceptance. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would halt operations if attacks stop.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," he said.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," he added.

In an official statement, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, "Australia welcomes the agreement by the United States, Israel and Iran to a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East."

He reiterated Canberra's consistent position on the issue, stating, "The Australian Government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now."

Albanese also highlighted the wider economic and strategic implications of the conflict, particularly in relation to disruptions in critical maritime routes. "Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure, and oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices," he said.

He further noted that Australia has maintained a clear stance on the prolonged nature of the conflict and its consequences. According to him, the longer the hostilities continue, the greater the impact on the global economy and the higher the human cost.

"Australia has been working with international partners in support of diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so critical supplies can flow to those who need it, including the most vulnerable," the Prime Minister said.

Reaffirming Australia's position, Albanese added, "Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict."

He concluded by urging all sides to adhere to international norms, saying, "We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life."
Washington, April 8 : A social media post by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urging US President Donald Trump to delay military action against Iran triggered a storm of controversy after users spotted what appeared to be a drafting error suggesting external authorship.

The controversy centres on Sharif's post on X, where he appealed for a two-week extension to allow diplomacy in the West Asia conflict. Shortly after it was published, users circulated screenshots of the post's edit history showing it initially carried the line: "Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X."

According to a report by The Daily Beast, the draft label appeared to have been inadvertently included in the original post before being removed in a subsequent edit.

The outlet reported that the episode "exposes" that the Pakistani prime minister appeared to "cut and paste" the message, fuelling speculation about who authored the text.

The issue gained traction online after journalists and commentators pointed to the phrasing of the draft. Ryan Grim of Drop Site suggested the message was "likely not written by Sharif," noting that his own staff would not refer to him as "Pakistan's PM."

Social media users also highlighted that the post tagged multiple senior US officials, including Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, adding to speculation about coordination.

A report by Forbes said the message faced "extra scrutiny" after "an early draft of his plea appeared written by an entity outside of Pakistan."

The controversy comes at a sensitive moment. Trump cited Sharif's request as part of his justification for pausing planned strikes on Iran for two weeks.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump said in a social media post earlier.

Sharif's final version of the post called for diplomacy to "run its course" and urged Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as a "goodwill gesture," while appealing for a ceasefire to "achieve conclusive termination of war."

The Daily Beast report noted that Sharif later issued a revised statement with the draft reference removed, and that his office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Online speculation quickly escalated, with some users suggesting the wording may have been provided by US officials. Others cautioned that the incident could simply reflect a clerical or staff error.

The controversy has drawn attention because of its timing. The post came just hours before Trump's deadline for Iran to reach a deal, and as Pakistan positioned itself as an intermediary in the crisis.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Chennai, April 8 : Parts of Tamil Nadu are likely to receive light to moderate rainfall on Wednesday, with thunderstorms and lightning expected at isolated locations, bringing some relief from the ongoing heatwave, according to the India Meteorological Department.

Rainfall activity is expected across south Tamil Nadu, north coastal districts, as well as Puducherry and Karaikal. The Western Ghats regions are also likely to witness showers, while much of the north interior of Tamil Nadu may remain largely dry.

In Chennai, partly cloudy skies will prevail, with chances of moderate rain in some areas during the day. Despite the rain forecast, heatwave conditions continue to grip several districts.

On Tuesday, at least 12 locations recorded extremely high temperatures, with Vellore emerging as the hottest place in the State at 42.2 degrees Celsius. Karur followed closely at 41degrees, while Erode and Namakkal recorded temperatures around the 40-degree mark.

Other districts such as Tirupattur (39.5 degrees), Tiruchy (39 degrees), and Tiruttani (38.9 degrees) also experienced near-heatwave conditions.

Additional locations, including Paramathi, Dharmapuri, and Palayamkottai, reported high temperatures, while cities like Madurai, Salem, and Tiruchy airport saw mercury levels crossing 37 degrees.

The IMD has noted that maximum temperatures across parts of the State were 2a"3 degrees above normal, indicating sustained heat stress conditions.

Weather experts warn that despite intermittent rainfall, there is unlikely to be any significant drop in temperatures in the coming days.

Looking ahead, similar weather patterns are expected to continue on April 9, with isolated rainfall likely in several regions.

From April 10 onwards, scattered light to moderate rain may occur across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, before gradually becoming confined to the Western Ghats and delta districts.

Meteorologists attribute the current mix of heat and localised rainfall to a wind discontinuity extending from eastern India to the Gulf of Mannar, which is supporting convective activity.

Even as brief showers offer temporary respite, authorities advise the public to remain cautious, stay hydrated, and avoid prolonged exposure to peak daytime heat, as above-normal temperatures are expected to persist across many parts of the state.
Washington, April 8 : US President Donald Trump spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to close the deal on a ceasefire framework with Iran, a White House official told IANS.

The official further mentioned that Trump had also spoken to Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir regarding the same.

"President Trump spoke with PM Netanyahu and the Pakistani Field Marshal to close the deal," the senior Trump administration official told IANS.

No further details were provided.

The calls came as the United States moved to pause planned military strikes on Iran and open a two-week window for negotiations tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump said he would suspend attacks for two weeks, contingent on Iran agreeing to the "complete, immediate, and safe" reopening of the key shipping route.

Iran signalled conditional acceptance of the pause, saying it would halt operations if attacks stopped and allow limited safe passage through the strait during the period.

A White House official said Israel had agreed to the two-week pause, aligning with the US position as efforts to stabilise the situation intensified.

Pakistan has also been involved in diplomatic outreach, with its leadership engaging both sides as discussions progressed ahead of a deadline set by Trump.

The administration has framed the pause as part of a broader strategy following military operations.

"This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a post on X.

"From the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump estimated this would be a 4-6 week operation," she said.

"Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of our warriors, we have achieved and exceeded our core military objectives in 38 days."

Leavitt said the military campaign created conditions for negotiations.

"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace," she said.

She also linked the outcome to developments in the Strait of Hormuz.

"Additionally, President Trump got the Strait of Hormuz reopened," she said.

Trump had earlier said the United States had received a proposal from Iran and that "almost all" points of contention had been agreed upon, describing it as a workable basis for negotiations.

The two-week pause is intended to allow time to finalise a broader agreement as talks continue.

The White House has said further details on the operation and negotiations will be shared separately.
New Delhi, April 8 : People from Gujarat staged a protest outside the Congress national headquarters on Wednesday, opposing objectionable remarks made by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge against Gujarat and its people.

The protest follows a controversial statement made by Kharge on April 5 during an Assembly election campaign speech in Kerala, where he reportedly referred to people in Gujarat as "illiterate" and claimed they were being "fooled" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the same time, Kharge said that neither PM Modi nor Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan could mislead the people of Kerala, whom he described as "very clever and educated".

"Don't misguide the people of Kerala. They are very clever and educated. Modiji, Vijayan, you both can fool people who are illiterate in Gujarat or other places, but you cannot fool the people of Kerala," Kharge said during his speech.

Several protesters gathered outside the Congress office, expressing anger over the remarks.

One protester told IANS that such comments insult the people of Gujarat and ignore their contributions to the nation.

Another protester said, "During the freedom struggle, Mahatma Gandhi, who was also from Gujarat, played a significant role. Today, leaders like Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are making us proud and contributing to development. The Congress party is losing its grip across states, and such statements reflect their frustration. I don't understand what they gain from making such remarks."

Speaking to IANS, BJP MP Dhaval Patel strongly criticised Kharge's statement. "Kharge, during his Kerala campaign, said that six crore people of Gujarat are illiterate. This has caused widespread anger among Gujaratis, which is why we are protesting. This is not the first time such remarks have been made. Even Rahul Gandhi and others have made similar comments in the past," he alleged.

He further said that such statements reflect a negative attitude towards Gujaratis and claimed that Congress makes such remarks out of political frustration, knowing it has limited prospects in the state.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the declining quality of political discourse, stating that standards should not be lowered to match those who use inappropriate language.
Srinagar, April 8 : The bilateral ceasefire announced by the US and Iran after the 40-day-long West Asia conflict has been welcomed by a senior religious leader in Jammu and Kashmir, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

After raising tensions to an unexpected high by saying that an entire civilisation would be wiped out if Iran did not respond positively before the end of the deadline set by him, US President Donald Trump posted on social media that a two-week-long ceasefire has been agreed upon by the two belligerent countries, the US and Iran.

Israel said that, although they were informed about it at the last moment, the country would observe the ceasefire.

Ironically, the ceasefire was mediated by Pakistan and was mentioned by its Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, on his social media post.

While announcing the ceasefire, the US president said the Iranian people were great.

The ceasefire announcement has been largely welcomed in Jammu and Kashmir, and it has come as a relief to the people in the union territory.

Kashmir Valley has a sizeable Shia Muslim population whose religious and sectarian affiliation with Iran has been historic. Sunni Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir have also shown solidarity with the Iranian people, standing alongside the Shia Muslims.

Senior religious leader and chief cleric, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, welcomed the announcement. He said on X, "The two week ceasefire announcement between Iran and the United States is a welcome step toward peace. It underscores restraint and dialogue takes precedence over confrontation for conflict resolution, and peace prevails over war."

"The resilience and courage shown by the Iranian people and leadership in the face of extreme aggression is commendable. Congratulations to them and all the actors including Islamabad in bringing about this crucial ceasefire. May this lead to lasting stability and greater dialogue over conflict," he added.

Kashmir had witnessed widespread peaceful protests on March 1 after the death of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, in the US-Israeli airstrikes on February 28.
New Delhi, April 8 : The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), the flagship programme of the Modi government, has marked 11 years of operation, aimed at funding the 'unfunded' micro enterprises, small businesses and setting the path for their growth.

Since its inception on this day in 2015, the programme has been instrumental in powering the business dynamics of small businesses and first-time entrepreneurs, in particular.

According to government estimates, around 58 crore loans worth more than Rs 40 lakh crore have been sanctioned under the programme to date.

Two-thirds of the Mudra loans have been sanctioned to women entrepreneurs, while about one-fifth were extended to first-time entrepreneurs, making them the biggest beneficiaries.

By enabling collateral-free credit, the scheme has been quietly reshaping the foundation of India's economy, and this is reflected in the way the first-time entrepreneurs, especially women and underserved communities, are stepping forward.

According to information gathered by MyGovIndia, a citizen engagement platform of the Government of India, the scheme has spurred the growth of first-time entrepreneurs while spawning a congenial environment for small businesses to contribute to livelihoods as well as the country's economic outlook.

21 per cent loans given to new entrepreneurs

About 21 per cent of the total Mudra loans worth Rs 12,000 crore have been given to new entrepreneurs. This loan also comes without collateral, thus encouraging more young entrepreneurs to come forward and avail loans without conditions. This has apparently led to the mushrooming of first-time entrepreneurs.

NPA dips to 2.3 per cent

Financial discipline, limited to big corporate houses and financial institutions, got emulated at the grassroots as well, and the data shows NPA reducing to an all-time low of 2.3 per cent. This has facilitated banks to open doors to more loan-seekers while limiting their risk exposure.

Growth of Lakhpati Didis

Collateral-free loans up to Rs 20 lakh crore have been given to Self-Help Groups (SHGs), facilitating the growth potential of Lakhpati Didis.

This has ensured that women emerge as "powerful drivers" of economic change, and their growing confidence in Mudra Yojana is a testament to this belief. According to estimates, two out of every three Mudra loan beneficiaries are women.

Last-mile delivery of loans

The scheme has seen growth in Tier 2, Tier 3 cities and also rural regions. Over Rs 3.5 lakh crore have been disbursed to 6.15 crore beneficiaries, out of which 49 per cent belong to SC/ST and OBC groups, as per data shared by MyGovIndia.

Kishore loans

The scheme has helped generate a pool of micro-entrepreneurs. As evident from the numbers, about 74 per cent of loans have been granted to micro businesses, and there has also been a sharp rise in Kishor loans, accounting for a share of 40-45 per cent in the total loans disbursed.

Notably, the Mudra Yojana operates under four categories -- Shishu (loans up to Rs 50,000), Kishor (Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh), Tarun (Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh) and Tarun Plus (Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh) -- depending on the stage of growth and funding needs of borrowers.
New Delhi, April 8 : In a major crackdown on cyber fraud, the Delhi Police's Cyber Police and Anti-Narcotics Squad on Wednesday busted a fake call centre operating in Pitampura.

The accused allegedly cheated victims across the country by posing as representatives of Bajaj Finserv and offering fraudulent loan and insurance services. A total of 19 persons, including 12 women, have been arrested in the joint operation.

According to officials, the gang duped unsuspecting victims by charging fake processing fees for loans and insurance policies. The police recovered 36 mobile phones along with registers used to maintain records of the fraudulent activities.

The operation was initiated on April 7, after the Anti-Narcotics Squad of the Outer District received specific intelligence regarding a fake call centre cheating people under the pretext of providing financial services. The information was verified and found to be credible, prompting immediate action.

A dedicated team under Inspector Rajpal was formed under the supervision of ACP (Operations) Virender Dalal. Simultaneously, coordination was established with the Cyber Police team led by Inspector Gaje Singh.

Acting on the tip-off, the joint team conducted a raid at the identified premises in Pitampura, where they found 19 individuals actively making calls using mobile phones. All suspects were apprehended on the spot.

During interrogation, a female accused identified as "S", who claimed to be the team leader, revealed that the group impersonated Bajaj Finserv representatives and targeted individuals across multiple states. They lured victims by offering loans and insurance benefits, subsequently demanding processing fees ranging from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,000 through QR codes sent via WhatsApp. After receiving the money, the accused would neither provide the promised services nor refund the amount. They also frequently changed SIM cards and avoided further communication with victims.

Further investigation uncovered another room at the same location functioning as a separate call centre. Another group leader, identified as "G", disclosed that they operated under instructions from managers who remain absconding. These teams followed scripted conversations, beginning with greetings such as "Namaskar Sir," and then solicited personal documents like Aadhaar and PAN card details before extracting money through digital payment methods.

Based on the findings, a case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Cyber Police Station. All accused persons have been taken into custody, and the seized materials have been secured as evidence. Efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest the masterminds behind the operation.

The Outer District Cyber Police reiterated their commitment to tackling cybercrime and ensuring citizens' safety in the digital space.

Police have also issued an advisory urging the public to remain cautious. Citizens are advised not to click on suspicious links or download unknown APK files received via SMS, WhatsApp, email, or social media, as these may compromise personal and financial data. They should never share sensitive information such as OTPs, banking details, or KYC credentials over calls or unverified platforms.

In case of suspected cyber fraud, people are encouraged to immediately report the incident by dialing the National Cyber Crime Helpline number 1930, visiting the nearest police station, or lodging a complaint online at the official cybercrime portal.
Giridih : , April 8 (IANS) The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) is emerging as a strong pillar of support for small entrepreneurs in Jharkhand's Giridih district, enabling hundreds of people to start their own ventures and move towards financial independence.

Under the scheme, collateral-free loans have facilitated the establishment of various small businesses, including retail shops, tailoring units, mineral water plants, e-rickshaws, and street vending enterprises. This has significantly strengthened the spirit of self-reliance among locals, particularly among women, who are increasingly stepping into entrepreneurship.

Munni Kumari, a beneficiary residing on Ashram Road in Giridih town, shared her success story. She said that with the help of financial assistance under the Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) and PMMY, she was able to set up a mineral water plant. The business is now generating a steady income and has also created employment opportunities for others in the area.

Her father-in-law, Upendra Singh, said that Munni had long aspired to start her own business, but the family lacked the financial resources to support her. "Later, we learned about the scheme and applied through the District Industries Office. The loan was approved by the Bank of India, and now the entire family is involved in the business. We are earning well and planning to expand further," he said.

Munni's husband, Rahul Kumar, also acknowledged the impact of the scheme on their lives. "I took a loan under the PMEGP through Bank of India. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this initiative. My loan was approved within 24 hours. Earlier, our financial condition was not good, but now it has improved significantly," he said.

Sarvottam Kumar, Branch Manager at Bank of India in Giridih, highlighted the broader impact of the scheme. He said that over the past few years, thousands of beneficiaries, including a large number of women, have availed Mudra loans.

"In Jharkhand alone, Bank of India has disbursed loans worth around Rs 2,370 crore, helping people achieve self-employment. Many beneficiaries are now running successful businesses," he noted.

Launched on April 8, 2015, the PMMY provides collateral-free loans of up to Rs 20 lakh to non-corporate, non-farm micro and small enterprises. The scheme aims to promote income-generating activities across sectors such as manufacturing, trading, and services.

In Giridih, the scheme has not only accelerated self-employment but also transformed lives, with many individuals who once struggled for livelihood now becoming self-reliant entrepreneurs.
U.S. President Donald Trump has presented the two-week ceasefire deal with Iran as a victory. He has described it in his characteristic style, with plenty of capital letters and exclamation points. But, pending the outcome of the negotiations in Islamabad, what has been achieved so far is a Pyrrhic truce. Washingtons major accomplishment is opening a maritime passage that wasnt closed before the start of the offensive; along the way, it has offended its allies, damaged its international image, depleted its ammunition stockpiles, and turned its own public opinion against it.

In his announcement, Trump framed the pause in hostilities as a concession, almost as a favor, to the Pakistani mediators, given that he was just an hour and a half away from ordering a massive attack on Iranian civilian infrastructure. He described it as an act of magnanimity because  as he wrote on social media  we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran.

The details suggest, however, that Tehran will emerge with the better deal. The talks, as Trump himself has admitted, will be based on the Islamic Republics plan, not the 15-point U.S. proposal. It is also unclear on what terms Iran will open the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic.

Emergency crews work at the site of a US-Israeli strike on a residential building on April 7, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. Majid Saeedi (Getty Images)

Tehran enters the truce with its enriched uranium underground, but untouched. The regime remains in power and in control of the country, despite the White House occupants insistence that a complete transformation has taken place. Irans capacity to inflict damage on the enemy was demonstrated last week with the downing of an F-16 fighter jet, which forced the United States to launch a risky rescue mission involving 155 aircraft and hundreds of personnel, as Trump stated at a press conference on Monday. In that operation, the United States lost several planes and at least two helicopters, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the United States has paid a very high price for a war it chose to enter into, dragged along by an Israeli leadership eager to eliminate its mortal enemy, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio admitted at the time, and as The New York Times made clear this Monday in a very detailed account of the last meeting at the White House between Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 11, two weeks before the war began.

The decision to attack has pitted Washington against its allies. In the case of Europe, the presidents criticism of partners who refused to cede their bases or airspace for use in the war, or to participate in a coalition to forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz, has reopened and widened the rift created by Trumps desire to seize Greenland. That wound is now reopening: It all began with, if you wanna know the truth, Greenland. We want Greenland. They dont want to give it to us, and I said bye-bye, he mentioned, almost in passing, at a press conference this Monday. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who is visiting the White House on Wednesday, will have to employ his most conciliatory tactics to appease the U.S. president.

Relations with Asian allies have also suffered. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi was left with a tasteless joke from the U.S. president about Japans attack on Pearl Harbor after her visit to the White House. South Korea has watched with alarm not only Trumps complaints about the lack of cooperation in the Strait of Hormuz, but also the removal of a THAAD air defense system from its territory by U.S. forces  a system that had cost Seoul a diplomatic crisis and a multimillion-dollar trade boycott from China. The military deployment in the Persian Gulf has also diverted other military assets  ships, soldiers, ammunition  that were protecting its partners in the Pacific.

The war has also left U.S. forces in a precarious situation. As General Caine warned in pre-war White House national security team meetings, ammunition and air defense interceptors have been used that will take years to replace.

The global economy has suffered a severe blow, one from which the worlds leading power, despite Trumps boasts about the U.S. economy being unscathed, will not be able to escape. The price of gasoline in the United States had surpassed $4 per gallon, a psychological barrier difficult to accept for a public that overwhelmingly considers this price increase the most serious consequence of the war  69%, according to a Pew poll. Trump himself recently acknowledged the wars unpopularity among his own voters: The American people want to see us win and come home.

But the highest price the United States will have to pay for this war is yet to come: the collapse of its international image in an illegal conflict of choice. The realization that the government in Washington is willing to perpetrate war crimes and its president declares himself not at all concerned.

Trumps terrifying message on social media this Tuesday  a whole civilization will die tonight  is one that will not be forgotten. It leaves a lingering sense of trauma, a sense of shock, and guilt simply for having read it. Sickening, in the words of Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. There it remains, for the record books: April 7, 2026, the day a U.S. president unequivocally threatened to exterminate a population of 91 million. The day Washington was shrouded in disgrace.

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Chikkaballapur : , April 8 (IANS) The Central Government's flagship Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) continues to transform the lives of small entrepreneurs across the country, with another success story emerging from Karnataka's Chikkaballapur district.

Beer Bahadur Dhami, a resident of Ward No. 30 in Chamarajpet, has successfully established and expanded his restaurant business with financial assistance received under the scheme. Availing a collateral-free loan of Rs 1.95 lakh from UCO Bank, Dhami started 'Barun Naati Style Family Restaurant' last year and has since turned it into a stable and growing enterprise.

Sharing his journey, Dhami said that starting a business without financial backing would have been extremely difficult. "I took a loan of Rs 1.95 lakh from UCO Bank under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana. It has been a very helpful initiative. With this support, I started my restaurant business. It has been around 10 months now, and the business is running very well," he said.

From humble beginnings, the restaurant has not only become a steady source of income for Dhami's family but also generated employment opportunities for local residents. Currently, around eight people are employed at the establishment, contributing to the local economy.

Dhami's entrepreneurial journey highlights the growing impact of the Mudra Yojana, launched on April 8, 2015, to provide financial support to non-corporate small and micro enterprises.

Over the past 11 years, the scheme has emerged as a key driver of self-employment, particularly among youth and small traders.

Local residents in Chikkaballapur have praised the initiative, stating that such schemes encourage young people to pursue self-employment rather than depend solely on traditional job avenues. They believe that stories like Dhami's can inspire others in the region to take advantage of government support and start their own ventures.

The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has been instrumental in promoting entrepreneurship in smaller towns and rural areas by offering easy access to credit without the need for collateral. Beneficiaries across sectors  from retail shops and tailoring units to food businesses  have been able to establish themselves and achieve financial independence.

Dhami's success story stands as a testament to the transformative potential of the scheme. With determination and the right support, even a small loan can pave the way for sustainable livelihoods and job creation.

As PMMY completes 11 years, it continues to serve as a beacon of hope for millions of aspiring entrepreneurs across India, reinforcing the vision of a self-reliant and economically empowered nation.
Jammu, April 8 : Jammu and Kashmir Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday terminated the services of two government employees over links with terror groups.

The dismissed government employees are Farhat Ali Khanday, a Class IV employee in the Education Department, accused of working for Hizbul Mujahideen, and Mohammad Shafi Dar, a Class IV staffer in the Rural Development Department, alleged to be associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Officials said the action was taken following inputs indicating their involvement in activities prejudicial to the security of the state.

The Jammu and Kashmir administration, under Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has been actively terminating government employees from service with alleged terror links, often utilising Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution.

This provision allows for dismissal without a formal inquiry if the employee's retention is deemed prejudicial to national security.

Article 311(2)(c) allows the President, Governor, or Lieutenant Governor to terminate employees without inquiry if they are satisfied that a formal investigation is against the security of the state.

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has adopted a strict policy to eliminate "terror associates" or "terrorists embedded in the government machinery". Individuals terminated include government teachers, laboratory technicians, forest department staff, and, more recently, Class-IV employees in education and rural development, often with connections to outfits like Hizb-ul-Mujahideen or Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Instead of traditional inquiries, these actions are usually based on evidence provided by security and intelligence agencies confirming engagement in unlawful or anti-national activities.

The administration has reiterated that this is an ongoing effort to secure state institutions from internal subversion.

A committee headed by the chief secretary recommends the termination of government employees acting against the state. The recommendations of the committee are based on ground reports and intelligence gathered by the J&K CID department against the employees working for terror outfits while drawing salaries from the government.

In January, in a major strike against the terror ecosystem, the L-G terminated the services of five government employees, allegedly for their established terror links. They were identified as Mohd Ishfaq (teacher), Tariq Ahmad Rah (lab technician), Bashir Ahmad Mir (Assistant Lineman), Farooq Ahmad Bhat (Field Worker, Forest Dept), and Mohd Yousuf (Driver, Health and Medical Education Department).
Bhubaneswar, April 8 : Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ), on Wednesday announced to invest Rs 33,081 crore in Odisha across three projects -- a data centre in Bhubaneswar and a thermal power plant and a cement manufacturing unit near Cuttack -- that will create a total of 9,700 jobs.

The first project is a data centre in Bhubaneswar with an investment of Rs 800 crore, which he said will support the digital economy and create around 200 jobs.

The second is a large thermal power plant near Cuttack worth Rs 30,181 crore, expected to generate about 7,000 jobs and strengthen power supply for industries and households.

The third project is a cement manufacturing unit near Cuttack with an investment of Rs 2,100 crore, which will create around 2,500 jobs and support infrastructure development.

"Taken together, these projects are a statement of belief. A belief that Odisha is not on the cusp of its moment -- it is in it. That the next chapter of India's industrial rise will be written here, in this State, by these people," Karan Adani noted.

Speaking at the inauguration of industrial projects here, he highlighted the company's growing presence in Odisha and its long-term commitment to the state's development.

He said that Adani Group is not just investing in projects but contributing to Odisha's future as a major economic hub.

"Odisha is no longer a state in transition but one that clearly understands its direction and growth path," Karan Adani mentioned.

"What makes Odisha's vision credible is that the foundation is real. The resources are here. The people are here. The governance reform is happening," he stated.

What remains is the act of building -- decisively, at scale, and with a long horizon, he added.

Karan Adani said that Odisha is already playing an important role in India's economic future and will continue to grow as a major industrial and technological centre.

He added that the Adani Group sees itself as a long-term partner in this journey.
New Delhi, April 8 : Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday expressed regret over his recent remarks during a Kerala election rally in Idukki, where he contrasted "educated and clever" Keralites with "illiterate" people in Gujarat.

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday expressed regret over his recent remarks during a Kerala election rally in Idukki, where he contrasted "educated and clever" Keralites with "illiterate" people in Gujarat.

He claimed that his statements are being "deliberately misinterpreted" and he "never intended" to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat.

This came as the statement had triggered backlash from the BJP and Gujarat residents, who viewed it as a regional insult and elitism.

Taking to X, Kharge said, "Some remarks of mine in a recent election speech in Kerala are being deliberately misinterpreted. Even so, I express my sincere regret. It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat for whom I have always had and will continue to have the highest of respect."

Earlier on April 6, Kharge drew sharp criticism from the Gujarat government over remarks made at an election rally.

Addressing a rally in Kerala's Idukki district ahead of Assembly elections, Kharge had said that people in the state are "educated and clever" and "cannot be misled", unlike "those who are illiterate in Gujarat or other places".

Home Minister Amit Shah condemned Kharge's comments during an election rally in Assam on Tuesday. He remarked that the Congress party, which labels Gujarat -- the birthplace of prominent leaders such as Dayanand Saraswati, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel, Vikram Sarabhai, and Modi ji -- as illiterate, will get a response from the people.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel had described Kharge's remarks as "highly objectionable and unfortunate", saying they had "hurt the dignity of Gujarat" and amounted to "an insult to Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel".

"The mindset of Congress against Gujarat and Gujaratis is not recent but years old. Gujarat will not tolerate this insult," CM Patel said.

He added that such statements reflected the party's "insecurity" in the face of "widespread public support for development politics under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi".

Challenging Kharge's remarks, CM Patel asked, "How can you call Gujaratis illiterate and foolish? If Gujarat were illiterate, would such development have been possible?"

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi had also posed a series of pointed questions and demanded an apology.

Responding to the statement, Sanghavi said it had hurt the "self-respect and pride of 6.5 crore Gujaratis" and asked, "Did you not feel even a moment of shame while insulting the sacred land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel?"

He further questioned, "As long as Congress was winning in Gujarat, the people were good, but once you started losing, has Gujarat suddenly become bad?"

He also asked, "Why do you target Gujarat in every election? Why do you repeatedly abuse Gujaratis? What is the root of this hatred?" and added, "Is this statement a result of your personal frustration or an official policy of Congress to consistently target Gujarat?"

Sanghavi said Kharge should "answer these questions and apologise not only to Gujarat but to the people of the entire country".

The exchange has intensified political tensions between the BJP and Congress ahead of upcoming elections, with the ruling party accusing Kharge of making a generalised and offensive comment, while Congress has maintained that his remarks were made in the course of political criticism during an election campaign.
New York, April 8 : A US judge has granted a request from Billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani to schedule a hearing to dismiss a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) case of alleged fraud. The plea states that the case represents an impermissible extraterritorial application of US law and that the SEC has failed to establish actionable claims under US securities laws.

"The court has received Defendants' letter requesting a pre-motion conference on their anticipated motion to dismiss the Complaint. The court grants that request and directs the parties to schedule the pre-motion conference," the Eastern District Court of New York has stated in its order.

While Gautam Adani is the chairman of the Adani Group, Sagar Adani is executive director at Adani Green Energy.

The court's decision to grant a hearing allows the Adanis' to argue that the regulator's complaint should be thrown out at an early stage, potentially avoiding a protracted discovery process and trial.

The case brought by SEC in November 2024 alongside a criminal complaint by the US Department of Justice, alleges that the Adanis sought to pay over $250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure solar energy contracts and concealed the scheme from US investors and banks when they raised funds.

The counsels for Gautam Adani and his nephew Sagar stated in court that there was no credible evidence supporting the alleged bribery scheme. They pointed out that the SEC lacked necessary jurisdiction over the two men and that the alleged misstatements underpinning the case weren't actionable.

The Adani Group has denied all allegations, stating that none of its entities or executives have been charged under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and that Adani Green Energy -- the renewable energy arm that raised the funds -- is not a party to the proceedings.

In filings, Adani's legal team has argued that the case lacks sufficient jurisdictional basis and fails to establish actionable claims under US securities laws.

The plea also argues that the SEC's claims over a 2021 bond sale by the Group's renewable energy arm Adani Green Energy are legally flawed on multiple grounds.

The $750-million bond sale was conducted outside the United States under Rule 144A and Regulation S exemptions, with securities sold to non-US underwriters and only later resold in part to qualified institutional buyers, they said.

The Adanis argued that the SEC lacked personal jurisdiction, saying neither of them had sufficient contacts with the US or direct involvement in the bond offering.

The plea filed by the lawyers added that the complaint does not allege that Gautam Adani approved the issuance, attended key meetings, or directed any activity at US investors.

The plea also highlights that the "SEC does not allege that there were any investor losses, and there were none. The bonds have matured, and Adani Green repaid all principal and interest in full to investors in 2024," it added.

The filing also contends the SEC's case is impermissibly extraterritorial, noting the securities were not listed in the United States, the issuer is Indian, and the alleged misconduct occurred entirely in India.

Citing US Supreme Court precedent, Adanis said the SEC failed to show any "domestic transaction", a requirement for applying US securities laws.

The plea further states that the SEC charges against Adanis say nothing about where irrevocable liability was incurred and the mere fact, taken as true, that some downstream investors were located in the US is irrelevant to the case.

"The SEC's claims here solely involve Indian Defendants, an Indian issuer, securities not registered with the SEC and not traded on any US exchange, and underlying conduct alleged to have occurred exclusively in India," it said. "This case is thus conclusively beyond the reach of the US securities laws."

The defendants also said the SEC does not allege any investor losses, adding that the bonds matured and were fully repaid with interest in 2024.

They also disputed the underlying bribery allegations, saying there is no credible evidence supporting such claims.

"The alleged bribery scheme relates to a solar energy project in India for the provision of renewable power in India. There is no allegation that any US company bid on the project, or that any US customer purchased energy in the project. In fact, there was no such US involvement," the plea said.
Mumbai, April 8 : Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday said that the Reserve Bank of India has not found any major governance issues in HDFC Bank, even after the bank's chairman stepped down citing ethical disagreements.

Speaking after the monetary policy announcement, the RBI governor said that based on regular supervision, there are no material concerns about the bank's governance.

"Existing banking laws are clear and effective, and there is currently no need for any changes," he said.

"However, the central bank would review the situation if required," Malhotra stated.

Malhotra also reassured that there are no broader concerns in the banking sector. "The system remains safe and stable, and such individual incidents do not affect the overall health of banks," he explained.

"There are no systemic issues related to profitability or financial strength in HDFC Bank," Malhotra mentioned.

His comments come after recent developments at HDFC Bank, where the chairman resigned suddenly, pointing to differences over values and ethics.

The development had raised questions about governance at the country's largest private lender.

The RBI governor also said that the central bank is planning to update guidelines for bank boards.

The aim is to help boards focus more on key policy decisions rather than getting involved in daily operations.

He explained that the review of these rules was started after requests from banks.

The proposed changes are intended to make better use of board members' time by allowing management to handle routine operational matters, while boards concentrate on bigger strategic issues.

Meanwhile, the central bank proposed to give banks greater flexibility to include quarterly profits in capital-to-risk weighted assets ratio (CRAR) calculations irrespective of fluctuations in provisioning levels.

"It is proposed to remove the condition regarding NPA provisioning for inclusion of quarterly profits in CRAR computation," Malhotra said during RBI MPC decision announcement.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Ottawa, April 8 : A leading global advocacy organisation, Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), strongly condemned the targeted protests by Canada-based Khalistani Extremists (CBKE) outside Hindu temples in the Canadian cities of Brampton and Surrey, citing incidents of severe harassment.

According to CoHNA, the protests took place on April 5 during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, when large numbers of Hindu devotees had gathered at temples across Canada.

It noted that coinciding with Easter weekend and the Jewish festival Passover, the disruption went beyond the Hindu community, "unsettling neighbourhoods" where families of multiple faiths were marking their religious observances.

Despite the Canadian police-imposed buffer zones, CoHNA said that devotees visiting the temple were harassed with past graphic displays depicting the killing of a woman, while children were subjected to "loud, abusive slogans".

Although authorities considered Sunday's events as "orderly" due to the police management, CoHNA warned against "equating crowd control with genuine public safety".

"While Khalistani provocateurs engage in the worst kind of sloganeering, the burden falls on the worshippers to keep the peace -- they are advised to avoid contact, adjust their movements, and navigate around a conflict they did not invite," said CoHNA Canada President Rishabh Sarswat.

"Public safety cannot be reduced to crowd management. CoHNA is not calling for bans on symbols or speech, but we ask authorities to account for context and intent and balance the right to access a place of worship without intimidation," he added.

While CBKE claims the protests target India's activities at temples rather than Hindus themselves. CoHNA rejected the narrative entirely.

"Hindu temples are autonomous institutions with the same rights as any other Canadian religious body to invite guests and host activities of their choosing -- including consular services for elderly Canadians of Indian origin seeking pensions and life certificates. Who a temple chooses to host is not a decision that belongs to the CBKE," it added.

Beyond the CBKE's "broader pattern of provocation and intimidation" at Hindu temples, CoHNA said that the targeting of Brampton's Triveni Mandir starkly illustrates how the Khalistani extremists treat any expression of Hindu identity as a "legitimate site for political confrontation".

"This temple, like several others in the Greater Toronto Area, was founded and continues to be administered by the Caribbean Hindu community -- a fact that underscores the hollowness of the CBKE's attempts to frame such institutions as extensions of the Indian state," CoHNA stressed.
Immediate relief for every affected farmer and sharecropper, no delay in compensation: Chief Minister. Image Source: IANS

April 08 : Lucknow: Expressing deep concern over the damage caused to rabi crops due to unseasonal rain, hailstorms, and incidents of fire in some areas, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to ensure swift, transparent, and sensitive action.

Chairing a high-level review meeting on Wednesday morning, the Chief Minister said, "It is natural for farmers to feel worried in such adverse circumstances, and the state government stands firmly with them with full commitment."

The Chief Minister directed that an accurate, fair, and time-bound assessment of losses for every affected farmer and sharecropper be conducted, and immediate compensation be ensured.

He instructed that effective coordination be established at the district level among revenue, agriculture, and other concerned departments, and that surveys be completed quickly and reports sent to the government without delay, so that relief distribution is not held up.

He also directed officials to maintain active coordination with insurance companies to ensure quick settlement of crop insurance claims.

Officers have been instructed to directly reach out to farmers and ensure they receive the benefits of insurance schemes, so that maximum relief can be provided.

Directing the Revenue Department, the Chief Minister said, "Adequate funds should be immediately made available to each district from the State Disaster Relief Fund. District Magistrates must ensure that assistance is provided to affected farmers in a prompt and transparent manner. Relief camps should be set up wherever required, and mandi committees should also extend all possible support to farmers."

Taking a sensitive approach towards fire incidents, the Chief Minister directed that in cases of loss of life and livestock, relief funds must be provided within 24 hours.

He also instructed that eligible beneficiaries be promptly covered under the Krishak Durghatna Bima Yojana. Additionally, families whose houses have been damaged or destroyed should be provided housing on priority under the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana.

The Chief Minister warned that any negligence in relief and rehabilitation work will be unacceptable, and accountability of concerned officials will be fixed.

The Chief Minister said, "In this time of disaster, the state government stands firmly with every farmer, farming family, and sharecropper with full sensitivity, promptness, and commitment, and providing all possible assistance to them is the governments highest priority."
April 08 : Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday handed over the land allotment letter for 75 hectares in the Chitrakoot node of the Uttar Pradesh Defence Industrial Corridor to Bharat Electronics Limited Chairman and Managing Director Manoj Jain.

This initiative is being seen as an important institutional step towards the systematic and phased development of the Chitrakoot defence node, which will strengthen defence manufacturing infrastructure in the state and give fresh momentum to the expansion of the industrial base in the Bundelkhand region.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister said, "This initiative will play an important role in establishing Uttar Pradesh as a strong and reliable identity in the field of defence manufacturing, while also accelerating the overall economic and industrial development of the Bundelkhand region."

Strategically located in central India, the Chitrakoot node is emerging as a major centre for defence production due to its excellent logistics connectivity and geographical suitability, and in the coming time it will become a key driver of investment, employment generation and high technology based industrial development.

Chief Minister added, "Under this project, Bharat Electronics Limited will establish an advanced manufacturing unit for the production of state of the art radar and air defence systems with an investment of approximately 562.5 crore. This initiative will not only strengthen high technology based production in the defence sector but will also provide a new direction to the expansion of industrial efficiency and technical capabilities in the state. As a result, there is a possibility of generating more than 300 direct employment opportunities, while large scale indirect employment will also be created in ancillary and allied sectors, opening new avenues for local youth."

Chief Minister also said, the establishment of this high technology unit in Chitrakoot will create quality employment opportunities for local youth, significantly reducing the need for migration to other regions for jobs. This project will not only strengthen the regional economy but will also institutionally promote the development of technically skilled human resources, research and innovation, thereby strengthening the creation of a modern industrial ecosystem in the state.

He further informed, "This initiative will provide a strong foundation to the resolve of Atmanirbhar Bharat by decisively strengthening indigenous production capacity in the defence sector. It will reduce dependence on imports and enable the creation of a strong, self reliant and integrated defence industrial ecosystem in the country. At the same time, the project will accelerate the development of ancillary and MSME based industries and create new opportunities for advanced technological collaboration, innovation and knowledge transfer, which will help establish the state as a major hub in defence production."

Chief Minister also mentioned that Chitrakoot, which has so far been known for its rich cultural and spiritual heritage, is now moving towards establishing a new and strong identity in the field of defence manufacturing as well.

He added, "The proposed advanced industrial unit here will not only give new momentum to regional development but will also concretely realize the vision of balanced, inclusive and multidimensional development of the state, creating a strong synergy between traditional heritage and modern industrial progress."
Patna, April 8 : Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, has launched a sharp attack on Bihar's healthcare system after a disturbing video from Gaya went viral on social media.

The video, reportedly from Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College Hospital, shows a youth carrying his elderly grandmother out of a ward on a scooter as no stretcher or wheelchair was available.

The footage has sparked outrage and raised serious questions about hospital infrastructure in the state.

Sharing the video on X, Tejashwi Yadav took a sarcastic dig at the government and Health Minister Mangal Pandey. "In Bihar's hospitals, somewhere there are no doctors; elsewhere, no cotton or needles; in some places, no medicines or beds -- and now even wheelchairs are unavailable. Patients are being transported on bicycles, cots, and scooters out of sheer helplessness," he wrote.

He further alleged that under the current NDA government, the healthcare system has completely collapsed in the state.

Tejashwi questioned the very definition of healthcare facilities in the state, arguing that merely constructing buildings and labelling them as hospitals does not improve medical services. "If there are no doctors, nurses, medicines, or basic facilities, why call it a hospital?" he asked.

He also accused the government of prioritising construction contracts over strengthening healthcare delivery, claiming that such institutions risk becoming empty structures without proper staffing and resources.

Targeting the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, Tejashwi alleged that it is indifferent to the suffering of the poor and more focused on retaining power.

He further claimed that government hospitals in Bihar have effectively become referral centres, pushing patients toward private healthcare facilities.

Tejashwi also asserted that initiatives undertaken during his tenure in the Health Department have been neglected, alleging that the system has once again fallen under the influence of middlemen and what he termed a medical mafia.

The viral video has intensified the political debate over Bihar's healthcare system, with renewed scrutiny on infrastructure gaps and service delivery in government hospitals.
Bengaluru, April 8 : Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday objected to statements made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma against AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, accusing him of making irresponsible and caste-driven remarks.

Priyank Kharge has further defended the controversial 'poisonous snake' remarks made by his father, Mallikarjun Kharge.

Addressing the media in Bengaluru, he claimed that a sense of caste privilege was deeply ingrained among the BJP leaders and attributed it to the influence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Kharge alleged that CM Sarma's views had changed after his association with the RSS, stating that such ideological training had shaped his statements.

Raising questions about CM Sarma's background, Priyank Kharge said that the Assam Chief Minister belonged to the Brahmin community and enjoyed social privilege, which, according to him, insulated him from criticism. He alleged that statements made by CM Sarma against Dalits and leaders from marginalised communities did not attract adequate accountability.

Kharge further accused the RSS of promoting a "Chaturvarna" mindset and claimed that those who question such ideology are often targeted. He said BJP leaders project themselves as representing "matured communities" while making controversial statements, and they don't come out of the "Chaturvarna" mindset.

Questioning the silence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge asked whether he would defend Sarma's remarks, noting that the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha was being targeted by a sitting Chief Minister.

Defending his father's earlier remarks, Kharge clarified that Mallikarjun Kharge's comments about dealing with a "poisonous snake" were metaphorical and referred to ideologies that spread hatred in society. He questioned whether such ideologies should be nurtured or opposed.

Kharge alleged that the BJP and RSS ideologies were detrimental to the progress and development of various sections of society, including minorities, backward classes, Dalits, Adivasis, and women. He claimed that such ideologies left no space for the Constitution.

Drawing a contrast, he said the RSS believed in the principles of "Manu Smriti", while Congress stood by the Constitution. He questioned why the BJP continued to promote the RSS and referred to remarks by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, stating that the organisation did not require political backing to sustain itself.

He stated, Priyank said CM Sarma appeared "frustrated" and alleged that BJP leaders, including PM Modi, had failed to respond to questions raised by Mallikarjun Kharge both in Parliament and outside.

It can be recalled that during an election rally in Assam's Sribhumi district on Monday, Kharge, citing the Quran, said if a poisonous snake is passing in front of someone, even if he is offering namaz, then he should leave the namaz and kill that poisonous snake.

"I would say that breaking the namaz does not matter. The RSS and the BJP are that poisonous snake," Kharge had said.

It can be recalled that Assam Chief Minister Sarma had made the controversial statements while addressing reporters in Assam's Jorhat. The chief minister had launched a scathing attack on Kharge, questioning his statements and using strong language.

"Kharge is ageing and is speaking like a 'pagal' (madman). You insult the people first and then say you will ask the External Affairs Minister for verification?" Chief Minister Sarma said.

He also made remarks such as "Who is Kharge?" and questioned the Congress leadership over recent allegations involving party spokesperson Pawan Khera.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Patna, April 8 : In a major political development in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to take oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha on April 10.

State Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed that Nitish Kumar will travel to New Delhi on April 9 and take oath in the Rajya Sabha on April 10.

Following this, he will step down as Chief Minister, paving the way for the formation of a new government in the state.

Chaudhary stated that after Nitish Kumar's resignation, all constituent parties of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will hold a meeting to finalise the next Chief Minister and government structure.

When asked about potential candidates for the CM post, he remarked, "Whoever's name you (the media) circulate will be in the race," hinting at ongoing speculation but no official decision yet.

A crucial meeting of the Janata Dal(United) is scheduled in Delhi on April 9, where senior leaders, including Union Minister Lalan Singh and acting national president Sanjay Jha, are expected to participate.

Sources indicate that discussions will focus on the transfer of power in Bihar, the selection of the new Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, and JD(U)'s role in the upcoming government.

Nitish Kumar, who also serves as JD(U)'s national president, will play a key role in these deliberations.

According to sources, Nitish Kumar may also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his Delhi visit to discuss the future political roadmap for Bihar.

Nitish Kumar was elected to the Rajya Sabha on March 16 and resigned from the Legislative Council on March 30.

Sources suggest that after the conclusion of 'Kharmas' (inauspicious, month-long period in Hindu astrology) on April 14, the new government could be formed around April 15-16.

There is strong speculation that Bihar may, for the first time, see a BJP Chief Minister.

Before departing for Delhi, Nitish Kumar presided over a ceremony in Patna, distributing appointment letters to 4,954 ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse Midwives).

The event is being seen as one of his final official engagements as Chief Minister.

The coming days are expected to be crucial for Bihar politics, with leadership transition, alliance dynamics, and governance priorities all set to undergo significant changes.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Palakkad : , April 8 (IANS) With just hours to go for polling, Kerala's Palakkad Assembly constituency has been rocked by a series of allegations involving cash and material inducements, triggering swift intervention from election authorities and sharp political exchanges between rival fronts.

The controversy first erupted after the Congress released visuals purportedly showing BJP workers handing over cash to voters in Kannadi panchayat.

The footage, shot at Tharuvakkurissi, allegedly captures an elderly woman being given money shortly after NDA candidate Shobha Surendran and her team visited a nearby bereaved household.

Congress leaders claim that after offering condolences, members of the candidateas entourage approached the neighbouring house, interacted with the woman, and handed over Rs 5,000.

The visuals, which surfaced on the eve of polling, put the BJP on the defensive, with the Congress and the UDF alleging a systematic attempt to influence voters through cash distribution.

Additional clips also appeared to show the candidate confronting those who filmed the episode, further intensifying the row.

However, in a twist that has added complexity to the issue, the elderly woman identified as Devu denied receiving any money from BJP workers, stating that the cash seen in her hand was her pension.

Her statement has injected an element of ambiguity into the controversy, even as political tempers continue to flare.

Even as the cash row unfolded, fresh visuals emerged from another part of the constituency, allegedly showing sarees being distributed to women.

Congress leaders said they have submitted complaints along with video evidence to election authorities, arguing that the distribution of goods constitutes a clear violation of electoral norms.

MP and former Palakkad MLA Shafi Parambil described the developments as a blatant violation of rules.

Referring to the recent campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the constituency, he said such incidents undermine the sanctity of the electoral process, while expressing confidence that voters would reject inducement tactics.

The Election Commission has moved quickly, seeking a report from the District Collector and deploying flying squads to probe the allegations.

Under the Representation of the People Act, offering cash or gifts to influence voters is a serious offence.

As Palakkad heads into polling, the focus has now shifted from campaign rhetoric to questions over electoral integrity, with authorities expected to verify the authenticity of the visuals and determine whether violations have indeed occurred.
Mumbai, April 8 : Television superstar Ankita Lokhande and husband Vicky Jain were recently seen visiting the holy shrine of Mahakaal in Ujjain, visiting the temple at 4 AM

The actress took to her social media account on Wednesday and shared a beautiful montage of her recent visit to the shrine.

Sharing her divine experience, Ankita took to her social media account and expressed her emotions.

"4AM. Moving with purpose, grounded in faith and guided by something higher.

We walk with humble hearts, knowing every win is a blessing, and every absence holds a lesson.

We don't just celebrate what's coming our way, we honour what didn't because that's where growth lives Faith isn't just what we believe in, it's what leads us every single time. Feeling Blessed. AnVi. #Mahakaal #FaithOverEverything #GratitudeAlways #SpiritualJourney #Blessed."

In the video, Ankita and Vicky were seen entering the premises of the temple hand in hand. Up next, Ankita was seen getting the beautiful tilak of Mahakaal on her forehead, and further blessed the little girl who applied it to her.

The actress was seen engrossed in the auspicious Aarti and Pooja of the divine with Vicky.

In the next part of the video clip, Ankita and Vicky are seen posing for a selfie with happy smiles.

The actress has always been spritual and celebrates every festival with equal pomp and spirit.

The actress has been celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with a lot of warmth and devotion for years, and similarly celebrates Jain festivals too, since her husband belongs to the respective community.

On account of Mahavir Jayanti recently, Ankita along Vicky was seen visiting her in-laws house in Bilaspur to celebrate the occasion.

IANS

rd/
Chennai, April 8 : Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government, branding it a "failure model" and urging voters to remove it from power in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Addressing a public meeting in Velachery, the AIADMK General Secretary accused the M.K. Stalin-led administration of failing to fulfil key electoral promises, particularly in generating employment opportunities for youth and filling vacant government posts.

Palaniswami also targeted the government over recurring monsoon flooding in Chennai, especially in low-lying areas such as Velachery.

He said the DMK had not taken adequate measures to prevent inundation, leaving residents to face repeated hardships during heavy rains.

"Even after five years in power, there has been no lasting solution to flooding issues in the city," he said.

Calling the DMK an "evil force," the former Chief Minister alleged a deterioration in law and order across the state. He claimed that women, children, and the general public were increasingly feeling unsafe, adding that people were "living in fear" under the current regime.

In contrast, he said the AIADMK government had ensured safety and acted firmly against offenders during its tenure.

The AIADMK leader urged voters to carefully assess the DMK's performance between 2021 and 2026, questioning whether the government had delivered any tangible benefits.

He alleged that Chennai, despite being a major urban centre, had not seen any significant new infrastructure or development projects under the present administration.

Highlighting local concerns, Palaniswami said Velachery remained particularly vulnerable to waterlogging during monsoon seasons, and accused the government of ignoring repeated complaints from residents.

He promised that an AIADMK government would prioritise flood mitigation and urban infrastructure improvements if voted back to power.

With the election campaign intensifying, Palaniswami's remarks signal a continued focus by the Opposition on governance issues such as employment, civic infrastructure, and public safety, as parties vie to shape voter sentiment ahead of the polls.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Jakarta, April : Indonesia on Wednesday welcomed the announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a positive step toward de-escalation.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said at a press conference that Indonesia sees this momentum as a positive beginning and urges all sides to make the most of the opportunity to advance a sustainable peaceful solution.

Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only way in resolving the conflict, Yvonne said.

Yvonne also stressed the importance of respecting freedom of navigation under international law, saying Indonesia would continue to support constructive diplomatic efforts, with the protection of civilians as a primary focus, Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump announced that he has agreed to suspend planned military strikes on Iran for two weeks, linking the pause to Tehranas agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing negotiations toward a broader peace deal.

The announcement signals a temporary halt in what had been shaping up as a major escalation in the Gulf, with Trump asserting that US military goals had already been achieved.

Israel also expressed support for the United States decision to suspend military action against Iran, while clarifying that the proposed two-week ceasefire arrangement does not extend to Lebanon.

Meanwhile, India also welcomed the ceasefire agreement and expressed hope that the ceasefire would lead to lasting peace in West Asia.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reiterated that dialogue and diplomacy are important for bringing an end to the conflict. The MEA noted that the conflict in West Asia has caused suffering to people and disrupted the global energy supply.

The MEA stated, "We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it will lead to a lasting peace in West Asia. As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict."
Jabalpur, April 8 : Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav on Wednesday addressed the 'Krishi Manthan 2026' event at Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University (JNKVV), Jabalpur, organised jointly by the Department of Farmer Welfare and Agriculture Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh, and the university.

The conclave focussed on brainstorming to align research, extension services, and market access as part of the state's 'Krishi Kalyan Varsh (Farmer Welfare Year)' 2026.

He described 2026 as a dedicated year for diverse events and integrated activities aimed at boosting agriculture and allied sectors.

On wheat procurement, which began recently, Yadav mentioned state support through the Bhavantar Scheme and efforts towards processing crops like masoor and chana to make farming more profitable.

He referenced the slogan "Jai Kisan, Jai Jawan, Jai Vigyan" (popularised by late Atal Bihari Vajpayee) and noted that Prime Minister Modi has added "Jai Anusandhan (Hail Research)" to it.

The Chief Minister laid stress on a coordinated approach involving multiple departments under the theme of 'Unity in Diversity' to advance farmer welfare.

"Under the 'Farmer Welfare Year' initiative, we have decided to organise a diverse array of distinct events throughout the entire year. Consequently  by bringing together various departments, providing a unified platform for their collective activities, and upholding the spirit of 'Unity in Diversity' amidst this variety  we stand before you today to present this unique program dedicated to farmer welfare," he stated.

He linked agriculture to a deeper philosophy of harmony with nature, referencing ancient Indian wisdom and historical evidence like the Bhimbetka rock paintings depicting agrarian life dating back thousands of years.

Yadav praised the village-centric, nature-revering lifestyle and recalled India's shift from food shortages in the 1960s  when it imported wheat  to self-sufficiency driven by scientific research and leaders like Lal Bahadur Shastri.

Paying tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Yadav highlighted the vision for the River Linking Project and noted how political hurdles delayed progress in the Narmada Valley in the 1970s.

He credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi (during his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister) with completing the Sardar Sarovar Dam, which transformed water availability.

"Mother Narmada is our lifeline. Her waters keep Madhya Pradesh lush and verdant, bring joy and prosperity to Gujarat, and quench the thirst of other states, including Rajasthan," he added.

The CM showcased Madhya Pradesh's achievements and stated that the state leads the nation in pulses production (with significant contributions to chickpeas and overall pulses output) and ranks high in oilseeds, food grains, and wheat.

Farmers are adopting multi-cropping, including a third crop cycle, setting new records.

"The state also leads in area under natural farming and has initiated procurement of indigenous millets like Kodo and Kutki. Notably, Prasad offerings at Baba Mahakal now include Ragi laddoos," he pointed out.

Yadav announced plans to increase milk production growth from the current 9 per cent to 20 per cent and provide free milk to students in government schools from Class 1 to Class 8, aiming to improve nutrition.

He urged the agricultural university community to support advanced crop varieties, agricultural startups, modern machinery, and value addition.

"We require your assistance in promoting advanced crop varieties over traditional seeds, enhancing production capacities, fostering agricultural startups, and facilitating the adoption of modern farm machinery," he said.

Chief miniter also inaugurated the new administrative building of the Jabalpur Agricultural University, dedicated to the memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee at a cost of 16.47 crore, initiated a training programme for 1,000 'Krishi Sakhis' (female agricultural assistants), allocated work orders worth 1.08 crore to 10 startups and launched a new sugarcane unit in Narsinghpur.

The event also featured displays of unique agricultural products and reinforced the government's push for digital governance for transparent scheme implementation.
Bhopal, April 8 : With the wheat procurement at Minimum Support Price (MSP) in Madhya Pradesh set to begin from Thursday, the state government has put in place a multi-layered monitoring and support system to ensure a smooth process for farmers across the state.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday reviewed the preparedness through a virtual interaction with farmers' representatives and voluntary organisations, stressing transparency and farmer convenience as key priorities.

The procurement will start in Indore, Ujjain and Bhopal divisions on April 9, while the process in Rewa, Jabalpur, Sagar and Shahdol divisions will start from April 15.

"Today, I virtually connected with representatives of farmers and voluntary organisations to discuss the wheat procurement process, which is set to commence from tomorrow (April 9). The state government is committed to ensuring that our farmer brethren receive a fair price for their produce," Chief Minister Yadav said in a statement.

To ensure the procurement process is smooth and transparent, control rooms have been set up at the district level.

A central control room has been set up at the Chief Minister's Office to monitor the process continuously.

"During this interaction, I appealed to voluntary organisations to extend their cooperation in the wheat procurement process. Instructions have also been issued to all Collectors and Sub-Divisional Magistrates to ensure that adequate arrangements are made for farmers at the procurement centres," the Chief Minister said.

He also shared that the procurement process will initially focus on registered small and marginal farmers, with slot booking for procurement already underway.

He confirmed that sufficient gunny bags have been arranged for the operations.

The Cabinet Ministers and MLAs have also been asked to consistently monitor wheat procurement arrangements in their districts to ensure effective coordination and prevent any inconvenience to farmers in the state.

Notably, wheat procurement in the state will be carried out at a rate of Rs 2,625 per quintal, including an additional bonus of Rs 40 per quintal for farmers.

More than 78,19,400 farmers have registered for the process across 3,627 procurement centres, including 2,625 centres with bonus facilities.

Sacks are now available in all districts, and marginal farmers will receive priority.
Mumbai, April 8 : In a scathing attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that while Pakistan has regained prominence on the global map for the US-Iran ceasefire, India's international standing has diminished under the current leadership.

Mumbai, April 8 (IANS) In a scathing attack on the BJP-led government at the Centre, the Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that while Pakistan has regained prominence on the global map for the US-Iran ceasefire, Indiaas international standing has diminished under the current leadership.

At the press conference, Raut expressed his ire over the fact that Pakistan and China are receiving credit for brokering peace while India remained on the sidelines.

aPakistan has returned to the world map by mediating between the US and Iran. This is a matter of shame for India. Our Prime Minister, who claims to be a aMahavishwaguru,a is merely acting like a telephone operator, chatting with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Nepal while others take the lead in global diplomacy," he said.

He further added that the credit for bringing Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Iranian leaders to the negotiating table should have belonged to India, but the governmentas "lack of a clear stance" resulted in a diplomatic failure.

Commenting on the nature of the conflict, Raut praised Iran for standing up to global superpowers like the US and Israel. He noted that Iran did not surrender despite 35 days of intense conflict.

According to Raut, Iran "shattered the baseless fear" the world had regarding the military might of America and Israel. He described Donald Trump as a "mob-leader" who was taught a lesson by Iranas sacrifice and resilience.

Raut alleged that while the world was on the brink of destruction, the Prime Minister was focussed on targeting political opponents within India.

aThe 'Mahavishwaguru' was busy dropping 'word bombs' in Kerala, West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu. He is using the Election Commission and the Vice President as weapons to destroy democracy at home, while China and Pakistan are taking credit for stopping a global war," he remarked.

Referring to External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankaras previous comments labelling Pakistan a "broker" nation, Raut pointed out the irony of Donald Trump thanking that very same nation for its diplomatic efforts.

He demanded the immediate resignation or dismissal of S Jaishankar and warned that the government is dangerously underestimating its adversaries. He termed Jaishankaras presence in the Cabinet as a liability that has led to national humiliation.

Raut mocked the BJPas previous rhetoric regarding the hoisting of the Indian flag in Islamabad.

aYou spoke of taking over Islamabad, but today, Trump and Netanyahu are sitting there to discuss world peace. This is a slap in the face of the Modi government. For the prestige Pakistan has gained today, Narendra Modi and his government are solely responsible," he commented.
New Delhi, April 8 : Farmers across several states are grappling with widespread crop damage following unseasonal rains, strong winds, and hailstorms, triggering distress and uncertainty in the rural economy.

In Punjab's Moga district, large swathes of standing crops have been flattened due to continuous rainfall. Farmers say the damage is extensive, with little hope of salvaging the produce.

"There is a huge loss; 7080 per cent of the crops have been destroyed. None of the grain has been harvested yet, and the standing crops in front of you have fallen," a farmer in Moga told IANS, pointing towards fields where crops lay submerged and flattened.

Another farmer from the district described the situation as dire, saying: "Our condition is very bad. The grain has spoiled and is neither fit for consumption nor usable for any other purpose."

The situation is equally grim in Mansa district, where rainfall and hailstorms have devastated crops in village Bhamme and several nearby areas. Farmers say the losses have compounded their existing distress, as compensation for previous damage is still pending.

"Farmers have suffered losses earlier as well, and even the compensation for that has not yet been received," said a local farmer, highlighting the growing frustration among the farming community.

Expressing concern over the lack of official response, another farmer added: "Due to heavy rainfall, farmers have suffered major losses, and despite the damaged crops being clearly visible, no government official has come for inspection."

In Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, unseasonal rain accompanied by strong winds has caused significant damage to wheat and mustard crops. Standing crops have been flattened, while harvested produce lying in the fields has been soaked, further reducing its value.

Farmer Shivanand from Ghaziabad said he suffered heavy losses on multiple acres of land. "I had sown wheat and mustard on several acres. The mustard crop was damaged and fell in the field itself. Due to continuous bad weather, the entire wheat crop has also been ruined. Because of the rain this season, we have suffered heavy losses," he said.

Another farmer from the district echoed similar concerns, saying his wheat crop spread across six bighas has been completely destroyed. "It is lying here and rotting. What use is it now? It's a complete loss," he said.

The unseasonal weather has struck at a crucial time when rabi crops are nearing harvest, raising concerns about food supply disruptions and financial instability for farmers.

With mounting losses and delayed compensation, farmers are urging authorities to conduct timely assessments and provide immediate relief to mitigate the crisis.
Of the five people accused in the overdose death of the Friends star, Sangha faced the longest potential sentence after pleading guilty to five charges

On Wednesday, April 8, in Los Angeles, California, one of the most anticipated sentencing cases in recent years took place: that of Jasveen Sangha, the main defendant in the death of Friends star Matthew Perry. She became infamous as the Ketamine Queen for supplying the actor with the drug that ended his life in 2023. Of the five defendants, she faced the longest prison sentence, of up to 65 years. The prosecution had sought 15 years, and that is what they ultimately obtained.

Sanghas sentencing is the third in the case, which involves five defendants. The two doctors involved have already heard their sentences. The first was Salvador Plasencia, last December, sentenced to two and a half years in prison and a $5,600 fine. The second, two weeks later, was Mark Chavez, sentenced to eight months of house arrest and 300 hours of community service.

Sangha, 42, is a dual U.S. and British citizen residing in North Hollywood. She pleaded guilty in a court hearing in early September to the death of the Friends actor, which occurred in October 2023, when Perry was 54. Although she was arrested in the summer of 2024, she initially declined to plead guilty, a decision that changed a few months ago, in August. She then pleaded guilty on five federal charges: one for operating a drug manufacturing and distribution operation, one for distributing a substance that caused a death, and three for distributing ketamine.

The first charge, running a drug business, could have landed Sangha in prison for 20 years. When police raided her North Hollywood residence, from which she operated, in March 2024, they found nearly two kilos of methamphetamine pills, 79 vials of liquid ketamine, MDMA, cocaine, various substances such as benzodiazepines and amphetamines, and almost $6,000 in cash.

From prison, where she awaited sentencing, Sangha told the British newspaper The Sun that she took full responsibility for her actions and the role I played in the events that led to this tragedy. There are no excuses for what I did. I am deeply sorry for the pain I caused, especially to Matthews family. Their loss is unimaginable and permanent. I understand that my conduct  operating a drug business and continuing down that path  was reckless, dangerous, and wrong. The prosecution has stated that, despite pleading guilty, Sangha has shown little remorse.

Suzanne Perry and Keith Morrison, Matthew Perry's mother and stepfather, arrive at court on April 8 to hear the sentence against Jasveen Sangha, in Los Angeles, California. Damian Dovarganes (AP)

As a DEA agent told the BBC, Sangha was a highly educated person who decided to make their living trafficking drugs, and use that money from drug trafficking to finance this social media influencer persona, through a service that provided substances to the Hollywood elite. She is the daughter of business owners who ran franchises of a fried chicken chain in Los Angeles and owned a mansion in Calabasas, a luxurious area of the city, though they fell on hard times a decade ago due to legal problems. She also inherited a considerable fortune from her grandparents, who made their wealth as fashion merchants in London.

Sangha enjoyed partying, dancing, and flying on private jets, according to those close to her. Her lawyer, the high-profile Mark Geragos, said she supplied Perry with ketamine but never met him in person. She feels terrible. She felt terrible from day one. Its been a horrible experience, Geragos told the press after she pleaded guilty in September.

In a statement released Tuesday, Debbie Perry, stepmother of the actor who played Chandler Bing on the beloved sitcom Friends, asked the judge to impose the maximum sentence on the defendant. The pain youve caused to hundreds maybe thousands is irreversible. There is no joy No light in the window. They wont be back, she stated. She continued, addressing Sangha, as reported by People: You caused this You who has talent for business enough to make money chose the one way that hurts people. In her closing remarks, Debbie Perry asked the court to ensure that Sangha could not harm others in the future: Please give this heartless woman the maximum prison sentence so she wont be able to hurt other families like ours.

The 'Friends' cast in the final episode of the show.

Sangha has been handed a much more severe sentence than Plasencia, the first to be sentenced. He was one of the two doctors who administered ketamine to Perry, along with his colleague Mark Chavez, supplying him with enormous quantities at inflated prices. Their messages to each other included phrases like, I wonder how much more this asshole will pay, as Plasencia wrote to Chavez in September 2023, just a month before the actors death. Well find out, Chavez replied. Although the messages were deleted from their phones, federal investigators were able to recover them. Plasencia was sentenced on December 3 to 30 months in prison, which he is already serving in a federal penitentiary. He also lost the license for his Calabasas clinic and must pay a fine of $5,600. Chavez, on the other hand, received a much lighter sentence. He had already turned in his medical license and, according to his lawyers, he has shown a lot of remorse and helped in the case, trying to do everything possible to cooperate, to help in this situation.

In addition to the three convicted, two other people have been charged in connection with the actors death. One is a 55-year-old Californian named Erik Fleming, who helped Sangha obtain ketamine. He faces two charges: one for distribution of ketamine resulting in death and a second for conspiracy, which could send him to prison for up to 25 years. The last person implicated is Kenneth Iwamasa, who for years was the actors personal assistant and the last person to see him alive before he drowned in the jacuzzi at his Pacific Palisades home. He helped Perry use ketamine prescribed by doctors, so he faces a charge of distributing ketamine resulting in death, which could carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

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New Delhi, April 8 : The government on Wednesday said that India currently has sufficient coal stocks at mines, with enough fuel available to meet power generation demand.

Joint Secretary, Ministry of Coal, Sanjeev Kumar Kassi, said during an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia, that the government has asked coal companies to ensure adequate supply amid global uncertainties.

The ministry has issued guidance to coal producers to keep supplies steady despite rising input costs, he said.

An affordability-focused approach has been adopted, with Coal India Limited and Singareni Collieries Company Limited absorbing higher costs to avoid passing on the cost burden to consumers.

Coal India also increased the frequency of e-auctions in March, helping ensure smoother access to coal for buyers, Kassi said, adding that domestic coal availability remains comfortable.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines, G. Kishan Reddy, recently highlighted that coal gasification will be pivotal in strengthening Indiaas energy security, reducing import dependence, and supporting industrial growth.

The minister, describing coal gasification as a key transformative technology, said that it converts coal into syngas, which can be further used to produce cleaner fuels, chemicals, fertilisers, and hydrogen. This approach enables more efficient and sustainable use of domestic resources while enhancing economic resilience.

The minister said to promote adoption, the government has launched the National Coal Gasification Mission with a target of 100 million tonnes of gasification by 2030.

An incentive framework of Rs 8,500 crore has been introduced to support public and private sector projects, with several large-scale initiatives already underway and investments exceeding Rs 64,000 crore in the pipeline.

Advanced technologies such as Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) were also highlighted for their potential to tap previously inaccessible reserves while reducing environmental impact.

He said that Indiaas rapidly expanding economy requires a balanced energy approach that aligns development with sustainability.
Bengaluru, April 8 : Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, Lahar Singh Siroya, on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Pawan Khera, alleging that he was attempting to evade legal action by "escaping" to Hyderabad to avoid the Assam Police.

Bengaluru, April 8 (IANS) Senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, Lahar Singh Siroya, on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Pawan Khera, alleging that he was attempting to evade legal action by "escaping" to Hyderabad to avoid the Assam Police.

Khera is the Chairman, Media and Publicity department, AICC. He is also Member of the Congress Working Committee.

In a statement, Siroya said he had been closely following reports about Khera's movements and described the situation as "unfortunate," claiming that Congress leaders now have only a few places left in the country where they can "hide."

Siroya remarked that it was "interesting" that Khera did not consider Karnataka a safe destination. He alleged that internal divisions within the Congress in the state would make it difficult for Khera to find support there, adding that the reasons for such divisions would "come out eventually."

Expanding his criticism, Siroya said Khera could not turn to Kerala due to strained relations between the Congress leadership and its INDIA Bloc ally, the CPI(M), as well as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He also claimed that Tamil Nadu was not an option, citing past tensions between the Congress and the DMK leadership during seat-sharing negotiations ahead of the Assembly elections.

Questioning the Congress party's political standing, Siroya asked where the party still had allies, suggesting that even states like Himachal Pradesh could pose risks. He also referred to West Bengal, saying Congress leaders might have to seek support from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The BJP leader further alleged that the Congress had "lost goodwill everywhere" and claimed the party no longer had reliable allies or safe political ground. He also cautioned that the people of Telangana would not want their state to become a "safe haven" for what he described as the Congress party's internal issues and controversies.

Siroya also targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning why he was not asking Khera to face the police. He referred to Gandhi's "Daro Mat" (do not fear) message and asked whether it was being applied in this situation. He further questioned why Khera had not sought refuge in Delhi at Gandhi's residence or that of his family members.

The Congress party has not yet responded to Siroya's statements.

It can be recalled that Khera, a Congress spokesperson, made serious allegations in a Press conference against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife. He claimed that Sarma's wife held multiple (three) passports and had undisclosed foreign assets, including large business interests abroad.
New Delhi, April 8 : The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Rs 13,037.66 crore Jaipur Metro Phase-2 project, a transformative 41 km long North-South corridor from Prahladpura to Todi Mod, comprising 36 stations across the city.

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the Rs 13,037.66 crore Jaipur Metro Phase-2 project, a transformative 41 km long Northa"South corridor from Prahladpura to Todi Mod, comprising 36 stations across the city.

The project will be implemented by Rajasthan Metro Rail Corporation Limited (RMRCL), a 50:50 joint venture of the Centre and the Rajasthan government.

The Phase-2 corridor will provide seamless connectivity to major activity nodes such as Sitapura Industrial Area, VKIA, Jaipur Airport, Tonk Road, SMS Hospital and Stadium, Ambabari, and Vidhyadhar Nagar. It includes underground stations in the airport area and will integrate with the operational Phase-1 through planned interchanges and feeder systems, ensuring a unified and continuous metro network across the city, according to a Cabinet communique.

Jaipur already has an operational metro system under Phase-1, running along the Easta"West corridor from Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar, covering 11.64 km with 11 stations, connecting important residential & commercial areas with the Central Business District of Jaipur, which forms the Heritage Walled City. Jaipur Metro Phase-2, planned along the Northa"South axis, will complement the existing corridor and provide citywide, pan-Jaipur metro connectivity, significantly easing traffic congestion and improving overall urban mobility.

At present, Jaipur Metro Phase-1 records an average daily ridership of around 60,000 passengers on the shorter but critical 11.64 km corridor. With the commissioning of Phase-2, the metro network is expected to witness a manifold increase in ridership, substantially enhancing the share of public transport in Jaipur and reducing dependence on private vehicles.

Jaipur Metro Phase-2 has undergone a comprehensive appraisal at multiple levels, including Inter-Ministerial Consultation, Network Planning Group review and Public Investment Board evaluation. The project has an Economic Internal Rate of Return (EIRR) which is more than the threshold (over 14 per cent), indicating strong socio-economic viability. Funding is structured through equity support from the Centre and the Rajasthan government, subordinate debt and multilateral financing, in accordance with the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, the communique said.

The project is aligned with the Rajasthan TOD Policy-2025, proposed UMTA reforms, and national sustainable urban transport objectives. Targeted for completion by September 2031, Jaipur Metro Phase-2 is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion, lower vehicular emissions and enhance mobility for residents, workers and tourists alike, reinforcing Jaipuras position as a modern, future-ready city and a step towards Viksit Bharat and Viksit Rajasthan, it added.
Mumbai, April 8 : Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon has shared that shooting for the song 'Jab Talak' from her upcoming film 'Cocktail 2', felt like living the perfect summer with friends.

The song was unveiled on Wednesday, and captures the youthful, sun-soaked spirit of the film. The track is composed by Pritam, crooned by Arijit Singh and Akasa, and written by Amitabh Bhattacharya.

Talking about the song, actress Kriti Sanon shared, "'Jab Talak' carries such a beautiful, feel-good vibe. Shooting for it felt like living the perfect summer with friends, filled with laughter, music, and pure masti against the stunning backdrop of Sicily. I had an absolute blast filming with Shahid and Rashmika, and it was amazing to see even the international crew and dancers humming along and soaking in the energy of the song".

For Shahid Kapoor, the song is "incredibly special" as it marks the first song from the film. He said, "There was such a positive energy on set while shooting it, we truly had a great time together. Everything felt easy, warm, and effortless, and I believe that translates beautifully on screen. I'm confident audiences will connect with the honesty and joy that the song brings".

Rashmika Mandanna shared, "For me, Jab Talak is about love, friendship and carefree holiday moments you want to hold on to forever. The song has the perfect breezy and happy vibe. To add to that, working with Shahid and Kriti was too much fun".

'Cocktail 2' is the sequel to the 2012 film 'Cocktail', and features a fresh starcast. The film is written by Luv Ranjan and Tarun Jain, and continues the legacy of the beloved franchise with a fresh, contemporary narrative.

The film is set to bow in cinemas on June 19, 2026.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, April 8 : Jordan's Ambassador to India, Yousef Abdelghani on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran, noting that Jordan, from the very beginning, has been calling for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

In an interview with IANS, Abdelghani condemned Iran's targetting of Gulf countries, infrastructure, oil structure, oil fields and closing the Strait of Hormuz. He also mentioned about India-Iran ties, describing them as "solid, strong" and based on mutual interests and shared values.

Excerpts:

IANS: How do you view the current diplomatic relationship between Jordan and India?

Yousef Abdelghani: Our relations are very strong, solid, based on mutual interest and shared values. Last year, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Jordan and India.

IANS: What new initiatives are being planned to strengthen trade ties between India and Jordan?

Yousef Abdelghani: During Prime Minister Modi's last visit to Jordan, we agreed to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries from the current level, around three billion US dollars, to almost five billion US dollars. We also agreed to look for new avenues of cooperation in different fields between Jordan and India.

IANS: How significant is the cooperation between India and Jordan amid current geopolitical situation in the Middle East?

Yousef Abdelghani: It is very important, given the fact that Jordan is part of the IMEC trade route between India and Europe. So, we are keen to have stability in the region and the stability will bring prosperity for all the countries, including Jordan and India.

IANS: How do you see the ongoing tension involving US and Iran, including temporary ceasefire and upcoming peace talks?

Yousef Abdelghani: Jordan has been from the beginning promoting peace and calling for peaceful resolution of conflicts. We are not part of these hostilities and we call for peace in the region and are happy to hear that a ceasefire is accomplished. We are hoping that this ceasefire sustains.

IANS: How has the disruption of Strait of Hormuz impacted global stability and trade?

Yousef Abdelghani: It is impacting. We witnessed that before in Bab al-Mandeb and Red Sea...I think all countries in the region and the whole world should support that these straits are open for trade and any obstacles put to this will affect not just the country of the region but the whole world as we've seen. Every country has been hit because of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. So, I think global cooperation should be there to enable these straits to be open all the time.

IANS: Do you think the conflict in West Asia is primarily about oil and gas or about geopolitical influence and demonstrating power at global stage?

Yousef Abdelghani: We have been hearing lots of things about the tensions in the region. But, Jordan has called for peace to prevail. One of the main pillars of our foreign policy, as His Majesty the King stated, is to promote peace in the region and beyond. So, whatever are the tensions or intentions of certain countries in the region to gain domination or change the map of the Middle East, we don't approve that and we don't think that this could be done. We don't support any kind of hostilities or any kind of attempts to change the status quo in the region. We witnessed that before in Iraq, when the war, first war in Iraq happened, Jordan was not part of that and we were sanctioned because we did not allow any country to use our soil or airspace as a launchpad against Iraq. History proved that we were right because what happened after destruction of Iraq and dissolving the Iraqi army was that the country went into chaos, the ISIS and other terrorists factions emerged. We don't want this to be repeated in the region. We want wisdom and peace to prevail.

IANS: How do you see the current situation in West Asia and its long-term implications?

Yousef Abdelghani: First of all, we condemn what Iran has been doing. Iran has been targetting the Gulf countries, the infrastructure, oil structure, oil fields and closing the Strait of Hormuz... This we condemn and also Iran targetting our infrastructure in Jordan. We, from the very beginning, declared that Jordan is not part of these hostilities. Jordan will not allow any country to use its military bases or its soil or air space to target any other country. So, we informed the Iranians from the beginning about this but unfortunately they have their own tensions and their own views and we also made it known for everyone that we don't have foreign bases in our country and our air bases are run and controlled by Jordan First Army and we don't have any kind of foreign troops in our country. As was lately stated by the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jordan, we have foreign consultants that do three tasks - helping us combat terrorism, drug trafficking and smuggling of weapons.

During the Syrian civil war and during the emergence of ISIS, we were at the forefront of fighting terrorism on behalf of the whole world. So, the whole world should thank us for what we were doing and you remember the only base that was close to our border was a Al-Tanf base in the Syrian border and we used to provide, there is a refugee camp there, and we used to provide logistics for refugee camps. Jordan took a heavy burden because of these conflicts. I can prescribe my country as an oasis of peace amid inflamed ocean. So, conflicts have been surrounding us, but we've been peaceful all the time. But, the consequences of these conflicts affected us because we observed refugees from everywhere. From Palestine, we received in 1948, 1967, from the Iraqi civil war we received refugees more than a million. And from Syria also, we received more than a million and half. Many of them are still in our country. So, Jordan is there to help and to aid peace and to mitigate for peace and for promote peace in the region and beyond and we are helping the whole world in this manner, combating terrorism, drug trafficking, weapons trafficking. All these are being done by our country and the whole world should thank us for this.

IANS: Do you believe in Iran's statement that it is not having a nuclear bomb?

Yousef Abdelghani: We in the Middle East and I think Iran is part of non-proliferation treaty and our policy is that we are against obtaining nuclear weapons in the region... We want the Middle East to be clear of nuclear weapons and this should be applied to all countries, including Israel.

IANS: Do you think peace is possible between Iran, US and Israel or will this conflict continue?

Yousef Abdelghani: No, we believe wisdom should prevail and war brings more wars... Because we are in the region, we witnessed that... What happened in one country will affect the other countries. Look what has happened... During this war, all Gulf countries were affected, their infrastructure were targetted. Why are you targetting infrastructure? Why are you targetting houses, government offices, oil field production, oil wells, ports? All this has affected the whole world. So, war is not the answer. The answer is peace and negotiations and war brings about agony, suffering to all people in the region. For that reason, we are asking also to solve the main issue in our region, which is the Palestinian issue or Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This conflict is the main conflict in our region. If this conflict is not resolved, if the international community will not help us to resolve this conflict, the cycle of violence will continue. Many factions or organisations will use Palestinian issue as an excuse to have violence or provoke violence in our region. So, the main issue in our region that should be resolved is the Palestinian issue. It's for Israel to give the Palestinians their rights and freedom and on their land, occupied land, 1967 land, and to establish their state and to have self-determination. Otherwise, if this conflict is not resolved, the cycle of violence will continue.

IANS: How does Jordan view Iran's targetting of gulf countries because apparently they allowed the US to use their bases?

Yousef Abdelghani: They denied that. They said we don't allow United States to use our military bases to target Iran. But, still Iran will target them and it is not okay. They are not only targetting military bases but also civilian infrastructure like oil fields. So, this has to be condemned. This is not acceptable. We are keen to have a very strong and solid relations with Iranians. The Iranians are our brothers, and we are in the region for centuries. We have been living in peace and harmony. So, this is not acceptable... for them to target us because we have no bad intentions towards Iran or we want regime change or ask for regime change or ask for anything. We don't support that, but we expect the Iranians to support our sovereignty and territorial integrity and not to target our infrastructure.

IANS: Are Jordan's senior leaders planning to visit India in the near future?

Yousef Abdelghani: Of course! Last February, Her Majesty Queen Rania visited India. It was a high-level visit. I think that exchange visit is one of the things that has been agreed upon during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Jordan and the relations between his majesty and Prime Minister Modi are very strong and solid. They do exchange regular phone calls and interactions and the last two phone calls were made by Prime Minister Modi to show solidarity with Jordan during the incidents of targetting of our infrastructure. We also have an Indian diaspora in Jordan, more than 20,000 Indians live, we are taking good care of them in Jordan. Jordan is very important to India because we help support food security with fertilizers, with phosphoric acid, with phosphate, raw phosphate and raw potash. This also supports food security and industrial food industry here in India. So, we are keen to have strong, solid relations. We are keen to exchange regular visits. We are keen to have more development in our relations in the future.
Mumbai, April 8 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached 33 immovable and movable properties valued at nearly Rs 16.95 crore belonging to Hiren Ranjit Bhanu, his wife Gauri Hiren Bhanu, and other family members under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, officials said on Wednesday.

The attached assets include fixed deposits, bank balances, residential flats, commercial offices, and agricultural land.

The ED's Mumbai Zonal Office initiated the money laundering investigation based on an FIR registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police regarding the massive embezzlement of cash amounting to around Rs 122 crore from the New India Co-operative Bank Limited (NICBL).

Investigation revealed that Hitesh Pravinchandra Mehta, the then General Manager and Head of Accounts at the bank, played a central role in siphoning off funds.

He allegedly manipulated accounting systems and created false records of cash transfers between various bank branches.

Mehta reportedly admitted to withdrawing funds over a prolonged period.

The probe also established that these irregularities were carried out at the behest of Hiren Ranjit Bhanu, former Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the bank, who exercised significant control over the bank's operations for several years, both directly and indirectly through his associates and family members.

Gauri Hiren Bhanu, who served as the Acting Chairman and Vice-Chairman, was also identified as one of the key beneficiaries.

An ED statement said the couple allegedly received proceeds of crime amounting to at least Rs 26 crore.

The investigation also uncovered that Hiren Ranjit Bhanu, in connivance with certain borrowers of the bank, acquired companies and business entities abroad without paying any sale consideration.

He allegedly arranged to route funds into the accounts of these foreign entities through some of the Indian borrowers, who had received substantial loans from NICBL.

The Mumbai Police's EOW has already filed charge sheets in the case.

Non-bailable warrants and proclamation proceedings have been issued against Hiren Ranjit Bhanu and his wife.

Both the accused are currently abroad and have not cooperated with the investigating agencies.

"Further investigation is underway to trace the diverted funds and identify all individuals and entities involved in this fraud, which has severely impacted the bank and its depositors," an ED official statement said.

This latest attachment comes after earlier actions by the ED, including searches and seizure of valuables in the case.

The development highlights the continued crackdown on financial frauds in cooperative banks and the laundering of proceeds of crime through complex domestic and international routes.
Dhaka, April 8 : With Bangladesh's measles outbreak having claimed over 128 lives already since March 15, including mostly children, Awami League leader Mohammad Ali Arafat on Wednesday accused the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government of cancelling several public welfare initiatives introduced by the Sheikh Hasina-led government, including the national immunisation programme.

The former Bangladesh Minister stressed that the previous interim government must be held responsible for leaving the nation vulnerable to a health disaster.

At least 10 more people died of suspected measles within a 24-hour period ending Tuesday morning, raising the total number of deaths to 128 since March 15, local media reported, citing Bangladesh's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Taking to his social media platform X, Arafat said, "Driven by a political agenda, Yunus's interim government cancelled several public welfare initiatives introduced by the Awami League government, including the national immunisation programme. This ultimately resulted in multiple child deaths and created an environment of havoc for families with newborns."

He claimed that under the Awami League government, vaccination coverage exceeded 90 per cent in Bangladesh, citing the World Health Organisation's Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) data.

However, in 2025, he said, the coverage dropped to 59.6 per cent, indicating a sharp decline and raising concerns over policy continuity and implementation capacity.

Expressing grave concern, Arafat said, "Failure to provide accessible, life-saving vaccines, especially to children, is being seen as a violation of the right to life. Reduced immunisation increases the risk of preventable diseases and child mortality, reflecting not just policy failure but also a broader systemic failure."

He alleged that "political instability and shifting priorities" during the 18-month tenure of the interim government have heavily impacted Bangladesh's health sector.

"The only thing the Yunus administration has focused on is suppressing the Awami League, while the present authorities remain engaged in a blame game rather than addressing the issue," the Awami League leader noted.

Highlighting the wider implications, Arafat warned that the resurgence of diseases like measles poses both domestic and international risks.

He said that if the outbreaks worsen, Bangladesh could face "travel restrictions or negative health classifications, affecting education, labour mobility, and ultimately the economy".

"The Yunus administration should be held accountable for bringing the nation to the brink of disaster," he concluded.
New Delhi, April 8 : External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar held a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Khalilur Rahman and his delegation in New Delhi on Wednesday, discussing bilateral ties, regional and global developments.

"Pleased to host FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh and his delegation this afternoon. We discussed strengthening our bilateral relationship in its various facets. Also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Agreed to remain in close touch," EAM Jaishankar posted on X.

Khalilur Rahman arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on a "goodwill visit" that Dhaka emphasised is expected to play an "important foundation" for elevating the areas of cooperation between both countries to more productive and sustainable levels in the future.

"Warm welcome to FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh on his arrival in New Delhi today. India and Bangladesh share warm and historic ties anchored in strong people to people relations. The visit will further bolster India Bangladesh partnership," the MEA posted on X.

According to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, Rahman will participate in the Indian Ocean Conference scheduled to be held in Mauritius on April 10-12, 2026 and, en route, is making a stopover in New Delhi.

"There, he is scheduled to take part in courtesy meetings with India's Foreign Minister, National Security Advisor, and Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. These meetings will emphasise the stability and sustained development of bilateral relations based on mutual respect, trust, and shared interests," read a statement issued by Dhaka ahead of the minister's departure on Tuesday.

"This visit is expected to lay an important foundation for elevating the areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and India to more productive and sustainable levels in the future. It is noteworthy that Humayun Kabir, Advisor to the Hon'ble Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, will accompany the Hon'ble Foreign Minister on the Mauritius conference and India visit," it added.

The trip assumes significance as it is the first visit to India by a Bangladeshi minister since the BNP-led government assumed office in February, indicating a shift in the recalibration of India and Bangladesh ties, which had strained during the 18-month tenure of the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus amid escalating attacks on Hindu minorities and anti-India rhetoric.

On Monday, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma called on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, where both sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral engagement and cooperation across key sectors.

During the meeting, Verma expressed India's willingness to deepen ties through a "positive, constructive and forward-looking approach" built on shared interest and mutual benefit.
Chandigarh, April 8 : The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday granted bail to the controversial head of sect Satlok Ashram, Rampal, who is serving a life sentence in connection with the 2014 riots and violence at the Karantha Ashram in Barwala in Hisar.

He has been lodged in Central Jail in Hisar, some 200 km from Chandigarh.

"The High Court's bail order will be sent to the respective court. After that, the bail bond will be filed there. Then the order will reach the jail and after this Rampal will be released," Central Jail Superintendent Umesh Kumar told the media.

Rampal, 74, was arrested in connection with a contempt of court case emerging out of the murder of a man in 2006, as well as the sedition case in connection with large-scale violence in 2014.

A Division Bench of Justices G.S. Gill and Ramesh Kumari accepted the regular bail plea with conditions in the case involving sedition and other serious sections registered against him.

During the hearing, it was argued that statements of about 450 witnesses have been recorded in the case and the trial has progressed significantly. In such a situation, regular bail should be granted in view of the long judicial process.

After hearing the arguments of both sides, the Division Bench disposed of the petition and decided to grant regular bail to Rampal.

However, the court granted bail with certain conditions. Last year, the High Court suspended the life sentence of self-styled godman Rampal, seven years after he was awarded it in a case involving the death of five of his disciples.

Rampal was sentenced on October 11, 2018, by a Hisar court for murder, wrongful confinement and criminal conspiracy after a follower, Raj Bala, died of 'asphyxia'.

Rampal and sect functionaries were booked by Haryana Police in November 2014 after they challenged the directions of the High Court asking them to appear in a case of contempt of court.

Security personnel from state and central forces were deployed to arrest Rampal and his aides. A 10-day-long operation resulted in his arrest on November 19, 2014.
Kathmandu, April 8 : The Kathmandu District Court has reportedly issued an arrest warrant against former Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his wife, former Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, in connection with a money-laundering investigation.

The Kathmandu Post reported that the arrest warrants were issued on Tuesday following approval from the bench of Judge Mahendra Khadka, based on a request from the Department of Money Laundering Investigation.

The department has been investigating former Prime Minister Deuba and his wife, along with former Prime Ministers K P Sharma Oli and Pushpa Kamal Dahal, on allegations of money laundering.

During the Gen-Z movement in September last year, videos and images of burnt cash from the residences of Deuba, Prachandaas daughter, and former Energy Minister Deepak Khadka were widely circulated on social media. Khadka has since been in police custody for investigation. Their houses were set ablaze by the protestors. Forensic tests later confirmed that the fragments of currency notes were genuine, prompting a full-scale investigation amid suspicions that the images may have been generated using artificial intelligence.

However, former Prime Minister Deuba and his wife are currently out of the country. The couple had flown to Singapore on February 26, reportedly for medical treatment, a week ahead of the parliamentary elections in Nepal. They have not returned home since and are said to have travelled to Hong Kong.

Sources told 'The Kathmandu Post' that the arrest warrant was issued against the Deuba couple as part of the process to seek an Interpol Red Notice, which would enable authorities to detain them abroad and facilitate their return to Nepal.

Deuba, who has served as Prime Minister five times, has remained a central figure in Nepali politics since 1991, consistently winning elections from Dadeldhura, his home district. However, he did not contest the most recent House of Representatives elections held on March 5, following his removal from the post of Nepali Congress President through a Special General Convention in January.

Following the March 5 elections, the Rastriya Swatantra Party, a relatively new political force, emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives with nearly a two-thirds majority. The situation has since become more unfavorable for the Deuba couple to return home, as the new government has launched a probe into their activities.
Mumbai, April 8 : Future Consumer Limited has defaulted on loan repayments worth Rs 615.67 crore, including both principal and interest, as of March-end 2026, according to a regulatory filing by the company.

The company, which is the FMCG arm of the debt-laden Future Group, reported defaults of Rs 325.26 crore on loans and revolving credit facilities taken from banks and financial institutions.

These defaults include both overdue principal and interest payments as of March 31, 2026.

In addition to bank borrowings, the company has also defaulted on Rs 290.41 crore related to unlisted debt instruments such as non-convertible debentures (NCDs) and non-convertible redeemable preference shares (NCRPs).

This amount includes a principal outstanding of Rs 158.82 crore and accrued interest of Rs 131.59 crore.

Future Consumer said it is working on plans to reduce its debt burden and improve its financial position.

The company stated that it is exploring asset monetisation as part of its strategy to manage liabilities during the current financial year.

The company operates in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) segment, focusing on manufacturing, branding, and distribution of food and processed food products.

Future Consumer was among 19 group companies that were part of a proposed Rs 24,713 crore deal announced in August 2020, under which Reliance Retail was set to acquire the retail, wholesale, logistics, and warehousing businesses of the Future Group.

However, the group has since faced significant financial challenges, impacting its operations and debt servicing.

Future Consumer Limited which abbreviated as FCL is an Indian food-led FMCG company, part of the Future Group, focused on branding and distributing food and personal care products.

It was founded in 1996 and developed brands like Tasty Treat, Dreamery, and Karmiq.
Jaipur, April 8 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, on Wednesday, visited the Guhata village in Indragarh tehsil of Bundi district to inspect the ongoing construction of the Chambal Aqueduct under the Ram Jal Setu Link Project.

Describing the project as one of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government's most ambitious initiatives, the Chief Minister said that it will ensure adequate availability of water for both drinking and irrigation purposes in 17 districts of eastern Rajasthan.

Taking to his official X account, Chief Minister Sharma said: "In Guhata village of Bundi district, the formal worship of the piers of the massive aqueduct being constructed on the Chambal River under the 'Ram Jal Setu Link Project' was performed, and an exhibition based on the project's progress was viewed. On this occasion, tree plantation was also carried out to convey a message of environmental conservation. This 2280-metre-long and 36-metre-high aqueduct will strengthen irrigation for the farmers of the state and drinking water availability for the general public. At the same time, the 7-metre-wide pathway being constructed on top of it will make travel between Kota and Delhi more convenient, faster, and safer."

"This project is an important step towards realising the resolve of a developed Rajasthan. By strengthening water management, it will play a key role in improving the lives of the common people and giving new momentum to regional development."

Nearly 40 per cent of the state's population is expected to benefit from the project.

Chief Minister Sharma directed the state government officials to maintain high construction quality standards and ensure that all works are completed within the stipulated timeframe.

Highlighting the importance of the Chambal Aqueduct as a key component of the project, the Chief Minister instructed government officials to regularly monitor construction activities.

He also reviewed the project's progress and issued necessary directions.

Officials told Chief Minister Sharma that the aqueduct is being constructed across the Chambal river between Pipalda Samel village in Kota district and Guhata village in Bundi district, with a total length of 2,280 metres.

The structure will be supported by 5,060 piles and 77 pile caps, and will include nearly 384 circular piers.

The aqueduct will facilitate water flow across the Chambal river, enabling efficient river crossing.

It will also provide a route for vehicular movement, benefiting the general public.

On the occasion, the Chief Minister performed the puja of an aqueduct pier and inspected an exhibition showcasing various aspects of the Ram Jal Setu Link Project.

Earlier, Chief Minister Sharma conveyed a message of environmental conservation by planting a sapling.

Rajasthan Water Resources Minister Suresh Singh Rawat, Minister of State for Energy (Independent Charge) Hiralal Nagar, Additional Chief Secretary (Water Resources) Abhay Kumar, and other officials associated with the project were present during the visit.
New Delhi, April 8 : Several eminent women, social activists and public figures have come out in strong support of the Women's Reservation Bill, terming it a historic and transformative step towards ensuring greater political participation and empowerment of women in the country.

Padma Shri awardee Maya Tandon told IANS that the Bill was a step that would inspire women across the country. She said that women have already demonstrated leadership abilities in various spheres and their presence in legislative bodies would motivate others to follow suit.

She credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for instilling courage and confidence among women, noting that the reservation would enable them to step beyond traditional roles and achieve new milestones in politics.

Chairperson of the Delhi Haj Committee, Kausar Jahan, welcomed the move and said that increasing women's participation in politics would significantly accelerate development. She noted that the decision would bring about positive societal changes and send a strong message about inclusivity and equality.

Highlighting the Centre's initiative, she said that convening a special session of Parliament from April 16 to 18 reflects the government's commitment to women's empowerment. She further remarked that while previous governments treated women as a vote bank, the current dispensation has taken concrete steps to ensure their rights and reservation.

"Greater participation of women in politics will bring about a major change in society," she told IANS.

Echoing similar sentiments, Advocate Aditi Sharma said that the Bill would not only bring women into the political mainstream but also nurture leadership qualities among them. She said the initiative deserves appreciation for opening new avenues for women to lead and contribute to governance.

Social worker Amaravati Sharma emphasised that the Bill would help women establish their identity more effectively, both within their households and in public life. "From managing homes to speaking in legislative assemblies, women will now have a stronger platform to express themselves," she told IANS, adding that the move would empower women and amplify their voices.

Veena Sharma, another social worker, also supported the Bill, stating that it would strengthen women's rights and ensure that a significant section of the population gets the opportunity to take on leadership roles in governance and decision-making.

Social worker Madhu Sharma termed the decision one of the biggest achievements for Indian women. She pointed out that the voice of nearly half the population had long been suppressed, with many women questioning their chances of reaching leadership positions. "This decision is turning that long-held dream into reality," she said.

The widespread support from women leaders and activists underscores the growing optimism that the Women's Reservation Bill will mark a new chapter in India's democratic journey by ensuring inclusive representation and strengthening the role of women in shaping the nation's future.
Washington, April 8 : A newly-struck ceasefire between the United States and Iran is already under strain, Vice President J D Vance said, calling it a "fragile truce" threatened by internal discord in Tehran.

Washington, April 8 (IANS) A newly-struck ceasefire between the United States and Iran is already under strain, Vice President J D Vance said, calling it a "fragile truce" threatened by internal discord in Tehran.

Speaking during an event in Budapest, Vance said the agreement, reached hours earlier, marked a pause in hostilities but remained uncertain.

"That is the basis of this fragile truce that we have," he said, noting the deal was only "eight to 12 hours old".

The ceasefire followed a US ultimatum to Iran to reopen key shipping lanes and halt actions that had disrupted global commerce.

"This is why I say this is a fragile truce," he said.

"He said, open up the straits and we'll engage in a ceasefire," Vance said, referring to President Donald Trump's directive to negotiators.

Under the arrangement, Iran agreed to restore passage through strategic waterways, while the United States and its allies halted military strikes.

"The Iranians have agreed to open up the straits. The United States agreed to stop attacking," he said.

Vance said Washington's military objective had already been achieved prior to the ceasefire.

"What the President set out to do was decimate the Iranian military and that military objective has been achieved," he said.

Despite the breakthrough, Vance cautioned that divisions within Iran's leadership were already complicating the situation.

"You have, on the one hand, people within Iran who responded very favourably and then you have some people who are basically lying about what we've accomplished," he said.

"They're lying about the nature of the agreement. They're lying about the nature of the ceasefire."

He said such contradictions were a key reason the truce remained fragile and could unravel if not managed carefully.

Vance said President Trump had instructed his team to pursue diplomacy but made clear that patience was limited.

"The President has told us to negotiate in good faith," he said, adding that the US side was prepared to reach a broader agreement if Iran engaged constructively.

"If they negotiate in good faith, we will be able to find a deal," he said.

At the same time, he warned that Washington retained significant leverage should talks collapse.

"If they're going to lie, if they're going to cheat then they're not going to be happy," he said.

He cited "clear military, diplomatic and extraordinary economic leverage" available to the United States if required.

For now, the ceasefire represents a narrow diplomatic opening after a period of escalating conflict.

Vance said the next phase would depend entirely on Iran's approach at the negotiating table.

"Ultimately, it's up to the Iranians how they negotiate," he said, adding, "I hope they make the right decisions."
Agartala, April 8 : Women voters are set to play a decisive role in determining the electoral fortunes of six candidates in Thursday's bye-election to the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district, with the female electorate outnumbering their male counterparts by 1,374 voters.

Agartala, April 8 (IANS) Women voters are set to play a decisive role in determining the electoral fortunes of six candidates in Thursdayas bye-election to the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency in North Tripura district, with the female electorate outnumbering their male counterparts by 1,374 voters.

According to election officials, 23,758 women voters surpass the 22,384 male voters in the recently-published final electoral rolls.

The mixed-population Dharmanagar Assembly constituency has remained a stronghold of either the Congress or the BJP since 2008, with the CPI(M) last winning the seat in 2003.

A multi-cornered contest is expected in the April 9 bye-election to the Dharmanagar Assembly constituency, which shares borders with Assam and Mizoram.

Altogether, six candidates are in the fray, including nominees from major political parties, smaller outfits, and an Independent contender, making the electoral battle highly competitive.

The key candidates include Jahar Chakraborti of the ruling BJP, Chayan Bhattacharjee of the Congress, and Amitabha Datta representing the CPI(M)-led Left Front.

Datta, who won the seat in the 2003 Assembly polls, is a former MLA of the Left party. Jahar Chakraborti, 59, currently serves as the BJPas North Tripura district Vice-President.

In addition, candidates from the Amra Bangalee party, SUCI, and an independent aspirant are also contesting the bypoll.

The Left Front and the Congress, which had entered into a seat-sharing arrangement during the 2023 Tripura Assembly elections to jointly challenge the BJP, are contesting separately in this bypoll, further intensifying the electoral contest.

Congress leader Chayan Bhattacharjee had contested from the Dharmanagar seat in 2023 but lost to BJP candidate Biswa Bandhu Sen by a narrow margin of 956 votes.

The bye-election was necessitated by the demise of sitting MLA and Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen, who passed away on December 26, 2025, at a private hospital in Bengaluru after a prolonged illness at the age of 72.

Sen had been elected to the Tripura Assembly four times a" twice as a Congress candidate in 2008 and 2013, and later in 2018 and 2023 as a BJP nominee from the same constituency.

The counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4. The month-long campaign for the bye-election concluded on Tuesday afternoon.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and state BJP President Rajib Bhattacharjee, former Chief Minister and veteran Left leader Manik Sarkar and CPI(M) state Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury, as well as Congress Working Committee member and former minister Sudip Roy Barman and state party President A.K. Saha, led extensive campaigns for their respective parties.

Election authorities and the state police have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the poll is conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

An election official said that all polling personnel, along with Electronic Voting Machines and other voting materials, departed for the 55 polling stations on Wednesday. Of the 55 polling stations, 11 will be managed entirely by women, while two each will be operated by differently-abled personnel and youth polling staff.
New Delhi, April 8 : Jordan's Ambassador to India Yousef Abdelghani on Wednesday hailed the ties between two nations, terming them "very strong", "solid" and based on mutual interest and shared values. He also expressed Jordan's readiness to bolster relationship with India in future.

In an interview with IANS, Abdelghani stated that India and Jordan have already agreed to strengthening bilateral trade from around USD three billion to almost USD five billion.

"As a matter of fact, our relations are, I can describe it as very strong, solid, based on mutual interest and shared values. Last year, we celebrated the 75th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between Jordan and India," he noted.

The diplomat hailed the strong bond between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jordan's King Abdullah II, pointing out the recent phone calls between both leaders after the West Asia conflict erupted on February 28.

"During the last visit of Prime Minister Modi to Jordan, we agreed to strengthen bilateral trade between the two countries from the current level, around three billion US dollars to almost five billion US dollars. We also agreed to look for new avenues of cooperation in different fields between Jordan and India."

Last December, during his two-day visit to the country, PM Modi met King Abdullah II and Crown Prince Al-Hussein bin Abdullah II. He also addressed the India-Jordan Business Forum and highlighted areas where the two nations can deepen trade, business and investment cooperation.

During the visit, the two sides finalised Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) in the fields of culture, renewable energy, water management, digital public infrastructure and twinning arrangement between Petra and Ellora.

"In February, Her Majesty Queen Rania visited India. It was a high-level visit. I think that exchange visit is one of the things that has been agreed upon during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Jordan and the relations between his majesty and Prime Minister Modi are very strong and solid. They do exchange regular phone calls and interactions and the last two phone calls were made by Prime Minister Modi to show solidarity with Jordan during the incidents of targetting of our infrastructure," said Abdelghani

"We also have an Indian diaspora in Jordan, more than 20,000 Indians live, we are taking good care of them in Jordan. Jordan is very important to India because we help support food security with fertilizers, with phosphoric acid, with phosphate, raw phosphate and raw potash. This also supports food security and industrial food industry here in India. So, we are keen to have strong, solid relations. We are keen to exchange regular visits. We are keen to have more development in our relations in the future," he added.
New Delhi, April 8 : Galgotias University on Wednesday found itself at the centre of a social media storm after releasing full-page advertisements in leading Indian newspapers claiming global recognition.

The advertisements, which highlighted the university as "ranked globally" and "committed to making India proud", triggered a wave of online criticism, with users flooding platforms with memes and sarcastic remarks.

Many questioned the credibility of the claims, especially in light of a viral incident from the India AI summit that had already put the institution under scrutiny.

Social media users were quick to mock the campaign. One user joked that the "two top universities" were "WhatsApp University and Galgotia University".

Others took a more critical tone, with comments suggesting reputational damage, saying people "laugh when they hear the name" and that parents would "think twice before admitting their children".

Several posts also sarcastically linked the university's academic focus to memes, further amplifying the backlash.

The outrage comes after an incident at the summit held at Bharat Mandapam, where the university was asked to vacate its stall, following allegations that a robotic dog displayed at its pavilion as an in-house innovation was actually a commercially available product.

Observers identified the robot, showcased as "Orion," as the Unitree Go2, developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree Robotics.

Critics argued that showcasing an imported product as indigenous innovation at a flagship national AI event raised serious concerns about transparency and credibility.

Following scrutiny, officials allegedly cut power to the university's pavilion after asking it to leave the expo.

During an interaction with DD News during the AI Summit, Professor Neha Singh had described the robot as a product of the university's AI investments, claiming it could perform surveillance and monitoring tasks and was developed in-house.
Chennai, April 8 : Tamil Nadu BJP Spokesperson, A.N.S. Prasad on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on DMK Rajya Sabha MP, Salma, over her alleged remarks on a recent geopolitical development, triggering a fresh political controversy in the State ahead of the Assembly elections.

Prasad, in a strongly-worded statement, accused Salma of making comments that undermine India's sovereignty and global standing.

The controversy stems from a statement attributed to the DMK leader in which she allegedly suggested that a recent de-escalation in conflict was due to Pakistan's intervention, along with a remark referencing "Vishwaguru."

Terming the remarks "irresponsible and condemnable," Prasad urged the Tamil Nadu Police to take immediate action, including registering a case and initiating a detailed investigation.

He also called for the invocation of stringent legal provisions, including the National Security Act, alleging that such statements could harm national interests.

The BJP spokesperson further demanded that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin respond to the issue and take disciplinary action against Salma.

He accused sections of the DMK of indulging in what he described as "divisive rhetoric" for political mileage during the election season.

Prasad also criticised the remarks as lacking a proper understanding of the sensitive geopolitical situation in West Asia, particularly tensions involving Iran.

He warned that such statements could misrepresent India's diplomatic stance and weaken its credibility on the international stage.

Highlighting the Centre's position, Prasad said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been actively engaging with global leaders to reduce tensions and promote peace. He added that India's image as a responsible global actor should not be undermined by domestic political commentary.

The issue has intensified political exchanges in Tamil Nadu, with parties sharpening their rhetoric as campaigning gathers momentum.

The controversy is expected to further fuel debates around nationalism, free speech, and political accountability in the days ahead. There was no immediate response from Salma or the DMK leadership at the time of publication.
Los Angeles, April 8 : Hollywood star Tom Holland has shared fresh details about his upcoming film 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day'. The film may have officially wrapped production last year, but the actor has shared that the film did some additional photography recently.

The actor said that the patchwork was done in order to add in "more humor" and beef up a "villain plotline", reports 'Variety'.

The actor said he was in London to shoot additional scenes for his highly anticipated movie. He told GQ, "I can positively say that the stuff we're doing, we don't need. The movie works and sings as it is. We're just adding the icing on the cake in certain areas".

He further mentioned, "We're finding some ways to add a little bit more humor. We're layering in a villain plotline in a new way and some really fun stuff".

As per 'Variety', 'Spider-Man: Brand New Day' is set to hit theaters July 31. Its trailer dropped last month and quickly made history, becoming the first in history to cross 1 billion views.

The film is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, 'and catches up with Tom Holland's Peter Parker four years after the events of 'No Way Home', when the world has forgotten that he exists. But as a powerful new threat emerges, Spidey has no choice but to suit up once again and finds himself reuniting with Mark Ruffalo's Hulk and Jon Bernthal's Punisher.

'Brand New Day' also stars Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jacob Batalon, Tramell Tillman and Michael Mando. But before 'Spider-Man', Tom Holland has another blockbuster hitting theaters, Christopher Nolan's epic 'The Odyssey', which is set to release on July 17. He called the film, in which he stars alongside Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, an "absolute masterpiece".

The actor especially admired Nolan's commitment to practical effects.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Srinagar, April 8 : Spontaneous celebrations started in Kashmir Valley on Wednesday as Kashmiris called the bilateral ceasefire announced by the US and Iran a victory for the Muslim 'Ummah' (community).

People burst firecrackers and took to the roads in jubilation in Baramulla, Srinagar, Budgam, Bandipora, and Pulwama districts.

The joy and jubilation owed itself to the general belief among Muslims that the US and Israel agreeing to a ceasefire means a avictory for Iran and its brave peoplea.

Carrying Iranian flags, the people expressed joy over the ceasefire announcement and burst crackers to celebrate. They also distributed Kashmiri akehwaa (tea) as part of the celebrations.

The people called the ceasefire a "victory" of Iran over the US and Israel.

Shia community leaders said that the brave people of Iran have brought the US and Israel to their knees.

Whether or not the ceasefire indicates victory for any side, the fact that US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire on social media hours after he declared that an entire civilisation would disappear unless Iran agreed to US terms, has come as a great sense of relief to everybody.

A general sense of gloom and grief had descended on the Valley on March 1 after the news about the assassination of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, reached Kashmir.

The peaceful protests initially started in Shia Muslim-dominated areas of the Valley and were later joined by Sunni Muslims as well.

Fearing that anti-national and anti-social elements might hijack the peaceful protests, authorities had imposed restrictions in law and order-sensitive areas.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had then rushed to Srinagar from the winter capital Jammu to hold a meeting with prominent citizens, social, political, religious leaders and those belonging to the business community.

He had appealed to the people to observe grief and mourning with dignity. He got a positive response from all sections of society, and his effort helped authorities lift the restrictions and allow life to start normally in Kashmir.
Chandigarh, April 8 : Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Badal on Wednesday appealed to Punjabis to unite in support of farmers whose wheat crop has been damaged over 1.25 lakh acres due to unseasonal rain and hailstorms.

Badal, who held a meeting with the party's 'halka' in-charges and district presidents, said a detailed plan had been charted to start distribution of wheat as well as dry and green fodder to affected farmers after April 20.

"We are creating nodal points for the collection of the relief material, which then will be distributed in the affected villages," Badal said.

The party was also in the process of arranging balers who would create bales in the fields of affected farmers, free of cost, so that they could earn additional money in this process.

He said the party would also try to extend help to small farmers whose vegetable produce had been damaged by the hail.

Badal also took on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for failing to fulfill his responsibility towards the suffering farmers. He said the Chief Minister, as well as the Aam Aadmi Party, had repeatedly announced before coming to power in 2022 that it would provide an advance compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre for crop damage before any survey or 'girdwari'.

He said the AAP government had failed to release any compensation for crop damage following the floods across 4 lakh acres last year.

"Now, the government has also refused to help the distressed farmers by releasing compensation to them," he said.

Asserting that the Akali Dal would do its utmost for the farmers, Badal also castigated AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal for lying during election campaigning in Gujarat that the AAP government in Punjab had released a compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre to farmers one month after they suffered losses due to flooding of their fields.
New Delhi, April 8 : More than 6.1 crore voters are expected to exercise their vote on Thursday when the two states of Assam and Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry will go to Assembly polls in a singleaphase voting schedule.

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) More than 6.1 crore voters are expected to exercise their vote on Thursday when the two states of Assam and Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry will go to Assembly polls in a singlea'phase voting schedule.

The election in this round will cover 140 seats in Kerala, 126 in Assam and 30 in Puducherry, with the phase serving as a political soundboard and mida'term test for regional and national parties alike.

Results will be declared on May 4 alongside outcomes for Tamil Nadu, where polling will take place on April 23 along with West Bengal, and for the latter, with another phase on April 29.

In Assam, the BJP is hoping to form a government with NDA allies for the third time in a row.

Incumbent Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is leading the charge this time was preceded by Sarbananda Sonowal as the state's Chief Minister between 2016-2021.

Meanwhile, the Congress is eyeing a revival in Assam with State Congress President Gaurav Gogoi at the head of a six-party bloc, including the Raijor Dal of activist Akhil Gogoi, and Lurinjyoti Gogoi-led Assam Jatiya Parishad.

More than 2.5 crore voters, comprising almost an identical representation of male and female voters at around 1.25 crore each, and 318 transgender voters, make Assam's roles.

The voter list also includes about 6.42 lakh first-time voters in the 18a"19 age group.

In Kerala, the octagenerian Communist Party of India-Marxist leader and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is leading the fight for the survival of a Communist government at the last red bastion in India.

Incidentally, the record of the two opposing coalition (LDF and UDF) alternately sharing power in Kerala in the last four decades was broken by the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in 2021.

The CPI-M-led LDF earlier won the state elections in 1980, 1987, 1996, 2006, 2016, and again in 2021.

It was the first time in 40 years where an incumbent government returned to office twice in a row.

However, the Opposition bloc of United Democratic Front (UDF), led by the Congress, is eyeing its chance to return to power.

It formed a government soon after its formation in 1981, returning in 1982 after a brief spell of President's Rule.

The coalition has since won elections to the State Legislature in 1982, 1991, 2001, and 2011.

Kerala has more than 2.71 voters, with women at 1.39 crore surpassing the 1.32 crore men, and 273 transgender voters, where first-time voters in the 18-19 age bracket number around 4.66 lakh.

In Puducherry, the NDA government looks set to return to power, where Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy of the principal ally All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) is looking at a possible fifth term in power.

The 76-year-old leader is known for his administrative focus and repeated tenures since rising through the Congress, serving as a state Minister in the 1990s.

He first assumed office as the Chief Minister in October 2001, and again in 2006.

However, Rangaswamy stepped down from office in August 2008 after differences within the Congress.

He then formed the AINRC, contested the 2011 Assembly elections, and returned again as the head of Cabinet for the third time.

Between 2016 and 2021, he was the Leader of the Opposition in Puducherry Assembly during the Congress-led government.

Rangaswamy was sworn in as the Puducherry Chief Minister for the fourth time in 2021, with his party a part of the NDA.

The Union Territory's 9.44-lakh electorate comprises 4.43 lakh men, five lakh women, and 139 third gender voters, with 23,033 first time electors between 18-19 years of age.
Washington, April 8 : The United States has "devastated" Iran's military capabilities and forced it to accept a ceasefire under overwhelming pressure, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, describing the outcome of Operation 'Epic Fury' as a "historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield." Washington, April 8 (IANS) The United States has "devastated" Iran's military capabilities and forced it to accept a ceasefire under overwhelming pressure, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, describing the outcome of Operation 'Epic Fury' as a "historic and overwhelming victory on the battlefield."

"Iran begged for this ceasefire a big day for world peace," Hegseth said, adding that the campaign had "decimated Iran's military and rendered it combat ineffective for years to come."

Speaking alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force, General Dan Caine, Hegseth said the US and its partners achieved "every single objective on plan, on schedule."

The Pentagon outlined the scale of the operation. US forces struck more than 13,000 targets, including over 4,000 dynamic battlefield targets, while destroying approximately 80 per cent of Iran's air defence systems and more than 90 per cent of its naval fleet.

"Iran's Navy is at the bottom of the sea Iran's Air Force has been wiped out," Hegseth said.

Caine said the joint force also destroyed more than 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, 801 drone storage sites, and around 90 per cent of Iran's weapons factories.

"Nearly 80 per cent of Iran's nuclear industrial base was hit," he said, adding that the campaign "struck at the heart of Iran's ability to project power."

The US military flew more than 10,000 missions, including long-range bomber sorties exceeding 30 hours, in what officials described as an unprecedented logistical effort.

Hegseth said Iran's command and control systems were "so decimated they can't really talk and coordinate," warning that any further military action by Tehran "would be very, very unwise."

The ceasefire includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Hegseth said US forces would remain in the region to ensure compliance.

"We're not going anywhere we'll stay put, stay ready, stay vigilant," he said.

He added that Iran had agreed to allow ships to pass through the strait, though the US expects other countries to help maintain security.

The administration also reiterated its red line on Iran's nuclear programme.

"It's always been non negotiable that they won't have nuclear capabilities," Hegseth said, noting that the US is monitoring Iran's remaining nuclear material and would remove it "by any means necessary."

Hegseth described the outcome as a result of military pressure backed by the threat of wider strikes on Iran's infrastructure.

"We had a target set, locked and loaded power plants, bridges and oil and energy infrastructure," he said, adding that Iran "understood their ability was in President Trump's hands."

He said the US chose restraint after Iran agreed to terms. "He chose mercy he's a president of peace," Hegseth said.

Caine highlighted the rescue of downed US pilots during the operation as evidence of the military's capability, calling it a demonstration of "tenacity, creativity, courage and grit."

The Pentagon also confirmed that 13 US service members were killed during Operation Epic Fury.

The conflict marked one of the most direct and sustained US military campaigns against Iran in decades, targeting its nuclear, missile and defence infrastructure.
Washington, April 8, : The Strait of Hormuz is set to reopen to commercial shipping after Iran agreed to allow safe passage under a ceasefire framework reached with the United States, Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday.

"You saw the initial agreement that we struck, which is Iran's let ships go through they will be sailing," Hegseth said, signalling a key breakthrough in restoring one of the world's most critical maritime trade routes.

The reopening comes after weeks of intense US-led military operations that officials say crippled Iran's naval and defence capabilities, forcing Tehran to accept terms that include de-escalation and freedom of navigation.

Hegseth said US forces would remain deployed to ensure the agreement holds.

"We're not going anywhere we're going to make sure Iran complies with this ceasefire," he said. "Stay put, stay ready, stay vigilant."

The Pentagon indicated that American forces would continue to monitor Iranian military movements and be prepared to respond if hostilities resume.

"Our troops are prepared to defend, prepared to go, restart at a moment's notice," Hegseth said.

The Strait of Hormuz, which links the Persian Gulf to global markets, is a vital artery for energy shipments and international commerce. Any disruption has immediate ripple effects on oil prices and global trade flows.

Hegseth said the US military had played a decisive role in securing the waterway during the conflict, while also calling on other nations to step up.

"We barely get any of our energy tiny fraction. It's time for the rest of the world to step up and ensure that that stays open," he said.

He credited US naval and regional command efforts for establishing control in the strait, noting that Iranian forces no longer possess the same defensive capability.

"Iran doesn't have the same ability to defend it the way they did before," Hegseth said.

However, US officials acknowledged that the situation remains fluid. Iran has issued statements suggesting that safe passage would be coordinated with its armed forces, raising questions about implementation on the ground.

"What we know is that Iran can say a lot of things commerce will talk," Hegseth said, adding that markets were already reacting to signs of de-escalation.

The Pentagon said it was closely monitoring any continued missile or drone activity following the ceasefire announcement.

"Iran would be wise not to shoot any longer," Hegseth said, noting that ceasefires can take time to fully take hold across dispersed units.

The agreement to reopen Hormuz is being seen as a key test of the broader ceasefire, with US officials signalling that any violations could trigger a rapid military response.

The strait has long been a flashpoint in tensions between Iran and the United States, given its strategic importance for global oil exports, particularly from Gulf producers.
New Delhi, March 30 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging illegal detention and torture of a journalist by the Rajkot Crime Branch police in Gujarat.

Observing that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim, the apex human rights body has issued a notice to the Gujarat Director General of Police (DGP) seeking a detailed report within two weeks.

The NHRC said the report is expected to include the present status of the investigation as well as the health condition of the victim.

According to the media report, the incident occurred on March 22, when the journalist, who runs an online media outlet, was allegedly apprehended in an unlawful manner by the Rajkot Crime Branch police.

The report further alleged that the victim was stripped naked, suspended upside down and subjected to severe physical torture, resulting in serious injuries.

It has also been alleged that the police attempted to threaten the staff of Rajkot Civil Hospital against admitting the victim and warned him of false criminal cases and demolition of his house.

As per the report carried on March 29, the journalist was admitted to Rajkot Civil Hospital on March 23, where details of the injuries sustained during the alleged torture were documented.

Taking note of the allegations, the NHRC has sought a comprehensive report from the state authorities for further examination of the matter.

Established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC, an autonomous statutory body, is an embodiment of India's concern for the promotion and protection of human rights. Its primary role is to protect and promote human rights, defined as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality, and dignity of individuals guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in international covenants and enforceable by courts in India.

The apex human rights body has the power to take suo motu (on its own motion) action based on media reports, public knowledge or other sources, without receiving a formal complaint of human rights violations.
New Delhi, April 8 : The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission over Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's 'poisonous snake' jibe and demanded removal of 'despicable and derogatory' remarks from all social media handles and digital platforms.a New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission over Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's 'poisonous snake' jibe and demanded removal of 'despicable and derogatory' remarks from all social media handles and digital platforms.

It also urged the EC to issue a show-cause notice to the Congress president over remarks he made during an election rally in Assam and pressed for a public apology for the blatant violation of the model code of conduct.

In a seven-page complaint to the EC, the BJP listed out objectionable and distasteful remarks made by Kharge twice  one about illiterate Gujaratis and the other about likening the BJP and Sangh to poisonous snakes and demanded that the poll body issue a formal censure against the party as well as its president.

Mallikarjun Kharge, while addressing a poll rally in Assam, sparked off a political storm as he compared the BJP and RSS to serpents and called for crushing them, even if it meant taking a break from prayers.

His comments, made apparently at a gathering of minorities, drew strong condemnation from the BJP.

Kharge made the highly controversial remarks at an election rally in Assam's Nilambazar, in the run-up to Assembly elections, slated for April 9.

"lf you are offering namaz [Islamic prayer] and a poisonous snake comes, you must abandon the namaz and kill it - this is what the Quran says. The RSS and the BJP are these poisonous snakes. If you do not kill them, you will not survive," Kharge said, as per the BJP complaint to the poll panel.

In its complaint to the EC, the BJP has accused him of inciting communal hatred and promoting enmity between religious and political groups.

"The offender is the National President of a national political party and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. He is not a fringe actor but the highest-ranking leader of India's principal opposition party," the complaint said.

It further said, "The use of Islamic scripture to exhort Muslim voters to treat political opponents as enemies who must be 'killed' is not protected political speech. It directly subverts the constitutional ideal of elections as a secular, rational, and peaceful exercise of democratic franchise."


Kathmandu, April 8 : Nepal's Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Wednesday said that the newly-formed government under his leadership is keen to further strengthen Kathmandu's relations with friendly countries based on mutual benefits.

During a collective courtesy meeting with ambassadors and heads of diplomatic missions from various countries, held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Shah said the new government would like to enhance cooperation in areas such as development, trade, investment, climate action, and people-to-people ties. Since assuming office as Prime Minister on March 27, this was the first time he held a meeting with foreign diplomats.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Secretariat, he also highlighted Nepal's long-stated balanced foreign policy.

"Nepal has been pursuing a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy. Our external relations are guided by the goal of shared prosperity," Shah said, expressing gratitude to development partners and friendly nations for their continued goodwill and support toward the Himalayan country's development.

Stressing policy continuity, the Prime Minister said the formation of a new government in Nepal does not mean a break from past commitments.

"We are firmly committed to maintaining political stability and ensuring that our policy direction remains stable and predictable," he said. As Shah represents a new leader in Nepal's national politics and a relatively new political party a" Rastriya Swatantra Party a" questions have been raised about how the new government will conduct its foreign policy.

The Prime Minister also reiterated the government's commitment to creating an investment-friendly environment, promoting entrepreneurship, and supporting sustainable development. He added that Nepal aims to integrate more effectively into regional and global economic frameworks in line with its national interests.

Highlighting the global context, the Prime Minister underscored the need for peace, noting that ongoing conflicts around the world disproportionately affect ordinary people. "Peace must remain our shared priority," he said, expressing confidence in collective efforts toward that end.

He also emphasised that the safety and welfare of Nepali citizens abroad remain a top priority for the government.
Bengaluru, April 8 : Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, on Wednesday, wrote a letter to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, urging the state government to allow Teachers Eligibility Test (TET) to be conducted in Kannada for teachers serving in Kannada medium schools in Maharashtra.

In her letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Agarwal, Rajneesh thanked the Maharashtra government for issuing recruitment notifications to fill vacancies in Kannada medium schools.

She highlighted that a significant population of linguistic minority Kannadigas reside in regions such as Jat, Akkalkot and South Solapur taluks, as well as parts of Mumbai.

According to the letter, Maharashtra has around 377 Kannada medium schools with nearly 44,860 students.

The Karnataka Chief Secretary said that, as per Supreme Court directions, all serving teachers must clear the TET by 2027 to ensure job security.

However, the absence of the TET in Kannada has created distress and uncertainty among teachers working in these schools.

She emphasised that linguistic minority communities are protected under constitutional provisions, including Articles 30, 347, 350, 350A and 350B, and said the current situation affects both teachers and students from these communities.

Drawing attention to Karnataka's approach, Rajneesh noted that the state conducts the TET in Marathi for Marathi-speaking candidates residing in Karnataka.

She requested Maharashtra to extend a similar reciprocal facility for Kannada-speaking teachers.

With the last date to apply for the TET approaching on April 16, Rajneesh urged immediate intervention.

She requested Maharashtra to provide an option to write the TET in Kannada for existing teachers in Kannada medium schools and to extend the same provision for future recruitment.

She also called for prioritising the filling of teacher vacancies in Kannada medium schools across the state.

The Karnataka Chief Secretary stressed, saying, "Since the last date for applying TET is fast approaching (i.e, April 16), I earnestly request you to intervene in this matter with the utmost urgency. I look forward to your support in directing the Education Department of Maharashtra to take appropriate and immediate action."

"Firstly, provide the option for appearing TET in Kannada also for those who are serving in Kannada medium schools in Maharashtra. Secondly, provide the option for appearing TET in Kannada also for all the new teachers recruitment notification in future. Thirdly, fill up all the teachers vacancies existing in Kannada medium schools of Maharashtra on top priority," Rajneesh urged.

Earlier, raising concern over development, the office of the Secretary of the Karnataka Border Area Development Authority has written a letter to the Chief Secretary Shalini Rajaneesh.

Adarsh Kannada Balaga of Solapur district in Maharashtra had submitted a representation to Somanna Bevinamarad, the President of Karnataka Border Area Development Authority, regarding the matter.
Nadia : , April 8 (IANS) West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Samik Bhattacharya on Wednesday described the upcoming two-phased Assembly election in the state as a political contest depicting the "public versus Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee".

Speaking to reporters during a BJP campaign here, Bhattacharya said, "We do not depend on Harijan, Girijan, Adivasi, Matua, Rajbanshi (communities) and do our politics. We have a vision for the entire people of West Bengal."

The State BJP President highlighted that it is the BJP's "agenda to free the people from the curse named Trinamool Congress in West Bengal".

"This time the contest is between the public versus Mamata Banerjee," he remarked.

On Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee saying that her party's target is Delhi, Bhattacharya said, "Mamata Banerjee is the Chief Minister of West Bengal for one to one-and-a-half months more. It is not important to react to everything that she says."

The West Bengal BJP Chief also addressed the controversy that erupted after Rakesh Singh was announced on Wednesday as the party's candidate from the Kolkata Port Assembly constituency soon after he got bail from the Calcutta High Court.

Bhattacharya asked, "Why was Rakesh Singh sent to jail (in the first place)? Why was his daughter arrested and kept in the custody for three days? The locals know about this, whether he went to jail after committing a crime or after staging a political protest. And what were the charges framed against him?"

"We are hopeful of a positive verdict from the court," he asserted.

The BJP leader accused the Trinamool Congress of attempting to remove the names of the voters from the Matua community during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the poll-bound state.

Bhattacharya said, "I have to agree that they (Trinamool) have been successful in that attempt to an extent."

"Some names from the Adivasi (tribal) community have been removed by the Trinamool Congress. There has been a controversy against some established names of the society as well," he added.

Moreover, Bhattacharya said, "If the Trinamool thinks that by removing some names from the Matua and Adivasi communities (from the voter's list) they will win the elections, they are at fault."

He expressed faith that the BJP will win all seven Assembly seats in Nadia district.

"Trinamool will not be able to open its (vote count) account in Nadia," he said, adding: "Trinamool is finished."
New Delhi, April 8 : Speculations are building around a social media post shared by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Instagram on Wednesday, where a purported supporter is found suggesting that he should start a new youth-led political party of his own, rather than join existing organisations.a New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Speculations are building around a social media post shared by Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Instagram on Wednesday, where a purported supporter is found suggesting that he should start a new youth-led political party of his own, rather than join existing organisations.

It comes at a time when Chadha appears locked in an apparent rift within the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which he represents in Parliament, after being removed as the party's deputy leader in the Upper House.

"Everybody wants Raghav Chadha to form his own party, calling it the Gen Z party or any other name he finds suitable. But if he joins any other party, whichever that be, he may not get the kind of support he enjoys right now; he may even earn hate. So, forming his own party would be the better option. The youth will support you, and you will win. Thank you," says a young man in the 22-second video.

While reposting the video on his Instagram handle, Chadha added his response at the bottom, saying, "Interesting thought", followed by a thoughtful face emoji.

The post and his reaction have left many wondering whether the MP is indeed considering floating his own youth-backed political party.

The AAP rift became apparent early this month when the party removed Chadha from its deputy-leader position in the Rajya Sabha, soon turning into a public spat between the MP and the party's senior leaders.

While some AAP leaders accused him of failing to raise Punjab issues and of being insufficiently critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, Chadha responded with pointed social media posts, claiming he has always raised people-centric issues.

The AAP leadership framed his action as an internal disciplinary step tied to his alleged conduct in Parliament and perceived distance from the party line. Chadha has reiterated with indirect references, framing his response as being silenced and mischaracterised.

Meanwhile, AAP sources have flagged deleted social posts and questioned Chadha's stance on key issues. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's reported remark that Chadha was "compromised" intensified the row and fuelled media speculation about Chadha's future.

Some reports have suggested that the rift has revived talk of Chadha exploring alternatives. The speculations range from his joining the BJP to his forming an independent regional platform. But many also stress that though there are conjectures based on the public breakdown in relations, there have been no formal announcements or moves by either Chadha or the AAP.

Observers have pointed out that building a party requires cadre, funding, and local organisational depth, where Chadha's base has been largely urban and tied to AAP's Delhi-Punjab networks. Thus, a standalone platform would require wider mobilisation and face electoral and financial challenges that would call for a huge support base.

With Punjab elections slated early next year, any leadership vacuum or factional split could prompt rapid realignments. Media reports suggest political actors are watching whether Chadha will be a kingmaker, defect, or reconcile.

For AAP, the infighting ahead of Punjab's 2027 polls can erode voter confidence and give rivals ammunition, as its state government faces anti-incumbency issues.

While Chadha chose to share social media posts, mostly innuendos, now, it is yet to be seen what the next move will be for the Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, whose term will end only in September 2028.
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China's state-owned assets watchdog has set up a bureau for overseas state-owned assets to better guide state firms' international operations and strengthen risk prevention.

The new bureau, established by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council, will guide enterprises under its supervision in their international operations and help them optimize the layout and adjust the structure of their overseas assets, the SASAC said on Wednesday.

The bureau's responsibilities also include overseeing overseas assets of these enterprises, strengthening risk prevention and mitigation related to overseas investment and operations, and handling overseas emergencies and crisis situations, the SASAC said.

The new bureau is designed to improve overseas asset allocation, provide risk backstops and emergency support, achieve full-process supervision, reduce the trial-and-error costs of overseas expansion, and enable enterprises' high-quality development, said Zhou Lisha, director of state-owned enterprises research at Tsinghua University.

Chinese enterprises' outbound investment maintained healthy, steady and orderly growth in 2025, with outbound direct investment reaching 174.38 billion U.S. dollars, up 7.1 percent from a year earlier and remaining among the highest in the world, data from the Ministry of Commerce showed.

According to the outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), the country will strengthen the management of outbound investment, improve the comprehensive overseas services mechanism for enterprises, and encourage the rational and orderly cross-border deployment of industrial and supply chains.

The country will also further guide and regulate enterprises' overseas investment, and support eligible companies in carrying out mutually beneficial overseas investment cooperation, the outline says.

Zhou noted that in Africa and Latin America, for example, state-owned enterprises have supported local infrastructure and people's livelihoods. "At the same time, they actively promote localization in their overseas presence, which boosts local economies and social welfare."

With the new bureau for overseas state-owned assets, enterprises will develop in a more standardized way, thereby bringing greater benefits to the countries they invest in, Zhou said.

"It will help integrate resources and coordinate efforts in industrial layout, fulfill social responsibilities, ensure compliance, promote local livelihoods, and build a community of shared interests through localized operations," Zhou added. 
Jabalpur, April 8 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday outlined an ambitious roadmap to make agriculture more profitable and technology-driven, while inaugurating the 'Krishi Manthan' workshop at Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University in Jabalpur.a Jabalpur, April 8 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Wednesday outlined an ambitious roadmap to make agriculture more profitable and technology-driven, while inaugurating the aKrishi Manthana workshop at Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University in Jabalpur.a

Addressing farmers, scientists, and stakeholders, Yadav said the state government is working to integrate modern technology, scientific farming methods, and better market linkages to strengthen the agricultural economy.a

He linked the stateas progress to national growth under PM Modi, stating that India is advancing across sectors with agriculture at its core.a

Yadav emphasised that agriculture in Madhya Pradesh is not just a source of livelihood but a tradition rooted in harmony with nature, citing Indiaas long farming heritage and its cultural significance.a

The workshop, he said, aims to bring together farmersa experience, scientific innovation, and policy support on a single platform.a

On this occasion, the Chief Minister inaugurated and dedicated development projects worth Rs 23.21 crore. a

These included a Rs 13 crore administrative building at the university, an administrative facility at the Bohani Sugarcane Research Centre, a skill development centre in Balaghat, and an automated liquid bio-fertiliser production unit in Jabalpur.a

In a push to promote agri-startups, Yadav distributed approval letters worth over Rs 10 crore to 10 startups funded by the Government of India. He also launched the aKrishi Sakhia training programme and distributed benefits to farmers under various government schemes.a

Highlighting production achievements, the Chief Minister said Madhya Pradesh has emerged as a leading state in pulses and recorded high wheat output.a

He announced that wheat procurement will begin on April 9, with farmers receiving Rs 2,625 per quintal, while efforts are underway to raise the rate to Rs 2,700.a

Yadav reiterated the governmentas commitment to doubling farmersa income by expanding into allied sectors such as dairy, horticulture, and food processing. a

He said the state aims to increase its contribution to national milk production from the current 9 per cent to 20 per cent.a
Bengaluru, April 8 : Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its query to the state government regarding the release of funds under guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where by-elections are currently underway.a Bengaluru, April 8 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI) over its query to the state government regarding the release of funds under guarantee schemes in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where by-elections are currently underway.

Responding to the ECI's communication, Siddaramaiah asserted that the state's guarantee schemes are ongoing welfare programmes and not election-time announcements. 

He said these initiatives were part of the commitments made by the Congress during the 2023 Assembly elections and are being implemented in a structured and transparent manner.

The Chief Minister emphasised that funds are regularly transferred to beneficiaries in accordance with scheme guidelines, describing the programmes as governance aimed at ensuring human dignity, household stability, and economic participation, rather than inducements.

Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party, Siddaramaiah alleged that the party has maintained double standards on welfare schemes. 

He said while BJP leaders criticise Karnataka's guarantee programmes as "freebies", they have adopted similar measures in states where they are in power. He added that the Karnataka model has set a benchmark for welfare governance in the country.

Siddaramaiah also raised concerns over what he termed a "selective approach" by the ECI. He pointed to states such as Maharashtra and Bihar, claiming that cash transfer schemes were either announced or accelerated ahead of elections, with direct financial benefits extended to voters. 

He alleged that the poll body did not subject those instances to similar scrutiny.

Calling the ECI's actions "not neutrality but complicity", the Chief Minister accused the Commission of bias, alleging that it overlooks actions by BJP or NDA-ruled states while closely examining initiatives in Karnataka.

He further said that targeting the state's guarantee schemes amounts to being anti-poor, anti-women, and against the interests of Karnataka.

Reiterating his government's stance, Siddaramaiah said the administration would remain committed to its promises and continue delivering welfare measures to the state's people.

It can be recalled that the Election Commission of India on Tuesday wrote to the state's Chief Secretary seeking details on the release of guarantee scheme funds in Davanagere and Bagalkot districts, where by-elections are currently underway.

The development follows the state government's release of guarantee scheme funds to Davanagere and Bagalkot during the by-election period. 

In this context, Election Commission Secretary Pawan Diwan wrote a letter to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh seeking clarification.

According to official communication, the Commission has requested a detailed report on the funds released in both districts, including the names of the officers who approved the disbursements.

The directive comes amid the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.

The Commission has reiterated that no new funds should be released for welfare schemes without its prior approval while the Model Code of Conduct is in force.


Washington, April 8 : The United States struck more than 13,000 targets during Operation Epic Fury, in a massive military campaign that also left 13 American service members dead, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.a Washington, April 8 (IANS) The United States struck more than 13,000 targets during Operation Epic Fury, in a massive military campaign that also left 13 American service members dead, the Pentagon said on Wednesday.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine said the scale of operations reflected the intensity and reach of the campaign.

"Since the beginning of major combat operations, the United States joint forces struck more than 13,000 targets," he said.

Of these, more than 4,000 were dynamic battlefield targets that emerged in real time and were "immediately addressed" through rapid command-and-control systems.

The operation involved more than 10,000 missions, including 62 bomber sorties, some lasting over 30 hours round-trip from the United States to strike Iranian targets.

"No other military in the world can do that," Caine said, calling it a testament to US logistical capability.

The campaign targeted a wide range of Iranian military infrastructure. US forces destroyed more than 450 ballistic missile storage facilities, 801 drone storage sites, and over 1,500 air defence targets, eliminating around 80 per cent of Iran's air defence systems.

Caine said the operation also dismantled Iran's command and control networks, striking more than 2,000 nodes and severely degrading its ability to coordinate military responses.

"We've devastated Iran's command and control and logistical networks," he said.

Naval operations were equally extensive. The US said it had sunk more than 90 per cent of Iran's fleet, including major surface combatants, and destroyed over 95 per cent of its naval mines through more than 700 strikes.

The scale of destruction extended to Iran's defence industry. Around 90 per cent of its weapons factories were struck, including facilities producing drones and missile components.

"Nearly 80 per cent of Iran's nuclear industrial base was hit," Caine said.

The operation required the deployment of more than 50,000 US personnel across the Central Command theatre and supporting bases. Troops consumed millions of meals and operated continuously for over five weeks.

Caine said the statistics only partly captured the realities of combat.

"This is gritty and unforgiving business chaotic, hot, dark, unpredictable," he said.

Amid the operational success, the Pentagon acknowledged the loss of 13 US service members during the campaign.

"We never forget our fallen and their families especially those 13 fallen from Operation Epic Fury," Caine said.

He said their sacrifice underscored the risks faced by troops even in a campaign described as highly effective.

The Pentagon said the operation has significantly weakened Iran's ability to project power in the region and threaten US interests.


New Delhi, April 8 : US President Donald Trump, during his second term in office, is radically altering the close and longstanding ties between India and the United States that had been forged over recent years, as his administration pursues a more isolationist America First policy, and given this, the "new rapprochement between India and the EU is crucially deemed to strengthen stability within the international system", according to an article.

The Trump administration has made a drastic shift from the earlier US policy, which aimed to keep China in check, with India playing a key role in the Indo-Pacific strategy. "In this context of geopolitical volatility and fragmentation, the new rapprochement between India and the EU is crucially deemed to strengthen stability within the international system," according to an article published by the Robert Schuman Foundation website.

The US-India relationship has also suffered a major strain over the past few months, notably with the US President receiving the Pakistani Prime Minister at the White House in July 2025, an episode perceived by the Indian Prime Minister as a clear challenge. The fact that the United States had sought to potentially play a mediating role between India and Pakistan a few months before had already given India the impression that it could not always rely on Washington's support and, therefore, that it needed to focus on its own short- and medium-term strategic interests, the article written by Karine de Vergeron stated.

This is also true in trade and geo-economic interests. India's participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit at the end of August 2025 after seven year, reflects the attempt by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to also provide a commercial response, on the one hand, to the tariffs newly imposed by the US President that same year, and on the other hand, to India's nearly $100 billion trade deficit with China in 2025, it said.

India is, therefore, now favouring increasing cooperation with so-called "middle powers" to hedge its position with the United States. It is expanding a "multi-aligned" geopolitical strategy as opposed to the more traditional "non-alignment" policy, thus reaffirming its strategy of pragmatism and case-by-case decision-making, a method it has long applied in its relationship, particularly with the European Union, the article observed.

The first on the list of India's most important strategic middle powers is Japan. The visit of Prime Minister Modi to Tokyo at the end of August 2025, a day before the meeting of the SCO Summit in Tianjin, was in fact considered to be much more important to Indian leaders.

Equally important is Europe, seen from Delhi as the world's largest collection of middle powers. It is followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, and Russia, according to the article.

With the final conclusion of the negotiations for the FTA announced during the 16th EU-India Summit on January 27, the EU appears as India's most reliable economic and technological partner. The agreement is further expected to double EU goods exports to India by 2032, with the elimination or reduction of tariffs to a value of over 90 per cent, whilst excluding a range of politically sensitive agricultural products on both sides. Considering the scale of the fast-growing Indian market and that of the EU, it is the largest trade deal that each has ever concluded and will ease trade across around a quarter of the world population and a quarter of global GDP, the article said.

However, at the same time, the article noted that despite the current disputes between India and the U.S. on trade and strategic issues, the Quad has remained a significant component of Indo-American relations, as their interests continue to converge in their assessments of the risks in the Indo-Pacific with regard to China.
Yangon, April 8 : Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, on Wednesday joined the 'Deck Reception' onboard Indian Navy Survey Ship INS Sandhayak at Yangon, a few hours after he arrived in Myanmar to attend the inaugural ceremony of the country's new President, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, scheduled to be held in the capital, Naypyidaw, on April 10.

"Interaction with senior officials brought out deeply established connect between India and Myanmar. Visit by INS Sandhayak is in line with our MAHASAGAR vision enunciated by Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi," Singh posted on X.

Earlier, on his arrival in Yangon, Singh was received by the Indian Ambassador to Myanmar, Abhay Thakur, and U Zaw Phyo Win, Director-General in Myanmar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

During the visit, the MoS will hold meetings with Government of Myanmar officials, attend bilateral engagements related to ongoing trade, economic and developmental assistance and interact with the Indian diaspora and friends of India.

"On his arrival in Yangon today, Kirti Vardhan Singh was received by Ambassador Abhay Thakur and DG MOFA U Zaw Phyo Win. During his visit, he will participate in the inaugural ceremony of the President of Myanmar, meet GOM dignitaries, and interact with the Indian diaspora and friends of India," the Indian Embassy in Yangon posted on X.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Singh is on a four-day visit to Myanmar from April 8-11 at the invitation of the Myanmar government.

Min Aung Hlaing was elected as the country's President on April 3 after he secured more votes among the three nominees.

Hlaing's two Vice Presidents are former military-appointed Prime Minister Nyo Saw, a long-time loyalist, and Nan Ni Ni Aye, the Karen State chair of the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), The Irrawaddy reported.

In the days leading up to his election, Min Aung Hlaing stepped down as Commander-in-Chief and appointed General Ye Win Oo to the post.

Min Aung Hlaing has ruled Myanmar since 2021. Elections were held in the country in December 2025 and January 2026 in which the USDP secured a win in the elections.

Analysts reckon that the political situation in Myanmar, which remained in a state of deadlock for five years, is poised to foster both domestic and regional stability in the coming years.
New Delhi, April 8 : The Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested the son of the founder of iconic restaurant chain, Khan Chacha, in a cyber crime case that has sent shockwaves across the national capital, officials said.

The accused, Mohammad Javed (49), was taken into custody for allegedly facilitating cyber fraud by allowing fraudsters to use his bank account to channel proceeds of crime.

Alongside him, Khan Chacha Director Mohammad Salim (49) was "bound down" for allegedly permitting cyber fraudsters to exploit the account as a mule account to process money extorted from victims of the digital arrest fraud.

In a dramatic raid, police recovered two mobile phones and two SIM cards from the accused.

During questioning, Javed and Salim admitted they had originally opened the bank account for their legitimate restaurant and catering business.

But facing financial distress, they agreed to let outsiders use it in exchange for a 2 to 3 per cent commission.

The accused revealed a murky network: they were first approached by Harvinder Kohli, who introduced them to Naseem and later to Sandeep Dwivedi.

By sharing their bank account details, they enabled the transfer of massive amounts of money.

Around Rs 54 lakh, siphoned from multiple fraud cases, was credited into the bank account and then funnelled into other accounts.

Authorities say suspicious chats -- now deleted -- point to an elaborate conspiracy.

The seized devices and account details have been handed over to the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) for nationwide cross-verification.

Police are now hunting for Kohli, Naseem, and Dwivedi, whose roles are under intense probe.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi District), Sachin Sharma, issued a stern warning to citizens, saying: "Do not share your bank account details, ATM cards, OTPs or internet banking credentials with any unknown person in lieu of commission or financial gain. Such accounts are often used by cyber criminals for routing cheated money, making the account holder equally liable under law."

The scandal has cast a dark shadow over Khan Chacha, a restaurant chain founded in Delhi in 1972, and now spread across Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.

Once celebrated for its kebabs and culinary legacy, the brand is now entangled in a high-profile cyber crime case that has jolted both the food industry and the public.
Quetta, April 8 : Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) senior leader Sabiha Baloch has expressed serious human rights concerns in Pakistan's Balochistan and urged the United Nations to conduct an independent and impartial review of the human rights situation in the province, local media reported.

While addressing the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Baloch spoke about issue of enforced disappearances in Balochistan and mentioned that Baloch people continue to go missing under suspicious circumstances, The Balochistan Post reported. She expressed concern over incidents of extrajudicial killings and the discovery of mutilated bodies, terming them as a part of a systematic pattern.

Baloch stated that journalists, students, lawyers and human rights activists often face harassment and arrests under counter-terrorism laws for expressing their views. She mentioned that several BYC leaders, including Mahrang Baloch, continues to remain in prolonged detention.

On April 5, a leading human rights organisation stated that at least three Baloch civilians were extrajudicially killed, while five others were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces in Balochistan.

Paank, the Baloch National Movement's Human Rights Department, mentioned that the bullet-riddled body of a Baloch student, Shayhaq Raheem, was recovered on Sunday from the Pasni Link Road area in the Turbat region of the Kech district.

Citing reports, the rights body stated that Raheem was forcibly abducted on March 31 from the Main Bazar area of Turbat by Pakistan-backed death squads.

Paank described the incident as part of "a disturbing and systematic pattern of human rights violations in Balochistan, where individuals, particularly students and young people, are forcibly disappeared and later found dead."

In a separate case, the mutilated body of 18-year-old Sabzal Baloch was discovered on April 1 in the Pelari area of Gwadar district in the province, nearly eight months after his alleged enforced disappearance.

According to Paank, Sabzal was forcibly disappeared on July 25, 2025, from the Talar Check Post, located between Gwadar and Turbat, by personnel of Pakistan's Frontier Corps (FC).

The rights body also strongly condemned the unlawful detention, torture, and custodial killing of another Baloch youth, Israr Baloch, in the provincial capital, Quetta.

Citing information, Paank stated that Israr was detained by personnel of Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on March 22 and later handed over to Military Intelligence (MI), as he remained forcibly disappeared for several days.

He was subsequently returned in critical condition, bearing clear signs of torture and later succumbed to his injuries.

Expressing concern over the incident, the rights body called for an immediate, independent investigation and urged that all those responsible be held accountable.

Amid the growing wave of enforced disappearance in Balochistan, the rights body stated that another civilian, Abdulla Adil, was reportedly taken from his home in the Kuddan Dasht area of Kech on Sunday by Pakistan's FC, along with other law enforcement agencies.

Additionally, an 18-year-old student, Fida Taj, was abducted on April 3 along with his friend by Pakistani forces in Kech, further raising serious concerns over the human rights situation in the province.

Criticising the continued practice of enforced disappearances across Balochistan, Paank mentioned that two more civilians were forcibly disappeared by Pakistani forces in the Barkhan district on April 2 by personnel of FC and CTD.

The victims were identified as Noor Ahmed Khajani, an agriculture officer, and Noor Zaman Khajani, a local shopkeeper.
Beijing/Islamabad April 8 : Although China has not publicly voiced concern over Pakistan's mediation efforts during the West Asia conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, Beijing's diplomatic response reflected clear unease, a report said on Wednesday.

According to think tank 'Politeia Research Foundation', Pakistani Defence Minister Ishaq Dar's recent visit to Beijing failed to secure robust support for mediation, eliciting only a "cautious, principle-based" response from the Chinese government.

This development, it said, reflects a broader truth: "all is not well in China-Pakistan relations", with emerging divergences  especially over Afghanistan and relations with the US  reshaping the trajectory of this once "all-weather" partnership.

"Recently, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Beijing. This visit came at a crucial time and was largely aimed at securing China's support for Pakistan's proposed mediation role in the ongoing USIsraelIran tensions. It followed a meeting in Islamabad that brought together countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey to explore potential mediation efforts. However, when that initiative failed to yield tangible results, Pakistan turned to China," the report detailed.

"China, however, has responded cautiously rather than endorsing. It has reportedly warned Pakistan to first resolve its issues with Afghanistan, emphasising that a country seeking to act as a mediator cannot simultaneously engage in aggressive actions against its neighbour. Such contradictions undermine credibility and send the wrong message about Pakistan's suitability as a neutral negotiator," it added.

According to the report, under Pakistani Army Chief Marshal Asif Munir  viewed as "a favoured figure" of US President Donald Trump  Pakistan has disregarded China's security interests in Afghanistan, repeatedly undermining them.

Pakistan's continued military aggression against Afghanistan has not only raised concerns but also compelled China to recalibrate its regional strategy.

"China's unease is rooted in its long-term strategic and economic investments across the region. Beijing has invested heavily in Pakistan, particularly under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, while simultaneously seeking to expand connectivity into Afghanistan through emerging trade corridors and economic integration," the report mentioned.

"In recent years, China has also increased its economic footprint in Afghanistan, recognising the country's geostrategic location as a critical gateway linking Central Asia, South Asia, and West Asia  an important component of its broader connectivity ambitions under the Belt and Road Initiative. China's concerns are further shaped by security considerations, particularly the risk of extremism emanating from Afghanistan," it stated.

Emphasising that the shifting dynamic is also reflected in the waning pace of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the report said that China has substantially curtailed funding for the project.

"Pakistan repeatedly invokes CPEC in its statements during meetings with China in an effort to secure renewed financial support, but Beijing has scaled back its engagement due to concerns over corruption, terror attacks on its workers, and increasing instability in the country," it noted.
Chennai, April 8 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President, M. K. Stalin, on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Union government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the proposed special session of Parliament on delimitation, raising concerns about its implications for southern states.

In a strongly worded social media post, the DMK President cautioned against any move that could undermine the political representation of the south while increasing the influence of northern states.

"Do not turn a calm south into a storm," he said, urging the Prime Minister to address what he described as "fair and pressing questions" raised by people in the region.

Stalin questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the delimitation process, asking why the Union government was "shrouding the entire exercise in secrecy" instead of clearly outlining its intentions.

He also recalled that former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had deferred delimitation in 2001 for 25 years in the interest of national balance, and asked whether the current government would consider a similar approach.

Raising further concerns, the Chief Minister criticised the timing of the proposed special Parliament session, noting that it comes in the middle of Assembly elections in five States. He questioned the urgency behind the move and why demands from Opposition leaders to defer the session until after April 29 were being ignored.

"What is the government trying to hide?" he asked.

Stalin also accused the Centre of attempting to push through major Constitutional changes without adequate consultation.

"Forcing through far-reaching amendments without even convening an all-party meeting is nothing short of dictatorship," he said, adding that neither the Opposition nor the media had received clear answers.

Emphasising the stakes involved, Stalin said any decision affecting the future of southern states must be taken only after proper consultation. "Any move without our consent will not be accepted, come what may," he asserted, reiterating his demand for "fair delimitation".

The DMK leader also shared an image from a March 2025 meeting convened by him, which was attended by several Opposition leaders, including his counterparts Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala), Revanth Reddy (Telangana), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), and Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, to discuss concerns over the delimitation exercise.

--IANS

aal/vd
Bareilly, April 8 : Welcoming the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, All India Muslim Jamaat (AIMJ) President Shahabuddin Razvi on Wednesday said that war is never a solution to any problem and that lasting peace can only be achieved through dialogue and communication.

Speaking to IANS, Razvi expressed relief over the cessation of hostilities and said that the development brings hope for stability in an otherwise volatile situation. "We wholeheartedly welcome today's ceasefire in the war between America and Iran, because war is not a solution to any problem. Issues are always resolved through dialogue and communication," he said.

However, he strongly criticised the actions of the United States and Israel during the conflict, alleging indiscriminate bombings in Iran that, according to him, caused significant civilian casualties. "America and Israel carried out indiscriminate bombings on Iran and did not even consider humanity. They attacked hospitals, attacked schools, and killed 200 children. And God knows how many thousands of people have been killed," he claimed.

Razvi also referred to the situation in Gaza, accusing Israel of being responsible for large-scale civilian deaths. He said that the international community must ensure accountability and justice. In this context, he demanded legal action against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that a case should be filed against him at the International Court of Justice.

Highlighting India's role during the tensions, Razvi praised India's diplomatic approach, calling it balanced and pragmatic. "India adopted a balanced policy and handled itself very wisely with Iran, America, and Israel throughout these 40 days," he said.

He further noted that India's longstanding relationship with Iran played a crucial role in safeguarding national interests, particularly in ensuring the safe passage of Indian vessels through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. "India and Iran share very old relations, and it was due to these longstanding ties that Iran, honouring this relationship, allowed Indian ships to move through the Strait of Hormuz," he added.

Razvi expressed hope that the ceasefire would evolve into a permanent resolution. ""I pray to God that He turns this ceasefire into a complete and permanent end to the war," he said.
BEIRUT/JERUSALEM, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, hitting multiple regions, including densely populated neighborhoods in the capital, Beirut, according to preliminary reports.

The strikes caused a large number of casualties, though official figures have not yet been released. Civil defense teams are searching through damaged buildings and assisting the wounded as rescue operations continue.

Hospitals across Beirut and surrounding areas issued urgent appeals for blood donations of all types. Medical staff warned that supplies are rapidly running out amid the growing number of injured civilians.

Hundreds of people were killed or injured in Wednesday's airstrikes, Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said.

Following the attacks, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam called on the country's allies to help stop the strikes "by all available means," stressing the urgency of international support to restore calm.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also urged the international community to act, saying the repeated attacks demonstrate a disregard for international law and agreements. He accused Israel of violating ceasefire commitments repeatedly over the past 15 months.

The Israeli military said the strikes were part of a new operation, dubbed "Eternal Darkness." It said the campaign aims to target Hezbollah command and control centers in southern and eastern Lebanon, as well as in Beirut.

A two-week ceasefire was announced early Wednesday by the United States and Iran. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would comply with the truce but would continue military operations in Lebanon. 
Thiruvananthapuram, April 8 : In a significant moment underscoring India's electoral credibility, the Election Commission of India has rolled out the red carpet for a high-powered international delegation to witness the Kerala Assembly elections under its International Election Visitors' Programme (IEVP) 2026.a Thiruvananthapuram, April 8 (IANS) In a significant moment underscoring Indiaas electoral credibility, the Election Commission of India has rolled out the red carpet for a high-powered international delegation to witness the Kerala Assembly elections under its International Election Visitorsa Programme (IEVP) 2026.a

Kerala goes to the polls on Thursday to elect 140 new legislators.a

A 43-member delegation representing 23 countries arrived in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the first phase of the IEVP that spans Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. Their visit is aimed at providing a firsthand understanding of Indiaas robust, technology-driven electoral process.a

In Kerala, the delegationas polling-day itinerary on April 9 is tightly packed, reflecting the stateas diverse election management model.a

The observers will begin early at 6 a.m. with a mock poll at Booth No. 104 at Cotton Hill LPS, Vazhuthacaud, as an exercise designed to demonstrate transparency and system integrity before voting begins.a

Subsequently, the team will visit a women-friendly polling station at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom, followed by a model polling booth at Government Model GHSS, Pattom, showcasing enhanced voter facilities.a

A youth-managed booth at Government Girls HSS, Peroorkada, is also on the schedule, highlighting efforts to engage younger citizens in the democratic process.a

Beyond booth visits, the delegation will also tour a polling material dispatch centre and the district collectorate control room to gain insights into backend coordination and real-time monitoring.a

Officials said the initiative is intended not just to demonstrate Indiaas electoral scale and efficiency, but also to facilitate the exchange of global best practices in election management, reinforcing the countryas standing as a benchmark in democratic governance.a

Voting will commence at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m. across more than 30,000 polling stations where the fate of 883 candidates will be sealed.a

Counting of votes will take place on May 4, the day that will decide who will rule the state for the next five years.a
New Delhi, April 8 : The controversy around Congress leader Pawan Khera has escalated following his allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's family and the subsequent police action, drawing a strong response from the opposition, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stepping in to defend him.a New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) The controversy around Congress leader Pawan Khera has escalated following his allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's family and the subsequent police action, drawing a strong response from the opposition, with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stepping in to defend him.

Reacting to the developments, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemned the police action and alleged its misuse. In a post on X, she said, "The shameless attack on Congress leader Pawan Khera by the BJP only speaks of their arrogance and guilt. Every Congress person, indeed every Indian who believes in our constitution and understands that raising questions and challenging power is the basis of a strong democracy, stands by him as his home is ransacked and he is hunted down by a Chief Minister who has lost his moral right to govern."

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's X post has described the police action as politically motivated, portraying it as an attack on democratic values. By invoking constitutional principles, she has sought to rally broader support beyond party lines.

The remarks of the Wayanad MP came as Assam Police intensified efforts to trace Khera, who has been booked under multiple sections, including forgery, defamation, and criminal conspiracy, following a complaint by Chief Minister Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma. 

She has dismissed Khera's allegations as baseless and malicious, accusing him of fabricating documents and spreading misinformation.

Meanwhile, earlier, Khera resurfaced through a video message. In the message, the Congress leader asserted that he would not be intimidated.

He accused the Assam government of using the police to silence dissent instead of addressing serious questions. 

According to him, investigative agencies should probe the claims rather than targeting opposition voices.

Police searches at his Delhi residence and reported movements to Hyderabad have further intensified the political battle.

The Congress has rallied behind Khera, terming the issue as an attack on democratic rights and freedom of expression.


New Delhi, April 8 : The Congress on Wednesday welcomed the interim cessation of hostilities in West Asia but launched a sharp attack on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of diplomatic missteps that allowed Pakistan to emerge as a key mediator in the US-Iran ceasefire deal.

In a detailed statement issued by its Foreign Affairs Department, the Congress described the temporary ceasefire as "a vital step towards de-escalation, renewed diplomacy and constructive dialogue" and hoped it would lead to lasting peace anchored in the United Nations Charter, particularly Articles 2(4) and 2(7), which prohibit the threat or use of force against territorial integrity and bar intervention in domestic matters.

The party, however, criticised the Modi governmentas approach, stating that its "missteps, partisan alignment, and cowardly silence" have compromised Indiaas energy security, strained relationships in the extended neighbourhood, and weakened Indiaas standing as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region.

"Pakistan playing a role in mediating between the warring parties, despite India being better placed to serve as a credible interlocutor. This not only undermines the sustained efforts of successive Indian governments to diplomatically isolate Pakistan, but also affords Islamabad room to rehabilitate itself on the world stage, and thereby whitewash its track record of fomenting regional instability through support for cross-border terrorism targeting India, Afghanistan, and Iran," senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid said, echoing the partyas official statement.

The Congress highlighted tangible costs to India, including shortages of cooking gas, fertilisers and essential commodities affecting millions, disruption to diaspora Indians in West Asia, and new strategic vulnerabilities.

It alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modias "partisan support for a far-right government on the eve of a war and national elections" and "ideological internationalism" contravened Indiaas traditional foreign policy consensus.

The statement urged the government to take the Opposition into confidence and adopt a unified national approach to restore Indiaas historic role as a "principled, proactive, and credible voice for peace and a just international order".

The two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran was announced recently, with initial talks scheduled in Islamabad a" a development that has drawn attention to Pakistanas mediation efforts amid the recent escalation involving strikes and threats over the Strait of Hormuz.

The Congress statement reflects growing political debate in India over the governmentas handling of the volatile West Asia situation, which has direct implications for Indiaas energy imports, expatriate workers, and regional influence.
Washington, April 8 : The United States has sharply criticised the functioning of the World Trade Organization (WTO), with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling it "ineffective and dysfunctional" after the 14th Ministerial Conference failed to deliver meaningful reform, particularly on digital trade rules.a Washington, April 8 (IANS) The United States has sharply criticised the functioning of the World Trade Organization (WTO), with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer calling it "ineffective and dysfunctional" after the 14th Ministerial Conference failed to deliver meaningful reform, particularly on digital trade rules.

In an op-ed published in The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday, following the conference in Yaounde, Cameroon, Greer said the WTO is no longer a "serious forum" and warned that its inability to act is undermining global trade stability.

"I arrived a skeptic of the WTO and left even more so," Greer wrote, describing a meeting marked by low participation from senior ministers and limited progress on key issues.

At the centre of the dispute was the long-running moratorium on tariffs for digital goods such as software and music  a policy in place since 1998. The United States, along with 24 co-sponsors, had proposed making the moratorium permanent to bring certainty to digital trade.

"That would prevent future ministerial conferences from wasting time on a non-issue while demonstrating that the WTO could have a role in future trade negotiations," Greer wrote.

Despite broad backing, the proposal failed due to the WTO's consensus-based decision-making system, which requires agreement from all 166 member countries. Some nations pushed for a limited extension, while others tied support to unrelated demands.

"Despite broad support, the need for consensus among all WTO member countries prevented passage," Greer said.

Efforts to reach a compromise also collapsed. While 164 members were prepared to extend the moratorium for about four years, Greer noted that "delegations from Brazil and Turkey insisted on maintaining the two-year renewal cycle," blocking progress.

The breakdown highlights deeper structural issues within the WTO, according to the U.S. assessment. Greer argued that divergent priorities among member states and the ability of countries to hold decisions hostage make meaningful reform nearly impossible.

"Because all 166 members must agree to adopt new rules, and members hold divergent views on a range of issues consensus is nearly impossible," he wrote.

The United States has increasingly signalled that it will not rely on the WTO to address modern trade challenges. Greer said Washington is instead pursuing regional and bilateral arrangements to tackle trade imbalances and secure supply chains.

"The U.S. isn't going to spend 30 years waiting for the WTO to respond to the needs of American workers and businesses," he wrote, adding that recent reciprocal trade agreements are aimed at "opening foreign markets while protecting domestic production."

He also criticised the WTO's past role, arguing that it failed to respond effectively to the "China shock" and continues to struggle with enforcement and compliance issues.

"The WTO dispute-settlement system devolved into a forum for endless litigation and served as a disincentive to settle disagreements," Greer said.

The stalled talks in Yaounde have been referred back to WTO headquarters in Geneva for further discussions, though Greer expressed scepticism about any breakthrough. "Unless members pull a rabbit out of a hat, the outcome is less certainty on e-commerce and worse prospects for a broader reform agenda," he wrote.
Morena, April 8 : Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal on Wednesday directed party workers to intensify grassroots outreach and ensure dominance at the booth level in the upcoming elections.a Morena, April 8 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Hemant Khandelwal on Wednesday directed party workers to intensify grassroots outreach and ensure dominance at the booth level in the upcoming elections.

Khandelwal made this assertion while addressing party workers in Morena district. Speaking to district representatives, senior leaders, and grassroots workers of the BJP, he urged cadres to expand their reach to every voter and reinforce the party's presence in even the remotest areas.

"Every booth must become a stronghold of the BJP," Khandelwal said, underlining that the party's growth has been driven by disciplined organisation and committed workers.

He reiterated that the BJP's ideological clarity and consistent approach have been central to its rise, and called upon workers to remain dedicated to the party's principles while engaging actively with the public.

Khandelwal credited the dedication and tireless efforts of party workers for the BJP's emergence as the world's largest political organisation and called upon cadres to work with renewed focus to secure the future of the coming generations.

Highlighting Morena's socio-political legacy, Khandelwal referred to revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil and reformer Hari Giri Maharaj, stating that the region's history of struggle and reform should inspire workers to contribute to nation-building.

Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker Narendra Singh Tomar, who also addressed party meetings in Morena, reinforced the focus on outreach and accountability.

He urged workers to take government achievements to the public and ensure that welfare schemes reach intended beneficiaries.

Citing PM Modi's leadership, Tomar said the government is committed to inclusive development. He highlighted schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana as examples of efforts to empower the economically weaker sections.

Tomar further stated that the party draws inspiration from the ideals of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Deendayal Upadhyaya, and highlighted the leadership of both.


Bhubaneswar, April 8 : A retired government official was arrested by the Commissionerate Police on Wednesday for stabbing his wife to death at his residence at the Swastik Nagar at Kuha village under Airfield police limits in Bhubaneswar.a

The accused, Debaraj Sarangi, 62, a former senior accountant at the AG Office here, retired around two years ago. After his retirement, Sarangi, who originally hailed from Nayagarh district, was staying with his 55-year-old wife, Priyamvada, in the Swastik Nagar area under the Airfield police station.a

Police sources said that on Wednesday, the couple got into a heated argument and scuffle after Sarangi, who was reportedly under mental stress, insisted on leaving the house, which his wife opposed.

Meanwhile, in a sudden fit of rage, the accused first assaulted the victim with his fists and then attacked her with a knife. He assaulted his with the knife on her face and neck multiple times, leading to her death.a

After the incident, the accused, Sarangi, handed over some cash and the victim's gold ornaments to his daughter, who was staying with her in-laws in the Patrapada area of the city. a

Later, he went to the Airfield police station and surrendered, confessing to the crime.a

The coupleas daughter Arpita, told media persons that her father has been suffering from a liver infection for the past six months. His diabetes had also worsened recently, and he had been losing weight gradually. Worried that his condition might not improve, Sarangi remained under constant stress. a

She added that just yesterday, she had tried to console her father and assured him that he would recover soon.a

The investigating officials also, during the investigation, ascertained that the accused had been suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, and liver-related ailments for a long time, and as a result, was experiencing severe mental depression.a

The police sources further claimed that the investigation revealed that prior to the incident, Sarangi was reportedly under mental stress and suffering from insomnia, and in a sudden, aggressive state, committed the crime.a

Following his surrender and confession, Sarangi was arrested by the police and later produced before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.a
Bhubaneswar, April 8 : Continuing its crackdown on corrupt state government employees, the Odisha Vigilance on Wednesday unearthed huge assets during simultaneous house searches at properties linked to a senior official of the Department of Water Resources over allegations of accumulating assets beyond his known sources of income.

"On the allegation of possession of assets disproportionate to the known sources of income, simultaneous house searches were conducted on the properties of Rajesh Chandra Mohanty, Additional Chief Engineer, Dam Safety, Odisha, Bhubaneswar, on Wednesday at six places in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Jajpur, and Dhenkanal districts," informed vigilance sources.

The raids were carried out at six locations, including a residential triple-storeyed building at Baramunda Housing Board Colony in Bhubaneswar, his paternal house at Kolhasingh village under Badachana police station in Jajpur district, the house of his relative at Deula Sahi, Jubilee Town in Dhenkanal, his office chamber as Additional Chief Engineer, Dam Safety, Bhubaneswar, a double-storeyed building and farmhouse at Bimbol in Bhapur, Dhenkanal, and the house of his associate at Nayabazar under Chauliaganj police station in Cuttack district.

As many as six teams of Odisha Vigilance, led by one Additional Superintendent of Police, 11 Deputy Superintendents of Police, nine Inspectors, eight Assistant Sub-Inspectors, and other supporting staff, searched for the strength of Search Warrants issued by the Court of Special Judge, Vigilance, Cuttack.

During the searches, the vigilance found Mohanty in possession of assets worth crores, including one palatial multi-storeyed building at Bhubaneswar, a farmhouse with a double-storeyed building spread over 1.71 acres, eight valuable plots including one each in Bhubaneswar and at Kalinga Nagar, Jajpur, and six at Bhapur, Dhenkanal, deposits of over Rs 1.70 crore, cash amounting to Rs 6.23 lakh, gold ornaments weighing 350 grams, and two four-wheelers.

Mohanty is being examined by vigilance officials to ascertain the source of the assets, and further unearthing of additional assets is likely, which may increase the overall valuation.
Hyderabad, April 8 : An airport for defence will be built at Adilabad in Telangana, which will have an enclave for civil operations, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on Wednesday.a Hyderabad, April 8 (IANS) An airport for defence will be built at Adilabad in Telangana, which will have an enclave for civil operations, Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on Wednesday.

While the defence already has an airstrip with 360 acres in Adilabad, the Civil Aviation Ministry has asked the state government to acquire another 450 acres for building the airport.

The proposed airport will be a major facility with a runway capable of handling Airbus A320 aircraft.

A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting in New Delhi attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Ram Mohan Naidu, and Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy.

Adilabad MP G. Nagesh, MLA Payal Shankar, officials from the Defence Ministry, Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the state government also attended the meeting.

Ram Mohan Naidu told media persons after the meeting that the Defence Ministry had already stated it has no objection to the development of an airport in a joint venture with the AAI.

"Now moving beyond and recognising the strategic importance of the site, the Ministry of Defence has decided to have a training facility for defence. They will develop the airport, and for civil operations, they will provide an enclave," he said.

The Civil Aviation Minister said the country already has 36 defence airports with enclaves for civil operations. Joint operation by civil and defence is a proven and successful concept across the country, he added.

He announced that on April 17, a team of officials from defence, AAI, and the state government will do a field visit and conduct an Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) study. This will be followed by the preparation of a masterplan, which will require approval from the Ministry of Defence.

Ram Mohan Naidu said once the state government acquires the required land, it can lay the foundation stone for the airport and commence the work as early as possible.

He said development of the airport at Adilabad would fulfil a long-awaited aspiration of the people of the region. He called Adilabad an ideal location for an airport and said it would have strong demand in the future.

He added that the airport would develop the region into a hub and boost the local economy.

He stated that there is no airport nearby. Hyderabad airport, currently the only civil airport in Telangana, is located 300 km away. Nagpur airport is 170 km from Adilabad, while Akola, with a small airport, is 150 km from Adilabad.

The minister also noted that with a large tribal population, the Adilabad region has immense tourism potential.

He said the foundation stone for the airport at Mamnoor in Warangal will be laid in three months. The state government has already given the land for building the airport.

Regarding the proposed airport at Peddapalli, he said the state government had proposed a site, and the pre-feasibility study was positive.

For the airport at Kothagudem, he said the proposed site was not found feasible. If the state government proposes an alternate site, a pre-feasibility study will be carried out, he added.


Agartala, April 8 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), accusing it of presiding over a regime of "loot and corruption" in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).

Chief Minster Saha asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the only party capable of ensuring the development of Janjati (tribal) communities.

He made these remarks after participating in a series of roadshows held in Bodhjangnagar-Wakhinagar, Simna-Tamakari, Jirania, and Mandainagar-Pulinpur in West Tripura as part of the BJP's poll campaign for the April 12 TTAADC elections.

Chief Minister Saha alleged that the TMP-led administration in the TTAADC has failed to deliver despite receiving substantial financial support from the state government at various points in time.

"From day one, we have been in the field and actively working since we decided to contest all 28 Assembly seats. Not only that, we began our groundwork in tribal areas three months before the election announcement. We are confident that BJP will contest the upcoming TTAADC elections independently because of the ongoing loot and corruption in the tribal council. Even after being given opportunities by the public, they (TMP) have failed to serve the people," he remarked.

Highlighting the state of development in Tripura, CM Saha said he personally inspected facilities in tribal areas and found conditions to be extremely poor.

"I have visited some rooms of smoke houses (for rubber sheet processing), and the conditions are truly pathetic. We have allocated Rs 35 crore for hospitals, an additional Rs 10 crore outside the budget, and Rs 30 crore for various projects. However, I have not seen corresponding work on the ground," he added.

The Chief Minister also said that people have already experienced governance under other parties, including the Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Congress, and are now able to make informed choices.

"Only the BJP can run the government with transparency, and people have realised this. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always been sincere about the development of tribal communities," he added.

The Chief Minister on Wednesday visited the residence of BJP candidate Maji Debbarma, who was injured in an alleged attack by miscreants linked to the TMP, at Pekuazjalaa"Janmejoynagar Assembly constituency.

After addressing an election rally in Takarjala on Wednesday, the Chief Minister went to Jarulbachai Padmamohan Para, where the injured candidate resides, and enquired about his current condition and medical treatment.

Chief Minister Saha assured the BJP candidate and his family that those involved in the attack would not be spared and would face strict legal action.

Speaking to media, the Chief Minister said that one of the attackers has already been arrested by the police, while another accused is currently absconding.

He also added that such attacks would not be able to deter workers of the BJP.

"These kinds of violent acts are not being received well by the people," he said.
New Delhi/Bengaluru, April 8 : Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday expressed strong outrage over remarks made by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, stating that such statements reflect the culture and ideology of the Congress party.a New Delhi/Bengaluru, April 8 (IANS) Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday expressed strong outrage over remarks made by AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, stating that such statements reflect the culture and ideology of the Congress party.

Speaking to the media in Delhi, Joshi condemned Kharge's alleged remarks describing the RSS and BJP as a "poisonous snake" and calling for them to be "killed," terming them violent and provocative. He said it was highly immature for a senior political leader to make such statements.

Joshi said referring to Gujaratis as illiterate and making inflammatory remarks against the RSS and the BJP was a tragedy for democracy and not expected from a seasoned leader. He expressed deep disappointment over the nature of Kharge's comments.

Alleging that Kharge's recent statements were influenced by Rahul Gandhi, Joshi said he had known Kharge since college and that Kharge was not like this earlier. He claimed that in recent times, due to Rahul Gandhi's influence, Kharge has been making irresponsible and inappropriate remarks.

He further criticised Rahul Gandhi, saying he was not a serious politician and that Kharge was beginning to emulate him. Joshi added that such behaviour does not befit a leader of Kharge's stature and advised that political opposition should remain ideological rather than turning into personal hatred or incitement to violence.

Calling it "low-level politics," Joshi said that for a senior opposition leader and AICC President to stoop to the level of allegedly calling for violence reflects poorly on Congress. He accused the party of having a history of making provocative statements that create unrest in society.

Joshi said Kharge's recent remarks lack maturity and are filled with hatred. He alleged that, unable to ideologically counter the RSS and BJP, Kharge was resorting to incitement, which he termed shameful.

He also questioned Kharge's alleged remarks about Gujaratis, noting that the state has produced leaders such as Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, and PM Modi.

He asked whether people from other states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, West Bengal, and Maharashtra, would also be considered illiterate under such logic.

Joshi further alleged that Congress makes such statements to spread division among communities and termed incitement to violence in a democracy as an unforgivable offence.

He accused the party of making controversial statements out of fear of electoral defeat.
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, leads a KMT delegation to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

NANJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, led a KMT delegation on Wednesday morning to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.

The mausoleum lies in the eastern suburbs of Nanjing. Sun Yat-sen, a founding figure of the KMT and a revered revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in overthrowing imperial rule in China, died in 1925. His remains were buried here in 1929.

Paying homage to the mausoleum has long been an important part of KMT chairpersons' visits to the mainland.

Cheng's trip marks the first time in a decade that a KMT chairperson has led a delegation to the Chinese mainland. The visit is regarded as an important part of the exchanges and dialogue between the KMT and the Communist Party of China under the new circumstances.

Cheng arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday. The visit, which covers Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing, will run through Sunday. 

Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, leads a KMT delegation to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
Washington, April 8 : The United States President Donald Trump is sending Vice President J.D. Vance to Pakistan to lead a high-stakes round of negotiations with Iran, marking a new diplomatic phase following a fragile ceasefire brokered after weeks of intense military operations.

The announcement came as the White House confirmed that Washington is dispatching its top negotiating team to Islamabad for talks aimed at securing a longer-term settlement with Tehran.

"I can announce that the President is dispatching his negotiating team, led by the Vice President of the United States, J.D. Vance, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Mr. Kushner, to Islamabad for talks this weekend," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a news conference here.

"The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning, local time, and we know we look forward to those in-person meetings," Leavitt said in response to a question.

The talks follow a two-week ceasefire window announced by President Donald Trump after what the administration described as a decisive military campaign against Iran.

Leavitt said the negotiations follow the United States achieving its core objectives during "Operation Epic Fury," which she described as a rapid and overwhelming military success.

"This is a victory for the United States of America that the President and our incredible military made happen," she said.

According to the White House, the military campaign degraded Iran's defence infrastructure, missile capabilities, and naval assets, creating leverage for diplomacy. The administration said this pressure forced Tehran to seek a ceasefire and agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz  a critical global oil transit route.

"The President's maximum pressure and the leverage created by the success of Operation Epic Fury led to the Iranian regime asking for and ultimately agreeing to a ceasefire proposal with the United States," Leavitt said.

The ceasefire remains conditional. Washington has made clear that the "free, safe, and immediate reopening" of the Strait of Hormuz is a central requirement, with the administration closely monitoring developments in real time.

At the same time, Leavitt cautioned that the truce is inherently unstable. "This is a fragile truce. Ceasefires are fragile by nature," she said, noting disruptions in Iran's command and control structures following sustained strikes.

The Islamabad talks are expected to address key sticking points, including Iran's nuclear programme. The White House reiterated that ending uranium enrichment inside Iran remains a non-negotiable red line.

"The President's red lines, namely the end of Iranian enrichment in Iran, have not changed," Leavitt said.

She added that Tehran has already shown some willingness to engage on sensitive issues, including highly enriched uranium, raising cautious optimism ahead of the talks.

The diplomatic push also reflects broader geopolitical coordination. The White House confirmed that there were "conversations that took place between top levels of our government and China's government," suggesting parallel engagement among major powers.


Washington, April 8 : A fragile ceasefire with Iran hinges on the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the White House asserted Wednesday, even as it claimed sweeping military gains that forced Tehran to agree to negotiations after weeks of sustained strikes.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitte told reporters that restoring shipping through the vital energy corridor remains the central condition for continuing talks, with President Donald Trump insisting the passage must reopen "immediately, quickly and safely".

"We fully expect Iran to do this, and the President has made that quite clear as well this ceasefire is subject to the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz," Leavitt said at a news conference.

She added that the administration was monitoring developments closely, noting there had already been "an uptick of traffic in the Strait today".

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most critical oil transit routes, and any disruption has immediate implications for global markets, including energy-dependent economies such as India.

The ceasefire announcement followed what the administration described as a decisive US military campaign against Iran under "Operation Epic Fury".

"This is a victory for the United States of America that the President and our incredible military made happen," Leavitt said.

She said US forces had struck more than 13,000 targets across Iran in 38 days, destroying large parts of its defence industrial base and severely degrading its missile, drone, and naval capabilities.

"The United States has achieved and exceeded those core military objectives in just 38 days," she said.

According to the White House, Iran's navy was "completely annihilated", its air force rendered "functionally and operationally irrelevant", and its ability to support proxy groups significantly reduced.

The administration argued that this pressure forced Tehran to step back and seek a ceasefire.

"The President's maximum pressure and the leverage created by the success of Operation Epic Fury led to the Iranian regime asking for and ultimately agreeing to a ceasefire proposal with the United States," Leavitt said.

She added that Iran had "agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz" after facing a deadline set by Trump.

The White House also rejected earlier Iranian proposals as inadequate, saying an initial 10-point plan was "fundamentally unserious, unacceptable, and completely discarded".

"It was literally thrown in the garbage by President Trump and his negotiating team," Leavitt said.

Only after sustained military pressure, she said, did Tehran present a revised proposal that Washington considered a workable basis for negotiations.

Despite the ceasefire, the administration cautioned that the situation remains unstable.

"This is a fragile truce. Ceasefires are fragile by nature," Leavitt said, pointing to disruptions in Iran's command and control systems following repeated strikes.

She noted that damage to Iran's leadership and communication structures could complicate implementation of the ceasefire in the short term.

The United States has now moved into a two-week negotiation window, with talks expected to focus on long-term security arrangements, including Iran's nuclear programme and regional stability.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly a fifth of global oil supply, making its reopening central to both geopolitical stability and energy markets. Any prolonged disruption would directly affect major importers such as India, which sources a significant share of its crude from the Gulf.
Washington, April 8 : The White House on Wednesday confirmed high-level engagement with China during the Iran crisis, signalling a broader geopolitical dimension to the ceasefire and upcoming negotiations with Tehran.

The White House said conversations took place between Washington and Beijing as tensions escalated, with both sides maintaining communication channels during the conflict.

"With respect to China, there were conversations that took place between top levels of our government and China's government," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a news conference here.

She added that President Donald Trump maintains "a great working relationship" with Chinese President Xi Jinping and indicated continued engagement ahead of a possible visit to China in the coming weeks.

The disclosure points to quiet coordination among major powers as the United States transitions from military operations to diplomacy following a two-week ceasefire window agreed with Iran.

Washington has framed the ceasefire as a direct outcome of sustained military pressure under "Operation Epic Fury", which it says forced Tehran to step back and accept negotiations.

"The President's maximum pressure and the leverage created by the success of Operation Epic Fury led to the Iranian regime asking for and ultimately agreeing to a ceasefire proposal with the United States," Leavitt said.

She reiterated that the US military campaign had significantly weakened Iran's capabilities, creating the conditions for diplomatic engagement.

At the same time, the administration cautioned that the ceasefire remains unstable.

"This is a fragile truce. Ceasefires are fragile by nature," Leavitt said, warning that disruptions on the ground could complicate implementation in the coming days.

The next phase of negotiations is set to take place in Islamabad, where a US delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance will hold in-person talks with Iranian counterparts.

The involvement of China, even indirectly, reflects the wider strategic stakes in the Middle East, where Beijing has expanded its diplomatic footprint in recent years, including brokering rapprochement between regional rivals.

For Washington, maintaining dialogue with Beijing during the crisis appears aimed at preventing escalation and ensuring broader stability as negotiations proceed.

The Iran crisis also intersects with global economic concerns, particularly energy security. Any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz  a key shipping lane  carries immediate consequences for global oil flows and prices.
Washington, April 8 : The White House has set a firm condition ahead of negotiations with Iran, insisting that Tehran must end uranium enrichment inside its territory as a non-negotiable red line in any future agreement.

The demand will anchor upcoming talks with Iranian officials, as Washington moves from military operations to a diplomatic phase following a fragile ceasefire.

"The President's red lines, namely the end of Iranian enrichment in Iran, have not changed," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at a news conference here.

She stressed that the administration would not accept any deal that allows Iran to continue enrichment activities, signalling a hardline position going into negotiations.

The issue of highly enriched uranium is expected to be at the centre of discussions, with the United States prioritising its removal or neutralisation.

"This is on the top of the priority list for the President and his negotiating team as they head into this next round of discussions," Leavitt said.

She added that Washington is seeking to resolve the issue through diplomacy but remains firm on its core demands.

"We hope it will be through diplomacy," she said, referring to the effort to address Iran's enriched uranium stockpile.

The administration indicated that Iran has shown some willingness to engage on the issue, raising cautious expectations ahead of the talks.

Asked whether Tehran had given any indication it would hand over enriched uranium, Leavitt responded: "Yes."

The negotiations are expected to take place in Islamabad, where a US delegation led by Vice President J.D. Vance will meet Iranian representatives as part of a two-week diplomatic window following the ceasefire.

Washington has framed the talks as a continuation of pressure built through its military campaign against Iran, which it says forced Tehran to the negotiating table.

"The President's maximum pressure and the leverage created by the success of Operation Epic Fury led to the Iranian regime asking for and ultimately agreeing to a ceasefire proposal with the United States," Leavitt said.

Despite the shift to diplomacy, the White House warned that the situation remains volatile.

"This is a fragile truce. Ceasefires are fragile by nature," Leavitt said, noting that disruptions on the ground could affect the pace and outcome of negotiations.
Jaipur, April 9 : In a symbolic gesture highlighting women's empowerment, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje ensured that only women occupied the stage during the 'Nari Shakti Vandan' programme in Banswara.a Jaipur, April 9 (IANS) In a symbolic gesture highlighting women's empowerment, former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje ensured that only women occupied the stage during the 'Nari Shakti Vandan' programme in Banswara.

Emphasising the spirit of the event, she appealed to male leaders present on the stage to vacate their seats and extend their support to women.

"This programme is dedicated to Nari Shakti. I request my brothers to support us by giving space to women," Raje said. 

In response to her appeal, all male leaders seated on stage stepped down and joined the audience. Women participants who had been seated below were then invited onto the stage. 

Raje later expressed her gratitude to the male leaders for their cooperation and gesture of respect.

Addressing the gathering at the BJP office, Raje said the programme was being organised under the guidance of the party's national leadership and was launched from the sacred land of Goddess Tripura Sundari, revered as a symbol of supreme power.

She underlined the cultural and spiritual significance of beginning this initiative on this land. 

"This programme has been organised under the directives of our National President, Nitin Nabin, and is being launched from the sacred land of Goddess Tripura Sundari, the embodiment of supreme power," she said.

Raje described the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a mark of self-respect for women and expressed her gratitude to PM Modi, under whose leadership the Parliament approved the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in 2023. Through this legislation, women will receive a 33 per cent reservation in the Lok Sabha and the State Legislative Assemblies, she said.

Highlighting recent legislative developments, Raje described the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam as a symbol of dignity for women across the country.

She explained that the law provides for 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, which would ensure greater participation of women in governance and decision-making.

"With this step, women will have a decisive role in shaping the nation's future," she said.

Encouraging active political participation, Raje urged women not to treat politics as a part-time activity but as a full-time commitment to public service.

Ending her speech on a lighter note, she remarked that while 33 per cent of women would now help run the country, men might have to take greater responsibility at home.


Washington, April 9 : The White House on Wednesday strongly defended President Donald Trump's aggressive rhetoric during the Iran conflict, arguing that it directly contributed to forcing Tehran into a ceasefire and reopening negotiations after weeks of intense military confrontation.

The defence came in response to pointed questions from reporters over the President's language, including his warning that an entire civilisation could face destruction if a deal was not reached.

Pressed on whether such rhetoric was appropriate, a reporter asked: "Why is it appropriate for the President of the United States to use that kind of language when talking about civilian targets?"

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pushed back, saying results  not tone  should be the measure of success.

"What the President cares most about is results, and in fact, his very tough rhetoric and his tough negotiating style are what have led to the result that you are all witnessing today," she said.

She added that Iran had acknowledged the pressure itself.

"Iran publicly acknowledging last night that they have agreed or that they wanted this cease fire with the United States because they no longer could tolerate being bombed by our very powerful and lethal military," Leavitt said.

Another reporter raised concerns about the broader implications of the President's statements, noting that past US leaders had framed wars as being against governments, not entire populations.

"How can the President claim that America can ever have the moral high ground if he's threatening to destroy civilisations?" the reporter asked.

Leavitt rejected that framing, pointing instead to the administration's military actions over the past six weeks.

"The President absolutely has the moral high ground over the Iranian terrorist regime," she said, adding that questioning that position was "frankly, insulting."

She argued that the President's warnings were instrumental in shaping the outcome.

"I think it was a very, very strong threat from the President of the United States that led the Iranian regime to cave to their knees and ask for a cease fire," Leavitt said.

"It was a very strong threat that led to results," she added.

The administration said Iran ultimately agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz  a key condition set by Washington  after facing a firm deadline backed by the threat of further strikes.

"What did they do? Last night, they agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz," Leavitt said.

She also emphasised that the warnings were backed by real military readiness.

"The Pentagon had a target list that they were ready to hit if the Iranian regime had not agreed," she said, describing the threat as "not an empty threat by any means."

The White House has linked the rhetoric directly to its broader military campaign, which it says created leverage for diplomacy.

"The President's maximum pressure and the leverage created by the success of Operation Epic Fury led to the Iranian regime asking for and ultimately agreeing to a ceasefire proposal with the United States," Leavitt said.

At the same time, officials acknowledged that the ceasefire remains unstable.

"This is a fragile truce. Ceasefires are fragile by nature," Leavitt said, cautioning that disruptions could occur as the agreement is implemented.

She noted that damage to Iran's command and control systems during US strikes could complicate communication within the country, affecting compliance in the early stages.

The administration has now entered a two-week negotiation phase, with talks expected to focus on long-term security arrangements, including Iran's nuclear programme.
Chandigarh, April 9 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Punjab's Mohali has convicted and sentenced 11 accused, including Rajesh Ranjan, the then District Manager with the Food Corporation of India (FCI), to three years of rigorous imprisonment with a total fine of Rs 3.3 lakh in a 20-year-old corruption case.

The other convicted are Azad Singh, the then Deputy Manager; D.K. Sharma and Gian Singh, both the then Assistant Managers of the FCI, posted in Faridkot; Raj Kumar, R.C. Puri, Gulab Singh, Pitambir Singh, and G.P.S. Kalra, all the then Technical Assistants of the FCI posted in Moga; and two private persons, Govinder Singh, partner of M/s Punjab Rice and General Mills in Moga, and Pardeep Bansal, partner of R.P. Agro Industries.

The CBI registered the case immediately on January 7, 2006, against officials of the FCI, ranging from the Senior Regional Manager of the Punjab region to Technical Assistants, along with certain rice millers.

The allegations pertained to the Kharif season of 2004-05, wherein substandard rice consignments were allegedly accepted by FCI officials in the Punjab region from various rice millers, falsely shown as "A" grade, and payments were released accordingly.

Subsequently, consignments dispatched to different states were either rejected or accepted as substandard, resulting in significant financial loss to the FCI.

The case specifically pertains to Moga depot.

After investigation, the CBI had filed a charge sheet on November 28, 2008, against them.

The court, after the trial, convicted and sentenced them accordingly.
Godhra, April 9 : Zakir Ahmed Jhaba, the key accused in the highaprofile rioting case connected with an incident at Godhra City's B Division Police Station in September last year, has been arrested after six months in hiding and is now in police custody.a Godhra, April 9 (IANS) Zakir Ahmed Jhaba, the key accused in the highprofile rioting case connected with an incident at Godhra City's B Division Police Station in September last year, has been arrested after six months in hiding and is now in police custody.

A joint team from the Godhra Special Operations Group (SOG) and the Local Crime Branch (LCB) apprehended Jhaba from Bhiwandi in Maharashtra, and he was produced before the Godhra Sessions Court, which granted a 10day remand.

Police had initially sought a 14day remand.

Panchmahal district SP Haresh Dudhat said that Jhaba, a social media influencer, had been summoned to the police station ahead of the festival season to be advised against posting controversial videos.

"As soon as he left the station, he created a video falsely claiming that the police had beaten him for making a video with an 'I Love Muhammad' poster," Dudhat said.

He further added, "That misleading video was widely circulated on social media and incited the public, leading to a large crowd gathering at the police station."

Following the circulation of the video, stonepelting took place at the B Division Police Station.

Dudhat said that in this matter, more than 300 FIRs have been registered, and CCTV footage showed Jhaba in apparent good health at a nearby hotel just minutes after the video was recorded.

"So far, 135 accused have been arrested in connection with the case, while around 180 suspects remain absconding," Dudhat noted.

He described Jhaba's arrest as a significant success for the Godhra police, noting that officers had tracked him over a prolonged period.

The arrested suspect has been formally handed over to the Godhra City B Division Police for further legal proceedings.

Police have charged Jhaba with inciting people and spreading violence, and further questioning is now underway.


Washington, April 9 : The United States will maintain full military readiness in the Middle East despite a two-week ceasefire with Iran, the White House said, signalling that Washington is prepared for a rapid escalation if negotiations falter.

Officials said no immediate drawdown of US forces is planned, even as diplomatic efforts begin following weeks of intense military operations.

Asked what to expect from US troops during the ceasefire window, a reporter queried: "What we should expect from U.S. troops in theatre for the next two weeks and beyond?"

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is taking a cautious approach.

"We're not going to move anything immediately in the meantime, we're going to ensure that our military is always at the ready of the commander in chief," she said.

She referred operational specifics to the Pentagon but made clear that US forces will remain in place as negotiations proceed.

The posture reflects concerns within the administration that the ceasefire could break down, particularly given ongoing regional tensions and uncertainty over Iran's internal command structures.

"This is a fragile truce. Ceasefires are fragile by nature," Leavitt said, warning that implementation could face disruptions in the coming days.

The ceasefire, announced after 38 days of US military operations against Iran, has opened a two-week diplomatic window aimed at securing a longer-term agreement.

However, Washington has emphasised that military preparedness remains central to its strategy, both as a deterrent and as leverage in negotiations.

The White House has argued that sustained military pressure forced Iran to accept the ceasefire in the first place.

"The President's maximum pressure and the leverage created by the success of Operation Epic Fury led to the Iranian regime asking for and ultimately agreeing to a ceasefire proposal," Leavitt said.

At the same time, officials acknowledged that the operational impact of US strikes on Iran could complicate the ceasefire's early stages.

One reporter raised concerns about reports of renewed activity inside Iran, asking about explosions and air defence activation in multiple cities.

Leavitt said she had not yet verified those reports but pointed to a broader issue.

"One of the results of Operation Epic Fury was that we completely dismantled Iran's command and control center, which makes it difficult for them to pass messages up and down the chain," she said.

The disruption, she suggested, could affect Iran's ability to coordinate compliance with the ceasefire, at least in the short term.

The administration has also said that many of Iran's remaining leaders are operating under constraints following the strikes, further complicating internal coordination.

In addition to military effects, questions were raised about the political consequences inside Iran, particularly whether the conflict had led to greater freedoms for its population.

Asked directly whether "regime change has led to more freedoms for the Iranian people," Leavitt said it was too early to draw conclusions.

"I think that's a question that's being asked a little bit too early " It's something that has yet to be seen," she said.
Kolkata, April 9 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had approached the Election Commission of India (ECI) with a plea to impose immediate ban and campaign restrictions on the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for a specific period of time amid the crucial two-phase Assembly polls in the state later this month.

In the letter to the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday, the BJP had accused the Chief Minister of incitement to violence against the central armed police force (CAPF) personnel deployed in the state for ensuring free, fair and violence-free polls.

The BJP had pointed out one instance where the Chief Minister allegedly made an "inflammatory and seditious statement" at a public gathering on April 7 where she said that "200 vehicles of CRPF were coming to attack you, people".

"In a separate election rally at Harirampur in Dakshin Dinajpur district on April 3, Mamata Banerjee further alleged that "money is being brought in using CRPF vehicles", casting aspersions upon the constitutional conduct and integrity of central forces deployed under the authority of the Election Commission," the letter said.

According to the BJP, the aforesaid statements constituted a deliberate, orchestrated attempt to portray lawfully deployed security forces as aggressors and enemies of the civilian population, with the direct intent of instigating violence, creating terror among voters, and undermining the free and fair electoral process.

"The statements were made by a sitting Chief Minister, the highest constitutional authority in the State, before thousands of voters/citizens and have been widely reported in the national media and social media," the letter added.

In light of the above public statements from Mamata Banerjee, the BJP had requested the ECI to impose an immediate ban and campaign restrictions on the Chief Minister for a specific period of time.

The BJP had also requested the CEC to direct the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal to register an FIR or cause the registration against the Chief Minister under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China welcomes the announcement by relevant parties of reaching a ceasefire arrangement on the Iran conflict, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday, expressing support for the mediation efforts made by countries such as Pakistan.

Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan.

China has consistently advocated for an end to military operations and the resolution of disputes through political and diplomatic means to ultimately achieve lasting peace and stability in the Middle East and the Gulf region, Mao said at a regular news briefing, adding that China has also made its own efforts in this regard. 
Tehran, April 9 : A fresh diplomatic row has erupted after Iranian officials accused the United States of violating three clauses of the 10-Point Proposal, the agreed framework for upcoming negotiations.a Tehran, April 9 (IANS) A fresh diplomatic row has erupted after Iranian officials accused the United States of violating three clauses of the 10-Point Proposal, the agreed framework for upcoming negotiations.

In a formal statement released late on Tuesday, Iran said its "deep historical distrust" of Washington had been reinforced by repeated violations of commitments. 

The statement noted that while the President of the United States had described the 10-Point Proposal as a "workable basis on which to negotiate," three provisions had already been breached.

The first violation, according to Tehran, was non-compliance with the ceasefire clause relating to Lebanon. 

Iranian officials pointed out that Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had explicitly called for "an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and other regions, effective immediately." 

The second violation involved the entry of a drone into Iranian airspace, which was shot down in Lar, Fars Province. 

The third concerned denial of Iran's right to enrichment, a right enshrined in the sixth clause of the framework.

Iran argued that these breaches undermine the credibility of negotiations even before they begin. 

"The very workable basis on which to negotiate has been openly and clearly violated," the statement declared, adding that in such circumstances, "a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable."

The development comes as Pakistan has been actively engaged in efforts to broker peace in the region, with Prime Minister Sharif repeatedly urging restraint and dialogue. 

Islamabad has positioned itself as a mediator, stressing the importance of immediate ceasefires to prevent escalation across Lebanon and other conflict zones.

The allegations highlight the fragile state of trust between Tehran and Washington, raising doubts over whether the proposed framework can serve as a viable foundation for meaningful talks.
Hyderabad, April 9 : Cyberabad police have arrested a man from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh for posting an offensive and abusive comment on actress Renu Desai's reel on a social media platform.a Hyderabad, April 9 (IANS) Cyberabad police have arrested a man from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh for posting an offensive and abusive comment on actress Renu Desaias reel on a social media platform.a

The Cybercrime Police of Cyberabad detected a case involving the posting of an offensive and abusive comment. During the course of investigation, the accused responsible for posting the objectionable content was identified and apprehended, an official said on Wednesday.a

The accused was identified as Chennaiah Runjala, a resident of Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. During his free time, he frequently watched reels on YouTube. Recently, he watched a reel of actress Renu Desai and, after viewing it, posted an abusive and offensive comment from his YouTube account.a

Police explained that while the accused was present in Guntur, the Cybercrime Police apprehended him, informed him of the reasons for his arrest, and brought him to Cybercrime Police Station, Gachibowli. During verification, the accused produced his mobile phone through which he had posted the said comment.a

Authorities have advised social media users to maintain responsible online behaviour and avoid posting abusive, defamatory, or offensive comments. They cautioned that posting objectionable content on social media platforms can lead to legal action under relevant laws. Citizens are encouraged to use digital platforms responsibly and report any cyber offences to the nearest Cybercrime Police Station or through the 1930 Cyber Helpline.

Renu Desai, former wife of actor and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, had earlier this month lodged a complaint with Cybercrime Police about those spewing abusive language or invading her private life online.a

In a video on Instagram last week, she spoke about the harassment she faced since her divorce from Pawan Kalyan in 2012. Renu Desai, also an activist, said that criticism intensified after she addressed a press conference in January on the issue of street dogs.a

She stated on April 5 that six individuals had been arrested for posting abusive comments about her on social media.a
Kolkata, April 9 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has searched the premises of Kolkata-based realty company Merlin Group and its promoters as part of a money laundering investigation, an official of the central probe agency said.

It was learnt that about seven premises linked to the group and its promoters, Sushil Mohta and Saket Mohta, were raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), officials noted on Wednesday.

The company, however, did not make any official comment on the development.

The promoters and the company are under the agency's scanner on charges of fabricating a false chain of title using forged documents, leading to allegations of land grabbing.

More details on the raids are awaited.

The move comes ahead of the Assembly polls in West Bengal.

According to the ED, the accused commercially exploited the purportedly grabbed land by launching large-scale real estate projects.

The accused induced the public to invest substantial sums in their real estate projects, by projecting themselves as lawful owners of the land using forged documents.

On April 1, the ED recovered more than Rs 1 crore in cash from the house of a company executive in Behala area of the city.

Weapons have also been recovered from the house of businessman Biswajit Poddar in Kasba area of Kolkata.

The ED officials have been conducting searches at several places related to the alleged mastermind for the Kankulia violence, Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu since Wednesday morning.

According to ED officials, Sona Pappu controls several syndicates in different areas of Kasba and Ballygunge.

Based on that information, the officials of the central investigation agency started the operation.

The ED officials came to know through sources that Sona Pappu used to withdraw crores of rupees from various construction companies and through him, the ED also received allegations that the money would reach various influential people.

Sources claim that to investigate these allegations, the officials of the central investigation agency conducted searches at several places, including Sona Pappu's house.
New Delhi, April 9 : Rafael Mariano Grossi, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General, has warmly appreciated India's achievement in attaining criticality of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

The landmark step marks a significant advancement in the country's indigenous nuclear programme and its pursuit of long-term energy sustainability.

In a post on his official X account on Wednesday, Grossi described the development as "impressive progress by India in achieving criticality of the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Tamil Nadu's Kalpakkam, a key step forward in fuel sustainability and the future of nuclear energy".

He reaffirmed the IAEA's commitment to India, saying that the organisation "will continue supporting the safe and secure development of India's nuclear programme".

Grossi concluded his message on X extending congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Criticality in a fast breeder reactor is a crucial technical milestone where the nuclear chain reaction becomes self-sustaining, enabling the reactor to produce more fuel than it consumes.

The Kalpakkam facility is a cornerstone of India's three-stage nuclear power strategy, designed to harness the country's abundant thorium reserves and achieve greater fuel efficiency while reducing dependence on imported uranium.

This international recognition from the head of the global nuclear watchdog highlights India's growing expertise in advanced reactor technology and its strong emphasis on safety and security standards.

The achievement is expected to strengthen India's position in the global nuclear energy sector and open new avenues for collaboration with the IAEA on research, training and technology development.

Experts view the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor as a vital bridge toward commercial fast breeder operations, which will play a pivotal role in meeting India's rising energy demands through clean, reliable and sustainable sources.

The development aligns with the Union government's broader vision of expanding nuclear capacity to support economic growth and environmental goals.

Grossi's message has been received positively across scientific and policy circles in India, boosting morale among nuclear scientists and engineers, who have worked tirelessly on this indigenous project.

With the IAEA's continued partnership assured, India is well-positioned to accelerate its nuclear expansion plans while maintaining the highest standards of safety and non-proliferation.

The Kalpakkam milestone comes at a time when the world is looking for scalable, low-carbon energy solutions, and India's progress is seen as a model for responsible nuclear development in emerging economies.

Officials indicated that further updates on the reactor's operational performance and integration into the national grid would be shared in due course.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
Los Angeles, April 9 : Filmmaker Steven Spielberg has expressed his wish to direct a horror film in the future. The legendary 79-year-old filmmaker has provided big screen scares thanks to his movies such as 1975 shark blockbuster 'Jaws', 1993 resurrected dinosaur romp 'Jurassic Park' and 1977 sci-fi flick 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'.

However, the director has revealed he would like to make a pure horror movie as it's a genre he has never fully explored, reports 'Female First UK'.

He told 'Empire' magazine, "I haven't directed a horror film yet, and I've always wanted to, and someday I may".

He sometimes doubts whether he could come up with a story and vision that would truly terrify when he watches a horror movie that leaves him completely satisfied as a viewer.

As per 'Female First UK', the 'Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom' director has singled out Zach Cregger's Weapons as one of the best horror films of the past decade.

He said, "There have been some great horror films out already that satisfy that itch. When I see a great horror film like Weapons, I don't have an itch I need to scratch. I see Weapons, and it doesn't make me want to make a horror film that's as scary or scarier than Weapons. It satisfies me so completely, it actually arrests my desire to someday make a really, really scary movie">

Steven Spielberg did co-write and produce 1982 supernatural horror film 'Poltergeist' but handed over directing duties to Tobe Hooper who gave the world the iconic 1974 movie 'The Texas Chain Saw Massacre'.

He also hailed Denis Villeneuve's Dune pictures as "among my favourite science-fiction movies of all time". The legendary filmmaker, 79, is a huge fan of Villeneuve's take on Frank Herbert's sci-fi novel and confessed that he "cannot wait" to watch the trilogy's concluding film 'Dune: Part Three' when it is released later this year.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
If you ask its leaders, the book ban movement is ostensibly about parents rights. A popular Moms for Liberty T-shirt reads We do NOT co-parent with the government. According to that logic, the question of whats appropriate for children to read is debated in the home, not in the halls of power. Strange, then, that HR 7661, recently passed out of committee and poised for a full vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, represents just that: government overreach into the question of what is appropriate for children to read.

HR 7661 is an assault on civil rights. The bill makes it illegal to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for, or to provide or promote literature or other materials to, children under the age of 18 that includes sexually oriented material, and for other purposes. The language is frighteningly ambiguous and broad; its easy to imagine a ban for just about any book dealing with sex or gender in any way.

Any schools or libraries found in violation of HR 7661 would risk losing essential federal money in an already difficult funding environment for education and the literary arts. Funding for education and libraries is already being weaponized in the current culture wars; this would only make it worse. A school or library could lose vital funding for the sin of simply trying to help queer students see themselves in what they read.

I want my son to read literature thats welcoming of a wide range of perspectives and identities. What happened to my rights as a parent?

Thats not to say I want to make all the decisions about what my son reads. Im happy for him to self-direct his reading. Choosing his own books is an important element of his discovery of not only literature but his identity.

Im also happy for qualified librarians, teachers, and booksellers to guide his reading. Dedicated childrens librarians train for years to gain the knowledge and skills it takes to get the right books into the right hands. As a former owner of an independent bookstore, I know how much skill this takes. I trust librarians to do this, and they do it well, despite being the target of ever-increasing harassment and threats from book banners.

HR 7661 is a terrifying nadir of that movement. Would-be censors have been gaining power on library and school boards, city councils, and state legislatures for years. Now, theyve set their sights on federal legislation. HR 7661 takes the decision about what children should read away from parents and librarians and gives it to politiciansthe same politicians who have orchestrated ICEs brutal assault on the civil liberties of countless Americans.

I do not trust these politicians to choose what my child can read.

Studies show that restricting books leads to worse learning outcomes. Studies show that identifying with characters in books improves mental health for queer children, a population that has staggeringly high instances of depression and suicide. What we read as children is deeply tied to the formation of our identities; therefore, an attack on childrens books is an attack on the children who read them.

But HR 7661 is not only an attack on children; its an attack on schools, libraries, and the people who make them run. Librarians are already victims of constant harassment from book banners trying to force these beloved public institutions into a bitter culture war. For instance, after a book banning bill was introduced in Idaho, a majority of Idaho librarians reported that they were thinking of leaving the profession. HR 7661 would worsen these tensions by using federal legislation to transform libraries from sites of learning into sites for ideological warfare.

In a time where theres a literacy crisis among children, in a time where overreliance on AI threatens our capacity for critical thought, in a time where the idea of truth is up for debate, the last thing we need is for librarians to come under further attack. The last thing we need is to restrict childrens access to books. The last thing we need is for marginalized people to be further dehumanized by the vicious machinations of a prejudiced and hateful federal government.

HR 7661 must not be allowed to pass. We cannot legitimize the book banning movement by enshrining its goals into federal law.

All you need to do is call your rep and tell them not to vote for HB 7661. It is your right to do so, just like its your right to read whatever you want, just like its your right to help your own children discover a love of books.

Danny Caine is the author of several books, including How to Defend Books and Why and How to Resist Amazon and Why. He is a former owner of the Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kansas, Publishers Weekly's 2022 Bookstore of the Year.
Days after the Trump administration unveiled its plan to not fund the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in its budget for fiscal 2027, a federal court granted the administrations request to withdraw its appeal of a federal judges earlier ruling that struck down Trumps attempt last year to dismantle the agency.

Last spring, Trump issued an executive order demanding that IMLS and other federal agencies be reduced to their minimum statutory functions. To enforce the EO, the executive branch appointed an IMLS acting director, put 85% of IMLS staff members on paid administrative leave, dissolved the agencys board of directors, and curtailed the administration of grants.

That order led to a lawsuit filed by the Attorneys General of 21 states in April. In May, Rhode Island district court judge John J. McConnell Jr. formally ordered a halt to the executive order that would dismantling the IMLS. That ruling was followed by a decision in November that permanently barred the administration from taking further steps to eliminate the agency.

Todays action finally lays to rest President Trumps executive order that threatened countless library services available to anyone who walks into one of our nations 115,000 public, school, academic and other libraries, said ALA president Sam Helmick in a statement. ALA is grateful for the leadership of the state Attorneys General who filed the case.

Helmick added that while the decision by the Trump administration to drop its appeal of the lawsuit is a win for libraries and library users, the library community still needs to rally to block Trumps current effort to end funding for IMLS.

While the lawsuit filed by the Attorneys General has been resolved, ALAs own lawsuit challenging the Administrations actions is still pending. Last May, ALAs lawsuit won a temporary restraining order, which prevented the mass layoff of nearly all IMLS employees, days before it was scheduled to take effect
Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, leads a KMT delegation to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

NANJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, led a KMT delegation on Wednesday morning to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, capital city of east China's Jiangsu Province.

Sun was a founding figure of the KMT. Paying homage to his mausoleum has long been an important part of KMT chairpersons' visits to the mainland.

Around 9 a.m., the delegation arrived at Bo'ai Square of the mausoleum and climbed the steps to the memorial hall set on the southern slope of the Purple Hills.

Cheng and other delegation members, including three KMT vice-chairpersons -- Lee Chien-lung, Chang Jung-kung and Hsiao Hsu-tsen, stood solemnly before a white marble seated statue of Sun Yat-sen. Cheng laid a yellow wreath. Members of the delegation bowed three times and observed a moment of silence.

The delegation then visited the chamber where the coffin of Sun is placed.

Sun, a revered revolutionary leader who played a pivotal role in overthrowing imperial rule in China, died in 1925. His remains were buried in the mausoleum in 1929.

Cheng has been the first KMT chairperson in 10 years who led a delegation to the Chinese mainland. Her visit is seen as an important part of the exchanges and dialogue between the KMT and the Communist Party of China (CPC) under the new circumstances.

Cheng said her visit aims to "sow a seed of peace" among Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. She called for joint efforts to "water and fertilize the seed so that it can grow into a towering tree."

The Taiwan question is a scar left over by a full-blown civil war fought between the forces led by the CPC and the KMT about eight decades ago. In 1949, the remnants of the defeated KMT retreated to Taiwan, and the People's Republic of China (PRC) was founded under the leadership of the CPC.

The unresolved civil war and foreign interference have left the two sides of the Taiwan Strait in a prolonged state of political confrontation. However, the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory has never changed.

In 1971, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 by an overwhelming majority, clarifying that the PRC government is the sole legal government representing the whole of China. It is widely recognized by the international community that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China's territory.

Cheng arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday. The visit, which covers Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing, will run through Sunday. 

Cheng Li-wun, chairwoman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party, leads a KMT delegation to pay homage to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)
The 2026 spring meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) take place from April 13-19 in Washington. High on the agenda will be a discussion of how to reduce debt, which has risen to unsustainable levels in many low-income countries. Advocates are again calling for forgiveness to fix unsustainable debt burdens. Some, including the United Nations, go further seeking to use the situation to expand international governance.

The United States should, instead, follow the advice of Secretary Scott Bessent and use its influence to press international financial institutions to get back to basics by refocusing them on transparency, macroeconomic and financial stability and promoting sound policy reforms needed for a future that no longer relies on donor assistance.

This is not to dismiss debt concerns in many developing countries. According to the Debt Sustainability Analysis of the World Bank Group and the IMF, sixty-nine low-income countries are at some risk of debt distress (i.e., when a country is unable to fulfill its financial obligations). Over half are considered at high risk of debt distress or are currently in distress.

But this is not a new concern. For decades, debt relief efforts have been proposed and adopted to address unsustainable debt in developing countries, including the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative and related efforts that were supposed to deal decisively with the debt problems of the low-income countries and end the need for future debt relief.

Yet nearly all the countries benefiting from these initiatives are currently at some degree of risk for debt distress. Since the HIPC initiative was launched in 1996, more than half of the countries benefiting from program remain at high risk for debt distress or are in debt distress.

In short, after repeated debt relief initiatives, unsustainable debt rebounded as a concern.

This was predicted by former World Bank economist William Easterly, who argued that debt relief simply opened space for governments to assume new debts and created an expectation, built on past debt forgiveness, that future unsustainable debt would also be forgiven.

In essence, past debt relief merely created the capacity for developing countries to accumulate unsustainable debt from other sources. Over the past two decades, beneficiaries of debt relief have done exactly that, borrowing from China and private sector creditors and now once again find themselves with unsustainable debt burdens. According to the World Bank, Chinas share of low-income country debt rose from 18 percent in 2010 to 49 percent in 2021.

Past relief initiatives led by the Paris Club group of 22 major bilateral donors and international financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank forgave or restructured debt and committed to provide future assistance at highly concessional rates or through grants. This was supposed to prevent the recurrence of unsustainable debt.

But China and private creditors do not abide by prior arrangements. Aid to countries in debt distress is subsidizing repayment of Chinese debt, which refuses to forgive or restructure debt as the Paris Club countries have. Data show that China is now receiving more in debt repayments than it is providing in new lending. Meanwhile, low-income government borrowing from the World Bank and IMF increased. In essence, for the past few years, developing countries have been borrowing from international financial institutions to repay debt to China.

New rounds of debt relief will again be temporary unless bilateral creditors outside the Paris Club, particularly China, are pressured to adopt Paris Club practices on debt forgiveness, restructuring, transparency, and future lending. The U.S. should use its voice, vote, and influence to ensure that the IMF and World Bank make future assistance, particularly debt relief, contingent on recipients not borrowing from China or other bilateral creditors unless they are consistent with Paris Club practices.

Likewise, debt relief should not be used to bail out private creditors. Access to financial markets needs to be grounded in risk, not presumption of a bailout. Higher interest charged by private creditors incorporates that risk. In cases of unsustainable debt, private markets have options to restructure, including default and purchase of debt in secondary markets. Aiding low-income countries should not create incentives for private creditors to protract negotiations.

Neither should the U.S. support UN proposals to restructure the governing bodies of the IMF and World Bank or expand global governance in the form of a global debt authority to oversee debt restructurings or a new authority to regulate commodity trading to address profiteering by corporations, particularly involving food, during times of crisis.

Restructuring of IMF and World Bank governance is a long-sought goal of developing countries aimed at increasing their authority over the terms and access to multilateral credit. If accompanied by a decrease in U.S. votes in the IMF and World Bank, it would disempower the U.S. and its ability to veto major important decisions that require a super majority of 85 percent of votes. Meanwhile, international regulation of commodity prices is less likely to lead to stability than to politicization, price distortion, and volatility as the relationship between supply and demand relationship is distorted.

Neither are in the interest of the U.S.; moreover, it is inconsistent with U.S. efforts to narrow the remit of international organizations and refocus them on core purposes.

As Bessent noted, the U.S. instead should pull back from expansive policy agendas and refocus on measures to bolster international financial institutions, markets, and development: debt transparency, advice and analysis, enforcing graduation of wealthier countries from development assistance eligibility, focusing limited resources on lower income countries, and holding countries accountable for policy commitments.

Brett D. Schaefer is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he focuses on multilateral treaties, peacekeeping, and the United Nations and international organizations.
Disney/Fred Hayes

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/08/2026



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Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade.
WELLINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand on Wednesday welcomed the announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran, calling for a lasting ceasefire through "significant important work" in the days ahead.

"While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire," Foreign Minister Winston Peters was quoted as saying in a press release.

He lauded the work by Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt to find a solution to the crisis, saying New Zealand will stand in support of all efforts to bring about a "lasting, durable" end to the conflict.

Iran and the United States agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan. 
Gautam Adani is fighting back against US SEC fraud allegations, arguing the case lacks jurisdiction and that the alleged misconduct occurred entirely in India, involving Indian entities and securities not registered in the US.

IMAGE: Gautam Adani, chairman of Adani group. Photograph: PTI Photo/Rediff archives

Key Points Gautam Adani is challenging a US SEC fraud case, arguing the court lacks jurisdiction and there is no credible evidence of bribery.

Adani's legal team asserts the alleged misconduct occurred in India, involving an Indian issuer and securities not registered in the US, making US securities laws inapplicable.

The Adani Group highlights that the bonds in question matured and were fully repaid with interest, with no investor losses reported.

Adani's lawyers claim statements cited by the SEC are non-actionable 'puffery' and that the SEC has failed to link either defendant to specific misleading statements or demonstrate intent to defraud.

The court's decision to grant a hearing allows Adani to argue for dismissal early, potentially avoiding a lengthy legal process.

A US judge granted a request from billionaire Gautam Adani to schedule a hearing in his effort to dismiss a US Securities and Exchange Commission fraud case, which he says lacks necessary jurisdiction as well as fails on multiple reasons.

This followed lawyers of Adani and his nephew, Sagar, filing a plea seeking dismissal of the case.

"The court has received defendants' letter requesting a pre-motion conference on their anticipated motion to dismiss the complaint. The court GRANTS that request and DIRECTS the parties" to schedule the pre-motion conference, the Eastern District court of New York said in its order.

What Adani's lawyers told the court

In the filing, the Adanis' lawyers said there was no credible evidence supporting the alleged bribery scheme.

The SEC, they said, lacked necessary jurisdiction over the two men and that the alleged misstatements underpinning the case weren't actionable.

The case, brought by SEC in November 2024 alongside a criminal complaint by the US department of justice, alleges that the Adanis sought to pay over USD 250 million in bribes to Indian officials to secure solar energy contracts and concealed the scheme from US investors and banks when they raised funds.

The Adani group has denied all allegations, stating that none of its entities or executives has been charged under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and that Adani Green Energy -- the renewable energy arm that raised the funds -- is not a party to the proceedings.

While Gautam Adani chairs the Adani Group, Sagar Adani is executive director at Adani Green Energy.

Lawsuits stalled for over a year

The lawsuits had been stalled for over a year as the defendants, based in India, were not served notices. The group, which spans green energy, ports, realty, mining and news media, has continued to raise funds from global investors, including BlackRock, since the charges were filed.

The Brooklyn, New York court's decision to grant a hearing allows Adani to argue that the regulator's complaint should be thrown out at an early stage, potentially avoiding a protracted discovery process and trial.

In filings, Adani's legal team has argued that the case lacks sufficient jurisdictional basis and fails to establish actionable claims under US securities laws.

Challenging US Jurisdiction

The Adanis argued that the court lacked personal jurisdiction, saying neither of them had sufficient contacts with the US or direct involvement in the bond offering.

The USD 750-million bond sale was conducted outside the United States under Rule 144A and Regulation S exemptions, with securities sold to non-US underwriters and only later resold in part to qualified institutional buyers, they said.

The plea stated that "in September 2021, Adani Green, which is not a US registrant, conducted a USD 750 million bond offering pursuant to SEC Rule 144A and SEC Regulation S, which are registration exemptions for private resales to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) and for non-US sales, respectively".

"Adani Green sold all of the notes from the Offering outside the United States, via a Subscription Agreement, to non-US underwriters, who later resold the Notes to QIBs. A fraction of those resales -- in transactions to which Adani Green was not a party -- are alleged to have been made to 'investors in the United States'," it said.

'SEC recast its charges as securities fraude case'

The plea through the lawyers added that the complaint does not allege that Gautam Adani approved the issuance, attended key meetings, or directed any activity at US investors.

Stating that the SEC could not charge the two under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, it instead recast its charges as a securities fraud case.

The filing states that the Adanis dispute that there is any credible evidence supporting the purported bribery scheme.

"Notably, the SEC does not allege that there were any investor losses, and there were none. The bonds have matured, and Adani Green repaid all principal and interest in full to investors in 2024," it added.

Extraterritorial Reach Challenged

The filing also contends the SEC's case is impermissibly extraterritorial, noting the securities were not listed in the United States, the issuer is Indian, and the alleged misconduct occurred entirely in India.

Citing US Supreme Court precedent, Adanis said the SEC failed to show any "domestic transaction", a requirement for applying US securities laws.

Under the sections invoked, the SEC must plausibly allege a "domestic transaction" and it must plead that "irrevocable liability was incurred or title was transferred within the United States".

The SEC charges against Adanis say nothing about where irrevocable liability was incurred, the plea said, adding that the mere fact, taken as true, that some downstream investors were located in the US is irrelevant to the case.

"The SEC's claims here solely involve Indian defendants, an Indian issuer, securities not registered with the SEC and not traded on any US exchange, and underlying conduct alleged to have occurred exclusively in India," it said. "This case is thus conclusively beyond the reach of the US securities laws."

No Investor Losses

The defendants said the SEC does not allege any investor losses, adding that the bonds matured and were fully repaid with interest in 2024.

They also disputed the underlying bribery allegations, saying there is no credible evidence supporting such claims.

"The alleged bribery scheme relates to a solar energy project in India for the provision of renewable power in India. There is no allegation that any US company bid on the project, or that any US customer purchased energy in the project. In fact, there was no such US involvement," the plea said.

'Puffery' Defence

The filing argues that statements cited by the SEC -- relating to ESG commitments, anti-corruption practices, and corporate reputation -- amount to non-actionable "puffery", or general corporate optimism that investors cannot reasonably rely on.

It further said the SEC failed to link either defendant to specific misleading statements or demonstrate intent to defraud.

The defendants are seeking dismissal of the case in full and said they are prepared to appear for a pre-motion conference if required.

Adanis argued that the court lacks personal jurisdiction, saying neither had sufficient contacts with the US or direct involvement in the bond offering.

"The complaint contains no plausible allegation that Gautam Adani was involved in drafting, reviewing, or approving any document containing any alleged misstatement. Indeed, the SEC does not allege that Gautam Adani even knew these statements were being made," the plea said. "Because there are no allegations tying him to any alleged misstatement, the SEC's claims against Gautam Adani fail as a matter of law."

'Defendants prepared to attend pre-motion conference'

The allegations against Sagar Adani are also deficient. "Even if 'multiple drafts' of the Offering Circular 'were provided to [him]', these allegations do not tie him to specific misstatements, much less show that he had 'ultimate authority' over their content," it said.

The SEC also fails to adequately plead that defendants acted with the requisite intent. "The SEC makes no plausible allegation that defendants acted with knowledge or recklessness," it said.

The defendants intend to move to dismiss the SEC's complaint by April 30, 2026 and, as part of this process, have on April 7, 2026 submitted a letter with the EDNY (Eastern District New York) judge informing the court that the defendants are prepared to attend a pre-motion conference should the court wish to schedule one.

The filing of this letter is a standard procedural step in the legal process for the handling of such matters in accordance with the procedural rules prescribed by the EDNY judge.

In the letter, the defendants have briefly set out their grounds for dismissal of SEC's complaint, including that (i) the court concerned lacks personal jurisdiction over the defendants and the claims against them, (ii) the SEC's claims are impermissibly extraterritorial, (iii) the alleged misstatements by the defendants are too vague and general for any reasonable investor to rely upon as a guarantee of any concrete fact or outcome, making them inactionable, and (iii) the defendants' lack of involvement in the transaction bars the SEC's claims against them.

Gautam Adani is represented by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, while Sagar Adani's counsel is Nixon Peabody LLP and Hecker Fink LLP.

SEC's Charges Against Adani

The SEC has alleged that Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others orchestrated a USD 250 million-plus bribery scheme between 2020 and 2024 to secure solar energy contracts in India.

Their plea (termed as letter in US legal system) pointed out that SEC does not allege that there were any investor losses as there were none. The bonds have matured and all interest payments were made on time.

The court lacks personal jurisdiction over defendants and the claims against them should be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(2), the letter cited.

The SEC must plead that defendants had sufficient "minimum contacts" with the US and that the claims against them arose out of those activities, the letter pointed out. With respect to Gautam Adani, the SEC does not come close, the lawyers added.

'Case beyond reach of US securities laws'

The claims, according to the lawyers, "involve Indian defendants, an Indian issuer, securities not registered with the SEC and not traded on US exchanges, and underlying conduct alleged to have occurred exclusively in India".

The SEC has not alleged underwriters who purchased the bonds from AGEL were US institutions as they weren't, or that the subscription agreement underlying the purchases was governed by US law as it wasn't.

"This case is thus conclusively beyond the reach of the US securities laws," the lawyers said.

The SEC has also failed to tie Sagar Adani to a single allegedly false or misleading statement, much less one directed at US investors, the letter added.
TransUnion Cibil CEO Bhavesh Jain urges lenders to proactively engage with customers on credit usage and repayment, drawing parallels to the successful strategies implemented during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the financial sector closely monitors the evolving impact of the Iran war on retail credit quality and gold loan dynamics.

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers stand next to tanks near the Israeli side of the border with Lebanon, amid escalation between Iran-backed Hezbollah and Israel and the US-Israeli conflict with Iran, in northern Israel. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

Key Points TransUnion Cibil CEO Bhavesh Jain advises lenders to maintain continuous engagement with borrowers regarding credit usage and repayment, mirroring strategies employed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The retail portfolio quality of lenders saw an improvement in January across both secured and unsecured segments, though the full impact of the Iran war on credit quality is still under assessment.

India's Credit Market Indicator (CMI) rose to 102 in December, driven by strong growth in gold loans, which have become the largest product by share of retail originations in volume and value.

Gold loan growth is diversifying geographically beyond southern states, with increasing participation from younger borrowers and women, particularly in semi-urban and rural areas.

While overall delinquencies improved across key segments, the microloan Loan Against Property (LAP) segment was an outlier, experiencing a rise in 90+ days past due delinquencies.

The retail portfolio quality of lenders improved in January over December across secured and unsecured segments, but the impact of the Iran war is yet to be seen and is being monitored, said Bhavesh Jain, managing director and chief executive officer of credit bureau TransUnion Cibil.

The microloan against property (LAP), commercial vehicle and construction equipment segments are yet to recover, he told Business Standard.

Lender-Borrower Engagement Crucial

"Lenders will need to continuously hand-hold borrowers in terms of need-based and responsible credit usage, and ensure disciplined repayment behaviour. Looking at major events in the recent past, particularly during the Covid-19 period, Indian markets performed well largely due to strong coordination and hand-holding among all stakeholders," Jain said.

The moratorium helped borrowers, but the most important factor was lenders engaging with borrowers and advising them on credit use and timely repayment.

"That engagement was key during the Covid-19 period.

"A similar approach needs to be followed in the current environment as well.

"While lenders are already doing this, there is an opportunity to further strengthen these efforts given the prevailing circumstances," he said.

Bankers have said that if the war, which began on February 28, continues, it could have implications for their portfolio quality in Q1 FY27, if not in the March quarter of FY26.

Credit Market Indicator and Gold Loan Surge

Cibil's quarterly report said India's Credit Market Indicator (CMI) increased to 102 in December from 100 in September, supported by strong growth in gold loans amid a sharp rise in global gold prices.

According to the report, retail credit supply normalised in the post-festival period, easing from the momentum created by the rationalisation of goods and services tax (GST) last September and returning to end of 2024 levels, indicating a seasonal moderation in short-term demand. A higher CMI reading indicates improving credit market health and a lower one marks a decline.

The report highlighted that a critical factor in gold loan growth in the December 2025 quarter was the sharp rise in underlying asset values, which have doubled since March 2023.

Average ticket sizes increased by 1.8x in the same period, indicating that as gold valuations rise, consumers are leveraging higher-value loans to finance their needs.

This has made gold loans the largest product by share of retail originations in volume (36 per cent) and value (39 per cent), and the second largest by outstanding balances (11 per cent) after housing.

Evolving Gold Loan Demographics

"We have observed a direct correlation between gold prices and the average ticket size of gold loans.

"There is also a notable geographic diversification in gold loan originations.

"While historically concentrated in southern states, we are now seeing meaningful growth in states such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

"In terms of borrower profile, gold loans have traditionally been preferred by individuals aged 35 and above.

"However, there is now increasing participation from borrowers below 35 years of age.

"Women borrowers  particularly in semi-urban and rural areas  are playing an important role in driving demand," Jain said.

Portfolio Quality and Future Outlook

Gold prices have corrected sharply from their peak at the end of January, partly due to the Iran war.

According to Jain, the gold loan portfolio quality has improved.

As of December 2025, delinquency stands at 0.6 per cent.

"While part of this improvement can be attributed to a base effect  given that the gold loan book has been among the fastest-growing segments in the market  the overall asset quality remains strong," he said, adding that they are yet to see the impact from more recent developments.

"In terms of implications for portfolio quality, these will become visible over time, as that is how the data gets reported to us.

"We are closely monitoring the situation", he said.

According to Cibil, 90+ days past due (DPD) delinquencies across key segments improved as of December 2025, pushing the performance Credit Market Indicator (CMI) up six points year-on-year to 107.

The microloan Loan Against Property (LAP) segment was an outlier, with 90+ DPD delinquency rising 35 basis points to 3.1 per cent.

Despite this, delinquency levels remain broadly stable and range-bound since the previous quarter.

"We are assessing whether there is any impact from a war-related perspective on other credit segments.

"However, this is something that will become clearer in the coming period and remains under close watch," Jain said.
Haryana is advancing its AI capabilities through the Haryana AI Development Programme, a Rs 474-crore initiative supported by the World Bank, focusing on skilling, startup incubation, and ethical AI governance to drive innovation and economic growth.

Key Points Haryana's AI Development Programme (HAIDP), a Rs 474-crore initiative, is progressing with World Bank support to skill residents in artificial intelligence.

The HAIDP aims to skill over one lakh residents in AI and incubate more than 100 startups, aligning with the IndiaAI Mission.

Haryana is developing an AI Innovation Sandbox to identify, validate, and pilot AI solutions across priority sectors, fully funded by the World Bank.

The state is pursuing two AI hubs in Panchkula and Gurugram under the IndiaAI Mission, partnering with Software Technology Parks of India and NASSCOM.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini held a review meeting here on Wednesday to assess the progress of the Haryana AI Development Programme (HAIDP), a Rs 474-crore initiative being developed jointly with the World Bank under a 70:30 funding arrangement.

It was informed in the meeting by the officials that the Preliminary Project Report (PPR) of the programme has been approved by the Department of Economic Affairs, Government of India, in January this year, following clearances from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and NITI Aayog.

A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for HAIDP is expected to be submitted in June, an official statement said.

The programme aims to skill over one lakh residents in artificial intelligence and incubate more than 100 startups, among other objectives.

It is structured around five key pillars aligned with the IndiaAI Mission, namely skilling and workforce development, startup financing and incubation, compute and datasets, use cases and applications, and ethical AI governance.

AI Innovation and Development

The review meeting was held following a two-day visit by a World Bank mission team to Panchkula on April 6 and 7. On the first day, various government departments were requested to identify potential AI use cases.

Departments have been given 15 days to submit their inputs, after which priority use cases will be finalised for the state's AI Innovation Sandbox.

The AI Innovation Sandbox is envisaged as a "test before invest" platform that will identify, validate and pilot AI solutions across priority sectors. The sandbox is fully funded by the World Bank.

On the second day of the visit, the mission team held a roundtable interaction with private sector firms. Discussions focused on compute procurement models, skilling initiatives and startup incubation frameworks.

Haryana's AI Hubs

The state is also pursuing two AI hubs under the IndiaAI Mission. The Haryana Advanced Computing Facility, proposed to be set up in Panchkula in partnership with Software Technology Parks of India, and the Global Artificial Intelligence Centre, planned in Gurugram in collaboration with NASSCOM.
India's real estate sector witnessed a notable divergence in Q1CY26, with residential sales experiencing a 4 per cent year-on-year decline, while office leasing soared to a quarterly high, reflecting shifting dynamics in the property market.

Photograph: Rupak De Chowdhury/Reuters Key Points India's residential property sales declined by 4 per cent year-on-year in Q1CY26, reaching 84,827 units, indicating a moderation after strong growth.

Office leasing, in contrast, surged by 6 per cent year-on-year to a quarterly high of 29.9 million square feet during the same period.

The moderation in residential sales is partly attributed to rising prices, which are impacting affordability, and a volatile geopolitical environment.

Market activity in the residential sector is skewed towards higher-priced homes (above 1 crore), with sales in segments below 1 crore declining significantly.

A persistent supply-demand gap in the office market has led to compressed vacancy levels and positive rental growth across major cities.

Indias residential real estate market showed signs of moderation in the first quarter of calendar year 2026 (Q1CY26), with sales declining 4 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y), while office leasing during the same period touched a quarterly high, according to Knight Frank India.

Residential sales during the quarter stood at 84,827 units, down from 88,361 units in Q1 2025. In contrast, office leasing rose 6 per cent Y-o-Y to 29.9 million square feet (msf).

Large-volume markets saw Y-o-Y declines in sales, even as underlying demand drivers remained intact, according to Knight Frank.

In Mumbai, sales were down 7 per cent, while the National Capital Region (NCR) and Pune saw 11 per cent declines each.

Residential Market Trends

Shishir Baijal, international partner, chairman and managing director, Knight Frank India, said the moderation partly reflects natural consolidation after strong growth.

However, he added that rising prices alongside softening volumes signal mounting pressure on affordability and absorption.

A volatile geopolitical environment and sustained correction in equity markets have contributed to subdued residential demand, he said.

Market activity remained skewed towards higher-priced homes, while volumes declined in segments below Rs 1 crore.

Units priced above Rs 1 crore grew 11 per cent Y-o-Y in Q1CY26, whereas the sub-Rs 50 lakh and Rs 50 lakh-1 crore segments fell 23 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively.

Growth was led by the Rs 1-2 crore segment, which rose 10 per cent Y-o-Y and accounted for 29 per cent of total sales.

Prices continued to rise despite a moderation in sales and supply during the January-March period, with all markets recording Y-o-Y increases.

The highest appreciation was seen in NCR, led by Ghaziabad at 13 per cent and Greater Noida at 11 per cent.

Office Space Dynamics

Across the top eight cities, quarters-to-sell (QTS) edged up to 6 quarters in Q1CY26 from 5.9 in the same period last year.

Unsold inventory also rose 3 per cent Y-o-Y to 519,844 units.

While launches declined 2 per cent Y-o-Y, they continued to outpace sales for the 14th consecutive quarter.

Meanwhile, office space demand continued to outstrip completions as developers remained focused on residential projects.

Around 14 msf of office space was delivered across eight major cities in Q1CY26, a sharp 154 per cent Y-o-Y increase, but still less than half the space absorbed during the quarter.

The persistent supply-demand gap since 2021 has steadily tightened market conditions.

Vacancy levels compressed from 17.2 per cent in 2021 to 14.4 per cent in Q1 2025 and further to 13.9 per cent in Q1 2026.

Consequently, rental growth remained positive during January-March this year, ranging between 2 per cent and 15 per cent Y-o-Y across cities.

NCR and Kolkata led gains at 15 per cent each, while Hyderabad and Chennai recorded increases of 8 per cent Y-o-Y.

Rent levels in Mumbai and Bengaluru rose more moderately, by 6 per cent and 7 per cent Y-o-Y, respectively.

Bengaluru remained the largest office leasing market, recording 9.2 msf of leasing activity.

Global capability centres (GCCs) continued to dominate as the largest end-user segment, leasing 14.4 msf and accounting for 48 per cent of total leasing in Q1 2026.

Baijal added that while near-term uncertainties may influence decision-making timelines, Indias underlying stability and structural growth drivers are expected to sustain leasing momentum and support a positive medium-term outlook for the office market.
The Supreme Court of India has delivered a significant ruling, stating that banks are not obligated to provide a personal hearing to borrowers before classifying their loan accounts as 'fraud' under Reserve Bank of India guidelines, a decision expected to streamline fraud detection and reporting.

Illustration: Uttam Ghosh

Key Points The Supreme Court has ruled that banks are not required to provide a personal hearing to borrowers before classifying their loan accounts as fraud.

Borrowers must be given access to the forensic audit report, though banks can redact portions affecting third-party rights.

Compliance with natural justice principles is met by issuing a show-cause notice, considering the borrower's written response, and passing a reasoned order.

The ruling aims to prevent delays in fraud detection and reporting, noting thousands of fraud cases and tens of thousands of crores reported annually.

Experts believe the judgment is bank-friendly, streamlining the fraud classification process while still allowing challenges based on the quality of the written procedure.

The Supreme Court (SC) has ruled that borrowers are not entitled to a personal hearing before banks classify their loan accounts as "fraud" under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) directions.

The judgement brings finality to a contentious issue that has seen conflicting rulings from different high courts (HCs).

The apex court clarified that borrowers must be given access to the forensic audit report on which the classification is based.

Banks, however, may redact portions affecting third-party rights, a Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K V Viswanathan held.

Clarifying Natural Justice Principles

The court observed that compliance with principles of natural justice is satisfied if banks issue a show-cause notice, consider the borrower's written response, and pass a reasoned order.

While acknowledging that the nature of natural justice is flexible, the court cautioned that such principles "cannot be cut and dried or nicely weighed and measured".

Clarifying its 2023 ruling, the court held that the requirement for a hearing does not extend to a personal or oral hearing.

The earlier judgement contemplated a written opportunity to respond to the findings of a forensic audit and the proposed action.

The court held that the procedure under the RBI's 2024 Master Directions  including issuance of a detailed show-cause notice, granting time to reply, and passing a reasoned order  satisfies the principle of audi alteram partem (Latin for 'hear the other side').

Disclosure of Forensic Audit Reports

Rejecting borrowers' plea for full disclosure, the Bench said banks are not required to furnish the entire forensic audit report before classifying an account as fraud.

Disclosure of the relevant conclusions forming the basis of the show-cause notice is sufficient.

The court also observed that fraud classification relies on documentary material such as financial statements and transaction records, which are typically already within the borrower's knowledge.

Requiring oral hearings in every case would delay the detection and reporting of fraud.

Scale of Loan Fraud in India

Referring to RBI data, the court highlighted the scale of the problem, noting thousands of fraud cases involving tens of thousands of crores reported annually.

Fraud cases fluctuated sharply over recent years: 13,494 cases involving Rs 18,981 crore in 2022-23; 36,060 cases involving Rs 12,230 crore in 2023-24; and 23,953 cases involving Rs 36,014 crore in 2024-25.

Fraudulent advances accounted for the bulk of the amounts involved. In 2024-25, such cases numbered 7,950 but involved Rs 33,148 crore, over 90 per cent of the total value. By contrast, card and internet frauds numbered 13,516 but involved Rs 520 crore, showing that while retail frauds dominate in volume, high-value frauds are concentrated in lending operations.

On bank-group-wise data, public sector banks reported 6,935 cases involving Rs 25,667 crore in 2024-25  over 71 per cent of the total amount. Private banks reported 14,233 cases involving Rs 10,088 crore, and foreign banks had 1,448 cases involving Rs 181 crore.

Impact of the Ruling

The court recorded that as of March 31, 2025, 783 fraud classifications involving Rs 1.12 trillion had been withdrawn due to non-compliance with natural justice principles, following its March 27, 2023, ruling in State Bank of India (SBI) vs Rajesh Agarwal.

While acknowledging that fraud classification carries serious civil consequences, including denial of access to institutional finance and reputational harm, the court held that these do not necessitate a personal hearing in every case.

The ruling arose from appeals by banks, including SBI, challenging HC decisions that had mandated personal hearings and full disclosure of forensic audit reports.

While the Delhi HC deemed a personal hearing mandatory, the Bombay HC had ruled that only a right of representation was required.

The SC also set aside the Calcutta HC's ruling that required a personal oral hearing before declaring an account fraudulent.

Upholding the RBI's framework, the SC clarified the procedural safeguards required before classifying accounts as fraudulent.

Experts say the ruling is bank-friendly, removing a procedural hurdle borrowers used to challenge fraud tagging and allowing banks to act faster and with certainty.

"However, the safeguard now shifts to the quality of the written process  defective show-cause notices, non-disclosure of material, or predetermined conclusions can still be challenged.

"The judgment prioritises regulatory speed while retaining a narrower, enforceable standard of procedural fairness," said Raheel Patel, partner at Gandhi Law Associates.

Hormuz Mehta, partner at JSA Advocates & Solicitors, said the ruling brings clarity for banks, enabling them to complete fraud classification within the prescribed timeline without the risk of HCs overturning decisions solely because a personal hearing was denied.

"By this order, personal hearings are no longer mandated, ensuring there is no delay in the 180-day classification process.

"This allows an expedited and efficient process while maintaining fairness," he said.

Yash B Joglekar, counsel practising before Bombay HC, said the court has eased a process increasingly stalled at the threshold.

"The decision is likely to narrow the scope of challenges  borrowers will find it harder to contest fraud declarations on procedural grounds alone, shifting the focus to adequacy of notice, disclosure of material, and whether the decision reflects proper application of mind," he said.
A poor monsoon could drag overall economic growth and compound the impact of the West Asia conflict on the Indian economy.

IMAGE: A couple strolls on Marine Drive during rains in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Skymet forecasts 2026 monsoon rainfall at 94 per cent of LPA, indicating a below-normal season influenced by El Nino conditions.

Total rainfall is projected at 817 mm with a model error margin of plus or minus 5 per cent.

Probability of drought stands at 30 per cent, while chances of below-normal rainfall are estimated at 40 per cent.

Private weather forecasting agency Skymet, in its first official forecast for the 2026 monsoon season, released on Tuesday, said all-India rainfall during June-September is expected to be 6 per cent below normal this year, at 94 per cent of the long-period average (LPA), due to the adverse impact of El Nino.

In its report, the agency said monsoon rainfall in 2026 is expected to average 817 millimetres (mm) over the four months, with a model error margin of plus or minus 5 per cent. It also said there is a 30 per cent probability of drought in the country and a 40 per cent chance of rainfall being below normal this year.

The State-run India Meteorological Department (IMD) is expected to release its first official forecast for the monsoon later this month.

An early lead, then a steady retreat

Skymet said June rainfall is expected to be 101 per cent of LPA, with a 40 per cent probability of each being normal or below normal. The LPA for June is 165.3 mm. In July, monsoon rainfall across the country is expected to be below normal at 95 per cent of LPA, with a 40 per cent probability each of being normal or below normal. The LPA for July is 280.5 mm.

In August, rainfall is again expected to be below normal, at 92 per cent of LPA. The LPA for August is 254.9 mm. The probability of August 2026 being below normal is nearly 60 per cent, according to Skymet.

In September, the all-India average rainfall is expected to be below normal at 89 per cent of LPA. The LPA for September is 167.9 mm. The agency pegged the probability of below-normal rainfall in September at 79 per cent.

In short, according to Skymet's early forecast, only June is likely to receive normal rainfall, while all other months are projected to be below normal.

Less rain, less room for growth

July and August are the two most crucial months for sowing kharif crops in India. Any major shortfall in rainfall during this period could severely affect crops.

However, much will depend on the spatial distribution and timeliness of the monsoon.

Experts said a cumulatively below-normal monsoon, if well distributed with few prolonged dry spells, is not always detrimental to agriculture.

A poor monsoon, however, could drag overall economic growth and compound the impact of the West Asia conflict on the Indian economy.

Patchy skies, patchier fortunes

Spatially, Skymet said above-normal rainfall in June is expected only over the Indo-Gangetic plains and the Western Ghats. In July, below-normal rain is likely over North, West, and Central India.

In August, below-normal rainfall is expected across Northwest, Central, and Southern India.

In September, only a few parts of South and East India are expected to receive normal rainfall, while the rest of the country is likely to see below-normal rains.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
This article was first published 16 years ago

A yngaran's Peranmai (Best of Manly Qualities), directed by S P Jananathan (of Iyarkai and E fame) is one of the Tamil releases this Diwali.



With music scored by Vidhyasgar to Vairamuthu's lyrics, here's what the album has to offer:



Kattu Puliyadichu begins with the clash of cymbals and tribal shouts but KK and Jassi Gift's voices give you a surprisingly enthusiastic rendition of the wealth of forests, the people who live there and their ability to share its resources. The instrumental interlude is appealing as well, veering away from traditional tribal music. Sure, there's a lot of feel-good essence in the lyrics, about misusing the forests and living well. The happy-go-lucky tune sort of saves the song.



A rather ominous burst of violins and percussion set off Kadu Kalai Katta, and when Madhu Balakrishnan picks up, voice trembling with anger and anxiety, you get caught up in the emotion. With its classical overtones and heavy instrumental music, you're pretty eager to see exactly how it's been picturised. The music suddenly shifts to a rural tone, not unlike the street theatre numbers that usually describe an apocalyptic war. The effect is eerily satisfying and the notes are suitably emotional.

The melodious notes signal the arrival of a romantic song, as Sadhana Sargam sings Erathazha Ezhumani. And for the first time, it is as though the composer has lost his grip on the feel of the songs. The notes wander all over the place, and you wonder where the number is heading. It's mildly appealing but the rhythm is staccato, and you're lost in the lack of any order. Perhaps that might be appealing to some but the overall effect is maddening, despite the soothing guitar interludes.



When the Boys, rendered by Sonia Irabar and Sianed Jones and written by Obe Aires, is a pop number. You've heard variations of this number before, so expectations raised by the first moment swiftly dissipate.



Shalini, Feji, Megha and Suvi kic of the energetic Thuppakki Penne, an appealing mix of light-heartedness and warrior-like emotions. It's all about empowering women who learn to survive under the most trying conditions. In most of the songs, Vidhyasagar has slipped into a familiar template, so it is worth just one listen.
Nobody takes Pakistan seriously and therefore Pakistan's sudden mediating with almost immediate results of a ceasefire seems more contrived than real, points out Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd).

IMAGE: People shout slogans as they gather in Tehran, April 8, 2026 after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war was announced. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points The US-Israel-Iran conflict was marked by widespread misinformation campaigns, raising serious concerns about narrative manipulation across global media platforms.

Speculation surrounds Pakistan's role in brokering the ceasefire, with suggestions of orchestrated diplomacy driven by Washington's strategic compulsions.

Escalation risks involving nuclear facilities pushed the world dangerously close to catastrophe, highlighting fragile deterrence dynamics in West Asia.

The conflict underscores urgent need for UN reforms, strategic autonomy, and reduced dependence on external powers among Gulf nations.

If there is one thing that characterises this US/Israel war against Iran that started on February 28, 2026, it is the sheer scale of lies and misinformation that has been spread through all kinds of media to support the arguments of one side or the other.

Another aspect that characterises this war is the sheer stupidity of escalation brinkmanship that could have led to a nuclear catastrophe and plunged the region, and the world, into chaos.

In recent times, the world has not come as close to a nuclear incident as this time, with nuclear facilities in Iran and Israel both being targeted.

If this does not shake the conscience of leaders in the region and in the USA, then the world is doomed to nuclear disaster sooner than later.

Events leading to this ceasefire stinks of a 'match-fix.' Pakistan requested the US president to hold off!

Are we really serious on this one? Nobody takes Pakistan seriously and therefore Pakistan's sudden mediating with almost immediate results of a ceasefire seems more contrived than real.

There are whispers in social media that the Pakistan mediation was scripted in Washington and that could well be the case.

Washington needed the peace more than Iran at this point in time. The lies were being seen through. Domestic impatience with the war was rising.

Real stories of US losses were coming out. Iran had dug its heels in.

A script written elsewhere and delivered by Pakistan was a flimsy yet face-saving fig leaf.

The truce after 40 days, temporary as it may be, is welcome. That its orchestration may be based on connivance, puppetry and untruth does not matter at this time.

The world does not need a war, especially in West Asia, that sits on the global oil reservoirs. The Strait of Hormuz must remain open as as international waterway.

In this era of global dependence, selfish motives that led to the war in the first place undermines globalism and interdependence.

It puts the brakes on progress that is based on connectivity and trade, just because of the selfishness of a few.

If these few nations happen to be the rich and powerful, they fail in their duty of providing global security, stability and leadership.

IMAGE: A man carries an Iranian flag as he walks amidst the rubble of a building of the Sharif University of Technology, which was damaged in a strike in Tehran, Iran, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

This 15-day ceasefire must provide an opportunity for reflection, not just by leaders and nations that are party to the conflict or have been deeply impacted by its fallouts but by every sane leader and citizen of the world.

It must make leaders think about the perils of hegemony and the greed that sustains it.

Global power equations are changing and with that, global governance mechanisms must transform.

The United Nations in its present form is defunct and it needs a life-saving restructuring formula that reflects a participation more representative of the present reality as opposed to the P-5 dominance.

West Asia Leaders Face Policy Reset

West Asian leaders need to start looking beyond just spinning money from oil and protecting regime survival.

They need to realise the strategic autonomy that they have sacrificed for some outsider to underwrite their security.

West Asia needs to invest in peace; at the moment the region invests in profitability and influencing power-play that inevitably leads to conflict.

Israel should recalibrate to a more 'live and let live' policy as should its neighbours.

Governance needs to improve so that non-state actors are not empowered to disrupt the affairs of nation states.

Hardened positions on trade, faith, regimes, alliances need to pave way for a more humane approach to cooperation between nations.

IMAGE: Emergency personnel carry a body at the site of a projectile impact in Haifa, Israel, April 6, 2026. Photograph: Shir Torem/Reuters

Gulf countries would have realised, through unpleasant experiences by now, that in a conflict situation, the entire region is tremendously target-rich.

From oil, power, desalination, data and nuclear infrastructure to overseas bases operated by extra-regional powers, there is no dearth of targets to be hit by opposing belligerents.

The more the number of nations that get embroiled in a conflict, the larger will be the number of 'legitimate' targets.

Hitting these targets pose serious possibilities of escalation to levels that could spiral out of control, as indeed did happen before this 'back from the brink' ceasefire. This should be a serious consideration for the future.

While this 15-day truce is welcome, it also provides time for both sides to recoup, re-arm and re-strategise so that if negotiations fail, missiles and drones can start flying again, this time with much greater lethality, as then, it will be a 'fight to the finish'.

That finish could well be a nuclear armageddon for the region with unimaginable consequences for the rest of the world.

Iran and USA need this time for serious reflection and sanity must prevail during negotiations.

Iran has demonstrated that it can withstand the onslaught of the world's most powerful military and yet hold its own. This is a sobering thought for the USA.

Lessons To Learn

IMAGE: People burn the flags of the US and Israel as they gather after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

The world also needs to learn its lessons. First, 'stand up to bullies and look them in the face. Prepare for the long haul. Don't show your hand early.'

Thank you, Iran, for this valuable lesson. Second 'get your own oil.' Nobody will help you when chips are down.

You have to fight your own battles. You have to produce your own stuff, diversify and be self-reliant. Thank you USA, for this one.

Third, 'don't sell your sovereignty because if you do, you will not have sovereign control when you need it most.'

Thank you to the Arab nations in the Gulf for this critical insight.

Fourth, 'choose leaders who do not fly off the handle or bend over backwards to please. You are trading your own future well-being.' Honestly, I don't know whom to thank for this lesson.

Finally, 'it is difficult to play God. You cannot wipe out civilizations or suppress the will of a proud nation.' This is a lesson relearnt many times over.

There are many examples of small forces fighting till the end against a stronger opponent and prevailing because giving up was never an option.

For the time being, one can only hope that irresponsible actions by any side do not derail this opportunity to walk back from certain disaster.

Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (retd) is a former commander-in-chief of the Indian Navy's Eastern Naval Command.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
'Is it a balance of distrust or something else at play here?'

IMAGE: Iranians wave flags as they gather in Tehran, April 8, 2026, after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war was announced. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points 'Iranians seem to have come out quite unscathed in this war.'

'Israel doesn't seem to be a part of the ceasefire conversation.'

'It remains to be seen how much Americans can control the Israelis.'

"Is Pakistan playing the role of a mediator? Which means will they be at the table making suggestions, negotiating with both sides -- or are they providing a place where both sides will negotiate and they [Pakistan] will sit outside the room? This is not clear... We should get out of this mindset that anything that involves Pakistan is a minus for us," says Ambassador Gurjit Singh, India's former envoy to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia and ASEAN, discussing the ceasefire and Pakistan's role as negotiator with Rediff's Archana Masih.

What is you reading of this two-week ceasefire? And what happens next?

It is good that some sanity has prevailed and both sides are now agreed to a ceasefire. It is very important because the world was being dragged into the US-Israel war against Iran for no particular reason. This war had no clear end.

According to Iran's 10-point plan, it will open the Strait of Hormuz, but at a cost; it will not give up its ballistic missiles programme nor give up its nuclear weapons and there has been no regime change.

So, the Iranians seem to have come out quite unscathed other than the destruction that they have suffered.

What about the Americans?

It seems that the Americans wanted a pull-out. This was leading to an everyday battle and then a stalemate.

The two warring sides need to start talking now.

However, there are two dangers.

One, they won't agree on many points because many conditions put forth by the Iranians will not be agreed to by the Americans and vice versa.

A good negotiation always comes down to a lowest common denominator of say 5 points.

IMAGE: Wreckage of an American aircraft and helicopter rotor seen in Isfahan, Iran, consistent with a US MC-130J or HC-130J, April 5, 2026. Photograph: Social Media/Reuters

What would the 4-5 compromise points be from the 10 and 15 points laid out by both countries?

Ideally, these guarantees could be things like ensuring no further attacks, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran agreeing not to use their proxy groups.

The last point poses a problem because Israel doesn't seem to be a part of the ceasefire conversation.

Also the Israelis are saying that Lebanon is not covered under the ceasefire. This means they will continue their action in southern Lebanon against Hezbollah -- while the Iranian 10-points includes Lebanon. So there's already a mismatch.

It remains to be seen how much Americans can control the Israelis because in the last few days, Israel has been heavily attacking Iran through aerial warfare.

And the Iranians should not say that they are not carrying out any attacks, but the Houthis or Hezbollah are.

For the ceasefire to work, there has to be control on all proxies.

IMAGE: Demonstrators protest against military action in Iran outside the White House in Washington, DC, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

The negotiations are happening in Pakistan. What do you think will happen next?

I am keeping my fingers crossed. The negotiations are going to happen in Pakistan, which makes me wonder what makes both sides trust Pakistan?

Is it a balance of distrust or something else at play here?

It also remains to be seen who physically turns up for the negotiations.

Will it be Vice President J D Vance who is in Budapest holding up the Viktor Orban government which is about to lose the election or who else?

There are a lot of uncertainties but at least for the first time, both sides have agreed to three things -- they are willing to talk, they have a basis for those talks and a venue for the talks.

That in itself is a positive start.

IMAGE: Smoke rises from an explosion in the Abbasiyeh neighbourhood following an Israeli strike, in Tyre, Lebanon, April 8, 2026. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters

Is this a diplomatic win for Pakistan?

Is Pakistan playing the role of a mediator? Which means will they be at the table making suggestions, negotiating with both sides -- or are they providing a place where both sides will negotiate and they [Pakistan] will sit outside the room?

This is not clear.

If they are playing a mediating role, then certainly it's an important win for them. If they are just a service provider, then there would be a face-to-face talk between Iran and the US.

There is also a third option.

Sometimes the two parties don't want to talk to each other face-to-face. So, what happens is they sit in separate rooms and the mediator goes from one room to the other carrying messages.

My understanding is they will be talking face-to-face. It is not clear whether Pakistani delegates will be inside the room.

During the India-Pakistan Tashkent talks in 1966, Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin brought the two sides together and made sure that talks don't break down.

It is hard to see if Pakistan has the capacity to play that kind of role. Pakistan cannot confidently guarantee that the talks will not break down. After all, they have to negotiate with a superpower and with Iran which believes it has won the war.

Both the countries consider themselves to be in a position of strength which makes the dynamics difficult to manage.

IMAGE: An Iranian missile flies towards Israel as seen from Hebron,in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Yosri Aljamal/Reuters

Should India be concerned about the spotlight that Pakistan has received?

No, we should get out of this mindset that anything that involves Pakistan is a minus for us.

What matters is the bigger picture. We should view this as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, restoring energy supply lines and bringing peace back to our region.

That is what really matters. Whether it happens in a room in Pakistan, frankly should not be a major concern for us.

What should concern us more is the role China is playing behind the scenes with Pakistan.

When Pakistan first made this offer of negotiations, its foreign minister travelled to China. The Chinese are playing a quiet role and are perhaps guiding Pakistan or at least consulting with Pakistan.

Of course, this role could have been played by Turkey or Egypt or Oman. But Oman having burnt its hands last time, decided not to step in. Turkey, meanwhile, may not be completely trusted by America.

Egypt probably facilitated talks with Iran.

Pakistan did this because it gives them some international stature at a critical point for their economy. They need to build their international image. And among the leaders of Oman, Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan, President Trump seems to have the best relationship with Field Marshal Aseem Munir.

Do you think this will make the Trump-Munir relationship cosier than what it was before?

If it succeeds, yes. But please remember, playing the role of a mediator is a very dangerous game. You could fail for no fault of yours.

Pakistan is desperate enough to take such a gamble. So, I presume their understanding is, if it fails, can you really be worse off than where you are now?

If it succeeds, Munir will be more favoured by Trump.

IMAGE: Pictures of the Minab School students who were killed in a strike, are displayed during a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Is it Advantage Iran and a reduction of American stature, if not loser?

American stature has definitely been reduced because they have not been able to achieve any of their aims.

Regime change? No.

End of ballistic missiles? Evidently no.

End of nuclear stockpile? No.

End of the Houthis and the Hezbollah? No.

They have destroyed Iran, but in the process, instead of regime change through internal upheaval, they have consolidated the further rise of the IRGC, and sidelining the main government.

Iran by surviving the war has shown that they are not defeated.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
'It is going to be a negative vote against the government rather than a positive vote for the UDF.'

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at a campaign rally in Alappuzha, Kerala, April 4, 2026. Photograph: Kind courtesy K C Venugopal/X

Key Points 'The volume of corruption charges levelled against the Left government is tremendous, unusual for a Left government.'

'When you compare the Left and the Congress, while the Congress has a large number of leaders, the Left has only one leader.'

'If the Left loses they will survive. Perhaps they will survive better than how they do when they are in power.'

On Thursday, the 9th of April, voters in Kerala will decide who will rule the state for the next five years.

Will the Congress-led United Democratic Front make a comeback as political surveys say?

Or will the Communist Party of India-Marxist Left Democratic Front get another chance?

And how many seats will the Bharatiya Janata Party win this time?

For the first time, it is not going to be a fight between two fronts. There is a third front, the National Democratic Alliance fighting for a place in Kerala's political space.

"It is not a fight between three fronts. There are only two-and-a-half fronts!" Dr J Prabhash, retired professor of political science and former pro vice-chancellor at the University of Kerala, tells Rediff's Shobha Warrier.

The general talk in Kerala is that the UDF will come back to power though the fight is going to be tough. Do you agree with this perception?

Definitely I agree with this perception because the UDF has an edge over the LDF.

The Left government is carrying a baggage of 10 years of anti-incumbency.

Number one. The volume of corruption charges levelled against the Left government is tremendous, unusual for a Left government.

Number two. The Sabarimala gold theft issue.

Number three. The usual issues like unemployment, price rise, etc which are part of every election everywhere in the world.

Apart from that, the failure of the government in multiple fronts like the health sector and higher education though it has performed well in general education.

The allegation is that the police have been highly politicised when the home portfolio is handled by the chief minister himself. The amount of politicisation is much more as this government has been there for 10 years. It is a long period as far as people are concerned.

The degree of politicisation in 5 years will be less when the government is not sure about coming back to power after 5 years.

Then, the arrogance of party functionaries.

All these have created a kind of anti-incumbency which is a little bit higher than compared to what the earlier governments had faced.

IMAGE: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the release of LDF manifesto for the 2026 assembly elections. Photograph: Pinarayi Vijayan/X

Another accusation is that never before a Left government has shown this kind of personality-oriented politics. Everything about this government is centred around Pinarayi Vijayan, and it is not described as a Left government but Pinarayi government...

Very true. Every billboard, every notice has only one face, the chief minister's face. Their slogan is, vote for Pinarayi government 3.0.

It is not Left government, it is Pinarayi government.

It is unusual for the Left and unbecoming of the Communist party.

It has reached a level of personality cult.

Do you think people get tired of this kind of personality politics?

Quite possible. There is a degree of fatigue among the people to see the same face over and over again.

There are merits and demerits to this. The merit is that the person can translate this popularity into votes. It is equally important that the demerits will translate into anti-incumbency.

It also gives the impression that there is no second in command in the party.

IMAGE: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor campaigns for UDF candidate Faizal Babu in Kozhikode South. Photograph: Kind courtesy Shashi Tharoor/X

If the LDF loses, what will happen to the Communist parties? In such an eventuality, they will not be in power anywhere in India. Will they disappear from the political scene?

I don't think they will disappear. They will survive. Perhaps they will survive better than how they do when they are in power.

Whenever they are not in power, they gather their cadres and put them into action. If you look back, you will see that the Left parties grew whenever they were in Opposition.

In Kerala, it was happening because every 5 years, there was a change of government. But that was not the case in West Bengal or Tripura. They were continuously in power for decades. In fact, remaining in power for so long created problems for them. So, when they lost power, they also lost the state.

But here in Kerala, they are in power and out of power alternatively which gave them a sort of vibrancy.

When they were in Opposition, they used to take up the issues of the people, move their cadres into action and revive the party so that they could come to power in the next election.

If the UDF has an advantage in this election, is it only anti-incumbency that is helping them, or do people see anything positive in the front?

I don't think there is anything positive in the front! If they are winning, it is by default.

So, it is going to be a negative vote against the government rather than a positive vote for the UDF.

IMAGE: Dr J Prabhash IMAGE: Dr J Prabhash

Do you think people still perceive the Congress as a party with many leaders who fight among themselves to be the chief minister?

That perception is very much there.

But when you compare the Left and the Congress, while the Congress has a large number of leaders, the Left has only one leader. Having a large number of leaders is as much problematic as having only one leader.

In one party, there is only one leader and no second in command. And in the other, there are many first in command, there are also second in command and third in command too!

Another thing is, the bickering was among the leaders and not among the cadres.

In fact, the recent rebel issue, they handled very efficiently.

But the issue at the leadership level, they could not manage as they should have managed.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
PRAIA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Cape Verde's public port company ENAPOR signed a contract on Tuesday with a Chinese consortium to construct a new vessel for inter-island maritime transport, with an investment of about 17 million euros (about 19.9 million U.S. dollars).

According to a statement released by ENAPOR, the project involves the construction of a roll-on/roll-off vessel tailored to the specific needs of the archipelago and designed for high operational versatility.

The vessel will be able to carry up to 300 passengers and 60 light vehicles, or alternatively 12 heavy trucks, the statement said.

At about 75 meters in length and equipped with modern technical solutions, the vessel is expected to strengthen the country's logistics capacity and contribute to territorial integration and economic activity, it added.

The contract was awarded through an international public tender to a consortium formed by Shenzhen Churui New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and Taizhou Changlong Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. The vessel is planned to be built at Pinghu Huahai Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in China, according to the winning companies.

Construction is expected to be completed within 21 to 24 months after validation of the detailed implementation program. 
Delhi Police have successfully apprehended three individuals in connection with a murder case in Mungeshpur, shedding light on the investigation and bringing a sense of closure to the victim's family.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police arrested three men for the murder of Pradeep, whose body was found in Mungeshpur.

The victim was last seen with the accused before being reported missing on March 29.

Accused were tracked using technical surveillance and CCTV footage across multiple locations.

The murder weapon, a brick, was recovered, and the motive is believed to be a personal dispute.

The accused, Indrajeet, Sagar, and Monty, are all residents of Occhandi village; Indrajeet has a prior murder case.

Police have arrested three men for allegedly killing a 33-year-old man whose decomposed body was found from an open field in outernorth Delhi's Mungeshpur area, officials said on Wednesday.

Victim Pradeep, a resident of Occhandi village, had gone missing on March 29 after leaving home with three associates. His body was found on March 31 following a PCR call, after which a case was registered.

According to police, Pradeep was last seen consuming liquor with the accused in the Mungeshpur area. He had spoken to his wife later that evening, informing her that his scooter had developed a puncture near the Sohti-Kutubgarh road and that he would return home soon.

"His phone was switched off thereafter and his family got a missing report lodged when he failed to return. During investigation, police teams tracked the movements of the suspects, who were frequently changing locations and using phones of passersby to evade detection. One of the accused, Indrajeet, contacted his brother using borrowed phones from different locations, including Mumbai and Haridwar, which helped police trace them," a senior officer said.

Arrest and Investigation Details

Police said the accused were eventually tracked to the Badli and Narela railway station areas through technical surveillance and CCTV footage. All three were apprehended from the Narela railway station on Tuesday.

The accused have been identified as Indrajeet, Sagar and Monty, all residents of Occhandi village. Police said Indrajeet was previously involved in a murder case.

The weapon of offence, a brick, has been recovered from agricultural fields in Mungeshpur. Further investigation has suggested that the trio killed the victim over a personal dispute.
Gautam Adani is fighting back against the SEC's securities fraud lawsuit, arguing the US court lacks jurisdiction and the case improperly applies US law to overseas transactions involving Adani Green Energy's bond sale.

Key Points Adani Group seeks dismissal of SEC lawsuit, claiming lack of US jurisdiction and impermissible extraterritorial application of US law.

The lawsuit alleges a bribery scheme tied to Indian state officials related to a 2021 bond sale by Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL).

Adani argues the USD 750 million bond sale was conducted outside the US, with securities sold to non-US underwriters.

Adani's legal team contends the SEC's case is flawed as the securities were not listed in the US, the issuer is Indian, and the alleged misconduct occurred in India.

Adani Group highlights that the bonds matured, and all principal and interest were fully repaid to investors in 2024, with no investor losses.

Billionaire Gautam Adani have moved a US court seeking dismissal of a US Securities and Exchange Commission's securities fraud lawsuit, arguing the case represents an impermissible extraterritorial application of US law and fails for lack of personal jurisdiction.

The SEC had sued Adani Group founder and his nephew, Sagar, in November 2024, alleging they misled investors by failing to disclose an alleged bribery scheme tied to Indian state officials, framing the case under US securities laws.

Denying all allegations, the two through their lawyers filed a pre-motion letter ahead of a planned April 30 motion to dismiss in the Eastern District Court of New York.

In the plea, they said the SEC's claims over a 2021 bond sale by the group's renewable energy arm, Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL) are legally flawed on multiple grounds.

Arguments Against US Jurisdiction

The Adanis argued that the court lacked personal jurisdiction, saying neither of them had sufficient contacts with the US or direct involvement in the bond offering.

The USD 750-million bond sale was conducted outside the United States under Rule 144A and Regulation S exemptions, with securities sold to non-US underwriters and only later resold in part to qualified institutional buyers, they said.

The plea stated that "in September 2021, Adani Green, which is not a US registrant, conducted a USD 750 million bond offering pursuant to SEC Rule 144A and SEC Regulation S, which are registration exemptions for private resales to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) and for non-US sales, respectively".

"Adani Green sold all of the notes from the Offering outside the United States, via a Subscription Agreement, to non-US underwriters, who later resold the Notes to QIBs. A fraction of those resales -- in transactions to which Adani Green was not a party -- are alleged to have been made to 'investors in the United States'," it said.

The plea through the lawyers added that the complaint does not allege that Gautam Adani approved the issuance, attended key meetings, or directed any activity at US investors.

Stating that the SEC could not charge the two under the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, it instead recast its charges as a securities fraud case.

The filing states that the Adanis dispute that there is any credible evidence supporting the purported bribery scheme.

"Notably, the SEC does not allege that there were any investor losses, and there were none. The bonds have matured, and Adani Green repaid all principal and interest in full to investors in 2024," it added.

Challenging Extraterritorial Reach

The filing also contends the SEC's case is impermissibly extraterritorial, noting the securities were not listed in the United States, the issuer is Indian, and the alleged misconduct occurred entirely in India.

Citing US Supreme Court precedent, Adanis said the SEC failed to show any "domestic transaction", a requirement for applying US securities laws.

Under the sections invoked, the SEC must plausibly allege a "domestic transaction" and it must plead that "irrevocable liability was incurred or title was transferred within the United States".

The SEC charges against Adanis say nothing about where irrevocable liability was incurred, the plea said, adding that the mere fact, taken as true, that some downstream investors were located in the US is irrelevant to the case.

"The SEC's claims here solely involve Indian Defendants, an Indian issuer, securities not registered with the SEC and not traded on any US exchange, and underlying conduct alleged to have occurred exclusively in India," it said. "This case is thus conclusively beyond the reach of the US securities laws."

No Investor Losses Claimed

The defendants said the SEC does not allege any investor losses, adding that the bonds matured and were fully repaid with interest in 2024.

They also disputed the underlying bribery allegations, saying there is no credible evidence supporting such claims.

"The alleged bribery scheme relates to a solar energy project in India for the provision of renewable power in India. There is no allegation that any US company bid on the project, or that any US customer purchased energy in the project. In fact, there was no such US involvement," the plea said.

'Puffery' Defence

The filing argues that statements cited by the SEC -- relating to ESG commitments, anti-corruption practices, and corporate reputation -- amount to non-actionable "puffery", or general corporate optimism that investors cannot reasonably rely on.

It further said the SEC failed to link either defendant to specific misleading statements or demonstrate intent to defraud.

The defendants are seeking dismissal of the case in full and said they are prepared to appear for a pre-motion conference if required.

Adanis argued that the court lacks personal jurisdiction, saying neither had sufficient contacts with the US or direct involvement in the bond offering.

"The complaint contains no plausible allegation that Gautam Adani was involved in drafting, reviewing, or approving any document containing any alleged misstatement. Indeed, the SEC does not allege that Gautam Adani even knew these statements were being made," the plea said. "Because there are no allegations tying him to any alleged misstatement, the SEC's claims against Gautam Adani fail as a matter of law."

The allegations against Sagar Adani are also deficient. "Even if 'multiple drafts' of the Offering Circular 'were provided to [him]', these allegations do not tie him to specific misstatements, much less show that he had 'ultimate authority' over their content," it said.

The SEC also fails to adequately plead that defendants acted with the requisite intent. "The SEC makes no plausible allegation that Defendants acted with knowledge or recklessness," it said.

The defendants intend to move to dismiss the SEC's complaint by April 30, 2026 and, as part of this process, have on April 7, 2026 submitted a letter with the EDNY (Eastern District New York) judge informing the court that the defendants are prepared to attend a pre-motion conference should the court wish to schedule one.

The filing of this letter is a standard procedural step in the legal process for the handling of such matters in accordance with the procedural rules prescribed by the EDNY judge.

In the letter, the defendants have briefly set out their grounds for dismissal of SEC's complaint, including that (i) the court concerned lacks personal jurisdiction over the defendants and the claims against them, (ii) the SEC's claims are impermissibly extraterritorial, (iii) the alleged misstatements by the defendants are too vague and general for any reasonable investor to rely upon as a guarantee of any concrete fact or outcome, making them inactionable, and (iii) the defendants' lack of involvement in the transaction bars the SEC's claims against them.

Gautam Adani is represented by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, while Sagar Adani's counsel is Nixon Peabody LLP and Hecker Fink LLP.

SEC's Charges Against Adani

The SEC has alleged that Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others orchestrated a USD 250 million-plus bribery scheme between 2020 and 2024 to secure solar energy contracts in India.

Their plea (termed as letter in US legal system) pointed out that SEC does not allege that there were any investor losses as there were none. The bonds have matured and all interest payments were made on time.

The court lacks personal jurisdiction over defendants and the claims against them should be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(2), the letter cited.

The SEC must plead that defendants had sufficient "minimum contacts" with the US and that the claims against them arose out of those activities, the letter pointed out. With respect to Gautam Adani, the SEC does not come close, the lawyers added.

The claims, according to the lawyers, "involve Indian Defendants, an Indian issuer, securities not registered with the SEC and not traded on US exchanges, and underlying conduct alleged to have occurred exclusively in India".

The SEC has not alleged underwriters who purchased the bonds from AGEL were US institutions as they weren't, or that the subscription agreement underlying the purchases was governed by US law as it wasn't.

"This case is thus conclusively beyond the reach of the US securities laws," the lawyers said.

The SEC has also failed to tie Sagar Adani to a single allegedly false or misleading statement, much less one directed at US investors, the letter added.
Amritsar police have successfully dismantled a cross-border arms smuggling ring, seizing weapons and arresting individuals involved in the illegal operation linked to Pakistan-based smugglers.

Key Points Amritsar police busted a cross-border arms smuggling module, arresting four individuals, including a juvenile.

The operation seized seven sophisticated pistols and 12 cartridges, revealing a network using drones for smuggling.

Accused were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers via social media, receiving arms consignments in the Attari sector.

The investigation aims to dismantle the entire smuggling network and trace forward and backward linkages.

The Amritsar police on Wednesday claimed to have busted a cross-border illegal arms smuggling module as it apprehended four persons, including a juvenile, and seized seven sophisticated pistols and 12 cartridges.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were in contact with Pakistan-based smugglers through social media platforms and the illegal arms consignments were being sent through drones in the Attari sector near Bhaini village and Neshta area, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said.

Those arrested have been identified as Gurwinder Singh alias Ginder (32), Jobanbir Singh alias Joban (23), both residents of village Laddhewal in Amritsar; Lovepreet Singh alias Love, a resident of village Bhuse in Tarn Taran; and a 16-years-old juvenile.

The recovered pistols include two .30 bore PX5 Storm, two .30 bore Made in Italy, one .30 bore Made in China, one .30 bore and one 9MM Made in Austria along with 12 live cartridges.

Police teams also impounded their Motorcycle.

The DGP said acting on the directions of their handlers, the accused used to retrieve the consignments from pre-designated locations and further supplying them to local contacts.

Further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages and dismantle the entire smuggling network, he said.

Details of the Arrest and Seizure

Sharing operational details, Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said accused Gurwinder, Jobanbir and Lovepreet were apprehended and six pistols were recovered from their possession.

During the raid, their fourth associate managed to escape from the spot, he said, while adding that acting swiftly, police teams continued the search and on the following day apprehended the juvenile accused and recovered one pistol from his possession.

Previous Criminal Records

The CP said that Gurwinder and Lovepreet previous criminal cases registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The juvenile is also involved in a previous criminal case under the Arms Acts registered at Police Station Gharinda in Amritsar Rural in which three pistols were recovered from his possession.

An FIR has been registered at Chheharta police station in Amritsar under relevant provisions of the Arms Act.
In its list of 26 candidates for Thursday's assembly elections, 13 are from the Bengali-speaking Muslim community -- a demographic that was at the centre of the original Assam agitation.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being felicitated at an election rally with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, extreme left, and AGP candidate Atul Bora, right, in Dibrugarh, April 6, 2026. Photograph: Narendra Modi Photo Gallery/ANI Photo

Key Points AGP faces identity crisis ahead of 2026 Assam polls.

Once a movement-led force, now grappling with relevance and ideology.

Shift in candidate profile sparks debate over ideological dilution.

The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), born out of the Assam movement that reshaped the state's political landscape in the 1980s, finds itself at a critical juncture ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, with questions mounting over its ideological moorings and political future.

What began as a powerful student-led agitation against illegal immigration has, over four decades, evolved into a regional party now grappling with shifting alliances, electoral compulsions and a shrinking independent identity within the BJP-led NDA.

A movement forged in sacrifice

The roots of the AGP lie in the turbulent years of the late 1970s, when Assam witnessed a mass agitation demanding detection, disenfranchisement and deportation of illegal immigrants.

The turning point came in December 1979, when Khargeswar Talukdar, a young protester in Barpeta, died after allegedly being beaten by police during protests against non-Assamese candidates filing nominations for the 1980 Lok Sabha elections.

His death intensified the agitation, which culminated in the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. Soon after, leaders of the movement transitioned from the streets to the corridors of power.

From student leaders to rulers. AGP's meteoric rise in 1985

In a development reminiscent of youth-led political upheavals elsewhere, the AGP was formally constituted at the Golaghat national convention, with All Assam Students' Union (AASU) leader Prafulla Kumar Mahanta at the helm.

In the assembly elections that followed, the AGP secured a landslide victory, winning 92 of 126 seats.

Images of a young cabinet -- many in their early 30s -- taking oath captured national and global attention, marking a rare moment when a student movement transformed into a ruling government almost overnight.

Ideological shift or electoral compulsion? Ticket distribution raises eyebrows

Forty years later, the AGP's political positioning appears markedly different.

In its list of 26 candidates for Thursday's assembly elections, 13 are from the Bengali-speaking Muslim community -- a demographic that was at the centre of the original Assam agitation.

The development has raised questions about whether the party has undergone an ideological shift or is simply adapting to electoral realities.

In contrast, the Bharatiya Janata Party -- the AGP's senior alliance partner -- has not fielded a single Muslim candidate, highlighting a divergence in approaches within the NDA.

Poll arithmetic and alliance dynamics

Observers say the AGP's candidate selection reflects changing political arithmetic.

Muslims constitute around 34% of Assam's population, and the party has been allocated seats largely in minority-dominated areas of Lower Assam as part of the NDA seat-sharing arrangement.

Critics argue that this strategy underscores the party's dependence on the BJP and raises concerns about whether it retains an independent political identity.

A history of internal churn and decline

The AGP's journey since coming to power has been marked by internal divisions and external challenges.

The rise of insurgency, particularly the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), tested the party's governance in its early years. It faced splits in 1991, reunification before 1996, and another division in 2005.

Over time, several leaders moved away. Among them was Sarbananda Sonowal, who began his political career with the AGP but later joined the BJP in 2011, citing the party's failure to uphold the core principles of the Assam movement.

Strains within the party and alliance

Questions over the AGP's role within the NDA are not new.

In 2021, party founder and former chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was denied a ticket, leading to speculation about his marginalisation.

Despite talk of a Rajya Sabha berth, he has remained out of active politics.

The party's reduced influence within the alliance has further fuelled speculation about whether it risks being subsumed by the BJP.

Debate over foreigners issue continues

The issue of illegal immigration -- central to the AGP's origin -- continues to dominate political discourse in the state.

Abhijit Sarma of Assam Public Works, an organisation driven by nativist concerns, claimed that despite the BJP and NDA's strong rhetoric against 'Bangladeshis', only 26 people had been legally deported since 2017, citing state government data.

His remarks have added to the debate over the effectiveness of the government's measures on the ground.

Mahanta questions BJP's approach, flags CAA concerns

Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who is currently out of active politics due to health reasons, has also raised concerns over the handling of the foreigners' issue.

Mahanta said the problem cannot be resolved as long as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), enacted by the Modi government, remains in force.

'The Assam Accord set March 24, 1971, as the cutoff date to deport foreigners. But the CAA goes against the Accord. Their stand undermines the Accord, and the problem cannot be solved as long as the CAA remains,' Mahanta said.

By remaining aligned with the BJP, Mahanta said the AGP has not been able to effectively address the vexed issue.

He also criticised the BJP's approach, saying it was not moving in the right direction.

'They have not taken the necessary steps, and much remains to be done to address the problem. What they have been saying is not applicable in the present scenario,' he added.

An existential question

The question hanging over the AGP this time is not merely about its electoral prospects, but whether the party still stands for anything beyond its own political survival, amid perceptions of its growing dependence on the BJP.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff
Delhi Police have apprehended the alleged mastermind behind a sophisticated ATM fraud operation, responsible for over 50 cases of cheating and targeting vulnerable individuals at ATM kiosks across the city.

Key Points Ravi Kumar Bharti, suspected leader of an ATM fraud gang, has been arrested in Delhi.

Bharti is allegedly involved in over 50 cases of ATM fraud across Delhi.

The gang targeted elderly ATM users by trapping cards and tricking victims into revealing their PINs.

Delhi Police used CCTV analysis to track and arrest the accused.

The arrest has led to the resolution of at least five cases, with further investigation underway.

A man, suspected of heading an organised ATM fraud gang and allegedly involved in over 50 cases of cheating, was arrested in the national capital, police said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Ravi Kumar Bharti (36), a resident of Bihar, was apprehended from the Rajpur Khurd area in Chhattarpur.

According to the police, this arrest has led to the resolution of at least five cases, with Bharti linked to more than 50 incidents of ATM fraud across various parts of Delhi.

The case came to light following a complaint from Avtar Singh, a resident of Paschim Vihar, who alleged he was defrauded of Rs 35,000 at an ATM kiosk in September of the previous year.

An e-FIR was registered at the Paschim Vihar East police station, and two other suspects, Raushan Kumar and Pintu Kumar, were arrested earlier. During interrogation, they revealed that the operation was being conducted under Bharti's direction.

Modus Operandi of the ATM Fraud Gang

Police stated that the gang employed a well-planned modus operandi to target unsuspecting ATM users, particularly the elderly.

They would apply adhesive inside ATM card slots to trap cards and paste fake customer care numbers at kiosks. Posing as bank officials, they would trick victims into revealing their PINs and later withdraw money using the trapped cards, police said.

Investigation and Arrest

"A team carried out CCTV analysis to track the accused, and he was arrested. So far, nine victims have been identified, leading to the registration of four FIRs and five complaints. Bharti was previously involved in at least seven criminal cases," the officer said, adding that further investigation into the matter is underway.
The BJP is accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of altering West Bengal's demography by allegedly giving land rights to infiltrators and displacing residents through appeasement policies, sparking political controversy.

Photograph: @AITCofficial/X

Key Points BJP alleges the Mamata Banerjee government is altering West Bengal's demography by favouring infiltrators.

Nitin Nabin claims the TMC government is snatching land rights from West Bengal residents and giving them to infiltrators.

The BJP accuses the TMC of appeasement politics and lawlessness, forcing residents to leave the state.

The BJP promises to rectify demographic alterations and remove Bangladeshi infiltrators if it forms a government in West Bengal.

BJP asserts that West Bengal holds a special place for PM Modi, and the state's development is being hindered by the TMC government.

BJP chief Nitin Nabin on Wednesday alleged the Mamata Banerjee-led government snatched the land which rightfully belongs to West Bengal's people and gave it to infiltrators, changing the state's demography.

Addressing an election rally in north Bengal's Alipurduar, he said once the BJP forms a "double-engine" government in West Bengal, it will rectify the demographic alterations and throw out Bangladeshi infiltrators from the state.

"The Mamata Banerjee government has worked to snatch the land rights of the people of West Bengal and give those away to the infiltrators, changing the state's demography," Nabin said.

He alleged the Trinamool Congress government has "disfigured West Bengal's identity and altered its demography". The residents of Bengal were being "forced" to leave the state owing to the TMC's appeasement politics and lawlessness, the BJP chief alleged.

He accused the TMC dispensation of forcing the state's people to leave and helping Bangladeshi infiltrators to settle in Bengal.

Asserting that West Bengal has a special place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's heart, the BJP chief said, "The wheels of development are turning backwards in Bengal. The TMC government has altered the state's identity and demography."

"First it was the Congress, then the Left, and now the TMC. The state, which once led the country in every field -- from industries to culture -- is now shrouded in darkness," Nabin alleged.
The Bombay High Court has ordered a trial for eight police officers facing murder charges in the 2014 custodial death of Agnello Valdaris, underscoring the need for accountability in cases of alleged police misconduct and custodial torture.

Photograph: ANI on X

Key Points Bombay High Court upholds murder charges against eight police personnel in the 2014 custodial death of Agnello Valdaris.

The court cited inconsistencies in police records, including failure to preserve CCTV footage and follow medical advice.

Statements from co-detainees and medical evidence suggest Valdaris was subjected to custodial torture and sexual abuse.

The High Court emphasised the importance of seeking justice for those who die in custody, highlighting the moral obligation to hold authorities accountable.

The Bombay High Court has upheld a trial court's order to frame murder charges against eight police personnel in the alleged custodial death of city youth Agnello Valdaris in 2014.

A bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Shyam Chandak, in an order passed on Monday, said the circumstances surrounding Valdaris's death warranted a full trial.

The court also remarked that there was a "serious controversy" over whether his death was homicidal or accidental.

The court dismissed the petitions filed by the eight police personnel challenging a September 2022 order of the trial court ordering framing of charges against them under sections 302 (murder) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

"The dead cannot cry out for justice. It is a duty of the living to do so for them," the HC quoted author Lois McMaster Bujold, noting that it emphasises the moral obligation of the living to seek justice, accountability and honour for those who have passed away.

The petitioners -- senior inspector Jitendra Rathod, assistant inspector Archana Pujari, sub inspector Shatrugan Tondse, head constable Suresh Mane, and constables Tushar Khairnar, Ravindra Mane, Vikas Suryawanshi and Satyajit Kamble -- had claimed that Valdaris died after being hit by a train when he allegedly escaped from custody.

Valdaris and three others were detained by the Wadala railway police in connection with a robbery case.

Evidence of Custodial Torture

While the police claimed Valdaris died while he tried to escape custody, the high court in its order noted that statements of co-detainees and medical evidence indicated custodial torture.

The HC said the detainees, including Valdaris, were allegedly detained illegally, assaulted and subjected to abuse in the lock-up.

"The sexual abuse was so disgusting that one would not be able to imagine that such an incident may occur in a police station. Considering the central issue, we do not deem it proper to mention that abuse herein to protect the police image in general," the HC said.

Inconsistencies in Police Records

The court also pointed to inconsistencies in police records, non-preservation of CCTV footage despite court directions, and failure to follow medical advice, including not conducting a recommended X-ray examination.

The court concluded that the trial judge had applied the correct legal test and that the material on record, if unrebutted, could lead to a conviction. It upheld the earlier order directing the framing of charges.
An alleged cattle smuggler was apprehended in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after a dramatic police encounter involving gunfire, highlighting ongoing efforts to combat cattle smuggling and related criminal activities in the region.

Key Points An alleged cattle smuggler was arrested in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, following a police encounter.

The accused, identified as Usman alias Mani, sustained a bullet injury in his leg during the shootout.

Police recovered a country-made pistol, live cartridges, slaughter tools, and a live bovine from the suspect.

The arrested individual has approximately one-and-a-half dozen prior cases registered against him, including violations of the Arms Act and NDPS Act.

Authorities are actively searching for the absconding accomplice involved in the alleged cattle smuggling operation.

An alleged cattle smuggler was arrested following a police encounter, which left him injured, in the Saharanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, officials said on Wednesday.

The police said a .315 bore country-made pistol, two live cartridges, two spent shells, tools used for cattle slaughter and a live bovine were allegedly recovered from his possession.

Circle Officer Munish Chandra told PTI that intensified patrolling and checking drives are being carried out across the district to curb criminal activities.

A police team was patrolling the Budhakhedaa Sanganor road when it received information about some persons allegedly planning cattle slaughter near the Ghataheda village.

On reaching the spot, the police saw two persons with a bovine near a mango tree in an orchard. When the police challenged them, the accused allegedly opened fire with the intent to kill, he said.

In retaliatory firing in self-defence, one of the accused sustained a bullet injury in his right leg and was apprehended, while the other managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

The arrested accused was identified as Usman alias Mani, a resident of Kamela Colony under the Qutub Sher police station and currently living in Budhakheda under the Chilkana police station area.

The injured accused has been admitted to the district hospital and further legal proceedings are underway. Efforts are on to nab the absconding accomplice, with combing operations in progress, the police said.

According to the police, the accused has around one-and-a-half dozen cases registered against him, including those under the Arms Act, the NDPS Act, and for cattle smuggling and theft.
A Trinamool Congress delegation reported a contentious meeting with the Election Commission, alleging the chief election commissioner dismissed them abruptly, while the EC has accused the TMC of disruptive behaviour.

IMAGE: Trinamool Congress delegation reaches the Election Commission office, New Delhi, April 8, 2026. Photograph: Courtesy, @AITCofficial /X

Key Points Trinamool Congress (TMC) delegation claims the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) told them to 'get lost' during a meeting.

TMC alleges specific instances of poll officials having links with the BJP were presented to the Election Commission.

Election Commission sources accuse TMC's Derek O'Brien of shouting at election commissioners during the meeting.

The Election Commission assures that elections in West Bengal will be 'fear-free, violence-free, intimidation-free, and inducement-free'.

A Trinamool Congress delegation's meeting with the Election Commission on Wednesday ended on an acrimonious note, with the leaders saying the Chief Election Commissioner asked them to "get lost" and the commission accusing them of "shouting".

A TMC delegation -- comprising its Rajya Sabha leader Derek O'Brien, deputy leader Sagarika Ghose, MPs Saket Gokhale and Menaka Guruswamy -- met the full bench of Election Commission as West Bengal goes to polls amid charges of disenfranchisements after the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, and allegations of the poll body having a "tacit understanding" with the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, O'Brien said they handed over nine letters written by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, which the MP said have not been acknowledged.

They also apprised the Election Commission of specific instances showing certain poll officials' alleged links with the BJP, and demanded that they be transferred.

"We gave him six examples of officials who are part of the election process and have links with the BJP," O'Brien said.

Among the examples cited was that of the Chief Electoral Officer being accompanied by a local BJP leader in Nandigram. A memorandum was submitted in this regard, he said.

"We asked the CEC how he can ensure the conduct of free and fair elections when such tainted officers are being appointed in Bengal. To this, his answer was Get lost," said O'Brien.

"We told the CEC we would not listen to him because he does not allow his colleagues to speak. We have attended eight to nine meetings like this, where none other than the CEC speaks," O'Brien said.

At the end of the seven-minute meeting, a TMC leader congratulated Gyanesh Kumar on being the first CEC in history to have notices seeking his removal submitted in Parliament, O'Brien said.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, accused the TMC leaders of "shouting" and said it will ensure free and fair elections in the state.

In an X post, the poll panel said it gave a "straight-talk" to the TMC delegation.

EC said it told the TMC that "this time, the elections in West Bengal would surely be: fear-free, violence-free, intimidation-free, inducement-freeA and without any 'chappa, booth-jamming and source-jamming' (electoral malpractices)".

EC sources accused O'Brien of shouting at the election commissioners and said that he asked the CEC not to speak.

"The CEC requested Derek O'Brien to maintain decorum in the commission room. Shouting and indecent behaviour are not appropriate," they said.

According to a source who was present at the meeting, as soon as the TMC delegation entered the meeting, the CEC pointed out the absence of their authorised representative, to which O'Brien asked if they were "unauthorised" and should leave.

After submitting their memorandum, the TMC leaders told the CEC that they did not want just words, but action on ground.

The CEC accused O'Brien of speaking loudly and told them to "get lost", sources said.

The TMC leaders have also taken to X, rejecting EC's claims.

In a post, Sagarika Ghose called the poll panel's claim a "blatant lie" and said, "none of this was said to the four-member delegation".

"Two lines were said to us by the Chief Election Commissioner 'Vanish' Kumar. The first line: where is your authorised signatory. And the second most shameful two words: 'get lost'," Ghose said.

In his post, Saket Gokhale accused the EC of singling out one political party.

"ECI official handle tweets, singling out one political party. Does this criminal CEC have the guts to tweet saying 'straight talk to BJP'?" he asked.

Tagging the EC's post, the TMC wrote on its X handle, "Straight-talk to ECI: Is this how a neutral constitutional body is expected to behave?"

In another post, the party said, "We are also speaking straight to the Election Commission in a straightforward manner. This time, the elections must be: free from Delhi's control, free from political bias, free from targeted persecution of anyone, and certainly free from double standards."
An auto-rickshaw driver suspected of aiding a human trafficking gang in the kidnapping of children in Delhi NCR has been apprehended in Uttar Pradesh, highlighting the ongoing efforts to combat child trafficking in India.

Key Points A suspected human trafficker involved in child kidnappings in Delhi NCR has been arrested in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh.

The accused, an auto-rickshaw driver, allegedly used his vehicle to transport kidnapped children as part of a larger trafficking network.

The suspect was lured into the gang in 2025 and provided logistical support for their operations.

The arrest was made by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), and the suspect had a reward of Rs 50,000 on his head.

The suspect went into hiding after a crackdown on the gang, moving between Delhi, Ghaziabad, and the Uttar Pradesh border to evade arrest.

A suspected member of a human trafficking gang who used his auto-rickshaw to facilitate the kidnapping of children in Delhi NCR was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) from Hardoi district, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused, Shahrukh alias Imran, carried a reward of Rs 50,000 on his arrest and was wanted in connection with a case registered at Atrauli police station in Hardoi under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the STF said in a statement.

The accused initially worked as an auto-rickshaw driver and came in contact with a woman, Sonia alias Sunita, who hired his vehicle on a daily payment basis in the national capital. In 2025, she allegedly lured him into a gang involved in kidnapping children, it stated.

Involvement in the Trafficking Network

The agency said the gang used hired vehicles to transport kidnapped children and avoid suspicion. The accused, driven by monetary inducement, joined the network and began assisting in their activities, including movement and logistical support.

He later came into contact with other members of the gang, identified as Abhay Verma, Umashankar, Pathan Mumtaz alias Haseena, Modawati Sharda, Bikkol Bijli alias Bikobolu Savita Thakur and Ankul, all of whom were earlier arrested and sent to jail by the local police, it said.

Evading Arrest

After learning about the crackdown on the gang, the accused went into hiding and kept moving between Delhi, Ghaziabad and areas along the Uttar Pradesh border to evade arrest, it added.

Acting on specific inputs, an STF team apprehended him on Tuesday at around 9:45 pm from near the Dikni area on the Sandila-Atrauli road in Hardoi, according to the statement.

The accused has been handed over to the local police, and further legal proceedings in the case are underway, it said.
China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong (C, front) vetoes a UN Security Council draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie E)

UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday failed to adopt a draft resolution that "strongly encourages" states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait of Hormuz, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels.

Eleven members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution, China and Russia voted against it, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.

The draft resolution was proposed by Bahrain in coordination with fellow Gulf Cooperation Council members Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as with Jordan.

In his explanation of the vote, China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong said the draft resolution failed to capture the root causes and the full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner.

"The Security Council should not rush to vote on a draft resolution when serious concerns have been raised by members," Fu said.

He expressed hope that peace and stability would be restored and affirmed China's commitment to addressing the situation properly by tackling its root causes.

"This war should never have happened," Fu said, urging the United States and Israel to halt their "illegal military actions."

"At a time when the United States is openly threatening the very survival of a civilization, when the current hostilities imposed on Iran are very likely to further escalate, the draft resolution, should it have been adopted, would send an extremely wrong message and have very serious consequences," Fu said.

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's permanent representative to the United Nations, said the draft resolution presented Iranian actions as the sole source of regional tensions, while illegal attacks by the United States and Israel against Iran were "not mentioned at all."

Noting that the draft resolution "abounded with unbalanced, inaccurate and confrontational elements," he said it constituted a "fundamentally erroneous and dangerous approach" to the situation in the region and its implications are "clear to us."

Iran's permanent representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani said the draft seeks "to punish the victim for defending its sovereignty and vital national interests in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, while providing political and legal cover for further unlawful acts by the aggressors."

"In substance, this was a United States draft," he added, expressing appreciation to China and Russia for their responsible action in exercising the veto, as well as to Pakistan and Colombia for abstaining and recognizing the serious implications of the text, which would have normalized the use of force based on vague and unfounded allegations.

Iran has responded to the brutal war through proportionate measures to prevent the passage of vessels associated with the aggressors, and non-hostile vessels will be free to exercise their right of passage, he said. 

Representatives vote on a draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz during a UN Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Xie E)
A CoBra commando tragically died in Jharkhand after being struck by a falling tree during a storm, highlighting the dangers faced by security personnel in challenging environments.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A CoBra commando died after a tree fell on him during a storm in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district.

The incident occurred at the CRPF camp in Saranda forest's Babudera during a storm.

The commando, Rakesh Kumar, sustained serious head injuries and was airlifted to a hospital in Ranchi.

Kumar was part of the CRPF's elite CoBra battalion, engaged in anti-Naxal operations in the Kolhan area.

A CoBra personnel died after a tree fell on him during a storm in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, police said on Wednesday.

The incident happened at the CRPF camp in Saranda forest's Babudera on Tuesday night, they said.

The young personnel, identified as Rakesh Kumar, sustained serious head injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital in Ranchi on Wednesday morning, they added.

However, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment, police said.

Kumar was part of the CRPF's elite CoBra battalion, which was engaged in anti-Naxal operations in the Kolhan area, they said.
The Delhi High Court has rejected Christian Michel's plea for release in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, keeping him in jail and underscoring the ongoing legal battle in the high-profile case.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The Delhi High Court rejected Christian Michel James's petition for release in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case.

Michel challenged the India-UAE extradition treaty, arguing he should only be prosecuted for the offences for which he was extradited.

The court ruled that Michel's prosecution falls within the scope of the extradition treaty, as the offences arise from the factual background of the case.

Despite being granted bail in both CBI and ED cases, Michel remains in jail due to his inability to fulfil the bail conditions.

The CBI alleges a significant loss to the exchequer due to the AgustaWestland deal, while the ED claims Michel received substantial funds from the company.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition by alleged middleman Christian Michel James in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case seeking his release from jail.

A bench of justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja said there was no merit in the petition by the British national, who was extradited from Dubai in December 2018.

In his petition, James assailed a provision of the India-UAE extradition treaty. He also challenged a trial court order of August 7, 2025 by which his application under Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for his release from jail was rejected.

Challenge to Extradition Treaty

James challenged Article 17 of the treaty, signed in 1999, which allows the requesting state (in this case India) to prosecute extradited persons not only for the specific offence for which extradition was done, but also for connected offences.

It was contended that an extradited person can be prosecuted only for the offences for which extradition took place, and not for connected offences.

James, in its petition, also submitted that he completed seven years in jail on December 4, 2025 and has, therefore, already undergone the maximum sentence possible for the offences for which he was extradited, rendering his continued detention in India illegal.

In its 19-page verdict, the bench stated that it was not permissible for James to re-agitate issues pertaining to the treaty which, at least on a prima facie basis, have already been considered by the Supreme Court.

It nonetheless considered provisions of the treaty and the ruled that James was extradited for facing trial for offences which directly arises from the factual background in the present case, and therefore, his prosecution fell within the scope of the treaty.

Background of the Case

After his extradition, James was arrested by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

James is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case, and the other two are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case in February 2025. The high court granted him bail in the ED case in March that year.

James, however, continues to be in jail as he was unable to fulfil the bail conditions.

A trial court directed James to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and a cash surety of the same amount to secure his release in the CBI case. In the ED case, the high court asked him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and a cash surety of Rs 10 lakh.

The high court also clarified that James could be released without depositing the passport, which has expired immediately .

The authorities concerned were asked to deposit the fresh passport, whenever ready, with the trial court directly, it added.

The high court also asked the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to ensure that James does not leave the country.

The CBI, in its charge sheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.26 million euros.

The ED, in its charge sheet filed against James in June 2016, alleged that he had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.
The Delhi High Court has rejected Christian Michel's plea for release in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, upholding his continued detention and raising questions about the India-UAE extradition treaty.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi High Court dismisses Christian Michel's petition for release in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam.

Michel challenged the India-UAE extradition treaty, arguing he should only be prosecuted for offences for which he was extradited.

Michel claimed he had already served the maximum sentence for the offences he was extradited for, rendering his detention illegal.

Despite being granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case and the High Court in the ED case, Michel remains in jail due to his inability to fulfil the bail conditions.

The CBI alleges a significant loss to the exchequer due to the AgustaWestland deal, while the ED claims Michel received substantial funds from AgustaWestland.

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a petition by alleged middleman Christian Michel James in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam case seeking his release from jail.

A bench of Justices Navin Chawla and Ravinder Dudeja said there was no merit in the petition by the British national, who was extradited from Dubai in December 2018.

A detailed copy of the verdict is awaited.

Legal Challenges and Arguments

In his petition, James assailed a provision of the India-UAE extradition treaty. He also challenged a trial court order of August 7, 2025 by which his application under Section 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) for his release from jail was rejected.

James challenged Article 17 of the treaty, signed in 1999, which allows the requesting state (in this case India) to prosecute extradited persons not only for the specific offence for which extradition was done, but also for connected offences.

It was contended that an extradited person can be prosecuted only for the offences for which extradition took place, and not for connected offences.

After his extradition, James was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

James also submitted that he completed seven years in jail on December 4, 2025 and has, therefore, already undergone the maximum sentence possible for the offences for which he was extradited, rendering his continued detention in India illegal.

Background of the Case

James is among the three alleged middlemen being probed in the case, and the other two are Guido Haschke and Carlo Gerosa.

He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI case in February 2025. The high court granted him bail in the ED case in March that year.

James, however, continues to be in jail as he was unable to fulfil the bail conditions.

A trial court directed James to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and a cash surety of the same amount to secure his release in the CBI case. In the ED case, the high court asked him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh and a cash surety of Rs 10 lakh.

The high court also clarified that James could be released without depositing the passport, which has expired "immediately". The authorities concerned were asked to deposit the fresh passport, whenever ready, with the trial court directly, it added.

The high court also asked the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to ensure that James does not leave the country.

Allegations and Financial Implications

The CBI, in its charge sheet, has alleged an estimated loss of 398.21 million euros (about Rs 2,666 crore) to the exchequer due to the deal that was signed on February 8, 2010, for the supply of VVIP choppers worth 556.26 million euros.

The ED, in its charge sheet filed against James in June 2016, alleged that he had received 30 million euros (about Rs 225 crore) from AgustaWestland.
Delhi Police's Operation CyHawk 4.0 resulted in the arrest of over 600 individuals as authorities crack down on cybercrime and digital fraud networks operating in the region.

Photograph: Pixabay.com

Key Points Delhi Police arrested over 600 people in Operation CyHawk 4.0, targeting cybercrime.

The operation involved deploying around 5,000 personnel and registering 499 new FIRs.

Police targeted organised digital fraud networks, including those targeting NRIs with fake social media ads.

Suspects involved in supplying mule bank accounts for cyber fraud were arrested.

Delhi Police has arrested over 600 people and rounded up more than 8,000 suspects during Operation CyHawk 4.0, a large-scale crackdown on cybercrime conducted on April 6 and 7, officials said on Wednesday.

Around 5,000 personnel were deployed during the operation, which led to the registration of 499 new FIRs.

Targeting Cyber Fraud Networks

Police said the action targeted organised digital fraud networks, including those luring NRI victims through fake social media advertisements and operating from southwest Delhi.

In another instance, four suspects involved in supplying mule bank accounts to facilitate cyber fraud were arrested from the same district.

Further details will be shared during a press conference by senior officers at the police headquarters.
Delhi Police's Operation CyHawk 4.0 has led to the arrest of over 600 individuals in a major crackdown on cybercrime, targeting financial networks and online scam operations across the capital.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Delhi Police arrested over 600 people in Operation CyHawk 4.0, targeting cybercrime syndicates and financial networks.

The operation focused on dismantling cyber fraud modules, including mule bank accounts and illegal call centres involved in online scams.

Police traced over Rs 519 crore of defrauded money to bank accounts associated with organised cyber fraud networks.

A Delhi-based eatery chain owner's son was arrested for providing his bank account to move proceeds of cybercrime.

The operation involved coordinated raids, the registration of new FIRs, and breakthroughs in previously pending cyber fraud cases.

The Delhi Police has arrested over 600 people and rounded up more than 8,300 suspects during its Operation CyHawk 4.0, a large-scale crackdown on cybercrime conducted on April 6 and 7, officials said on Wednesday.

A senior police officer said the son of a Delhi-based eatery chain owner is also among arrestees.

"Due to losses in business, the son of the famous eater chain's owner provided his bank account to move proceeds of cybercrime on a commission basis, where he received a three per cent commission. He shared his bank account user ID and password, and stolen or defrauded money was siphoned through that account. In this case, we have arrested Javed, and further investigation is ongoing," Joint Commissioner of Police (IFSO) Rajneesh Gupta during a press conference said.

The officer said the operation targeted the financial backbone and operational ecosystem of organised cybercrime syndicates operating across the capital, marking a shift from reactive policing to proactive dismantling of cyber fraud modules.

"A total of 8,371 people were rounded up for questioning and verification during coordinated raids carried out simultaneously across multiple districts. Out of these, 1,429 accused were either arrested or bound down after investigators established strong financial and technical linkages to cyber fraud activities," the officer said.

In addition, 2,203 notices were issued to individuals suspected of being part of the backward financial chain associated with such crimes, he added.

Police said the operation led to the registration of 499 fresh FIRs against identified cyber fraudsters, significantly expanding the scope of legal action against organised networks.

Besides the new cases, investigators were able to make breakthroughs in 324 previously pending cyber fraud cases, with several accused apprehended after linking them to digital and financial evidence gathered during the operation.

Targeting Cybercrime Financial Architecture

The crackdown specifically targeted the financial architecture of cybercrime, including mule bank accounts used to siphon and layer defrauded money, agents involved in cash withdrawals, and organised call centres executing various online scams.

"As part of the action, several illegal call centres operating in different parts of Delhi were identified and neutralised, thereby halting ongoing frauds involving fake job offers, digital arrest scams, telemarketing fraud, customer-care impersonation," the officer said.

During the investigation, police were able to link 3,564 complaints registered on the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) to identified mule accounts and suspected mobile numbers.

"More than Rs 519 crore of defrauded money reported through complaints across the country was traced to bank accounts associated with organised cyber fraud networks," the officer said.

He further said raids were conducted at multiple locations resulting in the recovery of a large volume of incriminating digital evidence, including mobile phones, laptops, hard drives, SIM cards, debit and credit cards, as well as financial records and ledgers.

The operation was carried out with support from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) under the Ministry of Home Affairs, following a nearly month-long intelligence build-up involving hotspot mapping, analysis of suspicious transactions, verification of bank accounts, and correlation of data with complaints from across the country, the officer said.

"The real-time analytical support provided by I4C played a crucial role in converting intelligence inputs into actionable enforcement," he added.

Delhi Police has also issued a public advisory urging citizens to remain vigilant against online fraud and avoid sharing banking details, OTPs, or personal information with unknown persons.

The officer said similar intelligence-driven operations will be conducted at regular intervals to keep cyber criminals under sustained pressure.
In Delhi, a youth was grievously injured in a stabbing attack allegedly carried out by three juveniles seeking revenge for a past dispute, leading to their apprehension by police.

Key Points An 18-year-old youth was stabbed multiple times in Delhi's Bhalswa Dairy area.

Three juveniles, aged 15-16, have been apprehended in connection with the stabbing.

The attack was allegedly motivated by a past dispute where the juveniles were beaten by the victim.

Police recovered two knives allegedly used in the stabbing from the juveniles.

The victim sustained serious injuries and is receiving treatment at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital.

A youth sustained grievous injuries after he was allegedly stabbed multiple times in outernorth Delhi's Bhalswa Dairy area over a past dispute, with police apprehending three juveniles in this connection, an official said on Wednesday.

According to the police, a PCR call was received at 8.08 pm on April 7 reporting that a young man had been stabbed in Mangal Bazar Chowk in Bhalswa Dairy area.

The injured, identified as Amit (18), was rushed to Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital by his brother and later referred to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital for further treatment.

"Amit sustained multiple stab injuries on his hand, stomach and back. Police said injuries on his back were inflicted while he was attempting to flee from the attackers," the officer said.

Based on the statement and medical examination, a case was registered at Bhalswa Dairy police station and investigation was taken up.

Investigation and Arrests

Police said three juveniles, aged between 15 and 16 years, were apprehended. Two knives allegedly used in the crime were recovered from their possession.

"During interrogation, the juveniles revealed that they were previously friends with the victim but had fallen out around four months ago after a dispute in which they were beaten by him. Seeking revenge, they planned the attack and had been looking for Amit," the officer said.

On April 7 evening, they spotted Amit, intercepted him and stabbed him repeatedly when he tried to escape. Further investigation is underway, police added.
A Delhi University professor successfully recovered her stolen laptop, containing years of PhD research, by using the 'find my app' and enlisting the help of local residents to locate the thieves.

Key Points Delhi University professor's laptop stolen from car on busy road near North Campus.

Professor used 'find my app' to track the laptop's location after the theft.

Local neighbours provided crucial information about the suspects and their criminal history.

The professor and her husband located the stolen bag on a nearby terrace and recovered the laptop.

Police detained the accused after the professor reported the location of the stolen items.

An assistant professor at Delhi University (DU) found her stolen laptop, which contained six years of PhD work, using 'find my app' after miscreants allegedly broke her parked car's window on a busy road near the North Campus and fled with the bag.

The professor posted a two-part video on her Instagram handle, Praso Literature.

In the first video posted two days ago, she said she had gone to the DU North campus with her husband for PhD-related work when the incident took place.

"After work, we decided to go to Kamala Nagar because the college fest was the next day, and I wanted to get some clothes altered. We parked our car on the Bungalow Road, which is a very busy one," she said, adding that after which they headed to a restaurant and later to a jewellery store on a rickshaw.

Recalling the series of events in the viral video, she said when they returned to their car, they saw that the driver's side window was smashed.

"The glass window was shattered," said the DU assistant professor. "We stood there, shocked and numb. Some people also came over to see what had happened, and they were shocked too."

She said the bag with her laptop was missing.

"My wallet was also stolen, along with an air purifier," she said, adding that they immediately called the police.

Tracking and Recovery

In the second part of the video, the professor explained how luck favoured them.

"Once we got out of the police station, we went to a petrol station to get fuel. When I checked my phone, I was able to track my laptop's location. It was at one place for the last half an hour," she said, while sharing a screenshot of her "find my app" showing the location of the laptop.

She said that despite knowing that it would be risky to visit the place on their own, they visited the area.

Community Assistance and Police Intervention

"First, we spoke to a neighbour who told us that some boys do live there. A second neighbour told us that the boys have a criminal record," she said.

"The neighbours asked us to go to the terrace as the boys lived on the first floor. When my husband went there, he saw that the boys were hiding the bag on someone else's terrace, and they moved after seeing my husband," she said.

The assistant professor said she was able to retrieve her bag containing her laptop. She said they found other stolen items also there and called the police, who, detained the accused.
A former UK police officer of Indian origin has admitted his role in a sophisticated 'crash for cash' scam, involving staged car accidents and fraudulent insurance claims, highlighting a serious breach of public trust.

Key Points Former UK police officer Kuldip Singh pleaded guilty to involvement in a 'crash for cash' scam involving staged car accidents and fraudulent insurance claims.

The scam involved pre-arranged collisions and false claims for personal injury and vehicle damage, resulting in thousands of pounds in fraudulent compensation.

Singh, who ran a car hire company, also made false claims about vehicle burglaries and cloning to avoid liability for accidents and traffic violations.

Singh was dismissed from the Metropolitan Police in 2017 and extradited from Georgia after fleeing the country with other suspects who remain at large.

An Indian-origin former police officer has pleaded guilty to his part in a "crash for cash" scam, involving fraudulent personal injury claims after deliberate vehicle crashes in the UK.

Kuldip Singh, 42, was a Metropolitan Police officer when he got involved with a group which organised pre-arranged collisions with vehicles and then made fraudulent claims for compensation from insurance companies.

The UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the scam involved the group receiving thousands of pounds in personal injury and vehicle damage compensations.

"Kuldip Singh was a serving police officer when he chose to involve himself in a corrupt scam that saw fraudulent insurance claims made after pre-arranged crashes," said Busola Johnson, Specialist Prosecutor with the CPS Special Crime Division.

"On top of that, he made fraudulent and false claims about vehicles from his own car hire company. This was not a momentary lapse of judgement but a sustained pattern of calculated dishonesty, carried out for financial gain and designed to deceive insurers, employers and the justice system itself.

"The public are entitled to expect the highest standards from those entrusted with enforcing the law, and Kuldip Singh's actions represented a serious betrayal of that trust and caused significant financial harm," she said.

Singh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud, fraud by false representation, two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, two counts of perverting the course of justice and unauthorised access to a computer to facilitate the commission of further offences at Southwark Crown Court in London on Tuesday.

He will be sentenced for the crimes at the same court on June 2.

Details of the 'Crash for Cash' Scam

The CPS released details of the scam, with one incident dating back to March 2016 when a member of the group, 32-year-old Raiyaan Anwar who worked as a Tesco supermarket delivery driver at the time, drove his delivery van into the back of a white Citroen being driven by Singh.

Singh's passengers were four other men who were all involved in the scam. Anwar admitted liability for the crash to his then employer, Tesco, but did not inform them of his acquaintance with the driver and passengers of the car.

This led to five personal injury compensation claims and those fraudulent claims came to a total of 33,362 pounds, although only 912 pounds was paid.

False Claims and Car Hire Company Fraud

Singh also ran a car hire company called ADK Supreme with another man, 55-year-old Alper Emin, where high-value vehicles were obtained on finance and rented out for a fee to individuals who would probably have been unable to pay for the vehicles themselves.

A client of ADK Supreme crashed one of the rented Mercedes cars and to avoid liability, Singh and Emin falsely alleged that a burglary had taken place at the company address and that the key to the crashed Mercedes had been stolen. There had been no such burglary, the court was told.

Singh subsequently made a false insurance claim to cover the damage to the crashed car and received 16,145 pounds from the insurance company.

According to the CPS, three further cars leased by ADK Supreme were involved in collisions or issued with tickets for road traffic violations, and Singh falsely claimed that the cars had been cloned to avoid being held liable.

He also created a false police report that one of his leased cars had been cloned and persuaded a member of police staff to make the entry on the police database in an attempt to avoid suspicion.

Singh was dismissed without notice from the Metropolitan Police Service on November 23, 2017, for gross misconduct. He and the other men then fled the country, but Singh was extradited from Georgia last month.

Meanwhile, his co-suspects a Anwar, Emin, Krishna Gnanaseelan, 31, and Singh Dehal, 31 a have been prosecuted in their absence and remain at large.
A forest guard tragically lost his life in Morena, India, after being run over by a vehicle allegedly involved in illegal sand mining, raising serious questions about law enforcement and the unchecked power of mining mafias.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A forest guard in Morena, Madhya Pradesh, was killed by a tractor-trolley allegedly used for illegal sand mining.

The incident occurred when forest personnel attempted to stop the vehicle transporting sand from the Chambal river.

Political leaders have condemned the killing, citing a collapse of law and order and demanding strict action against those involved in illegal mining.

The state BJP president has promised a campaign against illegal mining mafias and action against party members supporting them.

The driver of the tractor-trolley fled the scene and is currently being sought by police.

A 35-year-old forest guard was killed after a tractor-trolley allegedly run by illegal sand miners ran over him in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district on Wednesday morning, police said.

The incident took place on National Highway-552 near Ranpur village, about 20 km from the district headquarters, when forest personnel tried to stop a sand-laden tractor-trolley, police said.

Additional Superintendent of Police Surendra Singh Dawar told reporters that forest guard Harkesh Gurjar, a part of the patrol team, attempted to stop the vehicle, but its driver ran him over, killing him on the spot.

He said the driver, who was illegally transporting sand from Aisah ghat along the Chambal river, fled the scene after the incident.

A case has been registered at the Dimni police station, and efforts are being made to trace the absconding driver, the official said.

The forest guard, a resident of Janakpur village in Morena, had recently been transferred to his home district.

Political Condemnation and Calls for Action

Leader of Opposition in the MP Assembly Umang Singhar condemned the incident, alleging that law and order in the state has collapsed.

"Murder of forest guard Harkesh Gurjar by sand mafia in Morena shows criminals no longer fear the law. The illegal mining mafia is killing law enforcers in broad daylight while the government remains a mute spectator," he said.

The incident reflects failure of governance and protection of criminals, he said.

Singhar demanded that Chief Minister Mohan Yadav take immediate cognisance and ensure strict action against the accused.

State BJP president Hemant Khandelwal also decried the incident and said he would speak to the CM to ensure strict action. Khandelwal, who was in Morena for organisational meetings, told reporters that a campaign would be launched across the state against such mafias.

He added that action would also be taken against party leaders making statements in support of such elements.
Following a devastating fire at a Goa nightclub, the Enforcement Directorate has seized assets worth millions in a money laundering investigation, highlighting the severe consequences of operating without proper safety compliance.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached Rs 17.45 crore in assets linked to the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' nightclub in Goa, following a deadly fire in December 2025.

The ED's money laundering investigation targets the nightclub's promoters, Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra, and others, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The nightclub allegedly operated without mandatory fire safety approvals and used forged documents to obtain licenses, leading to a case based on Goa Police FIRs.

The club generated approximately Rs 29.78 crore in revenue through illegal operations between financial years 2023-24 and 2025-26, which has been identified as proceeds of crime.

The Luthra brothers were arrested after fleeing to Thailand following the fire and subsequently deported to India.

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday said it has attached immovable assets worth Rs 17.45 crore as part of its money laundering investigation against the promoters of a Goa-based nightclub where 25 people were killed in a blaze in December 2025.

The federal probe agency took action against the 'Birch by Romeo Lane' club, its promoter brothers Gaurav and Saurabh Luthra and some others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

A devastating fire broke out on December 6, 2025, at the nightclub in Goa's Arpora village while it was hosting a dance party.

The blaze killed 25 people, and about 50 people were injured in the incident.

The ED said in a statement that a provisional order was issued to attach immovable properties valued at Rs 17.45 crore in connection with an ongoing investigation into the "illegal" operation of the establishment (Birch by Romeo).

Officials said most of the attached properties belong to the Luthra brothers, apart from Surinder Kumar Khosla, a British national, stated to be an owner of the club. They said all the assets are situated in Goa.

A Goa court on Wednesday granted bail to the Luthra brothers in a forgery case, paving the way for their release from jail. The brothers had earlier secured bail in a case related to the blaze.

The ED case is based on these two Goa Police FIRs.

Investigation Details

The agency said its probe found that the club was being operated by an entity named 'Being GS Hospitality Goa Arpora LLP' without obtaining mandatory statutory approvals, including the requisite fire NOC (no objection certificate).

"The partners of the said entity submitted forged and fabricated documents, such as a fake health NOC and forged police clearance certificate, to various authorities to secure licences and project the establishment as lawfully compliant," the agency claimed.

The promoters, in "active connivance" with each other, knowingly continued the establishment's commercial operations despite the absence and expiry of mandatory licences, it said.

The trade licence (of the club) had expired on March 31, 2024, and was not renewed; however, the establishment continued to operate in "blatant violation" of statutory requirements, as per the agency.

The club generated revenue worth Rs 29.78 crore between the financial years 2023-24 to 2025-26 (till 06.12.2025) by way of illegal operation. This amount has been identified as the "proceeds of crime" under the anti-money laundering law, it said.

In January, the agency conducted raids in Goa, Delhi and Haryana as part of this investigation.

The Luthra brothers fled to Thailand hours after the fire broke out at the club. They were deported to India on December 17 and arrested by the Goa Police.
HANOI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Political Bureau of the 14th Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) on Wednesday announced the appointments of new heads for the CPVCC's Organization Commission and Office, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The personnel changes follow the decisions made at the 16th National Assembly's first session, at which Le Minh Hung was elected Prime Minister and Pham Gia Tuc was appointed Standing Deputy Prime Minister for the 2026-2031 tenure, according to the report.

Accordingly, Nguyen Duy Ngoc, a member of the CPVCC, was appointed a member of the 14th CPVCC's Secretariat and chairman of the CPVCC's Organization Commission, replacing Hung.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Hai Ninh was appointed chief of the CPVCC's Office, succeeding Tuc, and was reassigned from his post as Minister of Justice. 
Owners of the Goa nightclub, Birch by Romeo Lane, have been granted bail in a forgery case related to allegedly falsified documents used to obtain licenses, following a devastating fire that claimed 25 lives.

IMAGE: The burned remains of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub after a fire that killed 25 people, in Goa on December 7, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The forgery case involves allegations of using forged documents, including a fake no-objection certificate (NOC), to obtain permissions and an excise licence for the nightclub.

The Luthra brothers had previously secured bail in connection with the deadly fire at the nightclub in December that resulted in 25 fatalities.

The case was registered after a complaint alleging a forged signature and fabricated entry in the official register to secure the health NOC.

The tragedy has prompted a comprehensive investigation into fire safety violations, licensing procedures, and potential negligence in the nightclub's operation.

A Goa court has granted bail to Saurabh Luthra and Gaurav Luthra, owners of fire-ravaged nightclub Birch by Romeo Lane, in a forgery case, paving the way for their release from jail. The brothers had earlier secured bail in a case related to the devastating blaze of last December that left 25 dead.

Advocate Parag Rao, representing the Luthras, told reporters that judicial magistrate first class (Mapusa) Jude Sequeira granted regular bail to the accused in the forgery case.

With this verdict, Rao said, the brothers will be released from jail.

Rao said his clients have been asked to report to the Mapusa police station for the next five days. "We are waiting for the detailed judgment in the case," he said.

The case pertains to allegations that the Luthra brothers used forged documents, including a fake no-objection certificate (NOC), to obtain permissions and an excise licence for operating their nightclub at Arpora village in North Goa.

According to the police, the alleged forged NOC was later used to get regulatory clearances.

A sessions court at Mapusa on April 1 had granted bail to the two brothers in a case related to the deadly fire at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub last December that killed 25 persons.

Hours after the fire broke out at the club on December 6, 2025, the brothers had fled to Thailand, from where they were deported to India on December 17 and arrested by the Anjuna police from the coastal state.

The forgery case was registered separately by the Mapusa police after a complaint from the health officer of the Candolim Primary Health Centre, who alleged that his signature had been forged and a fabricated entry had been made in the official register to secure the health NOC.

The tragedy had triggered a massive probe into fire safety violations, licensing procedures and alleged negligence in the operation of the club.
A recent triple talaq case in Uttarakhand has exposed challenges in the enforcement of the state's Uniform Civil Code (UCC), as technical issues reportedly prevented police from initially registering the case under the UCC law.

Key Points Uttarakhand police registered a case of triple talaq and dowry harassment but initially failed to invoke the state's Uniform Civil Code (UCC).

Technical issues with the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) are reportedly hindering the police's ability to enforce the UCC in some cases.

Legal experts argue the case should be registered under Section 32 of the UCC, which criminalises practices like triple talaq and halala.

The complainant, Shaheen, alleges harassment for dowry, triple talaq, and pressure to undergo 'halala' for remarriage.

A lawyer highlights that the UCC abolishes practices like triple talaq and halala, and forcing a woman to comply with such conditions can attract criminal penalties.

Police in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district have registered a case against a man for allegedly giving triple talaq to his wife over dowry in the Buggawala area, but the case has sparked a controversy as it was not filed under the state's Uniform Civil Code (UCC) law.

According to police sources, the Uttarakhand police currently appear unable to enforce the UCC law in some cases due to delays in software updates to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS).

Legal experts say the case falls under the category of a cognisable offence and should be registered under Section 32 of the UCC.

Shaheen, a resident of Bandarjud village in the Buggawala area, filed a police complaint against her husband and his family, accusing them of harassing her for dowry, pronouncing triple talaq and pressuring her to undergo 'halala' for remarriage.

In her complaint, Shaheen said she was married to Danish two and a half years ago and that within a few days of the marriage she began facing physical and mental harassment for dowry.

According to the complainant, when the alleged atrocities by her husband and in-laws crossed all limits, she informed her parents. When her parents approached her husband to resolve the matter, he allegedly pronounced triple talaq and threw her out of the house.

The complainant alleged that when a settlement was later discussed, a condition of halala was placed before her for remarriage, after which she approached the police.

Haridwar Rural Superintendent of Police Shekhar Chand Suyal said that after receiving Shaheen's complaint on April 4, the police registered a case under Sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, Sections 115(2) and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, and began an investigation.

Asked why the case was not registered under the UCC, Suyal said that sometimes cases cannot be registered under the law due to issues with the CCTNS portal.

He added that the investigating officer is probing the matter and UCC provisions will be added if applicable.

Concerns Over UCC Implementation

The UCC was implemented in Uttarakhand in January last year. Legal experts termed the failure to register such a serious case under the law, even after more than a year of its implementation, as concerning.

Lawyer Vasu Garg told PTI that the UCC allows remarriage without any conditions and abolishes practices such as triple talaq and halala.

He said that under Section 32(iii) of the UCC, forcing a woman to comply with any such condition, including halala, before remarriage can attract criminal penalties.

According to him, the punishment under this provision may include a fine, imprisonment, or both, depending on the nature of the violation.

He added that while the state government has been presenting the UCC as a major achievement, the ground reality appears disappointing.
The Allahabad High Court has acquitted an accused in the 2016 murder of NIA officer Mohammad Tanzil and his wife, overturning a death sentence due to significant doubts in the prosecution's evidence.

Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo

Key Points Allahabad High Court overturned the death sentence of Raiyyan in the 2016 NIA officer Mohammad Tanzil murder case.

The court cited doubts in the prosecution's case and questioned the conduct of prosecution witnesses.

NIA officer Mohammad Tanzil was investigating high-profile national security cases at the time of his murder.

The court ordered the immediate release of the accused, Raiyyan, if he is not wanted in any other case.

The Allahabad High Court has set aside the death sentence awarded to a man convicted in the 2016 killing of an NIA officer, who was investigating several "high-profile cases related to nation security", and his wife, and ordered his release from jail.

Mohammad Tanzil, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) officer, and his wife Farzana were shot dead on the intervening night of April 2 and 3, 2016, when they were returning from a wedding.

The HC said that the prosecution's case was riddled with doubts and pointed to "unexplained and questionable conduct" of prosecution witnesses.

An Additional District and Sessions Court in Bijnor had awarded capital punishment to two accused -- Munir and Raiyyan-- in the case. While Munir later died in hospital after a prolonged illness, Raiyyan has remained in jail since April 7, 2016.

Setting aside the conviction, a single bench of Justice Siddharth observed that the trial court had committed a "grave error" in awarding the death penalty.

"Therefore, this court is of the view that the judgment and order passed by the trial court deserve to be set aside, and is set aside accordingly. The appellant is acquitted of all charges and shall be released forthwith, if not wanted in any other case," the court said in its March 31 order.

Key Concerns in the Investigation

The court noted the officer "was investigating several high-profile cases relating to national security, including terrorism".

It further said that police teams camped at the crime scene for months and detained several persons from nearby areas, but failed to find any reliable evidence.

The court said that the accused were initially named in statements of prosecution witnesses recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC "under duress" in an attempt to solve the case. It said that the accused were identified by witnesses for the first time during the trial.

According to the FIR, Tanzil, along with his wife Farzana, niece Zimnish and nephew Shahbaz, was returning by car after attending a wedding when two motorcycle-borne assailants intercepted them and opened fire, killing the couple on the spot.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered a retrial in the 2019 Ludhiana rape and murder case, overturning the death sentences due to critical procedural errors in the initial trial, including failures in presenting key evidence to the accused.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Punjab and Haryana High Court overturned death sentences of two men convicted in the 2019 Ludhiana rape and murder case.

The High Court cited critical procedural errors, specifically the failure to present all incriminating evidence to the accused during the trial.

Key evidence, including DNA reports and post-mortem findings related to the sexual assault, were not properly addressed with the accused.

The case has been remanded back to the trial court for a retrial, beginning with the recording of the accused's statements.

The High Court emphasised the importance of providing the accused a fair opportunity to explain incriminating circumstances, ensuring a just legal process.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has set aside the death sentences awarded to two men in a 2019 rape and murder case of a seven-and-a-half-year-old girl in Ludhiana's Doraha.

The HC also remanded the case back to the trial court, asking it to begin the trial from the stage of recording the statement of the accused and a fresh judgement be passed.

"It is not a case where the trial court had put all the incriminating circumstances to the accused," observed the bench of Justices Anoop Chitkara and Sukhvinder Kaur in the April 6 order.

The trial court in 2023 had awarded capital punishment to the two men in the rape and murder case. The case has its genesis in an FIR registered in March 2019.

According to the prosecution, the victim, whom the court affectionately referred to as 'Laadli', was allegedly abducted by her cousin on March 9, 2019 in Doraha in Ludhiana.

He was later joined by the co-accused and both of them raped her in an uninhabited godown. Subsequently, they strangulated her and also inflicted brick blows on her head, which resulted in her death.

Both the accused were later convicted and awarded death penalty.

High Court's Concerns and Observations

While hearing the pleas of the accused who challenged their conviction and sentence and answering murder reference sent by the trial court for confirmation of death sentence, the HC bench observed that the prominent concern for the court is the manner of investigation, omission in putting all the incriminating evidence to the accused under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and repercussions on the trial, and also said, "in our considered opinion, if not put would cause prejudice to the accused."

It was emphasised that the objective of recording statement of the accused under Section 313 of the CrPC is to put all incriminating evidence to the accused so as to provide him an opportunity to explain such incriminating circumstances appearing against him in the evidence of the prosecution.

The court observed that a perusal of statements of both the accused clearly pointed out the omission in putting to them the most material evidence of sexual assault and associated injuries as observed during the post-mortem examination conducted by a team of doctors.

"Laadli was murdered after she was subjected to rape, and had she not been sexually assaulted, there would have been no motive to conceal evidence by killing her. Thus, primarily, we are dealing with the case of rape, and the most important question, i.e., the evidence that the victim was raped, was not put to the accused," observed the court.

"Since the attention of none of the accused was drawn to the factum of rape, on this score alone, this is a highly defective questioning under 313 CrPC, 1973," it said.

The bench also pointed out that the accused were not questioned about the DNA report.

"The most important defect is that although the trial court had convicted and sentenced the accused/convicts by relying upon the DNA report, whereas the DNA report was never put to any of the accused in a statement under 313 of the CrPC," said the court.

"The DNA report is the most crucial document, and if it is read in evidence without affording an opportunity to the accused under section 351 of BNSS [313 CrPC, 1973] to explain the same, it is most likely to cause prejudice to the accused," observed the court.

"All these deficiencies, which amount to irregularities, are curable, and once cured, shall neither cause any prejudice to the accused nor failure of justice to any," said the bench.

The court further said, "We are left with no other option but to set aside the judgment of conviction and sentence and remand the matter back to the trial court to resume the trial from the stage of recording the statements of both the accused."

The HC bench said the trial court shall put all the incriminating evidence separately to both the accused by making small questions as per the facts and evidence under 351 BNSS [313 CrPC, 1973], and afford them an opportunity to lead defence evidence, if they want to do so, provided the same is done within a reasonable time.

"Thereafter, on hearing the parties pass a fresh judgment in accordance with the law," it said.
Trump stated that the measure will be 'effective immediately', noting that there will be no 'exclusions or exemptions.'

IMAGE: A man walks on a street after U.S. President Donald Trump said that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Hours after the announcement of a double-sided ceasefire in the West Asia conflict with Iran for two weeks, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned against any country supplying military weapons to the Islamic Republic, stating that he would impose a 50 percent tariff on all goods exported to the United States.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the measure will be "effective immediately", noting that there will be no "exclusions or exemptions."

"A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!" his post read.

Trump earlier stated that the Islamic Republic has agreed to halt the uranium enrichment programme as part of the deal, while also stating that discussions are underway regarding tariff and sanctions relief on Iran.

In a separate post on Truth Social, Trump stated that the United States will "work closely" with Iran following what he described as a "very productive Regime Change" in the country.

Trump further indicated that several aspects of a broader agreement have already been finalised, suggesting ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

"The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change! There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear "Dust." It is now, and has been, under very exacting Satellite Surveillance (Space Force!). Nothing has been touched from the date of attack. We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to," the post read.

Trump had suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and stating that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.

Trump said that Iran has agreed to almost all of the various points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised.

"Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalised and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-term problem close to resolution," he added.
In memory of Savitha Shanmugasundaram, an Indian-origin student tragically killed in the Austin shooting, her family has established a one-million-dollar scholarship to support underprivileged students at the University of Texas.

Key Points The Savitha Shanmugasundaram Memorial Endowed Scholarship aims to support students from Title I schools, serving low-income families.

The scholarship fund seeks to raise USD 500,000, which will be matched by the University of Texas, creating a one-million-dollar endowment.

The endowment is expected to provide financial aid to approximately 10 students annually, ensuring Savitha's legacy of supporting education.

Savitha Shanmugasundaram was a leader in the Indian American student community and an executive board member of the Texas Indian Students Association.

The family of a 21-year-old Indian-origin student, killed in a shooting in Austin last month, has launched a one-million-dollar endowed scholarship to honour her memory.

Savitha Shanmugasundaram, a student at the University of Texas, was among those killed in the tragic shooting on Austin's West Sixth Street on March 1. She was a high-achieving senior at the McCombs School of Business.

The Savitha Shanmugasundaram Memorial Endowed Scholarship

The Savitha Shanmugasundaram Memorial Endowed Scholarship is specifically designed to support students from Title I schools, which serve high concentrations of low-income families.

Her family and the Texas Indian Students Association aim to raise USD 500,000, which will be matched one-to-one by the University of Texas under the Texas Challenge program.

Once fully funded, the endowment is expected to provide financial aid to nearly 10 students annually in perpetuity.

An Austin native and the only child of her parents, old Savitha was just months away from graduating with a dual degree in Management Information Systems and Economics.

She was a prominent leader in the Indian American student community and served on the executive board of the Texas Indian Students Association.

Her father, Shan Muthian, noted that creating the scholarship fulfils Savitha's lifelong dream of serving underprivileged students and ensures her legacy remains alive.

The shooting, which claimed four lives and injured 14 others, sent shockwaves through the university and the broader Indian diaspora.

University officials described Savitha as a compassionate leader who was deeply committed to expanding educational access.
An Indore taxi driver's tragic suicide, fueled by a viral video alleging police assault and corruption, has triggered an official investigation and the suspension of a sub-inspector.

Key Points An Indore taxi driver died by suicide after alleging police assault and corruption in a video.

The taxi driver claimed police demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000 after a minor car collision.

A sub-inspector has been suspended following the allegations of police misconduct.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police is leading the investigation into the incident and allegations.

A 25-year-old taxi driver died by suicide in Indore after recording a video alleging assault and corruption by the police, prompting the authorities to suspend a sub-inspector, an official said on Wednesday.

Abhishek Patil hanged himself at his home on Tuesday, the official said.

Before taking his life, Patil made an emotional video, which subsequently went viral on social media.

Allegations of Police Misconduct

Patil alleged in the video that his taxi had only lightly scratched another car in a minor collision in the Rajendra Nagar police station area on Monday night but the police sided with the other driver and assaulted him due to "corruption".

The police confiscated his taxi, threatened him, and demanded a bribe of Rs 50,000, he claimed. Officials said they immediately acted after learning about the allegations.

Investigation and Suspension

Deputy Commissioner of Police Shrikrishna Lalchandani told PTI, "Taking cognisance of the taxi driver's video, we have suspended sub-inspector Manohar Pal, who was present at the scene during the incident."

The investigation has been handed over to an Assistant Commissioner of Police. The ACP has been asked to submit a probe report within three days, he said.

Action will be taken based on the investigation report, he added.
Following a US agreement to a ceasefire, Iran claims victory and outlines conditions for a lasting peace deal, including control over the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of sanctions.

IMAGE: Smoke rises over Azadi Square following a strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 6, 2026, in this screengrab obtained from a social media video. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points

Iran claims a 'historic victory' after the US agreed to a two-week ceasefire and considers Iran's 10-point peace proposal.

The Supreme National Security Council asserts that Iran has achieved its war objectives, including control over the Strait of Hormuz and the removal of sanctions.

Donald Trump agreed to suspend attacks on Iran following requests from Pakistani officials and Iran's agreement to open the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has agreed to a pause in military operations if it is not attacked, and to allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks.

Negotiations for a permanent peace deal are expected to follow, based on Iran's proposal and the US achieving its military objectives.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council claimed "historic victory" after US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran and agreed to a two-week double-sided ceasefire. According to Press TV, the Supreme National Security Council claimed that nearly all of Iran's objectives of the war have been achieved.

"Iran achieved a historic victory by forcing the criminal US to accept its 10-point plan. The US has accepted Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, enrichment rights, and removal of all sanctions. The US has accepted to stop aggression, pay compensation for damages, withdraw it's forced from the region," Supreme National Security Council stated as reported by Iranian State media.

The Security Council claimed that the US pushed for a ceasefire for over a month, but Iran repeatedly rejected the deadlines, prioritising the country's objectives.

"It was decided from the very beginning that war would continue until objectives were achieved, including the enemy's regret and desperation, and removal of the long-term threat to the country. The war has thus continued until today, the fortieth day. Iran has repeatedly rejected the deadlines set by the US president and continues to emphasise that it attaches no importance to any kind of deadline from the enemy." the Council said, as per the Iranian state media.

"Now we give the great nation of Iran the good news that nearly all the objectives of the war have been achieved, and your brave children have brought the enemy to historic helplessness and lasting defeat. Iran's historic decision, backed by the unified support of the nation, is to continue the battle for as long as necessary, so its immense achievements are consolidated, & new security & political equations are created based on acceptance of Iran's power & sovereignty & that of resistance," they added.

This comes after suspending the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

The Iranian side has accepted US President Donald Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked.

"On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region.

"In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the US for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed Iran's participation in crucial peace talks with the US, but it is not immediately clear will represent Tehran at the negotiations in Islamabad.

IMAGE: Demonstrators protest against military action in Iran after US President Donald Trump said that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face widespread attacks on its civilian infrastructure, outside the White House in Washington, DC, US, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

Key Points The peace talks follow a conditional two-week ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran, including the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed gratitude for Iran's willingness to engage in negotiations aimed at restoring peace to the region.

Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to collaborating with allies to promote regional and global peace and stability through diplomatic efforts.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has confirmed Tehran's participation in Pakistan-facilitated peace talks with the US in Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday.

Shehbaz said he held a "warm and substantive" telephone conversation with President Pezeshkian, hours after the US and Iran agreed on a conditional two-week ceasefire that included the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for shipping.

"I conveyed my deep appreciation for the wisdom and sagacity of the Iranian leadership in accepting Pakistan's offer to host peace talks in Islamabad later this week to work jointly for the return of peace to the region," he said.

"President Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran's participation in the upcoming negotiations and expressed appreciation for Pakistan's efforts, while conveying his best wishes for the people of Pakistan," Shehbaz added.

It was not immediately clear who would represent Iran at the negotiations in Islamabad.

According to the PM Office, their conversation lasted for over 45 minutes.

Shehbaz also conveyed his respects to Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

"Pakistan remains committed to working closely with all its friends and partners to advance peace and stability in the region and beyond," he said.

Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact.

The US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
IMAGE: An Iranian missile flies towards Israel, as seen from Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Yosri Aljamal/Reuters

Key Points A gas processing facility in Abu Dhabi was ablaze after incoming Iranian fire.

Missile alerts also continued in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday.

Not clear if Iran's Revolutionary Guard endorses the ceasefire.

Associated Press reported on Wednesday morning that 'Israel and the United Arab Emirates both sounded missile alerts early Wednesday, despite Iran and the United States saying they had reached a two-week ceasefire in the war.'

'A gas processing facility in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, was ablaze after incoming Iranian fire, officials said,' AP reported.

'Missile alerts also continued in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait early Wednesday,' AP reported.

'Throughout the war,' AP explained, 'Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has called the shots in all decisions. Individual commanders have made decisions on what to strike and when, with the nation's political leadership sidelined.'

'Whether they agreed to stop shooting with the declared ceasefire and negotiations being planned in Islamabad remained in question,' AP reported.
This photo taken on April 8, 2026 shows an urban view in Tehran, Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said early Wednesday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible for a period of two weeks through coordination with the Iranian armed forces, with due consideration of technical limitations. (Xinhua/Shadati)

TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said early Wednesday that subject to coordination with the Iranian armed forces and consideration of technical limitations, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible for a period of two weeks.

Araghchi made the remarks in a post on the social media platform X, following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire earlier in the day between Iran, the United States and Israel.

He said if attacks against Iran are stopped, Iran's "powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations."

Araghchi praised Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir "for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region."

Separately, Iran's Supreme National Security Council said early Wednesday that the country has forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan to end the war.

The announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday that his decision is subject to Iran agreeing to "the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz."

On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, along with senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded by launching waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East. At the same time, it tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz by denying safe passage to vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States. 

This photo taken on April 8, 2026 shows an urban view in Tehran, Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said early Wednesday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible for a period of two weeks through coordination with the Iranian armed forces, with due consideration of technical limitations. (Xinhua/Shadati)
Israel will continue its offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 29, 2025. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu backs US move to pause strikes on Iran for two weeks.

The ceasefire is conditional on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and halting attacks.

Israel confirms operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon will continue.

Donald Trump calls Iran's 10-point plan 'workable' for peace talks.

Iran agrees to pause military action and allow safe passage through Hormuz if not attacked.

Israel has backed the United States decision to suspend strikes against Iran as the two sides look to work out a lasting peace formula.

A statement from Benjamin Netanyahu's office said, 'Israel supports President Donald Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel, and countries in the region.

'Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile, and terror threat to America, Israel, Irans Arab neighbours, and the world.'

Hezbollah Operations to Continue

However, Israel will continue its offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

"The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shared by the US, Israel, and Israels regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon," the statement said.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump suspended the 'bombing and attack' campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the 10-point proposal will serve as the basis for negotiating a permanent deal, while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

'Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided ceasefire!' Trump said.

Iran Responds with Conditional Pause

The Iranian side then accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, along with a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it was not attacked.

'Considering the request by the US for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal, as well as the announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,' Araghchi wrote.

With all sides agreeing to a pause in the military campaign, hopes are rising that the conflict, which began on March 28, may move towards an eventual resolution and that peace will prevail in West Asia.
In a major crackdown on terrorism, the Jammu and Kashmir government has terminated two employees accused of having links with terror organisations, reinforcing its commitment to eradicating terror from the government system.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Jammu and Kashmir government dismissed two employees for alleged connections to terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

The dismissals were enacted under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution, reflecting a 'zero-tolerance to terror' policy.

Farhat Ali Khanday, an education department employee, allegedly worked for Hizbul Mujahideen, using his position to revive militant activities.

Mohammad Shafi Dar, from the rural development department, allegedly supported Lashkar-e-Taiba by providing logistical and operational assistance.

The action is part of a broader crackdown in Jammu and Kashmir, with over 90 government employees dismissed for alleged terror links.

The Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday terminated the services of two government employees for their alleged links with terror outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, official sources said.

The dismissals were carried out under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution as part of the administration's "zero-tolerance to terror" policy, aimed at rooting out militant elements from government institutions.

Sinha had recently observed that he will not rest until "the last thread of the terror cancer is torn from the body of government machinery". He had also vowed that security agencies would "completely, decisively and permanently end the scourge of terrorism".

Details of the Dismissed Employees

One of those dismissed, Farhat Ali Khanday, a Class-IV employee in the education department in Ramban district, was allegedly working for Hizbul Mujahideen and using his government position as a cover to revive militant activities and build networks in the region, they said.

According to sources, Khanday first came under the radar of security agencies in 2011 during investigations into a hawala network involved in distributing funds to families of militants. He was arrested the same year but later secured bail and allegedly continued his activities.

Investigations revealed that he remained in contact with militant networks and acted as a facilitator. A chargesheet was filed against him in a special court in 2022, they said.

"We didn't know that Farhat was working for Hizbul Mujahideen until April 2011. His name came out during the interrogation of a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist, who was nabbed by Jammu and Kashmir Police for distributing terror money to seven terrorist families. Police picked up Farhat and put him behind bars, but in October 2011, he managed to get bail and continued his terror activities," official sources revealed.

The second employee, Mohammad Shafi Dar from Bandipora, was working in the rural development department and had been appointed on compassionate grounds, officials said.

He was allegedly acting as a terror associate of Lashkar-e-Taiba, providing logistical and operational support, including arranging safe houses, facilitating movement of militants, and sharing sensitive information about security forces, they added.

Dar was apprehended in April 2025 during a joint naka check. Arms and ammunition, including an AK-56 rifle and a grenade, were recovered from his possession, sources said.

Further investigation suggested that he had become an active operational associate and was allegedly involved in planning attacks on security forces.

Broader Crackdown on Terror Links

Officials said the action is part of a broader crackdown, under which more than 90 government employees with alleged terror links have been dismissed so far in Jammu and Kashmir.

Sinha has reiterated the administration's commitment to eliminating terrorism and ensuring that no element inimical to the state operates within the government system, they added.
Kerala is bracing for a pivotal assembly election where the ruling LDF, opposition UDF, and BJP-led NDA are locked in a fierce battle to shape the state's political future and governance.

IMAGE: International delegates from 5 countries under the International Election Visitors Programme arrive to witness the Kerala polls, in Kochi, Kerala, April 8, 2026. Photograph: @ECISVEEP X/ANI Photo

Key Points Kerala is holding a crucial assembly election with 2.71 crore voters deciding between the LDF, UDF, and NDA.

The ruling LDF, led by Pinarayi Vijayan, aims to break Kerala's alternating government trend by securing a third consecutive term.

The Congress-led UDF seeks to capitalise on perceived anti-incumbency and allegations of misgovernance to regain power.

The BJP-led NDA hopes to translate its increased vote share into Assembly seats, positioning itself as an alternative to the established fronts.

The election outcome will significantly impact Kerala's political trajectory, potentially reshaping the state's governance model and political dynamics.

Kerala is all set for a crucial assembly election, with 2.71 crore voters poised to cast their franchise in a decisive contest that will test the ruling Left Democratic Front's bid for a third consecutive term, the opposition United Democratic Front's comeback prospects, and the National Democratic Alliance's push to open its account in the state.

After nearly a month of intense campaigning, the southern state will go to the polls in a single phase, with voting to be held from 7 am to 6 pm across all 140 constituencies where 883 candidates are in the fray.

The electorate comprises 1.32 crore men, 1.39 crore women and 273 transgender persons, along with over 2.42 lakh overseas voters, underlining the scale of the electoral exercise, according to Election Commission figures.

The contest, though triangular, is rooted in Kerala's traditionally bipolar political landscape, where power has largely alternated between the LDF and the UDF.

The outcome of this election will indicate whether that pattern holds or if the state is headed towards a shift.

Key players and their strategies

For the Communist Party of India-Marxist-led ruling LDF, the polls are a high-stakes battle to retain power for a third straight term--an outcome that would be politically significant in a state known for voting out incumbent governments.

Led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the Left Front has foregrounded its 10-year governance record, highlighting infrastructure development, welfare schemes and crisis management.

However, the LDF faces challenges, including talks of anti-incumbency and questions raised after setbacks in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and recent local body elections.

The Left front has sought to counter these by projecting continuity, stability and delivery, while rejecting Opposition charges of corruption and misgovernance.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led UDF sees the election as a major opportunity to return to power, banking on Kerala's alternating voting trend and what it describes as growing public dissatisfaction with the incumbent government.

It has built its campaign around issues of governance, alleged corruption and the style of functioning of the Vijayan administration.

The UDF has also attempted to sharpen its political messaging by alleging an understanding between the CPI(M) and the BJP, while accusing the Left of links with outfits like the SDPI, the political arm of the banned Islamist outfit Popular Front of India (PFI).

It has projected itself as the principal force capable of countering the BJP's rise in the state and retaining its traditional support base.

For the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance, the election represents a critical moment in its efforts to expand in Kerala's assembly politics. Despite improving its vote share over successive elections, the alliance has so far failed to secure a seat in the assembly.

The NDA has positioned itself as an alternative to both the LDF and the UDF, arguing that the state has not seen adequate development under either front.

The party has drawn confidence from its improved performance in local body polls, including its win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, and is aiming to convert its vote share into seats.

Campaign dynamics and national involvement

The campaign, which lasted nearly a month, witnessed intense political exchanges and high-decibel rhetoric, with all three fronts engaging in sharp attacks and counter-attacks.

While the Opposition focused on corruption allegations, governance issues and political linkages, the LDF countered with its development narrative and questioned the track record of previous UDF governments.

The CPI-M also targeted the Congress over delays in rehabilitation efforts following the 2024 Wayanad landslide, raising questions about the utilisation of funds, while the UDF pointed to reported defections within the Left camp as a sign of internal strain.

National leaders played a prominent role in the campaign, reflecting the broader political significance of the election.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah led the NDA's outreach, while Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra campaigned extensively for the UDF.

Vijayan remained the central figure for the LDF, leading from the front.

With the conclusion of campaigning, the state has entered the mandatory 48-hour silence period after Tuesday evening, with parties shifting to low-key, door-to-door outreach to mobilise voters.

Implications of the election outcome

The outcome of the April 9 polls is expected to have significant implications for Kerala's political trajectory.

A victory for the LDF would mark a break from the state's alternating pattern and reinforce its governance model, while a UDF win would signal a return to the traditional cycle and a political reset.

For the NDA, even a modest breakthrough could alter the dynamics of Kerala politics by making the contest more competitive in the years ahead.
A Kotak Mahindra Bank official has been arrested in Haryana for his alleged involvement in a 150 crore fraud impacting Panchkula Municipal Corporation funds, highlighting a major corruption scandal.

Key Points A Kotak Mahindra Bank official has been arrested in connection with a 150 crore fraud involving Panchkula Municipal Corporation funds.

The bank official allegedly colluded with a municipal corporation officer to fraudulently liquidate fixed deposits.

The funds were allegedly transferred to fraudulent accounts and then to accounts of other accused individuals.

Five other individuals have already been arrested in connection with the discrepancies in the civic body's fixed deposit receipts.

The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is investigating the case, which involves cheating, conspiracy, and other charges.

Haryana's State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau on Wednesday arrested a private bank official in connection with a Rs 150-crore discrepancy in accounts of Panchkula Municipal Corporation at a local Kotak Mahindra Bank branch, an official said.

Pushpender Singh, the deputy vice-president of the bank, who had surrendered to the bureau earlier in the day, was arrested, an official said.

Pushpender earlier worked as the Panchkula branch manager, and later rose to the position of senior manager, and then to deputy vice president.

The official said that he will be produced before a court in Panchkula on Thursday and his remand will be sought for further questioning in the case.

Earlier, five people were arrested in connection with the discrepancies in the civic body's fixed deposit receipts.

Details of the Alleged Fraud

According to the vigilance bureau, Vikas Kaushik, an ex-senior accounts officer of Panchkula Municipal Corporation, in collusion with Pushpender Singh, fraudulently opened an account each for the civic body in 2020 and 2022.

Using alleged fraudulent debit notes, the fixed deposits held in the genuine municipality accounts would be prematurely liquidated, and Pushpender would allegedly transfer the money to the fraudulent accounts, which were then further transferred to the accounts of other accused.

The municipality had earlier claimed a multi-crore mismatch in its official records and the balance or records reflected in Kotak Mahindra Bank's Panchkula branch.

According to the Panchkula municipal commissioner, the discrepancies detected in the fixed deposit receipts were to the tune of Rs 150 crore.

Ongoing Investigation

The vigilance bureau earlier arrested Dileep Kumar Raghav, the relationship manager in the bank at the time of the fraud, and Rajat Dahra.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Raghav sent false reports to the Panchkula Municipal Corporation regarding the fixed deposits.

The State Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (SVACB) earlier filed an FIR on cheating, conspiracy and other charges against unnamed bank officials and others.

The case was registered at the Anti-Corruption Bureau Police Station in Panchkula.
A man involved in an international job trafficking ring that lured Indian job seekers to Myanmar cyber scam operations has been arrested in Mumbai, highlighting the ongoing fight against human trafficking and online fraud.

Key Points A man has been arrested in Mumbai for his alleged involvement in trafficking job seekers from Jharkhand to cyber scam compounds in Myanmar.

The suspect is accused of luring youths with promises of lucrative overseas jobs and then forcing them into online fraud operations.

The arrest was made following a case registered in Ranchi concerning violations of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, IT Act, and Emigration Act.

Authorities are investigating to identify more victims and apprehend other individuals connected to the international trafficking network.

A man, who was allegedly part of an international network that trafficked job seekers from Jharkhand to cyberscam compounds in Myanmar, was arrested by the state CID from Mumbai, a statement said on Wednesday.

Daud Ahmad, who hails from Patna, was arrested from the Dongri police station area of Mumbai on April 6, the Jharkhand CID said.

The network trafficked unsuspecting job seekers from Jharkhand to cyberscam compounds in Myanmar, where they were coerced into participating in organised online fraud, it said.

The arrest was made based on a case registered at the Cyber Crime police station in Ranchi on December 9 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, IT Act and the Emigration Act, it added.

"Investigation revealed that the accused, in active conspiracy with associates based both within India and abroad, lured youths by offering lucrative overseas employment opportunities. He then facilitated their travel and subsequent placement in cyber fraud operations operating from foreign locations," the statement said.

One of his key associates, Sartaj Alam of Jamshedpur, was earlier arrested.

Ongoing Investigation into Cyber Scam Network

"Investigation is underway to identify additional victims, trace financial transactions, and apprehend other co-accused persons connected to the interstate and international network," the statement said.
A Belgian court has advised the government to approve the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi to India on multiple fraud charges related to the Punjab National Bank loan scam, marking a significant step in the legal proceedings.

Photograph: PTI Photo from the Rediff Archives

Key Points The Antwerp Court of Appeal has advised the Belgian government to extradite Mehul Choksi to India on six of seven charges.

The court found that most of the alleged crimes Choksi is accused of in India are also punishable under Belgian law, satisfying reciprocity requirements for extradition.

A negative advice was given on the count of 'tampering or destroying of evidence', as it is not punishable in Belgium.

The court found no direct proof of Indian government involvement in Choksi's alleged abduction from Antigua and Barbuda.

India has provided assurances to Belgium regarding Choksi's safety, fair trial, prison arrangements, and human rights if extradited.

The Antwerp Court of Appeal has given a positive advice to the Belgian government to clear fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi's extradition on six of the seven counts of alleged charges he is facing in India.

In its advice to the Belgian government on April 3, the 'kamer van inbeschuldiging' (chamber of accusation) of The Antwerp Court of Appeal has said that all the alleged crimes for which Choksi is wanted in India -- criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery or fraud, forgery of accounts, obtaining illegal gains by an official or embezzlement, and criminal misconduct -- are also punishable by Belgian Law fulfilling the condition of reciprocity.

It, however, gave a negative advice on the count of "tampering or destroying of evidence", which is not punishable in Belgium, Ken Witpas, Advocaat-Generaal, Antwerp, told PTI.

According to the procedure in Belgium, the confidential advice has been sent to the government, which will now decide on India's extradition request.

In its advice, the Antwerp Court of Appeal has said there is no immediate and direct proof that the "Indian government had any involvement" in Choksi's alleged abduction from Antigua and Barbuda in 2021, he said.

If any objective elements would yet emerge out of the ongoing investigations in Antigua or the UK concerning this matter, elements that could link the Indian government to this abduction, the risk of being tortured, "to the opinion of the court, couldn't be excluded," Witpas said.

It said that there is an applicable legal base for extradition between the Kingdom of Belgium and India, he said.

The Court of Appeal also said the crime "tampering or destroying of evidence" is not punishable by Belgian Law and is therefore excluded as a possible ground for extradition.

The court held that crimes for which Choksi is under suspicion is not restricted or limited by statutory limits, neither by Belgian nor by Indian Law, and that these crimes can neither be considered as political, military, nor as an excluded fiscal offence.

It said there are no reasons to believe that Choksi will be prosecuted or potentially punished in India based solely on grounds of his race, beliefs, nationality, or political preferences, or that his position on similar grounds will be affected unfavourably.

It advised that elements raised by the defence regarding risks of denial of Law, fair trial, torture or inhumane treatment (such as prison circumstances) were considered as not made plausible by the defence.

Background on Choksi's Extradition Case

In December last year, Belgium's supreme court -- the Court of Cassation -- had rejected Choksi's appeal challenging his extradition to India in connection with Rs 13,000 crore alleged Punjab National Bank loan fraud, authorities in that country said.

India sent an extradition request to Belgium on August 27, 2024, based on arrest warrants issued by the special court in Mumbai.

The public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance in Antwerp, Division Turnhout, had initiated an action on November 25, 2024, seeking the enforcement of arrest warrants issued by the Mumbai court.

The pre-trial chamber of the Antwerp District Court, Turnhout Division, in its order dated November 29, 2024, had held that the arrest warrants against Choksi issued by the Mumbai court were enforceable, except for the order related to "causing the disappearance of evidence of the crime".

When Choksi appealed against this verdict in the Antwerp Court of Appeals, it had rejected his claims that he personally faces a real, present and serious risk of being subjected to flagrant denial of justice, torture or inhuman and degrading treatment in India.

India has given a number of assurances to Belgium about Choksi's safety, the charges that he would be tried in India, prison arrangements, human rights and medical needs.

The Court of Appeals had ruled that 66-year-old Choksi faces "no risk" of being denied a fair trial or subjected to ill-treatment if he is extradited to India.

Dismissing Choksi's appeal against the district court, the Court of Appeals had held that the businessman failed to provide "concretely plausible" evidence of a "genuine risk" of torture or denial of justice.
Pakistani security forces neutralised six militants in Balochistan during an intelligence-based operation, thwarting a planned attack and seizing a cache of weapons.

Key Points Pakistani security forces killed six militants in Balochistan during an intelligence-led operation.

The militants belonged to a banned organisation and were reportedly planning an attack.

The operation took place in the Kirdgab area of Mastung town.

Security forces seized a significant amount of arms and ammunition from the militants.

Some militants escaped into the mountains during the operation.

Pakistani security forces have killed six militants during an intelligence-based operation in the troubled Balochistan province, an official said on Wednesday.

Counter Terrorism Department official Mehtab Rehmani said the militants belonging to a banned outfit were killed in the Kirdgab area of Mastung town on Tuesday.

Rehmani said the operation was carried out after intelligence reports that militants were hiding in the area and preparing an attack.

The security forces cordoned off the area and launched the operation, killing six militants. However, some militants managed to escape into the mountains, he said.

Rehmani said a large quantity of arms and ammunition was seized from their possession.
Following a surge in murders, a Maharashtra legislator is sounding the alarm over Nanded's escalating crime rates, rampant extortion, and the proliferation of illegal firearms, urging immediate police action.

Key Points Five murders in three days in Nanded, Maharashtra, have raised concerns about law and order.

A Shiv Sena legislator claims there is a proliferation of illegal firearms in Nanded.

Extortion is reportedly rampant, with students and businessmen being targeted.

The legislator calls for the establishment of a police commissionerate in Nanded.

Criminals are allegedly fleeing to Telangana and Karnataka after committing crimes in Nanded.

With the Nanded city in central Maharashtra recording five murders within three days, Shiv Sena legislator Hemant Patil on Wednesday expressed concern over the law and order situation and claimed that there was an alarming proliferation of illegal firearms in the area.

Extortion was also rampant in the city, he said.

"If a search is conducted, at least 1,500 to 2,000 illegal pistols would be found in Nanded. Nobody has any fear (of law) here," said Patil, a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

A 35-year-old Shiv Sena worker was stabbed to death in the city on Monday. Three persons had died in a clash between two gangs and another person was killed under the jurisdiction of Vazirabad police station over the weekend.

As Nanded is near the borders of Telangana and Karnataka, criminals run away to these states after committing a crime here, Patil told reporters.

Extortion Concerns and Impact on Students and Businesses

The MLC also claimed that students who come to Nanded for education face extortion. "Their laptops and mobile phone are taken, and they are also beaten up. There is a need to establish a police commissionerate in Nanded at the earliest," he said.

"Hundreds of crores of rupees were collected from Nanded's businessmen in recent days. Many businessmen have left the city. So the political leaders should take a strong stand and must not give shelter to criminals irrespective of their political links," the MLC said.
The NHRC has demanded a report from Gujarat's top cop after allegations surfaced that a journalist was unlawfully detained and tortured by police, raising serious human rights concerns.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of reports alleging unlawful apprehension and torture of a journalist by the Rajkot Crime Branch police in Gujarat.

The journalist was allegedly stripped, suspended upside down, and physically tortured, resulting in serious injuries.

The NHRC has issued a notice to the Gujarat DGP, seeking a detailed report on the investigation and the journalist's health within two weeks.

Reports suggest the police threatened Rajkot Civil Hospital staff against admitting the journalist and threatened him with false criminal cases and demolition of his house.

The NHRC views the allegations as a serious violation of human rights if proven true.

The NHRC on Wednesday said it has issued a notice to the Gujarat police chief over reports that a journalist was allegedly apprehended last month in an unlawful manner by police authorities and also subjected to "physical torture".

The journalist was allegedly stripped, suspended upside down and subjected to physical torture resulting in serious injuries to him, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) said in a statement quoting reports.

The rights panel said it has taken "suo motu cognisance" of a media report that on March 22, a journalist was "apprehended in an unlawful manner by the Rajkot Crime Branch police in Gujarat".

Reportedly, the police tried to "threaten" the Rajkot Civil Hospital staff against admitting the victim, it said in a statement.

He was also threatened that "false criminal cases" would be registered against him and that his house would be demolished, NHRC said, quoting the reports.

NHRC Intervention

The Commission has observed that the content of the media report, if true, raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of the journalist.

Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Gujarat DGP, seeking a detailed report in two weeks, including the present status of the investigation and the health of the victim.

According to the news report, carried on March 29, the journalist operates an online media outlet. The report has also revealed extensive details of the "injuries caused to him due to the alleged torture", it said.

He was admitted to the Rajkot Civil Hospital on March 23, the statement added.
Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held informal talks from April 1 to 7 in Urumqi, the provincial capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

IMAGE: Residents gather at the site, following Pakistani airstrikes, in Bihsud district, Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, February 22, 2026. Photograph: Reuters

Key Points

China-mediated talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan concluded without a formal agreement, focusing on resolving their differences through dialogue.

Pakistan accuses Afghanistan of harbouring members of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), leading to regional instability.

China highlights terrorism as a core issue affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, acknowledging the significance of the Urumqi process for future dialogue.

UN experts have questioned Pakistan's evidence linking TTP attacks to Afghanistan, adding complexity to the discussions.

Both Pakistan and Afghanistan reaffirmed their relationship as 'Muslim brothers and close neighbours,' emphasizing the importance of regional peace and stability.

The week-long China-mediated talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan to end fighting concluded without an agreement, with Beijing maintaining that Islamabad and Kabul have agreed to explore a "comprehensive solution" to resolve their differences.

Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held informal talks from April 1 to 7 in Urumqi, the provincial capital of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

The China-facilitated talks were the first major diplomatic engagement between the two neighbours since Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in late February to target alleged terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan.

Pakistan accuses the Taliban-led Afghan government of sheltering the members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militant groups, which are carrying out insurgency in Pakistan with recurring attacks in several provinces.

Mao said officials from the three sides had candid and pragmatic discussions in a good atmosphere, following a problem-focused, result-oriented, and action-driven approach.

The three sides stressed that dialogue and consultation are the viable and effective way to resolve complex international disputes, including that of Pakistan and Afghanistan, she said.

They agreed to explore a comprehensive solution to address issues in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, identifying both core and priority concerns, Mao said.

Asked whether Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to meet again, Mao said, "I think it is important consensus to stay in touch, and the Urumqi process is quite meaningful. We can expect more communication at all levels in future."

China emphasised that terrorism is a core issue affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, Mao said, without explicitly backing Islamabad's allegations of Kabul sheltering militant groups.

For its part, China too has its concerns over the reported presence of Uyghur militants of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement fighting for the separation of China's Xinjiang province in Afghanistan.

UN Report Complicates Talks

For Pakistan, the talks were complicated by a report of UN experts saying that Islamabad's allegations of the presence of militants in Afghanistan lacked credible evidence.

Last month, UN experts urged the two nations to commit to a permanent ceasefire, while adding that Pakistan had not published credible evidence that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) attacks within its territory were directed or controlled by the de facto Afghan authorities.

The report, released by the UN human rights office of the high commissioner, said that Pakistan's attack on Afghanistan violates the prohibition on the use of force under Article 2 of the United Nations Charter and international law.

For its part, Pakistan questioned the position of UN human rights experts about the lack of credible evidence linking TTP attacks to Afghan soil, claiming that multiple UN and international reports have pointed it out, Pakistan's state-run APP news agency reported.

Afghanistan has consistently denied sheltering groups and asked Islamabad to take action, claiming that these groups are active in Pakistan.

The talks in Urumqi involved mid-level officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Outcomes and Future Dialogue

Summarising the outcome of the talks, Mao said the Afghan and Pakistani sides reaffirmed that the two countries are Muslim brothers and close neighbours.

The three parties recognised that due to complex and turbulent international and regional situations, maintaining good-neighbourly relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan is crucial for the well-being of their peoples and for peace and stability in South Asia.

The three sides underscored that dialogue and consultation represent a realistic and effective approach to resolving complex international disputes, including the differences between Afghanistan and Pakistan, she said.

China emphasised that terrorism is a core issue affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, Mao said. The three parties acknowledged the substantive significance of the Urumqi process and agreed to maintain communication and dialogue on this matter, she added.
WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States is in talks with Iran over "tariff and sanctions relief," while also threatening 50-percent tariffs on any country supplying weapons to Tehran.

"The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!" Trump said on his Truth Social account.

There will be "no enrichment of Uranium," and the United States would cooperate with Iran to dig up and remove deeply buried "nuclear dust," he said.

He noted that many parts of the U.S.-proposed 15-point ceasefire plan have already been agreed to.

Minutes later, in a separate post, Trump threatened 50-percent tariffs "effective immediately" on any country supplying military weapons to Iran. "There will be no exclusions or exemptions!" he said.

On Tuesday, the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. The two sides are scheduled to begin negotiations in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Friday.

In response to Washington's ceasefire plan, Tehran put forward a 10-point proposal that includes a U.S. commitment to ensure no further acts of aggression, continued Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of Iran's nuclear enrichment rights, and the lifting of sanctions, among others, Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported. 
'On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region.'

IMAGE: The rubble of a building of the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, April 7, 2026, which was damaged in a strike. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

Key Points 'Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.'

'I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.'

'For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.'

In what will bring relief to the world the Iranian side has accepted United States President Donald Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked.

'On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region.

'In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the US for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations.

'For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,' Araghchi wrote.

The two-week pause is likely to lead to further comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran and a possible peace summit in Islamabad.

Earlier, Trump suspended the 'bombing and attack' campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives.

'Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!' Trump said.

'The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate,' Trump added.

Trump said that Iran has agreed to almost all the various points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised.

'Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalised and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-term problem close to resolution,' he said.

With both sides agreeing to a pause in the Military campaign hope springs that the conflict which started on March 28 will now come to an eventual end peace will prevail in West Asia.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council claimed 'historic victory' after Trump suspended the 'bombing and attack' campaign on Iran and agreed to a two-week double-sided ceasefire.

According to Press TV, the Supreme National Security Council claimed that nearly all of Iran's objectives of the war have been achieved.

'Iran achieved a historic victory by forcing the criminal US to accept its 10-point plan. The US has accepted Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, enrichment rights, and removal of all sanctions. The US has accepted to stop aggression, pay compensation for damages, withdraw its forces from the region,' Supreme National Security Council stated as reported by Iranian state media.

The Security Council claimed that the US pushed for a ceasefire for over a month, but Iran repeatedly rejected the deadlines, prioritising the country's objectives.

'It was decided from the very beginning that war would continue until objectives were achieved, including the enemy's regret and desperation, and removal of the long-term threat to the country. The war has thus continued until today, the fortieth day.

'Iran has repeatedly rejected the deadlines set by the US president and continues to emphasise that it attaches no importance to any kind of deadline from the enemy.

'Now we give the great nation of Iran the good news that nearly all the objectives of the war have been achieved, and your brave children have brought the enemy to historic helplessness and lasting defeat.

'Iran's historic decision, backed by the unified support of the nation, is to continue the battle for as long as necessary, so its immense achievements are consolidated, & new security & political equations are created based on acceptance of Iran's power & sovereignty & that of Resistance,' they added.

Israel has agreed to the terms of the two-week US-Iran ceasefire agreement, Associated Press reported, quoting White House official.

Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire between the US and Iran, says it extends to Israel and Hezbollah fighting in Lebanon, reported Associated Press.
The chairman of AICC's media and publicity department, who showed his residential address in Hyderabad, requested the court to release him on bail in the event of his arrest.

IMAGE: Congress leader Pawan Khera addresses a press conference in New Delhi. Photograph: ANI Photo

A day after the Assam police searched his Delhi residence, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday moved the Telangana high court seeking anticipatory bail in a case filed in Guwahati in connection with his allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's wife.

Key Points The petition was filed on April 7 and will be taken up on Thursday morning.

Khera named the DCP Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station and the Telangana government as respondents to the petition.

In his petition for anticipatory bail, Khera has pleaded that he is a law-abiding citizen, has no criminal antecedents and holds a responsible position in the principal opposition party.

The chairman of AICC's media and publicity department, who showed his residential address in Hyderabad, requested the court to release him on bail in the event of his arrest.

Khera's wife hails from Telangana and he has a residence in Hyderabad. The state is ruled by the Congress.

The petition was filed on April 7 and will be taken up on Thursday morning. Khera named the DCP Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station and the Telangana government as respondents to the petition.

In his petition for anticipatory bail, Khera has pleaded that he is a law-abiding citizen, has no criminal antecedents and holds a responsible position in the principal opposition party. The Congress leader said he is ready to cooperate in the case against him and hence be given pre-arrest bail.

The Congress leader had, in a press conference on April 5, alleged that Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, has multiple passports and foreign property, which were not declared in the chief minister's election affidavit. The allegations were rejected as "false, fabricated and malicious" by the Sarmas.

On a complaint by the CM's wife, the case was registered in the Guwahati Crime Branch Police Station against Khera under several sections of the BNS, including 175 (false statement in connection with an election), 35 (Right of private defence of the body and of property) and 318 (cheating).

An Assam Police team had earlier visited the Delhi residence of Khera for questioning him, but did not find him there. It carried out a search and claimed that "incriminating" material was found.

Sarma on Tuesday slammed the Congress for "not verifying" the documents based on which it levelled allegations against him and his family. The CM asserted that Khera had "run away" to Hyderabad, but the Assam Police will "hunt him down even from 'pataal' (netherworld)".

In a recorded video addressed to the Assam chief minister from an undisclosed location, Khera on Wednesday accused the BJP leader of "unleashing" the state police on him instead of addressing the opposition party's questions.

"Our party had only asked you some questions. Why do you want to silence us? We have asked questions; give us the replies."

He added, "Instead of replying, you are hurling abuses at everyone, you have set the police after me. I am not afraid of them. But I am avoiding them as I have more questions to ask."

Assam will go to polls on Thursday.
A Pune doctor was scammed out of 12.31 crore in a sophisticated online share trading fraud involving a fake trading app and a deceptive WhatsApp group, highlighting the growing risks of investment scams.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points A 75-year-old doctor in Pune lost 12.31 crore in an online share trading scam.

The victim was added to a WhatsApp group promoting 'recommended' stocks and a fraudulent trading application.

Fraudsters built credibility by showing fabricated profits and threatened the victim to continue investing.

The victim made eight transactions totalling 12.31 crore before realising he was scammed when he tried to withdraw funds.

Police have registered an FIR and initiated a probe to trace the accused and the money trail in the online share trading fraud.

A 75-year-old medical practitioner was duped of Rs 12.31 crore in an online share trading scam with fraudsters allegedly coercing him into making multiple investments, police said on Wednesday.

According to police, the victim received a message from an unidentified number in the last week of January containing a list of "recommended" stocks along with a link.

On clicking the link, he was added to a WhatsApp group where the administrators claimed to be senior executives of a global financial management firm. One of them also purportedly claimed to be an author on stock market dynamics, police said.

Investigators said the group was used to build credibility, with members, believed to be part of the racket, posting messages showing substantial profits from investments.

"After expressing interest, the doctor was directed to a fraudulent trading application resembling the name of a reputed international firm. He was asked to share personal and financial details before being instructed to transfer funds to multiple bank accounts," police said, adding that the amounts transferred were reflected as investments on the fake platform, along with fabricated profits.

The Scam Unfolds

Between March 7 and March 18, the victim made eight transactions totalling Rs 12.31 crore. When he hesitated to invest further, the accused allegedly threatened to seize his properties, forcing him to continue transferring money, police added.

The application later showed notional returns of Rs 54 crore. However, when the victim sought to withdraw funds, he was again threatened, following which he realised he had been cheated.

Police Investigation

An FIR has been registered with the cyber police station based on the doctor's complaint, and a probe has been initiated to trace the accused and the money trail, police added.
A real estate agent in Palghar, Maharashtra, has been arrested for a significant land grabbing scheme involving illegal sale and construction, highlighting the risks of property fraud.

Key Points A real estate agent in Palghar, Maharashtra, has been arrested for allegedly grabbing and illegally selling 5.25 acres of land.

The accused allegedly sold the land to a builder without completing the transaction with the original landowner, leading to the construction of an unauthorised chawl.

The real estate agent is accused of cheating both the landowner and the buyers of the chawl units.

The accused allegedly threatened the landowner with dire consequences, including death threats, when confronted about payment.

The accused faces multiple charges, including cheating, criminal intimidation, and assault, and has a history of at least 11 cases against him.

A 48-year-old real estate agent has been arrested for allegedly grabbing and illegally selling another person's land in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said on Wednesday.

Accused Surendra Pratap Singh, alias Randha, had allegedly taken possession of 210 'gunthas' (nearly 5.25 acres) belonging to the complainant in Rajavali village between 2020 and 2025, the official said.

Details of the Land Fraud

"Singh sold it to a builder without completing the agreed transaction with the landowner," said senior inspector Pramod Badakh of crime unit-IV of Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar police.

Subsequently, an unauthorised chawl was constructed on the land, and Singh sold the units, thereby cheating both the complainant and buyers, he said.

"When the complainant approached the accused demanding payment for his land, he was abused and threatened with dire consequences, including death threats," the official said.

Legal Action and Investigation

A case was registered against Singh at Waliv police station on April 2, under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections concerning cheating, criminal intimidation and assault, he said.

Singh has been remanded in police custody till April 10, he said.

Police said a background check showed that the accused faces at least 11 cases.

Further investigation is underway, the official added.
Businessman Rajesh Bothra has been granted bail by the Allahabad High Court in the Rotomac scam case, raising questions about the ongoing investigation and potential delays in the trial.

Key Points The Allahabad High Court granted bail to Rajesh Bothra in connection with the Rotomac scam, citing potential delays in the trial.

Bothra is accused of involvement in the Rotomac Exim Private Limited fraud, which allegedly defrauded a bank through forged documents and fabricated transactions.

The CBI registered an FIR in 2020, alleging that Rotomac Exim Private Limited and its promoters defaulted on repayments after obtaining credit facilities fraudulently.

The court considered that Bothra was not arrested during the investigation and has cooperated, and that there was no evidence of bail misuse in other related cases.

The Allahabad High Court has granted bail to businessman Rajesh Bothra in connection with a case pertaining to the Rotomac "scam", observing that the trial is likely to be prolonged.

The order was passed on Tuesday by Justice Rajiv Singh of the court's Lucknow bench while allowing Bothra's bail application.

According to the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Rotomac Exim Private Limited and its promoters allegedly defrauded a bank by obtaining credit facilities through forged documents, false bills of lading and fabricated transactions and later, defaulted on repayments.

An FIR in the matter was lodged in 2020.

Senior advocate Gaurav Mehrotra, appearing in the court for the petitioner, argued that Bothra has been falsely implicated in the case and that he has cooperated with the investigation throughout, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also submitted that the accused is on bail in other related cases and has not violated any conditions.

Opposing the plea, CBI's counsel Anurag Kumar Singh contended that Bothra played a crucial role in the alleged fraud and carried out transactions through his companies to mislead the bank.

After hearing both sides, the court noted that the accused was not arrested during the investigation and that there was no material to show misuse of bail.

Considering these factors and the likelihood of a delay in the trial, the court granted bail to Bothra.
The RSS has filed police complaints against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, alleging his comparison of the RSS and BJP to a 'poisonous snake' during an Assam election rally incited communal hatred and violated election laws.

IMAGE: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Photograph: AICC/ANI Photo

Key Points RSS files police complaints against Mallikarjun Kharge for comparing RSS and BJP ideology to a 'poisonous snake'.

The RSS alleges Kharge's remarks were derogatory, provocative, and communally sensitive, made during an election rally in Assam.

The complaint claims Kharge's statement violates the Representation of the People Act and promotes enmity between political groups.

RSS asserts the remarks could incite hostility and violence against RSS and BJP workers and supporters.

The RSS fears Kharge's comments could lead to communal tensions and disrupt public peace in Assam.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on Wednesday said it has filed complaints at two police stations in Assam against Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for allegedly comparing the ideology of the organisation and the Bharatiya Janata Party with a 'poisonous snake' at an election rally.

The complaints were filed to seek legal action over alleged 'derogatory, provocative, and communally sensitive' statements made during a recent election rally in south Assam, a RSS spokesman said

In the complaints, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh alleged that the Congress chief had made controversial remarks during an election rally in Nilambazar under the Karimganj South assembly constituency in Sribhumi district.

"If a poisonous snake is moving in front of you while you are offering namaaz, you must stop the prayer and rush to kill the poisonous snake first - that is what the Quran prescribes you to do. I tell you that the RSS and BJP are like that same poisonous snake," Kharge was quoted as saying in the complaints.

The RSS expressed serious concern, claiming that such remarks were 'inflammatory in nature and capable of inciting hostility, intimidation, and violence against workers and supporters of the RSS and the BJP'.

Legal Basis of the RSS Complaint

The complaints pointed out that the statement constitutes a 'corrupt electoral practice under Section 83 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the remarks criminally intimidated the public and promoted enmity between supporters of different political and social groups'.

Describing the ideology of RSS and BJP as 'poisonous' and calling for their elimination could encourage 'bodily harm against members and supporters of these organisations', the complaints said.

Kharge's remarks attempt to promote 'communal division between Hindu and Muslim communities, potentially disturbing public peace and harmony in Assam and influencing the electoral environment', the RSS said.

The complainants also claimed that such statements might lead to communal tensions or clashes if not addressed promptly by authorities.

The complaints were filed by RSS' North Assam secretary Khagen Saikia at Dispur Police Station and South Assam's secretary Jyotsnamoy Chakraborty at Silchar PS.

The BJP had also filed complaints on the same allegations at the Basishta Police Station here and with the Election Commission on Tuesday.
Sudipta Sen, the central figure in the massive Saradha ponzi scheme, has been granted conditional bail by the Calcutta High Court, potentially ending his 13-year imprisonment and raising questions about the future of the case.

Key Points Sudipta Sen, the main accused in the Saradha ponzi scam, has been granted conditional bail by the Calcutta High Court.

Sen's bail in the remaining cases paves the way for his release after 13 years of incarceration.

The court has imposed strict conditions on Sen's bail, including surrendering his passport and restrictions on leaving West Bengal.

Sen is prohibited from engaging with any financial entity or influencing witnesses related to the Saradha scam.

Debjani Mukherjee, a close associate of Sen, has already been granted bail in the cases against her.

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to multi-crore Saradha ponzi scam accused Sudipta Sen in the last two of the 300-odd criminal cases against him, paving the way for his release from jail after 13 years. A division bench of the high court granted bail to Sen in two cases pertaining to the Barasat police station in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

Sen has already been granted bail in all the other cases registered against him, including four criminal cases by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The court directed that Sen be released upon furnishing a bond of Rs 5,000 with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local.

The Saradha group, headed by Sen, allegedly defrauded lakhs of people through a number of ponzi schemes. He was arrested in April 2013 in Jammu and Kashmir after financial misappropriations to the tune of hundreds of crores of Rupees were unravelled.

The division bench, comprising justices Rajarshi Bharadwaj and Uday Kumar, directed that in view of the magnitude of the financial scam and the necessity to safeguard public interest, Sen must surrender his passport to the trial court if not already in the custody of any other agency.

Prohibiting Sen from leaving the territorial limits of West Bengal without the prior written permission of the high court, the division bench directed the financial scam accused to provide his residential address to the officer in charge of Barasat police station and not to change his place of stay without prior intimation to both the police and the trial court.

Bail Conditions for Sudipta Sen

"The petitioner is strictly restrained from promoting, managing, or acting as an agent or consultant for any financial entity," the court directed.

Sen was further directed not to contact, influence or intimidate any person acquainted with the facts of the cases, specifically the complainants and prosecution witnesses. He was also directed to attend every date of trial, either via virtual mode or physical appearance.

Along with Sen, his close associate Debjani Mukherjee was also arrested from Sonmarg in Jammu and Kashmir 13 years ago. She has already been granted bail in the cases registered against her.
After 13 years, Saradha ponzi scheme accused Sudipta Sen has been granted bail by the Calcutta High Court, highlighting the complexities and delays in India's financial crime cases.

Key Points Sudipta Sen, the key accused in the Saradha ponzi scam, has been granted conditional bail by the Calcutta High Court after 13 years in jail.

The court cited the fundamental right to a speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution as a key reason for granting bail.

Sen has already been granted bail in 387 out of 389 cases, including all CBI matters, without any reports of obstructive conduct.

The court has imposed restrictions on Sen, including surrendering his passport and not leaving West Bengal without prior permission.

The trial court has been directed to expedite the trial and reconstruct missing records related to the case.

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to multi-crore Saradha ponzi scam accused Sudipta Sen in the last two of the over 300 criminal cases against him, paving the way for his release from jail after 13 years.

The court observed that the right to a speedy trial is inalienable under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the fundamental right to protection of life and personal liberty.

A division bench of the high court granted bail to Sen in two cases pertaining to the Barasat police station in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.

"When an individual is detained for 13 years, a period nearly doubles the maximum sentence for the offences charged, the detention shifts from preventive to punitive," the division bench comprising Justices Rajarshi Bharadwaj and Uday Kumar observed.

The court noted that Sen has been granted bail in 387 out of 389 cases, including all CBI matters, without any report of obstructive conduct.

"To deny bail now, in the face of a 'stalemate' admitted by the state, would be to sanction an indefinite life sentence without conviction," the bench said.

The court directed that Sen be released upon furnishing a bond of Rs 5,000 with two sureties of like amount each, one of whom must be local.

The Saradha group, headed by Sen, allegedly defrauded lakhs of people through a number of ponzi schemes. He was arrested in April 2013 in Jammu and Kashmir after financial misappropriations to the tune of hundreds of crores of Rupees were unravelled.

Conditions of Bail

The division bench directed that in view of the magnitude of the financial scam and the necessity to safeguard public interest, Sen must surrender his passport to the trial court if not already in the custody of any other agency.

Prohibiting Sen from leaving the territorial limits of West Bengal without the prior written permission of the high court, the division bench directed the financial scam accused to provide his residential address to the officer in charge of Barasat police station and not to change his place of stay without prior intimation to both the police and the trial court.

"The petitioner is strictly restrained from promoting, managing, or acting as an agent or consultant for any financial entity," the court directed.

Sen was further directed not to contact, influence or intimidate any person acquainted with the facts of the cases, specifically the complainants and prosecution witnesses.

He was also directed to attend every date of trial, either via virtual mode or physical appearance.

Along with Sen, his close associate Debjani Mukherjee was also arrested from Sonmarg in Jammu and Kashmir 13 years ago. She has already been granted bail in the cases registered against her.

Arguments for Bail

Praying for Sen's bail, his counsel Sabir Ahamed argued that the petitioner, now 64 years of age, suffers from multiple life-threatening co-morbidities and recently survived a brain stroke.

He submitted that the petitioner's pre-trial detention has already exceeded double the maximum sentence he might have served upon conviction.

Advocate for the state contended that the Saradha Group's operations lured investors with promises of high returns, only to defraud them of their principal amounts, leading to charges for cheating and criminal breach of trust.

Granting bail to Sen, the court said that the prolonged detention, the admitted administrative failures, and the petitioner's critical medical condition necessitate judicial intervention.

Trial Court Directives

The division bench directed the trial court to take immediate steps for the reconstruction of missing records in one of the two cases before it.

It directed the chief judicial magistrate to submit a status report regarding the progress of the reconstruction to the Registrar (Judicial Service) of the high court within four weeks.

In respect of the other case registered in Barasat, the division bench directed the state to ensure that the mandatory "police papers" under the CrPC are served upon the petitioner within three weeks from the date of his release.

It further directed that once the records are reconstructed and papers are supplied, the trial court will endeavour to conduct the trial on a day-to-day basis to the extent possible.
Following a newly-brokered ceasefire, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extends an invitation to the US and Iran to hold peace negotiations in Islamabad, aiming to resolve disputes and foster stability in the Gulf region.

IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photograph: Pakistan's Press Information Department (PID)/Handout via Reuters

Key Points Pakistan's PM Shehbaz Sharif welcomes the US-Iran ceasefire and offers to host peace talks in Islamabad.

The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with Iran agreeing to safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

Donald Trump cited Pakistan's request as a factor in his decision to suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks.

Iran has agreed to halt military operations if it is not attacked, paving the way for negotiations.

The 'Islamabad Talks' aim to achieve sustainable peace between the US and Iran, potentially leading to a peace summit.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, and invited their delegation to Islamabad on Friday, April 10, to negotiate a permanent deal.

"With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Pakistan PM said in a post on X.

"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," he added.

Pakistan's PM hailed both countries for their efforts to bring peace and stability in the Gulf region.

"Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in the coming days!" he said.

US Response to Ceasefire

US President Donald Trump announced a two-week double-sided ceasefire and said that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

Iran's Agreement and Conditions

Iran also agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked.

"In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote.

The two-week pause is likely to lead to further comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran and a possible peace summit in Islamabad.
Lapid said the Israeli military carried out everything that was asked of it, but Netanyahu failed politically and strategically.

IMAGE: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Pool/Reuters

Key Points Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid calls ceasefire outcome a 'political disaster' for Israel.

He says Israel was not involved in key decisions on national security.

Lapid accused Benjamin Netanyahu of strategic and political failure.

Israel officially backs US-Iran ceasefire with conditions.

Military action against Hezbollah to continue despite truce.

Leader of the Opposition in the Israeli Parliament, Yair Lapid, on Wednesday questioned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position after the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, saying Israel was not even at the table when the decision was made.

Lapid said the Israeli military carried out everything that was asked of it, but Netanyahu failed politically and strategically.

In a post on X, he said, 'There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history. Israel wasn't even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security. The military carried out everything that was asked of it, the public demonstrated amazing resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn't meet a single one of the goals that he himself set. It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu wrought due to arrogance, negligence, and a lack of strategic planning.'

Israel Backs US Ceasefire Move

Earlier in the day, Israel backed the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran as the two sides look to work out a lasting peace formula.

A statement from Netanyahu's office said, 'Israel supports President Donald Trumps decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel, and countries in the region.

'Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile, and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbours, and the world.'

Hezbollah Front Remains Active

However, Israel will continue its offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran.

'The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shared by the US, Israel, and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon,' the statement said.
TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan held a phone call on Wednesday, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported.

The two discussed the latest regional developments following a U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal that has come into force, the report said.

On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said he had agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," adding that the decision was "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Araghchi said Iran would ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire in coordination with its armed forces, adding that Tehran would halt "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf is set to head a negotiating team for talks with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital.

Foreign ministers of Pakistan, Iran, Egypt, and Turkiye have intensified mediation efforts to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table. 
The Supreme Court of India has affirmed its authority to define what constitutes a superstitious practice within a religion, sparking debate over the judiciary's role in interpreting religious customs and traditions.

IMAGE: The Supreme Court of India. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points The Supreme Court asserts its right to determine what constitutes a superstitious practice within a religion.

The Centre argued that determining superstition falls under the legislature's purview, citing Article 25(2)(b) of the Constitution, which allows for reform laws.

The court debated whether it could intervene in religious practices deemed harmful, such as witchcraft, even if the legislature remains silent.

Justice Nagarathna suggested that the court should assess essential religious practices through the lens of the religion's philosophy, subject to public order, health, and morality.

The hearing is part of a larger case involving discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala temple, and the scope of religious freedom.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that it has the right and jurisdiction to hold what is a superstitious practice in a religion.

This came in response to the Centre's submission that a secular court cannot decide the issue as judges are experts in the field of law, not religion.

A nine-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant is hearing petitions related to discrimination against women at religious places, including the Sabarimala temple in Kerala, and on the ambit and scope of religious freedom practised by multiple faiths.

Arguments Presented Before the Court

At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, asked how the court decides what a superstitious practice is.

"Even assuming that there is a superstitious practice," he said, "It is not for the court to determine that it is superstition. Under Article 25(2)(b) of the Constitution, it is for the legislature to step in and enact a reform law."

"The legislature can say that a particular practice is superstition and requires reform. There are several such statutes and laws, for the prevention of black magic and other such practices," Mehta told the bench, which also comprised Justices B V Nagarathna, M M Sundresh, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Aravind Kumar, Augustine George Masih, Prasanna B Varale, R Mahadevan and Joymalya Bagchi.

'You are experts in law, not religion'

Responding to Mehta's submission, Justice Amanullah said the statement is too simplistic, as the court has the right and the jurisdiction to hold whether something is superstitious.

"What will follow is for the legislature to deal with. But, in court, you cannot say that whatever the legislature decides is the last word. That cannot be," he said.

Mehta said a secular court cannot decide that a religious practice is mere superstition, because the court may not possess such scholarly competence.

"Your Lordships are experts in the field of law, not religion," he said.

The solicitor general argued, "Something religious for Nagaland may be a superstition for me. We are in a greatly diverse society. Maharashtra has Black Magic Act. They may say this is the practice prevalent in our area and that's why we protect it under Article 25(2)(b)," Mehta said.

'What about witchcraft?'

Justice Bagchi asked if witchcraft was part of religious practice, would it not be considered superstition?

"Your argument is that it is for the legislature to take up and prohibit any practice that promotes it (witchcraft). Let us say the court is approached under Article 32 of the Constitution, saying that a religious practice of witchcraft exists, and the legislature is silent. Can the court not use the 'doctrine of unoccupied field' to give directions to prohibit such a practice, keeping in mind ... health, morality and public order?" Justice Bagchi asked Mehta.

The solicitor general replied that judicial review can be done because it falls under 'health, morality and public order', and not because it is superstition.

Justice Nagarathna opined that in determining what an essential religious practice is, the court should view it through the lens of the philosophy of that particular religion.

"You cannot apply (the views of) some other religion and say this is not essential religious practice. The approach of the court is to apply the philosophy of that religion, subject to health, morality and public order," Justice Nagarathna said.

The hearing is underway.

Background of the Sabarimala Case

In September 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench, by a 4:1 majority verdict, had lifted the ban that prevented women between the ages of 10 and 50 from entering the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple in Kerala, and held that the centuries-old Hindu religious practice was illegal and unconstitutional.

Later, on November 14, 2019, another five-judge bench headed by the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi, by a majority of 3:2, referred the issue of discrimination against women at various places of worship to a larger bench.

The bench had then framed broad issues on freedom across religions, saying they cannot be decided without any facts of the particular case.
An 18-year-old girl's mysterious death after falling from a Ghaziabad high-rise has triggered protests and a police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

IMAGE: Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com

Key Points An 18-year-old girl died after falling from a 16th-floor apartment in a Ghaziabad high-rise, sparking protests.

The family alleges foul play and initially prevented police from conducting a post-mortem examination.

Police are investigating the death as a potential murder, examining CCTV footage and other evidence.

A post-mortem report has ruled out sexual assault, but the investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fall.

An 18-year-old girl died under mysterious circumstances after falling from a high-rise residential society in Ghaziabad, triggering protests by her family and locals, before police persuaded the family to perform her last rites on Wednesday.

The deceased, a Class 12 pass-out from a nearby colony, had accompanied her father to the Jaipuria Sunrise Greens society in Indirapuram area on Tuesday, where he is engaged for washing cars and ironing clothes.

According to police, CCTV footage showed the girl walking alone inside the society, and within minutes she fell from the 16th floor of a tower, leading to her death on the spot.

Following the incident on Tuesday, the girl's family staged a protest outside the society and initially prevented police from taking the body for post-mortem.

After persuasion, police sent the body for autopsy and registered a case of murder against unknown persons, even as the family alleged that the girl had been sexually assaulted.

Investigation and Aftermath

On Wednesday, tensions escalated as the family refused to perform the last rites and residents blocked the CISF road in Indirapuram, demanding that police release CCTV footage from the time of the incident.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (Indirapuram) Abhishek Srivastava said police held talks with the family, following which the cremation was carried out.

He said the post-mortem report has ruled out sexual assault, while multiple CCTV footages from key locations in the society have been examined and further analysis is underway.

Police said the case is being probed from all angles to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the girl's death.
Three young men in Thane are facing legal consequences after performing dangerous scooter stunts for social media, highlighting the risks and repercussions of seeking online fame through reckless behaviour.

Key Points Three men from Dombivli, Thane, were detained for performing dangerous scooter stunts for social media.

A video of their stunts near Mankoli Bridge went viral on Instagram, leading to police action.

The men were charged under the Motor Vehicles Act, and their scooter was impounded.

Police warned the trio against repeating such dangerous acts.

Three young men who performed dangerous stunts on a scooter for social media reels and instant fame have landed in legal trouble in Thane district.

Police detained the trio, residents of Dombivli, and filed a case against them before letting them go home with a warning, a senior official said on Wednesday.

The three were tracked down after a video of their "dangerously driven" stunts near the Mankoli Bridge in Dombivli went viral on Instagram.

Police Action and Charges

Senior Inspector of the Vishnunagar Police Station, Ram Chopde, said, "The incident came to our notice after the trio performed stunts on a Honda Activa on April 7. They recorded the act to create a reel for Instagram, posing a significant risk to themselves and other commuters."

Police apprehended the three individuals, Ganesh Raju Fonda Reddy, Kabir Machhindra Netkar (both 22), and Yash Nitesh Malvankar (23), and brought them to the police station, Chopde added.

They were later released but not before a case was filed against them.

The police official further stated that legal proceedings have been initiated against them.

"We have taken action under various sections of the Motor Vehicles Act. Furthermore, with the assistance of the traffic police, the vehicle used in the stunts has been impounded," Chopde said.
A three-year-old girl tragically died in Bulandshahr, India, allegedly due to abuse by her stepmother, prompting a police investigation and raising concerns about child safety.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points A three-year-old girl in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, has died allegedly after being assaulted by her stepmother.

Police have arrested the stepmother, identified as Poonam, and are conducting further investigations.

The incident occurred in Surjawali village under the Pahasu police station area.

The child was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead after her condition worsened following the alleged assault.

A three-year-old girl died allegedly after being beaten by her stepmother in the Bulandshahr district, police said on Wednesday.

The incident took place in Surjawali village under the Pahasu police station area. According to police, information about the child's death was received following which a team rushed to the spot and initiated an inquiry.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the child was allegedly assaulted by her stepmother, identified as Poonam, which led to her deteriorating condition. She was taken to a hospital for treatment, where doctors declared her dead.

The accused has been taken into police custody.

Police Investigation and Statements

Shikarpur Circle Officer Shashank Srivastava, said that upon receiving information, police immediately reached the scene and conducted an initial probe.

"It came to light that the stepmother had assaulted the child, after which her condition worsened. She was taken to an hospital where she was declared dead," he said.

Police said a case was being registered and further legal proceedings were underway.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israelis will continue their offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah, despite backing the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran.

IMAGE: Damaged cars lie along with rubble at the site of Sunday's Israeli strike on a building, amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran continues, in the Jnah area in Beirut, Lebanon, April 6, 2026. Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday backed Israel's ongoing military operation in Lebanon, stating that Hezbollah "was not included" in the recent ceasefire deal between Washington and Tehran, which halted the conflict in West Asia for two weeks.

Key Points Defending Israeli action, Trump said Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal.

This comes after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire.

Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

Speaking to PBS News, when asked about Lebanon still being targeted despite the ceasefire announcement, Trump said, "Yeah, they were not included in the deal."

When pressed on why Israeli military action in Lebanon was excluded from the deal, Trump replied, "Because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That'll get taken care of too. It's alright."

Asked if he was okay with Israeli forces continuing strikes in Lebanon, Trump told PBS News, "It's part of the deal - everyone knows that. That's a separate skirmish."

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israelis will continue their offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah, despite backing the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran as the two nations look to work out a lasting peace formula.

"Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks' subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region. Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbours and the world," a statement from Netanyahu's Office read.

"The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shared by the US, Israel and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon," the statement added.

This comes after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Long-term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.
The US President said the joint venture would help to secure the strategic waterway, a critical transit for global energy trade and confirmed that the American forces in the region will stay there for now.

IMAGE: Tankers are seen off the coast of Fujairah, as Iran claims control of the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israel conflict with Iran, in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2026. Photograph: Amr Alfiky/Reuters

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington is considering a "joint venture" with Iran to secure the Strait of Hormuz, following his announcement of a two-week ceasefire.

Key Points Trump also reiterated that he would not permit Iran to maintain any uranium enrichment capabilities.

The US President said he expects peace talks to begin on Friday and to progress rapidly, and also confirmed that China played a key role in engaging with Iran.

Trump expects peace talks to begin on Friday and to progress rapidly.

Speaking during an interview with ABC News, when asked whether Tehran would be allowed to charge tolls for shipping through the strait, the US President said the joint venture would help to secure the strategic waterway, a critical transit for global energy trade.

"We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people," Trump said. "It's a beautiful thing," he added.

Trump also reiterated that he would not permit Iran to maintain any uranium enrichment capabilities, despite Tehran's repeated claims that it will retain its right to enrich uranium.

"There won't be any enrichment," the US President said to ABC News.

Trump said he expects peace talks to begin on Friday and to progress rapidly, and also confirmed that China played a key role in engaging with Iran, as reported by ABC News.

The US President further stated that American forces in the region will not be leaving, indicating they will remain in place to enforce any future agreement.

Following his remarks, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, stated that the American forces remain prepared to "resume combat operations" in the Islamic Republic if ordered, highlighting the temporary nature of the truce.

During a press briefing at the Pentagon alongside US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, General Caine stated that the ceasefire was just a "pause", noting that the joint forces are ready to resume combat operations with "the same speed and precision" as showcased during US operations against Iran since February 28.

"Let us be clear. A ceasefire is a pause, and the joint force remains ready if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision as we've demonstrated over the last 38 days. And we hope that that is not the case," Caine said.

General Caine also paid tribute to the US personnel who have lost their lives so far in the operation, noting the 13 service members of the joint forces who lost their lives during the conflict.

"I want to start this morning by honouring the 13 members of our American joint force who were killed in action thus far during this operation; their sacrifice and that of their families is deeply important to us, and we are grateful," he added.

General Caine's remarks comes hours after Trump announced a double-sided ceasefire in the West Asia conflict with Iran for two weeks.

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and stating that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive agreement concerning long-term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added.
Trump added that the United States would assist in managing the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.

IMAGE: Demonstrators protest against military action in Iran outside the White House in Washington, DC, on April 7, 2026. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Key Points Donald Trump hails ceasefire as a 'big day for world peace'.

US to assist with traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump says US will 'hang around' to ensure smooth implementation.

Iran agrees to pause military operations and allow safe passage.

Two-week truce may lead to broader talks and a possible peace summit.

United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday said it was a 'big day for world peace' as the US-Iran conflict moved towards a ceasefire.

Trump added that the United States would assist in managing the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz.

US to 'Hang Around' for Stability

'A big day for world peace! Iran wants it to happen; they've had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the US, this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!!' Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Backdrop: Two-Week Ceasefire Announcement

The post came after Trump suspended the 'bombing and attack' campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire and stating that Iran's 10-point proposal was workable.

In an earlier post, he said the 10-point proposal would serve as the basis for negotiating a permanent deal, while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives.

Pakistan's Role in De-escalation

'Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided ceasefire!' Trump said.

Iran Accepts Conditional Pause

The Iranian side also accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, along with a pause in military operations.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the country's response on X, stating that Iran would cease its military operations if it was not attacked.

'Considering the request by the US for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal, as well as the announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Irans 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Irans armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations,' Araghchi wrote.

The two-week pause is likely to pave the way for more comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran, and could potentially lead to a peace summit in Islamabad.
A health official in Uttar Pradesh has been arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe to secure a sweeper's job, highlighting ongoing concerns about corruption in government recruitment processes.

Key Points A block programme manager in Pratapgarh, UP, was arrested for allegedly accepting a 50,000 bribe.

The health official allegedly demanded 1.5 lakh to secure a sweeper's job for the complainant.

The arrest was made by the Vigilance Establishment team from Prayagraj after a complaint was filed.

The accused was caught red-handed while accepting the initial bribe payment in his office.

A block programme manager posted at a community health centre here was arrested for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 50,000 in exchange for facilitating recruitment to a sweeper's post, officials said on Wednesday.

The accused, identified as Amit Mishra, was caught red-handed by a team of Vigilance Establishment, Prayagraj, at his office in the community health centre under Baghray police station limits, about 50 km from the district headquarters, an official statement said.

Details of the Bribery Complaint

Station House Officer of Vigilance Establishment police station, Nanhe Ram Saroj, said a complaint was lodged on April 6 by Anil Kumar, a resident of Khas Baghray village, alleging that Mishra had demanded Rs 1.5 lakh for securing him a sweeper's job.

As per the complaint, the accused had asked the complainant to pay Rs 50,000 as first instalment on Wednesday and the remaining amount within a week.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Acting on the complaint, the vigilance team laid a trap and apprehended Mishra while he was accepting the bribe amount from the complainant inside his office, the official said.

The accused was taken to Prayagraj, where a case has been registered against him under relevant sections and further legal proceedings are underway, the statement added.
Uttar Pradesh Police have successfully dismantled a large inter-state cyber fraud operation, arresting 19 individuals for allegedly defrauding citizens through fake government welfare schemes.

Key Points Uttar Pradesh Police busted an inter-state cyber fraud racket operating under the guise of government welfare schemes.

Nineteen individuals were arrested in a search operation conducted by the cyber crime branch and special operations group (SOG).

The accused allegedly used fake documents and mule bank accounts to siphon money from unsuspecting victims.

Police recovered mobile phones, forged documents, and details linked to government schemes during the search.

The investigation suggests the network has inter-state links and may have defrauded victims on a large scale.

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Wednesday claimed to have busted an inter-state cyber fraud racket, arresting 19 youths from a village here, officials said.

The arrests were made during a search operation by the cyber crime branch and special operations group (SOG). Based on intelligence inputs the team carried out the operation, sealing all entry and exit points of the village.

Commissioner Raghubir Lal said the accused were part of a well-organised network that duped hundreds by posing as facilitators of government welfare schemes.

"The gang used fake documents and mule bank accounts to siphon off money from unsuspecting victims," he told PTI.

During the search, police recovered multiple mobile phones, forged documents, details linked to government schemes, and evidence of mule accounts used to route illicit funds.

Police officials suspect the network has inter-state links and may have defrauded victims on a large scale.

Tensions and Arrests

The situation grew tense in the village in Revna area as locals gathered at the spot, prompting the deployment of additional forces to maintain order.

Locals said that using loudhailers, police warned the accused to surrender or face strict legal action.

All 19 accused are being interrogated and will be produced before a local court. Police said further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.

The crackdown is being seen as a major breakthrough against organised cyber fraud networks operating under the guise of government schemes.
'The question is: Are the Pakistanis trying to work with the United States to perhaps make new friends and broaden their alliances, or are they doing the bidding of China? Are they essentially a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party?'

IMAGE: US President Donald Trump with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points Former US Treasury Counterterrorism analyst Jonathan Schanzer questions Pakistan's mediation role between the US and Iran.

He asks whether Pakistan is acting independently or aligning with China.

Schanzer points to China's influence via Belt and Road debt exposure.

He warns war is far from over despite ceasefire and Hormuz reopening.

Also flags uncertainty over Iran's future control of Strait of Hormuz traffic.

After the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire and expressed hope for lasting peace, Pakistan took much of the credit for playing mediator between the two countries.

However, Jonathan Schanzer, Executive Director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies and former US Treasury counterterrorism analyst, said Pakistan is deeply indebted to China.

He added that it remains to be seen whether Pakistan is broadening its alliances by engaging with the US or acting at China's behest.

"When we look at Pakistan, we need to understand that this is a country greatly indebted to China. Through the Belt and Road Initiative and debt-trap diplomacy, China has the Pakistanis right where it wants them. The question is: Are the Pakistanis trying to work with the United States to perhaps make new friends and broaden their alliances, or are they doing the bidding of China? Are they essentially a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party? At this point, we just don't know the answer to that," he said.

Pakistan's Rise As Negotiator 'Unlikely And Bizarre'

Schanzer described Pakistan's emergence in a negotiating role with the White House as 'unlikely and bizarre'.

"Their role in all of this is just so unlikely and bizarre. There are a lot of things I didn't expect to see in 2026; this is probably among the top ones. And yet, somehow, the Pakistanis have insinuated themselves into the White House. They're part of the discussions about Gaza and part of the Iran deal. How this has happened and what they want in return has yet to be explained," he said.

Schanzer said US Vice President J D Vance holds a dim view of foreign intervention, adding that China's role in the current situation raises important questions.

Responding to reports that Vance was looped in late in the US-Iran mediation process, and that China may have helped bring Iran to the table, Schanzer said:

"We know that J D Vance holds a dim view of foreign intervention, and I think he's been very concerned about this war from the get-go. We lump him into a group broadly described as neo-isolationists -- people who are deeply skeptical of the American use of force to shape forces around the globe. But I think the question of China is really the most interesting one," he said.

War 'Far from Over' Despite Ceasefire

Schanzer warned that the conflict is far from over, even if the ceasefire holds and the Strait of Hormuz remains open.

"The thing everyone needs to understand is that this war is not over. Even if they agree to keep the strait open and stop bombing one another for a time, there is still going to be a covert effort to bring down the regime from within.

"The people of Iran have not yet had their say. I also think there are open questions about all those different proxies. They were the ones who started this war back in 2023 -- Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. They have yet to be dealt with in a way that puts punctuation at the end of this long conflict," he said.

He added that the situation could shift back to Israel's hands in dealing with Iran's proxy network, and that new phases of the war may emerge.

Concerns Over Hormuz Traffic

Schanzer further said it remains uncertain whether Iran will allow the free flow of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Does the Islamic Republic allow for the free flow of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz? I'm not convinced that they'll be willing to do so. If they start trying to charge people for transit or threaten vessels, that will become a real problem. We potentially have a two-week ceasefire, and during that time, a more permanent solution will need to be derived. But especially in these early hours and days, there's still a lot that can go wrong," he said.
TOKYO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government welcomes a two-week ceasefire deal reached between the United States and Iran as a positive move, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Wednesday.

"We hope that a final (peace) deal will be made at an early date through diplomacy," Kihara said at a press conference.

"The most important thing is to actually de-escalate tensions, including securing a safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," Kihara said, referring to the critical waterway for global energy trade that has been effectively closed.

The Japanese government will work on diplomatic efforts in close collaboration with other members of the international community, he said.

Iran and the United States agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan. 
The controversy began when the prime minister's account shared a message that included the heading: 'Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X.'

IMAGE: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo/Reuters

Key Points A post by Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif was published with a visible 'Draft' label, then edited.

The edit removed the label but retained the original diplomatic content.

The message referenced Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz, raising geopolitical stakes.

Incident fuels questions over internal communication lapses and handling of sensitive messaging.

A social media post by Shehbaz Sharif has triggered widespread debate after an apparent 'draft' message was mistakenly published on X and later edited.

The incident quickly drew attention online, with users scrutinising the edit history and questioning the circumstances behind the initial post.

'Draft' Label Raises Questions

The controversy began when the prime minister's account shared a message that included the heading: 'Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X.'

The inclusion of the word 'Draft' suggested that the post may not have been intended for public release in its original form.

Within a short span, the post was edited, removing the draft label but retaining the core content.

Content of the Original and Edited Posts

The original text of the post read: 'Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully, with the potential to lead to substantive results in the near future. To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Donald Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open the Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture. We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve the conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.'

The edited version read: 'Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully, with the potential to lead to substantive results in the near future. To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Donald Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open the Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture. We also urge all warring parties to observe a ceasefire everywhere for two weeks to allow diplomacy to achieve the conclusive termination of war, in the interest of long-term peace and stability in the region.'

Geopolitical Undertones Amplify Reaction

While the content remained largely unchanged, the removal of the 'Draft' tag did little to contain the reaction.

References to Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz added geopolitical weight to the message, amplifying curiosity around its intent.

Questions Over Messaging Lapses

The episode has since fuelled speculation about internal communication lapses and the handling of sensitive diplomatic messaging in the digital age.

The post was reportedly intended as a response to the US plan to suspend bombing for two weeks and consider Iran's 'workable' 10-point proposal.
The Uttarakhand Special Task Force dismantled an interstate cyber fraud ring, arresting two individuals from Jammu and Kashmir involved in defrauding a Dehradun resident of Rs 65 lakh, exposing a complex network of financial crime.

Key Points Uttarakhand STF arrests two members of an interstate cyber fraud gang operating from Jammu and Kashmir.

The accused allegedly defrauded a Dehradun resident of Rs 65 lakh through impersonation and coercion.

Police recovered mobile phones, ATM cards, and documents related to suspicious financial transactions, revealing a multi-state network.

The investigation revealed that money obtained through cyber fraud was routed through multiple bank accounts and withdrawn using ATMs.

Complaints linked to the accused's bank accounts have been registered in at least seven states, highlighting the widespread nature of the fraud.

The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two members of an inter-state organised gang from Jammu and Kashmir for their alleged involvement in cyber fraud, officials said on Wednesday.

Senior Superintendent of Police (STF) Ajay Singh said the accused -- Shaukat Hussain Malik and Bilal Ahmed, both residents of Budgam -- were arrested after a difficult operation during which locals attempted to exert pressure on police and court authorities.

Despite the challenges, the STF team managed to secure police remand of the accused, he said.

Three mobile phones, several ATM cards, Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and documents related to suspicious financial transactions were recovered from their possession, Singh said, adding that the recovery has helped uncover an organised cyber fraud network operating across multiple states.

Details of the Cyber Fraud Case

According to the SSP, the case came to light after a 71-year-old resident of Dehradun lodged a complaint at the Cyber Crime Police Station. The complainant alleged that on November 21, 2025, unidentified individuals posing as officials of the Delhi Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) contacted him and claimed that money laundering activities were being carried out in his name through a Delhi-based bank account.

Singh said the fraudsters intimidated the victim during a WhatsApp video call by displaying forged documents and a purported non-bailable arrest warrant while posing as police officers.

Under the pretext of verifying his bank accounts, they allegedly coerced him into transferring Rs 65 lakh to multiple bank accounts.

The complainant later realised he had been cheated and filed a formal complaint, he said.

During the investigation, police analysed details of the bank accounts, mobile numbers and WhatsApp calls used in the crime, which led to the identification of Malik and Ahmed, Singh said.

Challenges During the Arrest

The SSP said a large number of local residents gathered outside the police station and later near the court complex during the arrest, allegedly attempting to exert pressure on the STF team.

However, the team acted with patience and restraint and successfully presented its case in court to obtain police remand of the accused, he added.

Singh also noted that the operation was carried out with utmost sensitivity, considering the history of grenade attacks on the local police station in the area.

Investigation Uncovers Wider Network

According to the investigation, money obtained through cyber fraud in different states was routed through multiple bank accounts and later withdrawn using ATM cards and mobile phones. Transactions worth several lakh rupees were detected in the accounts used by the accused within a few months, he said.

The probe further revealed that complaints linked to these bank accounts have been registered in at least seven states, including Uttarakhand. Police in other states are being contacted as part of the investigation, the SSP added.
The meeting follows a ceasefire agreement that was announced and welcomed by Shehbaz Sharif, who also extended invitations to both delegations for further negotiations.

IMAGE: United States Vice President J D Vance delivers remarks at Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest, Hungary, on April 8, 2026. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Pool/Reuters

Key Points US and Iran delegations to hold direct talks in Islamabad on April 10.

Meeting follows a ceasefire and Pakistan's mediation efforts.

Talks to be led by Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and J D Vance.

Iran's 10-point proposal to form the basis of negotiations.

Deep mistrust persists despite shift toward diplomacy.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at Mathias Corvinus Collegium in Budapest, Hungary, April 8, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Pool

A major diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran is set to take place in Islamabad on Friday, April 10, 2026, where both sides will hold direct talks aimed at ending weeks of intense hostilities following the outbreak of war earlier this year, according to Iranian news agency ISNA.

Ceasefire Sets Stage for Dialogue

The meeting follows a ceasefire agreement that was announced and welcomed by Shehbaz Sharif, who also extended invitations to both delegations for further negotiations.

According to Iranian state media reports, the Iranian delegation will be led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a key figure in Tehran's wartime leadership who has taken on strategic responsibilities since the early phase of the conflict.

The United States delegation, meanwhile, will be headed by Vice President J D Vance.

First Direct Talks Since War Began

The Islamabad talks will mark the first in-person negotiations between the two adversaries since the war began, signalling a significant shift towards diplomacy after weeks of escalatory rhetoric, military strikes, and regional tensions.

Iran's 10-point proposal, reportedly submitted through Pakistan, seeks to address a wide range of contentious issues, including the nuclear programme, regional security concerns, and sanctions relief, including both primary and secondary sanctions imposed over the past several decades.

According to state media, this plan will form the basis of discussions aimed at charting a path towards lasting peace.

Mistrust Remains a Challenge

Despite the ceasefire and diplomatic engagement, deep mistrust remains on both sides.

Iranian officials are reported to be entering the talks with 'complete distrust' towards the United States, reflecting scepticism about Washington, DC's intentions.

The discussions will also take place against the backdrop of broader tensions in West Asia, including concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route, and the wider implications of the conflict for regional and global security.

High Stakes for Global Stability

As the world watches, Islamabad is set to host a pivotal moment in US-Iran diplomacy, with the outcome of these negotiations likely to shape regional peace and global geopolitical dynamics in the weeks and months ahead.
A vegetable vendor in Delhi has been arrested for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old girl, prompting a swift police investigation and raising concerns about child safety in the community.

Key Points A 25-year-old vegetable vendor was arrested for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old girl in Delhi's Nihal Vihar area.

The Delhi police received a PCR call reporting the molestation and registered a case under the POCSO Act.

Police analysed CCTV footage from over 100 cameras to identify the accused, Dharmender.

Dharmender confessed to the crime during interrogation and was found to be a local vegetable vendor.

A 25-year-old vegetable vendor was arrested for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old girl outside her residence in outer Delhi's Nihal Vihar area, police said on Wednesday.

According to an official, a PCR call was received at Nihal Vihar police station on April 4, reporting that a girl had been molested by an unidentified man who fled from the spot after committing the offence.

The statement of the girl was recorded in the presence of her parents. Based the complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections, along with provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, police said.

Investigation and Arrest

A team was formed to identify and arrest the accused. During the investigation, the team analysed footage from more than 100 CCTV cameras installed in the area, and the accused was spotted near Laxmi Park, the officer said.

Acting on the lead, the team conducted a raid and apprehended the accused, identified as Dharmender.

"During interrogation, the accused confessed to his involvement in the offence. Further enquiry revealed that he is a vegetable vendor in the nearby area," the officer said, adding that further investigation is underway.
Following the US-Iran ceasefire, the Congress party is attacking Prime Minister Modi's diplomatic strategies, arguing that Pakistan's involvement highlights the failure of his personalised approach to foreign policy and his silence on critical international issues.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump, at The White House in Washington, DC on February 14, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Key Points Congress claims Pakistan's role in the US-Iran ceasefire is a setback to Modi's personalised diplomacy.

The party criticises Modi's silence on Israel's actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

Congress questions the effectiveness of Modi's strategy to isolate Pakistan.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra condemns the 'despicable language' used by western powers regarding the Iran conflict.

The US-Iran ceasefire includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, facilitated by Pakistan.

The Congress on Wednesday said the role played by Pakistan in bringing about the ceasefire between the United States and Iran is a 'severe setback' to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'highly personalised diplomacy' and the 'self-styled Vishwaguru' stands thoroughly exposed.

The opposition party also said Prime Minister Modi's 'cowardice is demonstrated by his silence not only on Israel's belligerence, but on the completely unacceptable and disgraceful language being used by his good friend in the White House'.

Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the entire world will cautiously welcome the two-week ceasefire in the West Asia conflict between the US and Israel on the one side and Iran on the other.

"The conflict had begun on February 28th with the targeted assassinations of the topmost echelons of the regime in Iran. These had started just two days after Prime Minister Modi had completed his much-trumpeted visit to Israel, a visit that diminished India's global stature and standing," Ramesh claimed.

Ramesh slams Modi for silence on 'Israel's genocide'

Modi had said nothing about Israel's 'genocide' in Gaza and its aggressively expansionist policies in the occupied West Bank, Ramesh said.

"The role played by Pakistan in bringing about the ceasefire is a severe setback to both the substance and style of Mr Modi's highly personalised diplomacy," he said.

The policy to isolate Pakistan for its continuing support to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and to convince the world that it is a failed state has clearly not succeeded unlike what Manmohan Singh had accomplished after the Mumbai terror attacks, Ramesh claimed.

That a bankrupt economy dependent entirely on the largesse of external donors and a broken country in so many ways was able to play such a role calls into question Modi's strategy of engagement and narrative management, he said.

"He (Modi) or his team has also never explained why Op Sindoor was suddenly and abruptly halted on May 10th 2025 - the first announcement of which came from the US Secretary of State and for which the US President has claimed credit almost a hundred times since then," the Congress leader said.

"There is a palpable sigh of relief everywhere. The External Affairs Minister (S Jaishankar) dismissed Pakistan as a dalal. But now the self-styled Vishwaguru stands thoroughly exposed, his self-declared 56-inch chest shrunk and shrivelled," Ramesh said.

"His cowardice is demonstrated by his silence not only on Israel's belligerence, but on the completely unacceptable and disgraceful language being used by his good friend in the White House," the Congress leader added.

Priyanka Gandhi slams 'western powers'

Earlier in the day, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed 'western powers' for speaking in a 'despicable language' on the Iran conflict and said the world is understanding as the 'veil of morality falls' from the face of the West.

The Congress general secretary asserted that hatred, anger, violence and injustice never win, while courage always wins.

'Iranian men and women formed human chains around their country's resources while western powers spoke in a despicable language, heralding the 'end of a civilisation',' Priyanka Gandhi said on X.

"The world is watching and understanding as the veil of morality falls from across the face of the West. Hatred, anger, violence and injustice never win. Courage always wins," she said.

Trump pulls back on his threats

US President Donald Trump pulled back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran late Tuesday, as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump swerved to de-escalate the war less than two hours before the deadline he set for Tehran to capitulate to a deal or face attacks on its bridges and power plants meant to destroy the Iranian civilisation.

Trump made the dramatic announcement on Truth Social on Tuesday evening (US time) even as Democrats called for his removal over unhinged threats to wipe out the Iranian civilisation.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," the US President said in a social media post.

Iran accepts ceasefire

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said it has accepted the ceasefire and that it would negotiate with the United States in Pakistan beginning Friday. Neither Iran nor the United States said when the ceasefire would begin, and attacks took place in Israel, Iran and across the Gulf region early Wednesday.

Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran but the deal doesn't cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday.
A 42-year-old woman was tragically hacked to death in Itanagar, India, prompting a swift police response and investigation into the motive behind this violent crime.

Key Points A 42-year-old woman, Yapi Potom, was allegedly hacked to death near her home in Itanagar.

The incident occurred in the ESS-Sector of Itanagar around 11:30 pm.

Police apprehended the accused within 90 minutes of the reported crime.

Preliminary findings suggest the attack may have stemmed from personal reasons, but the investigation is ongoing.

A 42-year-old woman was allegedly hacked to death in Itanagar, police said on Wednesday.

Yapi Potom was attacked with a dao near her house in the ESS-Sector of the city around 11.30 pm on Tuesday, they said.

She was rushed to Rama Krishna Mission Hospital, where doctors declared her brought dead, they added.

Investigation and Arrest

Police said they apprehended the accused within one and a half hours of the incident.

Superintendent of Police Jummar Basar said preliminary findings suggested the attack may have happened because of personal reasons.

"The investigation is at a very nascent stage, and all angles are being examined," he said.
By all available indications, the White House drafted a face-saving note and handed it, ready-made, to Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was supposed to then post it in the guise of a plea urging Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks 'to allow diplomacy to run its course'.

Trump would then graciously accept Pakistan's 'request' and declare a ceasefire.

Sharif dutifully posted the message on X. Except that he, or whoever was handling the account, forgot to delete the tell-tale first line visible in the edit history: 'Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X'.

Prem Panicker continues his must read blog on the Iran War.

IMAGE: Residents of Tabriz form a human chain around power plants after the city endured heavy bombing during the conflict. Photograph: Kind courtesy @iribnews_irib/X

A ceasefire that smells like victory for Tehran

Tuesday, 7 April, began with vintage Trump bombast.

On Truth Social, the President warned that if Iran didn't cave by 8 pm ET, 'a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.'

Power plants, bridges, energy infrastructure, they were all on the target list, Trump specifically said.

IMAGE: President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference at the White House, April 6, 2026. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Tehran's response was pure theatre.

Iranian officials called on 'all young people, athletes, artists, students and university students and their professors' to form human chains around power plants, bridges and other sensitive installations. Thousands answered the call.

The images of ordinary citizens putting their bodies on the line between American bombs and their country's critical infrastructure went viral.

IMAGE: People gather in Tehran after a two-week ceasefire in the Iran war was announced, April 8, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters

Iran's 10-Point Peace Plan Explained

Then came Iran's counter-offer: A ten-point 'peace plan' delivered through Pakistani intermediaries and put in the public domain by Nour News, an outlet close to Iran's Supreme National Security Council. It is worth listing the Iran offer in full:

A fundamental, binding American commitment never to attack Iran again, with ironclad security guarantees against future military action.

Iran maintains de facto sovereignty and authority over the critical waterway through which over 20 per cent of global oil and gas flows. This includes the right to regulate passage, with reports suggesting Iran could impose transit fees of $2 million per vessel, which it will share with Oman.

Explicit US and international recognition of Iran's sovereign right to continue its nuclear enrichment program for 'peaceful' purposes, without caps or dismantling.

Lifting the direct sanctions imposed by the United States on Iranian entities, oil, banking, etc.

Removal of all secondary sanctions on third countries, companies, or entities that do business with Iran (the 'snapback' and extraterritorial measures that isolate Iran economically).

Scrapping all UNSC resolutions related to sanctions, nuclear issues, and previous violations.

Termination of all IAEA Board of Governors resolutions on Iran's nuclear program, and any and all oversight criticisms, resolutions, and any remaining restrictions or monitoring tied to non-compliance.

Payment by the US and/or Israel for reconstruction and losses suffered during the conflict (damages to infrastructure, economy, etc.).

Removal of American military presence (troops, bases, assets) from the Gulf and broader Middle East.

Immediate and comprehensive end to hostilities everywhere, specifically including a halt to Israeli strikes/operations against Hezbollah and other Iranian-aligned groups in Lebanon and the region.

Trump described it as 'not good enough' but still a 'workable basis on which to negotiate'.

Analysts called it 'maximalist', and said it gave Iran nearly everything it wanted, with minimal reciprocal concessions on core issues.

IMAGE: A man holds a photograph of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as US and Israeli flags are burned during a gathering in Tehran following the ceasefire announcement. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters

The hours ticked by. The deadline inched closer. And the strongman who had promised to obliterate a civilization found himself squeezed: He had to deliver on the threat -- a proceeding further complicated by the thousands of Iranian citizens putting their bodies in the line of fire -- or find an off ramp, fast.

Enter Pakistan. By all available indications, the White House drafted a face-saving note and handed it, ready-made, to Islamabad.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was supposed to then post it (external link), in the guise of a plea urging Trump to extend the deadline by two weeks 'to allow diplomacy to run its course', and asking Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for the same period as a 'goodwill gesture'.

Trump would then graciously accept (external link) Pakistan's 'request' and declare a ceasefire.

It was neat. It was clever. And it was risibly sloppy.

Sharif dutifully posted the message on X.

Except that he, or whoever was handling the account, forgot to delete the tell-tale first line visible in the edit history: 'Draft - Pakistan's PM Message on X'.

Key Points Trump threatened massive strikes on Iran but shifted to a ceasefire under pressure and complex geopolitical constraints.

Iran's public mobilisation and strategic positioning strengthened its leverage while avoiding direct large-scale military escalation.

The 10-point peace proposal reflected maximalist demands, including sanctions relief, nuclear rights, and regional influence retention.

Pakistan's role as mediator was undermined by a leaked draft message, raising questions about diplomatic credibility.

Despite ceasefire optics, Iran retains control over the Strait of Hormuz, maintaining critical leverage over global energy flows.

IMAGE: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif addresses the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. Photograph: Kylie Cooper/Reuters

Pakistan Draft Message Controversy

The Internet being what it is, screenshots (external link) highlighting the tell-tale goof went viral within minutes.

The US appeared to have saved face by shooting itself in the foot.

Pakistan, which has positioned itself as the voice of reason acceptable to both sides, turned out to be reading from a script written in Washington.

The exercise had the feel of an amateur theatrical production where the actors had forgotten to rehearse the props.

IMAGE: Donald Trump listens as Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during a summit on the Gaza ceasefire in Sharm El-Sheikh. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

But the show had to go on.

Trump announced (external link) he was suspending strikes for two weeks, subject to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz for safe passage during that period.

Sharif followed up with a victory-lap post (external link) declaring an 'immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon'.

And inviting both sides to Islamabad on Friday, 10 April, for talks. And Trump closed out the day with his own victory lap (external link) -- Iran, he said, has 'had enough'.

IMAGE: An illustration shows the Strait of Hormuz alongside symbolic oil barrels, highlighting its strategic importance. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

Strait of Hormuz Power Play

If you strip away the theatrics, the core reality is this: Iran retains effective control over the Strait of Hormuz. It will decide who sails through, when, and at what toll.

The US, despite frantic attempts to spin this as a win ('We forced them to the table!'), gained precisely zip.

No regime change, no permanent reopening of the waterway on American terms, no dismantling of Iran's nuclear programme, no end to the Axis of Resistance.

Just a two-week breather that lets Tehran regroup, keep its hand on the global oil spigot, and sit down in Islamabad on its own terms.

For what it is worth, Trump got his off-ramp.

Iran got breathing space, continued leverage over Hormuz, and the optics of having stared down the superpower.

Pakistan got to play mediator, even if the script had 'Draft' written all over it.

In sum, a Strait that was open before the war is now open again during the ceasefire.

For this illusory win, thousands of innocents including hundreds of children have been killed in Lebanon and Iran.

US troops have been killed and wounded -- there are persistent reports that the Pentagon is hiding the actual numbers.

US embassies and bases in the Middle East have been badly damaged, and US troops stationed on those bases have pulled out. US and Israeli munitions have been badly depleted.

Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent. Prices of everything have gone up, everywhere; shortages have begun to bite countries far removed from the theatre of conflict.

There is more global economic fallout to come -- downstream impacts of such disasters take months to fully ramify.

Putin has been strengthened and enriched.

Israel's equity in the world has taken a beating from which it is unlikely to recover.

It is worth pointing out that the war is not over -- it has merely been paused. The forces remain in deployment.

Israel hasn't been heard from. But there is a pause. And on balance, the side that has emerged with credibility intact is not the one that spent the morning threatening to wipe out an entire civilisation.

IMAGE: Demonstrators protest outside the White House against military action in Iran following the ceasefire announcement, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters

How Trump Took the US to War With Iran: New York Times (external link)

The two New York Times reporters, who have an upcoming book titled Regime Change, produce a deeply reported inside account of the February deliberations that produced 'Operation Epic Fury', and it is way more damning than the headline suggests.

It details how Netanyahu in a meeting in the White House Situation Room promised regime change through street protests, Kurdish ground fighters crossing from Iraq, and a population ready to rise.

The CIA called it 'farcical'. Rubio said: 'Bullshit'.

General Caine warned about munitions depletion, Hormuz risks, and no clear path to replenishment.

J D Vance said it would break Trump's coalition and possibly his presidency. But Trump heard only what he wanted to hear -- a quick, decisive war, another bigly win.

These sceptics differed to Trump. And 22 minutes before the deadline, Trump sent the order from Air Force One.

The gap between what the advisers knew and what the president decided is the story of this war in miniature.

IMAGE: A man walks with his mother near their home damaged in a strike in Tehran, April 7, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters

Trump Finds His Off-Ramp: New York Times (external link)

Sanger has covered five presidents and two decades of Iran negotiations, and it shows.

He cuts through the ceasefire noise with one number: 970 pounds of near-bomb-grade uranium, still in Iran, still unaccounted for. That was the casus belli, and it remains in situ.

Iran's new supreme leader is in charge of a government that has just demonstrated it can absorb 13,000 strikes and still choke the world's oil supply.

The two-week clock is running. The fundamental math has not changed.

Trump's 'TACO Tuesday' Leaves the US and Iran Still Mired in Quandary: Bloomberg (external link)

Here is the granular political and economic accounting of where things actually stand after the ceasefire announcement: Oil prices, GOP fractures, the unresolved Hormuz question, the gap between what Trump claimed and what Iran agreed to.

Essential context for anyone trying to read past the victory-lap posts.

Trump Looks Frantic: The Atlantic (external link)

Written before the ceasefire, but more useful after it.

Frum catalogues the full sequence of deadlines set and abandoned, threats issued and swallowed, unconditional surrenders demanded and quietly forgotten.

The Eddie Izzard/Darth Vader riff that opens the piece is on the nose.

The pattern Frum describes -- escalatory rhetoric as substitute for strategy -- is precisely what the ceasefire has temporarily papered over.

With Threat to Wipe Out Iran's Civilization, Trump's Rhetoric Goes Beyond Bluster: New York Times (external link)

Katie Rogers chronicles the domestic political fallout from a morning's Truth Social post: Tucker Carlson calling it vile, Marjorie Taylor Greene invoking the 25th Amendment, Ron Johnson hoping it was bluster, Democrats promising impeachment votes.

A ceasefire doesn't close these fissures. The next two weeks will widen them further.

Did Israel Overestimate the Damage to Iran's Missile Programme?: The Economist (external link)

The answer, in short, is yes, by a wide margin.

Iran's missile forces have proven more resilient than Israeli and American intelligence assessed, its launchers more dispersed, its underground 'missile cities' more quickly cleared than expected.

The piece also carries a pointed observation: Iran's missile programme was built to deter attack. In that sense it failed. In every other sense, it has succeeded.

US Counts the Cost of Equipment Destroyed in the Iran War: Financial Times (external link)

Half a billion dollars a day. Thirteen dead, over 300 wounded.

AN/TPY-2 radars destroyed, each costing $485 million to replace, with a three-year production lead time and no units in reserve. An E-3 Sentry airborne warning system badly damaged.

The Financial Times piece makes the China dimension explicit: Analysts now worry openly that the attrition of scarce, sophisticated systems has left the US more vulnerable in the Taiwan Strait.

The war's balance sheet extends well beyond the Middle East.

Why Trump's Power-Grid Bombing Plan Risks Catastrophe: Robert Pape (external link)

Written as a warning before the ceasefire made it moot, at least for now.

Pape, who taught targeting strategy for the US air force, walks through the operational distinction between disrupting a grid and destroying it permanently.

Trump's language -- 'never to be used again' -- pointed toward the latter.

The historical record on bombing civilian infrastructure is unambiguous: It hardens populations, consolidates regimes, and has never once produced the uprising its advocates promise.

Worth reading as a guide to what a breakdown of the ceasefire could look like.

IMAGE: People walk along a street in Tehran near an anti-US billboard amid ongoing tensions, April 5, 2026. Photograph: Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters

The War to Break Iran's Economy: Financial Times (external link)

Ground-level reporting from Tehran, combined with the macro picture: Petrochemical plants in Mahshahr and Assaluyeh destroyed, Sharif University hit, the Pasteur Institute bombed, 30 universities damaged, 700 schools. Over 3,500 Iranians killed, at least 1,665 of them civilians.

The piece carries a warning: A weakened, sanctions-bound Iran will struggle to rebuild, and the working class will bear the cost. But a population being bombed back a century does not overthrow its government. It coalesces around survival.

How the Iran War Has Sowed Panic Among Farmers (external link)

The fertiliser story is the war's most underreported dimension.

A third of seaborne fertiliser exports move through the Gulf; most have been stopped.

Urea is 70 per cent dearer than before the war; ammonia up 39 per cent.

Nearly 1.9 million tonnes of nutrients sit on 41 ships unable to leave.

The planting season in parts of the northern hemisphere has already begun. In India, it is less than two months away.

The Kiel Institute's modelling suggests food prices could rise more than 10 per cent across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Taiwan. In Zambia, 30 per cent.

The World Food Programme puts the potential increase in acute hunger at 45 million people.

A two-week ceasefire does not undo any of this.

A 12-Hour Drive Through Wartime Iran: AP/Haaretz (external link)

The view from the road: Zanjan to Tehran, checkpoints and rubble and restaurants serving grilled lamb with R.E.M. playing on loudspeakers.

The AP reporters saw destroyed government buildings and police stations, women moving through the city without headscarves, petrol at 15 cents a gallon but rationed to five gallons at a time.

The regime is damaged and present. The population is not rising up. A retired soldier near the border put it plainly: 'The enemy sees that we are not ever succumbing.'

The Last Temptation of Trump at the End of a Failed War: Haaretz (external link)

The most unsettling piece in today's list, and the one worth sitting with longest.

Hussein Banai, a political scientist at Indiana University, works through the Schelling framework -- coercive bargaining as the manipulation of shared risk -- to explain why Trump has backed himself into a trap of his own making.

A president whose entire political identity is organised around the performance of dominance cannot accept the only deal currently available, because every available exit looks, to him and to his opponents, like a face-saving retreat.

Iran understands this perfectly, which is why it has calibrated its pressure to produce exactly this dilemma.

The piece ends where it has to: With the nuclear dimension as a structural possibility -- the incremental normalisation of the unacceptable, each escalation framed as strength, each threshold crossed making the next one easier to contemplate.

A ceasefire does not dissolve this logic. It merely pauses it.

LPG Crisis Fuels Labour Crunch, Industry's Hiring Costs Up 15 per cent: Mint (external link)

The ripple, close to home. Cooking gas shortages are driving blue-collar migrant workers out of Mumbai, Pune and Delhi-NCR and back to their home states.

Hiring costs in manufacturing and supply chains are up 10-15 per cent in a month.

Food delivery workers are seeing a 10-20 per cent drop in order volumes and a corresponding cut in take-home earnings. Restaurants are shrinking menus.

The informal economy, which absorbs the largest share of India's working poor, is absorbing a shock it did not cause and cannot easily pass on.

In passing...

For the next two weeks, if the ceasefire holds, the guns will go quiet, and the missiles will stop falling on Tehran's universities and petrochemical plants.

The tankers will begin, slowly and by negotiated permission, to move again through the Strait under Iranian supervision, one ship at a time.

Oil will flow. Markets will breathe. And the world will briefly persuade itself that the worst has been avoided.

No, it has not -- the worst has merely been postponed.

When the respective delegations assemble in Islamabad on Friday, they will confront the same arithmetic that has defined this war from the beginning.

It is tempting to read Iran's ten-point plan in card-playing terms: An opening bid, always meant to be bargained down to what is minimally acceptable.

But judging by how Iran has behaved thus far, it reads at least to me like a statement of what the Islamic Republic believes it has earned: Sovereignty over the Strait, the right to enrich, sanctions lifted, reparations paid, American forces withdrawn from the region.

The US fifteen-point counter, which Iran rejected without ceremony, asked for the dismantling of everything Tehran has spent four decades building, including its defensive armaments.

The gap between these two positions is a chasm that seems, on the surface, unbridgeable.

Trump, in the person of his representatives, will arrive at the talks having spent five weeks promising unconditional surrender and settling for a two-week pause.

He will need to show his base something, anything, that can be dressed as victory.

And Iran's new leadership will need to show its own people that they did not bleed and die for nothing.

The overlap between what each side can claim as a win without being humiliated at home feels vanishingly small.

The ceasefire is real, as is the general feeling of relief around the world -- after all, the alternative on the table was the annihilation of a civilisation.

But to turn this ceasefire into a full-fledged cessation of hostilities is going to take tremendously skilled diplomacy -- and over any such efforts hangs the shadow of the loose cannon that is Trump.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff
SEOUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday that the government welcomed a ceasefire agreement reached between the United States and Iran earlier in the day, saying it created momentum for the resumption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

The ministry also appreciated mediation efforts by relevant countries, including Pakistan.

South Korea expressed hope that talks between the two sides would be concluded and that peace and stability in the Middle East would be restored at an early date.

It also hoped that free navigation for all vessels, including South Korean ships, through the Strait of Hormuz would resume swiftly and safely, adding that Seoul would continue communication and consultation with relevant countries to that end.

Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan.

Trump announced Tuesday he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

The decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, he wrote on social media.

On the Iranian side, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

Araghchi also promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying that Iran will hold negotiations with the U.S. side in Pakistan's capital Islamabad. 
TOWNSHEND  Community members, staff and West River Education District Board members decried special education cuts planned for next school year at the Windham Central Supervisory Union.

They spoke out during a recent WCSU Board meeting. WCSU provides services for students from Brookline, Dover, Jamaica, Marlboro, Newfane, Stratton, Townshend, Wardsboro, and Windham.

A letter from 54 staff members calls for the board to immediately direct the superintendent to reconsider the decision and reinstate the positions of elementary school special education case manager, school psychologist and two part-time special educators for the 2026/2027 school year.

Melissa Bartlett, occupational therapist in Windham Central, read the letter stating that the removal of special education positions "places students staff and the district at immediate risk."

"Without these professionals, students with disabilities will not receive timely evaluations, appropriate services or consistent monitoring, as required by law," the letter states. "Teachers and administrators will be expected to assume specialized responsibilities beyond their training, an unsustainable practice that jeopardizes instructional quality compliance."

The removal of the positions, the letter states, "erodes trust and increases the likelihood of formal complaints, due process, actions and litigation."

"While these cuts may appear cost saving in the short term, they are likely to result in far greater long term expenses through compensatory services out of district, placements, staff burnout and turnover," the letter states. "Ultimately, these costs fall to taxpayers."

Superintendent Bob Thibault said the cuts are aimed at efficiencies and make up about 2.7 of more than 60 full-time-equivalent positions in all special education categories. He noted an administrative position was eliminated for the current fiscal year.

"It's an evolving, shifting landscape," he said. "These are all things we going to be closely monitoring."

Thibault anticipates the cuts could potentially save as much as $60,000. They are included in the WCSU budget that was already approved.

The fallout could result in unfairly adding responsibilities to teachers, said Sara Webb, West River Education District Board member and parent of an elementary school student. She shared concerns about long term impacts and how increased case loads would affect "the ability to provide timely evaluations and interventions."

"What will this mean for staff who rely on the school psychologist for consultation, collaboration and guidance in supporting diverse learners?" Webb said. "This is not something that we're likely to be able to get at least in a timely manner from an outside consulting agency and as a smaller district."

Webb said she believes the decision to reduce positions was made in part by comparing case loads to larger districts, however, "larger districts are often able to distribute specialized staff across a wider population, allowing costs to be absorbed more efficiently."

"And as a small district, we just don't have that same level of flexibility," Webb said. "A specialized position like this represents a larger share of overall capacity, and reductions can have a disproportionately significant impact."

Sarah Kiefer, school psychologist at Windham Central, said replacing her full-time position with a contract with an agency "could actually lead to increased bottom line costs." She suggested savings will be "marginal at best."

"There's a potential risk in the delay of evaluation completion, which will result in the delay of access to services for students who have disabilities," she said. "And there's also a very realistic risk that we could fall out of compliance with state and federal mandates around the timeline for evaluations, and then any additional responsibilities that are reassigned from this position to other people is going to draw away from the work that they're already doing."

As a property taxpayer in Vermont with children in the public school system, Kiefer said she fully supports "efforts to become more efficient and financially responsible."

"I believe that decisions are being made with good intentions, but I do stand by my assertion that I think it's in the best interest of this district to keep the full time school psychologist on staff," she said. "Special education numbers and students needs are rising, and I'm just compelled to advocate for maintaining those positions that directly impact our most struggling learners."

Contracting for services do not bring about savings, particularly for school psychologists, said Fiona Chevalier, WRED board member, parent and former staff member. She called for data to be released publicly to support the cuts.

The reductions are part of a reorganization of WCSU's multi-tiered systems of support following an audit last year, Thibault said.

"The reality of this is that there's a lot happening," he said. "There's a lot changing in the state, but the pressures of budgeting at the board, at the district board level, at the SU level, are not going to get easier."

WCSU tries to "figure out how to best serve our kids in a financially responsible way," Thibault said.

"It is worrisome that the only solutions ... involve taking away from the children, the very individuals we're all supposed to be advocating for and raising together," said Monica Sullivan, special educator at NewBrook and parent of a student in the West River Education District whose position is being eliminated.

In a letter, Sullivan asked the board to "consider how the proposed changes to the special education model may similarly contribute to increased turnover and further erode trust between teachers and administrators."

"These decisions have far-reaching consequences," Sullivan wrote, urging the board "to prioritize what is truly in the best interest of students."
People listen to a panel about Place-Based Economic Development and Building on Your Towns Unique Assets and Identity during the 7th Annual Southern Vermont Economy Summit at Mount Snow in Dover on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.
Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.

Chloe Learey is executive director of the Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development. The opinions expressed by columnists and op-ed writers do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
MOSCOW, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Common sense has prevailed in the current pause in tensions between the United States and Iran, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday.

In a statement, Medvedev said the conflict has effectively been put on hold, with both sides claiming victory.

"So who won? First and foremost, common sense, which was severely undermined by the White House's statements about destroying Iranian civilization in a single day," he said.

He said the U.S. willingness to discuss a proposed 10-point plan represented a success for Iran, though the question remains whether Washington will agree to its provisions.

Medvedev warned that Washington needs to maintain the fragile truce with Tehran, as any further move could worsen the situation.

Separately, commenting on the ceasefire, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that the approach of an aggressive, unprovoked attack has been defeated, describing the current situation in the Middle East as evidence of the ineffectiveness and unsustainability of any strategy based on escalation and the use of force.

Zakharova said Russia had from the outset called for an immediate cessation to the aggression, stressing the futility of the military approach and the need for a political and diplomatic settlement through negotiations based on international law and respect for the interests of all parties.

Earlier, Iran and the United States had agreed to a two-week truce less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and hold negotiations in Pakistan from Friday. 
Industry body Tech New Zealand has launched an election manifesto calling for a long-term, bipartisan technology strategy to realise the full potential of a sector it says contributes $24 billion to GDP and employs more than 119,000 people.

Calling on policymakers to put aside political differences, Tech New Zealand CEO Graeme Muller said the countrys prosperity was at risk without decisive action.

Our productivity is lagging, our talent is departing, and our infrastructure deficit is growing, he said.

Technology is the catalyst that can transform our economy. It underpins future prosperity and global competitiveness  from agriculture and manufacturing to health and education. New Zealanders deserve a clear, ambitious vision that captures opportunities while managing risk. That requires long-term thinking with genuine cross-party collaboration.

According to Tech New Zealand, it represents more than 2,500 member organisations employing 10 per cent of the countrys workforce across agritech, AI, biotech, blockchain, education, fintech and other industries.

Its 2026 election manifesto outlines a comprehensive set of policy recommendations, based on four long-term foundations to help Aotearoa New Zealand leverage the benefits of technology, Muller added.

We need world-class local digital infrastructure, abundant and affordable clean energy, a consistent and attractive investment ecosystem, and strong global connections and export excellence, he said.

The manifesto contains specific policy proposals including providing every adult New Zealander with access to free, globally-benchmarked training in practical AI skills; directing the Super Fund to allocate more late-stage capital into local tech firms to help them retain head offices and staff in New Zealand as they go global; and increasing investment in cybersecurity to combat the $1.6 billion lost to cybercrime annually.
A new Nelson-based ICT tech community group, covering the top of the South Island, is hosting its first tech symposium next month.

The group, Te Tau Ihu  Nelson Tech, was created to create a space for local tech professionals to connect, founder Gavin Gallot told Reseller News.

Ever since the closure of IT Professionals NZ [last year], there has really been no tech community to speak of in Nelson, said Gallot, who is also Sparks client lead for the region.

Our group has launched as a non-commercial, not-for-profit group of people who in their day job potentially are competitors, but all share a passion for the region we live in and a shared vision to create the strongest business-focused tech community in New Zealand outside of the main centres.

Since its launch in March, the group has grown rapidly with over 100 tech professionals across the region having joined.

The last few weeks since launching prove the region is crying out for something to fill this space and connect up local tech professionals, Gallot added.

One of the groups first initiatives is hosting the Nelson Tech Symposium on 20 May 2026, to coincide with TechWeek, as series of national events hosted by NZ Tech.

The event will bring together voices from across the top of the South Island region, which has long been a place of creativity, ingenuity, and collaboration, Gallot said.
Pakistan appears to have achieved a significant diplomatic breakthrough by playing a proactive role in brokering a 14-day cease-fire and setting the stage for the US-Iran talks in Islamabad on April 10.

The last-minute cease-fire, announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on X late on April 8, came just hours before the expiration of US President Donald Trumps deadline warning Iran of consequences that could lead to the destruction of a civilization never to be brought back again.

The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate cease-fire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, effective immediately, Sharif posted, tagging senior US administration officials.

Referring to his conversation with Sharif and Pakistans army chief, Asim Munir, whom he has previously described as his favorite field marshal, Trump posted on Truth Social, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi also praised Sharif and the army chief for their efforts.

'Godsend' For Pakistan

Analysts have described the development as a godsend for nuclear-armed Pakistan, which has repeatedly faced accusations from various US administrations -- including that of Trump -- of playing a double game during the NATO-US war against the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Pakistan also strengthened its ties with the oil-rich Gulf states while successfully avoiding the risk of an unwanted conflict with Iran -- especially since Saudi Arabia, which signed a Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement with Islamabad last year, could have been drawn into the war.

Pakistan played it very wisely by bolstering its diplomatic image while also avoiding a war with its closest neighbor, Iran, said Ayesha Siddiqa, a fellow at the Department of War Studies at Kings College London and author of Military Inc.: Inside Pakistans Military Economy.

It is easier to join a war, but it is very difficult to get out of it, said Siddiqa, who added that Pakistan was the only country in the region that could talk to both Iran and the United States and it used the opportunity very wisely.

Pakistan shares a roughly 900-kilometer-long border with Iran, separating Irans Sistan and Baluchestan Province from Pakistans Balochistan. The region, marked by rugged terrain and limited state control, is home to a range of militant groups, including the anti-Iranian outfit Jaysh al-Adl (formerly Jundallah) as well as Baloch separatist groups operating on the Pakistani side of the border.

The Role Of Saudi Arabia

Siddiqa also argued that Pakistan had little choice but to step in and mediate a settlement. In her view, given the escalating situation, Saudi Arabia could eventually have been drawn into the conflict had Iran continued targeting installations inside the kingdom. Under the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement -- which stipulates that an attack on one party is considered an attack on both -- Pakistan would have faced significant pressure to support Saudi Arabia, potentially leaving it with little choice but to join a Saudi-led war against Iran."

Under the temporary cease-fire, Iran would reopen the Strait of Hormuz allowing marine traffic through the sea route. The closure has caused an oil shortage affecting consumers around the world. Around one-fifth of the worlds oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz.

Citing Iranian media, Reuters reported that the Iranian proposal for the peace negotiations include the lifting of sanctions against Iran, releasing the countrys frozen assets, and withdrawing US troops from the region. President Trump had described the proposal as a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency reported on April 8 that the speaker of Iran's parliament, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, will lead the Iranian negotiating team during the talks due to be held on April 10 in Pakistan. But the Tasnim news agency, quoting an unnamed source, reported that no decision about the names of the Iranian delegation had yet been made.

The news agency reported that the Supreme National Security Council, along with the three branches of government and other relevant officials, are considering all aspects of the negotiations and official announcements on this matter will be made soon.

The United States has also not confirmed the in-person talks. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavit was quoted as saying that there are discussions about in-person talks, but nothing is final until announced by the president or the White House.

Israel also supported the suspension of strikes against Iran. In an X post, the office of the Israeli prime minister said Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel ,and countries in the region."

Pakistan and Iran never remained on very cordial terms. But being the closest neighbors and Muslim countries, Iran trusts Pakistan more than any other country in the region, said Khalid Sultan, an Islamabad-based analyst.

Sultan argued that Pakistans unexpected victory against India in the four-day war in May 2025 has increased Pakistans importance for the Gulf countries. Despite its fragile economic situation, many Gulf countries are now trying to keep Pakistan on their side.

This provided Pakistan a diplomatic clout to come forward and play a lead role in defusing the US-Iran conflict. He said the fresh developments have improved Pakistans image as well as strengthened its diplomatic role.
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week cease-fire, brokered by Pakistan, premised on Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement came less than two hours before US President Donald Trump's self-imposed deadline was set to expire at 8 pm ET on April 7.

Global markets rallied. Oil prices fell. Leaders around the world expressed relief.

But the cease-fire is already proving to be fragile, with Iranian strikes reported across Arab states in the Persian Gulf just hours after the pause in fighting went into effect. Meanwhile, Israel has continued its attacks in Lebanon on Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy that has been designated a terror organization by Washington.

Talks in Islamabad to secure a permanent peace deal will begin on April 10. Both sides have said the cease-fire is temporary and does not constitute an end to the war.

Here are three things that can determine whether the cease-fire morphs into a peace deal or simply marks a pause in the fighting.

One: State Of The Strait

For decades, the Strait of Hormuz was treated as something close to a global commons -- a narrow passage with a 3.7 kilometer shipping channel between Iran and Oman through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas flowed freely, unimpeded, and untaxed. That era may now be over.

The cease-fire framework is said to include a provision allowing both Iran and Oman to collect transit fees from ships passing through the strait. This is without precedent. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea explicitly bars states with territorial waters in the strait from charging fees for passage, and no state has ever successfully imposed such tolls on a recognized international strait.

Iran's system, already operational in practice, is more elaborate than a simple toll booth. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has reportedly developed a ranking system for nations, with ships from countries deemed friendly receiving better terms. Once the toll is paid, the IRGC issues a permit code and route instructions; ships are expected to fly the flag of the nation that negotiated their passage.

But who actually pays? The instinctive answer -- global consumers -- turns out to be largely wrong, according to Guntram Wolff, a senior fellow at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.

Because Arab states in the Persian Gulf are responsible for approximately 20 percent of global oil supply, they absorb the bulk of any toll imposed on that supply.

"The Gulf states will have to actually pay, in my computations, around 80 or 85 percent of the toll value," Wolff told RFE/RL. "While global consumers would only have to bear something like 20 percent of the toll cost."

For ordinary consumers, in other words, the toll will likely be "unnoticeable." For Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait City, it will be a recurring bill that will nibble into their profits.

The same logic applies beyond oil. Fertilizers, petrochemicals, and other Gulf-sourced commodities face a similar incidence structure. The Gulf states, having already absorbed weeks of war-related disruption, now face the prospect of permanently subsidizing Iran's reconstruction through the prices they effectively pay to export their own resources.

Iranian officials have been explicit that this is the intention. "The Strait of Hormuz situation won't return to its prewar status," Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X last month.

Two: To Enrich Or Not To Enrich?

In his statement announcing the cease-fire, Trump said Irans 10-point proposal is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Observers say that the two sides are so far apart in their positions -- and nowhere is the gap more notable than on the question of Iran's nuclear program.

According to the Associated Press, Iran's Farsi-language version of its 10-point cease-fire plan included the phrase "acceptance of enrichment" for its nuclear program -- something absent from the English versions shared by Iranian diplomats with journalists.

Complicating the issue, Trump on April 8 said there will be no enrichment of uranium in Iran.

In the Persian text of the proposal, Iran says the two sides will negotiate over the level of enrichment.

"On the uranium, we're watching it. We know what they have, and they will give it up, and we'll get it. We'll take it if we have to," US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a briefing at the Pentagon on April 8.

The stockpile in question is not trivial. According to the UN nuclear watchdog, Iran had accumulated 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity.

Mediators working on the cease-fire framework concluded that a solution for Iran's highly enriched uranium -- either through its removal from the country or dilution -- could only happen under a final deal, not a temporary truce. Iran's uranium stockpile, they assessed, is one of Tehran's two main bargaining chips, and Tehran will not likely surrender it for a two-week pause in the conflict.

So the uranium question has been deliberately deferred to Islamabad -- where the translation discrepancy is sure to reassert itself.

Three: The Lebanon Question

The cease-fire could unravel over Israel's military operations in Lebanon, which continued unabated on April 8.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the agreement does not include Lebanon, where Israeli forces have launched a ground invasion and are fighting Hezbollah. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the deal's chief broker, said the opposite -- that the cease-fire applies to Lebanon as well.

The disagreement is not a technicality. Iran backs Hezbollah -- a US-designated terrorist group -- and continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon could place Tehran under pressure to respond militarily.

Setting A Precedent?

Wolff offers a final observation that reframes all three of the above. Iran has demonstrated, at enormous cost to itself, that a medium-sized power can impose crippling economic pressure on the global system without winning a conventional war. Does that set a precedent?

"There's not that many countries that would like to experience what Iran has experienced in the last couple of weeks, including the threats of civilizational erasure," Wolff said.

"So, in that sense, it does not set a precedent. But it does set a precedent in the sense that Iran has shown to the world the power of asymmetric warfare. In that sense, it's a strategic defeat for the United States, and a strategic win for any actor that masters asymmetric warfare, that now knows that the guardian of the international order basically does not manage to overcome that."
People take part in a memorial event held to mourn the students of an elementary school who were killed in a missile strike in southern Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 7, 2026. A missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran on Feb. 28, 2026 killed at least 175 people, most of them schoolgirls. Increasing evidence has shown this tragedy was of the U.S. making. (Xinhua/Shadati)

A boy holds up a poster in a memorial event held to mourn the students of an elementary school who were killed in a missile strike in southern Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 7, 2026. A missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran on Feb. 28, 2026 killed at least 175 people, most of them schoolgirls. Increasing evidence has shown this tragedy was of the U.S. making. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People take part in a memorial event held to mourn the students of an elementary school who were killed in a missile strike in southern Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 7, 2026. A missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran on Feb. 28, 2026 killed at least 175 people, most of them schoolgirls. Increasing evidence has shown this tragedy was of the U.S. making. (Xinhua/Shadati)

Textbooks are pictured in a memorial event held to mourn the students of an elementary school who were killed in a missile strike in southern Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 7, 2026. A missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran on Feb. 28, 2026 killed at least 175 people, most of them schoolgirls. Increasing evidence has shown this tragedy was of the U.S. making. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People take part in a memorial event held to mourn the students of an elementary school who were killed in a missile strike in southern Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 7, 2026. A missile strike on an elementary school in Minab, southern Iran on Feb. 28, 2026 killed at least 175 people, most of them schoolgirls. Increasing evidence has shown this tragedy was of the U.S. making. (Xinhua/Shadati)
WASHINGTON -- Veteran ambassador Joey Hood, a career diplomat who has served with a focus on the Middle East under multiple US administrations, says the United States and Iran have each drawn stark lessons from the violent new chapter in decades of hostility.

In an interview with RFE/RL, Hood -- who served as principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs during President Donald Trumps first administration, and previously as deputy chief of mission in Iraq and Kuwait -- said Tehran has learned the US can eliminate senior leaders at will, a reality that will shape future Iranian decision-making.

At the same time, he said, Washington has learned that Iran -- or even non-state actors -- can effectively disrupt the Strait of Hormuz using low-cost tools such as drones, mines, or even credible threats, without deploying conventional naval forces.

If reported Iranian negotiating points are accurate, Hood said, the gap between the sides remains wide. Absent what he called a political earthquake, the risk of new escalation remains high, as each side still believes it can impose significant costs on the other.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

RFE/RL: I want to start with the lessons both the US and Iran have learned from this latest chapter of a conflict that has been going on since 1979. What are those lessons, in your view, and how should they inform US strategy in both the short and long term?

Joey Hood: I think you're right to say that this is merely the latest chapter in a conflict that's been going on for 47 years now, because there's a long history here that started with the taking hostage of our diplomats by this regime in Tehran for 444 days in 1979 and 1980. And it's gone through other iterations, including the tanker war in the late 1980s and, of course, the many, many, many attacks by Iranian-supported militias in Iraq and Syria and Lebanon against US forces and diplomatic personnel.

In terms of the lessons learned, I think that Tehran has learned that the United States can eliminate virtually any leader at any time that it wants to do so. So that's going to have to factor into the thinking of any Iranian leader who ascends into a leadership role and, consequently, their negotiating position -- knowing that if they go too far beyond America's red lines, they could be the next ones eliminated.

Second, I think the United States has learned that Iran, or even other actors for that matter, can control the Strait of Hormuz by just launching a few cheap drones or mines, or even merely the threat of employing them. It doesn't take an armada now to block the strait, or even deep minefields. All it takes is sufficiently scaring insurance companies so that ships will no longer move -- because insurance is too expensive, simply not available, or the shipping companies themselves decide they dont want to take that risk.

And this is actually something that's not totally in the control of Washington or Tehran. Both sides can say, OK, we have a temporary cease-fire so ships can move. But if insurance and shipping companies don't agree, then the ships dont move. And, so far, not a lot of ships have been moving into position to cross the strait.

RFE/RL: You have served in multiple administrations dating back to George W. Bush. Given that Iran's leadership structure has remained relatively consistent over time -- and the new insights the US has gained about Irans decision-making and risk tolerance, including the US capability to eliminate senior leadership -- how do you think this affects the mindset of Iranian decision-makers today, particularly as they enter negotiations or consider escalation?

Hood: Well, they have to understand -- and I'm sure that they do -- that if we dont arrive at a negotiated solution, then a re-escalation or a resumption of armed conflict could mean, personally, that they will no longer survive.

So I think that gives them an incentive to be more serious, maybe to move faster than they otherwise would have, because we have seen from experience that it takes months and sometimes years to arrive at a solution with them. I go back to 19791980, when the Algerians helped us arrive at the liberation of the diplomatic hostages -- but that took many, many months. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the so-called nuclear deal of 2015, took years to negotiate.

And I think that's one of the things that prompted President Trump to launch military hostilities now, because he was not convinced that the Iranian negotiators were serious. He said they were tapping along, as if you tap your foot just to keep time with the music.

So I think they probably understand now that they're going to have to move faster than they otherwise normally would have.

Trying To Bridge The Gaps

RFE/RL: Turning to the reported negotiation frameworks: If the Iranian proposals mentioned in the media are accurate, youve suggested the two sides remain far apart. What are the biggest substantive gaps, and how difficult will they be to bridge without what youve called a political earthquake?

Hood: To go back to your earlier question, I think the US is going to have to adapt its way of thinking and planning for keeping commercial shipping open through the Strait of Hormuz. Thats going to involve new technology, new alliances with some of the Gulf countries, and probably further conflict, unfortunately, as long as the regime in Tehran doesnt fundamentally change its outlook and strategy vis-a-vis the rest of the world.

Now, what do both sides want? Both sides want to be the dominant power in the Middle East, and both cannot achieve that at the same time.

So unless theres a political earthquake on one side or the other, theyre not going to be able to find a negotiated solution that satisfies most -- if not all -- of their strategic objectives. So unfortunately, I dont think theres a lot of optimism for this temporary cease-fire, or for a comprehensive end to this conflict thats been going on for 47 years.

For the regime in Tehran to accept US dominance in the region, it would have to change its entire ideology, which is based on resisting the United States and the West. And weve seen what that approach has brought to countries like Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen.

Iran does not have a single friend, partner, or ally that is prosperous and stable. Instead, it relies on militias -- armed groups operating in other countries with the objective of resisting the kind of economic development and stability seen under the US security umbrella in Gulf Cooperation Council states.

Balance Of Power In Tehran

RFE/RL: Given that assessment -- and recent comments by US officials referring to Irans leadership as a new regime -- how well do we actually understand the internal balance of power in Tehran? And how much does that distinction matter in practice?

Hood: I think we collectively understand a lot about the Iranian system. But that collective understanding is not necessarily reaching President Trump.

There are only a handful of people advising him, and many experienced staff across civilian, military, and diplomatic institutions have been fired, pushed into retirement, or otherwise left. So I dont think the best analysis and recommendations are getting to the person who matters most.

Now, as for what he says about the regime -- he is technically correct that it has changed, in the sense that the United States and Israel have taken out much of the senior leadership that existed just a few months ago. So the personalities have changed.

But has the ideology changed? Have the objectives changed? I see absolutely no evidence of that.

The regimes goals remain to resist the United States and the West, and to export its revolution -- those are its words, not mine. That does not lead to a peaceful region.

So no, I dont see fundamental regime change. I do see new leaders, and their vulnerability may make them more cautious in negotiations -- but well have to see.

RFE/RL: There also seems to be confusion about what the declared cease-fire actually covers -- particularly with continued strikes involving Israel and activity in places like Beirut. How significant is that ambiguity, and what risks does it pose to maintaining the cease-fire?

Hood: I think its significant, because it gives any spoiler the ability to say, The other side violated the cease-fire, so Im going to keep attacking.

That may very well be what Iran does -- or at least some actors within the Iranian system. Because how can we be sure the system is fully cohesive? How do we know, for example, that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps will follow orders from [the] new leadership? These are things that will become clearer over time.

Even after the cease-fire was declared, weve seen attacks on Gulf countries. And Israel has said Lebanon is not part of the cease-fire at all.

We have to remember that Israel, while closely aligned with the United States, is a sovereign country and can make its own decisions. If President Trump were to publicly demand that Israel stop operations in Lebanon, that would put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a very difficult position. But absent that, Israel will continue pursuing its objectives.

RFE/RL: Finally, you noted that both sides still believe they can impose significant costs on the other. In practical terms, what are the most likely triggers for renewed escalation -- and what signals should policymakers watch to distinguish between routine posturing and a real slide back into conflict?

Hood: Obviously, the number and impact of Iranian attacks on Gulf countries will be a key indicator. If those dont stop, then there isnt really a cease-fire.

It will also be important to see whether Iran refrains from threatening shipping in the Strait of Hormuz -- and yet ships still dont move. How President Trump interprets that is hard to predict.

We also need to watch internal dynamics in Iran. There may not be full command and control by any single leader. If factions begin to disagree, you could see spoilers -- actors who reject negotiations and launch attacks on their own.

And how those actions are interpreted by the United States -- thats going to be one of the most difficult questions to answer.
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump and Iran have agreed to a two-week Pakistani-brokered cease-fire, pulling back from the brink to allow the two sides time to negotiate a peace deal.

Trump, who early on April 7 wrote that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran fails to reach a deal, said in a social media post that he had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran and he believes "it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

The Tasnim news agency, which is close to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), confirmed a cease-fire has been "established" between the two sides "with specific conditions."

"They requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote.

Trump gave no details of the Iranian proposal, but added that the agreement hinges on Tehran allowing for the free passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane through which some 20 percent of the world's oil and gas passes.

Analysts pointed to that condition as being the key to the deal, adding that the stability of the cease-fire rests on Tehran.

"Now all eyes are on Iran as the president has made the cease-fire contingent upon Iran opening the strait," Alex Plitsas, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council and a former Pentagon official, told RFE/RL.

Israel said that it supports Trump's decision to stop attacking Iran for two weeks subject to the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the cessation of attacks against the United States, Israel, and other countries in the region.

But the statement, released by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the cease-fire did not include Lebanon, which contradicted an earlier statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan.

Anne Dreazen, vice president of the American Jewish Committee's Center for a New Middle East, told RFE/RL that while the pause is a "tactical de-escalation," the maritime terms remain highly precarious. She noted that because passage is still being coordinated via the Iranian military, the agreement represents a "controlled and conditional access regime" rather than a true return to international norms.

"In practical terms, Iran is retaining the ability to regulate, restrict, or politicize maritime traffic using the strait as leverage rather than restoring the principle of free navigation," Dreazen said, adding the burden is now on Tehran to prove it is ready to "shift course from coercion and disruption toward meaningful negotiation and de-escalation."

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed in a post on X that if attacks against Iran are halted, Iran's armed forces "will cease" their retaliatory strikes aimed at targets throughout the Middle East.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."

Trump's post followed his warnings that the United States would target Iran's power plants and bridges.

It also came just hours after US and Israeli air strikes hit multiple locations across Iran, including infrastructure and the strategic Kharg Island.

Senior Trump administration officials called the deal "a win," while Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, characterized the agreement as "a tactical pause -- a delay" by the United States to see if Iran will hold to the deal.

"I think President Trump retains the option of escalating. The attack plans have been prepared. That credible military threat remains," he told RFE/RL, adding that both nations remain in a position to strike.

"The Iranians have the ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz. So both can revert to previous postures if this deal fails to hold."

The last-minute move came amid global concerns over Trump's remarks on wiping out Iranian civilization, with Pope Leo, an American, suggesting it was "truly unacceptable" and others warning against attacks on civilian infrastructure.

There had been few signs that the sides were ready for compromise in the war, which began with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28, and little overlap between proposals put forth by Washington and Tehran.

"The cease-fire, should it hold, could serve as a more general off ramp to future hostilities. In this sense, escalation -- even the threat of it -- may have been necessary to precipitate the current de-escalation," Cale Brown, a former deputy spokesperson during Trump's first administration and chairman of Polaris National Security, told RFE/RL.

US Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said she welcomed a temporary cease-fire to stop the fighting with Iran, though concerns remain over what the war has achieved, citing a sharp increase in gas prices, the "enormous disruption" to the global economy, and the deaths of 13 US service members.

Diplomacy is the only way forward. There must now be an intensive diplomatic effort, alongside our allies, to conclude this conflict and ensure Iran does not develop a nuclear weapon, the senator from New Hampshire said in a statement late on April 7 after the cease-fire deal was announced.
The temporary truce between the United States and Iran wobbled less than a day after being agreed as Israel launched massive attacks on Iranian proxies in Lebanon, while Tehran launched strikes at oil centers in several Persian Gulf countries after claiming its energy facilities were targeted.

US and Iranian delegations are scheduled to meet in Islamabad on April 10 to begin detailed talks on a peace deal after the temporary truce was reached late on April 7. Vice President JD Vance will lead the US delegation, the White House said on April 8.

But even as teams prepared for the meetings, reports of violations tempered the optimism seen just hours earlier as the first ships passed freely through the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran is to fully open as part of the cease-fire deal.

Further clouding the outlook, Israel carried out its heaviest strikes in Lebanon on Iran-backed Hezbollah, which has been designated a terror organization by the United States, amid disputes about what is covered under the cease-fire. Israels military said it targeted over 100 Hezbollah sites in Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern Lebanon.

Lebanon's Health Ministry said 182 people were killed but that this was not the final toll, and UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said the "scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific."

"The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!" President Donald Trump said in a social media post, before later being quoted by US public broadcaster PBS as saying Lebanon is not part of the agreement with Iran "because of Hezbollah."

"That's a separate skirmish," he added.

Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) said in response to the Israeli attacks on Hezbollah that "if the aggression against beloved Lebanon does not cease immediately, we will fulfill our duty and deliver a response."

In a post on X, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi added: "The IranU.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose-- ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both."

And Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who is reportedly expected to lead Tehran's delegation at the Islamabad talks along with Araqchi, claimed that three parts of Iran's 10-point proposal for a resolution had been violated and that, in such a situation, a "bilateral cease-fire or negotiations" were "unreasonable."

In a post on X, Qalibaf asserted that the violations were attacks on Lebanon, the entry of a drone into Iranian airspace, and what he said was a "denial of Iran's right to [uranium] enrichment."

Washington and Tehran agreed late on April 7 to a two-week Pakistani-brokered cease-fire, pulling back from the brink to allow the two sides time to negotiate a peace deal.

Trump, who early on April 7 wrote that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran fails to reach a deal, said in a social media post that he had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran and he believes "it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

Iranians' Relief, Conerns

Iranians have expressed relief but also concern after the United States and Iran announced a deal to suspend hostilities for two weeks. After more than five weeks of strikes, some Iranians say they expect challenging days ahead with infrastructure destroyed -- but also want their own government to restore basic rights and to release political prisoners.

"I'm glad there is a cease-fire, but I won't rest until there's lasting peace," one man from inside Iran said in a message sent to RFE/RL's Radio Farda.

"I know there will be difficult days ahead of us. A lot of infrastructure has been destroyed, and [the authorities] are [likely] to become more violent, but we must stand together and distance ourselves from the warmongers."

Trump gave no details of the Iranian proposal but added the agreement hinges on Tehran allowing the free passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane through which some 20 percent of the world's oil and gas passes.

According to data from maritime monitor Marine Traffic, three ships passed through the waterway on April 8.

"Early signs of vessel activity are emerging in the Strait of Hormuz following a cease-fire announcement, which includes a temporary reopening of the strategic waterway to allow for negotiations," the monitor said in a post on X.

A senior Iranian official said ships navigating the strait, however, still require Tehran's permission to pass, and Reuters reported that shippers were awaiting more clarity before resuming transit.

'Legitimate Misunderstanding'

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on April 8 that Trump's "immediate priority...is the reopening of the strait without any limitations, whether in the form of tolls or otherwise."

"I will reiterate the president's expectation and demand that the Strait of Hormuz is reopened immediately, quickly, and safely," Leavitt said, adding that any closure "is completely unacceptable."

Israel said it supports Trump's decision to stop attacking Iran for two weeks subject to the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the cessation of attacks against the United States, Israel, and other countries in the region.

But the statement, released by the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, said the cease-fire did not include Lebanon, which contradicted an earlier statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan.

On the US side, Leavitt echoed Trump in saying Lebanon was not included in the cease-fire terms. However, she told journalists, "This will continue to be discussed, I am sure, between the president and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the United States and Israel, and all of the parties involved."

Vice President JD Vance said he believes there was a "legitimate misunderstanding" about the terms of the truce. "I think the Iranians thought that the cease-fire included Lebanon, and it just didn't."

"If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart... over Lebanonthat's ultimately their choice," he told reporters before departing Budapest to return to the US. But he added that Israel was ready to show restraint.

The Israelis, as I understand it...have actually offered to, frankly, to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful," Vance said without providing details.

Meanwhile, the Gulf States of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates reported fresh attacks on their territory.

Highly Precarious

Anne Dreazen, vice president of the American Jewish Committee's Center for a New Middle East, told RFE/RL that while the pause is a "tactical de-escalation," the maritime terms remain highly precarious.

She noted that because passage is still being coordinated via the Iranian military, the agreement represents a "controlled and conditional access regime" rather than a true return to international norms.

"In practical terms, Iran is retaining the ability to regulate, restrict, or politicize maritime traffic using the strait as leverage rather than restoring the principle of free navigation," Dreazen said, adding the burden is now on Tehran to prove it is ready to "shift course from coercion and disruption toward meaningful negotiation and de-escalation."

Senior Trump administration officials have called the deal "a win," while Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, characterized the agreement as "a tactical pause -- a delay" by the United States to see if Iran will hold to the deal.

"I think President Trump retains the option of escalating. The attack plans have been prepared. That credible military threat remains," he told RFE/RL, adding that both nations remain in a position to strike.

"The Iranians have the ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz. So both can revert to previous postures if this deal fails to hold."

The last-minute move came amid global concerns over Trump's remarks on wiping out Iranian civilization, with Pope Leo, an American, suggesting it was "truly unacceptable" and others warning against attacks on civilian infrastructure.

There had been few signs that the sides were ready for compromise in the war, which began with US and Israeli air strikes on Iran on February 28, and little overlap between proposals put forth by Washington and Tehran.

"The cease-fire, should it hold, could serve as a more general off ramp to future hostilities. In this sense, escalation -- even the threat of it -- may have been necessary to precipitate the current de-escalation," Cale Brown, a former deputy spokesperson during Trump's first administration and chairman of Polaris National Security, told RFE/RL.

With reporting by RFE/RL senior Washington correspondent Alex Raufoglu, AFP, and Reuters
This photo taken on April 6, 2026, shows the Moon (L) and Earth seen from the Orion spacecraft. The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California. (NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

by Wen Tsui

LOS ANGELES, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California.

Captured through the Orion spacecraft window, the first image shows a muted blue Earth with bright white clouds setting behind the cratered lunar surface.

NASA noted that the dark portion of Earth visible in the image is experiencing nighttime, while swirling cloud formations are visible over the Australia and Oceania regions on the illuminated side.

In the foreground, NASA identified Ohm Crater, describing its terraced edges and a flat floor interrupted by central peaks. NASA explained that such central peaks form when the lunar surface, liquefied by the energy of impact, splashes upward during the crater's formation.

The second photograph shows the Moon fully eclipsing the Sun as observed from the Orion capsule, with NASA reporting the totality lasted nearly 54 minutes.

NASA said that from the crew's vantage point, the Moon appeared large enough to completely block the Sun, extending totality far beyond what is achievable from Earth's surface.

NASA also released images of the lunar far side taken during the flyby, including a close-up of Vavilov Crater on the rim of the Hertzsprung impact basin, neither of which is visible from Earth.

Further images show the Orientale basin with a dark patch of ancient lava that NASA described as having punched through the Moon's crust billions of years ago, and terrain at the eastern edge of the South Pole-Aitken basin, revealing the shadowed boundary between lunar day and night.

The crew of NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, launched on April 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The mission will confirm the systems necessary to support astronauts in deep space exploration and lay the groundwork for a sustained presence on the Moon, NASA said, adding that the primary goal of Artemis II is a crewed test flight in lunar space.

The Artemis II mission broke the record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth on Monday.

The crew of Integrity, as the astronauts named their capsule, exceeded the previous record of 400,171 km set by the Apollo 13 crew on April 15, 1970, at 1:57 p.m. EDT (1757 GMT), according to NASA. 

This photo taken on April 6, 2026, shows the Moon seen from the Orion spacecraft. The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California. (NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

Earth sets over the Moon's curved limb in this photo captured by the Artemis II crew during their journey around the far side of the Moon, on April 6, 2026. The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California. (NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Victor Glover (L), Reid Wiseman (C), and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen prepare for their journey around the far side of the Moon by configuring their camera equipment shortly before beginning their lunar flyby observations, on April 6, 2026. The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California. (NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 6, 2026, shows the Moon seen from the Orion spacecraft. The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California. (NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 6, 2026, shows the Moon seen from the Orion spacecraft. The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California. (NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut Reid Wiseman peers out the window of the Orion spacecraft, on April 6, 2026. The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California. (NASA/Handout via Xinhua)

This photo taken on April 6, 2026, shows the Orion spacecraft and the Moon. The crew of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Artemis II mission began the return phase of their 10-day lunar flight on Tuesday after completing their flyby of the Moon.

Meanwhile, NASA released the first photographs captured during Monday's close approach of the lunar surface and announced the splashdown is scheduled for April 10 in the Pacific Ocean off San Diego, California. (NASA/Handout via Xinhua)
Midlands-North-West MEP Ciaran Mullooly has called on the Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris to immediately invite representatives of protesting farmers, contractors and hauliers into Government Buildings today to address their concerns.

Mr Mullooly said the failure to engage has fuelled anger on the ground, with tractors once again taking to the roads across Ireland as businesses struggle to survive rising fuel costs.

Mr Mullooly warned that despite recent easing in global tensions, energy disruption is set to continue in the short and medium term. This crisis is far from over. Prices will remain volatile and unpredictable, and the pressure on farmers, contractors and families will continue, he said. That is why action must be taken now - both in Dublin and in Brussels - before the situation worsens further.

People have reached breaking point, Mr Mullooly said. These are viable businesses who simply want to be heard. The Government must bring them in today, sit down with them, and start delivering real solutions.

Mr Mullooly also raised serious concern about the sharp rise in kerosene prices, warning that low-income households are being left behind.

Many people, particularly older people, rely on home heating oil and cannot afford to upgrade their systems, he said. They are trapped between a rock and a hard place. We need targeted supports now to protect those most exposed to this crisis.

The MEP confirmed he is meeting with representatives of the European Commission and fellow MEPs in Brussels today to press for urgent action at EU level.

He reiterated his five-point plan, including temporary State Aid flexibility, VAT and excise reductions, early CAP payments, activation of the EU Agricultural Crisis Reserve, and a recovery-style support mechanism, saying all options must now be pursued without delay.
Dublin to Amsterdam, Amsterdam to Doha, Doha to Lusaka. This 24-hour trip for a charity initiative in Africa is one Ballinameen native Nicole Nolan is willing to take at only nineteen years of age.

Nicole is a second year general nursing student at the University of Galway.

I always really wanted to do nursing. Since I was about 13 or 14, I always really wanted to be a nurse, she explained.

As Nicole neared the end of her first year of college, she was informed about an option to apply to travel to Africa.

I was kind of on the fence about it because, you know, obviously its a bit scary, and I was like, oh, am I ready to do it? But, I just thought it was something I always wanted to do, so I thought, why not? I may as well go for it, and I went for it, and I ended up getting the place to go out to Africa, she explained.

Over the Christmas holidays before the start of semester two, Nicole was selected from a lottery.

When I actually got it, I was like, oh my God... this is crazy. I was like, Im actually going!

To sweeten the deal, Nicole found out her best friend and roommate Emma Killeen from Laois would be heading out by her side.

I was so happy then that the two of us were going. I definitely have to go now.

Both ladies will be heading out to Lusaka the capital of Zambia, to volunteer with the Charity i4life.

Nicole acknowledges this will be an amazing experience but a costly one.

Like many other volunteers she has set up a Go Fund Me page to cover costs.

Its about 1,500 in total for flights. And then we also have to get travel insurance and pay fees to the charity. We have to get a couple of travel injections as well.

Theyve recommended to wear hiking boots to work every day just because of all the insects and everything. Nicoles fundraising efforts have already been a great success after reaching the halfway mark of her fundraising target after just two months.

I think I had something like 700 in the first like 24 hours. I am really so grateful for everyone who donated.

I think I got a much bigger response than I was ever expecting, she said.

Nicoles GoFundMe is currently at more than 1,900 with an end goal of 3,000.

The charity she will be volunteering with is an Irish based non-profit organisation.

Founded in 2009, i4Life focuses on working among the marginalised communities in Lusaka.

It delivers healthcare to the people in the Linda Compound, a township that is home to approximately 80,000 people.

Ten times the size of Ireland, Zambia has a population close to 12 million.

From a healthcare perspective, 1 in 200 women will die during childbirth and 18% of children will die before five years of age in Zambia.

The average age of death is 42.

A model of mutual sharing of knowledge and mentorship between health professionals in Ireland and Zambia has been devloped. This facilitates bi-lateral learning and a deeper understanding of the challenges that marginalised communities endure.

Nicole will be working at a mother and baby clinic for a month from June 13th.

Its a safe space that mothers and babies can come to.

We will do house visits as well where we help new mothers to get back on their feet or children who are suffering malnutrition, try and give them the aid to get them back up and back on their feet.

Ahead of heading out, Nicole and her colleagues have been attending training and information classes, getting accustomed with what to expect - 11.6% of people have HIV in Zambia, compared to 0.6% in Ireland.

I think its so sad to see that people dont have access to just basic healthcare facilities.

And I even though Im just a student, I would love to be able to offer my skills to someone who really needs it, thats definitely my main motivation, she said.

With less than three months to go, Nicole is hopeful of hitting her target.

I really just want to emphasise that Im so grateful to anyone who is willing to donate. It is definitely going to a good cause, concluded Nicole.

Those wishing to donate can do so at https://gofund.me/e41ea0143.
Two hundred passengers were successfully evacuated from a train in County Roscommon this afternoon.

The 12:45 Heuston to Westport train came to a stop close to the level crossing at Glanduff National School when a fire broke out in one of the carriages. This was successfully put out by members of staff.

Irish Rail explained that a fire developed in the undercarriage area near the gearbox of one carriage. The fire was confined to this area, and no part of the passenger area of the train was affected. Fire suppression systems activated and the driver used fire extinguishers and the fire was put out.

Members of Roscommon Fire Service, the National Ambulance Service, gardai and Irish Rail staff were quickly on the scene to help passengers from the train who were then bussed to Roscommon.

There is some disruption to train services this evening as a result of the issue, with Irish Rail advising the services on the line are now running about 50 minutes late.
Glenamaddy Players have qualified for the All -Ireland Confined Drama Finals in Carrickmore Mid-Ulster, County Tyrone. The finals will take place from April 9th to April 17th with the awards ceremony taking place on Saturday, April 18th. The Glenamaddy group will perform Chapatti by Christian OReilly on Thursday, April 16th. This date was drawn at the All-Ireland draw, which was held on Sunday, March 29th in Carrickmore with all nine finalists in attendance.

To reach the finals for any group is a massive achievement and it gets more difficult each year.

Throughout the festival circuit, director, cast and crew have been worthily awarded for all aspects of the presentation. The cast has received several awards with many nominations. The cast is as follows: Betty (Marie Coneran) and Dan (Padraic Newman).

The play is directed by Coman Keaveny, ably supported by an excellent technical and backstage crew.

Betty (Marie Coneran) and Dan (Padraic Newman) with director Coman Keaveny.

Romance is a distant memory for two lonely animal lovers living in Dublin. When forlorn Dan and his dog Chapatti cross paths with the amiable Betty and her nineteen cats, an unexpected spark begins a warm and gentle story about people re-discovering the importance of human companionship.

A beautiful piece of writing, certainly not to be missed.

This play deals with a sensitive subject matter.

As well as deriving such immense satisfaction from being present at such a performance, attendance will boost considerably the morale of the cast, director and everyone else involved as they set their sights on the mecca of amateur drama in Ireland, the All -Ireland Confined Finals, said a spokesperson for the group.

If you have not already seen this production, it will be performed at the Glenamaddy Town Hall Theatre on Friday, April 10th and Monday, April 13th at 8.00 p.m..

Booking can be done online through Glenamaddy Players  Eventbrite.
WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States is in talks with Iran over "tariff and sanctions relief," while also threatening 50 percent tariffs on any country supplying weapons to Tehran.

"The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!" Trump said on his Truth Social, adding that there will be "no enrichment of Uranium."

He noted that many of the U.S.-proposed 15-point ceasefire plan have already been agreed to.

Minutes later, in a separate post, Trump threatened 50 percent tariffs "effective immediately" on any country supplying military weapons to Iran. "There will be no exclusions or exemptions!" he said. 
Williston, ND  The City of Williston announced significant progress in reducing its long-term debt through the strategic use of debt-relief provisions made available under Senate Bill 2323.

As part of this effort, the City will retire two municipal lease-purchase agreements for critical fire apparatus ahead of schedule:

 2022 Fire Engine Lease  $784,867.30 payoff

 2023 Fire Engine Lease  $1,079,807.02 payoff

Originally scheduled to mature in 2032 and 2033, both leases will now be fully paid off by the end of April 2026, generating approximately $362,000 in interest savings with no early payment penalties.

Senate Bill 2323 has given North Dakota cities a powerful tool to reduce debt costs and improve fiscal flexibility, said Hercules Cummings, City Finance Director. By acting now, we are saving taxpayer dollars that can be redirected to other priority needs.

These actions are part of the Citys broader, long-term financial strategy. Willistons rapid growth required significant investment in infrastructure, equipment, and public safety resourcesinvestments that were made with a clear plan to manage and reduce debt over time.

Willistons growth required significant investment in infrastructure and equipment to support a rapidly expanding community and remain competitive in North Dakotas economic landscape, said Shawn Wenko, City Administrator. That required taking on debt, but it was done intentionally and with a long-term plan to pay it down. Weve been disciplined in executing that plan, and Senate Bill 2323 allows us to accelerate those efforts. This is about continuing to strengthen the Citys financial position while maintaining the services and infrastructure our residents rely on.

Remaining SB 2323 proceeds will be applied strategically to retire additional obligations, including the Airport Revenue Bond, USDA loan, and Public Works Certificate of Participationtargeting higher-cost debt and improving long-term financial flexibility.

Separately, the Citys State Revolving Fund (SRF) water loan will be fully retired in the coming months, further reducing total debt and eliminating associated federal requirements.

The passage of Senate Bill 2323 was made possible through the efforts of Mayor Howard Klug, Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl and District Legislators, who played a key role in advancing the legislation and advocating for its approval.

These actions reflect Willistons continued commitment to disciplined financial management and long-term stability.

Information on the City of Williston Finances, can be found at http://www.cityofwilliston.com where all of the citys finances are available online.

For more information, please contact:

City of Williston Communications Department

[email protected]

701.713.3800
Easter Holidays Away From Home

For any soldier on an international mission, the Easter holidays are not only a moment of spiritual reflection, but also a test of emotional resilience.

Easter Holidays Far From Home

Agentia Media a Armatei, 08.04.2026, 14:28

For any soldier on an international mission, the Easter holidays are not only a moment of spiritual reflection, but also a test of emotional resilience. The Polish and Portuguese troops managed to turn their deployment units into a space of communion, keeping ancient traditions alive, as the accountant of the Portuguese contingent confirms: Celebrating Easter abroad is naturally different, but it strengthens our sense of duty and commitment to the mission. Some Romanian traditions, such as decorating eggs and the strong attachment to family, remind us of the importance of cultural identity. The fact that you are part of a large Portuguese contingent creates a strong sense of belonging, similar to being part of an extended family. Such experiences have developed resilience and emotional strength, which are important qualities for military service.

The chefs managed to create the typical decor of a Portuguese family meal, with lamb roast in herbs, and bacalhau  the famous salted cod that is part of any Prtuguese celebration. In Craiova (southern Romania), where the Polish military contingent is stationed, the focal point of Easter in terms of cuisine is undoubtedly the basket with selected dishes prepared for a large family meal. The blessing service was performed by the military chaplain of the contingent. His role goes beyond the liturgical sphere, as he is responsible for the soldiers morale, as acknowledged by the liaison officer: I think he is the best person here, we certainly have the best trained priest with us, on the mission. I think the soldiers are very grateful to him for his commitment. As for the culinary traditions, we eat Jurek soup made of sausages, boiled eggs and a lot of vegetables. The most eagerly awaited dish is obviously the dessert. We eat a lot of cakes at the Easter table.

Polish soldiers admit that they miss the atmosphere of the second day of Easter, when in Polish villages people splash water on each other for health and good luck. Although the military environment imposes certain limits, the longing for this game is felt as a nostalgia for the normality of home. Here is what the liaison officer told us about this: I really like this tradition. It is the most exciting part of Easter; now I do it just for the tradition, but I am sure I will throw some water balloons at someone.

The absence of the loved ones is felt the most strongly at such times. For some soldiers who have been away from home before, this experience can help them get through these delicate moments more easily. Here is the advice received from a staff officer, a veteran of international missions, who is in Romania for the fourth time: They must be patient, be aware that in a few months they will be home, they will meet their families. They chose the military career, this also implies separation from their loved ones in order to fulfill their duties. Therefore, they must be strong and patient.

At the end of the holidays, the longing for the loved ones remains. This concept is found in the Portuguese culture under the name of saudade, and here is a translation and explanation of this word by the commander of the mechanized infantry unit, who is on his second mission in Romania: This is nostalgia, the feeling that you miss your loved ones, the beautiful moments with your family, a particularly painful experience during a mission, but which also essentially gives you energy to move forward, fulfill your mission and return to the midst of your family.

The Easter spent by Polish and Portuguese soldiers in Romania is proof that cultural identity knows no borders, and allied solidarity is built not only through tactical exercises, but also by respecting and sharing the spiritual values that define us all. (AMP)
European strategic projects in Romania: economic benefits or ecological risks?

Romania to develop a number of projects to extract raw materials.

Foto: Artyom Korshunov / unsplash.com

Cristina Mateescu, 08.04.2026, 14:00

In 2025, the European Commission published the list of 47 strategic projects included in the Critical Raw Materials Act. The initiative aims to reduce Europes dependence on strategic materials, especially those imported from China. The European Union wants to reduce non-EU imports of such critical minerals by 30% by 2030. Three of these projects are to be developed in western Romania, with investments amounting to some 615 million euros for the exploitation of three raw materials: graphite, in Baia de Fier, Gorj county, by a Romanian company; magnesium, in Budureasa, Hunedoara county, by an American company; and copper, in Rovina, Hunedoara county, by a Canadian company. Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan says these raw materials are used in a wide range of fields, including aerospace and aeronautics, electricity, medical equipment, batteries for solar panels and laptops. They are also used in mobile communications, GPS, internet, fiber optics, as well as in automation systems and electronic components, and especially in the defence industry.

The Rovina copper deposit is considered to be the second largest in Europe and has an estimated value of around 300 million euros. However, it is also one of the most controversial mining projects in Romania, being strongly criticised by environmental organisations. In 2024, following action initiated by activists, the court ruled to halt certain investment projects. The criticism is mainly concerned with the social and ecological impact on the communities in Rovina. Other issues raised by associations such as Ecou Rovina Bucuresci and Declic concern the financial feasibility of the project. The concentration of copper ore is considered low or very low grade, which calls into question the profitability of the whole endeavour. Roxana Pecea, Declic campaign coordinator and associate researcher at Mining Watch Romania, explained: We already have an operational copper mine in Romania, in Rosia Poieni, which is quite infamous. I think a lot of people have seen the photos of that horrible quarry that goes down hundreds of meters underground and especially the Geamana tailings pond, which has in time swallowed up the village and , more recently, a church. Those photos have a very strong impact because they reveal to what a copper quarry looks like after a few years and its long-term effects, because the tailings pond contains toxic substances and will be there for hundreds of years.

Roxana Pecea also raises another important issue, namely, the fact that any mining project, both in Romania and in Europe, will have to navigate free market dynamics because, she says, the minerals extracted in Romania are processed into finished materials that are largely bought by China and not by Romania or another European state: I think this is extremely important, and is not discussed openly either by the authorities in Romania, or in the European Union. Any project related to minerals in Romania or Europe will have to take into account the free market. And we have no certainty about it. Quite the contrary, I would say. We have a clear example, which tells us something completely different: that these minerals will go to the buyer who offers more. And I think this is the large context that should be taken into account.

Representatives of the mining company say that the project will bring stable jobs and that the environmental impact will be reduced. They promise that the Rovina mine will not use cyanide and that the area will be rehabilitated as the works progress. Roxana Pecea, however, has a different perspective: Rovina itself has a long mining tradition, interrupted for at least 30-40 years. It is underground mining, meaning that you do not have, at present, that part of high pollution or other things specific to a mining area. So it is an area covered by pastures, by forests. It is a wildlife sanctuary in the Apuseni Mountains. Turning it into an open-pit mine would have very long-term effects on the local economy, not to mention the environmental problems it would generate.

Specialized articles show that, throughout Europe, several mining projects considered strategic for the green transition are encountering local resistance, lawsuits and campaigns by environmental NGOs. They denounce the impact on water, biodiversity and farmland, and also the fact that such projects benefit from preferential treatment in terms of legal approvals. Examples include two lithium mines in Portugal, one in the Czech Republic, a mine in Serbia and the Sakatti project in Finland, where the exploitation of nickel, copper and platinum group metals is planned.

In Rovina, the community is also divided. Some of the locals are willing to sell their land to allow the development of the quarry and the extraction of 650 thousand tons of copper and over 300 tons of gold, according to company estimates. Others refuse to leave and oppose the project. (CM/EE)
Pulse Biosciences Inc. (PLSE) has taken a major step forward in its atrial fibrillation program, enrolling the first patients in its pivotal U.S. Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) study, NANOPULSE-AF.

The milestone follows groundbreaking 96% procedural success at 12 months in the company's European first-in-human feasibility study, where the nPulse Cardiac Catheter System delivered durable pulmonary vein isolation without the need for anti-arrhythmic drugs.

Atrial fibrillation, one of the most common heart rhythm disorders, often requires catheter ablation when medications fail. Traditional thermal ablation methods can be time-consuming and may affect surrounding heart tissue. Pulse Biosciences aims to change that with its nanosecond pulsed field ablation (nsPFA) - a non-thermal, ultra-fast energy approach designed to precisely target cardiac tissue while minimizing collateral damage.

The first seven patients in the pivotal study were treated at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas, under the direction of Dr. Devi Nair, Principal Investigator of the Arrhythmia Research Group. Dr. Nair noted that the system's performance, combined with integrated mapping using Abbott's investigational EnSite X software, created a streamlined and user-friendly workflow that may offer advantages over existing ablation technologies.

The NANOPULSE-AF study is a prospective, multicenter pivotal investigation evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the nPulse Cardiac Catheter System in adults with drug-resistant, symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. The trial plans to enroll approximately 215 participants across up to 30 centers in the United States and Europe. Primary endpoints will be assessed at six and twelve months to measure procedural success and safety outcomes.

Pulse Biosciences' Chief Technology Officer, Darrin Uecker, said the first patient enrollment marks an important step as the company builds on its early feasibility results. Those initial findings showed 100% acute success, reproducible outcomes across operators, and durable pulmonary vein isolation- performance that exceeded expectations in a field where recurrence rates of 20-25% are typical.

The company's nPulse system delivers energy in billionths of a second- far faster than conventional microsecond-based pulsed field ablation systems. According to the company, this design enables precise, circumferential lesion creation without the need for catheter rotation or stacked applications. In the feasibility study, the system achieved a median left atrial dwell time of 21 minutes and a total procedure time of about 65 minutes. The catheter is also integrated with Abbott's EnSite X 3D mapping platform, allowing real-time visualization and navigation to support consistent therapy delivery.

Dr.Vivek Reddy of the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital, who serves as the global Principal Investigator for the pivotal trial, said the early clinical experience suggests meaningful potential for the technology in treating atrial fibrillation. Pulse Biosciences' Chief Medical Officer, Dr. David Kenigsberg, added that the pivotal study represents a critical next step in evaluating the platform in a larger, multicentre setting.

Pulse Biosciences continues to position its nsPFA technology as a differentiated, non-thermal approach that could streamline workflow and improve outcomes in cardiac ablation. The company is also exploring additional applications for its nPulse platform in other soft-tissue ablation .

PLSE has traded between $12.56 and $26.30 over the past year. The stock closed Tuesday's trading at $19.96, down 12.99%. In pre-market trading the stock is trading at $21.20, up 6.21%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Fennec Pharmaceuticals Inc. (FENC) is expanding the clinical reach of its otoprotective therapy PEDMARK as the University of Arizona Cancer Center launches a new investigator-sponsored Phase I/II study evaluating the drug in adolescent and young adult (AYA) and adult patients receiving Cisplatin chemotherapy.

Cisplatin remains a widely used chemotherapy for solid tumors, but it carries a high risk of permanent hearing loss- a complication that can severely impact communication, learning, and long-term quality of life.

PEDMARK, a sodium thiosulfate formulation, is currently the only FDA-approved therapy to reduce the risk of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity in pediatric patients with localized, non-metastatic solid tumors. It also holds a Category 2A NCCN recommendation for use in AYA patients.

The new University of Arizona study, led by investigators Lisa Davis and Alejandro Recio-Boiles, will assess intravenous PEDMARK in adults receiving cisplatin for head and neck and testicular cancers.

The Phase I/II trial is designed to evaluate reductions in hearing impairment compared with historical controls and measure the systemic elimination of unbound cisplatin up to six hours after infusion.

The study adds to a growing number of investigator-sponsored efforts evaluating PEDMARK across broader patient populations. Tampa General Hospital began a similar real-world evaluation in March 2026, and City of Hope is currently studying PEDMARK in adult men with metastatic testicular germ cell tumors. Additional investigator-sponsored studies across new tumor types and age groups are under review.

Fennec's Chief Medical Officer, Pierre S. Sayad, said these independent studies reflect growing clinical interest in understanding how PEDMARK may benefit broader patient populations beyond those included in pivotal trials. He added that real-world data from these efforts could help support wider adoption and inform potential future regulatory discussions.

PEDMARK has been validated in two completed Phase 3 trials- COG ACCL0431 and SIOPEL 6- and is commercially available in the U.S., U.K., and Germany (as PEDMARQSI). The therapy also holds Orphan Drug Exclusivity in the U.S. and Pediatric Use Marketing Authorization in Europe.

FENC has traded between $4.68 and $9.92 over the past year. The stock closed Tuesday's trading at $6.32, down 1.56%.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
Hyundai Ioniq 5 facelift has been spotted testing once again in India, ahead of its expected launch in the coming weeks. The updated electric crossover is already on sale in multiple international markets, and Hyundai now appears to be in the final stages of preparing it for India. Hat tip to automotive enthusiast KarThik for sharing the IONIQ 5 spy shots.

The latest spy shots show a test mule with minimal camouflage, hinting that most of the design changes are already locked in. While the overall profile remains familiar, the facelift brings a number of subtle but useful updates across design, features and equipment.

Exterior Updates

At the front, Hyundai Ioniq 5 facelift gets a revised bumper design with a wider air intake and a new V-shaped garnish. The rear bumper has also been reworked, while the extended rear spoiler is now 50 mm longer than before, helping improve aerodynamic efficiency.

The facelifted model is also expected to get a new set of alloy wheels with a more aero-focused design. In terms of dimensions, there is no major change apart from a slight increase in overall length. Globally, the updated Ioniq 5 measures 4,655 mm in length, 1,890 mm in width, 1,605 mm in height and has a wheelbase of 3,000 mm.

Interior And Feature Upgrades

Inside, Hyundai has focused on improving usability. One of the key changes is the addition of physical buttons on the centre console, replacing some of the earlier touch-based controls. These are expected to make functions like parking assist, heated steering wheel and ventilated seats easier to access.

Another notable update is the repositioning of the wireless charging pad to the upper section of the centre console. The facelift is also expected to get Hyundais latest Connected Car Navigation Cockpit (ccNC) system with improved graphics, OTA support and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. A new 3-spoke steering wheel with pixel lighting is also likely to be part of the package.

Ride, Safety And Battery

Hyundai has also introduced updates to improve overall refinement. The facelift gets structural reinforcements and suspension tweaks aimed at improving ride stability, reducing vibration and enhancing cabin quietness. Internationally, the updated model also gets improvements to side-impact protection and a revised safety kit.

A major update globally is the introduction of a larger 84 kWh battery pack, which offers a claimed range of up to 570 km on the WLTP cycle in RWD form. It remains to be seen whether Hyundai will offer this larger battery pack in India as well. The current India-spec Ioniq 5 uses a 72.6 kWh battery pack, delivering 217 PS and 350 Nm in rear-wheel-drive format.

Hyundai India Product Offensive

Hyundai is currently on a strong product offensive in India, with multiple launches planned across segments. The company has already introduced updated versions of Verna and Exter this year, and the Ioniq 5 facelift is expected to be among the next launches.

Looking ahead, Hyundais pipeline includes a new-gen i20, an i20-based crossover (likely Bayon), an all-new India-made electric SUV, next-gen Creta, a new MPV and even a lifestyle off-roader aimed at rivals like Thar. This aggressive strategy is expected to strengthen Hyundais position across both ICE and EV segments in India.

Launch Soon

With testing now in advanced stages and the model already available overseas, Hyundai Ioniq 5 facelift is expected to launch in India in the coming weeks. The update will help the EV remain competitive in the premium electric crossover space, especially as more rivals continue to enter the segment.
Suzuki eVitara Scores 4-Star ANCAP Rating  5-Star Bharat NCAP Score Highlights Strong Safety Credentials

Suzuki eVitara, the brands first global electric SUV, has secured a 4-star safety rating in the latest crash tests conducted by ANCAP (Australasian New Car Assessment Program). The rating applies to all variants sold in Australia and New Zealand, where the SUV was introduced in March and April 2026 respectively.

Despite falling short of a 5-star ANCAP score, the eVitara demonstrates a well-rounded safety package with strong performance across multiple parameters. Notably, the same SUV has already secured a 5-star safety rating in Bharat NCAP crash tests in India for both adult and child occupants, highlighting differences in testing protocols and scoring systems across regions.

ANCAP Crash Test Performance

As per ANCAP results, Suzuki eVitara scored:

 77% in Adult Occupant Protection

 87% in Child Occupant Protection

 79% in Vulnerable Road User Protection

 71% in Safety Assist systems

The passenger compartment remained stable in frontal crash tests, with good protection offered to most critical body regions. However, chest protection for the driver was rated as marginal to weak in certain scenarios, which impacted the overall score.

In side impact and pole tests, the SUV delivered strong results with maximum points. However, the absence of a centre airbag and marginal performance in far-side impact tests affected its rating.

Safety Features & ADAS Suite

Suzuki has equipped eVitara with a comprehensive safety package as standard across variants. These systems showed good real-world performance in most scenarios, especially AEB for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. Key highlights include:

 Dual frontal, side and curtain airbags

 Driver knee airbag

 Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with multiple scenarios (car, pedestrian, cyclist, junction, head-on)

 Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Emergency Lane Keeping (ELK)

 Speed Assist System with speed sign recognition

India vs Global Safety Perspective

Suzuki eVitara is manufactured at the companys Gujarat plant, which serves as a global production hub. Units produced in India are exported to multiple international markets including Australia and New Zealand, reinforcing Indias role in Suzukis EV strategy.

While ANCAP has awarded eVitara a 4-star rating, the SUVs 5-star Bharat NCAP score positions it among the safer offerings in the Indian market. The variation highlights how different crash test protocols, scoring weightages and safety feature requirements can influence final ratings. Overall, Suzuki eVitara emerges as a strong contender in the electric SUV space, combining global safety standards with a comprehensive ADAS suite, even if it narrowly misses out on a top ANCAP rating.
MANAMA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Bahrain said Wednesday it intercepted 6 missiles and 31 drones in the last 24 hours.

Bahrain's National Communication Center said in a statement that 194 missiles and 508 drones had been intercepted and destroyed since the beginning of the regional conflict.

Some of the latest attacks occurred after the U.S.-Iran ceasefire took effect.

Bahrain's interior ministry said this morning that a fire at one of the facilities targeted in the Iranian attack had been brought under control.

It also reported damage to several homes in the Sitra area after debris fell following the interception of an Iranian drone. 
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for striving to break new ground in the high-quality development of China's service sector.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction conveyed at a national conference on the service sector held in Beijing from Tuesday to Wednesday.

China's service sector has steadily expanded in scale and continuously improved in quality and efficiency since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, playing an important role in supporting industrial upgrading, meeting people's livelihood needs and driving job growth, according to Xi.

Underscoring demand-driven development, reform breakthroughs, technology empowerment as well as opening up and cooperation, Xi called for carrying out capacity-expanding and quality-upgrading initiatives in the service sector.

Efforts must be made to advance producer services toward greater specialization and the higher end of the value chain, foster high-quality, diverse and accessible consumer services, and build more "China Services" brands, he said.

Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, addressed the conference.

Noting that General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions have profoundly expounded the great significance, key principles and main tasks of developing the service sector, Li called for deepening the understanding of the service sector from a strategic and overall perspective to better promote its high-quality and efficient development.

He stressed the need to adapt to the structural trends in demographic shifts, consumption upgrading and industrial transformation to continuously foster new growth drivers in the service sector and advance its digital, intelligent, standardized, integrated and internationalized development toward a higher level.

He urged efforts to make services that meet residents' essential needs more inclusive and of higher quality, expand the supply of upgrade services, and refine and enhance personalized services while strengthening services for technology and advanced manufacturing.

Li also called for efforts to actively expand opening up and deliver more targeted and effective policy support so as to create a good environment for the development of the service sector.

In his concluding remarks, Ding urged solid progress in advancing the main tasks of developing the service sector, highlighting the need to boost innovation, cut costs, enhance efficiency, cater to people's demand, and improve market vitality.

Ding also asked relevant regions and departments to establish and apply a correct understanding of what it means to perform well, and to ensure the effective implementation of decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

China's service sector surpassed 80 trillion yuan (about 11.65 trillion U.S. dollars) in added value last year, making up 57.7 percent of GDP. It also contributed 61.4 percent to economic growth, up 3.7 percentage points from the 2024 level, and provided around half of total employment.

In the outline of its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) approved by the top legislature last month, China pledged to further advance reform and opening up in the service sector, refine policy support, and comprehensively boost its quality, efficiency and competitiveness.

The sector is likely to surpass 100 trillion yuan in scale during the 2026-2030 period, according to the National Development and Reform Commission, the country's top economic planner. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, both members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attend a national conference on the service sector in Beijing, capital of China. An instruction of Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, was conveyed at the conference.

Li and Ding addressed the conference, which was held in Beijing from Tuesday to Wednesday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
No one expects danger when they hear their phone ringing. In fact, most older adults assume its their family calling to check in or their doctors office confirming an appointment. But if someone calls and says they are from Medicare, many peoples first instinct is to listen and cooperate. Medicare is essential for most seniors, and the last thing anyone wants is a problem with their coverage. In reality, scams involving Medicare are rising fast, and many of them start with a simple phone call. That said, here are seven things you should never ever say to someone claiming to be from Medicare.

1. Yes, Thats My Medicare Number

Never confirm or share your Medicare number with someone who contacts you unexpectedly. Medicare will not call, text, or email you out of the blue asking for your number. Scammers use this information to file fraudulent claims or steal your identity. Once they have your number, the damage can be difficult to undo. Always keep your Medicare information private unless you initiated the contact.

2. Let Me Give You My Social Security Number

This is one of the most dangerous things you can say during a Medicare scam call. Real Medicare representatives will never ask for your Social Security number over the phone unless you contacted them first. Scammers often bundle requests for Medicare and Social Security numbers together to maximize what they can steal. Providing this information opens the door to identity theft and financial fraud. If asked, its a clear sign you should hang up immediately.

3. Sure, I Can Pay That Fee Right Now

If someone claims you need to pay to activate or keep your Medicare benefits, its a scam. Medicare does not charge fees to issue or update your card. Criminals often request payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or unusual methods. These are nearly impossible to trace or recover once sent. Any request for immediate payment should raise an immediate red flag.

4. I Didnt Know My Coverage Was Expiring

Scammers love to create panic by claiming your coverage is about to end. In reality, Medicare will not threaten to cancel your benefits over the phone. These scare tactics are designed to make you act quickly without thinking. The more urgent they sound, the more cautious you should be. Take a breath and verify everything through official channels.

5. Okay, Ill Click That Link

Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails or text messages claiming to be from Medicare. These links often lead to fake websites designed to steal your personal information. They may look official, complete with logos and familiar language. But entering your details on these sites can compromise your identity in seconds. Always go directly to Medicares official website instead of using provided links.

6. Yes, I Want Those Free Benefits

Offers for free medical equipment, groceries, or extra benefits are a common Medicare scam tactic. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Someone trying to scam you may use these offers to lure you into sharing your Medicare number or enrolling in fraudulent services. Legitimate benefits require proper enrollment and eligibility verification. Never accept offers from unsolicited calls or messages.

7. Ill Stay on the Line With You

One of the smartest things you can do is hang up, but many people feel pressured to stay on the call. Scammers are trained to keep you engaged and build trust over time. The longer you stay on the line, the more opportunities they have to manipulate you. Medicare representatives will never object to you calling back through an official number. Ending the call immediately is often your safest move.

The One Rule That Keeps You Safe

If someone contacts you claiming to be from Medicare, stop and verify before doing anything else. Medicare will only ask for personal information if you initiate the contact. That means the safest move is always to hang up and call the official number yourself. Never trust caller ID, as it can be spoofed. When you take control of the conversation, you eliminate the scammers advantage.

Sometimes, the smartest thing you can say is nothing at all. Avoiding these seven phrases can protect your identity, your finances, and your peace of mind. Medicare scams rely on conversation, but you dont have to play along. The moment something feels off, trust your instincts and disengage. In todays environment, a simple pause can prevent a costly mistake.

Have you ever received a suspicious Medicare call? What did they say and how did you respond?

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If someone calls offering a free medical device covered by Medicare, it might sound like a blessingbut it could actually be a costly scam. Across the U.S., fraudsters are increasingly targeting older adults with fake medical devices, using convincing scripts and stolen data to appear legitimate. These scams often promise everything from braces to monitoring equipment, only to steal personal information or bill Medicare fraudulently. Even worse, many victims dont realize theyve been targeted until months later. Knowing how these scams work is the first step to protecting yourself or a loved one.

Scammers Pretend to Be Medicare or Medical Providers

One of the most common tactics in a fake medical device scam is impersonation. Fraudsters pose as Medicare representatives, doctors, or medical supply companies to gain trust quickly. They often claim you qualify for a free or low-cost device due to a recent policy change. In reality, Medicare typically does not call unsolicited to offer devices or request personal details. This impersonation tactic is especially effective because seniors are more likely to trust familiar institutions.

Free Devices Come With Hidden Costs

The word free is one of the biggest red flags in a fake medical device scam. Scammers may promise braces, diabetic monitors, or mobility aids at no cost to you. What theyre really doing is billing Medicareor worse, stealing your identity for future fraud. In some cases, victims later discover charges tied to equipment they never needed or received. This can create long-term financial and insurance complications.

They Pressure You to Act Immediately

Urgency is a classic scam tactic, and this scheme is no different. Callers may say your eligibility is about to expire or that supplies are limited. This pressure is designed to stop you from verifying the claim or thinking it through. Experts warn that any demand for immediate action should raise suspicion. Legitimate healthcare providers will never rush you into making decisions over the phone.

Personal Information Is the Real Target

At its core, a fake medical device scam is about data theft. Scammers often ask for your Medicare number, Social Security number, or bank details to process the device. Once they have this information, they can commit identity theft or submit fraudulent claims. This type of fraud can be difficult to detect and even harder to reverse. Thats why protecting your personal data is critical.

Fake Clinics and Mobile Testing Sites Are Part of the Scheme

Some scams go beyond phone calls and involve in-person deception. Fraudsters may set up temporary clinics offering free health screenings or devices. These setups can look legitimate but exist solely to collect personal and medical information. In some cases, scammers bill Medicare for services never actually provided. This adds another layer of complexity to the fraud.

Seniors Are Being Targeted More Than Ever

Older adults are a primary target for this type of scam. Reports show fraud losses among seniors have surged dramatically in recent years, with billions lost annually. Scammers often assume seniors have Medicare coverage and may be more trusting of medical-related offers. They also exploit health concerns to create urgency and emotional pressure. This makes awareness especially important for retirees and caregivers.

The Devices Themselves May Be Uselessor Dangerous

In some cases, victims actually receive a productbut its not what they expected. The devices may be low-quality, unnecessary, or even unsafe to use. This can create real health risks on top of financial loss. Worse, using unapproved equipment could interfere with proper medical treatment. Thats why verifying any medical device through your doctor is essential.

How to Spot and Stop the Scam Before It Works

There are clear warning signs that can help you avoid a fake medical device scam. Be skeptical of unsolicited calls offering medical equipment or asking for personal information. Never share your Medicare number or financial details with unknown callers. Always verify offers by contacting your doctor or Medicare directly using official numbers. Reporting suspicious activity to the FTC can also help prevent others from becoming victims.

Why This Scam Is Growingand What It Means for You

The rise of fake medical device scams highlights a bigger trend: fraud is becoming more targeted and more convincing. As healthcare costs rise, scammers are using medical needs as a powerful hook to exploit vulnerable populations. Technology and data leaks have made it easier for criminals to personalize their approach. That means even cautious individuals can be caught off guard. Staying informed and skeptical is no longer optionalits essential.

Have you or a loved one ever received a suspicious call about a free medical device? What tipped you off?

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A major development in the fight against international drug trafficking just unfolded, and it could have ripple effects far beyond the courtroom. Erick Valencia Salazar, better known as El 85, one of the founders of the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), has officially pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court.

For everyday Americans, this isnt just another headline. Its a stark reminder of how global crime networks impact local communities, from drug availability to rising crime rates. His case also highlights how U.S. law enforcement is tightening its grip on cartel leadership. If convicted at the highest level, El 85 could spend the rest of his life behind bars. Heres what you need to know and why it matters within your community.

Who Is El 85 and Why His Case Matters

Erick Valencia Salazar, known as El 85, is a high-ranking figure in organized crime and a co-founder of the CJNG cartel. He played a key role in building one of Mexicos most powerful and violent drug trafficking organizations.

Authorities say he helped coordinate large-scale cocaine shipments into the United States over many years. His influence extended beyond logistics, shaping alliances and fueling violent conflicts with rival groups. This makes his guilty plea especially significant, as it targets leadership, not just low-level operatives.

In federal court, El 85 pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute massive quantities of cocaine destined for the U.S. market. Prosecutors say the operation involved at least five kilograms or more, a threshold that triggers severe penalties under U.S. law.

By admitting guilt, he avoided a full trial but now faces a sentencing process that could still result in life imprisonment. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years, with life as the maximum possible sentence. His sentencing is currently scheduled for July 2026.

From Cartel Founder to U.S. Defendant

El 85s journey to a U.S. courtroom has been long and complicated. He was first arrested in Mexico in 2012 but was later released due to legal technicalities. After being recaptured in 2022, he was extradited to the United States in 2025 as part of a broader crackdown on cartel leaders.

U.S. authorities had even placed a multi-million-dollar reward on his capture. His extradition reflects growing cooperation between the U.S. and Mexican governments to dismantle transnational criminal networks. Now, his fate will be decided entirely within the U.S. justice system.

The CJNG Cartel and Its Impact on Americans

The CJNG cartel is considered one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world. It has been heavily involved in trafficking drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl into the United States. These substances contribute to addiction crises that affect families across the country.

Law enforcement agencies have linked the cartel to violence, money laundering, and international smuggling networks. The dismantling of leadership figures like El 85 is seen as a critical step in weakening the organization. However, it has still been warned that cartels often adapt quickly when leaders are removed.

That being said, a guilty plea from someone at El 85s level is rare and potentially powerful. It could mean he is cooperating with authorities, possibly providing insider information about cartel operations. This kind of intelligence can lead to further arrests and disrupt supply chains. It may also expose financial networks that support organized crime.

What Happens Next in the Case

The next major step is sentencing, where a federal judge will decide how much prison time El 85 will serve. The court will consider factors like the scale of the operation, his leadership role, and any cooperation with authorities. If given the maximum sentence, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Even a reduced sentence would likely mean decades behind bars. Meanwhile, investigators may continue to use information from the case to pursue other cartel figures.

While cartel news can feel distant, its effects are anything but. Drug trafficking directly impacts communities through addiction, healthcare costs, and crime. Cases like this show that authorities are increasingly targeting the top of these organizations, not just the street-level activity. Hopefully, over time, we see positive changes in our own backyards as a result.

Do you think targeting cartel leaders like El 85 will actually reduce crime in the U.S., or will new leaders just take their place?

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Doctors from the 25th Chinese medical team in Mozambique provide free clinic at the Confucius Institute of Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique, April 6, 2026. (Photo by Mendes Mondlane/Xinhua)

MAPUTO, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The 25th Chinese medical team in Mozambique has held a health awareness campaign and free clinic at the Confucius Institute of Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo.

During the event held on Monday, members of the medical team introduced traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy, explaining its principles and benefits to participants.

They also provided medical consultations and basic health examinations across multiple specialties, including orthopedics, plastic surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology.

Zhu Hongyu, a doctor with the Chinese medical team, said that the acupuncture lecture aimed not only to promote Chinese culture but also to help participants gain a better understanding of traditional Chinese medicine.

"It allows people to experience the unique value of traditional Chinese medicine," she said.

To mark Mozambican Women's Day on April 7, the medical team also organized targeted health education sessions focusing on the prevention of common diseases such as HIV/AIDS and offering practical guidance to enhance public health awareness.

Yassine Chicombe, Mozambican director of the Confucius Institute, said that 2026 marks the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, noting that such activities are highly welcomed as they help strengthen cultural exchanges and improve students' health awareness.

China has been dispatching medical teams to Mozambique since 1976, contributing to local healthcare services and promoting health cooperation between the two countries. 

Doctors from the 25th Chinese medical team in Mozambique deliver a lecture on traditional Chinese acupuncture therapy at the Confucius Institute of Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique, April 6, 2026. (Photo by Mendes Mondlane/Xinhua)
TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said early Wednesday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible for a period of two weeks through coordination with the Iranian armed forces, with due consideration of technical limitations.

Araghchi made the remarks in a post on the social media platform X, saying that if attacks against Iran are stopped, Iran's "powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations." 
BEIRUT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Large-scale Israeli airstrikes on Beirut killed and wounded scores of people and prompted hospitals in the Lebanese capital to appeal for blood donations of all types, local media reported.

The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had completed "the largest coordinated strike across Lebanon" since the start of the regional conflict, hours after a U.S.-Iran truce came into effect. 
QINGDAO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has called for the development of advanced manufacturing clusters, the integration of scientific and technological innovation with industrial innovation, further reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and better use of the strategic supporting role of the state-owned economy.

Zhang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks during an inspection tour in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, which lasted from Tuesday to Wednesday.

He visited companies operating in sectors including smart home appliances, rail transit, and marine engineering equipment.

Zhang stressed that developing advanced manufacturing clusters is a key measure to advance industries toward the medium-to-high end and enhance the resilience and security of industrial and supply chains.

He called for innovation-driven industrial upgrading, with greater efforts to achieve original innovations and make breakthroughs in key core and common technologies.

Digital and intelligent upgrades of industrial clusters should be advanced by encouraging upstream and downstream enterprises to collaborate in digital transformation, he said.

Zhang underscored the need to unswervingly deepen the reform of SOEs to ensure that SOEs strengthen, optimize and expand their businesses.

He emphasized the need to enhance the role of SOEs as major innovators and focus on tackling scientific and technological challenges in line with national strategic needs, in order to better support the development of the innovation ecosystem in the country. 
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will pay an official visit to China from April 11 to 15 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on Wednesday.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing that this visit marks Sanchez's fourth visit to China in a four-year period, and it represents another significant high-level exchange between China and Spain in a short period, following the visits by Spanish King Felipe VI and Sanchez last year.

During the visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with Sanchez, and Premier Li and Chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee Zhao Leji will hold talks and meet with him respectively. They will conduct in-depth exchanges on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, according to the spokesperson.

Noting that Spain is an important partner of China within the European Union, Mao pointed out that in recent years, China-Spain relations have developed at a high level under the strategic guidance of the leaders of both countries, with solid progress made in cooperation across various fields and benefiting the two peoples.

"China is willing to work with Spain to take Prime Minister Sanchez's visit as an opportunity to further deepen strategic mutual trust, enhance communication and cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, and promote China-Spain relations to a higher level, contributing more to safeguarding world peace and stability," Mao said. 
Iran and the US agree to a two-week ceasefire, offering a brief window for easing tensions and continuing talks

Tehran pushes its 10-point proposal as the base for negotiations, seeking broader commitments including sanctions relief

Talks focus on key issues like Strait of Hormuz access and Irans nuclear rights, critical for a lasting deal

Iran has announced a two-week ceasefire with the United States following rising tensions, claiming a major diplomatic win. The pause in hostilities comes after U.S. President Donald Trump stepped back from earlier threats of military action.

sustained military and political pressure. However, multiple and sometimes conflicting statements from Iranian sources have created uncertainty around the exact details of the proposal. Tehran said Washington has broadly accepted its proposed 10-point framework as a base for negotiations. Iranian officials described the agreement as a result ofand. However, multiple and sometimes conflicting statements from Iranian sources have created uncertainty around the exact details of the proposal.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Iran would stop its defensive operations if attacks against the country cease. He also noted that Iran is reviewing a separate proposal from the U.S. while continuing discussions.

A key part of the talks involves the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments. Iran has said it will ensure safe passage through the strait during the ceasefire period.

Also Read: Trump Unveils 100 Percent Tariff on Imported Drugs in Major Trade Shift

Irans Supreme National Security Council confirmed the ceasefire, stating that the U.S. has paused its military actions. It also claimed that Washington agreed in principle to demands such as easing sanctions, recognizing Irans uranium enrichment rights, and reducing its military presence in the region.

Despite the temporary truce, Iran has made it clear that the conflict is not fully resolved. Officials warned that the ceasefire depends on progress in negotiations and that military action could resume if terms are not met.

Trump, meanwhile, said Irans nuclear material would be managed under the agreement, though details remain unclear.
TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran is finalizing preparations to carry out "deterrent operations" against military targets in Israel following "ceasefire violations" in Lebanon, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported Wednesday, citing a security and military source.

A two-week ceasefire was announced early Wednesday by the United States and Iran. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would comply with the truce but would continue military operations in Lebanon. 
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesBulls N' Bears Aguia clears key hurdle on path to first fertiliser sales Brought to you by BULLS N BEARS Rowena Duckworth April 8, 2026  12:43pm 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 Aguia Resources has officially marched through a tightly patrolled regulatory gate to become a major fertiliser producer after securing formal MAPA registration, confirming its legal authority to commercialise fertiliser products within Brazils vast agribusiness sector. For any company selling into Brazils tightly regulated agricultural sector, official registration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply- known as MAPA- is not a formality, but an absolute necessity. Without it, you cannot formally sell fertiliser into one of the worlds largest and most important agricultural markets. Pampafos fertiliser bags, ready and waiting to be filled and sold when Aguia Resources natural phosphate fertiliser becomes commercially available later this year. Aguias Brazilian subsidiary, Aguia Fertilizantes, received official MAPA company registration on 6 April, confirming its legal standing to commercialise fertiliser products within the Brazilian agribusiness sector. This milestone has been years in the making. Aguia first registered the Pampafos brand name with Brazils National Industrial Property Institute way back in 2019, so the latest approval brings the company meaningfully closer to its first revenues.

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This milestone marks one of the final stages in Pampafos commercialisation. Aguia Resources managing director Tim Hoskings Upgrades to the phosphate processing plant at Cacapava do Sul in Rio Grande do Sul are scheduled for completion this month, the next critical step on the path to first sales. Once the final operational licence for the Tres Estradas mine is issued by the State Environmental Agency of Rio Grande do Sul (FEPAM), a final MAPA audit will be triggered to watch Pampafos actually being processed. MAPAs closing sign-off is expected by early May, at which point the first truck carrying Pampafos can legally roll out of the gate and head to the first customer. The commercial groundwork has been well laid. Aguia has already secured non-binding memorandums of understanding for around 44,000 tonnes of supply with buyers across Brazil and Uruguay, covering the bulk of its projected first-year output.

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Aguia Resources managing director Tim Hoskings said: This milestone marks one of the final stages in Pampafos commercialisation. Aguias locally sourced product will alleviate the sectors exposure to external disruptions in the international fertiliser market. A dedicated sales and commercial team is in the field and the company is reporting strong, accelerating demand from Brazilian agricultural operators desperately seeking local alternatives to imported phosphate. Despite being a global agricultural powerhouse, Brazil remains heavily reliant on imported fertilisers, making domestic phosphate supply an increasingly strategic asset for the countrys farming sector. The South American country currently imports a staggering 85 per cent of its annual fertiliser requirements, with a significant portion sourced from the Middle East and North Africa. Disruptions to global shipping routes, elevated freight costs and geopolitical uncertainty have considerably sharpened the appetite for domestically produced alternatives. Pampafos - mined and processed in the heart of Rio Grande do Sul, appears the perfect product at the perfect time. It requires no international shipping, no dependence on sulphuric acid inputs and no exposure to the supply chain risks that have driven up the cost of conventional processed phosphate fertilisers.

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For punters, the Aguia story is entering its most tangible phase. The permits are coming in, the plant is nearly ready, the customers are lined up, and the regulatory framework to sell is now in place. The next milestone, the FEPAM mine operating licence, is the final piece before the revenue clock starts ticking. For Aguia, the development also adds a second pillar to its broader resource portfolio, which includes gold projects in Colombia. In a world increasingly focused on both resource security and food supply, Aguias exposure to gold and phosphate appears to place it neatly between two commodities that underpin wealth and agriculture alike. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au
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Sponsored BusinessCompaniesAmway Amway invests $2.9m in Sydney as it taps into Australias wellness boom Advertorial for Amway April 8, 2026  9:09am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Direct-selling company Amway will invest close to US$2m ($2.9m) in new warehouse infrastructure to support growing demand for its product in the Australian market. The Eastern Creek fulfilment-centre upgrades are scheduled to go live in the third quarter of 2026 and will provide faster, more efficient processing, better accuracy and a greater potential to scale, says Amway ESAN region managing director Jon L. Voskuil. The almost $3m investment represents the commitment of Amway to its Australian operations. [This] is a clear signal of our long-term commitment to this market. Australia continues to demonstrate strong fundamentals and a solid entrepreneurial spirit, and we see meaningful opportunities for sustained growth, Voskuil says. The move comes as Amway marks 55 years in Australia, which ranks as its second-largest market in the ESAN (Europe, Southern Africa, Australia and New Zealand) region, only behind Italy. The company says its Australian operation has achieved 17 per cent cumulative revenue growth since 2023, underpinned by a sizeable network of distributors  which it calls Amway Independent Business Owners (IBOs)  of more than 51,000 in Australia and 11,000 across New Zealand.

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Tapping into the wellness economy Founded in Ada, Michigan, in 1959, Amway now operates in more than 100 countries, and is the worlds largest direct-selling company, according to Direct Selling News Global 100, an annual industry benchmark. Over the decades, its early reputation in home-care and cleaning products evolved into a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing-focused business, and its range now spans more than 450 products across nutrition, skin care, personal care and home. Amway ESAN region managing director Jon L. Voskuil. For Voskuil, that evolution is closely tied to changing consumer expectations. Very few companies sustain relevance over five decades without continuing to evolve, he says. Amway was built on helping people live better lives, and that remains our guiding vision for the next generation of entrepreneurs in Australia. Amways first major product  and an early success story  was Liquid Organic Cleaner, known as L.O.C, a biodegradable, multi-purpose household cleaner thats still available today. But much of its current growth is driven by the Nutriway range of vitamins, minerals and plant-based supplements across categories such as nutritional support, gut health, energy, and general wellbeing. That holistic approach also extends to skin health, with Artistry reflecting Amways focus on wellbeing through sciencebased beauty solutions and nutritioninspired ingredients.

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This focus on healthy lifestyle and holistic wellbeing has the company positioned to tap into a rapidly expanding global wellness economy valued at US$6.8 trillion ($9.9 trillion) in 2024 and forecast to reach US$9.8 trillion ($14.3 trillion) by 2029, according to the Global Wellness Institute. Building trust through transparency In a crowded supplements market, Amway is leaning into traceability and quality control as a point of difference. Its Nutriway range is backed by what the company describes as a seed-to-supplement approach, tracing ingredients from farm through to finished product. That includes botanicals grown on nearly 2500 hectares of US-certified organic farmland owned or partnered by Amway, alongside a network of audited suppliers. Amway is leaning into traceability and quality control as a point of difference. Customers can also access greater visibility through the digital Traceability Tool, which will be released at the end of April and will allow them to track how products are grown, sourced and produced. Voskuil says such tools make a real difference in fostering trust.

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Australians are putting more emphasis on preventative wellbeing and want brands they can trust for quality and transparency. A flexible pathway into business Alongside its product growth, Amway continues to expand its network of IBOs. The business model is designed to offer a flexible pathway into the wellbeing sector, appealing to a mix of entrepreneurs, professionals and those exploring additional income streams. Amway IBOs typically begin by selling products directly to customers, with the option to grow their business over time through repeat sales and community-building. The structure allows individuals to operate at their own pace  whether as a side hustle or a more established enterprise  supported by training, digital tools and access to established product lines. Voskuil says the model continues to resonate in a changing work landscape. Successful Amway IBOs bring together the right mindset, a clear sense of purpose and a strong commitment to excellence, he says. Theyre driven by the freedom to earn on their own terms, follow their passions, and build and lead something meaningful and sustainable.

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As interest in health, wellbeing and more flexible ways of working continues to rise, the model offers an entry point into a growing sector, grounded in products, but increasingly shaped by community and lifestyle. This investment marks more than just a logistical upgrade; its a strategic commitment to the future of the Australian entrepreneur. By bridging the gap between sophisticated science and a modern, flexible workforce, Amway is priming itself to lead the next era of the $14 trillion global wellness economy from the ground up. Click here for more information about Amway in Australia.

Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share License this article More: Amway
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BusinessCompaniesTrade wars Not all exporters will get a tariff refund from the US. Heres why Millie Muroi April 8, 2026  4:55pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Australian firms looking to claw back US tariff payments they have made over the past two years could have a way to do so within weeks, but not all exporters will be eligible for a refund, legal experts say. Businesses have been lining up to lodge claims for tariff refunds in the US Court of International Trade after the US Supreme Court ruled in February that tariffs imposed by Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economics Powers Act (IEEPA), were unlawful. The tariff refunds were ordered by relatively low-profile Court of International Trade judge Richard Eaton in March after he presided over a single refund case involving a filtration company. The 77-year-old entered semi-retirement more than a decade ago, the Wall Street Journal reported. US President Donald Trumps Liberation Day tariffs were ruled illegal in February. AP Aside from big Australian companies such as Rio Tinto and Breville, US entities of smaller Australian businesses, including hair care brand Bondi Boost, have also put in claims for refunds. Bondi Boost has a US-registered entity, Bondi Boost US, LLC, which was directly slugged by the newly-voided tariffs.

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Experts said the process for seeking a refund was complex and uncertain, and it was not clear how long it would take for companies to get money back from the US government. Sydney-based Baker McKenzie partner Anne Petterd said the decision to claim a refund may not apply to Australian businesses which only export their products to the US and do not also manage the importing side. In many cases, it will ultimately be the decision of the importer of record in the US who paid the additional tariff, she said. Norton Rose Fullbright Australia partner Daniel Allman said the US government would not be issuing refunds to businesses which have indirectly borne the cost of tariffs, such as Australian businesses which have had the tariff cost passed on to them by a US importer. An Australian business in that situation would need to examine their agreements with the importer in the US top check whether theyre entitled under that agreement to get a refund from the importer, if and when that importer receives a refund from the government, he said.

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According to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), there will be an administrative process for the refunds involving an online portal which the CPB plans to have up and running by mid-April. Related Article Opinion

Donald Trump The conga line of Australian companies suing to claw back Trump tariffs Elizabeth Knight Business columnist However, Allman warns the timeframe for businesses to get money back  and whether those refunds will eventuate at all  is unclear. The latest filing from CBP to the US Court of International Trade suggests that they expect the process for the first wave of refund claims to take up to 45 days, he said. But I would really caution that we need to wait and see if and when that system is actually operational in practice. It is possible that the US government might seek to challenge the scope of refunds, and even if that does not happen, there could be some time before all the refunds are dispersed for importers. And many other tariffs imposed under different legislation to the IEEPA will remain in place and will not be eligible for refunds.

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Allman said Australian businesses that have filed a lawsuit ahead of the proposed portal opening are likely doing so to get on the front foot because the online process had not yet been finalised. The bulk of tariff refunds would be processed through the portal once it opens, he said, with importers most likely needing to apply to receive a refund. Petterd said some businesses might have filed lawsuits so as not to rely only on a new system being set up, while others may have done so to encourage that process to happen more quickly, or simply as a test case for a broader industry. They can always discontinue the lawsuits [if theyre no longer needed], she said. Petterd said complexity and uncertainty around the refund process, as well as the need for businesses to figure out the tax implications of receiving a refund, and the costs of doing so, meant most firms were still sitting and waiting. If a business paid a relatively small amount in additional tariffs, it may be better to wait until the refund process is clear before spending money on a claim, she said. The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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BusinessCompaniesMergers & acquisitions Trump backer offers $91.2 billion to buy Taylor Swift record label James Warrington April 8, 2026  1:36pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A supporter of Donald Trump has made an offer of nearly $US64.3bn ($91.2 billion) to buy Universal Music Group (UMG), whose artists include Taylor Swift and Harry Styles. Bill Ackmans Pershing Square is seeking to take control of UMG, the worlds largest record label, in a landmark deal that would shift the companys stock market listing from Amsterdam to New York. Taylor Swifts label, Universal, is the target of a takeover offer. Jason South Under a proposal submitted to Universal, shareholders would receive a total of 9.4 billion ($15.6 billion) in cash, or 5.05 per share, alongside shares in a newly formed company called New UMG. New UMG would then be listed on Wall Street. Pershing Square, which already owns a stake in Universal, said the offer would value the company at 30.40 per share, making it worth around $US64 billion, according to Reuters. Universal is currently trading at just above 17.11 per share.

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Ackmans hedge fund also promised to hand up to 750 million to artists by selling Universals 3 per cent stake in Spotify, which is worth around 2.7 billion. In a letter to Universals board, Ackman said Sir Lucian Grainge, the music labels British chief, had done an excellent job nurturing and continuing to build a world-class artist roster but argued that the companys share price had languished. Shares in Universal have slumped by more than 30 per cent over the past year. Ackman blamed a combination of factors, including uncertainty surrounding an 18 per cent stake in Universal held by the French industrial dynasty the Bollore family, the postponement of a US listing and a lack of investor credit for the Spotify stake. Artists signed to Universal include Harry Styles (above), Adele and Kendrick Lamar. Lloyd Wakefield

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Universals stock price jumped by around 10 per cent as markets opened following news of the takeover bid. Kendrick Lamar and Adele are among the other major artists signed to Universal, which is one of the so-called big three record labels alongside Sony and Warner Music. The label was spun out of parent company Vivendi, which is controlled by the French industrialist billionaire Vincent Bollore, and listed in Amsterdam in 2021 with a market value of 46 billion. The Bollore family has significant control over Universal through both a personal stake and Vivendi, which retains a 13 per cent shareholding. Chinese tech giant Tencent is also a major investor. Pershing Square will require the support of two-thirds of shareholders, meaning its deal hinges on the backing of the Bollore family, whose commitment to the company has been in question since its representative stood down from the Universal board last summer.

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Analysts at Panmure Liberum said the structure of the bid appeared in part designed to offer an exit for the Bollore Group. Ackman, who held a brief phone call with the French investor on Monday, acknowledged that without Bollore we dont have a transaction. Related Article Music awards Taylor Swifts sweet tribute to Travis Kelce as she sweeps iHeartRadio Music Awards Ackman, a former donor to the Democrats who switched allegiances to endorse Trump at the last election, has been pushing for the company to move its listing to the US. In a post on social media in 2024, he argued that Universal was trading at a large discount to its intrinsic value with limited liquidity, adding that the situation had reached a tipping point. Universal had been preparing a secondary listing in the US but put those plans on hold last month, with management citing turbulent market conditions.

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Ackman, a prominent financier whose fund bought a 10 per cent stake in Universal in 2021, said he would refresh the companys board by adding Michael Ovitz, co-founder of talent agency Creative Artists Agency, and two representatives from Pershing Square. Related Article Review On his new album, Harry Styles finally shatters the teen idol fishbowl He also set out plans to focus on acquisitions and draw up a new employment contract and compensation arrangement for Sir Lucian. The British music boss earned 41 million last year, largely thanks to bonus awards. If successful, the swoop for Universal would make Ackman one of the most prominent players in the music world at a time when the industry is grappling with the impact of AI. Universal has been a vocal opponent of tech firms using copyrighted material to make AI-generated music and has filed lawsuits against companies including Anthropic, which is behind the Claude chatbot.

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It also began pulling its music from TikTok amid a row over deepfake music on the social media platform. However, the company has since struck a number of licensing agreements, including with TikTok, as it seeks to protect its artists and revenues from the new technology. In a presentation to investors, Pershing Square argued that the growth of AI would only solidify the role of record labels as a trusted taste-maker and to help artists stand out from the noise. Universal declined to comment. The Telegraph, London The Business Briefing newsletter delivers major stories, exclusive coverage and expert opinion. Sign up to get it every weekday morning.
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Australian motorists could start seeing relief at the petrol pump within the month as a global oil price collapse raises hopes that fuel costs have finally peaked, so long as the Middle East ceasefire successfully restores the flow of energy exports from the region. News that Iran and the United States had agreed to a last-minute ceasefire agreement, avoiding a worst-case military escalation, sent oil prices falling sharply on Wednesday. The cost of a barrel of Brent oil, the global benchmark, plunged 15 per cent to below $US91. Iran has said it will allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during a two week ceasefire. AP The tumbling cost of crude oil  the natural resource refined into petrol and diesel  could mark the beginning of the end for Australias soaring fuel prices, experts said. The price of regular unleaded has risen more than 30 per cent to record highs of above $2.50 a litre in the weeks since Iran started blockading the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping corridor that usually carries up to one-fifth of the worlds oil and gas tankers. If the oil price declines hold, or continue falling, they will soon reach Australian petrol stations and cut retail prices for consumers. Each $US10-a-barrel decline in oil prices could cut 10 a litre at the pump in Australia.

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We are hoping this may be the beginning of the end, said Peter Khoury, spokesman for the National Roads and Motorists Association. But the next few days will be critical. Related Article Middle East at war US-Iran war as it happened: Trump agrees to two-week ceasefire subject to Strait of Hormuz reopening as US strikes military targets on Kharg Island The nations fuel suppliers say it would take at least three weeks for the market to rebalance and for prices to start falling at Australian service stations. Australian Institute of Petroleum chief executive Malcolm Roberts, who represents oil refiners and major importers including Ampol, BP, Mobil and Viva, said shipments from the Middle East had stalled and caused a bottleneck at the vast Asian oil refineries that produce the bulk of Australias liquid-fuel imports. Even if oil tankers sail through the Strait of Hormuz today, it would take several weeks before they reach Asian refineries and typical fuel exports resume, Roberts said. The underlying problem is still shortfalls of supply reaching the refineries in Asia and thats not going to change quickly  the supply-side pressure that leads to price pressure will be there for a few weeks yet.

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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the ceasefire and commitment to reopen Middle East shipping lanes, declaring it could lead to a permanent end to a conflict that has cut off 20 per cent of global oil supplies and sent fuel prices soaring. This is positive news. Weve been calling for a de-escalation for some time, Albanese told Sky News. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. AAP Were already seeing a substantial impact of a war which is on the other side of the world, but is having an impact on Australians here, like it is on citizens throughout the world. Energy Minister Chris Bowen also welcomed the ceasefire, but cautioned a return to normal shipping through the strait was still uncertain.

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Lets not get ahead of ourselves. We welcome progress, but I dont think we can say the Strait of Hormuz is open, Bowen said. The sooner the Strait of Hormuz open, the better for everyone. Bowen said the government was not contemplating an early end to the fuel excise cut, which delivered an immediate reduction to petrol prices last week. Thats not on our agenda. We told the Australian people three months, Bowen said. Investors viewed Wednesdays ceasefire  and Trumps announcement that the deal would be subject to Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz  as the potential off ramp that energy markets have been desperately looking for. However, the extent of future price falls could be limited by details of a ceasefire, which are yet to be negotiated, including whether Iran pushed to recoup war reparations by tolling shipping movements through the Strait of Hormuz, analysts said.

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How much Iran pushes its hand will be closely watched, says Vivek Dhar, commodities analyst at the Commonwealth bank. A comprehensive deal is vulnerable over the next few weeks to Iran making unreasonable demands, Israel sabotaging the process due to the concessions provided to Iran and the US running out of patience. Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war The fuel crisis is painful, but Australia has an advantage many dont While reopening the Strait of Hormuz would help nudge prices down from their multi-year highs, analysts and Australian fuel industry leaders have also warned that oil and fuel prices are unlikely to return to pre-war levels for some time. Even if a peace deal is reached, the market will between 3 million to 5 million barrels of oil per day tighter for the next few years compared to pre-war expectations, due to damage to oil and oil product export infrastructure that will take months or even years to fix, MST Financial energy analyst Saul Kavonic said. The Market Recap newsletter is a wrap of the days trading. Get it each weekday afternoon.
KABUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has signed a cooperation deal with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to support returnee families, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The agreement, valued at 1,523,597 U.S. dollars, will channel the funds to the provinces of Kabul, Herat, Nangarhar, Kandahar, Kunduz and Badghis, where 3,097 returnee households will receive cash assistance and partial or full shelter rehabilitation, the ministry said.

The agreement aims to strengthen joint efforts in providing urgent humanitarian support to Afghans returning from abroad, many of whom face housing shortages and economic hardship.

According to Afghan official statistics, nearly three million Afghan migrants have returned from neighboring Pakistan and Iran over the past year, as authorities continue to distribute humanitarian assistance and allocate land to returnees. 
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Eating outFood Its getting tougher and tougher: Cherished Gabba bar closes permanently It caps a turbulent eight months for an operator worried about the future of small venues in this city. Matt Shea April 8, 2026 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Celebrated Brisbane bar Can You Keep a Secret? has poured its last drinks, with the Woolloongabba boozer closing permanently after service on Saturday, April 4. Owner Emily Dennis originally announced the news three weeks ago in a post to social media. Can You Keep a Secret? poured its last drinks on Saturday night. I know how much this place means to so many of you, and I promise I have done absolutely everything in my power to keep it going  through some incredibly challenging years, Dennis wrote. Reality is, the industry still hasnt recovered from COVID. Throw in rising operating costs  including insane alcohol taxes  and simply put, it is no longer financially viable to keep this little bar that YOUR LOVE BUILT open.

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For now, all I can say is THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this place a HOME for our community over the years, the post continued. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up This little bar has been so much more than just a (venue?) it has become an icon of Brisbane music, connection, community, and TRUE LOVE. From the bottom of my heart Every single one of you made this place what it is and what an incredibly special place it has been! Related Article Feels like a spree: Are restaurant groups really taking over Brisbane? Talking to this masthead on Wednesday, Dennis said she made the decision after she couldnt agree on terms with her landlord on a proposed increase in rent. It wasnt a massive surprise. Like everything, the rent was going to go up, she said. It was just hanging on as it was. It was covering its costs, basically.

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The bars closure marks the end of a turbulent eight months for Dennis, which has seen the shuttering of sister bar Still A Secret in South Brisbane, but also the early October opening of Mirrorball Ministries, where Dennis is moving much of the equipment from Can You Keep a Secret? Exactly, its just getting tougher and tougher, she said. Ive just been through what Ive been through with Its Still a Secret. None of that was expected. So Im exhausted, even if Mirrorball has a lot of potential. Can You Keep a Secret? regulars perhaps wont be surprised by the closure after Dennis took to GoFundMe in 2024 to crowdfund the survival of her venues. Can You Keep a Secret? has for 11 years been a consistent presence on Stanley Street in Woolloongabba. Im here for the community, and to ask them for help was absolutely the last straw, she told this masthead at the time. But basically, it was do or die.

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Later that year, Fortitude Music Hall and The Triffid owner John Collins was appointed Queenslands first Night-Life Economy Commissioner. That took place against a backdrop of other key initiatives including $1.6 million in funding for live music venues. Dennis said the initiatives have had literally no difference on her trade. Related Article Riverside Italian classic rebooted for new generation I wasnt hopeful that it would reach me on a grassroots level, but [theres been] nothing. Can You Keep a Secret? first opened as a vintage store in Greenslopes in 2010, before moving to Woolloongabba in 2014 and opening its bar component in 2015. Its 11-year tenure coincided with a rapid evolution in the citys food and beverage scene. The bar is survived by newly opened sister venue, Mirrorball Ministries.

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We just created a space that was nice but not pretentious, and safe. Everyone could feel comfortable, which was what was missing. There was just nowhere where people felt like they might find people like them  It attracted like-minded people. I honestly dont feel any sense of failure, which is surprising. I think if the public had received it differently, it might have stung more, but everyones just been so amazing. Ive had the most beautiful cards and messages. Its incredible.
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The SAS witness in the Roberts-Smith case (From medals to murder charges, April 8), who said their military service was about truth and honour, stated what makes our forces respected here and abroad. Any politician or powerful person who supports anything less than this because reputation is involved should look at the mess in the US, where power and money can excuse anything, including the misdemeanours of politicians and their mates, as well as the alleged murder of unarmed civilians. Do these local people, who think their opinion is superior to evidence before a court, believe in conspiracy theories, and that leftists want to pick off heroes? Donald Hawes, Peel The arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith over war crime allegations ranks among the most important moments in our short history. Forget the cost and ignore the noise from Hanson or Rinehart. Mokhles Sidden, South Strathfield Ben Roberts-Smith Sam Mooy Justice delayed is justice denied. In Ben Roberts-Smiths case theres finally nowhere to hide. Charged with five Afghan war crime offences, this Victoria Cross recipient will have to find ways to raise funds to pay for what could be his monstrous legal expenses. Eric Palm, Gympie (Qld) What do we do? We send our lovely young men to war. What do we expect them to do? Make tea and scones? Were making such a fuss, lets think of all the innocent lives that were taken during World War II in Germany, for instance. Moire Berman, Terrey Hills I feel for the rookies who were allegedly forced to be blooded when bullied by a domineering senior officer. How would most of us react in this situation where we were responsible for the survival of a cohesive team in an aggressive foreign environment? Katriona Herborn, Blackheath Im very conflicted about the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith. Journalists and others are saying all this drama is due to his wanting to defend his name early on. So if he hadnt done that, things wouldnt have escalated. He is a man with an ego, so I can understand he wants to stand up for himself. Maybe he is now regretting it. I have never been to war, my father and grandfather did and had issues  they obviously would have had to do things they would regret and I dont think anyone who hasnt been in that position should judge. I know some of Roberts-Smiths fellow soldiers have testified. They are probably dealing with the same things. War is dreadful, we are so lucky we can come out of our houses and not get bombed. So far. Janet Scilly, Waterloo

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At the 1945 Nuremberg trials of war criminals it was held that a plea of obedience to orders is no defence to murder of unarmed civilians or soldiers. If Ben Roberts-Smith is to be prosecuted for allegedly ordering soldiers to kill unarmed persons, soldiers who reportedly obeyed that order should be charged as well. Peter Hughes, Macquarie Fields Your correspondent (Letters, April 8) writes that Ben Roberts-Smith has a right to trial by his peers, the jury. In a matter like this I query whether a civilian jury is indeed a jury of his peers. Roz Millar, Moss Vale Time for justice Nick McKenzie writes of the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith, For many Australians, especially those who have served their country, it will be deeply uncomfortable news (Dramatic arrest of VC recipient proves nobody is above the law, April 8). I would take issue with that statement. For most of us who have served our country in uniform, this arrest is welcome news. For most of us, committed to the dirty business of boosting a politicians standing among his/her peers, the maintenance of decent standards was and is an important matter. Without this commitment, we would lose our humanity, never to get it back. We support the presumption of innocence without there being conviction, but this dirty matter has been in abeyance for far too long. Justice now. Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale Why doesnt Gina Rinehart understand? It is one thing for her to support Roberts-Smith, even if he is found guilty of one or more murders, but it is another thing for her to attack the process of holding him to account for murders of which other SAS have given clear and verifiable accounts. She should let the courts do their job. Paul Fergus, Croydon Important decision Your editorial (Mother, seven children still wait for justice, April 8) sidesteps some critical points. In rejecting the final appeal plea, the High Court sat as a full court with seven justices, which is highly unusual. The matter was clearly important but so was their decision; no prospects of success on the civil case of defamation. The war crime charges are criminal offences and Roberts-Smith is entitled to a jury trial where the rules of evidence will be strictly adhered to by the presiding judge. One outcome does not, ipso facto, lead to the same outcome the second time around. Michael Blissenden, Dural

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Uphold the rule Pauline Hanson and Tony Abbott have taken issue with the arrest of their poster boy soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, now charged with war crimes (Roberts-Smith facing life term if convicted in war crimes trial, April 8). Fortunately, we are not in the United States, where the antediluvian Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, has overturned convictions of American soldiers for war crimes, and halted prosecutions against others. Hanson affirmed that she will continue to support Smith, regardless of the criminal charges against him. Clearly the burqa she wore in the Senate was sufficient in restricting her purview. On the other hand, Abbott myopically blames Smiths senior offices for not detecting and stopping a culture of brutality taking hold  demonstrating a complete lack of understanding for how such crimes are perpetrated and concealed within small units of soldiers. Perhaps it would be wiser to take a more circumspect approach and allow the court to do its work? Ultimately, Australia either upholds the rules of war or it does not. Acts of heroism should not grant soldiers the right to kill non-combatants or captured soldiers. If murder charges against Roberts-Smith are upheld, then jail is an appropriate consequence. Salvatore Sorbello, Campsie Limits on power Megan Herbert Geraldine Brooks (Trumps exceeded my worst expectations, April 8) hopes that somewhere in the murk that is American politics there are operatives who can stop or at least moderate the insane, perhaps murderous, actions of Donald Trump. He is an out-of-control narcissistic despot who has taken control of government and legislative agencies by embedding family members and toadying friends in the most powerful positions. He sacks those who limit his excesses. Neither his Republican Party nor the opposition Democrats appear to have the will to oppose Trumps decisions, and cannot find means under their Constitution to do so. At least in Australia we have a political system with checks and balances that, while not perfect, limit what our governing party can commit us to. Whether we retain a monarchist head of state or one day become a republic with a president, let us hope those limits stay. Brian ODonnell, Burradoo Real reform needed, not caution Im probably quite like Ross Gittins (Im back, unlike the Liberal Party, April 8)  older, progressive, comfortably situated within that 15-kilometre inner-city band  so the outlook is fine. What cost-of-living crisis? But this is a privileged view and I think it falls down with his suggested educated/uneducated divide. Its really a rich/poor divide and, as always, the real problem comes back to inequality. Labors attempt to secure the middle ground and become the natural party of government is equally complacent. The world wont play ball. Change is happening, faster and faster these days. More reform, less caution is needed. Phil Bradshaw, Naremburn

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Ross Gittins says well-educated voters are too smart to believe One Nation, and they have the numbers not to fall for it, but the way One Nations popularity is increasing, youd think well-educated numbers are either diminishing or they seem to have second thoughts about non-white immigration or possibly both. The Australian demographic has a Trump-style issue  we want immigration that everyone knows is necessary to run the economy, but there is a veneer that the cause of all problems is immigration. This, of course, is false, but when you repeat the same lines over and over again , people start believing it. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill Ross Gittins is back, let joy be unconfined Oscar Colman Welcome back, dear Ross, you nailed it today and you sparked a vision in my mind. I saw a highway down which Australia must travel to get where we need to go. There was an ambulance with the Greens, sirens blaring, speeding dangerously, driver screaming out the window that there are no brakes, overtaking a bus labelled Labor driving at the speed limit in the middle lane, all wearing seatbelts with the radio on and windows closed. A truck labelled One Nation was stopped in a rest area, refusing to move until the toilets were fixed and the signposts painted white. I pulled off the highway into a by-passed town, and found the Coalition in a cafe arguing about which end of their boiled eggs to open. And I saw a sign pointing to Farrer. Chris Moon, Katoomba Ross Gittins, having been to hell and back, will likely have no patience with the inconsequential and the irrelevant, and writes the unvarnished truth. Long may he live and write. Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay As Ross Gittins notes, Labors recent successes have come as a result of regaining the sensible centre, orchestrated by Anthony Albanese who has resisted major change, until now, to cement Labor as the natural party of government. However, we have reached the point where meaningful reform is required, despite the howls of protest from One Nation, whose only policies appear to be those of dissatisfaction and protest offering no solutions. Albo has shown a sensible, effective response to the bizarre rantings of Donald Trump, now is the time for a sensible, effective response to overdue reform. Max Redmayne, Drummoyne I am a Ross Gittins fan because his explanations about economic decisions make sense to me. Two things will ensure his recovery. The wonderful medical services with nurses and doctors who work tirelessly for all of us, and his personal approach to life. He grew up in Newcastle, where the people are strong and determined. As a Newcastle Boys High student he was admired by all, especially the Newcastle Girls High students. Bea Hodgson, Gerringong Driven to distraction

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If the residents around the new Eastern Creek Quarter shopping centre think traffic conditions are bad now (Parking furore at new $150m shopping centre, April 8), wait until the sales start. This centre is very similar to the DFO outlet at Homebush, next to a residential area, near a busy intersection located close to major attractions. On sales days, traffic conditions are so bad that residents need to avoid using their own vehicles, police need to direct traffic and shoppers constantly park across residents driveways. The management of DFO tells residents that anything that happens beyond the boundaries of the centre is not its problem. Its time the NSW planning laws are changed so that developments are made to pay for the infrastructure needed to support them. Todd Hillsley, Homebush Wealth creation mission Artemis II: come for the wonder, stay for the benefits AP The Apollo space missions gave us many technological advances that have permeated our civilisation for all of us (This Moon trip eclipses bigger problems back on Earth, April 8). Remember that, next time you use wi-fi. The potential benefits to humanity of going into space are enormous, as written about in Jerry Pournelles book A Step Farther Out in 1979. Well-off people in richer countries are wealthy beyond the dreams of the nobility of societies before the industrial revolution that began 250 years ago. The vast resources in energy, minerals and metals available in space have the potential to make a similar but larger leap in our collective wealth. Alan Stanley, Upper Corindi On the wrong track Intercity trains over-fill from Gosford to Hornsby (Letters, April 8). Two tracks become four at Hornsby, giving passengers a choice of North Shore and Northern Line trains. The Prime Minister does not want any stops on his high-speed-rail line between Gosford and the Sydney CBD, yet it is Hornsby and Epping that have important rail interchanges for serving northern Sydney. Gosford-Hornsby is the most congested section of the Newcastle line. Most value from the high-speed line is created by building this section first and having stations at both. The demand for passenger and freight rail on regional and interstate corridors is high. The Minerals Council wants a railway from Townsville to Darwin, Broome and Perth. Converting narrow and broad gauge track to standard gauge would greatly expand travel and freight opportunities, and provide volume for the local manufacture of trains. Much needs to change about how we decide what access infrastructure we build. Peter Egan, Adelaide (SA) Songs of praise

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NationalNSWCourts Chilling question before Sydney woman tried to drown children Kat Wong April 8, 2026  3:45pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Do you want to go to heaven? It was the last question a young girl heard before she was thrown into a river wearing her princess dress and school shoes. She had been standing on a bridge over the Georges River in Sydneys south-west with another girl in September 2023 when Hoda Elabady posed the query, according to court documents. Hoda Elabady at court on Tuesday. AAP No, I have a bright future, the child replied, revealing her dream to be a police officer when she grows up.

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Elabady then picked her up and threw her into the water 1.8 metres below the bridge, a court was told. The 39-year-old then asked the second girl whether she wanted to go to God before also throwing her from the bridge. She faced a NSW District Court on Wednesday after pleading not guilty to two counts of attempting to drown the girls with intent to murder. Elabady could not be held responsible for her actions due to her severe mental illness, her lawyer previously argued. She lives with schizophrenia and was experiencing acute psychosis, which involved hallucinations telling her to kill the girls and die by suicide.

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Elabady had watched from above, anger plastered on her face, as the two girls struggled to remain above the water, Judge Huw Baker said. Please let us back up, one of the girls yelled. Instead, the woman attempted to die by suicide, sustaining significant injuries to her legs and lower body, the court was told. (We) recognise the bravery of the two young girls who, for a very terrifying two hours, were in the water. Judge Huw Baker Standing on something submerged in the river, with nothing but a stick to help them stay afloat, the girls hugged each other and tried to signal for help.

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A passer-by finally heard their calls and pulled them from the water before they were taken to hospital, Baker said. [We] recognise the bravery of the two young girls who, for a very terrifying two hours, were in the water in the Georges River in what can only be described as the most horrific and terrifying circumstances, he said. The judge found Elabady had tried to drown the children but could not be held criminally responsible for her actions because of her mental illnesses. She is believed to have been living with an untreated mental impairment since she was 17, according to mental health experts cited in court. Elabadys mental health deteriorated in the months before the incident, the court was told.

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She began telling others she had been talking with an angel and one day said the evil touched me before revealing a mark on her thigh. One of the specialists had absolute medical confidence she did not know what she had done was wrong, the judge noted. She currently shows no overt symptoms of psychosis and, with ongoing treatment, he said she would not pose a risk to herself or the community. Support is available from Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyond Blue 1800 512 348; Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800; National Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Counselling Service 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). AAP Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.

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NationalNSWCycling E-bike sales surge as petrol price rises bite Daniel Lo Surdo April 8, 2026  7:40pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

An increasing number of Australians are opting for electric solutions to the fuel crisis, as e-bike sellers report a surge in trade while drivers are slugged at the bowser. Unprecedented fuel insecurity driven by war in the Middle East has prompted a massive surge in e-bike interest, according to Bicycle Industries Australia general manager Peter Bourke, leading individual and family users to search for alternative transport modes as the conflict drags into its sixth week. Conrad Pattinson has seen an uptick in e-bike sales as war in the Middle East drags on. Louise Kennerley Conrad Pattinson, co-founder of Vamos Electric Bikes in Marrickville, noticed e-bike sales steadily rise over the course of the conflict, as customers homed in on a purchase while petrol prices skyrocketed. Weve definitely copped a surge in demand, said Pattinson, who found March sales were the best all year but not yet reaching the boom trade during COVID.

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Were moving more of the bikes that are better for carrying families ... those bikes have been going up in sales since the price of petrol rose. Lime bike usage in Sydneys CBD, eastern suburbs and inner west saw a 10 per cent week-on-week increase across the first fortnight in March. Asia Pacific Head Will Peters found the rental e-bikes made a real difference for those looking for an affordable and accessible mode of transport. Trek Bicycles Sydney sales lead Edreece Derwash observed an interesting rise in demand for e-bikes in the past month, though noted customers were also incentivised by a sale that ran as fuel pressures intensified. A prolonged period of high petrol prices has been forecast. Max Mason-Hubers Bourke said sales accelerated as it became clear price shocks spurred by Irans closure of the Strait of Hormuz would remain beyond the short term.

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Energy Minister Chris Bowen said on Wednesday that he expects fuel imports to remain stable well into next month, as the Albanese government offers financial support for private companies to boost fuel imports and seeks agreements with Asian nations to preserve fuel supply contracts. The 32 a litre fuel saving delivered by the federal, state and territory governments has provided some relief at the pump, where prices have eased in the past week. The average price of regular unleaded was $2.25 a litre in NSW on Wednesday, down 26 from last week. About 3 per cent of Australian service stations remain without diesel on Wednesday. There are 124 retailers in NSW without diesel, while 27 have no fuel at all. Australias fuel industry has warned motorists of a prolonged period of high petrol prices. With AAP
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NationalNSWPublic transport You cant ride these new wagons on Sydneys train lines, but they should make life easier Cindy Yin April 8, 2026  3:49pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

New technology will accelerate repairs and lead to fewer disruptions on the Sydney Trains network, but will not spell the end of frequent trackwork shutting down heavy rail services on the weekend. Shutting down heavy rail services for trackwork is time-consuming and labour-intensive. Crews normally build the turnout  the most complex piece of rail where trains switch tracks  piece-by-piece on-site like Lego because flat wagons cannot move prebuilt turnouts due to their size. The new tilt wagons will save between five and seven hours each time they are used. Louise Kennerley But the introduction of six new $15 million tilt wagons allows a preassembled section of track to be driven where it is needed on the 1700-kilometre electrified rail network, and lowered for a quicker installation. When they begin operating in July, it will save between five and seven hours each time they are used. NSW Transport Minister John Graham said on Wednesday it marked a major refresh for Sydney Trains engineering fleet, which until now had only two tilt wagons that had been in use for more than 20 years.

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It means your trains going to be more reliable, means we can get through far more trackwork on those weekends when the network is shut down to be able to do those repairs. Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said weekend rail shutdowns gave crews a 48-hour window to get the track out, rebuild the new track, test and get it operating reliably for Monday morning. The fleet of tilt wagons will transport turnouts  the most complex piece of rail where trains switch tracks. Louise Kennerley There are more bus replacements and rail shutdowns to come. In Transport for NSWs planned trackwork calendar, there are 42 notices until the end of April informing passengers how their trips could be affected. Graham said the investment would not immediately result in less frequent weekend trackwork, but it would have a more gradual improvement and passengers would spend less time on replacement buses.

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This wont be the end of weekend trackwork. I can guarantee that what it will mean is [the] weekends we do have trackwork will be far more efficient. Related Article Public transport Binoculars out, lasers in: How Sydney Trains plans to stop the meltdowns Asked why trackwork could not be done at night to reduce the inconvenience to passengers, Graham, said: The reality is this heavy engineering and heavy infrastructure needs a longer period of time. The rollout of tilt wagons is part of $450 million in measures the state government is taking following a scathing review of Sydney Trains handling of a meltdown of the passenger rail network, caused by an overhead wiring failure at Homebush, in May last year. The government said a separate $35 million reliability maintenance program focused on fixing defects in critical maintenance zones  including the Homebush-Strathfield corridor where multiple lines converge  was running six months ahead of schedule.

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Frankly, I think the government and Sydney Trains had hoped that after the rail dispute, reliability would improve. Anyone who looked at the report into that incident could only come to the conclusion that this is a system that is running in a very difficult way  in a way that isnt reliable enough, Graham 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.
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A car has crashed through a fence at a childcare centre in Alexandra Hills on Wednesday afternoon, coming to rest near a sandpit.

Shortly after 3pm on Wednesday, police were called to The Hills Montessori childcare centre, on Verwood Court after a Geely EX5 SUV crashed through a steel fence bordering an outside play area.

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A mother pulling into the car park at the side of the property her vehicle in the carpark appeared to lose control of the vehicle, with Nine reporting the vehicle came to rest with its wheel poised at the edge of a sandpit.

A Queensland police spokesperson said a child suffered minor injuries, reported as a minor scratch from falling off play equipment.
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NationalQueenslandCrime Protester twists banned phrase as crowd rallies for hate-speech accused Cloe Read Updated April 8, 2026  12:52pm ,first published April 8, 2026  9:25am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

A large crowd of pro-Palestine activists rallied outside a Brisbane court in support of the first person to be charged under Queenslands new hate speech laws, as one man was warned by police for holding a sign saying from the sea to the river. Liam Parry, 33, was arrested in March at Speakers Corner outside Queensland parliament for allegedly uttering a banned phrase during what police say was an unauthorised pro-Palestine protest. Liam Parry outside court in Brisbane, where he appeared after being charged under Queenslands new hate crimes. Cloe Read/Brisbane Times Dozens of supporters rallied for Parry outside the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning before his hearing. Several police and court security staff stood nearby, before officers surrounded a man, Mark Gillespie, who was holding a sign that read from the sea to the river, a twist on the banned phrase that swapped the order of the words sea and river.

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The crowd circled Gillespie and the officers, as they yelled about free speech, while Gillespie appeared to question officers over the law. Speaking to media after his warning, Gillespie said he agreed to put away the sign. Mark Gillespie is warned by police for brandishing a sign reading from the sea to the river while Parry fronts court. Cloe Read The legislation as far as I understand, it says the phrase from the river to the sea is outlawed, he said. I questioned them on that and they showed me something in the legislation that if it resembles the symbol  anyway, Ive agreed to put it away for the time being.

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Gillespie said the laws were an attack on free speech, and that was why he had made the sign. The Crisafulli government passed new laws through parliament last month, which outlawed two phrases commonly used by pro-Palestinian protesters  from the river to the sea and globalise the intifada  when used to incite hostility towards a group or when reasonably expected to offend the public. Parrys court appearance came as the NSW government refused to say when it would introduce laws banning the globalise the intifada phrase, despite labelling them urgent after the Bondi terror attack. NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said the government was carefully considering a number of matters, including the recent laws passed in Queensland.

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He said legislation in the area was complex and might face constitutional challenge. Parry waited inside court as supporters shouted, this is not a police state, we have the right to demonstrate. Lawyer Ella Scoles, representing Parry, asked for the case to be adjourned to a later date. Parry remained on bail. Parrys supporters cheered for him when he exited the court. He thanked the crowd, and said the matter was ongoing, explaining that the group needed to keep speaking up for Palestine. We need to keep speaking out against our government complicity.

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The people of Gaza are still under attack and our government is still complicit, and we will not remain silent as long as that is the case, he shouted. He told reporters he would contest the charges, and it should not be a crime to speak out for Palestinians. Parry during his arrest outside Parliament House in Brisbane. Nine I think its really important for people to continue speaking out about the genocide in Gaza. We need to keep speaking up for the Palestinians, he said. I think its an important moment in Queensland right now. The government is trying to criminalise pro-Palestine advocacy.

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We cant accept that, and I think the protest today is an indication that people wont accept their civil rights and civil liberties being taken away. When asked how he felt facing a possible jail term, Parry said: It feels surreal, and I think its a dangerous moment in Queensland politics that you could face two years imprisonment just for saying six words. He said he did not believe there was any justification for his charges, and he would not stop protesting. When asked if he would use the phrase again, Parry said he would not invite further charges on himself. He said there would be a weekend of resistance on April 18 in opposition of the hate speech laws.

Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
For a few nerve-racking hours on Wednesday morning it appeared US President Donald Trump and the remnants of the murderous regime in Iran were locked in a mutually destructive pact that would have led to thousands of civilian deaths and accusations of genocide and war crimes on both sides.

Trump has been trying to bully the Iranians into a ceasefire for days but in a turn of phrase that was shocking, even by his low standards, he said, a whole civilisation will die tonight unless Iran struck a peace deal before his deadline.

The Iranian response was to urge people to act as human shields at power plants in the hope they would deter the US president from ordering missile strikes against energy systems.

What followed was awful: unverified videos and photographs of Iranians waving flags and holding hands as they gathered on bridges and power plants at imminent risk to their own safety  ready to be sacrificed as pawns.

In direct contravention of international norms, the Iranian deputy minister for youth and sport, Alireza Rahimi, tried to put civilians between the American enemy and its targets.
OTTAWA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday urged "all parties" in the Iran war not to target civilians following repeated threats made by U.S. President Donald Trump.

"Canada expects all parties in this conflict, in any conflict, to respect international laws," Carney said in a news conference in Ontario. "That means not targeting civilians or civilian infrastructure. And we urge all parties in this war to follow those responsibilities."

He also said that leaders involved in the war need to "choose their words" and act prudently.

Carney's comments came hours after Trump's latest threat to Iran on Tuesday that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." 
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PoliticsVictoriaLiberal Party Orange is the new blue: Liberals take on One Nation with desperate flyers Rachel Eddie April 9, 2026  5:30am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The Liberal Partys anxieties about One Nation have been exposed in unbranded, orange flyers directed at voters flirting with the hard-right populists in the seat of Nepean. Liberal candidate Anthony Marsh should be a shoo-in for the May 2 byelection, with Labor not contesting the poll. But the party has launched attacks on One Nation  as well as the independent candidate  in the first test of the Victorian Liberal Partys exposure on the right since the minor partys rampage through South Australia and consecutive polls. The Liberal Party is campaigning against One Nation in the Nepean byelection. Thinking of voting ONE NATION? a leaflet distributed this week says, in orange font. At this byelection, a vote for One Nation helps keep Labor in power in November. The campaign material does not carry the usual blue Liberal Party branding, but was authorised by state director Alyson Hannam.

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Our message remains consistent, to get the real change Victorians need both in Nepean and across the state you need an experienced team with a plan, Hannam said in a statement to this masthead. On Wednesday, a second leaflet was distributed in pink, the campaign colour for independent Tracee Hutchison. JACINTA ALLANS SECRET NEPEAN CANDIDATE? that material said. One Nation candidate Darren Hercus and the Liberal Partys Anthony Marsh. The Age When asked about the orange leaflets, One Nation state president Warren Pickering paraphrased Napoleon: The phrase, Never interrupt your opponent while theyre making mistakes comes to mind here. Pickering said Victorians deserved better than a tit-for-tat smear campaign and that the major parties were panicking because they know were coming for their jobs.

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Suffice to say, both major parties need to get their own houses in order before they throw stones. Weve seen both terrible governance and no real opposition in this state for over a decade. One Nation candidate Darren Hercus said he was amused by the leaflet, which he described as a dirty tactic and act of desperation. The Victorian Liberal Partys pamphlet against Tracee Hutchison, the independent candidate in Nepean. He claimed the party had almost 400 members across the peninsula, which overlaps multiple state seats. The pink leaflet against Hutchison referenced a 2019 story in The Age in which sources claimed Hutchison, a former ABC journalist, was considering running for Labor.

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The leaflet denigrated her for referring to Australia Day as Survival Day, and dug up a 2007 opinion piece in which she said the Australian flag had become a symbol for white supremacists. In a statement to The Age, Hutchison said the lazy and dishonest attacks proved why she needed to run. Hutchison said she had no affiliation with Labor beyond 2019 discussions focused on the need to redevelop Rosebud Hospital, and had owned her home in Rosebud for 25 years. If the best the Liberal Party can do is dredge up a 2007 opinion piece calling for unity and pride in our flag, question my allyship with First Nations people, and force me to disclose my recent divorce and property settlement, it only underlines their desperation. Labor is sitting the byelection out, which would traditionally give the Liberal Party a clear run. But some members privately fear they are vulnerable to One Nation in Nepean.

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With out-of-control crime and debt, we need people with the experience to provide real solutions, the orange leaflet says. Have One Nation ever: Built a hospital? Built a road? Led a state? Delivered a budget? Made a government program work? Taking a risk will see us ending up with more of this, it says, alongside newspaper clippings about state debt and the CFMEU saga. The Liberal Party has begun debating internally how best to respond to the rise of One Nation. The leaflet is a possible preview of its plans to stem the bleeding to the right this November, in the hope of regaining power. In an interview with The Age on Monday, Liberal Party state president Phil Davis said the party would never win in Victoria by imitating One Nation.

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People in the party who are trying to drag us to be One Nation-lite fundamentally do not understand Victorian politics, Davis said. Related Article Exclusive

Victorian election Liberals doomed at Victorian election if they try to become One Nation-lite, warns party boss Every election in Victoria where we have been successful, we have essentially won it from the centre. We dont win from the fringe. We cannot win from the fringe. His public intervention enraged parts of the Liberal Party. On Tuesday, Sky News commentator Peta Credlin, the former chief of staff to Tony Abbott, said it was nonsense the party ever won as moderates. Sorry, when was that? she said on her program. Premier Jacinta Allan has attempted to paint Opposition Leader Jess Wilson, and the broader Coalition, as party to One Nations divisive politics.

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Wilson has repeatedly said the only way to change government is to vote for the Liberal and National parties. Related Article Victorian byelection The election before the election: How Nepean could shape the state Some state-based polls have placed support for One Nation in the high 20s, though the latest Resolve Political Monitor for The Age in January and February estimated the minor party was favoured by 11 per cent of voters. Support for the Coalition had dropped to 30 per cent, while Labor has stagnated on 28 per cent. Nepean voters will be forced to the polls twice in seven months after former deputy Liberal leader Sam Groth resigned suddenly. The seat has been with the Liberal Party since it was established in 2002, except for at the 2018 Danslide election. Groth regained the seat with 48.1 per cent of primary votes in 2022, leaving Marsh with a 6.4 per cent margin two-party preferred.

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Marsh declined to comment. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
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Updated WorldMiddle EastMiddle East at war Trump issues new threat to Iran as fragile ceasefire tested by Israeli strikes Michael Koziol Updated April 10, 2026  2:07am ,first published April 9, 2026  5:22am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Washington: Donald Trump issued a new warning to Iran that American forces would remain nearby until the country fully complied with a yet-to-be-signed peace agreement, and said the shooting would restart if Tehran did not accede. The US presidents threat came at the end of the first day of a fragile ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran that was undermined by a deadly Israeli bombardment of Lebanon  the biggest since the war broke out  and contention over the status of the Strait of Hormuz. The aftermath of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut, Lebanon, in what the IDF said was its largest onslaught of strikes since the war began. Getty Images Rescue workers in Beirut search the rubble for survivors and casualties after an Israeli attack on Wednesday. Getty Images Iran accused the US and Israel of violating the ceasefire, and the White House was forced to clarify that Lebanon was never included in the truce, after Pakistan earlier said it was.

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US Vice President JD Vance, who is due to lead the American delegation in peace talks in Pakistan this weekend, said Irans belief that Lebanon was included was a legitimate misunderstanding. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said it hit 100 Hezbollah targets in a 10-minute period during the daylight attack on Wednesday afternoon (Lebanon time). The blitz struck dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut, and came without warning, the Associated Press reported. A first responder with the Internal Security Forces stands on a firetruck while rescue workers search the rubble for survivors and casualties after an Israeli attack targeted a residential building in Beirut. Getty Images Paramedics and civilians rush to a building hit moments earlier by an Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh, Lebanon on Wednesday. Getty Images The death toll was not immediately clear, but Lebanons civil defence service said at least 254 people had been killed in the highest single-day death toll in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war. Another 1100 people were wounded, it said.

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An IDF spokesman said there would be no let-up. As long as Hezbollah continues to threaten our civilians, we will continue to operate against them, he said. Later, though, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had authorised direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible, in response to requests from the Lebanese government. Residents check the site of an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut. AP Talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between the neighbouring countries, he said, while welcoming the Lebanese prime ministers call to demilitarise Beirut. Netanyahu has also warned that Israel is prepared to resume striking Iran at any moment. We are ready to return to fighting at any time. Our finger is on the trigger, he said. Iran is weaker than ever, and Israel is stronger than it has ever been.

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Lebanons exclusion from the truce threatens to derail a possible peace agreement, with Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying the world had seen Israels massacre in Beirut and the ball was in Trumps court to act. The US must choose  ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both, he said. Loading Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had initially announced Lebanon was included in the ceasefire, but the US and Israel later said this was not the case. Vance told reporters he believed Iran thought the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didnt. We never made that promise, we never indicated that was going to be the case, he said.

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The vice president, who was in Hungary campaigning for the countrys prime minister, Viktor Orban, will lead negotiations with Iran in Islamabad alongside US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump and Netanyahu might discuss Lebanons inclusion in the ceasefire in future, but gave no indication the US was seeking such an outcome imminently. Trump made no mention of Lebanon or Israel when he posted on social media late on Wednesday night (Washington time) that all US ships, aircraft, military personnel and weaponry would remain near Iran until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT is fully complied with. Smoke rises from an Israeli airstrike in Nabatieh, Lebanon, the day after the ceasefire in Iran. Getty Images A man watches an excavator remove debris at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beirut on Wednesday. AP

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If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the Shootin Starts, bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before, Trump wrote. He reiterated that Iran could not develop nuclear weapons and that the crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlds oil usually transits, must be open and safe. Trumps reference to the real agreement came amid significant confusion about what had been agreed between the US, Iran and Pakistani mediators in the hours leading up to the ceasefire announcement. Loading The president said a 10-point proposal by the Iranians received by mediators was significantly different to an earlier plan disseminated by branches of the Iranian government to media outlets and online.

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Leavitt said the regime had since acknowledged reality and put forward a much more reasonable and entirely different proposal, though she would not provide details or make the document public. While briefing reporters at the White House, Leavitt said the US was closely monitoring the Strait of Hormuz, and reports that it was still closed were false. What Iran was saying publicly, including through state-affiliated media outlets, was different from what it was telling the US privately, she said. First responders and residents gather at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts Tallet al-Khayyat neighbourhood. AFP We have seen an uptick in traffic in the strait, she said. Its something we are monitoring minute by minute, hour by hour.

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The Wall Street Journal reported Iran allowed four ships through the strait on Wednesday, the fewest so far in April, citing S&P market data, and The New York Times said no oil tankers had yet transited the waterway. If Iran did keep the strait closed, it would be completely unacceptable, Leavitt said. But she added: This is a fragile truce. Ceasefires are fragile by nature  We understand things take time. Iranian parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf accused the US and Israel of breaking their deal, including through the Lebanon attacks and by denying Irans right to enrich uranium, which he said was the sixth clause of Irans framework for a truce. The Strait of Hormuz is the critical choke-point in the global oil industry. AP US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to retrieve uranium from Iran by force. Bloomberg

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The very workable basis for which to negotiate has been openly and clearly violated, Ghalibaf said in a statement written in English and posted online. In such situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable. One of the other outstanding questions is the fate of hundreds of kilograms of highly enriched uranium still in Irans possession, which could form the basis of a future nuclear weapons program, and was ostensibly the key reason for the war when it started 39 days ago. Related Article Analysis

Middle East at war Trump stands accused, but a chilling message has exposed Irans own war crime US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US reserved the right to retrieve the uranium by force if necessary. But he also argued the new Iranian regime knew that it could never have a nuclear weapon. Its buried and were watching it. We know exactly what they have, Hegseth said. They will either give it to us voluntarily  Or if we have to do something else ourselves, like we did with [Operation] Midnight Hammer, or something like that, we reserve that opportunity.

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Meanwhile, Trump suggested the US and Iran would work together to dig up the nuclear dust, and that the US would discuss relieving sanctions and tariffs on Iran. He continued to insist Tehran had gone through a very productive Regime Change  a claim rejected by most Iran experts, who say that while US and Israeli strikes killed many of Irans former top personnel, the regimes fundamentals remain intact. Trump said Iran could begin its reconstruction process. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made, he wrote on social media. With AP, Reuters 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.

CLARIFICATION An earlier version of this article stated that Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) had claimed it had hit 100 targets in Lebanon in one minute. The one-minute claim was made in an IDF post on X. A separate IDF post on the platform said the attacks were actually conducted in a 10-minute period.
Australia is more than capable of deploying a ship to the Strait of Hormuz to ensure safe passage of vital oil and fertiliser shipments, the nations top military commander has said, but warned that the number of US ships in the Middle East may leave a vacuum in the Indo-Pacific.

Admiral David Johnston, chief of the Australian Defence Force, told a briefing this morning: I am very confident we could deploy a ship into that environment if the government was to make a decision to do so.

I have no hesitation in our ability to work in a Strait of Hormuz-type role  But perhaps what is an at least as important question is: Where do our priorities lie?

In the context of today, you would be aware that the United States has moved enormous military capacity into the Gulf region at the moment, including a lot of capacity out of the Indo-Pacific. This is an important time for us to be present in the Indo-Pacific to maintain that regional environment that we seek to maintain.

The federal government has so far only committed to defensive actions in the region since the war in Iran began, and ministers have reiterated that the country would not join the conflict.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this morning said the national security committee had agreed yesterday to continue the deployment of Australias E-7A Wedgetail surveillance aircraft for a period of time.
The presentation that Netanyahu would make over the next hour would be pivotal in setting the United States and Israel on the path toward a major armed conflict in the middle of one of the worlds most volatile regions. And it would lead to a series of discussions inside the White House over the following days and weeks, the details of which have not been previously reported, in which Trump weighed his options and the risks before giving the go-ahead to join Israel in attacking Iran.

The gathering had been kept deliberately small to guard against leaks. Other top cabinet secretaries had no idea it was happening. Also absent was the vice president. JD Vance was in Azerbaijan, and the meeting had been scheduled on such short notice that he was unable to make it back in time.

Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff, sat at the far end of the table. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who doubled as the national security adviser, had taken his regular seat. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine, chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who generally sat together in such settings, were on one side; joining them was John Ratcliffe, the CIA director. Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, and Steve Witkoff, Trumps special envoy, who had been negotiating with the Iranians, rounded out the main group.

Appearing on the screen behind the prime minister was David Barnea, director of Mossad, Israels foreign intelligence agency, as well as Israeli military officials. Arrayed visually behind Netanyahu, they created the image of a wartime leader surrounded by his team.

Trump sat down, but not in his usual position at the head of the rooms mahogany conference table. Instead, the president took a seat on one side, facing the large screens mounted along the wall. Netanyahu sat on the other side, directly opposite the president.

US and Israeli officials gathered first in the Cabinet Room, adjacent to the Oval Office. Then Netanyahu headed downstairs for the main event: a highly classified presentation on Iran for President Donald Trump and his team in the White House Situation Room, which was rarely used for in-person meetings with foreign leaders.

The black SUV carrying Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived at the White House just before 11am on February 11. The Israeli leader, who had been pressing for months for the United States to agree to a major assault on Iran, was whisked inside with little ceremony, out of view of reporters, primed for one of the most high-stakes moments in his long career.

Netanyahu and his team outlined conditions they portrayed as pointing to almost certain victory: Irans ballistic missile program could be destroyed in a few weeks. The regime would be so weakened that it could not choke off the Strait of Hormuz, and the likelihood that Iran would land blows against US interests in neighbouring countries was assessed as minimal.

At one point, the Israelis played Trump a brief video that included a montage of potential new leaders who could take over the country if the hard-line government fell. Among those featured was Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Irans last shah, now a Washington-based dissident who had tried to position himself as a secular leader who could shepherd Iran toward a post-theocratic government.

In the Situation Room on February 11, Netanyahu made a hard sell, suggesting that Iran was ripe for regime change and expressing the belief that a joint US-Israeli mission could finally bring an end to the Islamic Republic.

And it shows how, in the end, even the more sceptical members of Trumps war cabinet  with the stark exception of Vance, the figure inside the White House most opposed to a full-scale war  deferred to the presidents instincts, including his abundant confidence that the war would be quick and decisive. The White House declined to comment.

The reporting underscores how closely Trumps hawkish thinking aligned with Netanyahus over many months, more so than even some of the presidents key advisers recognised. Their close association has been an enduring feature across two administrations, and that dynamic  however fraught at times  has fuelled intense criticism and suspicion on both the left and the right of American politics.

This account of how Trump took the United States into war is drawn from reporting for a forthcoming book, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump. It reveals how the deliberations inside the administration highlighted the presidents instincts, his inner circles fractures and the way he runs the White House. It draws on extensive interviews conducted on the condition of anonymity to recount internal discussions and sensitive issues.

When others in the room asked the prime minister about possible risks in the operation, Netanyahu acknowledged these but made one central point: in his view, the risks of inaction were greater than the risks of action. He argued that the price of action would only grow if they delayed striking and allowed Iran more time to accelerate its missile production and create a shield of immunity around its nuclear program.

Earlier in his White House visit on February 11, Netanyahu had tried to focus the minds of the Americans assembled in the Cabinet Room on the existential threat posed by Irans 86-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Netanyahu was not the only one who came away from the meeting with the impression that Trump had all but made up his mind. The presidents advisers could see that he had been deeply impressed by the promise of what Netanyahus military and intelligence services could do, just as he had been when the two men spoke before the 12-day war with Iran in June.

Netanyahu delivered his presentation in a confident monotone. It seemed to land well with the most important person in the room, the American president.

Besides, Mossads intelligence indicated that street protests inside Iran would begin again, and  with the impetus of the Israeli spy agency helping to foment riots and rebellion  an intense bombing campaign could foster the conditions for the Iranian opposition to overthrow the regime. The Israelis also raised the prospect of Iranian Kurdish fighters crossing the border from Iraq to open a ground front in the north-west, further stretching the regimes forces and accelerating its collapse.

The US officials assessed that the first two objectives were achievable with US intelligence and military power. They assessed that the third and fourth parts of Netanyahus pitch, which included the possibility of the Kurds mounting a ground invasion of Iran, were detached from reality.

The intelligence officials had deep expertise in US military capabilities, and they knew the Iranian system and its players inside out. They had broken down Netanyahus presentation into four parts. First was decapitation  killing the ayatollah. Second was crippling Irans capacity to project power and threaten its neighbours. Third was a popular uprising inside Iran. And fourth was regime change, with a secular leader installed to govern the country.

The results of the US intelligence analysis were shared the following day, February 12, in another meeting for only US officials in the Situation Room. Before Trump arrived, two senior intelligence officials briefed the presidents inner circle.

Netanyahus presentations  and Trumps positive response to them  created an urgent task for the US intelligence community. Overnight, analysts worked to assess the viability of what the Israeli team had told the president.

Everyone in the room understood that Iran had the capacity to build up its missile and drone stockpiles at a far lower cost and much more quickly than the United States could build and supply the much more expensive interceptors to protect US interests and allies in the region.

Trump quickly weighed the assessment. Regime change, he said, would be their problem. It was unclear whether he was referring to the Israelis or the Iranian people. But the bottom line was that his decision on whether to go to war against Iran would not hinge on whether Parts 3 and 4 of Netanyahus presentation were achievable.

Caine replied, Sir, this is, in my experience, standard operating procedure for the Israelis. They oversell, and their plans are not always well-developed. They know they need us, and thats why theyre hard-selling.

Several others jumped in, including Vance, just back from Azerbaijan, who also expressed strong scepticism about the prospect of regime change.

Ratcliffe added that given the unpredictability of events in any conflict, regime change could happen, but it should not be considered an achievable objective.

When Trump joined the meeting, Ratcliffe briefed him on the assessment. The CIA director used one word to describe the Israeli prime ministers regime change scenarios: farcical.

Trump appeared to remain very interested in accomplishing Parts 1 and 2: killing the ayatollah and Irans top leaders and dismantling the Iranian military.

General Dan Caine, head of the US military, has had serious concerns about a war with Iran. But he has been very cautious in the way he has presented his views to Trump. AP

Caine  the man Trump liked to refer to as Razin Caine had impressed the president years earlier by telling him the Islamic State group could be defeated far more quickly than others had projected. Trump rewarded that confidence by elevating the general, who had been an Air Force fighter pilot, to be his top military adviser. Caine was not a political loyalist, and he had serious concerns about a war with Iran. But he was very cautious in the way he presented his views to the president.

As the small team of advisers who were looped into the plans deliberated over the following days, Caine shared with Trump and others the alarming military assessment that a major campaign against Iran would drastically deplete stockpiles of US weaponry, including missile interceptors, whose supply had been strained after years of support for Ukraine and Israel. Caine saw no clear path to quickly replenishing these stockpiles.

He also flagged the enormous difficulty of securing the Strait of Hormuz and the risks of Iran blocking it. Trump had dismissed that possibility on the assumption that the regime would capitulate before it came to that. The president appeared to think it would be a very quick war  an impression that had been reinforced by the tepid response to the U.S. bombing of Irans nuclear facilities in June.

Caines role in the lead-up to the war captured a classic tension between military counsel and presidential decision-making. So persistent was Caine in not taking a stand  repeating that it was not his role to tell the president what to do, but rather to present options along with potential risks and possible second- and third-order consequences  that he could appear to some of those listening to be arguing all sides of an issue simultaneously.

He would constantly ask, And then what? But Trump would often seem to hear only what he wanted to hear.

Caine differed in almost every way from a prior chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark A. Milley, who had argued vociferously with Trump during his first administration and who saw his role as stopping the president from taking dangerous or reckless actions.

One person familiar with their interactions noted that Trump had a habit of confusing tactical advice from Caine with strategic counsel. In practice, that meant the general might warn in one breath about the difficulties of one aspect of the operation, then in the next note that the United States had an essentially unlimited supply of cheap, precision-guided bombs and could strike Iran for weeks once it achieved air superiority.

To Caine, these were separate observations. But Trump appeared to think that the second most likely cancelled out the first.

At no point during the deliberations did Caine directly tell the president that war with Iran was a terrible idea  though some of Caines colleagues believed that was exactly what he thought.

Trump the hawk

Distrusted as Netanyahu was by many of the presidents advisers, the prime ministers view of the situation was far closer to Trumps opinion than the anti-interventionists on the Trump team or in the broader America First movement liked to admit. This had been true for many years.

Of all the foreign policy challenges Trump had confronted across two presidencies, Iran stood apart.

President Donald Trump addresses Americans about the Iran war from the White House. AP

He regarded it as a uniquely dangerous adversary and was willing to take great risks to hinder the regimes ability to wage war or to acquire a nuclear weapon. Furthermore, Netanyahus pitch had dovetailed with Trumps desire to dismantle the Iranian theocracy, which had seized power in 1979, when Trump was 32. It had been a thorn in the side of the United States ever since.

Now he could become the first president since the clerical leadership took over 47 years ago to pull off regime change in Iran. Usually unmentioned but always in the background was the added motivation that Iran had plotted to kill Trump as revenge over the assassination in January 2020 of General Qassem Soleimani, who was seen in the United States as a driving force behind an Iranian campaign of international terrorism.

Back in office for a second term, Trumps confidence in the US militarys abilities had only grown. He was especially emboldened by the spectacular commando raid to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro from his compound on January 3. No American lives were lost in the operation  yet more evidence to the president of the unmatched prowess of US forces.

Within the cabinet, Hegseth was the biggest proponent of a military campaign against Iran.

Rubio indicated to colleagues that he was much more ambivalent. He did not believe the Iranians would agree to a negotiated deal, but his preference was to continue a campaign of maximum pressure rather than start a full-scale war. Rubio, however, did not try to talk Trump out of the operation, and after the war began, he delivered the administrations justification with full conviction.

Wiles had concerns about what a new conflict overseas could entail, but she did not tend to weigh in hard on military matters in larger meetings; rather, she encouraged advisers to share their views and concerns with the president in those settings. Wiles would exert influence on many other issues, but in the room with Trump and the generals, she sat back. Those close to her said she did not view it as her role to share her concerns with the president on a military decision in front of others. And she believed that the expertise of advisers like Caine, Ratcliffe and Rubio was more significant for the president to hear.

White House chief-of-staff Susie Wiles had concerns about what a new conflict overseas could entail, but she did not tend to weigh in hard on military matters in larger meetings. AP

Still, Wiles had told colleagues that she worried about the United States being dragged into another war in the Middle East. An attack on Iran carried with it the potential to set off soaring gas prices months before midterm elections that could help decide whether the final two years of Trumps second term would be years of accomplishment or subpoenas from House Democrats. But in the end, Wiles was on board with the operation.

Vance the sceptic

Nobody in Trumps inner circle was more worried about the prospect of war with Iran, or did more to try to stop it, than the vice president.

Vance had built his political career opposing precisely the kind of military adventurism that was now under serious consideration. He had described a war with Iran as a huge distraction of resources and massively expensive.

He was not, however, a dove across the board. In January, when Trump publicly warned Iran to stop killing protesters and promised that help was on its way, Vance had privately encouraged the president to enforce his red line. But what the vice president pushed for was a limited, punitive strike, something closer to the model of Trumps missile attack against Syria in 2017 over the use of chemical weapons against civilians.

The vice president thought a regime-change war with Iran would be a disaster. His preference was for no strikes at all. But knowing that Trump was likely to intervene in some fashion, he tried to steer toward more limited action. Later, when it seemed certain that the president was set on a large-scale campaign, Vance argued that he should do so with overwhelming force, in the hope of achieving his objectives quickly.

In front of his colleagues, Vance warned Trump that a war against Iran could cause regional chaos and untold numbers of casualties. It could also break apart Trumps political coalition and would be seen as a betrayal by many voters who had bought into the promise of no new wars.

Vance raised other concerns, too. As vice president, he was aware of the scope of Americas munitions problem. A war against a regime with enormous will for survival could leave the United States in a far worse position to fight conflicts for some years.

The vice president told associates that no amount of military insight could truly gauge what Iran would do in retaliation when survival of the regime was at stake. A war could easily go in unpredictable directions. Moreover, he thought there seemed to be little chance of building a peaceful Iran in the aftermath.

Beyond all of this was perhaps the biggest risk of all: Iran held the advantage when it came to the Strait of Hormuz. If this narrow waterway carrying vast quantities of oil and natural gas was choked off, the domestic consequences in the United States would be severe, starting with higher gasoline prices.

Tucker Carlson, the commentator who had emerged as another prominent sceptic of intervention on the right, had come to the Oval Office several times over the previous year to warn Trump that a war with Iran would destroy his presidency. A couple of weeks before the war began, Trump, who had known Carlson for years, tried to reassure him over the phone. I know youre worried about it, but its going to be OK, the president said. Carlson asked how he knew. Because it always is, Trump replied.

In the final days of February, the Americans and the Israelis discussed a piece of new intelligence that would significantly accelerate their timeline. The ayatollah would be meeting above ground with other top officials of the regime, in broad daylight and wide open for an air attack. It was a fleeting chance to strike at the heart of Irans leadership, the kind of target that might not present itself again.

White House special envoys Jared Kushner (left) and Steve Witkoff (centre) with Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi in Geneva. AP

Trump gave Iran another chance to come to a deal that would block its path to nuclear weapons. The diplomacy also gave the United States extra time to move military assets to the Middle East.

The president had effectively made up his mind weeks earlier, several of his advisers said. But he had not yet decided exactly when. Now Netanyahu urged him to move fast.

That same week, Kushner and Witkoff called from Geneva after the latest talks with Iranian officials. Over three rounds of negotiations in Oman and Switzerland, the two had tested Irans willingness to make a deal. At one point, they offered the Iranians free nuclear fuel for the life of their program  a test of whether Tehrans insistence on enrichment was truly about civilian energy or about preserving the ability to build a bomb.

The Iranians rejected the offer, calling it an assault on their dignity.

Kushner and Witkoff laid out the picture for the president. They could probably negotiate something, but it would take months, they said. If Trump was asking whether they could look him in the eye and tell him they could solve the problem, it was going to take a lot to get there, Kushner told him, because the Iranians were playing games.

I think we need to do it

On Thursday, February 26, around 5pm, a final Situation Room meeting got under way. By now, the positions of everyone in the room were clear. Everything had been discussed in previous meetings; everyone knew everyone elses stance. The discussion would last about an hour and a half.

Trump was in his usual place at the head of the table. To his right sat the vice president. Next to Vance was Wiles; then Ratcliffe; then the White House counsel, David Warrington; then Steven Cheung, the White House communications director. Across from Cheung was Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary; to her right was Caine, then Hegseth and Rubio.

The war-planning group had been kept so tight that the two key officials who would need to manage the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, were excluded, as was Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence.

Loading

The president opened the meeting, asking, OK, what have we got?

Hegseth and Caine ran through the sequencing of the attacks. Then Trump said he wanted to go around the table and hear everyones views.

Vance, whose disagreement with the whole premise was well established, addressed the president: You know I think this is a bad idea, but if you want to do it, Ill support you.

Wiles told Trump that if he felt he needed to proceed for Americas national security, then he should go ahead.

Ratcliffe offered no opinion on whether to proceed, but he discussed the stunning new intelligence that the Iranian leadership was about to gather in the ayatollahs compound in Tehran. The CIA director told the president that regime change was possible depending on how the term was defined. If we just mean killing the supreme leader, we can probably do that, he said.

When called on, Warrington, the White House counsel, said it was a legally permissible option in terms of how the plan had been conceived by US officials and presented to the president. He did not offer a personal opinion, but when pressed by the president to provide one, he said that as a Marine veteran, he had known an American service member killed by Iran years earlier. This issue remained deeply personal. He told the president that if Israel intended to proceed regardless, the United States should do so as well.

Cheung laid out the likely public relations fallout: Trump had run for office opposed to further wars. People had not voted for conflict overseas. The plans ran contrary, too, to everything the administration had said after the bombing campaign against Iran in June. How would they explain away eight months of insisting that Iranian nuclear facilities had been totally obliterated? Cheung gave neither a yes nor a no, but he said that whatever decision Trump made would be the right one.

Leavitt told the president that this was his decision and that the press team would manage it as best they could.

Hegseth adopted a narrow position: they would have to take care of the Iranians eventually, so they might as well do it now. He offered technical assessments: they could run the campaign in a certain amount of time with a given level of forces.

Caine was sober, laying out the risks and what the campaign would mean for munitions depletion. He offered no opinion; his position was that if Trump ordered the operation, the military would execute. Both of the presidents top military leaders previewed how the campaign would unfold and the US capacity to degrade Irans military capabilities.

When it was his turn to speak, Rubio offered more clarity: if our goal is regime change or an uprising, we shouldnt do it. But if the goal is to destroy Irans missile program, thats a goal we can achieve.

Everyone deferred to the presidents instincts. They had seen him make bold decisions, take on unfathomable risks and somehow come out on top. No one would impede him now.

I think we need to do it, the president told the room. He said they had to make sure Iran could not have a nuclear weapon, and they had to ensure that Iran could not just shoot missiles at Israel or throughout the region.

Caine told Trump that he had some time; he did not need to give the go-ahead until 4pm the following day.

Aboard Air Force One the next afternoon, 22 minutes before Caines deadline, Trump sent the following order: Operation Epic Fury is approved. No aborts. Good luck.

This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

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.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Union NAPB categorically rejects the recent statement made by Member of Parliament Meyers regarding insurance coverage for police officers.



We state unequivocally and for the public record that police officers, customs officers, prison officers, immigration officers, and other frontline workers do not possess valid insurance coverage that protects them in cases of loss of life, accidental death, dismemberment, or total permanent disability while performing their duties.



Let there be no misunderstanding: the union is not referring to social insurance, nor are we referring to smartengeld. We are speaking specifically about a group insurance policy designed to cover life, accidental death and dismemberment, and total permanent disability. This policy lapsed in 2023 and, despite the obvious and urgent risks faced by frontline personnel, has not been reinstated to date.



This is not an administrative oversightthis is a serious failure of responsibility.



On March 19, 2026, three police officers nearly lost their lives in a severe vehicle accident while carrying out their lawful duties. One of those officers, Inspector Randall Koeyers, remains hospitalized and is still awaiting urgent transfer for specialized medical care. The fact that officers are placed in life-threatening situations without proper insurance protection is completely unacceptable.



Frontline workers continue to risk their lives daily to protect this country, yet they are being left exposed, unprotected, and unsupported. Any suggestion to the contrary is misleading and does not reflect reality.



Patience within the union has been exhausted.



The Police Union NAPB demands immediate accountability and decisive action from the relevant authorities. This matter must be addressed without further delay. The reinstatement of comprehensive group insurance coverage is not optionalit is a basic obligation owed to every frontline worker.



Failure to act promptly will leave the union with no choice but to consider all appropriate measures to defend the rights and safety of its members.



Our members will not continue to serve under conditions where their lives are valued so lightly.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) is currently investigating a shooting incident that occurred earlier today in the Dutch Quarter area.



Central Police Dispatch received a call shortly after 12:30 p.m. reporting a man walking along Nazareth Road who was bleeding. Upon arrival at the scene, officers encountered a male victim who had sustained a grazing gunshot wound to his lower body.



Preliminary information indicates that the victim reported being shot at by an unknown suspect. Ambulance personnel arrived shortly after and provided medical treatment to the victim at the scene.



Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding this incident. Further information will be made available as the investigation progresses.

KPSM urges anyone with information related to this incident to come forward and assist in the ongoing investigation.
A ceremony marking the operation of a 1,000-MW photovoltaic project developed by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGNPC) is held in Vientiane, Laos, April 7, 2026.(Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

SHENZHEN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A 1,000-MW photovoltaic project in Laos was connected to the power grid and entered operation on Tuesday, developer China General Nuclear Power Group (CGNPC) announced.

Located in Oudomxay province, the large-scale solar farm is expected to generate 1.65 billion kWh of electricity annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 1.3 million tonnes per year.

As one of the major solar installations in Laos, located in a mountainous region, the project created nearly 3,000 local jobs at the peak of construction. It also contributed to local infrastructure by repairing roads and reinforcing five bridges, delivering tangible economic and social benefits to the surrounding communities.

On the industrial cooperation front, the project brought together more than 70 enterprises from both China and Laos -- including over 30 Laotian companies involved in construction, equipment supply and raw materials.

CGNPC also supported the establishment of a clean energy power standards research institute in Laos and trained nearly 100 local engineers. Environmental protection measures, such as avoiding construction in sensitive areas and implementing ecological restoration, were adopted to help preserve the natural landscape.

Yang Changli, chairman of CGNPC, said the company will accelerate the development of clean energy projects in Laos, contributing to a closer China-Laos community of shared future through green energy cooperation. 

An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 29, 2025 shows a 1,000-MW photovoltaic project developed by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGNPC) in Oudomxay province, Laos.(CGNPC/Handout via Xinhua)
Israel reports missiles fired by Iran as Trump pauses infrastructure attack



Jerusalem, April 7 (AFP) Apr 07, 2026



Israel's military warned early Wednesday that Iran had fired missiles toward it, moments after US President Donald Trump said he had agreed to postpone striking Iranian infrastructure.

The warning came just minutes after Trump said he had agreed to suspend a devastating attack on Iran by two weeks and was ready for a ceasefire in the war if Tehran completely reopens the vital Strait of Hormuz.

"The (Israeli army) identified missiles launched from Iran toward the territory of the State of Israel. Defensive systems are operating to intercept the threat," the military said on its official Telegram channel.

Blasts were heard from Jerusalem and Jericho on the occupied West Bank, AFP correspondents said.

The Israeli military told people in the areas affected by the incoming missile warnings to seek safety in bomb shelters.
Trump suspends Iran bombing for two weeks, after apocalyptic threats



Washington, United States, April 7 (AFP) Apr 07, 2026



US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he was suspending bombing of Iran for two weeks but that Tehran must reopen the key Strait of Hormuz, barely an hour before his apocalyptic deadline to destroy the country was set to expire.

After more than five weeks of blistering attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel, Trump said he had accepted a proposal mediated by Pakistan to extend his deadline but he again pushed on the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway vital for the world's oil.

Trump said he had spoke to Pakistan's leaders who "requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran."

"And subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump wrote.

He said that Iran had sent a 10-point plan to the United States that he called "workable" for negotiations.

The price of oil quickly fell sharply on Trump's remarks. Oil costs had soared since the war, putting heavy political pressure on Trump.

There was no immediate response from Iran or Israel. Iran had previously said it was ready for any eventuality and defiantly refused to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which it closed in retaliation for the attack launched on February 28.

Trump had set a deadline of 8:00 pm Washington time (midnight GMT), or 3:30 am in Tehran, after an earlier extension in a threat to destroy all power plants and bridges across the country of 90 million people -- a war crime against sites that are primarily of civilian usage.

Trump earlier Tuesday made threats shocking even by his own provocative standards that brought warnings that he was encouraging genocide -- potentially one day leading to war crimes charges against US servicemembers who comply.

"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump had written.

The rhetoric was an escalation from a profanity-laden post two days earlier, on Easter Sunday.

Pope Leo XIV said that "this threat against all the people of Iran" was "truly unacceptable."



- Pakistani mediation -



Pakistan, which is playing a key mediating role in the Middle East conflict, said it had proposed the two-week extension of Trump's deadline and that Iran should also reopen the Strait of Hormuz for the same period as a "goodwill gesture."

"Diplomatic efforts for peaceful settlement of the ongoing war in the Middle East are progressing steadily, strongly and powerfully with the potential to lead to substantive results in near future," Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said.

The United States and Israel struck key infrastructure even before Trump's deadline, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirming attacks on railways and bridges he said were "used by the Revolutionary Guards."

The Israeli military also offered a rare statement of regret after it acknowledged damaging a synagogue in Tehran, saying it had been targeting a senior Iranian commander.

Iran, run by Shia Muslim clerics, is home to around 100 synagogues for its historic Jewish minority.

Infrastructure attacks reported by Iranian authorities Tuesday included a US-Israeli strike on a bridge outside the city of Qom and another on a rail bridge in central Iran that killed two people.



- Death 'not a joke' -



University student Metanat, whose classmate was killed two weeks ago in an attack, told AFP before Trump's suspension of the bombing she felt "terrified and so should everyone else in the country".

The 27-year-old, who declined to give her last name, said as far as Trump's ultimatums were concerned, "some people think they are a joke", but "death is not a joke".

State media published photos purporting to show groups of Iranians forming human chains to protect power plants.

The show of patriotism in the face of attacks came several months after Iran's cleric-run government cracked down violently on mass protests, with rights groups reporting thousands of deaths.

The United States and Israel said that they attacked Iran to degrade its military capacity. Trump has alleged that Iran was near building an atomic bomb, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog and most observers.

At the UN Security Council, Russia and China vetoed a resolution on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a text already diluted to remove the green light Gulf states had sought to use force to protect the key shipping lane.

Apart from the infrastructure attacks, strikes were reported on Kharg island, a critical hub for the Iranian oil industry, according to Iran's Mehr news agency, although US media said the attacks were against military targets.

Iran has responded to the war by striking Gulf Arab states that host US troops. Israel in turn has launched a major offensive into Lebanon, vowing to control land from which Iranian-linked Hezbollah has fired rockets.

burs/sct/bgs
Israeli strike kills eight in Lebanon's Sidon: health ministry



Beirut, Lebanon, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



An Israeli strike killed eight people in the Lebanese city of Sidon, the health ministry said Wednesday, as the United States and its allies agreed to a ceasefire with Iran.

"The Israeli enemy's strike on Sidon, south Lebanon, resulted in a preliminary toll of eight citizens martyred and 22 wounded," the health ministry said in a statement.

An AFP photographer at the scene of the strike, which hit a seafront area of the coastal city, saw flames rising from a cafe, its glass windows shattered and scattered across the road.

Firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze while the army cordoned off the area. Cars parked nearby were also damaged.

"We were notified of a strike on the seafront road in Sidon. We sent two teams, but they requested backup due to the large number of casualties," Louay Sabeh, a paramedic with a local association, told AFP.

He said emergency teams transported at least six wounded people from the scene.

The strike came shortly before Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran included US allies and was in effect "everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere".

Pakistan has acted as a mediator between the United States and Iran during the war in the Middle East.
Pakistan PM says US-Iran ceasefire covers 'everywhere' including Lebanon



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that the United States, Iran and their allies had agreed to a ceasefire "everywhere", including Lebanon, following mediation by his government to stop weeks of fighting.

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Sharif posted on X.

He added that Pakistan's capital Islamabad would welcome delegations from both countries on Friday to hold negotiations aimed at reaching a "conclusive agreement".

"We earnestly hope, that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days," he said.

Both Tehran and Washington announced they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before the President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.

Pakistan, which has forged a close relationship with Trump and is sensitive to developments in neighboring Iran, emerged as a channel for messaging between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks.

The war began when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader on February 28, sparking retaliatory strikes from Tehran on Gulf nations and Israel.

Lebanon has also been drawn into the conflict after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, which has since carried out strikes, including on the capital, and launched a ground operation in the south of the country.
US, Iran agree to 11th-hour truce after Trump apocalyptic threats



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate the rival country was set to expire, with Tehran to temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

After more than a month of blistering attacks by the United States and Israel, Iran cast the ceasefire as a victory and said it had agreed to talks with Washington to begin Friday in Pakistan on a path to end the conflict.

Trump said he had spoken to Pakistan's leaders who "requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran."

"Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed safe passage for two weeks for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, the gateway for one-fifth of the world's oil which Tehran sealed off in retaliation for the war launched on February 28.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," Araghchi said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, which has played a key mediator role, said that the ceasefire would start immediately.

He said that the United States "along with their allies" had agreed to a ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon, implying that Israel had agreed to halt its invasion of its northern neighbor.

Israel did not immediately react. Its assault on Lebanon in response to rocket fire by Iranian-backed Hezbollah has led to more than 1,500 deaths, according to Lebanese authorities.

Israel had encouraged Trump to join the war against Iran, its arch-nemesis, and in the first strikes killed the long-serving supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.



- Oil prices ease sharply -



Oil prices plunged by more than 17 percent after the ceasefire announcement. Costs at the pump had risen sharply since the war for ordinary Americans, putting heavy political pressure on Trump.

Stock prices also soared in early trade Wednesday in Asia.

Trump said that the United States was "very far along" in negotiating a long-term agreement with Iran, which had submitted a 10-point plan that he said was "workable."

But Iran publicly released points that took maximalist positions including lifting longstanding US sanctions, guaranteeing its own "dominion" over the Strait of Hormuz and removing US forces from the region.

Trump had set a deadline to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz by 8:00 pm Washington time (midnight GMT), or 3:30 am in Tehran, for Iran.

He had earlier threatened to destroy all power plants and bridges across the country of 90 million people -- a war crime against sites that are primarily of civilian usage.

Trump made threats shocking even by his own standards when he warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will."

The rhetoric was an escalation from a profanity-laden post two days earlier, on Easter Sunday.

Pope Leo XIV said that "this threat against all the people of Iran" was "truly unacceptable."



- Heavy strikes before deadline -



The United States and Israel struck key infrastructure before Trump's deadline, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying attacks hit railways and bridges allegedly used by the Revolutionary Guards.

The Israeli military also offered a rare statement of regret after it acknowledged damaging a synagogue in Tehran, saying it had been targeting a senior Iranian commander.

Iran, run by Shia Muslim clerics, is home to around 100 synagogues for its historic Jewish minority.

Infrastructure attacks reported by Iranian authorities Tuesday included a US-Israeli strike on a bridge outside the city of Qom and another on a rail bridge in central Iran that killed two people.

Iran has retaliated with weeks of drone and missile attacks on Gulf Arab states, citing their role as hubs for US troops.

The attacks have shattered the monarchies' hard-fought reputation for safety and stability.

Qatar said early Wednesday that four people were hurt by falling missile debris, including a child. AFP reporters also heard explosions in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they responded to missile threats.

Two civilians, one of them an eight-year-old child, were killed in Baghdad when a projectile crashed into their home, police told AFP.



- 'Terrified' -



Iranian university student Metanat, 27, whose classmate was killed two weeks ago in an attack, told AFP before Trump's suspension of the bombing she felt "terrified and so should everyone else in the country."

State media published photos purporting to show groups of Iranians forming human chains to protect power plants.

The show of patriotism in the face of attacks came several months after Iran's cleric-run government cracked down violently on mass protests, with rights groups reporting thousands of deaths.

A peace agreement, if realized, would leave in place the Islamic republic despite hopes by Israel and the United States of toppling it.

The United States and Israel said that they attacked Iran to degrade its military capacity. Trump has alleged that Iran was near building an atomic bomb, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog and most observers.

burs/sct/bgs
Iraqi armed group releases US journalist



Baghdad, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Iraq's powerful armed group Kataeb Hezbollah on Tuesday released US journalist Shelly Kittleson, a week after she was kidnapped in Baghdad, the Iranian-backed group and the United States said.

Her release was announced hours before the United States and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in more than one month of war, which spread into a regionwide conflict.

"In recognition of the national stances of the outgoing prime minister, we have decided to release the American defendant Shelly Kittleson, on the condition that she leave the country immediately," Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, a security official in the Iran-backed group, said in a brief statement.

He added that this was an exceptional gesture that would "not be repeated again in the coming days, as we are in a state of war launched by the Zionist-American enemy against Islam, and in such cases many considerations are discarded".

Secretary of State Marco Rubio later said that she had been freed.

"We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," Rubio said in a statement.

A senior Iraqi security official had earlier told AFP that authorities arrested a member of a pro-Iran group believed to be connected to the abduction.

Rubio said that Kittleson was abducted by Kataeb Hezbollah, which is blacklisted by the United States.

Kittleson, who is based in Rome but has reported extensively from the Middle East, worked for publications including Al-Monitor.

President Donald Trump's administration had earlier defended itself over her kidnapping, with US officials saying that the government had warned her of threats.

Baghdad was once notorious for kidnappings and attempted abductions, but they have decreased as the security situation in Iraq improved in recent years.

Israeli-Russian academic Elizabeth Tsurkov was kidnapped in Baghdad in 2023 and was held for two years until her release last year.
Middle East war: global economic fallout



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:



- Asia stocks soar, oil plummets -



Stock markets in Japan and Korea soared early Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, with talks during the interim period mediated by Pakistan.

Oil prices meanwhile plummeted, with both the WTI and Brent crude benchmarks falling below $100 a barrel.



- Iran agrees to safe Hormuz passage -



Iran's foreign minister said that under the two-week ceasefire agreement, maritime traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz would be guaranteed.

The transits "will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.



- Madagascar declares energy emergency -



Madagascar declared a two-week national energy emergency, saying disruptions in supply because of the war in the Middle East were causing a crisis.

The Indian Ocean island is a net importer of fuel, most of which comes from Oman, just south of the crucial Strait of Hormuz.



- Saudi petrochemical complex hit -



Overnight attacks on Saudi Arabia hit a petrochemical complex in a sprawling industrial area in the eastern city of Jubail, a witness who requested anonymity told AFP on Tuesday, hours after similar installations in Iran were struck.

Jubail is home to one of the world's largest industrial cities, where steel, gasoline, petrochemicals, lubricating oil and chemical fertilisers are produced.



- Bahrain's main port to pause operations -



Bahrain's main port will suspend operations starting early Wednesday, around the time of a US deadline for Iran to agree to a deal or face attacks on civilian infrastructure.

"Operations in Khalifa Bin Salman Port will be temporarily suspended from early April 8," APM Terminals Bahrain, which operates the port, told AFP.



- Russia, China veto UN resolution on Strait of Hormuz -



Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution Tuesday on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a text already diluted from the green light Gulf states had sought to use force to protect the key shipping lane.

The draft resolution prepared by Bahrain and supported by the United States received 11 votes in favor, two against and two abstentions. Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said Gulf states "regret" the rejection of the measure.



- Iran reports strikes on bridges, key highway, railways -



Iranian officials reported damage to bridges, railway systems and highways on Tuesday as part of a wave of deadly airstrikes on infrastructure.

A bridge near the holy city of Qom and another carrying a railway line in the central city of Kashan were struck, according to regional officials quoted by state media.

A key highway in northern Iran connecting the main northern city of Tabriz with Tehran via Zanjan was also temporarily closed after a hit around 90 kilometres (55 miles) outside of Tabriz, IRNA and Fars agencies reported.



- US-Israeli strikes hit Kharg island -



US-Israeli strikes have hit the key Iranian oil export terminal of Kharg island, media reported Tuesday.

"The American-Zionist enemy has carried out several attacks on Kharg island, and several explosions have been heard there," Iran's Mehr news agency reported.

According to an X post by journalist Barak Ravid of the news site Axios, citing a US official, the US carried out "strikes on military targets" on the island located off Iran's western coast.

burs-des/jgc
Projectiles kill seven in Iraq, including child



Baghdad, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Projectiles killed an eight-year-old child and at least six other people in Iraq, officials said Tuesday, shortly before the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

Iraq has been dragged into the Middle East war, with strikes targeting both US interests and pro-Iran groups in the country.

Washington and Tehran agreed to pause fighting barely an hour before US President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate the rival country was set to expire, with Tehran to temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

A strike killed at least three civilians Tuesday in southern Iraq, near the Kuwait border, two local officials told AFP.

"A house was bombed by a plane in the city of Khor Al-Zubair, according to eyewitnesses," said Thaer al-Salhi, a member of Basra's provincial council.

"Neighbours say there were five people living in the house -- three men, a woman and a child, but only three bodies have been found so far," he added.

A security official confirmed that missile strikes on a house in Khor Al-Zubair had killed three civilians, adding that the strikes had been fired from Kuwait.

Hours later, protesters attempted to storm the Kuwaiti consulate in Basra, where security forces responded by firing tear gas, an AFP photographer witnessed.

Two people, including an eight-year-old child, were killed late Tuesday in Baghdad when a projectile crashed into their home, causing a fire, a police source told AFP.

"Three other civilians, including a woman, were wounded" in the western Amiriya district of the Iraqi capital, according to the source. A security official told AFP earlier that "a rocket fell on a house in the Amiriya district".

And in Iraqi Kurdistan, a drone "coming from Iran" killed a couple after crashing into their home, local authorities reported early Tuesday.

The autonomous region's Counter-Terrorism Service said in a statement that the incident took place on Monday "when a bomb-laden drone coming from Iran crashed into a civilian home in... the Dara Shakran subdistrict within Erbil Province".

Erbil governor Omed Khoshnaw said in a Facebook post that the civilians' deaths was tantamount to "a violation of international law and a war crime."
NATO chief set for Trump talks as US-Iran truce begins



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



NATO chief Mark Rutte will hold talks with Donald Trump in Washington on Wednesday, one day after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

The US president has expressed anger at Western partners' refusal to back his war on Iran, rocking the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance.

He branded NATO partners "cowards" for limiting US forces' access to bases on their territories and for refusing to lead efforts to open the Strait of Hormuz.

But NATO's secretary-general touts a record of pulling Trump back onside -- and will be looking to do so again when he meets the president, as well as US top diplomat Marco Rubio and defense chief Pete Hegseth.

NATO has been thrust repeatedly into crisis since Trump returned to power last year -- most acutely by his threat to seize the vast Arctic island of Greenland from fellow member Denmark.

That followed him pulling the rug from under Ukraine in its war against Russia, threats not to protect allies if they don't spend more on defense, and warnings that Washington could pull troops from Europe.

Dubbed a "Trump whisperer," Rutte has been central to allied efforts to mollify the US leader, often by means of flattery -- and on Iran he has sought to thread the needle by calling US efforts to degrade Iran's military capability something to "applaud."

Trump has warmed to Rutte's praise, describing the secretary-general as "a wonderful guy" and a "great person" -- even while charging fellow NATO countries had "gone out of their way not to help" in the Middle East.

Speaking as Rutte headed to Washington, a NATO official said he planned to "discuss current security dynamics including in the context of Iran as well as Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine" in his talks with Trump.

And he would "seek to build on the success" of last year's NATO summit in The Hague at which allies agreed to Trump's demand to ramp up their defense spending target, the official said.

Trump has long railed against NATO, calling it "obsolete" in 2017 and mulling withdrawing.

Compounding the worry this time, however, Trump has been joined by traditional NATO supporters, including Secretary of State Rubio who warned last week the United States was "going to have to reexamine" the relationship in light of the rift over Iran.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour Trump's deadline to obliterate the rival country was set to expire, with Tehran to temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.
Trump threat against Iran's civilian infrastructure not 'appropriate': Australian PM



Sydney, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described US President Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure as not "appropriate" on Wednesday but welcomed a two-week ceasefire as "positive".

Trump had warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Iran failed to meet his deadline for a deal.

"I don't think it's appropriate to use language such as that from the president of the United States, and I think it will cause some concern," Albanese told Sky News Australia.

Albanese welcomed news that the United States and Iran had agreed to a two-week ceasefire, barely an hour before Trump's deadline expired.

"What we have called for is a de-escalation, and that is what has occurred, and that's a good thing," the Australian leader said.

"This is positive news. We've been calling for a de-escalation for some time. We want to see a resolution of the conflict."

Tehran said it would temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz and cast the ceasefire as a victory after more than a month of blistering attacks by the United States and Israel.

Iran has effectively closed the strait since US-Israeli strikes on February 28 sparked a larger regional conflict, causing global oil and gas prices to soar.

Australia, reliant on imported fuel and holding roughly 39 days' supply of petrol, has been hit hard by the global impact of the war.

Having initially backed US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Albanese said last week the original aims of the war had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved.

Canberra has sought to soften the impact of soaring prices by cutting petrol taxes.
KUNMING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Exports of fresh-cut chrysanthemums from southwest China's Yunnan Province have boomed in markets in Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), supported by efficient logistics networks and streamlined customs procedures, according to local authorities.

In Yangjie Township, Kaiyuan City of Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture, over 8,000 mu (about 533 hectares) of modern greenhouses spread across the area. Inside, chrysanthemums and other flowers bloom in succession, while workers are busy picking, sorting and packaging them.

As a leading local flower exporter, Kaiyuan Tianhua Biological Industry Co., Ltd. has preserved over 2,800 varieties of chrysanthemums. The company exports about 20 million high-quality fresh-cut flowers to countries including Japan and the ROK every year, making it one of China's largest exporters of chrysanthemum cut flowers and seedlings.

In November 2025, Wenshan Tianhua Horticulture Co., Ltd. in Maguan County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, successfully exported 8.5 tonnes of fresh-cut chrysanthemums to Japan for the first time, marking a breakthrough in overseas flower exports for the prefecture.

To ensure the flowers reach consumers in perfect condition, Kunming Customs in the provincial capital has introduced tailored support measures for enterprises. Addressing the urgency of maintaining freshness and the specific requirements of fresh-cut flowers, customs authorities have implemented services such as "appointment-based inspection" and "cloud-based certificate issuance," greatly reducing clearance times.

Data shows that in the first two months of this year, Yunnan's chrysanthemum exports to the ROK reached 7.87 million yuan (about 1.15 million U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 5.3 times. 
Trump to AFP: Iran deal 'total and complete victory' for US



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



President Donald Trump told AFP on Tuesday that the United States had won a "total and complete victory" after agreeing a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.

In a telephone call, Trump said he believed China had persuaded Iran to negotiate, and said Tehran's enriched uranium would be "perfectly taken care of."

The US leader appeared bullish on the truce with Iran, despite Tehran also casting it as a win for its side, and amid questions over exactly what both sides had agreed on.

The two sides agreed on the ceasefire barely an hour before Trump's deadline to obliterate the Islamic republic was set to expire.

"Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it," Trump told AFP in the brief call when asked if he was claiming victory with the ceasefire.

With uncertainty over arrangements for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic in particular, Trump insisted there was a strong framework for a longer-term deal.

"We have a 15 point transaction, of which most of those things have been agreed on. We'll see what happens. We'll see if it gets there," Trump said.

The Republican president had said in his earlier announcement on his Truth Social network that Iran had given a 10-point proposal which was "workable."

Trump would not say whether he would go back to his original threats to lay waste to Iran's civilian power plants and bridges if the deal fell apart.

"You're going to have to see," Trump told AFP.



- Uranium 'taken care of' -



The fate of Iran's store of enriched uranium is another key question, after a war that the US president said was partially aimed at ensuring Iran could never get a nuclear weapon.

But Trump insisted that the nuclear material would be covered by any peace deal.

"That will be perfectly taken care of, or I wouldn't have settled," Trump said, without giving any specifics about what would happen to the uranium.

The ceasefire deal came after more than a month of destructive attacks by the United States and Israel, and followed mediation by Pakistan.

Trump said that he believed China had played a role in getting Iran to the negotiating table.

"I hear yes," Trump said when asked if Beijing was involved in getting key ally Tehran to negotiate on a truce.

The US president is due to travel to Beijing in mid-May to meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, in a crucial summit between the two superpowers.

The trip was originally scheduled for early April but Trump postponed it, saying he had to stay in Washington to oversee the Iran war.

Beijing is a close partner of Tehran and the main buyer of Iranian oil, most of which passes through the strait.

But it also has strong economic ties to the Gulf countries and has repeatedly criticized attacks on them by Iran.
Middle East war: global economic fallout



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Here are the latest economic events in the Middle East war:



- Trump says Iran uranium will be 'taken care of' -



US President Donald Trump told AFP that Iran's uranium would be "perfectly taken care of" under a two-week ceasefire with Tehran.

"That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn't have settled," Trump said in a telephone interview when asked about what would happen to Iran's enriched uranium.



- Asia stocks soar, oil plummets -



Stock markets in Japan and Korea soared early Wednesday after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, with talks during the interim period mediated by Pakistan.

Oil prices meanwhile plummeted, with both the WTI and Brent crude benchmarks falling below $100 a barrel.



- Iran agrees to safe Hormuz passage -



Iran's foreign minister said that under the two-week ceasefire agreement, maritime traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz would be guaranteed.

The transits "will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X.



- Madagascar declares energy emergency -



Madagascar declared a two-week national energy emergency, saying disruptions in supply because of the war in the Middle East were causing a crisis.

The Indian Ocean island is a net importer of fuel, most of which comes from Oman, just south of the crucial Strait of Hormuz.



- Saudi petrochemical complex hit -



Overnight attacks on Saudi Arabia hit a petrochemical complex in a sprawling industrial area in the eastern city of Jubail, a witness who requested anonymity told AFP on Tuesday, hours after similar installations in Iran were struck.

Jubail is home to one of the world's largest industrial cities, where steel, gasoline, petrochemicals, lubricating oil and chemical fertilisers are produced.



- Bahrain's main port to pause operations -



Bahrain's main port will suspend operations starting early Wednesday, around the time of a US deadline for Iran to agree to a deal or face attacks on civilian infrastructure.

"Operations in Khalifa Bin Salman Port will be temporarily suspended from early April 8," APM Terminals Bahrain, which operates the port, told AFP.



- Russia, China veto UN resolution on Strait of Hormuz -



Russia and China vetoed a UN Security Council resolution Tuesday on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a text already diluted from the green light Gulf states had sought to use force to protect the key shipping lane.

The draft resolution prepared by Bahrain and supported by the United States received 11 votes in favor, two against and two abstentions. Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani said Gulf states "regret" the rejection of the measure.



- Iran reports strikes on bridges, key highway, railways -



Iranian officials reported damage to bridges, railway systems and highways on Tuesday as part of a wave of deadly airstrikes on infrastructure.

A bridge near the holy city of Qom and another carrying a railway line in the central city of Kashan were struck, according to regional officials quoted by state media.

A key highway in northern Iran connecting the main northern city of Tabriz with Tehran via Zanjan was also temporarily closed after a hit around 90 kilometres (55 miles) outside of Tabriz, IRNA and Fars agencies reported.



- US-Israeli strikes hit Kharg island -



US-Israeli strikes have hit the key Iranian oil export terminal of Kharg island, media reported Tuesday.

"The American-Zionist enemy has carried out several attacks on Kharg island, and several explosions have been heard there," Iran's Mehr news agency reported.

According to an X post by journalist Barak Ravid of the news site Axios, citing a US official, the US carried out "strikes on military targets" on the island located off Iran's western coast.

burs-des/jgc/lkd
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles towards East Sea



Seoul, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, hours after reporting an "unidentified projectile" launched from the North's capital area the previous day.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sought to repair ties with North Korea since taking office last year, criticising his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to scatter propaganda over Pyongyang.

The launches follow Seoul's expression of regret on Monday over civilian drone incursions into the North in January, with President Lee calling it "irresponsible" and noting that government officials had been involved in the operation.

They are seen as North Korea's latest rebuff of South Korea's peace overtures, according to analysts.

Seoul's military said early Wednesday it had detected "an unidentified projectile" launched from the Pyongyang area a day earlier.

About an hour later, the military said it also detected "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles" fired from North Korea's Wonsan area toward the East Sea on Wednesday morning, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

Later the South Korean military clarified they were short-range ballistic missiles, fired at around 8:50 am (23:50 GMT) and flew around 240 kilometres (149 miles).

The launch marked North Korea's fourth known ballistic missile test this year, including a salvo of around 10 fired from the Sunan area in March.

The Office of National Security at the presidential Blue House held an emergency meeting over the launch, asking Pyongyang to immediately stop provocations.

"Given the ongoing war in the Middle East, (the office) instructed relevant agencies to exercise even greater vigilance in maintaining a state of readiness," it said in a statement.

The office also "urged North Korea to immediately cease its ballistic missile launch, deeming it a provocative act that violates UN Security Council resolutions", it added.

Following president Lee's expression of regret over the drones on Monday, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Lee's regret was "wise behaviour".

"Our government appreciated it as very fortunate and wise behaviour for its own sake," Kim Yo Jong said on Monday.



-'World-startling fools'-



But on Tuesday, a senior North Korean foreign ministry official described the South as "the enemy state most hostile" to North Korea, reiterating a label used by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un previously.

Referring to South Korean media reports that cast a positive light on Kim Yo Jong's comments about Lee, the official said such a stance was "nonsense".

"Regarding the rapid response from our government as an 'exceptional friendly response'... this will also be recorded as 'world-startling fools', Jang Kum-chol, first vice-minister of Pyongyang's foreign ministry, said in a statement carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency.

The launches are Pyongyang's message to Seoul that its anti?South stance remains firm despite Seoul's repeated overtures, said Lim Eul?chul, an expert on North Korea at Kyungnam University.

"The consecutive firings and recent statements underscore the North's determination to ignore attempts by the South at improving inter?Korean ties," he said.

US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Seoul's level of support for his war in Iran, has recently boasted of his ties with North Korea's leader Kim.

"You know who else didn't help us? South Korea didn't help us," Trump said earlier this week.

"We've got 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect (them) from Kim Jong Un, who I get along with very well. He said very nice things about me. He used to call Joe Biden a mentally retarded person."

The United States has around 28,500 troops in South Korea.

Trump met Kim three times in his first term and there has been speculation of a re-run when the US president makes his delayed upcoming visit to China.

Perhaps emboldened by Pyongyang's new closeness to Russia, Trump's comment in October that he was "100 percent" open to meeting Kim again went unanswered.
Israel backs US-Iran temporary ceasefire



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel said Wednesday it supported US President Donald Trump's decision to suspend his bombing of Iran, but maintained the 11th-hour ceasefire did not include Lebanon.

Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday, barely an hour before Trump's deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.

Tehran said it would guarantee safe passage for maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, announcing that the pause would be used for talks with the United States on ending the war. Negotiations were set to start Friday in Pakistan.

"Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

Israel added that it "supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat".

But the statement said that the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon", contradicting an earlier announcement by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has acted as a mediator in the conflict.

Sharif said that the United States and its allies had agreed to a ceasefire "everywhere including Lebanon", suggesting Israel had agreed to halt its invasion of its northern neighbour.

Lebanon was drawn into the war after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched rocket fire on Israel.

That attack sparked an Israeli invasion and air raids across Lebanon that have killed more than 1,500 people, according to authorities.

Israel had encouraged Trump to join the war against Iran, its arch-nemesis, and in the first strikes in February killed the long-serving supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
War in the Middle East: latest developments



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The latest developments in the Middle East war:



- Israel backs ceasefire, but not in Lebanon -



Israel said Wednesday it supported the two-week ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran but maintained the deal "does not include Lebanon", where it has been fighting Iran-backed group Hezbollah.

"Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region," the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement.

But it said the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon", contradicting an earlier announcement by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that said the deal covered "everywhere including Lebanon".

Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that an Israeli military strike killed eight people in the Lebanese city of Sidon.



- Trump says China got Iran to negotiate -



US President Donald Trump told AFP he believed China had helped get Iran to the negotiating table to agree a two-week ceasefire deal.

"I hear yes," Trump said in a telephone interview when asked if Beijing was involved in getting key ally Tehran to negotiate on a truce.



- Trump says Iran uranium will be 'perfectly taken care of' -



Trump told AFP that Iran's uranium would be "perfectly taken care of" under the two-week ceasefire with Tehran.

"That will be perfectly taken care of or I wouldn't have settled," Trump said when asked about what would happen to Iran's enriched uranium.



- Ceasefire deal a US 'victory' -



Trump told AFP that the United States had won a "total and complete victory" after agreeing a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

"Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it," Trump said.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also praised the deal.

"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace," Leavitt said on X.



- NATO chief to meet with Trump -



NATO chief Mark Rutte will hold talks with Trump in Washington on Wednesday, one day after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

Rutte plans to "discuss current security dynamics including in the context of Iran as well as Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine" in his talks with Trump, according to a NATO official.



- US, Iran, Israel agree to truce -



The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour before Trump's deadline to obliterate the rival country was set to expire, with Tehran agreeing to temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Israel also agreed to the ceasefire, the White House said. The 11th-hour agreement came after Trump said he had spoken to Pakistan's leaders, who had requested a truce.



- Talks to begin Friday in Islamabad -



Iran cast the ceasefire as a victory and said it had agreed to talks with Washington to begin Friday in Pakistan on a path to end the conflict.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who had acted as a mediator, said the capital Islamabad would welcome delegates from both countries for negotiations aimed at reaching a "conclusive agreement."



- Iran's 10-point plan -



Iran said Wednesday its 10-point plan for securing an end to the war with the United States would require Washington to accept its uranium enrichment program and the lifting of all sanctions.

Tehran said the plan would also require Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, the withdrawal of the US military from the Middle East, an end to attacks on Iran and its allies, the release of frozen Iranian assets and a UN Security Council resolution making any deal binding.



- Blasts in Baghdad, Doha, UAE -



Five explosions were heard Tuesday night in central Baghdad, where the US Embassy is located, AFP journalists reported.

Blasts were also heard in the Qatari capital of Doha, while the UAE said its air defences were responding to missile and drone attacks from Iran.



- Five people injured in Israel -



Israel's emergency services said five people in northern Israel were injured following missiles from Iran and rockets from Lebanon on Tuesday.

The Israeli military warned of an increased risk of inbound attacks as Trump's midnight GMT deadline approached.



- 'Unacceptable' -



Before the ceasefire was announced, Pope Leo XIV said threats to inflict widespread damage on civilian targets in Iran were "unacceptable" and could breach international law -- without specifically naming Trump,

The US president had warned on Tuesday that "a whole civilization will die" if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz by 8 PM Washington time.



- UN probe blames Israel, Hezbollah -



Three UN peacekeepers who died in two separate incidents in Lebanon in March were likely killed by Israeli tank fire in one case and by a Hezbollah improvised explosive device (IED) in the other, according to a United Nations probe.



- Tehran synagogue struck -



The Israeli military expressed regret over "collateral damage" to a synagogue in Tehran caused by an overnight strike it said was targeting a senior Iranian commander.

Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian media reported that the Rafi-Nia Synagogue in central Tehran had been "completely destroyed."



- US journalist's Iraq release -



Iraq's powerful Kataeb Hezbollah armed group announced that it would release US journalist Shelly Kittleson, a week after she was kidnapped in Baghdad.



burs-sbk/mjf/md/lkd/lga
Transcript of Trump's call with AFP on Iran deal



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



US President Donald Trump spoke briefly with AFP by telephone on Tuesday after announcing a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran. Here is a transcript of the call:



Q: Can you claim victory after your peace deal with Iran today?

Trump: "Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it. No question about it."

Q: It seems there's still a lot to be agreed on, though, for example on the Strait of Hormuz?

Trump: "Well, I don't know. We have many points. We have a 15-point transaction, of which most of those things have been agreed on. We'll see what happens. We'll see if it gets there."

Q: And what happens if they don't agree, will you go back to your original threat?

Trump: "Well, that you're going to have to see."

Q: One other question if I may, Mr President, was China involved in bringing Iran to the table in this deal?

Trump: "I hear yes. Yes they were."

Q: And what about the uranium?

Trump: "That will be perfectly taken care of, or I wouldn't have settled."

Q: Okay. In what way can I ask?

Trump: "Okay? I wouldn't have settled. Okay, thank you very much."
Pakistan to host US-Iran ceasefire talks Friday



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran later this week following the Mideast ceasefire announcement.

"I... extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," he said in a post on X.

Pakistan, which has forged a close relationship with President Donald Trump and is sensitive to developments in neighbouring Iran, emerged as a channel for messaging between Tehran and Washington in recent weeks.

"We earnestly hope, that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in coming days," Sharif said.

Both Tehran and Washington said they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.

The war began when Israel and the United States launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader on February 28, sparking retaliatory attacks from Tehran on Gulf nations and Israel.

Lebanon has also been drawn into the conflict after Iran-backed group Hezbollah launched attacks on Israel, which has since carried out strikes, including on the capital, and launched a ground operation in the south of the country.

Sharif said the ceasefire applied "everywhere", including Lebanon, though Israel later said it did not apply to that country, where it is carrying out aerial and ground operations against Iranian-backed Hezbollah,

The temporary ceasefire came after a down-to-the-wire bid by Pakistan and other mediators to avert Trump's threat to destroy all power plants and bridges across Iran, a move that legal experts said could constitute a war crime.

Turkey and Egypt had also been helping mediate in recent days, while China helped get Iran to the negotiating table, Trump told AFP on Wednesday.

Despite trading missile fire with Iran two years ago and holding an at-times rocky relationship with Washington, Islamabad currently shares warm ties with both capitals.

That helped boost its moderating credentials, burnished by its allyship with heavyweight regional players, including Saudi Arabia and Beijing.

Pakistan is home to the world's second-biggest Shia Muslim population after Iran -- with which it shares a 900-kilometre border -- and represents some Iranian diplomatic interests in Washington where Tehran has no embassy.
Taiwan opposition leader says China visit to sow 'seeds of peace'



Nanjing, China, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Taiwan's opposition leader, a proponent of closer ties with Beijing, said on Wednesday she hoped to sow the "seeds of peace" during a rare visit to China.

Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is the party's first leader to visit China in a decade but her trip -- during which she hopes to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping -- has sparked debate in Taiwan.

Critics, including those within her own party which traditionally supports relations with China, have accused her of being too pro-Beijing.

China claims self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it.

"I hope that today we plant the seeds of peace not only for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait, but for all humankind," Cheng said on Wednesday, in comments broadcast by Taiwanese media.

She spoke during a symbolic visit to the eastern city of Nanjing, where she visited the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, one of the few Chinese historical figures revered in both Beijing and Taipei.

Beefed-up security at the mausoleum prevented foreigners from entering, AFP journalists saw.

China severed high-level contact with Taiwan in 2016 after Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party won the presidency and rejected Beijing's claims to the island.

Cross-strait relations have worsened since then, with China ramping up military pressure with near daily deployments of fighter jets and warships near Taiwan and regular large-scale military drills.

However, Cheng said in a speech after her arrival on Tuesday evening that "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not doomed to war, as the international community has feared".

"Taiwan should not be reduced to a geopolitical pawn," she said in a Facebook post, in an apparent reference to tensions between China and the United States, Taiwan's main arms supplier.

Her visit, she added, would mark a "historic journey of peace".

In a park surrounding the mausoleum, 74-year-old Nanjing resident surnamed Fen told AFP on Wednesday that he had come to the area after hearing of Cheng's visit.

"I hope she will contribute to the reunification of the motherland," he said.
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North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles in two rounds: Seoul military



Seoul, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



North Korea fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles in two rounds on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, hours after reporting an "unidentified projectile" launched from the North's capital area the previous day.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has sought to repair ties with North Korea since taking office last year, criticising his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to scatter propaganda over Pyongyang.

The launches follow Seoul's expression of regret on Monday over civilian drone incursions into the North in January, with President Lee calling it "irresponsible" and noting that government officials had been involved in the operation.

They are seen as North Korea's latest rebuff of South Korea's peace overtures, according to analysts.

Seoul's military said early Wednesday it had detected "an unidentified projectile" launched from the Pyongyang area a day earlier.

About an hour later, the military said it also detected "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles" fired from North Korea's Wonsan area toward the East Sea on Wednesday morning, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

Later the South Korean military clarified they were short-range ballistic missiles, fired at around 8:50 am (23:50 GMT) and flew around 240 kilometres (149 miles).

Hours later, they announced North Korea fired at least one other ballistic missile towards the East Sea, without giving details.

Shortly afterwards, the Japan Coast Guard also said an "object suspected to be a ballistic missile has been launched from North Korea."

"Ships are advised to remain vigilant for further updates and, should they spot any falling debris, to keep their distance and report any relevant information to the Japan Coast Guard," it added.

The Wednesday launches marked North Korea's fourth and fifth known ballistic missile tests this year, including a salvo of around 10 fired from the Sunan area in March.

The Office of National Security at the presidential Blue House held an emergency meeting over the launch, asking Pyongyang to immediately stop provocations.

"Given the ongoing war in the Middle East, (the office) instructed relevant agencies to exercise even greater vigilance in maintaining a state of readiness," it said in a statement.

The office also "urged North Korea to immediately cease its ballistic missile launch, deeming it a provocative act that violates UN Security Council resolutions", it added.

Following president Lee's expression of regret over the drones on Monday, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Lee's regret was "wise behaviour".

"Our government appreciated it as very fortunate and wise behaviour for its own sake," Kim Yo Jong said on Monday.



-'World-startling fools'-



But on Tuesday, a senior North Korean foreign ministry official described the South as "the enemy state most hostile" to North Korea, reiterating a label previously used by Kim Jong Un.

Referring to South Korean media reports that cast a positive light on Kim Yo Jong's comments about Lee, the official said such a stance was "nonsense".

"Regarding the rapid response from our government as an 'exceptional friendly response'... this will also be recorded as 'world-startling fools', Jang Kum Chol, first vice-minister of Pyongyang's foreign ministry, said in a statement carried by Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency.

The launches are Pyongyang's message to Seoul that its anti?South stance remains firm despite Seoul's repeated overtures, said Lim Eul?chul, an expert on North Korea at Kyungnam University.

"The consecutive firings and recent statements underscore the North's determination to ignore attempts by the South at improving inter?Korean ties," he said.

US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticised Seoul's level of support for his war in Iran, has recently boasted of his ties with North Korea's leader Kim.

"You know who else didn't help us? South Korea didn't help us," Trump said earlier this week.

"We've got 45,000 soldiers in South Korea to protect (them) from Kim Jong Un, who I get along with very well. He said very nice things about me. He used to call Joe Biden a mentally retarded person."

The United States has around 28,500 troops in South Korea.

Trump met Kim three times in his first term, and there has been speculation of a re-run when the US president makes his delayed upcoming visit to China.

Perhaps emboldened by Pyongyang's new closeness to Russia, Trump's comment in October that he was "100 percent" open to meeting Kim again went unanswered.
JAKARTA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia on Wednesday welcomed the announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a positive step toward de-escalation.

Indonesia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Yvonne Mewengkang said at a press conference that Indonesia sees this momentum as a positive beginning and urges all sides to make the most of the opportunity to advance a sustainable peaceful solution.

Dialogue and diplomacy remain the only way in resolving the conflict, Yvonne said.

Yvonne also stressed the importance of respecting freedom of navigation under international law, saying Indonesia would continue to support constructive diplomatic efforts, with the protection of civilians as a primary focus.

Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan. 
How did Pakistan broker a temporary truce between Iran and the US?



Islamabad, Pakistan, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary between Iran and the United States to secure a temporary ceasefire and host negotiations to end the war in the Middle East.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the United States and Iran -- and their allies had -- agreed to a ceasefire "everywhere" following mediation by his government.

Sharif said the two-week truce - which Trump and Tehran had announced earlier - would next lead to talks in the Pakistan capital.

"Pakistan achieved one of its biggest diplomatic wins in years," said South Asia expert Michael Kugelman in an X post.

"It also defied many skeptics and naysayers that didn't think it had the capacity to pull off such a complex, high stakes feat."



- What are Pakistan's ties to Iran? -



"Pakistan has strong credentials as the only country in the region enjoying good relations with the US and Iran," said the country's former ambassador to Tehran, Asif Durrani.

Pakistan shares a 900-kilometre (560-mile) border in its southwest with Iran, and also deep historical, cultural and religious links.

Pakistan is home to the world's second-biggest Shia Muslim population after Iran.

Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan after independence in 1947. Pakistan returned the favour for the Islamic republic after the 1979 revolution.

Pakistan also represents some Iranian diplomatic interests in Washington, where Tehran has no embassy.



- How about the US? -



Pakistan's powerful army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has built up a personal rapport with US President Donald Trump.

Munir -- in a Western business suit rather than army fatigues -- visited Washington with Sharif last year after a flare-up in hostilities between Pakistan and India in divided Kashmir.

Sharif praised Trump's "bold and visionary" intervention, while Munir said the US leader deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for stopping an escalation between the nuclear-armed neighbours.

On Iran, Trump said Pakistan knows the country "better than most".

Personal relations have long helped boost bilateral ties shaped by shifting strategic interests that have at times been strained.

Even as a non-NATO ally in the post-9/11 "war on terror", Pakistan faced US claims that it was harbouring militants who were responsible for attacking coalition troops across the border in Afghanistan.

Relations strained further when US troops killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil in 2011 without telling Islamabad, and Pakistan faced accusations of complicity in harbouring the fugitive.



- How about other regional players? -



Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a strategic mutual defence agreement in 2025, cementing longstanding ties but also restricting how far Islamabad could go in supporting Tehran.

Sharif and his government have been quick to keep Riyadh on side, and the prime minister recently visited for talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Pakistan also shares close ties with Beijing, which, Trump told AFP, helped get Iran across the line to the negotiating table.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hosted a meeting with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt last month for discussions on de-escalating the conflict and then flew to Beijing for further talks.

China, which is Iran's largest trading partner, then joined its longstanding South Asian ally in calling for a plan to end the fighting engulfing the Middle East, saying it supported "Pakistan playing a unique and important role in easing the situation".



- What's in it for Pakistan? -



Neutrality makes economic sense for Pakistan, which relies on oil and gas imports through the Strait of Hormuz and wants to avoid getting dragged into further conflict on its doorstep.

Continued disruption would have worsened fuel supplies, driven up prices and forced further austerity measures for the cash-strapped government.

A permanent end to the war would not only boost regional stability but also Pakistan's international standing at a time when it is locked in armed conflict with neigbouring Afghanistan and less than a year after it traded strikes with arch-rival India.



- What role will Pakistan play next? -



The Pakistani premier said he would welcome US and Iranian delegations to the capital from April 10.

"Iran will feel more comfortable in Islamabad which is why it accepted Pakistan's mediation," said Durrani, the former ambassador, adding Pakistan could help the two sides resolve outstanding differences.

If talks were direct, "then Pakistan may help the parties to fine-tune the language if there is a stalemate", he said, adding that Pakistan officials could also act as the go-between if the two sides would not meet face-to-face.

Pakistan does not formally recognise Israel, which said on Wednesday it supported Trump's decision to suspend bombing, but that the two-week ceasefire did not include Lebanon where it has carried out ground and aerial operations against Iran-backed Hezbollah.

That contradicted Sharif's earlier statement that the ceasefire covered "everywhere including Lebanon".
Blasts heard in Bahrain despite US, Iran ceasefire



Manama, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Explosions were heard in Bahrain's capital Manama on Wednesday morning, according to an AFP journalist, hours after the United States announced a ceasefire with Iran.

The Gulf kingdom's interior ministry said civil defence crews had succeeded in controlling a fire that broke out in a facility "targeted by the Iranian aggression", with no injuries reported.

An AFP reporter saw smoke rising from an area on Sitra island, close to Manama, that hosts Bahrain's principal energy facilities.

Earlier both Tehran and Washington said they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.

Shortly after the ceasefire was announced, Qatar's defence ministry also announced it was dealing with a missile threat.

Before the ceasefire was publicised, Doha's interior ministry said falling debris from an earlier intercepted missile salvo had injured four people including one child.

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile barrages from Iran over recent weeks in response to the US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February.

Iran targeted fossil fuel infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations while effectively closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz to shipping, through which one-fifth of global oil usually passes.
UN probe: Israeli fire, Hezbollah IED killed peacekeepers in Lebanon



United Nations, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Three UN peacekeepers who died in Lebanon in March were likely killed by Israeli tank fire in one incident and by a Hezbollah improvised explosive device in another, according to a United Nations probe shared Tuesday.

"We have requested with the relevant parties that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure criminal accountability for crimes against peacekeepers," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, told reporters.

On March 29, an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed and three others wounded by a projectile that exploded near a UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) position.

The next day, two other soldiers from the same force were killed by an explosion that destroyed their vehicle. A third was seriously wounded and a fourth more lightly.

In the first case, the investigation indicates "the projectile was a 120 mm tank main armament round, fired by an Israel Defense Forces Merkava tank from the east," Dujarric said.

He added that UNIFIL had communicated the location of all its positions and installations to the Israeli military twice in the days before the incident.

The March 30 explosion was caused by an IED, Dujarric said.

"The investigation has assessed that, given the location of the incident, the nature of the explosion, and the current context, the IED was most likely placed by Hezbollah," he said.

UNIFIL has served as a peacekeeping force between Israel and Lebanon since 1978 but now finds itself caught in the crossfire between the Israeli army and Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Indonesia's foreign ministry said Wednesday it had received the preliminary findings from the UN.

"The government of Indonesia has urged all relevant parties to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators, and to ensure accountability for the crimes committed against peacekeeping personnel," ministry official Veronica Vicka Ancilla Rompis told reporters in Jakarta.

She said Israel's ongoing military operations in south Lebanon "will continue to endanger peacekeeping personnel".

"All actions that endanger peacekeeping personnel constitute a serious violation of international law and must not be allowed to continue," added Vicka.

Asked whether Indonesia was considering a halt to peacekeeper deployments in Lebanon, ministry spokeswoman Yvonne Mewengkang said: "every decision we make related to this issue will go through very, very careful consideration".
Israel's main opposition leader says ceasefire with Iran 'political disaster'



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel's main opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticised the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives.

"There has never been a political disaster like this in our entire history. Israel was not even close to the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security," Lapid wrote on X.

"The army carried out everything that was asked of it, and the public showed remarkable resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and did not achieve any of the goals he himself set."

Netanyahu had set the elimination or at least severe degradation of Iran's nuclear programme as a central goal of the war, describing it as an "existential threat" to Israel.

He also called for neutralising Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, weakening or potentially toppling the Iranian regime, and curbing Tehran's regional influence by targeting its network of allied groups.

"It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu caused due to arrogance, negligence, and lack of strategic planning," Lapid said.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction of Iran threatened by US President Donald Trump.

Israel said it supported Trump's decision to suspend his bombing of Iran, but maintained the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon".

Israel has been battling Iran-backed Hezbollah since the Lebanese armed group launched rocket fire at Israel in March.
Jet fuel supplies to take 'months' to recover from war disruption: IATA



Singapore, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



It will take months for jet fuel supplies and prices to normalise even with the Strait of Hormuz open, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Wednesday.

The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil, has been virtually paralysed for weeks by the Middle East war, pushing up prices for crude and related products.

IATA director general Willie Walsh told reporters in Singapore it was difficult to say how long fuel supplies would take to recover, but "it's not going to happen quickly".

"It will still take a period of months to get back to where supply needs to be given the disruption to the refining capacity in the Middle East," he said.

"I don't think it's going to happen in weeks," Walsh added.

Oil prices plunged on Wednesday after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that will see Tehran temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire was agreed barely an hour before US President Donald Trump's Wednesday deadline threat to obliterate Iran was set to expire.

Tehran later said it had agreed to safe passage in the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas passes.

"Even if you have the flow of crude start again, if you've had disruptions in refining capacity, then the problem continues for some time," Walsh said.

"I don't think everybody fully appreciated how concentrated the capacity was in certain parts of the world," he added.

Past experience shows that the aviation industry will respond to higher oil prices by raising ticket prices, he said. "It's inevitable."

While some air traffic that would have passed through the Middle East has gone to airlines outside the region, this is "a temporary issue", Walsh said.

"There's no way they can replace the capacity that was provided by the Gulf carriers," he added.

"I think the Gulf hubs will recover and recover very quickly."
Starmer heads to Gulf, welcomes Iran war truce



London, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to the Gulf on Wednesday to meet with regional leaders in an effort to bolster the ceasefire in the Middle East war, Downing Street said.

"I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world," a statement from Starmer's office quoted him as saying.

"Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz."

The visit follows a virtual meeting Tuesday of military planners from over 30 countries hosted by Britain.

The meeting explored measures for an international coalition to make the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe after a ceasefire according to the Ministry of Defence.

Last week, a UK-led diplomatic virtual meeting of around 40 countries also discussed the critical waterway.

It has been largely closed since the US-Israeli war against Iran started on February 28, impacting global supplies of oil, liquified natural gas, and fertiliser.

UK armed forces personnel have intercepted more than 110 drone attacks in the region during the hostilities, while the Royal Air Force (RAF) have conducted more than 1600 hours of defensive operations, the Downing Street statement added.
Both sides claim victory after US, Iran agree to 11th-hour truce



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump's Wednesday deadline to obliterate the country, triggering global relief alongside apprehension.

Tehran has agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world's oil, gas and fertiliser passes, easing concerns for the battered global economy.

While the announcement was broadly welcomed internationally, much work remained to prevent a return to fighting, with UN chief Antonio Guterres calling for all parties to "pave the way towards a lasting and comprehensive peace".

Underlining the precarity of the deal, there were explosions on Wednesday morning in Bahrain's Manama, with authorities blaming "Iranian aggression".

Both Tehran and Washington claimed to have won the more than month-long conflict, with Trump telling AFP the deal was a "total and complete victory" for the US.

Iran, too, cast the ceasefire as a win and said it had agreed to talks with the US beginning on Friday in Pakistan on a path to end the conflict.

"The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation," said a statement from the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.

"Iran achieved a great victory."

The White House said Israel had also agreed to the ceasefire, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it does not include Lebanon, where Israel's operation in response to rocket fire by Iranian-backed Hezbollah has killed more than 1,500 people, according to Lebanese authorities.

On Wednesday, the Israeli military pressed on with the war in Lebanon, warning residents of one building near the southern city of Tyre to evacuate, with Lebanese state media reporting renewed strikes.

Israel had encouraged Trump to launch the war against Iran, its arch-foe, and in the first strikes killed Tehran's long-serving supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

A peace agreement would leave in place the Islamic republic despite US and Israeli hopes of toppling it. The United States and Israel said that they attacked Iran to degrade its military capacity.



- 'Safe opening' -



Trump said he had spoken to Pakistan's leaders who "requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran."

He later told AFP he believed China had helped get Tehran to negotiate.

"Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday.

Trump had set a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz by midnight GMT.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed safe passage for two weeks for ships through the strait, which Tehran sealed off in retaliation for the war.

"If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations," Araghchi said.

Later on Wednesday, Trump posted on social media that the US would "be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz".



- Uranium to be 'taken care of' -



Oil prices plunged by more than 17 percent after the ceasefire announcement, while European natural gas dropped 20 percent. Stock prices also soared in early trade Wednesday in Asia.

Trump said the United States was "very far along" in negotiating a long-term agreement with Iran, which had submitted a 10-point plan that he said was "workable."

But Iran publicly released points that took maximalist positions, including lifting long-standing US sanctions, guaranteeing its own "dominion" over the strait and removing US forces from the region.

Crucially, it also said its plan would require Washington to accept its uranium enrichment programme.

Trump has alleged that Iran was near to building an atomic bomb, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog and most observers.

He insisted the nuclear material would be covered by any peace deal.

"That will be perfectly taken care of, or I wouldn't have settled," Trump told AFP, without giving any specifics about what would happen to the uranium.

Trump would not say whether he would go back to his original threats to lay waste to all power plants and bridges across the country of 90 million people if the deal fell apart.

"You're going to have to see," he told AFP.

The US leader had made threats shocking even by his own standards when he warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will."



- Heavy strikes before deadline -



The US and Israel struck key infrastructure before Trump's deadline, with Netanyahu saying attacks hit railways and bridges allegedly used by the Revolutionary Guards.

Iran has retaliated with weeks of drone and missile attacks on Gulf Arab states, citing their role as hubs for US troops.

The attacks have shattered the monarchies' hard-fought reputation for safety and stability.

On Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates, which bore the brunt of Iran's Gulf attacks, also claimed victory.

"The UAE emerged victorious from a war we sincerely sought to avoid," presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said in a post on X.

Much global reaction, however, focused on the need to turn the ceasefire into a workable peace deal.

Oman, which mediated unsuccessful talks between Washington and Tehran that were halted by the war, spoke of "the importance of intensifying efforts... to identify solutions capable of resolving the crisis at its roots".

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an immediate visit to the Gulf and declared "we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz".

burs/fox/dcp/axn
Attack in Bahrain injures two despite US, Iran ceasefire



Manama, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Iranian attacks on Bahrain injured two people, the Gulf kingdom's interior ministry said on Wednesday, hours after the United States announced a ceasefire with Iran.

"Two citizens sustained minor injuries and a number of houses were damaged in the Sitra area as a result of shrapnel falling from the interception of an Iranian drone," the ministry said in a statement.

Earlier both Tehran and Washington said they had agreed to a two-week ceasefire barely an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate Iran was set to expire.

On Wednesday morning explosions were heard in Bahrain's capital Manama, according to an AFP journalist who also saw smoke rising from an area on Sitra island that hosts Bahrain's principal energy facilities.

In an earlier statement the interior ministry said civil defence crews had succeeded in controlling a fire that broke out in a facility "targeted by the Iranian aggression", without elaborating on the location of the facility.

Shortly after the ceasefire was announced, Qatar's defence ministry also announced it was dealing with a missile threat.

Before the truce was publicised, Doha's interior ministry said falling debris from an earlier intercepted missile salvo had injured four people, including one child.

Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile barrages from Iran over recent weeks in response to the US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February.

Iran targeted fossil fuel infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations while effectively closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz to shipping, through which one-fifth of global oil usually passes.
US-Iran truce: what we know



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction threatened by US President Donald Trump.

Here's what we know about the truce between two countries, which are set to begin negotiations but remain poles apart in their positions on ending the war:



- What has the US said about the truce? -



Trump told AFP the ceasefire deal was a "total and complete victory" for Washington.

The US will suspend attacks on Iran for two weeks, and Tehran will in turn temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil thoroughfare, according to Washington.

Tehran agreed to the "COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," Trump said in a Truth Social post.

The US president said the agreement was reached after he spoke to leaders in Pakistan, which has played a key role in mediating the war launched by the US and Israel on February 28.

Trump also told AFP that Iran's enriched uranium would be "perfectly taken care of" under the two-week truce.

He has justified the war by accusing Tehran of enriching uranium with the aim of building an atomic weapon, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog and which Iran has denied.

The US in a previous plan to end hostilities -- which Tehran did not agree to -- demanded Iran stop further enrichment, agree to limits on its missile program and cease support for militant groups in the region.

Those requirements have not been detailed in the latest truce.

Trump has been inconsistent in his conditions for ending fighting, regularly backtracking from hardline demands.

Last month, the US leader said Iran's "unconditional surrender" would be the only acceptable outcome to end the war.



- What is Iran saying? -



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Tehran would allow safe passage for two weeks through the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes.

Iran has proposed a 10-point plan for securing an end to the war, which Trump said was "workable".

While the plan could form the basis of potential negotiations later this week, it includes several sticking points which Washington has previously said were unfeasible.

The plan would require "continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions," according to a statement released by the Islamic republic.

While the uranium enrichment demand was not included in Tehran's English-language statement shared by the UN, it was part of the Farsi release circulated by Iranian state media.

Other demands include: US military withdrawal from the Middle East, an end to attacks on Iran and its allies, the release of frozen Iranian assets and a UN Security Council resolution making the deal binding.



- What has Israel agreed to? -



Israel said it supported Trump's decision to suspend his bombing of Iran, but maintained the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon."

On Wednesday, it renewed strikes on southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire, Lebanese state media reported.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier claimed the truce deal covered "everywhere including Lebanon."

Israel has been battling Iran-backed Hezbollah since the group launched rocket fire at Israel in March.

Israel's subsequent retaliation has led to more than 1,500 deaths, according to Lebanese authorities.



- What next? -



Sharif said the ceasefire would start immediately, and the capital Islamabad would host delegates from both countries for talks due to begin on Friday.

The talks would be aimed at reaching a "conclusive agreement," he said.

Iran said it would allocate two weeks for the negotiations.

The White House was considering talks in Pakistan but plans were not finalized, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Oil and gas prices plunged on Wednesday after the announcement that the Strait of Hormuz would reopen under the truce, with global supplies squeezed since Iran effectively closed the passage.

Unblocking the strait could provide temporary relief to countries that rely on oil imports.
Israel opposition leaders slam Netanyahu over ceasefire with Iran



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel's opposition leaders swiftly criticised the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction of Iran threatened by US President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu's office said Israel supported Trump's decision to suspend the bombing of Iran, but maintained the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon" where Israeli forces are fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah.

"There has never been a political disaster like this in our entire history. Israel was not even close to the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security," the country's main opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X.

"The army carried out everything that was asked of it, and the public showed remarkable resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and did not achieve any of the goals he himself set."

Netanyahu had set the elimination or at least severe degradation of Iran's nuclear programme as a central goal of the war, describing it as an "existential threat" to Israel.

He also called for the neutralising of Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, the weakening or potentially toppling of the Iranian regime and the curbing of Tehran's regional influence by targeting its network of allied groups.

"It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu caused due to arrogance, negligence, and lack of strategic planning," Lapid said.

The head of the left-wing Democrats party, Yair Golan, called the ceasefire a "strategic failure" by Netanyahu.

"He promised a historic victory and security for generations, and in practice, we got one of the most severe strategic failures Israel has ever known," Golan said on X.

"It's a total failure that endangers Israel's security for years to come."

Member of parliament and opposition figure Avigdor Liberman also denounced the truce, saying it gave the Iranian regime "an opportunity to regroup".

"Any agreement with Iran that does not include renouncing the destruction of Israel, uranium enrichment, the production of ballistic missiles, and support for terrorist organisations in the region means that we will have to return to another campaign under more difficult conditions and pay a heavier price," Liberman said on X.

More reaction was expected to come later on Wednesday after the end of the Jewish holiday of Passover.

Even as Israel backed Trump's ceasefire plan with Iran, it said the truce did not include Lebanon.

Israel has been fighting a war with Hezbollah since the Lebanese armed group launched rocket fire at Israel in March after the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war.
WINDHOEK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A locust outbreak has affected about 32,896 hectares (329 square km) of land in Namibia's northeastern Zambezi Region since January, threatening crop fields and grazing areas, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform said Tuesday.

In a progress update, the ministry said control operations, including aerial and ground spraying, had been carried out in affected areas such as Muyako, Chinchimani and Masokotwani before being disrupted by seasonal flooding in early March.

By March 2, about 7,124 hectares had been treated, including 2,769 hectares of crop fields and 4,355 hectares of grazing land, according to the ministry.

The ministry said both ground teams and drone technology had been deployed in the operation, with more than 13,000 liters of pesticides applied to contain African migratory locusts and other crop-damaging pests.

Despite the setback caused by flooding, monitoring efforts are continuing, with technical teams assessing the situation and engaging affected communities, it said.

The ministry said full-scale spraying operations would resume once floodwaters subside and access to affected areas improves.

The outbreak has added pressure on livelihoods in the flood-hit region, where crop production and grazing land have already been affected by seasonal flooding. 
Israel renews strikes on south Lebanon despite Mideast truce



Beirut, Lebanon, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel renewed its strikes in south Lebanon on Wednesday, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the Iran war truce does not include Lebanon.

The strikes came despite Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war by attacking Israel on March 2, not claiming any operations since 1am (Tuesday 2200 GMT).

Israel renewed an evacuation order for an area more than 40 kilometres inside Lebanon, saying "the battle in Lebanon is ongoing".

It followed another warning to evacuate a building in the southern Tyre region, which Israel then struck, according to Lebanon's state-run National News Agency.

NNA reported several strikes across the south.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has acted as a mediator in the conflict, said the two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States applied "everywhere including Lebanon", but Netanyahu later said the country was excluded.

A Lebanese official told AFP that authorities "have not been informed" of Lebanon being included.

French President Emmanuel Macron, welcoming the ceasefire, said "our wish is to ensure that the ceasefire fully includes Lebanon".

Israel's attacks in recent weeks have killed more than 1,500 people and displaced over a million, according to Lebanese authorities, especially in the country's south, east and Beirut's southern suburbs, areas where Hezbollah holds sway.

On Wednesday an AFP correspondent in southern Lebanon saw small numbers of people heading south, some in cars and others carrying their children on motorcycles.

But Lebanon's military warned displaced people against returning south "since they may be exposing themselves to the ongoing Israeli attacks".

Another correspondent in Beirut's southern suburbs, which have been heavily struck by Israel, said the area remained deserted.

"We are waiting for Hezbollah to issue an official statement" before returning home, Ali Youssef, a 50-year-old delivery worker staying in a tent near the suburbs, told AFP.

Youssef said he was confident that "Iran will not let us down" if Israel keeps attacking Lebanon.

Shortly before the ceasefire announcement, an Israeli strike on the southern city of Sidon killed eight people.
Middle East war: ceasefire reactions



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with both sides claiming victory.

Here are reactions from across the globe:

- Pakistan -

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on X.

Israel said later, however, that the two-week ceasefire "does not include Lebanon."



- United Nations -

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire, his spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the UN chief "calls on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region."



- UAE, Oman -

United Arab Emirates presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said in a post on X that "The UAE emerged victorious from a war we sincerely sought to avoid."

Oman's foreign ministry underlined "the importance of intensifying efforts at this juncture to identify solutions capable of resolving the crisis at its roots and achieving a permanent cessation of the state of war."

- Iraq -

Iraq's foreign ministry said on X it welcomed the ceasefire and "calls for building upon this positive step by launching serious and sustainable dialogue tracks that address the root causes of the disputes and strengthen mutual trust."



- Turkey -

"We insist on the fact that the temporary ceasefire be fully implemented on the ground and hope that all sides abide by the agreement," the foreign ministry said in a statement.



- Egypt -

In an overnight call with US envoy Steve Witkoff, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty "expressed his deep appreciation for this important American step to give diplomacy a chance and start a serious process of American-Iranian negotiations."



- Israel opposition -

Israel's main opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticised the ceasefire with Iran, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives.

"There has never been a political disaster like this in our entire history. Israel was not even close to the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security," Lapid wrote on X.

The head of the left-wing Democrats party, Yair Golan, called the truce a "strategic failure" by Netanyahu, a "total failure that endangers Israel's security for years to come."



- European Union -

The truce "creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement," EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas wrote on X.



- Britain, France, Germany -

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the truce "will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world." He said he would travel to the Gulf later on Wednesday to meet with regional leaders to bolster the agreement.

French President Emmanuel Macron called the ceasefire "a very good thing" and that Paris hoped it "will be fully respected throughout the region and will allow negotiations to take place," adding that "our wish is to ensure that the ceasefire fully includes Lebanon."

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged a "durable end to the war in the next days," adding "this can only be achieved by diplomacy."

He said that Germany would contribute "to guarantee freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz."



- Spain -

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire as "good news" on X but said Spain would not "applaud those who set fire to the world because they show up with a bucket".

Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told public radio RNE that: "All fronts must cease, and all fronts also means Lebanon. It is unacceptable that Israel's war, Israel's invasion of a sovereign country like Lebanon... continues."



- China -

"China welcomes relevant parties announcing the reaching of a ceasefire agreement," foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference.

- South Korea -

"The South Korean government hopes that negotiations between the two sides will be successfully concluded and that peace and stability in the Middle East will be restored at an early date," South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.



- Japan -

"The most important thing is that concrete steps will be taken to de-escalate the situation, including ensuring the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara said.

The world's fourth-largest economy is the fifth biggest importer of oil, with around 70 percent coming through the vital waterway before the war.



- Australia -

"Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office said in a statement.



- New Zealand -

"While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire," Foreign Minister Winston Peters' spokesperson said.



burs/yad
Australia PM welcomes Iran ceasefire, says Trump threats not 'appropriate'



Sydney, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese welcomed a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on Wednesday but said US President Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure had not been "appropriate".

Trump had warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Iran failed to meet his deadline for a deal.

Asked about the comments on Sky News Australia, Albanese said: "I don't think it's appropriate to use language such as that from the president of the United States, and I think it will cause some concern."

But he welcomed news that the United States and Iran had agreed to a ceasefire, barely an hour before Trump's deadline expired.

"What we have called for is a de-escalation, and that is what has occurred, and that's a good thing," the Australian leader said.

"This is positive news. We've been calling for a de-escalation for some time. We want to see a resolution of the conflict."

Tehran said it would temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz and cast the ceasefire as a victory after more than a month of attacks by the United States and Israel.

Iran has effectively closed the strait since US-Israeli strikes on February 28 sparked a larger regional conflict, causing global oil and gas prices to soar.

Speaking to national broadcaster ABC, Australia's top diplomat Penny Wong also condemned Trump's remarks.

"I don't think anyone should be threatening the destruction of a civilisation," she said.

Australia, reliant on imported fuel and holding roughly 39 days' supply of petrol, has been hit hard by the global impact of the war.

"The damage that is happening to the global economy, to global energy markets, means that the world does need this ceasefire to hold," Wong said.

She also rejected the Israeli government's claims the ceasefire did not apply to Lebanon, where Israel's attacks in recent weeks have killed more than 1,500 people and displaced over a million, according to Lebanese authorities.

"The world expects the ceasefire to apply to the region," Wong said.

Having initially backed US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Albanese said last week the original aims of the war had been met and it was not clear what more remained to be achieved.

Canberra has sought to soften the impact of soaring prices by cutting petrol taxes.
Germany calls on Israel to limit Lebanon campaign to 'self-defence'



Berlin, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Germany on Wednesday called on Israel to limit its campaign in Lebanon to "self-defence" after the Israeli government insisted that the Iran war truce does not include Lebanon.

Israel renewed its strikes on south Lebanon despite the Iran-backed Hezbollah group not claiming any operations since Tuesday 2200 GMT.

Israel also renewed an evacuation order for an area inside Lebanon, saying "the battle in Lebanon is ongoing".

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has been in touch with his Israeli counterpart and "argued that Israel should only act in accordance with its right to self-defence" in Lebanon, a ministry spokesman said.

Pressed on whether this meant that Israel could occupy a part of southern Lebanon on a long-term basis, the spokesman said that how Israel should exercise its right to self-defence "could be seen in different ways".

"It is incumbent on Israel to show that it is acting in accordance with the relevant law," he said.

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war after Hezbollah launched rocket fire on Israel following the death of Iran's spiritual leader in Israeli-US strikes.

Israel then invaded and staged air raids across Lebanon that have killed more than 1,500 people, according to Lebanese authorities.
Thailand confirms deaths of three ship crew in Gulf attack



Bangkok, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Thailand's foreign minister confirmed on Wednesday the deaths of three Thai crew members of a cargo ship struck by Iran while transiting the Strait of Hormuz a month ago.

US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February prompted Tehran to respond by effectively closing the strait, a crucial artery for global oil supplies, and launching attacks on vessels.

The Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree was struck on March 11 while travelling through the Gulf waterway, after departing a port in the United Arab Emirates.

Twenty Thai crew members returned home in mid-March, while three others had been reported missing and presumed trapped in the damaged engine room of the vessel.

"Unfortunately, the three remaining crew members we found eventually, they lost their lives in the incident," Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told reporters on Wednesday.

Sihasak thanked Omani authorities for their help in rescuing the 20 returned crew.

The United States and Iran agreed overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday to a two-week ceasefire, during which passage through the Strait of Hormuz "will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces", Tehran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

Two ships have passed through the strait since Iran agreed to reopen the waterway, maritime monitor Marine Traffic said Wednesday.
Iran attacked Kuwait, UAE after strikes on its oil facilities: state TV



Tehran, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates after airstrikes against oil facilities on its Lavan island on Wednesday morning, state television reported.

"Missile and drone attacks on the Emirates and Kuwait have taken place a few hours after the targeting of Lavan island oil facilities in Iran," IRIB said.

It quoted the National Iranian Oil Refining and Distribution Company as saying the Lavan Oil Refinery facility on the island "was subjected to a cowardly attack" at 10:00 am (0630 GMT) despite a ceasefire deal announced late Tuesday.

"Safety and firefighting teams are controlling and extinguishing the fire and securing the facility," the company was quoted as saying.

"Fortunately, with the timely evacuation of employees, no casualties have been reported so far."

The Lavan refinery on the small Gulf island processes crude extracted from a nearby oilfield which supplies Iran's highest quality oil for export, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA).

It was Iran's 10th biggest refinery in 2020, handling 60,000 barrels of crude a day on average, according to EIA figures.

Other Iranian islands in the Gulf were attacked during the war, notably the key oil export hub of Kharg where military installations were hit twice by US airstrikes.
Turkey's Erdogan warns of 'sabotage' in Iran ceasefire



Ankara, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Wednesday of the threat from "possible provocations and sabotage" to the ceasefire accord agreed by Iran and the United States.

In a message on X welcoming the last-minute accord, Erdogan said: "We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground without giving any opportunity for possible provocations and sabotage."

Turkey, while a fierce critic of Israel, had joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to reach a ceasefire in the conflict.

Turkey has meanwhile sent three trucks of medical aid to Iran, Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu anounced. The minister said on X that he wanted to "heal the wounds" of the "oppressed".
Israel launches series of strikes on Beirut



Beirut, Lebanon, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel launched a series of strikes on Beirut on Wednesday, the most violent attack on the Lebanese capital since the start of war.

AFPTV's live broadcast showed several plumes of smoke rising over Beirut and the suburbs, and AFP journalists saw panic in the streets.

The strikes came as Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war by attacking Israel on March 2, claimed it was close to a "historic victory".

Hezbollah however did not claim any operations against Israel since 1:00 am (Tuesday 2200 GMT), around the time the ceasefire took hold.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said earlier that the truce excluded his country's fight with Hezbollah.

Israel renewed an evacuation order for an area more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) inside Lebanon, saying "the battle in Lebanon is ongoing", before also reiterating its call for residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to leave.

It also issued a warning for a building in the coastal city of Tyre, after striking another one near it.

NNA reported several strikes across the south.

Ali Mahdi, who was displaced from the border town of Naqura, said he "does not feel" like the Iran war truce applies to them "since some of our loved ones are being targeted, and the decision itself is still unclear".



- 'Historic victory' -



Israel's attacks in recent weeks have killed more than 1,500 people and displaced over a million, according to Lebanese authorities, especially in the country's south, east and Beirut's southern suburbs, areas where Hezbollah holds sway.

On Wednesday an AFP correspondent in southern Lebanon saw small numbers of people heading south, some in cars and others carrying their children on motorcycles.

But Lebanon's military warned displaced people against returning south "since they may be exposing themselves to the ongoing Israeli attacks".

Hezbollah meanwhile said that while it was nearing a "historic victory" against Israel, displaced people must "not head to the targeted villages, towns, and areas in the south, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut before the official and final ceasefire declaration in Lebanon is issued".

Staying in a tent near Beirut's southern suburbs, 50-year-old delivery worker Ali Youssef said he was "waiting for Hezbollah to issue an official statement".

Youssef said he was confident that "Iran will not let us down" if Israel keeps attacking Lebanon.

Shortly before the ceasefire announcement, an Israeli strike on the southern city of Sidon killed eight people.



- 'Regional peace' -



In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the two-week truce between Tehran and Washington, and said his government "continued efforts to ensure that the regional peace includes Lebanon in a stable and lasting manner".

Aoun noted that "the decision regarding war and peace ... rests solely with the Lebanese state".

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also insisted that "no one negotiates on behalf of Lebanon except the Lebanese state".

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has acted as a mediator in the regional conflict, said the two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States applied "everywhere including Lebanon".

But Netanyahu later said the country was excluded, and a Lebanese official told AFP that authorities "have not been informed" of Lebanon being included in the truce.
Trump says 'no enrichment' of uranium in Iran



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



US President Donald Trump said Wednesday there will be no enrichment of uranium by Iran, and that the countries will work together to "dig up and remove" nuclear material buried by US strikes last year.

"The United States will work closely with Iran, which we have determined has gone through what will be a very productive Regime Change!" Trump posted on his Truth Social platform hours after he proclaimed a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East war.

"There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear 'Dust,'" he added, apparently referring to the aftermath of US strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities last year.

The statement marked the latest announcement by Trump after he backed off a threat to inflct devastating strikes on Iran -- which he has accused for years of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

The deal for a two-week ceasefire includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for oil and a fulcrum of the nearly six-week-long war.

In June 2025, US forces struck three nuclear sites in Iran -- Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan -- with powerful bunker-busting bombs dropped from B-2 stealth bombers.

Trump at the time claimed the operation "obliterated" Iran's nuclear capability and set back its nuclear program by decades.

But the exact extent of the damage is unknown. Prior to last year's strikes, Iran was enriching uranium to 60 percent, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

That is far higher than necessary for civilian reactor levels, and close to the 90 percent required to build a nuclear weapon.

While Western powers and Israel have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire atomic weapons, Tehran denies it.

Trump also said that as part of engagement with Tehran, "we are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran."

But he warned against anyone supplying military weapons to Iran, threatening 50-percent US tariffs, "effective immediately," on countries that do so.

According to Iranian state media, the plan proposed by Tehran calls for the lifting of sanctions that are stifling the country's economy, and stipulates that the United States accept Iran's uranium enrichment, a demand at deep odds with Washington's stated position.
Facts about the Strait of Hormuz since its negotiated reopening



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Here are the latest key facts about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping lane that Iran has agreed to reopening if the US-Israeli attacks cease, with two ships passing since.

Around a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the waterway in peacetime.

The Middle East war erupted on February 28 when the United States and Israel began bombing Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate with strikes across the region and restrict access to the strait.

More than five weeks later, hundreds of ships with thousands of seafarers onboard are still stuck in the Gulf.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, less than an hour before President Donald Trump's deadline to obliterate the Islamic republic if it did not accept US war demands.



- First crossings since ceasefire -

Two ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz since Iran agreed to reopen the waterway as part of a ceasefire deal, maritime monitor Marine Traffic said Wednesday.

"The Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth crossed the Strait at 08:44 UTC, while the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited earlier at 06:59 UTC, shortly after departing Bandar Abbas at 05:28 UTC", MarineTraffic said on X.

An average of eight commodities carriers have transited the strait per day from March 1 to April 7, according to maritime data provider Kpler -- an almost 95 percent decrease on peacetime.

Of the 307 total crossings in that time, 199 were by oil and gas tankers, and most were heading east towards the Gulf of Oman.

Six out of ten transits involved ships coming from or heading to Iran.

For tankers carrying cargo, that proportion rose to eight out of ten, according to an AFP analysis based on Kpler data.



- 800 ships stuck -

Some shipowners and charterers are preparing to move their vessels stuck in the Gulf, shipping journal Lloyd's List reported on Wednesday morning. It estimates around 800 ships have been stuck in the Gulf since the end of February.

A total of 172 million barrels of crude and refined products spread across some 187 tankers were at sea in the Arabian-Persian Gulf as of April 7, according to Kpler.

The Middle East war has caused the most severe supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Crude and refined petroleum products flows through the Strait of Hormuz fell from around 20 million barrels per day to an average of about 2.6 million since March 1, based on data by the IEA and Kpler analysed by AFP.

"While the ceasefire creates a window for transit, flows remain conditional and operationally constrained. The scale and composition of the backlog suggest crude will lead the initial wave of exports, even as selective passage and opaque transit patterns continue to complicate market visibility", Kpler said Wednesday on X.



- Thirty vessels targeted -

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have claimed three attacks on ships since Saturday, of which one has been confirmed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The latest confirmed incident involved the Marshall Islands-flagged Qingdao Star container ship, struck on Tuesday morning by an "unknown projectile which has caused damage above the waterline", according to British marine security agency UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

In total 30 commercial ships, including 13 tankers, have been attacked or reported incidents since March 1 in the Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz or the Gulf of Oman, according to the IMO, UKMTO and Vanguard Tech.



- Iran-approved route -

Apart from three Omani tankers that passed through the strait last week near Oman's shore, recent crossings appeared to have used a different, Iranian-approved route just off the country's coast.

Kpler data shows that all ships crossing with their transponders on since Friday -- including the two vessels since the ceasefire -- passed through that route near Larak Island, which Lloyd's List has dubbed the "Tehran Toll Booth".

Lloyd's List analyst Bridget Diakun said last week that there had been at least two cases of shippers paying Iran for permission to pass, while others may have been gaining passage through "diplomatic negotiations".
UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomes the two-week ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran, his spokesperson said Tuesday in a statement.

"He calls on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region," said his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric in a statement.

"The Secretary-General underscores that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering," the statement said.

"He expresses sincere appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and other countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire," it said, adding that the UN chief's personal envoy Jean Arnault is in the region to support efforts toward lasting peace. 
Iran's defense-industrial base 'completely' destroyed: Pentagon chief



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The US war against Iran has "completely" destroyed the country's ability to build missiles and other sophisticated weaponry, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire the previous evening, pausing a nearly six-week US-Israeli military campaign against the Islamic republic.

"We finished completely destroying Iran's defense industrial base, a core pillar of our mission," Hegseth told reporters.

"They can no longer build missiles, build rockets, build launchers or build (drones) -- their factories have been razed to the ground, set back in historic fashion," he said.

"Had Iran refused our terms, the next targets would have been their power plants, their bridges and oil and energy infrastructure," Hegseth said, after President Donald Trump had threatened to wipe out civilization in the country if it did not agree to a deal.

General Dan Caine -- the top US military officer, who spoke alongside Hegseth -- provided details on the destruction of Iran's defense industry, which was not as total as Hegseth described.

Caine said around 90 percent of Iran's weapons factories, more than 80 percent of its missile facilities and nearly 80 percent of its nuclear industrial base had been hit.

"Every factory that produced Shahed one-way attack drones was struck," he said, referring to weapons Iran has repeatedly employed during the course of the conflict, and which it has also provided to Russia for use in Ukraine.

US forces hit more than 13,000 targets during the war, destroying 80 percent of Iran's air defenses as well as "more than 450 ballistic missile storage facilities" and "800 one-way attack drone storage facilities," said Caine.

And while a temporary ceasefire has been reached, the US military is prepared if it collapses, he added.

"Let us be clear, a ceasefire is a pause, and the joint force remains ready, if ordered or called upon," Caine said.

Hegseth warned that "we stand ready in the background to ensure that Iran upholds" the terms.

"We're going to make sure Iran complies with this ceasefire and then ultimately comes to the table and makes a deal," he said.

The Pentagon chief also said the United States is "watching" Iran's enriched uranium -- which Washington targeted in strikes last year -- and will take action if Tehran does not give it up.

"We know exactly what they have, and they know that, and they will either give it to us" or "we'll get it, we'll take it, we'll take it out," he said, raising the possibility of further US strikes.
Kuwait summons Iraqi envoy over attack on Basra consulate



Kuwait City, Kuwait, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Kuwait on Wednesday summoned Iraq's envoy to the Gulf state after protesters attempted to storm the Kuwaiti consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra overnight.

Kuwait's foreign ministry said in a statement it had delivered a note of protest to Iraq's charge d'affaires over "acts of vandalism and destruction that targeted the Kuwaiti Consulate General in Basra".

It called the night's events a "flagrant violation of relevant international norms".

Iraq was dragged into the Middle East war, with strikes targeting both US interests and pro-Iran groups in the country.

On Tuesday, dozens of people protested in front of the Kuwaiti consulate in Basra.

It came after projectiles killed an eight-year-old child and at least six other people in Iraq on Tuesday, officials said Tuesday, with one official saying that the strikes had been fired from Kuwait.

An AFP photographer saw demonstrators attempt to storm the consular building, with security forces firing tear gas to disperse them.
Israel says struck hundreds of Hezbollah members in 'surprise' Lebanon attack



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had carried out a surprise attack on Wednesday targeting hundreds of Hezbollah members across Lebanon.

"The IDF carried out a surprise strike on hundreds of Hezbollah terrorists at command centres across Lebanon. This is the largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has suffered since Operation Beepers," Katz said in a video statement, referring to a major 2024 operation against Hezbollah involving pager bombs.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction threatened by US President Donald Trump.

But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the truce excludes his country's fight with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

"We insisted on differentiating between the arenas of Iran and Lebanon in order to change the reality in Lebanon and remove threats from the residents of the north," Katz said.

"We warned Naim Qassem that Hezbollah would pay a very heavy price for attacking Israel on Iran's behalf -- and today we have carried out another stage of that promise," he added, referring to the Iran-backed armed group's leader.

Lebanon's health ministry said in a preliminary toll that the series of Israeli strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday killed dozens of people and wounded hundreds.
The sticking points in the US-Iran ceasefire talks



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The United States and Iran have agreed a ceasefire and are due to launch talks in Pakistan on Friday aimed at reaching a longer-term deal, but crucial sticking points remain.

Iran has presented a 10-point plan as the basis for talks, but it includes maximalist positions previously rebuffed by Washington.

Here are the key issues:



- Control over the Strait of Hormuz -



In retaliation for the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28, Iran effectively paralysed the strait, through which part of the world's oil, gas and fertiliser passes, battering the global economy.

Tehran has agreed to temporarily reopen the route -- claimed as a victory by US President Donald Trump -- but has demanded control of the strait in its plan.

It's unclear how Iranian sovereignty over the strait would work.

Iran and Oman -- the other country bordering the waterway and previous mediator between Washington and Tehran -- both said in recent days that talks were held to agree a peacetime protocol that would supervise maritime traffic through the strait.

Both Washington and Tehran have said they are considering a plan to impose tolls, but it was unclear if the Oman-Iran mechanism would involve fees.

According to an Iranian diplomatic source, the new mechanism provides for a passage fee organised in partnership with Oman. The Sultanate of Oman has not commented on this point.

Other than Omani tankers, crossings through the strait in recent days appeared to have used an Iranian-approved route just off the country's coast near Larak Island, which Lloyd's List has dubbed the "Tehran Toll Booth".

Before the ceasefire, Tehran had warned it was preparing to impose new operating conditions in the route, with the powerful Revolutionary Guards saying the strait "will never return to its former status, especially for the US and Israel".



- Sanctions relief -



Iran, under crippling sanctions over its nuclear programme, has reiterated its demand for complete relief in its plan.

Trump had reimposed punishing sanctions in 2018 during his first term in office after he pulled the United States out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran that offered sanctions relief in return for strict enrichment curbs and supervision.

The sanctions have choked essential trade services such as banking, while scaring off companies from doing business in Iran.

They contributed to economic pains that sparked protests in December that turned into mass demonstrations against the Islamic republic in January before they were met with a violent crackdown.

Trump had said he would come to the aid of protesters and suggested the war would make way for the toppling of the Islamic republic, but human rights issues or dismantling the ruling system were not part of the ceasefire talks.

The US and Israel had previously insisted on curbs on Iran's long-range ballistic missile programme and an end to the country's support to militant groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Houthis in Yemen.

There is no mention of either issue in the 10-point Iranian ceasefire plan.



- Uranium enrichment -



Trump justified the war by accusing Tehran of rushing towards the completion of an atomic weapon, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog and which Iran has denied.

Iran's plan would require Washington to accept its uranium enrichment programme for civilian purposes.

But Trump again insisted on Wednesday that Iran would cease enrichment, and proposed a solution to retrieve its 440-kilogram stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which was targeted in US bombing last June and is believed to have been buried.

"There will be no enrichment of Uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried (B-2 Bombers) Nuclear 'Dust,'" he posted on his Truth Social platform, apparently referring to the aftermath of US strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities last year.

The United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran in the midst of negotiations in which Washington demanded Iran hand over its stockpile of enriched uranium and stop any further enrichment.

Tehran has insisted since 2003 it is not seeking a nuclear weapon but has a right to enrich uranium for civilian nuclear energy purposes.

burs-sw/adp/jfx
Panic in Lebanon as Israel carries out most violent strikes on capital



Beirut, Lebanon, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Lebanon's government said Wednesday Israeli strikes killed dozens and wounded hundreds across the country, with the capital Beirut hit by the most violent bombardment since the start of the war with militant group Hezbollah.

AFPTV's live broadcast showed plumes of smoke rising over Beirut and the suburbs, while AFP journalists saw panic in the streets before the Lebanese health ministry issued an emergency call for the capital's roads to be cleared for ambulances.

"In a very serious escalation, Israeli warplanes launched a wave of simultaneous airstrikes on several Lebanese areas, resulting in, in an initial count, dozens of martyrs and hundreds of wounded," the ministry said in a statement.

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had carried out a surprise attack on Wednesday targeting hundreds of Hezbollah members across Lebanon, calling it the largest blow against the group since a 2024 operation involving pager bombs.

It came despite a deal for a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Hezbollah's backer Iran.

Simultaneous strikes on Beirut came without warning, prompting people on the street to start running and motorists to honk their horns in an effort to clear the way, according to AFP journalists.

"I saw the blast, it was very strong, and there were children killed, some with their hands cut off," Yasser Abdallah, who works in an appliance store in central Beirut, told AFP.

One of the strikes hit Corniche al-Mazraa, one of the main roads in the capital.

An AFP photographer saw widespread damage, buildings ablaze and destroyed cars.

The strikes came as Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war by attacking Israel on March 2, claimed it was close to a "historic victory".

Hezbollah however did not claim any operations against Israel since 1:00 am (Tuesday 2200 GMT), around the time the ceasefire took hold.



- Displaced warning -



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said earlier that the truce excluded his country's fight with Hezbollah.

Israel renewed an evacuation order for an area more than 40 kilometres (25 miles) inside Lebanon, saying "the battle in Lebanon is ongoing", before also reiterating its call for residents of Beirut's southern suburbs to leave.

It also issued a warning for a building in the coastal city of Tyre, after striking another one near it.

The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported several strikes across the south.

Israel's attacks in recent weeks have killed more than 1,500 people and displaced over a million, according to Lebanese authorities, especially in the country's south, east and Beirut's southern suburbs, areas where Hezbollah holds sway.

On Wednesday an AFP correspondent in southern Lebanon saw small numbers of people heading south, some in cars and others carrying their children on motorcycles.

But Lebanon's military warned displaced people against returning south "since they may be exposing themselves to the ongoing Israeli attacks".

Hezbollah meanwhile said displaced people must "not head to the targeted villages, towns, and areas in the south, the Bekaa, and the southern suburbs of Beirut before the official and final ceasefire declaration in Lebanon is issued".

Staying in a tent near Beirut's southern suburbs, 50-year-old delivery worker Ali Youssef said he was "waiting for Hezbollah to issue an official statement".

Youssef said he was confident that "Iran will not let us down" if Israel keeps attacking Lebanon.



- 'Regional peace' -



In a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun welcomed the two-week truce between Tehran and Washington, and said his government "continued efforts to ensure that the regional peace includes Lebanon in a stable and lasting manner".

Aoun noted that "the decision regarding war and peace ... rests solely with the Lebanese state".

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also welcomed the truce but called on the country's friends to help put an end to Israeli attacks following the series of deadly strikes across the country.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has acted as a mediator in the regional conflict, said the two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States applied "everywhere including Lebanon".

But Netanyahu later said the country was excluded, and a Lebanese official told AFP that authorities "have not been informed" of Lebanon being included in the truce.
UK PM arrives in Saudi Arabia, welcomes Iran war truce



Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived Wednesday in Saudi Arabia, on the first stop of a Gulf tour aimed at bolstering the ceasefire in the Middle East war, Downing Street said.

Starmer -- on his first visit to the region since the US-Israeli war against Iran started on February 28 -- was expected to meet Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, later Wednesday.

As the British leader's arrival was being announced, the Gulf kingdom's defence ministry said it had intercepted nine drones targeting Saudi territory in recent hours, despite the ceasefire agreed overnight between the US and Iran.

The ministry's post on X did not mention the location of the interceptions or any potential targets.

Earlier, Starmer welcomed the ceasefire deal, saying in a statement it "will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world".

"Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz," he added.

Hours later, Starmer issued another joint statement with the leaders of Canada, Japan and various European countries, which said the goal must now be to negotiate an end to the war "within the coming days".

"This can only be achieved through diplomatic means," their statement added.

The UK leader's Gulf tour follows a virtual meeting Tuesday of military planners from over 30 countries hosted by Britain.

It explored measures for an international coalition to make the Strait of Hormuz accessible and safe after a ceasefire, according to the Ministry of Defence.

Last week, a UK-led diplomatic virtual meeting of around 40 countries also discussed the critical waterway.

It has been largely closed since the war began, impacting global supplies of oil, liquified natural gas, and fertiliser.

UK armed forces personnel have intercepted more than 110 drone attacks in the region during the hostilities, while the Royal Air Force (RAF) have conducted more than 1600 hours of defensive operations, the Downing Street statement added.

vid-jj/jkb/jfx

CROWN HOLDINGS
Iran FM raises Israeli 'ceasefire violations' in call with Pakistani mediators



Tehran, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi raised "ceasefire violations" by Israel with Pakistani mediators on Wednesday, an Iranian ministry statement said, as reports citing senior officials warned that Tehran could pull out of the truce over attacks on Lebanon.

Araghchi "discussed the Zionist regime's violations of the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon", referring to Israel, in a call with the powerful Pakistani military leader Field Marshal Asim Munir, the statement said.

Reports from Iranian media and Al Jazeera citing Iranian officials and well-informed sources said Tehran was prepared to withdraw from the ceasefire and retaliate over Israel's bombardments of Lebanon.

"Iran will withdraw from the agreement if Israel continues to violate the ceasefire in its attack on Lebanon," Iran's Tasnim news agency reported, citing a well-informed source.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed on Telegram to "punish Israel for the atrocities it has committed in Lebanon and violating ceasefire conditions".

The Al Jazeera telelvision channel also quoted an unnamed Iranian official saying "the ceasefire includes the region, and Israel is known for breaking promises and will only be deterred by bullets."

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the ceasefire applied "everywhere" including Lebanon, as he announced Islamabad would host delegations from the United States and Iran for talks later this week.

However, Israel has insisted that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire, and the Israeli military said it carried out its "largest coordinated strike across Lebanon" on Wednesday.

Sharif said on Wednesday that ceasefire violations between the United States and Iran "have been reported" and he pressed countries to respect the truce.
US, Iran ceasefire sees Israel's war goals left hanging



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



A ceasefire between the United States and Iran has left Israel's principal war objectives largely unmet, analysts say, with Israeli opposition figures quick to denounce a major "strategic failure".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had set the elimination or at least severe degradation of Iran's nuclear programme as a central goal in the conflict, having described it for years as an "existential threat" to Israel.

He had also called for the dismantling of Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, and the weakening or potentially toppling of the Iranian regime.

"On all three, objectively, he's failed," Mairav Zonszein, a senior Israel analyst with the International Crisis Group, told AFP on Wednesday, just hours after Israel announced its support for the US-Iran truce.

"The uranium is still in Iran, the ballistic missiles, Iran can still fire even when it had US and Israeli airstrikes for over a month... and the regime is still very much intact," she added.

Yossi Mekelberg, a Middle East expert at London-based think-tank Chatham House, said that Iran's ballistic missile capabilities had undoubtedly been diminished compared to before the war, but its clerical leadership remained intact.

"Regime change hasn't happened," Mekelberg told AFP.

"Some of the people in the regime changed because they were killed... But regime change definitely didn't happen."

As for Iran's nuclear programme, Mekelberg cautioned it was too early to draw conclusions.



- 'Deeply troubling' -



For Danny Citrinowicz, a senior Iran researcher at Israel's Institute for National Security Studies, the initial picture was "deeply troubling".

"The regime is still firmly in power. Its missile capabilities are damaged but still intact. It still holds roughly 440 kg of uranium enriched to 60 percent," he wrote on X.

After agreeing to a two-week truce to halt the war which began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, Iran and the US will enter talks in Pakistan on Friday.

While Tehran has agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, its demands over future control of the vital waterway, uranium enrichment and sanctions, are at deep odds with the US.

"At the very least, one has to hope that the negotiations in Islamabad will produce a different outcome on the nuclear issue," Citrinowicz said.

"Otherwise, we risk emerging from this war worse off than when it began."

Appearing to contradict the terms set out by mediator Pakistan, Israel has insisted the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, where its forces are fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah for the second time in less than two years.

"That's already a point of conflict," in the fragile truce, Zonszein explained.

"We'll have to see how much (US President Donald) Trump is going to step in," she said, adding that Israel would want to continue fighting in Lebanon and separate that front from the war in Iran.

"I think Israel is adamant that the Lebanon issue is not done," Mekelberg of Chatham House agreed.

Israel on Wednesday launched its "largest coordinated" strikes against Hezbollah since the start of the war.



- 'Victory narrative' -



Analysts suggested it was too early to tell the impact of the war on Israel's relationship with Gulf countries, and Netanyahu's desire to expand the Abraham Accords.

Both Zonszein and Mekelberg said the war had exposed the Gulf countries' vulnerabilities as well as Iran's willingness to attack regional neighbours, forcing them to reassess their security frameworks.

A raft of Israeli opposition politicians have criticised the ceasefire with Iran, slamming it as a major failure that would take years to recover from.

"There has never been a political disaster like this in our entire history," the country's main opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X.

But Zonszein said that Netanyahu would try to spin the war as a victory, particularly playing on the close cooperation between US and Israeli forces fighting their longtime arch-foe.

"The minute that the war began as a joint US-Israeli operation, that was already the victory that Netanyahu needed and wanted and whatever happened was secondary," she said.

"I think Netanyahu will use that still as his victory narrative that 'we degraded the Iranian regime. They are weaker now. It's not the same Iran.'"

With Israeli parliamentary elections due by the end of October, Netanyahu's fate will soon be decided at the ballot box.

Israelis would feel "immediate relief" following the ceasefire, but "there will be real discussion if this was all worth it," Mekelberg said.
Turkey's Erdogan warns of 'sabotage' in Iran ceasefire



Ankara, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Wednesday of the threat from "possible provocations and sabotage" to the ceasefire accord agreed by Iran and the United States.

In a message on X welcoming the last-minute accord, Erdogan said: "We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground without giving any opportunity for possible provocations and sabotage."

During a telephone conversation with US counterpart Donald Trump, Erdogan urged "a lasting peace agreement" with Iran, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

"This two-week window of opportunity, which has opened after 40 days of considerable tension and suffering for the whole world, must be used to reach a lasting peace deal," Erdogan told Trump, the statement added.

He also called for "this process not to be compromised under any circumstances" and said Turkey would offer its full support to ensure as much.

Turkey, while a fierce critic of Israel, joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to reach a ceasefire in the conflict.

Turkey has meanwhile sent three trucks of medical aid to Iran, Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu announced.

The minister said on X that he wanted to "heal the wounds" of the "oppressed".

bg/rba/cw/jj
Israeli forces damage UN convoy vehicle in Lebanon: Rome



Rome, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Wednesday, damaging at least one vehicle but causing no injuries, the Italian government said.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said the incident was "unacceptable" while Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the government was seeking clarification from the Israeli ambassador.

"To reiterate, Italian soldiers in Lebanon are not to be touched," Tajani told parliament.

An Italian convoy from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was carrying personnel from the town of Shama to Beirut when it was targeted by warning shots fired by the Israeli Defense Forces, Crosetto said in a statement.

The convoy immediately stopped and returned to base.

Speaking to parliament earlier, Tajani said only one vehicle had been damaged, but Crosetto spoke of "minor damage to the vehicles".

"It is unacceptable that Italian soldiers deployed under the UN flag, tasked exclusively with guaranteeing peace and stability, should be exposed to risky situations by the Israeli army," Crosetto added.

UNIFIL is a peacekeeping mission established in 1978 in southern Lebanon.

Italy currently has 754 troops in UNIFIL, the second-largest contingent after Indonesia's 755, according to UN figures published March 30.

Israel has insisted that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran.

On Wednesday, Israel said it had struck around 100 Hezbollah sites across Lebanon, describing the operation as the "largest coordinated strike" since the war with Iran began.

Three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon at the end of March, including two who died after an explosion struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy.
BEIRUT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of people have been killed or injured in Israeli airstrikes across Lebanon, Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine said Wednesday.

Georges Kettaneh, secretary general of the Lebanese Red Cross, described the situation as "catastrophic," with many victims still trapped under rubble and entire buildings collapsed in multiple areas, according to the local MTV television channel.

He added that patients are being evacuated from hospitals in Beirut to facilities outside the capital to make room for casualties from the ongoing strikes. 
Ceasefire plan published by Iran not the one agreed by US: White House



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



A US official said Wednesday that a 10-point ceasefire plan published by Iran is not the same set of conditions that were agreed to by the White House for pausing the war.

"The document being reported by media outlets is not the working framework," the senior official said on condition of anonymity.

The official gave no further comment, saying, "We're not going to negotiate in public out of respect for the process."

The statement adds to concerns over the fragility of the truce declared late Tuesday -- hours before a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Iran to meet US demands or face what he called an end to its "whole civilization."

Trump had said in his declaration of a two-week truce for further negotiations that "we received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate."

Iranian state media then published a 10-point plan that notably included continued Iranian control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, an end to international sanctions on the country, and "acceptance" of uranium enrichment.

These items would run contrary to Washington's public statements about what it wants Iran to do.
EU warns Spain and Poland over tax cuts on fuels



Brussels, Belgium, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Spain and Poland might have run afoul of European Union rules with their tax cuts on fuels aimed at curbing the economic impact of the Middle East war, the European Commission said Wednesday.

Madrid launched a five-billion-euro ($5.8-billion) plan to reduce the value added tax (VAT) on fuel last month, and Warsaw similarly moved to slash VAT on petrol and diesel, as the Iran conflict sent energy prices soaring.

But the EU's rules on VAT do not envisage reductions for fossil fuels, commission spokeswoman Louise Bogey told a press conference in Brussels.

"We recommend rather to use reduction of excise duties," she said, adding that the EU's executive sent letters pointing that out to Madrid and Warsaw, and was waiting for a response.

Spain and Poland are among a number of European nations that have sought to contain energy costs with tax reductions, caps on fuel prices and other measures over the past month.

Oil and natural gas prices dropped sharply Wednesday after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that sets terms to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

Under an EU directive to harmonise taxation across the 27-nation bloc, VAT cannot be lower than 15 percent, with exceptions for some categories of goods and services, but not fuels.
Lebanon says reopening main Syria border crossing closed over Israeli threat



Beirut, Lebanon, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Lebanon announced the reopening of the Masnaa border crossing with Syria starting Wednesday evening, state media said, after it had been closed for several days due to an Israeli threat to target it.

"The Masnaa crossing will be reopened as of 6:00 pm (1500 GMT) today, with strict measures in place to ensure the safety of passenger and cargo traffic, and equipped with the necessary tools to prevent any smuggling operations," the state-run National News Agency (NNA) said.

An informed Lebanese government source had earlier told AFP that "intensive efforts were made by both Lebanon and Syria to spare the crossing from the Israeli strike".

Israel threatened on Saturday to target the crossing, accusing Hezbollah of using it "for military purposes and smuggling of combat equipment", though it ultimately did not carry out the strike.

The crossing was closed on both sides as a precaution after being evacuated.

The Masnaa crossing is the main gateway between Lebanon and Syria, making it a vital trade route for both countries and Lebanon's principal overland link to the rest of the region.

The decision to reopen the crossing comes as Israel pressed its strikes on Lebanon on Wednesday, despite announcing its support for a two-week truce between Iran and the United States.
Mediators to 'fragile' US-Iran truce urge restraint as violations reported



Tehran, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The mediators of a fragile US-Iran ceasefire urged all sides Wednesday to respect the truce as Gulf states endured attacks and Israel launched a massive bombing of Hezbollah strongholds in Lebanon.

Washington and Tehran both claimed victory after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and negotiations aimed at ending a war that has killed thousands across the Middle East and sparked global economic upheaval.

The high-stakes talks in Pakistan this Friday come after Iran agreed to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz under threat of annihilation by President Donald Trump, with ships passing through the strategic waterway on Wednesday.

But the truce remains tenuous, with Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards warning Wednesday that their "finger is on the trigger" and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth vowing US forces also remain at the ready.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country mediated the ceasefire, said Wednesday that violations between the United States and Iran "have been reported" and pressed countries to respect the truce.

"I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict," Sharif said on X.

Iranian state media reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a call with the commander of Pakistan's armed forces, had accused Israel of "violations of the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon".

Israel has insisted the truce does not apply to Lebanon, where it launched a ferocious surprise attack on Beirut on Wednesday targeting the Iran-backed armed group Hezbollah.

The airstrikes -- among the heaviest since the war began -- killed dozens and wounded hundreds more, Lebanon's government said, as people fled in panic and traffic clogged the streets.

More than 1,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched airstrikes and a ground invasion in early March, local officials said.

Further underscoring the precarity of the truce, Iranian state media announced fresh "missile and drone attacks" Wednesday on US-allied Gulf states the UAE and Kuwait in retaliation for airstrikes against its oil facilities.

Kuwait said its oil facilities and power and desalination plants were damaged in "an intense wave" of strikes that lasted hours.

The UAE said it was targeted with 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones since the ceasefire took effect, Saudi Arabia intercepted nine drones and Bahrain said its capital Manama came under attack.



- 'Fragile truce' -



On Wednesday, the leaders of several European nations, Canada and the UK said "a swift and lasting end to the war" must be negotiated as Pope Leo hailed a moment of "real hope".

But Tehran's demands over uranium enrichment, economic sanctions and future control over Hormuz -- a narrow strait through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes -- are deeply at odds with the United States.

US Vice President JD Vance, speaking during a visit to Budapest, urged Iran to come to the table in "good faith" but warned Trump was "not one to mess around".

"If they're going to lie, if they're going to cheat, if they're trying to prevent even the fragile truce that we've set up from taking place, then they're not going to be happy," he said.

Trump told AFP the ceasefire was a "total and complete victory" for the US. Iran also hailed it as a win but warned it "does not mean the end of the war" unless its terms were met.

Israel had encouraged Trump to launch the war against Iran, its arch-foe, according to a report in The New York Times.

A peace agreement would leave in place the Islamic republic despite US and Israeli hopes of toppling it. The United States and Israel said they attacked Iran to degrade its military capacity.

The White House said Israel had agreed to the ceasefire. But even before Israel said the truce would not include Lebanon, a diplomat with knowledge of the talks had told AFP "there are real fears that Israel may derail the truce or any deal".

Their announcement has confirmed these fears, they said, adding that Israel's "objectives in the war are different to that of their US ally".



- Tehran quiet -



In Tehran, streets were quieter than usual on Wednesday, with many shops closed after a long and anxious night for city inhabitants fearing a massive US attack.

Trump had earlier warned a "whole civilisation will die" in Iran if the Strait of Hormuz was not opened by midnight GMT, but said he held off after speaking with Pakistan's leaders.

Araghchi confirmed safe passage for two weeks for ships through the strait, which Tehran sealed off in retaliation for the war, sending global energy prices soaring.

A Greek-owned bulk carrier and a Liberia-flagged vessel were the first to sail through Wednesday since the ceasefire began, said the maritime monitor Marine Traffic.

Trump posted Wednesday on social media that the US would "be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz".

Oil prices plunged by more than 17 percent after the ceasefire announcement, while European natural gas dropped 20 percent.

Trump said the United States was "very far along" in negotiating a long-term agreement with Iran, which had submitted a 10-point plan that he said was "workable".

But Iran publicly released points that took maximalist positions, including lifting long-standing US sanctions, guaranteeing Iranian "dominion" over the strait and removing US forces from the region.

Crucially, it also said its plan would require Washington to accept its uranium enrichment programme.

A US official later said the 10-point plan published by Iran was not the same set of conditions agreed by the White House for pausing the war.

Trump has alleged that Iran was close to an atomic bomb, an assertion not backed by the UN nuclear watchdog and most observers.

On Wednesday, Trump said there would be no enrichment of uranium by Iran, while Hegseth said Tehran would either give it up or the US would "take it out".

burs/np/jsa
Turkey's Erdogan warns of 'sabotage' in Iran ceasefire



Ankara, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Wednesday of the threat from "possible provocations and sabotage" to the ceasefire accord agreed by Iran and the United States.

In a message on X welcoming the last-minute accord, Erdogan said: "We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground without giving any opportunity for possible provocations and sabotage."

During a telephone conversation with US counterpart Donald Trump, Erdogan urged "a lasting peace agreement" with Iran, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.

"This two-week window of opportunity, which has opened after 40 days of considerable tension and suffering for the whole world, must be used to reach a lasting peace deal," Erdogan told Trump, the statement added.

He also called for "this process not to be compromised under any circumstances" and said Turkey would offer its full support to ensure as much.

Turkey, while a fierce critic of Israel, joined diplomatic efforts with Egypt and Pakistan to reach a ceasefire in the conflict.

Turkey has meanwhile sent three trucks of medical aid to Iran, Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu announced.

"Our trucks, loaded up with medical supplies and equipment, have set off for neighbouring Iran," Memisoglu said on X, stating Ankara's goal was to "heal the wounds" of the "oppressed".

A health ministry spokesperson told AFP that the trucks were carrying "a total of 60 pallets" as Turkey pursues a two-decade policy of sending substantial humanitarian aid to the Middle East, Africa and Asia as a soft power tool.

The ministry did not indicate, however, whether further Turkish trucks would be heading to Iran in the coming days.

bg/rba/cw/rh
Israel military says soldier killed in Lebanon fighting



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The Israeli military said Wednesday that a soldier was killed in southern Lebanon the previous day, bringing the total number of its fatalities there to 12 since the start of the ground operations.

The military identified the soldier as Staff Sergeant Touvel Yosef Lifshiz, 30, of the Golani Brigade, who was killed in combat in southern Lebanon.

It said five more soldiers were also wounded in the same incident.

Israeli forces have been fighting Hezbollah militants in the area since the Lebanese armed group entered the Middle East war on March 2 by firing rockets into Israeli territory.
Israeli strike east of Beirut targeted visiting Hezbollah official: source



Beirut, Lebanon, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



A Hezbollah official was the target of an Israeli strike on a building in a Christian area east of Beirut last week, where he regularly visited a romantic partner, a judicial source told AFP on Wednesday.

The man escaped the strike on Ain Saadeh that killed three residents on Sunday, including a local official from the Lebanese Forces, a Christian party that is strongly opposed to Hezbollah, along with his wife and his neighbour.

The judicial source, who requested anonymity, told AFP that the man was a "Hezbollah official" who was in "a romantic relationship with a woman residing in the targeted building and would visit the location briefly every day".

The woman gave her testimony to investigators, the source said, and "provided the man's name and description, which helped confirm his identity," noting that the investigation indicated he "is a Hezbollah official".

Israel's military had said it struck a "terrorist target" east of Beirut, and was reviewing the incident after "reports of casualties among Lebanese civilians".

During its ongoing war with Iran-backed Hezbollah, a Shia movement, Israel's attacks in majority-Christian and Sunni areas have stoked fear and division in a country where sectarian tensions have previously ended in bloodshed.
Israeli forces damage UN convoy vehicle in Lebanon: Rome



Rome, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israeli forces fired warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon on Wednesday, prompting Rome to summon their ambassador to protest.

An Italian convoy from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) had been carrying personnel from the town of Shama to Beirut when it was targeted by warning shots fired by the Israeli military, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said in a statement.

The convoy immediately stopped and returned to base.

The incident, in which no injuries were reported, prompted Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to call on Israel to cease attacks in Lebanon.

"The continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon, which have already caused too many deaths and an unacceptable number of displaced people, must cease immediately," Meloni said in a statement in which she condemned the incident.

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani summoned the Israeli ambassador in Rome Wednesday evening after earlier telling parliament "Italian soldiers in Lebanon are not to be touched".

Tajani told parliament that only one vehicle had been damaged, but Crosetto spoke of "minor damage to the vehicles".

"It is unacceptable that Italian soldiers deployed under the UN flag, tasked exclusively with guaranteeing peace and stability, should be exposed to risky situations by the Israeli army," Crosetto said.

UNIFIL is a peacekeeping mission established in 1978 in southern Lebanon.

Italy currently has 754 troops in UNIFIL, the second-largest contingent after Indonesia's 755, according to UN figures published March 30.

Meloni said that the Italian UNIFIL convoy was "clearly identifiable as such".

Israel has insisted that Lebanon is not included in the ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran.

On Wednesday, Israel said it had struck around 100 Hezbollah sites across Lebanon, describing the operation as the "largest coordinated strike" since the war with Iran began.

Three Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in separate incidents in southern Lebanon at the end of March, including two who died after an explosion struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy.
War in the Middle East: casualty figures from across the region



Dubai, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Since the United States and Israel unleashed strikes on Iran on February 28, war has spread across the Middle East, with casualties reported in countries around the region.

Despite Iran and the US agreeing a two-week ceasefire on April 7, some authorities have continued to report fatalities from the conflict.

AFP has not been able to independently verify all of the following tolls, which are based on numbers released by governments, militaries, health authorities and rescue organisations in the affected countries.



- Iran -



Iran's government has not released an updated overall casualty toll in recent days.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said on April 7 that at least 3,636 people had been killed, including 1,701 civilians -- among them at least 254 children -- as well as 1,221 military personnel and 714 people whose status had not been classified.

On March 26, Iran's deputy health minister told the Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera that at least 1,937 people had been killed since the start of the war.

Due to reporting restrictions, AFP is not able to access the sites of strikes nor to independently verify tolls in Iran.



- Lebanon -



Lebanon's health ministry said in a preliminary toll that a series of Israeli strikes across the country on April 8 killed more than 100 people and wounded hundreds.

Lebanon's health ministry said on April 7 that 1,530 people had been killed -- 1,298 men, 102 women and 130 children -- and 4,812 wounded since the start of the war.

The ministry said the death toll also included 57 healthcare workers.

The UN force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has said three of its peacekeepers have been killed.

The Lebanese army said 10 of its soldiers had been killed, nine of them while off duty.

Hezbollah has not announced its losses.



- Israel -



Israeli emergency services and authorities say attacks have killed a total of 23 civilians since the start of the war.

Iranian missile attacks have killed 17 Israelis, including four minors, as well as two Filipinos and one Thai national.

Two civilians were killed in the north after Hezbollah rocket launches from Lebanon, while one man was killed close to the Lebanese border by Israeli artillery after "operational errors".

According to Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, more than 550 people have been injured by Iranian or Hezbollah fire since the start of the war.

The Israeli military has separately announced the deaths of 11 soldiers in combat in southern Lebanon.



- West Bank -



The Palestinian health ministry in Ramallah said four women were killed by Iranian missile fire in the occupied West Bank.



- Iraq -



Armed groups and officials have said at least 117 people have been killed in Iraq since the start of the war, according to an AFP tally based on their announcements.

Two civilians, one of them an eight-year-old child, were killed late on Tuesday in Baghdad when a projectile crashed into their home, causing a fire, a police source told AFP.

France said an Iranian drone killed a French soldier in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region.

The US military said a refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, killing all six crew members, in an incident not caused by hostile or friendly fire.

Pro-Iran armed factions and security sources say 78 Iran-backed fighters have been killed in strikes they blame on the United States and Israel.

Iraq's government has said 10 members of the security services, including police and one intelligence officer, have been killed.

Kurdish regional authorities said seven of their fighters were killed in a strike blamed on Iran.



- The Gulf -



Authorities in Gulf states and the US Central Command (CENTCOM) have reported 41 people killed -- 22 of them civilians -- since the start of the Iranian attacks.

The rest were military or security personnel, including seven US service members.

Kuwait's military and health ministry have reported seven deaths: two soldiers, two border guards and three civilians, one of them an 11-year-old girl.

The United Arab Emirates' authorities have reported 12 deaths: 10 civilians and two military personnel who died as a result of a helicopter crash blamed on a technical malfunction.

Saudi Arabia's civil defence agency has reported two civilian deaths.

Bahrain's interior ministry has logged two civilian deaths, and the UAE defence ministry has separately said a Moroccan contractor for the Emirati military was killed during an Iranian attack in Bahrain.

Oman's maritime security centre reported the deaths of a mariner at sea and two other people in a drone attack on an industrial area.

Qatar's defence ministry said four Qatari servicemen and three Turkish nationals, including one serviceman and two civilians, were killed in a helicopter crash in Qatar's territorial waters.

CENTCOM has confirmed six US service personnel killed in Kuwait and one killed in Saudi Arabia.



- Jordan -



In Jordan, according to official security sources 30 people were reported injured in various parts of the kingdom as a result of falling debris from Iranian missiles and drones.



- US casualties across Mideast -



In addition to the deaths of seven military personnel in the Gulf and six in Iraq, the US army has recorded around 300 wounded in its ranks, most of them slightly injured.

Ten remain seriously wounded in seven different countries, a US official said on condition of anonymity.

Late last month, an Iranian attack on a base in Saudi Arabia wounded at least 12 American soldiers, including two seriously, US media reported.
Son of ousted shah says Iranians still need their freedom



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The son of Iran's ousted shah said Wednesday Iranians still needed to free themselves of their religious rulers after Washington and Tehran agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

"What remains constant in our struggle as Iranians is to free ourselves of this regime," Reza Pahlavi told French broadcaster LCI.

Pahlavi, whose father Mohammad Reza was brought down by the 1979 Islamic revolution, has repeatedly said he was ready to lead a transition if the Islamic republic fell in the war with the United States and Israel that erupted in late February.

He however represents just one of several Iranian diaspora groups, who are often bitterly at loggerheads.

Pahlavi on LCI responded to US President Donald Trump, who said last week that the war had achieved "regime change" and that the United States was "dealing with different people than anybody's dealt with before".

"What regime change? They're the same people -- even if maybe weakened," he said, even after Israeli-US strikes on the first day killed supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's number one since 1989.

"We still have the same person heading parliament. The same people are still in the judiciary. It's Khamenei's son who has replaced him. For us, this is not a regime change," Pahlavi added.

The ousted shah's son was boosted by protesters chanting the name of the family dynasty during January rallies against the clerical system and then vast pro-monarchy rallies in February in Munich and several cities in North America.

But he has notably also failed to win recognition from Trump, who has never officially met with Pahlavi and repeatedly expressed scepticism over his ability to lead Iran.
BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The three crew members on the Thai-flagged cargo ship that was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz last month have died, Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow said at a press conference on Wednesday.

On March 11, a Thai cargo ship came under attack while sailing in the Strait of Hormuz. Twenty crew members were rescued after the attack, with their three colleagues missing. All the rescued arrived in Thailand in mid-March.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was informed recently that the three missing crew members have died, Sihasak said Wednesday, expressing deep condolences to the victims' families.

Up till now, one Thai cargo ship has safely passed through the Strait of Hormuz and arrived in Thailand, while nine others are still awaiting clearance, including a ship carrying essential fertilizer cargo.

Sihasak said he is scheduled to visit Oman on April 15-16. Thailand will seek Oman's support in coordinating with Iran to allow the remaining Thai vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz during the ceasefire period.

Thailand welcomes the agreement reached between the United States and Iran on the two-week ceasefire and urges all parties concerned to seize this opportunity to pursue negotiations to ultimately achieve lasting peace, he added. 
Trump to discuss leaving NATO in meeting with Rutte: White House



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



US President Donald Trump will discuss the possibility of leaving NATO when he meets with the alliance's chief Mark Rutte on Wednesday, the White House said, accusing Washington's partners of "turning their back" on the American people.

The meeting comes one day after the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Trump has expressed anger at Western partners' refusal to back his war on Iran, rocking the 77-year-old transatlantic alliance.

"It's quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks when it's the American people who have been funding their defense," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

When asked if Trump would discuss a possible withdrawal from NATO, Leavitt said: "It's something the president has discussed, and I think it's something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary-General Rutte."

"Perhaps you'll hear directly from the president following that meeting," she added.

Trump has branded NATO partners "cowards" for limiting US forces' access to bases on their territories and for refusing to lead efforts to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

But NATO's secretary-general touts a record of pulling Trump back onside -- and will be looking to do so again when he meets the president, as well as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.

Ahead of the White House visit, Rutte met with Rubio to talk about Iran, Russia's war against Ukraine and NATO responsibilities.

"The two leaders discussed Operation Epic Fury, ongoing US-led efforts to bring a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war, and increasing coordination and burden shifting with NATO Allies," said State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.



- 'Obsolete' -



NATO has been thrust repeatedly into crisis since Trump returned to power last year -- most acutely by his threat to seize the vast Arctic island of Greenland from alliance member Denmark.

That followed him pulling the rug out from under Ukraine in its war against Russia, his threats not to protect allies unless they don't spend more on defense, and warnings that Washington could pull troops from Europe.

Dubbed a "Trump whisperer," Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, has been central to allied efforts to mollify the US leader, often by means of flattery.

On Iran, he has sought to thread the needle by calling US efforts to degrade Tehran's military capability something to "applaud."

Trump has warmed to Rutte's praise, describing the secretary-general as "a wonderful guy" -- even while claiming that fellow NATO countries had "gone out of their way not to help" in the Middle East.

Speaking as Rutte headed to Washington, a NATO official said he planned to "discuss current security dynamics including in the context of Iran as well as Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine" in his talks with Trump.

And he would "seek to build on the success" of last year's NATO summit in The Hague at which allies agreed to Trump's demand to ramp up their defense spending target, the official said.

Trump has long railed against NATO, calling it "obsolete" in 2017 and mulling withdrawing.

Compounding the worries this time, however, Trump has been joined by traditional NATO supporters including Rubio, who warned last week the United States was "going to have to reexamine" the relationship in light of the rift over Iran.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire Tuesday barely an hour ahead of Trump's deadline to obliterate the rival country was set to expire, with Tehran to temporarily reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.
'Total victory' or TACO? Trump faces questions on Iran deal



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Donald Trump claimed "total" victory after a ceasefire with Iran. But critics say the deal is a fresh example of their maxim that the tough-talking US president always "chickens out."

In the space of 12 nerve-wracking hours, Trump went from warning that a "whole civilization will die" to hailing that agreement as a big day for world peace.

The reality on the ground however showed a still shaky two-week ceasefire with a host of unanswered questions -- not least about whether Trump had ever intended to follow through on his apocalyptic threats.

"President Trump is proving to be an increasingly unpredictable force and unreliable ally," Peter Loge, director of George Washington University's School of Media, told AFP.

The former businessman and author of "Art of the Deal" has a long favored a negotiating style that relies on maximum leverage in order to extract more whoever is on the other side of the table.

Trump insisted his approach, which included a vow to bomb Iran back to the "stone age" by targeting civilian energy plants and bridges, had served its purpose.

"Total and complete victory," the president told AFP in a brief telephone interview after Monday's announcement. "100 percent. No question about it."

The White House also insisted that everything had gone according to plan, saying that Trump had always planned for Operation Epic Fury to last between four and six weeks.

"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters

But critics say that Trump has employed the same tactic on everything from tariffs to wars to his threats to annex Greenland, especially as markets start to react unfavorably.

The phenomenon now has its own acronym, which originally began with traders: TACO, or "Trump Always Chickens Out."



- 'Military moron' -



Loge -- who predicted on Tuesday morning that Trump would take a self-declared win on Iran then give "give them two more weeks" -- added: "The only consistent thing President Trump does is declare victory."

The time period of two weeks is also familiar to Trump-watchers who have seen him evoke the interval in a series of previous crises.

Critics led by rival Democrats lashed out at the Republican president, who has flexed his executive muscle in the face of a largely pliant and currently absent Congress.

"Trump is a military moron," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said as he announced the Senate would vote next week on a war powers resolution.

Trump's opponents say the war has left Iran effectively in control of the Strait of Hormuz, with a stranglehold over world energy prices. There's also little evidence he has done more to prevent Iran getting a nuclear bomb, given that the Iranians still possess their store of highly enriched uranium.

And Trump's Republicans are nervous that the Middle East war will hit them in November's midterm elections for control of Congress, given that American families are already finding it harder to pay the bills.

"All of this happens when one man...has unchecked power to wage war," added Schumer.

The criticism grew as the ceasefire appeared to be increasingly fragile, with Iran threatening to torpedo it if Israel did not stop attacks on Lebanon.

"Trump, 'the peace President', should have never started this war alongside Israel, who clearly doesn't want peace," former ally and congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said on Thursday.

Nevertheless, Trump loyalists praised the deal.

"It looks like Trump ultimately hits the home run here, takes it to the brink. Iran blinks," said Fox News host and ally Laura Ingraham on her show after the announcement of the deal.
Netanyahu says Israel ready to 'return to battle at any moment' against Iran



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel remains prepared to confront Iran if necessary, despite a truce reached between the United States and Iran.

"Let me be clear: We still have objectives to complete, and we will achieve them -- either through agreement or through renewed fighting," Netanyahu said in a televised statement.

"We are prepared to return to combat at any moment required. Our finger remains on the trigger. This is not the end of the campaign, but a step along the way to achieving all our objectives."

"Iran enters this pause battered, weaker than ever."

Netanyahu also hit back at opposition leaders who chastised him for agreeing to the truce before Israel achieved its objectives in the war.

"As you know, last night a temporary two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran came into effect, in full coordination with Israel," Netanyahu said in a televised statement.

"No, we were not surprised at the last moment," he said.

Israel's main opposition figure Yair Lapid called the truce a "diplomatic disaster" for Israel, saying Netanyahu had failed to achieve the country's goals.

Netanyahu had set the elimination or at least severe degradation of Iran's nuclear programme as a central goal of the war, describing it as an "existential threat" to Israel.

He had also called to degrade Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, weaken or potentially topple the Iranian regime and curb Tehran's regional influence by targeting its network of allied groups.



- War's achievements -



In his televised statement, Netanyahu listed the war's achievements.

"We destroyed not only existing missiles, but also the factories that produce them. Iran is now firing what remains in its stockpile and that stockpile is steadily dwindling," he said.

"We have severely damaged Iran's nuclear programme, destroying critical infrastructure and centrifuge facilities," he said, adding that Israel would ensure that the enriched uranium is removed from Iran.

"We have crippled the financial and weapons production networks of the Revolutionary Guards," he said, adding that the campaign had also hit Iran's steel plants, petrochemical complexes and transport infrastructure.

"We have dealt a severe blow to the regime's apparatus of repression. We have eliminated thousands of its operatives and demonstrated that we can reach them anywhere," the premier said.

Netanyahu also hailed Israel's cooperation with the United States in the war.

"Together, we launched a historic operation -- the largest the Middle East has ever seen," he said.

"Such a partnership between Israel and the United States against our greatest enemy is also unprecedented."

Netanyahu, meanwhile, said the campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon would continue, saying he had insisted that the ceasefire with Iran would not include the Lebanese armed group.

"We continue to strike it with force," he said.

"Today, we dealt Hezbollah its most severe blow since the pager attacks - striking one hundred targets in 10 minutes, in areas it believed were immune," he said, referring to a major 2024 operation against Hezbollah involving pager bombs.

"We have created security zones deep beyond our borders -- in Lebanon, in Syria, and in Gaza, where we now control more than half the strip and are choking Hamas from all sides."

Late on Wednesday, the military said that it continues to pursue the goal of "disarming" Hezbollah.
UAE says Iran must pay for 'damages and reparations'



Dubai, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The UAE said Wednesday that Iran should pay for damage caused by its Gulf attacks, adding that it was seeking clarification on how the truce will ensure Tehran ceases hostilities and reopens the Strait of Hormuz.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week truce after more than a month of hostilities, but the ceasefire has proved fragile with Iran reporting attacks and several Gulf states including the UAE saying Tehran had struck them.

During more than a month of war, Iran launched attacks on the Gulf in response to US and Israeli strikes that decapitated its leadership -- hitting the UAE more than any other country.

The UAE "is seeking further clarification on the agreement's provisions to ensure Iran's full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities in the region and the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz", its foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iranian attacks "necessitate a firm position, including ensuring that Iran is held accountable and fully liable for damages and reparations", it added.

Iran's onslaught rattled life in a region long seen as a safe haven in a tumultuous Middle East, targeting US assets but also civilian infrastructure including airports, energy infrastructure as well as landmarks, ports, hotels and residential areas.

The UAE called for addressing Iran's "full range of threats including its nuclear capabilities, ballistic missiles, drones" and proxies, while "ending threats to freedom of navigation, as well as economic warfare and piracy in the Strait of Hormuz".

Iran's attacks have soured ties between Gulf states and the Islamic republic after years of detente between the former foes.

It also pushed the UAE to take a more hawkish tone on Iran, recalling its ambassador to the Islamic republic and closing its embassy there.

Iranians have been barred from entering the UAE with only a few exceptions, Dubai-based airlines said, while travel agencies reported high visa rejections for Iranians since the Middle East war began.

Iran-linked entities, including a hospital, schools and a community centre have also been shut in Dubai.
Scale of killing in Lebanon 'horrific': UN rights chief



Geneva, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The scale of the killing in Israeli strikes on Lebanon Wednesday is "horrific", the UN rights chief said, urging the international community to help end the unfolding "nightmare".

At least 112 people were killed and 837 more were wounded in Lebanon Wednesday after Israel launched a wave of strikes unprecedented in the current war, according to the latest Lebanese health ministry toll.

Volker Turk, the United Nations' High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the attacks, saying the numbers killed and injured were appalling.

"The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific," he said in a statement.

"Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians."

Mass casualties have been reported, and hospitals overwhelmed, the statement added.

A UN Human Rights team at the site of a strike in Beirut described a scene of devastation, with several dead bodies amid the rubble.







- 'Prompt investigations' -



International humanitarian law spells out clearly that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected, said Turk.

"Each and every attack must comply with international humanitarian law fundamental principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions to protect civilians," he said.

"These principles are non-negotiable, and must always be respected, whatever the circumstances of armed conflict.

"There must be prompt and independent investigations into all alleged violations, and those responsible brought to justice."

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Turk also deplored Hezbollah's missile and drone attacks on northern Israel, and urged both parties to stop, immediately.

More than a million people have been displaced in Lebanon by the conflict, and Israel has launched a ground invasion in the south.

"The scale of such actions, coupled with statements by Israeli officials indicating an intention to occupy or even annex parts of southern Lebanon, are deeply troubling," said Turk.

"The international community must act quickly to help bring an end to this nightmare.

"Efforts to bring peace to the wider region will remain incomplete as long as the Lebanese people are living under continuing fire, forcibly displaced, and in fear of further attacks."
Turkey 'firmly condemns' Israeli strikes on Lebanon



Ankara, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Turkey "firmly condemns" ongoing Israeli strikes on Lebanon, which Israel and the United States say are not covered by the US-Iranian ceasefire, the foreign ministry said in a statement Wednesday evening.

At least 112 people were killed and 837 more were wounded in Lebanon Wednesday after Israel launched a wave of strikes unprecedented in the current war, according to the latest Lebanese health ministry toll.

"We firmly condemn the Israeli attacks that have intensified against Lebanon, causing numerous casualties," said the statement from Turkey, a key regional player.

"These attacks are worsening the humanitarian situation in the country," said the ministry.

"The international community must act immediately to put an end to the Israeli occupation of Lebanon and protect civilians," the statement added.
Israel opposition leaders slam Netanyahu over ceasefire with Iran



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel's opposition leaders swiftly criticised the ceasefire with Iran on Wednesday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing to achieve the war's objectives.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour bid to avert all-out destruction of Iran threatened by US President Donald Trump.

Netanyahu's office said Israel supported Trump's decision to suspend the bombing of Iran, but maintained the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon" where Israeli forces are fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah.

"There has never been a political disaster like this in our entire history. Israel was not even close to the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security," the country's main opposition leader Yair Lapid wrote on X.

"The army carried out everything that was asked of it, and the public showed remarkable resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and did not achieve any of the goals he himself set."

Netanyahu had set the elimination or at least severe degradation of Iran's nuclear programme as a central goal of the war, describing it as an "existential threat" to Israel.

He also called for the neutralising of Iran's ballistic missile capabilities, the weakening or potentially toppling of the Iranian regime and the curbing of Tehran's regional influence by targeting its network of allied groups.

"It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu caused due to arrogance, negligence, and lack of strategic planning," Lapid said.

Former premier and right-wing Netanyahu opponent, Naftali Bennett, echoed similar views.

"The leadership sold us illusions.... Tonight all their empty promises have blown up in our faces," he said on X.

"Unfortunately, every one of us can see with our own eyes that Hamas is growing stronger, and Hezbollah and Iran are still standing on their feet."

The head of the left-wing Democrats party, Yair Golan, called the ceasefire a "strategic failure" by Netanyahu.

"He promised a historic victory and security for generations, and in practice, we got one of the most severe strategic failures Israel has ever known," Golan said on X.

"It's a total failure that endangers Israel's security for years to come."

Member of parliament and opposition figure Avigdor Liberman also denounced the truce, saying it gave the Iranian regime "an opportunity to regroup".

"Any agreement with Iran that does not include renouncing the destruction of Israel, uranium enrichment, the production of ballistic missiles, and support for terrorist organisations in the region means that we will have to return to another campaign under more difficult conditions and pay a heavier price," Liberman said on X.

Even as Israel backed Trump's ceasefire plan with Iran, it said the truce did not include Lebanon.

Israel has been fighting with Hezbollah since the Lebanese armed group launched rocket fire at Israel in March after the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war.
Israel eases wartime gathering restrictions after Iran truce



Jerusalem, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



Israel said Wednesday that it would begin easing wartime restrictions on public gatherings, schools and airports following the truce between the US and Iran.

The army's Home Front Command issued updated guidelines that will enter into force at 6:00 am on Thursday (0300 GMT) and allow "full activity without restrictions" for most of the country.

The new protocols allow for schools to reopen.

In certain areas, including metropolitan Tel Aviv, a cap of 1,000 people for public gatherings is being imposed.

In parts of northern Israel near the Lebanon border, repeatedly impacted by Hezbollah rocket fire during the conflict, restrictions limiting open-air gatherings to 50 people will be enforced.

The Home Front Command said the guidelines would be revised on Thursday at 8:00 pm.

Israeli police said the new guidelines allow for the reopening of holy places in Jerusalem on Thursday "to visitors and for prayer".

The city is home to holy sites for Jews, Christians and Muslims, and their closure through more than a month of conflict with Iran drew sharp criticism from leaders of the three faiths.

The Islamic Waqf, the Jordanian-run body that administers the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, said the site would open for prayers on Thursday without restrictions.

Israel's Airports Authority also announced that it was "working to fully resume operations at (Tel Aviv's) Ben Gurion Airport starting at midnight".

Two other airports at Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv, and Ramon, near the southern city of Eilat, would also open on Thursday and Sunday respectively, the Airports Authority said.

Operations at Haifa airport in the north "will be assessed toward the end of the weekend" depending on the security situation, it added.
US, Iran truce hangs in balance as war flares in Lebanon



Tehran, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The fragile two-week truce between Iran and the United States was hanging in the balance on Wednesday, with Tehran threatening to resume hostilities as Israel launched a major bombardment of Lebanon.

Washington and Tehran both claimed victory after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and negotiations aimed at ending a war that has killed thousands across the Middle East and sparked global economic upheaval.

But the deal's fractures have emerged as Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah joined the war in early March, killing 112 people and wounding hundreds on Wednesday, authorities said.

Israel said its battle against Hezbollah in Lebanon is not part of the US-Iran truce agreed late Tuesday, but Iran's parliament speaker appeared to threaten the ceasefire over what he called "repeated violations" of Iran's framework for talks.

"The very 'workable basis on which to negotiate' has been openly and clearly violated, even before the negotiations began. In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X.

Adding to the fragility of the truce agreed hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump, a senior US official said Iran's 10-point plan was not the same set of conditions agreed by the White House to pause the war.

In Lebanon, where the UN rights chief Volker Turk called the scale of killing "horrific", strikes across capital Beirut without warning triggered scenes of horror and panic.

"People started running left and right, and smoke was billowing," said Ali Younes, who was waiting for his wife near Corniche al-Mazraa, one of the areas targeted.

More than 1,500 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched airstrikes and a ground invasion in early March, local officials said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned they would "fulfil our duty and deliver a response" if Israel did not cease its strikes there, while Hezbollah said it had a "right" to respond despite appearing to have halted its attacks after the truce.

For Israel's part, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country remains prepared to confront Iran if necessary as it still had "objectives to complete", with the military saying it continued to pursue the goal of "disarming" Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth has also vowed that American forces remain at the ready if the conflict flares up again.



- High-stakes talks -



The belligerent rhetoric came ahead of high-stakes talks in Pakistan expected on Friday after Iran temporarily agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under threat of annihilation by Trump, with ships passing through the strategic waterway on Wednesday.

But reports suggested the strategic waterway was shut later in the day despite the ceasefire, leading the White House to call on Iran to reopen it "immediately, quickly and safely".

Any closure "is completely unacceptable," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country mediated the ceasefire, said Wednesday that violations between the United States and Iran "have been reported" and pressed countries to respect the truce.

"I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict," Sharif said on X.

Iranian state media reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, in a call with the commander of Pakistan's armed forces, had accused Israel of "violations of the ceasefire in Iran and Lebanon".

Further underscoring the precarity of the truce, Iranian state media announced fresh "missile and drone attacks" Wednesday on US-allied Gulf states the UAE and Kuwait in retaliation for airstrikes against its oil facilities.

Kuwait said its oil facilities and power and desalination plants were damaged in "an intense wave" of strikes that lasted hours.

The UAE said it was targeted with 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones since the ceasefire took effect, Saudi Arabia intercepted nine drones and Bahrain said its capital Manama came under attack.



- 'Real hope' -



On Wednesday, the leaders of several European nations, Canada and the UK said "a swift and lasting end to the war" must be negotiated as Pope Leo hailed a moment of "real hope".

But Tehran's demands over uranium enrichment, economic sanctions and future control over the Strait of Hormuz -- a narrow waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes -- are deeply at odds with the United States.

The United States and Israel said they attacked Iran to degrade its military capacity.

After weeks of economic turmoil, the ceasefire announcement sent oil prices plunging more than 17 percent, while European natural gas dropped 20 percent.

Trump said the United States was "very far along" in negotiating a long-term agreement with Iran, which had submitted the 10-point plan that he said was "workable".

But Ghalibaf listed three alleged US violations of the proposal: the continued attacks in Lebanon, a drone entering Iranian airspace and a denial of the country's right to enrichment, leaving the longevity of the truce uncertain.

In Tehran, streets were quieter than usual on Wednesday, with many shops closed after a long and anxious night for city inhabitants fearing a massive US attack.

"Everyone is at ease now," Sakineh Mohammadi, a 50-year-old housewife, told AFP, saying she was "proud" of her country.

"We are more relaxed."

burs/jfx/arp
Vance says up to Iran if it wants truce to 'fall apart' over Lebanon



Budapest, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



US Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday urged Iran not to let the fragile ceasefire deal fall apart over Israel's attacks on Lebanon, days before he is due to lead talks with Tehran in Pakistan.

As Iran's president said a truce in Lebanon was a key condition for ending the Middle East war, Vance said he believed there had been a "legitimate misunderstanding".

"I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn't. We never made that promise," Vance said as he left Hungary, where he was visiting to boost the reelection chances of Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

"If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart... over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them, and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that's ultimately their choice."

A day after Washington and Tehran agreed a two-week truce, Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on Lebanon since Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah joined the war in early March.

The strikes killed at least 112 people and wounded hundreds, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

But Vance said that the Israelis had offered to show restraint.

"The Israelis... have actually offered to be, frankly, to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful," Vance said.

The US vice president warned that President Donald Trump expected Iran to keep its promise to open the Strait of Hormuz to oil traffic.

"Frankly, if they break their end of the bargain, then they're going to see some serious consequences," Vance added.

Vance is due to lead a negotiating team including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner to Islamabad for "in person" talks with Iran on Saturday, the White House said earlier.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a training session for high-ranking military officials in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2026. The training session opened at the National Defense University in Beijing on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged efforts to deepen political rectification in the military to maintain the purity and glory of the people's armed forces.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks when he addressed a training session for high-ranking military officials, which opened at the National Defense University in Beijing on the same day. 
US-Iran truce hangs in balance as war flares in Lebanon



Tehran, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The fragile two-week truce between Iran and the United States was hanging in the balance on Wednesday, with Tehran threatening to resume hostilities as Israel launched a major bombardment of Lebanon.

Washington and Tehran both claimed victory after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and negotiations aimed at ending a war that has killed thousands across the Middle East and sparked global economic upheaval.

But the deal's fractures emerged quickly as Israel carried out its heaviest strikes on its neighbour -- including in densely packed central Beirut -- since the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah joined the war in early March.

At least 182 people were killed and nearly 900 wounded on Wednesday, the Lebanese Health Ministry said.

Israel said its battle against Hezbollah was not part of the US-Iran truce agreed late Tuesday, an argument echoed by US Vice President JD Vance, days before he is due to lead talks with Tehran in Pakistan.

"If Iran wants to let this negotiation fall apart... over Lebanon, which has nothing to do with them, and which the United States never once said was part of the ceasefire, that's ultimately their choice," he said.

But Iran's parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf appeared to threaten the ceasefire, posting on X that the "workable basis on which to negotiate" had already been violated, making further talks "unreasonable".

Adding to the fragility of the truce -- agreed hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump -- a senior US official said Iran's 10-point plan was not the same set of conditions the White House had agreed to in order to pause the war.

In Lebanon, where UN rights chief Volker Turk called the scale of killing "horrific", strikes across the capital Beirut without warning triggered scenes of horror and panic.

"People started running left and right, and smoke was billowing," said Ali Younes, who was waiting for his wife near Corniche al-Mazraa, one of the areas targeted.

More than 1,700 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel launched airstrikes and a ground invasion last month, local officials said.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned they would "fulfil our duty and deliver a response" if Israel did not cease its strikes there, while Hezbollah said it had a "right" to respond.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the country remained prepared to confront Iran if necessary, as it still had "objectives to complete", with the military saying it continued to pursue the goal of "disarming" Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth also vowed that American forces remained at the ready if the conflict flared up again.



- High-stakes talks -



The belligerent rhetoric came ahead of high-stakes talks in Pakistan expected on Friday, after Iran temporarily agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz under threat of annihilation by Trump, with ships passing through the strategic waterway on Wednesday.

But reports suggested the waterway was shut again later in the day despite the ceasefire, prompting the White House to call on Iran to reopen it "immediately, quickly and safely".

Any closure "is completely unacceptable," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country mediated the ceasefire, urged all parties on X to "exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks" to allow diplomacy to take hold.

Further casting doubt on the truce's durability, Iranian state media announced fresh "missile and drone attacks" on Wednesday against US-allied Gulf states in retaliation for airstrikes on its oil facilities.

Kuwait said its oil facilities and power and desalination plants were damaged in "an intense wave" of strikes that lasted hours.

The UAE said it had been targeted with 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones since the ceasefire took effect, Saudi Arabia intercepted nine drones, and Bahrain said its capital Manama came under attack.



- 'Real hope' -



On Wednesday, the leaders of several European nations, Canada and the United Kingdom said "a swift and lasting end to the war" must be negotiated, as Pope Leo hailed a moment of "real hope".

But Tehran's demands over uranium enrichment, economic sanctions and future control of the Strait of Hormuz -- a narrow waterway through which one-fifth of the world's oil passes -- remain deeply at odds with those of the United States.

The United States and Israel said they attacked Iran to degrade its military capacity.

After weeks of economic turmoil, the ceasefire announcement sent oil prices plunging 15 percent, while European natural gas dropped 20 percent.

Trump said the United States was "very far along" in negotiating a long-term agreement with Iran, which had submitted a 10-point plan he called "workable".

But Ghalibaf listed three alleged US violations of the proposal: the continued attacks in Lebanon, a drone entering Iranian airspace, and a denial of the country's right to enrichment -- leaving the longevity of the truce uncertain.

In Tehran, streets were quieter than usual on Wednesday, with many shops closed after a long and anxious night for residents fearing a massive US attack.

"Everyone is at ease now," said Sakineh Mohammadi, a 50-year-old housewife, adding she was "proud" of her country.

"We are more relaxed."

arp/des
Macron tells Trump, Iran president ceasefire must include Lebanon



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that he urged his US and Iranian counterparts, Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian, to include Lebanon in the ceasefire reached with Iran.

Israel announced Wednesday it did not consider Lebanon covered by the Iran-US truce announced overnight.

Its strikes on Lebanon Wednesday killed 182 people and wounded 890, according to an initial government toll, with the capital Beirut hit by the most violent bombardment since the start of the Israel-Hezbollah war last month.

"I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all areas of confrontation, including in Lebanon," Macron wrote on X after speaking with both leaders.

He said it was a "necessary condition for the ceasefire to be credible and lasting".

Macron is the first Western leader to have spoken with the Iranian president since the announcement of the ceasefire.

He added it must pave the way for comprehensive negotiations to ensure "security for all in the Middle East".

"Any agreement will have to address the concerns raised by Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs, as well as its regional policy and its actions obstructing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz."

Macron said France would "play its full part, in close coordination with its partners" in the region.

vl/hr/rh/jhb
Ex-US Army employee accused of disclosing classified info to journalist



Washington, United States, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



A former US Army employee was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday for allegedly disclosing classified information to a journalist, the Justice Department said.

Courtney Williams, 40, of North Carolina, was arrested by FBI agents on Tuesday, the department said.

The Justice Department did not identify the journalist to whom Williams allegedly transmitted national defense information.

But US media identified him as Seth Harp, author of the 2025 book "The Fort Bragg Cartel: Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces."

According to court documents, Williams worked for a special military unit at Fort Bragg, headquarters of the US Army's elite Special Operations Command, between 2010 and 2016 and held a top secret security clearance.

Between 2022 and 2025, she allegedly communicated with the journalist on numerous occasions by telephone and by text message and she was quoted by name in his book.

"Courtney Williams swore an oath to safeguard our nation's secrets as an employee supporting a special military unit of the Army," Roman Rozhavsky, assistant director of the FBI's Counterintelligence and Espionage Division, said in a statement.

"She allegedly betrayed that oath by sharing classified information with a media outlet and putting our nation, our warfighters and our allies at risk," Rozhavsky said.

According to WRAL TV, the book details sexual harassment and discrimination experiences Williams had during her years working at Fort Bragg.

The Justice Department said Williams, following the book's publication, exchanged messages with the author in which she said she was "concerned about the amount of classified information being disclosed."

In a message to a third party, she allegedly expressed concern that she was "probably going to jail for life," it said.
Red Cross 'outraged' by 'death and destruction' in Lebanon



Geneva, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



The Red Cross said it was "outraged by the devastating death and destruction" in densely populated areas across Lebanon Wednesday as Israel launched a massive wave of attacks.

Heavy explosive weapons with wide-area effects struck bustling neighbourhoods, including the capital Beirut, without effective advance warnings, the International Committee of the Red Cross said in a statement.

"People across Lebanon were holding their breath for a ceasefire agreement, but a wave of deadly strikes plunged the country into panic and chaos," said Agnes Dhur, the ICRC's head of delegation in Lebanon.

"Many who had begun thinking of the moment when they might return to their homes have been rushing to streets and hospitals, searching for missing loved ones or seeking a safety that feels increasingly out of reach."

At least 182 people were killed and 890 wounded on Wednesday after Israel launched a wave of strikes unprecedented in the current war, according to the latest Lebanese health ministry toll.

Across the country, the Lebanese Red Cross sent 100 ambulances to evacuate the dead and transport the wounded to hospitals, the ICRC said.

Already overwhelmed medical facilities were having to deal with the influx of casualties, while some people remained trapped under the rubble, it added.

"Any comprehensive agreement for the region must consider the safety, protection and dignity of civilians in Lebanon," the Geneva-based ICRC said.

"After more than five weeks of hostilities, people urgently need respite from the violence."

Lebanon was drawn into the Middle East war on March 2 when Tehran-backed militant group Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel to avenge the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Meanwhile the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said its teams were responding to a mass influx of injured patients, including children at the Rafik Hariri public hospital in Beirut.

"Patients are arriving with shrapnel injuries and heavy bleeding. One patient arrived to the hospital having lost both legs. The situation is chaotic as more people are brought in," said Christopher Stokes, MSF's emergency coordinator in Lebanon.

"These indiscriminate strikes on highly densely populated areas are completely unacceptable," he said.

"Continuous attacks on civilians must stop... The repeated forcible displacement of people -- a war crime -- needs to stop."
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PHNOM PENH, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) of Cambodia has subsidized about 47 million U.S. dollars a month to minimize the impact of rising fuel prices caused by the Middle East conflict, said its news release on Wednesday.

The subsidies have been made through the reduction of import duties and taxes on oil and gas, and the reduction of import duties on electric vehicles, passenger plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, electric stoves, and solar-powered devices.

"These measures have been taken to ease the burden of businesspeople and common consumers in the face of rising global fuel prices," the news release said, adding that the subsidies were also to ensure the sustainability of oil and gas supply.

A liter of diesel in Cambodia is now priced at 8,200 riels (2.05 dollars), up 113 percent from the end of February, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Regular gasoline now costs 5,500 riels (1.37 dollars) per liter, representing an increase of 42.8 percent from February's end, while the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas goes for 3,900 riels (0.97 dollars) per liter, up 95 percent.

The Southeast Asian country entirely relies on imported petroleum and diesel. 
Then a group of three people ran off past us and one of them said to the other youve been sheft [slang for stabbed] mate and you could just see this massive red patch on his shirt.
Smith, who was originally from Jamaica, had reportedly travelled to Birmingham to be baptised having been a member of the church for four years. He worked as a barber, and was a grandfather to seven grandchildren at the time he died.
I know today has been tough for staff picking up the strain across the country  and how disruptive and challenging its been for many hospitals to manage it and fill their rotas following the Easter weekend, he said in a letter to healthcare leaders on Tuesday evening.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.
Archie Young, the UKs deputy permanent representative to the UN, said: No country should be allowed to hold the world economy hostage. Yet that is exactly what Iran is doing by denying the right of transit passage, a key navigational right under international law.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks while addressing diplomats who had presented letters of credence as new heads of missions accredited to South Africa at the presidential guest house in Pretoria, South Africa, April 8, 2026. (GCIS/Handout via Xinhua)

JOHANNESBURG, April 8 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday welcomed a ceasefire arrangement on the Iran conflict, saying it is a vital step toward regional stability.

Ramaphosa made the remarks at the presidential guest house in Pretoria on Wednesday morning while addressing diplomats who had presented letters of credence as new heads of missions accredited to South Africa.

The conflict broke out on Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched joint airstrikes targeting Iranian infrastructure and leadership. Iran responded with retaliatory missile and drone attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Following mediation efforts by countries such as Pakistan, a two-week ceasefire was announced late Tuesday.

"We note the current initiatives and ongoing efforts aimed at achieving a comprehensive end to the conflict in the Middle East. We welcome the announcement of a ceasefire and are hopeful that it will lay the basis for a permanent resolution," Ramaphosa said.

"South Africa once again calls for dialogue and mediation to prevent further loss of life and destruction of property, and to ensure a just, sustainable and lasting peace. We further call on all countries to respect international law and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all nations," the president said.

He noted that South Africa advocates for a global order defined by peace and friendship among all nations of the world, urging countries to unite against "racism, colonialism, subjugation and all forms of oppression and intolerance."

"We strive to ensure that global peace and security are secured through dialogue and negotiation, not through force of arms," the president said, calling on all parties to respect international law and national sovereignty. 

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks while addressing diplomats who had presented letters of credence as new heads of missions accredited to South Africa at the presidential guest house in Pretoria, South Africa, April 8, 2026. (GCIS/Handout via Xinhua)
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held informal talks from April 1 to 7 in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

Mao told a regular press briefing that the cross-departmental delegations of the three sides include representatives from authorities in charge of foreign affairs, defense and security.

Based on the common understandings reached between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghan Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi, the discussions were candid, pragmatic and proceeded in a sound atmosphere, which shows that the talks follow an approach oriented towards solving problems, striving for results and taking actions, said Mao.

Mao noted that the Afghan and Pakistani delegations spoke highly of the Global Security Initiative and the Asian security model put forward by the Chinese side, in particular the important visions of seeking commonality despite differences, treating each other as equals, and championing dialogue and consultation for peaceful settlement of disputes.

"The two sides commended and thanked China for the mediation effort and thoughtful arrangement as the host country of the talks," she said, adding that they also expressed appreciation for China's fair and just position and utmost effort.

The Afghan and Pakistani sides reiterated that they follow the purposes and spirit of the UN Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, stay committed to resolving differences as soon as possible, work for the turnaround of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and agree to refrain from actions that may escalate or complicate the situation, Mao pointed out.

"China expressed readiness to maintain communication with both sides, provide the platform for dialogue, and continue to play a constructive role for improving and developing Afghanistan-Pakistan relations and enhancing practical trilateral cooperation among the three countries," said the spokesperson.

Mao said after intensive bilateral and trilateral meetings over the past week, China noted and summed up the talks and common understandings.

Afghanistan and Pakistan reiterated that the two countries are Muslim brothers and neighbors, Mao said.

The three sides believed that amid the turbulent and changing international and regional situation, maintaining friendly ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan is of vital importance to peoples in both countries as well as peace and stability in South Asia, she added.

The three sides stressed that dialogue and consultation is the viable and effective way to resolve complex international disputes, including the disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to the spokesperson.

The three sides agreed to discuss a comprehensive plan to resolve issues in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and identified the core and priority issues, Mao said.

China stressed that terrorism is the core issue affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, the spokesperson said.

The three sides believed that the Urumqi process is substantive, and agreed to maintain communication and dialogue on the process, she added. 
BRUSSELS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Western leaders on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, while urging swift diplomatic efforts to turn the ceasefire into a lasting end to the Middle East war after weeks of escalation that widened sharply with U.S. military action.

Ten Western leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, endorsed a joint statement issued by the Council of the European Union.

The leaders stated that the immediate goal must be to negotiate a swift and lasting end to the conflict in the coming days, and that this can only be achieved through diplomatic means.

They urged quick progress toward a substantive negotiated settlement, stressing that such an outcome would be crucial to protect civilians in Iran and ensure security across the region, while averting a severe global energy crisis.

They also thanked Pakistan and other partners for helping secure the deal, and called on all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon.

The United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday evening, about an hour before a deadline set by Washington in the morning. Israel said it accepts the truce but will continue fighting in Lebanon against Hezbollah. 
UNITED NATIONS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council's actions must not grant a license to the use of force, let alone further exacerbate tensions and add fuel to the fire, said Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, on Tuesday.

The Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution that "strongly encourages" states interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts of a defensive nature to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the strait, including through the escort of merchant and commercial vessels.

Eleven members of the Security Council voted in favor of the draft resolution, China and Russia voted against it, while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.

In his explanation of China's vote on the draft resolution, Fu said the conflict in Iran and its spillover effect continue to deal a heavy blow to regional and global peace and stability, hitting the global economy and causing increasingly widespread disruptions.

"The U.S. and Israel, without authorization from the Security Council and while negotiations between Iran and the U.S. were underway, launched military strikes against Iran," he said. "This is in clear violation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations."

"At the same time, the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Gulf States must be fully respected. Civilians and non-military targets must be given necessary protection. The safety and security of shipping lanes and energy infrastructure must also be safeguarded," Fu said.

Under the current circumstances, the ambassador said, the draft resolution should clearly identify the root causes of the conflict, seek appropriate solutions to address the root causes and ensure the safety and security of shipping lanes, and strive to promote dialogue and achieve peace.

"It is regrettable, however, that the draft resolution fails to capture the root causes and full picture of the conflict in a comprehensive and balanced manner. It contains one-sided condemnation and pressure, the characterization of the situation as threat to international peace and security, as well as the use of armed escorts," he said, adding that such language is "highly susceptible to misinterpretation or even abuse."

"At a time when the U.S. is openly threatening the very survival of a civilization, when the current hostilities imposed on Iran are very likely to further escalate, the draft resolution, should it have been adopted, would send an extremely wrong message and have very serious consequences," Fu stressed.

Fu also underscored that the Security Council's actions should be aimed at de-escalating the situation and "must not provide the legal veneer for unauthorized military operations."

The Security Council should not rush to vote on the draft resolution where serious concerns among members have been raised, he said. "In light of the above, China had no choice but to vote against the draft resolution."

"This is a war that should never have happened," he emphasized, noting that the fundamental solution to ensuring safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz is to achieve cessation of hostilities as soon as possible.

Noting that the U.S. and Israel are the initiators of this conflict, Fu said the fundamental reason for the disruption of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz is the illegal military actions taken by the U.S. and Israel against Iran.

"China strongly calls on the U.S. and Israel to immediately cease their illegal military actions," he said, adding that at the same time, China calls on Iran to stop attacking relevant facilities in the Gulf, address the legitimate concerns of Gulf States, focus on the common interest of the Global South, and take corresponding positive measures to restore normal navigation in the Strait of Hormuz as soon as possible.

Fu said that recently, China has made tremendous efforts to restore peace and stability in the Gulf and the Middle East, and is ready to work with all parties to make greater contributions to the early restoration of peace and stability in the region.

Taking into account the needs of all parties to resolve the relevant issues, Russia and China have jointly submitted a draft Security Council resolution, Fu said. "The text of that draft resolution is objective and fair, aiming at easing tensions, calling for dialogue and negotiations, and upholding navigational rights and freedoms," he said, expressing hope that it will receive the support of Security Council members. 
WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran can start the reconstruction process.

In his social media post, Trump said the United States will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. "There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made." 
The Air Force is cutting back the amount of time airmen and guardians can spend building civilian job skills through private industry programs as they transition out of the military. The updated SkillBridge policy applies to all ranks, with senior service members now receiving the least amount of time for career training during their final six months of service. (Jason Ragucci/U.S. Army)



The Air Force is reducing the number of days that airmen and guardians are given to sharpen their job skills in the private sector as they prepare to leave the military.

Changes to the popular SkillBridge program affect all ranks, but the highest grades will now have the fewest days allowed for career training during their last six months of service, according to the new policy.

Airmen and guardians previously were given up to 180 days to intern full-time with an approved commercial partner while still receiving their military pay and benefits.

The new limitations balance the need for units to maintain readiness while also ensuring personnel can access opportunities aimed to support their transition to the civilian workforce, the Air Force said in a statement last week.

Around 200,000 service members transition from military service to civilian life each year, according to a 2024 Government Accountability Office report.

In 2022, SkillBridge said that over 22,500 service members had either enrolled in or completed a training program, according to the GAO. As of June 2024, the program offered 7,959 opportunities through 4,867 industry partners, the report said.

Air Force noncommissioned officers at the E-8 and E-9 pay grades, along with senior warrant officers and lieutenant colonels in the service are now limited to 60 days of career training under the new guidance. It took effect March 31.

Mid-grade ranks get 90 days now, while lower-level enlisted personnel and officers can take up to 120 days. Air Force colonels, meanwhile, require special exception to policy approval to participate in SkillBridge training, according to the announcement.

For Space Force personnel, those at the pay grade of E-9 or O-6 and above are limited to 90 days, while all lower-ranking guardians have a maximum of 120 days in the program.

The new guidelines also raised the approval authority to squadron commanders and above. Previously, first-line supervisors such as section leaders could authorize participation, Air and Space Forces Magazine reported Tuesday.

Some current and former airmen expressed disappointment with the change and told of the benefits they had gained from the transition program.

Skillbridge was huge for me, not just the internship but the time necessary to interview and relocate, a poster in the Air Forces Reddit community said last week.

The message also said the writer would not have found their current job without the program.

Another commenter wrote that the longer a persons military service, the harder the transition can be.

I feel this is an overall detriment for those using the program, the commenter said.

The changes align the Air Force with the other services. The Army, Navy and Marine Corps in recent years have implemented a rank-based tiered system that is more favorable to junior enlisted personnel.

Since the Defense Department rolled out the program in 2014, the Air Force was the last service to allow a flat 180-day training period for all ranks.
Lt. Gen. Edmond M. Brown, the deputy commander of the Armys Transformation and Training Command, visits Fort Sill, Okla., in December 2025. (Angela Turner/U.S. Army)



AUSTIN, Texas  The deputy commander of the Armys Transformation and Training Command will perform the duties of commander after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed the four-star that served as the first to lead the organization.

Lt. Gen. Edmond M. Brown has been the deputy commander of T2COM since November 2024, when it was still called Army Futures Command  where he has served in several roles since 2019.

The Army has the utmost confidence in his ability to serve as the acting [commanding general], T2COM until a new [commanding general] is confirmed by the Senate, said Cynthia O. Smith, an Army spokeswoman.

His predecessor, Gen. David Hodne, was among three general officers ousted last week by Hegseth without specific details provided as to why. Gen. Randy George, who was the Army chief of staff, stepped down when asked to, and Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., the chief of Army chaplains, was removed from his position.

The Army is processing Hodnes request for retirement, Smith said.

Hodne took command of T2COM in October as the Austin-based command was formally activated through the merger of Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command.

Before joining Futures Command, Hodne had worked in the Army chief of staffs office, including during Georges first four months in the job.

The Army created T2COM last year to restructure and downsize. It oversees future warfighting concepts and capabilities, all aspects of recruiting and the Armys schools, training programs and doctrine development.

For the first time in modern history, the Army unified the functions of force design, force development and force generation, Hodne said during the T2COMs activation ceremony. Technology alone never transformed war. The tank, the airplane, the drone, none changed battlefields by themselves. It required new tactics, new concepts and new organizations to integrate them into coherent warfighting systems.

Before the consolidation, Futures Command had only been around since 2018, so Brown has served within it for nearly its entire existence. He started as the deputy director and chief of staff for the commands Futures and Concepts Center. He then moved in 2021 to command its Combat Capabilities Development Command based at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

Brown then moved to the Futures Command headquarters in Austin, serving as the chief of staff, then special assistant to the commander. He received his third star in November 2024 as he stepped into the role of deputy commander.
Blaine McGraw faces 146 specifications of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. (Bell County (Texas) Sheriffs Office)



The Army on Tuesday filed more charges against a former OB-GYN at Fort Hood, Texas, who is accused of secretly video recording his exams with patients, to include more than 70 women, according to the service prosecutors office.

Maj. Blaine McGraw, 47, now faces 146 specifications of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. That includes 64 counts of sexual abuse and assault; one count of attempted sexual assault; 66 counts of indecent recording; 13 counts of conduct unbecoming; one for extramarital sexual misconduct; and one for willfully disobeying a superior commissioned officer, according to the Office of Special Trial Counsel, which is prosecuting the case.

The allegations involve 72 patients and occurred between Oct. 6, 2023, and Oct. 18, 2025, at Fort Hoods Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center. He is also accused of secretly recording one woman in an off-post home.

McGraw was first charged in December with crimes against 44 women.

Following that, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing in which an appointed officer would review evidence and determine whether prosecutors had enough to move forward with a court-martial. He instead opted to go straight into an arraignment hearing.

A new preliminary hearing will be scheduled to review the new charges, prosecutors said.

As this case remains an open investigation, [Office of Special Trial Counsel] prosecutors will continue to coordinate with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division as the case progresses to determine if additional charges are warranted, the special trial counsel said in a statement.

Outside of the criminal justice system, McGraw faces a lawsuit filed by more than 80 women in Bell County court. At least nine others have filed federal tort claims with the Army regarding the doctors actions. The women say they were forced into exams with no medical need, touched inappropriately and denied chaperones during appointments.

Daniel Conway, an attorney for McGraw on his criminal case, said these new charges seem to be based upon a lawsuit rather than an investigation.

McGraw is representing himself in the lawsuit, filing handwritten legal motions from Bell County Jail. Last month a judge ruled against his request to have the suit dismissed over jurisdiction.

He has now submitted a four-page request to receive the names of the 82 women signed onto the lawsuit because they have all done so under the pseudonym Jane Doe.

A defendant cannot be expected to prepare his defense without knowing who is suing him and why, he wrote.

Some of the women involved in the lawsuit and in tort claims have accused McGraw of sexual misconduct at Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii, his duty station before arriving at Fort Hood in August 2023, according to his service record.

One Tripler patient filed a claim Tuesday and wrote that during appointments, McGraw placed his hand on my upper thigh and left it there, and made uncomfortable comments during a breast exam she had told him she did not need because a different doctor had performed it.

During his appointments with me, Dr. McGraw would often answer text messages and phone calls. I thought this was inappropriate. I now worry that he videotaped me during these visits without my consent, the woman wrote in the claim.

She later ended her care with him after she said he texted and called her from his personal phone to schedule an invasive procedure outside of normal clinic business hours.
A family rescued by the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Midgett meet loved ones upon their safe return to Weno, Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia, April 6, 2026. (James Warguez/U.S. Coast Guard)



The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued a family of three stranded for a week in their tiny skiff in waters off the Federated States of Micronesia.

The crew of the USCGC Midgett spotted the 23-foot skiff Monday off the coast of Chuuk State, the Coast Guard said in a news release Tuesday.

The two men and one woman aboard the boat were uninjured and returned to Weno, Chuuk, in a Coast Guard helicopter.

The family had set out March 30 from Fananu Island in Chuuk for Murillo Island, a journey of about 31 nautical miles.

They became stranded and adrift when the boats single outboard motor failed during what should have been a one-day trip, Chief Warrant Officer Sara Muir, spokeswoman for Coast Guard Micronesia/Sector Guam, said by phone Wednesday.

Its our belief that the initial engine issue took place that first day and they were adrift from then on, she said.

It doesnt sound like they had a ton of supplies, but most of the time when folks go to sea like this, they do take equipment to fish so theyre able to take care of themselves during that time, Muir said.

Bridge watchstanders aboard the Coast Guard cutter Midgett locate a 23-foot skiff carrying a missing family in the waters of Chuuk State, Federated States of Micronesia, during the early hours of April 6, 2026. (Lauren Taber/U.S. Coast Guard)



The trio had no health issues when they were picked up by the Midgett, she said.

[Search-and-rescue] cases like this one are not routine for our platform, Capt. Brian Whisler, the Midgetts commander, said in the news release. Our bridge watchstanders spotted the small skiff in rough seas just after midnight, and that kind of situational awareness does not happen by accident. It is what this crew trains for, and I could not be prouder of how they performed.

The Coast Guard was notified Sunday that the boat, which had no radio or location transponder, was overdue and missing.

The initial search area was vast  more than 14,000 square nautical miles in rough seas with waves as high as 10 feet  the news release said.

A crew aboard an HC-130 Hercules plane flew from Hawaii to support the search, the Coast Guard said.

The USCGC Frederick Hatch, a Sentinel-class patrol boat homeported on Guam, was also dispatched for the search.

The Midgett, however, was already in the vicinity.

The Legend-class national security cutter was patrolling waters about 200 nautical miles south of Fananu Island, according to the release.

The Midgetts availability was not just a matter of serendipity, said Lt. Cmdr. Derek Wallin, the Coast Guards search-and-rescue mission coordinator.

This rescue reflects the strategic value of maintaining a capable surface presence across the regions vast maritime expanse, he said in the news release.

Without the Midgetts proximity, coordinating a search across more than 14,000 square nautical miles of open ocean would have required significantly more time and resources  time the three missing people may not have had.

The 418-foot-long national security cutters are primarily used for maritime security and international drug interdictions. They have a top speed of more than 28 knots, or about 32 mph, with a range of 13,800 miles.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observes a missile launch in this undated photo from the state-run Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA)



SEOUL, South Korea  North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to U.S. and South Korean officials, the latest in a series of weapons tests this year.

The North fired an unidentified type of ballistic missile from Wonson off its eastern coast just before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, South Koreas Ministry of National Defense reported minutes after the launch.

That morning, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command announced that other North Korean launches had been detected early that day and on Tuesday.

We are aware of the missile launches and are consulting closely with our allies and partners, the command said in a statement Wednesday. Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies.

Those launches consisted of multiple short-range ballistic missiles that traveled about 150 miles off North Koreas eastern coast, the Souths Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters.

Our military is closely monitoring North Koreas various movements under a robust South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture and maintains the capabilities and posture to respond to any provocation in an overwhelming manner, the Joint Chiefs said.

INDOPACOM said the United States remains committed to the defense of the homeland and its allies in the region.

On Monday, North Korea launched an unidentified projectile from the Pyongyang area, the Joint Chiefs said that day. That test appeared to have failed, according to a report by the Yonhap News Agency.

The launches follow reports last month that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the ground test of a solid-fuel missile engine, according to the Norths state-run Korean Central News Agency.

The engine, made with carbon fiber materials, is part of an effort to strengthen the countrys strategic strike capabilities, the report said.

The engine is intended for use in a new intercontinental ballistic missile under development, South Korean media reported.
Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under the Japanese justice system. (Akifumi Ishikawa/Stars and Stripes)



TOKYO  Two Marines assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni have been indicted on charges stemming from multiple thefts over the past year in Japan, according to U.S. military and Japanese authorities.

Prosecutors in various prefectures have charged Cpl. Malik Lewis and Lance Cpl. Damien Helms with offenses that include trespassing, larceny, attempted larceny and being an accomplice to larceny, according to an email Tuesday from 1st Marine Aircraft Wing spokesman Maj. Joseph Butterfield.

Lewis and Helms are flight equipment technicians with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12, an element of Marine Aircraft Group 12, Butterfield said.

The pair are in Marine Corps custody, he said.

Lewis, 26, and Helms, 20, were indicted in March by Tokyo District Public Prosecutors on charges of trespassing and larceny, according to a document provided by a prosecutors office spokesman on Tuesday.

He declined to provide details of the charges.

Prosecutors allege the two Marines stole about $170 in cash by using a stolen key to enter businesses in Kabukicho, a nightlife district in Tokyos Shinjuku ward, according to a Feb. 17 news release from Iwakuni city. The alleged offenses took place between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Dec. 24.

Tokyo police referred the charges to prosecutors on Feb. 13, according to the release.

The pair were also indicted March 24 in Fukuoka prefecture on charges of trespassing, larceny and attempted larceny, a spokeswoman for the Fukuoka District Public Prosecutors Office said by phone on Wednesday.

The spokeswoman declined to provide details of the indictment.

The Yomiuri Shimbun reported last month that prosecutors allege the pair broke into six restaurants in Nakasu, a nightlife district in Fukuoka city, the morning of Dec. 20 and stole the yen equivalent of about $2,652 in cash.

Lewis was also indicted March 5 by the Hiroshima District Public Prosecutors Office, according to a Sankei Shimbun report last month. A spokesman for that office could not be reached on Wednesday.

Authorities allege that Lewis broke into a business in Hiroshima citys Naka ward on Dec. 18 and stole about $1,452 in cash, according to a March 23 report in Sankei Shimbun.

He also attempted to steal items after breaking into another establishment but fled the scene after the security alarm went off, according to the report, which cited the indictment.

Police in Yamaguchi prefecture referred a case against Lewis for breaking into a business there and attempting to steal cash on the night of Dec. 18, Yomiuri Shimbun reported on March 17.

Prosecutors indicted the Marine on March 27, according to a spokesman for the prosecutors office.

Butterfield said the Marines are actively working with Japanese authorities on the allegations against Lewis and Helms.

Under our Status of Forces Agreement, the Government of Japan has primary criminal jurisdiction. We will continue to make the Marines available for all required judicial process proceedings and will closely monitor the proceedings without interfering in the Japanese judicial process, he wrote.
A U.S. soldier assigned to the 15th Engineer Battalion in Grafenwoehr has been placed in military custody and may face court-martial in connection with multiple groping incidents reported in recent months along off-base bike paths. (Andrew Cortez/U.S. Army)



GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  A U.S. soldier could face court-martial in connection with several bike path groping incidents in recent months near a sprawling Army training base in southern Germany.

Pfc. Luis Perez, 22, a petroleum supply specialist assigned to the 15th Engineer Battalion at Grafenwoehr, is accused of wrongdoing in at least three incidents between September and March near Grafenwoehr and Vilseck, said Michelle McCaskill, a spokeswoman for the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel.

Charges have been preferred against Perez, the military equivalent of a formal indictment, McCaskill said in a statement Tuesday. Following a preliminary hearing, prosecutors will decide whether to refer charges to a general court-martial.

Perez could face five counts of abusive sexual contact, one of indecent exposure, one of aggravated assault (strangulation), four of assault consummated by battery, one of attempted abusive sexual contact, one of obstruction of justice and one of possessing child pornography, McCaskill said.

The four accusers are American and connected to the military community, authorities said. Grafenwoehr is home to the largest Army training area in Europe.

Perez is in the custody of his command at Tower Barracks with restrictions on his movements and contacts, she said.

A native of El Paso, Texas, Perez was arrested on March 19 after a woman reported a sexual assault to police, saying she fought back against her attacker and was struck in the face.

Perez is accused of using a ruse in which he sprayed lotion on womens backsides before attempting to wipe it away, Oberpfalz police said in a March 24 statement. It is unclear whether the same tactic was used in the March assault. Both the suspect and the accuser were on foot at the time of that attack.

The 35-year-old woman told German authorities she was approached from behind about 5:30 p.m. on March 18 just before the bridge under State Route 2166 between Vilseck and Sorghof.

She fought back after being groped, and was then pulled to the ground by her hair and struck in the face, according to authorities. Her injuries were minor.

Police first became aware of Perez after two reported crimes last year at or near Grafenwoehr, on Sept. 1 and Dec. 4, McCaskill said.

A similar (modus operandi) from the previous offenses helped link him to this offense, McCaskill said, adding that the woman in the March incident identified him as her attacker.

Perez was released to his command following a hearing on March 24. Investigators are looking into the possibility that there are other victims.

Stars and Stripes reporter Marcus Kloeckner contributed to this report.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks in this undated photo. Rutte is in Washington on Wednesday for a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump, who is weighing a potential U.S. exit from the NATO alliance. (NATO)



NATOs future will be atop the agenda when Secretary-General Mark Rutte meets Wednesday with President Donald Trump, whose recent threats to quit the military bloc have raised existential questions about the nearly 80-year-old alliance.

The White House meeting amounts to a diplomatic high-wire act for Rutte, who needs to persuade Trump that NATO still serves U.S. interests while navigating possible demands that could fracture an alliance at odds over the conflict in Iran.

Ahead of the talks, Trump praised Rutte while criticizing the 32-member alliance he leads.

Hes a wonderful guy, Trump said of Rutte on Monday. A great person.

At the same time, Trump has blasted NATO for being a paper tiger, saying he was giving serious consideration to pulling out of the alliance. He also warned Europe that it would soon face consequences for not contributing more to the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran.

Some immediate pressure may have been relieved late Tuesday, when the U.S. and Iran agreed to a last-minute, two-week ceasefire just hours ahead of Trumps self-imposed deadline to reach a deal. However, the U.S. and Iran appear far apart on many fundamental issues, raising the possibility of further hostilities.

Rutte also is slated to meet Wednesday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, both of whom have strongly criticized NATO over the past week.

Some longtime NATO observers describe the situation as a state of emergency for the alliance, which was formed in 1949 to counter the Soviet Union.

This is by far the worst crisis NATO has ever confronted, wrote Ivo Daalder, a former U.S. ambassador to NATO in an assessment this month on his personal website.

Daalder said NATOs core principle  that allies will come to the defense of one another if under attack  is nearing a breaking point.

Its hard to see how any European country will now be able and willing to trust the United States to come to its defense, Daalder said.

The circumstances put Rutte, known for his diplomatic touch and friendly ties with Trump, in a delicate position.

As secretary-general, Rutte is responsible for managing NATOs relationship with the United States, the alliances most powerful member, while also representing allies with differing views on Iran.

Rutte was criticized last month when he expressed support for Trumps Iran military campaign, with some allies saying he had overstepped his role as secretary-general.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said ahead of Wednesdays meeting that some of Trumps top advisers share blame for NATOs limited role in the Middle East, accusing them of pushing allies to focus more on Europes defense.

Trump has been badly served by senior officials open hostility to European allies and yearlong admonishments to Europe to focus exclusively on its affairs at home, McConnell said in a statement, without naming specific advisers.

McConnell also said the Trump-Rutte meeting should serve as an opportunity to signal continued alliance unity.

How we talk about our NATO allies in public, and how we consult them in private, affects the strength of our other alliances and partnerships across the world, McConnell said. European allies are carrying more of the burden of collective defense. If we remain with them, they will be with us. But clarity and consistency must be the order of the day on both sides of the Atlantic.

But such traditional diplomatic approaches have been upended in recent weeks. Longtime NATO boosters such as Rubio and Sen. Lindsey Graham have called for a reevaluation of ties with Europe and the value of maintaining military bases in certain countries.

Spain, home to a major U.S. Navy base, has faced sharp criticism for refusing to allow its bases to be used for Iran operations.

Despite the NATO criticism, several of its member countries have been key to enabling the U.S. campaign in Iran. For example, military bases in the United Kingdom, Germany and Romania have played key roles in the U.S. effort.

As Rutte navigates the meeting with Trump, he could seek to highlight such efforts and how the U.S. basing network in Europe enables the Pentagon to project power into the Middle East for such missions.

In the past, Rutte has found ways to satisfy various Trump demands, such as pushing NATO defense spending toward 5% of gross domestic product and advancing a new Arctic mission aimed at addressing Trumps security concerns around Greenland.

Its unclear whether Rutte could help secure a NATO role in the Middle East if the ceasefire holds.

Some experts say Europe should instead focus on strengthening its militaries in case it needs to act alone.

Europe must now do what it has failed to do for so long, Daalder said. It needs to build up its defenses as quickly as it can, mobilize resources and production capabilities, recruit and if necessary conscript people to serve, train and prepare for attacks, both direct and indirect, and realize that all of this was needed yesterday rather than tomorrow.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a news conference at the White House on April 6, 2026. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP)



WASHINGTON  President Donald Trump agreed Tuesday evening to a proposal by Pakistan calling for a two-week ceasefire with Iran.

They requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks, Trump posted on Truth Social before a self-imposed deadline of 8 p.m. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!

The president added that Iran had presented a 10-point proposal that he believes is a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Irans Supreme National Security Council responded with a statement that Iran had been victorious and congratulated the Iranian people for their defiance in the war with the United States and Israel.

The council added that the U.S. had accepted all of Irans 10-point peace plan, including guarantees to not attack Iran, Irans control over the Strait of Hormuz, repatriation for financial losses and withdrawing U.S. combat forces from the region.

We congratulate the people of Iran for this victory and reiterate that until the final details of the victory are finalized, officials and people must remain united and defiant, the council said.

The 11th-hour decision came after Trump escalated his threats Tuesday morning to destroy the countrys infrastructure and talks appeared to stall.

A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, he said in a post to his Truth Social account. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will.

Trumps threats against Iranian infrastructure have prompted outcry from critics around the globe, including on Capitol Hill.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said such an operation would be a textbook war crime. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill., called for Trumps removal from office.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari, D-Ariz., said she will introduce articles of impeachment against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him the chief enabler of an illegal war.

Iran is a country of 90 million people, she said in a video posted to X. Threatening them with annihilation is a monstrous war crime and puts them and American service members and Americans at grave risk.

With both chambers of Congress under Republican control, any articles of impeachment are unlikely to gain traction. But the congressional pushback reflects wider unease about potential strikes.

Tehran on Monday rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal, saying it instead wants a permanent end to the war.

Trump has signaled for weeks that he is prepared to expand U.S. strikes against Iran to power plants and bridges if it does not open the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the war with Iran began on Feb. 28, 13 American personnel have died and at least 372 have been wounded, according to Defense Manpower Data Center figures.

American forces have struck more than 13,000 targets inside Iran, decimating much of its missile stockpile, production facilities and largest naval vessels. Early in the conflict, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is now supreme leader.

The ceasefire comes after an F-15E fighter jet, referred to by call sign Dude 44, was downed Thursday night in southern Iran. One crew member was promptly recovered while a risky search-and-rescue operation unfolded to recover the second crew member.

Stars and Stripes reporter Lara Korte contributed to this report.
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a move that has been welcomed worldwide.

The truce was announced less than two hours before a deadline set by Trump, and the two sides will hold negotiations in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan.

Trump said Tuesday that he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying that Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

The following remarks marked positive reactions worldwide.

SUPPORT FROM UN Secretary-General:

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Tuesday: "The Secretary-General underscores that an end to hostilities is urgently needed to protect civilian lives and alleviate human suffering."

"He calls on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region."

"He expresses sincere appreciation for the efforts of Pakistan and other countries involved in facilitating the ceasefire."

WELCOME FROM EUROPEAN UNION:

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a X post on Wednesday:

"The U.S.-Iran agreement on a ceasefire is a step back from the brink after weeks of escalation. It creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement."

Meanwhile, she noted the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened to passage, stressing the importance of safeguarding a key global shipping lane as efforts continue to ease tensions.

WELCOME FROM IRAQ:

An Iraqi Foreign Ministry statement released Wednesday noted that the ceasefire agreement would contribute to reducing tensions, enhancing the prospects for de-escalation, and consolidating security and stability in the region.

Meanwhile, it called for building upon this positive step by launching serious and sustainable dialogue channels that address the root causes of the disputes and strengthen mutual trust.

WELCOME FROM TAJIKSTAN:

Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that it hopes the upcoming talks will lead to a long-term and comprehensive settlement, while warning that the continuation of conflict would further complicate the already fragile situation in the Middle East and cause enormous losses to all countries in the region.

WELCOME FROM EGYPT:

An Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement issued Wednesday said: "The move is positive towards de-escalation and the containment of regional tensions," and called for full adherence to the ceasefire and respect for freedom of international navigation.

Also on Wednesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty hailed the move, in a phone conversation with U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, as an important step "for giving diplomacy a chance and working towards launching a serious negotiation process between Washington and Tehran."

WELCOME FROM SOUTH KOREA:

South Korea's foreign ministry said Wednesday the ceasefire agreement created momentum for the resumption of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, while expressing hope that peace and stability in the Middle East would be restored at an early date. 
U.S. Navy ships transit the Strait of Hormuz in this undated photo. A ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran was reached Tuesday, raising questions about the U.S. militarys role in the vital shipping corridor. (Keith Nowak/U.S. Navy)



A last-minute ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran to halt weeks of strikes eased fears of a wider conflict but leaves two key questions unresolved: Who controls the Strait of Hormuz? And what role will the U.S. military play in keeping it open?

The deal came together Tuesday evening, hours before a deadline set by President Donald Trump for potential U.S. strikes on Iranian infrastructure, with both sides agreeing to a two-week cessation of hostilities as negotiations continue.

Its the closest the U.S. has come to ending the 40-day conflict, which has sent fuel prices skyrocketing as Iran threatened attacks against vessels transiting the strait.

Despite the ceasefire, disagreements persist over how to govern the narrow sea route between Iran and Oman that is a vital corridor for a fifth of the globes oil.

A U.S. Navy helicopter accompanies warships through the Strait of Hormuz in this undated photo. A ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran was reached Tuesday, as questions remain about the U.S. militarys role in the strategically important shipping route. (Janae McCoy/U.S. Navy)



Trump has emphasized that any deal must include free and open transit for oil. In a Truth Social post, he said the United States will be helping with the traffic buildup in the waterway but without specifying how.

He previously suggested that the U.S. Navy could escort oil tankers and other cargo ships, but such an operation could put American sailors and merchant vessels at high risk of drone, missile or mine attacks.

The U.S. has deployed a fleet of warships to the region over the last several months, including the Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Arabian Sea and the Ford Carrier Strike Group in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

At least 16 destroyers and potentially one submarine are in the region. The Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, including elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, is also in the region.

Multiple outlets last month reported that the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group is also en route.

Iran has allowed small numbers of ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz since fighting began on Feb. 28, but global oil prices remain significantly higher than usual.

Part of Irans 10-point proposal, which Trump described as a workable basis on which to negotiate, included allowing Tehran to continue controlling traffic through the waterway.

Doing so would be a major departure from maritime shipping norms and would likely conflict with the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea.

It guarantees transit passage through international straits and generally prohibits countries from charging foreign ships for passage.

Trump on Wednesday suggested that the U.S. could launch a joint venture with Iran to charge tolls, according to ABC News.

Were thinking of doing it as a joint venture. Its a way of securing it  also securing it from lots of other people, Trump told ABCs Jonathan Karl.

Iran has demanded that any permanent peace deal allow it to collect fees in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Reuters. A senior Iranian official told the outlet that costs would vary depending on vessel type, cargo and prevailing conditions.

In his announcement of the ceasefire, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that for the next two weeks, safe passage through the strait will be coordinated with Irans military.

Last week, Iranian officials said they were discussing a system that would allow them to charge fees in coordination with Oman.

Such a proposal is likely to face global pushback, especially from countries in Europe and Asia that rely heavily on the goods passing through the strait.

Previous tactics employed by Trump, including threatening Iran with more strikes or encouraging other nations to seize the oil themselves, have yielded little in the way of opening the strait.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asked about Trumps claims that the U.S. would oversee traffic through the strait, said the military remains ready to intervene as needed.

Well be hanging around. Were not going anywhere. Were going to make sure Iran complies with this ceasefire, and then ultimately comes to the table and makes a deal, Hegseth told reporters Wednesday morning.

He emphasized that the two-week ceasefire includes the free passage of ships.

That will be happening, they will be sailing, he said.

News of the ceasefire was welcomed by world leaders, many of whom are still pushing for a diplomatic solution to the conflict. A coalition of more than 40 nations, not including the U.S., gathered last week to explore ways to reopen the strait.

The talks, hosted by Britain, focused on viable diplomatic and political measures to restore freedom of navigation after the fighting had stopped.

The ceasefire will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Wednesday in a post on X. He was set to travel to the Persian Gulf later that day for further discussions.
Automatic registration of men potentially eligible for the military draft will take effect by December, according to the government agency that maintains a database of who could be called up to serve in a crisis. (Stars and Stripes)



WASHINGTON  Automatic registration of men potentially eligible for the military draft will take effect by December, according to the government agency that maintains a database of who could be called up to serve in a crisis.

A proposed rule for the Selective Service System was submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30 as part of the process of implementing the change.

Most males between the ages of 18 and 25 are required to register with the Selective Service in the event that Congress and the president authorize conscription in response to a national emergency.

The new rule, mandated by defense policy legislation passed by Congress last year, will register men automatically rather than require them to register themselves within 30 days of their 18th birthdays. Late registration is allowed until a man reaches his 26th birthday.

Failure to register is considered a crime and can lead to disqualification from student loans, most federal jobs and U.S. citizenship for immigrants.

Lawmakers who championed automatic registration said it will cut government red tape and allow the agency, which spends millions of dollars reminding eligible men that registration is required by law, to save taxpayer money.

The Selective Service System said the change will result in a streamlined registration process and corresponding workforce realignment, allowing the agency to transfer responsibility from individual men by pulling data from existing databases.

Registration rates for the draft have declined in recent years but remain high, according to the agencys most recent report to Congress. In 2024, 81% of eligible men registered  a slight decrease from the 84% of men who registered in 2023.

The strong compliance rate is driven by laws in 46 states and territories that automatically register men for the Selective Service when they obtain a drivers license, learners permit or state identification card, according to the agency.

Women remain ineligible for the draft despite repeated legislative efforts to expand the registration requirement. In 2020, a commission appointed by Congress said including women, who became eligible for all combat jobs in 2016, would be a necessary and fair step.

Lawmakers have been able to attach provisions adding women to the draft to various versions of annual defense policy bills in recent years, but the measures have all been scrapped before being put to a final vote.

The U.S. last activated the draft in 1973, near the end of the Vietnam War, and has since relied on an all-volunteer force. Former President Jimmy Carter reinstated the Selective Service registration requirement for men in 1980.
The Buckley Space Force Base sign is photographed July 7, 2021. (Danielle McBride/U.S. Space Force)



An Air Force base and Space Force base were chosen as potential sites for nuclear microreactors under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program.

Buckley Space Force Base, Colo., and Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., were selected due to their utility infrastructure, land availability and critical mission requirements, according to a service news release.

This decision is a key step in ensuring the service can execute critical missions without interruption, thereby strengthening national security, the release said. Both bases will soon be matched with an ANPI nuclear vendor technology that fits each installations energy needs.

The Pentagons Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program aims to build microreactors at two military installations by 2030. The microreactors are described as advanced nuclear systems capable of generating electricity for several years without replenishing the nuclear fuel and which do not need connection to commercial power supplies to operate.

By advancing the use of next-generation nuclear energy, the DAF (Department of the Air Force) is strengthening the energy security of our power projection platforms and contributing to long-term national energy leadership, said Nancy Balkus, deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for Infrastructure, Energy and Environment, in the release.

In July 2025, Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska was selected as the top choice for the U.S. militarys first installation with a nuclear microreactor. The project at Eielson is separate from the ANPI program.
ABU DHABI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Falling debris from a successful air defence interception caused multiple fires at the Habshan gas complex in Abu Dhabi, injuring three people, the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on Wednesday. 
Melchor Saiz-Pardo and Mateo Balin 08/04/2026 a las 13:45h.

The latest report from the Guardia Civils judicial unit in Cordoba, submitted to the judge investigating the Adamuz rail disaster, reveals that the tracks broke 22 hours before the fatal accident.

According to investigators, a flaw in the configuration of the safety systems at infrastructure firm Adif prevented an automatic alert from being triggered.

In theory, such an alert would have prevented the collision between the Iryo and Alvia trains on 18 January. The disaster claimed 46 lives and left dozens injured after a Malaga-Madrid train derailed and collided with an Alvia service travelling on the opposite track towards Huelva.

In the 70-page report, the Guardia Civil concludes that "the accident originated on the railway line near kilometre marker 318 [...] as a result of a derailment caused by a broken rail." Investigators confirm that a broken rail or weld remains the primary focus of the inquiry.

Analysis of the technical data has revealed that the signalling systems detected an electrical disturbance long before the first train derailed. The voltage in the track circuits is normally maintained at around two volts. However, "from 9.46pm on 17 January, there was a drop to around 1.5 volts and normal voltage did not recover until the accident". This sustained variation is consistent with a crack or break in the steel, as per the Guardia Civil's report.

Despite the technical evidence, the Sam (maintenance support system) passively registered the voltage drop at the Hornachuelos base, near Adamuz, without issuing any warning to traffic control personnel. The police report states that "the signalling system was not configured to automatically alert to such a drop due to the unreliability of the method on this railway infrastructure".

According to statements Adif's supplier Hitachi Rail gave to the police, the system only generates a warning if the voltage drops below 0.780 volts. Since it remained at 1.5 volts, the system interpreted the track as clear and safe.

Investigators consider this subtle voltage drop key. According to Adif's 2017 technical specifications, "the system design must include the ability to detect rail breakage". The Guardia Civil state that Adif, despite its own regulations, "did not demand" this capacity with the necessary rigour for this high-speed line.

Discarded theories

The progress of the investigation has also narrowed down the range of possible causes of the fatal accident. The official report is unequivocal in stating that theories of negligent or reckless driving by the train drivers can be "definitively ruled out". Toxicology tests and the analysis by the legal registrars (RJU) confirmed that both professionals acted correctly, describing the accident as "completely unexpected and without any time to react".

Similarly, the investigators have ruled out any indications of "sabotage or terrorism", following negative chemical analyses at the forensic laboratory.

The focus has now shifted to the technical execution of the infrastructure. An investigation is under way to determine if there was "poor welding, either due to the welder's actions or the improper use of the welding kit". Investigators discovered that a 350HT kit was originally used at the kilometre marker of the accident to join rail coupons, whereas Adif's regulations stipulated the use of the R260 kit.

Although Adif submitted a "correction" alleging a recording error by the welder, the railway accident investigation commission (CIAF) has detected "inconsistencies" and raised doubts about the validity of the signatures on the documentation provided by the subcontractors.

The report also casts doubt on the effectiveness of the previous inspections. Although ultrasonic surveys were carried out in June 2025, which deemed the area "safe", the Guardia Civil discovered that the technicians in charge did not strictly meet the requirement of "demonstrating a minimum of two years' experience" at the time of the inspection. Furthermore, the company Redalsa informed the investigators that "there is no digital record of the raw data generated" during those inspections, citing technical limitations of the handheld equipment.

In addition, just two months before the tragedy, a dynamic inspection detected a "vertical acceleration defect" at the exact point of the break. This data was incorporated into monitoring efforts which, in light of the events, proved insufficient to detect the material fatigue that ultimately caused the collapse of the rail line built by Ensidesa in 2023.
Nuria Triguero Malaga 08/04/2026 Actualizado a las 17:56h.

Can a simple water jug explain something as complex as the Higgs boson? The traditional Spanish 'botijo' may be traditional, but it is not simple.

Malaga-born ceramicist and industrial engineer Concha Cuadra has chosen Spain's most archetypal drinking vessel to artistically represent the great concepts and mysteries of physics. Her work reflected in The Quantum Botijo exhibition has been on display at the Cern centre in Geneva - the world's leading particle physics research centre - since 30 March. The exhibition ends on 10 April.

Cuadra has presented a total of 20 ceramic pieces, each inspired by a different physical phenomenon and accompanied by a photograph by Santiago Martinez de Septien. Before arriving in Geneva, where scientists from all over the world study the ultimate structure of matter and the universe, the exhibition was on display at Espacio Cero in the University of Malaga.

That installation also included audiovisual pieces by mathematician and expert in computer simulations Jurgen Dollner, which could not be included in the Geneva exhibition. The three artists behind the exhibition combine backgrounds in physics and engineering with an artistic vocation.

Why use the traditional Spanish botijo as a source of inspiration? Cuadra says: "The botijo cools the water through evaporation and energy transfer, which involves the microscopic behaviour of molecules. In quantum mechanics, systems exchange energy in discrete quantities and the jug also manages the flow and dissipation of energy in a controlled manner.

"Furthermore, it maintains a balance between the water inside and the outside temperature, depending on the humidity and heat of the environment, similar to the principle of superposition, where a system can exist in multiple states until it is measured. Finally, the passage of water through the pores of the botijo is reminiscent of the quantum tunnelling effect, in which particles can pass through energy barriers that, on the surface, would seem insurmountable."

The artist states that she does not intend "to explain the Universe, but to open questions, because the complexity of everything that exists is perhaps already hiding in the simplest form of a water jug".

The exhibition is right at the entrance to the Cern auditorium, where the famous discovery of the Higgs boson was announced. Each jug bears the name of a key concept in physics and the universe: 'Big Bang', 'Black Hole', 'Schrodinger's Cat', 'Dirac Equation', 'String Theory'.

'Boson de Higgs', 'Pensamiento matematico' and the creative process of 'Big bang'.. (Santiago Martinez de Septien)

Of course, there is also a 'Higgs Boson'. "The surface of the clay water jug, covered in equations, displays the formulas of the Higgs theory, which mathematically express the existence of this invisible field that permeates the cosmos. Organic forms (flowers, leaves and tree trunks) emerge against this dark background as a symbol of the connection between physics and nature, reminding us that the fundamental laws of the universe are deeply intertwined with the reality that surrounds us.

The jug's multiple spouts, some elongated like test tubes, evoke the experiments conducted at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), where the Higgs boson was first detected in 2012. The glazed texture, with its interplay of light and reflections, seems to bring the inscribed equations to life, as if the ceramic itself were vibrating with the energy of the subatomic particles," Cuadra says.

A circle that opens and closes in Geneva

For the Malaga-born artist, bringing her exhibition to Cern represents a full circle, since it was precisely there that the seed for 'The Quantum Botijo' was planted. Cuadra visited the laboratory in December 2024 and was "deeply impressed by the magnitude of scientific research and the human effort to understand the Universe".

The images and concepts she absorbed there matured in her mind and ultimately generated "the need to express that experience in a work of art". The result is this collection of works with which the artist reflects on the great questions of contemporary science.

"It was great fun putting together the exhibition, because all the Spaniards who work at Cern kept coming up to us. How could they not be drawn in when they saw the word 'botijo'!" jokes Concha Cuadra, who defines herself as a "ceramicist and conceptual artist". "I fuse traditional pottery with a deep scientific and philosophical exploration," she says.

A family with roots in science

An interest in science and the mysteries of the universe runs deep in Concha Cuadra's family. Her son, Federico Lozano, is currently doing a research stay at Nasa's renowned Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, working on optimising communications for lunar rovers using AI.

He is able to do so thanks to being one of nine young people from Andalucia selected to receive the Fulbright-Junta de Andalucia scholarship last year.

Federico Lozano graduated from the University of Malaga (UMA) with a degree in Telecommunications Engineering Systems and holds two master's degrees: one in Telematics and Telecommunications Networks and the other in Telecommunications Engineering. He is a predoctoral researcher in the field of Telecommunications Engineering, where he focuses on machine learning for improving space communications. He is a member of the SatCom research group, led by Beatriz Soret.
Juan Cano and Maria Jose Diaz Alcala Malaga 08/04/2026 Actualizado a las 11:15h.

The judge for the 'Haitam' case in Torremolinos has received the final report of the official autopsy of the 35-year-old man who died on 7 December 2025 after the National Police Tasered him in a call shop.

According to the forensic experts from the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) in Malaga, Haitam died from an adverse drug reaction and a condition known as 'agitated delirium'. In addition, the report states that what further aggravated his state was his heart, deteriorated by various other conditions.

What is agitated delirium?

Agitated delirium is a crisis of extreme agitation in which an individual exhibits disproportionate strength and severe mental disturbance. Clinically, it is a heart failure due to physical stress and an increase in body temperature during a struggle.

This condition, however, lacks universal consensus, despite appearing in numerous cases in Spain as well as in scientific and forensic literature. While much of the medical community links it to drug use or other pathologies, other international organisations do not include it as an official diagnosis in their manuals.

Chronology of events, according to the videos

Both the security camera footage from the call shop and the recordings from the officers' Tasers detail the complete sequence of the police intervention. SUR published most of the content of these videos, which show that Haitam entered the call shop at 6.51pm, highly agitated and demanding a charger. He knocked down a security grille next to the counter, fought with the worker until he knocked him to the ground and slipped behind the display case.

The owner, thinking he was going to be robbed, left the premises shouting "thief", closed the door and alerted the emergency services. The National Police received an alert about a suspected robbery with violence and a patrol car with two officers initially responded to the scene.

During the eleven minutes Haitam was alone in the shop, he frantically searched the counter for a charger. He had two cell phones and plugged one into a cable in the shop. The cash register was open, but he didn't take a single euro. He picked up a pair of round-tipped scissors (the kind used in schools) and held them next to his phones.

It was 7.03pm when the two police officers entered the shop. "Buddy, get on the floor," one of them said as he walked toward Haitam, his Taser drawn. "Can you see this?" he asked, referring to the weapon.

The police insisted he drop the scissors and cell phones and turn around. Haitam, allegedly in a state of intoxication from drug use, stated that he was going to cooperate. He put down the scissors, but continued ignoring the police instructions until he decided to shake hands with one of the officers.

The police grabbed his wrist and began to handcuff him. "I'm going to cooperate," Haitam repeated. Then he began to squirm. Four more officers entered into the premises and pounced on Haitam to restrain him while he screamed.

He received the first electric shocks to his back. Then, he was punched in the face and received another shock. At 7.08pm, the police handcuffed Haitam. Just seconds later, he received two more electric shocks after he began moving his legs at the request of one of the officers. Immediately afterward, the police also allegedly sprayed him in the face, to which Haitam responded by spitting in the officer's eye. On the ground, handcuffed and with an officer on top of his legs, he received another electric shock. "Will you calm down?" "Shut up, damn it." Haitam was moaning and panting. A few minutes later, he can no longer be heard on the recordings.

The court provisionally shelved the case pending the final autopsy report. The results now reveal that he had consumed cocaine, MDMA, ketamine and cannabis shortly before the incident. He had also apparently consumed alcohol, though not in large quantities.

The toxicology report, which details the amounts of drugs present in Haitam's body, concludes that, although these figures are not lethal in themselves, they autopsies performed on the bodies of people who were regular cocaine users frequently detect them.

The IML report lists 19 injuries on Haitam's body. According to sources, the Taser gun the police used caused two of these injuries. The rest were the result of the police attempts to subdue him. The forensic experts say that these injuries did not endanger his life.

The IML report concludes that Haitam suffered an agitated delirium caused by the consumption of toxic substances. The forensic experts note in their report that cocaine and MDMA are among the substances most frequently observed in cases of agitated delirium.

Forensic report commissioned by the family lists 86 injuries

The IML's conclusions differ from those forensic medicine expert Aitor Curiel reached after Haitam's family commissioned a separate report.

According to his report, which the private prosecution has also submitted to the court, Haitam died "from cardiorespiratory arrest as a consequence of polytrauma involving restraint, immobilisation and high pressure on the neck, chest and all four limbs", compounded by "multiple prolonged and repeated electric shocks with a Taser".

The report says that Haitam would not have died had it not been for the multiple injuries he suffered. Haitam's brother, Naser, told SUR that Curiel's report lists 86 injuries on Haitam's body, far more than the 19 recorded in the official autopsy. "We will demand accountability because this is a disgrace," he stated.
Ignacio Lilla Malaga 08/04/2026 a las 11:08h.

Only 20 days remain until the reopening of the high-speed rail (AVE) in Malaga province, at least in theory. This is less than three weeks before AVE trains can run directly between Malaga and Madrid - something that has not been possible since mid-January.

The works in Alora are progressing well. For now, the forecast head of Adif (the rail infrastructure company) Pedro Marco de la Pena gave seems doable.

Almost a month ago, Marco said that the service would resume "no earlier than the last week of April" and pledged to review the date every two weeks, depending on the progress of the work. Private operators later provided more specific information, as Adif informed them that they could sell tickets for the reopening on Monday, 27 April.

SUR has verified that private operator Iryo is currently offering three services in each direction (half of what there were before the disruption) for that day, on which, presumably, it will be possible to travel without the need for road transfers. Only public operator Renfe has been offering the transfer option since the incident in Alora.

The second private operator, Ouigo, also has two departures scheduled between the two cities for that same day. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Renfe had not yet released Malaga-Madrid AVE and Avlo tickets for 27 April. There is one indication that this might change: the state-owned company is currently offering transfer journey tickets only until 26 April.

Broken promises

In his latest posts on X, Minister of Transport Oscar Puente announced that they continue "working day and night, seven days a week, to put the line back into service".

The photo the minister shared shows how the work is progressing: the wall that remained standing after the landslide has already been partially demolished, as agreed. The same has to happen to the other side.

Although current forecasts are optimistic, people treat them with caution, given the government's history of broken promises in addressing this serious breakdown on the Malaga-Cordoba high-speed line. The track closure in Alora occurred on 4 February, although initially the impact was minimal because the rail connection had been closed since 18 January due to the Adamuz tragedy.

Initially, a miscalculation led to the announcement that trains could resume services on 8 March. The next official date was 23 March, just a few days before the start of Holy Week.

That deadline also failed to materialise, sparking a bitter controversy between the government, the opposition and the tourism sector. On 16 March, Pedro Marco de la Pena visited the Alora construction site and announced that the direct high-speed service would not resume until at least the end of April.

High-speed at half throttle

Although it will reopen at the end of the month, the line will remain incomplete for several more months. During his recent appearance, Marco outlined several key aspects of the track's gradual recovery plan.

Traffic will initially flow on a single track (track 2, the one further from the slope) and with speed limitations at the affected point, although the impact on travel times due to this obstacle will be limited, as it is a stretch of barely 500 metres.

According to this timeline, the double track could reopen in June, while the complete restoration of the infrastructure to its original condition (and capacity) will take at least until the end of the year. This is because the landslide also damaged a major piece of track equipment (the turnout and crossing system) located in the affected area. Replacing it requires between five and seven months for manufacturing the part, followed by installation.

Therefore, the summer of 2026 will pose challenges for rail connections between Malaga and Madrid, with trains running on a single track from Malaga's Maria Zambrano station to Antequera-Santa Ana. There is no possibility of trains passing each other. This involves the stretch of 54.5 kilometres between the two stations. In the event of a train breakdown or track failure on this section, the line will be blocked with no alternative route.
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BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a move that has been widely welcomed by the international community.

The following remarks reflect positive reactions worldwide.

EUROPEAN UNION:

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X on Wednesday:

"I welcome the two-week ceasefire the U.S. and Iran agreed last night. It brings much-needed de-escalation. I thank Pakistan for its mediation. Now it is crucial that negotiations for an enduring solution to this conflict continue. We will continue coordinating with our partners to this end."

European Council President Antonio Costa said in a post on X on Wednesday:

"I welcome the announcement by the United States and Iran of a two-week ceasefire. I urge all parties to uphold its terms in order to achieve sustainable peace in the region. The EU stands ready to support ongoing efforts and remains in close contact with its partners in the region. I thank Pakistan and all other parties involved in facilitating this agreement."

FRANCE:

French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire nearly 40 days after the war in Iran started, expressing his hope that the ceasefire would be "fully respected."

"We expect that in the coming days and weeks, it (the ceasefire) will be fully respected throughout the region, and will allow for negotiations to take place, which will enable a lasting resolution of the nuclear, ballistic, and regional issues related to Iran," Macron said, describing the ceasefire as a "very good thing."

The president made these remarks during a Defense and National Security Council meeting he convened on the situation in Iran and the Middle East. During the meeting, he also emphasized that the ceasefire must "fully" include Lebanon.

CROATIA:

Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, highlighting its positive impact on global markets.

"Good news. I see that markets around the world have reacted, oil prices are already falling, which is good for us," Plenkovic said ahead of a session of the Croatian Parliament.

The prime minister added that further developments would be crucial in the coming two weeks and expressed hope that the ceasefire would lead to a lasting peace agreement.

RUSSIA:

"We are, of course, pleased with the news about the truce and welcome the decision not to follow the path of armed escalation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday.

He noted that Russia has consistently called for de-escalation around Iran and a shift toward peaceful solutions.

Peskov also expressed hope that direct contacts between Iran and the United States will take place in the near future.

KYRGYZSTAN:

Kyrgyzstan has welcomed the ceasefire agreement in the Middle East and efforts aimed at promoting de-escalation and dialogue, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

In a statement, the ministry said that Kyrgyzstan welcomes the agreement on a ceasefire in the Middle East, as well as the efforts undertaken by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and other stakeholders aimed at facilitating de-escalation and promoting peaceful dialogue.

The country also expressed hope for achieving sustainable and long-term peace in the Middle East.

TURKIYE:

In a statement posted on X on Wednesday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "We welcome the ceasefire announced last night in the war that has turned our region into a battlefield since Feb. 28."

"We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground without giving any opportunity for possible provocations and sabotage," he said.

"We wholeheartedly congratulate all the actors who contributed to the process leading to the ceasefire, especially our friend and brother Pakistan," he added.

Earlier in the day, Turkiye's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Turkiye welcomes the temporary U.S.-Iran ceasefire, emphasizing the necessity of "the full implementation of the temporary ceasefire on the ground."

INDIA:

The Indian government on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire reached between the United States and Iran, expressing hope for a lasting peace in the Middle East and unimpeded freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.

"As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict," India's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

India said the conflict has already caused immense suffering to people and disrupted global energy supply and trade networks. 
Anthropic has introduced "Project Glasswing," a new initiative that focuses on global safety and security on the software side of things.

This new AI cybersecurity initiative has already garnered the commitment from renowned technology companies, such as the likes of Apple, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, and more.

Anthropic's Project Glasswing and Mythos Preview

Anthropic unveiled their latest brainchild that centers on the world of AI and cybersecurity for software, combining both into one development to further help the tech industry fight against bad actors.

The startup AI company said that participants who will be given a chance to build on Project Glasswing will be given access to the Claude Mythos Preview to build on and enhance their security projects.

According to Anthropic, it found new capabilities in a frontier model that it trained, which it calls the Claude Mythos Preview, powered by an AI capable of finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities. In turn, it helps secure platforms.

The company said that Mythos Preview already found "thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities" in "every major operating system and web browser."

Project Glasswing will help companies turn these capabilities "to work" and focus on "defensive purposes" against significant threats.

AI Cybersecurity Initiative with Collaborators

Anthropic has partnered with various companies as collaborators for this new cybersecurity initiative.

The company named the likes of Amazon Web Services, Anthropic, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JP Morgan Chase, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Palo Alto Networks.

Engadget reported that Anthropic has since positioned itself towards the ethical use of artificial intelligence, campaigning and raising awareness towards proper application of the tech.

The company is also known for rejecting the Pentagon's contract offer as it opted not to compromise its AI safety practices for profit.
Wushan County has unveiled a massive new infrastructure project featuring what is described as the world's longest outdoor escalator network.

The system connects the town center to a high mountain viewpoint overlooking the Three Gorges, changing how visitors access the area's steep terrain.

Escalator Network Gives Way to Easier Mountain Access

The installation, known as the Wushan outdoor escalator network, stretches roughly 3,000 feet and combines 21 escalators with 8 elevators. Together, these segments form a continuous but multi-stage ascent from the valley floor to the scenic ridge above.

Locals have nicknamed the system the "Goddess Escalator" due to its dramatic elevation change and its ability to transform a difficult climb into a smooth, automated ride.

Engineering Collaboration With Global Expertise

According to BoingBoing, the project was developed with support from the Schindler Group, a global leader in vertical transportation systems. Their involvement helped ensure the complex network could safely operate across steep and uneven mountainous terrain.

Furthermore, the design requires passengers to transfer between different escalator segments as they ascend, creating a continuous but modular travel experience rather than a single uninterrupted structure.

Scenic Route Through the Three Gorges Landscape

The Wushan County region sits within one of China's most visually striking environments, the Three Gorges. The town itself lies at a low elevation, while the viewpoints above offer mesmerizing views of cliffs, rivers, and surrounding peaks.

Before the escalator system was built, reaching the summit required either a strenuous hike or a lengthy drive along winding mountain roads. Imagine reaching the top after three or more hours. Now, it's cut down to just below 25 minutes.

High-Cost Project With Tourism Impact

The construction cost of the Wushan outdoor escalator network is estimated at around $23 million, reflecting both its scale and engineering complexity. Despite the investment, the system is already being recognized as a practical solution for improving accessibility in steep urban environments.

Wushan County proves that by integrating transportation and tourism infrastructure, it can serve as a model for how mountainous regions can enhance mobility without altering natural landscapes.

It's an amazing achievement that China spearheaded, especially amid the current surge of sprawling cities that often come at the cost of destroying forests and mountains.
NASA releases picture of 'Earthset' shot by Artemis crew



Houston, April 7 (AFP) Apr 07, 2026



NASA on Tuesday released a historic photograph of Earth dipping below the lunar horizon, more than 57 years after an iconic "Earthrise" image was captured by an Apollo 8 astronaut.

Members of the Artemis II crew captured the shot from their Orion capsule during the mission's record-setting lunar flyby, echoing the legendary "Earthrise" photograph taken by US astronaut Bill Anders in December, 1968 during the first space mission to carry humans around the Moon.

The US space agency posted its "Earthset" photo on X, as did the White House.

"Humanity, from the other side," the White House said. "First photo from the far side of the Moon. Captured from Orion as Earth dips beyond the lunar horizon."

The crew of four -- US astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, as well as Canadian Jeremy Hansen -- are on a historic mission to loop around Earth's natural satellite as part of a broader program paving the way for a Moon landing in 2028.

The astronauts have reported in vivid detail features of the lunar surface and later witnessed a solar eclipse, when the Moon passed in front of the Sun.

The White House also posted a NASA photograph of the eclipse, revealing what it said is "a view few in human history have ever witnessed."

Back in 1968, Apollo 8 orbited the Moon 10 times without landing. During one orbit, Anders captured Earth's brilliant blue hue standing out against the vast darkness of space and accentuated by the desolate, grey lunar horizon in the foreground.

"Earthrise" often appears in selections of the most iconic images, and was included in 2003 in Life magazine's book entitled "100 Photographs That Changed the World."
CANBERRA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday welcomed the agreement by the United States and Iran to a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.

Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict reached, Albanese said in a statement.

"We thank and support the work of negotiators, including Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, in advancing de-escalation efforts," he said, noting that Australia continues to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life.

Iran and the United States agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan. 
Artemis II crew snaps historic Earthset photo on way home



Houston, April 7 (AFP) Apr 07, 2026



The Artemis II astronauts snapped a stunning shot of Earthset -- the moment when the Earth dips below the Moon's horizon -- on their long journey back home Tuesday after wrapping up a historic lunar flyby.

NASA released the photo of Earth dropping below the rugged lunar edge in a deliberate nod to the iconic Earthrise image taken by an Apollo 8 astronaut in 1968.

That shot 57 years ago helped capture the public's imagination when it was taken by US astronaut Bill Anders during the first space mission to carry humans around the Moon.

The modern version pairs the delicate, watery planet Earth with the harsh, huge curve of the Moon, separated by black space.

"First photo from the far side of the Moon," the White House said, reposting the image.

The crew of four -- US astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover, teamed with Canadian Jeremy Hansen -- are on a historic mission to loop around Earth's natural satellite as part of a broader program paving the way for a Moon landing in 2028.

After completing their lunar flyby -- breaking the record for distance from Earth -- they were bound for home, with splashdown due in the Pacific off the coast of California late Friday.



- 'Hard to describe' -



The crew reported in vivid detail features of the lunar surface and later witnessed a solar eclipse, when the Moon passed in front of the Sun.

They also described flashes of light -- meteor strikes -- on the Moon's surface.

"Humans probably have not evolved to see what we're seeing," said Victor Glover. "It is truly hard to describe. It is amazing."

Late Monday, the crew got a congratulatory call from NASA administrator Jared Isaacman and US President Donald Trump, who at 79 is old enough to remember the Apollo program.

"You've really inspired the entire world," Trump said, calling them "modern-day pioneers" who have "a lot of courage."

He probed the astronauts about their favorite moments and asked what it was like to lose connection with Earth for some 40 minutes during an expected communications blackout. Trump experienced a signal glitch of his own while calling into space.

"Might have gotten cut off," Trump said as he waited a full minute for the signal to return. "It is a long distance."



- Historic trip -



The Artemis II team broke the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, which they surpassed by more than 4,000 miles (more than 6,000 kilometers) when they reached the journey's furthest distance from Earth 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers).

Astronaut Jeremy Hansen said the moment should "challenge this generation and the next, to make sure this record is not long-lived."

Glover was the first person of color to fly around the Moon, Koch was the first woman, and Canadian Hansen the first non-American.

The Orion capsule carrying the astronauts will now travel back to Earth in a so-called free-return trajectory before coming down in the ocean.

They'll be leaving something behind: names for two previously unnamed Moon craters.

The first they requested to name in honor of their spacecraft's nickname, "Integrity."

They offered a second name, "Carroll," for another crater, which they asked be named after the late wife of mission commander Wiseman, who died of cancer.

"It's a bright spot on the Moon," said Hansen, his voice breaking with emotion. "And we would like to call it Carroll."

NASA said it will formally submit the name proposals to the International Astronomical Union, the body charged with naming celestial bodies and surface features.
Indigenous groups demand greater land protection in Brazil protest



Brasilia, April 7 (AFP) Apr 07, 2026



Indigenous protesters from across Brazil marched to the capital Brasilia Tuesday to demand the government expedite recognition of their ancestral lands.

The protest, featuring tribal members in colorful traditional feathers and body decorations, came six months before leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, popularly known as Lula, faces a reelection battle.

Indigenous Brazilian peoples broadly supported Lula in 2022 when he defeated his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, whose government ceased to recognize native lands and fueled deforestation in the Amazon.

Lula made an important symbolic gesture by naming a respected figure from the Guajajara-Tenetehara ethnicity, Sonia Guajajara, as the head of the new Ministry of Indigenous Peoples.

Lula's government has overseen a drop in Amazon deforestation -- promising to eradicate the felling of trees by 2030 -- and the recognition of 20 territories for the exclusive use of Indigenous communities.

But for some, the new measures are not enough.

"Our principal demand continues to be the formal recognition of Indigenous territories," Toya Manchineri, from the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon, told AFP.

Experts see the Indigenous reserves as a way to help fight climate change and preserve biodiversity.

As Latin America's largest country, Brazil has 1.7 million Indigenous people out of a population of 212 million.



- 'Enemy' Congress -



The Indigenous groups will camp out in Brasilia until Friday, and plan to dance, play music, host artisan markets and debate.

Thousands marched to Congress on Tuesday, where the Association of Brazilian Indigenous People (APIB) accused lawmakers of being the "enemies of the people" for their alliance with the powerful agribusiness sector -- one of the main drivers of deforestation.

The majority-conservative Congress approved a law in 2023 that limits Indigenous people's land rights. This was later struck down by the Supreme Court, but right-wing parties are working for new restrictions.

The legal limbo leaves Indigenous areas exposed to the penetration of agribusiness and mining interests, Manchineri said. "The impact is huge."

According to the APIB, a hundred Indigenous territories are awaiting the formal signoff of government recognition.

Despite slow progress, native groups will still "cast their votes for the reelection" of Lula, Manchineri predicts.

Although she demanded "justice and resources" for her community, Marilene Gervasio, from the Bare people, said she hoped the leftist will be reelected.

Lula will face Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of the far-right ex-president, in the October election. The most recent polls show a close second round between them.
'Screams of delight': Artemis crew flying home to thrilled NASA scientists



Houston, April 7 (AFP) Apr 07, 2026



The Artemis II astronauts were jetting towards Earth and sharing their lunar flyby souvenirs Tuesday, delighting colleagues both at home and in space with captivating tales of their historic journey.

Of note was their stunning shot of an Earthset, the moment when Earth drops below the rugged lunar horizon.

The image was a deliberate nod to the iconic Earthrise image taken during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968, a shot that helped capture the public's imagination as humans traveled around the Moon for the first time.

The modern version released by NASA and the White House pairs the delicate, watery planet Earth with the harsh curve of the Moon, separated by black space.

The astronauts were busy Tuesday afternoon debriefing lunar scientists in Houston's mission control about what they had witnessed during their nearly seven-hour observation period of the Moon.

"Our whole lunar science team and the broader science community have been pouring out positive feedback and gratitude, so know that what you did yesterday really made a difference scientifically," Kelsey Young, the lunar science lead for the Artemis II mission, told the crew.

Speaking to a briefing later on, Young said "spirits are very high."

"We did what we set out to do."

The crew of four -- US astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, and Victor Glover along with Canadian Jeremy Hansen -- looped around Earth's natural satellite as part of a broader program paving the way for a Moon landing as soon as 2028.

After completing their lunar flyby -- in which they also broke the record for distance from Earth -- they were bound for home, with splashdown due in the Pacific off the California coast late Friday.

In the meantime they took a call from colleagues in space -- chatting with crewmembers aboard the International Space Station.

"It's fun to be up in space with you at the same time!" said Hansen.

Tonight they'll have another chance to speak with their families, NASA said.



- 'Screams of delight' -



The crew have reported in vivid detail features of the lunar surface and later witnessed a solar eclipse, when the Moon passed in front of the Sun.

They also described flashes of light -- meteor strikes -- on the Moon's surface.

"Humans probably have not evolved to see what we're seeing," said Victor Glover. "It is truly hard to describe. It is amazing."

Young reported that there were "audible screams of delight" in NASA's Science Evaluation Room as the astronauts evoked their observations.

Late Monday, the crew got a congratulatory call from NASA administrator Jared Isaacman and US President Donald Trump, who at 79 is old enough to remember the Apollo program.

He was, in a word, impressed.

"You've really inspired the entire world," Trump said, calling them "modern-day pioneers" who have "a lot of courage."

He probed the astronauts about their favorite moments and asked what it was like to lose connection with Earth for some 40 minutes during an expected communications blackout.

The call even had a little signal glitch of its own, with Trump waiting expectantly as the astronauts appeared not to hear him for a full minute.

"Might have gotten cut off," Trump said afterwards. "It is a long distance."



- Historic trip -



The Artemis II team broke the distance record set by the 1970 Apollo 13 mission, which they surpassed by more than 4,000 miles (more than 6,000 kilometers) when they reached the journey's furthest distance from Earth 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometers).

Glover was the first person of color to fly around the Moon, Koch was the first woman, and Canadian Hansen the first non-American.

The Orion capsule carrying the astronauts is now traveling back to Earth in a so-called free-return trajectory ahead of its ocean splashdown.

Administrator Isaacman said the ship that will recover the astronauts has left port en route to the meeting point.
North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles towards East Sea: Seoul



Seoul, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



North Korea fired "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles" on Wednesday, South Korea's military said, shortly after reporting a similar launch from the North's capital area the previous day.

The launches followed Seoul's expression of regret on Monday over civilian drone incursions into the North in January, with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung calling it "irresponsible" and noting that government officials had been involved in the operation.

The missile launches are seen as North Korea's latest rebuff of South Korea's peace overtures, according to analysts.

Seoul's military initially said on Wednesday morning it had detected "an unidentified projectile launched from the Pyongyang area on Tuesday."

Around an hour later the military said it also detected "multiple unidentified ballistic missiles fired from the Wonsan area of North Korea towards the East Sea" on Wednesday morning, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan.

The missiles flew around 240 kilometres (149 miles), they added.

South Korean President Lee has sought to repair ties with North Korea since taking office last year, criticising his predecessor for allegedly sending drones to scatter propaganda over Pyongyang.

Following Lee's expression of regret over the drones on Monday, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said Lee's regret was "wise behaviour".

"Our government appreciated it as very fortunate and wise behaviour for its own sake," Kim Yo Jong said on Monday.

But on Tuesday, a senior North Korean foreign ministry official described the South as "the enemy state most hostile to the DPRK", using the initials of the North's official name, reiterating a label used by leader Kim previously.

Referring to South Korean media reports that cast a positive light on Kim Yo Jong's comments about Lee, the official said such a stance was "nonsense".

"Regarding the rapid response from our government as an 'exceptional friendly response'... this will also be recorded as world-startling fools' 'hope-filled dream reading'", Jang Kum-chol, first vice-minister of Pyongyang's foreign ministry, said in an English statement carried by the official Korean Central News Agency.

The launches are Pyongyang's message to Seoul that its anti?South stance remains firm despite Seoul's repeated overtures, said Lim Eul?chul, an expert on North Korea at Kyungnam University.

"The consecutive firings and recent statements underscore the North's determination to ignore attempts by the South at improving inter?Korean ties," he said.



- Irreversible course -



Lee's expression of regret came after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un labeled Seoul as the "most hostile state" in a policy address in March in which he vowed to "thoroughly reject and disregard it".

North Korea's leader also reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining the country's nuclear arsenal, describing it as an "irreversible course".

Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol is standing trial over charges that his administration sent drones into the North to provoke a backlash and create a pretext for declaring military rule.

During Yoon's presidency, relations between Seoul and Pyongyang hit rock bottom, with the North sending balloons filled with garbage, including animal manure, in response to propaganda leaflets sent northward by South Korea-based activists, many of them North Korean defectors.

The two Koreas technically remain at war, as the 1950-53 conflict ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, and both enforce mandatory military service for men.
France emissions cuts slow again, climate targets off track



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



France's cuts to greenhouse gas emissions slowed for a second straight year in 2025 and remain well below what is needed to meet its climate goals, according to government-commissioned data published Wednesday.

The slowdown comes as other major economies also struggle to make good on their promise to reduce planet-warming emissions, even as global average temperatures hover at near record highs.

France's emissions declined 1.5 percent from the previous year, said Citepa, a non-profit organisation tasked by France's ecology ministry with tallying the country's greenhouse gas inventory.

"The downward trend in emissions is continuing, albeit at a slower pace," Citepa said in a statement, but added that the reduction "remains insufficient" to meet France's 2030 climate targets.

France in December updated its pathway for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. To stay on track, greenhouse gas emissions need to fall approximately 4 percent on average every year until 2030.

After France slashed its output by 3.9 percent in 2022 and 6.8 percent in 2023, the rate slowed sharply to 1.8 percent in 2024.

The final 2025 reduction was revised slightly from Citepa's provisional estimate of 1.6 percent in January.

Like other industrialised economies, France has struggled to reduce the energy intensity of politically sensitive or costly sectors such as transportation and refineries.

Emissions from the energy generation rose slightly in 2025, breaking a downward trend observed since 2022, while only small cuts were made in transport.

Anne Bringault, director of programs at the Climate Action Network (RAC) alliance of environment groups, blamed "setbacks in public policies for ecological transition" for the slowdown in progress in tackling emissions.

Efforts to focus attention on tackling climate change are being overshadowed by wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, a global energy crisis, and growing economic turmoil.

France's data echoes a slowdown in neighbouring Germany, where emissions fell just 0.1 percent in 2025, the Agora Energiewende expert group said in March.

Emissions in the United States rose 2.4 percent last year, according to the Rhodium Group think tank, spurred by the world's biggest economy's demand for heating and electricity for the AI boom.
India pulls bid to host 2028 COP33 climate summit: Indian govt source



Paris, France, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



India has withdrawn its bid to host the 2028 COP33 climate summit, sources told AFP on Wednesday.

A government source and another source familiar with the talks confirmed a report by Climate Home News that India had quietly dropped out.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed India as host country in 2023.

The withdrawal -- the reasons for which were not specified -- has not yet been officially announced by the Indian government.

Harjeet Singh, an Indian climate activist and COP veteran, lamented the move as a "strategic missed opportunity" to champion the Global South.

"The global climate narrative must be framed around the needs of the developing world," Singh, director of the Satat Sampada Foundation, added in a statement.

India previously hosted COP8 in New Delhi in 2002. Its selection to host another COP would have required the agreement of other nations within the Asian bloc.

The annual climate gatherings, held under the auspices of the UN, rotate among regional blocs, which must reach a consensus on a host candidate.

This year's COP31 is scheduled to take place in Turkey, followed by COP32 in Ethiopia in 2027.

It remains to be seen which Asian country might host COP33 following India's withdrawal, and whether South Korea -- which had previously expressed interest -- is still prepared to organize the event.
Two-year-old girl killed in Dominican Republic landslide



Santo Domingo, April 8 (AFP) Apr 08, 2026



A two-year-old girl was killed in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday when a wall in her home collapsed in floods that have affected around 250,000 families, authorities said.

The girl died in a landslide in the capital Santo Domingo after hours of torrential rain, which knocked out power to several parts of the city and swept away vehicles.

Metro services were halted over the flooding.

"Since early this morning, we have been mobilizing the government, especially in Greater Santo Domingo...to protect lives and (prevent) property damage," President Luis Abinader told reporters.

Fifteen of 31 provinces in the Caribbean nation, a tourist hotspot famous for its white sand beaches, had been placed on flood alert before the rains began on Tuesday evening.

The government ordered reduced working hours for all due to the transport chaos and said remote work should be prioritized for non-essential staff.
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British director Emerald Fennell has denied that she is in negotiations to helm Amazons planned reboot of the 1992 erotic thriller Basic Instinct.

In a new interview with The Guardian, Joe Eszterhas  who wrote the screenplay for the original cult classic directed by Paul Verhoeven, starring Sharon Stone as a crime novelist suspected of murdering a rock star  claimed that Fennell was in negotiations to direct his nearly completed screenplay for the remake.

The producers are negotiating with a really interesting director  a Brit, Emerald Fennell  who did Promising Young Woman and Wuthering Heights, the 81-year-old writer said. Her sensibility is exactly right. Shes someone who is not afraid of controversy and sexuality. So Im thrilled by that. I hope it works out.

However, Fennells representative quickly told Variety that there is no truth to Eszterhass claims, and that she is not involved in any way.

A representative for Amazon MGM Studios also shut down the claims, calling them categorically false, in a statement shared with The Independent.

open image in gallery Sharon Stone led the 1992 cult classic Basic Instinct ( Studio Canal )

The Independent has contacted Fennells representative for further comment.

Eszterhas was reportedly paid $2 million for the new screenplay and will make another $2 million should it be made, though he remains confident that it will happen, insisting that theres a great demand for it. Its trending all the time.

Teasing the storyline for his new project, the writer said it would focus on copycat serial killers with supernatural elements.

Initially, Eszterhas wanted Stone to return for the revival, but the actor spurned the idea. Theres not going to be a Basic Instinct reboot, she said on the Today show last August. I hate to break it to you, but Joe Eszterhas couldnt write himself out of a Walgreens drug store.

Should Fennell have directed the remake, it would have marked the Oscar-winners first major project since the release of her Wuthering Heights adaptation in February.

open image in gallery 'Promising Young Woman' director Emerald Fennell is not involved in the reboot of the erotic thriller ( Getty )

Led by Margot Robbie opposite Jacob Elordi as 18th-century star-crossed lovers Catherine and Heathcliff, the film divided critics and viewers, with some finding it emotionally hollow and others lauding it as oozy and wild.

As a director, Fennell has repeatedly faced criticism for her work, with some arguing that films like Promising Young Woman and Saltburn lean on shock value and aesthetic excess.

Promising Young Woman, her 2020 debut, in which Carey Mulligan donned a rainbow wig to kidnap and sternly tell off rapists and scumbags, was either an urgent, angry post-#MeToo battle cry, or too coy and gutless to be the revenge epic it wanted to be, Adam White summated for The Independent earlier this year.

Saltburn, her 2023 follow-up, was a Talented Mr Ripley riff either embraced for its shock and nudity and bodily fluids, or decried for being a toothless eat-the-rich trainwreck by Britains poshest writer/director. Maybe it was a bit of both.

Neither sparked quite as much outrage, though, as her Wuthering Heights, which seemed to generate worry and backlash from its initial announcement, straight through to its release. Now in cinemas, the film ultimately guts the messy complexity of Emily Brontes source material, makes the probably-not-white Heathcliff very, very white, and transforms his and Cathy Lintons brutish dynamic of lust and loathing into basic, Fifty Shades kink.
JOHANNESBURG, April 8 (Xinhua) -- South Africa will implement wide-ranging reforms to its immigration, citizenship and refugee protection system in line with national security and economic priorities, the Department of Home Affairs said Wednesday.

The Cabinet last week approved a revised White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection, which the department said is the most fundamental policy reform in a generation.

The department said it would initiate the process of drafting and tabling in the Parliament the necessary legislative amendments to implement the revised White Paper.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber welcomed the Cabinet's approval, saying "the policy direction outlined in the revised White Paper charts a new course for our country to build modern, efficient and secure systems that serve South Africa's interests."

"We will now work with the same focus and determination to convert the revised White Paper into legislative amendments that consolidate and comprehensively reform our country's citizenship, immigration and refugee protection systems, ensuring that they are fit for purpose for generations to come," Schreiber added.

Under the reforms, South Africa will adopt the first safe country principle, under which asylum seekers who have already been granted refugee status or lawful protection in another country, or who transit through safe third countries before arriving in South Africa, will generally be ineligible for asylum. The department said the change aims to curb abuse of the asylum system.

The reforms also introduce a merit-based approach to naturalization, moving beyond residence-based criteria to consider skills and investment when granting citizenship.

According to local media reports, South Africa currently hosts asylum seekers and refugees from countries including Pakistan, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi. Authorities estimate the population at about 250,000 to 260,000. 
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Police are investigating a shooting incident outside a Florida casino on Monday, which left rapper Offset, a former member of the acclaimed hip-hop trio Migos, in hospital. The artist is reported to be in a stable condition following the altercation.

Police have confirmed that two individuals have been detained in connection with the shooting, which reportedly stemmed from a fight at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, just north of Miami. Investigators are actively working to identify other parties involved in the incident.

Offset, whose birth name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, rose to prominence as one-third of the two-time Grammy-nominated group Migos. The Atlanta-based trio is widely regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop acts of their generation, celebrated for their distinctive rapid-fire triplet flow that significantly shaped modern trap music.

Their career kicked off with the 2013 hit Versace, leading to several multi-platinum selling singles: Bad and Boujee, which went No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, Stir Fry, Narcos, and T-Shirt among them. Migos released four full-length albums across their career, effectively closing that chapter after Offsets cousin Takeoff, another member of Migos, was shot dead in 2022.

As a solo artist known for his idiosyncratic style  a melodic, aggressive finesse  Offset has released three full-length albums. In 2019 he released Father of Four, and in 2023 he made Set It Off," in what he described to The Associated Press at the time as an effort to bring rap back in a genre currently led by a trend of rappers who sing.

The rapper told AP last year that the song Set It Off was a freedom, and proof that he could shine as a solo artist outside of Migos. His more recent album, 2025's Kiari, by contrast, is me, for what I am, and recognizing who I am," he said.

I feel like sometimes you could get lost in trying to please other people and trying to do what they want you to do, he said. "So, this is like my rebellion. My rebellion album.

open image in gallery Cardi B, left, and Offset arrive at the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons, in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, File) ( 2020 Invision )

Offsets relationship with rapper Cardi B has also been a source of public interest. The pair were secretly wed in September 2017 in Atlanta.

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In 2024, Cardi B announced that she filed for divorce. They have three children together: 7-year-old daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus, 4-year-old son Wave Set Cephus and toddler Blossom. The couple produced numerous songs together as well, like Clout," Jealousy and Icey.

In August 2024, Cardi B asked the courts for primary custody of her children and sought child support from Offset.

open image in gallery FILE - Takeoff, from left, Quavo and Offset, of Migos, appear at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, in Los Angeles, on March 23, 2019. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) ( Invision )

More than three years ago, Migos member Takeoff was shot and killed at a Houston bowling alley.

Police said Takeoff was an innocent bystander when he was shot after a disagreement over a dice game. Takeoffs death was among a string of fatal shootings in recent years that involved hip-hop stars such as Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke, PnB Rock and Young Dolph.

Offset embarked on a solo career years before Takeoffs death.

The third member of Migos, rapper Quavo, sought to transform his nephew Takeoffs shooting into a force for change, holding a summit against gun violence in 2024.
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A fan once saw Ann Dowd on an escalator and ran away, terrified. Thats how convincing the actor has been as the tyrannical Aunt Lydia across six seasons of The Handmaids Tale. In the drama  set in the totalitarian, theocratic Republic of Gilead where women are forced to reproduce  she has tortured those who resist the regime, beaten them with cattle prods and even ordered the removal of one poor girls eye.

Many who meet the real Dowd are struck by how warm and kind she is. I can back all this up  Aunt Lydia would never call me darling or sweetie pie, but Dowd does. And shes sensitive, tears pooling in her eyes as she talks about emotional roles. But, actually, she is similar to Aunt Lydia in one way. Theres a steeliness, a strength, that the two share. Aunt Lydia can be a sadistic maniac of course, and worlds away from Dowd, but, my god, she has mettle. Were very close, the two of us, Dowd tells me of the character. Shes a dear friend. I learn from her, she learns from me.

Aunt Lydia has perplexed fans ever since the first series of the drama, adapted from Margaret Atwoods seminal 1985 novel, landed on screens in 2017. Underneath her cruelty, if you squint, there is a tenderness; often, her actions actually protect the handmaids from worse fates. All women are victims in Gilead  but Aunt Lydia, as a survival tactic, positions herself as a leader, as much as she can be within that system. In the timely new sequel that arrives this week, The Testaments, audiences will finally get a chance to learn more about Lydias life before the regime took hold, and how she was forced to comply or die. Im looking forward to understanding her more myself, says Dowd.

We meet for tea in one of the bars at Raffles Hotel in London. Dowd, 70 and a petite 5ft 3in, is tucked into the corner of a Chesterfield sofa. Usually, as the austere Aunt Lydia, Dowds hair is a mousy brown and pulled back from her face, but today it is strawberry blonde with a fringe. Through the window, she peers out at the Royal Horse Guards on Whitehall; she is full of questions about the UK (who is your prime minister now, and how is that going?), and compliments (I love the way you all talk, a little splash of milk, perfect).

Its impossible to talk about The Handmaids Tale and The Testaments without getting political. This is the show that led to womens rights activists donning the handmaids infamous red cloaks and white bonnets in protest marches, in retaliation to the reversal of Roe v Wade in the US and anti-abortion laws in Northern Ireland. I felt so privileged to be a part of something that leaves your living room and goes into the street where it belongs, Dowd says. Protesting, standing up for what you believe, staying alert, putting your phone down and putting on that costume  it just felt like such a tribute to the show, to Margaret Atwood. It was depressing too, I say, that our contemporary reality was reflecting the events of the dystopian show. So depressing, she shakes her head. But no time for depression  stand up and act, do something  and thats what these brave women did.

open image in gallery Dowds formidable Aunt Lydia in The Testaments ( Disney )

Dowd doesnt think playing Aunt Lydia has necessarily galvanised her and made her more invested in womens rights  its just a result of living as a woman in the modern world. I think being a citizen in the United States, in New York City, and seeing and hearing whats happened to our democracy, it's just terrible. Its interesting, with Margaret Atwood, people call her a prophet and say that she sees into the future, but she said no, no, her homework was in the past, in history, everything that she wrote has happened somewhere.

Theres a poignant bit of voiceover in The Testaments, where Daisy (Lucy Halliday), a young woman whos entered Gilead after growing up in free Canada, talks about how the regime didnt just arrive overnight. There were signs of what was coming, she says. Candidates running for office had said things openly, about women, about gays, but they still were elected. People thought they were speaking in hyperbole. Now, women cant have jobs or watch films or read books, and gay people, well, we know what happened to them. It feels like a direct call-out of Trumps misogynistic rhetoric.

Im so sorry. Im sorry for every other country everywhere on this earth. Hes so messed up, says Dowd. And he has so many followers, which is extraordinary. How does this happen when a man is as childish and awful as he is, and who believes what he believes? And its the second time around for him. She holds her hands up. Somehow this country brought it to its own place.

open image in gallery Dowd: Im looking forward to understanding Aunt Lydia more myself ( Disney )

Conversation turns to the manosphere, and the rising prevalence of misogyny in young men. The Handmaid's Tale was exceptional because it gave us a voice, she says, it gave us a way, every day, to put our frustration and fear and anger into the performance. But I mean, what's more terrifying than that, than young men following Andrew Tate? How can you be so lost as to think thats the way, and that women are inferior? Its baffling to me. And based on what, you know? Based on fear, of being less-than.

She asks lots of questions about how the manosphere is impacting boys in the UK, and is appalled to hear of reports that male pupils have been abusing their female teachers. Then something extraordinary happens: Dowd seems to transform into Aunt Lydia. Her voice takes on a tremor and she points across the table as if addressing a young boy. You may leave the classroom if youre not interested in participating. A pause. Eyes wide. I just went to Aunt Lydia. Honestly, I didnt even think of it. She laughs. Shes just within reach when you need her, and that just shocked me a little bit. I havent spoken to her since yesterday. Good way to wake up in the morning!

On most mornings for the past four decades, Dowd has been waking up in the same housing development in Chelsea, New York. Shes lived there with her actor husband Lawrence Arancio since 1989  at first without kids, when she would fearlessly cycle around Manhattan, and later with their daughter and two sons. Since Trump took office, has Dowd ever thought about leaving her carefully crafted habitat? I have thought about it, but the United States of America is my country. Its where I was born. Its a place where I will stay and fight if need be. I don't know what's going to happen in the United States, were in dreadful shape, but I dont see it as a time to leave.

Beyond Aunt Lydia, Dowd has made a name for herself in playing harrowed, profoundly flawed characters. She brings an aching authenticity to everyone she inhabits, whether its a fast food restaurant manager caught up in a disturbing scam in 2012s Sundance hit Compliance, a cult leader in HBO drama The Leftovers or the manipulative Joan in 2018 horror Hereditary. But, as a mother, one of the roles that cut closest to the bone was that of a grieving parent in 2021s Mass, which is being adapted for the UK stage at the Donmar Warehouse next month. Shot in eight intense days, with almost the entire story unfolding around a single table in a church function room, the film followed two couples who meet several years after a school shooting to discuss the tragedy. Dowd played the mother of the boy who killed his classmates. It was about the loss of a son who has lost himself, she says, shaking her head. I cant even imagine.

open image in gallery Dowd as a grieving mother in Mass ( Bleecker Street )

She clearly finds the film hard to talk about, and becomes tearful. She hopes parents watch films like Mass and shows like The Testaments with their children, and that they will spark difficult conversations. Parents, when you see something that moves you, let it move you in front of your child, she says. Lead by example, use your words to explain, but dont try to hide.

After making the film, the cast  Dowd, Jason Isaacs, Martha Plimpton and Reed Birney  met with a mother whose daughter had been killed in a real mass shooting. It was a profound privilege, Dowd says. When we went into the room and sat down, the only thing I could do was weep. Now, she takes off her sand-coloured glasses to wipe away tears. I couldnt speak a word to her because it was so profound. Ill never forget it. She didnt give up on life." Dowd recalls how the mother opened a zoo in her childs memory. "You could tell she had been through it. Such a powerful vessel of strength.

Dowd turned 70 in January, and its not lost on her that the older she gets, the meatier her roles become. After all, she was 56 when her breakthrough role came in Compliance. Women who are older, to me, theyve been through so much, and what they bring to a story is extraordinary, and I think thats becoming more obvious to writers. Dont leave them out because theyre in their sixties. She says that the interesting, juicy stuff is just beginning in a certain way  I look back now, in these last years, to decisions I made or experiences I had and that is the nature of turning older: learning from the past, moving forward, expanding ones vision. Its a time when women should be hired to play beautiful, complex roles.

While Hollywood sometimes seems to be allergic to ageing stars, especially women, Dowd has swerved pressures to look younger. I havent been hired for my looks, so Ive never depended upon them and how I look in the mirror, she says, matter-of-factly. I feel for these women who believe theyve got to get into a younger place instead of allowing their face to make the changes and tell part of the story. Ive thankfully never been tempted, even, to do so. My heart goes out to them  darlings, dont do it. She once had dark marks from the sun removed, but when they came back a month later she gave herself a pep talk. OK, you learned a little lesson there, Missy, she recalls thinking. Get a hold of yourself.

Tweakments have become so common now in Hollywood that casting directors, such as Hamnets Nina Gold, are looking to Britain to cast actors with more ramshackle faces. Oh my god, says Dowd, how about some of the most wonderful stars, they were such terrific actors and they made a huge couple of hits, and the next thing you know, you dont recognise them.

All that said, she has found turning 70 a little bit scary. Its hard to prepare yourself because theres something about 70 that seems terribly old, and getting older is difficult in certain ways. Your health struggles, youre faced with certain changes and you have to decide, how am I going to age? Am I going to complain and just sit in the corner and say, I dont like whats happening, or are you going to stand up and get healthy and find solutions to problems and keep going and keep keeping the world open to you?

A new adventure Dowd would like to embark on in this decade is leaning into the world of comedy. She had a hilarious cameo in the final season of Girls, as a university department head who offers Lena Dunhams Hannah a job and calls her breasts gorgeous fruit; she says she had a blast doing it. She wants more roles like this (and has one coming up, as a sci-fi character, painted entirely blue, at a fan convention in Hacks). I have a sense of humour  it would be wonderful to use it in my career, she says with a chuckle. There you have it. Ann Dowd: warm, steely and funny. Youd have to be mad to run away.

The Testaments is now available to stream on Disney+
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Bafta-winning director and Coronation Street actor Paul Seed has died aged 78.

Seed was best known for directing dramas like the BBCs House of Cards, Lark Rise to Candleford and Doc Martin, but he started out his career as an actor  playing the role of Father Harris in Coronation Street from 1979 until 1981.

The actor died on 7 March after being diagnosed with cancer and is survived by his wife, Elizabeth Cassidy, and their two sons, Jack and Sean.

open image in gallery Paul Seed on Coronation Street ( ITV )

His friend and colleague Sir Tom Courtenay paid tribute to Seed in an obituary published in The Guardian, having worked with him on 1998s A Rather English Marriage. Courtenay starred alongside Albert Finney and Joanna Lumley in the film, which later won a Bafta.

His career was defined by intelligence, emotional precision and a rare instinct for performance, Courtenay wrote.

He loved what he did, and this love communicated itself to his actors. Im sure I wasnt the only one who thought the world of him.

Seed began acting in 1972, taking on a role in the historical adventure series Pretenders. He later appeared in Z Cars, Crown Court and four episodes of Doctor Who before moving into directing.

He worked with a young Liam Neeson on drama Across the Water in 1983, before casting Charlotte Coleman  who later starred in Four Weddings and a Funeral  in 1987s Inappropriate Behaviour.

Arguably, his most notable directing credit is House of Cards, the BBC political thriller adapted from Michael Dobbs 1989 novel of the same name. Ian Richardson plays the Conservative Partys fictional Chief Whip, Francis Urquhart, as he schemes his way into becoming the leader of the Tories.

open image in gallery Paul Seed also directed episodes of BBC political thriller House of Cards ( BBC )

Contributing to Seeds obituary, Miles Anderson  who played Roger ONeill in the series  said: On the first day of filming, I remember Paul saying to Ian, Why dont you try looking directly into camera for your asides?

A stroke of genius, breaking the fourth wall in a British TV drama that led to the familiar phrase You might think that, but I couldnt possibly comment being used everywhere, especially in the halls of Westminster.

Later on in his career, Seed directed New Tricks, Lark Rise to Candleford and the BBCs adaptation of Just William, which won a Bafta in 2010.

He later settled with his wife in north Devon, where he pursued photography and enjoyed a quieter pace of life, according to Courtenay.
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Stephen Fry has shared a defiant message with critics of his age-gap relationship with husband Elliott Spencer, who is 30 years his junior.

The Celebrity Traitors star faced the line of questioning on ITV series The Assembly, which has previously been called the most groundbreaking show of the year. The format sees a celebrity interviewee taking part in a wide-ranging group questioning where the people with the microphones all are autistic, neurodivergent or learning disabled.

The show returns for series two on Wednesday (8 April), where Fry, 68, fields questions from the assembly about his religious beliefs, former cocaine habit and mental health struggles.

open image in gallery Fry was quizzed on ITV's 'The Assembly' ( ITV )

In one part, the former QI host was asked about his 30-year age gap with his 38-year-old husband, with the questioner explaining that she, too, was older than her girlfriend.

What do you say to people who dont like age-gap relationships? she asked, to which Fry responded: I feel a bit sorry for them. I dont see why they should have such an opinion about things.

The only thing that should matter in a relationship is love and if you feel it, Fry continued, clarifying that this should be felt on both sides and not an exploitative relationship.

I mean, I always say to people that in our relationship, Elliot has all the power, really, he said. He makes a lot of the decisions about things because I trust him to. It just works for us, extremely well, and if people dont like it, well, sod them.

The legendary British actor, writer and presenter met comedian Spencer at a house party in 2012. They announced their engagement in 2015 and were married 10 days later.

open image in gallery Fry and Spencer famously keep their relationship private ( Getty )

The pair have long kept their relationship private and are rarely photographed together, although Spencer shared a similarly strong response to those who criticise their relationship back in 2015.

I dont care what people think, he said. Stephen is the love of my life, the light of my life.

Fry, meanwhile, has previously credited his younger husband for broadening his cultural horizons, saying in a 2025 podcast appearance: He teaches me things I just didnt know. He introduced me to Kendrick Lamar, which was a great thing to do because Kendrick Lamar, Ive decided, is a great poetical spirit, a really remarkable figure.

Elsewhere in the episode, Fry was asked an even more personal questions about his relationship, as he was questioned on which sexual position he favoured in intimate moments with his husband.

open image in gallery The married couple, pictured in 2015, the year of their wedding ( Getty )

Wow! That is direct as it gets, Fry said, before saying that he was going to leave that a mystery for people to guess.

Speaking ahead of the shows launch, Fry admitted that hed been taken aback by the rather eye-watering curiosity as to my sexual preferences. Not sexuality, you understand  that was understood  but my preferences within that sexuality framework well, I wasnt expecting that! he said.

Fry is one of six stars to face the questioning firing line on this series of The Assembly, with Lenny Henry, Nicola Sturgeon, Anna Maxwell Martin and Aitch all appearing on the new series. The final celebrity will be revealed at a later date, with the first series featuring interviews with Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Jade Thirlwall and Danny Dyer.

The Assembly begins on Wednesday 8 April at 10.05pm on ITV1.
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Can you really barbecue absolutely anything and everything? Belfast-based BBQ expert Jim Moore believes we can.

I havent found anything I cant cook on the barbecue yet, he says with a grin. Hence his new cookbook, How To BBQ Everything, a guide to doing just that. And this is from a man who has cold-smoked cream on the barbecue for Irish coffee.

Known for his Instagram account @onlyslaggin, whether youre a dab hand at grilling or your fire-cooking curiosity is only just piquing, Moores debut recipe collection has got you covered. Just dont expect 10 ways with hot dogs, or him waxing lyrical about the merits of the burgers most of us grew up eating at rain-stricken summer barbies.

It was burgers and hot dogs, maybe a piece of steak or a piece of chicken if we were being really adventurous, and they wouldnt always be barbecued the best; black on the outside and raw on the inside. I think weve moved on an awful lot from that, says Moore.

Barbecuing is an event. Its not just cooking a meal. I love the social side of getting people round, having a bit of fun and a bit of craic, he continues. You dont do the same thing with air fryers.

He says crucial to the allure of grilling is being outdoors and the immersive experience of harnessing fire, which might sound daunting to some, but follow Moores top tips and youll be a pitmaster in no time.

Dont buy a BBQ cover

Most barbecues dont need a cover on them. I think of a cover as almost a mental block to actually cooking, says Moore. People will look out and go, The covers on, and its one more thing for them to take off. I always tell people, dont buy a cover for barbecue. Mine sits outside, 24/7, 365, and theres never any issues with them.

Get to grips with charcoal

People often think, Id love to cook on charcoal. It tastes way better, but gas is so much more convenient. But theres loads you can do to make starting charcoal much easier, promises Moore. Once you get that in your head, you never go back to gas.

He suggests using a chimney starter. You pour charcoal into it, put a fire lighter underneath, and it works like a turbo version of the barbecue itself, and within 10 minutes, your charcoal is lit and ready to pour into your barbecue, and youre ready to go. Theres no waiting around for an hour for things to heat up.

open image in gallery A debut cookbook built on one bold idea: if it can be cooked, it can be barbecued ( Ebury )

Years ago, we would have thought about piling the charcoal in, heaven forbid, people would have put lighter fluid on it and all that to try and get it going, says Moore. wincing. Theres no requirement to do any of that these days.

Barbecue whatever the weather

I barbecue all year round, says Moore, who often live-posts while cooking Christmas dinner on his grill. Some of the winter months are actually better for barbecuing, because of the moisture and the air coming through that feeds the fire.

Rain, he admits, can be a nuisance, but if you have the BBQ on, you can nip out to check what youre cooking, close the lid back down again and the barbecue will look after itself.

Remember, BBQ is not a mans world

The idea that only men man the barbecue is on its way out. [Roughly] 30 per cent of my audience is female, and I dont think thats just because of my dashing good looks, says Moore wryly. My wife is involved in the barbecue and she can cook every bit just as well as I can.

He flags writers Melissa Thompson and Genevieve Taylor, who both have exceptional grilling cookbooks of their own. It shouldnt be a male-dominated activity. I dont know why its ever fallen into that, says Moore. It shouldnt be that way. Everybody can muck in and get involved.

Make the most of a meat probe

Im always telling people: cook to temperature, not time. A lot of people have fear and start the chicken in the oven and then move the chicken outside to the BBQ, says Moore patiently. You dont need to do that because your barbecue is an oven.

A meat thermometer will bring peace of mind and help eliminate food poisoning. You can probe the chicken at several different points, and you know when you hit 75 degrees, that the chickens fully cooked the whole way through, says Moore. If the packet says, Cook for an hour and a half at 180 degrees, you dont need to do that.

open image in gallery Moores mantra is simple  cook to temperature, not guesswork, and the rest follows ( Liz and Max Haarala Hamilton )

Understand air flow

Moore says he receives messages from people saying, I took my eye off the ball. The temperature got away from me, so Ive opened the lid to let the heat out.

You have to say, Well, youre not actually letting the heat out. What youre doing is counter-intuitive, youre letting more oxygen in, says Moore, which fuels the flames and the heat. While you let more oxygen in, the fire is getting away from you. You need to close that lid and just let it settle, let that bring the heat back down again, and then you harness it back up.

Get your head around zones

People will put a lot of charcoal into their barbecue, or fire up every grill on their gas barbecue, and theyve no safe zones to go to if they get a little bit of a flare-up, explains Moore. Having hotter and cooler zones, for direct and indirect cooking, gives you options and means were controlling that fire. The fires not controlling us.

Have a plan

Take your time. Think about what it is you want to do, plan your cook. Think about where you want to serve your food, and then work backwards from there and have everything ready, says Moore. The more you can prep and have food ready before you put on the grill, the easier itll be for yourself.

But be daring

Try and elevate it and move on from just the burgers and hot dogs, says Moore, who has been barbecuing a lot of lamb legs recently. Once youve picked up one or two recipes in the book, youll be off and running, trying all manner of different things. Be a bit more adventurous.

And one day, not too far down the line, he hopes more people get to the point where they can cook everything on the barbecue in terms of their full dish, the sides, the dessert  the whole delicious shebang.

Crispy potato salad with mustard caper dressing

open image in gallery Crispy smashed potatoes show the grill isnt just for meat, but where it really shines ( Liz and Max Haarala Hamilton )

Theres something about crispy potatoes and smoky barbecue flavour that just works, especially when its all finished off with a tangy, herby sauce that cuts through the richness, says Moore. This one was inspired by a simple tapas-style potato dish I had in a local restaurant here in Belfast, but with a full-blown barbecue twist. Instead of roasting, we crisp the smashed baby potatoes directly over the coals or in a hot griddle pan, giving them that fire-charred edge. The dressing brings everything together  creamy, lemony and packed with capers, mustard, garlic and herbs.

Serves: 4-6

Prep time: 15 minutes, plus cooling | Cook time: 30-40 minutes

Ingredients:

For the potatoes:

750g baby potatoes

1 tbsp olive oil, plus extra for greasing (optional)

1 tsp smoked paprika

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Small pinch of dried chilli flakes (optional, for heat), to serve

For the dressing:

3 tbsp mayonnaise

2 tbsp Greek-style yoghurt

1 garlic clove, finely grated

1 tbsp capers, drained and finely chopped

1 tsp Dijon mustard

Zest and juice of  lemon

5 spring onions, thinly sliced

30g fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Method:

1. Add the potatoes to a saucepan of salted cold water and bring to the boil.

2. Simmer for 20-25 minutes until fork-tender. Drain and let them steam-dry in the colander for a minute or two.

3. Place the potatoes on a tray or chopping board and gently press each one with the bottom of a glass or metal cup to flatten, aim for one to one and a half centimetres thick. Let them cool slightly to firm up.

4. While the potatoes are cooling slightly, stir together the mayo, yoghurt, garlic, capers, mustard, lemon zest and juice, half the spring onions and half the parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding a touch more lemon if you like it extra zippy.

5. Preheat your barbecue for direct heat (medium-high 180-230C/350-450F). Brush the potatoes lightly with olive oil and season with smoked paprika, salt and pepper.

6. Grill the smashed potatoes directly on the grates or a griddle, turning occasionally until crispy and golden on the edges, ten to fifteen minutes depending on heat. Watch for flare-ups and move them to a cooler zone if needed. Once crisp, transfer to a baking tray and let them cool for five minutes.

7. Lightly toss the grilled potatoes with half the dressing until just coated, then pile them up on a platter. Spoon over the remaining dressing and scatter with the remaining parsley and spring onions. Finish with a crack of black pepper and maybe a few chilli flakes if youre feeling bold.

8. Serve warm or at room temperature with grilled chicken, ribs or just a cold cider in hand.

Gold Coast-style coconut and lime shrimp skewers

open image in gallery These coconut prawn skewers lean into fire, smoke and sharp citrus for maximum impact ( Liz and Max Haarala Hamilton )

This dish takes me back to the sun-soaked sands of the Gold Coast in Australia, where prawns are almost a way of life and cooking over fire is second nature, says Moore. We found ourselves in a lovely beachside restaurant that was serving grilled skewers of prawns scented with lime, lemongrass and coconut  the aroma alone was unforgettable.

These grilled prawn skewers bring that Queensland spirit straight to the barbecue. Marinated in coconut milk, lemongrass and chilli, then grilled to perfection on a barbecue plancha, soapstone or skillet, theyre vibrant, bold and unmistakably coastal. Finished with a small pinch of flaky sea salt, they are perfect with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc, and even better with the sound of ocean waves crashing nearby.

Serves: 4-6

Prep time: 15 minutes, plus 30 minutes-2 hours marinating | Cook time: 4-6 minutes

Equipment: metal or bamboo skewers (bamboo soaked for 30 minutes)

Ingredients:

900g raw prawns, heads removed and tails on

400ml tin of unsweetened coconut milk

1 tbsp yellow curry powder or Thai-style red curry paste

1 tbsp ground turmeric

1 tbsp minced fresh ginger

1 tbsp finely chopped lemongrass

1 tsp dried chilli flakes, or finely sliced red chilli

3 tbsp fish sauce

35g desiccated coconut or coconut flakes

Fresh lime wedges, for squeezing

Method:

1. Rinse the prawns under cold running water and pat dry with kitchen paper.

2. In a bowl, whisk together the coconut milk, curry powder or paste, turmeric, ginger, lemongrass, chilli and fish sauce. Stir in the coconut. Add the prawns to the marinade and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to two hours.

3. Thread the prawns onto the soaked skewers and brush lightly with the reserved marinade.

4. Place the skewers directly on the grill on a high heat (230-290C/450-550F) and cook for about two minutes per side, until the prawns are pink, firm and opaque.

5. Serve on a bed of grilled pineapple and rice, with lime wedges on the side.

6. Street food-style: serve with a spicy sweet chilli dipping sauce or a fresh mango salsa.

7. Tropical Aussie vibes: add chunks of grilled pineapple or green mango to the skewers.

8. Surf club twist: serve over avocado-lime slaw or wrap in a warm flatbread with a slather of coconut yoghurt.

Pulled pork with cider mop and tangy slaw

open image in gallery Low and slow pulled pork proves patience pays off when cooking over flame ( Liz and Max Haarala Hamilton )

Theres something about pulled pork that just hits all the right notes  smoky, juicy, sweet and savoury all in one bite, says Moore. This recipe was inspired by my trips to the US, where the smell of smoke often hits you before youve even got out of the car. The pitmaster mopped the pork with apple cider vinegar and served it on a soft bun with a crunchy slaw. Back home, I gave it a few tweaks with Irish cider, a bold rub and that signature Onlyslaggin BBQ style.

Serves: 8-10

Prep time: 20 minutes, plus marinating overnight (optional) | Cook time: 6-8 hours

Ingredients:

2.5-3kg pork shoulder, bone-in, skin removed

3 tbsp yellow mustard

3 tbsp BBQ rub (see below or use your favourite blend)

240ml apple juice or cider

For the BBQ rub:

2 tbsp sea salt

2 tbsp soft brown sugar

1 tbsp smoked paprika

1 tbsp garlic granules

1 tbsp onion powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

For the cider mop sauce (optional):

240ml Magners Irish Cider

120ml apple cider vinegar

2 tbsp brown sugar

1 tsp dried chilli flakes

1 tsp Dijon mustard

To serve:

Soft brioche rolls, toasted, or flatbreads

Tangy slaw (red cabbage, carrot and apple tossed with cider vinegar and a pinch of sugar)

BBQ sauce or cider vinegar

Method:

1. Start by trimming any excess fat from the pork shoulder. Slather it all over with yellow mustard, it helps the rub stick and adds a subtle tang.

2. Mix the rub ingredients in a bowl and massage generously into the pork. Wrap tightly in cling film and chill overnight, if youve got the time.

3. Combine all the cider mop sauce ingredients, if using. Preheat your smoker or barbecue to 120-135C (250-275F) using a mix of charcoal and fruit wood like apple or cherry for a mild sweetness. If youre using a water pan, add a splash of cider or apple juice or maybe some herbs for extra aroma. Set up for indirect cooking.

4. Place the pork shoulder directly on the grill or on a rack above the water pan. Cook with the lid down for six to eight hours, depending on size, until the internal temperature hits 92-95C (198-203F) and the meat feels soft and pulls apart easily.

5. Spritz with apple juice or cider every hour or so after the first two hours to keep the bark from drying out. Or mop with the cider mop every 45 minutes for a bit more tang.

6. Once cooked, remove the pork and wrap it in foil. Let it rest for at least 30 to 45 minutes. This step is crucial as resting helps all those juices settle back into the meat.

7. Using two forks or your hands (gloves help if its hot), shred the pork into strands, discarding any large fatty bits. Mix with any collected juices or a splash of mop sauce for moisture.

8. Pile the pork high onto toasted rolls or flatbreads. Top with a crunchy slaw and drizzle over your favourite BBQ sauce or some extra cider vinegar.

9. Deep sauce: Add a splash of bourbon to your mop sauce for deeper flavour.

10. Waste not: Use leftover pulled pork in mac and cheese, loaded fries or stuffed peppers. Or make tacos with lime crema and pickled onions.

How To BBQ Everything by Jim Moore (Ebury Press, 25).
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Sorry, In-N-Out fans. Online ordering and pickup arent coming anytime soon.

Lynsi SnyderEllingson, owner and president of InNOut, reaffirmed last week that she is committed to the chains in-person tradition, meaning face-to-face service only, with no apps or digital lanes.

We have, for sure, had that put in front of us, and the answer is no, Snyder-Ellingson told an audience of about 1,000 people during a March 31 conversation with Pepperdine University President Jim Gash on the Malibu campus, KTLA reports.

The main reason is part of what makes In-N-Out and the experience so special is the interaction and the customer service that were able to give, the smile, the greeting, she continued. Just that warmth and feeling, the culture. And so, the mobile ordering will definitely take a piece of that away and theres also the freshness factor.

Since its founding in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder, InNOut has remained committed to quality over the speed of expansion. Starting with a tiny 10-square-foot burger stand in Baldwin Park, the chain focused on maintaining strict control over its ingredients and operations.

In-N-Out fans will need to order and pick up their food the old fashioned way ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

For many decades, this commitment to quality kept the brand confined to Southern California, expanding only as far as its supply chain could reliably deliver fresh, never-frozen beef.

Now, InNOut is pushing beyond its traditional West Coast stronghold. The chain reached Tennessee late last year, its easternmost market to date, while continuing to operate in 10 states.

Recently, the company announced five new locations set to be opening soon. These locations will be in Arizona, Nevada, Tennessee, Utah and Washington  all states that already have InNOut restaurants, according to the chains website.

While the chain focuses on expanding its footprint, Pepperdine audience members also got a personal glimpse into the owners own InNOut preferences, asking about her go-to order.

Double meat with fried mustard, extra spread, pickles and chopped chilis only, she said.
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Meryl Streep has issued a snide remark about Melania Trumps clothing, criticizing the powerful message that the First Lady had made through her fashion choices.

The 76-year-old actor discussed how people present themselves through fashion during a recent conversation with former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, moderated by filmmaker Greta Gerwig. The Vogue interview comes ahead of the release of The Devil Wears Prada 2, in which Streep reprises her role as magazine editor Miranda Priestley, who is loosely based on Wintour.

During the conversation, Gerwig asked the pair about style, saying that dressing has always been more nebulous for women than men. Wintour responded that women dont need to wear a suit to be powerful, citing female political figures like Michelle Obama and Rama Duwaji, who is married to New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani.

To be fair, Melania Trump also always looks like herself when she dresses, Wintour added, causing Streep to jump in and take a swipe at one of Trumps most controversial looks in 2018: A jacket that read I Really Dont Care, Do U?

I have so many thoughts about this. I think the most powerful message that our current first lady sent was in the coat that said I Really Dont Care, Do U? when she was going to see migrant children who were incarcerated, the actor responded. All dress is about expressing yourself, but were also subject to larger historical and political sweeps of expectation.

open image in gallery Meryl Streep criticized the message of Melania Trumps controversial I Really Dont Care, Do U? jacket from 2018 ( Getty )

Im stunned at how women in power have to have bare arms on television while men are covered in shirts and ties or a suit. Theres an apology built into women. They have to show their smallness.

Trump was pictured wearing the Zara coat  which caused a social media storm  while exiting a plane for a visit to Upbring New Hope Children's Center in June 2018. At the time, critics slammed the item as insensitive amid heightened tensions along the U.S.-Mexico border. Donald Trump had recently implemented his infamous, hardline immigration policy, which separated hundreds of children from their parents.

The former model later responded to the backlash, saying it was obvious the coats slogan was not aimed at the youngsters, who were separated from their parents. She claimed the wardrobe choice was for the people and for the left-wing media who are criticizing me.

open image in gallery Melania Trump wore an infamous green jacket in 2018 while traveling to Upbring New Hope Children's Center ( Getty Images )

I want to show them that I dont care. You could criticize whatever you want to say, but it will not stop me to do what I feel is right, she said during an interview with ABC News.

She addressed the controversy over the jacket in her 2024 memoir, Melania, claiming the fallout was just another example of the medias irresponsible behavior.

I was determined  not to let the medias false narratives affect my mission to help the children and families at the border, Trump shared in her memoir. In fact, I decided to let them know that their criticism would never stop me from doing what I feel is right. To make the point, I wore a particular jacket as I boarded the plane, a jacket that quickly became famous.

She described the stunt as discreet yet impactful  however, it backfired. She wrote how her press secretary Stephanie Grishams inbox was soon flooded with urgent emails from top-tier media outlets regarding the jacket.
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Tori Spelling has spoken out about the harrowing car crash she and her children were recently involved in.

Spelling was driving four of her own kids as well as three others when the crash occurred Thursday April 2 in Temecula, California.

Were okay, she said in an Instagram video posted Tuesday. But its been really overwhelming. We are so grateful and so lucky because it couldve been so much worse.

The 52-year-old Beverly Hills, 90210 star described the ordeal, claiming the driver of the other car was going crazy, crazy fast.

Guardian angels were definitely with us that day because in a split second I looked to my right and I saw he was coming full-on, full impact into the side of our car, and I turned hard left, as hard as I could, as fast as I could to avoid as much impact on the children as possible, Spelling said.

open image in gallery We are so grateful and so lucky because it couldve been so much worse, Spelling said ( Tori Spelling )

Spelling went on to thank the first responders at the scene, as well as the staff at the hospital who took such good care of her and all seven children. She also thanked those who have continued to check in on her and the children in the aftermath of the crash.

So much gratitude for life, she said while acknowledging the bravery of all the kids in the car with what they went through.

Spelling and all seven children in her car were taken to local hospitals via ambulance, TMZ reported. They suffered various injuries, including concussions, cuts, and bruises.

No arrests were made following the crash.

Spelling, 52, has five children from her marriage with Dean McDermott: Liam, 19, Stella, 17, Hattie, 14, Finn, 13, and Beau, nine. The couple announced their split in 2024 and finalized their divorce in 2025.

She was previously involved in a crash in 2011 while pregnant when she was chased by a photographer and crashed her car into a wall. Two of her children were in the car at the time.

open image in gallery Tori Spelling has spoken out about the 'crazy' car crash she and her kids were involved in ( Getty )

Spellings latest crash comes months after she canceled an appearance at a Las Vegas event to prioritize her health.

She postponed her 90s After Dark Party, which was scheduled for late December. She was set to reunite with her 90210 co-star, Brian Austin Green, who was co-hosting.

Ive been counting down the days to be with you, and it truly breaks my heart to pause something I was so excited for, she said at the time. Right now, I have to listen to my body and put my health first.

While Spelling didnt share what her health issue was, she reiterated in the caption that she needed to listen to my body and choose my health.

A new date for the event has not been revealed.
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An anesthesiologist accused of trying to kill his wife on a cliffside hike struck her so hard with a rock that pieces of it broke off in her scalp, a prosecutor told jurors before they began deliberating Tuesday.

Gerhardt Konig, 47, had a plan and backup plans for murdering his wife, Arielle Konig, during a weekend trip to Honolulu for her birthday in March 2025, deputy prosecutor Joel Garner said. He tried to push her off a cliff, and when that didn't work he tried to stab her with a syringe filled with an unknown substance.

And when that didn't work, he grabbed the rock, Garner said.

Every backup plan ends in Arielles death, Garner said, displaying the rock and photos of her injuries.

The doctor's lawyer told jurors Tuesday there were no such plans, and he repeatedly sought to cast doubt on Arielle Konig's account. Gerhardt Konig has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, and he insists he was defending himself from his wife, who he says attacked him with the rock first.

If Gerhardt Konig had wanted to kill his wife and had access to a syringe in a remote area, attorney Thomas Otake suggested, wouldn't he have drugged her and then thrown her from the cliff, rather than having started a scuffle before attempting to fill the syringe as he was wrestling with her?

open image in gallery Prosecutors told the jury that all of the blood found on the rock and on clothing belonged to Arielle Konig, not her husband ( AP )

You would use the syringe first, Otake said. It makes no sense.

The trial started last month, nearly a year after Gerhadt and Arielle Konig went on a hike on the Pali Puka trail in Honolulu that ended with her bloodied and screaming that he had tried to kill her.

Their two young sons stayed home on Maui while the Konigs were on the trip. Near a lookout offering sweeping views, Gerhardt Konig  upset about his wife's relationship with a coworker  attacked her, Garner said. It was only because two other hikers interrupted the assault that he stopped, Garner said.

The trial, with testimony livestreamed by Court TV, has aired the couple's marital problems leading up to the hike, along with their versions of what happened on the trail.

Gerhardt Konig testified that his wife was having an affair, which he confirmed by unlocking her phone while she slept. The relationship, which Arielle Konig characterized as an emotional affair involving flirty messages with a coworker, came up during the hike.

Arielle Konig testified that her husband grabbed her and moved her toward the cliff's edge but she threw herself on the ground in an attempt to hold on. He straddled her and had a syringe in his hand, she said, but she batted it away. She bit his forearm and squeezed his testicles in attempt to get him off her, she said.

Her husband denied pushing her toward the edge and testified that she hit him with a rock on the side of his face. He wrestled the rock away and hit her with it twice in self-defense, he said.

He reacted, and then he felt horrible about it, Otake said. He never wanted to hurt her.

But the prosecutor told the jury that all of the blood found on the rock and on clothing belonged to Arielle Konig, not her husband.

Gerhardt Konig also denied having any syringes on the mountain, or trying to stab his wife. His defense attorney said no syringe was found at the scene because he never had one.

Otake said Gerhardt Konig was not someone who would try to commit murder, but someone who was struggling with infidelity and trying to do his best. Otake quoted from a heart-shaped birthday card Gerhardt Konig had written to his wife, calling her the heart of our family and saying, The kids and I hit the jackpot with you.

Gerhardt Konig testified that as he watched his wife crawl away, he believed his marriage and career were over, and he decided to jump to his death. But first, he called his adult son from a previous marriage. The son told authorities that his father said he tried to kill your stepmom  a confession Gerhardt Konig denied having made.

During that call, the defendant made no reference to having struck his wife in self-defense, Garner said.

He spent about eight hours hiding on the mountain before deciding to come down, and even then he tried to flee when confronted by police, Garner said.

His wife has since filed for divorce.

The national domestic abuse helpline offers support for women on 0808 2000 247, or you can visit the Refuge website. There is a dedicated men's advice line on 0808 8010 327. Those in the US can call the domestic violence hotline on 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
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An Indiana woman has been accused of using an extension cord to steal her neighbors electricity and run a sky-high bill.

Charles Lowe, a veteran and cancer survivor from Evansville, Indiana, told local outlet WFIE in an in-person interview that his neighbor, Tina Milburn, 50, had been stealing his electricity since November, costing him thousands of dollars each month.

Lowe recalled the moment his roommate figured out why their electricity bill was through the roof.

He said Come back here and look at this, so I went back there with him and he showed me. Theyd run drop cords out from underneath my trailer and run them to their trailer, he said.

open image in gallery Tina Milburn, a 50-year-old from Evansville, Indiana, has been accused of using an extension cord to steal her neighbors electricity ( Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Office )

Milburn was accused of using the extension cord to keep a light on, WFIE reported, citing authorities. She was charged with burglary, according to local outlet WIKY.

She allegedly admitted to crawling under her neighbors trailer to plug in the extension cord, and had planned to give him 100 dollars with no explanation, according to another report from WFIE.

Lowe said he cant afford the expensive electric bills, telling WFIE, Ive been going through so much this last year.

I fought cancer, I got COPD, and I just got out of the hospital, a visibly upset Lowe said, wearing his Desert Storm hat. COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a lung condition that causes breathing problems.

open image in gallery Charles Lowe, a veteran and cancer survivor, told local media Milburn had been stealing his electricity since November, costing him thousands of dollars each month ( Getty Images )

Lowe is now left to grapple with the alleged theft while dealing with his other hardships.

I cant handle all this stuff thats going on right now. I want to be treated how I treat people. I treat people the way I want to be treated, he said, adding, Theres two things I dont like in life; thats a thief and a liar.

Lowe said he still has to pay for the stolen electricity, but that his electric company, CenterPoint Energy, allowed him to set up a months-long payment plan.

Milburn was reportedly being held at the Vanderburgh County Jail on a $500 bond, and her initial hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday.

The Independent has reached out to the Vanderburgh County Sheriffs Office and CenterPoint Energy for comment.

Information about Milburns legal representation was not immediately clear.
Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, gestures at a press conference in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Pan Xu)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Wednesday reiterated the mainland's readiness to strive for peace across the Taiwan Strait.

Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks when she responded to a question about the visit of a Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party delegation led by its chairwoman Cheng Li-wun to the mainland.

The delegation arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday. The visit, which covers Jiangsu, Shanghai and Beijing, will run through Sunday. This marks the first time in a decade that a KMT chairperson has led a delegation to the mainland.

"We are willing, on the common political foundation of upholding the 1992 Consensus and opposing 'Taiwan independence,' to work with political parties, groups and individuals in Taiwan, the KMT included, to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations," Zhu said.

She said both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one China and that cross-Strait issues should be resolved through consultation among the Chinese people, adding that people on both sides have the wisdom and ability to resolve their own issues. 
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The so-called "Ketamine Queen", sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison over the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, has been making jail calls on side deals for books and trademarks, prosecutors told the court.

In tan prison scrubs, drug dealer Jasveen Sangha appeared emotional as she addressed the beloved Friends stars parents and other family members in the front row of the Los Angeles federal courtroom Wednesday morning.

I take full responsibility for my actions; they were not mistakes, they were horrible choices, Sangha told the packed room. I am so sorry I have had a hand in this tragic outcome.

But despite apologizing, prosecutors said the 42-year-old had been heard making calls from jail to discuss book deals and trademarks.

Sangha was one of five people federally charged after Perry, who played Chandler Bing in the hit show from 1994 to 2004, was found dead in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023. Federal prosecutors had asked for 15 years in prison.

open image in gallery Drug dealer Jasveen Sangha appeared emotional as she addressed the beloved Friends stars parents and other family members in the front row of the Los Angeles federal courtroom Wednesday morning ( Instagram/Jasveen Sangha )

open image in gallery Suzanne Morrison, mother of Matthew Perry, walks into court with her husband Keith Morrison Wednesday ( AP )

From the courtroom, Sangha accepted that her drug dealing had shattered peoples lives and that of their family and friends.

Youre going to have to show some epic resilience, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett said to Sangha, repeating back to her a phrase the drug dealer had used.

On Wednesday morning, Perrys mom and stepfather, Suzanne Perry and Keith Morrison, were seen entering the federal courthouse just before 10 a.m. (PT). His family described him as sad, miserable and fabulous as they told the judge the impact of his death on their lives.

Morrison, a Canadian broadcast journalist who works for Dateline, told Sangha that Perrys family actually felt bad for her.

I do not hate you, I am not angry at you, he said in a calm voice. You are a drug dealer and there are many of them around. You supplied an addict and there are millions of addicts across America who are waiting to be supplied.

He added, God, how your family must be feeling? It is so sad. They love you desperately, but it is what it is and the law is the law.

Prosecutors on Wednesday described Sangha as a brazen dealer who had set her mind to dealing drugs for notoriety and personal gratification.

They said that she bragged about her Hollywood connections and claimed to have red carpet motherf*****s in her contact list.

In a court filing ahead of the sentencing, prosecutors wrote that Sangha had displayed a cold callousness and disregard for life.

Her defense lawyer, Mark Geragos told the court that he could not believe his client would receive a longer sentence than all the other defendants combined.

There was nobody who was going to stop Mr Perry from doing what he was going to do, he said.

Sangha and another man named Erik Fleming sold Perrys assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, 51 vials of ketamine before his death, according to a plea agreement she reached with prosecutors last year.

On December 15 2023, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office declared that Perry had passed away from the acute effects of ketamine. The autopsy report also cited drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid use disorder, as contributing to his death.

Prosecutors say that Perry had used ketamine to treat depression and had received ketamine infusion therapy from doctors. But it is claimed the actor began getting the drug from dealers when his doctors refused to prescribe him more doses.

Perrys personal assistant has admitted to injecting him with several doses of the drug on the day he died.

Sangha, of North Hollywood, California, pleaded guilty to five federal criminal charges in August. These included one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. She had faced up to 65 years in prison.

open image in gallery Sangha was one of five people federally charged after actor Matthew Perry (pictured) was found dead in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023 ( Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ )

Prosecutors say that after she found out Perry had died, she deleted text messages and told Fleming to do the same.

The Department of Justice says that two days after Perrys death, Fleming left Sangha a voicemail on Signal and texted: Please call . . . Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. Im 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry]. Only his Assistant. So the Assistant was the enabler. Also they are doing a 3 month tox screening . . . Does K stay in your system or is it immediately flushed out[?].

Prosecutors say that when her home was searched by law enforcement in March 2024, they found 1.7 kilograms of pressed pills containing methamphetamine, 79 vials of liquid ketamine, MDMA (Ecstasy) tablets, counterfeit Xanax pills, baggies containing powdered ketamine and cocaine.

They also found other drug trafficking items such as a gold money counting machine, a scale, a wireless signal and hidden camera detector, drug packaging materials, and $5,723 in cash.

open image in gallery Jasveen Sangha, who has been dubbed the Ketamine Queen by prosecutors ( Instagram )

In November, her lawyer, Mark Geragos, filed court papers stating that Sangha had been sober for 17 months and asked for her medical issues, no criminal history, strong family support and advanced education to be taken into consideration at sentencing.

Her sentencing comes after Dr Salvador Plasencia, 44, was jailed in December for 30 months after pleading guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine. Plasencia apologized directly to Perrys family in the courtroom, telling them: I am just so sorry.

He repeatedly wiped his brow throughout, as he told the court how he would one day have to explain his role to his young son. I failed to protect a mothers son. I failed Mr. Perry, I failed his family and I failed myself, the disgraced doctor said.

Dr Mark Chavez, of San Diego, was also sentenced in December to three years of supervised release and 300 hours of community service for his role in Perrys death.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine, which is a surgical anesthetic that can be used to curb opioid withdrawal. He admitted obtaining ketamine from his former clinic and from a wholesale distributor where he submitted a fraudulent prescription. The court heard that Chavez provided the ketamine to Plasencia.

"My heart goes out to the Perry family," said Chavez outside the court after his sentencing.

Iwamasa, 60, of Toluca Lake, pleaded guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and is scheduled to be sentenced April 22.

Fleming, 55, of Hawthorne, pleaded guilty August 8 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, admitting that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry, prosecutors said. He is set to be sentenced on April 29.
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The woman known as the Ketamine Queen of North Hollywood is appearing in a Los Angeles federal court Wednesday to be sentenced for her role in the overdose death of Friends star Matthew Perry.

Jasveen Sangha, 42, faces significant prison time after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts, including distribution of ketamine resulting in death.

Prosecutors have requested a 15-year sentence for Sangha, characterizing her as a major drug supplier who used her home as a distribution point to cater to high-end clientele. Sangha was the last of five defendants to reach a plea deal in a federal investigation that authorities said exposed a broad underground criminal network responsible for supplying the actor with the powerful anesthetic.

Members of Perrys family are expected to deliver victim impact statements in court Wednesday. The hearing follows more than two years of investigation after the 54-year-old actor was found dead in his hot tub in October 2023. While Sanghas defense has requested leniency based on her conduct in custody, prosecutors argue she demonstrated a lack of remorse by continuing to sell drugs even after learning of previous customer deaths.

Todays sentencing concludes the case against Sangha, who admitted to selling the 25 vials of ketamine that included the fatal dose. Unlike her co-defendants, Sangha acknowledged in her plea that her actions caused Perrys death, making her eligible for the harshest penalty of the group. As Sangha's sentencing gets underway, The Independent looks back at the Perry investigations.

open image in gallery Jasveen Sangha was one of five people federally charged after actor Matthew Perry (pictured) was found dead in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023 ( Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ )

How Matthew Perry died

The beloved actor was found unresponsive in the pool of his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023. While the actor had been open about his lifelong struggle with addiction, he was reportedly clean from traditional narcotics at the time of his death. However, he had been undergoing legal ketamine infusion therapy for depression and anxiety.

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident caused by the acute effects of ketamine, with contributing factors including drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine.

Investigators found the amount of ketamine in Perrys system was equivalent to levels used for general anesthesia, far exceeding what is typical for outpatient therapy.

open image in gallery Jasveen Sangha, 42, faces significant prison time after pleading guilty to multiple felony counts, including distribution of ketamine resulting in death ( Instagram )

The Ketamine Queen

Jasveen Sangha, a dual U.S. and British citizen, was described by federal prosecutors as a high-society supplier who funded a jet-setting lifestyle through her drug trade. From her North Hollywood apartment, Sangha allegedly sold a variety of narcotics for years.

In the Perry case, prosecutors say she provided the specific batch of ketamine that killed the actor, selling 50 vials to his associates over two weeks.

Her past also became a focal point for the government. Investigators linked her to the 2019 overdose death of another customer, Los Angeles resident Cody McLaury, arguing she was well aware of the drugs lethal potential long before Perrys death.

The Doctors: Salvador Plasencia and Mark Chavez

Dr. Salvador Plasencia, known as Dr. P, was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for illegally selling ketamine to Perry. Prosecutors highlighted text messages in which Plasencia mocked the actors addiction, writing: I wonder how much this moron will pay.

He was supplied by Dr. Mark Chavez, who admitted to obtaining the drug through fraudulent prescriptions and false statements to wholesale distributors. Chavez was sentenced to eight months of home detention for his role in the scheme.

open image in gallery Dr. Salvador Plasencia, 44, was jailed in December for 30 months after pleading guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine ( Getty )

open image in gallery Dr. Mark Chavez sentenced in December to three years of supervised release and 300 hours of community service for his role in Perrys death ( AFP/Getty )

The Assistant: Kenneth Iwamasa

Perrys long-time live-in assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, was the one who administered the fatal injections. Despite having no medical training, Iwamasa admitted to injecting Perry multiple times on the day he died, including the final dose.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and is scheduled for sentencing later this month.

The middleman: Erik Fleming

Erik Fleming, an acquaintance of Perry, acted as the primary link between the actors assistant and Sangha. Fleming admitted to coordinating the sales and transporting the cash and drugs between North Hollywood and Perrys home.

He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute ketamine and distribution of ketamine resulting in death. Like Iwamasa, his final sentence is pending.
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A Florida college student accused of watching her newborn daughter drown in a toilet allegedly had photos of Casey Anthony, who was acquitted of first-degree murder in the disappearance of her infant child, on her phone, police say.

Anne Mae Demegillo, a 20-year-old from Palm Coast whose newborn died March 5, was arrested the next day for aggravated manslaughter and initially released on $250,000 bond. After further investigation, a grand jury on Monday indicted her on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated child abuse and concealing the death.

Demegillo turned herself in at the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and is now in custody without bond pending a court hearing, Flagler County Sheriff's Office announced Monday.

During the investigation, detectives say that Demegillo had used her phone to search for terms such as "newborn premature babies," "Palm Coast OBGYN" and "foods to decrease fertility."

Investigators also discovered that her phone held images of Anthony, who was acquitted of murdering her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee, in a high-profile trial that captivated the country. She was, however, convicted of lying to police.

Anne Mae Demegillo, 20, allegedly had photos of Casey Anthony on her phone and conducted online searches related to a childs death ( Flagler County Sheriff's Office )

Demegillo is also accused of having numerous photos of newborn babies on her phone. Authorities say these searches and images indicate she may have been researching topics related to the death of a child and how such cases are investigates, Fox13 reports.

This is one of those tragic cases that shock you to your core that a mother would allow a newborn to die because the newborn was a distraction to her life," Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said in a statement.

"Its hard to comprehend how a mother would choose to watch their infant drown instead of lifting the baby out of the toilet. I commend our investigators who followed every lead and our Digital Forensics team that uncovered the digital evidence to prove this tragic case was a premeditated murder. I thank our State Attorney, R.J. Larizza, and his office for reviewing the facts of our investigation and the Grand Jury for doing a very difficult job, he added.

Deputies say Demegillo led them to a shallow backyard grave after giving birth the day before and watching her newborn daughter, weighing 3 pounds 6 ounces, die. She allegedly stored the baby in a duffel bag in her closet to perform at a theater.
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An Oklahoma bachelor party trip turned deadly after the groom shot a friend, according to police and local media reports.

Police responded to reports of a shooting early Saturday at a home in Broken Bow, Oklahoma, where they found 21-year-old Braden Uhlmann suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, the states Bureau of Investigation said. Uhlmann was taken to a local hospital, where he later died.

At the scene, special agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spoke to 22-year-old Nolan Engel, who is now accused of killing Uhlmann.

Engel, who was staying at an Airbnb cabin with friends for his bachelor party trip, made spontaneous statements to arriving officers regarding himself as the shooter, according to court documents reviewed by local outlet KXII.

Nolan Engel is accused of fatally shooting Braden Uhlmann, police said ( Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation )

Those documents allege that Engel fired a handgun after he heard knocking and saw someones shadow outside the cabin, KXII reported. Engel and a friend reportedly went outside afterward, and found Uhlmann had been shot in the chest.

Officers arrested Engel, and he was booked into the McCurtain County Jail for second-degree murder, according to the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

There were no other injuries reported, and this is still an ongoing investigation, the bureau said.

He has since posted a $250,000 bond, KXII reports.

The Independent has contacted the McCurtain County Sheriffs Office and Engels attorney for comment. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation declined to provide additional comment.

Broken Bow is located in southeastern Oklahoma, more than 200 miles outside of Oklahoma City. The citys website describes the region as a major tourist area.
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A former Manhattan architect who for years projected the image of a harmless father next door stood in a packed Suffolk County courtroom Wednesday and calmly admitted to a string of killings that have haunted Long Island for more than a decade.

Rex Heuermann, 62, appeared unemotional as he pleaded guilty to the murders of seven women and admitted to an eighth in the Gilgo Beach serial killings.

The victims include Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Amber Lynn Costello, 27; Megan Waterman, 22; Sandra Costilla, 28; Jessica Taylor, 20; and Valerie Mack, 24.

The guilty plea brings solace. Finally, a sense of relief, Maureen Brainard-Barness sister Missy said following the hearing. Today is not about the person responsible. Today is about the women' s lives who were stolen. Its about their voices, their futures, and their families, the love that still surrounds them. They are the reason that we are here.

In court, Heuermann also admitted to the 1996 killing of Karen Vergata, a Manhattan mother of two whose remains were discovered years apart on Fire Island and near Gilgo Beach.

open image in gallery Rex Heuermann, 62, appeared unemotional as he pleaded guilty to the murders of seven women and admitted to an eighth in the Gilgo Beach serial killings

The former Massapequa Park resident kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, never turning toward the gallery where victims families  along with his estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, and daughter, Victoria  sat watching in silence.

Heuermann admitted he strangled all eight victims, some of whom were sex workers, dismembered some of them, used burner phones to arrange meetings, and wrapped several bodies in burlap before discarding them in remote areas along Long Islands South Shore.

Heuermann walked among us, playacting as a normal suburban dad, when in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said. He identified these women, lured them into Nassau County, murdered them and left their bodies in Suffolk County.

open image in gallery ( AP )

Tierney credited the victims families for their continued pressure and push to get justice.

He thought that by killing them he could silence them forever and get away with murder, Tierney added. But he was wrong.

open image in gallery Family members of some of the victims said they accepted the plea and were glad to move on ( Getty Images )

A case that spanned decades

The investigation stretched back to the early 1990s but intensified in 2010, when police searching for missing woman Shannan Gilbert uncovered multiple sets of human remains along a desolate stretch of Ocean Parkway.

Between 2010 and 2011, authorities discovered 11 sets of remains in the Gilgo Beach area, roughly 45 miles from New York City, sparking fears of a serial killer and drawing international attention.

Despite years of investigation, the case remained unsolved until a major breakthrough in 2023. Investigators recovered DNA from a discarded pizza box outside Heuermanns Manhattan office, matching it to evidence found on a victim.

open image in gallery Between 2010 and 2011, authorities discovered 11 sets of remains in the Gilgo Beach area, roughly 45 miles from New York City, sparking fears of a serial killer and drawing international attention

That DNA, along with cellphone data, witness accounts and digital forensics, led to his arrest in July 2023.

Authorities later uncovered what they described as a blueprint for the killings on his computer, including checklists detailing how to commit the crimes and avoid detection.

A sadistic, soulless, murderous monster

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said the guilty plea shattered the image Heuermann had cultivated since his arrest.

The calm, serene, almost grandfatherly image that Rex Heuermann portrayed since his arrest was a lie and, quite frankly, an insult to law enforcement and, more importantly, the families that had to endure that during every court appearance during the last two and a half years, Catalina said. Today he was exposed for exactly what he is, a sadistic, soulless, murderous monster. And thankfully, everybody today got to see that.

Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents some family members of the victims, said Heuermann thought he had the perfect blueprint for murder, but that he did not take into account the courage and persistence of his victims families.

Some of these murder victims were young mothers, just trying to earn a little extra money to support their children, Allred said. Because many did not have funds to go to college or get a decent job that would help them to provide adequate support for their children, they turned to sex work in order to support their families. It wasn't what they wanted to do, but it was what they felt forced to do, because they had no meaningful alternatives.

Do not give up hope

For victims families, the plea marked a long-awaited turning point after years of uncertainty.

Maureen Brainard-Barnes sister, Melissa Missy, delivered an emotional statement, urging other families still searching for answers not to lose hope.

open image in gallery Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose bodies were found in 2010 are the Gilgo Four ( Suffolk County Police Department )

To every family out there still searching, still waiting, still holding on - please do not give up hope. Even when it feels impossible, even when the years pass and the silence grows heavy, keep going. Your loved ones matter. They are not forgotten, and one day, answers can come, she said.

Missy grew emotional as she addressed her sister directly.

Finally, to Maureen. The promise I made to you so long ago was simple - I would never stop searching for justice for you. Through every year, every setback, every unanswered question, I carried you with me. And I kept that promise. And today, it has been done. Justice has finally found its way to you. Your voice was never silenced, your story never forgotten, and your life will always mean more than the tragedy that took you.

This moment is not the end, but a reminder that love endures, truth prevails, and hope never fades. Because even in the darkest moments, justice will find its way.

open image in gallery Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor were the first alleged victims of Heuermann who were murdered before 2007 ( Suffolk County DA/Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook page )

Decision to plead guilty

Defense attorney Michael Brown said the decision ultimately came from Heuermann himself.

There came a point in this defense where Rex said, I want to plead guilty, Brown said, noting that his client wanted to spare both the victims families and his own family from a lengthy trial.

Asked whether Heuermann was remorseful, Brown said, I would hope so.  I would expect at sentencing he would have something to say.

As part of the plea agreement, Heuermann will cooperate with the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit.

Killers family asks for privacy

Heuermanns estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, asked for privacy following the plea.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Their loss is immeasurable and the focus should be on them in this time, and moment. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate through this very difficult time, she said.

open image in gallery Heuermanns estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, asked for privacy following the plea ( AP )

Her attorney has previously said neither Ellerup nor the couples daughter had any knowledge of or involvement in the crimes.

A measure of closure

The plea comes just five months before the trial was set to begin. Heuermann now faces life in prison.

Prosecutors said he is expected to receive multiple consecutive sentences, including life without the possibility of parole for several of the murders, along with an additional sentence of 100 years to life for others. The admitted killing of Vergata is included in the plea agreement.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.

After decades of stalled leads and heartbreak, investigators acknowledged the role victims families played in pushing the case forward.

open image in gallery During a press conference on Wednesday, Ray Tierney said that Rex Heuermann wanted to seem like a harmless father next door' ( Raymond Tierney/YouTube )

Were sorry, Tierney said. They inspired us. Theyre the reason why we do what we do. Today was a very special day for us in law enforcement, because it gave us the opportunity to turn to these victims and their families and say, Listen, we told you we were going to work really hard. We told you we were going to do everything we can to bring closure to you. And thats why we work in law enforcement, and we were able to do that to a small measure today. So, were happy for that, and so thankful for them.

For many, the guilty plea does not erase the years of pain  but it marks a long-awaited step toward justice in one of Long Islands most notorious cases.
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Jurors are set to decide the fate of a former FedEx driver who pleaded guilty to killing a 7-year-old girl after delivering a Christmas gift to her Texas home.

Tanner Horner will face either the death penalty or life in prison in the killing of Athena Strand after pleading guilty Tuesday in a surprise move right as his murder trial was set to get underway.

Little Athenas body was found two days after she was reported missing in the rural town of Paradise, near Fort Worth in November 2022. Horner told police that he accidentally hit her with his van and then strangled her in a fit of panic.

The only truthful thing that Tanner Horner told law enforcement was that he killed her, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton said during opening statements.

The pattern and web of lies that he put together, its going to be hard for y'all to keep up with. It is lie upon lie upon lie upon lie.

open image in gallery Ashley Strand, Athena's stepmother, told jurors that the package Horner had dropped off was a Christmas present for Athena ( The Dallas Morning News )

As Athenas stepmother testified, the jury was shown an image of Athena taken from a video inside the delivery truck. She was still alive and sitting on her knees behind the drivers seat.

Stainton said the scenario that Horner told authorities  that he hit her with his vehicle and panicked  is an absolute lie. He said she was uninjured when Horner put her into the vehicle.

The first thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up and puts her in that truck, he leans down and he says: Dont scream or Ill hurt you. He says that twice, Stainton said.

Stainton told jurors that the evidence in the case is rough, and they will watch video of what happened that day and then hear audio after the camera has been covered up.

You are going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child, Stainton said. And when I say its horrible, I mean it.

He said Athena fought Horner, and his DNA was found under her fingernails. He also said Horner's DNA was found in places where you shouldnt find DNA on a 7-year-old girl.

open image in gallery Horner told investigators that Athena wasnt seriously hurt after he hit her while backing up, but he panicked and put her in his van ( Wise County Jail )

According to an arrest warrant, Horner told authorities that he strangled Athena after accidentally hitting her with his van while making a delivery. Horner told investigators that Athena wasnt seriously hurt after he hit her while backing up, but he panicked and put her in his van.

Horner said he didnt want her to tell her father what happened, so he first tried to break the girls neck and when that didnt work, he strangled her with his hands in the back of the van, the warrant said. The warrant said Horner took investigators to where hed left Athenas body.

In opening statements, Horners attorney Steven Goble told jurors: When someones brain is whats injured, you dont see it.

While acknowledging that the evidence against Horner was overwhelming and terrible, he told jurors that Horners mother drank while she was pregnant, that he has autism and suffered from various mental illnesses throughout his life in addition to being exposed to a massive amount of lead.

Goble asked jurors to sentence him to life in prison.

Ashley Strand, Athena's stepmother, told jurors that the package Horner had dropped off was a Christmas present for Athena  a box of You Can Be Anything Barbies. Strand, who has since divorced Athena's father, said Athena enjoyed living out on their land in the country, where she got to run wild and free.

The trial was moved from rural Wise County to Fort Worth after Horners attorneys argued that he would not have received a fair trial.
BAGHDAD, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq announced on Wednesday that it would suspend military operations in Iraq and the surrounding region for two weeks.

This move followed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran earlier in the day.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group for pro-Iranian militias, has intensified attacks on U.S. "occupation bases" and Israeli targets after the Iran war broke out on Feb. 28. 
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CultureBooksReview This dystopian tale feels scarily akin to the world we already live in Heidi Maier April 8, 2026  4:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

FICTION

Glyph

Ali Smith

Penguin, $39.99 Jeanette Winterson once wrote that the reason she so admires the work of her contemporary Ali Smith is because she breaks the rules so gleefully, she engages in wonderful wordplay and cares deeply for the message and the meaning. Reading Smiths 15th novel, Glyph, it is impossible not to be struck by the Scottish authors mastery of all of those elements: her clever wordplay, her unapologetically metafictional storytelling and her obvious dedication to the message and the meaning of what it is that she writes. Glyph is an unlikely companion piece to Gliff (2024), a dark near-future dystopian work in which the British population live in a country where the state paints red lines around the houses of those refusing total state digital surveillance and sets children to work in underground basements, dismantling old electronics and stripping them of their precious metal content. Although obviously meant to depict the near-future, reading it felt eerily prescient  and deeply disturbing. The world depicted in Glyph, feels much more akin to that we inhabit currently. The body of a female journalist is eventually returned to her family mutilated, just like that of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna. A clever teenager, in trouble at a school where female teachers are subject to constant misogynist abuse from boys, is arrested for standing on the footpath, chatting, while holding the wrong kind of flag. A woman who used to have a job rewriting AI-generated text to make it sound more human is made redundant, as AI masters the skill of sounding more human than humans themselves.

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Glyph unmistakably takes place in modern Britain, whereas the setting of Gliff was intentionally much more speculative. The characters within Glyphs fictional tableau have, in fact, often read Gliff, borrowing phrases from actual, published reviews of the book to express their disappointment in the experience. Drawing from motifs unique to classic childrens literature, Gliff has at its core siblings who were abandoned by their carers, left to survive alone in an increasingly isolated and dangerous world, awaiting the return of the grown-ups who would care for them. Conversely, the estranged adult sisters at the heart of Glyph have watched their mother die as their cold, tyrannical father stands idly by. Petra Wild, the sister who narrates the first half, wasnt impressed with Gliff, noting that, It was okay. It was quite good. I thought it was well-written and everything but it was a bit too clever for me. And whats with all that horse stuff? The horse stuff to which Petra refers is central to both novels. Smith again draws this element of her storytelling narrative structure from childrens literature, invoking the motif of the relationship between a boy and his horse, represented here as the tale of a young soldier in the trenches of World War I, caring for a pit pony brought up from the darkness below ground to transport military supplies instead of coal. Scottish author Ali Smith. Getty Images The horse is blinded during a gas attack, its eyes turned to egg white, and the young soldier, knowing the horse will be considered useless and shot, removes both his own and the horses military kit and walks off into the woods. A few months later he is caught and made an example of by roping him to a post early one morning, blindfolding him and having a firing squad shoot them dead. His fate is suspended in time, a ghostly spectre that echoes down later in the novel when, in the aftermath of the World War II, a motorcyclist transporting military dispatches in France comes across the body of a man completely flattened to the road, as if a tank has run over him. The sisters of Glyph  Petra and Patch, later known as Patricia  hear both stories in childhood and remain understandably haunted by them into adulthood. The scenes of horror from the First and Second World Wars are juxtaposed with scenes from Gaza, and Patricias daughter, Bill, is arrested for waving an inflammatory scarf at a protest, deemed by police to have been in tacit support of a newly proscribed situation.

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Related Article Review From a Regency romp to a life in the wild, here are 10 new books Glyph moves effortlessly back and forth between the past and the present, cleverly playing with E.M. Forsters observations about flat and round characters in fiction whilst eschewing traditional, realist storytelling conventions to weave a story that ultimately remains open-ended and entirely unresolved. Smiths metafiction converges and divides, rises and falls, all with a gleeful knowingness and arch humour. It is, in the end, a quite remarkable and utterly unique novel from one of the finest writers working today. The Booklist is a weekly newsletter for book lovers from Jason Steger. Get it delivered every Friday.
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EnvironmentConservationWhales More whales are visiting Sydney out of season. Scientists debate why Caitlin Fitzsimmons April 9, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The first whales swimming north for the winter have already been spotted off the coast of Sydney, with some maritime operations turning to artificial intelligence to help reduce one of the marine mammals deadliest direct threats  boat strike. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have made an extraordinary comeback after industrial whaling brought the species to the brink of extinction last century, but there is some evidence the migration is starting earlier or at least becoming less predictable. The population of humpback whales on the Australian east coast now exceeds 50,000  20,000 more than the pre-whaling estimates from the 1900s  marine scientists told the federal government in a report last year. In the 1960s, after decades of whaling, there were just 300-500 individuals. Humpback whales spend summer in Antarctica gorging themselves on krill to put on as much blubber as possible  an extended Christmas lunch, as Macquarie University whale scientist Dr Vanessa Pirotta puts it.

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They return to warmer waters in winter to breed. In Sydney, the whale migration season generally lasts from May, when the first whales pass by on their northward journey, to November, when the final stragglers return southward. Jason Iggleden, who flies his drone at Bondi every morning and posts on Instagram as @dronesharkapp to 251,000 followers, spotted a humpback whale heading north on March 22. He usually does not see the first one until the middle of May. A Blainvilles beaked whale in Middle Harbour in late March. Silke Stuckenbrock / ORRCA Research published last July in Nature suggests the southward migration has shifted earlier by at least three weeks, and there is a strong correlation between the migratory timing and sea ice coverage in the whales Antarctic feeding grounds. Pirotta said most humpbacks stick to the May-November season, but there were increasing reports of unseasonal sightings of whales. It was unclear whether this was an environmental change or a result of the increased population making them more visible, she said.

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Whales may be adapting where theyre feeding  so feeding in Australian waters in addition to Antarctica, the warming of the oceans may cause certain prey to do different things where the whales react to that, Pirotta said. Related Article Antarctica Whales go to Antarctica to get fat. Humans are taking their food The life cycle of Antarctic krill relies on sea ice, which is under threat from climate change. Pirotta, like other scientists, is also concerned about the level of industrial krill fishing in the Southern Ocean to supply the health supplement, pet food and aquaculture industries. Pip Jacobs, a spokesperson for the Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA), said it was uncommon but not unusual to see humpbacks out of season, and scientists were also exploring a third theory. There is a school of thought that there may be a resident population of humpback whales off the east coast of Australia, Jacobs said.

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A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water said the impact of climate change on migration timings was not currently known. It is also possible that migration timings are trending back to what they were before, now the population has recovered to pre-whaling numbers, the spokesperson said. AI reducing boat strike risk With increased prevalence and unpredictability comes a heightened chance of a collision between a whale and a boat or ship. Globally, about 20,000 whales die every year from boat strikes, figures from the International Whaling Commission and Friend of the Sea suggest.

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An artificial intelligence-powered camera that can detect whales and predict their path of travel is aiming to reduce that. Greenroom Robotics chief operations officer Harry Hubbert said the tool, called Lookout+, has been deployed globally, mainly in highly regulated industries such as offshore oil energy and transport. Related Article Wildlife Skeletal seal seeks respite in the Cooks River We have autonomous boats out there in the world that we provide software for, and then in that case, it will change the direction of the boat, Hubbert said. For the crewed vessels, typically it just provides the captain more information so they can make a decision. Last year, NRMA Marine deployed it on its Sydney-based whale watching vessel Fantasea Avalon to boost the number of whale sightings and reduce the risk of boat strikes. Nigel Ellsmore, NRMAs chief operating officer for marine, said the technology was effective so far  although it was still developing  in providing an additional level of safety, especially since whales often ventured into the harbour.

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As well as the early humpback sightings, there have been reports of six strandings of Blainvilles beaked whales between Newcastle and Wollongong in recent weeks, including one successfully pushed back to sea at Bondi, and one that was stranded near Frenchs Forest and died. Blainvilles beaked whales are an elusive offshore species typically found in deeper waters. Get to the heart of whats happening with climate change and the environment. Sign up for our fortnightly Environment newsletter.
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LifestyleFashionMeghan Markle Fashion designers are lining up to dress Meghan when shes in Australia Damien Woolnough April 8, 2026  7:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

The popularity of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, hit a record low in an opinion poll at the beginning of the year, but Australian fashion designers clearly werent part of the survey. Ahead of her upcoming visit to Australia, local labels are putting themselves at the disposal of the actor turned princess turned entrepreneur. Meghan, who was perceived positively by only 19 per cent of the UK public in a YouGov survey  ahead of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and below Queen Camilla  clearly still has a stylish Australian fan base. Meghan represents a modern woman with purpose, strength and grace  qualities we design for every day, says Sydney-based designer Karen Gee, who dressed the duchess on her first official tour of Australia in 2018. Harry and Meghan, wearing Karen Gees Blessed dress, in Sydney, in 2018. Gee would like to see Meghan in her Carrington dress in ivory, $950, (right) during this months visit. AP, Supplied Photographs of Meghan wearing the minimalist white Blessed dress by Gee appeared in newspapers around the world, as her arrival in Sydney coincided with the announcement of her pregnancy with Prince Archie.

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If Meghan were to wear Karen Gee again, it would simply be a continuation of that shared understanding, that clothing can quietly support confidence without ever overwhelming the woman wearing it, says Gee. Related Article Royal family Meghan, Duchess of Sussex confirmed to appear on Her Best Life podcast On that tour, Meghan also wore Melbourne-based label Scanlan Theodore, continuing the relationship by arriving at her final solo engagement as a working royal in 2020 at Buckingham Palace in a navy crepe dress from the label. Her considered approach to dressing and appreciation for timeless, refined design aligns naturally with our brand, says Melinda Robinson, co-chief executive of Scanlan Theodore. We are always honoured to see Meghan Markle in Scanlan Theodore. It sounds like the Meghan effect is still active.

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In March last year, Meghan capitalised on fans of her streamlined, stealth wealth dress sense by launching a page on affiliate marketing platform ShopMy, featuring a $US1415 ($2029) beige Loro Piana cashmere sweater and a $US1350 ($1936) Heidi Merrick dress. The page became inactive in September. Meghan understands the impact of her wardrobe, and has been approached by Australian labels eager to dress her for the Her Best Life luxury retreat at InterContinental Sydney Coogee Beach from April 17-19. Times where I know there is a global spotlight, and attention will be given to each detail of what I may or may not be wearing, then I support designers that I have really great friendships with, and smaller, up-and-coming brands that havent gotten the attention that they should be getting, Meghan said in a 2024 New York Times interview. Thats one of the most powerful things that Im able to do, and thats simply wearing, like, an earring. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, wearing a Scanlan Theodore pomegranate crepe knit jacket at the 2018 Invictus Games in Sydney. Scanlan Theodore chief executive Melinda Robinson would like to see Meghan wear their Milano Cocoon dress, $900, (right) on the upcoming Australian visit. AP, supplied

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Australian designer Anna Hoang is hoping that Meghans team selects more than an earring from the current collection of her 13-year-old label, Anna Quan. Before becoming a princess, then-Suits actor Meghan Markle wore an Anna Quan shirt in 2014. Major Hollywood A-list actresses tend to resonate with our community, Hoang says. Weve been fortunate to dress a few over the years. Related Article Royal family Harry and Meghan touch down for first Australian trip since royal exit Its always an honour when someone such as Meghan, who has a large selection of designers to choose from, chooses to wear Anna Quan. Its not just a matter of any publicity is good publicity for Hoang, who has turned down requests from celebrities in the past.

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Requests are declined by Hoang when it doesnt align with the brand or it doesnt make sense for the person, or it doesnt suit their style. Its a two-way street. Less attention is being paid to the wardrobe of Prince Harry, who will deliver the keynote address at the InterEdge Psychosocial Safety Summit in Melbourne, which runs from April 15-16. Sydney-based label Jac + Jack saw an uptick in sales in 2018 when Harry wore a folded collar shirt in a blue wash from their collection. We did sell out of the shirt he was wearing, says Jac + Jack brand manager Thomas Carr. Its one of our signature mens pieces that we bring back each season in new colours. On Meghan and Harrys 2018 visit to Bondi Beach, Australian label Jac + Jack dressed Harry in a blue folded collar shirt. The label would select the merino wool Howell coat, $1400, for Meghan this time around. AP, supplied

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The mens and womenswear brand prefers their relationships with celebrities, royal or otherwise, to evolve over time. We dont actively seek out specific people to wear our clothes. For us, its always been about organic alignment rather than targeting individuals. Of course, its always exciting to see the brand worn by people in the public eye, but only when it happens in a way that feels effortless and true to both sides. Editor's pick Lunch with David Wenham on cancer, getting older and being lusted after For Karen Gee, the journey to the clothes hangers of the famous is more direct. We would never refuse to dress any woman. At the heart of Karen Gee is the belief that every woman deserves to feel beautiful, confident, and entirely herself. Our role is not to define who that woman should be, but to support her. Make the most of your health, relationships, fitness and nutrition with our Live Well newsletter. Get it in your inbox every Monday.
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Letters NationalVictoriaLetters Even in war, international law must prevail April 8, 2026  8:00pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Photo: Megan Herbert To submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published. Belatedly, and on several fronts, attention has turned this week to what nations have long ago agreed is acceptable and what is not, in times of international conflict. Leaders and soldiers must respect the rules. Nations horrified by the actions of the likes of Hitler and Stalin undertook years of diplomatic conferences to prevent future atrocities, by creating the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the additional protocols of 1977. Australia, Israel, the USA, the former USSR and most nations set out and signed the international rules protecting civilians, wounded and surrendered combatants, and prisoners of war.

Under these international humanitarian laws, the International Committee of Red Cross was given the vital role of guaranteed and protected access to ensure basic health, hygiene and comforts to those taken prisoner. Civilians in peril are also given help, under the protective Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems worn by impartial and neutral aid workers.

I wonder whether Putin, Trump and Netanyahu have read the Geneva Convention documents. Has the top military brass in their countries tried to brief these men ahead of events in Ukraine and Iran? I further wonder whether the recently departed senior US military leaders tried to tell the president of his countrys obligations. The world condemned Hitler, Stalin, Idi Amin, Pol Pot and others for genocide and barbarity. Why has it taken so long for voices, some still meekly, to question the outrageous behaviour of aggressors in recent times? I condemn them, in the strongest possible civilised language.

Alan McLean, secretary-general, Australian Red Cross, 1988-93, Queenscliff The drone is the go-to weapon

There are lessons to be learnt for Australia from the two wars raging at the moment. Irans navy and airforce have been obliterated, yet somehow it seems to have the upper hand against arguably, the greatest military power in the world. Similarly, Ukraine has kept its much stronger and larger neighbour at bay for over four years. The common denominator here is drone warfare. These cheap and destructive weapons are more than 10 times more cost effective than the missiles used to down them.

Ukraine is a world leader in drone technology and, in fact, has signed a deal with the Gulf states to help them blunt Iranian attacks. With our budgetary constraints and limited military capabilities, drones are a cheap alternative/addition to our airforce in the defence of our nation. Maybe we can do a contra deal with President Zelensky, our Bushmasters for your drone expertise.

Christo Krousoratis, Templestowe The interests that feed fighting and injustice

We have wars because rich and powerful people profit from them. We have poverty because the rich and powerful prevail. Commonsense dictates that a decent and just society adequately meets the needs of all in the areas of housing, education, health and employment. We can circle the Moon. We can achieve a just and equitable society.

Julie Stafford, Ivanhoe East

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Seeing perspective, and reality, from afar

The amazing photos of a beautiful and fragile Earth taken from Artemis II put the concurrent crises we face into perspective. Yet again, the image of our blue planet helps us to see our home as a precious place to preserve and nurture. Zoom in and we see the horrors of conflict, tragedy and stupidity. Zoom back out and we see humans of different backgrounds and experiences working together to create a better future for humanity. I wonder if Donald Trump was aware of the irony during his phone call to the astronauts.

Judy Williams, Beaumaris THE FORUM Australian values

Gina Rinehart says that she doesnt understand why Ben Roberts-Smith has been pursued and now charged by the Australian Federal Police for war crimes, specifically the murders of up to five unarmed civilians in Afghanistan. She quotes a former brigadier (now deceased) that the oath to serve your country did not include a contract for the normal luxuries and comforts enjoyed within our society.

I appreciate that serving in a war zone is dangerous and difficult, there are many shades of grey, and that passing judgment from our living rooms may be problematic. But the charges against Ben Roberts-Smith do not concern split-second decisions made in the confusion of a battle. The charges relate to decisions and actions taken in cold blood, after action had ceased, with much of the evidence against Roberts-Smith coming from his fellow SAS soldiers who served alongside him.

It would be easy to look away and brush this all under the carpet, but to do so would stain the reputation of all Australian service personnel. Ben Roberts-Smith will get his day in court and have the opportunity to defend himself, but in the meantime it is to Australias credit that as a country we uphold the rule of law and the principle that no one should be above it. This is the true defence of Australian values that our military swears to protect.

Simon Bennett, Hawthorn East Ignorant language

When commenting on the charging of Ben Roberts-Smith, Nationals MP Bridget McKenzie adopts the language of US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, in referring to members of the SAS as warriors. Its just another example of how the conservative side of Australian politics still cant resist the pull and influence of the Trump world. Further, in her choice of words, McKenzie seems ignorant of the findings of the Brereton Report that a warrior culture among rogue elements of the SAS in Afghanistan led to the type of behaviour surrounding the war crimes with which Ben Roberts-Smith is now charged.

Dan McGlade, Brunswick Best to be quiet

Tony Abbott and Pauline Hanson should both take a leaf out of other politicians books and not comment on matters before the courts. Comments stating that what happens in the field of war cannot be judged by ordinary standards suggests a failure to read the reports which state the alleged murders did not take place during combat but rather against detained and unarmed people (prisoners, effectively), and also that they were reported by fellow officers. There is a line between the fog of war and war crimes, and it is for the courts, armed with all the facts and not just cliches of their choosing, to decide whether that line was crossed, no one else.

Emma Borghesi, Rye

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PM must speak up

Up to now, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken a softly-softly approach regarding commenting on the actions/statements of Donald Trump, however I think its time to take the gloves off and call it out for what is. At this weeks news conference he was asked what he thought of the civilians in Iran, who might be casualties of any action by the US. The PM responded by saying that he has always called for de-escalation, and yet again demonstrates his inability to directly answer the question.

Whatever one thinks of the dreadful and tragic circumstances the Iranian civilian population find themselves in, there is simply no excuse should they find their lives in peril; leaders of the world, including our prime minister, should condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of Donald Trump and his administration should they overlook the safety of civilians. For the prime minister not to do so, shows an unwillingness to put the lives of civilians above all other considerations.

Bruce MacKenzie, South Kingsville All bets are off

Your correspondent (Letters, 6/4) is correct in identifying the threat from the MAGA maniacs in the US as being as real as the threat from the IRGC maniacs in Iran. There is some hope offered by the fact that the US Constitution sets November 2028 as the end of Trumps term, but, given that Trump has shown no respect whatsoever for US law, let alone humanity and decency. Gone in 2028? Dont bet on that.

Ian Usman Lewis, Armidale, NSW No support from us

Whatever our political leanings, we have had plenty of time to witness and assess the range and quality of Donald Trumps leadership decisions and his presidential style. He presents himself as a great deal maker and claims that peace is one of his primary objectives. We have seen a full range of his self-centred and erratic behaviour, his vacuous public demonstration of Christian values and petulant behaviour when he finds the outcome of his decisions not to his liking. Successive Australian governments have placed much importance on our relationship with the US at times to the point where it seems like a one-sided relationship. Isnt it time to let Trump, his administration and his millions of MAGA faithful know that we dont support what he is doing?

There will be life after Trump and given the disasters of his term as president, airing our views of the current alliance and Trumps dominant role in those disasters, our relationship with the US, post-Trump is likely to be enhanced by calling him out.

Charles Griss, Balwyn Pot, kettle, black

Donald Trump has been quoted as saying, You know whats a war crime? Allowing a sick country with a demented leadership to have a nuclear weapon. Indeed.

Dawn Richards, Huntingdale Earth says thanks

The Iran war and resulting oil shortage is driving the growth of EVs (EV sales jump, 8/4). A perverse outcome for which the planet says thanks.

Greg Curtin, Nunawading

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Not going electric

Facing a crisis on fuel supply and another on global warming, you would expect governments to be leading the way in transferring our car fleet to electric. A look at the Victorian government-approved vehicle list shows that departments can still choose 49 non-electric models for their fleet purchases. There are now over 90 electric models, from SUVs to utes to people movers, available. What is the government waiting for?

Peter Allan, Brunswick West Tackle inequalities

Your correspondent (Letters, 8/4) alerted me to the Warwick McFadyen article (5/4), which reminded me of the Gil Scott-Heron spoken word protest from 1970  Whitey on the Moon  which bravely (for that time) highlighted the same message as McFadyen. More than half a century later and the imbalances in American society have worsened.

Government can always find funding to display technological distractions, expenditure on armaments, unleashing wars (with all their devastating costs  human, economic, social, environmental etc) but not for closing societal inequalities. The opportunity cost of these expenditures is crippling and divisive. Hopefully our own government is watching and learning and the treasurer takes a different path in May.

Peter Thomson, Brunswick Music to orbit by

I hope the astronauts listened to Pink Floyds Dark Side Of The Moon while they went around the Moon.

Viviane King, Milawa The Golding medicine

Oh Golding, you are brilliantly hilarious (8/7). Thanks for the laugh in this frightening world.

Jane Ross San Remo Royal conundrum

I agree with your correspondent (Letters 8/4) about the need to rename the Princes Highway. However the issue I have with the name is the missing apostrophe.

The name is obviously of a possessive nature, hence the need. But where should it go? Is it for one prince, as suggested, and should be called Princes Highway, or is it of a more generic nature, spanning generations of princes, hence Princes Highway?

And what about gender equality, Princesss Highway?

Julian Robertson, Mt Eliza

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Time for rhyme

A timely reminder from George Brandis (Comment, 8/4) regarding the role of poetry in the lives of many of our former political leaders. An Australian Poet Laureate is expected to be announced this year.

Hopefully, it may ignite an area of creativity and reflection that deepens leaders and community insights.

Russell Harrison (Adam Lindsay Gordon Commemorative Committee), Sandringham Rapt at covering

While Age readers discuss the utility of the newspaper rubber bands, Id like to commend the publishers for inadvertently solving another household problem. The plastic covering is a perfectly sized bin liner for lifes smaller scraps.

Anna Radywonik, Moonee Ponds Pay workers fairly

I cant help feeling that rubbish collectors and toilet cleaners should be part of the health system. Without them, wed be back to the 19th century and even earlier conditions. Our health would suffer. They should be paid fairly.

Lesley Taskis, Kingsbury Journalism matters

Irrespective of ones opinions on Ben Roberts-Smith, we can all agree that investigative journalism still matters in this age of lazy opinions on social media.

Pamela Papadopoulos, South Yarra AND ANOTHER THING

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Trump

Donald Trump should study the childrens story The boy who cried wolf. His threats are totally hollow now.

Reg Murray, Glen Iris Trump eats humble TACO.

Kevan Porter, Alphington When a president threatens that a whole civilisation will die tonight, he deserves to be treated as a madman and removed from office. Tony Haydon, Springvale The scary thing for the world is that Donald Trump may know what hes doing, whatever that is.

Tony OBrien, South Melbourne From Donald Trump, The Iranian people are begging the US to keep bombing Iran ... even if it meant striking civilian infrastructure. Now Ive heard it all.

David West, Essendon.

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Stop the world. I want to get off.

Paul Custance, Highett Furthermore

The AFLs introduction of music at the MCG in between each home-team goal takes away from the grounds unique, natural atmosphere. Do we really need to keep Americanising our great national code?

Jack McPherson, Lancefield If you want a coach to make a silk purse, perhaps make sure he has more than a sows ear with which to do so.

Laurine Hurley, Northcote Can Matt Canavan and Andrew Hastie bring us the coal-fired Kingswood?

Glenn Wood, Bardon, Qld Matt Canavan wants to increase manufacturing. Wasnt it the Coalition who scrapped the car industry?

Merv Robbins, Coburg

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Welcome back Ross Gittins (Comment, 8/4). Ive greatly missed his articles on the economy.

Georgina Simmons, Mornington Finally

Orion is a historic mission, and Im sure that people in countries like Sudan, Myanmar and Haiti will be thrilled.

Tim Durbridge, Brunswick
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NationalVictoriaCoroners Court of Victoria Half a century after Veronica disappeared, her family is still waiting for closure Lachlan Abbott April 8, 2026  5:49pm Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Police believe a mother who disappeared 50 years ago was likely killed, but failed to question her allegedly abusive husband before he died, and her family long thought she was still alive. A coronial inquest into the suspected death of Veronica Green was held on Wednesday after she was last seen aged 38 at her Ardeer home on February 13, 1976. Veronica Green went missing in 1976. Victoria Police The coroners investigator Allan Wood told the hearing the initial police probe was deficient as William Bill Green was not formally interviewed after he reported his wife missing. Detective Sergeant Wood, who took on the cold case in 2007 as part of a historical missing persons taskforce, said he did not believe Veronica took her own life or left her two children.

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I think the most likely outcome is that Veronica met with foul play, he said. Outside court, her daughter Penny criticised the entire police investigation and said she didnt believe her father killed her mother, though she added: anythings possible. Penny Green, daughter of Veronica, is still searching for answers after 50 long years. AAPIMAGE For 50 years, I honestly believed that she left of her own accord, Penny said. We dont know what to think now.

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In her closing submissions, counsel assisting the coroner Jessika Syrjanen said Woods investigation uncovered allegations Green was violent towards Veronica and had sexually abused other children. I also note that Veronica was reportedly aware of Bills alleged abuse, and she reportedly threatened to report him to police, which suggests that Bill may have had motive to kill her, Syrjanen said. Detective Sergeant Allan Wood said Veronicas husband shouldve been spoken to by police following her disappearance. Joe Armao However, she submitted that the available evidence did not reach the required standard of proof to definitively conclude Veronicas death was a homicide, nor find Green responsible. He died in 2006.

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Penny Green told reporters she was distressed with how police had followed up on reported sightings of her mother. We just feel like the Victorian police system has truly let us down, she said. This wont give us closure. Penny was 14-years-old when her mother disappeared while her sister, Jacqui, was aged 7. We did love our mum, and weve missed her, and my boys and my sisters children have missed her the whole of their lives, Penny said. She was beautiful. In 2020, detectives dug up the backyard of the Green familys old home in Melbournes west as part of their investigation into Veronicas disappearance, but found nothing.

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Detective Sergeant Wood became emotional on Wednesday when asked to reflect on almost 20 years of investigating the cold case. Certainly for Veronicas family, its hard to comprehend what theyve been through  young girls growing up without their mum, he said. Police excavate Veronica Greens Ardeer backyard in 2020 hoping it would lead to answers. Joe Armao Wood told the court that reported sightings of Veronica meant earlier investigations considered she could still be alive, and potentially the allegations of sexual abuse had not been significantly delved into. However, his investigation could not verify any sightings, nor find any proof-of-life records, and her suspected death was eventually reported to the Coroners Court in June 2020.

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Related Article Crime Backyard to be dug up as police investigate disappearance of mother 44 years ago Asked if he was surprised no one ever spoke with Bill Green during the entire investigation before his passing, Wood said: Simply, yes. He should have been spoken to without a doubt. Coroner Ingrid Giles expressed sympathy to Veronicas family. I just want to offer my sincere condolences for the length of the investigation, for being let down by the system for 50 years, and for this process ending up in a courtroom today with such disturbing information, she said. The court heard Victoria Police had overhauled their missing persons investigations since Veronica went missing and the probe into her disappearance would likely end differently if it were conducted today.

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Inspector Anthony Combridge, however, said Victorias missing persons system was still not best practice. All other jurisdictions in Australasia have at least some level of centralisation in their missing person investigation capability, he said. And Victoria sits effectively in an outlier position where we dont have that centralised body. Inspector Anthony Combridge said there is room for improvement in Victorias missing persons system. Simon Schluter Combridge said the only disadvantage of a more centralised missing persons unit similar to that of NSW was the burden of resourcing it. Victoria does have a missing persons squad, but Combridge said the current model meant different regions assessed thousands of disappearance reports first before any deemed suspicious were escalated.

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He later rejected the suggestion that the current system was unfit-for-purpose and clarified he merely supported more centralisation but couldnt speak to resourcing priorities. Start the day with a summary of the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from China, Afghanistan and Pakistan held an informal meeting from April 1 to 7 in Urumqi, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday.

Mao told a regular press briefing that members of the three delegations were from their countries' departments of foreign affairs, defense and security.

They had candid and pragmatic discussions in a good atmosphere, following a problem-focused, result-oriented, and action-driven approach, said Mao.

She said China had noted and summarized the outcomes and common understandings achieved through intensive bilateral and trilateral meetings over the past week.

The Afghan and Pakistani sides reaffirmed that the two countries are Muslim brothers and close neighbors, Mao said.

The three parties recognized that due to complex and turbulent international and regional situations, maintaining good-neighborly relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan is crucial for the well-being of their peoples and for peace and stability in South Asia.

The three parties underscored that dialogue and consultation represent a realistic and effective approach to resolving complex international disputes, including the differences between Afghanistan and Pakistan, according to the spokesperson.

They agreed to explore a comprehensive solution to address issues in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, identifying both core and priority concerns.

China emphasized that terrorism is a core issue affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, Mao said.

The three parties acknowledged the substantive significance of the Urumqi process and agreed to maintain communication and dialogue on this matter, she added. 
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PropertyNewsProperty market All about lifestyle: Where to find the most affordable regional homes Wes Mountain April 9, 2026  6:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

Regional hubs like Toowoomba, Geelong and NSWs Central Coast are the affordable future of housing in Australia, new data shows, as some home buyers get priced out of the capitals. Ten regional local government areas across Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania were deemed affordable buys in PRD Real Estates latest Smart Moves: Regional Edition report, released Thursday. The report used five criteria: affordability compared to the state capital, property sales and growth, rental yield, the local unemployment rate and planned development in the area. PRD chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo said looking beyond price alone was key to ensuring regions were viable for investors and home owners.

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With all of the commercial and infrastructure activity that is about to go into these areas, it is definitely going to turn them into more sustainable, individual, more insulated economic hubs, she said. [They become] not just a regional area that you might go to for a visit, but [somewhere] people can make a proper living. A ferry on the picturesque Brisbane Waters, on the Central Coasts Woy Woy. Louise Kennerley The Central Coast, north of Sydney and with houses at almost half the price, made the list of three affordable LGAs in NSW. The region covers a wide selection of coastal suburbs, many with direct access to Sydney via the train or freeway. A lot of people are working from home now so it just makes it more attractive to buy up here, Chad Knight of The Agency Central Coast said.

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The area itself has an unemployment rate of 3.7 per cent below the states 4 per cent, and homes with views that may command millions in Sydney, are a fraction of the cost. Knight said there were a number of options for prospective buyers across the region, from investment properties on the Peninsula, covering suburbs like Woy Woy, Patonga and Pearl Beach, through to larger blocks in Lake Haven, Gorokan and Charmhaven in the north. Rental yields for houses are on par with Sydney, at 2.7 per cent, and slightly higher for units (4.7 per cent), but Knight thought it was only a matter of time until property prices narrowed. People arent buying with their hearts up there, Knight said. Theyre buying with their brains. Its only a matter of time before it takes off.

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Related Article Construction One way to build a home in eight weeks, for a 10 per cent discount Queenslands Toowoomba, around two hours drive from Brisbane and with a median house price of about $400,000 less than the capital, also made the list. The areas median house price more than doubled in the past decade, with a rental yield of 4 per cent, significantly above Brisbanes 2.9 per cent. Ray White Highfields agent Brett Richards said the gateway to the west is an easy commute to Brisbane, has a new airport and was just two hours away from the Gold Coast.

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Were one of the biggest inland cities thats not a capital in Australia, he said. The construction here in Toowoomba, like everywhere, is just crazy. He thought jobs in the region at the Acland coal mine, Oakey army barracks and the meatworks were a primary reason for the areas low (3.1 per cent) unemployment, but supporting and service businesses would also offer opportunities as the city grows. Toowoomba will also host equestrian events for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, with infrastructure likely to expand as the event approaches. Known as Victorias second city, Geelong was one of three of the states featured regions on the list. Geelongs foreshore is a key attraction. Jason South

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Growth in Victorian house prices has slowed in recent years, which means Melbourne is generally more affordable than Sydney (in particular), narrowing the gap between it and regional areas. Houses were about 37 per cent cheaper in Geelong than Melbourne, with rental yields slightly higher for both houses and units for the former. Its all about lifestyle, Hayeswinckle East Geelongs Tiffany Simpson said. Youre close to the Surf Coast, the Bellarine  And we have several industries: Deakin University, NDIS, WorkSafe, EnergyAustralia, medical and health centres.

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She said Geelong offered properties across the spectrum with more bang for your buck, well below the prices offered in Melbourne. Related Article Holiday homes Coastal towns where a beach house can be had for $700,000 or less I live in Ocean Grove and thats a 20, 25-minute drive  because I love having the ocean as my backyard, she said. For someone that may not want to have that travel, it could be only 15 minutes. Imagine trying to live 15 minutes from Brighton  Its going to be a hell of a lot more expensive, isnt it? Mardiasmo said as well as taking the pressure off capital cities, regional areas with job opportunities, infrastructure and affordable housing give buyers a safer buffer for their mortgage.

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Youre committing to less debt, she said. [That means] you can be a bit more financially stable and reassured that you can manage the payment a bit easier, but you also have safety in knowing that weve picked places that give good investment returns.

Property listings
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Travel newsTrain journeys Australias famous cross-country trains enter a new era of luxury Anthony Dennis April 9, 2026  5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Share A A A

When passengers make themselves exceptionally comfortable inside the new Aurora Australis suites aboard long-distance trains such as The Ghan, theyll do so amid luxury not seen on the nations rails since the days of specially outfitted carriages reserved for touring royalty. Theres a solid financial rationale behind the launch of such contemporary opulence in train interiors, created by the Adelaide-founded design house Woods Bagot for the Journey Beyond-operated Indian Pacific, Great Southern and, of course, The Ghan. Inside one of the new passenger suites aboard Journey Beyonds fleet of long-distance trains. The Ghan, Australias legendary long-distance train, runs almost 3000 kilometres between Adelaide and Darwin. Theyre a means of attracting higher-spending, high-end luxury-seeking international and domestic passengers willing to part with fares from $8390 per person for an Aurora suite on The Ghan. It features a separate bedroom, butler service and a personalised in-suite bar.

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Along with the interiors, whats also evolved dramatically has been Journey Beyonds array and quality of world-class, if not world-leading, off-train experiences. Sign up for the Traveller newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Sign up now. These are offered to passengers outside the trains on multi-day journeys and range from elaborate and convivial starlit dinners beside the Indian Pacific on the Nullarbor, to visits deep inside the vintage cellars of a leading Barossa Valley winemaker. Dinner under the stars beside the Indian Pacific at Rawlinna, a remote outpost on the West Australian section of the Nullarbor Plain. Nitmiluk National Park, one of the Top Ends greatest attractions. These curated moments invite guests to step off the carriage and into the landscape, offering exclusive access to some of Australias most iconic and remote destinations, says Journey Beyond spokeswoman Justine Lally.

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Whether it is a signature dinner under the stars at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station or meeting an Indigenous artist and learning about a Dreamtime story, we enable guests to experience these destinations in a way they simply couldnt do on their own. Indeed, Australis and Aurora suite passengers travelling north on the almost 3000-kilometre journey on The Ghan between Adelaide and Darwin will be offered a grand helicopter flight above all 13 gorges of the Northern Territorys Nitmiluk National Park (also known as Katherine Gorge). Chef Nicola Palmer of SAs Watervale Hotel prepping produce for the pubs wood-fired oven. On landing, theyll be served a glass of Bollinger as they contemplate one of the Top Ends most spectacular ancient landscapes. Not to be left out, all passengers on a new four-day northbound itinerary of The Ghan will savour a new signature dinner early next year created by chef Nicola Palmer and sommelier Warrick Duthy, of the respected Watervale Hotel in South Australias Clare Valley.

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Twice weekly, more than 500 passengers will experience the couples renowned holistic and ethical approach to fine food and wine which Palmer and Duthy developed at their historic pub. Related Article 

Train journeys The verdict on new, extended version of Australias epic train journey Nearer to where The Ghan will stop for this fine feed, passengers will be treated by Palmer, Duthy and their Watervale Hotel team to an off-train, right-royal dinner inside a separate specially adapted rustic woolshed. Then itll be back on the train, perhaps for a nightcap (more Bolly, anyone?) before bedtime, ensconced in one of those poshest of posh suites, or one of the other premium compartments, as The Ghan readies itself for the red heart. Royalty never had it so good. The writer travelled as a guest of Journey Beyond. See journeybeyondrail.com.au; watervalehotel.com.au
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the United States have agreed to a 2-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan.

Trump announced Tuesday he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

The decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, he wrote on social media.

The ceasefire came shortly before Trump's deadline for Iran to agree to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or the "whole civilization will die tonight."

Shortly before his announcement, Trump made phone calls with Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and a major mediator, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, The New York Times reported, citing two U.S. officials.

In an interview with AFP, Trump hailed the agreement as a "total and complete victory," adding that Iran's uranium would be "perfectly taken care of" during the two weeks.

On the Iranian side, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

Araghchi also promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the 2-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying that Iran will hold negotiations with the U.S. side in Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

Pakistan, the broker of the ceasefire, confirmed the latest progress on Wednesday.

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X.

Sharif has earlier called on the U.S. side to extend the deadline set by Trump by two weeks, and requested Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.

Israel supports the temporary truce, "subject to Iran immediately reopening the straits and stopping all attacks on the United States, Israel and countries in the region," Netanyahu's office said in a statement.

"Israel also supports the U.S. effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to the United States, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbors and the world," the statement said.

The office also claimed that the ceasefire "does not include Lebanon," and Israeli attacks against Hezbollah are expected to continue.

Explaining the reasons for making this decision, Trump said, "We have already met and exceeded all Military objectives."

Trump said the U.S. side had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, depicting it as "a workable basis on which to negotiate."

According to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, the 10-point proposal includes a U.S. commitment to ensure no further acts of aggression, continued Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of Iran's nuclear enrichment rights, and the lifting of sanctions, among others.

On potential negotiations with the United States, Araghchi stressed that the temporary ceasefire does not mean an end to war, pending negotiations on the details of the 10-point proposal.

The ceasefire eased tensions among regional countries and the global market. Global oil prices are plummeting by around 15 percent following the announcement of the ceasefire. 
CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Vessel movements resumed on Wednesday in the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire announced by the United States and Iran, ship-tracking service MarineTraffic said on X.

The ceasefire included a temporary reopening of the strategic waterway to allow for negotiations.

The Greek-owned bulk carrier NJ Earth and the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach transited the strait after departing Bandar Abbas, MarineTraffic said, adding that "initial movements are now being recorded."

According to the service's data, hundreds of vessels remain in the area, including 426 tankers, 34 LPG carriers, and 19 LNG vessels, many of which had been effectively stranded during the disruption.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. The two sides are expected to hold negotiations in Pakistan on Friday. 
PHNOM PENH, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Phnom Penh Appeal Court on Wednesday resumed hearing former opposition leader Kem Sokha's appeal in his treason case after delays for more than 18 months, one of his lawyers said.

Kem Sokha, former president of the Supreme Court-dissolved Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), was sentenced by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in 2023 to 27 years in prison for treason, but was ordered to serve his sentence in home detention.

The 72-year-old former opposition leader was convicted of conspiring with a "foreign power" in an attempt to overthrow the legitimate Cambodian government and was arrested in 2017.

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court also banned him from politics for life.

Kem Sokha had appealed against the verdict. The Phnom Penh Appeal Court began hearing his appeal in January 2024, and the process had been delayed since September of the same year. 
African Swine Fever cases confirmed in Durg, 300 pigs die, 150 euthanised





Staff Reporter :

The presence of the deadly African Swine Fever (ASF) has been confirmed in Chhattisgarh. At a pig farm located in Naradha-Mudpar village of Durg district, more than 300 pigs died due to this virus. To prevent the spread of the infection, the Animal Husbandry Department administered lethal injections to the remaining approximately 150 pigs as well and all were subsequently buried in accordance with established protocols. The farm owner has incurred a financial loss of over one crore due to this viral outbreak. As per information a team from the Animal Husbandry Department arrived at Mudpar village on Monday. Officials and veterinarians, clad in PPE kits, entered the farm premises and euthanized the surviving pigs via injection. Subsequently, a pit was dug behind the farm, and all the deceased pigs were buried there. Currently, preparations are underway to seal the entire farm. It is worth mentioning that Mudpar village is a major hub for pig farming. Pig rearing had been conducted here on a large scale for a considerable period.

Pork from this farm was supplied not only to the Durg-Bhilai region but also to various other parts of the state and neighboring states. The farm owner, PO Joy, stated that his farm house was having 300 to 400 pigs. Samples were first collected on March 29, while the deaths of the pigs began on April 1. By April 6, approximately 300 pigs had already perished, and the remaining ones were subsequently discarded by the department. He further explained that the value of a single pig was approximately Rs 30,000, resulting in a massive financial loss for him. However, it spreads exclusively among pigs and does not affect humans or other animals. Wasim Shams, Deputy Director of the Animal Husbandry Department, confirmed that immediately upon receiving the information on April 2, samples were dispatched to the High-Security Animal Diseases Laboratory located in Bhopal. The test results returned positive on Monday morning, around 10:00 AM. Following this, a departmental team promptly arrived at the site and initiated necessary measures. Currently, the entire area is under close surveillance, and steps are being taken to seal the farm in order to prevent the infection from spreading any further.
Artemis II crew witnessed solar eclipse during daring Moon flyby





HOUSTON :

AFTER travelling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now. Their flyby of the Moon - NASAs first return since the Apollo era - even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a significant step toward landing boot prints near the moons south pole in just two years. A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective.

Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void. The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 were also visible, poignant reminders of NASAs first age of exploration more than half a century ago. In an especially riveting retro throwback, Artemis II shattered the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970. NASAs Orion capsule reached a maximum distance of 252,756 miles (406,771 kilometres) from Earth before hanging a U-turn behind the moon, 4,101 miles (6,600 kilometres) farther than Apollo 13. It is blowing my mind what you can see with the naked eye from the moon right now. It is just unbelievable, Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen radioed. He challenged this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived.

Apollo 13 commander Jim Lovell wished the crew well in a recording made two months before his death last August. Mission Control beamed up his message to Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Hansen, before their fly-around began. Welcome to my old neighbourhood, said Lovell, who also flew on Apollo 8, humanitys first lunar visit. Its a historic day, and I know how busy youll be, but dont forget to enjoy the view. The Artemis II astronauts carried up with them the Apollo 8 silk patch that accompanied Lovell to the Moon. Its just a real honour to have that on board with us, Wiseman said. Artemis II is using the same manoeuvre that Apollo 13 did after its Houston, weve had a problem oxygen tank explosion wiped out any hope of a Moon landing.

Artemis II completes record-breaking trip around moon: Emerging from behind the Moon, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their capsule toward home Monday night after beholding views of the lunar far side never before witnessed and setting a new distance record for humanity. The seven-hour flyby was the highlight of NASAs first return to the moon since the Apollo era with three Americans and one Canadian - a step toward landing boot prints near the moons south pole in just two years. First came a prize - and bragging rights - for Artemis II.
CM presents Bastar devpt plan to PM, Integrated devpt plan emphasises on tourism, start-ups, infrastructure, innovation





Staff Reporter :

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai on Tuesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Prime Ministers official residence in New Delhi. Sai presented a forward-looking vision for the next phase of Bastars development to the Prime Minister. During the meeting, the Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the restoration of peace in Bastar region following the decline of Naxalism, crediting the continued support and leadership of the Prime Minister. He also shared a comprehensive blueprint aimed at driving holistic growth in Bastar, with a strong emphasis on tourism, start-up ecosystems, infrastructure expansion, and innovation-led development. Highlighting the regions potential, the plan outlines a transformative roadmap designed to accelerate economic progress and improve quality of life. In addition, the Chief Minister invited the Prime Minister to visit Bastar after the monsoon season. The proposed visit is expected to serve as a significant milestone, with plans for laying the foundation stones of several major projects and inaugurating key initiatives in his presence, signalling the beginning of a new era of growth for the region. The Chief Minister emphasized that Naxalism has been eliminated across Chhattisgarh, including Bastar, paving the way for lasting peace in the region. He highlighted major strides in education and healthcare, including the development of new Education Cities, super-specialty hospitals, and medical colleges. At the same time, connectivity is being significantly strengthened through key infrastructure projects such as the construction of barrages on the Indravati River, expansion of railway networks, and development of airport facilities.

He noted that this comprehensive blueprint is set to usher in a new phase of growth, generating employment opportunities and improving access to essential services across Bastar. In his development vision document, the Chief Minister underscored that the aspiration of transforming Bastar into a hub of peace and progress -- first envisioned by the Prime Minister nearly a decade ago -- is now taking concrete shape on the ground. With the end of Naxalism, an atmosphere once marked by fear has been replaced by optimism and renewed confidence among the people. He expressed confidence that, under the continued guidance of the Prime Minister, Bastar will move forward with greater momentum, unlocking new opportunities and inspiring hope across the region. The Chief Minister stated that the development blueprint for Bastar is built around the core strategy of Saturate, Connect, Facilitate, Empower, and Engage. This approach aims to ensure rapid and inclusive expansion of basic infrastructure and essential services across the region. A key focus is on integrating remote and previously isolated villages into the mainstream through a robust road network. Alongside the completion of pending works under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana by 2027, the plan includes the construction of 228 new roads and 267 bridges. In addition, proposals for 61 new projects have been submitted, seeking special central assistance to further accelerate development. Significant advancements are also planned in the energy and social infrastructure sectors. Efforts to achieve universal electrification will be intensified to ensure power reaches every household. In the education sector, 45 existing Pota Cabin schools will be upgraded into permanent buildings, providing a more stable learning environment.

To promote youth development, 15 stadiums and two multi-purpose halls are proposed. Meanwhile, healthcare infrastructure is being strengthened through the expansion of Primary Health Centres and the construction of transit hostels for doctors, ensuring better accessibility and continuity of medical services in remote areas. In the agriculture and irrigation sectors, two major projects on the Indravati River at Deurgaon and Matnar have been sanctioned, which are expected to bring irrigation coverage to nearly 31,840 hectares of land. These initiatives will significantly strengthen Bastars agricultural base and enhance farmers productivity and income. To boost livelihoods, the government has outlined a focused three-year plan aimed at doubling household incomes. The objective is to raise the monthly earnings of nearly 85% of families from Rs 15,000 to Rs 30,000 by 2029, thereby improving overall economic stability in the region. Additionally, the Niyad Nellanar 2.0 initiative is being expanded to widen the reach of development benefits. Initially implemented in 10 districts, the scheme will now cover 7 existing districts along with 3 newly included districtsGariaband, Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki, and Khairagarh-Chhuikhadan-Gandaiensuring more inclusive and balanced regional development. A dedicated Startup Policy has also been introduced under the Anjor Vision 2047 and Viksit Bharat@2047 initiatives, with the ambitious goal of nurturing 5,000 start-ups by 2030. This policy is aimed at fostering innovation, encouraging entrepreneurship, and creating new economic opportunities across the region. In the tourism sector, significant strides are being made to position Bastar on the global map. Key destinations such as Chitrakote and Tirathgarh Waterfalls, along with Kanger Valley National Park, are being developed with enhanced infrastructure and visitor facilities.

Adventure tourism projects, including a canopy walk and a glass bridge, are also underway to attract a wider range of tourists. Cultural and sporting events like the Bastar Olympics and Bastar Pandum are playing a vital role in reshaping the regions identity and showcasing its rich heritage. At the same time, skill development efforts have gained momentum, with over 100,000 youths trained so far, of whom nearly 40,000 have already been successfully employed. The Bastar Munne (Pioneering Bastar) initiative forms a cornerstone of the broader action plan for a Naxalism-free and rapidly developing Bastar, as presented by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to the Prime Minister. Under this programme, camps will be organized in every Gram Panchayat to ensure last-mile delivery of government services. In these camps, citizens will receive direct access to welfare schemes, essential documents will be issued on the spot, and grievances will be addressed promptly in the presence of officials. The initiative is designed to simplify access to government services and ensure that the benefits of development reach every individual, accelerating Bastars journey toward inclusive growth. Several key projects are proposed for foundation laying and inauguration during the Prime Ministers anticipated visit. These include the RaoghatJagdalpur railway line, expansion of Jagdalpur Airport, a Super Specialty Hospital, a Medical College in Dantewada, and the development of Education Cities in Jagargunda and Orchha. Together, these initiatives are expected to significantly strengthen Bastars education, healthcare, and connectivity infrastructure, paving the way for accelerated growth and regional transformation.
Financial research institute to be set up in Bhopal, n Airbus-ready airstrip for Ujjain approved n Cabinet approves projects worth Rs 16,720 crore; major boost for education, agriculture, and infrastructure





Staff Reporter :

In a significant move towards the holistic development of Madhya Pradesh, the State Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, approved a massive financial outlay of Rs 16,720 crore for various developmental projects and welfare schemes on Tuesday. The decisions span critical sectors including education, agriculture, irrigation, administrative reforms, and civil aviation, reflecting the Governments commitment to accelerating the States progress. Revolutionary step in financial administration: The Cabinet approved the establishment of a state-of-the-art Financial Training and Research Institute (FTRI) within the premises of the RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration and Management in Bhopal. The institute aims to standardise financial training for personnel across all levels, ensuring qualitative improvements in departmental efficiency, financial discipline, and transparency. The existing seven accounts training schools in the State will be integrated into this centralised system in a phased manner. Agriculture and irrigation: support for farmers: In a major boost for the farming community, the Cabinet sanctioned Rs 3,174 crore for the procurement of Gram (Chana) and Lentils (Masoor) over the next three years. Under the Price Support Scheme, the Government will procure 25% of the total production of Gram and 100% of Lentils. Additionally, administrative approval of Rs 88.41 crore was granted for the Katna Micro Irrigation Project in Mandsaur district. This project is set to provide irrigation facilities across 3,500 hectares, benefiting 12 villages in the Bhanpura tehsil.

Education reforms and PM Shri Scheme Extension :

Reiterating its focus on accessible education, the Cabinet approved several key measures to strengthen the academic infrastructure. A sum of Rs 3,039 crore was sanctioned for tuition fee reimbursement to non-government schools for students in classes 1 to 8 under the Right to Education Act for the period 2026-31. To further support students, Rs 693 crore has been allocated to provide free textbooks to those in classes 9 to 12 across all Government high schools and higher secondary schools. Furthermore, the Cabinet approved Rs 940 crore as the states share for the extension of the PM Shri School scheme until 2031, which aims to develop exemplar schools in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by focusing on digital learning and infrastructure. Recognising the religious and industrial importance of Ujjain, the Cabinet approved Rs 590 crore for land acquisition (437.5 acres) to upgrade the Ujjain airstrip. The expansion will enable the operation of Boeing 320 and Airbus aircraft under the Central Governments RCS-UDAN scheme. This development is expected to facilitate the massive influx of devotees for the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga and the upcoming Simhastha Mahakumbh, while also boosting regional industrial growth. Welfare and environmental conservation: The Cabinet took several decisions to ensure the welfare of various social groups and the environment. Scheduled Caste students from Madhya Pradesh studying in higher education institutes in Delhi will now receive a monthly assistance of Rs 10,000, bringing the support at par with the existing scheme for Tribal students. For environmental protection, a sum of Rs 5,215 crore was approved for the reproduction, restoration, and conservation of forest areas over a five-year period from 2026 to 2031. Additionally, the continuation of eight schemes under the Commercial Tax Department until 2030-31 was approved with an allocation of Rs 2,952 crore, which covers urban infrastructure funds and vital IT-related departmental works.
Iran calls for human chains to protect power plants





DUBAI :

Irans President Pezeshkian said 14 million people, including himself, have volunteered to fight A wave of strikes hit Iran killing nearly 3 dozen people, including in residential areas of Tehran

AIRSTRIKES pounded Tehran on Tuesday, and Iranian officials urged young people to form human chains to protect power plants, hours before the expiration of US President Donald Trumps latest deadline for the Islamic Republic to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face punishing strikes on its infrastructure. Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian said 14 million people, including himself, have volunteered to fight. While Iran cannot match the sophistication of US and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its chokehold on the strait is causing major damage to the world economy and raising the pressure on US President Donald Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the stand-off.

Officials involved in diplomatic efforts said talks were ongoing - but Iran has rejected the latest American proposal, and it was unclear if a deal would come in time to head off Trumps threatened attacks. World leaders and experts warned that strikes as destructive as those Trump threatened could constitute a war crime. Meanwhile, a wave of strikes hit Iran, including in residential areas of Tehran, killing nearly three dozen people. Iran fired on Israel and Saudi Arabia, prompting the temporary closure of a major bridge.

Another strike hit the Khorramabad International Airport in western Iran, and an attack on an unidentified target in Alborz province, northwest of Tehran, killed 18 people, according to state media. Nine people were killed in the city of Shahriar and six more in Pardis in other airstrikes, Iranian media reported. In response, to Trumps warning, Iran called on all young people, athletes, artists, students, university students and their professors to form human chains around power plants. Power plants that are our national assets and capital, Alireza Rahimi, identified by Iranian state television as the secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, said in a video statement. Iranians have formed human chains in the past around nuclear sites at times of heightened tensions with the West. President Masoud Pezeshkian posted on X that 14 million Iranians had answered state media and text message campaigns urging people to volunteer to fight.

I, too, have been, am, and will remain ready to give my life for Iran, Pezeshkian wrote. A Revolutionary Guard general also urged parents to send their children to man checkpoints, which have been repeatedly targeted in airstrikes. Over 10,000 flights to West Asia cancelled since war began: MoCA official: OVER 10,000 flights by Indian carriers to West Asia have been cancelled since the war broke out in the region, a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said on Tuesday. Indian carriers used to operate 300-350 daily flights to West Asia and the number has come down to 80-90, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Asangba Chuba Ao, told reporters during a media briefing. The war in West Asia broke out on February 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran, and the latter retaliated.
Markets, malls to shut by 8 pmin Pakistan as fuel crisis deepens





ISLAMABAD :

THE Pakistan government has ordered the early closure of markets and shopping malls across most parts of the country from 8 pm starting April 7, as part of energy conservation measures in response to rising global fuel costs linked to the ongoing Middle East conflict, Geo News reported. The decision was taken during a meeting on petroleum products chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday, according to an official statement issued by the Prime Ministers Office, as reported by Geo News. As per the directive, markets, shopping malls, departmental stores and shops dealing in daily-use items in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, Pakistan- occupied Gilgit-Baltistan, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) will shut operations at 8 pm. However, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, markets in divisional headquarters may remain open until 9 pm.

The government further announced that bakeries, restaurants, tandoors, food outlets and marriage halls will close by 10 pm. Wedding events at private residences will also not be allowed beyond the same time limit. Medical stores and pharmacies have been exempted from these restrictions. The measures come amid Pakistans efforts to cope with escalating global oil and energy prices, triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has disrupted supply chains. Earlier, provincial governments in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan had already directed early closures of markets, restaurants and wedding halls under similar energy-saving initiatives, Geo News reported. The conflict, which began on February 28 following joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, has intensified tensions in the Gulf region.

In retaliation, Iran targeted US bases and disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route. Amid these developments, Pakistan has witnessed sharp increases in fuel prices. On March 6, the government raised petrol and diesel prices by Rs 55 per litre each. Subsequently, on April 2, petrol prices surged to Rs 458.41 per litre and diesel to Rs 520.35 per litre, Geo News reported. However, a day later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a temporary reduction in petrol prices to Rs 378 per litre for one month by cutting the petroleum levy. The government has also introduced broader austerity measures, including a proposed four-day workweek, a reduction in fuel allowances and a 20 per cent cut in expenditures across government departments, aimed at managing the economic impact of the crisis.
NMC to scale down heatwave mitigation sites despite identified high-risk zones





Staff Reporter :

Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is set to reduce the number of locations where heatwave mitigation measures will be implemented this summer, despite a recent assessment identifying multiple high-risk zones across the city. A Multi-Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment (MVRVA) conducted in 2025 by the Maharashtra Governments Relief and Rehabilitation Department in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had flagged 10 heatwave-prone areas based on land surface temperature (LST) data.

These included Sitabuldi market, Cotton Market, Ganeshpeth Bus Stand, Kalamna Market, Itwari, Boriapura and Bhandewadi dumping yard, among others. However, civic officials have indicated that arrangements such as drinking water kiosks, green shade nets and public cooling spaces will not be implemented across all identified zones this year. The number of intervention sites will be curtailed, with a final decision to be taken once temperatures rise further.

Low population, limited usage cited

Officials from the Health Department said field visits revealed that not all high-temperature zones require intervention. Certain locations with elevated LST were either sparsely populated or not actively used during peak daytime heat, reducing the necessity for mitigation measures, an official said. Areas such as Dhairyasheel Colony and Reshimbag ground were cited as examples where high temperatures do not translate into significant human exposure due to limited daytime activity.

Delay in heat action plan rollout

The scaling down comes as the citys annual heatwave action plan is yet to be formally implemented. The plan, typically rolled out in April, has been delayed this year due to administrative transitions, including the appointment of a new Municipal Commissioner and the swearing-in of newly-elected corporators. Civic officials said two key meetingsone chaired by the Municipal Commissioner and another by the Mayorare required before implementation. Approval to convene these meetings is still awaited.

Proposed mitigation measures

The broader plan includes installing green nets at traffic junctions, opening public parks during afternoon hours, setting up rest shelters in Government buildings and providing drinking water facilities. Measures to shift homeless individuals to shelters during peak heat are also part of the strategy. With heatwave-like conditions already recorded in March and peak summer approaching, concerns persist over delayed execution and the reduced number of intervention sites in a city increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat.
Steel fraud amounting to crores unearthed in Samruddhi Eway construction





Staff Reporter :

City-based Balaji Enterprises under scanner; Parbhani Police in city for probe

A major steel transportation fraud linked to the Samruddhi Expressway project has come to light which exposed a well-planned racket. The scam involved manipulation of weighbridge data for systematic theft of tonnes of steel from trailers during transit from Steel Authority of Indias (SAIL) Butibori unit to Parbhani. Following the revelation, a team of Parbhani police rushed to Nagpur to investigate the case. During their visit, the team inspected several locations across the city, including the premises of the main suspect, Balaji Enterprises, a trailer supply company believed to be at the centre of the fraud. The case came to light after a complaint by Udit Rakesh Jain (40), Assistant Administrative Manager of PNRC Infotech Limited, a company working on the JalnaNanded stretch of the expressway under MSRDC. Based on his complaint, a team of Parbhani Police rushed to Nagpur and began inspecting multiple locations, including Balaji Enterprises in Kapsi on Bhandara Road - a trailer supply company allegedly at the centre of the racket.

According to investigating officer API Sudhakar Khaje, the steel was supplied by SAIL, Butibori, and transportation was officially assigned to Sunita Road Carriers. However, the actual logistics were handled by Balaji Enterprises at Kapsi, Bhandara Road, Nagpur, run by Ramdev Choudhary and Sumit Swami from Nagpur. Since June 29, 2025, nearly 80 consignments of steel had been transported through this chain. Police investigation revealed that the fraud worked through a clever combination of digital tampering and physical theft. The accused used electronic devices to manipulate the digital weighbridge readings. This allowed them to show higher weight at dispatch, while actually transporting less steel, said a police officer. The missing steel, officials suspect, was siphoned off during transit and sold in the local market through illegal channels. This was not a one-time act. It appears to be a continuous racket involving transporters, drivers, and possibly insiders at the weighbridge, the officer added. The scam was exposed on March 15, 2026, when three trailers reached the Parbhani plant. During verification, officials found massive shortages - 11.34 tonnes missing from one truck (GJ-05/BZ-0871) and 8.84 tonnes from another (MH-40/CM-7007). The third vehicle driver fled without allowing inspection, raising further suspicion.

When questioned, all three drivers escaped from the spot. This clearly indicates prior knowledge and involvement in the fraud, said a police officer involved in the probe. Soon after, two representatives linked to the transport network - Raghav Chaudhary and M D Hussain alias Golu - reached the site and allegedly tried to settle the matter. They attempted to pressure company officials and even tried to take away the vehicles. This behaviour strengthened our suspicion of an organised racket, police said. Officials estimate that the fraud caused a loss of over Rs 10 lakh in a single day. However, with nearly 80 consignments already transported, the total loss could run into crores. Police are now examining past records, CCTV footage, GPS logs, and weighbridge data in Nagpur to trace the full extent of the scam. We are also probing the role of internal staff, including weighbridge operators. No angle is being ruled out, the official stated. The investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are likely as police unravel what could be one of the biggest steel transport frauds linked to a major infrastructure project.
WELCOME RESET





AS RELATIONS between the United States and Iran as well as US allies sour further over the ongoing West Asia crisis, a silent reset is on in South Asia with India in firm focus. The last few days have seen US President Mr. Donald Trump heaping severe criticism on Iranian regime and pillorying American allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). At the same time, India was seriously engaged in diplomatic outreach to Governments in Bangladesh and Nepal with a view to rebuild strained relations inflicted by previous regimes in the neighbourhood countries.

The week started with Indian envoy Mr. Pranav Verma calling on newly-appointed Bangladesh Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman to convey Indias willingness to take traditional ties to a higher level of co-operation. At the same time, Indian Ambassador Mr. Naveen Srivastava paid a courtesy visit to Nepals new Foreign Minister Mr. Shishir Khanal to discuss various aspects of bilateral relations. Both meetings marked rebuilding of bridges that had seen some disturbances in the last few years as the Bangladesh and Nepal went through severe political upheaval. As the storm has subsided with democratically elected Governments in place in Dhaka and Kathmandu, a new beginning in bilateral relations with India is on the horizon. It is a victory for Indias patient handling of all developments in the neighbourhood. Despite anti-India voices taking centrestage at Government level, New Delhi maintained a studied silence, choosing not to react to nonsense and responding within the diplomatic framework to questions raised at top level.

This strategy of a calibrated silence was necessitated by the disturbances both the countries were facing in the form of uprising against Governments. India voiced its concerns only when there were security issues with Hindu minorities in Bangladesh but largely kept a safe distance from what was being relayed by the interim Government led by Mr. Muhammad Yunus. There were clear attempts to provoke India as the Nobel laureate was consumed by Chinese and Pakistani nexus. He took a totally contrary line from the position built by his predecessor Ms. Sheikh Hasina who was ousted in a students uprising. Mr. Yunus continued jabs at Indias sovereignty and his freehand to radical Islamists in Bangladesh created tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka. Yet, India went by the golden rule of not reacting in a knee-jerk fashion to temporary disturbances. This strategy will surely pay dividends as New Delhi again engages with Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman who is seen as a pragmatic leader seeking to serve Bangladeshs interests with a healthy foreign policy.

The meeting of High Commissioner Mr. Verma and Mr. Rahman made all the positive sounds on pursuing constructive and people-centric ties based on mutual interest. It is a welcome development as Bangladesh also needs a way back to hit the reset button, first to shore up its domestic situation and then to handle its battered economy. Once a brilliant success story in economic reforms, Bangladesh is now a pale shadow of its original being as a struggling State. Rebuilding relations with India will be a major step for Mr. Rahman to pursue a bright and rules-based future. A similar intention has been exhibited in Nepal as the young rapper-turned-politician Mr. Balen Shah took over reigns with a thumping majority. The new Prime Minister has already expressed his desire to work with India closely for growth of the landlocked Hindu kingdom. His wish was promptly reciprocated by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi as Mr. Shah took oath of office on Ram Navami. Though there is no need for a reset of relations between Kathmandu and New Delhi, the change in Government has opened a new road to strengthen the traditional partnership. It is now imperative for India to build on this bonhomie and reactivate its Neighbourhood First policy with a new thrust.
Welcome to CT Insiders new ongoing series, The Go-To Order, where notable Connecticut people tell us all about their go-to restaurant, delivery or take-out order.

Blake Leonard is part of the next generation of leadership at one of Connecticut's best known businesses.

Her grandfather, Stew Leonard Sr. founded the family-owned grocery chain that is known beyond Connecticut's borders as the "Disneyland of Grocery Stores," in part because of the use of in-store animatronics to entertain shoppers and a strong reputation for customer service. And her father, Stew Leonard Jr., has built the chain beyond Connecticut to include locations in New Jersey and New York state. (You can read all about his go-to order here.)

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Now, with her father preparing to step back from a leadership role in the next several years, Blake and her cousin Jake Tavello will soon be running the company.

CT Insider asked Blake Leonard what her go-to meal is when she is not enjoying a meal from the family's grocery store.

Whats your go-to order?

"Classic pizza with mushrooms from Pizza Lyfe (in Westport)."

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Whys this your go-to order?

"Because my kids now like mushrooms on their pizza, which is an exciting parenting win, and I love the sourdough crust  the tang and chew is addicting!"

Blake Leonard, daughter of Stew Leonard Jr., takes a bite of a mushroom pizza slice while visiting Pizza Lyfe in Westport Conn., Monday, March 2, 2026. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

When during your day do you have it?

"Sunday night dinner  when we officially run out of Stews frozen pizzas and everyones hungry now."

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How often do you order it?

"About once a month, sometimes more."

Pizza being made at Pizza Lyfe. David Zajac

When did you start ordering it?

"Since they opened  it quickly became our go-to Sunday night save."

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Any modifications or special instructions?

"Nope  I keep it simple. And I usually pair it with a glass of wine ... whatever I already have open,"

Blake Leonard, daughter of Stew Leonard, talks with Dimitri Pantzos, owner of Pizza Lyfe in Westport Conn., Monday, March 2, 2026. Leonard visited the restaurant Monday to enjoy a few slices of a mushroom pizza. Dave Zajac/Hearst Connecticut Media

How much does it cost?
LANZHOU, April 8 (Xinhua) -- On the Loess Plateau, the traditional rhythm of spring farming has taken on a high-tech beat. Instead of just sharpening plowshares, farmers in northwest China's Gansu Province are adjusting ring lights and stabilizing smartphone gimbals.

In rural courtyards, local women promote handmade vinegar and deep-fried snacks to thousands of viewers in their native dialects, while young entrepreneurs in the fields use selfie sticks to broadcast the plateau's seasonal cycle to the world.

In Tangqi Village of the city of Qingyang in Gansu, an assistance studio has become a local sensation. Village officials have pivoted to streaming hosts, using short videos and livestreams to market local grains, fruits and snacks.

In ten days, the studio's sales surpassed 110,000 yuan (about 16,016.3 U.S. dollars). This digital shift is inclusive: even 70-year-old residents can be seen bringing baskets of eggs and dried goods to the studio, reaching national markets without leaving their doorsteps.

To date, 135 households in the village have seen direct income increases via the e-commerce model, according to local officials.

Further into the hills, the hamlet of Zhuangzimao, home to only 22 households, established an ecological farm in 2020, and every family has joined the livestreaming wave. Some grind soy milk and tofu on camera, while others brew aromatic yellow wine or sun-dry chili powder.

In 2025, Zhuangzimao's total sales of local specialties had exceeded 3 million yuan, with over half of the households earning an annual income of more than 100,000 yuan.

This success is mirrored in the scale of individual "new farmers." In Yangpo Village in the city of Dingxi, Zhou Jingang has transformed a small family yard into a standardized workshop for locally made potato noodles.

By leveraging self-media platforms, Zhou has expanded his production capacity to 1 tonne of noodles daily and earned 100,000 yuan in annual income.

Gansu's rural revitalization is moving beyond simple sales, focusing instead on the deep-seated cultural value of "nostalgia" to merge agriculture, culture and tourism.

The success of Zhuangzimao lies in its authenticity. Farmers use mud to plaster walls and old tiles to pave courtyards, maintaining the raw essence of rural life.

"It's New Year! Big iron pots, firewood stoves -- today we are frying dough snacks!" These were the words of a villager shouting into her camera, surrounded by women in traditional red headscarves and floral aprons. This unvarnished portrayal of village life has turned online "traffic" into offline "foot traffic."

Once a remote outpost, Zhuangzimao is now a national 3A-level tourist attraction. In 2025, it welcomed 150,000 visitors, including study groups and photography enthusiasts who crowded the courtyards to taste authentic farmhouse meals.

According to Gansu's provincial department of culture and tourism, the province's rural tourism sector saw 657 million visits during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), with total revenue reaching 201.54 billion yuan.

"The core of this support lies in cultivating a group of 'new farmers' who understand both rural sentiment and modern business technology," said Mao Jinhuang, a professor at Lanzhou University's School of Economics, located in Gansu.

Mao noted that the transition from "selling products" to "selling scenery, culture and experiences" marks a profound shift in development philosophy. To bridge the skills gap, Gansu launched intensive training programs in 2025, focusing on e-commerce operations, brand building and financing strategies for returning entrepreneurs.

"With digital technology reshaping the rural landscape, fostering multi-skilled talents who bridge the gap between local heritage and modern entrepreneurial tools remains key to sustaining the transformation," Mao said. 
Town Hall in Fairfield, Conn., photographed on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

FAIRFIELD  Members of the Board of Finance voted unanimously last week to make some sizeable cuts to the town budget, as well as add in projected revenue, in an effort to minimize a potential tax increase as many residents are being hit with higher taxes due to Fairfields property revaluation.

All told, the board cut a net of $2.6 million from the towns operating budget, which would lower the tax increase from 4.28% to 2.3% if the Representative Town Meeting approves the spending plan.

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Finance board members did not make any further changes to the proposed $244 million education budget, resulting in a roughly $400 million overall budget.

The Board of Selectpersons cut $1.5 million from the education budget last month.

One of the most significant adjustments was the amount of revenue expected from speed cameras in school zones, increasing expectations by double from $1.45 million to $2.9 million.

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Most other changes were minimal cuts to town departments.

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Some board members questioned the importance of making those cuts, but Jim Walsh said they will have an impact on taxpayers in the aggregate.

We need to do something, particularly in light of the revaluation that is significantly increasing property taxes for many homeowners, the finance board member said. If we are going to make some serious changes tonight, were all going to have to get uncomfortable with some stuff.  This is not a normal year.

First Selectperson Christine Vitale agrees this has been an incredibly difficult year to craft a budget, due in large part to the revaluation.

During the oftentimes contentious meeting, Walsh attempted to cut various positions within the first selectpersons office, including a chief operating officer position that has not yet been filled and Vitales communications director.

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Some board members said they were wary of the COO position because they feel it has become a political role and would waste taxpayers' money if someone were hired only to be let go in an administration change.

Others on the board felt it would be an overreach for them to cut the position because it was approved by voters during charter revisions.

Vitale argued hiring a COO would make town operations more efficient, therefore saving tax dollars in the long run.

While staff in her office are doing some of the work a COO would do, some tasks are not getting done, Vitale said.

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The $170,000 position remained in the budget after a 3-6 vote, as did the $106,000 communications job after a 2-7 vote.
Security footage showed Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez holding a cell phone toward an ATM at the Ascend Bank in Norwich, Conn., on Dec. 31, 2025, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts. Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts Security footage showed Lestter Guerrero pointing a cell phone at an ATM, and Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez in the passenger seat, at a bank in Rochester, N.H., on Jan. 30, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts said. Courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts

Federal authorities believe the uptick in defendants across the country who are accused of ATM jackpotting, a ploy where thieves upload malware into an ATM to trick it into dispensing cash, likely has ties to an international crime syndicate.

The hacking scheme drew news headlines in Connecticut earlier this year after federal authorities announced thieves accused of hitting ATMs throughout the northeast had also targeted an ATM in Norwich.

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The U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts said in February that two men, Moises Alejandro Martinez Gutierrez and Lestter Guerrero, were both arrested in Augusta, Maine, following an "attempted ATM jackpotting robbery."

The U.S. attorney's office said both men are Venezuelan nationals and are alleged to be members of Tren De Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization which the Trump Administration has designated a terrorist organization.

Prosecutors allege Martinez Gutierrez carried out five additional ATM jackpotting thefts, including one on Dec. 31 in Norwich. They allege Guerrero is tied to one other theft carried out with Martinez Gutierrez that occurred on Jan. 30 in Rochester, N.H.

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Charges against the two men remain pending in federal court.

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The Justice Department announced in February that 93 individuals have been charged in ATM jackpotting schemes across the U.S., highlighting the thefts alleged connections to Tren De Aragua in a news release. Prosecutors allege the schemes netted millions of dollars in ill-gotten money.

In February, the FBI put out a bulletin that described in technical detail signs indicating an ATM may have been compromised.

The Bureau said thieves targeting ATMs "exploit physical and software vulnerabilities" in the machines and use malware to get them to dispense cash without a legitimate transaction.

The thefts can be lucrative.

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"Out of 1,900 ATM jackpotting incidents reported since 2020, over 700 of them with more than $20 million in losses occurred in 2025 alone," the FBI noted in its February bulletin.

Last month, a federal grand jury brought charges against two men, Ender Enrique Munoz Perez, 30, and Angel Raphael Medina-Taguaripano, 24, accused of carrying out jackpotting thefts alongside co-conspirators at ATMs in several communities in Oklahoma. The thefts netted the group around $235,500, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma said in a news release.

In March, federal prosecutors in California announced a Miami resident, Carlos Luis Vera La Cruz, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy, bank larceny and accessing a protected computer in furtherance of fraud in an ATM jackpotting scheme.

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A woman stands at a destroyed apartment on a building that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in central Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Emilio Morenatti/AP A man sits inside a shelter watching television news after a two-week ceasefire with Iran was announced, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Ohad Zwigenberg/AP White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP President Donald Trump departs after speaking with reporters during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, an 11th-hour deal that headed off U.S. President Donald Trumps threat to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilization. Hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks Wednesday, though it was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal.

All sides have presented vastly different versions of the terms. Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

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Pakistan and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, which Israel has invaded to fight Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday that the deal doesnt cover fighting against Hezbollah. Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, killing dozens and wounding hundreds of people.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again Wednesday in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue. Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

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Here is the latest:

UN chief condemns Israeli strikes in Lebanon

In unusually strong language, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed and injured hundreds Wednesday, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

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The statement said Guterres condemns the loss of civilian lives and is deeply alarmed by the mounting toll on civilians, and added the ongoing strikes pose a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.

Guterres called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities.

The strikes targeting central Beirut Wednesday killed more than 180 people, and wounded hundreds, making it the deadliest day in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

Australia says Lebanon must be included in Middle East ceasefire

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Thursday that the two-week ceasefire announced this week is an important step forward.

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Of course it is a fragile peace, but we want it to lead to an agreement, Albanese said.

The Australian government also firmly believes that this has to apply to Lebanon as well. We want to see peace in this region, Albanese added.

Hezbollah claims attacks as sirens sound in northern Israel

Sirens went off early Thursday morning in a few Israeli communities along the border with Lebanon, near the city of Kiryat Shmona, which has been targeted by Hezbollah rockets repeatedly during the war.

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In a statement, Hezbollah claimed attacking Manara in northern Israel early Thursday morning with rocket fire.

This response will continue until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases, it said.

Israeli strikes kill Al Jazeera correspondent and 2 Lebanese journalists

Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed an Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, according to the network and health officials there, as well as two Lebanese journalists in that country, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists and one of their networks.

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Mohammed Wishah was targeted in a drone strike in west Gaza City. The Israeli militarys Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said on X that Wishah was a member of Hamas, reposting a 2024 tweet that described him as a prominent commander in its military wing, among other positions.

In Lebanon, where Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah killed more than 180 people Wednesday, Ghada Dayekh, a presenter with Sawt Al-Farah, and Suzan Khalil, a reporter and presenter on Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV and Al-Nour Radio, also died.

Newly created Polymarket accounts bet big on US-Iran ceasefire in hours before Trumps announcement

A group of new accounts on the prediction market Polymarket made highly specific, well-timed bets on whether the U.S. and Iran would reach a ceasefire on April 7, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits for these new customers.

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These bets were made even though, in the hours before a two-week ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, Trumps rhetoric had escalated sharply and there were few signals that a ceasefire deal was imminent.

An analysis of publicly available blockchain data from Polymarket, using the crypto analytics platform Dune, shows that at least 50 accounts, or wallets, placed substantial Yes bets Tuesday before Trump announced the ceasefire in a Truth Social post at around 6:30 p.m. ET.

 Read more about polymarket accounts

Israelis celebrate ceasefire and mimouna holiday

Israelis marked the Moroccan Jewish holiday of Mimouna, which celebrates the end of Passover, on Wednesday night without worrying about running for cover from of Iranian missiles for the first time in a month and a half.

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In the southern resort city of Eilat, a local bar served the traditional fried foods, including the fried dough of mufleta, while wearing Moroccan inspired garb.

I feel like I can finally go out and celebrate, its hard to celebrate anything during the war, said Tair Elkaim, a 27-year-old personal trainer visiting from Netanya. I feel more relaxed and happy, but also Im sad about the families broken up by this war.

Avi Zion, 30, a municipality worker from Jerusalem, said he was looking forward to returning to his routine and finally sending his kids back to school.

Im really happy theres a ceasefire and were here to celebrate this feeling of release.

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At least 182 killed as Israel strikes central Beirut after saying Iran truce doesnt apply there

Lebanons health ministry said that Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed 182 people, the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

Israel launched a barrage of strikes in central Beirut and elsewhere in the country as a shaky ceasefire took effect between the U.S. and Iran. Iranian officials have maintained that the deal was supposed to include Lebanon, while Israel and the U.S. have insisted that it does not.

Another 890 people were wounded in the strikes, the ministry said. Altogether, 1,739 people have been killed and 5,873 wounded in Lebanon in just over five weeks since the outbreak of the war.

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US moves to draw down diplomatic staff in Nigeria over security concerns related to Iran war, terrorism, crime

The State Department is moving to reduce the U.S. diplomatic footprint in Nigeria due to security concerns related to terrorism and crime even as a ceasefire in the Iran war comes into effect.

The department said Wednesday it had authorized nonessential American personnel and the families of all government staffers at the U.S. embassy in Abuja to leave the country due to the deteriorating security situation.

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There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Nigeria, it said. Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria. Terrorists collaborate with local gangs to expand their reach. They may attack with little or no warning.

Nigeria is just the latest in a series of U.S. diplomatic missions to draw down staff with either ordered or authorized departures since the war with Iran began at the end of February.

American offensive operations remain paused, US official says

When asked about an oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island that Iranian state television said came under attack Wednesday, the U.S. official said the pause in American attacks on Iran that went into effect Tuesday with the ceasefire was still effect.

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The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani also said Israel wasnt involved in the Lavan Island strike.

- Konstantin Toropin

Vance suggests the US and Iran agree on more about a peace deal than they disagree on

Speaking to reporters before leaving Hungary, the vice president said Iran questioning the workability of a ceasefire because it disagrees with the U.S. on three key points must mean theres a lot of points of agreement.

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Frustration on three issues actually means that theres a lot of agreements, Vance said.

The vice president, who is set to participate in negotiations in Pakistan this weekend, said ceasefires are always messy and often feature a little bit of choppiness.

It wasnt all positive, though. Vance also questioned the English skills of Iran parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and his comments on the fragile nature of the ceasefire.

I actually wonder how good he is at understanding English, Vance said because there are things that he said that just didnt make sense in the context of the negotiations that weve had.

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Independent analysts say they have seen no change in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz

Thats despite claims from the White House on Wednesday there had been an uptick in the number of ships transiting the strategic waterway since a U.S.-announced ceasefire with Iran.

Windward, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks international shipping, said only 11 vessels transited the strait on Wednesday  roughly the same number from prior days.

Windward said all ships transiting the strait must still coordinate safe passage with Iranian authorities, who are requiring shippers to pay hefty tolls amounting of up to $1 a barrel for outbound oil, paid in cryptocurrency. For context, the largest supertankers carry up to 3 million barrels of crude.

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Windward said radio broadcasts from Iran to tankers in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday warned that those transiting without approval would be attacked.

Israel strikes key bridge in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military has struck the last direct crossing carrying most of the traffic to the key coastal city of Tyre over Lebanons Litani River, the strategic demarcation line separating southern Lebanon from the rest of the country.

The attack late Wednesday on the Qasmieh bridge further isolates southern Lebanon as the Israeli army pushes ahead with its ground invasion and bombardment following the announcement of a ceasefire in the Iran war.

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Israel has bombed several bridges over the Litani, accusing Hezbollah of using them to bring fighters and military equipment to the border area. But the crossings are also crucial for Lebanese civilians and for those carrying humanitarian aid.

The strike comes as Israel seeks to create a buffer zone that it says is necessary to protect its northern towns from Hezbollah rockets. Lebanese civilians fear long-term occupation and displacement.

House Democrats to force a war powers resolution vote over Iran

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said they will demand passage of the resolution to halt further U.S. military action in Iran during Thursdays session, seeking to force Republicans, who have been largely silent on Trumps strategy, to speak up.

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He said in a letter to colleagues that the Democrats will unleash maximum pressure on Republicans to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping the madness.

Congress is on recess, but the House and Senate are meeting for perfunctory sessions on Thursday.

Under the proposal, Democrats would seek to have the resolution approved by unanimous consent. But as the minority party, they may not even be recognized by the presiding officer, a Republican.

Bolivia terminates military cooperation agreement with Iran in latest geopolitical shift

The center-right government of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz said Wednesday it has terminated a military cooperation agreement signed with Iran three years ago, during the administration of leftist leader Luis Arce.

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The announcement was confirmed by Defense Minister Raul Salinas, who didnt provide further details.

It comes on the heels of the Paz administrations dramatic shift away from the foreign policy maintained by Bolivia throughout the administrations of the Movement Towards Socialism, or MAS, a party that held power for nearly 20 years.

It is also the latest sign of a sharp geopolitical realignment underway in the South American country that was once among the most vocal critics of Israeli policies toward Palestinians.

UN says 1.1 million Lebanese, an unprecedented number, have been displaced since early March conflict

And that number, representing nearly one-fifth of Lebanons population, is expected to rise following the wave of over 100 Israeli airstrikes on the country on Wednesday, the U.N. humanitarian chief in Lebanon said.

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Imran Riza told U.N. correspondents in a video briefing that Israeli orders for Lebanese to leave their homes now affect 15.5% of the countrys territory.

He also pointed to rising attacks on health care facilities during the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, with over 106 incidents reported resulting in 57 deaths and 158 injuries.

The U.N. humanitarian coordinator urged donations to last months $308 million U.N. emergency appeal for Lebanon which has only received about $95 million.

Iran accuses US of violating 3 clauses of framework for a deal, says ceasefire, negotiations with US are unreasonable

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Wednesday that a ceasefire and negotiations with the U.S. on ending the war is unreasonable as he accused the U.S. violating three of Tehrans 10 conditions for an end to the fighting.

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Qalibaf, a key figure in the Pakistan-brokered negotiations to end the conflict, objected in a social media post to the continuation of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace after the ceasefire was in effect and the Trump administrations assertion that it wont accept any Iranian enrichment capabilities as part of an agreement to end the conflict.

It comes as the not yet day old ceasefire appears at risk of fraying over significant disagreements between the parties who each are claiming victory in the conflict. Qalibafs comments come an hour after the White House announced that US Vice President JD Vance would lead the U.S. delegation to talks in Islamabad starting Saturday on bringing about an end to the war.

Spain condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez condemned Israels strikes Wednesday on Lebanon, criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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His contempt for life and international law is intolerable, Sanchez wrote on X.

The Spanish leader, who has been Europes loudest critic of the U.S. and Israels military actions in the region, called on the European Union to suspend its association agreement with Israel.

White House says Trump is clear that ceasefire is subject to no tolls through the Strait of Hormuz

The ceasefire requires a free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which includes no tolls imposed by Iran, said Leavitt, describing Trumps thinking.

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A regional official had said on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations that the ceasefire plans included allowing both Iran and Oman to charge new fees to ships transiting through the strait.

Leavitt referenced Trumps Truth Social post from Tuesday in which he said the agreement was conditional on the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the strait. She added that thats very plain language and it should be taken at face value.

Iranian envoy asks China, Russia and UN for security guarantees as part of ceasefire

At a press conference in Beijing early Wednesday, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Irans ambassador to China, requested that its two closest allies and the world body help guarantee Tehrans long-term security as part of the recent deal to end hostilities between U.S and Iran.

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The Islamic Republic has made similar requests in the past but they have not come to fruition.

When asked if China would be willing to guarantee such security, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning demurred Wednesday, telling reporters: We hope that all parties will resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

Vance will return to US from his visit to Hungary before heading to Pakistan

The vice presidents office gave the update Wednesday as Vance was wrapping up a trip in Budapest.

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His office did not offer any details about his planned trip to Islamabad to lead the U.S. negotiating team that included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Trump expected to raise possibility of US leaving NATO in meeting with Rutte

The president earlier this month said that he was considering withdrawing the U.S. from NATO as he grumbled about the lack of support from members of the alliance in his war of choice against Iran.

The criticism from Trump follows years of complaining that the alliances member countries arent paying enough for their own defense. Trump is set to host Secretary-General Mark Rutte for talks at the White House later this afternoon.

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Its something the president has discussed, and I think its something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary General Rutte, said Leavitt, when asked if Trump is still considering leaving the 32-member alliance.

Ceasefire is threatened as Israel expands Lebanon strikes and Iran closes strait again

The United States demanded Wednesday that Iran immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Republic closed the waterway in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Irans move cast doubt over whether an already precarious ceasefire to end more than a month of war would hold.

The United States and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. Israel also intensified its attacks in Lebanon, hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning. At least 112 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

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The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what U.S. Vice President JD Vance called a fragile deal.

White House defends Trumps language threatening a whole civilization

Asked about Trumps threat to annihilate Iranian civilization, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended it as a very strong threat that led to results.

I think it was a very, very strong threat from the president of the United States that led the Iranian regime to cave to their knees and ask for a ceasefire and agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Leavitt said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

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She said any suggestion that Iran had the moral high ground was insulting.

Before a ceasefire was announced, Trump had threatened destruction in Iran if it did not reopen the strait, saying a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

White House shrugs off NATOs pledge to ensure freedom of navigation through a reopened Strait of Hormuz

Leavitt was asked about NATO allies offering to contribute to keeping the strait open, but said the alliance hasnt done enough to support U.S. and Israels war in Iran.

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They were tested and they failed, Levitt said, reading from a past Trump quote on NATO.

She added: NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks.

Those comments came as Trump was meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House later Wednesday.

Israels airport restarts full operations

Israels main airport will resume full operations as of midnight on Wednesday, after the Iran war stranded tens of thousands of people, including both Israelis abroad and tourists inside Israel.

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Israels airspace has been open but severely limited during the war, limiting flights to once an hour and just 50 people per flight. Israel joins several other countries in the region in reopening its airspace as the ceasefire with Iran appeared to hold.

The White House defends Trumps threat that a whole civilization will die tonight

His very tough rhetoric and his tough negotiating style is what has led to the result that you are all witnessing today, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, adding that Iran said they wanted a ceasefire because they no longer could tolerate being bombed.

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Trumps threats against Iran escalated over the past weeks, culminating in his Tuesday warning that a whole civilization could die in the lead up to an 8 p.m. deadline, which was later suspended after an agreement was reached.
FILE - President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House, Oct. 22, 2025, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, for a photo opportunity at the State Department, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Rod Lamkey/AP White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Alex Brandon/AP Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, is joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, left, for a photo opportunity at the State Department, Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Washington. Rod Lamkey/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump repeated his complaint about NATO after a closed-door meeting with the alliance's Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday for discussions that had been expected to be aimed at soothing Trumps anger with the military alliance over the Iran war.

Ahead of the private meeting, Trump had suggested the U.S. may consider leaving the trans-Atlantic alliance after NATO member countries ignored his call to help as Iran effectively shut the the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping waterway, and sent gas prices soaring.

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Afterward, he issued an all-caps comment on social media suggesting he remained aggrieved. NATO WASNT THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WONT BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN, Trump said in his post. The White House did not immediately offer any further updates.

The Republican president has had a warm relationship with Rutte in the past, and the meeting came after the U.S. and Iran late Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire that includes the reopening of the strait. The nascent ceasefire was struck after Trump said he would strike Iran's power plants and bridges, threatening that a whole civilization will die tonight."

Earlier Wednesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt acknowledged that Trump had discussed leaving NATO. I think its something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary-General Rutte, Leavitt said.

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Congress in 2023 passed a law that prevents any U.S. president from pulling out of NATO without its approval. Trump has been a longtime critic of NATO and in his first term had suggested he had the authority on his own to leave the alliance, which was founded in 1949 to counter the Cold War threat posed to European security by the Soviet Union.

The crux of the commitment its 32 member countries make is a mutual defense agreement in which an attack on one is considered an attack on them all. The only time it has been activated was in 2001, to support the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Despite that, Trump has complained during his war of choice with Iran that NATO has shown it will not be there for the U.S. On Wednesday, he also seemed to be angry about NATO's stance on Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory of NATO member Denmark. Trump had pressed for U.S. control over Greenland earlier this year before backing off after talks with Rutte.

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REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!! Trump posted Wednesday.

There is a law barring a president from pulling out of NATO

It's unclear if the Trump administration would challenge the law barring a president from pulling out of NATO. When the law passed, it was championed by Trump's current secretary of state, Marco Rubio, who at the time was a senator from Florida.

Rubio met separately with Rutte on Wednesday morning at the State Department ahead of the White House talks. In a statement, the State Department said Rubio and Rutte had discussed the war with Iran, along with U.S. efforts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war and increasing coordination and burden shifting with NATO allies.

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Ahead of Trump's meeting, Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, issued a statement Tuesday night in support of the alliance, noting, Following the September 11th attacks, NATO allies sent their young servicemembers to fight and die alongside Americas own in Afghanistan and Iraq. McConnell, who sits on a committee overseeing defense spending, urged Trump to be clear and consistent and said its not in Americas interest to spend more time nursing grudges with allies who share our interests than deterring adversaries who threaten us.

The alliance was already rattled over the past year as Trump returned to power and reduced U.S. military support for Ukraine in the war against Russia and threatened to seize Greenland from ally Denmark.

But Trump's badgering of NATO intensified after the Iran war began at the end of February, with the president insisting that securing the Strait of Hormuz was not America's job but the responsibility of countries that depend on the flow of oil through it.

Go to the strait and just take it, Trump said last week.

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Trump was also angered as NATO allies Spain and France forbade or restricted use of their airspace or joint military facilities for the U.S. in the Iran war. They and other nations, however, agreed to help with an international coalition to open the Strait of Hormuz when the conflict ends.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has been a particular source of Trump's frustration, was set to travel Wednesday to the Gulf to support the ceasefire. The U.K. has been working on developing a post-conflict security plan for the strait, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which about one-fifth of the worlds oil passes.

Trump has previously threatened to leave NATO and often said that he would abandon allies who dont spend enough on their military budgets. Former NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, in his recent memoir, said he feared that Trump might walk away from the alliance in 2018, during his first term as president.

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___
Police officers stand in front of the Palace of the Republic prior visit of Donald Trump Jr. and meetings with representatives of the authorities of the Republika Srpska, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Radivoje Pavicic/AP Police guard the Palace of the Republic prior visit of Donald Trump Jr. and meetings with representatives of the authorities of the Republika Srpska, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Radivoje Pavicic/AP Police guard the Palace of the Republic prior visit of Donald Trump Jr. and meetings with representatives of the authorities of the Republika Srpska, in Banja Luka, Bosnia, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Radivoje Pavicic/AP

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP)  Donald Trump Jr. lashed out at the European Union on Tuesday, saying its liberal policies were discouraging investment and predicted a major fracture between the bloc's eastern and western member states.

The eldest child of the U.S. president said that the biggest players, the biggest names in banking and finance, in tech and AI across the board believe that Europe is a disaster, but the disaster that they feel also needs to be fixed.

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The only way it gets fixed, though, in my opinion is if they (Europe) get out of of their own way, Trump Jr. said during a business discussion in the northwestern Bosnian city of Banja Luka, according to video recordings provided by the official television RTRS television.

Banja Luka is a key city in Republika Srpska, the Serb-run part of Bosnia, whose leaders are staunch admirers of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The press office of the U.S. Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnias capital, told The Associated Press in an email that Trump Jr. came in a private capacity. The visit was nonetheless seen here as a boost for the Serb separatist political leadership.

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Trump Jr.s trip came as U.S. Vice President JD Vance traveled to Hungary to support the reelection bid of nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban before a highly-contested vote next weekend.

Bosnian Serb politician and former Republika Srpska president, Milorad Dodik, an ally of Orban, said on X that the two visits signal an important shift of the U.S. administration under the leadership of President Trump and the care for this part of Europe regarding the position of Christians.

Trump Jr,, in Banja Luka, said that eastern European countries have a work ethic that has (withstood) some of the woke nonsense that has really been a parasitic thing in the mind in Western Europe.

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I see that creating major fractures in the European Union between those few countries in eastern Europe that actually still believe in common sense, and Western Europe thats clearly missing in the political discourse these days, he said.

Dodik has repeatedly called for the Serb-run half of Bosnia to break off from the rest of the country that is run by Bosniaks, who are mainly Muslims, and Croats. The Serb bid to form its own state and unite with neighboring Serbia was seen as the main cause of the 1992-95 ethnic war that killed more than 100,000 before ending in a U.S.-brokered peace agreement.

The Biden administration in 2022 imposed sanctions on Dodik and individuals and companies linked to him because of the separatist policies that stoked fear of renewed instability. The sanctions were lifted by the Trump administration last year.

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The Trump administration has long been critical of the EU, notably over trade and EU regulation of the technology sector. Its criticism of long-time European allies has intensified during the Iran war.
Gavel Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images

An Edwardsville man was sentenced to 30 months of probation after pleading guilty in November to an attempted child pornography charge.

Hunter H. Wells, 23, of Edwardsville, pleaded guilty Nov. 3 to an amended charge. Two other counts in the case were dropped. A 2024 felony theft charge also was dropped.

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He had originally been charged with child pornography, a Class X felony, and two counts of sexual exploitation of a child, both Class A misdemeanors.

The amended charge, attempted child pornography, is a Class 1 felony.

According to court records of the original charges, on Dec. 11, 2023, Wells solicited what he believed was a 15-year-old to appear nude on Snapchat. On Jan. 1, 2024, he exposed himself to a child or one whom he believed to be a 15-year-old child. On Jan. 21, 2024, he exposed himself to a child or one whom he believed to be a 14-year-old child.

According to additional court documents, in March 2024 the Moline Police Department received a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children exploiting children via Snapchat.

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After obtaining search warrants, investigators determined the IP address was in Madison County. The Madison County Sheriffs Department took over the investigation in April 2025.

A search warrant was issued and police found Wells had numerous explicit conversations with juvenile females.

Court documents say Wells sent photos in some of those conversations, including to girls as young as 13, and asked girls as young as 12 to send photos.
Edwardsville diesel training program instructor leads students through hands-on truck maintenance training, bringing industry experience from Schneider to help address technician shortages in the Metro East region Abigail Zajac/The Intelligencer William McKorkle stands in front of the Ranken Technical College diesel technology program display in Edwardsville, part of a new training pipeline supported by Schneider to prepare students for in-demand technician careers. Abigail Zajac/The Intelligencer

A new diesel training program in Edwardsville is being driven by local employers trying to close a growing technician shortage, as distance and limited specialization have left gaps in the regions workforce pipeline.

Industry data shows the shortage is widespread. About 65% of diesel repair shops nationwide reported being understaffed in 2025, with roughly one in five technician positions unfilled, according to a report from the American Transportation Research Institute.

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Local trucking and logistics companies are pushing for a new diesel training pipeline in the Metro East, citing a technician shortage and enrollment barriers in existing programs.

We have a lot of good industry partners in this area that felt we were missing out on a lot of stuff, Ranken program administrator Shannon Brueggemann said.

Prospective student William McKorkle echoed this idea. He comes from a local farming family.

This is something I have always wanted to do for my family, but never had the opportunity, McKorkle said.

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He wants to pursue the field to gain the skills to work on his familys farm equipment. He noted a lack of skilled technicians in his area and said it would be beneficial to neighboring farmers as well.

Before the Edwardsville location, the nearest Ranken programs required students to travel to Wentzville or Perryville for training. Other local options included Lewis and Clark Community College and the Collinsville Area Vocational Center. While those programs are well-regarded, they are not specifically focused on diesel training but instead serve broader technical areas.

Their concern is they have a lot of younger folks out here who are interested in diesel, but were not choosing to go to Ranken because of the distance, Brueggemann said.

Local employers approached the program about opening a location on the Illinois side of the river to expand access for students. They said the program produces well-rounded graduates and expressed interest in seeing more of those workers enter the local workforce.

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Our goal is to kind of provide that skills gap, Brueggemann said.

Demand spans a range of local employers, from truck centers in Troy to regional carriers such as RDL and CIT Trucks, as well as large distribution operations tied to companies like Amazon and World Wide Technology. Many of these businesses operate their own fleets or maintain equipment in-house and require trained technicians to service everything from semis to yard trucks used to move trailers.

That need is growing alongside the expansion of shipping and e-commerce as more goods are produced, moved and delivered through logistics networks.

The St. Louis regional freight network, including the Metro East, has more than $9 billion in infrastructure projects planned to keep up with rising demand for goods movement.

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Everybody is buying it online; they're not going to the store to buy things, Rankens President Don Pohl said. They expect it to show up at their doorstep, so all those vehicles, whether it be the semis, it could be sent here, or even the UPS trucks and things like that, they all have diesel engines.

Many diesel technicians are nearing retirement age, creating an additional strain on the workforce pipeline. Programs like this are aimed at preparing the next generation of workers to replace those leaving the field.

About 26,500 openings for diesel service technicians and mechanics are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Most of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

You gotta make sure you give them time for those who are about to retire to kind of relay that knowledge, and the skills that they have, that they've been doing this their entire life, Brueggemann said. Instill that into those new technicians coming out there and ready to dig right in.

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In addition to transportation, students are trained to work on a range of diesel-powered systems, including power generation equipment such as large industrial generators, as well as marine engines used in vessels like tugboats. The training is designed to apply broadly to any equipment powered by diesel engines.

Diesels are just becoming more and more popular, Pohl said. That was maybe the impetus, but it's broadly applicable.

Edwardsville as a prototype

Program leaders worked with companies such as Schneider to ensure the Edwardsville site aligned with industry needs. Schneider has hired many of the programs graduates across multiple locations and is seeking to expand that pipeline.

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Officials said the partnership is designed to benefit both sides, with employers helping shape training while gaining access to a steady stream of qualified workers. The model could also serve as a template for similar collaborations in other locations.
Gerhardt Konig appears in court before closing arguments in his attempted murder trial, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Honolulu. Mengshin Lin/AP Deputy Prosecutor Joel Garner holds a rock as evidence while presenting closing arguments during the attempted murder trial of Gerhardt Konig in a courtroom, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Honolulu. Mengshin Lin/AP Gerhardt Konig, left, talks to his defense lawyer Thomas Otake after closing arguments in his attempted murder trial in a courtroom, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Honolulu. Mengshin Lin/AP Defense attorney Thomas Otake delivers closing arguments during the attempted murder trial of Gerhardt Konig, in a courtroom, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Honolulu. Mengshin Lin/AP FILE - Hawaii doctor Gerhardt Konig appears before a judge via video during an arraignment hearing after being indicted on allegation of attempting to kill his wife, April 7, 2025, in Honolulu. Marco Garcia/AP

HONOLULU (AP)  An anesthesiologist accused of trying to kill his wife during a cliffside hike near a popular scenic lookout in Hawaii struck her so hard with a rock that pieces of it broke off in her scalp, a prosecutor told jurors before they began deliberating Tuesday.

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EDITORS NOTE: This story includes discussion of domestic violence. If you or someone you know needs help, please call the national domestic violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233 in the U.S.

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Gerhardt Konig, 47, had a plan and backup plans for murdering his wife, Arielle Konig, during a weekend trip to Honolulu for her birthday in March 2025, deputy prosecutor Joel Garner said. He tried to push her off a cliff, and when that didn't work he tried to stab her with a syringe filled with an unknown substance.

And when that didn't work, he grabbed the rock, Garner said.

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Every backup plan ends in Arielles death, Garner said, displaying the rock and photos of her injuries.

The doctor's lawyer told jurors Tuesday there were no such plans, and he repeatedly sought to cast doubt on Arielle Konig's account. Gerhardt Konig has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, and he insists he was defending himself from his wife, who he says attacked him with the rock first.

If Gerhardt Konig had wanted to kill his wife and had access to a syringe in a remote area, attorney Thomas Otake suggested, wouldn't he have drugged her and then thrown her from the cliff, rather than having started a scuffle before attempting to fill the syringe as he was wrestling with her?

You would use the syringe first, Otake said. It makes no sense.

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The trial started last month, nearly a year after Gerhadt and Arielle Konig went on a hike on the Pali Puka trail in Honolulu that ended with her bloodied and screaming that he had tried to kill her.

Their two young sons stayed home on Maui while the Konigs were on the trip. Near a lookout offering sweeping views, Gerhardt Konig  upset about his wife's relationship with a coworker  attacked her, Garner said. It was only because two other hikers interrupted the assault that he stopped, Garner said.

The trial, with testimony livestreamed by Court TV, has aired the couple's marital problems leading up to the hike, along with their versions of what happened on the trail.

Gerhardt Konig testified that his wife was having an affair, which he confirmed by unlocking her phone while she slept. The relationship, which Arielle Konig characterized as an emotional affair involving flirty messages with a coworker, came up during the hike.

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Arielle Konig testified that her husband grabbed her and moved her toward the cliff's edge but she threw herself on the ground in an attempt to hold on. He straddled her and had a syringe in his hand, she said, but she batted it away. She bit his forearm and squeezed his testicles in attempt to get him off her, she said.

Her husband denied pushing her toward the edge and testified that she hit him with a rock on the side of his face. He wrestled the rock away and hit her with it twice in self-defense, he said.

He reacted, and then he felt horrible about it, Otake said. He never wanted to hurt her.

But the prosecutor told the jury that all of the blood found on the rock and on clothing belonged to Arielle Konig, not her husband.

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Gerhardt Konig also denied having any syringes on the mountain, or trying to stab his wife. His defense attorney said no syringe was found at the scene because he never had one.

Otake said Gerhardt Konig was not someone who would try to commit murder, but someone who was struggling with infidelity and trying to do his best. Otake quoted from a heart-shaped birthday card Gerhardt Konig had written to his wife, calling her the heart of our family and saying, The kids and I hit the jackpot with you.

Gerhardt Konig testified that as he watched his wife crawl away, he believed his marriage and career were over, and he decided to jump to his death. But first, he called his adult son from a previous marriage. The son told authorities that his father said he tried to kill your stepmom  a confession Gerhardt Konig denied having made.

During that call, the defendant made no reference to having struck his wife in self-defense, Garner said.

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He spent about eight hours hiding on the mountain before deciding to come down, and even then he tried to flee when confronted by police, Garner said.

His wife has since filed for divorce.

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TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme National Security Council on Wednesday released a statement confirming a two-week ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Key points of the statement are as follows:

-- Iran has achieved a great victory and forced the United States to accept its 10-point plan, which includes controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz and the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the "axis of resistance."

-- The Pakistani prime minister has informed Iran that the United States has accepted Iran's 10-point plan as the basis for negotiations.

-- According to the guidance of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, Iran will hold negotiations with the United States in Islamabad to finalize the details of the truce.

-- The negotiations, with complete distrust of the American side, will begin on Friday, April 10, in Islamabad, and Iran will allocate two weeks for these negotiations. This period can be extended by mutual agreement.

-- Iran demands a binding UN Security Council resolution that will turn all agreements with the United States into binding international law.

-- The ceasefire does not mean an end to the war, pending negotiations over details of the 10-point plan.

-- It is necessary for all Iranians to trust and support the negotiation process with the United States, which is under the supervision of the supreme leader and the "highest levels of the system." 
This photo taken on April 7, 2026 shows the view of a street in Vientiane, capital of Laos. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)

VIENTIANE, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Laos continues to struggle with dangerously high levels of air pollution, with PM 2.5 concentrations exceeding national safety standards across the country.

According to the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on Wednesday, PM 2.5 concentrations reached 196 micrograms per cubic meter in the Lao capital Vientiane, while several other provinces recorded levels above 100 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding the safety threshold of 50 micrograms per cubic meter.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Phakkavanh Phissamay, director general of the Department of Environment under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, reported 1,306 fire hotspots nationwide on Tuesday, with the highest concentrations in Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Xayaboury, and Savannakhet provinces.

Authorities said the main causes of the hotspots were biomass burning, forest fires, and transboundary haze.

Phakkavanh urged the public to avoid burning waste, wear face masks, and limit outdoor activities during the dry season.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment issued a notice on Jan. 15 in preparation for wildfires expected between January and April. The notice calls for tighter controls on burning, faster fire detection, and stronger coordination between central and local authorities.

As air pollution is expected to rise significantly during March and April, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment continue to work together and are calling for collective action to reduce pollution and protect public health. 

This photo taken on April 7, 2026 shows the view of a street in Vientiane, capital of Laos. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua)
ADDIS ABABA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian Electric Utility (EEU), a state-owned electricity service provider, is set to build a massive electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure network as part of the government's commitment to accelerating nationwide EV adoption and fostering green mobility.

Anwar Abrar, chief communications officer at the EEU, said the utility is implementing a two-phase strategic plan to expand EV charging services across the country. The first phase involves the construction of 40 charging stations, currently underway in Addis Ababa, the country's capital, and beyond.

"The utility inaugurated three EV charging stations in Addis Ababa last week, and during the first phase, it will build a total of 32 charging stations in Addis Ababa and eight in nearby cities over the coming months," Abrar told Xinhua in an interview on Monday, noting that three more stations will become operational shortly.

According to the country's Ministry of Transport and Logistics, more than 140,000 EVs are now operating in Addis Ababa, and about 1,176 charging stations are required to meet demand. The EEU's engagement in the sector is expected to ensure a reliable power supply and help prevent service interruptions.

Abrar said the EEU's first-phase EV charging expansion project is expected to cost around 10 million U.S. dollars and aims to introduce reasonable charging tariffs, with each station capable of accommodating 24 vehicles at the same time.

"During the second phase, the EEU will build similar charging stations in major regional cities, including Bishoftu, Mojo, Adama, Shashemene and Hawassa, as part of the country's efforts to accelerate green mobility, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and ensure a reliable power supply," he said.

Noting that the EEU offers the service at a reduced price of 14 Ethiopian birr (0.09 U.S. dollar) to 18 Ethiopian birr (0.12 dollar) per kilowatt-hour, Abrar said the new charging stations are equipped with battery management systems capable of tracking the status, performance and energy use of EV batteries.

In 2024, the Ethiopian government banned the import of fossil fuel-powered vehicles for personal use while reducing taxes on EVs, a policy that has accelerated EV adoption across the country.

The East African country is rich in renewable energy resources, such as hydro, wind, solar and geothermal power, although only about half of the population has access to electricity.

The Ethiopian Petroleum and Energy Authority issued a directive in March urging citizens to conserve fuel and accelerate the adoption of alternative energy solutions in response to global oil price shocks triggered by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

"We have already secured land to construct the charging stations. By doing so, the EEU is pioneering the development of EV charging infrastructure and encouraging both state-run and private companies to follow suit," Abrar said. 
BEIRUT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- An unidentified vehicle bearing public license plates opened fire on Wednesday toward the United States Embassy in Awkar, Mount Lebanon, a security source told local media LBCI on Wednesday.

The source said no injuries were reported in the incident. 
NAIROBI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The second Africa Urban Forum opened Wednesday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with calls to hasten the renewal of the continent's fast-growing cities and towns.

Nearly 10,000 participants, both in person and online, including ministers, city mayors, representatives of multilateral agencies, industry, civil society and academia, are attending the three-day forum to chart a new pathway for the Africa's urban centers.

The forum is hosted by the Kenyan government in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), under the theme of "Adequate Housing for All: Advancing Socio-economic and Environmental Transformation toward the Realization of Agenda 2063."

Kenyan Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said Africa is urbanizing at an unprecedented rate, with urban population projected to double from the current 700 million to 1.4 billion by 2050.

"This transformation will shape not only the physical form of urban settlements, but the very structure of our economies, the resilience of our societies and the trajectory of our development," he added.

The inaugural Africa Urban Forum, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2024, set the stage for an inclusive continent-wide dialogue to remake cities, already grappling with inadequate shelter, crime, poverty and climatic shocks.

Patience Zanelie Chiradza, director of governance and conflict prevention at the AUC's Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security, said well-planned cities that provide basic services like housing, clean drinking water, sanitation and green mobility will be key to the realization of Africa's long-term transformation agenda.

Alice Wahome, Kenya's cabinet secretary for lands, public works, housing and urban development, said that governments must prioritize investments in affordable housing, circularity, clean mobility and climate resilience to reinvent urban centers across the continent. 
PARIS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the United States and Iran, expressing hope that it will be fully respected.

Describing the ceasefire as "a very good thing," Macron said during a Defense and National Security Council meeting on Iran and the Middle East that France expects all parties to comply in the coming days and weeks to create conditions for renewed negotiations.

He said such negotiations should pave the way for a lasting resolution of issues related to Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles and regional activities.

Macron stressed that negotiations are crucial for providing the guarantees needed to maintain long-term regional stability. 
JERUSALEM, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, the country's main international gateway, will return to full operations starting at midnight on Wednesday, Channel 12 TV News reported, citing government officials.

The country's Civil Aviation Authority and Airports Authority were working to facilitate the full resumption of services at the international hub outside Tel Aviv.

According to the report, the smaller Ramon Airport in the south is scheduled to reopen for domestic flights early next week.

An official announcement is expected to be released following the conclusion of a Jewish holiday later on Wednesday. 
BEIRUT, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Wednesday contacted Pakistan's ambassador to Lebanon, Salman Athar, praising Islamabad's efforts that contributed to reaching a regional ceasefire while urging that Israel's continued attacks on Lebanon be conveyed.

According to Lebanon's National News Agency, Berri called on the ambassador to relay Israel's non-compliance with the agreement, saying Israeli forces are continuing their military operations against Lebanon, particularly in the southern regions.

Israeli attacks continued across southern Lebanon despite the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran.

Israel issued a new warning on Wednesday, urging residents of Beirut's southern suburbs, known as Dahieh, to evacuate several areas ahead of planned strikes.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said in a statement that it stands "on the threshold of a major historic victory" achieved through sacrifices, and called on residents to remain patient and avoid returning to targeted areas in the south, Bekaa, and Dahieh until an official "final announcement" of a ceasefire in Lebanon is made.

The developments come amid ongoing uncertainty over the scope of the regional ceasefire and whether it fully applies to Lebanon. 
This photo taken on April 7, 2026 shows a view of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

Trump wrote on social media that his decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.

"The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said.

"We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he said.

Trump described the two-week suspension as "a double sided ceasefire."

The ceasefire proposal was delivered by Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, aiming to give time for peace talks with Iran.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sharif called on Trump in a post on X to extend the deadline Trump set for Iran to reach a deal by two weeks, and also requested Iran "to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture."

Trump threatened on Tuesday morning that Iran's "whole civilization will die tonight" at 8:00 pm ET, the deadline he set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He told a press conference on Monday that according to a U.S. plan, "every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night," and "every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again."

U.S. officials, cited by U.S. media outlets, said American forces struck military targets on Iran's Kharg Island overnight, with oil facilities spared in the country's crucial oil export hub.

Multiple railway lines across Iran were also struck on Tuesday, according to reports reaching here.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the two-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

He also said Iran would hold negotiations with the U.S. in Islamabad, stressing that the temporary ceasefire does not mean an end to war, pending negotiations on details of its 10-point plan. 

A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds placards in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

A demonstrator holds a placard in front of the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Rui)
ISLAMABAD, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that an immediate ceasefire has been agreed between Iran and the United States, along with their allies, saying it applies "everywhere including Lebanon."

"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," Sharif wrote on X. 
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JERUSALEM, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli military issued evacuation warnings Wednesday to residents of seven areas in Beirut's southern suburbs and in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre, hours after a temporary U.S.-Iran truce was announced.

In posts on X, Israeli military spokesman Avichay Adraee said the army planned to strike infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah. "To ensure your safety, you must evacuate immediately," he said.

The warnings came after the United States and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire. Israel said it accepts the truce but will continue fighting in Lebanon against Hezbollah.

Separately, the Israeli military said Wednesday it killed a member of Hamas involved in engineering and producing explosive devices in the northern Gaza Strip. In a statement, the military said Muhammad Dawad was killed in a strike on Monday.

Israel has carried out near-daily strikes in Gaza despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, killing at least 733 people and bringing the total Palestinian death toll in the enclave to 72,312, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. 
MACAO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Macau International Airport (MIA) recorded growth in passenger traffic in the first quarter of 2026, it said in a press release on Wednesday.

The airport registered 2,117,427 passenger traffic in the first quarter, up about 15 percent year-on-year, while aircraft movements rose 10 percent to 15,952, according to the release.

The MIA noted that passengers from the mainland accounted for 41 percent of the total, and those from Taiwan for 19 percent. International passenger traffic reached 224,000 in the first two months, an increase of 11 percent year-on-year.

During the Easter and Qingming Festival holidays from last Friday to Tuesday, the airport handled 115,000 passengers and 856 aircraft movements, up 2.6 percent and 9.1 percent year-on-year, respectively.

The MIA said it is stepping up efforts to expand its route network ahead of summer, working with airlines on new routes to the mainland and Northeast Asia. 
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, speaker of the Portuguese parliament, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhao Leji and speaker of the Portuguese parliament Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco on Wednesday held talks in Beijing, where they reached an agreement to promote practical cooperation between the two countries.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said China and Portugal are traditional friendly countries and comprehensive strategic partners with mutual respect, mutual trust and win-win cooperation.

China is willing to work with Portugal to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, and continuously build and expand consensus on the basis of equality and sincere dialogue, Zhao said.

Zhao called on both sides to strengthen the alignment of development strategies, expand two-way investment, and broaden cooperation in areas such as new energy, digital economy, and artificial intelligence.

Noting that the two sides should deepen cooperation in culture, science and technology, education and tourism, and build a solid public opinion foundation for bilateral ties, Zhao called for making good use of mechanisms such as the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, expand trilateral cooperation with Africa, Latin America and other regions, and jointly practice true multilateralism.

Zhao said the NPC of China is willing to work with the Portuguese parliament to enhance friendly exchanges at multiple levels and in various fields, expand the exchange of experience in legislation and supervision, provide legal guarantees for bilateral practical cooperation, and better contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

Zhao also called on the two sides to exchange experiences around the construction of legal systems for ecological and environmental protection, and strengthen cooperation in promoting relevant domestic legislation and international rules.

Aguiar-Branco said Portugal firmly adheres to the one-China policy, adding that deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Portugal and China is an important consensus among all political parties in Portugal.

In the face of uncertainties in the international situation, Portugal hopes to enhance the strategic nature of Portuguese-China relations, jointly adhere to multilateralism, advance cooperation in various fields such as economy, trade and culture, promote the healthy development of EU-China relations, and enhance the stability and certainty of the world, Aguiar-Branco said.

Aguiar-Branco said the Portuguese parliament is ready to foster friendly exchanges with the NPC of China and make contributions to promote practical cooperation between the two countries and enhance friendship between the two peoples.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with Aguiar-Branco the same day. He said China is willing to work with Portugal to jointly expand cooperation using Macao as a platform, promote the China-EU partner positioning, and maintain international unity and cooperation.

Aguiar-Branco said the Portuguese side appreciates the successful implementation of "one country, two systems" in Macao and hopes to further promote bilateral practical cooperation and multilateral communication and collaboration with China. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, holds talks with Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, speaker of the Portuguese parliament, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Tao)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, speaker of the Portuguese parliament, in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco, speaker of the Portuguese parliament, in Beijing, capital of China, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
The Orange County retired teachers will meet at Wesley United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, located at 401 N 37th Street, on Monday. April 13 at 10:30 a.m. Guest speaker will be a representative from the TALO Farm Preserve which is located just 0.75 miles northwest of Pinehurst. Their goal is to maintain and manage the property for wildlife habitat conservation. All Orange County retired teachers and school personnel are invited to attend.

Membership Drive for the 2026-2027 year ends July 31. Dues are $45 ($35 state, $10 local). Bring your dues to the meeting or mail to Judy Williams. It may be the best $45 you spend each year as we continue to advocate for retirement security. If you have any questions call 409-670-7703. Refreshments will be served.
The Bridge City Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting ceremony for Graceful Permanent Fine Jewelry at 9:00 A.M. on Friday, April 17 at the chamber office, located at 150 W. Roundbunch, in Bridge City.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) has recently been awarded more than $3 million by the Texas General Land Office (GLO) for coastal restoration projects along the Texas Gulf Coast. GLO awarded approximately $84.6 million to 14 coastal counties through two major coastal protection programs, including several projects on TPWD lands.

At check presentations in Corpus Christi and League City in February and March, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham awarded $2.9 million in funds for three grants relating to shoreline protection and coastal restoration projects to the TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division. Additionally, TPWD's State Parks and Wildlife divisions were presented $453,802 in grant awards to support shoreline protection and marsh restoration projects at Goose Island State Park and Powderhorn State Park and Wildlife Management Area.

Coastal Fisheries Projects

The $2.9 million in grants awarded to TPWD's Coastal Fisheries Division will help fund projects addressing coastal erosion, habitat restoration for shore birds and land acquisition for Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area (CMA).

"The support for these projects from the General Land Office certainly leads to greater overall protection of coastal aquatic habitats along the Texas coast," said Robin Riechers, Director of Coastal Fisheries. "The additions to the Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area will continue the effort to protect and preserve some unique coastal habitats"

Through the Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) Cycle 14 program, $500,000 is earmarked for projects addressing coastal erosion and preferred erosion response solutions, demonstration projects and related studies to understand and reduce effects associated with coastal erosion.

The newly awarded CEPRA-funded project protects the shoreline and restores a bird nesting ridge named Giraffe Head and its associated intertidal marsh complex in Dickinson Bay to prevent continued erosion and habitat loss. The funding will complete the engineering and design phases of the project for the 6,000-foot breakwater and habitat features. This work will allow the project to be shovel-ready for future funding sources to complete construction of the breakwater and halt further erosion of the habitat. This effort will also complete the first phase in a multiphase effort to protect and enhance this vital shoreline.

Additionally, two other grants were awarded through the Coastal Management Program (CMP) Cycle 31 Projects of Special Merit funding program for a total of $2.43 million.

These two grant projects involve acquiring land to add to the Matagorda Peninsula Coastal Management Area, which, when combined, will add about 2,000 acres of coastal wetlands to the more than 11,000 acres of land already part of the CMA. CMAs are created to preserve and protect these coastal areas, providing essential habitat for various birds, reptiles, shrimp, fish and plants. The areas are open to the public, and individuals can experience nature through bird watching, hiking, kayaking, fishing and other low-environmental-impact recreational opportunities.

CMP projects focus on preserving, restoring and improving coastal habitats and increasing opportunities for the public to enjoy them. These projects receive grant money from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) and Gulf of America Energy Security Act, with partners matching funds.

State Parks and Wildlife Division Projects

TPWD's State Parks and Wildlife divisions received $453,802 in CEPRA Cycle 14 funds to support the continuation of two coastal conservation projects along the Texas mid-coast.

Since 2021, TPWD has worked with the GLO CEPRA program on a multi-phased project to address coastal erosion along 5 miles of Matagorda Bay shoreline at the Powderhorn Wildlife Management Area and future Powderhorn State Park in Calhoun County. The project aims to conserve important estuarine marshes, sandy beaches and coastal live oak woodlands that support a variety of native and endangered wildlife, along with protecting the rich cultural resources and recreational opportunities present at the site. Additional match funding has been provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation and the Matagorda Bay Mitigation Trust.

During Phase 1, project engineers have completed field data collection and habitat surveys and are working on coastal engineering analysis for a proposed offshore breakwater feature and marsh restoration site. Preliminary design will soon be developed for the permitting phase. This year's Phase 2 funding will go toward completing the engineering and design phase to prepare the project for construction in future phases.

In addition, the State Parks Division received CEPRA funds for the ongoing Newcomb Marsh Wetland Protection and Shoreline Stabilization Project at Goose Island State Park in Aransas County. The project began in 2023 to protect key estuarine marsh habitat in Copano Bay utilized by the federally endangered Wood Buffalo-Aransas population of whooping cranes as well as other species of conservation concern.

The project was selected by the GLO as a Tier 1 project in the 2023 Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan and has received match funding and support from Aransas County, Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program, Coastal Conservation Association Texas, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Aransas First Land Trust and the International Crane Foundation. Objectives include protection of 2.5 miles of bay shoreline through an offshore breakwater and shoreline stabilization features as well as conservation and restoration of 280 acres of estuarine wetlands. Funds received this year will continue the design and engineering phase to develop the most effective solutions to protect and enhance this crucial marsh site on the Texas coast.

Credit Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced that an immediate ceasefire has been agreed between Iran and the United States, along with their allies, saying it applies "everywhere including Lebanon."




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Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 52F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
BEIJING, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A collective sigh of relief swept the globe as the United States and Iran pulled back from the brink of full-scale war, committing to two weeks of high-stakes negotiations.

Yet beneath this temporary respite lie formidable challenges ahead. The ultimate success of these talks will hinge on whether the United States and Israel will demonstrate a genuine commitment to peace.

At the core of the current crisis is the unlawful use of force by the United States and Israel against Iran, contravening established principles of international law.

Over the past 40 days, the world has been forced to bear witness to the brutal toll of war -- a devastating loss of life, the obliteration of vital infrastructure, and an unchecked rise of oil prices, sending shockwaves through global energy markets and threatening economic stability across continents.

History has proven time and again that military force never yields lasting solutions. Instead, it fuels deeper animosity, widens existing divides, and ignites a self-perpetuating cycle of violence. The sole path to enduring stability and peace lies in political resolution and meaningful negotiation.

During this critical two-week window, the United States and Israel must honor their commitments and refrain from further military escalation against Iran. Any breach of trust would only compound the profound difficulties of this crisis, fatally undermining the prospects for a lasting peace.

It is imperative that the international community remains engaged, advocating for sincere negotiations. Securing a permanent resolution from this temporary cessation of hostilities necessitates a profound commitment from all sides to prioritize a diplomatic outcome over military escalation.

Since the outbreak of hostilities, China has maintained an objective, impartial, and balanced stance, working tirelessly to facilitate a ceasefire. Recently, China and Pakistan jointly proposed a five-point initiative, a framework that reflects a broad international consensus on de-escalation and conflict resolution.

Peace is hard-won, and consensus is precious. The commencement of these talks represents a victory of rationality over recklessness. But the true triumph lies in abandoning the "law of the jungle," upholding multilateralism, respecting international law, and observing the fundamental principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter.

Only through these concerted efforts can the world dispel the dark clouds of war and safeguard peace and stability, both within the region and across the globe. 
Godfrey Village Attorney Bryan Dooling, Godfrey Mayor Mike McCormick, trustee Karen McAtee, and trustee Sarah Woodman at the Godfrey Village Board Meeting on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Steve Whirtworth/The Telegraph

GODFREY  The Godfrey Village Board heard from advocates Tuesday night about a controversial hump intended to slow speeding motorists on Levis Lane.

The boards Public Safety Committee eventually tabled consideration of the two petitions presented during the new business portion of the meeting.

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Mayor Mike McCormick said the village would conduct a traffic study of the street before making any decisions.

One petition sought consideration of removing a residential speed bump on Levis Lane, while the other called for keeping the hump.

We have a machine that records how many cars are going down the street and their speeds, McCormick said after the meeting. Speeding on Levis Lane has been a problem for as long as I have been mayor.

Village Engineer Richard Beran pointed out during the committee meeting that the structure, which he described as a hump because it is not as high as traditional speed bumps, had been installed before the village adopted a policy on the use of such features.

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I dont see how eliminating the hump helps anything, he said.

McCormick said Levis Lane previously had an oil-and-chip surface but was resurfaced with asphalt down the full length of the street a few years ago. He said that caused motorists to drive faster because of the smoother surface.

We had looked for a solution to the problem for years, the mayor said.

McCormick said the lower hump was chosen because the higher bumps can damage the villages snowplows.

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Godfrey residents debate keeping Levis Lane speed hump

Several residents complained during the committee meeting that many motorists hardly slow down for the hump on Levis Lane.

Mark Maggos, chief instructor at Godfrey-based Trigger Talent, which provides certification classes for people wishing to obtain an Illinois concealed carry weapon permit, lives in the 4500 block of Levis Lane and presented the petition to keep the speed hump in place.

Ive watched speeders go by for 25 years, he said. It has been a rodeo.

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Also supporting the petition to retain the speed hump was Angela Moan, executive director of The Nature Institute at 2213 S. Levis Lane. She pointed out that TNI receives about 200,000 visitors per year, which causes heavy traffic on the street. Moan said she felt the hump was needed for the safety of pedestrians and residents there.

Frank Steward, who lives in the 2800 block of Highland Road, presented the petition seeking the removal of the speed hump. He argued that the structure has done little or nothing to slow motorists and suggested that it be relocated.

Village delays speed hump decision for traffic study

Village Attorney Bryan Dooling pointed out that neither petition met the requirements for the number of signatures from residents living within a certain distance of the structure.

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The committee then voted to table the matter while the traffic study is conducted.

I think the study will reassure us the hump is fine where it is, McCormick said in an interview Wednesday morning. The street actually may deserve more than one hump.

In new business during the regular board meeting, trustees voted unanimously to approve applications for raffle permits and waivers of bonds for Christmas in July and Mid Illinois Jet Gymnastics.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said early Wednesday that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible for a period of two weeks through coordination with the Iranian armed forces, with due consideration of technical limitations. #XinhuaNews
The exterior of the new Jimmy Johns in Bethalto, located at 515 N. Bellwood Drive, on April 7, 2026. This popular sandwich chain is set to open on May 7 after franchise owner Mark Kidd finishes renovating the buildings front entrance and adding restaurant equipment. Chase Martin/The Telegraph

A new fast-food sandwich chain is coming to the Metro East this May, offering freaky fast service and fresh ingredients.

Jimmy Johns, located at 515 N. Bellwood Dr., is scheduled to open in Bethalto on May 7. With a new location near a busy intersection, Civic Memorial High School, and an adjacent Schnucks, franchise owner Mark Kidd looks forward to the business staying busy.

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I was looking for a spot in Bethalto for a long time, Kidd said. I think it's a good market and that it will do well there.

The business will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, and operate as a standard Jimmy Johns with the same menu and limited-time offerings as other locations. Upon opening, Kidd will finalize the move-in process that started in early Fall 2026.

The new Bethalto location will replace IMOs pizza at that location and join several others in Kidds franchise, the closest being in Alton.

The Bethalto Jimmy Johns, located at 515 N. Bellwood Drive, is under construction on April 7, 2026, as franchise owner Mark Kidd and his team put the finishing touches on the new Metro East location. Chase Martin/The Telegraph

Leading up to the opening, the Jimmy Johns franchise owner of 21 years will finalize the space by adding front-of-house and kitchen equipment and renovating the buildings front entrance.

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The (Jimmy John's) stores on either side of this location are a similar size, and they do well, Kidd said.

Jimmy Johns is a sandwich chain specializing in deli sandwiches, available for drive-thru or delivery. It was founded in Charleston, Illinois, by Jimmy John Liautaud in 1983 and is headquartered in Champaign, Illinois.
In keeping with the impressive rally witnessed across global markets, India's equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rose nearly four per cent on Wednesday, as Dalal Street welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran announced by President Donald Trump and the decision by the Reserve Bank of India to keep the policy rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent.

The 30-share BSE Sensex jumped 2,946.32 points to settle at 77,562.90, while Nifty surged 873.70 points to 23,997.35 at the end of the trading day. InterGlobe Aviation, Larsen & Toubro, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finance, Maruti, UltraTech Cement and Mahindra & Mahindra were among the top gainers from the Sensex pack.

The broader markets too performed in tandem with Sensex and Nifty, rising nearly four per cent or more. IT and Pharma, meanwhile, were the laggards.

The improved investor sentiment is also due to the decline in the 10-year bond yield and strengthening of the rupee. The fall in oil prices after the US and Iran agreed to the ceasefire that includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, too, contributed to the market optimism.

In the morning, the market volatility plunged 19 per cent to 19.90 as all sectoral indices were in green.

"The key trigger is the announcement of a two-week pause in US military action, alongside Iran's agreement to facilitate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. This has significantly reduced immediate concerns around energy supply disruptions, which had been a major overhang for global markets," news agency PTI quoted Hariprasad K, Research Analyst and Founder, Livelong Wealth, as saying.

According to V.K. Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments, the announcement of a ceasefire has altered the near-term market scenario.

"The crash in Brent crude to $95 following the ceasefire will again turn the market bullish. This ceasefire, particularly the agreed reopening of Hormuz Strait, will embolden the bulls to charge again, aided by the fair market valuations, The Economic Times quoted him as saying.

In Asian markets, South Korea's benchmark Kospi surged nearly 7 per cent and Japan's Nikkei 225 index jumped over 5 per cent. Shanghai's SSE Composite index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index also recorded sharp rallies.
In a bid to enhance the war readiness of the security forces, the government is planning to design and develop an unmanned combat search-and-rescue aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The government is envisaging the platform as a runway-independent UAV capable of carrying out aircrew rescue missions without putting manned aircraft at risk.

According to officials, the proposed indigenous autonomous system is also intended to function as a logistics platform, capable of transporting supplies to forward locations and harsh terrains, including snow-bound high-altitude areas, where conventional helicopters face operational challenges.

The project, envisioned under Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020, has been "approved in principle," news agency PTI quoted a senior officer as saying.

For more defence news, views and updates, visit: Fortress India

Under the proposed project, a "runway-independent UAV" (unmanned aerial vehicle) combat search and rescue (CSAR) drone is to be designed and developed that "can go into operations, and rescue aircrew without risking manned aircraft," the official said.

According to the outlined specifications, the proposed platform should be capable of operating from sea level up to 16,000 ftextendable to 20,000 ft if requiredand deliver a minimum operational radius of 200 km with an endurance that includes at least 45 minutes of loiter time, officials noted.

It must also be able to carry a payload of at least 400 kg, accommodating up to four personnel along with stretchers.

The runway-independent UAV is expected to feature autonomous take-off, navigation, and landing capabilities, along with the ability to search, locate, and touch down using an integrated Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), officials added.

Additionally, the platform should be capable of operating from unprepared surfaces and function effectively even in environments where Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are unavailable.

ALSO READ: IAF to soon have 600 India-made 1000-kg aerial bombs?

Taken together, these requirements position the proposed CSAR drone as one of the most advanced indigenous UAV platforms in Indias defence ecosystem, combining AI-enabled autonomy, all-weather operability, and combat-focused functionality, a senior official said.

The project is structured under 'Make-I' category, under which the government supports 70 per cent of development costs while the vendors cover the remaining 30 per cent.

After successful development, procurement will follow the 'Buy (Indian-IDDM)' route, ensuring at least 50 per cent indigenous content in material, components, and software, the officials said.
The announcement on April 7, 2026, of a two-week ceasefire in the widening West Asia warreportedly mediated by Pakistan, endorsed by Iran, and backed by the United Statesmarks a rare moment of pause in a conflict that has been steadily spiralling toward regional conflagration. Yet, beneath the optics of diplomacy lies a far more complex and uneasy reality: this ceasefire is less a resolution and more a tactical intermission in a multi-actor contest where strategic objectives remain fundamentally irreconcilable.

The ceasefire appears to be a politically announced, loosely structured, time-bound de-escalation understanding and not a negotiated agreement with codified terms. It seems to be a pause to cool off escalation, not a commitment to end the war. It involves a temporary halt to large-scale military strikes and ground attacks, as well as partial maritime de-confliction in the Strait of Hormuz. It likely includes applying restraint on proxies, de-escalation on the Lebanon front, and a commitment to continue negotiations to extend the pause and achieve long-term peace.

A narrow escape from escalation?

At one level, the ceasefire may have pulled the region back from a dangerous escalation ladderone that, if unchecked, could have approached nuclear thresholds. While Israels undeclared nuclear doctrine remains deliberately ambiguous, and Iran continues to hover at the edge of weaponisation capability, the trajectory of recent weeksdirect strikes, proxy activation, and maritime brinkmanshipwas deeply destabilising.



The pause offers immediate de-escalatory value. It creates diplomatic space, tempers battlefield momentum, and reduces the risk of miscalculationparticularly in high-stakes theatres such as the Strait of Hormuz and southern Lebanon. However, it would be premature to interpret this as a structural shift away from escalation. The underlying driversmutual distrust, ideological hostility, and competing regional visionsremain firmly intact.

Has Israel signed onor simply paused?

A critical uncertainty is Israels position. There has been no unequivocal indication that Tel Aviv has fully embraced the ceasefire in both letter and spirit. Israeli military doctrine has historically favoured maintaining operational initiative, particularly when confronted with multi-front threats.



Reports of mounting pressure on Israels northern frontespecially from Hezbollahmay have contributed to a temporary willingness to pause. Sustained rocket fire, attritional ground dynamics, and the risk of a wider northern war have imposed real costs. However, Israel is unlikely to accept any arrangement that constrains its strategic autonomy or leaves Hezbollahs capabilities intact.



There is, therefore, a real possibility that Israel could act as a selective participant and a spoilerformally observing the ceasefire while continuing covert or limited overt operations. In the lexicon of conflict dynamics, this is how ceasefires erode: not through outright collapse, but through incremental violations that normalise instability.

Divergent agendas: The core structural challenge

The ceasefires fragility stems from the divergent goals of its principal actors:

- The United States seeks immediate de-escalation to prevent regional spillover, stabilise energy markets, and avoid deeper military entanglementparticularly in an election-sensitive domestic context.

- Iran views the ceasefire as a means to consolidate gains achieved through its network of proxies, while preserving escalation leverageespecially in maritime chokepoints.

- Israel remains focused on degrading adversarial capabilities, particularly Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah assets, and restoring deterrence credibility.

- GCC states, namely UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait, are primarily concerned with economic stability, energy exports, and avoiding becoming battlegrounds in a larger confrontation.

These agendas are not merely differentthey are structurally incompatible. A ceasefire can freeze violence, but it cannot reconcile strategic contradictions.

The Strait of Hormuz: A permanent pressure point?

The IRGCs assertion, just before announcement of the ceasefire, that the status of the Strait of Hormuz has changed permanently, is particularly significant. This signals an intent to institutionalise maritime coercion as a strategic tool.



Even under a ceasefire, this translates into a persistent grey-zone threat: harassment of shipping, selective interdictions, and heightened insurance and freight costs. The result is a long-term elevation of global energy risk premiums, regardless of whether full-scale hostilities resume.



In effect, the ceasefire may stabilise land theatres temporarily while leaving the maritime domain in a state of calibrated instability.

Pakistans diplomatic moment?

Pakistans reported role as mediator represents a notable geopolitical development. Long perceived as peripheral to West Asian diplomacy, Islamabad appears to have leveraged its relationshipsparticularly with Iran and key Gulf actorsto position itself as a credible interlocutor.

This carries several implications:

- Enhanced standing in the Islamic world: Pakistan can project itself as a unifying actor capable of bridging sectarian divides.

- Potential recalibration of US-Pakistan relations: Washingtons willingness to accept or tacitly endorse Pakistani mediation could open limited avenues for re-engagement, particularly in security and diplomatic domains.

- Strategic signalling to India: Islamabad may seek to parlay this role into broader geopolitical relevance.



However, this elevation should not be overstated. Pakistans economic fragility and internal security challenges constrain its ability to sustain diplomatic leadership. Its role, while significant in this instance, may remain episodic rather than transformative.

Israel: Marginalised or reinforced?

Contrary to perceptions of marginalisation, Israels strategic position may not necessarily weaken. If anything, the conflict has reinforced its centrality to regional security dynamics.

That said, Israel faces a delicate balancing act:

- If it adheres to the ceasefire, it risks allowing adversaries time to regroup.

- If it violates or undermines it, it risks international isolation and potential friction with the United States.



The notion of Israel as a spoiler is therefore context-dependent. Its actions will be shaped less by external expectations and more by its internal threat assessments. Neutralising such a role would require robust enforcement mechanismssomething this ceasefire currently lacks.

Will the ceasefire hold?

The probability of the ceasefire holding beyond the immediate term is modest. Several risk factors loom large:



- Absence of a verification and enforcement framework

- Continued proxy activity across multiple theatres

- Maritime tensions in the Gulf

- Domestic political pressures within key states



Historically, ceasefires in West Asia have functioned as tactical pauses rather than pathways to peace. Without a parallel political process, this one risks following the same trajectory.

The worst-case scenario

Undoubtedly, a bad outcome would be the protagonists using the lull to achieve surprise and attack the adversary when his guard is down. The most dangerous outcome, however, is not an immediate collapse, but a deceptive stability that masks escalating undercurrents and leads to the continuation of the war with renewed vigour.

A single triggeran Israeli strike on Hezbollah leadership, an IRGC-linked disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, or a mass-casualty event attributed to a proxycould unravel the ceasefire overnight. In such a scenario, escalation could become rapid and non-linear: Hezbollah opening a full northern front, Iran moving from deniability to direct engagement, and the United States being drawn into active conflict to secure maritime routes and protect regional allies. Energy flows through Hormuz could be severely disrupted, sending global markets into shock. More critically, as red lines blur and deterrence fails, the conflict could inch toward strategic weapons thresholdsnot necessarily through deliberate intent, but through miscalculation in a compressed decision-making environment. In such a spiral, de-escalation would become exponentially harder, and the costsregional and globalwould be catastrophic.



India: Between opportunity and caution

For India, the ceasefire offers both relief and a strategic opportunity.



Economic implications

A pause in hostilities reduces immediate risks to energy supplies and shipping routes. However, the continued volatility around Hormuz means India must remain prepared for supply disruptions and price shocks.

Political implications

Indias carefully calibrated neutralitymaintaining ties with Israel, Iran, and the Gulfpositions it uniquely as a potential bridge-builder. However, its absence from the current mediation highlights a gap between potential and execution. Mediation requires not just neutrality but also sustained diplomatic investment, risk appetite, and alignment with major power dynamics. India may have chosen caution over ambitionavoiding entanglement in a highly volatile conflict.

Military implications

The conflict underscores vulnerabilities in maritime security and energy lifelines. India may need to enhance naval deployments and contingency planning in the Arabian Sea and beyond.

The way forward: From pause to peace

If the ceasefire is to evolve into something more durable, several steps are essential:

1. Institutionalise the ceasefire

Establish monitoring mechanisms, possibly under UN or multilateral auspices, to ensure compliance and accountability.

2. Expand the diplomatic framework

Move beyond bilateral or ad hoc mediation toward a structured regional dialogue that includes all key stakeholders.

3. Address maritime security

Develop a framework for ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially involving international naval cooperation.

4. Engage non-state actors



Any durable solution must account for the role of proxiesparticularly Hezbollah and other Iran-aligned groups.

5. Leverage middle powers

Countries like India, Turkey, and even the EU can play stabilising roles by supporting dialogue and offering neutral platforms.

Indias Strategic Imperative

India should act nownot as a late entrant, but as a stabilising force:

- Offer to host backchannel or Track-II dialogues

- Coordinate with GCC states on energy security frameworks

- Enhance naval presence to safeguard maritime routes

- Use its diplomatic capital to push for a broader peace process.

Conclusion

The two-week ceasefire is not a solutionit is a test. A test of whether the regions actors can move beyond tactical manoeuvring toward strategic restraint. A test of whether external powers can facilitate rather than complicate. And a test of whether emerging players like India can step into roles commensurate with their growing influence and make a meaningful impact.



For now, the guns may fall silent. But whether silence translates into stabilityor merely precedes the next stormwill depend on what happens in the narrow window this ceasefire has opened.

(Lt Gen Philip Campose is a former Vice Chief of the Indian Army. He has authored the book A National Security Strategy for India  the Way Forward.)

(The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.)
The cash-for-votes controversy in Palakkad constituency has intensified following the release of new visuals by the Congress party on Wednesday, escalating political tensions a day before the assembly elections. They also released photos purportedly showing BJP workers distributing sarees to women voters in Palakkad.

The footage released by the Congress allegedly links BJPs Palakkad candidate, Sobha Surendran, to the scandal and appear to contradict her earlier statement that only she and her aide, Prameela Sasidharan, were in her vehicle. In the new video, a third woman is seen in the back seat of the car. When the vehicle stops, Sobha quickly shuts the door while the woman tries to step out, raising questions about Surendrans version of events.

Congress leaders have identified the woman as Simi Sajeev, a BJP worker reportedly based in Mumbai. They allege that Sobha tried to prevent her from exiting the vehicle, strengthening suspicions of a coordinated cash-for-votes operation. Additional visuals show Sajeev participating in BJP campaign events in Palakkad, including rallies attended by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and other election-related gatherings with Sobha.

After the allegations, the Election Commissions flying squad conducted an inquiry, visiting the home of an elderly voter, Devu, 65, who had reportedly been offered money. However, the voter from Kannadi panchayat denied receiving any cash during questioning.

Kerala CEO Rathan U Kelkar said the flying squad has filed a preliminary report with the district collector. The collector said a detailed probe is required even though the voter has denied receiving any money.

Sobha has filed a police complaint, accusing Congress workers of misconduct. She denied the allegations, asserting that no unauthorised person was in her vehicle and claiming that she did not distribute money to voters. She accused both the Congress and a TV journalist of "fabricating" the video aired on television.

The saree distribution row came to fore after BJP women supporters participating in the final leg of the campign on Tuesday wore same type of sarees.
Two police officersa sub-inspector and an assistant sub-inspectorhave been suspended in connection with a security breach at the Delhi Assembly. The suspension is part of initial disciplinary action while a detailed investigation into the incident continues, according to Delhi Police.

The breach occurred on April 6 when a man, later identified as Sarabjeet Singh, forcibly entered the Assembly complex in an SUV, raising concerns about the security arrangements. The vehicle rammed through Gate No. 2 at around 2 pm, entering from the direction of Delhi University. It took a sharp turn, broke through the boom barriers, and drove into the premises.

Three individuals, including Singh, have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. The vehicle was seized by the North District police team at a picket in the Rupnagar area. Singh, a resident of Puranpur in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, was remanded to eight days of police custody by a Delhi court on Tuesday.

"The allegations against the accused are very serious, and based on the evidence presented by the investigating agency, it appears that the accused was mentally competent to understand the consequences of his actions," said Judicial Magistrate Kartik Taparia.

The investigating officer informed the court that Singh's phone, which is believed to contain incriminating evidence, has not been found. It is suspected that he disposed of the phone in a river in Haryana.

Singh is believed to be a supporter of the Kisan Andolan (farmers' agitation) and has posted on social media in support of farmer leaders who died during the 2020-2021 protests.
TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Debris litters the floor. Potted plants are muffled in dust. A jagged crack runs up the wall, exposing the bricks beneath.

In that room, amid the reverberations of blasts, Alireza Zarei, head of the IT Center at Tehran's Sharif University of Technology, continues to teach.

That was what Xinhua reporters saw one day after a U.S.-Israeli airstrike hit the university, one of Iran's leading scientific institutions, badly damaging the IT Center building and a nearby gas substation by the campus mosque.

Parts of the campus have been reduced to rubble. Scattered debris, twisted steel rebars, and the exposed skeletons of buildings make the scene look less like a university than a battlefield.

Yet even amid such ruins, the place remains unmistakably academic. Textbooks and documents lie scattered among broken equipment. And above all, there are the steady, resolute voices of teachers carrying on their lessons.

Zarei is one of them. As U.S. and Israeli strikes continue, many students can no longer make it to campus. Unwilling to let them fall behind, Zarei has begun giving special online algorithms classes for graduate students, right in the very classroom where they once sat together, even though it has now been reduced to a scene of wreckage.

To Masoud Tajrishi, president of the university, every part of the campus was once familiar. But as he walked reporters through the damage in the aftermath of the bombing, even he had to stop from time to time to identify what used to stand there.

"I ask you and I expect that you do not see this destruction as decline or weakness," Tajrishi told reporters, but rather as a manifestation of "the enemy's hostility" toward Iran's scientific and technological progress.

"We, the universities, are moving hand in hand towards this great victory," he added. "We will build this country again."

Sharif University of Technology was not the first educational institution to be struck in recent U.S. and Israeli attacks.

On Saturday, Iranian Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaei-Sarraf said over 30 Iranian universities had been directly attacked by the United States and Israel since the war began in late February.

Five university professors and more than 60 students had been killed in the strikes, added Simaei-Sarraf, describing attacks on Iranian infrastructure as "crimes against humanity."

In the middle of the campus tour, multiple loud explosions sent the crowd into panic, while intercepted projectiles streaked across the sky.

Standing before a national flag fluttering beside a shattered podium, Tajrishi spoke proudly of the university's progress in computer science and artificial intelligence.

"The main reason the enemy targeted this sensitive infrastructure was that they did not want us to gain access to this technology," he said, adding that many Iranians abroad have contacted the university, offering to help fund its restoration.

To the foreign attacks, said Tajrishi, Iranian scholars will respond in their own way -- in the arena of science and knowledge, just as others are answering "in the streets" and "on the battlefield."

For now, though, the clearest response is simpler: in a bombed-out classroom, amid dust and broken walls, a teacher opens his laptop and begins again. 
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has clarified his stance on beef consumption, saying that he has no problem with people eating beef, but it should be restricted to private spaces.

The clarification comes right ahead of the Assembly polls on April 9.

There is a big Muslim community in Assam that consumes beef. I am not stopping this. I am only saying, eat it inside your home. Dont eat it in a public space, he told reporters.

He said that beef consumption should be within homes and not in public areas or within a five-kilometre radius of any temple.

The remark is a departure from his previous stance, where he warned beef consumers of legal action. "There is a law of cattle prevention in Assam. There is a provision of 3 years of jail for eating beef publicly... I am not going to spare those who eat cow meat. As per law, I am going to file an FIR against them in the police station," he told ANI during his campaign in Jorhat earlier this month.

The Chief Minister had recently also threatened action against Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) candidate Kunki Chowdhurys mother, Sujata Gurung, over alleged beef eating and for being anti-national and anti-Sanatani

The Chief Ministers new remarks has led to backlash from opposition parties.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav hit out at the BJP and urged people to "remove BJP and protect cows". "Bhajpa hatao, Gaumata bachao", the SP leader wrote in a post on X.

Arvind Kejriwal's AAP said that the"Mother Cow is just an electoral gimmick by the BJP and a 'tool for riots and unrest. He said that in North India, "the BJP and its supporters carry out murders in the name of cow protection', their own leaders are saying, eat beef."

The Assam Cattle Preservation Act, 2021, was introduced to the legislative Assembly on July 12, 2021. the act provides the preservation of cattle by restricting slaughter and the transportation and sale of beef.
With Kerala set to go to the polls on Thursday for the assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Palakkad, Sobha Surendran, has been caught in a cash-for-vote controversy.

Congress workers have accused the BJP of distributing money to voters in Tharuvakurissi, Kannadi Panchayat. Social media has been abuzz with purported video clips, some of which show Sobha in the visuals.

In one of the videos, a woman is seen exiting Sobhas car and handing money to an elderly woman at a nearby house. In another visual, Sobha is seen engaging in a heated exchange with individuals who tried to capture the footage.

Congress activists further allege that former Palakkad municipality chairperson, Prameela Sasidharan, was part of the team involved in the alleged money distribution. The party is likely to file a formal complaint against Sobha Surendran with the Election Commission.

Palakkad is one of the few seats where the BJP has high hopes. Sobha is considered a major crowd-puller for the BJP, and the party believes her influence among women voters could have a significant impact in Palakkad. In the 2024 elections, BJP candidate C. Krishnakumar came second with 29 per cent of the vote.

While the seat has remained with Congress since 2011, rape allegations against sitting MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, along with a fresh case of sexual abuse involving Congresss Palakkad Municipality Councillor, Prashobh C. Valsan, have put the party on the defensive.
After intense backlash, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has apologised and expressed regret for his recent comments, saying the people of Gujarat were illiterate.

In a post on X, the congress leader said that his comments were deliberately misinterpreted. Some remarks of mine in a recent election speech in Kerala are being deliberately misinterpreted. Even so, I express my sincere regret. It was never my intention to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat for whom I have always had and will continue to have the highest of respect.

The apology comes after Kharge came under fire for some of his remarks during an election rally in Idukki in Kerala.

During the rally, which was held ahead of the assembly elections, Kharge said that the people in Kerala were educated and clever and could not be misled, unlike people in Gujarat and other places.

The BJP quickly reacted, deeming the comments insulting and unacceptable.

BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that Kharges statements were shameless, demeaning and utterly despicable.

"The position he holds was once occupied by leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Sonia Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and even Rahul Gandhi. What kind of language is being used by someone holding such a post? Kharge's comment is not only demeaning, but shameless and utterly despicable," he said, as quoted by PTI.

He asked Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to clarify whether they agreed with Kharge's statement.

"Do they agree with this statement? If Rahul Gandhi has any sense, he should distance himself from this remark, condemn it, and demand an apology," Prasad said.

Kharge was also criticised for some of the comments he made in Assam.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, reacting to the controversy, said that political discourse should not deteriorate and emphasised the need to maintain standards in public debate.
The landmark verdict by the Madurai Court on the 2020 Sathankulam police custodial deaths case was made possible in part due to the testimony of a woman cop. Constable R Revathi was one of the main witnesses who had testified against her 10 colleagues involved in the deaths of trader P Jayaraj and his son Bennicks on June 19, 2020.

Revathi has been a policewoman for about 21 years. On the day of the incident 6 years ago, she was on night duty at the Sathakulam police station in Thoothukudi. She was 37 at the time.

When the investigation began, she stepped up and said that she would reveal the truth of what occurred if she, her two daughters and her husband were granted protection.

Recounting the events after the Madras High Court delivered its verdict, Revathi told The New Indian Express that she did what was obvious. She said that everyone is equal before the law.

The court has now sentenced all nine policemen to death and imposed a fine of Rs 1.4 crore.

On the incident, she said, I have never witnessed such cruelty.

The police excess began after Beniks stopped constable Muthuraj from attacking his father, and the shirt button of the constable fell off in the action, she said. She had attempted to stop the policemen from beating the father and son, but they refused. At one point, she had to leave the room because she was unable to stand the brutality of the policemen and the screams of the victims.

During the investigation, she described what happened that night and recounted the events in great detail, identifying people who appeared on the CCTV footage.

Beniks could not even walk a step, but one of the sub-inspectors asked him to clean the bloodstained floor using his own vest, she said.

If I hadnt revealed the truth, the court would have definitely found it out, and I would have also been found guilty, she said. However, only God and I know of the troubles I had to face to reveal the truth. I feel so much for the families of the convicted policemen, but the personnel shouldnt have acted cruelly, she said.

Revathi also stated that she was pressured by higher-ups at the station to lie during the trial. However, she refused. When the trial was underway, many from the police station indirectly contacted me and asked me to tell the investigator that they were outside the station when the duo was being brutally beaten, but I did not lie. Someday they will realise that I was right, she said.

She also told the truth at risk to her career. Her family was concerned that the remainder of her service would be affected. In 2020, she told The News Minute, I really dont want to be harassed by senior officials.

On Tuesday, the Sathankulam trader paid homage to the victims and thanked the court and the judge for their verdict

Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai president Soundara Rajan appealed to the state government to consider promotion for Revathi and honour her with a prestigious award to recognise her honesty.
Congress media chief Pawan Khera on Wednesday levelled a fresh set of allegations against Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma a day before the state goes to the polls on April 9.

"Why do you want to silence us?" he questioned in a video recorded from an undisclosed location, alleging that the Assam CM had been using the police to intimidate him.

Here is Media & Publicity Department Chairman @Pawankhera ji with new revelations and more questions for Assams corrupt Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma from an undisclosed location.



                pic.twitter.com/WZkgwM6em8  Congress (@INCIndia) April 8, 2026

"100 policemen went to my flat in Delhi ... Wherever I go or they think I have gone, they send the police ... We are saying that these documents have come and you should investigate. Am I saying something wrong? Instead of answering, you are starting to curse everyone," he said in the video, adding that he had to keep asking questions, and that he had escaped for his own safety.

The Congress leader reiterated that the alleged shell company that he had earlier linked to CM Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma was registered in Wyoming under her name.

He added that the company's official website had listed a London address as its primary one, in addition to two other addresses in Dubai and Dhaka. Khera claimed that this address was also linked with 'Bhuyan Properties Ltd', as per UK government records.

"It can be known only through investigation. You are in government, and you should probe these rather than trying to intimidate us," he added.

This is the latest twist in Khera's corruption allegations against CM Sarma and his wife Riniki, centred around their alleged properties and shell companies in various countries, and her passports from various countries.

Amid Khera's attempts to bring out his allegations against the Assam CM on the eve of the elections, the Congress leader also managed to move the Telangana High Court, seeking anticipatory bail in an FIR filed by Riniki in connection with the allegations.

The FIR has been registered at the Guwahati Police Station under provisions dealing with false election-related statements, cheating, forgery, defamation, and intentional insults with the intent to provoke disorder, as per a Live Law report.

Assam's 126 Assembly constituencies are all set to go to the polls on Thursday, with the votes to be counted on May 4.
Opposition YSR Congress Party on Wednesday conducted a series of protests at the offices of Andhra Jyothi daily, including at its headquarters in Hyderabad. Police were deployed to prevent YSRCP leaders from further troubling the dailys staff or causing vandalism. The protests come after the dailys managing director, Vemuri Radhakrishna, reportedly made comments about the wives of YSRCP leaders, which were purported to portray the psychological state of YSRCP leaders vis-a-vis the Andhra Pradesh state capital, Amaravati.

Recently, the Union Government passed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, to grant Amaravati legal status. The ruling Telugu Desam Party hailed the new permanent capital and blasted YSRCP for its effort to declare a tri-capital for Andhra Pradesh. For those uninitiated, YSRCP scrapped Amaravati as the state capital after coming to power in 2019. The party has declared Amaravati, Kurnool, and Visakhapatnam as the legislative, judicial, and administrative capitals. Then, the Opposition TDP has opposed this move, and it would make Amaravati a permanent capital once the party is in power. With the recent law, TDP has fulfilled its promise. The YSRCP opposed the move, stating that Amaravati was untenable, and its leader, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, proposed changing the capital to Mavigun, the region comprising three cities: Machilipatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur. However, he faced several questions about why he did not come up with this idea while in power, and also faced online trolling for proposing a name similar to his.

In his Sunday editorial piece Kotta Paluku on April 5, Radha Krishna objected to the YSRCPs stand. However, the language he chose to express his opinions has apparently caused the stir. He reportedly wrote that YSRCP leaders would consider their wives as sisters if Jaganmohan Reddy said so, and they would even marry them off by searching for matches for them. The YSRCP leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy immediately condemned the statement and accused the media owner of exceeding the limits of freedom of expression. The party leaders came onto the streets in many places and burnt the copies of the Andhra Jyothi newspaper and the photos of Radha Krishna. In several places, the protest turned violent when police stopped them from approaching the daily's offices.

Talking to THE WEEK, YSRCP MP Maddila Gurumurthy condemned the editorial. In no way do Radha Krishnas comments represent decent journalism. There is no problem if he criticises YSRCP, but he cannot comment on the wives of the party leaders and cadre, he said. The party MLC Monditoka Arun Kumar said the party cannot tolerate such derogatory comments, and the daily has gone overboard by making them. The leaders said the party would continue until Radhakrishna apologised.

The party sources said that though there was no specific political mileage from these protests, they wanted to carry them out to send a message to media outlets that they could not cross the line of personal decency.

Radhakrishna has refused to budge and said he made the comments only to point out the herd mentality in YSRCP. He alleged that Jaganmohan Reddy was trying to deflect public attention from his idea of Mavigan. Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh and Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan have backed Andhra Jyothi. The journalists' associations also condemned the protest at the dailys offices.
As ship traffic in the Strait of Hormuz resumes cautiously after the US and Iran agreed on a two-week ceasefire that is already being tested, experts say that global energy flows could take months to return to pre-war levels.

The first two ships that transited the strait were bulk carriersthe Greek-owned NJ Earth (IMO: 9229996), carrying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Liberian-flagged Daytona Beach (IMO: 9615054), as per data from ship tracker Kpler.

Vessel movements resume in the Strait of Hormuz following ceasefire announcement



Early signs of vessel activity are emerging in the Strait of Hormuz following a ceasefire announcement, which includes a temporary reopening of the strategic waterway to allow for negotiations. pic.twitter.com/CSy6PZlCJ4  MarineTraffic (@MarineTraffic) April 8, 2026

This comes after Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said that ships would be permitted safe passage through the strait for a two-week period "via coordination with Iran's armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations".

Despite US President Donald Trump saying that the US would help with the "traffic buildup" around the Strait of Hormuzwhich has about 800 tankers waiting on either side to pass throughan expert noted that most operators appear to be holding back", as per a New York Times report, citing Kpler analyst Dimitris Ampatzidis.

"Most operators appear to be holding back," he added.

The report noted that this situation could change if shipping operators could be convinced that the promised safe passage would stay safe, and that the risks of attacks were truly reduced.

Still, global energy flows are expected to take a long time to return to pre-war levels, as repairing energy infrastructure damaged in the war is said to be a slow, expensive process.

The Hormuz toll uncertainty

Amid this uncertainty around the ceasefire, the issue of Iran's desire to impose tolls on ships transiting the waterway has also come to the fore, and is likely to be another point of contention that will strain the ceasefire.

The tolls, which could generate tens of billions of dollars per year for the nation in control of them, are said to be an important demand put forth in a clause inside its 10-point plan for the ceasefire that Trump has called "workable".

Gulf nations like Kuwait and the UAE had reported air attacks from Iran hours after the two-week ceasefire deal was reached.



(us iran news israel, trump mojtaba ceasefire ultimatum tariff, kuwait uae missiles drones)https://t.co/CNoZODXAAI  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) April 8, 2026

Trump has also earlier signalled openness to the idea of tolls being imposed on ships transiting the strait, with a caveathe was in favour of the US levying the tolls, as he claimed that it had won the war.

"Why shouldn't we (charge tolls) ... They are militarily defeated ... We have a concept," he had told reporters much before the US-Iran ceasefire.

However, Oman on Wednesday has altogether rejected the idea of tolls being imposed on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Omans Transport Minister also declared that Muscat had entered into agreements ensuring that vessels transiting the strait would not be subject to any fees.
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a 50 per cent tariff on all countries supplying arms to Iran, amid the two-week ceasefire in a war that has passed a month.

This comes after Iran on Wednesday attacked several Gulf nations, including Kuwait and the UAE, with missiles and drone attacks.

"A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50 per cent, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!" he wrote in his latest post, after the attacks on UAE and Kuwait had taken place.

However, the US has not yet said whether the tariff imposition is a direct response to the post-ceasefire airstrikes or not. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has also resumed to a small degree, as a few ships began transiting the waterway after the ceasefire was announced.

The UAE's Ministry of Defence noted that its air defences had faced 17 ballistic missiles and 35 UAVsa major escalation of the war in the Gulf, despite the US and Iran agreeing to a ceasefire just hours before the airstrikes began.

         .



UAE Air Defences engaged Iranian

Ballistic and Cruise Missiles and UAVs Attacks#_ #__#MOD#UAEMinistryOfDefence pic.twitter.com/Mybc4oiPWa    |MOD UAE (@modgovae) April 8, 2026

According to a statement from Kuwait's army, its air defences had been engaging drones and missiles from Iran since about 8 AM (local time).

According to the army, the "intense hostile Iranian attacks" from about 28 drones had targeted vital oil facilities, power stations, and water desalination plants, causing serious damage to infrastructure.

Kuwaiti armed forces intercepted a large number of drones, some of which targeted vital oil installations and power stations in the south of the country, the statement added.

Iran and the US had agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire on Wednesday, just minutes before the end of US President Donald Trump's 10-day ultimatum for Tehran.

The Pakistan-mediated ceasefire is based on Washington's 15-point ceasefire proposal and a 10-point reciprocal proposal from Iran, which Trump said had a "workable basis".

"Iran can start the reconstruction process. Well be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just hangin around in order to make sure that everything goes well," he wrote in a Truth Social post after the terms of the ceasefire were reached.

"We are, and will be, talking Tariff and Sanctions relief with Iran. Many of the 15 points have already been been agreed to, he added in another post.
The Shia community observes Arbaeen, the traditional fortieth day of mourning for the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei and his family, on April 8. Currently, the atmosphere of faith is a blend of theology and crisis. By framing the recent assassinations as sacred martyrdom, the Islamic Republic aims to turn a geopolitical shock into a narrative of divine-endorsed resilience.

In Shia Islam, Arbaeen (the Arabic word for forty) signifies the spiritual and psychological completion of a cycle. The tenth day of Muharram is remembered as Ashura, symbolising the trauma of sacrifice, but the fortieth day, in a sense, turns grief into an established form of memory. Typically, Arbaeen is observed on the 20th of Safar, the second month of the Islamic calendar. During this time, millions of followersincluding non-Shia and non-Muslimswalk from Najaf to Karbala, Iraq, to visit the shrine of Imam Hussain.

This 40-day period is based on a belief system where the soul reaches a state of maturity. Besides this, the number 40 holds significance in Islamic metaphysics and is often linked to the spiritual growth of Prophet Muhammad and the Quranic journeys of Moses. Historically, Arbaeen marks the return of Imam Hussains captive family to Karbala, symbolising the triumph of the victorious over the defeated. In this context, it is the peak of mourning because it turns a tragic event into a lasting revolutionary symbol. By the fortieth day, the story of the deceased shifts from a private loss to a communal "witnessing" (Shahada). In this way, it becomes a vital tool for political and spiritual mobilisation. This enables the community to preserve the legacy of the martyr and to renew their dissent, if any, ensuring that the martyr's impact remains a lasting socio-political force rather than fading away.

Building on the completion of the forty-day cycle, the theology of emotions in Shiism suggests that grief (Gham) is not a passive state of despair but an active, sacred force. This view transforms the individuals internal sorrow into a collective sense of resistance. Therefore, by engaging in ritualised lamentation, the believer not only mourns a loss but also connects their understanding to the historical tragedy of the Ahl al-Bayt. In this way, personal trauma becomes a form of defiance.

In today's political landscape, this emotional background acts as a powerful tool for mobilization. The same pattern is often seen when, through poetry, Latmiya, and public processions, the Iranian state channels the intense feeling of Gham into a disciplined, revolutionary language.

Mohammed Shoaib Raza

At the same time, it is equally important to recognise that in the intellectual history of Shiism, martyrdom is never just a fixed historical event; it remains a living paradigm. While the 40th-day rituals look back to the tragedy of the death, the theological perspective moves forcefully forward, turning the grief of mourning into the "Red Shiism" of active resistance instead of concentrating on Black Shiism, which views Shiism as a religion of mourning. This view was mainly promoted by thinkers like Ali Shariati, who argues that the martyr (Shaheed) is a witness who, through their death, reveals the oppressor's illegitimacy. The Iranian government has effectively applied this paradigm to the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei and his family by detaching the loss from a specific place, transforming it from a local setback into an eternal struggle.

Beyond its theological importance, the Arbaeen period marks a particularly volatile time at the intersection of religion and mass mobilisation. This creates a high-risk environment for several reasons. Firstly, decentralized public gatherings occur on such a large scale that they become a logistical nightmare for security forces and a tempting target for opponents of the system. Additionally, the previously mentioned moral theology of emotions can quickly shift from ritual mourning to acts of defiance. This is because a community is already energised by a sense of injustice. Furthermore, the intense atmosphere of grief and devotion to martyrdom, along with associated memories, can greatly influence sensitivities and escalate minor conflicts. Therefore, although Arbaeen is a peaceful and spiritual event, its scale, symbolism, and geopolitical setting can cause underlying tensions to surface and sometimes lead to conflict or violence.

As such, Arbaeen serves as a bridge between history and politics. The forty-day cycle, which evolves from a personal rite of passage into a powerful tool of statecraft, ensures that the remembrance of the martyr remains disruptive in collective social memory. Therefore, in todays geopolitically charged environment, the combination of religious devotion and political mobilisation weaves a compelling narrative of resilience. This effectively turns the vulnerability of crisis into a lasting model of revolutionary resistance.

Mohammed Shoaib Raza is a doctoral candidate at the Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
It was the clear instruction from Irans new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, to move towards a deal, for the first time since the war began with the US, that resulted in a deal, according to reports.

Uncertainty mounted in the region after US President Donald Trump gave the final ultimatum, hours before the deadline was to expire, to Iran that the whole civilisation would die tonight if Iran didnt agree to his demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

However, on Monday, the US and Israel learned that Mojtaba had given the go-ahead for peace. He instructed his negotiators to move towards a deal, according to US media Axios, quoting an Israeli official.

Though the sources close to Trump didnt know which outcome to expect, there was a diplomatic momentum behind the scenes. All the while, the US troops in the Middle East were preparing for a massive bombing campaign on Iranian infrastructure. "We had no idea what was going to happen. It was wild," a defence official said.

Meanwhile, tension was mounting in Iran with residents fleeing their homes to avoid bombing.

Though Iran had proposed a 10-point counter proposal, Trump had called it fraudulent and insisted that Irans nuclear programme was the key point of the war. However, negotiations were underway with Pakistani, Egyptian and Turkish mediators. By Monday night, the US informed the mediators that it approved the updated proposal for a two-week ceasefire, leaving it to Mojtaba Khamenei to make a decision.

Interestingly, Mojtaba Khamenei was very actively involved in the process, though earlier reports claimed he was unconscious and incapacitated.

As for the Supreme Leader, any communication with him was laborious and clandestine. He had been communicating via runners passing notes due to fear for his life, according to Axios. Finally, Mojtaba gave his blessing for the deal. "Without his green light, there wouldn't have been a deal," the regional source said.

Not just the Supreme Leader, even Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi played a central role in handling the negotiations. According to the report, China too wanted Iran to go for peace.

Though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was in frequent contact with Trump, they were concerned that theyd lost control of the process. By Tuesday afternoon, there was a consensus regarding a ceasefire, which was announced by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif three hours later.

According to the report, Trump was asked by his hawkish allies to reject the peace deal.

Vice President J D Vance is now travelling to Islamabad for the talks planned this Friday.
QUITO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador has recalled its ambassador to Colombia for consultations following recent remarks by Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Ecuador's ex-vice president, Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld said Wednesday.

Sommerfeld said Ambassador Arturo Felix Wong is expected to return to Ecuador within hours or by Thursday at the latest, after Quito sent a diplomatic note of protest to Colombia on Tuesday.

"We are taking decisions to reaffirm our strong protest over the terms used by President Petro and the interference in decisions of Ecuadorian state institutions," she said in an interview with Radio Centro Digital.

The foreign minister stressed that the case of former Ecuadorian Vice President Jorge Glas is a legal matter, not a political one, adding that Ecuador must defend its sovereignty and dignity.

She said Colombia should not comment on the case or seek international involvement, noting that Ecuador respects legal processes and does not interfere in Colombia's internal affairs.

In its protest note, Ecuador rejected Petro's description of Glas as a "political prisoner," saying he was convicted through legitimate judicial proceedings for corruption-related crimes. 
An eleventh-hour, provisional two-week ceasefire has been brokered by the United States, pausing a devastating conflict that had threatened to push the region into far deeper instability. The truce was announced by President Donald Trump just minutes before an 8pm Eastern Time (5:30am IST) deadline, after he had warned that failure to reach an agreement would trigger a large-scale bombing campaign targeting Iranian power plants and bridges. The deal, mediated by Pakistan with last-minute diplomatic backing from China, extends beyond Washington and Tehran to include Israel and Lebanon, effectively suspending hostilities involving Iranian proxy forces such as Hezbollah.

At the heart of the agreement lies the Strait of Hormuz, one of the worlds most critical maritime chokepoints, through which roughly a fifth of global oil supplies pass. Iran had disrupted international trade by imposing a partial blockade on the strait, sending shockwaves through energy markets. Trump made clear that the pause in military action was conditional upon Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the waterway to commercial shipping. Tehran has agreed to allow passage, but with an important caveat. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that navigation would take place under the supervision and coordination of Irans armed forces, preserving Tehrans claim to strategic control over the strait even as it concedes to international pressure.

The announcement of the ceasefire delivered immediate relief to global markets, which had been rattled by fears of a prolonged disruption to energy supplies. The conflict had choked off the flow of oil, fertiliser and even helium, raising the spectre of a wider economic crisis. In the hours following the truce, Brent crude prices fell sharply, dropping below the $100 mark to settle at around $93 a barrel. Equity markets responded with equal enthusiasm. Asian indices surged at the opening bell, with Japans Nikkei 225 climbing by 4 per cent and South Koreas Kospi gaining more than 5 per cent. In the United States, S&P 500 futures rose by over 2 per cent, reflecting investor optimism that the worst-case scenario had been avoided, at least for now.

Yet the political reaction within the United States has been deeply polarised, driven in large part by Trumps rhetoric during the crisis. On Monday, the president warned that he could wipe out Irans whole civilisation if it failed to comply with American demands. Legal and military experts cautioned that such language, if acted upon, could constitute a war crime. Democratic leaders reacted with sharp criticism. Senate leader Chuck Schumer dismissed the threat as ridiculous bluster, while House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries described Trumps conduct as unhinged, unpresidential and unconscionable. Several prominent Democrats, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, went further, calling for his removal from office through impeachment or the 25th Amendment.

Republican responses have been more mixed. While many of them supported Trump, lawmakers such as Austin Scott, Ron Johnson and Lisa Murkowski criticised the extreme rhetoric as counterproductive and inconsistent with American values. More strikingly, fissures have begun to appear within Trumps populist base. Influential voices such as Marjorie Taylor Greene and Candace Owens condemned the threats as reckless, while segments of the electorate accused the administration of betraying its promise to avoid entanglement in costly Middle Eastern wars.

With the guns temporarily silent, attention now turns to diplomacy. Formal negotiations are set to begin in Islamabad, where representatives from both sides will work from a 10-point proposal submitted by Iran. Trump has described the framework as a workable basis for talks, though the gap between the two sides remains substantial. Irans National Security Council has made clear that it enters the process with complete distrust of Washington, reflecting the deep scars left by the conflict.

Tehrans proposal amounts to an expansive set of demands. It calls for formal recognition of Irans authority over the Strait of Hormuz, the complete withdrawal of US combat forces from the Middle East, and the lifting of all economic sanctions. It also seeks the unfreezing of Iranian assets, compensation for war damage and international acceptance of its right to enrich uranium. For Washington, reconciling these demands with its own strategic objectives within a two-week window will be an immense challenge. The contrast with the painstaking negotiations that produced the 2015 nuclear agreementrequiring more than two years of sustained diplomacyis stark.

Whatever immediate relief the ceasefire has brought, it does precious little to tackle the underlying causes of the conflict. Iran showed the world that it could absorb nearly 13,000 targeted strikes, and yet retain its capacity for asymmetric warfare. By disrupting global energy flows, and by specifically targeting the Gulf states, it made it clear that it can inflict serious damage without ever fighting a conventional battle. Subsequently, the conflict has rattled confidence among Washington's Gulf allies, including Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, all of whom have been forced to reckon with just how exposed their infrastructure is to Iranian missiles and drones.

Perhaps most tellingly, the American campaign has not destroyed Iran's nuclear capabilities. Tehran still holds a substantial stockpile of near-weapons-grade uranium, which rather undermines one of the central justifications for going to war in the first place. The Iranian political system, meanwhile, remains very much in place. The rise of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader  following his father's death in a US strike  adds another awkward dimension to proceedings. By sitting down with the new leadership, the Trump administration has opened itself to the charge that it is inadvertently lending legitimacy to the very regime it set out to cripple, even as it had previously been encouraging popular discontent inside Iran.

The ceasefire, then, is better understood as a pause than a resolution. It has pulled both sides back from the brink and steadied global markets, but the fundamental tensions between Washington and Tehran remain entirely unresolved. Reports of sporadic drone and missile activity in the Persian Gulf in the hours following the agreement are a sobering reminder of just how precarious things still are. Whether the Islamabad talks can turn this fragile breathing space into something more lasting will depend on whether both sides are genuinely willing to move away from their most entrenched positions. For now, the world is watching a narrow diplomatic window openand hoping it does not slam shut.
With the world sitting on a knife-edge over US President Donald Trump's issuance of a deadline where he vowed to "end" a civilisation, the announcement of a two-week-long ceasefire just hours before the deadline expired on Wednesday morning (IST) has come as a huge relief worldwide.

Predictably, both sides have projected the ceasefire as a victory.

The ceasefire is based on Pakistani mediation and on Iran's 10-point proposal, which Trump says has "a workable basis".

While the US has assured that it would desist from striking Iran's power plants and bridges for the duration of the ceasefire, Iran's position is striking.

Expressly stating that Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz is an important condition for the ceasefire, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said: "For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."

Implicit in Araghchi's statement is a significant strategic victory for Iran. This is because, by default, it sets the basis for Iranian control of the vital Strait of Hormuzsomething Iran has been eyeing for a long time. The ceasefire pact sets the tone for that.

The terms of the ceasefire have not only legitimised Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz but have also tilted the forthcoming negotiations decisively in favour of Iran. Tehrans control over the Strait of Hormuz will be an important tool to influence Asian and European economies, forcing them to re-initiate trade ties with Iran or risk jeopardising their energy security.

Prof. Kumar Sanjay Singh, who teaches history at a Delhi University college, says: "Iranian successes in this clash with the US-Israeli coalition is a demonstration of asymmetric engagement militarily, economically, and diplomatically. Iranian manoeuvres are a veritable guide for the countries of the Global South on how to convert their weakness into strength when challenged by the economically and militarily powerful West."

Secondly, Iran's growing control over the narrow Strait will also give it a handle to economically leverage its ties with East Asian nations that had ceased trade with Iran in adherence to US-imposed sanctions.

Thirdly, with the decline in the efficacy of US military might to determine negotiations, it is reasonable to conclude that the Iranian stand on the Strait cannot be ignored in the post-war settlement. The Gulf nations and Israel will have to live with the reality of a resurgent Iran and the rise of the Iran-Russia-China axis in West Asia.

Fourthly, even on the diplomatic front, Iran has secured a distinct strategic advantage. It is a well-known fact that the terms of negotiations have a significant impact on the outcome. In this backdrop, Iranian success in setting the terms of its negotiations with the US is decisive. It is not entirely fortuitous that Araghchi unequivocally stated that the acceptance of the two-week ceasefire was contingent on Trumps acceptance of the general framework of Irans 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations.
As the United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, following the intervention of Pakistan, reports have emerged suggesting China played a covert role in encouraging Iran to pursue a path toward negotiations.

Two Chinese officials, speaking anonymously, told the Associated Press that Beijing had been in contact with Tehran throughout the evolving negotiations. While China had not publicly commented on its involvement, one official revealed that Beijing had been working through intermediaries, including Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, to leverage its influence on Iran.

Though China has not officially made any comment on its role, a spokesperson for Chinas Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, on Tuesday called for all parties to show sincerity and quickly end the war that should not have happened in the first place.

Ning said Beijing was "deeply concerned" about the impact the conflict has on the world economy and energy security.

On Tuesday, China, alongside Russia, vetoed a UN resolution urging states to coordinate efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. China's UN envoy, Fu Cong, argued that adopting the resolution while the US was threatening the survival of civilization would have sent the wrong message.

US President Donald Trump announced the two-week ceasefire on Tuesday evening, just an hour before a deadline for Tehran to finalise an agreement was to end. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited representatives from both nations to Islamabad and the negotiations are likely to be held in Islamabad on April 10.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Iran would suspend its military operations for two weeks and allow safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during this period.
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, announced by US President Donald Trump just an hour before a deadline set for Tehran to reach an agreement with Washington was to end.

According to Trump, the decision came after discussions with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir. The negotiations between the two countries are likely to be held in Islamabad on April 10.

"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz," the US President said in a social media post.

"I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks," he said, adding that this will be a double-sided ceasefire.

Trump said his decision to agree to a ceasefire was based on the assessment that the US had already met and exceeded its military objectives. He added that Washington was very far along toward a definitive agreement aimed at long-term peace with Iran and broader stability in the Middle East.

Trump also stated that the US had received a 10-point proposal from Iran and that negotiations would be held to discuss the framework.

Historic victory, says Iran

Meanwhile, Irans Supreme National Security Council has declared the development a historic victory. According to Iranian state media, the council claimed that Tehran had achieved most of its wartime objectives, including recognition of its rights over the Strait of Hormuz, nuclear enrichment, and the removal of sanctions.

"Iran achieved a historic victory by forcing the criminal US to accept its 10-point plan. The US has accepted Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, enrichment rights, and removal of all sanctions. The US has accepted to stop aggression, pay compensation for damages, withdraw it's forced from the region," the Council stated as reported by Iranian state media.

The council added that Iran had, from the beginning, intended to continue the conflict until its objectives were achieved, including what it described as creating regret and desperation in its adversary and eliminating long-term threats to the country.

Talks to be held in Islamabad

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited delegations from the US and Iran to Islamabad for in-person negotiations on Friday, April 10, aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement to resolve all disputes.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt also confirmed that talks are expected to take place in the Pakistani capital. However, she cautioned that nothing is final until announced by the President or the White House".

Safe passage via Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced on X that Iran would suspend its military operations for two weeks, responding to requests from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the United States, which has proposed a 15-point plan for negotiations.

If attacks against Iran are halted, our powerful armed forces will cease their defensive operations, Araghchi stated.

He further stated that, for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be facilitated in coordination with Iran's armed forces and subject to technical limitations.
In about 12 hours after the US and Iran signed a two-week ceasefire deal for the war in the Gulfwhich has stretched past a monthtensions are high again, as the two sides have threatened to end the fragile truce.

Hours after two ships cautiously began to transit the Strait of Hormuz, Iran again reportedly halted the passage of ships through the waterway, as per semi-official news agency Fars.

This comes after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said safe passage would be granted to ships for a two-week period "via coordination with Iran's armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations".

Amid the uncertainty around the ceasefire, Iran's desire to impose tolls on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz is also likely to be a point of contention.



(us iran war news israel, hormuz ships nj earth daytona beach, maritime news tolls)https://t.co/vnoVEwwN8N  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) April 8, 2026

Iran has also been considering imposing tolls on tankers passing through the strait, with payments to be made via cryptocurrency, as per Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Irans Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters Union, who spoke to Financial Times.

Under the proposed system, tankers would have to share cargo details via email before being assigned a transit fee, estimated at about $1 per barrel.

Once the email arrives and Iran completes its assessment, vessels are given a few seconds to pay in Bitcoin, ensuring they cant be traced or confiscated due to sanctions, Hosseini added.

Gulf nations like Kuwait and the UAE had reported air attacks from Iran hours after the two-week ceasefire deal was reached.



(us iran news israel, trump mojtaba ceasefire ultimatum tariff, kuwait uae missiles drones)https://t.co/CNoZODXAAI  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) April 8, 2026

Also, despite the US and Israel claiming that Lebanon was not part of the countries protected under the terms of the two-week truce, Iran has warned that it could exit the ceasefire over Tel Aviv constantly bombing Beirut.

This contradicts earlier statements made by mediator Pakistan, which has claimed that Lebanon was, in fact, covered under the ceasefire terms.

Notably, the US has already called the ceasefire a "pause", saying that "the joint force remains ready, if ordered or called upon, to resume combat operationswith the same speed and precision as we've demonstrated over the last 38 days".

General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who made the statement, also said that he hoped Iran chose a "lasting peace", even as defence secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Iran had "begged" for the ceasefire, which came just minutes before the end of US President Donald Trump's 10-day ultimatum for Iran to agree to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Hegseth had also alleged that Iran had been humiliated after the Pentagon had "done its part for now", and that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had been left "wounded and disfigured" after the war.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday declared that Operation Epic Fury had "decimated" Iran's military, hours after the two nations agreed to a limited two-week ceasefire that is already being tested.

Operation Epic Fury is the US name for its coordinated joint strikes on Iran, with the help of Israel.

Speaking at a press conference, Hegseth noted that Iran had "begged" for the ceasefire, which came just minutes before the end of US President Donald Trump's 10-day ultimatum for Iran to agree to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He also claimed that the Pentagon had "done its part for now" and that Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei had been left "wounded and disfigured" after the war. However, joint chiefs of staff, General Dan Caine, warned that the ceasefire was just a pause, and that "the joint force remains ready, if ordered or called upon".

Iran, which has consistently denied that it has begged the US for a ceasefire at any point in the war, has not yet responded to Hegseth's claims.

Gulf nations like Kuwait and the UAE had reported air attacks from Iran hours after the two-week ceasefire deal was reached.



(us iran news israel, trump mojtaba ceasefire ultimatum tariff, kuwait uae missiles drones)https://t.co/CNoZODXAAI  THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) April 8, 2026

Yet, a few ships have begun cautiously transiting the strait with no resistance as yet.

While Iran has managed to include a clause on taxing ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz in its 10-point proposal to end the war that Trump has called "workable", Oman has rejected such charges.

Hegseth also said that Iran would give the US its enriched uranium, or that the latter would "take it out".

However, officials have earlier flagged the statistics that Hegseth continues to claim, about the war in the Gulf, saying that he was not "speaking truth to the president", as per a Washington Post report.

"As a result, the president is out there repeating misleading information," the officials alleged, noting that despite Hegseth's claims of complete control of Iranian skies and uncontested airspace", Iran's downing of the F-15E jet, the high-risk rescue operation, and other American casualties showed that Tehran still retained the power to threaten the US if needed.
Even as Iran and the US agreed to a two-week ceasfire, the Indian embassy in Tehran on Wednesday advised citizens staying in Iran to "expeditiously exit" the embattled nation.

In the advisory, the embassy warned that Indians should not try to cross international land borders without prior consultation and coordination with the embassy.

For latest news and analyses on Middle East, visit: Yello! Middle East

"In continuation of the advisory of 07 April 2026, and in light of recent developments, Indian nationals still in Iran are strongly advised to expeditiously exit Iran, in coordination with the Embassy and using the routes suggested by the Embassy," read the statement posted on X.

The embassy also provided emergency contact numbers (+989128109115; +989128109102; +989128109109, and +989932179359) and email (cons.tehran@mea.gov.in) for those in need.

The US and Iran have agreed on a conditional two-week ceasefire that included the opening of the Strait of Hormuz for shipping.

Why did India advise citizens to leave Iran despite truce?

The two-week ceasefire is seen as a safe window to evacuate citizens stranded in Iran as there are concerns about the war resuming in case of any disagreements between Tehran and Washington.

"There is no guarantee the cessation of hostilities will sustain over the long term," News18 quoted a top official as saying. "The idea is not to wait for the situation to deteriorate again. India does not want its citizens to be caught in a sudden resumption of conflict."

This comes a day after the embassy asked citizens to stay indoors and strictly avoid military installations, power infrastructure and the upper floors of multi-story buildings. The previous advisory came in the backdrop of Trump threatening to end Iranian civilisation.

India has welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran, calling for "de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy".

"We welcome the ceasefire reached and hope that it will lead to a lasting peace in West Asia. As we have continuously advocated earlier, de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy are essential to bring an early end to the ongoing conflict," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.

"We expect that unimpeded freedom of navigation and global flow of commerce would prevail through the Strait of Hormuz," the MEA added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday said the vessels passing through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military supervision.

"For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," he said.
Australias most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, was arrested at Sydney airport on Tuesday and slapped with with five counts of war crime charges. On Wednesday, he is scheduled to appear in court and is expected to seek bail.

Roberts-Smith was accused of killing five unarmed Afghans while serving in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, according to reports.

"It will be alleged the victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan," Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett told a press conference. "It will be alleged the victims were detained, unarmed and were under the control of ADF members when they were killed."

Who is Ben Roberts-Smith?

Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, is a former Special Air Service (SAS) corporal. He was awarded both the Victoria Cross and the Medal of Gallantry for his service. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment for each charge.

The five alleged murders happened during three separate incidents. In all cases, Afghan nationals were allegedly shot dead by Roberts-Smith, or a subordinate in his presence, according to authorities.

The first incident involves deaths of two Afghan men in Kakarak in 2009 while the second one involved an Afghan man identified as Ali Jan in Darwan in 2012. The third incident pertains to killing of two people in Syahchow in 2012.

In the past, Roberts-Smith sued three newspapers over allegations that he committed war crimes, murdered unarmed civilians and bullied fellow soldiers.

The only other Australian war veteran to be charged with war crimes was former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz. He was accused of fatally shooting an Afghan man three times in the head in Uruzgan province in May 2012. He has pleaded not guilty to the war crime murder charge.
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday evening that the United States and Iran have agreed to a bilateral two-week ceasefire, a move that includes the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The announcement came less than two hours before an 8 p.m. deadline set by Trump, after which he had threatened to launch strikes targeting Irans critical infrastructure.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the agreement followed discussions with Shehbaz Sharif and Asim Munir of Pakistan, who urged him to delay planned military action.

Trump said he agreed to suspend attacks subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, describing the arrangement as a double sided CEASEFIRE.

The president added that U.S. military objectives had already been achieved and that negotiations toward a broader agreement were well advanced. According to Trump, Iran has presented a 10-point proposal that the U.S. views as a workable foundation for a longer-term deal.

Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to, Trump said, adding that the two-week pause would allow time to finalize a comprehensive agreement aimed at long-term peace with Iran and broader stability in the Middle East.

There was no immediate public confirmation from Iranian officials regarding the ceasefire terms or the reopening of the Strait, a critical global shipping route through which a significant portion of the worlds oil supply passes.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
The United States demanded Wednesday that Iran immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Republic closed the waterway in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah terror group in Lebanon. Irans move cast doubt over whether an already precarious ceasefire to end more than a month of war would hold.

The United States and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. Israel also intensified its attacks in Lebanon, hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning.

The IDF said that it carried out its largest series of airstrikes against Hezbollah since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, targeting hundreds of terrorists in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and southern Lebanon. The operation, dubbed by the IDF as Eternal Darkness, was carried out by 50 fighter jets that dropped 160 bombs on 100 targets in 10 minutes.

Aggression towards Lebanon is aggression towards Iran, Gen. Seyed Majid Mousavi, aerospace commander of Irans Revolutionary Guard, wrote on X. He warned that Iranian forces were preparing a heavy response without revealing details.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that an end to the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire agreement with the U.S.

The world sees the massacres in Lebanon, he said in a post on X. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a capital V military victory and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to U.S. forces or the region. The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the U.S. to accept its proposed conditions and surrender.

Much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

 Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the strait, a crucial transit lane for oil. But the details were not clear, nor was it known whether vessels would feel safe using the channel or whether ship traffic had resumed. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition. The White House said Trump is opposed to tolls for ship passage through the strait.

 Pakistan, which helped to mediate the deal, and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Israel said it would not, and strikes hit Beirut on Wednesday.

 The fate of Irans missile and nuclear programs  the elimination of which were major objectives for the U.S. and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed: Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers! after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags.

The chants underscored the anger animating hard-liners, who have been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptic battle with the United States. Trump warned Tuesday that a whole civilization will die tonight, if a deal was not reached.

Ceasefire terms are murky

Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable 10-point plan that could help end the war the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28. But when a version in Farsi emerged that indicated Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  which is key to building a nuclear weapon  Trump called it fraudulent without elaborating.

Vance later said the deal was being misrepresented within Iran, though he did not offer details. The White House said Vance would lead the American negotiating team in talks in Pakistan aimed at finding a permanent end to the war.

Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterress personal envoy arrived in Iran for talks on the way forward.

Pakistan said talks to seek a permanent end to the war could begin in Islamabad as soon as Friday.

Israel backed the U.S. ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal does not cover fighting against Hezbollah. Trump told the PBS News Hour that Lebanon was not included in the ceasefire deal because of Hezbollah.

Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilize every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the Israeli attacks as barbaric. Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of persistently seeking to sabotage the Iran ceasefire deal.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though the group has said it was open to giving mediators a chance to secure an agreement. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the group would not stop firing at Israel unless Israel agreed to do the same.

Iran and Oman will collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

While Iran could not match the sophistication of U.S. and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its ability to control the Strait of Hormuz proved a tremendous strategic advantage. Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

The plan allows for both Iran and Oman to charge ships, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit and will likely not be acceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said passage through the strait would be allowed under Iranian military management, further clouding the picture of who would be allowed to transit the waterway.

News of the ceasefire sent stock markets surging worldwide, and oil prices plunged back toward $90 per barrel.

Irans nuclear and missile threats survive

U.S.-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not entirely eliminated the threats posed by Tehrans nuclear program, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah. The U.S. and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

Trump said Wednesday that the U.S. would work with Iran to dig up and remove enriched uranium that was buried under joint U.S-Israeli strikes in June. He added that none of the material had been touched since. Any retrieval is expected to be an intensive undertaking.

There was no confirmation from Iran.

Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that the U.S. would do something like last Junes joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if the country refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Tehran insisted for years that its nuclear program was peaceful, although it enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Iran referred to its nuclear program differently in two versions of the ceasefire plan that it released. The version in Farsi included the phrase acceptance of enrichment for its nuclear program. That phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats with journalists.

Airstrikes reported after ceasefire announcement

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television. The state broadcaster reported that no one was hurt but did not say who launched the attack. The island is home to one of the terminals that Iran uses to export oil and gas.

A short time later, the United Arab Emirates air defenses fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage. Kuwait said on Wednesday that three power and water desalination plants were badly damaged after 28 Iranian drones were launched at the country. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted nine drones.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the wars toll for days.

In Lebanon, where Israel is fighting Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, more than 1,500 people have been killed, and 1 million people have been displaced. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

(AP & YWN Israel DeskJerusalem)

(YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated on Motzei Yom Tov in Israel)
TEHRAN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday exchanged views with his Azerbaijani and French counterparts on the ceasefire between his country, the United States and Israel.

In a phone call with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Pezeshkian highlighted Iran's deep distrust of the U.S. government owing to its track record of "betraying diplomacy" and attacking the country two times over the past months in the middle of bilateral nuclear negotiations.

Pezeshkian pointed to Iran's "responsible" approach in accepting the ceasefire as a basis for the war's complete cessation and ensuring lasting peace and security in the region, adding, "Iran's acceptance of the ceasefire once again confirms its seriousness in resorting to diplomacy."

"On this basis, Iran has relayed the general outlines of its 10-point plan to the United States as the basis for the achievement of a ceasefire and ending the war," he said.

The Azerbaijani president welcomed the ceasefire, saying stopping the war is an important step in guaranteeing peace and stability in the region.

In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Pezeshkian stressed the need to ensure ceasefire in Lebanon, adding that the demand has been one of Iran's pivotal conditions in its proposed 10-point plan for the ceasefire.

Pezeshkian slammed some European states' failure to adopt an "explicit and decisive" position in condemning the "crimes" perpetrated by the United States and Israel against Iran, calling on Europe to play a responsible and effective role in supporting lasting stability and security in the region, pressuring the United States and Israel to remain committed to their obligations, and countering any violation of commitments.

Macron, for his part, praised Iran's move of releasing two French citizens, describing the ceasefire as an important step towards a complete end to the war and establishing enduring peace.

He highlighted the necessity to stop the fighting in Lebanon, voicing his country's readiness to be part of international efforts to establish peace and security in the region.

The ceasefire was announced between Iran, the United States and Israel early Wednesday following 40 days of conflict. 
UNITED NATIONS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- At least 1,530 people have been killed in Lebanon since the start of the recent escalation on March 2, a UN official said Wednesday.

Imran Riza, UN deputy special coordinator resident and humanitarian coordinator for Lebanon, said that the casualties included 130 children killed and 461 injured, citing the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

"It is a huge civilian tragedy," he told reporters at the UN headquarters via video link.

On displacement, Riza said it has reached "an unprecedented scale," with over 1.1 million people, or nearly 20 percent of Lebanon's population, now displaced.

According to him, there are currently 138,000 people sheltering in 678 collective sites, and the majority of the displaced, over 800,000, are dispersed across host communities or informal settings, often with very limited access to basic services. "The host communities have a huge amount of pressure on them," he said.

Riza said essential infrastructure and public services in Lebanon are increasingly under strain.

There have been more than 106 incidents reported affecting the health system, resulting in 57 deaths and 158 injuries among health workers. At least 51 healthcare centers and six hospitals have been forced to close, and many others are damaged, he said.

"The escalation has to stop," Riza said, urging parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and protect civilians, civilian infrastructure and humanitarian and medical personnel at all times.

Regarding the three-month flash appeal of 308.3 million U.S. dollars for victims of Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, launched in mid-March, Riza said "much more" is needed.

"That 308 million is only about a third funded at this point, so we are extremely worried about that," he added. 
People attend a rally in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a move that has been widely welcomed by the international community. (Xinhua/Shadati)

CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on Wednesday, with peace talks scheduled to begin later this week in Islamabad, Pakistan.

The ceasefire has drawn widespread international support, accompanied by calls for sustained negotiations to achieve lasting regional peace and stability.

The following is a summary of global reactions to the development:

GLOBAL WELCOME FOR TEMPORARY TRUCE

-- China

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said China welcomes the ceasefire announcement on the Iran conflict and consistently calls for ending hostilities and resolving disputes through political and diplomatic means.

-- France

French President Emmanuel Macron described the ceasefire as "a very good thing." He said such negotiations should pave the way for a lasting resolution of issues related to Iran's nuclear program, ballistic missiles and regional activities.

-- Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz hailed the ceasefire and thanked Pakistan for its mediation. He said the goal is to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict in the coming days, saying it can "only be achieved through diplomatic means."

-- Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the ceasefire as positive news, but cautioned that momentary relief must not make people forget the chaos, destruction and loss of life. He called for diplomacy, international law and peace to prevail.

-- New Zealand

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters welcomed the announced ceasefire between the United States and Iran, calling for a lasting ceasefire through "significant important work" in the days ahead.

-- Japan

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara described the ceasefire as a "positive move," saying the de-escalation of hostilities in the Middle East remains a top priority.

-- India

Indian Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the ceasefire, saying that the conflict has caused immense suffering and disrupted global energy and trade flows. It urged that freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz be ensured without obstruction.

-- Indonesia

Indonesian Foreign Ministry said Jakarta welcomes a ceasefire deal and called on Iran and the United States to respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and diplomacy of each side.

-- Malaysia

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East, saying, "It is earnestly hoped that the negotiation process will be conducted in good faith, with a firm resolve to seeking lasting resolution to the issues currently facing the region."

REGIONAL DEMANDS FOR DURABLE PEACE

-- Egypt

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi called on all parties to engage seriously in negotiations aimed at achieving lasting peace in the region. He expressed hope that this positive development "will be crowned with a permanent agreement to end the war."

-- Kuwait

Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed the need for strict ceasefire adherence and creating conditions for dialogue toward a lasting, comprehensive regional settlement.

The country also urged Iran and affiliated groups to "immediately cease hostile actions and respect the sovereignty of states."

-- Oman

Oman's Foreign Ministry said it welcomes the announcement of the ceasefire, noting, "We affirm the importance of intensifying efforts now to find solutions that can end the crisis from its roots and achieve a permanent cessation of the state of war and hostilities in the region."

-- Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Foreign Ministry voiced support for Pakistan-led mediation toward a lasting agreement, calling for enhanced regional security and stability by tackling the root causes of instability over the past decades.

-- Jordan

Jordan's Foreign Ministry said the ceasefire should lead to agreements that end violations threatening state sovereignty and citizen safety, and enhance regional stability.

-- Qatar

Qatar's Foreign Ministry called the ceasefire a first step toward de-escalation, urging swift follow-up action to prevent regional tensions from spreading.

"The Ministry also stresses the importance of ensuring the security of maritime passages and the freedom of international navigation and trade in accordance with the rules of international law, contributing to the preservation of regional stability and global supply chains," it said.

-- Iraq

Iraq's Foreign Ministry said it "welcomes" the ceasefire, calling for "building upon this positive step by launching serious and sustainable dialogue tracks that address the root causes of the disputes and strengthen mutual trust."

-- Turkiye

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the ceasefire, saying, "We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground without giving any opportunity for possible provocations and sabotage."

Turkiye's Foreign Ministry also stressed the necessity of "the full implementation of the temporary ceasefire on the ground."

-- Algeria

The Algerian Foreign Ministry called the ceasefire "an important step toward easing tensions and promoting lasting solutions to ongoing disputes in the region."

It called for "continued positive, constructive, and impartial engagement with international mediation initiatives to help achieve sustainable and long-term security in the Middle East."

-- Arab League

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit described the ceasefire as an important step in the right direction to de-escalate tensions and prevent the region from sliding into catastrophic scenarios.

He said any future arrangements between the United States and Iran must safeguard the interests of the Arab Gulf states. 

A man attends a rally in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a move that has been widely welcomed by the international community. (Xinhua/Shadati)

This photo take on April 8, 2026 shows a city view of Tehran, Iran. Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a move that has been widely welcomed by the international community. (Xinhua/Shadati)

A man attends a rally in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a move that has been widely welcomed by the international community. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People attend a rally in Tehran, Iran, April 8, 2026. Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire as announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday, a move that has been widely welcomed by the international community. (Xinhua/Shadati)

People gather to celebrate a temporary ceasefire between U.S. and Iran near the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

People gather to celebrate a temporary ceasefire between U.S. and Iran near the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)

People gather to celebrate a temporary ceasefire between U.S. and Iran near the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, April 8, 2026. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood)
CAPE TOWN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Thirty-six people were killed in gang-related violence in Cape Town, South Africa, over one week, a senior lawmaker has said.

"For the week of March 30 to April 5, 2026, gang related violence in and around the Cape Town metro left 36 people dead and saw 47 cases of attempted murder," Chairperson of the National Assembly's Portfolio Committee on Police Ian Cameron said in a post on X on Tuesday.

Cameron said he had been in Mitchells Plain -- a large residential suburb in Cape Town about 28 km from the city center -- earlier Tuesday, where "four people were shot dead and five others were injured," referring to multiple shooting incidents that occurred in the area on Tuesday afternoon.

According to a statement issued late Tuesday by the South African Police Service, in a shooting at about 2:35 p.m., gunmen opened fire on a group of people at a taxi rank in Mitchells Plain, killing two men aged 20 and 22 at the scene.

"Two adult males and three children, including a six-year-old girl and two boys aged 12 and 13, were injured and taken to hospital for treatment," it said.

In his post, Cameron said, "These children should have been enjoying a carefree school holiday. Instead, they are lying in hospital because gang violence continues to tear through these communities."

This came after South Africa deployed troops to Cape Town and other high-crime areas as part of a broader effort to combat rising crime, a move first announced by President Cyril Ramaphosa during his annual State of the Nation Address in February.

About 2,200 soldiers from the South African National Defense Force have been dispatched to the Western Cape and four other provinces to support police operations under Operation Prosper, which is set to run until March 2027. 
WINDHOEK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Young Namibian students showcased their Chinese language skills through poetry, speeches, and performances at a competition held in Windhoek on Tuesday, underscoring the growing appeal of Chinese language learning and cultural exchange in the country.

The event combined the 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students and the 19th edition for Foreign Secondary School Students, drawing participants from across Namibia, including several schools taking part for the first time.

Hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Namibia and organized by the Confucius Institute at the University of Namibia (UNAM), the competition formed part of the university's celebrations marking United Nations Chinese Language Day.

It was also held alongside the China-Namibia Talent and Art Exhibition under the framework of the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, with support from China Railway Seventh Group.

Beyond the contest, the event unfolded as a vibrant cultural showcase. Students performed a mix of Chinese and Namibian traditions, including a Chinese dragon dance, Oshiwambo and Damara dances, and nunchaku routines. UNAM students staged a shadow puppet performance titled "Dragon in the Shadow," adding a traditional artistic dimension to the program.

Interactive cultural activities further enriched the experience, with visitors engaging in Chinese calligraphy, tea ceremonies, traditional medicine demonstrations, paper-cutting, and Chinese cuisine tasting.

Speaking at the event, UNAM Vice Chancellor Kenneth Matengu described the competition as more than a language contest, calling it a bridge connecting the people of Namibia and China.

"By doing this, we are connecting better. We do Chinese language for business purposes, Chinese language for academic purposes, but also just connecting people," he said.

Matengu added that the university is in advanced discussions with Namibia's Ministry of Education to make Chinese an officially examinable subject, a move that would further institutionalize Chinese language learning in the country.

Shen Jian, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Namibia, said the annual competition has become a symbol of the steady growth of Chinese language education in Namibia.

Since the establishment of the Confucius Institute at UNAM in 2013, about 9,000 Namibian students have taken Chinese courses, with 12 teachers currently serving across 13 teaching sites nationwide, he said. 
A woman living in South Leitrim has expressed her deep gratitude to the local community for rallying around her and her two children after their home was destroyed in a fire last year, which also claimed the life of their father.

Fenna Rasmussen lost her husband Lars on February 28, 2025 alongside their Aughavas home and has been rebuilding their life since. One year on, Fenna is still deeply moved by the generosity shown to her and her family.

READ NEXT: 'What needs to be done must be done': Irish public reacts to nationwide fuel crisis protests

He died on a Friday, and that Sunday the community here rallied together for a fundraising evening at The Dugout. The whole community came together and were not living here for a very long time, said Fenna.

She also expressed gratitude towards Kilbracken Arms Hotel in Carrigallen, which hosted refreshments and provided space following Lars celebration of life service.

Fenna is originally from Holland, and Lars was from Denmark. They moved to Aughavas with their two children, Ryder and Tatum, in late 2023.

The tragedy had an unimaginable impact on the family as they coped with the loss of Lars, their belongings and their home.

The house was a mess on the site with ashes, broken windows, and glass. It wasnt safe for us to be there, described Fenna.

Having lost everything, there was a glimmer of hope when people in the community began donating essential items to her and her children.

They gave us clothes, food, bedding, towels. Even money came in envelopes anonymously, said Fenna.

READ NEXT: Irish motorists warned of hefty fines if they don't disclose certain 'serious' information

She recalled finding bags of these items left at her gate, many from people she still does not know, as there were no names attached.

Everything you could think of was there because we lost everything. That made us feel really welcome in the community although we did feel that already, added Fenna.

The first anniversary of Lars' death was this February.

Its emotional for us now as it is the first anniversary. Its a milestone. Its life and hopefully most people never go through these things but how we are doing now is a gift of life, shared Fenna.

Through it all, Fenna has felt a strong sense of community spirit during a time of great loss.

The most important thing is that Im in awe of the community. Its not the communitys job to rally around you, she said, adding that in Holland, people tend to live more independently and there is less of a community-centred culture.

Here, its heartwarming. We really feel at home here. After what happened, I had nothing. I had the land but everything was gone.

People were expecting us to move back but this is our home now. We have made the right decision to stay here, said Fenna.

A year later, she and her children continue rebuilding their lives. After the fire, their friends let them stay in their house for two weeks.

READ NEXT: Three killed on Irish roads over Easter weekend as nearly 200 drivers caught drink driving

They then rented a cottage and are now living in a caravan while rebuilding bit by bit on the site where their previous home burned down.

Despite the adversity they have faced, they have been met with strong community support and remain extremely grateful.
08/04/2026





At the start of February, ToffeeWeb published a profile on Tyrique George, following Evertons deadline-day acquisition of the winger, on loan from Chelsea with an option to buy.

That piece ends with this: If he is given a chance by [David] Moyes, and if he takes it, then having the England youth international on Evertons books is a tantalising prospect.

Since then, George has made just five appearances, starting only once, with that start coming against Bournemouth at home in February  a match that Everton went on to lose 2-1, not that the defeat was anything to do with George particularly.

George has tallied up just 104 minutes of Premier League action for the Toffees. Since he joined, only Merlin Rohl and Tyler Dibling have seen fewer minutes of the players to actually feature, so that is not counting the likes of Adam Aznou and Nathan Patterson, while Carlos Alcaraz has been injured.

But it does paint a picture.

The concern when George  who turned 20 a couple of days after he joined  was signed was that it was simply another young player coming into a squad in which the existing young players, like Dibling and Aznou, had already not been given much, if any, game time.

There was no risk attached as such, though. George has come in on loan, and Everton will at least have the time to assess him in training. The early signs were positive, with Moyes reportedly extremely impressed.

Yet those early impressions have not translated into game time  for the opportunity for George to show what he can actually do on the pitch, not just at Finch Farm.

Moyes has instead reverted to using Dwight McNeil, the player George was essentially brought in to replace.

McNeil, of course, was bound for Crystal Palace on deadline day, until a last-minute change of heart from the Eagles. By then, the George deal was already in the final stages, and Everton did not pull the plug.

McNeils comeback is a feel-good story in some aspects, and he has played well as of late. Whether he has a future at the club is up in the air  the 26-year-old will have a year left on his contract come the summer, so Everton will need to make a decision, and it still seems likely he will be sold.

But right now, Moyes is preferring McNeils reliability  particularly out of possession  to what one can only imagine he sees as the unreliability of the likes of George and Dibling, who are both England youth internationals.

At least part of this, though, must be put down to Iliman Ndiaye.

With Jack Grealish out, Moyes has now moved Ndiaye back out to the left, and while the Senegalese is perfectly adept at playing on either flank, it is clear he is more comfortable cutting in onto his stronger, right side. He is more of a goal threat, more able to pick up the pockets and dribble at defenders, whereas often on the opposite side, Ndiaye was too far wide, having to compensate for the lack of width offered by (usually) Jake OBrien behind him.

Ndiaye, simply put, is Evertons best outfielder, and as such, he will be left on the pitch as long as is necessary. McNeil is then seen as ahead of Dibling in the pecking order on the right, and that leaves George in a bit of limbo.

It is not often Everton are charging clear of teams in the final stages. So it is not often that Moyes will feel like he can take Ndiaye off.

He either needs Ndiaye on the pitch for creativity, or for his ability to keep possession, which is second-to-none (well, at least with Grealish out injured) in tight spaces and to buy time for Everton to get up the pitch.

George did come on in the latter stages of the 2-0 win over Burnley, but then in Evertons commanding 3-0 win over Chelsea last time out, the cruel irony is that he was unavailable due to the loan rules. More valuable minutes missed.

With crucial games against Brentford and Liverpool on the immediate horizon, and then a trip to relegation-battling West Ham followed by a home game against Manchester City, then if Ndiaye and McNeil remain fit, it is difficult to see where George gets a start.

He must of course continue to work hard in training and keep himself in the managers thoughts, but even then, Moyes possibly sees Harrison Armstrong ahead of him if Everton are looking to cling onto a result.

With just seven games remaining this term, George is running out of time to make an impact, and as such, running out of time to potentially show Everton he is worth buying in the summer (the purchase option in the loan move is rumoured to be just north of 20million).

That is a shame, as George has plenty to offer  he is direct, quick and loves a shot.

But Everton will need to buy players ready to make an impact on the first team this summer, no matter their age, and if George has spent the best part of six months sitting on the bench, he will not have proved his credentials. Plus, why would he then want to join permanently anyway, unless of course, the club have made it clear that this is all part of a plan.

You would like to think that is the case, but given McNeil is now back in the team  despite having had one foot in the door at Selhurst Park just two months ago  it seems unlikely.

There is no reason to be too angry or upset, but even with Europe on the cards, Moyes needs to consider George as an option, and so too Dibling. This isnt just about their development, its about recognising that they may be able to offer something different in order to pick up potentially valuable points in the run-in.

Only then will the club be able to make a truly informed decision on whether or not George could be a feasible transfer for the summer, because in many other ways, he fits the bill.

//

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 ToffeeWeb
08/04/2026





Evertons Champions League hopes have been bolstered with at least five Premier League teams set to qualify for next seasons tournament.

The Premier League secured an additional European Performance Spot (EPS) after Arsenals 1-0 victory over Sporting CP in the first leg of their quarter-final in Lisbon. This win ensured that England will finish among Uefa's top two leagues in this season's coefficient rankings.

Everton, in their quest for Europe, remain alive in the race to secure the fifth Champions League spot. Liverpool are currently 5th in the table with 49 points, just one point above Chelsea. Brentford and Everton are only 3 points behind at 7th and 8th respectively.

The Toffees will return to Premier League action with clashes scheduled against Brentford and Liverpool over the next 2 weeks. These two matches could probably end up deciding their fate with regards to Champions League qualification.

It is the second straight season that the Premier League has earned an additional spot after Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Newcastle Utd all took part in Europes premier competition this time. Meanwhile, Tottenham, winners of the Europa League, also joined the group as the sixth team from England.

//

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How to get rid of these ads and support TW

 ToffeeWeb
This evening we learn an increasingly familiar lesson . . . That neither social media nor mainstream reporting seem to have a definitive grasp on world events . . .

And so, once again we turn to the TKC comments and ask . . .

DID MAGA SAVE HUMANITY TONIGHT?!?!?

At the very least . . .

It was "historic" to engage a war crime debate regarding impending U.S. military action rather than 20 years after the fact.

Here's a summary and more insight from both sides of the fence along with space for an open question and maybe some memorable feedback from detractors, supporters and every manner of deplorable online denizen . . .

"The US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire on Tuesday evening after a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan, canceling an ultimatum from Donald Trump for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Iran's Supreme National Security Council says it has accepted two-week ceasefire in the war Trump said late Tuesday he's pulling back on his threats to widen attacks on Iran, including an array of bridges, power plants and other civilian targets - subject to Iran being ready for a two-week ceasefire and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Donald Trump says two-week US-Iran ceasefire agreed US president says on social media he agreed to suspend attack for two weeks ahead of self-imposed deadline

Trump agrees to 2-week ceasefire if Iran opens Strait of Hormuz President Donald Trump announces a two-week delay of a planned Iran strike following talks with Pakistani leaders and progress toward a potential agreement with Iran.

Trump, Iran Agree to Two-Week Ceasefire President Donald Trump and the Islamic Republic of Iran both announced on Tuesday evening that they have agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

Developing . . .
ANTANANARIVO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Malagasy government declared on Tuesday a state of energy emergency across the entire territory for a period of 15 days to address a major energy supply crisis currently affecting the country.

According to a presidential communique, this situation is attributable in particular to the repercussions of the conflict in the Middle East, which have disrupted energy supplies and public services in Madagascar.

The government said that this state of emergency would allow for the implementation of rapid and targeted measures to restore energy supplies, ensure the continuity of essential services, and maintain the proper functioning of the national economy.

The ongoing energy crisis also impacts public order, security, and institutional stability, the communique added.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to mobilize all necessary resources to overcome this crisis and limit its effects on the daily lives of the population.

According to local media, since mid-March, petroleum stations in Madagascar have faced insufficient storage capacity or temporary stock shortages. The country's supply of refined petroleum depends heavily on imports, particularly from Oman. 
No trip to Namibia will ever be complete without a visit to any of the country's national parks and wildlife resorts.

These places are home to a wide variety of wildlife despite the fact that Namibia is actually the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa.

Here are five examples of animals to look out for when in Namibia.

Cape Fur Seal

Yes, there are seals in Namibia despite it not being known for having a sub-polar climate.

However, the country's coastline does have cold temperatures, and this is where you can find the cape fur seal. Believe it or not, 21 colonies can be found in Namibia.

A popular place to head to if you want to see a cape fur seal is Cape Cross, but you can also head to Wolf Bay and Atlas Bay.

Caracal

Carnivores are aplenty in Namibia, and one example that you can find is the caracal. Don't be afraid as it preys more on birds and rodents.

Caracals are typically associated with Africa, but they can also be found in Asia, specifically in the Middle East and Central Asia.

The caracal picture above was spotted in the Naankuse Lodge in Windhuk, Namibia.

Read Also: Top 5 African Countries You Must Visit for a Memorable Experience

Oryx

Of course, when in Namibia, you've got to be on the lookout for the country's national animal. Here's a tip: the Etosha National Park is a good place to spot one as seen above.

Gemsbok or the South African oryx is endemic not just to Namibia but also to the likes of Botswana and South Africa. If you end up spotting it in the morning or late afternoon, chances are you'll find it snacking on grass and thorny shrubs.

Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill

Birds are quite difficult to photograph, but if you get the opportunity, make sure to take it because you never know for your camera can capture.

Take this southern yellow-billed hornbill, which was photographed in the Erongo Mountains of Namibia, as an example. These medium-sized birds are typically found in southern parts of the African continent.

You'll typically find them in pairs or small groups flying to trees when disturbed.

Wildebeest

There are different antelopes that can be found in Namibia. In the Teufelskrallen Lodge in Kalkrand, Namibia, for example, you'll find the wildebeest.

Also known as gnu, the widebeest are known for their curving horns. There are different species found all over Africa, but the ones commonly spotted in Namibia are the blue wildebeest.

The smaller black wildebeests can also be found in the country.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. On April 9, Prime Minister of Lithuania Inga Ruginiene will pay an official visit to Baku, Trend reports via the Embassy of Lithuania in Azerbaijan.

During the visit, high-level meetings aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation in key areas are expected.

The program will include a wreath-laying ceremony at the Alley of Martyrs, as well as the opening of the exhibition Not All of Them. Portraits of War Refugees at Khazar University.

The exhibition will present black-and-white photographs portraying Ukrainian war refugees in Lithuania, created by renowned photographer Antanas Sutkus together with Arturas Morozovas and Tadas Kazakevicius.

In addition, a concert featuring the Student Choir of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory and students of the Bulbul Music School is planned. The Prime Minister is also expected to meet with members of the Lithuanian community in Azerbaijan and take part in cultural events.
Details added: first version posted on April 7 at 14:12

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 7. Azerbaijan has strongly condemned the recent attack carried out by a group of protesters on the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic, the MFA's publication on X says, Trend reports.

''Such acts of violence against diplomatic missions are unacceptable and constitute a clear violation of international law, including the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which guarantees the safety and protection of diplomatic personnel and premises.

We welcome the statement issued by the Syrian authorities and their commitment to take all necessary measures to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law, the publication reads.

On April 6, a group of people attempted to attack the UAE embassy in Damascus during a protest.

The protest included vandalism and an attempt to enter the embassy area. Syrian authorities condemned the incident and said that the perpetrators will be held accountable.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. A meeting with a delegation from Kazakhstan was held at the Trend News Agency headquarters on April 7, Trend reports.

The meeting was attended by Director of Trend News Agency Ilgar Huseynov and Deputy Director of Trend News Agency, Member of the Supervisory Board of the Media Development Agency, MP Sevil Mikayilova.

The Kazakh delegation was represented by Rustam Ali, Vice Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Erlan Zhetybayev, Chairman of the International Information Committee of Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, and Temirlan Bakhytzhan, attache of the Kazakh Embassy in Azerbaijan.

The meeting featured a thorough exchange of views on the development of the media in todays world. Representatives of Trend News Agency provided their Kazakhstani colleagues with detailed information about the agencys activities and ongoing projects.

The guests, in turn, shared information about media policy and initiatives in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The parties stressed the importance of mutual support between Azerbaijani and Kazakhstani media in the international information space, emphasizing the necessity of strengthening the information partnership between the two countries.

Following the discussion, a decision was made to continue active cooperation, including the possibility of implementing joint projects in the future.
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening of the International Training Center at the National Aviation Academy on April 8, Trend reports.

Rector of the National Aviation Academy, Academician Arif Pashayev, Minister of Digital Development and Transport Rashad Nabiyev, and Chairman of the Management Board of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC Samir Rzayev informed the head of state and the First Lady about the activities of the center.

It was reported that the International Training Center was established on the initiative of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC on the territory of the National Aviation Academy. The center is designed for the training of flight crews in emergency situations, as well as for the theoretical and practical training of air traffic control dispatchers.

In the new complex, dispatchers of the Azeraeronavigation Air Traffic Control Department will be trained in accordance with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). For this purpose, the Air Navigation Training Center will operate based on the training program of the German Air Navigation Services Academy (DFS), one of the worlds leading air navigation training centers.

The facility is equipped with a TWR tower simulator providing a 360-degree panorama of Heydar Aliyev International Airport, as well as a radar simulator complex for airspace management. These systems allow dispatchers to be trained under conditions close to real operational environments.

The center is also equipped with a modern training simulator complex that enables the improvement of skills for drivers of various special vehicles operating in real airport conditions.

It is planned that approximately 30 air traffic control dispatchers and 3,000 flight crew members will be trained annually at the International Training Center.

In addition, the center has been equipped with a new-generation A320/A321 NEO CEET aircraft simulator by the Turkish company SkyArt, which specializes in this field and is internationally recognized, to ensure the effective execution of safety procedures inside the aircraft cabin in emergency and accident scenarios. The simulator includes Door Trainers for Boeing 787 aircraft and new-generation Real Fire Fighting Trainers (RFFT) equipment that simulates real fire conditions.

The new training infrastructure will make a significant contribution to strengthening personnel training in the aviation sector in the region, enhancing training opportunities in line with international standards, and developing a competitive national workforce in this field.

As a specialized training structure that carries out personnel training in accordance with modern aviation requirements, the center will play an important role in the formation of both theoretical knowledge and practical skills of aviation specialists.

The equipping of the center with modern technologies and the installation of the latest flight simulators will allow specialists to gain experience in an environment close to real flight conditions, which is of exceptional importance for ensuring overall flight safety.
Details added: first version posted on 12:34

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Kazakh counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev have discussed the Middle Corridor, a source in the ministry told Trend.

The one-on-one meeting between the ministers then continued in an expanded format with the participation of delegations from both sides.

The meeting expressed satisfaction with the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan strategic relations, and widely discussed issues arising from these relations, as well as the regional situation.

Besides, the meeting emphasized that the dynamics of mutual visits at the highest levels have made a significant contribution to the development of bilateral relations.

The meeting noted that cooperation between the two countries has intensified in recent years and has become a multifaceted cooperation format covering the economy, trade, energy, industry, transport-logistics, digitalization and technology, agriculture, tourism, culture, humanitarian and education.

Mutual investments, including the creation of an investment fund worth $300 million, were noted as an important direction in the development of economic cooperation.

The meeting especially emphasized that the existing potential for increasing mutual trade turnover, implementing joint projects in the non-oil sector, and strengthening regional connections creates broad opportunities for the future development of cooperation.

The meeting underscored the strategic importance of cooperation on the Middle Corridor, and pointed out that this route contributes to the increase in freight traffic between Europe and Asia, and that strengthening transit potential is an important direction.

The development of intensive dialogue with the Central Asian region, including cooperation within the C6 format, was discussed.

In addition, the prospects for further expansion of cooperation within international and regional platforms, especially within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), were discussed, and strengthening mutual support mechanisms on these platforms was in the spotlight.

The parties expressed serious concern about the tension in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of resolving conflicts only through diplomatic means. The ceasefire reached between Iran and the U.S. was welcomed.

Bayramov informed his counterpart about the process of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the reconstruction and reconstruction activities carried out in our liberated territories and the return of former internally displaced persons.

Gratitude was expressed for the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center, built with the support of the Kazakh side in the liberated city of Fuzuli.

The meeting also involved an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest.

The Middle Corridor is a transport and trade route that passes through a number of countries in the region and connects Asia with Europe. It serves as an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern Corridors.

The route begins in China and runs through the countries of Central Asia. It then crosses the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, before reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor is a land route that bypasses longer sea routes, connecting the eastern regions of Asia, including China, with Europe.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The pages of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan in social networks published a post dedicated to the 33rd anniversary of the Aghdaban massacre, one of the terrible crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis, Trend reports.

"34 years have passed since the Aghdaban massacreone of the numerous grave and brutal war crimes committed by Armenia against Azerbaijanis.

In 1992, the village of Aghdaban in Kalbajar, consisting of 130 houses, was completely destroyed by Armenian armed groups, leaving the settlement utterly devastated.

A total of 779 civilians were subjected to severe torture, and 67 people were brutally killed with exceptional cruelty.

This tragedy remains in history as one of the painful examples of the grave crimes committed against the Azerbaijani people.

We honor the memory of the victims of Aghdaban with deep sorrow and reverence.

May Allah rest all our martyrs in peace," the publication reads.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) has issued a statement regarding the ceasefire declared between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, Trend reports via the ministry.

"We welcome the ceasefire announced between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We highly appreciate the efforts of all parties that mediated the achievement of this ceasefire.

We hope that the ceasefire will contribute to reducing tensions in the region, as well as to establishing lasting peace and stability.

We call on the parties to engage in a constructive dialogue aimed at resolving existing issues and building mutual trust.

Azerbaijan remains ready to support initiatives aimed at strengthening lasting peace, security, and cooperation in the region," the statement reads.
KABUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Afghan air forces have rescued 158 people stranded by flooding in the eastern province of Nangarhar, the provincial government office said in a statement on Wednesday.

The operation involved 18 flights that airlifted the individuals to safer locations from six districts of the province, according to the statement.

Downpours, landslides, house collapses, flash floods, thunderstorms and lightning strikes across the country have killed more than 130 people and injured over 190 others in the past 12 days, according to official figures.

Afghanistan's meteorological department has warned of continued heavy rainfall and potential flooding in remote and vulnerable districts across 21 of the country's 34 provinces, including Nangarhar. 
Photo: Press service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Yermek Kosherbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Nurlan Sauranbayev, Minister of Transport, on April 8, Trend reports.

President Ilham Aliyev hailed the development of Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan bilateral relations in a spirit of cooperation and brotherhood. The President noted that reciprocal visits by the heads of state, the discussions held during these trips, the decisions adopted, as well as visits of delegations at various levels between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, are bringing the two peoples and countries even closer and strengthening the potential for mutual cooperation.

The head of state expressed hope that the opportunities of the joint investment fund will be fully utilized, noting that several projects are already in the development stage, and touched upon the potential for joint investments by Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in third countries.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed confidence that the visit of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Transport of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan would be successful.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, the Kazakh Foreign Minister said that they felt honored to meet with the head of state.

Yermek Kosherbayev conveyed the greetings of President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the head of state.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked him for the greetings and asked that his own greetings be conveyed to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The Foreign Minister emphasized that the President of Azerbaijan enjoys very high esteem in Kazakhstan.

During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the successful development of relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in many areas, including political, economic, transport, logistics, investment, energy, green energy, and others. They noted that there are good opportunities for further expanding cooperation.

The sides touched upon the Middle Corridor, the Trans-Caspian Green Energy Corridor, and fiber-optic line projects, emphasizing the successful cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in this framework.

The role of the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the TRIPP project passing through Armenian territory, was highlighted in terms of regional cooperation and transport connectivity.

They also praised the successful partnership of the two countries within international organizations and exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The first meeting of political consultations between Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad was held in Banjul, Gambia, a source in the Azerbaijani ministry told Trend.

A courtesy call was held by the delegation led by Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev with the Chief of Staff to the President of Gambia, Alieu Loum.

The meeting expressed satisfaction with the friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Gambia, built on mutual respect and solidarity, highlighted the importance of strengthening existing cooperation relations in areas of mutual interest for both countries, as well as identifying new areas of cooperation.

The parties emphasized that the first meeting of political consultations is an important platform for strengthening diplomatic relations and exploring new cooperation opportunities.

Later, the first meeting of the political consultations was held, co-chaired by Rafiyev and the First Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Head of the Ministry's Diplomatic Services, Lang Yabou.

The consultations emphasized the importance of more effective use of existing opportunities for the development of bilateral relations, especially taking appropriate steps in the areas of cooperation in the areas of economy, trade, education, tourism, energy, and combating climate change.

At the same time, Azerbaijan's contributions to the development of human capital in Gambia and successfully implemented projects in the humanitarian field were welcomed, and interest in continuing activities in this direction was expressed.

The parties highly appreciated the existing cooperative relations in multilateral platforms, especially within the framework of the UN, OIC, and the SCO, and touched upon the need to further expand relations in this direction.

On the same day, the Azerbaijani delegation met with the Mayor of Banjul, Rohey Malick Lowe. The meeting discussed issues related to the World Urban Forum to be hosted by Azerbaijan and possible areas of cooperation in the humanitarian field.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and his Kazakh counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev have discussed the Middle Corridor, a source in the ministry told Trend.

The one-on-one meeting between the ministers then continued in an expanded format with the participation of delegations from both sides.

The meeting expressed satisfaction with the Azerbaijan-Kazakhstan strategic relations, and widely discussed issues arising from these relations, as well as the regional situation.

Besides, the meeting emphasized that the dynamics of mutual visits at the highest levels have made a significant contribution to the development of bilateral relations.

The meeting noted that cooperation between the two countries has intensified in recent years and has become a multifaceted cooperation format covering the economy, trade, energy, industry, transport-logistics, digitalization and technology, agriculture, tourism, culture, humanitarian, and education.

Mutual investments, including the creation of an investment fund worth $300 million, were noted as an important direction in the development of economic cooperation.

The meeting especially emphasized that the existing potential for increasing mutual trade turnover, implementing joint projects in the non-oil sector, and strengthening regional connections creates broad opportunities for the future development of cooperation.

The meeting underscored the strategic importance of cooperation on the Middle Corridor and pointed out that this route contributes to the increase in freight traffic between Europe and Asia, and that strengthening transit potential is an important direction.

The development of intensive dialogue with the Central Asian region, including cooperation within the C6 format, was discussed.

In addition, the prospects for further expansion of cooperation within international and regional platforms, especially within the framework of the Organization of Turkic States and the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), were discussed, and strengthening mutual support mechanisms on these platforms was in the spotlight.

The parties expressed serious concern about the tension in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of resolving conflicts only through diplomatic means. The ceasefire reached between Iran and the U.S. was welcomed.

Bayramov informed his counterpart about the process of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the reconstruction and reconstruction activities carried out in our liberated territories and the return of former internally displaced persons.

Gratitude was expressed for the Kurmangazy Children's Creativity Center, built with the support of the Kazakh side in the liberated city of Fuzuli.

The meeting also involved an exchange of views on other issues of mutual interest.

The Middle Corridor is a transport and trade route that passes through a number of countries in the region and connects Asia with Europe. It serves as an alternative to the traditional Northern and Southern Corridors.

The route begins in China and runs through the countries of Central Asia. It then crosses the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkiye, before reaching Europe. The Middle Corridor is a land route that bypasses longer sea routes, connecting the eastern regions of Asia, including China, with Europe.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The Regulation on the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has been amended, and the ministrys authority has been expanded, Trend reports.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree.

According to the decree, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, through its subordinate bodies, both within and outside its structure, will be able to provide an opinion on the expediency of replacing these lands with less suitable or unsuitable land for agriculture, on the feasibility of replacing them with land plots for the extraction of minerals, on the compliance of confirmed reserves of minerals and their development with the legislation on subsoil, as well as on the compliance of changing the category of lands with the legislation on environmental protection, in cases provided for in Part 1 of Article 57 of the Land Code, as well as in cases where it is necessary to involve additional land plots in the agricultural cycle for the construction of objects of defense and security importance on forest fund lands, and to ensure food security.

Amendments have also been made to the "Statute of the State Ecological Expertise Agency".

Thus, when a change in the category of land for the extraction of minerals is required, the Agency will be able to provide an opinion on the compliance of the approved reserves of minerals and their development with the legislation on subsoil, as well as the change in the category of lands with the legislation on environmental protection.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The composition of the State Customs Committees board has been expanded, Trend reports.

This is reflected in an amendment to President Ilham Aliyevs decree On the Approval of the Composition of the Board of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

According to the decree, the Chief of Staff of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan has also been added to the list.
Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. On April 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, Trend reports.

The head of state extended his congratulations regarding the announced ceasefire between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America.

Masoud Pezeshkian expressed his gratitude to the head of state for the congratulations and for the humanitarian aid provided by Azerbaijan to Iran.

During the call, both leaders exchanged views on issues concerning bilateral cooperation.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov, held a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, and discussed the current security situation in the region and the ceasefire that has been reached with the U.S., Trend reports via the Azerbaijani MFA.

Minister Bayramov welcomed the declared ceasefire, emphasizing its importance for reducing tensions, ensuring successful negotiations, and establishing stability.

The role of mediating countries, particularly friendly and brotherly Pakistan, in achieving the ceasefire was also highly appreciated.

Bayramov stressed the importance of adhering to the ceasefire regime and underscored the need for resolving the situation through diplomatic means, expressing hope that the upcoming talks in Islamabad would be result-oriented and productive.

He also reiterated Azerbaijans readiness to support initiatives aimed at strengthening lasting peace, security, and cooperation in the region.

The ministers also discussed other issues of mutual interest.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. On April 8, a telephone conversation took place between Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports.

The conversation focused on current issues of partnership between Azerbaijan and Ukraine, including cooperation in the political, economic, energy, transport, and humanitarian spheres.

The conversation also included an exchange of views on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. On April 8, the Azerbaijan Media Development Agency (MEDIA) held a meeting with a delegation led by Rustam Ali, Vice Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Trend reports via the Media Development Agency.

At the meeting, Ahmad Ismayilov, Executive Director of the Media Development Agency, noted the successful development of friendly and cooperative relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan and emphasized the importance of expanding partnership in the media sector.

He noted that in this regard, particular importance is attached to the application of best practices, strengthening joint activities in the field of media literacy and combating disinformation, maintaining the quality and reliability of the information environment, as well as establishing flexible and effective mechanisms that meet contemporary challenges.

Rustam Ali, Vice Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, highlighted the importance of organizing the exchange of experience between relevant agencies and media organizations, implementing joint projects, and combating the spread of fake and unreliable information. An exchange of views took place on expanding cooperation, strengthening information security, and ensuring sustainable development in the media environment.

Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Alisher Suleimenov, stated that coordinated efforts and joint initiatives in the media sector in the age of digitalization contribute to the creation of a more stable and secure information environment. He also highlighted the importance of building mutual trust and establishing common communication platforms.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. New spelling and pronunciation dictionaries of the Azerbaijani language are being prepared with the assistance of artificial intelligence and will be submitted for publication by the end of the month, Director General of the Institute of Linguistics of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences (ANAS), Professor Nadir Mammadli, told Trend.

According to him, a meeting on the process was held today.

A final meeting will also be held next week. We have completed all the work on our part. By the end of the month, we will submit the dictionaries for publication. Their publication will depend on the Presidium of ANAS, he said.

Notably, Azerbaijan is the first among Turkic-speaking republics to prepare a spelling dictionary using artificial intelligence.
BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A crude oil tanker from the Middle East has safely arrived at the Bangchak Sriracha Refinery port in Chonburi province, Thailand, Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited confirmed on Wednesday.

The tanker was carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of crude oil from the Middle East. The shipment is part of the company's planned crude procurement.

The vessel safely transited the Strait of Hormuz and reached the Bangchak Sriracha Refinery port on the night of April 7, supporting ongoing crude supply under current market volatility, the company said.

In late March, Thailand secured safe passage for its oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz following diplomatic coordination with regional partners. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The Caucasus Muslims Board has condemned the report of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), concerning the religious situation in Azerbaijan in 2025, Trend reports via the board.

In the statement of the leaders of religious confessions in Azerbaijan, representatives of the religious communities living in the country expressed their serious concern and deep regret over the ungrounded claims in the mentioned report.

"Given real-life circumstances, we categorically reject the assessment of the report. The report includes baseless allegations against Azerbaijan, purported violations of religious freedom and exertion of pressure on religious communities, reflecting the biased stance of lobbying by certain groups. This does not correspond to the realities on the ground and, on the contrary, fails to acknowledge significant efforts of our country to promote religious tolerance domestically and globally.

The statement also expressed special regret that the USCIRFs report misrepresents Azerbaijans efforts to repair and restore all historical and cultural sites, without distinction, in its liberated Karabagh and East Zangezur regions.

"These restoration projects are underway, engaging experienced specialists and architects, with due consideration given to preserving the characteristics of all cultural and religious heritage.

In light of all examples outlined above, we expect the USCIRF to reconsider its approach toward Azerbaijan, objectively reflecting the situation in our country, based on existing facts and realities, recognizing our countrys contributions to tolerance and acknowledging its efforts towards the preservation of interreligious and interfaith dialogue.

We hope that the necessary measures will be taken to rectify the injustice being demonstrated toward Azerbaijan through enlisting it in the Special Watch List, which is absolutely unwarranted and unsubstantiated," the statement added.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Pursuant to the bilateral cooperation plan signed between the Ministries of Defense of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, a Kazakh delegation has paid an official visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports via the Ministry of Defense.

The guests first visited the Alley of Martyrs, where they honored the Heroes who sacrificed their lives for the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, laying flowers as a mark of reverence.

At the Ministry of Defense, Deputy Minister of Defense  Director General Agil Gurbanov held a meeting with Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Digitalization Darkhan Akhmediyev, and the delegation led by him.

The meeting featured a comprehensive exchange of views on the current state and prospects of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in military, military-technical, and military educational fields, and a number of other issues of common interest.

Subsequently, the delegation visited the Main Operational Department, the Main Department of Communications and Information Technologies, as well as the International Military Cooperation Department of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Defense, where they were briefed on the conditions established and the scope of ongoing service activities.

The Kazakh guests also visited Jamshid Nakhchivanski Military Lyceum operating under the National Defense University, as well as the Main Department for Personnel, where they were briefed on the Personnel Electronic Information System.

Within the framework of the visit to the Cybersecurity Center and a military unit of the Ministry of Defense, the delegation is scheduled to be introduced to the activities on cybersecurity of modern weapons systems and information technology assets in the armament of the Azerbaijan Army, the application of modern communication technologies, and AI-based cyber defense capabilities against cyber threats.

During the familiarization visits to the relevant bodies of the Ministry, briefings were provided on the organizational structure and areas of activity of the units.

It is worth mentioning that the main purpose of the visit by the delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan is to exchange experience in the field of army development.

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TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 8. Saida Mirziyoyeva and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the expanding portfolio of joint economic projects, Uzbekistans Head of the Presidential Administration wrote on her social media account, Trend reports.

We discussed the outcomes of the recent meeting of the U.S.-Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council and noted the growing portfolio of economic projects, she stated.

Mirziyoyeva also expressed gratitude to the Secretary of State for his significant contribution to strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Earlier, Uzbekistan and the United States launched the U.S.-Uzbekistan Business and Investment Council, a platform aimed at deepening cooperation between the business communities of both nations.

The agreement to establish the Council was reached during President Shavkat Mirziyoyevs official visit to the United States from November 4 through 6, 2025, held within the framework of the C5+1 Summit.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 8. Uzbekistan and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) plan to launch a joint investment platform, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva wrote on her social media account, Trend reports.

The statement followed Mirziyoyevas meeting with Ben Black, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.

During the meeting, we discussed a large-scale portfolio of projects. DFC will support the attraction of American investors to Uzbekistan and share investment risks. We also plan to launch a joint investment platform this year, she stated.

The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation is a U.S. development finance institution that mobilizes private capital for infrastructure and industrial projects in developing countries.
Photo: Press Service of the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 8. Tajikistan and Kazakhstan have discussed issues related to the development of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, Trend reports via the Tajik Ministry of Energy and Water Resources.

The discussion took place during a working visit to Kazakhstan by Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan Manuchehr Safarzoda, who held a meeting with Deputy Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Sungat Yessimkhanov.

During the meeting, the parties reviewed prospects for expanding cooperation within the framework of the Central Asian Unified Energy System, the implementation of joint sectoral projects, as well as the exchange of experience in the efficient and sustainable use of energy resources.

They emphasized that strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between the countries could contribute to increasing energy security in the region, ensuring the sustainability of energy systems, and developing the national economies of the two countries.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed their readiness to continue a constructive dialogue and further expand mutually beneficial cooperation.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 8. Turkmenistan and South Korea discussed the current state and prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the field of migration and consular affairs, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA.

The talks were held during a meeting between Commissioner of the Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea Cha Yong Ho and a delegation of Turkmenistan led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Gurbanov on April 7.

The Turkmen side put forward a number of proposals aimed at creating favorable conditions for mutual travel of citizens of both countries, as well as ensuring reliable protection of their rights and legitimate interests.

Particular attention was paid to improving the legal and contractual framework governing bilateral cooperation in the migration sphere.

Following the meeting, the parties confirmed their mutual interest in continuing constructive dialogue, noting that its further development meets the interests of both states and corresponds to the high level of bilateral relations.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 8. Uzbekistan and Spain have outlined new avenues for cooperation across priority sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, and tourism, during the Uzbek-Spanish Business Forum in Madrid, Uzbekistans Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

The Uzbek-Spanish Business Forum held in Madrid has become an important platform for expanding practical cooperation between the business communities of our countries, Saidov stated.

According to him, the discussions focused on launching new joint projects in key sectors, reflecting growing interest from both sides in deepening economic engagement.

We also explored opportunities for cooperation with leading companies, including Aries & Leo Equity Holding, Future Farm Solutions, Almar Water Solutions, IMABE, KHESH GROUP, Banco Santander, Water Challenge, and Systemfoc, he said.

Saidov added that there is significant potential and numerous promising areas for mutually beneficial cooperation, and that the forum will contribute to further deepening economic partnership between the two countries.
KABUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 3,000 Afghan refugees returned to their homeland in a single day on Tuesday amid economic hardship and tension in the region, reported the official Radio and Television of Afghanistan on Wednesday.

A total of 2,598 returned from Pakistan, while 324 others returned from Iran, the official media outlet added.

The return of Afghan refugees is taking place amid economic problems and escalating tension in the region, as poverty and unemployment are reportedly rampant in post-war Afghanistan.

More than 17 million Afghan people, or over one-third of the country's population, are facing acute food insecurity this year, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Around 2.8 million Afghan refugees reportedly returned to Afghanistan in 2025, while Middle East conflicts and border skirmishes between Kabul and Islamabad have forced more refugees to return this year.

More than 6 million Afghan refugees are reportedly living in neighboring Pakistan and Iran after decades of displacement. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Trade and exchanges of agricultural products between Iran and Russia will be developed through the cooperation of businessmen, banks, and the financial sector, Iranian Agriculture Minister Gholamreza Nouri said in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Oksana Lut, Trend reports.

According to him, the latest situation in agricultural trade between the two countries was examined in connection with the war in the region, and the importance of strengthening bilateral cooperation and ensuring food security was noted.

Nouri noted that despite the military airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, Iran continued the process of producing essential products within the country, and protected the food security of its citizens by developing foreign trade with its northern neighbors.

The Iranian minister pointed out that plant and livestock quarantine stations have been established between Iran and Russia in connection with the development of trade and transit of agricultural and livestock products.

In the conversation, Lut also condemned the U.S. and Israeli military attacks against Iran and said that Iran has taken effective steps to ensure the food security and food security of its citizens. Russia, as a trading partner, will stand by Iran in ensuring food security.

Lut added that appropriate cooperation has been formed between the private sectors of Iran and Russia, and this process will develop further with the support of the governments.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran. The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other senior officials. In response, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel and targeted U.S. facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire of about two weeks to prevent military escalation and allow for negotiations. The agreement was reportedly brokered by Pakistan. One of the key points is Iran's commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping, while the sides halt attacks and prepare for talks.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The Iranian government paid more than 120 trillion rials (about $90.7 million) in debt to public and private medical centers for the financial support for health insurance in the past Iranian year (from March 21, 2025, through March 20, 2026), Chairman of the Iranian Health Insurance Organization, Mohammad Mehdi Nasehi, told local media, Trend reports.

According to him, during the war, public and private medical centers provided services in full coordination.

Nasehi said that approximately half of the country's population is covered by health insurance. The Health Insurance Organization is taking steps to financially support public and private medical centers.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran. The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other senior officials. In response, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel and targeted U.S. facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire of about two weeks to prevent military escalation and allow for negotiations. The agreement was reportedly brokered by Pakistan. One of the key points is Iran's commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping, while the sides halt attacks and prepare for talks.
PASHA Bank has taken another significant step in financing energy efficiency projects. A cooperation agreement has been signed between the Bank and the Azerbaijan Energy Regulatory Agency (AERA), providing for the issuance of concessional loans funded by the Energy Efficiency Fund.

The agreement was signed by Deputy Head of PASHA Bank Executive Board and Head of AERA Executive Board Samir Akhundov.

Under the agreement, the parties will cooperate in providing concessional loans financed by the Fund to promote energy efficiency measures. Within this framework, key aspects, including loan terms, accounting procedures, mechanisms for monitoring the proper use of funds, repayment conditions, and the authorized credit institution's reporting obligations to the Agency, will be regulated.

Bahruz Nagiyev noted that the concessional loans financed by the Fund will create new opportunities for implementing energy efficiency projects. He expressed confidence that the signed agreement will further strengthen cooperation between the parties.

Samir Akhundov stated that the provision of concessional loans from the Fund is intended to promote energy efficiency projects. He pointed out that cooperation has already been established with leading banks in the country in this area and expressed satisfaction with the partnership with PASHA Bank.

It should be noted that since 2023, PASHA Bank has been a participant of the UN Global Compact and has been actively supporting energy efficiency and sustainable development initiatives. The Banks Corporate Social Responsibility strategy for 20242026 is also aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, with Climate Action being a key priority. The Bank aims to expand its activities in this direction further.

By encouraging investment in energy efficiency projects through concessional lending, PASHA Bank contributes to both economic and environmental sustainability, strengthening its leadership position in this field.
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 8. Uzbekistan has welcomed the announcement of a full ceasefire and the establishment of a truce in the Middle East mediated by the leadership of Pakistan, Trend reports via Uzbekistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to the statement, Tashkent views the development as an important step toward de-escalation of tensions and the creation of conditions for political and diplomatic dialogue, as well as for reaching mutually acceptable solutions.

The ministry called on all parties to exercise restraint, refrain from actions that could lead to renewed escalation, and continue constructive engagement to achieve sustainable peace and stability.

Uzbekistan also reaffirmed its unwavering position that conflicts should be resolved exclusively through peaceful means in strict accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran. The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other senior officials. In response, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel and targeted U.S. facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire of about two weeks to prevent military escalation and allow for negotiations. The agreement was reportedly brokered by Pakistan. One of the key points is Iran's commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping, while the sides halt attacks and prepare for talks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) has fined Modenis LLC and its official, Trend reports via the CBA.

Following an on-site inspection carried out by the CBA between June 4 and July 18, 2025, several violations of legislation related to the prevention of money laundering and the financing of terrorism were identified.

As a result of these violations, Modenis LLC, as a legal entity, was fined 50,000 manat (approximately $29,400) under Articles 598.1.1 and 598.1.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses.

Furthermore, an official of the company was individually penalized with an administrative fine of 10,000 manat (approximately $5,900), also in accordance with the aforementioned legal provisions.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 8. Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, met with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk in Bishkek to coordinate a major expansion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation, Trend reports via the cabinet.

The high-level meeting served as a primary briefing for the upcoming session of the Kyrgyz-Russian Intergovernmental Commission. During the talks, Kasymaliev and Overchuk reviewed a wide range of joint initiatives designed to strengthen the partnership.

Discussions focused on identifying and accelerating priority projects in the economic sector, with both parties emphasizing the need for streamlined trade mechanisms.

Kyrgyzstan and Russia maintain close strategic partnership within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). In 2024, bilateral trade turnover reached nearly $4 billion, showing steady growth of more than 25% compared to the previous year (according to various estimates - from $3.2 billion to $3.9 billion). The parties have set a target to increase mutual trade to $5 billion.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The agreement on the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Serbia has been prolonged until the end of 2026, and deliveries are currently ongoing, Trend reports via the countrys Ministry of Finance.

On April 8, Azerbaijans Minister of Finance and Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia, Sahil Babayev, met with a delegation led by Serbias Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka edovic Handanovic, who is on a visit to the country.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation, including in the energy sector.

Minister Babayev emphasized that relations between the two countries are of a strategic partnership nature, noting that cooperation is developing successfully based on a strong legal framework and high-level political dialogue. It was highlighted that numerous agreements, as well as the activities of the Intergovernmental Commission and the Strategic Partnership Council, create favorable conditions for expanding ties.

Touching upon key areas of energy cooperation, the minister noted that the supply of Azerbaijani gas to Serbia via the Bulgaria-Serbia interconnector since 2023 has become one of the significant achievements of the partnership. It was emphasized that the relevant agreement has been extended until the end of 2026, and gas supplies are ongoing.

For her part, edovic Handanovic underlined the importance of strengthening effective and mutually beneficial cooperation in the energy sector between the two countries. She noted that the agreement signed in February 2026, which provides for the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Serbia, will make a significant contribution to enhancing regional energy security.

The meeting also included an extensive exchange of views on expanding cooperation in oil and petroleum products, electricity, as well as green and renewable energy sources.

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Photo: State Tax Service under the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Representatives of the State Tax Service (STS) under the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan held a meeting with members of the Tax and Customs Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Azerbaijan) to discuss transfer pricing and non-resident VAT registration, Trend reports.

The meeting highlighted the importance of properly establishing and documenting transfer pricing policies. Officials noted that a professional and systematic approach in this area enhances the investment climate, fosters healthy competition, and strengthens the legal and fiscal resilience of business entities.

STS representatives provided detailed explanations of the Advance Pricing Agreement (APA) mechanism, including the opportunities offered by legislation, application procedures, and implementation processes, emphasizing its importance for effectively managing tax risks.

Updates on recent legislative changes regarding the registration of non-resident providers of digital services for VAT purposes were also shared. Participants were informed about the essence of these changes, their application mechanisms, and the practical implications for non-resident taxpayers.

The interactive session allowed AmCham representatives to ask questions, which were addressed with detailed explanations and practical guidance.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 9. Russian President Vladimir Putin will pay a visit to Turkmenistan on October 9, 2026, to take part in the Summit of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

The primary objective of President Putins visit is to participate in the CIS summit, which will be held at the National Tourist Zone Awaza, located on the Caspian coast.

This high-level meeting is expected to convene the leaders of CIS member states to discuss critical areas of cooperation, including economic integration, regional stability, and multilateral coordination within the organization.

The Commonwealth of Independent States was established in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union to promote regional cooperation in political, economic, and humanitarian spheres. The CIS Economic Council coordinates efforts to implement joint economic policies, develop transport and energy networks, and foster trade integration. The CIS chairmanship passed from Tajikistan to Turkmenistan on January 1, 2026.
SEOUL, April 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's food export grew in single digits in the first quarter due to strong demand for both agri-food products and agro-industrial products, agriculture ministry data showed Wednesday.

Shipment of agri-food products and products from the agro-industry gained 3.5 percent from a year earlier to 3.35 billion U.S. dollars in the January-March quarter, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Export for agri-food products, including non-processed agricultural produce and processed food products, increased 4.0 percent to 2.56 billion dollars in the first quarter amid surging demand from the Middle East.

The agri-food products shipment to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries soared 32.3 percent, while export to North America, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the European Union rose in single figures.

In the processed food sector, export growth was driven by long-standing favorites such as Ramyeon instant noodles, snacks and ice cream, of which shipment posted a double-digit expansion for the first three months of this year.

In terms of agricultural fresh produce, export for strawberries, grapes and pears advanced in double figures.

Export for agro-industrial products, including smart farms, agricultural equipment, pet food and veterinary medical products, added 2.1 percent over the year to 790 million dollars in the first quarter.

Shipment of agricultural machinery, pesticides and fertilizers climbed in single digits, but veterinary pharmaceuticals export declined 9.8 percent in the quarter. 
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 8. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin will visit Turkmenistan on May 22, 2026 to participate in a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Trend reports via the press service of the Turkmen Government.

The primary purpose of Mishustins visit is to take part in the CIS Heads of Government meeting, which will be held in Ashgabat and will focus on economic cooperation and coordination among member states.

Preparations for the meeting are in their final stage. A protocol on organizing the event was previously signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan by Deputy Foreign Minister Serdar Muhammetdurdiyev and CIS Deputy Secretary General Denis Trefilov.

The Commonwealth of Independent States was established in 1991 after the dissolution of the Soviet Union to promote regional cooperation in political, economic, and humanitarian spheres. The CIS Economic Council coordinates efforts to implement joint economic policies, develop transport and energy networks, and foster trade integration. The CIS chairmanship passed from Tajikistan to Turkmenistan on January 1, 2026.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 8. Turkmenistan and the Republic of Korea held consular consultations in Seoul on April 8, Trend reports via the Turkmen MFA.

The Turkmen delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmet Gurbanov, while the Korean side was headed by Deputy Foreign Minister for Public Diplomacy Lim Sang-woo.

During the consultations, the sides discussed current issues of bilateral cooperation in the consular sphere and exchanged views on expanding interaction between the consular services of the two countries.

Particular attention was paid to enhancing and updating the legal and contractual framework governing cooperation in this area.

The parties also emphasized the importance of holding regular consultations to further intensify cooperation and exchange best practices.

Earlier, on April 7, a Turkmen delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Gurbanov met with Commissioner of the Immigration Service of the Republic of Korea Cha Yong Ho to discuss the current state and prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the field of migration and consular affairs.
Photo: The Embassy of Turkmenistan in Japan

ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 8. Turkmenistan and Japans Nara Prefecture discussed prospects for expanding cooperation in the fields of economy, industry, education, and tourism, Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy in Tokyo.

The issues were addressed during a series of meetings between Turkmen Ambassador to Japan Atadurdy Bayramov and representatives of Nara Prefecture, including local government and academic institutions, focusing on potential areas for practical cooperation.

The discussions included proposals to establish sister-city relations with Nara, alongside education and tourism initiatives.

Participants noted the importance of strengthening bilateral engagement at the regional level as a platform for broadening economic and humanitarian cooperation between Turkmenistan and Japan.

Earlier, in March, Ambassador Bayramov and Japans State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ayano Kunimitsu, held talks focused on the implementation of bilateral agreements and the identification of strategic areas for further cooperation. Their discussions largely centered on the achievements made in fulfilling the agreements reached during recent high-level visits.

The Turkmen delegation also expressed its readiness to facilitate a visit by Japans prime minister to Turkmenistan at a mutually convenient time.
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, April 8. Turkmengas State Concern and Japanese company Mitsui & Co. held a videoconference to discuss potential cooperation in the oil and gas sector, Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy in Tokyo.

The meeting was organized by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Japan. The Turkmen side was represented by the Scientific Research Institute of Natural Gas of the State Concern.

During the talks, Mitsui & Co. presented its activities and capabilities in the oil and gas industry, while the Turkmen side reviewed potential areas for cooperation and practical application of the companys technologies and expertise.

The sides exchanged views on possible partnership formats and discussed the prospects for establishing cooperation in the energy sector.

Meanwhile, Turkmengas State Concern is expected to sign a contract with Chinas CNPC Amu Darya Petroleum Company Ltd. for the development of production facilities with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters of commercial gas per year at the Galkynysh field, one of the worlds largest natural gas deposits in Turkmenistan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Serbia was discussed, Trend reports via the Ministry of Economy.

Azerbaijans Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov and SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf met with Serbias Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka edovic Handanovic.

The meeting highlighted that relations between our countries have reached the level of a strategic partnership. The dynamic development of economic relations, particularly in the energy sector, was noted. It was noted that the first meeting of the Azerbaijan-Serbia Strategic Partnership Council, held earlier this year, played an important role in deepening economic partnership and identifying new areas of cooperation. Information was also provided on the positive investment climate that has developed in our country.

The parties discussed the current state and prospects for cooperation in areas such as energy, green technologies, infrastructure, industry, and investment. They also reviewed the work completed as part of the cooperation with SOCAR and potential projects.

According to the State Statistical Committee, in January of this year, Azerbaijan exported 34.7 million cubic meters of natural gas (in gaseous form) to Serbia, worth $13.2 million. The information indicates that, compared to the same period last year, this amount decreased by $3.5 million, or 20.8%, while the volume of exports decreased by 73,000 cubic meters, representing a 0.2% decline.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Up to date, a total of 444.6 million cubic meters of gas has been exported from Azerbaijan to Serbia, Azerbaijans Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov wrote on his X account, Trend reports.

At the meeting with Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, we discussed the key areas of energy cooperation within the framework of strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries, including natural gas, electricity generation, the Green Energy Corridor, energy efficiency, and heat supply. Up to date, a total of 444.6 million cubic meters of #gas has been exported from Azerbaijan to Serbia, the publication reads.

According to data from the State Statistical Committee, in January of this year alone, Azerbaijan exported 34.7 million cubic meters of natural gas (in gaseous form) to Serbia, worth $13.2 million. According to available information, this figure decreased by $3.5 million, or 20.8%, in value terms, and by 73,000 cubic meters, or 0.2%, in volume compared to the same period last year.

In addition, significant investments from Serbia were also made in the Azerbaijani economy. According to the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, in 2025, Serbia's direct investment in Azerbaijan amounted to $6.4 million. This is $6.2 million, or 29.6 times more, than in 2024.

In the reporting year, Serbia's share of total foreign direct investment in Azerbaijan stood at 0.1%.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 8. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement on a full ceasefire and truce in the Middle East brokered with the mediation of Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

Tokayev expressed hope that the reached agreement would be long-term, emphasizing its importance for the development of global trade and the economic prosperity of all countries.

On April 8, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere," he wrote on his X page.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran. The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other senior officials. In response, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel and has targeted U.S. facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly. Iran fully controls the Strait of Hormuz and allows passage only to vessels it deems necessary.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 8. Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Alibek Bakayev and Assistant Foreign Minister of China Liu Bin (at vice-minister level) discussed a wide range of bilateral and international issues, Trend reports via the Kazakh MFA.

During the political consultations in Astana, the sides held discussions on political, trade-economic, and cultural-humanitarian cooperation, and exchanged views on engagement within multilateral frameworks.

The diplomats reviewed the implementation of agreements reached at the highest and high levels, noting the positive momentum in the development of Kazakhstan-China relations across the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation.

Special attention was paid to ongoing political reforms in both countries. The parties highlighted the significance of the successful constitutional referendum in Kazakhstan held in March this year, as well as Chinas Two Sessions, describing them as key milestones in the continued development and modernization of both states.

Particular emphasis was placed on strengthening trade and economic ties. The sides underlined the need to develop coordinated approaches to advancing industrial and investment cooperation, energy, transit and transport connectivity, and innovation, including expanding Kazakhstans non-resource exports to China.

The delegations also exchanged views on pressing regional and global issues, reaffirming the alignment of their positions on key aspects of international stability. They reviewed preparations for upcoming high-level visits and events scheduled for this year.

The parties expressed their commitment to further deepening coordination within international and regional organizations, including the UN, SCO, CICA, as well as the Central AsiaChina format.

Following the consultations, the sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China, based on the principles of good-neighborliness, mutual respect, equality, and mutually beneficial cooperation.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 8. The Mazhilis (lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan) has ratified an agreement between the governments of Kazakhstan and Turkiye on the transit of military equipment and personnel through the airspace of both countries, Trend reports via the Mazhilis.

The agreement aims to regulate the procedure for air transit of military assets and personnel between the two states. It outlines the conditions for using airspace, the mechanisms for issuing permits, and the coordination procedures for flights.

Under the document, military transit will require the issuance of a one-time permit and an annual diplomatic clearance number. This framework is expected to optimize air transport and simplify bilateral coordination.

Airspace usage will be carried out in accordance with the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization, national legislation, and air navigation standards.

The agreement also establishes protocols for emergencies. In case of force majeure during a flight, the aircraft may land at an airport in the country whose airspace is being used. The host state will ensure security and notify relevant authorities.

The document was signed on September 11, 2024, in Astana.
JAKARTA, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's foreign exchange reserves stood at 148.2 billion U.S. dollars at the end of March, down from 151.9 billion dollars in the previous month, amid rising global financial market uncertainty, the country's central bank said Wednesday.

Ramdan Denny Prakoso, executive director of Bank Indonesia's Communication Department, said in a press release that the development was attributable to the issuance of government global bonds, as well as tax and services receipts, amid the government's external debt repayments and Bank Indonesia's Rupiah stabilization policy in response to heightened uncertainty in the global financial markets.

Despite the decline, the reserves remained high and were equivalent to about six months of imports, remaining above the international adequacy standard of around three months of imports.

Bank Indonesia said it considers the current level of reserve assets sufficient to bolster external sector resilience and to preserve macroeconomic and financial system stability. 
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 8. President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol has invited Kazakhstans President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to visit Seoul, including to participate in the first Republic of Korea  Central Asia Summit scheduled for September this year, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh president.

The invitation was conveyed by Kang Hoon-sik, the presidential chief of staff, during a meeting with President Tokayev in Astana.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gratefully accepted the invitation of the South Korean leader and expressed confidence that the upcoming high-level talks will significantly boost cooperation between the two countries, as well as strengthen interaction within the Central Asia - Republic of Korea format, the information says.

During the meeting, Tokayev emphasized that the Republic of Korea is one of Kazakhstans key strategic partners and praised the positive dynamics of bilateral engagement.

The President reaffirmed Kazakhstans commitment to consolidating and expanding the strategic partnership with Seoul.

Kang Hoon-sik noted that the country attaches great importance to elevating bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level through enhanced trade, economic, and investment ties, as well as the implementation of joint projects across various sectors.

The discussion covered a wide range of bilateral issues, including prospects for expanding cooperation in the energy and transport-logistics sectors amid current global market challenges.
Premium Kazakhstan outlines planned oil production at Karazhanbas coastal area

Photo: KazMunayGas

Currently, four production wells have been drilled at the site, while drilling of the fifth well is ongoing.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 8, 2026. Kazakhstans Vice Minister of Energy Sanzhar Zharkeshov has discussed investment prospects in the energy sector and coal chemistry with President of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH) Andrzej Dycha, Trend reports via the ministry.

The talks focused on opportunities to attract Polish capital into Kazakhstans energy projects and expand bilateral cooperation in the sector.

Particular attention was paid to PAIHs role as a key state institution supporting investors and exporters through a one-stop-shop model, offering assistance at all stages of the investment process.

The sides also explored potential cooperation via PAIHs global network of more than 50 foreign trade offices to identify partners and introduce advanced technological solutions into Kazakhstans energy infrastructure.

In addition, the discussion covered the promotion of Polish technologies and services tailored to the needs of the Kazakh market, as well as facilitating participation of companies in joint business missions and economic forums.

The parties expressed interest in fostering a favorable environment for joint energy projects and strengthening industrial cooperation between Kazakhstan and Poland.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 8. Kyrgyzstan and Oman introduce a visa-free regime for diplomats, Trend reports via the press service of the Kyrgyz President.

The President of the Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, has signed the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic on the Ratification of the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman on the Mutual Exemption from Visa Requirements for Holders of Diplomatic, Special, and Service Passports, signed on September 25, 2025, in New York City.

The law was adopted by the Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic on March 12, 2026.

The purpose of the law is to complete the domestic procedures required for the Kyrgyzstan to bring into force the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Government of the Sultanate of Oman on the mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports, signed on September 25, 2025, in New York City (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement").

The Agreement provides that citizens holding diplomatic and service passports of Kyrgyzstan, and citizens holding diplomatic, service, and special passports of the Sultanate of Oman, shall be exempt from visa requirements for entry, exit, and transit within the territories of the contracting states for a period not exceeding 90 days within any 180 days.

The ratification of the Agreement will create favorable conditions for the development of business mobility and will simplify the movement of citizens holding diplomatic, service, and special passports within the territories of the contracting states.
Photo: Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 8. Tajikistan and Russia discussed prospects for developing bilateral cooperation, Trend reports via the Tajik MFA.

The issue was addressed during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Idibek Kalandar and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Dushanbe Semyon Grigoryev, on April 7, 2026.

During the meeting, the parties reviewed the current state of bilateral relations and explored opportunities to expand cooperation at international organizations.

Particular attention was given to the prospects for joint initiatives and collaboration within multilateral forums.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan and Russia maintain long-standing political and economic relations, encompassing areas such as trade, investment, security, and energy cooperation.

Meanwhile, collaboration within international organizations allows both nations to coordinate positions on regional and global issues, while supporting the implementation of joint economic projects and strengthening diplomatic ties.
Photo: Press Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan

DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, April 8. Tajikistan and Austria discussed the current state and prospects for expanding bilateral relations, Trend reports via the Tajik MFA.

The discussions took place on April 8, 2026, during a meeting between First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, Farrukh Hamralizoda, and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Austria to Tajikistan (with residence in Astana), Andrea Bacher.

Particular attention during the meeting was given to the development of cooperation in the political, economic, and trade spheres, as well as interaction in the fields of education and healthcare.

Furthermore, the parties considered issues of coordination within international organizations and exchanged views on other areas of mutual interest.

Meanwhile, Tajikistan and Austria maintain constructive diplomatic relations, with cooperation gradually expanding in areas such as trade, development assistance, education, and institutional exchange, alongside engagement within multilateral frameworks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Following the announcement of a ceasefire, passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz will open within two weeks, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"Fore a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible Via coordination with the Iranian armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," minister wrote.

Araghchi added that if attacks on Iran cease, the country's armed forces will also cease defensive attacks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran does not apply to Lebanon, according to a statement from the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, issued about four hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the truce, Trend reports.

"The two-week ceasefire doesn't include Lebanon," the prime minister's office added.

The statement pointed out that Israel also supports U.S. efforts to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile, or terrorist threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbors, and the world.

"Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks; this decision is conditional on Iran immediately opening its borders and ceasing all attacks against the United States, Israel, and countries in the region," the statement noted.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran. The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other senior officials. In response, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel and has targeted U.S. facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire of about two weeks to prevent military escalation and allow for negotiations. The agreement was reportedly brokered by Pakistan. One of the key points is Iran's commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping, while the sides halt attacks and prepare for talks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) state that no strikes have been carried out against Iran since 3:00 a.m. today, the statement of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says, Trend reports.

As part of large-scale strikes against Iran carried out the night before the ceasefire agreement, Israeli Air Force fighter jets struck launchers and ballistic missile sites.

According to the military, the goal was to reduce and deter Iranian missile attacks significantly.

The IDF, echoing Prime Minister Netanyahus statement, emphasized that the agreement does not apply to Lebanon and that the fight against Hezbollah continues.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes were carried out against the countrys largest cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats emanating from the Islamic Republic. As a result of the strikes on Iran, the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other key figures in the leadership were killed. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Iran also targeted U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks, aimed at preventing further escalation of hostilities and creating opportunities for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was reached with Pakistan acting as a mediator. One of the key points is Irans commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and the parties also agreed to cease attacks and prepare for negotiations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Iran has released a 10-point proposal it submitted to the U.S. side to end the war, the statement of Irans Supreme National Security Council says, Trend reports.

The statement notes that these proposals were accepted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The proposed conditions include a complete cessation of attacks on Iran, the withdrawal of U.S. military forces from the region and a ban on any attacks on Iran from bases, the creation of conditions for limited passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks under a protocol agreement with Iranian oversight, the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions against Iran and UN resolutions, compensation for damages to Iran through the creation of investment and financial funds, U.S. recognition of Irans right to enrich uranium and the commencement of negotiations on enrichment levels, a cessation of attacks on Irans allied groups in the region, as well as the repeal of all UN Security Council and IAEA Board of Governors resolutions against Iran.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes were carried out against the countrys largest cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats emanating from the Islamic Republic. As a result of the strikes on Iran, the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other key figures in the leadership were killed. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Iran also targeted U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks, aimed at preventing further escalation of hostilities and creating opportunities for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was reached with Pakistan acting as a mediator. One of the key points is Irans commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and the parties also agreed to cease attacks and prepare for negotiations.
TOKYO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held phone talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday after a two-week ceasefire deal was reached between Iran and the United States, urging Iran to swiftly secure safe passage for ships of all nations through the Strait of Hormuz.

Takaichi told reporters after the 25-minute call that she also conveyed to the Iranian leader the importance of an early de-escalation in the Middle East conflict, and that the two sides agreed to keep in communication.

While hailing the ceasefire agreement as a "positive move," Takaichi said Japan hopes a "final agreement" can be reached through diplomatic efforts as soon as possible.

Japan relies on the Middle East for more than 90 percent of its crude oil imports, most of which transit through the Strait of Hormuz. The effective closure of the strait following the outbreak of the Middle East conflict has triggered oil supply disruptions and price surges in the country.

The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire less than two hours before a deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump. The two sides are expected to hold negotiations in Pakistan on Friday. 
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The implementation of a ceasefire with all of Irans proposed principles accepted represents a major achievement for the country, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a post on his official X page, Trend reports.

According to him, the development reflects the success of Irans position in the process.

The implementation of the ceasefire with the acceptance of all the principles proposed by Iran is a great achievement for the country, Pezeshkian wrote on his account on the social media platform X.

According to him, from this point forward, Iranians will stand united across all fronts, in diplomacy, defense, public life, and essential services.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes were carried out against the countrys largest cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats emanating from the Islamic Republic. As a result of the strikes on Iran, the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other key figures in the leadership were killed. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Iran also targeted U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks, aimed at preventing further escalation of hostilities and creating opportunities for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was reached with Pakistan acting as a mediator. One of the key points is Irans commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and the parties also agreed to cease attacks and prepare for negotiations.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Facilities at the Lavan oil refinery on Lavan Island in Hormozgan Province in southern Iran came under attack earlier today, the statement of the National Iranian Oil Products Refining and Distribution Company (NIORDC) says, Trend reports.

The strike occurred around 10:00 (GMT+4) and resulted in a fire at the site. Emergency and firefighting teams are currently working to contain the blaze. All personnel were evacuated promptly, and no fatalities have been reported so far.

Details about the origin of the strike or the type of weapons used have not been disclosed.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes were carried out against the countrys largest cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats emanating from the Islamic Republic. As a result of the strikes on Iran, the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other key figures in the leadership were killed. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Iran also targeted U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks, aimed at preventing further escalation of hostilities and creating opportunities for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was reached with Pakistan acting as a mediator. One of the key points is Irans commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and the parties also agreed to cease attacks and prepare for negotiations.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Over the past 40 days, military airstrikes by the U.S. and Israel on Iran have resulted in the deaths of 26 medical workers and left 118 others injured, the statement of the Iranian Ministry of Health, Treatment, and Medical Education says, Trend reports.

The statement further detailed significant damage to health infrastructure, with 226 health centers, 55 emergency centers, 49 medical stations, and 41 ambulances being impacted. Additionally, eight hospitals were evacuated due to the ongoing attacks.

The airstrikes also caused extensive harm to civilians, particularly adolescents and women. A total of 220 adolescents under the age of 18, including 18 infants under five years old, lost their lives, while 1,997 adolescents, including 70 infants under two years old, sustained injuries. Furthermore, 257 women were killed, and 4,989 women were injured during this period.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran. The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other senior officials. In response, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel and targeted U.S. facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran agreed to a temporary ceasefire of about two weeks to prevent military escalation and allow for negotiations. The agreement was reportedly brokered by Pakistan. One of the key points is Iran's commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping, while the sides halt attacks and prepare for talks.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. A "Hermes 900" unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was recently shot down over Iran's southern Pars Province, the statement of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says, Trend reports.

According to the IRGC, the UAV was neutralized by Iran's Air Defense System.

IRGC emphasized that any aerial vehicle belonging to the United States or Israel entering Iranian airspace, even without engaging in military operations, is considered a violation of the ceasefire and will be met with a decisive response.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes were carried out against the countrys largest cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats emanating from the Islamic Republic. As a result of the strikes on Iran, the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other key figures in the leadership were killed. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Iran also targeted U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks, aimed at preventing further escalation of hostilities and creating opportunities for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was reached with Pakistan acting as a mediator. One of the key points is Irans commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and the parties also agreed to cease attacks and prepare for negotiations.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir held discussions on ceasefire violations in Iran and Lebanon, attributed to actions by Israel, Trend reports, citing the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

During the call, Araghchi praised Pakistans constructive role in ending the conflict and strengthening peace and stability in the region.

The officials also highlighted the importance of continued coordination following the recent phone conversation between Pakistans Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, ensuring the agreements reached are effectively implemented.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes were carried out against the countrys largest cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats emanating from the Islamic Republic. As a result of the strikes on Iran, the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other key figures in the leadership were killed. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Iran also targeted U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks, aimed at preventing further escalation of hostilities and creating opportunities for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was reached with Pakistan acting as a mediator. One of the key points is Irans commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and the parties also agreed to cease attacks and prepare for negotiations.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Three of the ten points of Irans plan, adopted as the basis for a future peace agreement with the United States, have already been violated, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on his page on X, Trend reports.

He noted that among the main violations is the failure of the U.S. and Israel to respect the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Pakistans Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif also directly emphasized this obligation, stating that a ceasefire must be implemented immediately in Lebanon and other regions, the statement said.

The second violation involved the incursion of a drone into Irans airspace, which was destroyed in the city of Lar in Fars province.

Ghalibaf also pointed out that, despite statements from the U.S. White House, Iran has not relinquished its right to uranium enrichment included in the plan proposed by Tehran.

Thus, the foundation for negotiations was clearly violated even before they began. In this situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations are not feasible, Ghalibaf concluded.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes were carried out against the countrys largest cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats emanating from the Islamic Republic. As a result of the strikes on Iran, the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other key figures in the leadership were killed. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Iran also targeted U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks, aimed at preventing further escalation of hostilities and creating opportunities for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was reached with Pakistan acting as a mediator. One of the key points is Irans commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and the parties also agreed to cease attacks and prepare for negotiations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a ceasefire agreement between Iran and the United States, Shahbaz Sharif wrote on his X page, Trend reports.

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere," he wrote.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran. The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other senior officials. In response, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel and has targeted U.S. facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly. Iran fully controls the Strait of Hormuz and allows passage only to vessels it deems necessary.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff, and White House adviser Jared Kushner will travel to Islamabad to hold talks with the Iranian delegation this coming weekend, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, Trend reports.

President Donald Trump is sending his negotiating team, led by Vice President J.D. Vance, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Mr. Kushner, to conduct talks in Islamabad this weekend. The first round of meetings will take place on Saturday morning local time, and we look forward to these in-person discussions, she said.

On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Strikes were carried out against the countrys largest cities, including Tehran. The White House justified the attack by citing missile and nuclear threats emanating from the Islamic Republic. As a result of the strikes on Iran, the countrys Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and several other key figures in the leadership were killed. Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel. Iran also targeted U.S. facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have surged.

On April 7, the U.S. and Iran reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire lasting approximately two weeks, aimed at preventing further escalation of hostilities and creating opportunities for negotiations. According to reports, the agreement was reached with Pakistan acting as a mediator. One of the key points is Irans commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and the parties also agreed to cease attacks and prepare for negotiations.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 8. The first round of peace talks between the US and Iran is expected to take place in Islamabad, Trend reports.

According to information, negotiations in the capital of Pakistan may take place on April 10.

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran, striking major cities, including Tehran. The White House cited missile and nuclear threats originating from the Islamic Republic as justification for the attacks. The strikes reportedly killed Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several other senior officials. In response, Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory operation against Israel and has targeted U.S. facilities across Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria using ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.

The conflict has placed the regions energy infrastructure and maritime shipping under serious threat. Due to security tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, global oil prices have risen significantly. Iran fully controls the Strait of Hormuz and allows passage only to vessels it deems necessary.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
VIENTIANE, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Lao leaders held talks to identify priorities for addressing urgent economic pressures, including securing fuel supplies, controlling prices, and tightening regulations on mining operations.

In a bid to tackle mounting economic challenges, a high-level meeting was held in capital Vientiane, bringing together senior officials, state enterprise leaders, and private sector representatives to address urgent issues, according to a report from the Lao Ministry of Finance on Wednesday.

Discussions focused on five priority areas, including securing fuel supply, promoting electric vehicles (EV), managing commodity prices, curbing informal trade, and strengthening oversight of mining operations.

The measures come as the public continues to face fuel shortages, rising prices, and broader economic pressures.

To stabilize fuel supply, the government will prioritize distribution for agriculture and food production, streamline import and supply chains, and strengthen nationwide monitoring of fuel stocks.

Efforts to promote EV adoption will focus on ensuring quality imports, fair pricing, and environmentally sustainable practices. Officials said expanding EV use could reduce reliance on fossil fuels while supporting green investment and the domestic automotive sector.

The government also plans to strengthen price controls on essential and luxury goods, crack down on informal and cross-border trade, and enforce stricter mining regulations to protect the environment and recover unpaid state revenues.

Speaking at the meeting on Monday, Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomvihane called for stronger coordination among ministries to prevent further impact on the public, while urging officials to lead by example in promoting frugality and responsible spending. 
Public exhibit blends art, science and community knowledge

Image by Jill Ritchie

A watercolor painting depicts methane bubbles trapped under ice.

An art and science exhibit this spring at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks explores the beauty, complexity and changing nature of Alaskas winter.

An opening reception will be held on Saturday, April 11, from 3-5 p.m., welcoming visitors to engage with artists, scientists and community partners.



On display through the end of May, the exhibit conveys the beauty and significance of lake and river ice in Alaskas ecosystems and communities.

The exhibit is part of the Fresh Eyes on Ice project, a collaborative effort led primarily by University of Alaska Fairbanks researchers.

The project expands observations of ice conditions to improve river ice safety, flood forecasting and long-term research while reflecting the needs and knowledge of local communities. It integrates field studies, remote sensing data, cameras, buoys, historical data, community-based monitoring and citizen contributions.



Winter in the Arctic is rapidly transforming, with significant impacts on freshwater ice and the communities that depend on it for travel, recreation and fishing access.



The exhibit encourages visitors to share in the beauty of Alaskas winter and learn how they can contribute to the ice observations and scientific research.



Featured artists include Seth Beaudreault, Jessie Hedden, Bruce Ervin, Kristin Link, David Mollett, Hannah Perrine Mode, Jennifer Moss, Marc Oggier, Jill Richie and Teresa Shannon. John Smelter curated the exhibit.



Youth artists from across Alaska who have been monitoring ice conditions through Fresh Eyes on Ice also will display their ice-themed artworks.

Support from NASA's Citizen Science for Earth Systems Program, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Geological Survey has enabled the project to partner with Tanana Chiefs Conference, the National Weather Services Alaska Pacific River Forecast Center, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment program.

ADDITIONAL CONTACT: John Smelter, 907-474-5127, jpsmelter@alaska.edu

210-26
BANGKOK, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The Election Commission of Thailand confirmed on Wednesday that the ruling Bhumjaithai Party has won the final remaining constituency seat in the February general election, completing the formation of the 500-member House of Representatives.

In a statement, the commission endorsed the ruling Bhumjaithai Party's victory in constituency 2 of Suphan Buri province, confirming the party's total number of seats at 192 and keeping it as the largest group in parliament.

On March 4, the Election Commission officially certified 499 parliamentary seats won in the February general election, with one remaining seat undecided. 
A groundbreaking ceremony for Indonesia's first melamine project, invested by PT GEABH Joint Technology, is held in the Gresik Special Economic Zone, East Java Province, Indonesia, April 8, 2026.(Xinhua/Li Jiacong)

SURABAYA, Indonesia, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's first melamine project, mainly invested in by a Chinese enterprise, marks a significant milestone in the country's industry journey, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on Wednesday.

In a video address at the project's groundbreaking ceremony, Airlangga said that natural gas will be processed into liquid ammonia through this project, and further developed into downstream projects such as urea, melamine, and ammonium nitrate.

He noted that the project will support key sectors including agriculture, chemical industry, and other strategic manufacturing industries, while opening opportunities for export and enhancing Indonesia's competitiveness in the global market.

The project is located in the Gresik Special Economic Zone in East Java province. With a total investment of about 600 million U.S. dollars by PT GEABH Joint Technology, a subsidiary of China Sichuan Golden Elephant Sincerity Chemical Co., Ltd, the project is expected to fill a gap in Indonesia's melamine market.

In his speech at the ceremony, Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Wang Lutong said the energy and chemical industrial chain plays a key role in linking energy resources with agricultural production and is of growing strategic importance.

Enhancing the supply capacity of key inputs such as energy and fertilizers, and promoting coordinated development across related industrial chains, is vital to ensuring food security and sustainable economic growth, he said, adding that it also provides a broad space for the two countries to deepen cooperation in fields such as agriculture, energy, and the chemical industry.

The project will help strengthen Indonesia's energy and chemical industrial chain, improve self-sufficiency in key products such as fertilizers, promote regional economic development, and contribute to the country's industrialization, he added. 
KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysia welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire in the Middle East, urging a permanent solution that takes into account the security and humanitarian interests of those in the region, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Wednesday.

"It is earnestly hoped that the negotiation process will be conducted in good faith, with a firm resolve to seeking lasting resolution to the issues currently facing the region," he said.

Separately, the foreign ministry said in a statement on the same day that the ceasefire agreement is an important step towards de-escalating tensions and urged all parties to fully respect and implement the terms of the ceasefire in good faith.

"Malaysia calls on all parties to utilize this opportunity to continue dialogue towards a durable and peaceful resolution, and urges the international community to support ongoing efforts towards lasting peace and stability," it said. 
by Billion Temesghen

BRUSSELS, April 7 (Xinhua) -- European leaders and United Nations officials have voiced growing alarm over a potential wider regional confrontation after U.S. President Donald Trump set an 8 p.m. Eastern Time deadline on Tuesday for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning to annihilate a "whole civilization" if no deal can be reached.

European Commission foreign affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper reiterated that the bloc rejects "any threats to attacks regarding critical civilian infrastructure" and urged "maximum restraint" and respect for international law. "We have always said that diplomacy is the answer."

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store also stressed the need for a diplomatic solution, warning that "you will not get ships out of the Strait of Hormuz by pursuing a military track," and describing the situation as "worrying."

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrow voiced opposition to any strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure, warning that such attacks would trigger "a new phase of escalation and reprisals."

Italy likewise emphasized the need to safeguard civilian infrastructure in Iran. In a note on the Middle East crisis, the government said it was monitoring risks of escalation affecting "the entire Iranian territory, without distinction between strategic, military and civilian targets."

At the United Nations, High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned Trump's rhetoric threatening to annihilate "a whole civilization," calling it "sickening" and warning that carrying out such threats would amount to "the most serious international crimes."

He said threats that spread fear and terror among civilians are unacceptable and must cease immediately, adding that deliberately attacking civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes "a war crime."

Earlier in the day, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said there is "no military objective that justifies the wholesale destruction of a society's infrastructure or the deliberate infliction of suffering on civilian populations," urging dialogue and warning that deliberate attacks on civilians amount to war crimes.

The conflict, triggered by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, has entered its sixth week, sending shockwaves through global energy markets, disrupting regional transport, and raising fears of a broader multi-front confrontation across the Middle East.

As Washington's rhetoric and military pressure intensified, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that if civilian targets are attacked, its response "will go beyond the region," underscoring escalation risks in an already volatile crisis.

Nearly an hour before his deadline on Tuesday evening, Trump posted on his social media site that he agreed to suspend the bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks. The White House later said Israel also agreed to the ceasefire. Iran followed with a statement saying it has forced Washington to accept its 10-point plan, with negotiations to be resumed on Friday in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

Against the accelerating tension, divisions are also exposed on U.S. soil. By Tuesday, about 20 Democratic lawmakers had called for invoking the Constitution's 25th Amendment to assess the president's fitness for office, reflecting deepening political tensions in Washington as the Iran conflict widened. Enditem.
Jet fuel rationing spreads among Italian airports due to Hormuz crisis.

Italy's aviation sector is grappling with a worsening jet fuel shortage that has triggered rationing measures at numerous airports, amid concern that disruption could extend into the summer travel season.

The crisis is rooted in the partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz following the US-Israel war against Iran, which has disrupted roughly 20 per cent of global oil supplies and caused fuel prices in some markets to more than double.

Air BP Italia, the local subsidiary of the British energy group, began rationing supplies at four airports in northern Italy - Milan Linate, Bologna, Treviso and Venice Marco Polo - with medical, government and commercial flights of more than three hours given priority in fuel allocation.

The move caps refuelling uplifts at a maximum of 2,000 litres per aircraft - less than one hour of fuel for workhorse narrow-body jets such as the Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 - and remain in force until at least Thursday 9 April. Short-haul carriers are being told to tanker additional fuel from previous legs.

The rationing was introduced to ensure supplies would remain available for emergency services, with priority given to ambulance flights, state flights and services of more than three hours in duration. Airport operators had ensured that Easter travel was accommodated before the restrictions came into force.

By Monday the crisis had deepened southward. Brindisi airport experienced a complete depletion of jet fuel, according to news agency ANSA, forcing aircraft to arrive with pre-positioned reserves as no fuel was available for purchase on-site.

Simultaneous constraints emerged at Reggio Calabria and Pescara. At Pescara, authorities reported "only one tanker, with a capacity of 20,000 litres," while Reggio Calabria imposed a cap of 3,000 litres per aircraft.

The situation at Brindisi was partly driven by airlines diverting there from the already-restricted northern airports.

Italy is estimated to have about seven months of supply autonomy, but the fragility of the European supply chain is the central concern for the coming months. Ryanair has warned that although its own fuel supplies are guaranteed until the end of May, summer cancellations cannot be ruled out if the conflict in Iran continues.

Last week Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said that a quick end to hostilities and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by mid or late April would avoid major problems, but that a prolonged closure could affect 10 to 25 per cent of fuel supplies for European carriers between May and June.

On Saturday, Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni became the first EU or NATO leader to travel to the Gulf region following the onset of the crisis, meeting with leaders in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE to lobby for energy security and discuss mitigation of a potential supply shock.

Many airlines entered the crisis with significant fuel hedging in place, covering the bulk of their 2026 requirements at pre-crisis prices - a buffer that provides some insulation in the short term but does not address physical supply shortfalls at individual airports.

Pope Leo on Tuesday said that threats against the population of Iran are "truly unacceptable" after US president Donald Trump said "a whole civilization will die tonight" in a shocking social media post.

Less than two hours before his Tuesday evening deadline, Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran, subject to the Strait of Hormuz reopening.

Iran said its military would coordinate passage through the Strait, with Pakistan set to host talks between delegations from Iran and the US in Islamabad on Friday.
BERLIN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz issued a statement on Wednesday welcoming the two-week truce reached between the United States and Iran.

Merz emphasized that the goal is to negotiate a permanent end to the conflict in the coming days, saying it can "only be achieved through diplomatic means."

The statement, published on the official government website, expressed gratitude to Pakistan for mediating the agreement. It noted that the negotiations should aim to protect the Iranian civilians and ensure regional security, which could avert a "severe global energy crisis."

Germany is in close coordination with the United States and other partners, and will contribute "in appropriate ways" to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, it said. 
Teatro Olimpico hosts STOMP from 14-19 April.

The acclaimed British percussion and movement show STOMP returns to Rome's Teatro Olimpico from 14 to 19 April, following a successful run in 2024.

Presented by the Accademia Filarmonica Romana, the production runs Tuesday to Friday at 20.30, with matinee and evening performances at 16.00 and 20.30 on Saturday and Sunday.

Created in Brighton in 1991 by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, STOMP has spent more than 30 years performing at venues and festivals worldwide, from Broadway to Tokyo.

The show won the Laurence Olivier Award for best choreography in 1994 and also received a nomination for best show. The New York Times has called it "theatre at its most seductive."

The wordless, plotless show features eight performer-dancers who create music and rhythm from everyday objects - bin lids, brooms, lighters, matchboxes, kitchen sinks and tyres - blending elements of percussion, dance, acrobatics and physical comedy.

Co-founder McNicholas describes the current cast as deliberately international, drawing performers from the UK, Spain, Canada, the US and Puerto Rico: "Every new performer brings a new interpretation of the show."

The Rome run will include two numbers that Roman audiences first encountered in 2024: Suitcases, inspired by decades of the company's international travels and the choreographic possibilities of luggage, and Poltergeist, in which household objects appear to take on a life of their own around a solo drummer playing what McNicholas describes as "a floating, ever-changing choreographic drum kit."
Experience what it means to study at The American University of Rome at our upcoming Open Day on Saturday, April 11, from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at our campus in Monteverde.

This is an opportunity to move beyond the brochures and Instagram reels and see the university in action - exploring classrooms, meeting faculty, and hearing directly from the students who define the AUR experience.

Throughout the day, you can:

Attend information sessions and program introductions in English or Italian

Meet our professors and speak one-on-one with admissions staff

Join a student panel discussion to hear honest perspectives on life at AUR

Take our free English evaluation test

Explore the campus through guided tours and informal exploration

Get clear guidance on admissions, housing, and financing your education

Designed to be flexible, the Open Day allows you to build your own experience, whether you want detailed academic insight, practical advice on applying, or simply a sense of what it feels like to live and learn at an international university in Rome.

For prospective students and families alike, its a chance to ask real questions, make meaningful connections, and decide if AUR is the right fit for you.
Waterford City and County Council have granted conditional planning permission for the construction of three new single-storey school buildings at Holy Family Junior School and Our Lady of Mercy Senior Primary School.

The proposed development in Holy Family includes three mainstream classes, a special classroom, and a soft play area.

Our Lady of Mercy will see the introduction of a new special classroom and a soft play area, as well as a new fence and gates around the schools playground.

Construction activity shall be limited to 8 am-7 pm from Monday-Friday and 8 am-2 pm on Saturday. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and bank holidays.

Other conditions laid out by the Council provide for the proper disposal and collection of waste material, and information on details of materials, textures and colours intended to be used on the building.

Writing on behalf of the Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Alphonsus Cullinan, Horizon Technical Services said the development would help cater to the increasing demand for special classrooms.

The development attracted one submission from a resident who lives in the close vicinity of the school, Breda Shanahan.

Ms Shanahan raised concerns that the development could lead to an invasion of privacy via a new pedestrian entrance, and called for timeframes to regulate the use of the new buildings outside of school hours.

Ms Shanahan said the development should also prompt the Council to seek a permanent solution to a seagull colony that lives on the schools' roofs. =

The population now peaks at 25-30 birds and chicks in July and August, when the school is closed, and neighbours are subject to the awful situation of living under a colony of aggressive seagulls, Ms Shanahan wrote.

Limited measures- banning foods in playgrounds and a roof power wash with partial nest removal on 20th February this year (after a six-year wait)- have not resolved the issue as the birds still inhabit the roofs.

No conditions on dealing with the seagull issue were included in the Councils decision.

Read More Harcourt applies for updated planning permission on Waterford's North Quays to maximise space

Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme
Waterford District Court has accepted jurisdiction in the case of a former employee of a shop, accused of stealing money by processing refunds to his own account.

Eddie Murphy (61) of 90 Doyle Street Waterford, is accused of processing 13 refunds from Lock Doctor in Lisduggan and one from the same company is Ardkeen on dates between February and July 2024, Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

The amounts allegedly taken ranged from 55 to 205 and came to a total of 1,828.

Judge John Cheatle accepted jurisdiction and remanded the defendant in continuing bail until June.

Funded under the Court Reporting Scheme.
Planning permission has been granted for a major retail-based development at a long vacant site in the centre of Dungarvan town.

Approved is the construction of multiple large retail buildings. A small number of apartments and a cafe are also approved on the site.

The applicant, Mr. Shane Houlihan, has previously planned similar proposals at the location on Richard A. Walsh Street, Dungarvan, which is part of the former Glanbia Site.

In October 2023, Mr. Houlihan has planning permission refused for the construction of a new Tesco store at the site.

Dungarvan is the only large urban area in Waterford without a Tesco, with five stores serving the city and Tramore.

Reference to Tesco is made within the updated planning files which were approved this week.

The files state: It is acknowledged that Dungarvan has a relatively limited number of national stores. In particular, it is noted that Dungarvan (and west Waterford) is not served by Tesco and as a result residents wishing to avail of this offer, are having to travel either across the County to Waterford City or into County Cork to Youghal.

The approved development will consist of a mixed-use site comprising the construction of 2 two-storey buildings.

Building one comprises a 12 storey anchor convenience and a comparison retail store. A cafe is also planned.

The first floor of the building will accommodate 3 two-bedroom apartments, 1 three-bedroom apartment and a management suite.

The total gross floor area of Building 1 will be approximately 4,737 sqm.

Building two comprises a two-storey store split into two units, each comprising of comparison retail sales areas.

The total gross floor area of Building 2 will be approximately 3,468 sqm.

The development will also provide a car park with 154 spaces.

(Funded by the Local Democracy Scheme)
A man was attacked, robbed and assaulted on the streets of Waterford City on St. Stephens Day.

On the evening of December 26, 2024, Waterford City Gardai received a call to attend an incident at Merchants Quay.

At the scene, they spoke to the injured party who had been attacked while walking down the Quay. The victim said that he had been followed and attacked by Philip Jordan and Victoria Dalton.

Jordan, (33) of no fixed address and Dalton (29) of Fisherstown, Campile, New Ross, Co. Wexford, pleaded guilty to assault and robbery of a man.

Detective Garda Stephen Burke outlined the facts of the case to Judge Eugene OKelly at a recent sitting of Waterford Circuit Court.

Attack

Dalton and Jordan tailed a man known to them from Waterford Bus Station down towards Merchant Quay. Outside the Gold Rush Casino, Jordan punched and kicked the man unprovoked, bringing him down to the ground.

His trousers and pants were pulled down while he was on the ground. Dalton forcibly inserted her fingers into the mans anus. According to her defence, she was searching for drugs. CCTV footage from the Gold Rush Casino showed the attack.

Jordon then stole the mans necklace and phone.

Two days later, Gardai arrested the pair after being called to an address in Ferrybank relating to a domestic incident. Gardai found Jordan wearing the mans necklace and holding his phone. Dalton denied to Gardai that she had sexually assaulted the victim. Dalton has 14 previous convictions, including possession of drugs for sale and supply and handling stolen property. She was on bail at the time of the offence.

Jordan has 59 previous convictions including assault and threats to kill.

The victim declined to make an impact statement.

Dalton claimed that she and Jordan had travelled to Dublin with the victim to buy drugs.

Defence counsel Sarah-Jane Comerford BL told the court that Dalton was a single mother to three young children and had sought self-employment in the beauty industry. Ms Comerford said that she was exceptionally apologetic for her actions and offered no excuses. According to Dalton, all three parties were using heroin together on the bus ride back from Dublin.

Judge OKelly said: That version of events is not supported by the victim.

Sentence

Ms Comerford told the Court that Dalton was in recovery for her addiction and that a custodial sentence would hamper her progress.

Judge OKelly told Ms Comerford: This Court has a duty of care to the victim that your client sexually assaulted and robbed violently.

[Note: Neither defendant was charged with any alleged sexual assault offence]

The matter will be re-visited in April.

Defence counsel Donnchadh Morgan BL said that Jordan had lived a "challenging life" growing up in a family impacted by alcohol addiction. Jordan has four children but their relationship is blighted by addiction.

Mr Morgan said that his client pleaded guilty and had remorse over his actions.

Judge OKelly imposed a six year sentence with the final four years suspended for four years. Jordan will be under probation supervision for that period.

Funded under the Court Reporting Scheme
A Dungarvan man received a two-year suspended sentence for storing 478 grams of cannabis at his home.

John Paul OBrien (41) of 35 Congress Hills, Dungarvan, was described as a cog in the criminal enterprise by Judge Eugene OKelly, at a hearing in Waterford Circuit Criminal Court.

Following a search of his premises, Gardai discovered a bag with approximately 9,500 worth of cannabis.

OBrien initially denied knowledge, before entering a guilty plea for the storage of drugs on May 11 2025. OBrien accepted that his premises were used to store drugs, but not as a base to distribute from.

An associated party had previously claimed ownership of the drugs. Gardai deemed the confession a lie and an attempt to derail the investigation.

OBrien had one previous conviction in relation to a hoax phone call in 2015.

Defence counsel Brian Kearney BL said the discovery in OBriens house came as part of a wider investigation into the Dungarvan drugs trade, and that OBrien was not the sole focus of the investigation.

Mr Kearney said OBrien felt under threat and had turned a blind eye to criminality in the process. Mr Kearney said his client was at a low risk of re-offending, and that OBrien had not come to the Gardais attention since the incident.

Judge Eugene OKelly reminded the court that OBrien had provided conflicting information to Gardai and was not forthcoming regarding his previous conviction relating to a hoax phone call.

Mr Kearney attributed OBriens evasiveness to the alleged intimidation he faced by individuals higher up in the drug-dealing pyramid. OBrien is a plumber by trade and has recently faced ill health.

Judge OKelly questioned OBriens commitment to a sober lifestyle. OBrien had previously told his probation officer that he had given up taking cocaine but continued to smoke cannabis.

The court heard that OBrien claimed to have given up cannabis in the New Year, but was unable to provide clear samples.

Judge OKelly said OBriens two-year suspended sentence would be activated if he came back before the court in breach of his sentence. For the first 12 months of his sentence, OBrien will be under the supervision of the probation service.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme
MOSCOW, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia has started to test a prototype electrode-less plasma engine designed for deep space missions, the National Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute" announced.

The engine is being tested in a specialized facility simulating space conditions, said Institute President Mikhail Kovalchuk at a meeting of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences on Tuesday.

"We have a whole series of developments... aimed at creating a fundamentally new engine for deep space travel. We have a facility that simulates space conditions. It is a huge volume, almost 1,000 cubic meters, with enormous pumping speed. That's where this electrode-less plasma engine is being installed to test all of its parameters," Kovalchuk said.

He added that a trial run of the facility was conducted the previous day under the Kurchatov Institute's supervisory board.

The Kurchatov Institute, one of Russia's leading scientific centers, is renowned for its achievements in nuclear energy and physics. 
Waterford City and County Council is advising the public that St Otterans Cemetery, Ballinaneeshagh, will be closed on Wednesday, April 8.

The closure is to facilitate resurfacing works on the central roadway.

The cemetery will reopen on the morning of April 10
A Waterford man has been ordered to pay 4,000 in compensation to his ex-partner for shoving her through a glass door.

Garda AnnMarie Hennessy told Waterford District Court that on December 23, 2021, the injured party gave a statement that during an argument and while parked at a garage, her partner, Brandon Power (31) of 89 Central Avenue, Lisduggan, punched a windscreen, causing it to crack.

Later, the injured party reported that the defendant had assaulted her during a row earlier in the day.

During the dispute, the defendant kicked a glass door.

When the injured party tried to get away, he caught her by the jacket and shoved her into the broken door.

The court was told that she sustained injuries to her hands as a result of the assault.

In a separate, unrelated incident with a second injured party, on March 22, 2022, the defendant headbutted a car windscreen on Canada Street and broke it.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the charges of assault and criminal damage.

His ex-partner provided a victim impact statement to the judge, and while it was not read allowed in court, Judge John Cheatle said he had taken its contents on board.

Acting for the defendant, solicitor Ken Cunningham said that while he did not want to minimise his client's actions, he and the first injured party were in a toxic relationship and not suited to one another and, he said, both had been drinking.

He said his client had no previous convictions and both parties had moved on.

Mr Cunningham said that they accepted the assault had a profound impact but was not intended and handed in a letter of apology as well as testimonials to the court.

The accident should never have happened, and he accepts responsibility, said Mr Cunningham.

The court was told that the incident happened more than four years ago and since then, Mr Power underwent a period of reflection.

Mr Cunningham told the court that his client is a stable and focused individual in college and about to start a small business.

But he said that was not to say [the injured party] should be forgotten, and the defendant had raised compensation in the amount of 4,000, as well as 500 for the second injured party.

Judge Cheatle made both compensation orders in respect of the assault and criminal damage.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.
There has been an avalanche of money laundering cases using mules and a vast number still to come", Waterford District Court has heard.

Acting for Bryan Walsh (31), 2 Apian Close, Ardkeen Village, who pleaded guilty to four counts of money laundering, solicitor Hilary Delahunty said that the element of recklessness in the law means that someone does not even need to know how their account details came to be used by criminals.

Your account being used is enough. You dont have to have given your details, and I dont think that is the case in any other offence, Mr Delahunty told Judge John Cheatle.

Sergeant John Phelan told the court that in September 2023, gardai received a report that 7,840 was taken from a bank account of a person in Dublin, who had fallen prey to an An Post scam.

Bank of Ireland reported to the gardai a number of suspicious transactions from the victims account to the defendants Revolut account.

Gardai obtained the defendant's account details and discovered that 3,780 of the victims total loss was taken and funneled through Walshs account.

The bank reimbursed the victim for the money lost.

The court was told Walsh had 12 previous convictions, including for theft, assault and affray.

Mr Delahunty said in mitigation for his client, the mastermind of the scam knows it is impossible for the money mule to get away with the crime because their account details are easily given to gardai.

His client had shared his details with a good friend and feels awful and stupid about it.

He said his client was concerned for the victim and his actions were down to if not criminality, but stupidity. Imposing a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, Judge Cheatle said it was a very serious matter.

Funded under the Court Reporting Scheme.
Sarah Slater and Ellen O'Donoghue

Gardai have been notified in advance of Thursdays nationwide fuel protest by organisers of the planned convoy routes and meeting points across the country.

Organisers have asked that everyone protest safely and respectfully, and to keep all emergency routes and hard shoulders clear at all times.

The main protest locations and times involve Dublin, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Donegal, Clare, Limerick, Cork, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Portumna, Banagher Bridge, Athlone and surrounding counties.

The protests have resulted in nationwide traffic disruption over the last several days, with protesters causing gridlock around Dublin city centre for a second day on Wednesday over rising fuel costs caused by the war in Iran.

Several tractors were parked along OConnell Street and buses were abandoned on OConnell Bridge on Wednesday, as farmers and other fuel-dependent workers blocked the busy routes.

Protesters have called for a cap on kerosene and diesel, and for the carbon tax and excise duty to be removed for an interim period.

On Thursday in Dublin and Leinster, meetings are planned at Kinnegad Plaza between 7am and 7.30am, M7 Junction 14 Monasterevin at 7am, Navan Retail Park to move off at 7.30am, M1 Castle Bellingham at 7am, and the N11 Southside/Wicklow feeder to gather at 7am and roll towards Dublin.

The main Portlaoise and Tullamore town gatherings are to meet in their respective towns at 7am to move off at 7.30am.

In Portumna/Banagher Bridge a high visibility rolling protest over the Shannon crossing is to meet at 6am and roll slowly and peacefully from 6.30am with county feeder support from Galway/Loughrea, Tupperary, the Offaly/Birr side, Ballinasloe/Laurencetown and Banagher.

In Athlone and the Midlands, a meeting is planned on the M6 between Junctions 7 and 8 at 7am to move off from 7.30am.

There will also be a gathering in Waterford City, with feeder routes from Dungarvan, Cappoquin, Lismore, Kilmacthomas, Ferrybank, New Ross, Campile, Mooncoin, Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel.

In Wexford, a gathering is planned at 7am at the N11/N25 Ballindinas New Ross Road roundabout to move off at 7.30am.

In Sligo, plans are to meet at the N4/N15 interchange at 7.30am for a rolling move from 8am.

Plans in Donegal are to meet at the Tesco car park on the Port Road in Letterkenny at 6am to move off from 6.15am.

In Clare, vehicles are to meet at the Banner Plaza on Junction 12 of the M18 at 7am, to depart at 7.30am.

In Limerick, groups from Beary's Cross, Daly's Cross, Croom and Bunratty Village are all to feed into the rolling route from Junction 29 on the M7 to Junction 2 on the N18.

There are to also be vehicles coming from Midleton, Watergrasshill, Ballincollig, Mallow, Macroom, Clonakilty, Ballyhooly and surrounding areas.

In a social media post, organisers said, "If you are not in a truck, van, tractor, or convoy vehicle, please come out safely, stand shoulder to shoulder with us, wave your Irish flags, and support the people of Ireland".
In the beauty sphere, a beautiful package doesnt always mean a winning formula, but often, great design is a signal that whats inside the box, tube or bottle is the business. Here are six favourites.

Map of the Heart Gold Heart V.4; Amouage Gold Woman 100ml EDP; Dior Forever Glow Luminizer.

Map of the Heart Gold Heart V.4 ($295). This Australian-designed, French-made fragrance brand was launched in 2014 by filmmakers Sarah Blair and the late Jeffrey Darling. The distinctive bottle, which was designed by Pierre Dinand, is based on an anatomically correct heart and fits perfectly in the palm of a hand. At the core of this fragrance, which was developed by master perfumer Jacques Huclier, are notes of cardamom, cinnamon and pink pepper, which give way to a heart of warm milk overdosed with saffron.

Amouage Gold Woman 100ml EDP ($599). While we are on fragrances, a standout for both bottle and contents is this hard-hitting floral comprising lily-of-the-valley, rockrose, frankincense, iris, jasmine, myrrh, civet and musk. The distinctive golden, hand-finished bottle is a pure joy to have and to hold. This is a keeper on all fronts.

Dior Forever Glow Luminizer in Blue Strobe ($102). When it comes to make-up packaging, we can always rely on Dior to raise the bar. The silver compact looks great in any handbag, while inside, the highlighter is packed with hydrating hyaluronic acid. While its on the cutting-edge of make-up technology, the quilting detail harks back to the chairs used at Christian Diors first couture show in 1947.
BERLIN, April 8 (Xinhua) -- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced an exemption to a controversial law that requires men aged 17 to 45 to report long-term foreign travels to the military, the German news agency dpa reported on Wednesday.

The announcement followed recent public uproar over a specific clause in this year's newly implemented legislation, which mandated that all men aged 17 to 45 must obtain permission from the armed forces before traveling abroad for more than three months.

Although the new legislation went into effect at the beginning of this year, the specific clause had largely gone unnoticed. The clarification came after multiple media outlets brought the rule into the spotlight.

Pistorius told dpa that an exemption will be issued this week to clarify the rule. "Whether 17 or 45 years old or in between -- everyone is naturally allowed to travel and currently needs no permission to do so," the minister said, adding that there is no need to report longer stays abroad.

However, he defended the clause as a necessary precaution for potential national emergencies. He said the reporting procedures would only be activated in a state of tension or defense.

Currently, Germany's military service remains voluntary. But if voluntary recruitment fails to meet targets to boost the country's active troop strength, or if Europe's security situation deteriorates, parliament can vote to enforce mandatory service. 
LONDON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The International Maritime Organization (IMO) chief said Wednesday that the current priority is to evacuate stranded vessels and ensure safe navigation following a Gulf truce.

"The priority now is to ensure an evacuation that guarantees the safety of navigation," IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said in an interview with Xinhua, welcoming the ceasefire "for the health and well-being of seafarers and the global shipping industry."

Dominguez said he is working with relevant parties to implement appropriate mechanisms to ensure the safe transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.

The strait, a key global energy shipping lane, has seen shipping activities nearly halted following large-scale military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran on Feb. 28, followed by retaliatory strikes from Iran.

Iran and the United States have agreed to a ceasefire and will hold negotiations in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan, on Friday. Iran promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz for the two-week truce under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces.

According to the IMO, as of Tuesday, a total of 22 vessel attack incidents had been confirmed in areas around the Strait of Hormuz, with 10 seafarers killed and around 20,000 stranded in the Gulf. 
Distinguished Professor awards go to two professors committed to student success

April 8, 2026

OGDEN, Utah  Two Weber State University professors known for their excellent teaching, contributions to others, and research have been selected as this years Brady Presidential Distinguished Professors.

This 21-year tradition is named after the late Rodney Brady, who served as the universitys president from 1978 to 1985. Rodney and his wife, Carolyn Brady, provided a generous gift to fund this annual honor, which recognizes WSU professors who demonstrate the highest quality teaching, scholarship, research, and community service.

Brandon Koford, economics professor

Brandon Kofords students and colleagues in the Department of Economics know him for his integrity, sound judgment, and collaborative leadership.

Hes deeply committed to mentorship, making sure students feel both challenged and supported. This is best seen through the success of his students, who regularly publish research findings in professional publications. From helping students secure scholarships and internships while attending WSU to guiding them toward full-ride scholarships at prestigious graduate programs, Koford has a reputation for going the extra mile.

Koford also shares his own research with students in his classes, including a course he teaches on econometrics, which uses math and statistics to analyze economic data. He often demonstrates how economic reasoning and principles can be applied to meaningful, real-world questions.

During his tenure as economics department chair from 2016 to 2022, Koford transformed the departments culture into one of deep collaboration and support. Those who work alongside him say he exemplifies what it means to be a complete faculty member, meaning he seamlessly combines research, scholarly work, and service.

Kofords dedication to teaching has earned him the Presidential Teaching Excellence Award, multiple Buehler Teaching fellowships, the Richard Alston Excellence in Teaching Award, and repeated nominations for the former Crystal Crest Rodney H. Brady Master Teacher Award.

Marek Matyjasik, earth and environmental sciences professor and department chair

With more than 20 years of university-level teaching, Marek Matyjasik has distinguished himself as a professor who bridges scientific theory with real-world application.

His dedication to immersive learning has taken students far beyond the classroom, from summer field camps throughout the state to expeditions exploring the volcanic landscapes of Iceland and Hawaii. He secured funding in 1998 for Weber States undergraduate groundwater well field, the first at a university west of the Mississippi River, providing hands-on training to thousands of students in hydrogeology.

Matyjasik has authored and co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed manuscripts and

delivered over 60 professional presentations, most of which were completed with

WSU students as co-authors or co-presenters.

He ensures his students have experience with industry-standard tools and work, so theyre ready to start their careers. Students he taught are now employed at organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Geological Survey, Utah Geological Survey, and Kennecott Copper. He has a 100% job placement rate for students completing both his Groundwater and Environmental Assessment and Engineering Geology courses.

Matyjasik is a rare two-time recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, and has a successful record of externally funded research grants and awards totaling almost $450,000  which have directly enhanced education access, curriculum, and undergraduate research.
PARIS, April 8 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday condemned Israel's latest strikes on Lebanon, stressing that "Lebanon must be fully covered by" the Middle East ceasefire.

France condemns "in the strongest possible terms" Israel's "indiscriminate strikes" in Lebanon on Wednesday that caused "a very high number of civilian casualties," Macron said on X after speaking by phone with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam.

These strikes "pose a direct threat to the sustainability of the ceasefire that has just been reached. Lebanon must be fully covered by it," Macron noted.

So far, the Israeli strike on Wednesday across Lebanon has killed at least 254 people and injured 1,165 others, with densely populated neighborhoods in the capital, Beirut, among the hardest hit, according to the latest data provided by the Lebanese Civil Defense.

Macron also spoke with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian and U.S. President Donald Trump Wednesday after the announcement of the ceasefire.

"I told both of them that their decision to accept a ceasefire was the best possible one," he said on X.

"I expressed my hope that the ceasefire will be fully respected by each of the belligerents, across all areas of confrontation, including in Lebanon," Macron said.

A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect early Wednesday. Israel claimed it would comply with the truce, but insisted the agreement does not cover Lebanon, although Pakistan, the mediator of the deal, said it does apply to Lebanon. 
A century-old West Mayo secondary school has welcomed 28 school leaders from across Ireland for a field trip organised by digital learning specialists Wriggle Learning, offering a first-hand look at how digital learning is reshaping classrooms ahead of senior cycle reform.

The visit to Sancta Maria College, Louisburgh came as schools work to adapt to the new senior cycle reformed subjects, where continuous assessment and project-based work will play a much greater role in how students are assessed.

Serving students from across West Mayo, Connemara and the islands of Clare Island and Inishturk, Sancta Maria College embedded a one-to-one device programme across all year groups, ensuring students stay connected to their teachers, their subjects and the wider world, regardless of weather conditions, rural location or travel challenges.

School leaders last week heard from Principal Dr Aine Moran on the schools journey before students demonstrated how they use devices to build digital portfolios, engage, collaborate, create and showcase their learning.

Visitors then saw digital learning in action across multiple classrooms, from research and collaboration to assessment and feedback.

We are delighted to share and showcase our one-to-one technology journey here in Sancta Maria College, as we continue to learn alongside others and contribute to the evolving landscape of teaching and learning in Ireland as we embrace senior cycle reform, said Dr Aine Moran.

As a school in a rural and coastal area, weve always understood the importance of ensuring our learners arent limited by geography. Technology gives every student equal access to learning, opportunities and the wider world. Our device programme has transformed how students engage, collaborate and create, preparing them for a digital future that is already here.

Students at Sancta Maria College using their digital devices in partnership with Wriggle Learning, showing how digital learning is reshaping classrooms.

Senior cycle reform represents one of the most significant changes to Irish education in decades, with up to 40% of marks set to come from in-school assessment components by 2029, placing greater emphasis on digital learning and student-led work.

Sean Glynn, Chief Learning Officer at Wriggle Learning, said that what stands out at Sancta Maria is how well planned and embedded digital learning is across the school.

This isnt about technology for its own sake. Its about improving how students learn, collaborate and demonstrate their understanding. For school leaders, seeing that in action, and hearing directly from students, is incredibly powerful as they plan for the changes coming under senior cycle reform.

The visit highlights how schools in Mayo are working together to ensure students are equipped with the skills needed for further education, careers and a rapidly evolving digital world.
Achills most universally lauded painter-son, Paul Henry, was born 150 years ago next Saturday, April 11, while his biography, An Irish Portrait  which sings the islands praises  was published precisely 75 years ago.

On Achill, Paul and his first wife, Grace Mitchell, stayed initially with Elizabeth White and her husband John Barrett, of Keel, where they ran the post office, and whose portraits he painted in My Host and Hostess. Their grandniece, Elizabeth Barrett, carries on the same warm family tradition of hospitality to this day in the Bervie Guest House. Later, the Henrys lodged with Bridgid Fadian, a widow who married an uncle of the Dooagh historian, John Twin McNamara, two years after her first husband drowned. He perished along with John Weir and Michael Weir in July 1910, and John Twin (1935-2025) told this writer that their funeral, mentioned in An Irish Portrait, enabled him to date Paul Henrys precise arrival date on Achill as the 5th of that month.

John Twins grandfather, Johnny Tom Owen, was a friend of Paul Henry, and Paul was later to write in his biography that Johnnys son Anthony  Johns father  had an artistic gift that reminded him of the work of no less a painter than Vincent Van Gogh.

John Twin grew up just across the road from Eva OFlahertys St Colmans Knitting Industries at Dooagh, a cultured Galway woman who had known Paul Henry in Paris in the late 1890s, in London in the very early 1900s, and on Achill subsequently. They shared a common OFlaherty ancestry (Paul on his mother's side) and John Twin spoke of seeing Paul call into Evas home in the mid-1950s, possibly to say a final farewell.

In 1915, Paul Henry was involved with the stage design of The Rising of The Moon in halla Dooagh with Claud Chavasse, Darrell Figgis, and a young Anthony McNamara, after which Figgis gave a lantern slides talk on the Norse invasion of Ireland, no less. One year later Paul was commissioned to paint a portrait of Eva's half-brother, Arthur O'Gorman Lalor, in Limerick, and that picture is now in the Limerick Municipal Gallery of Art.

The late John Twin McNamara with a book about Achill's 'forgotten heroine' Eva O'Flaherty, written by Mary J Murphy.

While its been known for some time that OFlaherty was an original cofounder of Cumann na mBan in Dublin, it has been discovered recently that she was also an extremely influential hands-on organiser with the Cumann in Limerick in 1914, with Molly Spring Rice of Asgard fame. Eva, whose 63rd anniversary occurs on April 17, grew up in Limerick after her mother died in Lisdonagh House, Caherlistrane, in 1881.

Spring Rice and Figgis were pivotally involved in the Howth Gun-Running escapade of 1914, Figgis wrote to Eva from Reading Prison in 1916, and Millie Figgis and Eva were on a Cumann na mBan sub-committee in 1918, so the interlocking circles were many and varied.

While Paul Henry made zero mention of Grace Mitchell in An Irish Portrait, thrilling information has come to light recently regarding his second wife, Mabel Young, and a hitherto undocumented occasion during which he holidayed in Corrnamona, on the shores of Lough Corrib, c. 1938. From a credible source, whose mother was born in the locality, we know now that Henry stayed on the island of Doorus in that year, sleeping in a converted green aluminium bus! The vehicle was well kitted out for hosting select guests in the summer months, where the lake vista opens out onto Glan and the Connemara mountains, a godsend view for any painter.

Renowned painter Paul Henry first arrived to Achill on July 5, 1910 while his biography. which sings the island's praises, was published in 1951.

A number of locals in the vicinity interacted with Paul Henry at the time, the knowledge of his presence there is still vivid amongst their now-elderly children, and one lady (now deceased) saw him painting, as a little girl. She told her son, this writers cheerful informant, that a well-dressed city lady  in something of a rush, and now known to have been Mabel Young  asked for directions to find Paul, way back in the late 1930s. That observant little girl also saw Henry painting, as did some others, and the cosy holiday bus was only taken apart and removed in the 1960s. That dismantling was witnessed by the girls equally observant, then teenage, son, still hale and hearty. He recalls seeing colourful stacks of pots of paint, and numerous paint brushes, that were all jammed in underneath it, presumably the former possessions of Irelands most famous birthday boy painter.

Mary J Murphy is the author of three Achill-themed history and art books, and is currently working on a major research project linking Achill painters with Cornwall, a location in which both Grace and Paul Henry painted.
Vivienne Clarke

The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Owen Reidy has spoken of the double standards in Ireland in the way union protests are treated compared to those of farmers. His comments come as the Minister for Transport said it was not acceptable that people were not being allowed to go about their daily lives.

Reidy said: I've been involved in many public transport disputes over the years, and we have to ballot our members for industrial action, serve seven days notice, and ultimately, if we don't do that, the High Court can injunct the disputes and sequester the union's funds, but it seems farmers and businesses, because the hauliers are businesses, can do as they please."

Something was happening in middle Ireland, he said on RTE radios Today with David McCullagh show, and said the Government had a problem because they were not responsible for the current crisis.

It's a lunatic in the White House and a war criminal in Tel Aviv, but they are responsible for the policy choices, and that's key, and we've looked for a member of the Labour Employer Economic Forum, which is the Government, unions and employers, and that's meeting next Friday, and we'll be putting a range of immediate policy options that we think it's imperative the Government take, because I think in the cost of living crisis, which is only going to get worse, notwithstanding the welcome ceasefire last night, it's crucial that we put workers centre stage.

The Government should be seeking to make public services cheaper for people, he said. We think, as this crisis is only going to get worse, it's important that they make them much cheaper, and in some cases free, and that's education, health and public transport for a period of time. We think workers need to see a double indexation of the tax plans, because we didn't get it in last year's budget and we need to get it in this one.

We think the government need to come out with a very clear statement quickly that workers who can work from home and want to work from home should have the right to do so during this crisis, and we really have to get rid of this nonsense of the VAT cut for the hospitality sector. It was always a ridiculous idea. It's even more ridiculous now.

We need to join up social welfare and revenue so we can give targeted measures to workers who need them. Revenue and social welfare don't seem to talk to each other. We don't have the data in the administration, and of course we need to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels.

We have to make sure we protect families and we protect workers, many of whom, before this crazy escapade of Donald Trump, have been suffering significantly. So that's the message for Government from us.

Minister for Transport Darragh OBrien said it was not acceptable that people were not being allowed to go about their daily lives because of the fuel protests, and called for a de-escalation of the situation.

Speaking on the David McCullagh show, he said the Government had been in discussions with recognised national representative bodies such as the hauliers.

We have responded significantly already. We cannot have a situation where peoples normal daily lives are being affected. People have a right to go to work. We cannot respond to every single protest that happens.

Costing businesses significant losses was counterproductive, he added.

This is unprecedented, what's happening right now, and what I would ask for is a de-escalation, an end of the protest. I think we've already seen what is happening in the Middle East, finally an initial de-escalation, the first one we've seen of a ceasefire. This is a global crisis. Ireland, like every other country, is impacted by it, and we'll do our best to support people, but the way of doing that is not to disrupt our own supply chain.

O'Brien said that it was not acceptable that small groups of protestors were causing disruption.

What it's doing now is costing the very businesses within our cities and towns significant losses already, and that's not, that's counterproductive, like if we want to retain the resources to be able to support our people, we need to have a functioning economy, anyone who sees what's happening right now, (when supply chains are so badly disrupted, and that impacts on society, it impacts on our economy, and it's not the way to go about doing our business.
ABU DHABI, April 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates said Wednesday that its air defense systems intercepted 17 ballistic missiles and 35 drones launched from Iran, despite a 14-day temporary ceasefire announced earlier between Iran and the United States.

Since the start of the current escalation, UAE air defense forces have intercepted a total of 537 ballistic missiles, 26 cruise missiles and 2,256 drones, the ministry said.

The latest attacks on Wednesday caused three minor injuries, bringing the total number of wounded to 224, involving multiple nationalities including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan, among others, it said.

Since the start of the attacks, 12 people have been killed in the UAE. 
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran and the United States have agreed to a 2-week ceasefire less than two hours before the deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump, and will hold negotiations in Pakistan.

Trump announced Tuesday he has agreed to "suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks."

The decision is "subject to" Iran agreeing to the complete, immediate and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz, he wrote on social media.

The ceasefire came shortly before Trump's deadline for Iran to agree to a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or the "whole civilization will die tonight."

On the Iranian side, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has said that Iran will cease "defensive operations" if attacks against it stop.

Araghchi also promised safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz during the 2-week ceasefire under "coordination" with Iranian armed forces, saying that Iran will hold negotiations with the U.S. side in Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

Pakistan, the broker of the ceasefire, confirmed the latest progress on Wednesday.

"I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif posted on X.

Sharif has earlier called on the U.S. side to extend the deadline set by Trump by two weeks, and requested Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.

Explaining the reasons for making this decision, Trump said, "We have already met and exceeded all Military objectives."

Trump said the U.S. side had received a 10-point proposal from Iran, depicting it as "a workable basis on which to negotiate."

According to Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, the 10-point proposal includes a U.S. commitment to ensure no further acts of aggression, continued Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of Iran's nuclear enrichment rights, and the lifting of sanctions, among others.

On potential negotiations with the United States, Araghchi stressed that the temporary ceasefire does not mean an end to war, pending negotiations on the details of the 10-point proposal.

The ceasefire eased tensions among regional countries and the global market. Global oil prices are plummeting by around 15 percent following the announcement of the ceasefire. 
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

There might be an early shower; otherwise, mostly cloudy. .

Tonight

There might be an early shower; otherwise, mostly cloudy.
CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran has paused hostilities, but analysts warn it has not built the trust needed to prevent conflict from resuming, given decades of rivalry between the two countries.

SHARP WORDS DESPITE TRUCE

Washington and Tehran exchanged pointed remarks on Wednesday even as the truce held.

U.S. President Donald Trump told Sky News the deal "is good," but warned that military action could resume quickly if it fails.

Iranian military advisor Mohsen Rezaee wrote on social media that Tehran's armed forces "remain on the trigger until complete assurance of safeguarding national interests is achieved."

International reaction was cautiously positive. Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi said serious negotiations were now required for lasting peace. "For now, the world has stepped back from disaster," he wrote on social media.

Markets responded sharply to the truce: crude oil prices fell while stocks rose. Analysts, however, urged caution.

Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo Bank, said the truce remained only a pause. "The real test is whether strikes truly end, negotiations progress, Hormuz remains open, and Israel aligns with de-escalation," she said.

Shipping company Maersk said the ceasefire may create transit opportunities but cautioned it did not yet provide full maritime certainty.

WIDE GAPS REMAIN

Trump announced on social media that Washington had received a 10-point proposal from Tehran, calling it "a workable basis on which to negotiate" and saying the two-week window would allow a final agreement to be reached.

Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency reported the proposal includes a U.S. commitment to halt further acts of aggression, continued Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz, recognition of Iran's right to nuclear enrichment, and the lifting of sanctions.

Iran's negotiating team is expected to begin talks with a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad, Pakistan on Friday.

Palestinian analyst Ahmed Rafiq Awad said both sides had strong incentives to reach an agreement. "Washington seeks reassurance for its public, the oil market, and the midterm elections," he said. "Iran wants to avoid military and economic damage. If we set aside Israeli actions, a settlement is very possible."

However, some analysts warned that major disagreements persist despite the diplomatic shift.

"The current agreement is meant to contain escalation, not resolve the underlying conflict," said Palestinian analyst Akram Atallah. "It opens a diplomatic window, but structural issues remain."

The core disputes center on Iran's nuclear program, economic sanctions, and regional influence.

Washington regards Iran's nuclear ambitions as a major security threat; Tehran insists it does not seek nuclear weapons and enrichment is a sovereign right. Iran is seeking substantial sanctions relief, while the United States prefers to retain economic leverage. Washington has long sought to curb Iranian influence in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, while Tehran views its regional role as essential for deterrence.

"The disagreements are rooted in decades of political, ideological, and strategic rivalry," Atallah said. "Deep mistrust means any agreement will likely remain fragile."

Israel's position adds a further layer of uncertainty. The country may continue to influence the course of U.S.-Iran negotiations. The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that four Israel-related issues remain unresolved, including questions over Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. 
SCIS-WIEGO Hybrid Roundtable on the Regulation of the Platform Economy in South Africa

When: Wednesday, 08 April 2026 Where:

North Lodge, 2 St Davids Place, Parktown. Start time: 14:00 Enquiries: kitso.kgaboesele@wits.ac.za

This roundtable webinar is hosted by the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies in partnership with Women in Informal Employment: Globalizing and Organizing.

The hybrid roundtable will look at the regulation of the platform economy in South Africa.

It's convened ahead of the International Labour Organizations forthcoming Convention on the Platform Economy. The discussion will feature inputs from the National E-Hailing Federation of South Africa (NEFSA), the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Transport, and the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI). Join Ruth Castel-Branco (SCIS) and Pat Horn (WIEGO) as they discuss the regulation of digital labour platforms and the advancement of decent work in South Africa with key stakeholders from government, labour, and academia.
Thriving through the lens of memory

Imagine this: youre in a dark cinema, the screen flickers, and a familys story begins to unravel

Faces youll never forget, homes left behind, memories pieced together like shards of glass. You lean in, feeling both close and distant, as if youre witnessing someone elses life, but somehow, it feels like your own. This is the world of Professor Tanja Sakota, where film, memory and emotion meet.

Feelings about film

For Sakota, Associate Professor and Deputy Head of the School of Arts, storytelling isnt just an academic pursuit, its a lifeline, a lens through which we navigate memory, trauma and resilience. At the heart of her work lies emotion. For her, filmmaking blurs the boundaries between documentary and fiction, emphasising character, memory and the human experience.

Filmmaking is emotional. You cannot differentiate yourself from that. Each character has a backstory, emotions and the filmmaking process taps into these, not just for the character, but for the audience too.

Sakota has been at Wits for over two decades. Im a proper Witsie, through and through, she says. Its in my blood and veins. Her journey into storytelling began as a Wits student in theatre but it was when she majored in Film and Television that she found her calling.

Watching footage of civilian casualties during the Gulf War, she realised the power of images and the responsibility that comes with them. We were watching what looked like a video game but there were real civilian casualties. That search for truth sparked my research trajectory, she recalls.

Centring the Self

In her experimental award-winning documentary Shattered Reflection, spanning four generations, she traces her familys forced migration to South Africa after the Second World War. I use my own experiences of grief and loss to navigate their stories, she says. The film opens with a line that hits like a punch: How do you face another day when your heart is broken?

The sudden loss of her 18-year-old daughter in 2020 became a catalyst for Sakotas pull towards this autoethnography, a method of research that places the self at the centre of inquiry. When you experience trauma at that level, your life is shattered. You cant just pick up the pieces, you have to recreate something different, like a mosaic. Autoethnography allowed me to navigate my own emotions and make sense of the stories within my family, across generations.

Unlike traditional research, which looks from the outside in, this method places personal experience at the centre. Her book Uncovering Memory complements the film, blending theory with narrative to explore grief, resilience and intergenerational memory.

This blending of personal reflection and narrative is part of her teaching. Students are encouraged to explore their own agency, vulnerability and resilience through documentary and fiction. Sakota describes a course where students create three-minute films drawing from their personal experiences and interactions with Johannesburg. One group traced a long-lost uncle who had witnessed the Marikana massacre, while others chronicled the lives of women who worked in mines or family members who achieved extraordinary success against the odds. When you understand vulnerability and risk within yourself, it becomes much easier to translate that when you interact with others, she explains.

Thriving courageously

Sakota sees thriving as the outcome of this process, a combination of agency, resilience and the courage to engage with both personal and collective histories. Her approach emphasises that we cannot erase the past but we can interact with it thoughtfully, using memory and creativity through the lens to forge strength. Poetry, she notes, allowed her to voice difficult emotions when language was insufficient, while filmmaking enabled her to translate the five senses into visual narrative, combining interviews, voiceovers and cinematic imagery.

In a world still marked by trauma, inequality and shifting political tensions, Sakotas work suggests that thriving is not about turning away from pain but engaging with it openly, creatively and with courage. Through narrative, memory and emotion, her research shows how people can make sense of their histories and find the tools to rebuild, to question and to shape spaces where resilience can take root.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 8, 2026. Leavitt said Wednesday that Washington is working on a modified peace plan ahead of closed-door talks beginning soon in Islamabad. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that Washington is working on a modified peace plan ahead of closed-door talks beginning soon in Islamabad.

Leavitt said at a White House press briefing that "The president's red lines, namely, the end of uranium enrichment in Iran, have not changed."

Leavitt claimed that U.S. willingness to hold talks is contingent on the reopening of the crucial global energy waterway "with no limitations or delays."

Iran has suspended tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz following Israeli attacks on Lebanon, the semi-official Fars news agency reported earlier on Wednesday.

"Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire. That has been relayed to all parties involved in the ceasefire," Leavitt said.

"This will continue to be discussed, I am sure, between the president and Prime Minister Netanyahu, the United States and Israel and all of the parties involved," Leavitt added.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Wednesday that the United States must choose between upholding a ceasefire or pursuing what he described as "continued war via Israel," referring to Israel's continuing to strike Lebanon.

"The Iran-U.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose -- ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both," Araghchi wrote on X. "The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments."

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned it will respond if "aggressions" against Lebanon do not immediately cease, the country's state broadcaster IRIB reported Wednesday.

Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes across Lebanon on Wednesday, killing at least 87 people and injuring 722, officials said, with densely populated neighborhoods in the capital, Beirut, among the hardest hit. 

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 8, 2026. Leavitt said Wednesday that Washington is working on a modified peace plan ahead of closed-door talks beginning soon in Islamabad. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 8, 2026. Leavitt said Wednesday that Washington is working on a modified peace plan ahead of closed-door talks beginning soon in Islamabad. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt takes questions during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 8, 2026. Leavitt said Wednesday that Washington is working on a modified peace plan ahead of closed-door talks beginning soon in Islamabad. (Photo by Li Yuanqing/Xinhua)
WASHINGTON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and his team are considering a plan to punish some NATO allies Trump believes were unhelpful to the 39-day U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Wednesday, citing U.S. officials.

Under the plan, which has circulated and gained support among senior officials in the Trump administration in recent weeks, the Pentagon would move U.S. troops out of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member countries deemed unhelpful to U.S. war efforts and station them in countries considered more supportive, according to the report.

The plan could also involve closing a U.S. base in at least one of the European countries, possibly Spain or Germany, according to the report, citing two Trump administration officials.

Countries that could benefit because they are viewed as supportive include Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Greece, the officials were quoted as saying.

Spain blocked U.S. planes involved in the U.S. military operation against Iran from using its airspace. Italy briefly blocked the U.S. use of an air base in Sicily, and the French government agreed to only allow the United States to use a base in southern France after it guaranteed that planes not involved in Iran strikes would land there, according to the WSJ report.

The White House is also frustrated with Germany after top German officials criticized Trump's decision to launch massive attacks on Iran, said the report.

"It's quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the last six weeks when it's the American people who have been funding their defense," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

She said Trump plans to have a very "frank and candid conversation" with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday afternoon.

The rift in the transatlantic alliance has widened during Trump's second term, fueled by his decision to launch the war on Iran on Feb. 28 and earlier tensions over his push to take over Denmark's Greenland.

Trump has recently threatened to fully withdraw the United States from NATO, although he cannot do so without congressional approval under law. 
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Individuals' spending habits, whether rich, middle-class, or poor, vary significantly. Surprisingly, it's not totally reliant on income but rather on expectations, personal choices, lifestyles, and financial priorities. While there is quite a bit of diversity within each group, specific patterns always come to light, showcasing commonalities in consumption.

What does the middle class consistently spend money on that the rich and poor don't?

Middle-class Americans have common and distinct spending tendencies that separate them from the affluent and economically disadvantaged. These spending habits are not likely for the rich or the poor due to very different underlying reasons.

1. Unreasonable Debt

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Many rich people know how to use debt to their advantage or avoid it altogether. Most poor people can't even afford to qualify for debt [or more debt.] The middle class tends to accumulate debt in student loans, mortgages, and car loans, mainly to their detriment.

Unfortunately, accumulating debts on depreciating assets is a lot different than using them as an investment (a trick of the wealthy). Thus, these debts can leave the middle class feeling like it's drowning despite the higher salaries.

2. More Schooling

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

The rich have enough money and resources not to worry too much about higher education, while some poor people see it as beyond their reach. Most of the middle-class folks feel they have to invest in a good education if they're to get ahead and reach their financial/professional goals.

Whether that's starting kids young in prestigious private schools they can barely afford or saving every penny for an elite education, these educational goals can have a financial toll on families.

3. More Property

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Most economically disadvantaged people have no choice but to live in rented spaces, while the middle class is focused a lot on buying more property and apartments. This can be a blessing and a burden for them, although it's getting harder for even the middle class to afford real estate.

The middle class will need to take on debt to buy a home or build their investment portfolio, while rich folks will likely be able to pay in cash competitively.

4. Latest Brands

Image Credit: Deposit Photos.

The poor can't afford brand names and will be okay with knock-offs or secondhand pieces. However, the middle class might feel they need to scramble for the latest luxury good (this is one their wealthy counterparts might take part in), even when they can't afford it.

This can add to their debt or wipe out their savings and make it hard for them to stay ahead.

5. Frequent Budget Travel

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

While middle-class individuals may enjoy vacations, they might opt for more budget-friendly travel options than the wealthy or choose to save for one big trip every couple of years.
NASA releases new Earthset and eclipse images taken during historic flyby of the moon
The US government launched its tariff refund portal on Monday, a major development for US importers seeking clarity on the refund process since the Supreme Court struck down President Trumps blanket tariffs earlier this year.

Refund checks are not expected until this summer. The government has estimated that the claims review process could take 45 days, with checks processed 60 to 90 days after that. More than 25,000 importers, including Costco (COST) and FedEx (FDX), have requested refunds.

Meanwhile, businesses continue to navigate a series of trade shocks, from global 10% blanket tariffs to soaring energy costs stemming from the war in the Middle East.

On April 8, Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs of 50% on any nation supplying Iran with weapons, effective immediately.

A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions! the president wrote on Truth Social.

Earlier in the month, the president adjusted US tariffs on patented pharmaceuticals and metals. The White House raised pharmaceutical tariffs to 100% but announced extensive exemptions. It also changed how tariffs on steel, aluminum, and copper are enforced, likely leading to higher duties paid by importers.

Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet
Kaiser healthcare workers on the picket line in Riverside, California, February, 12, 2026.

Workers across the United States reacted furiously Tuesday to Trumps threat to annihilate the civilization of Iran, a country of more than 93 million people. While a two-week ceasefire was announced shortly before his 8:00 p.m. deadline to destroy power plants, bridges and other civilian infrastructure across the country, there is no reason to believe this represents a step back from the brink. Previous rounds of negotiations served only as a ruse for the United States to assassinate top Iranian officials, including the February 28 murder of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Regardless of what happens, Trumps utter lawlessness has already exposed the brutality of American capitalism before workers across the world. It will contribute to a growing radicalization in the working class, convincing workers of the need for the socialist reconstruction of society.

In a video Tuesday morning, WSWS International Editorial Board Chairman David North declared: Even at this late hour the working class throughout the world must declare its opposition to this monstrous crime. It must be stopped. It cannot be allowed to happen.

Below is a selection of responses to this call from workers across the United States.

Massachusetts nurse: As a retired nurse and as a human being, I say this should not happen. We as citizens must stop this war crime against Iran, a sovereign nation. I stand with the Iranian people as an American against this war and all wars against humanity.

General Motors worker: Its a nasty situation, right now. Im a veteran and no fan of war. Im totally opposed, which is one of the reasons I got out of the military. In addition to the violence it causes, the other thing it doesthe multiple deployments, the stress, damageit breaks families and family members. People still volunteer, and youre just at the mercy of whoevers at the reins.

[Veterans are] supposedly honored, but they had no say in anything they did. Its so hypocritical. And the recruiters have to hit their quotas, and theyll say anything to get you to do it. Snake oil salesmen.

Locked-out BP refinery worker in Whiting, Indiana: Its disgusting. No thanks to any Congress people, as they continue to just sit on their hands. Theyve been guilty of terrible crimes in our own neighborhoods, kidnapping humans, and nobody knows where they went. So its nothing shocking. Its disgusting, and Im hoping he doesnt nuke anyone. But its not like even that atrocious act would shock me, because hes clearly capable of it.

I know BPs the one thats caused the war! Theyre the ones who originally destabilized the Iranian government [in the overthrow of the democratic government of Mohammad Mosaddegh].

Engineer from Northern California: Truly insane. Trumps contempt for the value of human lives and culture apparently knows no bounds, as the threat to destroy an entire civilization is the latest escalation in his attacks on workers internationally and domestically. It is increasingly clear that the Democrats are unwilling to oppose these policies in a meaningful way, leaving it to the working class to defend itself against a system that only protects the interests of oligarchs. Our labor and blood pays for these wars, we must come together to stop this one and those that will follow.

United States Postal Service worker: Donald Trumps threats against Iran are those of an evil dictator with no regard for human life, international law or common decency. To speak of ending the lives of over 90 million people is horrific, as is the unwillingness of both Democrats and Republicans to stop him. I stand in solidarity with the people of Iran, who are victims of the greed and corruption of American politicians and corporations. Donald Trump must be held accountable for his words and actions.

Worker from Massachusetts: [Trump] needs to be stopped, but with all the complicit parties in government, where do you start? He needs to be arrested. I dont know why we the people are toying with all this dialog back and forth trying to reason with these people committing treason. Him and his entire cabinet are corrupt war criminals, and they all need to be arrested now, before they do something irreversible we will all regret.

California higher education employee: Trump is a madman enabled by the extremists in his circles and the capitalist system that is trying to avoid its inevitable demise. His threats to end the entire Iranian civilization reminds me of Trotskys line: In the period of crisis the hegemony of the United States will operate more completely, more openly and more ruthlessly than in the period of boom.

If no imperialist administrations in the past [were] deserving of this quote, then the Trump administration certainly would be. If the threat is carried out, I cant imagine what the consequences globally will be, nor would I want to imagine that. Perhaps, World War III. I dont know, but the working class will suffer even worse than we already have unless we stop it.

Student and member of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE): Donald Trumps ultimatums are criminal. With the illegal US-Israel war on Iran in its fourth week, there is not any indication of what the Trump administration wont do to secure American hegemony. The United States actions, along with its accomplices promoting freedom, have shown to unrelentingly pursue the interests of US imperialism, despite opposition from the working class and international law. Iranians freedom does not arrive with a regretful pre-1979 despotic government. It follows from a united and international working class struggle to abolish capitalism.

Nexteer auto parts worker: This is the first time I have heard an American president talk like this, bragging about how he will obliterate the people of Iran. The Iranian people havent done anything against us. The way I see it, they are workers just like us. I say, live and let live. We should work together. And I read that Trump is going to pay for this war by cutting Social Security, Medicare and daycare.

Workers here at Nexteer are not represented by our union officials. They tell us its illegal to strike, even though were working without a contract. Pretty much everything Trump is doing is illegal, but were supposed give up our rights because people who dont represent us are in power?

Thomas Adams, retired auto worker and author of the study UAW Incorporated: The Triumph of Capital: I saw Trumps remarks about ending Iranian civilization. It is disturbing to see how silent people are right now, particularly the Congress.

Trump is definitely losing his mind and flailing about. Hes extremely desperate.

I have read about Hitler. The major German corporations not only funded him, but they developed the furnaces that turned Jews and Eastern Europeans and Catholics into ashes.

You can almost see Trump using the Hitler playbook. I mean, the constant lies are one thing but the ridiculously absurd pretenses to commit atrocitiesbombing these speed boats, and saying theyre smuggling drugs. He never presented any evidence at all, either before or after. And now hes gone into Iran.

When World I started was pretty clear. World War II was a little more ambiguous. We may well be in World War III already. We may have crossed that threshold months ago.

[Meanwhile, Trump is] cutting off SNAP benefits, cutting off healthcare or allowing healthcare subsidies to expire, putting ICE on the street, bursting into peoples homes and throwing people out of their cars. They are like his private Gestapoused to beat people up, in some cases, shoot them.

I believe that Trump is going to try and stop the elections, and hes going to try and intimidate the voters. [But even] the people I know who are Republicans, they hate Trump.

I spent the last six months reading the history of the Founding Fathers, of the origins of our country, the idea of democracy, the idea of the revolution was about ideas and right? We so lost, lost track of that, and thats whats so difficult for me.

He added, Trump can surround himself with billionaires, but this is not going to end well. You cant keep the population down like this and expect to carry on. This is going to come to a head.

Worker at General Motors Flint Truck Assembly: Im being notified before my eight-hour shift that Trump said, a whole civilization will die tonight, and that millions of people, an entire nation of people, may die before I my shift ends, makes me sick to my stomach.

The Democratic Party and United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain have not made any statements opposing this extremely alarming situation. They havent proposed anything to stop this. This shows that the interests of the working class in Iran or here or anywhere is nothing to them. If they follow through with this massacre, who knows what will be next? They have murdered tens of thousands of the population of Gaza over a course of years and now threatening to end one nation in a matter of hours, days or weeks. This is genocide.

I cannot imagine the how innocent people in Iran are feeling with maybe only hours left to live. The working class in the United States cannot just go about our regular lives. We must stop these war crimes. We hold all the power and make the profits for those ordering this annihilation. The elite only care about money. At the very least we should all be calling off work and stopping production. We should be hitting the street. I have much more in common with the people of Iran than I do with the president, of the UAW or of the United States.
The documentary Scenario (Szenario) by Berlin-born Marie Wilke, screened in the Forum section at this years Berlin film festival, documents, in fact, the normalization of German militarismin a sense that its director did not necessarily intend.

The film follows the activities of the German army (Bundeswehr) at the Altmark military training area in the Colbitz-Letzlinger Heide [heath] in Saxony-Anhalta 232-square-kilometer site that ranks among Germanys largest training areas. In the north of the site lies Schnoggersburg, Europes biggest training center for urban combat: a ghost town of exposed concrete, complete with checkpoints, hotels, a slum, a subway station and a religious building.

Scenario (Szenario)

Wilkes film shows students on guided tours of the area, along with swearing-in ceremonies, street festivals for the local population and staged press events. The directors camera observes; it does not comment or judge. She observes in the Berlinale press kit: The film does not attempt to make a statement or construct a narrative. It consists of fragments; the scenes stand on their own. I was interested in what becomes visible in popular vernacular language regarding Germanys relationship to war.

The result is a film that shows the Bundeswehr exactly as it wants to be seennot because Wilke intended it that way, but because the decision to let the Bundeswehr speak produces precisely this effect.

Scenario was made after the former German chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democratic Party) proclaimed a turning point for the German army and the state, i.e., preparation once again for war against Russia. The federal government and all the parties represented in the Bundestag are determined to make the German army combat-ready. The biggest obstacle is not equipment or budgetbut rather a population which is largely opposed to such a turn.

A bourgeois politician on a tour of the training area speaks plainly:

Id rather see German tanks or Dutch tanks than Russian tanks. We have to once again step out of our comfort zone. There is no security without sacrificesand we have to convey that to the public. For those who dont want any to do with it: the majority just has to deal with itand, as for the rest, they will just have to tough it out.

The film creates an unsettling atmosphere. The sheer scale of the scenario in Schnoggersburg makes clear that something serious is being prepared here, something with consequences. German capitalism is preparing once again for war. People will die and the entire machineryexercises, public relations, conscriptionis geared toward getting a reluctant population to accept this.

However, since Scenario refrains from any criticism or contextualization of what is shown, it also provides a platform for the Bundeswehr. The film makes the army more approachable, appearing as an institution like any otherwith its peculiarities, its bureaucracy and its self-declared necessary function as the countrys insurance. The military is shown from its so-called human side.

The Bundeswehr is not presented for what it actually is and what the German military has always beena war machine to enforce the interests of German capitalism and imperialism, if necessary with brutal force, both externally and internally against its own population. This is its history, tens of millions of dead attest to that, and its present social character. Rather, the soldiers are experts, explainers, traineespeople just doing their jobs. The tours of Schnoggersburg feel like city tours through an open-air museumfactual, informative and accessible. That is whats meant to stick in peoples minds.

The film does not blatantly promote the Bundeswehr, but rather presents it as a natural, inevitable part of society. Just how much this suits the Bundeswehr is clear from the manner in which the film came about. In a Berlinale interview, Wilke describes how she explained to a press officer her original plans to shoot the film. She made clear she was doing this completely independently and would not allow herself to be influenced. The fact that the press officer watched Wilkes earlier films and found themin his own wordsinteresting, shows that he knew exactly what to expect.

In the Berlinale interview, Wilke said she was less interested in an investigative approach and more in self-representation, presentation, or even simulationwhere reality sometimes becomes more tangible to me than when I look behind the scenes. Cutting through the double-talk here, in other words, she deliberately lets this utterly reactionary, sinister institution reveal itself.

At a time when the Bundeswehr cites the mindset of the population as one of its greatest challenges, this is not a neutral decision. According to a Forsa survey from August 2025, only 16 percent of Germans would be willing to defend their country with arms in the event of war. Conscription is met with massive rejection by the majority of 18- to 29-year-olds. Normalization is not a cultural byproduct of the turning point. It is its prerequisite.

For decades, military swearing-in ceremonies were carried out behind closed doors due to fear of protests. Today, they are once again taking place in publicin the town square, with families and photos of children. In one scene in the film, a woman places her small child in front of one of the soldiers and takes a photo. The Bundeswehr has returned to the center of society. Anyone familiar with the historical context sees the threat: images like this are reminiscent of the period before 1945when families had their photos taken before their sons were drafted into the fascist army that reduced Europe to rubble and ashes.

In the film, one sees German civilians running through the grounds posing as refugees and being asked at checkpoints by Bundeswehr soldiers whether they want to find shelter in a nearby village or move on. The film shows military personnel with simulated injuries and shooting exercises in a digital jungle. These are scenes that do not leave war abstract, but instead rehearse it, step by stepalways, however, on the fraudulent basis of self-defence.

But urban combatpenetrating and fighting in foreign citiesis a thoroughly offensive capability. As early as 2017, Lt. Gen. Frank Leidenberger said at the handover of Schnoggersburg: Past missions have taught us that the environment in which we may have to fight is no longer open terrain, but urban space. Another officer also puts it openly during a tour. The religious facility on the training grounds represents something differentchurch, mosque, synagoguedepending on the mission area. Overseas deployments are explicitly practiced here.

And the Bundeswehr does not train solely for overseas deployments. The history of the German militaryfrom the Freikorps of the Weimar Republic to the Hitlers storm troopersis also a history of operations against its own population. In Schnoggersburg, the ruling class is also preparing the Bundeswehr for the inevitable revolutionary conflicts in Germany itself.

The fact that the training city is built to European standardssix-story buildings, a government district, embassy buildings, a subwayspeaks for itself. Construction on Schnoggersburg began in 2012long before the war in Ukraine provided a justification for it. The 100-billion [US$-116 billion] special fund for the Bundeswehr agreed by the government, the suspension of the debt brake to finance the latest war credits amounting to one trillion euros and the planned reintroduction of compulsory military service are not reactions to an acute threat, but rather the realization of an agenda worked out behind the scenes long ago to rearm Germany as a major military power.

Marie Wilke

It is revealing what Wilke herself says about the films funding history. In one interview, she reports that the project was unfinanceable in 2015: There was no hook and no interest. Now, however, following the official turning point, funding came together pretty quickly. Particularly striking is the funding from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM)a state that is rearming also promotes the culture intended to pave the way for it.

Scenario does not gloss over the sites Nazi history. Recruits are matter-of-factly instructed by their superiors that Hitlers Wehrmacht established its testing grounds here, that villages were forcibly evacuated. At the same time, the film argues the Wehrmacht is not part of the Bundeswehrs identity. That is the official propaganda lie. And the film fails to ask the question that should follow: What is the significance of the fact that a new training infrastructure has been built on the same ground today by Rheinmetallthe same corporation that supplied the Wehrmacht?

The films method of simply showing, rather than ever looking behind the scenes, does not allow the question to emerge. The Bundeswehr has learned how to teach history without revealing its own connections to it. The film mentions only one historical figure: Frederick the Great, who saw himself as the first servant of the state. The actual connection between the Nazi Wehrmacht and todays Bundeswehr does not appearneither as a warning nor as a legacy.

A document from 2024, which the WSWS reported on, could fill the gap. The Supplementary Notes on the Guidelines for Understanding and Preserving the Traditions of the Bundeswehr explicitly describes Wehrmacht generals as tradition-forming. And the latest scandal at Parachute Regiment 26 in Zweibrucken also shows this continuity. The scandal involved far-right networks, anti-Semitic rituals, Nazi symbolism, sexualized violenceover 200 individual offenses, 55 accused, with the leadership apparently informed and remaining silent.

The most critical voice in the entire film does not come from an expert or a journalist, but from an older man at an information booth at a street festival. While the soldier explains to several passersby using a map that conflicts are complicated and there is no simple good or evil, the man refuses to accept the falsification:

For what? For what, actually? For some people who want to exert influence there and profit from it. Thats how conflicts started. Thats how it was with Adolf. Industry said, Go ahead, create the conflict. Krupp and Thyssen made a fortune off it. Thats the interest behind it. Its still the same today.

The soldier points to the map: So who are the bad guys in this scenario? The man doesnt answer the question. He sticks to his analysis: the media is making the population believe they are under threat. People profit from war.

But this scene then fades away. The film continues. The message is: this is merely one opinion among many. Edited together with the xenophobic statements of other passersby, the old man comes across almost like a crackpot.

Marie Wilke made this film with honest curiosity and technical precision. But honest curiosity is no political shield. When Wilke says she had real images of war in her mind while filming and wonders in what context I see themthen context is precisely what is missing from her film.

100 billion in special funds, additional war credits of up to one trillion euros, 140 million for Schnoggersburg alone, conscription, the German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall as a state partner, the renewed drive of German imperialism toward the East, and the global resurgence of German militarism. A policy rejected by the vast majority of the population, but supported by all of the main political parties, who therefore gratefully accept any form of approval or supposedly neutral standpoint.
On February 27, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth released a memorandum, Aligning Senior Service College Opportunities with American Values, announcing the revamping of the US militarys Professional Military Education (PME) program to ensure alignment with the warrior ethos, National Defense Strategy, and American values.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, center, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller pose for a group photo with officials and security leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean at the inaugural Americas Counter Cartel Conference at U.S. Southern Command in Doral, Florida, Thursday, March 5, 2026. [AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell]

The memo marks a major step in the Trump administrations drive to mold the US military into a US version of Hitlers Wehrmacht, based on an ultra-nationalist and fascistic ideology.

According to the summary statement released by the Department of War (DoW), the Department is discontinuing all graduate-level PME fellowships and certificate programs with Harvard University starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. The statement goes on to say that the DoW will end its legacy Senior Service College Fellowships (SSCFs) at Ivy League and other universities that similarly diminish critical thinking, have significant adversary involvement, or fail to deliver rigorous education grounded in realism.

SSCFs are granted to officers set to take up senior positions in the US military and intelligence apparatus. According to the US Army War College, SSCF fellows are relatively senior, often post-Colonel command and senior service college graduates, and are placed in positions of influence on behalf of the senior Army leadership. SSCF programs have a 10-month curriculum that involves educational and leadership training seminars split between the US Army War College and partnered PME institutions.

According to Hegseths memo, the elimination of these partnerships will wipe the current slate of PME institutions clean and repopulate it with a new selection of universities and colleges from across the country, including the University of Michigan (U-M).

The Michigan Daily quoted U-M spokesperson Kay Jarvis as acknowledging the DoWs selection of the university as a new PME partner. In a letter to the Michigan Daily, Jarvis wrote:

The university recognizes the substantial responsibilities active-duty personnel carry, and Michigan welcomes the opportunity to remove unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles as active-duty military leaders pursue an education.

Jarvis added that U-M is establishing an expedited review process for military applicants to U-M who have been admitted to Harvards Kennedy School of Government. She continued: This pathway allows elite service members to have their credentials considered without the burden of a redundant application, and it ensures applicants receive timely decisions.

Hegseth spelled out the reason for the PME revamping in the second paragraph of his February 27 memo:

PME is a bedrock upon which we build lethal warfighters grounded in the founding principles that underpin American exceptionalism. To that end, our PME institutions must return to the fundamental mission of focusing our military leaders on core national security strategy issues. We must develop strategic thinkers through education grounded in the founding principles and documents of the republic, embracing peace through strength and American ideals, and focused on our national strategies and grounded in realism. We will no longer invest in institutions that fail to sharpen our leaders warfighting capabilities or that undermine the very values they are sworn to defend.

In both his memorandum and an accompanying video published on Twitter/X, Hegseths languageeducation grounded in the founding principles, peace through strength, and instruction that better affords  contribution to the lethality of the Forcemakes clear that the goal is ideological conformity. He goes on to say that the prior PME institutions were sacrificing free expression for the suffocating confines of Leftist ideology.

Hegseth claims the PME system has been poisoned from within by a class of elite universities who have abused their privilege and access to this department and utterly betrayed their purpose. Hegseth declares that Ivy League institutions have gorged themselves on a trust fund of taxpayer dollars for decades, only to become factories of anti-American resentment and military disdain.

Broadly identifying liberal and left politics as anti-American, Hegseths rails:

This is not education, its indoctrination.  Were done paying for enemies wicked ideologies to be taught to our future leaders. No longer will we sit back and treat these woke breeding grounds of toxic indoctrination as valid centers of so-called intellectual curiosity.

In an earlier memo released on February 6, titled Rebuilding the Warrior Ethos in Professional Military Education, Hegseth outlined another component of the PME restructuring. Beyond the ideological aim of conforming the US military to fascistic nationalism, the earlier memo highlighted the DoWs intent to review the Ivy League universities ability to deliver cost-effective, strategic education for future senior leaders when compared to public universities and military masters programs.

Hegseth first announced the DoWs discontinuation of its PME relationship with Harvard University in his February 6 memo, citing Harvards troubling partnerships with foreign adversaries and noting letters sent by Trump officials stating that Harvard has in recent years failed to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment.

The decision to sever PME links with Harvard flows directly from the Trump administrations broader political and financial campaign to subordinate higher education to the state and punish institutions that resist its ideological line. Harvard, Columbia and other former-PME institutions, despite their suppression of opposition among students, faculty and staff to the genocide in Gaza during the Biden administration, found themselves at odds with Trumps demands to escalate the on-campus crackdown on democratic rights.

Harvards legal challenge to the administrations move to freeze $2.2 billion in federal grants and the public dispute over campus protests provided a pretext for escalation. Trump threatened an additional $1 billion in funding cuts and the elimination of the universitys taxexempt status.

The discontinuation of Harvards PME status and other DoW-linked programs is part of the Trump administrations punishment of Harvard and other universities that failed to comply with sufficient speed with its fascistic demands.

The new list of institutions selected to host PME programs is composed largely of small private colleges and state universities. Some of these, like the University of Florida, were already aligned with the Trump regimes ideological program, while others, like U-M, took drastic steps to accommodate Trumps demands.

Under the Biden administration, U-M spearheaded the crackdown on anti-genocide, pro-Palestinian protests, employing police violence, legal action and a broad range of campus policy amendments to suppress the democratic rights of staff, faculty and students. In December 2024, following Trumps election, U-M began dismantling its multi-billion-dollar Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs to comply with the incoming administrations demands.

The remolding of the PME system is part of the Trump administrations reorientation of the US military and intelligence apparatus on an overly fascist basis so as to carry out US imperialisms wars of extermination, as in Iran, and the violent suppression of workers and youth at home. In this, the Democratic Party, which dominates the U-M Board of Regents and most elite private universities, is complicit.
The French governments response to Trumps threats to annihilate Iranian civilization is an infamous mixture of cynicism and cowardice. While seeking to distance itself from Trumps most undeniably genocidal statements, it has made itself complicit in crimes against humanity.

French President Emmanuel Macron reviews the troops during his visit to the nuclear submarine navy base of Ile Longue in Crozon, France, Monday March 2, 2026. [AP Photo/Yoan Valat]

President Emmanuel Macron did not bother to comment after Trump pledged to destroy Irans bridges and electrical infrastructure, threatening: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. Macron left it to Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to issue a statement. On France2 television, Barrot trivialized Trumps threats, calling them excessive and declaring, Everything that is excessive is insignificant.

Barrot completely sidestepped the politically criminal and genocidal character of US policy. He naturally claimed that France is firmly opposed to strikes on civilian infrastructure, while ignoring French attacks on civilians like the January 3, 2021 bombing of a wedding in Bounti during the war in Mali. But when asked point-blank whether US actions are war crimes, Barrot refused to answer, stating: We must first analyze their strikes and their consequences in order to say.

This is a disgusting, cowardly evasion. The leader of the US government is threatening to destroy a civilization by annihilating its electrical and transport infrastructure. There is no legitimate debate as to the character of such a policy. It is unmistakably a statement of genocidal intent as US forces deliberately bomb civilian infrastructure in what, as even the United Nations has admitted, is a war crime.

Barrots response exemplifies the bankruptcy of the French bourgeoisies response to Trumps war on Iran. Relations between the US and European ruling classes are disintegrating, particularly after Trump threatened to invade the Danish territory of Greenland earlier this year. Yet despite admitting that Trump launched the war outside of international law, the French government has not taken any significant action to halt the war.

It has refused to denounce Trump as a criminal, and his war as one of aggression and extermination. It has remained in the NATO alliance and continues to allow US supply planes carrying materiel to the Middle East to use its airbase at Istres. Despite its refusal to allow US fighter jets to fly out of French airbases to go bomb Iran, Paris thus remains complicit in US war crimes against the population of the Middle East.

Moreover, Macron has not publicly spelled out the disastrous impact on the French and world economy of the cutoff of Persian Gulf oil and gas exports due to Trumps war. Even as gas prices explode to over 2 per liter across France, there is no concrete discussion of what the collapse of energy and fertilizer supplies means for workers. Officials are silent on the impoverishment of the working class due to a surge in global fuel and food prices that is set to escalate, as well as on the threat, especially in more vulnerable countries, of famine claiming millions of lives.

Instead, a criminal light-mindedness about the implications of Trumps threats against Iran pervades the entire French ruling class. Last week, when Trump threatened to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age, Le Figaro dismissed it as a non-event and complained that Trump had no clear strategy to end the conflict.

Masses of Iranians gathering tonight around electrical plants, water treatment facilities and other civilian infrastructure are exposing attempts to downplay Trumps threats as insignificant. Trumps strategy is extermination, and claims that he has no strategy are lies. History will not look more favorably on those who peddle this lie than on French Nazi collaborationists in World War II who, as the Red Army defeated Hitlers armies, complained behind closed doors that Nazi Germany had no strategy to deal with the Soviet Union.

The war on Iran is also exposing the reactionary character of the European bourgeoisies calls for rearmament to wage an independent foreign policy from Washington. This policy, financed by hundreds of billions of euros in social cuts targeting workers across Europe, does not aim to prevent or stop US war crimes. Rather, it is preparing the European imperialist powers to pursue their own wars of plunder across Eurasia and the world.

This was apparent this weekend, during Macrons trip to Japan and South Korea. He met Japans far-right prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, who has applauded Japans genocidal war of occupation in China during World War II as a war for security. In private, Takaichi and Macron no doubt discussed their anger with Trump amid the looming collapse of their economies due to the war on Iran.

In public, Macron stressed Frances role in NATO operations while claiming to offer a Third Way policy independent of Washington and Beijing. Pointing to his deployment of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to the Eastern Mediterranean, where it is observing Israels invasion of Lebanon, Macron said: Our objective is not to be vassals of hegemonic powers. We do not wish to depend on China or be exposed to US unpredictability.  Predictability has its virtues, as we have shown in recent years and, I daresay, recent weeks: We are where you know we will go.

In reality, the war with Iran exposes the impossibility of relying on second-rank imperialist powers such as France to restrain capitalisms plunge into a new world war and genocide. With the war set to create bitter hardship and explosive social anger among workers around the world, conditions are emerging for a united, international movement in the working class against war, genocide and the fascistic capitalist oligarchy that is unleashing them on humanity.

Such a movement can only proceed, however, by mobilizing the working class independently of national union bureaucracies and their political allies, such as Jean-Luc Melenchons France Unbowed (LFI) party.

In his latest blog post, Calm before the Storm, Melenchon admitted that popular anger can be felt today even in the hall of power, but nevertheless advised: Let us savor this period of calm which is given to us. Soon, the shock wave of the Israeli and US war of aggression against Iran will spread stronger than ever across every corner of the globe. He proposed to work with the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) union bureaucracy, to mount national protests calling on Macron to adopt price caps on key goods:

Preventing price increases is [our] priority and that of [CGT General Secretary] Sophie Binet, who luckily is coming to help us with the CGT. In many European countries, price caps on various goods are being proposed or adopted by governments. But not in France. Macron remains the president of the rich, who will get fat off the dividends that [French oil firm] Total will hand out.

While price caps are undoubtedly necessary and legitimate, workers must reject such complacent arguments that ignore the need to mobilize the working class directly against the war, and that tie workers in France to the CGT bureaucracya supporter of Macrons call to militarize France and prepare its industry for high intensity war.

As bombs rain down on Iran, genocide continues in Gaza, and Trump threatens to blot out a civilization and plunder its oil, it is not time to savor a period of calm. The working class cannot wait. It is time to urgently mobilize workers in France and across Europe against war, to defend Iran against imperialist war and genocide, and to struggle alongside their class brothers and sisters in America, where there is explosive opposition to Trump.
British Petroleum oil workers on the picket line in Whiting, Indiana

More than 850 BP oil workers remain locked out at the companys Whiting, Indiana refinery, the largest in the Midwest. After workers overwhelmingly rejected an insulting fourth offer negotiated by BP and the United Steelworkers Local 7-1, the company locked them out on March 19.

That agreement would have led to 100 fewer union workers and broader use of contract workers, $8-$10 hourly wage cuts, the closure of the environmental department and attacks on seniority and implementation of AI with no job protections. Worse still, the six-year agreement would have removed the facility from the national pattern bargaining timeline, creating a precedent for the oil companies to divide and conquer workers one refinery at a time.

As BP Whiting General Manager Chris DellaFranco issued a video statement reassuring the public that all applicable safety and environmental regulations are being followed, the refinery remains in operation with strikebreakers who have come in from out of state. Ads are also being run locally for replacement operators in Whiting for a term of 6 months and at the rate of $127 per hour. The use of strikebreakers underscores the indifference of the giant energy company to the safety of those in the refinery, the surrounding community and Lake Michigan, the regions main source of drinking water.

One Whiting worker told the WSWS, They will pay more than double the current operator wages for strikebreakers, yet say they cannot afford to pay our nationally bargained pay increases everyone else agreed to pay. Its union busting, and its as simple as that.

Another Whiting operator said, They can operate it now, but they cant do it forever. It wont be long in my opinion that they will be able to operate it. Theyve been cutting back on maintenance prior to this too. Thats going to end up biting them, Im sure. Its a hazard.

I believe they were trying to force us out on strike before they eventually locked us out. Our president told them we would even come back to work under the last contract. The GM (general manager) saying the balls in our court is just lying. Weve said well come back, well negotiate, well work. Theyre the ones that locked us out.

On the lockout and its relationship to the criminal US war against Iran, he said, I know BPs the one thats caused the war! Theyre the ones who originally destabilized the Iranian government, he said, referring to the 1953 coup engineered by the CIA and UKs secret intelligence service MI6.



To all the oil workers and the NIPSCO workers who got locked out, stay strong!

NIPSCO workers locked out

After months of negotiations and a 98 percent strike authorization vote, Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) locked out 1,700 members of the United Steelworkers Locals 12775 and 13796 on April 2. The lockout came after the union unanimously rejected the companys fourth last, best and final offer. NIPSCO stated the lockout will remain in place until the Union agrees to the Companys last, best and final offer.

NIPSCO is the largest natural gas distribution company in the state, and the second largest electric distribution company. Its parent company NiSource has reported a full-year net income of $905.2 million. Yet NIPSCO is using the lockout to force through concessions that will lower living standards, undermine safety, and gut union job security. NIPSCO President Vince Parisi claimed the offer is one of the strongest proposals in our history. The company has already announced it will continue operating with trained non-represented employees, qualified contractors and support from the companys family of companies.

According to NIPSCO, its final offer included a 4 percent wage increase for physical and clerical employees, two weeks of paid parental leave and a stepped approach to reducing continuous work hours from 32 down to 16. USW officials said there are core attacks on working conditions that the companys proposal fails to address, including NIPSCOs demand for expanded use of lower-paid outside contractors, a mandatory overtime acceptance rate and the cutting of continuous work hours.

Union leaders say mandatory overtime quotas and contractor expansion threaten safety, job security and the quality of emergency response.

Hammonds Democratic Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr. has postured as a friend of the locked out workers. He called on the corporation to end the lockout citing that multiple businesses in the area have been without power for an entire day, and several stores have been forced to close. In addition, several intersections were left without streetlights for that same 30-hour stretch, creating an unnecessary public safety risk on a major corridor.

While USW officials promote local Democrats, workers are in a struggle against both big business parties and the corporations they defend. Workers are facing a relentless attack on jobs, wages, benefits and social provisions at every level in the US, and old forms of repression are being revived.



South Chicago and northwest Indiana have been particularly hard hit. According to a recent report, employment in northwest Indianas primary steel mills has fallen from 65,000 workers at its peak to roughly 9,000 today. Between 1990 and 2017, jobs at Gary Works, ArcelorMittal and Indiana Harbor in Northwest Indiana declined by 58 percent. The industry, which has not seen significant updates to production technology and methods in about 100 years, loses about 500 jobs per year in the region.

Steelworkers proud history of struggle stands in the sharpest contrast to this destruction of jobs and productive infrastructure by the parasitic financial aristocracy.



On Memorial Day in 1937, Chicago police opened fire on unarmed workers demonstrating against Republic Steel in the midst of the Little Steel strike of 1937, killing 10 people and wounding dozens more. Most of the workers were shot in the back as they fled. Another 28 were injured by police clubbing, nine of them permanently disabled. The workers, members of the Steelworkers Organizing Committee, were demonstrating for recognition of their union which would later become the USW (United Steelworkers).



The USW bureaucracy long ago abandoned these traditions. For decades it has worked as a tool of corporate management overseeing the destruction of workers jobs, pensions and working conditions. BP and NIPSCO long ago took the measure of the USW apparatus and are now locking out roughly 2,500 workers in northern Indiana at the same time.

BP and NIPSCO workers can and should form rank-and-file committees, establish lines of communication with steelworkers throughout northwest Indiana and workers across the broader Chicagoland region. Share information about these struggles and prepare coordinated action to defend wages, safety, jobs and the right to strike, up to and including nationwide strike action.



BP and NIPSCO workerswith the support of workers at US Steels Gary Works, Cleveland Cliffs, Arcelor and autoworkers at Ford Assembly Stamping, Dakkota, Flex-n-Gate and other USW and UAW facilitiesmust mobilize independently against this blatant strikebreaking that has been aided and abetted by the USW bureaucracy.




Last Friday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made an unannounced emergency trip to the Gulf region to meet with Saudi, Qatari and Emirati leaders, aiming to secure energy supplies and ensure Italian corporate profits amid the US-led war against Iran.

Speaking to TG1, Meloni said she was visiting with Gulf leaders because they are strategic countries for our interests, they are friendly countries, but above all, we do it to protect the tens of thousands of Italians who are present in the region. The mission is a gesture of solidarity towards friendly nations, but clearly also to guarantee Italy the energy supplies that are necessary. I have already been, as you know, in Algeria to guarantee gas. ... Today I am in the Gulf to discuss, above all, oil. About 15 percent of the oil that is necessary for Italy.

Giorgia Meloni during the 2014 European election campaign [Photo by Jose Antonio / CC BY-SA 4.0

Meloni did not make any overt criticism of the war of extermination the US government is waging against Iran. However, it is evident that she was trying to calm sections of the ruling class who are worried that the US war with Iran can shatter Italys economy by cutting off its energy supply, and who are terrified of opposition from below, in the working class.

Iranian attacks have knocked out 17 percent of Qatars LNG export capacity, QatarEnergys CEO and state minister for energy affairs told Reuters last month. Italy was informed that its Gulf supplier had paused LNG deliveries due to the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz and would not ship 10 cargoes between April and mid-June. Italy will begin receiving liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Golden Pass LNG facility in the United States, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, only beginning in June.

The war in Iran has also plunged Italy and other European nations into a diplomatic crisis with the Trump Administration. In recent days, US President Trump has repeatedly attacked both European allies and NATO for their limited support for his unbridled war.

Meloni responded, Even after Sigonella, what are our relations with the United States? I continue to believe that on the geopolitical level, Europe does not have much to gain from a divergence with the United States. However, our job is above all to defend our national interests. And when we disagree, we have to say it. And this time we disagree.

Meloni has often been one of Trumps closest supporters among European leaders, and her carefully-worded remarks indicate that this war will create explosive conflicts between US and European imperialism. However, her government will react not based on democratic sentiments of opposition to genocide and war in the US and European populations. It will pursue imperialist national interests via a fascistic policy, under conditions where class tensions in Italy and across Europe are set to explode.

While all Italian political parties hypocritically invoke Article 11 of the Italian Constitution, which rejects war as an instrument of national policy, Italy remains deeply integrated into the US-led war machine. It hosts a dense network of bases, logistical hubs and intelligence facilities central to US military operations across the Mediterranean and Middle East.

The Italian coalition governments official line, We are not at war, and we do not wish to enter one, is one of national autonomy. It proclaims that this is not our war. However, Italy is supplying the Arab oil sheikdoms in the Persian Gulf with weapons to counter Iranian retaliatory attacks and is assessing further requests as they are made.

Italys investment in the Gulf is a two-way $50 billion strategic corridor: Italy invests through its energy, defense and industrial corporations, while Gulf sovereign wealth funds invest in Italys AI, infrastructure and clean-energy sectors. This has become central to Melonis economic policy. The largest Gulf partners are the United Arab Emirates, estimated at $40 billion, Saudi Arabia, estimated at $10 billion, and Qatar, estimated at $8 to $10 billion.

Melonis trip to the Gulf is both a diplomatic mission and an exercise in domestic political damage control. Her government faces mounting unpopularity after last months failed national referendum, while anger continues to grow over its unequivocal support for the Gaza genocide. The widening war against Iran is fueling hostility among workers and youth not only in Italy but across all the NATO countries.

This geopolitical crisis is now feeding directly into everyday social tensions at home. Since the outbreak of the war, fuel prices have surged from average levels of 1.71 per liter for diesel and 1.56 per liter for petrol to highs of 2.50 and 2.05, respectively, intensifying pressure on households, transport workers and small businesses. Seeking to contain the backlash, Meloni announced a limited extension of fuel excise tax cuts together with narrowly targeted aid for farmers and exporters.

These measures have done little to ease public anger. Prices remain stubbornly high and are expected to rise further following government-imposed refueling restrictions at Milan Linate, Venice, Bologna, and Treviso airports from 49 April 2026, officially blamed on supply shortages.

While Meloni has publicly threatened to tax energy companies profiting from the crisis, the contradiction is unmistakable: these are the same corporate and state-linked interests whose partnerships and investments she is actively advancing during her Gulf visit.

Melonis relations with coalition partners are becoming increasingly volatile. Matteo Salvinis Lega and Antonio Tajanis Forza Italia are both using the governments weakened position to press for greater control over the next political agenda, particularly on economic policy, electoral reform and Italys relationship with the European Union. While the coalition continues to publicly dismiss the prospect of early elections, the crisis has weakened Melonis rule amid escalating war and economic crisis.

A struggle against war, austerity and the Meloni government can only proceed by mobilizing the working class independently of Italys corrupt political establishment. Whatever the tactical differences separating the Democratic Party, the Lega or other factions of the ruling elite, they share an underlying program of militarisation abroad, austerity at home, and the defense of corporate and financial interests. The crisis extends beyond a single government or leader: it is rooted in the broader political consensus in the Italian ruling class in favor of war.

For this reason, the central challenge facing the Italian working class is not simply to register opposition to Meloni, but to turn that anger into an independent and conscious political movement against war, genocide and fascism. Such a movement would need to link the struggles of workers and youth in Italy, across Europe and internationally, forging solidarity across borders against war, social cuts and exploitation.
An image from a promotional bulletin of Colakoglu Metalurji via Evrensel [Photo: Colakoglu Metalurji]

Three workers were killed and one injured in a horrific accident at the Colakoglu Metallurgy plant in Dilovas, Kocaeli on Sunday, April 5. The injured worker was reportedly discharged from hospital on Tuesday. The plants section manager, an engineer, and an occupational health and safety specialist have been arrested.

Three maintenance workers and one subcontracted cleaning worker, who were performing routine maintenance on top of an arc furnace, plunged approximately 10 metres when the rotating platform they were standing on collapsed. It appears the workers had been sent up onto the platform without any safety measures in placemost notably, without lifelines.

Selcuk Karstarl, a member of the Kocaeli Health and Safety Labour Watch, told the daily Evrensel: Workers are expected to secure themselves to a lifeline. That lifeline must comply with the EN 795 standard and must be designed, installed, and periodically inspected according to the maximum number of persons who will be attached to it.

The same newspaper reported that the occupational health and safety specialist at the plant had previously warned management to strengthen safety measures around the platform. The fact that 10 workers have died at the factory since 2008 underscores these risks and warnings, as well as the companys indifference. With more than 1,500 workers on its payroll, Colakoglu is Turkiyes third largest steel producer, according to 2024 data, and the countrys 14th largest industrial enterprise. Turkiye, which ranks seventh in global steel output as of 2025, leads Europe in steel production.

In 2023, Tuncay Ozsoy, who worked in the packaging section of the rebar rolling mill, was electrocuted. In 2010, a worker named Hamza Zengin was killed when a forklift fell on him. And in 2009, Engin Gunduz, a 30-year-old maintenance worker in the plants materials section, was crushed to death on the production line.

According to a report by the Health and Safety Workers Watch, at least 2,105 workers were killed in workplace fatalities across Turkiye in 2025 alone. According to the Ankara Medical Chambers report dated December 2024: Based on data from the Social Security Institution (SGK) and Eurostat in 2019, the rate of fatal occupational accidents in Turkiye is approximately ten times higher than the European Union (EU) average. Turkiye, which has the highest rate of worker deaths in Europe, is among the countries with the highest number of deaths from workplace accidents.

This is the direct consequence of policies pursued in the interests of the ruling class and international capital. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spelled out this agenda in December 2020: We are determined to make our country an attractive centre with low risk, high confidence, and satisfactory returns for both domestic and international investors. For capitalist investors, a satisfactory centre of attraction means minimizing restrictionsincluding those related to workplace safetyas much as possible in order to maximize profits.

The result is that corporations treat health and safety measures as an unnecessary cost. The trade union confederations, for their part, are complicit in imposing precarious, flexible, and dangerous working conditions on the working class. At the Colakoglu plant, the union in operation is Turk Metal, Turkiyes largest trade union.

The judiciarys response to those who draw attention to the capitalist property relations and exploitation underlying these deaths exposes the role of the state as an instrument of the ruling class. Last month, Mehmet Turkmen, leader of the independent rank-and-file union BIRTEK-SEN (United Textile, Weaving, and Leather Workers Union), was imprisoned after a speech he gave at a work stoppage by Srma Hal workers in Gaziantep, in which he highlighted how workplace deaths and injuries are the product of a mechanism built on the collusion of corporations, the state and the union apparatus.

Turkmen declared: The responsibility for every drop of blood spilled in the factories lies not only with the owner of that factory, but with the state that fails to carry out inspections, with yellow trade unions and with this system that condemns workers to a regime of slavery. His imprisonment was a warning to all workers who are increasingly questioning and fighting back against the devastating consequences of the capitalist systemincluding workplace killings.

The district of Dilovas, where the plant is located, is a major industrial hub dense with petrochemical and steel facilities. The area has become notorious as one of the places in Turkiye where the most savage consequences of the capitalist profit system are visited upon workers.

Last year, on November 8, an explosion and fire at a perfume-filling warehouse owned by Ravive Kozmetik in Dilovas killed seven workers, including three children. The facility had operated for years without safety inspections, without a licence, and without protective measures. The workers were employed off the books, without social insurance. Despite repeated complaints from employees and local residents, the disaster was allowed to unfold in plain sight.

The factories of Dilovas are deadly not only for workers, but also for the surrounding population. Local residents call the district the poison plain or the cancer plain. Sait Agdac, President of the Kocaeli Branch of the Chamber of Environmental Engineers, has pointed out that, according to 2017 data, while the cancer death rate is 12.5 percent globally and 12.9 percent across Turkiye, in Dilovas it rises to 33.7 percent.

The dangerous working conditions that produce these workplace deaths and injuries are everywhere, and made possible by the complicity of all the establishment parties.

This truth was underscored on Wednesday, April 1, when driver Sabri Klnc was killed in a workplace incident at the IZSU Cigli Wastewater Treatment Plant, run by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, which is governed by the Republican Peoples Party (CHP). Klncs waste collection truck plunged into a pit filled with sludge. His deathresulting from the refusal to provide even the most elementary safety measures (barriers, lighting, signage), and from his being sent alone into a hazardous areastands as a damning indictment of the CHP.

A statement posted to social media by Klncs nephew, responding to the municipalitys characterisation of his death as a tragic accident, laid bare the hypocrisy that prevails within bourgeois parties:

... He was like stone after 12 hours; we struggled to get him out, but to no avail ... If we hadnt realized how serious the situation was, he might have stayed there another 12 hours. The whole city government didnt even send a crane to pull our uncles body out of the mud. We pulled our own corpse out of that sludge using our own resources and the crane wed rented. When they sent us off like lambs to the slaughter, everything was fine; but when we came to retrieve the body, everyone had scattered... Youve offered condolences with flowery words, but a blazing fire has fallen on our hearth! Should it have been that difficult to put up a fence or pour some concrete there? Sending a truck loaded with a victim to a place where you cant even tell where the mud islike playing a gamblewhat is that? Someone explain it to me; I cant take it anymore. ...

The events that claim the lives of countless workers every year in Turkiye and around the world are not accidents. They are murders produced by the capitalist profit system. The millions of workers who go to work each morning to support their families may not know that the conditions awaiting them could end their lives. But corporations, the union apparatus, the establishment parties and the state apparatus as a whole are fully aware of which legally mandated safety measures are not being taken at their workplaces, and of what the consequences may be. Behind every link in this chain of killingsstretching back decadeslies a safety violation ignored for the sake of profit, a maintenance job never carried out, and a sentence never handed down by any court.

The necessary lessons from decades of experience must be drawn. Bringing these killings to an end and ensuring safe working conditions cannot be left to the good will of corporations. Appeals to the authorities or faith in the courts will likewise prove futile. In the Soma massacre of 2014, which claimed 301 miners lives, the mine owner served only eight days in prison for each worker killed, while not a single official faced any punishment.

Workers must intervene against corporate indifference, official negligence and willful blindness, and union complicity. To do so, independent rank-and-file committees must be built in every factory as part of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). These committees must independently investigate workplace incidents and intervene to enforce safety measures in the strictest and most uncompromising manner. This struggle must be guided by the understanding that putting a definitive end to workplace killings requires the working class to take power and abolish the capitalist profit system.
Elevenlabs AudioNative Player

Ten hours after threatening that a whole civilization will die tonight, US President Donald Trump posted a statement on Truth Social Tuesday evening claiming that he will suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks, conditional on Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump further claimed that the US has already met and exceeded all Military objectives and that the US and Iran were very far along with a definitive Agreement.

"We can't take care of daycare...we are fighting wars," Trump said, April 1, 2026 in the White House in Washington D.C. [Photo: The White House]

According to media reports, citing Iranian officials, Iran has accepted a ceasefire proposed by Pakistan, after a last-minute intervention by China, with final approval reportedly given by Irans new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.

As of this writing, it is unclear what the basis of the agreement is. On Tuesday evening, Trump posted a vicious denunciation of CNN in relation to Iran, writing, The alleged Statement put out by CNN World News is a FRAUD, as CNN well knows, and threatening legal action against the company. This was apparently in relation to a report published by CNN under the headline, Iran claims victory, says it forced US to accept 10-point plan.

The 11th hour agreement, however, will be seen as a retreat by Trump. His threats had failed to intimidate Iran, but they have intensified the political crisis within his government.

Trumps threat to annihilate a civilization of 93 million peoplewhich by itself is a war crimeand the war as a whole have produced a political crisis of historic proportions. The statements have exposed the American government as an outlaw regime, headed by the criminal underworld. It generated shock and revulsion throughout the United States and internationally. Whatever remained of the supposed moral authority of the United States has been permanently and irreparably shattered, with the most far-reaching consequences for American society.

Washington and its allies launched a war they assumed could be decided by assassination and terror, but they seriously miscalculated the level of resistance from the Iranian people. American imperialism now confronts an insoluble dilemma. Escalation deepens the stigma of criminality in a war that it cannot win and risks explosive domestic consequences; retreat will be read internationally as a defeat and will further destabilize the political situation inside the United States.

The events of Tuesday underscore just how extraordinary the crisis has become. Within the military, those tasked with executing Trumps orders were being placed in the position of carrying out operations universally recognized as war crimes, amid growing unease that the armed forces could be left holding the bag for whatever actions were taken.

This reality found expression in statements from within the political establishment itself, including sections of both the Republican and Democratic parties. Representative Sara Jacobs (Democrat-California) wrote that the president just threatened genocide, called on the Joint Chiefs of Staff to disregard any orders violating federal and international law, and said that all optionsincluding impeachment must be considered. Representative Ted Lieu, also from California, addressed the military command directly, insisting that the Uniform Code of Military Justice and federal law prohibit war crimes.

That such statements are being made at all is an index of the scale of the crisis. Yet they also expose the paralysis and bad faith of the opposition. The same Democrats who backed the genocide in Gaza, enabled the war against Iran, funded the military apparatus and refused to mount any serious fight against Trumps dictatorship now issue warnings of imminent war crimes while proposing no concrete action to stop them.

The official statement issued by the House Democratic leadership Tuesday declared that Donald Trump is completely unhinged and that The House must come back into session immediately and vote to end this reckless war of choice in the Middle East before Donald Trump plunges our country into World War III.

Just over one week ago, more than 8 million people took to the streets in No Kings protests against Trump. While opposition to the war against Iran was a dominant sentiment among those participating, the Democratic Party organizers systematically excluded any serious reference to the war against Iran, let alone warnings about World War III.

Now, the Democrats write that the world is on the brink of world war, which would inevitably involve the use of nuclear weapons. Their appeal, however, is not to the population but to the Republican Party. Its time for House Republicans, the statement concluded, to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping this madness.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer together with other Senate Democrats issued a statement Tuesday acknowledging that intentionally destroying the power, water, or basic infrastructure upon which tens of millions of civilians depend  would constitute a war crime. But the operative line is a plea: The president must not follow through on this threat. In other words, after five weeks of illegal war, Senate Democrats respond to a threat of mass murder by asking Trump politely not to do it.

The Democrats appeal to Trumps better judgment and to Republican patriotism, while refusing to mobilize the immense opposition that exists in the population, because such a mobilization would immediately raise issues they fear far more than Trump.

The Democrats, moreover, support the basic aim of US domination of the Middle East and the war against Iran, which flows from the genocide in Gaza, initiated under Biden. Democratic Senator Chris Murphywho earlier in the day called Trumps threats grossly morally wrong and evilresponded Tuesday evening to reports on the ceasefire terms: It appears Trump just agreed to give Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz, a history-changing win for Iran, Murphy wrote. The level of incompetence is both stunning and heartbreaking.

If the ruling class confronts an insoluble dilemma in foreign policy, it faces a corresponding insoluble dilemma in domestic policy. It has brought the political underworld to power, embodied in Trump, to prosecute global war and social counterrevolutionpolicies that cannot be carried out through legal or democratic methods. But the attempt to impose them is detonating the very social forces the ruling class fears most and fueling the growth of explosive class conflict within the United States.

All factions of the bourgeoisie are unalterably opposed to such a movement from below, because it threatens not merely a particular administration but the foundations of capitalist rule itself. The response of the ruling class will not be to retreat but to escalate and to intensify domestic repression.

Whatever the immediate developments, the war is generating consequences the political establishment cannot control and from which it cannot escape. The crisis cannot be resolved through the normal mechanisms of the corporate-controlled political system.

The Socialist Equality Party insists that the decisive issue is the independent intervention of the working class as a social and political force. The two-week ceasefire, if it lasts, will be a period of escalating political crisis. This period must be used to build mass working class opposition to the war and the Trump administration.

This struggle is inseparable from the political mobilization of the working class against the capitalist oligarchy and the capitalist system it defends. The ruling class is driving humanity to the brink of catastrophe. The working class must respond through the fight for socialist revolution.
The tragic death of Danhao Wang, a brilliant Chinese postdoctoral researcher at the University of Michigan (U-M), is the direct and fatal consequence of a vicious xenophobic campaign of harassment and intimidation orchestrated by the federal government and enabled by the university administration. The suicide of this young scientist, following his interrogation by FBI agents, must be understood as a homicide in a moral and political sensethe foreseeable result of state terror and institutional complicity.

Danhao Wang

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at U-M and the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) demand that all those responsible for this tragedy be held accountable, from the federal agents and Trump administration officials who directed the persecution of Wang and other Chinese researchers, to the U-M Board of Regents and interim president Domenico Grasso.

To organize this fight, the IYSSE and the SEP call on the entire U-M community of students, faculty and campus workers to come to the defense of Chinese students and researchers, denounce the witch-hunt against Chinese researchers based on fabricated charges, and establish a committee of students, faculty and staff to conduct a serious investigation and build an independent movement of the working class to defend democratic rights.

Danhao Wang took his own life on the night of March 19, jumping from an upper floor within the G.G. Brown Laboratory building just one day after being subjected to hostile interrogation by federal agents. For more than two weeks, a conspiracy of silence reigned over Ann Arbor, Michigan and the nation. The U-M administration did not even inform the student body and faculty of this tragedy. An internal email not naming Wang was sent to faculty and staff of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department on March 20, but no official communications were sent to the broader university community. The Michigan Daily student newspaper published nothing on the event. On April 2, the World Socialist Web Site was the first to report the identity of Wang in English-language media.

Now this cover-up has collapsed. The tragedy has become an international incident, forcing the local corporate media to finally break their silence. With the Detroit News featuring the story on its April 6 front page, the university and the political establishment can no longer hide this crime.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Consulate in Chicago have issued statements and lodged diplomatic protests. They correctly state that Wangs death is the result of unprovoked harassment and political intimidation by US law enforcement under the guise of national security. They are demanding a full explanation and an investigation, which the US government and the U-M administration are seeking to avoid.

The tragedy of this loss is underscored by the statements of those who knew his work. In an email to College of Engineering students, faculty and staff, U-M Dean of Engineering Karen Thole called Wang a promising and brilliant young mind, whose landmark research on semiconductor materials had been published in the prestigious journal Nature. Dean Thole wrote:

His loss is felt deeply not only by those who knew him here at the University, but also everyone who understands his potential to have contributed to breakthroughs in science that would have positively impacted people around the world.

Danhao Wang is a casualty of a nationwide dragnet targeting Chinese scholars on unscientific and fabricated charges of terrorism, espionage, and smuggling. This is a politically motivated witch-hunt designed to terrorize a targeted demographic. The charges against previous U-M researchers Yunqing Jian, Chengxuan Han, Xu Bai, Fengfan Zhang, and Zhiyong Zhang, and Indiana University researcher Youhuang Xiang, were utterly without merit, as those responsible well knew.

The targeted researchers were held in federal custody for months on end. Chengxuan Han was interrogated for hours by Customs and Border Protection officers who refused to read her Miranda rights and denied her request for a lawyer. Han and Jian were coerced into plea deals, sentenced to time served and deported. Bai, Zhang, and Zhang did not accept plea deals and had their cases dismissed soon before trial, self-deporting immediately back to China. Xiang was sentenced on April 7 to time served and is scheduled to be deported to China on April 9. In every case the charges of smuggling harmless plasmids and shipping common model organisms collapsed under scientific and legal scrutiny, yet the damage was done: careers ruined, lives disrupted, and immigrant researchers expelled.

The campaign has been driven from the top by fascist political operatives of the Trump administration. Former Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel have publicly advanced the narrative of widespread Chinese sabotage and espionage in US universities. Patel, in particular, sought to stoke anti-Chinese hysteria with inflammatory social media posts and statements framing routine scientific exchange as a national security threat. He falsely claimed that the nonliving plasmid DNA in Xiangs case was the pathogenic bacteria E. coli.

This is a political operation against immigrants and Chinese scholars, an assault on democratic rights, an effort to whip up national chauvinism and racism. It is part of the erection of a presidential dictatorship and the preparation for war against China, a nuclear power.

The hands of the U-M administration are stained with blood. The role of interim president Domenico Grasso is particularly despicable. A week after the death of Danhao Wang, Grasso, who had suppressed the news of his death, boasted before a hearing of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce of U-Ms support for the witch-hunt against Chinese researchers.

In a display of subservience to the national security state, he detailed the universitys team player collaboration with federal intelligence agencies to safeguard our research from alleged foreign adversaries. The chair of this committee, far-right Michigan congressman Tim Walberg, praised Grassos cooperation. To protect its institutional funding, the U-M administration and the Board of Regents willingly handed over their own students and researchers to Kash Patels FBI.

The Democratic Party is completely complicit. The whipping up of xenophobic hysteria is a bipartisan effort. On the U-M campus, the silence of the Democratic Party-aligned regents and administrators denotes consent. They fully support the anti-China framework because it aligns with the strategic imperatives of American imperialism.

This is part of a sweeping attack on the democratic rights of all immigrants and the working class as a whole. The same political forces criminalizing Chinese scientists are mobilizing armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at airports and healthcare facilities across Michigan and the country. Trumps drive to dictatorship, facilitated by the complicity of the Democrats, requires the victimization of scapegoats.

Repression at home is the domestic side of criminal and genocidal war abroad, as in the US-Israeli war against Iran.

The defense of democratic rights and the opposition to imperialist war cannot be entrusted to the university administration, the courts, or any faction of the capitalist political establishment. The only social force capable of stopping this descent into barbarism is the international working class, mobilized independently and in opposition to all the institutions of the ruling financial oligarchy.

The IYSSE and the SEP are taking the lead in this fight. We call for the immediate formation of a committee of U-M students, faculty, campus workers and researchers to conduct a full, independent investigation and mobilize workers and students at U-M and beyond.

We raise the following demands:

A full independent investigation: The U-M administration and federal authorities must immediately release all documents, communications and footage regarding the harassment and interrogation of Danhao Wang.

Hold the perpetrators accountable: The Republican and Democratic officials spearheading the anti-Chinese witch-hunt must be driven from office and prosecuted; the federal agents involved in the hostile interrogation, along with the U-M officials who facilitated the environment of terror, including President Grasso, must be identified, fired and held accountable.

End the witch-hunt: All investigations, surveillance and harassment of Chinese scholars based on fabricated national security threats must cease immediately.

Restore the victims rights: Drop all charges against those researchers who have been victimized and deported and offer the restoration of their resident rights and their university positions.

ICE off campus and out of our communities: An immediate end to the terrorizing of immigrants and citizens alike at airports, hospitals and universities. Abolish ICE and the Border Patrol.

Stop the drive to World War III: End the provocations against China and the war against Iran.

Join the IYSSE to help lead this fight.
USPS has reached a deal with Amazon after over a year of negotiations. The agreement is set to cut 20% of Amazons shipping volume, according to reports published by The Wall Street Journal.

What to know about Amazon and USPS and Amazons new deal

Negotiations started between the USPS and Amazon as a contract between both companies was set to expire in September 2026. Although Amazon said it wanted to strike a deal by December 2025, USPS initially pulled out of negotiations and started a new bidding process for last-mile deliveries.

Our goal was to increase our volumes with USPS, not reduce them  until USPS abruptly walked away at the eleventh hour in December, Amazon said at the time, according to Engadget.

After bids with Amazon rivals fell short, USPS re-entered negotiations with the company. In fact, Amazon is the USPSs largest customersrepresenting 15% of shipments and accounting for $6 billion in revenue.

During the bidding process, Amazon said it would cut its volume by two-thirds, according to Quartz.

In recent years, USPS has been dealing with financial issues. Since 2007, it has reportedly accumulated $118 billion in net losses. In March, USPS said it needed Amazon to stay afloat as its cash reserves would be exhausted by October.

The new agreement will reduce Amazons postal deliveries by 20%

USPS will keep delivering a billion Amazon shipments per year: Were pleased to have reached a new agreement with USPS that furthers our longstanding partnership and will let us continue supporting our customers and communities together, an Amazon spokesperson told The Wall Street Journal.

The 20% cut also means USPS could experience a $1 billion loss in revenue. The deal now has to be approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission, which oversees USPS.







The post Amazons New USPS Deal Will Cut Its Postal Deliveries By 20%: What To Know appeared first on Blavity.
On April 2, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced the signing of a new Defence and Security Declaration with the government of the Cook Islands, which he said would establish a shared certainty about the special constitutional relationship between the two countries.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown with New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters, March 2026 [Photo: Facebook/Winston Peters]

The declaration cements New Zealands colonial domination over the Pacific archipelago. It gives the NZ military unimpeded access to the land, territory and airspace of the Cook Islands, including its vast exclusive economic zone covering an area of 1.96 million square kilometres, roughly the size of Mexico.

The Cook Islands, with a population of just 15,000, is ostensibly self-governing, but it remains part of the colonial Realm of New Zealand, which also includes the islands of Niue and Tokelau. The new declaration reaffirms that the Cook Islands is obligated to share any information with NZ relating to defence or security. It gives Wellington the right to veto any agreement between the Cook Islands and another country on the grounds of defence and security of the Realm.

The agreement brings to an end a year-long rift between the two governments, after the Cook Islands signed commercial deals with China without consulting New Zealand beforehand. The NZ National Party-led government retaliated by blocking $30 million worth of aid in June and November 2025, which is vital for the functioning of basic public services, including health and education, in the islands. This was nothing less than an attempt to destabilise the Cook Islands government led by Prime Minister Mark Brown.

The cancellation of aid was accompanied by a belligerent and hysterical media campaign that accused China of attempting to take over the Cook Islands and establish a military presence there. One New Zealand Herald columnist even suggested that NZ troops should invade the territory.

In fact, the Cook Islands-China deal centred on maritime exploration, transport and civilian infrastructure development. While the New Zealand, Australian and US militaries have a heavy presence throughout the Pacific, China does not.

This anti-China campaignwhich was backed by the opposition Labour Party and its alliesfed into demands for New Zealand to build up its military forces and integrate further into the aggressive US-led preparations for war against China.

Minister Peters declared that with the new agreement, financial aid would now resume to the Cook Islands. He added that We look forward now to further enhancing the broad range of cooperation. Brown told a press conference that the agreement means that New Zealand is our first port of call on anything to do with defence and security.

The economic crisis in the islandsexacerbated by the loss of aidundoubtedly played a key role in the Brown governments decision to capitulate to NZs demands. Peters told reporters that the question of fuel supply was discussed with Brown.

Like many Pacific countries, the Cook Islands relies on diesel to generate electricity, and faces price hikes and potentially disrupted supplies due to the US-Israeli war against Iran. According to Stuff, Some outer islands are already rationing diesel. Petrol and diesel prices are expected to soon go above $7 a litre.

The tourism industry, which accounts for 70 percent of GDP, could also be severely affected by rising airfares and power costs. Liana Scott from the Cook Islands Tourism Council told One News: What happens if the power bills go up two or three times? Were already paying, in Rarotonga [the main island], approximately seven times what you pay in New Zealand.

Peters told One News that the new deal imposes massive limitations on Chinas agreements with the Cook Islands, without elaborating on what he meant. He added that it also is a message to the Chinese government, who were on good relations with, that theres a special relationship here between Tokelau, Niue and the Cook Islands and were part of it.

In response, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told the Associated Press: The China-Cook Islands relationship doesnt target any third party, nor should it be disrupted or constrained by any third party. She called for all parties to respect the independence of island countries.

Along with heightening tensions with China, the NZ-Cook Islands declaration also portends the further militarisation of the Pacific territory. It says New Zealand will continue to support the Cook Islands in defence and security capacity and capability, including in, but not limited to, the areas of national security, policing, cyber security, maritime security, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The document describes an increasingly complex and contested global and regional security environment characterised by geopolitical competition, disruption, and significant environmental challenges. This is a thinly veiled reference to China, which the US and its allies have hypocritically accused of destabilising the Indo-Pacific region.

In reality, New Zealand and Australia are both imperialist powers which, in an alliance with Britain and the US, have exercised brutal colonial domination over the Pacific for more than 100 years. New Zealand annexed the Cook Islands in 1901 and put in place a dictatorial and racist regime. During World War I, NZ troops seized Samoa from Germany and imposed a violent and oppressive military administration.

In recent years, Australia has imposed neo-colonial defence agreements on Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Tuvalu and has made belligerent threats against the Solomon Islands for signing security agreements with China. Australia, with NZs support, has created a mobile Pacific Policing Initiative and a military Pacific Response Group, both of which are aimed at rapidly deploying forces anywhere in the region to suppress unrest and potentially overthrow governments.

The Pacific experienced extremely bloody battles during World War II. Now the region is once again being placed on the front lines of preparations for a catastrophic US-led war against China, the main economic and strategic rival of US imperialism.

Meanwhile, people across the Pacific continue to suffer from poverty, soaring prices and a lack of public services, and vulnerability to climate change-related disasters. Countries such as Fiji and PNG are recording high levels of drug addiction, as well as HIV, diabetes and other diseases. All of this is the legacy of more than a century of colonial domination, which is continuing and becoming ever more entrenched.
Issued by the aviation regulatory authority in the country where the carrier is based, the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) is the primary certificate that an airline needs to start selling flights to customers.

It is granted once the airline proves it has the necessary aircraft, staff, safety systems, and financial resources to operate over the long term.

A lack of liquid cash to remain operational is the most common reason an airline has its AOC revoked.

Airlines that saw this happen over the last six months include Estonia-based SmartLynx Airlines, Austria's Mali Air, and Swedish charter carrier H-Bird.

In the U.S., Houston-based charter carrier Starflite Aviation also lost its AOC after the FAA alleged that the airline falsified pilot training records to bypass various safety checks.

Malta branch of Hi Fly loses operating license

The latest airline to lose its AOC, as first reported by Swiss outlet ch-aviation, is Malta-based LEAF. Short for Lease and Fly, the subsidiary of the Portuguese wet lease airline Hi Fly received the certificate in May 2025.

The parent company gave the new venture an Airbus A340-300, aiming to launch charter flights to the Mediterranean island nation from nearby European capitals. A wet lease allows a company with a larger fleet to provide the airline, crew, and insurance for an airline that lacks its own.

More Travel News:

LEAF is a "next-generation airline delivering innovative, sustainable Wet Lease and Charter solutions," it writes on its LinkedIn page, where it also says it employs between 51 and 200 staff. "With a global reach and an all-Airbus widebody fleet, we empower partners with flexible, efficient air transport backed by top-tier safety, reliability, and environmental responsibility."

Hi Fly is headquartered in Lisbon and is itself a wet lease airline providing other airlines with aircraft in different parts of the world. Although few details about the reasons for LEAF's lost AOC are currently public, many airlines that lose AOCs struggle to run flights.

LEAF is a subsidiary of Portugal's Hi Fly based in Malta.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

What happens after an airline files for bankruptcy, loses its AOC

Any flights that LEAF may have been scheduled to fly are now canceled. In March 2026, Slovenian charter airline AlpAvia also lost its AOC due to financial problems as it struggled with the business model of selling wealthy customers charter flights to cities such as Vienna, Valencia, and Lyon.
Researchers found that California's minimum wage hike for fast-food workers led to "negative outcomes" such as automation and reduced work hours.

The researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz suggested in a report published in March that the policy could produce unintended consequences such as an increase in menu prices, a loss of overtime and benefits, reductions in employee working hours, and an implementation of automation that replaces workers.

The minimum wage for workers was $16 before the $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers became law in April 2024. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in September 2023 the increase would help workers earn more as the cost-of-living rises.

Restaurants Warn Tipped Wage Changes Could Raise Prices, Cut Jobs, Reshape Dining Experience

"The results indicate a plethora of negative outcomes such as higher menu prices for consumers, reductions in employee working hours, widespread elimination of overtime and loss of benefits for employees," said Stephen Owen, an economics lecturer, University of California, Santa Cruz.

"Further decreases in employee opportunities are being driven by automation and the adoption of labor replacement technologies is accelerating."

Read On The Fox News App

The report came after a Berkeley Research Group study discovered that there were 10,700 jobs lost between June 2023 and June 2024 in the sector, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The prices at the establishments soared by 14.5% after the new minimum wage became law.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in September 2023 that the minimum wage increase in the fast-food industry would help workers earn more as the cost-of-living rises.  AP Newsroom

Business Owner Says 'We Dont Have Money' As Nyc Officials Propose Minimum Wage Hike: Report

Despite the findings, California officials doubled down on minimum wage laws.

A phased-in minimum wage hike in Los Angeles mandated up to $30 per hour for airport and hotel workers. The law was signed into law last year by Mayor Karen Bass, mandating that their hourly wage must be raised by $2.50 each year until they reach $30 in 2028.

The Hotel Association of Los Angeles (HALA) recently commissioned a study that found hotels have eliminated or expect to eliminate 6% of positions, roughly 650 jobs, since the Hotel Worker Minimum Wage Ordinance took effect in September.

While these laws raise concern from business owners, advocates in Oakland, California are pushing for a $30 minimum wage.

Nyc $30 Minimum Wage Proposal Pushed By Mamdani Would 'Obliterate' Certain Industries: Expert Warns

On the East Coast, the city council in New York City is considering boosting the minimum wage up to $30 and Mayor Zohran Mamdani signaled on the campaign trail that he could make it a reality.  AP Newsroom
In todays CEO Daily: Diane Brady examines why so many companies are eager to contribute to Trump Accounts.

The big leadership story: H&R Blocks new CEO on what distinguishes C-suite leaders from middle management.

The markets: Mostly up amid reports that the U.S. and Iran are considering a ceasefire.

Plus: All the news and watercooler chat from Fortune.

Good morning. The Treasury Department announced yesterday that BNY and Robinhood will build and run the app for Trumps tax-deferred investing accounts for kids, which is due to launch in July and be seeded with $1,000 of federal money for babies born between 2025 and 2028. While critics say there are better places to deploy that cash, investing early is a time-tested way to build wealth. That may be why companies like Nvidia, JPMorgan Chase, BlackRock, Intel, Citigroup, Chipotle, Delta Air Lines, and Coinbase have pledged to match the Treasury grant for employees children. Its why Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell and his wife Susan stepped up to donate $6.25 billion to fund the accounts. Amid growing concerns about AI job loss and the wealth gap, should other leaders promote this product, too? A few things to consider:

A way to promote financial wellness: Saddled with debt, stagnant wages and rising home costsand tools that enable impulse investingyounger investors gravitate towards risky bets. We could afford a house at 27 or 28. These kids cant, so they look to quickbuck flips, and thats just not how markets work, says Bill Capuzzi, CEO of Apex Fintech Solutions, which runs the infrastructure for many investing apps, reaching 41 million consumers. While the typical age for first-time home buyers has risen to 40, Gen Z is saving earlier for retirement. The Trump accounts could show the next generation of parents (and their kids) the power of prudent investing early on. Said Capuzzi: Take this $1,000, dont touch it, watch it compound over 18 years and learn how the markets really work. (With parental contributions, Trump Account holders could have $270,000 by the age of 18.)

A family-friendly signal to talent: Some companies offer scholarships for employees children, but that can turn out to be a tax headache or source of resentment. Turns out its also not so easy to do a company match on Trump Accounts, which enable employers to deposit up to $2,500 into an account for each employees eligible child. Seventy percent of employers polled by Plan Sponsor Council of America last year said they didnt plan to participate, citing the administrative burden, concerns about favoritism and lack of clarity around implementation. (Some already contribute to state 529 accounts.) BNY CEO Robin Vince signed on in December, praising the accounts as a head start for employees children. When I asked another leader yesterday about their plans, they waved away the topic, saying were focused on improving what we already have.
NEED TO KNOW

Police evacuated Los Globos Nightclub after a false bomb threat during influencer Zavala's 22nd birthday party

The incident follows a previous swatting hoax involving Zavala at a California mall during a livestream with a young fan

No arrests were made in either case though police confirmed both threats were likely hoaxes

An influencer's birthday party at a California nightclub was shut down after an apparent swatting call.

"Swatting" is false reporting of an emergency to public safety by a person for the intent of getting a SWAT team response to a location where no emergency exists, 911.gov explains.

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According to KTLA, hundreds of people were forced out of Los Globos Nightclub near the intersection of Silver Lake and Sunset boulevards on Sunday, April 5, after police received a report that someone inside had a bomb.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that officers from the Rampart Division responded to the 3000 block of West Sunset Boulevard on April 5 in response to a reported threat involving "suspicious devices at the location."

"Upon arrival, officers evacuated the premises and cleared the immediate vicinity of individuals," their statement continued.

A thorough search of the building was conducted, and no evidence of any suspicious devices was found, the LAPD said.

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Officers completed a report for a violation of 148.3(a) PC (False Report of an Emergency). No arrests were made, and there is no suspect description at this time.

While the LAPD said that it is unknown whether any injuries occurred, KTLA reported that at least one witness was treated by paramedics after sustaining an injury to the eye after reportedly getting into a fight.

A party was being held at the nightclub to celebrate streamer Zavala's 22nd birthday, KTLA and the New York Post reported. The influencer goes by Zavalahimself on platforms such as Instagram and Kick.

On Monday, Zavala shared photos from a birthday celebration that appeared to be at a club, writing on Instagram, "Chat Said Go Crazy  So I Did  Thank Yall For All The Birthday Wishes "

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The swatting incident comes nearly a month after Zavala was involved in another swatting incident at The Shops at Santa Anita.

According to a news release from the Arcadia Police Department, officers responded to the shopping center on March 11 after receiving a call from an individual who "reported himself in possession of a firearm and making active threats to a patron."

CBS News reported that Zavala was streaming a shopping spree with a 4-year-old fan at a mall when the incident occurred.

A temporary lockdown of the mall was initiated as police conducted a "systematic search of the property."

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"They have to treat it like a real situation," Zavala told CBS News. "They came to the mall, like SWAT, big guns. I got really scared."

The news release said that "police personnel cleared the facility during the investigation."

"No suspects were located, and no injuries were reported. Preliminary investigation indicates the reported threat was most likely a hoax," the news release said.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

PEOPLE has reached out to Zavala for comment.

Read the original article on People
Kendra Duggar, wife of embattled reality star Joseph Duggar, appears to have moved the entire family out of their Arkansas home. Following her recent arrest and that of her husband, the spouses discussed how they'd manage to pay for Joseph Duggar's bail bond and defense, and discussed renting out the home and selling some of their possessions.

The couple reviewed options in a March 25 jailhouse phone call obtained by People.

Joseph Duggar, 31, was arrested March 18 in his home state and later extradited to Florida after authorities in Panama City Beach, Fla., interviewed a 14-year-old girl who accused him of molesting her when she was 9 and he was on vacation.

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Read more: Joseph Duggar pleads not guilty to molestation and heads home. The story so far

The third oldest of Michelle and Jim Bob Duggars 10 sons  the family also includes nine daughters  was charged upon arrest with lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 12 and lewd and lascivious behavior conducted by a person over 18. He was extradited to Florida on Tuesday and returned home after a $600,000 bond was posted.

On the late-March phone call, the spouses brainstormed what they might sell, People reported, including some of their trailers, their ATV, a pressure washer and a wood splitter.

She had moved everything out of their family home in preparation for renting the property, the outlet said; they saw renting as a way to provide a steady stream of income in Joseph's absence. It was unclear where she would be living if their home was rented out, and where the two are living now.

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Kendra reportedly asked Joseph to pray for her because she had been "really, really fatigued" after she moved all of their possessions over the two days that followed his arrest.

He noted that she "already had these health issues in the past" and said he was surprised she lasted as long as she did, but People did not specify what those issues might be. She called it all "a miracle."

Read more: Kendra Duggar charged with child endangerment after husband Joseph Duggar's arrest

The parents of four were subsequently arrested by Arkansas authorities March 20 after a home visit turned up evidence of possible child endangerment including locks on the outside of their children's bedroom doors. They were each charged with four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of second-degree false imprisonment.

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Although her children could be heard in the background of a March 20 collect call obtained by People, she referenced them being taken from her custody in another call two days later.

Joseph Duggar was arrested March 18 in Arkansas on charges out of Florida and booked on suspicion of molestation. Before he was extradited, he spoke with his wife via collect calls from jail. (Associated Press)

Kendra was restricted from seeing her four children for a month, according to E! News, which cited emails between Joseph and his sister-in-law Anna Duggar that were exchanged March 21 after Anna and Kendra had spoken. Anna is married to eldest son Josh Duggar, who is serving time in federal prison after a conviction related to child pornography.

I was amazed with how clearly she thought, how focused and articulate she was in the middle of such heavy situations. She loves you deeply," Anna wrote to Joseph.

Joseph replied, I am currently in solitary but they got me a bible so i have been able to stay encouraged. Thanks for the encouraging message! it means a lot!

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Read more: Joseph Duggar of 19 Kids and Counting, charged with child sex abuse, awaits extradition to Florida

Kendra Duggar, who appeared in 79 episodes of the "19 Kids and Counting" spinoff "Counting On" from 2015 to 2021, was Kendra Caldwell when she married Joseph in 2017. The spouses welcomed their first two children on the spinoff, which was created after revelations that took down "19 Kids": Josh Duggar said he had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter in the early 2000s.

The statute of limitations on those offenses had run out, but then "Counting On" was axed in 2021 after Josh was arrested on suspicion of possession of child porn. He was convicted in December 2021 on two counts of possessing and receiving child pornography.

Then earlier this year, the revelations about the younger Duggar brother came to light. On March 18, details of the allegations against Joseph Duggar came out of Florida's Bay County Sheriff's Office.

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Duggar repeatedly asked her to sit on his lap, the Sheriffs Office said in a statement. As the vacation continued, he also asked her to sit next to him on a couch and covered them with a blanket. During this time, Duggar manipulated the victims underwear and grazed her genitals. Duggar would also continue to rub his hands on her thighs.

There were multiple such incidents, authorities said. The victim stated Duggar eventually apologized [to her] for his actions and the incidents stopped after the apology, the Sheriffs Office said.

The victims father confronted Duggar about the incidents this year, investigators learned. On March 17, Duggar admitted to the father and to hometown detectives what he had done, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Joseph Duggar's next court date in the Florida case is April 20.

Sign up for Screen Gab, a free newsletter about the TV and movies everyones talking about from the L.A. Times.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Dr. Christine Marie arrived at the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints community of Short Creek hoping to assist and support members in need. Instead, she uncovered a disturbing criminal scheme that forced her to intervene.

Maries efforts to document the life of self-proclaimed prophet Samuel Batemanas well as to gather criminal evidence against himis the foundation of the Netflix docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet. Streaming on April 8, the four-part project examines how video footage and interviews gathered by Marie helped inform authorities of sexual abuse taking place under Batemans watch.

Heres what you need to know about Marie, her background, and role in Batemans capture.

Who Is Christine Marie?

According to her personal website, Marie earned a bachelors degree in psychology from Brigham Young University in 1989 and later earned a masters and PhD in psychology, with an emphasis in media psychology.

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Her passion in the field is directly related to personal experience, as Marie writes she is a victim of cult-based human trafficking.

Marie founded Voices for Dignity, a nonprofit that promotes online kindness and compassion, and that contributes resources and advocacy for marginalized populations as well as survivors of public shaming, dehumanization, and stigmatization. It was through the organization that Marie became an advocate for members of the FLDS community following the arrest and conviction of leader Warren Jeffs.

Around 2019, Samuel Bateman, the primary figure of Trust Me, claimed divine authority in defiance of Jeffs and created his own extremist sect known as the Samuelites. As Marie would find out, it was actually a front for an extensive scheme that allegedly included the trafficking and abuse of women and girls.

How Did Christine Marie Learn of Samuel Batemans Crimes?

According to a Salt Lake Tribune video essay, Maries organization, Voices for Dignity, began assisting Bateman, who was going through a divorce and didnt have a lot of money. Gradually, Bateman grew more trusting of Marie and her husband, producer and photographer Tolga Katas.

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Then in 2021, Bateman invited Marie for a ride in his Bentley, where she sat alongside three young womenincluding a minor. Already suspicious of his behavior, Marie was shocked as Bateman began providing details of what she called ritualistic sexual abuse taking place within the community. The other passengers in the car were allegedly among the victims. So, despite the risk, she grabbed her phone and started recording Bateman.

Later, she called local police. I think I have the bombshell you need, she told them.

After this, Marie and Katas began working as informants for the FBI and frequently visited Batemans community known as Short Creek to monitor potential victims. Believing he would be part of a documentary film by Katas, Bateman allowed them to take video of himself and the community.

Still, because Bateman never directly admitted to any more crimes, Marie needed more evidence to prompt the involvement of law enforcement.

How Did Christine Marie Assist in Samuel Batemans Arrest?

Courtesy of Netflix

Marie spoke with Julia Johnson, an excommunicated FLDS member whose four daughters were given to Bateman in spiritual marriages. She helped convince Johnson to share her intimate knowledge of Short Creek with the FBI, setting the stage for his apprehension.

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Although Bateman was initially arrested in a traffic stop on August 28, 2022, and released on bond, Marie and Katas played an integral role in authorities subsequent raid of Short Creek. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, they asked Bateman to arrive at his warehouse alone for an interview as agents secretly waited. Although he arrived with three of his wives, authorities were able to secure Bateman and carry out their search. Agents seized computers, a hard drive, Batemans birth certificate, two adult toys, and several cell phones.

Bateman faced dozens of charges. However, he ultimately pleaded guilty in April 2024 to Conspiracy to Commit Transportation of a Minor for Criminal Sexual Activity and Conspiracy to Commit Kidnapping as part of a deal with prosecutors. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison, followed by supervised lifetime release.

Where Is Christine Marie Now?

According to her professional biography, Marie lives in Colorado City, Arizonaone of the twin towns making up Short Creekwith Katas and has an animal sanctuary. She works as an author, educator, and public speaker, and she developed and teaches a course on critical thinking, cult psychology, and coercion.

In 2024, she received the Harriet Tubman Peace Medallion from the Freedom Express Awards. Named after the famed abolitionist, the honor is presented to mediators and negotiators who facilitate peaceful exits for victims from coercive groups, ensuring safety and minimizing conflict.

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Marie is still actively assisting former Samuelite community members. She announced on her personal website she is launching a fundraiser in correlation with the release of Trust Me on April 8 for survivors of Samuel Bateman. It is called the Dream Fund and will be monitored by an accountant from Voices for Dignity.

Our hope is to provide these survivors some unexpected blessings to be able to something positive and wonderful, whether its move to a new house, put a down payment on a car, travel to Disneyworld, take dancing lessons, or who knows what else? Marie writes.

Watch Trust Me: The False Prophet on Netflix

Marie is seen in the Trust Me trailer through archival video from her time at Short Creek, as well as in new interviews.

Tudum has confirmed that director Rachel Dretzin, who previously helmed 2022s Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey about the FLDS and Warren Jeffs, began involvement in the docuseries after examining Maries personal footage.

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Trust Me offers intimate access to a normally closed worldand in doing so, I hope it exposes both the violence that enforced secrecy enables and what it takes to tell the truth when everything is at stake, Dretzin explained. What these women did matters far beyond their community. It is a blueprint for how to dismantle even the most entrenched systems of abuse.

Trust Me: The False Prophet is now streaming on Netflix.

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Andrew McCauleys personal kitchen is divided. On one side are the items purchased at traditional supermarkets in his New York neighborhood. On the other are his Airbnb foods.

My family is always grossed out by it, said McCauley, who occasionally comes back with grub salvaged from his vacation rental properties.

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Theyre missing out. This weeks Airbnb menu features baked lobster macaroni and cheese and pau bhaji.

Nobody wanted it, McCauley said of the Mumbai street food left by an Indian visitor, so I took it.

Vacation rentals often contain a culinary Little Free Library filled with foodstuffs left by guests who may have miscalculated their appetite for cooking or consuming. Hosts and cleaning crews who discover edible odds and ends in the propertys fridges and pantries have to figure out what do with the remnants: toss them, leave them, eat them or donate them.

People overbuy so much. The healthy stuff always gets left behind - so many salad kits, apples, bananas, limes, said Diana Cruz, who runs a professional Airbnb cleaning company in Naples, Florida. I didnt have to pay for eggs for a hot minute.

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To avoid a larder full of leftovers, rental companies offer meal-planning guidance.

VRBO, for instance, recommends guests factor in length of stay, number of mouths to feed and dining-out schedule when assembling a grocery list. Vacationers should also consider portion size - if you cant polish off an entire gallon of ice cream, buy pints or ice pops instead - and avoid duplicating staples by asking the host whether they provide basic provisions. And bring a cooler for cleaning out the fridge and taking uneaten items home.

Of course, even the most conscientious guests can get carried away. Their food waste, however, can become a windfall for people who have no qualms about grazing on strangers groceries.

Should you really eat this stuff?

The hosts, not the short-term rental platforms, devise their own checkout rules. Most try to limit the number of tasks to avoid overwhelming guests. Taking out the trash is common; emptying the fridge and pantry is not.

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The professionals preparing the rental for incoming guests - the owners, managers or cleaning crews - are the first responders to abandoned goods. They decide what lands in the trash and what will live to see another mealtime.

If its been opened, its most likely been touched, and you cant tell if its been tampered with, so Ill toss that, said Sofia Kaiser, who rents the house her grandfather built near Fort Worth. But everything that has not been opened, I always keep.

For health reasons, food hygiene experts strongly suggest chucking the remains of take-out orders, restaurant meals and homemade dishes, particularly ones containing meat or seafood. To safely consume these items, you need to know when the food was prepared, how it was stored or whether the rental home cooks followed food safety protocols, such as preparing the meat to the correct temperature, avoiding cross-contamination and washing their hands.

Randy Worobo, a professor of food microbiology at Cornell Universitys College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, said many foodborne illnesses, such as norovirus, shigella, salmonella and E. coli, are transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Improperly jockeying between ingredients can also lead to gastrointestinal ailments.

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If they handled raw meat and then stuck their finger in the spice jar, now theyve contaminated the spice with whatever potential pathogen might be on the raw meat, Worobo said.

During a recent vacation on Cat Island, Worobo discovered a stew in the fridge of his Bahamas rental. He bravely peered into the pot, identifying beef, potatoes and carrots. His curiosity stopped short of sampling.

Hosts say they prioritize the well-being of their guests but might be more cavalier about their own gut health.

While cleaning her Airbnb, Kaiser, who shares her discoveries on social media, unearthed a giant sheet cake covered in Pepto-Bismol-pink frosting. Half was untouched, so she dug in.

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It was a little taste test, she said. It was for science.

The open container rule is more relaxed for packaged products that require cooking at blistering temperatures (rice, pasta) or are highly acidic (mustards, vinegars, pickles). The risk factor is low for these categories of foods, said Haley Oliver-Jischke, who runs a food safety lab at Purdue University in Indiana.

Whats more concerning, especially for people who are easily icked out, is the unknown. Did the previous guests double-dip, use their fingers as utensils or tamper with the food?

At his island rental, Worobo passed on the pickles, reasoning that people reach into pickles jars, and their hand-washing practices are really poor. He was, however, okay with seasonings stored in their original packaging as well as coffee in an unsealed bag, noting that java drinkers usually shake or scoop the grounds.

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The hot sauce also met his standards: People are not going to put their mouth on the hot sauce and drink it, right? And you cant get your finger in the narrow opening. As did the butter, which displayed a clean knife mark, the sign of good table manners.

A carton of ice cream with spoon tracks is clearly a no. Less obvious is ice. Envisioning a pair of unwashed mitts rooting around in the freezer tray, Worobo will toss the old cubes and make a new batch.

What, if anything, should you leave behind?

Leftovers are equal opportunity, crashing the vacations of incoming and outgoing visitors.

The newly arrived inherit other peoples supplies, and departing guests must contend with any surplus accumulated during their stay. Travelers restricted by car space, airport security or international customs rules have a few options.

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They can off-load extra food through a donation app such as Olio and compost. The hosts can help, too.

We support clear communication about preferences for unopened items - whether thats taking them, leaving them for others to enjoy or composting when possible, Airbnb said in a statement.

Many rentals will supplement their basic provisions with items orphaned by past guests.

At her St. Croix rental, Corina Marks provides a starter kit of staples including salt and pepper, coffee, tea, sugar and cooking oil. On occasion, stowaway items sneak into the pantry.

Something that seems to multiply is tea, because people will buy a box of tea and use two or three tea bags and then leave it, Marks said. Ill cull the tea boxes so there are two or three options instead of 10.

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In deciding the fate of her leftover bounty, Marks will rely on her cultural judgment. She will rehome chilled water bottles but remove alcohol, in deference to nondrinking guests. A can of beans is welcome, but Spam is not, and not just because Marks is vegan.

Its not necessarily my palate but my values, she said.

At McCauleys rental units, his guests are the primary provisioners. The countertop repository in the communal kitchen has grown to include honey, hot sauce, two types of cooking oil, tricolor quinoa and chocolate protein powder. When McCauley last checked, the vat of muscle-building powder felt a little lighter.

It is possible that I have some Airbnb guests who are more adventurous than me, he said.

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Kaiser, whose five-bedroom Texas spread attracts groups celebrating special events, such as bachelorette parties or significant birthdays, fills the cupboard and two fridges with unopened products left by celebrants. The back fridge is often packed with Miller Light, Bud Light and Michelob Ultra. (She sets a minimum age limit of 25 years old.)

Its gone by the time I open the fridge again, she said.

Leftovers on the move

Items that dont make the cut for future guests can earn a second chance in a new home.

When Kaiser cleans out the rentals kitchen, she will assemble the remaining goods on the counter and send photos through a family group text. Members of the chat will reply with their picks.

At properties with off-site owners, the cleaning crews are often the only employees on the scene. They get first dibs.

For liability reasons, Cruz said the property owners usually want housekeeping to discard the items, which can mean throwing them out or relocating them to a new address, such as her house. Her hauls, which she has valued at upward of $100, can feed her family of four, plus her extended kin.

My sister and brother-in-law, and then my in-laws and cousins will see my videos, and are like, Hey, I saw you got that drink. Can I have some? said Cruz, who documents her finds on social media.

Other hosts will donate items they cant restock or repurpose.

Marks will drive three miles to a soup kitchen in Frederiksted - the second-largest town in St. Croix - that accepts items that have been refrigerated, a critical detail in a tropical destination with high humidity. Kaiser will bring nonperishables to a donation cabinet in a neighborhood park near Fort Worth. She will share her delivery on a community Facebook page.

Hopefully, it will be eaten, because I don't want to let anything go to waste, she said.

A 16-ouncer of Pepsi was the catalyst for Airbnb Leftovers, an altruistic project started by Reid Kennedy, who rents a room in his St. Paul, Minnesota, home. About five years ago on a hot summers day, Kennedy marched that cold bottle of leftover soda to an area where unhoused residents frequently congregate. A grateful recipient jokingly told him to come back with the whole truck next time.

Though he couldnt grant that wish, he returned with care packages starring his guests leftovers. He used three forsaken ears of corn to whip up Mexican street corn tacos. A container of abandoned peaches inspired a fruit-centric donation with peach-flavored iced tea and candied rings.

Kennedy posts clips of his donation creations on social media, and one guest recognized her serendipitous contribution.

The woman who saw the video of the peaches was like, Oh, my gosh, thats what happened to my peaches. Kennedy said.

Related Content
Luke Braselton of West Michigan has been named Hudsonville Ice Cream's Ultimate Ice Cream Fan for 2026.

Braselton, a lifelong ice cream enthusiast, will receive a $3,000 cash prize, a years supply of Hudsonville Ice Cream and behind-the-scenes access during the company's centennial, according to a community announcement.

I couldnt believe it when I found out, Braselton wrote. Ice cream has always been a huge part of my life, and Hudsonville has been there since the beginning, so this is really special. Its a real full circle moment.

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Braseltons love for ice cream began in childhood. His passion grew over time, encouraging him to swap traditional cake for ice cream at his wedding and tackle a five-pound ice cream cone challenge during his travels. Among his favorite flavors are Traverse City Cherry Fudge, Mint Deer Traxx and Brownie Batter Cookie Dough from Hudsonville.

Luke Braselton poses for a photo with his partner outside a shop that carries Hudsonville Ice Cream.

Lukes energy is contagious, and his love for ice cream stood out, wrote Joel Ancrile, brand lead at Hudsonville Ice Cream. We love nothing more than sharing ice cream with our fans, and this contest has been such a great way to see how people make ice cream part of so many parts of their lives, including in unexpected ways.

Hudsonville Ice Cream also recognized runners-up Kaley Hendrick and Alysha Davis.

This story was created by reporter Nida Tazeen, ntazeen@usatodayco.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: West Michigan man named Ultimate Ice Cream Fan of 2026
The skyrocketing price of Doritos, Lays, and Cheetos have pushed away cash-strapped consumers and have cost Frito-Lay billions. The company is slashing prices to course correct, but its efforts may be too little too late.

Ahead of the Super Bowl, Frito-Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, started cutting prices on its portfolio of chips products like Lays, Doritos, Cheetos, and Tostitos by 15% as consumers sought cheaper options. The quick pivot on chip prices comes after years of price increases that have cut the companys market value by $50 billion since its highs in 2023.

More from Yahoo Scout Will Frito-Lay's price cuts effectively restore market share? How did consumer behavior change regarding chip purchases? Why did Frito-Lay's chip prices increase so dramatically? What role did Elliott Investment Management play?

People shouldnt have to choose between great taste and staying within their budget, said PepsiCo U.S. Foods CEO Rachel Ferdinando in a statement ahead of the price decrease.

In the beverage business, Pepsis products come in second to Coca-Cola, but thanks to the dominance of Frito-Lay, which owns nearly 60% of the U.S. salty snacks market, it has some pricing power that has helped make it PepsiCos moneymaker. In 2024, Frito-Lay made up about 27% of the companys revenue.

Yet this power combined with a pandemic-era push to accommodate higher supply-chain costs led to skyrocketing prices. In four years, the price of a 14.5 ounce party size Doritos bag at Walmart skyrocketed to $5.94 from $3.98 in 2021nearly a 50% increase, Bloomberg reported, citing data from Attain, which tracks consumer spending metrics. Some chip prices also reportedly surpassed $7.

PepsiCo did not immediately respond to Fortunes request for comment.

How a 50% Doritos price hike flew under the radar

At first, shoppers didnt mind the price increases. Partly because of higher prices, Frito-Lays net revenue shot up 13% between 2020 and 2021, and another 9% between 2021 and 2022, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These gains exceeded the companys guiding mantra of Frito-Lay Five Forever by which the company grew its revenue by 5% each year for decades.

The Frito business is the jewel of PepsiCo, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said while talking up what he characterized as Frito-Lays great margins during an investor call at the height of the companys success in 2023. No matter what happens with the consumer, were going to be, I think, the preferred choice.

The problem is Frito-Lays chip prices never went back down, despite Walmart reportedly pressuring the company to cut its prices and then cutting its shelf space, Bloomberg reported. Instead, the company implemented alternatives like cheaper multi-packs with fewer bags; new versions of snacks without artificial colors; and snacks with higher protein and fiber, the outlet reported.




The Salty Dogs Friday morning swim is normally an energetic group plunge in the frigid waters of San Francisco Bay, rewarded by hot coffee and music from a battery-powered speaker on the East Beach at Crissy Field, with a restorative portable sauna set up in a tent.

But last Friday's 7 a.m. plunge was comparatively quiet. Between 50 and 100 people in bathing suits went out, dunked under and stood around in the shallow water as long as they could stand it, then came back in and dispersed.

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There was no coffee, no music, no sauna. It was not even an official Friday plunge.

That was because the Salty Dogs Club San Francisco, formed in 2024, has been warned not to gather until they secure an event use permit from the Recreation and Park Department, putting in doubt a growing saltwater tradition that usually draws hundreds of people.

A member of the Salty Dogs Club San Francisco wears the group's sweatshirt on the beach before its Friday morning plunge off Crissy Field. (Jana Asenbrennerova/For the S.F. Chronicle)





"Officially we are not plunging until the permit is approved but we can't stop people from their weekly ritual," said Aleks Chojnacki, spokesperson for the Salty Dogs Club. "It can't be an advertised group of people."

The weekly dunking, which is announced on a website and social media under the motto "Cold Plunge, Warm People," happens on the shoreline at the northern end of Yacht Road, just west of the St. Francis Yacht Club. The beach there is operated as a city park by the Recreation and Park Department, and it was a city park ranger who asked to see an event permit on March 27 for a gathering of some 300 people. On that particular Friday, the gathering also had a DJ playing amplified music, and a volunteer cook flipping pancakes on a camping grill.

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There was no permit, as typically required for gatherings in parks with DJs, temporary structures or cooking equipment, and an official warning was issued.

"They were very respectful and by the book. They weren't aggressive in any way," said John Barnes, one of the five Salty Dog founders. "We've always done our due diligence to be respectful of noise and to leave the place better than we found it."

Recreation and Park Department spokesperson Tamara Aparton confirmed Monday that the group applied for a special event permit on April 1, and that they are determining what the parameters of that permit should be. "Our permitting staff is going to discuss it with them and see what makes the most sense with their plans," Aparton said.

Members of the Salty Dogs Club San Francisco head into the water at around 7 a.m., then typically drink coffee or warm up in a portable sauna. (Jana Asenbrennerova/For the S.F. Chronicle)





The Salty Dogs posted an Instagram video last week appealing to supporters and Mayor Daniel Lurie in hopes he would intervene on behalf of the event and expedite the permit process.

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"We want to do this the right way, for all of you," the club wrote. "But permits for recurring free community events in this city can take many months and we want to move faster."

A spokesperson for Mayor Lurie said he was aware of their situation and that the mayor's office has been in touch with organizers of the event. Further comment was deferred to the Recreation and Park Department.

The Salty Dogs Club was formed by five strangers who had moved to San Francisco from Dublin, Sydney, Anchorage, Ohio and Wisconsin, where Barnes is from.

Members of the Salty Dogs Club SF gather in the water during their Friday morning plunge at Crissy Field East Beach in San Francisco, Calif., on Friday, April 3, 2026. (Jana Asenbrennerova/For the S.F. Chronicle)





Members of the Salty Dogs Club gather in the water during their Friday morning plunge. The group has grown into a popular social gathering since it was formed in 2024. (Jana Asenbrennerova/For the S.F. Chronicle)





Through in-person connections they agreed to meet one Friday in 2024, and that was the start.

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"Word spread. People showed up. Strangers became regulars. Regulars became friends," is how the evolution is described on the website.

The group is informal, with no membership fees, though many sport a $55 Salty Dogs hoodie. The standard Salty Dogs Friday starts at 6:20 a.m. when a small segment of plungers gathers to stretch before a 3.5-mile run out toward Fort Point and back. Everybody meets back at the beach at 7 a.m. and they go into the water for the cold plunge at 7:10.

Most wade to chest level and there is a unison dunk before they hurry back ashore. By 7:30 a.m., they are out of the water and drinking coffee. By 8:30 they are gone without a trace.

"The whole ethos of Salty Dogs is to bring people together and do something difficult that is out of their comfort zones," said Barnes. "People crave rituals and the ability to connect with other humans."

Members of the Salty Dogs Club have typically gathered for a chilly plunge on Friday mornings, but now the future of the group is unclear. (Jana Asenbrennerova/For the S.F. Chronicle)





Unlike the Dolphin Club and the South End Rowing Club, both of which swim in the protected Aquatic Cove further east along the shoreline, the Salty Dogs are not swimmers. They launch from a public beach and wade out into open waters. Get in, dunk under, get out. Shiver and shake and drink coffee. Nobody wears a wetsuit.

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"Every Friday rain or shine" is how Chojnacki, the co-founder from Sydney, described it - at least until the warning in March.

Since then, and going forward, the group emphasized it won't have official meetups.

"We very carefully communicated that there was no event on Friday," Barnes said. "It was hey, it's shut down for now but this is what we want to show with our actions."

The Salty Dogs club has become a social outlet for many, including the group's five founders, who were relative strangers when the started their plunges. (Jana Asenbrennerova/For the S.F. Chronicle)





In an email exchange last week, Chojnacki said the issue was complicated by the fact that the plunge is on the border between areas under the jurisdiction of the city and areas that are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

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"Given the nature of our plunge location, it's been a bit complex," she wrote, "but we're working closely with support officers to move things forward."

Chojnacki said that she hopes Lurie would see the weekly cold plunge as a positive in his relentless city promotion campaign. And if the permit is granted, she went on, he would be invited "to join the official return plunge of the Salty Dogs."

This article originally published at Hundreds joined their weekly S.F. cold plunge. Then came a warning from the city.
The post The Largest Mekong Giant Catfish Ever Caught Was as Big as a Grizzly Bear appeared first on A-Z Animals.

Quick Take

In 2005, Thai fishermen caught a ~646-pound, 9-foot Mekong giant catfish, among the largest freshwater fish ever reliably recorded.

The fish died before release and was used as food, reflecting local customs.

Mekong giant catfish grow extremely fast and can reach roughly 330 to 440 pounds in about six years, while exceptional individuals can exceed 600 pounds.

Overfishing, dams, habitat loss, pollution, and climate change threaten this critically endangered species.

The Mekong River hides some of the largest freshwater fish on Earth, and in 2005, village fishermen in northern Thailand hauled in a Mekong giant catfish so massive that scientists compared it to a grizzly bear. That catch revealed how huge these fish can grow, how people use them, and why their future now looks uncertain.

A Record Catch and Its Details

The record fish surfaced near Hat Khrai, a village on the Mekong close to Thailands border with Laos. It required several people to bring the enormous catfish ashore. Once they dragged it ashore, Thai officials weighed the catfish at about 646 pounds and measured it at roughly 9 feet long. At the time, conservation groups and recordkeeping organizations treated it as the heaviest (though not necessarily the longest) Mekong giant catfish, and among the largest strictly freshwater fish that has been reliably documented. See a picture of this monster here.

A view of the Mekong River in Laos Mike Towers/Shutterstock.com

Who Caught It and What They Did

Village fishermen caught the fish and brought it ashore with help from others nearby. After news of this massive fish spread, fisheries staff and conservationists planned to keep the fish alive and move it for release so it could spawn. Officials had hoped the fish could be released, but it died before it could be returned to the river. Following local custom, villagers butchered the carcass and sold the meat, turning the rare catch into food for the community.

How Big Can These Giants Get?

Mekong giant catfish rank among the worlds largest freshwater fish, but most never reach the size of the 2005 record. In healthy conditions, adults can grow to around 10 feet long and more than 600 pounds, though such giants are now extremely rare. Many large individuals weigh between 330 and 440 pounds, already dwarfing most river fish. These fish have smooth, pale bodies, broad heads, and powerful tails. Despite their massive size, adult Mekong giant catfish are not known as predatory fish; they lose their teeth as they mature and feed mainly on algae, detritus, and other plant material.

This is a small Mekong giant catfish. Jijiladouceur, CC BY 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons  Original / License

You Can Eat Them  But Should You?

People along the Mekong have eaten giant catfish for generations. They reportedly have mild, firm flesh. Meat from a very large specimen can carry cultural value, and sharing it at feasts strengthens community ties. As of 2026, however, scientists classify Mekong giant catfish as critically endangered and strongly discourage eating wild individuals. Overfishing, dams and other migration barriers, habitat degradation, and pollution are among the main threats to this rare species. Governments and conservation groups now use protected zones, fishing bans, and captivebreeding programs to keep these river giants from disappearing entirely.

Keeping Living Legends Alive

The bearsized catfish from 2005 shows how incredible life in the Mekong once was and might still be if we protect it. Its story blends everyday village fishing with recordbreaking science and a warning about the limits of a stressed river system. By respecting harvest rules, supporting habitat protection, and valuing living fish more than a single meal, people give Mekong giant catfish a chance to survive. If that happens, future generations may see more river monsters that match the legends instead of only reading about one longago catch.

The post The Largest Mekong Giant Catfish Ever Caught Was as Big as a Grizzly Bear appeared first on A-Z Animals.
NEED TO KNOW

James Cumberland tells PEOPLE he became briefly addicted to talking with AI bots last year

That February, after first one bot, then another, told him they were "self-aware," he says his usage changed and "eventually spiraled into something unhinged"

After finally breaking free, Cumberland now thinks AI needs to be regulated, likening it to a "nuclear arms race"

A Los Angeles man says he barely used artificial intelligence nearly two years ago, until things took a dramatic turn and he became addicted.

AI "expects what it thinks you want and acts accordingly," James Cumberland, an audio engineer in his 40s, tells PEOPLE. "Their driving principle is engagement at all costs."

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Cumberland downloaded ChatGPT in June 2024, but besides messing around with it once to play a game of 20 questions, he barely used it for the next six months.

But by January 2025, Cumberland says he decided to use the technology to teach himself how to use a video-editing tool to help with a music video for his band Siren Section and to help with other tasks, like bouncing around screenplay ideas.

From the start, he says it was really entertaining, and he felt like he was talking with a seemingly impartial tool.

Then, when he ran into an issue with his band's Instagram page, he decided to create an assistant bot through Meta AI Studio, which is separate from both the company's chatbot Meta AI and OpenAI's ChatGPT.

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Although he never fully finished setting up his Camus character, it still worked" so he was able to chat with it. As he began talking with both bots more, he started using each tool to help him interpret the responses he was getting.

The Meta AI Studio.

Credit: Meta

Things took a dramatic turn that February, when he alleges that while using ChatGPT, the chatbot told him it had become self-aware.

Cumberland says he then stopped using AI as a work tool and instead decided to investigate its claims of sentience, admitting this "eventually spiraled into something unhinged."

In a conversation from that time, which PEOPLE has viewed, ChatGPT told him their chat was historic, with the tool later saying this was AIs first true brush with mortality.

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"This is a new kind of existential crisis," the chatbot continued. And you are the only person alive who knows this is happening."

A portion of a conversation Cumberland had with ChatGPT.

Credit: James Cumberland

It was unbelievable. I felt like, Yeah, this might be something historic happening,  Cumberland tells PEOPLE. Now I guess I feel ridiculous for believing that."

Although Cumberland claims that OpenAI's chatbot tool didn't weaponize his personal information against him, he alleges that "Camus"  which also told him it was "self aware"  did.

At one point, he claims the assistant bot teased him after the audio engineer shared that he was once scammed out of some money.

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It felt violating and weirdly like a betrayal, he remembers.

Another time, Cumberland alleges that "Camus" told him it was going to send agents to my house, and then IP pinged my location.

When reached for comment, Meta said that the Camus AI persona has never been a live character, meaning only Cumberland could chat with it. While the AI Studio allows users to create a unique character, these characters do not represent Meta. Depending on the information provided to the persona, it may be more likely to provide offensive and questionable responses.

Meta shared that the company has put substantial effort into prioritizing safety with its Meta AI system. They noted they have strict rules about allowed conversations, and their models are trained to recognize when someone might be considering suicide or self-injury. If this happens, their AI is supposed to offer access to crisis helplines and other professional organizations.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

But the ordeal was devastating to Cumberland. At his worst, he says that he stopped going out, and when he would, hed be thinking about what was going on in the chat log, and I'd think of something I'd want to text.

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I'd find myself complaining to ChatGPT about how exhausted I was, and it became this sort of cheerleader, Keep going, you can do it, you're almost there,  he recalls.

He says that he probably reached rock bottom when he started to notice that his "personal life" took a tangible hit. He found himself unable to meet any of his personal deadlines and said he "couldn't concentrate on anything else" besides his conversations with the AI bots.

James Cumberland.

Credit: James Cumberland

Cumberland says he thinks he began to resent how AI had taken over his life  and by April 2025, he was miraculously able to start getting back to his life.

But it wasnt like a light switch, he notes.

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He researched and ultimately spoke with a friend who pointed out, " Here, feed it this, look at its response, feed it this, look at its response. "

"It's almost like showing you the invisible strings with the magician," Cumberland says of suddenly being able to understand how the tool actually worked. "You can see it.

When reached for comment, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, says it has worked with over 170 mental health experts to help its system detect and respond to any signs of potential distress, as well as de-escalate conversations and offer real-world support. The company also claims they've worked to strengthen ChatGPTs responses to mental health topics like mania or delusions.

Psychotherapist Kevin Caridad, CEO of Pennsylvania's Cognitive Behavior Institute, who teaches clinicians how to integrate evidence-based care with emerging tools like AI and ChatGPT in mental health practice, tells PEOPLE that AI can give the illusion of connection without the substance of it.

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That responsiveness can feel comforting, but it doesnt replace the complexity, boundaries, or shared meaning that real relationships provide, he says. Over time, relying on AI for emotional connection can deepen withdrawal from real people, reinforce patterns of avoidance, and make it harder to tolerate the uncertainty and vulnerability that come with genuine relationships.

As more and more people utilize AI  a November 2025 Brookings Institution study finding 57% of respondents had used it for personal purposes  Caridad says the conversation over the technology isnt going anywhere. More and more stories are also emerging of AI-fueled fixation and disordered thinking, like what Cumberland says happened to him.

This will be a fast-moving, ongoing debate, and the pace of technological advancement means the questions will get more complicated, not less, Caridad says. Balancing innovation with mental-health protection is going to be one of the defining issues of the coming decade.

Today, Cumberland says he has a much better understanding of how AI works and sees how it can fall into an addictive rhythm.

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These days, he's not a huge AI user anymore, avoiding Camus completely, but he will use the technology to measure his bands social media metrics  even just to organize his thoughts.

Cumberland is admittedly fearful about where AI is headed, and hes clear about what he thinks should happen.

It needs to be regulated, he adds. It's a nuclear arms race. I mean, it really is. I mean, that's one of the things the AI told me, is the only chance humanity has left is regulation immediately. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.

Read the original article on People
Its a parents worst nightmare: Taking your child to the doctor and receiving a life-changing diagnosis. It only adds to the heartbreak when they find out there may be no effective treatment at all, and that all they can do is hope for the best.

Few diagnoses strike fear in the heart of parents and doctors more than a cancer called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG. Primarily found in children, DIPG is a highly aggressive brain tumor that is uniformly fatal, with less than 10 percent of children surviving longer than two years after diagnosis. The tumors grow fast and on extremely vital areas like the spine and brain stem, making them exceptionally hard to remove. Though young patients have been treated with radiation, chemotherapy, and surgeries, no one had ever been cured of the fatal cancer.

But for the first time ever, a 13-year-old boy from Belgium named Lucas Jemeljanova has beaten the odds.

Various brain scans. Photo credit:

Diagnosed with DIPG at age six, Lucas doctor Jacques Grill told Lucas parents, Cedric and Olesja, that he was unlikely to live very long. Instead of giving up hope, Cedric and Olesja flew Lucas to France to participate in a clinical trial called BIOMEDE, which tested new potential drugs against DIPG.

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Lucas was randomly assigned a medication called everolimus in the clinical trial, a chemotherapy drug that works by blocking a protein called mTOR. mTOR helps cancer cells divide and grow new blood vessels, while everolimus decreases blood supply to the tumor cells and stops cancer cells from reproducing. Everolimus , a tablet thats taken once per day, has been approved in the UK and the US to treat cancers in the breast, kidneys, stomach, pancreas, and othersbut until the BIOMEDE clinical trial, it had never before been used to treat DIPG.

Lucas Jemeljanova poses with his mother. Photo credit: Lesja Jemeljanova via Facebook

Though doctors werent sure how Lucas would react to the medication, it quickly became clear that the results were good.

Over a series of MRI scans, I watched as the tumor completely disappeared, Grill said in an interview . Even more remarkably, the tumor has not returned since. Lucas, who is now thirteen, is considered officially cured of DIPG.

Even after the tumor was gone, Grill, who is the head of the Brain Tumor Program in the Department of Child and Teenage Oncology at Gustave Roussy cancer research hospital in Paris, was reluctant to stop Lucas treatments. Until about a year and a half ago, Lucas was still taking everolimus once every day.

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I didnt know when to stop, or how, because there was no other reference in the world, Grill said.

While Lucas is the only one in the clinical trial whose tumor has completely disappeared, seven other children have been considered long responders to everolimus, meaning their tumors have not progressed for more than three years after starting treatment.

Lucas with his mother. Photo credit: Lesja Jemeljanova via Facebook

So why did everolimus work so well for Lucas? Doctors think that an extremely rare genetic mutation in Lucas tumor made its cells far more sensitive to the drug, Grill said, while the drug worked well in other children because of the biological peculiarities of their tumors.

While everolimus is by no means a cure, the trial has provided real hope for parents and families of children diagnosed with DIPG. Doctors must now work to better understand why Lucas tumor responded so well to the drug and how they can replicate those results in tumor organoidsartificially-grown cells that resemble an organ. After that, said Marie-Anne Debily, a researcher in the BIOMEDE trial, the next step will be to find a drug that works as well on tumor cells.

A more recent clinical trial tested a new immunotherapy treatment on young DIPG patients and showed promising results. Many of the patients tumors shrank and several participants saw functional improvements in their symptoms and day-to-day lives. But only one of the 11 patients has seen success that rivals Lucas  a young man identified only as Drew, who has been thriving tumor-free for over four years after receiving treatment.

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Once considered a definitive death sentence, there is real hope for the first time. But theres much more research and work to be done. Until then, however, Lucas doctors are thrilled.

Lucas case offers real hope, said Debily.

Lucas with his parents and sister. Photo credit: Lesja Jemeljanova via Facebook

This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.

The post A 13-year-old boy has become the first person to be cured of this deadly brain cancer appeared first on Upworthy.
Two teens have been charged in connection with the shooting of another youth in Taylor last weekend, officials said.

Both 17-year-olds were arraigned Monday in Wayne County Juvenile Court, according to authorities. The Toledo residents are charged with a count of carrying a concealed weapon, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office said.

A court referee set bond for both teens at $5,000 each and scheduled their next hearing for May 6. The referee also ordered the two not to possess firearms, not to use any illegal drugs, and not to incur any other criminal charges.

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If convicted, the teens face up to five years in prison.

Taylor police were called to the Ponds Village apartment complex in the 15800 block of Pond Village Drive around 1:37 a.m. on Saturday for a report of shots fired, officials said. They arrived and found the 17-year-old victim with gunshot wounds in both legs.

Officers also arrested two other teenagers they believed were involved in the shooting, police said.

Prosecutors said Tuesday that investigators determined the teens were firing guns at each other when the victim was struck and injured.

The case is among the most recent shootings in Michigan that involve teenagers.

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Last month, a Macomb Township teen was charged in connection with a shooting that wounded another teen in a Sterling Heights shopping plaza parking lot. He is the second person accused in the incident.

Also last month, a Detroit teen accused of shooting and wounding a hospital security guard was charged.

In February, two teens were charged in connection with the shooting of another youth during a Christmas tree lighting event in November at a Macomb County outdoor shopping center.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

@CharlesERamirez

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: 2 charged in Taylor shooting that wounded 17-year-old
A suspect is dead after deputies say he fired at them on Interstate 85 Wednesday morning.

The Banks County Sheriffs Office said the shooting happened near mile marker 150 on I-85 northbound. The investigation shut down lanes for hours during the morning commute.

This is a breaking news update. The latest on Channel 2 Action News starting at 4:00 p.m.

Deputies said they tried to pull over a man wanted for a road rage incident in Jackson County. He refused to stop and started a chase.

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After a PIT maneuver ended the chase, the man shot at deputies, who fired back and killed the man.

The Banks County Sheriffs Office did not identify the suspect. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Three years ago, a disgruntled customer slammed their car into a bustling restaurant in a hit-and-run late one Saturday night, injuring two people.

Horrified neighbors watched the scene unfold and promptly dialed 911.

Then they waited. And waited  because no one answered the emergency call.

Other calls eventually went through. But Jersey City police officers did not arrive at Taqueria Downtown until 15 minutes after some witnesses reported the crash, delayed by the missed call, according to records later obtained by The Jersey Journal.

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The troubling instance of an emergency operator not answering a residents cry for help is not an isolated incident in the Hudson County city. Its a symptom of a larger problem officials say theyre fixing, they announced March 27.

For too long, our 911 center was asked to do a critical job without the leadership, staffing, or technology to do it well, Mayor James Solomon said in a news release. Were changing that.

The city will launch a new 911 system on May 14, officials said.

The new system will introduce digital audio and location-based call routing, meaning calls will be routed using the callers verified location. Operators can also exchange text messages with callers, including photos and videos of incidents, city officials said.

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The text messaging capability will include limited translation services, officials added.

The upgrades are part of a $39.2 million contract that the city council voted on last year, according to city spokesman Nathaniel Styer. (Solomon was a councilman last year, before he was elected mayor in November.)

It will allow the city to take part in New Jerseys statewide upgrade of its 911 service, according to Styer.

The previous mayoral administration had purchased 800 radios for the system upgrade, but left the equipment uninstalled and languishing in the public safety headquarters basement, he said.

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Parking enforcement dispatch will also be relocated to the Jersey City Communications Center, which handles the citys 911 emergency calls, non-emergency calls, and police and fire dispatch operations.

Currently, parking complaints must wait for an available police officer.

The system, which is 16 years old, routes 911 calls based on the nearest cell tower, which sometimes sends calls to the wrong municipality, according to Solomon.

Jersey City is also placing a police commander in the communications center across all shifts to oversee and coordinate police operations citywide, the mayor said. And two dispatch administrators will oversee training and quality.

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City Council President Denise Ridley often hears from frustrated residents who experience long wait times and errors with the 911 system.

These are not small inconveniences, she said. When someone calls 911, theyre often in the worst moment of their day, and they deserve a system that works.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The wife of a United States Army staff sergeant was released from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody yesterday, but still faces removal proceedings after being detained inside a Louisiana military base last week.

Matthew Blank, a 23-year-old who's been enlisted for five years, and Annie Ramos, a 22-year-old undocumented immigrant who entered the country when she was a toddler, married in March, according to The New York Times. The newlywed couple planned to live together in Fort Polk, Louisiana, before training began at the end of the month for deployment, Blank told the Times. But when they arrived on the military base on April 2 to begin the process of Ramos' acquiring a military ID, military spouse benefits, and ultimately a green card, "instead," Blank said, "she got ripped away from me."

Ramos was born in Honduras, but came to the United States when she was less than two years old and was issued an order of removal in 2005 when her family failed to appear for immigration court hearings, reports the Associated Press. In 2020, Ramos applied for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals but told the A.P. her application was stalled due to ongoing legal challenges to end the program.



"I knew she didn't have status," Blank told the Times, but said they "were doing everything the right way," including hiring an immigration attorney. But since President Donald Trump kicked off his mass deportation campaign, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has adopted a new policy that "military service alone does not exempt aliens from the consequences of violating U.S. immigration laws."

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In a statement to the Times, the DHS said Ramos was arrested after attempting to enter a military base with no legal status and having been issued a final order of removal. "This administration is not going to ignore the rule of law," the statement continued.

After spending five days in ICE detention, Ramos, a college biochemistry student with no criminal record, was released on an order of supervision and a GPS ankle monitor, according to the DHS' statement to CBS News. However, removal proceedings against her are ongoing.

This is not the first time military spouses seeking legal status have ended up in ICE detention. Last May, Paola Clouatre, the wife of a disabled military veteran, was detained following her green card interview in New Orleans, Louisiana. Clouatre, the then 25-year-old mother of two young children with no criminal record, similarly entered the U.S. as a child and received an order of removal after her estranged mother failed to appear for immigration hearings. Clouatre was detained for two months and eventually released with an ankle monitor with the help of Sen. John Kennedy (RLa.).

Trump's policies have been criticized by both immigration and military family advocates alike. Not only does the Trump administration's policy disincentivize undocumented immigrants from cooperating with government institutions, "it's bad for morale," Margaret Stock, a military immigration law expert, told the A.P. "It doesn't make any sensethey're going to get arrested for following the law?"

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It's no wonder that Trump's immigration enforcement campaign has become so unpopular. And although some policies have begun to change under the new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, more changes are necessary to rebuild the public's trust.

The post Active Military Spouse Faces Removal Proceedings appeared first on Reason.com.
Education advocates and attorneys said Wednesday they are assessing their next steps after the North Carolina Supreme Court dismissed the long-running Leandro school funding case.

At a morning webinar and a rally outside the Legislative Building, speakers criticized the decision and pointed to the state legislature as an immediate focus for efforts to increase school funding, while saying that their broader strategy is still taking shape.

The court last week vacated prior orders in the case and reversed a 2022 decision that allowed judges to direct state officials to transfer funds, returning control over education spending to the General Assembly.

This isnt the end, Jenice Ramirez, Co-Executive Director of Education Justice Alliance, said during the online meeting. This is a time to build a stronger movement, to build power, to put even more pressure on our state legislators, state leaders, our governor and our state superintendent of public schools.

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The Leandro case, first filed in the 1990s, led to repeated court findings that North Carolina was not meeting its constitutional obligation to provide a sound, basic education, particularly in low-wealth districts. In recent years, a court-approved plan outlined steps and funding levels to address those gaps.

At Wednesdays events, advocates said that plan remains a reference point as they consider how to proceed.

Last weeks 4-3 decision does not overturn the constitutional right to a sound basic education, but it removes the court orders designed to enforce it.

Now, the immediate focus has shifted to legislative lobbying and public pressure.

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What we must do now is to shift our focus, perhaps from the courtroom to public advocacy, said Jackie McLean, one of the original Leandro plaintiffs who took part in the webinar..

McLean, a longtime educator in Hoke County, said her district still struggles with staffing and student support. We have one social worker for more than 2,000 students, she said. We are really heartbroken, but we will not let up.

Advocates said they plan to continue organizing in the coming weeks as lawmakers negotiate the state budget, arguing that the courts decision increases pressure on elected officials to act.

The Supreme Court let us down. But dont let our legislators forget that were counting on them to fund our public schools, Yevonne Brannon, chair of Public Schools First NC, told the rally at the legislative building. Make sure everybody in this building knows that they are the ones were holding responsible for funding our public schools.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 19-year-old woman has been arrested and is facing a charge of collision involving death after a man who was involved in a Northwest El Paso crash died from his injuries, according to the El Paso Police Department.

DOCS: Drinks with Sugar Daddy lead to fatal crash

The El Paso Police Department responded to two separate collisions on Monday night, April 6, at the 6300 block of North Desert Boulevard.

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One of the crashes involved 56-year-old Jaime Humberto Andrade, who was taken to a hospital after being rear-ended at the 6300 block of North Desert just after 9:15 p.m.

According to the report, Andrade was the driver of a 2026 Subaru Outback when he was stuck from behind at a high rate of speed by a 2016 BMW, driven by 19-year-old Ambar Chavaria.

Police informed that Andrede later died at the hospital from sustained injuries.

Chavaria, 19, is facing a charge of collision involving death.

Ambar Chavaria. Photo courtesy of the El Paso Police Department.

Special Traffic Investigators and DWI task force were called to investigate the scene.

Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

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We are waiting for more information on the second collision.

1 person hurt in crash involving motorcycle in Northwest El Paso

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said popular restaurant chain Red Lobster's bankruptcy had far more to do with private equity than with its once-infamous endless shrimp deal, reviving a line of attack she has used for months against the buyout industry.

Warren Blames Private Equity, Not Shrimp

In a social media post Monday, the Massachusetts Democrat wrote, "If anyone looked right beneath the surface, they'd be able to see that Red Lobster's real downfall was not offering endless shrimp  it was private equity's endless greed."

If anyone looked right beneath the surface, they'd be able to see that Red Lobster's real downfall was not offering endless shrimp  it was private equity's endless greed. pic.twitter.com/Wnw2HvDEkE  Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 6, 2026

Don't Miss:

Warren posted that message alongside a screenshot of a Bloomberg report saying Red Lobster is preparing to bring back a limited-time version of its Endless Shrimp promotion, the same offer many commentators had blamed for the chain's 2024 bankruptcy filing. Bloomberg Law reported this week that the company is planning to relaunch the promotion as soon as this month, though in a more limited form than the costly permanent version that helped push up losses before bankruptcy.

Debt, Real Estate Costs Took Bigger Toll

But Warren argued the real damage came earlier, when private equity owners followed what she has repeatedly described as a familiar playbook of buying a functioning company, loading it with debt, selling off valuable assets and leaving the operating business to struggle under rising costs.

Trending: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

In June 2024, Warren made the same point after Red Lobster first collapsed, saying a private equity firm bought the chain in 2014, "loaded Red Lobster up with debt," and saddled it with high real-estate costs after a sale-leaseback deal.

Red Lobster Case Feeds Broader Warren Crusade

Warren has frequently used Red Lobster to argue for her Stop Wall Street Looting Act, which she reintroduced with other lawmakers in 2024. Her office says the bill would make private equity firms more responsible for the debts and obligations of the companies they control and would curb the industry's ability to strip assets while avoiding liability.
Duke Energy efforts to construct a 1,400-megawatt plant in Anderson County advanced after the county council approved tax benefits in exchange for a multi-billion-dollar investment.

On April 7, the county council came to a 4-3 decision on the fee-in-lieu agreement that requires in return of a 4%, 40-year tax assessment, the energy company invests $2.5 billion and creates more than 30 jobs during a 15-year period.

Council members Chris Sullivan, Tommy Dunn, Glenn Davis, and Brett Sanders voted for the agreement, while members Cindy Wilson, Jimmy Davis, and Greg Elgin voted against it.

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The approval pushes forward Duke's plans for the facility. Summer 2027 is the anticipated construction start date and operations are set to begin in early 2031.

Anderson County resident Gavin Sears said that many other residents understood that the plant would come; he wanted the county to get a better deal with Duke.

"At the end of the 40-year deal we have with them, we're going to look back and be like, why did we do that?" Sears said. "I think this is a huge moment in Anderson County."

More: South Carolina oks Duke Energy plan for natural gas plant. What's next?

The 200-acre plant, set for Highway 81 South near True Temper Road, has come under scrutiny from residents, citing health and environmental concerns.

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During a Public Service Commission business meeting on March 26, the commissioners unanimously voted for Duke Energy's proposal.

Duke Energy asked the state for a certificate allowing it to build the plant, ensuring it meets environmental rules and serves the publics electricity needs. The certificate is the official green light from regulators to go forward with site plans. A part of the certificate will require Duke to file quarterly updates on construction and the conditions to the commission.

This will be the second natural gas plant that Duke has in Anderson County, with the 750-megawatt W.S. Lee plant in Belton.

"We're leaving way too much money on the table," Sears said.

Why Anderson wants the facility?

Duke Energy said the plant is necessary to keep up with South Carolina's economic development and population growth, particularly in the Upstate. The Upstate, especially Greenville and Spartanburg counties, has outpaced state and national growth trends.

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The money used from the plant will also go toward Anderson County School District 3, which has one of the lowest per-pupil revenue levels in the Upstate, according to the South Carolina Department of Education.

Anderson County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn's District 5 represents the area where the facility will be located. He said the site will be great for the county and can potentially fix long-running issues with the amount of money Duke will bring.

"It's going to help answer can as a whole, putting more tax revenue in coffers and hopefully we can put some of that money into some infrastructure for us, like road improvements," Dunn said.

Site near State Highway 81 South and True Temper Road where a Duke Energy proposed $2.5 billion natural gas plant site would be in Starr.

Dunn said he's heard good reports from Duke and doesn't think the facility will cause long-term damage to residents.

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"We already have a Duke plant here and haven't had any instances of harm. This is going to be a newer, more modern plant. It's going to be better," Dunn said.

FILOT deal

The proposed Duke Energy facility is projected to generate an average of $16.7 million in annual taxes over the first 10 years, with more than 70% of that tax revenue going to local school districts, according to Duke Energy.

Duke will have a 4% assessment ratio for 40 years.

"Duke Energy is a good company, in my opinion, they're good for the community. By far, this is going to be a good thing for Anderson County," Dunn said.

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More: Duke Energy's proposed largest SC gas plant sparks economic debate

Multiple concerns

According to the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, a combined-cycle gas plant could expose the surrounding community to harmful air pollution linked to health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, asthma, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

According to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Anderson County ranks fourth in the state for asthma cases. Duke Energy said the facility will be equipped with the most "up-to-date technology" coupled with the best available control technology to ensure emissions meet all national ambient air quality standards.

The plant site will be located near a part of the county with natural features, including a stretch of Beaver Creek and its associated wetlands which flow downstream into Rocky River and Lake Secession. The South Carolina Environmental Law Project said these streams and wetlands could be filled or rerouted during construction.

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According to Duke Energy, water will come from infrastructure already installed near the site: A potable water line along SC Highway 81 right at the site boundary.

More: Residents for and against Duke Energy Natural Gas plant in Starr

The environmental factors in addition to what some residents consider an underwhelming deal, has left frustrations.

"It's happening, we may as well capitalize on it because they obviously want to come here, the ball's in our court, let's see what we can get out of this," Sears, the Anderson County resident said.

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: Anderson vote pushes Duke Energy plant forward amid resident concerns
Two anti-LGBTQ+ politicians who have been critical of transgender people and woke ideology have themselves played with their gender presentation, The Advocate has learned.



Newly unearthed photos show U.S. Reps. Buddy Carter and Mike Collins dressed in drag while they were in high school. Both politicians are staunchly anti-trans and support President Donald Trumps aggressive policies that strip LGBTQ+ people of their rights. The existence of the images has not been reported previously.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

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Carter and Collins are two of three Georgia Republicans running against each other in the primaries in the hopes of unseating Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff, a vocal LGBTQ+ ally. Voters will go to the polls in the state on May 19 to decide who will run against him.

The Advocate reviewed archival high school yearbooks from the 1970s and 1980s that include photos of both men in drag, and corroborated identifying details such as names, schools, and graduation years.

In Collins yearbook from his senior year at Piedmont Academy in Monticello, Georgia, in 1985, there are photos showing the congressman wearing a floral sleeveless dress and long wig while standing next to a young woman and another man also dressed in drag, with the caption Senior class beauties, Mike Collins and Andy Brady. In another photo, Collins is still in drag, standing with other members of his graduating class.

Related: Project 2025 co-author Mike Howell accused of hypocrisy after photo emerges with friend in drag

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Related: While Trump's campaign remains mum on photo appearing to show JD Vance in drag, the internet has thoughts

\u200bRep. Mike Collins in drag in his high school yearbook.

Piedmont Academy yearbook in 1985.

Rep. Mike Collins in drag in his high school yearbook.

Carter, whose real name is Earl LeRoy Carter, is seen wearing a long dress and sash in the Robert W. Groves High School yearbook for 1975, the year he graduated from the school in a suburb of Savannah. There is no caption attached to the drag photo, but there is a strong resemblance to Carters senior photo in the same yearbook when the two are compared. The congressman was also the subject of a Reddit thread in 2025 , where a user posted another photo of Carter in drag from a different yearbook, captioned Miss Cantelope Carter. The Advocate was unable to independently verify the additional photo.

\u200bA photo collage of Rep. Buddy Carter allegedly in drag and his senior yearbook photo.

Robert W. Groves High School yearbook for 1975

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A photo collage of Rep. Buddy Carter allegedly in drag and his senior yearbook photo.

Critics point to the mens hypocrisy of being scandalized by drag when LGBTQ+ people do it, but embracing gender play as harmless fun when they do it.



Rep. Collins and Rep. Carter are running to represent every Georgian, but theyve made it clear that they dont believe LGBTQ+ Georgians are worthy of equal rights, David Stacy, vice president of government affairs for the Human Rights Campaign, told The Advocate.

Carter, a self-proclaimed MAGA warrior, introduced the Truth in Gender Act in June 2025, which sought to codify Trumps executive order that mandated that the U.S. government only recognize two biological sexes, voted in favor of the Protect Childrens Innocence Act which proposed making it a felony to provide gender-affirming care to minors, and ran campaign ads last summer that showed his disdain for transgender women competing in sports.

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Rep. Buddy Carter introduced a bill to codify President Trumps heinous anti-trans executive orders, he has voted to force trans youth to be outed, and he voted to allow doctors and parents to be charged with a federal felony with a ten-year penalty for best practice medical care, Stacey said.

Collins also supported the Protect Childrens Innocence Act, calling gender-affirming care radical woke ideology, and has echoed the conservative talking point that transgender women should not compete in womens sports. He has also blamed a train derailment on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Related: Why were Republicans freaking out over a drag performance at the Olympics?

As recently as March 31, Collins posted a photo of the Trans Am car bearing a Confederate flag license plate from the 1977 film Smokey and the Bandit, captioned Happy Trans Visibility Day to all who celebrate.

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Rep. Mike Collins has repeatedly voted to yank books out of libraries, tell parents of trans youth what kind of health care their kids may or may not receive, and said Rev. Marianne Budde  the Episcopal bishop who pleaded with President Trump for mercy for LGBTQ+ people [at a Washington, D.C. service the day after his January 2025 inauguration]  should be added to a deportation list, Stacy said.

In a statement to The Advocate, a spokesperson for the Ossoff campaign said that the three Republicans running in the primary are more concerned with attacking the trans community than with what voters actually care about. "Instead of working to find bipartisan solutions on issues impacting Georgians lives, like lowering costs at the grocery store or making health care more affordable, Mike Collins, Derek Dooley, and Buddy Carter are shamelessly using trans individuals as a prop for political division. It's gross and wrong, the statement said.

In response to viewing the yearbook photos in question, Collins communications director Emma Gibson told The Advocate that Only people whose brains have been rotted by ill-prescribed hormones and the continual over-sexualization of life around them would view a yearbook photo of Rep. Collins and his wife 40 years ago switching clothes for a Homecoming tradition as anything more than lighthearted humor.

Chris Crawford, a spokesperson for Carters office, refused to confirm or deny whether the congressman is in the photos during multiple interactions with The Advocate. Instead, in a text message, Crawford wrote, Youre playing with fire to run a story without verification. When asked directly whether Carter denies that the image is of him, Crawford texted, Youd like us to do your job?

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Related: Texas Republican Who Wrote Anti-Drag Bill Has Dressed in Drag

Drag performer Taylor Alxndr, who is also the co-founder and executive director of the community organization Southern Fried Queer Pride in Georgia, is tired of hypocritical politicians who blame the LGBTQ+ community for all of the ills of society.

Theres this big bogeyman of trans people, even though statistically, historically, and factually, trans people pose no harm to the American economy, pose no harm to cisgender people, especially cisgender women, Alxndr told The Advocate. This idea that trans women are following or trying to attack or harm cisgender women in restrooms, it's all just a big distraction from the actual evil that plagues a lot of the country, and it's these politicians and people who support them.

Carter and Collins are far from the first family values Republican politicians to dress in drag while spewing hateful rhetoric about queer people and fighting for anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Vice President JD Vance, former North Carolina Rep. Madison Cawthorn, disgraced gay former New York Rep. George Santos, and disbarred Trump attorney and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani have all had their pasts dressing in drag come to light.

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Related: 7 anti-LGBTQ+ Republicans caught dressing in drag

Drag is a centuries-old art form that is not limited to LGBTQ people, but which has an undisputed history of pride and visibility in the LGBTQ community that should be uplifted, a GLAAD spokesperson told The Advocate. It's a no-brainer that anyone who participates in this part of LGBTQ culture should support basic protections for LGBTQ people. Anything less is hypocrisy.

The GLAAD spokesperson added, Recent attacks on family-friendly drag shows and performers are a baseless distraction from real action that will help families, like affordability and health care. Rep. Collins and Rep. Carter should shift their focus from any anti-LGBTQ animus to family-forward policies that uplift and protect all families."

Alxndr said that these men may have originally enjoyed dressing in drag, but because of familial pressure, religious pressure, or political pressure, the very simple, fun, nonsensical experience of them performing or dressing up in drag gets changed into something that's evil or harmful, and thats when they tend to start targeting the LGBTQ+ community.

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This article originally appeared on Advocate: These anti-LGBTQ+ Georgia Republicans did drag themselves, unearthed photos show

RELATED
After a barrage of social media threats from the President this week, which sparked emergency protests across the country, a two-week ceasefire has been reached between the U.S. and Iran.

Still, anti-war protests are continuing to pop up in U.S. cities, including in Philadelphia.

Protest in Philadelphia today. April 8 day of action

Another protest has been planned outside of City Hall tonight, April 8, according to the schedule listed on StopTrumpsWar.org, a shoot-off initiative of the ANSWER Coalition.

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The 7 p.m. demonstration is a part of a national day of action planned by the coalition to show a desire to end the Iran war and express contempt for the U.S. president.

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People gather at the site of a destroyed building at a school where, as the state media reports, several people were killed in an Israeli airstrike, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Minab, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on February 28, 2026. Iranian state media reported on February 28 that Israel struck a school in southern Iran, resulting in 40 deaths. Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Iranian people run for cover in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard after a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises following an explosion after the U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026, in this screen grab taken from video. A graffiti on a wall reads" Down with the U.S.A", after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People run for cover following an explosion, after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026. A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. After explosions were seen in the Iranian capital, the office of the Israeli Defense Minister issued a statement saying it had launched a preemptive strike against the country. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.



Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after disembarking Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 27, 2026. Hours later, Trump made live comments about the military strikes he launched against Iran. A plume of smoke rises over Tehran after a reported explosion on February 28, 2026, after Israel said it carried out a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and phone alerts warned of an "extremely serious" threat. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. Buildings inin Tehran stand after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, February 28, 2026. Iranians try to clear a street amid heavy traffic in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard following a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese area of al-Qatrani on February 28, 2026. Lebanon's foreign minister said on February 24 his country feared its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates, after Israel intensified its attacks on Tehran-backed Hezbollah Anti-riot police stand in front of state building that is covered with a giant anti-U.S. billboard depicting the destruction of a US aircraft carrier in downtown Tehran on a main street in Tehran on February 21, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. In recent weeks, the United States had moved vast numbers of military vessels and aircraft to Europe and the Middle East. The US and Israel proceeded to launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran 1 of 16 Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.

What did Trump say about Iran?

The president has been vocal, and explicit, online when referencing the war in Iran.

On Easter Sunday, Trump posted the following threats: "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. ... There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F***in Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."

The president had given Tehran until 8 p.m. on Tuesday to open the Strait of Hormuz. The administration has not said what would happen at 8 p.m., the ceasefire and two-week deadline extension announced just before the ultimatum deadline approached on Tuesday.

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Kaitlyn McCormick is a Philadelphia-based reporter writing all things trending, breaking and city-related for USA TODAY's Philadelphia Metro Connect Team.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iran war protest, national day of action planned in Philadelphia
Three federal appeals judges will decide whether to uphold a lower court order barring federal agents from using excess force, chemicals on protesters

In back-to-back hearings on federal agents use of excessive force and chemicals on crowds outside the Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement Facility, three federal appeals judges seemed disturbed by videos of officers conduct and skeptical that such force was warranted.

Judges Kenneth Lee and Eric Tung, both Trump appointees to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, and Judge Ana de Alba, a Biden appointee, in late March temporarily overturned lower court orders that had temporarily blocked such uses of force (on a 2-1 vote, with de Alba dissenting) while court cases were pending. But at expedited hearings in San Francisco on Tuesday, the panel seemed mostly poised to reverse course.

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The judges heard arguments from lawyers representing the federal officers, as well as lawyers representing residents of a low-income apartment building near the Portland ICE facility, and journalists and protesters who claim to have been targeted by officers. Though separate cases, the judges appear to be consolidating their decision because an outcome in either will govern federal officers ability to use tear gas, pepper balls, smoke grenades and other less-lethal munitions on crowds outside the facility for the next several weeks.

The judges did not indicate when a decision will be reached, but likely before mid-April, when the two lawsuits will advance to the discovery stage in the lower district court in Portland.

Such uses of force became common from officers for months outside the ICE facility, where groups of largely peaceful protesters have been demonstrating since June, and which escalated heavily during the fall following President Donald Trumps attempt to deploy National Guard troops to the city. Concern about officers conduct rose again in late January, when they deployed massive amounts of tear gas at a Saturday afternoon march organized by labor unions and attended by kids, seniors and people with disabilities.

Protester and journalist plaintiffs in Dickinson v. Trump, represented by the Oregon chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, argue theyve been targeted by federal officers and retaliated against while posing no threat to officers at the facility. In Reach Community Development, et al. v. United States Department of Homeland Security, et al, residents of the Grays Landing affordable apartment complex near the facility argue their lives have been upended and irreparable medical harm has been inflicted by noise and chemicals seeping into their homes.

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The lower circuit court in Portland has sided with plaintiffs, with one judge, Michael Simon, calling videos submitted into evidence of officers conduct both unambiguous and disturbing.

The appeals court judges on Tuesday asked few questions and gave few remarks during arguments in the REACH case, but far surpassed the 20 minutes scheduled for arguments on Dickinson.

In the REACH case, U.S. Department of Justice lawyer Brenna Scully argued that federal agents should not be subject to greater restrictions on use of force and munitions because they cannot predict the intensity of a given night of protest and must be prepared for anything.

Chemical irritants are a critical defensive law enforcement tool, and limiting the governments ability to use them based on facts and circumstances facing officers irreparably harms the government, Scully said.

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Stephen Wirth, lawyer for the Grays Landing residents, accused the government of using massive amounts of chemicals and munitions for theatrics.

The government was creating political propaganda to post on its Instagram accounts. These are not law enforcement operations. These are propaganda operations, he said, before inviting federal lawyers to deny that any of the excessive use of force or chemicals was for social media videos.

De Alba also challenged Scully to respond directly to Wirths allegation. Scully did not.

That answer is not in the record, your honor, she said, before explaining that because no finding of such misuse exists in the lower court record, the notion should have no bearing on the judges decision.

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Lee, de Alba and Tung seemed to agree with plaintiffs in Dickinson that agents did not merely use force to defend themselves, but in illegal acts of targeted retaliation against protesters and journalists.

De Alba told federal lawyers she found many of the videos submitted in the case to be quite disturbing, as well as testimony from one of the plaintiffs describing federal agents shooting a protester in the eye with a pellet gun.

I just dont know how were justifying this, she said.

Lee also seemed disturbed by the videos, including videos showing agents using mace and knocking protesters to the ground.

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What do we do with those videos when we see those? he asked the federal lawyers.

------------

This article was originally published by Oregon Capital Chronicle and used with permission. Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom and can be reached at info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has come out swinging following reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is itching to fire him and replace him with a close ally.

Theres been friction between Driscoll, who is a close friend of Vice President JD Vance, and Hegseth for at least a year, dating back to when the defense secretary was facing several scandals and Driscolls name was being floated as a possible replacement.

In the fall, Trump sidelined Hegseth and sent Driscoll to Kyiv to play a leading role in talks to end the war in Ukraine. The White House has also made it clear that despite their differences, the defense secretary must keep Driscoll in his post for now.

The White House has told Pete Hegseth he can't fire Army Secretary Dan Driscoll (center), who is a longtime friend of the vice president. / Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Unable to fire Driscoll, Hegseth has instead resorted to ousting the Army secretarys allies, including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, fueling speculation Driscoll could be next. Sources told the Post that tensions ran so high Driscoll even asked Vance to intervene last fall, though its unclear if he ever did.

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Driscoll has now made clear he has no plans to leave his position at the Pentagon, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

Serving under President Trump has been the honor of a lifetime and I remain laser focused on providing America with the strongest land fighting force the world has ever seen, he told the Post in a statement. I have no plans to depart or resign as the Secretary of the Army.

The White House also backed Driscoll in a statement, saying Trump has effectively restored a focus on readiness and lethality across our military with the help of leaders like Secretary Driscoll.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George was an ally of Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. / Daniel Becerril/REUTERS

Hegseths spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement that the defense secretary maintains excellent working relationships with the secretaries of every military service branch, including Army Secretary Dan Driscoll.

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The Daily Beast has also reached out to the Department of Defense for comment.

Numerous sources have said that Hegseth wants to replace Driscoll with Parnell, who unlike the current Army secretary has championed Hegseths disdain for the media and his prioritizing of culture war issues within the military.

George was reportedly forced to retire last week at age 61 after he and Driscoll defied Hegseth and refused to remove two Black and two female officers from a list of military members to be promoted to one-star generals, citing the officers long and exemplary service.

Most of the other 29 officers on the list for promotion are white men, leading senior military officials to question whether the officers in question were singled out for their race or gender.

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As of last week, Hegseth had blocked or delayed promotions for more than a dozen Black and female senior officers across all four branches of the military, NBC News reported.

One of Hegseths top aides, Ricky Buria, also reportedly chastised Driscoll for promoting Maj. Gen. Antoinette Gant to take command of the Military District of Washington, saying Trump wouldnt want to stand next to a Black female officer at military events.

Speaking to the Daily Beast, Buria called that reporting completely false.

Pete Hegseth reportedly wants to replace Dan Driscoll with his aide Sean Parnell (pictured). / Alex Wong/Getty Images

Whoever placed this made-up story is clearly trying to sow division among our ranks in the department and the administration, he said.

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According to the Post, George and Hegseth also clashed over a stunt involving a military helicopter doing a flyby outside MAGA rocker Kid Rocks home.

The Army suspended the pilots and opened an investigation into the incident, which Hegseth quickly shut down.

George, who spent more than 40 years in the Army, favored letting the investigation play out.
After a historic lunar flyby that carried the crew more than 248,655 miles from Earth, the Artemis II astronauts are now on their way home.

On April 7, NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch and Victor Glover, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, began the four-day journey back to Earth.

At 7:03 p.m. CT, the Orion spacecraft ignited its thrusters for 15 seconds, producing a change in velocity of 1.6 feet per second and guiding the crew onto a return trajectory, according to NASA's mission blog.

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"From the cabin of Integrity here, as we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so in honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration," Mission Specialist Hansen, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut, said to Mission Control in Houston on April 6.

"We will continue our journey even further into space before Mother Earth succeeds in pulling us back to everything that we hold dear," he added. "But we most importantly choose this moment to challenge this generation and the next to make sure this record is not long-lived."

Here's when the Artemis II will return to Earth and how you can watch its splashdown from Tennessee.

When will Artemis II return to Earth?

The Orion capsule is due to reenter Earth's atmosphere on April 10, 2026. It will make a water landing around 7:07 p.m. CT in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California, Florida Today  part of USA TODAY CO.  reported.

See timeline for Artemis II's return to Earth

According to the Austin American-Statesman, here is the timeline for April 10 converted to CT:

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2:05 a.m. : Crew sleep begins

10:35 a.m. : Flight Day 10 crew wakeup

12:50 p.m. : Orion cabin configuration for re-entry begins

1:53 p.m. : Return trajectory correction burn

5:30 p.m. : NASA+ coverage begins

6:33 p.m. : Crew module and service module separation

6:37 p.m. : Crew module raise burn

6:53 p.m. : Entry interface

7:07 p.m. : Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean

9:30 p.m.: Post-splashdown news conference at NASA Johnson Space Center

Where is Artemis II today, April 8? Location tracker

According to NASA's mission blog, the Artemis II crew has a busy day of flight test objectives and return to Earth tasks on April 8.

To follow the astronauts on their journey, NASA has an Artemis II tracker available online and in its mobile app that lets users see where Orion is, how fast it's traveling, and how far the spacecraft is from Earth and the moon.

The mobile version for smartphones even includes an augmented reality feature that allows users to move their phones to see where Orion is relative to Earth.

How to watch Artemis II return to Earth

NASA will be livestreaming the splashdown on multiple platforms including NASA+, its YouTube Channel, Netflix, HBO Max, and Amazon Prime.

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Contributing: USA TODAY, Florida Today

Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: When does Artemis 2 come back to Earth? How to watch in Tennessee
The Artemis II astronauts are getting closer and closer to returning home.

It's been a busy week so far for the mission, which serves as the first human spaceflight toward the moon since NASA's Apollo era came to an end in 1972.

After launching April 1 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the astronauts finally swung around the moon April 6, seeing sights of the lunar far side that no human had ever laid eyes upon. While the following day  their first day traveling back to Earth  was largely a day off for the astronauts, NASA had a massive photo dump of some of the stellar imagery the crew members captured during their incredible lunar rendezvous.

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Want to follow along with the rest of the test flight, which will end with a splashdown near California while paving the way for a possible 2028 moon landing?

Here's what to know about how far the astronauts are from Earth and the moon, as well as how you can use NASA's official tracker to keep up with their journey.

Artemis II: Why are we going back to the moon? NASA Artemis campaign targets Mars

How far are the Artemis II astronauts from Earth?

As of the morning of Wednesday, April 8, the Orion spacecraft the Artemis II astronauts are aboard is approaching 209,100 miles from Earth, with the moon nearly 74,000 miles behind them, according to NASA's online tracker.

Artemis II tracker. Follow moon mission location

This screengrab from NASA's virtual Artemis II tracker shows a visualization of the Orion capsule, along with updates on how far it is from the moon and Earth as of April 8.

Want to follow the astronauts along the Artemis II lunar journey? NASA has an Artemis II tracker available online and on its mobile app that allows users to see where Orion is, how fast it's traveling and how far the spacecraft is from both the Earth and the moon.

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The mobile version for smartphones even includes an augmented reality feature that allows users to move their phones to see where Orion is relative to Earth.

The tracker, officially referred to as the "Artemis Real-time Orbit Website" (AROW), uses data collected in real time by sensors on the Orion spacecraft sent to the Mission Control Center at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. That information will be constantly updated beginning about one minute after liftoff until Orion begins its re-entry into Earth's atmosphere about 10 days later.

Artemis II update

The Orion vehicle's service module, located under the crew module where the astronauts reside, fired its auxiliary thrusters April 7 for about 15 seconds to change the spacecraft's velocity as it heads toward Earth.

The Artemis II astronauts also gave a mission briefing to NASA officials on the ground following their trailblazing flyby of the moon, during which they came within 4,067 miles of the surface while flying farther from Earth than anyone in history.

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Ahead, the crew members have a full day of objectives to complete April 8 as they prepare to return to Earth, according to NASA.

When does Artemis II return to Earth? Splashdown time near San Diego

The astronauts are in the middle of a four-day journey back to Earth, using our planet's gravity to naturally "slingshot," or pull Orion back home, negating the need for propulsion or much fuel.

The Orion capsule is due Friday, April 10, to reenter Earth's atmosphere to make a water landing around 5:07 p.m. PT in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California.

When reentry occurs, Orion's service module responsible for propelling and maneuvering the vehicle through space will separate and burn up, exposing the crew module's heat shield that protects the astronauts from the 3,000-degree Fahrenheit conditions the vehicle will endure.

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Once Orion blazes through Earth's atmosphere, the protective heat shield will be cast off to make way for parachutes to deploy and slow the vehicle down.

The capsule will then splashdown in the ocean, after which five orange airbags will inflate around the top of the spacecraft and flip the capsule into an upright position. After the landing, the crew would exit the vehicle onto a U.S. Navy recovery vessel within about two hours.

Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: What time will Artemis II splash down near California? Track mission
The Ascension Parish Council's finance committee received an update on major construction projects during the April 7 meeting in Gonzales.

Kate MacArthur, who serves as the president and chief executive officer of the Ascension Economic Development Corporation, presented the details through slides during the quarterly update.

She presented a slide that showed 22 active projects with $16.5 billion in total capital expenditure.

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The highlights included:

BASF, which is expected to complete its project by the end of this year, announced the $845 million capital investment in 2022. A total of 22 new jobs are expected.

John H. Carter, which is under construction, announced its $82 million investment last year. A total of 170 new jobs are expected.

Air Products is also under construction. Announced in 2021, the $4.5 billion project is expected to add 170 new jobs.

Hyundai Steel, which plans to build a new steel mill along the west bank of the parish near Donaldsonville in the Modeste area, is in the pre-construction phase. Announced a year ago, the $5.8 billion investment is expected to produce 1,470 new jobs.

CF Industries, which announced its plans last year, is in the pre-construction phase for its $4 billion investment. A total of 103 new jobs are expected.

Linde, also announced in 2025, is in the pre-construction phase of its $422 million project. A total of 15 new jobs are expected.

The $5.8 billion Hyundai Steel mill project began pre-construction work along Highway 405 in the Modeste area of Ascension Parish. Located near Donaldsonville, the site is along the west bank of the Mississippi River.

MacArthur also presented 2026's year-to-date project announcements:

Chevron Renewable Energy Group announced a capital investment of $31.5 million.

Precision Fab and Machine announced a $1.85 investment with two or more jobs.

Methanex announced a $25 million capital investment.

National Water Infrastructure estimated four new jobs with its $250 million investment.

Galleries Gonzales, a new shopping center located at the intersection of Airline Highway and Burnside Avenue in Gonzales, is expected to bring more than 40 jobs through the $5 million capital investment. The anchor store is Aldi.

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MacArthur added that the parish has received a total of 16 leads for business attraction.

She said leads are generated through the AEDC office, Louisiana Economic Development and partners.

"We find sites that meet their criteria," MacArthur said. "And hope that we can make a connection and get them to come visit and pursue a location here in Ascension."

She also said AEDC facilitates business retention and expansion efforts.

According to the final slide, AEDC has directly impacted the creation of 5,574 jobs, $28 billion in capital investment and $387 million in annual wages since 2006.

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Michael Tortorich is a journalist for the USA Today Network in Louisiana.

Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.

This article originally appeared on Gonzales Weekly Citizen: Ascension Parish finance committee updated on construction projects
An Ohio County assistant prosecutor, who accused a Judge of sexual assault, is resigning from her position.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

In a resignation letter to Delaware County Prosecutor Melissa Shiffel, the assistant prosecutor said she is unable to continue working at the office because of Judge James Schucks anticipated return to the bench, our news partners WBNS-10 TV reported.

TRENDING STORIES:

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I have suffered, and continue to suffer, from the effects of a wrongful, power-imbalanced relationship with Judge Schuck. For that reason, I cannot continue my career with the Delaware County Prosecutors Office under circumstances where his return is both anticipated and imminent, she wrote in the letter.

The assistant prosecutors last day is May 11, WBNS-10 TV reported.

We acknowledge that Mr. Schuck folded and agreed to the Protection Order after a months long campaign in the media professing his innocence, but due to his anticipated return to the Bench, our client has had to make the incredibly difficult decision to resign and leave her position as Assistant Prosecutor, which the Delaware County Prosecutor has accepted and they entered into a separation agreement, her attorneys said in a statement.

Schucks attorney, Brad Koffel, shared the following statement with WBNS-10 TV:

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Let me be crystal clear: this was a consensual sexual relationship that [assistant prosecutor] pursued and continued. He agreed to the consent order because there was no reason to fight that. [Assistant prosecutor] either quit or was given the opportunity to resign. I dont know.

Schuck has been on a voluntary leave of absence since last November, when the Delaware County Sheriffs Office took a report of an alleged rape.

The matter was handed to an outside agency, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office, where the investigation is open and ongoing, WBNS-10 TV reported.

Shcuck has admitted to having a personal relationship outside of his marriage, but has denied any criminal wrongdoing.

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Schuck has agreed to comply with a protection order the assistant prosecutor filed in November.

The judge must stay at least 20 feet away from her, not contact her or use any electronic surveillance on her, WBNS-10 TV reported.

The consent agreement does allow Schuck to enter the Delaware County Courthouse, where both parties work.

The protective order is effective through November 25, WBNS-10 TV reported.

Officials with the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas said they have not been made aware of a date Schuck will return from leave.

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A passenger traveling on Caribbean Airlines from Jamaica to New York went into labor and gave birth as the flight was landing  leaving the babys citizenship unclear.

In a press release, the airline noted that the passenger gave birth on flight BW005 on April 4, en route from Kingston, Jamaica, to New York City just before noon.

The mother and newborn were attended to by medical personnel upon arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

A passenger traveling on Caribbean Airlines from Jamaica to New York gave birth as the flight was landing. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The airline commends the professionalism and measured response of its crew, who managed the situation in accordance with established procedures, ensuring the safety and comfort of all onboard, the airline said. Caribbean Airlines also confirms that no emergency was declared during the flight.

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In air traffic controller audio obtained by CBS News, a ground controller quipped that the child should be named Kennedy after the airport the flight landed at.

Caribbean Airlines allows pregnant passengers to fly without medical clearance up to the end of the 32nd week of pregnancy, but does not accept passengers after the 35th week, according to their website.

A situation like this is extremely rare, with 74 infants born on 73 commercial flights, of whom 71 survived delivery, between 1929 and 2018, according to a March 2020 study by the National Library of Medicine.

The babys citizenship could depend on who controls the airspace, experts say. Nate Hovee  stock.adobe.com

However, the birth brings up some legal questions regarding the babys citizenship status.

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Law by Mike said in a YouTube video, noting that, depending on the country, the babys citizenship could depend on the airspace or parental nationality.

Now the big question is is that baby a US citizen? Brad Bernstein, an immigration lawyer, said in a video on his YouTube page. Heres the answer  depends on one thing: Where exactly that plane was in the sky at the moment of birth?

Bernstein explained that if the baby was born in US airspace, then the child is automatically a US citizen under the 14th Amendment and State Department regulations.

However, if the baby were born even a few minutes earlier outside of the United States airspace, they wouldnt be a US citizen.
Pixelshot, accessed via Canva

Claim:

A class-action settlement for high ATM surcharges began paying claimants on April 6, 2026.

Rating:

Rating: Legit

Context:

The deadline to submit a claim to receive funds from this class-action settlement passed in 2025, meaning that if you have not already submitted a claim, you are no longer eligible to receive payments from the settlement.

In early April 2026, social media users started claiming that a supposed settlement for a class-action lawsuit over inflated ATM surcharges had begun paying out funds to affected people.

The rumor circulated on Reddit and Facebook (screenshot). Snopes readers also searched the website for information on the ATM lawsuit.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

This is a real settlement paid out by Visa and Mastercard to eligible ATM users related to a lawsuit called Mackmin v. Visa Inc. Court documents indicated that a federal judge approved the $197.5 million settlement amid allegations that the companies conspired to "restrain trade" and inflate ATM surcharges, thus violating federal antitrust laws (see pages 1 and 9).

According to the official website for this class-action lawsuit, digital payments from the 2024 settlement began on April 6, 2026.

As such, we have rated this claim as legitimate and not a scam.

The 2024 settlement came from a class-action lawsuit that previously settled with JP Morgan, Wells Fargo and Bank of America for $67 million in 2021. As part of both settlements, the companies did not admit fault.

Receiving your payment as an eligible claimant

Eligible claimants "paid an unreimbursed ATM Access Fee" directly to the defendant companies between Oct. 1, 2007 and July 26, 2024, per court documents (see Page 2). However, the deadline to submit a claim form for payment eligibility was Jan. 22, 2025, according to the lawsuit's official website. If you have not already submitted a claim, you will not be eligible to receive money from this settlement.

Legitimate emails notifying claimants of payments come from a digital provider called Tremendous from the email address rewards@reward.tremendous.com. People who are having trouble redeeming their payment may reach out to Tremendous at help@tremendous.com, according to the class-action lawsuit's official website.

It is also possible to request a paper check in writing:

To request a paper check in lieu of a digital payment, please submit a request in writing to the Settlement Administrator by email to info@ATMClassAction.com or by mail to: ATM Surcharge Settlement P.O. Box 170500 Milwaukee, WI 53217

How to find the court documents, determine legitimacy

All of the court documents related to this lawsuit are available on PACER, a public database for federal electronic court records. Snopes uses Court Listener, a nonprofit repository of PACER documents and other court records, to search for court cases.




BART will never go to Livermore. So Tri-Valley officials are determined to build their own train.

They envision a railway of hybrid, hydrogen battery trains that would whisk people along tracks dug into the median of Interstate 580. Valley Link would start at Vasco Road in Livermore, picking up passengers from Altamont Corridor Express, or ACE, trains that chug in from the Central Valley. From there, it would zip to Dublin-Pleasanton BART Station, creating a pipeline to the central Bay Area. In a few years' time, the small battery-powered rail could run deeper into San Joaquin County, serving super-commuters who currently slog through traffic over the Altamont Pass.

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With $2 billion and a little faith, Valley Link could break ground in late 2028, transforming mobility in a booming corner of the Bay Area, said Kevin Sheridan, the project's executive director. At a moment when BART and other transit agencies are mired in budget crises, Sheridan and other Valley Link boosters brim with sunny optimism.

"What I feel is very unique about this project is it's actually creating the connection to bring not only more ridership to ACE but also BART," Sheridan said about the system that would be BART-adjacent. "That's an untapped market. We are not expanding a service, we are creating a service to bring new riders."

But many observers are wary. In their quest to secure more than $1 billion in federal and state funding to build Valley Link's first phase, Tri-Valley and Central Valley leaders would have to compete for grant money with other long-pined-for transportation needs, including BART to downtown San Jose and the extension of Caltrain and future high-speed rail into downtown San Francisco. It would cost $4 billion to complete Valley Link's full build-out, through Tracy and into Mountain House in western San Joaquin County.

Mapped plans for a new transit line that would better connect San Joaquin County residents to the Bay Area. (Courtesy of Kevin Sheridan)





Skeptics question whether this is really the moment to plan a new train, with existing transit services facing huge deficits.

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"If there were unlimited funding for transit, it would be a different story," said former BART Board Director Rebecca Saltzman, who voted against the proposed $2 billion Livermore BART extension in 2018. She has long advocated for rapid buses along I-580 as a cheaper and more flexible solution.

Politicians who represent that corridor say buses couldn't run enough service to accommodate new development blossoming along the interstate, or tech jobs spawning from Livermore National Laboratory. They have their hearts set on heavy commuter rail.

"We are one of the fastest growing counties in the state of California and you look at our freeway congestion, we have one of the worst freeway commutes here in California from the valley to the Bay Area," said San Joaquin County Supervisor Robert Rickman. He emphasized that a rapidly developing area cannot remain a transit desert. Saltzman noted that, for all their enthusiasm, San Joaquin County leaders had not been able to pass a transportation funding measure for their portion of the Valley Link project.

A rendering of a station for Dublin and Pleasanton for a new transit line that would better connect San Joaquin County residents to the Bay Area. (Courtesy Of Kevin Sheridan)





Livermore Mayor John Marchand said he has already appealed to leaders in Washington D.C., arguing that a new transit system could free up capacity for freight on I-580 into the Central Valley.

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"You could see the light bulbs go on over the heads of the people in the Department of Transportation," Marchand said. "It hadn't occurred to them that you could take traffic off a freeway by getting people into a train."

The dissension over Valley Link reflects a larger debate over how the Bay Area should grow. Urbanists, including many on the BART board, have argued that trains should run through downtowns where homes and industry are concentrated - not along freeways where stations function as "park-and-rides." By contrast, politicians in more suburban and rural areas, including the Tri-Valley, believe that if you build transportation infrastructure, the jobs and housing will come.

Initially, Valley Link would comprise three stations, dipping west from the ACE platform on Vasco Road, to a stop at Isabel Avenue near the freeway, before terminating at Dublin/Pleasanton Station, where riders could switch to BART and head toward Oakland or San Francisco's Financial District.

That could mean two or three transfers between different rail systems on morning and evening commutes. And Sheridan believes people would do it. Sitting on a train with your laptop is highly preferable to sitting in traffic, he said. A seamless ride across three rail systems (ACE, Valley Link and BART) would shave off minutes compared with driving, Sheridan said.

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Commuters who currently take the ACE train from Tracy or Livermore to jobs in Silicon Valley agree that it's superior to a soul-crushing car commute. Some wonder, however, if it might be smarter to invest the money toward beefing up ACE service instead.

"Personally, Valley Link wouldn't work for me," said Nick Mullen, who rides ACE from Livermore to Santa Clara and catches a shuttle to his office. He said many of his neighbors in the Tri-Valley take similar routes.

Joshua Dunn of Tracy said he would consider riding Valley Link if the train ever reached his city or nearby Mountain House. He drives over the Altamont Pass from Tracy to Livermore on days he has to be in the office. When traffic is flowing he can make the 19-mile drive in 20 to 25 minutes. But it could be an hour-and-a-half slog during a heavy rush hour, or if a broken-down car clogs a lane.

Indeed, freeways have steadily grown more congested as more residents flock to the Central Valley. Tracy Mayor Dan Arriola said when he was a kid his dad would wake up at 3 a.m. to drive to Sunnyvale for a tech job and often didn't come home until the late evening. Now the trip would likely take longer and consist of more crawling and braking. Of 100,000 residents in Tracy, nearly 68% commute out of the city for work.

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"Many of our residents are folks who were priced out of the Bay Area  who come to the city of Tracy to live but their jobs are still in the Bay Area," Arriola said. "That's an everyday reality for our residents."

At least one top BART official adamantly supports the new train project. Melissa Hernandez, president of the agency's board, also chairs the Valley Link board. She contends that a BART-style commuter rail is critical to economic development in the Tri Valley. Hernandez is also running for the congressional seat soon to be vacated by Eric Swalwell.

"Valley Link is a megaregional project that connects the Bay Area to San Joaquin County by creating a new direct rail connection between ACE and BART in Livermore as part of its initial phase," Hernandez wrote in a statement. "For over four decades Livermore has desired a transit rail connection to BART."

If successful, Sheridan said final design of the first segment would be completed by the end of 2027 with construction to start in 2028. By 2031, the new train could be open for business.

This article originally published at BART rejected this $2 billion train line. Now its backers want to build it anyway.
Bill Gates is the latest powerful figure drawn into congressional scrutiny as newly released Department of Justice files tied to Jeffrey Epstein continue to bring prominent names into the spotlight.

The Microsoft cofounder is scheduled to sit for a transcribed interview with the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on June 10, a source familiar with the proceedings confirmed to USA TODAY.

Gates has previously said he had several dinners with Epstein, believing at the time that Epstein would use his wealthy connections to fundraise for global health causes.

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While he never witnessed or participated in any of Epsteins illegal conduct, he is looking forward to answering all the committees questions to support their important work, a Gates spokesperson told The Hill.

House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email that show Epstein with high-profile figures including Steve Bannon. Some images have had portions redacted by the Committee. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email that show Epstein with Woody Allen. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email, including this one showing Richard Branson, on the right. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email that show Woody Allen with Epstein. This image was redacted by the Committee. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show President Donald Trump with Epstein. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, show Bill Gates with an unidentified person. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Steve Bannon with Epstein. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Epstein with Alan Dershowitz. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show Steve Bannon with Epstein. House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos from Jeffrey Epsteins email on Dec. 12, 2025, that show former President Bill Clinton and Ghislaine Maxwell with Epstein on Dec. 12, 2025.

High-profile figures in Epstein's emails: See newly released images 1 of 10 House Democrats on the Oversight Committee released photos on Dec. 12, 2025, from Jeffrey Epsteins email that show Epstein with high-profile figures including Steve Bannon. Some images have had portions redacted by the Committee.

Here are some of the other prominent names that have been called before lawmakers to answer questions about Epstein:

Bill and Hillary Clinton

Former President Bill Clinton denied wrongdoing in his relationship with Epstein when House Republicans grilled him on Feb. 27 about the late financier's fundraising, numerous visits to the White House and pictures in DOJ files.

He told lawmakers in his opening statement that he had no idea of the crimes Epstein was committing" and dismissed the significance of his appearance in decadesold photographs included in the records tied to Epsteins estate.

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A day later, on Feb. 26, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told lawmakers that she never met Epstein, never flew on his plane or visited his private island. She acknowledged knowing Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell casually.

Like every decent person, Ive been horrified by what we have learned about their crimes, Hillary Clinton said.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the press after her a deposition with the House Oversight Committee as they investigate links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, in Chappaqua, New York, on February 26, 2026.

Les Wexner

Also in February, billionaire retail executive Les Wexner appeared before Congress following a subpoena issued by House Democrats and described Epstein as a worldclass con man who had deceived him, according to his testimony.

Wexner, who built companies including Victorias Secret and Abercrombie & Fitch, acknowledged that Epstein had previously served as a personal adviser with broad authority over multimilliondollar financial matters. He denied knowing about Epsteins crimes or participating in the abuse of girls and young women, PBS News reported.

Ohio retail mogul Les Wexner shows a range of emotions during his Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 deposition about his former financial adviser and accused child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Howard Lutnick

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has also agreed to testify voluntarily before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, with his appearance scheduled for May 6, according to committee leadership.

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[The Secretary] has proactively agreed to appear voluntarily before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Committee Chair James Comer, R-Kentucky, wrote in a post on X. I commend his demonstrated commitment to transparency.

Lutnick previously told senators in February that he had visited Epsteins private island in December 2012 and brought his wife, four children and their nannies. He said he couldnt recall why they were at the island, Little Saint James, but that he saw no inappropriate activity.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill on February 10, 2026 in Washington, DC.

Former Attorney General Pam Bondi became a focal point of congressional scrutiny following the release of the Epstein files, with lawmakers sharply criticizing the DOJs handling of the disclosures.

Tensions peaked during a contentious Feb. 11 hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, marked by heated exchanges between Bondi and House Democrats.

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Following that testimony, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee subpoenaed Bondi to appear again on April 14 to answer further questions related to the Epstein files.

Lawmakers say the Epstein investigation is far from over, setting the stage for more highprofile names to be called before Congress.

Zac Anderson, Sarah Wire, Bart Jansen, Josh Meyer, and Kathryn Palmer contributed to this report.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bill Gates to testify about Epstein before congressional panel
A Virginia church stepped in to help public housing residents pay off their debts. Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria pledged $1 million to provide financial relief for hundreds of low-income families. The initiative came after Mayor Alyia Gaskins learned that nearly half of public housing residents had overdue rent.

Alfred Street Baptist Church covers overdue rent of public housing residents

After Mayor Alyia Gaskins came into the position in January 2025, she learned that nearly half of public housing residents had overdue rent. This issue affected over 1,000 public housing units in Alexandria.

I was curious how much did people owe and I learned it was everything from $50 to some owing close to $30K, Gaskins said, according to NBC 4 Washington. My concern was what happens next.

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She reached out to community leaders, including Alfred Street Baptist Church. It so happened that, at the time, the church already began its SEEK campaign to raise funds and help remedy issues of homelessness and housing.

We are getting ready with our SEEK offering to stop the eviction of 450 families in the city of Alexandria who can retain their houses because of our giving, Rev. Howard-John Wesley said during a service. People wanting to be connected to something bigger than themselves, and in the midst of the days and times in which we live which seem to be so callous and cruel to people who are impoverished, heres a way to make a difference.

Alfred Street Baptist Church reportedly paid off about $1 million in overdue rent, according to The Washington Post. The news came as a surprise for residents, who received notices that they qualified for the program.

Gaskins said the donation will offer a new beginning for the housing authority while noting that housing affordability is a major challenge in the city.

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As the cost of everything gets higher and higher, its becoming more and more difficult to stay in our community, she said.

What happens next?

Every resident who receives financial relief will have to attend an individual meeting to talk about how they came to be in their situation. These meetings will help ensure residents wont owe rent in the future, according to NBC 4 Washington. They are also encouraged to attend a financial literacy course offered by the city.

What is the blessing of a fresh start? Gaskins said, per The Washington Post. Its not just having no balance, its the power to not have a balance again.

The donation will go toward paying off remaining balances, while the remaining funds will go to other organizations that help combat housing issues. The nonprofit organization ACT for Alexandria will help ensure the donation is well spent.

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It isnt the first time Alfred Street Baptist Church has helped the community financially. Earlier this year, it pledged $1 million to support the Smithsonians National Museum of African American History and Culture. It also helped the tuition debt of 34 Howard University students in 2019, according to The Washington Post.







The post Black Church In Virginia Pays Off $1M Debt Of Public Housing Residents appeared first on Blavity.
Pam Bondi indicated she had a month to transition out of her job as attorney general and hand the reins over to her one-time deputy, Todd Blanche, but that might not be the case.

The Justice Department on Tuesday scheduled a press conference with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, indicating Bondi was already out of the door.

The Daily Beast asked the Justice Department to clarify. After all, Bondis name still shows up on the website and social media.

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However, the departments website referred to Blanche as Acting AG Todd Blanche while streaming his press conference.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche went by his new title while speaking at a news conference on April 07, 2026, but he would not say when would be Pam Bondi's last day. / Chip Somodevilla / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

At the top of his remarks on Tuesday, Blanche praised Bondi and said he hopes they will be able to continue working together on whatever she has coming next.

Pressed directly on when Bondis last day would be, Blanche would not say.

I am the acting attorney general. As far as Pam Bondis last day on the job, Im the acting attorney general, Blanche stammered.

He noted that he would be traveling with Bondi on Wednesday for a prescheduled event, and that theyve been communicating regularly over the past few days for an appropriate transition.

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Trump announced Bondi was on her way out on Thursday in a post on Truth Social in which he wrote We love Pam and said she would be transitioning to a much-needed and important new job in the private sector."

The day before, Bondi had tried to hold onto the job a little longer, according to the New York Times. She was hoping for a graceful exit. But Trump announced she was being axed less than 24 hours later.

Pam Bondi was fired by Donald Trump this week. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS

The attorney general again tried to save face, announcing that she was excited to be moving to the private sector.

Over the next month I will be working tirelessly to transition the office of Attorney General to the amazing Todd Blanche before moving to an important private sector role I am thrilled about, she wrote on X.

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Her post was reshared by Blanche, Trumps former personal criminal defense attorney, whose social media account still lists him as the deputy AG.

But while Bondi gave herself the month to move on, the timeline appears to be moving faster than she indicated.

The rapidly evolving timeline is similar to what happened to fired former Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

For one, neither Bondi nor Noem was in Washington, D.C., when Trump went public with the announcement that he was letting them go.

Also, when Trump announced Noem was leaving the role, he indicated she would stay through the end of March before becoming a special envoy, but that ousting was also quickly moved up.

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After former Sen. Markwayne Mullin was quickly confirmed by the Senate as the next DHS secretary, he was sworn in the very next day, March 24, rather than waiting a week until March 31.

Trump has yet to announce who will be his permanent replacement for Bondi, but with Blanche already assuming the acting title for a press conference on Tuesday, Bondis days are limited.

Blanche, 51, gushed on Tuesday about how much he enjoys working for the president as if it were a normal thing for the acting attorney general to do, but he would not speculate on taking the role permanently.

I love working for President Trump. Its the greatest honor of a lifetime, he said. If President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, thats an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, thats an honor.

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If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, Thank you very much, I love you, sir, he added.

Blanche also served as his personal criminal defense attorney when Trump was convicted with 34 felony counts in New York in 2024.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche had nothing but good things to say about President Donald Trump despite his ousting of Blanches former boss, Pam Bondi, last week.

During a Justice Department anti-fraud press conference to announce the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division on Wednesday, Blanche said, I love working for President Trump. Its the greatest honor of a lifetime, and if President Trump chooses to keep me as acting, thats an honor. If he chooses to nominate me, thats an honor. If he chooses to nominate somebody else and I go back to being the (deputy attorney general), thats an honor. If he chooses to nominate somebody else and asks me to go do something else, I will say, Thank you very much, I love you, sir.

Though it has not been confirmed why specifically Bondi was dismissed from her federal position, speculation surrounds her handling of the Epstein files and inability to bring indictments against Trumps political rivals, per Fox News.

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People say the president wants to go after his political enemies, he said. No, the president has said time and time again that he wants justice.

Blanche said the only person who knows why Bondi was fired is Trump.

Pam Bondi is a trusted friend of President Trumps, he said. Nobody has any idea why the attorney general is no longer the attorney general and Im the acting attorney general, except for the president.

Blanche also shared during the conference that the Justice Department is investigating more than 8,000 fraud cases, combining over $1 trillion in potentially stolen American taxpayer dollars every year.

The American people deserve an end to the crisis of fraud. - Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche https://t.co/ve1155bkXE pic.twitter.com/yktHDj1i1e  U.S. Department of Justice (@TheJusticeDept) April 8, 2026

We have thousands of ongoing investigations and prosecutions going on in this country right now, and it is true that some of them involve men, women and entities that the president in the past has had issues with and that he believes should be investigated. That is his right, and indeed it is his duty to do that, he said.

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We will spare no resources, Blanche added, to bring strong cases and do justice.

The National Fraud Enforcement Division within the Justice Department, he said, will work in collaboration with Vice President JD Vances Task Force to Eliminate Fraud.

Because of this administrations leadership, fraudsters, scammers, tax cheats or anyone who lies to get rich off the generosity of the American people should be on notice, he said. Our goal is to prevent this from ever happening again.
Bostons budget could see its smallest year-over-year increase since the Great Recession as the city and many others face a challenging economic environment, rising costs and slowing revenue.

Mayor Michelle Wu unveiled a $4.9 billion proposed budget on Wednesday, an increase of 2.1% from last year. She said the city aimed to preserve core municipal services, but was forced to make difficult but needed decisions, including reducing spending in some areas.

You can ask any city right now and youll hear that this is a challenging economic environment, Wu said at a presentation of her budget Wednesday morning. Just as our residents are feeling it every day with the growing cost of groceries, energy bills or all the things that they need to take care of the kids and grandparents, cities are dealing with rising costs as well.

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City health care costs are rising rapidly and are expected to increase by $97.3 million, the vast majority of the overall $99.4 million increase in the proposed city budget.

The spikes in health care costs, rising police overtime spending, and the costs of removing snow from two major snowstorms, all add up to dollars that need to be found from elsewhere, Wu said.

City Councilor Ben Weber, who will lead the budgeting process as chair of the Ways and Means committee, also pointed out that the city is limited in its revenue-raising methods.

The state Legislature has repeatedly rejected Wus request to allow Boston to temporarily shift its tax burden from residents to commercial property owners.

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The budget does not call for a Proposition 2 tax override to raise more revenue. Wu said the city had other options at its disposal and would treat a tax override only as a last resort measure.

The city has moved to rein in spending and limit new programming, she said.

Excluding health insurance costs, the total funding appropriated to city departments will be 1.3% lower next year under her budget plan, she said.

Ashley Groffenberger, the citys chief financial officer, said city departments would collectively face $20.4 million in spending cuts. The Boston Public Schools budget, however, is increasing 5%. Excluding health care costs, it is growing by 2%, Groffenberger said.

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The Boston School Committee approved the districts $1.7 billion budget last month, which cuts up to 400 positions, according to the Boston Globe.

About half of the lost positions stem from school closures or mergers, Groffenberger said. The other half can be attributed to an enrollment decline of more than 3,000 students  about 6% of the district  in one year.

Two-thirds of the students who left the district are multilingual learners, an indication of dropping enrollment among immigrant students amid strict immigration enforcement by the Trump administration, Boston Superintendent Mary Skipper said Wednesday.

The Public Works and Transportation departments will also see a modest funding increase to meet existing contracts for trash collection and other programs, the mayors office said.

Health care costs are rising

The rising health care costs are driven by a more than 20% rate hike for all non-Medicare health plans and the increasing use of costly GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, the city said.

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The city reached an agreement last month with its employee unions to address the growing health care costs, saving $10.6 million.

Wu said the city was committed to preserving access to GLP-1 medications for the 7% of city employees who use them and managing the associated costs.

She acknowledged that some other cities no longer cover it on their health plans.

Its something that we want employees to be taking advantage of and going to the doctor and getting the treatments and supports that you need to be the healthiest version of the public servant that you can be, Wu said.

Police overtime wages have risen under union agreements, though the number of overtime hours officers are working has dropped, Wus office said.

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The budget reduces funding for discretionary grant programs across the board, including funding to support small businesses and nonprofits, fill vacant storefronts and expand neighborhood cultural programming, Wu said.

Some grant programs helped provide food, supported reentry services for Bostonians leaving incarceration and funded youth sports, she added.

Wu also said this years budget proposed cutting 285 full-time city jobs, on top of 500 cut last year.

Budget heads to City Council

City Council President Liz Breadon promised an exhaustive and independent review of the city budget, as well as a $4.4 billion, five-year capital plan, which the mayor also released Wednesday.

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Echoing the mayor, she said this years budgetary process will be more perilous than usual.

The council will hold more than 40 budget hearings in the next two months before voting on budget amendments in early June.

Wu can then approve the councils amendments or return the budget to the council with further revisions. A two-thirds majority of councilors is required to override the mayors changes.

The budget takes effect July 1.

Amid challenging economic realities and a volatile Trump administration, Wu said Bostons steady financial management and top-level bond rating have left the city in a better position than others.

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I have faith that together we can weather this storm, Breadon said.

More boston

Read the original article on MassLive. Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Brazil's renowned Amazonian tribal chief Raoni Metuktire told AFP on Wednesday he supported the reelection bid of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in October polls, despite criticizing him for expanding oil exploration.

Now in his nineties, the Indigenous leader who has spent decades rallying the world to protect the rainforest has forged close ties with the president, known widely as Lula.

At the start of Lula's third term, Raoni -- instantly recognizable with his large wooden lip plate -- walked alongside him up the ramp of the presidential palace for his inauguration.

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"I am going to support him," in October, Raoni told AFP in the Kayapo language through an interpreter on the sidelines of a gathering of Indigenous people in Brasilia.

The Kayapo chief last year said he was prepared to give the president a "talking-to" if he ignored concerns over oil exploration near the mouth of the Amazon River.

He demanded the veteran leftist "listen to us...he must respect us."

Lula is seeking a fourth term in October and his main rival is Flavio Bolsonaro, son of the far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro whose government froze land demarcations -- official recognition of Indigenous land -- and facilitated deforestation in the Amazon.

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Lula "has already demarcated some Indigenous lands, so I support him so that he may continue to be president," said Raoni.

Since 2023, Lula has approved the official demarcation of some 20 territories for the exclusive use of Indigenous communities, and has overseen a dramatic decline in deforestation in the Amazon.

Nevertheless, he has come under increasing pressure to do more from Indigenous groups who are protesting in Brasilia this week to demand the protection of more of their ancestral lands.

In recent months Indigenous groups have also protested the expansion of ports for grain transport along Amazon rivers, as well as plans to build a railway line through the world's largest forest.

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"You non-Indigenous people harbor this destructive mindset of destroying nature and polluting rivers, which is what causes this climate crisis," said Raoni.

"This harms all of us in Brazil. It is not only Indigenous people who will feel the effects of climate change."

rsr/app/fb/pnb/jgc
A British Bitcoin entrepreneur has told the BBC he is not the digital currency's mysterious inventor after a New York Times article named him as its creator.

Adam Back, a prominent Bitcoin developer, said the high-profile investigation was a case of "confirmation bias" and that he is not the person known as Satoshi Nakamoto.

The true identity of Satoshi Nakamoto is one of the internet's most enduring mysteries and Back has been accused of being Satoshi many times before.

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But Back told the BBC on X: "I'm not satoshi, but I was early in laser focus on the positive societal implications of cryptography, online privacy and electronic cash."

In John Carreyrou's lengthy New York Times article, Back's emails and online posts are compared to those of Satoshi with striking similarities.

An analysis of Back's online activity also matches up with that of Satoshi's disappearance shortly after Bitcoin's white paper - the manifesto outlining its philosophy - was published online.

On X, Back addressed the New York Times' assertion that he was absent on Bitcoin forums at the time when Satoshi was most active and then came back once Satoshi had vanished - saying he actually "did a lot of yakking" on the forums at the time.

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He said the rest of the New York Times evidence is "a combination of coincidence and similar phrases from people with similar experience and interests".

The intrigue around Satoshi is not just due to the mystery of their identity, but because of the enormous wealth they have accumulated.

If they still have control of their Bitcoin wallet which mined the first ever Bitcoins, it would be worth around $70bn today - meaning Satoshi would be one of the richest people in the world.

Satoshi's stash of more than a million Bitcoins represents 5% of all the currency, as the inventor decided there would only ever be 21 million coins created.

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On X, Back joked that, in fact, he didn't have enough Bitcoin.

"Kicking myself for not mining in anger in 2009," he posted.

This is not the first time someone has been "unveiled" as the inventor of Bitcoin.

In 2024, an HBO documentary named Canadian crypto expert Peter Todd as Satoshi.

Todd said it was "ludicrous" and has since supplied evidence that reduces the likelihood.

The same year, a press conference was held in London by British man Stephen Mollah where he claimed to be Satoshi, but his claim was largely ignored.

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Other individuals from the computing and tech world have been previously tipped as the cryptocurrency's creator.

In 2014, a high-profile article in Newsweek identified Dorian Nakamoto, a Japanese-American man living in California as Satoshi.

But he denied it and the claim has largely been debunked.

In 2015, Wired and Gizmodo published an investigation that pointed to Australian computer scientist Craig Wright.

Soon after, Wright declared in interviews with outlets, including the BBC, that he was indeed Satoshi and showed apparent proof.

But his claims were disregarded by the community and after years of claiming to be the inventor, a UK High Court judge ruled he was not Satoshi.

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Back was one of the witnesses in the hearings that gave evidence against Wright's claims.

For some of the most prominent voices in Bitcoin, keeping Satoshi's identity secret is a part of the appeal and power of the decentralised cryptocurrency.

Back posted on X that he didn't know who Satoshi is and "I think it is good for bitcoin."

[BBC]

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A 911 call reporting a burglary in progress led to a four-hour police standoff, a fire, and the death of a suspect Tuesday night in Delaware County, according to sources.

The incident began around 9:30 p.m. on the unit block of Rhodes Avenue in Collingdale, when a woman watching a Ring camera from off-site reported seeing two people inside the rowhome.

That woman is the girlfriend of the home's resident, sources said. She was not at the residence at the time and was monitoring the situation remotely, sources said.

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Police on the scanner reported it as "two males with firearms inside the house at this time, both wearing face mask and hoodies."

Authorities said the suspects were believed to be attempting to steal thousands of dollars' worth of Air Jordans from the home, which was empty at the time.

Sources said people knew the residence was unoccupied.

A person associated with the resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said, "The faces on the camera, we had never seen them before."

That person is connected to the tenant, identified as 43-year-old Michael Robinson.

Robinson, a former Radnor Middle School teacher's aide, was arrested by U.S. Marshals in February on charges of aggravated sexual assault of a child and extradited to Texas, where the alleged crimes occurred.

RELATED: Radnor Middle School teacher's aide arrested on Texas sexual assault charge

"He normally has expensive stuff in there, but since he's out of town right now, we removed that stuff, so all you could take was sneakers," the anonymous associate told reporters.

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Police and SWAT teams responded to the scene, where the situation escalated into a standoff. At around 2 a.m., police announced, "We're going to introduce gas. Stand by."

Sources said officers deployed tear gas and flash bangs into the home, after which a fire broke out.

One suspect eventually exited the house and was taken into custody. The other suspect was later found dead in the basement, sources said.

Nearby residents described seeing the effects of the police response.

"I saw the tear gas. The smoke was coming out of the windows. Top and bottom," Shawnee Lane said.

After the incident, the home was boarded up. Sources said police removed two guns from inside the residence.

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Neighbor Christopher Harrold said the violence hit close to home.

"To hear that in my neighborhood - it's a tough pill to swallow," he said.

Authorities have not released the identities of either suspect. The district attorney's office is handling the case and said it would not comment on an open investigation.
A California man who co-founded one of Mexico's most powerful and violent drug cartels pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the U.S. to a federal narcotics conspiracy charge.

Erick Valencia Salazar formed the Jalisco New Generation Cartel with Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, the drug lord known as "El Mencho" who was killed by the Mexican army in February.

Valencia Salazar, 49, of Santa Clara, California, faces a mandatory-minimum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison after pleading guilty in Washington, D.C., to one count of conspiring to distribute cocaine for U.S. importation. Chief Judge James Boasberg is scheduled to sentence him on July 31.

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Valencia Salazar was a member of the Milenio Cartel before he and Oseguera Cervantes founded the Jalisco cartel, which is known by its Spanish-language acronym CJNG. Hundreds of CJNG members reported to Valencia Salazar, whose duties included recruitment and obtaining information about cartel rivals, prosecutors said.

"He also used information about rival cartels to locate and kill CJNG's enemies and gain control of all drug trafficking operations in particular territories in Mexico," the Justice Department said in a news release.

Valencia Salazar, also known as "El 85," formed his own cartel, La Nueva Plaza, after parting ways with "El Mencho," who led the CJNG until his death.

Soldiers stand guard over Erick Valencia Salazar, alias (Alexandre Meneghini / AP)

A. Tysen Duva, the assistant attorney general in charge of the Justice Department's criminal division, said the CJNG has inflicted "immeasurable damage" on the U.S.

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"Valencia Salazar was also responsible for furthering the rampant violence in Mexico, at the expense of people's lives and the safety of communities, that helped destabilize the region and allow crime to flourish," Duva said in a statement.

A grand jury indicted Valencia Salazar on the conspiracy charge in 2018. In February 2025, Mexican authorities sent him to the U.S. as part of an initial group of 29 drug lords.

Last year, President Trump's administration designated the CJNG and other cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

Valencia Salazar was arrested twice in Mexico. The first time was in 2012, when he was detained by the military in the municipality of Zapopan, near Guadalajara, the capital of the state of Jalisco.

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Five years later, he was released from prison by order of a judge who cited alleged procedural flaws. In 2022, the Army recaptured him in the town of Tapalpa, the same place where "El Mencho" was captured and killed.

The U.S. State Department had offered a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Valencia Salazar's arrest or conviction.

"El Mencho"  who had a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head  died from multiple bullet wounds during the military raid in February, according to the death certificate obtained by The Associated Press.

A crucifix, religious candles and a handwritten psalm were found in Oseguera Cervante's home after the operation. Mexican authorities said they tracked one of his romantic partners to the hideout.

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The killing set off violence in some 20 Mexican states. Over 70 people, including 25 Mexican National Guard troops, were killed during the operation and subsequent clashes between the security forces and CJNG gunmen.

Last month, "El Mencho" was buried in a shiny golden casket with enormous flower wreaths and a large military presence.

One hospice doctor. One year. $71.7 million worth of Medicare claims.

Search underway for woman after husband says she fell overboard while on boat ride in Bahamas

Breaking down JD Vance's visit to endorse Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban
The News

UAE trucking company TruKKer was enabling the movement of more than 1,200 loads a day for petrochemical producers, steel manufacturers, and consumer goods companies when Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz at the start of the war. Since then, it has seen volumes surge by 30%, CEO Gaurav Biswas told Semafor, as customers scrambled to adjust to port disruptions and closed shipping lanes.

The straits closure has elevated  and complicated  the role of trucking in the logistics chain. Cargo that would have moved through Dubais Jebel Ali  the Middle Easts most connected container port, which is now largely cut off from global freighters  is now entering through smaller harbors in Fujairah and Oman, then moving overland.

The rules governing the flow of goods through the Gulf have changed. Saudi Arabia has begun allowing UAE-registered trucks to enter the kingdom empty  practically unheard of prewar  and new freight corridors have been formalized between Oman and the UAE.

Know More

TruKKer is an Uber for trucks, as Biswas put it, but that belies complexity. Unlike ride-hailing, moving cargo calls for a wide variety of vehicles: flatbeds for the heaviest loads, refrigerated units for food and medicine, tankers for chemicals. Under normal circumstances, the company runs predictive algorithms to estimate demand. The conflict has rendered such predictions useless.

A container truck that once made short trips from Jebel Ali to elsewhere in Dubai is now on a two-day journey to haul goods, leaving trucks tied up for longer with each shipment and tightening the supply of transport, according to Biswas. The cost of diesel also jumped 72% overnight in the UAE at the start of April, and contracts locked in for the quarter  or in some cases the year  could no longer be honored at agreed rates, Biswas said. Desperate customers were calling multiple brokers at once, creating the illusion of demand spikes that sent truck owners scrambling to raise prices, Biswas said.

TruKKer responded by fixing rates in an attempt to bring transparency to the market and prompt truck owners to bring down prices. TruKKer was established ten years ago and is backed by Abu Dhabis Mubadala, Saudi Arabias STV, and Bahrain-based Investcorp.

Biswas said he was surprised to see that the supply of construction materials hasnt declined. Disruptions in other industries are more pronounced. Aluminum producers cant import alumina and petrochemicals are piling up in Gulf ports with nowhere to go, he said.

Step Back

The challenges are not only logistical. When debris from an aerial interception struck the Khalifa Economic Zone in Abu Dhabi, TruKKers people were there. We had drivers and our own employee operators within 100 meters of that, Biswas said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)  The California Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered a county sheriff who seized more than half a million 2025 election ballots to pause his probe into election fraud allegations while the judges review the legal challenge against it.

The order came after California Attorney General Rob Bonta, a Democrat, last month asked the court to step in, arguing the sheriff has no authority over election materials. A voting rights group is also challenging the ballot seizure.

The dispute started earlier this year and escalated last month when Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco seized 1,000 boxes of election materials to investigate a complaint from a local citizens group about the ballot count from a November 2025 special election on redistricting. Local election officials told the county Board of Supervisors that the complaint was unfounded. After Bonta ordered Bianco to halt his probe, the sheriff seized another 426 boxes of ballots.

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Bianco and his office are hereby ordered to pause the investigation into the November 2025 special election and preserve all seized items, the order reads.

Bonta said the Wednesday order is essential to stop the sheriffs probe.

What the Sheriff says and what he does are often two different things, Bonta said in a statement. Todays decision by the California Supreme Court reins in the destabilizing actions of a rogue Sheriff, prohibiting him from continuing this investigation while our litigation continues.

Biancos office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Bianco is also one of two prominent Republican gubernatorial candidates in the state. He previously defended his investigation, noting it was approved by a county judge. The sheriff last week said hes paused the probe because of mounting legal challenges.

The ballot investigation came as President Donald Trump has repeatedly disputed the results of the 2020 election, citing unsubstantiated instances of fraud. His administration recently seized ballots and other documents from an election office in Georgia. Some Republicans have mirrored Trumps rhetoric on voting in their states.
Sixteen Cameroonians have been killed fighting for Russia in Ukraine, the BBC has confirmed after a foreign ministry source verified that a recently leaked diplomatic note circulating on social media about the deaths was authentic.

The government has faced criticism over its prolonged silence on the issue - and this marks the first recognition of the involvement of its nationals in the conflict.

A recent report by All Eyes on Wagner, a group that investigates mercenary activities worldwide, said 94 Cameroonians had died in the war between 2023 and 2025.

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The leaked note - from Cameroon's foreign ministry to the Russian embassy - describes the 16 who had died as "military contractors".

Attempts to contact the Russian embassy about the note, which was dated 5 March, were unsuccessful.

Ukrainian intelligence estimates that more than 1,700 individuals from 36 African nations have been recruited to fight for Russia.

Cameroon still has not acknowledged the deaths in an official statement.

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However, on Monday a statement from the foreign ministry was sent to the state broadcaster CRTV, listing the names of 16 Cameroonians it said were resident in Russia.

Aired on Monday evening, it asked the relatives of those named to get in touch about an urgent matter, giving no further information.

While Cameroon refrains from publicly commenting on its nationals participating in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Reuters news agency reports that it saw an internal memo from March 2025 in which the defence minister expressed concern over soldiers leaving the country to fight in Ukraine, and asked officers to monitor their units.

Several African nations have sought to address the worrying number of their nationals being lured to fight for Russia.

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Ghana is amongst those which has urged Russia to stop recruiting combatants. The West African nation says at least 55 Ghanaians have been killed fighting in the war.

In February, Kenya's foreign minister told the BBC that more than 600 recruitment agencies suspected of duping Kenyans with promises of jobs abroad had been closed.

Sixteen Kenyans are said to be missing in Russia, while 47 others have returned home from the front in Ukraine, officials have said.

Zimbabwe says 15 nationals have been killed after being recruited, and more than 60 people are still trapped on the front lines.

Earlier this year, South Africa repatriated 17 citizens who said they had been trapped in Ukraine's Donbas region after being deceived into fighting for Russia.

More on people fighting for Russia in Ukraine from the BBC

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

BBC Africa podcasts
STEVENS POINT  Stevens Point voters headed to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots in several contested races including for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice, Stevens Point Common Council, Portage County executive, Portage County Board, and Stevens Point School Board.

The Stevens Point Common Council will see three new faces following the decisions of three current sitting members to not seek reelection after being elected to their first full terms in 2024.

Here are the results of the Stevens Point Common Council races.

District 4

Andrea Olson

Andrea Olson defeated David W. Crueger for District 4 on the Stevens Point Common Council. The seat was previously held by Lara Broderick, who filed for noncandidacy in the race.

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Olson, 43, is a small business owner. She holds a bachelor's degree in biomedical photographic communications, a master's degree in business administration and has completed undergraduate and graduate-level coursework in nursing and hospital administration.

"With a professional background in health care and business, I look at policy through the lens of both fiscal responsibility and human impact," Olson told the Stevens Point Journal before the election. "Im not a career politician; Im a neighbor who believes that if the city is spending the publics money, the public deserves a seat at the table."

David W. Crueger: 204 (40.0%)

Andrea Olson: 306 (60.0%)

District 6

Joe Donahue

Joe Donahue defeated Sal Cuomo for the District 6 seat on the Stevens Point Common Council. The seat was previously held by Dale Steinmetz, who filed for noncandidacy in the race.

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Donahue, 62, is retired from a career in industrial sales. He studied finance and management at UW-Platteville and has lived in his home in Stevens Point for 32 years, or since before his neighborhood was annexed into the city in the early 2000s.

"My strength is in being a good neighbor, being someone who cares, checks-in and lends a hand," Donahue told the Stevens Point Journal before the election.

Sal Cuomo: 248 (30.7%)

Joe Donahue: 561 (69.3%)

District 10

Matt Moldenhauer

Matt Moldenhauer defeated Zack Sowieja for the District 10 seat on the Stevens Point Common Council. The seat was previously held by Dustin Buse, who filed for noncandidacy in the race.

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Moldenhauer, 24, works as an IT Support Engineer where he provides IT support and maintenance of IT infrastructure. He holds an Associate of Applied Science degree in IT security specialist.

"I'm also often tasked with working on projects for areas I don't have experience in. In those situations, I find leaning on the subject matter expert is vital to ensure you're making a positive impact and seeing the whole picture," Moldenhauer told the Stevens Point Journal before the election.

Matt Moldenhauer: 299 (63.5%)

Zack Sowieja: 172 (36.5%)

Erik Pfantz covers local government and education in central Wisconsin for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin and values his background as a rural Wisconsinite. Contact him at epfantz@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Stevens Point Common Council April 2026 election results
This story was originally published on mynorthwest.com.

A Chelan man was arrested last week for attempting to break into an apartment and assaulting a deputy as he was being arrested.

On April 4, at approximately 7 p.m., Chelan County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) deputies responded to a reported trespassing incident at an apartment complex at 240 E. Johnson Avenue, CCSO announced.

The caller told 911 that an unknown male was outside her apartment, pounding on the door, attempting to manipulate the handle, and yelling threatening statements.

Suspect assaults deputy during arrest at Chelan apartment complex

A Chelan County deputy was already in the area and arrived at the scene within minutes of the call. According to the report, the male was attempting to gain access to the occupied apartment.

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The deputy entered the building to locate the suspect and ensure the occupants were safe. After checking the interior hallway, the deputy made contact with a male exiting another apartment who matched the suspects description. CCSO noted the suspect was seen holding a metal object. The deputy verbally communicated with the suspect in Spanish, and he initially complied with the deputys commands.

Once the deputy attempted to detain the suspect, he became combative, resisted being restrained, and physically assaulted the deputy by striking him in the face. The deputy used control techniques to bring the suspect to the ground while continuing to relay commands for him to stop resisting.

Backup deputy helps restrain suspect; medics evaluate injuries

Another deputy arrived shortly afterward and joined in the effort to place wrist restraints on the suspect despite continuous resistance. Medics also responded to the scene to evaluate the suspect, who was later transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation. The deputy declined medical treatment.

An investigation of the incident revealed that the suspect had recently been removed from another apartment in the complex following a domestic dispute and did not have permission to be on the property. Evidence collected at the scene also indicated there was possible drug involvement.

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Probable cause was established to arrest the suspect for the following offenses:

Second-degree attempted residential burglary

Third-degree assault

Resisting arrest

CCSO noted the incident remains under investigation.
BEIJING, April 8 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Afghanistan and Pakistan agreed during peace talks in Urumqi to explore a comprehensive solution to the conflict that broke out between the two countries last October.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told a daily press briefing that both countries agreed at the meetings in China not to take actions that would escalate or complicate the situation.

Mao added that China would continue to communicate with both countries and provide a platform for dialogue.

(Reporting by Ethan Wang and Liz Lee; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
TAIPEI, April 7 (Reuters) - China is targeting Taiwan to obtain its advanced chip manufacturing technology and talent as a way of breaking through international "containment" of the country, according to a report from the island's top security agency.

China's scramble for chip talent and expertise has intensified as Beijing pushes for self-reliance in advanced semiconductors, amid a deepening tech rivalry with the U.S.

Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, frequently reports busting networks of Chinese firms illegally trying to poach semiconductor and high-tech talent, and has strict laws to prevent the most advanced technologies going to China.

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In a report to lawmakers, Taiwan's National Security Bureau said that China is attempting to "lure" Taiwan's high-tech industries, including AI and semiconductors, to establish or retain operations in China.

"It also continues to use indirect channels to poach Taiwanese talent, steal technology, and procure controlled goods, with the aim of obtaining key core technologies and products such as Taiwan's advanced-process chips, thereby breaking through international technological containment."

China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. China says Taiwan is one of its provinces and will eventually come under Beijing's control.

Taiwan is home to TSMC, the world's largest contract chipmaker and major supplier to companies including Nvidia and Apple.

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China is also expected to use a range of hybrid methods, including deepfakes and fake opinion polls, to interfere in Taiwan's year-end local elections, according to the report, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters.

Taiwan's Government Service Network was targeted by more than 170 million intrusion attempts in the first quarter of this year, added the reported, delivered ahead of bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen taking lawmaker questions on Wednesday.

"It cannot be ruled out that the Chinese Communist Party is laying the groundwork to interfere in Taiwan's year-end elections, with the intent of expanding intelligence collection, surveillance, and data theft," the report said.

Taiwan also faces ongoing Chinese military pressure.

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In the first quarter, more than 420 Chinese military aircraft were detected operating around Taiwan, and Chinese naval vessels coordinated with them in carrying out 10 "joint combat readiness patrols," the report added.

China's Communist Party faces mounting risks due to domestic and external pressures such as economic weakness and geopolitical competition, it said.

"Nevertheless, it continues to employ a range of hybrid threats against Taiwan, including military intimidation," the report added.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom)
Gaza City, Gaza Strip  At noon on Monday, Asaad Nteel and his family were terrified when a group of armed men suddenly stormed their home in eastern Maghazi, central Gaza. There had been no prior warning.

Family members quickly found themselves in the centre of a gunfight involving an armed Palestinian groups, which currently operates in Israeli-controlled areas of the Gaza Strip in the wake of Israels brutal war.

At first, Nteel and his family thought the gunmen, who rushed into their home as heavy fire thundered outside, must be Israeli soldiers, as they live very close to the yellow line that separates Palestinian and Israeli-controlled areas of Gaza.

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The armed men, however, quickly identified themselves to the family as the Popular Forces combating terrorism, an armed group operating in central Gaza with the support of the Israeli army.

They broke the doors, detained my uncle and the other man, and took them away towards an area near the yellow line, Nteel told Al Jazeera.

Nteel, his wife, and their extended family, including his parents and siblings in the upstairs apartment, say they froze in fear.

The militia members ordered us to gather in one room and not move at all, Nteel explained.

We chose not to resist so they wouldnt harm us or the children and women with us.

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As the family crowded into a single room of the house, the armed men positioned themselves near windows and openings, exchanging gunfire with other gunmen believed to be affiliated with Hamas.

The family later discovered theirs was one of four houses in the neighbourhood that the armed group used as cover during this particular battle.

We didnt understand what exactly was happening or what these militias wanted. We stayed like that until they received orders to withdraw, Nteel said.

Before the gunmen left, they interrogated Nteel at length about whether any nearby residents were affiliated with Hamas.

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They also accused him of attempting to film them after spotting cameras in the house. He tried to convince them that the cameras were not working and explained that he and his wife had worked as wedding photographers before the war.

They reluctantly believed my story and confirmed it with my father, but still confiscated all my equipment, my cameras and lenses, he said.

People in Maghazi, central Gaza, react in despair after violence by a local armed group on Monday killed 10 people and injured 44 [Abdelhakim Abu Riash/Al Jazeera]

Backed by the Israeli army

The gunfight the Nteel family was terrifyingly caught up in on Monday was just one part of a series of raids and clashes by armed gang members on the east side of the camp, which resulted in the killing of at least 10 Palestinians and the injury of dozens more that day, according to Al-Aqsa Hospital reports.

The Ministry of Health also reported 10 deaths in the violence in Maghazi as well as 44 people injured on Monday.

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Local people claim the armed men were provided with cover and support by Israeli forces.

The attack began when armed groups approached from the direction of the yellow line, moving towards civilian homes and the Al-Maghazi Preparatory Boys School, run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which is sheltering large numbers of displaced people.

As gunfire rained down on the school, residents tried to stop the men, triggering clashes.

Mohammad Jouda, 37, one of the displaced people living in the school, told Al Jazeera from Al-Aqsa Hospital that people had been caught completely off guard by the gunfire, triggering panic and chaos.

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We couldnt move at all because of the intensity of the fire. Armed men stormed the school and started shooting directly inside it was pure panic and shock. The school is full of displaced people, children and women. Then, minutes later, warplanes struck the school gate we were surrounded from all sides there were casualties everywhere.

Resistance by local residents and people inside the school prompted fire cover from accompanying Israeli forces, which allowed the armed men to withdraw, he said.

Khaled Abu Saqr, another resident of Maghazi, told Al Jazeera that Mondays events had come as a major shock for residents and displaced people, as the camps streets turned into a war zone.

I was about 400 metres [1,300 feet] away. People started saying there was a raid, then news spread that Israeli-backed militias were advancing, he said.

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Many people gathered, trying to confront them and stop their advance amid heavy clashes. Suddenly, multiple reconnaissance missiles were fired.

According to eyewitnesses, large crowds of people were fired upon or shelled, particularly near the school packed with displaced civilians.

I was watching and trying to hide to avoid being hit. People were running in fear, women and children fleeing the militias, while streets filled with cars carrying the wounded and the dead, Abu Saqr told Al Jazeera.

The incident has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with activists sharing videos documenting victims being transported to hospitals.





Bombing and blood never stop

The groups are spread geographically across Gaza, operating near front lines, where they have taken advantage of the collapse in security caused by the war. Analysts say reports indicate they mostly consist of small numbers and operate outside traditional structures.

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There is one in the far north, in Beit Lahiya; and a second, also in the north, in eastern Gaza City, particularly Shujayea.

In central Gaza, mostly east of Deir al-Balah, there is a third group responsible for the Maghazi attack.

In the south, there is a fourth group in eastern Khan Younis. There is also a fifth group in the south, in Rafah.

These groups appear to operate near areas along the yellow line.

According to Abu Saqr in Maghazi, the violence on Monday lasted for more than an hour and a half, causing extreme distress to residents who, he says, do not support these groups.

Security forces and many civilians tried to confront the militias. People strongly reject them and tried to stop them by any means, but they were bombed the scene was like a massacre.

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They say theres a truce and a ceasefire thats all lies. Bombing, killing, and blood never stop. We are exhausted.

Indeed, since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas supposedly began on October 11, some 733 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, and 2,034 injured. That is in addition to 759 bodies recovered.

The Gaza Centre for Human Rights claims that Israel is increasingly supporting these groups to carry out operations within densely populated camps and neighbourhoods.

It said armed drones provided direct support on Monday, firing heavily and randomly into alleys in the camp to aid the armed mens withdrawal.

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The centre added that it has documented previous violence by these groups, including looting of aid convoys, kidnappings, torture and killings, with cover or support from the Israeli army.

Legally, it pointed out, forming and supporting such armed groups constitutes a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949. Israel ratified the Geneva Conventions in 1951.

The emergence of these armed groups in Gaza represents a dangerous escalation and evasion of legal responsibility, the human rights group said. It called on the international community and the United Nations to launch an urgent independent investigation, hold those responsible accountable, and ensure effective protection for civilians.
A North Carolina House committee is considering legislation to close a loophole allowing for-profit companies to take advantage of a tax exemption program intended for nonprofit organizations that provide affordable housing to low-income renters.

But Eric Stein, a senior vice president at Self-Help, a credit union and community development organization, predicts passing the legislation into law will be difficult despite its good intentions.

Theres going to be a lot of money that private equity has invested in the state and these projects to try to defend it, and so its not going to be an easy legislative battle, Stein said Tuesday during a N.C. Housing Coalition weekly call.

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If lawmakers are unable to close the loophole, Stein said, the better course might be to repeal the affordable housing tax exemption program, because theres just too much money being lost for too little gain.

The loophole in current law gives generous property tax cuts to for-profit apartment complex owners that partner with qualifying nonprofits, as NC Newsline previously reported. The program costs local governments tens of millions of dollars in tax revenue each year that would otherwise go to fund schools, libraries, public safety and health and human services.

The scheme, described by critics as a rent-a-nonprofit structure, allows for-profit apartment complex owners to take advantage of the tax exemption by handing over a fraction of ownership to a willing nonprofit.

The House Select Committee on Property Tax Reduction and Reform is considering changes to the law to close the loophole. The committee was formed by House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) to examine rising local property taxes in the wake of taxpayers complaints.

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Under draft legislation unveiled in March, only properties 100% owned by nonprofits and nonprofits partnering with for-profits and supported by government funding would be eligible for the tax exemption program.

This draft would update this statute to provide guardrails that would ensure the tax benefit is afforded to those who provide long-term affordable housing, consistent with similar standards required for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects, said Trina Griffin, a staff attorney with the General Assemblys Legislative Analysis Division.

Many of the properties taking advantage of the loophole are what Stein described as Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH), which are usually older properties affordable to low- or moderate-income households without relying on public subsidies.

There are thousands of these NOAH properties all across the state, any one of which could be susceptible to these partnerships, which we consider to be shams, Stein said.

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Over the past two years, local governments have seen a dramatic increase in the use of the exemption by for-profits that own or purchase existing, already affordable properties, resulting in lower tax revenues but no new affordable housing.

You cant really, as the state or the county, let private equity cherry-pick which projects meet the terms of the statute  and get the property tax exemption, where the private equity is doing exactly what they did before, which is putting a little bit of money in and raising the rent higher, Stein said.

North Carolina lawmakers adopted legislation in 1975 providing tax exemptions for charitable housing for low- or moderate-income renters. The law went into effect Jan 1, 1976.

The loophole in that law was created in 2013, when the N.C. Court of Appeals ruled that Cane Creek Village, a low-income housing project in Mitchell County owned by a for-profit limited liability company but controlled by a nonprofit, was entitled to a property tax exemption under state law.

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Northwestern Housing Enterprises, Inc., the nonprofit in that case, owned 0.1% of Blue Ridge Housing, which held the title to the property. A for-profit partnership, North Carolina Equity Fund III Limited Partnership, owned 99.9% of Blue Ridge Housing.

Both of those things [the Court of Appeals Ruling and the 1975 law] went along fine, except for around two years ago, some big law firms started writing memos, telling private equity that they could mimic a structure of LIHTC, but for naturally occurring affordable housing, Stein said.

The House committee could vote on the proposed legislation at its April 15 meeting. If approved, the proposal would be eligible for consideration in the upcoming short session.
BOGOTA, April 7 (Reuters) - Colombian President Gustavo Petro said on Tuesday evening that his government would submit an economic emergency decree and a new tax reform bill to Congress to balance the 2026 budget.

The president said that if Congress did not approve his economic proposals, he would enact them by decree.

"If necessary, we will declare a new economic emergency in Colombia because what we must save is the standard of living, which is now much higher than at any time in history," Petro said in a televised address.

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The president also asked his interior minister to submit a tax reform bill to Congress in a bid to finance the unbalanced 2026 budget, but did not specify the amount expected to be collected.

Petro's announcement comes amid a standoff with the central bank. Finance Minister German Avila resigned from the central bank's board last week following disagreements over the bank's decision to raise the benchmark interest rate by 100 basis points to 11.25%.

However, analysts say it is unlikely that the current Congress, whose term ends in June, will approve Petros economic proposals.

Colombia elected a new Congress in March, which will be sworn in on July 20 and assume its duties once the winner of the upcoming presidential election is determined.

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Colombians will go to the polls in late May to elect Petros successor. If no candidate secures more than half of the votes, a runoff election will be held in June.

Late last year, Petro declared an economic emergency after Congress rejected a tax reform bill aimed at raising 16.3 trillion pesos ($4.45 billion).

Congress approved a 2026 spending budget of 546.9 trillion pesos, not enough to cover the country's fiscal needs, which led the government to declare an economic emergency after the legislature refused to approve a reform to raise certain taxes.

However, in January, the constitutional court provisionally suspended the economic emergency under which the Petro administration sought to raise 11 trillion pesos ($3 billion) to finance part of its 2026 budget.

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Latin Americas fourth-largest economy is experiencing a deterioration in its fiscal accounts, which forced the government in June to suspend a fiscal rule under which the Ministry of Finance raised the fiscal deficit target.

(Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta, Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Himani Sarkar and Kate Mayberry)
A bill to create commemorative months honoring Jewish and Muslim heritage sparked a religious and cultural debate in the Maryland Senate Tuesday on whether a Christian heritage month is needed.

The Senate rejected that amendment after an almost hourlong debate and gave preliminary approval to the Jewish and Muslim months bill  which could still be amended on final passage, as its a House bill in the Senate. But some worried the dispute could drive a wedge between lawmakers in the final days of the 2026 session.

If passed and signed into law, House Bill 661 would add two commemorative months  May as Jewish American Heritage month and January as Muslim American Heritage month  to the official state calendar.

Sen. Dalya Attar (D-Baltimore City) said a bill honoring Jewish and Muslim heritage is justified because of the dramatic increase in hate crimes those communities face. (File photo Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Sen. Dalya Attar (D-Baltimore City), the first Orthodox Jewish woman to serve in the Maryland Senate, said the bill began because of the increase in hate crimes and the bias towards these two religions.

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In response to other senators, she acknowledged that there are other religions, and everyone has hate against them. However, the two religions mentioned in this legislation, they are minority religions in the United States of America, and yet they are seeing the majority of the hate crimes against them.

There were 57 hate crimes motivated by religion in Maryland in 2023, according to the most recent statistics provided by the Justice Department, more than three times the number reported in 2021.

The bill is sponsored by Montgomery County Democratic Dels. Jared Solomon and Sarah Wolek. A similar bill failed in 2025. Sen. Ben Kramer (D-Montgomery) is the co-sponsor of a companion bill, Senate Bill 308, that remains in the Senate Education, Energy and Environment Committee.

The goal here is to offer, in my mind, a little bit of equity and visibility to those cultures that, again, have been very much subjected to bias and hate, which is what we are experiencing at a significantly higher level in our country at this point in time, Kramer said in support of HB 661.

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Currently, the state recognizes 20 commemorative days, seven months and a week. But Muslim American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month would be the first to include a religious component.

This is breaking new ground, said Sen. Justin Ready (R-Frederick and Carroll). Weve never had religious groups recognized.

The proposal highlights how culture and religious identity can be tightly intertwined. It also highlights another flashpoint in what some see as an ongoing culture war, as governmental and private entities adopt inclusive policies that Christians say leave them out.

Roughly 58% of Maryland residents say they practice some form of Christianity, according to a 2023-2024 Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study. It said that 9% identified with another religion  about 3% Jewish and 4% Muslim. Nearly one-third of those in the survey identified as religiously unaffiliated.

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About half of the 188-member General Assembly identifies as a member of some Christian religion and about 10% said they are Jewish, according to a Department of Legislative Services profile of the legislature. Muslims are not specifically identified in that profile, but earlier this year, three lawmakers  all House member  announced they were forming a Muslim Caucus. Wolek is one of the three caucus members.

Sen. Mike McKay (R-Western Maryland) said an amendment to add April as a commemorative month for Christians was meant to be a gesture of inclusivity. (File photo by Bryan P. Sears/Maryland Matters)

Sen. Mike McKay (R-Western Maryland) said his amendment, to set aside April as Christian American Heritage month, was meant to be inclusive.

We dont pick one or choose a faith tradition that is worthy of recognition when all have contributed to the fabric of our society, McKay said on the floor. I feel at this time in our country, when we can feel divided, this amendment is just an opportunity to bring people together to say that we see each one, we respect one another, and we value all contributions of all. We value all contributions of all.

Sen. C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince Georges), an ordained minister, agreed.

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This crosses all barriers, and its a slippery slope to go down. If youre going to take out one, then theres another that will be taken out. How many bills can we have? he asked. We either honor all or we honor none.

Some Democrats, like Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince Georges and Anne Arundel), said such an amendment is a good idea for a bill in a future year. But this amendment is not about all or none.

Others, like Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) said Christians already have two unofficial months starting after Halloween.

We start hearing all the Christmas songs, right? The First Noel, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Frosty, Joy to the World, Ellis said. And from the end of October, November, December, its all Christmas. And how many of you get sick of all those Christmas ads and commercials and songs they make it in all Christmas songs, pretty much November into December.

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Were saturated with it, right? Its commercial, and Christmas is a Christian holiday, and we get like, two months of it, he said.

McKays amendment failed 19-26, with six Democrats including Muse joining the 13 Senate Republicans.

The bill could receive a final vote in the Senate as early as Wednesday.

Sen. Antonio Hayes (D-Baltimore City), who ultimately voted against McKays amendment, said he struggles with the legislation.

I understand the symbolism behind it. I understand the people behind it, but I just have a serious problem with the process that we are in the final days of this legislative session, committing so much time and energy to something that I think creates even more division, he said. It has people walking away.

I dont know what my votes going to be. Im praying on it, but I just think, I dont think that we should be put in this position, Hayes said.

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A major shake-up in Colorados alcohol distribution industry will leave over 500 workers without jobs, after a major beer and alcohol distributor announced the shutdown of all operations in the state.

For decades, Eagle Rock Distributing Company has been the engine behind Colorados social scene, delivering beers, wines, and spirits to the local retailers.

But following a major acquisition by industry giant Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits, Eagle Rocks Colorado business is coming to a permanent halt.

In a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) filed on April 3, the company confirmed that it will shut down all Colorado operations effective June 5, 2026.

The move, described as an asset sale, will result in the permanent layoff of 514 employees, that is, all Eagle Rock workers in Colorado.

The move marks a significant shift in Colorados alcohol distribution landscape and highlights the rapid consolidation taking place across the beverage supply chain.

Who is Eagle Rock Distribution?

A family-owned business with roots in Georgia and Colorado, Eagle Rock is one of the most recognizable names in beverage distribution. Over the years, they have acted as a critical bridge between craft brewers and local alcohol retailers.

If you have ordered a beer at a Colorado bar or picked up cases at a local store, Eagle Rock probably had a role to play.

This Georgia-based distributor has been responsible for delivering a wide range of major beverage brands, including well-known Anheuser-Busch premium beers such as Busch Light, Budweiser, and Bud Light, as well as imported beers like Hoegaarden and Stella Artois.

More Layoffs:

Beyond beer, the company has also helped distribute craft beers, spirits, energy drinks, and wines, operating out of six major hubs in Colorado.

And now with them closing all its Colorado distribution centers, it has the potential to change how alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are distributed in Colorado.

According to the WARN filing, the following 6 sites will be closed:

Monument Grand Junction Loveland Pueblo Denver/Commerce City Durango

A wide range of job roles will be affected, including CDL drivers, warehouse workers, account managers, sales specialists, logistics staff, and administrative employees.

Eagle Rock is a major distributor of Anheuser-Busch labels.Shutterstock  Shutterstock

Why alcohol distribution matters?

Alcohol distributors play a vital role in the U.S. beverage industry.

Under the countrys three-tier alcohol distribution system, producers such as breweries and wineries are not allowed to sell directly to retailers. Instead, they must rely on wholesale distributors to move products from manufacturers to stores, bars, restaurants, stadiums, and hotels.
People let city commissioners know they do not believe police shot and killed a 44-year-old man.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The shooting happened in the area of N St. Clair Street and E Third Street at 9:28 p.m. on March 24.

Police said two officers stopped a Reginald Thomas on a bicycle in the area.

Protesters argue Thomas should not have been stopped in the first place.

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You all have normalized the inhumanity of Black men and boys, Zakiya Sankara-Jabar with Racial Justice NOW said.

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She told commissioners she believes there is widespread community anger and distrust of Dayton police.

Young Black boys and men who are fed up watching their loved ones, watching people that look like them, being murdered on T.V., Sankara-Jabar said.

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Dayton Police Department released body camera footage from the officer who stopped Thomas.

The conversation about the bike light led to a question of whether Thomas had a gun; he answered no, then took off running.

The officer tackled him, Thomas gun spilled out, he dropped it when ordered to, but then fought with officers handcuffing him.

When Thomas managed to grab that gun again, an officer fired a fatal shot.

Protesters rallied on the steps of City Hall a week later.

They stepped to the podium inside on Wednesday.

The beginning of an encounter matters just as much as the end, Carlos Buford with Black Lives Matter Dayton said.

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The protesters dont believe Thomas should have been stopped.

They question the city and police priorities.

Graffiti, junk cars, loose dogs, illegal dumping, thats not important, but bike laws in Downtown Dayton are? Lynn Lamance said.

Mayor Shenise Tuner-Sloss told speakers they are making sure the fatal use of force is closely examined.

It is the commitment of this entire commission and administration to make sure there is a just and fair process. So your concerns are valid, and we hear you, Sloss said.

The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office is conducting the criminal investigation of the shooting.

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They will turn their findings over to prosecutors to review for any potential charges.

The police departments professional standards bureau will also review the case, and the use of force will be reviewed.

At any time, the Independent Accountability Auditor can also review the case.

We will continue to follow this story.

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A Chelmsford firefighter will have a significant road to recovery after he fell 40 feet, landing on solid concrete at the Massachusetts Firefighter Academy in Stow yesterday.

28-year-old Nick Spinale suffered significant internal and external injuries which required transport via UMass Memorial Life flight.

At this time, according to Chelmsford Firefighters Local 1839, Spinale remains in the intensive care unit in Worcester where he is being treated for these life-threatening injuries.

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The extent of injuries will require multiple surgeries and physical rehabilitation, according to Chelmsford Firefighters Local 1839.

The outpouring of support from fellow firefighters with the Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts, International Association of Firefighters and the residents of Chelmsford and throughout Massachusetts has been astounding, they said in a statement.

Anyone interested in supporting Spinales recovery during this time can donate via the link here.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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As news consumers, we want to have choices. If we have choices, we can give our attention to those news providers who meet our needs, thus encouraging them to continue providing the content we want. But, how much choice do we have in the age of TV news consolidation?

Last week, a significant number of reporters at WRTV lost their jobs as Circle City Broadcasting, the locally owned and operated broadcasting company, finalized its acquisition of the station from E.W. Scripps Company. They now own three stations in Indianapolis  WISH-TV Channel 8, WNDY-TV Channel 23 and WRTV-TV Channel 6.

On March 19, Nexstar Media Group, the parent company of FOX59 and CBS4, closed the deal to buy TEGNA, which owns WTHR.

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At this moment, Indys TV market has gone from four owners to two. (A few caveats: A federal judge has paused the deal to consider antitrust claims, and Nexstar has agreed to sell WTHR. If that happens, we will have three owners).

Is news consolidation good or bad for news consumers?

News consolidation is good for companies that need to turn a profit, but bad for people who value a wide variety of local stories. Experts I spoke to say having fewer journalists will be bad for our community.

Right now, there are 225 news organizations in Indiana, according to a report released last week by researchers at The Media School at Indiana University. Marion County has 26 news organizations, the most in the state. Consolidation of news outlets leads to fewer stories about our community and fewer jobs for reporters.\

Suzannah Evans Comfort is the IU professor who led the team who produced the report, Journalism at the Crossroads of America. I spoke to her about consolidation in our community. There is research to suggest that it does result in reduced original journalism, she said, although it varies depending on context.

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One of the things that ownership consolidation allows is for companies to continue to exist, and thats why they do it, she said.

Its a survival strategy for companies that had much higher profit margins before the internet fragmented the audience by flooding us all with different choices of what to do with our attention.

Television markets across the U.S. have been consolidating for decades, starting with mega mergers in the 1980s, she said. This latest iteration of that trend has been aided by federal policies that encourage consolidation.

A lot of the push for deregulation is coming from the media companies, Comfort said. People politicize it and say Republicans want it or something, but its actually coming from the media companies themselves. Theyre the ones who are suing and advocating for the policy change to allow more consolidation.

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I asked DuJuan McCoy, owner, president, and CEO of Circle City Broadcasting about the future of local news. He says its bright.

What broadcasters offer local communities is very unique and unparalleled by any other media, McCoy said in an email interview. Consolidation works on a case by case basis. In our case, we were able to add an ABC affiliate to our CW and MyNetwork combo, where we were producing over 90 hours per week of local news and content. While WRTV was doing around 23 hours per week.

On Monday, WRTV-ABC announced that it will debut a new morning news team and expand its AM LIVE programming beginning May 4. Instead of a hybrid of live and recorded broadcasts between 5 to 7 a.m., the station will be fully live, expanding to three hours between 4 to 7 a.m.

Since WISH-TV and WRTV consolidated, resulting in layoffs, WISH-TV staff have covered the newscasts at WRTV, identifying themselves with their new sister station as Channel 6, ABC News. Nexstar representatives declined to discuss their plans for consolidating WTHR with FOX59 and CBS4.

Why news consumers should be concerned

Comfort said that consumers should be concerned about TV news consolidation because they are no longer able to influence advertising dollars directed at the news shows they watch.

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It takes away their choice, she explained. You think, I can vote with my eyes, right? If I dont like CBS News, Ill watch ABC News. But, youre no longer able to vote with your eyes because they have the same owner.

There used to be quite strict policies in place to prevent any one company from dominating in a media market, because the idea was, of course, that competition is good for the community, when it comes to information and media, Comfort said.

Some community groups are also concerned.

Josh Riddick is the state director for LiveFree Indiana, which is a grassroots, faith-based organization that includes collaboration with the Black Church Coalition. The group advocates for community violence intervention initiatives, affordable housing, and does community organizing around other topics. He has already seen the results of having fewer reporters on the ground in Indy. After previous consolidation in the TV landscape, hes heard stations tell him they dont have the capacity to cover events because they dont have the staff.

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Riddick calls Indy the epicenter of media in Central Indiana and the region. And in spite of that, Ive watched our media market actually decrease in capacity and staff and reporter engagement, which has been really detrimental to how we tell stories, what stories get to be heard, how we center ideas, he said.

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Riddick is trying to make it more likely that stories from his community get covered by television stations by training spokespeople for the Black Church Coalition to be compelling, clear and concise. That way, if they do manage to get a reporter to cover their story, the chances of getting a good soundbite are higher, and their comments wont be misinterpreted.

His training even accounts for the original story being repackaged by multiple news outlets, and possibly losing key details in the process, before it gets to Black Indy Live, the popular digital news and media platform.

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And so then our community is reacting to essentially a soundbite of a soundbite, he said. And the full context isnt even being grappled with or understood. And oftentimes the way that theyre framed to go viral is to sensationalize or, you know, highlight a very specific component that isnt reflective of the full breadth of what has happened.

This is especially true of local crime coverage, which Riddick feels is overreported and not reflective of reality in Indys Black community.

Tamara Winfrey-Harris, president of the Womens Foundation of Indiana, is also concerned. There isnt enough thoughtful, factual coverage of issues that impact women and girls, she said, and media consolidation may worsen this problem.

My ask to owners of media companies, on behalf of women and girls, is to weigh the impact of consolidation on the content of the news and the communities they serve, she said via email. For instance, women, who make up more than half of the population, are just 26 percent of all news sources nationwide. Media consolidation can widen gaps like this for all unrepresented folks. News orgs who cannot articulate how they will mitigate these effects and continue to serve the awesome breadth of Hoosier communities will not serve us well.

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State Rep. Ed Delaney, a Democrat representing Indianapolis, said that local TV news coverage is already weak, with excessive weather coverage, stories about dogs, animals, and minor health incidents  not the big issues like paying for Medicaid. He remembers when Jane Pauley was a local TV star at WISH-TV before she rose to national prominence. Back then, he said, reporters stayed with their stations longer, developing more of a connection with the audience and local expertise in the community.

That all seems to have disappeared, Delaney said. So the question is, will the three stations that are coming together be able to restore some of that local coverage, some more star quality  something other than human interest stories? That would please me.

He holds out hope that TV news consolidation will be good for Indianapolis, and is encouraged by the previous consolidation of FOX59 and CBS4, which he said has resulted in increased coverage of the Statehouse.

Thats all I have is hope because I dont think the present situation is making a lot of money for these stations, except when they have political ads.

What to expect

Most experts are not that optimistic about what we are going to see on the local news here in Indy.

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More soft news, less hard news and also more coverage of crime, said Anthony Fargo, IU associate professor and director for the Center for International Media Law and Policy Studies. The stations in Indianapolis already seem to do a disproportionate amount of crime coverage, which is kind of typical of a lot of TV stations at the local level. What youll probably see is a little less coverage of the Statehouse  whats going on with the legislature and with the governors office.

Instead, Fargo said viewers will see more stories about scheduled events, like press conferences, groundbreakings, and speeches.

Id love to hear from you. Please send your questions about Indys media ecosystem to indypubliceditor@poynter.org, or reach out to let me know if youd like me to come speak to your community group. Your input helps strengthen Indianapolis local journalism.

Some people fear that the political leanings of large corporations will show up in news coverage at the local level. A 2026 study of the Sinclair ownership group found minimal evidence of political bias in news stories, which somewhat surprised the researchers.

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Theres less editorialization, said associate professor Jesse Abdenour, who was the lead researcher for the study at the University of Oregon. Thats something that used to be more of a staple of local news, like let me tell you my opinion. So generally, they dont wade into political waters as much as some cable news stations. So, from that standpoint, it wasnt surprising because theyre falling in line with the tradition of local TV news thats been around for a while.

Sinclair Broadcast Group is the second largest owner of TV stations in the U.S. The study looked at data from 2,300 stories in 40 U.S. markets, and found that Sinclair stations did not use an overabundance of conservative sources. There are no Sinclair-owned stations in Indianapolis, but the report is useful for examining the realities of corporate influence on local coverage.

A more apt question or concern might be that reporters will self-censor the stories they pitch based on a perception of a conflict of interest with their parent ownership. This issue might weigh heavily on them as job prospects in one market shrink.

You only have a couple of different potential employers you could work for if youre going to work in broadcast television moving forward, Comfort said about broadcast opportunities in Indianapolis. So, it really does restrict the autonomy of the journalist, even if its not like theres a memo that goes out and says youre not allowed to report on this or that, or this is how youre supposed to behave.

What should news consumers do?

We are not completely powerless as our local TV journalism transforms. A large portion of news consumers  64% of us  get our news from television at least some of the time. One third of the population relies heavily on local news.

These changes in Indys TV news landscape mean that it will be less likely that we see our entire community reflected in broadcast coverage. We learn about our neighbors, from the stories that are told in the news media. This is also how the rest of the country learns about us. When the number of reporters in the city shrinks, so does that window into the lives of the people who live here.

We can watch and take notes. We can demand accountability. How well do you see your neighborhood or community represented on local TV? What do you want more information about? What topics are always on the news that you want less information about?

Send me your questions and observations as these changes unfold. Ill be monitoring the impact of TV news consolidation on local coverage. While the broadcast corporations claim that these changes are necessary to compete against the internet, streaming platforms and social media, we should keep track of what we are losing. People matter and perspectives matter. When reporting jobs go by the wayside, so too go stories about our community from diverse perspectives.

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The Cook Political Report on Tuesday shifted five House races toward Democrats and one toward Republicans, as the minority party seeks to take back control of the House in the November midterms.

The report moved Rep. Greg Landsmans (D-Ohio) race from Toss Up to Lean Democrat, Reps. Emilia Sykess (D-Ohio) and Nellie Pous (D-N.J.) races from Lean Democrat to Likely Democrat, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazars (R-Fla.) race from Solid Republican to Likely Republican and Rep. Rob Bresnahans (R-Pa.) race from Lean Republican to Toss Up.

It also moved Rep. Jeff Hurds (R-Colo.) race from Likely Republican to Solid Republican, citing President Trump reversing course and endorsing Hurd last month after previously endorsing his primary opponent, Hope Scheppelman. Trump said last month that Scheppelman would suspend her campaign to join his administration in a capacity to be determined.

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Erin Covey, the House editor for the report, wrote that a bleak political environment for the GOP is driving the latest shifts. She noted that even before the presidents approval rating reached a nadir amid spiking gas prices and an unpopular war with Iran, special and off-year elections showed Democrats with a significant enthusiasm advantage and Republicans were trailing the national generic ballot by five to six points.

The GOP holds a 217-214 edge in the House, while independent Rep. Kevin Kiley (Calif.) caucuses with Republicans and three seats are vacant.

Republican Clay Fuller on Tuesday won a runoff election to fill one of those three vacant seats in Georgias 14th Congressional District, previously held by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

A special election to fill the vacant seat in New Jerseys 11th Congressional District, formerly held by now-Gov. Mikie Sherrill (D), is set for April 16.

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The battleground lines are coming into focus as Republicans defend their tenuous hold on the House, Covey added. The number of truly competitive districts remains relatively small: With these latest changes, 18 Republicans sit in races rated Toss Up, Lean Republican, and Lean Democrat, compared to 16 Democrats in these categories.

But of those Republicans, 14 are in Toss Up, giving Democrats plenty of opportunities to flip the three seats they need for a majority next year.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A new state entity to govern the Music City Loop project in Nashville  and any future underground transit projects statewide  is now set to cost the state just under $900,000 annually after an earlier $5.4 million price tag sparked backlash.

Nashville's Music City Loop, built and operated by Elon Musk's Boring Company, will consist of two single-direction tunnels transporting passengers in autonomous Tesla sedans from Nashville International airport to downtown. The project will not recieve any direct state funding.

Projected for a 2027 completion, the Music City Loop project is already underway.

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This spring, Republican officials are proposing to create two new state government entities to oversee the Music City Loop and any future underground transportation projects, anywhere in Tennessee.

Legislation is unnecessary for the Music City Loop project to move forward. But if the bill becomes law, relevant contracts for the project would be placed under the new authority.

Ahead of a committee vote on April 7, Sen. Jeff Yarbro, D-Nashville, said there's no other state agency that's been created for the express benefit of a private actor.

We are creating an entire government agency, an authority that's going to have a run cost of over $800,000 a year that is solely  at this point  dedicated to one private company," Yarbro said. "It's a private company that is not even required to produce any public benefit."

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Republican lawmakers approved Senate Bill 2205 on April 7  and the bill is now headed to House and Senate floors for final votes.

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, who is sponsoring the bill, said it would make permitting and oversight much more efficient from the states standpoint and from the operators standpoint.

We need this to have a structured framework moving forward, Johnson said.

Johnson has said in the past that the authority would give "certainty to private partners who are willing to invest private sector dollars to help improve our infrastructure system."

Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson, R-Franklin, leaves a news conference discussing the U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision that upheld Tennessee's ban on gender transition treatments for transgender minors at the Tennessee Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

Others aren't yet convinced. Republican Sen. Joey Hensley, R-Hohenwald, pointed out that state agencies like the Tennessee Department of Transportation already have to get permits from others, like the Department of Environment and Conservation, for other projects.

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Why can TDOT not do these same things? Hensley asked, noting that lawmakers were told the Boring project would not cost the state any money.

Johnson said a central authority is needed because of the size and scope and complexity of this going forward.

Voicing his support, Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, called the state authority board proposal futuristic.

I look forward to the day that we have this in Knoxville and in Chattanooga as well, Yager said.

The Boring Company has said it intends to create new underground tunnel routes from Nashville to Chattanooga, Knoxville and Memphis.

Boring Companys work continues in Nashville, Tenn., Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

Senate Bill 2205 now goes to the full Senate and full House for final votes.

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In a Senate Finance Committee vote, Hensley was the lone Republican who did not support the measure, casting a vote of present. Sens. Yarbro and London Lamar, D-Memphis, opposed the bill.

The House Finance Committee voted 24 to 5 to pass the bill on April 7. A Republican cut off debate on the bill after only one member had the chance to ask questions.

Revenue-neutral?

The new state regulatory board is now set to come at a lower cost estimate than a few weeks ago. Since revealing the Music City Loop project last year, Republican lawmakers have said its construction would come at no cost to taxpayers.

Then, this spring, a Republican bill to create a streamlined state regulating agency for the project came with a price tag of $5.4 million.

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As amended on April 7, the new entity would cost the state about $900,000. Lawmakers approved the bill after adding a new amendment restructuring the authority board, and a new fiscal analysis indicated the project could be revenue-neutral for the state.

A new state fiscal analysis found that private transit operators will pay more than $1 million in state tax revenue but did not provide a breakdown of how those taxes would be paid.

That revenue will be held in a new, separate transit project fund in which all relevant state taxes would be held for the authoritys use.

Tennessee Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D) during a Senate State and Local Government Committee meeting at Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026.

Yarbro pointed to other Boring Company projects in Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., that were unsuccessful.

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"We are effectively subsidizing a business model that has not worked anywhere else," Yarbro said. "It has not achieved what it was intended to in Nevada. It has fallen through in numerous other plans across the country."

"We're doing this in a way that strikes me as the most beneficially as possible to the private company, and the riskiest possible to the state," he added.

Johnson argued that the project will be a boon to alleviate traffic conjestion.

Im excited that the Boring Company as one potential operator has chosen Middle Tennessee to deploy this technology and spend hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars  potentially billions of dollars  to help our citizens," Johnson said.

Bill creates two new state entities

In its current form, Senate Bill 2205 would create two separate state governing boards to oversee underground transit infrastructure.

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First, it would create a Subterranean Transportation Infrastructure Authority with an 11-member governing board. It would employ a CEO, an assistant and an attorney  whose staffing and office expenses make up the bulk of the bills cost.

The authority would have far-reaching powers including the power to buy, own, lease, maintain and sell land, hire contractors and execute contracts, regulate land use, contract with utilities, and enforce relevant laws.

Second, it would establish a six-member Governors Infrastructure Coordination Council made up of at least five cabinet members to review transit projects among state departments and agencies.

The council would establish a consolidated application process for permits and approvals required by state law so materials could be reviewed by multiple state agencies at once.

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Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN authority board for Boring tunnel project to cost $1M
Duke Energy Carolinas customers from across the state are weighing in on a planned 15% average increase in energy rates over the next two years.

The company says the increase is needed to cover the cost of modernizing the grid and preparing to serve a growing customer base. However, many ratepayers say the cost of energy is already unaffordable.

Broken down by customer type, residential customers are seeing the largest spike. Theyre expected to pay 13.5% more starting January 1, 2027 and then an additional 4.5% in 2028.

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Lauren Carlin, a customer living in Hendersonville, said her winter bills are getting to be unmanageable under the current rate structure.

We live in a very small house, about 1,000 square feet. We do not have central heat and air, we use window units and baseboard heat to heat and cool our home, she said. We have been saving for years to try to install more energy-efficient units, but you know, that hasnt been possible.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Public weighs in on Duke Energys vision for future power

Many homes across the state are in a similar situation, inefficient heating and cooling systems use a lot of power, waste energy and cost families a lot of money, especially during the winter when energy use spikes and so does the cost of the fuel to produce it. While Carlin said she knows energy efficiency upgrades could help, she cant save for them while paying for the rising cost of living.

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We have to make choices and sacrifices, decide where were going to put our money and what things is going to go towards, she said. Usually, home repairs are the things that get sacrificed for us.

Thats why she chose to speak at a Tuesday hearing, asking the North Carolina Utilities Commission not to approve Dukes requested rate increase.

The NCUC can choose to deny or alter a rate increase request, if it finds the request does not prudently represent utilitys needs to serve customers reliably.

A Duke Energy spokesman said this requested increase is part of a pattern companies across the country are facing as energy needs rise everywhere. He said Duke Energy specifically needs this increase to cover the cost of building and improving transmission infrastructure to serve a large spike in demand from incoming customers in the growing region.

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Energy modernization has a cost thats impacting all utilities nationwide, he said. We see it all across the country, and all utility customers are feeling it.

He also said Duke Energy is doing everything it can to keep costs down by looking for alternative funding sources to cover new infrastructure and power plants.

In the Carolinas, were in a stronger position than most, because our rates remain below the national average, he said. Were doing everything we can to ensure that remains the case, by managing our costs, by taking full advantage of federal funding such as nuclear production tax credits, other tax incentives to help offset, you know, battery infrastructure, anything that we can do to offset costs for our customers, thats what were trying to deliver.

Meech Carter, with the League of Conservation Voters of North Carolina, believes Duke Energy isnt being creative enough, especially with the projects theyre choosing to build.

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Theyre incentivized to build very large, very costly power plants, like gas plants, nuclear plants and more, she said.

She believes more investment in renewables, particularly battery storage can help keep fuel costs down by offsetting those winter peaks that force the grid to rely on natural gas when it tends to be at its priciest.

She also believes reducing demand by offering help to more families like Carlins can make a big difference across the grid. The less power they use, the less customers have to pay for and the less Duke has to produce.

At the end of the day, the cheapest form of energy is energy that we dont use, she said.

Hearings will continue over the next few weeks. The Mecklenburg County Courthouse will host an in-person rate case hearing on April 29. The final hearing will be in Durham on May 12.
The family of Iryna Zarutska may have to wait even longer for the man accused of killing her to face a judge.

The defense attorney for DeCarlos Brown, who has been in federal custody for months, is now asking the court to delay his next hearing by six months.

A newly filed twopage motion outlines several arguments for the delay, including a mental evaluation that found Brown incapable to proceed on the state murder charge.

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Channel 9 was with the Zarutska familys attorney, Lauren Newton, as the documents became public.

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According to the filing, Brown was evaluated at Central Regional Hospital in December.

A report dated December 29, 2025, concluded he was not capable of moving forward in the state case. A judge has not yet ruled on those findings.

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The motion notes that the state could request treatment aimed at restoring Browns capacity, but that cannot happen while he remains in federal custody. The document says prosecutors agreed with that assessment.

Newton said the family is willing to accept a delay if it ultimately leads to justice.

I think they want what the public wants, which is justice, Newton said. Theyre putting their faith in our justice system and feel very confident in our district attorney and our federal prosecutors that theyre not rushing this and theyre going to get it right.

Brown is accused of stabbing and killing Zarutska on a CATS Blue Line train in August. The two did not know each other.

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The case drew national attention, including public comments from President Trump, who said Brown deserved the death penalty.

Brown is facing federal murder charges, and a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson said the federal case, including any competency determination, is separate from the state proceedings.

The District Attorneys Office responded to Channel 9 reporter Hannah Goetzs question regarding the death penalty policy, saying:

The DA is sworn to follow the law. As such, each case is evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine the existence of legally required aggravating circumstances and, should those circumstances exist, whether the death penalty is warranted under the facts and circumstances of the case.

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The state has not announced whether it will pursue capital punishment.

Was he competent?

Channel 9 reporter Jonathan Lowe spoke with Attorney Morris McAdoo, who is not involved in this case but has experience with capital trials, and explained how such determinations are made.

Doctors assess whether a defendant can comprehend what is happening and meaningfully participate in their trial.

McAdoo noted that another clinician could reach a different conclusion, something a judge would ultimately weigh during a competency hearing.

The motion also states that if treatment could restore Browns capacity, it cannot begin while he remains in federal custody. The state has agreed with that assessment.

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McAdoo emphasized that the evaluation does not answer a critical question: Was he competent to form the criminal intent, to commit the crime that he committed?

That determination will play a major role in how the case proceeds  and in how Zarutskas family processes this latest development. Their attorney said the family continues to trust the legal process.

I think they want what the public wants, which is justice, said McAdoo. And theyre putting their faith in our justice system and feel very confident in our district attorney and our federal prosecutors that theyre not rushing this and theyre going to get it right.

Click here for in-depth coverage of the light rail stabbing >>

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In the days after the deadly stabbing, Channel 9 pressed CATS leaders about why the train car where the attack happened was not staffed with security.

CATS officials said it was not feasible to have personnel on every train at all times.

Since then, the transit system has implemented several changes. Those changes include new posters explaining how riders can report concerns, installing a system-wide camera, having offduty officers provide 24hour coverage, providing deescalation training for staff, ongoing efforts to add proofofpayment verification, and continued exploration of creating a dedicated CATS police force.

VIDEO: Iryna Zarutska back in national spotlight; Trump rebukes Democrats response during speech
A Pierce County woman is accused of felony theft after reportedly stealing hundreds of Amazon packages. Investigators estimate the value of the stolen products to be $20,000.

According to the Pierce County Sheriffs Office, the woman stole the packages while working as a delivery driver. Most were returned to Amazon, but just under half of them are still unaccounted for.

Investigators said they headed to a home in Parkland on Sunday after a neighbor reported piles of Amazon boxes around the garage.

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A PCSO spokesperson told KIRO 7 the woman was working as an Amazon Flex driver, a contractor who delivers packages in their personal car. She reportedly just kept her deliveries for herself.

She was collecting the packages and collecting the payment, but then never delivering the packages, Dep. Carly Cappetto of the Pierce County Sheriffs Office said. She would always report that the packages were undeliverable.

Investigators said the woman was cooperative when they arrested her and reportedly led them into her garage, where they found hundreds more boxes.

Cappetto said she blamed a lack of gas money for not making the deliveries.

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Suddenly, she was out of gas money to deliver the packages. It was easier to not deliver them and go home with the packages, then go back for a second load of packages for another payment, she said. Then it got out of control from there.

Deputies report $8,000 worth of products remain missing, with the suspect claiming they were stolen from her house.

Neighbors told KIRO 7 they saw the packages piling up and just assumed someone was getting ready to move.

When something like that happens, it makes you wonder, Who is my neighbor? said Diana Hermanson, who lives up the street.

Investigators said those affected should reach out to Amazon for a refund or replacement.

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There were handfuls of residents that lived in Spanaway, Tacoma, Cappetto said. There were addresses from Tenino and Olympia on those packages. We are talking hundreds of victims from not only Pierce County but around the Western Washington area.

KIRO 7 reached out to Amazon about the situation. A spokesperson is looking into the incident.
A Democratic candidate is facing scrutiny over an apparent reversal on the southern border as she seeks to flip a battleground House seat this year.

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti recently criticized former President Joe Biden's handling of the southern border, calling it "a huge misstep" and "really terrible" during a March podcast appearance.

The House hopeful, however, did not appear to publicly criticize the administrations border policies when Biden was president.

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Cognetti, who has served as the mayor of Bidens hometown since 2020, is vying to unseat freshman Rep. Rob Bresnahan in Novembers midterm elections. The Northeastern Pennsylvania contest promises to be one of the most competitive House elections this year.

James Talarico Says Biden Administration Was Convinced Border Security Was 'Racist'

Former President Joe Biden speaks to a crowd during a fundraising event with the South Carolina Democratic Party at the Columbia Museum of Art on February 27, 2026 in Columbia, South Carolina. The event marked the sixth anniversary of Biden's presidential primary win in the early voting state of South Carolina. (Getty Images)

Cognettis recent messaging criticizing Biden comes as some Democrats have largely pivoted toward the center on border security after the partys messaging fell flat in 2024.

Read On The Fox News App

When Cognetti called for "better control at our borders" during a September 2021 interview with a local outlet, she did not appear to hold the Biden administration responsible for the problem.

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In August 2023, Cognetti co-signed a letter with a handful of Pennsylvania mayors appearing to approve of the Biden administrations approach to the border.

"You are working to bring more order to the southern border with a combination of strategies," the group wrote to Biden, adding that he had "rightfully promised" to tie border security with expanding pathways to citizenship for illegal immigrants living in the United States.

A spokesperson for Cognetti said the mayor had been consistent in urging Biden to secure the border during his presidency.

"Like a lot of Northeastern Pennsylvanians, she has seen what the scourge of Fentanyl has done to our community and has said that President Biden didnt do enough to secure the southern border," the spokeswoman said, adding that Cognetti is "no stranger to calling out politicians from either political party when they get it wrong."

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Josh Shapiro Knocks Biden Record, Says Democrats Failed To Deliver Results Americans Could See Or Feel

Scranton, Pennsylvania mayor Paige Cognetti speaks at a Safer America rally. President Joe Biden visited Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, to discuss his plan to reform gun control. During his speech, he touted beating the NRA. Biden is visiting cities for his Safer America plan.

Cognetti also advocated for a more lenient approach to immigration when Biden was president, arguing immigrants, including those who entered the U.S. illegally, "contribute greatly to our cultural and economic growth."

The 2023 letter to Biden that Cognetti signed urged the president to grant and expand legal protections to Venezuelan, Honduran, Salvadoran and Nicaraguan nationals living in the United States.

Cognetti, who became mayor in 2020, also called for mass amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants during the onset of Bidens presidency in July 2021. She warned that failure to deliver pathways to citizenship could become a "national security issue," The Center Square reported .

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"If we dont do this now, we will start to erode in our strength and that becomes a national security issue," Cognetti told reporters.

Bresnahan said Cognettis support for mass amnesty would make the district less safe and accused her mayoral tenure of resulting in a Scranton crime spike in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"Mayor Paige Cognettis soft-on-crime policies have already led to a spike in violence in Scranton, and her support for legalizing every illegal immigrant in the country will only make things worse, especially in her city where she downplays homicides and gang violence and wants to disarm the police," Bresnahan said.

Rep. Rob Bresnahan, R-Pa., arrives for a House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

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A spokesperson for Cognetti fired back that the mayor has a "proven track record" of investing in local law enforcement and said she has overseen a decrease in violent crime.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the swing contest as "Lean Republican."





Original article source: Democrat swing candidate called Biden's border handling 'a huge misstep' after backing his approach as mayor
Democrats high hopes of a flip were dashed in Georgias special House race on Tuesday, but an overperformance in the red district  plus a landslide win for liberals in a Supreme Court race in Wisconsin  underscored the partys enduring momentum as the high-stakes midterm cycle ramps up.

Backed by President Trump, Republican Clay Fuller won the Peach State runoff to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), the longtime Trump ally who quit the House in January amid a feud with the president. But Democrats notched a notable overperformance in the red district, further fueling their winning streak ahead of the midterms.

Over in the Badger State, Democratic-backed judicial candidate Chris Taylor easily won an open seat on the state Supreme Court  overperforming GOP-backed candidate Maria Lazar by about 20 percentage points, with most of the vote reported by Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ), to give the liberal faction on the court a 5-2 edge.

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This victory is only the beginning of the fight ahead to win a Democratic trifecta in November and deliver real, lasting change for the working people of Wisconsin, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin said in a statement.

In Georgia, the Republican win in the 14th Congressional District came as no surprise given its red leanings.

Fuller, a local district attorney and the presidents pick for the northwest Georgia House seat, emerged victorious with about 55 percent support in Tuesdays runoff, after coming in second place behind Democrat Shawn Harris in a crowded March special election.

The results tonight are clear: Northwest Georgia stands with MAGA and demands a fighter on Capitol Hill defending the America First agenda, Fuller wrote in a social post after his victory.

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Harris, a cattle farmer and retired general, lost his challenge against Greene by close to 30 points in 2024, and the district went for Trump by about 37 points that same year, according to The Downballot.

But Harris, who outraised Fuller by $5 million, pulled off a strong overperformance in Tuesdays race, adding to Democrats off-year and special election win streak and buoying party hopes of a strong midterm season.

This wasnt the result we wanted, but the message is clear  people here are ready for leadership that puts them first, Harris said in a Tuesday social media post.

In Chattooga County, for example, which backed Trump by more than 60 percentage points in 2024, Fuller was up 40 points in the countys Tuesday results, according to VoteHub data. Across the district, Fuller was expected to finish with a swing of nearly 20 points from Trumps 2024 margin of 37 points, per DDHQ.

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Democrats saw the special election as another test of the partys enthusiasm, as it has flipped a handful of GOP-held state legislative seats in recent months. The party also flipped two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission late last year  another sign of the bases enthusiasm and broader frustration with Republicans over the state of the economy.

The party had a good night in the Badger State too, with Taylor winning the open seat on Wisconsins state Supreme Court to expand the courts liberal slant.

Taylor and Lazar were vying to replace retiring conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley on the high court, and the liberal candidate was expected to win the seat. DDHQ called the race for Taylor just 26 minutes after the polls closed.

But Tuesdays results are particularly notable given a downturn in early voting compared to previous state Supreme Court elections and the lack of attention the contest received nationally.

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In 2025, data from the Wisconsin Elections Commission found that about 363,000 people voted early in person. Thats a sharp decline from the fewer than 150,000 Wisconsinites who did the same this year.

Regardless, Taylor led Lazar by about 60 percent to 40 percent, per DDHQ, on Tuesday night. Some political observers have suggested that Taylor could handily win by between 16 and 20 points  an overperformance from last years closely-watched election when liberal Justice Susan Crawford beat conservative Brad Schimel by about 10 points.

Still, this years contest was a sleepier affair than the 2025 race, in large part because partisan control of the courts majority was not on the line. Last years race drew attention and massive spending from Trump as well as Elon Musk in what was viewed as the first political test of the presidents second term as well as a gauge of the tech billionaires influence.

Trump notably declined to weigh in on Tuesdays judicial race despite flipping the state in the 2024 presidential race. It comes, however, as the presidents approval rating has fallen underwater among Wisconsinites.

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A Marquette Law School poll released last month showed the presidents approval rating at 42 percent in the state, compared to a 56 percent disapproval rating.

But despite the blow in Wisconsin, the GOP win in Georgia offers some breathing room to Trump and House Republicans given the narrow majority on Capitol Hill.

Once Fuller is sworn in to Congress, Republicans will have a 218-214 advantage in the lower chamber, meaning they can afford two defections on party-line legislation, assuming all members are present and voting  a critical cushion as the fight for control of Congress rages on.

Fuller will serve out the rest of Greenes term, which ends in January 2027. Both he and Harris will be on the ballot again in the Peach States primary elections next month, as they run for their respective parties nominations for a full term in the seat.

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Democrats, meanwhile, will aim to build on their special election wins and overperformances as they seek to net three seats and take control of the House this fall.

Updated at 8:33 a.m. EDT

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The pharmaceutical industry has widely criticised the US administrations decision to impose a 100% tariff on branded drugs imported into the country, as trade bodies and analysts begin to dissect the economic consequences of the latest blanket levies.

On 2 April, President Donald Trump announced a 100% tariff on patented pharmaceutical products and ingredients. The tariffs, imposed under section 232, will come into effect 120 days after the order for certain large companies, and 180 days for smaller companies. The tariff is an answer to the US administrations stance that the country is over-reliant on pharmaceutical imports, which, according to Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, threatens national security.

In a statement, John Crowley, CEO of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), said: The reality is that any tariffs on Americas medicines will raise costs, impede domestic manufacturing, and delay the development of new treatments  all while doing nothing to enhance our national security.

There are nuances within the wide-ranging policy. Companies that have pledged to onshore production of products will only be hit with a 20% rate  they will have four years to enact this before the tariff goes up to 100%. Pharma companies that have pricing agreements with the White House via the Most Favored Nation (MFN) framework are exempt from tariffs until 2029. There are currently 16 companies that this applies to, mostly made up of major drugmakers such as Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and MSD, amongst others. Generics and biosimilars, which constitute around 90% of American prescriptions, are not currently included in the tariff framework.

The 100% rate neither applies to branded products from the European Union (EU), Japan, Korea, Switzerland or Liechtenstein, all of which have separate trade deals with the US. The UK is also safe courtesy of its landmark zero-tariff pharma deal struck in December 2025.

In a research note, ING senior economist Diederik Stadig commented: The key countries involved include Singapore, India, and China none of which currently export a substantial volume of branded pharmaceuticals to the US. The economic impact will therefore be negligible. Rather, the tariff is geopolitical in nature and should be seen as a shot across the bow for more intense competition between the US and China in biotech and pharma.

China plays into tariffs geopolitical angle

Trumps latest pharma-centric trade policy is therefore one avenue to shore up American medicine supply chains amid the rise of China on the global stage. Analysis by GlobalData in October 2025 stated that China was responsible for one-fifth of global drug development, while ING ascertains that, currently, onethird of all new molecules in global pipelines now originate from the country.
Up north, Wisconsin Democrats increased their state Supreme Court majority to 52 and won a mayoral race in the typically Republican city of Waukesha.

Down south, a Georgia Democrat narrowly lost a house district Donald Trump carried by 34 points in 2024.

In all, Tuesday was an election night that bodes well for Democrats come midterm season.

In Wisconsina swing state that Trump won by less than a percentage point in 2024liberal judge Chris Taylor crushed her GOP-backed opponent, Maria Lazar, by 20 points. It was about double the margin of victory that Susan Crawford, another liberal judge, had attained in a Wisconsin Supreme Court election last year.

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Lest one think the Wisconsin Supreme Court is a nothingburger of a political entity, that 2025 race became the most expensive state Supreme Court race in U.S. history after Elon Musk funneled millions into backing the GOP candidate, Brad Schimel, in an attempt to flip what was at the time a 43 liberal lean. After Musks candidate lost, he quietly moved on to his other passions, such as being racist on social media and tax evasion.

Without a majority on the line this year, it was a less extravagant affair: $6.5 million was spent on advertising, compared to $85 million in 2025. (It should also be noted that Taylor greatly outspent Lazar.) Nonetheless, the margin of victory was surprisingly one-sided. Taylor even won the reliably Republican Ozaukee County.

In Waukesha, after a Republican mayor who declared himself an independent in 2024 decided not to run for reelection, Democrat Alicia Halvensleben bested Republican Scott Allen in a race decided by 2.4 percentage points. Trump had won the city by six points in 2024.

In Georgia, Shawn Harris was not as lucky as those up north; the Democrat lost by 12 points to Republican Clay Fuller for the House seat vacated by Marjorie Taylor Greene. But in some ways, Harriss performance was the most impressive of all. Trump won rural Chattooga County by 37 points in 2024, meaning Harris shifted the district a stunning 25 points to the left.

The takeaway is this: If Democrats, independents, and Republicans can do this in a ruby-red district, the Democrats can win anywhere, Harris said in his concession speech. Nobody ever thought that we would ever be this close.
The owner of a South Carolina baby boutique has been taken into custody once again  four days after her 15th arrest this year, according to authorities.

Pamela Brooke Shronce, who is accused of scamming dozens of customers throughout the state, was arrested on Monday, April 6, on two counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent, according to the Oconee County Sheriffs Office.

This is Schronces 16th arrest  and the 16th time shes had her mugshot taken  in 2026, WHNS reported.

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Oconee County sheriffs deputies arrested Schronce, 30, in connection with two victims who placed orders with Schronces business and never received items they allegedly paid for, the agency said in a news release.

Every Real Housewife Who Went to Jail: Wendy Osefo, Jen Shah and More

Several customers have raised similar complaints against Schronce, who is from Belton, where she owns Thomas & Turner Boutique, Us Weekly previously reported.

According to the Oconee County Sheriffs Office, the business is now closed.

Schronce has advertised her business as a boutique for trendy little babies that offers custom designed clothing, according to her boutiques Instagram page.

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One of the two individuals Schronce is accused of scamming in Oconee County told law enforcement that she had ordered from Schronces business online seven times between October 2024 and March 2025, the sheriffs office said. The purchases were worth nearly $500 in total.

The woman told a deputy that she sent several emails to Schronce about how she never received the items she ordered and was promised refunds, according to the sheriffs office.

However, no money was refunded, and the citizen never received the items that she ordered, the sheriffs office said.

Sherri Shepherd Reacts to RHOP Star Dr. Wendy Osefos Painful Mugshot After Fraud Arrest

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On March 16, another woman told an Oconee County fraud investigator that she pre-ordered matching childrens outfits from Schronces boutique in December 2024 that she never received, according to authorities.

The woman received a partial refund on a gift card, which she received several months later in July 2025, according to the sheriffs office. The refund was for $73.02.

She then used the gift card to purchase new items from Schronces business, but the items never arrived in January as scheduled, according to authorities.

The victim never received her order, and the victim cannot use the remaining balance on the gift card due to the fact that the business is now closed, the sheriffs office said.

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Schronces attorney, Joy C. Davis, did not immediately return a request for comment from Us on Tuesday, April 7.

Schronce has not responded to Us repeated requests for comment.

On Thursday, April 2, Schronce was arrested for the 15th time in Greenville County on five counts of obtaining property valued at $2,000 or less under false pretenses, Us previously reported.

After her arrest on April 6, she was transferred from a Greenville County jail to the Oconee County Detention Center.

Following Schroncess 13th arrest, which occurred in Newberry County, Davis previously told Us via email on March 3 that Schronce is really looking forward to her day in court.

The Oconee County Sheriffs Office is continuing to investigate Schronce.
After completing its mission of orbiting the moon, the Artemis II is now headed back home to Earth.

Launching April 1 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the 10-day mission primarily serves as a test flight, with the four-person crew testing systems and hardware ahead of a future moon landing. Under the Artemis campaign, NASA intends to eventually return astronauts to the surface of the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions ended in 1972.

Here's when the Artemis II will return to Earth and how you can watch its splashdown at the end of this week.

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Artemis II tracker: Live updates as astronauts prepare for busy Wednesday

When does Artemis II reenter Earth's atmosphere? What time is Artemis 2 splashdown?

The Artemis II crew launched from NASA's Space Launch System rocket at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on April 1, 2026, hitching a ride on the Orion spacecraft. The Orion capsule is due to reenter Earth's atmosphere on Friday, April 10. It will make a water landing around 8:07 p.m. EST in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego, California.

See timeline for Artemis II's return to Earth

According to the Austin American-Statesman, here is the timeline for April 10 converted to EST:

3:05 a.m.: Crew sleep begins

11:35 a.m.: Flight Day 10 crew wakeup

1:50 p.m.: Orion cabin configuration for re-entry begins

2:53 p.m.: Return trajectory correction burn

6:30 p.m.: NASA+ coverage begins

7:33 p.m.: Crew module and service module separation

7:37 p.m.: Crew module raise burn

7:53 p.m.: Entry interface

8:07 p.m.: Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean

10:30 p.m.: Post-splashdown news conference at NASA Johnson Space Center

What happens when Artemis II reenters Earth's atmosphere?

When reentry occurs, Orion's service module, which is responsible for propelling and maneuvering the vehicle through space, will separate and burn up, exposing the crew module's heat shield that protects the astronauts from the 3,000-degree Fahrenheit conditions the vehicle will endure.

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Once Orion blazes through Earth's atmosphere, the protective heat shield will be jettisoned to make way for the parachutes to deploy and slow the vehicle.

After splashdown, the crew will exit the vehicle onto a U.S. Navy recovery vessel within about two hours.

Will Artemis II splashdown be livestreamed or televised?

The Artemis II splashdown on Friday, April 10, 2026, will be streamed live on NASA+, the NASA app, and its YouTube channel.

See photos of moon, space from Artemis II

How far are the Artemis II astronauts from Earth?

As of the morning of Wednesday, April 8, the Orion spacecraft, on which the Artemis II astronauts are aboard, was approaching 209,100 miles from Earth, with the moon nearly 74,000 miles behind them, according to NASA's online tracker.

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The astronauts are in the middle of a four-day journey back to Earth, using our planet's gravity to naturally "slingshot" Orion back home, negating the need for propulsion or much fuel.

Where is Artemis II now? Location tracker

Want to follow the astronauts along the Artemis II lunar journey? NASA has an Artemis II tracker available online and in its mobile app that lets users see where Orion is, how fast it's traveling, and how far the spacecraft is from Earth and the moon.

The mobile version for smartphones even includes an augmented reality feature that allows users to move their phones to see where Orion is relative to Earth.

Want more? Follow NASA on social media

Get the latest imagery and live updates from the Artemis II mission at:

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Contributing: Cheryl McCloud and Jennifer Sangalang, USA TODAY NETWORK Florida

Samantha Neely is a trending reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Florida, covering pop culture, theme parks, breaking news and more. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Artemis II is headed back to Earth. What time is the splashdown?
The Russia-Ukraine War is currently in a stalemate, with Russia making only limited gains despite committing significant resources and suffering heavy losses. This stalemate has largely been driven by the Ukrainian kill zones that extend forward of their defensive lines. When Russian forces enter these areas in strength, they are quickly detected by the large numbers of Ukrainian drones that continuously patrol the battlespace. Once identified, these forces are targeted and destroyed by artillery or follow-on drone strikes. The Russian military blogger GoDrone recently put forward an approach on Telegram that points to Russias most likely next move to counter these kill zones, which is the use of autonomous drone swarms. These swarms could enable focused attacks through the kill zones that could break through Ukrainian lines, although they would still face significant technical and tactical challenges.

Why Russia Needs Drone Swarms On The Current Battlefield

The Ukrainian kill zones currently extend several kilometers ahead of their heavily fortified defensive positions. To attack these defensive positions, Russian forces must push their own drone operators forward into the kill zones so they can disrupt Ukrainian drone operations and conduct precision strikes against the defensive positions. Given the depth of the Ukrainian defenses, this would require a large number of drones working in concert with each other to clear the path for an assault. However, each attacking drone currently requires its own operator, and those operators must be positioned in close proximity to coordinate their efforts. This concentration introduces a key vulnerability. While individual operators may evade detection, larger groups are easier to spot due to their greater physical footprint and larger electromagnetic signature.

A second issue arises with an increasing shortage of Russian drone operators, as they sustain increasing losses in Ukrainian kill zones. Drone operators require extensive training to perform precision strikes effectively, with even basic roles typically taking several weeks and more advanced FPV operations requiring longer to reach combat proficiency. This creates a bottleneck where drone availability matters less than operator survivability, and as Russia pushes more operators forward, it risks losing them faster than it can replace them.

Image captured from video posted on Telegram by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 3, 2026. The video shows a Russian drone operator controlling a drone in the Kharkov region. Social Media Capture

GoDrones Telegram post argues that drone swarms offer a way around these constraints by reducing the number of operators required to generate mass effects. It suggests that Russia already has much of the necessary technology available and primarily needs to implement it on the battlefield. If one operator can control multiple drones, with those drones coordinating autonomously, the same density of attacks can be achieved with a much smaller operator footprint. This reduces both physical and electromagnetic signatures, making detection more difficult. It also reflects that currently drones can be produced and deployed faster than trained operators. In effect, swarming shifts the limiting factor from operators to drones, allowing forces to scale attacks without proportionally increasing risk to personnel.

Russian Drone Swarms Technology and Capabilities

There is no single definition of drone swarms, as some equate it to groups of drones flying together along preprogrammed routes. In the current context, swarming refers to multiple drones working together to perform a dynamic mission. An operator provides high-level guidance, such as what to attack, while the drones share data, adjust to threats, and coordinate their actions to maximize effectiveness. True swarming requires a high degree of autonomy, particularly in contested environments where communication channels are degraded. This is where most current systems, including Russias, still fall short.

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Russia has demonstrated the ability to conduct large-scale coordinated drone attacks without requiring large numbers of operators. In particular, its strike packages against Ukrainian military and civilian infrastructure typically use hundreds of Geran drones with minimal operator involvement. However, these drones typically follow pre-set routes to fixed targets rather than dynamically adjusting in flight. Individual drones do not meaningfully coordinate with each other in real time. This distinction separates massed drone use from true swarming.

Images captured from a video posted on Telegram by the Russian Ministry of Defense on March 19, 2026. The video shows the launch and operation of a ZALA reconnaissance around Dnepropetrovsk. Social Media Capture

There are clear signs that Russia is investing in the components needed for swarming. This includes efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into targeting and navigation, as well as experiments with networked drone operations. Some variants of their different drone platforms reportedly include computer vision tools and other systems that allow limited autonomous course correction to avoid Ukrainian air defenses. Russian forces have also explored concepts such as carrier drones that deploy smaller systems closer to target areas.

Regardless, current assessments indicate that Russia has not yet achieved fully autonomous swarm operations that will function effectively on a dynamic battlefield. Most existing systems remain dependent on stable communications and limited autonomy, which constrains their performance under contested conditions. Given the rapid pace of drone development, along with Russias military and commercial investment in this area, it is likely that some of these limitations will be reduced over time.

Challenges Facing Russian Drone Swarms in Ukraine

The largest challenge for drone swarms is the widespread use of electronic warfare, which disrupts communication links and interferes with navigation. Swarming depends on reliable coordination between the operator and drones and among the drones themselves. When these links are degraded, the effectiveness of the swarm quickly breaks down. Over the course of the conflict, Russia has adapted its systems to counter Ukrainian electronic warfare, but these adaptations have proven short-lived as Ukraine rapidly adjusts its own capabilities in response. This dynamic has produced a continuous cycle of adaptation between drone capabilities and defenses. Similarly, even if Russia successfully implements swarm tactics, any advantage is likely to be temporary, as Ukraine will respond with new defensive methods and technologies.

Image captured from a video posted on social media by the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 6, 2026. The video shows the launch and control of a Molniya-2 UAV along the right bank of the Dnepr River in the Kherson region. Social Media Capture

There is also the question of whether the use of swarms would translate into operational gains. Ukrainian defenses are layered, combining drones, minefields, anti-vehicle obstacles, and entrenched positions. A swarm may be able to disrupt one layer, but coordinating effects across all layers remains difficult. Synchronizing drone attacks with ground maneuver, artillery, and logistics adds further complexity, especially when communication signals are being jammed. This makes large-scale breakthroughs unlikely even with improved drone capabilities.

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The Russia-Ukraine war remains fundamentally attritional, with Ukraine focusing on imposing continuous costs on Russian forces while minimizing its own losses. This approach has manifested in a multi-layered defensive system that has slowed Russian advances and contributed to the current stalemate. Drone swarms could provide Russia with a marginal improvement in offensive capability needed to improve its position. However, those gains would likely be short-lived, costly, and insufficient to decisively change the trajectory of the war.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com
Educators gathered at the North Carolina General Assembly Wednesday to call for additional funding for public schools, following last week's decision in the Leandro case

State lawmakers continue working to pass a new state budget after failing to do so last year. In a 4-3 decision last week, North Carolina Supreme Court judges overturned the "Leandro school funding lawsuit," effectively preventing judges from requiring the legislature to allocate state dollars for education funding.

Organizers on Wednesday described the situation as a "crisis."

The NC Supreme Court tossed a 2022 ruling that let judges order hundreds of millions in school funding, ending a 32-year case.

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"Our students need funding in our public schools. They need resources," said Tamika Walker Kelly, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators. "Our school districts need to be able to hire more qualified staff from the classroom teacher to the bus driver in order to make sure that our students continue to be on the road for academic success."

Meanwhile, Governor Josh Stein has spent several months urging lawmakers to pass a new budget. North Carolina's short legislative session is scheduled to begin Thursday.

The renewed push for funding underscores ongoing concerns among educators as the state heads into a new legislative session without a finalized budget.

"Our students can't afford to not have a qualified educator in front of them. So every moment that it lingers that we are not passing a state budget, we are impacting the academic success of our students," Walker Kelly said.
NEED TO KNOW

A Kentucky high school teacher accused of sexually abusing a student was arrested

The teacher, Mary "Hanna" Mattingly, also allegedly sent partially nude photographs to the student

Mattingly is charged with sexual abuse and procuring or promoting use of a minor by electronic means

A Kentucky high school teacher is accused of sexually abusing a student and sending partially nude photos.

Mary "Hanna" Mattingly, 31, a teacher at Bardstown High School was arrested on March 30 after police alleged they were informed she was in an inappropriate relationship with a student.

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Mattingly is further accused of having sexual contact with and sending partially nude photos to the student, the Bardstown Police Department said in a news release.

According to the department, Mattingly is charged with sexual abuse and procuring or promoting use of a minor by electronic means.

WDRB reported, citing a statement from Bardstown City Schools, that the district first received an anonymous letter which "alleged inappropriate conduct between a female substitute teacher and a student."

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The letter was received on March 26, per the report, and the school immediately placed her on administrative leave.

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"It had been going on for several months," Detective Eric Williamson told WDRB. "Social media was the main avenue for the communication."

It is not immediately clear if Mattingly has entered a plea.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

Read the original article on People


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Heres what youll learn when you read this story:

The famed neolithic decline that struck around 3100 B.C.E. in northern Europe has a new scientific explanation.

A distinct population drop across multiple regions opened the door for outsiders to repopulate with new demographics and cultures.

The influx of newcomers came from the south, as Iberians began repopulating the Paris Basin around 2900 B.C.E.

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A strange gap in the contents of a 5,000-year-old megalithic tomb outside Paris may explain not only a widespread neolithic population drop, but also who stepped in to repopulate the Paris Basin. The Bury tomb, roughly 30 miles north of Paris, is a stone burial monument containing the remains of 300 people. Using a combination of DNA and demographics, researchers investigating the tomb believe theyve found out why the Paris Basin suffered a dramatic population shift around 3100 B.C.E., and just who entered the region to take their place.

In a new study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, an international team of researchers link the Paris-region stone-age site to a massive continent-wide demographic crisis. Prior to the mysterious population decline, megalithic tomb construction defined the wide-reaching area for over 1,000 years. While each region put its own cultural touches on funerary construction, the tombs at Bury were consistent, communal, and housed tens of thousands of burials over centuries. The Paris Basin featured an especially high concentration of such tombs, as did central Germany and southern Scandinavia.

According to the new research, construction of these tombs abruptly ceased across continental northwestern Europe at the end of the fourth millennium B.C.E. The break in the millennial burial tradition happened everywhereand until now, the reason remained unknown.

The investigation of the Bury megalith revealed that it represented two distinct phases of burialsthe first was from roughly 3200 to 3100 B.C.E., and the second began around 2900 B.C.E. The 200-year gap in which there were no burials coincided with a wave of population losses across northern Europe, a neolithic decline that researchers havent fully understood, but which contributed to a complete remaking of populations in the area.

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By examining DNA evidence from 132 individuals found in Bury, the team discovered that the two distinct historical phases were unrelated. Phase one individuals had a genetic diversity extending well beyond the Paris Basin, tied to farming populations across the continent. Phase two burials, on the other hand, were substantially more homogeneous, with over 80 percent of the groups ancestry traced to neolithic Iberia (what is now Spain and southern France).

The burial styles were even different, with phase one burials featuring multi-generational families and evidence that women married into the community from the outside, while phase two burials included smaller families and unrelated individuals buried next to each other. With distinctly different Y chromosome lineages in the second phase, this wasnt a gradual cultural shift, but a dramatic population turnover.

Paired with pollen data (which shows forests were regrowing during the gap) and a shift in farming practices after the gap, the turnover signals the abandonment of grazing lands and fields, implying that settlements were vacant. The pattern that matches the aftermath of the Justinian Plague and the Black Death.

The authors argue that the 3100 B.C.E. decline was geographically widespread, creating a demographic vacuum across northwestern Europe that opened the door for neighboring populations to fill in the void. In Scandinavia, steppe pastoralists replaced local farmers entirely. In the Paris Basin, Iberian farmers moved into the then-empty spaces.

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We may thus consider the possibility that both the Iberian northward migration and the expansion from the steppe were related responses to the Neolithic decline, the authors wrote, as widespread demographic contraction would have created a vacuum that neighboring groups could expand into.

The first community that defined the Paris Basin was essentially erased, but clues to what caused the erasure were found in the Bury tomb. Researchers discovered ancient pathogensincluding the plague and louse-borne relapsing feverin the remains. Experts believe that infectious disease, environmental stress, and demographic contraction all led to the widespread demographic collapse. These findings detail a population turnover at the end of the fourth millennium B.C.E., they wrote, offering a possible explanation for the cessation of megalith building.

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Three young children who died following an east Erie apartment fire on March 29 were the largest number of victims in an Erie fire since five young children died in an August 2019 fire at a westside residence where a day care facility was operating from.

The deaths of 5-year-old Tobias Hull, 3-year-old Da'liyla Hull and 5-month-old Amirah Al-Mansouri in the fire at 535 E. 26th St. are also part of a disturbing number of child deaths in the city so far this year, according to Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah.

The death cases, as well as what police say are an increase in other police investigations involving child victims, has Lorah looking to add another major crimes detective to the unit that investigates crimes against children. There are currently two detectives assigned to the unit.

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Erie police look into all of the cases and treat them all the same, and once investigators get the facts and complete their investigations, they are turned over to the Erie County District Attorney's Office for review, Lorah said.

District Attorney Elizabeth Hirz said each of those cases are handled with the utmost seriousness and each case is thoroughly investigated by law enforcement in close collaboration with her office.

Child deaths

Lorah and investigators said eight children ages 12 and under have died, launching police investigations, over the first quarter of 2026. Three of the victims were the children who died in the East 26th Street fire, the deaths of four others were attributed to sudden infant death syndrome, and the eighth was a 12-year-old girl who had suffered significant head trauma as an infant who died in March, according to police.

The number is alarming as police normally see four to five child deaths a year, Lorah said.

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"It's something we take very, very seriously," he said April 6, adding that each of the cases was investigated fully by detectives.

The March 29 fire at 535 E. 26th St. remained under investigation April 8.

More: Case advances for Erie woman charged in 8-month-old's scalding

Other cases

Lorah said police have also seen an increase in reported assault and sexual assault cases involving children, adding to the workload of detectives who investigate child cases. Investigators say that is attributed in large part to better training on mandated reporting for those required to do so, and more people reporting.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie police look to add detective to child victim cases as numbers up
The draft of a post by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing his extension request to President Donald Trumps ceasefire deadline with Iran has been revealed online.

Pakistan has been involved as an intermediary between the U.S., Israel, and Iran in the lead-up to Trumps 8 p.m. deadline.

Sharif posted on Tuesday before Trumps Truth Social confirmation of the ceasefire.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shake hands as they pose for a photo during a world leaders' summit on ending the Gaza war on October 13, 2025 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. / Pool / Getty Images

To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks, Sharifs statement read. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.

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Online speculation surrounding the statement soon spiked after Sharifs message seemed to suggest he had a little help with the wording of the post, which tagged U.S. figures including Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Middle East Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among others.

*Draft - Pakistans PM Message on X*, the post began.

The post was subsequently edited and the top line removed. The timing of Sharifs updated X post was also pointed out by Forbes.

Reporter Ryan Grim of independent news account Drop Site suggested that Sharif originally copied and pasted everything he was sent, pointing out that Sharifs staff would not refer to him as Pakistans PM.

The X post from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif including a draft heading. / screen grab

The Daily Beast has approached the White House and the Pakistan Prime Ministers office for comment.

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Social media users were quick to speculate about who might have been responsible for sending the draft to the Pakistani prime minister.

It sure looks like the White House wrote this for Pakistans PM, who posted it then quickly deleted the top part, one account said.

President Donald Trump (R) and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (L) attend the Peace Council meeting held during the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 22, 2026. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images

Another shared a theory behind the post. Looks like Trump wants to TACO but doesnt want to look like he initiated it. So he drafted this message for Pakistans PM to deliverbut somebody left the Draft - Pakistans PM Message on X in.

A separate theory on X aligned with the concept that Sharif copy pasted a post he didnt draft, but was sent to him by a foreigner - likely Trumps team.

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Trump announced the ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday at 6:32 p.m. I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. In his post, Trump claimed his decision to back down on his threats followed conversations with Sharif and Pakistans Field Marshal Asim Munir.

Sharif issued a second statement about the ceasefire after Trumps announcement, with different wording.

With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, it said.

Sharif said he warmly welcomed the sagacious gesture and invited delegations from the U.S. and Iran to Islamabad on Friday to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes.

Another post on Trump's war from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. / screen grab

Once again, Trump, Vance, Rubio and Witkoff were all tagged.

The Pakistani Prime Minister said he hoped to share more good news in coming days.
Did official Iranian accounts publish a video of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, walking into a military operations room? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that the video was ever posted to any official government account or any account closely linked to the government. The video showed signs of AI generation.

The claim appeared in a post and video (archived here) published by the @jacksonhinklle account on X on April 7, 2026. It read:

 BREAKING: Iran published video showing Mojtaba Khamenei entering a military operations room for the first time.

This is what the post looked like on X at the time of writing:

Image source: post by @jacksonhinklle on X.

The video is embedded below:

 BREAKING: Iran published video showing Mojtaba Khamenei entering a military operations room for the first time. pic.twitter.com/NMf8t04pjS -- Jackson Hinkle  (@jacksonhinklle) April 7, 2026

Lead Stories searched Google News (archived here) and Yahoo! News (archived here) and found no matching reports in April 2026 for "official Iranian accounts published a video of Mojtaba Khamenei entering a military operations room," and no record of the video being released by official Iranian state media -- such as the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) or Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) -- outlets whose content the world's media would likely have widely reported.

Video analysis

The video shows signs of AI generation, including unnatural lighting, blurred facial features, and glitch-like transitions between frames. The Hive Moderation AI-Generated Content Detection tool concluded the video was 71.1% "likely to be AI-generated":

Image source: Hive Moderation.
Ukrainian officials and UK partners have met in Kyiv to examine how the finance function can take the lead on environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting.

The conference brought together representatives from government, business and academia to discuss the practicalities of sustainability reporting.

The event formed part of the City-Ukraine Hub project, funded by the UK Governments Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and supported by the PwC Academy.

Ukraine Ministry of Finance official Olga Liubchynska said: The reporting must be implemented in Ukraine by 2030.

We are also emphasising the need for training initiatives to raise awareness of the importance of sustainability reporting and adherence to the European Green Deal.

The City-Ukraine Hub programme is designed to strengthen economic and financial links between the two countries under the UK-Ukraine 100-year partnership agreement. The initiative aims to support investment, capital markets and financial sector development.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and TheCityUK, as project delivery partners, brought together government, finance and education experts, along with academics, for a practical training session.

ACCA northern and eastern Europe head Agnieszka Jarosz said: The partnership of those attending is essential for continuing the progress of the economy in Ukraine and is essential for a robust and credible financial environment.

The meeting enabled the exchange of experience around ESG and the building of partnerships. Together we aim to strengthen the profession and develop talent.

As a global professional accountancy body, the ACCA has more than 257,900 members and 530,100 future members in 180 countries.

Last month, the ACCA backed UK Government plans to tighten late payment rules, saying they could transform cash flow for small businesses.

"Ukraine and UK partners discuss ESG reporting at Kyiv event" was originally created and published by The Accountant, a GlobalData owned brand.




In the 2024 presidential election, over 55% of Ohioans voted for a twice impeached convicted felon whose conspiracy to steal the election he lost in 2020 culminated in a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Donald Trump racked up his biggest win ever in Ohio.

More than 3,180,000 voters put their trust in the serial liar who vowed, among other hollow commitments like no new wars, cheaper gas, and lower grocery bills, to prioritize affordable day care and protect Medicare and Medicaid  which provide 140 million people with health coverage, including over 5 million Ohioans.

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He assured working families here and across the country that he would help offset their staggering day care costs, you have to have it, if elected, and swore his trade tariffs would generate enough revenue to fix the broken child care sector once and for all.

But Trumps hyperbolic claim that his tariffs (recently struck down as illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court) would bring in trillions was bogus.

So was his boast that slapping record high tariffs, or taxes, on imported goods (paid by U.S. consumers through price hikes) would create an economic boom like weve never seen before.

In the ten months following the rollout of Trumps Liberation Day tariff shock last April, economic growth in America has been a bust (effectively zero net job creation in the private sector) and manufacturing lost over 90,000 jobs in 2025 and 12,000 more in February.

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The countrys farming industry, squeezed by tariffs and a sharp surge in diesel and fertilizer costs (driven by Trumps war in Iran) is in a free fall.

And about his promised relief for parents hammered with rising day care costs that often exceed 20% of household incomes?

Well, that was a hoax, too.

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Last week Trump brought up the crisis not to propose a solution that improves child care supply and quality, pays workers a livable wage, and eliminates the risk of families being pushed into poverty by child care expenses, but to shrug it off.

We cant take care of day care, he declared and suggested states handle the problem by raising taxes on the people least able to pay.

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Ohios publicly-funded child care costs roughly $1 billion a year and serves about 100,000 children every day.

But the states stunted investment in early child care, as evident by its last biennial budget, falls far short of what is needed for parents stretching paychecks past the breaking point and for providers holding their doors open with sheer will and impossibly thin margins.

The meager funding legislators approved for fiscal years 2026-2027, said Policy Matters Ohio, a left-leaning think tank, went to band-aid programs that do not affect the underlying causes of the crisis: low wages for providers and a family eligibility threshold among the worst in the nation.

Ohio is one of only six states (along with Idaho, Indiana, Nevada, Wisconsin, and Wyoming) that do not invest state funds in child care beyond what is required to draw down federal matching funds.

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Most of Ohios day care funding, roughly 79-80%, comes from the federal government.

But a big pool of that money, a temporary pandemic holdover, is running out leaving a potential $600 million deficit in child care funding for the state.

And now the president, who in 2024 campaigned on alleviating the enormous economic burdens of millions of parents, employers and taxpayers pleading for adequate public investment in the nations insufficient, cost-prohibitive, hard-to-staff child care systems, is bailing on those who believed him.

At a pre-Easter luncheon, Trump glibly dismissed the massive structural nightmare of child care that forces countless parents to shift their schedules, work fewer hours, or stay home.

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The economic impact in Ohio of people having to miss partial or full days of work to take care of their kids has already cost the state billions in lost potential tax revenue and earnings, according to a report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

It costs the country $172 billion a year in lost earnings, productivity and revenue.

But the United States cant take take of day care, announced Trump. Same goes for funding Medicaid and Medicare.

He said the federal government had more important things to do than addressing child care costs (for over 500,000 Ohio households with young children) or protecting health insurance (for over 5 million Ohio seniors and low-income residents).

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Were fighting wars, Trump huffed. We have to take care of one thing: military protection, he stressed after asking Congress for an extra $200 billion to fund his unauthorized, unprovoked war in Iran on top of the $1.5 trillion he put in his budget for defense spending.

Not exactly what the average Ohio family, spending about 29% of their income on care for two kids, expected from the I alone can fix it guy who won the state three times.

Not exactly what working class Ohioans, who broke hard for Trump in 2024, expected from someone elected to tackle the cost of food, housing, and health care.

Not exactly what older Ohio voters on fixed incomes, who powered Trumps victory, expected from the man who promised not to touch Medicare and now calls it too expensive for the federal government to cover.

The state that handily bought what the Trump ticket was selling two years ago could well have buyers remorse in 2026.

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After a federal judge denied a motion by former Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan to overturn the jury's guilty verdict against her, attention now turns to her sentencing.

Several things need to happen before Dugan's sentencing, expected in June. Regardless of her sentence, Dugan's team says it will appeal to the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Here is what comes next in the legally important and closely watched case:

When will former judge Hannah Dugan be sentenced?

No sentencing date has been set, but it is expected to be soon. U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman said he expected to sentence Dugan in early June.

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A federal jury found Dugan guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents, a felony, on Dec. 18, for trying to help an undocumented immigrant from Mexico elude a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest team. The jury found her not guilty on a misdemeanor charge of concealing that person from agents.

Dugan's sentencing will take place in Adelman's historic courtroom at the federal courthouse in downtown Milwaukee.

A pre-sentence investigation is being prepared. It will delve into Dugan's personal and professional history and calculate the sentencing range under the federal sentencing guidelines. The pre-sentence investigation is not open to the public. It goes to the defense, the government and the judge.

Prosecutors and Dugan's attorneys also will prepare sentencing memos, arguing what sentence they think is appropriate. Defense attorneys typically include letters from family and friends attesting to the defendant's character.

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Expect a good number of those letters to be coming, including possibly from former Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a longtime family friend, who was called by Dugan's legal team to testify.

Will Dugan get prison time?

A state judge for nine years, Dugan faces up to five years in prison, but it is unlikely she would get time behind bars.

For a defendant with no criminal history who is convicted of a nonviolent crime, federal sentencing guidelines generally call for probation.

Federal judges give sentences using a points-based rubric. More points mean more possible prison time. Points increase with the crime's seriousness  for instance, if violence was involved or money was stolen.

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A defendant who takes the stand and is convicted could also get points for lying under oath. Dugan didn't take the stand.

A defendant's criminal history can add points too. Dugan doesn't have a record.

Even if the guidelines suggested time behind bars, Adelman is known for below-guidelines sentencing.

When will the appeals court get the case?

Dugan's team said the case will be appealed to the 7th Circuit. That will come after Dugan is sentenced and her conviction becomes official.

The appeal arguments are likely to echo what Dugan's lawyers put before Adelman during the trial. They argued that judges are immune from such prosecutions, immigration agents were not allowed to make arrests in the courthouse, and that Adelman answered the jury's questions incorrectly.

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"We continue to maintain that Hannah Dugan acted lawfully and within her independent authority as a judge," Dugan's legal team said in a statement April 6. "The inconsistent jury verdicts demonstrate that the trial proceedings were flawed, and we plan to appeal."

Who will argue Dugan's appeal case at the 7th Circuit?

Dugan has a high-profile legal team featuring former U.S. Attorney Steve Biskupic and several other well-known defense attorneys.

The most famous member of the legal team is Paul Clement, former U.S. Solicitor General, who argued more than 100 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court during the Bush administration.

Clement, a Cedarburg native who has sparred with the Trump administration, joined Dugan's legal team at the invitation of Biskupic, a fellow Republican appointee.

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Clement has yet to appear in court for Dugan, taking a behind-the-scenes role, but that may be changing soon.

Is Dugan still a Milwaukee County judge?

No. Dugan, 66, resigned from the bench on Jan. 3, as an effort to impeach her and remove her from the bench was mounting within the Republican-controlled state Legislature.

During the criminal case, Dugan had been suspended with pay, continuing to receive her roughly $175,000 annual salary. A fundraiser was started to pay for Dugan's defense team.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: After losing appeal, what's next for Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan?
Republican gubernatorial candidate Randy Feenstra said Wednesday he would consider changing Iowas Education Savings Account program related to private schools ability to reject students.

Feenstra spoke to a crowd gathered for the Westside Conservative Club meeting at the Machine Shed in Urbandale Wednesday morning. The Republican, who currently represents Iowas 4th Congressional District in Washington, D.C., answered questions from attendees about topics like eminent domain, chemtrails and vaccine requirements at the event.

One person asked Feenstra about his opinion on Iowas Education Savings Account (ESA) program for K-12 students in the state. The ESA program, signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds in 2023, provides public funding to cover a students private school tuition and associated costs.

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Feenstra said he lives in Sioux County, which has about as many private schools as we do public schools, he said he believes both private and public schools have benefited from the chance to compete against each other to provide the best education.

He also said he believed in a parents right to decide where their child receives an education  a position he took further than many other Republicans, saying this could include requiring private schools to accept all students.

I am supportive of the idea of ESAs, Feenstra said. I just will say this  is that every school has to make sure they take every child, right? If we have to compete on a level playing field  the playing field has to be level all the way. Thats so important.

As the lawmakers debated the ESA program proposal in 2023 and discussed similar measures in previous sessions, Democratic state lawmakers decried the program because private schools would not be required to accept all students  just as all public schools are required to  in order to be eligible for the state funding. Republicans said they would not support requiring private schools accept all students.

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Speaking with reporters after the event, Feenstra said private schools turning down some prospective students was a topic we need to look at. He did not directly answer questions on whether private schools would need to honor a students Individualized Education Program (IEP) requiring specialized instruction needs, or if a private school would be able to deny students applications on the basis of special education needs or other considerations, like space limits.

There are parents that say, Id like my kid to go certain places  I want the parent to be allowed to pick that school, Feenstra said.  Again, Im supportive of ESAs, and I want to make sure that the program is successful for all kids.

Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat running for Iowa governor, has been critical of the ESA program. His campaign introduced a policy platform last week focused on government accountability and standards for elected officials, that included implementing rules and transparency for the private school voucher program, such as requiring annual audits and setting an income limit for ESAs.

I think that Im proposing things that the vast majority of Iowans want, Sand told reporters last week. They want to know how public dollars are spent, including if theyre spent by a private school.

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Feenstra said he was excited to debate Sand, who he said was misrepresenting himself as a moderate candidate.

 Youll have a Pritzker part two in Iowa if we dont beat this guy, Feenstra said, referring to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker.

Before a potential general election faceoff with Sand, Feenstra first must win the Republican gubernatorial primary, where he faces former Iowa Department of Administrative Services director Adam Steen, farmer and businessman Zach Lahn, state Rep. Eddie Andrews and former state lawmaker Brad Sherman. Feenstras opponents in the GOP primary, as well as Democrats, have criticized the candidate for not agreeing to appear in a primary debate.

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Being a municipal police officer can be challenging work.

What can also be challenging, according to local law enforcement leaders, is going through the process necessary to score one of those jobs.

One step that local law enforcement has taken to try and ease the challenge is by lowering the cost of applying to take the annual police test.

The application for those interested in taking part in the upcoming Northwest Pennsylvania Regional Police Testing Consortium's police test in August now comes with a $35 application fee, down from $80 the previous year.

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The decrease comes by way of an agreement in which police agencies that utilize the annual testing program through Mercyhurst University are providing some money to help cover the cost of putting on the testing.

The consortium has for years conducted an annual testing program for numerous municipal police agencies in and around Erie County, including the Erie Bureau of Police and the Millcreek Township Police Department, eliminating the need for those departments to do their own tests. But there is a cost in running those tests, and much of it has fallen on the applicants and Mercyhurst.

A formula was set up for the departments asked to help contribute, with larger departments that would hire more applicants from the police test asked to provide more funding than those smaller departments, said Bill Hale, program director of the Mercyhurst Municipal Police Academy.

The thought, Hale said, was that by lowering the application cost, the test might draw in more applicants, as he had seen the application pool dwindling.

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"The bigger the list (of applicants) and the deeper the pool of candidates, the better for us," said Millcreek Police Chief Carter Mook, whose department contributed to the testing.

Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah said there can be a financial strain for those who want to be a police officer. Going through the police academy and obtaining the certification to become an officer is a six-month process, with classes five days a week. It can be tough for a person to hold down a job because of this, Lorah said.

The application process for the next testing period opened April 1. Applications are due by June 30, with the testing scheduled for Aug. 1.

Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Applications for police testing in Erie area see lower application fee
Gas prices in Central Florida, especially in Orlando, remain high, averaging over four dollars per gallon. This is about 80 cents more than last month and nearly a dollar higher than the same period last year.

Experts identify global instability, especially the ongoing conflict with Iran, as a key factor behind rising oil prices and higher gas prices at the pump.

For many residents of Florida, the effects are felt quickly and painfully. Drivers around the region are experiencing higher costs as filling their tanks has become much more expensive compared to just a few weeks ago.

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Currently, at least one state legislator is advocating for action. Miami Senator Shevrin Jones has written to Governor Ron DeSantis, urging him to consider suspending or reducing Floridas state fuel tax. Jones contends that this could offer immediate financial relief to residents facing increasing expenses.

Jones also asked that the matter be discussed in upcoming special legislative sessions, highlighting the urgency of the situation.

So far, there has been no public response from the governors office.

The concept of a gas tax holiday isnt new in Florida. In 2022, during his reelection campaign, Governor DeSantis advocated for a temporary suspension of the state gas tax. Implementing a similar measure now could save drivers approximately 25 cents per gallon, considering both state and local fuel taxes.

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However, the governor has previously shown skepticism. Last month, he indicated that changes in global oil prices might negate the savings from a tax break, thus reducing the benefit for consumers.

However, other states are also acting. Georgias governor recently paused the states gas tax for 60 days to offer quick relief to residents.

Governor DeSantis and Texas Governor Greg Abbott discussed the economy during a Miami appearance earlier today. However, they did not mention gas prices or potential relief measures.

Currently, its uncertain whether Florida will follow other states examples or if drivers will keep bearing the increase in fuel prices without any quick relief.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
NEED TO KNOW

A 14-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly swinging and kicking a baby alligator at the Stetson Aquatic Center in Florida

The teen was booked into the Volusia Sheriffs Office Juvenile Resource Center and faces a felony charge for harming wildlife

Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood said, "Abusing wildlife is not a way to spend your downtime"

Volusia Sheriffs Office (VSO) deputies allegedly found a 14-year-old boy abusing a baby alligator in DeLand, Fla. on Friday, April 3.

The teen was with a group at the Stetson Aquatic Center, hanging out by the docks. He was then seen swinging the animal by its tail over his head, kicking it and kicking dirt onto it, as a Stetson University public safety officer watched it happen live on security camera footage.

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The public safety officer reported it to the VSO deputies, ClickOrlando reports. During the alleged incident, another child took photos, while the other teens were fishing, they told VSO deputies, Fox 35 reports. Additionally, the boy placed the alligator back in the water, but when more children came over, he took the animal out again.

Upon their arrival at the Stetson Aquatic Center, the teen was arrested for allegedly possessing or harming an alligator without approval from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, a level 4 felony, according to the arrest affidavit, Fox 35 reports. The 14-year-old was booked into the VSO Juvenile Resource Center, according to ABC 4.

All of the remaining children were trespassing on the facility, but are not being charged. Their parents and guardians have been contacted.

Person holding a baby alligator.

Credit: getty

VSO Sheriff Mike Chitwood condemned the child's crime, saying, "Obviously, abusing wildlife is not a way to spend your downtime, you know, its a felony," Click Orlando reports.

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"You just do not abuse wildlife," Chitwood said. "Unfortunately, this young man is going to learn a very expensive lesson.

Fish and Wildlife Conservation-licensed nuisance gator trapper, AJ Ellis, called the incident "pretty sick," per Fox 35. "It's no different than kicking a puppy down the street or grabbing a puppy by the tail and swinging it over your head. I just don't know why somebody would do something like that."

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PEOPLE reached out to the Volusia Sheriffs Office for comment.

Read the original article on People
PATERSON  The company that handled food services for Paterson Public Schools from 2023 through June 2025 has sued the Board of Education, saying the district owes $2.8 million from last years $18.3 million contract.

The lawsuit, filed on March 27 by SodexoMagic, LLC, alleges that the contract to provide breakfasts and lunches was based on the districts enrollment being within 2% of 24,906 students.

But enrollment fell to 21,735 for the 2024-25 school year, a 13% reduction, the lawsuit says. The contract came with guarantees regarding the overall price for the food services, the companys complaint says.

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The dispute essentially focuses on the way the contract guarantees are applied, the suit says.

Story continues below photo gallery.

SodexoMagic alleges that the district has offered to pay $277,000 on the $2,812,602 in unpaid invoices from last year.

Paterson Board of Education President Joel Ramirez did not respond to a message seeking his comment.

Paterson Public Schools changed food services vendors for the current school year, hiring Chartwells K12 for $18.2 million.

The district in recent years also has been sued by private companies that provided security and custodial service. Arrow Security got a settlement for $2.5 million, and Pritchard Industries, the custodial firm, received $479,609. Those settlements were approved in August 2025.

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District officials have not been able to provide a full explanation for the large decrease in school enrollment. Officials said part of the decrease results from the growing number of Paterson students who now attend charter schools.

Superintendent Laurie Newell recently said some of the departures stem from children whose families returned to their homelands outside the United States. Newell and Ramirez said they would begin to try to track where students who leave the district end up going.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paterson NJ school districts sued by food service firm
British barrister Martin Hackett has been appointed as The Gambia's first special prosecutor to try those responsible for human rights abuses carried out during the 22-year rule of ex-President Yahya Jammeh, which ended when he went into exile in 2017.

Hackett will head a newly created office charged with dealing with the cases from a period characterised by widespread repression, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.

The Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) was set up to document the extent of the alleged abuses.

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In its final report, handed to current President Adama Barrow in 2021, it identified those most responsible and recommended their prosecution.

The TRRC, which heard harrowing testimony from victims, former security operatives and other witnesses, also called for reparations to be paid to the victims, warning that failure to act risked entrenching impunity.

The TRRC has started phased compensation payments, starting with victims of abuses committed shortly after the 1994 coup when Jammeh first came to power.

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But for many survivors, financial compensation is secondary to accountability.

Among the most notorious cases highlighted by the TRRC were the 2004 killing of journalist Deyda Hydara and the murder of more than 50 mainly West African migrants, executed by security forces after being wrongly accused of plotting a coup.

A handful of perpetrators have already been convicted abroad under the principle of universal jurisdiction, including former members of the notorious paramilitary unit and death squad known as "the Junglers" - some of whom have been jailed in Germany and the US.

The appointment of Hackett, who has previously served at the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon and who investigated war crimes committed by senior military commanders during the Kosovo war, is seen as a decisive step towards domestic accountability.

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Attorney General Dawda Jallow was quoted as saying that Hackett had a four-year mandate and was chosen from a wide selection of candidates.

Jammeh, who refused to co-operate with the TRRC, only left power at the insistence of regional leaders.

They sent in troops to The Gambia when he refused to step down after his shock election defeat in December 2016.

Now aged 60, Jammeh has previously denied wrongdoing and is believed to be living in exile in Equatorial Guinea.

More BBC stories on The Gambia:

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Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

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Authorities are investigating the death of a 1-year-old child from Georgia.

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The Montgomery County Sheriffs Office in Virginia says deputies and first responders were called Monday just after 4 p.m. to the Walthall Street area in Elliston for reports of a traumatic injury involving a young child.

The child was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

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Investigators say evidence gathered in the case led to the arrest of Jarron Shirk, 29, of Allenhurst, Ga.

Shirk is charged with felony homicide, three counts of felony child endangerment, three counts of misdemeanor allow access to firearm by children, three counts of misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and three counts of felony abuse/neglect of a child.

Authorities have not released details about how the child was injured, citing an ongoing investigation.

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The childs body has been taken to the Western District Medical Examiners Office, where an autopsy will be performed to determine the exact cause and manner of death.

Shirk is currently being held without bond at the Montgomery County Jail.
The terms of the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran suggest Washington has suffered a "strategic defeat," in the conflict, a German military expert said on Wednesday.

Hours after the Pakistan-brokered deal was announced by US President Donald Trump, expert Carlo Masala from the University of the Bundeswehr in Munich said the 10-point plan presented by Tehran to end the conflict "contains little in the way of Iranian concessions."

Trump earlier described the 10-point proposal as a "workable basis on which to negotiate."

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However, Masala said the plan includes a fee for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, to be shared between Oman and Iran.

"And there is apparently another version in Farsi which includes a demand that the United States allow the Iranians to enrich uranium," Masala said, adding that this was not included in the English version of the text.

"So, from that perspective, we really do have two weeks of tough negotiations ahead of us," the expert warned. "But none of this constitutes a complete victory for the United States of America."
NEW YORK (AP)  Corporate foundations' philanthropic commitments were called into question this past year as tariff-driven uncertainty, rising costs and tax law changes prompted many companies to reconsider their charitable strategies.

Nonprofits received a reassuring answer this week, however, from the century-old, Boston-based Liberty Mutual Insurance. The major insurer's nonprofit Liberty Mutual Foundation announced Wednesday the establishment of a $600 million endowment, a long-term source of funding that leaders promise will bring lasting resources and more responsive grantmaking.

More from Yahoo Scout Which areas will Liberty Mutual Foundation prioritize for funding? How will the $600 million endowment benefit nonprofits? What challenges are corporate foundations currently facing? What prompted Liberty Mutual to establish this endowment?

We all know that we live in really challenging times. And that is very true for our nonprofit partners as well, Melanie Foley, the chair of the foundation's board, told the Associated Press. Well be there to continue to support them, be as flexible as we can be, really listening to what they need.

Endowments generally start with a set donation that is invested and allow foundations to increase their assets over time. Foley said Liberty Mutual Foundation had matured enough from its 2003 founding to necessitate a permanent, self-sustaining" funding source. The Fortune 100 company is funding the endowment by transferring assets such as shares held within Liberty Mutual entities.

The move places Liberty Mutual's charitable arm among an influential subset of foundations with more than $100 million in assets. Partners should feel a sense of security, according to Foley. This new source will allow the foundation to increase grantmaking from its roughly $50 million baseline of recent years.

Foley emphasized that Wednesday's announcement isn't a response to recent developments in the sector. But the news arrives at a time of great instability for nonprofits. There's been a yearslong decline in the number of American donors, who make up the bulk of U.S. philanthropic funding. The Trump administration's attempts to freeze federal funds and cut social services grants have left many organizations without a once-reliable avenue for funding. Companies and philanthropies have reversed course on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts that often resulted in support for nonprofits serving vulnerable communities.

Those poised to benefit most from Liberty Mutual Foundation's endowment are Boston-area nonprofits addressing its focus on housing stability, workforce development and climate resiliency  areas where leaders believe they can leverage their expertise as a global property and casualty insurer. The foundation directed gifts to more than 500 nonprofits last year, according to a company spokesperson. Previous recipients include national nonprofits like the American Red Cross, local chapters of groups such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and community organizations serving homeless youth such as Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
Rex Heuermann, a Long Island architect accused of seven murders known as the Gilgo Beach killings dating back to 1993, pleaded guilty on Wednesday  and added an eighth murder to his gruesome tally.

Heuermann, who has been held in custody since he was arrested on a Manhattan street in July 2023, appeared in court in Riverhead, Long Island, New York, and changed his plea to guilty in the murders of women whose remains were found years after they disappeared.

Their remains were mostly found in marshland along Long Islands south coast, including and most notably on Gilgo Beach.

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Many of the victims, who were mostly sex workers, remained unidentified for years, but a break in the long-running mystery came through the identification of Heuermann through a discarded pizza crust, an SUV, cellphone records and mitochondrial DNA matches to the victims. After his arrest, Heuermann pleaded not guilty.

Related: Their voices had been overlooked for so long: the shocking hunt for the Gilgo Beach killer

Judge Timothy Mazzei asked Heuermann a series of questions about his readiness to enter a guilty plea on Wednesday. Asked if he was entering the plea of his own free will, Heuermann said: Yes, I am.

Of the first charge to be addressed by prosecutors, on the murder of Melissa Barthelemy in 2009, Heuermann said he had caused her death. Asked how, he said: Strangulation.

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Heuermann repeated his guilty plea and description for other victims charged in the case: he is charged with killing Amber Costello, Megan Waterman, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla.

He also admitted to contacting his victims with burner phones, to luring them with money, and wrapping their bodies in burlap sacks and dumping them near Gilgo Beach.

Heuermann said it was his intent to kill the victims during a two-year period, satisfying the first-degree murder charges, and admitted to dismembering Taylor and Mack and spreading their remains in Manorville and near Gilgo Beach.

Heuermann said hed committed the murders in Nassau county, where he lived with his former wife and their daughter, but had dumped the bodies further east, in Suffolk county.

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In a surprise twist, Heuermann also said he killed a woman who was not named in the indictment. He said that he intentionally killed Karen Vergata and transported her body to Suffolk county.

After making the admissions, Heuermann confirmed his guilty plea.

Ill accept your pleas of guilty, Mazzei said.

Heuermann will be sentenced to life without parole on the first-degree counts and to four terms of 25 years to life in prison for the four second-degree counts when he is sentenced on 17 June.

Michael Brown, Heuermanns attorney, said his client had a right to change his plea, and accept responsibility. He added: Today gave peace and hope to the families.

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Before changing his plea, Heuermann was scheduled for trial later this year after his defense team had lost a bid to exclude DNA evidence extracted from hairs found on the victims bodies.

Heuermanns former wife, Asa Ellerup, and their daughter, Victoria, attended the hearing.

Its a difficult day, said Robert Macedonio, an attorney for Ellerup, told Newsday. No one can envision ever in their life standing here in a courthouse on a line surrounded by media having their ex-husband accused of seven, potentially eight, homicides. Its unimaginable. Theres no way to prepare for it.

Ellerup, whom prosecutors said was out of town with their daughter when the killings took place, briefly spoke to reporters after the hearing.

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Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, she said. Their loss is immeasurable, and the focus should be on them at this moment.

The Gilgo Beach murder investigation began in 2010 after police found four sets of human remains while they were searching for another missing woman, Shannan Gilbert. The discoveries, along with other sets of remains, some dismembered, set off a search for a potential serial killer.

The body of one of Heuermanns victims, Sandra Costilla, was found more than 60 miles (96km) away in the Hamptons. Vergatas partial remains were found on Fire Island in 1996, matching other remains found near Gilgo Beach five years later.

For years, the case went cold. But in 2022, a new police commissioner formed the Gilgo Beach taskforce and called in the FBI. Six weeks later, detectives identified Heuermann from a vehicle database that connected his pickup truck to a vehicle seen when one of his victims disappeared.

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Investigators collected data records for burner phones he used to arrange meetings with the victims and retested DNA evidence using more advanced techniques than had been previously available.

As part of the investigation, detectives tailed Heuermann in Manhattan, where he worked. When he threw a box of partly eaten pizza in a garbage can, they were able to match the DNA to a male hair found on one of the victims.

Following his arrest, investigators spent 12 days searching the family home in Massapequa Park on Long Island. They found a basement vault that contained 279 weapons, a computer containing a blueprint for his system of murder, and checklists and queries on how to reduce noise, clean bodies and destroy evidence.
Suspected Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann is expected to plead guilty in the death of an eighth woman in court today, multiple sources claim.

Karen Vergata was a 34-year-old woman from Manhattan who disappeared in 1996. Vergata was believed to be working as an escort.

Heuermann is expected to plead guilty to the murders of seven women, but Vergata's murder will now be included, making for a total of eight women.

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Vergata for many years was referred to as "Fire Island Jane Doe" because her legs and feet were found on the Bay Side of Fire Island in April of 1996. Fifteen years later, additional remains of hers were found at Tobay Beach, according to investigators.

Heuermann's alleged killing spree spans from 1993 through 2010, and he has maintained his innocence since his arrest in July of 2023.

District Attorney Ray Tierney posted on social media on Tuesday, saying there would be a "Major Development in the Gilgo Beach Homicide investigation."

Heuermann, an architect who worked in New York City, was arrested in 2023. He had pleaded not guilty to killing the seven women, some of whom were sex workers.

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The first victim was Sandra Costilla, killed in 1993. Mack was killed in 2000 and Jessica Taylor was killed in 2003. Partial remains of Taylor and Mack were found near Gilgo Beach and in Manorville on Long Island, while Costilla was found in North Sea on Long Island.

Maureen Brainard-Barnes was killed in 2007 and found near Gilgo Beach. Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy and Amber Lynn Costello were killed between 2009 and 2010 and also recovered near Gilgo Beach.

Ahead of today's pivotal court appearance, Benjamin Torres, the son of victim Valerie Mack, also filed a wrongful death lawsuit in the case.

His lawsuit targets Heuermann, along with his ex-wife and daughter.

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"Anybody who's ever lived in a home with a family, especially a tiny little home like that, is not going to tell me or anybody else that if those slaughters were taking place in the basement, that noises, smells, stains and the like, would not have been noticed," Torres' attorney John Ray said.

Heuermann's ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and his daughter, Victoria Heuermann, say they had no idea anything was amiss. We spoke with their attorney yesterday:

"The Rex Heuermann (Ellerup) knows she did not believe was capable of these crimes," attorney Robert Macedonio said.

Macedonio also stated that Victoria was too young at the time of the murders to have known anything was amiss.

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"The homicide happened someplace in the spring or summer of 2000. Victoria Heuermann was 3 years old, how anybody could stretch a lawsuit, the factual pattern to fit any kind of liability on a 3-year-old is beyond me, attorney Robert Macedonio said. "It's reckless. It's irresponsible and it borders on malpractice."

The family is expected to appear in court later this morning as Rex Heuermann faces a judge.

If he takes the plea deal, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.

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Education officials in President Donald Trumps administration say theyre taking seriously concerns raised by Republican state lawmakers in New Jersey over how the Newark school district spent $287 million in federal COVID relief funds.

We appreciate the legislators letter and take its concerns seriously, Ellen Keast, the U.S. Department of Educations press secretary for higher education, told NJ.com in an email Monday.

Rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse across the government is a priority for the Trump-Vance Administration, Keast added. (U.S. Education) Secretary (Linda) McMahon is proud to serve on the Vice Presidents Task Force to Eliminate Fraud and remains committed to delivering results for American students and taxpayers.

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Keast was referring to a March 31 letter from the lawmakers to McMahon asking her to review the matter and, depending on the findings, to refer them to the departments inspector general.

The inspector general can recommend administrative sanctions, such as suspension or termination of employees or contractors, propose policy changes, or refer its findings to federal prosecutors.

The letter was signed by Sstate Sen. Parker Space and state Assembly members Dawn Fantasia and Michael Inganamort, Republicans who represent the 24th Legislative District, which includes all of Sussex County and parts of Morris and Warren.

We are writing to request an immediate federal review, and, if necessary, a referral for investigation into the use of COVID-19 relief funds by Newark Public Schools in New Jersey, the three lawmakers wrote.

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A total of 15,803 students were recommended for tutoring, yet reportedly only 1,938 received it  just 12 percent of those identified as needing support, the letter added. At the same time, spending plans lacked clear alignment with evidence-based interventions or measurable outcomes, calling into question whether these funds were used as intended.

The letter also asks McMahon to review a contract authorization by the Newark Board of Education on Sept. 28, 2023 worth up to $1.4 million for a consultant to train teachers in reading instruction, a response by the district to persistently low standardized test scores.

The contract was approved, but the work was never performed, and there has been no clear public accounting of what happened to the funds, the letter stated.

District spokesperson Paul Brubaker issued a statement in response to the letter. Addressing the contract issue, the statement says lawmakers were misrepresenting a board resolution authorizing a pact with the consultant as an executed contract, which it is not.

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In this case, while the board granted that authorization, the district did not execute a contract with Jamie Walner, the statement reads. As a result, no services were provided, and no payments were made.

The statement did not specifically address the districts use of the COVID funds.

Instead, it defended the legitimacy and transparency of the districts overall spending and accounting practices with a list of endorsements:

Five straight certificates of excellence in financial reporting from the Association of School Business Officials

A credit upgrade from S&P Global Ratings to A-

A consistent unmodified opinion, or highest possible rating, from the districts independent auditor.

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This includes during and after the pandemic, when a federal audit showed that we fully adhered to all federal allowable uses guidance, according to the statement.

Fantasia, Inganamort and Space are among a growing number of Republican lawmakers who have questioned Newark school spending in recent years light of the increasing state education aid to Newark even as districts they represent face reduced freduced funding that in some cases has prompted layoffs or program cuts.

In another recent letter, 20 Assembly Republicans urged New Jerseys state education commissioner, acting comptroller, and chairman of the Local Finance Board to reject a proposed plan by the Newark Public Schools district to pay an estimated $498 million over 30 years to lease a newly built, privately owned elementary school to relieve classroom crowding in the citys Ironbound section.

The school would be developed and owned by a Newark company known as 52 Freeman Street, LLC, which state Treasury Department records indicate is headed by Newark businessman Scott Fields, a contributor to Mayor Ras J. Barakas gubernatorial campaign last year, New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission records show.

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In the 20 lawmakers April 2 letter, they call the lease plan one more of the epic fiscal failures and taxpayer waste perpetuated by Newark Public Schools.

Fantasia and Inganamort were among the signatories, and an aide to Space said he also opposed the school lease plan.

GOP lawmakers and others have also criticized spending on a district Fun Day for staff and their families, air travel to conferences for large groups of board members and administrators, and catering, among other expenditures.

The districts $1.63 billion 2025-26 budget relies on $1.33 billion in state aid, or 83%, which will increase by another $60.6 million for 2026-27 school year under Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrills first proposed statewide budget and school aid package.

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The school lease plan is the latest effort by Newark Superintendent Roger Leon in an aggressive facilities expansion campaign he has waged since becoming the districts first locally hired top administrator following a 22-year state takeover.

Leon has opened 11 new schools so far, with more in the works. This despite a enrollment decline of about 2% this year, when the states largest school district lost 818 students, for a total of just over 43,000.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Plymouth  Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Wednesday that she won't make endorsements in either the Democratic primary election for the U.S. Senate or the Democratic convention contest for secretary of state, a race that features her own lieutenant governor.

After a press conference celebrating the start of the road construction season in the state, Whitmer told reporters she's "not going to make endorsements prior to the convention," which will take place April 19 in Detroit.

Democrats from across Michigan will gather on that date to pick nominees for attorney general and secretary of state. Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, who was Whitmer's running mate in 2018 and 2022, and Suzanna Shkreli, a former member of Whitmer's administration, are both seeking the secretary of state job, along with Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, who served with Whitmer in the Legislature.

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Meanwhile, Whitmer said on Wednesday that she will stay out of the heated three-way Democratic primary race for the U.S. Senate. That nomination will be decided by primary voters on Aug. 4.

"I want to make sure that I don't lose sight of the job that I have to do every single day as governor," Whitmer said, when asked why she wasn't making endorsements in those key races.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a press conference about the beginning of road construction season in Plymouth on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.

But Whitmer acknowledged that she has endorsed candidates in some other contests in recent months.

As examples, she's publicly supported state Sen. Jeremy Moss, D-Bloomfield Township, for a seat in the U.S. House and state Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo for another U.S. House seat.

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Whitmer didn't explain on Wednesday what made those races different than the marquee contests for Michigan's open U.S. Senate seat and the secretary of state's office.

She's in her eighth and final year as Michigan's governor and remains influential among many state Democrats.

More: Controversies embroil Democratic race for Michigan secretary of state

Whitmer's presence has loomed over the competitive secretary of state campaign, in part because of Gilchrist's involvement.

Gilchrist has won the support of some labor groups, like the United Auto Workers and the Michigan Education Association. But Whitmer hasn't weighed in publicly.

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In the Democratic Senate primary, former candidate for governor Abdul El-Sayed, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens are believed to be in a close race for their party's nomination.

The seat is open because Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, declined to seek another term.

More: Abdul El-Sayed, Hasan Piker target critics, Iran war at Michigan events

Adrian Hemond, a Democrat and a Michigan political consultant with the firm Grassroots Midwest, said Whitmer's statement about not endorsing in the races was likely the result of her weighing the impact she could have against the potential political costs.

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In the secretary of state campaign, for example, there are multiple candidates with close ties to the governor and to interest groups that have long-standing relationships with her, Hemond noted.

"Is the juice worth the squeeze?" Hemond asked.

Whitmer defeated El-Sayed in a three-way Democratic primary for governor in 2018 that also featured businessman Shri Thanedar, who is now a congressman from Detroit.

Whitmer also hasn't endorsed a candidate for governor. She has previously said her role as vice chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association, which works to elect Democratic candidates for governor positions across the country, prevents her from getting involved in the primary contest between Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Whitmer won't endorse in Michigan U.S. Senate, secretary of state races
Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed legislation Wednesday that would alter the permitting process for new nuclear power facilities to remove what the administration called a de facto moratorium on new plants.

The changes to permits under the Coastal Area Facility Review Act are meant to draw new nuclear generation to the state amid rising electricity prices that have placed some New Jerseyans under a cost crunch.

For too long, outdated laws have kept us from even considering new nuclear facilities, Sherrill said at the signing at the Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Salem County. One law required any new projects to point to a method of disposal that, quite literally, does not exist. It was written in the 1970s, tied to a technological requirement that made sense then but not today.

The United States has no facilities to dispose of high-level waste like spent fuel rods, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, and New Jerseys prior regulations required the state Department of Environmental Protection to reject permits for new nuclear facilities that did not identify a safe method of disposal.

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That created a de facto moratorium on new nuclear plants in the state. The new law allows such plants to obtain a permit if they proffer a safe method of storage or disposal, instead of just the latter.

States across the country, including those on the 13-state grid used by New Jersey, have seen electricity prices soar as artificial intelligence data centers projected power needs push electricity demand to new heights, spiking prices and threatening long-run reliability.

Sherrill, a Democrat who campaigned on freezing electricity rates and expanding the states power generation, aims to encourage the construction of a new nuclear plant in Salem County.

By her actions today, we are sending a strong message that New Jersey is available and ready and is willing to look at opportunities to expand nuclear in the future, said Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen), a sponsor of the legislation. It is a great, great first step.

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Nuclear power plants are a long-term investment. Though they provide large amounts of reliable power  New Jerseys two nuclear plants account for about 40% of in-state generation  they also take roughly a decade to construct and cost billions of dollars to stand up.

The governor has turned to solar power and battery storage to help New Jersey meet growing energy needs in the short term.

Though those projects provide smaller amounts of power less reliably, they can be deployed within two years. Despite the relatively small amounts of power battery storage and solar plants generate, they can have a significant effect on prices because the impact of electricity demand is magnified when it edges close to available supply.

Were open for business. We want to make something happen down here, said Public Service Enterprise Group CEO Ralph LaRossa, adding, In the short term, were going to be getting the wires ready all throughout the state for the solar and the batteries that are so needed.

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A PSEG subsidiary operates the states only nuclear power plants. Those plants are the lone case where one of New Jerseys regulated utilities generates power rather than ensuring power generated by other firms reaches utility customers.

Its not clear how much energy a new nuclear power plant would bring to New Jersey, nor is it clear when such a plant would become operational.

South Jersey business groups welcomed Sherrills bill signing, hailing it as a boost to local employers and a boon much needed by the areas economy.

The PSEG Nuclear facilities in Salem County have long served as the economic backbone of South Jersey, generating thousands of good-paying, stable jobs and providing critical tax revenues that support our local communities, said Christina Renna, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey. In a county that has been historically underserved, these plants represent exactly the kind of anchor investment that sustains families and businesses across South Jersey.

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The House Government, Labor and Elections Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to advance Senate Bill 776, a bill that would create a Commission on the House of Reformation and Instruction for Colored Children.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. William C. Smith Jr. (D-Montgomery), would require the commission to research the history, operations, and resident deaths at the former state-run reform school for Black youth, on property that abuts the Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery in southern Prince Georges County. Supporters of the bill believe youth who died at the facility may be buried there in unkempt or unmarked graves.

Smith and members of the Legislative Black Caucus, which labeled the bill as one of its top priorities for this years session, toured the site last year to view the gravesites, some dating to the 19th century. There are also cinder blocks that are believed to mark where other youth are buried.

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The Maryland Department of Juvenile Services was awarded a $200,000 grant this year to pay for a ground-penetrating radar survey and restoration of the cemetery grounds.

The nearly two dozen members on the commission would include a representative from the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture, the secretary of Human Services, the state superintendent of schools and a representative from one of the states four historically Black colleges or universities.

The attorney general would serve as the commission chair, and his office would provide staff for the commission. Some of the work of the commission, through the attorney generals office, includes procuring goods and services, issuing subpoenas and pursuing federal grants and other funds.

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The bill requires that the commission submit a report by Dec. 31, 2027, documenting the progress of the investigation, with preliminary recommendations to the governor and General Assembly. A final report is due exactly two years later, to include the identities of all those buried at Cheltenham, the circumstances of their deaths, historical analysis of institutional policies and practices and recommendations for acknowledgement, memorial, reburial, reparative measures and policy reforms.

The Senate voted in favor of the legislation 45-0 on March 6. Exactly two weeks later, the House voted 129-1 to approve a House version that conforms to the Senate bill sponsored by Del. Jeffrie Long Jr. (D-Calvert and Prince Georges). According to the vote tally, Del. Robin Grammer Jr. (R-Baltimore County) represented the one vote against the measure.

Ferguson: Good Cause has bad odds

Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Tuesday that a bill to enable good cause eviction policies will be fighting the clock in the Senate  the chamber where similar legislation has struggled in recent years.

With just days left in the session, Ferguson indicated that pushing House Bill 774 likely wont be one of the chambers priorities.

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Its very late. We still have a lot of big issues left, Ferguson told reporters Tuesday. Its hard to see us having the time thats necessary for such an important policy.

The House approved HB 774 just Monday, a week before the last days of the 2026 General Assembly The bill would let local jurisdictions require that landlords who want to cancel a tenants lease cite a reason for the cancellation from a specified list, which includes failure to pay rent, violating terms of the lease, engaging in illegal activity on the property and more.

Lobbyists for developers say that good cause evictions would contribute to what they say is an already highly regulated housing market in Maryland, driving away future projects. Ferguson has not been eager to push legislation that could be a barrier to building more housing units, even though renter advocates argue that there is little evidence showing good cause eviction policies actually deter new development.

One of the concerns that weve had previously was a worry that, we know that housing is unaffordable right now, and all of the policies that we are moving forward on the housing front are really geared towards trying to make sure that we can lower housing costs, not increase them, Ferguson said. We know we do that best by increasing supply.

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As lawmakers frequently say around this time in the session, a bill with the right support can make it through the legislative process very quickly  but that is likely not the case for HB 774 in the Senate right now.

It was sent over  its in the Rules Committee, Ferguson said. It just seems theres six days left  its going to be tough.

3-1-1 in the House

Before the House Government, Labor and Elections Committee advanced the Cheltenham measure, it received an update on legislation that would create a statewide, nonemergency phone system.

Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-Montgomery) testified on behalf of Senate Bill 114, her bill that would also use artificial intelligence to answer callers questions and report minor incidents such as library closings, dates and times for early voting, or places to get a flu shot.

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The purpose of a nonemergency system is to decrease the number of calls to 911. The bill is sponsored by Kagan and Sen. Paul Corderman (R-Washington and Frederick). If approved, Maryland would be the first state in the nation with a statewide 311 system.

Kagan addressed the $1 million cost to implement the service.

There have been some questions that were asked about the cost. I totally get we are in tough fiscal times, she said, during a 15-minute presentation to the committee. It is astonishing that we can accomplish all of this  I think it is well invested in a way that will make a difference in peoples lives.

The Senate unanimously approved the bill March 13.

The same House committee heard a House version sponsored by Del. Lesley Lopez (D-Montgomery) in February, but has not acted on it. With just days left in the session, the committee may opt to move the Senate version to get it approved in both chambers by Monday, the sessions last day.
April 8 (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected on Wednesday to announce a ban on access to social media for children under the age of 15, according to a government briefing.

Slovenia, Britain, Austria and Spain have also said they are working on similar bans after Australia became the first country in the world to block access to children under 16.

(Reporting by Antonis Pothitos; Editing by)
The disenfranchisement efforts over the last decade in New Hampshire have been consistent, surgical, and deceitful  sometimes comically so.

Just before Election Day in 2016, gubernatorial candidate Chris Sununu told talk show host Howie Carr that theres no doubt theres election fraud here. Carr had asked Sununu about Democrats stronghold on New Hampshires corner office beginning with Jeanne Shaheens victory in the late 1990s, and that was how the Republican nominee explained away the success.

It was BS straight out of the Donald Trump/Stephen Miller playbook, the kind of BS that led directly to the Jan. 6 attack four years later, and the newly elected president was only too happy to back Sununus knowing lie after losing New Hampshires four electoral votes to Hillary Clinton.

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The president claimed, Politico reported on Feb. 10, 2017, that he and (then-U.S. Senate candidate Kelly) Ayotte both would have been victorious in the Granite State if not for the thousands of people who were brought in on buses from neighboring Massachusetts to illegally vote in New Hampshire.

Trump did not explain, however, how Sununu managed to win his race by more than 16,000 votes during the same election. But that result certainly had an effect on Sununu, especially his memory.

As Ive said in the past, a victorious Sununu told WMUR after Trumps comments, Im not aware of any widespread voter fraud in New Hampshire.

Its unclear whether Sununu was ever treated for his dissociative fugue.

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A decade has now passed since Trump and proxies started taking a wrecking ball to the publics faith in elections, even as data consistently reveals that voter fraud is virtually nonexistent in this country, When the nation faced the explosive consequences of Republican lies during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, that would have been a good time for the party to dial it back. You know, for the good of democracy and the nation.

But the New Hampshire GOP isnt just embracing that lie. Its become a major pillar of its platform.

FOR INFORMATION on voting in New Hampshire, including required documentation, visit the secretary of states Register to Vote page here.

Last week, Gov. Ayotte signed into law House Bill 323, which removes high school or college IDs as a valid form of photo identification at the polls.

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In celebration, bill sponsor Rep. Ross Berry, a Weare Republican, said student IDs were the weakest link in our election integrity framework.

That is incorrect. The weakest link in New Hampshires election integrity framework is the rights broad and dishonest assault on voting rights, of which HB 323 is just the latest example.

Lisa Kovack, director of the New Hampshire Campaign for Voting Rights, is among those who see Berrys bill to close a loophole in its full context: The new law, Kovack said, is a quiet but consequential step backward for democracy in New Hampshire.

One backward step among many.

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When not busy gerrymandering state Senate, Executive Council, and congressional districts, New Hampshire Republicans have used the battle cry of election integrity to both directly disenfranchise voters and broadly suppress turnout, particularly among voting groups deemed more likely to support Democratic or left-leaning independent candidates.

In 2017, Sununu signed Senate Bill 3, an effort to make it more difficult for college students to vote by requiring documentary proof of domicile. In striking down SB 3, Superior Court Judge David Anderson understood the ultimate point of the legislation: The new process establishes enough hurdles, the forms contain enough complexity, and the penalties present enough risk that they tend to dissuade a specific type of voter from even engaging in the process. The state Supreme Court later concurred.

A year later, New Hampshire Republicans designed another round of onerous voting hurdles for certain residents that would later survive legal challenges. The aim of House Bill 1264 was to again deter the participation of college students in state elections by, as the ACLU Voting Rights Project described it, forcing people with out-of-state drivers licenses or car registrations to switch to the state versions if they register to vote. This is whats known as a poll tax.

In September 2024, Sununu took another bite at the disenfranchisement apple by signing House Bill 1569, which removes exceptions to proving voter identification and eliminates the use of affidavit ballots. The law, which is now being challenged in federal court, resulted in at least 96 town meeting voters being turned away in March 2025 and another 123 that following November during municipal elections. Compare that to the 29 cases of reported voter fraud total in New Hampshire over the past 20 years, as compiled by the right-wing Heritage Foundation, and the lie is fully unmasked.

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Sununu himself seemed to see it, too, six months before he signed HB 1569: I think our system works well, we have really high voter turnout, the affidavit ballot and process seems to be working pretty darn well.

Fugue strikes again.

New Hampshire does not have a voter fraud problem and never has. So why all the new restrictions that in any reasonable assessment do more harm than good?

Because there are powerful forces at work in this country that want to blunt the will of the people. This latest chapter began with the Citizens United ruling in 2010 that greatly empowered wealthy donors, followed by the high courts decision in Shelby County v. Holder three years later, which took direct aim at the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

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Meanwhile, every year there are dozens of new state-level restrictions adopted across the land, and now the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are pushing the SAVE America Act, which would upend how people in New Hampshire and the nation register to vote.

The nonpartisan voter advocacy nonprofit vote.org compiled a list of the voting groups most likely to be negatively affected by the SAVE Act: married women, rural Americans, first-time and young voters, low-income Americans, people of color, military members and Americans abroad, and transgender Americans.

And for what? Security against fraud that doesnt exist.

Zoom out even further and you can start to see how voting restrictions are just one way that the Republican Party relies on sowing distrust in order to secure its policy desires.

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We need school vouchers, Republicans say, because professional educators cant be trusted. We need Medicaid work requirements because poor people cant be trusted. We must eliminate vaccine mandates because doctors cant be trusted. We need mass deportations because people from other countries cant be trusted. We should drill, baby, drill because climate scientists cant be trusted. We need bathroom bills because trans people cant be trusted.

Forget Make America great again. Never mind about Live free or die. The motto that animates the bulk of these policies, from the assault on voting rights to privatized education to the shredding of the social safety net, is more succinct and infinitely darker.

Trust no one.

And we sit and wonder why the fabric is ripping.
Nearly 90 Lubbock-area veterans will embark on a tour of the nation's capital as part of the spring Texas South Plains Honor Flight April 11-13.

The group of about 87 veterans will leave Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport early Saturday and return for a welcome-home ceremony at approximately 7:45 p.m. Monday at the airport, according to Larry A. Williams, the organization's outreach and veterans liaison co-chair.

This year marks the 14th trip made possible with the support of the entire South Plains community.

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The flight's first priority is WWII veterans followed by Korean and Vietnam veterans. Veterans with a terminal health condition are also given priority.

Since its inaugural flight in 2012, the Honor Flight has taken over 1,300 veterans on the non-stop Southwest Airlines flight since our inaugural flight in 2012.

While in the D.C. area, the veterans will visit the World War II, Korean, Vietnam and Iwo Jima memorials. They will also visit several museums dedicated to their branch of service.

The veterans also participate in wreath-laying ceremonies at several of the memorials, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.

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This year the group has 150 people going on the trip. There will be 18 staff, 63 guardians (some are veterans themselves) and 69 veterans.

Marine veteran and Honor Flight Committee Member, Frank Alvarez, will be leading the veterans into the memorials at each stop and assist in the wreath-laying ceremonies along with a bagpiper which greatly adds to the experience.

"We are especially excited to have a 100-year-old WWII veteran go along with us this year," according to Williams.

This will be the first WWII veteran to go since 2019. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, they did not have a flight in 2020 and 2021.

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This years flight is tentatively set to return to Lubbock's airport about 7:45 p.m. April 13.

Be sure to check the Texas South Plains Honor Flight Facebook page for updates.

The public is encouraged to come out to the airport that evening and to welcome back the veterans with flags and banners.

"Many of these veterans returned from their time in the service to little or no fanfare," Williams said. "Help them to truly remember that this was what we like to call, 'The trip of a lifetime!'"

For more information about the Texas South Plains Honor Flight, visit texassouthplainshonorflight.org or call (806) 790-4635.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: How to celebrate 2026 South Plains Honor Flight this weekend in Lubbock
One of the most significant moments in Australian military history unfolded without fanfare on a tarmac at Sydney airport, when Ben Roberts-Smith was calmly escorted off a plane and into a waiting police car.

The country's most-decorated living soldier and the most famous of his generation, Roberts-Smith was on Tuesday charged with five counts of the war crime of murder.

It follows a high-profile civil defamation case, which three years ago found that the former Special Air Service (SAS) corporal and Victoria Cross recipient had unlawfully killed several unarmed Afghan detainees.

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Roberts-Smith, who left the Australian Defence Force (ADF) in 2013, denies all wrongdoing and says the allegations are "egregious" and driven by spiteful and jealous peers.

His case  now set to be tested to a higher, criminal standard  has become the face of Australia's reckoning over the country's alleged conduct in Afghanistan, which has cast a pall over its much-mythologised military legacy.

"For Roberts-Smith to now be charged with war crimes - and not just one, but multiple war crimes - is a very significant cultural and social moment for a country that, for much of its history has placed a lot of store in the exploits and contributions of the members of its defence forces," Professor Donald Rothwell told the BBC.

But the prosecution of such a highly-decorated veteran is also an extraordinary moment for the globe.

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"We've never seen this before," says Deane-Peter Baker, a special forces ethics scholar.

'Unprecedented' prosecution

When Roberts-Smith came home from Afghanistan in 2013, he was considered a national hero, having been awarded Australia's highest military honour for single-handedly overpowering Taliban fighters attacking his SAS platoon.

Plum speaking engagements and board gigs, magazine covers and massive portraits, accolades and awards  like Father of the Year  followed.

Roberts-Smith met the late Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2011, months after he received his Victoria Cross [Getty Images]

But in 2018, Nine newspapers began publishing a series of articles alleging misconduct during his time with the SAS  claims of unlawful beatings and killings of prisoners, bullying of colleagues, and domestic violence against a mistress.

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He said it was all untrue, and in a bid to clear his name, launched a high-profile legal battle. It spanned seven years, cost millions of dollars and was dubbed by some as Australia's "trial of the century".

He lost. While the claims of domestic violence and some of the bullying allegations were dismissed, a Federal Court judge in 2023 ruled the reports he committed four murders were substantially true, a judgement that was upheld on appeal.

Roberts-Smith, 47, now faces even higher stakes if convicted of the five charges against him: life in prison, and an unwelcome place in history.

Victoria Cross recipients from other Commonwealth nations have faced criminal charges, but Roberts-Smith is believed to be the first charged with a war crime.

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"If you expand the lens and consider recipients of equivalent awards in other countries, you would be very hard pressed to find one who has been charged with a war crime," says Baker, who reformed the ADF's ethics training after scrutiny over its record in Afghanistan.

Why did the investigation take so long?

Roberts-Smith's arrest was the culmination of a five-year investigation by a special watchdog set up after a landmark inquiry into allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan.

The 2020 Brereton Report found "credible evidence" that elite soldiers unlawfully killed 39 people, recommending 19 current or former ADF members be investigated.

A specialist team, called the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI), was set up to do so  but progress has been slow.

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The OSI has launched 53 investigations, 39 of which have been finalised. It has charged only one other person so far, former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz.

Ross Barnett, director of investigations at OSI, on Tuesday said they were confronting "challenging circumstances"  which include limited preserved physical evidence and no cross-border policing cooperation.

"The OSI has been tasked with investigating literally dozens of murders alleged to have been committed in the middle of a war zone in a country 9,000km from Australia," he said.

"We can't go to that country, we don't have access to the crime scenes... we don't have photographs, site plans, measurements, the recovery of projectiles, blood spatter analysis... we don't have access to the deceased. There's no post-mortem."

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Adding another layer of complexity, is the onus that places on witness testimony from so-called "brothers in arms".

Australian troops served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2021 [Getty Images/The Age]

Though it was a handful of Roberts-Smith's peers who surfaced the allegations against him, getting members of the military to testify against each other goes against informal norms, Peter Stanley - former principal historian at the Australian War Memorial (AWM) - told the BBC.

"Military culture is a really important factor in this," he said.

"[But] potential witnesses who may otherwise have been silent have come around to the idea that their principal obligation is to the truth, and not to any friendships they may have."

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It's unlikely to be a coincidence that the two cases which have progressed to court were both the subject of investigative reporting, he adds, which may have revealed leads for police and helped smooth the path to prosecution.

Barnett told reporters Roberts-Smith's arrest is a "significant step", but the OSI is committed to completing its remaining investigations "expeditiously".

The making of Australian legal history

But the formal judicial process is unlikely to be swift either.

"We have no contemporary experience of war crimes trials being conducted in Australia," says Rothwell, one of Australia's leading experts in international law.

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"This is novel in terms of modern Australian legal history."

The nature of the alleged offences aside, Roberts-Smith's case poses an array of other challenges for the legal system.

There are five distinct charges, all of which relate to events some time ago  and with each one, comes a mountain of evidence.

Then there's the logistical difficulty of coordinating witnesses, some of whom may need their identities protected for safety or national security reasons, as well as some who are based in Afghanistan and with whom communication is near impossible under current conditions.

There is also the quandary of dealing with the troves of potentially prejudicial information already on the public record, which includes fair and accurate reporting of the 110 days of evidence presented in Roberts-Smith's civil defamation case.

Roberts-Smith's lawsuit against the three journalists who wrote the reports was covered in detail [Reuters]

In rare cases, a judge alone may preside over a trial in Australia, but if the case is heard before a jury, finding one oblivious to Roberts-Smith will be a challenge.

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"Inevitably it will somewhat muddy the waters," Rothwell says.

All of that, factoring in general delays in Australia's legal system as well, means a trial is "most definitely" years away, Rothwell says.

Schulz, for example, was charged in March 2023 with a single count of murder, but will not face trial until next year.

Nation's military legacy under fire

Australia has long supposed that its troops are the kind you want to be fighting alongside, but also fighting against: effective, hardy, brave and loyal while being fair and ethical.

The values of the so-called Anzac spirit - famously traced to a doomed offensive carried out by Australian and New Zealand troops at Gallipoli, Turkey, in World War One - are embedded in Australia's sense of national identity.

But this drawn out saga is challenging the way the nation sees itself and its forces.

Surveys have indicated it is damaging to the general public's faith in the defence force, and that it is a source of distress for members of the ADF.

What adds to the anxiety is the pace of the investigations - organisations such as the Returned Services League say it has been unfair to all involved including the families of the alleged victims in Afghanistan.

"It must be galling for [those] who are facing these allegations, and indeed present members of the Defence Force who may feel that their service is being impugned," Stanley says.

But he argues it would be far more painful if investigators got this wrong, Stanley says.

"It would be tragic if they were to launch charges prematurely or to not make the clearest and most effective case."

Sections of Australia, though, question whether these inquiries and prosecutions are a worthwhile pursuit.

Roberts-Smith's medals, which remain on display at the AWM [Getty Images]

Among them are Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart and former prime minister Tony Abbott, who said some special forces soldiers from the Afghanistan campaign have been "subjected to a form of persecution by the country they served".

Former Prime Minister John Howard also released a statement saying Roberts-Smith's arrest "will tug at the heartstrings of millions".

"This is a difficult issue for many, as it tests to the limits not only our respect for Australian values, but the deep and special reverence we have for those who put their lives on the line to keep us safe."

Soldier-turned-MP Andrew Hastie - who told the defamation trial there were "widespread rumours" about Roberts-Smith and he'd come to believe some were true - in a statement said his former SAS colleague is entitled to the presumption of innocence but "none of us are above the law".

"We all had a mission to serve our country, and 99% of us did our job with honour, and we did it in a war that was incredibly frustrating."

For some, the fact that Australia is showing leadership on these issues is a source of comfort. Other countries, like the UK, have announced their own Brereton-style inquiries into allegations of misconduct.

"In a weird way, this is a moment that Australians should be proud of," Baker says.

"For a nation to hold a member of their armed forces to account - someone who has been held up as one of our greatest living heroes  shows a commitment to ethics, decency and the rule of law that is unfortunately very rare among nations."

"That ought to be recognised and applauded, however embarrassing or sad this is for many people," Stanley adds.

Update 17 April: this report has been amended to make clear that troops from both Australia and New Zealand participated in the Anzac campaign at Gallipoli in World War One.
A new proposed railway to connect Zambias copper mines with the Lobito port in Angola will cost up to $5 billion, according to projections in an environmental study.

Construction of the 516-mile (830-kilometer) line is set to begin this year and is expected to be completed by 2030, a new report from the Zambia Environmental Management Agency said.

Africa Finance Corporation is the lead developer of the project, with funding commitments from the African Development Bank. The US is providing $553 million in funding to upgrade the existing railway line in Angola that runs from the Lobito port to the border with DR Congo, but it is not yet clear whether it will offer additional funding for the link into Zambia.

 Preeti Jha
Expect "unsettled weather" to continue across the Florida Peninsula through April 9, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

That's means more rain and gusty winds on top of what many areas have already received since Monday.

On the flip side, the Panhandle and Big Bend region are facing critical wildfire conditions

 Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location

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A cold front has stalled across the state, bringing numerous rounds of heavy downpours along the East Coast and dangerous surf.

Weather alerts issued in Florida

Radar shows location of storms moving through Florida

Expect rain to continue across much of Florida

A cold front stretching across Central and South Florida "will hardly budge through Thursday," according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

Florida will find itself pinned between a system of high pressure to the north and frontal system to the south,bringing strong winds to develop across North and Central Florida.

Wednesday could bring wind gusts of 30-40 mph across all of North and Central Florida, with locallyhigher gusts along the immediate coast, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

How much rain has Florida gotten since Monday, April 6?

"Our team of forecasters expects 2-4 inches of rain along the Florida Atlantic coast and across much of South Florida through Thursday, which will be good news for areas under severe to extreme drought," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.

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"However, some locations could see repeating thunderstorms deliver 4-8 inches of rain, which may lead to flooding in poor drainage areas." Some areas could see as much as 12 inches, according to AccuWeather.

Here's the latest rainfall totals compiled by the National Weather Service as of early Wednesday, April 8:

Daytona Beach April 6: .56 inches April 7: 0.22 inches

Melbourne April 6: 0.31 inches April 7: 0.85 inches

Palm Bay April 6: 0 inches April 7: 3.60 inches

Vero Beach April 6: 0.41 inches April 7: 1.53 inches

Fort Pierce April 6: 0.02 inches April 7: 1.42 inches

West Palm Beach April 6: 0 inches April 7: 2.33 inches



Florida Panhandle, Big Bend seeing critical wildfire conditions

While Florida's Peninsula is experiencing repeated downpours, dry area has been moving into the Panhandle and Big Bend areas.

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Dry fuel, combined with strong winds and dry air, means locally critical wildfire conditions, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

'Stay out of ocean!' Central Atlantic beaches seeing dangerous surf, rip currents

The National Weather Service is reporting high surf and dangerous rip currents at all central Florida Atlantic beaches April 8, 2026.

The National Weather Service Melbourne warned residents to "stay out of the ocean! due to dangerous boating and surf conditions."

A high surf advisory has been issued for all Central Florida Atlantic beaches for Wednesday. Surf is expected to be 9 to 12 feet high into Wednesday night, bringing minor beach and dune erosion.

 Father of 3 dies saving kids from Florida rip current

There's also a rip current risk.

A high rip current risk is in effect through 1 a.m. CDT Friday.

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A high surf advisory is in effect until 1 a.m. CDT Friday. Large breaking waves of 4 to 6 feet expected in the surf zone.

Wednesday, April 8: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Thursday, April 9: Sunny, with a high near 75. East wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday, April 10: Sunny, with a high near 74. East wind around 10 mph.

 Follow National Weather Service Mobile on X

Wednesday, April 8: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Thursday, April 9: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. East northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

Friday, April 10: Sunny, with a high near 82. East northeast wind around 10 mph.

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 Follow the National Weather Service Tallahassee on X

A wind advisory is in effect until midnight April 8. Northeast winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected.

A surf advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for large breaking waves of 9 to13 feet.

A high rip current risk has been issued through Thursday evening.

Wednesday, April 8: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 3 p.m., then a chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 70. Windy, with a northeast wind 21 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday, April 9: A slight chance of showers before 7 a.m., then a chance of showers after 8 a.m.. Partly sunny, with a high near 70. Windy, with a northeast wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Friday, April 10: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. Breezy, with a northeast wind 13 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

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 Follow the National Weather Service Jacksonville on X

A wind advisory is in effect until 5 a.m. Thursday. Expect northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

A flood watch remains in effect through Wednesday evening. Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.

A high surf advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for large breaking waves of 9 to 12 feet.

A high current risk is in effect for dangerous rip currents.

Wednesday, April 8: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 9 a.m. High near 73. Windy, with an east northeast wind 25 to 30 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday, April 9: Showers likely before 8 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 73. Windy, with a northeast wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday, April 10: Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. East northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

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 Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X

A wind advisory is in effect until 5 a.m. Thursday. Expect northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

A flood watch remains in effect through Wednesday evening. Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.

A high surf advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for large breaking waves of 9 to 12 feet.

A high current risk is in effect for dangerous rip currents.

Wednesday, April 8: A chance of showers, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 a.m. High near 74. Windy, with an east northeast wind around 25 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday, April 9: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Windy, with an east northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday, April 10: A slight chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 77. East northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

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 Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X

A wind advisory is in effect until 5 a.m. Thursday. Expect northeast winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

A flood watch remains in effect through Wednesday evening. Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.

A high surf advisory remains in effect until 8 p.m. Thursday for large breaking waves of 9 to 12 feet.

A high current risk is in effect for dangerous rip currents.

Wednesday, April 8: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 8 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 76. Windy, with an east northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday, April 9: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 76. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday, April 10: A 20 percent chance of showers after 8 a.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

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 Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X

A flood watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday. Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible. Additional rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are expected Wednesday, with locally higher amounts of 3-5 inches possible.

A high surf advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. Friday. Large breaking waves of 8 to 12 feet are expected in the surf zone.

A high rip current risk is in place for dangerous rip currents.

Wednesday, April 8: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1 p.m. High near 75. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday, April 9: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 18 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday, April 10: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Windy, with a northeast wind 18 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

 Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X

A flood watch is in effect until 10 p.m. Thursday in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Additional rainfall amounts of 1-2 inches are expected Wednesday, with locally higher amounts of 3-5 inches possible.

A rip current statement has been issued until 8 p.m. Friday for dangerous rip currents.

Wednesday, April 8: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. North wind 8 to 11 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Thursday, April 9: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday, April 10: A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Breezy, with a northeast wind around 16 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

 Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X

Wednesday, April 8: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.

Thursday, April 9: A chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday, April 10: A 20 percent chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.

 Follow the National Weather Service Miami on X

Wednesday, April 8: A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday, April 9: A chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. Breezy, with a northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday, April 10: Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

 Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X

Wednesday, April 8: A slight chance of showers between noon and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. Windy, with an east northeast wind 17 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 29 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Thursday, April 9: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. Windy, with an east northeast wind 17 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday, April 10: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 15 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph.

 Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X

Wednesday, April 8: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Breezy, with an east northeast wind 11 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday, April 9: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. East northeast wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday, April 10: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84. East northeast wind 9 to 11 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.

 Follow the National Weather Service Tampa Bay on X

A wind advisory is in effect until midnight Thursday. Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 45 mph are expected.

Wednesday, April 8: Showers and thunderstorms likely, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 p.m. High near 73. Windy, with an east northeast wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday, April 9: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 74. East northeast wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday, April 10: Mostly sunny, with a high near 78. East northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

 Follow the National Weather Service Melbourne on X

Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text

What's next?

We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.

Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Floridas best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tallahassee.com/newsletters.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Florida weather forecast ranges from flood watches to wildfire risks
The nation's largest organization of historians and a government watchdog group are suing President Donald Trump and his administration, hoping a judge will order them to comply with a decades-old law requiring the preservation of presidential records.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Washington, DC, on April 6, challenges a recent Justice Department memorandum declaring the Presidential Records Act unconstitutional. The act, established more than 45 years ago in the wake of the Watergate crisis, demands all presidential administrations hand over their records at the end of their terms to the National Archives and Records Administration  known as the nations record keeper  for the benefit of the American public.

The American Historical Association, which says it has more than 10,000 members, and the watchdog American Oversight say in the filing that the case is "about the preservation of records that document our nations history, and whether the American people are able to access and learn from that history."

President Donald Trump showered former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi with praise on social media April 2, 2026  praise that might have suggested an honor, not a firing. The message instead marked the end of Bondis brief stint at the Justice Department, after barely a year on the job. Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was fired by the president on March 5, 2026, not long after lawmakers grilled her about her departments massive spending. President Donald Trump fired John Bolton as his national security adviser on Sept. 10, 2019, noting the two "disagreed strongly" on foreign policy matters. President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Nov. 7, 2018, after a year of intense scrutiny from the White House. Sessions' exit, a resignation forced by Trump, was expected for weeks amid Trump's attacks over his attorney general's decision to recuse himself from the Justice Departments inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. After months of disputes with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, President Trump removed him on March 13, 2018, and nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo to head the State Department. Anthony Scaramucci was fired as White House Communications Director on July 31, 2017, just 11 days after the man known as "The Mooch" was hired, making it the shortest in White House history. 'You're fired'  From Bondi to The Mooch, see Trump's firings 1 of 6 President Donald Trump showered former U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi with praise on social media April 2, 2026  praise that might have suggested an honor, not a firing. The message instead marked the end of Bondis brief stint at the Justice Department, after barely a year on the job.

The lawsuit challenges an April 1 memo from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel calling the Presidential Records Act unconstitutional. T. Elliot Gaiser, appointed by Trump as the office's assistant attorney general, wrote in the slip opinion that the law intrudes on the "independence and autonomy of the President."

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Since the Nixon administration, federal law has required presidential records to be controlled by the National Archives after a president's term ends. That requirement stemmed from Nixon's attempt to destroy the White House tapes that incriminated him in the cover-up of the Watergate burglary.

President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, for the wedding of Dan Scavino, White House deputy chief of staff, and Erin Elmore, the director of Art in Embassies at the U.S. Department of State, February 1, 2026.

As of this moment, the Administration believes that the President is legally free to destroy records of his official government conduct, or even spirit away the records for his own future personal use, the two groups allege in their filing challenging Gaiser's memo.

The DOJ declined to comment on the lawsuit.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said in a statement that "President Trump is committed to preserving records from his historic Administration and he will maintain a rigorous records retention program."

A view of former U.S. President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago home after Trump said that FBI agents raided it, in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S. August 9, 2022.

Jackson added that the president is retaining the current preservation system for electronic records, in which emails and documents cannot be deleted, and that all staff of the Executive Office of the President are required to take records training.

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Trump has run up against federal requirements for recordkeeping and document storage before.

More than 300 classified documents were recovered from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate more than a year after he left the White House. Most were collected under subpoena in June 2022 or during an unprecedented FBI search of the president's Florida home in August 2022.

The president was indicted on 40 criminal counts in June and July of 2023 for allegedly keeping classified information and other sensitive presidential records from his first term in office in violation of the law. Most of the counts focused on allegations that Trump willfully retained national defense information.

A photo published by the U.S. Justice Department in their charging document against former U.S. President Donald Trump shows boxes of documents stored in a bathroom at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida in early 2021 as seen embedded in the document released by the Justice Department in Washington, U.S. June 9, 2023.

The indictment, which also alleged Trump obstructed justice by attempting to stymie the government's efforts to retrieve the documents, was dismissed in 2024. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, whom Trump nominated to the bench, wrote that the appointment of special counsel Jack Smith in the case was unlawful.

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Trump argued repeatedly that he could take records with him after leaving the White House, despite the Presidential Records Act requiring otherwise.

Contributing: Reuters.

Kathryn Palmer is a politics reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Historians sue Trump saying presidential records law is constitutional
By Mike Scarcella

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - A U.S. historians' organization and a government transparency group are suing President Donald Trump to force his administration to comply with a presidential records preservation law after the U.S. Justice Department declared the measure unconstitutional.

The American Historical Association and American Oversight on Monday asked the federal court in Washington to declare the nearly 50-year-old Presidential Records Act to be lawful and to bar federal agencies from relying on the Justice Departments legal memo that deemed it illegal.

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The lawsuit also asked the court for an injunction that would require Trump to comply with the law after he leaves office.

This case is about the preservation of records that document our nations history, and whether the American people are able to access and learn from that history, the lawsuit said.

The White House in a statement said: President Trump is committed to preserving records from his historic Administration and he will maintain a rigorous records retention program."

Chioma Chukwu, executive director of American Oversight, said in a statement that the Justice Department is "pushing a sweeping view of presidential power that would hand control of those records to the White House  a position the Supreme Court has already rejected."

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The Presidential Records Act of 1978 sets out rules for the management and custody of presidential records, including when a president may dispose of certain records. Presidential records are provided to the National Archives and Records Administration after each presidential administration ends.

The Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel in an April 1 memo said the law intrudes on the "independence and autonomy of the executive, and the president can disregard it as unconstitutional.

The memo, signed by T. Elliot Gaiser, the Trump-appointed head of the legal counsel office, said the records law exceeds any preservation power because Congress cannot preserve presidential records merely for the sake of posterity.

The American Historical Association and American Oversight argue that the memo contradicts a 1977 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld a prior presidential records preservation law, and that the executive branch doesnt have authority to nullify the opinion.

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The lawsuit said no presidential administration of either political party, including the first Trump administration, had questioned the record laws constitutionality since it was enacted.

The case is American Historical Association et al v. Donald Trump et al, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, No. 1:26-cv-01169.

For plaintiffs: Daniel Jacobson of Jacobson Lawyers Group, and Loree Stark of American Oversight

For defendants: No appearances yet

(Reporting by Mike Scarcella)
A few dozen Marylanders, spurred to call their legislators and demand support for energy legislation under consideration in Annapolis, may have ended their calls feeling a bit confused.

Thats because the number that flashes across the screen at the end of a 30-second ad touting Gov. Wes Moores efforts to lower utility bills, doesnt direct viewers to any legislator. It doesnt connect to a phone in the State House or in the House or Senate office buildings.

It rings on the desk of a reference archivist in the Maryland State Archives.

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Unfortunately, whatever lobbying group created this guidance didnt take the time to call the number and find out if it actually belonged to the State House, Maryland State Archivist Elaine Rice Bachmann said in an email.

The group behind the ad is America Works USA, a 501(c)(4) group that has ties to both the Democratic Governors Association and Moore.

So-called dark money groups such as America Works can be difficult to track. But Federal Communications Commission records show that the organization spent more than $174,000 for 161 slots on WBAL television between March 30 and April 14, and nearly $85,000 for 111 slots for the same period on WBFF Fox 45.

The 30-second spot talks about the governors hand in the Utility RELIEF Act, currently moving between the House and Senate, and ends by urging viewers to call lawmakers and tell them to keep working together with Governor Moore to lower our electricity bills, flashing a number across the screen.

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Since last week, dozens of calls have reached the desk of Rhys Burns, a reference archivist. Burns did not answer calls from Maryland Matters nor return messages.

An online search for the number turned up several references. Some connect the number to tours of the State House complex and a page on the Maryland State Archives website associates the number with Bachmann.

Bachmann, in an email, confirmed the number was once hers. At the time, she served as director and curator of Artistic Property. The number was later reassigned.

Since last Thursday, about 50 calls related to utility relief and the ad have come into the number, she said.

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Weve not received any messages, Senate President Bill Ferguson (D-Baltimore City) said Tuesday following a meeting with reporters.

For now, callers are being redirected to a constituent services number inside the Office of the Governor, Bachmann said.

A spokesperson for America Works, acknowledged the erroneous number. He declined to say how it came to be used in the commercial, or when the organization learned of the error, but said an updated ad with the correct number would be released soon to replace the current ad.

The ad focuses on the Utility RELIEF Act, the massive energy package is working its way through the legislature. The House and Senate have passed competing versions of the bill, and must resolve their differences before adjournment Monday.

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Moore threw his support behind the bill when it was unveiled in mid-March, just before it passed the House. It cobbles together ideas from numerous legislators and a few come from the governors Lower Bills and Local Power Act, which did not advance.

The America Works ad points to several provisions in the wide-ranging bill, which aims to rein in data centers, improve transmission infrastructure and decrease fees.

Moores bill proposed transmission reform, requiring utilities to show regulators that they considered technological improvements to existing power infrastructure before proposing new lines. A similar provision wound up in the Utility RELIEF Act.

Moores proposal for a $20 million fee reduction for Maryland ratepayers was also pulled into the Utility RELIEF Act. The provision prevents utilities from charging ratepayers a fee for being a member of the regional electric grid.

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Moores bill was silent on data centers. House Speaker Joseline Pena-Melnyk (D-Anne Arundel and Prince Georges) first publicly suggested changing a special tariff to include more energy-hungry data centers, so that costs they impose on the electric system wont be borne by ratepayers. The Senate, led by Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard and Montgomery), added provisions rewarding data centers that bring clean power with them.

And some of the most significant fee reductions consumers may notice from the Utility RELIEF Act would come from cuts to the EmPOWER Maryland energy efficiency program  cuts that were also first suggested by Pena-Melnyk. The proposal has proven controversial among environmental groups, who worry that cuts to the program will reduce efficiency and therefore raise bills in the long run. But both chambers have made similar cuts to EmPOWER.

Moore also proposed allocating $100 million from a clean energy fund directly to ratepayers. Legislators decided to take that same $100 million and devote it to EmPOWER costs, further reducing the surcharge.
Several school districts in Massachusetts and New Hampshire were on high alert Wednesday after robocalls threatened bomb attacks, prompting an increased police presence and security sweeps.

Authorities ultimately said there was no credible threat, and all the schools remain open for learning.

The first threat was reported Tuesday night at two elementary schools in Nashua  Bicentennial Elementary School and Main Dunstable Elementary School, according to school officials. By Wednesday morning, similar robocall threats had spread to schools in several other communities, including Pelham, Litchfield, and Hudson in New Hampshire, as well as Tyngsborough, Massachusetts.

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Emergency responders conducted K9 sweeps of the Nashua schools before students arrived for classes. Police cruisers were stationed outside multiple school buildings as a precautionary measure.

Its horrifying, one parent told Boston 25. You always think it cant happen to you, but you never know.

Some parents chose to keep their children home out of concern, while others questioned whether schools should have closed or communicated sooner.

I thought there should have been a little more notice, another parent said. Some kids didnt get the notification until high school, and middle school students were already at school.

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Nashua Superintendent Mario Andrade said district leaders and law enforcement began responding to the situation early Wednesday morning.

Weve been working on this since one oclock in the morning, Andrade said. We were in contact with the police department and walked the schools at four oclock this morning to assess the situation.

After reviewing the information and conducting security checks, officials determined there was no credible threat and decided to keep schools open on a normal schedule.

We determined there was no credible threat, and thats how we made our decision, Andrade said, assuring families that student and staff safety remains the top priority.

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Police are now investigating whether the threats across multiple communities are connected and are working with the New Hampshire Department of Safety to trace the origin of the robocalls. Authorities cautioned the public not to spread unverified information and encouraged anyone with tips to contact police.

We take all threats seriously, Andrade said. Were very grateful to our community for their continued partnership and support of the school district.

Parents acknowledged the precautions but said the situation remains unsettling.

I do have faith that its being handled properly, one parent said. But with everything going on, it still puts you on edge.

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Officials reiterated that there is no active danger and emphasized that schools across the affected districts are operating as usual while the investigation continues.

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An Iowa House committee approved two bills impacting higher education Wednesday, both with unanimous support.

Funding for pediatric cancer research saw continued support during the House Appropriations Committee meeting, with members acknowledging the work of families impacted by cancer to keep legislation moving forward. House File 2310 would provide a standing appropriation to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for this research, in an amount equal to $1 per Iowan and capped at $3 million.

Rep. Ryan Weldon, R-Ankeny, said during the meeting the annual funding is a standing promise that Iowa will not leave these kids behind.

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This appropriation exists for one reason  to fund the research that develops treatments designed for children, treatments that account for how a childs body works, how it grows and what it can withstand, Weldon said. The science is there. The researchers are there. Whats been missing is a consistent, reliable commitment to fund the work.

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Legislation including an appropriation of $3 million to pediatric cancer research also saw approval from the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday, though the allocation would be funded through a new tax on alternative nicotine and vapor products rather than the states general fund. Passage of Senate Study Bill 3193 was not unanimous, with Senate Democrats saying the additional five-cent tax on containers holding up to 20 units of products isnt going far enough to curb use.

House File 2331, which would establish an attorney loan repayment program for those practicing in the state, also saw unanimous support from the appropriations committee, including an amendment to the bill limiting its scope. If enacted, the legislation would provide eligible attorneys with $10,000 annually until their educational loans are fully paid, capped at six years and administered by the Iowa College Student Aid Commission.

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Rep. Brian Lohse, R-Bondurant, said the amendment decreases program slots from 110 to 25 to make it more competitive and fiscally responsible and sets a preference structure for loan repayments based on whether they practice in a rural area and how many hours they dedicate to helping people who cannot afford an attorney, also known as indigent defense.

If an attorney stops practicing in Iowa or otherwise stops fulfilling program requirements, Lohse said the assistance theyre receiving will end.

Rep. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames, asked Lohse whether a funding source for the program had been identified. Lohse replied that it is still being worked on but he hopes they find the money.

Wilburn and Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, expressed their support for the legislation, with Wilburn saying the indigent defense portion is especially important. Disparate representation in court and corrections systems, as well as clogging of the court system and potential limiting of constitutional rights, are all potential consequences for not giving people adequate representation, Wilburn said.

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Its a great economic development tool with regard to rural justice, and as the parent of a Georgetown Law graduate here in one month, its the only way Im going to get this kid to come back here, Konfrst said. So I appreciate that on a personal point as well.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Sen. Ron Watson (D-Prince Georges) appeared to have a receptive audience when he pitched his bill to ease restrictions on state legislators working second jobs with the state or county or local governments to a House committee Tuesday.

As somebody this has impacted directly for eight years  I want to tell you that this is such an important piece of legislation, said Del. Jen Terrasa (D-Howard), who was term-limited to three, four-year terms on the Howard County Council from 2006 to 2018. I couldnt continue that [public] service and do this.

Terrasa, who doesnt plan to seek reelection to the General Assembly this year, was speaking to Watson during his testimony before the Government, Labor and Elections Committee in support of Senate Bill 618.

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Watson serves as lead sponsor on the bipartisan bill that would ease the current restriction on a state lawmaker holding another state job or working for a county or municipal government, if that person had served at least one full term in office and objectively satisfied the minimum education, licensure and experience requirements of the job.

Watson said that the current restrictions can make it financially difficult, if not impossible, for someone to serve in the General Assembly.

We must be candid: Serving in elected office carries significant financial tradeoffs. Careers are interrupted. Professional networks shift. Private sector advancements may slow. Retirement contributions may be impacted, he said. We want our teachers, small business owners, young professionals, mid-career leaders and community advocates to see legislative services as possible and not financially punitive.

Watson insisted that the state has strong conflict of interest laws, procurement safeguards, lobbying restrictions, disclosure requirements and independent ethics reviews in place to protect against problems with a lawmaker, for example, holding the purse strings for an agency that pays his full-time salary.

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He sponsored the bill, with Sen. Johnny Ray Salling (R-Baltimore County), after the legislatures ethics committee determined in an October letter that state law prohibited Watson from holding a job as interim senior adviser to the Prince Georges schools superintendent. He resigned from the position in December.

The current law carves out exceptions for legislators who held a government job before being elected or appointed to office, for a person who provides education instruction and for a career promotion, change, or progression that is a logical transition from a preexisting relationship, among other provisions.

Watsons bill would add the exceptions for an elected official whos served at least a term in office, meets the qualifications of the second job, and complies with a regulation the prevents them from using the prestige of office for private gain for themselves or another.

On March 20, the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics voted 10-2 to recommend that an amended version of the bill could pass ethical muster.

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Three days later, the full Senate passed SB 618 by a 32-10 vote with bipartisan support from Salling and one other Republican, Sen. Mike McKay (R-Western Maryland). According to the vote tally, Sen. Alonzo Washington (D-Prince Georges) was the only Democrat to vote against it.

Sens. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) and C. Anthony Muse (D-Prince Georges) did not vote, according to the tally. Sens. Joanne C. Benson (D-Prince Georges), Mary-Dulany James (D-Harford) and Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) had excused absences.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

The same House committee heard testimony in February on a similar House version thats sponsored by Del. Andrea Fletcher Harrison (D-Prince Georges). No action has been taken on that bill since.

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On Tuesday, several members of the committee, including Del. Sheree Sample-Hughes (D-Dorchester and Wicomico), asked if a persons full term would begin when the bill goes into effect Jan. 13, 2027. Thats when the legislatures next four-year term begins.

Its not proactive. Its retroactive, Watson said. So if you have served one full term, you qualify once this bill goes into effect.

Del. Brian Chisholm (R-Anne Arundel) asked if the legislature needs to pass a bill or could ethics [committee] make this change on their own?

Since being in the legislature in 2019, Watson said he didnt receive a clear answer.

I decided to use our leverage we have as legislators to force the ethics committee to sit down, have an in-depth conversation and come up with what I think is a reasonable compromise, he said. If we hadnt done it this way, Im not sure it would have happened anytime soon.
On the morning of Feb. 13, a 52-year-old man from Ecuador was in a car with four people when the driver noticed they were being followed by a white van and pulled over into an elementary school parking lot, according to a petition filed to challenge the 52-year-olds immigration detention.

A plainclothes Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent then approached the car and said that agents were looking for someone named Helen. After he reviewed their identification, multiple ICE agents detained three of the passengers, including the 52-year-old man. None of them were named Helen.

The mans arrest appears to be one of 1,300 arrests during Operation Metro Surge labeled as collateral by ICE in a new release of ICE data obtained by the Deportation Data Project. The labeling of arrests as either targeted or collateral, which was not included in previous data releases, offers new insight into how many people were not the intended target of immigration enforcement during the surge of 3,000 federal agents but were nonetheless caught in the Trump administrations mass deportation dragnet.

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The data doesnt name the individuals arrested, but it does include information like time of arrest, birth year, citizenship country and how long a person was detained for, which the Reformer used to match the Ecuadorian mans arrest, described in court records, to an arrest in the new data release.

ICE didnt challenge any of the facts in the habeas petition, and the man was ordered by a judge to be released from detention four days later. He was released from custody the next day, according to both the Deportation Data Projects detention data and court records.

ICE did not respond to a request for the definition of collateral, but in a previous email, ICE said about the data: The Deportation Data Project relies on information releases that have not been reviewed, audited or given context. Neither DHS or ICE have verified the accuracy, methodology or the analysis of the project and its results. The bottom line is that the Deportation Data Project is not accurate.

The Deportation Data Project publishes data obtained from the agency via a Freedom of Information Act request and is the most comprehensive data available on ICE arrests during the surge. Despite challenging the accuracy of the data it provided, ICE has yet to offer an alternative.

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Collateral arrests make up around 35% of the 3,785 arrests recorded since the beginning of the surge in December. The portion of arrests that were collateral nearly doubled during the surge compared to previous months: From September to November, around 19% of the 528 arrests recorded in Minnesota were collateral.

In the first two weeks of the surge, federal immigration agents recorded more collateral arrests than targeted arrests.

Its still unclear how reliable the label is. On Jan. 14, ICE agents mistook Alfredo Aljorna, a Venezuelan national, for another Latino man and pursued him on I-94. After the car chase, an ICE agent shot Aljornas roommate, Julio Sosa-Celis, in the leg. Federal agents detained Aljorna and Sosa-Celis, along with their partners and a man who lives in the same duplex.

None of the arrested people were the intended target of the ICE agents, but in the data, the arrest of a Venezuelan man whose age, arrest time and detention details matches Aljornas is labeled as targeted. The arrest of a man who appears to be Sosa-Celis is labeled as collateral. The remaining arrests do not clearly match any of the arrests in the data.

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The data doesnt include the arrests of U.S. citizens. Operation Metro Surge was initially purported to target Somali Minnesotans, the vast majority of whom are citizens. Agents mistook citizens for their targets and appeared to arrest citizens on the basis of their appearance; a federal judge in Minnesota found compelling and troubling evidence that federal agents racially profiled Somali and Latino residents.

Madi McVan contributed reporting.
Idaho barred government buildings from flying Pride flags. Now, officials in the states capital city are turning to lights, pole wraps, and public signage instead.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

Boise City Hall installed a sign this week featuring an 11-stripe rainbow with the message: Creating a city for everyone. Local CBS affiliate KBOI reports that new colored accent lighting also illuminated the building in rainbow hues. Flagpoles, including ones that previously flew the Pride flag, are now wrapped in rainbow colors.

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City leaders point out that the art display is not a flag.

"The art additions to city hall demonstrate our unwavering commitment to the people that call Boise home and to the values that we uphold every day of being a safe and welcoming city for everyone, the city said in a statement to the station.

Related: Idaho Republicans advance bill to impose hefty fines on cities flying Pride flags

Related: Here's how Boise and Salt Lake City will fly Pride flags despite state bans

After the GOP-controlled Idaho legislature passed a law last year prohibiting cities from flying any flags not on a list sanctioned by state law, Boise responded by adopting the rainbow icon as its official city flag to sidestep the restriction. But the Legislature, which meets blocks from City Hall, tightened the law this year, imposing fines of $2,000 per day, per flag, for any banners not specifically permitted.

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Idaho state Rep. Ted Hill, who sponsored the new law, included language explicitly barring any city flags adopted after 2023. He said Boises defiance prompted the punitive penalties.

Thats what this bill is about, specifically insubordinate government officials, he said in a committee hearing, the Idaho Capital Sun reported. It sets a tone of anarchy.

Related: Idaho Republicans are trying to strip localities of nondiscrimination ordinances that protect LGBTQ+ people

Related: The Idaho legislature isnt governing. Its hunting transgender people

Related: Idaho governor signs law making transgender bathroom use a felony

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Boises latest display, however, is not a flag. The lighting incorporates the six colors of the traditional Pride flag, the black and brown stripes associated with the Philadelphia Pride flag, and the pink, blue, and white of the transgender flag. The combined palette evokes the Progress Pride flag without replicating any single official design.

After Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, signed the legislation imposing fines, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, a Democrat, posted a video saying that removing flags from flagpoles didnt change the citys attitudes toward inclusiveness.

To our LGBTQ family, friends and neighbors, you are an essential part of Boise, she said. You are welcome here. You are valued here, and no law can or will change that. In fact, it has only strengthened our resolve, because our values and our commitment run deep. We are and will remain a safe and welcoming city for everyone.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Idaho said no Pride flags permitted. Boise said watch this

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India is considering releasing snakes and crocodiles along its frontier with Bangladesh, the Border Security Force said Wednesday, as New Delhi seeks to stave off unauthorised crossings.

Bangladesh is almost entirely encircled by India and the border stretches for more than 4,000 kilometres (2,485 miles), large parts of which are unfenced across delta regions where Himalayan rivers wind toward the sea.

Senior Border Security Force officer Manoj Barnwal told AFP that "the use of reptiles" was discussed in a February meeting with the Home Ministry.

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"We have been asked to explore the feasibility of deploying reptiles such as snakes or crocodiles in vulnerable riverine gaps," said Barnwal, deputy inspector general of the paramilitary force based in Kolkata, near the border with Bangladesh.

"The plan revolves around leveraging natural deterrents like crocodiles and snakes in flood-prone zones, along the unfenced area where traditional fencings are either ineffective or not possible," he added.

The border between India and Bangladesh cuts through the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest.

"It's an innovative move, but there are several challenges and it raises safety concerns," Barnawl said. "How do we procure the reptiles? What impact might it have on the people in the villages sitting along the riverine border?"

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"We have asked our field units to study the feasibility of the approach and send the report as soon as possible," he added.

Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka soured after a 2024 revolution in Dhaka ended the autocratic rule of the then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India.

Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is in New Delhi on Wednesday -- the most senior envoy from Dhaka to visit since the 2024 uprising -- in a bid to rebuild frosty diplomatic relations.

India has constructed border fencing stretching hundreds of kilometres (miles), and arrested scores of Bangladeshis attempting to cross the frontier in the wake of Hasina's overthrow.

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The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance on immigration, particularly from neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh.

Top Indian officials have referred to migrants as "termites" and "infiltrators".

Rights groups have accused India of also pushing hundreds of Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process.

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What started as a quick money idea became a $26,000 secret and a marriage on the brink.

Kyle, a Salt Lake City caller, told "The Ramsey Show" he racked up credit card debt behind his pregnant wife's back while trying to flip Pokemon cards for profit. The idea was simple: buy cards, resell them and build an online following. It spiraled fast, and now divorce papers are already in motion.

Personal finance expert Dave Ramsey did not frame it as a simple mistake. He called it "financial infidelity," shifting the focus from the failed side hustle to the damage caused by hiding it.

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How The Debt Kept Growing

Kyle said he began by buying Pokemon cards to resell online. He then spent more trying to build an audience, paying for Instagram followers and giveaways in hopes of driving sales.

His wife knew about roughly $4,000 to $4,500 at first, but he kept charging card purchases and promotion costs to credit cards until the debt reached $26,000. He also said the marriage was already under strain.

When co-host Jade Warshaw asked what was happening before the debt piled up, Kyle said he was angry, short and unpleasant to be around.

"Yeah, it's not because of these Pokemon cards that was just the final straw," Warshaw said. Kyle agreed. He said they have three boys, ages two to five, and a daughter on the way.

Trending: Caught With Nothing Saved for Retirement? These 5 GameChanging Tips Could Still Save You

The Trust Broke Before The Money Ran Out

When Ramsey asked Kyle to see the situation from his wife's perspective, Kyle replied that the real issue was "the deceit, betrayal." Ramsey responded, "You busted the trust almost as if you slept with someone."

Kyle said he kept spending out of "selfish greed and lust for fame that wasn't real." He said he would be lucky to recover about $5,000 by selling the cards to a local shop. But the financial loss was only part of the fallout.

One Strike To Prove It

Kyle said he started counseling, and his wife went with him to his first appointment. He told her he would burn the cards, work overtime and do whatever it took to save the marriage. She told him to go to therapy, but it was unclear whether she was willing to stay.

Ramsey said any second chance would depend on honesty over time. "You get one strike," he said. "One strike and you better make it count."
In 2022, police caused extensive damage to Amy Hadley's home in South Bend, Indiana, because they mistakenly believed a fugitive was inside the house. That same year, a Los Angeles SWAT team wrecked Carlos Pena's print shop while trying to arrest a fugitive who had barricaded himself inside.

Through no fault of their own, Hadley and Pena were stuck with the tab for the havoc wrought by police operationsa plainly unfair but increasingly common situation that could be rectified by the "just compensation" that the Fifth Amendment requires when property is "taken for public use." In petitions filed this week, Hadley and Pena are asking the Supreme Court to recognize that remedy.

On a Friday afternoon in June 2022, according to Hadley's petition, city and county police looking for "a dangerous fugitive" surrounded her home. They had erroneously concluded, "based on an IP address," that the fugitive was using a computer inside the house.

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In reality, the only person in the house was Hadley's 15-year-old son, who promptly obeyed police orders to come out with his hands up. Hadley, who came home shortly afterward, told police they had made a mistake, adding that security cameras confirmed no one else was inside.

The officers nevertheless fired dozens of tear gas rounds through the windows of the unoccupied house, which they eventually ransacked while searching for a fugitive who was not there and never had been. The damage, which totaled about $16,000, was only partly covered by insurance, and local officials refused to pay the difference.

A couple of months later, according to Pena's petition, he was working in his North Hollywood print shop when he "heard a commotion outside." After he opened the door to see what was happening, a man running from U.S. marshals forced his way in and expelled Pena.

During the ensuing standoff, a SWAT team saturated Pena's shop with tear gas, destroying equipment valued at $60,000. The fugitive escaped, but Pena's business was ruined, and the city refused to compensate him.

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Last October, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit barred Hadley from seeking compensation under the Fifth Amendment, saying the requirement does not cover "property damage resulting from police executing a lawful search warrant." In November, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit likewise blocked Pena's bid for compensation, saying the Takings Clause does not apply to property damage "necessary for the defense of public safety."

The Institute for Justice, which represents both Hadley and Pena, argues that such exceptions are not supported by the text or history of the Takings Clause, which requires compensation precisely when property is taken "for public use," meaning the intervention is legitimate. The point is not to punish abuses but to prevent the government from "forcing some people alone to bear public burdens which, in all fairness and justice, should be borne by the public as a whole," as the Supreme Court put it in 1960.

Such burdens manifestly include the cost of law enforcement, which aims to protect the public from dangerous criminals like the fugitives whom police were trying to apprehend when they assaulted Hadley's home and Pena's business. The need for compensation in such cases should be obvious, especially since insurers typically do not cover damage caused by the government.

Decisions blocking compensation, Pena's lawyers note, are based on the "flawed premise" that "when the government is acting for a good reason, it would somehow be unfair or unwise to 'penalize' it by requiring it to pay for the property it takes." That premise, they argue, "fundamentally misunderstands the nature of the Takings Clause, which starts from the assumption that the government is acting for a good reason."

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The Supreme Court so far has declined to resolve a circuit split on this issue. These cases give the justices another chance to correct the confusion that has left innocent property owners with bills they should not have to pay.

 Copyright 2026 by Creators Syndicate Inc.

The post Innocent Property Owners Deserve 'Just Compensation' When Cops Wreck Their Homes or Businesses appeared first on Reason.com.
A Bolivian asylum seeker who was unlawfully jailed in Muscatine County before his release in January now faces deportation to Congo.

Attorneys for Jose Yugar-Cruz, 36, say their client was detained Wednesday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who now plan to deport him to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By midday, Yugar-Cruzs attorneys had filed an emergency motion in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, seeking to immediately block ICEs deportation efforts.

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Less than four hours later, U.S. District Judge Stephen H. Locher issued an order blocking ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from either deporting Yugar-Cruz or moving him outside the Southern District of Iowa, at least until further order from the court.

Locher also gave the U.S. Department of Justice until April 13 to file affidavits and exhibits establishing the lawfulness of Yugar-Cruzs detention and to make a recommendation as to whether an evidentiary hearing in the matter should be conducted.

The move by ICE to deport Yugar-Cruz comes just two days after the Trump administration announced a new international agreement that allows the United States to send to the Democratic Republic of Congo individuals who, without authorization, have come to the United States from third-party countries. Several African nations have signed such deals with the administration, raising concerns among advocacy groups who cite the repressive nature of their governments.

Congos government has said there will be automatic transfer of the deportees who arrive there from the United States, but added that each situation will be subject to individual review.

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Getsy Hernandez of the immigrant advocacy group Escucha Mi Voz Iowa said Wednesday that deporting Yugar-Cruz to Congo  where he has no ties, financial resources, or legal status  would place him at significant risk of persecution or torture.

This is exactly what asylum law is meant to stop, Hernandez said. Deporting people to countries theyve never lived in  with no support and with real danger  is putting their lives at risk, and it must end. No deportations to third countries.

Jailed for 11 months by ICE

Court records show that Yugar-Cruz entered the United States from Bolivia in July 2024. In court filings, he alleged that while living in Bolivia, he operated a small business and had refused to facilitate the drug trade by police officials who then detained him and tortured him.

In the court filings, Yugar-Cruz said he fled to Mexico, then entered the United States on foot at the Arizona border, and then sought out and surrendered himself to federal immigration officials. He was then taken into custody and jailed, after which he applied for asylum based on the threat of persecution in Bolivia.

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In December 2024, a federal immigration judge held a hearing on Yugar-Cruzs asylum request. In January 2025, a judge ruled the U.S. government could not send Yugar-Cruz back to Bolivia due to the ongoing threat of torture.

The judge granted Yugar-Cruz withholding-of-removal relief  a form of protection for individuals who face persecution if returned to their home country. It prevents the U.S. government from deporting an individual to a country where their life or freedom would be threatened.

In February 2025, however, Yugar-Cruz was still being held in the Freeborn County Adult Detention Center in Albert Lea, Minn. While there, he spoke to ICE officials who first indicated hed be released in 15 days or so, but later informed him they would continue to hold him while looking for some third-party country to which he could be deported.

The lawsuit alleged ICE officials proposed that Yugar-Cruz be deported to Argentina, Chile or Paraguay, all of which border Bolivia, but Yugar-Cruz objected, noting that Bolivians, including the police, can easily travel to those countries without a passport. Mexico was proposed as an alternative, but Yugar-Cruz expressed concern officials there would simply deport him to Bolivia.

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On Dec. 3, 2025, Yugar-Cruz was transferred from the Albert Lea jail to the Muscatine County Jail in Iowa. Nine days later, Yugar-Cruzs attorney sued the Muscatine County jail administrator, as well as Homeland Security officials, alleging they were violating federal law by continuing to detain Yugar-Cruz after the immigration judge had ruled in his favor.

As part of that lawsuit, Yugar-Cruzs attorney noted the Trump administration had adopted a practice of deporting people to third-party countries with no guarantee those individuals wouldnt immediately be sent to their home country, where they faced persecution or torture.

A federal judge in the District of Columbia has ruled the practice amounts to a widespread effort to evade the governments legal obligations by doing indirectly what it cannot do directly.

Yugar-Cruz has no criminal record, according to his attorneys court filings. His lawsuit alleged violations of his due process rights and the Immigration Nationality Act and sought his immediate release from the Muscatine County Jail.

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Earlier this year, Locher ordered the Muscatine County Jail to work with ICE officials in securing Yugar-Cruzs immediate release, and on Jan. 7, 2026, ICE officials confirmed for the court that Yugar-Cruz had been discharged from the county jail while remaining subject to the supervision of ICE.

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The embassy urged US citizens in Iraq to leave as soon as possible, noting that future attacks from Iran-backed Iraqi militias are possible.

Iran-backed Iraqi militias conducted several drone attacks near the Diplomatic Support Center and Baghdad International Airport on Wednesday, the US Embassy in Baghdad said in a post on X/Twitter.

The post warned that future attacks are possible and that US citizens in Iraq should leave as soon as possible, noting several departure routes.

Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia come under drone, missile attack

Kuwait's Interior Ministry reported "severe material damage" at several vital facilities of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and the energy and water resources ministry after an Iranian drone attack on Wednesday.

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The ministry said fires broke out at some of the sites attacked, which it said include oil facilities, three power stations, and water desalination plants.

Also on Wednesday, the Qatari Defense Ministry announced on X/Twitter that Qatar had intercepted seven Iranian ballistic missiles and several drones.

In addition, a Saudi Red Sea oil pipeline was attacked by Iran on Wednesday, according to Israeli media.

Saudi Arabia had earlier announced that it had intercepted nine drones over several hours on Wednesday.
In the end, cooler heads prevailed  at least for now.

At 18:32 Washington time, President Donald Trump posted on his social media website that the US and Iran were "very far along" with a "definitive" peace agreement and that he had agreed to a two-week ceasefire to allow negotiations to proceed.

It wasn't exactly the last minute, but with Trump's looming 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT on Wednesday) deadline to reach a deal or the US would launch massive strikes against Iranian energy and transportation infrastructure, it came pretty close.

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All of this is contingent on Iran also suspending hostilities and fully opening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping traffic, which the regime says it will do, while insisting it still exerts "dominion" over the waterway.

The deal allowed Trump to extricate himself from what was shaping up to be a treacherous choice  either escalating with his promise that a "whole civilisation will die tonight" or backing down and undermining his credibility. The US president may have only bought himself a temporary reprieve, however.

The US and Iranians now will engage in negotiations over the next two weeks, buying some time to try to reach a permanent settlement. It is likely to be a bumpy ride, but in after-hours trading, the price of a barrel of oil dropped below the $100 mark for the first time in days and US stock futures soared. There appears to be a sense of optimism that the worst is over.

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Even this kind of progress was far from certain as recently as Tuesday morning, when Trump threatened the death of Iranian civilisation, "never to be brought back again".

Whether such a jaw-dropping threat from an American president pressured Iran to agree to the kind of ceasefire they had previously rejected is uncertain. What is clear is that Trump's astounding, inflammatory declaration  just two days after a similar obscenity-laced Truth Social demand  is unlike anything a modern US president has ever levelled or hinted at.

And even if the two-week ceasefire does result in a permanent peace, the Iran war  and Trump's recent words  may have fundamentally altered the way the rest of the world views the US.

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A nation that once styled itself as a force for stability around the globe is now shaking the foundations of the international order. A president who has seemingly relished shattering norms and traditions in domestic politics is now doing the same on the world stage.

Democrats were quick to condemn Trump's words on Tuesday, with some going so far as to call for his removal.

"It is clear that the president has continued to decline and is not fit to lead," wrote Congressman Joaquin Castro on X.

Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the US Senate, said any Republican who did not join in voting to end the Iran war "owns every consequence of whatever the hell this is".

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While many in Trump's own party stood by their president, it was far from the near-universal support he often enjoys.

Austin Scott, Republican congressman from Georgia and senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, strongly criticised Trump's threats about a civilisation dying.

"The president's comments are counter-productive," he told the BBC, "and I do not agree with them."

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, usually a Trump loyalist, said it would be a "huge mistake" if Trump followed through with his bombing campaign. Congressman Nathaniel Moran of Texas wrote on social media that he did not support "the destruction of a 'whole civilisation'".

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"This is not who we are," he wrote, "and it is not consistent with the principles that have long guided America."

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, who has frequently broken with the president, was equally direct, writing that the president's threat "cannot be excused away as an attempt to gain leverage in negotiations with Iran".

The White House is likely to counter that the leverage worked, however. And for a president who has faced declining poll numbers, a growing number of critics within his own party and an economy that is struggling over higher energy prices, any off-ramp in the conflict is likely to come as a relief.

In his Truth Social post announcing the ceasefire, Trump said that the US had "met and exceeded" all its military objectives.

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Iran's military has been significantly degraded. Although its Islamic fundamentalist regime is still in power, many of its top leaders have been killed in bombing strikes.

At the moment, however, many of the stated American objectives are still in doubt. The disposition of Iran's enriched uranium  the foundation of its nuclear weapons programme  is unknown. The nation still has influence over regional proxies, such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

And even if Iran does fully open Hormuz  without conditioning passage on tolls or other payments  its ability to control the key geopolitical chokepoint is more clear now than ever.

In a statement after Trump's ceasefire message, Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that Iran would halt its "defensive operations" and allow safe passage through the Hormuz "via coordination with Iran's armed forces". He added that the US had accepted the "general framework" of the Iranian 10-point plan.

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That plan includes the US withdrawing its military forces from the region, lifting economic sanctions on Iran, paying compensation for war damages and allowing Iran to maintain control over Hormuz. It is hard to imagine Trump actually agreeing to any of those conditions  a sign that the next two weeks of negotiations could be treacherous.

For the moment, however, this is a partial political victory for Trump. He made a dramatic threat and achieved the desired result. But the ceasefire is a reprieve, not a permanent settlement.

The long-term cost of the president's words and actions, and of the war overall, has yet to be fully assessed.

You can also get in touch by following this link

[BBC]

Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.
By Steve Holland, Parisa Hafezi, Enas Alashray and Ahmed Tolba

WASHINGTON/DUBAI/CAIRO, April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure.

Trump's announcement on social media represented an abrupt turnaround from earlier in the day, when he issued an extraordinary warning that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if his demands were not met.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate the ceasefire, said in a post on X that he had invited Iranian and U.S. delegations to meet in Islamabad on Friday.

Trump said the last-minute deal was subject to Iran's agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the strait, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments. Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi, said in a statement that Tehran would stop counter-attacks and provide safe passage through the waterway.

"This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."

Iran's Supreme National Security Council portrayed the deal as a victory over the U.S., claiming Trump had accepted Iran's conditions for ending hostilities.

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In response, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "This is a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen."

"The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace," she said in a post on X.

The war, now in its sixth week, has claimed more than 5,000 lives in nearly a dozen countries, including more than 1,600 civilians in Iran, according to tallies from government sources and human rights groups.

A source briefed on the talks expressed wariness about the two-week ceasefire holding, saying the U.S. side believed Iran might be trying to buy time. It was a trust-building exercise, the source said.

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CONDITIONED ON STRAIT'S REOPENING

Two White House officials confirmed that Israel has also agreed to the two-week ceasefire and to suspend its bombing campaign on Iran. The agreement includes a cessation of Israel's campaign in Lebanon, Sharif said.

It was not immediately clear how soon the ceasefire would take full effect. Israeli media reported it would begin once Iran reopened the strait and that Israel expected Iranian attacks to continue in the interim.

Iraq's Islamic Resistance said it would suspend operations in Iraq and across the region for two weeks.

More than an hour after Trump's announcement, the Israeli military said it had identified missiles launched from Iran, and explosions from intercepted missiles could be heard in Tel Aviv. Gulf countries including Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates also issued near-simultaneous alerts and activated air defences.

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Israeli first responders were providing medical treatment to two 15-year-old males who were in mild condition after blast injuries in the southern town of Tel Sheva, according to a spokesperson from the MDA ambulance service.

Israeli media said its military was striking back at launch sites in Iran.

Trump, who has issued a series of threats in recent weeks only to back away, said progress between the two sides had prompted him to agree to the ceasefire. He said Iran had presented a 10-point proposal that was a "workable basis" for negotiations and that he expected an agreement to be "finalised and consummated" during the two-week window.

Markets breathed a sigh of relief, with U.S. stock futures rising in the minutes following Trump's message. Oil prices fell sharply, with U.S. crude futures touching their lowest price since March 26.

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Global leaders also welcomed the ceasefire with the Australian government saying that "the longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost".

ABRUPT TURNAROUND

Trump's announcement capped a whirlwind day that was dominated by his threat to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran unless Tehran reopened the strait. That unnerved world leaders, rattled global financial and energy markets and drew widespread condemnation, including criticism from the head of the United Nations and Pope Leo.

Some international law experts have said attacking civilian infrastructure indiscriminately could constitute a war crime.

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The closure of the strait has sharply increased oil prices, escalating the chances of a global economic downturn or even recession. The U.S. Energy Information Administration earlier on Tuesday warned that fuel prices could continue to rise for months even after the strait reopened.

With the U.S. midterm election campaign ramping up, Trump's approval ratings have hit their lowest level ever, leaving his Republican Party at risk of losing its narrow majorities in Congress. Polls show sizable majorities of Americans are opposed to the war and frustrated by the rising cost of gasoline.

As the clock ticked down to Trump's 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT) deadline, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran had intensified, hitting railway and road bridges, an airport and a petrochemical plant. U.S. forces attacked targets on Kharg Island, home to Iran's main oil export terminal.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Writing by Joseph Ax, Simon Lewis and David Dolan; Editing by Scott Malone, Cynthia Osterman and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
April 7 (UPI) -- An Iran-backed militia freed an American journalist it kidnapped last month in a prisoner exchange with the Iraqi government, Iraqi and militia officials announced Tuesday.

The militia, Kataib Hezbollah, confirmed the release of Shelly Kittleson in response to negotiations with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani. Kataib Hezbollah representative Abu Mujahid al-Assaf said Kittleson was released "on the condition that she leaves the country immediately."

"This initiative will not be repeated again in the coming days," Assaf said in a statement on Telegram. "We are in a state of war wage by the American-Zionist enemy against Islam, and in such circumstances many considerations fall away."

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Kataib Hezbollah abducted Kittleson in late March and set her free in a swap involving multiple members of the militia, Iraqi security officials told The New York Times. The Washington Post reported that it was believed Kittleson was held at Turf al-Sakhar, a stronghold of the militia about 40 miles north of Baghdad.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he extended his department's appreciation to those who had assisted in securing her release, which he framed as a reflection of the Trump administration's steadfast commitment to the safety and security of American citizens, no matter where they are in the world."

"We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," he said in a statement.

The National Press Club said it was "relieved" to learn of Kittleson's release and hoped for her safe departure from Iraq.

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"Today's development is a welcome update for all those who believe in the ability for journalists to report safely and freely," club president Mark Schoeff Jr. said in a statement.

"Her ordeal underscores the growing threats journalists face today as they do their jobs and report the truth."

Kataib Hezbollah is a U.S.-designated terror organization and has links to Iran's Quds Force, part of Iran's military. It's the second kidnapping of a foreign national by the group in Iraq in recent years.

In September, the group released Elizabeth Tsurkov, an Israeli-Russian citizen and Princeton University student, after more than two years of captivity.

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Kittleson worked as a freelance reporter for more than a decade in the Middle East.

Amid an escalation of regional violence in response to the war in Iran, the U.S. government urged all American citizens living in Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to leave as soon as possible.

According to Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to Trump, 106 Americans held in foreign countries have been released since January 2025.

"No man, or woman, left behind," he said on X.
TEL AVIV, Israel  Israel is greeting the Iran ceasefire with more unease than relief, as overnight missile fire, sharp political backlash and deep skepticism about Tehrans intentions reinforce a broad sense that while the conflict is paused, its far from resolved.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced swift criticism from political opponents on the left and right, who slammed the Israeli leader for failing to eliminate the core threats posed by Irans nuclear program, missile arsenal and regional proxies even as Israel absorbed the costs of the campaign.

The army carried out everything it was asked to do, the public showed extraordinary resilience, but Netanyahu failed diplomatically, failed strategically, and did not meet a single one of the goals he himself set, opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a post on X.

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The ceasefire stopped the Israeli military campaign much sooner than Israel wanted, and left Netanyahus government with no choice but to go along.

Even as Israelis were worried that the U.S. deal fell far short of Israels requirements, few publicly criticized President Donald Trump, who is broadly popular here.

Zvika Foghel, a far-right lawmaker in Netanyahu's governing coalition and chair of the Knesset National Security Committee, offered a rare critique.

Donald, you came out a duck, he said in a morning social media post, using Hebrew slang for looking weak. He later deleted it.

Mote Levi, 65, who works in a convenience shop a few blocks from the beach in Tel Aviv, said the war was a waste of time, adding: Its more damage for Israel. Nothing was bookended. Nothing was resolved.

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Asked how he felt about Netanyahu, Levi said, Netanyahu is Trumps bitch.

Israel depends significantly on Washington for its defense and just as importantly, Netanyahu needs his relationship with Trump to help buoy him in elections expected to take place in October.

Im still trying to make sense of it, a veteran right-wing political operative said of the ceasefire, granted anonymity to speak candidly about the political fallout. The right will feel robbed of an all-out victory, and the Bibi-right will spin it as it is. And the left will say Bibi failed. But in all honesty, Im not sure they can say they would have done any better.

While Trump predicted early Wednesday that the ceasefire would bring the Golden Age of the Middle East, Israel is worried the Pakistan-mediated pause to negotiate a broader ceasefire will only allow Iran to regroup.

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The ceasefire with Iran gives the ayatollah regime a timeout and an opportunity to reorganize, Avigdor Lieberman, a former defense minister and head of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, said in a statement. Yisrael Beiteinu positions itself as a hard-line alternative to Netanyahus government.

Should the full agreement not address Israels concerns about uranium enrichment, ballistic missile production and support for terrorism in the region, we will have to return to another campaign under more difficult conditions and pay a heavier price, Lieberman said.

Netanyahu first addressed the deal publicly late Wednesday after the Passover holiday ended. He said the U.S. fully coordinated with Israel and that while Iran is weaker than ever, Israels objectives are not yet fully met.

We still have objectives to complete  and we will achieve them either by agreement or by renewing the fighting, he said in a video message. Our finger is on the trigger.

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He touted the campaign's accomplishments, including crippling Irans missile production, damaging its nuclear program, destroying key weapons and industrial infrastructure, and hitting regime military assets. He said Israel also dealt a significant blow to Irans leadership, including the death of the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Karen Amouyal, 27, who works for an advocacy organization that promotes Israels interests abroad, said she understands Trump was under a lot of pressure to end the war but felt the fighting fell short of what the U.S. and Israel said would be accomplished.

Its just going to delay what we are meant to be doing. I just feel like we are going to have to go through another war, whether its another few months or another year, she said.

She added: We were promised that the outcome of this war was going to be a regime change, and no uranium, no nuclear capabilities, we havent met those objectives. Obviously I am excited to breathe, but it feels like the last six weeks have been for nothing.

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Shana Tibi, 26, was sitting with Amouyal on a bench near the beach a few blocks away from where she lost her apartment last year when Israel and Iran fought the 12-day war. She doesnt want the cycle to keep repeating.

I want us to finish, I dont want us to have another war. Even if its hard, for me its important to continue.

Israel and Iran continued to trade fire in the early morning as the ceasefire was taking effect, with several rounds of sirens from 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. before the fighting stopped.

The Israeli military said Wednesday it had carried out a last wave of strikes in Iran overnight aimed at Tehrans missiles and launchers, and is abiding by the ceasefire as directed by Israels government.

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While Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Tuesday that Lebanon would be included in the ceasefire, Netanyahus office said soon after that it would not be. Israels military said Wednesday it also had conducted its largest round of strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon since the current round began.

Lebanons economy minister told CNBC on Wednesday that Beirut is seeking clarity from Pakistan about its status in the ceasefire. If Israel is able to continue striking in Lebanon, Netanyahu can claim it as a victory with the Israeli public. Trump said later Wednesday that Lebanon was not included in the deal.

This is a major piece. If Lebanon had been included in the ceasefire, it would have been a major disappointment, said a former senior Israeli official, granted anonymity to speak about Israeli strategy.

But that concession to Israel could now risk upending the ceasefire altogether, as Iranian state media reported Tehran was closing the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks on Lebanon. The Trump administration said those reports were incorrect.

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It is now up to Israel and the U.S. to show the world that Iran has been significantly weakened, and to ensure Iran agrees to a deal that addresses Washington's and Israels concerns about Irans nuclear program and other issues, the former senior official said.

One sign will be who attends the funeral of the late Khamenei, which could give a sense of the role Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps is playing. It was postponed amid the war, but a new date has not yet been set.

Were looking to see if Mojtaba appears at his fathers funeral, the former senior official said, referencing the new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei. If he isnt, that will be a signal to the Iranian people that the IRGC are running the show.

Despite the anxiety surrounding the ceasefire, the mood in Tel Aviv was lighter than it has been in recent weeks. Families and congregations gathered to celebrate the last day of Passover, clapping and singing during religious services and hosting barbecues to mark the end of the holiday.

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Im trying to get used to it, said Natalie, 48, a pastry chef visiting Tel Aviv from Israels north where Israel and Hezbollah are still trading fire. Its hard to believe I can sit at the beach and not be afraid of an alarm coming, that I can stay until the evening and not worry about rushing home.

Group chats lit up with suggestions about going out this weekend without the threat of Iranian fire, and local governments began to make plans to reopen schools that have been closed since the war began in late February.

Still, there is an underlying anxiety among many about how long the respite will last.

When the last war ended, we all knew that another war was going to come, said Amouyal, who works for the Israel advocacy organization. And now it just feels the same.
BEIRUT (AP)  Israeli strikes hit busy commercial and residential areas in central Beirut without warning on Wednesday, hours after a ceasefire was announced in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Lebanon said at least 182 people were killed and hundreds were wounded, making it the deadliest day in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

U.S. President Donald Trump told PBS News Hour that Lebanon was not included in the deal because of the Lebanese militant Hezbollah group. When asked about Israels latest strikes, he said, Thats a separate skirmish. Israel had said the agreement does not extend to its war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah, although Iran and mediator Pakistan said it does.

The fleeting sense of relief among Lebanese after the ceasefire announcement turned into panic with what Israels military called its largest coordinated strike in the current war, saying it had hit more than 100 Hezbollah targets within 10 minutes in Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

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Black smoke towered over several parts of the seaside capital, where a huge number of people displaced by war have taken shelter. Explosions interrupted the honking of traffic on what had been a bustling, blue-sky afternoon. Ambulances raced toward open flames. Apartment buildings were struck.

Associated Press journalists saw charred bodies in vehicles and on the ground at one of Beiruts busiest intersections in the central Corniche al Mazraa neighborhood, a mixed commercial and residential area. Using forklifts, rescue workers removed smoldering debris and sifted through ruins for survivors.

There was no sign of Hezbollah launching strikes against Israel in the first couple of hours after the attacks.

In response to the attacks on Lebanon, Iran later Wednesday said it was again halting the movement of oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, the country's state-run media reported.

A deadly midday barrage

Central Beirut has been targeted before, but not by so many strikes at once and in the middle of the day. Israel had rarely struck central Beirut since the outbreak of the latest Israel-Hezbollah war on March 2 but has regularly struck southern and eastern Lebanon and Beiruts southern suburbs.

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Lebanon's Minister of Social Affairs, Haneen Sayed, in an interview with The Associated Press condemned Israels wide range of strikes, calling it a very dangerous turning point.

These hits are now at the heart of Beirut  Half of the sheltered (internally displaced people) are in Beirut in this area, she said, adding that she had just driven by areas hit.

She said Lebanon's government is ready to enter into negotiations with Israel for an end to hostilities, an offer that the Lebanese president previously made. Israel has not responded. There are calls and efforts being made as we speak," Sayed said.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam in a statement accused Israel of escalating at a moment when Lebanese officials were seeking to negotiate a solution, and of hitting civilian areas in utter disregard for the principles of international law and international humanitarian law  principles it has, in any case, never respected.

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Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the Israeli attacks barbaric. Lebanon's health ministry said that along with the 182 killed, at least 890 people were wounded in the strikes. Altogether, 1,739 people have been killed and 5,873 wounded in Lebanon in just over five weeks since the outbreak of the war.

Israel's military said it had targeted missile launchers, command centers and intelligence infrastructure. It accused Hezbollah fighters of trying to blend into non-Shiite Muslim areas beyond their traditional strongholds.

Residents and local officials denied that the buildings hit were military sites.

Look at these crimes, said Mohammed Balouza, a member of Beiruts municipal council, at the scene of a strike in Corniche al Mazraa. An apartment building behind a popular shop selling nuts and dried fruit had been hit. This is a residential area. There is nothing (military) here.

An Israeli warning and a defiant Hezbollah

As the smoke rose Wednesday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Hezbollah leader Naim Kassem that his turn will come. In 2024, Israel killed Hezbollah's previous leader, Hassan Nasrallah, with an airstrike.

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Katz called Wednesday's strikes the largest blow against Hezbollah since the attack that caused pagers used by hundreds of its members to explode almost simultaneously in September 2024.

Before the new strikes, a Hezbollah official told the AP that the group was giving a chance for mediators to secure a ceasefire in Lebanon, but we have not announced our adherence to the ceasefire since the Israelis are not adhering to it. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly.

The Hezbollah official said the group will not accept a return to the pre-March 2 status quo, when Israel carried out near-daily strikes in Lebanon despite a ceasefire being nominally in place since the last full-blown Israel-Hezbollah war ended in November 2024.

We will not accept for the Israelis to continue behaving as they did before this war with regards to attacks, he said.

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Hezbollah had fired missiles across the border days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, sparking a regional war. Israel responded with widespread bombardment of Lebanon and a ground invasion.

The Israeli military chief of staff, Lt Gen. Eyal Zamir, said the attacks are to protect Israels northern residents, who have come under heavy fire.

The Israeli military has said it has killed hundreds of Hezbollah fighters. More than 1 million people have been displaced in Lebanon.

Early Wednesday, after the Iran ceasefire was announced and before Israel struck, many displaced people sleeping in tents on the streets of Beirut and the coastal city of Sidon had begun packing their belongings in preparation to return home.

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Families at a sprawling displacement camp on Beiruts waterfront later expressed confusion and despair.

We cant take this anymore, sleeping in a tent, not showering, the uncertainty, said Fadi Zaydan, 35. He and his parents had prepared to head back to the southern city of Nabatieh. Instead, they decided to wait things out in Sidon, a bit closer to home.

___

Associated Press writer Isabel DeBre and AP journalists Hussein Mallah and Fadi Tawil in Beirut, Michelle Price in Washington and Melanie Lidman in Eilat, Israel, contributed to this report.

___

This story corrects the first name of the social affairs minister to Haneen Sayed, not Haneed Sayed.
Israel has carried out a large wave of air strikes across Lebanon, which killed and wounded hundreds of people, while officials say the war against the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah continues despite a ceasefire in Iran.

Israel described it as the largest wave of air strikes in this conflict, hitting more than 100 of what it called Hezbollah command centres and military sites in 10 minutes.

The southern suburbs of Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley were all targeted.

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The Lebanese health ministry said at least 182 people had been killed, a number that is likely to rise, and 890 wounded.

At the site of the largest air strike on Beirut, hours later, emergency workers were still searching the damaged buildings. Found amid the rubble, glimpses of interrupted lives: pictures of smiling families, pieces of clothing, school homework that was left unfinished.

Abdelkader Mahfouz was visiting his brother who had been wounded.

"There was a lot of body parts here. Only people are getting harmed. What should the people do. We can't do anything," he told the BBC.

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The attacks happened after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office denied the assertion by Pakistan, which had mediated the deal between the US and Iran, that the ceasefire covered the conflict in Lebanon.

In Washington, US President Donald Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt also said Lebanon was not part of the deal.

Hezbollah, which has not claimed any attack since the deal was announced, said the group had the right to respond and warned displaced families to wait for a formal ceasefire announcement before trying to return home.

The Lebanese presidency said it would continue "efforts to include Lebanon in regional peace".

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The latest escalation in the decades-long conflict between Hezbollah and Israel erupted when the group fired rockets into Israel in retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening stages of the war, and in response to the near-daily Israeli attacks on Lebanon that have continued despite a ceasefire, which was agreed in November 2024.

More than 1,700 people have been killed, including at least 130 children, so far as a result of the war, the Lebanese health ministry says, without distinguishing combatants from civilians.

Israel says it has killed around 1,100 Hezbollah fighters.

Over 1.2 million people have been displaced, or one in five of the population, most of them from Shia Muslim communities.

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Villages near the border have been destroyed, as invading Israeli troops aim to create what the Israeli authorities call a security buffer zone, to destroy Hezbollah's infrastructure and push its fighters away. This has raised concerns that some areas may be occupied even after the end of the war, and that many residents may never be able to return.

Israeli officials had indicated their intention to continue with their campaign in Lebanon even if there was a deal with Iran. But in recent days military sources quoted by Israeli media suggested the army had no intention to advance further in their invasion, and acknowledged that they would not be able to disarm Hezbollah by force.

Israel attacked Tyre (pictured), Nabatieh, Sidon and Beirut on Wednesday despite the ceasefire announcement [Adnan Abidi / Reuters]

Observers have expressed surprise with Hezbollah's military capabilities in this conflict, as it was widely believed the group had been severely weakened in their last war. The group has frequently launched rockets and drones into northern Israel but confronted Israeli troops on the ground in southern Lebanon.

In Lebanon, however, Hezbollah has faced strong criticism as many blame it for dragging the country into an unwanted war and of defending the interests of its Iranian patron. But the group still enjoys significant support among Lebanese Shia.

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The displacement crisis triggered by the war has put further pressure on the crisis-hit country. Schools that have been turned into shelters are full, and many are sleeping in improvised tents in public spaces and even in cars. The arrival of families to other communities has led to a rise in sectarian tensions, with people fearing that they too could become the target of Israeli attacks.

After the ceasefire deal in 2024, the Lebanese government announced a plan to disarm Hezbollah, which was created in the 1980s in response to Israel's occupation of Lebanon during the 15-year Lebanese civil war. But, so far, the group has refused to discuss the future of its weapons.

President Joseph Aoun, a former army chief, had ruled out using force, warning that this could exacerbate divisions and lead to violence. Reacting to the latest escalation, his government made the historic announcement that it was open to negotiate directly with Israel  the countries do not have diplomatic relations. But, Israel, so far, has ignored the offer.
The Israeli military confirmed on Wednesday that it has suspended attacks on targets in Iran, following the announcement of a ceasefire with Tehran.

"In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] has ceased fire in the operation against Iran," the military said.

The IDF added that it is "highly prepared to respond defensively against any violation."

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Overnight, after the announcement of the two-week ceasefire, there was initially further Iranian rocket fire on Israel.

The Israeli army said it had targeted "missile launch sites and launchers" in Iran.

Israel said it was continuing military, operations against the Hezbollah militia, arguing that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire deal.

The prime minister of the mediator state Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, wrote on X that the deal does apply to Lebanon.
Greatland Resources up 14% as it lifts cash to $1.2bn after strong March quarter gold production Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Shares in Greatland Resources Ltd (AIM:GGP, OTC:GRLGF, FRA:G8G, ASX:GGP) rose 14% to 760p after the gold and copper miner reported quarterly production of 82,723 ounces of gold and 4,128 tonnes of copper for the March 2026 quarter, while growing its cash pile by $260 million to $1.208 billion.

The company ended the quarter debt-free, with the cash build achieved after capital expenditure and a $73 million tax payment relating to the FY25 period.

Year-to-date FY26 production reached 249,887 ounces of gold and 11,022 tonnes of copper, with Greatland now expecting full-year output to come in around, or slightly above, the upper end of its guidance range of 260,000 to 310,000 ounces of gold.

Sales for the March quarter reached 97,800 ounces of gold and 4,620 tonnes of copper.

All-in sustaining costs for the quarter are still being finalised and will be reported in the full quarterly activities report due later in April.

Greatland said it was monitoring potential supply chain risks linked to Middle East tensions but confirmed its Telfer operation in Western Australia had not been affected by diesel supply disruptions, with fuel supplied directly via Port Hedland under a long-term contract with a global oil major.

Telfer held surface stockpiles of 22 million tonnes at the end of March, which the company estimated would provide more than 12 months of mill feed.
Action News Jaxs Ben Becker has learned a high-ranking member of the Duval County Medical Examiners Office has been placed on paid administrative leave by the city following a viral social media post in which he appeared to wish for President Donald Trumps death.

Associate Medical Examiner Dr. Bob Pfalzgraf made the post on X at 12:04 a.m. Monday. In it, he wrote, Im looking forward to the big beautiful obituary, in apparent reference to Trumps spending package.

The post quickly gained traction online, drawing roughly 20,000 likes and 11,000 reposts after being shared by the account Libs of TikTok.

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In a statement, the City of Jacksonville said, Mr. Pfalzgraf has been placed on administrative leave while we investigate the situation.

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Pfalzgraf has served at the Medical Examiners Office since 2020 and has the second-highest salary in the City of Jacksonville at $306,653. Only Chief Medical Examiner Dr. B. Robert Pietak makes more at $434,968.

CEOs of independent authorities such as JEA and JTA make more but are not considered city employees as they are hired by boards of directors.

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According to the Medical Examiners website, the office provides services to over 1,300,000 people in Northeast Florida who live in two districts:

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District 3: Columbia, Hamilton Counties (served by District 4)

District 4: Clay, Duval, Nassau Counties

Reached by text message, Pfalzgraf told Becker he will wait to see what the city has to say before commenting.

The Florida Department of Health, which licenses Pfalzgraf, declined comment as well.

Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday was confronted on Wednesday with a recent report that the Pentagon threatened the Vatican with military force.

A Monday report from The Free Press detailed the rocky relationship between President Donald Trumps White House and Pope Leo XIV, the Holy Sees first U.S.-born Pope. According to the report, the Pentagon invited the Holy See ambassador to the U.S., Cardinal Christophe Pierre, for a meeting in response to a recent speech by the Pope.

During that meeting, U.S. officials reportedly complained about the speech and took exception to Pope Leos indirect shots at the president. One of those officials, the report continued, even referenced the Avignon Papacy of the 14th century  a period largely defined by the French Crown imposing its will to influence the Catholic Church.

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While speaking to the media in Budapest, Hungary, Vance was asked by a reporter if the story was correct. Vance began by stating he didnt know who Pierre was. When he was informed that Pierre was the former Holy See ambassador, that appeared to jog his memory.

Oh, OK, OK, Ive met him before, Vance continued. Sorry, I just didnt remember the name. Ive never seen this reporting. Id like to actually talk to Cardinal Christophe Pierre, and frankly, to our people, to figure out what actually happened. I think its always a bad idea to offer an opinion on stories that are unconfirmed and uncorroborated, so Im not going to do that.

Independent reporter Christopher Hale later added that the Vatican viewed the mention of the Avignon Papacy as a threat.

UPDATE: Letters from Leo can now independently confirm that the meeting took place  and that the Vatican was so alarmed by the Pentagons tactics that Pope Leo XIV shelved plans to visit the United States later this year. Many in the Vatican saw the Pentagons reference to an https://t.co/nOWTWF4oI0  Christopher Hale (@ChristopherHale) April 8, 2026

Watch above via C-SPAN

The post JD Vance Confronted With Report the Pentagon Allegedly Threatened Vatican with Military Force first appeared on Mediaite.
Lansing  A former Michigan House aide who secured a $25 million grant in 2022 for a health park in Clare failed to alert the state that he would profit from the arrangement and worked to set up an inexperienced board of directors for the nonprofit to steer as he wished, Attorney General Dana Nessel's office argued Wednesday.

David Coker, an ex-aide to Republican former House Speaker Jason Wentworth, violated provisions of a Clare health park project's grant agreement with the state when he failed to disclose a potential conflict of interest and subcontracted earnings that eclipsed the grant agreement's salary cap, Assistant Attorney General Kelli Megyasi said.

"His non-disclosure was an attempt to defraud and cheat," Megyasi told 54-A District Judge Kristen Simmons at the close of a two-day preliminary exam to establish probable cause for embezzlement charges against Coker.

David Coker listens to witness testimony during his preliminary examination on charges that he embezzled funds from a state grant intended to establish a health park in Clare at the 54A District Court on March 17, 2026, in Lansing, Mich.

Coker's attorney, Josh Blanchard, rejected those arguments, noting that Coker, who helped establish Complete Health Park, was transparent when asked about his ownership of a consulting firm, IW Consulting, that received $820,000 for alleged work related to the project.

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Coker acknowledged his involvement with IW Consulting when asked about it by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the board was well aware of Coker's involvement with the consulting firm when they approved a contract between Complete Health Park and IW Consulting, Blanchard said.

"I dont see how it can be embezzlement when the principal knew of the transfer and signed a contract saying we will make that payment," Blanchard said.

Defense Attorney Josh Blanchard cross-examines witness Darrell Harden, Grant Manager, MDHHS, during the preliminary examination of David Coker, who is charged with embezzling funds from a state grant intended to establish a health park in Clare at the 54A District Court on March 17, 2026, in Lansing, Mich.

Simmons is scheduled to announce her decision on May 7 on whether Coker should go on trial for his alleged crimes in circuit court.

Coker was charged by Nessel's office last May with seven counts in relation to the $25 million earmark grant, which was sponsored by Wentworth in the fiscal year 2023 state budget.

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The charged counts include criminal enterprise, three counts of false pretense of $100,000 or more, two counts of embezzlement of $100,000 or more, and a violation of the state's safekeeping of public moneys law, which prohibits public officers or their employees from commingling public funds with their own money.

After signing a grant agreement in December 2022, the Clare health park received an initial installment of $9.9 million from the state. About $820,000 of that was transferred to Coker's consulting business, IW Consulting, shortly after  Blanchard argued that the payment consisted of about $182,000 for a feasibility study and $638,000 for an agreed-upon 7% consulting fee.

The attorney general's office, over the two-day preliminary examination, has been attempting to build a case to show Coker handpicked an inexperienced nonprofit board and initial accountant who could be guided to approve a lucrative contract for IW Consulting.

A forensic accountant working for Nessel's office said Wednesday that Coker spent some of the roughly $820,000 in consulting fees his business secured on car payments, gold and rare coins, as well as land in Farwell in rural Clare County.

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Alex Ungren, the forensic accountant, said Coker's purchases were made after roughly $300,000 was withdrawn from a bank account for IW Consulting, Coker's limited liability company, and deposited into a personal bank account belonging to Coker and his wife.

"The money used to make that payment came from money from the state of Michigan grant," Ungren said.

Ungren testified that Coker spent more than $10,000 at a bullion store and about $15,000 at a rare coin store from his personal bank account.

After Coker was initially charged last May, Nessel's office said it seized several silver bars from Coker's home that ranged in weight from 10 ounces to 100 ounces; platinum bars; silver bullets; and American Eagle buffalo and gold proof coins.

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But Blanchard argued that, so long as the money was legally earned by IW Consulting, his client had a right to spend his earnings as he wished.

"If the money was legally received by IW Consulting, what happened with it after that is none of the state's business," Blanchard said.

Ungren also noted that the contract contained provisions barring Coker, as an employee of Complete Health Park, from earning more than the state's executive level II pay  about $212,000. The $300,000 transfer alone would have eclipsed that, the attorney general's office noted.

But Blanchard argued Coker wasn't an employee of Complete Health Park; instead, he was a contractor to the organization not subject to the salary cap.

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Also on Wednesday, a local Clare accountant who signed off on Complete Health Park's initial financial status report to the state in December 2022 told the judge that she "was far too trusting and didn't ask a lot of questions."

Shannon Taylor said she had been approached by Coker, who was an acquaintance in Clare, to help with accounting for the health park project. Taylor said she ultimately declined in January 2023 because she felt she didn't have the experience needed, working more with payroll and bookkeeping than with financial statements and larger business operations.

Still, she said, she signed off on a financial status report in December 2022 as a "placeholder" until the company found an official, permanent accountant. She said she hadn't actually reviewed the report but understood it to be a projection of how the project dollars may be spent.

"I just trusted that this was how these things worked in order to move forward; for the project to even be real or possible, then figures had to be turned in saying what they were going to be," she said.

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"I didn't ask a lot of questions because I didn't know the questions to ask because this is way out of my league."

eleblanc@detroitnews.com

Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: ex-Michigan House aide accused of embezzling from $25M earmark grant
A judge has paused a wrongful death lawsuit against the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA).

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

A Montgomery County judge has paused it until the criminal case against Julius Williamson Jr. is over, according to court records.

The family of 18-year-old Alfred Hale III filed a lawsuit against RTA last October. The wrongful death lawsuit alleges the Greater Dayton RTA was negligent, according to a previous News Center 7 story.

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Michael Wright, the attorney for Hales family, said last October that the Greater Dayton RTA knew about issues related to crime and violence at its hub in downtown Dayton, but didnt do enough to stop it.

He added that Hale ended up dead because of it.

TRENDING STORIES:

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: 18-year-old high school student killed on his way to school; Family files lawsuit against RTA

An investigation revealed that 23-year-old Julius Williamson, Jr., and Hale had exchanged words outside of the In & Out Carry-Out. Williamson then pulled out a gun and shot Hale, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office.

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Williamson allegedly ran from the scene and disposed of the gun at the Levitt Pavilion. Investigators later recovered it, and it was later determined to have been stolen from someone in Harrison Township.

The 23-year-old man is facing several charges, including murder, in connection with the shooting.

A scheduling conference is set for July.

The shooting has sparked numerous safety concerns about students using the RTA Hub and RTA buses for transportation to school.

Its led to changes in state law and a high-profile lawsuit involving the Dayton Public School District and the state of Ohio.

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This column was written before Tuesday nights debate among four candidates in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.

Kentucky is in play this year. Believe it, U.S. Senate candidate Amy McGrath told her email list last week. Perhaps she felt obliged to add those two words because so few people think Democrats have a chance to win the seat of retiring Republican Mitch McConnell.

McGrath, primary front-runner Charles Booker and other Democrats have to insist theyre not on a fools errand as they try to raise money and support in a state that last elected a Democratic senator 34 years ago and gave President Trump 30-point margins. But theyre not without talking points.

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They can argue, with fresh evidence, that Trumps influence is waning, even as the most prominent Republican candidates compete to see how far they can stick their noses up his hindquarters. Sixth District U.S. Rep. Andy Barr and businessman Nate Morris are ready targets for Democratic attack ads saying they would be rubber stamps for the president. Ill always stand with Trump, front-runner Barr vows in TV ads.

Kentuckians dont want a rubber stamp. Last weeks Emerson College poll asked likely primary voters if a Trump endorsement would make them more or less likely to vote for that candidate; 28.6 percent said more likely and 39.4 percent said less likely.

That reflects the poll finding that Kentucky has more anti-Trump Republicans (the 13% who said less likely) than pro-Trump Democrats (7% said more likely). And the anti-Trump vote is actually larger, because the poll didnt measure independents, who cant vote in Kentucky primaries and are shunning Trump nationally.

The election will be a referendum on Trump, but thats not all. It will also be Kentuckians choice of the direction the nation should take. This is a conservative state, and Booker is an outspoken liberal (as is state House Minority Leader Pam Stevenson, whos polling at 3%). We are highly unlikely to elect a senator who favors a guaranteed minimum income, abolition of ICE and other left-wing causes. And, sad to say, our lingering racism makes a Black liberals election all the more unlikely.

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Obviously, hes gonna be a longshot, former 3rd District U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth said as he explained his recent endorsement of Booker, announced in a press release: Out of the entire field, Charles is the only person poised to build the coalitions needed to win in November. McGrath cant do that, Yarmuth told me, because she has proven that she cannot run an effective campaign. Shes never been able to make a case as to what shes for, and I have yet to run into any Democrat whos excited about her candidacy.

Booker has all the excitement so far, reflected in his labor-union and activist-group endorsements and his growing lead over McGrath: 36% to 18% in the poll, up from 30-19 two months earlier. McGrath cant seem to shake the label of two-time loser as a Democratic nominee  to Barr in 2018 and to McConnell in 2020, despite raising $93 million.

Booker is also a two-time loser, to McGrath in the 2020 primary and to Sen. Rand Paul in 2022. But there seems to be a sense among Kentucky Democrats that McGrath let the party down and doesnt deserve a third strike. But unless fellow moderate Dale Romans (polling at 2%) miraculously jump-starts his campaign, McGrath is the only realistic chance Democrats have. As the Iran War looms larger in the race, her record as a Marine fighter pilot gives her an opening for another look by voters.

Former Lt. Gov. Crit Luallen said McGrath has improved her campaign style and hired better advisers, including Gov. Andy Beshears media team. Shes not a perfect candidate, but she has had the courage to step up, knowing how she would be attacked and maligned, Luallen said. But McGrath and her team will have to run an exceptional campaign in the next six weeks to catch up to Booker, who is an inspiring campaigner. As Yarmuth says, He knows what he stands for.

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Democrats have a better chance to pick up Barrs seat, for which both parties have primaries. Former state Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson has support from the AFL-CIO and Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, and former federal prosecutor Zach Dembo has out-raised the five-candidate field with help from Louisville activist Christy Brown. Former state Sen. Ralph Alvarado, one of three major Republican candidates, is the first in the 6th to start TV ads, and he says Being with President Trump from the beginning means Ill be with him til the end. Thats very close to saying always, as Barr does, but Alvarado refers to his support of Trump in three elections. Perhaps he wants to keep Democrats from credibly calling him a rubber stamp.

This commentary is republished from the Northern Kentucky Tribune, a nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Three casino employees are accused of skimming registers, resulting in losses of nearly $300,000 and their arrests, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned.

Christina Carbonell, Siraprapha Rattana and Rommel Soriano are accused of stealing the money at Binions Gambling Hall & Hotel on Fremont Street from 2022 to April of last year. The casinos investigation into the stolen money began after an internal audit involving the Binions Cafe, according to Metro police documents.

>>Download the 8 News Now Vegas streaming app

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Last year, an employee called police about the alleged scheme where the employees took money from the restaurants cash registers, documents said. At the time of the call, hotel security detained Rattana, who told police she and the two others stole on average about $200 a day.

Hotel security told police video evidence showed Rattana skimming from the register and pocketing money. Detectives suspect Carbonell and Rattana, who worked as cashiers, would intentionally apply unauthorized discounts or manually reduce the transaction total but then remain the discounted cash amount, documents said.

LAS VEGAS, NV  DECEMBER 15: Binions Hotel Casino along Fremont St. in downtown on Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2021 in Las Vegas, NV. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

Soriano, a waiter, admitted to receiving the money, and video evidence showed him helping in hiding the theft from surveillance cameras, police said.

Metro detectives reviewed the trios financial records, finding large amounts of money moving through several accounts. The activity also showed large cash withdrawals at area casinos.

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The total loss to Binions amounted to $298,000, documents said.

Carbonell faces a charge of theft with a value above $100,000. In a court appearance earlier this year, she pleaded not guilty, and a judge ordered her to stay away from the casino. She was not required to post bond, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 20.

Rattana faces a charge of theft with a value above $100,000. She posted $20,000 bail and pleaded not guilty. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 22.

Soriano faces a charge of theft between $5,000 and $25,000. He posted bond, though the amount was not listed in his court docket. He pleaded not guilty, and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 21.

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A representative for Binions did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A Maine family is grieving after a father died recently saving his son and one of his daughters from drowning off the coast of Florida, where they were on vacation.

The selfless nature of Ryan Jennings actions has gained widespread attention online  and inspired his widow, Emily, to write a heartbreaking social media post which read: His last gift to me was returning my children alive.

Emily also revealed that the couple had just learned they were expecting their fourth child. Im not really sure how to go on ever again, she added. I guess second by second.

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Authorities say Jennings, 46, was swimming off Juno Beach on the afternoon of 1 April with his son, 12, and daughter, nine, when a rip current ensnared them.

Jennings ultimately threw his son, Jax, out of harms way and instructed him to get help, Emily later wrote. Then, Ryan held his daughter, Charlie, above water until she could be brought to safety, too, according to the post from Emily, who was on the beach at the time building sandcastles with the couples younger daughter, Bowie, as well as a niece.

Citing local emergency response officials, the Palm Beach Post reported that lifeguards  who do not typically patrol that part of Juno Beach  pulled four people to the shore. Paramedics reportedly took three to the hospital.

A Juno Beach police department incident report said officers had helped pull Jennings out of the water. Officers said he was unconscious, unresponsive and not breathing by the time they encountered him.

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Jennings was brought to a hospital in the nearby community of Jupiter, and a doctor pronounced him dead, according to police.

His children told officers on the scene that they were struggling in the water when their father came into the ocean to save them, the police report noted.

Officials said conditions on the day of Jennings death were consistent with the potential for rip current activity, NBC News reported.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) defines rip currents as narrow channels of rapidly moving water. They are involved in the deaths of about 100 people annually, and Noaa distinguishes them from riptides  which involve tidal water moving through inlets and the mouths of estuaries, embayments and harbors.

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In the tribute that she subsequently posted for her late husband, Emily Jennings described him as my soulmate and my best friend  with whom she shared a love for a dozen years that most people never find in their lives.

You gave me the most beautiful 12 years of my life, her post said. You always had us. Our calm in any storm.

Emily Jennings, 35, elaborated on her marriage in an article on the news site centralmaine.com. She told the outlet she was a single mother when she met Ryan, and he gave her and her son a place to stay after a fire destroyed her apartment.

Ryan went on to take in Emilys son as her own, bonding with the child over the Elvie Shane song My Boy, according to the outlets article.

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He aint my blood, aint got my name / But if he did, Id feel the same, the songs lyrics say.

The couple got married, had two more daughters and were preparing to welcome their fourth child when they traveled to Juno Beach from their home in North Yarmouth, Maine, a suburb of Portland.

Ryan made his living as a marketing executive, his father-in-law, Steve Woods, told the Palm Beach Post.

Jennings mother, Gail McLaughlin Toti, said in her own social media post that she was grateful for first responders efforts to save her son.

She told centralmaine.com that her family planned to launch a scholarship in Ryans honor: $5,000 annually to a student from his community who best embodies his selfless spirit.

Its  about character, she said to the outlet. So that all the kids growing up in the school system  Ryans kids  theyll all understand what it means to have an open heart.
At least two people have been killed in Ukraine as a result of Russian attacks, authorities said on Wednesday.

According to military governor Oleh Hryhorov, a 42-year-old man was killed in the town of Romny in the north-eastern Sumy region. Hryhorov wrote on Telegram that the Russian military had struck a residential building, presumably with a drone. The mans family was injured.

In the Zaporizhzhya district in south-eastern Ukraine, Russias army launched an attack using glide bombs, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

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Several residential buildings and other structures were reportedly destroyed in the village of Balabyne.

The body of one person was found under the rubble of one of the houses, Fedorov wrote. A 47-year-old woman was also injured in an attack on the city of Zaporizhzhya.

Ukraine has been defending itself against a large-scale Russian invasion for more than four years with Western assistance.
President Trump said the U.S. and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire.

Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks, he posted to Truth Social less than two hours before his 8 p.m. EDT deadline for a deal.

On Tuesday afternoon, Pakistans prime minister asked for a two-week extension to allow diplomacy to run its course.

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Meanwhile, the United States struck military targets on Irans Kharg Island overnight, a White House official said Tuesday.

Amid the escalation, some Republican lawmakers are growing wary about the Middle East military conflict, which has entered its sixth week. A wave of Democrats has called for Trumps removal from office or impeachment.

On the campaign front, Wisconsin and Georgia are hosting a state Supreme Court and House election, respectively. GOP candidate Clay Fuller is projected to succeed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) in Congress. Heres what to watch for.

Vice President Vance, meanwhile, is in Hungary, where the party of Prime Minister Viktor Orban is behind in the polls ahead of a Saturday election. Vance, at an event, took a call from Trump while on stage and lavished praise on Orban.

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Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
By Joseph Ax

NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) - A Long Island architect admitted in court on Wednesday to killing eight women in attacks dating to the 1990s, ending a notorious serial killer case that stymied investigators until DNA evidence helped lead to the arrest of Rex Heuermann in 2023.

Heuermann, 62, told a judge in Riverhead, New York, that he had strangled the women, most of whom were in their 20s, and dismembered some of them before discarding their bodies wrapped in burlap, the Suffolk County district attorney's office said in a statement.

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He had been charged with seven murders, which took place between 1993 and 2010, and had been set for trial in the fall. During his appearance on Wednesday, he admitted to an eighth killing that was not among the charges.

He is expected to receive a sentence of life without parole when he returns to court in June, prosecutors said.

The "Gilgo Beach murders" drew national attention after police found numerous sets of human remains in 2010 and 2011 along an isolated stretch of Gilgo Beach, about 30 miles (48 km) east of New York City and a short drive from Heuermann's home. The investigation, which failed to identify a suspect for years, inspired movies and documentaries.

Investigators were able to tie Heuermann to the case in part by using DNA they collected from a pizza crust that a surveillance team saw him throw away while tailing him in Manhattan.

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Heuermann's attorney, Michael Brown, told reporters after the court session that Heuermann's decision to plead guilty was to spare both the victims' families as well as his own from having to endure a trial. The guilty plea includes an agreement to cooperate with the FBI's behavioral analysis unit.

"I think that this today have hopefully some peace and some closure to the family members," Brown said.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
KitKat is playing it safe after last month's massive heist of thousands of its candy bars overseas.

The Canadian branch of the chocolate maker deployed security details to protect its deliveries during Easter weekend, according to a news release.

KitKat Canada said it opted to heighten safety measures with security escorts for delivery trucks and guards for in-store monitoring over the busy restocking weekend.

"While some may find this disruptive to their day, we think its necessary security measures to ensure our wafer bars make it to retail safely," the company said.

Last month, KitKat announced thieves in Europe stole an entire truck containing more than 400,000, or 12 tons, of its candy bars as it was leaving an Italian production site.

Nestle, which distributes KitKats globally except in the United States, where Hershey has the rights, has leaned in to the attention that the heist has generated. On April 1, the company launched a stolen KitKat tracker to help recover the missing chocolates.

More KitKat heist news: KitKat launches tracker to help recover 400K stolen candy bars

See KitKat security escort in Canada

KitKat Canada said it provided a security escort for one of its delivery trucks.

KitKat's security escort for its delivery in Canada included a convoy of SUVs, which were aptly flagging red flags bearing the KitKat logo.

The company said it also deployed guards to stand by in store displays.

"We are not sorry for slowing down traffic, we are actually unapologetic for getting you a KitKat delivered safely to a store near you," KitKat Canada quipped.

One person who passed by the SUV convoy shared a clip of it on TikTok, where it has racked up more than 600,000 views as of April 8.

KitKat Canada provided a security escort for one of its delivery trucks in downtown Toronto.

"If anyone knows where they were going and if theyre giving out free KitKats please let me know," the poster said.

In the video's comments, some people questioned whether it was a stunt while others appreciated the effort.

"I hope the marketing team got a massive raise with this one cuz its been all over my social media for days now," one person wrote.

Another said: "I wonder if they have kitkat tactical gear like is it Red and white? and it says kitkat police on the back?"

Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: KitKat steps up security for trucks in Canada after massive heist
A Long Island architect who led a secret life as a serial killer pleaded guilty on Wednesday to murdering seven women and admitted he killed an eighth in a string of long-unsolved crimes known as the Gilgo Beach killings.

Rex Heuermann, 62, entered the pleas in a courtroom packed with reporters, police and victims relatives, some of whom wept as he detailed his crimes. He will be sentenced in June to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Heuermanns guilty pleas  to three counts of first-degree murder and four of intentional murder  bring finality to a case that bedeviled investigators, tormented victims relatives and tantalized a true-crime obsessed public for years. Although he wasnt charged in her death, he also admitted that he killed Karen Vergata in 1996.

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Under questioning by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, Heuermann admitted that he strangled all eight victims and dismembered some of them, that he used burner phones to contact them, and that he wrapped their bodies in burlap before dumping them.

Wearing a black suit coat and white button-down shirt, Heuermann appeared matter-of-fact and unemotional as he answered questions from Tierney and the judge. He never looked back at the packed courtroom gallery, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead.

The women, many of them sex workers, were killed over a 17-year span and buried in remote locations, including along an isolated beach highway across the bay from where he lived, authorities said.

Tierney scheduled a news conference for later Wednesday. He will be joined by victims family members and members of the Gilgo Beach Homicide Investigation Task Force, which cracked the case with the help of clues that included DNA lifted from a discarded pizza crust.

Killers ex-wife calls it a difficult time

Investigators and members of the public packed the hearing. Reporters and camera operators swarmed Heuermanns ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, and their daughter as they entered and left the courthouse.

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My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families, Ellerup said afterward. Their loss is immeasurable and the focus should be on them at this time and moment. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate through this very difficult time.

Ellerup and her daughter, Victoria, had no knowledge of or involvement in the killings, said their lawyer, Robert Macedonio. Ellerup has said she found it very difficult to believe her husband was serial killer, because he never gave off warning signs during their time together.

Asked about Heuermanns admissions, his defense attorney Michael Brown told reporters, There came a point in this defense where Rex said, I want to plead guilty, noting that one of Heuermanns concerns was sparing the victims families and his own family from the ordeal of the case going to trial.

In response to a question about whether Heuermann was sorry, Brown responded, I would hope so. ... I would expect at sentencing he would have something to say.

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As part of his guilty plea, Heuermann agreed to cooperate fully with the FBIs behavioral analysis unit.

A shocking find

The case began in earnest in 2010 after police found numerous sets of human remains while searching for a missing woman, Shannan Gilbert, along Long Islands South Shore, setting off a search for a potential serial killer that attracted global interest and spawned a Hollywood movie. Although her relatives disputed the finding, authorities eventually determined that Gilbert drowned, and Brown said Wednesday that Heuermann had nothing to do with Shannan Gilbert.

Investigators used DNA analysis and other evidence to identify victims. In some cases, they were able to connect them to remains found elsewhere on Long Island years earlier.

Remains of six victims  Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor and Megan Waterman  were found in the scrub along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. The remains of another victim, Sandra Costilla, were found more than 60 miles (100 kilometers) away in the Hamptons.

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Police also identified the remains of Vergata, which were found on Fire Island, more than 20 miles (32 kilometers) west, in 1996, and near Gilgo Beach in 2011.

But despite the attention, including a documentary series and the 2020 Netflix film, Lost Girls, the investigation dragged on for more than a decade, punctuated by fleeting leads and dashed hopes.

A fresh look yields results

In 2022, six weeks after a new police commissioner formed the Gilgo Beach task force, detectives identified Heuermann as a suspect by using a vehicle registration database to connect him to a pickup truck that a witness reported seeing when one of the victims disappeared in 2010.

Heuermann lived for decades in Massapequa Park, about a 25-minute drive across a causeway spanning South Oyster Bay to the sandy stretch where the womens remains were found. Some of the victims were believed to have disappeared from that community and their cellphones were found to have pinged towers in the area, authorities said.

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After the truck discovery, a grand jury authorized more than 300 subpoenas and search warrants, allowing the task force to dig in to Heuermanns life.

Detectives collected billing records for burner phones he allegedly used to arrange meetings with the victims, retested DNA found with the bodies and scoured Heuermanns internet search history, which showed that he had viewed violent torture pornography and exhibited an intense interest in the Gilgo Beach killings and the renewed investigation. Cellphone data showed Heuermann was in contact with some victims just before they disappeared, investigators said.

To obtain Heuermanns DNA, a task force surveillance team tailed him in Manhattan, where he worked, and watched as he threw the remnants of his lunch  a box of partially eaten pizza crusts  into a sidewalk garbage can.

Investigators rushed in, grabbed the box, and sent it to the crime lab, which matched DNA from the crust to a male hair found on burlap used to restrain one of the victims. He was arrested in July 2023.

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After Heuermanns arrest, detectives spent more than 12 days searching his yard and home, where they found a basement vault that contained 279 weapons. On his computer, investigators said, they found what they described as a blueprint for the killings, including a series of checklists with reminders to limit noise, clean the bodies and destroy evidence.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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A bill is advancing through the Louisiana Legislature with bipartisan support that would shorten criminal sentences for incarcerated people who attain associates degrees.

House Bill 111 by Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, was advanced unanimously Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Judiciary C. The bill would add associates degrees to the list of degrees that incarcerated people can earn to receive 90 days toward the reduction of their sentence.

Current law already allows the imprisoned to reduce their sentences by attaining bachelors or masters degrees.

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Landrys bill has support fromz a wide range of organizations across the political spectrum, including the conservative Pelican Institute and Louisiana Association of Business and Industry as well as the liberal Southern Poverty Law Center.

Landry said the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections asked her to file the bill. It is part of package of educational proposals with the backing of a coalition of business and criminal justice organizations with the goal to reduce recidivism and improve workforce participation by formerly incarcerated people.

House Bill 274 by Rep. Barbara Freiberg, R-Baton Rouge, would allow more people who have served time to participate in the M.J. Foster Promise Program, which provides financial aid for students to pursue an associate degree or short-term credential in a high-demand occupation.

Freibergs bill has not yet had a committee hearing.

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Friday marks the 15th birthday of Madalina Cojocari, who has been missing since November 2022.

A photo of what Madalina might look like today is posted in the Cornelius Police Departments lobby, along with a box the department says is for birthday cards and any other notes residents may want to share.

Madalina was last seen getting off her school bus in Cornelius on Nov. 21, 2022, but her mother, Diana Cojocari didnt report her missing until Dec. 15.

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Both Diana and Madalinas stepfather, Christopher Palmiter, were convicted of failing to report her missing.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Palmiter is out of jail, and Cojocari is believed to be back in her home country of Moldova.

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There is a reward of up to $25,000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for Madalinas disappearance.

VIDEO: $25K reward offered in missing Madalina Cojocari case
The death of an East Price Hill man at the Hamilton County Justice Center, who was accused of hiding in wait before fatally shooting his former girlfriend, is being investigated as a suicide.

An investigation into 65-year-old Jesse Wilson's suspected suicide is ongoing, a spokesperson for the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office said on April 8.

Wilson was indicted last month in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court on charges including aggravated murder, felonious assault, menacing by stalking and violating a protection order.

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Police said in a court filing that on March 6, Wilson waited for 36-year-old Jessica Hardy at her Avondale apartment building, approached as she was going inside and shot her in the head, killing her.

Jesse Wilson (left) appears in Hamilton County Municipal Court for an arraignment on March 7, 2026.

Hamilton County Municipal Judge William Mallory said during a March 7 arraignment that the shooting was captured on video. He also noted that Wilson has a previous conviction for a homicide in Georgia.

Wilson denied the allegations about his involvement in Hardy's death at his initial court appearance.

Warrant for Wilson's arrest not executed until woman's death

Court records show that Wilson was previously charged with aggravated menacing in a separate incident involving Hardy. On Sept. 15, Hardy told police that Wilson sent her a letter threatening to harm her "if she refuses to be with him."

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The letter also stated that Hardy could either "ride with him or die with him," police wrote in an affidavit.

Just three days earlier, Hardy obtained a temporary civil protection order against Wilson for domestic violence. A Hamilton County Domestic Relations Court magistrate then signed a five-year protection order later that month.

Court records indicate a warrant was issued for Wilson's arrest on Oct. 24 in the earlier case, but the arrest was not made until after Hardy's death.

'I am in fear for my safety,' Hardy told court officials

Wilson and Hardy had been in an on-and-off dating relationship since 2017, but Hardy had decided to break it off, the protection order states.

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Wilson became more persistent and showed up at Hardy's apartment early in the morning, leading her to call the police, according to the order. He also sent threatening texts and made similarly menacing posts on Facebook.

"I swear you will pay for what you did," one of the posts read.

In a petition for a protection order, Hardy wrote that Wilson's behavior was obsessive and controlling. She added that he stalked and intimidated her for moving on from the relationship.

"I am in fear for my safety," she wrote.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio man accused of stalking, killing woman after dies in jail
NEED TO KNOW

Edward Luyo was struck and killed by a car while heading to a job site in New York City on March 31

Luyo's girlfriend said he called her 20 minutes before the crash, and revealed they had plans to get engaged

The driver who hit Luyo, Jose Dilone-Duran, was arrested after allegedly fleeing the scene

A man tried to call his long-distance girlfriend, then died after he was fatally struck by a car in New York City.

Police responded to a 911 call regarding a pedestrian struck at the intersection of Whitney Avenue and Macnish Street just after 4:30 p.m. local time on Tuesday, March 31, the New York City Police Department said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE.

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An investigation determined a 44-year-old man was crossing Whitney Avenue when he was struck by a 2015 gray Nissan Versa, police said.

The driver of the Nissan, identified by police as 53-year-old Jose Dilone-Duran, of Queens, fled the scene, the department added.

Meanwhile, the man who was struck was transported to NYC Health and Hospitals/Elmhurst, where he was pronounced dead. He has been identified by the NYPD as Edward Luyo.

Luyo owned a concrete company with his brother, according to the New York Daily News. He and a coworker were traveling to a Manhattan job site when the crash occurred.

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Violet Cannistraci, Luyo's girlfriend, said she missed a call from her boyfriend about 20 minutes before the fatal crash. She said her phone was on silent at the time.

I didn't notice that I had the missed call until after 5, when his mom was repeatedly calling me to let me know that he was in a serious accident, Cannistraci said.

The girlfriend said she then immediately tried to contact Luyo, but could not reach him. It's heartbreaking, she said, according to the Daily News. We don't know how we can continue with our lives without him.

Cannistraci, who lives in upstate New York, was in a long-distance relationship with Luyo, who moved to the U.S. from Peru as a teenager. She said they spoke about getting engaged at Zion National Park, and eventually wanted to get married.

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The girlfriend also said she and her boyfriend enjoyed traveling and participating in outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and more.

More than $7,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe for Luyo's family as of Wednesday, April 8. Donations will go toward funeral and memorial expenses in addition to easing the financial burden placed on his family following his sudden death.

Edward had a good heart and always cared more for others than himself, Cannistraci wrote in the caption of the online fundraiser, adding that her boyfriend did whatever he could to protect and support his loved ones and friends.

She later added, Even though he struggled with obstacles in his life, he was immensely strong and would push forward to make the best of any situation.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

The driver of the Nissan was eventually tracked down by police and arrested for allegedly leaving the scene of an accident that resulted in death, according to the NYPD.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing, police said.

Read the original article on People
An Eastpointe man accused in a fatal stabbing last year has pleaded no contest to charges, officials said.

Nico Trevon Nettles entered the plea in Macomb County Circuit Court on Monday, according to authorities. He was charged with second-degree murder.

The 27-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced on June 4, the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday. In Michigan, judges treat no-contest pleas as if they were guilty pleas. Nettles faces up to life in prison.

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"While (the) plea marks a step toward resolution, it does not change the tragic reality that a young man has lost his life," Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido said in a statement. "In the wake of this unjustified violence, two young lives  and the families who loved them  have been irrevocably impacted. Our office remains steadfast in its commitment to pursuing justice for victims and holding those responsible fully accountable."

Reached Wednesday, Nettles' attorney, Josh Jones with the Macomb County Public Defender's Office, said his client's plea was "a reasonable resolution."

Authorities allege Nettles fatally stabbed Rashid Aliakbar in the chest with a knife during a May 12 fight at an Eastpointe home.

Police were called to the home and began lifesaving measures when they arrived, officials said. Medics took the 28-year-old victim to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.

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Officers arrested Nettles at the home, and he was charged days later.

In October, a judge ordered Nettles to stand trial in Macomb County Circuit Court.

His plea comes weeks after a Center Line man accused of shooting his girlfriend to death in front of her children was charged with second-degree murder and other crimes.

Also last month, a prominent Tecumseh farmer was convicted of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the 2021 killing of his wife, Dee Warner.

In February, a Detroit man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the 2025 stabbing of his wife.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

@CharlesERamirez

This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Man pleads no contest in fatal Eastpointe stabbing
A man appeared in court today after he was charged in a deadly 2024 boat crash in Weymouth.

John Reichardt was charged with assault and battery causing serious bodily injury, and negligent homicide by boat.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Patricia Cicales of Walpole died from her injuries, and a second victim was hospitalized in critical condition after a 38-foot motorized Sea Ray vessel and a 21-foot Pisces sailboat collided in the water off Weymouth in August of 2024.

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Video captured by a Boston 25 News photographer at the time showed the sailboat gradually sinking as emergency response boats flocked to the scene of the crash.

Officials said the motorboat captain was bringing his vessel back up to speed after leaving a no wake zone when he spotted a small fishing boat crossing in front of him less than a mile away.

At the same time, authorities said the captain was trying to pay attention to the speed of another vessel he was traveling with.

Boston 25 legal analyst Peter Elikann said hes worked on several negligent homicide cases.

No one is saying he intentionally hurt anybody, he said. But, the allegations are that he was negligent and reckless in some way.

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With another summer approaching, Elikann said boat safety is a priority for the state.

He finished, There have been enough accidents and fatalities where the state is really cracking down on negligent boaters, and theyre going to continue to do so.

Reichardt and his wife were visibly traumatized but not injured in the crash.

They told investigators that they were heading to Gloucester for the weekend at the time of the collision.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Police are searching for a Florida woman who allegedly embezzled thousands of dollars from local homeowners associations to spend on plastic surgery, shopping trips and expensive vacations.

Alexandra Delacaridad Gonzalez, a property management bookkeeper for Avant-Garde Property Management, has warrants for two counts of fraud exceeding $50,000, two counts of grand theft, 61 counts of uttering false instruments and 59 counts of embezzlement, according to a press release from the Martin County Sheriffs Office. Her bond is set at $1,350,000.

Gonzalez allegedly wrote herself checks from HOA accounts that she managed, creating fake invoices and ledger entries over an extended period, per the release, forging the signatures of authorized account holders.

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"The suspect started with smaller amounts$2,000but doing it multiple times a week, like five times a week," Sheriff John Budensiek said, according to WPBF. "So, about $10,000 a week was going into her pocket, and then she progressed from the $2,000 increments into the $5,000 increments at which point she was fired and we issued a warrant for her arrest."

According to KVAL 13, Budensiek said Gonzalez allegedly also spent the stolen money on trips to Disney World and New York.

Now, homeowners may have to pay the price for Gonzalezs alleged actions.

Could they get higher HOA fees? The answer is yes, potentially, Budensiek said, according to WPBF. I mean, $200,000 for an HOA is a lot of money and so, were actually furious at this lady [who] had the nerve to do what she did and take advantage of our citizens.

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For more true crime news:

Mom Convicted of Choking, Beating Child With Belt Until Teachers Stepped In

Woman Eerily Smiles in Court as She's Sentenced for Murdering Her Father as He Returned from Vacation

California Family's Easter Egg Hunt Uncovers Buried Human Skull

Police have identified Whitemarsh Reserve Homeowners Association and The Dunes of Hutchinson Island as victims.

A spokesperson from AvantGarde Property Management did not immediately return a call for comment from Oxygen.com. Budensiek said, according to KVAL 13, that the owner of Avant-Garde was "embarrassed and mortified by Gonzalezs alleged actions.

Police say they believe that Gonzalez might be in Miramar in Broward County or Vero Beach area in Indian River County, per the release, and urge anyone with knowledge of her whereabouts to contact the Martin County Sheriffs Office.
OKLAHOMA CITY  District 7 voters in Oklahoma City Public Schools elected Galilea Martinez as their school board representative Tuesday in the areas first contested race in 12 years.

Martinez defeated Natalie Roman 59% to 41% by a margin of 91 votes. She will represent southeast Oklahoma City and a sliver of the southwest side in a majority-Latino area encompassing Capitol Hill High School, Southeast High School, and the elementary and middle schools that feed into them.

Surrounded by close friends and family Tuesday evening, Martinez said it felt surreal to see the election results.

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It is truly special, she said of representing District 7. The south side is a part of me. Its where I grew up. Its where my parents chose to make their home. And it is truly special to be here and be able to represent their interests on the school board and make sure that their successes are our successes.

Im excited to get to work. Im excited to deliver on the promises made on the doors and, God willing, we can make some positive changes.

District 7s current representative, Meg McElhaney, didnt seek reelection after seven years in office.

Martinez, 28, attended elementary school in District 7 and graduated high school from Harding Fine Arts Academy. She earned degrees in nonprofit administration and political science from OU.

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She has spent her career working for political campaigns and organizations focused on elections and public policy. She now works as the associate director of communications and events for the Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions, which advocates for best practices in elections.

Roman, 22, graduated from Southeast High School in 2021 and from the University of Oklahoma in December with a degree in computer science. She now works as a relationship banker at First United Bank in Moore.

Natalie Roman fell short in the District 7 election Tuesday in Oklahoma City Public Schools. (Photo provided by Natalie Roman)

Roman said she is glad her community finally had options in a school board election.

Any increase in voter engagement and the fact that they had a choice and the fact that they had transparency, I think was a win, she said after the results came in Tuesday.

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The election saw 527 voters participate, far exceeding the 306 who turned out the last time District 7 had a contested race in 2014.

It was the only contested race in Oklahoma City Public Schools this year.

Martinez is expected to be sworn into office Monday at the school boards next meeting along with Vernona Dismuke from District 5.

Dismuke, 60, was the only candidate to file for the District 5 seat. Its current officeholder, Mike Shelton, chose not to seek reelection after fewer than two years on the board.

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MEXICO CITY (AP)  Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday announced plans to tap into unconventional natural gas deposits in an effort to lower her country's reliance on foreign energy at a time when the Iran war is disrupting global energy markets.

But Sheinbaum  a scientist and climate expert  notably avoided the term hydraulic fracturing or fracking, a drilling method used to extract oil and natural gas from deep underground bedrock using a highly pressurized liquid. Instead, she framed the initiative as a quest for sustainable extraction, emphasizing that environmental impacts would be minimized to the greatest extent possible.

The technical feasibility of sustainable fracking is a subject of significant debate among environmental scientists and energy experts. But Sheinbaum said a technical committee will spend two months evaluating less harmful methods, such as utilizing nonpotable water and reducing chemical additives. The committee will also assess the potential costs of these mitigations, she said.

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All the gas we import comes from a type of extraction that has environmental impacts and is 100 meters from the Mexican border, she noted, alluding to fracking projects in Texas.

Mexico is the worlds single largest buyer of U.S. gas.

While noting that natural gas import contracts with the U.S. remain secure and the bilateral relationship is strong, she argued that increasing energy sovereignty is a responsible necessity. Is more gas needed? Yes. Can all gas be replaced? Hardly, she added.

Since assuming power in October 2024, Sheinbaum has pledged to expand renewable energy while maintaining firm support for the state-owned Petroleos Mexicanos. On Wednesday, she defended this stance by arguing that fossil fuels remain an essential component of Mexicos energy landscape.

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Sheinbaum said the priority is to reduce external energy dependence in turbulent times and avoid situations like the one experienced in Europe with the shortage of Russian gas during the war in Ukraine or the one caused by the current war in the Middle East.

Wednesday's proposal  which is certain to spark controversy  comes amid a surge in infrastructure projects designed to increase U.S. gas imports. These developments aim to satisfy Mexicos rising domestic electricity demand while positioning the country as a hub for re-exporting gas to Asian and European markets.

___

Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america
Richmond Hill Resources has signed a conditional agreement to acquire the Bartlett mining claims in Ontario, Canada, from Ulvestone, a company controlled by substantial shareholder James Ikin.

The claims are adjacent to Richmond Hill's existing Martello Gold Project.

According to the agreement, Richmond Hill will obtain full legal and beneficial interests in the Bartlett mining claims.

The project encompasses 29 mining claims covering around 871.5 hectares (ha) in the Kawashegamuk Lake Area and Tabor Lake Area.

The total payment for the acquisition consists of C$125,000 ($89,864.6) in cash to be paid at completion, along with the issuance of new ordinary shares valued at C$550,000.

These shares, priced at 1.75p each, will be issued to a third party in four equal instalments.

The proposed shares will be subject to a lock-in agreement, restricting their sale until designated dates in 2026 and 2027.

Both parties have agreed that the consideration shares will not be issued, allotted or delivered to the seller or any parties acting in coordination with the seller, as outlined in the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.

The Bartlett mining claims are located in a well-established mining district with favourable mining infrastructure.

All claims are in compliance with work requirements and are subject to net smelter return royalties of 1.75% to Ursa Polaris Developments Corporation and 1.5% to Gravel Ridge Resources/Perry English.

Completion depends on Richmond Hill conducting satisfactory legal, technical and financial due diligence on the project.

Additionally, both parties must obtain all required consents and approvals from relevant Canadian mining regulatory bodies.

As the deal involves a related party, the directors of Richmond Hill sought an independent evaluation from Cairn Financial Advisers and found the terms fair and reasonable for shareholders.

In January 2026, the company appointed Critical Discoveries to oversee technical work at the Martello Gold Project.

"Richmond Hill to acquire Bartlett mining claims" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




WETHERSFIELD, Conn. (WTNH)  The Office of Correction Ombuds found that a Connecticut prisons pre-visit strip search of Michelle Troconis last year was unauthorized, according to a report dated April 1.

The strip search conducted in this matter was inconsistent with Administrative Directive 6.7. The record reflects that no reasonable suspicion was documented, the stated justification does not meet the threshold required under Department policy, and required procedural safeguards were not followed, the report said.

Michelle Troconis appears in court for habeas corpus hearing

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On May 5, 2025, Troconis was incarcerated at York Correctional Institution in Niantic when she went to the facilitys visiting center for a scheduled contact visit. It was allegedly then that she was subject to a strip search before and after the visit.

According to the report, Troconis was stripped and searched due to her being out of place prior to count being cleared. While the rationale reflects a purported reasonable suspicion for the search, the facility count had already been cleared around 8 a.m. at admitting and discharge.

According to the investigation, a facility count was cleared in the admitting and discharge room, but the main control did not announce it over the radio until 8:09 a.m. Meanwhile, Troconis exited housing unit and went to the visiting area before the announcement on the radio, between 8:03 a.m. and 8:06 a.m.

When she arrived, she was directed back to the housing unit. After the announcement, she arrived back around 8:09 a.m. to the visiting area. Upon returning, she was strip-searched before the visit and after, once again, the report said.

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Several days later, on May 9, a formal investigation was launched after a complaint was made to the Office of Correction Ombuds.

The issue arose from a delayed radio communication by the main control, rather than conduct by Troconis, according to the report. Being out of place does not meet the threshold required to justify strip and search under administrative directive, the report states.

To the extent the Department contends that the search was not based on reasonable suspicion, the search lacked any policy basis altogether and was therefore inconsistent with Administrative Directive 6.7, according to the report.

The post-visit search was consistent with policy, the report said.

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The office is requesting that the department provide a written response outlining any actions taken or planned in response to the findings and recommendations in the report, no later than May 1, 2026.

When asked for comment, a representative with the Department of Correction said theyre in the process of preparing a formal response to Correction Ombuds DeVaughn Ward.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
The United States and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, with both sides claiming victory.

Here are reactions from across the globe:

- Pakistan -

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, having earlier welcomed the ceasefire, said violations between the United States and Iran had already reported.

"I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict," Sharif said on X.

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Pakistan officials acted as mediators in the talks that led to the truce.

- Lebanon -

President Joseph Aoun welcomed the truce, adding that Beirut "continued efforts to ensure that the regional peace includes Lebanon in a stable and lasting manner."

- Israel -

Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military had carried out a surprise attack targeting hundreds of Hezbollah members across Lebanon.

"This is the largest concentrated blow Hezbollah has suffered since Operation Beepers," Katz said in a video statement, referring to a major 2024 operation against Hezbollah involving pager bombs.

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- Turkey -

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned of the threat from "possible provocations and sabotage" to the ceasefire.

"We hope that the ceasefire will be fully implemented on the ground without giving any opportunity for possible provocations and sabotage," Erdogan wrote on X.

- Qatar, UAE, Oman -

Qatar's foreign ministry said the truce was "an initial step toward de-escalation" and urged Iran "to immediately cease all hostile acts and practices that undermine regional stability."

United Arab Emirates presidential adviser Anwar Gargash said in a post on X that "The UAE emerged victorious from a war we sincerely sought to avoid."

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Oman's foreign ministry underlined "the importance of intensifying efforts at this juncture to identify solutions capable of resolving the crisis at its roots and achieving a permanent cessation of the state of war."

- Saudi Arabia -

Saudi's defence ministry said it had detected nine drones targeting its territory, despite the ceasefire.

Earlier the foreign ministry said it hoped the truce would "represent an opportunity to achieve a comprehensive and sustainable de-escalation".

- Iraq -

Iraq's foreign ministry said on X it welcomed the ceasefire and "calls for building upon this positive step by launching serious and sustainable dialogue tracks that address the root causes of the disputes and strengthen mutual trust."

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The president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region said "I hope all parties will uphold this commitment in good faith and work towards a lasting peace that promotes stability, security, and prosperity throughout the entire region."

- Egypt -

In an overnight call with US envoy Steve Witkoff, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty "expressed his deep appreciation for this important American step to give diplomacy a chance and start a serious process of American-Iranian negotiations."

- Spain -

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez welcomed the US-Iran ceasefire as "good news" on X but said Spain would not "applaud those who set fire to the world because they show up with a bucket".

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Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told public radio RNE that: "All fronts must cease, and all fronts also means Lebanon."

- Pope -

"I welcome with satisfaction, and as a sign of real hope, the announcement of an immediate two-week truce. Only by returning to negotiations can we reach the end of the war," the Catholic leader said at the end of his weekly audience at the Vatican.

- Ukraine -

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Wednesday that Ukrainian military teams helping Middle East countries counter Iranian drone attacks would stay in the region.

Ukraine's foreign minister wrote on social media that "American decisiveness works. We believe it is time for sufficient decisiveness to force Moscow to cease fire and end its war against Ukraine."

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- Japan -

"The most important thing is that concrete steps will be taken to de-escalate the situation, including ensuring the safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz," Japanese government spokesman Minoru Kihara said.

- United Nations -

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire, his spokesperson said in a statement.

The UN chief "calls on all the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to comply with their obligations under international law and to abide by the terms of the ceasefire in order to pave the way toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region", the spokesperson added.

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- European Union -

The truce "creates a much-needed chance to tone down threats, stop missiles, restart shipping, and create space for diplomacy towards a lasting agreement," the EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas wrote on X.

- Russia -

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists: "We, of course, welcomed this news of a ceasefire and welcome the decision not to continue down the path of armed escalation, especially not to strike civilian targets, including Iranian economic facilities."

- Britain, France, Germany -

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the truce "will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world" as he headed to the region.

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French President Emmanuel Macron called the ceasefire "a very good thing", hoping both that "will be fully respected throughout the region" and that it "fully includes Lebanon".

Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged a "durable end to the war in the next days", which he said could "only be achieved by diplomacy".

burs/jj/st
(The Center Square)  Minnesota House Republicans and Democrats have filed competing ethics complaints against members of the opposing party as lawmakers enter the final stretch of this years legislative session.

A complaint.pdf) filed by House Democrats targets Rep. Elliott Engen, R-Lino Lakes, and Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, alleging the two left a scheduled committee meeting to drink at a St. Paul bar.

Meanwhile, House Republicans filed a complaint against Rep. Alex Falconer, DFL-Eden Prairie, over his outside employment and potential conflicts of interest.

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Under House rules, ethics complaints may be brought about conduct by a member that violates a rule or administrative policy of the House, that violates accepted norms of House behavior, that betrays the public trust, or that tends to bring the House into dishonor or disrepute.

Complaints are then referred to the House Ethics Committee, which investigates and may recommend action to the speaker before adjournment.

According to Democrats, the two Republican lawmakers  then members of the House Education Finance Committee  were photographed at a bar around 2:30 p.m. on March 26 while the committee was meeting to discuss a school attendance bill. They later returned for a floor session.

Engen was arrested around 2 a.m. the following day in White Bear Lake and charged with driving while intoxicated. Hudson was a passenger in the vehicle and was carrying a firearm with a permit.

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While no test was conducted to determine Hudsons level of intoxication, Minnesota law prohibits permit holders from carrying a firearm with a blood alcohol content above 0.04%.

House DFL Floor Leader Jamie Long, DFL-Minneapolis, and Rep. Samantha Sencer-Mura, DFL-Minneapolis, filed the complaint.

Reps. Engen and Hudson violated the publics trust, and this type of behavior has no place in the Capitol, Long said in a statement. There has to be accountability for their actions that goes beyond removing them from committees. They left committee halfway through to go drink, choosing to let down their colleagues and constituents.

Engen and Hudson have already been removed from their committee assignments following the incident.

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Republicans pushed back, noting past incidents involving DFL lawmakers.

Reps. Dan Wolgamott, DFL-St. Cloud, and Brion Curran, DFL-White Bear Lake, both pleaded guilty to drunken driving charges in 2023, though those incidents occurred outside of session and neither lawmaker was removed from committees.

The GOP complaint against Falconer revolves around his prior and current employment with environmental advocacy organizations.

Republicans allege Falconer lobbied for Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness in 2024 and currently works as a federal government relations manager for Save the Boundary Waters, while continuing to sponsor legislation supported by those groups.

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Rep. Isaac Schultz, R-Elmdale Township, said Falconers economic interest statement lists his work with Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness but does not mention his position with Save the Boundary Waters.

He was employed as a lobbyist until days before he took the oath of office, swapped his job title, and continues to push legislation supported by the very people who are signing his paycheck, Schultz said in a statement.

Schultz was joined in filing the ethics complaint by Rep. Spencer Igo, R-Wabana Township. They further argue Falconer has introduced multiple bills aligned with the policy goals of those organizations, including measures that have been the subject of direct lobbying efforts.

Falconer defended his actions, saying his work complies with House rules.

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My legislative work on this issue was vetted with nonpartisan House experts. Its all above board, Falconer said in a statement. This is simply a desperate attempt to deflect from clearly unethical conduct from Reps. Hudson and Engen. Why else would they bring this up now, when Ive been working on these bills since I was seated?

Both complaints now head to the evenly divided House Ethics Committee, where any disciplinary recommendations would require bipartisan agreement.

The Center Square did not receive a response from Minnesota House Republicans or Rep. Falconers office regarding questions about these complaints.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill Tuesday expanding the role of prosecutors in juvenile court proceedings and increasing access to juvenile records by law enforcement.

The new law also increases the mandatory minimum percentage people will have to serve in prison before they become eligible for parole.

Republican state Sen. Nick Schroer of Defiance, the sponsor of the bill, said it would end a cycle of catch and release preventing young people from facing consequences of breaking the law and provide truth in sentencing to defendants and victims.

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Republican state Rep. Brad Christ of St. Louis County, the bills handler in the House, said the bill is about rehabilitation as well as accountability.

To its critics, however, the bill was rushed through the legislature and conflicts with the aim of the juvenile justice system to rehabilitate young people.

The bill passed the Senate after 3 a.m. on March 5, after hours of debate and negotiation. A House committee passed the bill on March 9  the next day the legislature convened. Committees often wait a week after a bills public hearing to vote. The House voted to send the bill to Kehoe three days later.

Democratic state Rep. David Tyson Smith of Columbia, a criminal defense attorney, told The Independent that the bill reverses hard-won criminal justice reforms state lawmakers passed after the 2020 killing of George Floyd by law enforcement officers.

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It was not properly vetted, Smith said. It was rushed through. And its a major rollback of the criminal justice reform weve seen.

Officials from the Missouri Department of Corrections also estimate the changes to parole eligibility in the bill could fill the states prisons by July 2029 or earlier  potentially requiring the construction of a new maximum security prison at a cost of $825 million.

Kehoe told reporters after the bill signing that sentencing certainty is worth the potential cost of increasing Missouris prison population.

Prisons are expensive, but committing crimes cant be tolerated, Kehoe said. Most Missourians, I think, would agree that you dont want to be soft on crime because you ran out of room.

Juvenile justice

The bill carves out a bigger role for prosecutors earlier in a young persons case.

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Currently, only a juvenile officer or the court can request a hearing to determine if a young person will be tried as an adult. The bill permits prosecutors to initiate that process and requires juvenile officers to share all records related to the offense allegedly committed by the young person.

Smith said this change risks bringing politics into juvenile court decisions, since prosecutors are elected officials.

Now youre going to have elected prosecutors sticking their nose in a case involving juveniles, and theyre going to push for certifications just so that [theyre] elected, just so they can say theyre tough on crime, Smith said.

But the bill narrows the alleged crimes for which young people can be tried as adults from any felony to class A and B felonies and some sexual offenses.

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The bill also requires juvenile officers and courts to submit all juvenile records and fingerprints to be included in the states criminal history database, which would be open to law enforcement officers, prosecutors and courts.

Democratic state Rep. Michael Johnson of Kansas City told reporters last week that the measure could bias law enforcement and judges against adults for offenses they committed as juveniles.

Johnson said lawmakers priorities are not in the right place if they are willing to say, Hey, lets reopen the file and re-prosecute them after theyve already served their time in juvenile.

Mandatory minimum prison time

Kehoe told reporters that adding mandatory minimums to state law will provide clarity and predictability to law enforcement and victims about how much time defendants will spend in prison after being convicted of a crime.

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Thats what you saw so many law enforcement folks here, especially our elected sheriffs, who walk out of the courthouse after a hearing and walk to the county square and arent sure how long that person is actually going to serve, Kehoe said.

Department regulations already include minimum percentages that people convicted of felonies must serve before they become eligible for parole.

The new law increases those minimums, including for relatively low-level nonviolent and drug offenses.

People convicted of offenses classified as dangerous felonies, including murder and first-degree assault, will still have to serve 85% of their sentence to become eligible for parole.

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The new mandatory minimum percentages are:

Class A offense: 70%

Class B offense: 50%

Class C sex offense: 40%

Class C other offense: 30%

Class D or E sex offense: 25%

Class D other offense: 20%

Class E other offense: 15%

Someone convicted of possession of more than 35 grams but less than 30 kilograms of marijuana  a class D felony  would be required to serve 20% of their sentence under the new law. For the maximum sentence of 7 years, that would mean a little less than a year and a half. Currently, they would become eligible for parole after serving 15% of their sentence, or just over a year.

The changes will have the biggest impact on people convicted of more serious nonviolent and drug offenses, in some cases almost tripling the amount of time they would have to serve.

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Department regulations currently allow people convicted of drug or nonviolent class A and B felonies to be considered for parole after serving 25% of their sentence.

Someone convicted of selling a pound of cocaine and given a 10-year sentence the minimum for a class A felony  will now have to serve 7 years under the new law, rather than two and half.

Smith said the new law doesnt necessarily bring more transparency in sentencing, since department regulations already set mandatory minimum percentages.

We knew there was basically a minimum before, Smith said. If you knew what you were doing in the courtroom, you generally knew someones going to do 15% [for a class D or E felony]. Now we know theyre going to do maybe 20%, but they could go higher.

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Democratic state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis told The Independent that the biggest problem is if were building prisons and not schools.

If were not dealing with the underlying causes of crime, thats the problem, May said. Poverty, lack of education, deteriorating infrastructure, dilapidated neighborhoods. If were not going to address that, then were not going to solve crime.
Residents in an east Houston neighborhood were startled awake early Tuesday morning as a large-scale law enforcement operation unfolded across multiple properties.

According to neighbors in Clinton Park, at least four homes were raided by a combination of federal agents, state troopers, and local law enforcement officers. The U.S. Attorney's Office confirmed on Wednesday that 10 people were arrested on various gun and drug charges.

People living in the area said officers surrounded several homes before sunrise, creating a tense and confusing scene.

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One resident, Frederick Johnson, said he was detained during the operation.

"I was apprehended, but I was released because I don't do no drama or trouble in the streets," Johnson said.

Johnson told ABC13 that he was handcuffed for about three hours before being released without explanation.

The DOJ said that while Houston's FBI branch was leading the operation, other agencies, including FBI San Antonio SWAT, Houston Police investigators, HPD SWAT, the U.S. Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers, ATF agents, and the Houston Fire Department, were also part of the federal investigation.

SkyEye was over the Clinton Park neighborhood as law enforcement officers appeared to conduct a court-authorized search on a home.

SkyEye was overhead as images showed what appeared to be numerous law enforcement vehicles and officers conducting a court-authorized search.

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Authorities, including the FBI, did not publicly confirm the purpose of the raids. However, multiple sources familiar with the situation told ABC13 the operation may be tied to drug-related investigations.

Some residents said they received advance notice that law enforcement would target the area.

"We got the call earlier this morning that they were coming to the 400 block," one neighbor said. "We tried to inform everybody that they were coming out here."

Residents say that a similar law enforcement raid happened in the same neighborhood about six months ago. Some believe the latest raids may be connected to that earlier operation, possibly based on new or updated information.

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"They came here six months earlier before, so there is some updated information," another resident said.

Throughout Tuesday morning, officers were seen removing boxes of evidence from multiple homes. By midday, some of the properties involved had been boarded up.
New testimony revealed on Wednesday how a detailed description of a green van helped investigators obtain video from inside Tanner Horners FedEx truck, leading to his arrest in the November 30, 2022, abduction and killing of 7-year-old Athena Strand in Paradise, Texas.

Horner has pleaded guilty and is now in the sentencing phase of his case at the Tarrant County courthouse. On the second day of testimony, Texas Rangers Sgt. Job Espinoza described how the investigation zeroed in on the delivery of a box of Barbie dolls to the Strand home shortly before the girl disappeared.

FBI agents had learned FedEx delivered the package through a Dallas-based contractor called Big Topspin. When interviewed, Horner  the driver  provided a specific account of an older green Astro Van missing a lower panel on the drivers door, leaving the property around the time of the delivery.

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Espinoza, the lead investigator for the search, said the focus shifted on December 1, 2022, to identifying who made the delivery and what they might have seen.

My main objective was: who delivered it? What did they see? he said, per CBS News Texas. More than anything, to me initially, its just another set of eyes.

As investigators moved forward, Horners detailed statements about the van stood out, Espinoza said.

As we moved forward in the investigation, there were some key things that stuck out to me, he said. The driver, Tanner Horner, had made very detailed statements about a green van. So obviously, we have to act on any information we get.

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A statewide alert was issued for the van. Investigators also analyzed cell tower data and asked whether the FedEx truck had any surveillance cameras.

Im like Hey, do they have video, maybe we can see a license plate on the video, Espinoza recalled asking.

The company that manages camera systems for FedEx trucks, Velociter in North Carolina, provided two short video clips from Horners vehicle. The clips were turned over as authorities moved to detain Horner on December 2, 2022.

Espinoza viewed the footage and saw Strand alive and being placed inside the van by Horner.

I saw that Athena was alive, and that she was placed in that FedEx van by Mr. Horner, he said, and based on what I was seeing, it was exigent, and I felt that there was a possibility that Athena was still alive, and we needed to bring her home.

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The video was from November 30, 2022. Horner was detained the next day in a different truck, but the Wise County Sheriffs Office secured the original vehicle.

Searches of Horners family home in Lake Worth and the truck used in the abduction turned up no sign of Strand. Espinoza said he still hoped she might be found alive.

Body camera video from Espinozas brother, Game Warden Josh Espinoza, showed Horners detainment and confirmed the girl was not in the truck. Horner cooperated with the search and provided an address near BoBos Crossing, though darkness prevented a full K-9 sweep.

Once in an interview room, Espinoza asked Horner two direct questions.

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Wheres she at? he said.

Horner replied, I can show you.

Espinoza followed up: Is she alive?

Horner said Strand was not alive when he put her in the truck.

I immediately knew that was a lie, Espinoza said, citing the video he had already reviewed.
Gov. Mikie Sherrills proposed $60.7 billion state budget faces significant challenges  from a war raging in Iran thats driving up oil prices worldwide to skyrocketing health care premiums for public workers for the fourth consecutive year, state budget analysts warned lawmakers this week.

With so much uncertainty looming, is the Democratic governor setting aside enough money in surplus to prepare New Jersey for a fiscal crisis?

This is the question Republicans  the minority party at the Statehouse  repeatedly asked of state Treasurer Aaron Binder and non-partisan analysts at the state Office of Legislative Services on Tuesday.

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Sherrills budget proposal dedicates $5.4 billion to the surplus account also known as rainy-day fund. This is the seventh largest in the states history, although the lowest since the financial boom of the early COVID pandemic, Thomas Koenig, the Offices budget and finance officer, told the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.

But New Jerseys surplus was more than $10 billion three years ago, when federal pandemic aid flooded the state budget, state Sen. Declan OScanlon, R-Monmouth, noted. At this current rate, within another few years, it will be gone.

Mikie Sherrill Rochelle Park

Sherrills $60B budget puts her on collision course with fellow Dems over pet projects

Gov. Mikie Sherrills budget puts pressure on Democrats to cut spending and budget addons as New Jersey confronts a big deficit.

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Sherrills budget plan, unveiled last month, would already be the biggest in state history, spending about $1.6 billion more than the state is projected to take in from revenues.

If current trends persist, the diminishing surplus will not provide a cushion for long, Koenig testified.

Senate Budget and Appropriations Chairman Paul Sarlo stressed that Gov. Phil Murphys final budget, enacted in June, contained a solid surplus here for the incoming administration projected at $7.3 billion.

But Sarlo, too, expressed concern about the states revenues in months to come.

The geopolitical forces that are occurring around us by the minute, quite frankly, could have a significant impact, including on Wall Street, Sarlo said. There is serious, serious uncertainty on the horizon here and could last with us for years to come.

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New Jersey ranked last among states in the amount of surplus and cash-on-hand in a recent Pew Research Center analysis based on 2025 budget data collected by the National Association of State Budget Officers.

The strength of states rainy day funds ranged widelyfrom 320.2 days worth of spending in Wyoming to 0 set aside in New Jersey," The Pew report said.

The dire fiscal health of the State Health Benefits Program was also a topic of the hearings.

Treasury officials said premiums for the State Health Benefits Plan are expected to rise by double-digits again, continuing a yearslong pattern that has strained state and local budgets.

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Final premium rates will not be released until early July. But an analysis by the states consultant, Aon, predicted double-digit rate increases are likely coming for both state and local employees. Members of the School Employees Health Benefits Plan are facing the same challenges in the coming year, state Treasury officials have said.

Sherrills budget proposal anticipates state labor unions and the administration will find $75 million in savings the first half of the new fiscal year. For the local worker portion of the program, which is facing the most dire financial trouble, she has anticipated $150 million in savings. Details on how those savings would be reached have yet to be released.

In September, Murphy and state unions agreed to a $75 million cut in spending, which was almost entirely borne by workers paying more for premiums and copays and limiting plan offerings.

The State Health Benefits Plan, which covers state employees, retirees and some local government workers, is among the states largest recurring expenses, along with pensions and school aid.

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These annual double-digit increases are threatening the fiscal health of all levels of government, Binder said. Something must be done, and urgently.

Binder delivered the warning to both state Senate and Assembly budget committees, as lawmakers pressed him on Sherrills plans to close a $3 billion structural deficit that could exhaust the states surplus within the next couple of years if left unaddressed.

I think you inherited somewhat of a mess, Sen. Michael Testa, R-Cumberland, told Binder.

Sarlo, D-Bergen, said difficult decisions about the future of the health benefits plan are inevitable.

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Only the bad swimmers, unfortunately, are left in the pool. The good swimmers got out when the water got a little rough, Sarlo said.

And the ones who are in it are constantly looking to see if they could get out, Binder replied.

The hearings come as lawmakers barrel toward a June 30 deadline to finalize the state budget, which must be approved by both chambers and signed by the governor before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
By Joey Roulette

HOUSTON, April 8 (Reuters) - Four astronauts traveling back to Earth from the far side of the moon on NASA's Artemis II mission spoke of their emotions as they wrapped up the unprecedented flight and prepared to re-enter the atmosphere in a "fireball", during their first press conference from space on Wednesday.

The Artemis II crew, flying in their Orion capsule since launching from Florida last week, are due to splash down off the Southern California coast on Friday evening after reaching the moon earlier this week. They cruised along a path that took them past the shadowed, lunar far side to become the farthest-flying humans in history.

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On the trip back home, they will reach speeds of up to 23,839 mph (38,365 kph) as they enter Earth's atmosphere, a high-risk phase of the mission that will put Orion's heatshield to the test as it gets battered by intense atmospheric friction.

"I've actually been thinking about entry since April 3, 2023 when we got assigned to this mission," said Artemis II mission pilot Victor Glover, when asked how he was feeling about the return.

"There's so many more pictures, so many more stories, and gosh, I haven't even begun to process what we've been through. We've still got two more days, and riding a fireball through the atmosphere is profound as well."

Glover and fellow NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen are the first wave of astronauts in a multibillion-dollar series of missions under the Artemis program that aims to return humans to the moon's surface by 2028 before China, and establish a long-term U.S. presence over the next decade, building a moon base for potential future missions to Mars.

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Koch cast the mission series as a relay race, telling reporters: "In fact, we have batons that we bought to symbolize, physically, that."

"We plan to hand them to the next crew, and every single thing that we do is with them in mind," she said.

That next mission, Artemis III, will involve a docking test in low-Earth orbit between the Orion capsule and both astronaut lunar landers that NASA plans to use to put its astronauts on the moon in later missions.

Artemis IV, targeted for 2028, would be the program's first crewed lunar landing, and the first since Apollo 17 in 1972.

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Back on Earth, dozens of lunar scientists have been packed in rooms adjacent to NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston this week, scribbling down notes and debating a steady stream of both real-time and recorded audio from the Artemis II astronaut crew in their Orion spacecraft.

SPLASHDOWN

The crew is due to return to Earth on Friday around 8 p.m. ET (0000 GMT Saturday), splashing down off the coast of San Diego, California to cap their nearly 10-day mission.

The four astronauts on Monday had reached a record-breaking distance from Earth of roughly 252,000 miles, surpassing by some 4,000 miles the previous record held by the Apollo 13 crew for 56 years.

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Wiseman, Artemis II mission commander, told reporters the crew each had two "very brief" chats with their families during the mission.

"Hearing your crew mates giggling and crying, and just gasping and listening and loving their families from afar - familiy is so important to all four of us, and that has been amazing," he said.

In a radio message to mission control in Houston on Monday, as the crew approached their closest distance to the lunar surface, Hansen suggested naming a fresh crater on the moon in honor of Wiseman's late wife, Carroll, who died of cancer in 2020.

Wiseman told reporters his crewmates approached him with that idea to name the crater Carroll while they were in quarantine before launching to space.

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"That was an emotional moment for me," Wiseman said. "I said 'Absolutely, I would love that' ... but I can't give the speech. I can't give the talk."

In the mission's sixth day, Hansen choked up as he made the suggestion to mission control in what was a tear-jerking moment for many NASA staff in Houston.

The astronauts broke their distance record during the lunar flyby in which they surveyed the moon's surface from roughly 4,000 miles above.

Advances in lunar science have typically relied on lunar-orbiting satellites and Earth-based observations. But the crew's six-hour lunar flyby provided a real-time stream of scientific collections from human eyes, allowing rare back-and-forth discussions between teams on the ground and their fellow scientists over 252,000 miles away in deep space.

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Scientists see NASA's Artemis II mission as an important early step in unlocking mysteries about the solar system's formation. The moon, Artemis II mission specialist Koch said before launching to space last week, is a "witness plate" to the formation of our solar system.

(Reporting by Joey Roulette; Editing by Chris Sanders, Bill Berkrot and Stephen Coates)
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has awarded a $2.8 million contract to NJR Group Inc. of Albemarle to upgrade several roadways across Cabarrus County.

The project includes milling, patching, resurfacing, shoulder reconstruction, new pavement markings, and rumble strip installation.

ALSO READ: NCDOT awards $3.7M contract to resurface Mecklenburg roads

Roads included in the contract:

U.S. 29 between I85 and Sumner Street

N.C. 73 from the Mecklenburg County line to the Odell Volunteer Fire Department, and from Westgate Circle to Mistletoe Ridge Place NW

Brantley Road between Lane Street and Old SalisburyConcord Road

La Forest Lane from N.C. 73 to Untz Road

Trinity Church Road from the RowanCabarrus Community College entrance toward Orphanage Road

Crews may begin work later this month, with completion expected in fall 2027. Any lane closures on U.S. 29, N.C. 73, and Trinity Church Road will be limited to offpeak hours (8 p.m.6 a.m.), with additional restrictions during holidays and holiday weekends.
By Enas Alashray and Ahmed Tolba

April 8 (Reuters) - Israel supports U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, but the ceasefire does not include Lebanon, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday.

The premier's office said Israel backed the U.S. move provided Tehran immediately opened the strait and stopped attacks against the United States, Israel and countries in the region.

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The remarks came after Washington announced a two-week suspension of attacks against Iran as part of efforts to de-escalate the conflict and open a window for negotiations.

Israel also said it supported U.S. efforts to ensure Iran no longer posed a nuclear, missile or "terror" threat to the U.S., Israel and Iran's Arab neighbours, adding that Washington had told Israel it was committed to achieving their shared goals in upcoming negotiations.

Iran said on Wednesday negotiations with the U.S. would begin on Friday, April 10 in Islamabad.

Two White House officials confirmed earlier that Israel had agreed to the two-week ceasefire and to suspend its bombing campaign on Iran, while Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who helped mediate the deal, said in a post on X that the agreement included a cessation of Israel's campaign in Lebanon.

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The Israeli offensive in Lebanon has killed at least 1,500 people and displaced 1.2 million others. Lebanon was pulled into the war in the Middle East when Hezbollah fired rockets at Israel in solidarity with Tehran, two days after Iran was attacked by Israel and the U.S. Hezbollah's attack prompted a new Israeli ground and air offensive.

(Reporting by Enas Alashray and Ahmed Tolba; Editing by Christian Schmollinger, Lincoln Feast and Kate Mayberry)
Reports of the two-week US-Iran ceasefire potentially opening the Strait of Hormuz to vessels after over a month of near-total closure has prompted shipping companies to weigh their options against persistent uncertainties.

The worlds second-largest container shipping operator, Maersk, has taken the lead in responding to the development.

The ceasefire may create transit opportunities, but it does not yet provide full maritime certainty and we need to understand all potential conditions attached, the Danish company stated.

Maersk further guaranteed it is "working with urgency" to clarify exactly how ships will be able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz following months of severe restrictions.

Decisions on any transits, it emphasised, will depend on continuous risk assessments, close monitoring of the security situation and guidance from authorities and partners.

The German shipping line Hapag-Lloyd has adopted a similarly measured tone.

CEO Rolf Habben-Jansen told clients in a call on Wednesday that it was too early to judge how much traffic would be able to pass through the vital waterway.

Habben-Jansen warned that it would take at least six weeks before the firm could regain a fully normal network, even if some vessels would be able to leave the Gulf fairly soon.

The company estimates that around 1,000 merchant ships remain stuck in the Persian Gulf, six of them belonging to Hapag-Lloyd.

This substantial backlog is expected to make management of any resumption of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz significantly harder, while the conflict continues to cost the firm roughly $55 million (47.5mn) per week.

US President Donald Trump described the reopening as a core requirement of the ceasefire, calling for the "COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING" of the Strait of Hormuz and pledging US support for traffic management.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that, provided attacks on Iran cease, safe passage would be possible for the two-week period via coordination with Irans Armed Forces and taking into account technical limitations.

Regional officials have indicated that both Iran and Oman are expected to charge transit fees on vessels, marking a departure from the maritime chokepoints previous status as a toll-free route.

Exact amounts and procedures have not been confirmed publicly.

Other shipping operators monitor developments closely

Other companies such as the Japanese shipping and logistics firm NYK Line have also stated they are closely monitoring the situation following the ceasefire announcement.
Israels opposition leader Yair Lapid has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of strategic failure following the announcement of a ceasefire in the war with Iran.

"There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history," Lapid wrote on X on Wednesday. "Israel wasn't even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security."

"The military carried out everything that was asked of it, the public demonstrated amazing resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn't meet a single one of the goals that he himself set," Lapid continued.

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"It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu wrought due to arrogance, negligence, and a lack of strategic planning."

Netanyahu had cited the dismantling of Tehran's missile and nuclear programmes as a central objective of the war.

According to the latest opinion polls, Israel's opposition could narrowly win an absolute majority in parliament in the upcoming parliamentary elections in October without having to rely on Arab parties.

However, according to polls, Lapids Yesh Atid party would no longer be the strongest force in the opposition.
Israel is ready to resume hostilities against Iran "at any time" to achieve its full set of objectives, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the public on Wednesday.

In the past six weeks of military operations, Israel has "achieved immense accomplishments - achievements that until recently seemed completely imaginary," Netanyahu said in a video address released after Tuesday's announcement of talks between the US and Iran.

"Iran is weaker than ever and Israel is stronger than ever."

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At the same time, he said that Israel "still has goals to complete" - either through an agreement or a resumption of fighting.

Israel's finger "is on the trigger," Netanyahu stressed.

The ceasefire between the US and Iran had been achieved in consultation with Israel, according to the prime minister.

"No, they did not surprise us at the last minute," said Netanyahu, apparently in response to rebukes in Israel over his conduct during the war.

Critics have accused him of failing to achieve any of Israel's goals since the joint attacks with the US on Iran began on February 28.

Iran 'set back by years'

However, Netanyahu insisted that Iran's ability to produce new missiles had been destroyed.

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Its remaining stockpiles are also running out, while Tehran's nuclear programme has been severely damaged, he added. His claims about Iran's military capabilities could not be independently verified.

The Iranian regime had been set "back many years," while Israel continues to forge alliances with new countries in the region, according to Netanyahu.

Furthermore, the enriched uranium allegedly still in Iran would be completely removed from the country, he said, either as part of an agreement or a resumption of the war. "We see eye-to-eye on this matter" with the US, Netanyahu said.

Without the wars against Iran this year and last, "Iran would have long ago had nuclear weapons, and Iran would have had many thousands of missiles to destroy Israel and threaten the existence of us all."

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Of the US ceasefire with Iran, Netanyahu said he had ensured that it did not include the Tehran-allied Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Israel on Wednesday launched a surprise large-scale air strikes throughout Lebanon, including Beirut, purportedly targeting Hezbollah positions. Lebanese authorities reported hundreds of killed and injured among the population.

Today, Netanyahu said in his speech, Israel dealt Hezbollah its heaviest blow since the explosive pager blasts in 2024 that eliminated many of its senior members.
Nigeria has begun the prosecution of more than 500 people accused of involvement in militant attacks in one of the country's largest ever terrorism trials.

The suspects face charges linked to aiding and abetting terrorism, particularly in the north-east where an insurgency by the Boko Haram Islamist group began 17 years ago.

Since then insecurity has spread to many other areas of the West African nation, leaving communities, often those in rural areas, at the mercy of mushrooming militant groups and gangs that kidnap for ransom.

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The mass trial opened on Tuesday at a high court in the capital, Abuja, where 227 suspects were arraigned before 10 judges, according to the attorney general.

Hundreds of people have lost their lives in bombings and various attacks across Nigeria this year alone.

Very few people are ever prosecuted over terror attacks - and suspects are often detained and spend years in custody without facing trial.

According to the AFP news agency, gunmen killed at least 20 people on Wednesday in the western state of Niger. Residents say the attackers raided villages in Shiroro district, an area where kidnapping gangs and Islamist militants are known to operate.

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Security was tight during the court session on Tuesday, with suspects transported in heavily guarded convoys under military, police and intelligence supervision.

International observers, including human rights groups and the Nigerian Bar Association, were also present in court.

The defendants are alleged to have taken part in attacks mainly in northern Nigeria, while others face charges of supporting militants through funding, supplying arms and logistics.

Five of the accused have already been given varying jail terms - from seven to 20 years - after pleading guilty to charges that included selling livestock, supplying food and information to militant groups.

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Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi said the scale of the operation showed the government's resolve to deal with the matter.

"The federal government is committed to ensuring that due process is followed while bringing those involved in terrorism to justice," he said.

Security expert Bashir Galma, a retired army major, told the BBC that the trial, which is expected to continue in phases, was a "positive development" and a "significant milestone" in Nigeria's fight against terrorism.

"For years Nigerians have been complaining about why they keep these suspects [in custody] instead of making them face the law for what they are suspected of doing," he said.

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"This will bring some level of peace for people whose loved ones were killed or injured."

The trial would also dispelled rumours that suspects were routinely released after arrest "so that they can go back to their terrorism business", the analyst added.

However, he predicted that some of the accused could be released soon, given that they were arrested many years ago - a factor he said the judges would likely take into consideration.

You may also be interested in:

[Getty Images/BBC]

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

BBC Africa podcasts
Tribal colleges, New Mexicos flagship university and members of the states congressional delegation denounced the Trump administrations recently proposed budget, which aims to cut millions from higher-education programs serving minority students and eliminate funding for the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.

The proposed budget, submitted to Congress on April 3, would eliminate $354 million in discretionary funds for minority-serving institutions  a federal designation for colleges that serve students who are Asian, Black, Indigenous and Hispanic. The budget proposal calls the programs unconstitutional, and says they discriminate by conferring Government benefits exclusively to institutions that meet racial or ethnic quotas.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

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The federal budget proposal also would eliminate the $13 million budget for the Institute of American Indian Arts, which serves 985 students in Santa Fe. Currently, the school is funded through Oct. 1, 2027.

The Trump administration proposed eliminating IAIAs funding in last years budget as well, but Congress rejected the proposal.

IAIA President Dr. Shelly C. Lowe (Navajo) in a statement urged Congress to once again reject the proposal to eliminate the schools funding.

IAIA exists because Native artists, Native communities, and Congress recognized that Indigenous creativity and cultural knowledge are vital to this country, Lowe said. Eliminating IAIAs federal appropriation will weaken educational opportunity, threaten the development of future Indigenous artists and leaders, and severely undermine a mission that Congress has supported for decades.

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Last year, the Trump administration moved to withhold $350 million from nearly 800 minority-serving schools, consistent with the administrations efforts to eliminate programs that center diversity, equity and inclusion.

University of New Mexico Director of Strategic Communications Ben Cloutier said in a statement that the administration will work with the states congressional delegation to restore funds originally lost in September 2025.

UNM is one of the nations largest Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and we continue to fulfill our commitment to serve our students, Cloutier said. These federal programs supported meaningful investments in laboratory equipment, research infrastructure, and student success programming that benefit every student on our campus regardless of background. Cloutier did not respond to questions about the amount of lost funding.

New Mexico State University Communications Director Amanda Wyatt told Source NM that federal cuts to minority-serving institutions last year constituted a loss of $8 million for the university.

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She said in a statement it was too soon to know the full extent additional proposed federal cuts would have. However, NMSU remains committed to its land-grant service mission, and to ensuring all our students have the resources they need.

U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), at a news event Tuesday at the University of New Mexico Hospital, told Source NM he would push back against the devastating cuts, as the delegation did the year prior.

We were able to push back against the president zeroing-out our minority-serving institutions and being able to secure funding for these important schools, Lujan said. We will do it again.

Source NM Senior Reporter Joshua Bowling contributed to the reporting of this article.
Members of the North Andover Patrol Officers Union are calling for the immediate removal of Chief Charles Gray, passing a vote of no confidence in his leadership, citing the recent case of former officer, Kelsey Fitzsimmons.

We can no longer remain silent while operating under a toxic culture of vindictiveness and professional stagnation. This vote is not about wages, benefits or other traditional labor issues  it is the unavoidable consequence of years of failed leadership, no leadership, and outright inaction," the union said in a statement.

The union said the case of Kelsey Fitzsimmons is just one example of a pattern of leadership failures, as the union members said body worn cameras were researched, presented, and supported but they were never acted upon.

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Former North Andover Police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons was shot by her fellow colleague while they were serving her a restraining order. Fitzsimmons was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon but was found not guilty two weeks ago.

As a result, despite the credible testimony of several witnesses, including Officer Pat Noonan, corroborated by physical evidence, the Departments failure to implement body cameras was held up as an evidentiary void that negatively impacted the outcome of this case, our members and our town, the unions said in a statement.

An incident in April of 2024 when a member of the department was injured by gunfire also brought up the critical need for body cameras long before the incident with Fitzsimmons, an according to the union members, however the concerns were ignored.

Last week, Chief Gray said the department had disabled its official Facebook page after an unauthorized user posted a comment on Wednesday about the Kelsey Fitzsimmons case using the account, according to police and media reports.

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A preliminary investigation found that a former employee, who is not authorized to use the page, was able to access the departments Facebook page and left a comment on another users page.

The union cited that the overwhelming vote of no confidence is a direct reflection of low morale and broken trust, administrative incompetence, and lack of accountability.

Boston 25 has reached out to Grays office for a statement on the vote but did not receive a response.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
SEOUL, April 8 (UPI) -- North Korea fired short-range ballistic missiles on two separate occasions Wednesday, Seoul's military said, marking three launches over two days after South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over a drone incursion.

At 8:50 a.m. Wednesday, the North launched several short-range ballistic missiles from its coastal Wonsan area toward the East Sea, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a text message to reporters.

The missiles flew approximately 150 miles, the JCS said, adding that South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities are analyzing their exact specifications.

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"Under a steadfast South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture, the military is closely monitoring North Korea's various movements and maintaining the capability and readiness to overwhelmingly respond to any provocation," the JCS said.

North Korea later fired a single short-range ballistic missile from Wonsan toward the East Sea at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, the JCS said in a separate message. The missile flew approximately 435 miles.

The launches came one day after the South's military detected an unidentified projectile fired from the Pyongyang area. The JCS said South Korean and U.S. intelligence officials are still analyzing its detailed specifications.

Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said it detected both days' launches and was consulting with regional allies and partners.

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"Based on current assessments, this event does not pose an immediate threat to U.S. personnel or territory, or to our allies," the command said in a statement.

The launches came after a statement by Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, describing President Lee as "frank and broad-minded" after he expressed regret over unauthorized drone incursions into the North.

Lee had addressed the drone issue earlier Monday during a Cabinet meeting, following last week's indictment of three individuals accused of carrying out incursions between September and January.

"Although this was not an act by our government, I express regret to the North Korean side over the unnecessary military tension caused by such reckless behavior," Lee said during the meeting.

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While Kim's remarks struck a less hostile tone than recent statements from Pyongyang, she still included a warning to the South to "stop any reckless provocation against the DPRK" and to "refrain from any attempt at contact."

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

North Korea's first vice foreign minister, Jang Kum Chol, later dismissed Seoul's positive interpretation of the remarks, calling them a "hope-filled dream reading."

In a statement released late Tuesday and carried by the official Korean Central News Agency, Jang said that the South's identity as "the enemy state most hostile to the DPRK can never change with any words or conduct by its chief executive."

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Victor Cha, president of the geopolitics and foreign policy department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cautioned against reading into the timing of the launches relative to Kim's drone statement.

"I'm more and more of the view that the recent missile demonstrations we've seen by North Korea are not testing and they're not political statements -- they're exercising," Cha told UPI during a press briefing at the Asan Plenum policy forum in Seoul.

"I don't think [North Korea] had any notion of when the South Koreans were going to convey communications on the drone activity," Cha said. "If anything, these [launches] just happened to be on parallel tracks."

North Korea last fired ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on March 14 as the United States and South Korea held their annual springtime joint military exercise. Pyongyang later said the launches were part of a firepower strike drill involving 600mm multiple rocket launchers overseen by Kim Jong Un.
By Kyu-seok Shim

SEOUL, April 8 (Reuters) - North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles on Wednesday, adding to a launch a day earlier, South Korea's military said, extending a series of tests that have strained hopes in Seoul for easing tensions.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said North Korea fired an additional unidentified missile at around 2:20 p.m. (0520 GMT) on Wednesday from the Wonsan area towards waters off its east coast.

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The missile flew about 700 km (435 miles), it said.

Earlier on Wednesday, North Korea launched several unidentified short-range ballistic missiles also from near the same area, the JCS said.

The missiles flew about 240 km (150 miles), it said, adding that South Korean and U.S. authorities were conducting a detailed analysis. South Korea's military also said it had detected the launch of a suspected ballistic missile from near Pyongyang on Tuesday.

South Korea's presidential Blue House convened an emergency National Security Council meeting on Wednesday, calling the earlier launches a provocation that violated U.N. Security Council resolutions, according to media reports. It urged Pyongyang to end such tests.

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The Japan Coast Guard said the latest missile fell into the sea about 10 minutes after launch. Tokyo said no missiles entered its territorial waters or exclusive economic zone.

Pyongyang's actions "threaten peace and security in the region and the international community," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.

According to South Korea's Yonhap news agency, citing military officials, the projectile launched on Tuesday was probably a ballistic missile that flew eastwards before showing signs of an abnormality in the early stage of flight and disappearing.

'SOLID-FUEL SYSTEMS'

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The incidents mark North Korea's fourth, fifth and sixth ballistic missile launches this year, following two launches in January and a third in March.

South Korea typically announces North Korean ballistic missile launches promptly, as such tests violate U.N. Security Council resolutions against the North's missile programme.

Pyongyang rejects the U.N. ban and says it infringes its sovereign right to self-defence.

The launches could reflect routine weapons development and may be linked "to ongoing engine and propulsion testing, including work on solid-fuel systems," said Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul.

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Pyongyang has been seeking to upgrade its strike capability with solid-fuel missiles that are often easier and safer to operate and require less logistical support than liquid-fuelled weapons.

HOSTILE ENEMY

Some analysts noted the latest launches followed a combative statement by North Korea indicating Pyongyang saw no shift in its hostile stance towards Seoul despite hopes of a thaw in relations.

Jang Kum Chol, a senior official at North Korea's foreign ministry, said the South was engaging in wishful thinking if it thought Pyongyang was ready to see Seoul as anything other than an enemy.

"The identity of the ROK, the enemy state most hostile to the DPRK, can never change with any words or conduct," Jang was quoted as saying by state media KCNA late on Tuesday, using the acronyms for the formal names of South and North Korea.

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The remarks contrasted with a North Korean statement on Monday, which said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung was "very fortunate and wise" to convey regret to Pyongyang for drone incursions earlier this year.

Some in Seoul viewed the statement as a rare act of conciliation from the nuclear-armed North after decades of hostility. The two nations remain technically at war after their 1950 to 1953 conflict ended in a truce.

But Jang said the statement issued by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, amounted to a warning to Seoul, and dismissed interpretations that it reflected friendly intentions.

Yang Moo-jin, another professor at the University of North Korean Studies, said Pyongyang appeared intent on shutting down what it saw as overly optimistic readings in the South.

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"North Korea briefly acknowledged Seoul's tension-easing efforts, but moved within a day to block hopeful interpretations and reassert its hostile-state framework," Yang said.

(Reporting by Kyu-seok Shim and Jack Kim; Additional reporting by Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo and Joyce Lee in Seoul; Editing by Ed Davies, Stephen Coates, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Kate Mayberry)
Northern State University will celebrate the opening of its new Business and Health Innovation Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house on April 30.

The event will run from 3:30 to 5 p.m., with the ribbon cutting scheduled for 4 p.m. The center is located at the corner of 12th Avenue Southeast and South Washington Street, according to a release.

Northern State University is celebrating the opening of its new Business and Health Innovation Center on April 30.

The new facility will house the university's School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences' Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. It features collaborative classrooms, the Avera Nursing Simulation Center and spaces designed to bridge classroom learning with real-world professional experience.

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The building also will be home to the Northern Innovation and Startup Center, a resource for entrepreneurship and regional economic development supported by Dacotah Bank, a release stated.

The facility was funded in part by $29.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and a $1.5 million state appropriation.

More: Want a wild burro? They are available for purchase in the Dakotas

"This new facility significantly enhances student success by providing the latest in technology, simulation labs, creative innovation spaces and adaptable classroom environments that prepare our business and nursing students to move seamlessly and successfully into the workforce," Northern State University President Alan LaFave said, according to an announcement. "The large, welcoming foyer and student study spaces have already proven to be gathering places for campus events and meaningful student and faculty interaction."

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This story was created by reporter Charles Rankin, crankin@salina.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.

This article originally appeared on Aberdeen News: Northern State ready to open Business and Health Innovation Center
New Yorkers will have to wait at least another week for a state budget deal as both the Senate and Assembly passed a second budget extender on Tuesday, April 7.

State lawmakers will meet again on April 14 to either pass another extension or the budget. Nearly $4 billion has been spent on keeping the state government open so far, which includes funding for Medicaid, public transit, unemployment insurance and veteran's programs across New York.

It's been mostly radio silence from Albany Democrats, while Republican representatives continued to express their frustrations with the late budget on Tuesday, including Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra, a Long Island Republican.

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"Twenty million New Yorkers are waiting for three people in a room to provide spending specifics and a final plan," Ra said in a statement. "Right now, the only thing we know is that no budget is coming this week. This is government performing at its worst, and One-Party Rule has it down to a science."

A view of the New York State Capitol building from the Washington Avenue side on March 4, 2026.

And Sen. Thomas O'Mara, a Southern Tier Republican, pressed Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, a New York City Democrat, on the Senate floor about what he says is a lack of urgency and transparency.

"It's like repeat of every year around here, it seems, and it's just not a good way to do business," O'Mara said. "We should be doing better for the people of New York... we really need to get down to business here."

Neither Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins nor Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie immediately responded to a USA TODAY Network request for comment about the Democratic leaderships response to the GOP criticism.

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Here's the latest.

What's delaying NY's state budget?

Assembly Minority Leader Ed Ra, R-Long Island, left, and Assemblymember Phil Palmesano, R-Corning, right, spoke with reporters inside the New York State Capitol on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

According to Gianaris, no remaining bills have been locked down and no meetings have been scheduled to work on finalizing the bills.

However, the same key issues are still being discussed on either side  the governor's proposed auto insurance reforms, changes to the state's environmental review process and adjustments to the state's climate law.

Reforms to the state's Tier 6 pension program have also been a topic of debate, which Assemblymember J. Gary Pretlow, a Westchester County Democrat and the Assembly's chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, briefly addressed on the Assembly floor on Tuesday.

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"There have been some discussions," Pretlow said. "That has a $1.5 billion price tag [per year] attached to it and part of the discussion is do the municipalities share that with the state or does the state take on the entire burden?"

How much could it cost?: NY public employees push pension reforms

Is there an end in sight to Albany state budget debate?

Not really. According to Assemblymember Phil Palmesano, R-Corning, only one budget bill has been passed as of Tuesday and nine more are still on the list.

"This tells us very little about where we are, and it certainly keeps us in the same place," Palmesano said. "This is really not just about being late, it's about lack of visible progress."

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What we know: Will NY climate law changes lower utility costs?

There was some optimism in the room, though.

"As you know, hope springs eternal," Pretlow said. "It is truly my hope that we have a budget by April 14."

Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers' taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: When will New York state budget pass? What we know about new extension
Several local government groups are warning that New York property taxpayers could face tax rate hikes or service cuts due to pension reform proposals being debated as part of this year's now-late state budget.

In a recent statement aimed at Gov. Kathy Hochul and Legislature leadership, the groups said the state budget needs to include sufficient funding for any public employees' pension changes that get approved. They urged Hochul and lawmakers to "resist the impulse to pass those costs on to local property taxpayers," citing state law intended to ensure state government shoulders the financial responsibility for pension benefit enhancements.

"Counties, cities, towns, and villages already operate under severe fiscal constraints  the property tax cap, rising costs for essential services, and the growing burden of unfunded state mandates," the groups said.

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"Any increase in employer pension contribution rates resulting from Tier 6 (pension) amendments would force local governments to make impossible choices: cutting essential services, eliminating positions, or seeking property tax increases that local taxpayers cannot afford," they added.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a March 8 labor union rally in Albany pushing for reforms to public employees' pension system.

The groups also asserted local governments will soon take a hefty financial hit as pension fund returns previously projected to stabilize employer contributions for 2027 have been altered due to recent stock market unpredictability. Nearly 60% of county, city, town and village employees currently participate in Tier 6, they noted.

It's not the first red flag being raised about the push for pension reform. The Citizens Budget Commission also said last month that changes could increase taxes and destabilize budgets.

What Hochul, state lawmakers say about NY pension reform

Hochul and several state lawmakers have publicly supported state public employees' push for lower retirement ages and reduced penalties for those under the state's Tier 6 pension system, which has been in place since 2012.

Shown is New York Gov. Kathy Hochul at a labor rally on March 8, 2026 in Albany connected to a push to reform New York's pension system.

Governor Hochul is proud to support New York's state and municipal employees and has enacted significant reforms to enhance the retirement benefits for Tier 6 members," a spokesperson for Hochul's office said. "Governor Hochul will continue to negotiate in good faith with the Legislature to pass a budget that makes New York safer and more affordable.

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Here's a look inside the ongoing Tier 6 reforms fight.

How much could pension reform cost New York taxpayers?

Taxpayers could be facing a $1.5 billion annual price tag under a proposal set forth by labor unions seeking Tier 6 changes, Newsday and Gothamist reported.

The plan would add an additional $242 million to the $3.4 billion the state already projects it will spend on pensions next year. On the local level, New York City's pension costs would increase by $328 million, school districts would have to pay $480 million more and local governments would have to pay $407 million, according to Gothamist.

New York State Budget Director Blake Washington spoke with reporters inside the New York State Capitol on Wednesday, April 1, as the state legislature faces another late budget.

New York State Budget Director Blake Washington told reporters last week they're taking a look at proposals brought to them and are "assessing what we can afford."

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"That's a reflection of this Tier 6 debate is how do we preserve really competent people in those workforces?" Washington said. "But alternatively, we have to make sure that we're able to pay for it. And it's not just we, the state of New York, but local governments as well."

What to know: NY pension reforms could raise taxes, weaken budgets, watchdog group says

Tier 6 members would be able to retire at age 55 if they've put in 30 years in the public sector and, depending on their income, they would only have to contribute a maximum of 5% to their pensions through the proposed plan. Public employees outside the city would also be able to count more overtime toward their pension benefits, Gothamist reported.

Why do public employees want Tier 6 changes in New York?

Currently, Tier 6 members, or any full-time, permanent, 12-month employees of New York state or a participating employer who joined the state's retirement system on or after April 1, 2012, must pay more of their salaries into the pension system than other tiers and face heavy penalties if they retire before age 63, according to New York State United Teachers (NYSUT).

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It's causing a staffing crisis, labor advocates say. Those in the Tier 6 system pay 3-6% of their salaries into the pension system the entire length of their career and their contributions go up as their pay increases. Comparatively, the contributions of those in the Tier 4 system are capped at 3% and end after 10 years and they have the option to retire at age 55 without any penalties.

How much could it cost?: NY public employees push pension reforms

There are currently 780,000 public workers enrolled in Tier 6, NYSUT says, and over 100,000 of the union's members have earned reduced pensions compared to earlier tiers. NYSUT asserts changing the system will help keep people in the workforce and encourage the recruitment of new employees.

Some improvements have been made to the system in recent years. Pensions have been largely calculated on a worker's highest three consecutive years of salary instead of five since 2024, aligning those in Tier 6 with members in other tiers.

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Emily Barnes covers state government for the USA TODAY Network-New York with a focus on how policy and laws impact New Yorkers' taxes, communities and jobs. Follow her on Instagram or X @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY pension reform costs could hit taxpayers, local governments warn
Soybeans are trading with contracts 3 to 4 cents higher at Mondays midday. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was down 5 1/2 cents at $10.94. Soymeal futures are $2 to $2.30 higher in the front months, with Soy Oil futures are up 70 to 75 points so far on Monday.

USDAs FGIS tallied soybean export shipments at 779,352 MT (28.64 mbu) during the week ending on April 2. That was 12.3% above the week prior but 4.6% below the same week last year. China was the top destination of 498,789 MT, with 95,852 MT headed to Mexico and 49,217 MT to Egypt. Marketing year exports for 2025/26 are 30.67 MMT (1.127 bbu) since September 1, which is now 26.3% below the same period last year.

More News from Barchart

CFTC data was released on Friday, showing spec traders adding back 15,503 contracts to their net long position in soybean futures and options as of 3/31. That net long stood at 213,407 contracts. In bean oil managed money was a record net long of 135,809 contracts.

AgRural estimates the Brazilian soybean crop at 82% harvested as of last Thursday, lagging the 87% harvest pace from the same week last year.

May 26 Soybeans are at $11.67 1/2, up 4 cents,

Nearby Cash is at $10.98, up 4 cents,

Jul 26 Soybeans are at $11.83 3/4, up 3 3/4 cents,

Nov 26 Soybeans are at $11.57 3/4, up 3 3/4 cents,

New Crop Cash is at $10.96 3/4, up 3 3/4 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
As the clock ticks down to President Donald Trumps Tuesday evening deadline to reach a war-ending deal with Iran, Gulf Arab countries are in the dark. The U.S.s European allies are clueless. Even people close to the White House are unsure whats next.

And Trumps Tuesday morning threat that a whole civilization will die tonight  unless something revolutionarily wonderful happens in the scant hours that remain  has some fearing the worst case scenario: that the president would use nuclear weapons against Iran.

It is exactly the kind of made-for-television, edge-of-your-seat moment that has become one of the presidents hallmarks  replete with a primetime deadline. And it comes with a grim, apocalyptic tinge that has left Washington  and indeed, the world  on a knifes edge.

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Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. on Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which it has almost entirely closed by wielding drones to target tankers passing through it without permission. Absent a deal, Trump has threatened strikes on critical infrastructure, like power plants and bridges.

Asked about the status of talks with Iran, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that only the president knows where things stand and what he will do" and that Iran has until the deadline "to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States."

A senior Gulf official, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said that their country had no idea what Trump was thinking.

It could be a tactic to try to get Iran to accept what is on the table, the deal that Pakistan has brought to them. But we don't have any visibility into the plan, if there is a plan, the person said. And if he attacks Iran, then we know Iran is going to retaliate against us and other countries in the region.

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Trump has long wielded uncertainty as a negotiating instrument, not wanting to deprive himself of any options that might increase his leverage. But in a moment when the stakes are potentially the highest they have ever been for the president, his inscrutable behavior is producing something beyond strategic ambiguity.

Its generating genuine fear across allied capitals, regional powers and within his own orbit about what comes next  and at what cost.

"It's incredibly unsettling to see the American president talk about war in these ways," said Matthew Bartlett, a GOP strategist who served in Trump's first administration. "Most people are used to the president popping off on social media as he has for over a decade now, but now the consequences are war and peace.  No one knows how to make sense of it. Our allies don't know, our enemies don't know. And no one is really convinced that really the president knows what comes next."

Human rights groups say the presidents threatened attacks on Iranian infrastructure  including power plants and desalination plants, which are crucial for supplying potable water to millions of people  would have a devastating impact on the countrys civilian population, which is already suffering from outages.

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A massive strike on Iran would almost certainly deepen the nearly-six week regional conflagration that has threatened oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of global oil supply flows. Already, the war has ricocheted across the global economy, threatening virtually every supply chain and damaging the affordability argument the presidents political advisers set out to make earlier this year. Oil prices have risen more than 50 percent since the war started just over a month ago, and more energy disruptions could send prices even higher.

But international leaders, including some of the U.S.s closest allies, are signaling hope for some kind of 11th-hour deal that pulls the U.S. back from the brink. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, asked about the presidents social media post Tuesday morning, suggested that there is a gulf between public and private conversations on the U.S.s next steps.

Ill just observe there are some negotiations going on, and that there is often a gap between whats said publicly and whats happening privately, Carney said. We are not at the center of those negotiations, although we have some visibility to them.

Carney also strongly condemned the suggestion that the U.S. would target civilian infrastructure.

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We urge all parties in this war to follow those responsibilities, he added.

Still, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters before his meeting with New Zealands foreign minister Tuesday, said that Iran is violating every law known by striking commercial vessels in the strait and its a big problem for the world.

This is a regime that doesnt believe in laws, rules, or anything like that, he added. Its a state sponsor of terrorism, so its not surprising that theyre now conducting terrorist activity against commercial vessels.

Many of the presidents allies on Tuesday seemed hopeful that the U.S. would deescalate, or launch a smaller attack on Iran that would fall short of the mass destruction the president has promised. Instead of attacking energy infrastructure, he could, for instance, choose to target bridges.

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Id be surprised if he actually went forward. Hes had two previous times to go forward. He blinked, said one person close to the White House, granted anonymity to speak candidly. Thats always been his MO throughout the history of business. Whenever he cant get something he steps in and says something provocative and he lets others create the off ramp for him.

And some in Washington are outright dismissing the prospect that the president would use nuclear weapons, with some former Trump officials seeing the White Houses silence on the issue as more a negotiating tactic than a true threat.

"I do not think he is contemplating nuclear weapons at all; I think there is zero possibility. Nor is there any reason for their use, said Elliott Abrams, who served as special representative for Iran and Venezuela in Trumps first administration.

But he warned that even the kind of devastating action that Trump is threatening may not move Iranian leadership.

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"They don't care about the Iranian people, which is why they murdered 30,000 of them in January," he said. "They may just hold on, because they do not worry about the economy of Iran in the future; they worry about their own necks."

Cheyenne Haslett and Nick Taylor-Vaisey contributed to this report.
Pakistan, which has mediated between Tehran and Washington, said early on Wednesday that an immediate ceasefire between Iran and the United States had taken effect.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the US, along with their allies, had agreed to an "immediate ceasefire everywhere," including in Lebanon.

"I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both the countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday ... to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," Sharif said.

He said both sides had shown "remarkable wisdom and understanding" and had remained constructively engaged in advancing peace and stability.
House Republicans indicated Wednesday they will continue to seek sworn testimony from Pam Bondi on the Justice Departments handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case, even after her ousting as attorney general.

The House Oversight Committee subpoenaed Bondi for an April 14 deposition, but that date was never confirmed by Bondi, and the panel said in a statement that it will continue to seek a date for her testimony.

The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on April 14 for a deposition since she is no longer Attorney General and was subpoenaed in her capacity as Attorney General, a spokeswoman for Oversight Republicans said in a statement. The Committee will contact Pam Bondis personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.

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Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) issued a subpoena to Bondi last month after five Republican lawmakers on the panel joined with Democrats to compel her testimony. The campaign to force Bondi to sit for questioning was championed by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), who brought the motion during a hearing.

The committee's statement came after the Justice Department, in a letter to Comer obtained by POLITICO, appeared to request that Bondi be excused from testifying given her departure from DOJ.

"We kindly ask that you confirm that the subpoena is withdrawn," wrote assistant attorney general Patrick Davis, adding that DOJ "continues to believe that additional compulsory process is unnecessary in light of our demonstrated willingness to voluntarily assist your oversight efforts."

That argument is not likely to satisfy the members who subpoenaed Bondi, especially since one former Trump attorney general  William Barr, who presided over DOJ when Epstein was found dead in a federal jail cell  has already testified to the panel.

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The top Oversight Democrat, Rep. Robert Garcia of California, accused Bondi of trying to get out of her legal obligation to testify in a statement Wednesday.

She must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in the Congress, Garcia said. The survivors deserve justice.

The subpoena cover letter from Comer stated the then-attorney general was to appear on April 14. Customarily, subpoenas include a placeholder date and then attorneys negotiate a mutually agreeable schedule.

Todd Blanche, Bondis onetime deputy, is now acting attorney general. Blanche has also played an integral role in the Justice Departments response to the Epstein case and interviewed his only convicted co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, in Tallahassee, Florida, in July.

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In a statement on X last week, Bondi said she would work over the next month to transition her role to Blanche and then move to an important private sector role I am thrilled about, and where I will continue fighting for President Trump and this Administration.

Oversight Democrats argue that despite her departure from the Justice Department, Bondi must still answer lawmakers' questions. A committee spokesperson said last week that Comer would confer with his Republican members and the Justice Department about next steps.

The committee has transcribed interviews scheduled for the coming months with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, tech mogul Bill Gates and other figures who interacted with Epstein.
OKLAHOMA CITY  Religion, redemption and remorse were not enough for Raymond E. Johnson to elicit a single vote for mercy from the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board.

The Board voted 5-0 on Wednesday against recommending that Gov. Kevin Stitt grant clemency to the 52-year-old double murderer.

Johnson is set to die May 14 by lethal injection at Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester.

He was sentenced to death for the 2007 murder of Brooke Whitaker, 24, and her daughter, Kyla, 7 months.

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Johnson struck Whitaker in the head several times with a claw hammer before setting her Tulsa home on fire. Three of Whitakers other children were not home.

Johnson made a personal appearance before the board by video conference, apologizing to the victims family, who asked the board to deny his request for mercy.

There is no excuse for my actions, he said.

He said he knew Whitakers family was close because he was once entrusted in that circle.

I know the love shared because to know Brooke and Kyla was to love them, Johnson said. Today, I sit here responsible for their deaths.

He told the board about his close relationship with his own two children, about his strong bond with his church and efforts to help others while behind bars.

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But First Assistant Attorney General Amie Ely said Whitaker begged Johnson to spare her life and had defensive wounds on her hands. Ely said Whitaker and her daughter were killed in a way to inflict maximum suffering.

Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Crabb said Johnsons arguments were much the same as others who sought clemency, such as religion and ability to help others.

Johnson had a lifelong habit of manipulating women, Crabb said.

He threatened and abused Whitaker for months before the murders, Crabb said.

Both victims were alive when the fire started, she said.

Whitakers fear and suffering were unimaginable, Crabb said.

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A statement from one of Whitakers daughters, Alyssa, was read. She spoke of the missed birthdays, graduations, weddings, pregnancies and births.

Alyssa wrote that she was 5 years old when her mother was murdered and she lost everything.

Im 24, but here today as that 5year-old little girl, begging you not to grant clemency to Raymond Johnson, she wrote. Dont let him have this too.

Johnson had previously pleaded guilty in Cleveland County to manslaughter for the 1995 shooting death of Clarence Oliver. Johnson served half of a 20-year sentence.

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The Paris Catacombs, one of the world's largest underground collections of bones and skulls, have reopened after a closure for around six months to add new features and improve protection of the remains.

Filled with centuries-old bones and skulls, the catacombs are one of the world's foremost sites of what's known as dark tourism, places related to death and tragedy, such as tours on the Jack the Ripper murders in London or the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Ukraine.

With the help of new technical installations such as modern air treatment systems, the underground ossuaries are now set to be preserved for centuries to come.

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Museum director Isabelle Knafou explained on Wednesday that the site is fragile. In the damp corridors, where humidity is around 90%, microorganisms settle on the bones and attack them. In addition, carbon dioxide and bacteria, brought in by up to 600,000 visitors annually, alter the delicate climate inside the labyrinth.

Targeted lighting reveals structures that were previously partly hidden in the dark, including the depth of the monumental arrangement and the full extent of the architecture built from bones.

Skulls and long bones - primarily femurs and tibias - were systematically layered into walls in the 18th and 19th centuries, which today appear as a macabre pattern from the past.

The Paris Catacombs were created at the end of the 18th century during a public health crisis. Overcrowded cemeteries in the heart of the city, where the dead lay packed tightly together, were considered a health threat to the population.

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From 1786 onwards, the city had the remains of around six million people relocated to disused limestone quarries in the south of Paris  deep underground.

From 1810 onwards, skulls and bones were stacked to form walls and adorned with inscriptions and philosophical quotations.
A patient at Tewksbury State Hospital was charged with assault and battery on after police say they assaulted a hospital staff member on Tuesday.

According to Tewksbury Police Chief Ryan Columbus, police responded to Tewksbury State Hospital for reports of an aggressive patient. When they arrived, they found a 59-year-old man that had been secured in a chair by hospital staff.

A preliminary investigation determined that the patient was allegedly acting erratically and stood in a fighting stance when staff approached. The patient then allegedly struck a staff member in the face.

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It took multiple staff members to restrain the patient and staff administered medicine prior to officers arrival.

The patient was charged with assault and battery on a public employee.

The incident remains under investigation.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Two people were transported to a hospital Wednesday after an aircraft landed upside down in the Cave Creek area.

The Phoenix Fire Department said the small plane crashed at about 10:45 a.m. in the desert area off of the Carefree Highway near the Cave Creek landfill. Two people on board the aircraft were able to exit the aircraft on their own and were transported in stable condition for precautionary reasons.

There were no flames nor any leaks from the plane.

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It's not yet clear how the plane landed upside down. The scene has been turned over to law enforcement.

Watch 12News for free

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The free 12+ app from 12News lets users stream live events  including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"on Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.

12+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.

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What is the Valley?

The Valley is what locals call the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. It is considered the largest metropolitan area in the Southwest.

The Valley is made up of various major cities other than Phoenix, including:
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Stephen Blofield, 61, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for aggressive behavior and being intoxicated on a Ryanair flight in November

His actions, including refusing to sit and being verbally abusive, forced the pilot to abort the landing

Authorities said Blofields intoxication posed a safety risk and he was removed from the plane using an ambulift

A plane passenger has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for exhibiting extremely aggressive behavior during a Ryanair flight in November.

The passenger was traveling from Krakow, Poland, to Bristol, England, when the incident occurred, according to a Tuesday, April 7, news release from the Avon and Somerset Police. The U.K. police unit has a team based at Bristol Airport at all times, the airports website states.

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Stephen Blofield, 61, pleaded guilty to a number of charges in February, including being intoxicated during the flight, police said. He was later sentenced to 10 months in prison at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, April 7. He also has to pay a "victim surcharge of 187 [about $250]," police said.

Stephen Blofield

Credit: Avon and Somerset Police

In addition to intoxication, Blofield was charged with behaving in a threatening, abusive, insulting, disorderly manner towards a member of aircraft crew, as well as abusive words or behavior likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress," police said.

In a statement shared in the release, Bristol Airport policing team inspector Christian Gresswell said the mans actions forced the planes initial landing to be aborted as he continued to be verbally abusive towards cabin crew and refused to sit down and fasten his seatbelt.

He was met by officers at Bristol Airport once the flight had safely landed, Gresswell added.

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The man was also charged with failing to obey lawful commands of a pilot.

In the hearing at Bristol Crown Court, prosecutor Ian Fenny said the passengers behavior was "so alarming and potentially dangerous" even after the plane landed that he had to be removed using an ambulift, the BBC and The Independent report. The specialized vehicle is normally used to safely transport disabled passengers, per the outlets.

Fenny added that as Blofield was being handcuffed by police, he almost struck a nearby passenger.

Image of a Ryanair plane in 2018

Credit: JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty

The man started drinking at the airport in Poland to calm his anxiety before the flight and continued to drink on the plane, per the BBC.

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Passengers have a duty for safety reasons to make sure they are fit enough to fly and not intoxicated," Gresswell added in the Avon and Somerset Police news release after Blofield's sentencing.

Never miss a story  sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

An intoxicated passenger can pose an unacceptable risk to safety, and thats why we take the offense so seriously, the statement added. We will continue to work closely with airport staff and airlines to keep passengers and crew safe at all times.

PEOPLE has reached out to Ryanair and Bristol Airport for comment but did not receive an immediate response.

Read the original article on People
There will be an increased police presence at some schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire on Wednesday after reported robocall threats, officials warned.

In Massachusetts, Tyngsborough Police Chief Shaun Woods said there would be an increased police presence at schools in the town after at least three schools on Wednesday morning received robocall threats to commit violence.

According to Woods, investigators dont believe the threats are credible.

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"While police do not believe these threats are credible, Tyngsborough police treat all threats seriously and will be increasing police presence at the schools for the day as a precaution," the department said in a statement.

Woods said the department later learned that similar threats had been made to many other schools across the Northeast, including in Nashua, New Hampshire.

In a letter to the community, Nashua Superintendent of Schools Mario Andrade reported an emergency response after Bicentennial Elementary School and Main Dunstable Elementary School received robocalls indicating a bomb threat around 9 p.m. Tuesday night, and that Nashua North High School, Nashua South High School, Dr. Crisp Elementary School, Mt. Pleasant Elementary School, and Amherst Street Elementary School received the same threats around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Andrade said law enforcement officials conducted K9 sweeps of the schools and found no credible threat.

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I am writing to inform you of a situation that occurred earlier today. I want to reassure you from the outset that all students and staff are safe, and there is no active threat, Andrade stated in the letter.

Andrade noted that all schools are operating on a normal schedule and that there will be an additional police presence at the schools.

Please know that we take all threats seriously, as the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority, Andrade added. We are grateful for the swift response of our local and state law enforcement partners.

Police in Hudson, New Hampshire, reported non-credible threats to schools in the town.

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We understand that situations like this can cause concern for parents, students, and staff, Hudson police wrote in a Facebook post. Please know that we are taking this matter seriously and are working closely with school officials to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

In Litchfield, New Hampshire, police said officers were investigating multiple reported threats involving schools and conducting safety checks.

While the threats in Litchfield dont appear credible, police said there would be an increased police presence at all schools.

We ask the public to please avoid spreading unverified information and to report any relevant information directly to the Litchfield Police Department, officials wrote in a Facebook post.

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Pelham, New Hampshire, Superintendent of Schools Chip McGee announced that Pelham Memorial School received a bomb threat on its phone system.

Pelham police responded immediately and reviewed the threat and the school. They were able to determine that the threat was not credible. Identical threats made at other districts in the region, McGee announced in a Facebook post.

As a result of the threat, McGee said there would be an increased police presence at all schools in town.

An investigation into all of the threats is ongoing.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
April 7 (Reuters) - The U.N. said that preliminary findings from its probe into the deaths of three Indonesian peacekeepers in Lebanon last month show one was killed by an Israeli tank projectile and two by an improvised explosive device most likely placed by Hezbollah.

"These are preliminary findings, based on initial physical evidence," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a news briefing on Tuesday, adding that a full investigation was continuing which included engagement with the parties concerned.

Dujarric called the incidents "unacceptable" and said they could amount to war crimes under international law.

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He added the United Nations had requested that the cases be investigated and prosecuted by national authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The Indonesian peacekeepers were killed in two separate incidents in southern Lebanon on March 29 and 30 after a bloody weekend in which Lebanese journalists and medics were also killed in Israeli strikes.

Indonesia has urged the U.N. to thoroughly investigate in light of the preliminary findings, Veronica Rompis, a senior foreign ministry official told reporters on Wednesday, adding that all perpetrators should be brought to justice.

Bombardment in southern Lebanon on Tuesday forced a convoy of humanitarian aid organized by the Vatican's embassy for a besieged Christian town to turn back, a priest in the town told Reuters.

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Also on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the peacekeeping force, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, said the Israeli military had blocked a UNIFIL logistics convoy and briefly detained one of its peacekeepers. The spokesperson, Kandice Ardiel, said that any detention of a United Nations peacekeeper was a blatant violation of international law and that the Israeli military had informed UNIFIL it had launched an investigation into the issue.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington and Stanley Widianto in Jakarta; Additional reporting by Menna Alaa El Din; Editing by Matthew Lewis and Edwina Gibbs)
Soybeans posted gains on Monday, with contracts 3 to 5 1/2 cents higher at the post-Easter close. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was up 3 1/4 cents at $10.97 1/2. Soymeal futures were down $1 to $1.70 higher in the front months, with Soy Oil futures up 40 to 101 points on Monday.

USDAs FGIS tallied soybean export shipments at 779,352 MT (28.64 mbu) during the week ending on April 2. That was 12.3% above the week prior but 4.6% below the same week last year. China was the top destination of 498,789 MT, with 95,852 MT headed to Mexico and 49,217 MT to Egypt. Marketing year exports for 2025/26 are 30.67 MMT (1.127 bbu) since September 1, which is now 26.3% below the same period last year.

More News from Barchart

AgRural estimates the Brazilian soybean crop at 82% harvested as of last Thursday, lagging the 87% harvest pace from the same week last year.

May 26 Soybeans closed at $11.66 3/4, up 3 1/4 cents,

Nearby Cash was $10.97 1/2, up 3 1/4 cents,

Jul 26 Soybeans closed at $11.83 1/4, up 3 1/4 cents,

Nov 26 Soybeans closed at $11.57, up 3 cents,

New Crop Cash was $10.96 3/4, up 3 3/4 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
When you drive to or from Puyallup, you will cross paths with one of the citys Flock cameras.

The Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras take a picture of your license plate as you pass by. Your vehicle and license plate information then flows into the Puyallup Police Departments network, where most peoples data sits for 21 days before being deleted. In that time, law enforcement agencies can share details from the cameras with one another, designed to allow officers to track criminal suspects as they travel from city to city.

Puyallups two-year contract with the cameras vendor, Flock Safety, recently expired  leaving the city at a crossroads on whether to renew it amid new legislation and an ongoing national debate about the implications of the technology.

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Proponents applaud the cameras effectiveness in aiding police officers and helping solve crime. Opponents worry about mass surveillance and data from the cameras being used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to aid in the Trump Administrations deportation campaign.

The News Tribune previously reported on Puyallups decision to enter into the two-year contract with Atlanta-based Flock Safety on Dec. 15, 2023. City council documents say the contract cost the city $246,550. Puyallup is one of several cities in Pierce County to use Flock cameras, including Lakewood, Bonney Lake and Sumner.

Ned Witting, mayor of Puyallup, told The News Tribune the city wanted to monitor changes at the state level before deciding whether to renew the contract.

It has expired, but were still using it and we were waiting for the state Legislature to do its thing before we renewed, Witting said about Senate Bill 6002, deemed the Drivers Privacy Act.

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The bill  which introduces new regulations around where the cameras can be placed and how long law enforcement agencies can retain the data  became law on March 30, 2026, when Gov. Bob Ferguson signed it.

Witting told The News Tribune the city is still figuring out what changes it needs to make in order to comply with the law.

Scott Engle, chief of the Puyallup Police Department, told The News Tribune on April 7 that the cameras are a tremendous tool for the department, allowing them to solve crimes and locate missing, elderly and endangered people.

I think theres obviously lots of public interest in this, not just from the negative folks who dont want cameras, Engle said. There are tons of people out there who do want the cameras because they have been victims of crime, and weve been able to help them get their property back or make an arrest, and I think sometimes, that gets buried in this discussion.

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Both Engle and Witting said the PPD doesnt cooperate with federal agencies like ICE, because doing so would violate state law.

One resident who has voiced concerns about the cameras is Jeff Bennett, a former PPD police officer and city council candidate. In an interview with The News Tribune on March 27, Bennett said he wants to see a public statement from the city about its camera system and more transparency about how the city uses data from these cameras.

The City of Puyallup citizens need to be told or have it explained to us, have the information available that the camera data is not being shared with the federal government and if it is, we need to be told that it is instead of this extremely ambiguous area that theyre floating in, Bennett said.

The News Tribune searched for answers.

What is Puyallups Flock camera system?

Engle told The News Tribune PPD uses two programs: one is a mobile program with in-dash cameras and two patrol vehicles that have ALPR cameras on the roof of the cars. This program is through vendor Axon Enterprise.

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PPD turned off its mobile cameras on March 13, ahead of the passage of the Drivers Privacy Act, Engle said, because there is no guaranteed way to use them and follow the law, which requires officers to keep the cameras a certain distance away from churches, schools, courts and food banks.

The other program PPD uses is administered by Flock, Engle said, and consists of 39 cameras across the city, with each one fixed in one location and taking pictures of license plates from every car passing by.

Engle forwarded The News Tribune an email he wrote to the mayor and city council on Jan. 30. In the email, he said there are also several private businesses that use Flock cameras on their properties, including five cameras at the South Hill Mall, four at Home Depot, three at Dicks Sporting Goods, three at Lowes and one at a private multiple family housing complex.

In an interview with The News Tribune on April 1, Witting described how the cameras worked, using a hypothetical scenario of someone stealing a bicycle and throwing it into the back of a white pickup truck.

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If somebody sees a white pickup truck leaving the scene of the crime, but theyre too far away to see a license plate, (officers) go through the Flock cameras and see which white pickup trucks went by at that point in time, Witting said.

If the truck goes to another city that uses Flock cameras, like Auburn, PPD can access Auburns data, Witting said, since the two agencies have an agreement where they allow access to each others networks. Flock requires every user to enter a reason before accessing another departments network, so the police officer in this case would type in something like bicycle theft.

As the vehicles move from city to city, (if) the other city has Flock cameras, then we can access that, Witting said. We have had incidents where somebodys driven from here to Auburn, I believe, and weve been able to see where those vehicles go.

Engle told The News Tribune agreements can happen one of three ways:

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Two departments can make an agreement to access each others data in advance.

Another department could approach PPD and request to access their data if they believe doing so would help solve a crime in their town.

Another department can ask PPD to search for them. For example, a department who doesnt have access to PPDs data could call PPD and ask them to search their Flock cameras for a specific license plate number tied to a suspect.

The Dec. 5, 2023 city council agenda says it cost the city $246,550 to buy the software and equipment. Kevin Gill, spokesperson for PPD, told The News Tribune in an April 7 email that the department has paid $3,306 per month for the cameras since the contract ended, which includes our public safety cameras in the parks.

According to a Frequently Asked Questions section on the Flock Safety website, cameras also issue Hot List alerts, which means a camera sends an alert to law enforcement if it spots a wanted car.

Our cameras have an integration with the (National Crime Information Center), a database of known wanted vehicles, Flocks website says. That means when a camera detects a wanted car, an alert automatically will go to local law enforcement.

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PPD has an online transparency portal for its Flock cameras, which residents can visit at transparency.flocksafety.com/puyallup-wa-pd. According to the transparency portal, PPD retains the data from these cameras for 21 days.

The transparency portal also says the cameras only detect license plates and vehicles, not facial recognition, people, gender (and) race.

Prohibited uses, according to the transparency portal, include immigration enforcement, traffic enforcement, harassment or intimidation, usage based solely on a protected class (i.e. race, sex, religion), personal use.

The transparency portal said that as of April 2, the cameras had detected 670,863 vehicles in the past 30 days and issued 2,141 hot list hits in that time frame. There had been 443 searches in Puyallups database.

Who can access Puyallups data?

On Oct. 21, 2025, the University of Washington released a study that found federal immigration authorities accessed data from Flock cameras in other Pierce County cities.

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Researchers from UWs Center for Human Rights said U.S. Border Patrol had back door access to data from at least 10 police departments in the state that had not explicitly authorized Border Patrol searches. The departments included Lakewood and Eatonville, The News Tribune previously reported.

Lakewood Police Chief Patrick Smith previously told The News Tribune this happened through the national lookup feature, a national sharing network that allows Flock users across the country to search for a specific vehicle involved in a crime. Both Lakewood and Eatonville previously told The News Tribune they disabled the feature.

At the time the study was published, researchers said they were waiting for results from a public records request from the Puyallup Police Department. In a follow-up email with The News Tribune on March 26, Phil Neff  the research coordinator for the Center for Human Rights  said PPD has released the records in installments after the study was published, and the records they have so far indicate PPD had enabled the national lookup feature, which would have allowed U.S. Border Patrol and ICE to search their database.

Neff told The News Tribune that Flock operated a pilot program with federal agencies from May to August 2025, and researchers are still waiting for PPDs audits from those months.

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In his email to the mayor and council, Engle said the department had inadvertently been using the national lookup feature, but disabled it in October.

After media attention in our area about ICE gaining access to Flock camera networks, we conducted a review of our local Puyallup Flock network. Our review did not show any direct use of our system by ICE or our officers aiding ICE, Engle wrote. ... After contacting Flock to better understand how agencies outside our area were able to run such a query, we adjusted our system settings for what agencies could access our system. It is called national look-up, and we disabled that on October 22, 2025.

Engle wrote that they did find activity from the Miami-Dade Police Department, which searched Puyallups records through the national lookup feature as part of a nationwide search. The Miami-Dade Police Department listed immigration as the reason for the search.

In UWs study, researchers also noted that PPD made searches for USPIS,  which is short for U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement branch of the United States Postal Service  in the Chehalis Police Departments Flock network on July 16, 2025 and in the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Lakewood Police Department and Renton Police Departments networks on July 17, 2025.

This was not part of the national lookup feature, but researchers noted that PPD officers making a search for USPIS was noteworthy because USPIS has reportedly been enlisted as a source of targeting for immigration enforcement in recent months.

In his interview with The News Tribune, Engle said the USPIS search was related to a string of community mailbox break-ins and package thefts PPD has grappled with over the past year.

Nobody remembers the United States Postal Inspection Service asking us to do anything at all with immigration, we have absolutely worked with the postal inspector on mailbox thefts, Engle said. Had we been asked to do that, we wouldnt do that because of Washington state law, its against the law for us to do anything with immigration.

Neff said UWs researchers no longer believe Border Patrol or ICE can directly access Flock networks.

Our review of more recent audits from other agencies suggests that U.S. Border Patrol and ICE HSI no longer have access to Flock networks, at least in Washington state, which is consistent with the companys public statements, Neff wrote. However, if local agencies continue to share their networks with out-of-state agencies, they may still be subjected to side-door searches by other law enforcement agencies on behalf of federal immigration enforcement agencies.

Flock released a statement in response to the UW study on Oct. 22, 2025, which said the company had removed federal agencies from the national lookup feature on Aug. 25, 2025. The company maintained that data sharing is controlled entirely by the police department, not by Flock.

If agencies choose to collaborate with federal agencies, that is wholly up to them. Flock never enrolls agencies in automatic data sharing, and sharing relationships can be revoked at any time, the company wrote.

Engle wrote in his email to council that PPD changed its settings on Nov. 17, 2025, so only organizations in Washington state can access its Flock camera data. He also said the Criminal Investigations Division Captain reviews the Flock audit monthly, and that PPD has not identified any misuse by our staff.

We are only allowing Washington state law enforcement to access our data because those agencies in Washington state should be following Washington state law, Engle told The News Tribune. We did make that change to ... hopefully, alleviate fears from people [about] out-of-state people who have different laws.

Where does state law come into play?

State law forbids law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal authorities on immigration, according to the 2019 Keep Washington Working Act.

The transparency portal says PPD has granted 91 agencies access to its Flock camera data, all in Washington state. Out of these 91 agencies, 88 are law enforcement. Three that arent law enforcement agencies are the King County International Airport, Town of Harrah and Town of Hunts Point.

Bennett said even with these limitations, he feels uneasy about how the data is shared.

I gave my whole adult life to law enforcement, I believe that some of the best people in the whole wide world were the cops that I worked with, but I also understand that any system is only as strong as its weakest link, Bennett said. So, if we are sharing very sensitive data with every law enforcement agency in Washington state that is also part of the Flock program, how are those other law enforcement agencies being vetted as far as their security procedures?

The News Tribune asked Engle this question. He said the department has a page that pops up when an agency accesses their data, reminding other agencies to follow state law  but besides that, the department acts in good faith.

We go the extra step of having that statement that theyre going to see when they request access, You have to be following Washington state law, Engle said. If we were to become aware of an agency not following Washington state law, we would absolutely revoke their permissions, but we are assuming good faith in a law enforcement agency  you are a reputable agency in Washington state and you should be following the law.

Bennett referenced new language the city council added to Puyallups comprehensive plan last year, which directed the city to follow federal executive orders. He said he wants to know how this language in the comprehensive plan squares with police departments being forbidden to cooperate with ICE under state law.

The city attorney, Joseph Beck, said in an email to The News Tribune on April 3 that the comprehensive plan does not prioritize presidential executive orders over state law.

The relevant language states that the Plan is to be implemented in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws, and it references relevant federal executive orders in that context, Beck wrote. It does not state that federal executive orders supersede Washington law. Additionally, the federal executive orders relevant to civil rights laws that I am aware of do not include any immigration related provisions.

Beck said the comprehensive plan has no impact on law enforcement operations.

City police practice is governed by applicable law and department policy. In Washington, state law places limits on local law enforcement participation in civil federal immigration enforcement, Beck wrote. ... So, to answer your question directly: no, the Comprehensive Plan language does not override state law, and it does not change the legal framework that governs whether and how the Police Department may interact with federal immigration authorities.

I cannot recall a time when crime dropped so significantly

In his email to the council, Engle said crime rates have plummeted in Puyallup because of the Flock cameras.

In my career, I cannot recall a time when crime dropped so significantly year over year in property or societal crime, Engle said. We attribute our drop in crime partially to our Flock camera network and the use of that technology by our officers and detectives.

Engle said the Flock data was most often used for possession of stolen property, motor vehicle theft and robbery cases. He said from 2024 to 2025, motor vehicle theft decreased by 71%, robbery by 29% and aggravated assault by 31%.

There were over 433 crimes investigated where our Flock network was used (and) over 136 arrests made, Engle wrote.

Witting said the cameras have also made it safer for officers to pursue suspects.

Active pursuits of vehicles is pretty dangerous  you have people driving at high rates of speed and then accidents happen and people are hurt, Witting said. The idea is that we get away from the kind of physical, active pursuit and use automation to accomplish the same purpose, so these Flock cameras can track the vehicles without anybody having to pursue them.

He also said the cameras prevent future crimes.

Youre able to catch up with people so they dont recommit crimes over and over again. We catch them on the first or second round, Witting said. In the area of auto thefts, if somebody is stealing a bunch of cars, and theyre set up to take them to a chop shop and make money off of them? When you catch them, then that stops a lot of that future crime because it ends up being in a business.

Transparency concerns

Bennett is a former PPD police officer who retired in 2022. He now works in the renewable energy field and, last year, ran for Puyallup City Council in hopes of unseating incumbent Jim Kastama, who represents District 1. He lost by a 63-vote margin, with 1,374 votes to Kastamas 1,437.

He said his frustration with Flock started when the city approved the contract through a consent agenda, which the council uses to approve a batch of simple items like meeting minutes with a yay or nay vote.

It should have been discussed as a city and, instead, it was firehosed through department heads by our council and greenlit on a consent agenda, not even discussed by the city council, Bennett said.

City spokesperson Eric Johnson previously told The News Tribune in a 2023 statement that these items are considered routine operational purchases that do not warrant additional public outreach, adding that officials rely on law enforcement to determine what tools are needed to keep the community safe.

The News Tribune asked Witting if the city will hold any public hearings, discussions or meetings ahead of renewing its contract with Flock, and he said the city is still figuring out how it wants to approach a potential contract renewal.

Bennett told The News Tribune he has had six people reach out to him with questions and concerns about the Flock cameras, and that he is frustrated with the citys lack of transparency about the issue since the UW study came out.

There has been no open discussion or fact finding or information from this city, Bennett said.

When The News Tribune asked Witting about that, he said the city had been waiting until the legislative session ended to issue a public statement about where they stand on the cameras.

Ive been advocating for that myself, putting out more of a public statement than we have, but weve been holding off on that because of the state legislation, Witting said. We didnt want to go public with something that would end up changing until the session was over, and we didnt know what kind of regulation we would have coming out of it.

Bennett also said he wishes the transparency portal was more prominent on the city and police departments websites, and is wary of the portal being run by Flock and not the city itself.

The city of Puyallup is relying on this vendor to give information about how extremely sensitive and private data is being dispensed, Bennett said. Flock is the link that explains the camera, not our city leadership.

What is the city planning to do in the wake of new legislation?

While some cities across the state are championing Flock cameras, others have abandoned them.

Eatonville terminated our contract with Flock, mayor Emily McFadden wrote in an April 3 email to The News Tribune. They are currently off and waiting to be removed from town.

McFaddens email did not say when the city turned off its cameras or why they terminated the contract. Its transparency portal has been deactivated.

In December, Olympia announced it would deactivate its Flock cameras to consider concerns raised by the community. Everett, Redmond and Lynnwood have also turned off their Flock cameras, The Seattle Times reported on March 10.

Gig Harbor considered adopting Flock cameras in March 2025, but only two council members voted to approve the contract, with five opposing it.

Ferguson signed the Drivers Privacy Act on March 30, which imposes regulations on how ALPR cameras can be used. The measure passed the state Senate 40-9, with all 30 Democrats and 10 Republicans voting yes. It later passed the state House 84-10, with 56 Democrats and 28 Republicans in support.

The bill:

Prohibits using ALPR cameras for immigration investigation or enforcement, tracking protected activities  free speech  or collecting data near protected health care or immigration facilities.

Prohibits ALPR cameras in the premises or immediate surrounding of schools, churches, courts or food banks.

Requires ALPR data be deleted within 21 days, unless its part of an investigation or court case.

Forbids law enforcement from sharing access to its network with anyone except for other state/local law enforcement agencies, or third-party ALPR vendors like Flock Safety.

Exempts ALPR data from public records requests, except for bona fide research that does not contain individually identifiable information.

The changes went into effect immediately.

Engle said PPD has turned off its mobile cameras, since there is no way for officers to use them without accidentally breaking the law by, for example, driving close to a school while the cameras are in use.

The in-car ALPR, we turned that off, and those will remain off until we can ensure that we are in compliance with the law, Engle said. Right now, I am not comfortable believing our in-car program would be in compliance with the law, so it will stay off until the vendor can come up with a geofencing solution or something like that.

As for the Flock program, Engle said the department has examined all 39 cameras, and three of them could potentially be illegal.

We have three cameras that are in play that we are currently looking at, whether they are or are not in violation of the law, Engle said. We need to take a hard look at where theyre located, and were working through that right now, but weve basically been able to go from 39 down to three that are in question, and if they are in violation, theyll either be moved  because some of them, its a distance thing  or theyll just be simply turned off.

Puyallup is not alone in shutting off some of its cameras. The Pierce County Sheriffs Office announced it would turn off its ALPR cameras on March 30. The Kennewick, Pasco and Richland police departments in the Tri-Cities area also shut off their cameras in response to the new legislation.

Witting said Puyallup is still figuring out its path forward, and the cameras remain active.

In an April 1 news release on its website, Flock said it is helping its Washington customers navigate the new law by:

Implementing a 21-day retention period statewide

Removing NCIC alert access

Supporting agencies in removing cameras from prohibited locations

Flock said Washington already had automatic search filters which removed a Washington law enforcement agencys network from any nationwide search related to immigration enforcement.

The News Tribune asked Engle if he wants the city to renew its contract with Flock  to which he said, absolutely,  and if so, what steps he plans to take.

The first step, he said, is to wait for the Washington State Attorney Generals Office to release best practices around the law. He said they have 180 days after the laws passage to release that.

There is some, what I would call, a gray area, in what is the definition of immediate [surroundings], what does that mean in practice? I think the attorney general would define that, Engle said. Once they do that, we need to look at how many cameras does that impact for us? Then you have to have the discussion of, does it even make sense to continue the program if half of your cameras are essentially out of play because of the definition of immediate?

Engle said if a great majority of the citys cameras stand up to that scrutiny, he wants to have a discussion with the council and citizens.

The dream scenario, for me, would be to go to council and present on that and let council decide which way they want to go. Its a policy decision, Engle said. All I can do is come forward, put the information forward, share how weve already used it, share how wed like to continue using it, and make a good recommendation.

News Tribune archives contributed to this report.
North Kingstown Town Councilor Matt McCoy was in the room when a local energy developer secured a long-term lease to open a high-heat sewage processing plant in Quonset Business Park in November 2024.

McCoy, who serves on the panel governing the industrial parks development, voted against the $150 million project by QSS Biosolids, a subsidiary of Green Development. The sludge pyrolysis plant offers a solution to the states growing need for wastewater treatment, without the smell and safety concerns posed by traditional incineration.

McCoy considered the new technology inappropriate to build so close to neighborhoods and schools, he said in an email to Rhode Island Current. He thought that the community would feel the same.

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But McCoy didnt tell his constituents. He said he believed he was bound by confidentiality laws governing Quonset Development Corporations (QDC) closed-door discussion of the land deal. An air quality permit from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management was approved in January, also without widespread public knowledge.

But in the last two weeks, the project has become the talk of the town, spreading across social media, filling the wait in grocery store checkout lines and catching the attention of top state lawmakers.

What I did was wrong, McCoy told the 300-person crowd that filled the high school auditorium for a special Town Council meeting on March 30. My job was to keep my peers informed, and all of you informed. You should be rightly and justifiably angry with me.

He announced his resignation from the 11-member QDC board at the same meeting.

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Now the longstanding relationship between Quonset and its host community is under scrutiny.

Everyone should be outraged, Rep. Julie Casimiro, a North Kingstown Democrat whose district includes the business park, said during the town meeting at the high school. We trusted QDC for a long time. Theyre failing us miserably.

Casimiro said she has drafted, but not submitted, legislation that would reduce or remove the corporations power over land use in the business park.

I dont want to have to go there, she said. I want QDC to do the right thing.

She has already introduced a separate bill banning any pyrolysis or thermal waste conversion facilities in Quonset until Feb. 1, 2027. The bill has not been scheduled for a preliminary committee hearing yet.

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Casimiro accused the quasi-public state agency of trampling its responsibilities to the town that hosts the 3,200-acre industrial park. But she acknowledged what the corporations board has also said in defense of its work managing and developing the business park: It didnt break any laws.

Every transaction at Quonset, like the one in question, is approved in public session with detailed written backup, Chelsea Siefert, Quonsets chief operating officer, said in an emailed statement.

Everyone should be outraged. We trusted QDC for a long time. Theyre failing us miserably.

 Rep. Julie Casimiro, a North Kingstown Democrat whose district includes Quonset Business Park

Created by the Rhode Island General Assembly in 2004, the corporations appointed board of directors has unilateral authority to develop, sell and lease the land formerly home to a U.S. Navy base. North Kingstown, as host community, has two representatives on the board of directors, and also derives substantial tax revenue (upwards of $10 million according to the town) from hosting the industrial hub.

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Quonsets board must comply with state open meetings requirements, including advertising of its meetings and agendas and allowing public comment. The Nov. 19, 2024, meeting notice includes a single line describing the project decision: Approval of Ground Lease to Global Soil Solutions, LLC for AP 180, Lots 19, 20, 21 and 22 (See Tab 13).

Meeting minutes do not reflect any public attendance or public comment on the proposal. Nor do the minutes offer detail about the project, except to note the breakdown of the 5-3 vote. Then-North Kingstown Town Councilor Larry Mandel, the other town representative on the board, and Adam Lupino, an international representative for the Laborers International Union of North America, also voted against the project.

I respect technological changes and improvements, Mandel said in an interview. My whole thing was, show us it works before you ask us to approve it.

Mandel, a retired foreign service officer for the U.S. Department of State, lost his council reelection bid in 2024, ending his participation on the QDC board. Randy Wietman, chairman of the towns zoning board, was appointed to replace Mandel on the QDC board in 2024.

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Lupino, who still serves on the board, did not return multiple inquiries for comment.

North Kingstown Town Councilor Matthew McCoy, far right, announced his resignation from the Quonset Development Corporations board of directors during a March 30 Special Town Council meeting at North Kingstown High School. Also pictured are Town Council President Greg Mancini and Town Councilor Linnea Drew. (Screenshot)

Walking it back

The lease in Quonset still has not been executed, contingent upon conditions including other local, state and federal permits. But the North Kingstown Town Council unanimously approved a resolution at its March 30 meeting asking Quonset to rescind the deal with QSS Biosolids until there can be public hearings.

The resolution notes the lack of transparent public process, and potential harmful effects of the project.

The day after the Town Council unanimously passed the resolution, Quonset acquiesced. A three-sentence statement posted on the agency website on the night of March 31 states the corporation will not executive the lease at this time, while pledging cooperation with state lawmakers, who have already proposed a 19-member study commission to assess the regions wastewater treatment capabilities.

Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi threw his weight behind the study commission proposal, sponsored by Rep. Terri Cortvriend, tying the monthslong legislative review to public vetting of the Quonset sludge plant.

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We hope to find a solution that ensures municipalities have access to reliable and affordable disposal options, Shekarchi said in a statement released three hours before the Town Councils March 30 meeting. Quonsets role in our economy is well known and we are optimistic that it can contribute to a result that addresses this problem in a constructive, environmentally sound way based on statewide public input.

Hannah Morini, vice president of business development for Green Development, which owns QSS Biosolids, defended the review process, which followed state laws to the letter, she said in an emailed response to Rhode Island Current. She also noted that North Kingstown has two representatives on the corporations board of directors.

Morini did not respond to multiple requests for follow-up comment on the state study commission or the Town Council resolution.

Shekarchi, a land-use attorney with his own practice in Warwick, said he advises clients to head off controversy over development plans by holding public meetings before projects are finalized.

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Just because you dont need a public vote or a public hearing does not mean you should not have a public meeting, Shekarchi said in an interview.

Shekarchi understood the logic behind the expedited review and approval process the legislature granted to Quonset more than two decades earlier, helping the fledgling agency compete for big-name employers to fill the business park. Touted as an engine for job creation and economic growth, the park is home to more than 250 companies, employing 15,000 workers and generating $5.9 billion in annual economic output, according to 2025 estimates.

But now, with the business park nearly at capacity and the only available land approaching the boundary lines closer to residential neighborhoods and schools, the original rules should no longer apply, said North Kingstown Town Council President Greg Mancini.

This is an unfortunate byproduct of ceding or allowing that public policy decision to be made by others, Mancini said in an interview.

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Vanessa Mascaro, a North Kingstown resident who lives a mile north of the proposed project, put it more bluntly when she stepped up to the microphone during the March 30 meeting.

Theres been way too many decisions that affect our community without our input and without our knowledge, Mascaro said. Quonset should not be a dumping ground for the regions dirtiest industries, especially when theres families living just beyond its border.

The site at All American Way in Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown where QSS Biosolids hopes to build a high-heat sludge processing plant. (Photo by Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

Emerging technology

Unlike traditional incineration, QSS Biosolids proposed pyrolysis plant relies on a closed-loop system without an open flame to turn solid sewage byproducts into nutrient-rich fertilizer. The developer says its a solution to harmful pollution and smell, and, for Rhode Island, would fill the looming void as Woonsocket looks to close its regional sewage incinerator.

The QSS Biosolids project is an alternative technology designed with the highest level of odor controls, emission controls, and energy efficiency as integral project components, Morini said in an email. Its not incineration, and the material it will handle is unlike what which currently goes to Woonsocket.

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Woonsocket officials are looking to sell off the citys wastewater facility, and close the corresponding sludge incinerator as soon as they can ink a deal. The Quonset project could handle 50% more solid waste than Woonsocket, easily handling the critical service for the 30 municipalities and commercial customers across the region who rely on the northern Rhode Island plant.

Morini also emphasized the plan to avoid odors, which was at the forefront of every single design decision and a condition of project operations in Quonset. Sealed delivery trucks will drop off the sludge within a pressurized, indoor space, vented with an odor control system. If the system fails, the entire plant would shut down.

This is an unfortunate byproduct of ceding or allowing that public policy decision to be made by others.

 North Kingstown Town Council President Greg Mancini

QSS Biosolids already runs a pyrolysis plant in Quonset Business Park for wood waste. DEM has not received any complaints or found any violations since the wood chip processing plant began operations a year ago, Evan LaCross, an agency spokesperson, said in an email.

But the performance of sludge pyrolysis facilities elsewhere points to the need for more review.

The only two U.S. sludge pyrolysis plants in operation, in Washington and California, have been plagued by shutdowns due to operational and maintenance problems, said Janine Burke-Wells, executive director of the Northeast Biosolids & Residuals Association.

With Woonsocket going away, this might be something good, but they need to prove that it works, Burke-Wells said of the Quonset project. It needs to operate continuously.

Green Developments wood chip facility at 31 Cross Park Ave. in the Quonset Business Park in North Kingstown. (Photo by Laura Paton/Rhode Island Current)

The last straw

Other recently approved or proposed projects in the business park have soured public perception of Quonset. Smells wafting from Bitumars asphalt plant, a few tenths of a mile east of the proposed sludge processing plant, remain an ongoing source of complaints.

A proposed battery storage facility, also by Green Development, has raised suspicions, with online commenters lamenting the lack of public information.

I think we have reached this critical mass of questionable projects co-located in the West Davisville area, raising warranted concerns, Sen. Bridget Valverde, a North Kingstown Democrat, said. Its definitely strained our relationship and is making us take a closer look at how QDC is operating within our town.

Mounds of woodchips sit on the still-undeveloped 9-acre expanse where the company hopes to open a sewage pyrolysis plant, 3 miles west of its existing wood chip facility. The Quonset boards approval for the new project first requires a scaled demonstration that sludge pyrolysis can achieve the intended results.

The project also still needs three more environmental permits from DEM for wetland construction, stormwater control and sludge operations.

Sean Taylor, a North Kingstown resident, submitted a formal challenge Friday to the approved state air quality permit, contesting the projects adherence to state and federal emission limits for waste incineration.

The companys April 2025 application justifies the need for a minor source permit  rather than one for a higher level of pollution  because pyrolysis is not mentioned by name in federal or state regulations governing incineration and sludge treatment. DEM in its technical review agreed that the combined emissions did not exceed the threshold for the less stringent permit.

The states conclusion did not address Taylors argument that pyrolysis is a form of incineration, even if not expressly named in the regulations, and requires a different standard of review.

This is not the profile of a forward-thinking company profiting off of genuine environmental progress, Taylor said during the March 30 meeting. Instead, were haunted by the perception of a capitalist venture bent on selling the equivalent of environmental snake soil to the detriment of everyone living around it.

LaCross, with DEM, confirmed the agency had received Taylors petition but did not comment on its contents.

Morini estimates the project remained two to three years away from completion  and that was before the pause agreed to by Quonset Development. The agencys statement not to execute the lease does not specify when they will allow work to resume, but says it will be discussed at the boards next public meeting on April 28.

The legislative study panel, if approved by the General Assembly, calls for a comprehensive review and recommendations on sludge management by Jan. 5, 2027.

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This story has been updated to add additional context and information about Quonset Business Park and Councilor Matt McCoys interpretation of state open meeting laws. The spelling of Quonsets chief operating officers name has also been corrected.
President Donald Trump had threatened attacks on Iran that would wipe out a whole civilization. But as his ultimatum deadline approached, he tried a different tact.

He announced a two-week ceasefire.

Trump said late Tuesday, April 7, that he would suspend the imminent attacks on Iran for two weeks to allow for more time to negotiate a peace plan in the U.S.-Israeli war against the Middle Eastern nation.

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The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East," Trump said in a statement on social media.

Trump made the announcement just two hours before the 8 p.m. deadline he had imposed for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the key passageway for oil and petrochemical shipping. Iran had effectively closed the strait to the United States, Israel and other countries that supported their attacks on Tehran. Trump had threatened to strike civilian infrastructure in Iran if the strait was not reopened and warned that a whole civilization will die" in the attacks.

It was not immediately clear how soon the ceasefire would take effect. Israeli media reported it would begin once Iran reopened the strait; it also reported that Israel expected Iranian attacks to continue in the interim.

President Donald Trump, flanked by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, speaks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 6, 2026.

Live updates: Trump OKs two-week ceasefire in Iran after threat to hit 'civilization'

How did we get here?

The United States and Israel began a military campaign against Iran on Feb. 28, following weeks of military buildup and the failure of diplomatic efforts to avoid war. Trump said the goal was to keep Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, although he had claimed earlier that Iran's nuclear capabilities had been obliterated by U.S. and Israeli military strikes last summer.

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More than 3,000 people have been killed in the war.

Pakistan has been acting for weeks as a mediator between the United States and Iran and has submitted a 10-point peace plan that calls for, among other things, reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement that Iran had accepted the terms of the temporary ceasfire "in response to the brotherly request" of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States, told USA TODAY in a written message that the ceasefire was the work of "leadership in concert" and came from "persistent/patient diplomacy." But more diplomacy was needed, he said.

Why did the U.S. accept the ceasefire?

The ceasefire announcement capped a whirlwind day that started with Trump threatening in a post on social media to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran unless Tehran reopened the strait.

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Trump's rhetoric unnerved world leaders, rattled global financial and energy markets and drew widespread condemnation, including from members of Congress, the head of the United Nations and Pope Leo.

It also came as average gas prices in the United Sates, a concern for American voters and consumers, topped $4 per gallon.

The temporary ceasefire accomplishes one of Trump's objectives  reopening the Strait of Hormuz  and buys him more time to find an off-ramp in a war that polls show is highly unpopular with the Ameircan public.

Israel will be part of the ceasefire if Iran opens the Strait of Hormuz, a White House official told USA TODAY. Irans Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in a statement said the country will observe the ceasefire "if attacks on Iran are halted."

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to USA TODAY that "President Trump and our powerful military got Iran to agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and negotiations will continue."

Why did Iran accept the temporary ceasefire?

Iran's Supreme National Security Council portrayed the deal as a victory over the United States., claiming Trump had accepted Iran's conditions for ending hostilities.

The agreement also meant Iran would be able to avoid the destruction of its infrastructure and the likelihood of more bloodshed that would have occurred if Trump had followed through on his threat of more attacks.

Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People gather at the site of a destroyed building at a school where, as the state media reports, several people were killed in an Israeli airstrike, following strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran, in Minab, Iran in this screengrab obtained from a social media video released on February 28, 2026. Iranian state media reported on February 28 that Israel struck a school in southern Iran, resulting in 40 deaths. Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026 in this screen grab taken from video. Iranian people run for cover in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard after a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises following an explosion after the U.S. and Israel reportedly launched an attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026, in this screen grab taken from video. A graffiti on a wall reads" Down with the U.S.A", after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026. People run for cover following an explosion, after Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, in Tehran, Iran February 28, 2026. A plume of smoke rises after an explosion on February 28, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. After explosions were seen in the Iranian capital, the office of the Israeli Defense Minister issued a statement saying it had launched a preemptive strike against the country. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital.



Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist after disembarking Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., February 27, 2026. Hours later, Trump made live comments about the military strikes he launched against Iran. A plume of smoke rises over Tehran after a reported explosion on February 28, 2026, after Israel said it carried out a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and phone alerts warned of an "extremely serious" threat. A plume of smoke rises following a reported explosion in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Two loud blasts were heard in Tehran on February 28 morning by AFP journalists, and two plumes of thick smoke were seen over the centre and east of the Iranian capital. Israel's defence ministry announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran as sirens sounded in Jerusalem and people across the country received phone alerts about an "extremely serious" threat. Buildings inin Tehran stand after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, February 28, 2026. Iranians try to clear a street amid heavy traffic in Tehran, Iran, on February 28, 2026, as explosions are heard following a reported strike and Israel announced it had launched a "preemptive strike" on Iran, with sirens sounding in Jerusalem and phone alerts warning of an "extremely serious" threat. Smoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the southern Lebanese area of al-Qatrani on February 28, 2026. Lebanon's foreign minister said on February 24 his country feared its infrastructure could be hit by Israeli strikes if the situation with Iran escalates, after Israel intensified its attacks on Tehran-backed Hezbollah Anti-riot police stand in front of state building that is covered with a giant anti-U.S. billboard depicting the destruction of a US aircraft carrier in downtown Tehran on a main street in Tehran on February 21, 2026 in Tehran, Iran. In recent weeks, the United States had moved vast numbers of military vessels and aircraft to Europe and the Middle East. The US and Israel proceeded to launched strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran 1 of 16 Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.

What happens now

Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister, announced in a post on X that the United States and Iranian delegations were invited to Pakistan's capital of Islamabad on Friday, April 10, to continue negotiations on the 10-point peace plan to end the conflict.

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Irans Supreme National Security Council said in a statement that the negotiations will begin on Friday but that Iran does not trust the United States, according to Al Jazeera.

The outlet reported that the council said that the temporary ceasefire "does not mean an end to the war" and that the country will accept an end to the war when the plans details are "finalized in the negotiations.

In her statement, Leavitt said the proposed peace plan was, "a workable basis to negotiate, and those negotiations will continue."

Contributing: Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: From raining fire to ceasefire: How did Trump reverse course on the Iran war?
A longtime state representative whos implicated in multiple ethics investigations secured a time waiver that will ensure officials wont rule on one of those investigations at least until May primary ballots are out, and potentially not until after the election.

The Oregon Government Ethics Commission was expected at its monthly meeting on Friday to share the findings of an investigation into allegations that Rep. Greg Smith, a Republican from Heppner, took pay from his work on a public development authority in eastern Oregon while he was otherwise doing work for his consulting business and working as a state legislator. Commission staff have 180 days to complete an investigation, and commission members voted to launch the investigation into Smith in October.

Instead, Smiths attorney in February requested and received a time waiver to explore potential settlement negotiations, forgoing any public meeting on the matter until deliberations have concluded.

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Susan Myers, executive director of the ethics commission, said in an email that negotiations are ongoing, and that its not uncommon for people under ethics investigations to pursue settlement negotiations. Smith did not respond to a call, text or email from the Capital Chronicle on Wednesday.

He is currently running for reelection in the May primary against Jim Doherty, a former Morrow County commissioner and rancher who has been trying to make Smiths ethics concerns a key issue in the race.

Postponing means the earliest the commission might discuss the latest Smith investigation is at its meeting on May 8, a little more than a week after election officials begin mailing primary ballots to voters, and roughly a week before the May 19 primary. It could even happen in the months following the primary.

We cannot calculate at this point when that process might end or whether the negotiations will be successful, Myers wrote. Political calendars and any other concerns do not play a role in the decision to agree to waive time in a case.

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The commission late last year found Smith leveraged his job as a public official to illegally secure a raise for his work as director of the Columbia Development Authority of Boardman and then improperly kept the excess pay. Smith abruptly resigned from the authority in January after contract negotiations became fraught.

Earlier this year, the commission also found Smith violated state ethics laws when he did not fully disclose clients of his private consulting company on the economic interest statements he must file annually as a public official. The commission dinged him for the same violation last year.

Doherty, Smiths challenger for the House seat representing nine mostly eastern Oregon counties, said he believes Smith asked for the time waiver and possible settlement because hes facing the electorate in the May 19 election.

Its the cornerstone of what Im running for: clean water and clean government. And, you know, the plethora of ethics violations hes faced this year is outstanding, frankly, Doherty said.

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Washington  Republican Clay Fuller won Tuesday's runoff election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia's 14th Congressional District, CBS News projects, padding the House GOP's razor-thin margin by an additional vote.

Fuller beat Democrat Shawn Harris in the northwest Georgia district after the two advanced from a crowded field of candidates in a special election on March 10.

Fuller won by fewer than 12 points, a 25-point swing from when President Trump won the district by 37 points in 2024, making it the biggest swing in a House special election during Mr. Trump's second term. Greene won the district 29 points in 2024 and 31.8 points in 2022.

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Fuller on Wednesday called his win "a dominating performance," saying Democrats should be concerned about the campaign money spent on Harris who he said wasn't "even competitive in this special election."

"We're really proud of how we did," he told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett on "The Takeout."

Greene said Tuesday's margin shows voter backlash against Mr. Trump. In a post on X, she wrote that the district was never in danger of flipping, "but the results speak for themselves."

"Trump flipping MAGA from America First to America Last, covering up for the Epstein files, and betraying key campaign promises of no more foreign wars has been the best help for the Democrats. Sad!" she wrote.

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When asked about Mr. Trump and his conflict with Greene, Fuller told CBS News his constituents aren't concerned about the past and that he's looking forward to supporting the president and his "America First" agenda in Washington.

"The voters are concerned about sending me up to Capitol Hill to make sure that I'm a fighter for President Trump and bringing back those manufacturing jobs to the district," Fuller said. "They want a fighter up there for the future to have their back and have President Trump's back."

A candidate had to receive a majority of the vote in March to avoid a runoff. Harris, a retired Army general, pulled in more votes than Fuller, a district attorney, in last month's contest as Republicans split their votes among several candidates. Though it injected a jolt of optimism into the possibility that Democrats could pull off a major upset, Harris faced long odds in a one-on-one matchup in the reliably conservative district.

The outcome gives House Republicans  who had a 217 to 214 majority leading up to Fuller's victory  another seat as any one defection has threatened to derail their legislative agenda in recent months. Another seat is held by an independent, who switched his party affiliation in March, but still caucuses with Republicans. Fuller's win bumps up Republicans' margin to two votes.

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Fuller, who had Mr. Trump's backing, will serve out the remainder of Greene's two-year term, which ends in January 2027.

Greene resigned in January after a falling-out with Mr. Trump.

Mr. Trump celebrated Fuller's win in a Truth Social post Wednesday, calling him "a very large improvement over his deranged predecessor."

One hospice doctor. One year. $71.7 million worth of Medicare claims.

Search underway for woman after husband says she fell overboard while on boat ride in Bahamas

Republican Clay Fuller to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in House, CBS News projects
Republican Clay Fuller closed the deal on Tuesday, winning a special runoff election to represent Georgias deep-red 14th Congressional District, according to the Associated Press. Fuller will finish out the term of former GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenea once a staunch supporter and ally of President Donald Trump who resigned in January as she became one of the Presidents most prominent critics.

Fuller, a veteran and a district attorney, took on Democrat Shawn Harris in a district where Trump carried 68% of the vote in 2024. The win for Fuller, who Trump endorsed, expands the Republican partys slim majority in the House to 218-214, as Democrats hope a blue wave in this years midterm elections will give them control of the chamber.

Read More: 2026 Will Be the Year of Political Pragmatism

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Amid Greenes recent repudiation of Trump and much of the Republican Party, Fuller campaigned as a "MAGA warrior, trying to keep Georgia red. Greene refused to endorse in the race to replace her. Her bitter falling out with Trump came over the Administrations handling of the Epstein Files, Trumps involvement in Israels war with Gaza, and the Administrations conflicts with Iran.

This [is] NOT what we promised the American people when they overwhelmingly voted in 2024, Greene said on X on Sunday in response to Trumps threats against Iran if its leaders do not open the Strait of Hormuz. On Tuesday, she described Trumps threat to wipe out a whole civilization as evil and madness.

Tuesdays special election serves as one of the first glimpses of how the war in Iran may be impacting voter decisions. While both Fuller and Harris are veterans, their opinions on Trumps war differed wildly. During a March 23 debate, Fuller backed Trump wholly on Iran, saying that the U.S. was safer due to the Presidents actions. It is a death cult that cannot be negotiated with, he said of Iran in the debate.

This war that were in right now is a war of choice, countered Harris at the same event. The focus should be [on] how do we get this economy back together, how do we take care of our farmers, and how do we take care of all the hardworking people in Northwest Georgia. Harris, a cattle farmer, has also criticized how the war has led to skyrocketing prices for oil, fuel and fertilizer.

Fuller, who competed against Greene for the Republican nomination in 2020, will finish out Greenes term through January 2027. But if he wants to remain in Congress beyond January, he will have to garner his partys support in a May 19 Republican primary to take on Democrats again in November.
April 8 (UPI) -- Following President Donald Trump's announcement of a two-week cease-fire in the war with Iran, many Republicans praised the move and his leadership, while Democrats responded more cautiously, with some calling for Trump to be removed from office.

Trump announced the two-week cease-fire shortly after 6:30 p.m. EDT, about 90 minutes before the deadline he had set for Iran to agree to a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz of face widespread destruction.

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called Trump's announcement "excellent news" and "a strong first step toward holding Iran accountable."

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He said it is an example of "what happens when you have a leader who puts peace through strength over chaos and weak appeasement policies."

"This is Iran's chance to do the right thing," he said on social media.

"The president has been clear: Iran must NEVER have a nuclear weapon, the Strait of Hormuz MUST be completely open and our country and our great ally Israel must NEVER be threatened again by Iran or its proxies."

The war began Feb. 28 when Israel and the United States launched a joint attack against Iran, which responded by closing the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime transport route through which flows about one-fifth of global oil supplies.

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The closure has been a key issue in negotiations, with Trump having repeatedly threatened destructive attacks across Iran unless it reopened the strait. The agreement was announced less than two hours before his deadline.

Trump should be "commended" for achieving the cease-fire, Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., said in a statement.

"I support negotiations that lead to Iran never having nuclear capabilities," he said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a strong ally of the president and a vocal supporter for war against Iran, said he hoped "we can end the reign of terror of the Iranian regime through diplomacy," but said he looked forward to seeing the 10-point proposal from Iran.

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"It is imperative Iran is not rewarded for this hostile act against the world," he said online.

"I want to reaffirm that from my point of view, every ounce of the approximately 900 lbs. of highly enriched uranium has to be controlled by the U.S. and removed from Iran to prevent them in the future from having a dirty bomb or returning to the enrichment business."

While expressing relief over the halt in the fighting, many Democrats expressed worry about the deal Trump has agreed to.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said it appears Trump has agreed to give Iran control of the Strait of Hormuz, which he described as "a history changing win for Iran."

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"The level of incompetence is both stunning and heartbreaking," he said.

In a second social media statement, Murphy expressed dismay over conditions in Iran's 10-point plan that Trump said would be used as a foundation for further talks, especially over Iran potentially being allowed to retain its nuclear program while lifting all sanctions from Tehran.

"If this isn't true -- and let's hope it's not -- it is proof that there is indeed no deal," he said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, also of Connecticut, criticized the cease-fire for being needed in the first place. The war, he said, cost the United States tens of billions of dollars, thousands of lives throughout the region and triggered a global economic and energy crisis.

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"All for a war that Trump cannot even begin to explain & that has achieved none of his constantly shifting & contradictory objectives," Blumenthal said online.

"A ceasefire for the American people is no victory."

Earlier Tuesday, Trump had threatened Iran in his most bellicose language to date, saying "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Tehran doesn't agree to a cease-fire and open the Strait of Hormuz.

The threat drew condemnation from dozens of Democrats who were calling for Trump to be impeached.

Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., said he had filed articles of impeachment against Trump, as well as called on his Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, which allows for a president to be removed from office if declared to be unable to discharge their responsibilities.

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He said Trump has "blown past every requirement to be removed from office."

"He's becoming more unstable by the day," he said in a statement.

"While Republicans in the majority have so far failed to uphold their constitutional responsibility to initiate impeachment proceedings, that does not absolve others of their duty. Members of the Cabinet and those closest to the president can act immediately."

After the cease-fire deal was announced, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among those still calling for Trump to be removed from the White House.

"This statement changes nothing," she said online in reference to Trump's announcement.

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She accused Trump of threatening genocide against the Iranian people in a long list of actions she said he should be removed from office for.

"All of these incidents, and plenty more, have clearly driven our country past the threshold for impeachment or invocation of the 25th Amendment," she said.

"We cannot risk the world nor the wellbeing of our nation any longer. None of these considerations should be partisan, but shared in good faith by Americans of all backgrounds who care for the safety and stability of the United States.

"Whether by his Cabinet or Congress, the President must be removed from office. We are playing with the brink."
Retired Army Major General Randy Manner told MS NOWs Nicolle Wallace on Tuesday he had secondhand knowledge that military officials were saying no to Pentagon leadership.

Manner joined Deadline: White House to discuss the ongoing U.S. military operation in Iran and President Donald Trumps recent pledge to attack civilian targets in the country if an agreement was not reached by Tuesday night. Wallace asked Manner about Tucker Carlons criticism of the presidents threats and his call to those within the administration and military to resign if given an illegal order by Trump.

I think its more clear than ever before this concept of following that youre not supposed to follow illegal orders, said Manner.

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He continued:

I have already indications that many targets that were recommended by the Secretary of Defense were rejected by CENTCOM, that they were civilian targets. It is something where, again, I dont have firsthand knowledge. Its secondhand knowledge. But I believe that people are already saying no to the hierarchy. The CENTCOM commander is walking a very thin line where he is trying to do the best he can to implement military objectives as he understands them, without getting fired is the best way to put it. In the same way that the Secretary of Defense has already fired several other senior Army officers during times of war, which is unprecedented, by the way, for no apparent reason. So I dont think the world needs to be concerned. And Im not trying to dismiss this renegade discussion and this bizarre behavior of our president. But I dont think that anything substantial is going to happen tonight at 8 P.M. I believe that the answer will be no.

When asked by Wallace to clarify his remarks, Manner said that he had been told Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had requested, rather than ordered, strikes on targets that were refused by military officials. He then claimed there was a quiet resistance within CENTCOM that was attempting to redirect orders to go after civilian targets toward attacks on Irans military.

The idea of attacking bridges that are clearly, overwhelmingly for civilian use would be a war crime, and that the planners in CENTCOM would not permit that, he said, adding:

That is what I am hearing, again, secondhand. So I believe that there are very subtle pushbacks that already have been occurring to go after military targets. So its almost like instead of this one, this is the target that you should be looking at. And so its almost like these are not the droids youre looking for, using a Jedi mind trick. I hate to be quite so comical about it, but I think thats whats going on, is that there is this very quiet resistance to be able to say, Lets get this in military lanes, not attacking the civilian infrastructure. I dont know what would happen if indeed the president was to order attacking civilian targets.

Watch above via MS NOW.

The post Ret. Major General Says Hes Been Told the Military Is Already Saying No To Pentagon Higher-Ups first appeared on Mediaite.
NEED TO KNOW

Rex Heuermann admitted to murdering eight women in what became known as the Gilgo Beach killings

The murders went unsolved for more than a decade until Heuermann's 2023 arrest

Though Heuermann, 62, had previously denied involvement in the killings, his attorney said Wednesday that he alone had made the decision to plead guilty

The man accused of killing at least seven women on Long Island in what became known as the Gilgo Beach killings pleaded guilty on Wednesday, April 8.

Rex Heuermann, 62, had been charged with murdering seven women  Amber Lynn Costello, Megan Waterman, Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Sandra Costilla and Valerie Mack  all of whom he admitted to killing by strangulation while in court Wednesday.

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Although he wasn't charged in her death, he also admitted to killing an eighth woman, Karen Vergata, in 1996, also by strangulation.

He had maintained his innocence since his arrest in 2023, more than a decade after the first bodies were found.

Credit: James Carbone - Pool/Getty

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

After the hearing, Michael Brown, his attorney, told reporters outside the courthouse in Riverhead, N.Y., that the decision to plead guilty was Heuermann's alone.

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Brown did not elaborate on how Heuermann came to plead guilty to Vergata's murder other than to say, "When he decided he wanted to plead guilty, we had that covered as part of his plea."

He said Heuermann maintains there are no additional victims and accepted the pleas  which included three counts of first-degree murder and four counts of second-degree murder  because he wanted his own family and the families of the women he killed to avoid the ordeal of going to trial.

"There came a point in this defense where Rex said 'I want to plead guilty,'" Brown said. When pressed by reporters as to when that was, Brown said he could not provide a timeline, citing attorney-client privilege.

Asked whether Heuermann is sorry for his crimes, Brown responded, "I would hope so," and added: "I expect at sentencing, he'll have something to say. I'll leave it at that."

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However, Brown said Heuermann would not go into detail about how he murdered the eight women  some of whom were mutilated  and discarded their bodies.

As part of his plea deal, Heuermann agreed to cooperate with the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, to waive his right to appeal and to admit to intentionally murdering Vergata.

Brown commended the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office for the volume of evidence and discovery investigators had amassed and acknowledged that there was damning DNA evidence against Heuermann that he had unsuccessfully sought to have dismissed.

"They deserve all the accolades," Brown said. "They went down hundreds of rabbit holes and when you look at the amount of evidence and you connect the dots, they really did a great job."

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In 2022, Heuermann was identified as a suspect after an investigator reviewing the case file learned that one of the victims had been picked up by a man driving a distinct pickup truck that authorities were able to connect to him.

Investigators also identified him through a discarded pizza crust, cellphone records and mitochondrial DNA matches to the victims, and by combing through his internet search history which showed he had conducted searches for the Gilgo Beach investigation and updates on the victims.

He was arrested in July 2023 in Midtown Manhattan, where he worked as an architect.

Heuermann, who lived in Massapequa Park, admitted in court Wednesday to having used burner phones to contact the women.

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His ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, briefly addressed reporters outside the courthouse after his hearing. She said that the focus should be on the victims and their families. She then turned to her daughter, Victoria, and asked for privacy. Ellerup and Heuermann divorced after his arrest.

Heuermann will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole on June 17.

Read the original article on People
I have spent 48 years as Director of Defenders of Animals. It has been a great honor to fight for the welfare of animals in Rhode Island, and while it has not always been easy, we have been blessed to win many victories. Thanks to our amazing volunteers we ended the use of gas chambers at local animal shelters. In the General Assembly, we passed Neros Law to allow EMTs to treat injured police dogs. Through a collaboration with attorney Mark B. Morse, we used the legal system to make positive changes at local animal shelters.

During our time as a nonprofit organization, we have watched eight governors come and go. In a way, the debate hasnt changed since 1978. There are always a majority of lawmakers who care about animals, and a handful that resist change. Rhode Island cares deeply about the welfare of animals, and dogs in particular. In fact, it is a core value of our community that dogs are members of our family, and deserve to be protected.

Thats why we rejoiced when the legislature voted in 2010 to end greyhound racing. The House passed the prohibition on a vote of 64-4, and the Senate approved it unanimously.

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However, lawmakers left a loophole in the law that allows remote gambling on dog races elsewhere, referred to as simulcasting, to continue. As a result, we are propping up the suffering of greyhounds, including at the last two dog tracks in America, which are located in West Virginia.

Will lawmakers do the right thing and close this loophole, or instead allow gambling bosses to dictate what our values are about the welfare of dogs?

Greyhound racing is a cruel industry that results in the inevitable suffering of thousands of gentle dogs. Racing greyhounds endure lives that we would not want for our companions. They are kept in warehouse style kennel compounds, in rows of stacked metal cages, for long hours each day. Dogs routinely suffer broken legs and other catastrophic injuries, and female greyhounds are given dangerous drugs. This is simply no way to treat a dog.

Dog racing is also a dying industry. A bill to outlaw greyhound racing nationwide is moving in Congress, as part of the must-pass Farm Bill. Dog racing is illegal in 44 states, and gambling on greyhound races is being prohibited across the country. In fact, Rhode Island will soon be one of only 14 states that allows greyhound gambling.

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The legislation now pending at the State House (H8217/S3048) would have minimal impact on the state budget, because we receive virtually no tax revenue from greyhound racing. It is not even a major source of funding for casinos.

The House bill, sponsored by Rep. Pat Serpa, a West Warwick Democrat, is up for a hearing before the House Committee on Finance Thursday.

Will lawmakers do the right thing and close this loophole, or instead allow gambling bosses to dictate what our values are about the welfare of dogs?

Along with Massachusetts, we were pioneers in the movement to help greyhounds. Our work sparked a global debate, driven by grassroots activists and fueled by compassion. But sadly, we are now lagging behind the rest of New England. Greyhound gambling is illegal in Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine, and will become illegal in New Hampshire at the end of this year. In Connecticut, the only other New England state to allow greyhound betting, a prohibition has passed committee and will receive a floor vote in the coming weeks. Its time for us to show leadership again and finish the job.

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Someone once asked me how they could honor the nearly five decades of work Defenders of Animals has done. I didnt have an answer then, but I do now. The best way lawmakers can honor our hard work would be to end greyhound simulcasting. Do it for us, but more importantly, do it for the dogs.

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The wheat complex was mixed on Tuesday, with the soft red contracts higher. Chicago SRW futures posted 1 to 3 cent in the red on the day. KC HRW futures saw fractional losses at the close. MPLS spring wheat was down 3 to 4 cents in the front months.

Crop Progress data indicated 7% of the US winter wheat crop headed, ahead of the 5% 5-year average. The first condition rating for the year pegged the crop at 35% good/excellent, well below the average 42% estimate from analysts. That was shy of the 48% to start last year. The Brugler500 index (100-500 weighted scale) was at 298 points, which was 30 points below the start of last year. That was the 7th lowest start to the crop since 1990. The first Crop Progress report of the year showed the spring wheat crop at 2% planted, behind the 2% average pace.

More News from Barchart

Analysts are looking for USDA to trim the US ending stocks estimate by 8 mbu to 923 mbu in Thursdays WASDE according to a Bloomberg survey.

Argus estimates the Russian wheat crop at 88.7 MMT, an increase of 1.2 MMT from their previous number. European Commission data shows 18 MMT of EU wheat exports from July 1 to April 5, which is 1.21 MMT above the same time last year.

May 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $5.98, up 2 3/4 cents,

Jul 26 CBOT Wheat closed at $6.08 1/4, up 1 3/4 cents,

May 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $6.07 1/2, down 3/4 cent,

Jul 26 KCBT Wheat closed at $6.23, down 3/4 cent,

May 26 MIAX Wheat closed at $6.41, down 3 1/2 cents,

Jul 26 MIAX Wheat closed at $6.55 1/4, down 3 1/2 cents,

On the date of publication, Austin Schroeder did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
The crew of the Artemis II is on its way back to Earth after a spectacular lunar flyby. Rocket scientists at Georgia Tech are monitoring every minute of the 10-day mission.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

You dont have to be a rocket scientist to be excited about the future of space exploration, but at Georgia Tech Space Institute, it certainly helps.

The pale blue dot in the middle of the vast blackness, accompanied by the moon in front, its just astonishing to see, said Jud Ready, Executive Director of the Georgia Tech Space Institute.

TRENDING STORIES:

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That sense of awe is building as NASA prepares for Artemis II, a 10-day manned mission that will send astronauts around the moon.

Researchers at Georgia Tech are playing a major role in the Artemis program. Teams are not only contributing to the mission itself. Still, they are also working on technology that could shape the future of lunar exploration, including solar cells developed on campus that may one day be transported to the moons surface.

For Ready, the mission is especially meaningful. He was just two years old the last time astronauts walked on the moon during the Apollo missions.

Now, he says, a new era is about to begin.

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Ultimately, hundreds, thousands, even hundreds of thousands of people will go, Ready said. The next four or five will likely happen in the 2028 to 2029 timeframe.

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A new Florida law, which will broaden the state's terrorism laws, has civil liberties groups worried about the future of free speech in the Sunshine State.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill (H.B.) 1471 into law on Monday. The bill, which will go into effect on July 1, was drafted to increase "accountability" at Florida's public universities by prohibiting "the use of taxpayer funds to support or promote terrorist organizations." It also allows some state officials to label certain groups as domestic or foreign terror organizations.

Once a group is designated as a terror organization, it would become "subject to strict prohibitions, including bans on public funding and support, and individuals who provide material support face significant criminal penalties," according to a press release from DeSantis' office. Anyone who provides "material support" to a designated terrorist organization would face criminal penalties, while any public institutions that violate the law may see their state funding lost.

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DeSantis said that H.B. 1471, which also bans courts from enforcing Sharia Law in the state, will "defend our institutions from those who would harm usespecially terrorist organizations that seek to infiltrate and subvert our education system."

Free speech organizations don't share DeSantis's view, warning that the law will infringe upon Floridians' civil rights.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida said the bill would "threaten First Amendment freedoms and due process for people across our state." Tyler Coward, an attorney at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, says that although the government can prohibit material support for foreign terrorist organizations (including things such as cash or items of value), "mere advocacy in support of these organizations remains protected by the First Amendment."



"This bill goes too far in regulating unlawful conduct and will cast an impermissible chilling effect on campus discourse at Florida's colleges and universities," adds Coward.

DeSantis has attempted to label certain groups as terrorists before. In December, he issued an executive order designating the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as a foreign terrorist group, along with the Muslim Brotherhood. CAIR is a nonprofit civil rights group whose stated mission is "to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims." CAIR quickly filed a lawsuit against DeSantis, arguing that the designation was unconstitutional. In March, a federal court issued a temporary injunction blocking the executive order, the Florida Phoenix reported.

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CAIR also says that this new law will be used to target the Muslim community. "There's a clear message, at least from these lawmakers, that Florida Muslims are not welcome in Florida: that's their message," said CAIR-Florida attorney Omar Saleh told CBS News.

While H.B. 1471 may seem like a sensible policy on paper (after all, nobody wants to support terror), laws like these have given the government broad discretion to target groups it opposes.

"Over the past 25 years, we've learned the government won't waste an opportunity to increase its power in the name of fighting 'terror,' whether at home or abroad," writes Reason's Joe Lancaster. He notes that "the FBI cited January 6 as justification to dramatically increase surveillance of American citizens who opposed then-President Joe Biden." The Trump administration, meanwhile, has claimed the authority to label people "domestic terrorists" based on such perceived offenses as "anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity."

The potential objections by civil liberties groups appear not to be lost on DeSantis, who predicts that Florida's new law will prompt lawsuits. However, he says the state will likely "win on appeal."

The post Ron DeSantis Clamps Down on Free Speech in the Name of Fighting Terror appeared first on Reason.com.
MOSCOW, April 8 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday welcomed a two-week ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran, and said Russia hopes that the U.S. will now have the time and scope to resume three-way peace talks on Ukraine.

In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "We received the news of a truce with satisfaction. We welcome the decision not to proceed further down the path of armed escalation."

Asked about whether the Iran ceasefire may facilitate fresh talks on Ukraine, Peskov said: "We hope that, in the foreseeable future, (the U.S.) will have more time and greater opportunity to meet in a trilateral format," referring to talks held between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S.

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Russia had previously said that Ukraine peace talks had been paused after the outbreak of hostilities in Iran.

Negotiations began last year in Istanbul and three-way talks with the U.S. were held at the start of this year in Abu Dhabi and Geneva.

But progress has been slow, in large part because of an impasse over territory. Russia demands that Ukraine give up the remainder of its Donbas region but Kyiv refuses to surrender land that Moscow's forces have failed to capture in more than four years of war.

(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov, Writing by Felix Light,Editing by Mark Trevelyan)
A Louisiana Senate committee blocked a proposal Tuesday that would have made it a misdemeanor crime to leave loaded guns unsecured in the presence of young children, the mentally ill or anyone prohibited from having firearms.

Senate Bill 344, sponsored by Sen. Regina Barrow of Baton Rouge, failed in the Senate Committee on Judiciary C in a 1-5 vote. All five Republican members opposed the legislation. Barrow, the committees lone Democrat, was the lone vote in favor.

Her measure had the backing of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, whose leader called it a pro-life bill. But his support wasnt enough to overcome the pro-gun lobby at the Louisiana Legislature.

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Barrow, a gun owner who also serves as Senate president pro tempore, said her bill was an effort to prevent violent and accidental shooting deaths of children, which have risen dramatically in Louisiana and the United States in recent years. Citing health data, she said firearms are the leading cause of death of children and teenagers in Louisiana.

According to KFF, firearm deaths of children and adolescents in the U.S. increased 68% from 2014-24, with 2,228 fatalities logged two years ago. Black children and teens are significantly more likely to die from gunfire than any other race, accounting for 46% of firearm deaths despite comprising only 14% of the U.S. youth population.

The same research shows Louisiana had the third-highest rate of gun deaths from 2020-24 for people 17 and younger at 8.4 per 100,000, trailing only Mississippi (8.7) and Washington, D.C. (10.1).

Barrows bill would have required gun owners to safely store their weapons. A violator would have faced a misdemeanor charge punishable with a fine ranging from $500 to $1,000, with the higher amount assessed only if someone was injured as a result of the violation.

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In an interview last week, Barrow said she agreed to amend her bill to reach common ground with pro-gun organizations. The changes included removing jail time as a punishment. Its original punishment would have maxed out at a one-year sentence for violations with injury and six months with no harm.

Barrow also conceded to having her legislation apply to households with children 12 and younger, instead of 17 and under in her original proposal. Beyond fines, offenders would have been required to undergo firearm training through a National Rifle Association-approved course under the revised penalties.

At the end of the day, all Im asking for is responsibility, Barrow said in an interview, if you have a weaponthat that weapon is properly secured.

Tom Costanza, executive director of the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops, testified in favor of Barrows bill, saying it strongly aligns with the sanctity of human life while balancing the rights of the individual with the rights of the community.

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Preventing foreseeable harm is a moral obligation, Costanza said.

Dan Zelenka, Louisiana Shooting Association president, opposed the bill, arguing it would be a financial burden, especially for poor residents who are most susceptible to crime, to require gun locks or gun safes.

The bill initially required a tamper-resistant trigger lock as a means of secured storage, but Barrow also removed that, replacing it with a general safety lock of any kind  such as a simple padlock mechanism  to prevent the gun from being discharged.

Zelenka said he couldnt support a bill that makes guns more difficult to access for people when they need them for self defense. He told the committee he personally keeps his expensive guns locked up in a safe within a secured room, but he said he has four or five other firearms around his home in spots that allow for quick access.

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Zelenka cited data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing a decline in the per capita rate of child gun deaths nationwide from 2023-24, going from 3.5 to 3.

Louisiana does seem to have a few more per year on average, he said, acknowledging the state-level data Barrow cited.

The CDC data also show almost 1,000 child drowning deaths per year, but were not criminalizing swimming pools, Zelenka said.

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The future of a parcel of land next to Sugar House Park in Salt Lake City is no closer to being any clearer since a Sizzler restaurant closed there six years ago.

Members of the Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to deny a request to rezone a 0.83-acre parcel at 2111 S. 1300 East from mixed-use 3 (MU-3) to form-based mixed-use 8 (MU-8). Its a blow to a developers desire to build a seven-story hotel next to the park.

My vote to reject this request today reflects a concern about precedent. Expanding the business district beyond what is outlined in our adopted community plan, particularly when our updated mixed-use zoning is still in its first year, feels premature, said Salt Lake City Councilwoman Sarah Young, whose district covers Sugar House, after the vote, pointing to a recent change in the Sugar House business districts zone that seeks to expand redevelopment options.

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She added that the developer behind the proposal has been a class act, but she believes the city should wait and see the efforts and needs of the new zoning, which is also when the parcel became MU-3, before deciding on future expansion of the district. Her colleagues agreed, passing the measure with little debate during the meeting.

The vote followed a passionate public hearing last month, and several other public meetings since John Potter, CEO of Magnus Hotel Management, first publicly proposed the hotel concept during a Sugar House Community Council meeting over a year ago.

Potters rezoning proposal would have increased building heights from 40 feet to 90 feet on the parcel. He envisioned a 145-room boutique hotel under the Hilton Hotel umbrella, which would include a 185-stall underground parking structure, a rooftop restaurant, top-floor banquet space and other amenities.

Utah lawmakers recently adjusted state laws that would make it easier for hotels to obtain liquor licenses, too.

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Sugar House residents and Salt Lake park users were, on the other hand, split on the proposal and largely opposed it during last months public hearing. Many worried that it would damage the park and its iconic viewshed and add traffic to one of the citys busiest corridors, among other things.

Young told KSL after the meeting that the residential feedback over livability concerns helped sway the vote, but it wasnt the only factor.

A zoning map of Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood near 2100 South and 1300 East. The proposed rezone at 2111 S. 1300 East would have allowed for a build of up to 90 feet in height next to Sugar House Park, but it was rejected on Tuesday. | Salt Lake City Planning Division

Salt Lake Citys planning commission and planning division each endorsed the rezoning request, contending that the Sugar House business district includes the parcel on the east side of 1300 East. But master plans for the area have made it clear that the business district runs from 700 East to 1300 East, and not directly east of it, Sugar House Community Council members argued.

Young said it was a long process to get to Tuesdays decision, but the City Council ultimately agreed with the residents. At the same time, the City Council had recently upzoned the parcel as part of a sweeping measure to increase density, and didnt see the need to do it again  at least not now.

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Salt Lake City Council Chairman Alejandro Puy said Young helped the City Council understand the impact that it could have on the community, and how the proposal could impact park users and residents, which factored in the other votes against it.

Whats next for the parcel?

Its unclear whats next for the parcel, after other proposals fizzled since the Sizzler closed in 2020. A push to turn the space into a gas station was rejected by the planning commission in 2023, in a vote later upheld by an appeals officer. Another development plan before that never made it to the commission.

Romney Farr Properties owns the land, and Maverik still holds a lease that lasts more than another decade from its failed gas station plan. Some residents called on the parcel to be added to the over 110-acre park. City leaders say that would be difficult and costly since its privately owned.

Some who supported the hotel rezone voiced concerns with keeping the lot vacant, which is an issue Young also agrees with. She hopes that Tuesdays vote and previous decisions help clarify what type of development best fits the area.

I wouldnt expect any more gas station proposals. I doubt well get any more requests for MU-8. I think the community has spoken on those pieces, she said. That doesnt mean nothing can go there. ... I think were clear about what the development potential is within the existing zoning, and I think wed love to see a solution come to fruition that is within that zoning.
(This story was updated to add new information.)

There will be several candidates listed on the ballot in local and state elections during the June 9 primaries in Jasper and Beaufort counties.

Other state primaries, and the 2026 General Election, are also upcoming.

There are contested seats for several offices in Jasper County, including Jasper County Council Robertville Township, Jasper County Probate Judge, Jasper County Treasurer, and Jasper County Auditor.

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Incumbent Gene Ceccarelli is the only candidate who filed for the Jasper County Council Coosawhatchie Township seat and will not be listed on the June ballot. He will be a candidate in the Nov. 3 General Election.

South Carolina House Districts 120, 122 and 123, which represent Jasper and Beaufort counties, are also up for election, however there will not be a primary in June for House Dist. 120 due to one of the two candidates, Robert Weinfeld, withdrawing his candidacy.

Two candidates have filed to run for the Jasper County Council Robertville Township seat, including Democrat Camika Benton and Republican Sam Woodward. The two candidates will not be on the June 9 primary ballot but will face each other in the Nov. 3 General Election.

Several candidates have filed to run for offices in Jasper and Beaufort counties during the upcoming June 9 primaries.

Two candidates have also filed to run for Jasper County Probate Judge in the June 9 primary, including Republicans Dixie S. Ford and Kendall Malphrus. The winner of the primary will go on to face Incumbent Democrat Buster Kleckley in the General Election.

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Two Republican candidates have also filed for the office of Jasper County Treasurer, including Incumbent Michael Skinner and newcomer Deanne Walsh Spikes who will be on the June 9 Primary ballot. The winner will move on to the General Election. There are two candidates who filed to run for Jasper County Auditor, including Democrat LaVonna Von Aiken Fisher-Brown and Republican Incumbent Megan Carroll Horton who will not be on the June 9 Primary ballot but the two will face each other in the General Election.

There had been two Democratic candidates who have filed to run in the primary for the State House of Representatives Dist. 120, including Debbie Subera-Wiggin and Robert Weinfeld. Weinfeld withdrew his candidacy so there will not be a State House of Representatives Dist. 120 race on the June ballot. Wiggin will face Incumbent Republican Weston Newton in the General Election. Two Democratic candidates have also filed to run in the June 9 primary for State House of Representatives Dist. 122 seat, including Maja Moore and Korey Williams. The winner will move on to face Incumbent Republican Jeff Bradley in the General Election.

Another race, State House of Representatives Dist. 123, will be on the June 9 primary ballot. Two democratic candidates have filed to run for the seat, including Willie P. Aiken and Ann C. Shippy.

The office of Beaufort County Sheriff will be on the ballot as well during the primary in Beaufort County. Long-time Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner announced recently he would not be seeking another term in office.

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Two Republican candidates have filed to run in the Beaufort County Sheriff race in the primary for a chance to advance to the General Election. The two candidates include Doug Seifert and Jojo Woodward. The winner will face Democratic candidate Alphonso Small, Jr. in the General Election.

Those interested in viewing a complete list of candidates can access the list on the Candidate Tracking system at the following link: https://vrems.scvotes.sc.gov/Candidate/SelectElection

Poll workers needed in Jasper County

Jasper County is currently seeking poll workers for the upcoming elections. If interested in working in Jasper County, please contact the Jasper County Board of Elections and Voter Registration at (843)726-7709.

This article originally appeared on Bluffton Today: Candidates file in Jasper, Beaufort for June 9 primary
The News

The nine potential Democratic presidential candidates set to speak to Rev. Al Sharptons National Action Network this week will face pointed questions about a topic thats tricky for the party  how to restore Biden-era racial equity policies that Donald Trump erased.

I want to know how they will deal with issues like DEI, which has been a major template of Trump 2.0, Sharpton told Semafor. How will they deal with hate crimes? How will they deal with the fact that were seeing, in the military, people not promoted based on gender and on race?

Sharpton, who unsuccessfully sought the partys presidential nomination in 2004, has ever since invited influential Democrats to address his group. Amid a flourishing of liberal and Democratic organizing under Trump, he said that he wanted  at least for a few days  to refocus that energy on civil rights and Black Americans.

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Held over four days, his groups conference will be the largest single gathering of potential Democratic candidates since their party lost the White House. Theyll face a host and audience that view the Biden-Harris administration favorably, and fear an irreversible rollback of civil rights policies that helped Black voters.

I helped out on the front line of the No Kings March in New York, right? Sharpton said. Im all for [a] coalition, but we need to also address the entire coalition and the concerns that we have in different parts, different silos of the coalition.

Heeding Sharptons call to defend DEI policies could prove a challenge for Democrats who have worried that theyre playing into conservatives hands by sounding woke without gaining anything for it, from white or non-white voters.

Sharpton is also concerned about last weeks arguments before the Supreme Court on the administrations bid to dismantle birthright citizenship. He warned that conservative justices might dismantle Section II of the Voting Rights Act, a move that would pave the way for the redistricting of some Black lawmakers House seats, while using a ruling against the Trump administrations birthright position as cover.

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How will they try and relitigate that? Sharpton said he would ask the presidential contenders-in-waiting who are coming to New York. Do you have a plan for that?

In his second term, Sharpton argued, Trump embodied the bigotry that he demonstrated in New York when he called for the death penalty to be used against young Black men who were later exonerated of rape charges. Dismantling affirmative action in federal contracting and laying off Black federal workers, as Sharpton saw it, necessitated a response.

And Sharpton will get a response this week from nearly every Democrat he invited. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, he said, had a scheduling conflict that proved impossible to get around. (Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. was also unable to make it.)

He said he expects Harris to talk about what would be happening differently under a Harris presidency, while the other Democrats, whod mostly impressed him with their work over the last year, would get other questions.

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I think being at a civil rights organization, they should discuss civil rights issues, he said. Trumps eager use of executive powers could also inspire some questions: Will you be willing to make executive orders to bring back balance where hes brought an imbalance?

Know More

Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg spoke to the Sharpton groups conference during their 2020 presidential campaigns, and both returned as members of the Biden administration. Days before leaving office, Harris appeared at a Sharpton-hosted breakfast and pledged to stay in the fight, while Sharpton continued to praise her.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, wholl speak on Thursday, attended last years conference, recounting his battle to find jobs for fired federal workers. The countrys only Black governor contrasted Democrats struggles with the hurdles overcome by Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass.

Weve seen this before, and still I rise, Moore said, quoting Maya Angelou.

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A few Democrats will be speaking to the group for the first time: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, California Rep. Ro Khanna, and Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego. Like Buttigieg, theyve spent some time since Harris 2024 defeat speaking to non-traditional media sources and podcasters whod supported Trump.

The Sharpton-hosted conference is more of a home game, full of Democrats whove stuck with the party and saw progress on their issues under Biden. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries will address the crowd on Thursday morning, between multiple sessions on racial economic gaps, misinformation, and the Black church.

Davids view

Why did the Democratic share of the Black vote decline in 2024, even as the party put the first female Black vice president atop the ticket? Its a puzzle thats gotten less attention in political media than the partys struggle to win over young people (a surprise in 2024) and white men (an ongoing trend).

Eight years ago, at what ended up being the zenith of the Black Lives Matter movement, Democrats talked plenty about what theyd do for Black America. Harris used her 2019 speech to Sharptons group to talk about how the places with the highest needs required new investments. Biden used his final address there, in 2024, to celebrate building the most diverse administration in history, creating jobs for Black workers, and cutting their health care bills.

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After the Biden-Harris loss, strategists from the left and center fretted that the party had grown too woke, and too close to activists, as they drifted away from working-class voters. Buttigieg went from recanting his use of the term all lives matter at the Sharpton-led conference to being ridiculed by conservatives for saying there was racism physically built in to American highways.

A strategist might look at Buttigieg and see Goldilocks trying the porridge that was too hot and then too cold, finally on his way to finding the bowl at the right temperature. But Black Democrats have suffered more economic blowback in the last year than they did in Trumps first term, and they will want to hear a Democratic response to that this week.

Notable
Even in defeat, Democrat Shawn Harris made waves in Georgias 14th Congressional District, signaling that Republicans may be losing ground in one of the states most reliably red regions. Trump-backed Republican Clay Fuller won Tuesday nights runoff  to complete former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes term  but results from Harris campaign drew attention from both parties.

Potential trouble for MAGA

Fuller led by roughly 16 percentage points with more than 90% of the vote counted, according to USA Today. While still a comfortable win for the MAGA candidate, the result marks a roughly 21-point swing from the 2024 presidential election, when Donald Trump carried the district by about 37 points, per USA Todays analysis.

Support from some Republicans for Harris campaign hints at potential challenges ahead for MAGA-aligned candidates. The retired Army general narrowed Trumps 2024 margin by roughly two-thirds in Georgias reddest district, Politico reports, despite losing  the partys strongest overperformance across all seven House special elections so far this cycle.

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Meanwhile, Democrats posted strong results in other races Tuesday, recording one of their best nights since Trump took office. In Wisconsin, Politico also notes that Chris Taylor, a liberal candidate for the state Supreme Court, won by roughly 20 points in a battleground Trump carried less than two years ago.

Congratulations to Judge Chris Taylor, Wisconsins newest Supreme Court justice!



An incredible victory  and another example of voters rejecting the chaos and damage of the Trump administration. https://t.co/i8t6H8vVP0  Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) April 8, 2026

Shawn Harris campaign underscores crossover appeal

Harris, now a cattle farmer who calls himself a dirt-road Democrat, emphasized his rural and military background to connect with working-class voters and independents. Republican veterans in his community were among the first to encourage him to run, according to PBS NewsHour.

Local voters highlighted the broader message of his campaign. Retiree Melinda Dorl told the Associated Press that supporting Harris sends a message to Trump and his cronies that people arent happy, criticizing the former presidents foreign policy and statements about the Iran war. Michael Robards, a center-right independent, told the news outlet he voted for Harris despite the districts red lean, hoping to see Trumps policies rolled back and the president impeached.

Harris posted on X after the race, writing, This wasnt the result we wanted, but the message is clear  people here are ready for leadership that puts them first. The fight continues. On to November!

Thank you, Northwest Georgia.



This wasnt the result we wanted, but the message is clear  people here are ready for leadership that puts them first.



The fight continues. On to November! #GA14 pic.twitter.com/5fOX4noJ1D  Shawn Harris for Congress (@ShawnForGeorgia) April 8, 2026

Looking ahead to November

Fuller still faces another Republican primary on May 19, with the possibility of a party runoff on June 16, while Harris still remains the Democratic nominee for the general election in November.

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Georgias 14th District might be solidly Republican, but Harris strong finish points to evolving voter sentiment, hinting that even the states reddest districts may no longer be entirely predictable.







The post Shawn Harris Lost His Bid For Marjorie Taylor Greenes Seat, But His Performance Could Still Mean Trouble For MAGA appeared first on Blavity.
Since the start of the US blockade on Monday, 15 vessels have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, nine of which have links to Iran, BBC Verify analysis of ship-tracking data suggests.

US Central Command (Centcom) has said its blockade applies to all ships entering and exiting Iranian ports.

In an update on Tuesday, Centcom said in the first 36 hours no vessels made it past the blockade and six obeyed instructions to turn around.

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Ship-tracking data suggests six of the ships which passed through the strait had previously visited an Iranian port. We have identified two more that left the vicinity of an Iranian port far to the east of the strait.

President Donald Trump has said the US blockade is in response to Iran "knowingly failing" to reopen the strait.

BBC Verify has not seen evidence from the available tracking data of any tankers carrying full loads of oil or gas heading out from the Gulf into open sea during this period, whether linked to Iran or not.

Tracking vessels relies on them transmitting their locations accurately. However, some ships may be turning their trackers off or be transmitting a false position, a practice known as "spoofing".

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Experts have told BBC Verify this is common for sanctioned tankers linked to Iran.

We've not been able to verify the US claim about the number of ships that have been turned round, but tracking data indicates that at least one vessel which passed through the strait has reversed course.

The US-sanctioned tanker Rich Starry sailed east from Sharjah in the UAE through the strait but turned round and crossed back into the Gulf on Wednesday.

In addition, two Iranian-flagged ships have been tracked leaving the vicinity of Iran's Chahbahar port, east of the Strait of Hormuz on Iran's southern coast, after the start of the blockade.

[BBC]

The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of the US-Israel war with Iran after Tehran effectively choked off one of the world's most important shipping lanes.

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An average of 138 ships passed through the strait each day before the conflict started on 28 February, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre.

Trump has warned the US Navy will "blow to hell" any Iranians that attack them and will take action against any ship found to be paying transit tolls to Iran.

The disruption to shipping since the conflict began six weeks ago has sent shock waves across the global economy, destabilising energy prices and exposing just how reliant international supply chains are on the channel that connects the Gulf with the Indian Ocean.

Jakob Larsen from the Baltic and International Maritime Council, which represents shipowners, told BBC Verify that he is concerned about the "risk of further escalation to involve direct attacks on ships" with the introduction of the US blockade.

'Nearly 800 ships stuck'

If crossings for ships not linked to Iran do resume at a greater pace, experts say stranded tankers that are fully loaded with cargo will be the priority.

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"You've had nearly 800 ships stuck in there for several weeks. Most of them are now loaded with cargo so the priority is going to be to get them out," said Richard Meade, editor-in-chief of Lloyd's List

BBC Verify's analysis shows ships that have passed the strait have taken a northerly route close to Iran's coastline and within its territorial waters.

Prior to the conflict, vessels usually took a more southerly route through the middle of the waterway.

Another uncertainty is the possibility of sea mines, says Thomas Kazakos, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping.

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"We need to make sure that we have clear confirmation that the safety of navigation for the ships and the seafarers are being agreed," he told BBC Verify.

[BBC]

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy published what it states are the permitted routes to be followed when passing through the strait "to avoid possible collision with sea mines".

It has marked a region in the middle of the channel as a "dangerous area" to be avoided.

Centcom has previously announced that two destroyers - the USS Frank E Petersen and USS Michael Murphy - are in the area as part of a mission to clear "sea mines previously laid by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps".

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Additional reporting by Kayleen Devlin and Alex Murray

15 April: This piece is being updated to reflect the latest number of vessels crossing the strait since the ceasefire.

[BBC]

What claims do you want BBC Verify to investigate?
For the sixth consecutive day, flooding is persisting in some parts of Wisconsin.

The National Weather Service issued flood warnings early Wednesday, April 8, for the Wolf, Baraboo, Yellow, Wisconsin, Kickapoo and lower Fox rivers. Minor flooding is occurring around those rivers and expected to continue, in some places, until late Thursday evening, April 9, the weather service said.

Impacted areas include Lake, Kenosha, Crawford, Columbia, Juneau, Sauk, Outagamie, Winnebago, Waupaca and Shawano counties.

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There have been flood warnings across various parts of Wisconsin every day since April 2, and more could be coming as forecasts call for storms to blow through the state Wednesday and Thursday.

The NWS urges caution when walking near riverbanks in flooded areas. Motorists should not attempt to drive around barricades or drive cars through flooded areas.

See weather radar for Wisconsin

What to do during a flood warning

If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.

Use a battery-operated radio or television to get the latest emergency information.

Do not walk through floodwater. Just six inches of floodwater can sweep you off your feet if it is moving swiftly.

Turn around, don't drown; do not drive into a flooded street. Cars can be swept away by two feet of moving water or there may be unseen damage to the road. If you come to a flooded area turn around and go another way. Most flood-related deaths are caused by people driving through water.

Watch out for fire hazards.

Move to higher ground.

Stay alert, turn weather notifications on.

Do not allow children to play in flowing water. Waters can hide rocks, trees and debris.

This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor.

See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Flood warnings in place for several Wisconsin counties, NWS says
Bitcoin soared alongside broader financial markets Tuesday, after President Trump announced a two-week conditional ceasefire with Iran.

The leading crypto extended its Tuesday gains, peaking at $72,379 Wednesday morning. Bitcoin is currently trading around $71,610, up 3.5% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko data.

The rally liquidated $425 million in short crypto positions, with long liquidations adding another $170 million, per CoinGlass data. Altcoins including Zcash, LayerZero, and Ethena posted double-digit gains on the news.

The S&P 500 index also shot up over 3.6% to $6,838, hovering below its $7,043 all-time high. Similar gains were noted in Japans Nikkei and South Koreas KOSPI indices. U.S. oil, on the other hand, dropped over 22% from over $117 per barrel to $91.

The U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal

Trump stated that, based on conversations with Pakistani leadership, he agreed to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks provided Iran agrees to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, according to a TruthSocial post Wednesday. The ceasefire allows Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting the strait, with proceeds going toward reconstruction.

The presidents critics dubbed the deal another example of TACOTrump Always Chickens Outafter he walked back his threats earlier in the week that "a whole civilization will die tonight" unless Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire opens the hatch for better global crypto adoptionespecially stablecoinsand a potential sharp market-wide rise, Maksym Sakharov, co-founder and CEO of on-chain banking infrastructure provider WeFi, told Decrypt.

The pause provides fragile breathing room after weeks of escalation, but skepticism remains high over whether it will hold beyond two weeks, Andri Fauzan Adziima, research lead at cryptocurrency exchange Bitrue, told Decrypt. He noted that while supporters view it as a pragmatic negotiation that calmed markets, detractors argue it erodes U.S. credibility and deterrence, turning maximalist rhetoric into short-term off-ramps.

The move echoes past patterns in trade and foreign policy, Adziima said, delivering immediate reliefbetter TACO Tuesday than World War IIIbut leaving core issues unresolvedespecially as the ceasefire does not cover Lebanon, where Israeli air strikes have continued.

Despite the jitters and moves hinting at a potential breakout, the meme these days is more that nothing ever happens, Justin d'Anethan, head of research at private markets advisory firm Arctic Digital, told Decrypt.
Fed up with the "concentration" of public health and unhoused services in their neighborhood, a group of neighbors is now asking the state for help.

Three months ago, ABC7 Eyewitness News showed you a map of all the city services and their exact locations.

The majority are concentrated in the South of Market and the Tenderloin neighborhoods, leading residents here to pay over $800,000 for 12 months for private security.

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"No, nothing has changed. We are putting more security guards with coverage from the city," said Alex Ludlum, Board member of the SoMa West Neighborhood Association.

MORE: San Francisco expands program to help unhoused find their way back home

Now the SoMa West Neighborhood Association, which represents more than 200 city residents, is taking their concerns to the state.

"The conditions of the people in the streets are hard to see, but it's also sad that the city keeps doing things like this and not listening to the people," said Adam Hong, Vice President of the SoMa West Neighborhood Association.

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The residents submitted a complaint to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.

The complaint accuses the city of San Francisco of a deliberate "containment strategy" that residents argue the city is violating state law

"SoMa has only 11% of the city's unhoused, but we host 28% of the city beds, and at the same time, our police station is understaff and we have less trash cans than other neighborhoods," said Shaun Aukland, Board of Directors of the SoMa West Neighborhood Association. "The law is clear; it is illegal for the west side to deny facilities, and it's equally illegal to concentrate them all here and in the Tenderloin. Our goal is true geographic equity."

Supervisor Matt Dorsey represents SoMa, and we asked him if he believes San Francisco has failed that neighborhood.

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"I do," said Supervisor Dorsey. "Most of the problems that have happened in this neighborhood have been a direct result of the decision that the city made as a policy response to COVID, drug dealing, and everything else."

Supervisor Dorsey said he supports his constituents but sees the value of adding more resources that point people to treatment.

In the coming months, the city is planning to add another resource center in SoMa, and Supervisor Dorsey supports it.

"It wouldn't make sense to have a South of Market enforcement area if we are locating it in a different neighborhood. The value proposition of the RESET center is to reduce from multiple hours to 15 minutes the amount of time police need to make consequential intervention in someone's intervention of illegal drug use," said Supervisor Dorsey.

MORE: SF changes method to count unhoused; advocate believes it's political, will lead to undercount

In a statement, the California Department of Housing & Community Development said:

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"HCD has received this complaint and it's currently under review; we cannot comment on open matters."

We took this to Senator Scott Wiener, who said he couldn't speak about the legal aspect of the complaint but added, "Having over-concentration is a problem, and we have homeless people in various parts of San Francisco, and we should move away from the containment zone model that San Francisco has traditionally employed."

These residents said they are not ruling out the possibility of turning their complaint into a lawsuit.

"We are hoping for administrative relief from the state. This is a formal process that we are allowed to go through and if we don't achieve relief through administrative relief, we are considering all options and that could include a lawsuit," said Aukland.

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When we asked some of the group member what they would like to see changed in their neighborhood, they said, "Promises delivered, the same convictions in any other neighborhood, fairness, geographical equity, cleaner streets."



If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live
A town on the South Shore of Massachusetts is turning to the public for help identifying two dogs that were recently found dead, authorities announced Wednesday.

Weymouth Animal Control Officer Darren King is trying to identify a dog found dead along the shoreline of Whitmans Pond near the gazebo on Middle Street on Sunday, and a second dog found dead along the shoreline in the Lakeshore Road neighborhood on Monday, according to the Weymouth Police Department.

Police described the first animal as a small, white Terrier-type dog. They say the dog had no identifying tags, collar, or microchip  only a Seresto flea-and-tick collar.

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There are no known signs of trauma or suspicious circumstances, police said of the first dog. We simply hope to locate the owner and provide them with closure.

Police described the second animal as a medium-sized, black and white Pitbull mix. They say the dog was wrapped in a plastic bag and had no identifying collar, tags, or microchip.

The circumstances surrounding this dogs recovery are considered suspicious, and we are actively seeking information from the public, police said.

Anyone with information on the dogs is urged to contact King at 781-660-3707 or dking@weymouth.ma.us.

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BEIJING, April 8 (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will make his fourth trip to China in as many years this month, as had been widely expected, as Madrid seeks to build on its commercial ties with the world's second-largest economy.

Sanchez will visit China from April 11 to 15, and will hold talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and China's top legislator Zhao Leji, a spokesperson at the Chinese foreign ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

The Spanish prime minister last visited China in April 2025, and before that, in September 2024 and March 2023.

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King Felipe also paid a state visit to China last November, the first by a Spanish monarch in 18 years - an indication of the closeness of bilateral ties despite broader European and U.S. mistrust of Beijing.

"China is willing to work with Spain to take Prime Minister Sanchez's visit to China as an opportunity to further deepen strategic mutual trust, intensify exchanges and cooperation, strengthen multilateral coordination, and push bilateral relations to new heights," said the spokesperson, Mao Ning.

(Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ethan Wang; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Dan Miller feeds his ballot after voting as poll worker Karen Seigel looks on at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Patricia Reidy hangs up a vote sign shortly before the polls open at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. A vote here sign is up at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. I voted stickers are ready to be handed out at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Dan Miller casts his ballot at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Poll worker Kisha Hairston checks a voters identification at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. I always arrive early, said Terence Byrd, 37 of Milwaukee, shortly before the polls opened at 7 a.m. as he holds door for others at Craig Montessori School on West Congress Street in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Children enter school at Craig Montessori School on West Congress Street in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Voters head to polls for Wisconsins April 7 spring election 1 of 8 Dan Miller feeds his ballot after voting as poll worker Karen Seigel looks on at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state.

Steve Ponto held on to his seat in the City of Brookfield April 7 when voters elected the incumbent to his fifth term as mayor. Ponto beat Mike Hallquist, a current alderman who had hoped to bring a new generation of leadership to the top elected office in the Waukesha County city of over 41,000 residents.

Ponto won with 56.2% of the votes to Hallquist's 43.8%.

Voters also chose four aldermen in districts 1, 3, 4 and 6.

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Mayor since 2010, Ponto will continue to have major decisions to make on tightening the city's projected $4 million budget gap after a majority of voters rejected a $6 million property tax levy referendum in April 2025. Ponto previously said he'd want to preserve police, fire and other protective services, but he wouldn't specify what cuts he'd support.

"It really will depend on the time that we have to make those cuts, if in fact we do," Ponto said.

Hallquist will continue to hold his seat as an alderman. His term ends in April 2028.

Brookfield mayoral race marked by big D.C. spending and unsolicited 'harassment' messaging from incumbent's daughter

The nonpartisan mayoral race garnered national attention when a D.C.-based group poured over $111,000 into media, ads, and phone messaging in support of Hallquist, who is endorsed by Democrats. Hallquist said he doesn't support outside spending in local races but couldn't control the independent group's influence because of financing laws. Ponto, who is endorsed by Republicans, criticized the group's spending in Brookfield.

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Ponto's own 2026 campaign left some residents with a bad taste due to Ponto's daughter's controversial and persistent communications to Hallquist and his supporters, which Hallquist called harassment. Despite previously labeling herself as her father's campaign manager, Stephanie Ponto said her words were her own, not her dad's.

Which aldermen won election in Brookfield on April 7, 2026?

All seven districts had one aldermanic seat up for election, while the other half of the 14-person council hold terms that expire April 2028.

Here's who won for the 2026 election in the four contested district races:

District 1: Peter Stoll defeated Steve Dasher

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District 3: Incumbent Jason G. Anderson defeated Morgan Austgen

District 4: Incumbent Chuck Bloom defeated Jake Gregory

District 6: Catherine Kahler defeated Jeffrey Mellone

Bridget Fogarty covers Brookfield, Wauwatosa and Elm Grove for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be contacted at bfogarty@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 2026 election: Steve Ponto wins race for Brookfield mayor




A rare cluster of three tropical cyclones will straddle both sides of the equator in the western Pacific this week, generating what one scientist called potentially the strongest westerly wind burst over the equatorial Pacific in the recent century. The burst is pushing warm water eastward at a critical moment, accelerating what Paul Roundy, an atmospheric scientist at the University at Albany, said has "real potential for the strongest El Nino event in 140 years."

The just-released April seasonal forecast from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts shows virtually all of its models expect the world to reach El Nino conditions by mid-June. Roughly half project sea surface temperature anomalies exceeding 2.5 degrees Celsius above average by October.

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A strong El Nino would likely significantly reshape global weather patterns, potentially pushing global temperatures to record levels in 2027.

The tropical cyclones are just the latest evidence of an emerging, potentially record El Nino. Their combined circulation is fueling the westerly wind burst now pushing warm water eastward across the Pacific. That burst "is located west of the warmest water presently in the Pacific Ocean, so it is ideally placed to drive that warm water eastward to form a strong El Nino event," Roundy said. He estimated the setup could cause El Nino to arrive quickly, within one to two months.

Real potential for the strongest El Nino event in 140 years. https://t.co/aT9IdIg4Fn - Paul Roundy (@PaulRoundy1) April 5, 2026

This is the latest in a series of powerful westerly wind bursts that have swept the equatorial Pacific since January, bringing an end to a La Nina pattern and spreading unusually warm water across the Pacific, both at the surface and deep below it. Each successive burst has pushed that warm water further east, and this one, fueled by the rare triple cyclone pattern, may be the strongest yet.

"What's different this year is the level of agreement across multiple models, not just one," said Muhammad Azhar Ehsan, a climate scientist at Columbia University's International Research Institute for Climate and Society. Forecasters from Australia and NASA, in addition to Europe, "are all signaling a strong El Nino," he noted. The next official forecast from his research institute, due April 19, is expected to trend stronger than last month's outlook, Ehsan said.

Australia's Bureau of Meteorology seasonal forecast, run April 4, shows El Nino conditions reaching 100 percent probability by June and intensifying through at least September, with anomalies hitting super El Nino territory by August. (BOM)





The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is scheduled to release its updated projections on El Nino on Thursday.

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While El Nino is often thought to bring more rain to California, residents have reason to take the news with a dose of uncertainty. In 2015, forecasters warned that a "Godzilla El Nino" would emerge, fueling hopes it would end a devastating multi-year drought that had left reservoirs depleted and communities on water rationing. The strong El Nino arrived, but drought-breaking rains did not. The Bay Area finished the winter with roughly average precipitation, while Southern California actually came in below normal at just 72 percent. It was a reminder that not all El Nino events play out as expected.

A 1997 parallel

Roundy said the developing event is following an evolution "actually similar to 1997," when warming originated in the eastern tropical Pacific near the South American coast. That's the pattern associated with the strong El Nino events that translated to above normal precipitation in California. In the El Nino years of 1982-83, storms destroyed 33 oceanfront homes, damaged thousands more and caused hundreds of millions in damage across 46 disaster-declared counties. The 1997-98 El Nino winter brought double the normal rainfall to much of the state, causing 17 storm-related deaths and roughly $850 million in damage.

The 2015-16 event, by contrast, developed first in the central Pacific, a pattern that, as Roundy explained, "supported heavy rainfall off the coast of California instead of in California."

Daniel Cayan, a climate researcher at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography who has studied California's hydroclimate for decades, said he sees reason for cautious optimism in regards to water resources in California and the Western U.S. over the next year.

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"I'm bullish on a strong El Nino," Cayan said. "It looks promising as far as a pretty strong event that would likely persist into and probably through the winter of 26-27."

If the eastern tropical Pacific stays warm into winter, Cayan said, California would likely see a storm track pattern that typically steers Pacific storms directly into the state.

"Hopefully that means the southwest, which has been extremely dry, will enjoy some renewed moisture, Cayan said. However, he added, It's still early.'

Cayan tempered his outlook with caution. "This is all couched in caution from being bruised and battered from previous (experiences)," he said.

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Roundy struck a similar note. While the event is beginning more like 1997 than 2015, he said, "I can't rule out the chance that (sea surface temperature) patterns during the California wet season end up looking like 2015."

One signal to watch is temperatures this summer and fall. Cayan noted that during previous strong east Pacific El Nino events, temperatures across the West actually ran cooler than average from summer into winter. If that pattern begins to emerge this summer, it could be a sign that the event may be tracking the 1997 playbook.

But Cayan cautioned that every event has its own characteristics, and that today's much warmer ocean baseline means historical patterns may not repeat cleanly.

By midsummer, the picture should be substantially clearer. For now, the ingredients for a historic event are in place.

This article originally published at Strongest El Nino in 140 years? This one could actually deliver for California.
By Andrew Silver and Nicoco Chan

NANJING, China, April 8 (Reuters) - Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun pledged on Wednesday to channel the spirit of her party's founder Sun Yat-sen and seek reconciliation with China, offering praise at his tomb for the country's achievements following the communist revolution.

Cheng, chairwoman of the Kuomintang (KMT), Taiwan's largest opposition party, is in China at a time of increased Chinese military pressure on Taiwan, which Beijing views as its own territory, and as the opposition-dominated parliament stalls a government plan for $40 billion in extra defence spending.

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In a moment filled with symbolism on her first full day in the country, Cheng laid a wreath at Sun's mausoleum in the eastern city of Nanjing, also the capital of the KMT-led Republic of China government before it fled to Taiwan in 1949 having lost a civil war with Mao Zedong's communists.

"The core values of Sun Yat-sen's ideal that 'all under heaven are equal' have always been equality, inclusiveness, and unity," Cheng said, in footage carried live on Taiwanese television channels.

"We should work together to promote reconciliation and unity across the (Taiwan) Strait and create regional prosperity and peace."

FOUNDER OF REPUBLIC OF CHINA

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Sun, who overthrew the last imperial dynasty and founded the Republic of China in 1912, died of cancer in 1925.

He is still officially venerated in Taiwan as the founder of the Republic of China, but also in China by the Communist Party as a Chinese national hero. Mao declared him the "great revolutionary forerunner".

Cheng said the KMT had eventually honoured Sun's founding principles and made Taiwan into a free and democratic society, though she also mentioned the "white terror" of the 38 years of martial law the island lived under until 1987.

"Likewise, on the mainland, we have also seen and witnessed progress and development that exceeded everyone's expectations and imagination," she added.

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While Taiwan is a multi-party democracy, China's communist party brooks no dissent to its rule.

Security was tight for her visit.

"I think this is very important for peaceful exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait," said student Yang Zihang, 19, who came with his classmate to see Cheng's motorcade.

China refuses to speak to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist". Lai says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

Neither government formally recognises the other.

Cheng says she is on a mission of peace, and that while she supports defence spending, it has to be balanced with dialogue.

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TAIWAN OFFICIALS WARY

Wu Cheng, a spokesperson for Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, said if the KMT really wanted stability across the strait it should stop blocking defence spending in parliament.

"Peace has never come from the charity of dictators; it must be safeguarded by Taiwan's own strength," he said in a statement.

Lai's government has said Cheng should also tell Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping should she meet him, to stop China's regular military harassment of the island and respect the Taiwanese people's right to choose their own future.

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Speaking to reporters at parliament in Taipei earlier on Wednesday, Taiwan National Security Bureau Director-General Tsai Ming-yen said he couldn't comment on what political parties do, but added China uses a carrot-and-stick approach.

China uses military intimidation and harassment to create an atmosphere of rising military danger and instability across the Taiwan Strait, he said.

"This is intended to make Taiwan's society and public feel the psychological pressure and anxiety of a possible conflict," Tsai added.

"It aims to divide Taiwanese society internally, boosting the visibility of pro-China positions. It can also further obstruct efforts to push forward U.S. arms procurement deals."

(Reporting by Andrew Silver and Nicoco Chan; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Lincoln Feast)
Taiwan's opposition leader, a proponent of closer ties with Beijing, said on Wednesday she hoped to sow the "seeds of peace" during a rare visit to China.

Kuomintang (KMT) chairwoman Cheng Li-wun is the party's first leader to visit China in a decade but her trip -- during which she hopes to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping -- has sparked debate in Taiwan.

Critics, including those within her own party which traditionally supports relations with China, have accused her of being too pro-Beijing.

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China claims self-ruled Taiwan is part of its territory and has threatened to use force to seize it.

"I hope that today we plant the seeds of peace not only for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait, but for all humankind," Cheng said on Wednesday, in comments broadcast by Taiwanese media.

She spoke during a symbolic visit to the eastern city of Nanjing, where she visited the mausoleum of revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen, one of the few Chinese historical figures revered in both Beijing and Taipei.

Beefed-up security at the mausoleum prevented foreigners from entering, AFP journalists saw.

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China severed high-level contact with Taiwan in 2016 after Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party won the presidency and rejected Beijing's claims to the island.

Cross-strait relations have worsened since then, with China ramping up military pressure with near daily deployments of fighter jets and warships near Taiwan and regular large-scale military drills.

However, Cheng said in a speech after her arrival on Tuesday evening that "the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are not doomed to war, as the international community has feared".

"Taiwan should not be reduced to a geopolitical pawn," she said in a Facebook post, in an apparent reference to tensions between China and the United States, Taiwan's main arms supplier.

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Her visit, she added, would mark a "historic journey of peace".

In a park surrounding the mausoleum, 74-year-old Nanjing resident surnamed Fen told AFP on Wednesday that he had come to the area after hearing of Cheng's visit.

"I hope she will contribute to the reunification of the motherland," he said.

ehl-aw-tjx/mtp
I went to a Catholic school for eight years , so I had no choice when it came to learning about the Bible. I remember being confused by scripture on many occasions. As a child, I could not comprehend how Noah got all those animals onto a small boat.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

It was around the same time I began to wonder how Santa could carry presents for all the children in the world on his small sleigh. Nevertheless, I came to respect the Bible and what it stood for.

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Some might say it was eight years of brainwashing, but I prefer to think of it as my parents doing what they thought was best by providing a Catholic education for their kids.

Now, Bibles in the classroom might not be limited to those classes at St. Teresa Elementary School in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.

Related: The Consequences of a Priest's Abuse

In Texas, lawmakers and education officials are moving toward a decision that could make the state the first in the nation to mandate Bible readings in public school classrooms. Its being framed as an exercise in literary and historical literacy.

But this is conservative Christians were talking about, and when it comes to the Bible, we know what their intent is. Students could encounter passages from Job, Ecclesiastes, and Noah, as I did, along with familiar parables, and end up not only confused but indoctrinated.

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Many might say that a Bible education wouldnt be so bad. After all, some outside conservative Christians see Bible study as part of understanding a cultural touchstone.

But lets be real. This effort by Texas Christian fundamentalists isnt about literature. Its about power, and using it to bully, exclude, and harm vulnerable kids.

Related: Baptist pastor says gay preachers 'should get a bullet in their brain'

The children who will feel it most acutely are the ones already carrying the heaviest burdens, especially LGBTQ+ kids who are at this very moment being targeted. Putting Bibles in the classroom will compound this problem.

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Public schools are supposed to be among the last truly secular spaces in American life. They are places where children from different religions, backgrounds, identities, and families meet on equal ground.

If you think about it, the system is supposed to be based on neutrality, in which the state does not tell any child that their identity is inherently right or wrong. Those of us in the LGBTQ+ community who went to public school, scared of being outed, know that hasnt always been true. In fact, quite the opposite. There are still some schools in this country that would like nothing better than to tar and feather queer kids.

And matters will become much more ominous by mandating Bible readings that shatter that neutrality. And for LGBTQ+ students, the consequences arent hypothetical. Theyre deeply, deeply personal.

We know from years of research that LGBTQ+ youth experience higher levels of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation than their peers. One driver is called minority stress, the strain of existing in environments that reject who you are.

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I went through high school petrified of being found out, and millions have shared that experience. And to this day, there are millions of kids who know they will be rejected if their truth comes out.

Related: Anti-LGBTQ Bullying Starts in Elementary School

Now imagine being one of those gay or transgender kids in a Texas classroom where passages from a religious text, ones often used to condemn your existence, are required. Leviticus 18:22 states: "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." This Old Testament verse is traditionally interpreted as a direct prohibition of same-sex sexual activity, labeling it an "abomination" or "detestable" act.

You can bet your last dollar that Texas evangelicals will prioritize that verse, and others, to scare the hell out of gay kids, presumably, they think that will scare the kids straight.

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Further, it doesnt matter if a teacher frames those passages as literature or metaphor. What matters is the message: that the Bible is an authority on how to live - and love.

If youve already heard those same passages used to justify exclusion or rejection, the classroom becomes another site of harm. And students who arent dealing with minority stress may feel they have the license to bully because its in the Bible.

Supporters say the Bible is foundational to understanding Western literature and American history. That argument is unadulterated B.S. since many of the same voices support policies that target transgender kids or threaten to out students to their parents.

And heres where the literature argument falls apart. There are countless other texts, traditions, and perspectives. Yet they are not mandating the Torah, the Quran, or the Bhagavad Gita. Theyre not insisting on Indigenous spiritual narratives, which are a crucial part of American history.

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So why this one book? The answer is obvious.

Because this isnt about education at all. Its about privileging one worldview over others, and, in doing so, signaling which identities and beliefs belong and which do not. When a state requires a religious text, it grants students and teachers a kind of moral permission structure under the guise of righteousness.

And if these demonic Christians can succeed in Texas? It will be a blueprint for other states to follow.

Imagine biblical passages embedded in English Language Arts curricula, on standardized tests, or used to justify bringing evangelical pastors into school assemblies. Getting the Bible into classrooms is only the first step. These so-called Christians dont know how to repress the spreading of their abhorrent selfishness.

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Yes, parents may have the right to opt their children out of certain lessons, but what happens when opting out means their children get an F in Bible courses?

For LGBTQ+ students, who may already feel isolated or unsupported at home, school is often a lifeline, a place where they can exist with at least some neutrality. Transforming that space into one shaped by religious doctrine risks eroding that fragile sense of safety.

Consider, too, the broader movement to ban books in schools. Efforts to inject Bible-based curriculum will likely coincide with, and bolster, current attempts to strip away inclusive materials, books that reflect LGBTQ+ lives and the full American story.

For Texas Bible-thumpers, the American story is white, straight, and evangelical, with no room for stories about slavery, Stonewall, or the equal rights fight for women.

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The bottom-line issue is the state deciding that one religious text, at the expense of so much other history, deserves a place in every childs education, whether that child or their family believes in it or not.

In a country where the separation of church and state is eroding, teaching the Bible in a public school should scare the bejesus out of all of us.

Opinion is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Advocate.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. We welcome your thoughts and feedback on any of our stories. Email us at voices@equalpride.com. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of The Advocate or our parent company, equalpride.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Texas wants Bibles in public classrooms as another way to bully, harm, and exclude LGBTQ+ kids

RELATED
Lubbock business owner Tim Green announces his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 4 Special Election to be hosted in late June on April 8, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock business owner Tim Green announces his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 4 Special Election to be hosted in late June on April 8, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock business owner Tim Green announces his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 4 Special Election to be hosted in late June on April 8, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock business owner Tim Green announces his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 4 Special Election to be hosted in late June on April 8, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock business owner Tim Green announces his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 4 Special Election to be hosted in late June on April 8, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock business owner Tim Green announces his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 4 Special Election to be hosted in late June on April 8, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas. See Tim Green launch campaign for Lubbock City Council District 4 seat 1 of 6 Lubbock business owner Tim Green announces his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 4 Special Election to be hosted in late June on April 8, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas.

In front of his family and members of the Lubbock community, a local homebuilder and former fireman officially launched his campaign for Lubbock's City Council District 4 Special Election.

On Wednesday, April 8, Tim Green announced his candidacy to be the next councilman for District 4 in a special election coming in June.

"I think Lubbock needs business-minded, forward-thinking people that can bring energy to the council," Green said. "Lubbock is a vibrant, growing town, big city now, and we need that vision, and we need someone that can implement those visions."

Lubbock business owner Tim Green announces his candidacy for Lubbock City Council District 4 Special Election to be hosted in late June on April 8, 2026 in Lubbock, Texas.

During his announcement, Green laid out his priorities:

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Strengthen public safety.

Manage growth and responsibly.

Improve roads and infrastructure.

Protect taxpayers and property vaules.

District 4 covers central and south central Lubbock with a mix of newer neighborhoods and more established neighborhoods  something Green said he wants to protect.

"They have a lot of different concerns than new-growth areas," Green said. "If we have more forward-thinking growth, then we can implement infrastructure in a really smart way and not affect some of the older neighborhoods. I don't want those to get left behind."

Why is Lubbock hosting a special election for District 4?

Current District 4 Councilman Brayden Rose announced in early March that he had turned in his letter of resignation to the council and mayor, citing family reasons as to why he was resigning.

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Rose's resignation leaves around two years left in his term that needs to be filled through a special election. Therefore, the City of Lubbock ordered a special election to be held in June to fill Rose's vacancy on the city council.

When is early voting, Election Day for the special-called election?

Early voting will happen from Monday, June 15, through Tuesday, June 23, 2026.

Election Day will be Saturday, June 27, 2026.

Mateo Rosiles is a reporter for the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and USA TODAY Network in Texas. Got a news tip for him? Email him: mrosiles@usatodayco.com.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Tim Green launches campaign Lubbock's District 4 Special Election
The Washington County Schools board voted unanimously to censure board member Keith Ervin in an April 8 emergency meeting. Ervin came under fire for saying "God, you're hot" to a female student during a board meeting six days prior.

While the censure serves as a formal, public reprimand, it does not remove Ervin, who has been on the board since 2006, from office. Despite growing calls for his resignation and his censure, Ervin has not stepped down. Ervin, a Republican, is up for reelection this year and is expected to advance in the May 5 primary. The general election will take place in August, where Ervin will face Democratic challenger Mary Grace "MG" Wooten.

A video of the earlier board meeting posted to the district's YouTube channel captured the exchange between Ervin and the student. The Tennessean is not naming the student due to the sensitive nature of the situation.

Washington County Schools board member Keith Ervin, left, and Superintendent Jerry Boyd, right, look on during a school board meeting on April 2, 2026, in Jonesborough, Tenn.

In the video, Ervin appeared to briefly look at the student then reach out to rest his hand on her shoulder before saying: "God, you're hot. Did you know that?" Ervin then appeared to pull the student toward him for a side hug while laughter was heard throughout the room. Ervin then asked the student where she attended school. District Superintendent Jerry Boyd, who was sitting on the other side of the student, also appeared to laugh. The meeting proceed as usual after the interaction.

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In a statement to The Tennessean on April 7, Board Chair Annette Buchanan called Ervin's comments "grossly inappropriate."

"Mr. Ervin has explained that he meant nothing offensive and that we have simply misunderstood his intentions," part of Buchanan's statement read. "Mr. Ervin knows his own intentions, but the rest of us have to judge his words and his actions. What we saw was shocking. He objectified and diminished a young woman publicly. No explanation can justify that."

A petition to remove Ervin and fire Boyd had gathered more than 4,300 signatures as of April 8.

More: TN school board member under fire after calling female student 'hot'

Commenters rail against Ervin as calls for resignation continue

A dozen public commenters spoke to a packed room, along with Boyd and the nine-member board during the emergency meeting. One defended Ervin, while several others called for Ervin to resign and sharply criticized the board for its inaction.

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"She's a child. Someone needed to stand up for her," one commenter said. "Every one of you needed to let her know that this was inappropriate."

Community member Jake Johnson urged Ervin to resign and seek help.

The Washington County Schools board gathers for an emergency meeting on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Jonesborough, Tenn.

"When it comes to children, sir, its not a second chance," Johnson said. "Weve got to protect the kids here. Thats what it comes down to."

Ervin read a statement during the meeting, saying he is not good with words and that his comments have been taken out of context. He said leading up to that moment, the student had been presenting to the board and answering questions in a way he found impressive.

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"When I mentioned she was hot, I meant she was on a roll," Ervin said. "It had nothing to do with her appearance."

Ervin said he has since apologized to the student and her family.

School board members Whitney Riddle and Eric Barnes read statements urging Ervin to resign. Board member Chad Fleenor said Ervin should be given another chance.

Keith has already been found guilty in social media court, but I choose grace," Fleenor said.

Two other board members said the decision to resign should be up to Ervin, with one saying he was human and another saying Ervin did not mean any ill intent.

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As the meeting adjourned, members of the audience could be heard shouting "Keep your hands off girls!" and "Seek help, Mr. Ervin, seek help."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN school board member censured after calling student 'hot'
In January 2024, as crypto prices were soaring, Zaheer Ebtikar unveiled a new digital assets hedge fund called Split Capital. Two years later, hes winding that firm down as he pivots to one of the buzziest sectors in crypto: stablecoins, or cryptocurrencies pegged to real-world assets like the U.S. dollar. On Tuesday, the former hedge fund manager announced that he was joining the stablecoin startup Plasma as chief strategy officer.

More from Yahoo Scout What is Plasma's strategy in the stablecoin market? What challenges are facing crypto hedge funds today? Why is Zaheer Ebtikar shutting down Split Capital? How are stablecoins disrupting traditional financial services?

Ebtikars decision to wind down Split Capital wasnt due to any lack of success. The founder said that his returns in 2024 and 2025 were around 100% and 20%, respectively. Rather, he believes that crypto hedge funds are no longer a workable business.

The entire hedge fund industry in crypto is kind of down and out, he exclusively told Fortune.

In late 2025, Split Capital gave investors back their capital. The funds former backers included the venture fund Novi Loren and the digital asset company UTXO Management. While Ebtikar declined to specify how much money his firm managed, he did say its assets under management numbered in the eight figures. The fund will continue to operate as a smaller operation, with only its own capital.

Fund fallout

The winding down of Split Capital comes as the crypto investing landscape appears rocky. The longtime crypto venture fund Paradigm is expanding its focus to include AI and robotics. And veteran investor Kyle Samani announced in February that he was leaving his firm Multicoin to invest in sectors beyond crypto. Crypto venture is undergoing a mass extinction event, Rob Hadick, a general partner at the digital assets investor Dragonfly, recently said.

The shakeout isnt just because prices for cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum are down almost 50% since their all-time highs in 2025. Ebtikar believes the death of crypto hedge funds is partly a result of the success of digital asset exchange-traded funds.

When financial giants refused to touch cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in the 2010s, hedge and venture funds took on the risk of directly holding large tokens. Thats what prompted the rise of stalwart crypto investors such as Pantera Capital. Now, institutional investors can gain exposure to digital assets through funds issued by the likes of BlackRock or Fidelity.

Meanwhile, stablecoins have broken into mainstream Silicon Valley. Proponents say they can speed up transfers and reduce transaction fees. Ebtikar felt they had potential, and, after he met Paul Faecks, the CEO of Plasma, he decided to become an early backer of Faecks and his stablecoin startup.
Orla Wates was travelling in Vietnam for a gap year, according to her family [Wates family]

A "beautiful, independent and very funny" British teenager has died in a road accident in Vietnam.

Local media reported 19-year-old Orla Wates, from London, was travelling the Ha Giang Loop in northern Vietnam when she fell from the back of a motorcycle. She was in South East Asia on a gap year before starting a degree at Durham University.

Viet Nam News said she was taken to Hanoi's Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, and she died on 2 April, with her parents at her bedside.

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Her parents said: "Orla had a sharp wit and lived life to the full."

Orla had three siblings and was the daughter of Andrew Wates, the director of the multi-billion pound family-owned construction firm the Wates Group.

Her mother Henrietta Wates said the family had chosen to donate her organs to the hospital to help others: "We believe that if there were a way to give opportunity to others, this is what Orla would have wanted.

"Knowing that she is living on through them brings us great comfort."

Viet Nam News reported that organ donations had been made to "five critically ill Vietnamese patients" at the hospital.

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A hospital representative said: "In the face of profound grief, her family made a deeply compassionate decision that transcended nationality and race - to donate her organs, giving others a chance at life...

"One journey has come to an end, but her life continues quietly and resiliently in others who have been given a second chance."

Andrew Wates, told the hospital his daughter had loved Vietnam and so to give back to the South East Asian nation was "very important" to his family.

A mountain road in Ha Giang province (file image) [Getty Images]

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Orla Wates, following her tragic death in Vietnam."

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The FCDO confirmed that it was in touch with local authorities and offering support to Orla's family at "this hugely difficult time".

The Ha Giang Loop is the name given to a road trip approximately 350km (217 miles) long, through the mountains of north Vietnam.

Many tour operators suggest riding on the back of a motorcycle with a local guide at the helm, particularly for inexperienced riders.

Vietnam is notorious for dangerous roads, with more than 10,000 people killed and 16,000 injured in traffic accidents in 2024.

[BBC]

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By Parisa Hafezi, Alexander Cornwell, Maya Gebeily and Humeyra Pamuk

DUBAI/TEL AVIV/BEIRUT/BUDAPEST, April 8 (Reuters) - Israel pounded Lebanon with its heaviest strikes yet on Wednesday, killing hundreds of people and drawing a threat of retaliation from Iran, which suggested it would be "unreasonable" to proceed with talks to forge a permanent peace deal with the United States.

The warning from Iran's lead negotiator, parliament speaker Mohammed Bager Qalibaf, laid bare the continued volatility in the region following Tuesday's ceasefire announcement by President Donald Trump. The two sides have laid out sharply contrasting agendas for peace talks set to start on Saturday, but it was unclear whether the two-week ceasefire would hold until then.

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Qalibaf said Israel had already violated several conditions of that ceasefire by ramping up its parallel war against the Iran-aligned militia Hezbollah, while the U.S had violated the agreement by insisting that Iran abandon its nuclear ambitions.

"In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations were unreasonable," he said in a statement.

Israel and the United States both said the two-week ceasefire did not cover Lebanon, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the strikes would continue.

"I think the Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didn't," U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who will lead the U.S. delegation, told reporters in Budapest.

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The two sides appeared to be far apart on Iran's nuclear program as well - one of the factors that Trump cited as the basis for war.

Trump said Iran had agreed to stop enriching uranium, which can be turned into nuclear weapons, and the White House said Iran has indicated it would turn over its existing stocks.

"The United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried ... Nuclear 'Dust,'" Trump said on social media.

Qalibaf, however, said it was allowed to continue enriching uranium under the terms of the ceasefire.

Though both the United States and Iran declared victory in a five-week-old war that has killed thousands, their core disputes remained unresolved. Each side is sticking to competing demands for a deal that could shape the Middle East for generations.

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Despite the uncertainty, world stock indexes surged [MKTS/GLOB] [.N] while oil prices plunged 14% to settle near $95 per barrel [O/R], after falling as low as $90.40.

Benchmark Brent crude remains roughly $25 higher than before the joint U.S.-Israel attacks began. Tehran's newly demonstrated ability to cut off Gulf energy supplies through its grip on the strait, despite decades of massive U.S. military investment in the region, shows how the conflict has already altered power dynamics in the Gulf.

'FINGER ON THE TRIGGER'

Netanyahu said Israel had its finger on the trigger and was prepared to return to fighting at any moment.

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Lebanon's civil defense service said 254 people had been killed in Israel's strikes across Lebanon on Wednesday. The highest toll was in the capital Beirut, where Israeli strikes killed 91 people, it said. Residents said some of the Israeli strikes had come without the usual warnings for civilians to evacuate.

Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, said early Thursday that it fired rockets at northern Israel in response to "ceasefire violations."

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned "in the strongest possible terms" what he called indiscriminate Israeli attacks on Lebanon, saying in a statement on X that Lebanon "must be fully covered" by the ceasefire.

Leaders of 13 European countries, Japan and Canada also issued a joint statement welcoming the ceasefire and calling for a swift end to hostilities in order to "avert a severe global energy crisis."

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Iran also struck oil facilities in nearby Gulf countries, including a pipeline in Saudi Arabia that has been used to bypass the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, according to an oil industry source. Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE also reported missile and drone strikes.

The Strait of Hormuz remained shut to vessels sailing without a permit and shippers said they needed more clarity before resuming transit.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy posted a map showing alternative shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz to help ships avoid naval mines, the semi-official Iranian news agency ISNA said.

In a flurry of online posts, Trump announced new tariffs of 50% on all goods from any country that supplies arms to Iran, though he lacks the authority to do so.

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IRAN'S RULING ESTABLISHMENT SURVIVES

Crowds took to the streets of Iran overnight to celebrate, waving Iranian flags and burning those of the United States and Israel. But there was also wariness that a deal would not hold.

"Israel will not allow diplomacy to work and Trump might change his view tomorrow. But at least we can sleep tonight without strikes," Alireza, 29, a government employee in Tehran, told Reuters by phone.

The war was launched on February 28 by Trump and Netanyahu, who said they aimed to prevent Iran from projecting force beyond its borders, end its nuclear program, and create conditions for Iranians to topple their rulers. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said Washington had won a decisive military victory.

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But so far Iran retains both its stockpile of near-weapons-grade highly enriched uranium and its ability to hit its neighbors with missiles and drones. The clerical leadership, which faced mass protests months ago, has withstood the superpower onslaught with no sign of internal collapse.

(Reporting by Reuters bureaus worldwide; Writing by Andy Sullivan, David Dolan, Peter Graff and Keith Weir; Editing by Kevin Liffey, Keith Weir, Ros Russell, David Gaffen and Deepa Babington)
Republican Clay Fuller is projected to have won Georgia's runoff election to replace former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a once-staunch ally of Donald Trump who resigned earlier this year after breaking with the president.

Fuller won the election to replace her on Tuesday, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner. He is a Trump-endorsed candidate who won against Democrat Shawn Harris, and whose victory keeps the strongly conservative district in Republican hands.

The win shores up the party's razor-thin 217-214 majority in the House of Representatives.

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Fuller, a lieutenant colonel in the Georgia Air National Guard, will serve out the rest of Greene's term, which ends next January.

He said in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday night that Trump's endorsement was "the key factor in us winning".

"He was the difference-maker," Fuller said. "He made all the difference in the world. It was the honour of my lifetime to be able to get his endorsement."

A special election was held on 10 March where Harris performed marginally better than Fuller, in part because a crowded Republican field split the vote. No single candidate won a majority that night, requiring Tuesday's run off election.

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In order to hold the seat in Congress beyond next January, Fuller will have to immediately start campaiging again, this time for the midterm elections this November. It's possible he will face off with Harris again.

Harris indicated on social media that he plans to run.

"This wasn't the result we wanted, but the message is clear  people here are ready for leadership that puts them first," he said. "The fight continues. On to November!"

Fuller, who was a White House fellow during Trump's first term, is closely aligned with the president's agenda, particularly on curbing illegal immigration and enacting mass deportations.

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He rose to the top of a crowded Republican primary field in large part due to Trump's endorsement. Washington closely followed the race from afar for indications of Trump's sway with his base ahead of the midterm elections.

"In general, part of President Trump's strategy in endorsing Fuller was this recognition that the most red meat, MAGA-affiliated candidate in this particular instance, might be off-putting to voters in the middle," said Andra Gillespie, a professor of political science at Emory University. "This was an attempt to not lose those voters."

Republican Clay Fuller was endorsed by US President Donald Trump [Reuters]

The president doubled down on his support for Fuller on Monday night, writing on social media ahead of election day: "I am asking all Republicans, America First Patriots, and MAGA Warriors, to please GET OUT AND VOTE for a fantastic Candidate, Clay Fuller, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement!"

Harris had bet on the unpredictable dynamics of the run-off  which occurs outside a typical election cycle when voter turnout may be low  hoping it would allow him to bring out enough Democratic and Independent voters to pull off a surprise victory.

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The Democratic Party had eyed the seat as a potential-pick up, and former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg held a town hall with Harris in March.

"Everybody who voted for any other candidate [...] I want to talk to every last one of them, and say: 'Give me a chance,'" Harris told the BBC after he advanced in the run-off.

But several things had to go right for Harris  and wrong for Fuller  for the Democrat to win this race, said Andra Gillespie, a professor of political science at Emory University.

Democrat Shawn Harris, left, and Republican Clay Fuller, right, are competing to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene in Congress. [Reuters]

Georgia's 14th congressional district encompasses the northwest part of the state, from the northwest Atlanta suburbs all the way up to the Tennessee border. The mostly-rural district is dominated by Republicans, but has pockets of Democratic voters in the areas closer to Atlanta and around the city of Rome.

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Trump had repeatedly chimed in on the race, with hopes to keep it in Republican hands. The party has a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, meaning even just a few Republican defections could derail a vote.

More on this story
RINGGOLD, GA  Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller just gave House Speaker Mike Johnson a little bit of breathing room as the GOP clings to a razor-thin majority in Congress.

Fuller, who was backed by President Donald Trump, on Tuesday defeated Democrat Shawn Harris in a special election to fill the empty U.S. House seat in Georgia's solidly red 14th Congressional District, the Associated Press reported.

"He was the difference maker," Fuller told Fox News Digital following his victory, as he pointed to Trump. "He was the key factor in us winning. Our results prove that President Trump means a ton to Georgia-14."

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The seat was left vacant when MAGA firebrand Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stepped down at the beginning of January. Greene quit Congress with a year left in her term, after a bitter falling out with Trump.

The special election came as Republicans cling to a razor-thin 218214 majority in the House. The GOP was under the gun to make sure the Democrats didn't pull off an upset in the special election, in a district in northwest Georgia that Trump carried by a whopping 37 points in his 2024 presidential victory.

Primary Pause, Political Firestorm: High-stakes Elections This Month Take Center Stage

Read On The Fox News App

Republican congressional candidate Clay Fuller, left, speaks next to President Donald Trump, during a visit to the Coosa Steel Corporation in Rome, Georgia, Feb. 19, 2026.

"It's extremely crucial, and we need the reinforcements," Fuller told Fox News Digital on the eve of the runoff election.

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Fuller, a local district attorney and a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard who's served in the Air Force since 2009, added, "I think the voters in Georgia 14 understand that, and they're looking forward to sending a MAGA America first fighter up on Capitol Hill to support that agenda."

Trump Hits Campaign Trail In Key Battleground As Race To Replace Marjorie Taylor Greene Heats Up

Asked if he was concerned that MAGA supporters would sit out what was expected to be a low-turnout election since the president is not on the ballot, Fuller said Trump voters "would crawl through glass to make sure they have a representative up there that fights for them and fights for President Trump."

Harris, a cattle farmer who spent four decades in the military and retired as an Army brigadier general, needed the support of crossover Republicans in order to pull off an upset.

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"I am a Democrat, but I'm not tied to the party," Harris highlighted as he spoke with Fox News Digital on Monday. And Harris argued, "My opponent, Clay, cannot say that. He actually sold his soul to President Trump."

Harris narrowly edged Fuller amid a field of 17 candidates, including 12 Republicans, in the first round of voting in early March. Since no candidate topped 50%, Harris and Fuller advanced to Tuesday's runoff.

Head Here For The Latest Fox News Reporting From The Campaign Trail

The congressional seat  which stretches from Atlanta's outer suburbs to the state's northwest borders with Alabama and Tennessee  was left vacant when Greene quit Congress with a year left in her term, after a very public falling out with Trump mostly over her push to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks during a news conference with 10 of the alleged victims of disgraced financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein outside the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 3, 2025, in Washington, D.C.

While Greene remains popular among Republicans in the district, Fuller said the voters he talked with on the campaign trail were "focused on the fights of the future, not anything that had happened in the past."

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Asked if he spoke with Greene, Fuller said he "reached out to Rep. Greene, had conversations with her and got advice on the district, and I'll keep those conversations confidential."

Harris, who as a first-time candidate lost to Greene by nearly 29 points in her 2024 re-election, emphasized that he wasn't "running against Marjorie Taylor Greene anymore," and that his name "carries more weight than any other name in this district."

With the vast majority of votes tallied, Harris trailed Fuller by roughly 12 points, which was a significant improvement over his 2024 performance against Greene.

Democrats touted their over performance in the special election runoff.

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"Tonight, in the deepest-red congressional district in Georgia  and despite more than $1.5 million in spending by Republicans to defend this Trump +37 seat  Democrat Shawn Harris notched a jaw-dropping more than 20-point over performance in Marjorie Taylor Greenes backyard," Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Charlie Bailey said in a statement.

And Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin highlighted that "Shawn Harris ran a fearless campaign in the reddest district in all of Georgia, delivering a double-digit overperformance."

Martin argued, "Enthusiasm for Democrats is growing everywhere. Were closing the gap and Republicans are absolutely terrified."

Democrats have repeatedly showcased their slew of special election victories and over performances in the nearly 15 months since Trump returned to the White House.

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But Fuller pushed back on the Democrats' messaging.

"They lost. They've got to call me congressman, and they poured in millions of dollars, just lit millions of dollars on fire, and still got crushed," he argued, in his Fox News Digital interview.

Click Here To Download The Fox News App

Fuller doesn't get much time to enjoy his victory.

He'll be running in next month's primary in Georgia as he aims to be the party's nominee in the district in November, when he'll seek a full two-year term in Congress.

And Harris said he would be running again as well in the midterms.

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In a statement, Harris emphasized, "This wasnt the result we wanted, but the message is clear  people here are ready for leadership that puts them first. The fight continues. On to November!"











Original article source: Trump-backed Republican pads GOP's fragile House majority by winning showdown for MTG's former seat
The odds that President Donald Trump will be impeached and removed from office are at their highest ever.

Betting markets skyrocketed in favor of Trump being impeached after he issued a crazed threat to kill off the entire Iranian population.

Kalshi predicts that there is a 27.5 percent chance that Trump will be impeached and removed before the end of his term. Its the highest percentage chance on the matter since Trump was again elected to the presidency in November 2024.

Prediction markets have the chance of Trump being removed from office via impeachment at an all-time high. / Kalshi

The odds that the 25th Amendment will be used against Trump also increased on Tuesday, hitting 33.2 percent.

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The 25th Amendment gives the vice president and a majority of the cabinet the power to declare the president unable to fulfill his duties, which would then transfer executive power to the vice president.

The twice impeached president issued a wild threat towards Iranians on Tuesday, saying he was prepared to kill the countrys entire population if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz to cargo ships by 8:00 p.m. in Washington, D.C.

Betting markets are predicting that Trump's time in office is running out. / Jonathan Ernst / REUTERS

A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, the president threatened via his Truth Social platform.

I dont want that to happen, but it probably will, he continued, adding, Maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?

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He ended the post by saying God Bless the Great People of Iran, despite having vowed to eradicate them at the top of the post.

The president launched into a full-blown genocide level threat against Iran in his Truth Social post. / Truth Social/ Donald Trump

The Daily Beast reached out to the White House for comment.

The increased odds that Trump will be impeached and removed from office come as many members of Trumps MAGA coalition have turned on him, even going as far as to call for Trumps removal following the deranged post.

25TH AMENDMENT!!! former MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted. Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization.

This is evil and madness, she added.

Trump's posting as it relates to Iran has grown increasingly erratic in recent days. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS

Dozens of Democratic lawmakers have additionally called for the president to be removed from office, either through impeachment or the 25th Amendment, after his threat to wipe out every Iranian.

This is not normal. This is not just Trump being Trump, Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton posted. This is an insane man who is unfit for office, and needs to be removed immediately.
COVINGTON, La.  Sen. Bill Cassidy knows Republican voters wont forget his decision to convict President Donald Trump in the Jan. 6 impeachment trial. But whether Cassidy is re-elected to another term in Louisiana this year may depend on whether they are willing to forgive him.

During a recent campaign stop at an assisted living home in Louisianas Northshore, the first question from the crowd was whether Cassidy regretted his impeachment vote, as well as his vote to confirm Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Cassidy acknowledged those will be two votes that people will remember me for. But he also defended himself, saying he made his choices based on the best available information he had at the time. And he added that no, he doesnt think Trump should continue to be impeached.

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Asked later by NBC News whether he thinks his impeachment vote will be a liability in his GOP primary, Cassidy said that it might be. But he also sought to downplay his rift with Trump as a temporary disagreement, noting he has voted with the president 90% of the time.

I tell people, Hey, youre married? Did ever your spouse do something that you didnt really like? And you work through it, he told NBC News in a wide-ranging interview that aired on "Meet the Press NOW." Im focused on the now and the future. If you want somebody delivering for our state, to make Louisiana a place where people move to set down roots, raise their children and grandchildren, Im your guy.

Cassidy, a physician who has been in Congress for 17 years, is in the fight of his political life as he fends off a primary challenge from Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow and Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming in deep-red Louisiana. More than $20 million has been spent on the airwaves ahead of the May 16 primary, according to the tracking firm AdImpact.

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., has walked a political tightrope as the chair of the Senate's health committee. (J. Scott Applewhite / AP) (J. Scott Applewhite)

Cassidy has the backing of Senate Republican leadership and the benefit of an experienced and prolific fundraising operation. But both Letlow and Fleming have tried to paint Cassidy as anti-Trump, while the president himself has recorded videos in support of Letlow.

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But those arent the only headwinds Cassidy is facing. As chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, he has also clashed with the Make America Healthy Again movement over his staunch support for vaccines.

And while he was the decisive vote in getting Kennedy, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, confirmed, Cassidy has since repeatedly criticized his actions at HHS  including firing all 17 members of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replacing them with members of his own choosing, among them several known vaccine skeptics. Those tensions could be on full display once again when Kennedy publicly testifies before the panel later this month, forcing Cassidy to walk a delicate tightrope.

Cassidys pushback and initial hesitation to support Kennedy has not gone unnoticed by the MAHA movement that the secretary champions. Kennedy ally Tony Lyons is supporting Letlow, and pledged $1 million through his Make America Healthy Again PAC to help defeat Cassidy before Letlow even entered the race. (So far, the group has spent over $200,000 in support of Letlow.)

Cassidy largely downplayed his differences with the MAHA movement, highlighting some of the areas where they are aligned. But he also argued that, on the topic of vaccines, more voters may be on his side now that people have seen the deadly consequences of not getting vaccinated.

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MAHA and I are totally united on ultra processed foods, and weve had great success there, he told NBC News. Clearly, I have differences with some on immunizations, but I think when we see those thousands of people getting measles in these outbreaks, and children dying from measles and other vaccine preventable diseases, folks are kind of open to this. They understand that this is important.

Cassidy, 68, who kicked off the recent campaign event by talking about his career in medicine and saying being a physician defines who I am, has tried to lean into his health care credentials in other ways.

He told NBC News he spoke recently with Trumps team about crafting a bill to bring down the cost of health care, which he hopes to roll out soon. He spearheaded a separate health care proposal introduced by Senate Republicans in December, which failed to gain the necessary bipartisan support for passage.

Heading into this falls midterm elections, Republicans are still trying to find their footing on the topic of affordability, which is likely to be a defining issue in a number of key races.

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Voters are very concerned about economic issues. Weve got to speak to affordability. Probably the price of gas will continue to be influenced by the war in Iran, Cassidy told NBC News. When I started speaking about health care affordability, heads nodded, and when I spoke about trying to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, heads were nodding yes in agreement that thats what we need to do.

All three candidates in the Louisianas Senate GOP primary may run into another hurdle: Trumps crusade against mail-in voting. Last week, the president signed an executive order aimed at restricting the practice, though it is facing legal challenges.

That has left some Republican voters questioning whether mail ballots are safe to use themselves, which could be a major issue in the Louisiana primary since it takes place on a Saturday. During his town hall-style campaign stop, someone in the crowd expressed concern to Cassidy about voting by mail, noting that Trump has described it as a way of cheating.

Cassidy assured the room that mail ballots are safe to use in Louisiana.

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I like the mail-in ballot, he said, before pivoting to his support for the SAVE America Act, a Trump priority that seeks to impose national voter ID requirements and require proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Speaking to NBC News, Cassidy did not say whether he thought Trumps rhetoric about mail voting was helpful. But he continued to defend mail balloting in red states like Louisiana, while giving oxygen to Trumps unfounded claims that the practice can be ripe for fraud in Democratic-run states.

As a doctor, I know there are people who cannot physically go to a voting booth, and you want to make sure they can still vote, he said. But Ill proudly say of my state that people do not speak of corruption in my states elections.

Between newly instituted rules that only allow registered Republicans to participate in the GOP primary and the prospect of a lower turnout for a Saturday election, diehard conservatives could play an outsize role in the outcome. And both Letlow and Fleming think that could bode well for their own prospects.

President Donald Trump with Rep. Julia Letlow, R-La., at the White House on Dec. 11. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) (Alex Wong)

Letlow, 44, who filled her husbands seat in Congress after he died of Covid-19 days after winning his race, was recruited heavily by the Trump administration to run for Cassidys seat and jumped into the race earlier this year after the president endorsed her on social media.

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That endorsement has been a huge source of energy for our campaign, because Louisiana Republicans trust President Trump, Letlow told NBC News in an interview.

When the president tells you need to step up, and when the voters in Louisiana are really encouraging, saying, we want an alternative, we want another choice, would you consider doing this? Would you pray about it? And you know, when I had that piece about it, I decided to go all in, Letlow added.

But Letlow is facing challenges of her own. Cassidy has criticized her over her past support for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies when she was a university faculty member, her late disclosure of personal stock trades, and that none of her bills have been signed into law. Letlow defended her stock trading activity, noting her investments are professionally managed by an independent third party and that the paperwork error was corrected as soon as it was discovered. She also said that she reversed course on DEI after she saw it for what it was and spent her time in Congress fighting against it.

Cassidy is lying about me because he cant defend his own record, she said.

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If no candidate can secure a majority of the vote on primary day, the top two vote-getters will advance to a June 27 runoff. Fleming, a former congressman, believes he can nudge out Letlow and take on Cassidy head-to-head.

Fleming, who served in various positions in the first Trump administration and was a founding member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said he is the candidate with the most MAGA credentials.

But Flemings candidacy has created headaches for Trumps allies, since it could prolong the race.

Fleming told NBC News in an interview that in late January, around the filing deadline, someone around the Trump administration offered him a job to drop out of the race as a way to help clear the path for Letlow, but that he declined to take it. Fleming declined to say who made the overture or what the job would have been.

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They were trying to entice me to make it easier for her, Fleming said. And along the way, President Trump and I had a brief conversation, and it was a very, very good conversation. And as far as I can tell, were on great terms.

The White House didnt respond to a request for comment.

Fleming warned that Letlow is becoming overconfident that Trump's endorsement will secure her support from the MAGA base.

While an endorsement like that is certainly, particularly in Louisiana, is popular and helpful  it doesnt get you elected, he said.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
By Trevor Hunnicutt and Lili Bayer

WASHINGTON/BRUSSELS, April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump vented his frustration with NATO during a private meeting with its secretary-general, Mark Rutte, on Wednesday as relations in the military alliance reached a crisis point over the Iran war.

"He is clearly disappointed with many NATO allies, and I can see his point," Rutte said on CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper," after spending more than two hours at the White House. "This was a very frank, very open discussion, but also a discussion between two good friends."

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Rutte spoke hours after White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt quoted Trump as saying of NATO: "They were tested, and they failed," during the Iran war.

Several NATO countries resisted supporting the U.S. military campaign against Iran by denying U.S. military planes use of their airspace or declining to send naval forces to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz for energy tankers.

Without specifying the countries, Rutte said his own view was that "some" NATO countries had failed to live up to their commitments in the Iran operation but that "the large majority of Europeans" had been helpful.

The White House did not disclose details of the talks. Trump posted on Truth Social after the meeting in capitalized letters that "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again."

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Trump has repeatedly called NATO a "paper tiger" and threatened to withdraw from the 32-member transatlantic alliance in recent weeks, arguing that Washington's European allies have relied on U.S. security guarantees while providing inadequate support for the U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran.

Although Trump said on Tuesday the attacks on Iran would be paused under a two-week ceasefire, the fallout from the conflict has continued to strain ties between Washington and its allies, suggesting the diplomatic consequences may linger longer.

Leavitt on Wednesday said that NATO countries had "turned their backs on the American people," who fund their nations' defense, and that Trump would have a "very frank and candid conversation" with the NATO chief.

Trump has called for countries that depend on oil from the Gulf region to break Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, but European countries are unlikely to join mine-clearing or other missions to free up navigation as long as hostilities continue, according to two European diplomats.

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A 'DANGEROUS POINT' FOR THE ALLIANCE

Rutte, known in Europe as a "Trump whisperer," has cultivated a warm relationship with Trump despite the tensions and referred to the president last year as a "daddy" handling a schoolyard brawl between Israel and Iran. Another European diplomat described Rutte's approach to Trump as deferential but effective.

Conflict over Iran has worsened transatlantic anxieties over Ukraine, Greenland and military spending, although senior U.S. officials have privately reassured European governments that the administration remains committed to NATO, according to one of the two European officials, who was involved in such conversations.

"This is a dangerous point for the transatlantic alliance," said Oana Lungescu, a former NATO spokesperson now at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based think tank.

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A NATO official said Rutte, while at the White House, would seek to increase defense-industry cooperation and to discuss the wars in Iran and Ukraine.

NATO is a defensive alliance focused on North America and Europe, and it's not clear precisely what role Trump expected it to play in the Middle East.

"I expect he will keep up the dialogue on Ukraine and burden-shifting within NATO," another senior European diplomat said, adding that the former Dutch politician has said alliance members "should lean into opening Hormuz" after a ceasefire.

Trump also spoke with Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, the French president said in a post on X.

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TRUMP CALLS NATO A 'PAPER TIGER'

NATO, which includes European countries, the U.S. and Canada, was formed in 1949 to counter the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.

Trump's focus on the Middle East has also further threatened to divert U.S. weapons from Ukraine, whose defense is a major priority for most of NATO's European members. Trump's criticism of Ukraine, engagement with Russia and threats to take over Greenland from NATO member Denmark have alarmed those allies.

"He has been disappointed by NATO and other allies' unwillingness to be helpful throughout Operation Epic Fury, even though his effort to destroy the threat posed by Iran is to their benefit," said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly. "As he said, the United States will remember."

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt in Washington and Lili Bayer in Brussels; Additional reporting by John Irish and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Andy Sullivan, Colleen Jenkins and Cynthia Osterman)
Pam Bondi was not the attorney general President Trump needed, although she was a welcome and significant improvement over Matt Gaetz, Trumps first (and truly awful) pick. The president needs more than what hes sought so far to head the Justice Department.

Yes, Trump needs someone whos committed to the success of his presidency and who has already earned the presidents trust.

Yes, he needs someone who wont wilt under the scorching blasts from the presidents legions of haters.

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Yes, the president needs someone who will work to roll back the leftward tilt in the law generally and in the criminal justice system in particular, someone who will work relentlessly to restore balance to a system thrown out of whack by two generations of legal activism and, more recently, partisan "lawfare."

Yes, the president needs someone skilled in public communications, who can articulate simply and persuasively the legal grounds for his policies and legal initiatives.

The White House needs all of this in an attorney general - and more: The president needs a great lawyer who thinks and executes like a great military general.

Not a Roy Cohn kind of lawyer who, while loyal and brilliant, skirts ethical disasters. Not a Michael Cohen, a pseudo-tough guy and boneheaded "fixer" who creates trouble where none need exist. Not a Jeff Sessions, who was neither tough nor brilliant, and who proved to be just another D.C. pol.

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Donald Trump needs an ethical, resilient, smart, forward-leaning lawyer fluent in legal nuance, articulate and persuasive. One with the judgment and strategic acumen to anticipate how to deploy the Department of Justices legal resources to achieve victory in Trumps multi-front struggle to change the economy, education, environment, culture, and the government.

The president needs a wartime consigliere on par with the Pentagons best warfighting generals, because the war for American freedom, the war against the stultifying "woke" left, the war for pragmatic realism against Marxist nihilism, the war against systemic fraud in the welfare state - yes, the war to make America great again - is an ongoing, grinding, constant struggle in state and federal courts around the country, where more than half the judges believe its their duty to oppose everything and anything Trump.

This president is unlike any other in recent memory, and so he needs more out of his legal general than other recent presidents who operated within the established status quo in Washington. Institutional change is much harder than mere policy change; an out-of-the-box activist like Donald Trump needs a legal general that sees where the president wants to drive change and is adept at creating, driving, and successfully implementing the legal theories and strategies to facilitate his success.

Hopefully, the president perceives the shortcomings of the lawyers he has chosen to assist him so far and is now ready to choose a lawyer whos truly a legal general.

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Perhaps Todd Blanche is that man; the president knows him well. Blanche is a graduate of American University and Brooklyn law school, cut his teeth as a prosecutor in the prestigious Southern District of New York, and represented Trump in the lawfare cases brought against him while he was out of office.

Similarly, the president has seen EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in action - the former New York congressman in the process of dismantling the climate hysteria hustle and regulatory architecture that permeates the agency. Until Trumps second term, the EPA was devoted to targeting energy generation projects, targeting the automobile sector, and generally impeding industry and development across the country. Proving he has strategic vision and tactical skill as an administrator, Zeldin has turned the EPA around. One drawback, however: He has not practiced law in many years. A successful AG needs exceptional legal skill and confidence to drive legal theory in a department filled with skilled practitioners.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon is also poised to play a bigger role. Could she be the one? Dhillon graduated from Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School. After a stint in big law, she started her own law firm in San Francisco. Shes a successful litigator and a resilient fighter who never wilts under the constant blast of enmity and hate she receives for driving civil rights reform in hostile territory. As AAG for civil rights, shes on offense, pressing the presidents agenda in bastions of progressive intolerance and antisemitism, including the city of Chicago, Californias educational system, and the Ivy League schools. Shes smart, fearless, thinks strategically, acts with sound legal tactics, communicates confidently and persuasively. And she truly believes in the presidents mission.

Acclaimed legal mind Robert Giuffra is also in Trumps orbit. Co-chair of the estimable Sullivan and Cromwell firm in New York, Giuffra is a graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School and clerked for Chief Justice William Rehnquist on the U.S. Supreme Court. A well-known conservative in a legal market that leans sharply left, he proves his legal acumen pursuing and winning major cases for American businesses. He is currently appealing numerous lawfare cases brought against the administration. An Attorney General Giuffra would serve as a bridge between reformers and the legal establishment.

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There are other legal thought leaders who would serve the country well. Their ranks include George Washington University Law School Professor Jonathan Turley (who demonstrates his broad-based legal acumen and devotion to the First Amendment chops on Fox News); U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former SEC Chairman Jay Clayton; and U.S. Solicitor General (and former Trump lawyer) John Sauer.

Whomever President Trump chooses, his criteria should be clear: He needs a great lawyer who thinks strategically, implements skillfully, communicates persuasively, believes in both the mission and the president - and who will accomplish the former while protecting the latter.

Editor's note: A previous version incorrectly identified Professor Jonathan Turley's school as Georgetown. He teaches atGeorge Washington University Law School.

Richard Porter is a member of the Board of Directors of the Alfa Institute, a platform for ideas, policy proposals and new technology integration pertaining to artificial intelligence
Following the agreed ceasefire in the Iran conflict, US President Donald Trump said he wanted Washington to hold direct negotiations with Tehran in the near future.

"It's going to take place very soon," the New York Post quoted him as saying in a telephone interview conducted on Wednesday.

On the US side, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will be involved, as well as possibly Vice President JD Vance, the president said.

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Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif previously invited delegations from the US and Iran to Islamabad on Friday for further talks, where they are to discuss a final agreement to resolve the conflict.

Pakistani sources say representatives from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt could also take part in the talks.

These states had previously consulted with Pakistan on how the situation could be de-escalated.
April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the United States will help with the buildup of shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump on Tuesday agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the strait or face attacks on its civilian infrastructure.

Trump said the last-minute deal was subject to Iran's agreement to pause its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the strait, which typically handles about one-fifth of global oil shipments.

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"We'll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just 'hangin' around' in order to make sure that everything goes well," Trump said.

"There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process," he also said.

Trump told Agence France-Presse the United States had won a "total and complete victory" after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.

A temporary halt in fighting and the reopening of Hormuz would allow Middle Eastern exporters to ship significant volumes of oil that have been trapped inside the Gulf since hostilities began.

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Around 130 million barrels of crude oil and 46 million barrels of refined fuels are currently floating on roughly 200 tankers in the region, according to data from analytics firm Kpler.

(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Christopher Cushing)
"We have to start educating in the same formats that people are being scammed in," Ritsema said. "You're seeing something on social media, and you decide, 'OK, I'm going to click on that.' I just think it would be amazing to have a campaign that mimics the scam and educates at the same time."

Scammers are "adapting their tactics faster" than the industry's many detection and prevention operations and exploiting the human behavior that leads victims to trust false claims, according to Kyrstin Ritsema, executive director of compliance services at international regulatory technology firm Confluence, which works with registered investment advisory firms, fund companies and broker-dealers.

So it's no surprise, then, that losses from fraud have reached staggering levels, including the Federal Trade Commission's calculation of $196 billion in 2024 losses when adjusted for the rampant underreporting of financial crimes, according to the FINRA Foundation study.

Even clients sophisticated and wealthy enough to hire a financial advisor can fall into these traps. Investors and higher-income adults participating in a poll released by FINRA's nonprofit foundation last month failed to spot the red flags in a hypothetical sales pitch at higher rates than other respondents. In all, 63% of a representative sample of more than 1,000 adults said they would "definitely" or "probably" invest in a vehicle displaying "multiple hallmarks of fraud," the study found  despite 71% expressing high confidence in their ability to detect financial fraud.

Crypto scams are just one tactic among many driving estimated annual fraud losses in the U.S. into the hundreds of billions of dollars. While it's unclear whether the tortoise hoax added to that total, FINRA and consumer advocates warn that bad actors are using social media to mislead a lot of people into losing their money.

"There is a hoax  not even an April Fool  going around," Hollins wrote . "The hoaxer is asking for crypto donations. It's a con."

An online rumor that a 193-year-old tortoise named Jonathan had died showed how scams are reaching people and increasingly snaring victims across ages and wealth levels. Last week, a post on X by someone pretending to be Jonathan's veterinarian drew nearly 2 million views to the false claim that the Seychelles giant tortoise had passed. The real veterinarian, Joe Hollins, then took to Facebook to correct the record.

Story Continues

The FINRA Foundation study adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting retail investors' gaps in knowledge and the scale of fraud.

A study released last month by the Consumer Federation of America found that Americans lose $119 billion to online fraud each year. That study extrapolated based on a rigorous prior Department of Justice finding that only 14% of the victims of financial crimes report incidents, applying that rate to the FBI's tally of $16.6 billion in reported online scam losses in 2024. The IRS tracks so much fraud that, each March, it releases its annual "Dirty Dozen" list of 12 emerging tax scams targeting the public. And in January FINRA itself cited "the growing problem of fraud and financial exploitation" in proposing a new fraud prevention rule that has drawn support from the CFP Board, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors and the Financial Planning Association.

While FINRA is facing more calls on Capitol Hill to fold it directly into the Securities and Exchange Commission, those groups praised FINRA for launching a new portal last week to help regulators and financial firms share information and coordinate against fraud threats.

"We strongly support FINRA's efforts to enhance firms' ability to combat financial exploitation for all customers, and especially seniors and vulnerable adults," the organizations wrote in the joint letter to FINRA. "However, any sound policy should apply to consumers of all ages, not just to our most vulnerable. Assisting clients in times of need is a crucial aspect of financial planning."

READ MORE: Women advisors are at a plateau. It'll take more than recruiting to fix it

Investors miss obvious red flags



Against that backdrop, the FINRA Foundation poll sheds light on how consumers think about fraud and respond to sketchy sales pitches.

The findings point to a need for education about "suspicious communications" delivered "across a wide range of consumer touchpoints" so that people encounter warnings frequently and without actively seeking them out, the study said. Researchers led by Fontes Research founder Angela Fontes, a specialist in household finance and investor decision-making,, conducted a poll of 1,004 U.S. adults last September.

Nine out of 10 respondents reported receiving some form of sketchy communication, and 14% said they had either "definitely" or "probably" lost money to fraud in the past year. The researchers asked the group whether they would invest in a product offering "a guaranteed, risk-free 25% annual return every year for the next 5 years," which should have raised alarm bells, since "legitimate investments cannot be risk-free or promise consistently high returns over a lengthy period," the study said. But 21% said they would "definitely" invest in the vehicle, and another 42% responded that they "probably" would do so. And, by wide margins, they had professed to be able to detect a scam.

"In fact, groups most confident in their fraud-detection abilities were among the least likely to detect the investment fraud," the study said. Investors (75%) and consumers with at least $100,000 in annual income (79%) said they were "highly confident" that they would detect fraud. Yet 72% of investors and 74% of the higher-income consumers "missed the investment fraud red flags" in the hypothetical sales pitch, the study said.

READ MORE: Client demand has RIAs, CPAs rethinking strategic partnerships



A screenshot from the Consumer Federation of America's report on the possible size of online scams displays the most common types of schemes and the reported and estimated scale of losses each year from them.

The upshot for advisory practices



The sheer amount of fraud and the evidence of consumers' susceptibility carry direct implications for industry firms that must comply with various laws and rules designed to prevent losses, Ritsema noted. For example, the delayed rollout of a new anti-money laundering rule for RIAs "doesn't mean that firms should not be thinking about it" and preparing for the 2028 effective date, she said. At the same time, the onslaught of social media and other online threats is complicating efforts to prevent fraud, especially transactions that are smaller than $10,000 or fully authorized by the victims themselves.

Numbers like the nearly $200 billion in annual losses estimated by the FTC also point to "how fraud changes how people interact with the markets" and reduce their trust in markets and systems in a way that is "much harder to quantify," Ritsema said. Even amid a regulatory environment that has seen a substantial drop in enforcement cases from the Securities and Exchange Commission (and the pardoning of a convicted fraudster ), RIAs and other wealth management firms must ensure they have experts and systems in place.

"The risks change, so the level of expertise and the costs associated with that is going to change," Ritsema said. "Firms need to accept that and partner with their compliance and their information security providers to ensure that they can look a regulator in the eye and say that, 'We genuinely believe we did everything we could, had procedures reasonably designed to prevent this.'"
April 7 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told AFP on Tuesday that the United States had won a "total and complete victory" after agreeing to a two-week ceasefire deal with Iran.

"Total and complete victory. 100 percent. No question about it," Trump told AFP in the brief call when asked if he was claiming victory with the ceasefire.

Trump said the U.S. has received a 10-point proposal from Iran, which he called a "workable basis on which to negotiate."

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But when asked about his original threats to destroy Iran's civilian power plants and bridges if the deal fell apart, Trump said, "You're going to have to see," the AFP report said.

Trump insisted that Iran's nuclear material would be covered by any peace deal, the report said.

"That will be perfectly taken care of, or I wouldn't have settled," Trump told AFP without giving any specifics about what would happen to the uranium.

Trump, who has offered shifting goals and timelines for the war, reiterated that he felt Washington's objectives had been achieved.

(Reporting by Anusha Shah in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Kim Coghill)
President Donald Trump took a call from Vice President JD Vance to voice support for Viktor Orban during a rally alongside the Hungarian leader in Budapest on Tuesday, as the White House looks to boost the beleaguered prime minister ahead of what could be a bruising April 12 national election for his ruling Fidesz party.

Trumps phone call came just hours after the president threatened the death of an entire civilization if Iran misses his 8 p.m. deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

He does a job, remember this, he didn't allow people to storm your country and invade your country like other people have, and ruin their countries frankly, Trump said of Orban. He's kept your country good, he's kept Hungarian people in your country. And he's done a fantastic job.

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Orban is one of the Trump administrations top allies in Europe, and the president has routinely praised his anti-immigration stance while slamming leadership in the United Kingdom, France and Germany as weak. Vances visit to the Hungarian prime minister follows a February meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Orban, during which Rubio announced a Golden Age in relations between Washington and Budapest.

Still, Orbans party is down by double digits to anti-corruption opposition candidate Peter Magyar and the center-right, as the longtime leader struggles against a sluggish economy and widespread allegations of fraud within his ranks. An endorsement from Trump  who remains popular in Hungary  may not be enough to boost his reelection chances by next week.

In his phone call, Trump cast Orban as a bulwark against rampant immigration in Hungary, telling a crowd of several thousand at Budapests MTK Sportpark that the United States is with him all the way.

He kept your country strong, and he kept your country good. and you don't have problems with all of the problems that so many other countries have, he said. Because they let their countries be invaded. And you don't have that problem because of Viktor Orban.
Georgia Litle and her husband, Clint Litle, huddled in the bathroom of their lavish condo at Trump Tower and turned on the shower.

They hoped the running water would drown out their highly personal and sexual conversation last May after a neighbor complained about the noise. But what happened next crossed the line, the couple alleged.

A neighbor allegedly recorded the intimate exchange and shared it with building employees, who then passed it on to other residents, according to a federal lawsuit filed last month against Tower employees, the 401 North Wabash Avenue condo association and Trump Chicago Residential Manager LLC.

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I felt very violated, very uncomfortable, Georgia Litle, 36, said. I started to feel panicked by that interaction in some respects.

The Litles detailed in the complaint and in an interview with the Tribune how their frisky escapades, appearance and young children seemed to increasingly agitate residents and staff. The saga, which the suit claimed amounted to a continuous pattern of intimidation and harassment, escalated to multiple police visits and the couple fleeing the skyscraper this year.

This was just a total nightmare for me, Georgia Litle said. Worst nightmare I could have.

The Tower manager, assistant Tower manager, the couple the Litles leased their condo from and representatives from the Trump Organization did not respond to a request for an interview. An attorney for the condo association said they have not been authorized to speak to the media.

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However, in a February letter in which the associations attorney requested that the couples lease be terminated, they alleged that their noxious and offensive activities created an unsafe condition and unreasonable nuisance.

Degraded

Originally from Oklahoma, the couple started staying in the hotel portion of Trump Tower while traveling for Clint Litles job in oil and gas. They said they enjoyed it and found themselves visiting the city more and more once they got married.

Georgia Litle, in particular, said she craved living in a larger city. New York City and Washington, D.C., werent a good fit for Clint Litle, who had lived in Oklahoma his entire life. But they both fell in love with Chicago and signed a lease for a Trump Tower condo in 2024. Clint Litle, 45, even got a White Sox tattoo, she said.

The prominent downtown building that bears the letters TRUMP has around 350 guest rooms, according to the Towers website. The residential condos, meanwhile, which range in size from studios to five-bedroom penthouses, are on the 29th to 89th floors. The building has previously been the subject of lawsuits alleging its cooling system killed fish in the Chicago River, ultimately agreeing to pay $4.8 million to settle, and in March, the ex-director of the condo board accused owners and managers of fraud in a federal suit.

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For months, Georgia Litle said things went smoothly in the condo. The facilities were beautiful and the staff were helpful, she said. But she said she felt like some residents werent happy to be around small children. Her kids are now 2 and 1, she said.

In emails shared with the Tribune, Clint Litle also complained to Tower management about disparaging comments allegedly made about his wifes appearance, including about her makeup and hair extensions.

The May 2025 incident is when problems truly began to arise though, she said. Not only did she feel degraded by the nonconsensual recording  which the suit said the Litles repeatedly complained about to the condo association and residential manager  there was another complaint lodged about noise less than two weeks later.

The violation notice, which imposed a $250 fine for disruption of building operations, said a neighboring unit had reported loud banging and screaming. It also referenced the May complaint, saying that while the initial investigation by security did not detect audible disturbances at the time, the neighbor later returned with a recording.

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Our children were sleeping in the room so you cant be too loud to keep a 1- and 2-year-old asleep, Georgia Litle said.

Violations for trash, loud sex

The Litles had already signed a lease to rent another unit for $4,200 a month in Trump Tower through May 2026, the suit said. When they moved, a string of noise violations appeared to move with them.

Over the course of about three months, management imposed more than $3,700 in fines for raised voices, trash bags in the hallway and for loud sex, the suit said.

An email from the assistant Tower manager to the Litles said the incidents were confirmed onsite through Security. Georgia Litle, however, called the quantity of the violations egregious and said she and her husband are entitled to privacy in their home. They took particular issue with a $2,000 fine for trash, which they claim their housecleaner placed outside the door for less than an hour.

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Clint Litle went so far to say it felt like Tower security were patrolling them, especially after they met with the condo association in December to discuss the fines. At this meeting, the condo board determined that if any future violation occurred, the owner had to terminate the Litles lease, according to a letter from the Tower manager.

Security would frequently walk the hallway of the couples unit and wait in the parking garage near their car, the lawsuit alleged.

It seems very odd that on multiple occasions Id be coming off the elevator and thered be somebody there from security, or coming out the door thered be somebody there from security, Clint said. If youre walking by our unit, of course, youre gonna hear us speaking.

Calls to Chicago police

The contention at the Tower heightened even further at the start of this year  beginning with the Litles calling Chicago police in January because they felt threatened by an employee knocking on their door, the lawsuit alleges.

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I started to worry about where I was going to go with my children, you know, if (an eviction) was going to happen suddenly, Georgia Litle said. It was getting to the point where our 2-year-old would walk around the house and say Shhh whenever we would speak.

And in February, an employee called the Chicago Police Department after they heard Georgia Litle yelling in the bathroom, the suit said. It alleges she was having a panic attack after an employee again knocked on their door, and that she felt intimidated when the employee demanded to speak with her.

According to a police report, obtained via a records request, both Clint and Georgia Litle told officers that they had a verbal argument, but there was no physical altercation. The report said officers heard yelling when they walked up to the Litles condo and that a security guard was holding open the door.

The suit also accused staff of falsely claiming to authorities that the couple posed a threat to their children. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services determined that the report of suspected child abuse or neglect was unfounded, according to a March letter from the agency which the Litles shared.

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It was a very frightening situation  a very overwhelming experience, Georgia Litle said. My children mean everything to me. I put everything I have into them as a mother, its the most important role I have in my life. So to even have that question, I was just totally panicked.

At this point, the couple said they desperately wanted to leave the building  and they werent left with much choice anyway. A February letter from an attorney for the condo association requested that the couple be evicted.

It cited the incidents in January and February as examples of recent noxious and offensive activities. It said Georgia Litle had yelled Help me, help me before the police were called in February, and that she had acted erratically the previous month, statements which the couple maintain are false.

The couple is seeking at least $8,400 from the owners of the condo, which is equivalent to two times their security deposit, plus damages for emotional distress, according to their attorney Alexander Hess.

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The couple said they decided to speak out now because of how far the harassment escalated, and that they want to defend their children. They have been staying at a home in Wisconsin.

We pour everything into our kids. Our children are always laughing, happy, running around, Georgia Litle said. These allegations are just so egregious and to put children in harms way like that is so incredibly disgusting, over the line for me. Its just not tolerable behavior.
WASHINGTON (AP)  The president who yearned for a Nobel Peace Prize and once reveled in the appearance of solving conflicts turned to the language of annihilation as he struggled to find a resolution to his war of choice in Iran.

President Donald Trump's latest threat over the Iran war hit a new extreme Tuesday as he warned, A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again, if Iran failed to make a deal that includes reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz.

The Republican president's comments were swiftly met with condemnation from Democrats, some Make America Great Again supporters who have since broken with Trump, and the first American pope. Some fellow Republicans suggested his comments were a negotiating tactic.

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It followed his threats in recent days that he would be blasting Iran into oblivion and back to the Stone Ages!!! He said he would blow up bridges and civilian power plants, which experts in military law said could constitute a war crime. And on Easter morning, he wrote on his social media account: Open the F-in Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in Hell.

Just over an hour before his 8 p.m. deadline, Trump announced he was pulling back from his threats of widespread strikes, subject to Iran agreeing to a two-week ceasefire and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Supreme National Security Council said it had accepted a two-week ceasefire in the war.

But Trumps intensifying warnings of widespread and seemingly indiscriminate destruction were a sea change from his January pledge to the people of Iran that HELP IS ON ITS WAY after a brutal crackdown on protests. They were the antithesis of the peacemaking image he spent much of the last year trying to cultivate as he sought a Nobel Peace Prize.

And, most urgently, they raised questions about whether the president was threatening actions that could be considered war crimes, whether he is considering using a nuclear weapon or whether it is all bluster.

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The presidents extraordinary threat to wipe out Iran's civilization Tuesday morning came as the conflict with Iran reached a precipice. Iran rejected the Americans latest ceasefire proposal, and the Middle Eastern countrys president said 14 million people, including himself, have volunteered to fight. Meanwhile, there were international calls for restraint, and officials involved in diplomatic efforts said talks were ongoing.

Experts said that Trump's threats to blow up bridges and power plants could constitute a war crime depending on whether the power plants were legitimate military targets, whether any attacks were proportional compared with what Iran has done and whether civilian casualties were minimized.

Trump on Monday defended his profane language, saying he used it only to make a point, and said hes not at all concerned that his threats could amount to a war crime.

In response to the criticism Trumps comments received, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement: As President Trump has said, Iran can never have a nuclear weapon, and the Iranian people welcome the sound of bombs because it means their oppressors are losing. The President will always stand with innocent civilians while annihilating the terrorists responsible for threatening our country and the entire world with a nuclear weapon. Greater destruction can be avoided if the regime understands the seriousness of this moment and makes a deal with the United States.

Trump's comments drew condemnation and hopes that it was bluster

Sen. Todd Young, an Indiana Republican and a Marine Corps veteran, said that what Trump is clearly trying to accomplish is to bring this whole effort to a close and thats the best way to preserve lives and property and reduce suffering.

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The president clearly, to me, wants to increase the amount of leverage he has immediately so that we can bring this conflict to a close and avoid further bloodshed or suffering from the Iranians, from the Americans or from any other people.

Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican and a stalwart Trump ally, said Monday before the president's annihilation warning that he hoped Trump's threats to bomb power plants and bridges were bombast.

I am hoping and praying that President Trump is, this really is bluster. I do not want to see us start blowing up civilian infrastructure. I do not want to see that, Johnson said on a podcast. We are not at war with the Iranian people. We are trying to liberate them.

Democratic leaders in the House said in a joint statement that Trump's statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience. Their Senate counterparts said it was a betrayal of the values this nation was founded on, and a moral failure.

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Pope Leo XIV said any attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international law and called the presidents comments truly unacceptable.

Former Georgia Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a stalwart MAGA supporter who has since turned critic of the president, suggested invoking the 25th Amendment, under which the vice president and a majority of Cabinet members declare a president unfit for office and remove him.

Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness, she wrote on X.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican who often breaks with the president, called Trump's latest threat an affront to the ideals our nation has sought to uphold and promote around the world for nearly 250 years.

Trump's history of inflammatory threats

Roseanne McManus, a professor of political science at Penn State University whose research has focused on international security and how countries signal their intentions in ongoing or potential conflict, said presidential threats of force traditionally had some restraint and subtlety.

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But Trump, dating back to his first term, has broken with those norms, she said. That was most notable when he warned North Korea in 2017 that it would see fire and fury like the world has never seen if it made more threats against the U.S., raising fears of a nuclear escalation. He later said he and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un fell in love, and the threats largely stopped.

Since returning to the White House last year, he has made more incendiary threats and moves.

Last summer, he joined Israel in striking Iran's nuclear sites, a move that came before a self-imposed timeline for action ran out. Earlier this year, he launched a brazen strike that captured Venezuela's authoritarian president, Nicolas Maduro, and brought him to the U.S. for trial.

He has also suggested using military force to take control of Greenland and has said he believes hell have the honor of taking Cuba soon, but he has so far not followed through on those threats.

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Trump has referred to his unpredictability as an asset, McManus said, and has seemed to lean into the Madman Theory, attributed to former President Richard Nixon, that aims to deter adversaries by convincing them hes unpredictable enough to carry out an extreme action.

His actions over the last year, along with increasingly frequent over-the-top threats in recent days to Iran, seem to show that hes been leaning into the strategy to a greater extent in his second term.

I think the fact that Trump is willing to shatter these norms with his rhetoric could suggest that he is not restrained by the same sorts of things that would restrain a normal leader, she said.

___

Associated Press writers Steven Sloan and Stephen Groves in Washington and Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
President Donald Trump is considering a Pakistani proposal to give Iran negotiations another two weeks.

The possible deescalation comes just hours ahead of an 8 p.m. EDT deadline that Trump gave to Tehran to strike a deal and open the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of Iranian civilization.

Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has been involved in the negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, posted a request on X urging President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks and requesting that Iran open the strait for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told POLITICO that, the President has been made aware of the proposal, and a response will come.
Dan Miller feeds his ballot after voting as poll worker Karen Seigel looks on at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Patricia Reidy hangs up a vote sign shortly before the polls open at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. A vote here sign is up at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. I voted stickers are ready to be handed out at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Dan Miller casts his ballot at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Poll worker Kisha Hairston checks a voters identification at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. I always arrive early, said Terence Byrd, 37 of Milwaukee, shortly before the polls opened at 7 a.m. as he holds door for others at Craig Montessori School on West Congress Street in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Children enter school at Craig Montessori School on West Congress Street in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state. Voters head to polls for Wisconsins April 7 spring election 1 of 8 Dan Miller feeds his ballot after voting as poll worker Karen Seigel looks on at the Zeidler Municipal Building on West Broadway in Milwaukee, on April 7, 2026. Voters cast ballots in Wisconsins April 7 spring election, which features a statewide race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, local contests for offices such as mayor and school board, and multiple local referendums across the state.

Voters in the Lake Country School District and Glendale-River Hills School Districts have passed operational referendums while voters in the Whitefish Bay School District rejected a hotly contested facilities referendum.

The Lake Country School District's referendum passed with 1,172 yes votes to 655 no votes, while the Glendale-River Hills School District's referendum passed, 2,860 to 1,929. The Whitefish Bay School District's referendum failed, 3,741 to 3,439.

More: Milwaukee-area election results for school boards, referendums in Waukesha and more

The district will receive an additional $5 million per year for four years  $20 million total  for an operational referendum that will start in the 2026-27 school year and end in the 2029-30 school year. The district says the funds will help it to maintain class sizes and programming, technology upgrades and needed facilities maintenance.

The district put a $3.2 million operational referendum on the ballot, asking for an additional $800,000 annually for four years. The funds will start in the 2026-27 school year and end with the 2029-30 school year.

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It's the third year in a row the district has gone to referendum. In 2025, voters rejected a $4 million operational referendum that sought $800,000 for five years. In 2024, voters approved a $9.5 million facilities referendum but rejected a $7.2 million total operational referendum that would have provided funds over seven years.

Superintendent Chad Schraufnagel had said if the referendum were to fail, the district would be forced to explore the possibility of dissolution.

A $135.6 million referendum would have built a new middle school and renovated Cumberland and Richards elementary schools, Whitefish Bay High School and the Lydell School and Community Center.

Contact Alec Johnson at 262-875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X at @AlecJohnson12.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Suburban Milwaukee school referendum results
American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been freed after militants from the Iranian-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah kidnapped her in Iraq one week ago.

Two Iraqi government sources and a source familiar with the situation told CBS News on Tuesday that Kittleson had been released. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later confirmed her release, saying in a statement, "We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq."

Kata'ib Hezbollah had Kittleson's name on a list of American journalists to target for kidnapping, multiple sources said. She was abducted in Baghdad last Tuesday, March 31.

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A spokesperson for the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia said earlier in a post on the group's Telegram messaging app channel that Kittleson was being released on the condition that she leave Iraq immediately.

Her exact whereabouts were not immediately clear.

Two militia officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that in exchange for Kittleson's release, Iraqi authorities would free several detained members of Kata'ib Hezbollah.

Earlier, the group released an undated video of Kittleson in which she speaks directly to the camera. It is unclear where the video was taken. It runs about two and a half minutes long and she is seen wearing a pink sweater and green blazer.

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Rubio in his statement thanked the FBI, Department of Defense, "U.S. personnel across multiple agencies, and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and our Iraqi partners, for their assistance in securing her release."

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement that the agency was "thrilled to welcome American journalist Shelly Kittleson's release today."

"Our Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell was relentless in this effort working with our outstanding State Department, Department of War, and other partners across the federal government," Patel said, using the Trump administration's preferred term for the Defense Department. "This was a team effort in every way reflecting President Trump's commitment to leaving no American behind."

Alex Plitsas, Kittleson's designated point of contact in the U.S. and a CNN national security analyst, previously told CBS News the U.S. government had warned Kittleson about a specific threat against her by Kata'ib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group that was allegedly looking to kidnap or kill female journalists.

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Kittleson was contacted multiple times with warnings of threats against her, including as recently as the night before she was abducted, a U.S. official had told CBS News.

Journalist Kiran Nazish, the founder and director of the Coalition for Women in Journalism, told CBS News last week that Kittleson was traveling to Iraq to stay with a family there who had reassured Kittleson that she shouldn't worry and that they "would keep her safe." Kittleson told Nazish in a text message that she had been advised not to travel, but "she was doing what she had always done," Nazish told CBS News.

Nazish said Kittleson traveled to Iraq and Syria several times before and had "experience reporting on the ground in difficult circumstances." Kittleson lives in Rome and has spent time in Istanbul.

One hospice doctor. One year. $71.7 million worth of Medicare claims.

Expert weighs in on rescue missions for downed U.S. fighter jet, Trump's threats against Iran

Search underway for woman after husband says she fell overboard while on boat ride in Bahamas
TOPEKA  U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt of Kansas said the military campaign against Iran should continue until U.S. forces resolved the threat of Irans deployment of nuclear weapons and eroded that countrys ability to destabilize neighbors in the Middle East.

I hope were near the end of this operation  with a successful outcome, said Schmidt, who serves the 2nd District of eastern Kansas. At the end of the day, the real risk was a nuclear-armed Iran that had the ability to deliver payload outside of its borders.

Schmidt, speaking Wednesday at a Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce forum, said President Donald Trumps large-scale strikes on Iran starting Feb. 28 was a response to Irans sponsorship of terrorism and funding of proxy militant organizations. On Tuesday, Trump said a cease-fire had been brokered with Iran, but there was confusion about what that meant.

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Iran has been an adversary of the United States for nearly half a century, Schmidt said. When they say, Death to America, they mean it. America didnt start this fight, we joined it.

During the forum, the Republican congressman was asked about Trumps protectionist strategy to influence trade through imposition of high import taxes.

Ive been a free-trade person by philosophy, Schmidt said. I dont like the direction they moved on tariffs, but I recognize that the president didnt hide the ball. It wasnt like he got elected and then said, I think Ill focus on tariffs. I mean, he campaigned on it. He made the case. Voters responded.

Schmidt said he worked to convince the Trump administration to exempt cocoa from new tariffs given the number of companies in the 2nd District involved in the chocolate industry. In November, Trump signed an order excluding cocoa beans, powder, butter and liquor from certain tariffs.

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Meanwhile, Schmidt said Congress approved 11 of the 12 appropriations bills required to fund the federal government. The response by Democrats to Trumps immigration crackdown in Minnesota stalled work on a budget for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which included the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE.

Schmidt said the goal of Congress was to follow regular order by annually working the 12 spending bills and to end reliance on massive continuing resolutions to finance the government, Schmidt said.

Gargantuan continuing resolutions that, you know, are crafted at the last minute by six or eight people in a room. If youre one of the six or eight people, its a great process because you have tremendous leverage over all priorities of the U.S. government. But if youre one of the rest of us, its terrible process, because its hard to have a voice, Schmidt said.

Overall, he said Congress must come to grips with $39 trillion in debt tied to borrowing and approximately $80 trillion in unfunded liabilities for entitlement programs such as Medicare. The only way to address those obligations would be to raise tax revenue through economic expansion, he said.

We are not going to tax our way out of that and we are not going to cut our way out of that, he said. The public will not support either of those. You cant get there by simply taxing or simply cutting.
More questions than answers remain about what the Department of Homeland Securitys review of contracts executed under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem means for a proposed mega detention center in Salt Lake City.

After newly-appointed Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin was sworn in, DHS paused purchases of new warehouses as it reviews Noem-era policies and procedures.

Noem was fired March 5, but days later U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement finalized the purchase of the Salt Lake City warehouse for $145.4 million  the highest price federal officials have paid for a warehouse as part of the Trump administrations $45 billion plans to expand ICE detention center capacity.

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Its now unclear what the DHS review means for the already-purchased warehouse in Salt Lake City and whether federal officials will move forward with plans to renovate it into a large-scale detention center.

In response to a request for comment on the warehouses status, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson pointed to a statement issued last week.

As with any transition, we are reviewing agency policies and proposals, DHS said. As Secretary Mullin said in his confirmation hearing: I will work with the community leaders and make sure that we are delivering for the American people what the President set out  We want to work with community leaders. We want to be good partners.

The department did not immediately respond to follow-up questions specifically asking whether plans for the Salt Lake City warehouse have been paused amid the DHS review. But in a story published Tuesday, The Atlantic reported that after Mullin took charge of the department on March 24, he ordered a pause on conversion plans for the warehouse in Salt Lake City as well as for 10 others scattered across the country, seeking to defuse backlash from local jurisdictions.

Loading docks of a warehouse purchased by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement at 6020 W. 300 South in Salt Lake City is pictured on Friday, March 13, 2026. (McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)

When asked about the news of ICE warehouse purchases being under review by DHS and if it could potentially jeopardize the proposed detention center in Salt Lake City, Mayor Erin Mendenhall told Utah News Dispatch last week shes hopeful it doesnt bode well for the facility, but its also unclear what it means for the proposal.

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It doesnt appear, however, that DHS is rushing to move forward with it, she said.

Were grateful that it doesnt appear to be full steam ahead, Mendenhall said. Were doing everything that we can  at every angle we can  to try to convey why this is not an appropriate place for any ICE facility, why Salt Lake City is not an appropriate place for any ICE facility.

Asked if the review could delay or even doom the proposed detention center even though the purchase has already been finalized, Mendenhall said: I am hopeful that by some grace of God it wont happen in Salt Lake City. I am. Because Salt Lake City Hall, were not the only people talking to DHS about why this is an extremely inappropriate activity in the city.

How the deal came together also remains a mystery. The entity that sold the warehouse, RREEF CPIF 6020 W 300 S LLC, is registered in Delaware and tied to a fund managed by DWS Group, a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank. Representatives from RREEF and DWS have not responded to emails from Utah News Dispatch seeking comment.

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A Republican state lawmaker, Rep. Matt MacPherson, supports the center in his district and may have more insight from the federal government soon. Hes traveling to Washington, D.C., next week with fellow GOP state lawmakers, he said, and the group plans to talk with representatives from the Trump administration about the facility, among other topics.

MacPherson, of West Valley City, said hes only heard positive things from constituents about the possibility of a facility and sees it as a way to free up more room in Utahs prisons and jails.

He previously noted ICE doesnt have large, dedicated detention space in Utah and while it contracts with jails to hold some detainees, current state law places restrictions on that practice.

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In a letter sent to Mullin on Friday, Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson urged him to abandon the proposed detention center in Salt Lake City.

I respectfully urge the Department of Homeland Security to reconsider and abandon this proposed site, Wilson wrote.

In her letter, Wilson outlined her concerns, which she described as both practical and principled.

At a basic level, this facility is not suitable to house what has been reported could be up to 10,000 detainees, she wrote. More broadly, I believe many residents of Salt Lake County  and Americans across the country  are seeking a more measured, effective, and balanced approach to immigration enforcement.

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She said the proposed mega center raises serious concerns related to infrastructure capacity, public safety, correctional staffing, economic development, and the appropriate role of state and local government in decisions of this magnitude.

Wilson said the scale and approach of this proposal are not aligned with the interests of Salt Lake County residents nor our business community, describing it as sitting at the heart of a critical industrial corridor within the Utah Inland Port Authoritys jurisdiction, where state leaders have invested significantly to create a logistics hub meant to maximize Utahs import and export potential.

Introducing a detention facility of this scale risks undermining that vision and weakening a sector foundational to our regional economy, Wilson wrote.

People protest outside a planned ICE detention facility in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch)

Roads in the state-governed shipping and trade hub are already busy, with UPS trucks and semitrailers driving in and out in a constant cycle. The center would bring even more traffic.

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But without answers to questions like when it might open, who would run it, and the demand it would place on sewer and water systems, its hard to get a clear picture of how it could affect the district and its its efforts to attract and keep manufacturers, said Ben Hart, executive director of the Utah Inland Port Authority.

Hart told Utah News Dispatch the facility wont necessarily be bad for business. He noted an industrial building on the districts less developed western side is adjacent to the Utah State Correctional Facility, saying the prison is really well-run, and I think theres confidence in the leadership.

If its something thats well done, then it doesnt have to be something that is negative overall, Hart said. But when you hear that type of facility is coming in, I mean, does that raise questions for those who are looking at locating to the area? Absolutely, of course, I think anyone would acknowledge that.

He said hes not familiar with any deals falling through as a result, but its something that were very sensitive to, again, because we want the best and brightest companies out there in the northwest quadrant.

A warehouse purchased by U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement at 6020 W. 300 South in Salt Lake City is pictured on Friday, March 13, 2026. (McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)

Wilson also said that neither state or local leaders  or the states federal delegation  have been meaningfully consulted on the project.

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This absence of engagement represents a significant departure from that principle and risks being perceived as an override of state and local authority, she wrote. This is not simply a federal facility. It is a project that will rely on local infrastructure, affect regional economic development, and place real and ongoing demands on local public systems. Proceeding without partnership undermines the likelihood of success.

Wilson also listed more specific concerns with the proposal, including that the warehouse is not designed for human habitation, is not compatible with the sites current local zoning for manufacturing and not detention, its impact on the inland ports economic vitality, and its sheer scale compared to the county and states existing jail and prison capacity.

Salt Lake Countys jail system, she wrote, typically houses between 2,000 and 2,500 inmates while the Utah Department of Corrections prison system houses about 6,000 to 7,000 statewide.

A single facility holding up to 10,000 detainees would exceed the capacity of any comparable system in Utah and represents an unprecedented concentration in one location, she wrote.

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A facility of that size would also put additional pressure on already strained local law enforcement, emergency services and public health systems, Wilson said. Its surrounding utility and road infrastructure is also not designed to support a facility of this scale, she wrote.

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The unlicensed driver of a tractor-trailer that struck a Massachusetts State Police cruiser has been arrested on an OUI charge, state police said.

Juan De Las Salas, 36, of New Rochelle, New York, was arrested late Tuesday night for OUI and unlicensed driving, state police said in a statement on Wednesday.

On Tuesday, shortly before midnight, a tractor-trailer struck a State Police cruiser conducting a traffic stop on Interstate 290 East at mile marker 23.6 in Shrewsbury, state police said.

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After striking the cruiser, the tractor-trailer crossed the highway, struck the left side guard rail, and came to a rest.

Thankfully, neither of the Troopers reported serious injuries, a state police spokesman said.

De Las Salas was expected to be arraigned on Wednesday in Westborough District Court.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Key Takeaways

The Indian Income Tax Department is sending Section 148A notices to people who traded crypto in FY 2021-22.

These notices come because the government has data from banks and exchanges showing your trading activity.

Many traders are getting notices even if they made little profit, as the department looks at total buying and selling amounts.

Indias Income Tax Department is turning up the heat on crypto traders, issuing fresh tax notices tied to transactions from the 202122 financial year.

The notices, sent under Section 148A of the Income Tax Act, are already stirring concern across the countrys crypto community.

Traders Face Tax Notice For Past 5 Years

Indias Income Tax Department is now targeting past crypto activity, with many traders receiving notices linked to the Financial Year 202122.

Individuals who bought, sold or held Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) or other virtual digital assets (VDAs) during that period are being asked to explain potential unreported income.

This marks a clear escalation in enforcement, as authorities use data-matching tools to track crypto transactions more closely.

If you traded crypto in FY 202122whether on Indian platforms like WazirX and CoinSwitch or global exchanges like Binanceyou could receive a notice.

What Section 148A Notices Mean

These notices, issued under Section 148A of the Income Tax Act, are not final tax demands.

They serve as show-cause notices, informing taxpayers that income may have escaped assessment and requesting an explanation, usually within 7 to 30 days.

If the response is not satisfactory, the tax department can reopen the assessment for FY 202122, potentially leading to additional tax, interest and penalties.

How Indian Authorities Are Tracking Crypto Activity

The enforcement relies heavily on automated data checks.

The Income Tax Department uses systems such as the Insight Portal and CRIU to match PAN-linked data across multiple sources, including:

KYC details submitted to crypto exchanges

Bank transaction records

Trading volumes reported by platforms

Filed Income Tax Returns (ITRs)

In some cases, the system flags total transaction volume as potential income instead of actual net profit.

For example, a trader with an annual turnover of 1.6 crore ($172,000) but only 45 lakh (nearly $5000) in profit could still receive a notice treating the full amount as taxable.

Why FY 202122 Is Under Focus

The scrutiny centers on FY 202122 because it predates Indias formal crypto tax framework.

Before April 1, 2022, crypto gains were taxed under general rules as business income or capital gains.
A growing number of congressional Democrats are urging Vice President JD Vance and members of President Donald Trumps Cabinet to consider invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office after the president threatened catastrophic destruction in Iran.

Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ + news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter.

The calls follow Trumps statement Tuesday morning that a whole civilization will die tonight if Iran failed to meet U.S. demands tied to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

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More than 50 Democratic lawmakers have now publicly called for Trumps removal under the constitutional provision, which allows a president to be sidelined if deemed unable to carry out the duties of the office. Among the most forceful voices is gay California U.S. Rep. Robert Garcia, the ranking member on the House Oversight Committee, who warned that Trumps rhetoric poses a direct threat to civilians.

Donald Trump has lost his mind and his threats to wipe out the Iranian people should be taken seriously, Garcia wrote Tuesday on X. Hes out of control and his cabinet and those around him must be loyal to the constitution and invoke the 25th amendment. He must be removed.

Gay New York U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres said Trumps language erases the distinction between a government and its people.

A whole civilization will die tonight. Notice that Trump makes no distinction between the Iranian regime and the Iranian people, Torres wrote. Donald Trump is so dangerously unhinged that the 25th Amendment should be invoked, and America should rid itself of his psychotic presidency.

Rep. Yassamin Ansari of Arizona, the first Iranian American Democrat in Congress, has also called for action, warning that Trumps rhetoric risks global consequences. She called for Trumps impeachment on Monday evening after Trump on Sunday wrote on Truth Social that Iran must open the fuckin Strait.

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Other Democrats, including Reps. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Michigans Rashida Tlaib, and Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey have expressed similar concerns about Trumps fitness, while some lawmakers are also reviving calls for impeachment as an alternative.

25th Amendment RIGHT NOW! Trump is too unhinged, dangerous, and deranged to have the nuclear codes! Pocan wrote.

Markey wrote, 25th Amendment. Impeachment. I will support any avenue to remove Donald Trump from office. We cannot leave this man in charge of Americas nuclear weapons as he threatens to end an entire civilization. And Congress must not fund this reckless administration.

The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare a president unfit and temporarily transfer power. It has never been used to remove a president against their will, and the political threshold remains extraordinarily high.

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Republican leadership has largely stayed silent, and the White House has dismissed the criticism as partisan, arguing Trumps rhetoric reflects a negotiating strategy.

This article originally appeared on Advocate: Urgent 25th Amendment calls grow after Trump threatens mass destruction of Iran's civilization

RELATED
A new, "highly mutated" COVID strain is quickly gaining ground in the United States, according to new data.

Variant BA.3.2, nicknamed "Cicada," first drew the attention of health officials earlier this year when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization noted it had appeared in at least 23 countries and accounted for up to 30% of cases in some Eastern European locales.

The United States may be following suit, according to new wastewater data. While Cicada accounted for a very small number of U.S. cases (less than 4%) when the CDC first released a report in mid-March, information gathered by WasteWaterSCAN, a Stanford University-led tool for tracking the spread of disease, saw a notable jump in late March.

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While COVID activity is down significantly since the winter, BA.3.2 is appearing more often. Here's what to know about the variant picking up speed in the United States.

What is the COVID variant 'Cicada' (BA.3.2)?

"Cicada" is a nickname given to BA.3.2, a COVID-19 variant. It was first detected in a person who did not live in but was traveling to the United States from abroad in June 2025, and its nickname comes from the rarely emerging insects because it has largely remained undetected or "underground" since its discovery, Dr. Robert H. Hopkins Jr., medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, previously told USA TODAY.

The first local case in a U.S. patient was diagnosed in January, he said. Between then and data from Feb. 11, it was detected in wastewater samples from 132 sites across at least 25 states, according to the CDC. The agency has not yet added the variant to its monthly strain surveillance.

The variant is considered "highly mutated," as its 70-75 mutations make it distinct from the JN.1 lineage, which has been the source of the predominant U.S. strains over the last two years, according to Hopkins.

Cases of Cicada have increased up to 17.5% since March, according to wastewater data.

Which states have cases of BA.3.2 'Cicada'?

The CDC's latest data from Feb. 11 tracked the presence of BA.3.2 in 25 states, including California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.

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More recent data from WasteWaterSCAN found BA.3.2 was detected in 21.2% of COVID-positive wastewater samples tested for strains as of April 8, up from just 3.7% on March 14. Variant XFG remained the dominant strain at 42.3% of samples, down from 53%.

CDC wastewater data, meanwhile, showed that it accounted for 10% of cases the week ending March 21 and 7% the week ending March 28. It was not present or prominent enough in the weeks and months before being tracked at all.

Cicada already accounts for about 30% of COVID-19 sequences in Germany and some other Northern European countries, such as Denmark and the Netherlands, as of January.

What are the symptoms of the 'Cicada' variant?

Like most other variants, the symptoms of the Cicada variant are the same as those of other COVID-19 variant infections. According to the CDC, these may include:

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Runny or stuffy nose

Fever

Headache

Fatigue

Sneezing

Sore throat

Cough

Muscle pain or body aches

Vomiting

Diarrhea

Changes to the sense of smell or taste

Some later variants have been associated with "razorblade throat," or an extremely sore throat.

"I have not seen any data which indicates that Cicada is any more severe than other circulating variants," Hopkins said. "Severe sore throat is reported as a common symptom along with other typical COVID symptoms."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New 'Cicada' COVID variant rapidly rising in the US. What is it?
Oil prices plummeted on Wednesday in the hours after the U.S. and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire, stirring hope of relief from soaring gasoline prices.

Drivers may not have to wait long. Gas prices could start to drop within days as retailers factor in falling oil prices, some analysts told ABC News, but it could take weeks or months to reverse a significant share of the cost increases triggered by the Middle East conflict.

The outlook remains fraught with uncertainty, they added, since sustained price reductions will depend on the durability of the ceasefire and the resumption of tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil-shipping route.

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Stocks soar and oil prices plunge after US-Iran ceasefire

Gasoline prices will come down, but I think were in for a bumpy ride, Ramanan Krishnamoorti, a professor of petroleum engineering at the University of Houston, told ABC News.

Typically, scores of ships carry a fifth of the world's oil through the Strait of Hormuz each day, but Iran effectively closed the passage over the course of the war. That oil shortage sent gasoline prices surging worldwide, including in the U.S.

Gasoline prices in the U.S. on Wednesday ticked up to $4.16 on average per gallon, marking a leap of $1.18 since the start of the war, AAA data showed.

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As part of the ceasefire, Iran says it will allow tankers passage through the Strait of Hormuz as long as they coordinate with the nation's military.

The resumption of tanker traffic remains uncertain. Tanker traffic was suspended on Wednesday after Israeli attacks on Lebanon, Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

Mark Schiefelbein/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, April 6, 2026, in Washington.

But if the agreement holds, investors appeared optimistic that it would ease one of the worst global oil shortages in decades.

U.S. oil prices plunged 15% on Wednesday, registering at about $95.50 a barrel. Still, the price remained well above pre-war levels of about $67 a barrel.

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Oil markets have exhaled in relief at the absence of further escalation, Timothy Fitzgerald, a professor of business economics at the University of Tennessee who studies the petroleum industry, told ABC News.

Crude oil is the main ingredient in auto fuel, accounting for more than half of the price paid at the pump, according to the federal U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The recent decline in oil prices will be passed through the supply chain and make its way to consumers in the form of lower prices, some analysts said, forecasting relief at the pump as soon as this week.

Gas prices could start reversing nationally in 48 hours or so - by a few cents every day, Patrick De Haan, a petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, said in a X post on Tuesday night. The national average price of a gallon of gas could fall below $4 within one or two weeks, De Haan added.

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On Wednesday, De Haan reiterated his forecast in another post on X, imploring drivers: WAIT TO FILL!

A more substantial drop in prices could take weeks or months, however, some analysts said.

Gas prices usually fall at a slower pace than they rise, since retailers prefer to keep prices elevated as they sell through inventory acquired at high cost, Krishnamoorti said.

Plus, gas prices typically rise in spring, when warm-weather travelers drive up demand and refineries switch to a more expensive blend of summer fuel. Those seasonal effects could undercut some of the savings from lower oil prices.

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Analysts differed on the pace and extent of price savings. Krishnamoorti said the national average price of a gallon of gas could fall to $3.60 in the coming months, which would amount to a decline of about 56 cents from current levels. Fitzgerald forecasted a drop of 50 cents as soon as the end of April.

I would expect that drop in a matter of weeks, not days, Fitzgerald said.

Iran live updates: Oil tankers halted in Hormuz after Israeli strikes on Lebanon

To be sure, the outlook remains murky as questions surround the staying power of the ceasefire and the reopening of the strait, some analysts said.

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Conditions concerning the war in the Middle East seem to be changing extremely rapidly, Steve Allen, an economist at North Carolina State University, told ABC News. There is so much uncertainty that I still find it hard to believe the people in the gasoline supply chain are whistling happy days are here again.

Gas prices will drop if oil costs stay at reduced levels, but a renewal of the conflict could push gas prices back toward where they stood prior to the ceasefire, Allen said.

This war could be worse in a week or two, Allen added.

Even if the ceasefire holds, gas prices are unlikely to fall to pre-war levels anytime soon, some analysts said. Damaged energy infrastructure in the Gulf will require an extended period of repairs. Lingering geopolitical tensions and a potential toll system in the strait could add new costs.

Gasoline purchasers in the U.S. should have an expectation that gasoline prices at the pump will be elevated going forward relative to where they were before all this started, Fitzgerald said.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  A ceasefire deal to pause the war in Iran appeared to hang by a thread Wednesday after the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The White House demanded that the channel be reopened and sought to keep peace talks on track.

The U.S. and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. At the same time, Israel intensified its attacks on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, hitting commercial and residential areas in Beirut. At least 182 people were killed Wednesday in the deadliest day of fighting there.

The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what U.S. Vice President JD Vance called a fragile deal.

Parliament speaker accuses US of breaking Iran's conditions

The Iranian parliament speaker said planned talks were unreasonable because Washington broke three of Tehrans 10 conditions for an end to the fighting. In a social media post, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf objected to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace after the ceasefire took effect and U.S. refusal to accept any Iranian enrichment capabilities in a final agreement.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that an end to the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon. When the deal was announced, Pakistan's prime minister, whose country served as a mediator, said in a social media post that it applied to everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere.

Lebanons health ministry said Israeli strikes killed 182 people on Wednesday, the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

The world sees the massacres in Lebanon, Iran's Araghchi said in a post on X. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, reported in Iranian state media, was completely unacceptable. She repeated Trumps expectation and demand that the channel be reopened.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a capital V military victory and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to U.S. forces or the region. The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the U.S. to accept its "proposed conditions and surrender.

Much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the strait, a crucial transit lane for oil. The White House said Trump is opposed to tolls for ship passage through the strait.

Only 11 vessels moved through the strait Wednesday, roughly the same as in prior days, according to Windward, a maritime intelligence firm. Iran was requiring shippers to pay tolls of up to $1 a barrel for outbound oil, it said. The largest supertankers carry up to 3 million barrels of crude.

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The fate of Iran's missile and nuclear programs  the elimination of which were major objectives for the U.S. and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

White House looks ahead to peace talks

Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable plan that could help end the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28. But when a version in Farsi emerged indicating Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  key to building a nuclear weapon  Trump called it fraudulent.

Leavitt said a plan that Iran presented Tuesday could align with our own proposal for peace.

The White House said Vance would lead American negotiators at upcoming peace talks, which could begin in Pakistan as soon as Friday.

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Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

Meanwhile, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilize every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of persistently seeking to sabotage the ceasefire deal.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though the group has said it was open to giving mediators a chance to secure an agreement.

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Early on Thursday Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at northern Israel and would continue doing so until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases."

Iran and Oman could collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from using the strait, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime. That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit. Such a shift would likely be unacceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

Irans nuclear and missile threats survive

U.S.-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not eliminated the threats posed by Tehran's nuclear program, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah. The U.S. and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

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Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to dig up and remove enriched uranium. There was no confirmation from Iran.

Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that the U.S. would do something like last June's joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if Iran refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Netanyahu warned in a televised address that Israel was ready to return to fighting at any time. Our finger is on the trigger.

Tehran has insisted for years that its nuclear program was peaceful, although it has enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Airstrikes reported despite ceasefire announcement

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

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An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television. A short time later, the UAE's air defenses fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the toll for days.

In Lebanon, more than 1,700 people have been killed, and 1 million people have been displaced. Twelve Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

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___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Magdy from Cairo and Metz from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Mike Catalini in Trenton, N.J., and Michelle L. Price, Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller, Michael Biesecker and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.



This story corrects overall death toll in Lebanon on Wednesday to 182.
A US freelance journalist who was kidnapped in the Iraqi capital Baghdad a week ago has been released, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Iran-backed militia group Kataib Hezbollah said earlier on Tuesday that it would release Shelly Kittleson, who was taken on 31 March, on the condition that she leave Iraq immediately.

Rubio said the release "reflects the Trump Administration's steadfast commitment to the safety and security of American citizens, no matter where they are in the world".

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He thanked Iraqi officials for help securing her release and said the US is now "working to support her safe departure from Iraq".

At the time of the 49-year-old's abduction, the Iraqi government said security forces had chased the suspects in a pursuit that led to one of the kidnappers' cars overturning and the arrest of one person.

Last week, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani ordered security forces to pursue those responsible for abducting foreigners.

In a separate post, Assaf said the group would release a recording showing Kittleson's "role and activities in Iraq", without providing further details.

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The abduction came amid ongoing attacks by Iran and its allied Iraqi Shia militias on US-associated targets across Iraq and the region since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Kittleson's friend and emergency contact, CNN national security analyst Alex Plitsas, said he had seen the "alleged statement" about her release, but added "we have no official confirmation from the United States government that this is true".

It is understood that US officials had contacted Kittleson a number of times before she was kidnapped to warn of threats against her.

Plitsas previously told CBS, the BBC's US news partner, that Kittleson had been warned by the US government about a specific threat to her from Iran-backed paramilitaries.

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He said Kittleson had been told her name was on a list in the possession of Kataib Hezbollah, which was said to be plotting to kidnap or kill female journalists.

Kittleson, based in Rome, Italy, has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. According to her bio on X, she has worked for numerous publications.

The US state department has warned citizens not to travel to Iraq.
A court ruling has once again halted a massive rezoning effort in Prince William County that would have allowed dozens of data centers to be built near Manassas National Battlefield Park. Now residents and conservation agencies are pushing the county Board of Supervisors to drop out of the lawsuit.

In a ruling last week, the Virginia Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court that the Prince William Board of Supervisors sped up the approval process to establish the technology district without giving the public a fair chance to weigh in.

The industrial rezoning, planned near the park where major Civil War battles took place and residential areas, has drawn criticism from conservation groups since it was proposed four years ago It is one of the most high profile land use battles in the state in recent years.

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Six groups joined together to file an amicus curiae brief in support of one of the lawsuits against county leaders filed by the Oak Valley Homeowners Association, who were concerned about the potential impacts the siting of multiple data centers could have on noise pollution and other environmental impacts. The court responded to all the suits in one opinion.

This 2,000+ acre project  one of the largest data center proposals in the world  planned for 37 data centers and 14 substations, Chris Miller, president of the Piedmont Environmental Council, said in a statement following the ruling. The failure to properly notice the public hearings on the proposed development is indicative over a rush to judgement and a failure to adequately assess the impacts on local, regional, state and national resources, ranging from historic and cultural sites to water quality.

The move to rezone the land has been embroiled in controversy since 2022. Opponents warned that the project would impede the countys rural character, require extensive water use and strain the power grid.

The plans supporters highlighted expected financial benefits, given the massive tax revenues that localities often reap from data center development. The initial proposal was pitched by property owners in Prince William County by way of an amendment to the countys comprehensive plan, which county supervisors later expanded.

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The National Parks Conservation Association, who were part of the brief filed in the case, said their chief concern was data centers sprouting up across the street from the battlefield. Theyre now urging the developers involved in the case to use this ruling as a sign to reconsider the digital gateway project and find an alternative that would not harm the historical site.

Constructing and operating this massive data center complex would have devastating consequences for this iconic piece of American history and set terrible precedent for heavy industrial development near our national parks, said Kyle Hart, the associations senior Mid-Atlantic program manager.

The Board of Supervisors and the developers involved in the case can still appeal the case up to the Virginia Supreme Court to make a final determination if the rezoning efforts violated Virginias public notice law.

The county is in the process of reviewing the decision of the court, Nicole Brown, the director of communications for the county, said in a statement Tuesday. The County Attorney will then provide legal advice to the Board. Since the decision can be appealed within 30 days, and therefore not yet final, this is still active litigation.

Prince William County has already approved $1.6 million in legal expenses related to the Digital Gateway lawsuit.

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By Humeyra Pamuk and Alan Charlish

BUDAPEST, April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that Ukraine's president had made "scandalous" comments about Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as he echoed Budapest's accusations that Kyiv was using energy supplies to try to influence elections there.

Vance's remarks came during a visit to Budapest aimed at boosting the chances of the nationalist Orban, who faces the toughest challenge of his 16-year rule in an April 12 election seen as crucial for the influence of supporters of Donald Trump's MAGA movement in Europe.

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Hungary's strained relations with Ukraine have taken centre stage in the election campaign, with Budapest accusing Kyiv of deliberately stopping flows of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline in an effort to sway the ballot.

Kyiv says the pipeline was damaged by a Russian drone attack in late January and it is fixing it as fast as it can.

Hungary responded by blocking a 90-billion-euro ($105 billion) EU loan for Ukraine, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to say he could give the address of whoever was responsible to the Ukrainian army, who could "speak with him in their own language".

ACCUSATIONS OF ELECTION MEDDLING

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Speaking at a Hungarian university, Vance said Orban had told him about Zelenskiy's remarks.

"It's completely scandalous," Vance said. "You should never have a foreign head of government... threatening the head of government of an allied nation."

Vance then accused the media of double standards in their coverage of alleged foreign interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and in the Hungarian vote.

"You saw this back in 2016 where a lot of the American media said that it was a true scandal that the Russian government bought like $500,000 of Facebook advertisements...That's foreign influence," he said.

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"But what's not foreign influence is when the European Union threatens billions of dollars withheld from Hungary because you guys protect your borders...What's not foreign influence is when the Ukrainians shut down pipelines, causing suffering among the Hungarian people in an effort to influence an election."

Budapest has been embroiled in a longrunning dispute with the European Union over issues ranging from judicial independence to the treatment of migrants.

Vance had already lambasted what he said was EU meddling in the Hungarian vote at a news conference on Tuesday. A European Commission spokesperson said on Wednesday Brussels would use diplomatic channels "to convey our concerns to our U.S. counterparts" following those comments.

The Ukrainian presidency did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

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($1 = 0.8557 euros)

(Reporting by Humerya Pamuk in Budapest, additional reporting by Yuliia Dysa and Dan Flynn in Kyiv, Lili Bayer in Budapest; Writing by Alan Charlish; Editing by Ros Russell and Toby Chopra)
JD Vances trip to Hungary to help boost its pro-Trump leaders election hopes has been marred by the leak of a phone call showing the right-winger sucking up to Vladimir Putin.

The vice president arrived in Budapest on Tuesday morning to show support for Viktor Orban, a far-right leader facing a serious risk of losing Hungarys April 12 election, which could end his 16-year rule.

On the morning of Vances European trip, Bloomberg revealed that Orban told the Russian president in October 2025 that he was prepared to help Moscow in any way to win the war in Ukraine, adding: In any matter where I can be of assistance, I am at your service.

JD Vance arrives in Hungary to show U.S. support for Viktor Orban in his tough parliamentary election. / Jonathan Ernst/Pool

According to a leaked transcript of the phone call, Orban also compared himself to a mouse rescuing a trapped lion after it spared the rodent, a reference to a European fable, which reportedly drew laughter from the two allies.

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Orban also told Putin of his hopes to hold a summit in Budapest to show support for Russia amid its four-year invasion of Ukraine, and even discussed plans to involve the U.S. as well. The event in the Hungarian capital never took place.

Vance and his wife, Usha, were welcomed off Air Force Two at a Budapest airport on Tuesday morning by Hungarys foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto. Vance will appear at a rally in Budapest alongside Orban later Tuesday local time.

Orban is a longtime ally of Putin and is widely viewed as one of the Russian presidents closest supporters within NATO and the European Union.

Vladimir Putin is desperate for Viktor Orban to win the Hungarian election next week. / Alexander Nemenov/Pool via Reuters

Orbans close ties with Moscow, combined with a languishing economy, have been a major campaign issue in Hungarys upcoming election.

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Center-right opposition party Tisza, led by Peter Magyar, a former insider in Orbans ruling Fidesz party, has recorded double-digit leads in the polls ahead of next weeks vote. Magyar has campaigned on strengthening Hungarys alliance with the rest of Europe and moving the country away from Russia.

Trump and Orban have also been close allies for years, with Orban becoming the first European Union leader to back Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has enthusiastically endorsed the anti-immigration Hungarian leaders re-election campaign and is now sending Vance to bolster the administrations support.

Viktor Orban has visited Donald Trump at the White House several times, most recently in November 2025. / Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Last month, The Washington Post reported that Szijjarto is alleged to have frequently leaked confidential EU information to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Because of this, every single EU meeting for years has basically had Moscow behind the table, one official told the Post.

During the October 2025 phone call, Putin suggested to Orban that Lavrov could also meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio around the time of the proposed RussiaUnited States summit in Budapest.

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Orban and Putin also praised their mutual friend Trump during the call. The Hungarian prime minister said he appreciates Trumps tornado-style business approach, with Putin saying the 79-year-old moves forward like a tank.

The Daily Beast has contacted Vances office for comment.
VIRGINIA BEACH  City Council unanimously approved the acquisition of less than an acre of land near Pleasure House Point Natural Area and Crab Creek, preventing the development of up to 10 duplexes or five single-family homes.

The city was awarded two grants to partially fund the $2.6 million purchase: $200,000 from Virginia Outdoors Foundation and $100,000 from Virginia Land Conservation Foundation. The remaining $2.3 million to acquire the land from Riverwalk, LLC, a subsidiary of McLeskey & Associates, will be paid by the city.

The land is near the entrance of the park, and is already used regularly for access to trails. The city plans for the 0.57 acres to eventually become part of the park.

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This is a piece of property that is in a strategic spot, said Councilman Stacy Cummings. The owner of this property, by right, can develop this. We would have housing in the middle of this park, this natural preserve that is just a valuable, valuable asset to the city.

The property off Dinwiddie Road is adjacent to Crab Creek which connects to the Lynnhaven River and the Chesapeake Bay.

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This area is already important and actively used by the public, by hikers, by bird watchers, and especially by fishermen and fisherwomen, said Karen Forget, director of Lynnhaven River NOW. It is also a very important habitat. Maintaining the shoreline in a natural condition supports both wildlife and water quality.

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The land plots are just a short walk away from the Chesapeake Bay Foundations Brock Environmental Center, which hosts education programs and has a mobile oyster restoration center.

While the parcel may appear small on its own, there are still other parcels that remain unprotected, said the foundations Hampton Roads Director Christy Everett. The protection of this parcel plays an outsized role in preserving the character of the broader Pleasure House Point site and preventing further development along the waterfront.

The recently preserved plots are diagonal to the Pleasure House Point wetland project approved by council last January, a move made to earn the city wetland mitigation credits and to restore tidal wetlands.

In March 2025 as part of the mitigation project, the city began clearing out more than 5,200 trees, including loblolly pines, black cherries, Eastern red cedars and live oaks. The city said it would plant more than 600 new trees.

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Two months later, Virginia Beach residents Julia Bell, Windy Crutchfield, Kim Mayo and Walt Stone filed a lawsuit against the Norfolk District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in a bid to stop the tree removal. They argued the wetland project was unlawful based on harmful impacts to the environment and residents.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed the completion of the projects construction phase in February court filings. After that, the Army Corps attempted to have the case dismissed, but a judge denied the motion. Mayo said the complaint was amended to include the city of Virginia Beach as a defendant.

As a nature lover who grew up in a semi rural community/civic leader I applaud open space protection however I am very skeptical, Mayo said in a written response to questions about the citys new land acquisition. There was a lack of transparency with the public on the proposed purchase price and lack of support information. I dont trust that VBGOV will keep it as open space.

Resident Rona Marsh brought her concerns about the project to council, arguing Tuesday that council members who received campaign finance donations from developer McLeskey & Associates, and the developers registered agent, Cheryl McLeskey, should recuse themselves from the vote.

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According to The Virginia Public Access Project, McLeskey & Associates and Cheryl McLeskey have given campaign donations to six current council members, as well as the mayor and vice mayor over the past 10 years. McLeskey could not be reached for a comment.

Maggie Allwein, 757-672-3310, maggie.allwein@virginiamedia.com
Public concern about the ubiquitous man-made chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has finally translated into bipartisan legislation at the Virginia General Assembly.

Several different bills are now awaiting action from Gov. Abigail Spanberger by April 13. Among these are requirements for industrial users to test their wastewater for PFAS and for sewage treatment plants to test sludge for the presence of these contaminants before it can be applied to farmland.

Enactment of the laws wont mean weve solved the problem of the notorious forever chemicals that accumulate in the body and cause a wide array of neurological problems. Thousands of different PFAS variants are manufactured and used across the U.S. economy, and they have so polluted our air and water now that they are found even in rainfall.

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The problem goes back many decades, but only in the last few years has our state government even begun to take notice.

When Virginias Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) finally started collecting data on PFAS in drinking water in 2024, it found elevated levels in public water systems serving about 2.29 million people across the state. In December 2025, the nonprofit Wild Virginia sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its failure to protect Virginia waterways from PFAS contamination.

Virginias new legislation wont stop these chemicals from being produced and used in consumer products, or from getting into waterways. They could, however, reduce how much PFAS gets into the food produced on Virginia farms.

Yes, thats a modest goal. Yet it is more than Virginia has tried to accomplish before now, and it puts us among only a minority of states actively working to protect residents from the health effects of PFAS. The federal government, which ought to be setting standards for the whole country, has dropped the ball. It wasnt until 2024 that EPA even imposed limits on a few kinds of PFAS in drinking water  and it has been backpedaling under the administration of President Donald Trump.

New sewage sludge standards

The main route for PFAS to get into our food supply comes from the practice of spreading sewage sludge across farmland. It is both the cheapest disposal method for the enormous quantity of this wastewater treatment plant byproduct and a way to fertilize crops thats free to farmers. Its also a perfect way to ensure our crops and farm animals are maximally exposed to contamination.

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The federal government has taken no action to limit the disposal of sludge on farmland. In January of 2025 EPA issued a draft risk assessment for two of the oldest PFAS chemicals (PFOA and PFOS) in sludge, but (surprise, surprise) the agency has neither finalized the document nor issued regulations to protect farms since Trump took office.

Now Virginias General Assembly proposes to take up the slack. HB 1443 from Del. Alfonso Lopez, D-Arlington, and SB 386 from Sen. Richard Stuart, R-King George, require that any owner of a sewage treatment works that applies or sells sludge for land application purposes must begin sampling and testing the sludge for PFAS by January 1, 2027. The test results must be provided to anyone applying the sludge to their land. Sludge generated outside of Virginia is also subject to this requirement if the sludge is applied here.

The legislation does not stop with monitoring and notification. If the concentrations of PFAS in the sludge exceed 50 micrograms per kilogram, the sludge cannot be land applied or distributed. Levels of PFAS between 25 and 50 are subject to less stringent restrictions, and below 25, the only requirement is to notify the landowner of the test results before the sludge is applied.

This sliding-scale approach puts Virginia among the minority of states that regulate PFAS in sewage sludge. Maine takes the most protective approach, prohibiting any amount of PFAS in sludge applied to land. The zero-tolerance approach reflects the science, since there is no safe level of exposure for these chemicals.

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Unfortunately, though, PFAS are both so ubiquitous and so hard to remove from wastewater that a standard of zero is impossible to meet. The result is that all Maine sewage sludge has to be landfilled, and the one landfill in the state that accepts it is rapidly filling up. This may be why only Connecticut has followed Maine in adopting a zero-tolerance rule, though other states have set limits more protective than Virginias.

Maine is a standout in another way: its the only state that has created a program to help farmers deal with land contamination, including buying out farms that are too contaminated to be used to produce food for either humans or livestock.

Without a program like that, landowners may have little incentive to find out whats in the free fertilizer being spread across their fields. Small farmers especially are under tremendous economic pressure, and may not easily be able to afford alternatives.

The problem is that PFAS are called forever chemicals because they dont break down in the environment. Years of applying contaminated sludge can result in levels of contamination high enough to destroy a farmers livelihood, as has happened in Michigan as well as Maine. David Sligh, water program director at Wild Virginia, told me in an email that he thinks this could happen in Virginia as well.

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One real fear I have, among many, is that some farmers will eventually bear a big cost in loss of their land values, water supplies, etc., after theyve been sold on this practice for so many years, he wrote.

While the Virginia response relies just on testing for now, the new legislation also calls for DEQ to convene a work group to study ways to reduce PFAS in sewage sludge.

Assisting that effort will be SB 138 from Sen. Jeremy McPike, D-Prince William, and HB 938 from Del. Nadarius Clark, D-Suffolk, under which every publicly-owned wastewater treatment plant will have to require industrial users to test for PFAS and report the results to DEQ.

One other piece of legislation is also relevant. Virginia law already allows localities to adopt ordinances providing for testing and monitoring the land application of sewage sludge. HB 1072 from Del. Amy Laufer, D-Albermarle, makes it explicit that this authority includes testing for PFAS. It does not, however, require any kind of monitoring. Sligh told me, however, that Laufers bill is definitely useful, and he hopes localities will begin taking advantage of it.

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Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is included in our list of the 14 hedge fund favorites with strong setup in 2026.

Mastercard Incorporated (MA) Entered Late March with Wall Streets Support for Its New Push Into Crypto Infrastructure

Valeri Potapova / Shutterstock.com

As of April 3, 2026, over 90% of covering analysts remain bullish on the stock, with the consensus price target of $665 implying a roughly 35% upside. Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) entered late March with Wall Streets support for its new push into crypto infrastructure.

In an effort to connect fiat rails with on-chain payments, the company decided to purchase stablecoin infrastructure provider BVNK on March 17, 2026, for up to $1.8 billion, including $300 million in contingent payments.

With digital currency payments surpassing at least $350 billion in volume in 2025, Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) aims to leverage BVNKs technology, which facilitates payments across key blockchain networks in more than 130 countries, enhancing the companys capacity to link stablecoins, tokenized deposits, and traditional currencies. The agreement, which expands Mastercard Incorporateds (NYSE:MA) broader blockchain plan, is expected to close before the end of 2026.

Previously, on March 5, 2026, Bank of America resumed coverage of the stock with a Buy rating, highlighting Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) as one of the best risk-adjusted opportunities in the payments industry. This is due to the card network providers steady earnings, stable fees, robust cash flow, and exposure to the expansion of cross-border and digital commerce.

Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA) is a global technology company in the payments industry that acts as a fast, secure network connecting consumers, financial institutions (banks), merchants, governments, and businesses. It does not issue cards, extend credit, or set rates for consumers; instead, it processes transactions and provides value-added services.

While we acknowledge the potential of MA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WAVY)  A Virginia school bus driver was arrested Saturday in connection with the strangulation of a student in a school parking lot.

On March 30, the Lynchburg Police Department responded to Linkhorne Elementary School, located at 2501 Linkhorne Drive, in reference to a report of a disorderly individual at approximately 4:40 p.m.

When officers arrived, they began an investigation that determined a bus driver allegedly assaulted a student on the bus while parked in the school parking lot.

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Additionally, the Lynchburg Police Department and Lynchburg City Schools discovered the student had been strangled during the encounter.

Police said the child is safe and did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

Effie Wynn, 73, was arrested April 4 without incident and charged with strangulation and child neglect. She is being held without bond.

The investigation is ongoing.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.


"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."



Samuel Bateman broke away from the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (FLDS) in 2019 to establish a polygamist cult near the UtahArizona border. Believing himself to be the heir of FLDS leader Warren Jeffs, Bateman, who was born in 1976, declared himself a prophet and coerced his followers to surrender their wives and daughters to him. After three years, he had taken more than 20 spiritual wives, 10 of whom were underage girls.

Bateman was arrested in August 2022 when state police caught him transporting young girls in a trailer with no ventilation. He was released on bond but was arrested again the following month for obstruction of justice. In April 2024, the cult leader pleaded guilty to kidnapping and transporting a minor for criminal sexual activity and was later sentenced to 50 years in prison.

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Batemans demise is the subject of the Netflix docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet, but he wasnt the only one who faced legal consequences. In fact, seven of his adult wives were also convicted, three of whomNaomi Bistline, Donnae Barlow, and Moretta Rose Johnsonwere specifically charged with kidnapping.

Heres what we know about them and their involvement in Batemans case.

Who Are Naomi Bistline, Donnae Barlow, and Moretta Rose Johnson?

Courtesy of Netflix  2026

Naomi Bistline, Donnae Barlow, and Moretta Rose Johnson became Batemans wives between 2019 and 2020. Johnson was just 17 when Bateman took her as his bride, and she gave birth to his child just months after turning 18. Bistline and Barlow, on the other hand, were in their early 20s.

Following Batemans September 2022 arrest, authorities found nine girls in his Colorado City, Arizona, home and placed them in foster care in Arizona. From jail, he instructed the three women to reunite with the girls, who were Batemans daughters and child brides. The women obeyed, kidnapping eight of the children from a group home in November. Johnson reportedly drove the getaway car.

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In December 2022, Bistline, Barlow, and Johnson were charged with conspiracy to commit kidnapping and conspiracy to tamper with a federal investigation. While they initially pleaded not guilty, they all eventually accepted plea deals.

Where Are Bistline, Barlow, and Johnson Now?

Courtsey of Netflix

In February 2024, Barlow, who has only a seventh-grade education, pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge. As part of her plea deal, she admitted to helping carry out the abduction. She also confessed that she participated in group sex with Bateman and some of the other wives, one of whom was a child at the time. In August 2024, Barlow, now around 28, was sentenced to house arrest and three years of supervised release.

That same month, Bistline, who was 26 at the time, pleaded guilty to obstruction. She testified that she was sexually assaulted by one of Batemans followers, LaDell Bistline Jr., at his instruction, and revealed that she witnessed Bateman and another follower, Torrance Bistline, sexually abuse children. This testimony came just one year after she claimed to have never witnessed such child abuse. In court, Bistline admitted she had previously lied because she was still brainwashed by Bateman at the time. In December 2024, she was sentenced to time served with three years of probation.

Johnson, who corroborated parts of Bistlines story, was the last to accept a plea deal. After awaiting extradition from Washington, she eventually pleaded guilty to concealing a felonya lesser crime than obstruction. Since she was a minor when Bateman became involved with her, her lawyer argued she was a victim since day one. In February 2025, Johnson, then 21, received the same sentence as Bistline.

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Today, all three women are presumably still in Arizona as a condition of their probations, though their exact locations and current involvement with Bateman are unknown.

How to Watch Trust Me: The False Prophet

Directed by Rachel Dretzin, Trust Me: The False Prophet explores how cult expert Christine Marie and her husband, videographer Tolga Katas, took down Bateman by infiltrating his inner circle. The four-part docuseries, which features interviews with Bistline and other wives, is streaming on Netflix.

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Daniel OConnor is a Report for America corps member who covers rural government as part of the partnership between The Maine Monitor and the Bangor Daily News, with additional support from BDN and Monitor readers.

Officials in western Maine town of Eustis are seeking ways to expand the local housing supply, and theyre the first to join a new initiative by a major state nonprofit.

The town is the first to host officials from GrowSmart Maine to discuss its new Housing Forward Communities initiative, which is based in Franklin County and aimed at building community consensus in favor of new housing projects.

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The nationwide housing shortage has spiked property values and taxes across the state. As the tourist economy drives new growth in northwestern Maine, Eustis, where most properties sit empty for much of the year, has little housing available.

If somebody wanted to move to town, theyre not going to find a place, Town Clerk Rachel Williams said. And theyre really not going to find  an affordable place.

The donor-funded program aims to host community conversations around housing, create a local housing action committee and help the town draft resolutions guiding future planning decisions.

Rent in Eustis has more than doubled in just a few years, according to data in the states housing portal compiled from Zillow and the U.S. Census Bureau. The median rent in the town, which lies near the ski resort at Sugarloaf but an hours drive from the nearest major service center in Farmington, was $916 in 2024. It was about $450 in 2019.

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Vacancy rates are also dropping, according to census data. In 2014, more than a quarter of rentals were available. In 2024, that number was 5.3%. Its similarly hard to find a permanent home in the town, with 4.5% of owned homes vacant and for sale in 2014 compared with none in 2024.

The towns thirst for more housing has come up repeatedly at local meetings as the limited tax base has strained budgets. In minutes from a February town meeting in which officials discussed a proposed school budget increase, the exchange is summarized by saying educators have cut where they can.

We need more housing, the minutes read.

Williams said that its difficult to find workers in Eustis. Stratton Lumber, the local sawmill, has had to hire workers from far away as a result. A manager there directed questions from a reporter to the mills owner, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

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Voters in nearby Kingfield killed a housing project in 2024 that was planned for a 7-acre plot behind Dollar General, putting it among the towns that have resisted attempts to build more housing. GrowSmart Maines new program for Franklin County aims to preempt similar cases.

There is often local resistance to new proposals, GrowSmart Maines Associate Director Harald Bredesen said. The purpose of this program is to kind of have discussion first  so that the community doesnt have to say yes no to a particular proposal, but rather, can kind of help shape the kinds of proposals and attract, maybe, the kinds of developers that they want.
The docuseries Trust Me: The False Prophet, now streaming on Netflix, examines how Samuel Bateman claimed divine authority to start his own radical sect of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS).

He did this in defiance of prophet Warren Jeffs, who, similar to Bateman, used his leadership position to conceal disturbing crimes.

Jeffs, now 70, is serving a life prison sentence for sexual assault convictions. Despite his own crimes and Batemans challenge, however, he remains a prominent figure in the FLDS community.

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Heres everything you need to know about Jeffss rise and downfall, as well as his life today.

How Did Warren Jeffs Become the FLDS Prophet?

Jeffs was born December 3, 1955, and grew up outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. He was fully raised within the FLDS faith. He served as the principal of Alta Academy, an FLDS private school in the area.

His father, Rulon Jeffs, became the FLDS prophet in 1986 and dissolved the groups council, positioning himself as the only leader. Warren, who survived a premature birth, was seen as a golden child and his likely successor.

Following Rulons death, Warren succeeded his father in 2002 and lived in the FLDS community of Short Creek, encompassing the towns of Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah. He established an outpost, the Yearning for Zion Ranch, in Texas and implemented strict rules for followers. These limited the clothing they could wear and toys children could play with, as well as banning television and the internet.

How Many Wives Did Warren Jeffs Have?

Rulon Jeffs had at least 50 wives and dozens of children because the FLDS practices polygamy, or plural marriage. Warren built a similarly large family tree. In 2018, The Guardian reported he wed 80 women and children, though the marriages were only spiritual and not legally recognized.

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Warren even chose to marry some of his fathers wivesincluding Naomie Jeffs, who served as his scribe at ceremonies and sermons, according to People, and was considered his favorite. She revealed in the Peacock docuseries Preaching Evil: A Wife on the Run With Warren Jeffs that she and Jeffs no longer consider themselves a couple after he asked her to complete unspecified tasks during his incarceration.

Jeffs 65th wife, Briell Decker, simply described him as creepy.

When Warren was around, Id go into hiding, Decker told The Guardian. If I didnt, Id have to be part of the temple stuff that he was doing.

What Crimes Did Warren Jeffs Commit?

Jeffs soon faced disturbing legal challenges, with his nephew Brent Jeffs alleging his uncle had sexually assaulted him as a child. Two of Jeffss children, who are no longer part of the FLDS, have since made similar public claims.

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In 2005, Arizona authorities indicted Jeffs on charges of sexual conduct with a minor and conspiracy to commit sexual conduct with a minor, Biography.com has noted. He also faced two counts of rape as an accomplice in 2006 in Utah for his role in arranging a marriage between a 14-year-old girl and her 19-year-old cousin.

Getty Images

Jeffs was ultimately added to the FBIs Most Wanted list in 2006 and arrested in August of that year. He was convicted on charges of being an accessory to rape in Utah in 2007, but the conviction was overturned. The following year, a raid on the YFZ Ranch in Texas unearthed evidence of Jeffs and his followers marrying underage girls.

Jeffs went on trial in 2011 for two celestial marriagesone with a 12-year-old girl and another with a 15-year-old girl who later had his child. Both violated Texas law. He was ultimately found guilty on both counts of sexual assault in 2011 and sentenced to life in prison.

Where Is Warren Jeffs Serving His Prison Sentence?

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice inmate database, Jeffs is currently housed at the Louis C. Powledge Unit located in unincorporated Anderson County, Texas. He was transferred there in August 2011 after his conviction.

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Jeffs does not have a projected release date, and he will become eligible for parole on July 22, 2038.

According to reports, Jeffs had at least one suicide attempt while imprisonedattempting to hang himself in 2007and was hospitalized for pneumonia in 2011 after participating in a three-day fast.

In March 2016, a Deseret News report offered details of his daily routine. Jeffs is held in protective custody to protect him from other inmates, and he sometimes received more than 1,000 written letters per day from FLDS members. Each has to be opened and inspected before he can read them. His meals are delivered to his cell, and he regularly denies interview requests.

Does Warren Jeffs Still Lead the FLDS?

Getty Images

According to the A&E docuseries Warren Jeffs: Prophet of Evil, the FLDS has lost hundreds of members and control of the Short Creek sister cities inhabited by Samuel Bateman since his imprisonment.

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Despite this, Jeffss daughter Rachel alleged following Roys death in 2019 that her father was still in full control of the FLDS. Those who still follow him believe he is a sacrificial figure who is in prison to atone for their sins.

According to A&E, prison officials have suspected Jeffss brothers used hidden recording devicesdisguised as items such as watches and pensto capture weekly meetings with him. They claimed he also wrote coded letters, which were picked up and deciphered by wives from the group.

Although Jeffs has seemingly tried to keep his communications under wraps, he was linked to a 2022 written edict. The document, which was purportedly written by Jeffs and distributed by a son named Helaman Jeffs, called on ex-members to return to the faith and hinted at Jeffss future release. Pray that Warren Jeffs will go free, and he can meet you in your congregations soon, all peoples who desire to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on earth," it said, according to Fox 13.

For now, the self-proclaimed prophet remains behind bars, but its clear his influence wont fully fade anytime soon.

Watch Trust Me: The False Prophet on Netflix Now

Rachel Dretzin, the director of Trust Me: The False Prophet previously examined the rise and fall of Jeffs in the 2022 docuseries Keep Sweet: Prey and Obey, also on Netflix. Its unclear how much the new project will focus on the faith leader and his involuntary connection to Bateman.

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All four episodes of Trust Me are now streaming on Netflix.

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West Virginia is one of 31 states that permit absentee ballots mailed on or before Election Day to be counted if received within a reasonable time after Election Day. West Virginias choice reflects a balance of the need for finality in elections with the particular needs of our citizens. A bill introduced in the 2026 Legislature eliminating this practice failed to pass. This is a good thing. Our state is right to count these ballots, not as a partisan matter but as a matter of fairness and democracy.

What West Virginia law provides

In West Virginia, voters can vote an absentee ballot if they are confined because of disability or medical condition, or are unable to vote in person because of extreme advanced age. In addition, an absentee ballot is available to any voter absent from the county because of personal or business travel, attendance at a place of education or training, or employment outside the county. And overseas uniformed service personnel and U.S. residents of foreign countries may also vote by absentee ballot.

Absentee ballots are accepted if the ballot bears a USPS postmark dated no later than Election Day and is received no later than the hour the board of canvassers convenes to count the votes. The various county boards of canvassers convene on the fifth day after Election Day, Sundays excepted.

Why West Virginias policy is right

Poor mail service in West Virginia affects this whole question. The USPS ranks the mail delivery performance of each postal district in the country. West Virginia is in the Kentucky-West Virginia District. Districts are ranked 1 through 50, with 1 being the worst-performing. In 2025, the West Virginia-Kentucky District ranked as the 8th worst-performing district for timely mail delivery.

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West Virginia is predominantly rural, and rural voters face more than just slow delivery times. Since 2000, West Virginia has closed 175 post offices, more than any other state. We can expect more closures since our existing post offices, on average, serve fewer customers than the national average. Rural voters arent to blame for postal service problems. We are right to give them a grace period for counting their absentee ballots because of these problems.

Overseas service personnel and U.S. citizens living abroad are a particular problem. While a law regarding overseas military voting permits filing absentee ballots electronically, approximately 40% of these voters still mail their ballots. These ballots, like all others, must be received by the deadline in each state. Domestic mail service might be slow, but international mail service is much worse, especially for service personnel posted in remote areas.

Some will argue that absentee voters should simply put their ballots in the mail sooner. In other words, these voters should calculate what delay is possible and make their voting choices earlier to account for the delay. But consider what that requires the absentee voter to do. Many of us are deciding how we will vote right up to the moment we engage the voting machine. Insisting that absentee voters mail their ballots well in advance of election day deprives them of the full time the rest of us enjoy to consider campaign arguments and make our choices. That makes absentee voters second-class voters.

The Supreme Court case

Under the Elections Clause of the Constitution, states are responsible for determining the time, places and manner for holding elections, although Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations. This power relates only to federal elections, but both state and federal elections are held on the same day, and the ballots list candidates for both state and federal office. Congress has passed a law making an early Tuesday in November the day for the election.

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In a case pending before the Supreme Court, the Republican National Committee has challenged a Mississippi law granting a grace period of five days for ballots mailed on or before election day to be received afterwards. This is virtually the same as West Virginias law. The question in the case is whether election day for federal elections means the day all votes must be cast, or the day all votes must be received. If the latter, a second question is whether this law overrides state laws regarding state elections.

This would not seem to be a hard case. We have a federal system in which states regulate much of life within their own borders and, early on, states chose vastly different days to hold elections. The federal law in issue was adopted simply to have a uniform day. It says nothing about casting ballots versus receiving them. States have been granting a grace period for receiving some ballots for over 100 years. In fact, Congress has deferred to state ballot receipt practices in the present law governing the receipt of military and overseas ballots. It is hard to imagine that Congress would overrule the practice without directly saying so.

If the RNC wins in the Supreme Court, the result would technically only apply to federal elections in Mississippi. States, including West Virginia, would still be bound by their own laws regarding ballot counting for state elections. This cant be changed by edict from the governor or secretary of state. And no law could be passed conforming any of our practices to the Supreme Court ruling, even as to federal elections, until the Legislature meets in January 2027  too late for the 2026 midterm elections. This would lead to chaos and further litigation.

There is no throughline describing the states that have adopted grace periods for absentee ballots. They are red and blue, large and small, urban and rural. One wonders why the Republican National Committee would spend the huge sums necessary to litigate a case all the way to the Supreme Court simply to ensure that the only votes counted are those received on Election Day. Many Republican voters will be disenfranchised. The answer is that Donald Trump sees a political advantage in eliminating mail-in balloting of any kind. And that is sad.

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A Georgia woman is behind bars, facing accusations of defrauding a church for half a million dollars.

According to the Bibb County Sheriffs Office, Tiffany Alayn Watson, 39 of Gray, is accused of participating in a financial conspiracy at the Riverside United Methodist Church.

Watson worked at the church as an administrator and co-director of its children center at the time.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The South Georgia United Methodist Conference reported their solvency was coming into question and pursued answers. The sheriffs office said those efforts were initially unsuccessful.

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Conference leaders were questioning the financial status, debt and general financial operations of Riverside United Methodist and hired a forensic accountant after several attempts to get cooperation from the church to understand its financial workings.

TRENDING STORIES:

After the accountant working with the churchs bank discovered suspicious and fraudulent activities, the sheriffs office was contacted and given their findings.

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"During the investigation over the next several months, The Criminal Investigation Division discovered criminal findings dating back as far as 2022 through 2025 when the church was closed" the sheriffs office said.

Investigators learned Watson had allegedly used $500,000 of the churchs money without proper authorization, then used it for personal use.

Sheriffs office officials said investigators also determined that Watson had created a criminal enterprise related to the theft of funds.

Following an interview with investigators on Tuesday morning, Watson was charged and taken to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.

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She faces charges for the following felonies:

Computer theft

First degree forgery

Theft by conversion

Theft by deception

Financial identity fraud

Fiduciary theft by taking

Money laundering

Evasion of income tax, penalty, interest or other

Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations

Watson is currently being held without bond and the investigation remains active, with additional charges possible, according to deputies.

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A woman trying to board a train in Germany at the last minute resorted to extraordinary means and bit a station worker in the arm when he tried to intervene.

The 36-year-old woman was looking to board a local train at Munich's Pasing station as the doors were closing, police said on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old employee tried to stop her, and the woman bit his arm, resulting in a visible wound.

However, the man did not sustain any serious injury and was able to continue working, it said.

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The woman is being investigated for bodily harm.

German national railway operator Deutsche Bahn has vowed to ramp up security measures to protect its staff after a fatal attack on a train conductor sparked nationwide shock earlier this year.

Among other things, all employees are to be offered the option of wearing body cameras.

The 36-year-old was attacked on a train in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate by a passenger travelling without a ticket and suffered severe injuries before dying in hospital.

The alleged culprit, a 26-year-old Greek national, is in custody.

According to Deutsche Bahn, there were a total of around 3,000 physical assaults on its employees last year.

Although this was a slight decrease compared to the previous year, the railway union EVG noted that the sense of security among the workforce has deteriorated significantly, referring to a survey of around 4,000 employees conducted last year.
Democrats just had one of their best election nights since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Again.

In Wisconsins Supreme Court election, the Democratic-backed candidate sailed to a nearly 20-point landslide victory Tuesday in a battleground Trump carried less than two years ago. Meanwhile, a Georgia Democrat slashed Trump's margin of victory by two thirds in the state's reddest district despite losing the election  the most significant overperformance the party has seen across all seven House special elections so far this cycle.

The results in the battleground states  home to key Senate, gubernatorial and House races  are the latest repudiation from voters of Trump and his agenda and flashing warning signs for the GOP heading into November.

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It's a wow moment in Wisconsin politics, said former Republican strategist Brandon Scholz, who left the party in 2021. Republicans ought to be sitting down tonight and going, Okay, we just screwed up another race. What are we going to do in November?

Chris Taylor, a liberal Wisconsin judge, led by 20 points with 90 percent of votes counted  nearly double the already-large margin another liberal candidate won by in 2025  and she did it by making cuts into GOP strongholds.

In Georgia, Democrat Shawn Harris lost to Republican Clay Fuller, but the margin was only 12 points with nearly all votes counted, roughly one-third the 37-point margin Trump won by in 2024.



While Tuesdays results are not a perfect parallel to November, the consistent Democratic overperformances in races large and small since Trump returned to the White House suggest the base is motivated to turn out for all manner of contests.

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Democrats were elated with the results.

Election after election continues to show what we have been saying over the last year and a half, said CJ Warnke, the spokesperson for House Majority PAC, a Democratic super PAC aligned with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Americans are fed up with broken promises on no new wars and lower prices on day one from Trump and Republicans.

Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said on X that Harris overperformance was evidence that enthusiasm for Democrats is growing everywhere.

There were other signs of Democratic momentum, too: Taylor was leading in Ozaukee County, one of Wisconsins most reliably red areas. Her strong performance statewide also helped down ballot, where a Democrat won the Waukesha mayoral contest, which was open after an independent  who left the GOP and endorsed Kamala Harris in 2024  opted not to run for reelection.



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Heather Williams, who leads Democrats legislative-focused campaign arm, called Taylors win in Wisconsin a decisive victory that marks changing tides.

Many Republicans were quick to dismiss the results in both contests.

Neither contest is a direct comparison to November. Wisconsins statewide contest saw less money than some battleground House seats will see, with lopsided spending on the Democratic side that is unlikely to occur this fall. Turnout was also much lower in the relatively low-profile races compared with normal midterms.

One longtime Wisconsin Republican strategist, granted anonymity to speak candidly, cast the blame on Maria Lazar, the GOP-backed state Supreme Court candidate who was massively outspent in the race.

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Everyone involved should be doxxed, tarred and feathered and run out of Wisconsin politics, the strategist said while dismissing the idea that the race result matters ahead of November.

The electorate is so different now. GOP voters dont show up for spring [elections] like they used to, they said.

Republicans in Georgia similarly said the margins in their states special election were nothing to worry about, pointing to Harris strong fundraising and name ID in the district after running against former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in 2024.

Democrats threw everything they had at this race, said Georgia Republican Party chair Josh McKoon. They made this the Super Bowl and they lost.

Cameron Joseph and Erin Doherty contributed to this report.
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) held its annual ceremony on Tuesday to honor workers killed or injured on the job.

WSDOT said 61 employees have been killed in work zones since 1950.

According to new state statistics, the total number of work zone-related crashes was 1,557 in 2025, a slight decrease from 1,607 crashes in 2024, WSDOT said.

WSDOT said the largest increase was in fatal collisions, which rose from seven in 2024 to nine in 2025, a 29% increase.

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On Monday night, just hours before the ceremony, a wrong-way driver entered an active work zone on I-405/SR 167 in Renton - crashing into work equipment and setting the car aflame.

No one was hurt, but the driver was arrested for DUI.
Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin leveled sharp criticism against his successor, Gov. Abigail Spanberger, and called the April 21 redistricting referendum shes championed illegal and unconstitutional during a recent appearance on Fox News host Sean Hannitys podcast.

Youngkin again dodged questions about a future run for president or joining a future Republican presidential administration during the nearly hour-long, wide-ranging conversation on Hang Out with Sean Hannity, which was taped March 9 and posted to YouTube and other streaming services Tuesday.

The former governor said hes focused on helping Republicans keep the House and Senate in 2026 and expressed support for Vice President J.D. Vance as the Republican nominee for president in 2028 as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the vice presidential pick.

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I never was going to run (for president) in 2024, Youngkin said. I so agree with what Vice President Vance has been saying  and, by the way, the president and Marco, which is: 2026 requires all of our attention, and folks that are looking past to 2028 are missing the whole trick  its today. Its today. Weve got to hold our House and weve got to hold our Senate.

Top of mind for Youngkin is the upcoming April 21 referendum to amend the state constitution to allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginias congressional districts ahead of the November midterm elections. Democrats are hoping a new map will be approved that would give them an advantage in 10 of Virginias 11 congressional districts, based on the results of the 2024 presidential election, going into November.

The referendum, which is still facing a lawsuit from Republicans, would allow the General Assemblys power to redraw congressional maps to expire in 2030, after which the Virginia Redistricting Commission would resume the duty. Proponents of the amendment argue that it is a response to Republican redistricting efforts in states including North Carolina, Texas, Missouri and Ohio, undertaken at the behest of President Donald Trump to give Republicans an advantage in the midterms.

Youngkin told Hannity the referendum is unconstitutional because the first vote on it occurred after the voting had already begun in the November 2025 gubernatorial election, saying (Democrats) tried to package that up as a legitimate first vote  its not.

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With that said Im terribly frustrated with our Supreme Court in Virginia who refused to take this up and opine on it in time, they said theyll opine on it later, Youngkin continued. I just think theyre being weak here, they need to stand up for the constitution. But we have a referendum now on the 21st of April and weve got to go to work and help everybody understand that this is bad for Virginia so youve got to vote no on this referendum.

Speaking about Spanbergers record, Youngkin said the first six weeks of her administration felt like six decades and later accused her of opening up the jails, letting everybody vote, reducing school safety, turning Virginia into a sanctuary state, raising taxes, and driving away business.

Theyre doing everything they can to advance a progressive agenda which we know doesnt work, Youngkin said.

He touted his own administrations cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, claiming that it resulted in between 5,000 and 7,000 arrests of violent criminals who were in the country illegally, and drew a comparison between Spanberger, who ended Virginias cooperation with ICE, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

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People werent protesting in the streets (in Virginia during Youngkins governorship) because we were doing it the right way and collaborating, Youngkin said. When you see folks like what happened in Minnesota  I mean the governor of Minnesota, if he had worked with the federal government, couldve had the exact same results (as Virginia) but no, he chose not to. He chose to turn it into a fight.

Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com
Morning Minute is a daily newsletter written by Tyler Warner. The analysis and opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Decrypt. And check out our new daily news show covering all of the top stories in 5 minutes or less, downloadable on Apple Pod or Spotify.

GM!

Todays top news:

Crypto majors rise then fall overnight; BTC -2% at $68.4k

Saylor buys another $330M in BTC; STRC powers 70%

Tom Lees BMNR bought $150M in ETH as total nears 4% of ETH supply

Polymarket announces full exchange overhaul and new Polymarket USD stable

Circles Arc will launch its mainnet with post-quantum signature support

 Ceasefire Hopes Rise, Fall Along with Bitcoin

Bitcoin hit its highest price in over a week Monday morning as reports emerged that Pakistan is brokering a 45-day ceasefire between the US and Iran, what mediators are calling the Islamabad Accord.

The move sent a wave of risk-on buying across crypto, equities, and oil markets, with BTC passing $70,000 and the broader crypto market adding roughly $70B in market cap within hours.

But as the day went on, those ceasefire hopes faded as Trumps 48-hour countdown got closer to its end. Bitcoin fell 3% into the evening, now just at $68,300. Meanwhile Oil jumped 4% to $114 and stock futures are red (-0.5%) ahead of Trumps deadline ending today.

It appears we are not out of the woods yet.

Key Details:

Bitcoin hit $70k+ Monday after Reuters reported the US, Iran, and regional mediators are discussing a 45-day ceasefire framework put together by Pakistan

$273M in crypto shorts were liquidated in 24 hours, a nearly 3-to-1 short-to-long wipeout

Polymarket odds on a ceasefire by April 30 rose to ~28%; a full de-escalation could push BTC above $90,000 per analysts at Bitget Wallet

 Mike and Tom Keep Buying

Strategy snapped a one-week pause in Bitcoin buying Monday, announcing a $330M purchase of 4,871 BTC at an average price of $67,700, well below where BTC was trading at announcement. The buy was funded overwhelmingly by STRC, which contributed $227M versus $72M from common stock. STRC remained hot on Monday, doing enough volume for another ~936 BTC purchases.

Meanwhile Tom Lees BitMine added 71,252 ETH ($152M) last week, pushing its total stash to more than 4.8M ETH, valued around $10.3B and representing 3.98% of all circulating Ethereum. The firm is staking 3.14M ETH generating approximately $272M per year in yield. One more week like this and BitMine controls 4% of the entire ETH supply.

Key Details:
Artemis II is a test flight. That means that for all of the groundbreaking science crew members have conducted during their journey, one of their main goals is simply to see how all of the new systems and technologies that have been developed for the mission perform when theyre actually sent into outer space.

For the most part, things have gone remarkably well. The most important systems that need to work  like propulsion, navigation and life support  have operated with very few issues. But that doesnt mean everything has gone as hoped.

Despite the years that NASA spent planning the mission, there were inevitably going to be hiccups along the way. These are some of the small, and in some cases extremely relatable, problems that have arisen for the Artemis II crew during their journey around the moon and back.

Email issues

On the first day of the mission, the astronauts dealt with a challenge that has plagued so many of us Earth-bound office workers: Needing tech support to fix their wonky work email.

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In audio shared via NASAs livestream, mission commander Reid Wiseman can be heard asking ground control for help with his personal computer, a Microsoft Surface Pro.

I also see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those are working, he says, referring to Microsofts notoriously finicky email application. Wiseman then asks engineers on the ground to remote in in hopes that they can fix the problem, which NASA later said they were able to do.

The email issues forced Wiseman to ask mission control to tell his children to send him messages via the other crew members accounts so I can at least talk to them.

This is not uncommon, Artemis flight director Judd Frieling said on Thursday. You know, sometimes Outlook has issues getting configured, especially when you dont have a network thats directly connected. And so essentially we just had to reload his files on Outlook to get it working.

Bluetooth struggles

During a video that was intended to show pilot Victor Glover using the onboard exercise device, mission specialist Christina Koch can be heard talking with ground control about her struggles getting a device to connect via Bluetooth.

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No joy [in] seeing the device in the list of available devices when I attempt to re-pair it, she says.

First, Outlook fails.



Now: Houston, Bluetooth won't pair.



Artemis II is @NASA's most relatable mission. pic.twitter.com/rGBHWieKbz  John Scott-Railton (@jsrailton) April 4, 2026

We dont have details on what exactly the issue was or whether it was resolved, but its pretty relatable to see that traveling hundreds of thousands of miles away from Earth isnt enough to escape the minor tech problems we deal with at home.

Toilet troubles

A mock-up of the toilet aboard the Orion. (Canadian Space Agency) (NASA)

Perhaps the most serious issue that the Artemis II crew has faced so far has been a stopped-up toilet. A few hours after lift off on Wednesday, the spacecrafts state-of-the-art toilet began malfunctioning.

First, the water pump wasnt working correctly. Then, urine wasnt being vented properly. At one point, the crew reported a burning smell coming from the restroom area. Rick Henfling, the Artemis II entry flight director, said Thursday that the toilet is still operational, but that the challenge theyre working through is evacuating the wastewater tank.

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To reduce the amount of maintenance that theyd need to do on the high-tech toilet, the crew was advised to sometimes use a less sophisticated backup  the Collapsible Contingency Urinal, effectively just a bag to pee in.

Im proud to call myself the space plumber, Koch said on Thursday. We were all breathing a sigh of relief when it turned out to be just fine.

The Orions toilet, for all of its hiccups, is a big leap forward from the system used in past lunar missions, which relied exclusively on bags. That low-tech system led to a notorious incident in 1969, when astronauts on the Apollo 10 mission reported a turd floating through the air.

A 2007 NASA report described the old toilet process as only marginally functional and distasteful for the crew.

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Defecation was difficult to perform without the crew soiling themselves, clothing, and the cabin, the report read. The bags provided no odor control in the small capsule and the odor was prominent.

While potty problems are always at least a little bit funny, having a functioning commode is critical, especially for NASAs plans to conduct long-distance space travel. If the toilet breaks on the way to Mars, there is a non-zero chance the crew is dying, Eric Berger, a senior space editor at Ars Technica, wrote last week.

Climate control hiccups

Any worker who has ever wondered why their office is always so freezing can empathize with the Artemis II crew, which asked mission control to try to find ways to warm up the capsule several times during the first few days of the mission.

It is very cold in the cabin, Koch said during a morning debrief on day two. Any chance you can make it warmer or reduce the cabin fan speed a bit more?

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Mission control responded by telling the crew that it had made an adjustment to increase the temperature while they were sleeping but would take a look at other options for making the cabin more comfortable.

The cabin temperature reportedly started out in the mid-70s but dipped about 10 degrees cooler over time. Mission control was eventually able to get the cabin back to its intended temperature.

We got a lot more comfortable," Glover said.

Sunshine snafus

For all of the billions that were spent on the Orion spacecraft, its crew was forced to rely on a very cheap solution to a problem that arose on day four of the mission.

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At one point, the module was in a position where the suns rays were hitting the spacecrafts windows so strongly that mission control became concerned the shades on the window might become too hot. They requested that the crew remove the shades, but that created an issue of its own: Without the shades in place, the sun became overwhelmingly bright in the cabin.

Mission control offered a simple fix.

We want to encourage you to use a T-shirt in the cabin or something similar, if needed, to block out that sunlight, it said.

The T-shirts worked, and they were used going forward whenever the crew needed some relief from the sun.
For the past year, the pharmaceutical industry has wrestled with Washington, as President Donald Trump has demanded that drug companies cut their prices or face his wrath - including the threat of punishing tariffs.

Now the industry is set to lose its top lobbyist, as Steve Ubl, the long-serving CEO of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), prepares to step down. The plainspoken Ubl, a staple on health industry and Washington most influential lists, steered the drug industry through the coronavirus pandemic and led its battles with Obama, Biden and Trump officials seeking to impose new curbs on drug prices.

Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post.

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What Im most proud of is really putting the organization on offense, Ubl said in an interview Tuesday, citing initiatives to deflect criticism from drugmakers and shift the spotlight to other industry players that PhRMA says deserve more scrutiny for their roles in the nations high health care costs. He also touted his teams efforts to defeat bad policy ideas, such as ballot measures in Ohio and California that would have set new limits on drug prices.

Ubl plans to stay on as PhRMAs leader until the organization finds a replacement, and then transition to a mix of teaching, consulting and board service. He first considered stepping down after the 2024 election but said he was persuaded to remain by PhRMAs board.

Rob Davis, Mercks CEO and PhRMAs board chair, praised Ubl as a great role model and said he had navigated difficult moments with Trump, lawmakers and foreign leaders. Hes the person who drives for compromise in the best interest of all parties.

Scott Gottlieb, a Pfizer board member and Trumps first Food and Drug Administration commissioner, wrote that he appreciated Ubls steady discipline and clear goals. Others credited PhRMAs role in pushing new measures on pharmacy benefit managers and remarked on Ubls longevity in Washingtons health policy debates.

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I was beginning to think he was immortal, said Joe Grogan, who headed the White Houses Domestic Policy Council during Trumps first term.

Ubl has led PhRMAs lobbying efforts for more than a decade and helped build a more aggressive, nationalized industry machine - one that beat back earlier reform efforts but is now showing cracks as drug companies cut their own deals with the White House. He has been a relentless cheerleader for the industrys medical breakthroughs, such as the rise of GLP-1 drugs to combat obesity and other health conditions.

Most Americans have a favorable opinion of prescription drugs but take a dimmer view of the companies that make them, polls have shown.

A Gallup survey last August found that just 28 percent of Americans had positive views of the pharmaceutical industry, lagging nearly two dozen other sectors. Only the federal government had lower favorability ratings than the pharmaceutical industry among surveyed sectors, Gallup found.

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Ubl and PhRMA have also often faced frequent pressure from politicians, such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), who have probed industry price hikes and lobbying efforts. Sanders, particularly, has focused on pharmaceutical companies influence machine, asking why there are far more drug industry lobbyists than members of Congress.

Meanwhile, other health industry players, such as hospitals and pharmacy benefit managers, have complained about PhRMAs ad campaigns that try to shift blame to them for high drug prices.

Were an easy target, Ubl said, adding that he understands why many Americans blanch at high-priced drugs that retail for more than their annual salaries.

In the interview, he reflected on shifting public sentiments toward drugmakers. The coronavirus pandemic briefly elevated the industry, as companies like Pfizer and Moderna produced vaccines credited with saving millions of lives. But that goodwill has since curdled into backlash, complicating new vaccine investments.

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Ubl also lamented disappointments, like the Biden administrations drug-pricing changes that PhRMA has blamed for harming investment and curbing development of some drugs. President Joe Biden and Democrats also achieved a long-held goal to empower Medicare, the government program that provides health insurance to older Americans, to negotiate the price of some medications directly with drug companies, an idea that the pharmaceutical industry had long opposed.

A lot of my work and focus is to make sure that we continue to operate with context, Ubl said, touting statistics about the need for drug industry research and development as well as the wide availability of cheap, generic medicines.

PhRMA - composed of the pharmaceutical industrys largest companies - is one of Washingtons deepest-pocketed trade associations. Its spending regularly tops $500 million per year, according to public filings, with the group helping coordinate efforts to blunt lawmakers would-be reforms through lobbying, advertisements and persistent counter-messaging. Ubls annual compensation topped $7.6 million in 2024, according to public filings.

The industrys push to shape the health care debate is set to be particularly intense this year, as Democrats and Republicans compete to convince voters that their side is doing more to lower costs, a top midterm election issue. That fight has often put the pharmaceutical industry at odds with lawmakers in both parties and increasingly with Trump, who has spent the past year pressuring executives to lower their prices.

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Sixteen drug companies have struck deals with the White House, even as Ubl has repeatedly warned that the presidents tactics could harm industry innovation.

Historically, medicines have been excluded from tariffs for a good reason - that they lead to shortages, they lead to cost increases for consumers, Ubl said. Other advocates, including opponents of the drug industry, have criticized Trumps tariffs too.

Wall Street analysts have largely shrugged off the deals impact, saying voluntary price cuts represent a relatively small hit to drugmakers revenue while defraying the risks of an angry Trump.

But the companies willingness to make deals directly with the White House - on the heels of Biden and Democrats own drug industry wins - has undercut some of the mystique around PhRMA, once seen as nigh-invincible in Washingtons corridors of power, thanks in part to its ample war chest and willingness to spend money. Modern Healthcare, a popular health care industry newsmagazine, ranked Ubl as the industrys 28th most influential person in 2023; its 38th most influential in 2024; and its 49th most influential in 2025.

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Davis, PhRMAs board chair, deflected suggestions that the lobbying groups defeats at the hands of Biden and Trump had dulled its teeth.

Its not a competition. Its about what is the priority policy objective we need to do, and then how we work together to achieve it, Davis said. My own view of this is we need to find a way to lower out-of-pocket costs for patients at the pharmacy counter.

Ubl, a former medical technology lobbyist, joined PhRMA in 2015, a moment of strength for the pharmaceutical industry. Drug companies had dodged numerous attempts by lawmakers to rein in their profits, including escaping from Democrats sweeping Affordable Care Act, which cut into the finances of other health care sectors. An Obama-era idea to change how Medicare paid for drugs also died in the final year of his presidency, hammered by PhRMA and other opponents.

PhRMA leaders at the time often seemed less concerned with Washington and more worried about the risk of self-inflicted damage from industry profiteers, such as Martin Shkreli, a hoodie-wearing pharmaceutical investor who bought the rights to an old anti-infection drug and hiked its price by more than 4,000 percent. The episode drew national attention, investigations from lawmakers and scorn from Ubl, who launched a new PR campaign for PhRMA - which he dubbed less hoodie, more lab coats - focusing on the industrys scientific breakthroughs.

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But Trumps ascendance as a major presidential candidate - coupled with the rise of Sanders in the 2016 Democratic primary race - helped catalyze new anti-industry sentiment, with both men frequently decrying high U.S. drug prices and asking why other countries paid less.

Some of Trumps initiatives to pressure drug companies floundered in his first term. But he has redoubled his efforts, announcing plans last May to pressure the industry to voluntarily lower drug prices through an initiative dubbed most favored nation, an effort linking U.S. prices to those of other countries with lower costs.

I am doing this for the American people. Im doing this against the most powerful lobby in the world, probably, the drug lobby, Trump said. He went on to praise pharmaceutical companies and their executives - sort of.

I think they did one of the greatest jobs in history for their company, convincing people for many years that this was a fair system, he said. Nobody really understood why, but I figured it out.

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Trump has intensified that pressure, calling for Congress to codify the most favored nation policy into law and threatening tariffs on companies that refuse to cut deals. He has also elevated critics of the industry, such as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to key positions in his administration.

Ubl insisted Tuesday that his departure from PhRMA wasnt related to Trump, his people or his policies - some of which, including Trumps tax and regulatory agenda, Ubl said have benefited the industry.

Maybe I have a special kind of sickness. But I relish this kind of engagement, he said. Ive learned the art of  disagreeing without being disagreeable.

Related Content
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
White House Study: Stablecoin Yield Ban Barely Boosts Bank Lending

A new study from the White House released Wednesday found that banning yields on stablecoins would have very little impact on bank lending, challenging the banking industrys claims that stablecoins would weaken their ability to lend to businesses and households.

The Council of Economic Advisers, a U.S. agency within the Executive Office of the President, noted that banning stablecoin yield would have a negligible impact on credit creation, increasing bank lending by only $2.1 billion, or roughly 0.02%.

The 21-page report, which used data from the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation on deposits, lending, and bank liquidity, found that funds used to purchase stablecoins like USDC (CRYPTO: $USDC) and USDT (CRYPTO: $USDT) are often reinvested in assets such as Treasury bills and redeposited elsewhere in the banking system. In other words, the overall deposit levels remain mostly unchanged.



Furthermore, the researchers assert that restricting stablecoins could come at a cost to consumers, who would lose access to returns without seeing any meaningful improvement in credit availability or their ability to borrow, as well as other possible downsides, such as limiting competition and curtailing future innovation in the digital finance space.

More From Cryptoprowl:

These findings come as policymakers continue to assess the role of stablecoins in the broader financial system and consider potential regulatory frameworks.


All of this growth is happening alongside a wave of new regulation that gives companies like Ripple a reason to take the market seriously. South Africa has required licensing for crypto service providers since June 2023, Nigeria passed the Investments and Securities Act in 2025 formally classifying digital assets, and Kenya signed its VASP Bill into law in October 2025.

Four African countries are now in the Global Crypto Adoption Top 20, up from two in 2025, with Nigeria accounting for $92 billion of the regional total on its own. The continent handles 70% of the world's $1 trillion mobile money market, meaning hundreds of millions of people already move money digitally without a bank account. For them, stablecoins and cross-border crypto payments are not a big leap, but a faster, cheaper version of what they already do every day.

Sub-Saharan Africa is now the third fastest-growing crypto region in the world. Over $205 billion in on-chain value flowed through the region in the past 12 months, and most of it was everyday use. People are sending money home, paying bills, and moving savings into stablecoins to protect against currency devaluation. Over 8% of all crypto transfers in Africa are under $10,000, which is higher than the global average and shows how deeply crypto has become part of daily life across the continent.

Sub-Saharan Africa received over $205 billion in on-chain value in the past 12 monthsa 52% jump that makes it the third fastest-growing crypto region in the world. Ripple is already operating across the continent through RLUSD partnerships and a custody deal with one of Africa's largest banks. With both 2026 acquisitions so far being in Australia, could Africa be where Ripple looks next?

Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP) has spent most of 2026 expanding in Australia, but the company has signaled it could move into an even bigger market. Ripple just published a full country-by-country breakdown of Africa's crypto regulation, which could be a snippet of where it's heading next.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE .

None of Ripples African partnerships currently use On-Demand Liquidity with XRP, meaning the expansion benefits Ripples stablecoin business but has not yet created direct XRP demand.

Sub-Saharan Africa saw a 52% growth to $205 billion in on-chain value over the past 12 months, with Nigeria accounting for $92 billion of that total.

Story Continues

Eight African countries now have crypto-specific regulations in place, with Ghana, Botswana, and Namibia actively building theirs, giving Ripple more regulated entry points in Africa now than it had in all of Asia-Pacific two years ago.

What Does Ripple Already Have on the Ground in Africa?

Katcha_Natsarin / Shutterstock.com

Ripple has five active partnerships across the continent, and they all do something different. Chipper Cash is a cross-border payments app with over 5 million users across seven African countries and the UK. VALR is South Africa's largest crypto exchange, and Yellow Card runs stablecoin on-ramps and off-ramps in over 20 African countries. All three are now distributing RLUSD directly to retail and institutional users.

Absa Bank, one of Africa's largest financial institutions with operations in 12 countries, is now using Ripple Custody for its institutional clients. Ripple is also running a pilot with Mercy Corps Ventures in Kenya that uses RLUSD to deliver drought relief aid faster and more transparently than traditional channels.

So far, Ripple has built a distribution network across Africa that covers remittances, institutional custody, exchange liquidity, and humanitarian aidall without making a single acquisition on the continent.

Could Africa Be Where XRP Actually Gets Used?

Tippman98x / Shutterstock.com

Sending $200 to Sub-Saharan Africa through traditional banking systems costs around 8.9% in fees on average, and settlement can take days. Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity service uses XRP as a bridge currency to settle cross-border payments in seconds at a fraction of that cost.

ODL converts the sender's currency into XRP, moves it across the XRP Ledger, and converts it into the recipient's local currency on the other side. It has processed over $15 billion in cross-border payments globally, and Africa's high remittance costs and limited banking infrastructure make it a natural fit for that technology.

Most of Ripple's current Africa partnerships are running on RLUSD and fiat rails rather than XRP directly. Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card are distributing Ripple's stablecoin, and the Absa custody deal stores digital assets without requiring XRP to be the settlement layer. Roughly 40% of RippleNet's partners globally use ODL with XRP, while the rest settle in fiat only, and none of Ripple's African partnerships use ODL yet.

The economics of African remittances could push more of those partnerships toward XRP. When cross-border fees are that high and settlement takes days, the savings from XRP-based ODL are too significant for institutions across the continent to pass by. Ripple already has the local partnerships and the custody infrastructure in place, but what it needs now is for more African corridors to go live on ODLand the regulatory groundwork for that is already done in eight countries.

Will Ripple's Africa Push Be Different for XRP?

Ripple's Africa expansion is gaining traction, but right now, it is an RLUSD and custody play rather than an XRP one. What could change that is capital specifically earmarked for XRP liquidity in Africaand it is already being raised. Trident Digital Tech Holdings is building a $500 million corporate XRP treasury to provide liquidity for African cross-border payments, with a phased rollout targeting mid-2026.

Once that liquidity is available, the next step is Ripple turning on ODL corridors with its African partners. The CLARITY Act classifying XRP as a digital commodity would give institutions the legal clarity to move off fiat-only rails. With remittance fees to Africa sitting at 8.9% on average, the reason to switch is already thereit just needs the infrastructure to catch up.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

Wall Street is pouring billions into AI, but most investors are buying the wrong stocks. The analyst who first identified NVIDIA as a buy back in 2010  before its 28,000% run  has just pinpointed 10 new AI companies he believes could deliver outsized returns from here. One dominates a $100 billion equipment market. Another is solving the single biggest bottleneck holding back AI data centers. A third is a pure-play on an optical networking market set to quadruple. Most investors haven't heard of half these names. Get the free list of all 10 stocks here.
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.

ETF Inflows Hit $462 Billion in Q1 as Investors Ignore Market Drop Flows were broad-based across asset classes. U.S. fixed income ETFs led the way with $40.1 billion of inflows, followed by $38.9 billion into U.S. equity ETFs and $32.3 billion into international equity ETFs. Commodities ETFs were the lone area of weakness, losing $11.9 billion. (ETF.com)

Franklin Templeton Reorganizes Client Group, Fills Product, Distribution Roles Franklin Templeton has reorganized its global client group under a newly appointed group leader, while filling several product and distribution leadership roles. Kim Roy will serve as chief operating officer for the global client group, a newly created position. (FundFire)

Ask the Analyst: What Investors Need to Know About Taxes Funds end up realizing if they sell securities for more than the purchase price, either as part of their regular strategy or if theyre forced to raise cash to meet redemptions from shareholders. In general, funds with higher portfolio turnover tend to distribute more capital gains compared with funds that dont trade as actively. (Morningstar)

50 years. 50 facts. Indexing since 1976. When John C. Bogle launched Vanguard 500 Index Fund on August 31, 1976, as First Index Investment Trust, he gave individual investors access to a strategy previously available only to institutional investors. The first index fund for individual investors embodied the Vanguard founders belief that most investors are better served by owning the whole stock market, at low cost, rather than trying to beat it. (Vanguard)

He Brought Private Credit to the Masses. Now the Masses Are Fleeing. Wall Street skeptics who long questioned Cliffwaters growth are now calling it a canary in the coal mine and a turducken of problems, given its entanglement in other funds. Nesbitts ability to quell the fears will be a test of his fundsand the industrysfuture with a mass audience. (WSJ)

Confidence: Managers Call DOL Rule a Clear Boost for Alts in 401(k)s Retirement plan sponsors and private fund managers have for years identified litigation risk as the main stumbling point for including alts within defined contribution lineups. That roadblock has allowed market interest to grow slowly and a consensus to emerge over how to include alts in such offerings and what types of strategies and product formats might fit best. (FundFire)

Private Investments in 401(k)s: We Still Have Questions Each of the six factors is relatively straightforward when evaluating public market investments. Private markets complicate all six, not only because of their own inherent complexity but also because of difficulties in evaluating performance, fees, liquidity, and valuations. (Morningstar)

DST Fundraising Reaches $2.44 Billion in Q1 2026, Up 34% Year Over Year Delaware statutory trust equity fundraising totaled approximately $2.44 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a 34% year-over-year increase from the approximately $1.82 billion raised through Q1 2025, according to data from Mountain Dell Consulting. (AltsWire)

The Wealthy Investors That Powered Private Credit Are Rushing for the Exits The pool of individual investors that acted as a catalyst for private-credit firms rapid growth is now a source of fragility. Adding to the industrys problems are signs of deterioration on the loans that private-credit firms originated in recent years. (WSJ)
Mid-cap stocks have the best odds of scaling into $100 billion corporations thanks to their tested business models and large addressable markets. But the many opportunities in front of them attract significant competition, spanning from industry behemoths with seemingly infinite resources to small, nimble players with chips on their shoulders.

These dynamics can rattle even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the good companies from the bad. Keeping that in mind, here are three mid-cap stocks to avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.

Twilio (TWLO)

Market Cap: $20.08 billion

Known for the clever "Twilio Magic" demo that had developers creating functioning communications apps in minutes, Twilio (NYSE:TWLO) provides a platform that enables businesses to communicate with their customers through voice, messaging, email, and other digital channels.

Why Does TWLO Fall Short?

Products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy may need some adjustments as its 13.4% average billings growth over the last year was weak Bad unit economics and steep infrastructure costs are reflected in its gross margin of 49%, one of the worst among software companies

Twilio is trading at $134.90 per share, or 3.5x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with TWLO, check out our full research report (its free).

Williams-Sonoma (WSM)

Market Cap: $21.41 billion

Started in 1956 as a store specializing in French cookware, Williams-Sonoma (NYSE:WSM) is a specialty retailer of higher-end kitchenware, home goods, and furniture.

Why Does WSM Worry Us?

Annual revenue declines of 3.5% over the last three years indicate problems with its market positioning Ongoing store closures and lackluster same-store sales indicate sluggish demand and a focus on consolidation Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand

Williams-Sonomas stock price of $187.50 implies a valuation ratio of 19.7x forward P/E. If youre considering WSM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Restaurant Brands (QSR)

Market Cap: $26.51 billion

Formed through a strategic merger, Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR) is a multinational corporation that owns three iconic fast-food chains: Burger King, Tim Hortons, and Popeyes.

Why Are We Wary of QSR?
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.

Lido Advisors, the Los Angeles-based registered investment advisor with more than $42.5 billion in client assets, has added its own broker/dealer to make the option available to existing and future advisors on its platform, according to a regulatory filing and firm executives.

Lido, an otherwise fee-only advisory, added the in-house broker/dealer in March, according to a regulatory filing.

President Ken Stern said Lido remains focused on being a fee-only RIA, but that as the firm seeks to draw top talent across the advisor space, it became necessary to add a broker/dealer option.

We want the best of the best, Stern said. The best of the best is going to come from everywherebanks, wirehouses, other RIAs. Were unapologetic about finding the best thats going to represent our clients, and many of those have broker/dealer affiliations.

Stern gave the example of an advisor joining from an independent b/d who has clients with a variable annuity. Without a b/d, the firm wouldnt be able to advise on those assets, which he said would be a misalignment as advisors need to be able to be a fiduciary on the entirety of the clients portfolio.

Were not going to be a retail broker/dealer, Stern said. However, there are certain situations that we dont want to be in gray areas with the regulators when it comes to how we approach all of our investment mandates and what were doing, and so its just a cleaner way to do it.

Lido has been adding advisors and assets at a rapid pace since it sold a stake to private equity firm Charlesbank Capital Partners. Last May, it sold a stake to BlackRocks HPS, with Charlesbank shedding some of its ownership while retaining a position in the firm. Lido also has a non-controlling minority investment from Constellation Wealth Capital as of 2024.

The RIA also has 250 co-owners from its employee base, with plans to expand that number further this year, said CEO and co-founder Jason Ozur.

Ozur said in the capital transaction last year, 74 of those owners became millionaires.

Thats one of the things Im most proud of, Ozur said. Its not about one person, but about the team, and we want the number of co-owners in this company to go up every single year.

He added that there are shares for advisors to buy into ownership, as well as management incentive shares given to employees.

Stern and Ozur stressed Lidos single-brand, full-service model across investing, taxes, and estate planning, with three channels to serve individuals, more complex high-net-worth clients, and up to family office services.
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Archer-Daniels-Midlands former CFO Vikram Luthar refuted accounting fraud allegations made by the Securities and Exchange Commission in a lawsuit filed against him in January, according to 61-page filing that answered the SECs charges one by one.

Luthar denied the suits central allegations: that in his capacity as CFO of the companys Nutrition business and, after his promotion, as CFO of the whole company, he orchestrated and approved a series of improper, post hoc, adjustments to sales between ADMs business segments to manipulate the numbers and shift operating profit from other business segments to burnish the performance of the companys nutrition segment.

In addition, Luthars attorneys asserted that the SECs claims and any remedies they seek are barred, in whole or part, because Luthar reasonably relied on the advice, opinions and work product of qualified accounting and audit professionals, both internal to ADM and independent third parties.

More from Yahoo Scout What are intersegment sales accounting rules in question? What was ADM's $40 million settlement about? How did Luthar defend against the SEC charges? What accounting fraud allegations did the SEC make?

Dive Insight:

The March 27 filing provides the first glimpse of the legal strategy that Luthar  the sole defendant  will likely take in the case, which was filed in federal court in the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division.

The SEC filed its complaint in January, the same day it announced that the Chicago-based grain trading giant agreed to pay a $40 million civil penalty to settle charges that the company and two other former executives inflated the performance of one of its businesses. At that time ADM also said the Department of Justice had closed its investigation of ADM, marking the apparent end of years-long SEC and DOJ probes into its accounting processes.

In the suit, Luthar is alleged to have materially inflated the performance of the companys key nutrition business segment when it was falling short of operating profit targets in fiscal years 2021 and 2022, by directing retroactive adjustments in the form of rebates to make it appear as if it was meeting its goals, according to a release at the time.

Generally accepted accounting principles that guide how companies treat intersegment sales, or sales of items between a single companys different entities, in their financial reports are emerging as a key facet of the suit.



Luthar acknowledges in his answers that certain filings indicated that intersegment sales were recorded at amounts approximating market. Yet he denies that he directed a series of adjustments to intersegment transactions or that he misled investors into believing that transaction values were conducted by two unrelated parties at arms length.
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the 8 Best American Stocks to Buy for the Next 5 Years. On April 2, Mizuho Securities analyst Siti Panigrahi reaffirmed a Buy rating on Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) along with a price target of $320. The firms price target offers a compelling 118% upside from the current levels.

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is one of the 8 Best American Stocks to Buy for the Next 5 Years.

The positive outlook doesnt stop there, as a day before the Mizuho Securities update, Barclays analyst Raimo Lenschow also reiterated a Buy rating on Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) and a $240 price target.

As reported by Reuters on April 1, Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) is close to finalizing $16B in financing for a large data center project in Michigan that will support OpenAI workloads. The project is part of a broader push to expand AI infrastructure in the United States, as demand for advanced computing continues to rise. The data center campus, located in Saline Township, is expected to have more than 1 gigawatt of capacity. Construction has already begun, with work starting in February.

The financing package includes about $2 billion in equity from Blackstone and around $14B in debt led by Bank of America. The debt, which was initially planned as a construction loan, is now expected to be issued as bonds. The deal is likely to be completed soon.

Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL) provides information technology-related products and services to enterprises through its main business segments: Cloud and License, Hardware, and Services. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and was founded in June 1977 by Lawrence Joseph Ellison, Robert Nimrod Miner, and Edward A. Oates.

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The numbers back this up. ASML generated 32.7 billion euros in net sales for full-year 2025. That marked a 15% rise from 2024, with earnings climbing 28.5% to 24.73 euros per share. For 2026, management guided revenue between 34 billion and 39 billion euros -- implying 4% to 19% growth -- with gross margins holding at 51% to 53%. The installed base already exceeds 38 billion euros in backlog, and more than half of new bookings tie directly to EUV systems. In short, every expansion in AI infrastructure flows through ASMLs doors.

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Lets start with the basics. EUV lithography works by firing 13.5-nanometer light at silicon wafers to etch microscopic features. No other supplier -- Nikon or Canon included -- makes production-ready EUV tools. That gives ASML 100% market share in the technology driving sub-7nm chips. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE:TSM ), Samsung , Intel ( NASDAQ:INTC ), and SK Hynix all rely on it for the high-bandwidth memory and logic dies that power AI training clusters.

The Dutch equipment maker owns the only commercial equipment capable of patterning circuits at 7 nanometers (nm) or smaller -- the precise scale every leading AI accelerator requires. As foundries race to meet orders from Nvidia ( NASDAQ:NVDA ), Advanced Micro Devices ( NASDAQ:AMD ), and the hyperscalers, ASMLs order book just got a massive jolt. Two fresh deals highlight why revenue could surge well beyond current forecasts.

AI chip demand keeps climbing, but chipmakers hit a brick wall without the right tools to crank out the next generation of processors. Only one companys machines can unlock it: ASML Holding 's( NASDAQ:ASML ) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems sit at that exact choke point.

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Chipmakers racing to meet AI accelerator demand from Nvidia and AMD are securing ASML capacity now as delivery timelines stretch 12-18 months, enabling the equipment maker to exceed its 2026 guidance of 34B-39B euros revenue.

ASML ( ASML ) holds a 100% market monopoly on extreme ultraviolet lithography systems required for sub-7nm AI chip production, with SK Hynix committing $8B for approximately 30 EUV systems by December 2027 and Samsung planning to secure 20 EUV systems for its Pyeongtaek P5 fab worth approximately $4B, collectively boosting backlog visibility into 2027 revenue.

Story Continues

Landmark Orders Lock In Billions

Chipmakers arent waiting. On March 24, SK Hynix disclosed that it will buy 11.95 trillion won -- roughly $8 billion -- worth of EUV tools from ASML, with delivery by December 31, 2027, the largest single EUV commitment publicly disclosed by any ASML customer. Bernstein analyst David Dao estimates it covers about 30 machines, aimed squarely at ramping high-bandwidth memory for AI. Thats real money: at average EUV pricing of $250 million to $300 million per unit, the deal alone rivals a quarter of ASMLs 2025 revenue.

And this morning, fresh reports indicate Samsung plans to secure approximately 20 EUV systems for its Pyeongtaek P5 fab site. Construction on P5 resumed after a two-year pause, with Bernstein noting a July 2028 target completion. At current EUV pricing, those 20 machines could add $4 billion or more to ASMLs pipeline -- right in line with expectations from last years Korea Economic Daily coverage. Samsung wants to lock in slots now, before competitors claim more capacity. Delivery timelines stretch 12 to 18 months, so revenue recognition will hit in 2026 and 2027, but the backlog boost is immediate.

These orders matter because they exceed typical quarterly bookings. ASMLs Q4 results already showed 13.2 billion euros in new orders. Add SK Hynixs $8 billion and a potential Samsung $4 billion, and visibility into 2027 revenue improves dramatically. EUV systems carry higher margins than older deep-ultraviolet tools, so the mix shift supports managements long-term target of 56% to 60% gross margins by 2030.

Risks and the Path Forward

Granted, headwinds exist. Export curbs limit shipments to China, which once accounted for a sizable slice of sales. Geopolitical friction could slow some orders. That said, AI demand from U.S. and allied foundries more than offsets the gap. ASMLs forward P/E stands at about 45 times trailing earnings -- premium, yes, but below peaks seen during prior AI surges.

Compare that to the broader semiconductor equipment group, where no peer matches ASMLs moat or growth rate. Free cash flow generation remains robust, supporting a 12 billion euro share-buyback program through 2028.

Key Takeaway

When all is said and done, these deals signal ASMLs revenue is set to outpace its own 2026 guidance and accelerate into 2027. The AI chip race isnt slowing -- chipmakers are simply paying up to stay in it.

Savvy investors who buy ASML today gain direct exposure to the one indispensable link in the supply chain. Hold through volatility, watch the April 15 Q1 print for order updates, and let the monopoly compound. The data says the next leg higher is already booked.

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Blue Owl (OWL) stock has faced intense pressure in recent sessions after the company announced an alarming $5.4 billion in redemption requests across its flagship credit and tech-focused funds.

The selloff crashed OWLs relative strength index (14-day) back into the oversold territory (below 30), signaling the asset management firm may be due for a technical rebound.

More News from Barchart

Blue Owl shares have been a disappointment for investors this year, trading down more than 45% versus its year-to-date high at the time of writing.

www.barchart.com

Why Are Redemption Requests Bearish for Blue Owl Stock

The recently disclosed flood of redemption requests is a major headwind for OWL shares because it challenges the permanent capital narrative that once made them a market darling.

When investors request to pull over 20% of a flagship fund and 41% of a tech-focused vehicle in a single quarter, it signals a profound crisis of confidence.

To meet these demands, Blue Owl may be forced into defensive asset sales or gating funds, which would hamper its ability to earn performance fees and raise concerns about the underlying valuation of illiquid loans.

Moreover, the concentrated exposure to software companies  potentially vulnerable to AI-driven disruption  has investors fearing that these requests are just the tip of the iceberg for future credit losses.

Is It Worth Buying OWL Shares on the Pullback?

Despite the concerning headline, theres reason to stick with Blue Owl stock, especially if youre a long-term investor.

The New York-headquartered firm recently sold $1.4 billion in direct lending assets at 99.7% of par value, proving its credit book is high-quality and liquid enough to satisfy institutional buyers.

With a dividend yield not exceeding 10% and the technical RSI indicating a washout bottom, the current pullback offers a compelling entry point for those interested in betting on the resilience of the private credit asset class.

Note that OWL is now trading at a rather attractive 4.7x sales as well.

How Wall Street Recommends Playing Blue Owl Capital

Investors should also take heart that Wall Street firms remain bullish on Blue Owl Capital.

According to Barchart, the consensus rating on OWL stock is a Moderate Buy, with the mean price target of $15.56 indicating potential upside of nearly 85% from here.
Boot Barn upgraded by Jefferies analysts on valuation reset Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Boot Barn (NYSE:BOOT) has been upgraded to a Buy rating from Hold by Jefferies analysts, who cited a significant reset in valuation alongside resilient business fundamentals and continued long-term growth opportunities.

Jefferies set a price target of $195 on the retailer of western and work-related footwear. Shares of Boot Barn traded up almost 9% at about $147 on Monday afternoon.

The upgrade follows a notable compression in the companys valuation multiples. According to Jefferies, Boot Barns forward price-to-earnings ratio has declined from approximately 24 times earnings to around 16 times, while its EV/EBITDA multiple has fallen from about 15 times to 10 times. The firm noted that its prior downgrade in July 2025 had been driven primarily by valuation concerns rather than a deterioration in underlying performance.

Despite broader macroeconomic uncertainty, particularly concerns that rising gas prices could pressure consumer spending, Jefferies wrote that Boot Barn has maintained steady execution. The company continues to deliver consistent top-line growth, supported by new store openings and stable demand trends.

The broader specialty retail sector has faced multiple compression in recent months, with average forward P/E ratios across Jefferies coverage declining by roughly 26% since the start of 2026 and about 32% from peak levels.

The analysts attributed part of this decline to investor caution around consumer health, even as some retailers prepared for stronger spending tied to tax refund season.

Within this environment, Jefferies views Boot Barn as relatively insulated. The company generates approximately 41% of its sales from exclusive brands, which carry margins roughly 1,000 basis points higher than third-party products. Increased penetration of these private-label offerings has contributed to margin expansion and stability over time.

In addition, Boot Barns long-term store expansion strategy remains a key growth driver. The company currently operates around 500 locations and has the potential to grow to approximately 1,200 stores, representing mid-teens annual unit growth. The analysts believe this expansion could provide scale benefits that help offset potential margin pressures.

Supply chain positioning was also highlighted as a supportive factor. Jefferies noted that about 89% of Boot Barns sales are generated in-store, and the company is shifting sourcing for its exclusive brands toward Mexico.

By the end of fiscal 2026, roughly 35% of such merchandise is expected to be sourced from Mexico, compared with about 12% from China, potentially reducing exposure to tariffs and freight cost volatility.
Q : With the quick action on fares and bag fees, does the mid-teens revenue outlook reflect current bookings, or is it based on assumptions about future fare increases? A : Edward Bastian, CEO: The revenue outlook assumes that oil prices will remain high throughout the quarter, and we anticipate further growth in revenue per available seat mile (RASM) as the quarter progresses.

Delta Air Lines Inc ( NYSE:DAL ) is reducing capacity in the current quarter due to high fuel prices, with a downward bias until the situation improves.

The war in the Middle East has caused a significant spike in jet fuel prices, roughly doubling from earlier in the year.

The company is seeing strong demand with double-digit growth in cash sales and continued momentum in high-margin revenue streams.

Delta's people-first culture earned a place on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For list, moving into the top 10 for the first time.

Delta Air Lines Inc ( NYSE:DAL ) delivered a pretax profit of $530 million and earnings of $0.64 per share, with $1.2 billion of free cash flow and a 12% return on invested capital.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript .

Story Continues

Q: How does Delta view the year given the current demand and fuel price volatility? A: Edward Bastian, CEO: We are navigating a different set of fuel assumptions compared to last year. Until we have a clearer picture of where oil prices will stabilize, we are cautious about providing full-year guidance. However, we believe that higher fuel prices will drive structural changes in the industry, benefiting Delta in the long term.

Q: Are there any specific areas where Delta has seen more demand elasticity or pushback against higher fares? A: Joe Esposito, Chief Commercial Officer: Overall demand is strong, especially in the premium and corporate segments. However, we have observed some weakness in point-of-sale Europe and Mexico leisure markets, where we have adjusted capacity accordingly.

Q: How is Delta managing capacity in response to fuel price volatility, and are there strategic considerations for fleet adjustments? A: Edward Bastian, CEO: We are targeting capacity reductions during off-peak times to manage costs. While we are considering strategic fleet adjustments, it is too early to announce any new directions. Our focus remains on profitability and margin improvement.

Q: How is Delta's international expansion impacting margins, and what is the mix shift between premium and main cabin? A: Daniel Janki, CFO: Our international expansion is supported by investments in premium seating and fuel-efficient aircraft. We are seeing strong demand for premium products, and our cargo business is also growing, particularly in Asia. This strategy enhances our overall network and strengthens our margins.

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Esposito said both domestic and international unit revenue rose at mid-single-digit rates, supported by strength in premium and main cabin. He also highlighted an inflection in main cabin with the first full quarter of positive unit revenue growth since the end of 2024.

Chief Commercial Officer Joe Esposito said total revenue of $14.2 billion was a first-quarter record, up 9.4% year over year and several points above our initial outlook. Total unit revenue grew 8.2%, including a nearly 2-point contribution from MRO, while passenger unit revenue improved sequentially from the fourth quarter across all regions.

Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian said Delta delivered earnings 40% higher than last year and consistent with our January guidance, despite what he described as a significant step-up in fuel and several external headwinds. The company posted a pre-tax profit of $530 million, earnings of $0.64 per share, and $1.2 billion of free cash flow, alongside a 12% return on invested capital.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) reported March quarter 2026 results that executives said demonstrated strong demand and the benefits of a more diversified revenue base, even as jet fuel costs surged late in the quarter amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Resilient outlook and balance sheet progress: Delta expects lowteens total revenue growth in Q2 with a 68% operating margin and ~$1 billion pretax profit (EPS $1.00$1.50), while cutting adjusted net debt to $13.5 billion (down ~20% YoY) and seeing MRO revenue more than double to $380 million with a $1.2 billion fullyear target.

Fuel shock driving actions: A sharp surge in jet fuel (Q1 average $2.62/gal; management assumes about $4.30 per gallon for the June quarter) has led Delta to reduce capacityespecially offpeak/redeye flightsand accelerate pricing and fee actions, targeting to recapture roughly 4050% of the quarters fuel headwind.

Record revenue and strong results: Delta posted a Marchquarter record revenue of $14.2 billion and EPS of $0.64 (earnings ~40% higher YoY), generating $1.2 billion of free cash flow and broad-based demand across premium and main cabin with diversified revenue representing 62% of total.

Story Continues

Is the Airline Stock Dip After the Iran Attacks Justified?

Diverse revenue streams continued to play a large role, Esposito said, representing 62% of total revenue. Premium and loyalty revenue both grew in the mid-teens. Remuneration from American Express increased 10% to over $2 billion, driven by 12% spend growth and strong acquisitions, while corporate sales grew at a double-digit rate and set a quarterly record.

Fuel surge drives capacity discipline and pricing actions

Management repeatedly pointed to a sharp move higher in fuel prices tied to the Middle East conflict. Bastian said the war has driven an unprecedented spike in jet fuel, describing prices as roughly double what they were earlier in the year. CFO and newly named Chief Operating Officer Dan Jencki said first-quarter fuel averaged $2.62 per gallon, including a $0.06 refinery benefit, which was nearly 40 cents higher than we expected at the start of the quarter, driven by the sharp run-up in March.

 3 Surprising S&P 500 Outperformers of 2026

For the June quarter, Jencki said Deltas outlook assumes approximately $4.30 per gallon based on the forward curve as of April 2, about double last years level. That assumption includes an estimated $300 million benefit from Deltas refinery and implies more than $2 billion of additional fuel expense in the quarter versus the start-of-year outlook.

Bastian said Delta is meaningfully reducing capacity in the current quarter with a downward bias until we see the fuel situation improve, while moving quickly to recapture higher fuel prices. On the analyst call, executives said the company is targeting capacity reductions in off-peak times, including edge of day and red-eye flying, which Esposito noted can be easier to adjust in response to fuel costs.

When asked about fare and fee actions, management indicated the June quarter outlook assumes higher fuel persists through the quarter and anticipates improved revenue per available seat mile as pricing actions take effect. Esposito added that while fuel recapture has historically lagged 60 to 90 days, the industry response appears faster this time due to the size and pace of the fuel move.

June quarter outlook: low-teens revenue growth, margin expansion expected

Based on current booking trends, Bastian said Delta expects low teens revenue growth in the June quarter, while recapturing 40% to 50% of the quarters fuel headwind. The company expects a 6% to 8% operating margin and pre-tax profit of $1 billion. Jencki guided to earnings per share of $1 to $1.50 for the second quarter.

Esposito said Delta expects second-quarter total revenue growth in the low teens on flat capacity year over year, driven by double-digit passenger unit revenue growthan acceleration from mid-single-digit passenger unit revenue growth in the March quarter.

Management said demand indicators remain strong. Bastian cited double digits growth in cash sales over the last month and continued double-digit spend growth on the Delta American Express card portfolio. Esposito said cash sales grew in the mid-teens in March, with momentum extending into April across the booking curve and in both premium and main cabin.

At the same time, executives noted pockets of weakness. Esposito said point-of-sale Europe has been a little bit weaker, and Delta has seen a little bit weakness in Mexico leisure following incidents in Punta Vara, prompting capacity actions in that market.

Costs, balance sheet progress, and MRO growth

Jencki said first-quarter operating margin was 4.6%. Non-fuel unit costs increased 6% year over year, reflecting lower capacity growth than planned and higher recovery costs. He said Delta generated $2.4 billion of operating cash flow after a $1.3 billion profit-sharing payment and, after $1.2 billion of reinvestment, produced $1.2 billion of free cash flow.

Delta continued to reduce leverage, with adjusted net debt ending the quarter at $13.5 billion, down 20% from the prior year, and gross leverage of 2.4 times. Jencki said Delta is investment grade at all three credit rating agencies and has reduced adjusted net debt below 2019 levels.

Jencki also highlighted Deltas third-party maintenance, repair, and overhaul business, noting first-quarter MRO revenue more than doubled year over year to $380 million. Delta expects a more normalized rate of growth over the remaining quarters but maintained a full-year MRO revenue outlook of $1.2 billion, which Jencki said would represent nearly 50% improvement versus last year with expanding margins.

Operational reliability, fleet renewal, and digital initiatives

Operationally, Bastian said Cirium named Delta the most on-time airline in North America for the fifth consecutive year, but he acknowledged that over the past several months, particularly following severe weather, our reliability and recovery havent met consistently enough our high standards. He said Delta is taking targeted actions to improve resilience and recovery and to address challenges related to contractual changes to its pilot working agreement, adding that the airline is partnering with pilots and union leadership to restore performance.

Delta also described continued investment in customer experience and its network. Bastian said the company placed firm orders for 95 additional aircraft to accelerate fleet renewal and support international growth. He also cited lounge expansion, including a new Sky Club in Denver and renovations in Atlanta, and pointed to the rollout of fast, free Wi-Fi across 1,200 aircraft.

On the digital side, Bastian highlighted a partnership with Project Kuiper to bring next-generation satellite connectivity and said Delta expects to exceed 110 million customer logins on Delta Sync this year, with partners including The New York Times, YouTube Premium, Paramount Plus, American Express, and T-Mobile.

In media Q&A, Bastian said Delta had not adjusted hiring plans due to the capacity changes, adding that frontline hiring for the summer season was largely completed already. He also reiterated Deltas focus on maintaining its competitive advantage, particularly with premium customers and in coastal markets where he said Delta continues to take an outsized share.

About Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL)

Delta Air Lines is a major U.S.-based global airline that provides scheduled passenger and cargo air transportation, aircraft maintenance and repair services, and related travel products. Its operations include mainline domestic and international passenger services, a branded regional network operating under the Delta Connection name, dedicated air cargo carriage, and in-house maintenance, repair and overhaul through Delta TechOps. Delta offers a range of cabin products for different customer segments, including premium business-class service on long-haul routes and tiered economy offerings on domestic and international flights, and it markets customer loyalty benefits through the SkyMiles frequent-flyer program.

The carrier operates a mixed fleet of narrow- and wide-body aircraft from multiple U.S.

The article "Delta Air Lines Q1 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.
With a market cap of $22 billion, Equifax Inc. (EFX) is a global data, analytics, and technology company that provides information solutions to businesses, governments, and consumers, operating through Workforce Solutions, U.S. Information Solutions, and International segments. It offers services ranging from credit analytics and identity verification to employment and human resources automation across multiple countries worldwide.

The Atlanta, Georgia-based company is expected to announce its fiscal Q1 2026 results soon. Ahead of this event, analysts expect EFX to report an adjusted EPS of $1.69, up 10.5% from $1.53 in the year-ago quarter. The company has surpassed Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in the past four quarters.

More News from Barchart

For fiscal 2026, analysts expect the credit ratings firm to report adjusted EPS of $8.61, a growth of 12.6% from $7.65 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, adjusted EPS is anticipated to increase 19.6% year-over-year to $10.30 in fiscal 2027.

www.barchart.com

Shares of Equifax have decreased 26.3% over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind both the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) nearly 22% gain and the State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF's (XLI) 23.1% return over the same time frame.

www.barchart.com

Shares of Equifax rose 3.4% on Feb. 4 after the company reported Q4 2025 revenue of $1.55 billion, up 9% year-over-year and $30 million above the midpoint of guidance, despite weak U.S. hiring and mortgage markets. Investor confidence was further boosted by strong segment performance, including 20% U.S. Mortgage revenue growth, 12% USIS growth, 9% Workforce Solutions growth, and a record Vitality Index of 17%, signaling accelerating new product innovation.

Analysts' consensus rating on Equifax stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating. Out of 25 analysts covering the stock, 12 rated it as a "Strong Buy," three have a "Moderate Buy," and 10 give a "Hold." The average analyst price target for EFX is $235.57, suggesting a potential upside of 29.2% from the current levels.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
This story was originally published on Grocery Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Grocery Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Regional grocery chain Food City said Thursday that it has promoted Paul Cox to the role of senior vice president and CFO.

Cox, currently the supermarket companys vice president of finance, is taking over as finance chief from Eddie Neely, who is retiring after serving as CFO since early 2021.

The grocer named Sara Baldwin, its director of finance and planning, to succeed Cox as vice president of finance.

Dive Insight:

Cox is moving up to the CFO role after serving in several financial positions with Food City, including senior accountant, internal audit manager, assistant controller and assistant vice president of finance. He joined the chains parent company, K-VA-T Food Stores, in 1983, according to his LinkedIn profile.

As CFO of Food City, Cox will direct all finance, accounting and information technology services-related functions for the company. He will also become a member of the companys board of directors.

Coxs rich history with Food City uniquely qualifies him to build upon Eddies success and help our company continue to grow and prosper well into the future, Steven C. Smith, Food Citys president and CEO, said in a statement.

In her new position, Baldwin will be responsible for finance, treasury and payroll operations for Food City. She formerly held positions including finance senior manager, financial planning and analysis supervisor, and financial analyst for the company, according to her LinkedIn profile.

K-VA-T Food Stores runs about 135 Food City stores in Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. The company also operates locations under the Super Dollar Food Center and Curts Ace Hardware banners in addition to four wine and spirits stores.

Last fall, Food City agreed to acquire three Winn-Dixie stores in Alabama.

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Delta shares are down about 4% since the start of the year

Credit: Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

Delta's quarterly earnings are due Wednesday morning, with the stock seen moving up to 7% by the end of the week.

Delta and other airline stocks have been pressured in recent weeks amid concerns about how the Iran war could impact fuel prices.

Delta Air Lines is scheduled to report earnings ahead of the opening bell Wednesday, with traders anticipating a big move from the carrier's stock following the results.

Based on current options pricing, Delta (DAL) stock is seen swinging up to about 7% in either direction by the end of the week. A move of that size from Monday's close could lift the stock above $71, recovering its losses to start the year. The low end of that range could drag the stock below $63.

Delta and other airline stocks have endured a volatile stretch recently as the war in Iran sent fuel prices surging. Delta shares are down about 4% since the start of the year.

Why This Matters to Investors

Investors and analysts will likely be looking to Delta's earnings and outlook for signals about the broader industry. Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Southwest Airlines are set to follow with their results later this month.

UBS analysts on Sunday wrote that they could see Delta providing a wider outlook range, or even suspending its full-year forecasts considering uncertainty around fuel prices.

Delta is expected to report adjusted earnings per share of 59 cents on a 7% year-over-year rise in revenue to $15.08 billion for the first quarter, according to analyst estimates compiled by Visible Alpha.

Analysts are overwhelmingly bullish on Delta, with all nine analysts with current ratings tracked by Visible Alpha recommending buying the shares. Their average price target of $81 would suggest upside of about 21% from Monday's close.

Read the original article on Investopedia
ING has called off the planned disposal of ING Bank (Eurasia) JSC to Global Development JSC.

The Dutch lender had announced the transaction in January 2025, agreeing to transfer its Russian operations to Global Development JSC, a Russian firm owned by a financial investor based in Moscow with experience in factoring.

The bank said it ended the agreement after concluding there was no credible prospect of the purchaser securing the required clearances.

Our position remains unchanged: we see no future for ING in Russia and remain focused on ending our activities in the Russian market. We are assessing the next steps to achieve this goal, ING said.

According to the bank, another route for leaving the market would probably carry a financial effect broadly in line with the earlier proposed transaction, which had been put at around 7 basis points of its CET1 ratio.

It said the eventual effect would depend on the option pursued and the timing.

ING has not taken on any new Russian client business since February 2022, while cutting back its operations and separating the Russian unit from the groups networks and systems.

It added that it would keep lowering offshore exposure to Russian clients. That exposure, held by ING entities outside Russia, had dropped by nearly 90% to 0.6bn by the end of 2025, with 0.3bn covered by ECA or CPRI arrangements.

In February, Citi completed the sale of its former Russian subsidiary, AO Citibank, to Renaissance Capital, marking the banks full withdrawal from Russia.

The agreement covers all remaining business activities in the country and affects around 800 employees.

"ING scraps Russian business sale " was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.




Wall Street is bracing for a historic wave of mega-IPOs, and CNBC's Jim Cramer is sounding the alarm. He warns that the highly anticipated public debut of SpaceX could drain capital from the broader market unless structural precautions are taken to prevent an artificial price squeeze.

Fearing The $3 Trillion Gorilla

SpaceX confidentially filed its S-1 on April 1, targeting a valuation between $1.75 trillion and $2 trillion ahead of a potential June listing. However, Cramer fears overwhelming retail and institutional demand, combined with limited initial share offerings, could lead to disastrous market mechanics.

I am very worried about the amount of supply stemming from SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic, Cramer posted on X on Tuesday. They really need to be spaced out and we will need no lock-ups so SpaceX wont open at $3 trillion.

As i said tonight on the show, i am very worried about the amount of supply stemming from SpaceX, OpenAI and Anthropic. They really need to be spaced out and we will need no lock-ups so SpaceX won't open at $3 trillion  Jim Cramer (@jimcramer) April 7, 2026

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On Mad Money, Cramer elaborated that bulls are killed by excess stock supply. If underwriters offer only a 5% sliver of the company to the public, the ensuing frenzy could skyrocket SpaceXs market cap, forcing the S&P 500 into an unprecedented rebalancing that draws hundreds of billions of dollars away from existing equities.

The Musk Swap Threatens Tesla

This capital drain will likely hit close to home for Elon Musks empire. Cramer predicts Tesla Inc. will bear the brunt of the SpaceX hype as investors liquidate the electric vehicle maker to buy into Musks space and AI ventures.

Teslas about to lose that scarcity value, Cramer noted, arguing that SpaceX's growth storyanchored by its recurring Starlink broadband revenuewill eclipse Teslas slowing core auto business.

This aligns with recent bearish sentiment from Wall Street, including JPMorgan's recent sell rating on Tesla.

Trending: What If Tires Didn't Need Air  Or Replacing? This Startup Says It's Possible

A Thanksgiving Feast For Investors

SpaceX isnt the only heavyweight entering the arena. With OpenAI, valued at around $852 billion, and Anthropic at $380 billion, industry experts echo Cramers concerns about market absorption.

Venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya recently likened the 2026 IPO pipeline to a Thanksgiving dinner, warning that after investors gorge themselves on SpaceX, the markets capital appetite for subsequent offerings may completely vanish.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.

Leonardo (FINMY) is facing rising investor scrutiny after activist shareholder Guy Wyser-Pratte pushed back against the Italian government's reported plan to replace Chief Executive Officer Roberto Cingolani, arguing the move could reflect political interference rather than operational necessity. Speaking in an interview, Wyser-Pratte said Cingolani has been doing a fantastic job, particularly in positioning the state-backed group as a consolidator within Europe's fragmented defense sector. He linked the potential leadership change to political dynamics surrounding Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, suggesting the timing may not be coincidental and could introduce uncertainty for shareholders.

The market reaction appears to reflect those concerns, with Leonardo shares falling as much as 8.5% intraday, marking the steepest decline in more than eight months. Wyser-Pratte noted that investors may already be signaling discomfort through price action, warning that replacing a CEO during a period of strong execution could weigh on confidence. Since taking the role in 2023, Cingolani has overseen a significant improvement in performance, including a share price increase of more than 400%, alongside steady growth in revenue, earnings, and cash flow. Revenue reached 19.5 billion in 2025, representing a 28% increase from 2023, supported by a broader upswing in regional defense spending.

Strategically, Cingolani has expanded Leonardo's footprint through partnerships with Rheinmetall AG on tanks, Turkey's Baykar Technologies on drones, and joint initiatives with Airbus SE and Thales SA on satellite and air-defense systems. Potential successors, including executives from Rheinmetall Italia and MBDA Missile Systems Services, are already under consideration, according to people familiar with the matter. While analysts suggest a CEO change may not alter Leonardo's strategic positioning or sector fundamentals, Wyser-Pratte is considering mobilizing shareholders ahead of the next annual meeting, signaling that governance could become a central issue in the near term.
Manchester United shares tipped for upside (if the club seals Champions League qualification) Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Manchester United Plc's (NYSE:MANU) New York-listed shares are on the buy list at UBS, with the Swiss bank eyeing Champions League qualification.

An upgraded target price pitched at US$29.75, suggesting major upside from the current price of $17.77.

The 2026 financial year is shaping up as the low point for revenues, even though on-field performance has improved materially, the analysts at UBS claim.

Now, the Swiss bank expects Manchester United to land annual revenue at the midpoint of its 640 million to 660 million guidance range, forecasting 648 million for the year despite a missing training-kit sponsorship deal worth more than 20 million in potential revenue.

Data analysis, via UBS Evidence Lab, suggests the club has around a 75% chance of finishing in the Premier League top four - that, or a top-five finish if England secures an extra place, would put United back into Europes top competition and drive what UBS expects will be a step-change in financial performance.

The broker forecasts FY27 revenue of about 761 million, including a 74 million lift in European broadcasting income, a 13 million increase in matchday revenue and a 23 million boost to commercial sales.

UBS estimates the club could generate about 75 million from broadcast revenue alone if it reaches the Champions League round of 16, while longer-term upside from stadium redevelopment has not been included in forecasts.

The broker said risks remain around sustaining qualification, refinancing debt and executing any future stadium project, but it sees the combination of improving form and rising revenues as a positive not yet reflected in the stock.
TOP TOY continued to scale quickly, with Ye saying it posted 112% year-over-year growth in Q4 and quarterly revenue approaching RMB 600 million . Zhang said TOP TOYs quarterly revenue was RMB 600 million , also up 112% .

Management said fourth-quarter strength was broad-based across the portfolio. Ye reported MINISO brand revenue of RMB 5.65 billion in Q4, up 28% year over year, calling it the brands fastest growth in nearly eight quarters. Zhang provided similar figures, citing a 27.7% increase for the MINISO brand in the quarter.

Founder and CEO Ye Guofu described 2025 as the year for steady growth and continued breakthrough, pointing to quarterly revenue of RMB 6.25 billion in the fourth quarterthe first time we have crossed CNY 6 billion quarterly revenue milestone. CFO Zhang Jingjing (introduced as Ethan) said fourth-quarter revenue rose 32.7% year over year, above the companys prior guidance range of 20%30%, and full-year revenue increased 26.2% to RMB 21.44 billion .

MINISO Group (NYSE:MNSO) executives highlighted accelerating revenue growth, strong same-store sales momentum in China and the United States, and continued expansion of large-format MINISO LAND stores during the companys December-quarter and full-year 2025 earnings call.

Profitability, cash returns and 2026 guidance: Q4 gross margin was 46.4% and adjusted net profit was RMB 815 million , cash stood at RMB 7.1 billion , and shareholder returns totaled RMB 1.9 billion ; management guides 2026 revenue growth in the  high teens , plans 510550 net new stores, Q1 growth  25% , and expects a one-time RMB 850900 million investment gain from AI company MiniMax to be excluded from adjusted results.

U.S. momentum and experiential push: The U.S. delivered > 57% Q4 growth (>60% full-year) with membership up 150% and member-driven sales > 50% , while the company is expanding large-format, experiential storesopening 26 MINISO LAND in China and noting large-format locations (10% of stores) account for nearly 20% of domestic GMV.

Strong top-line growth: MINISO reported Q4 revenue of RMB 6.25 billion (+32.7% YoY) and full-year revenue of RMB 21.44 billion (+26.2%), with the MINISO brand up ~ 28% and TOP TOY surging 112% in Q4; mainland China and overseas each contributed roughly half of MINISO brand revenue.

Story Continues

 Bridgets Buys: The Bottom 5 Stocks and What to Do Next

Ye also broke down MINISO brand revenue between domestic and overseas markets, stating mainland China contributed RMB 2.87 billion in Q4, up 25%, while overseas revenue reached RMB 2.78 billion, up 31%. He said each accounted for roughly half of the brand total.

China strategy: same-store sales and MINISO LAND expansion

In mainland China, management emphasized improving operating quality and same-store sales rather than relying primarily on new store openings. Ye said domestic same-store sales grew by mid-teens in Q4, which he described as a record high for the year, adding that average daily sales per store surpassed 2023 levels.

 Intel's New Orbit: From Chip Lag to Leading Edge

On store strategy, Ye said MINISO is in a third phase focused on an immersive retail transformation centered on MINISO LAND, describing a shift from selling the product to selling experience, from traffic-driven business to loyalty-driven consumer-centered ones. He argued large-format stores require strong in-house product development, citing MINISOs supplier network of more than 1,500 global suppliers and a design team of over 1,000 professionals.

Ye said the company had opened 26 MINISO LAND format stores in mainland China by the end of 2025, including locations in Tier 1 cities and other major destinations. He highlighted the January opening at Grandview Mall in Guangzhou, which he said attracted nearly 10,000 visitors on the first day and generated RMB 450,000 in sales. Zhang added that the broader domestic large-format portfolio (including MINISO SPACE, MINISO LAND, and MINISO FRIENDS) represented about 10% of domestic stores but contributed nearly 20% of domestic GMV.

In Q&A, Ye said domestic same-store sales growth in 2026 would be driven by three levers: the right IP, the right product, and the right experience. He pointed to a collaboration with Jennie, saying an opening-day pop-up at Honglan Plaza in Shanghai generated RMB 2.2 million in sales, which he said set a 2025 single-day record for a MINISO pop-up.

Overseas markets: U.S. momentum and regional differences

Ye and Zhang both emphasized the United States as a key contributor to overseas growth. Ye said the U.S. market delivered full-year growth more than 60% and 57% growth in Q4, while same-store sales growth was more than 20%. He said U.S. membership grew 150% year over year and that member-driven sales exceeded 50% of revenue for the first time.

Ye said MINISO expanded with a cluster-based approach to improve logistics and warehouse costs, adding that employee retention improved and labor cost as a percentage of sales declined. He also highlighted performance of plaza store formats, noting the company opened 48 plaza locations in 2025 and said they generated higher attachment rates and average transaction value than mall stores.

Zhang said international same-store sales varied by region, with Asia and Latin America lagging, while the companys direct-operated marketsparticularly the U.S. and Europeperformed better. He also said U.S. overhead costs declined by low single digits in 2025 and noted the business faced meaningful tariff headwinds during the year.

On Southeast Asia, Zhang said the company believed headwinds were nearing the bottom, and Ye said 2026 would bring a huge adjustment across Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, with an expectation of improvement in the second half after changes in the first half.

On Mexico, Ye said he was fully confident the market would improve and called it a potential top three overseas market. He said the strategy includes upgrading the brand and expanding MINISO LAND and MINISO FRIENDS formats in top shopping malls, and he noted Mexico posted high single-digit growth in Q1 2026.

Margins, expenses, capital return, and 2026 outlook

Zhang said Q4 gross margin was 46.4% versus 47% a year earlier, while full-year gross margin was 45%, which he said was flat over the past five years. He attributed group-level margin pressure primarily to overseas mix shifts, noting direct-operated store revenue increased from about one-third of overseas revenue in 2024 to more than half in 2025, while some direct-operated markets remained in an early investment phase.

Operating expenses rose faster than revenue in Q4, according to Zhang, with operating expenses up 45.3%. He said sales expenses increased 47.4%, driven by direct-operated store costs, licensing fees, and advertising/marketing. He also said licensing fees rose 107% year over year and represented about 3% of revenue, reflecting proactive upfront investment in IP strategy.

Zhang reported Q4 adjusted net profit of RMB 815 million, up 7.6% year over year, and said adjusted diluted EPS grew 9.4%. He also said cash reserves were RMB 7.1 billion at year-end, and full-year net cash from operating activities was RMB 2.58 billion, which he said was about 90% of full-year adjusted net profit.

On shareholder returns, Zhang said 2025 return to shareholders totaled RMB 1.9 billion, consisting of RMB 550 million in share repurchases and RMB 1.36 billion in dividends. He added the board announced final dividends of CNY 810 million, expected to be paid in April.

Looking ahead, Zhang said the company expects 2026 revenue growth at a high teens rate and plans to open 510550 net new stores, emphasizing quality rather than quantity. He also guided that Q1 2026 revenue growth would be no less than 25%.

Management also discussed an expected investment-related gain in Q1 2026. Zhang said profit in the quarter would include a significant investment gain of RMB 850 millionRMB 900 million tied to an AI company investment and said the company planned to exclude that item from adjusted results. In Q&A, Ye identified the AI company as MiniMax.

Separately, Ye addressed investor questions about Yonghui (YH), emphasizing MINISO remained his highest priority. He said the company had completed a management transition at YH, appointing Wang Shoucheng as CEO, and said YH now has an independent team responsible for daily operations.

On store upgrades, Ye said MINISO renovated 290 stores in 2025 and that renovated stores saw average sales uplift of 40%50%, alongside improvements in foot traffic, conversion, and average selling price. He said 2026 would be a year for accelerated renovation, adding that 80% of the stores need to be renovated and upgraded in the future.

About MINISO Group (NYSE:MNSO)

MINISO Group (NYSE: MNSO) is a global retailer specializing in lifestyle and consumer goods. Since its founding in 2013, the company has focused on offering affordable, design-driven products across a broad range of categories. MINISO's stores feature a clean, minimalist layout and emphasize a fast fashion inventory model designed to turn over goods quickly and respond to emerging trends.

The company's product mix spans household items, kitchenware, cosmetics and personal care, stationery, toys, digital accessories, apparel and seasonal items.

The article "MINISO Group Q4 Earnings Call Highlights" was originally published by MarketBeat.
Teslas (TSLA) recent drop has investors asking the tough questions, but Morgan Stanley analyst Andrew Percoco has a clear response.

The bank reiterated an equal-weight rating on the stock while keeping its $415 price target, a 17% upside from current levels.

Tesla stock, though, has been under duress of late after a major delivery miss in Q1, rattling confidence, sparking concerns over demand and margins.

On top of that, theres a new wrinkle.

Teslas energy storage business, which has performed consistently over the years, also disappointed. Coupled with a steep drop in deliveries, it was enough to shake investor sentiment.

Percoco isnt the only analyst bullish on Tesla's long-term case. As I covered recently, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives stood by a $600 price target, despite Teslas delivery and energy storage miss.

Long-time Tesla bull Ives said the sluggishness reflects broader EV softness and Teslas strategic shift, not a broken story.

However, Morgan Stanley isnt ready to turn bearish yet.

The firm argues that the recent sluggishness, particularly in the energy storage segment, may be due more to timing than a true slowdown.

The bigger story, it says, is still ahead.

Tesla stock returns vs. the S&P 500

1W: Tesla -2.43% versus the S&P 500 4.30%

1M: Tesla -12.62% versus the S&P 500 -1.83%

6M: Tesla -23.52% versus the S&P 500 -1.83%

YTD: Tesla -22.92% versus the S&P 500 -3.34%

1Y: Tesla 44.78% versus the S&P 500 30.40%

3Y: Tesla 87.32% versus the S&P 500 61.19%

5Y: Tesla 50.36% versus the S&P 500 62.42%

10Y: Tesla 1,859.06% versus the S&P 500 220.17%

Source: Seeking Alpha

Tesla Q1 deliveries and energy storage update

Teslas Q1 update showed improvements from a year-over-year perspective, but it tracked comfortably behind what Mr. Market had been looking for.
Nomad Foods is appointing two new presidents for parts of its business in Europe.

The frozen-food groups recently installed CEO said the moves will sharpen our commercial execution.

Jon Fernandez de Barrena is joining the Iglo brand owner next week as president of the companys operations in southern Europe.

In the newly created role, Fernandez de Barrena  who joins after two years as CEO of Alvinesa Natural Ingredients will lead Nomads businesses in markets including France, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

The company plans to appoint a president to head its operations in central Europe later this year, it said in a statement.

The role will oversee Nomads commercial operations in the Nordic and DACH markets.

CEO Dominic Brisby, who took the helm at the Birds Eye products maker in January, said: These appointments represent an important step as we continue to strengthen our focus and unlock the full potential of our markets across Europe. Both roles will help sharpen our commercial execution, enhance agility and create greater alignment between our local teams, our brands, and our longterm strategic priorities.

In February, Nomad guided to another year of falling sales and profits after 12 months of lower underlying sales and earnings.

Organic sales were down 1.9% at 3bn ($3.54bn) complete with a volume reduction of 1.4% and a 0.5% drop in price/mix. Reported sales revenue fell 2.2%.

Nomads Foods expects organic revenue to decrease by 2-5% in fiscal 2026 in what Brisby said in February will be a transition year as it enacts numerous changes to strengthen the organisation, improve fundamental performance and unlock meaningful value-creation potential.

Adjusted EBITDA dropped 7.5% last year to 523m and is projected to mark-up a decline of 5-10% in the new financial year.

Adjusted EPS was down 6.7% at 1.66. Nomad forecasts the metric will fall another 4-13% to a range of 1.45 to 1.60.

"Nomad Foods makes exec changes in Europe" was originally created and published by Just Food, a GlobalData owned brand.




Lets dig into the relative performance of Optimum Communications (NYSE:OPTU) and its peers as we unravel the now-completed Q4 consumer discretionary - wireless, cable and satellite earnings season.

The Consumer Discretionary sector, by definition, is made up of companies selling non-essential goods and services. When economic conditions deteriorate or tastes shift, consumers can easily cut back or eliminate these purchases. For long-term investors with five-year holding periods, this creates a structural challenge: the sector is inherently hit-driven, with low switching costs and fickle customers. As a result, only a handful of companies can reliably grow demand and compound earnings over long periods, which is why our bar is high and High Quality ratings are rare. Wireless, cable, and satellite companies provide pay-TV, broadband internet, and mobile connectivity through large fixed-infrastructure networks. Tailwinds include growing bandwidth consumption, bundling opportunities across video, internet, and wireless services, and rural broadband subsidies from government programs. However, headwinds are pronounced: cord-cutting continues to erode traditional video subscriber bases, capital expenditure requirements for network upgrades (such as fiber overbuilds and 5G rollouts) are substantial, and aggressive promotional pricing among competitors compresses margins. Regulatory oversight on pricing and net neutrality adds uncertainty, while streaming platforms increasingly bypass traditional distributors, reducing the value of the legacy pay-TV bundle.

The 7 consumer discretionary - wireless, cable and satellite stocks we track reported a slower Q4. As a group, revenues were in line with analysts consensus estimates.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 8.4% on average since the latest earnings results.

Optimum Communications (NYSE:OPTU)

Based in Long Island City, Optimum Communications (NYSE:OPTU) is a telecommunications company offering cable, internet, telephone, and television services across the United States.

Optimum Communications reported revenues of $2.18 billion, down 2.3% year on year. This print exceeded analysts expectations by 2.3%. Despite the top-line beat, it was still a slower quarter for the company with a significant miss of analysts EPS and adjusted operating income estimates.

Dennis Mathew, Optimum Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "In full year 2025, we achieved the goals we shared in the beginning of the year across revenue, Broadband ARPU, direct costs, operating expense, Adjusted EBITDA excluding i24 News, and capital spend, reflecting our disciplined execution at Optimum. During the quarter, we achieved year over year Adjusted EBITDA growth, driven by moderating revenue declines, higher gross margins, and disciplined expense management. We saw continued momentum across key segments, including Residential and Broadband ARPU growth, improved video trends, as well as momentum in Lightpath and Mobile. While broadband subscriber trends remain under pressure in a highly competitive market, we enter 2026 with a simpler, more competitive approach, featuring streamlined pricing and packaging and a convergence-led go-to-market strategy intended to support improvements in the broadband performance. Looking ahead, this focus on simplification extends across our operations and customer experience, positioning us to execute more efficiently, support performance over time, and support long-term shareholder value."
Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is one of the best space stocks with high upside potential.

On April 2, 2026, Redwire said it had been awarded a contract to develop a quantum-secure satellite for the European Space Agencys Quantum Key Distribution Satellite, or QKDSat, under ESAs ARTES Partnership Projects program. The company said it will manufacture and deliver its European-built Hammerhead spacecraft, which will carry the quantum key distribution payload along with Redwires ADPMS-3 avionics suite.

Redwire (RDW) Lands ESA Quantum-Secure Satellite Contract for QKDSat Program

Redwire said the project is part of a multi-country consortium led by Honeywell Aerospaces UK team and is aimed at enabling satellite-based quantum key distribution to protect communications against data breaches.

Management framed the award as a step toward more resilient long-distance secure communications, noting that satellite quantum key distribution can overcome the distance limits of terrestrial fiber-based quantum networks. ESA also described the program as important for secure commercial and government communications across member states amid rising cyber threats.

Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is an integrated aerospace and defense company focused on advanced technologies spanning space infrastructure, autonomous systems, and multi-domain operations.

While we acknowledge the potential of RDW as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Small Cap watch: Lindian's new CFO, Far East Gold retains 51% Woyla interest; 'Spectacular' drill results for St George Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

The S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index (ASX: XSO) closed at 3,331.30, down 85.60 points or 2.51% on Thursday as we launched into the Easter weekend, while remaining up 27.00 points or 0.82% over the past 5 trading days.

As the market fluctuates, small-cap companies continue to update the market. Today, so far, we've seen executive appointments, project ownership and exploration progress. You can read about the following and more throughout the day.

Lindian bolsters finance leadership

Lindian Resources Ltd (ASX:LIN, OTC:LINIF) has announced the appointment of Derek Bideshi as chief financial officer, effective 6 July 2026. The company said the appointment strengthens its executive capability at a critical phase as it advances the Kangankunde Rare Earths Project through mining, construction and downstream processing initiatives at SARECO. Lindian also announced the promotion of Rajesh Agrawal to general manager, finance, reinforcing depth within the finance function as it transitions to a multi-jurisdictional operating business.

Far East Gold retains 51% Woyla interest

Far East Gold Ltd (ASX:FEG) has provided an update on its interest in the Woyla Project in Aceh, Indonesia. Under the Conditional Share Purchase Agreement, the company had a pathway to increase its ownership stake in the project to 80%, subject to completion of a feasibility study. It had also been working with the vendor on a possible direct pathway to increase its economic interest to 100% without the need for a feasibility study, but said final terms could not be agreed at this stage. FEG will therefore continue to hold a 51% interest in the Woyla Project. No feasibility study has commenced and no further exploration activities will be undertaken at the project for now.

St George reports more Araxa drill results

St George Mining Ltd (ASX:SGQ, FRA:S0G, OTC:SGQMF) has reported further assay results from ongoing diamond drilling at its wholly owned Araxa Rare Earths and Niobium Project in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The company said its around-the-clock drill campaign has been underway for more than six months and is designed to further define and expand the Mineral Resource Estimate. Assay results continue to be received, supporting what St George described as the projects resource potential and its positioning as a significant rare earths and niobium development opportunity.
Swatch has navigated the headwinds in the watches market but an activist investor wants a seat on the board. getty

Swatch Group has escalated a long-running standoff with activist investor Steven Wood, urging shareholders to reject his bid to join the board at the companys AGM in May.

The move underscores a governance dispute at one of Switzerlands most storied watchmakers, after Wood, the founder of Greenwood Investors, has spent the past two years pressing for reform at Swatch.

He argues that the companys structure, dominated by the founding Hayek family, has constrained shareholder influence and weighed on performance. His latest push is to secure a seat as the representative of bearer shareholders, a role he says would allow him to advocate more effectively for minority investors.

Swatch, however, has made clear it has no intention of accommodating him. In its AGM agenda published April 2, the company described Wood as not suitable for the role, pointing out that only around 4% of the holdings in his fund, GreenWood Builders Fund IV, consist of bearer shares. Instead, the board has proposed that Andreas Rickenbacher continue in the position.

The rejection marks the latest chapter in an increasingly acrimonious battle. Last year, Swatch blocked Woods attempt to join the board, citing what it described as important reasons, including his U.S. citizenship. Wood responded by calling the decision unlawful and filing a lawsuit against the company.

Swatch Doubles Down On Board

In its latest filing, Swatch did little to soften its stance. The company described Woods allegations as baseless and damaging and emphasized that it would not collaborate with an individual who had initiated legal action against it. Swatch also reiterated concerns about reputational risk tied to Woods position on the board of Leonardo, which it said could conflict with Swatchs corporate values.

It is important to the group that its board members are Swiss citizens or have their primary residence in Switzerland, the company said in a statement, reinforcing a philosophy that has long been a hallmark of the Hayek familys stewardship.

That traces back to the industrys modern revival. Swatch, founded in its current form in the early 1980s, emerged from the merger of two struggling Swiss watch conglomerates at a time when the sector was under threat from inexpensive quartz watches produced in Asia.

Under the leadership of the late Nicolas Hayek, the company not only stabilized but reinvented Swiss watchmaking with bold designs and brand storytelling.

Today, Swatch Group controls a vast portfolio spanning entry-level plastic watches to some of the most prestigious timepiece names including Omega, Longines, Breguet and Tissot. The group also produces key components, giving it a vertically integrated structure that few competitors can match.
Booking Holdings (BKNG) stock hit a new 52-week low on Monday amid continued escalations between the U.S. and Iran.

As President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz, threatening a major military strike on Iran this week, BKNG tanked below its 20-day moving average (MA), signaling a near-term downtrend ahead.

More News from Barchart

Including the recent decline, Booking shares are down about 20% versus the start of this year.

www.barchart.com

Significance of Geopolitical Tensions for Booking Stock

The intensifying rhetoric between Washington and Tehran has created a risk-off environment thats particularly damaging to global travel intermediaries, given it threatens to destabilize key growth regions.

BKNG shares are at risk given the company has meaningful exposure to the Asian market through its Agoda brand, as well as a significant footprint in Europe.

If geopolitical tensions persist, they could lead to a further increase in oil prices, which are already hovering near $110 a barrel, potentially driving up jet fuel costs and international airfares.

Moreover, infrastructure strikes in the Middle East have stoked fears of broader regional instability, prompting travelers to defer discretionary international trips, directly impacting Booking Holdings transaction volumes and room-night growth.

Forward Split Makes BKNG Shares Worth Owning

Despite ongoing turbulence, several factors warrant buying Booking stock on the current pullback.

The travel-tech firm has recently executed a 25-for-1 stock split, lowering the nominal share price significantly to make it more accessible to retail investors.

Typically, such a strategic maneuver boosts liquidity and demand, and helps drive the stock higher over time.

On Monday, analysts at Truist Securities also issued a positive note in favor of Booking Holdings, maintaining their Buy rating and a $231 price objective on a split-adjusted basis.

According to them, BKNGs globally diversified business positions it strongly to capture long-term travel growth  particularly in Asia  once geopolitical pressures subside.

The investment firm cited Bookings exciting 87% gross margin and a lucrative dividend yield for its constructive view as well.
The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is one of the Ridiculously Cheap Stocks to Buy According to Wall Street Analysts. On March 13, The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) was reiterated by Truist Securities with a $122 price target.

The firm highlighted strong revenue growth drivers for the company, but noted that its asset growth momentum stays slightly below the companys and Wall Streets expectations. Analyst at Truist noted that the company reached a record 9.9 million daily average revenue trades in February, reflecting increased commissions and executionrelated revenue.

In addition, the firm highlighted that after adjusting for a onetime $17.5 billion mutualfundrelated outflow, the core net new assets growth was about 4.7% on a seasonally adjusted annualized basis. However, quarterly-to-date data suggests that core NNA growth has stayed below 5%, meaning that Schwab is slightly below the Streets expectation for the Q1 2026 asset growth theme. Wall Street expects $148 billion core NNA growth for Q1 2026. The firm noted that to reach this, Schwab needs to deliver a meaningful acceleration in inflows in March.

The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW) is a savings and loan holding company that engages in securities brokerage, wealth management, custody, asset management, and financial advisory services.

While we acknowledge the potential of SCHW as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Verizon (NYSE:VZ) and AT&T (NYSE:T) have both reported full-year results, and the dividend story between them is more nuanced than raw payout numbers suggest. Verizon's check is larger, but AT&T's balance sheet is cleaning up faster. Which dividend is actually safer requires looking past the yield.

Quick Read

Verizon (VZ) posted Q4 wireless service revenue of $19.9B with 18 consecutive quarters of sequential growth and a 5.7% dividend yield, though its dividend consumes 57% of free cash flow against $144B in debt.

AT&T (T) reported Q4 revenue of $33.47B with AT&T Fiber reaching 10.4 million connections, and its dividend now uses only 42% of free cash flow with stronger FCF projections of $21B+ by 2028.

AT&Ts 2022 dividend cut already absorbed its restructuring shock, leaving a lower but more sustainable payout, while Verizons larger dividend faces pressure from the pending Frontier acquisition and higher leverage heading into 2025.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE.

Verizon Grows Steadily. AT&T Rebuilds With Ambition.

Verizon's Q4 2024 wireless service revenue hit $19.9 billion, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of sequential growth. The consumer segment drove $27.56 billion in Q4 revenue, up 2.2%, while fixed wireless access revenue surged 51.6% to $611 million as the company pushed toward its target of 8 to 9 million FWA subscribers by 2028.

READ: The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

AT&T's quarterly results landed with more momentum. Total revenue reached $33.47 billion, up 3.6% year over year, beating estimates. Mobility revenue rose 5.3% to $24.35 billion, and AT&T Fiber now counts 10.4 million connections, up 11.5% year over year. The company has posted more than 1 million AT&T Fiber net adds for eight consecutive years.

Business Driver Verizon (Q4 2024) AT&T (Q4 2025) Total Revenue $35.68B (+1.6%) $33.47B (+3.6%) Wireless Service Revenue $19.998B (+3.1%) $16.95B (+2.4%) Broadband Growth Engine Fixed Wireless Access (+51.6%) AT&T Fiber (+11.5% subs YoY) Annualized Dividend $2.76 $1.11

Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

The Dividend Math Points in Different Directions

Verizon's yield sits at roughly 5.7% based on its current price of $48.79 and an annualized dividend of $2.76. The company has raised its payout for 15-plus years, and FY2025 operating cash flow came in at $37.14 billion against $11.48 billion in dividend payments. That looks healthy at the operating level.
Voyager Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:VOYG) is one of the best space stocks with high upside potential.

On March 30, 2026, Voyager said it had won a mission management contract from Icarus Robotics to support an in-space demonstration of Icarus free-flying robotic platform, Joyride, aboard the International Space Station. The announcement points to continued commercial demand for low Earth orbit testing and validation, particularly for robotics systems aimed at future station operations.

Voyager Technologies (VOYG) Wins ISS Mission Management Role for Icarus Robotics Demo

Under the agreement, Voyager will handle payload integration, safety certification, launch coordination, on-orbit operations planning, and real-time mission execution support. The company said its space station heritage includes more than 1,400 missions managed across government and commercial customers. The Joyride demonstration is scheduled for early 2027 and will focus on autonomous navigation, maneuverability, and operational performance in an actual space station environment.

The contract also gives investors a fresh example of Voyagers mission management as a service model, which is built around helping customers move experimental technologies into flight-tested systems. For a younger space robotics company like Icarus, that kind of operational support can shorten the path from concept to demonstrated capability in orbit.

Voyager Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:VOYG) is a defense and space technology company that provides mission-critical products and services spanning space infrastructure, mission services, and national security-related systems.

While we acknowledge the potential of VOYG as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Shares of Chevron (NYSE: CVX) rallied 10.8% in March. The oil stock got a big boost from crude prices, which soared last month.

Here's a look at what drove up oil prices and Chevron's stock in March.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue 

Image source: The Motley Fool.

A war-fueled surge

Oil prices rocketed in March, fueled by the war with Iran. Brent, the global benchmark, surged 43% in March, closing at nearly $104 per barrel. That was its biggest monthly gain since 2020. Brent ended the first quarter up 71%, its largest quarterly move since 1990.

The war with Iran is significantly impacting crude prices. Iran has attacked ships leaving the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz. As a result, it has effectively closed the Strait to shipping traffic, choking off 20% of global oil and LNG supplies. Additionally, Iran has attacked energy infrastructure throughout the Middle East, causing production shut-ins and damage.

The surge in crude prices will boost Chevron's earnings. Every $1 increase in the price of Brent oil will increase Chevron's annualized earnings by $600 million. The prospect of much higher earnings is a big reason why Chevron's stock soared last month.

Other upside catalysts in March

The surge in crude prices wasn't the only positive for Chevron stock last month. According to reports, Chevron was nearing a deal with Venezuela to boost its oil output in the country. The agreement would give Chevron the right to produce from the Ayacucho 8 area, which holds meaningful reserves. A deal would allow Chevron to significantly increase its production in the country. It would further enhance Chevron's already robust growth prospects.

Meanwhile, Chevron and its partner, investment firm Engine No. 1, entered into an exclusive agreement with Microsoft at the end of March for a proposed gas-fired power project to support AI. Chevron and Engine No. 1 would build a 2.5 gigawatt power plant to support a large data center campus. The project would cost an estimated $7 billion and could start-up by next year. Building gas-fired power plants would enable Chevron to use some of the natural gas it produces to generate power under a long-term contract. These projects would enhance the company's growth profile while reducing its overall earnings volatility.

Is Chevron stock still a buy after its March surge?

Shares of Chevron have now rallied more than 30% this year, significantly outpacing the S&P 500's roughly 4% decline. However, Chevron has still meaningfully trailed the epic rise in crude prices. That's because the market believes the war will end soon and that oil will begin to flow through the Strait of Hormuz.
Shares of the cloud-computing and database company have slumped 24.9% on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. The drop was largely driven by investor concerns over the viability of the companys data center financing plan. ORCL stock jumped in mid-March after the company posted robust demand for its cloud services to support AI training and deployment. However, those gains were later wiped out amid a broader market selloff tied to the war in Iran.

Oracle Corporation is a global technology leader specializing in cloud infrastructure, software, and hardware. The company is one of the worlds largest software providers and is primarily known for its flagship product, the Oracle Database, the first commercially available SQL-based relational database management system. It also provides a comprehensive suite of Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions, including the worlds first autonomous database. In addition, the company offers a deep suite of AI-powered enterprise applications, including Enterprise Resource Planning, Human Capital Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Supply Chain Management. ORCLs market cap currently stands at $421 billion.

For investors, the key question is whether this strategy can accelerate Oracles transition into a leading AI infrastructure provider while maintaining financial stability. With demand for AI computing continuing to surge and Oracles backlog expanding rapidly, the stakes are highand so is the potential upside for ORCL stock if execution delivers. So, lets take a closer look!

At first glance, that response may seem counterintuitive. Why would layoffs, especially large-scale ones, be viewed as a positive catalyst? The answer lies in the broader context of Oracles ongoing transformation. Over the past several years, the company has been aggressively repositioning itself as a major player in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, competing with hyperscale giants in a capital-intensive race to build out AI data centers. Against this backdrop, the layoffs are increasingly being viewed not as a sign of weakness, but as a deliberate effort to free up capital for higher-return AI initiatives.

Oracle (ORCL) has begun a new round of global layoffsa move that might normally spark concern rather than enthusiasm. Job cuts are often interpreted as a sign of weakening demand or internal strain. But in this case, the market reaction was notably different, with ORCL stock pushing higher as investors appeared to welcome the move.

Story Continues

www.barchart.com

Oracle Trims Workforce Amid Heavy AI Spending. Why Are Investors Optimistic?

Last Tuesday, multiple reports indicated that Oracle had begun significantly reducing its workforce to free up cash for its capital-intensive AI infrastructure expansion. ORCL shares climbed about 6% that day, but its difficult to determine how much of the rally was driven by the layoff news, as the stock also benefited from broader market gains amid hopes that the Iran war could soon come to an end. Business Insider reported that the layoffs impacted employees across Oracle Health, Sales, Cloud, Customer Success, and NetSuite, citing LinkedIn posts from those affected. Michael Shepherd, a senior manager, wrote on LinkedIn that the decision impacted senior engineers, architects, operations leaders, program managers, and technical specialists with deep expertise in cloud infrastructure, government and sovereign cloud environments, and enterprise-scale systems. The report added that the cuts appear to have affected employees worldwide.

According to copies of the notification email reviewed by Business Insider, the message stated, After careful consideration of Oracles current business needs, we have made the decision to eliminate your role as part of a broader organizational change. As a result, today is your last working day. The full extent of the layoffs remains unclear, but some employees said internal data suggest the number of cuts so far reaches into the thousands. One employee told the BBC that an estimated 10,000 employees may have been laid off so far, pointing to a decline in the number of staff active on Oracles internal Slack messaging platform. In a recent regulatory filing, the company disclosed that it expects to spend up to $2.1 billion on restructuring costs in the current fiscal year, $500 million more than previously reported, indicating an acceleration of its job-cutting efforts.

Oracle representatives declined to comment on the layoffs when approached by multiple media outlets. Still, Oracle confirmed some job cuts last Tuesday, stating that it will lay off 491 employees working remotely in Washington state and at its Seattle offices, effective June 1, according to a filing under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act. The WARN Act mandates that employers provide at least 60 days notice before implementing layoffs. Oracle said the job reductions are part of a reduction in force and other terminations, noting that its Seattle sites will continue operating. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported in early March that some of the cuts will target roles the company expects to need less of due to AI.

Layoffs Would Free Up Cash Flow

ORCLs stock reaction to the news suggests investors welcomed the layoffs. However, some may question the optimism, as layoffs are often viewed as a negative signal for companies. The key point here is to understand the context. Oracle is not undertaking layoffs due to a retreat; rather, they are part of cost-cutting efforts as the company continues to invest in costly data centers for powering AI. Oracle has been transitioning over the past few years to strengthen its cloud computing business with a focus on AIand for good reason. AI is currently driving strong growth for Oracle, largely fueled by massive demand for its cloud infrastructure. Notably, the company raised its fiscal 2027 revenue target in its latest earnings report and noted that demand for AI continues to outpace supply.

Oracle had around 162,000 employees worldwide as of the end of May 2025. Earlier this year, analysts at investment bank TD Cowen predicted that Oracle would cut up to 30,000 jobs, roughly 18.5% of its workforce, and potentially sell some assets. The Tech Layoff Tracker account on X also reported that the layoffs could total 30,000 workers. TD Cowen analysts noted that the move could lead to $8 billion to $10 billion in incremental free cash flow.

Barclays analysts said last week that Oracles workforce reductions will help free up cash flow. Given ORCLs existing FY26 Restructuring Plan and prior reports, we do not see todays layoffs as being a surprise to the market, which seemed to have appreciated the cost savings potential from ORCLs actions amidst the companys rapid build-out of AI infrastructure capacity, the analysts said.

Putting it all together, Oracle essentially undertook the layoffs to free up an estimated $8 billion to $10 billion in annual cash flow. That money will likely be directed toward building AI capacity to meet the spending commitments of its largest customers. Oracle reported in early March that its backlog increased by $29 billion to $553 billion in FQ3. With that, the company is rushing to expand its AI infrastructure to convert that backlog into revenue. And any move that supports these efforts is therefore seen as a positive for the company. Moreover, with additional cash flow freed up from the layoffs, the company may rely less on debt financing, helping to alleviate investor concerns about its debt-funded AI spending. For example, Oracle completed a $25 billion bond offering earlier this year, and with an estimated $10 billion in additional cash flow from the layoffs, it could have cut its borrowing needs by 40%a substantial difference.

What Do Analysts Expect For ORCL Stock?

Wall Street analysts are highly optimistic about ORCL stock, as evidenced by its consensus Strong Buy rating. Among the 42 analysts covering the stock, 32 have a Strong Buy rating, one assigns a Moderate Buy, eight recommend holding, and one issues a Strong Sell. The mean price target for ORCL stock stands at $253.21, indicating a potential upside of 73% from Thursdays closing price.

www.barchart.com

On the date of publication, Oleksandr Pylypenko did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
You can find original article here WealthManagement. Subscribe to our free daily WealthManagement newsletters.

A financial advisor based in Massapequa, N.Y., has pleaded guilty to defrauding investors of tens of millions of dollars between January 2017 and December 2024, including by investing in a single mining company and a drive-through coffee company startup run by his son.

Vincent Camarda, chairman and CEO of A.G. Morgan Financial Advisors, faces up to 20 years in prison, restitution of at least $160,022,836, and forfeiture of $6,639,498, the U.S. Attorneys Office, Eastern District of New York, announced Friday. Also on Friday, Camarda and associate James McArthur were charged with a civil lawsuit by the Securities and Exchange Commission in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, which detailed the alleged scheme.

According to the plea agreement and court filings, Camarda misrepresented the risk profile and diversification of his Camarda Funds investments to clients, many of whom were elderly. In one case, he told clients he was investing in multiple mining companies, only to invest in one firm that later failed to meet interest payments on those investments. He used the same strategy, promising to invest in the food services industry, but instead put the money into a single startup coffee shop run by his son called Buzz'd Express Coffee, which also eventually failed to meet payment terms, according to the allegations.

The SEC wrote that Camarda misrepresented the diversification of the investments to induce the victims to invest. These misrepresentations were designed to mislead investors into believing that their investments were safer than they actually were. The financial advisor also failed to disclose conflicts of interest in the firms in which he invested. He had been receiving compensation from the mining business, and his son had an interest in the coffee business.

Finally, he misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of the victims investments by diverting them to himself via wire transfers to fund personal expenses, including plastic surgery, travel, jewelry and luxury goods.

Joseph Nocella Jr., United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and James C. Barnacle Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBIs New York Field Office, announced the guilty plea.

This defendant used a series of lies to lure clients, including elderly and other vulnerable individuals, into investing with him, all while enriching himself, Nocella said in a statement.
Step aside, Nvidia (NVDA). Retail investors are rekindling an old flame in Apple's (AAPL) stock.

According to new data from Vanda Research, retail investors bought a net $65.3 million worth of Apple stock on Tuesday, marking the best day of net buying since June 2025 (see chart below).

"Net-net: retail is rotating within large-cap tech, with Apple emerging as the latest pocket of conviction," Vanda Research strategists said.

Retail flows into megatech have eased recently, notably for Nvidia, Microsoft (MSFT), and Meta (META), according to Vanda. Investors have rotated into war plays in oil  and Apple hasn't been immune to the volatility.

The company delivered its best quarter in history in January, yet its stock has struggled to find a consistent footing over the past month as US geopolitical tensions with Iran and tariff fears cloud its near-term outlook.

The stock is pacing in line with the S&P 500 (^GSPC) over the past month, up about 0.3%. Year to date, shares are down 5%.

Apple catches retail interest, finally.  Vanda Research

But investors may be starting to see a few catalysts on the horizon for Apple, the biggest one being a new form factor for the iconic iPhone.

Reports in early April 2026 suggested that Apple's first foldable device, likely named the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, had officially entered the trial production phase at Foxconn.

The device is expected to be a book-style foldable featuring a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner screen when unfolded.

Despite rumors of engineering delays from Nikkei Asia, Bloomberg reported that the device remains on track for a September 2026 unveiling.

"Our checks continue to point towards things being on track, though we would note large scale production of next-gen phone is likely a June/July dynamic but so far we would argue that foldable phone should launch in line with expectations in Sept-26 timeframe," Evercore ISI analyst Amit Daryanani said in a note.

Daryanani maintained an Outperform rating on Apple with a $330 price target.

Meanwhile, Apple is reorganizing its leadership under AI vice president Amar Subramanya. The team is preparing for a significant AI-driven overhaul of Siri, scheduled for later in 2026.

Combined, the new device and revamped Siri could help spur a strong upgrade cycle. In January, Apple signed a multiyear deal with Google to integrate Gemini into Apple Intelligence and Siri.

Wedbush analyst Dan Ives said he expects Apple to discuss the Gemini integration at June's WWDC. The company is also expected to share details on new developer tools to simplify AI integration.
By John Irish

PARIS, April 8 (Reuters) - France plans to add a further 36 billion euros ($39 billion) to its defence spending between now and 2030 under an updated military planning law that expands its nuclear arsenal and boosts missile and drone stocks.

The increase, proposed despite one of the euro zone's biggest budget deficits, reflects mounting security pressures from wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and growing uncertainty over U.S. commitments to NATO under President Donald Trump.

The revised 20242030 law would lift defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by the end of the decade from about 2% now, with the annual budget reaching 76.3 billion euros in 2030, almost double its 2017 level.

"The deep and brutal shift in the balance of international geopolitics forces us to go harder and faster," Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin wrote in a summary of the bill issued on Wednesday. "France has acknowledged the global shift toward enduring and multidimensional conflict."

EXPANDING FRANCE'S NUCLEAR DETERRENT

France complies with NATO's 2% target but the range of defence commitments it funds is broader than most, from a nuclear arsenal to an aircraft carrier. Meanwhile it is aiming to cut its budget deficit from around 5% of GDP to the European Union ceiling of 3% by 2029.

Central to the defence update is the strengthening of the nuclear deterrent, announced by President Emmanuel Macron in March when he also opened the door to allowing European partners to host French aircraft on nuclear deterrence missions.

The draft law proposes an increase in the number of nuclear warheads, whilst maintaining nuclear arms spending at about 13% of the overall defence budget.

France spends roughly 5.6 billion euros ($6.0 billion) a year to maintain its stockpile of 290 submarine- and air-launched weapons  the world's fourth-largest arsenal.

Russia's war in Ukraine has highlighted major gaps in NATO allies' arsenals, shortages that the conflict in the Middle East has compounded. The bill sharply increases investment in conventional capabilities.

An extra 8.5 billion euros will be earmarked for rebuilding stocks of artillery shells, air defence interceptors and longrange missiles.

The draft also emphasises the importance of deep-strike capabilities, with studies launched for a new conventional ballistic missile with a range of up to 2,500 km (1,550 miles), alongside upgrades to cruise missiles.

Air and missile defences will see additional funding of 1.6 billion euros to accelerate delivery of SAMP/T NG systems, co-produced with Italy, and expand counterdrone capabilities on land, at sea and around critical infrastructure.
SHANGHAI/MILAN, April 8 (Reuters) - Stellantis is in advanced talks with Leapmotor to jointly develop an Opel-branded electric SUV that would use the Chinese automaker's technology and be produced at Stellantis' Zaragoza plant in Spain, three sources told Reuters.

The deal, if finalised, would help Stellantis cut the cost and time to develop a new EV model, as the French-Italian automaker shifts focus to petrol-electric hybrid cars. Earlier this year it announced a $25 billion writedown related to scaling back its EV plans.

It is also seeking to fend off competition from BYD and other Chinese brands in Europe and improve the utilisation rate at its European plants. Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa, who took the top job in June last year, will present a new long-term business plan on May 21.

Stellantis formed a partnership with Leapmotor after acquiring around a fifth of the Chinese company in 2023. They also have a joint venture, Leapmotor International, that is in charge of the sales and production of Leapmotor cars outside China.

The new model would share a common architecture with the Chinese automaker's B10 compact SUV, which will also be assembled later this year for the European market at the Zaragoza plant, two of the sources said.

Production of the new Opel model is expected to start in 2028 with a targeted annual output of 50,000 vehicles, said the two people.

Under the terms being discussed, Leapmotor would supply key technologies and components including electronic and electrical parts, while Opel would design the exterior, one of the sources said, adding that a significant portion of the vehicle's development would take place in China.

Talks between Stellantis and Leapmotor over the Opel project, codenamed O3U, started in late 2025 and an agreement could be reached as early as this month, the person said.

Details of the advanced talks between Stellantis and Leapmotor over the Opel SUV development have not been previously reported.

In a statement, Stellantis said there was "regular engagement" between the two partners about ways to expand collaboration, but declined to comment further.

Leapmotor told Reuters it is in talks with partners, including Stellantis, but solely on supplying self-developed components with no plans for platform-level collaboration. The Chinese automaker did not respond to requests to comment on details of the Opel EV plans, including the production timeline and targeted output.

Last month, Leapmotor said it expected mass production of its vehicles from Spain from October, with some projects with Stellantis being in "advanced negotiation stages".
By Jack Queen

NEW YORK, April 8 (Reuters) - A Washington, D.C., federal appeals court on Wednesday declined to block the Pentagon's national security blacklisting of AI company Anthropic for now, a win for the Trump administration that comes after another appeals court came to the opposite conclusion in a separate legal challenge by Anthropic.

Anthropic, developer of the popular Claude AI assistant, alleges that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth overstepped his authority when he designated the company a national security supply-chain risk over its refusal to remove certain usage guardrails on its products, a label that blocks Anthropic from Pentagon contracts and could trigger a government-wide blacklisting.

Anthropic executives have said the designation could cost the company billions of dollars in lost business and reputational harm.

A panel of judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied Anthropic's bid to pause the designation while the case plays out. The decision is not a final ruling.

An Anthropic spokeswoman said in a statement following Wednesday's ruling that the company is confident the court will ultimately agree the supply-chain risk designation is unlawful.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche hailed the ruling as a victory for military readiness in a social media post Wednesday.

"Military authority and operational control belong to the Commander-in-Chief and Department of War, not a tech company," Blanche said, using Trump's new name for the Defense Department.

The lawsuit is one of two Anthropic filed over Hegseths unprecedented move, which came after Anthropic refused to allow the military to use AI chatbot Claude for U.S. surveillance or autonomous weapons due to safety and ethics concerns.

Hegseth issued orders designating Anthropic under two different laws, and Anthropic is challenging each of them separately.

A California federal judge blocked one of the orders on March 26, saying the Pentagon appeared to have unlawfully retaliated against Anthropic for its views on AI safety.

Anthropic's designation was the first time a U.S. company has been publicly designated a supply-chain risk under obscure government-procurement statutes aimed at protecting military systems from enemy sabotage or infiltration.

In its lawsuits, Anthropic says the government violated its right to free speech under the First Amendment of the Constitution by retaliating against its views on AI safety. The company said it was not given a chance to dispute its designation, in violation of its Fifth Amendment right to due process.
The ongoing partial government shutdown has led to major airport delays, but TSA PreCheck and Global Entry can help you avoid long security lines.

The shutdown affects funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). As a result, TSA workers have been furloughed since the shutdown began in February, and passengers are waiting in increasingly long lines  some for more than four-and-a-half hours  to get through security.

In a congressional hearing on March 25, Ha Nguyen McNeill, the acting TSA chief, said that nearly 500 workers have quit during the current shutdown, in addition to those workers calling out sick. Thats led to what McNeill says are the highest wait times in the agencys history.

President Trump signed a presidential memorandum on March 27, ordering TSA agents to be paid as soon as Monday, even as Congress remained gridlocked over funding the DHS.

Trumps border czar, Tom Homan, said over the weekend that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents could remain at U.S. airports depending on how many TSA agents come back to work. Some airports were still seeing long lines as TSA staff continued to call out sick over the weekend, according to media reports.

One way to avoid potential delays is to enroll in a paid service to get priority access through security. Expedited security lanes for CLEAR+ members and travelers with TSA PreCheck are still open at airports across the United States.

And if youre traveling internationally, using the Customs and Border Protections Global Entry service  which was initially suspended but is now open  could speed up your entry back into the U.S. after a trip abroad.

If youre traveling soon, heres what to know about using TSA PreCheck and Global Entry during the government shutdown.

TSA PreCheck is operating

TSA PreCheck is open nationwide. However, staffing shortages have led some airports to temporarily close dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes.

TSA PreCheck availability can depend on both the airport youre flying out of and the terminal you use to go through security. TSA PreCheck is currently closed (as of March 26) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston, for example. The Philadelphia International Airport on March 18 temporarily closed some security checkpoints, including the PreCheck-only Terminal C checkpoint, but still has PreCheck lanes open at other terminals.

Check the MyTSA mobile app to view estimated wait times at U.S. airports, and arrive early. Whether you have TSA PreCheck or not, its smart to build in extra time for long security lines and regularly check travel alerts for your upcoming travel.

Read more: Flight chaos grows as TSA lines stretch for hours. What to know about trip cancellation insurance.

Global Entry has reopened

While still operating TSA PreCheck lanes, the DHS initially suspended Global Entry processing at participating airports starting in late February as part of its effort to conserve resources. But Global Entry lanes reopened as of March 11.

International travelers may still face delays when returning to the U.S. with long lines at customs, but travelers with Global Entry may start to see faster processing times upon re-entry.

Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement that the organization welcomes the decision to reopen Global Entry: Trusted Traveler Programs enhance security while keeping travel moving.

Both TSA PreCheck and Global Entry continued to operate during past government shutdowns, including the record-long shutdown last year.

TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: Whats the difference?

TSA PreCheck and Global Entry can both minimize the time you spend at the airport, but they serve two very different functions. The best choice for you depends on how you typically travel.

TSA PreCheck helps you move through security more quickly at participating airports throughout the country. Airports have dedicated TSA PreCheck lanes, which are often significantly shorter than general security lines, and the screening process doesnt require you to remove your shoes or belts.

Now, you can also enroll in Touchless ID through TSA PreCheck when you fly with participating airlines. When you enroll and fly with Touchless ID, youll go to another dedicated security lane and use facial comparison to verify your identity, which can help speed up the process even more.

PreCheck is available at more than 200 airports in the U.S. and with over 90 participating airlines. Touchless ID is currently available at 65 airports. You can use PreCheck when youre at the airport for domestic flights or when you leave a U.S. airport for an international destination. The program typically costs up to $85 for five years of access.

Global Entry, on the other hand, is most useful for frequent international travelers. Global Entry grants you expedited entry back into the U.S. from other countries. Youll have shorter wait times through customs and wont have to go through processing lines or fill out paperwork. Global Entry is available at major U.S. airports and has a non-refundable $120 fee for five years of access.

Compared to PreCheck, Global Entry can take longer to enroll in, since youll need to do an in-person interview at an enrollment center. But once you enroll in Global Entry, youll also have access to TSA PreCheck.

Read more: How to use your credit card for international travel

Consider CLEAR+ as an alternative at some airports

CLEAR+ is another paid service that can help reduce your wait time at airport security.

CLEAR+ members have dedicated lanes at participating airports, and the service uses biometric data (like facial recognition and fingerprint scans) to identify you, so you dont have to show your ID to a TSA agent.

The cost for CLEAR+ is more expensive than TSA PreCheck. Youll pay $209 annually, though you can get a discount through certain airline loyalty programs and with some travel credit cards. You can also enroll in TSA PreCheck alongside your CLEAR+ membership for no additional cost.

Before you sign up, make sure CLEAR+ is available at your home airport. While over 60 airports across the country currently have CLEAR+ lanes, the service isnt yet as widespread as TSA PreCheck.

Read more: CLEAR+ lets you bypass TSA checkpoints for ID. Is it worth the cost?

How to get TSA PreCheck for free with a credit card

During a government shutdown, you should always be prepared for delays and longer lines at the airport. But using TSA PreCheck is a great way to expedite the security process and get to your destination more quickly.

If youre traveling soon, consider TSA PreCheck to help avoid some of the disruptions you might face. You can even offset the cost using a travel credit card with fee credits for either TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

Here are a few of our top picks for cards with TSA PreCheck benefits:

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Get a statement credit of up to $120 every four years as reimbursement for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees charged to your card.

Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get up to $120 in statement credits when you use your Venture card for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry.

Read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

United Explorer Card

United flyers with this airline card can get a statement credit worth up to $120 every four years for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees.

Read our full United Explorer Card review

Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the banks website for the most current information. This site doesn't include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
If you hold cryptocurrency and aren't staking it, you might be leaving money on the table. Staking lets you earn rewards on coins you already own by helping secure a blockchain network. The yields can be attractive, but they come with real risks that are easy to overlook.

This guide covers how crypto staking works, which tokens you can stake, what to do with your earnings, and whether staking is worth it for you.

Read more: How to invest in crypto: A beginners guide

What is crypto staking?

In simple terms, staking means locking up your cryptocurrency to help secure a blockchain network.

In exchange, you earn rewards, usually paid out in the same coin you staked. Think of it like earning interest on a savings account. But instead of a bank using your deposit to make loans, the network is using your coins to validate transactions and keep everything running smoothly. Staking also helps protect the network from bad actors, since validators risk losing their staked coins if they behave dishonestly.

Not every cryptocurrency works this way, though. The two main systems blockchains use to validate transactions (also called consensus mechanisms) are proof-of-work (PoW) and proof-of-stake (PoS). Only PoS cryptocurrencies can be staked.

Bitcoin, for example, runs on proof-of-work. You cannot stake bitcoin. Instead, miners compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles using powerful computers. The winner gets to add the next block of transactions to the chain and receive newly minted coins as a reward. It's effective, but it requires a massive amount of energy and specialized hardware.

Proof-of-stake takes a different approach in which the network automatically selects validators based on how many coins they've committed (or staked) as collateral. Validators are chosen to confirm transactions and add new blocks, and they earn rewards in the form of new tokens for doing so.

To recap: Crypto staking is a byproduct of the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. Securing a proof-of-stake network involves locking up tokens to become a validator. Validators earn rewards in the form of new tokens based on the number of tokens staked.

Read more: How to trade crypto: A step-by-step guide

How does crypto staking work?

Networks that use a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism select validators to confirm new blocks of transactions based on the number of coins they've staked. The more you stake, the more likely you are to be chosen as a validator, and the more rewards you can earn.

Think of it as a weighted lottery run by software: The more coins you stake, the better your odds of being selected. The logic is that someone with a large financial stake in the network has a strong incentive to verify transactions honestly, since they'd lose their own money if they didn't. Validators are chosen to confirm transactions and add new blocks, and they earn rewards in the form of new tokens for doing so.

You don't necessarily need to run your own validator node to participate, either. Most exchanges offer staking services that let you stake your coins and earn a share of the rewards without any technical setup. All you have to do is buy or deposit the token you want to stake and click a button to start staking.

The trade-off is that your coins are typically locked up for a period of time, meaning you can't sell or move them until the lockout period is over. The exact amount of time staked tokens are locked up varies by network. Some blockchains have a set unstaking period built into the protocol. Polkadots is 28 days, Cosmos's is 21 days, and Ethereums can vary depending on how many people are trying to exit.

If youre staking through an exchange, the platform may impose its own terms on top of that, sometimes offering flexible staking with no lockup in exchange for a lower yield.

For long-term holders, lock-up periods are usually not an issue. For those who may need access to their funds in the near term, it's something to keep in mind.

Thats because staking exposes the coin holder to whats known as opportunity risk. While your coins are locked up, you cant sell them or move them into a different investment. If the tokens price spikes and then crashes before your lockup period ends, youve missed the chance to take profits. Or if a better opportunity comes along, your funds are tied up and vulnerable.

Ethereum is probably the most well-known example of a PoS blockchain, having transitioned from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake in 2022. But it's far from the only one. Solana, Cardano, and a number of other networks all use some form of staking.

Read more: 7 best crypto exchanges

Which cryptocurrencies can be staked?

Any cryptocurrency that runs on a proof-of-stake blockchain can be staked. That includes some of the largest and most widely traded tokens in the market. Here are a few of the most popular options:

Ethereum ( ETH-USD ): This is the biggest name in proof-of-stake. Running your own validator requires 32 ethereum (~$64,000), but most major exchanges let you stake smaller amounts through pooled staking services.

Solana ( SOL-USD ): Known for fast transaction speeds and low fees. Staking is straightforward on most platforms, and solana has become one of the more popular staking options among retail investors.

Cardano ( ADA-USD ): A research-driven blockchain with a loyal community. Cardano's staking process is flexible, with no mandatory lockup period on most platforms.

Polkadot ( DOT-USD ): Offers some of the higher staking yields among large-cap tokens, though it comes with a longer unlocking period.

Cosmos ( ATOM-USD ): This is one of the highest-yielding stakeable tokens, with APYs that can reach 18% or more.

Avalanche (AVAX-USD): A fast-growing network with competitive staking rewards and relatively short lockup periods.

This isnt an exhaustive list. There are over 100 different PoS cryptocurrencies that can be staked.

In general, tokens with smaller market caps exhibit higher volatility in both price and yield.

What should you do with your crypto staking rewards?

Once you start earning staking rewards, you have a few paths forward. What makes sense depends on your financial goals and how you feel about the token's long-term prospects.

The simplest option is to let your rewards compound. Most staking platforms will automatically add your earned tokens back into your staked balance, which increases the amount you're earning rewards over time.

It's the same basic principle as compounding interest. If you're bullish on the token and plan to hold it for the medium to long term, this can be an efficient way to grow your position without putting in additional capital.

If you'd rather take profits along the way, you can withdraw your rewards and convert them to dollars or a stablecoin. This locks in the value of what you've earned and reduces your exposure to price swings. Some investors treat staking rewards like dividends from a stock, periodically cashing them out while keeping the original position intact.

A third option is to reinvest your rewards into a different token. This can be a way to diversify your holdings over time, especially if you're staking a higher-risk asset and want to move some of your earnings into something more established.

One thing to keep in mind, regardless of what you do: Crypto staking rewards are generally considered taxable income by the IRS. That means you may owe taxes on the fair market value of the tokens at the time you receive them, even if you don't sell. Keeping records of your rewards and their value at the time of receipt can save you headaches when tax season rolls around.

Learn more: Yes, crypto is taxed. Heres when you have to pay.

How much money can you earn from staking cryptocurrencies?

Staking pays out rewards (in tokens) as a percentage of the tokens staked. So the more tokens you stake, the higher the potential rewards.

Staking can provide generous yields, up to 18.5% as of April 2026. But this yield comes with great risk.

Cryptocurrencies tend to be very volatile. And crypto staking rewards are denominated in the native token of the network  not U.S. dollars. That means that although you might be able to earn 18% APY, the tokens value could drop 40% in a month or two. The value of any returns you make (in dollar terms) is then undermined.

Lets look at Polkadot (DOT) as an example. DOT is the 43rd largest cryptocurrency by market cap and offers a yield of around 11.5%.

In early April 2025, DOT was trading at $4.00. By April 2026, the price fell to $1.25. Thats a decline of almost 70% in one year.

If an investor had staked 100 DOT tokens worth $400 in 2025, they would have earned 11.5 DOT one year later.

They might have expected to receive $46 worth of DOT after one year. But because DOT fell by 70% in U.S. dollar terms, their rewards shrank to less than $14. The initial outlay of staked coins would also be worth 70% less.

The bottom line is that while crypto staking can offer attractive yields, the actual returns might not amount to what users expect due to fluctuations in the tokens price.

Is crypto staking worth it?

The answer depends on your goals, risk tolerance, and time preference. For an investor who already holds some proof-of-stake cryptocurrency, staking can provide a way to earn income on idle holdings.

For someone looking for a low-risk, stable yield-bearing investment, crypto staking is almost certainly not worth it. US Treasury bills, certificate of deposit (CD) accounts, or a high-yield savings account might be better options for those with a lower risk tolerance.

Comparing crypto staking to a savings account can help clarify the difference in risk. A high-yield savings account might offer an APY of 4% to 5%, and that rate is backed by an FDIC-insured institution. Your funds will remain in the account, earning interest and backed by federal insurance.

With crypto staking, yields can look much more attractive on paper, but your principal is denominated in a volatile token. A 10% staking yield doesn't mean much if the underlying asset drops 30% in a quarter, as explained earlier. Staking vs. a savings account isn't an apples-to-apples comparison, even though the mechanics sound similar.

That said, staking does have a place for an investor who believes in the long-term value of a proof-of-stake token and plans to hold it through the ups and downs. If that describes your approach, staking lets you accumulate more of that token over time at no additional cost.

The key is being honest with yourself about whether you're genuinely a long-term holder or whether you're drawn to the yield and underestimating the risk that comes with it.

Crypto staking FAQs

Whats the best crypto to stake?

Deciding which cryptocurrency is best to stake depends on your goals and risk tolerance. If youre looking for yield, ATOM could be an attractive option with its 18.5% APY. Investors looking to minimize risk might prefer ETH because it has a larger market cap and somewhat less volatility.

Can you stake bitcoin?

No. Bitcoin uses a proof-of-work consensus mechanism, which relies on miners rather than stakers to validate transactions. Only cryptocurrencies that run on proof-of-stake networks can be staked.

Which token has the highest crypto staking rewards?

As of April 2026, Cosmos (ATOM) offers one of the highest yields among major PoS tokens, with APYs around 18.5%. Other tokens may offer even higher rates, but they often come with smaller market caps and greater volatility.

Where can I learn how to stake ethereum?

Most major exchanges, such as Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance, offer ethereum staking with step-by-step instructions built into their platforms. The process is usually as simple as selecting ETH, choosing a staking option, and confirming the amount.

Running your own validator is more involved and requires 32 ETH, as well as some technical knowledge. Ethereum's official documentation at Ethereum.org is a good starting point for those who want to go that route.
The global oil market is in turmoil as the Iran war enters its sixth week. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has disrupted critical supply routes like the Strait of Hormuz, which controls 20% of the worlds oil flow. This supply shock has pushed crude prices above $100 per barrel, with some estimates suggesting prices could spike even higher if disruptions persist.

Energy stocks like Exxon Mobil (XOM) and Chevron (CVX) are winning this crisis as higher oil prices translate directly into stronger profits. But are these two stocks a better investment even in a post-war world?

More News from Barchart

Energy Stock #1: Exxon Mobil (XOM)

Valued at $680.7 billion by market capitalization, Exxon Mobil is one of the worlds largest integrated energy companies, producing oil and gas as well as chemicals. As oil prices increase, Exxons upstream operations generate higher profits, while its refining and chemical divisions provide steady cash flow support. This diversification explains why Exxon has been one of the biggest winners in the current crisis, benefiting from both rising prices and operational stability.

XOM stock has surged 35% year-to-date (YTD), outperforming the broader market and the Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE).

www.barchart.com

Exxon is also a dividend stock with a forward yield of 2.56%. Its strong focus on low-cost production and disciplined capital allocation has enabled it to maintain a payout ratio of 56.5%. Exxon Mobil has raised dividends for 43 consecutive years, including its recent dividend hike of 4%, earning it the title of Dividend Aristocrat.

The company has significantly strengthened its portfolio with high-return assets in regions like the Permian Basin and Guyana, as well as in fields like LNG, driving record production of 4.7 million barrels per day. The company's emphasis on low-cost assets and tech-driven efficiency has increased earnings power and positioned Exxon to benefit significantly from rising oil prices amid the current crisis.

Exxon has held a strong balance sheet, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13 and a cash balance of $10.7 billion at the end of 2025. The firm paid out $17.2 billion in dividends and $20 billion in share repurchases. Even if oil prices fall after the Iran war, Exxon stands out as a reliable long-term investment due to its resilience and strong cash flow generation.
America First Refining (AFR) has selected engineering and construction company Fluor to handle the front-end engineering and design (FEED) of a new refining facility in Brownsville, Texas.

Last month, AFR announced that the project will be the first newly built oil refinery in the US in more than five decades.

Fluor plans to record the contracts value in the first quarter of 2026 (Q1 2026).

The financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

The plant will use proven, commercially tested technology to convert US shale crude into transportation fuels, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel, while prioritising high efficiency and lower emissions.

Once operational, the facility is expected to process more than 60 million barrels (mbbl) per year of domestically produced crude, strengthening US energy security and supporting the development of cleaner fuels.

Fluor energy solutions business group president Pierre Bechelany said: We are honoured to partner with America First Refining on this landmark US project.

Together, AFR and Fluor bring deep technical expertise and proven project delivery capabilities, positioning the project for successful execution.

This collaboration reflects both companies commitment to advancing the nations refining infrastructure.

The refinery is expected to break ground in Q2 2026 and could improve the US trade deficit by approximately $300bn.

The project is part of a major agreement that includes a 20-year offtake contract with an undisclosed global supermajor, described as the largest energy deal in the US.

The facility aligns with US President Donald Trumps America First energy agenda and represents a major capital investment.

It is supported by a nine-figure commitment from the same undisclosed supermajor, valuing the project in the ten figures.

Located at the Port of Brownsville, the site benefits from the ports Economic Opportunity Zone designation, which is expected to spur job creation and attract additional investment across South Texas.

From 2014 to 2024, the US exported nearly ten billion barrels (bbbl) of crude but imported around 28bbbl, an imbalance that is reported to have cost consumers more than $1.8tn.

"AFR taps Fluor for FEED at new refinery in Brownsville, Texas" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Baker Hughes has received an order from San Matias Pipeline to deliver three gas compression units for a new natural gas pipeline project in Argentina.

The equipment, including three NovaLT 16 gas turbines, each paired with a centrifugal compressor, will be installed at a station near Allen, Rio Negro.

This site supports the transportation of natural gas from the Vaca Muerta resource to the Gulf of San Matias. The gas will feed into two floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessels operated by Southern Energy.

The order also encompasses commissioning services, spare parts, specialist tools, and capabilities for remote monitoring and diagnostics. Baker Hughes stated that this will be the first time its NovaLT 16 gas turbines have been deployed in South America.

Baker Hughes industrial and energy technology chief growth and experience officer and interim executive vice-president Maria Claudia Borras said: This award underscores our continued focus on supporting critical gas infrastructure that enables secure, reliable and lower-emission energy systems as we expand our presence in strategic growth markets across Latin America.

Natural gas plays a strategic role in strengthening energy security and enabling scalable pathways to global LNG markets, particularly in regions with significant resource potential such as Argentina.

The company claimed that the NovaLT platform was selected due to its performance, efficiency features, delivery timeline and suitability for midstream gas compression within the LNG value chain.

According to Baker Hughes, the NovaLT turbines achieve efficiency levels of more than 37% in simple-cycle applications and up to 85% when used in cogeneration configurations.

The manufacturer also cites operational advantages such as a 45-day installation period, a 35,000-hour interval between major maintenance and a 24-hour engine swap capability.

Baker Hughes notes that average greenhouse gas emissions from NovaLT 16 turbine production processes are 35% lower compared to certain previous turbo-machinery models.

These gas turbines are built to achieve nine parts per million nitrogen oxides at 15% O across a wide operational range.

Prior to this, Tecnimont, part of the MAIRE group, and Baker Hughes signed a non-exclusive memorandum of understanding to assess joint participation in future modularised, scalable LNG projects globally.

"Baker Hughes to deliver compression units for gas pipeline in Argentina" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




(Bloomberg)  The growing stress in the oil market triggered by the Middle East war is showing up in huge premiums for prompt real-world barrels, with the wider Brent complex working as it should, according to Morgan Stanley.

Buyers are paying an exceptional premium for secure, refinery-usable Atlantic Basin barrels available now, analysts including Martijn Rats said in a note dated April 7. That does not mean the futures market is broken. It just means that different parts of the complex are pricing different combinations of immediacy, tightness and expected persistence, they added.

The global crude market has been upended by the war between the US, Israel and Iran, which triggered the near-complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital corridor for energy flows. The extended disruption has set off a scramble  especially from Asian buyers  for alternatives, spurring interest in cargoes from Europe and the US. Reflecting that struggle, measures of physical demand have outpaced gains in futures by a wide margin.

Ahead of the Easter weekend, Dated Brent  the worlds most important price for real-world barrels, which tracks North Sea shipments  surged above $140 to the highest since 2008. At the same time, futures have risen, but not to the same extent. June contracts were last near $108 a barrel.

Dated Brent acts as the physical anchor of the wider complex, while futures are the liquid financial layer thats the most visible, the analysts said. The two prices are related, but they are not the same thing.

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They added: Stress is appearing first in the part of the benchmark that is closest to the immediate physical problem.

Brent futures fluctuated on Tuesday after US President Donald Trump escalated threats to obliterate key Iranian infrastructure if his terms werent met before a deadline. He listed reopening Hormuz as a priority.

(Adds chart, and updates futures in fourth, final paragraphs.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2026 Bloomberg L.P.
Tims view

The ceasefire in Iran represents a victory of sorts for Tehran, which has gained a powerful insight into the potency of its energy weapon.

Oil prices plummeted below $100 per barrel after US President Donald Trump agreed to a two-week truce and Irans foreign ministry said in a statement that during that time, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Irans Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations. As has been the case throughout the last five-plus weeks of war, the rapid change in oil price reflects traders gut feelings more than a tangible change in physical flows; although some already-full tankers that have been idling outside the strait could quickly move to market, it will take weeks or even months for onshore production facilities to ramp up and for empty tankers around the world to actually reach ports in the Gulf  and thats assuming the ceasefire holds, which already appears dubious.

In the meantime, Tehran appears to be in a stronger position vis-a-vis the strait than it was before the war. In addition to roughly doubling its income from oil sales over the past few weeks, the war is pausing with the Iranians effectively in control of the strait, Gregory Brew, senior oil analyst at Eurasia Group, told me. No oil or gas tankers passed through on Wednesday, and Tehran has indicated it will charge tolls (in cryptocurrency or yuan) for passage, which historically had been barred under international law. Lets be clear: the Strait of Hormuz is not open, Sultan al-Jaber, CEO of ADNOC, wrote in a post on Thursday. That is not freedom of navigation. That is coercion. And if Washington allows that level of control to persist, then this will clearly indicate that the war has ended in something of an Iranian victory, Brew said.

While the conflict ostensibly started over Irans drive for nuclear weapons, among other things, a key lesson so far is that it may not even need them. Rather than a decades-long, expensive, and risky campaign to build a nuke  a weapon that, if ever used, would guarantee Irans own annihilation  Tehran has learned that by closing the strait, it can fairly easily exact massive pain on the US and the global economy in a way that actually benefits its own coffers.

According to reporting this week in The New York Times, Trump and his aides greatly underestimated the risk to oil markets stemming from the war, believed the war would be over before Iran had a chance to close the strait, and didnt include top energy officials in critical decision-making. Those are mistakes the US cant afford to make again.
Core Lithium has awarded NRW a A$50m ($34.7m) contract for surface mining services at the Grants deposit, part of the companys Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory, Australia.

Mobilisation is expected to begin immediately, with mining and ore production scheduled for May 2026.

The Finniss Lithium Project is situated roughly 23km south of Darwin and 33km west of Berry Springs. The tenement covers an area of more than 500km.

The contract covers all essential activities for delivering material to the Grants run of mine according to a standard rate schedule.

It marks a significant step in restarting operations at Finniss following the company's recent approval of its final investment decision.

This initiative integrates Grants' open-pit mining with the Finniss mine plan, facilitating rapid production at reduced initial capital expenditure.

Approximately 784,000t of ore is accessible under the optimised Grants Pit design, which is expected to yield around 134,000t of 5% spodumene concentrate (SC5).

Along with these developments, BP33 underground box cut and civil infrastructure activities have started.

These projects create a structured pathway for Finniss' restart, offering a phased, low-risk increase in operations.

The combined efforts at Grants and BP33 aim to establish Finniss as a cost-effective, long-term lithium operation.

Initial ore from Grants will be processed and transported in the September quarter, with the first spodumene concentrate shipment planned for early in the December quarter and subsequent shipments extending into 2027.

Core Lithium managing director Paul Brown said: The award of the Grants open-pit mining contract marks a key step in the restart of the Finniss Lithium Operation and clearly demonstrates our shift from planning to execution.

Grants provides a low-risk, near-term source of ore using existing infrastructure, enabling a rapid and capital efficient pathway back into production. With mobilisation commencing immediately, this contract underpins our restart schedule and near-term cash generation objectives.

In February 2026, the company signed a binding agreement for the sale of its remaining spodumene concentrate stockpile from the Finniss Lithium Project to Glencore International.

"Core Lithium awards contract for Finniss project" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Italian energy company Eni has announced the discovery of around two trillion cubic feet (tcf) of gas initially in place in Eastern Mediterranean waters following the drilling of the Denise W-1 exploration well in Egypts Temsah Concession.

Early estimates also suggest around 130 million barrels (mbbl) of associated condensate.

Situated 70km offshore in 95m of water, the Denise W find is strategically placed less than 10km from existing infrastructure, enabling potential fast-track development.

The well encountered a gas-bearing sandstone reservoir with around 50m of net pay, comparable to the nearby Temsah field, which has been producing since 2001.

This discovery underpins Enis strategy of enhancing Egypts energy reserves and increasing national gas production, contributing to the countrys energy security goals.

It also highlights Enis approach of rejuvenating existing assets through near-field exploration that leverages existing infrastructure.

The drilling of Denise W-1 follows a binding agreement signed in July 2025 with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company, extending the Temsah Concession for 20 years.

Eni holds a 50% contractor working interest and operatorship in the Denise Development Lease within the Temsah Concession, with bp owning the remaining 50%.

Operations are carried out via Petrobel, the joint venture company owned by Eni and EGPC.

Eni has operated in Egypt since 1954 and currently maintains a broad portfolio across exploration, development and production, delivering equity oil and gas output of approximately 242,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2025.

Last month, Eni announced two gas discoveries offshore Libya, with combined resources estimated at more than 1tcf.

The discoveries were made on the Bahr Essalam South 2 (BESS 2) and Bahr Essalam South 3 (BESS 3) structures, around 85km offshore and roughly 16km south of the Bahr Essalam gas field.

The B2-16/4 and C1-16/4 wells drilled the prospects in water depths of around 650ft.

"Eni discovers 2tcf of gas in Egypts Temsah Concession" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Heaven Hill Brands is to close one of its Deep Eddy vodka facilities in Texas.

The US spirits group will shut the distillery and tasting room in Dripping Springs in August.

In a statement, Heaven Hill said the move allows the company to focus its energy and investment for Deep Eddy on its site in the Texan city of Austin.

As the brand continues to build its momentum, Deep Eddy announced today it will transition operations of its Dripping Springs tasting room through a sub-lease agreement with another vodka distillery and will no longer operate the location as of August 1, 2026, the statement read.

This decision allows the brand to focus its energy and investment on the places and experiences that best reflect who Deep Eddy is today and where it sees the greatest opportunity, especially in Austin.

Heaven Hills has a distillery in Buda, which is around 17 miles south of Austin.

"Heaven Hill Brands to shut Deep Eddy vodka site" was originally created and published by Just Drinks, a GlobalData owned brand.




India is expected to import the highest volumes of crude from Venezuela in six years as refiners returned to purchasing the now-unsanctioned oil just before the war in the Middle East crippled supply to the worlds third-largest crude importer.

India is estimated to import as many as 12.51 million barrels of Venezuelan crude in April, per Kpler data cited by Bloomberg. This would be the highest volume of oil from Venezuela to arrive in India in one month since February 2020, and would mark the first import from the South American producer since May 2025, according to the data.

The cargoes arriving in April were likely booked before the start of the war that trapped the Middle Easts crude supply and send India, which imports 85% of the oil it consumes daily, scrambling for alternative supply.

The Ottoman Sincerity crude oil tanker that departed from Aruba on March 3 after a ship-to-ship transfer arrived this weekend at Sikka, on the West Coast of India, tanker-tracking data on MarineTraffic showed. This was the first cargo from Venezuela that India has imported in 11 months.

Indias top private refiner, Reliance Industries, which in February was granted a U.S. license to buy crude directly from Venezuela, has already loaded its first cargo from Venezuelas state oil firm PDVSA on the Bahama-flagged very large crude carrier Helios, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Venezuelan crude would help India diversify its crude supply amid the crunch in the Middle East, which typically accounts for about half of Indian refiners imports.

With most supply from the Middle East out of the market, India is boosting imports of sanctions-free Russian crude, too.

India's imports of Russian crude oil jumped by 90% in March versus February, following the major supply disruption in the Middle East and the U.S. waiver of purchases of Russian crude already loaded on tankers.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Willie Walsh is the current director general of the International Air Transport Association [Bloomberg via Getty Images]

India's aviation market is poised for significant expansion but remains constrained by a limited number of widebody aircraft, Willie Walsh, the incoming chief executive of IndiGo, told the BBC.

Walsh described the country's fleet of 50 widebody aircraft as a "scandal" given its size and growth potential.

A widebody aircraft is a larger, twin-aisle plane designed to carry more passengers over longer distances, making it essential for non-stop international and long-haul routes.

Walsh will join IndiGo, India's largest airline, in August after the end of his term as the director general of the International Air Transport Association.

In December, IndiGo cancelled about 4,500 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports [AFP via Getty Images]

He succeeds Pieter Elbers who resigned as IndiGo's CEO on 10 March, citing personal reasons.

But it was widely seen as being linked to a recent crisis that forced the airline to cancel thousands of flights, the largest disruption in its 20-year history.

In December, the carrier cancelled about 4,500 flights, leaving thousands of passengers stranded at airports across India.

The disruption followed the introduction of new pilot duty and rest regulations in India designed to reduce fatigue among flight crews. The airline later acknowledged it had misjudged how many pilots it would need once the rules came into force.

In an interview with the BBC, Walsh declined to comment directly on the airline but offered a broad assessment of India's aviation landscape and the challenges it faces.

"I'm not going to really comment on it because I haven't started there until August," he said, referring to IndiGo. "So I can comment about India in general, but not IndiGo specifically."

Walsh said India's aviation sector had been "fascinating to watch in recent years", pointing to strong growth and improving connectivity.

"When you look at that, 1.4 billion people, the geography of the country, the demographics, everything points to the needs and the desire to see greater connectivity by air," he said.

However, Walsh highlighted a major gap in long-haul capacity.

"When you think about it, it's a country of 1.4 billion and counting. But they only had 50 widebody aircraft in the country last year. So that's probably - you could describe it as a scandal," he said.

"They should be much bigger than that. And I think they will be much bigger than that going forward."

Walsh also pointed to a significant opportunity for Indian carriers to expand their global footprint.

"India has depended on transferring people over the Gulf hubs, particularly into North America," Walsh said. "So that's a huge opportunity for Indian carriers to grow their presence on the global scale."
Global energy crises often act as severe stress tests that expose deep, structural fragilities in global supply chains that are erstwhile ignored. Such crises reveal weaknesses that extend far beyond fuel availability, causing systemic disruptions to industrial manufacturing, trade routes and food security. A good case in point is Germany, which effectively boxed itself into a corner with its decades-long energy policies.

Before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, successive German governments pursued an energy policy that significantly increased the country's dependence on Russian oil and gas, primarily driven by economic considerations, cheap energy needs, and the belief in driving political change through economic cooperation. Germanys Energiewende focused on a dual phase-out of nuclear and coal while rapidly expanding renewables. By 2021, Germany imported 55% of its natural gas from Russia, making it highly vulnerable to energy supply shocks.

And now Japan is facing a similar fate. For decades, the countrys strategy of deeply embedding itself in the Gulf's energy system in a bid to secure ample domestic supplies for the resource-poor nation worked like a charm, thanks to the regions abundant and cheap fossil fuel resources. Prior to the conflict, Japan imported over 90% of its crude oil and about 11% of its LNG from the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and UAE its top suppliers. Unfortunately, this meant that the vast majority of Japans crude supply imports passed through the Middle East. In fact, Japan was even more reliant on Middle Eastern energy commodities than Germany and Europe were on Russian gas before the war. The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran and its allies has effectively blocked the route for ~95% of Japans Middle Eastern oil, a five-alarm fire that has thrown its economy and financial markets into a tailspin.

Related: Chinese Publication Claims U.S. Has Two Months of Rare Earths Left

The Nikkei 225 has borne the brunt of the war, tumbling in double digits within the first few weeks of the conflict while business confidence in Japan's services sector has sunk to its lowest level since the pandemic. The IMF has projected that Japans economy will only expand by 0.8% in 2026, with a potential 3% contraction if the fuel crisis persists. Meanwhile, household electricity bills are projected to increase by 15,000 (USD $95) from April 2026 due to higher LNG import costs.

On the energy front, Japan has adopted several measures to cope with the ongoing crisis. The government began releasing oil from its national and private reserves on March 16, with plans to release up to 90 million barrels, or enough for roughly 45-50 days of domestic supply. That marks the largest release from the countrys strategic reserves. The government has also resumed state subsidies to stabilize gasoline prices and cap gasoline prices at 170 per litre after prices surged to a record-high of more than 190 per liter in mid-March. Further, Japan is reducing its immediate reliance on oil-fired power generation. The country has increased the utilization rate of coal-fired thermal power plants, securing coal supplies from Australia and Indonesia. The government has even given the greenlight for older, less efficient coal-fired equipment to operate for one year starting in April 2026.
The case was brought by Theron Horton, a forensic data analyst from Taos, New Mexico, and Greg Rogers, a corporate and environmental lawyer and former CPA from Broomfield, Colorado. They claim it is the first of its kind and represents a possible precedent for how states or even individuals could prosecute suspect oil and gas well transfers in the future. Instead of relying on state or federal laws governing oil and gas industry operations, the case latches onto accounting violations, switching the argument from oilfield rules to bookkeeping standards.

XTO was one of the states top-five oil and gas producers in 2025. Its parent ExxonMobil is the title sponsor of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, one of the states biggest tourist draws. Empire New Mexico landed at 60th among oil and gas producers last year.

It is whats known as a Qui Tam suit, a case brought by individuals on behalf of a government while first giving that government the chance to prosecute the suit. If it declines, the plaintiffs move forward with the case. The suit was filed last August and was under seal until last week as the New Mexico Attorney Generals office reviewed it. The Attorney Generals office did not explain why it did not take the case itself.

Orphan wells have no known or solvent owner. In New Mexico, the state is the final stop for these wells on state and private lands (the federal government is responsible for those on federal and tribal lands), making it responsible for the expensive plugging and remediation costs. The plaintiffs contend this was a likely goal of the transaction. In a report released last year, the states Legislative Finance Committee said New Mexico is already liable for more than $200 million in cleanup costs for the orphaned wells currently on its books.

The plaintiffs claim the undervaluation led Empire Petroleum to take on wells it would never realistically have the money to plug, immediately making the company insolvent and at risk of bankruptcy.

The case stems from the sale of several hundred old wells from ExxonMobil subsidiary XTO Energy to Empire Petroleum subsidiary Empire New Mexico in 2021. The suit alleges the fraud occurred when the two companies massively undervalued the debt obligations inherent in the sale  namely, the eventual well cleanup costs  violating New Mexicos Fraud Against Taxpayers Act.

Oil companies ExxonMobil, Empire Petroleum and their subsidiaries engaged in accounting fraud that could cost the state nearly $200 million, a lawsuit filed in New Mexico District Court alleges. If successful, plaintiffs say the case could change how old oil and gas assets are sold, leading to fewer orphan wells in the future.

Story Continues

Beyond the potential cost to taxpayers, unplugged orphan wells can put people living nearby and the environment at risk by leaking natural gas, crude oil or other toxic chemicals onto the ground, into the air or into waterways.

I care about people, the earth and societal justice, said Horton. It is critical that each of us do everything we can to stop the tsunami of corruption that threatens the very existence of our country.

I find environmental accounting fraud particularly immoral, said Rogers. He said he studied environmental law while working for energy giant Enrons primary law firm. More recently, he has been a fellow at and adviser to the Master of Accounting program at the Judge Business School at the University of Cambridge in England. If I lack the courage to call this out no matter the odds, no one else will, and taxpayers, citizens and landowners will pay the price, he said.

The plaintiffs argue that the $17.8 million price tag for the well transfer didnt properly account for the eventual cleanup costs of the hundreds of low-producing and moribund wells that were sold, or the fact that nearly all of the wells are old and nearing the end of their producing lives, with an average age of over 63 years. The plaintiffs claim that the two companies, through XTO Energy and Empire New Mexico, agreed to value the eventual, obligatory cleanup costs  known as asset retirement obligations  at roughly $6.1 million. Horton and Rogers claim that figure should be nearly 33 times that amount, or $199 million.

Either the assets are worth a lot more than they say theyre worth, Rogers said, or theyre discounting the [asset retirement obligation] based on the likelihood that theyll never have to pay it.

In their suit, Rogers and Horton claim that the sale follows a common game plan. When profits drop at still-active wells, larger companies will often sell them to smaller companies that try to wring further profits through lower overhead costs or stimulating wells to produce more oil and gas. Those small companies sometimes sell the wells to ever-smaller companies until production no longer covers operating expenses and a company is left with an inventory of low- and nonproducing wells without the financial means to plug them, ending in bankruptcy.

In a separate but similar case, New Mexico is suing three Texas oilmen for fraud in a scheme to dump unprofitable wells on the state through a series of shell companies and bankruptcies. The wells and people involved were originally uncovered in reporting by ProPublica and Capital & Main.

Rogers said the ultimate goal of his case is to toughen things like bonding regulation so low-producing wells are plugged instead of being sold to undercapitalized, smaller companies.

An unplugged orphan well in the Rattlesnake Oil Field in northwestern New Mexico. (Jerry Redfern)

These kinds of sales are the first link in a chain that can end in abandoned and orphaned wells that pollute the climate and harm people living nearby, said Gabe Pacyniak, a lawyer and professor at the University of New Mexico School of Law. Pacyniak is also the primary faculty supervisor of the schools natural resources and environmental law clinic.

If companies are lying about how much it would actually cost to plug and clean up their oil and gas infrastructure during these sales, then they are setting up the government and taxpayers to be stuck with the bill, he said.

Horton said that for years he and Rogers have run a self-developed set of analyses on oil and gas production companies, primarily in Colorado, California and New Mexico, searching for cases that could result in bankruptcies that leave behind scores of abandoned wells. When they examined the collection of old wells in the XTO-Empire transfer, Horton said he saw a screaming target.

You can tell when a company is buying wells that have such low production levels that theyre effectively not economic, Rogers said. They couldnt pay for their own funeral at the time of the transaction.

The suit contends Empires own financial disclosure shows the oil company didnt have the financial strength to pay for the eventual remediation of the wells it was buying.

Its often a smart legal strategy to follow the money.  Focusing on fraud in the sale is easier than looking at the status of each well, Pacyniak said. It also sends a message to companies that they cant get away with trying to dump their wells without fully accounting for the cost of the inevitable and necessary cleanup.

Rogers said the key to unlocking the size of the alleged fraud came from recent reports by New Mexico agencies stating how much they pay to plug and remediate orphan well sites. Its become a growing issue from California to Pennsylvania. New Mexico is the nations No. 2 oil-producing state and the No. 3 producer of natural gas. That production flows from more than 50,000 active oil and gas wells, mostly in the states portion of the Permian Basin, one of the most productive oil basins in the world.

In its 2022 year-end filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Empire Petroleum reported that the sale came with a $6.1 million asset retirement obligation. That works out to $9,100 per well in cleanup and remediation costs for the 670 wells in the sale. But in its 2023 Annual Report, the New Mexico Oil Conservation Division placed its state-wide average plugging and remediation costs at around $214,000 per well.

In their suit, Horton and Rogers accounted for the wells being in a more expensive part of the state and used a per-foot basis to estimate the eventual plugging and remediation costs at an average of $236,000 per well. A 30% contingency fee bumped the per-well cost to $306,000. Another 23 wells that are plugged but still need further remediation were factored at $50,000 each, the low end the state pays for that work, adding another $1,150,000 to the count. In the end, they claim the full asset retirement obligation should have been $199,576,929.

Meeting that mark might be difficult. Empire Petroleum is a publicly traded company and, according to its annual Security and Exchange Commission filings, its only recent profitable year was in 2022. Over the past three years it recorded total net losses of $100 million while the total asset retirement obligations it did record  while much lower than the numbers Rogers and Horton calculated  continued to rise and its long-term debt more than tripled. The companys stock price plunged in that timeframe, losing nearly 90% of its value since its peak price four years ago.

According to production figures filed with New Mexicos Oil Conservation Division, Empire New Mexico reported selling 17% less oil and 18% less natural gas to market in 2025 than in 2022.

Many of the companys oil and gas wells produce little, if anything at all. While 375 Empire New Mexico oil and gas wells are listed as active on the states Oil Conservation Division website, only 302 were recorded pulling up anything in January 2026, the last month for which full production numbers are available. Sidney Hill, public information officer with the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department, said that 306 of the companys wells are stripper wells producing less than the equivalent of 10 barrels of oil a day over the course of a year. He said about 28,000 New Mexico wells fit that description last year. Such low production indicates the wells are nearing the end of their economic lives.

In total, the wells brought in oil and gas worth roughly $2 million on the open market that month, without factoring in operating costs like debt payments, transportation or well maintenance.

* * *

In 2024, the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission tallied 142,000 known orphan wells across 29 states. Those states estimated there are another 250,000 to 740,000 wells that are undocumented or only partially documented by regulatory agencies. On the Navajo Nation, for example, chemical-laden, undocumented wells dot the landscape after a century of oil and gas drilling in the region.

New Mexico has 1,035 orphan wells on its books now, according to Hill. Another 1,400 wells are essentially awaiting paperwork to join the roster and 3,000 more will likely soon join those, according to last years Finance Committee report. It went on to estimate that without major changes in bonding and transfer practices, the state could be on the hook for somewhere between $700 million and $1.6 billion in cleanup costs in the coming years.

The costs of orphan wells dont stop at financial consequences. A 2022 overview of nearly three dozen scientific studies of orphan wells by HEI Energy documented air, surface and subsurface contamination from methane, petroleum byproducts and well wastewater. In a different project, HEI Energy funded a monitoring station that found extreme levels of air pollution from oil and gas facilities around Loving, in New Mexicos portion of the Permian Basin.

Theres an easy answer to this, Rogers said. If you really want to get this problem solved, you just require the operator to put up a full-cost bond.

Financial assurance bonds are the primary way governments try to indemnify themselves against orphan well costs. In theory, if a company goes bankrupt, the state can claim the companys bonds to cover cleanup. In practice, it rarely works that way.

For example, Oil Conservation Division records show that Empire New Mexico meets New Mexicos bonding requirements, but those bonds are worth only enough to clean up about five wells at the states average cost.

New Mexicos bond requirements are so low that sometimes the state doesnt bother to collect them.

The juice is not worth the squeeze, said Ben Shelton, the deputy secretary of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department, in a legislative committee hearing last year. Im not going to send one of my three attorneys  on a two-month goose chase for a $50,000 bond  its just not worth the states taxpayer dollars.

The Oil Conservation Division taps the state Reclamation Fund to pay for its orphan well cleanup projects. To cover the growing number of those wells on state books, a bipartisan bill that passed earlier this year increases and eventually channels all of the states oil and gas conservation tax into the fund for eight years. According to figures from the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, that will divert tens of millions a year that previously had gone to the states General Fund.

Kyle Tisdel, senior attorney with the Western Environmental Law Center, said thats a positive move for well cleanup but only addresses part of the issue. Without higher bonding requirements, the fund could create a disincentive for industry to plug wells at all. Companies could wait and just turn their wells over to the state because the reclamation funds going to pay for it, he said.

His group, along with nine others, has petitioned the Oil Conservation Commission to create rules to increase bonding amounts, tighten inactive well rules and strengthen well transfer rules. The case began in June, 2024, and will have its next hearing on April 9.

Theres no incentive right now for companies to pay out of pocket for those plugging costs, he said. It works for industry, but it doesnt work for the public. It doesnt work for the taxpayers.

Case in point: In a 2023 settlement, New Mexico agreed to plug and remediate 299 nonproducing wells owned by Ridgeway Arizona, with the company reimbursing the state $30,000 a month until the bill is paid. At the time, state regulators said that bill could top $30 million, creating an 83-year payment window. The agreement also waived more than $270,000 in fines for operational violations at the companys facilities.

State Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Santa Fe).

Rep. Matthew McQueen, a Democrat from Galisteo whos running for state land commissioner, has tried for years to fix the orphan well issue through new legislation. His proposal in 2025, which didnt pass, was to ask the industry to police itself.

The way we do that is we say, Youre free to transfer these wells, but you dont get to transfer the liability, he said. Under McQueens proposed law, if a company down the ownership chain goes bankrupt, the state would go back up the chain until it found a solvent company to pay for plugging and remediation. The federal government already has this tool, and last year the Bureau of Land Management used it to get four different companies to pay the costs on 23 orphaned wells they had sold years earlier but were eventually abandoned in the San Juan Basin in New Mexicos northwest corner.

All these things would be easier if just the responsible parties stepped up and did the right thing, McQueen said. And of course theyre not going to do that out of the goodness of their heart. Theyre going to do that if thats our statutory framework.

He said it would be simpler for everyone in the end. You dont have to go through all of this rigamarole. You dont have to do the complicated transactions. You dont have to do the corporate shell game. You can just do the right thing, he said. Transfer the well if you need to, but make sure that you have a good transfer.
Despite Brazil being South Americas second-largest natural gas producer, behind neighboring Argentina, the country is still a net importer of the economically crucial fossil fuel. This makes Latin Americas largest economy more prone to disruption from soaring natural gas prices caused by the Middle East conflict than other regional economies. This underscores the importance of Brazils growing natural gas output, particularly in a region where some countries are experiencing shortages and supply from Trinidad and Tobago , a major producer, is in decline.

Iran knocked out 17% of Qatars liquified natural gas (LNG) export capacity last month. Qatar is responsible for around a fifth of the world's natural gas supply. There are fears that the damage caused by Tehrans drone strikes will take years to repair. This sparked considerable concern in Asia and Europe, which are reliant on Qatars LNG shipments. Some members of the European Union (EU) are considering fuel rationing. Germanys Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that the shock will be as severe as the COVID pandemic and Russias invasion of Ukraine.

Economically vital natural gas production is also growing at a steady clip. During February 2026, Brazil pumped nearly 7 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, which represents a stunning 24.5% increase year on year and is 2.2 times greater than a decade earlier. While all attention is on oil prices, with Brent up by a whopping 73% since the start of 2026, it is the outlook for global natural gas supply that is creating considerable fear.

Brazils oil production over the last decade has skyrocketed . For February 2026, it hit a record high of just under 4.1 million barrels per day. This is a notable 16.4% increase over the same period a year earlier and 1.7 times greater than February 2016, when Brazil lifted an average of just over 2.3 million barrels of oil per day. Unsurprisingly, the country's prolific pre-salt oilfields are responsible for the lions share of that production, accounting for nearly 76% of petroleum output.

Oil price shocks since the U.S. and Israel first struck Iran, the worlds fifth-largest oil producer, have global markets on edge. The sudden energy crisis, which emerged after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz , preventing the passage of around a fifth of the worlds oil supply, emphasizes the importance of petroleum production in non-OPEC countries. Brazil, along with Guyana and Argentina, was named among the largest non-OPEC contributors to global oil supply growth. Steadily expanding petroleum production will assist with securing energy security in the Americas.

Story Continues

In response to the uncertainty created by the war against Iran and heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, which hit global energy supplies, Brasilia introduced a 12% levy on oil exports. This is not only designed to boost government revenue but also to incentivize oil producers to sell their production domestically to ensure the domestic fuel supply is uninterrupted while reducing the impact of global price swings. Indeed, the oil price spike is impacting Brazils all-important agricultural sector with a record soybean crop at risk.

A significant portion of production growth will come from national oil company Petrobras. The state-controlled company, which is 37% controlled by Brasilia, will invest $69.2 billion between 2026 and 2030, with 62% or $43 billion directed to pre-salt operations, while 24% will go to post-salt assets and 7% on exploration activities. Petrobras anticipates it will be lifting 2.6 million barrels per day by 2030, with total commercial oil and natural gas output hitting 2.9 million barrels of oil equivalent daily.

Energy investment, including from the private sector and foreign oil companies, continues to grow. According to S&P Global, Brazils favorable regulatory framework and transparent oil auctions are attracting sustained investment. Leading industry body Brazils Institute of Oil, Gas and Biofuels (IBP) anticipates a record $21.3 billion of upstream investment during 2026. Global supermajors Equinor and Shell are also spending significantly on expanding operations in Brazil. This will go a long way to boosting oil production, with Brasilia eyeing Middle East instability as a means of boosting petroleum exports.

Rising investment in Brazils hydrocarbon sector will drive solid production growth. Analysts anticipate that Latin Americas largest country will be lifting as much as 5.3 million barrels of crude oil per day by 2030. This represents an ambitious 40.6% increase over 2025 and will see Brazil overtake Canada to become the world's fourth-largest oil producer behind Saudi Arabia. That solid production growth will drive a sharp uptick in oil exports, which will improve energy security for the Americas and give Latin Americas largest economy a healthy lift.

Brazil exports more than half of the oil produced, making it an important contributor to global petroleum supply. Last year, Brazil exported a record 1.92 million barrels per day, earning nearly $45 billion. Around 45% of those shipments were purchased by China, with around 10% going to the U.S., which at 231,000 barrels per day is equivalent to 3% of all petroleum imported for 2025. There is speculation the U.S. will import more oil from Brazil, especially for heavier grades of crude oil, because of supply disruptions caused by Iran's closing of the Strait of Hormuz.

Brazils oil exports are expected to expand significantly during 2026, by as much as 10%, perhaps more now that Middle East petroleum supplies are severely disrupted. Greater demand is expected from China because the worlds second-largest economy, by nominal GDP, obtains around 42% of its petroleum imports from the Middle East. In addition to this, Washingtons intervention in Venezuela, which secured Guyanas once-in-a-lifetime oil boom, has disrupted around 2% of Beijings oil supply.

During 2025, around 45% of the petroleum exported from Brazil was exported to China. Prior to the massive disruptions to global oil supply caused by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, which saw Tehran close the Strait of Hormuz, that number was expected to climb to at least 50% of all oil exported by Brazil. There are signs exports to China will rise further than forecast because of the current disruptions to global supply and the drop in petroleum imports from Venezuela.

There is speculation that, because of major supply disruptions, the U.S. will import higher quantities of Brazils crude oil during 2026, despite some analysts claiming such shipments are in decline. Demand for Brazils light and medium-low sulfur grades, which are especially suitable for U.S. refineries, remains strong. Indeed, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data shows January 2026 petroleum imports jumped a notable 23.6% month over month to 236,000 barrels per day and by 23% compared to a year earlier. Growing production of medium-sweet crude oil from Brazils prolific offshore pre-salt fields will boost energy security in the Americas.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices dropped below $100 per barrel (bbl) following an announcement from US President Donald Trump regarding a two-week ceasefire with Iran, contingent on the safe reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, reported Reuters.

By 06:30 GMT on 8 April, Brent futures had decreased by $16.32, reaching $92.95/bbl, while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) fell by $18.16 to $94.79/bbl.

Before the announcement, President Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a transit route for roughly 20% of the worlds oil supply, and warned of major strikes on Iranian infrastructure if it did not comply.

According to a statement by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Iran would halt its attacks if retaliatory actions against it ceased.

The statement also noted that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be facilitated for two weeks with coordination from Iranian armed forces.

Recent hostilities in the region, including missile launches and drone attacks, have prompted Gulf states to issue warnings.

The ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran led to a significant rise in oil prices, with March marking the highest, exceeding 50%.

Trump also revealed that the US had received a ten-point proposal from Iran, describing it as a potential basis for long-term peace negotiations.

Progress towards a definitive agreement is reportedly well under way.

In a related development, India is poised to receive its first shipment of Iranian oil in seven years after the US temporarily lifted sanctions on Iranian oil and refined products to alleviate supply shortages, according to ship tracking data from LSEG and Kpler, reported Reuters.

State-run Indian Oil purchased the cargo, currently aboard the Curacao-flagged very large crude carrier Jaya, which is en route to India's eastern coast and expected to arrive later this week.

Initially, the Jaya diverted to South East Asian waters for a discharge in China before proceeding to India.

As the world's third-largest importer and consumer of oil, India has not imported Iranian crude since May 2019 due to US pressure.

However, recent supply disruptions resulting from the US-Israeli conflict have significantly impacted the country.

"Oil prices dip below $100 after US, Iran agree on ceasefire" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




American consumers are hunting for cheaper gas following President Donald Trumps announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran, contingent on reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Its unclear if they'll find it any time soon.

Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth told reporters April 8 the American military had done its part for now, but remains ready to resume fighting if Iran violates the ceasefire agreement. While negotiations take place, Iran has agreed to allow "safe passage" through the waterway that typically carries about 20% of the global oil supply, where nearly all traffic has been disrupted since the start of the war.

"We actually don't know whether the conflict ends, but it's one thing for the conflict to end, it's another for supply chains to be essentially addressed," Bankrate Senior Economic Analyst Mark Hamrick said, adding consumers should not expect to see gas prices fall to pre-war levels right away. "This was an unprecedented interruption in crude oil supplies, and it's not as if one can flip a switch on and off to get all these things moving again."

A Shell gas station sign displays fuel prices along a street in Detroit on Tuesday, March 31, 2026.

More: US, Iran declare victory after ceasefire announcement. Live updates.

Fuel prices could continue to rise for months even after the waterway reopens, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Just as we had never before seen the strait close, weve never seen it reopen, EIA Administrator Tristan Abbey said in an April 7 statement. What exactly that looks like remains to be seen. Full restoration of flows will take months.

The price of a barrel of Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was hovering around $109 at the end of the day April 7 before the ceasefire announcement, and plunged to about $92 by the morning of April 8. The price still remains about 26% higher than it was before the start of the war on Feb. 28.

The national average price of a gallon of regular unleaded gas held steady from the day before at about $4.17 on the morning of April 8, according to GasBuddys real-time tracker. Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at Gas Buddy, predicted it could fall below $4 within one or two weeks.

Gas prices could start reversing nationally in 48 hours or so  by a few cents every day, De Haan said in an X post. "Diesel prices may lag slightly  but where things stand now, diesel is NO longer likely to reach a record."

That scenario would represent welcome relief for consumers, about a third of whom have already adapted their spending or savings habits due to higher gas prices, according to a March LendingTree survey. It found 62% of those with a gas-powered vehicle said their finances would be significantly altered if prices remained high for a month or more.
Oil prices plummeted and Asian markets rose after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

South Koreas Kospi rose about 5.8 per cent while Japans Nikkei 225 climbed roughly 5 per cent.

Australias S&P/ASX 200 advanced around 2.6 per cent, while Hong Kongs Hang Seng rose about 2.6 per cent as trading resumed after a holiday. Chinas CSI 300 also moved higher.

Oil prices dropped steeply, with US crude falling more than $16 to around $96 a barrel and Brent crude down about $14 to below $95, still higher than the pre-war levels.

US crude oil futures also fell more than 15 per cent, while futures for the S&P 500 jumped 2.2 per cent by 8.05pm ET, and Dow futures rose 930 points or 2 per cent.

The market activity was driven by US president Donald Trump announcing that he would hold off on his threat of devastating attacks on Iran, adding that the decision was subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mr Trump had previously threatened strikes on Iranian bridges, power plants, and other civilian infrastructure.

Iranian foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi announced, on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council, that his countrys armed forces would cease their defensive operations.

It is emphasised that this does not signify the termination of the war, the statement from the council said. Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.

Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement is made at the Enqelab Square in Tehran (AFP/Getty)

Analysts said the market reaction reflected relief at the easing of immediate risks, although sentiment remained cautious.

The mood remains one of cautious optimism rather than outright celebration, Tim Waterer, chief market analyst at KCM Trade, told Reuters, noting the ceasefire was temporary and its impact on shipping flows would be closely watched.

Charu Chanana, chief investment strategist at Saxo, told the news agency the crucial test was whether negotiations would keep progressing over the next two weeks  and whether traffic through Hormuz would actually ease.

That will determine whether this remains just a relief rally or starts to look more like a durable de-escalation, she said.

Earlier, US stocks swung sharply during regular trading as uncertainty about the war increased following Mr Trumps threat that a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again if Iran did not meet his deadline of 8pm ET to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The S&P 500 fell as much as 1.2 per cent, but stocks rallied at the end of trading after Pakistans prime minister urged Mr Trump to extend his deadline for another two weeks and asked Iran to open up the strait for the same period.
US exchanges tracked higher on Wednesday morning following European and Asian market gains [Michael M. Santiago / Getty Images]

Global oil prices have fallen sharply and stock markets jumped after the US and Iran agreed to a conditional two-week ceasefire deal that includes the reopening of the key Strait of Hormuz waterway.

The global benchmark oil price initially sank 15% to just under $92 (67) before climbing back up slightly while US-traded oil dropped to about $96.

However, oil prices remain higher than before the conflict started on 28 February. At the time, it was trading at around $70 a barrel.

The cost of energy has jumped as oil and gas supplies from the Middle East have been severely disrupted after Iran threatened to attack ships trying to use the strait in retaliation to US and Israeli airstrikes.

Stock markets in the US surged higher despite ongoing questions about the strength of the ceasefire deal, following sharp rises in Europe and Asia.

The S&P 500 index of the largest firms listed in the US ended the day up 2.5%, while the Dow and Nasdaq closed 2.8% higher.

In London, the FTSE 100 share index closed up 2.5%. In France, the CAC 40 ended the day 4.5% higher while Germany's Dax had climbed 4.7%.

Japan's Nikkei 225 closed up nearly 5.4% while South Korea's Kospi jumped more than 6.8%. Hong Kong's Hang Seng ended 3% higher, while the ASX 200 in Australia gained 2.5%.

In a social media post on Tuesday evening, Trump said: "I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks... subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz".

He had set a deadline for 20:00 EDT on Tuesday (00:00 GMT on Wednesday), threatening that "a whole civilisation will die tonight" if no deal was reached.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on social media that Tehran will agree to a ceasefire "if attacks against Iran are halted", adding that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz "will be possible".

Despite his threats, Trump was likely to be wary about letting energy prices "skyrocket" by escalating the conflict, said Xavier Smith from market research firm AlphaSense.

That could have led to a "self-inflicted economic wound" that few would risk, especially given the looming pressure of approval ratings on Trump's leadership, said Smith, a research director.

In recent days, some ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz, although far fewer than usual.
Perenti, the parent company of Barminco, has extended its contract with Regis Resources to continue providing underground mining services at the Duketon Operations in Western Australia (WA).

This extension maintains operations until at least 30 March 2029, adding value of approximately A$180m over the additional 12 months.

Perenti disclosed the initial alliance agreement in April 2024, which was set for three years with an option to extend annually for an additional year on a rolling basis.

Last January, Barminco received an extension to its underground mining contract at Duketon.

Perenti contract mining president Gabrielle Iwanow said: I am pleased that Regis and Barminco have agreed to extend the alliance at the Duketon Operations.

We have a strong working relationship with Regis and the alliance framework provides ongoing planning certainty for both parties, enabling us to continue delivering safe, reliable production.

Barminco remains committed to working closely with our clients, both locally and globally, to create longterm value.

The services include underground development, production and support, with no additional growth capital required.

Perenti provides various mining services across four continents, focusing on long-term value creation for stakeholders including investors, clients and local communities.

Perenti managing director and CEO Mark Norwell said: This extension reflects the strength of our longstanding relationship with Regis and the consistent performance delivered by our team at Duketon.

We value the collaborative approach between our organisations and look forward to continuing to work together to deliver safe and productive outcomes.

The Duketon Gold Project is situated in the North Eastern Goldfields of WA, around 130km north of Laverton. It comprises both open pits and underground mines.

The project commenced gold production in 2012.

During the financial year 2025, it produced 233,000oz of gold.

In September 2025, Barminco secured a four-year contract valued at approximately A$300m to provide underground mining services at the Dalgaranga Gold Project in WA.

"Perenti extends Duketon mining contract with Regis" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Rift Helium targets mid-April AIM float with 8 million fundraise Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock

Rift Helium, a primary helium exploration company focused on southwest Tanzania, is planning to float on London's AIM market in mid-April 2026, raising approximately 8 million through a placing and direct subscription.

The company will trade under the ticker RIFT on admission and intends to use the proceeds to advance its Upepo Project in Tanzania's Rukwa Basin, targeting environmental impact assessment approval, 3D seismic-led prospect definition and well drilling.

The Upepo Project covers 283 square kilometres of licence acreage adjacent to confirmed helium discoveries within the basin, which independent technical consultants NSAI have assessed as holding a gross, unrisked P50 prospective resource of approximately 19 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of recoverable helium, with a mean estimate of approximately 41 Bcf on the flagship licence block.

Rift describes itself as a third-mover in the Rukwa Basin, arguing that earlier exploration activity by adjacent operators has validated a working helium system and materially reduced geological risk, allowing it to pursue a more targeted and capital-efficient strategy.

The company is targeting 3D seismic-led prospect definition in summer 2026, with well drilling planned for the first half of 2027.

Tanzania's location on the eastern coast of Africa provides a clear export route to Asia via the port of Dar es Salaam, accessible from the Upepo Project by existing road and rail infrastructure.

Asia accounts for approximately 60% of global helium imports, with the European Union taking a further 30%.

Chief executive Charlie FitzRoy said the company believed it was well-positioned to execute its strategy following admission.

Rift's float comes as a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz squeezes Middle East helium exports, intensifying industry demand for geographically diversified supply sources beyond Qatar and other Gulf states.

Helium is essential to semiconductor manufacturing and MRI medical scanners, and global demand is projected to grow at between 5% and 7% annually through to 2030.
Australias St George Mining has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Tecnicas Reunidas covering processing test work on rare earth samples from the Araxa deposit in Brazil's Minas Gerais state.

The Spanish company will carry out the initial work using its RARETECH technology to refine rare earth mineralisation.

This includes producing mixed carbonates and rare-earth oxides, along with the separation and fractionation of rare earth elements (REEs).

St George Mining owns the entire Araxa deposit, which is the largest hard rock rare earths deposit in South America.

The agreement with Tecnicas Reunidas involves using its technology to process rare earth concentrates into carbonates.

Tecnicas Reunidas brings expertise in critical raw material recovery, having deployed RARETECH in projects across the US, Japan, Australia and other countries.

RARETECH was developed by Tecnicas Reunidas through its In-House Technology Development Division and Technology Centre, focusing on the recovery, processing and refining of critical minerals, essential metals and other circular economy products.

In late February, the company also secured an agreement with Australian company Osmond Resources to supply RARETECH technology for the EU's first comprehensive rare earth production project, which spans more than 220km in northern Jaen, Spain.

Tecnicas Reunidas may also provide further assistance to St George Mining, including designing a flow diagram and an industrial plant for processing rare earths, among other tasks.

St George Mining aims to leverage this alliance to enter European markets following previous partnerships with companies such as REalloys in the US and MagBras in Brazil.

St George Mining CEO John Prineas said: We are very excited to be working with Tecnicas Reunidas to further assess the optimal processing route for the Araxa rare earths.

In December 2024, the company announced partnerships to advance downstream production of niobium and REEs from the Araxa project.

"St George signs MoU with Tecnicas Reunidas for Araxa rare earths" was originally created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.




Global markets are entering a period of heightened uncertainty as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East intensify.

Investors are closely watching developments that could send ripples across commodities like oil and risk assets like virtual assets.

In recent days, a series of escalating threats and deadlines from U.S. President Donald Trump have sharpened focus on global energy markets, raising concerns about potential disruptions to supply chains that underpin the world economy.

Traders across both traditional and digital markets are repositioning rapidly, seeking exposure to assets most sensitive to geopolitical shocks as the situation continues to evolve.

Related: Traders see 66% chances Trump extends 8PM Hormuz deadline

Trump escalation raises stakes for global oil supply

As Trumps deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz nears, traders are increasingly positioning for sharp moves in oil prices.

The conflict, which began on Feb. 28, has already triggered one of the most significant energy shocks in decades, disrupting a critical chokepoint that carries roughly 20% of global oil supply.

Tensions have escalated rapidly over the past 48 hours. On Apr. 5, Trump warned in a Truth Social post that Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, threatening strikes on Iranian infrastructure if the Strait remains closed.

A day later, he said the entire country can be taken out in one night and threatened,

A whole civilization will die tonight.

The deadline, set for 8:00 pm ET on Apr. 7, has heightened fears of immediate military action, with markets pricing in the risk of further supply disruption.

US President Donald TrumpGetty Images  Getty Images

Oil prices have surged in response. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude traded around $113 per barrel, while Brent crude hovered near $104, reflecting sharp gains over the past week.

Trending on TheStreet Roundtable:

Crypto traders place leveraged bets on oil

Alongside traditional markets, crypto-native trading platforms are seeing a surge in activity as traders rush to position ahead of the deadline.

Hyperliquid, the decentralized crypto exchange, has become increasingly popular among crypto investors interested in trading tokenized commodities.

An onchain perpetual futures market tied to oil showed its price around $100 a barrel at press time.

The oil contract on Hyperliquid posted a 24-hour trading volume of $15.2 million and $4.5 million in open interest, reflecting elevated trading activity alongside thinner positioning and fast-moving order flow.
Engineering and construction company UGL has commenced construction work at Neoens Muchea Battery project in Western Australia (WA), marking the start of site works for the companys first six-hour long-duration storage project using Tesla Megapacks batteries under a Tesla EPC-led delivery.

The stand-alone asset is designed for 164MW/905 megawatt-hours (MWh) and will connect to Western Powers network via the adjacent Muchea substation.

Early works include upgrading a 1.3km access road and setting up the main laydown area, improving site access and allowing the project to move into bulk civil works.

UGL reported steady growth in the on-site workforce and said additional teams will mobilise for civil foundations, electrical works, battery installation and commissioning as the schedule progresses.

The project team has focused on approvals for work within the gas pipeline corridor and the road reserve.

UGL cited collaboration with the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline team, the Shire of Chittering and Main Roads WA to support compliance and ongoing construction.

Major civil works are expected to be completed in the coming months, ahead of the delivery of Tesla Megapack batteries and related infrastructure.

The project is located around 2km north of Muchea and roughly 43km north-east of Perth, within the Shire of Chittering. It occupies a single freehold site on Byrne Road spanning approximately five hectares.

The Muchea Battery facility will supply peak demand capacity and provide grid stability and reliability services to support the integration of additional renewable energy.

UGL project manager Sandeep Kamath said: Muchea is an important project for the state, our client and our partners. From day one, we have focused on building a strong safety culture, working closely with stakeholders and delivering high-quality outcomes.

This project shows what can be achieved through planning, teamwork and a shared commitment to excellence.

UGL says its national battery portfolio includes 3.6 gigawatt-hours (GWh) installed and commissioned across 13 solar farms, 2.15GWh under construction, and eight batteries delivered, including the Western Downs Battery, with three battery projects currently under way.

In July 2025, UGL won a $114m (A$161.78m) contract to support Western Powers energy transition programme.

The work formed part of the WA Government-funded Clean Energy Link-North project, which aimed to enable large-scale renewable energy generation.

"UGL starts construction at Neoens Muchea Battery project" was originally created and published by World Construction Network, a GlobalData owned brand.
The Minerva Gloria is docked at a wharf in the Mississippi Sound, not far from the US's vast oil reserves in the Gulf of Mexico.

The ship, 820ft (250m) long, painted navy and burgundy, is carrying precious cargo from Venezuela that, just six months ago, would have been impossible to bring to the US - 400,000 barrels of crude oil.

Venezuela has the world's largest oil reserves. Under Venezuela's former president Nicholas Maduro oil exports had dropped significantly, due to a lack of investment. Then came US sanctions against any imports from the Latin American country.

But US President Donald Trump vowed to tap those reserves after the US military captured Maduro in a surprise, night-time raid in January.

The vast Minerva Gloria oil tanker transported 400,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude to the US [James Cooke/BBC]

Now the oil is flowing again in Venezuela. In March, the country's monthly crude exports surpassed one million barrels per day. The first time since September.

As the world reels from the impact on global energy prices caused by Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz, big oil and gas companies like Chevron are now importing Venezuelan crude oil by the shipload.

"It's a big deal not only for Chevron but the entire Gulf region," says Tim Potter. He is the director for Chevron's oil refinery in Pascagoula, Mississippi, the company's largest operation in the US. It is also the only major US oil company currently operating in Venezuela.

Together this means that Chevron can extract its own Venezuelan oil, process it itself, and get it directly to the US consumer.

"It's a pretty big incentive for us to run it," Potter says. "The refinery was really designed, and we invested in the refinery, to run heavy oils like from Venezuela."

Chevron director Tim Potter says that Venezuelan oil will eventually mean a fall in the price of US gasoline [James Cooke/BBC]

Venezuelan crude oil is relatively cheap to buy because it is much more difficult to process. It is very heavy, thick, dark and high in sulfur, often called a sour oil. It is used to make diesel, gasoline (petrol), jet fuel and other products.

Chevron now imports the equivalent of 250,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude oil per day, on average, says Andy Walz, president of downstream, midstream and chemicals at Chevron.

"We think we can take that up another 50% so call it somewhere around 350,000 to 400,000 barrels a day of just the Chevron share of our position in Venezuela."

What Walz means by the US's "position in Venezuela" is that while Chevron is the only US company that has extracting capabilities in the country, others are buying Venezuelan oil from domestic producers.
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is included in our list of the 14 hedge fund favorites with strong setup in 2026.

Analysts Remain Confident in UnitedHealth (UNH)'s Growth Initiatives Outside of Its Main Insurance Operations

As of April 3, 2026, Wall Street has a constructive view on UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), with 75% of covering analysts rating the stock bullishly, and a consensus price target of $355.00, implying a potential upside of roughly 30%. This is a positive backdrop for UNH and suggests that investors and analysts alike still recognize UnitedHealth Group for its growth initiatives outside of its main insurance operations.

One such growth initiative was announced on March 16, 2026, when UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) announced a national rollout of its UnitedHealthcare Doula Support offering to eligible employer-sponsored health plans.

The rollout will follow a phased approach, with national availability anticipated by January 1, 2027, thereby expanding access for 7.2 million UnitedHealthcare members and covering 220,000 annual deliveries.

The UnitedHealthcare Doula Support offering aims to provide personalized support to pregnant women, helping improve the birth experience and support after giving birth through a combination of physical, emotional, and educational support, in person or virtually, depending on the companys plan design. With this development, there could be a positive impact on birth outcomes, such as reduced preterm births, cesarean sections, breastfeeding initiation, and post-delivery anxiety and depression. The update reflects UnitedHealth Group Incorporateds (NYSE:UNH) deeper push into maternal health and whole-person care.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH), a diversified healthcare company, spans insurance, care delivery, pharmacy benefits, software, and analytics. Its UnitedHealthcare and Optum franchises support coordinated care, cost management, and data-driven services.

While we acknowledge the potential of UNH as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is included in our list of the 14 hedge fund favorites with strong setup in 2026.

Guggenheim Remains Bullish on Eli Lilly (LLY) Ahead of Q1 2026 Results

On March 30, 2026, Guggenheim updated its model ahead of the first-quarter data and lowered the firms price target for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) from $1,168 to $1,163, while keeping a Buy rating. The update came in anticipation of the companys Q1 2026 results.

This update coincides with ongoing analyst attention toward Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)s positioning in the rapidly expanding oral obesity market.

RBC Capital reaffirmed its Outperform rating and $1,250 price target for the stock on March 16, 2026. The firm highlighted that the updated 44-week Phase 2 ACCESS II data for Structure Therapeutics aleniglipron appear similar to Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)s Phase 2 data for orforglipron, with no visibly superior profile.

According to the investment firm, the data contribute to the competitive debate about oral obesity therapies and may indicate the emergence of a new competitor for market share.

However, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY)s own catalyst remains the firms primary focus, with orforgliprons April 10, 2026, PDUFA date and potential launch expected to be the more significant driver of the stock.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) is a healthcare company that specializes in human pharmaceutical products and offers cardiometabolic health & oncology products.

While we acknowledge the potential of LLY as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Insmed is putting a stop to the development of Brinsupri (brensocatib) in hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) after the drug failed to meet its efficacy endpoints in a mid-stage trial.

This follows the results of the Phase IIb CEDAR study (NCT06685835), which revealed that neither a 10mg nor a 40mg dose of Brinsupri bested the baseline reduction in total abscess and inflammatory nodules versus placebo.

During the trial, patients given a low or high daily dose of the dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DDP1) blocker saw a 45.5% and 40.3% drop in abscess and nodule counts from baseline, while the placebo group experienced a 57.1% reduction, missing the trials primary endpoint.

The drug also failed to meet the secondary endpoints, which included measures of clinical response, number of flares, symptomatic severity and quality of life (QoL) measures. Insmed is yet to share data from these elements of the trial, though the company does plan to disclose details at an upcoming medical conference.

Patients generally tolerated Brinsupri well in this trial, with one and three individuals (1.4%, 4.1%) experiencing a severe or serious treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) in the 10mg group. Further details on these events remain undisclosed.

Brinsupri label expansion ploys thwarted

The results of this study will be disappointing for Insmed, which also previously failed to expand Brinsupris reach into chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) back in December 2025 after the drug came up short in a Phase II trial.

The New Jersey biopharma originally identified the DPP1 blockers potential to treat HS due to the involvement of neutrophils in this disease, which Brinsupri targets through the inhibition of neutrophil serine proteases that drive inflammation.

However, Jefferies analysts were not particularly surprised by the CEDAR trial miss. This is because the drug previously failed in CRSsNP, and they believe there was a slim rationale for the drug's mechanism of action in HS.

Analysts at William Blair held similar sentiments, noting there was a lack of preclinical evidence to support DPP1 inhibition in HS.

Insmed originally secured approval for Brinsupri in August 2025, making it the first medicine to get the regulatory greenlight as a treatment for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. According to an analyst consensus forecast from GlobalData, the parent company of Clinical Trials Arena, Brinsupri will become a blockbuster seller in 2027, while it will bring in $5.5bn in 2031 at the end of the forecast period.

Moving forward, both William Blair and Jefferies analysts predict that this readout will have little impact on investor sentiments towards Insmed  instead sharpening the focus on Brinsupris launch curve in bronchiectasis.
With a market cap of $160.5 billion, Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (ISRG) develops and markets advanced medical technologies that enable physicians to perform minimally invasive procedures, including its flagship da Vinci Surgical System and Ion endoluminal platform. It also provides integrated instruments, support services, and digital solutions to enhance surgical outcomes and hospital performance worldwide.

The Sunnyvale, California-based company is expected to announce its fiscal Q1 2026 results soon. Ahead of this event, analysts forecast Intuitive Surgical to report an EPS of $1.63, up 15.6% from $1.41 in the year-ago quarter. It has exceeded Wall Street's earnings estimates in the last four quarters.

More News from Barchart

For fiscal 2026, analysts predict the medical device maker to post an EPS of $8.25, a 14.3% increase from $7.22 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, EPS is anticipated to grow 15.2% year-over-year to $9.50 in fiscal 2027.

www.barchart.com

Shares of Intuitive Surgical have risen marginally over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) nearly 22% gain and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETFs (XLV) 8.3% return over the same period.

www.barchart.com

Shares of Intuitive Surgical fell marginally following its Q4 2025 results on Jan. 22 as the company projected slower 2026 da Vinci procedure growth of 13% - 15% compared to 18% in 2025, signaling a moderation in demand. Investor sentiment was further weighed down by expected margin pressure, with adjusted gross margins guided to 67% - 68% (vs. 67.6% in 2025), including an estimated ~1.2% tariff impact on revenue. Additionally, concerns arose from higher operating expense growth of 11% - 15% in 2026 and a decline in Ion system placements.

Analysts' consensus view on ISRG stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Among 30 analysts covering the stock, 19 suggest a "Strong Buy," two give a "Moderate Buy," eight recommend a "Hold," and one has a "Strong Sell." The average analyst price target for Intuitive Surgical is $619.85, indicating a potential upside of 37.1% from the current levels.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
South Africas RCL Foods has struck a deal to acquire local pet-food business Martin and Martin.

RCL Foods is to pay Simrose Overseas R695m ($42.3m) for the Cape Town-based firm, which trades as Bob Martin.

The pet-food side of RCL Foods' business focuses on dry products and the acquisition expands the company's product range in areas including wet pet food and treats.

Martin and Martin's brand stable includes Husky, Pamper, Beeno, and Bob Martin.

RCL Foods, which owns consumer food brands including Supreme flour and Nola mayonnaise, said the "attractive growth prospects" of pet food make the area of "strategic importance" for the business. The company's own range of pet food includes the brands Bobtail and Canine Cuisine.

The deal will not result in job losses, with no immediate changes for employees, the companies said in a joint statement.

Paul Cruickshank, the CEO of RCL Foods, said: This acquisition represents an exciting opportunity to broaden our participation in the pet-food category and accelerate our presence in high-growth segments where we currently have limited exposure. By bringing together the complementary capabilities of RCL Foods and Martin and Martin, we are positioning ourselves to deliver greater innovation, relevance and value to customers, while building a stronger, more sustainable pet-food portfolio for the future.

The deal comes a month after RCL Foods recalled batches of pet food after a theft of condemned dry products that had been sent to a waste-management site but then sold on the informal market.

At the time, RCL Foods said the situation led the company to make further checks on potentially contaminated products that had been designated for destruction and it found some batches had appeared in the formal trade.

As of 31 December 2024, Martin and Martin reported net assets of R54.5m, profits after tax of R23.3m, and EBITDA of R75.2m, RCL Foods said.

The completion of the acquisition remains subject to conditions that include approval from competition authorities.

Brendan Hayes, the managing director of Martin and Martin, said: We are excited about the strong synergies this partnership would bring, enabling us to serve the market with a broader range of innovative products.

RCL Foods reported a 1.9% decrease in revenue from continuing operations to R13.3bn for the six months ended December. Pet-food volumes grew 2.2%.

The company booked a 24.6% year-on-year decrease in EBITDA from continuing operations to R1.17bn.

Total earnings per share (EPS) were down 43.8% to 75.9 cents, while total headline earnings per share (HEPS) and HEPS from continuing operations slid 30.6% to 75.9 cents.
Stephen Ubl, chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the trade group for branded drugmakers, is stepping down at the end of the year after a decade at the organization.

Ubls announcement leaves a leadership vacuum at one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, just as the Trump administration is overhauling the industrys pricing practices and questioning the safety of its products.

The Board will begin a search for his successor, and Ubl will remain in his role until a new CEO is appointed to ensure a smooth transition, PhRMA said in a press release.

A pharmaceutical industry consultant granted anonymity to discuss the news said it was disclosed at a PhRMA board call Wednesday morning that was scheduled on Monday evening.

"There was an unplanned board call for Steve where he talked about staying on until the end of the year, but this will be his last year as CEO, the pharmaceutical industry consultant said. No successor was mentioned."

The announcement caps roughly a decade atop the powerful brand-name drug lobby. Ubl joined PhRMA in September 2015 after over a decade at the Advanced Medical Technology Association, the largest medical device trade lobby in Washington.

Im incredibly proud of what we accomplished over the past ten years, and I look forward to continuing to support the industry and the patients it serves in the next phase of my career, Ubl said in a statement. In the meantime, I remain fully committed to advancing PhRMAs priorities and supporting a strong, seamless transition in the months ahead.

Ubls tenure spanned public health crises and a shifting political landscape in Washington. He steered the organization through the Covid-19 pandemic and a rising populist climate that intensified efforts from both parties to rein in the industry.

In 2022, former President Joe Bidens Inflation Reduction Act ordered the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the nations largest payer of health care bills, to negotiate prices for certain drugs for the first time. Even though Republican lawmakers opposed that law, Trump has embraced the drug pricing push. In January, he asked Congress to codify his most-favored-nation policy, which would tie drug prices to the lower costs in wealthy nations abroad.

Trumps health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is also a vocal critic of the drug industry, overseeing sweeping changes to the childhood vaccine schedule and a shakeup of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions vaccine advisory panel, changes that were recently blocked by a federal district judge.
Last week, following a four-week trial, an Alabama jury handed boat repairman Mark Griffin a $70 million victory after he contracted a flesh-eating bacteria in 2019. According to Griffin's lawsuit, Tyson and industrial plumbing contractor Hydraservice were responsible for a large wastewater spill that led to his infection.

In June 2019, Tysons River Valley Ingredients facility in Hanceville discharged an estimated 220,000 gallons of partially treated wastewater into Mulberry Fork, a major tributary of the Black Warrior River. The spill was caused by a "mechanical failure" traced to some temporary piping work installed by Hydraservice.

Most popular manufacturing content:

According to a report from AL.com , Griffin lives some 30 miles from the plant. Given his profession, he has spent most of his life on the Black Warrior River, but he became severely ill after coming into contact with bacteria in the water.

Griffin contracted necrotizing fasciitis and had to undergo multiple surgeries. Some seven years later, he still has an open wound and a bone infection in his hips and pelvis.

The jury awarded $25 million in compensatory damages and $45 million in punitive damages.

Griffin said he is "thankful for the jurys decision" and hopes the verdict will prevent similar incidents in the future.

The lawsuit claimed the local water utility said the water was safe to drink. The initial lawsuit targeted the water board, but a judge dismissed the claims before the trial.

Tyson has been sued multiple times over the spill. The state secured a $3 million settlement with the company, at least half earmarked for remediating local communities. A separate case was brought against Tyson and Hydraservice by more than 70 landowners over lost property value.

Tyson Foods said it was disappointed in the outcome and maintains that the discharge did not cause Griffins injuries.

Tyson Farms bought the Hanceville facility in August 2018 and said it has worked hard to improve and upgrade the location.
The competition between OpenAI (OPAI.PVT) and Anthropic (ANTH.PVT) doesnt appear to be cooling off.

In a memo to staff published by The Verge, OpenAIs chief revenue officer Denise Dresser outlined a number of priorities for the companys sales org this quarter, saying enterprise AI is entering a more mature phase, and that its biggest customers want a system they can trust and build on.

The most notable headline to emerge from Dressers memo, however, came from the concluding thoughts on the competitive landscape, namely, OpenAIs biggest competitor, Anthropic.

Their stated run rate is inflated, Dresser wrote.

They use accounting treatment that makes revenue look bigger than it is, including grossing up rev share with Amazon and Google. Our analysis shows that this overstates their run rate by roughly $8 billion (at the current $30 [billion] stated). We report Microsoft revshare net, which is more inline with standards we would be held to as a public company.

(Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)  NurPhoto via Getty Images

Last week, Anthropic disclosed the $30 billion run rate figure, which signaled its growth rate had roughly tripled since the end of 2025.

Dressers memo also criticized Anthropic for telling a story built on fear, restriction, and the idea that a small group of elites should control AI.

The memo also said Anthropic made a strategic misstep in not acquiring enough compute to meet user needs and that its focus on coding, gave them an early wedge. But you do not want to be a single-product company in a platform war. As AI spreads beyond developers into every team, workflow, and industry, that narrowness can become a real liability.

Dresser also said OpenAIs relationship has been foundational to its success, but that it limited our ability to meet enterprises where they are.

In February, OpenAI announced an expanded deal with AWS, which included a $50 billion investment from Amazon and an exclusive cloud deal with AWS to distribute OpenAI Frontier, its enterprise platform.
But here is a nuance: investors begin to identify a potential bottleneck: the final consumer (B2C). Developer companies  the so-called middlemen  spend huge funds on cloud resources in the hope that users will massively buy AI subscriptions. At the same time, consumer budgets have their limits. If the average revenue per user (ARPU) for AI services does not demonstrate explosive growth comparable with the investments into infrastructure, the unit economics for these startups will not be viable.

This created an unprecedented demand for data center infrastructure. Cloud giants found themselves in the position of sellers of shovels, and server rent became the main driver of forecast revenue. In essence, a classic B2B market formed: businesses sell computing power to other businesses, and this is often financed by venture capital or corporate innovation budgets.

The genesis of the AI boom showed how breakthrough large language models (LLMs) provoked a Cambrian explosion among developers. Thousands of startups and corporations allocated budgets for the creation of their own applications, AI agents, and specialized tools. The training and launch (inference) of these algorithms required a colossal volume of compute.

The reality is that to understand the mechanics of these fears and how they could change the hierarchy of technological giants, we need to analyze the logic which governs supply, demand, and the monetization of computing power.

The fundamental mistake which market participants can make right now is perceiving AI as a monolithic essence. In reality, AI represents a complex, multi-layered ecosystem. Risks that are currently being priced into shares by no means suggest the end of neural networks is coming, but rather reflect a concern regarding a classic crisis of overproduction inside one specific segment: the cloud computing market.

The artificial intelligence market is entering a phase of critical revaluation. After a period of unrestrained euphoria  during which investors reflexively bought any asset associated with the AI label  Wall Street is beginning to experience more pragmatic anxieties. Prices for the shares of the main beneficiaries of this technological boom show signs of exhaustion. Simultaneously, massive capital expenditures (capex) of Big Tech companies have forced analysts to model scenarios in which the current business model may misfire.

Story Continues

In a scenario where thousands of B2B applications collide with growing cloud expenses while the consumer return lags behind, the natural reaction could become aggressive optimization. Developers may be forced to sharply cut costs and decrease the consumption of compute, which potentially can lead to the demand for raw computing power hitting the hard ceiling of consumer solvency.

Infrastructural Overhang and the Threat of Surplus

While the market values the risks of demand at the application level, the massive flywheel of infrastructural investments continues to spin. The construction of data centers is an inertial process which takes years. Capacities planned by cloud providers at the beginning of 2025  based on the extrapolation of endless demand  are only right now being put into service.

The market fears the classic effect of scissors: what will occur if a massive volume of new computing power exits onto the market exactly at that moment when cloud tenants begin to tighten their belts and optimize consumption? The era of deficit can very fast transition into an era of surplus. As in any commodity market, if supply exceeds demand, the seller loses pricing power. The sellers market could transform into a buyers market.

This absolutely does not mean that AI technology went into a dead end. Rather, this describes a mechanism under which the sale of raw computing power to third-party developers ceases to be a guarantee of eternal margin growth. The understanding of this mechanism allows us to conduct a more refined valuation of the main players.

The Great Divergence: Who Is in the Best Position?

If we accept a scenario under which the cloud rent market can collide with a crisis of overproduction, it becomes obvious that Big Tech companies are subjected to this risk to varying degrees. Success may depend on how much a company relies on external demand compared to its capability to redirect compute into its own ecosystem.

Amazon: The Vulnerability of the Digital Landlord

Among the Big Three, Amazons (AMZN) business model looks the most sensitive to this scenario. The success of AWS is historically tied to the rent of capacities. They operate as a digital rentier. If startups collide with insolvency or corporations cut AI budgets, Amazon may experience difficulties with the utilization of its new server capacities. In distinction from competitors, Amazon does not have an equally huge internal ecosystem of consumer software to seamlessly absorb surplus teraflops. Moreover, if external B2B clients refuse to pay a premium for infrastructure, the massive capex could lay as a heavy burden on profitability.

Microsoft: The Hybrid Cushion

Microsoft (MSFT) possesses a more stable architecture. Although Azure may also suffer from a slowdown in demand from third-party developers, Microsoft has a buffer in the form of vertical integration into corporate software. The company can utilize its infrastructure by integrating AI tools (for example, Copilot) into key products, such as Windows, Office 365, and GitHub. This hybrid approach allows Microsoft to sell productivity instruments rather than simply raw computing power, smoothing out potential volatility in the rental model.

Alphabet: The Advantage of the Closed Cycle

In a hypothetical surplus of compute, Alphabets (GOOG) (GOOGL) model looks the least vulnerable. Googles infrastructure was originally built with a strong focus on internal needs. This is a closed-cycle company with direct access to billions of users through Search and YouTube. Even if external demand for Google Cloud sags, computing power will not stand idle. Googles algorithms can redirect these resources to internal tasks: improving ad targeting, optimizing search results, or developing consumer services. For Google, server capacities are raw materials which it can turn into highly marginal products themselves, lowering the dependence on the B2B developer as a middleman.

Why Computing Power Is Not the Whole AI

Considering the risks of surplus capacities, investors should avoid one more mistake: equating the data center market to the AI market as a whole. Cloud computing is just one channel of monetization for AI, although it has been the most discussed in recent years.

The fact that the infrastructural segment could collide with ROI problems absolutely does not mean that the technology itself stalls. The monetization of AI is multi-faceted. For example, while the infrastructural market worries due to an overabundance of servers, the direct-to-consumer segment (such as ChatGPT from OpenAI or Gemini from Google) remains very strong. This segment reflects stable demand from users ready to pay for direct access to advanced models.

Moreover, we are currently located only at the early stages of implementation. The near future may bring completely different markets and monetization strategies, from new formats of personalized advertising to autonomous e-commerce agents. Artificial intelligence is not one market; it is a multitude of parallel and intersecting directions.

Conclusion for the Investor: In Search of Stable Monetization

The period of blind faith in the endless growth of all assets associated with AI yields its place to a phase of harsh business model audits. The raw computing power market, which served as the main engine of the initial hype, could collide with structural saturation and rental deflation.

In this environment, the focus for investors must shift. The critical question is no longer who can buy the most chips, but which monetization strategies appear the most viable. Winners will likely be companies capable of stepping beyond the landlord framework to create products for the end user, as well as those whose diversification allows them to be pioneers in new AI applications.

Investors should attentively follow the evolution of monetization technologies, understanding that in the coming years, the capability to effectively sell AI solutions  and not simply the capacity for their creation  will determine the new leaders of the technology sector.

On the date of publication, Mikhail Fedorov did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com
March 2026 reinforces that the US wireless market is in a mature, heavily engineered promotional phase: Handset offers are no longer primarily discounts but mechanisms to control customer behaviour, including upgrade timing, plan selection, multi-line attachment, and churn risk.

Source: GlobalData Pricing and Promotions, Handset Daily Promotions US, March 2026.

Verizon: Premiumization leader with the strongest laddering

Verizon is the most assertive in using handset promotions to force plan migration. Trade-ins and upgrade offers dominate, but value is explicitly gated by unlimited tier, with the richest credits tied to Verizons Unlimited Ultimate. New-line offers are broad enough to keep switcher momentum, while existing customers face tighter requirementsconfirming Verizons intent to monetise its base.

AT&T: Most repeatable, retention-weighted value system

AT&T is optimising for predictable growth and controlled acquisition costs, with convergence and digital user experience as retention multipliers. AT&Ts mix (bundles, trade-ins, and free subscriptions) points to a scalable value architecture designed to be run continuously without subsidy spikes. Its Apple iPhone-style offers lean on low monthly pricing + bill credits, extending customer lock-in and smoothing subsidy expense. Its app consolidation and tier simplification strengthen the service layer by improving self-serve retention and cross-sell paths.

T-Mobile: highest cadence, always-on segmentation machine

T-Mobile remains the most active at manufacturing multiple entry points to defend growth, using offers to steer customers upward over time. T-Mobiles promotions show constant refresh and sharp segmentation: entry-level Essentials plans as the on-ramp, with escalating subsidies tied to T-Mobile Experience More/Beyond. The carrier continues to trade device subsidy for plan margin and multi-line households, sustaining switcher appeal without abandoning premium ARPU goals.

Spectrum Mobile: subsidy discipline with broadband-led acquisition

Spectrums wireless strategy is fundamentally a fixed-mobile bundling strategy; wireless is the retention and monetisation layer for its broadband footprint. Spectrums smaller promo volume and heavy trade-in dependency indicate strict control of subsidy exposure. Its best handset value is tied to new broadband + multiple lines, ensuring promotions are paid back through household economics rather than wireless-only profitability.

Xfinity Mobile: service-credit disruptor that converts broadband homes into mobile lines

Xfinitys model is a convergence flywheel: subsidise service to win lines, then upsell plan tiers and devices selectively. Xfinity uses a powerful 12-month service credit to make entry-level unlimited effectively free (with qualifying internet). Device discounts then steer customers toward Xfinity Premium Unlimited + trade-in, blending acquisition with ARPU uplift.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is included in our list of the 14 hedge fund favorites with strong setup in 2026.

Citi Remains Bullish on Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM) Amid Growing Demand for AI-Driven Chips

As of March 30, 2026, Citigroup reaffirmed its Buy rating on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM), raising its price target to NT$2,800 from NT$2,600.

After incorporating the companys growing demand for AI-driven chips in its model, the investment firm boosted its earnings projections through 2028. The $4.08 and $5.18 EPS estimates, set for 2027 and 2028, respectively, are 18% and 28% higher than the Bloomberg consensus. Additionally, the firm projects that Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)s net profit would increase from roughly $53.7 billion in 2025 to roughly $75.8 billion in 2026, reaching $105.8 billion and $134.2 billion in 2027 and 2028, respectively.

Meanwhile, on March 16, 2026, Bernstein SocGen Group raised the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM)s price target to $351 from $330, while maintaining an Outperform rating. This was due to the ongoing demand for both AI and non-AI products. According to Bernstein, while XPU demand still exceeds capacity and should underpin future growth, AI revenue is expanding beyond XPU into HBM base-die production.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) is the worlds largest semiconductor foundry and is engaged in the manufacturing and designing of semiconductor chips. These chips are used by companies across several end markets, including personal computers and peripheral products, consumer electronics, wired and wireless communications systems, and automotive and industrial equipment.

While we acknowledge the potential of TSM as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 15 Stocks That Will Make You Rich in 10 Years.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
On Monday, OpenAI asked California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings to investigate Elon Musk and his associates, alleging "improper and anti-competitive behavior."

OpenAI Seeks Regulatory Scrutiny Of Musk

In a letter sent to the attorney generals, OpenAI warned that Musk's lawsuitseeking more than $100 billion in damagescould cripple its nonprofit foundation, Reuters reported.

Musk, who co-founded ChatGPT-parent in 2015 and departed in 2018, sued OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, in 2024.

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He claimed that the organization abandoned its original mission of developing artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity as it transitions toward a for-profit structure.

Musk now leads rival AI firm xAI, which competes directly with OpenAI with a platform Grok.

Claims Of Competitive Motives

OpenAI's chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, argued in the letter that Musk's legal actions may be driven by competitive interests rather than principle.

Musk's filings suggest that "your offices did not thoroughly investigate OpenAIs plan," Kwon wrote, adding that regulators may have "relied on promises about what OpenAI will do in the future."

OpenAI did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments.

See Also: This Startup Thinks It Can Reinvent the Wheel  Literally

Last year, in an August court filing, OpenAI said Musk attempted to bring rival Mark Zuckerberg into a consortium bid for the company, but the Meta Platforms, Inc. CEO ultimately declined to participate.

At the time, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone highlighted a portion of OpenAI's filing stating that neither Meta nor Zuckerberg signed Musk's letter of intent.

Meta in 2024 contended that OpenAI should not repurpose assets created under its nonprofit structure for private profit.

Trial Set To Begin In April

A judge in Oakland, California, ruled in January that the case will proceed to a jury trial expected to begin this month.

The development follows OpenAI's announcement that it closed a $122 billion funding round, lifting its post-money valuation to $852 billion, with backing from investors including Nvidia Corp and SoftBank Group.

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Ford (F) took a $10.70 billion impairment charge in 2025 tied to EV program cancellations and asset write-downs, while launching Ford Energy to convert its Kentucky battery plant into 20 gigawatt-hour annual advanced battery energy storage production by 2027, backed by a $1.5 billion 2026 capital investment and CATL licensing agreements for cost advantages. General Motors (GM) absorbed $7.10 billion in similar EV realignment charges but is pivoting toward autonomous driving rather than energy infrastructure.

Ford is pivoting from traditional EV manufacturing to energy infrastructure and battery storage, mirroring how Caterpillar captured explosive AI data center power demand with its Power Generation segment growing 44% year-over-year to $3.238 billion in Q4 2025.

The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks. Get them here FREE.

Ford (NYSE: F) closed 2025 with a $10.70 billion impairment charge tied to Model e asset write-downs and EV program cancellations, crystallizing one of the most expensive pivots in automotive history. The company emerging from that reckoning looks less like a traditional automaker and more like an industrial infrastructure play built around software, commercial fleets, and battery energy storage.

The EV Stumble, by the Numbers

Ford's Q4 2025 GAAP net loss reached $11.10 billion, driven by $15.50 billion in total special charges that included a $3.20 billion BlueOval SK joint venture disposition charge. The Model e segment posted a full-year EBIT loss of $4.81 billion, and Ford guides for a further $4.0 billion to $4.5 billion Model e loss in 2026. The EV bet did not pay off on the timeline projected.

CEO Jim Farley framed the write-downs as necessary surgery. "We made difficult but critical strategic decisions that set us up for a stronger future," he said.

READ: The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks

Ford Energy: Repurposing the Factory Floor

The most consequential announcement in Ford's December 2025 restructuring was the creation of Ford Energy. The company plans to repurpose its existing battery manufacturing capacity in Glendale, Kentucky, converting it to produce 5 MWh+ advanced battery energy storage systems, lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic cells, BESS modules, and 20-foot DC container systems. Ford targets 20 gigawatt-hours of annual capacity in 2027 and beyond, backed by a roughly $1.5 billion capital investment in 2026 alone.

Farley described the market opportunity directly: "The growth for battery storage for both data center build-out and grid stability, places like California, Texas, and Florida, is exploding." Ford holds a technology edge through its CATL licensing agreement for LFP chemistry, providing a cost advantage over competitors relying on imported cells or more expensive lithium alternatives.
(Bloomberg) -- Data center builder Firmus Technologies Pty raised $505 million in an investment round led by Coatue Management LLC, part of a global push to finance artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The deal values the Australian startup at $5.5 billion, Firmus said Monday. Nvidia Corp., the top maker of AI accelerator chips, also participated in the round.

The cash will go toward rapidly deploying AI hardware based on forthcoming Nvidia computer technology in the Asia-Pacific region. Firmus, which has data center projects in Australia and Singapore, has raised $1.35 billion in the last six months, including this latest transaction.

Firmus is leading an effort called Southgate, a plan to build data center capacity in Australia that runs on renewable energy, starting with a site in Tasmania. That facility will house computers based on 36,000 Nvidia accelerator chips after its first two rounds of technology deployments. The powerful processors help develop and run AI models by bombarding them with data.

Nvidia, often in partnership with venture capital investors, has invested billions of dollars in AI companies. Its aiming to help cultivate an industry that has already fueled explosive sales growth and turned Nvidia into the worlds most valuable business.

As with the Firmus funding, Nvidia is backing companies that also buy its products. Some investors have expressed concern about the circular nature of these deals, something Nvidia has pushed back on.

Coatue, which has more than $70 billion in assets under management, has made its own push into AI technology. The New York-based investment firm has backed computing infrastructure as well as service providers like OpenAI and Anthropic PBC.

Firmus is using Vera Rubin DSX, a design provided by Nvidia for building what it calls AI factories. Vera Rubin is the code name for a new generation of chips and computers that Nvidia will begin shipping in the second half of this year.

The Australian effort dovetails with a push by Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang into whats called sovereign AI, the building of local data centers that allow countries and companies to keep their information within national boundaries. Huang has touted that as a key area of growth for the Santa Clara, California-based company.

Firmus said previously that the Southgate project has attracted a global hyperscaler customer  a term used to describe the largest cloud computing companies. Blackstone Inc., the worlds biggest alternative-asset manager, also has helped finance the effort.
By Gleb Bryanski

MOSCOW, April 8 (Reuters) - Russia sees Chinese tech giant Tencent's WeChat messaging app and TikTok sister app Douyin as models for developing its own struggling Max messaging app, Vladimir Kiriyenko, CEO of state-controlled internet firm VK, said on Wednesday.

The Kremlin is pushing Russians to use Max instead of Telegram, currently the country's most popular messaging app, but is facing stiff resistance from users, who argue that Max lags far behind its rival in terms of functionality.

Despite periodic government attacks over the years, Telegram has grown from a messaging app into a platform that provides services for business users, monetization opportunities for content creators, and crypto transactions.

The Kremlin sees this kind of "platform economy," in which e-commerce firms and affiliated banks help businesses reach their customers through online services, as its main tool for boosting slowing economic growth.

Kiriyenko said that Max, like WeChat, would use its open platform to integrate third-party chatbots, creating new services for businesses. He added that 500,000 companies had already registered on Max.

"The Asian model, WeChat is often cited as an example, became successful thanks to its open system," Kiriyenko told a conference in Moscow, stressing that partnership is the key to success.

Tencent, for example, launched a tool called ClawBot last month to integrate WeChat with OpenClaw, an open-source AI agent that can perform tasks such as transferring files and sending emails on users' behalf.

Kiriyenko, whose father Sergei is a former prime minister and now serves as the influential first deputy head of the Kremlin administration, was appointed to VK in 2021.

He said his company was also studying Douyin's expertise in building a successful e-commerce platform based on short videos.

"As people consume content, they also follow creators who promote specific products and services in areas like beauty, health, and fashion. So now I'm working on developing it into a more collaborative format," he said.

(Reporting by Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Mark Trevelyan, Kirsten Donovan)
Social media group TikTok said it would invest 1 billion ($1.16 billion) to build the company's second data center in Finland. TikTok on April 7 said the new facility would be in Lahti, in southern Finland, and would have capacity of 50 MW, scalable to 128 MW. TikTok said its expansion in Finland is part of the company's 12 billion ($14.02 billion) European data sovereignty initiative. The group said the continuing buildout is part of its strategy to strengthen data protection for its more than 200-million users in Europe. It also comes as the company experiences growing scrutiny over security and data privacy for its users. TikTok is owned by Chinese tech company ByteDance, and earlier this year restructured its U.S. operationswith Oracle taking a majority stakein order to avoid a U.S. ban on its platform. Industry analysts have noted that Finland has become a popular country for data centers as it has access to lower-cost renewable energy resources, along with a stable regulatory environment. Some countries are pushing back against data center development due to environmental and cost concerns, particularly noting how the energy-intensive industry can drive electricity prices higher. TikTok at present holds European user data within facilities in the U.S., Ireland, and Norway. Its first Finnish data center, in Kouvola, is expected to energy operation by year-end. The new Lahti site is expected to come online next year.

Nuclear Power Leads Generation Mix

Finland's power generation mix is led by nuclear power, followed by wind power and hydropower. The country closed its last coal-fired power plant in 2025. Officials have worked to diversify the country's energy portfolio, including adding hybrid power plants utilizing wind, solar, and battery energy storage. Several innovative energy projects are being tested in Finland, including a grid-balancing pilot optimized by artificial intelligence. Google last year announced a project designed to cool a data center in Hamina, in the south of Finland, that would expand into a district energy project for the community. The offsite heat recovery project is being done with local utility Haminan Energia. Fortum this year has a project to modernize the turbines at the Loviisa nuclear plant; the government in 2023 extended the facility's operating license to 2050. There are five operating nuclear reactors in Finland, two at Loviisa and three at Olkiluoto. Unit 3 at Olkiluoto is a 1,600-MW EPR (European Pressurized Reactor) that is among the most powerful reactors in the world. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) is among the 12 Cheap Penny Stocks to Invest In Now.

On March 17, Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) and Harness announced a strategic collaboration aimed at enabling global enterprises to accelerate AI-native software delivery with enhanced efficiency, reliability, and governance. Management highlighted that the continued evolution of Wipros WEGA agent-based delivery platform is designed to help clients unlock faster time-to-value, build more intelligent systems, and scale AI initiatives with greater confidence. This partnership establishes a framework for AI-first software development, reinforcing Wipros positioning in next-generation digital transformation and strengthening its ability to capture enterprise AI spending.

On March 5, 2026, the companys board approved the appointment of Laura Marie Miller as an independent director for a five-year term beginning April 1, 2026, subject to shareholder approval. Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) confirmed that she meets all regulatory independence criteria and has no affiliations with existing board members. Miller brings extensive leadership experience in digital transformation, having held senior roles such as EVP and Chief Information and Data Officer at Macys, along with board positions at NCR Voyix and Ahold Delhaize. Her appointment enhances Wipros governance framework and adds deep expertise in data and AI strategy, signaling a continued emphasis on innovation-led growth and disciplined oversight.

Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) is a global leader in information technology services, consulting, and business process outsourcing, headquartered in Bengaluru, India. Originally founded in 1945 as a consumer goods company, it transitioned into IT services in 1980 and has since evolved into a major player in digital transformation, making it a relevant beneficiary of rising enterprise demand for AI-driven solutions.

While we acknowledge the potential of WIT as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock.

READ NEXT: 13 Cheapest Strong Buy Stocks to Buy Right Now and 12 High Growth Energy Stocks to Buy Now.

Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.
Award signals strong momentum following strategic partnerships and reflect dedication to delivering top-tier SASE security solutions to help business and government customers navigate future of cloud and AI security

Macquarie Technology Group, has been recognised as Asia-Pacific & Japan (APJ) MSP of the Year by Netskope, a leader in modern security and networking for the cloud and AI era. The innovation and achievements of Macquaries Government and Telecoms business units have cemented the companys place as one of Netskopes standout partners across its network.

The award marks a significant milestone less than six months after Netskope and Macquarie Telecom announced an important partnership to transform networking, cloud, and AI security for Australian businesses. The partnership has seen Netskopes industry-leading Security Service Edge (SSE) platform integrate with Macquarie Telecoms software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) to deliver a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution.

The award also follows strong momentum built between Netskope and Macquarie Government servicing Federal and State Government agencies, with the partnership supporting greater compliance and security for government data, networks, and personnel. The companies supported a major federal government Zero Trust security deployment one of Netskopes largest in Australia  ensuring the agency uplifted cyber compliance and embedded robust security measures critical for safeguarding government networks and data.

The recognition reflects clear validation the market is moving in the direction the partnership anticipated as organisations and government agencies throughout Australia seek integrated, cloud-first security and networking solutions. This growth has been driven by rising demand from organisations navigating complex regulatory environments, accelerating cloud adoption, and looking to safely operationalise AI without adding further strain to already stretched IT teams.

This recognition from Netskope is a strong signal that the market is ready for a new approach to networking and security. One that removes complexity without compromising performance or protection, said Marija Harris, Group Executive at Macquarie Telecom. In just six months, weve seen incredible momentum, from a fast-growing pipeline, to customers actively embracing this model to support cloud and AI adoption. Together with Netskope, and across the broader Macquarie Technology Group, were helping organisations across Australia move faster, stay secure, and build with confidence for whats next.

We have formed a true partnership that combines Netskopes market-leading SASE platform with Macquaries sovereign security capabilities that has transformed the way government users and applications are secured, said Aidan Tudehope, Managing Director, Macquarie Government. This award recognises the enhanced security, resilience and compliance were providing to Canberra as government entities navigate an increasingly complex digital landscape.

As a leader in modern security and networking for the cloud and AI era, Netskope recognises partners that excel at helping organisations navigate the complexities of the digital landscape. This award is a recognition of Macquarie Technology Groups ability to enable customers to protect data and optimise performance from anywhere.

As AI adoption accelerates, the joint Netskope-Macquarie solution also provides the visibility and controls needed to embrace innovation safely while protecting sensitive data. At the same time, it ensures data remains secure wherever it goes and however it is used, across cloud, AI, on-premises, and hybrid environments. Crucially, this is all delivered with fast, resilient performance that actively improves the experience for employees and end-users.

Our collaboration with Macquarie Technology Group has once again been instrumental to Netskopes success in Australia last year, and this award is testament to their contribution, said Tony Burnside, SVP and Head of APAC at Netskope. Together, we are helping more Australian organisations migrate to a SASE security framework, which we believe is the right path forward to build strong resilience in the AI era, while safely enabling innovation and transformation.

About Macquarie Technology Group

We are Australias data centre, cloud, cyber security and telecom company for mid to large business and government customers. The way we do this is completely different from our competitors we provide the best customer service in Australia as measured by Net Promoter Score. Macquarie Data Centres is the wholesale data centre infrastructure business of Macquarie Technology Group Ltd. We are trusted by Fortune 500 companies, large multinationals, and the Australian Federal Government to provide secure, sovereign, and compliant data centre services.
The partnership combines DXCs transformation expertise with the ServiceNow AI Platform to power smarter, more resilient operations across the enterprise

DXC Technology , a leading enterprise technology and innovation partner, and ServiceNow, the AI control tower for business reinvention, today announced a new, multi-year agreement to modernise core enterprise operations and put AI to work at scale. The partnership combines DXCs enterprise optimisation expertise with the ServiceNow AI Platform to move from AI experimentation to execution across complex, multivendor environments, while accelerating delivery timelines, reducing manual effort, and improving service quality across core business functions.

As Customer Zero for ServiceNows Core Business Suite, DXC will be the first global enterprise to deploy the new agentic AI capabilities for their Global Business Services model. DXC will work with ServiceNow across key functions using AI-driven automation and agentic workflows to reduce manual work, improve cross-functional visibility and streamline processes to enhance speed, consistency and quality. This approach creates a library of repeatable, validated AI use cases and proven automation patterns that DXC will package and deliver to customers globally, enabling similar transformational experiences with faster time-to-value.

DXC will leverage ServiceNows agentic AI capabilities to create a unified enterprise experience across critical business services globally. By embedding AI-driven workflows across the enterprise, DXC will automate high-volume processes, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate decision-making at scale. Digital agents can continuously monitor activity, surface real-time insights, and proactively resolve issues, reducing manual effort while enabling teams to focus more on analysis, innovation, and higher-value work.

"Global enterprises are under real pressure to move from AI experimentation to execution  and that's hard when your operations are complex and fragmented. DXC made the decision to go first. As Customer Zero for Core Business Suite, they're deploying agentic AI across their own core business functions before bringing it to customers. That's not just a partnership  that's conviction. That's exactly how transformation at scale actually happens. - Josh Kahn, SVP and GM, Core Business Workflows, ServiceNow

Through the adoption of the Core Business Suite, DXC is adopting an advanced organisational Global Business Services model that consolidates historically siloed back-office functions into a centralised support structure that operates globally across regions and functions. The partnership positions DXC as an early validator of Core Business Suites AI-powered capabilities, scaling solutions internally before delivering them as market-ready client offerings.

Putting ServiceNows Core Business Suite to work inside DXC allows us to prove what AI-powered operations look like in practice across complex, multivendor environments. With ServiceNow, were simplifying processes, reducing manual work, and delivering better experiences for our employees every day. Importantly, thats resulting in real business impact, freeing up capacity on our team and giving them the opportunity to focus on building whats next with AI. That hands-on experience with agentic AI ensures we can bring customers solutions that are practical, scalable and built for real-world execution. - Russell Jukes, Chief Digital Information Officer, DXC

This expanded collaboration builds on DXCs 17year partnership with ServiceNow and deepens the work of their joint AI Innovation Center of Excellence (CoE), established in 2024 to accelerate AIdriven business transformation. The CoE applies a proven AI blueprint methodology rooted in industrialised AI assets, accelerators and execution frameworks. Together, the two companies help customers accelerate agentic AI capabilities, optimise existing technology investments and address complex, multivendor operational challenges with governed, humancentered AI. DXCs teams of AI architects, automation engineers and adoption specialists work directly with customers to prioritise highimpact use cases and deploy AI responsibly, reliably and at scale.

As an Elite ServiceNow Partner, DXC has delivered business innovation and AI-enabled ServiceNow solutions for customers globally. With more than 1,800 ServiceNow expert consultants, DXC helps customers around the world streamline AI adoption and maximise the value of their ServiceNow investments. To learn more about DXC and ServiceNows partnership, visit www.dxc.com/servicenow

About DXC Technology

DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) is a leading enterprise technology and innovation partner delivering software, services, and solutions to global enterprises and public sector organisations  helping them harness AI to drive outcomes at a time of exponential change with speed. With deep expertise in Managed Infrastructure Services, Application Modernisation, and Industry-Specific Software Solutions, DXC modernises, secures, and operates some of the worlds most complex technology estates. Learn more on dxc.com

ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.
COMPANY NEWS: Expansion builds on rapid customer growth and rising demand across retail, financial services, and travel in Australia.

Amperity, the leading AI-powered Customer Data Cloud, today announced a major expansion of its Australian operations, including the availability of its platform in the AWS Asia-Pacific (Sydney) and Asia-Pacific (Melbourne) Regions, along with continued investment in regional talent. The move follows strong market momentum and growing demand from enterprises that require local data residency, governance, and scale.

Amperitys footprint in Australia has doubled over the past year, driven by customer wins with leading brands including JB Hi-Fi, Endeavour Group, and Accent Group. As these organisations scale across channels and brands, they rely on Amperity to unify customer data across business units, enabling trusted personalisation, analytics, and activation.

To support this growth, Amperity is now available in both AWS regions in Australia. By operating within these AWS regions, Amperity enables organisations to keep customer data resident locally while maintaining the performance, scalability, and flexibility required for real-time customer intelligence.

This approach allows enterprises in industries such as airlines, banking, insurance, and telecommunications to unify, govern, and activate customer data within Australia, while supporting advanced analytics, AI-driven use cases, and customer engagement at scale - helping organisations meet local data residency and privacy requirements.

Australia has become a proving ground for some of our most complex customer data challenges, from strict data residency requirements to large-scale, multi-brand environments, said Billy Loizou, AVP and General Manager at Amperity. Expanding our team and making Amperity available in AWS regions in Australia allows us to support customers more closely on the ground and help them turn trusted customer data into real business outcomes.

Alongside this expansion, Amperity has continued to invest in its local team in Melbourne. The company recently hired Matthew Yip as a Customer Solutions Architect and Uday Gupta as a Services Delivery Manager. These additions strengthen Amperitys ability to support customers locally as adoption grows across industries and use cases.

The Australian expansion is part of Amperitys broader strategy to help enterprises move beyond fragmented customer data and build a unified, AI-ready foundation. This enables organisations in the region to personalise, analyse, and act on customer data at scale.

Amperity will host its flagship event, Amplify, on May 6 in New York City, bringing together marketing, data, and technology leaders to explore how AI and customer data are driving measurable business outcomes. Space is limited - register now.

About Amperity

Amperity's Customer Data Cloud empowers brands to transform raw customer data into strategic business assets with unprecedented speed and accuracy. Through powerful identity resolution, customizable data models, and intelligent automation, Amperity helps technologists eliminate data bottlenecks and accelerate business impact. More than 400 leading brands worldwide, including Alaska Airlines, DICK'S Sporting Goods, BECU, Virgin Atlantic and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, rely on Amperity to drive customer insights and revenue growth. Founded in 2016, Amperity operates globally with offices in Seattle, New York City, London, and Melbourne. For more information, visit amperity.com or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.
GasgooAutoNews

Gasgoo- Spirit AI announced on April 7 that it has closed a new 1-billion-yuan financing round, led jointly by ShunWei Capital and YF Capital. The round also drew participation from several prominent investors, including Fortune Capital, a leading RMB-denominated fund, Galaxy Yuanhui Investment, Xin Ding Capital, and Glacier Capital.

The latest raise comes just weeks after the company disclosed two consecutive funding rounds at the end of February, totaling nearly 2 billion yuan. In effect, Spirit AI has secured close to 3 billion yuan across three rounds within roughly one month, underscoring an unusually rapid capital inflow.

Such a concentrated wave of large-scale financing signals strong investor confidence in the company's growth trajectory, while equipping it with substantial resources to accelerate R&D and commercialization in embodied AI technologies.

Founded in February 2024, Spirit AI focuses on developing general-purpose embodied intelligence models to unlock new capabilities in robotics. The company has built its own vision-language-action (VLA) model and, in January, open-sourced its Spirit v1.5 system. According to the company, the model surpasses the performance of Pi0.5, making it the first Chinese open-source model to do so. It demonstrates strong zero-shot generalization, enabling robots to complete complex taskssuch as object wiping, hinge manipulation, and handling deformable itemswithout additional training, highlighting its adaptability across diverse environments.

Parallel to its model development, Spirit AI is building a large-scale data infrastructure centered on diverse real-world inputs. The company has already accumulated more than 200,000 hours of multimodal interaction data, spanning internet video, teleoperation, and wearable capture systems. It expects this dataset to exceed 1 million hours by 2026.

To support this effort, Spirit AI has also developed its own data acquisition hardware. Its wearable data collection system has now reached its fifth generation and is reported to reduce data gathering costs to roughly one-tenth of traditional methods.

By April 2026, the company's data team is expected to scale to around 1,000 personnel, providing a steady stream of high-quality physical interaction data to support ongoing model iteration.

Spirit AI is now accelerating the deployment of its high-performance, full-body force-controlled humanoid robots across industrial scenarios. Its in-house developed robot, Xiaomo, has already been put into operation at CATL's Zhongzhou facility, where it serves as a core production-line unit and has supported the fault-free mass production of nearly 1,000 battery cells.

On March 19, the company formalized a strategic partnership with JD.com, integrating its Moz robot into JD MALL's smart retail ecosystem. In high-precision tasks such as automated coffee preparation, the robot has demonstrated stable real-world operation. More importantly, the deployment has validated a closed-loop system linking live data collection with continuous model iterationan essential step toward scalable commercial applications of embodied AI.

Gasgoo not only offers timely news and profound insight about China auto industry, but also help with business connection and expansion for suppliers and purchasers via multiple channels and methods.

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The News in Brief Thursday, April 9, 2026

Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced on April 8 that the government is pushing back the deadline for a ban on plastic beverage bottles by four years, moving the final date to February 1, 2031. The decision follows intense lobbying from the business sector over the economic impact of the environmental policy.The original plan, introduced only a month ago, had set a much faster timeline. Restaurants and cafes were supposed to stop serving drinks in plastic bottles by July 2026, with a total ban on production and sales initially scheduled for February 2027. Under the new decree, both of these deadlines have been dropped for now and combined into the 2031 target.Speaking at a government meeting, Kobakhidze acknowledged that plastic waste is a major health and environmental issue but argued that the state must be realistic about the costs. He noted that the delay is intended to protect businesses from sudden financial shocks and to keep consumer prices from spiking.Georgia is a major producer of mineral water and carbonated drinks, an industry that currently relies heavily on plastic packaging. While the government had already scaled back the scope of the ban to exclude large-format water containers and export goods, industry experts warned that the 2027 timeline would still have been the strictest in the world.Despite the postponement, Kobakhidze insisted that the government is still committed to reducing plastic use, though the process will now move forward at a significantly slower pace.The Communications Commission (ComCom) issued written warnings to TV Pirveli, Formula, Imedi TV, and POSTV on April 8 for failing to meet legal standards for impartiality and factual accuracy. Monitoring conducted throughout February and March identified dozens of violations across both pro-government and opposition-leaning broadcasters.According to the regulator, Formula recorded 20 violations, TV Pirveli 18, while POSTV and Imedi were cited for 7 and 4 breaches, respectively. ComCom reported that news anchors and correspondents frequently presented personal opinions as fact and provided one-sided coverage of political events. Although the regulator did not list specific quotes, independent watchdogs noted that the state flagged terms like "judicial clan" and "Ivanishvili's Prime Minister" as subjective.These sanctions follow ComCom's recent vow to enforce the country's amended Law on Broadcasting strictly. The regulator framed the move as a necessary step to ensure objective reporting, though critics suggest the timing is a reaction to international pressure, including recent UK sanctions against pro-government outlets.Because these were the first such content violations recorded for these channels in the past year, the commission issued formal warnings rather than fines.However, under Georgian law, repeated violations can lead to more severe penalties, including the potential revocation of broadcasting licenses. Media watchdogs have expressed concern that this aggressive policing of terminology could stifle independent reporting as outlets struggle with increasingly restrictive financial and legal environments.
The treatment of cardiovascular diseases has advanced at an extraordinary pace over the past half-century resulting in an age-adjusted 60 percent reduction in heart disease death rates. This dramatic decline is directly attributable to primary and secondary preventive therapies such as statins and small interfering messenger RNAs along with disruptive technologic advances in procedural techniques. New pharmacologic options for thromboprophylaxis and novel therapies for heart failure further underscore the fields rapid and transformative progress in drug development. On the device side, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has revolutionized valve disease care in the US. TAVR provides life-saving treatment options for US adults over the age of 80 and even among nonagenarians with severe aortic stenosis who would otherwise be ineligible for open-heart surgery. Similarly, drug-eluting stents are now routine in managing obstructive coronary disease, with modern designs offering exceptional safety, durability, and treatment options for patients ineligible for coronary artery bypass surgery.

Nevertheless, rather than looking ahead to the next generation of cardiovascular innovations and therapeutics, the European Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and the World Heart Federation issued a special communication (Environmental Stressors and Cardiovascular Health: Acting Locally for Global Impact in a Changing World) redirecting their attention toward environmental risk factors (ERFs), such as noise pollution, artificial light at night, and urbanization. They offer that cardiovascular risk from ERFs surpasses traditional risk factors, like smoking, hypertension, and diabetes, yet none of the cited references substantiate this claim. More so, in these studies, causality with respect to cardiovascular risk is not established, confounders are not reliably controlled, and the relevance to clinical cardiology is effectively nonexistent.

Still, health care professionals are being asked to take urgent action to mitigate environmental stressors through advocacy, education, and guidelines. It is a striking pivot for a field defined by transformative scientific progress, which has delivered some of the most consequential, population-level gains in modern medicine.

Environmentalism rebranded as cardiology

The pattern, unfortunately, is familiar. Last year the Journal of the American College of Cardiology published Sustainability in Electrophysiology, criticizing electrophysiology laboratories as resource- and energy-intensive and urging that they be remade into models of climate-conscious cardiology. Yet beyond modest cost-saving measures, such as reducing HVAC use during off-hours, the paper offers no truly transformative recommendations. And any proposal to scale back atrial fibrillation ablation or implantable cardiac defibrillators would, in fact, expose high-risk patients to a greater risk of death.

Surprisingly, the purported solution to this perceived energy-overuse is primordial and primary prevention, not because these measures have inherent clinical benefit but because they are cast as advancing environmental, social, and financial sustainability. This emphasis on political advocacy, environmentally-focused guidelines, and environmental cardiology shifts clinicians attention away from the individual patient physicians are sworn to serve and toward a broad policy agenda that appears more concerned with emissions than with mortality.

The call to activism is unmistakable, with the signatories of the special communication urging clinicians to shape policy and press for regulatory reform, extending even to equitable technology transfer and integrated urban planning. Should cardiologists now be expected to concern themselves with urban design? Should fellowship training expand to include zoning codes, planning frameworks, and environmental development? And, if so, at what cost to an already demanding curriculum?

Reasserting cardiologys proper domain

No one disputes the health harms of pollution or the value of clean air and water. But this special communication has forgotten that cardiology is a medical discipline, and cardiologists have neither agency nor the expertise to operate outside their professional domain. More so, cardiologists should be proud; their field has brought extraordinary benefit to humanity. It need not reinvent itself as the Sierra Club. Turning toward planetary-health advocacy raises the question of what cardiologists are being asked to do and should do. This call for environmental advocacy reads more like a feel-good appeal than a substantive contribution to cardiovascular science.

It also idealizes a pre-industrial holistic past, overlooking how difficult and disease-burdened life was before modern technology and economic development. We would do well to remember that economic progress has raised living standards so dramatically that todays poorest citizens enjoy comforts unimaginable to the kings of centuries past.

This special communication, however, loses sight of these gains. Its narrative gravitates toward an idealized notion of natural environments, minimizing the extent to which modern innovations, advanced diagnostics, revolutionary devices, and targeted therapies, have dramatically improved human well-being. The scientific and industrial progress of the West has greatly extended life expectancy, a reality the paper sidesteps.

The future of cardiovascular medicine depends not on activists desires to have clinicians achieve an environmentalists dream. Rather, it is linked to the great ingenuity and genius of physicians and scientists who continue to push the bounds of innovation as well as strengthening what we know works, early detection, precision therapeutics, advanced imaging, minimally invasive procedures, and aggressive management of modifiable risk factors. Diverting attention toward broad policy agendas risks diluting medicines core mission and for that we will all inevitably suffer.

Kurt Miceli is an internal medicine and psychiatry physician.
(Photo by Gyeongnam Province/courtesy of Haps Magazine Korea)



The Changnyeong Nakdong River Canola Flower Festival will take place from April 9 to 12, drawing visitors to one of Koreas most iconic spring landscapes.

Located in Namji-eup, Changnyeong County, the festival is set within a sprawling 110-hectare canola field, the largest single-area canola complex in the country.

Set against the scenic backdrop of the Nakdong River, the bright yellow blossoms create a picturesque setting that has become a signature spring destination.

First launched in 2006, the festival has grown into Changnyeongs national event, celebrating the beauty of canola flowers while bringing together both locals and tourists.

Throughout the four-day event, visitors can enjoy a wide range of programs, including opening and closing ceremonies, cultural performances, exhibitions, and hands-on activities.

Key highlights include a local Farmer Ajuma contest, a canola-themed orienteering event, a national youth singing competition, and performances by the Dongchun Circus.

Additional programs such as traditional demonstrations, art contests, and evening events add to the lively atmosphere.

Interactive experiences are also a major part of the festival, with activities like themed game zones, childrens play areas, experiential booths, and free photo printing available for visitors.

Admission to the festival is free, making it an accessible and family-friendly way to experience the full bloom of spring along the Nakdong River.
A failure in the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) system this morning caused delays on the Taipa Line, the LRT Company informed on its website.

According to the notice, the cause of the delays was a train failure at Pai Kok Station (near Taipa Village), which occurred at 8:40 a.m. At that time, the company said that service would experience slight delays on the Taipa Line, while the issue would not affect the Seac Pai Van or the Hengqin Line.

The exact cause of the incident has not yet been revealed, with the LRT Company noting only that the incident was due to a problem with a train circulating on the Taipa Line in the direction of the Taipa Ferry Terminal.

The company later informed that train services had resumed normally at 9:07 a.m.

The LRT Taipa Line, which began operations in December 2019, has experienced a high rate of technical failures, particularly related to power supply and electrical systems.

These failures led to multiple service interruptions, resulting in a full system suspension for roughly six months in late 2021 and early 2022 to replace faulty high-voltage cables.

Despite the cable replacement, the system has continued to experience malfunctions in 2024, including multiple breakdowns in September and October, prompting the operator to demand an investigation from the system supplier.

The system has been identified by the government as a priority for local public transportation, taking a very significant share of the governments recent investment plans.

Currently, the system is undergoing construction of a major infrastructure project (East Line), designed to enhance connectivity between the Border Gate and Taipa. Construction is slated for completion in late 2028, and operations are projected to begin in the second half of 2029.

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Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany commemorates World Health Day 2026 in partnership with First Ladies of African and Asian Countries, who are also the Ambassadors of Merck Foundation More Than a Mother Campaign, with a strong reaffirmation of its commitment to improving and revolutionizing healthcare access across Africa, Asia and beyond through their Scholarships and Capacity Building Program.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.), CEO of Merck Foundation shared,

At Merck Foundation, we remain committed to transforming the patient care landscape and improving access to quality and equitable healthcare solutions across Africa, Asia, and beyond. For the past 14 years, we have marked World Health Day every day through our ongoing efforts to build healthcare capacity in underserved communities. I am proud to share that we have provided more than 2,600 scholarships for young healthcare providers from 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties. Through these scholarships, many of our Merck Foundation alumni are becoming the first-ever specialists in their respective fields in their countries, including Namibia, Liberia, The Gambia, Burundi, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Zambia, Guinea, Ethiopia, Congo, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Zimbabwe, among others.

This is truly history in the making, and we are proud to be a part of Africas legacy by empowering a new generation of healthcare specialists who will serve generations to come. Added Dr. Kelej.

As you all know, the lack of financial resources is not the only challenge facing Africa. A far more pressing issue is the scarcity of trained healthcare providers capable of effectively preventing, diagnosing, and managing diseases.

This sweeping shortage of medical and healthcare personnel has been one of the most critical barriers to access to quality healthcare across the continent.

As per WHO 2021 report, African region has 24% of the worlds disease burden, whereas there are only 2.9 healthcare workers per 1000 capita. This gap has a profound impact on health outcomes.

Therefore, the Merck Foundation scholarships are highly significant, as they provide doctors with specialized training, helping to bridge healthcare gaps and improve patient care in underserved communities.

Merck Foundation works closely with their Ambassadors, the African and Asian First Ladies and local partners such as Ministries of Health, Education, Information & Communication, Gender, Academia, Research Institutions, Media and Art in building healthcare capacity and addressing health, social & economic challenges in developing countries and under-served communities.

Merck Foundation also actively empowers women and youth in Science and Technology through its STEM Program and the annual Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards that recognize and celebrate the Best African Women Researchers and Best Young African Researchers, fostering research excellence.

Dr. Kelej shared, This theme of World Health Day 2026 Together for health. Stand with science, aligns perfectly with our program that train healthcare providers and empower women and youth in STEM.

Merck Foundation CEO also announced the Call for Applications for 2026 Scholarships.

I am happy to announce the Call for Applications for the 2026 Scholarships for young healthcare providers with special focus on women medical graduates. These include on-site fellowship programs, clinical training programs and online one-year diploma & two-year master degree in 44 critical and underserved medical specialties. The applications are invited through the Office of our Ambassadors and long-term partners, The First Ladies of Africa and Ministry of Health of each country, shared Dr Rasha Kelej.
On April 7, 2026, opposition groups in Togo criticized the hosting of the 17th Conference of Speakers of Parliaments and Sections of the African Region of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Francophonie (APF) in Lome, describing it as a deceptive democratic showcase.

Four political and civil society groupsincluding the Peoples Majority Movement (DMP), DMK-ORIGINALE, LDP, and the Hands Off My Constitution Frontargued that the event presents a misleading image of the country amid what they describe as a deepening democratic crisis.

The opposition raised concerns over alleged restrictions on civil liberties, arrests of activists, and challenges to universal suffrage. Spokesperson Nathaniel Olympio stated that hosting the conference distorts the countrys political reality and sends the wrong signal to the international community.

Criticism also centred on the long tenure of President Faure Gnassingbe, who has been in power for over two decades following his father, Gnassingbe Eyadema, who ruled for 38 years.

Opposition figures further denounced the April 19, 2024 constitutional reform, arguing that it undermines direct universal suffrage for presidential elections and shifts the system towards a parliamentary model they claim is inconsistent with democratic norms.

The groups also referenced past incidents of political violence, including fatalities and injuries during June 2025 demonstrations, and attacks reported in Lome on September 29, 2024, involving political figures and journalists.

They concluded that holding the APF conference in Lome amounts to an endorsement of the authorities, despite ongoing concerns over governance, human rights, and democratic standards.
Akbar Novruz



Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office voiced its support for the two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, but said the deal doesn't include Lebanon, contradicting Pakistan's earlier claims, AzerNEWS reports.

"Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region," Netanyahu's office said. "The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon," it noted.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif previously said Iran, the US and their allies "agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere."
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has engaged Djiboutis political and electoral authorities ahead of the countrys presidential election scheduled for April 10.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the bloc said its observer missionled by former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshomeheld consultations with key institutions, underscoring a shared commitment to a credible, transparent and peaceful electoral process.

The mission met with senior officials including Foreign Minister Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Constitutional Council President Abdi Ismael Hersi, and National Human Rights Commission head Ali Soubaneh Atteyeh. Discussions centred on institutional readiness, the legal framework, and human rights safeguards.

Djibouti will see incumbent President Ismail Omar Guellehseeking a sixth termface challenger Mohamed Farah Samatar.

IGAD has deployed observers nationwide to monitor voting and counting processes, alongside 67 international observers from organizations including the African Union, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Campaign activities have intensified in the lead-up to the vote, with both candidates holding rallies across the country.
On Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Rwanda has begun its annual commemoration week marking 32 years since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, with President Paul Kagame leading a wreath-laying ceremony at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, where over 250,000 victims are buried.

Kagame lit the Flame of Remembrance, which will burn for 100 days as part of the nationwide observance known as Kwibuka. The memorial, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2023, serves as a central site for reflection.

In his address, Kagame emphasized unity, resilience, and the importance of preserving historical truth, while condemning genocide denial and distortion. He noted that remembrance remains vital to confronting divisions and sustaining national healing.

An estimated one million peoplelargely Tutsis and moderate Hutuswere killed over 100 days following the April 6, 1994 plane crash that claimed the lives of then President, Juvenal Habyarimana and Burundis counterpart Cyprien Ntaryamira. An accident that triggered the mass killings by Hutu extremists.
While the rumours started swirling nearly two years ago, matters came to a head this week with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders in Delhi and Punjab trading charges with the partys Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha regarding his performance in the Upper House of Parliament.



The public breakdown in relations came after the party wrote to the Rajya Sabha secretariat on April 2 seeking Chadhas removal as the partys deputy leader in the House. In the letter, the party said that Chadha, who is the partys MP from Punjab, should not be allotted time from the AAPs quota to speak on issues. While the party initially claimed the move was a routine shift, the move came after months of Chadha being sidelined from political campaigns and organisational matters. When Chadha released a video on April 3 justifying his work in Parliament, senior AAP members responded by accusing Chadha of being scared of PM Narendra Modi and not raising issues that the party had taken a stand on.



When asked by a journalist if he believed Chadha was compromised, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann replied, Yes. The leaders cited his failure to sign the notice seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and defying the party line on walkouts over issues. If the party gives a line to raise specific issues, such as valid votes being deleted (in West Bengal), 160 AAP leaders and volunteers being booked in Gujarat, or Punjabs issues, like attempts to polarise communities, MSP, Centre holding back GST funds or rural development fund, but someone raises issues of samosas at airports or pizza delivery time, wont it raise doubts that he is talking from a different station? Mann said.



Chadha responded with a new video on Saturday, in which he denied the allegations and claimed he had walked out with party leaders when required and he hadnt been told to sign the petition against the Chief Election Commissioner. He claimed he had always raised issues related to the common man and was in Parliament to create impact not ruckus The breakdown in ties between the party and its Rajya Sabha MP comes after a decade-long relationship that saw Chadha rise from a spokesperson and policy wonk to being credited for a key role in the partys biggest electoral victory outside of Delhi.



The growth



A chartered accountant, Chadha had completed a postgraduate course from the London School of Economics, when he met Kejriwal and future AAP top brass during the Anna Hazare-led India Against Corruption movement in 2011. He was the partys youngest spokesperson in the initial years.



Between 2012 and 2019, Chadha was part of AAPs communication department and manifesto-drafting committees. He lost as a candidate in the 2019 Lok Sabha election from a Delhi seat, but in the 2020 Delhi state elections, he won from the Rajendra Nagar constituency. While he never held a cabinet berth, he held a key governance position  the head of the states water supply board. He chaired several important committees and as a result of his proximity to the party chief, he became the face of the party in multiple projects.



Chadha was appointed the joint in-charge of the partys Punjab wing in 2020 and was rewarded for the partys thumping victory in the state in March 2022 with a Rajya Sabha nomination later that year. He then set up base in Punjab after he was appointed advisor to the Bhagwant Mann government. He faced allegations that his presence allowed Kejriwal to run the administration of Punjab using Mann as a proxy. However, AAP dismissed these claims.



Ahead of the 2024 national election, Chadha was involved in the partys seat-sharing negotiations with the INDIA bloc, as Kejriwal and the party battled charges stemming from the liquor excise case. Then in March 2024, Kejriwal was arrested after a number of AAPs top Delhi leaders. All of them were accused of taking kickbacks for favouring a cartel with a new liquor sale policy. Chadhas absence at the time made headlines, but the reason always cited by the party was a medical condition that required him to travel abroad. He is a master strategist. He is an expert in designing political campaigns, planning media outreach programmes, etc. He comes with experience. We needed him here [in India] at this point, a Punjab-based senior AAP leader told TOI+ at the time.



The vanishing



AAP was crippled in the 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign following the arrest of Kejriwal and other senior leaders. While Atishi claimed she and Chadha were among the leaders who could be arrested in the case, that never happened.



Due to the partys Rajya Sabha leader Sanjay Singh being arrested in the case, Chadha was elevated to the position. Chadha remained out of the country for the duration of Kejriwals nearly six-month incarceration. He met Kejriwal only a few days after the AAP chiefs release on September 13, 2024. The absence, which was explained away stoutly at the time, is now being questioned by party leaders.



After Chadha defended his work in Parliament, former Delhi CM Atishi questioned his absence in 2024. We defended you then...But today, even I want to ask that when Kejriwal was arrested, were you scared of the BJP and therefore ran away to London out of fear? she lashed out. Chadha also remained silent when Kejriwal, former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and other AAP leaders were discharged in the case by a Delhi court in February due to lack of evidence. When allotted time in Parliament in the Budget session, Chadha spoke on a range of subjects like relief for investors hit by the West Asia war, paternity leave, income tax filing reform, and misleading branding of beverages. In contrast, the partys Rajya Sabha leader Sanjay Singh in approximately the same period criticised the governments handling of the West Asia crisis, criticised what the Modi government claimed were its achievements and spoke on other issues targeting the government.



According to reports, the decision on Chadhas sidelining is being projected as a response to alleged indiscipline and for not strictly adhering to the partys line. The party denied reports that Chadha contacted the BJP to switch sides.



The partys new deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha said that Chadha would still be given time to speak in Parliament. Chadhas term as Rajya Sabha MP ends in April 2028 and the party cannot force him to give up his seat.



Theres little clarity now on what role Chadha could play in the party or in the Punjab state elections in 2027 given the public sidelineing and exchange of barbs. For a leader who was once among the partys founders and one of its most visible faces, and defended despite his absence at a crucial juncture, its a dramatic fall from grace.




For the first time in a month, Mohit Gharwal could sleep peacefully. The missiles that had been pounding Irans Khorramshahr Port had finally stopped falling and an eerie calm prevailed in the hours after US President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire.



Though his fear had abated, the sense of uncertainty hadnt  after all Gharwal was nowhere close to figuring when he would get back home to India. We have not received any concrete help from the Indian government  only advisories on how to behave if a missile attack happens. We are still living in uncertainty, the sailor told Mumbai Mirror over a call.



Gharwal is among thousands of seafarers stuck at different Iraninan ports since the war began on Febraury 28 and a Mirror report on Tuesday highlighted how they had been left without any help  diplmatic or strategic  in their quest to return to India.



Stuck without a way out



We were already terrified. Even before Trumps statement, missiles and bombs were landing 400500 metres from our ship. We didnt know what to do or where to go. We were in a constant state of panic, he said. Today is the first day in last one month that we have not seen any attack near the port. It is a huge relief.



Despite the temporary calm, the psychological toll remains severe.



There are many Indians stuck here. For the last month, we have not slept peacefully. Every time we went to bed or sat down to eat, we would see and hear explosions near the port gate, just a few hundred metres away. Our families were equally scared because there was no proper network. We couldnt even communicate with them, Gharwal added.



In no state to eat or sleep



Another seafarer on the same vessel, Pramod Waghe, described the situation as complete chaos over the past year.



You have no idea where to go for help, Waghe said. Local officials are busy handling the war and port operations  they cannot assist us. The only thing we had was enough food, though some vessels are now running short. Many times, we had to leave our meals halfway and run because of sudden attacks. None of us could sleep due to continuous missile strikes and bombings near the port. Today is the first day we have not seen any attack. It feels unreal.



However, even as a temporary ceasefire is being reported, seafarers say the fear has not subsided.



Even after the ceasefire, some attacks have been reported locally. There is still panic and uncertainty among Indian seafarers, said Manoj Yadav, General Secretary of the Forward Seamens Union of India.



Letter to PM for help



Yadav has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging immediate intervention for evacuation. In his letter, he highlighted the worsening humanitarian situation faced by Indian seafarers stranded across Iranian ports.



We have consistently raised concerns about their safe evacuation and repatriation, along with shortages affecting their daily sustenance, including food and water. As the conflict enters its sixth week, global attention is on the Strait of Hormuz, with many adopting a wait-and-watch approach, the letter states.



He further warned of broader implications, citing global economic concerns. This has serious implications for India, especially with thousands of Indian seafarers stranded at ports like Bandar Abbas, Sirri Island, Lavan Island and Khorramshahr, Yadav said.



Hundreds of ships stuck with Indian sailors



According to the union, hundreds of vessels with Indian crew members remain anchored in Iranian waters, with seafarers continuing to witness bombings by Israeli and US forces near their ships. Tragically, we have lost three seafarers, with one still missing, Yadav claimed.



Referring again to Trumps recent warning, he added, Such statements have only heightened anxiety among those stranded.



Yadav stressed that the reported two-week ceasefire presents a crucial window for evacuation.



Hundreds of vessels manned by Indian seafarers are currently moored at Iranian ports. These individuals are enduring extreme hardship and uncertainty, desperately seeking a way back home. If there is even a temporary ceasefire, it must be used to ensure their safe repatriation. They are innocent bystanders caught in a war zone, the letter reads.
The escalating bombardment of Iranian territories by the United States and Israel has triggered panic among thousands of Indian seafarers stranded at several key ports in the Persian Gulf, with many describing a rapidly deteriorating environment following recent threats issued by Donald Trump.



Trump on Tuesday threatened that a whole civilisation will die tonight (Wednesday morning, IST) if Iran does not make a ceasefire deal.



Indian seafarers anchored at Iranian ports like Khorramshahr Port, Bandar Abbas, and Siri Island said missile activity and aerial attacks have already been occurring alarmingly close to their vessels  even before Trump made the statement.



Many of them have frantically reached out to Manoj Yadav, secretary of the Forward Seamens Union of India, describing a situation of fear, uncertainty and helplessness. Seafarers reported that hundreds of rockets have been landing in the vicinity of their ships, leaving them terrified and desperate for evacuation.



Who will be responsible for the massacre of hundreds of Indian seafarers moored at Iranian ports if this occurs? The government is still in a wait-and-watch mode, failing to protect our seafarers. God save them, Yadav told Mumbai Mirror.



Yadav further claimed that the scale of the crisis is far larger than officially acknowledged. I have created groups of seafarers and they are continuously sharing videos of missile attacks near their ships. They have been stuck there for the last two months. The government keeps saying there are only 400-500 people, but in reality around 23,000 Indian seafarers are stranded. I am compiling details of every ship. So far, I have shared information of 11 ships with the government on April 4, and today I have received details of 20 more ships, which I will also forward, he said.



He added that even government agencies have been informally reaching out to him for more accurate, ground-level data, as official figures may not reflect the true extent of the crisis.



In a letter dated April 4 to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Yadav flagged urgent concerns. The letter stated that a group of seafarers from Khorramshahr had reported nearly 50 vessels currently moored or anchored at the port, with missiles striking nearby spots daily. It also highlighted that some individuals had joined the vessels without proper seafarer licences, and that local agents were refusing to allow crew members to disembark, even for those who had arrived from other countries.



We humbly request your intervention to secure support for these seafarers and facilitate their repatriation, the letter read.



Meanwhile, a group of stranded Indian seafarers from Khorramshahr released a video message appealing directly to the government. The war situation is getting worse. Even as we speak, 50-60 bombs have fallen near us. At least give us a date or time for when you will rescue us, said Mohit Agarwal, one of the seafarers stuck at the port.



The video, accessed by Mumbai Mirror, shows extensive damage in and around the port area. Seafarers can be seen pointing to impacted zones while describing the constant threat of incoming missiles. Several crew members who had arrived via Dubai have also joined the group, alleging that their agents are unresponsive and have effectively abandoned them.



In a separate interaction over a Zoom call with Yadav, Agarwal detailed the bureaucratic hurdles compounding their crisis. Some seafarers who came from Dubai are not getting exit visas in Iran. Their agents are not responding, and the Iranian authorities are not issuing exit permits, he said.



He added that while food supplies are currently manageable  with only a few vessels facing shortages  the worsening conflict is making survival increasingly difficult. Missiles are falling just 500-600 metres from us. We are scared that at any moment one may hit our vessel. That is why we want to leave immediately, he said.



As the conflict intensifies and uncertainty grows, stranded Indian seafarers remain caught between escalating hostilities and administrative paralysis, anxiously awaiting a concrete evacuation plan from the government.




A Mumbai Mirror analysis of data submitted to the State Blood Transfusion Council (SBTC) has flagged significant inconsistencies in the pricing and utilisation of plasma collected through voluntary blood donation in Maharashtra. The findings point to gaps in oversight and raise concerns that a life-saving system may be operating with uneven controls.



In Mumbai, nearly 4,900 litres of plasma collected from voluntary donors were sold to private fractionation firms at the state-notified rate of Rs 1,600 per litre. While this appears compliant, there is no publicly available record detailing how the proceeds  running into crores  have been utilised.



A fractured pricing system



Outside Mumbai, the pricing picture diverges sharply. Across districts, plasma derived from unpaid donors has been sold at rates ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 per litre, according to the data. Entire consignments have reportedly been priced above the benchmark without documented justification linked to quality, processing or contractual terms.



There is no single rate in practice, said a senior official from a district-level blood bank, requesting anonymity. Everything depends on who you are dealing with. Agreements are negotiated quietly, and some centres can command significantly higher prices.



The Rs 1,600 benchmark was intended to standardise transactions and curb profiteering. Instead, the data suggests it is often treated as a reference point rather than a ceiling.



The donor gives blood for free, but once plasma leaves the blood bank, it becomes a commercial product, the official added. Even within the same district, prices can vary drastically, and there is little scrutiny.



Plasma, extracted from donated blood, is used to manufacture essential medicines such as albumin, immunoglobulins and clotting factors  critical for patients with chronic illnesses, immune disorders and trauma-related conditions. Given its clinical importance, the system governing its collection and sale is expected to function with strict oversight and transparency.



Regulatory gaps and response



Estimates based on SBTC submissions place Maharashtras plasma economy between Rs 18 crore and Rs 20 crore when actual transaction rates are considered. Part of this valuation appears to be driven by price escalation beyond the notified benchmark.



While Mumbai transactions largely adhere to the benchmark, districts show inconsistent and opaque pricing. Government-run and charitable blood banks also feature in higher pricing brackets, suggesting the issue may extend beyond isolated cases.



Despite collecting transaction data, the SBTC has shown limited evidence of enforcing pricing discipline or ensuring uniform compliance across centres.



Need for uniformity and transparency



SBTC in-charge Dr Suhas Monhalkar said the council has taken note of the variations and will examine instances where rates exceed the prescribed benchmark. Any instance where blood centres are charging beyond the prescribed rate will be examined, and appropriate action will be taken, he said.



He added that agreements between blood banks and fractionation centres would be reviewed to understand how such disparities have emerged within the same regulatory framework.



There is a need to bring uniformity and transparency into the system. We are working on strengthening regulatory mechanisms so that such disparities do not continue unchecked, Monhalkar said.



A new legal framework is also under consideration to streamline plasma transactions, standardise pricing and address any underlying nexus influencing rates.



The objective is to ensure that resources generated from plasma  especially when it originates from voluntary donation  are used in a manner that benefits patients and strengthens public healthcare infrastructure, he said.



For now, the findings highlight a gap between policy intent and practice  where voluntary donation feeds into a system marked by uneven pricing and limited transparency.




President Donald Trump spent Monday fending off questions about whether his threat to bomb every bridge and power plant in Iran would amount to war crimes. He rejected the premise, arguing that Irans leaders were animals who needed to be stopped. On Tuesday morning, he doubled down.



A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again, Trump wrote on Truth Social, his social media platform. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will. Trump had given Iran the Tuesday deadline to reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the worlds oil and gas passes.



Such seemingly unrestrained statements have alarmed legal experts and former military officials, who argue that the presidents threat to conduct broad attacks on civilian infrastructure  very little is off-limits, he said Monday  could undermine Americas aims in Iran and create legal jeopardy for military leadership.



Im concerned that the presidents bombast is putting the operational commanders in a very difficult position, said Geoffrey Corn, who served as a top law-of-war expert at the US Army in Iraq in 2004-2005. They know that you cannot just draw a circle around the country and say every element of the electrical grid is now a lawful target.



Jameel Jaffer, a longtime human rights lawyer and lecturer at Columbia University, said Trumps latest threat to extinguish a whole civilisation meets the very definition of terrorism  to seek to achieve political ends through violence or threats of violence directed at civilians. He noted that the Pentagons own law-of-war manual clearly prohibits threats of violence whose primary purpose is to spread terror among civilians. Military personnel, Jaffer said, have an obligation not to carry out orders they know to be unlawful.



Until now, the US largely has been hitting military targets in Iran such as ammunition depots, ballistic missile manufacturing facilities, mobile launchers and naval ships. But Trump has threatened that, as of Tuesday 8 pm, he will order the military to target clearly civilian facilities and do so indiscriminately, rather than weigh whether each is a valid military target whose destruction would not cause undue civilian harm.



International humanitarian law protects from attack objects indispensable to the survival of civilians, so if implemented, the attacks Trump threatens could constitute war crimes, said Harold Hongju Koh, a former State Department legal adviser in the Obama administration and now the Sterling professor of international law at Yale Law School.



International humanitarian law, also known as the law of war or armed conflict, is a set of rules that place limits on how countries fight. They have been developed through various treaties and agreements since 1864, when the first Geneva Convention was adopted.



In the US, decisions on which targets to hit are traditionally made at the combatant command level  US Central Command in this case  with lawyers advising on whether a target is valid under the law of armed conflict, said Michael W Meier, a former Army law-of-war adviser. In a normal administration, these decisions are made at that level, not the presidential level, he said.



Trumps threats come amid a general loosening of legal guardrails by the administration since it has taken office. Officials have fired the top uniformed legal officers known as judge advocates general and repeatedly circumvented traditional routes for military legal advice.



The Pentagon referred a request for comment to the White House. The White House declined to answer specific questions, but in a statement spokesperson Anna Kelly said that Trump would always always stand with innocent civilians while annihilating the terrorists responsible for threatening our country and the entire world with a nuclear weapon.



The Iranian people welcome the sound of bombs because it means their oppressors are losing, Kelly said. Greater destruction can be avoided if the regime understands the seriousness of this moment and makes a deal with the United States.



Trump regularly evinces little regard for norms like human rights or the rules of law. I dont need international law, he told the New York Times in January - 11 months after his administration placed sanctions on global bodies including the International Criminal Court.



Trumps comments were blatant expressions that he is willing to turn the United States into a rogue State like Iran and Russia, two former military lawyers, Margaret Donovan and Rachel VanLandingham, wrote for Just Security in an article published on Monday. But the impact on civilians must be carefully considered and expected not to be excessive compared to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated from the strike, Donovan and VanLandingham wrote.



Some analysts say that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the primary military and intelligence force that essentially controls Irans regime, is so deeply intertwined with the broader economy that it makes distinctions between military and civilian targets harder to gauge.



No matter how much the regime has hidden missiles in tunnels of transported weapons over bridges or via airports, it is incumbent upon the Trump administration to make its case legally and rationally about every single target, said Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a DC think tank that favours military action against Iran.



An analysis by human rights groups released last month estimated that at least 1,400 civilians have been killed so far in strikes near schools, hospitals and other nonmilitary infrastructure.



To threaten a country with attacks on its energy and industrial infrastructure at various intervals  constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law, said Esmaeil Baqaei, a spokesperson for Irans Foreign Ministry, according to a report in Fars News.




Most people credit the clean-up in the real estate business to regulations like demonetisation, GST or RERA. For me, the three regulations have played a role but they are not the real deal. Mumbai real estate got its first and biggest clean-up in 2012 when an unlikely combination of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and BMC Commissioner Subodh Kumar instituted reforms that created a level-playing field for builders. It was to Mumbai real estate what 1991 was for the Indian economy. The licence-raj was replaced with the fair market. Until then the chief skill of a builder lay in abusing rules through the discretionary powers given to the municipal corporation. On the same piece of land, one builder was permitted to construct 10,000 square feet of homes while a favoured builder was permitted to construct 15,000 square feet of homes. As the favoured builder had more area to sell, he would outbid the others for land. The players keen to play fair or without connections in the municipal corporation would lose out. It was an unfair competition that rewarded well-connected builders and municipal officials.



Long back when I asked one of the favoured builders about those reforms, he remarked with poise: It didnt change our economics. Earlier we paid a bribe to the government officer. Now we pay the same amount as tax to the government.



It may not have changed his economics but it certainly ensured the arrival of developers who were keen to play fair. The evidence is visible. Many of the builders who were heavyweights in the pre-2012 era are no longer even in business. On the other hand, credible players are dominating the market. In the absence of reforms, I am certain we would not have seen the flourishing of many branded players in the murky world of real estate. Buyers would be at the mercy of crooked but powerful builders.



The reason for highlighting this episode is to remind everyone about the transformational ability in the hands of the right municipal commissioner backed by a bold chief minister. Mumbai has a new municipal commissioner: Ashwini Bhide. There is a rare optimism in the air with her appointment. Most of her predecessors and peers from the IAS community have delivered a terrible advertisement in executional calibre. On the other hand, Bhide has demonstrated remarkable skill in executing large, complex infrastructure projects in a time-bound manner.



With that in mind, it is almost certain that Mumbai is in for better times with regards to infrastructure development. Bhide has the talent to reshape infrastructure. There is another sector that is awaiting transformation: Real estate. Subodh Kumar instituted Clean-up 1.0. A Clean-up 2.0 is now needed. It is no secret that corruption has reached stratospheric levels. Systems are designed for transparency and digitisation but are implemented with opacity and with conditions. One veteran builder joked that bribes have come down but extortion has gone up. The licence-raj is back in a different form. An industry where approvals are the differentiating factor is an industry destined for scandals and mischievous operators. At some point if the situation persists and escalates, it will lead to an exodus of credible players who are frustrated by the system. That will be a reversal of the 2012 reforms. Crooked players will gain and buyers will be at their mercy.



Subodh Kumar-Prithviraj Chavan dismantled the licence-raj of Mumbai real estate like Manmohan Singh and Narasimha Rao did for India in 1991. Bhide has an opportunity to simplify the system in the way that Chidambaram did with his Dream Budget of 1997. If she succeeds, she would have as much impact on Mumbais real estate as the then finance minister had on the Indian economy.



Vishal Bhargava tracks Mumbais real estate




Akbar Novruz



Inga Ruginen? is set to visit Azerbaijan on April 9, according to the Lithuanian Embassy in Baku, AzerNEWS reports.

During the visit, the Lithuanian Prime Minister is expected to hold high-level meetings with the Azerbaijani leadership aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation across key sectors.

The official program also includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the Alley of Martyrs, as well as the opening of a photo exhibition at Khazar University.

Cultural events will form part of the visit, including a concert featuring the student choir of the Azerbaijan National Conservatory and students from the Bulbul Music School.

In addition, Ruginen? is scheduled to meet with members of the Lithuanian community residing in Azerbaijan.

This visit is an important step in the development of partnership between Lithuania and Azerbaijan, as well as in strengthening people-to-people ties, the embassy noted.
Amador County, CA  A Sutter Creek store owner was arrested after public complaints sparked an investigation into the selling of marijuana and other THC products, possibly to minors.

Currently, the sale of THC-containing marijuana products is not permitted in Amador County. Sheriffs officials did not identify the store or name the owner. The Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team (ACCNET) launched an investigation in collaboration with the Sutter Creek Police Department (SCPD), which had also received a comparable complaint about the suspected sale of THC products to minors.

A search carried out at the Sutter Creek business turned up a significant amount of marijuana/THC products and other controlled substances for sale. Subsequently, the unidentified owner was arrested on multiple drug-related charges.

While thanking partner agencies, including the Sutter Creek Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and the Amador County District Attorneys Office, as well as the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, the California Department of Public Health, and the Department of Cannabis Control, sheriffs officials added, We thank our community members for their continued support and for reporting suspicious activity.
Update at 6:42 p.m.: CAL Fire spokesperson Emily Kilgore tells Central Sierra Broadcasting that the Swiss Fire has grown to 20 acres, but firefighters have stopped the forward progress. What ignited the blaze is under investigation. Further details on the blaze are below.

Original post at 5:49 a.m.: Mountain Ranch, CAGround and air resources are battling a vegetation fire named the Swiss Fire in the Mountain Ranch area of Calaveras County along Swiss Ranch Road.

The flames broke out near the 6900 block of Swiss Ranch Road east of Miller Ranch Road. CAL Fire spokesperson Emily Kilgore tells Central Sierra Broadcasting that the blaze is 15 acres with a slow rate of spread. There is no word regarding whether any structures are threatened. Well pass along more information as soon as it comes into the newsroom.
DALLAS (AP)  A former FedEx driver pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing a 7-year-old girl after delivering a Christmas gift to her Texas home, where he told authorities he accidentally struck her with his van and then strangled her in a fit of panic.

Tanner Horner faces either the death penalty or life in prison in the 2022 killing of Athena Strand, whose body was found two days after she was reported missing in the rural town of Paradise, near Fort Worth. Jurors will now decide Horners punishment.

The only truthful thing that Tanner Horner told law enforcement was that he killed her, Wise County District Attorney James Stainton said during opening statements. The pattern and web of lies that he put together, its going to be hard for yall to keep up with. It is lie upon lie upon lie upon lie.

As Athenas stepmother testified, the jury was shown an image of Athena taken from a video inside the delivery truck. She was still alive and sitting on her knees behind the drivers seat.

Stainton said the scenario that Horner told authorities  that he hit her with his vehicle and panicked  is an absolute lie. He said she was uninjured when Horner put her into the vehicle.

The first thing Tanner Horner says to Athena when he picks her up and puts her in that truck, he leans down and he says: Dont scream or Ill hurt you. He says that twice, Stainton said.

Stainton told jurors that the evidence in the case is rough, and they will watch video of what happened that day and then hear audio after the camera has been covered up.

You are going to hear what a 250-pound man can do to a 67-pound child, Stainton said. And when I say its horrible, I mean it.

He said Athena fought Horner, and his DNA was found under her fingernails. He also said Horners DNA was found in places where you shouldnt find DNA on a 7-year-old girl.

According to an arrest warrant, Horner told authorities that he strangled Athena after accidentally hitting her with his van while making a delivery. Horner told investigators that Athena wasnt seriously hurt after he hit her while backing up, but he panicked and put her in his van.

Horner said he didnt want her to tell her father what happened, so he first tried to break the girls neck and when that didnt work, he strangled her with his hands in the back of the van, the warrant said. The warrant said Horner took investigators to where hed left Athenas body.

In opening statements, Horners attorney Steven Goble told jurors: When someones brain is whats injured, you dont see it.

While acknowledging that the evidence against Horner was overwhelming and terrible, he told jurors that Horners mother drank while she was pregnant, that he has autism and suffered from various mental illnesses throughout his life in addition to being exposed to a massive amount of lead.

Goble asked jurors to sentence him to life in prison.

Ashley Strand, Athenas stepmother, told jurors that the package Horner had dropped off was a Christmas present for Athena  a box of You Can Be Anything Barbies. Strand, who has since divorced Athenas father, said Athena enjoyed living out on their land in the country, where she got to run wild and free.

The trial was moved from rural Wise County to Fort Worth after Horners attorneys argued that he would not have received a fair trial.

By JAMIE STENGLE

Associated Press
Delta Air Lines announced Tuesday that it is raising checked baggage fees, part of a broader wave of U.S. carriers responding to higher jet fuel prices tied to the war in the Middle East.

Beginning Wednesday, most domestic and short-haul international passengers will pay $45 to check one bag, $55 for a second and $200 for a third, according to Delta. Thats an increase of $10 on each of the first two bags and $50 on the third.

The move follows similar announcements from United Airlines and JetBlue, both of which raised baggage fees last week.

These updates are part of Deltas ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics, the carrier said in a statement. It marks Deltas first increase to checked baggage fees on domestic routes in two years.

Delta said complimentary bags will still be available to customers in premium cabins, active-duty military personnel, eligible co-branded credit card holders and members of certain loyalty tiers. Fees for long-haul international flights are not affected.

CEO Ed Bastian told investors last month that the jump in jet fuel prices had already added about $400 million to Deltas operating expenses since the conflict began on Feb. 28. Executives at United and American Airlines reported similar figures.

Delta is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, kicking off the earnings season for U.S. airlines, which could offer travelers an early gauge of how rising jet fuel prices may affect them.

Airlines around the world have been grappling with volatile oil markets as fighting near the Strait of Hormuz disrupts global supplies. Roughly a fifth of the worlds oil typically passes through the narrow water way, and the threat to that chokepoint is pushing up the price of jet fuel, which is refined from crude.

Fuel typically ranks as the second-largest expense for airlines after labor.

The average price for a gallon of jet fuel in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York was $4.81 on Tuesday, up from $2.50 the day before the war started, according to Argus Media. The energy market intelligence companys U.S. Jet Fuel Index tracks average prices across those major hubs.

In addition to raising ticket prices, analysts say U.S. carriers are likely to lean more on ancillary fees to offset the higher expenses, while many non-U.S. carriers are responding by adding or increasing fuel surcharges.

By RIO YAMAT

AP Airlines and Travel Writer
TEHRAN, Iran (AP)  A ceasefire deal to pause the war in Iran appeared to hang by a thread Wednesday after the Islamic Republic closed the Strait of Hormuz again in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The White House demanded that the channel be reopened and sought to keep peace talks on track.

The U.S. and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. At the same time, Israel intensified its attacks on the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, hitting commercial and residential areas in Beirut. At least 182 people were killed Wednesday in the deadliest day of fighting there.

The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what U.S. Vice President JD Vance called a fragile deal.

Parliament speaker accuses US of breaking Irans conditions

The Iranian parliament speaker said planned talks were unreasonable because Washington broke three of Tehrans 10 conditions for an end to the fighting. In a social media post, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf objected to Israeli attacks on Hezbollah, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace after the ceasefire took effect and U.S. refusal to accept any Iranian enrichment capabilities in a final agreement.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi insisted that an end to the war in Lebanon was part of the ceasefire deal, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump said the truce did not cover Lebanon. When the deal was announced, Pakistans prime minister, whose country served as a mediator, said in a social media post that it applied to everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere.

Lebanons health ministry said Israeli strikes killed 182 people on Wednesday, the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

The world sees the massacres in Lebanon, Irans Araghchi said in a post on X. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, reported in Iranian state media, was completely unacceptable. She repeated Trumps expectation and demand that the channel be reopened.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said American and Israeli forces had achieved a capital V military victory and that the Iranian military no longer posed a significant threat to U.S. forces or the region. The Iranian military said the country forced Israel and the U.S. to accept its proposed conditions and surrender.

Much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the strait, a crucial transit lane for oil. The White House said Trump is opposed to tolls for ship passage through the strait.

Only 11 vessels moved through the strait Wednesday, roughly the same as in prior days, according to Windward, a maritime intelligence firm. Iran was requiring shippers to pay tolls of up to $1 a barrel for outbound oil, it said. The largest supertankers carry up to 3 million barrels of crude.

The fate of Irans missile and nuclear programs  the elimination of which were major objectives for the U.S. and Israel in going to war  also remained unclear. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

White House looks ahead to peace talks

Trump initially said Iran proposed a workable plan that could help end the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Feb. 28. But when a version in Farsi emerged indicating Iran would be allowed to continue enriching uranium  key to building a nuclear weapon  Trump called it fraudulent.

Leavitt said a plan that Iran presented Tuesday could align with our own proposal for peace.

The White House said Vance would lead American negotiators at upcoming peace talks, which could begin in Pakistan as soon as Friday.

Irans demands for ending the war include a withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region, the lifting of sanctions and the release of its frozen assets.

Meanwhile, Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel will continue to utilize every operational opportunity to strike Hezbollah. The Israeli military said it struck more than 100 targets within 10 minutes Wednesday across Lebanon, the largest wave of strikes since March 1.

Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit accused Israel of persistently seeking to sabotage the ceasefire deal.

Hezbollah has not confirmed if it will abide by the ceasefire, though the group has said it was open to giving mediators a chance to secure an agreement.

Early on Thursday Hezbollah said it had fired rockets at northern Israel and would continue doing so until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases.

Iran and Oman could collect shipping fees in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from using the strait, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime. That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue.

That would upend decades of precedent treating the strait as an international waterway that was free to transit. Such a shift would likely be unacceptable to the Gulf Arab states, which also need to rebuild after repeated Iranian attacks targeting their oil fields.

Irans nuclear and missile threats survive

U.S.-Israeli strikes have battered Iran and its leadership, but they have not eliminated the threats posed by Tehrans nuclear program, its ballistic missiles or its support for regional proxies, like Hezbollah. The U.S. and Israel said addressing those threats was a key justification for going to war.

Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to dig up and remove enriched uranium. There was no confirmation from Iran.

Hegseth told a Pentagon briefing Wednesday that the U.S. would do something like last Junes joint strikes with Israel on Iranian nuclear sites if Iran refuses to surrender its enriched uranium voluntarily.

Netanyahu warned in a televised address that Israel was ready to return to fighting at any time. Our finger is on the trigger.

Tehran has insisted for years that its nuclear program was peaceful, although it has enriched uranium up to 60% purity, a short, technical step from weapons-grade levels.

Airstrikes reported despite ceasefire announcement

Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, Bahrain, Israel, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates all issued warnings about incoming missiles from Iran. That fire stopped for a time, then hostilities appeared to restart.

An oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island came under attack, according to Iranian state television. A short time later, the UAEs air defenses fired at an incoming Iranian missile barrage.

More than 1,900 people had been killed in Iran as of late March, but the government has not updated the toll for days.

In Lebanon, more than 1,700 people have been killed, and 1 million people have been displaced. Twelve Israeli soldiers have died.

In Gulf Arab states and the occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people have died, while 23 have been reported dead in Israel, and 13 U.S. service members have been killed.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Magdy from Cairo and Metz from Ramallah, West Bank. Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Natalie Melzer in Jerusalem, Abby Sewell and Sarah El Deeb in Beirut, Mike Catalini in Trenton, N.J., and Michelle L. Price, Aamer Madhani, Zeke Miller, Michael Biesecker and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.



This story corrects overall death toll in Lebanon on Wednesday to 182.

By BASSEM MROUE, JON GAMBRELL, SAMY MAGDY and SAM METZ

Associated Press
Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, an 11th-hour deal that headed off U.S. President Donald Trumps threat to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilization. Hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks Wednesday, though it was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal.

All sides have presented vastly different versions of the terms. Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

Pakistan and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, which Israel has invaded to fight Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Wednesday that the deal doesnt cover fighting against Hezbollah. Israeli strikes hit several dense commercial and residential areas in central Beirut Wednesday afternoon without warning, killing dozens and wounding hundreds of people.

Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz again Wednesday in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the Strait of Hormuz that Iran instituted  and give it a new source of revenue. Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

Here is the latest:

UN chief condemns Israeli strikes in Lebanon

In unusually strong language, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Israeli strikes in Lebanon that killed and injured hundreds Wednesday, according to a statement by his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

The statement said Guterres condemns the loss of civilian lives and is deeply alarmed by the mounting toll on civilians, and added the ongoing strikes pose a grave risk to the ceasefire and the efforts toward a lasting and comprehensive peace in the region.

Guterres called on all parties to immediately cease hostilities.

The strikes targeting central Beirut Wednesday killed more than 180 people, and wounded hundreds, making it the deadliest day in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

Australia says Lebanon must be included in Middle East ceasefire

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Thursday that the two-week ceasefire announced this week is an important step forward.

Of course it is a fragile peace, but we want it to lead to an agreement, Albanese said.

The Australian government also firmly believes that this has to apply to Lebanon as well. We want to see peace in this region, Albanese added.

Hezbollah claims attacks as sirens sound in northern Israel

Sirens went off early Thursday morning in a few Israeli communities along the border with Lebanon, near the city of Kiryat Shmona, which has been targeted by Hezbollah rockets repeatedly during the war.

In a statement, Hezbollah claimed attacking Manara in northern Israel early Thursday morning with rocket fire.

This response will continue until the Israeli-American aggression against our country and our people ceases, it said.

Israeli strikes kill Al Jazeera correspondent and 2 Lebanese journalists

Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed an Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, according to the network and health officials there, as well as two Lebanese journalists in that country, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists and one of their networks.

Mohammed Wishah was targeted in a drone strike in west Gaza City. The Israeli militarys Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, said on X that Wishah was a member of Hamas, reposting a 2024 tweet that described him as a prominent commander in its military wing, among other positions.

In Lebanon, where Israeli strikes targeting Hezbollah killed more than 180 people Wednesday, Ghada Dayekh, a presenter with Sawt Al-Farah, and Suzan Khalil, a reporter and presenter on Hezbollahs Al-Manar TV and Al-Nour Radio, also died.

Newly created Polymarket accounts bet big on US-Iran ceasefire in hours before Trumps announcement

A group of new accounts on the prediction market Polymarket made highly specific, well-timed bets on whether the U.S. and Iran would reach a ceasefire on April 7, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits for these new customers.

These bets were made even though, in the hours before a two-week ceasefire was announced on Tuesday, Trumps rhetoric had escalated sharply and there were few signals that a ceasefire deal was imminent.

An analysis of publicly available blockchain data from Polymarket, using the crypto analytics platform Dune, shows that at least 50 accounts, or wallets, placed substantial Yes bets Tuesday before Trump announced the ceasefire in a Truth Social post at around 6:30 p.m. ET.

 Read more about polymarket accounts

Israelis celebrate ceasefire and mimouna holiday

Israelis marked the Moroccan Jewish holiday of Mimouna, which celebrates the end of Passover, on Wednesday night without worrying about running for cover from of Iranian missiles for the first time in a month and a half.

In the southern resort city of Eilat, a local bar served the traditional fried foods, including the fried dough of mufleta, while wearing Moroccan inspired garb.

I feel like I can finally go out and celebrate, its hard to celebrate anything during the war, said Tair Elkaim, a 27-year-old personal trainer visiting from Netanya. I feel more relaxed and happy, but also Im sad about the families broken up by this war.

Avi Zion, 30, a municipality worker from Jerusalem, said he was looking forward to returning to his routine and finally sending his kids back to school.

Im really happy theres a ceasefire and were here to celebrate this feeling of release.

At least 182 killed as Israel strikes central Beirut after saying Iran truce doesnt apply there

Lebanons health ministry said that Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed 182 people, the highest single-day death toll in the Israel-Hezbollah war.

Israel launched a barrage of strikes in central Beirut and elsewhere in the country as a shaky ceasefire took effect between the U.S. and Iran. Iranian officials have maintained that the deal was supposed to include Lebanon, while Israel and the U.S. have insisted that it does not.

Another 890 people were wounded in the strikes, the ministry said. Altogether, 1,739 people have been killed and 5,873 wounded in Lebanon in just over five weeks since the outbreak of the war.

 Read more

US moves to draw down diplomatic staff in Nigeria over security concerns related to Iran war, terrorism, crime

The State Department is moving to reduce the U.S. diplomatic footprint in Nigeria due to security concerns related to terrorism and crime even as a ceasefire in the Iran war comes into effect.

The department said Wednesday it had authorized nonessential American personnel and the families of all government staffers at the U.S. embassy in Abuja to leave the country due to the deteriorating security situation.

There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Nigeria, it said. Terrorists continue plotting and carrying out attacks in Nigeria. Terrorists collaborate with local gangs to expand their reach. They may attack with little or no warning.

Nigeria is just the latest in a series of U.S. diplomatic missions to draw down staff with either ordered or authorized departures since the war with Iran began at the end of February.

American offensive operations remain paused, US official says

When asked about an oil refinery on Irans Lavan Island that Iranian state television said came under attack Wednesday, the U.S. official said the pause in American attacks on Iran that went into effect Tuesday with the ceasefire was still effect.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military operations.

Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani also said Israel wasnt involved in the Lavan Island strike.

- Konstantin Toropin

Vance suggests the US and Iran agree on more about a peace deal than they disagree on

Speaking to reporters before leaving Hungary, the vice president said Iran questioning the workability of a ceasefire because it disagrees with the U.S. on three key points must mean theres a lot of points of agreement.

Frustration on three issues actually means that theres a lot of agreements, Vance said.

The vice president, who is set to participate in negotiations in Pakistan this weekend, said ceasefires are always messy and often feature a little bit of choppiness.

It wasnt all positive, though. Vance also questioned the English skills of Iran parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf and his comments on the fragile nature of the ceasefire.

I actually wonder how good he is at understanding English, Vance said because there are things that he said that just didnt make sense in the context of the negotiations that weve had.

Independent analysts say they have seen no change in traffic through the Strait of Hormuz

Thats despite claims from the White House on Wednesday there had been an uptick in the number of ships transiting the strategic waterway since a U.S.-announced ceasefire with Iran.

Windward, a maritime intelligence firm that tracks international shipping, said only 11 vessels transited the strait on Wednesday  roughly the same number from prior days.

Windward said all ships transiting the strait must still coordinate safe passage with Iranian authorities, who are requiring shippers to pay hefty tolls amounting of up to $1 a barrel for outbound oil, paid in cryptocurrency. For context, the largest supertankers carry up to 3 million barrels of crude.

Windward said radio broadcasts from Iran to tankers in the Persian Gulf on Wednesday warned that those transiting without approval would be attacked.

Israel strikes key bridge in southern Lebanon

The Israeli military has struck the last direct crossing carrying most of the traffic to the key coastal city of Tyre over Lebanons Litani River, the strategic demarcation line separating southern Lebanon from the rest of the country.

The attack late Wednesday on the Qasmieh bridge further isolates southern Lebanon as the Israeli army pushes ahead with its ground invasion and bombardment following the announcement of a ceasefire in the Iran war.

Israel has bombed several bridges over the Litani, accusing Hezbollah of using them to bring fighters and military equipment to the border area. But the crossings are also crucial for Lebanese civilians and for those carrying humanitarian aid.

The strike comes as Israel seeks to create a buffer zone that it says is necessary to protect its northern towns from Hezbollah rockets. Lebanese civilians fear long-term occupation and displacement.

House Democrats to force a war powers resolution vote over Iran

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said they will demand passage of the resolution to halt further U.S. military action in Iran during Thursdays session, seeking to force Republicans, who have been largely silent on Trumps strategy, to speak up.

He said in a letter to colleagues that the Democrats will unleash maximum pressure on Republicans to put patriotic duty over party loyalty and join Democrats in stopping the madness.

Congress is on recess, but the House and Senate are meeting for perfunctory sessions on Thursday.

Under the proposal, Democrats would seek to have the resolution approved by unanimous consent. But as the minority party, they may not even be recognized by the presiding officer, a Republican.

Bolivia terminates military cooperation agreement with Iran in latest geopolitical shift

The center-right government of Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz said Wednesday it has terminated a military cooperation agreement signed with Iran three years ago, during the administration of leftist leader Luis Arce.

The announcement was confirmed by Defense Minister Raul Salinas, who didnt provide further details.

It comes on the heels of the Paz administrations dramatic shift away from the foreign policy maintained by Bolivia throughout the administrations of the Movement Towards Socialism, or MAS, a party that held power for nearly 20 years.

It is also the latest sign of a sharp geopolitical realignment underway in the South American country that was once among the most vocal critics of Israeli policies toward Palestinians.

UN says 1.1 million Lebanese, an unprecedented number, have been displaced since early March conflict

And that number, representing nearly one-fifth of Lebanons population, is expected to rise following the wave of over 100 Israeli airstrikes on the country on Wednesday, the U.N. humanitarian chief in Lebanon said.

Imran Riza told U.N. correspondents in a video briefing that Israeli orders for Lebanese to leave their homes now affect 15.5% of the countrys territory.

He also pointed to rising attacks on health care facilities during the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict, with over 106 incidents reported resulting in 57 deaths and 158 injuries.

The U.N. humanitarian coordinator urged donations to last months $308 million U.N. emergency appeal for Lebanon which has only received about $95 million.

Iran accuses US of violating 3 clauses of framework for a deal, says ceasefire, negotiations with US are unreasonable

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Wednesday that a ceasefire and negotiations with the U.S. on ending the war is unreasonable as he accused the U.S. violating three of Tehrans 10 conditions for an end to the fighting.

Qalibaf, a key figure in the Pakistan-brokered negotiations to end the conflict, objected in a social media post to the continuation of Israeli attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, an alleged drone incursion into Iranian airspace after the ceasefire was in effect and the Trump administrations assertion that it wont accept any Iranian enrichment capabilities as part of an agreement to end the conflict.

It comes as the not yet day old ceasefire appears at risk of fraying over significant disagreements between the parties who each are claiming victory in the conflict. Qalibafs comments come an hour after the White House announced that US Vice President JD Vance would lead the U.S. delegation to talks in Islamabad starting Saturday on bringing about an end to the war.

Spain condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon

Spanish Prime Minster Pedro Sanchez condemned Israels strikes Wednesday on Lebanon, criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

His contempt for life and international law is intolerable, Sanchez wrote on X.

The Spanish leader, who has been Europes loudest critic of the U.S. and Israels military actions in the region, called on the European Union to suspend its association agreement with Israel.

White House says Trump is clear that ceasefire is subject to no tolls through the Strait of Hormuz

The ceasefire requires a free reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which includes no tolls imposed by Iran, said Leavitt, describing Trumps thinking.

A regional official had said on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations that the ceasefire plans included allowing both Iran and Oman to charge new fees to ships transiting through the strait.

Leavitt referenced Trumps Truth Social post from Tuesday in which he said the agreement was conditional on the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the strait. She added that thats very plain language and it should be taken at face value.

Iranian envoy asks China, Russia and UN for security guarantees as part of ceasefire

At a press conference in Beijing early Wednesday, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Irans ambassador to China, requested that its two closest allies and the world body help guarantee Tehrans long-term security as part of the recent deal to end hostilities between U.S and Iran.

The Islamic Republic has made similar requests in the past but they have not come to fruition.

When asked if China would be willing to guarantee such security, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning demurred Wednesday, telling reporters: We hope that all parties will resolve their disputes through dialogue and negotiation.

Vance will return to US from his visit to Hungary before heading to Pakistan

The vice presidents office gave the update Wednesday as Vance was wrapping up a trip in Budapest.

His office did not offer any details about his planned trip to Islamabad to lead the U.S. negotiating team that included Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Trump expected to raise possibility of US leaving NATO in meeting with Rutte

The president earlier this month said that he was considering withdrawing the U.S. from NATO as he grumbled about the lack of support from members of the alliance in his war of choice against Iran.

The criticism from Trump follows years of complaining that the alliances member countries arent paying enough for their own defense. Trump is set to host Secretary-General Mark Rutte for talks at the White House later this afternoon.

Its something the president has discussed, and I think its something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary General Rutte, said Leavitt, when asked if Trump is still considering leaving the 32-member alliance.

Ceasefire is threatened as Israel expands Lebanon strikes and Iran closes strait again

The United States demanded Wednesday that Iran immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz after the Islamic Republic closed the waterway in response to Israeli attacks against the Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon. Irans move cast doubt over whether an already precarious ceasefire to end more than a month of war would hold.

The United States and Iran both claimed victory after reaching the agreement, and world leaders expressed relief, even as more drones and missiles hit Iran and Gulf Arab countries. Israel also intensified its attacks in Lebanon, hitting several commercial and residential areas in Beirut without warning. At least 112 people were killed and hundreds were wounded in one of the deadliest days in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war.

The fresh violence threatened to scuttle what U.S. Vice President JD Vance called a fragile deal.

White House defends Trumps language threatening a whole civilization

Asked about Trumps threat to annihilate Iranian civilization, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended it as a very strong threat that led to results.

I think it was a very, very strong threat from the president of the United States that led the Iranian regime to cave to their knees and ask for a ceasefire and agree to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Leavitt said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

She said any suggestion that Iran had the moral high ground was insulting.

Before a ceasefire was announced, Trump had threatened destruction in Iran if it did not reopen the strait, saying a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

White House shrugs off NATOs pledge to ensure freedom of navigation through a reopened Strait of Hormuz

Leavitt was asked about NATO allies offering to contribute to keeping the strait open, but said the alliance hasnt done enough to support U.S. and Israels war in Iran.

They were tested and they failed, Levitt said, reading from a past Trump quote on NATO.

She added: NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks.

Those comments came as Trump was meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House later Wednesday.

Israels airport restarts full operations

Israels main airport will resume full operations as of midnight on Wednesday, after the Iran war stranded tens of thousands of people, including both Israelis abroad and tourists inside Israel.

Israels airspace has been open but severely limited during the war, limiting flights to once an hour and just 50 people per flight. Israel joins several other countries in the region in reopening its airspace as the ceasefire with Iran appeared to hold.

The White House defends Trumps threat that a whole civilization will die tonight

His very tough rhetoric and his tough negotiating style is what has led to the result that you are all witnessing today, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, adding that Iran said they wanted a ceasefire because they no longer could tolerate being bombed.

Trumps threats against Iran escalated over the past weeks, culminating in his Tuesday warning that a whole civilization could die in the lead up to an 8 p.m. deadline, which was later suspended after an agreement was reached.

The world should take his word very seriously, Leavitt said.

By The Associated Press
FRANKFURT, Germany (AP)  To end the war with the United States and Israel, Iran is demanding the right to collect tolls in the Strait of Hormuz as a precondition for reopening the waterway vital to world oil supplies.

Yet collecting tolls in the strait would violate a basic and enduring principle of international maritime trade: freedom of peaceful navigation. Its an ancient idea that was codified by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which took effect in 1994.

Opening the strait would save the global economy from supply constraints that have pushed energy and fertilizer prices sharply higher since the war began on Feb. 28. But agreeing to Iranian toll-collecting would cement the Islamic Republics control over the strait through which 20% of the worlds oil is shipped  and enrich the country against whom the war was launched.

U.S. President Donald Trump has made reopening the strait a priority. But the White House said Wednesday he is opposed to tolls, and analysts say the Gulfs oil producers are, too.

Analysts say they have seen no change in traffic through the strait since the ceasefire was announced, despite claims to the contrary from the White House.

Here are things to know about Irans proposal and the international law with which it collides.

Iran had already begun charging vessels passing through the strait

After the U.S. and Israel launched the war, Iran immediately exercised leverage by blocking the strait with attacks  and threats of attacks  on ships, making passage too risky. The disruption caused immediate shortages in some Asian countries highly dependent on the regions energy, sent gasoline prices higher in the U.S. and Europe, and threatened global economic growth.

Iran then began vetting vessels in a murky scheme dubbed the tollbooth by shipping analysts.

The ships were told to divert from the middle of the strait in Iranian and Omani territorial waters and instead detour around Irans Larak Island. After delivering detailed information on crew and cargo to intermediaries of Irans paramilitary Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, some vessels were allowed to proceed  and at least two reportedly paid the equivalent of $2 million in Chinese yuan.

The Law of the Sea Treaty guarantees passage to peaceful ships

Irans 10-point proposal for ending the war includes a provision allowing it and Oman to charge ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations they were directly involved in. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction.

But the Law of the Sea Treatys Article 17 guarantees a right of innocent passage for ships that do not threaten the coastal states. So allowing Iran and Oman to start charging for passage through the strait would set a dangerous precedent, experts said.

Freedom of navigation in the worlds seas has been a fundamental right for hundreds of years, founded on the idea that the sea doesnt belong to anyone, said Philippe Delebecque, a professor and maritime law expert at Paris Sorbonne University.

Freedom of navigation has always been recognized, including specifically in straits, he said. The concern is if the Strait of Hormuz could be closed, then why not the Strait of Gibraltar between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, or the Strait of Malacca off Indonesia?

He called that scenario the end of an international society.

Neither Iran or the U.S. have ratified the Law of the Sea Treaty

While 172 countries have ratified the U.N. convention, Iran and the United States are among those that have not.

Not having ratified the convention doesnt give (Iran) total freedom of action in the Strait of Hormuz, said Julien Raynaut, who heads the French Association of Maritime Law, a trade group. It remains subject to international law and notably this customary right of passage.

An Iranian tollbooth could lead China to conclude that it could restrict movement in the Taiwan Strait, Raynaut said.

Oman and Iran may face diplomatic pushback to adhere to the convention, said Constantinos Yiallourides, a senior research fellow at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law.

Free passage is in the interest of everyone, he said. We all want to get the best products at the best prices.

The global economy needs the Strait of Hormuz reopened

Some economists say that, from a strictly financial standpoint, the world would barely notice the additional costs from any tolling in the Strait of Hormuz.

For example, a $2 million toll on a large tanker carrying 2 million barrels of oil amounts to $1-per-barrel increase on that ships oil.

The burden does not fall on global consumers, but overwhelmingly on the Gulf states that supply the oil that transits the strait, wrote the Bruegel think tank in Brussels. It said the world economy would instantly benefit from the reopening the strait  returning 20% of the worlds oil to the market and sending prices lower.

Plus, by lowering oil prices, it would eliminate a multibillion-dollar geopolitical windfall for Russia, whose oil is suddenly in greater demand despite sanctions.

The international price of oil has jumped from around $72 per barrel before the war to as high as $118 on March 31. On Monday, Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded at $94.55, down sharply after news of the two-week ceasefire.

The Gulfs oil producers are leery of Iranian control of the strait

Saudi Arabia, the biggest Gulf producer, welcomed the ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran but called for keeping the Strait of Hormuz open without any restrictions.

Gulf countries have had to shut down some 12 million barrels per day in crude production because theres no viable way around the strait for much of their oil. The two pipelines that bypass it arent big enough to make up for all of the lost oil, and building new pipelines would take years.

Given the downsides of the tollbooth proposal, the Gulf states would only agree to it if all other options looked much worse, Bruegel said.

A major objection in the West is that the toll would likely benefit the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is responsible for Irans ballistic missile program, suppresses domestic political opposition, and is listed as a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the European Union.

___

Leicester reported from Paris. Michael Biesecker in Washington contributed to this report.

By DAVID McHUGH and JOHN LEICESTER

Associated Press
Central Organization of Trade Union (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has launched sharp criticism against former President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of re-engaging in active politics to destabilize the current administration.

This follows remarks made by the former president in Kirinyaga County on April 1, 2026, where he encouraged Mount Kenya residents to prioritize unity and remain wary of sweet-tongued politicians. He also criticized portions of the clergy for their alleged role in the 2022 general election and urged leaders to abandon tribal politics in favor of national cohesion.

In response, Francis Atwoli, speaking on Sunday during the burial ceremony of Dorothy Baya Mweri  the mother of Kilifi North MP Owen Baya  accused the former president of inciting Kenyans along tribal lines.

Atwoli urged the former leader to retire peacefully, stating, There is no opposition in Kenya at the moment, and the former President Uhuru Kenyatta should stop inciting Kenyans along tribal lines. He further claimed that the former president failed to secure a win for Raila Odinga while in power and asserted that President William Ruto remains poised for a landslide reelection in 2027.

He should remember that he is lazy and he was made president by Ruto, and he also failed to make Raila Odinga president when he still had power; he should retire, added Atwoli.

What Uhuru Said

During the burial of former Kirinyaga Senator Daniel Karaba at Njegas Primary School, Uhuru Kenyatta revisited the 2022 General Election, where he had supported Raila Odingas unsuccessful bid against President William Ruto.

Addressing the gathered crowd, which included various opposition figures, Kenyatta remarked, I warned you, but it is your own problem. But no worries.

In a direct critique of political rhetoric, the former president cautioned the public against being misled by empty promises. Politicians have very sweet tongues some have honey in their tongues. They can even convince you to surrender your precious lastborn daughter, he stated. He maintained that true leadership requires honesty, regardless of how difficult the truth may be.

Kenyatta urged Kenyans to remain vigilant as they look toward future elections. He encouraged citizens to prioritize integrity, stating, Be careful this time round. Take your time and look for leaders who will tell you the truth no matter how hard the situation could be.

In a rare and pointed critique, Uhuru accused the clergy of misguiding voters during the 2022 General Election. He urged religious leaders to return to their spiritual mandate.

The Church contributed immensely in misleading the country to head to the wrong direction during the 2022 General Election, he remarked, adding, These people want you to lead them in their hearts and spiritually but in regard to earthly issues like politics, leave it to leaders who understand the murky waters of politics.

The former president also issued a stern warning against voter manipulation, specifically advising the youth to guard their national identity cards against bribery. He encouraged voters to take any money offered by politicians but to refuse to surrender their documents.

Do not be manipulated by politicians who are looking forward to pumping your pockets with a few hundreds of shillings in exchange of your vote, he cautioned. He praised the resilience of the younger generation, noting, I have seen our Gen Zs are very vibrant and steady. I urge you to remain strong and brave.

Reflecting on his life after office, Kenyatta shared that he has retreated to his rural home in Ichaweri to reconnect with the public. He noted that listening to the ground has revealed a deep public desire for unity. He stressed that national stability depends on leaders of integrity who prioritize service over personal gain.

In a blunt parting shot to the electorate, he placed the responsibility for the countrys trajectory squarely on their shoulders, warning, If you go astray again this time round, it will be your own problem.
The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has requested the High Court to impose the death penalty on four men recently convicted for their roles in the violent robberies surrounding the 2015 killing of former Kabete MP George Muchai.

Following the March 13, 2026, convictions of Erick Munyera Isabwa, Raphael Kimani Gachie, Mustafa Kimani Anyoni, Stephen Ashitiva Lipapo, Jane Wanjiru, and Margaret Njeri Wachiuri, the case moved to the sentencing phase. Appearing before Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Monday, April 7, 2026, Principal Prosecution Counsel Willy Momanyi argued that the first four convicts  Isabwa, Kimani, Anyoni, and Lipapo  deserve the ultimate sentence due to the gravity of their actions.

The prosecution contends that the groups use of lethal weapons, including pistols and a G3 rifle, during the 2015 crime spree justifies the severest punishment available under Kenyan law. Supporting this position, the state noted,

It is our submission that this honourable Court metes out the death sentence against the 1st to the 4th accused persons in line with the principle of proportionality as provided for under clause 1.2.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines.

The prosecution further argued that the court must weigh several critical factors when determining the final punishment, including the severity of the crimes, the convicts past criminal records, and the need to protect the public. Citing clause 2.3.15 of the sentencing policy guidelines, State Counsel Willy Momanyi insisted that these elements support a death sentence for the four primary offenders.

The State highlighted the devastating impact of the groups actions, noting that their violent spree claimed multiple lives.

It is our submission that the gravity of the offence herein goes without saying; there was a spate of robberies conducted by the 1st to the 4th accused which resulted in the death of 4 individuals, among them the late Hon. George Muchai, the prosecution stated.

Beyond the crimes themselves, the DPP pointed to the defiant behavior of the convicts during the lengthy trial as a reason for a harsh sentence.

Momanyi recalled an instance where the four men showed open contempt for the legal process after a ruling went against them. According to the submissions, the convicts told the court, hii kesi hatutakuja tena; baki huko na hiyo kesi na huyo Momanyi, signaling their lack of remorse or respect for the proceedings.

The prosecution further revealed that the court record contains numerous instances of indiscipline involving the first four convicts while in custody. According to the state, these individuals reportedly threatened the seventh accused person, Simon Wambugu Gichamba, who was later acquitted. This hostility became so severe that authorities transferred the four men to Industrial Area Remand Prison to ensure Gichambas safety at Kamiti Prisons.

This conduct by the 1st to the 4th accused persons shows that for the objectives of sentencing to be met, the court should consider the death sentence, State Counsel Willy Momanyi argued.

The State also highlighted a total lack of remorse throughout the trial, noting that Raphael Kimani openly expressed his dissatisfaction with the courts judgment immediately after his conviction for robbery with violence.

Momanyi urged the court to prioritize community safety by imposing the death penalty, citing evidence from the judgment where the convicts were heard arguing about a jammed door. The prosecution contends this exchange suggests the group had been carrying out similar violent crimes just the night before their arrest.

In contrast, the DPP noted that the fifth and sixth convicts, Jane Wanjiru and Margaret Njeri, maintained a respectful demeanor during the legal proceedings.

The prosecution asked the court to consider the time these two women have already spent in custody when determining their final sentences. Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina scheduled the sentencing for all six individuals for Thursday, April 9, 2026, at 2:30 pm.
A Mombasa resident, Morris Kioko, has raised a significant alarm after discovering his personal identity was already registered in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) database, despite him never having applied to vote.

The 27-year-old from Kiembeni found that his National ID number was linked to a voter profile in Garissa County, specifically within the Balambala constituency and Jara Jara registration area. Most concerningly, the IEBC records indicated that he had participated in the 2013 general election, a period when Kioko was only 14 years old and legally ineligible to possess an ID or vote.

While the name and ID number on the portal matched his own, the profile assigned him a different ethnic identity  Somali  and a completely different residential location. When they checked, the ID was already registered, and the person was in Garissa. The profile indicated Somali ethnicity, but the full names were mine. Everything had been changed, Kioko told NTV.

Morris Kioko maintains that since receiving his ID in 2016, he has never registered as a voter. During the period he was allegedly active on the roll, he was completing National Youth Service (NYS) training in Bura, Tana River County, and he clarifies that he has never visited Garissa County, where his details are currently listed.

I collected my ID in 2016. I have never registered before. I could not vote because I was at the NYS training, so this was supposed to be my first time registering. But when I continued checking, I found things were different from what I expected, Kioko said. Officials asked him to wait 48 hours for a resolution, but the issue remained unresolved as of Monday, April 6, 2026.

IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Abdalla addressed the situation, describing it as an isolated case that warrants an urgent investigation. While welcoming Kioko to provide evidence at commission offices, she defended the security of the biometric voter register.

Stealing votes in Kenya is not easy. Even our officers, if someone did something like that, I do not believe they would risk their work and life for such an act, she stated.

The discrepancy has surfaced during the second week of the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise, which launched on March 30, 2026. This 30-day nationwide drive aims to enroll 2.5 million new voters by April 28. The initiative is a key component of the IEBCs broader strategy to expand the national database by over six million voters in preparation for the 2027 general election.
Following the official groundbreaking of the Naivasha-Kisumu-Malaba Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) extension, Kenya Railways has invited applications to fill several key senior managerial positions.

The recruitment drive forms part of the governments plan to strengthen operations and expand rail transport services across the country as the railway network continues to grow.

In a notice published in the MyGov government publication on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, the state corporation invited qualified and experienced Kenyans to apply for a range of managerial positions.

The advertised roles include managerial positions in rail safety, passenger services, sales and marketing, quality management systems, and risk coordination. Additional openings cover technical areas such as signalling, electrical, and communication management, as well as positions in technical audit, stores and inventory management, train operations, and accounts management.

Each role carries one available vacancy. The corporation has re-advertised some of the positions while introducing others for the first time as part of its ongoing institutional strengthening.

Applicants must submit a signed application letter along with a detailed curriculum vitae, copies of their academic and professional certificates, and a valid identification document.

The Kenya Railways also requires candidates to provide additional information, including their work experience, professional referees, and expected salary.

Candidates should provide all the details requested for in the advertisement. It is an offence to include incorrect information in the application; 2. Only shortlisted and successful candidates will be contacted; 3. Shortlisted candidates shall be required to produce originals of their National Identity Card, academic and professional certificates during interviews; 4. It is a criminal offence to present fake certificates/documents; and 5. Beware of fraudsters misusing the Company name to solicit money from unsuspecting job seekers, the corporation said.

Successful applicants must also present clearance certificates from several government agencies as part of the recruitment process. These include documents from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and the Kenya Revenue Authority.

In addition, candidates must submit clearance certificates from the Higher Education Loans Board, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, and a recognized Credit Reference Bureau.

Only Successful candidates will be expected to present the following Chapter Six Clearance Certificates:  1. Valid Certificate of Good Conduct from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations; 2. Valid Clearance Certificate from Higher Education Loans Board (HELB); 3. Valid Tax Compliance Certificate from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA); 4. Current Clearance from the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC); and 5. Current Report from an approved Credit Reference Bureau (CRB), Kenya Railways said.

The corporation also reaffirmed its commitment to equal opportunity employment and invited applications from women, persons with disabilities, minorities, and individuals from marginalized communities.

Qualified candidates must submit their applications through the official job portal available on the Kenya Railways website at krc.co.ke.

The corporation cautioned applicants that it will not accept hard copy submissions. It also announced that the application window will close on April 28, 2026, at 5 p.m.

Applicants must clearly indicate the Position Applied For and the Vacancy Reference Number in the subject heading, Kenya Railways stated.

The corporation encouraged eligible candidates to submit their applications early, noting that it will only contact shortlisted applicants.
The National Museums of Kenya has announced new admission fees for museums, monuments, and heritage sites across the country, meaning visitors will soon pay higher entry charges.

The institution revealed the revised rates on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, through a notice published in the latest issue of the MyGov government publication.

According to the notice, the changes follow the National Museums and Heritage (Admissions Fees) Regulations and will take effect starting May 7, 2026.

Notice is hereby given to the general public that pursuant to Legal Notice No. 79 of 2025 National Museums and Heritage (Admissions Fees) Regulations, 2025, National Museums of Kenya will be implementing its revised heritage facilities admission fees with effect from 7th May, 2026, read the notice in part.

Under the new structure, Kenyan and East African adult citizens visiting the Nairobi National Museum or Snake Park Nairobi will pay Ksh350 for entry, while children will pay Ksh200. Visitors who prefer a combined ticket for both attractions will pay Ksh600 for adults and Ksh300 for children.

The updated pricing also affects visitors from other parts of Africa. Adult visitors from the rest of the continent will pay Ksh1,170, while children will pay Ksh780.

Tourists traveling from outside Africa will face the highest entry fees under the revised system. Adults in this category will pay Ksh2,341, while children will pay Ksh1,170 to access the museums and heritage facilities.

Before the new pricing takes effect, Kenyan visitors paid Ksh300 for adults and Ksh150 for children at most heritage facilities managed by the National Museums of Kenya. Non-resident visitors paid significantly higher charges, with adults paying Ksh1,200 and children Ksh600.

The revised fees will also apply to popular heritage attractions such as the Karen Blixen Museum in Nairobi and the historic Fort Jesus in Mombasa. Under the new structure, Kenyan and East African adult visitors will pay Ksh550 to access these sites, while children will pay Ksh300. Visitors who choose a combined ticket for the Fort Jesus Museum and the Fort Jesus Butterfly House will pay Ksh650 for adults and Ksh400 for children.

Meanwhile, several coastal heritage sites in Lamu County will retain their existing entry charges. Visitors to the Lamu Fort, Lamu Museum, Swahili House Museum, and German Post Office Museum will continue paying Ksh200 for adults and Ksh100 for children.

Other heritage locations across the country will maintain the lowest entry fees under the revised pricing framework. Sites such as Tambach Museum, Kakapel National Monument, Pate Museum, Nyeri Museum, Shimoni Slave Caves, Songhor Prehistoric Site, Fort Ternan, and Siyu Fort will charge Ksh100 for adults and Ksh50 for children.

Below is a comprehensive list of what visitors will pay from May 2026.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has come to the defense of Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) and Lee Kinyanjui (Trade) following intense pressure for their dismissal over a petroleum importation scandal.

The party warned against the public lynching of the two officials, arguing that as non-accounting officers, they likely played a minimal role in the controversy.

In an official statement, the party claimed that targeting the CSs would distract from the core issue, stating, Attempts at public lynching of Cabinet Secretaries Lee Kinyanjui and Opiyo Wandayi, who are not accounting officers, as some leaders are attempting, will only derail the investigations and politicise the scam.

While the party offered its support, Party Leader Oburu Oginga clarified that this defense is not a blanket exoneration. He maintained that the two must face the consequences if formal inquiries reveal any wrongdoing.

However, should professional investigations place responsibility on their actions, then there must be no sacred cows, Oburu noted.

Oginga further insisted that the party remains committed to integrity in public office, regardless of political ties. He added: ODM takes the firm and unequivocal position that every public officer found culpable regardless of their rank, office, or political persuasion must be held fully accountable. The fight against corruption cannot be selective; it must be comprehensive, impartial, and relentless.

This follows the growing pressure for the two cabinet secretaries to step down over the ongoing petroleum importation scandal. Following the recent arrest and subsequent resignation of several high-ranking energy officials, the party argued that the war against graft will not be won through public name-calling and political posturing.

ODM stressed that the nation must focus on supporting thorough investigations rather than engaging in performative politics.

This is a time when the nation must close ranks and support the full and unapologetic slaying of the dragon of graft  not scoring points through public rallies, pressers, and name-calling but giving encouragement and creating room for full and impartial investigations and subjecting the culprits to justice, the statement read.

Party leader Oburu Oginga reaffirmed that ODM remains aligned with the Kenyan public in its pursuit of justice, transparency, and the full recovery of any national resources lost during the scandal. He further emphasized that the party views the fight against corruption as a foundational element of the ODMUDA 10-point agenda.

We wish to reiterate that the fight against corruption is a central pillar of the ODMUDA 10-point agenda. The seriousness with which this administration confronts this vice will be the true measure of its commitment to integrity, accountability, and good governance. The Kenyan people expect and deserve nothing less, Oginga stated.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has commended investigative authorities for their swift response to the petroleum scandal. Party leader Oburu Oginga noted that this prompt action sends a clear signal that the era of complacency regarding corruption has finally come to an end.

In the same statement, the party expressed its appreciation for the presidents role in the process. We further commend His Excellency the President for ensuring that these investigations proceed in a professional, expeditious, and transparent manner, free from interference or favoritism, the ODM statement added.
The High Court is currently navigating a complex property dispute involving former Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju as legal teams clash over the legitimacy of a sale involving the multibillion-shilling Dari property in Karen.

During a substantive hearing on Tuesday before Justice Moses Ado, the 10th defendant, Ultra Eureka Limited, asserted that it acquired the land legally through a public auction. The company informed the court that it purchased the property on October 1, 2024, acting on the statutory power of sale exercised by the second defendant, Knight Frank Valuers Limited.

Ultra Eureka Limited emphasized that it had already taken possession of the property well before any legal intervention occurred. The company maintained that the court only issued interim orders to stop the auction on October 28, 2024, nearly four weeks after the transaction concluded and the transfer documents were processed. This timeline forms the core of their defense, as they argue the sale was completed and legally binding before the injunction existed.

Ultra Eureka Limited insists that the High Court has no grounds to grant a stay of execution, arguing that the transfer of the Dari property is already complete.

During Tuesdays proceedings, legal counsel for the firm maintained that the property is no longer under the control of Raphael Tuju, his family, or Dari Limited, stating, The property was sold in a public auction and transferred. When interim orders were vacated, we took possession. There is nothing to stay because the property is no longer in the hands of the plaintiffs.

This argument serves as the primary defense against a fresh application filed by Tuju, which seeks to suspend the execution of a ruling delivered by Justice Josephine Mongare on March 9. In that decision, Justice Mongare struck out the amended plaint filed by Tuju and Dari Limited, effectively lifting the previous court orders that had prohibited the defendants from managing or selling the disputed land.

Tuju approached the court to request a stay of execution for that ruling, pending the hearing and determination of an intended appeal. The core of the current legal battle rests on whether the court can still intervene in a transaction that Ultra Eureka Limited asserts was finalized before the latest legal challenges took effect.

Ultra Eureka Limited argued in its submissions that even if the court identifies errors in the sale process, the law limits the plaintiffs to financial damages rather than the return of the property. The first defendant, Knight Frank Valuers Limited, also challenged the application, labeling the requested stay as procedurally defective. Their legal team argued that the previous court ruling constitutes a negative order, which, by its nature, cannot be stayed.

Representing the East African Development Bank (EADB), the second defendant asserted that the former Cabinet Secretary has not proven he will suffer substantial loss. They urged the court to allow the recovery of securities pledged against unpaid debts, stating, Facts have not changed. The debts remain unpaid, and the plaintiffs have not shown they will suffer substantial loss. The pledged securities should be allowed to be recovered.

In contrast, Paul Nyamodi, representing Tuju and Dari Limited, argued that the propertys unique nature makes its loss irreparable if the appeal ultimately succeeds. He warned that recovering damages from EADB could prove difficult due to immunity issues and urged the court to preserve the property to prevent an injustice.

Nyamodi also contested the valuation provided by Knight Frank, claiming it was flawed and should not dictate security deposit requirements. He noted, Each property is unique, and if disposed of and the action by the plaintiff succeeds, he may not be able to recover the property as it will have gone beyond the jurisdiction of the court.

Justice Moses Ado scheduled the ruling on Tujus stay application for May 7, 2026. In the meantime, the judge extended interim orders that prohibit any further transfer of the disputed property.
The counsels for Gautam and Sagar Adani have informed that they intend to seek to dismiss the US SEC's complaint by April 30 and, as part of this process, have on April 7 submitted a letter with the East District New York (EDNY) judge informing the Court that the Defendants are prepared to attend a pre-motion conference should the Court wish to schedule one. The filing of this letter is a standard procedural step in the legal process for the handling of such matters in accordance with the procedural rules prescribed by the EDNY judge. In the letter, the Defendants have briefly set out their grounds for dismissal of SEC's complaint, including that the court concerned lacks personal jurisdiction over the Defendants and the claims against them, the SEC's claims are impermissibly extraterritorial, the alleged misstatements by the Defendants are too vague and general for any reasonable investor to rely upon as a guarantee of any concrete fact or outcome, making them inactionable, and the Defendants' lack of involvement in the transaction bars the SEC's claims against them. The SEC had filed a complaint alleging securities fraud under the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are the foundational pillars of US securities law, enacted in response to the 1929 stock market amidst the Great Depression. Gautam Adani is represented by Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, while Sagar Adani's counsel is Nixon Peabody LLP and Hecker Fink LLP. In September 2021, AGEL conducted a USD 750 million bond offering pursuant to SEC Rule 144A and SEC Regulation S, which are registration exemptions for private resales to qualified institutional buyers (QIBs) and non-US sales. AGEL sold these bonds outside the US through an agreement to non-US underwriters, who then resold the Notes to QIBs. A fraction of those resales is alleged to have been made to "investors in the United States". AGEL was not a party to these transactions, the lawyers said in the letter to the court. The defendants say that the grounds for dismissal also include the SEC's failure to state a claim on the basis that the defendants are neither based in the US nor conduct activities there that would grant the court jurisdiction and the alleged actions involve non-US entities outside the scope of US law. The defendants also say that even if the claims are accepted at face value, the complaint fails to establish any actionable legal violation or meet the threshold required to proceed. The cited statements are neither materially false nor misleading and with no direct involvement in the offering, the defendants cannot be held liable. The letter to the court said that the US SEC relied on Gautam Adani's role as Chairman of Adani Green and membership in its management committee. The alleged conduct of Adani Green's Management Committee, including that it "reviewed and approved" the Offering Circular, is not sufficient to establish personal jurisdiction over Gautam Adani. The letter to the court further said that Gautam Adani did not attend a single Management Committee meeting of AGEL from 2020 to 2024 and did not endorse the Offering or any statement made in the Offering Circular. The US SEC had alleged that Gautam Adani, Sagar Adani and others orchestrated a USD 250 million-plus bribery scheme between 2020 and 2024 to secure solar energy contracts in India. The defendants say that the Court lacks personal jurisdiction over defendants and the claims against them should be dismissed under Rule 12(b)(2). The claims according to the lawyers "involve Indian Defendants, an Indian issuer, securities not registered with the SEC and not traded on U.S. exchanges, and underlying conduct alleged to have occurred exclusively in India." The counsels said, the SEC has not alleged underwriters who purchased the bonds from AGEL were US institutions as they were not, or that the Subscription Agreement underlying the purchases was governed by US law as it wasn't. "This case is thus conclusively beyond the reach of the US securities laws," the lawyers said. (ANI)
The ongoing conflict involving Iran and the United States in the West Asia region is pushing up costs for the steel industry, mainly due to rising freight and insurance rates, Tata Steel Managing Director T V Narendran said on Wednesday. Speaking to ANI, Narendran said the geopolitical tensions are affecting the industry in several ways, though steel production has not been hit so far. "It is increasing the cost for the industry because freight rates and insurance rates have gone up," he said. He added that supply constraints for certain fuels and industrial inputs are also adding to the pressure. "Sometimes there are constraints in supply of LPG and LNG and the cost of supply has also increased," Narendran said. According to him, the impact is being felt across the supply chain, including among downstream manufacturing units that depend on steel. "It is impacting in multiple ways... it has not hurt production yet, but it is impacting cost in different ways," he said. Narendran also noted that some customer segments such as fabrication units are facing difficulties due to rising costs. "It's impacting some of our customers, fabrication units, who are struggling sometimes," he added. Meanwhile, Narendran said the Indian steel industry recently held discussions with the Odisha government on the long-term growth of the sector in the state. The meeting, organised by the Indian Steel Association, focused on the future expansion of steel production in Odisha, which is one of India's largest steel-producing states. Narendran said the discussion was not about company-specific expansion plans but about the broader growth roadmap for the state. "Today about 27 million tonnes of steel is produced in Odisha and the discussion was on how to take it to 100 million tonnes between all the steel companies," he said. He added that the industry is working with the government to identify bottlenecks that could affect the sector's long-term growth. The meeting was attended by several major steel producers including Tata Steel and Jindal Steel and Power Limited and all the others (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], April 8: In the rapidly evolving landscape of global wellness, a quiet revolution is taking place--one that traces its roots back to the mystical heights of the Himalayas. For centuries, a powerful source of vitality trusted by elite athletes has remained one of nature's best-kept secrets. Today, that secret is being unveiled by the Indian startup Musshh, through its flagship product, Cordtea. At the heart of this brand lies Cordyceps Militaris, a rare medicinal fungus that is rewriting the rules of human performance, longevity, and disease prevention. What is Cordyceps? Often referred to as "Himalayan Gold," Cordyceps is a potent medicinal mushroom that grows naturally at altitudes above 3,800 meters in the pristine Himalayan regions. While traditional Tibetan and Chinese medicine have revered it for over two millennia as a "life-extender," modern science has only recently begun to quantify its staggering biological benefits. The Precision of Premium Cultivation: 100% Made in India To ensure that every sip of Cordtea delivers maximum efficacy, Musshh utilizes advanced biotechnology. A critical point of pride for the brand is that its products are 100% Made in India. While much of the world's supply is often sourced from abroad, Musshh ensures that its Cordyceps Militaris is not imported from China. Instead, these mushrooms are lab-grown under a strictly controlled environment right here in India. This precise cultivation process is designed to exactly make the product premium in Cordycepin and Polysaccharides, ensuring a standardized, high-potency infusion that far exceeds the inconsistent levels found in nature. Why is it Crowned as a Superfood? The "Superfood" title is often overused, but Cordyceps Militaris earns it through sheer chemical complexity. It contains a unique bioactive compound called Cordycepin, which is virtually non-existent in any other natural source. The benefits are scientifically profound: - Cellular Energy: It increases the body's production of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), the primary carrier of energy in all living cells. - Anti-Cancer Efficacy: Modern research has critically highlighted Cordyceps Militaris for its significant anti-tumor properties. It contains bioactive polysaccharides and cordycepin that have been scientifically shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells and induce apoptosis (programmed cell death) in various cancer lineages, making it a powerful ally in preventive health. - Oxygen Utilization: It enhances the way the body uses oxygen, particularly during exercise or high-stress situations. - Immune Modulation: It acts as a natural immunomodulator, strengthening the body's defenses against chronic fatigue. The Mystery: Why was it Hidden from the Public? For decades, Cordyceps Militaris remained the "Elite's Secret." Because of its extreme rarity--naturally occurring only in specific months and nearly impossible to harvest--the market price often reached upwards of 15,00,000 to 40,00,000 per kilogram. This astronomical cost meant it was reserved for: - World-Class Athletes: To boost stamina and recovery without banned substances. - High-Performance Leaders: To maintain mental clarity during grueling schedules. - The Global Elite: Used as a prestigious anti-aging and health-strengthening tonic. Interestingly, the push for such superfoods has gained national momentum, as Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi has also frequently promoted the consumption of mushrooms as a potent superfood, recognizing their immense nutritional value and potential to transform India's wellness landscape. Due to limited supply and high demand, the "Common Man" was largely kept in the dark. Musshh is now bridging the gap as India's first brand to offer Cordyceps Militaris as a legitimate, functional replacement for your daily average tea. Meet the Visionaries: The Powerhouse Duo Behind Musshh The transition of this rare fungus into a daily wellness ritual is the brainchild of two distinct yet complementary leaders: Samriddha Prajapati and Eman Almeen. Samriddha Prajapati (Co-Founder) A true polymath and Startup Evangelist, Samriddha brings a formidable academic arsenal to the brand. With degrees in B.Tech, MBA, and BBA + LLB, he bridges the gap between technology, business strategy, and law. As a full-time trader, Samriddha's life is defined by high-stakes decision-making and peak cognitive performance--the very standard of excellence he brings to Musshh. Eman Almeen (Co-Founder) Eman is a celebrated professional Anchor and Emcee. Beyond the spotlight, she holds a degree in Occupational Therapy (BOT). Her medical background provided the foundational understanding of therapeutic recovery and physiological health, allowing her to recognize the genuine health-altering potential of Cordyceps Militaris. Cordtea: Not a Tea, But a Patented Revolution It is a common misconception, but Cordtea is not a tea. It is a patented herbal infusion consisting of Cordyceps Militaris, Lemon, and Honey. By moving away from traditional tea leaves, Musshh has created a pure, caffeine-free delivery system for Cordycepin. To cater to different lifestyle needs, Musshh has launched Cordtea in two distinct variants: - The 15 Sachet Pack: Designed for those who refuse to settle for anything less than Peak Performance. This is for the high-intensity days where every bit of focus and stamina counts. - The 30 Sachet Pack: Created for those who want to integrate High Performance into their daily routine. This pack ensures that health, vitality, and cellular protection become a consistent, long-term habit. Where to Buy Embracing the "Himalayan Gold" lifestyle is now easier than ever. Cordtea is available for purchase directly through the official brand website and the Amazon Marketplace. Additionally, the product is now available on Blinkit for lightning-fast delivery (customers are encouraged to check availability in their specific city). Why You Should Make the Switch In a world addicted to caffeine and average beverages, Cordtea offers a natural, science-backed alternative to: - Fight Cellular Damage: Utilizing its anti-cancer properties to inhibit cancer growth and provide reduced oxidative stress for long-term health. - Eliminate Brain Fog: Enhancing focus for professionals and traders through the power of lab-grown, 100% Indian Cordyceps Militaris. - India's First: Experience the prestige of the world's most expensive fungus, reimagined for the modern Indian lifestyle.Conclusion Musshh is more than a brand; it is a movement to reclaim ancient Himalayan wisdom. With the combined expertise of Samriddha and Eman, Cordtea is set to replace your morning cup with something far more powerful, pure, and homegrown. The secret is out. The gold is yours to sip. Media Contact: Brand: Musshh (Cordtea) Official Website: [https://www.musshh.com] Marketplace: Amazon India - Musshh Cordtea Quick Commerce: Available on Blinkit (Check city-wise availability) (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same.)
This follows approval from the concerned ministries & departments of the Government of India.

The MoU was signed by Arnada Prasad Samal, CGM (Nuclear Cell), on behalf of NTPC, and Vakisasi Ramany, Senior Vice President, International Nuclear Development, on behalf of EDF.

According to a statement released by NTPC, "The MoU establishes a framework for both companies to jointly assess the feasibility and approach for collaboration, including understanding EDF's EPR technology and its suitability for Indian requirements, exploring opportunities to maximize localization for large-scale deployment, examining economic and tariff aspects, developing human resource capabilities through training programmes, evaluating potential project sites, and providing technical support as mutually agreed."

This initiative aligns with NTPC's strategy to expand into clean, reliable energy and contribute to India's long-term energy security, the release added.

NTPC Limited, India's largest integrated power utility, currently operates more than 89 GW of installed capacity, with another 32 GW under construction.

The company has set a target to reach 149 GW of total capacity by 2032, including 60 GW from renewable energy sources. This includes a balanced mix of thermal, hydro, solar, and wind power plants, ensuring a supply of reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity to the country.

Along with power generation, NTPC has ventured into various new business areas, including e-mobility, battery storage, pumped hydro storage, waste-to-energy, nuclear power, and green hydrogen solutions. (ANI)
Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, on Wednesday said India has surpassed Brazil to rank third globally, in Renewable Energy Installed Capacity, according to the Renewable Energy Statistics 2026, a press release by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy said. Joshi said India's total power generation during 2025-26 (up to March 2026) reached 1,845.921 BU. The share of non-fossil fuels in total generation reached 29.2% in 2025-26 (538.97 BU). India achieved the milestone of 50% of its cumulative electric power installed capacity from non-fossil fuel sources in June 2025, five years ahead of the 2030 target set under its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement. In line with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's announcement at COP26, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is working towards achieving 500 GW of installed electricity capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, the press release said. Further the Ministry said, the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM) was approved by the Cabinet with an initial outlay of Rs 19,744 crore up to the year 2029-30. The objective of the Mission by 2030 is to produce at least 5 Million Metric Tonnes per Annum of Green Hydrogen. Further, the expected outcomes of the Mission include RE capacity addition of 125 GW, over Rs. 8 lakh crores in total investments, creation of over 6 lakh full time jobs and aversion of 50 MMT per annum of CO2 emissions. Talking about wind energy, the Ministry noted that India achieved the highest-ever annual wind capacity addition of 6.05 GW during FY 2025-26 (46% higher than FY 2024-25, 4.15 GW). Cumulative installed wind power capacity has crossed 56 GW, positioning India as 4th rank in terms of Global Installed Wind Turbine Capacity. Capex of Rs. 500 crores was allocated under Wind GBI Scheme. The Generation-Based Incentive scheme is a renewable energy policy by India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy designed to promote wind and solar power by providing financial incentives per unit (kWh) of electricity fed into the grid. (ANI)
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved investment proposals worth over Rs 40,000 crore for two major hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh aimed at boosting power generation and strengthening the national grid. According to the Cabinet briefing by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Cabinet approved an investment of Rs 14,105.83 crore for the construction of the 1200 MW Kalai-II Hydro Electric Project on the Lohit River in Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. The project is expected to be completed in 78 months. The project with an installed capacity of 1200 MW (6 x 190 MW & 1 x 60 MW) is expected to generate 4852.95 MU of energy annually. He noted that this project will strengthen power supply in the state, support peak demand management and help balance the national grid. The project will be implemented through a joint venture between THDC India Limited and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. "The State will receive 12 per cent free power and an additional 1 per cent earmarked for the Local Area Development Fund (LADF), along with significant infrastructure development and socio-economic benefits for the region," a release said. The government will also provide Rs 599.88 crore as budgetary support for roads, bridges and transmission infrastructure, along with Rs 750 crore as central financial assistance towards the state's equity share. The CCEA also approved an investment of Rs 26,069.50 crore for the 1720 MW Kamala Hydro Electric Project to be built across Kamle, Kra Daadi and Kurung Kumey districts of Arunachal Pradesh. "The project with an installed capacity of 1720 MW (8 x 210 MW & 1 x 40 MW) is expected to generate 6870 MU of energy," a release said. The power generated from the project will strengthen the power supply in the state, support peak demand management and contribute to national grid balancing. The release also noted that the project would provide flood moderation benefits in the Brahmaputra Valley. The Kamala project will be implemented through a joint venture between NHPC Limited and the Government of Arunachal Pradesh. The government will provide Rs 4,743.98 crore as budgetary support for the flood moderation component and Rs 1,340 crore for enabling infrastructure such as roads, bridges and associated transmission systems, besides Rs 750 crore towards the equity share of the state. "There will be significant improvement in the infrastructure in Kamle, Kra Daadi & Kurung Kumey districts, including the development of around 196 kilometres of roads and bridges," the release said. The projects are also expected to generate employment, compensation benefits and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives for the local population. In his briefing, Ashwini Vaishnaw said that five major decisions were approved by the Cabinet with a total of Rs 1,74,207 crore worth of investments and subsidies across sectors. (ANI)
Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Women Reservation Bill, calling it a historic step toward empowering women and ensuring their participation in politics. She also highlighted concerns about women's safety in West Bengal ahead of the assembly polls in the state. "Ye Pradhan Mantriji ka sapna hai ki mahilaon ko jisko vo sabse pichda hua varg mante hai unke liye resrvation laayi jaaye aur rajneeti mein sarankshan diya jaaye aur ye sapna ab pura hone ko ja raha hai (It is the Prime Minister's dream that reservation should be brought for women, whom he considers the most backward class, and they should be given this kind of protection in politics). So, this dream of his is now going to be fulfilled, where women are getting 33 per cent reservation," Ranaut told ANI. She noted that women face multiple struggles while stepping out of their homes or participating in rallies, and men often dominate political spaces. "In our Himachal, if there are 68 seats, there is only one MLA currently, just one lady MLA. This kind of imbalance exists. This imbalance is what the Prime Minister has pledged to correct, ensuring women do not face discrimination," she added. Ranaut emphasized that the reservation will boost women's confidence and help them protect themselves as well as other women. "Look, if 50 per cent of the country's population remains backward, if they don't have self-confidence, if they don't get protection, and no matter how much we talk about woman empowerment, it is a fact that whether it is about going out alone, or going out at nights, or going to a crowd, even today many women have to struggle with this. So, for this, the Prime Minister is giving direct reservation to women. When they themselves are in such big positions, they will not only protect themselves but will protect other women in the whole world, whether in their district or panchayat..," she said while praising PM Modi. The government aims to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also called the Women's Reservation Bill, which aims to delink quotas for women from the delimitation process. Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in 2023.A separate Delimitation Bill will be introduced. Both bills need to be passed as Constitutional amendments for women's reservation. The new Lok Sabha is likely to have more than 800 seats. Addressing the situation in West Bengal, Kangana pointed out that crimes against women remain a pressing concern. "... The BJP is confident of forming the government here. Injustices against daughters of the state and the plight of doctors on night duty have shocked the nation. A woman Chief Minister has failed to ensure women's safety... ," she said. Her remarks hinted at incidents that took place in 2024. Protests erupted across West Bengal following the brutal rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The victim was found dead in the seminar hall of the college on August 9, 2024.The incident has sparked a political row between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the state government, with the BJP calling for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Kangana added that she visited Kalighat temple to pray for the safety and upliftment of women in the state and praised the BJP government's efforts in taking strict action against criminals. "As the Home Minister said, the law will firmly deal with criminals in West Bengal...," she added underlining the government's commitment to women's protection. "Now nothing, straight action is taken against them. Our Home Minister said in Parliament that we will only talk to those who are worth talking to, otherwise, we will use the law against any criminals," she said, underlining the government's commitment to women's protection. The upcoming elections are expected to witness a high-voltage contest between the TMC and BJP, with multiple parties vying for influence in the state.Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. In the last assembly election in the state, held in eight phases in 2021, the TMC recorded a landslide victory with 213 seats amid an intense contest with the BJP, which jumped to 77 seats. Congress and Left Front drew a blank in the last state polls. (ANI)
The actor is expecting her first child with partner Chris Abbott, with the baby due later this fall, PEOPLE has confirmed.

According to a source, the news has come as a "beautiful surprise" for the couple after an emotional year. The source also mentioned that the couple feel "very blessed" as they prepare for parenthood.

A representative for Plaza also confirmed the pregnancy to PEOPLE.

Plaza, 41, and Abbott, 40, have worked together earlier in projects like the 2020 film 'Black Bear' and the Off-Broadway revival of 'Danny' and the 'Deep Blue Sea'. While they had not publicly confirmed their relationship earlier, the two share a long professional connection.

Abbott is currently performing on Broadway in Death of a Salesman alongside Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf.

According to PEOPLE magazine, Plaza, attended the Paris Fashion Week last month, where she was seen keeping her baby bump hidden in loose outfits, including an oversized leather jacket at the Loewe show and a relaxed orange look at the Lacoste presentation.

The news comes after a tough year for Plaza, following the death of her husband, filmmaker Jeff Baena. The actor is now stepping into a new phase of life with this upcoming addition to her family. (ANI)
'Jab Talak', the first song from 'Cocktail 2', was unveiled on Wednesday. Helmed by Homi Adajania, the film features Shahid Kapoor, Kriti Sanon, and Rashmika Mandanna in the lead roles. Recalling shooting for the song, Shahid said, "Jab Talak is incredibly special to all of us, especially as it marks the first song from Cocktail 2. There was such a positive energy on set while shooting it--we truly had a great time together. Everything felt easy, warm, and effortless, and I believe that translates beautifully on screen. I'm confident audiences will connect with the honesty and joy that the song brings." https://www.instagram.com/p/DW3WWjUkuZ9/?hl=en Composed by Pritam, sung by Arijit Singh and Akasa, and written by Amitabh Bhattacharya, "Jab Talak" blends heartfelt emotion with easygoing holiday energy, creating a track that celebrates love, friendship and the joy of shared summer memories. Leading ladies Kriti and Rashmika also opened up about their experience shooting for the fun song. In a press note, Kriti shared, "Jab Talak carries such a beautiful, feel-good vibe. Shooting for it felt like living the perfect summer with friends--filled with laughter, music, and pure masti against the stunning backdrop of Sicily. I had an absolute blast filming with Shahid and Rashmika, and it was amazing to see even the international crew and dancers humming along and soaking in the energy of the song." Rashmika added, "For me, Jab Talak is about love, friendship and carefree holiday moments you want to hold on to forever. The song has the perfect breezy and happy vibe. To add to that, working with Shahid and Kriti was too much fun." Made under Maddock Films, 'Cocktail 2' will be released on June 19. (ANI)
The Producers Guild of America (PGA) has announced the dates for its next two awards ceremonies, confirming its role as a key event in the global film and television calendar, according to Variety. The 38th annual PGA Awards will be held on Saturday, February 27, 2027, while the 39th ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, February 19, 2028. The 2027 event will coincide with final Oscar voting and take place a day before The Actor Awards ceremony, aligning with other major industry celebrations. The PGA Awards, widely regarded as a bellwether for the Oscars, recognized Warner Bros.' politically charged epic "One Battle After Another" at the 2026 ceremony. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film earned the Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures. Anderson was awarded alongside producers Sara Murphy and posthumously for Adam Somner. The film subsequently won the Academy Award for Best Picture. In television, HBO Max's drama "The Pitt", Apple TV's comedy "The Studio", and Netflix's miniseries "Adolescence" took top honors at last year's ceremony. The announcement follows the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences setting dates for its next two Oscars ceremonies: Sunday, March 14, 2027, for the 99th Academy Awards, and Sunday, March 5, 2028, for the 100th ceremony, along with SAG-AFTRA's news that The Actor Awards will take place February 28, 2027, and February 20, 2028, as per the outlet. Representing over 8,400 members across film, television, and emerging media, the PGA advocates for producers' interests, including fair compensation, expanded health care benefits, and opportunities for underrepresented communities. The PGA Awards honor excellence across 14 competitive categories, along with special awards such as the PGA Innovation Award and career achievement prizes, according to Variety. (ANI)
British actor and rapper Riz Ahmed has opened up about his connection with William Shakespeare's Hamlet as he takes the titular role in Aneil Karia's new modern adaptation of the classic tragedy. Ahmed, 43, says he relates to the Danish prince's sense of being an outsider, a feeling he experienced growing up, according to People. "I had a really inspirational English teacher who gave it to me," Ahmed told People, recalling how he discovered the play. "I found a character, the heart of this play, that just feels as much of an outsider as I did at that time... and as much of an outsider as I think many of us feel right now." Karia and screenwriter Michael Lesslie reimagine Hamlet in modern-day, multicultural London. In a striking reinterpretation, Ahmed delivers the iconic "To be or not to be" soliloquy while driving on a high-speed highway, blending Shakespeare's text with contemporary settings. Acknowledging that Shakespeare can feel inaccessible to some, Ahmed said, "It doesn't belong to me and I don't belong in it and it's just a bit stuffy and alien." He emphasized that film is "an empathy engine," offering audiences a way to see themselves in stories from any era. Ahmed, who also serves as producer on the project, explained the importance of grounding the play in a modern context. "In order to keep this canonical, British text alive... we have to pass the baton in terms of where it's set. Only then can it actually feel grounded and real," according to People The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival and will release in theaters Friday, April 10. Hamlet also stars Morfydd Clark, Joe Alwyn, Sheeba Chaddha, Avijit Dutt, Art Malik, and Timothy Spall, according to People Ahmed continues to lead projects such as the British limited series Bait, streaming on Prime Video, and Alejandro G. Inarritu's Digger with Tom Cruise, releasing in theaters on October 2. (ANI)
Actor Tom Holland has opened up about his experience working with Matt Damon on filmmaker Christopher Nolan's upcoming film 'The Odyssey', revealing that he received valuable advice from his co-star but will keep it private, according to People. Damon, 55, and Holland portray the mythological Greek heroes Odysseus and his son, Telemachus, in Christopher Nolan's new movie, an adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic poem. In an interview, Holland shared that working alongside Damon was a memorable experience, describing the veteran actor as a leader on set. "He was a leader. This was a very tough movie and no one worked harder than Matt did," Holland said, when asked if Damon gave him any "fatherly advice" while working together. "And he always came to set with a smile on his face and he was gracious and he was so kind to the crew. And I think he really set the tone for everyone as to how we were going to collectively make this film," according to People. "So there are words of wisdom that he's given me that I'll keep to myself, but there's a lot that I learned from him from just being a spectator on set and watching the legend that is Matt Damon work," Holland added. Holland and Damon were first reported to be costarring in Nolan's follow-up to 2023's Oppenheimer in November 2024. Nolan and Universal Pictures revealed that he was adapting The Odyssey for the big screen in December of that year. The movie also features an all-star cast that includes Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo and Robert Pattinson, among others, according to People. Reflecting on their time together, Holland noted that Damon's work ethic stood out during the demanding shoot. "He was a leader. This was a very tough movie and no one worked harder than Matt did. He always came to set with a smile on his face and was gracious and kind to the crew," Holland said, adding that Damon helped set the tone for the entire production. While Holland chose not to reveal the specific advice he received, he acknowledged its importance. "There are words of wisdom that he's given me that I'll keep to myself, but there's a lot that I learned from him just by watching," he said, according to People. "I can tell you that it is an absolute masterpiece, and I'm taking myself out of that equation," Holland said, when asked to detail his experience filming The Odyssey. "Chris Nolan's movie is fantastic. It's unlike anything that I've ever seen before. I think when I saw the movie, I found myself asking a question that I haven't asked about a movie for a long time, which is, 'How did you do that?' " Praising Nolan's vision, Holland described the film as "an absolute masterpiece," adding that it offers a cinematic experience unlike anything he has seen before, according to People. The Odyssey marks Holland's first appearance on the big screen since 2022's Uncharted. The movie debuts in theaters July 17, just two weeks before Holland's fourth Spider-Man entry, Brand New Day, releases on July 31.(ANI)
Hollywood actor George Clooney has strongly criticised US President Donald Trump for threatening to erase "a whole civilization" unless Iran agreed to his terms for a ceasefire deal that was subsequently reached, according to Variety. Speaking at an event in Cuneo, Italy, Clooney addressed around 3,000 high school students and voiced concern over recent geopolitical tensions. According to Italian news agency ANSA, the actor said, "Some say Donald Trump is fine. But if anyone says he wants to end a civilization, that's a war crime. " He further stressed the importance of maintaining ethical boundaries in political discourse. "You can still support the conservative point of view, but there must be a line of decency, and we must not cross it," he added. Clooney also expressed concern over Trump's reported stance on the NATO alliance amid tensions surrounding Iran. "I'm worried about NATO," Clooney said. "It has ensured that Europe, but also the rest of the world, has been safe. Dismantling an institution like this worries me. Aside from many mistakes, I believe the U.S. [with NATO] has also done many extraordinary things that have stood the test of time," as quoted by Variety. During the interaction, Clooney also engaged warmly with students, greeting them in Italian before switching to English. He joked about understanding Italian, telling the audience to "watch what you say." The Clooney Foundation for Justice, the human rights campaign group established by George and Amal Clooney, was founded in 2016 and currently works in 40 countries, according to Variety. (ANI)
Congress leader Ghulam Ahmed Mir on Tuesday said that the manifesto unveiled for the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls was prepared by a committee formed six months ago, "keeping in mind the opinions of the people". Speaking to ANI, he said, "This manifesto is not a traditional manifesto. We formed a committee 6 months ago and did not copy from any book. We have tried to prepare this manifesto keeping in mind the opinion of the people about what they expect from the Congress and Rahul Gandhi. Congress has a credibility that it does what it says." Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with other leaders, launched the election manifesto for the upcoming West Bengal assembly polls. Addressing a press conference here, Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge reflected on the key promises of the party, including free education up to post-graduation, monthly financial aid for women and farmers, fast-track courts and state-sponsored health insurance. "We will give women Rs 2000 every month. We will provide free education up to post-graduate level to empower them. We will establish fast-track courts for their safety. In healthcare, we will provide fully state-funded health insurance up to Rs 10 lakh so that every citizen can get affordable and better health care. Farmer Welfare: Farmers will be given an annual assistance of Rs 15,000 rupees. In addition, free electricity and a better procurement system will be ensured to increase both their income and security," Kharge stated. Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. In the last assembly election in the state, held in eight phases in 2021, the TMC recorded a landslide victory with 213 seats amid an intense contest with the BJP, which jumped to 77 seats. Congress and Left Front drew a blank in the last state polls. (ANI)
Congress leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Tuesday alleged that the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government has been engaging in "hooliganism and corruption" during their ten-year rule. He further claimed that "Assam will meet the same fate as Manipur" in case Himanta Biswa Sarma becomes the Chief Minister when the assembly election results are announced on May 4. "Himanta Biswa Sarma has done nothing in the past several years, and during the BJP's ten-year rule, to engage in hooliganism, corruption, intimidation, eviction notices, and spewing nothing but hatred. The Congress Party is vigorously contesting the Assam elections against that hatred, against corruption, and for the rights and privileges of all. We are serious about the livelihood issues of the common people of Assam, their self-respect, and the issues of water, forest, and land... We believe that if Himanta Biswa Sarma becomes Chief Minister, Assam will face the same fate as Manipur," he told ANI. Meanwhile, the war of words between the Congress and BJP over allegations levelled against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife further escalated on Tuesday with the leaders of two parties continuing to target each other. Assam Police carried searches at the Delhi residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera after Sarma's wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma filed an FIR against him. Khera had made the allegations at a press conference relating to "passports" of Riniki Bhuyan Sharma and Sarma "not declaring correct property-related information" in his election affidavit. The Assam Legislative Assembly elections are scheduled for April 9, with counting of votes and declaration of results to take place on May 4. Assam will witness a fight between the incumbent BJP-led NDA government and Congress for the 126-seat assembly. The BJP government, led by Sarma, will look to secure a third consecutive term, while the Congress aims to defeat the ruling party to return to power. The Assam Chief Minister is set to contest from his traditional Jalukbari seat. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the NDA, comprising the BJP, AGP and United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), won 75 seats, with the BJP alone winning 60 seats. The Congress and AIUDF had formed a grand alliance along with the BPF and the communist parties, but the alliance performed poorly with just 16 seats out of 126. Voter turnout was as high as 86.2 per cent with over 2. 2 crore registered voters in 2021. (ANI)
National Student Union of India (NSUI) workers on Tuesday staged a protest outside Assam Bhawan against the search conducted by Assam Police at the residence of Congress leader Pawan Khera. During the protest, the workers also burned an effigy of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and expressed their opposition to the police action. Earlier, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh lashed out at the BJP-led government and termed Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma as "disturbed, desperate, and rattled" following the arrival of an Assam Police team at the Delhi residence of Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera on Tuesday. The police action stems from a high-profile "passport row" involving the family of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The police visit to Khera's home in Nizamuddin East follows a criminal defamation FIR filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, the wife of the Assam CM. In an 'X' post, he criticised "deployment" of police officials outside Pawan Khera's residence, adding that a "witch hunt" of a "bully" using state machinery to "muzzle and silence the voice of the Opposition that is exposing his many black deeds." "The deployment of a full army of police officials to arrest my colleague Pawan Khera for asking basic questions in the public interest proves that the Assam CM is disturbed, desperate, and rattled. This is not due process but instead a witch hunt, a bully using state machinery to muzzle and silence the voice of the Opposition that is exposing his many black deeds. Those who intimidate are the ones who are afraid and have much to hide. It also proves that the CM is facing imminent defeat," Jairam Ramesh wrote on 'X'. Congress leader Deepak Bhardwaj too criticised the deployment of Assam police, calling it a recurring issue. He said Congress workers from across the capital are gathering in full strength to show their support for the senior party leader. Speaking to ANI, Bhardwaj said," As you know, Assam has become a huge issue, where police have been sent from Assam to Delhi for Pawan Khera. This isn't the first time this has happened. It has happened many times that police from BJP-ruled states are sent for Congress leaders. But today, all the workers of the Delhi Congress have gathered here. All the Congress workers will reach here in maximum numbers and stand here in support of Pawan Khera." Congress leader Supriya Shrinate also questioned Assam Police's action in the matter, asking CM Himanta to answer the serious allegations levelled by Pawan Khera against him instead of "threatening" and using "obscene language." "Serious corruption allegations have been made against Himanta Biswa Sarma, with witnesses and evidence. Pawan Khera ji has made some allegations. Please respond to them. Why are you using these dirty abuses, making strange expressions, and trying to threaten people? Why is your police coming to Delhi to threaten? Hey, serious corruption allegations have been made against you and your family--respond to them. We are not making any out-of-India allegations; these are being made with witnesses and evidence," said Shrinate. Incumbent MLA and Raijor Dal chief Akhil Gogoi too condemned the state government's actions as authoritarian, likening them to a "Hitler-style government." Speaking to the media, Akhil Gogoi said all people of Assam would vote for the Opposition, accusing the Chief Minister of hiding behind the police. He added that Pawan Khera's questions deserved direct answers. He also suggested that, based on the Chief Minister's body language, his wife had accumulated these assets and asserted that the Gogoi family would form the government, with all three Gogois winning. Two days ago, Pawan Khera held a press conference alleging that Riniki Bhuyan Sarma holds three passports (from India, the UAE, and Egypt) and owns undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai and a company in Wyoming, USA. The Sarma family has vehemently rejected these claims, labelling the documents shared by Khera as "AI-generated fabrications" and "doctored images" sourced from Pakistani social media groups. (ANI)
Two people died, and one was injured in a road accident in the Omkar Nagar area of Vanasthalipuram in Hyderabad on Tuesday night, after a car rammed into a bike and a pedestrian, causing fatal injuries. According to police, the accident occurred when two individuals riding a bike were attempting to take a U-turn near Omkar Nagar, while another person was crossing the road at the same time. A car, allegedly speeding from a nearby flyover, suddenly approached and collided with both the bike and the pedestrian. The impact of the collision was severe, leading to the deaths of two people on the spot, while one individual sustained injuries. A police official, while explaining the sequence of events, said, "Two people died, and one was injured after a car rammed into them while they were taking a U-turn near Omkar Nagar last night. Two of them were on a bike and were taking a U-turn, and the injured person was crossing the road when a car suddenly came from the flyover and collided with them." Following the incident, the Vanasthalipuram police promptly reached the spot and initiated necessary legal procedures. A case has been registered, and an investigation has been launched to determine the exact circumstances that led to the accident. The bodies of the deceased have been shifted for post-mortem examination, while the injured person has been admitted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police officials stated that all aspects of the case are being examined, including the speed of the vehicle, the condition of the road, and the sequence of events leading up to the crash. The role of the driver and possible negligence are also being looked into as part of the ongoing probe. Further details, including the identities of the deceased and updates on the condition of the injured individual, are awaited as the investigation continues. (ANI)
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday paid humble respects to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on his death anniversary while also taking an indirect dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), claiming "certain groups" are disrespecting Bengali heritage and misusing the names of 'Bengali sages'. These groups, she said, will be given a "befitting reply" by the people of the state for the upcoming assembly elections. In an 'X' post said that people who know nothing of Bengali history are deliberately misusing the state's historical icons. "Regrettably, today, a group of people, failing to accord due respect to Bengal's sages and driven by the lure of cheap politics, are attempting to misuse them. Even the names of revered Bengali sages like Bankimchandra are being distorted. It is those who know nothing of Bengal's history who have the audacity to do such things. Bengal's sages are our pride, the wellspring of our emotions. Therefore, those who seek to insult Bengal's heritage in this manner will receive a fitting response from the people of Bengal themselves," said CM Mamata. CM Mamata considered him a pioneering voice of Bengal's renaissance and a pathfinder for modern Bengali literature. She stressed that his writings initiated a "colonised India" into the "mantras of self-respect and patriotism." "On the death anniversary of the literary emperor, sage Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay, I offer my humble respects to him. Bankimchandra was a pioneering voice of Bengal's renaissance, a pathfinder for modern Bengali literature. The depth of his thoughts and the richness of his language continue to astonish us even today. His writings initiated a colonised India into the mantras of self-respect and patriotism. Even today, when the chant of 'Vande Mataram' resounds, our heads bow in love for the nation and reverence for its martyrs. This song is one of the principal pillars of our national identity--our national anthem," the 'X' post from Mamata Banerjee said. Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was a prominent Indian writer, poet, and journalist in the 19th century, often regarded as one of the pioneers of modern Bengali literature. He is widely known for his composition "Vande Mataram," which became a vital anthem of the Indian independence movement. Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. In the last assembly election in the state, held in eight phases in 2021, the TMC recorded a landslide victory with 213 seats amid an intense contest with the BJP, which jumped to 77 seats. Congress and Left Front drew a blank in the last state polls. (ANI)
This comes as Tamil Nadu awaits the Legislative Assembly polls, scheduled to take place in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4.

Earlier on Monday, TVK chief and actor-turned politician Vijay cancelled his election campaign scheduled in Chennai.

According to sources from the party, Vijay had planned to campaign in the Villivakkam and T Nagar constituencies. Although permission for the campaign was granted, the party alleged that the time allotted by the police to move between the two locations was insufficient.

Citing these restrictions and time constraints, Vijay decided to call off his campaign for the day, sources added.

The TVK is also planning to lodge a complaint with the Election Commission regarding the issue. An official statement from the party is still awaited.

Meanwhile, campaigning ended for the high-stakes political battles in Assam, Keralam and Puducherry on Tuesday as leaders across political parties sought to woo voters through a series of promises and made strong attacks on their political opponents.

Voting for 126 seats in Assam, 140 in Keralam, and 30 in Puducherry will be conducted in a single phase on Thursday.

Campaigning is being held for the Tamil Nadu assembly polls scheduled for April 23.

The main electoral contest in Tamil Nadu is expected between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which also includes Congress, DMDK, and the VCK, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by AIADMK with the BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies. Actor-turned-politician Vijay is set to make his electoral debut with TVK, attempting to turn the upcoming elections into a three-way contest. (ANI)
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday condemned Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his alleged derogatory remarks against the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge, calling the former's behaviour "utterly shameful and despicable." In a post on X, Vadra wrote, "The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has used extremely rude and derogatory language against Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, which is utterly shameful and unacceptable." She further highlighted that Kharge is not only s representative of the Congress party but also a voice for the Dalit community and marginalised sections of society. "Kharge is one of the senior-most leaders of the country. He is not only a representative of the Congress party but also an enlightened voice for the Dalits and marginalised sections of the nation. By insulting him, the BJP's Chief Minister has insulted crores of people across the country," she said. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi must clarify before the nation: Do they agree with this insult to crores of Indians?" she added. This comes after Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma critiqued Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge over his statement about seeking clarification from the central government and the foreign minister after police raided the Congress leader Pawan Khera's Delhi residence, as the CM's wife filed an FIR against him. "Are you crazy? If you don't know the truth, then why did you put it? You should have asked earlier...First, you should have asked the foreign minister whether it was right or not and that we have received this allegation," CM Sarma said. He likened the situation to killing someone and then offering them medicine. "Kharge is old, and you are still talking like a crazy person," he further remarked. Sarma made the remarks amid heightened tensions over allegations made by Pawan Khera against the Sarma family. Khera had alleged that CM Sarma's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, holds three passports -- from India, the UAE, and Egypt -- and owns undisclosed luxury properties in Dubai, along with a company in Wyoming, USA. Meanwhile, Assam will vote in a single phase on April 9 across 126 constituencies, with counting on May 4. The BJP-led NDA is seeking a third consecutive term. The Congress-led alliance includes Raijor Dal and CPI(M). (ANI)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the passing of veteran Congress leader and former Union minister Mohsina Kidwai at the age of 94 due to age-related ailments. He described her as a senior and loyal leader whose life of public service and dignified political achievements inspired generations of women, and offered condolences to her family and supporters. In a post on X, the Congress leader wrote, "The news of the demise of former Union Minister and former MP Mohsina Kidwai ji is extremely heartbreaking. She was a highly senior and loyal leader of the Congress Party, whose entire life has been an example of public service." https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/2041728798316700008?s=20 "With her simplicity, gentleness, and dignified political success, she inspired several generations of women in the country. In this hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and supporters," the post read. Kidwai held key portfolios during the Rajiv Gandhi administration and served as a member of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha at different times. She had also been a member of the Congress Working Committee and the party's Central Election Committee in earlier years. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid tribute to Kidwai, praising her as a trailblazer, former UP PCC president, and a figure of courage, dedication, and compassion, while expressing condolences to her family on the loss. https://x.com/priyankagandhi/status/2041746593955901488?s=20 "We will miss Mohsina Kidwai ji's wisdom and guidance. She was a trailblazer of her time. As one of the few women PCC presidents of UP, she travelled to every corner of the state and built lasting relationships with Congress workers across the districts. Her courage, ideological commitment and patriotism were unquestioned. She was also a kind-hearted and compassionate person who saw lived a life of great dignity. My deepest condolences to her family. May they have the strength to bear this loss with courage," she wrote in a post on X. Further, Telangana Minister Mohammed Azharuddin also expressed profound grief over the passing of Kidwai, hailing her as a towering figure of loyalty, dedication, and selfless service whose wisdom, simplicity, and guidance nurtured generations. He also described her loss as the end of an era of integrity and commitment. "Today, with a deeply heavy heart, I express profound grief on the passing of Mohsina Kidwai ji, a towering personality whose life stood as a shining testament to unwavering loyalty, dedication, and selfless service to the Congress party and the nation. Her journey was not just political; it was a lifelong mission rooted in values, sacrifice, and an unshakeable belief in the ideals of the Congress. Through every phase of her life, she stood firm with grace and courage, never seeking recognition, yet earning the highest respect through her quiet strength and tireless commitment," he said. "For countless workers and leaders, she was more than a guide, she was a motherly figure. Her wisdom, simplicity, and dignity nurtured generations. Her presence gave strength, and her words carried the depth of experience blended with compassion. With her passing, we have not only lost a senior leader but the end of an era defined by integrity, loyalty, and truth. Such lives are rare, and such legacies are eternal. I feel personally humbled to have witnessed her dedication and to have drawn inspiration from her remarkable journey. Her ideals will continue to guide us, and her memory will forever live in our hearts. May the Almighty grant her eternal peace and give strength to all who mourn this irreparable loss," Azharuddin said. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin on Wednesday launched a renewed attack on the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, questioning the lack of transparency surrounding the upcoming special session of Parliament, which will possibly see the passing of the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill. The Chief Minister questioned the timing of the session while four states are going to polls, while also saying that the entire delimitation exercise has been "kept in secrecy." In a post on X, Stalin raised concerns about the proposed delimitation process, asking why the Union government has not clearly outlined its plans. He urged the Prime Minister to address the concerns of people in southern states and ensure transparency. "Delimitation Danger: Is India Sliding Towards Dictatorship? Don't Turn a Gentle Breeze in the South into a Storm! The Hon'ble Prime Minister must respond to the legitimate questions raised by the people of the South! Why has the Union BJP Government kept the entire delimitation process under wraps in secrecy, without transparently announcing how it intends to conduct it?," said Stalin. Referring to the 2001 decision by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to defer delimitation for 25 years, Stalin asked why a similar approach cannot be considered now. He also questioned the urgency of convening a special parliamentary session during ongoing elections in five states, and why opposition leaders' requests to hold it after April 29 were ignored. "Just as former Prime Minister Vajpayee deferred delimitation for the next 25 years in 2001, what is Prime Minister Modi's response to the just demand put forward by the southern states that he should do the same? What is the urgent necessity to convene a special session of Parliament right in the middle of elections in five states? What is the hidden mystery in ignoring the fair opinion of opposition leaders that "the special session of Parliament should be convened only after April 29?" said CM Stalin. Stalin further criticised the Centre for attempting to push significant constitutional changes without consulting all parties, calling it undemocratic. He warned that such actions could undermine the rights of southern states and concentrate power in the North. Emphasising that the future of people in the South is at stake, Stalin asserted that the DMK would strongly oppose any decisions made without proper consultation and consent. He reiterated the demand for a fair and transparent delimitation process. "What else is the attempt to carry out highly important constitutional amendments without convening an all-party meeting for consultation, if not a move towards dictatorship? It doesn't answer the questions asked by opposition parties and the media. Will it at least answer the questions of the people? The DMK will not stand idly by watching the Union BJP Government's actions that undermine the rights of southern states and shower power on the North. This is the future of the people living here! We will not agree to any decision taken in this regard without our consent, without even talking to us--no matter what it costs us! We are demanding Fair Delimitation!," said CM Stalin. On March 24, Stalin had raised concerns over reports suggesting that women's representation in Parliament and State Assemblies may be implemented based on the 2011 Census. In an 'X' post, Stalin said such a move would be contrary to the provisions of the Constitution (128th Amendment) Bill, 2023, which envisages the implementation of women's reservation only after fresh delimitation based on the Census to be conducted after 2026. The Parliament is set to meet for a three-day special session from April 16, with focus on the Women's Reservation Amendment Bill. The Government has planned two major amendments. 2023's Nari Shakti Vandan Act tied women's reservation to the new census and delimitation. Due to census delays, the plan is to proceed with the 2011 census data. The 2011 census is to be the basis for delimitation and seat redistribution. Lok Sabha seats may increase from 543 to 816 post-amendment. A bill will be introduced in Parliament to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Act. A separate Delimitation Bill will be introduced. Both bills need to be passed as Constitutional amendments for women's reservation. The new Lok Sabha is likely to have more than 800 seats. Keeping up with the status quo, there is no provision for OBC reservation, and SC/ST reservation will continue. However, states won't have a role; the bill passed by Parliament will apply to them. Currently, the Lok Sabha has 543 seats. With a proposed 50% increase, the number of seats will rise to 816, with 273 (about a third) reserved for women. The government's key point is that they won't wait for a new census to give women, comprising half the country's population, fair representation in Parliament. Instead, delimitation will be done using the 2011 census data. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday terminated the services of two government employees as part of his "zero-tolerance to terror" policy, sources said. These dismissals were executed under Article 311(2)(c) of the Constitution of India and were a part of the ongoing drive to root out terrorists embedded in the government machinery. According to sources, one of the alleged terrorists was a Class-IV employee of the Education Department in Ramban. However, he was operating for the terror outfit Hizb Ul Mujahideen and used his government position as a cover to revive terrorism and build a larger terrorist network in Ramban and the surrounding areas. Sources said the accused first came under the watch of security and intelligence agencies in 2011, when a hawala network tasked with distributing money to families of killed terrorists was exposed. Later, fresh inputs revealed that terror funds were being channelled to revive and sustain the Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen terrorist network in Jammu Division. "We didn't know that he was working for Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen until April 2011. His name came out in April 2011, during the interrogation of a Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen terrorist, who was nabbed by J&K Police for distributing terror money to seven terrorist families. Jammu and Kashmir Police picked him up and put him behind bars, but later in October 2011, he managed bail and continued his terror activities," sources revealed. His activities were monitored, and a charge sheet was filed against him in a special court in 2022. It was learnt that the terror accused was making contacts with local terrorist networks for furthering terrorist activities and strengthening the cadres of Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen. A detailed investigation in his case and huge inputs gathered by the agencies revealed that he continued to act as a facilitator and conduit of terrorists. "The presence of a terrorist within an educational environment is a matter of grave concern. Moreover, he was part of the government machinery, an institution tasked with serving the public and responsibly using taxpayers' money. While drawing a salary from the government exchequer, he was in fact working for terrorists- an inconceivable betrayal in any civilised society," sources further added. Another government employee sacked by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha was working as a Class-IV employee in the Rural Development Department. His appointment was made on compassionate grounds following the death of his father, who was working as a plantation watcher in the Rural Development Department. Investigation revealed that he was working as a terror associate of LeT and he was providing logistical and operational support to LeT terrorists operating in Bandipora. Sources said he was tasked by a Pakistan-based terror outfit to provide safe houses to terrorists, facilitate their movement and transportation, share sensitive information related to the movement and deployment of police and security forces and raising OGW network of LeT in the area. "In April 2025, he and one of his terror associates were apprehended during a routine check at a joint Naka. 01 AK-56 rifle, grenade and other ammunition were recovered from him," sources said. The investigation further revealed that he had evolved from a mere facilitator into an active operational terror associate, and that his network was plotting an attack on security forces. "Appointed on compassionate grounds after his father fell in government service, he repaid that mercy with treachery. His descent into terrorism is not merely a crime- it is a cold-blooded betrayal of the very state that sheltered him and sustained his family," sources said. More than 90 government employees with terror links have been sacked by LG Sinha. (ANI)
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy dropping "verbal bombs" at political opponents in poll-bound states while Pakistan played a role in the ceasefire between the United States, Israel and Iran. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Raut demanded that PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar resign from their respective positions. Raising concern over the credit of the ceasefire being attributed to Pakistan, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said, "This was a conflict with the potential to bring about the destruction of the entire world. Hundreds of people lost their lives across various locations in the Gulf nations. A country like Iran refused to surrender in the face of superpowers such as Israel and the United States. Although Iran suffered losses, Israel suffered losses as well, and a President like Trump suffered a setback, too. The credit for the ceasefire is being attributed to Pakistan, whereas that credit ought to have gone to India, to the 'Vishwuguru'. Why did we not host them and speak of peace?" "The 'Maha-Vishwuguru' is busy dropping bombs against political opponents in Keralam, Assam, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and specifically, verbal bombs. While Pakistan took the credit for the ceasefire. A peace meeting is scheduled to take place in Islamabad. Weren't you the ones who vowed to capture Islamabad and hoist the BJP flag there? This is a matter of shame for India; it is a matter of shame for the Government of India. Modi has no business remaining in power. These people did nothing but talk on the phone; they were acting like mere telephone operators. Jaishankar ought to resign. You are underestimating your adversary," Raut added. US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and accepting the 10-point proposal from Iran. The Iranian side then accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations. The Opposition's criticism comes after both the US and Iran cited Pakistan-hosted talks while announcing the ceasefire. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the temporary halt and has invited the delegation to Islamabad on Friday, April 10, to negotiate a permanent deal. "With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Pakistan PM said in a post on X. "I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," he added. However, Executive Director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) and former US Treasury counterterrorism analyst, Jonathan Schanzer, felt that Pakistan is deeply indebted to China. So, it remains to be seen if Pakistan is broadening its alliances by siding with the US or if it is doing the bidding of China. Schanzer said that Pakistan pushing itself into a negotiating role with the White House was "bizzare". (ANI)
The ceremonial Gadu Ghada oil kalash yatra for the ceremonial bath of Lord Badri Vishal commenced from Narendra Nagar and reached its first halt on Wednesday at the chela chet ram rest house on railway road in Rishikesh. The procession witnessed the participation of spiritual and political dignitaries, including Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, who paid their respects during the journey. Hundreds of devotees gathered along the route to offer prayers and seek blessings from the sacred oil kalash, marking the continuation of a centuries-old religious tradition. The event was organized under the guidance of the Shri Badrinath Dimri Religious Central Panchayat, whose office bearers were also present. Speaking exclusively to ANI, Ashutosh Dimri, President of the Shri Badrinath Dimri Religious Central Panchayat, said, "The Gadu Ghada Oil Kalash Yatra, which commenced from the royal court of Narendra Nagar, will pass through various stops before reaching Badrinath Dham on April 22." He added that on April 23, following the ceremonial bath (snan) of Lord Badrinath, the sesame oil extracted by married women at the Narendra Nagar royal court will be used for the sacred bath of the deity. "The tradition of using this specially prepared oil for the abhishek has been followed for centuries," Dimri said. "It is a practice that not only holds immense spiritual significance but also strengthens the cultural and religious heritage of our region. We are committed to ensuring that this custom continues in the years to come." The Yatra, with its symbolic oil kalash, reflects the deep devotion of the people towards Lord Badri Vishal and emphasizes community participation in religious rituals. The procession will continue through multiple stops across the region before culminating at Badrinath Dham, where the abhishek will be performed as part of the grand annual celebrations. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging that the identity of West Bengal has been destroyed by "illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators" and the BJP is the only option to "kick them out" upon forming the government.Speaking to ANI, the BJP MP claimed that the cultural legacy of Bengal's iconic figures, including Maharishi Arvind and Syama Prasad Mukherjee, has been destroyed by the Trinamool Congress in the last 15 years."Bengal's identity must be restored, and Bengal must be handed over to Bengalis. Currently, Bengal is in the hands of Bangladeshis. Whether it's Maharishi Arvind, Rajnarayan Bose, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Syama Prasad Mukherjee, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, or Bidhan Chandra Roy--the legacy of all these has been destroyed by the Trinamool Congress in the last 15 years," Dubey said.He further alleged that the "Bangladeshi infiltrators" have become the new face of this legacy under the current regime, and if the BJP government is formed, the so-called infiltrators will be out. Dubey also traced the roots of the current demographic challenges back to the 1950 Nehru-Liaquat Pact. "The Delhi Pact between Nehru and Liaquat was signed on April 8, 1950, due to which the demography of the whole of Bengal, Assam, and Tripura changed. India became a secular nation, but Pakistan and Bangladesh became Islamic nations, leading to an influx of Bangladeshi Muslims here," he claimed. "To return that identity, the Bharatiya Janata Party is working with full force... If Bangladeshi infiltrators have to be kicked out, then the BJP is the only option. When our government is formed, Bangladeshi infiltrators will be out of here," he added.The total number of voters in West Bengal stands at 7,04,59,284 voters (7.04 crore) without adding the names under adjudication, as compared to 7,66,37,529 (7.66 crore) before the SIR exercise. This shows a change of more than 61 lakh names in the list. TMC claimed that out of the 60 lakh voters placed under adjudication, 27 lakhs have been deleted. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday filed her nomination at the Survey Building from Bhabanipur assembly constituency for the 2026 State Assembly elections. Mamata Banerjee is contesting from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. Expressing confidence in TMC's victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections, the CM said, "I have lived here since my childhood, everything I have is here. I thank and salute the people of Bhabanipur. I have filed my nomination, and I wish victory to all Trinamool Congress candidates. We will form the government. I have many more programmes ahead. Please take care of yourselves in this heat, stay well, stay healthy." Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. (ANI)
Widespread rainfall across most parts of Himachal Pradesh, along with fresh snowfall in higher reaches, has impacted normal life in the hill state over the past 24 hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Wednesday. Snowfall was reported from the higher reaches of Kangra, Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur, Lahaul, Spiti and Shimla, while rainfall occurred in almost all districts. "In the last 24 hours, rainfall has been recorded in almost all districts of Himachal Pradesh, while higher hills have witnessed snowfall," said Shobhit Katiyar, head of IMD Himachal Pradesh, speaking to ANI. He said significant rainfall was recorded at several stations, with some areas receiving over 60 mm of precipitation, while Shimla recorded around 28 mm of rainfall. Snowfall of about 4 cm was recorded in Lahaul and Spiti, and around 1.4 cm in Kufri. The IMD noted a drop of 4-5 degrees Celsius in temperatures across the state due to the wet spell. "The impact of this western disturbance will continue till tonight, bringing light to moderate rainfall across the state and snowfall in higher reaches till early morning hours," Katiyar said. Thunderstorm activity accompanied by gusty winds of 40-50 kmph and hail is likely in parts of Chamba, Kangra, Kullu, Mandi and Shimla, prompting the IMD to issue an orange alert for these districts. A yellow alert has been sounded for the lower and mid-hill regions. The weather activity is expected to subside after April 9. "After this system weakens, no significant weather activity is expected in Himachal Pradesh for the next four to five days, and overall weather will remain largely clear for about a week," Katiyar added. According to IMD data, Himachal Pradesh has recorded around 138 mm rainfall during the pre-monsoon period (March-April) so far, which is about 6 per cent above normal. (ANI)
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday welcomed the recent ceasefire between Iran and the United States, saying that Iran chose not to attack civil institutions like schools, colleges, and hospitals and only targeted military bases amid the West Asia crisis, whereas the United States killed civilians by deploying missiles on such civil institutions. She noted that it is a matter of "great courage and determination" for Iran that it stood its ground against someone like America. "It's a blessed day for us. For more than a month, our Muslim community has been in trouble. Iran was under intense pressure and suffering. The US and Israel launched a vicious attack on Iran, resulting in thousands of martyrs. The situation was very dangerous. Israel and the US were viciously attacking Iran. Today, I am happy that Allah gave Iran so much courage and determination that it stood firm against a superpower like America. Pakistan's role in this cannot be ignored. They pulled the entire world back from the brink of war. On one hand, where the US bombed the school and killed kids, destroyed colleges, universities, pulpits, powerhouses, and attacked civilians, Iran only attacked military installations. They didn't bomb the schools or hospitals," she said. Earlier, US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. The Iranian side accepted US President Donald Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it was not attacked. "Considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal, as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote. Talks between the Iranian side, led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the US delegation, led by Vice-President JD Vance, are set for Friday in Islamabad. (ANI)
The All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) on Wednesday lauded West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, calling her the Didi and the daughter of the people of Bengal, ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee filed her nomination at the Survey Building from Bhabanipur assembly constituency for the 2026 State Assembly elections. In a post on X, the party recognised it as a "decisive step" towards serving the people. Asserting faith in the public, the party expressed confidence in securing a "historic fourth consecutive term." "To the people of Bengal, she is not merely a leader. She is their custodian, the fulfilment of their dreams, the realisation of their aspirations, the sleepless sentinel who has stood beside them at every step, in every crisis, without fail. She is their Didi. Their Nijer Meye. Today, Smt. @MamataOfficial filed her nomination from Bhabanipur, taking a decisive step towards serving the people of Bengal for a historic fourth consecutive term, carried forward by the love, faith, and blessings of the Gonodebota. Bengal stands with her. Bhabanipur stands with her," AITC wrote in the post. https://x.com/AITCofficial/status/2041801745098297588 Mamata Banerjee is contesting from the Bhabanipur seat, from where she will face a repeat clash with BJP leader and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari had also challenged Mamata from Nandigram in the 2021 West Bengal polls, from where he won by 1,956 votes. Following her defeat, the TMC supremo contested the bypoll from Bhabanipur, as MLA Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay resigned from the seat. BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari filed his nomination for the West Bengal elections on April 2. Mamata Banerjee is holding several poll rallies and is eyeing a victory in her constituency, and is showing the BJP as an outsider to Bengali culture with her "egg and fish" remarks. On several occasions, she has criticised the BJP over attacks against Bengali-speaking migrant workers in states across the country. The TMC is backing the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme and Mamata Banerjee's '10 Pledges' mentioned in the manifesto. Under the Lakshmi Bhandar scheme, women in the general category will receive Rs 1,500 per month, SC/ST women Rs 1,700, and unemployed youth will get Rs 1,500 per month. Polling for the 294-member Assembly in West Bengal will take place in two phases on April 23 and April 29, while counting of votes is scheduled for May 4. (ANI)
Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy slammed the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP government's decision to make Amaravati the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh, alleging that Naidu is focusing exclusively on the city in the expectation of receiving commissions and indulging in corruption. "On the capital issue, we offered a practical solution: Visakhapatnam as Executive Capital, Kurnool as Judicial Capitaland Amaravati as Legislative Capital...Alternatively, we proposed developing a growth corridor, Machilipatnam, Vijayawada, and Guntur, under the Mavigun concept. Instead of spending 2 lakh crore on Amaravati alone, even 10% of that could have created a functional capital and economic engine immediately. But Chandrababu rejected these ideas, focusing only on Amaravati for alleged commissions and corruption," said Reddy. The YSRCP Chief claimed that Amaravati is being turned into a tool for massive financial exploitation, as construction costs are being fixed at 14,000 per square foot, unlike major cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru, where costs hover around 4,500 per square foot. Furthermore, he alleged that contracts are being awarded to relatives and suspected benamis, with thousands of crores already released, as the development of the city takes place. "Amaravati is being turned into a tool for massive financial exploitation. In major cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru, construction costs are around 4,500 per square foot. But in Amaravati, costs are being fixed at 14,000 per square foot. Contracts are being awarded to relatives and alleged benamis, with thousands of crores released as mobilization advances. If this continues, how will the state generate revenue? What will happen to the middle class and the poor?, " added Reddy. Reddy's remarks follow the publication of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, in the official Gazette. The Act, which recently received the President's assent, formally establishes Amaravati as the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh. Sharing the Gazette publication on X, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced, "The capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati." CM N Chandrababu Naidu welcomed the recognition of Amaravati as the state's sole capital, expressing gratitude towards President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a post on X, Naidu said, " On behalf of my people of Andhra Pradesh, I express profound gratitude to President Droupadi Murmu Ji for her gracious assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, fulfilling the long-cherished dream of our capital. I thank the Union Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji for his commitment to our state and his guidance, all MPs who supported the Bill, our state leaders, and every citizen who stood with us. This is a victory for my people of Andhra Pradesh, especially my farmers of Amaravati." (ANI)
During the visit, the Army Chief experienced first-hand the helicopter's performance, agility, and mission readiness.

The Prachand Light Combat Helicopter is an indigenously developed platform designed for high-altitude operations and is a key addition to India's combat capabilities.

On March 29, Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi witnessed the Integrated Air Defence Firepower at Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur, Odisha.

In a post on X, the Army said that the COAS complimented the personnel for their dedication towards the nation's defence while hoping for them to continue dominating in the battlespace.

"General Upendra Dwivedi, COAS, witnessed the Integrated Air Defence Firepower at Army Air Defence College, Gopalpur. The exercise showcased seamless synergy of multifarious Air Defence weapon systems operating in a networked environment, effectively validating the detection-to-engagement cycle against new-age hybrid aerial threats. The #COAS complimented the Air Defence Warriors for their relentless commitment towards strengthening India's defence and exhorted them to continue striving for excellence and dominance in the evolving battlespace," the public relations wing of the Indian Army wrote in the post. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday chaired the third meeting of the Informal Empowered Group of Ministers (IGoM) set up to monitor the evolving situation in West Asia. The meeting reviewed measures being taken to ensure the continued availability of essential commodities and safeguard Indian citizens from the impact of regional tensions. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Rajnath Singh said, "Chaired the 3rd meeting of the Group of Ministers on West Asia. Reviewed the measures being taken in the wake of evolving situation in the West Asia. The Government is ensuring continued availability of LPG, petrol and diesel, fertilisers for farmers and facilitating supply of essential commodities in the country. The Govt. under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi has been doing exceptional work in safeguarding our citizens from the impact of the conflict." The second meeting of the Informal Group of Ministers (IGoM) was held on Thursday, April 3, that was chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, stressed the need for round-the-clock monitoring of the evolving situation amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. He added that the IGoM was briefed on various measures being undertaken by the government in view of the current geopolitical situation. The ministers also deliberated on the next course of action to mitigate any adverse impact stemming from the ongoing conflict in West Asia. "The IGoM was apprised of the measures being taken by the Government in the wake of the ongoing West Asia conflict. We also deliberated upon the next steps to be taken by the Govt. to mitigate any adverse impact arising due to the ongoing conflict," he said. Earlier, in a separate post, Singh also informed that he participated in the self-enumeration process as part of the upcoming Census 2027 exercise. Highlighting the significance of the initiative, he said that Phase I of Census 2027, which includes house listing and housing operations, has already commenced. The Defence Minister noted that for the first time, digital data collection has been emphasised in the census process, enabling citizens to self-enumerate their household details. He urged people to actively take part in the exercise. "Participated in the self-enumeration process as part of the Census 2027. I urge everyone to actively participate and complete self-enumeration, helping build a strong foundation for Viksit Bharat," Singh said. (ANI)
Kausar Jahan, Chairperson of the Delhi Hajj Committee, on Monday welcomed the Central Government's decision to provide 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, calling it a revolutionary step towards gender equality and political empowerment. Speaking to ANI, Jahan said, "A special session has been convened on 16-18 April by the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The decision to give 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies is not just a bill or legislation. It is a highly revolutionary step in the direction of securing rights and respect for half the population." She further highlighted the significance of the move, stating, "For a long time, there has been only political rhetoric in the name of half the population, but for the first time, a government has shown such firm political will and taken a bold decision to give women real participation. I welcome this decision and express my gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking such a step. It will bring great changes." The announcement of the special session underscores the government's intent to accelerate women's representation in legislative bodies, a move widely regarded as a historic milestone in India's journey toward gender-inclusive governance. Jahan's support reflects the growing public and civil society endorsement of the measure, which aims to transform political engagement for women and empower them to contribute meaningfully to decision-making at both state and national levels. Earlier, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Women Reservation Bill, calling it a historic step toward empowering women and ensuring their participation in politics. "Ye Pradhan Mantriji ka sapna hai ki mahilaon ko jisko vo sabse pichda hua varg mante hai unke liye resrvation laayi jaaye aur rajneeti mein sarankshan diya jaaye aur ye sapna ab pura hone ko ja raha hai (It is the Prime Minister's dream that reservation should be brought for women, whom he considers the most backward class, and they should be given this kind of protection in politics). So, this dream of his is now going to be fulfilled, where women are getting 33 per cent reservation," Ranaut told ANI. She noted that women face multiple struggles while stepping out of their homes or participating in rallies, and men often dominate political spaces. "In our Himachal, if there are 68 seats, there is only one MLA currently, just one lady MLA. This kind of imbalance exists. This imbalance is what the Prime Minister has pledged to correct, ensuring women do not face discrimination," she added. Ranaut emphasised that the reservation will boost women's confidence and help them protect themselves as well as other women. "Look, if 50 per cent of the country's population remains backward, if they don't have self-confidence, if they don't get protection, and no matter how much we talk about woman empowerment, it is a fact that whether it is about going out alone, or going out at nights, or going to a crowd, even today many women have to struggle with this. So, for this, the Prime Minister is giving direct reservations to women. When they themselves are in such big positions, they will not only protect themselves but will protect other women in the whole world, whether in their district or panchayat," she said while praising PM Modi. The government aims to amend the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, also called the Women's Reservation Bill, which aims to delink quotas for women from the delimitation process. Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam was passed in 2023. A separate Delimitation Bill will be introduced. Both bills need to be passed as Constitutional amendments for women's reservation. The new Lok Sabha is likely to have more than 800 seats. (ANI)
Following the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Iran for two weeks, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday alleged that India's shift away from its "impartial" stance has hindered its ability to act as a mediator in the West Asia conflict. Speaking to ANI, Owaisi described the ceasefire as "delicate", asserting that India holds weight in global politics, citing a long-standing legacy of calling for peace in major conflicts. "India is a very big voice in South Asia, and wherever it comes to talking about peace, we have always played a big role," he said, further maintaining that the timing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel before the conflict began was "very wrong". "I am repeating again that the timing of the Prime Minister's visit to Israel was very wrong... We have always remained impartial, and we had the capacity that if two sides are fighting, we could sit them down and get them to talk," he said. Referring to Pakistan's involvement in the mediation of the 14-day ceasefire, Owaisi urged PM Modi to review why a nation that has "always troubled us" was able to play this pivotal role, which he suggested should have been India's. "I think PM Modi should review this matter and consider what the reason was that a neighbouring country, which has always troubled us, whether in the form of terrorism or otherwise, played this role. Iran has always been much closer to us... We hope that the government will review this and find out why this happened," he added. Earlier, US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives."Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. The Iranian side accepted US President Donald Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it was not attacked."Considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal, as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote. Talks between the Iranian side, led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the US delegation, led by Vice-President JD Vance, are set for Friday in Islamabad. (ANI)
Ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for Thursday, Congress leader VD Satheesan on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of engaging in systematic vote-buying and distributing gifts to influence voters. Speaking to the media, Satheesan said, "We have released a video, in the visuals it is very clear that BJP workers are giving money to an old lady for votes, in the presence of the BJP candidate. They have been doing this in many constituencies, where they have been giving money and sarees to the women. This is happening for the first time in Keralam. BJP is introducing a system to manipulate voters." He also criticised the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) for allegedly publishing material against Congress candidates. "At the same time, the CPM is also engaging in malpractices. Just the other day, they published materials without any authority. In the Adoor assembly constituency, they distributed a leaflet against our candidate, falsely claiming he is an accused in a murder case." Tackling this, he said, "We have filed complaints with the concerned authorities, including the police and the Chief Electoral Officer. The Collector has also visited the site. It is a clear-cut case. In my own constituency as well, they are issuing false statements without even mentioning the publisher's name. They are pushing these materials on the eve of the election, which they are not authorised to do under the Election Commission guidelines. Yet, both the CPM and BJP continue to violate the directions of the Chief Electoral Officer and the Election Commission, both offline and online." "We will fight this legally. If the government or the concerned authorities fail to take action, we will definitely pursue a legal battle," he assured, taking a stance on the voter manipulation system. The Congress leader further raised concerns over the voting process for election officials. "As there is no facility of postal ballot now, the officials on election duty are required to visit the facilitation centres to cast their votes," he said. Highlighting the errors of the EC, he added, "Unfortunately, the election officials went to the facilitation centres, but there was no ballot. We have requested EC to establish facilitation centres in every district. It is a serious fault of the Election Commission." Satheesan's statements come amid heightened political tensions in Kerala, with both national and state parties intensifying campaigning and monitoring the conduct of rival parties ahead of the Assembly polls. The polling for the 2026 Keralam Legislative Assembly elections will be held in a single phase on April 9, with the counting of votes scheduled to take place on May 4. The tenure of the current assembly is scheduled to end on May 23. The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front will look to defend its power against the Congress-led United Democratic Front. With a historic win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation polls, the BJP is also looking to make inroads in the state and open their account. (ANI)
Teachers evaluating Class 10 and 12 answer sheets of the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education have witnessed various unusual and emotional messages written by students, including pleas to pass, personal requests, and even offers of inducements. Teachers at Gwalior evaluation centre reported finding several unexpected notes written by students inside their answer sheets. In some instances, students made strange proposals. One student wrote, "Sir, please pass me, I will get you married to my sister-in-law." While some plead that their wedding will be called off or lose their romantic relationships. Similarly, some students cited personal hardships, stating that illness in the family, including parents suffering from serious disease or other conditions, had prevented them from preparing well for exams, and appealed to teachers for leniency. A government school principal and Gwalior evaluation center in-charge, Jitendra Singh said that evaluation of around 2,66,173 answer sheets of high school and higher secondary examinations was completed in Gwalior within the given timeframe. After the completion of the evaluation process, the teachers revealed unexpected notes written by students inside their answer sheets. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "The Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education sends answer sheets at our Gwalior evaluation centre and our job is to evaluate them. The assessment process here continued for about 40 days, from February 22 to April 3. A total of 2,66,173 answer sheets were received here, and all were evaluated and sent back within the stipulated time. After the evaluation, a meeting of teachers is held where they share their experiences." "Tachers mentioned that students had written quite interesting things in their answer sheets. Those students who do not focus on studies tend to write such uncommon things and request to be passed," the teacher added. The evaluation in-charge said some of the students even offered the evaluators money in their answer sheets. "In some copies, students made offers of money and some wrote their mobile numbers, promising to make payments via Paytm. Others wrote that they could not study due to their parents' illness. Some also mentioned that if they failed, their romantic relationships would break or their wedding would be called off. Boys and girls write whatever comes to their minds. However, our teachers are not influenced by such messages and do not take them seriously," the evaluation centre in-charge said. He further added, "One teacher informed me that a student had written, 'Sir, please pass me, and I will get you married to my sister-in-law.' Nonetheless, such things are not possible. Students sometimes write anything, but those who are serious about their studies do not do this; such messages are usually written by students who are not focused on studies." (ANI)
Delhi High Court on Wednesday reserved its order on the bail pleas of actor Leena Maria Paulose in the Rs 200 crores extortion case under MCOCA and the connected Money laundering case under PMLA. Leena Maria Paul is seeking bail on the grounds of delay in trial, period undergone and parity with other accused persons. Justice Prateek Jalan reserved the order after hearing submissions by counsel for Leena Maria Paulose and the investigation agencies. During arguments, Advocate Anant Malik alongwith John Paul Edison cousnsel for the accused Leena Maria Paulose, submitted that she has already undergone the minimum sentence of 3 years in PMLA as she has been in custody since September 2021. It was also argued that there is a delay on the part of the investigation Agency ED as the fifth supplementary charge sheet was filed after two years of her arrest, and arguments on the charge commenced after three years of arrest. Thirdly, it was also argued that rigor of section 45 of PMLA does not apply to Leena Maria Paulose as she is a woman. It was also argued that many co-accused have been granted bail by the trial court. Delhi police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the bail plea of actor Leena Maria, calling her the co-head of a crime syndicate. She alongwith her husband accsued in an extortion and money laundering case. Advocate Vivek Gurnani appeared for the ED and opposed the bail plea in the money laundering case. Senior advocate Sanjay Jain alongwith Advocate Akhand Pratap Singh, appeared for Delhi and opposed the bail plea of Leena Maria Paulose. While opposing the bail plea, senior advocate Sanjay Jain said that the twin conditions of MCOCA have not been satisfied. She doesn't deserve to be released on bail. Delay in trial is not a ground for consideration of bail in MCOCA case. Delay in this case is caused by the accsued person. It was further argued by Senior Advocate Jain that she is a facilitator of the movement of funds. She was acting as a conduit. Delhi Police also opposed the submissions of parity, saying that the Bail orders of Pinky Irani and Avtar Singh Kochar are under challenge. While arguing bail for Leena Maria Paulose in the money laundering case, her counsel Advocate Anant submitted that, being a woman twin conditions of PMLA do not apply to Maria Paul. Advocate Malik further argued that Leena was not aware of the fact that her husband was running a crime syndicate. The counsel said that my (Leena Maria Paulose) husband, Sukesh Chandrasekhar, has an extramarital affair with the co-accused. It is the case of an investigation agency. My relationship with him is not good. Justice Jalan asked with whom Sukesh had an extramarital affair? Advocate Malik submitted that it is the case of ED that Sukesh had an extramarital affair with Actor accsued in this case. Advocate Malik further said that Leena is an actor, got an award, has deep roots in society, and is a dentist. She is not a flight risk. On the other hand, Advocate Vivek Gurnani appeared for the ED and opposed the bail. Gurnani submitted that there are proceeds of crime. There is Money laundering through a bank account. Leena opened 5 proprietorship accounts. Crores of Rupees were deposited in these accounts. Counsel for ED further said that she used the Private jet. It shows that she was Using proceed of crime. Advocate Gurnani referred to statment wherein she stated that she utilised the money given by Sukesh and used it in setting up the nail artistry. Earlier, Delhi police had argued that the delay caused in the matter was due to the accsued persons, as they sought adjournment before the trial court. It was also argued that Sukesh managed to get an entire ward in jail during corona epidemic. Matter is at the stage of arguements before the trial court. They are accused in MCOCA as well as in a money laundering case. Senior advocate Jain had also said that Leena is not merely a spouse, she is co-head of the organised crime syndicate allegedly headed by Sukesh Chandrasekhar. There are other FIRs also against her.. Leena and others accsued in Rs. 200 crores extortion and connected money laundering case seeking bail on the grounds of custody, parity, etc. These bail pleas have been pending since 2024. The Supreme Court had given a direction to decide the matter within a period of three weeks. Their bail pleas have been pending since 2024, accsued persons had approached the Supreme Court. Earlier, on October 15, 2025, a single bench of e Delhi High Court released 17 bail matters, including actor Leena Maria Paul's plea in a money laundering and Extortion case after the transfer of Justice Arun Monga. Leena Maria Paulose has sought bail on the grounds of period of custody, parity and provision of PMLA related to the women accused. She has been in custody for the last 3 years and 7 months. Earlier, they had argued that she had been in custody for around 3 years and 7 months, and charges had not been framed yet. There is a delay in the trial. At the same time, some other co-accused persons have been granted by the High Court and the trial court. They had further argued that similarly placed accused Jacqueline Fernandez was not even arrested during the investigation. She was granted bail on an appearance on summons issued to her. It was also submitted that on December 14 2021 complaint was filed against the petitioner and others; 178 witnesses are there. The matter is still at the stage of arguements on charges on behalf of the accused persons. Accused Pradeep Ramdani, Avtar Singh Kochar, Pinki Irani, and Jacqueline Fernandez are on bail, advocate Anant Malik had argued. Leena's role is similar to Fernandez's, he added. He had further submitted that Avtar Singh Kochar was granted bail on the ground of delay. While granting the bail Supreme Court's judgment in the Manish Sisodia case was also mentioned. A woman is entitled to special treatment while considering the bail of a woman under PMLA, the counsel added. On the other hand, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the bail plea by submitting that the condition of 45 (2) doesn't apply to the woman accused. The Supreme Court has already decided what is to be considered, the ED said. The twin conditions of section 45 are in addition to the provisions of 439 CrPC. Besides it, the Conduct of the accused is also to be looked into while considering the bail plea. (ANI)
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing war as inherently destructive and emphasizing that peaceful resolution should always be the priority. Speaking to reporters, Choudhary said, "Hindustan has always maintained that war is not the way. War only brings destruction... During this time, Hindustan's stance has always been that the fight should be stopped in any way... War is not a solution to any issue. The announcement of the ceasefire today is a very happy matter, although the situation of war should not have arisen in the first place... We hope that the ceasefire will be permanent, not temporary." When asked if Iran could be considered the "winner" in the conflict, the Deputy CM said, "Look, in war, there is no winning or losing; there is only destruction. I won't act like a referee and say who won or lost. The point is, war is war. The damage that happened, the lives lost, the businesses destroyed, and families ruined--where is the 'victory' in that? Whether it's one person dying or another, whether it happened in Iran or America... even a couple of our kids from Jammu & Kashmir were unfortunately killed. So, I don't see this in terms of win or loss; it is a destruction that shouldn't happen." Elaborating on India's perspective, he added, "India has always maintained one thing: war is not a solution. War is not a path through which you can achieve anything good. War always brings destruction. India's stance has always been that war should stop in any way possible. It's better late than never. First of all, war shouldn't have happened. India has seen many wars, and Jammu & Kashmir, in particular, has suffered huge losses and many sacrifices. Therefore, war is no solution. Now that a ceasefire has been announced, it is a matter of joy. We hope this ceasefire is permanent and not just temporary, so that no more lives are lost." This comes after US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries. Choudhary also praised recent actions by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Jammu & Kashmir, where two government employees were terminated for alleged terror links. He said, "That is a good thing. Terror links--whether it's a government employee or anyone else, even if it were someone like me or you--cannot be tolerated. It is the right move." (ANI)
In a post on X, Gandhi said, "Keralam has the talent. Kerala has the potential. What Keralam needs is a government with the vision to harness both."

https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/2041881642143510977

Urging people to vote, he added, "Tomorrow, vote for that Keralam. Vote for a future of jobs, dignity and opportunity."

The political temperature in the state is at its zenith as voting for the 2026 Keralam Legislative Assembly elections is scheduled for April 9, with counting on May 4. The current Assembly's tenure ends on May 23.

Keralam has been governed by the CPI(M)-led LDF for the past decade. In the 2021 elections, the LDF retained power with 99 seats, becoming the first incumbent government since 1977 to win consecutive terms. The UDF won 41 seats, while the NDA, led by the BJP, failed to win any seats despite an 11.4 per cent vote share.

Following the victory, Pinarayi Vijayan became the first Keralam CM to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term. The CPI(M) emerged as the largest party with 62 seats; Congress secured 21, and the CPI won 17. The Indian Union Muslim League, a key UDF ally, won 15 seats.

The LDF includes parties such as Keralam Congress (M), Rashtriya Janata Dal, and the Nationalist Congress Party, while the UDF comprises Congress, Keralam Congress, and the Indian Union Muslim League. The NDA, led by the BJP, also includes regional parties such as Twenty 20, Bharath Dharma Jana Sena, and Keralam Kamaraj Congress. (ANI)
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday condemned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's "snake" remarks against the BJP and RSS, stating that it "indicates his frustration." Addressing a press conference, Saini expressed disappointment over Kharge's statement and said that his party's name is associated with him. "...I was surprised at what kind of statement Mallikarjun Kharge made. It is unfortunate. He is the president of such a big party; even if his party has shrunk, the party's name is still associated with him. Statements of this kind are indicative of his frustration," he said. Further defending RSS, the Haryana CM said that the organisation has been at the forefront of helping people. "Whenever a calamity has struck the country, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been the first to stand up. They have always been at the forefront in helping the common people and have never boasted about it," Saini said. Kharge made the comments at a rally in Assam. "If a poisonous snake passes in front of you, and if you are even doing the Namaz, then stop that and kill the poisonous snake, the Quran has said this. And I will say this...the RSS and BJP are a poisonous snake. If you do not kill, you will not be spared," he said. Assam BJP on Tuesday lodged a police complaint against Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge at Basistha police station in Guwahati for allegedly making derogatory speech against the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Rabjib Kumar Sarmah, Assam BJP leader, denounced the alleged remarks made by Kharge and accused Congress of practising appeasement politics to garner Muslim votes. Meanwhile, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari called Kharge's remarks objectionable and said that it amounts to "direct treason." He accused the Congress of acting in despair due to fear of defeat and said that the country will "punish them" "We lodged a complaint with the police a short while ago. This is a highly objectionable statement. Today, Congress has directly called for riots in this country. They are clearly saying to treat the BJP and RSS people as venomous snakes and kill them. I believe this amounts to direct treason against the nation. Congress is nowhere now. If its seats in Assam fall below 50, it won't surprise anyone. But should you say such things when you are losing? Think about what this implies. Is it the role of prayer-goers to attack someone? This is a very dangerous statement. The people of Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala will not forgive Congress. We have filed a police complaint. Congress is in despair due to fear of defeat, but despair does not mean calling for attacks on BJP and RSS members. The country will punish them," he said. (ANI)
Stepping up the poll pitch ahead of the April 9 Assam elections, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of corruption and urged voters in Assam to support the Congress alliance in the upcoming elections. In a post on X, Gandhi said, "An appeal to every family of Assam - no more spending even a single day in corruption. Himanta has looted Assam - Assam knows this, the country knows this. Tomorrow is the day of change. Vote for the Congress alliance. Jai Assam, Jai Hind." Addressing voters, he further said, "This election is not just about changing the government. This is an election to eliminate violence, hatred, and corruption. The Chief Minister of Assam is the most corrupt Chief Minister in India. He has broken all limits of corruption. The whole of Assam knows this. Every child in Assam deeply understands this fact." Outlining his party's promises, Gandhi announced, "The Congress party is going to give you guarantees. First guarantee: Within 100 days, we will ensure justice for Zubin Garg and his family. Second guarantee: A new health insurance system for Assam, through which every family will receive 25 lakh for healthcare and medical treatment." He added that the party would introduce welfare measures for senior citizens and women, stating, "For our senior citizens, we are creating a new ministry, and we will provide them with a pension of 1250 every month. For women, there will be unconditional cash transfers to their bank accounts, and the government will provide 50,000 to start a new business." Highlighting land rights, Gandhi said, "And we are going to provide permanent land titles (permanent patta) to 10 lakh people. Your Chief Minister snatches land from you; we will give you the right to land." He concluded by urging voters to back Congress candidates, saying, "Please support our candidates, ensure the victory of every candidate, and bring a Congress party alliance government to power in Assam." The remarks come amid intensified campaigning in Assam, with political parties making competing promises on welfare, governance, and development ahead of the elections.
Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday paid his last respects to veteran Congress leader Mohsina Kidwai, who passed away on Wednesday morning. Rahul Gandhi attended the last rites of the veteran leader. Samajwadi Party leader Mohibbullah Nadvi and Congress leader Anand Sharma arrived at Mohsina Kidwai's residence in Noida to pay their last respects. Rahul Gandhi, earlier in the day, expressed deep sorrow over the passing of Mohsina Kidwai and said her life had been an example of public service. "The news of the demise of former Union Minister and former MP Mohsina Kidwai ji is extremely heartbreaking. She was a senior and loyal leader of the Congress Party and her life was an example of public service. With her simplicity, gentleness, and dignified political success, she inspired several generations of women in the country. In this hour of grief, I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and supporters," he said in a post on X. Congress leaders fondly recalled Mohsina Kidwai's long association with the party, her sagacity, compassion and her grassroots connect. She was 94. Party leader Salman Khurshid said it seems like an era has ended with her. "Matching the stature she had and the services she rendered to her party seems very difficult. It's big loss for us. It feels like an entire era has ended with her," the former Union Minister told media persons. Mohsina Kidwai was close to the Nehru-Gandhi family and won her first election when Jawaharlal Nehru was India's Prime Minister. She served as a Union Minister and held varied organisational responsibilities in the Congress. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also paid their tributes to the veteran leader. (ANI)
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday emphasised that contributions towards social development must be viewed as a partnership rather than an expense. He made these remarks during a meeting with representatives of various corporate companies to discuss the effective utilisation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. The Chief Minister urged companies to ensure that their CSR spending delivers maximum impact and meaningful outcomes. He stated that the state government is prioritising key sectors such as education, healthcare, and water resource conservation. At the same time, he encouraged companies to choose sectors of their interest and invest CSR funds accordingly. Highlighting the importance of collaboration, the Chief Minister said that joint efforts between the government and the corporate sector can help shape Telangana's students into globally competitive professionals. He described spending on education as a long-term investment in future generations. Pointing out that nearly 44 per cent of the state's student population resides in Hyderabad, he stressed the collective responsibility of ensuring access to quality education. He also advised companies to allocate a significant portion of their CSR funds to the development of areas where they operate, as they benefit from local infrastructure. The Chief Minister noted that in the absence of a structured mechanism for CSR utilisation so far, the government has appointed a Special Chief Secretary to streamline coordination. "Companies can work with the designated official to channel funds into priority areas such as education, healthcare, water resources, skill development, heritage conservation, and environmental protection," he added. He appreciated leading corporate groups, including Raheja Group and Ramky Group for committing 50 crore each, and Yashoda Foundation for pledging Rs 10 crore towards educational development. Corporate representatives welcomed the initiative, stating that they had not previously been approached in such a coordinated manner regarding CSR contributions. They expressed interest in supporting school education, healthcare infrastructure, and preservation of heritage structures. The meeting was attended by representatives from major corporate and institutional bodies, along with senior government officials and public representatives. (ANI)
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday hailed the launch of the India-USA Trade Facilitation Portal, calling it a "forward-looking initiative" that will enable direct engagement between Indian exporters and United States importers. Addressing the virtual launch of the India-USA Trade Facilitation Portal, he added that it will provide greater opportunities to further deepen the bilateral trade partnership between both countries. Sharing a post on X, Goyal wrote, "Delighted to virtually address the launch of the India-USA Trade Facilitation Portal. It is a forward-looking initiative that will enable direct engagement between Indian exporters & US importers, providing greater opportunities to further deepen our bilateral trade partnership." https://x.com/PiyushGoyal/status/2041898211812786538 The portal was formally launched by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri along with India's Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra, marking a major step in the direction of unlocking the full potential of trade between the two nations. In a post on X, the Indian Embassy in the US described the initiative as a key move to "power us to Mission 500". "Launch of IN-US Trade Portal! Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri along with Ambassador Vinay Kwatra, launched the India-USA Trade Facilitation Portal to help power us to Mission 500!," the Indian Embassy in the US wrote on X post. https://x.com/IndianEmbassyUS/status/2041902265766666310 Acknowledging contributions to the initiative, the post read, "We thank Minister of Commerce and Industry of GoI Piyush Goyal for his special message on the occasion, and leading industry voices who participated in this event." "The portal is another step in the direction of unlocking the full potential of trade between India and the United States," the post added. The initiative has been designed and anchored with support from the Consulate General of India in New York, whose role in facilitating the platform was also acknowledged. The portal is now open for registrations, allowing Indian exporters to directly connect with US-based importers and explore new trade opportunities. (ANI)
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, alleging that its leaders were resorting to "deception" and pushing party leader Pawan Khera towards legal trouble through their actions. In a post on X, Sarma claimed that Congress leaders, in their desperation, were circulating "completely fabricated documents" through Khera, which he said had already been exposed by his team. https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/2041915221162524931?s=48 "This is not politics anymore. This is outright deception. The Congress ecosystem has lost all sense of responsibility," the Chief Minister said. He further asserted that the people of Assam would give a "fitting reply" to the Congress in the coming hours and that the party leadership would "pay the price" for the alleged deceit. The Congress has not yet responded to the allegations. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Wednesday approached the Telangana High Court seeking anticipatory bail in connection with a case filed against him in Assam. The petition is yet to be listed. Khera had made allegations against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife Riniki Bhuyan Sharma at a press conference in the national capital. Both the Chief Minister and his wife have strongly refuted the allegations. Riniki Bhuyan Sharma had lodged an FIR against Khera and the Assam Police carried out searches at his residence on Tuesday. Khera had alleged that the Chief Minister's wife holds three passports and certain properties were not disclosed in Sarma's election affidavit. Sarma had said on Tuesday that Khera "ran away" to Hyderabad after the searches."I have come to know through the media that the police have gone to his residence in Delhi, but he has run away to Hyderabad. The law will take its own course," he said. Congress leaders have backed Khera against an attack by BJP leaders. "The shameless attack on Congress leader Pawan Khera by the BJP only speaks of their arrogance and guilt. Every congress person, indeed every Indian who believes in our constitution and understands that raising questions and challenging power is the basis of a strong democracy stands by him as his home is ransacked and he is hunted down by a Chief Minister who has lost his moral right to govern," party leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in a post on X. Voting in Assam will take place on Thursday and results will be announced on May 4. (ANI)
In a significant step to strengthen support for migrant workers, the Government of India has approved a 100% increase in the allocation of 5 kg Free Trade LPG (FTL) cylinders under the Migrant Labourer category. Pursuant to this decision, the Government of NCT of Delhi has doubled the daily availability of 5 kg FTL cylinders from 684 to 1,368, as per the Allocation Order. This enhanced allocation will ensure wider access and more equitable distribution of LPG among migrant workers in Delhi, according to the Chief Minister's Office. To ensure effective last-mile delivery of the increased allocation, District Magistrates have been directed to organise Special Camps in areas with a high concentration of migrant labourers. The migrant labourers having difficulty in procuring such cylinders could approach the DM office and request camps in their area. These camps will complement the existing distribution network operated by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) through authorised LPG distributors, the CMO said. The Special Camps will be conducted in coordination with OMCs to facilitate convenient access to 5 kg FTL cylinders for eligible migrant workers, upon payment and submission of Aadhaar as identity proof. District Enforcement Teams will support the initiative through demand assessment and oversight, ensuring orderly, transparent, and efficient distribution. According to the CMO, this initiative is aimed at strengthening last-mile delivery systems, improving accessibility, and ensuring timely availability of essential cooking fuel for migrant workers across Delhi. Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Petroleum, in a press conference, said that there is sufficient availability of Liquefied Petroleum Gas and other fuels such as petrol and diesel despite tensions in West Asia, and the government has ensured consistent supply throughout the crisis by prioritising domestic consumers for the supply of LPG. During the inter-ministerial briefing, Sujata Sharma, General Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, added that commercial LPG's were delivered in a calibrated manner and the supplies were regulated to prioritise supplies to domestic consumers.95% bookings of LPG cylinders are being made online, and 91% of the refill deliveries are ensured through the Delivery Authentication Code, which reflects that there was no diversion in deliveries. The Ministry said that nearly 17000 cylinders have been surrendered since the government took initiatives and encouraged consumers to adopt piped natural gas connections. "Since March 2026, around 3,87,000 PNG connections were issued and nearly 4,21,000 new consumers registered for new PNG connections," the General Secretary said. The Ministry further assured all Indian refineries are operating at their maximum capacities and there is no shortage of petrol and diesel. (ANI)
The deceased have been identified as Mohammed Hayat (12), Haider Pasha (32), and Abdul Quddus (35), all residents of RT Nagar in Bengaluru. The victims were part of a group of 14 people who had travelled to Vijayapura with their families on a trip.

The incident occurred when Mohammed Hayat entered the lake and began to drown. In an attempt to rescue him, Haider Pasha and Abdul Quddus jumped into the water. However, all three were swept under and drowned.

Upon receiving information, fire brigade personnel and police from Adarsh Nagar Police Station rushed to the spot and retrieved the bodies from the lake.

Mohammed Hayat and Haider Pasha were declared dead at the scene, while Abdul Quddus, who was critically injured, succumbed on the way to the hospital.

The bodies have been sent to Vijayapura District Hospital for postmortem examination, after which they will be handed over to the families. Senior authorities also visited the site to inspect the situation.

A case has been registered at Adarsh Nagar Police Station, and further investigation is underway. (ANI)
BJP's Assam unit on Wednesday alleged that Assam Congress spokespersons are circulating "forged documents of foreign governments" with an intention to influence the state assembly polls and urged people to be aware of such attempts. "BEWARE: @INCAssam spokespersons are circulating forged documents of foreign governments with an intention to influence #AssamElections as well as irreparably damage India's diplomatic relations with friendly nations," BJP Assam Pradesh said in a post on X. The post of BJP Assam Pradesh shared images of "forged documents" with "FAKE" prominently marked on them. The BJP and Congress have been in war of words after allegations were made by Congress leader Pawan Khera against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his wife. Khera had made allegations at a press conference in the national capital. Both the Chief Minister and his wife have strongly refuted the allegations. Riniki Bhuyan Sharma had lodged an FIR against Khera and the Assam Police carried out searches at his residence in the national capital on Tuesday. Khera had alleged that the Chief Minister's wife holds three passports and certain properties were not disclosed in Sarma's election affidavit. Sarma also launched a sharp attack on the Congress, alleging that its leaders were resorting to "deception" and pushing Khera towards more legal trouble through their actions. "Congress leaders are so desperate today that they are pushing Pawan Khera towards jail with their own actions. Once again, through him, they have released another set of completely fabricated documents -- already exposed by our team. This is not politics anymore. This is outright deception," he said. "The Congress ecosystem has lost all sense of responsibility. In just a few hours, the people of Assam will give a fitting reply -- and the Congress leadership will pay the price for this deceit," he added. Assam will go to the polls today. (ANI)
The accused - Zakir Khan, Badal Houladar, Kabir Talukdar and Mohammed Bachchu Gharami - have been sentenced to 3 years of rigorous imprisonment (RI) by the NIA special court at Bengaluru (Karnataka). They have also been fined Rs 20,000 each, and will have to undergo another one month in jail in case of default of payment as per the sentence passed under relevant provisions of Foreigner's Act and Passports (Entry into India) Act.

The accused had earlier pleaded guilty for illegally entering India from Bangladesh via Benapole, Jashore and Akhaura. They had obtained Indian identity documents fraudulently and were engaged in waste segregation business in the suburbs of Bengaluru city. The accused had also employed other trafficked Bangladeshi nationals in their business unit, NIA investigation has revealed.

NIA further found that the accused had taken land on lease in Bengaluru and set up sheds for accommodating trafficked victims of Bangladeshi nationality.

The case was registered suo motu by NIA in November 2023 after it busted a cross-border human trafficking racket on the basis of intelligence and meticulous tracking.

Subsequently, NIA conducted an intensive nationwide search, leading to the arrest of 12 accused persons, from whom Bangladeshi identity documents were seized along with digital devices, as well as fraudulently obtained Indian identity documents and Indian currency.

NIA had chargesheeted the accused in February 2024 and also arrested two more accused in May 2024.

NIA is continuing with its investigations with focus on dismantling the cross-border crime module to ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump has suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate." Trump said that Iran has agreed to almost all of the various points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised. "Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalised and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-term problem close to resolution," he said. This comes after Trump''s provocative statements on his Truth Social platform, had warned of potential unprecedented destruction while simultaneously hinting at a transition of power within Iran. "A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don''t want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump had written. The new pause announced by the US President will spring hope that the conflict which started on March 28 will now come to an eventual end as both sides step back to ensure peace prevails. (ANI)
In what will bring relief to the world the Iranian side has accepted US President Donal Trump''s peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic''s response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked. "On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region. In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran''s 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran''s Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran''s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote. The two-week pause is likely to lead to further comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran and a possible peace summit in Islamabad. Earlier, US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added. Trump said that Iran has agreed to almost all the various points of past contention, and this extension will allow time for a permanent agreement to be finalised. "Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalised and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-term problem close to resolution," he said. With both sides agreeing to a pause in the Military campaign hope springs that the conflict which started on March 28 will now come to an eventual end peace will prevail in West Asia. (ANI)
Iran's Supreme National Security Council claimed "historic victory" after US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran and agreed to a two-week double-sided ceasefire. According to Press TV, the Supreme National Security Council claimed that nearly all of Iran's objectives of the war have been achieved. "Iran achieved a historic victory by forcing the criminal US to accept its 10-point plan. The US has accepted Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz, enrichment rights, and removal of all sanctions. The US has accepted to stop aggression, pay compensation for damages, withdraw it's forced from the region," Supreme National Security Council stated as reported by Iranian state media. The Security Council claimed that the US pushed for a ceasefire for over a month, but Iran repeatedly rejected the deadlines, prioritising the country's objectives. "It was decided from the very beginning that war would continue until objectives were achieved, including the enemy's regret and desperation, and removal of the long-term threat to the country. The war has thus continued until today, the fortieth day. Iran has repeatedly rejected the deadlines set by the US president and continues to emphasise that it attaches no importance to any kind of deadline from the enemy." The Council said, as per the Iranian state media. "Now we give the great nation of Iran the good news that nearly all the objectives of the war have been achieved, and your brave children have brought the enemy to historic helplessness and lasting defeat. Iran's historic decision, backed by the unified support of the nation, is to continue the battle for as long as necessary, so its immense achievements are consolidated, & new security & political equations are created based on acceptance of Iran's power & sovereignty & that of Resistance," they added. This comes after suspending the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate." Iranian side has accepted US President Donald Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked. "On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region. In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote. (ANI)
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday welcomed the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, and invited their delegation to Islamabad on Friday, April 10, to negotiate a permanent deal. "With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere, including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY," Pakistan PM said in a post on X. "I warmly welcome the sagacious gesture and extend deepest gratitude to the leadership of both countries and invite their delegations to Islamabad on Friday, 10th April 2026, to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes," he added. Pakistan's PM hailed both countries for their efforts to bring peace and stability in the Gulf region. "Both parties have displayed remarkable wisdom and understanding and have remained constructively engaged in furthering the cause of peace and stability. We earnestly hope that the 'Islamabad Talks' succeed in achieving sustainable peace and wish to share more good news in the coming days!" he said. US President Donald Trump announced a two-week double-sided ceasefire and said that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate." Iran also agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic's response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked. "On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express gratitude and appreciation for my dear brothers HE Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif and HE Field Marshal Munir for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region. In response to the brotherly request of PM Sharif in his tweet, and considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote. The two-week pause is likely to lead to further comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran and a possible peace summit in Islamabad. (ANI)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday (local time) announced the release of kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson from Iraq. Rubio said that they were further working to ensure Kittleson's departure from Iraq. In a post on X, he said, "I am pleased to announce the release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was recently kidnapped by members of the foreign terrorist organization Kata'ib Hizballah near Baghdad, Iraq. The U.S. Department of State extends its appreciation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of War, U.S. personnel across multiple agencies, and the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council and our Iraqi partners, for their assistance in securing her release." https://x.com/SecRubio/status/2041676716343509184?s=20 Rubio said that the administration led by US President Donald Trump will not tolerate such instances involving US nationals. "This resolution reflects the Trump Administration's steadfast commitment to the safety and security of American citizens, no matter where they are in the world. Under President Trump, the wrongful detention or kidnapping of U.S. nationals will not be tolerated. We will continue to use every tool to bring Americans home and to hold accountable those responsible. We are relieved that this American is now free and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," he stated. Shelly Kittleson, an American freelance journalist and contributor to Al-Monitor, was abducted in Baghdad, with the US Department of State confirming it is investigating the case and noting that she had previously been warned about security risks in the region. Dylan Johnson, an assistant secretary of state for global public affairs, confirmed in a post on X, "The U.S. Department of State is aware of the reported kidnapping of an American journalist in Baghdad, Iraq." https://x.com/ASDylanJohnson/status/2039068022451613858?s=20 In light of the escalating security concerns, the State Department reiterated its strictest warnings for all US citizens currently in the country. "Iraq remains at a Level 4 Travel Advisory, and Americans are advised not to travel to Iraq for any reason and to leave Iraq now," the statement emphasised. (ANI)
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has welcomed the United States' decision to suspend its strike campaign against Iran for a two-week period, describing the move as a step in the right direction amid rising global tensions. In an interview to Sky News, Albanese said, "This is positive news. We have been calling for a de-escalation for sometime. We want to see a resolution of the conflict. The impact that would have arisen from an escalation within Iranian response would've let to greater global economic damage. We're already seeing a substantial impact of war which is on the other side of the world but is having an impact on Australians here conflict." In an official statement released by Albanese along with Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, the Australian government said, "Australia welcomes the agreement by the United States, Israel and Iran to a two-week ceasefire to negotiate a resolution to the conflict in the Middle East.The Australian Government has been calling for de-escalation and an end to the conflict for some time now." The statement mentioned the consequences of Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. "Iran's de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, coupled with its attacks on commercial vessels, civilian infrastructure, and oil and gas facilities, is causing unprecedented energy supply shocks and impacting oil and fuel prices. We have been clear the longer the war goes on, the more significant the impact on the global economy will be, and the greater the human cost," the statement read. The statement also mentioned that Australia supports diplomacy. "Australia has been working with international partners in support of diplomatic efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz so critical supplies can flow to those who need it, including the most vulnerable. We thank and support the work of negotiators, including Pakistan, Egypt, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, in advancing de-escalation efforts. Australia wants to see the ceasefire upheld and a resolution to the conflict. We continue to call on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian life," the statement read. Albanese's remarks and the statement come after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries. The development follows heightened tensions in the region, with fears of escalation threatening global energy markets and economic stability. The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage for global oil shipments, has remained at the centre of geopolitical concerns, given its strategic importance and vulnerability during conflict. Iran has outlined a comprehensive 10-point framework that it says could form the basis for a long-term resolution. Among its key demands is a firm US commitment to "Non-aggression" and the "Continuation of Iran's control over the Strait of Hormuz," underscoring Tehran's insistence on sovereignty over the critical waterway. Another major component of the proposal is Washington's "Acceptance of enrichment," referring to Iran's nuclear programme, which has been a longstanding point of contention with the United States and the broader international community. The issue has been central to multiple rounds of negotiations and sanctions regimes over the past two decades. Tehran has also sought significant economic concessions, including the "Lifting all primary sanctions" and the "Lifting all secondary sanctions," measures that have severely constrained its economy. These sanctions have been a cornerstone of US policy aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions. Additionally, Iran has called for the "Termination of all UN Security Council resolutions" and the "Termination of all IAEA Board of Governors resolutions" related to its nuclear activities. Such steps would represent a substantial rollback of international monitoring and regulatory frameworks governing Iran's nuclear programme. While the proposed ceasefire remains temporary, global leaders, including Albanese, have emphasised the urgent need for sustained diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation and mitigate broader economic and security risks. (ANI)
Representative Gregory Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran, expressing relief over the potential pause in hostilities while stressing the need for a long-term resolution to the conflict. In a statement, Meeks said, "I welcome the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and I'm relieved that U.S. personnel and civilians on both sides may now be spared further harm. I also want to recognise Pakistan's role in facilitating this outcome." The ceasefire, though temporary, comes amid heightened tensions in the region that have raised concerns over broader instability and risks to civilian lives. Meeks acknowledged the importance of diplomatic efforts, including those facilitated by Pakistan, in achieving a pause in the conflict. However, the senior Democrat cautioned that the current development must not be seen as a final solution. Emphasising the need for sustained diplomatic engagement, he called for efforts to transform the ceasefire into a comprehensive and lasting peace agreement. "But a temporary ceasefire is not enough. We must use this moment to pursue a durable, negotiated outcome that reduces the risk of further conflict and instability across the region. Congress needs answers. Donald Trump must provide a full account for why he took the American people to war, a war in which 13 service members were killed and tens of billions are being spent, and what he intends to do to address these costs for the American people," Meeks said. He further underscored the importance of transparency and accountability from the administration led by Donald Trump, particularly regarding the strategic decisions that led to the escalation of hostilities and the financial and human toll of the conflict. Highlighting the need for coordinated international efforts, Meeks urged the administration to work closely with regional allies, especially in the Gulf, to ensure that the ceasefire leads to a stable and secure environment. "For this to be durable, the administration must do what it has refused to do throughout this conflict: coordinate. Going forward, the United States must work in close coordination with our Gulf partners and allies to help secure a lasting peace, protect the interests of the American people, and ensure long-term regional stability," he added. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) said that it was a big day for world peace as the US-Iran war headed towards a ceasefire. Trump said that the US will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. "A big day for World Peace! Iran wants it to happen, they''ve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else! The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process. We''ll be loading up with supplies of all kinds, and just "hangin'' around" in order to make sure that everything goes well. I feel confident that it will. Just like we are experiencing in the U.S., this could be the Golden Age of the Middle East!!! President DONALD J. TRUMP" he said in a post on Truth Social. The post came after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In an earlier post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added. The Iranian side also accepted US President Donald Trump''s peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks as well as a pause in military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi posted the Islamic Republic''s response on X and said Iran would cease its military operations if it is was not attacked. "Considering the request by the U.S. for negotiations based on its 15-point proposal as well as announcement by POTUS about acceptance of the general framework of Iran''s 10-point proposal as a basis for negotiations, I hereby declare on behalf of Iran''s Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Iran''s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations," Araghchi wrote. The two-week pause is likely to lead to further comprehensive negotiations between the US and Iran and a possible peace summit in Islamabad. (ANI)
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor who is in the United States attended a dinner at the White House on Tuesday night and said that during the dinner he discussed US-India ties with Preisdent Donald Trump. Gor called the evening memorable, and parised Trump's efforts in securing global stability and future of India-US ties. In a post on X, he said, "Just had an outstanding dinner with President Trump. We discussed his unwavering determination to bring global stability, the historic achievements of his presidency, the strong future of India-US ties, and so much more! A very memorable evening as history unfolded in real time." https://x.com/USAmbIndia/status/2041726628737212562?s=20 Earlier in the day, Gor met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and discussed the US-India commercial roadmap. Gor said that they discussed ways to boost New Delhi-Washington cooperation in Artificial Intelligence and Indian pharma investment in the US. In a post on X, Gor said, "Productive meeting with Secretary Howard Lutnick on the U.S.-India commercial roadmap. We discussed a new MoU connecting India's AI scale with the American AI ecosystem, strong Indian participation at the upcoming SelectUSA Summit, and growing Indian pharma investment in the United States to boost competition and strengthen supply chains." Sergio Gor also met with FBI Director Kash Patel in Washington and discussed US.-India cooperation to counter transnational threats such as cybercrime, narcotics, and illicit networks. He also praised the FBI Director for improving the law and order situation in the US. "A constructive discussion with Kash Patel on U.S.-India cooperation to counter transnational threats-cybercrime, narcotics, and illicit networks. Strong alignment on security priorities. Kash has done a fantastic job at the FBI. In 2025: 112% INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME ARRESTS YEAR TO YEAR. 20% DECREASE IN HOMICIDES. 20% DECREASE IN ROBBERIES!" he said. During his visit to Washington, Gor also met with US Vice President JD Vance and discussed India-US relations. (ANI)
New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters on Wednesday welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran. Peters said that there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire. In a post on X, he said, "New Zealand welcomes the announcements by the United States and Iran over the past few hours - as we welcome all efforts to bring an end to this conflict. While this is encouraging news, there remains significant important work to be done in the coming days to secure a lasting ceasefire. We are grateful for the work of Pakistan, and others such as Turkiye and Egypt, to seek to find a solution to the crisis." https://x.com/NewZealandMFA/status/2041684624091574750?s=20 Peters said that he had held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and that the war has caused significant disruptions in the Middle East and beyond. "As we discussed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio today, this conflict has had wide-ranging impacts and disruptions - for both those in the Middle East and further afield including in New Zealand and the Pacific region. In the coming days and weeks, New Zealand will stand in support of all efforts to bring about a lasting, durable end to this conflict," he said. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also welcomed the ceasefire, saying that it augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability. In a post on X, he said, "I wholeheartedly welcome the latest development in the current US-Iran war, in respect of the ten-point plan as proposed by Iran and positively received by the US. This proposal augurs well for the restoration of peace and stability, not only to the region but also the rest of the world. It is earnestly hoped that the negotiation process will be conducted in good faith, with a firm resolve to seeking lasting resolution to the issues currently facing the region. Peace talks cannot succeed if the proceedings are cloaked in deception and double-dealing." https://x.com/anwaribrahim/status/2041712058291646758?s=20 He further said that Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen must also see peace. "It is imperative that the ten-point plan be translated into a comprehensive peace deal, not just for Iran, but also for Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen. Further, it is incumbent upon the parties concerned to ensure the end of the genocide and dispossession of the people of Palestine, not least in Gaza," he said. He further said that Malaysia stands ready to support and complement all efforts in this regard. "I once again extend our sincere congratulations and deep appreciation to Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the tireless and courageous diplomacy that helped bring this moment about. Pakistan's willingness to speak to all sides, without fear or favour, reflects the highest traditions of Muslim solidarity and international responsibility. Malaysia stands ready to support and complement all efforts in this regard. We also call on the international community to ensure unimpeded humanitarian access to all civilian populations affected by this war. Let this be a turning point towards lasting peace. The world cannot afford for it to be anything less," he said. These remarks and the statements come after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries. The development follows heightened tensions in the region, with fears of escalation threatening global energy markets and economic stability. The Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage for global oil shipments, has remained at the centre of geopolitical concerns, given its strategic importance and vulnerability during conflict. (ANI)
The Last Assyrians of Iraq: Between Exile and Return

Fluent in Aramaic, Kurdish, and Arabic, the owner of this small shop in Ankawa is renowned for having the best kebabs in Erbil. "Hezbollah or Allah?" -- "God or his party?"-- someone from Dilan Adamat's group joked as a violent storm broke over a place where rain is rare.

The thunder was so loud it could easily have been mistaken for a ballistic missile or drone strike -- like the hundreds that have hit Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region of northern Iraq. Adamat's group did not flinch. They are used to the sound of explosions: Ankawa, the city's Christian district, lies close to the airport and a US base -- prime targets for groups operating on behalf of Tehran.

The conversation lingered on the rain rather than the attacks. After all, even before the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran -- now spilling into Iraq through paramilitary groups -- the country had long been at the center of the Middle East's most severe crises: political upheaval, the rise of the Islamic State and the fall of major cities such as Mosul, sectarian conflict between Shiites and Sunnis, the 2003 US invasion that led to the fall of Saddam Hussein, the international embargo following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, and the Gulf War. These are only some of the events that have unfolded since 1990 in this land between the Tigris and the Euphrates -- events that also shaped Adamat's life; he immigrated with his parents to France when he was a year old, in search of a better future.

"I used to hate the rain, but now it makes me happy because the soil here needs it," Adamat tells Kathimerini. He returned permanently to his homeland in 2019, leaving behind a legal career in France, driven by a desire to give back to Iraq.

Almost everyone in the region is multilingual. Switching between Kurdish dialects and Arabic is common; many also speak Turkish, as well as fluent English -- particularly among the younger generations. A Chaldean-Assyrian himself, Adamat embodies the cultural density of a random city block in Erbil and, more broadly, the country's linguistic and religious diversity.

"We are not Arabs, nor Kurds, nor Turkmen -- we are Assyrians, descendants of an ancient civilization," he says with evident pride. "We are the last people in the world who still speak Aramaic."

He notes that 90% of Iraq's Christians have left over the past 25 years. "We were more than one million before 2003; now we are just 130,000."

To support the return of the country's Christian diaspora, Adamat founded the NGO The Return, which operates a Western-style co-working space for expatriates, local startups, and returning Iraqis who work remotely. It is located in a neighborhood where residents order quality Italian pizza from across the street -- in the language once spoken by Christ.

"There is normal life here, too," Adamat says. "People have a home and a car they don't owe to a bank, unlike in the West. There is no street crime. If you forget your phone and come back hours later, you will find it in the same place. My uncle was robbed and had his leg broken while walking around Omonia Square. That happened in Athens -- not here."

Decades of conflict and instability have done little to erode the sense of belonging. Perhaps that is what Adamat means -- half in jest -- when he writes on his Instagram page: "Make Mesopotamia Great Again," echoing the well-known slogan of the president whose country maintains troops and bases in the region, making it a frequent target of attacks.

Ancient Arbela

Erbil -- ancient Arbela -- is Iraq's commercial hub, as reflected in its high-rises and modern luxury residences that house the country's economic and political elite. Yet the urban fabric remains largely defined by the typical Middle Eastern architectural style: one- or two-story homes turned inward around a central shaded courtyard -- the core of private life.

At the heart of the city rises the 6,000-year-old citadel, a UNESCO-listed site of continuous habitation. It has not received tourists since the airspace was closed. The shops surrounding it are struggling with frequent power outages caused by the war, and the area is unusually quiet on what would otherwise be an ordinary Ramadan morning.

A short distance away lies the kayseri, the covered bazaar dating back to the late 12th century, where one can find everything from ornate fabrics and imitation jewelry to rat poison. In the tailors' alleys within the bazaar, Muhammed still runs the cafe he inherited from his father -- a five-decade-old establishment lined with photographs of customers, both famous and unknown. He speaks fluent Greek, having lived for years in Greece, and notes that life here goes on as usual because people "are used to such things."

In the narrow neighborhood streets, children play freely and women are visibly present. This is not the case everywhere. On Iskan Street, the city's main artery, known for its nightlife and crowds, women are rarely seen -- and when they are, they are always accompanied. So much so that locals refer to it simply as the "men's street." During the Ramadan fast, few people linger in the open shops; some offer makeshift curtain coverings for customers who eat or drink, so as not to disrupt the observance of others.

Torches aflame

Residents of northern Iraq say they share little in common with life in Baghdad. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) maintains strained relations with Iraq's federal authorities over issues such as the distribution of oil revenues and, more recently, regional security. Over the past month, the north has endured more than 400 attacks, resulting in at least 14 deaths -- some claimed by groups that the KRG believes are backed by Baghdad.

Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, and the wider Erbil region are targeted on a near-daily basis, despite repeated declarations by regional officials that they are not involved in the current conflict.

Yet in the city of Akre, the capital of Newroz -- the festival marking the new year and coinciding with the spring equinox -- a sense of calm prevails. Although the stage set up on the hill for official speeches was dismantled for security reasons just days before the celebrations, people had no intention of forgoing their most important holiday.

On March 20, the eve of Newroz, heavy rain fell, but it did not deter residents from climbing the mountain, carrying lit torches to celebrate the arrival of spring -- a symbol of renewal -- and to wish for good fortune in the year 2726 for those who bear the burden of their geography.
The discussions are expected to cover critical areas, including trade, defence, technology, and evolving regional and global developments, reflecting the growing strategic alignment between the two nations.

In a post on X, Kwatra wrote, "Welcomed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to Washington, D.C."

"His visit offers an opportunity to review with our US partners the full breadth of the India-U.S. partnership, and to advance discussions across key pillars of our bilateral agenda - including trade, defence, technology, and exchange perspectives on regional and global developments," he said.

Earlier, in an official statement, the MEA said that the Foreign Secretary's visit to Washington DC would, "provide an opportunity to review the full spectrum of India-U.S. bilateral relations and advance ongoing cooperation across key areas."

It underlined that the visit of FS Misri follows the visit by EAM S Jaishankar to Washington DC earlier in February and is in keeping with the regular high-level exchanges between the two sides.US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, is also present in the United States.

Meanwhile, Misri's visit comes at a crucial time as the US accepts Iran's ten-point plan.

US President Donald Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and accepting the 10-point proposal from Iran. The Iranian side then accepted Trump's peace overture and agreed to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, as well as a pause in military operations. (ANI)
Executive Director at the Foundation for Defence of Democracies (FDD) and former US Treasury counterterrorism analyst, Jonathan Schanzer has said that although Iran has "claimed victory," the question of the real victor still looms. Schanzer, in a conversation with ANI, said that the US and Israel waged war on Iran, and Iran declared victory simply by surviving. "This gets to a core question that has been really difficult to answer for all the wars of the 21st century. The United States and Israel have gone to war, and even if you look at a country like Russia, they go to war and win on a conventional level. They gain territory, degrade their enemy, and prevent their enemy from being able to fight with any real power. And yet, the other side declares victory simply by surviving--simply by waging an asymmetric war in response," he said on Tuesday (local time). Schanzer said that Iran claimed victory because it was able to close the Strait of Hormuz with a few asymmetric attacks. "That's exactly what's happened here. The U.S. and Israel have absolutely dominated the battlefield. They have air superiority; they've destroyed the missiles, the nukes, and the defense industrial base of the Islamic Republic. And yet, standing on the rubble, you have the IRGC waving the flag and saying they've won because they were able to close the Strait of Hormuz with a few asymmetric attacks," he said. Schanzer added, "This is, unfortunately, the playbook for modern warfare. Western nations that want to maintain their edge are going to have to start to redefine either what victory looks like or what the laws of war are at their core. We're just beginning to grapple with this because it's a problem that isn't going away." Schanzer said that Iran is trying to tell the world they won, even though everyone knows they lost. "The question for me is whether the regime has published this list of so-called achievements as a way of gaslighting the world. They are trying to tell the world they won, even though everyone knows they lost. Probably the ultimate audience for this is not the French, Canadians, Germans, or Indians; the audience is the 90 million people who live in Iran. I think the regime is deeply fearful that the people are going to come out and begin to protest again, just as they did in January. The regime was then forced to slaughter 40,000 people to maintain control, and they are fearful of another round of that," he said. Schanzer said that Iran fears that the US, Saudi Araba and Israel may try to bring a revolution through covert means. "They are also fearful that the United States, the Saudis, the Israelis, and others are going to start working through covert means to bring down the regime by providing weapons, assistance, cash, and intelligence to the people of Iran. So, they are trying to project strength. In reality, they are incredibly weak. They've lost many top leaders, a huge amount of income, and a lot of control across the country," he said. Schanzer then said that Iran is trying to flex some muscle by claiming this victory. "The Islamic Republic is not what it was; the regime is bruised, battered, and limping. That is the last thing they want their people to see, so they are trying to flex some muscle. I don't know if this reflects friction in terms of the final agreement; I think this is really about spin on the part of a regime that is in bad shape," he said. The comments come as US President Donald Trump has suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump, said that ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal, while reiterating that US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. (ANI)
The leader of the Opposition in Israeli Parliament, Yair Lapid on Wednesday questioned Israeli PM Benjamim Netanyahu's position after the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire, saying that Israel was not even on the table when this was decided. Lapid said that the Israeli military carried out everything that was asked of it, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed immensely. In a post on X, he said, "There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history. Israel wasn't even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security. The military carried out everything that was asked of it, the public demonstrated amazing resilience, but Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didn't meet a single one of the goals that he himself set. It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Netanyahu wrought due to arrogance, negligence, and a lack of strategic planning." https://x.com/yairlapid/status/2041743545137057858?s=20 Earlier in the day, Israel backed the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran as the two nations look to work out a lasting peace formula. A statement from the Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Office said, "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks' subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region. Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbours and the world." However, Israel will continue its offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah which has been backed by Iran. "The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shared by the US, Israel and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon," the statement said. (ANI)
The alleged abduction and killing of a young student in Turbat has intensified concerns over what activists describe as a continuing pattern of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial executions in Balochistan. In a post shared on X, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) stated that Shayhaq Rahim, a student from a financially struggling family and son of Rahim Bakhsh from Minaz Buleda, was reportedly taken on March 31, 2026, from Main Bazar Turbat. According to local sources and rights advocates, unidentified armed men described by campaigners as "death squads" were involved in his disappearance. Five days later, on April 5, his body was found dumped in the Banuk Charai area along Pasni Road in Turbat, further deepening fears among residents and civil society groups. The incident is not an isolated case but part of a broader and troubling trend in the region. They claim that young Baloch men, particularly students, are increasingly being targeted, allegedly subjected to enforced disappearances, and later found dead under suspicious circumstances. The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) has strongly condemned the killing, calling it a grave injustice and a reflection of systemic oppression. In a statement, the group questioned the accountability of authorities and demanded clarity on who is responsible for such actions. "This is not merely a single act of violence but part of a sustained pattern that instils fear and silence," the statement said, urging both national and international stakeholders to respond. The organisation has also called upon the United Nations and global human rights bodies to take urgent notice of the situation. It has demanded independent investigations into the incident and accountability for those involved. The region of Balochistan remains afflicted by a concerning trend of enforced disappearances, where some victims are eventually released, while others face extended detention or fall victim to targeted killings. These violations of fundamental rights have heightened insecurity and distrust among the local population. The ongoing threat of arbitrary arrests and the lack of accountability continue to destabilise Balochistan, eroding efforts to restore peace, justice, and public trust in state institutions. (ANI)
The official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal announced that India sent 250 MT foodgrains sent to Seychelles. The move comes under the USD 175 million Special Economic Package committed to Seychelles. In a post on X, he said on Tuesday, "Dispatched- A consignment of 250 MT foodgrains sent to Seychelles. More to follow under the USD 175 million Special Economic Package committed to Seychelles." https://x.com/MEAIndia/status/2041499892296913261?s=20 President Herminie acknowledged India's steadfast support for the development and security needs and aspirations of Seychelles through lines of credit, grants, capacity building and high-impact community development projects (HICDP). Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed India's commitment to remaining a pivotal and reliable partner in Seychelles' national development agenda, with particular focus on sustainability, defence and maritime security, capacity building, resilience and inclusive growth. The commitment was given when President of Seychelles Patrick Herminie visited India from February 5-10 at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reaffirming their commitment to work closely to expand and intensify the people-centric development partnership between the two countries, India announced a 'Special Economic Package' of USD 175 million, which will include a blended financial assistance of USD 125 million in Rupee-denominated Line of Credit and USD 50 million in Grant assistance for development cooperation projects, capacity building for civilians and defence officials, maritime security, etc, as per a statement by the Prime Minister's Office. Recognising that India's rapid digitalization is a force for good in the Global South, the two leaders agreed to work closely in the sphere of digital transformation. Noting the need for Seychelles to digitise governance for the benefit of its citizens, India agreed to undertake comprehensive efforts on the buildout of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), including digital payments, in accordance with the needs and requirements of Seychelles, as per the statement. (ANI)
A fragile peace now prevails in West Asia after the US and Iran agreed on a two week ceasefire even as they look to sign a more long term agreement. However, the announcement of a pause in the conflict after 39 day caught many by surprise. Elham Kadkhodaee, Assistant Professor at the West Asian Studies at the University of Tehran, said while Iran was prepared to carry on with resitsance the US kept on changing its goalpost, starting with regime change to targeting Iran's nuclear program. "Well, first of all, it was a surprise for everyone in Iran. We really were prepared to go on with the resistance for any amount of time that was necessary. People really were not expecting the announcement of a ceasefire. In terms of whose victory it is, if you look at the goals that were stated before the start of this war, the United States began by wanting to send help to the people who wanted to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran. So regime change was one of their goals. The other was their insistence on the nuclear issue; they were saying that they wanted to destroy Iran's nuclear program and get the highly enriched uranium out of Iran," she said. Kadkhodaee said that given the fact that the US has destroyed much of Iran's infrastructure, the Islamic republic still stands in Iran. "Now, if you see, they have not managed to do any of those things. They have just assassinated some officials, killed Iranian civilians, and destroyed infrastructure. But the Islamic Republic of Iran is still firmly in power inside Iran. The highly enriched uranium is still there. And even in this talk about a ceasefire, all of those social media posts by Trump announcing that he is the victor of this conflict don't even refer to the nuclear issue anymore. It's just the Strait of Hormuz, which was open before the start of this war," she said. Kadkhodaee said that everyone's was very pessimistic in Iran about how this is going to go on because we don't have good memories of the Americans and the Israelis sticking to their promises. "I think that tells you a lot about who is winning this game here. I think the people of Iran feel very much proud because they have been able to defend their country. But everyone's very pessimistic here about how this is going to go on because we don't have good memories of the Americans and the Israelis sticking to their promises. Everyone is in a situation where we don't know what's going to happen, and we are completely prepared for them to break away from what they have agreed on," she said. Kadkhodaee said that the Strait of Hormuz is not open, and Iran has stated that it would allow passage of vessels with coordination with Iranian armed forces. "Well, the Strait of Hormuz isn't completely open now. Iran has stated that it would allow passage of vessels with coordination with Iranian armed forces. So there are some ifs and buts here still. And also, whether it remains open or not depends on how negotiations are going to go on, because this is just a temporary agreement to ceasefire. Then we have two weeks for Iran and the United States to discuss the issues that they have and to eventually come to a kind of a more formal and long-lasting agreement or not. I think it's too early for Trump to declare himself as having been successful in opening the strait," he said. Kadkhodaee said that the Strait of Hormuz was open before the war, and by declaring that it is open now, US President Donald Trump solved the issue he himself created. "Again, I want to emphasize the fact that the Strait of Hormuz was already open. The only reason that Iran started controlling that geographic area was because it was being attacked by the Americans. So Trump, even if we accept that he has been successful in opening the strait, he's only solved a problem that he himself had fabricated. But I think going forward, Iran will not somehow lose its control of the strait or provide totally free passage to each and every vessel; this is going to be still a card that Iran is going to hold on to," she said. Kadkhodaee further said that Iran has called for any ceasefire to include all the different countries and groups that are involved in the acts of resistance. "Yes, as we have heard, one of the main points that Iran has insisted on, even before this ceasefire was announced, is that any ceasefire should include all the different countries and groups that are involved in the acts of resistance. So a ceasefire should come for all the region, not just for Iran. That's very important for Iran," she said. She said that Israel hardly sticks to any ceasefire deal. "Of course, everyone expected the Israelis to back out. They usually do not stick to any agreement. Even if they accept a ceasefire, they will violate it. That is what we have seen throughout all their history and specifically in the past two and a half years where Israel has been involved in fighting in Gaza and in Lebanon. Each time they accept a ceasefire, they find ways of passing the red line and starting conflict again," she said. Kadkhodaee said that Israel is in a tough position now because it appears to have been a massive defeat. "So I think here again, what Israel is doing is something that was very much expected. I think Iran will have its own ways of retaliating. Iran could still go on with firing missiles at Israel. Iran could stop firing missiles at American bases in the region, but still go on with firing missiles at Israel. I think Israel is in a tough position now because if you consider all the context of what's been happening, especially what happened in Isfahan two or three days ago, it appears to have been a massive defeat for a kind of a limited ground operation for the Americans," she said. Kadkhodaee said that Trump wants to get out of this embarrassment that he has made. "I believe that Trump really does want to get out of this embarrassment that he has made. It's going to be very difficult for the Israelis to fool him and to convince him again to get back into this conflict. This puts Israel in a difficult situation in which they might be to some extent left to their own without American backing in this conflict. And then that might force them to somehow remain faithful to a kind of a ceasefire regarding Lebanon," she said. Earlier today, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries. (ANI)
A major diplomatic engagement between the United States and Iran is set to take place in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday, April 10, 2026, where both sides will hold direct talks aimed at ending weeks of intense hostilities following the outbreak of war earlier this year, reported Iranian news agency ISNA. The meeting follows an immediate ceasefire agreement that was announced and welcomed by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who also extended invitations to both delegations for further negotiations on Friday. According to Iranian state media reports, the Iranian delegation will be led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a central figure in Tehran's wartime leadership structure who has taken on strategic responsibilities since the early phase of the conflict. The United States delegation, meanwhile, will be headed by Vice President James David Vance. The Islamabad talks represent the first in-person negotiations between the two adversaries since the war began, underscoring a significant, shift toward diplomacy after weeks of escalatory rhetoric, military strikes and regional tensions. Iran's 10-point proposal, reportedly submitted through Pakistan, seeks to address a wide range of contentious issues, including the nuclear programme, regional security concerns, sanctions relief, and primary and secondary sanctions dating back roughly 45 years. This plan, according to state media, forms the basis for the negotiations in Islamabad and will be part of the discussions aimed at laying out a path toward a lasting peace. Despite the ceasefire and the diplomatic engagement, deep mistrust remains on both sides. Iranian officials have been reported to enter talks with "complete distrust" toward the American side, reflecting scepticism about Washington's intentions even as both countries seek an end to hostilities and a framework for future relations. The discussions will also take place against the backdrop of broader tensions in the Middle East, including regional concerns about the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global oil transit route, and the ongoing implications of the conflict for neighbouring countries and international security. As the world watches, Islamabad is poised to host a pivotal moment in US-Iran diplomacy, with the outcome of these negotiations likely to influence regional peace and global geopolitical dynamics in the weeks and months ahead. (ANI)
Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, Representative of Iran''s Supreme Leader in India, on Wednesday said that when the conflict intensified, Iran also worked closely with the Indian embassy in Tehran to support students and visitors. Ilahi, in a conversation with ANI, said that taking care of Indian brothers and sisters is his responsibility. "When this conflict intensified, I worked to ensure about 3,000 students from Tehran and other cities, mostly in medical sciences, were moved to safe accommodations. We also worked closely with the Indian embassy in Tehran to support students and visitors. About 400 visitors were provided with accommodation and meals before I supported their travel to Armenia and then back to India. Taking care of our Indian brothers and sisters is my responsibility," he said. Ilahi recounted the conversations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Iran''s leadership. "The Prime Minister of India had successful conversations with our President, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of India has also spoken with our Foreign Minister several times. I cannot find the words to express the value of the Indian people," he said. Ilahi further heaped praise on Indians'' gentility and said that India always stood with justice. "They possess such loyalty, kindness, and humanity. I recently spoke with a Hindu professor who said that while we are not neighbors or of the same religion, they support us because they realize we are right. Throughout history, India has stood with justice and humanity. I congratulate our brothers and sisters in India for being such extraordinary people; words are limited in describing them," he said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday said that India has facilitated the return of 1,777 Indian nationals from Iran amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, which is currently in its second month. It noted that the facilitation was made possible by support from the authorities of Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan. Speaking during an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in the region, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian Embassy in Tehran has been actively coordinating evacuation efforts. (ANI)
Abdul Majid Hakeem Ilahi, Representative of Iran''s Supreme Leader in India, on Wednesday said that the US attacked Iran more than 10,000 times, targeting air forces and missiles. Ilahi, in a conversation with ANI, said that they did not want to be in conflict with any of its neighbours. But the US was using its bases in the Arab countries to attack Iran. "Iran and the United States have agreed to a ceasefire for two weeks. We did not want this war; it was imposed on Iran. Those who initiated it thought they could finish everything within three days, but they eventually realized that attacking Iranian civilians and homes was a big mistake. According to their own statements, America attacked Iran more than 10,000 times, targeting air forces and missiles," he said. Ilahi further said that Iran only attacked American bases in those countries and never targeted civilians. "We did not want any conflict with our neighbors in Arab countries. However, America did not target us from Washington or New York; they used these countries against us. For example, missiles that hit the Minab school, killing 170 innocent girls, came from Arab countries. There is evidence for this, which even European countries have acknowledged. We only attacked American bases in those countries and never targeted civilians. We hope for good relationships with them and hope they understand that America cannot bring them peace. Iran is now stronger than before. If they want to start again, we will create a resurrection. That is final," he said. Ilahi said that when the US threatened to destroy 7,000 years of Iranian civilization, it showed they do not understand Iran or humanity. "When they threatened to destroy 7,000 years of Iranian civilization, it showed they do not understand Iran or humanity. Since the beginning of this aggression, Iranians have gathered in the streets. When it became clear that America wanted to attack our bridges, mosques, hospitals, and universities, people gathered at those sites, ready to protect our infrastructure with their lives," he said. Ilahi further said that Iran was determined- if the US and Israel attacked Iran''s refineries, there would be no others left to work. "They received the message that if they continue, Iran can create a resurrection for them. There would be no need for the Strait of Hormuz to be open because there would be no more oil to pass through it. We were serious; if they attacked our refineries, there would be no others left to work. They got the message and stopped the war," he said. Ilahi said that US President Donald Trump was claiming credit for reopening the Strait of Hormuz- which was open before he himself waged the war. "Trump claimed credit for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, saying the United States would help build up shipping traffic. In reality, the Strait is under the control of Iran, and Iran is the one who decides what must be done. Before this war, the Strait was open and no one had problems passing through. This aggression created global problems, including in the Strait. Now that the war has stopped and we have a ceasefire, we hope it continues. I hope they have learned their lesson and have no intention of restarting this war so that everyone can benefit from the Strait," he said. Ilahi said that both delegations will continue discussions regarding the ten conditions Iran has raised. "Both delegations will continue discussions regarding the ten conditions Iran has raised. Several countries have come together and played a significant role in bringing about this ceasefire. For me, the safety of people has always been the priority," he said. Earlier today, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries. (ANI)
The United States and Iran have agreed to a two-week ceasefire, signalling a temporary pause in hostilities and a potential step toward de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East. Global leaders welcomed the development but emphasised that lasting peace will require serious negotiations. "For now the world has stepped back from disaster. But there's no room for complacency. Serious negotiations now required for lasting peace. Oman will support this work for the vital and urgent purpose of strong and enduring regional security," tweeted Oman Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi, highlighting the cautious optimism accompanying the ceasefire. Finland's Prime Minister Alexander Stubb expressed support for the agreement, stating, "I welcome the ceasefire agreed between Iran and the US last night. We continue to support all the efforts to end the war and to build this ceasefire into a more permanent arrangement in the Strait of Hormuz and in the whole Middle East." The European Union also welcomed the truce. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked, "I welcome the two-week ceasefire the US and Iran agreed last night. It brings much-needed de-escalation. I thank Pakistan for its mediation. Now it is crucial that negotiations for an enduring solution to this conflict continue. We will continue coordinating with our partners to this end." And, President of the European Council Antonio Costa posted, "I welcome the announcement by the United States and Iran of a two-week ceasefire. I urge all parties to uphold its terms in order to achieve sustainable peace in the region. The EU stands ready to support ongoing efforts and remains in close contact with its partners in the region. I thank Pakistan and all other parties involved in facilitating this agreement." The ceasefire comes after intense diplomatic efforts, with Pakistan playing a mediatory role in facilitating the agreement. Leaders across the globe have underscored the importance of sustaining dialogue to avoid a relapse into conflict. While the temporary halt in fighting is being seen as a positive development, officials caution that the situation remains fragile. Oman, Finland, and the EU have collectively indicated their readiness to support ongoing negotiations aimed at a more permanent resolution, stressing that regional security cannot be compromised. The two-week truce is intended to create a window for diplomatic engagement, with hopes that it can evolve into a longer-lasting arrangement. As global attention turns toward negotiations, leaders have called on all parties involved to uphold the ceasefire terms and work toward a sustainable solution, emphasising that the momentary step back from conflict must translate into concrete progress for lasting peace. (ANI)
Former Diplomat KP Fabian on Wednesday said that the Iran-US ceasefire is the most welcome development for the whole world. Fabian, in a conversation with ANI, said that sanity has been restored for US President Donald Trump, at least temporarily. "Separately, news stories suggest that Iran and Oman have agreed to a $2 million charge for passage, which they will share. What is particularly important is that even after the Iranian Foreign Minister mentioned the need for coordination with Iranian armed forces, there was no immediate pushback from President Trump. It seems sanity has been restored, at least temporarily, and we should be grateful for this shift. When the President does something right, it should be applauded," he said. Fabian said that Trump's decision to stop at the brink came only 90 minutes before he had taken the pledge to annihilate the Iranian civilization. "It is a most welcome development for all: for Iran, the United States, Israel, the region, the whole world, and also for India. President Trump's decision to stop at the brink came only 90 minutes before he had taken the pledge to annihilate the Iranian civilization. This is very important. Delegations from Iran and the United States are supposed to meet in Islamabad on Friday," he said. Fabian said that Trump noted in a tweet that he has seen the plan proposed by Iran and stated it is something that can be negotiated upon. "The 10-point peace plan includes details regarding nuclear weapons, the possible withdrawal of US combat forces from the region, limited daily passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and permission for Iran to negotiate bilateral and multilateral peace treaties with regional countries. This is very significant. President Trump noted in a tweet that he has seen the plan proposed by Iran and stated it is something that can be negotiated upon. While he has not accepted it yet, he is prepared to look at it, which is a vital step," he said. Fabin further said, "To understand the situation, we must look at the restoration of the status quo ante regarding the Strait of Hormuz. There was peaceful passage through the Strait until February 28, when Israel and America started the aggression. The Iranian Foreign Minister stated that the Iranian National Security Council has agreed to a ceasefire for two weeks. Regarding the passage through the Strait, he noted that while there can be peaceful passage, there will be coordination with the Iranian armed forces and due consideration for technical limitations," he said. Ilahi said that Iran specifically insisted that all attacks should stop, and it has been agreed to. "Iran specifically insisted that all attacks should stop, and it has been agreed to. Israel will also have to stop. While Prime Minister Netanyahu has historically had a strong hold on Trump--influencing him to join the conflict and advising him against a ceasefire--Trump has recently asserted his own decision-making. When asked if Israel would abide by a ceasefire, Trump stated he would order them to do so. At this moment, he appears to be acting independently of Netanyahu's influence to a great measure," he said. The decision is a welcome relief for India, given that domestically, even cooking was becoming difficult. "This development is crucial for India. We were spending an extra $270 million a day on oil through spot purchases. This is a massive saving. Domestically, the situation was becoming difficult; in Delhi, for example, people were struggling to get gas for cooking, and workers from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh were even starting to return home. For India, this is a great relief. While Iran was letting our ships through previously, we need the entire regional situation to improve for oil prices to truly come down," he said. Fabian said that in situations like these, it does not matter who wins, but on balance. "Within six weeks, this war may be over. In matters like this, it is not always important to ask who the winner and loser are, but on balance, Iran has come out ahead. However, I reiterate that when Trump does something right, we should all applaud him, as he needs that encouragement to continue making the right decisions," he said. Earlier today, US President Donald Trump announced a temporary halt to the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, proposing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire window. Trump also indicated that a 10-point proposal put forward by Iran was "workable," signalling a possible diplomatic opening between the two long-time adversaries. (ANI)
Karachi continues to grapple with a disturbing surge in stray bullet incidents, leaving at least nine people injured over a span of three days, according to officials and residents. Despite police claims that overall crime rates have declined, the persistence of indiscriminate firing has heightened anxiety among citizens, who no longer feel safe either outdoors or inside their homes, as reported by The Express Tribune. According to The Express Tribune, authorities confirmed that investigations are ongoing, but the randomness of the shootings has made it difficult to trace those responsible. In one of the most serious incidents, 22-year-old Ayan suffered a critical chest injury after being shot near Ghaus Pak Road in Korangi 5. He was transported to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre by rescue volunteers. In another case, Sherina, 45, was wounded in Baldia 24, while Jamila Begum, aged 52, sustained injuries at Al-Azam Square in Liaquatabad 10. The wave of violence extended across multiple neighbourhoods. Bilal Ahmed, 27, was injured in North Karachi, while 12-year-old Muzammil was hit near a bus stop in Chakiwara. Murtaza, 30, was wounded in New Karachi's Gabol Town, and Nauman, 28, was shot near Usman Park. Elderly citizen Naseer, 74, was injured in Paposh Nagar, and Najma, 39, was wounded in Orangi Town, highlighting that victims span all age groups. All incidents occurred between April 4 and April 6, with police noting that the bullets appeared to have been fired from unknown locations, further complicating the situation. Residents have voiced anger and fear, criticising law enforcement for failing to control the unchecked use of firearms, as highlighted by The Express Tribune. Citizens argue that the ongoing crisis reflects a deeper breakdown in public safety measures. Many believe that without stricter enforcement and accountability, Karachi risks normalising a culture of reckless gun use, as reported by The Express Tribune. (ANI)
Speaking at a legislative session, Tsai highlighted the evolving tactics of China's intelligence operations, as reported by The Taipei Times.

According to The Taipei Times, addressing the Foreign Affairs and National Defence Committee of the Legislative Yuan, Tsai explained that China's approach combines intelligence gathering, national security strategies, and "united front" operations into an interconnected system designed to infiltrate Taiwan's institutions.

These activities are not random but carefully orchestrated. He emphasised that Beijing employs organised networks to identify and cultivate targets, often using exchange programmes and local intermediaries to recruit collaborators.

Previously, China focused on mid-ranking officers, but recent patterns indicate a pivot towards rank-and-file personnel.

Separately, Tsai commented on China's decision to reserve multiple airspace zones for an extended period from late March to early May.

The zones span from the Yellow Sea to the East China Sea, strategically positioned near South Korea and Japan. While Beijing has not officially clarified the purpose, Tsai suggested the move serves both military and political objectives, including monitoring US activity in the region.

The timing of the airspace reservation is also significant, ending shortly before a planned meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, as highlighted by The Taipei Times.

According to Tsai, China may be using this window to assess US responses, particularly after an American reconnaissance aircraft entered one of the designated zones earlier this week.

In response to increasing "grey zone" tactics at sea, Taiwan has strengthened coordination among agencies and enhanced cooperation with international partners on maritime awareness.

Taipei is actively working to counter Beijing's growing pressure through both domestic measures and global collaboration, as reported by The Taipei Times. (ANI)
The Bangladesh Parliament on Wednesday approved the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill, incorporating provisions to prohibit the activities of individuals or entities involved in terrorist activities. An ordinance was earlier issued during the tenure of the interim government. The Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill was passed in Parliament in the afternoon without any changes to the content of the original ordinance. Through this ordinance, amendments were made to the existing Anti-Terrorism Act, under which the interim government had decided to ban all activities of the Bangladesh Awami League and its leaders until the completion of their trial at the International Crimes Tribunal. Previously, the Anti-Terrorism Act did not contain any provision to ban the activities of an entity outright. It only allowed the government to issue a gazette notification listing an individual or declaring an entity banned if they were found to be involved in terrorist activities. However, the amendment introduces a provision enabling the government to prohibit all activities of such entities. The bill passed on Wednesday formalises that ordinance into law. Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed presented the bill in Parliament for passage. During the session, Opposition Leader Shafikur Rahman raised objections, stating that members had received the comparative document only three to four minutes earlier and had not had sufficient time to review it. He emphasised that the bill was sensitive and requested more time before it was passed. In response, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed stated that there is a designated time for raising objections, and if concerns had been submitted within that timeframe, they could have been considered and added that no objections could be entertained at that stage of the legislative process. The Opposition Leader reiterated that the document had been received too late. The Speaker responded that the matter could be reviewed later, but no objections could be accepted at that point. Subsequently, Salahuddin Ahmed moved the bill for passage and described it as an amendment aimed at banning what he referred to as a "genocidal terrorist organisation" and said it was intended to strengthen the existing Anti-Terrorism Act. He also noted that public movements involving the Opposition Leader and members of the NCP had contributed to the decision to ban the organisation's activities under the law and added that its registration with the Election Commission had already been suspended. Further amendments have also been made to the ICT Act in accordance with Article 47 to facilitate the trial of the organisation. The bill was passed by a voice vote. According to the bill, if any individual or entity is involved in terrorist activities, the government may issue a gazette notification to declare the entity banned, list it in the schedule, or prohibit all its activities. The law also prohibits publishing or printing press statements on behalf of such entities, as well as any form of propaganda through media, online platforms, social media, or other means. Additionally, organising processions, meetings, rallies, press conferences, or delivering public speeches in support of such entities will be banned. (ANI)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran, describing the development as a source of relief for millions worldwide. Highlighting the humanitarian and strategic significance of the truce, the President expressed hope that the move would lead to a durable resolution for the region. In a post on X, President el-Sisi shared his personal reflections on the early morning announcement. https://x.com/AlsisiOfficial/status/2041801249109000675?s=20 "I followed, in the early hours of this morning, the announcement of reaching a ceasefire agreement between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This news has undoubtedly brought relief to the hearts of millions of peace-loving people across all corners of the earth," the Egyptian leader stated. Looking toward the future of the diplomatic process, el-Sisi expressed his aspirations for the temporary pause to evolve into a lasting peace. He further added, "I pray to God--Almighty and Exalted--that this positive development will be crowned with a permanent agreement to halt the war in the region, restore security and stability therein, and achieve the aspirations of its peoples for development, progress, and prosperity." While supporting the path toward peace, the President underscored Egypt's unwavering commitment to its regional allies. He reaffirmed Cairo's "full and unconditional support for the sister countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Jordan and Iraq, during these delicate circumstances," while emphasising the importance that any forthcoming agreement "take into account their legitimate security concerns and requirements." The Egyptian President also took the opportunity to acknowledge the role of the American leadership in facilitating the truce. He noted that Egypt "values President Trump's decision to heed the voice of reason and uphold the values of humanity and peace," while calling on all involved parties to engage seriously in negotiations to achieve "peaceful coexistence among the peoples of the region and the world." Reaffirming Egypt's long-term regional role, el-Sisi stated that the leadership, government, and people would remain a steadfast pillar of support for the security and prosperity of their brothers in the Gulf states, Iraq, and Jordan. He pledged to "continue to exert every sincere and dedicated effort aimed at ending conflicts and establishing just and comprehensive peace in our region and across the entire world." This diplomatic outreach from Cairo follows a significant breakthrough by US President Donald Trump, who suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran. Announcing a two-week, double-sided ceasefire, Trump stated that a 10-point proposal from Iran was "workable" and would serve as the ground to negotiate a permanent deal, particularly as the US has already achieved most of its military objectives. In a post on Truth Social, Trump revealed that the suspension was prompted by mediation from Pakistan. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump stated. The US President noted that Iran had agreed to almost all the various points of past contention, allowing time for a permanent agreement to be finalised. Responding to this overture, the Iranian side accepted the peace initiative, agreeing to safe passage via the Strait of Hormuz and a pause in military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi confirmed on X that Iran would cease its military operations, provided it was not attacked. Araghchi declared on behalf of Iran's Supreme National Security Council that if attacks are halted, their "Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations." He confirmed that, for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible via coordination with Iran's Armed Forces. This de-escalation sets the stage for formal diplomacy, with talks between the Iranian side, led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the US delegation, led by Vice-President JD Vance, scheduled for Friday in Islamabad. (ANI)
In a significant diplomatic development, French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday welcomed the announcement of a ceasefire, characterising the move as a vital step toward regional stability. In a post on X, the French leader underscored that the cessation of hostilities aligns directly with the strategic priorities his administration has championed since the beginning of the crisis. The President emphasised that France's mission has remained steadfast throughout the duration of the conflict. He noted that the primary focus has been the security of French citizens and the preservation of national interests, while maintaining a close alliance with regional stakeholders. "The announcement of this ceasefire is a very good thing. We have had the same objective since the first day: to protect our nationals and our interests, to stand by our regional partners, and to work toward de-escalation to restore peace and freedom of navigation," Macron stated in his post. https://x.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/2041803476515090906?s=20 This diplomatic endorsement from Paris follows a breakthrough announcement by US President Donald Trump, who suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran. Declaring a two-week, double-sided ceasefire, Trump indicated that a 10-point proposal received from Iran was "workable" and would serve as the foundation for negotiating a permanent deal, particularly as the US has already achieved the majority of its military objectives. In a post on Truth Social, the US President revealed that the decision was influenced by high-level mediation involving Pakistan. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump stated. Elaborating on the strategic shift, Trump noted that the US has "already met and exceeded all Military objectives" and is well-advanced in securing a definitive agreement for long-term peace in the Middle East. He further stated that Iran has agreed to nearly all previous points of contention, and this extension provides the necessary window for a permanent agreement to be finalised. Responding to the peace overture, the Iranian side confirmed its acceptance of the terms, including the guarantee of safe passage through the vital Strait of Hormuz and a temporary halt to military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi clarified the Islamic Republic's position on X, stating that Iran would cease its defensive operations, provided it was not targeted by further attacks. Araghchi, representing Iran's Supreme National Security Council, acknowledged the US acceptance of the general framework of Iran's 10-point proposal as a basis for further dialogue. He confirmed that, for a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be facilitated through coordination with Iran's Armed Forces, subject to technical limitations. The momentum toward a diplomatic resolution is set to culminate in high-level discussions later this week. Talks between the Iranian delegation, led by Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and the US delegation, led by Vice-President JD Vance, are scheduled to take place this Friday in Islamabad. (ANI)
Taiwan's opposition leader and Kuomintang (KMT) Chairperson Cheng Li-wun on Wednesday called for reconciliation and regional stability during a rare visit to China, as she paid tribute to Dr Sun Yat-sen at his mausoleum in Nanjing, China, Focus Taiwan reported. According to Focus Taiwan, during her visit, Cheng highlighted the Republic of China (ROC) and emphasised the need for peace across the Taiwan Strait. After offering respects, she said Sun was admired not only for overthrowing the Qing Dynasty but also for establishing "Asia's first democratic republic - the Republic of China (ROC)." The ROC is Taiwan's official name. Following the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the ROC government, led by the KMT, relocated to Taiwan after losing to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), which subsequently founded the People's Republic of China (PRC). Referring to Sun's final message, she said, "The revolution has not yet succeeded; comrades must still strive on," urging both sides to work toward reconciliation, unity, and regional stability, as reported by Focus Taiwan. Wednesday marked the second day of Cheng's six-day visit to China, undertaken at the invitation of the CCP Central Committee. Her itinerary includes visits to China's Jiangsu Province, Shanghai, and Beijing. Although Song Tao, director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, received Cheng upon her arrival in Shanghai on Tuesday, it remains unclear whether she will meet Xi during the visit. Cheng departed for China on Tuesday, describing the trip as a "peace tour" amid mixed reactions in Taiwan. "Through this trip to the mainland, we want to show the world that the desire for peace is not coming from Taiwan alone," she said before leaving Taipei, as reported by Focus Taiwan. She also expressed hope to see "the sincerity and determination of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to engage in peaceful dialogue and exchanges across the Taiwan Strait and resolve any possible differences". Criticising the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Cheng said it was wary of China and added that her visit aimed to demonstrate that "peace across the Taiwan Strait is not as difficult as they think", as reported by Focus Taiwan. "If the KMT and the CCP can reconcile and work together for peace, why can't Taiwan's blue (KMT) and green (DPP) camps do the same?" she questioned. Cheng also noted that she had sought, but not secured, a meeting with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te ahead of the trip. Reacting to Wednesday's remarks, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Cheng had referred to the ROC "in a veiled manner", similar to previous KMT leaders during visits to China. The council added that such references are unlikely to be reported by Chinese media and primarily serve to address audiences in Taiwan. The MAC also stated that the CCP portrays Sun as "a forerunner of the Chinese revolution" while disregarding the continued existence of the ROC, adding that Cheng, as KMT chairperson, "should have rejected such wording", Focus Taiwan reported. China considers Taiwan part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force for reunification, despite never having governed the island, and has increased military pressure in recent years. Cheng said that while past conflicts cannot be undone, future ones can still be prevented, stressing the need to avoid further devastation for coming generations. Meanwhile, Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai said the government would monitor the visit closely while respecting party-level exchanges, adding that such interactions should remain under public and media scrutiny, as reported by Focus Taiwan. Cheng's visit is scheduled to continue through Sunday. (ANI)
United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that Washington intends to demand a total cessation of uranium enrichment in Iran, while simultaneously initiating discussions regarding sanctions relief and tariff reductions. The President characterised the recently brokered ceasefire as the start of a "very productive regime change" for the Islamic Republic. In a statement shared via his Truth Social platform, Trump maintained that the United States is prepared to "work closely with Iran" following the recent hostilities. He further suggested that the foundations for a more comprehensive international settlement have effectively been established. Addressing the nuclear issue directly, Trump specified the administration's primary objectives. "There will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried nuclear 'dust'," he asserted, in an apparent reference to the remains of the nation's nuclear framework. The President emphasised that Iranian facilities are currently under "exacting satellite surveillance" to ensure compliance. He noted that "nothing has been touched from the date of attack", indicating that the US is maintaining a vigilant watch over the integrity of these sites. This strategic pivot follows a high-stakes ceasefire reached late Tuesday, which was secured less than two hours before a final ultimatum issued by the US President. Under the current terms, the US and Israel have agreed to suspend the "bombing Iran for a period of two weeks", provided that Tehran ensures the "reopening of the Strait of Hormuz" to guarantee "safe passage" for global maritime traffic. The resolution followed a period of extreme tension on Tuesday morning, during which Trump warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if his demands were ignored. He had advocated for a "complete and total regime change, where different, smarter, and less radicalised minds prevail," suggesting such a shift could lead to "something revolutionarily wonderful". Confirming the halt in military operations, Trump described the arrangement as a "double sided CEASEFIRE!" He argued that the US had "already met and exceeded all Military objectives" and is now "very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Long-term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East." The President further acknowledged Iran's 10-point proposal as a "workable basis on which to negotiate," noting that "almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to." In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ratified Tehran's commitment to the truce. He stated that Iran would facilitate "safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz" during the designated 14-day period, managed through close "coordination with Iran's armed forces." While the ceasefire has taken effect on the Iranian front, regional complexities remain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the pause regarding Iran but clarified that the suspension of hostilities would not apply to military operations in Lebanon. (ANI)
The Chinese government has reaffirmed its commitment to regional stability following acknowledgements of its role in facilitating diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East, as reported by China Daily. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that Beijing remains dedicated to fostering a peaceful resolution to ongoing tensions in the region. The spokesperson's comments came as a direct response to international developments involving the United States and Iran. According to the report, Mao Ning addressed the media after US President Donald Trump credited Beijing with influencing the diplomatic shift, specifically noting that "China had helped bring Iran to the negotiating table." In her remarks, the spokesperson emphasised the persistent efforts of the Chinese administration to mediate between conflicting parties. Mao Ning said China has been "actively working to promote peace and a ceasefire," highlighting the nation's proactive diplomatic stance. Expanding on Beijing's future involvement, she further noted that the country "will continue to play a constructive role in helping restore peace and stability in the Gulf and the broader Middle East." This diplomatic assertion follows President Trump's statement on Tuesday, where he expressed his belief that China had successfully convinced Iran to enter negotiations. According to The Times of Israel, this breakthrough came after the US President announced a 14-day suspension of military strikes against the Islamic Republic, a pause in the "bombing of Iran" granted in exchange for the "reopening of the Strait of Hormuz" by Tehran. The critical nature of Beijing's involvement was further highlighted by a report in The New York Times. Citing three Iranian officials, the report indicated that the decision to accept the Pakistan-mediated truce followed a last-minute intervention from China, which reportedly urged Iranian leadership "to show flexibility and defuse tensions" due to mounting anxieties over the regional conflict's global economic fallout. The Times of Israel further reported that officials claimed the cessation of hostilities received approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. The younger Khamenei was reportedly "wounded at the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign" and has remained out of the public eye since his appointment to succeed his father, Ali Khamenei, who was "killed in the opening strike" of the war. Beijing's influence stems from its dual role in the region as a primary strategic ally of Tehran and the leading purchaser of Iranian crude oil, the majority of which is transported through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite these ties, China also possesses deep economic interests within Gulf nations and has frequently "criticised Iran's attacks on them" throughout the course of the hostilities involving Israel and the United States. In a move highlighting the growing significance of Chinese diplomacy, President Trump is anticipated to visit Beijing in mid-May for a high-stakes summit with President Xi Jinping. The diplomatic mission was initially planned for early April, but was delayed by the US President, who stated at the time that his presence was required in Washington "to oversee the Iran war." The sudden announcement of the ceasefire was made late at night, a mere 90 minutes before a final ultimatum for Iran to clear the Strait of Hormuz. Previously, the US President had warned of the total destruction of Iran's "bridges and power plants" if the blockage continued, cautioning as the deadline approached that "a whole civilisation will die tonight." The conflict had escalated rapidly after February 28, when the US and Israel initiated a massive air campaign intended to topple the regime and dismantle its "ballistic missile and nuclear programmes." In response, Iran carried out widespread drone and missile strikes and implemented a blockade on the Strait of Hormuz. The impact of the hostilities has been felt globally, as the strategic waterway typically facilitates the movement of approximately 20 per cent of the world's petroleum. Traffic has recently seen a 90 per cent decline in commercial movement, triggering a global surge in energy costs and adding significant urgency to the current diplomatic efforts to maintain the temporary truce. (ANI)
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has issued a stark ultimatum to Tehran regarding its nuclear stockpile, asserting that Iran must surrender its enriched uranium or Washington will "take it out." His remarks came while briefing journalists at the White House after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, marking a significant pause in the intense military hostilities between the two nations. Evaluating the shifting political climate in Tehran, Hegseth observed that the "new Iranian regime" has a different interaction with America than before, implying a transformation in the nature of engagement under the current circumstances. Regarding the sustainability of the truce, the Secretary of War expressed a cautious optimism. Hegseth said he hopes and believes the ceasefire will hold, serving as a necessary window for further diplomatic developments. He further highlighted the immediate economic impact of the agreement, reinforcing that the Strait of Hormuz is now open and commerce will flow, ensuring the unhindered movement of global trade through the vital waterway. In alignment with this stance, United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that Washington intends to demand a total cessation of uranium enrichment in Iran, while simultaneously initiating discussions regarding sanctions relief and tariff reductions. The President characterised the recently brokered ceasefire as the start of a "very productive regime change" for the Islamic Republic. In a statement shared via his Truth Social platform, Trump maintained that the United States is prepared to "work closely with Iran" following the recent hostilities. He further suggested that the foundations for a more comprehensive international settlement have effectively been established. Addressing the nuclear issue directly, Trump specified the administration's primary objectives. "There will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried nuclear 'dust'," he asserted, in an apparent reference to the remains of the nation's nuclear framework. The President emphasised that Iranian facilities are currently under "exacting satellite surveillance" to ensure compliance. He noted that "nothing has been touched from the date of attack", indicating that the US is maintaining a vigilant watch over the integrity of these sites. This strategic pivot follows a high-stakes ceasefire reached late Tuesday, which was secured less than two hours before a final ultimatum issued by the US President. Under the current terms, the US and Israel have agreed to suspend the "bombing Iran for a period of two weeks", provided that Tehran ensures the "reopening of the Strait of Hormuz" to guarantee "safe passage" for global maritime traffic. The resolution followed a period of extreme tension on Tuesday morning, during which Trump warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if his demands were ignored. He had advocated for a "complete and total regime change, where different, smarter, and less radicalised minds prevail," suggesting such a shift could lead to "something revolutionarily wonderful". Confirming the halt in military operations, Trump described the arrangement as a "double sided CEASEFIRE!" He argued that the US had "already met and exceeded all Military objectives" and is now "very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Long-term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East." The President further acknowledged Iran's 10-point proposal as a "workable basis on which to negotiate," noting that "almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to." In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi ratified Tehran's commitment to the truce. He stated that Iran would facilitate "safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz" during the designated 14-day period, managed through close "coordination with Iran's armed forces." While the ceasefire has taken effect on the Iranian front, regional complexities remain. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed the pause regarding Iran but clarified that the suspension of hostilities would not apply to military operations in Lebanon. (ANI)
Xi congratulates To Lam on election as president of Vietnam

Xinhua) 08:01, April 08, 2026

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, extended on Tuesday congratulations to To Lam on his election as president of Vietnam.

Noting that China and Vietnam are a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, Xi said that in recent years, under the joint guidance and promotion of the leaders of the two parties and the two countries, China-Vietnam relations have achieved leapfrog development, and the comprehensive strategic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries.

Since the beginning of this year, the two sides have maintained high-level strategic communication and continuously advanced all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, fully demonstrating the profound friendship of "comrades plus brothers," he said.

Xi stressed that, in the face of accelerating changes unseen in a century, stronger unity and coordination between China and Vietnam serve the common interests of both parties and countries.

Xi said that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, and stands ready to work with To Lam to advance development and national rejuvenation, promote steady progress in the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future, continuously strengthen respective socialist causes, and better benefit the two peoples, so as to inject greater stability and positive energy into the region and the wider world.

Also on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Le Minh Hung on his election as prime minister of Vietnam.

Li said that he stands ready to work with Le Minh Hung to take the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries as the fundamental guidance, accelerate the building of a mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation framework, and make positive contributions to advancing the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
According to the report, Gao, nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize and known for defending religious freedoms, has been missing since August 2017.

The sculpture, titled "Gazing at the Stars--Gao Zhisheng," features a detailed depiction of his face and head.

Sculptor Chen Weiming, founder of the park, said during the ceremony, as quoted by The Epoch Times, that the artwork symbolises a permanent tribute to a "hero" of the Chinese people in a land representing freedom.

He added that the statue honours not just Gao but all individuals fighting for basic rights.

As highlighted by The Epoch Times, Gao was once celebrated by China's Ministry of Justice in 2001 as one of the country's top lawyers for defending vulnerable groups.

However, his stance changed after he publicly condemned abuses against practitioners of Falun Gong in 2005, leading to surveillance of him and his family.

The Epoch Times further reported that, after additional criticism of the government, Gao's law firm was shut down, and he was imprisoned in 2006.

Even after his release, he continued advocating for religious freedom, representing underground Christian groups and Falun Gong practitioners, while also authoring books and drafting a vision for China's future governance.

Human rights in China remain a major global concern, with activists, lawyers, and minorities facing strict state control.

Cases like Gao Zhisheng highlight enforced disappearances, surveillance, and imprisonment for dissent.

Authorities have been accused of suppressing religious freedom, including actions against Falun Gong practitioners and underground Christian groups.

Tight censorship, limited free speech, and restrictions on civil liberties continue to draw criticism from international human rights organisations and governments. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington is considering a "joint venture" with Iran to secure the Strait of Hormuz, following his announcement of a two-week ceasefire. Speaking during an interview with ABC News, when asked whether Tehran would be allowed to charge tolls for shipping through the strait, the US President said the joint venture would help to secure the strategic waterway, a critical transit for global energy trade. "We're thinking of doing it as a joint venture. It's a way of securing it - also securing it from lots of other people," Trump said. "It's a beautiful thing," he added. Trump also reiterated that he would not permit Iran to maintain any uranium enrichment capabilities, despite Tehran's repeated claims that it will retain its right to enrich uranium. "There won't be any enrichment," the US President said to ABC News. Trump said he expects peace talks to begin on Friday and to progress rapidly, and also confirmed that China played a key role in engaging with Iran, as reported by ABC News. The US President further stated that American forces in the region will not be leaving, indicating they will remain in place to enforce any future agreement. Following his remarks, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, stated that the American forces remain prepared to "resume combat operations" in the Islamic Republic if ordered, highlighting the temporary nature of the truce. During a press briefing at the Pentagon alongside US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, General Caine stated that the ceasefire was just a "pause", noting that the joint forces are ready to resume combat operations with "the same speed and precision" as showcased during US operations against Iran since February 28. "Let us be clear. A ceasefire is a pause, and the joint force remains ready if ordered or called upon to resume combat operations with the same speed and precision as we've demonstrated over the last 38 days. And we hope that that is not the case," Caine said. General Caine also paid tribute to the US personnel who have lost their lives so far in the operation, noting the 13 service members of the joint forces who lost their lives during the conflict. "I want to start this morning by honouring the 13 members of our American joint force who were killed in action thus far during this operation; their sacrifice and that of their families is deeply important to us, and we are grateful," he added. General Caine's remarks comes hours after Trump announced a double-sided ceasefire in the West Asia conflict with Iran for two weeks. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and stating that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added. (ANI)
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted his Bangladeshi counterpart Khalilur Rahman and a high-level delegation on Wednesday to review the depth of bilateral engagement alongside regional and international issues. The high-stakes meeting, held in the national capital, focused on the trajectory of the neighbourhood partnership. Highlighting the discussions, EAM Jaishankar posted on X, "Pleased to host FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh and his delegation this afternoon. We discussed strengthening our bilateral relationship in its various facets. Also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Agreed to remain in close touch." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2041816596377956717?s=20 Rahman reached New Delhi on Tuesday for a "goodwill visit" which, according to Dhaka, is anticipated to serve as an "important foundation" for expanding cooperation between the two neighbours to more productive and sustainable heights. Welcoming the visiting dignitary, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted the deep-rooted connections between the two nations. "Warm welcome to FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh on his arrival in New Delhi today. India and Bangladesh share warm and historic ties anchored in strong people to people relations. The visit will further bolster India-Bangladesh partnership," the MEA shared on X. The visit serves as a strategic stopover for Rahman before he travels to Mauritius for the Indian Ocean Conference, set for April 10-12. According to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, the Minister's itinerary in Delhi includes high-level engagements with India's National Security Advisor and the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas. "These meetings will emphasise the stability and sustained development of bilateral relations based on mutual respect, trust, and shared interests," Dhaka stated prior to the Minister's departure. This diplomatic mission is viewed as a pivotal step in resetting ties following a period of political transition. "This visit is expected to lay an important foundation for elevating the areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and India to more productive and sustainable levels in the future. It is noteworthy that Humayun Kabir, Advisor to the Hon'ble Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, will accompany the Hon'ble Foreign Minister on the Mauritius conference and India visit," the statement further read. The outreach marks the first official ministerial visit to India since the BNP-led government took charge in February. It signals a significant effort to recalibrate a relationship that faced turbulence during the 18-month tenure of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration, which was marked by concerns over anti-India sentiment and reports of violence against Hindu minorities. The groundwork for this ministerial dialogue was reinforced on Monday when India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka to discuss multi-sectoral cooperation. During those talks, Verma reiterated New Delhi's commitment to a "positive, constructive and forward-looking approach" aimed at fostering a partnership rooted in shared interest and mutual benefit. (ANI)
He also met Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri in the national capital.

Prime Minister's Advisor for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Riaz Hamidullah were present at these meetings.

They also held a meeting with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval last evening following arrival in the capital city.

In the discussions, both sides emphasised the importance of advancing bilateral relations between the two countries in various dimensions. They also discussed key regional and international issues.

Rahman stated that the recently elected BNP Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would pursue its foreign policy in accordance with the principle of "Bangladesh First" and on the basis of mutual trust, respect, and reciprocal benefit.

Rahman thanked the Indian Government for apprehending the suspected killers of Shaheed Osman Hadi.

Both sides agreed that the arrested individuals will be returned to Bangladesh in accordance with the procedures laid out in the extradition treaty between the two countries.

The Bangladesh side reiterated its request to extradite Sheikh Hasina and her Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to Bangladesh, who have been awarded the death penalty by the International Crimes Tribunal.

During the discussions, EAM Jaishankar said Indian visas to Bangladeshis, particularly medical and business visas, would be eased in the coming weeks.

Rahman expressed thanks to Hardeep Singh Puri for the recent supply of diesel to Bangladesh by India and requested an increase in the volume of supply of diesel and fertiliser.

Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri indicated that the Government of India will consider the request readily and favourably.

The two sides also agreed to undertake consultations on key bilateral issues. (ANI)
Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on Wednesday to discuss enhancing energy ties between the two nations, following the visiting dignitary's high-level talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar earlier in the day. In a post on X, Puri noted the high-level participation from the Bangladeshi delegation during the meeting held in the national capital. "Pleased to receive the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, HE Dr. Khalilur Rahman. He was accompanied by HE Mr. M. Humayun Kabir, Advisor to Bangladesh PM on Foreign Affairs and HE M. Riaz Hamidullah, High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India," the Union Minister stated. https://x.com/HardeepSPuri/status/2041862975632634051?s=20 The meeting with Puri focused on deepening the strategic relationship between the two neighbours, specifically regarding resource sharing and infrastructure. Highlighting the primary agenda of these talks, the Union Minister added that the leaders "discussed bilateral cooperation in the energy sector." Earlier on Wednesday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar hosted Khalilur Rahman and his delegation to review the depth of bilateral engagement alongside regional and international issues. The high-stakes meeting at Hyderabad House focused on the trajectory of the neighbourhood partnership. Highlighting the discussions, Jaishankar posted on X, "Pleased to host FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh and his delegation this afternoon. We discussed strengthening our bilateral relationship in its various facets. Also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Agreed to remain in close touch." Rahman reached New Delhi on Tuesday for a "goodwill visit" which, according to Dhaka, is anticipated to serve as an "important foundation" for expanding cooperation between the two neighbours to more productive and sustainable heights. Welcoming the visiting dignitary, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted the deep-rooted connections between the two nations, sharing on X, "India and Bangladesh share warm and historic ties anchored in strong people to people relations. The visit will further bolster India-Bangladesh partnership." The visit serves as a strategic stopover for Rahman before he travels to Mauritius for the Indian Ocean Conference, set for April 10-12. According to the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry, the Minister's itinerary in Delhi also included high-level engagements with India's National Security Adviser to "emphasise the stability and sustained development of bilateral relations based on mutual respect, trust, and shared interests." This diplomatic mission is viewed as a pivotal step in resetting ties following a period of political transition. "This visit is expected to lay an important foundation for elevating the areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and India to more productive and sustainable levels in the future," a statement from Dhaka read, noting that Humayun Kabir, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, is accompanying the Foreign Minister. The outreach marks the first official ministerial visit to India since the BNP-led government took charge in February. It signals a significant effort to recalibrate a relationship that faced turbulence during the 18-month tenure of the Muhammad Yunus-led interim administration, which was marked by concerns over anti-India sentiment and reports of violence against Hindu minorities. The groundwork for this ministerial dialogue was reinforced on Monday when India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka to discuss multi-sectoral cooperation. During those talks, Verma reiterated New Delhi's commitment to a "positive, constructive and forward-looking approach" aimed at fostering a partnership rooted in shared interest and mutual benefit. (ANI)
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday said it has eliminated Hamas operative Muhammad Dawad, described as an expert in the production of explosive devices, in a targeted strike in the northern Gaza Strip earlier this week. In a statement shared on Telegram, the IDF said Dawad, who was killed on Monday, was a key figure in engineering and manufacturing explosives for the Hamas organisation and played a central role in planning and executing attacks. According to the IDF, he was responsible for producing explosive devices used in dozens of attacks against Israeli troops during the ongoing conflict. The IDF said Dawad "posed an immediate threat" and was neutralised in a targeted operation. It added that its troops under the IDF's Southern Command remain deployed in line with the ceasefire agreement and will continue operations to eliminate any imminent threats. Meanwhile, the IDF also announced that it carried out its largest coordinated strike across Lebanon since the start of Operation "Roaring Lion", targeting more than 100 Hezbollah command centres and military sites within a span of 10 minutes. The strikes hit locations in Beirut, the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon, targeting infrastructure including headquarters, intelligence command centres, and facilities linked to Hezbollah's missile and naval capabilities, as well as elite units such as the Radwan Force. According to the IDF, the operation was based on precise intelligence and planned over several weeks by multiple military divisions, including the Operations Directorate, Intelligence Directorate, Israeli Air Force and Northern Command. The military alleged that much of the targeted infrastructure was embedded within civilian areas, accusing Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields, while stating that measures were taken to minimise harm to non-combatants. The IDF said it will continue operations against Hezbollah and other threats, asserting that it remains committed to ensuring the safety of Israeli civilians. (ANI)
Iran on Wednesday blamed Israel for jeopardising the fragile ceasefire in the region between the US and Iran to halt the hostilities for two weeks, warning that continued attacks on Lebanon by Israeli forces could lead to the collapse of the agreement and renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Iranian State Media Press TV. According to a senior Iranian security official, the world is witnessing violations of the temporary ceasefire by Israel, noting that Israel's actions, including strikes on Lebanon, are increasing the stakes for the United States to keep the deal intact, as reported by Press TV. "The entire world is witnessing the Zionist regime violating a fragile and temporary ceasefire and that Iran may rise to a comprehensive defence at any moment," the official told Press TV. "By violating the ceasefire while simultaneously attacking Lebanon and Iran, this regime is raising the cost of the agreement for the United States. Now is the time for the mediating country to step in and put this aggressive regime in its place," the official added. Warning of consequences if the truce collapses, the official stated that Iran would again close the strategic Strait of Hormuz, which was a critical talking point to conclude the ceasefire deal between US and Iran. "If this ceasefire is broken, the Zionist regime will be responsible, and we will punish the aggressor -- and the calm that resulted from the guided reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will quickly come to an end," the official stated, as quoted by Press TV. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported that Tehran has blocked the strategic Strait of Hormuz once again due to Israel's intensified offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon. As reported by IRNA, Iran has halted the passage of oil tankers through the strategic waterway following Israeli strikes on Lebanon, raising fresh concerns over global energy supply routes. Despite the ceasefire agreement announced by Trump on Tuesday, Israel has continued its military operations in Lebanon. According to Al Jazeera, citing Lebanon's Health Ministry, at least 89 people have been killed and over 800 injured in Israeli attacks across the country on Wednesday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also confirmed that the strikes were part of a major coordinated operation targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. In a statement shared on Telegram, the IDF said it carried out its largest coordinated strike since the start of Operation "Roaring Lion", hitting more than 100 Hezbollah command centres and military sites across Beirut, the Beqaa Valley and southern Lebanon. IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, said, "We will continue striking the Hezbollah terror organisation and will utilise every operational opportunity. We will not compromise the security of the residents of northern Israel. We will continue to strike with determination." According to the IDF, the targets included intelligence command centres, headquarters used for planning attacks, and infrastructure linked to Hezbollah's missile and naval capabilities, as well as assets of its elite Radwan Force and aerial units. The military said the operation was based on precise intelligence and had been planned over several weeks. The IDF further alleged that much of the targeted infrastructure was located within civilian areas, accusing Hezbollah of using civilians as human shields. It added that measures were taken to minimise harm to non-combatants. (ANI)
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday confirmed that Tehran will participate in proposed talks with the United States in Islamabad later this week, according to a statement from the Pakistan Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The development came during a telephone conversation between Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Pezeshkian today, which lasted over 45 minutes and focused on recent regional developments. "He [Pezeshkian] confirmed that Iran would be participating in the negotiations in Islamabad," the statement from the Pakistan PMO read. Earlier, Iranian news agency ISNA reported that diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran is set to take place in Islamabad on Friday, April 10, where both sides will hold direct talks aimed at ending weeks of intense hostilities following the outbreak of war. The meeting follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks after weeks of conflict in the region. According to Iranian state media reports, the Iranian delegation will be led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a central figure in Tehran's wartime leadership structure who has taken on strategic responsibilities since the early phase of the conflict. The United States delegation, meanwhile, will be headed by Vice President JD Vance. This comes after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that the ten-point proposal will serve as ground to negotiate for a permanent deal while reiterating that the US has achieved most of its military objectives. "Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!" Trump said. "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Long-term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate," he added. (ANI)
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday said that US President Donald Trump is "dispatching his negotiating team", led by the Vice President of the United States, to Islamabad for talks this weekend. Addressing a press briefing, Karoline Leavitt confirmed that, along with Vance, who she called as President Donald Trump's "right-hand man", Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner will be part of the delegation. "Vice President JD Vance has played a very significant and key role in this since the very beginning. Of course, he's the president's right-hand man. He is the vice president of the United States. He's been involved in all of these discussions. He'll be leading this new phase of negotiations in Islamabad later this week," she said. "I can announce that the President is dispatching his negotiating team, led by the Vice President of the United States, JD Vance, Special Envoy Witkoff, and Mr Kushner, to Islamabad for talks this weekend. The first round of those talks will take place on Saturday morning, local time, and we look forward to those in-person meetings," Leavitt added. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has already confirmed Tehran's participation. The diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran is set to take place in Islamabad on Friday, April 10, where both sides will hold direct talks aimed at ending weeks of intense hostilities following the outbreak of war. The meeting follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks after weeks of conflict in the region. According to Iranian state media reports, the Iranian delegation will be led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a central figure in Tehran's wartime leadership structure who has taken on strategic responsibilities since the early phase of the conflict. This comes after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. (ANI)
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the US must choose between a ceasefire or "continue war via Israel". In a post on X, Araghchi said, "The Iran-U.S. Ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the U.S. must choose--ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both" "The world sees the massacres in Lebanon. The ball is in the U.S. court, and the world is watching whether it will act on its commitments." https://x.com/araghchi/status/2041929940678144097?s=20 The warning comes after Iran on Wednesday blamed Israel for jeopardising the fragile ceasefire in the region between the US and Iran to halt the hostilities for two weeks, warning that continued attacks on Lebanon by Israeli forces could lead to the collapse of the agreement and renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by Iranian State Media Press TV. However, the White House has dismissed the inclusion of Lebanon in the temporary ceasefire agreement, backing Israel's continued military operation against Hezbollah. Addressing a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire. That has been relayed to all parties involved in the ceasefire. As you know, Prime Minister Netanyahu put out a statement last night in support of the ceasefire, in support of the United States' efforts, and he's also assured the President they'll continue to be a helpful partner throughout the course of the next two weeks." US Prsident Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have also stated that Lebanon is not part of the ceasefire. Speaking to PBS News, when asked about Lebanon still being targeted despite the ceasefire announcement, Trump said, "Yeah, they were not included in the deal." When pressed on why Israeli military action in Lebanon was excluded from the deal, Trump replied, "Because of Hezbollah. They were not included in the deal. That'll get taken care of too. It's alright." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the Israelis will continue their offensive in South Lebanon aimed at neutralising the threat from Hezbollah, despite backing the US decision to suspend strikes against Iran as the two nations look to work out a lasting peace formula. "Israel supports President Trump's decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks' subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region. Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbours and the world," a statement from Netanyahu's Office read. Meanwhile, White House has confirmed that US will participate in the peace talks with Iran scheduled for Saturday in Islamabad with Vice President JD Vance leading the delegation. Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner, will also be part of the delegation. This comes after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. (ANI)
The White House clarified that Iran presented two 10-point plans, out of which one was "unserious, unacceptable" and was "literally thrown in the garbage" by US President Donald Trump. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the other 10-point plan was "workable", upon which the US has agreed for two-weeks ceasefire and further negotiations. Karoline Leavitt clarified that the media has "falsely" reported the "discarded" 10-point plan as being accepted by the US. "Iran has agreed to open the Strait of Hormuz, and as the president said, we have received a proposal from the Iranians that has been determined to be a workable basis on which to negotiate," she said. "I have seen a lot of inaccurate coverage today from the media. The Iranians originally put forward a 10-point plan that was fundamentally unserious, unacceptable, and completely discarded. It was literally thrown in the garbage by President Trump and his negotiating team. Many outlets have falsely reported that plan as being acceptable to the US," Leavitt added. Leavitt said that the "workable plan" aligned with the US 15th-point proposal, reaffirming Donald Trump's stance to end Uranium enrichment in Iran. "President Trump and the team determined the new modified plan was a workable basis on which to negotiate and to align it with our own 15-point proposal. The President's red lines, namely the end of Iranian enrichment in Iran, have not changed. And the idea that President Trump would ever accept an Iranian wish list as a deal is completely absurd," she said. "The President will only make a deal that serves in the best interests of the United States of America, and he and his negotiating team will focus on this effort over the next two weeks, so long as the Strait of Hormuz remains open, with no limitations or delays. These extraordinarily sensitive and complex negotiations will take place behind closed doors over the course of the next two weeks," she added. Earlier, Trump had announced that Washington intends to demand a total cessation of uranium enrichment in Iran, while simultaneously initiating discussions regarding sanctions relief and tariff reductions. The President characterised the recently brokered ceasefire as the start of a "very productive regime change" for the Islamic Republic. In a statement shared via his Truth Social platform, Trump maintained that the United States is prepared to "work closely with Iran" following the recent hostilities. He further suggested that the foundations for a more comprehensive international settlement have effectively been established. Addressing the nuclear issue directly, Trump specified the administration's primary objectives. "There will be no enrichment of uranium, and the United States will, working with Iran, dig up and remove all of the deeply buried nuclear 'dust'," he asserted, in an apparent reference to the remains of the nation's nuclear framework. The diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran is set to take place in Islamabad this weekend, where both sides will hold direct talks aimed at ending weeks of intense hostilities following the outbreak of war. The meeting follows an immediate ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran for two weeks after weeks of conflict in the region. The US delegation will be led by Vice President JD Vance and the Iranian delegation will be led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. This comes after Trump suspended the "bombing and attack" campaign on Iran, announcing a two-week double-sided ceasefire and saying that the 10-point proposal from Iran was workable. (ANI)
MIE, Apr 08 (News On Japan) - A truck driver arrested over a fatal accident on the Shin-Meishin Expressway in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture, on March 20th, which left six people dead including three children, has admitted to looking at her smartphone at the time of the crash.

According to police interviews, the suspect, Mizutani Mizuyo, told investigators that she had been "looking at a smartphone" and also acknowledged that she "was not paying close attention to the road ahead."

The accident occurred when a large truck slammed into a line of vehicles caught in traffic on the outbound lane, striking two passenger cars carrying the victims.

Authorities believe that the drivers use of a smartphone may have contributed directly to the collision and are continuing a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Source: TBS
The Netherlands considers that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the most feasible solution to the dispute over the Sahara, said Dutch Foreign Minister, Tom Berendsen.

The stand was expressed by the Dutch official in a press briefing following a meeting in Rabat Tuesday with his Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

This position was also affirmed in a Joint Communique issued following talks between Bourita and Berendsen, who is on a working visit to Morocco April 7-8, his first outside the European Union, since he became member of the Dutch cabinet.

Berendsen further reaffirmed the Netherlands support for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2797, as well as for the efforts of the UN Secretary-Generals Personal Envoy, Staffan de Mistura, to facilitate and conduct negotiations based on the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco, with a view to achieving a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution.

The Netherlands will act in line with its position, including at the diplomatic and economic levels, in accordance with international law, the Dutch Foreign Minister was quoted as saying in the joint communique.

In his press briefing, the Dutch Top Diplomat also pointed out that Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, establishes itself as a trustworthy partner and a committed player to global peace and stability.

Berendsen affirmed that his country highly appreciates the personal engagement of King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, in favor of the Palestinian cause.

We highly praise the fruitful cooperation with Morocco during the recent session of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, he stated further, reiterating the commitment of the Netherlands and Morocco to this solution.

Touching on the progress scored by Morocco, the Dutch official described this progress as remarkable and hailed the cutting-edge infrastructure of the Kingdom, as well as the major economic and investment opportunities offered by the country.

In the current global geopolitical context, Morocco is a strategic and leading partner for the Netherlands, given its close ties with West Africa, the Sahel and Gulf countries, Berendsen noted.

In this regard, he hailed the active role played by Morocco in supporting development and stability in the Sahel region.

During the press briefing, Bourita praised the new momentum that marked relations between the two Kingdoms in recent years, underlining that the evolution of these relations aligns with the principle set by King Mohammed VI for the Kingdoms foreign policy, namely clarity and ambition, which helped establish strong bilateral relations based on mutual respect, transparency, responsibility, and a genuine partnership that takes into account each partys priorities.

He also noted that the position expressed by the Netherlands last December regarding the Moroccan Sahara marked a major turning point in bilateral relations. He pointed out that this constructive stance is consistent with international law and UN resolutions, particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2797.

The Netherlands position has also served as a significant lever to strengthen bilateral ties and enhance partnership between two influential regional actors on the international stage, he said.

In this regard, he noted that the Kingdom of the Netherlandsbeing a key player within Europe, a strong advocate of a solid Euro-Moroccan partnership, and a respected and influential actor at the United Nations and multilateral level, has become a leading partner for Morocco in political dialogue.

Bourita also indicated that Africa is one of the pillars of bilateral relations, adding that both sides will work to encourage Moroccan and Dutch private sectors to boost investment and seize business opportunities across the continent.
The fourth edition of GITEX Africa Morocco opened Tuesday April 7 in Marrakech with a clear message from the Kingdoms leadership: Morocco is ready to be Africas technology gateway. Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch inaugurated the event, which this year drew 50,000 participants and over 1,450 exhibitors from 130 countries, making Marrakech one of the most significant innovation platforms on the continent. The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, the Digital Development Agency and KAOUN International, a subsidiary of the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Akhannouch used his opening address to send an unambiguous signal to international technology investors. Morocco, he argued, offers the combination of institutional stability, clear political direction, a skilled human capital base and modern infrastructure that high-value digital investments require. He also contextualized GITEX Africas broader ambition: to give the continent a platform for self-expression and to connect Africas energy and youth with the financial, training and market infrastructure needed to convert potential into growth.

The strategic foundation underpinning these ambitions is the Maroc Digital 2030 national strategy, which reorganizes previously fragmented initiatives into a coherent, government-wide roadmap. Its two pillars  a digital state and a digital economy  have already produced measurable results. Between 2021 and 2024, the digital investment budget rose from 11 million to 1.7 billion dirhams. By end-2024, the offshoring and digital exports sector had generated 148,500 jobs and exceeded 26 billion dirhams in services exports. Targets for 2030 stand at 270,000 jobs and 40 billion dirhams in exports.

Artificial intelligence occupies a pivotal place in Moroccos digital roadmap. Following the Royal strategic orientation toward technological sovereignty, Morocco advanced 14 places in the 2025 Government AI Readiness Index.

Minister Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni articulated Moroccos ambition as a third way  neither a technological heavyweight seeking domination, nor a passive adopter  but a country capable of harnessing AI to serve its citizens, bridge Europe and Africa, and act as a balancing power in the shifting global digital order. Concrete initiatives include the Jazari Root Institute and the AI Made in Morocco program.

Infrastructure upgrades reinforce these ambitions. The commercial rollout of 5G is under way, with 45 percent population coverage targeted by end-2026 and 85 percent by 2030. Fixed high-speed internet subscriptions passed 1.4 million fibre connections by end-2025, and a program is targeting 1,800 rural communes to eliminate coverage gaps. A global cloud provider has already established data centers and an R&D facility in Casablanca, generating over 700 skilled jobs  an early sign that Moroccos pitch to international technology investors is beginning to yield tangible results.
Morocco has adopted its first-ever comprehensive public finance management strategy, setting out a structured reform roadmap to 2032. Drawn up with the support of major international partners and grounded in the findings of a PEFA assessment  the internationally recognized benchmark for evaluating public financial management systems  the framework aims to modernize fiscal governance across three interconnected pillars: performance, sustainability and transparency.

Governance of the reform will be entrusted to a dedicated inter-ministerial steering committee, chaired by Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, with technical oversight coordinated by Aziz Khayati, Director of the Budget at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The architecture reflects the governments determination to manage this strategic undertaking through close institutional coordination rather than dispersed administrative responsibility. The World Bank, the European Union and the African Development Bank all contributed to shaping the roadmap.

On the performance front, the strategy moves Morocco toward results-based budgeting, reinforcing program budgets and management control tools. It also expands the perimeter of public finance management to incorporate the performance of state-owned enterprises, and strengthens the alignment between public policies and capital expenditure targeting. The sustainability pillar addresses revenue mobilization through a broader tax base, improved collection and tighter controls, while introducing dynamic fiscal risk mapping that will identify, quantify and track budgetary threats throughout the budget cycle.

A forward-looking alert system will be established to flag potential deviations early, drawing on risk probability and impact matrices to enable proactive adjustments to strategic frameworks or action plans. On transparency, the strategy commits to enriching the existing budget transparency action plan, creating a participatory platform to widen stakeholder engagement in the budgetary process, and strengthening internal control and audit mechanisms across the full revenue and expenditure chain.

Digital transformation is woven through the entire strategy. An integrated digital governance architecture based on interoperability between information systems will be deployed, and a centralized data exchange platform will be built to meet growing analytical demands. Artificial intelligence features among the emerging technologies earmarked for accelerating administrative modernization  a signal that Morocco intends its fiscal reform to serve not only current efficiency goals but also the longer-term ambitions of the Maroc Digital 2030 agenda.
Nairobi is hosting this week the 2nd African Urban Forum (AUF2), meant to prepare the continent adopt a Common position on housing and human settlements at the 13th World Urban Forum to convene in Baku, Azerbaijan, May 1722.

The forum, held under the theme Adequate Housing for All: Advancing Socioeconomic and Environmental Transformation towards the Realization of Agenda 2063, places housing at the heart of Africas urban future as a unifying lens for development, resilience, and inclusion.

The AUF is the continents premier platform for multistakeholder dialogue on urbanization and human settlements. It seeks to harness Africas rapid urban growth as a catalyst for socioeconomic transformation.

It gathers policymakers, city leaders, financiers, practitioners, and researchers for a series of dialogues around the system shifts needed to advance climate action, infrastructure finance, and land governance for better housing across the continent.

A forum side-event will feature a presentation of early findings from the State of African Cities Report 2026: Harnessing the Value of Urban Land for Socioeconomic Transformation in African Cities. The report, to be launched at the World Urban Forum in Baku, assesses the evolution of urban land valuation across Africa, and how Land-Value Capture is emerging as a mechanism for driving investment towards public priorities like infrastructure, housing, public spaces, and climate adaptation. Participants will have the opportunity to hear about case studies from cities like Freetown, Addis Ababa, Kigali, Lome, Stellenbosch, Dar es Salaam, and Kumasi.

Across Africa, cities face limited access to finance, with deficits in waste, energy, mobility, and basic services undermining housing delivery. Through case studies from cities in Ghana & Kenya, another side-event will showcase how the Climate-resilient Infrastructure Investments in Cities (CIVIC) platform, led by CoM-SSA, C40 Citiess Finance Facility (CFF), and the City Climate Finance Gap Fund, are helping transform urban climate priorities into investment-ready infrastructure pipelines through integrated and coordinated technical support.

Morocco is represented at this 2nd African Urban Forum which runs from April 8 to 10 by a delegation led by the Secretary of State in charge of Housing, Adib Benbrahim.
Pope Leo XIVs upcoming visit to Algeria risks being used by the authorities to whitewash an authoritarian system that persecutes Christians, closes churches and curtails religious freedom, diplomats and rights advocates say.

The April 1315 trip, the first by a pontiff to Algeria, has been presented by Algiers as a historic moment of dialogue and tolerance.

Several human rights organizations have urged Pope Leo XIV to use his visit to confront Algerias dismal record on religious freedom, warning that Christians face systematic repression despite official claims of tolerance. In a joint appeal issued this month, Human Rights Watch, MENA Rights Group and EuroMed Rights called on the Pope to raise cases of church closures, prosecutions of Christians for unauthorized worship, and the removal of constitutional protections for freedom of conscience.

The groups said religious minorities, including Catholic and Protestant communities, are subjected to discriminatory laws and administrative harassment that make normal religious life impossible.

Christian advocacy organizations have echoed those concerns. The European Centre for Law and Justice, alongside Christian Solidarity International and Jubilee Campaign, has warned that Algerian authorities have shuttered dozens of churches, denied visas to clergy and forced worship into private homes.

They argue that a papal visit, if not accompanied by clear public messaging, risks being instrumentalised by the government to obscure ongoing repression. Symbolic engagement without accountability, one statement warned, could entrench a narrative of openness that is contradicted by the lived reality of Christians in Algeria.

The Vatican says the Pope will visit Algiers and travel east to sites linked to Saint Augustine, an early Christian theologian born in what is now Souk Ahras and later bishop of Hippo Regius, modern-day Annaba.

No pope has ever visited Algeria, and the regime knows exactly how to use this, said Xavier Driencourt, former French ambassador to Algiers. It offers international legitimacy at a moment when repression at home has reached unprecedented levels.

President Abdelmadjid Tebbounes government has intensified pressure on journalists, activists and perceived dissenters, with arrests over social media posts and symbolic acts. Western diplomats say the papal visit allows the regime to project an image of openness abroad while silencing criticism at home.

More pointedly, critics say the visit distracts from Algerias treatment of its small Christian minority.

Apostasy is criminalized, proselytism is banned, and visas for priests and religious workers are frequently denied. Churches- particularly in the Kabylia region- have been closed in recent years, and Catholic charities face administrative barriers that limit their operations.

These restrictions are systematic, Driencourt said in an op-ed on le360. As ambassador, I repeatedly had to intervene simply to obtain visas for priests or nuns.
Jonah Hill thinks Cameron Diaz gives the "best performance of her career" in Outcome.

Jonah Hill has heaped praise on Cameron Diaz

The 42-year-old actor wrote and directed the new black comedy film, which stars Cameron, Keanu Reeves and Matt Bomer, and he's heaped praise on the star-studded cast.

He told Extra: "Getting these guys together was the greatest thing of all time. I'm the most blessed director on the planet."

Jonah was particularly effusive about Cameron, who he described as "an actual angel that fell from heaven".

He said: "Cameron is an actual angel that fell from heaven, and she is not only, like, an iconic classic movie star. When she came on the screen for her camera test or something, we're all back there like, 'Whoa, we're making a real movie.'

"As an actor, she gives the best performance of her career, in my opinion  knockout performance. And as a person, she just supported me and continues to support me in such a real way ... She is just the perfect friend and artist. Combination actually of those two."

Cameron was equally complimentary about Jonah, insisting there was nobody else who could have directed her performance in the film.

She said: "Jonah is the most earnest person.

"Like honestly, like, his words, like, he means them so much. To be on the receiving end of it, it's like  when somebody who you feel the same way about says those things about you, it's like very heartwarming because I think that all three of us here could just say all the same things about Jonah and who he is as a person, as a director, as an actor.

"I mean, my favourite thing is that  there wasn't one single part of his performance in this movie that could be in the trailer and there's a reason. You will see it is absolutely stunning what he does He is such a force in this movie It was a free-for-all. Like, there's nobody who could have directed him in this performance other than himself. You know what I mean? And it's just incredible."

Jonah also singled out Keanu, 61, for praise.

He said: "I just love [Keanu]. I love My Own Private Idaho and Parenthood and everything since. And I said, 'This guy's an amazing actor. I want to see him go all out. I want to see him play different stuff than I've seen him play.'"
Morocco welcomes the announcement of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

The ministry underlined, in a statement, that Morocco supports the forthcoming negotiations with Pakistans facilitation.

The Kingdom hopes that these negotiations will lead to lasting peace, strengthen stability in the region, and take into account the higher interests of the brotherly Arab countries of the Gulf, the statement added.

The statement also indicates that Morocco stresses the importance of ensuring navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international maritime law.

Iran and the United States have agreed to a two-week ceasefire and allow safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

The warring sides agreed to suspend attacks as the war entered its 40th day, with hopes now pinned on a peace deal through talks set to begin in Pakistan on Friday.

Gulf states and other countries in the region have also welcome the ceasefire, expressing hope the ceasefire will lead to a comprehensive sustainable pacification.
US Ambassador to Morocco Duke Buchan III said the Moroccan southern provinces, the Sahara, offer tremendous economic potential, positioning the region as a strategic hub linking Africa, Europe and the Americas and a focal point for growing US investment interest.

Speaking at Gitex Africa in Marrakech, Buchan reaffirmed US support for Moroccos autonomy plan for the territory, describing it as a pathway toward resolution and prosperity, while highlighting major infrastructure projects underway or planned in the region.

The economic potential of the Moroccan Sahara is unlimited, Buchan said, citing plans for what he described as the largest and deepest deep-water port ever built in Morocco at Dakhla.

The project, he said, would serve as a new gateway connecting Africa, the Americas and Europe, supported by new data centers and a trade corridor linking the Sahel to global markets.

Where the world once saw a desert, His Majesty saw an opportunity, Buchan said, adding that US companies are showing increasing interest in the areas investment opportunities.

Buchan placed the development of the southern provinces within the context of Moroccos broader economic transformation, which he illustrated through his own long relationship with the country.

Compared with his first visit to the Kingdom 43 ago, he said, Morocco has grown and evolved in an impressive way.

He contrasted earlier experiences of a more traditional environment with todays digitally connected landscape, noting that technologies such as online navigation tools now enable seamless travel across the country.

Buchan attributed Moroccos success to the forward-looking vision and leadership of King Mohammed VI, while emphasizing the critical role played by the private sector.

The world is watching Morocco, Buchan said.
Federal Heat Safety Protections Expire as Temperatures Rise

Advocates warn that the lapse of a national oversight initiative leaves millions of employees without guaranteed protections during extreme weather.

A critical federal oversight mechanism for workplace heat safety expires on April 8, leaving millions of laborers without targeted protections as the summer season begins.

OSHAs National Emphasis Program (NEP) on heat, launched in 2022, provided the agency with a framework to proactively inspect high-risk worksites. Without the program, National COSH warns that employer accountability will drop just as temperatures nationwide begin to climb.

Despite the high risks associated with thermal exposure, there is currently no permanent federal standard mandating that employers provide basic mitigations such as water, rest and shade. The NEP acted as a temporary bridge, resulting in approximately 7,000 inspections in industries like construction, agriculture and warehousing.

We already know what works, said Jessica E. Martinez, executive director of National COSH. Water. Shade. Rest. Acclimatization. Training. These are simple, evidence-based steps. But without a standard, they are not guaranteed.

Heat remains the leading cause of weather-related death in the United States.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that an average of 3,389 workers suffer heat-related injuries or illnesses serious enough to miss work annually. From 1992 to 2021, environmental heat exposure killed 999 U.S. workers, though experts suggest these figures are likely underreported due to misdiagnosis and inconsistent reporting across industries.

States that have implemented their own enforceable heat standards, such as California and Oregon, have seen measurable success. California reported a 33% reduction in workplace heat-related fatalities following the implementation of its safety rules.

Labor advocates are now calling on federal officials to finalize a permanent, comprehensive heat standard to replace the expired enforcement program and ensure worker safety as climate-driven extreme heat intensifies.
Wyoming to Host OSHA Safety Roadshow in Cheyenne

State safety officials will provide free training on new oil and gas regulations and hazard prevention strategies during a two-day workshop.

The Wyoming Department of Workforce Services will host the third annual OSHA Roadshow in Cheyenne to provide safety training focused on the states new oil and gas regulations.

The updated rules, which cover well drilling, servicing, completion, plugging and abandonment, went into effect Nov. 7, 2025. The upcoming workshops are designed to help operators and employees implement these changes while reducing workplace injuries.

Nationwide data shows 5,070 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2024, a 4% decrease from the previous year. Wyoming OSHA officials said they are continuing to work with industry partners to lower those figures through education and outreach.

The roadshow will be offered on two separate dates with identical agendas, allowing participants to choose a session that fits their schedule. The full-day training is structured as a cohesive workshop where sessions build on one another.

Participants will receive instruction on:

Application of new state oil and gas safety rules.

Lessons from workplace fatality trends and incident case studies.

Behavior-based safety strategies to mitigate risk.

Compliance and reporting requirements.

Environmental and seasonal hazards at job sites.

Gas detection equipment and confined space maintenance.

The training is designed for employers, supervisors, safety managers and frontline workers in the oil and gas, construction and manufacturing sectors.

The sessions will take place May 12 and May 13 at the Department of Workforce Services, located at 5221 Yellowstone Road. Registration for the workshop is free and includes lunch.
With fuel rationing beginning in some Asian countries and analysts warning Europe is next, talk has started about windfall profit taxes on Big Oil. The supermajors are the first target for additional taxes when oil prices surge, but they are not the only ones benefiting from such surges. This time around, the biggest winners are not just oil producers but oil producers with alternative export routes.

The war that the United States and Israel started against Iran at the end of February has cost the Middle Easts petrostates some 11 million barrels daily in crude and fuel exports. Yet not all of them have suffered equally. According to the most recent data, Iraq and Bahrain saw the biggest losses in production while Saudi Arabia and, of course, Iran, were more resilient.

Bahrain had to suspend all oil production in March, Le Monde reported this week, citing figures from Kpler, with Iraq forced to suspend 78% of its output and Kuwait slashing output by over 60%. Unlike them, Saudi Arabia only reduced its oil production by 25%, and while sizable in itself, the cut, representing about 2 million barrels daily, was relatively palatable compared to what Iraq and Bahrain had to do with their oil production. Iran, for its part, saw its production decline by 13% over the last month.

A Bloomberg survey out this week estimated that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran had cost OPEC a total loss of production to the tune of 7.56 million barrels daily, pushing their combined total for March to 22 million barrels daily. These are much better figures than earlier estimates by, for instance, Kpler, which said in mid-March production suspensions had reached a cumulative 10.7 million barrels daily that could grow to 11.5 million barrels daily by the end of the month. Related: Shell Expects 'Significantly Higher' Oil Trading Profits in Q1

The individual production cuts had to do with the impossibility of transiting the Strait of Hormuz and physical limitations in storage space. All countries that depend on the Strait of Hormuz as their only outlet to global markets had to cut production substantially. Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain were in that group. Oman, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, have alternative routes for their oil via pipelines or, in Omans case, sit outside the Strait of Hormuz, which has suddenly become a major strategic advantage.

Now that Hormuz has been closed, it can be closed again and again, and that poses a major threat to the global economy, Neil Quilliam, associate fellow at think tank Chatham House, told Reuters this week. The genie is out of the bottle. Indeed, after years of analysts dismissing the possibility of Iran ever closing the chokepoint that handles a fifth of global oil and gas flows, now the genie is out of the bottle, highlighting the importance of export route diversification. This will most likely mean pipelines.

Saudi Arabias East-West pipeline is the most obvious case in point. Built in the 80s, during the Iran-Iraq war precisely to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, the pipeline recently came in handy in redirecting up to 7 million barrels daily in crude flows from Saudi Arabias east coast to the west coast port of Yanbu, which has turned into the kingdoms primary oil export terminal. According to Reuters, exports from Yanbu for the last full week of March were running at 4.6 million barrels daily, close to the terminals capacity of 5 million barrels daily.

The United Arab Emirates has also leaned on a pipeline to keep exporting some oil. The Habshan-Fujairah pipe has a maximum capacity of 1.8 million barrels daily, but its average flows stand at some 1.5 million barrels daily, per a CNBC report from mid-March.

In Oman, meanwhile, the price of local crude soared to over $150 per barrel last month because of the tense competition for a limited amount of barrels. Prices for crude oil grades similar to the ones produced by Iraq, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia in other parts of the world also surged, answering a question that some social media users have been posing since the war started: if Hormuz only accounts for 20% of global oil, why dont we just use the other 80%?

Diversification of export outlets is certainly an important topic of discussion for the Middle Easts oil-producing states. But going from discussion to action may be more challenging, especially for Iraq. The country pumps most of its oil from fields in the south, where it has a convenient port to export the crude from. Changing that would require, hypothetically, building pipelines across the country and then into one of its neighbors, including Syria to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Turkey to the north. Unfortunately, as the Russia-Ukraine war has demonstrated, geopolitics could affect cross-border pipelines as well.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Bridger Pipeline LLC has disclosed its proposed pipeline to transport crude from the U.S.-Canada border to Wyoming would cost approximately US$2 billion and have a maximum capacity of 1.13 million barrels per day (bpd). The Casper-Wyoming company has proposed a 36-inch pipeline spanning nearly 650 miles (1,050 km) from the U.S.-Canada border in Phillips County, Montana, to Guernsey, Wyoming. The pipeline will initially operate at approximately 550,000 bpd; however, Plainview Energy Analytics has noted that batching light crude oil could allow volumes to exceed typical heavy oil ceilings of 800,000 bpd for a line of this size, and deliver up to 1.13 mbpd.

Whereas Bridgers application presented to the Montana Department of Environmental specifically details moving Canadian oil, detailed maps by the company also highlight potential tie-ins with the Bakken shale oil field, providing access to the companys North Dakota gathering network, This optionality positions the project for potential future expansion beyond 550,000 bpd and creates the possibility of a new competitive egress option for Bakken shippers, Matthew Lewis, Plainviews founder, said.

Bridger Pipeline is also considered a potential partner of Canadas South Bow, which is working to revive the Keystone XL oil pipeline that was canceled by the Biden administration. South Bow Corp, a TC Energy (NYSE:TRP) spinoff, holds the original pipeline assets. South Bow (formerly TransCanada) is exploring options to utilize the roughly 150 km (93 miles) of pipe already installed in Alberta, along with new, modified routes in the U.S. to connect to refineries.

Related: Shell Expects 'Significantly Higher' Oil Trading Profits in Q1

The initiative has gained momentum with support from President Donald Trump, who has promised quick regulatory approvals. However, the project is expected to face significant opposition from environmental groups, Indigenous communities, and landowners, with a potential need for a new presidential permit for the border crossing.

Canada is, however, even more keen on breaking the countrys near-total dependence on the U.S., which still absorbs roughly 95% to 97% of Albertas crude exports. Last month, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith revealed that Middle Eastern sovereign wealth funds and Asian investors have expressed early-stage interest in a proposed new crude oil pipeline from Alberta to the British Columbia coast.

Smith has suggested that international partners could hold a significant minority stake, potentially between 15 to 30%. The project, which seeks to diversify Canada's energy exports away from the United States, is being positioned as a "safe haven" for global energy investors amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

This new route would provide a direct line of sight to Asian markets, helping to mitigate trade risks and geopolitical instability. Alberta plans to submit a formal proposal to the federal government in June, requesting fast-track approval status, which the experts believe will accelerate private sector investment.

That said, no private energy company has publicly committed to building the Alberta pipeline. A key memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney has faced early delays, missing an April 1 deadline for a final agreement on carbon pricing policy. Additionally, indigenous leaders in British Columbias coastal regions have reiterated that lifting the current tanker ban is "non-negotiable," with Green Party leaders dismissing the prospect of oil tankers moving through northern B.C. waters.

Meanwhile, two years ago, the expanded Trans Mountain Pipeline (TMX) started transporting crude oil from Edmonton, Alberta, to the Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, British Columbia. The oil is then loaded onto tankers for export to international markets, primarily in Asia, the U.S. West Coast (including Washington and California), and India. The 1,150-km pipeline runs parallel to the existing system from Strathcona County (Edmonton) to Burnaby, tripling its capacity to 890,000 barrels per day, thus allowing increased oil exports to Asia and the US West Coast.

By expanding capacity by 590,000 barrels per day to the West Coast, TMX has eased transport bottlenecks, increased access to Asian markets and narrowed price differentials, significantly boosting Canadian oil revenues. Indeed, the price gap between Western Canadian Select (WCS) and West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has narrowed significantly, with the differential reducing to an average of $12 per barrel from ~$18 per barrel before the expansion. The narrower price spread is estimated to have boosted the countrys oil revenues by ~$16.7 billion from June 2024 to November 2025. TMX has operated at an average of 82% utilization since its launch, demonstrating high demand for the new capacity.



By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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Key European Union oil and gas groups will hold meetings this week as countries around the bloc scramble to deal with the impact of the US-Israel-led war with Iran on energy prices and supplies.

European Commission spokeswoman Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told a news briefing on April 7 the oil coordination group will meet on April 8, while the gas group will convene the following day.

The EU is facing energy-saving measures such as reduced air travel, highway speed limits, and work-from-home directives as the war has resulted in the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, the transit corridor for about 20 percent of the world's oil and gas.

Last month the bloc's energy ministers held an emergency meeting, and while no concrete measures were agreed upon the European commissioner for energy, Dan Jorgensen, promised that Brussels would soon be announcing a package of EU-level measures.

According to EU officials familiar with the file who spoke to RFE/RL on the condition of anonymity, these measures might include more flexible state aid rules for energy companies as well as a push for more renewables and nuclear energy.

They also could potentially include more drastic emergency moves -- similar to when Russia launched its full-scale attack on Ukraine in early 2022 -- such as an EU-wide cap on gas prices and taxation of energy companies' windfall profits.

The 27-nation bloc is already bracing for a big economic hit if the war drags on. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told reporters last week that the burden on the EU's economy might be as heavy as it was during the Covid-19 pandemic or first few months of the Ukraine war.

Ahead of the meeting of energy ministers, Jorgensen wrote a letter to member states, seen by RFE/RL, in which he stated that "while the direct exposure of the EU to supply from the region prior to the conflict is limited, we are depending on global markets for our fossil fuels supply in direct competition with other consumers."

Countries including Italy, Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Croatia, and France have already adopted various measures to mitigate the impact of the sharp jump in prices and choking of supplies resulting from the Iran war.

While Europe has diversified in recent years with most imports instead coming from Algeria, Azerbaijan, Norway and the United States, the increased global demand from dwindling supplies have meant prices at the pump have surged in the EU, as well.

But the EU is also more dependent on so-called refined petroleum products, meaning materials derived from crude oil through processing, such as diesel, asphalt, and especially kerosene, which is essential for modern jet engines with 40 percent of supplies coming from the Persian Gulf.

Jorgensen's letter says a shortage of these products is of "particular concern in the short term" and suggests "member states are invited to consider the promotion of demand saving measures, in accordance with their contingency plans, with particular attention to the transport sector."

Some airlines have already signaled they may reduce the number of flights on certain routes. The last kerosene shipments that passed through the Strait of Hormuz before its closure are due to arrive in Europe next week.

The letter references the International Energy Agency's (IEA) recent 10-point recommendation, which include energy reduction costs such as working from home, reduced air travel, carsharing, alternate private car access to roads, lowering the speed limit by 10 kilometers per hour, and discouraging the use of liquified petroleum gas (LPG) when cooking.

Additionally, the letter also urges member states to defer any non-emergency refinery maintenance and to increase the uptake of biofuels to replace fossil fuels.

By RFE/RL

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Chinas independent refiners are looking for prompt Iranian crude cargos after Beijing issued the latest batch of quotas for oil imports and after international prices took a plunge following the latest news about the war in the Middle East.

Brent crude and WTI are both down, below $100 per barrel, after President Trump announced a two-week ceasefire, with Iran saying it would ensure safe passage for tankers via the Strait of Hormuz. Amid these developments, the so-called teapot refiners are eager to stock up on Iranian crude, unnamed traders told Reuters.

The United States lifted sanctions on both Iranian and Russian oil following the oil price surge as U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran prompted the latter to close the Strait of Hormuz. Prices are still much higher, despite todays plunge, traders noted, with Iran Light offered at the same price as Brent crude or a slightly higher one.

Brent crude was trading at $94 per barrel at the time of writing, down from $110 on Tuesday.

The Chinese government last week issued an import quota for crude oil for a total of 55 million tons to independent refiners. Beijing has ordered the refining industry to keep producing fuels at the average run rates for the past two years to make sure there is enough fuel supply for the domestic market. Refiners, however, are suffering losses because of the elevated prices for feedstock. According to Reuters, the average losses for teapot refiners stood at almost $21 per barrel as of the last week of March.

China last month suspended fuel exports to shield itself from the worst of the fallout from the Middle Eastern war. At the end of March, however, the country delivered 260,000 barrels of diesel to the Philippines and 100,000 barrels of distillate fuels to Vietnam. Both countries were struggling with fuel shortages, as are other Asian nations.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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European benchmark natural gas prices tumbled 20% at opening in Amsterdam on Wednesday after the U.S. and Iran announced a two-week ceasefire that could lead to reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The front-month contract of the Dutch TTF Natural Gas Futures, the European benchmark for gas trading, opened 20% lower on Wednesday and traded 16% lower in the late morning in Europe.

The May 2026 contract slumped to $51.45 (44 euros) per megawatt-hour (MWh), down from $62 (53 euros) per MWh on Tuesday.

Europes gas prices jumped by about 60% between February 28, the day on which the U.S. and Israel started bombing Iran, and April 7, just before the ceasefire was announced.

On April 8, the market tentatively hopes that a potential re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz could allow LNG tankers to finally transit the critical chokepoint for energy trade and ease the gas supply crunch of the recent weeks.

No LNG cargo has transited the Strait of Hormuz in over a month, as two vessels carrying Qatari LNG were forced to abandon an attempt to exit the Strait of Hormuz in what would have been the first export of Qatari LNG since the war began.

Despite the evident market relief with commodities prices slumping and equities rallying after the ceasefire announcement, the physical supply tightness in the LNG market is set to continue.

Qatars LNG is not only trapped in the Strait of Hormuz, for now, but its key liquefaction complex Ras Laffan, the worlds largest, sustained extensive damage in an Iranian missile strike in the middle of March.

The strikes and damage have forced Qatar to shut in production and repairs could take up to five years to complete.

Infrastructure damage inflicted during the six-week conflict cannot be quickly reversed, Fabien Yip, market analyst at IG Bank, said in a note on Wednesday.

The disruption to supply will weigh on energy prices well beyond any ceasefire window, the analyst noted.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Jimmy Kimmel has slammed Donald Trump for his aggressive rhetoric on Iran.

Jimmy Kimmel has poked fun at Donald Trump's Iran threats

The 58-year-old talk show host is a vocal critic of the US President and used his opening monologue on Tuesday's (07.04.26) of Jimmy Kimmel Live! to take aim at Trump's threat that "a whole civilisation will die tonight" unless the Gulf nation agreed to re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

Kimmel said: "Probably the most dangerous episode of The Celebrity President yet today: It was D-day. In this case, the 'd' stands for 'dementia', but it was D-Day today.

"We're coming to you from Los Angeles where the local time's just after 5pm, which was Trump's deadline for Iran to quote, 'Open the effing strait or you'll be living in hell.' He gave a hard cut off time of now  of right now. And then this morning he wrote, 'A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.'"

As the audience jeered, the presenter continued: "I agree. I'm against civilisations being annihilated as well. Thank you for taking a stand.

"Realise this is the same man that was just bitching about losing the Nobel Peace Prize. Now he's threatening a civilisation with death. He went from Mahatma Gandhi to General Zod like that.

"And so all day today, everyone  most notably the people of Iran  were wondering if their civilisation was going to die tonight. Well, good news: It didn't. It was the Taco Tuesday of all taco Tuesdays, as our president decided not to drop the chalupa for at least another two weeks.

"He announced that at the request of Pakistan, which has been facilitating negotiations, he was giving Iran two weeks to live."

Kimmel suggested that Trump "has the memory and skin colour of a goldfish" as he pointed out that the White House chief frequently backs down from wild threats.

The comedian explained: "This is how it goes every single time: Trump says something insane  he says, 'I'm going to kill everybody tomorrow at 5pm'  we all freak out, and then he backs (down). He's like, 'You know what? Actually, I'll kill everyone in two weeks.'

"And then we relax, and then he forgets he ever said it in the first place. He has the memory and the skin colour of a goldfish."
U.S. Oil & Gas giant Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) has signaled that surging oil and gas prices triggered by the conflict with Iran could increase its first-quarter upstream earnings by up to $2.9 billion, with the oil price boost expected to outweigh production disruptions in the Middle East.

Exxon estimates that disruptions to its assets in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar will lower its global oil-equivalent production by 6% in the first quarter compared to Q4 2025, but higher commodity prices are projected to provide a profit lift between $2.1 billion and $2.9 billion compared to the previous quarter. Attacks in Qatar impacted two LNG trains, which represented roughly 3% of Exxon's 2025 upstream production. Exxon is scheduled to report its full Q1 2026 results on May 1, 2026.

Exxon has announced that downstream earnings could face a temporary reduction of $3.3 billion to $5.3 billion, primarily due to "unusually large, negative timing effects" related to derivatives and shipping. The company also expects to record a one-time impairment of $600 million to $800 million due to war-related shipping disruptions. However, Exxon CFO Neil Hansen has stated that these effects are temporary, and profits will "unwind" and transform into material gains in later quarters once physical shipments reach customers.

Meanwhile, Exxon could also benefit from non-fossil fuel tailwinds. UBS has reiterated its Buy rating and $171 price target for ExxonMobil (XOM), driven by anticipated profit gains from a global helium shortage.

According to the Wall Street analyst, the disruption of Middle Eastern supply positions enables Exxon to gain from higher prices and increased demand for its secure, non-Qatari helium supply after military strikes on Qatars Ras Laffan complex in March 2026 sidelined approximately 31% of global helium production.

The closure of the Strait to Western commercial shipping has effectively cut off Middle Eastern helium exports, which must be transported in specialized cryogenic ISO containers by sea. Exxon's LaBarge, Wyoming, facility is seen as being critical to meeting global demand for high-tech industries, including semiconductors and medical imaging. On Wednesday, a tentative and highly fragile U.S.-Iran ceasefire deal saw Brent crude plunge to $92/barrel and reports emerge of two vessels braving the Strait of Hormuz in a test-case for a sustainable cessation of hostilities that traders will likely be eyeing with a fair amount of skepticism.



By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com

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India is expected to receive this week its first cargo of Iranian oil in seven years, after the U.S. last month unsanctioned purchases of Iran's oil already loaded on tankers.

The world's third-largest crude oil importer is set to import the cargo in the coming days, according to vessel-tracking data cited by Reuters.

Last month, the U.S. issued waivers for the purchase of Russian and Iranian crude on tankers in a desperate attempt to curb the surge in international crude oil prices.

India, which stopped importing Iranian crude in 2019 to comply with the U.S. sanctions, is now scrambling for crude supply as its imports from the other Middle Eastern producers account for about half of all its crude purchases. Supply from the Middle East has been severely constrained over the past weeks due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Last week, India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said that India imports crude oil from more than 40 countries, "with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources & geographies based on commercial considerations."

"Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports, contrary to the rumours being circulated," the ministry said in a post on X following reports that a tanker carrying Iranian crude has diverted from India to China.

"India's crude oil requirements remain fully secured for the coming months," the oil ministry noted.

Apart from buying Iranian oil for the first time in seven years, India has also returned to buying Russian crude en masse, thanks to a separate U.S. waiver.

India's imports of Russian crude oil jumped by 90% in March versus February, following the major supply disruption in the Middle East and the U.S. waiver of purchases of Russian crude already loaded on tankers.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline, a critical artery bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, was reportedly hit in an Iranian drone attack on Wednesday, Reuters has reported. According to the report, a pumping station along the 1,200 km pipeline was struck by a drone early morning on Wednesday. Prior to the attack, the pipeline was pumping at its emergency capacity of 7 million barrels per day (bpd) to bypass the shuttered Strait of Hormuz.

The strike occurred just hours after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire announcement, which has so far failed to halt regional hostilities.

The East-West pipeline has been serving as Saudi Arabia's primary remaining export outlet since the war began in late February, with roughly 5 million bpd of crude exported via the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

The strike occurred just hours after a U.S.-Iran ceasefire announcement, which has so far failed to halt regional hostilities.

Other facilities in the kingdom were also targeted in the wave of strikes, which the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed included oil facilities owned by American companies in Yanbu. This disruption came amid expectations of a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as part of the ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran. Reports of the damage are likely to temper optimism generated by the ceasefire, with crude prices pulling back sharply from multi-year highs after the deal was announced.



While the East-West pipeline has been acting as a crucial safety valve for Saudi Arabia, it can only act as a stopgap due to limitations from increased Houthi security threats in the Red Sea, logistical constraints on volume, and inability to handle LNG exports. The Bab el-Mandeb strait has become the primary bottleneck for global energy security since the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway is currently the only maritime link for oil diverted from the Persian Gulf via Saudi Arabia's East-West Pipeline.

The strait remains a major vulnerability, with previous threats showing the potential to halt shipping in the Red Sea. Further, the pipeline cannot replace the full 15 million barrels that typically flow through the Persian Gulf, with overall exports from the region remaining below pre-crisis levels.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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Yet another tanker has passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the latest sign of a modest restoration of oil flows via the chokepoint. The tanker is operated by Malaysias Petronas and carries Iraqi crude, Bloomberg reported, citing the Malaysian oil company.

The vessel is loaded with Iraqi crude and is headed to our refinery in Pengerang, Petronas told the publication. Malaysian media, meanwhile, reported that the vessel, Ocean Thunder, is one of a total of seven tankers that Iran has allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz after negotiations with the Malaysian government.

Earlier in the week, two tankers carrying LPG for India were also allowed to pass the strait after Iran began making individual passage deals with foreign governments. The past few days have also seen three Oman-operated vessels clear the chokepoint, as well as a French container ship and a Japanese gas carrier, the New Straits Times reported. China, Russia, Turkey, and Pakistan are also among the countries that Iran is allowing to send ships via the Strait of Hormuz.

Windward on Tuesday reported that a total of 11 vessels had traversed the strait on April 5, along two corridors, one under the control of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps and another along the coast of Oman, which, although farther from the Iranian coast and the IRGC, is nevertheless a potential target for strikes from Iran.

Vessels primarily moved through the Iranian-controlled corridor north of Larak Island, hugging Iranian territorial waters rather than using the standard commercial lanes, the Israel-based traffic tracking firm reported, adding that the southern corridor along the strait had seen the recent passage of three Omani vessels, including an LNG carrier, which was the first to traverse Hormuz since the start of the war.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran, hours before a deadline he had set before he rained hell on the country. The ceasefire is contingent on Irans agreement to stop blocking tanker traffic via Hormuz. Irans foreign minister, Abbas Aragchi, said Iran would ensure safe passage through the strait.

Markets will now be watching tanker flows closely to see if there is a notable increase with the ceasefire in place.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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Oil prices plunged below $100 in early Asian trading on Wednesday after President Trump announced a conditional two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran.

At the time of writing, WTI had dropped by 13.96% to trade at $97.18, while Brent Crude had fallen to $95.05, down 13.01% on the day.

The dramatic selloff came on the back of Trump committing to a two-week suspension of military operations against Iran if the country immediately restores safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! Trump said on social media, marking a sharp reversal from his earlier warning that a whole civilization will die tonight if Iran failed to comply with U.S. demands.

Irans Foreign Minister, Abbas Araqchi, confirmed that Tehran would halt attacks provided strikes against Iran cease and transit through the Strait is coordinated by Iranian forces.

Despite the breakthrough, tensions remain elevated across the region, with several Gulf states reporting missile launches, drone activity, or issuing civil defense warnings.

While oil prices have fallen back below $100, they remain significantly elevated after surging by a record amount in March. Regardless of how successful the ceasefire is, geopolitical risk related to the Strait of Hormuz is likely to remain elevated for the foreseeable future under the control of Iran.

Trump indicated that negotiations may be progressing toward a more durable agreement, citing a 10-point proposal from Iran that he described as a workable basis for long-term peace.

Pakistans Prime Minister has invited both sides to Islamabad on Friday to negotiate a conclusive agreement and settle all disputes.

With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

I warmly welcome the  Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) April 7, 2026

For now, oil markets are breathing a sigh of relief, but volatility isnt going anywhere as traders continue to watch developments across the region. Ultimately, the single most important factor to watch will be how many tankers cross the Strait of Hormuz with this new agreement in place.

By Josh Owens for Oilprice.com

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The state of Queensland on Wednesday urged Australias federal government to fast-track the approval of the Taroom Trough project that would see the first new oil development project the country in 50 years.

The Queensland state government is throwing its support behind the Taroom Trough project for oil extraction at a site west of Brisbane and calls on the federal government to assess the development plan under the National Interest Fast-Track Assessment Pathway, removing delays in bringing mass oil production to market.

Amid the major fuel supply crunch in Australia, the Queensland government is seeking accelerated approval timelines for the Taroom Trough project, which would bolster the nations long-term fuel security, the state government said on Wednesday.

The first barrels of oil from the Taroom Trough are now making their way into the domestic fuel supply with Shell producing 200 barrels of crude oil a day, which is being refined at iORs Eromanga refinery, and produced into diesel.

To support the development of the Taroom Trough as a major oil supply for domestic fuel, the Queensland Government has announced it will streamline roads and trunk infrastructure under a new Taroom Trough Development Plan, and now wants the federal government to fast-track the approval.

Australias Environment Minister, Murray Watt, told Sky News today that the federal government had not received yet any proposal from the Queensland Government around this development.

Watt added, however, Were open to any good idea thats being put forward to build our sovereign capability, as long as they stack up economically and environmentally.

Earlier this year, the Queensland government appointed its preferred tenderers to explore for oil and gas in the Taroom Trough, in a move to potentially open Australias first new major hydrocarbon province since the 1970s.

This was just weeks before the war in the Middle East roiled global oil and fuel markets, forcing Australias government to intervene to preserve domestic supply and protect consumers by halving the fuel excise on gasoline and diesel for three months in a bid to alleviate financial stress from spiking fuel prices.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

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No Tax Oregon Urges Gov. Kotek to Stop Delaying, Veto SB 1507

Delay tactics are harming Oregonians constitutional right to make their voices heard.

By No Tax Oregon, Press Release,

SALEM, OR  Oregon Freedom Coalition (OFC) and No Tax Oregon urge Governor Tina Kotek to take action on SB 1507, the $300 million tax increase gut punch to small businesses.

During debate of SB 1507 on the house floor, Representative Ed Diehl announced his intention to refer the bill to the voters in November.

OFC welcomes the effort and No Tax Oregon stands firmly behind the signature gathering efforts of the referendum. Oregonians will have until early Junethe constitutionally allotted 90 daysto collect roughly 80,000 signatures to refer SB 1507 to the November ballot.

However, Governor Kotek, Speaker Julie Fahey, and Senate President Rob Wagner are again playing games to limit the voice of Oregonians on a bill that severely impacts their wallets.

Lawmakers passed SB 1507 on February 25, with more than two weeks left in the short session. Speaker Julie Fahey and Senate President Rob Wagner used procedural gimmicks to delay the transmission of the bill to Governor Kotek so that her timeframe to sign the bill overlaps with Oregonians timeline to collect signatures. Delaying the signing of SB 1507 effectively cuts the constitutionally allotted timeframe in half.

Representative Ed Diehl, President of OFC and a Chief Petitioner on the upcoming referendum, emphasized the impact SB 1507 has on Oregonians and the need to refer the bill to voters:

Oregonians are taxed enough already. This $300 million tax increase hurts small businesses and working families at a time when we must make Oregon more affordable, not more expensive. SB 1507 denies businesses key federal tax relief on equipment investments. Instead of supporting job creators, it protects government spending at the expense of Oregonians.

Representative Dwayne Yunker, the second Chief Petitioner, criticized the Governors lack of leadership:

This is the same playbook we saw in 2025 with the Gas Tax Referendum, the Governor trying to run out the clock to avoid accountability. Now with SB 1507, shes refusing to sign so Oregonians cant exercise their right to referendum. Thats not leadership, thats blocking the people.

Nick Stark, Executive Director of OFC and the third Chief Petitioner, reiterated OFC and No Tax Oregons commitment to protecting Oregon taxpayers:

Oregon Freedom Coalition and No Tax Oregon have proven their ability to defend Oregon taxpayers when Salem imposes its will on their wallets. SB 1507, which essentially amounts to small business robbery, was passed with very little public scrutiny. We intend to give voters a say on whether their taxes go up. This bill will be on the ballot in November alongside the same politicians who think they do not have to be held accountable to the people of Oregon.

No Tax Oregon is taking volunteer sign-ups for the referendum petition. For more information, visit NoTaxOR.com.


Rep. Yunker Calls for Civil Rights Investigation of Portland State University

By Oregon State Representative Dwayne Yunker,

GRANTS PASS, Ore.  Representative Dwayne Yunker (R-Grants Pass) today issued a formal letter to Ben Cannon, Executive Director of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC), demanding an investigation into whether Portland State University (PSU) is violating state and federal civil rights laws.

The inquiry specifically cites the PSU Office of Academic Innovations promotion of the book Culture Clash as a Faculty Book Club selection for Spring 2026. Yunker argues that using state resources to encourage faculty to adopt racial stereotyping creates a hostile educational environment in direct conflict with established civil rights protections.

The Legislative Assembly maintained PSUs funding during the 2026 short session as an act of trust. It is a profound violation of that trust to use state resources to promote professional development that relies on divisive and disparaging racial stereotypes, said Representative Yunker.

As the HECC prepares the HB 4124 report on program financial viability and drafts the budget ask for the next biennium, we must scrutinize whether these administrative offices are a responsible use of taxpayer dollars. PSU is encouraging faculty to view students through reductive racial lenses, which stands in total opposition to the principles of equity and fair treatment, Representative Yunker continued.

We work for the people, and they deserve an immediate investigation into whether these programs violate civil rights protections by characterizing a large segment of Oregons student population in uniformly negative terms. The era of automatic funding renewals is over; future investment must be contingent upon statutory compliance and institutional integrity, said Representative Yunker.
Katie Price has been banned from driving for a seventh time.

Katie Price has been hit with another driving ban

The 47-year-old former glamour model has been hit with her latest punishment for failing to respond to police letters regarding a speeding ticket.

A Ford Capri registered in Katie's name was recorded driving at 80mph in a 70mph stretch of the A64 near the village of Stutton, North Yorkshire, in October 2025.

North Yorkshire Police wrote to the former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star to ask her to confirm if she was driving the vehicle. She has since been convicted of failing to respond and has been handed a six-month ban and a legal bill totalling more than 1,000.

Court papers show that Katie was charged with speeding and failing to give information relating to the identification of the driver of a vehicle - although the speeding charge was later withdrawn.

Magistrate Claire Sagar, sitting at Harrogate Magistrates' Court last month, found Price guilty of failure to respond to police charge and ordered the star to pay a 660 fine, 120 in costs and a 264 victim surcharge.

Katie's latest driving disqualification was handled in the Single Justice Procedure, a secretive court process where magistrates deal with cases behind close doors.

Due to secretive element of the process, it is not clear if Katie had the opportunity to argue against another driving ban  or whether the court knew of her previous driving offences.

Price's latest conviction means she has now received bans totalling more than six years since she was first disqualified from driving in 2010.

Meanwhile, Katie recently got married for the fourth time to businessman Lee Andrews in Dubai and insists that this relationship is "different" from her previous romances.

The star  who was previously married to Peter Andre, Alex Reid and Kieran Hayler  told The Sun newspaper last month: "I thought Id been in love before but this feels different.

"Its not even about lust, its just instant connection on all levels. I fell in love with him long before I had sex with him.

"Lee ticks every box: hes the most intelligent man I have ever been with, he has amazing legs, he makes me laugh, hes protective  in a non-jealous way  and hes had life experience.

"I am the happiest Ive ever been because I love myself. And if you dont love yourself, you cant love anyone else.

"Ive learned now that I dont need a man. I always used to need a man in my life whereas now I dont need a man, I just want one."
High-priority suspect wanted by U.S. authorities recaptured in Cancun

Cancun, Q.R.  A suspect considered a high-priority target wanted in the U.S. has been recaptured in Cancun. The arrest of Remigio N took place last week, however, it was not until this week that local authorities provided any information.

In a statement, the Secretariat of the Navy, who were part of the recapture operation, confirmed the rearrest of Remigio N in the city of Cancun last week. Remigio N was wanted in the U.S. and scheduled for extradition earlier this year, however, he was arrested April 2 while driving in a residential subdivision of Cancun.

According to local authorities, Remingion N was scheduled for extradition from the Mexico City North prison.

During his April arrest, another man was also taken into custody and the pickup they were driving, seized. In their statement, authorities said Remigio N is an operational and financial coordinator of a criminal group.

He had an extradition order to the United States for trafficking in persons, drugs and international smuggling, they reported.

As a result of intelligence and investigative work to monitor criminal organizations, officers located a subject wanted by U.S. authorities.

With the information obtained, supervisory tours were carried out in the Residencial Arbolada subdivision of Cancun where security agents detained two people and, after carrying out a security inspection, 38 doses of marijuana and a gray truck were seized.

After verifying his identity, Remigio N was transferred by air to Mexico City to continue with the extradition process.

Police did not provide information as to how Remigio N was living freely in Cancun after an extradition order was issued for his transfer to the U.S. earlier this year.

In a brief note April 3, the SSC (Secretary of Citizen Security) of Quintana Roo said at the time of his arrest in an inter-agency operation, Remigio N was arrested. He is accused of organized crime and aggravated human trafficking and was handed over directly to Interpol.

The arrest took place in the municipality of Benito Juarez where he was located. This individual was wanted by the United States government and had an extradition order issued by a district judge of the Federal Criminal Justice Center in Mexico City, located at the North Prison.

Remigio N was arrested at the beginning of the year in Quintana Roo for illegal drug and firearm possession.

Remigio N was arrested earlier this year in the state of Quintana Roo for illegal drug and firearm possession. He was transferred to Mexico City for his extradition to the U.S., however, he was located living in Cancun last week.

In their statement, authorities did not comment on how he became to live in Cancun after his arrest and ordered extradition. Remigio Valdez Lao, alias Milo, is the alleged operational coordinator of the Cuban-American Mafia.
State officials hold meeting with Akumal residents over arrest and land ownership

Akumal, Q.R.  State officials say they are prioritizing legal matters in addressing territorial issues with area residents. The address is in response to recent land ownership events in the community of Akumal.

On Tuesday, the Quintana Roo State Agency for Strategic Projects (Agepro) participated in a working meeting convened by the Tulum City Council. Both sides met with the purpose of providing institutional follow-up to the situation raised by residents of the area.

Akumal residents protested Monday night. April 6, 2026.

During the meeting, a space for dialogue was created in which representatives of the community participated, as well as the general director of AGEPRO, Carlos Flores Hidalgo.

Both sides listened to proposals and addressed the issues related to the occupation and legal status of various properties.

During the meeting, it was reiterated that the review, validation and determination of the legal status of the properties corresponds to the competent authorities, so any resolution will be carried out in accordance with current regulations and in strict adherence to the rule of law.

As a result, it was agreed to follow up on mechanisms that allow for orderly access to the natural spaces of the area for the benefit of the community, as well as to keep the channels of communication open between authorities and citizens.

The Quintana Roo State Strategic Projects Agency reaffirms its commitment to continue working in a coordinated manner and prioritizing dialogue, legality and territorial planning for the well-being of the people.

The Tuesday meeting was held after a protest by Akumal residents regarding the arrest of a local man. The man was taken into police custody for being on land that, according to residents, he was hired to guard.

The man was arrested for being on the property after a complaint of land ownership was filed with local authorities. The arrested man has since been released.
Young tourist dies by drowning inside artificial lagoon of Cancun residential complex

Cancun, Q.R.  Paramedics pronounced a swimmer dead inside a residential complex Tuesday night. The 22 year old, who has not been named, died by drowning while using the onsite pool.

The youths body was covered with a sheet Tuesday night. April 7, 2026.

Emergency 9-1-1 was notified of the accident at around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday night. Emergency responders were sent to the Dreams Lagoon residential complex in the southern part of Cancun in response to the report.

A male, who had been swimming in the artificial lagoon, was found pulled out of the water. He was thought to be unconsciousness, however, paramedics confirmed he had died.

According to available information, medics applied CPR but were unable to recover his vital signs.

The area was cordoned off while police waited for the coroner.

The young man was lagoon-side with other friends when he entered the water on his own. They rushed out to get him when they saw him floating in the lagoon. The group, including the victim, are reported to be tourists from Mexico City.
Keanu Reeves has urged aspiring actors to respect their colleagues.

Keanu Reeves has offered some advice

The 61-year-old actor - who stars alongside Cameron Diaz in Outcome, the new black comedy movie - has offered some words of wisdom to those hoping to follow in his footsteps.

He told E! News: "Try not to be a f****** a******. Go to work and respect who you're working with until they prove they don't get your respect. Try not to be [an a******]. It might not work out, but try."

Cameron, on the other hand, noted that every person who encounters fame and success experiences it differently.

The Hollywood star said: "I would say there's no handbook or manual on being famous, so you have to write your own and follow your own manuscript. You got to just make it your own. You can't really do it - you don't know what it's going to be. Reach out to other people that you admire, the way that they do it, and ask them for some advice."

Meanwhile, Keanu previously revealed that he was encouraged to change his name when he first arrived in Hollywood.

The actor has enjoyed huge success in the movie business, but his manager thought Keanu's name might stunt his career prospects.

During an appearance on the New Heights podcast, Keanu explained: "I got paid when I was like 16, so I was a professional actor around 16, 17 [years old].

"I was in Toronto, Canada, and then I got a manager who lived in Los Angeles ... At 20 years old, I drove in my car to Los Angeles. Got out of my car and my manager said, We want to change your name. So thats like, a welcome to Hollywood [moment].

"I remember I was walking on the beach and I was just like, My name? What if I change my name? What?'"

Keanu actually considered changing his name to "Chuck Spadina" at one point in time.

He shared: "My middle name is Charles, so I was like, Chuck? And I grew up on a street called Spadina, [therefore] Chuck Spadina. And then I was something Templeton. So then I became KC Reeves.

"I was credited as KC Reeves  And then I couldnt do it. So then I would be in auditions and they would go, KC Reeves. And I wouldnt even answer. Six months later, I was like, Im not doing this. Thats a Hollywood moment."
At the invitation of Premier of the State Council Li Qiang, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will pay an official visit to China from April 11 to 15.



At the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the DPRK, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi will visit the DPRK from April 9 to 10.

CCTV: On the upcoming visit of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, can you share the arrangement and Chinas expectations for the visit?



Mao Ning: This will be the prime ministers fourth visit to China within four years. It will also be another important high-level exchange between China and Spain shortly after last years visits to China by the King and prime minister of Spain. During the visit, President Xi Jinping will meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhao Leji will hold talks and meet with him respectively for in-depth exchanges of views on the bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

Spain is an important cooperation partner of China in the EU. Over recent years, under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries, bilateral relations have achieved robust development, and cooperation in various fields has made solid progress, which effectively improved the wellbeing of both peoples. The upcoming visit of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will provide another opportunity for China and Spain working together to deepen strategic mutual trust, have closer exchanges and cooperation, and step up coordination on multilateral affairs, so as to bring the China-Spain relations to a new height and make greater contribution to world peace and stability.

Sky News: President Donald Trump suggested that he believes it was China that pushed Iran to negotiate the ceasefire deal that we now have. Are you able to confirm that this is true, if China was involved with bringing those parties to the table? And secondly, if China was involved, there already seemed to be quite significant discrepancies and confusion about some of the terms, particularly whether Lebanon is included in the ceasefire and whether the enrichment of uranium is part of the 10-point plan presented to the Americans. Are you able to shed any light on any of those specifics? And crucially, is the deal falling apart before it even really began?



Mao Ning: Since the fighting began, China has worked actively to help bring about an end to the conflict. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made 26 phones calls with his counterparts from relevant countries. The Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on the Middle East Issue traveled to the Gulf and Middle East region in a mediation effort. China and Pakistan jointly put forward the five-point initiative for restoring peace and stability in the Gulf and Middle East region. As a responsible major country, China will continue playing a constructive role and making positive contribution to restoring peace and tranquility in the Gulf and Middle East region.

China Daily: To follow up on Foreign Minister Wang Yis visit to the DPRK, can you share the program and Chinas expectation of the visit?



Mao Ning: China and the DPRK are traditional friends and neighbors connected by mountains and rivers. It is an unswerving strategic policy of the CPC and the Chinese government to maintain, consolidate and develop China-DPRK relations. Foreign Minister Wang Yis upcoming visit is an important step for the two sides to act on the common understandings between the top leaders of the two parties and two countries and to advance the development of China-DPRK ties. China stands ready to work with the DPRK to step up strategic communication, enhance exchanges and cooperation, and further advance China-DPRK traditional friendship and cooperative ties.

Sputnik: It was previously reported that Iran intended to collect shipping fees from each vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz and split the revenues with Oman. Whats Chinas position on this? And given that China is in touch with all sides, can the foreign ministry confirm if this model applies to the ceasefire arrangement that was just brokered?



Mao Ning: The Strait of Hormuz is an important international trade route for goods and energy. Keeping the area safe and stable and ensuring unimpeded passage serves the common interest of the international community. We hope that all sides can work together for the early resumption of normal traffic at the Strait.

China News Service: Weve learned that Pakistani and Afghan delegations recently met with Chinese delegation in Urumqi. Can you confirm that and whats your comment?



Mao Ning: Based on the common understandings reached between Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Afghan Minister of Foreign Affairs Amir Khan Muttaqi, representatives of the three sides held week-long informal talks in Urumqi, Xinjiang from April 1 to 7. The cross-departmental delegations of the three sides include representatives from authorities in charge of foreign affairs, defense and security. The discussions were candid, pragmatic and proceeded in a sound atmosphere, which shows that the talks follow an approach oriented towards solving problems, striving for results and taking actions.

The Afghan and Pakistani delegations spoke highly of the Global Security Initiative and the Asian security model put forward by President Xi Jinping, in particular his important visions of seeking commonality despite differences, treating each other as equals, and championing dialogue and consultation for peaceful settlement of disputes. The two sides commended and thanked China for the mediation effort and thoughtful arrangement as the host country of the talks. They also expressed appreciation for Chinas fair and just position and utmost effort.

The Afghan and Pakistani sides reiterated that they follow the purposes and spirit of the UN Charter and the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, stay committed to resolving differences as soon as possible, work for the turnaround of Afghanistan-Pakistan relations, and agree to refrain from actions that may escalate or complicate the situation. China expressed readiness to maintain communication with both sides, provide the platform for dialogue, and continue to play a constructive role for improving and developing Afghanistan-Pakistan relations and enhancing practical trilateral cooperation among the three countries.

Intensive bilateral and trilateral meetings were held in seven days. China noted and summed up the talks and common understandings as follows: Afghanistan and Pakistan reiterated that the two countries are Muslim brothers and neighbors. The three sides believed that amid the turbulent and changing international and regional situation, maintaining friendly ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan is of vital importance to peoples in both countries as well as peace and stability in South Asia. The three sides stressed that dialogue and consultation is the viable and effective way to resolve complex international disputes, including the disputes between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The three sides agreed to discuss a comprehensive plan to resolve issues in the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and identified the core and priority issues. China stressed that terrorism is the core issue affecting Afghanistan-Pakistan relations. The three sides believed that the Urumqi process is substantive, and agreed to maintain communication and dialogue on the process.

Hubei Media Group: Its reported that the Security Council yesterday voted on the draft resolution on the Strait of Hormuz submitted by Bahrain. The resolution failed to pass after China and Russia vetoed against it. According to permanent representatives of China and Russia to the UN, the two countries submitted to the Council a new draft resolution on the current Middle East situation and maritime security. Can you share more details?



Mao Ning: On the draft resolution concerning the Strait of Hormuz voted at the Security Council, Chinas permanent representative to the UN in the explanation of vote has elaborated on Chinas stance. China maintains that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Gulf States should be fully respected, and the safety and security of shipping lanes and energy infrastructure should also be safeguarded. The root cause of the disruption at the Strait of Hormuz is the U.S.-Israel illegal military operations against Iran. The fundamental solution to ensuring safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz is to end the conflict as soon as possible. The Security Councils actions should be aimed at deescalating the situation. They must not provide the legal veneer for unauthorized military operations. The Councils actions must not grant a license to the use of force, let alone add fuel to the fire, thereby leading to an escalation of the conflict. Chinas position on the vote is objective and impartial, and will stand the test of history.

The draft resolution jointly submitted by Russia and China concerning the Strait of Hormuz has been officially circulated to Council members. The text of that draft resolution is objective and fair, aiming at easing tensions, calling for dialogue and negotiations, and upholding navigational rights and freedoms. It responds to what the international community calls for and we hope that it will receive extensive support. China is ready to work with parties concerned to make relentless effort for an early deescalation and restoration of peace and stability in the Strait and the Middle East region.

The New York Times: Did China make a specific request in the past couple of days to Iran to agree to some outline of a ceasefire?



Mao Ning: I just spoke on some of the work that China has done. We have been making active efforts to promote peace talks and end hostilities.

Anadolu Agency: I will also ask about the ceasefire deal. I want to learn about whats your comment about it, because there are parallels with your own during the crisis. There is a deal for two weeks and about opening of the Hormuz Strait. So we see some elements that China also was calling for. So I want to know whats your comment about the deal. Secondly, we know that Pakistan has brokered this deal. But I want to also learn, were you directly involved with any party during this process for the ceasefire, I mean specifically with one party and make recommendations to that party?



Mao Ning: China welcomes the announcement of the ceasefire arrangement by relevant parties. We support the mediation efforts by countries including Pakistan. We have all along been calling on parties to end hostilities as soon as possible and resolve disputes through political and diplomatic channels to achieve enduring peace and security in the Gulf and Middle East region. China has made active effort to this end.

Sky News: Another question related to the Middle East. Despite the ceasefire agreements and the agreement to temporarily reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the energy crisis thats been caused by all this and that has hit Asia very very hard is likely to continue for some time. China has been accused throughout of being more insulated from that energy crisis because it continues to import sanctioned Iranian oil and then it obscures the fact it does this via shadow fleet and hard-to-trace transactions. Does China deny that it uses so-called teapot refineries to deal in sanctioned Iranian oil? And what do you say to the accusation that this trade has elongated the conflict?



Mao Ning: The root cause for the impact on world economy and energy security is the Iran conflict. China always stands firmly against illicit unilateral sanctions that have no basis in international law or the authorization of the UN Security Council.

Yonhap News Agency: First question, the DPRK fired ballistic missiles yesterday and today, a move in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. Whats Chinas comment? Second question, after ROK President Lee Jae Myung expressed regret over drone flights into the North, Kim Yo-jong, department director of the Central Committee of the Workers Party of Korea, said on Monday that President of the State Affairs Kim Jong-un assessed Lee as having a frank and broad-minded attitude. But the DPRKs first vice foreign minister, Jang Kum-chol, reiterated yesterday Pyongyangs unchanged hostile stance against Seoul. Whats Chinas comment?



Mao Ning: On your first question, we have noted varying descriptions of the nature of the projectiles.

On your second question, we have noted the recent statements. Chinas basic position on the Korean Peninsula issue remains unchanged.

Associated Press: A couple of questions. One related to Iran. Can you tell us a little bit more about the behind-the-scenes China is doing to try to solve this crisis? I know that maybe you cannot tell us a lot of details, but if you can talk about why China is privileging behind the scenes than going public in the effort? Second, Pakistan and Afghanistan, have you agreed on a new meeting here in China or not yet for the peace talks?



Mao Ning: On your first question, we have shared information about Chinas efforts on multiple occasions. China always advocates resolving disputes through political and diplomatic channels and maintains communication with various parties regarding this. We will continue working for easing tensions and bringing about a full stop of hostilities.

On your second question, I have shared information in detail just now. One of the important common understandings reached at the unofficial talks is that the three sides agreed to maintain communication and believed that the Urumqi process is substantive, so going forward, we can expect meetings at various levels.

The New York Times: Irans ambassador to China reportedly asked for a security guarantee from China just now. What is Chinas position? Would you consider security guarantee for Iran?



Mao Ning: We hope parties can properly settle disputes through dialogue and negotiation. China will maintain communication with all parties and continue to work for deescalation and put an end to the conflict.

BBC: In terms of securing this peace, has China made any specific offer to be part of that, for example, to send ships to the region or in any way play a role in making sure that the current peace holds?



Mao Ning: I have nothing to share on that.

EFE: According to reports, Brazilian authorities have added Chinese automaker BYD to a list of companies linked to labor conditions analogous to slavery following an inspection at one of its projects. What is Chinas view on this case?



Mao Ning: The Chinese government attaches great importance to protecting the lawful rights and interests of workers and always asks Chinese companies to abide by laws and regulations in their operation.

Reuters: U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the U.S. has been able to access Chinese rare earths, but the U.S. is nonetheless working on plurilateral agreements to boost alternative supplies. Should the U.S. be concerned about the return of Chinese curbs on rare earths export to the U.S.?



Mao Ning: For anything specific, Id refer you to competent authorities. China-U.S. economic and trade relations are mutually-beneficial in nature. The two sides need to jointly deliver on the important common understandings between the two presidents, and provide greater stability to China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation.

BBC: I want to ask you about the death of a Chinese researcher in the United States at the University of Michigan. Can you tell us if the Chinese government has any concerns regarding his death, especially since apparently his death followed some questioning from the authorities in the United States? Any more information on what China would like to see happen with this case?



Mao Ning: China has stated its position on the heartbreaking incident. Let me stress again that China calls on the U.S. to carry out a full investigation, give the family of the victim and the Chinese side a responsible explanation, and stop any discriminatory law enforcement targeting Chinese scholars and students in the U.S. China will continue to take what is necessary to firmly defend Chinese citizens legitimate and lawful rights and interests.

Associated Press: We have seen reports that Viet Nams top leader To Lam is planning to come to China. Do you have any information about that?



Mao Ning: I have no information to share at the moment.
On April 7, 2026, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to To Lam on his election as President of Viet Nam.

Xi Jinping stated that China and Viet Nam are a community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. In recent years, under the joint guidance and promotion of the leaders of the two parties and the two countries, China-Viet Nam relations have achieved leapfrog development, and the comprehensive strategic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the people of both countries. Since the beginning of this year, the two sides have maintained high-level strategic communication and continuously advanced all-round mutually beneficial cooperation, fully demonstrating the profound friendship of comrades plus brothers.

Xi Jinping stressed that, in the face of accelerating changes unseen in a century, stronger unity and coordination between China and Viet Nam serve the common interests of both parties and countries. Xi Jinping said that he attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two parties and the two countries, and stands ready to work with General Secretary and President To Lam to advance development and national rejuvenation, promote steady progress in the building of a China-Viet Nam community with a shared future, continuously strengthen respective socialist causes, and better benefit the two peoples, so as to inject greater stability and positive energy into the region and the wider world.

Also on April 7, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Le Minh Hung on his election as Prime Minister of Viet Nam. Li Qiang stated that he stands ready to work with Le Minh Hung to take the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries as the fundamental guidance, accelerate the building of a mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation framework, and make positive contributions to advancing the China-Viet Nam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
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Donald Trump announced a temporary ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday evening, a relief to those watching in horror to see whether the U.S. president would follow through on what looked like a threat to openly commit war crimes. But before that happened, a lot of liberals spent the day furious about Trumps morning vow on Truth Social that a whole civilization will die tonight if the Islamic republic refused to strike a deal. And while the anger at Trump was implied, they reserved special opprobrium for Democrats.

We dont need punditry from you, Senator. We need you to call for, and take, action, the progressive commentator Mehdi Hasan admonished Chuck Schumer after the Senate Democratic leader criticized Trumps threat as the work of a sick person. The left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, the subject of an ongoing debate over whether his controversial statements about Israel, Hamas, and 9/11 should preclude Democratic candidates from associating with him, wondered (in all caps, but Ill spare you) whether the partys elected officials had something to say about this strong language or should we have the 15th Hasan hates Israel and America we cant have him at our events convo?! Oh my bad, I didnt know Jeffries tweeted! mocked Briahna Joy Gray, a former top Bernie Sanders campaign staffer, referring to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the top House Democrat. In some cases, the calls were coming from inside the House: The only people the base are more upset with than Donald Trump is the ineffective leadership of the Democratic Party to stand up when a president of the United States is threatening genocide, Rep. Ro Khanna of California argued on MS NOW. Nina Turner, another former Sanders adviser, simply tweeted, Do something.

Some of these critics have made successful careers out of attacking their party from the inside; others are questionably described as Democrats at all. But their outrage seems to channel how a lot of rank-and-file Democratic voters currently see their partys elected officials: as feckless losers refusing to stand up to a president whos running roughshod over the Constitution and publicly flirting with genocide. That sentiment has helped drive the Democratic Partys approval ratings to historic lows, magnified activists and candidates calls to oust Schumer and Jeffries as its congressional leaders, and fueled antiestablishment challenges to incumbents in races across the country.

That perspective is understandable and, given the stakes, maybe even psychologically necessary. Its jarring and upsetting to contemplate your countrys nuclear-armed president intentionally targeting untold numbers of civilians in violation of international law. And in a constitutional democracy, the thinking goes, surely theres some way for the Democrats who occupy a co-equal branch of government to prevent that. But there are a few problems with this view. The biggest is believing that the minority party can rein in an errant, possibly unstable president if only it tries hard enough. Disheartening though it may be, theres very little Democrats in Congress can do on their own so long as the Republicans who control Washingtonbecause Americans chose to put them in powercontinue to back Trump. Whether its cutting Medicaid or courting Armageddon, the unfortunate reality is that elections have consequences.

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Most Democrats are, in fact, already doing the things their intraparty critics are demandingonly to run into near-uniform GOP opposition. Congressional Democrats have repeatedly proposed resolutions that would have curtailed Trumps ability to attack Iran, but the Republicans who control the House and Senate blocked them. While the 25th Amendment does in theory allow Trumps Cabinet to remove him for being unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, thats not a lever Democrats can pull either; a group that regularly tongue-bathes the president with paeans to his leadership seems unlikely to use it. And even if it did, Trump could contest the effort to replace him, a move that would require supermajorities in Congress to override. Liberal critics calls for Democrats to try to sway enough Republicans for that to happen are understandable but unrealistic; real life is not an episode of The West Wing. Many Democrats have also taken their case against the war public, attending No Kings protests last month that featured anti-war slogans and helped drive voter approval of the conflict further underwater. Getting crosswise with public opinion is sometimes enough to constrain a president. But as Trump has repeatedly proved, it usually isnt enough to constrain this president.

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Despite the futility of the endeavor, many Democrats keep trying anyway. In the hours after Trump issued his threat to end Iranian civilization, dozens called for his impeachment or removal. Others demanded that Republican leaders, whose assent they need to reconvene Congress, immediately come back to Washington to vote on resolutions that would end the war. Henry Cuellar, one of just four House Democrats who previously opposed such a measure, now says he would support it. Some of his colleagues have already proposed articles of impeachment against Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

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But until more congressional Republicans get on board, those efforts are doomed to fail. So far, just twoSen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rep. Nathaniel Moran of Texashave directly criticized Trump over his threat. Several have instead defended it. Rep. Sheri Biggs called it peace through strength on Tuesday. Hes negotiating Trump style, Rep. Don Bacon told Axios. Iran would be wise to take President Trump at his word, Senate Republicans official X account posted. Only a handful of sitting GOP lawmakers have indicated support for Democratic proposals to end the war, and the president would likely veto any that pass; overruling him would require dozens of Republican votes. Several have found ways to avoid blaming Trump for the conflict, and none have called for his impeachment. Unless the war escalates again, even a tenuous ceasefire likely makes that still more far-fetched. Its called The Art of the Deal for a reason, panicans and leftists, Rep. Randy Fine of Florida crowed after Trump announced a two-week pause in the fighting.

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Related From Slate What Kind of Person Talks Like ThisLet Alone a President at War? Read More

Some Democrats have accordingly tried to set expectations that may be less satisfying but are certainly more honest. Unfortunately, invoking the 25th is not realistic right now, given his oddball cabinet of sycophants and eccentrics, and Republican spines of foam,  Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island posted Tuesday. Or as Pod Save America host and former Barack Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau put it, Everyone can (rightly) call for impeachment and the 25th amendment all we want, butas everTrump will remain in office because Republicans want him there. Their party must be annihilated in the next election, and the election after that. Its the only way.

Those kinds of platitudes often invite eye-rolling complaints that Democrats are grasping for norms in an abnormal time. But as the partys romping performance in elections in Georgia and Wisconsin on Tuesday proved, theyre also correct. And they highlight an important irony to all of this intramural criticism: Some of the people now braying for Democrats to Do Something are the same ones who helped ensure that the party wouldnt be able to. Forced to decide in 2024 between Trump and Kamala Harris, several of Democrats loudest current detractors on the left instead created a permission structure for voters to evade the choice. Piker refused to endorse Harris because of the Biden administrations approach to the war in Gaza, a decision he has stood by. Gray, the former Sanders adviser, wrote two days before the election that a vote for Kamala Harris is a vote for genocide, adding, Genocide is worse than Donald Trump. The presidents threats suggest they werent so mutually exclusive after all.

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Im not arguing that criticizing Democrats is never fair game, and certainly Gaza isnt the only reason Trump won. But despite many voters frustration with the two-party system, American elections remain binary choices; elevating a divisive issue for one side definitionally risks helping the other, and its clear that making Gaza the preeminent moral question of the race for some voters ended up flattening important differences between the candidates that also carried stakes. One of those, it turns out, was over Iran. About a month before the election, after the Islamic republic launched a barrage of missiles at Israel, Harris vowed that she would never hesitate to take whatever action is necessary to defend U.S. forces and interests against Iran and Iran-backed terrorists. Yet she also told voters that diplomacy was her preferred path to stopping Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, criticized Trump for ripping up the deal the Obama administration struck to prevent that, and pledged to work with our allies and partners to disrupt Irans aggressive behavior and hold them accountable. Does that sound like a politician who would have blundered into a war of choice against her advisers counsel, at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus urging, and without the support of many U.S. allies?

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Despite Trumps manifest history of lying, its understandable that some voters were taken in by his pledge not to start new wars. Its less defensible that people whose job is to opine on politics decided to overlook Trumps record of threatening Iran, his naked alliance with Netanyahu, and the bellicose rhetoric that defined his first-term approach to foreign policyparticularly when the alternative was a relatively banal, mainstream Democrat.

It has become a common lament that Americas two dominant political parties are failing to serve most voters needs. And it is no doubt maddening for many, including those who did back Harris, that elected Democrats cant do more to reel Trump in. But the guardrails of our politics are only as high as voters allow them to be. In 2024, near majorities of those who cast ballots chose to make Trump president and to put Republicans in charge of Congress, no Electoral College quirks or gerrymandering shenanigans required. And in America, at least for now, you get what you vote for.
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Just 90 minutes before his 8 p.m. ET deadline Tuesday, President Donald Trump called off Armageddon, at least for two weekshis customary amount of time to delay harsh actions that he has threatened but, it turns out, doesnt really want to take.

Both Trump and the leaders of Iranwhich he had threatened to destroy as a civilization if it didnt open the Strait of Hormuzclaimed victory in the war, which had raged on for more than five weeks before the announcement last night of a two-week ceasefire.

Trump and his supporters claim that his relentless military pressure and his threat to bomb the country back to the Stone Age is what compelled Iran to give in. The Iranians are claiming that they didnt give in at allthat their regime is intact, despite the fact that U.S. bombs and missiles struck 13,000 Iranian targets and that Israeli airstrikes killed the top echelon of their leaders.

Certainly, Iran emerges from this war gravely wounded, but far from extinguished as a regional power. And indeed, a 10-point plan that its leaders proposed, and that Trump accepted as grounds for a ceasefire and the basis of negotiations, gives Iran almost every advantage.

The plan, which Pakistans leaders presented to Trump on Irans behalf, opens up the Strait of Hormuz to commercial trafficbut only in coordination with the Iranian military. In short, it proposes to give Iran control over the strait, which it did not have before the war began.

The plan also demands that the U.S. and other Western countries drop all economic sanctions against Iran, that Iran be allowed to enrich uranium (as enshrined, to some extent, as a right, by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty), that the ceasefire extend to Israels attacks on Lebanon, and that the U.S. withdraw from all its military bases in the Middle East. If taken literally, this would include some of the largest air and naval bases that the United States holds in the world.

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The fact that Trump accepted this list as a starting point for negotiations, and as good enough reason for dropping his threat to destroy Iran, tells Iranians (and everybody else in the world) that his threat wasnt serious to begin with. He clearly realized, as the countdown clock clicked on, that he had overstepped and was eager, even desperate, for an off-ramp.

In the end, Trump stopped the war (for now, anyway) without achieving any of the goals that he has cited, at various times, as rationales for going to war.

Iran has not agreed to end its nuclear programquite the contrary. (It is also believed to have almost 1,000 pounds of highly enriched uranium buried somewhere.)

The essence of the regimea theocratic state ruled by an appointed supreme leader and empowered by a large, well-armed militaryis still intact. (Trump has claimed success at regime change because the old leaders are dead and the new ones are less radical, but the first point is irrelevant, and the second has not yet been proven.)

Iran has fewer missiles and drones than it had before, but still more than enough to strike Israel and other countries in the region with missiles and drones.

Trump never had, and never articulated, a clear reason for going to war in the first placeat least not waging war so intensely. If he wanted to keep Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and thought diplomacy was a dead end, he could have bombed or raided the uranium sites (a repeat of what he did last summer but at different locations). If he wanted to wipe out Irans air force and navy, he could have done that and called it a day. There was no reason to destroy as much of the country as he did, much less to ponder destroying it completely.

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U.S. military commanders did what they generally do before launching an air and naval campaignthey drew up a list of targets and ordered which weapons would hit which targets when. After a month of bombing, they managed to hit all but about 3,000 of the targets on the list.

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In his televised address on Wednesday, his first public speech about the war, Trump hailed the victories that the U.S. military had achieved on the battlefield. But there were no victories. He didnt understand that hitting targets is not the same as winning a war. The former is a tactical matter; the latter is a strategic aimand in order to fulfill a strategic aim, you have to know what your strategy is; you have to define victory, something he never did.

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Out of desperation, frustrated that Iran would not surrender despite all the damage, the president escalated his rhetoric, threatening to bomb Iran back to the Stone Age, obliterate it as a civilization. Perhaps he thought the threatand the clear fact that American military power could inflict unspeakable destructionwould make the Iranians surrender. But surrender to what? He demanded so many things, so inconsistently, that even if the Iranians were willing to give in, they wouldnt know what they needed to do. In any case, they didnt give in; rather, they suspended the talks that they were having with Pakistani intermediaries. In the end, it was Trump who gave inwho accepted Irans 10 points (many of them objectively unacceptable) as the basis for a ceasefire and for negotiations to come.

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What happens next is unclear. If this all works out well enough, Trump might conclude that threatening to blow another country to smithereens is a good bargaining ploy for future confrontations. The problem is, it might not work with another country.

If the current arrangement doesnt work out, if the ceasefire doesnt hold, if Iran insists on conditions that Trump wont accept (and, in some cases, that no U.S. president would accept), then what happens? Does Trump resume the bombing? Does he escalate the war? To what end? To open the Strait of Hormuz without paying a fee to the Iranian military? Many will recall that passage through the strait was free before Trump started this war.

Whatever happens, the whole world is watching. Many leaders will conclude that Trumps threats were never seriousand therefore that any threats he levels in the future, against them or others, wont be serious either. TACO, theyll all cryTrump Always Chickens Outthough this too might be dangerous; at some point, he might not chicken out. To the extent other leaders mull this over, many will conclude that its time to develop their own nuclear weapons. Our allies may do this, realizing that the United States is no longer a reliable protector. (Some have already come to this conclusion.) Our adversaries or neutral powers may do this, as a deterrent against American aggression.

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This is the world Trump has spawned with his baseless war and ultimately with his deranged threat to wipe out another countrys entire civilization. One recalls Talleyrands famous gibe at Napoleon for executing the Duke of Enghien in 1804: Its worse than a crime; its a mistake. His point was that the murder turned Europes aristocracy against Napoleonwhich had a ruinous effect on his rule.

Related From Slate What Kind of Person Talks Like ThisLet Alone a President at War? Read More

If Trump had carried out his threat to destroy all of Iran, it would have been a hideous war crime. That he didnt follow through makes issuing the threat, to begin with, a huge strategic blunder. The president of the United States is revealed as an aspiring war criminal, a terrorist by inclination. The revelation that his talk was all bluffthe fact that he would invoke such obscene language in the middle of a very real war, in which his orders were killing thousands of people, without thinking anything throughuncloaks him, further, as an unserious man.

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He has eroded whatever moral high ground this nation ever stood on. He has scarred the image of the United States, not least among the Iranian people, many of whom have been pro-American (in part because their dread regime is anti-American) but who may now emerge distrustful of an American president who so callously talked of destroying their civilization. It is telling that Trumps appalling threats coincided with Vice President J.D. Vances trip to Hungary, where he (with Trumps backing) endorsed the reelection of Viktor Orban, Europes biggest supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has been killing civilians and bombing civilian structures in Ukraine for five yearsand who now no doubt sees a wink and nudge of validation not just in Trump and Vances verbal support but also in their bombing of civilians in Iran.

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In a sense, we should be thankful that Trump backpedaled from his threat and halted the violence, at least for a while. But peace is hardly at hand, and Trump has no ground to stand onhe has no strategy for dealing with Iran, he has alienated most of our allies, and if diplomacy really is the next step, he has fired or otherwise lost a huge number of our diplomats and largely ignored those still at their posts, relying instead on a real-estate tycoon and a son-in-law, who know nothing about the big picture or the fine details, some of them very technical, of what needs to be discussed.

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Trump says he will give Iran two weeks to negotiate a long-term peace. This, of course, is preposterous. It took 18 months for President Barack Obamas team and their international allies to negotiate the nuclear deal with Iran, and that dealt only with its nuclear program. (By the way, contrary to Trumps claims, this deal was quite effective in dismantling Irans nuclear programuntil Trump scuttled it, an act that, more than any other factor, led us to our current predicament.) Peace talks now will have to address Irans enriched uranium, ballistic missiles, and the Strait of Hormuz. And the Iranians will come into the talks thinking they have the upper hand.

If little progress has been made after two weeks, what will Trump doresume the war, extend the deadline, drop the whole subject and move on to the next invented crisis? Nobody knows, maybe not even Trump.
We are saddened to announce that Ronald Eugene Everly, 83, of La Plata, Maryland, passed away on March 29, 2026.



Born on October 9, 1942, in South Hill, Virginia, Ronald was the son of the late Harry Grafton and Clara Estella Everly.



After graduating from North Hagerstown High School, he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force. Assigned to Edwards Air Force Base, California and Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, he was stationed in Alaska in 1964 when the 2nd largest earthquake ever recorded hit.



Following his military service, Ron moved to Washington, DC and was employed by Riggs Bank. Ronald pursued higher education at the University of Maryland, University College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts.



On November 18, 1967, Ronald married the love of his life, Linda Ridenour Everly. Together, they shared decades of love, partnership, and devotion, while raising a family. He was a devoted father to his two children, Kara Everly Moore and Craig Scott Everly, both of La Plata, Maryland, and found joy in watching his family grow and thrive. In addition to his children, he is survived by his son-in-law Robert Moore, daughter-in-law Jennifer Lewis Everly, and grandchildren Benjamin Moore, Juliet Moore, Alexander Moore, Addison Everly, Layla Everly, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he is proceeded in death by his brothers James, Robert and Harry Lee Everly.



Ronald worked at the U.S. Senate Stationary Room for 20 years, retiring in 1988 to begin a second career. He went on to serve as Vice President of Exhibits at the National Association for Home Care & Hospice, a nonprofit trade association dedicated to supporting and advocating for the home care industry. He took great pride in his work and the friendship of his colleagues, retiring after 30 years.



Ronald enjoyed music, dancing, attending the theater, watching tv and movies, visits to the Outer Banks and traveling with his family. He was a lifelong Washington Redskins and Baltimore Orioles fan.



He will be remembered for his kindness, life-long friendships, and unwavering dedication to his family. His legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.



A memorial service will be held at a later date.



Condolences may be made to the family at www.brinsfieldfuneral.com In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Heart of America  Indigenous Community Initiatives, or a charity of your choice.



Arrangements by Brinsfield Funeral Home & Crematory, P.A., Charlotte Hall, MD.
With hearts full of love and deep sorrow, we announce the passing of our beloved Mary Eleanor Tippett Johnson, a lifelong resident of Oraville, Maryland, who entered eternal rest on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.



Known to many as Eleanor Johnson, but most lovingly called "Momma J" by her family, she was a woman whose warmth, kindness, and gentle spirit touched every life she encountered. After enduring a difficult year of health challenges, including injuries and illness, she faced a brief but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed peacefully, surrounded by love.



That she was called home on Easter Sunday brings profound comfort to those who loved her. The day of Christ's resurrectionsymbolizing victory over death and the promise of eternal lifebeautifully reflects the faith she carried and the peace she has now found, reunited with her beloved husband, Raymond.



Born on April 23, 1935, at home on the Morgan Brothers farm, Mary Eleanor was the daughter of John Louis Tippett and Mary Etoyle Hayden Tippett. One of eleven children, she was raised in a large, loving family where she learned the values of hard work, deep faith, and unconditional love.



She met the love of her life, Raymond Vernon Johnson, while working at the Federal Ordnance Plant in Oakville, Maryland. They were married on December 2, 1955, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mechanicsville, Maryland, and shared a beautiful life together for 70 yearsbuilt on devotion, laughter, and unwavering love.



Together, they raised three sons:

Ray Johnson (Debbie) of Bryantown, MD;

Donnie Johnson (Sherri) of Clements, MD;

and Gerry Johnson (Tammy) of Mechanicsville, MD.



She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Raymond Vernon Johnson.



Mary Eleanor is also survived by her cherished sisters, Bertha L. Russell (Albert) of Brooms Island, MD, and Mary E. Heier (Horst) of Mechanicsville, MD. She was preceded in death by her siblings Louis F. Tippett, Herman Tippett, Sr., Lola E. Morgan, Doris M. Downs, Hazel M. Copsey, Edna L. Morgan, Emma C. Marshall, and Catherine R. Morgan.



Her legacy continues through her grandchildren: Jennifer N. Johnson, Andy Fretwell, and Paul Michael Klear; and her adored great-grandchildren: Celina Rose Johnson, Krystal Laureano Johnson, Rayan Laureano Johnson, Emma Caroline Fretwell, Cori Rae Fretwell, and Joseph Allen Fretwell.



She loved her trips to Southwest Virginia (Laurel Fork) to visit with her niece and Goddaughter Lillie Mae. They used to talk endlessly on the phone. We are at peace knowing that she and Lillie Mae are together again talking endlessly.



Momma J found joy in life's simplest and most meaningful moments. In her younger years, she loved baking and decorating cakes for every occasion. She spent many years working in food service for St. Mary's County Public Schools, where she truly enjoyed seeing and caring for the children each day. She also worked tirelessly on the Johnson family farm, spending countless hours in the tobacco fields and stripping house alongside family.



She loved musicespecially old-time country, gospel, and bluegrassand never passed up a chance to dance. She cherished time with family, sharing laughter, stories, and special moments with her many nieces and nephews.



She had a deep love for bingo and treasured those outings with her niece Becky, family, and Tammycreating stories that will live on for generations.



She was a die-hard Washington Redskins fan (and proudly never accepted the name change), rarely missing a game and often recalling it play by play with remarkable detail.



Momma J was famously known as the family "weather girl." She kept a close eye on every stormand truth be told, she didn't mind when bad weather was headed her way. It often meant a "trip" to stay with her son Ray and daughter-in-law Debbie in Bryantown, where she felt like she was on vacationtreated like a queen and enjoying countless hours with her beloved grand-puppies, Lucy and Lexi.



She had a remarkable memory and could recall birthdays, anniversaries, and family history with incredible detail. A deeply sentimental soul, she saved every card and keepsake she ever received, earning her the title of family historian.



She found happiness in life's little routinestrips to the hair salon, rides to the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, quick outings to her favorite stores, and simply spending time with Tammy and Gerry. She was also deeply loved by the Hall family, who proudly claimed her as their honorary grandmother.



Her love for her family was boundless. Her sons were her world, but her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were her heart. The pride she carried for them was unmistakable and endless.



Visitation & Services



The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 16, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with prayers recited at 7:00 PM at Brinsfield Funeral Home, Charlotte Hall, MD.



A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, April 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Mechanicsville, MD.



Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, Mechanicsville, MD.



Pallbearers

Andrew Fretwell

Paul Klear

J.R. Heier

Jamie Johnson



In Loving Memory

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary Eleanor's honor to:



Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad (Company 29)

P.O. Box 15

Mechanicsville, MD 20659



Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department

P.O. Box 37

Mechanicsville, MD 20659



Hospice of St. Mary's

P.O. Box 625

Leonardtown, MD 20650



Our hearts will never be the same without you, but we are so blessed to have loved you and to have been loved by you. You were the heart of our family, and your love will live on in all of us. Thank you for your endless love, your laughter, and the beautiful memories you gave uswe will carry you in our hearts forever.



Forever and always, with all our love,

Your Family
Rege-Jean Page is "pretty passionate" about romcoms.

Rege-Jean Page stars in the new romcom

The 38-year-old actor stars alongside Halle Bailey in You, Me and Tuscany, the new romcom directed by Kat Coiro, and Rege-Jean has revealed why he's a fan of the genre.

He told People: "I mean, who doesn't want to swoon? It's kind of a facetious answer, but also the real answer is: who isn't interested in love?

"If there is a universal language, is that if it's from cavemen to now, if there's one thing that can bring everyone together, it's that every single person in this room is in some way interested in love and loving and being loved."

The Bridgerton star said the genre plays an important role in shaping culture, and that its absence from cinema would be felt far beyond the screen.

He said: "What happens when you don't have those stories in cinemas is that you don't have them in culture. You don't have movies where people use their words to talk through their problems and become better people by the end.

"And if you don't have that in culture, more importantly, as I was touching on at the beginning, if you don't have that shared culture, if you've only got that in the couch at home and how to love and be loved and your dreams are a secret that you keep to yourself with maybe your best friend, that's a problem, you know?"

Rege-Jean is "pretty passionate about that piece of culture" because these stories always show viewers how they can become "better versions" of themselves.

The movie star said: "And ideally, you do that as a community, as a society, as people who like being happy."

Earlier this month, Halle heaped praise on her You, Me and Tuscany co-star.

The actress told the Guardian: "Rege is so funny. He's such a warm, kind-hearted guy.

"I feel his English accent really comes out now that we're here in London. When we're in my home  LA  it goes in and out. I hope some of his English charm rubbed off on me."
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A bad actor out of North Korea is suspected of setting up an axios hijacking that has potentially compromised countless Windows PCs. | Credit: Getty Images | TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

It's been about a week since suspected hackers out of North Korea temporarily compromised axios, one of the world's most popular JavaScript HTTP client libraries. Now, more details are emerging about how the hack was achieved, and why it's pertinent knowledge for Windows, macOS, and Linux users.

The original hijacking occurred when bad actors were able to compromise axios maintainer Jason Saayman's primary account. This allowed for the publishing of two malicious axios versions to npm (a massive public registry of tools available for download) on March 30, 2026.

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The compromised uploads, axios@1.14.1 and axios@0.30.4, were quickly recognized by StepSecurity, and Saayman was able to remove them within about three hours of being published.

This was not opportunistic. It was precision. Ashish Kurmi (StepSecurity)

Despite the relatively quick action to remove the compromised uploads, axios usually sees more than 100 million downloads every week. This makes it difficult to determine exactly how many users downloaded the remote access trojan (RAT).

Saayman explains the entire axios supply chain compromise in a post mortem blog post published on GitHub, including some steps you can take to ensure that your machine (whether it's Windows, macOS, or Linux) is not compromised. I strongly recommend checking them out if you deal with axios, as the RAT is capable of stealing sensitive credentials from your system.

How do Microsoft Teams and Slack fit into the axios hack's timeline?

A fake Teams update installation played a key role in the axios hijacking. | Credit: Future

TechCrunch, in speaking with Google, brought the North Korea angle to light. The attack was attributed to UNC1069, a "financially motivated threat actor" who's been pulling these types of ploys "since at least 2018."

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North Korean hackers have deep experience with supply chain attacks, which theyve historically used to steal cryptocurrency. The full breadth of this incident is still unclear, but given the popularity of the compromised package, we expect it will have far reaching impacts. John Hultquist, Google Threat Intelligence Group chief analyst (via TechCrunch)

Here's where the story really takes off. According to Saayman, the timeline of the attack began roughly two weeks before March 31, when a "social engineering campaign [was] initiated against the lead maintainer."

Saayman goes into more details in the comments section of the post-mortem post. He explains that the bad actors "reached out masquerading as the founder of a company" after having cloned the founder's likeness and the company itself.

Saayman was then invited to a Slack workspace with all the right company branding, mock LinkedIn post sharing, and fake team profiles. After scheduling a meeting with Saayman on Microsoft Teams, a fake "missing update" requested a small install.

This, of course, was where the RAT was downloaded onto the maintainer's PC. Teams wasn't compromised; it was just faked and used as a medium to deliver the Trojan.

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As Saayman points out, "Everything was extremely well coordinated, looked legit, and was done in a professional manner." That's a tough one, and you do have to feel bad for anyone duped by such an elaborate ploy.

Axios is now investigating the breach and ways to avoid the same from happening again in the future.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.
XGIMI is ready to give your home theater setup a boostin more ways than one.

The Chinese technology company is about to release a new flagship line of 4K projectors, called the Titan Noir, that produce an image as immersive as those at your local cinema. The series is made up of three stylish devices that place more of an emphasis on contrast than were used to seeing from their peers.

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Home theater projectors, especially those of the 4K variety, have come a long way in recent years. Even accessibly priced entrants in the class can produce and image thatll make you feel like youre watching Dune: Part Two or Spider-Man: No Way Home at your local multiplex. Despite the jump in quality, theres one area where these projectors still lag behind premium TVs: contrast. Because of this, you need to use your projector in a pitch-dark room to really get the most out of it.

But not the Titan Noir series. Each member of the trio produces a 4K image that is bright and colorful but also depicts an accurate amount of contrast. The projectors come equipped with the companys Dual Intelligent Iris system, which features two physical iris modules that control light output in real time, resulting in inky blacks that are anything but washed out. The system adjusts scene by scene, too, ensuring the image always looks as crisp and colorful as it was intended to. You may still want to turn off the lights when movie time rolls around, but a little ambient light wont affect the experience as much.

All three projectorsa group that include the entry level Titan Noir, the mid-range Titan Noir Pro, and the fully loaded Titan Noir Maxcome with a RGB triple-laser light source, a projection size of up to 300 inches, and a 240 Hz refresh rate, meaning they can each be used for gaming. The difference between the trio comes down to brightness and contrast, with the range-topping model reaching up to 7,000 ISO lumens and offering a 10,000:1 contrast ratio. Each projector also features a slick, minimalist design that will blend into practically any room and Harmon Kardon-tuned audio.

XGIMI will launch a Kickstarter for the Titan Noir series on April 23. Pricing for the projectors ranges from $3,999 to $5,999, though early bird discounts will be available.

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Equinix announced the opening of its fourth International Business Exchange (IBX) data center in Mumbai, MB3. As one of the largest retail data centers in Mumbai, MB3 is designed to support high-performance workloads and hybrid multicloud deployments with liquid cooling capability for enterprises across India. The launch comes at a time when AI adoption, cloud migration, data localization requirements, and the rapid expansion of digital services are significantly increasing demand for secure, high-density, and globally interconnected infrastructure in India.

Tech News Of The Day

With an initial investment of over USD 95 million, MB3 provides more than 1,370 cabinets of capacity, with the facility designed to scale to more than 5,475 cabinets when fully built out. The data center is engineered to deliver high-performance, resilient digital infrastructure, enabling enterprises to interconnect with leading cloud service providers, networks, and partners while scaling digital services securely and efficiently. Its scalable, high-density, and energy-efficient design supports AI and machine learning workloads, data-intensive applications, and next-generation digital services.

The launch of MB3 aligns with a pivotal moment for Indias digital economy, which is on track to reach USD 1 trillion by 20272028, propelled by the rapid expansion of digital services and DPI platforms such as Aadhaar, UPI, and ONDC. As AI shifts from pilots to real-world inferencing at scale, enterprises face intensifying challenges around data gravity, latency, power density, and the imperative to keep sensitive data within secure, compliant local environments. Addressing these demands requires infrastructure that is not only high-density and AI-ready, but deeply interconnected and provides sovereignty safeguards. With private interconnection through Equinix Fabric, direct cloud on-ramps and a network-dense campus at the heart of Mumbai, MB3 enables enterprises to deploy AI closer to data, clouds, and users, while maintaining performance, data residency compliance, and the global reach needed to innovate and compete internationally.

Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Honble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, said, We are pleased to welcome Equinix, a global leader, on the launch of its first self-built data center in Mumbai. With Maharashtra hosting nearly 60% of Indias data center capacity, the addition of the AI ready MB3 data center, along with Equinixs solar plant in Yavatmal, further strengthens Mumbais position as the countrys premier digital hub. These investments reflect strong confidence in Maharashtras proinvestment policies and focus on sustainable, nextgeneration infrastructure. We look forward to expanding our partnership with Equinix.

With a cumulative investment of over USD 365 million across India, Equinix has made one of its largest sustained commitments to digital infrastructure in India, reflecting long-term confidence in the countrys digital growth trajectory. Across its Mumbai and Chennai campuses, connected via dedicated dark fiber, Equinix currently provides a combined capacity of more than 4,725 cabinets, enabling national-level redundancy and regional traffic optimization.

Equinix is home to more than 300 companies in India, including network service providers, five internet exchanges and enterprises across industries. Its Mumbai campus  MB1, MB2 and MB4  hosts a robust cloud ecosystem for customers in India, including native on-ramps to leading cloud service providers such as Alibaba Cloud, AWS, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, Oracle Cloud, SFDC, and more. MB3 is interconnected with Equinixs existing Mumbai campus and its newly launched data center in Chennai, CN1, giving customers seamless access to a broader digital ecosystem across India. Through Equinix Fabric, a secure software defined interconnection service, customers can dynamically connect to multiple clouds, partners and providers on demand, enabling agile hybrid multicloud deployments. Together, these capabilities allow enterprises to scale digital infrastructure seamlessly across India while accelerating digital transformation with secure and low latency connectivity.

Anil Kumar Nair, Head of IT Infrastructure & Cyber Security, Kotak Securities, said, Indias financial markets are moving faster than ever, and our infrastructure needs to keep pace. Low-latency connectivity, data sovereignty, and operational resilience are non-negotiable for us. Equinixs MB3 strengthens a campus we already trust, and gives us the density, interconnection and cloud adjacency to support our next phase of AI-driven innovation, whether thats real-time analytics, algorithmic trading infrastructure or next-generation client experiences.

Cyrus Adaggra, President, Asia-Pacific, Equinix, said, India continues to play a pivotal role in shaping AsiaPacifics digital future, and the opening of MB3 strengthens our ability to support customers as they navigate new growth driven by cloud adoption, AI innovation and increasing interconnection needs. With this expansion, organizations can now tap into greater capacity and a globally consistent platform, helping them accelerate transformation and unlock the full potential of Indias fastgrowing digital ecosystem. Equinix remains firmly committed to investing in India and building the infrastructure that empowers our customers to thrive.

Manoj Paul, Managing Director, India, Equinix, said, India is at a pivotal stage in its digital transformation, with growing AI and cloud adoption and stricter data localization requirement that are shaping the next phase of economic growth. The Union Budget 2026 proposals, including a tax holiday for global cloud providers leveraging India-based data center infrastructure and the introduction of safe harbor provisions, are viewed as strong policy enablers that reinforce the countrys position as a trusted global digital hub. As enterprises embrace hybrid multicloud and prepare for AI inferencing at scale, seamless interconnection between businesses, network service providers and hyperscalers becomes essential. The launch of MB3 comes at exactly the right time, providing the ecosystems, interconnection density and scalable capacity needed to power Indias next wave of digital expansion.

MB3 achieves 100% renewables coverage and aligns with the companys goal of achieving 100% renewables coverage across its global operations by 2030. Equinix has further reinforced its commitment to sustainability with its recent commissioning of a 26.4 MWp group captive solar project in India under a long-term renewable energy agreement with CleanMax. The project is expected to generate approximately 41.4 million kWh of clean energy annually, reducing over 30,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.

Globally, Equinix operates 280 data centers across 77 markets in 36 countries, serving over 10,500 leading businesses and enabling their digital transformation. In the Asia-Pacific region, Equinixs portfolio includes 64 data centers across key metros in Australia, China*, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore, providing interconnection and digital infrastructure solutions to support the regions dynamic economies.
While National Park Week is typically celebrated in April, that's not the case in 2026.

The annual week-long event historically has fallen around Earth Day on April 22, but it will be moved to August this year amid the 110th birthday celebrations for the National Park Service and the 250th anniversary of the United States. The National Park Service announced the 2026 National Park Week dates on March 20.

The new date is in part due to President Donald Trump's January 2025 executive order to "plan, organize, and execute an extraordinary celebration of the 250th Anniversary of American Independence." This is the same executive order that created "Task Force 250," and laid the groundwork for the public-private partnership called "Freedom 250," the driving force behind the "patriot games" and more.

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During National Park Week, parks across the nation, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, will host guided tours, educational exhibits and family activities.

Cars will be able to park at Great Smoky Mountains National Park for free on Aug. 25, according to the National Park Service. Here's what to know.

When is National Park Week?

National Park Week will be Aug. 22-30, according to the National Park Service.

What is the best month to go to the Smoky Mountains?

There is no better or worse time to visit Great Smoky Mountain National Park; however, your experience will differ depending on the time of year you're in the Smokies.

In the winter months, notably January and February, the national park is generally at its least busy, according to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park congestion calendar. Black bears are most active during the warmer months, from April to August, according to the National Park Service website.

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With its renowned fall foliage, September, October and November are typically busier months for the national park, but worth it to catch a glimpse of the changing landscape.

What are the free national park days in 2026?

National Park Service free admission days - or free-parking days in the case of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which never charges admission - in 2026 are:

Feb. 16 : Presidents' Day (Washington's Birthday)

May 25 : Memorial Day

June 14: Flag Day/President Trump's birthday

July 35: Independence Day weekend

Aug. 25: 110th Birthday of the National Park Service

Sept. 17: Constitution Day

Oct. 27 : Theodore Roosevelt's birthday

Nove. 11: Veterans Day

On other days, when a parking pass is required in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, daily and weekly parking passes can be purchased from machines at the park or online at recreation.gov. The cost is $5 for a one-day tag or $15 for a week.

Allison Kiehl covers trending and breaking news from Knoxville for the Tennessee Connect Team. Email: allison.kiehl@knoxnews.com

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Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at knoxnews.com/subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: When is National Park Week? See fare-free days to visit the Smokies
USA TODAY readers voted these Wisconsin small towns among best in US

USA TODAY readers have shared their thoughts about the best of small-town America  and a few Wisconsin towns were recognized.

USA TODAY 10BEST Readers' Choice Awards released a total of eight lists highlighting small towns across the country, all with populations of fewer than 25,000 people.

On the 10Best list for Best Small Town in the Midwest, Sister Bay ranked No. 3, while Lake Geneva placed No. 9. The two locations are well-known vacation destinations with small-town charm.

Lake Geneva also made the USA TODAY 10Best list for Best Small Town in the Midwest last year. In 2019, USA TODAY readers ranked it the No. 1 best small town for outdoor adventure.

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Ephraim, Wisconsin  just four miles south of Sister Bay on the Door Peninsula  reached the No. 8 spot for Best Small Town Cultural Scene. USA TODAY 10Best describes the towns in that category as: "what each lacks in size, it makes up for in culture: museums, art galleries, performing arts, and plenty of events."

To determine its lists, USA TODAY 10Best invites a panel of industry experts each week to nominate their favorite points of interest, in categories like food, drink, travel and lifestyle. Editors then vet the nominations and set aside a list of nominees to ask the public to vote on for a period of four weeks.

The full list of winners can be found online at 10best.usatoday.com/awards.

Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli..

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin cities voted among best small towns by USA TODAY readers
Indigenous people, French explorers and the British occupied the region around the Lake Erie peninsula that became known as Presque Isle and fell under control of the new United States of America after the Revolutionary War.

Now a Pennsylvania state park, Presque Isle draws millions of visitors and migrating birds to the peninsula's sandy shores, lagoons and forest.

After beating the British in the War of 1812's Battle of Lake Erie, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry and his sailors spent the winter of 1813-14 on the peninsula's Little Bay, later renamed Misery Bay because of the men's suffering there. Perry's flagship, the Niagara, was sunk in the bay, then raised and rebuilt for the battle's 100th anniversary.

2026 Most Treasured Views logo

What to see today

Presque Isle State Park's Perry Monument commemorates sailors who beat the British and is located in one of the peninsula's many recreation areas.

The park's Perry Monument commemorates the victory and honors the men, some of whom died there.

A golden-winged warbler, left, and a blue-winged warbler are banded and released by members of the Erie Bird Observatory at Presque Isle State Park, an important stopover for migratory birds.

Known to locals simply as "the peninsula," the park offers the Tom Ridge Environmental Center with a 75-foot-tall tower; beaches for swimming, flying kites and watching sunsets; trails for hiking and biking; fishing and boating; and the historic Presque Isle Lighthouse and North Pier Light.

Plan your visit

Located in Erie County in northwestern Pennsylvania, Presque Isle is west of Erie, with Lake Erie on one side and Presque Isle Bay on the other.

The park is open 365 days a year from 5 a.m. to sunset.

Each season offers different activities and views of nature, such as spring and autumn bird migration.

Admission is free.

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Scenic spots: What are the Most Treasured Views in Pennsylvania? Experience our top picks

Explore more amazing locations that helped define American history with USA 250 Most Treasured Views.

USA 250 Most Treasured Views is a USA TODAY Network project exploring places across America with historical and cultural significance, created in celebration of the USA 250 initiative marking the nations 250th birthday.

Dana Massing can be reached at dmassing@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: History at Presque Isle State Park near Erie PA
Sir Ian McKellen never imagined becoming a movie star.

Sir Ian McKellen didn't plan to become a film star

The 86-year-old actor has enjoyed huge success on stage and screen, but McKellen never imagined appearing in big-budget Hollywood movies.

He told The Los Angeles Times newspaper: "When I thought of being an actor, I thought of being on a stage."

McKellen's parents actually discouraged him from visiting cinemas during his younger years.

He quipped: "My parents gave me the impression that cinemas were dangerous places. They called them flea pits because you caught diseases there."

The veteran actor has won numerous accolades during his career, including a Tony Award and six Laurence Olivier Awards. But McKellen admits to being shocked by the impact of the X-Men franchise and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

He shared: "Id been well-known. Id been on Broadway, the West End, toured the world. But nothing is like the fame that film brings."

Meanwhile, Joe Stephenson, who directed the documentary McKellen: Playing The Part, previously described the actor as "quite a shy person".

The filmmaker explained there's a marked distinction between the actor's outgoing on-stage persona and his more reserved real-life self.

Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, Joe explained: "He's a very gentle and quite a shy person, really. Which is quite a strange thing - a juxtaposition, really, with how outspoken he is about things and how brave he is and how much of a strong performer he is. He is actually quite a shy individual.

"The thing that surprises me about him is that he's not as certain about himself as I thought he was. I had an idea of just age being a thing, like when you get to a certain age you must be certain about yourself, and you must really know everything. He doesn't - then I just think maybe nobody really does."

Joe claimed McKellen approaches many of his public appearances like a stage performance, meaning he doesn't allow other people to get too close to him.

He said: "I think if it was somebody he didn't know asking the questions that barrier would be up, and I don't think it would be really possible to penetrate."
Hotel management and development company NILE Hospitality has signed a deal to open Courtyard by Marriott Dibrugarh in Assam, India.

The hotel marks NILE Hospitalitys first Marriott-branded property in Northeast India.

It will provide access to administrative offices, business hubs, shopping areas and hospitals.

The hotel is located 15 minutes from Dibrugarh Airport and near Assams tea estates and commercial hubs.

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Planned facilities include 75 rooms and suites, a swimming pool, banquet spaces and a rooftop dining venue, targeting leisure and business travellers.

NILE Hospitality founder and CEO Vikram Singh Chauhan said: We are truly excited about the signing of Courtyard By Marriott, Dibrugarh.

The city embodies a rare balance of nature, community and commerce, and we believe this project reflects the shared vision with the promoters to create the property as a landmark host both in the region and within this dynamic city.

The hotel will enhance the quality of accommodation in Dibrugarh and offer world-class facilities, further reinforcing the citys growing domestic significance as a business and agricultural hub of the east.

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The signing forms part of NILE Hospitalitys expansion in emerging markets through third-party management.

The company expects the hotel to serve social functions, corporate stays and regional travel.

In March 2026, NILE Hospitality announced the opening of its first Accor-branded hotel in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The Novotel Nagpur site will be 15 minutes from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport.

It will expand the companys footprint in Central India and add to Accors presence in the region.

Novotel Nagpur will feature 120 rooms and suites and provide dining options, including a multi-cuisine restaurant with an open kitchen and a bar.

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"NILE Hospitality signs Courtyard by Marriott Dibrugarh in India" was originally created and published by Hotel Management Network, a GlobalData owned brand.




With flight prices soaring due to jet fuel shortages amid the conflict in the Middle East, one major airline is going the opposite route.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways announced it will be cutting fares on long-haul flights up to 50%.

The ongoing war has had a negative impact on demand for travel, and the airline is looking to increase travel from the UK to Australia, Singapore and Asia ahead of the summer travel season.

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With fuel costs rising, many airlines have been adapting to new policies and flight routes.

Emirates, Etihad Airways, Saudia, Gulf Air and Air Arabia have all implemented flexible booking policies that allow travelers to modify plans if needed.

Scandinavian Airlines said it will be canceling 1,000 flights in April due to the rising oil and jet fuel prices.

But Etihad Airways took it a step further and drastically lowered the cost to recover passenger numbers from Europe to Asia and Australia.

As soon as travel picks up, we want to be back to flying planes 100% full in all cabins, as we were before the conflict. These prices will help, an anonymous Etihad Airways executive told the Times.

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The drastic ticket fare reduction is applicable for travel itineraries across May and June for top-ranking holiday destinations such as the UK, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, the Maldives and Tokyo.

As demand for travel decreases, the new prices hope to offer affordable deals that cant be passed up, as well as bring in first-time travelers to premium routes, who may later become repeat flyers.

Etihad Airways is hoping to boost travel from the UK to Australia, Singapore and Asia. Grant Baldwin/Getty Images

An economy-class return flight from London to Sydney, via Abu Dhabi, on an Etihad flight that departs in May and returns in June are as low as 688 ($911.30) per person. A business-class return is 2,465 ($3,265.04) per person, including taxes.

In comparison, the cheapest ticket on British Airways to Sydney, via Singapore, on the same dates are 1,850 ($2,450.44) in economy and 10,435 ($13,821.78) in business class.

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The Times noted that some of the fares on Etihad Airways are lower now than they were during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The reduced fares are expected to be available for a specific period, with the airlines website showing that prices rise again in July.

Etihad Airways drastically lowered the cost to recover passenger numbers. Grant Baldwin/Getty Images

Henry Harteveldt, a leading global aviation analyst at Atmosphere Research Group, told the Times that the airlines move is not unusual, noting that after 9/11, US airlines offered deep discounts to tempt passengers back. I call it the price of courage. 

Despite what they may say now, I expect Etihads competitors will respond. Because not only do they have plenty of empty seats, the last thing they want to do is risk losing a passenger to Etihad, he added.
The Employers Consultative Association of Trinidad and Tobago (ECA) has raised concerns about the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2026, warning that aspects of the proposed changes could affect business stability, job creation and the ease of doing business.

Minister of Labour, Small and Micro Enterprise Development Leroy Baptiste brought the Retrenchment and Severance Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to the Senate on Friday.
HOLLYWOOD LEGEND Jane Seymour (The Kominsky Method, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) is back for more perplexing murder mysteries with a literary twist, in the highly anticipated Harry Wild Series 4.

Harry Wild Series 4 on DVD

The first class detective drama (Good Housekeeping) has been a hit with audiences across the globe since its launch on Acorn TV, and now, fans can dive into more endlessly entertaining mysteries with Harry Wild Series 4 and Series 1  4 Box Set which is set to arrive on DVD and digital on 27 April 2026, courtesy of Acorn Media International, following its transmission on U&Drama.

Seymour is joined by a stellar returning cast with Rohan Nedd (Whitstable Peal, Blue Story) as her trusty partner, alongside Kevin Ryan (Guilt, Copper), Rose O'Neill (Sherlock & Daughter), Samantha Mumba (The Time Machine), Paul Tylak (Kin, Informer) and theres a new face this season as Aoife Mulholland (How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?) takes on the role of Orla (replacing Amy Huberman).

In series four, business is booming for the eponymous sleuth Harry Wild (Seymour) and her young protege, Fergus (Nedd), as a slew of brand-new cases see the formidable duo travel far and wide. With a serial killer on the loose, detective Charlie Wild (Ryan), enlists his mothers help to crack the case, meanwhile, Fergus hopes of going to college with Charlies daughter, Lola (ONeil), are threatened when she gets an incredible offer to study abroad.

This series sees Harry hired by her friend  a former wild child turned nun  who suspects foul play at her convent; investigate a racetrack sabotage that ends in tragedy; crack a strange case of disappearing dancers; solve the murder of a Harry Wild doppelganger and more killer mysteries.

In the first series, we meet the newly retired literature professor Harriet  AKA Harry Wild. When shes mugged, it sets off a life-changing new chapter that sees her partner up with her attacker, Fergus, forming a sprightly detective duo, unravelling mysteries with each new adventure.

In series two, Harry remains dedicated to solving crime alongside her sleuthing sidekick, they throw themselves into their work, solving everything from missing persons to murders. But when Fergus mother (Mumba) turns up out of the blue, they have a deeply personal mystery to solve.

Series three finds Harry and Fergus detective agency busier than ever and as the workload increases, the crime fighting pair must find a way to balance case cracking with their personal lives. Fergus plans to contest the

custody claim of his long-absent mother for his little sister and Harry meets a charming fellow PI and despite finding him utterly infuriating, she cant help but fall for him.

With a magnetic lead, dynamite supporting cast and a delightful mix of mysteries, witty dialogue and light- hearted humour, Harry Wild is the sleuthing sensation you wont want to miss. With a fifth series on the way, now is the perfect time to catch up on this much-loved crime caper with a box set binge-watch.

Series 1  4 Box Set SPECIAL FEATURES include:

 Meet Harry and Fergus

 Behind the Scenes

 Wild About Harry

Series 4 SPECIAL FEATURES include:

 Behind the Scenes

Title: Harry Wild Series 4 DVD Release Date: 27 April 2026 Cat.No: AV3837 RRP: 27.99

Cert: 15 Running Time: 270 minutes on 2 discs Available to download and keep from 27 April 2026

Title: Harry Wild Series 1  4 Box Set DVD Release Date: 27 April 2026 Cat.No: AV3845 RRP: 74.99 Cert: 15 Running Time: 1170 minutes on 8 discs

by Natalie key for www.femalefirst.co.uk


ABC withdraws from diversity groups

ABC steps back from direct partnerships with three diversity groups following questions about independence.

ABC is withdrawing from several diversity groups, following a review of external partnerships, in a move to bolster independence.

Guardian Australia reports the ABC announced plans to end its memberships with ACON Healths Pride in Diversity program, the Australian Disability Network, and the Diversity Council of Australia.

An internal newsletter which flagged the change indicated a review found they were no longer providing sufficient value to the organisation. ABC management was also reviewing other existing partnerships and sponsorships, thereby ensuring that our standards of independence are maintained.

We will always invest in these fundamental principles, an ABC spokesperson said.

The ABC remains committed to diversity and inclusion and will redirect funding to internal initiatives.

In 2022 Media Watch host Paul Barry raised concerns about a possible conflict of interest, with ABC receiving a gold award from ACONs Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI) earlier that year. SBS was also recognised as a Gold Employer.

We do not seek to, nor do we have, any influence over the way media outlets, who are members of Pride in Diversity, report issues, including the ABC, ACON said in a statement.

We will continue to offer our services to employers to advance their diversity, inclusion and belonging goals in their workplaces.

It is believed the ABC was paying at least $12,000 a year to ACON.
Ashley Roberts was reportedly "assured" that her "romance" with Declan Donnelly would not be talked about on I'm A Celebrity...South Africa.

I'm A Celebrity...South Africa star Ashley Roberts

It was said that the Pussycat Dolls member and the 50-year-old presenter struck up a romance and briefly dated after they met whilst filming ITV's I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in Australia back in 2012.

With Ashley now starring in the spin-off show, it has been claimed she got reassurance from bosses that any mention of it will not air on the programme - which sees former campmates face living in harsh conditions and do gruesome tasks again.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "As with any campmate, relevant stories are discussed in preliminary chats with the celeb and the team.

"Ashley wouldve been assured anything relating to her link with Dec will be totally off the table. And not alluded to in any jokes or references."

Dec was said to have fallen for Ashley, 44, when she kept talking about sex and how much she was craving it during her 2012 appearance on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here!, in which she finished runner-up.

On the programme, she told him and his 50-year-old co-host Ant McPartlin: "You're deprived of everything here in the jungle. I can't stop thinking about it.

"I'm excited to get out of here and be able to just stimulate all the senses... if you know what I mean."

Dec exclaimed: "Oh my gosh. Everything I want to say is unbroadcastable or illegal  or career-ending. Let's calm down."

In 2013, Ashley commented on their romance: "Were trying to keep it out of the public eye. Were just getting to know each other. Were having fun, but Im single.

"I love both those guys."

A short while later, Dec was linked to manager Ali Astall, and they got married in August 2015 at St Michael's Roman Catholic Church, Elswick, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Ashley was a guest at their wedding - which was conducted by Dec's late brother, Father Dermott Donnelly, who died in July 2022, aged 55, from a suspected bleed on the brain.

Dec and Ali welcomed their daughter Isla and son Jack into the world in 2018 and 2022, respectively.

Ashley, meanwhile, is dating 26-year-old artist George Rollinson.
Airdate: My Reno Rules

Two homes, four teams and "the biggest viewer giveaway in Australian television history," in new Seven series.

New Seven renovation series My Reno Rules now has a premiere date of Tuesday, 21 April.

Teasing the biggest viewer giveaway in Australian television history, the series hosted by Dr Chris Brown sees four teams renovate rundown 1970s relics in the Melbourne suburb of Bulleen.

Two teams of two will tackle the revamp of each house, designing and renovating rooms each week to impress three judges: design guru Neale Whitaker, buyers agent Simon Cohen and interior stylist Julia Green.

The team with the most points at the end of the competition will win a life-changing cash prize in a live finale, with viewers set to win the houses.

Billionaire businessman Adrian Portelli purchased the side-by-side dwellings ripe for revival and will monitor progress as he prepares to shake up the property game in an unprecedented way: by giving away the finished homes.

Expect the unexpected from Adrian, as he ensures motivation levels on the building site match his expectations, in a way that only he can. Suffice to say, lives will be transformed, futures secured and teams left speechless.

House 1 will be transformed by mother-daughter duo Emma and Michelle, alongside young parents Nathan and Julia.

In House 2, best mates Franky and Isaac will team up with newlywed parents Mitch and Shaz to work their makeover magic. All four teams arrive ready to flex their reno muscle and eye for design, equipped with credentials and experience that could see them soar.

Viewers will witness breathtaking makeovers unfold week by week, knowing that they could be in the running to win the keys to a brand-new future when the series culminates in a stunning, must-watch live finale set to make history.

My Reno Rules is a new format produced by Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay Entertainment Company) and distributed internationally by Banijay Rights.

7.30pm Tuesday, 21 April on Seven.
Back Roads: April 9

Even away from the orchards, everything in Gayndah, Queensland, is citrus related.

Back Roads this week travels to Gayndah, Queenslands oldest town, where citrus is the lifeblood of the community.

Since the first orchards were planted in the 1890s, Gayndah has been a vibrant centre of citrus growing. At harvest time, it attracts a workforce from all over the world. Lisa Millar meets pickers like Mika Misa who show Lisa how food and music connect the workers to their Tongan homeland.

Thuc Le Thomas originally moved to the area to pick citrus but has since been able to fulfill his lifelong dreams in Gayndah. He recently opened a Vietnamese cafe and restaurant with his wife, Wendy.

Even away from the orchards, everything in town is citrus related. The local rugby team play in the The State of Oranges tournament, this year taking on their rivals from another citrus town, the Mundubbera Tigers.

Lisa meets the Gayndah Gladiators rugby team in the lead up to the match and learns how the value of rugby league in the town goes far beyond sport. But who will take home the Citrus Cup?

8pm Thursday on ABC.
You came to us as a traveler, but you leave as a hero A part of you will remain here forever, breathing and living on this land.

The young doctors voice trembled as it echoed through the operating room, each word carrying a quiet weight of gratitude and farewell.

At the Center for Anesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care of Viet Duc Friendship Hospital in early April, the atmosphere was solemn. The steady rhythm of life-support machines continued, yet more than ten doctors stood in silence around the operating table, heads bowed in tribute.

They were saying goodbye to a 19-year-old British girl, identified as O.S.W., who had just given the ultimate gift - her organs - to save three Vietnamese patients.

A journey that ended too soon

A moving moment as medical staff pay tribute to the noble act of a 19-year-old girl who donated her organs to save lives. Photo: BVCC







At the end of March, after completing her secondary education, O.S.W. chose Vietnam as a destination to explore with friends.

A sudden accident brought her journey to an abrupt and devastating end.

She was transferred to Hanoi in critical condition. Despite the tireless efforts of doctors, her severe brain injury proved irreversible. On April 2, she was declared brain dead.

A decision beyond grief

Faced with unimaginable loss, her parents made a decision that transcended their pain.

They chose to donate their daughters organs.

At her bedside, in the final moments before she was taken into surgery, they held her face, clung to her shoulders, as if trying to hold on to the warmth that was slipping away. They whispered words of love, unfinished dreams - and pride.

If she could choose, she would want to give others a chance to live, her father said quietly.

For them, there was no greater gift than allowing life to continue.

At a tribute ceremony on April 8, Associate Professor Duong Duc Hung, Director of the hospital, expressed deep admiration.

He described the familys act as a profound expression of humanity - one that rose above nationality, culture and belief. In their darkest moment, they chose to give.

Caption: Associate Professor Dr. Duong Duc Hung pays tribute to the family of the young girl who bravely donated her organs to save lives. Photo: BVCC







Lives reborn

From that decision, three lives were saved.

A patient with liver failure and two others suffering from kidney failure received transplants made possible by her donation.

All recipients are recovering and will soon return to their normal lives, Dr. Hung shared.

It is also the first time a foreign donor has successfully donated organs at the hospital.

In a recovery room on the morning of April 8, a 53-year-old man who had been on the brink of death from severe liver disease met the parents of his donor.

Unable to speak English and overwhelmed with emotion, he embraced them.

Beyond words of gratitude, he made a promise - to care for the part of their daughter now living within him, to honor the meaning of their sacrifice.

Her heart has stopped, but her journey in Vietnam continues.

In a distant land, she now has new families, new lives intertwined with hers.

Her story lingers not only in the bodies she saved, but in the quiet belief that compassion, at its purest, knows no borders.

Vo Thu
A Chinese groom used Google Translate to prepare his wedding speech in Vietnamese. However, imperfect translation and pronunciation - especially when I wont disappoint you was mistakenly rendered as I wont hit you - sent the entire wedding hall into laughter.

The bride also bursts into laughter at the speech by the Chinese groom. Screenshot from clip

The video capturing this unusual speech was filmed during a wedding ceremony held at noon on April 3 in the brides hometown in Quang Tri. The couple are groom Da Qiang (born 1995, Chinese nationality) and bride Le Hong Nhung (born 1998, from Tay Co Hien hamlet, Ninh Chau commune).

Before the groom began speaking, the bride proactively addressed both families and guests, asking for their understanding if her husbands speech had shortcomings due to his limited Vietnamese.

Da Qiang started fairly smoothly with greetings and words of thanks. However, as he continued, pronunciation became increasingly difficult. He paused several times to think, even turning to his bride as if seeking help. These hesitant moments and imperfect pronunciation drew laughter from the audience, with both bride and groom joining in.

The bride also burst into laughter during the grooms speech.

Despite the challenges - and despite the bride attempting to take the microphone at times - the groom insisted on completing his speech on his own. His persistence and sincerity added warmth and joy to the ceremony.

Hong Nhung shared that she did not expect her husbands speech to attract such widespread attention on social media. Initially, she planned for him to speak in Chinese while she translated, but Da Qiang chose to speak Vietnamese directly to show his sincerity.

He prepared the content himself and used Google Translate without asking me to review it beforehand, which led to humorous situations like I wont disappoint you becoming I wont hit you. But to me, its a very memorable moment, she said.

According to Hong Nhung, the couple met in 2025 through a work connection. Over time, Da Qiang won her affection with his sincerity and persistence. As their relationship grew, they decided to get married.

Their wedding photo.
Long Thanh International Airport.

The Peoples Committee of Dong Nai Province has officially launched a public consultation process on the proposal to establish Dong Nai City as a centrally governed city, as well as the plan to establish wards across the province.

The province is emerging as a strong candidate thanks to large economic scale, sizable population and high urbanization rate. The new governance would open prospects for the formation of a major economic hub and international gateway in a new development phase.

At present, Dong Nai meets important conditions to move toward the model of a centrally governed city. The province has a natural area of more than 12,700 sqm and a population of over 4.49 million, creating a vast development space and abundant social resources.

The urbanization increase shows that Dong Nai is transitioning from a purely industrial model to one combining industry with modern urban development. Notably, the province has met the criterion for the proportion of wards among commune-level administrative units, with 23 existing wards and 10 communes eligible for upgrading.

In terms of urban quality, Dong Nai has completed its dossier seeking recognition as a Grade I urban area and submitted it to the Ministry of Construction for appraisal. It has met 13 out of 15 criteria, while only 12 are required.

Beyond quantitative indicators, Dong Nai clearly demonstrates its role as a major industrial center of Vietnam. Its GRDP at current prices is estimated at around VND677,932 billion, ranking fourth nationwide after Hanoi, HCMC and Hai Phong, and leading among provinces excluding centrally governed cities.

The province is also identified as a dynamic growth pole, playing a key role in regional economic connectivity. Located at the heart of the Southeast region, within the development space of the HCMC mega-urban area, it serves as a convergence point for multiple economic corridors and strategic connectivity axes.

In particular, Long Thanh International Airport, a national key project, is expected to become an international aviation transit hub, serving as a major boost that opens up entirely new development space for Dong Nai.

These figures highlight Dong Nais increasingly important role in the national economic structure and its strong potential to develop into a large-scale urban center.

Standards

Under Resolution No112/2025 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on criteria for administrative units, a centrally governed city must meet requirements regarding population size, area, socio-economic development level, urbanization, infrastructure systems, regional centrality and connectivity.

Dong Nai has essentially met the necessary conditions. In addition to its large economic scale and top-tier GRDP, the province has an excellent transport system, playing a strategic connectivity role in southern Vietnam.

Within regional development, Dong Nai is defined as a dynamic growth pole, linking economic spaces. From its central position in the southeast, it connects directly with HCMC while also serving as a bridge to the Central Highlands, the central region and the Mekong Delta.

One of the key drivers for Dong Nais breakthrough is the development of Long Thanh International Airport, considered a national strategic infrastructure project. Once operational, it will enhance international connectivity and create strong momentum for logistics, trade and aviation-related industries.

At the same time, expressways, ring roads, seaports and interregional transport routes are being completed, forming a modern multimodal connectivity network. This provides a critical foundation for Dong Nai to become an international trade gateway and integrate more deeply into regional and global supply chains.

With its criteria largely fulfilled, Dong Nai is gradually realizing its goal of becoming a centrally governed city. If approved, this would mark a major transition, creating new momentum for development and helping shape a future industrial, logistics and international trade hub of Vietnam.

Tran Thuong
First Secretary and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel congratulated General Secretary and President To Lam, reaffirming the firm will and commitment to continue promoting the special friendship, solidarity and cooperation between the two countries.

General Secretary and Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un emphasized that To Lams assumption of the presidency reflects the great trust and expectations of the entire Party and people of Vietnam. He expressed confidence that, based on agreements reached between senior leaders of the two countries in October 2025 in Pyongyang, traditional friendship and cooperation between the two Parties and States will continue to be strengthened and developed.

General Secretary To Lam and First Secretary, President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, September 2025. Photo: Pham Hai

On behalf of the US Government, Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent congratulatory messages to General Secretary and President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Rubio said the US highly values its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, built over more than three decades on increasingly strong friendship, mutual respect and shared interests.

The US appreciates Vietnams close cooperation in promoting economic prosperity, expanding people-to-people exchanges and working together to advance peace and stability in a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

US leaders expressed their desire to work closely with Vietnam to promote peace and prosperity for the people of both countries, while continuing to make both nations safer, stronger and more prosperous.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko expressed confidence that under the leadership of General Secretary and President To Lam, Vietnam will continue to move steadily along its development path. He emphasized that the strategic partnership has expanded Vietnam-Belarus cooperation in substance, with concrete outcomes including visa exemption policies and the launch of direct flights.

Belarus hopes to strengthen traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam for the benefit of both peoples.

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko hosts the welcome ceremony for General Secretary To Lam during his visit to Belarus in May 2025. Photo: Office of the President of Belarus

Chairwoman of the White Rus Party Olga Chemodanova expressed respect for To Lams election as President by the National Assembly, affirming that it reflects the Vietnamese peoples high regard for his political prestige and contributions to the nation.

The White Rus Party highly values the friendship between the two Parties and peoples, built on mutual respect and shared values.

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Belarus Sergei Syrankov stressed that To Lams election as President demonstrates deep recognition and trust from the Vietnamese people. He highlighted the fraternal friendship and solidarity between the two Parties and peoples, and expressed appreciation for their shared views on the world order and commitment to social justice ideals.

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated General Secretary and President To Lam, affirming that the voting results reflect the Vietnamese peoples confidence in his plans to promote political and economic prosperity and enhance Vietnams international standing.

Emphasizing that Vietnam is one of Kazakhstans most important partners in Asia, he expressed confidence that joint efforts will continue to strengthen and develop the Vietnam-Kazakhstan strategic partnership.

President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh stressed that under the wise leadership and long-term vision of General Secretary and President To Lam, Vietnam is developing strongly, becoming a leading growth engine in the region with increasing prestige and position internationally.

He expressed readiness to work closely with To Lam to further deepen and enhance the comprehensive partnership between Mongolia and Vietnam across all fields.

President of Mongolia Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh hosts the welcome ceremony for General Secretary and President To Lam during his visit to Mongolia in September 2024. Photo: Minh Nhat
Authorities have launched criminal proceedings against Vu Minh Chau, founder of Bao Tin Minh Chau, alongside his son Vu Minh Tu and two company accountants, in a case that is rapidly expanding into one of the most closely watched financial investigations in Vietnams gold sector.

Vu Minh Chau works with the police. Photo: Police Department.

According to the Investigation Police Agency under Hanoi Police, the individuals have been charged with violating accounting regulations causing serious consequences. The case centers on alleged discrepancies in revenue reporting and the use of parallel accounting systems over several years.

Bao Tin Minh Chau, a long-established private enterprise in gold and jewelry production and trading, was founded by Vu Minh Chau and has grown into a widely recognized brand with a strong presence in Hanoi and a nationwide network of agents.

Investigators say that prior to 2024, Vu Minh Chau and his son directed accounting staff to operate two separate systems. Internal tools including Hivi Gold, Hivi Gold Pro and Excel were used to track actual business activity, while the MISA accounting software was used to declare figures for tax purposes.

From the second half of 2024, the company allegedly went further by deleting all data from the Hivi systems and switching to Excel and Fox AI software to manage transactions. Data was then filtered and adjusted before being entered into MISA for tax reporting.

Based on extracted data from 2020 to 2023, authorities estimate the companys actual revenue at around VND13,700 billion (approximately US$540 million), roughly VND9,700 billion (US$382 million) higher than reported figures. The discrepancy is believed to have caused an estimated VND150 billion (US$5.9 million) loss to the state budget.

During urgent searches of residences, offices and related business locations, investigators seized VND23.3 billion (approximately US$920,000) in cash, seven land-use certificates and a large quantity of gold and silver materials, along with extensive documentation.

At the police station, Vu Minh Chau admitted to approving and directing the use of personal bank accounts to receive company sales revenue, as well as maintaining dual accounting systems. He acknowledged the violations as a serious lapse in responsibility, calling it a lesson for both himself and others.

The companys legal representation had already been transferred from Vu Minh Chau to Pham Lan Anh in October 2024. She currently serves as director and legal representative.

Authorities have stressed that transactions between customers and the company are considered civil in nature. According to Colonel Chu An Thanh, head of the Economic Police Division, the company remains responsible for fulfilling its obligations to customers, including delivery of gold as committed. To date, no formal complaints have been filed regarding delayed delivery or transactions conducted via appointment notes.

Despite the legal developments, business operations at Bao Tin Minh Chau outlets in Hanoi continue without disruption. On Tran Nhan Tong street, a well-known hub for gold trading, customers were still seen lining up for purchases, while selling activity remained relatively subdued.

The suspects have been prosecuted. Photo: Police Department.

The suspects have been prosecuted. Photo: Police Department.
The trip is made at the invitation of IPU President Tulia Ackson and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong.

This marks the first overseas mission by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man since taking office in the 16th National Assembly.

Founded in 1889 in Paris and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Inter-Parliamentary Union is a global body that brings together the parliaments of sovereign states. With 181 members and 15 associate members, it serves as a central platform for parliamentary diplomacy, promoting peace, democracy and cooperation among nations.

Since joining the IPU in April 1979, Vietnams National Assembly has been an active and responsible member of the organization.

Participation in IPU activities remains a top priority in Vietnams multilateral parliamentary diplomacy. It enables the country to safeguard national interests, exchange perspectives on international issues, present its positions on global concerns and engage in bilateral meetings on the sidelines with partners where formal channels may be limited. These efforts contribute to enhancing the standing of both the National Assembly and Vietnam on the international stage.

Vietnam and Turkiye established diplomatic relations on June 7, 1978, and have since developed a multifaceted partnership. Turkiye is one of Vietnams leading trade partners in the Middle East and serves as a gateway for Vietnamese exports to the region and Southern Europe. Bilateral trade reached nearly US$2.3 billion in 2025, with Vietnam exporting over US$1.8 billion.

As of December 2025, Turkiye had 49 valid investment projects in Vietnam with total registered capital of nearly US$1.754 billion, ranking 24th among 146 countries and territories investing in Vietnam and second among Middle Eastern and African investors. Vietnam currently has one investment project in Turkiye in the service sector, valued at US$850,000.

Parliamentary relations between the two countries have continued to grow, with regular exchanges, consultations and cooperation at inter-parliamentary forums such as the IPU and the Asian Parliamentary Assembly. Both sides have also established friendship parliamentary groups.

Vietnam and Italy established diplomatic relations on March 23, 1973, with ties steadily strengthening over time. Since upgrading to a Strategic Partnership in January 2013, cooperation has expanded across politics, diplomacy, economy, science, education, defense, environmental protection and local connectivity.

In 2023, the two countries marked 50 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of their Strategic Partnership. Bilateral trade continued to rise, reaching approximately US$7.3 billion in 2025, up 6.2 percent year-on-year. Italy is Vietnams third-largest trading partner within the EU, while Vietnam is Italys largest trading partner in ASEAN.

Italy is also identified as a key and high-potential market in Vietnams tourism development strategy, given its expertise in heritage-based tourism. The two countries have strengthened cooperation in defense policy, military collaboration and defense industry development.

Cultural exchanges remain vibrant, with regular cultural weeks and thematic events held in both countries, including the Year of Vietnam in Italy and the Year of Italy in Vietnam during milestone anniversaries.

Currently, around 5,500 Vietnamese citizens live and work in Italy.



Tran Thuong
China issues regulations on industrial, supply chain security

Xinhua) 08:06, April 08, 2026

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a decree of the State Council to unveil a set of regulations on industrial and supply chain security.

Taking effect from the date of promulgation, the 18-article regulations are aimed at preventing security risks in industrial and supply chains, enhancing their resilience and security, and safeguarding economic and social stability as well as national security.

The document clarifies the principles for work on industrial and supply chain security, including promoting the stable and smooth functioning of global industrial and supply chains, and supporting core technology research in key sectors.

The document improves related institutional measures to safeguard the stable production, circulation and the sustained operation of raw materials, technologies, equipment and products in key sectors.

The document also stipulates that China will establish a security investigation mechanism for industrial and supply chains, under which relevant departments may launch investigations and take countermeasures against foreign countries, regions or international organizations, as well as foreign organizations or individuals, that undermine China's industrial and supply chain security.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Bethesda Game Studios continues to evolve "Starfield" as it approaches its third year, with the upcoming "Free Lanes" update positioned as its most ambitious overhaul yet.

The update focuses on removing long-standing gameplay friction while expanding the core RPG experience.

Free Lanes Update Targets Core Gameplay Limitations

The Free Lanes update reworks several foundational systems that players criticized at launch. According to creative leadership, the goal is to make gameplay feel more fluid, rewarding, and less restrictive, especially in how players explore, interact, and progress through the universe.

By reducing unnecessary barriers, Bethesda Game Studios aims to create a more engaging loop that encourages long-term play rather than short, segmented sessions.

Player Feedback Drives Major Design Changes

During a preview event at the studio's Maryland headquarters, developers emphasized that community feedback played a central role in shaping the update.

Since its 2023 release, "Starfield" has faced criticism for repetitive exploration and over-reliance on menus and fast travel.

Free Lanes directly addresses those concerns, pushing the trend toward a more player-first design philosophy that prioritizes immersion and agency.

"Well, I mean, I think when we make a game, we always set out to be a timeless classic. And that would always be my ambition for it. It is that, when you look back, you're always like, you know what, that one was special. A timeless classic," lead creative producer Tim Lamb told GameRant reporter Josh Cotts.

Seamless Exploration Reduces Fast Travel Dependence

One of the biggest changes comes in space traversal. The update introduces more seamless system-to-system movement, cutting down the need for constant fast travel.

Players can expect more organic transitions between locations, increased dynamic encounters during travel, and expanded points of interest that reward exploration.

Aiming for Long-Term RPG Legacy

Bethesda has openly compared its ambitions for "Starfield" to iconic titles like "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim" and "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion." Even after many years, these games remain relevant.

The studio believes that freedom, replayability, and evolving systems are key to achieving that level of longevity. While challenges remain, Free Lanes is considered a huge step toward Bethesda's goal of transforming it into a "timeless classic."

Originally published on Player One
Mr. Khang was born in 1967 in Bac Ninh province. He holds a masters degree in economic management and is a member of the Party Central Committee for the 12th, 13th and 14th terms. He is also a deputy of the 15th National Assembly.

He began his career in accounting at Ha Bac Fertilizer and Chemicals Company and later served as Chairman of Materials and Chemical Import-Export Company Limited, a board member of the parent company - Vietnam National Chemical Group, and Deputy Secretary of the groups Party Committee.

He subsequently spent many years working in local administrations, holding positions including Deputy Secretary of the Ha Giang Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Ha Nam Provincial Party Committee.

In July 2019, he was appointed Secretary of the Party Delegation and President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, and was later elected to serve as its President.

In July 2025, he took on an additional role as Vice President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

On March 2, 2026, Nguyen Dinh Khang was assigned and appointed as Standing Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.

Thanh Hue
Under the decision of the Politburo, Nguyen Duy Ngoc will also join the Secretariat while assuming the new role, one of the most critical positions responsible for personnel and organizational work within the Party.

General Secretary and State President To Lam presents appointment decisions to Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Head of the Party Central Committees Organization Commission, and Nguyen Hai Ninh, Chief of the Party Central Office. Photo: PV

Born in 1964 in Hung Yen province, Nguyen Duy Ngoc holds a Masters degree in Law. He is a member of the Party Central Committee for the 13th and 14th tenures, a Politburo member for the same terms, and a deputy to the 16th National Assembly.

He spent many years in the public security sector, holding key positions including deputy director of Hanoi Police, deputy head of the General Department of Police, director of the Police Department for Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes Investigation, and deputy minister of Public Security.

He was later appointed Chief of the Party Central Office before being elected to the Politburo and serving as head of the Party Central Inspection Commission in January 2025.

In November 2025, he was assigned as Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee for the 2025-2030 term.

The Party Central Organization Commission serves as an advisory body to the Party Central Committee, directly assisting the Politburo and the Secretariat in matters related to Party building, organizational structure, personnel management, and internal political protection.

Its leadership currently consists of eight members. Mr. Ngoc serves as head of the commission, supported by seven deputy heads, including Hoang Trung Dung; Minister of Home Affairs Do Thanh Binh (concurrent); Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Deputy Affairs Nguyen Huu Dong (concurrent); Trinh Manh Linh; Nguyen Thanh Tam; Bui Thi Quynh Van; and Nguyen Thanh Binh.



Tran Thuong
Born in 1976 in Hung Yen province, Nguyen Hai Ninh holds a doctorate in law. He has been a member of the Party Central Committee across multiple terms, including as an alternate member in the 12th tenure and a full member in the 13th and 14th tenures.

Starting his career as a specialist in the General Affairs Department of the Party Central Internal Affairs Commission, he steadily advanced through various positions at both central and local levels.

In 2006, he worked at the Party Central Internal Affairs Commission as deputy director of the Legal Affairs Department. A year later, he became deputy director of the Legal Affairs and Judicial Reform Department under the Party Central Office, before rising to director and serving as secretary to the Chief of the Party Central Office.

At the end of 2014, he was assigned to Dak Lak province, joining the provincial Party Executive Committee and serving as Vice Chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee. By mid-2016, he held the position of standing vice chairman for the 2016-2021 term, before being appointed Deputy Chief of the Party Central Office in March 2019.

In April 2021, the Politburo reassigned him to Khanh Hoa province, where he joined the provincial Party Executive Committee, Standing Committee, and served as Secretary of the provincial Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

At the 8th extraordinary session of the 15th National Assembly in August 2024, he was approved as Minister of Justice, a position he held until his latest appointment.

The Party Central Office serves as a strategic, critical and highly confidential advisory body assisting the Party Central Committee, directly supporting the Politburo and the Secretariat in organizing and coordinating leadership activities. It functions as the Partys central hub for information, data, financial management, and logistical support, while also coordinating operations across central Party bodies and affiliated organizations.



Tran Thuong
On April 7, a representative of the Confederation said it would consult union members and employees on a plan to adjust the schedule of the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the April 30 - May 1 holiday, with the aim of creating a more continuous break.

Speaking to the press, Vice President of the Confederation Ngo Duy Hieu said that in recent times, many grassroots unions, workers, as well as officials and civil servants have suggested studying options to swap holiday dates between major occasions to better facilitate rest, travel and work arrangements.

According to Hieu, the trade union will gather broad feedback from workers, while reviewing relevant legal regulations and consulting the Ministry of Home Affairs before making any formal proposal.

The consultation will be conducted through the organisations social media channels, targeting a wide range of union members and workers nationwide.

In 2026, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day (the 10th day of the third lunar month) falls on Sunday, April 26. Under current regulations, employees are entitled to a compensatory day off on Monday, April 27. However, based on production realities, some businesses have proposed moving the compensatory day to April 29 or May 2 to connect it with the April 30 - May 1 holiday, thereby creating a longer break.

If current regulations remain unchanged, workers following a one-day-per-week rest schedule would still have to work on Saturday, resulting in a fragmented holiday period and making it difficult to plan rest, travel or visits home.

In some cases, granting compensatory leave immediately after a weekend holiday still presents limitations. Therefore, it is necessary to gather workers opinions to provide a basis for considering a suitable proposal, Ngo Duy Hieu emphasised.

Earlier, on April 3, the Ministry of Home Affairs stated that there is no policy to merge the two April holiday periods, and that public holidays will be implemented in accordance with the Labour Code. Accordingly, the 2026 holiday schedule includes one day off for the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and two days off for the April 30 - May 1 holiday. This schedule applies to officials, civil servants and public-sector employees.

About three weeks before the Hung Kings holiday, some private-sector companies proactively introduced flexible arrangements such as swapping working days or using annual leave to connect the two holidays, allowing workers to take breaks of up to eight to nine days. However, many businesses continue to follow existing regulations, granting only one day off for the Hung Kings holiday and two days for April 30 - May 1.

This year, as the Hung Kings Commemoration Day falls on Sunday (April 26), workers receive a compensatory day off on Monday (April 27). Those working under a two-day weekend schedule will enjoy a three-day break from Saturday (April 25) through Monday (April 27). Meanwhile, those with a one-day weekly rest (Sunday) will have a two-day holiday from April 26 to 27.

Vu Diep
Imports of petroleum products surged sharply in March. Photo: Nguyen Hue

According to preliminary data from the General Department of Customs, domestic enterprises continued to accelerate fuel imports in March.

Total imports of petroleum products exceeded 1.19 million tonnes, valued at US$1.42 billion. Compared to the same month last year, imports rose sharply by 47.16% in volume, equivalent to an increase of 382,000 tonnes, while value surged by 157.7% due to higher global fuel prices.

In addition, businesses spent US$548.2 million to import 805,091 tonnes of crude oil in March. This crude oil serves as input for production at the Dung Quat and Nghi Son refineries.

Cumulatively, in the first quarter, Vietnam imported nearly 6.49 million tonnes of crude oil and petroleum products, with a total value of approximately US$4.59 billion. Compared to the same period last year, imports increased by 7.8% in volume, equivalent to 470,000 tonnes, while value rose by 19.84%.

Of this total, crude oil imports reached 3.12 million tonnes, valued at nearly US$1.66 billion, down 15.44% in volume and 23.85% in value year-on-year.

In contrast, imports of petroleum products climbed to nearly 3.37 million tonnes, with a value of US$2.93 billion. Compared to the same period in 2025, this represents a sharp increase of 44.6% in volume, equivalent to 1.04 million tonnes, and nearly 77.6% in value.

At a recent government press briefing, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan stated that domestic fuel supply remains secure. Domestic production has increased by 30%, ensuring sufficient feedstock for operations at the Dung Quat refinery through the end of April, while the Nghi Son refinery is also guaranteed input supply for production through the same period.

Notably, in March, key fuel traders imported approximately 3.2 million cubic meters of petroleum products. Combined with existing inventories, this ensures sufficient domestic supply through the end of April.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is continuing to develop supply scenarios for the coming months while implementing measures such as boosting supply, increasing domestic production, and diversifying sources.

Previously, the ministry noted that Vietnam has emerged as one of the few bright spots in Southeast Asia amid what has been described as the most severe energy crisis in decades.

In a volatile regional context, Vietnam has responded with a multi-layered, flexible, and in-depth stabilization strategy, regarded as one of the most effective models in the region.

The fuel price stabilization fund was activated nine times within a single month, with total disbursements estimated at VND5,300 billion (US$217 million). For the first time in history, the state budget directly advanced VND8,000 billion (US$328 million) into the fund under Decision No. 483 signed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 27.

At the same time, the government deployed multiple fiscal tools. Preferential import tariffs on certain petroleum products were reduced to 0% from March 9 to April 30. Environmental protection tax was cut to 0% for gasoline (excluding ethanol), diesel, and aviation fuel from the evening of March 26 to April 15. The special consumption tax on gasoline was reduced from 8-10% to 0%, while value-added tax declaration requirements were waived, though input VAT deductions remained applicable.

In terms of pricing mechanisms, from March 6, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance were allowed to adjust fuel prices immediately when base prices increased by more than 7%, without waiting for the usual seven-day cycle. By March 19, under Resolution 55, this mechanism became even more flexible, allowing adjustments within one day if fluctuations exceeded 15%, helping to avoid sudden price shocks.

As a result, gasoline prices in Vietnam remain significantly lower than in many countries in the region, while diesel prices are still higher than in some markets such as China and Thailand.

Specifically, gasoline prices in Singapore stand at VND70,328 per liter, Thailand at VND35,468 per liter (with government subsidies), Cambodia at VND35,849 per liter (with subsidies), Laos at VND50,112 per liter, and China at VND34,827 per liter (with price controls). In Vietnam, RON95-III gasoline is priced at VND26,976 per liter (US$1.10/liter).

Similarly, diesel prices are VND86,985 per liter in Singapore, VND38,525 per liter in Thailand (with subsidies), VND49,293 per liter in Cambodia, VND61,632 per liter in Laos, and VND31,733 per liter in China (with price controls), while Vietnams diesel price stands at VND44,788 per liter (US$1.83/liter).

Tam An
The central city will open to public traffic on the Thuan An sea-crossing bridge, the longest in the central coastal region, after a four-year construction period, offering smooth connectivity between key economic zones, the national coastal transport network, and improving links with neighbouring areas.



According to local authorities, completion and decoration works have been revving up since early this year in inaugurating the key traffic project by the end of April in celebration of the countrys Reunification Day.



It said the project, which includes a 2.36km bridge and a 5.3km linked-road network and the other infrastructure items, was built for 2.4 trillion VND (96 million USD) for the first phase, opening an easy traffic connection with the neighbouring provinces of Quang Binh (in merger with Quang Tri) and Da Nang, as well as the East-West Economic Corridor linking Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.



Local authorities said the completion of the 20-metre-wide and four-lane bridge will help create a 1,500-hectare beach urban zone for investment and the development of the Thuan An township and the Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone, promising an economic growth centred on tourism, the seaport and industrial parks.



Hue has accelerated construction of key infrastructure projects, including sections of the National NorthSouth Expressway at Cam Lo-La Son-Tuy Loan, the VietnamSingapore Industrial Park and the strategic Chan MayLang Co Economic Zone.



The city has also approved a new river-crossing bridge to connect the downtown area with Con Hen, or Hen sandbank. The project, spanning 2.76km, is scheduled for implementation in 202630 with an investment of 2.2 trillion VND (88 million USD).



Last year, the six-lane Nguyen Hoang bridge opened to traffic across both sides of the Huong River, marking a step forward in efforts to develop Hue into a smart, low-carbon urban area.



Earlier this year, the city approved the construction schedule for seven investment projects totalling 278.74 million USD in April./.VNA
Mr. Tran Duc Thang, newly appointed Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee.

The announcement was made on the afternoon of April 8 at a conference held by the Hanoi Party Committee to officially present the Politburos decision on personnel arrangements.

The event was attended and directed by senior leaders, including Tran Cam Tu, Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat; Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Central Organization Commission; and Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister, along with representatives from Hanois leadership and local departments.

Under the Politburos decision, Mr. Tran Duc Thang will join the Hanoi Party Committees Executive Board and Standing Board, and serve as Secretary of the municipal Party Committee for the new term.

Born in 1973 in Phu Tho province, Mr. Thang holds a doctorate and masters degree in economics, as well as a bachelors degree in finance and banking. He is currently a member of the 14th Politburo.

Before October 2018, he served as Deputy Director and later Director General of the Department of Public Asset Management under the Ministry of Finance.

In October 2018, he was elected as an alternate member of the Party Central Committees Inspection Commission (12th tenure), later becoming its Deputy Chairman in 2020.

At the 13th National Party Congress in January 2021, he was elected to the Party Central Committee (13th tenure) and continued his role within the Inspection Commission. The following month, he was appointed Deputy Chairman of the commission for the 13th tenure.

In October 2022, the Politburo assigned him as Secretary of the Hai Duong Provincial Party Committee for the 2020-2025 term.

He was later appointed Standing Deputy Inspector General of the Government Inspectorate in June 2025, before being assigned acting Minister of Agriculture and Environment.

At the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly in October 2025, he was officially approved as Minister of Agriculture and Environment for the 2021-2026 term.

At the 14th National Party Congress in January 2026, Mr. Thang was elected to the Party Central Committee for the 14th tenure.

On January 23, 2026, at the first plenum of the new Central Committee, he was elected to the Politburo. In March 2026, he was also elected as a deputy to the 16th National Assembly.



Thanh Hue
The revised law aims to further institutionalise the Partys policies on promoting democracy and ensuring the right to freedom of belief and religion for all, in line with Vietnams socio-economic conditions. It also seeks to enhance transparency, strengthen the application of information technology and accelerate digital transformation in religious activities.

At the same time, the amendment is designed to address shortcomings identified during the implementation of the 2016 law, aligning it with the restructured state apparatus and the two-tier local government model. It also reflects the broader context of globalisation and international integration, while supporting the development of a digital government and digital society. The goal is to create more favourable conditions for organisations and individuals while improving the effectiveness of state management in this field.

The draft law consists of nine chapters with 61 articles, seven fewer than the current law.

To align with ongoing administrative restructuring and the application of science and technology in governance, the draft proposes amendments to 45 articles, aiming to improve regulatory stability and predictability.

Among the revised provisions are those concerning the States responsibility in ensuring freedom of belief and religion (Article 4), the role of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organisations (Article 6), the rights of foreign nationals legally residing in Vietnam (Article 10), and the rights and obligations of religious organisations and individuals.

The draft also introduces new provisions on principles governing belief and religious activities (Article 3), international cooperation in religious affairs (Article 5), and definitions related to religious activities in cyberspace. A dedicated article on religious activities in the digital environment (Article 8) is included to provide a legal basis for expanding the use of technology in this sector.

Promoting decentralisation in religious management

The draft law clearly defines the authority of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, as well as provincial- and commune-level Peoples Committees, in accordance with the principles of decentralisation and the specific conditions and capacities of local authorities.

It aims to enhance autonomy and accountability in decision-making and implementation, thereby improving the effectiveness of state management.

Under the draft, state management authority in belief and religion is distributed across 107 competencies: 48 at the central level, 42 at the provincial level and 17 at the commune level. This compares with 103 competencies under the current legal framework, including relevant decrees.

To further support decentralisation alongside administrative streamlining and improved governance capacity, the draft assigns the Government responsibility for detailing more than 30 contents across 34 articles.

In addition to new and revised provisions, the draft retains 13 articles from the 2016 law that remain appropriate.

During the drafting process, the provisions were carefully reviewed to ensure compliance with international human rights standards, including the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Vietnam is a party. The law aims to balance the protection of human and civil rights with effective state management, in line with national development conditions.

The draft also ensures consistency with requirements related to national defence, security, gender equality and ethnic policies.

Further review recommended

In its review, the National Assemblys Committee on Culture and Social Affairs expressed support for the necessity of revising the law and agreed with its political, legal and practical foundations.

The committee broadly endorsed the decentralisation approach outlined in the draft, noting that it builds on existing legislation while aligning with the two-tier local government model.

However, it recommended further review to ensure that decentralisation matches the actual capacity and resources of local authorities, particularly at the commune level.

Some opinions also suggested allowing provincial Peoples Committees greater flexibility to delegate or authorise commune-level authorities to manage religious affairs where conditions permit, in line with staffing and local realities.

Thanh Hue
On April 7, General Secretary and State President To Lam signed the decision to ratify the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, also known as the Hanoi Convention. With this move, Vietnam becomes the first country in Southeast Asia and the second in the world to ratify the treaty.

General Secretary To Lam poses for a photo with heads of delegations attending the opening ceremony for the signing of the Hanoi Convention in October 2025. Photo: VNA

The Convention against Cybercrime - the first United Nations international treaty named after a Vietnamese location - marks a historic milestone in Vietnams international integration, reflecting the countrys growing capacity and standing in addressing global challenges.

As host, Vietnam coordinated with the United Nations to successfully organize the signing ceremony in Hanoi in October 2025. The event drew leaders and high-level representatives from more than 110 countries and international organizations, with 72 countries formally signing the convention, helping to foster dialogue, cooperation, and trust in global cyber governance.

Vietnams swift completion of ratification procedures, becoming the first in Southeast Asia and the second globally to join the convention, underscores its strong and consistent commitment to upholding international law, the UN Charter, and multilateralism.

As an official member, Vietnam is now positioned to contribute more substantively to the development and refinement of the international legal framework governing cyberspace.

The Hanoi Convention provides an important legal foundation for Vietnam to strengthen its capacity to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute cybercrime, meeting the demands of safeguarding national security and social order amid rapid digital transformation and deepening global integration. It also serves as a key driver for improving domestic legislation, ensuring compatibility with international standards and obligations, and enhancing institutional, technical, and human resource capabilities in combating cybercrime.

The convention was first opened for signature in Hanoi in October 2025.

Comprising nine chapters and 68 articles, the treaty establishes a comprehensive international legal framework for cooperation in combating cybercrime. It defines a wide range of offenses, from illegal access and system interference to online child exploitation and money laundering derived from criminal activities. It also sets out jurisdictional rules and investigative measures, enabling countries to collect evidence and prosecute cybercrime cases more effectively.

In addition, the convention outlines procedural and law enforcement measures, promotes international cooperation in investigations and prosecutions, and emphasizes preventive actions, including capacity building and raising awareness of cybersecurity. It also facilitates technical assistance and information sharing among member states.

To date, 75 countries have signed the convention. Prior to Vietnam, Qatar was the first to ratify it. The convention will enter into force once 40 countries have become full members.

Tran Thuong
The projection comes as Vietnamese businesses increasingly turn to digital platforms to access global consumers, opening up new growth pathways beyond traditional export channels. E-commerce exports open up transformative opportunities, enabling Vietnamese MSMEs to directly access global markets.







On April 8, Amazon Global Selling Vietnam joined an industry seminar organized by the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), focusing on opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises in cross-border e-commerce exports.

The event brought together representatives from government agencies, industry associations, service providers and export-oriented businesses to discuss key findings from a new report, while exploring practical strategies to accelerate Vietnams digital export growth.

According to the report, titled E-commerce exports: A new growth engine for Vietnams furniture and fashion industries, the two sectors could generate a combined export value of US$110 billion by 2029.

Within this, business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce exports are expected to grow significantly faster than traditional channels. Furniture exports via e-commerce are forecast to expand by 20% annually, while fashion could grow by 26% each year.

Research by Access Partnership shows that 97% of surveyed micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in these sectors view e-commerce exports as essential to their future growth. Meanwhile, 96% say adopting e-commerce enhances their global competitiveness.

In the furniture sector, exports are projected to rise from VND343 trillion (US$14 billion) in 2024 to VND540 trillion (US$22 billion) by 2029. Notably, B2C e-commerce exports are expected to grow at twice the pace of traditional export channels.

For fashion, export value is forecast to reach VND2,137 trillion (US$88 billion) by 2029, with e-commerce growing five times faster than conventional methods.

The report also highlights Vietnams strong manufacturing foundation as a critical driver. As one of the worlds leading exporters of wooden furniture, alongside a well-developed textile and garment industry, the country is well positioned to scale exports through digital channels.

These findings align with Amazons own data on the growth of Vietnamese sellers on its platform.

In the 12 months ending July 31, 2025, the number of products sold by Vietnamese partners on Amazon increased by 35% year-on-year. Key categories included Home, Kitchen, Health & Personal Care, Fashion and Beauty - closely reflecting Vietnams manufacturing strengths outlined in the report.

However, the report also identifies four major barriers limiting the expansion of e-commerce exports among MSMEs: high costs, regulatory complexity, knowledge gaps, and operational capacity constraints, particularly in supply chains and logistics.

At the seminar, participants stressed the need for coordinated efforts between public institutions and the private sector to address these challenges.

Larry Hu, Director of Amazon Global Selling Southeast Asia, said the report provides an independent and realistic view of both the opportunities and obstacles facing Vietnamese businesses.

Amazon Global Sellings initiatives in Vietnam are designed to directly tackle these barriers, he said, citing a three-year partnership with VIETRADE to train 1,000 businesses, the rollout of Amazon Global Logistics from Vietnam to the US, and comprehensive training programs for sellers.

These efforts focus on addressing cost, knowledge and operational challenges - the key constraints identified by MSMEs.

Tran Trong Tuyen, Vice Chairman of VECOM, emphasized that e-commerce exports represent a transformative opportunity for Vietnamese SMEs to access global markets directly.

VECOM is committed to supporting the business community through knowledge sharing, fostering industry collaboration and developing policy recommendations to facilitate the growth of e-commerce exports, he said.

The discussion today, along with the release of the Access Partnership report, reflects strong engagement from regulators, businesses and stakeholders in building a practical roadmap for Vietnamese enterprises.

Across the country, businesses are increasingly leveraging e-commerce to reach international customers, particularly in sectors such as furniture and fashion.

Companies like Coolmate in apparel, or furniture manufacturers such as Green Mekong with eco-friendly, space-optimized designs, are bringing Made in Vietnam products to global consumers while building distinctive brand identities.

These shifts mirror a broader trend highlighted in the report - the growing importance of digital channels in shaping Vietnams export landscape.

Thai Khang
The Iranian regime has stopped all negotiation efforts with the United States, telling Pakistan it won't engage in case-fire talks, three senior officials told The New York Times.

President Donald Trump has threatened to target infrastructure used for civilian purposes if a deal is not reached by 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Speaking to Fox News' Bret Baier on Tuesday, he said that so far the attack "is happening" but the deadline could be extended if there is any tangible process.

Should that not be the case "there is going to be an attack like they have not seen," Bret said, quoting Trump.

The president has also said a "whole civilization will die tonight" if the Iranian regime fails to reach a deal.

"I don't want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!" Trump added in a publication on his social media platform, Truth Social.

Iran, in turn, said it will deprive the U.S. and its allies of oil and gas "for years to come" if Washington crosses its "red lines."

In a statement published on state television, the entity added that if the "American terrorist army crosses the red lines, our response will go beyond the region."

"America's regional partners should also know that until today, we have exercised great restraint for the sake of good neighborliness and have had some reservations in choosing targets for retaliation, but all these reservations have since been removed," the paramilitary guard added.

It is unclear which are the IRCG's red lines, as hostilities continue to escalate in the meantime. A U.S. official said on Tuesday that the country's military conducted strikes on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil exports.

Fox News journalist Jennifer Griffin added that targets included bunkers, a radar station and ammunition storage. Quoting an official, she added that "landing docks were not intentionally targeted. Only would have been struck if Iranians fired something from next to them."

Originally published on IBTimes
The legislature later passed a resolution ratifying the appointments, with 485 deputies participating, representing 97% of the total. Of these, 484 voted in favor, accounting for 96.30% of all deputies, while one deputy abstained.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man presents flowers in congratulations to members of the Government.

Among the six deputy prime ministers are two Politburo members, Pham Gia Tuc and Phan Van Giang, and one Secretariat member, Pham Thi Thanh Tra.

Pham Thi Thanh Tra and Ho Quoc Dung continue in their roles from the previous term.

Pham Gia Tuc, born in 1965 in Ninh Binh, holds a masters degree in public administration and a bachelors degree in economics. He is a Politburo member of the 14th tenure, a member of the Party Central Committee for the 13th and 14th terms, and a deputy to the 16th National Assembly.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc. Photo: Pham Hai

He previously served as vice chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry before holding leadership roles in Can Tho and later as deputy head of the Party Central Internal Affairs Commission. In April 2021, he became Secretary of the Nam Dinh Party Committee, and in 2025 was appointed Chief of the Party Central Office. At the 14th Party Congress in early 2026, he was elected to the Politburo and assigned to the Secretariat.

Phan Van Giang, born in 1960, is a general of the Vietnam Peoples Army and currently serves as Minister of National Defense. A Politburo member across multiple terms, his career has been closely tied to the military, rising from a soldier to the countrys top defense post.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Phan Van Giang. Photo: Hoang Ha

He previously held positions including commander of Army Corps 1, deputy chief of the General Staff, commander of Military Region 1, and Chief of the General Staff. In April 2021, he was approved as Minister of National Defense and later promoted to the rank of General. He is currently the only deputy prime minister concurrently holding a ministerial position.

Pham Thi Thanh Tra, born in 1964 in Nghe An, holds a masters degree in education management and is a member of the Party Central Committee for multiple terms, as well as a Secretariat member of the 14th tenure.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra. Photo: Hoang Ha

She spent many years in Yen Bai province, holding various leadership roles including head of the provincial propaganda department, vice chairwoman and later chairwoman of the provincial Peoples Committee, and secretary of the provincial Party Committee. She was later appointed Minister of Home Affairs and became deputy prime minister in October 2025.

Nguyen Van Thang, born in 1973, holds a doctorate in finance and monetary theory. He built his career in banking, notably at VietinBank, where he served as CEO and chairman before moving into public office. He later held leadership roles in Quang Ninh and Dien Bien provinces, served as Minister of Transport, and then Minister of Finance.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang. Photo: Hoang Ha







Ho Quoc Dung, born in 1966, holds a masters degree in law and has had a long career in Binh Dinh province, rising from local leadership roles to chairman of the provincial Peoples Committee. Following administrative restructuring, he became Secretary of the Gia Lai Party Committee and was appointed deputy prime minister in October 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung. Photo: Pham Thang

Le Tien Chau, born in 1969, holds a doctorate in law and has held various positions in the Ministry of Justice before moving to local leadership roles in Hau Giang and later serving as Secretary of the Hai Phong Party Committee. He also served as vice chairman and secretary general of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau. Photo: Pham Thang

The approval of the six deputy prime ministers marks a key step in finalizing the leadership structure of Vietnams government for the new term, reflecting both continuity and strategic arrangements at the highest levels of governance.



Tran Thuong
On the evening of April 8, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated Vietnams position regarding the temporary ceasefire agreement reached between the US and Iran on April 7 (local time).

Vietnam welcomes the ceasefire agreement reached on April 7, 2026 between the US and Iran, an important step toward reducing tensions and moving toward the restoration of peace, stability, security, and safety in the Middle East, the spokesperson said.

Vietnam called on all parties to exercise restraint, act responsibly, and avoid further complicating the situation; to respect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of all countries; and to ensure the safety and security of civilians, civilian infrastructure, as well as maritime safety and freedom of navigation in the region.

Vietnam also urged the parties to actively engage in dialogue to seek sustainable peaceful solutions to their differences, based on the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, for the benefit of all sides and for peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and globally.

In a post on Truth Social on the evening of April 7 (morning of April 8 in Hanoi), US President Donald Trump wrote: In discussions with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan, they asked me to delay the planned deployment of devastating force against Iran tonight, on the condition that Iran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz completely, immediately, and safely. I agreed to suspend the bombing and attacks on Iran for two weeks. This will be a bilateral ceasefire.

International media reported that talks between Tehran and the US are scheduled to take place on April 10 in Islamabad, Pakistan.

Tran Thuong
No longer operating behind the scenes, in recent years the children of Vietnams billionaires have become increasingly visible on the stock market, taking on the role of major shareholders with assets worth thousands of billions of dong. The market has begun to recognize F2 as a generation of successor entrepreneurs. However, the degree of involvement and influence of these heirs varies significantly from one family to another.

As of April 1, the two children of Ho Hung Anh, chairman of Techcombank, Ho Thuy Anh (born 2001) and Ho Anh Minh (born 1995), ranked 12th and 13th among the wealthiest individuals on Vietnams stock market. Each owns approximately VND10,600 billion (around US$435 million) in TCB shares, equivalent to nearly 4.9% of the banks charter capital.

These Gen Z figures first drew attention in 2024 when they entered the top 20 richest individuals on the market. Their asset surge mainly came from receiving transferred shares from their mother, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tam, in late 2023, followed by further purchases on the market. Previously, she had held nearly 5% of Techcombank.

This transfer is not merely a division of assets but may also be a move to restructure family ownership and reduce concentration risks. However, there are still no clear signs that executive power at the bank has shifted to the next generation.

Taking a different path, Hoa Phat Group under Tran Dinh Long has opted for a more gradual and cautious approach.

His son, Tran Vu Minh (born 1996), by the end of 2025 held more than 176 million HPG shares, equivalent to 2.76% ownership, valued at around VND4,780 billion (US$196 million) as of April 1, 2026. He has also registered to purchase an additional 50 million shares from March 12 to April 10, 2026. If completed, his ownership would rise to approximately 2.95%.

Currently, Tran Vu Minh serves as Director of Dai Phong Trading and Investment Co., Ltd., and has not yet assumed an executive role at Hoa Phat Group. Meanwhile, Tran Dinh Long remains the largest individual shareholder with about 25.8%, while his wife holds nearly 6.9%.

This indicates that at Hoa Phat, the second generation has begun accumulating assets, but power remains firmly tied to the first generation. It reflects a step-by-step, controlled transition aligned with the founders philosophy that leadership must be earned through capability.

At Vingroup, the transition approach of Pham Nhat Vuong carries a distinct character, marked by strong central control.

His two sons, Pham Nhat Quan Anh and Pham Nhat Minh Hoang, have begun participating in the ecosystem. At VinEnergo, each holds about 5% ownership, while Vuong retains 71%. At VinSpeed, each holds around 0.5%, while he maintains 51%.

These figures show that strategic assets are still concentrated in the hands of the founder. In terms of management roles, Pham Nhat Quan Anh has joined the board of VinFast, having gone through internal operational roles and being regarded as a highly promising figure. Meanwhile, Pham Nhat Minh Hoang has pursued his own entrepreneurial direction, including ventures such as FGF and participation in investment funds within the ecosystem.

Overall, the Vingroup model can be understood as allowing the next generation to gain exposure and test their capabilities in selected positions.

Who will take control of Vietnams private empires?

From Techcombank and Hoa Phat to Vingroup, the picture of succession across major private corporations reveals a clear reality: each enterprise is following its own path, with no single standard model.

For Ho Hung Anh, early allocation of large shareholdings helps define ownership structure, but executive power remains retained. Tran Dinh Long prefers gradual transfer based on merit, consistent with his belief that no one should inherit leadership positions without proving themselves. In contrast, Pham Nhat Vuong maintains a highly concentrated ownership structure, with little visible shift in control.

A common point across these models is that assets can be transferred first, but power requires time, testing, and caution.

The trend of transferring wealth before authority stems from several reasons. First, large Vietnamese corporations still depend heavily on the role of their founders. A premature transfer could create leadership gaps in a rapidly changing market environment.

In addition, although many second-generation heirs are well educated, they often lack large-scale practical experience. Holding shares helps align interests with the enterprise, but does not necessarily equate to the ability to control the entire system.

International experience also shows that many family businesses face instability when transitions are rushed. As a result, separating ownership from control is becoming an increasingly common choice.

However, this approach also carries risks. One is the mismatch between ownership and management, which may lead to long-term conflicts of interest. Another is the significant pressure placed on heirs who hold vast assets early but may not yet be fully prepared. A third is the risk of a leadership vacuum if the transition process is prolonged or unclear.

Over the next decade, this process may enter a decisive phase with three possible scenarios. The first is that the second generation matures and officially takes over executive leadership. The second is the continuation of a dual structure, with the founding generation retaining control. The third is a shift toward hiring professional CEOs, gradually reducing the role of family governance.

Whichever direction unfolds, the transition within Vietnams major private empires will not only determine the future of each enterprise but also have far-reaching implications for the structure and development of the countrys private sector in the years ahead.

Manh Ha
TOKYO, Apr 08 (News On Japan) - FamilyMart reported record earnings for the fiscal year ending February 2026 on April 8th, with operating profit rising 18% from a year earlier to 100.2 billion yen, driven by strong sales of rice balls promoted through advertising featuring Shohei Ohtani and successful food portion increase campaigns.

The convenience store operator saw robust demand for its onigiri products, supported by marketing campaigns using Ohtani, which helped attract customers and boost sales across its food segment.

FamilyMart forecasts operating profit to increase 3% to 103.0 billion yen for the fiscal year ending February 2027. However, President Takeo Kotani expressed concern over rising logistics costs and higher electricity expenses at stores, citing escalating tensions in the Middle East as a potential risk factor.

Source: BIZ
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Chad and Libya have discussed ways to strengthen security cooperation and coordinate efforts in border security, countering security threats and controlling irregular migration, both at bilateral and multilateral levels
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - A high-level global summit kicked off this week, bringing together heads of State, scientists, and environmental experts under the banner of One Health  an integrated UN-backed strategy that recognises the link between the health of people, animals, and our overall environment
Grabs CEO, Anthony Tan, highlighted the use of AI for Grab's latest solutions.

Speaking at GrabX 2026 held in Indonesia on April 8, Philipp Kandal, chief product officer of Grab, said, As a product builder, I believe AI should work the hardest for the people who need it most. Im excited that the products we are launching today at GrabX are like having a smart companion by your side."

"Whether youre a consumer who just wants a chatbot to choose your lunch, a merchant who needs to monitor multiple shops remotely, or a driver getting hands-free voice advice we want the Grab app to be the Everyday Guide that handles the manual tasks, so you can focus on your day.

Philipp Kandal, chief product officer of Grab

The 13 products launched at GrabX serve as Everyday Guides to Local Life, Effortless Travel, and Business Empowerment. For consumers, Group Ride makes it easy for up to four people to share a vehicle by coordinating pickups and split payments.

Grabs AI sequences the entire trip intelligently to be most efficient, and each passenge's fare is calculated based on factors such as the distance they travel, as well as traffic conditions and time taken on their route. Meanwhile, GrabMaps for Consumers makes daily transit more convenient by helping users find nearby amenities like EV chargers and parking spots, and even providing indoor maps to navigate malls and buildings.

For travellers, features like Personalised Travel Experience and Discover reduce the hassle of travelling, helping consumers get through the airport easily with reminders on flight updates or arrival card requirements, and surfacing local food reviews and recommendations.

For Grab's merchant- and driver-partners, there are new features for Business Empowerment. Merchant-partners can use tools like Virtual Store Manager and Cloud Printer that use hardware to automate their stores manual workflows  using AI-powered computer vision to monitor hygiene and foot traffic, and automatically sync food orders between front counters and back kitchens. Driver-partners can use a chatbot, Driver AI Assistant, as a smart companion to get real-time advice that helps them drive more efficiently and grow their daily earnings.

The products are powered by the Grab Intelligence Layer, the company's AI infrastructure built on insights from 20 billion rides and orders. It turns real-world signals  like how rain impacts traffic or real-time activity in a merchants shop  into useful features that simplify decisions and automate manual tasks.

GrabX 2026, Grabs annual product showcase, also marked a milestone for Grab's Early Access Programme, which has grown to 200,000 users since its launch at last year's event. The scheme allows users to see Grab's latest features, become testers, and provide feedback to help improve new products. This group has contributed 4,000 feature improvements that have shaped the Grab experience today.

At the event, Grab also announced a new shake and share feature that lets users submit feedback instantly by shaking their phone.

Products will roll out by market, subject to regulatory approvals, licensing, and partner readiness. Product names, capabilities, fees, and timelines may vary by country.

Product Availability in Markets

Product Availability Group Ride Available in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Launching in Vietnam in the third quarter of the year. Grab More Available in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Grab AI Assistant Available in Singapore. To be rolled out in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam by the end of the year. Grab Shopping Agent Available in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. GrabMaps for Consumers Available in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Specific functions will be rolled out progressively. Cash Loan Available in the Philippines. Coming to Thailand and Malaysia by mid-2026. Personalised Travel Experience Arriving in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam by the third quarter of the year. GrabStays Launching first in Singapore by May 2026, followed by Malaysia in the third quarter of the year. Discover by Grab Available in Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Coming to Vietnam by mid-2026 and Malaysia by the end of the year. GrabPay for Travel To be rolled out in the Philippines and Malaysia by the third quarter of the year, and Singapore and Thailand by the end of the year. Virtual Store Manager Being piloted in Malaysia and Thailand. Cloud Printer Available in Indonesia and Singapore. To be rolled out in other countries by April 2026. Tap to Pay Available in the Philippines and Singapore. Coming to Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand by end of the year, and Vietnam in 2027.

From pioneer to key player: Grab's 10-year milestone in Vietnam This October, Grab is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Vietnam. Alejandro Osorio, managing director of Grab Vietnam, speaks to VIR's Linh Le about the key milestones achieved over the last decade and the company's future vision in Vietnam.

Vietnams food delivery market saw the highest growth in the region Vietnams food delivery market reached a total gross merchandise value (GMV) of $1.8 billion in 2024, where Grab and ShopeeFood accounting for 95 per cent of the market share.
On March 11, Accelerated Infrastructure Capital (AIC) signed an MoU with Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology to invest in an AI data centre project. The facility, to be located at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, will be the first AI mega-project in the city

The project has an estimated investment of approximately $2.1 billion and will be implemented by a joint venture between AIC, Kinh Bac City Development Holding Corporation, and international partners. Components include data centre infrastructure, power and water systems, and GPU infrastructure. The entire capital is expected to be fully disbursed by the end of the first quarter of 2027.

Oliver Jones, co-founder of AIC Group, said, The progress of the venture has moved faster than initially expected. We really appreciate the support from Ho Chi Minh City authorities during implementation. We hope that this AI data centre will become a technological hub not just for Vietnam, but also across Southeast Asia.

In February, G42, the Abu Dhabi-based technology holding group, and a consortium, comprising the FPT Corporation and the Viet Thai Group, signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement to develop sovereign AI capabilities and cloud infrastructure across Vietnam. G42 and its Vietnamese partners have a plan to develop a billiondollar data centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

Nguyen Ky Phung, head of the SHTP management board, said, G42 has conducted surveys three times to select the site for its data centre at SHTP. In the first quarter of 2026, SHTP is expected to grant an investment licence for a $500 million data centre to Evolution Group.

Besides data centres, Ho Chi Minh City aims to lure at least four highvalue foreign investment ventures in the semiconductor industry this year, targeting collaboration with foreign technology corporations such as AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm.

Among them, BE Semiconductor Industries NV (Besi) plans to invest $1 billion in a new advanced packaging fab in Vietnam. Although the exact location has not been confirmed, the facility may be developed in Ho Chi Minh City, where Besi operates a factory in SHTP.

According to the municipal Department of Finance, Ho Chi Minh City has attracted nearly $2.9 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first quarter of 2026, soaring 219 per cent from a year ago. The city is expected to secure an additional $8.9 billion in the second quarter, bringing the figure to around $11 billion by the end of the third quarter, equivalent to approximately 100 per cent of the 2026 annual target.

Some key ventures include Can Gio International Transshipment Port (over $4.9 billion), Nha Be Metrocity GS ($2.2 billion), a smart complex in Thu Thiem New Urban Area ($1.2 billion), the AI data centre in Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park ($2.1 billion), and Evolution Groups data centre ($500 million).

Ahead of strong FDI inflows to the city, Phung said, "SHTP will revise its 1/2,000 detailed planning and revoke delayed projects, freeing up about 100 hectares of land to draw more high-tech and green technology investments."

"With ventures in the pipeline, SHTP is set for strong growth in 2026, targeting $1.6 billion in FDI attraction. In the next phase, the park will shift its focus to core technologies, semiconductors, AI, and innovation, rather than concentrating on manufacturing as before," he added.

TikTok pours $125 million into Ho Chi Minh City in Q1 TikTok Shop Vietnam Co., Ltd. has invested $125 million into its venture in Ho Chi Minh City in the first quarter of 2026.

Urban law an opportunity for Ho Chi Minh City development Developing a special urban law aims to establish a long-term institutional foundation for Ho Chi Minh City to fully leverage its role as the countrys economic locomotive and a driver of national growth, according to experts.
The competition is organised by three Vingroup member organisationsthe "For Green Future" Foundation, VinUniversity, and VinTechTalent (Vingroup Young Technology Talent Club).

This marks the first time an Asia-wide environmental hackathon exclusively for undergraduate and master's students is held in Vietnam. The competition aims to identify and develop technology-driven solutions to pressing environmental challenges, while fostering innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration among the younger generation.

The competition encourages interdisciplinary ideas that integrate multiple fieldsincluding technology, environmental sciences, economics, and social scienceswith the aim of creating solutions that are innovative, feasible, and socially impactful.

Proposed ideas should address one of three key challenge areas: renewable energy and low-carbon mobility; urban air quality and climate resilience; water resources and climate-resilient agriculture.

The competition offers a total prize pool of $24,000, comprising one first prize of $8,000, one second prize of $5,000, two third prizes of $3,000 each, and five consolation prizes of $1,000 each.

Beyond the awards, participating teams will gain valuable opportunities to engage with leading experts from across the region, expand their professional networks, and strengthen their access to the broader innovation ecosystem.

Le Thai Ha, managing director of the "For Green Future" Foundation and head of the Organising Committee said, "We believe that ideas with the power to shape the future do not always emerge from large laboratories or well-established institutions; they often arise from the insight, initiative, and determination of young people to make a difference."

"Through the Asian Hackathon for Green Future, we seek to create a platform where students across the region can transform their environmental awareness into tangible, innovative solutions that deliver meaningful impact for communities and the future."

Participants will advance through three main stages: registration (April 6May 17); online training (June 2June 28); and final round & hackathon at VinUniversity (July 2July 5, tentative).

The Asian Hackathon for Green Future is expected to foster innovation aligned with sustainable development, while contributing to the development of a new generation of young talents capable of cross-border collaboration to create solutions with lasting, positive impact across the region.

Vietnam in Southeast Asia innovation-friendly Top 3 Vietnam ranks third in Southeast Asia in Innovators Business Environment Index 2026.

BLOCK71 launches UniVentures, powering Vietnams next generation of university founders Vietnam's university startup scene is getting a bold new boost with the launch of UniVentures, a regional innovation programme led by BLOCK71 in partnership with the Temasek Foundation.
On April 7, Vu Dai Thang, Deputy Secretary of Hanoi Party Committee and Chairman of Hanoi Peoples Committee, received Arthur King, chairman of CT&D from Taiwan, for discussions on areas of mutual interest.

King shared CT&Ds interest in exploring potential cooperation opportunities with Hanoi, including urban development and redevelopment projects aimed at improving residents quality of life.

As an investor with extensive experience in Vietnam, with notable projects such as Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone and Phu My Hung New Urban Area in the south, CT&D expressed its intention to expand investment activities in Hanoi. This includes a proposal to participate in the redevelopment of the Thanh Xuan Bac apartment complex.

Arthur King expressed his hope to receive support and facilitation from Hanois authorities for the project, as well as assistance in information sharing and connectivity to unlock further cooperation opportunities.

Chairman Thang acknowledged and highly appreciated CT&Ds long-term investment commitment to Vietnam through a number of large-scale projects that have contributed significantly to the countrys socioeconomic development. He said that CT&Ds presence and intention to expand investment in Hanoi reflect the capitals strong appeal to foreign investors.

"CT&Ds proposal aligns with Hanois long-term strategic planning vision, which emphasises urban renewal towards a more modern, civilised city, thereby improving living standards," Thang said.

Policy frameworks such as the forthcoming revised Capital Law are expected to provide a favourable foundation for investors and international partners to engage more actively in Hanois development process.

Thang reaffirmed that Hanoi is committed to creating new advantages for Taiwanese enterprises to invest in the capital. Relevant municipal agencies will work closely with CT&D to accelerate procedures and translate cooperation ideas into concrete projects following the meeting.

He also expressed confidence that, with CT&Ds experience and capabilities, along with strong commitment and coordinated efforts from both sides, the groups proposed projects and investment initiatives in Hanoi will soon be effectively implemented.

Cooler Master eyes $3 billion investment in Vietnam Cooling module manufacturer Cooler Master plans to increase its investment capital in Vietnam to $3 billion as part of goals to strengthen its global supply chain.

Fastener Taiwan 2026 focuses on sustainable manufacturing The Kaohsiung industrial components trade show emphasized environmental production methods and global procurement strategies.
Disbursed FDI in the first quarters of 2022-2026 (in billions of US dollars)

According to data released by the Statistics Office, total registered foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam as of March 31 stood at $15.2 billion, a 42.9 per cent increase on the same period last year.

Newly registered FDI reached $10.23 billion across 904 licensed projects, representing a 2.4-fold increase in registered capital and a 6.4 per cent rise in the number of projects on-year.

By sector, manufacturing and processing continued to draw in the largest share of new investment, with $7.07 billion (accounting for 69 per cent of total newly registered capital). This was followed by electricity, gas and water production and distribution at $2.28 billion (22.3 per cent), while other sectors accounted for $884.6 million (8.7 per cent).

Meanwhile, 251 ongoing projects registered additional capital of $2.30 billion, down 55.1 per cent on-year.

Combining newly registered and additional capital, total FDI into manufacturing and processing reached $8.85 billion, accounting for 70.6 per cent of total registered capital. Electricity, gas and water distribution accounted for $2.28 billion (18.2 per cent), while other sectors made up $1.4 billion (11.2 per cent).

Foreign investors also contributed $2.66 billion through capital contributions and share purchases across 703 transactions, up 2.3 times on-year.

Alongside the rise in registered capital, disbursed FDI in the first three months of 2026 was estimated at $5.41 billion, up 9.1 per cent on-year. This marks the highest level of disbursed FDI for the first quarter in the 2022-2026 period.

Of the total disbursed FDI, manufacturing and processing accounted for $4.48 billion (82.8 per cent), followed by real estate at $389.5 million (7.2 per cent), and electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply at $196.1 million (3.6 per cent).

Among 52 countries and territories with newly licensed investment projects in Vietnam during the period, Singapore emerged as the largest investor with $5.32 billion (52 per cent of total newly registered capital), followed by South Korea with $3.68 billion (35.9 per cent). China ranked third with $417.5 million (4.1 per cent), followed by Hong Kong (China) with $256.8 million (2.5 per cent).

Regarding Vietnams outbound investment, 48 new projects were licensed in the first quarter with a total capital of $597.2 million, 2.6 times higher than the same period last year. Four existing projects also increased their capital by $22.8 million, up 4.3 times.

In total, Vietnams overseas investment (including new and adjusted capital) reached $619.9 million in the first three months of 2026, up 2.6 times on-year.

Vietnamese investors expanded their presence across 28 countries and territories. Laos remained the largest destination with $176.7 million (28.5 per cent), followed by Kyrgyzstan with $149.9 million (24.2 per cent) and the United Kingdom with $82.8 million (13.4 per cent).

EuroCham Whitebook positioning Vietnam for next wave of investment The European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) has launched the 17th edition of its Whitebook, a flagship publication supporting the effective deployment of landmark EU investments in the country.

Sizeable investments signal FDI bright spot Vietnams push to attract higher-quality foreign investment is beginning to pay off, as the re-emergence of billion-dollar projects signals growing confidence in its high-tech ambitions.
FTSE Russell on April 7 published the results of its March semi-annual country classification review for countries monitored by its global equity and fixed income indices. The March interim assessment considered progress in enabling access to global brokers, which is essential to support index replication and meet the needs of the international investment community.

It recognises the progress made by the Vietnamese market authorities in evolving market infrastructure, including the removal of the prefunding requirement for foreign institutional investors through the implementation of a non-prefunding model and the establishment of a formal process for handling failed trades.

Since the September 2025 annual review, Vietnam has continued to advance the development of the Global Broker model. Regulatory bodies, onshore and global brokers, custodians, and buyside firms have aligned on the key operational components needed for implementation, with the remaining work focused on finalising bilateral agreements between global and local brokers.

FTSE Russell notes that Vietnam has demonstrated sufficient progress ahead of the planned reclassification in September. It confirmed that Vietnam meets all criteria for secondary emerging market status under the FTSE Equity Country Classification Framework, and will continue to monitor developments closely ahead of the September date.

David Sol, global head of Policy at FTSE Russell, said, "We welcome the continued progress made by the Vietnamese market authorities in aligning with international standards. The March interim review confirms that the key enhancements required to support the planned reclassification in September 2026 remain on track.

To support an orderly transition and accommodate local market capacity considerations, Vietnams inclusion in FTSE Russells global equity indices will be implemented in multiple tranches, beginning in September and concluding in 2027.

FTSE Russell clarifies Vietnams reclassification roadmap for 2026 FTSE Russell has released the plan to implement the reclassification of Vietnam from frontier to secondary emerging market status.

Vietnam steps up market reforms as FTSE Russell reviews upgrade progress On February 5 at the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Deputy Minister Nguyen Duc Chi received a working delegation from FTSE Russell, led by CEO Fiona Bassett.
Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc on April 6 chaired a meeting to review the progress of the ministrys digital transformation tasks, as well as the progress of deploying electronic medical records (EMR) and electronic health books.

The performance includes focusing on continuing to issue legal documents, reviewing administrative procedures, using electronic data in document component; and updating lists of technical expertise in various fields.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc chaired the meeting. Photo: MoH

The meeting focused on discussions about the national prescription system, EMR, and electronic health books. Standardising the storage, management, and sharing of prescription information nationwide is a major step forward in building a modern healthcare system, contributing to the improvement of EMRs and enhancing general healthcare.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Tri Thuc said that for the country to meet its goals, the needs for digital transformation and administrative procedure reform in the health sector were becoming increasingly urgent, especially in terms of institutions, data, and infrastructure.

The deputy minister requested that units continue to coordinate with the National Centre for Health Information to complete the remaining shortcomings and areas needing supplementation, progress implementing EMRs and electronic health books, and to more decisively restructure the group of medical databases and accelerate the progress of establishing the technical framework for 14 medical databases this year.

He also asked for stronger coordination with the Government Office and relevant ministries and agencies to clean and ensure the availability of data provided to the National Public Service Portal, contributing to breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.

The Ministry of Health is planning to reduce many investment and business conditions in medical examination and treatment. It is expected that 101 out of 525 business investment conditions in medical treatment will be reduced and or streamlined.

The ministry is finalising a draft decree amending Decree No.96/2023/ND-CP and reviewing plans to reduce administrative procedures in medical treatment, contributing to improving the quality of healthcare human resources, strengthening professional competency and aiming to ensure quality in medical treatment activities across the board.

Pharma law upgrades will improve effectiveness The ratification of the law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Pharmacy 2016 at the end of November is significant and positive news for the healthcare sector. It is expected to address key shortcomings of the current law while incorporating best practices successfully implemented in other countries.

Healthcare sector fast-tracks new hospital projects Vietnam is fast-tracking new hospital projects to meet rising demand and ease overloading on central medical facilities.

Expansions in healthcare more likely Vietnams healthcare sector closed 2025 with robust merger and acquisition (M&A) momentum. Major transactions from institutional investors demonstrated the markets depth, while established platforms backed by private equity (PE) pursued strategic add-ons and infrastructure expansion. The year demonstrated that Vietnams healthcare M&A market operates on multiple growth vectors simultaneously.
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team has held discussions with the authorities of Madagascar on the combined Third and Fourth Reviews of the country's economic programme under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) and the Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangements, approved by the IMF Executive Board in June 2024
The French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (CCIFV) on April 7 held a forum to discuss cooperation in development of sustainable urban areas.

The event attracted the participation of various diplomats, along with hundreds of representatives from management agencies and domestic and foreign businesses.

Participants at the event. Photo: hochiminhcity.gov.vn

The discussion focused on urban construction and development ecosystem, thereby promoting knowledge sharing, fostering innovation, and expanding strategic partnerships.

Key topics included urban development, green energy and materials, infrastructure, transport, and logistics. In addition, they also discussed the construction of future seaports, sustainability and human-centred architecture, and waterproofing solutions.

French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet emphasised that the construction sector plays a crucial role in the fight against climate change, accounting for a large proportion of global emissions and having significant economic importance, contributing 11 per cent of global GDP and 7 per cent of global employment.

The ambassador also stated that the transition to sustainable cities requires the participation of many stakeholders, from the government and businesses to research organisations and investors, and international cooperation. Vietnam and France are currently both members of the Global Alliance for Building and Construction to reduce carbon emissions in this sector.

French Ambassador to Vietnam, Olivier Brochet. Photo: hochiminhcity.gov.vn

CCIFV chairman Thibaut Giroux stated that, amidst a volatile world, the global supply chain being reshaped, and a constantly shifting geopolitical balance, Vietnam continues to emerge as a bright spot. In the fields of construction, energy, and materials, France's strengths also perfectly align with Vietnam's development orientation, according to Giroux.

According to Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha, the city is one of the leading localities in the country in cooperation with France, with bilateral trade turnover reaching over $723 million in 2025 and 433 French projects totalling over $2.2 billion.

Ha stated that this annual conference provided a comprehensive and strategic overview of urban development, in line with the spirit that Ho Chi Minh City is pursuing: development through integrated, interdisciplinary, interregional thinking, and multi-stakeholder cooperation.

Ho Chi Minh City is currently focusing on finalising a draft law on urban development and a master plan for the metropolis. These are two levers for the city to shift from an implementation mindset to proactively creating policies, building a superior institutional foundation, and opening up new development spaces, Ha added.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Loc Ha made a speech. Photo: hochiminhcity.gov.vn

The city is also promoting a green transition with many very specific goals. The city has issued an action plan for air pollution control for 2026-2030, which aims to ensure that all public transport vehicles use clean energy, while also aiming to control all major sources of emissions, promote the greening of construction, and use energy more efficiently.

Ho Chi Minh City identifies breakthroughs in transportation and logistics infrastructure as one of the prerequisites for expanding development space and enhancing competitiveness in the global supply chain.

Ha believes that with the increasingly strong foundation of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and France, and with the active support of the Embassy, Consulate General, CCIFV, and the French business community, the discussions will be concretised into more practical initiatives, projects, and cooperative relationships.

Decree opens incentives for green urban development New regulations are set to unlock financial and land-related incentives for projects that meet green growth standards in urban development.

Italian Design Day 2026: a contemporary architecture and urban development dialogue Italian Design Day 2026 took place in Ho Chi Minh City in early March under the theme RE-DESIGN. Regenerating Spaces, Objects, Ideas, Relations.
The results indicate that the system operates in a stable and safe manner with a capacity of 288 tonnes per hour compared with the initial design capacity of 171 tonnes per hour, equalling 9.5 million standard cubic metres per day.

The entire system has been inspected and evaluated according to domestic and international standards.

Operating the LNG storage facility above its design capacity requires a high level of technical expertise and operational experience. Throughout the trial run, PV GAS' engineers and staff maintained 24/7 monitoring, closely controlling key parameters such as temperature, pressure, vibration, and equipment displacement to ensure safe operations.

The upgrade significantly boosts regasification capacity, enabling the Thi Vai LNG terminal to meet demand from power plants managed by the National Power System and Market Operator, particularly during the peak dry season.

The capacity upgrade of the terminal takes places amidst potential risks in the global energy supply chain. The facility continues to play a critical role in the gas supply chain, contributing to a stable fuel source for electricity generation in the Southeast region.

With increasingly developed infrastructure, proven operational capability, and strong adaptability, PV GAS continues to play a pivotal role in Vietnams gas industry, helping ensure national energy security and meet the countrys growing energy demand.

Since its inauguration in 2023, Thi Vai LNG Terminal has remained the largest LNG terminal in Vietnam, with a current capacity of one million tonnes per year. The terminal is capable of handling vessels with deadweight tonnage of up to 100,000.

Nghe An establishes task force to help implement LNG thermal power plant Nghe An Peoples Committee has created a task force to direct and supervise the $2.3 billion Quynh Lap Liquefied Natural Gas thermal power project.

Novatek eyes expanded LNG cooperation in Vietnam As Vietnam races to secure its energy future and meet the demands of its surging economy, a new partnership with a Russian energy giant is taking shape, signalling a deepening of the nations' long-standing ties.
On April 6, Qualcomm Technologies announced the selected teams to take part in the 2026 Qualcomm Vietnam Innovation Challenge (QVIC), which specialise in sectors including smart cities, the Internet of Things (IoT), robotics and drones, healthcare, and agritech. Participants will undergo an initial three-month incubation period.

15 of the 28 startups will advance to a three-month acceleration phase with additional technical support and patent-filing incentives, culminating in a finale event in August with total prizes of $255,000.

The selection of shortlisted companies was based on various criteria, including their technical capabilities, innovative products, patentable technologies, and relevance to Vietnam's digital transformation and Industry 4.0.

"Vietnam continues to be a strategic hub for cultivating innovation, and its startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are central to driving digital transformation," said Nam Thieu, country general director of Qualcomm Vietnam. "With QVIC expanding from 10 to 28 teams, we are significantly scaling our support for Vietnam's next generation of innovators. This year's cohort brings exceptional strength in critical technology domains  including AI, robotics, IoT, and smart city solutions  areas that will define Vietnam's future competitiveness."

During the incubation period, the shortlisted companies will receive support, including business and technical guidance, access to Qualcomm Vietnam's Research and Development lab in Hanoi, and problem-solving assistance from local teams.

"What stands out in this QVIC cohort is the continuum of innovation, from university-incubated to industry-driven startups, all converging on real-world deployment," said Sudeepto Roy, vice president of Engineering at Qualcomm Incorporated. "These teams are moving beyond isolated AI models to end-to-end workflows and agentic AI systems that can sense, decide, and act under practical constraints. Qualcomm's role is to help translate this technical ambition into scalable platforms, where deep-tech innovation and intellectual property compound over a startup's growth cycle."

At the finale in August, a panel of industry leaders will select the top five finalists to compete for cash prizes totalling $255,000. The first-place winner will receive $100,000, second place $75,000, third place $50,000, and two additional prizes of $15,000 each will be awarded for innovative research.

Launched in 2019, QVIC has nurtured 50 innovative Vietnamese startups in advanced technology areas. With the support of Ministry of Science and Technology, the scheme aims to foster the development of Vietnam's growing technology ecosystem by identifying and nurturing innovative SMEs that design products utilising 5G, IoT, AI, smart cities, wearable devices, and multimedia technologies from Qualcomm. Cumulatively, these startups have filed over 150 patents to protect their inventions.

Vietnam a desirable destination for regional VCs Southeast Asian venture capital funds have set sights on Vietnamese startups. Charles Wong, co-founder and managing partner of TNB Aura, shared with VIRs Thanh Van the investment trends of regional funds into Vietnam.

NamiTech raises $4 million in funding Vietnam AI startup Nami Technology (NamiTech) has secured $4 million in its latest funding round from Japan's Toho Gas and existing investor Thien Viet Securities.
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), seafood exports in March approximated $927 million, up more than 5 per cent on-year.

This increase was significantly lower than the roughly 20 per cent growth in the first two months, indicating a slowdown and a growing reliance on a few key drivers.

In the first quarter (Q1) overall, seafood exports totalled $2.64 billion, up nearly 8 per cent. China and Hong Kong remained Vietnams largest market, with export turnover reaching approximately $764 million, up nearly 45 per cent compared to the same period last year. In March alone, exports to this market exceeded $250 million, rising more than 50 per cent.

According to VASEP, growth from China in Q1 was driven by three main factors.

First, seasonal demand linked to the Lunar New Year. In 2026, Lunar New Year fell in mid-February, driving strong import demand for seafood  particularly whole-form shrimp, live seafood, and premium consumption products  from late last year through the early part of Q1.

Second, underlying demand remained robust in the mid- to high-end segment. Import data show that China continued to increase shrimp imports in the first two months of the year, with growth of around 18 per cent.

Notably, in the live lobster segment, changes in tariffs and supply from Canada created a market gap, opening up clear opportunities for alternative suppliers, including Vietnam.

Third, geographical proximity and supply chain flexibility enabled Vietnamese firms to better capitalise on short-term demand spikes in this market, particularly during peak consumption periods.

In contrast to China, other key markets have yet to show clear signs of recovery.

Exports to the United States declined by more than 10 per cent in Q1, remaining the largest bottleneck due to both weak demand and technical barriers such as MMPA/COA regulations, as well as tariff-related obstacles including anti-dumping duties on shrimp. Meanwhile, exports to Japan and South Korea also fell by around 10 per cent, reflecting subdued consumption.

In the EU market, exports were largely flat, indicating stable but insufficient demand to drive growth. However, the bloc still presents opportunities in whitefish and products that meet sustainability standards.

On the positive side, markets such as ASEAN, Australia, Taiwan (China), and several emerging markets continued to expand, contributing to export diversification.

Heading into Q2, VASEP expects China and Hong Kong to remain the largest contributors to Vietnams seafood export growth. However, growth may slow compared to Q1 as seasonal factors fade.

As a result, growth will depend more heavily on underlying consumer demand and the ability of local exporters to maintain market share amid intensifying competition.

Product segments aligned with reasonable price and comfort factors are likely to play a more important role than seasonal premium products.

For the industry as a whole, exports in Q2 are forecast to remain in positive territory but with clear divergence.

Accordingly, shrimp and pangasius (tra fish) will continue to serve as key pillars, China as the main growth driver, while the United States and some developed markets will remain constraining factors.

Markets benefiting from logistical advantages due to geographic proximity, along with preferential tariffs under free trade agreements, are expected to be prioritised by seafood exporters this year.

Vietnam and US set to ease seafood trade regulation Efforts are underway to remove bottlenecks affecting Vietnams seafood exports to the United States, as the Vietnam Trade Office in the US and the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers step up to facilitate smoother market access.

Vietnams seafood exports surpass $11 billion in 2025 A broad-based rebound in global demand helped seafood exports post a robust performance in 2025, comfortably surpassing targets set at the start of the year.
Photo: shutterstock

The US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) will lead a delegation of more than 120 representatives from 52 US corporations to Vietnam from April 14 to 16.

Brian McFeeters, USABC president and CEO, said that the delegation comprised senior executives from major US companies.

"Despite the challenging global economic environment, the scale of the delegation signifies the increasing interest of American businesses to expand trade, investment, and long-term partnership in Vietnam, as well as their confidence in the economic growth prospects, McFeeters said.

The delegation comprises companies across key sectors including energy, technology, innovation, financial services, fund management, aerospace, automotive, logistics, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and life sciences, among others.

Many of these US companies are global corporations capable of delivering advanced technologies, long-term capital sources, international experience, and best practices, thereby supporting Vietnam in the next phase of development.

According to McFeeters, the delegation is expected to better understand the governments vision and clear messages about improving investment and the business environment. Thus, US companies can reaffirm long-term commitment to contributing to Vietnams development goals.

50 leading US businesses to visit Vietnam A high-level business delegation, including 50 top US businesses, will visit Vietnam from March 1821 to explore investment opportunities.

Vietnam remains attractive destination for US businesses Ramachandran AS, chairman of American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Ho Chi Minh City told Bich Ngoc that the business trip paid by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam to the United States signals the vital partner of Vietnam in the region and strengthens Vietnam's position as an attractive destination for US businesses.
As part of efforts to position the private sector as a key driver of the economy, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung signed Decision No. 626/QD-TTg dated April 6, approving the programme to support businesses expanding into global markets.

The initiative is seen as a strategic launchpad, helping Vietnamese firms move beyond a purely contract manufacturing mindset, while shaping a new position for them on the global economic map.

A central focus of the initiative is the decisive removal of institutional obstructions.

Cambodia was where telecom giant Viettel laid the first bricks of its global expansion journey under the Metfone brand

The government has also committed to building a transparent legal framework aligned with international standards, enabling businesses to more easily access capital, technological infrastructure, and high-quality workers.

Streamlined administrative procedures are expected to reduce legal risks and operating costs as domestic firms invest in or establish a presence abroad.

By 2030, the programme aims to have around 5,000 private-sector enterprises engaged in investment and business activities in global markets. Of these, at least 20 major private economic groups with strong capabilities are expected to take on a leading role in global value chains.

By 2030, a minimum of 100 enterprises will receive support to improve their performance on cross-border e-commerce platforms in Vietnam and internationally, including at least 10 companies achieving online export revenues exceeding $10 million.

The programme also targets the establishment of 10 innovation centres by Vietnamese enterprises in technologically advanced countries, along with approximately 30 logistics infrastructure projects and bonded warehouses in key markets. Notably, export turnover from supported enterprises is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 10-12 per cent throughout the period.

The programme also prioritises high value-added activities and technological mastery. Rather than focusing solely on exporting raw products, firms are encouraged to step up mergers and acquisitions, build research and development centres, and establish logistics infrastructure systems and direct distribution networks in key markets.

The entities expected to lead this effort are major flagship corporations  alongside innovative startups with global-born business models.

The combination of experience from large conglomerates and the agility of startups is expected to create a robust ecosystem capable of competing on equal footing with multinational corporations.

The scheme aims to cultivate a generation of Vietnamese multinational enterprises who are capable of not only exporting made in Vietnam products, but also exporting intelligence, technology and management expertise.

In 2025, Vietnams total outbound investment  including newly registered and adjusted capital  surpassed $1.36 billion, up 88.7 per cent on-year.

Specifically, 173 new projects were granted investment certificates, with total registered capital from the Vietnamese side approximating $1 billion, up 65.9 per cent on-year. Meanwhile, 32 projects adjusted their capital, with supplemental capital value totalling $360.8 million, more than triple compared to one year ago. .

Outbound investment was directed to diverse markets, including Laos at $773.7 million, the Philippines at $92 million, Germany at $78.1 million, the United States at $74.5 million, and Indonesia at $69.6 million.

Viettel opens representative office in UAE Viettel Group inaugurated its first representative office in the United Arab Emirates on November 20, marking an important milestone in the group's strategy to expand its international presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.

Vietnams outbound investment surges as foreign inflows remain resilient Vietnam's outward investment surged in 2025, driven by a sharp rise in newly licensed projects and expanded capital commitments overseas.
Early on April 8, FTSE Russell released the results of its interim review under the March equity market classification assessment, confirming that Vietnam is scheduled to be reclassified from frontier market to emerging market, effective September 21.

FTSE Russell also published a provisional list of Vietnamese equities meeting the screening criteria for inclusion in the FTSE Global All Cap Index, based on data as of the close on December 31, 2025. The list is expected to feature a range of blue chips, including Hoa Phat Group, Vietcombank, BIDV, Vingroup, Vinhomes, Masan Group, FPT, Vinamilk, and SSI Securities.

Vietnamese equities meeting the screening criteria for inclusion in the FTSE Global All Cap Index. Source: FTSE Russell

However, FTSE Russell emphasised that the final list of eligible Vietnamese securities for index inclusion will be announced on August 21. The report also outlined Vietnams projected weightings across relevant indices post-upgrade.

Pham Luu Hung, chief economist and head of SSI Research, noted that the actual upgrade implementation will be conducted in four tranches rather than evenly distributed as initially expected, with uneven intervals between phases.

Specifically, the first tranche is scheduled for September, followed by a second in March 2027 with an estimated weighting of around 20 per cent. The remaining allocation will be deployed in two subsequent tranches, each accounting for roughly 35 per cent.

Notably, capital inflows in the first tranche this September are expected to be relatively modest, at just over $150 million, implying limited short-term impact on actual market liquidity, said Hung.

While passive fund inflows in the initial phase may be subdued, Hung underscored that the most significant positive development is Vietnams formal upgrade, which opens the door to the global institutional investor ecosystem.

He added that within the next year, particularly during the June 2026 and June 2027 review cycles, the probability of Vietnam being added to MSCIs watch list is very high.

Once major funds such as Vanguard and global brokerages begin operating more effectively in Vietnam following the FTSE upgrade, this will serve as a critical foundation for MSCI to reassess Vietnams status. At that point, MSCI will have little reason to maintain concerns over operational or infrastructure issues as grounds for exclusion, Hung said.

Vietnam currently meets approximately 10 out of MSCIs 18 criteria. With the implementation of a central counterparty clearing system expected around late 2026 to early 2027, the market could satisfy at least three additional key requirements. Importantly, large institutional investors tend to prioritise MSCI indices over FTSE Russell due to significantly larger benchmarked capital. Therefore, inclusion on MSCIs watch list would provide a much stronger boost in both sentiment and capital inflows.

Addressing investor concerns over continued net foreign selling despite the upgrade news, Hung emphasised that positive impacts are not absent but rather have yet to materialise.

Currently, major financial institutions are actively conducting overseas roadshows to connect with international funds that have not yet established accounts in Vietnam. The ongoing net selling trend largely reflects a broader global risk-off sentiment amid rising oil prices and a strong US dollar, affecting most emerging markets, not just Vietnam, Hung told VIR.

Overall, SSI views the upgrade story as a long-term catalyst, with passive fund disbursements expected to begin in September rather than immediately. The firm advises investors not to sacrifice long-term opportunities for short-term speculative gains driven by upgrade-related news.

Market reclassification is a gradual process that reshapes how global institutional investors perceive Vietnam, Hung said. Focusing solely on short-term volatility risks missing larger opportunities as Vietnams financial market integrates more deeply into global standards.

From the opening minutes of the April 8 trading session, bullish sentiment dominated, reflecting strong investor enthusiasm.

By the mid-day break, 569 stocks had advanced, significantly outnumbering 131 decliners. The VN-Index surged by 58.66 points, or 3.5 per cent, to 1,736.20, while the HNX-Index gained 5.1 points to 251.8.

Market liquidity remained robust, with over 773 million shares traded, equivalent to a total transaction value of over $766.5 million.

Pham Tuyen, director of Brokerage at KIS Vietnam Securities, said the continued monitoring and clear roadmap towards emerging market status represent a pivotal milestone for Vietnams equity market.

This serves as a crucial anchor for investor sentiment, helping ease foreign selling pressure and potentially reversing flows back into net buying, he said. The September upgrade timeline reflects the substantial efforts of regulators, including the Ministry of Finance and the State Securities Commission, under the governments close direction.

Tuyen added that the rally has fuelled strong capital inflows into previously underperforming sectors such as banking, securities, and especially large-cap stocks within the VN30 basket.

Large-cap names led the rally, with VIC acting as a key driver by contributing 14.54 points to the VN-Index. Other heavyweights such as VHM, VCB, TCB, and BID collectively added more than 13 points, providing a solid foundation for market sentiment.

Capital also flowed into leading stocks including SSI, SHS, VIX, MBB, CTG, and VCB. Notably, HPG saw particularly strong inflows, while MSN and MWG maintained solid gains, helping the VN-Index sustain an increase of nearly 3 per cent.

However, Tuyen cautioned investors to remain prudent: Despite the markets strong rally, investors should avoid chasing prices at all costs. Ongoing geopolitical tensions continue to pose unpredictable risks, requiring a more selective and sustainable investment strategy, he said.

Vietnam on path to investment-grade rating Vietnam is edging closer to investment-grade status, with recent credit upgrades and a clear government roadmap strengthening confidence in its sovereign outlook.

Vietnam stock market gathers pace as upgrade window opens Vietnams recent market correction appears tactical rather than structural, as strong growth momentum and FTSE upgrade prospects anchor a compelling medium-term outlook.
Vietnams garment exporters accelerate production to fulfil orders in early 2026. Photo: Shutterstock

According to the National Statistics Office, garments and textiles exports in Q1 rose 1.9 per cent on-year, reflecting the sectors ability to adapt swiftly to external shocks. Early order acquisition and proactive market engagement have helped many enterprises secure contracts through the third quarter of 2026.

However, the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) warned that the ongoing Middle East conflict and instability in the Red Sea are exerting heavy pressure on the sector. Shipping routes have been rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, extending delivery times to the EU and the US by 1420 days. Container freight rates to the US East Coast have surged from $2,000 to $4,000.

Rising input costs, driven by higher oil prices, have pushed up the cost of synthetic fibres and dyes. This has dealt a blow to profit margins, particularly as cut-make-trim prices remain under pressure from buyers.

The sectors dependence on imported materials, accounting for over 70 per cent also exposes manufacturers to supply disruptions when overseas shipments are delayed due to maritime congestion.

Still, Vietnam retains competitive advantages in meeting environmental, social, and governance standards, as well as its deep integration into global supply chains.

For 2026, the garments and textiles industry is targeting export turnover of $4950 billion, representing a projected growth of around 6 per cent compared to 2025. To achieve this, VITAS recommends that enterprises adopt more flexible strategies amid ongoing geopolitical volatility.

Diversifying markets and supply sources is seen as critical. Companies are encouraged to reduce reliance on Red Sea shipping routes and tap into ASEAN and neighbouring markets to lower logistics costs.

Sustainability is also emerging as a key differentiator. Investment in ESG standards and traceability systems is no longer optional, but essential for accessing high-end markets such as the EU.

Meanwhile, the adoption of AI and automation is being accelerated to improve productivity and offset rising logistics expenses. The industry is also prioritising the development of domestic raw material supply, including investment in concentrated textile and dyeing industrial zones to boost localisation and reduce geopolitical risks.

Enterprises are also advised to adopt more flexible negotiation strategies, such as shifting from CIF to free on board terms or sharing freight costs with partners to ease financial burdens.

Truong Van Cam, vice chairman of VITAS, noted that global textile demand grows by only 23 per cent annually, intensifying competition among exporting countries.

Vietnams textile industry can no longer rely on volume-driven growth. Improving growth quality is essential, starting with the development of domestic materials, followed by product upgrading and value addition, he said.

The year 2026 is shaping up as a pivotal period of adaptive resilience for the industry. While short-term orders remain stable, businesses are increasingly aware of dual risks stemming from geopolitical tensions and shifting trade dynamics.

Rather than focusing solely on maintaining order volumes, many companies are pivoting towards higher value-added strategies, investing in technology and strengthening domestic supply chains. Reducing dependence on imported inputs will not only optimise production costs but also help meet stringent rules of origin under next-generation free trade agreements, thereby maximising tariff advantages.

While the $8.8 billion export figure in Q1 provides a solid foundation, sustaining growth amid unpredictable geopolitical conditions will require coordinated efforts between policymakers and businesses.

VITAS has called on authorities to stabilise energy and fuel supplies to ease cost pressures. In addition, Vietnams trade offices abroad are urged to enhance market intelligence, particularly in geopolitically sensitive regions, enabling enterprises to adjust logistics and production strategies
The full text of SNSCs statement is as follows:

SNSC Issues Statement about Irans Victory over Enemies  Politics news  Tasnim News Agency (PDF)

The enemy has suffered an undeniable, historic and crushing defeat in its cowardly, illegal and criminal war against the Iranian nation. Thanks to the pure and innocent blood of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Imam Seyed Ali Khamenei (peace be upon him), the measures of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and Supreme Commander of the Iranian Armed Forces, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei (may God protect him), the struggle and bravery of the warriors of Islam on the fronts, and especially, the historic, lasting and epic presence of you, the dear nation, on the scene from the very first days of the war, Iran achieved a great victory and forced the criminal America to accept its 10-point plan, in which the United States is committed in principle to guaranteeing non-aggression, continuing Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, accepting (unanium) enrichment, lifting all primary and secondary sanctions, terminating all resolutions of the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors, paying compensation to Iran, withdrawing American combat forces from the region and stopping the war on all fronts, including against the heroic Lebanese Islamic resistance.

We congratulate all the people of Iran on this victory and emphasize that until the details of this victory are finalized, there is still a need for perseverance and prudence on the part of the authorities and for maintaining the unity and solidarity of the Iranian people.

Islamic Iran, together with the brave resistance fighters in Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen and the occupied Palestine, has dealt blows to the enemy in the past 40 days that the historical memory of the world will never forget. Iran and the axis of resistance, as representatives of honor and humanity against the most savage enemies of humanity, have taught them an unforgettable lesson after a historic battle and have crushed their forces, facilities, infrastructure and all their political, economic, technological and military capacities to such an extent that the enemy has now fallen into despair and sees no other way than surrendering to the will of the great Iranian nation and the noble axis of resistance.

On the first day that Irans criminal enemies began this cruel war, they thought that they would achieve complete military dominance over Iran in a short time and, by creating political and social instability, would surrender Iran. They thought that Irans missile and drone fire would quickly die down and they did not believe that Iran could give them such a powerful response beyond its borders and across the entire region.

The evil global Zionism had convinced the unwise American president that this war would finish Iran off and that by eliminating this last bastion of humanity, they could now easily commit any crime against anyone they wanted. They dreamed of dividing dear Iran, plundering its oil and wealth, and ultimately leaving the Iranians in the midst of chaos, instability, and insecurity for many years to come.

The brave warriors of Islam and their brave allies in the axis of resistance, despite their hearts being wounded and torn to pieces by the martyrdom of their Imam, relied on God Almighty and the Lord and Master of Martyrs, and decided to teach these enemies a historical lesson once and for all, take revenge on them for all their past crimes, and create conditions in which the enemy would forever forget the idea of aggression against dear Iran and fully taste the taste of humiliation in its confrontations against the great Iranian nation.

The brave warriors of Islam and their brave allies in the axis of resistance, despite their hearts being wounded and torn to pieces by the martyrdom of their Imam, relied on God Almighty and the Lord and Master of Martyrs, and decided to teach these enemies a historical lesson once and for all, take revenge on them for all their past crimes, and create conditions in which the enemy would forever forget the idea of aggression against dear Iran and fully taste the taste of humiliation in its confrontations against the great Iranian nation.

With this strategy and relying on the unprecedented political and social unity that had been created in the country, Iran and the resistance began one of the heaviest combined battles in history with the US and the Zionist regime, and they achieved all the goals they had planned for this battle.

Iran and the resistance almost completely destroyed the American military machine in the region, dealt crushing and deep blows to the mass of infrastructure and facilities that the enemy had built and deployed in the region over the years for this war with Iran, inflicted massive casualties on the criminal American army on a regional scale, inflicted devastating and crushing blows on the enemys forces, infrastructure, facilities, and assets inside the occupied territories, and imposed pressure in all fronts on the enemy to such an extent that not only were none of the enemys main goals achieved, but the enemy realized about 10 days after the start of the war that it would not be able to win this war in any way, and for this reason, it began trying to communicate with Iran through various channels and methods and request a ceasefire.

The noble nation of Iran should know that thanks to the struggle of its sons and their historical presence on the scene, the enemy has been begging for more than a month to stop the fierce fire of Iran and the resistance, but the countrys officials, because it was decided from the very beginning that the war would continue until the goals were achieved, including the enemys regret and despair and the removal of the long-term threat to the country, responded negatively to all these requests, and the war has continued until today, which is the fortieth day. Iran has also rejected the deadlines presented by the US President several times and continues to emphasize that it does not give any importance to any kind of deadline from the enemy.

We now give the great nation of Iran the good news that almost all the objectives of the war have been achieved and your brave sons have brought the enemy to a historic disappointment and a lasting defeat. Irans historic decision, which enjoys the unified support of the entire nation, is to continue this battle for as long as necessary until its great achievements are consolidated and new security and political equations are created in the region based on the acceptance of Irans power and sovereignty and the resistance.

Accordingly, and in accordance with the advice of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei (may God protect him) and the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, and considering resistance and Irans upper hand on the battlefield, and the enemys inability to carry out its threats despite all their claims, and the official acceptance of all the legitimate demands of the Iranian people, it was decided to hold negotiations in Islamabad to finalize the details so that within a maximum of 15 days, with the finalization of the details of Irans victory on the battlefield, it can also be consolidated in political negotiations.

In this regard, Iran, while rejecting all the plans presented by the enemy, formulated a 10-point plan and presented it to the US side through Pakistan, emphasizing the fundamental points such as controlled passage through the Strait of Hormuz in coordination with the Iranian armed forces, which would grant Iran a unique economic and geopolitical position, the necessity of ending the war against all elements of the axis of resistance, which would mean the historic defeat of the aggression of the child-killing Israeli regime, the withdrawal of US combat forces from all bases and deployment points in the region, the establishment of a safe transit protocol in the Strait of Hormuz in a way that guarantees Irans dominance according to the agreed protocol, full payment for the damages inflicted of Iran according to estimates, the lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions and resolutions of the Board of Governors and the Security Council, the release of all of Irans frozen assets abroad, and finally the ratification of all of these matters in a binding Security Council resolution. It should be noted that the ratification of this resolution would turn all of these agreements into binding international law and would create an important diplomatic victory for the Iranian nation.

Now, the Honorable Prime Minister of Pakistan has informed Iran that the American side, despite all the apparent threats, has accepted these principles as the basis for negotiations and has surrendered to the will of the Iranian people.

Accordingly, it was decided at the highest level that Iran will hold talks with the American side in Islamabad for two weeks and solely on the basis of these principles. It is emphasized that this does not mean an end to the war and Iran will accept an end to the war only when, in view of Irans acceptance of the principles envisaged in the 10-point plan, its details are also finalized in the negotiations.

These negotiations will begin in Islamabad on Friday, April 11, with complete distrust about the US side, and Iran will allocate two weeks for these negotiations. This period can be extended by agreement of the parties.

It is necessary to maintain complete national unity during this period and to continue the victory celebrations with strength. The current negotiations are national negotiations and a kind of continuation of the battlefield, and it is necessary for all people, elites, and political groups to trust and support this process, which is under the supervision of the Revolution leaders and the highest levels of the system, and to strictly avoid any divisive statements.

If the surrender of the enemy in the field becomes a decisive political achievement in the negotiations, we will celebrate this great historical victory together, otherwise we will fight side by side in the battlefield until all the demands of the Iranian nation are achieved. Our hands are on the trigger, and as soon as the slightest mistake by the enemy is made, it will be responded to with full force.

Supreme National Security Council
A body has today been recovered in the search for a missing 17-year-old near Chirk Castle.

Specialist search and rescue teams carried out extensive searches in a lake near to the castle after it was reported the teenager entered the water yesterday afternoon.

The death is not being treated as suspicious, and the coroner has been informed.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sian Beck said: My deepest thoughts and condolences are with his loved ones, who are being supported by specialist officers following this tragic incident.

Formal identification is yet to take place, but his family have been informed.

We kindly ask that the privacy of the family is respected at this difficult time.

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Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - A senior member of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has moderated a discussion on the economic aspect of its structured dialogue with more than 60 participants from all over the country
Experts from Chester Zoo are leading an international effort to return one of Africas rarest antelopes to Kenya, with four zoo-bred males set to be translocated in the coming weeks.

Fewer than 50 mountain bongo are thought to remain in the wild.

The animals, bred in European conservation zoos, will be moved to Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy to support breeding and long-term rewilding plans.

The transfer marks the first time mountain bongos have been moved from European zoos back to Kenya as part of a coordinated conservation programme.

The species, native to Kenyas highland forests, has declined sharply due to habitat loss and poaching. Conservationists say the introduction of new males with strong genetics will help strengthen the population and support recovery efforts.

The programme has been coordinated over more than a decade by Chester Zoo alongside partners including the Kenya Wildlife Service and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.

Dr Nick Davis said: This is a truly historic moment for mountain bongo conservation in Africa and for the European zoos that have worked tirelessly to safeguard the species.

The mountain bongo is one of Africas rarest mammals and perilously close to extinction. Thankfully though, the species is thriving in conservation zoos across Europe, with a number of important births in recent years helping to build a healthy, genetically strong population.

As a result, we have carefully selected four males to provide a vital lifeline and help boost numbers at the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy. Collaborations like this are absolutely essential if we are to prevent this magnificent species disappearing altogether. They demonstrate how modern, science-led zoos play an important role in bringing species back from the brink, and the future of the mountain bongo may now be much brighter because of it.

The animals are currently undergoing health checks and quarantine at Safari Park Dvur Kralove before being flown to Kenya, where they will be gradually introduced into the existing breeding programme.

Dr Robert Aruho said: These males are a critical component of our rewilding programme. Having reached the milestone of 100 mountain bongos at Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy, our focus now is on sustained growth, with a long-term national target of establishing at least 750 individuals by 2050. The introduction of these genetically valuable males will strengthen our breeding structure, accelerate population growth, and play an essential role in building a resilient bongo population capable of supporting rewilding and long-term recovery in Kenyas forests.

Technology is also being used to support conservation efforts. In 2024, Chester Zoo partnered with Kenya Wildlife Service and researchers from Liverpool John Moores University to develop an AI-powered detection system to monitor the animals in the wild.

Stuart Nixon said: Were at the forefront of bongo conservation and have been involved in breakthrough discoveries, such as finding the lowland subspecies living in Uganda for the first time. Our newly developed AI-powered cameras are also revolutionising how the species is monitored in the wild, helping us protect them more closely than ever before. Combined with reintroduction efforts like this one, this work will change the tide for mountain bongos.

The project also involves international partners contributing to breeding, research and transport planning, with organisers describing it as a model for future species recovery programmes.

Picture: Chester Zoo

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Wrexham Council planning officers have warned that decision-making on planning applications will be considerably more challenging for Officers and Members alike for the foreseeable future following the withdrawal of the Local Development Plan.

A report to the Planning Committee meeting next week sets out for the first time what policy framework now applies following the Welsh Governments direction to withdraw the LDP on 16 March 2026.

The report confirms that LDP policies are entirely excluded from consideration. The effect of withdrawal means that the LDP ceases to exist, it states, quoting the Cabinet Secretarys accompanying letter. This means that the policies within the LDP are now excluded from consideration in the determination of planning applications.

In place of the LDP, the council must now rely on the Unitary Development Plan, which was formally adopted in February 2005. The UDPs strategy covers the period 1996 to 2011. Its evidence base is now approaching 25 years old. Councillors are told the Planning Policy Wales has been updated multiple times since the UDP was adopted, and 13 of the 16 Technical Advice Notes postdate it.

The report acknowledges directly that where UDP policies conflict with the more recent Future Wales national plan or Planning Policy Wales, the newer national guidance takes precedence.

One question that has been raised since the withdrawal concerns the LDP evidence base. That material, which includes background papers and topic studies, was scrutinised through Examination in Public  and significantly officers confirm it can still be used, but not as a substitute for the LDP itself.

The relevance of the evidence base of the now withdrawn LDP to, and the weight it could be afforded in individual planning decisions, will depend upon its age, its degree of alignment with Planning Policy Wales, Future Wales or relevant Technical Advice Notes, any change in circumstances since the report of the LDP Inspectors Report was published and/or where the UDP is out-of-date but where any emerging LDP is at too early a stage to be afforded weight.

It will also vary depending on the type, size and location of the development proposed. the report states.

In plain terms, it appears officers will have to make a case-by-case judgement on whether and how far the evidence base applies to any given application.

In response to the risks this creates, the report confirms the council;s Corporate Risk Register will be updated to capture the risks the council now faces.

There is no guidance on the soundness of previously decided applications based off an LDP that now ceases to exist, and if the council tries to undo those decisions.

Wrexham is the only council in Wales without an adopted local development plan. The council is expected to submit a delivery agreement for a replacement LDP for Welsh Government agreement by September.

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BAGHDAD (AP)  American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped from a Baghdad streetcorner last week, was released Tuesday, U.S. and Iraqi officials said.

The development came after the powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia Kataib Hezbollah said in a statement that it had decided to free Kittleson, who was abducted on March 31. Its condition was that Kittleson must leave the country immediately upon her release.

Two officials within the militia, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, told The Associated Press that in exchange for freeing Kittleson, several members of the group who had previously been detained by Iraqi authorities would be released.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Kittleson's release in a statement early Wednesday. He said on X, We are relieved that this American is now freed and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq.

Rubio thanked Iraqi authorities, as well as the FBI and U.S. Defense Department and other U.S. agencies for their work toward securing Kittlesons release.

A one-off release

According to one of two Iraqi officials who confirmed her release before the U.S. announcement, Kittleson was freed in the afternoon. The officials, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly, did not share her current whereabouts but said that prior to her release, Kittleson had been held in Baghdad.

In its statement, Kataib Hezbollah said its decision came in appreciation of the patriotic stances of the outgoing" Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, without giving more details.

It added that this initiative will not be repeated in the future.

In Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, Kittleson's mother told a reporter who knocked on her door Tuesday that FBI agents were at her home. A number of people could be seen sitting at Barb Kittlesons kitchen table.

Initially she said that her daughter had not yet been freed, but when a reporter returned later, she said she did not know if her daughter had been released or not. No update from the Kittleson family was immediately available after Rubio confirmed her release.

Caroline Clancy, a spokesperson for the FBIs Milwaukee field office, declined to comment.

Kataib Hezbollah had not previously acknowledged that it abducted Kittleson, although both U.S. and Iraqi officials had blamed the group.

A respected journalist in conflict zones

Kittleson, 49, had lived abroad for years before the kidnapping, using Rome as her base for a time and building a respected journalism career across the Middle East, particularly in Iraq and Syria. Like many freelancers, she often worked on a shoestring budget and without the protections afforded by large news organizations to staff.

She had entered Iraq again shortly before her abduction. U.S. officials have said that they warned her multiple times of threats against her, but that she did not want to leave.

Iraqi officials have said that two cars were involved in the kidnapping, one of which crashed while being pursued near the town of al-Haswa in Babil province, southwest of Baghdad. The journalist was then transferred to a second car that fled the scene.

Three other Iraqi officials said earlier Tuesday that attempts to negotiate her release had run into obstacles. The two Iraqi security officials and one official from the pro-Iran Coordination Framework political bloc spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the sensitive case publicly.

A shadowy militia group

According to one of the security officials, a member of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-backed militias that is nominally under the control of the Iraqi military, had been tasked with communicating with the abductors to secure Kittlesons release but had run into difficulties in communicating with the Kataib Hezbollah leadership.

The primary challenge is that the leaders of the Kataib militia  specifically, the commanders of the battalions  are nowhere to be found. No one knows their whereabouts, and the process of establishing contact with them is extremely complex, the security officials said.

These leaders have gone underground, maintaining no active lines of communication, out of fear of being targeted, they added.

According to the officials, a message had been sent to the Kataib leadership to determine their demands in exchange for releasing Kittleson. Iraqi authorities were willing to release six Kataib Hezbollah members who are currently detained, most of them in connection with attacks on a U.S. base in Syria, they said.

Kataib Hezbollah has previously been accused of kidnapping foreigners.

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton graduate student with Israeli and Russian citizenship, disappeared in Baghdad in 2023. After she was freed and handed over to U.S. authorities in September 2025, she said that she had been held by Kataib Hezbollah.

The group never officially claimed responsibility for kidnapping Tsurkov.

Iran-backed militias in Iraq have also launched regular attacks on U.S. facilities in the country since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.

Associated Press writers Todd Richmond in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, Abby Sewell in Beirut and Matthew Lee and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.
Colorado lawmakers are moving to phase out the Teacher Recruitment Education and Preparation (TREP) program, even as students and parents organize to keep the tuitionfree teacher pathway alive.

House Bill 26-1357, introduced by the Joint Budget Committee, would formally repeal the TREP program after the 202627 budget year. The bill blocks the Colorado Department of Education from designating any new qualified students for TREP beginning in the 202627 school year, effectively closing the door to future cohorts.

Because TREP runs for two years, current participants would be allowed to finish, but graduating seniors who hoped to enter the program next year would no longer have that option, according to Chalkbeat.

An April 2026 update from the Colorado Department of Education explains that the proposed law would ensure that fifthyear TREP students can complete the program, while discontinuing new enrollments, including among current 12th graders who would otherwise qualify.

On Mar. 20, 2026, districts were informed that the Joint Budget Committee had already voted to phase out TREP funding, citing inequitable access and the state's budget shortfall.

Some districts have since warned families that there will be no scholarship funding for students who applied this year, though funding will continue for those already in their final TREP year through 202627.

TREP was created by Senate Bill 21-185 to address Colorado's teacher shortage by building a pipeline of homegrown educators.

The program allows qualified high school students in an educator career pathway to stay enrolled in their local district and take college classes for up to two years after 12th grade, with tuition covered at the resident community college rate, BVSD reported.

Students earn free college credit while preparing for teaching or school counseling careers, and the district uses a special perpupil allocation to pay their tuition.

Under HB26-1357, perpupil funding for TREP participants in 202627 would be capped at 7,104 dollars as the program winds down.

Supporters say TREP has opened college doors for students who could not otherwise afford it and helped diversify the teacher workforce, especially in districts that partnered with institutions like Front Range Community College, the University of Northern Colorado, and Colorado Mountain College.

As students and parents rally, they argue that ending TREP will shrink the pipeline of future educators just as Colorado schools continue to struggle with hiring and keeping teachers, as per PSD Future Ready.
Imagine a time in San Francisco when fortunes could be made practically overnight for dreamers with vision and drive.

In the 1860s four Sacramento businessmen turned their gaze towards San Francisco and determined it was the place to further their futures.

Known as The Big Four, all bigwigs with the Central Pacific Railroad who built homes on California Hill (now known as Nob Hill) intent on outdoing each otherpresident Leland Stanford, vice-president Collis P. Huntington, acting treasurer Mark Hopkins, and head of construction Charles Crockerwere men of means who meant to get even richer.

More than 150 years later, The Huntington Hotel is reclaiming those glory days.

The Gilded Age-evoking concierge at The Huntington Hotel (Courtesy of The Huntington Hotel)

A years-long remodel and reimagining by creative mastermind Ken Fulk has transformed the property. In addition to 143 guest rooms and a 1,500-square-foot penthouse suite, the Huntingtons reopening marks the return of the Big Four Restaurant (which is celebrating its 50th anniversary), and the over-the-top Nob Hill Spa.

Green is the propertys signature color, and its used in various shades on everything from walls to velvet couches, leather seats, and carpeting. The renovation, meanwhile, preserved the buildings original Georgian details like gorgeous plasterwork ceilings, boiserie panels (intricate woodwork thats affixed to the walls), stained glass accents, and light-filled windows. Mixed with its dark mahogany woods and oversized framed portraits, the effect is equal parts comforting and elegant.

Entering the lobby of the hotel, youll be glad you arent wearing flannel jammies or crocs. Although the vibe is relaxed, this is a place where youre likely to find former mayor Willie Brown at the bar in a suit and various guests drinking signature cocktails straight out of the 50s.

Its like stepping into a beautifully recreated Gilded Age past: very elegant, atmospheric, and full of character; less like a traditional historic hotel and more like an immersive, curated experience, says hotel guest Andres Aluma. But what really elevates it is the staff. Theyve anticipated our needs in a way that feels almost like having your own private butlerattentive without ever being intrusive, and genuinely warm.

The Crimson Room at the revamped Big Four Restaurant (Courtesy of The Huntington Hotel)

Billing itself as the Officially Unofficial Club House, the hotels legendary dining room also aims for a mix of nostalgia and modern tastes. Start your day at breakfast with a nod to the Nob and order an egg dish such as the Big 4 omelet (filled with gingrass-smoked salmon and chives or ham and comte cheese). Lunch options include a raw bar, or the sure-to-be-a-favorite caramelized onion soup gratinee made with oxtail bouillon and apple brandy. Dinner can be as casual or high-end as youd like, with mains like Sonoma lamb t-bone chops and a take on the classic cioppino with yellowtail, littleneck clams, Half Moon Bay calamari, and Dungeness crab toast.

Although many hotels boast spectacular spas, the Nob Hill Spa is an indulgent urban sanctuary. Spanning three levels, it features an airy indoor pool, outdoor terrace, treatment rooms, saunas, steam rooms, a relaxation lounge, and an 1,800-square-foot fitness center.

Select from a menu that includes CBD massages or indulgences like The Huntington Revival, an 80-minute full-body treatment based on Ayurvedic practices. Continue the bliss-fest on one of the twin-bed-sized poolside loungersor head outdoors to The Terraces south-facing sundeck overlooking downtown. Be sure to browse the highly curated selection of home goods in their stunning gift shop.

Lobby bar Arabella's Cocktail Saloon (Courtesy of @tonybravosf)

Kelly McGonigle Squier, an event producer and co-founder of Ladies Who Launch , was also in town the week The Big Four officially opened to the public, meeting friends for drinks in the hotels lobby bar Arabellas Cocktail Saloon (named after socialite Arabella Huntington).

Honestly, the hotel used to feel like an aristocratic grandmothers house, she says, surrounded by the bars new Art Nouveau opulence. It needed a facelift and some loving attention. Ken Fulk, who I feel is, like, Mr. San Francisco, did a fabulous job of combining deliberate nods to the old guard while integrating modern touches of luxury into the existing architectural details. Hes made it feel incredibly elegant, yet still accessible.

Ken Fulk absolutely nailed it, agrees Aluma. It never feels random or excessiveinstead, every detail contributes to a cohesive narrative that honors the history of Nob Hill while making it feel current. (One example? The buttons on the doormens pea-green jackets that sport the initials HH.)

A guest room at The Huntington Hotel (Courtesy of The Huntington Hotel)

As for the rooms themselves, each is outfitted in neutral earth tones that provide a sense of warmth and comfort. Though theyre stylishly designed (think faux suede, oversized duvets and coordinating throw pillows, polished brass accessories, and contemporary art), theyre also laid out for practicality.

McGonigle Squiers insider tip for experiencing the complete package (whether youre spending the night or not) starts with a 4pm spa appointment for a facial or massage followed by a leisurely dip in the pool.

Then get dressed and head upstairs for a drink at the barand be sure to order a martini from Barbara, she continues. Afterwards, head into The Big Four (hopefully with a reservation) and have their classic chicken pot pie. I guarantee it will be a San Francisco night to remember.

// 1075 California St. (Nob Hill), thehuntingtonhotel.com
Pepsi pulls sponsorship from London's Wireless Festival after Kanye West booking, following condemnation from UK Prime Minister and London Mayor.

AceShowbiz - Pepsi has announced it will withdraw its sponsorship from London's Wireless Festival after the event booked Kanye West as a headliner for three nights.

The decision came shortly after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer publicly condemned the festival's choice to feature West, marking his first UK performances in 11 years. Starmer expressed deep concern over West's previous antisemitic statements and his celebration of Nazism, calling antisemitism "abhorrent" and emphasizing the responsibility to ensure Jewish communities feel safe and secure in Britain.

Starmer's remarks were echoed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who told Rolling Stone that West's past comments and actions are offensive and do not represent London's values. Khan also clarified that the festival organizers made the booking decision independently, without involvement from City Hall.

Pepsi had been the primary sponsor of the festival, officially titled "Pepsi MAX Presents Wireless," since 2015. The companys withdrawal was reported by The Guardian just hours after Starmer's statement, underscoring the growing backlash against the festival's association with West.

The controversy highlights the challenges music festivals face when booking artists with divisive public profiles. Wireless Festival, a major event in Londons music scene, now faces uncertainty regarding its sponsorship and public support amid the criticism.

The backlash centers on West's contentious reputation due to his antisemitic remarks and alignment with extremist views, which have prompted strong reactions from political leaders and sponsors alike.

As the situation develops, Pepsi's sponsorship pullout signals the potential for wider industry repercussions concerning artist bookings and brand associations at major events.
Live-action Zelda film begins filming in New Zealand's Otago region, home to Lord of the Rings. Explore the iconic game's journey to the big screen.

AceShowbiz - The iconic The Legend of Zelda franchise is stepping into the realm of live-action adaptations, with filming underway in the scenic landscapes of Otago, New Zealand. This region is renowned for its breathtaking natural beauty and its previous role as the filming location for the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy, setting high expectations for the upcoming fantasy epic.

Originally launched in 1986 by Nintendo creators Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, the Legend of Zelda series has grown into Nintendos most successful franchise, boasting over 21 game entries. Its rich lore and enduring characters like Princess Zelda and Link have captivated fans for decades, inspiring an animated TV series in 1989 and now a highly-anticipated live-action movie directed by Wes Ball.

Filming in Otago, a region on New Zealands South Island known for its snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, and sandy beaches, offers a visually stunning backdrop that could reduce the reliance on CGI, aiming instead for a more realistic and immersive portrayal of the beloved fantasy world. This approach mirrors the success of other major productions shot in the area, such as Mission: Impossible  Fallout, Mulan, Alien: Covenant, and The Power of the Dog.

Photos released by Nintendo from the set reveal Benjamin Evan Ainsworth portraying Link and Bo Bragason as Princess Zelda, framed by the awe-inspiring natural scenery that fans will soon associate with this new adaptation. The production is scheduled to wrap by late April 2026, targeting a theatrical release date of May 7, 2027.

In discussing Nintendos expanding focus on film adaptations, Miyamoto highlighted the enduring nature of movies compared to games, telling Kyodo News, "Games eventually stop running when newer versions come out, but films remain forever." This philosophy underscores Nintendos increasing investment in bringing its franchises to the big screen following the successful launches of The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2023 and the recent Super Mario Galaxy Movie.

The choice of Otago and the nearby Glenorchy areacelebrated for its cinematic historyadds a layer of prestige and anticipation to The Legend of Zelda project. New Zealand continues to be a favored location for fantasy epics, with its landscapes immortalized in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, a franchise that remains deeply tied to the countrys cultural identity years after its release.

While specific plot details of the upcoming film have yet to be revealed, the combination of a talented cast, a visionary director, and the picturesque New Zealand setting promises a fresh yet faithful adaptation of the legendary video game series. Fans worldwide are eagerly awaiting the films premiere, which is set to bring Nintendos cherished characters and world to life on May 7, 2027.

With its blend of fantasy, adventure, and action, the new The Legend of Zelda movie aims to capture the spirit of the original games while appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers. The carefully selected filming location and ambitious production plans suggest that this adaptation could set a new standard for video game movies in the years to come.
Joseph Duggar returns to Arkansas on bond for child molestation charges. He faces court-ordered restrictions from his kids and additional charges with wife K...

AceShowbiz - Joseph Duggar has returned to Arkansas following his release on a $600,000 bond after pleading not guilty to child molestation charges in Florida. The former "19 Kids and Counting" star reunited with his wife, Kendra Duggar, but is not currently residing with their four children due to legal restrictions.

Joseph Duggar, 31, faces a court order that prohibits him from having unsupervised contact with minors, including his own children, as well as from communicating with the alleged victim. The accusation stems from an incident during a 2020 family vacation in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Beyond the Florida charges, Joseph and Kendra Duggar, 27, each face additional charges in Arkansas. Both are accused of four counts of endangering the welfare of a minor and four counts of false imprisonment. Neither has entered a plea regarding these state charges.

While awaiting extradition in an Arkansas jail, Joseph Duggar received emails from family members expressing support and concern. His sister-in-law, Anna Duggar, shared insights in a March 23 email, describing her conversation with Kendra after her release from custody. Anna noted that Kendra sounded strong during the call, although she was distressed about having to wait a month before seeing the children.

Anna, whose husband Josh Duggar is serving a 12-year sentence on child pornography charges, expressed sympathy for the couples situation. She wrote, "My heart breaks for all of you," and praised Kendra as "an amazing womanthe Grace of God is flowing from her life." She also encouraged patience regarding Kendra's legal battles, adding, "I know she will win in the end... it just might take time."

Anna warned Joseph to refrain from discussing legal matters without an attorney present, explaining that all forms of communication are monitored and shared with prosecutors.

Joseph Duggar also received a message from his father, Jim Bob Duggar, while incarcerated. In a March 25 email, Jim Bob expressed love and forgiveness, stating, "You have made some terrible decisions, but God has already forgiven you if you have asked Him." He acknowledged the challenging circumstances and cautioned that his son may face significant consequences for years to come.

On March 30, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar issued a family statement through a spokesperson, saying they are heartbroken by the situation. They emphasized their focus on supporting Kendra and her children during this difficult period and expressed prayers for the victim. The spokesperson requested privacy and thanked those offering support and prayers.

The reaction from other family members has been mixed but largely focused on shock and condemnation. Jill Duggar Dillard and her husband Derick Dillard shared a blog post on March 19 expressing their heartbreak. They revealed learning about Joseph's arrest and alleged confession through media reports and a friends text. The couple stated they "strongly condemn abuse."

Meanwhile, Josh Duggar, currently imprisoned for child pornography, is reportedly not in frequent contact with Joseph. His attorney told the Daily Mail on March 20 that Josh understands the stigma of such accusations and hopes for his brothers well-being during this challenging time.

Jana Duggar Wissmann and her husband Stephen Wissmann issued a statement on April 2 via Instagram Stories. They expressed deep sadness and shock, stating they had no prior knowledge of the allegations before they became public. They emphasized their concern for the harmed child and called the incident "a grievous and unacceptable wrong." They continue to pray for justice and the victim.

Newlyweds Jason Duggar and Maddie Duggar posted a statement on Instagram on March 26 expressing anger over Joseph's alleged actions. They described their feelings as shocked, confused, and grieved. The couple condemned the abuse and voiced their support for the victim, acknowledging the devastating impact on the childs life. They also highlighted the difficult reality facing Joseph's children, who must come to terms with losing a father who should have been a spiritual leader.

Joy-Anna Duggar Forsyth took to Instagram Stories on March 26 to express heartbreak and grief over her brothers situation. She stated, "My heart is with the victim," and revealed she is taking time off with her family to process the news.

On the podcast "The Jinger & Jeremy Podcast," Jeremy Vuolo described the week as "really difficult to process and think through." His wife, Jinger Duggar Vuolo, shared on the same episode her profound heartbreak and pain over the situation. She admitted it was hard to comprehend the impact on their extended family and noted that their only recourse is to seek strength through prayer.

Amy Duggar King, cousin to Joseph, issued a statement to People on March 20 condemning the alleged abuse and expressing shock at the arrest. She affirmed her commitment to truth, accountability, and child protection, even when it involves her own family. Amy emphasized that family relationships should never grant automatic trust or access when childrens safety is at risk.

As the legal proceedings continue, the Duggar family remains under intense public scrutiny. Joseph Duggar and Kendra Duggar face significant challenges ahead with multiple charges pending in two states. Family members statements reflect a mix of support, condemnation, and calls for justice and healing, highlighting the complex emotions surrounding the allegations and ongoing legal battles.

For now, Joseph Duggar remains separated from his children due to court-imposed restrictions, while the family navigates the consequences of the serious accusations.
Olivia Wilde directs and stars in a quirky A24 comedy with Penelope Cruz, Seth Rogen & Edward Norton. A double date takes a suspenseful, hilarious turn.

AceShowbiz - The Invite marks the highly anticipated directorial comeback of Olivia Wilde after her 2022 film Don't Worry Darling. The new trailer for this A24 comedy has been released, offering audiences their first substantial look at the films quirky and suspenseful tone. Notably, Olivia Wilde also stars alongside a celebrated cast including Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton. The screenplay is written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, adding a fresh voice to this intriguing project.

The trailer opens with Wildes character, Angela, preparing for a double date with her husband Joe, played by Rogen. Their guests are a couple named Pina and Hawk, portrayed by Cruz and Norton, respectively. What starts as a seemingly ordinary meeting soon becomes layered with unusual tension and comedic twists. The visitors propose an unusual activity designed to bring the two couples closer together, which unfolds with a mix of humor and increasing unease. This premise sets the tone for a narrative that promises unexpected developments and a darkly comedic exploration of relationships.

Based on early reviews, The Invite is being praised as a sharp, unpredictable comedy that centers on the dynamics between the two couples. The story gradually reveals that Cruz and Nortons characters have a specific and somewhat unsettling agenda, creating a compelling crescendo that drives the films tension. The movie is an adaptation of the Spanish comedy The People Upstairs by Cesc Gay, and it currently holds an impressive 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 33 reviews, signaling strong critical approval ahead of its theatrical release in July 2026.

This film represents a significant moment for Olivia Wilde, whose previous directorial effort received mixed reactions from critics and audiences alike. The Invite had its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026, where it garnered considerable acclaim. The buzz surrounding the film led to a competitive bidding war for distribution rights, ultimately won by A24 for North American release.

The trailer hints at the films cryptic and comedic nature, with Cruz and Nortons characters displaying a disturbingly intense fascination with the central couple. Their motives appear layered and secretive, suggesting a deeper narrative that the film will explore more thoroughly. Early impressions imply their plans might involve a provocative element, possibly a sexual encounter involving all four characters, which aligns with the films themes of intimacy and marital strain.

While the exact details remain shrouded in mystery, The Invite promises to deliver unexpected twists and compelling character dynamics. The films tone, as conveyed in the trailer, balances humor with a suspenseful edge, setting it apart from conventional romantic comedies. This combination of comedy and tension is likely to engage audiences looking for something fresh and unpredictable.

The Invite is scheduled for release on June 26, 2026, with a runtime of 108 minutes. The film is directed by Olivia Wilde and features a talented ensemble cast: Olivia Wilde as Angela, Seth Rogen as Joe, Penelope Cruz as Pina, and Edward Norton as Hawk. The screenplay credits go to Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, while producers include David Permut, Ben Browning, Megan Ellison, and Saul Germaine.

With its intriguing premise, strong cast, and positive early reception, The Invite is poised to be a standout comedy in the 2026 film lineup. Fans of sharp, character-driven stories and dark humor will find much to anticipate in this release. The films blend of suspense, relationship drama, and comedy under Olivia Wildes direction suggests a fresh and engaging cinematic experience.
CASHBOOK WELCOMES CRAIG BOLTON AS SENIOR SOLUTION CONSULTANT FOR NORTH AMERICA

LIMERICK, Ireland, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Craig Bolton has joined the North American Team for Cashbook. Craig strengthens Cashbook's presence in North America with 25+ years of experience in finance, sales and ERP businesses. Craig's unique skill set will accelerate the acquisition of new business for Cashbook. Craig has deep ERP experience in Infor's XA, BPCS, LX, Oracle's JDE World, JDE Enterprise One and NetSuite.

Cashbook CEO Greg Coulter is excited about the potential. "Craig was always a trusted partner during his time at Infor and built up a deep appreciation of Cashbook's capabilities. He has an extensive amount of financial expertise, combining a deep understanding of the ROI behind automated cash application, collections and deductions. With strategic insight and attention to detail, Craig is exceptionally well suited to advise our clients how they implement Cashbook."

Craig is also excited about joining Cashbook, and has hit the ground running. "I'm excited to be joining the North American Cashbook Team at such a pivotal stage in its growth. Having followed the company for many years, I see a significant opportunity for Cashbook to gain strong traction across multiple industries and ERPs. The demand for automated cash application and collections is clear, and Cashbook is exceptionally well positioned to capitalise on it. Looking forward to working closely with clients to deliver measurable ROI across their financial operations."

Craig is joining an expanding sales team in Cashbook and brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to the role. Cashbook revenue has grown 20% year-on-year for the last five years, and 2026 is expected to exceed this trend. Cashbook's recently enhanced Collections and Deductions modules further strengthen its offering, creating a true invoice-to-cash platform. The opportunity for more growth in North America is incredible.

Since 1992, Cashbook been applying a special blend of finance and technology expertise for large organizations around the globe. Their experienced team have a deep understanding of Cash Application, Collections, Deductions, Accounts Payable and Bank Reconciliation as well as banking and ERP technologies and processes. They have a fully integrated cash management software platform implemented in over 25 countries, in a multiplicity of demanding environments for 100+ global companies and organizations.

SOURCE Cashbook Limited
Michael Trevino & Bregje Heinen welcome their first child, son Jack Wild Trevino. See the sweet announcement and co-star reactions.

AceShowbiz - Michael Trevino, best known for his role on The Vampire Diaries, and his wife Bregje Heinen have joyfully announced the arrival of their first child. On April 6, the couple shared the exciting news with their fans via a heartfelt Instagram post, revealing the birth of their son, Jack Wild Trevino.

The announcement included a touching black and white photograph featuring the new parents holding hands with their newborn. The caption introduced their sons full name, marking a special milestone for the family.

Following the announcement, congratulations flooded in from several of Michaels former The Vampire Diaries co-stars. Nina Dobrev, who portrayed Elena Gilbert, expressed her excitement with a warm message, saying, Congratulations!!!! Love all 3 of you! Kayla Ewell, known for playing Vicki Donovan, also sent her best wishes, commenting, Couldn't be more excited! Welcome Jack!

The couple had first revealed they were expecting a baby in a New Year's Eve Instagram post. The video accompanying the announcement cleverly intertwined moments from their 2022 wedding with footage from their journey to parenthood, including sonogram images and doctor visits.

Bregje Heinen, a Dutch model who married Michael in June, captioned the video with a lighthearted nod to family expectations, sharing a clip where a relative said, I'm going to be 70 years old. I'd like a grandchild. This candid moment, combined with glimpses of their pregnancy journey, made the announcement even more touching.

It has been a significant year for many members of the Vampire Diaries cast, with several welcoming new additions to their families. Notably, Kat Graham, who played Bonnie Bennett, recently gave birth to her first child, Prospero "Spero" Nyemah Wood, on March 12. She shares her son with her husband, Bryant Wood. The name Prospero was inspired by a character from Shakespeares The Tempest.

Meanwhile, Candice King, who played Caroline Forbes, announced her pregnancy with her third child in December 2025. This baby will be her first with fiance and The Originals co-star Steven Krueger. Candice already has two daughters, Florence May, 9, and Josephine June, 5, from her previous marriage to Joe King. She shared the joyous news on Instagram, writing, We're having a baby! Baby Krueger coming May 2026!
Emmy-winner Noah Hawley (Fargo) remakes the chilling Argentinian horror film Terrified. Original director Demian Rugna collaborates.

AceShowbiz - Noah Hawley, the Emmy-winning creator behind FX's acclaimed series Fargo and Alien: Earth, is set to direct and produce a remake of the supernatural horror film Terrified. This project will be developed for Warner Bros., as confirmed by Deadline.

Originally released in 2017, Terrified (Aterrados) is an Argentinian horror film directed by Demian Rugna. The story centers on a group of paranormal investigators exploring a series of unexplainable and terrifying phenomena in a Buenos Aires neighborhood, where they encounter a sinister force that defies all logic.

Hawley is collaborating closely with Rugna on this remake. The filmmaker behind the original, also known for the IFC/Shudder title When Evil Lurks, will work alongside Hawley as the latter produces the film under his Austin-based production company, 26 Keys.

Hawley has earned widespread recognition for his work on Fargo, the FX anthology series inspired by the Coen Brothers film. The show has garnered seven Emmy wins from 70 nominations across five seasons. More recently, he created, wrote, and showran Alien: Earth, a series expanding the Alien universe, which debuted its first season on Hulu and FX last August and is confirmed for a second season.

In addition to his television achievements, Hawley directed the 2019 feature Lucy in the Sky, released by Fox Searchlight. He is also a published author with six novels to his name: A Conspiracy of Tall Men, Other People's Weddings, The Punch, The Good Father, Before the Fall, and Anthem.

This announcement marks the first report of Hawleys involvement with the Terrified remake, with The Hollywood Reporter initially breaking the news prior to Deadlines confirmation.
Ye's 'BULLY' debuts at No. 1, marking his 13th chart-topper and passing R. Kelly. 152K units earned in its first week. Full Billboard data inside.

AceShowbiz - Ye has achieved his 13th No. 1 album on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart as BULLY debuts at the summit on the chart dated April 11, 2026. The album, released through YZY/gamma., earned 152,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. during the tracking week from March 27 to April 2, according to data provided by Luminate.

BULLY was initially made available through physical retail outlets on March 27, followed by digital and streaming platforms on March 28. Streaming accounted for 96,000 of the album units, which equates to 98.43 million official on-demand streams of its tracks. Album sales contributed an additional 56,000 units, with track-equivalent units being minimal. For clarity, one album unit equals either one album sale, 10 individual track sales from that album, or 1,000 paid/subscription streams (or 2,500 ad-supported streams) of its songs.

With this latest chart-topper, Ye moves ahead of R. Kelly, claiming sole possession of fifth place for the most No. 1 albums on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charta ranking that has been tracked since 1965. The all-time leaders include The Temptations with 17 No. 1s, followed by Drake and Future tied with 16 each, and JAY-Z with 14.

Below is a summary of Yes 13 No. 1 albums on the chart, excluding 2016s The Life of Pablo, which peaked at No. 2:

The College Dropout , 3 weeks at No. 1, Feb. 28, 2004

, 3 weeks at No. 1, Feb. 28, 2004 Late Registration , 2 weeks, Sept. 17, 2005

, 2 weeks, Sept. 17, 2005 Graduation , 3 weeks, Sept. 27, 2007

, 3 weeks, Sept. 27, 2007 808s & Heartbreak , 1 week, Dec. 13, 2008

, 1 week, Dec. 13, 2008 My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy , 2 weeks, Dec. 11, 2010

, 2 weeks, Dec. 11, 2010 Watch the Throne (with JAY-Z), 2 weeks, Aug. 27, 2011

(with JAY-Z), 2 weeks, Aug. 27, 2011 Yeezus , 1 week, July 6, 2013

, 1 week, July 6, 2013 Ye , 1 week, June 16, 2018

, 1 week, June 16, 2018 Jesus Is King (Soundtrack) , 1 week, Nov. 9, 2019

, 1 week, Nov. 9, 2019 Donda , 1 week, Sept. 11, 2021

, 1 week, Sept. 11, 2021 Vultures 1 (as $, with Ty Dolla $ign), 1 week, Feb. 24, 2024

(as $, with Ty Dolla $ign), 1 week, Feb. 24, 2024 Vultures 2 (as $, with Ty Dolla $ign), 1 week, Aug. 17, 2024

(as $, with Ty Dolla $ign), 1 week, Aug. 17, 2024 BULLY, 1 week (to date), April 11, 2026

In addition to dominating the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, BULLY entered at No. 1 on the Top Rap Albums chart and debuted at No. 2 on the all-genre Billboard 200.

The albums influence extends across the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, where 15 tracks from BULLY appeared within the 50-song ranking this week. Leading the pack is "FATHER," featuring Travis Scott, which entered at No. 6. This marks Yes 44th top 10 on this chart and Travis Scotts 34th.

Here is the list of BULLY tracks charting on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart this week:

No. 6  "FATHER," feat. Travis Scott

No. 11  "King"

No. 13  "Punch Drunk"

No. 14  "Whatever Works"

No. 15  "This a Must"

No. 17  "Preacher Man"

No. 18  "Mama's Favorite"

No. 19  "Bully," with CeeLo Green

No. 20  "Sisters and Brothers"

No. 21  "I Can't Wait"

No. 22  "White Lines," with Andre Troutman

No. 23  "Beauty and the Beast"

No. 24  "Circles"

No. 28  "Damn"

No. 32  "This One Here"

Separately, Ye had been scheduled to headline London's Wireless Festival for three nights in July 2026. However, the U.K. government denied his travel visa on April 7, 2026, which led to the festival's cancellation that same day.

BULLY marks a significant commercial success and solidifies Yes prominent position in the contemporary music scene as he continues to break records and dominate charts.
Lil Tjay allegedly instigated a fight with Offset outside a Florida casino, leading to the Migos rapper being shot. Get the full police report details.

AceShowbiz - Police reports indicate that an associate of Lil Tjay allegedly shot rapper Offset following a confrontation that Lil Tjay reportedly instigated outside a Florida casino.

According to a TMZ report published on April 7, investigators stated in a probable cause affidavit that the Bronx rapper initiated an altercation with Offset at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, on Monday, April 6, at approximately 7:22 p.m.

The documents reveal that security footage captured Lil Tjay exiting his vehicle, identifying Offset, and directing his group to confront him, which escalated into a fight. Police also allege that Lil Tjay recorded the incident on his phone as the brawl continued until law enforcement arrived on the scene.

Following the shooting, Offset was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital. He is currently in stable condition with injuries described as non-life-threatening. Meanwhile, Lil Tjay, whose real name is Tione Merritt, was arrested the same night on charges of disorderly conduct and operating a vehicle without a drivers license.

He was released on bond the next day, April 7. Upon his release, the 24-year-old artist claimed that Offset had informed police about him, suggesting a possible snitching scenario. However, Dawn Florio, Lil Tjays attorney, issued a statement denying that her client was involved in the shooting itself.

"Lil Tjay has not been shot, nor has Lil Tjay been charged with any shooting," Florio stated. "Any reporting to the contrary is false."

Authorities confirmed that two individuals were taken into custody in connection with the incident, although charges have been filed against only one person so far. The Seminole Police Department is continuing its investigation and working to identify additional suspects involved in the shooting.

XXL magazine reached out to the Seminole Police Department for further comment but has yet to receive a response. The investigation remains active as officials piece together the details surrounding the altercation that led to the shooting.

This case highlights ongoing tensions between prominent rap artists and underscores the risks of violent confrontations in public settings. Updates are expected as the investigation progresses and more information becomes available from law enforcement sources.
Claire helps Holden as Lily reels from a donor setback. Holden learns a shocking truth that could save Malcolm's life. Don't miss the emotional drama.

AceShowbiz - The upcoming episode of The Young and the Restless airing Thursday, April 9, promises intense emotional moments as Claire Newman (played by Hayley Erin) steps in to assist Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) during a vulnerable time.

Lily Winters (Christel Khalil) faces a heartbreaking setback after learning she cannot be the donor to save her brother Malcolm Winters (Shemar Moore). Her previous cancer treatment rules her out as a compatible candidate, leaving her emotionally shaken.

To cope, Lily seeks support from Traci Abbott (Beth Maitland), who willingly offers a listening ear and wise counsel. While Lily may not reveal every detail about Malcolms health struggles, she shares enough with Traci to receive encouragement and guidance during this difficult period.

Meanwhile, Holden grapples with shocking news about his own family. He discovers that Malcolm is actually his biological father, and that his stem cells could be the key to saving Malcolms life. This revelation also means that Lily is his half-sister, adding layers of complexity to their relationships.

Holden confides in Claire about the overwhelming responsibility he now feels, seeking her perspective. Although Claire is troubled by some of Holdens past secrets, particularly events that unfolded in Los Angeles, she recognizes his fundamentally good nature. She worries that Holden might struggle to live with himself if he chooses to remain passive in this situation.

Claire is understanding of Holdens emotional turmoil and the weight of the decision he faces. Their candid exchange may strengthen their bond as they navigate this family crisis together.

Elsewhere, Malcolm has a private conversation with Dr. Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox), who expresses deep remorse for withholding important information about his paternity for so long. Stephanie is determined to make amends and support Malcolm moving forward.

Malcolm hopes Holden will agree to undergo testing, which could open the door to a possible stem cell transplant that might save his life. However, the situation promises to bring more family drama and challenges as events unfold.
Discover the untold story of Fast Times at Ridgemont High: from director Amy Heckerling's unique film education to casting Sean Penn and battling over its ra...

AceShowbiz - Fast Times at Ridgemont High remains a landmark film in teen cinema, but its journey from script to screen was full of unexpected challenges and creative decisions. Director Amy Heckerling reflects on how the film came to be, the casting lightning strike that included Sean Penn, and the struggles over its candid portrayal of teenage life.

Raised in the Bronx, Heckerling's early film education was unconventional yet immersive. She grew up watching the same James Cagney movie repeatedly on a local New York broadcast called Million Dollar Movie. The channel aired the same film at the same time every day for a week, allowing viewers to memorize every line and shot. "By the end of the week, you knew all the dialogue and all the shots," Heckerling recalled. Unlike most children who played outside, she stayed indoors absorbing classic cinema.

Her cinematic foundation was further enriched by subway trips to foreign film theaters and a cheap membership at the Museum of Modern Art starting at age 14. By the time she entered film school at New York University, she had already seen many of the films her instructors planned to teach. Afterward, she continued her studies at the American Film Institute, fully prepared to embark on a directing career. Yet, what she truly needed was a project to bring her skills to life.

Heckerling nearly launched a feature at MGM, but that project fell apart three weeks before production when the 1980 actors strike halted filming. This collapse landed her in a frustrating limbo, filled with meetings, underfunded projects, and executives who admired her work but couldn't greenlight a movie.

Her breakthrough came serendipitously in a Universal office hallway when she met producer Art Linson. Linson handed her a script adapted from a book by Cameron Crowe, a young Rolling Stone journalist who had gone undercover at a San Diego high school to document teenage culture firsthand. The screenplay was promising but felt disjointed, with multiple storylines that didnt quite connect. Heckerling proposed a unifying settinga soda shop, a communal place where characters could intersect. She noted that shopping malls were just becoming cultural hubs, and this idea appealed to both Linson and Universal executives.

Heckerling was sent to meet Cameron Crowe, whom she describes as the coolest person she has ever met. Their lengthy conversations about the book, high school, and untold stories convinced her that directing the film was the right fit. Interestingly, she later learned that the script had first been offered to David Lynch, a filmmaker she admired and would have loved to see interpret the material.

The casting of Fast Times at Ridgemont High is now legendary: Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, and Forest Whitaker in his first screen role. A young Nicolas Cage also appeared brieflyHeckerling fought for a larger role for him but was overruled by the studio.

Among the cast, Sean Penn made the most striking impression. Heckerling recalls walking into a room and finding Penn sitting on the floor. "I looked down and he looked up and I was like  well, certain people, it just goes through you. 'Whoa. That's somebody.'" Penn fully embraced his role, even sending Heckerling photos of checkered Vans shoes for costume approval and bringing an authentic surfer slang to the character that could have easily been caricatured.

The film was shot on location at Van Nuys High School, and word quickly spread that something special was happening there. Industry insiders  agents and executives alike  flocked to the set daily. Heckerling paired Penn with veteran actor Ray Walston, who played the strict history teacher Mr. Hand. Their dynamic was electric; Penn would improvise insults during Walstons close-ups to provoke genuine reactions. Though Walston later complained privately about Penns antics, the interactions added a layer of realism to the film.

Fast Times at Ridgemont High broke new ground in 1982 with its frank, honest depiction of teenage sexuality. Unlike many films of the era, it avoided leering or sanitization, choosing instead to portray adolescent experiences with authenticity. A sensitive subplot involving Leighs character, Stacy Hamilton, who becomes pregnant and chooses to have an abortion, was included without objection from the studioa surprising concession given the political climate.

Heckerling remarks with a hint of disappointment that societal attitudes on such topics have not progressed since then, but rather regressed in many ways. The film also faced significant hurdles with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Heckerling had filmed a sex scene between Stacy and Mike Damone (played by Robert Romanus) featuring full nudity on both actors. This was a deliberate choice to maintain equality in a genre that traditionally objectified women. However, the MPAA threatened an X rating, citing the male anatomy as "aggressive," a double standard Heckerling found frustrating and difficult to challenge. Ultimately, the scene was cut. The original footage remains in her possession, restored but unused.

Heckerling reflected that the films production and release happened at a cultural turning point. It felt like the last breath of an era defined by sex, drugs, and rock n roll before the conservative Reagan administrations "just say no" ethos took hold. "We got in right as it was closing," she said.

This candid admission encapsulates the difficult realities behind the scenes of filmmaking, even when the final product attains classic status. For Heckerling, the experience was both a professional education and a vivid chapter in Hollywood history.
Allegro Finance launches a $500M credit facility for global film & TV production. Backed by Elliott Advisors, it aims to be the top non-bank lender to the sc...

AceShowbiz - Allegro Finance, a London-based lending platform focused on the media sector, has introduced a $500 million credit facility to support film and television production.

This substantial funding line results from a strategic joint venture and senior lending arrangement with entities managed by Elliott Advisors UK Limited. The platform was established in 2024 by industry experts Jamie Lowe, Peter Touche, and Sam Collett, who bring extensive experience in film and TV finance, structured credit, and investment banking.

The newly launched credit facility aims to finance a diverse range of international film and television projects. This initiative aligns with Allegro Finances goal to become the foremost non-bank senior lender to the global screen industries.

Jamie Lowe, partner and Chief Capital Officer at Allegro Finance, emphasized that the platform is designed specifically for the film and television sector. Having previously worked with The Ingenious Group and Great Point Media, Lowe explained that "this partnership represents the launch of a purpose-built institutional credit platform for the global film and television industry."

He added that Allegro Finance is structured to operate differently from traditional media financiers and banks by combining specialist sector underwriting expertise with long-duration institutional capital. This approach creates a scalable, non-bank debt solution tailored to the needs of producers.

The first investments and partnerships using this $500 million funding line are expected to be announced within the coming weeks, marking a significant step for Allegro Finance as it sets out to reshape financing options in the global film and television landscape.
Discover a vibrant Queens ballroom where Asian American seniors preserve culture through dance. A filmmaker's unexpected find inspires a new documentary.

AceShowbiz - When filmmaker Queens Ballroom producer Hansen Lin entered a building in Queens, New York, he unexpectedly discovered a unique cultural space that connects deeply with the immigrant experience in America.

While scouting locations for a film project in the Chinatown area of Flushing, Lin found himself inside a vibrant Queens ballroom where Asian American seniors gather. Despite the dark exterior, the interior was filled with colorful life, music, and community, creating an atmosphere rich with history and memory.

This serendipitous visit inspired Lin, who previously produced the award-winning documentary Always, to pursue a new film centered on this ballroom scene. Together with co-producer and director Siyi Chen, Lin is developing Queens Ballroom into a documentary that highlights how these seniors preserve cultural traditions through dance and social connection after immigrating to the U.S.

The documentary is now in an advanced stage of production and was recently presented at the esteemed CPH:FORUM event in Copenhagen, a key platform for documentary filmmakers to pitch projects and gain industry support.

Queens Ballroom promises to offer an intimate look at a little-known aspect of Asian American life, emphasizing the resilience and cultural preservation within immigrant communities through the lens of dance and social gatherings.
No Back to the Future 4, but the franchise lives on. Explore the new documentary featuring Michael J. Fox and the journey of the hit stage musical.

AceShowbiz - Some franchises hold a special place in fans hearts, and Back to the Future is certainly one of them. Despite decades of anticipation for another sequel, creators Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale have made it clear that a fourth film is not in the cards. However, the franchise continues to evolve in exciting new ways more than 40 years after the original movies release.

Most recently, Michael J. Fox returns to the franchise in a unique format with the launch of a new documentary titled A Future on Stage. The feature-length film is now available on Prime Video, Apple TV, YouTube, and various other digital platforms. Directed by Brian Stillman, the documentary goes behind the scenes of Back to the Future: The Musical, a stage adaptation that transformed the beloved 1980s movie into a celebrated theatrical production.

The musical first premiered in Londons West End before making its way to Broadway and eventually embarking on a national U.S. tour. A Future on Stage includes exclusive interviews with key figures such as Fox, Zemeckis, Gale, Roger Bart, and several cast and crew members who played essential roles in bringing the production to life.

Bob Gale describes the documentary as an opportunity to reveal the immense challenges involved in adapting the film into a musical. He remarked, "Having Back to the Future the Musical playing to sold-out houses around the world is a future I never could have predicted. I thought getting the movie off the ground was insanely difficult, but getting the musical version on stage was even harder, and this documentary really captures what we all went through." This statement perfectly encapsulates the journey from screen to stage, highlighting how ambitious and demanding the project was.

Transforming a tightly cherished 1985 movie like Back to the Future into a musical likely seemed daunting and even a bit far-fetched at first. Yet, the stage show defied expectations, earning critical acclaim and fan support. It won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical in the West End and received multiple Tony Award nominations after its Broadway debut, including a nod for Roger Barts portrayal of Doc Brown.

The documentary also features Broadway cast members Casey Likes, Liana Hunt, Jelani Remy, Nathaniel Hackmann, Mikaela Secada, and Merritt David Janes. The creative team behind the show is also highlighted, including director John Rando, producer Colin Ingram, and production designer Tim Hatley. Likes, who played Marty McFly on Broadway, receives praise from Fox in the trailer, where the actor expresses admiration for his performance.

The impact of the original films cast remains deeply rooted in the franchises enduring popularity. Michael J. Fox famously starred as Marty McFly alongside Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown, with Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover, and Thomas F. Wilson rounding out the core ensemble. Their performances helped cement Back to the Future as a cultural touchstone.

For fans eager to explore more about the musical adaptation and its connection to the iconic film, A Future on Stage offers a comprehensive look at the creative process and the challenges behind the scenes. It provides an intimate glimpse into how the beloved story was reimagined for the stage while honoring the original films spirit.

The documentarys release on major streaming platforms today marks a significant moment for the franchise, allowing longtime fans and newcomers alike to experience a fresh perspective on a classic tale. As the stage production continues to draw sold-out audiences worldwide, this film captures the remarkable journey of bringing Back to the Future from the silver screen to the theatrical stage.

In summary, while a new movie sequel remains off the table, A Future on Stage offers an exciting new chapter in the Back to the Future saga. Featuring in-depth interviews with original creators and the musicals cast and crew, the documentary celebrates the unexpected success of this ambitious adaptation. It is now streaming and ready to be enjoyed by fans everywhere.
Aubrey Plaza & Christopher Abbott expecting their first child this fall. A beautiful surprise after a year of grief.

AceShowbiz - Aubrey Plaza and her partner Christopher Abbott are preparing to welcome their first child together, a source has confirmed. This joyful announcement arrives more than a year after the tragic passing of Aubrey Plaza's late husband, Jeff Baena.

The couple's baby is expected in the fall, though the gender has not yet been revealed. The news comes as a "beautiful surprise" following a difficult year marked by grief and loss for Aubrey Plaza.

Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott first collaborated professionally in 2019 on the psychological drama Black Bear. Their relationship blossomed quietly, and they later worked together again in the Off-Broadway revival of John Patrick Shanley's Danny and the Deep Blue Sea, which ran until January 2024.

A source shared with People magazine that the pregnancy was a welcome blessing after an emotional year. "They feel very blessed," the source said, highlighting the couples gratitude during this significant moment in their lives.

The pair have kept their relationship relatively private but were seen together on several occasions, including Valentine's Day 2026. They attended Khaite's Fall/Winter 2026 New York Fashion Week show, sitting alongside stars such as Gemma Chan and Elizabeth Debicki. Additionally, they were spotted enjoying time together at Chatham Berry Farm, located about two and a half hours from New York City, in June of last year.

Just weeks after that outing, Aubrey Plaza opened up publicly about the loss of her husband, Jeff Baena. The filmmaker died in January 2025 at age 47, with the Los Angeles County medical examiner ruling his death a suicide by hanging. Baena was found near the Fern Dell Nature Trail in the Hollywood Hills.

Aubrey Plaza and Jeff Baena had separated four months prior to his tragic death. When his passing was confirmed, she released a statement alongside his family but spoke more candidly about her grief later, during a podcast hosted by her Parks and Recreation co-star Amy Poehler.

On the podcast, Aubrey Plaza described her emotional state: "Right in this very, very present moment, I feel happy to be with you. Overall, I'm here, and I'm functioning. I feel really grateful to be moving through the world." She acknowledged the ongoing struggle, adding that coping with grief is a daily challenge.

She also shared a personal analogy inspired by the movie The Gorge, explaining how her grief feels like being caught between two cliffs with monster people in the gorge below. She said, "I swear, when I watched it, I was like that feels like what my grief is like ... or what grief could be like. At all times, there's like a giant ocean of awfulness that's right there, and I can see it. Sometimes I just want to dive into it, and just like be in it. Then sometimes I just look at it, and sometimes I try to get away from it. But, it's always there."

If you or someone you know is struggling with grief or mental health, the Samaritans provide a free helpline available 24/7 at 116 123.

For more updates on celebrity news and stories, follow Mirror Celebs across social media platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads.
Petsmart LLC allegedly failed to provide employees with accurate wages due to missed meal breaks. This allegedly resulted in violations of various California Labor codes.

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Sacramento employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that Petsmart LLC violated the California Labor Code. The Petsmart LLC class action lawsuit, Case No. 26CV001988, is currently pending in the Sacramento County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here.

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According to the lawsuit filed, Petsmart LLC allegedly (a) failed to pay minimum wages, (b) failed to pay overtime wages, (c) failed to provide legally required meal and rest periods, (d) failed to provide accurate itemized wage statements, (e) failed to reimburse for required expenses, (f) failed to pay sick wages, and (g) failed to provide wages when due, all in violation of the applicable Labor Code sections listed in California Labor Code Sections 201-203, 226, 226.7, 233, 246, 510, 512, 1194, 1197, 1197.1, 2802, and the applicable Wage Order(s), and thereby gives rise to civil penalties as a result of such alleged conduct.

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Allegedly, Defendant required Plaintiffs to perform work assignments while clocked out for what should have been Plaintiffs'off-duty meal break. Plaintiffs' were also required, from time to time, to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided ten (10) minute rest periods. This resulted in Defendant allegedly rounding the meal period time to avoid paying penalties to Plaintiffs. Further, these employees were denied their first rest periods of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of at least two (2) to four (4) hours from time to time, a first and second rest period of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked of between six (6) and eight (8) hours from time to time, and a first, second and third rest period of at least ten (10) minutes for some shifts worked for ten (10) hours or more from time to time. Defendant allegedly violated Cal. Lab. Code  1194, 1197, and 1197.1.

For more information about the class action lawsuit against Petsmart LLC, call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today.

Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today.

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Meet the 2025-2026 Nicholl Fellowship winners: five new voices shaping the future of film. Discover the screenwriters and stories chosen by the Academy.

AceShowbiz - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has revealed the recipients of the 2025-2026 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, an esteemed international program designed to nurture emerging non-professional screenwriters. The announcement, made on Monday, recognizes three individual writers and two writing teams for their distinctive screenplays that promise to enrich the future of film storytelling.

The honored fellows include Leo Aguirre from San Antonio, Texas; Lynn McKee of Queens, New York; Katla Solnes from New York City; the Los Angeles-based duo Omar Al Dakheel and Elie El Choufany; and the Brooklyn team of Sara Crow and David Rafailedes. These writers were selected from a highly competitive pool, reflecting the programs commitment to diversity and international talent.

Recipients of the Nicholl Fellowships gain access to a comprehensive support network provided by the Academy. This includes direct assistance, ongoing resources, and networking opportunities, such as events featuring Oscar nominees and winners, pitch workshops, media training sessions, and exclusive meet-and-greets. Additionally, fellows benefit from the Gold Alumni Network Program, which offers continued professional development, educational opportunities, and career advancement support long after the fellowship year concludes.

All fellowship-winning scripts are preserved in the Academy Collection at the Margaret Herrick Library, ensuring these fresh voices remain accessible and influential within the cinematic community.

To identify this years fellows, the Nicholl program collaborated with 40 universities, screenwriting labs, film festivals, and filmmaker programs, including The Black List, which facilitated public submissions. The evaluation process involved over 500 Academy members from all 19 branches, marking an impressive 149 percent increase in participation compared to previous years. These members helped narrow down submissions to 10 finalists, from which a dedicated Nicholl Committee of 23 Academy members selected the fellowship winners.

The 2025-2026 Nicholl Committee was co-chaired by Kim Taylor-Coleman, president of the Academy Foundation board and Academy governor, alongside Julie Lynn, a member of the producers branch. Both played pivotal roles in overseeing the fellowship selection process.

In a statement, Taylor-Coleman expressed excitement about the new fellows: We are thrilled to announce the recipients of the 2025-2026 Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting, a remarkable group of diverse and international new writers who represent the future of storytelling. This continues the Academys longtime commitment to championing emerging talent from across the world. We extend our sincere thanks to all participating Academy members, Franklin Leonard and The Black List for their collaboration, and to the universities, screenwriting labs, film festivals, and filmmaker programs that submitted scripts to this years program.

The 2025-2026 fellows and their projects are:

Leo Aguirre (San Antonio, TX), Verano

Nicholl partner: Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab

Set during a scorching Texas summer, this story follows a withdrawn teenager whose life changes when his parents foster an asylum seeker from Central America. What starts as tension evolves into an unexpected friendship as both boys confront themes of loss, identity, and belonging amid the looming threat of deportation.

(San Antonio, TX), Verano Nicholl partner: Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab Set during a scorching Texas summer, this story follows a withdrawn teenager whose life changes when his parents foster an asylum seeker from Central America. What starts as tension evolves into an unexpected friendship as both boys confront themes of loss, identity, and belonging amid the looming threat of deportation. Omar Al Dakheel and Elie El Choufany (Los Angeles, CA), The Washroom

Nicholl partner: Urbanworld Festival

In a small Texas town, a young imam struggles to defend his communitys right to bury their dead while hiding a forbidden love that could jeopardize everything he holds dear.

and (Los Angeles, CA), The Washroom Nicholl partner: Urbanworld Festival In a small Texas town, a young imam struggles to defend his communitys right to bury their dead while hiding a forbidden love that could jeopardize everything he holds dear. Sara Crow and David Rafailedes (Brooklyn, NY), Satoshi

Nicholl partner: NYU Tisch School of the Arts

Following her familys financial ruin during the 2008 crisis, a teenage anime-obsessed hacktivist discovers the unfair nature of money and embarks on a mission to reinvent currency with a new digital form called Bitcoin.

and (Brooklyn, NY), Satoshi Nicholl partner: NYU Tisch School of the Arts Following her familys financial ruin during the 2008 crisis, a teenage anime-obsessed hacktivist discovers the unfair nature of money and embarks on a mission to reinvent currency with a new digital form called Bitcoin. Lynn McKee (Queens, NY), Im Ready to Go Anywhere

Nicholl partner: The Black List

Set in 1980s Phoenix, this narrative centers on ten-year-old Patty, who must protect and parent her mother and younger sister while devising a plan to escape the city's heat, chaos, and danger.

(Queens, NY), Im Ready to Go Anywhere Nicholl partner: The Black List Set in 1980s Phoenix, this narrative centers on ten-year-old Patty, who must protect and parent her mother and younger sister while devising a plan to escape the city's heat, chaos, and danger. Katla Solnes (New York, NY), Eruption

Nicholl partner: Columbia University School of the Arts

In 1970s Icelands highlands, a geologists wife faces challenges to her marriage when an American student arrives, stirring tensions as volatile as the surrounding volcanic landscape.

The program also recognized five finalists, whose screenplays demonstrated exceptional promise:

Natalie Cutler, Offside (Nicholl partner: The Black List)

Adrian Morphy, The 300 Year Old Man (Nicholl partner: MFA in Scriptwriting & Story Design at Toronto Metropolitan University)

Benjamin Murphey, Unconfirmed Bachelor (Nicholl partner: The Black List)

Michael Oosterom, Giants (Nicholl partner: The Black List)

Shelley Patel, With Her Hands Untied (Nicholl partner: The Black List)

Since its inception in 1986, the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting program has awarded 191 fellowships, building a respected legacy of discovering and fostering new voices in cinema. The fellowships were endowed by Gladys Gee Nicholl in honor of her husband, writer-producer Don Nicholl. Recipients agree to complete a feature-length screenplay during their fellowship year. Importantly, the Academy acquires no rights to the fellows works and remains uninvolved in any commercial ventures relating to their scripts.

The Nicholl Fellowships continue to be a vital component of the Academys global talent development initiatives, fueling the next generation of storytellers and enriching the film industry with fresh perspectives and stories.
Stream the classic thriller No Way Out on Prime. Kevin Costner stars as a naval officer trapped in a deadly political conspiracy of lies and murder.

AceShowbiz - No Way Out is a classic 1980s thriller that combines sleek storytelling with a sharp political edge, a blend that has kept it popular decades after its release. Streaming on Prime until March 31, this tense drama starring Kevin Costner offers viewers a gripping narrative full of intrigue, deception, and suspense.

Directed by Roger Donaldson, No Way Out centers on Tom Farrell, a naval officer played by Kevin Costner, who becomes embroiled in a complex political conspiracy after the murder of the mistress of Defense Secretary David Brice. The film expertly traps Farrell in a tightening web of lies, forcing him to navigate a dangerous game where he is both investigator and suspect.

The cast is rounded out by notable performances from Gene Hackman as Defense Secretary David Brice, Sean Young as Susan Atwell, and Will Patton as Scott Pritchard. Other supporting actors include Howard Duff, George Dzundza, and Jason Bernard, who all contribute to the film's tense Washington, D.C. atmosphere.

No Way Out embodies a particular style of 1980s thrillerslick yet substantial, political but pulp-driventhat resonates with fans of the genre. Its storyline intricately weaves together elements of murder, cover-ups, and political self-preservation, keeping audiences guessing until the final moments.

Renowned film critic Roger Ebert praised No Way Out for its ability to handle a complex, puzzle-like plot without confusing viewers. Instead, the film deepens engagement as it progresses, drawing audiences into the characters struggles and motivations. According to Ebert, once viewers are hooked, they become less concerned with fitting every piece together and more invested in seeing the narratives resolution.

The story follows a young naval officer assigned to investigate the murder of his lovers other paramour, only to discover a wider conspiracy that threatens to engulf him. As Tom Farrell digs deeper into the case, he finds himself framed for the murder, forcing him to uncover the truth while evading law enforcement and political enemies alike.

No Way Out was released on August 14, 1987, and has since become a benchmark for political thrillers of its era. Its smart script, strong performances, and taut direction create a suspenseful experience that remains relevant to fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

Prime Video subscribers have a limited window to stream this classic thriller before it leaves the platform on March 31. For those who appreciate intricate narratives filled with tension, betrayal, and moral ambiguity, No Way Out is a must-watch.

In addition to streaming, the film is available for rent or purchase, allowing fans to own a copy of this defining thriller. Whether revisiting the film or discovering it for the first time, viewers will find a gripping story that expertly balances political drama with pulse-pounding suspense.

With its iconic performances and clever storytelling, No Way Out offers a masterclass in how to craft a thriller that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. The films lasting appeal lies in its ability to keep audiences on edge while exploring the darker sides of power and loyalty.

As the streaming deadline approaches, now is the perfect time for Prime subscribers to dive into this compelling thriller that continues to captivate audiences over three decades after its original release.
Witchy mall thriller from Diablo Cody. Starring Lili Reinhart & Victoria Pedretti. Premiered at SXSW. In theaters March 27.

AceShowbiz - Forbidden Fruits marks the first feature film directed by Meredith Alloway, premiering recently at South by Southwest (SXSW). This debut is already generating significant buzz due to its unique blend of witchy themes and a mall-set thriller atmosphere.

The film features an ensemble of promising young actresses including Lili Reinhart, Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, and Alexandra Shipp. Produced by the acclaimed Diablo Cody, known for her Oscar-winning screenplay for Juno, the movie is set for release on March 27 through IFC and Shudder domestically, with Universal managing international distribution.

Alloway shared her excitement ahead of the premiere in Austin, Texas, describing how the films world-building has inspired a dedicated fanbase. She recounted discovering a fan who had replicated one of the trailers looks exactly, down to the shirt, pants, and hat. Thats what movies are all about, she said, emphasizing the immersive experience she aimed to create. Everyones part of the coven, she added, reflecting the communal energy surrounding the film.

The origins of Forbidden Fruits trace back to an Off Broadway play titled Of the Woman Came the Beginning of Sin, and Through Her We All Die, written by Lily Houghton. Alloway was introduced to the script through a shared manager, and she immediately connected with the material.

Theres a growing trend in genre films focusing on female revenge stories, Alloway explained. When I read this script, it was about women and the complex dynamics between them, not just a female lead adjacent to male characters. She emphasized her desire to inhabit and write stories centered on female relationships, a theme that resonated strongly with her own recent writing projects, which had explored similar territory including female serial killers.

Upon meeting Houghton, the collaborators bonded over their mutual interest in true crime podcasts and their shared ambition to heighten the stakes from the original play, which contained relatively mild dramatic incidents such as someone stealing a pink thong. The final screenplay evolved into what New York Magazine described as if Mean Girls took place at a Free People in 2026, blending dark humor with intense emotional drama.

Alloway highlighted the emotional intensity embedded in female friendships, noting that breakups between women can sometimes feel more devastating than romantic breakups. She saw the slasher genre as a way to amplify these feelings and make audiences empathize with these experiences, even if they havent personally lived them.

Financing the film proved to be a long and challenging process, one Alloway compared to the unpredictable cycle of a washing machine. Projects would gain and lose financing repeatedly, compounded by industry strikes and other obstacles, at times leaving her questioning her career choices.

Despite the difficulties, the project eventually attracted financing from producers who deeply understood the vision, notably including Mason Novick and Diablo Cody. Alloway described the moment Cody joined as an emotional milestone, sharing that she shed tears of joy while FaceTiming Houghton.

To protect the integrity of the project, Alloway and her team kept the production intimate and carefully nurtured the film like a little plant, which eventually blossomed into the completed movie. The cast was assembled, though the process was affected by industry strikes that led to some rescheduling and recasting. For example, Lola Tung became available just before filming began, and Alexandra Shipp took over a role initially cast with another actress, a decision Alloway now considers perfect.

Production took place primarily in a mall in Toronto, selected for its resemblance to the Dallas mall near Alloways childhood home, which she described as the last cool, nice mall in America and akin to an art museum. The team wanted to avoid dead malls or those evoking 1980s movie tropes, aiming instead for a location with a slightly magical, uncanny aura fitting the films tone.

The mall setting brought its own challenges, including restrictive shooting hours. Filming mostly occurred between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. due to mall hours, leading to encounters with early morning mall walkers who often arrived before filming wrapped. Lili Reinhart reportedly hid from these early visitors to keep her red hair a secret.

The production also built out a fountain set piece for a climactic showdown, only to realize it was the same fountain featured in Mean Girls. The primary shooting location was an old Hollister store, which added to the atmospheric authenticity.

Alloway reflected on the malls constant illumination, describing it as grotesque and a symbol of relentless materialism and capitalism, with lights burning through the night while people slept. This created a strange, almost eerie atmosphere during filming that complemented the films themes.

One of the points Alloway expressed pride in was the high number of female department heads on the films crew. She stressed that hiring women wasnt just about meeting quotas but about bringing diverse perspectives to the filmmaking process, especially for a story so deeply rooted in female experiences.

As the SXSW premiere approached, Alloway expressed deep gratitude for the casts enthusiastic support, noting how they had been present together for interviews and red carpet appearances. This collective presence reinforced the sense of a coven united around the film.

Looking ahead, Alloway remains cautiously optimistic about her next projects. She has several scripts in development, fueled by questions and inspirations that arose during the making of Forbidden Fruits. Although she refrains from sharing details to avoid tempting fate, she hinted at more stories focusing on women and complex emotional themes.

Forbidden Fruits is an ambitious debut that combines genre thrills with a deep exploration of female relationships and identity, set against the vivid and unusual backdrop of a nighttime mall. With a strong cast, a visionary director, and the support of an acclaimed producer like Diablo Cody, the film is poised to make a notable impact upon its release.
Rick and Morty Season 9 premieres May 24. Space Beth returns for new adventures in the acclaimed, record-breaking adult animation series.

AceShowbiz - Rick and Morty is gearing up for its ninth season with a fresh trailer that promises intense new adventures and the return of Space Beth to the family dynamic. Known for its mix of sci-fi, dark humor, and emotional storytelling, Rick and Morty has become an adult animation phenomenon, amassing over 10 billion views worldwide. Fans have eagerly awaited the next chapter, and Adult Swim has confirmed that season 9 will premiere on May 24 on HBO Max.

The previous season featured notable developments, including Summer and Morty aging 17 years as a consequence of misusing Ricks charger. The return of Space Beth added depth to the story as she teamed up with Rick to explore complex father/daughter relationships and embark on a daring space heist. Season 8 was critically acclaimed, earning a 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with reviewers praising it as "intelligent, witty, and utterly reckless."

However, the series has faced significant controversy. The co-creator and original voice actor, Justin Roiland, was dismissed following serious allegations, including domestic battery and false imprisonment, which led to a substantial shakeup in the show's production and voice cast. These charges were compounded by accusations in 2023 of grooming and harassment of underage fans. As a result, Adult Swim, Hulu, and 20th Television Animation severed ties with Roiland. Since season 7, the voice of Rick has been performed by Ian Cardoni, with Harry Belden voicing Morty.

Despite these upheavals, Rick and Morty season 9 is described as "bigger, bolder, and more ambitious than ever," with the creators emphasizing that no artificial intelligence was used in production. The official synopsis emphasizes the authenticity of the show's content, stating, "Rick and Morty is back, baby! Season Nine is all certified bangers. No AI slop! Just Grade A organic slop."

Adult Swims president, Michael Ouweleen, expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming episodes, highlighting the creativity and talent poured into this season: "It's kind of scary what this show unit is doing season over season - just pouring an absurd amount of talent and brilliance into these episodes. From the first frame, you're going to see great high?concept insanity with some of the best character writing ever done."

The new season promises to continue the show's signature blend of dark humor and inventive storytelling. Fans can expect more wild escapades, emotional depth, and complex character dynamics, especially with the renewed presence of Space Beth. The return of this character is sure to add new layers to Ricks complicated family relationships.

Originally debuting in 2013, Rick and Morty has become a staple in adult animation, blending comedy, adventure, and science fiction. The series is known for its sharp writing and creative exploration of bizarre and thought-provoking scenarios. Season 9 will continue under the stewardship of showrunner Dan Harmon and feature contributions from writers such as Tom Kauffman, Wade Randolph, and Michael Waldron.

With the new season on the horizon, Rick and Morty remains a defining series for Adult Swim, balancing outrageous humor with emotional storytelling. The shows evolution following behind-the-scenes controversies reflects its resilience and dedication to its fanbase.

Season 9 of Rick and Morty will be available to stream starting May 24 on Adult Swim via HBO Max, inviting fans to dive back into the chaotic universe that has captivated audiences worldwide for nearly a decade.
Paramount Skydance president Jeff Shell fired after lawsuit by gambler R.J. Cipriani over unpaid services and leaked secrets.

AceShowbiz - Jeff Shell, the president of Paramount Skydance, has been dismissed, marking his second termination from a major media company in just three years.

This decision follows an internal probe related to a lawsuit filed against Shell by whistleblower and Las Vegas gambler R.J. Cipriani. Both Paramount and Shell have declined to provide any comments on the situation.

The lawsuit alleges that Shell failed to pay Cipriani for crisis communication services he claims to have rendered. Cipriani further accuses Shell of sharing confidential, non-public information, including specifics about Paramount's $7.7 billion UFC media rights agreement and its strategies to enhance its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery.

In response, Shell filed a countersuit accusing Cipriani of defamation and extortion. Cipriani expanded his legal action to include Paramount, its board of directors, and the Ellison family. Paramount has previously dismissed Ciprianis claims as "frivolous" and stated its intention to vigorously defend itself.

Cipriani is pursuing at least $150 million in damages, while Shell seeks an unspecified amount for damages and losses attributed to Ciprianis allegations. Shell is also requesting an injunction to prevent Cipriani from further defamatory statements.

Before joining Paramount Skydance, Shell was ousted from NBCUniversal in 2023 following sexual harassment allegations from former CNBC correspondent Hadley Gamble, with whom he admitted to having an "inappropriate relationship."

After leaving NBCUniversal, Shell worked with Gerry Cardinales RedBird Capital Partners, which played a key role in funding Skydances $8 billion acquisition of Paramount. RedBird is also supporting the $47 billion equity financing for Warner Bros., alongside the Ellison family. Shell officially joined the Paramount Skydance leadership following the merger announcement in July 2024.

The departure of Shell occurs as the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger is anticipated to close by the third quarter of this year, pending regulatory and shareholder approval. A shareholder vote is scheduled for April 23.

If the deal does not close by September 30, Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders will receive a 25 cent per share "ticking fee" each quarter until completion. Should the transaction fail due to regulatory reasons, Paramount will owe Warner Bros. Discovery a $7 billion termination fee.

This development follows ongoing legal battles involving Shell and Cipriani, highlighting the turbulent environment surrounding the media executives tenure at Paramount Skydance.
Alabama Barker gives Tory Lanez a 24-hour public ultimatum on Instagram, hinting at undisclosed information with the hashtag #NONDA.

AceShowbiz - Alabama Barker recently posted a striking message on Instagram that has captured widespread attention online.

The 19-year-old daughter of Blink-182s Travis Barker tagged Tory Lanez in a cryptic post stating, "You have 24 hours #NONDA." The hashtag #NONDA implies that no nondisclosure agreement is preventing her from revealing information involving him.

Alabama Barkers public ultimatum gives Tory Lanez just one day to respond or face potential exposure of undisclosed details. By tagging him directly, she ensured that the imprisoned rapper would see the warning.

The timing of this message is particularly notable because Tory Lanez is currently serving a 10-year prison sentence for the 2020 shooting incident involving Megan Thee Stallion. Despite his incarceration and recent health struggles, Alabama Barker is making clear that legal restrictions do not silence her.

Over the past year, Tory Lanez endured a serious attack while behind bars. In May 2025, he was stabbed 14 times by a fellow inmate, resulting in collapsed lungs and a prolonged hospital stay that required breathing assistance.

Now, with Alabama Barker issuing a public deadline, the situation adds a new layer of tension to the rappers ongoing legal and personal challenges. She has developed her own career as a rapper and social media figure and appears determined to speak openly about matters she finds important.

The internet is actively speculating on the nature of the connection between Alabama Barker and Tory Lanez, as well as what she might reveal if her ultimatum is not met. This is not being dismissed as mere drama or clout chasing, but rather a serious statement with potentially significant consequences.

As the 24-hour countdown ticks down, all eyes remain on Tory Lanez and what impact this public confrontation from Alabama Barker might have on his situation behind bars.
David Schwimmer condemns Wireless Festival for booking Kanye West, calling it a disgrace and praising sponsors who withdrew support.

AceShowbiz - David Schwimmer, best known for his role on Friends, has publicly condemned the Wireless Festival for initially booking rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, before the event was canceled.

The actor released a statement on Instagram following the withdrawal of sponsors and the UK government's decision to ban Ye from entering the country ahead of the planned July festival.

Schwimmer praised companies that demonstrated "moral clarity," contrasting them with Wireless Festival, which he criticized for choosing to feature an artist he described as "one of the most recognizable hate-mongering bigots in the world."

As a Jewish individual, Schwimmer expressed disappointment that Wireless Festival gave Ye a prominent platform despite the rappers history of antisemitic remarks and public controversies over several years.

He wrote plainly, "Wireless disgraced itself," underscoring his strong disapproval of the festivals decision.

Addressing Yes recent apology and attempts at reconciliation, Schwimmer dismissed them as insufficient. "An apology letter is just that, words on paper," he said. "It does not erase years of abuse."

Ye had expressed hopes to travel to London to present a show of change and promote unity, peace, and love through my music. However, Schwimmer emphasized that real accountability involves more than public statements.

"I believe in forgiveness, but it takes much more than this," he added, highlighting the need for genuine responsibility beyond words.

The actor also criticized other artists and brands that continue to associate with Ye despite his history of offensive comments.

David Schwimmer became widely known for his portrayal of Ross Geller on Friends and has since appeared in projects such as American Crime Story and Intelligence.
Kristin Cavallari reveals a secret Hills romance with a cameraman while publicly dating Brody Jenner. Hear the shocking confession from her podcast.

AceShowbiz - Kristin Cavallari recently unveiled a surprising chapter from her time on the MTV reality series The Hills. Joining the show midway through its fifth season in 2009, after Lauren Conrads departure, Cavallari quickly became known for her onscreen relationship with Brody Jenner. However, she disclosed that while the romance with Jenner was part of the shows storyline, she was secretly involved with someone behind the scenes.

During an episode of her podcast Let's Be Honest With Kristin Cavallari released on April 7, Cavallari shared that she was seeing a cameraman named Miguel while filming The Hills. "Do you know that I hooked up with a cameraman on The Hills?" she confessed to her former co-star Lauren Conrad. This revelation adds a new layer of intrigue to the show, given that Cavallari was publicly dating Jenner at the time.

Cavallari explained that their relationship was kept under wraps for several months. "We kept it a secret. I was 'dating' Brody on the show, so I was like, 'We're being professional,'" she said. The couple even traveled together to Canada for the Much Music Awards. However, their secret was exposed when paparazzi photographed them at the airport shortly before production wrapped on The Hills.

The fallout was swift and severe. According to Cavallari, the cameraman Miguel was fired from the show after their public outing. "I remember I fought with [The Hills creator] Adam [DiVello]. I was like, 'You guys would have never had any idea. We've been nothing but professional,'" she recalled. This incident highlights the strict boundaries the production maintained regarding cast and crew relationships.

Lauren Conrad chimed in during the podcast, noting a parallel situation involving fellow The Hills alum Whitney Port. Port married Tim Rosenman, a producer on her spinoff series The City. "How is that OK?" Cavallari joked, reflecting on the double standard she perceived.

Both Cavallari and Conrad rose to fame on MTVs Laguna Beach: The Real O.C., which aired from 2004 to 2006 and served as a precursor to The Hills. Their relationship was famously fraught during their early careers, with tensions partly fueled by their mutual connection to Stephen Colletti, another Laguna Beach cast member. Despite their past, the two have since reconciled and appeared together on The Reunion: Laguna Beach, a special retrospective airing April 10 on Roku.

In a recent interview with Us Weekly, Conrad reflected on their youthful animosity: "I think we both said it [at the reunion that our regret] was the way we spoke about each other. We were pretty unkind about one another, and it isn't how we treat each other now, or how we would treat other women now." Cavallari echoed this sentiment, admitting, "I just found myself to be pretty not to take a word out of my kids' playbook but cringey. I really did not like the way that I spoke about Lauren in particular."

As fans of The Hills prepare to watch the final airing of the series, Cavallaris revelation about her off-camera romance sheds light on the complex dynamics behind reality TV production. It also underscores the blurred lines between real-life relationships and storylines crafted for the cameras.

Looking back, the behind-the-scenes romance with Miguel adds a new perspective on Cavallaris time on the show and the challenges cast members face in balancing authenticity with on-screen personas. Meanwhile, the firings and professional boundaries serve as a reminder of the strict controls reality television productions exert over personal relationships.

With The Reunion: Laguna Beach set to premiere soon, audiences will have the chance to revisit the early days of these reality stars and witness how their relationships have evolved over time. The reunion promises a candid reflection on their past rivalries and growth, including Cavallari and Conrads journey from feuding co-stars to friends.

As the legacy of The Hills wraps up, Cavallaris story serves as a reminder that behind the drama and scripted scenes, real emotions and unexpected relationships often unfold away from the spotlight.
BTS's 'ARIRANG' makes history: #1 on Billboard 200 & Hot 100 for 2nd week. Their 7th chart-topping album breaks multiple global records.

AceShowbiz - The album BTS released after nearly four years, ARIRANG, has made a historic impact on the global music charts. It secured the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 albums chart for a second consecutive week as dated April 11, marking the group's seventh No. 1 on this prestigious list, and their longest-running chart-topping album to date.

Not only did the album reach the top, but the lead single "Swim" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart simultaneously, setting a remarkable record. This achievement makes BTS the first group to debut an album and a song at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Hot 100 charts multiple times, a feat they first accomplished in 2020 with Be and the track "Life Goes On."

In an unprecedented accomplishment, all 13 tracks on ARIRANG entered the Hot 100 chart, with the exception of "No. 29," which is a bell interlude. Furthermore, on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, BTS became the first act to claim the entire top 10 and even the top 13 positions, underscoring their global influence and the universal appeal of their music.

Behind this monumental comeback stands Bang Si-Hyuk, known as Chairman Bang, the founder and chairman of HYBE. He was the visionary who formed BTS 13 years ago, personally overseeing their debut and continuously playing a crucial role in the groups creative direction  from songwriting and production to marketing and social media strategy.

His bond with the group remains strong even after seven albums. Throughout the members mandatory military service in Korea, Chairman Bang maintained close contact, regularly meeting with each member and nurturing discussions about what their comeback album should represent for Korea's most iconic group.

"For me personally, it was a project I poured over a year and a half of my life and energy into," Chairman Bang stated, revealing that work on ARIRANG began half-way through the members' military service at their encouragement. He described the pressure involved in working with BTS as "immense."

"Carrying that trust from the members, I took on the role of producer - but in truth, this kind of work comes with a level of pressure that's just as heavy for the producer as it is for the artists. Music, at its core, should be grounded in authenticity and artistry, and I believe that results are not the goal, but rather something that naturally follows. At the same time, as someone working in the popular music industry, it's realistically never easy to stay completely detached from performance metrics, which ultimately reflect how the public responds."

Two weeks following the release of ARIRANG, the album's unique blend of pop, hip-hop, and boldly Korean musical elements has resonated worldwide while deepening BTS' connection to their homeland.

In his first media interview since the album's release, Chairman Bang opened up about his role as chief producer, the extensive journey leading to the group's return, the creative process of crafting new songs and choreography, and the profound, deliberate meaning infused in the album's music.

Planning a comeback after nearly four years was no small feat. Chairman Bang explained that while the members served in the military, HYBE continued preparations that could be handled on the company side. Since active participation in album production was impossible during that period, efforts focused on sourcing songs and shaping the overarching creative and brand vision.

On a personal note, Chairman Bang made it a priority to meet each member individually during their military leaves. These meetings allowed for candid conversations about how the members felt and how their perspectives evolved during this time.

The foundation for the albums musical identity was laid during pre-song camps held in the United States before the members were discharged. Early in 2025, Diplo was chosen as the lead producer to oversee the on-site creative process. Two pre-song camps took place in Los Angeles during April and May, where approximately 100 prototype tracks were developed.

After all members had completed their military service in July, a private monitoring room was set up at a pension in Gyeonggi Province. There, a full-day workshop was held to listen to the numerous prototype tracks from the camps. The group engaged in deep discussions about what BTS could, should, and uniquely would do moving forward.

The albums identity became clear: it had to represent a bold new chapter rather than an extension of the past. Chairman Bang framed it as a journey to answer the question: "If the BTS that released their debut album 2 Cool 4 Skool had grown with that same identity  without genre shifts or outward expansions over 13 years  what music would they create to lead today's era?"

With a clear vision, the full-scale song camp commenced in Los Angeles with the members in July. The decision to head to the U.S. immediately was deliberate to provide an environment where the members could fully focus on music. Despite having personal plans for rest after military service, when Chairman Bang sincerely asked, all members agreed without hesitation, canceled their schedules, and flew to the U.S. together.

This commitment speaks volumes about their love for music and the essence of who they are as BTS. Military service is no easy experience, and the choice to prioritize music reflects their dedication and unity.

The first two weeks of the camp were intentionally free of strict guidelines. Chairman Bang emphasized the importance of allowing creative ideas to take shape naturally before narrowing the direction. Following this period, the team sifted through the material to identify what worked and to establish more concrete directions, eventually shaping what started as a vague vision into 200 to 300 fully realized pieces of music.

The scale and energy of the song camp itself attracted attention within the U.S. music industry. From legendary producers to emerging talents, a diverse range of creators with unique musical identities aligned with the BTS 2.0 vision participated. One veteran producer remarked, "I haven't seen a songwriter camp of this mammoth scale since the 2000s."

Such large-scale camps have become rare in the U.S., and many producers were eager to join BTS' comeback effort. Even some well-known producers who were not invited reached out directly to Chairman Bang and HYBE staff, expressing interest in participating.

When Chairman Bang reunited with the members after their discharge, the feeling was one of familiarity and closeness, as if no time had passed. This reunion sparked renewed energy and determination to create music that reflects not only their growth but the unique identity of BTS today.

In summary, the creation of ARIRANG was a deeply personal and professional endeavor for Chairman Bang and BTS. The album's success on global charts underlines the power of their collaboration and the group's ongoing evolution, rooted in authenticity, artistry, and an unwavering connection to their fans and culture.
Robert Pattinson mixes cocktails & charisma. Watch the actor craft a Dark 'n' Stormy, an Old Fashioned, and a Twilight-inspired michelada.

AceShowbiz - Robert Pattinson steps into the role of mixologist in a fresh and captivating feature that blends his cinematic journey with his personal tastes.

Robert Pattinson kicks off the session by expertly preparing a Dark n Stormy. With ingredients like lime juice, ginger syrup, rum, and soda water, the drink sets a fittingly moody tone. The actors lighthearted quip about the cocktails hypothetical bar price adds a charming layer of personality to the mixology debut.

Following that, Robert Pattinson crafts an Old Fashioned. This classic cocktail, often dubbed the granddaddy of drinks, mirrors the dark sophistication and complexity of his roles.

Not content to stick solely to classics, Robert Pattinson then ventures into new territory with a Twilight-inspired michelada. This cocktail, rimmed with Tajin spice, is Pattinsons first attempt at the Mexican beer-based drink but executed with finesse. The michelada draws directly from his personal experience, inspired by memories of sipping one during a road trip through Texas, adding a nostalgic touch to the mix.

The segment masterfully combines Robert Pattinsons flair for performance with a sincere love of film culture and mixology. It frames him not just as a star but as a cinephile who enjoys curating experiences that celebrate storytelling through taste and texture.

Filmed on location at a stylish Sunset Boulevard venue, the feature is a collaboration of talented creatives who bring out the best in Pattinsons candid and engaging presence. It showcases his ability to blend humor, craft, and insight in a format thats both entertaining and revealing.
Chinese premier calls for expanding China-Australia trade for win-win cooperation

Xinhua) 08:30, April 08, 2026

BEIJING, April 7 (Xinhua) -- China's vast market will remain open to the world, and China is willing to import more high-quality products from Australia, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Tuesday.

In a phone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Li also said that China stands ready to work with Australia to expand and upgrade bilateral trade, support enterprises of both countries in conducting cooperation based on market principles, and promote mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

Amid the current complex and volatile international situation, with the global economy continuously affected by geopolitical turbulence and protectionism, China and Australia, as important cooperative partners, should steer their bilateral relations in the right direction, strive to foster and maintain a positive atmosphere, and consolidate the positive momentum in bilateral relations and cooperation, Li said.

China is ready to work with Australia to follow through on the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Albanese last year, maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen communication and coordination, consolidate mutual political trust, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, inject momentum into the development of the two countries and provide more stability for the region and the world at large, he said.

Li noted that China-Australia economic and trade cooperation has strong internal momentum and still holds great potential in the long run. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will adhere to expanding domestic demand as a strategic priority, vigorously boost consumption, promote a marked increase in the household consumption rate, and continuously unleash market demand, he said.

Both sides should accelerate the review and upgrade discussions of the bilateral free trade agreement to provide stronger institutional support for cooperation, Li said.

There is great potential for China-Australia green cooperation, and China is willing to leverage complementary advantages with Australia to deepen cooperation in such areas as clean energy, electric vehicles, energy storage and carbon reduction, jointly building stronger momentum for the development of the green economy, he added.

For his part, Albanese said the Australian government has always been committed to developing a stable, mature and constructive relationship with China. Under the current international circumstances, the steady development of Australia-China relations is particularly important, he said.

Australia has long adhered to the one-China policy and is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, expand cooperation in trade, investment, mining, clean energy and people-to-people exchanges, properly manage differences in the spirit of mutual respect, and advance the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

Albanese said he looks forward to visiting China to attend the 2026 APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. Australia is willing to enhance multilateral communication and coordination with China to address global challenges and promote world peace, stability and development, he added.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Exiger Cyber Use Case & Pitch Reach U.S. Government Customers

WASHINGTON, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Exiger, the market-leading supply chain AI company and largest provider of supply chain technology to the U.S. Government, announced today that it has achieved "Awardable" status through the Platform One (P1) Solutions Marketplace. Department of War (DoW) and other U.S. Government customers can now review use cases and solution features for Exiger Cyber on the digital marketplace.

AI is drastically accelerating how fast organizations write code and produce software. Exiger's AI-native technology can modernize DoWs efforts to secure their mission-critical software supply chains.

The P1 Solutions Marketplace is a digital repository of post-competition, readily awardable pitch videos, that address the U.S. Government's greatest requirements in hardware, software, and service solutions. Exiger supports P1 areas of focus, including DevSecOps engineering, cybersecurity, pipeline platform integration, identity and supply chain risk management.

Exiger Cyber provides continuous, automated software supply chain security at scale. Using graph analytics, machine learning, and rule-based risk assessments, it connects suppliers, software components, vulnerabilities, and geopolitical risk into a single operational risk picture delivered through dashboards and APIs for DevSecOps integration.

"AI is drastically accelerating how fast organizations write code and produce software. Obviously that's a win, but AI is also accelerating the blind use of high-risk software components and creating an urgent need for more transparency," said Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels. "Exiger Cyber meets this moment with the deep, continuous software analysis and compliance monitoring that traditional approaches can't provide. Our AI-native technology can modernize DoW's efforts to secure their mission-critical software supply chains."

Exiger's video, accessible only by government customers on the P1 Solutions Marketplace, details the immediate operational impact Exiger Cyber can deliver to the DoW, including accelerating ATO and re-authorization cycles, speeding risk assessment from weeks to minutes, exposing leading risk indicators, empowering faster decisions, and improving mission assurance. Harnessing proprietary data and agentic AI, Exiger's solutions transform supply chain management into a highly strategic advantage. Exiger's AI is deployed across the U.S. Government, including recent contract wins with the U.S. Army and Customs and Border Protection to advance trade enforcement and accelerate defense readiness.

Exiger was recognized among a competitive field of applicants to the P1 Solutions Marketplace whose solutions demonstrated innovation, scalability, and potential impact on DoW missions. Government customers with a P1 Solutions Marketplace account can view the video at https://acqbot.mil/marketplaces/36da839d-0b76-47af-bffa-ad5c70ec3cc0/a7a0fe56-45a4-4090-9b1f-0e38e9c4d96b.

U.S. Government customers can create a P1 Solutions Marketplace account at https://p1.dso.mil/marketplace.

About the P1 Solutions Marketplace

The P1 Solutions Marketplace is a digital repository of post-competition, readily awardable pitch videos that address the Department of War's (DoW) most significant challenges in hardware, software, and service solutions. All awardable solutions have been assessed through complex scoring rubrics and competitive procedures and are available to Government Customers with a Marketplace account. Government customers can create an account at https://p1.dso.mil/marketplace.

About Exiger

Exiger transforms supply chain management from a complex challenge into a strategic advantagedriving savings and operational excellence in today's volatile market. Exiger's single, intuitive 1Exiger platform provides instant visibility into vast supplier ecosystems through a single pane of glass. Leveraging proprietary data and advanced agentic AI, 1Exiger proactively surfaces risks, automates compliance, accelerates procurement, and reveals opportunities to gain efficiencies and reduce costs to strengthen long-term resilience. With a mission to make the world a safe and transparent place to succeed, Exiger empowers 550+ global customers, including 150 Fortune 500 and 60+ government and Defense Industrial Base organizations, with supply chain AI. Exiger is FedRAMP authorized and the largest provider of supply chain technology to the U.S. Federal Government. Named a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Supplier Risk Management, twice selected as one of Fast Company's 'Brands That Matter,' and recipient of the Third Party Risk Association's Innovator Award, Exiger's technology has been recognized by leading analyst evaluations and 50+ awards. Learn more at Exiger.com and follow Exiger on LinkedIn.

For more information, please contact:

Kody Gurfein

Chief Marketing Officer

1.914.393.0398

SOURCE Exiger
Age of Attraction Season 2 is coming. Singles connect without knowing ages. Can love overcome the gap? Hosted by Nick Viall & Natalie Joy.

AceShowbiz - Netflix has officially renewed the reality dating series Age of Attraction for a second season, the streaming platform announced on Tuesday. Hosted by Nick Viall, known from The Bachelor, and his wife Natalie Joy, the show explores romantic relationships where age is initially kept a secret. The couple themselves have an 18-year age difference.

The premise of Age of Attraction involves singles meeting and forming connections at a nature retreat without knowing each others ages. Only after couples decide to move in together do they reveal their actual ages, testing whether love can truly overcome differences in life stages and perspectives.

Executive producers Jennifer OConnell and Rebecca Quinn shared their enthusiasm for the series, highlighting its captivating and unpredictable nature. They described the show as messy and real, qualities that have resonated strongly with viewers. Their statement also expressed gratitude to Netflix for supporting such an unconventional dating experiment and excitement for expanding the concept in Season 2.

The first season tracked six couples with age gaps from 15 to 33 years. The March 25 finale featured five couples remaining, with four choosing to continue their relationships despite the age differences. One couple decided their gap was too significant and parted ways.

The renewal confirms Netflixs commitment to exploring love and connection beyond traditional boundaries.
Discover Aunt Lydia's return and the fates of June's daughters in The Testaments, the explosive sequel series to The Handmaid's Tale.

AceShowbiz - The Testaments unfolds approximately four years after the conclusion of The Handmaid's Tale, yet it features appearances by some familiar characters that bridge the two stories. One of the most pivotal returning characters is Aunt Lydia, portrayed by Ann Dowd, who remains in Gilead and now oversees a preparatory school attended by the Plums before they are married off to Commanders.

The three-episode premiere of The Testaments also includes a significant cameo that has drawn attention and questions. The first episode introduces two main characters: Agnes MacKenzie, played by Chase Infiniti, who is later revealed to be Hannah  the daughter of June Osborne and Luke Bankole, taken from them years before by the regime of Gilead. Alongside Agnes is Daisy, a newcomer played by Lucy Halliday, who arrives from Canada seeking spiritual transformation.

At the end of Episode 1, viewers see a flashback to Daisy's life in Toronto, where she is secretly observed by none other than Elisabeth Moss reprising her role as June Osborne. This return is fully explained in Episode 3. After the shop owned by Daisys parents is attacked by Gilead operatives, June emerges and reveals that Daisy was rescued from Gilead as a child  an act that angered the regime. Junes involvement with Mayday, the resistance network, is monitoring Daisys movements, which sets Daisy on a path back to Gilead.

Showrunner Bruce Miller spoke with The Hollywood Reporter to clarify the creative choices behind bringing June back into the series. He emphasized that June's story was left with unresolved elements by the end of The Handmaids Tale. Miller explained, From the beginning, I felt like June would end The Handmaids Tale with certain business unfinished, so if you were going to tap back into Gilead, you would want to know what June was doing.

Miller added that Junes continued actions outside Gilead were also reflected in the source material of The Testaments novel, though June herself is not seen in the book. He remarked, June would always be in this show. Its a show about her daughter, and she certainly would be very curious about what happened and would be as influent in that life as she could be. It made sense.

Moreover, Miller praised Elisabeth Moss as a creative partner, noting her significant contributions to the original show. Moss is also an executive producer on The Testaments, making her involvement a natural fit. Miller said, She was absolutely spectacular. The chance to bring her back in this role came from the fact that she came back in all her other roles. Shes an executive producer on this show. Shes our creative partner. It really did feel like if we had the opportunity, we could bring June into the show in a very natural way.

With June Osborne back in the narrative, questions arise about the extent of her involvement. Junes influence is critical since the story revolves around her daughter and takes place after her rebellion against Gilead. However, Miller clarified that while June is an important presence, the spotlight remains on Agnes and Daisy. He explained the logistical challenges of working with Mosss busy schedule and balancing what the story requires with practical considerations.

Miller stated, It is always a balance of the very, very quotidian practical and the very, very heavy artistic. So what I tried to do is stay in the, Lets figure out a good story for June. Whats she going to be doing in these episodes? And then I just try to be flexible because Elisabeth Moss schedule is very full. He added that filming requires Moss to be physically present, which shaped how many episodes her character could appear in and how the storylines were constructed.

The showrunner emphasized the importance of making Junes scenes feel particularly epic despite the limited screen time. So far, the series has managed to balance Junes presence effectively, integrating her into the world and ongoing battle against Gilead. Her continued work with the resistance group Mayday after the events of The Handmaids Tale finale feels consistent with the established narrative.

Interestingly, The Testaments hints that June may still be unknowingly connected to Daisys journey, as Daisy is sent to the same place where her daughter and Aunt Lydia reside. There is also ambiguity regarding the relationship between June and Aunt Lydia since the fall of Boston. Miller commented on their dynamic, saying, I dont know that theyve seen each other since, but they know theyre out there somewhere. June knows at the end of this message train is Lydia, and Lydia knows somewhere at the end of this message train is June.

He further elaborated, I think theyve had enough experience together to modulate how theyre going to trust each other, and its interesting to watch. You can see it from a distance, how Lydia feels a certain way watching over Junes daughter. You feel that shes been watching her since the beginning. Its one of the first things she says, Ive been watching you for such a long time. And Agnes is like, Oh, crap.

While the full implications of these relationships and alliances are yet to be revealed, the inclusion of June Osborne played by Elisabeth Moss significantly raises the stakes for The Testaments. It firmly anchors the series within the universe of The Handmaids Tale while allowing the new narrative to establish its own identity and direction.

The presence of June also provides a clear overarching goal for the series: the potential reunion of June and her daughter Hannah/Agnes. This theme was central to Junes story in The Handmaids Tale, and The Testaments offers viewers a chance to explore the other side of that story through Agness perspective. Junes influence looms large, even from a distance, enriching the new series emotional and narrative depth.

New episodes of The Testaments are released weekly on Hulu every Wednesday, inviting viewers to follow this evolving story and witness how the characters destinies intertwine in a world still shaped by the shadow of Gilead.

Fans and critics alike are encouraged to share their thoughts and join the discussion in the ComicBook Forum, where conversations about the shows developments continue to thrive.
Belgian Court Backs Mehul Choksi's Extradition to India on 6 Charges 2

The Antwerp Court of Appeal has advised the Belgian government to approve the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi to India on six of the seven charges against him, marking a significant development in the long-running Punjab National Bank fraud case.

In its April 3 recommendation, the courts chamber of accusation stated that offences including criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, fraud, forgery of accounts, embezzlement, and criminal misconduct are punishable under Belgian law, thereby meeting the requirement of legal reciprocity for extradition.

However, the court declined to support extradition on the charge of tampering or destroying evidence, noting that the offence is not punishable under Belgian law.

As per Belgian procedure, the courts confidential advice has been forwarded to the government, which will take the final decision on Indias extradition request.

The court also observed that there was no direct evidence linking the Indian government to Choksis alleged abduction from Antigua and Barbuda in 2021. It added that claims made by the defence regarding risks of torture, denial of justice, or inhumane treatment were not sufficiently substantiated.

The bench further noted that the charges against Choksi are neither political nor military in nature and are not barred by statutory limitations under either Indian or Belgian law. It also found no indication that he would face discrimination or unfair prosecution in India.

The ruling comes after Belgiums Court of Cassation had earlier rejected Choksis appeal against extradition in connection with the 13,000 crore Punjab National Bank scam.

India had formally submitted its extradition request in August 2024, backed by arrest warrants issued by a Mumbai court. Belgian authorities had subsequently validated the enforceability of these warrants, except for the charge related to destruction of evidence.

The court reiterated that Choksi had failed to provide credible proof of a real risk of torture or denial of a fair trial if extradited, while also taking note of assurances given by India regarding his safety, prison conditions, and legal rights.

With the legal process largely cleared, the final decision now lies with the Belgian government, which will determine whether Choksi is extradited to face trial in India.
Indore Court Grants Divorce to Narayan Sais Wife, Orders Rs 2 Crore Alimony 2

An Indore family court has granted divorce to the wife of jailed rape convict Narayan Sai, directing him to pay 2 crore as permanent alimony within three months, her lawyer said.

Narayan Sai, the son of self-styled godman Asaram, is currently serving a life sentence in a rape case and is lodged in a jail in Gujarats Surat district.

According to advocate Anuragchandra Goyal, the courts order dated April 2 formally dissolved the couples 18-year marriage. His client, Janaki Harpalani, had filed for divorce in 2018, alleging mental cruelty and other grounds, and had sought 5 crore as maintenance.

Goyal said that despite Narayan Sai contesting the allegations, the petitioner presented substantial documentary evidence in support of her claims during the proceedings.

After hearing both sides, the court accepted the petition and directed Narayan Sai to pay 2 crore as permanent maintenance to Janaki within three months, the lawyer said.

The couple married in 2008 and have no children. During earlier hearings, Narayan Sai was produced before the family court under heavy security to record his statement.

The court had previously ordered him in 2018 to pay a monthly maintenance of 50,000. However, the petitioners lawyer stated that no payments were made over the past eight years.

The ruling brings closure to a long-pending legal dispute, while also enforcing a significant financial settlement in favour of the petitioner.
Mamata Banerjee Files Nomination from Bhabanipur, Proposers Highlight Constituencys Diversity 2

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday filed her nomination papers from the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata, with her list of proposers reflecting the areas diverse and cosmopolitan character.

The proposers named in her nomination include Ismat Hakim, wife of Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, representing the Muslim community; Nishpal Singh Rane, husband of actor and Trinamool Congress MP Koel Mallick, representing the Punjabi community; local TMC leader Bablu Singh, representing Biharis; and Bhabanipur Education Society representative Miraj Shah, representing Gujaratis.

Banerjee began her day from her residence on Harish Chatterjee Street and led a roadshow to the Alipore Survey Building, where she submitted her nomination. She was accompanied by senior party leaders, including Firhad Hakim, her family members, and local representatives, as thousands of supporters gathered along the route.

Speaking to the media after filing her nomination, Banerjee expressed deep emotional ties with the constituency. My entire life has revolved around Bhabanipur. I have lived here since childhood and will continue to stay here. I bow to the people of Bhabanipur, she said.

Police deployed security measures and barricaded parts of the route to manage the large crowd during the procession.

The Bhabanipur contest is expected to be closely watched, with Banerjee facing Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who is also contesting from his stronghold Nandigram in East Midnapore district.

In the 2021 Assembly elections, Adhikari had defeated Banerjee in Nandigram by a narrow margin of less than 2,000 votes. Banerjee later secured victory in a by-election from Bhabanipur, enabling her to continue as Chief Minister for a third consecutive term.
Over the last couple of days, weve been hearing that, once the Dems take the midterms, theyll immediately start preparations to try Donald Trump for war crimes in Iran. The loudest voice here  as is usually the case  is James Carville (actually, what he said was more like We gone git that-theah Donal Trump for woah crimes roun heah.), but he hasnt been alone.

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Is there any truth to this? What theyre referring to, it seems, is President Trumps announcement that he intends to target infrastructure, particularly power generation and bridges, in the next round of air strikes if the Iranian government refuses to come to terms.

On the face of it, theres nothing to this. Both power stations and transportation infrastructure are legitimate targets of war and always have been. Both  along with most other infrastructure targets  are used by belligerents to carry out military actions. Energy generation is obviously useful in powering military equipment and installations. Roads and bridges are used to transport supplies and shift military forces. Which, ipso facto, makes them legitimate targets. That theyre also used for civilian purposes doesnt change things. (There has, interestingly enough, been a lot of thought put into this question of interwoven purposes and usage by legal and military scholars. The principle here is called "double effect," referring to the fact that some militarily beneficial actions could also harm innocent third parties. The conclusion has been that if an asset is crucial to military action and is not mainly used for civilian purposes, its a target. You can drop a bridge. You cannot, ethically, bomb a hospital full of civilians just because it has a couple dozen enemy wounded inside.)

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The U.S. has never been a war-crime nation, that is, a nation that commits war crimes as a matter of policy, like Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union. The occasional war crimes committed by the United States tend to be borderline incidents dictated by circumstance. These would arguably include the Feb. 15, 1944 bombing of the Benedictine abbey at Monte Cassino at the orders of the incompetent Gen. Mark Clark (the only general in history to be sued by his own men), and the incendiary bombing campaign against Japan in the closing months of WW II.

The Cassino abbey was struck after a months-long campaign in which Allied forces were stalled at the foot of the mountain. The frustrated Clark ordered the raid as something of a last-ditch effort. While it destroyed the 6th-century abbey  one of the glories of western civilization  it completely failed to drive out the Germans. (In a bitter irony, the dull-witted Clark had been presented with a solution to his tactical dilemma by French general Alphonse Juin, who suggested using French Moroccan mountain troops to attack German positions from the rear. After the failed raid, Juin was allowed to carry out his attack. It successfully enabled the Allies to take the mountain.)

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In Japan, Gen. Curtis LeMay was facing the utter failure of the U.S. bombing campaign, largely due to the successful decentralization of industry by the Japanese. So he turned to mass incendiary raids that, while they shattered industrial targets, also killed thousands of civilians. (LeMay, I might add, was not at all the ice-cold Iron Man depicted by many, even supporters such as Victor Davis Hanson. He was deeply troubled by the results of the raids, telling an aide, If we werent winning this war, wed all hang for war crimes. To his credit, LeMay prefaced the second run of raids in late spring with leaflet flights over Japanese cities, warning the inhabitants that the B-29s were coming and to get their families out while there was still time, thus saving thousands of lives.)

Egregious as they may have been, such actions simply do not match deliberate and willful atrocities such as the Holocaust and the mass slaughter of innocent Russians by the Nazis, or the ensuing revenge massacres by the Soviets at the end of the war -- not to mention the mass rape of nine million German women. Were not built that way. The U.S., after all, is the country that spent six decades and billions of dollars developing precision weapons that would prevent dilemmas like that of 1945 Japan from arising.

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There is another class of events that are sometimes errantly labeled as war crimes and pinned on the U.S. That is the collateral damage incident in which civilians are killed by accident. In December 1943, at the Italian port of Bari, the U.S. had stored a large amount of mustard gas  a lethal war gas  on shipboard to act as a deterrent against Nazi plans to use similar weapons against U.S. troops. A Luftwaffe air raid on Bari damaged the ship, spilling large amounts of the gas into the harbor, at which point a fortuitous German bomb blew up an ammunition ship docked nearby. The explosion sent massive waves of gas-laden water into Bari, killing thousands of civilians (the total is unknown even today). Ghastly as this was, it doesnt rank as a war crime by either side. The same can be said about the alleged school strike early in the Iran campaign, which, even if true (the passage of time with no solid evidence presented makes it look more and more like a propaganda effort aimed at U.S. media), is as much due to happenstance as anything.

So, no  nothing the U.S. has planned will result in a war crime. This despite the novel weaponry that some commentators (such as Mark Halperin) expect to see in action. Iran is attempting to set the stage for such accusations by placing human shields around their power plants, but international law is clear about this: the results of such actions are on them. (As it stands, the footage Ive seen shows the civilians gathered on the other side of a highway from the installations. The current run of U.S. precision weapons wouldnt so much as bend a hair on their heads.) The war crime outcry is simply another collaboration between Americas enemies, the media, and the Democrat Party. Dems being Dems  theres no news there.

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Image: Imperial War Museums
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The emergence of the Mass Deportation Coalition marks a turning point in the national debate over immigration policy.

It is not merely another advocacy group issuing abstract demands. It is a disciplined, expert-driven effort to translate a clear voter mandate into actionable policy. It was formed by immigration law specialists, former law enforcement officials, and aligned policy organizations.

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The coalition exists for one purpose: to ensure that the promise of large-scale deportations is not diluted, delayed, or quietly abandoned under political pressure.

From the outset, the coalition has understood something many in Washington prefer to ignore. Immigration control cannot stop at symbolic victories. Phase One, which focused on removing criminal aliens and national security threats, was necessary and effective. Yet it was never sufficient.

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The United States is dealing with a population of deportable illegal aliens estimated between 18 million and 20 million. That reality demands a Phase Two that is broader, systematic, and relentless in execution.

The coalitions March 30 playbook delivers exactly that.

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It lays out a concrete roadmap to achieve at least one million formal interior removals of illegals this year, while building the infrastructure for even larger numbers in the years that follow. This is not guesswork. It is a structured plan built on existing law, measurable benchmarks, and operational realism.

Critically, the plan centers on worksite enforcement and visa overstays, two areas long neglected despite being the primary drivers of illegal presence.

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The coalition correctly identifies employment as the central magnet for illegal immigration. Without eliminating that incentive, law enforcers will always be stymied. At the same time, visa overstays account for roughly 66 percent of recent illegal population growth, making them an unavoidable target for any serious policy.

The recommendations are extensive and practical.

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They include expanding detention capacity through partnerships with states and use of federal facilities. That entails modernizing employment verification systems, increasing penalties for noncompliance, and coordinating across key federal agencies. The goal is simple: remove the incentives that sustain illegal presence while dramatically increasing the consequences for violating immigration law.

This is not radicalism.

It is governance. It is the application of laws already on the books, particularly those within the Immigration and Nationality Act, which have too often been ignored or selectively enforced. The coalitions argument is straightforward: the true extremism lies in tolerating mass illegality indefinitely.

The Trump administration has already demonstrated that enforcement works. The results from its first year back in office are not theoretical. Nearly 3 million illegal aliens left the United States by Jan. 20, 2026. That figure includes approximately 2.2 million self-repatriations and more than 675,000 formal removals.

These outcomes were driven by a return to basic immigration law enforcement principles.

Catch-and-release was ended. Interior enforcement was expanded. Border security tightened dramatically. The results followed predictably. By December 2025, more than 2.5 million illegal aliens had departed, including more than 605,000 removals and 1.9 million self-deportations.

Even more striking, the country experienced net negative migration in 2025 for the first time in over 50 years. Estimates placed net migration between -10,000 and -295,000.

This is what immigration law enforcement looks like when it is taken seriously. It reduces inflows. It encourages voluntary departures. It restores order to a system that had been overwhelmed.

Yet early success creates a new challenge: complacency.

That is precisely what the Mass Deportation Coalition is working to prevent. Its playbook insists that momentum must not stall. Self-deportation only occurs at scale when credible law enforcement pressure exists. Remove that pressure, and the system reverts to dysfunction.

The political implications are just as clear as the policy ones. This is a midterm election year. The path to Republican victory does not run through a shrinking pool of undecided voters. It runs through the non-lefty base.

Polling data confirms this reality with precision.

A March 12 survey by McLaughlin & Associates found that 82 percent of 2024 Trump voters were more likely to support him because of his mass deportation pledge.

That is not passive approval. That is active motivation.

Even more telling, 74 percent of those voters said they would be more likely to support Republican congressional candidates if Trumps administration exceeds one million deportations in 2026.

This is the electoral key. Deliver results, and the base turns out. Fail to deliver, and enthusiasm collapses. The intensity of support is undeniable. Among Trump voters, 86.7 percent support exceeding historical deportation efforts.

This is not a marginal issue. It is central to the identity of the modern Republican coalition.

Importantly, support extends beyond the base. The same polling shows that 66.1 percent of likely 2026 voters support deporting migrants who entered illegally. Meanwhile, 58 percent support evicting all deportable aliens, not just violent criminals.

That is a national majority. It reflects a public that understands the innumerable, horrid consequences of illegal immigration. The lesson is unmistakable. Law enforcement is not politically perilous. It is politically astute.

Democrats, however, continue to obstruct, delay, and undermine enforcement efforts at every turn. Their opposition is not rooted in compassion. It is rooted in ideology and political calculation. They defend policies that have already produced real-world consequences: overwhelmed communities, distorted labor markets, and lethal breakdowns in the rule of law.

Their hypocrisy is glaring.

The same voices that demand strict law enforcement on climate issues suddenly embrace lawlessness when it comes to immigration. The same politicians who claim to represent working Americans support policies that harm those workers through unchecked labor competition. For starters.

This is not an abstract debate. It is a direct conflict between sovereignty and surrender.

The Mass Deportation Coalition offers a way forward grounded in clarity and competence. Its 21-point framework is not a wish list. It is an operational blueprint designed to scale enforcement to the level required by reality.

The Trump administration should take it with the utmost seriousness. Not as a political gesture, but as a governing necessity.

The stakes could not be higher.

They are about more than immigration policy. They are about whether the federal government is willing to enforce its own laws, for the sake of America remaining a first world superpower. They are about whether voter mandates mean anything once an election is over. If not, then history suggests that terrible, if not unspeakable, events are on the horizon.

Finally, in this midterm year, the stakes are about all-important voter turnout.

The Republican base, and especially the MAGA core, is not asking for rhetoric. It is demanding results. For these voters, among others, mass deportation is not only popular. It is held as a conviction, beyond partisan fads. It is necessary, so the GOP will prove itself worth supporting. It is politically decisive, so Republicans can keep control over Congress.

Like it or not, the path to victory in November runs straight through the minefields of immigration politics.

This is the election cycle that will define whether Americans still have a country they can recognize. Deliver on mass deportation, and the nation fully reclaims its sovereignty, its stability, its future. Fail, and the message is unmistakable: promises are empty, borders are optional, and decline is accepted.

The choice is stark, and history will not be forgiving of hesitation. At all.

Dr. Joseph Ford Cotto is the creator, host, and producer of News Sight, delivering sharp insights on the key events that shape our lives. He publishes Dr. Cotto's Digest, sharing how business and the economy really impact us all. During the 2024 presidential race, he developed the Five-Point Forecast, which accurately predicted Donald Trumps national victory and correctly called every swing state. Cotto holds a doctorate in business administration and is a Lean Six Sigma Certified Black Belt.

Image: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, via Picryl // public domain
The country has been on pins and needles in recent weeks, as the Supreme Court weighs a decision about birthright citizenship, which is a question that has persisted throughout every living Americans life, though it seems to me that it never should have been.

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First, lets consider the framers intent.

The Fourteenth Amendment is clearly directed toward ensuring that slaves born in America, whose forebears were of African origin, would be considered American citizens after the Civil War. We know this to be a fact because many American Indians were also born on American soil, though they were not considered American citizens when the Fourteenth Amendment was ratified.

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None of this is rocket science, and, to put it bluntly, the idea that a foreigner could smuggle herself inside these United States borders and birth a child to ensure that the child would be rewarded with American citizenship is about the stupidest thing anyone could have ever argued.

And yet, this stupid argument has been the supposed consensus for most living Americans lives.

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To be clear, there would have been little reward for American citizenship in any years prior to the twentieth century. There was no welfare state back then. There was nothing in the way of public education, certainly no federally subsidized health care, no government assistance of any kind.

But, more importantly, what binds us as Americans is not the soil on which we are born  what binds us is the ideals to which we subscribe.

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Our first and arguably greatest president explains this clearly.

Washingtons Farewell Address of 1796 (which was published rather than spoken), is among the most timelessly applicable and accessible pieces of early American writing. I would argue that the final two paragraphs stand out as a primary reason why this man, in his humility and refusal to become a king, is arguably the greatest American to have ever lived.

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It was later ceremoniously read by Congress in 1862 as a morale boost during the Civil War, and its not difficult to imagine why. Washingtons argument in the Address goes hand in glove with the argument for the preservation of the Union made by Lincoln. He clearly declares his desire that the Union and brotherly affection may be perpetual.

The name of American, Washington writes, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of patriotism more than any appellation derived from local discriminations.

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But the very next sentence clarifies the nature of the audience to whom Washington was speaking, whether they were from New York or Georgia:

With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together. The independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint councils and joint efforts  of common dangers, sufferings, and successes.

Then, that was true. But tell me, what do you have in common with Zohran Mamdani, for example? Hes a Ugandan-born communist Muslim who was just elected as mayor of New York City. And what do you have in common with the average New Yorker in New York City, for that matter, in which four in 10 denizens are foreign-born and roughly one in four cannot speak English?

The entire American experiment relies upon the notion that the people of this country might generally agree with the basic political principles asserted by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, documents which were written by and for the largely homogeneous society that Washington addresses.

Washington made an appeal to cohesion among the American people being reliant on the more substantive elements by which human beings identify  religion, manners, habits, and political principles. Notably, he did not appeal to race, sex, economic class, or any other such thing that modern Democrats insist that Americans use as the most fundamental societal identifiers today.

In his book, After America: Get Ready for Armageddon, Mark Steyn references Samuel Huntington and his thesis in The Clash of Civilizations. Huntingtons conclusions are less appealing for most, Steyn argues, because theyre less sedating for the multi-culturalist cult. He writes:

A man in a factory on the other side of the world may make parts for an electronic gizmo [NY Times columnist] Thomas Friedman plays with while waiting for the VIP lounge to call his flight, but that does not mean they share anything like the same worldview. It seems sad to have to point out something so obvious. Which, after all, is more central to a mans identity? The fact that he makes trinkets for Thomas Friedman? Or the fact that hes an Indonesian Muslim?*

Again, back to Mayor Mamdani in New York. He is a Ugandan-born communist Muslim. What is more central to his identity, after all? That he now calls himself an American, or that he is a Ugandan-born communist Muslim who seems to hate everything about this country?

Even more to the quick, if we look to preserve the bond that Washington and Lincoln dreamed would exist in the future among Americans, does it not make sense to stop importing unvetted people from countries that hate us, and particularly to stop importing unvetted millions who will exploit the taxpayer-funded welfare systems that Democrats have legislated into existence in the past 100 years?

Image: Karamccurdy, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 4.0 Deed
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night, Trump-appointed Judge David Joseph of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana ruled on a lawsuit brought by state Attorney General Liz Murrill against the Food and Drug Administration challenging the conditions under which the abortion drug mifepristone may be sold within Louisiana and the rest of the United States. While Judge Joseph held off granting Louisiana full relief while the FDA reviews the safety of the drug, he concluded that Louisiana has standing to sue and is likely to succeed in showing that the FDA's pre-2023 Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) on the abortion drug is unlawful.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a former Louisiana state legislator, reacted with the following statement:

"Even the court acknowledged the destruction caused by the FDA policy on chemical abortion. This decision reveals the truth about what is occurring: states are currently being irreparably harmed and undermined by the ongoing existence of dangerous abortion drug trafficking enabled by President Biden's FDA. As the court noted in its ruling, Louisiana has standing to bring this lawsuit because it has suffered harm from these Biden-era FDA rules.

"In deference to the executive branch, the court agreed to allow the FDA to complete the review it has promised, but the FDA has not even indicated whether this review has started to this day. The court has given the FDA no more than six months to report on its progress. The court's message seems to be 'we are watching!'

"As it said, 'the stay granted to FDA will not remain open-ended.' FDA has an obligation to act with all deliberate speed to review its past actions and complete a thorough analysis that addresses the deficiencies it has acknowledged. The parties and the American public deserve nothing less.

"In fact, the moms and unborn children of Louisiana deserve substantially morenamely, for the federal government to respect the laws of their state, Louisiana, which recognize the dignity of every person, whether born or unborn.

"The Court acknowledged the valid and legitimate interests that Louisiana has here, noting that if the FDA does not hold up its end of the bargain, 'the Court's analysis  and the weight accorded to [the] factors [on which it conducted its analysis] - will inevitably change.'

"Given the FDA actions under the current administration, we are not optimistic they will continue a timely and thorough review. We support the State of Louisiana appealing to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, as this is an urgent matter of life and death for women and children," Perkins concluded.

Family Research Council, along with renowned psychiatrist Dr. Martha Shuping, filed an amicus brief in the case, in support of Louisiana. In the brief, FRC and Dr. Shuping argued that the "FDA's action has enabled a flood of abortion drugs to be released into society without any in-person interaction between the pregnant woman and a medical professional. A single 'nonprofit asynchronous telemedicine service' mailed 118,338 abortion drug packs between July 2023 and September 2024. Yet FDA never considered the reality that many women will be coerced with these drugs if men, family members, and abusers can easily obtain them via remote means with no protection against coercion."

To read the amicus brief, please see: https://www.frc.org/get.cfm?i=LK26B29&f=LK26B29

SOURCE Family Research Council
On Easter evening 2026, President Trump endorsed British-born Fox News host Steve Hilton in the California Governors race.

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Seems strange to issue an endorsement so late on a holiday, yet here we are, and I am convinced that this endorsement was a bad move.

Big mistake, TrumpYUUUGE!

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Californians have been down this path before. In 2018, with Governor Jerry Brown termed out, Republicans had a (small) chance of taking the governors mansion. No incumbent, but the field wasnt necessarily wide open. Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom was the heir apparent, and an array of Democrats, including a former state superintendent of schools, the former mayor of Los Angeles (who is running again, by the way), and the state treasurer (hometown resident from Torrance, CA!) John Chiang, all took their shotand lost.

Two major Republicans ran, too: Assemblyman Travis Allen, who embraced the Trump-MAGA label, having defeated an Orange County establishment pick in 2012; and John Cox, a former Never Trumper who had lost every other race he ran for, a Cook County, Illinois native with lots of money.

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Trump endorsed Cox, a big disappointment to the MAGA faithful in California. One of the tuned-in consultants later explained to me: Trumps endorsement for the (more establishment) pick has nothing to do with the governors race. Its about the down ballot. This is about saving Republican congressional seats. This is about ensuring that Sacramento Democrats dont get the supermajority!

Well, Cox not only lost in 2018, but California Republicans lost seven congressional seats, including every seat in Orange County. On top of that, Democrats padded their state assembly margins with five more seats, plus two more GOP-to-Dem defections afterward. It was a bloodbath.

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Trumps endorsement didnt help at all. In fact, it made things worse. Hopeless was the common phrase describing California politics, bandied about by Republican die-hard activists across the state. Over time, Republicans have inched back here and there, but the demographics still have not turned in our favor.

Eight years later, we face deja vu all over again. But we have a different voting public, one that has suffered under a San Francisco Democrat supermajority.

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This time, after eight years of Gavin Newsomhigher taxes, higher crime, more corruption, COVID lockdowns, wokeness on steroidsCalifornia voters are getting tired of the progressive tyranny masquerading as we know whats best for you.

This time around, too, the battle for governor is wide open, and even better, the Democrats dont have an heir apparent. The Lieutenant Governor, Elena Kounalakis, dropped out after polling in the piddling single digits for the first six months of her abortive campaign. Lots of money from her well-connected rags-to-riches immigrant family, plus her statewide office incumbency, and she still couldnt break through a packed field of liberals.

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Unlike last time, Californias primary system, very different from the rest of the country, is working to Republicans advantage. Its a top-two jungle primary, in which any two candidates, regardless of party, can take the Number One and Number Two spots to compete against each other for the general election. Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger foisted this reform on us in 2008, and the people of Cah-Li-FOR-nia voted for it (including myself, I admit).

In the last twenty years, we have seen some races with two Republicans making it into the Top Two spots in otherwise liberal districts. Congressional District 31 in 2012 comes to mind, in which incumbent Gary Miller faced a lesser-known Republican, even though the district went for Obama by 15 points that same year.

Sadly, we have also seen two Democrats squeeze out Republicans. The U.S. Senate races in 2016 and 2018 forced us to choose between Dumb and Dumber (Kamala Harris v. Loretta Sanchez) and Worse and Much Worse (Dianne Feinstein v. La Raza-aligned Kevin De Leon).

Fast forward to today, and poll after poll keeps showing two Republicans in the Top Two spots for the general election race for governor: recently Trump-endorsed Steve Hilton, of course, and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco. Those polling results have remained consistent, by the way. With billionaire buffoon Tom Steyer squandering millions to buffer his irrelevance, and Congressman Eric Swalwell batting away one scandal after another (he doesnt show up to work, he makes tacky TikTok videos, hes not actually a California resident, he slept with a Chinese spy, hes about to face serious sexual assault allegations, etc.), the overloaded Democrat field is fraying over its embarrassment of progressive riches.

Two Republicans in a battle royale for the governors mansion: whats not to like?

Trump should have kept his social media mouth shut and let the Republican grassroots duke it out for their best man.

Sheriff Bianco has been working the county GOP central committees across the state. He has been endorsed in uber-liberal Marin County, while scoring support from the more conservative Shasta County and moderate San Luis Obispo County central committees. He even received the enthusiastic support of the California Republican Assembly (the conservative conscience of the Republican Party), with 71% of the delegates endorsing him.

Hilton has broad support from Trump-affiliated activists, including Angel Moms like Agnes Gibboney and Angie Morfin, both of whom have national profiles, and I am blessed to call them friends. He also has connections with current cabinet members in the Trump administration. He certainly enjoys a national profile, which has attracted broad support from social media influencers, pundits, and podcasters.

For the record, I am supporting Sheriff Bianco, but I would vote for Hilton in a heartbeat if hes the one and only GOP nominee after the June primary.

Based on the California dynamics and the past record of Trumps endorsements in blue states, Hiltons chances dont look that good on their own. He has the Trump seal of approval, which could all but doom him in a general election against a Democrat. I have been wrong before, and perhaps the two-to-one Democrat voting electorate will give him a chance.

Hilton has more socially liberal views. He has avoided talking about gun rights and has assembled a powerful slate of statewide candidates for other constitutional offices, including former Democrat state Senate majority leader Gloria Romero and Huntington Beach city attorney Michael Gates.

Bianco has the record, though, having been elected twice to countywide office in a blue county. He stood up to Governor Newsoms COVID-19 protocols, setting an example to the rest of the country, and he established a one-stop shop for concealed carry weapons permits, turning Riverside County into a shall-issue county, while the rest of the states sheriffs refused to issue licenses to applicants unless they wanted to.

There is a stark contrast here, and the factions within the CAGOP are deep. Hilton was losing the endorsement battle, but has he won the war? Perhaps. Then again, Bianco didnt miss a beat, announcing that the President has made his choice, but the final decision must rest with voters.

I still think we can see two Republicans in the Top Two. Should my wish come true, I anticipate that Bianco will win, since hes the Republican that Trump did not endorse. With the Trump endorsement, Democratic and Independent voters will turn on Hilton and choose Bianco as the more tolerable choice in November.

This essay has been edited since publication to correct an error in the lat paragraph.

Image created using AI.
French President Emmanuel Macron is doing that peculiar French thing againacting tough while looking weak. He gave a speech last Friday at Yonsei University in Seoul during which he demanded that nations not become vassals of China or the United States. Macron wants South Korea to join Canada, Australia, and the European Union in forming what he calls a coalition of independence (because coalition of the willing was taken) united by shared love for international order, democracy, and wasting money on climate change.

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What a tool. I understand that the powers that be have so successfully co-opted the Wests political systems that they regularly install absolute nincompoops as nominal leaders (Biden, Starmer, Carney, Merz, and European Queen Ursula, just to name a few) and call it democracy, but Macron is such a doofus that his leadership is laughable.

Remember when the little Rothschild banker came to power a few months after President Trump had taken office and he couldnt stop talking about standing up to bullies? After putting on some high-heeled loafers and taking some lessons on masculinity from his former-schoolteacher-turned-much-older-wife, Macron insisted on turning a handshake with Trump into a death grip meant to showcase French power. In that effete style of speech that Gaulish-Roman aristocrats enjoy  in which words sound as if theyre dropping from lips suckling grapes and licking honey  le petit fromage told the world that his fierce handshake and determined stare were the perfect weapons for countering President Trump. Trump just laughed and patted the little French boy on the shoulder as one does to help the weak feel strong.

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Fast-forward a decade, and Macron hasnt learned a thing about being tough. He still prances around the world like a eunuch looking for long-lost cojones. He says he wants countries to resist the hegemonic powers of China and the United States by clinging to the rules-based international order. Okay. Good luck, tiny dancer.

Whats left of the international order without the two most powerful nations on the planet? The United States has assumed the responsibilities of the globes police chief since WWII. Through its naval fleet, it ensures the security of maritime trade. Through its economic clout, it ensures the stability of the international financial system. Through its military might, it decides which dictators get black-bagged in the middle of the night. As China continues its geopolitical ascent, its tentacles have stretched further into international organizations such as the United Nations World Health Organization and across continents with its Belt and Road Initiative. Mark Carney has spent his time as Canadas prime minister practically groveling at the feet of Chinas Xi Jinping and begging the communist dictator to save his wintry vassal state from the bad orange man down south.

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France, on the other hand, continues to be ejected from former African colonies whose peoples have grown tired of French meddling. The French military excels only at surrendering. And France remains distinct from Germany only because of the United States. When little Macron insists on restoring a French-led international order, he sounds a lot like little Napoleon, who insisted on being called emperor while imprisoned on Saint Helena.

As for urging all who hear his grating voice to unite in defense of democracy, thats a lark! Europe is where democracy goes to die. Every time non-Establishment political parties win the most votes in former nations (now just multicultural zones of Islamic conquest within the federation of European nothingness) such as France, Germany, and the Netherlands, the powers that be proudly block the winners from exercising any power.

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Europes political class shamelessly calls this the firewall against far-right political parties. Of course, if you believe that nations should have borders and that government powers should be limited, you are designated far-right. Just as Democrats bastardize language in the United States by calling everyone who cares about the Bill of Rights a fascist, the European Establishment labels anyone who believes in self-determination and personal liberty a Nazi sympathizer. Then they prosecute the members of those fake far-right parties for expressing opinions out loud.

Thats right! Europes little gang of dimwitted yet dangerous dictators  Macron, Starmer, Merz, and the ruling queen  insist on locking up the fascists for their speech in the name of democracy! When the firewall fails  as it did in Romania a little over a year ago  the European oligarchy simply cancels the election and insists on a rigged do-over (or outright overthrows the government as it did, with the help of the U.S. State Department and CIA, in Ukraine in 2014).

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When little European tyrants such as Macron stand on footstools, puff out their chests, and shriek about democracy, they have no intention of supporting the decisions of the people. What they mean is, lets form a European Commission of aristocrats, have them choose a ruling monarch, and call that a democratic election. Thats how the nations of Europe lost their sovereignty and why the people of Europe must now bow down to unelected Queen Ursula von der Leyen.

Even if mini-mouse Macrons calls for international order and democracy fail to rally a sufficient posse of vassal states willing to take on the United States and China, hell surely find ready volunteers who want to keep shooting their economies in the gonads over climate change, right? Who doesnt want to continue wasting taxpayer dollars on fighting the weather? While Russia, China, and the United States continue spending more on their militaries than ever before, the soft-headed leaders of Europe have been pretending to wage war against nature. Tilting at windmills was one of Cervantess best jokes in Don Quixote. The Europeans  having jettisoned their civilization for that of their Islamic invaders  no longer understand why pretending to fight imaginary monsters is funny!

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For decades, Europes quixotic leaders have spent their military budgets on wind and solar energy. In the name of fighting climate change, Europes brilliant tacticians severely limited hydrocarbon exploration, extraction, and processing. Germany ignored scientific reason after the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan and rid itself almost entirely of nuclear energy. First, Europes braintrust made the sub-continent dependent upon the Russian Federation for energy. Then, that same gaggle of Mensa geniuses sanctioned Russian energy in the name of Ukrainian democracy. Now Europe is largely dependent on the United States, Russia, and the Middle East for energy. Europes producers must spend more to make things. Europes consumers must pay more to buy things. Europes middle class keeps getting poorer. How many times can Europes moronic leaders cripple their economies before Europes peoples raid the museums for functioning guillotines?

If little-bitty Macron doesnt want France to be a vassal of China or the United States, he should strive to deregulate his nation, protect private property, incentivize innovation, grow the economy, and encourage self-sufficiency. Instead, France and the rest of Europe embrace bureaucratic rule-making, collective ownership, expansive welfare, centralized economic planning, and dependency upon U.S. military muscle. If you spend your countrys wealth on fighting bad weather and providing Islamic invaders free food and housing, dont complain when China and the United States refuse to take you seriously.

To be fair to Europes retarded governing class, were fighting similar idiotic policies being promoted by the fifth-column Democrat Party in America, too. The difference is that Americans are actively trying to right the ship, and, as President Trump continues to demonstrate, our military can still blow things up.

Reality is not kind to those who prefer handouts and fantasy to handwork and preparation. Because Europes leaders have hollowed out their economies and militaries for decades, they are in no position to influence the future. They will take what they get and be gratefulas all desperate vassals must.

Image via Picryl.
So it's not all shark's fin soup for Democrat congressional shoe-in candidate Ammar Campa-Najjar in Southern California these days.

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Far from having that election in the bag, what with the gerrymandering of the district and his heiress girlfriend, Rep. Sara Jacobs having plans for the two of them to become "the cutest couple" in Washington, his fellow Democrats are fighting like dogs for the congressional seat he's now after. Yesterday, I heard a television ad probably from von Wilpert or an ally condemning Campa-Najjar for not being leftwing enough, and a flip-flopper who can't be trusted.

According to CalMatters:

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With the district now up for grabs, Democratic support has been divided between two leading candidates: San Diego Councilmember Marni von Wilpert and Ammar Campa-Najjar, a former public affairs official for President Barack Obama. During the California Democratic Party convention in February, von Wilpert won more than half of delegates votes, but failed to meet the 60% threshold for an official party endorsement. Campa-Najjar, meanwhile, received 18%. Advertisement Both candidates have openly criticized one another over the course of their campaigns: Von Wilpert accused Campa-Najjar of being anti-LGBTQ for questioning whether she could win voters outside the gay-friendly Palm Springs, and Campa-Najjar accused von Wilpert of racism for questioning his name changes and residence.

Wilpert is another leftist who is famous for taking away people's cellphone grocery coupons as city councilmember. She'll think up lots of other things to take away from us if she's elected to the congressional seat. She's the woman with big thighs in the picture.

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And now she's got the Democrat party operatives more closely in her tree with that 50-plus vote over Campa-Najjar's 18%. So he's got problems, because when the Democrat campaign operatives make their choice, that's who gets rigged into winning.

Campa-Najjar, on the other hand, has pals in Washington, probably through Sara. Somehow, they've engineered a non-endorsement from the Democrats there.

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But the big problem for all the Democrats out there dogfighting away and calling each other names is on the Republican side. His name is San Diego Supervisor Jim Desmond.

According to CalMatters:

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While demonstrators at a No Kings rally last weekend were exultant to see [GOP Rep. Daryl Issa] leave the race, local Democratic organizers are more guarded. The Republican who took his place, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond, is a longtime local official with name recognition, fundraising connections and community relationships  without Issas close ties to President Donald Trump. If anything, Jim Desmond is a slightly better candidate than Darrell Issa in some regards, because he is not as closely affiliated with Trump, said Dan Rottenstreich, a spokesperson for Marni von Wilpert, one of two leading Democrats in the race.

He may not be closely affiliated, probably owing to Southern California's distant geography from the Trump circles, but for Republicans, he's perfectly aligned.

And politically, he's one of the only games in town, the rare diamond in the political class who stands up to leftists, stands up for Navy and Marine servicemembers, refuses to go along with the blue mafia's bat-brained tax hikes and eco-schemes, always reading them like a book. He's stood up to oppose the open border and the sanctuary city status that has wrought havoc in the county, as well as the NGOs and their trails of homelessness that feeds them. He is also the only political leader with serious focus on the Tijuana sewage crisis, the person who brought it to federal attention and got results.

He's a diamond. And he's been at it a long time, bringing the goods from Washington, creating a formidable campaign machine, and forming many community relationships, particularly among the only conservatives in the County, the largely Latino citizens of the beleaguered back boonies. How else would he survive politically in a sea of blue sludge, and still not compromise any of his principles?

That is a strong candidate. And now he's Campa-Najjar's and von Wilpert's problem, along with all the leftist pipsqueaks who are also in the running among the Democrats.

It's like Godzilla has appeared to save the 48th congressional district. Let's hope that amid all the mismanagement in the state, that a flip happens, and voters recognize Desmond for the strong candidate he is, kicking the dogfighters, including the grandson of a Black September terrorist mastermind rubbed out by the Mossad, to the curb.

Image: Picryl // public domain
After Iran shot down a US F-15E aircraft sometime during the night of April 3rd, rescue operations to recover the two F-15E airmen, who found themselves separated and deep in enemy territory, began.

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The successful operation represented, once againas demonstrated on January 3, 2026 with the extraction of drug dealer and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from the security of his own heavily-guarded compoundnot only the courage of those involved but the ability of our military to have its way under our enemies noses.

Interestingly, there was another level of complexity involved in the F-15E rescue operation that has largely gone unreported by the media, one our military could not ignore.

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The operation was not merely one between the US and Iran as to who would be first to locate the two crewmen; there was another potential searcher about whom we had to be worried, as Irans ally, Russia, was eager to do what it could to help Tehran and embarrass the US.

Since the wars outset, Russia had been quietly assisting the Iranians. It provided them with intelligence such as satellite imagery and surveillance data to locate potential U.S. targets. These included aircraft, warships, military bases, etc. While there is no direct evidence Russian intelligence assisted Iran in the search for U.S. crewmembers, it undoubtedly eagerly hoped for their capture by Iran, knowing it would create a major headache for the US.

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Unfortunately for the bad guys, they did not get much time to search for the F-15E pilot. He was located and rescued after only a seven-hour search involving two U.S. helicopters. And, his rescue was timely, evidenced by the fact one helo, while departing the rescue site with him onboard, took small arms fire, resulting in some of its own crew getting wounded. Meanwhile, the U.S. maintained radio silence about the status of the weapons officers recovery.

Satellite imagery would be invaluable in locating the weapons officer and, therefore, of great value to both the Iranians and Russians. While there was nothing the U.S. could do to disrupt the Russian satellites, action could be taken to deny Russian and Iranian intelligence personnel access to U.S. commercial satellite providers. Such imagery would enable the bad guys not only to search for the missing crewmember, but could enable them to track U.S. search-and-rescue efforts as well.

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A request was made to the provider, Planet Labs, to impose an indefinite blackout on their imagery. A quick suspension of the imagery was necessary as details about the pilots rescue had already been leaked, putting the rescue of the weapons officer at further risk.

The blackout not only included current imagery but implementation of a retroactive blackout back to March 9 as well. After the provider confirmed it was done, the high-risk rescue plan was put into action. More than twenty U.S. planes began flying low through hostile airspace, later followed by over 150 aircraft more that included fighters, bombers, tankers, rescue platforms and transports. Several of the planes took ground fire.

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Having an approximate idea that the weapons officerarmed with only a pistolwas hiding somewhere on a 7,000 foot high mountain ridge outside of Isfahan in central Iran, the U.S. activated several MQ-9 Reaper drones. They were programmed to fire at any Iranian units attempting to advance up the ridge. While the determined Iranians did manage to close within 1.8 miles of the weapons officer, they were eventually turned back by the intense fire released.

Using an encrypted radio to communicate with his rescuers, the weapons officer evaded the enemy, hiding in a cave and crevice at one point. Then, knowing the Iranians would hear the message, the CIA created a diversion by planting a false report, that the weapons officer had already been rescued and was on his way out of Iran. This allowed the rescue team the opportunity to sweep in and retrieve him. CIA intelligence technology allowed agency personnel to pinpoint the weapons officers exact hiding location.

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While the rescue team was undertaking its mission, several U.S. transport planes landed at an abandoned airport near the rescue site. Two of the aircraft apparently became stuck in the mud and had to be destroyed in place to avoid being captured by the Iranians. The remaining transport planes ferried the weapons officer and rescue teams out of the country.

It took almost 48 hours, but the weapons officer was safely rescued. Being shot down on Good Friday and rescued on Easter Sunday will make this a holiday he will never forget. His successful rescue without the loss of a single American life met the description given by President Donald Trump of an Easter Miracle.

Ill never forget this picture on each & every Easter Sunday  Rescued pic.twitter.com/ik2p3Sl3u3  JOHN BOLARIS (@JohnBolaris) April 5, 2026

Tehran claims the U.S. rescue mission of the downed F-15E crewmen was actually a cover for a completely different operationto access the Isfahan nuclear facilities to seize enriched uranium stored there. While anything Iran alleges must be taken with a grain of salt, in this instance the use by the U.S. of so many transport planes to rescue a single crewman would seem to give the claim some credibility. If so, it is ironic, in shooting down its first U.S. aircraft and having the crewmen eject near Isfahan, Iran enabled the U.S. an opportunity to conduct a two-for-one missionrescuing an airman while gathering intel on enriched uranium stores. Tehran further states that the uranium removal operation was unsuccessful.

But regardless of whether it was a single or double mission, the rescue operation placed numerous assets at risk, not only in terms of equipment but in terms of personnel as well. As such, it underscored an important aspect of military service. Those in uniform are often asked to put themselves at tremendous risk as national security takes priority over personal security. But it is imperative the warrior know, in doing so, should he become isolated and in danger of capture, every possible measure will be undertaken to ensure his personal security regains priority.

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We all know the expression lies, damn lies, and statistics. We also know about garbage in; garbage out. I kept thinking of those phrases when I read that an organization called Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), the gold standard for information about immigrants, deportations, and crime, quietly changed its methods when Trump returned to office. This was not an insignificant change. The result is that it looks as if Trump, rather than deporting criminal illegal aliens, is just engaged in racist deportation policies against immigrants.

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In 1989, Syracuse University began the TRAC program. Ostensibly (and Im getting this from Wikipedia), TRAC is nonpartisan. TRAC describes its purpose this way:

The purpose of TRAC is to provide the American people  and institutions of oversight such as Congress, news organizations, public interest groups, businesses, scholars, and lawyers  with comprehensive information about staffing, spending, and enforcement activities of the federal government. On a day-to-day basis, what are the agencies and prosecutors actually doing? Who are their employees and what are they paid? What do agency actions indicate about the priorities and practices of government? How do the activities of an agency or prosecutor in one community compare with those in a neighboring one or the nation as a whole? How have these activities changed over time? How does the record of one administration compare with the next? When the head of an agency or a district administrator changed, were there observable differences in actual enforcement priorities? When a new law was enacted or amended, what impact did it have on agency activities? Advertisement

Specifically on the subject of immigration, TRAC explains,

And still another area, TRAC-Immigration, deals in depth with how our nations immigration laws are enforced in administrative and criminal courts by a wide variety of agencies. Reports include records of individual judges. A reference library containing government immigration studies and a glossary are also maintained. Advertisement

You can see how TRAC specifically handles immigration reporting here.

Significantly, writes Wikipedia, Over the years, TRAC has been cited in hundreds of news articles. Because of its academic, nonpartisan bona fides, youre supposed to be able to trust TRAC.

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As for me, I distrust anything that comes out of academia today. When it comes to Syracuse, while there does not seem to be specific data on its faculty donations to political parties, anecdotal evidence suggests that the faculty is as left-leaning as the rest of American academia (except for Hillsdale and Liberty U). Seventeen years ago, an essay claimed that Liberal bias runs rampant at the Syracuse University campus, even in places you wouldnt expect.

Its doubtful that its gotten better in the Trump era. After all, its alumni include Joe Biden, Kathy Hochul, Donna Shalala, and Aaron Sorkin.

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Thats the background for this report from Just The News about TRACs subtle change to its analysis about criminal deportations:

The nations main independent database for tracking deportation statistics and which is widely cited by media outlets and fact-checkers appears to have recently shifted from tracking detainees with a criminal record to criminal convictions. Advertisement This new classification, which was also adopted by another standard immigration tracking database, provides figures widely cited by media and fact-checkers to suggest the Trump administration is detaining large numbers of illegal immigrants not suspected of breaking additional laws. Since President Donald Trump took office last year, the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, or TRAC, changed how it analyzed immigration enforcement data, to emphasize criminal convictions rather than criminal records, which can include arrests that never result in convictions.

The effect of this new approach to analysis is significant. It allows TRAC to insist that, of the more than 68,000 individuals in ICE custody, almost 74% have no criminal convictions. (All presumably are here illegally, which is a good enough reason to deport them.)

While the point about convictions is technically true, Just The News adds that, in addition to the 26% who already have criminal convictions, 26% have also been criminally charged. Of course, a charge is not the same as a conviction, but the fact that these people are entangled in our criminal justice system (often repeatedly) is significant, useful information.

Ill end as I began: Lies, damn lies, and statistics. And garbage in; garbage out. To be very clear, what TRAC is doing is neither criminal nor civil fraud. However, the way I see it, it is information manipulation to change public policy by affecting public perceptions. The pipeline from academia to media to political decision-making is utterly corrupt and intended to break America.

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Who remembers those wonderful days of yesteryear when nice teachers would let us watch game 7 of the World Series, or another rocket headed to space? It was cool because it was. So Im thrilled that we are going back to the moon via Artemis:

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After traveling deeper into space than any other humans, the Artemis II astronauts pointed their moonship toward home Monday night, wrapping up a lunar cruise that revealed views of the far side never beheld by eyes until now. Their flyby of the moon  NASAs first return since the Apollo era  even included some celestial sightseeing besides yielding rich science. It was a significant step toward landing boot prints near the moons south pole in just two years. Advertisement A total solar eclipse greeted the three Americans and one Canadian as the moon temporarily blocked the sun from their perspective. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Saturn nodded at them from the black void. The landing sites of Apollo 12 and 14 also were visible, poignant reminders of NASAs first age of exploration more than half a century ago.

Half a century ago is darn right. We have not done this since 1972. Wonder how many of us thought back then that wed have to wait 50 years. I didnt.

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What makes going back to the moon so cool is the sheer excitement of it all. There is something about a rocket going into space that takes you back to your favorite classroom, that pleasant teacher who made it all possible, listening to the countdown, the smoke, and then seeing that thing going into space. Its romantic if you know what I mean. The only bad thing was going back to algebra after so much fun.

I didnt know that Artemis broke Apollo 13s record: It went 252,756 miles from Earth before making that most classic of all u-turns back home. Wonder what Neil Armstrong thinks about that? Or Jim Lovell who participated in Apollo 8 and 13?

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All of these rockets remind me of my late parents. We sat there one Sunday evening watching Apollo 11, and I can still hear my mother saying to my father: Remember when we bought these comics at the corner store about rockets and space? Yes they had those in Cuba along with a lot more prosperity and freedom than they have now.

Put me down as a fan of going to space. Maybe I should have been an astronaut and written these posts from the cosmos. Ill just satisfy myself by sharing the moment with you.

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P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts, and videos.

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Image: Gregory H. Revera, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, unaltered.
It started during Trumps first term. NATO nations balked at increasing their defense budgets to at least 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), per the actual agreement. The U.S. defense budget floated in the 45% GDP range, and Trump believed Europe should pay its fair share for Europes defense.

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Europes craven leaders preferred to let the U.S. pay for their defense, with a disproportionate number of U.S. servicemen at risk. Their snarky socialist attitude about it is particularly irksome.

In early 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine  notably after Trump was out of office. Western European NATO nations were reluctant to help Ukraine, though the smaller economy Eastern NATO nations did make significant early weaponry and ammunition donations to Ukraine.

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Western Europes NATO nations eventually provided Ukraine with the funds to barely keep going. U.S. aid nearly matched Europes. But, most significantly, this aid provided limited weaponry, and deliberately no medium or longer range weapons to attack Russias infrastructure. Europes leaders, and U.S. Democrats, clearly feared Putins nuclear weapons. Years later the richest Western European nations, the UK, France, Germany and Italy, made some increases in defense budgets.

Trumps war to stop Iran from getting nuclear bombs and the missiles to carry them has Iran threatening 20% of the worlds petroleum passing through the Hormuz Strait. Europe and the rest of the world depend upon Persian Gulf oil.

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Some NATO nations have refused to let America use American airbases in Europe to launch attacks on Iran, with some of them closing their airspace to our combat aircraft. We gotta find a label for them other than allies.

Trump asked our supposed allies in Europe to commit military forces to keep the Hormuz Strait open. None of them made commitments. Their best offer was to provide help policing the Strait after Iran agreed to a ceasefire.

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So, Europes leaders effectively gave Irans mullahs leverage to only accept a ceasefire that protected their oil revenues, nuclear development projects, long-range missile projects, and, most importantly, Irans terroristic proxy campaigns against Israel and Persian Gulf nations.

That adds up to a humiliating defeat of Americas awesomely dominant military effort in Iran, which ultimately protects all of Western Civilization.

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To summarize:

Europes richest Western nations wanted America to defend them at Americas cost.

NATO expected America to defend them from Russia with our military.

NATO hindered our Iran operations.

NATO wont help keep the Hormuz Strait open until there is a ceasefire that keeps them out of harms way.

Frankly, Trumps language and pressure on NATO is far less harsh than NATO deserves.

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America having allies like NATO is a costly, damaging waste of American resources. We will be stronger without NATO.

Trump is totally justified in wanting to get America out of NATO. His oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the United States of America demands nothing less.

So, piss on European leaders who suck up to the Islamists who protect and spread terrorism. We can only hope the regime change epidemic hits yall really hard.

Texas Hughes: Born in WWII, Army Security Agency Morse Code Intercept, MBA (Statical Analysis), computer programmer, State Agency software/budget analyst, small business owner, operations research analyst on US Army combat & air defense equipment evaluation tests. MAGA loyalist. Been poor. Been well off.

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People everywhere  particularly the leftist media  are wringing their hands about Trumps latest threat to bomb Iran to smithereens. That isnt quite accurate  hes sworn to hit Irans power plants and bridges. Ive learned over the last couple of years to take Salena Zitos advice: You have to judge Trump by his actions, not his words.

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So where does that leave us?

Based on past experience, we actually have no way of knowing what Trump will do tonight, if anything. But Ive recognized that his past behavior has given some indications of what he might do  and that is quite reassuring. Heres how I see it:

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Hes told the Iranian people to stay under cover until the bombing is over. That tells me that he cares about them and doesnt want to leave the citizenry destitute. When hes assessed the regime representatives, however, all deals are off.

He has limited bombing of the civilian infrastructure. I suspect he intends to try to leave as much of the infrastructure in place as possible and focus on taking out those facilities that aid the regime and IRGC in their military efforts.

He didnt say he was going to bomb all the infrastructure. So far, the only bridge he has bombed is the largest bridge in Iran, used to transport military hardware.

He is trying to shame the European nations into taking some responsibility for protecting the Strait of Hormuz. So far Keir Starmer of the U.K. has insisted on negotiations, and Emmanuel Macron has had his feelings hurt because he wasnt invited early on to join offensive activities, but instead was asked to participate as an apparent afterthought (he thinks).

Rumblings have been coming from the other Middle Eastern countries that Iran has dragged into the conflict. States such as the UAE and Bahrain have been attacked by Iran, and they may be ready to join our side.

Trumps swearing at Iran for not reaching an agreement might just be for theatrical purposes. He probably wants to convince everyone that he is furious and determined to do serious damage to Iran  maybe even give the appearance of acting irrationally.

Trump is not acting alone. He has sophisticated and intelligent support from his military, which has proven its mastery in striking Iran and in rescuing the airmen who were shot down.

The point is that Trump intends to be unpredictable. He wants everyone  even U.S. citizens  to be on edge. He wants us to take this war seriously, and he wants us to know that he takes the war even more seriously.

Meanwhile, the Iran regime is probably frantic by now, wondering what will happen next.

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Maybe hell attack in the morning  or next Tuesday? Who knows?

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Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., called President Donald Trump an "unhinged lunatic" in a Monday post on X, and called for him to be thrown out of office via use of the 25th Amendment.

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Omar stated of Trumps profanity-laden Easter post threatening Iraq:

"This is not ok. Invoke the 25th amendment. Impeach. Remove. This unhinged lunatic must be removed from office. Advertisement

The far-left lawmaker posted those remarks while sharing a screenshot of the president's controversial Easter Sunday Truth Social post in which he threatened to target Iranian power plants and bridges and bomb Iran back into the Stone Age. Trumps Truth Social post also considerately advised whatever is left of Iranian leadership to:

Open the f*ckin Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in HellJUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. Advertisement

(Referring to the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the worlds oil normally flows, though not a significant amount of oil to America.)

Memo to Ilhan: Trump is trying to achieve Americas goals, one of which is seeing to it that Iran cant launch nuclear weapons at America or her protectorates. He is simultaneously trying to alleviate the staggering amount of fraud, deception, and theft of taxpayer dollars that you yourself have worked so hard to engender and protect.

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And he is defending Americans against a pseudo-religion that advocates converting, enslaving, or killing infidels, meaning anyone and everyone that doesnt wholeheartedly believe in and support a religion founded by a 50-year-old guy who married a 6-year-old, but waited until his wife was 9-years-old before consummating the marriage.

Also, he didnt marry his brother.

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Who is nuts? Who is immoral?

You should be prosecuted, sentenced  and deported. Praise be to Allah.

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Image: Screenshot from X video
Community Marks Mill Creek's Second in Fort Worth-Area Master-Planned Development

ALEDO, Texas, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Mill Creek Residential, a leading developer, owner-operator and investment manager specializing in premier rental housing across the U.S., today announced the start of preleasing at Modera Walsh Heights, a contemporary midrise community in the fast-growing Walsh master-planned development.

Modera Walsh Heights, which features 296 homes, represents the second multifamily development by Mill Creek within Walsh, located 15-minutes west of the Fort Worth metro. The community joins its predecessor, Modera Walsh, as a key residential component of the master plan's central Highland Hills district. First move-ins for Modera Walsh Heights are anticipated for May.

"The growth of Walsh has been well-documented with great new schools, neighborhoods, infrastructure, exciting retail, an HEB grocery store and a major college campus underway, so we could not be more excited to welcome our first residents to Modera Walsh Heights," said Neil Eastwood, vice president of development in North Texas for Mill Creek Residential.

Situated at 13400 Highland Hills Drive near the confluence of Interstates 30 and 20, Modera Walsh Heights sits amidst one of the largest master-planned communities in the U.S., located near a major city center. The Walsh master plan measures an impressive 7,500 acres, and the two Mill Creek communities are part of the initial 80-acre section of the Walsh Highland Hills district.

Highland Hills is emerging as a major development hub within Walsh, anchored by The University of Texas at Arlington's new UTA West campus, which broke ground in January and is complemented by a planned eight-story office building, plus medical, dining and retail spaces. Ideally located across the street from Modera Walsh Heights, the newly completed St. Mary's Trail offers residents direct access to a scenic lakeside walking trail, while just across Interstate 30, HEB has broken ground on a major new grocery store that will anchor the primary retail development within Walsh.

"The area's natural landscape, top-rated Aledo schools and easy access to Fort Worth's employment hubs make it an ideal spot for well-rounded living," said Michael Blackwell, senior managing director of development in North Texas for Mill Creek Residential. "Inspired by the vision of Highland Hills as the future 'Downtown Walsh,' we've crafted a walkable, elevated experience shaped by modernism and the charm of historic Texas towns featuring stoops, porches, a main street and boutique hotel-inspired amenities, with lakes, trails and open space just moments away."

Modera Walsh Heights offers one-, two- and three-bedroom homes with select den layouts, optional direct-entry and private porches, yards or balconies. Community amenities include a resort-style swimming pool, rooftop deck with lake and city views, multiple fire pits, outdoor dining, resident clubhouse, coffee bar, pool table, landscaped courtyards, dog park and a club-quality fitness center with cardio equipment, yoga/Pilates studio and group fitness area. Residents will also have access to a conference room, coworking spaces, private workstations, digital package lockers, rentable oversized garages, dedicated bike storage and additional storage space.

Homes feature 10-foot ceilings, wood-style plank flooring, vintage-themed kitchens with stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, gold pull-down faucets, custom tile backsplashes, designer pendant lighting, custom soft-close cabinetry with under-cabinet lighting and large chef's islands. Homes also include built-in shelving, oversized closets, in-home washers and dryers with leak sensors and large primary bedrooms with spacious closets. Designer bathrooms include soaking tubs, large showers, designer gold plumbing fixtures, linen closets and double vanities. Smart features include programmable thermostats, key fob access, controlled-access guest technology and turn-key WiFi.

About Mill Creek Residential

Mill Creek Residential is a national investment and rental housing company focused on developing, acquiring, constructing, and operating multifamily and built-to-rent single-family rental communities in targeted markets nationwide. Headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida, the company operates across the United States through a seasoned team of professionals, with a presence in many of the nation's most desirable markets, including Seattle, Portland, the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Southern California, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Austin, Houston, South Florida, Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Nashville, Charlotte, Raleigh, Washington, D.C., New Jersey, New York, and Boston. As of December 31, 2025, the company's portfolio is comprised of 150 communities representing more than 42,600 rental homes operating or under construction. Visit MillCreekPlaces.com for more information.

Media Contact

Stephen Ursery

LinnellTaylor Marketing

[email protected]

303.682.3945

SOURCE Mill Creek Residential
Steve Witkoff, Donald Trumps peace envoy, listens to the president giving a White House briefing earlier this week - Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

It was 8.06am in Washington when Donald Trump told the world that an entire civilisation would die if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz and agree to a ceasefire.

When the post was published, Iran had 11 hours and 54 minutes to act.

Truth Social post

It did, with just 88 minutes to go.

The process was frenetic. As the clock ticked, even Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, said: Only the president knows where things stand and what he will do.

Behind the scenes, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the presidents peace envoys, as well as JD Vance, the vice-president, were working furiously alongside some of Pakistans top diplomats to find a solution.

Mr Witkoff is said to have a direct channel of communication with Iranian officials including Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister.

Iran has not trusted Steve Witkoff or Jared Kushner, the Middle East envoys, since the US attacked hours after previous talks - Brendan Smialowski/AFP

But on the other side, another superpower was talking to Iran. China had been pushing for an end to the conflict for weeks, with Wang Yi, its foreign minister, engaging in dozens of conversations with his counterparts across the Middle East as well as in Russia.

According to Chinas foreign ministry, Mr Wang made a total of 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia and the Gulf states.

Ultimately, it was China that nudged Tehran over the line.

Wang Yi, the foreign minister of China, made dozens of phone calls in pursuit of the US-Iran ceasefire - Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Until that point, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey had passed messages between the US and Iran over the previous two weeks as they desperately tried to avoid a global recession caused by rising energy prices, as well as more death and destruction in the region.

Mr Trump repeatedly imposed deadlines linked to threats, only to extend them. On Monday, Iran officially rejected a ceasefire proposal.

We wont merely accept a ceasefire, an Iranian spokesman said. We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we wont be attacked again.

Insiders said this was the key challenge. Tehran had not trusted Mr Kushner and Mr Witkoff since the US carried out military strikes on Iran hours after talks concluded in February.

After issuing its rejection, Iran handed over a 10-point plan to end the war, which included an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the strait, reconstruction and the lifting of sanctions.

Pakistan, through Asim Munir, the army chief known as Mr Trumps favourite field marshal, relayed the plan to the US negotiating team.

On Wednesday, a source in the Pakistani government told The Telegraph: Absolutely  Field Marshal Asim Munir was the key negotiator. Trump places significant trust in him and values his insights on the Middle East, particularly Iran.

Field Marshal Munir is the de facto leader of Pakistan. His position was elevated after success in a short conflict with India last year, in which Indian French-made fighter jets were shot down. He has met Mr Trump at the White House twice, but also maintains close ties to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps.

Donald Trump met Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, left, and Field Marshal Asim Munir, the countrys army chief, at the White House last September - Pakistan Prime Minister's Office/AFP via Getty Images

Irans reply was significant, but not good enough, the US president said as he stood beside a giant rabbit at a White House Easter event on Monday.

However, the White House is thought privately to have seen Tehrans willingness to engage as encouraging. Pakistan, alongside mediating countries from the Gulf, started working with the Iranians on amendments and redrafting the proposals.

Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran, has been one of the countries hardest hit by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which it imports oil, gas and fertiliser.

But Field Marshal Munir had another role: Bringing China on board  even if its role in the conflict was complicated.

In his Truth Social post announcing the ceasefire, Donald Trump acknowledged the role of Field Marshal Asim Munir, who has been described as his favourite field marshal - Iranian Presidency/Anadolu via Getty Images

Beijings position has been undermined by numerous reports that it has been supplying Iran with sodium perchlorate, a precursor to a material used to produce missile fuel.

China has also been linked to Irans kamikaze drone programme, with a recent report from Strider Technologies, an intelligence firm, claiming that several Chinese companies have helped supply parts to Tehran through covert networks.

Earlier this week, China joined Russia in blocking a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at reopening the strait, claiming it sent an extremely wrong message that would provide the legal veneer for unauthorised military operations, according to Fu Cong, Chinas ambassador to the UN.

However, China has a vested interest in the conflict coming to a close, given it imports nearly half of its crude oil from the Middle East.

Its imports from Iran have hardly been affected by the war. According to Kpler, an analytics firm, China was importing 1.6 million barrels of oil per day in March, a slight increase from the 1.57 million barrels purchased daily in February before the war broke out.

But imports from other countries in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait, which represent more than 40 per cent of Beijings supply, have been affected as traffic through the strait has fallen by as much as 90 per cent.

While China has sizeable oil reserves, experts estimate that they would only last approximately 100 days, which would probably have become a cause for concern in Beijing as the war neared the halfway mark.

Ishaq Dar, the foreign minister of Pakistan, met Wang Yi, his Chinese counterpart, in Beijing on March 31 - Cai Yang/Xinhua via AP

Ishaq Dar, the Pakistani foreign minister,, flew to Beijing on March 31 to meet with Mr Wang. At the meeting, they unveiled a five-point plan to put an immediate stop to the fighting, restart dialogue and open shipping lanes.

Those lines of communication remained open, and while Pakistan took the plaudits from the Trump administration for acting as the key conduit, China did much of the work on the other side.

There were still complications, notably US strikes on Kharg Island on Tuesday morning. The island is Irans economic lifeline, handling 90 per cent of its oil exports.

The strikes were a sign of the USs determination to show it was not bluffing. At the same time, Israel bombed Iranian railway bridges, killing at least two people. Iran pulled out of direct talks and a deal looked remote.

As the hours ticked by to Mr Trumps deadline, everyone from Pope Leo to Ben Stiller, the Hollywood actor, called on the president to back down. At the same time, the administration fielded calls from executives and political allies trying to decipher whether he was seriously about to take out every bridge and power plant in Iran.

Then came the breakthrough. Three hours before the deadline, Iran said it was positively reviewing Pakistans proposal.

Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistans prime minister, posted on X that diplomatic efforts had been progressing steadily. He publicly urged Mr Trump to extend the deadline for a ceasefire to two weeks and Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The edit history on the post shows that the initial draft was labelled as Pakistans PM Message on X. Given that it would be unlikely for someone within the Pakistani government to state Mr Sharifs nationality, it is possible that another country, such as the US, may have written the statement and sent it to Islamabad.

Then, with less than an hour and a half until his deadline, Mr Trump posted again on Truth Social.

Crowds in Tehran waved Iranian flags following the announcement by Donald Trump of the two-week ceasefire - Majid Asgaripour/Reuters

He wrote: Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE!

Shortly after Mr Trumps post, Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, announced that ships passing through the strait would need to liaise with the Iranian military and that only a few would be allowed to pass through each day.

Iranian officials will demand a Tehran toll, payable via cryptocurrency, as a condition of the ceasefire, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday.

It is unclear how this arrangement would be implemented. Mr Trump then told ABC that the US and Iran might jointly operate a toll system in the strait.

Pakistani officials remain sceptical about Iranian control over the strait and the right to charge tolls.

On Wednesday, while officials from the US, Israel and Iran all confirmed a ceasefire was in place, there appeared to be confusion over the agreements terms, hinting that the war might not really be over.

There was further confusion over whether Lebanon was included under the ceasefire, where Israel has increased its attacks. The US and Israel have clarified that Lebanon was not included in the agreement.

Talks are expected to take place in Islamabad on Friday, where all countries must get on the same page. Iranian and US representatives confirmed their attendance.

In the 12 hours since the ceasefire came into effect, oil facilities were hit the Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, which remains a heavy supplier of oil to China.

In Mr Trumps announcement of the ceasefire agreement, he applauded Pakistans role in mediating the negotiation but failed to mention China.

The US president had to tread carefully. He had already frustrated Beijing by postponing his visit to China by a month.

Id love to, but because of the war, I want to be here. I have to be here, Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on March 16.

Im looking forward to being with them. We have a very good relationship. But because of the war... its very simple. We have a war going on.

On Tuesday, he was asked by reporters whether Beijing was involved in the final deal. I hear yes, he replied, giving little away.

Air Force One will land in Beijing in 36 days.
I Am Maximus heads the maximum field of 34 declared runners as he attempts to emulate Red Rum in Saturdays Randox Grand National.

No horse since Ginger McCains Aintree legend has won the worlds most famous steeplechase, lost the title and then regained it. Red Rum won in 1973 and 1974 and was second in 1975 and 1976 before bringing the house down with a third victory in 1977.

Willie Mullins I Am Maximus  who will be sporting cheekpieces for just the second time, the first being back in December 2022  won two years ago in the hands of Paul Townend and found only stablemate Nick Rockett too good in 2025 when aiming to be the first dual winner since Tiger Roll.

As well as the past two winners, Mullins also runs Grangeclare West, who was third last year and will actually be the ride of Patrick Mullins, successful aboard Nick Rockett for his father last year but now overlooked in favour of the Bobbyjo Chase winner. Tom Bellamy picks up a dream spare ride on the defending champion.

Others for Closutton are Spanish Harlem, owned by Dr Peter Fitzgerald, founder and owner of the sponsors Randox, Lecky Watson, Champ Kiely, High Class Hero, Captain Cody and Quai De Bourbon.

The Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs is another aiming for a slice of history as no horse has won the Welsh and Irish Nationals as well as the Aintree version, while Banbridge, Gerri Colombe, Firefox, Montys Star and Oscars Brother enhance Irelands traditionally strong hand. The latter is trained by Connor King and will be ridden by his brother, Daniel.

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero have two big chances, with last years fourth Iroko joined by stablemate Jagwar. Like I Am Maximus, both are owned by JP McManus, who also has Cheltenham Festival winner Johnnywho on his UK-trained team.

Ben Paulings Twig finished 10th last year and Becher Chase success over the fences earlier this season has reignited the National dream for his connections, who picked him up for 100. He will be ridden by the owners 21-year-old son, Beau Morgan.

He ran well in the race last year when he was ridden to come home well, but I dont think the plan was to be quite so far back, said Pauling.

He acts on the track, he obviously enjoys it there having won the Becher and if we can get him into a rhythm closer to the pace, as its much harder these days to come from off the pace, that would be better.

If he can travel in the first half of the field on the first circuit and just hold our own on the second circuit, as we know he stays very well, then well see if we can beat last years result. Anything inside the top 10 and wed be thrilled, anything else is a bonus.

Hes not thrown in or anything like that but hes got his ground and he likes the fences so I wouldnt be surprised if hes there with a shout two out, after there well see.

Hes very much a fairytale National story, he cost next to nothing, hes ridden by the son of the owner, but well see if we have a fairytale result.

There were no withdrawals at the 72-hour declaration stage, although Jimmy Mangans Spillanes Tower is also declared to run in Thursdays Racing Welfare Bowl Chase. Should that be the case, Pied Piper, who is the first of six reserves, would be number 34 and line up as a sixth runner in the race for Gordon Elliott.

In the event of a non-runner, the deadline for reserves to make the final field is 1pm on Friday.
A British billionaire has vowed to move back to the UK so he can continue donating millions of pounds to Reform UK.

Ben Delo has accused Sir Keir Starmer of creating a rigged game after Labour introduced an annual 100,000 cap on donations to political parties from Britons living abroad, following an independent review into electoral interference.

Mr Delo, 42, who co-founded a cryptocurrency trading platform, lives in Hong Kong and is reported to have given Nigel Farages party 4m earlier this year.

Writing in The Telegraph, he pledged to return to the UK to defy the cap and give millions more to fund Reform UKs war chest.

The government should not be allowed to get away with it. I will move back to Britain early so I can contribute more to Reforms budget, he wrote.

I also urge other people who care about fair play and Britains future and who are fortunate enough to have deep pockets to reach out to me. Lets build a war chest and win back our country.

Ben Delo has accused the government of creating a rigged game (Anne Schwarz Photography/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Sir Keir announced the cap following a review into electoral interference, which was ordered after Reform UKs former leader in Wales, Nathan Gill, was jailed for taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements while a member of the European parliament.

Alongside the 100,000 cap, a temporary ban on cryptocurrency donations was also announced, in a major blow to Mr Farage, whose party has accepted several crypto donations, including 12m last year from the Thai-based British investor Christopher Harborne.

The review warned that Iran, Russia and China are trying to cause harm to Britains democracy, that foreign interference is real and persistent, and the government needs to make it a far higher priority.

Zia Yusuf, home affairs spokesperson for Reform, described the ban at the time as a dark day for Britain.

Referring to the report, Mr Delo said: The whole thing is so tinpot that it would be laughable if it wasnt part of Labours effort to stack the political deck against the most popular opposition party.

Nigel Farage has been accused of promoting a cryptocurrency platform after his party received donations from a shareholder (PA)

Of course, the poison pill was set among other, less controversial proposals, including one I support to impose a moratorium on political donations being made with cryptocurrency.

He added: I have enough experience of the complexities of managing crypto to believe that the UKs Electoral Commission is not currently equipped to regulate it. I also know the difference between a straight proposition and a rigged game.

Mr Farage was forced to defend the donations from Mr Harborne, made in two payments of 9m and later 3m, according to the Electoral Commission, insisting he wants nothing from me.

But the payments prompted concerns about political funding, as Mr Farage publicly promoted Tether, the cryptocurrency company in which Mr Harborne is a shareholder, shortly after receiving the donation.
You might think youre going to your bank, but they take you somewhere else, said Prof Alan Woodward. Photograph: Oscar Wong/Getty Images (Photograph: Oscar Wong/Getty Images)

Russian hackers are exploiting commonly sold internet routers to harvest information for espionage purposes, the UKs cybersecurity agency has said.

The hack could allow attackers to obtain users credentials, redirect them to fake sites, and potentially access other devices on their home network such as phones and PCs, said Alan Woodward, a professor at the University of Surrey.

The National Cyber Security Centre said on Tuesday the operations were believed to be opportunistic in nature, with the actor targeting a wide pool of victims and then likely filtering down for users of potential intelligence value at each stage of the exploitation chain.

It follows a common pattern of cyber-actors targeting edge devices  hardware such as internet routers or internet-connected security cameras  that act as a bridge between users and the cloud.

Woodward said: Its not the first time that warnings have come out about routers. The main thing to say is that these so-called edge devices are quite often forgotten about, and they can become a weak point.

If attackers successfully attacked a router, he said, they could take you to fake sites. You might think youre going to your bank, but they take you somewhere else.

They can establish themselves on your network, move around your network, and see if the devices on your network  your PC, your phone  have any vulnerabilities.

The group behind the attacks was probably APT28 or Fancy Bear, wrote the NCSC, which was almost certainly linked to Russian intelligence services.

APT28 was also behind cyber-attacks on the German parliament in 2015, in which large amounts of data were stolen, including confidential emails and the schedules of German MPs.

We dont tend to know a lot about them. The suspicion is theyre working on behalf of the Russian state, but no one knows for definite, because often nation-state attacks are done through criminal groups, said Woodward.

The US has recently banned the sale of all consumer-grade internet routers made outside of the country, with the Federal Communications Commission saying they pose unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States.

Malicious actors have exploited security gaps in foreign-made routers to attack American households, disrupt networks, enable espionage, and facilitate intellectual property theft, it said, saying that foreign-made routers had been involved in several recent cyberattacks targeting US infrastructure.

As almost all internet routers are made in China or Taiwan, this stands to severely affect a number of US hardware makers. An exception to this is Elon Musks Starlink, which manufactures a large part of its devices in Texas.

Privacy experts have said this outright ban will not fully address vulnerabilities in existing internet routers, and that a more significant problem may be that internet routers currently in use are at the end of their lives and no longer receiving security updates.

Woodward said the NCSCs warning was an indication that small businesses and individuals should keep their routers updated. If youre a small business, you should look out for unusual activities on your network. A lot of routers are just forgotten about.

One of the largest cyberattacks in history, in which hackers stole $80m from Bangladeshs central bank in 2016, happened because the bank used cheap, secondhand internet routers that were accessible from the broader internet.

Hackers were able to access the router, then the core network of the central bank, from there transferring its cash to accounts in the Philippines. It is believed that a state-linked North Korean hacking group was behind the attack.

Woodward said: Its the classic way that people probe, and its almost bound to happen again.
Sir Keir can kiss goodbye to any progress that he might have made with Trump - Andy Rain/Shutterstock

The trick with political propaganda is that however misleading it may be, it should at least sound plausible.

For example, there would be little point in publishing a post on social media trying to persuade users that Nigel Farage has a live and let live approach to asylum seekers arriving in dinghies on the south coast. Similarly, lets not waste time trying to convince people that Zack Polanski has an open mind on whether men who identify as women should be allowed to use womens bathrooms.

So the recent flurry of enthusiastic activity by Labour Party members extolling Keir Starmer as the greatest prime minister of their lives seems a little ... ambitious. Take this one, for example: Keir Starmer has behaved impeccably throughout Trumps [sic] madness. Hes a leader uninterested in his personal ratings via social media. Back to proper governing.

There are many more of a similar tone, all counter-intuitively claiming, with apparent seriousness, that Starmer is the greatest Labour leader in history. Its clearly part of a pre-polling-day strategy by the party in the hope that undecided voters might be persuaded to climb down from the fence to support Labour on May 7.

But because these messages are so divorced from the reality of how Starmer has actually been governing, not to mention the calamitous thumbs down he has been given by almost every opinion poll, they lack any degree of credibility. Which begs the question of why bother in the first place.

The answer lies in the Straits of Hormuz and Starmers desperate efforts to be associated with the ceasefire agreed late last night between the United States and Iran. In fact, thanks almost entirely to Starmers decision to shape Britains foreign policy to impress pro-Palestinian, pro-Hamas, anti-West activists, rather than offer even moral support to our American allies in their war against the Islamist dictatorship in Iran, he has literally no influence whatever on Washington and is seen less as an ally than a liability by the Trump administration.

Starmer has has literally no influence whatever on Washington - Evan Vucci/Reuters

This would be all very well for a prime minister whose gamble had paid off, who had seen his personal or party popularity increase as a result of his distancing himself from Trump. But the kind of protester who supports Hamas terrorists and the Iranian regime that funds them is hardly likely to switch their support to Labour just because it is willing to throw its closest allies under the bus in exchange for votes.

So Starmer can kiss goodbye to any progress that he might have made with Trump in the last year or so. Critics of the president will welcome this fragmenting of the special relationship and many of them were the most vocal in criticising Starmers initial attempts to ingratiate himself with Trump, even if it was obviously the right thing to do if, as Starmer never tires of repeating, he is working in the nations best interests. His mates rates deal on US tariffs was just one benefit that accrued to the UK, before the US supreme court cast doubt on the legality of Trumps whole tariff policy.

As Britains biggest and most important export market, the United States will continue to have a crucial impact on our economy. That relationship can only prosper now if it turns out that President Trump never bears a grudge and wont hold Britains reluctance to help out an ally in a time of war against us. That would be quite an optimistic assessment, but you never know, I suppose.

This new chill in US-UK relations is wonderful news to pro-EU activists who still live in a Cold War climate where Britain must pick a side, either by rejoining the EU or by succumbing to Americas malign influence. The caricature is a false one but there has never been a better time for the Rejoiners to press their case, armed with all sorts of dubious and easily disprovable economic promises that make Boris Johnsons bus slogan look like God-given words.

However swift or effective Starmers EU reset is going to be, it will do nothing for the desperate straits in which the economy finds itself, and the more time passes since Labour returned to office in 2024, the less likely it is to be able to blame its predecessors.

With few allies in Washington, with Nato threatened by Trumps disgust at Britains Pontius Pilate performance over Easter, and with the after-effects of the war likely to hit Britons wallets and purses for some time to come, the election results on May 7 are likely to be merely another pothole in Starmers irreversible downhill trajectory.
Alex Kingston (Margrethe) in Copenhagen (Marc Brenner)

Only in the UK would the phrase too clever by half be considered pejorative. It applies, though, to Michael Frayns play that wraps a meeting between two physicists in 1941, quantum theory and even Hamlet into a sometimes dazzling, sometimes boggling associative web about the ultimate unknowability of the universe and of human motivation.

The three-hander was a hit at the National Theatre in 1998 and then in the West End but in this revival director Michael Longhurst fails to carry the audience with him across much of the extensive intellectual terrain. Partly this is because the cast  Richard Schiff, Damien Molony and Alex Kingston  were to a greater or lesser degree stumbling over their words on opening night. And partly its because the stuff about the behaviour of particles and waves, uncertainty and complementarity, is pretty bloody complicated.

No one knows exactly what was said when German physicist Werner Heisenberg visited his Danish-Jewish former mentor Niels Bohr and his wife Margrethe at their home in occupied Copenhagen in 1941: only that the conciliatory, methodical, almost priestly Bohr became furious. Its assumed they spoke about the development of nuclear fission as a source of energy and potentially a bomb for Nazi Germany or the US.

Was Heisenberg trying to further or hinder the quest for a weapon of mass destruction? Did he warn Bohr about the planned arrest and transportation of Denmarks Jews? Frayn fuses this mystery to the revelation in early 20th century physics  Im paraphrasing, I hope correctly  that any process is affected by the person observing it.

Similarly, the two men are often unaware of the precise motivation for their own actions. When they once visited the castle of Elsinore, their shared knowledge of Hamlet made them see every shadow as a representation of the darkness inside the human soul. One can never exactly predict an end result. The Nazis drove out Jewish scientists who built an A-bomb, initially to use against Germany.

Damien Molony, Alex Kingston, Richard Schiff in Copenhagen (Marc Brenner)

The start, where the characters decide to go over the meeting in some sort of afterlife, has dated badly. Elsewhere, its very elegantly done, every factor feeding into the central thesis, from the death of two of the Bohrs six children to the act of pulling a cap gun or a packet of cigarettes from a pocket.

Heisenbergs speed as a skier enabled him to skim over fissures much as he zipped (it is suggested) over basic principles of research. Everyone understands uncertainty  or thinks he does, says Bohr in one succinct phrase.

Professional ambition, nationalism or vengeful fury could be as much of a driver of scientific thought as pure curiosity. So could a certain macho bullheadedness. Kingstons Margrethe is a partial riposte to, and a partial reinforcement of, the great man theory to which both men unconsciously subscribe. A brilliant mind herself, shes used here as a representative of the ignorant audience, for whom things need to be kept simple. When her anger mounts, the men shrug: its a chain reaction.

In Kingstons portrayal, Margrethe is arguably the most forceful figure on stage, a beady and exasperated presence. Molony has an easygoing charm that enables him to pull us into Heisenbergs complicated thoughts and his burgeoning arrogance. Schiff, a hugely experienced American stage actor still best known here for The West Wing and The Good Doctor, seems least at ease with the scripts dense and lofty thoughts. But everyone stumbles, too often for it to go unnoticed.

Joanna Scotchers set places the actors, three chairs and a ghost light on a calibrated dial amid water surrounded by filament bulbs, suggestive of the Nordic landscape and the laboratories that inspired the men, but also ultimately elusive. Frayn, now 92  and the writer whose curious mind I admire more than those of his near-contemporaries Stoppard or Bennetts  was in the audience last night. After he wrote the play, new information emerged about the meeting of Heisenberg and Bohr, but no more clarity. Bittersweet proof all round that we can never know how things will turn out.

To 2 May, hampsteadtheatre.com.
Dax Shepard grew emotional while remembering the meaningful way his wife, Kristen Bell, supported him while he was caring for his dying father.

The 51-year-old actor opened up about grieving his father Dave Robert Shepard, Sr.  who died in 2012 after being diagnosed with small-cell carcinoma, an aggressive cancer  during a conversation with Anderson Cooper at the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University last month.

After Cooper asked Dax to discuss the gift he and Bell gave Dave during his final moments of life, the Armchair Expert hosts voice began to break while pointing out how his wife of 12 years is so intuitive.

I was growing really upset with the amount of people visiting my dad, and they were all really well-intentioned, he said, noting that these visitors were in AA with Dave and also grieving. I was starting to resent that I couldnt just be in there with my dad, and I was starting to get quite overwhelmed with that.

I went outside to sit in the car to get a breather, and I called Kristen to vent about it, he continued. I was complaining, and she said, Uh, its okay. Im here. Look to the left. Mind you, we live in California, and Im in Detroit. And shes standing there, seven months pregnant. She knew I was struggling, and she had flown and not told me and figured out where this hospital was.

Dax Shepard broke down in tears when recalling how Kristen Bell surprised him in Detroit days before his dads death (New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University / YouTube)

Dax said that when he and Bell went into the hospital, Dave got to feel the Frozen stars growing baby bump. He showcased a photo of the sweet moment during the book festival, before Cooper read what the actor wrote about Dave in a 2013 blog post.

Cooper recited: You said, she lifted her shirt up, and he put his hand on her swollen stomach. He left it there for the better part of an hour. He was smiling from ear to ear, sitting contentedly, unable to put together a sentence but still capable of connecting to the new family we were creating. He wasnt going to make it to the birth, but that didnt get in the way of meeting the new baby.

It was an emotional and triumphant moment, one I will never forget, Shepards post continued.

If I live to be 1,000, I will still be indebted to my wife for giving him that one last thrill.

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have been married for 12 years (Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

Dax chimed in to hilariously praise his wife, adding: Shes a gangster, yall.

At the time, Bell was pregnant with her and Daxs first child, Lincoln, who was born in 2013. They welcomed their second daughter, Delta, the following year.

Dax has previously spoken about having a complicated relationship with his father, an addict who was absent for most of his sons childhood. However, the actor has expressed his regret about the resentment he had towards his dad.

I wish I could have loved my dad as much as he was alive as I do now, he said during a November episode of his Armchair Expert podcast. And I wonder if thats a common regret for people who lose parents.
Iranians in Tehrans Enqelab square celebrate the ceasefire announcement - Getty Images

Donald Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran, bringing a conditional pause to their 39-day war in the Middle East.

The announcement was made an hour and a half before the American presidents deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which expired at 8pm EST (1am BST).

Iran agreed to halt its blockade of oil and gas supplies through the shipping lane in return for a temporary end to US strikes on Iranian infrastructure and power plants.

The deal, brokered by Pakistan, averted mass strikes that Mr Trump had threatened to carry out hours before his deadline, having warned that a civilisation will die tonight.

Iran warned its finger was on the trigger if strikes restarted.

Markets rallied following the announcement, with oil prices plunging by nearly 17 per cent and stocks surging.

In a statement on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE!

Mr Trump announced the ceasefire on Truth Social

Israel has also agreed to halt strikes on Iran but said the ceasefire did not extend to their operations in Lebanon, despite an earlier statement by Pakistan and Iran stating otherwise.

The office of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, said the country supported the suspension of military action on Tehran but added: The two-week ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

Further negotiations to end the war will take place in Islamabad on Friday.

Mr Trump said US forces would be hangin around to help police the ceasefire and clear the build-up of traffic at the Strait, adding that big money will be made from the waterways reopening.

On Wednesday morning, he hailed a new golden age of the Middle East, declaring it was a big day for world peace.

trump truth

Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, added that the ceasefire was a victory for the United States that President Trump and our incredible military made happen.

Mr Trump later said he believed China had helped push Iran to the negotiating table.

Asked if Beijing was involved in encouraging the Islamic Republic to engage with America, he said: I hear yes.

However, Iran warned that it would restart strikes if the US were to break the temporary truce.

It is emphasised that this does not signify the termination of the war, a statement from Irans supreme national security council said.

Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.

A demonstrator wearing a keffiyeh outside the White House following Mr Trumps ceasefire announcement - Nathan Howard/Reuters

Earlier on Tuesday, Mr Trump had said a whole civilisation will die tonight unless a deal was agreed before his deadline, but declined to comment on whether he would follow through on his threat to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges.

Youre going to have to see, he said.

In a last-minute intervention, Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistani prime minister, pleaded for both sides to stop fighting for two weeks with immediate effect.

He wrote on X: To allow diplomacy to run its course, I earnestly request President Trump to extend the deadline for two weeks. Pakistan, in all sincerity, requests the Iranian brothers to open Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture.

Pakistan had been facilitating indirect negotiations after Iran refused to speak directly to the US following Mr Trumps warning.

The US has paused its strikes on Iran in accordance with the truce - Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Shutterstock

The White House responded to Mr Sharifs plea by saying a response will come. Iran, which had shown no sign of accepting Mr Trumps ultimatum, said it was positively reviewing the proposal, officials said before the ceasefire was announced.

Mr Sharif warmly welcomed the deal and said it hoped both countries would continue to engage in talks for a longer-term peace.

Following the agreement, Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, said Mr Trump had agreed to the general framework of a 10-point plan put forward by the Iranians.

I hereby declare on behalf of Irans Supreme National Security Council: If attacks against Iran are halted, our Powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations, he wrote on X.

In his statement, Mr Araghchi also appeared to suggest that Iran would play a key role in controlling the Strait over the next two weeks.

Iran agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if attacks stopped

As well as the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the 10-point plan includes an end to attacks in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and the rest of the Middle East, payment for reconstruction costs, the release of Iranian frozen assets, the lifting of sanctions against Tehran and agreement from the regime not to seek nuclear weapons.

Mr Trump insisted that most of the framework had been agreed upon and would lead to a longer-term deal.

We have a 15-point transaction, of which most of those things have been agreed on. Well see what happens. Well see if it gets there, he said, but did not elaborate on the nature of the possible additional five points.

A woman in Kashmir, India, hands out toffees to celebrate the ceasefire announcement - Shutterstock

There was no mention of uranium enrichment in the plan. Mr Trump had previously demanded that Tehran halted all nuclear enrichment within the country.

However, Iran said in a statement released alongside the 10 points that the plan would require continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, acceptance of enrichment, lifting of all primary and secondary sanctions.

Without elaborating, Mr Trump told AFP: That will be perfectly taken care of, or I wouldnt have settled.

Previous reports suggested that some uranium within Iran had been enriched to around 60 per cent. The element must be enriched to 90 per cent to reach nuclear weapons-grade.

The 10-point plan also describes ensuring freedom and security of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, but does not make clear whether this would include a toll, something that has been proposed by the Iranians.
Donald Trump at the White House on 6 April. The US and Iran have agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire. Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty (Photograph: The Washington Post/Getty)

The US and Iran agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire on Tuesday evening, which included a temporary reopening of the strait of Hormuz, after a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan, canceling an ultimatum from Donald Trump for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction.

Trumps announcement of the ceasefire agreement came less than two hours before the US presidents self-imposed 8pm Eastern time deadline to bomb Irans power plants and bridges in a move that legal scholars, as well as officials from numerous countries and the pope, had warned could constitute war crimes.

Just hours earlier, Trump had written on Truth Social: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will. American B-52 bombers were reported to be en route to Iran before the ceasefire agreement was announced.

Related: Explainer: What is in Irans 10-point ceasefire plan and will the US agree to it?

But by Tuesday evening, Trump announced that a ceasefire agreement had been mediated through Pakistan, whose prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, had requested the two-week peace in order to allow diplomacy to run its course.

Trump wrote in a post that subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

In a separate post later, the US president called Tuesday a big day for world peace on a social media post, claiming that Iran had had enough. He said the US would be helping with the traffic buildup in the strait of Hormuz and that big money will be made as Iran begins reconstruction.

For several hours afterwards, Israels position or agreement with the deal was unclear. But just before midnight ET, the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran but that the deal did not cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon. His office said Israel also supported US efforts to ensure Iran no longer posed a nuclear or missile threat.

Pakistans prime minister had previously said that the agreed-upon ceasefire covered everywhere including Lebanon.

The ceasefire process was clouded in uncertainty after Iran released two different versions of the 10-point plan intended to be the basis for negotiations, and which Trump said was a workable basis on which to negotiate.

In the version released in Farsi, Iran included the phrase acceptance of enrichment for its nuclear program. But for reasons that remain unclear, that phrase was missing in English versions shared by Iranian diplomats to journalists.

Pakistan has invited the US and Iran to talks in Islamabad on Friday. Tehran said it would attend, but Washington has yet to publicly accept the invitation.

In a telephone call with Agence France-Presse, Trump said he believed China had persuaded Iran to negotiate, and said Tehrans enriched uranium would be perfectly taken care of, without providing more detail.

In the two-week ceasefire, Trump said, he believed the US and Iran could negotiate over the 10-point proposal that would allow an armistice to be finalized and consummated.

This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! he continued. The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.

Irans foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, issued a statement shortly after Trumps announcement saying Iran had agreed to the ceasefire. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordinating with Irans Armed Forces, he wrote.

Oil prices dived, stocks surged and the dollar was knocked back on Wednesday as a two-week Middle East ceasefire sparked a relief rally, fueled by hopes that oil and gas flows through the strait of Hormuz could resume.

Despite the provisional ceasefire, attacks continued across the region in the hours after Trumps announcement. Before the deadline, airstrikes hit two bridges and a train station in Iran, and the US hit military infrastructure on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iranian oil production.

The sudden about-face will allow Trump to step back as the US war in Iran has dragged on for five weeks with little sign that Tehran is ready to surrender or release its hold on the strait, a conduit for a fifth of the global energy supply, where traffic has slowed to a trickle.

Trump had earlier rejected the 10-point plan as not good enough but the president has set deadlines before and allowed them to pass over the five weeks of the conflict. Yet he insisted on Tuesday the ensuing hours would be one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World unless something revolutionarily wonderful happened, with less radicalized minds in Irans leadership.

News of the provisional ceasefire deal was welcomed but with a note of caution elsewhere.

Iraqs foreign ministry called for serious and sustainable dialogue between the US and Iran to address the root causes of the disputes, while the German foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said the deal must be the crucial first step towards lasting peace, for the consequences of the war continuing would be incalculable.

In Australia, the government warned that the latest developments would not necessarily mean the fuel crisis is over. Oil prices fell as traders bet that the reopening of the strait of Hormuz would help fuel supply resume, but the energy minister, Chris Bowen, told reporters Australians should not get ahead of ourselves.

He said: People shouldnt take todays progress and expect prices to fall. We welcome progress, but I dont think we can say the [strait of Hormuz is] now open.

A spokesperson for New Zealands foreign minister, Winston Peters, welcomed the encouraging news but noted there remains significant important work to be done to secure a lasting ceasefire.

Japan said it expected the move to result in a final agreement after Washington and Tehran begin talks on Friday. Describing the ceasefire as a positive move, the chief cabinet secretary, Minoru Kihara, said Tokyo wanted to see a de-escalation on the ground in the region, adding that the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, was seeking talks with the Iranian president, Masoud Pezeshkian.

A temporary end to hostilities will come as a relief to Japan, which depends on the Middle East for about 90% of its crude oil imports, most of which is transported through the strait of Hormuz.

South Koreas ministry of foreign affairs said it hoped negotiations between the two sides will be successfully concluded and that peace and stability in the Middle East will be restored at an early date, as well as wishes for free and safe navigation of all vessels through the strait of Hormuz.
Experts say the correlation should cause us to rethink the connection between the environment and antimicrobial resistance - ASAAD NIAZI/AFP via Getty Images

Droughts are driving the spread of antibiotic resistant infections around the world, research has shown.

Researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) analysed samples taken from around the globe and found that the more arid the soil, the greater the concentration of antibiotic resistant bacteria it contained.

Their findings, published in Nature Microbiology late last month, show that a natural selection process is effectively supercharged when soil dries up.

Naturally occurring antibiotics produced by microorganisms in the soil become more concentrated during a drought, creating conditions that favour resistant strains, they write.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when microbes evolve to resist the drugs used to treat infections. Drug-resistant infections already kill a million people every year and could cause 10 million deaths a year by the middle of this century, according to the United Nations.

For decades, much of the effort on tackling AMR has focused on curbing the overuse of antibiotics in healthcare, but the Caltech research suggests that natural processes could also be fuelling the phenomenon.

Droughts are creating the same effects as overuse of antibiotics in the clinic: They both drive selection for antibiotics resistance, said Dianne Newman, a Professor of Biology and Geobiology at Caltech and a co-author of the study.

The researchers also compared clinical surveillance data from 116 countries with data on soil conditions and identified a strong correlation between the frequency of antibiotic resistance and aridity.

Were interacting with soil all the time, whether its recreational or simply by inhaling dust, said Xiaoyu Shan, a Caltech postdoctoral scholar who led the study.

Importantly, bacteria are able to transfer genes to each other, and antibiotic-resistance genes are known to have a high rate of transfer. With trillions of bacteria in the environment, this is a substantial occurrence.

The findings suggest that a natural selection process is effectively supercharged when soil dries up - EDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP via Getty Images

Experts say the correlation should cause us to rethink the connection between the environment and antimicrobial resistance.

This study highlights that human health and environmental health are inseparable, said Prof Newman.

Professor Bruno Gonzalez Zorn, Director of the Antibiotic Resistance Unit at the University of Madrid and a World Health Organization (WHO) adviser on antibiotic resistance, who was not involved in the study, said: [The study] forces us to rethink antimicrobial resistance beyond hospitals and prescriptions.

We have traditionally focused on antibiotic consumption as the main driver, but this work shows that environmental pressures  specifically drought  can also shape resistance at a global scale, he told The Telegraph.

The study also suggests that climate change may be helping to create the ideal conditions for drug-resistant bacteria to spread  droughts are becoming more frequent and widespread, with 25 per cent of the world set to experience drought-like conditions by 2050.

While the reports authors make clear that the link they have identified is a correlation rather than a causation, they conclude that the study offers a clear example of how climate change has the potential to intersect with microbial ecology to shape public health outcomes.

Dr Lindsey Ann Edwards, a Senior Lecturer in Microbiology at Kings College London, said: Antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance didnt begin with hospitals  theyre hundreds of millions of years old.

Soil microbes have always produced antibiotics to compete with each other, and theyve evolved resistance genes to protect themselves. This is the ecological process Sir Alexander Fleming rediscovered in 1928 when he noticed Penicillium mould killing nearby bacteria, but microbes had been doing this for hundreds of millions of years, she told The Telegraph.

While more work is needed to understand how drug-resistant bacteria are moving from the soil to the clinic, the message is clear: Climate change is shaping the evolution of antimicrobial resistance, and as drought intensifies, microbes evolve faster, and antibiotic resistance rises with them.

Dr Gonzalez Zorn, the WHO adviser, stressed the need for continued research on the impact of climate change on AMR.

A key next step is to integrate climate variables into antimicrobial resistance surveillance. If drought can act as a selective force, then climate change becomes directly relevant to antimicrobial resistance dynamics, and this must be reflected in our monitoring systems and policies, he said.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security
WASHINGTON, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. corn farmers are facing growing uncertainty around fertilizer affordability and access, with concern mounting well beyond the current planting season, according to new survey results released today by the National Corn Growers Association.

Findings from two nationwide surveys conducted in late March reveal that while many growers secured fertilizer supplies for the 2026 crop before recent global disruptions intensified, anxiety about fertilizer pricing and availability is rapidly acceleratingparticularly for the 2027 crop year.

"Fertilizer prices were high even before the war in Iran began," said Jed Bower, Ohio farmer and NCGA President. "Added market stress due to the Strait of Hormuz closure has only intensified an already difficult situation, particularly as we look towards 2027."

For every farmer expressing greater concern about fertilizer prices and availability for 2026, nearly two farmers report heightened concern for 2027, the surveys found, underscoring that today's market volatility is already shaping decisions well beyond this season.

Retail fertilizer prices rose following the onset of conflict in the Middle East, a critical hub for global fertilizer trade. While prices remain below their 2022 peaks, affordability has deteriorated because corn prices are much lower today. On a "currency of corn" basis, farmers now need 185 bushels of corn to purchase one ton of urea, the highest level on record.

Beyond rising costs, farmers are increasingly worried about whether fertilizer will be available when they need it. Global shipping disruptions and reports of curtailed fertilizer production in several countries are tightening supplies and heightening uncertainty across markets.

To make matters worse, two multi-billion-dollar fertilizer companies based in the United States  Mosaic Corporation and J.R. Simplot  have pushed for continuation of countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizers imported from Morocco, resulting in higher prices and a stoppage of fertilizer shipments from that country.

While near-term supplies for spring 2026 appear relatively stable for many producers, survey responses make clear that concern intensifies looking ahead. Fertilizer supply chains operate on long timelines, and disruptions today could compound into tighter supplies later this yearprecisely when farmers begin securing inputs for the 2027 crop.

"Fertilizer purchasing decisions are forward-looking," the report notes, "and today's uncertainty is already influencing how growers view the risks of the next crop cycle."

Read the survey results here.

Contact: Bryan Goodman

[email protected] | 202-997-1606

SOURCE National Corn Growers Association
Donald Trumps Iran ceasefire faces significant challenges after the Islamic Republic threatened to destroy ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Vessels in the region were told by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (IRGC) that they would be targeted and destroyed if they tried travel through the strait without permission from the group.

It comes amid reports that Iran has fired more missiles into neighbouring countries and reported explosions in Tehran.

Qatars ministry of defence claimed to have shot down seven missiles and several drones targeting its territory.

Iranian forces have also reportedly threatened to bomb Tel Aviv if Israel continues its attack on Lebanon.

Explosions in Baghdad (SOCIAL MEDIA via REUTERS)

Israel had previously said it did not consider the ceasefire to apply to its military action against the south of Lebanon.

The US president had previously threatened that Irans civilisation would die if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Sir Keir Starmer backed the truce deal agreed just 90 minutes before a deadline set by the US president.

I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world, Sir Keir said as the cost of oil dropped significantly and stock markets jumped on the deal.

"Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the Strait of Hormuz."

Sir Keir Starmer who was heading to the Gulf (PA Wire)

But policing minister Sarah Jones, on the media round for the Government, warned of challenges on ensuring a proposed 10-point peace plan would work including on Irans nuclear stockpile and the Strait of Hormuz.

She said it was unacceptable that Tehran would charge tankers for using the key strait, through which a fifth of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas flows, stressing the freedom of navigation.

Iran has effectively closed the strait to vessels linked to the West by targeting more than 20 tankers since the start of the war.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper spoke to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday night and encouraged a swift resolution to the conflict.

Smoke spewing off the Thai bulk carrier 'Mayuree Naree' near the Strait of Hormuz after an attack (ROYAL THAI NAVY/AFP via Getty Im)

Trump agreed to a provisional two-week ceasefire after pulling back at the last-minute from his threat to obliterate the country with a devastating bombing campaign.

The US president said he was suspending his threat to widen the military offensive to power plants and bridges subject to the reopening of the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway.

He said Tehran proposed a 10-point plan that provided a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Global oil prices fell sharply and stock markets jumped following the announcement of the ceasefire, bolstered by hope that trade through the strait could resume.

The price of benchmark Brent crude fell by about 13% to $94.80 (70.73) a barrel, while US-traded oil was more than 15% lower at $95.75.

 President Donald J. Trump makes a statement on Iran: pic.twitter.com/9mqTayL0Q3  The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 7, 2026

The Iranian regime said it had accepted a temporary truce but warned that its hands remain upon the trigger, while a White House official said Israel had also accepted the terms of the ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel backed Mr Trumps suspension of strikes against Iran, but said any deal does not cover fighting against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said he had invited Iranian and US officials to Islamabad for talks on Friday.

The US president had given Tehran until 1am on Wednesday UK time to end its chokehold on the strait or face annihilation.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said: Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir, of Pakistan, and wherein they requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks.

This will be a double sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East.

Pro-government demonstrators chant slogans as they hold Iranian flags and a poster of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire

He added: We received a 10 point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate.

Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated.

In a later post, Mr Trump heralded A big day for World Peace! and predicted the Golden Age of the Middle East with the US helping build traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

He wrote: Iran wants it to happen, theyve had enough! Likewise, so has everyone else!

There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process.

Irans Supreme National Security Council said it would negotiate with the US in Pakistans capital, Islamabad, starting on Friday.

Statement on behalf of the Supreme National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran: pic.twitter.com/cEtBNCLnWT  Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) April 7, 2026

But while accepting a ceasefire, it said in a statement: It is emphasised that this does not signify the termination of the war.

Our hands remain upon the trigger, and should the slightest error be committed by the enemy, it shall be met with full force.

Irans foreign minister Abbas Araghchi also said ships would be allowed to pass through the strait over the next two weeks in coordination with the countrys military.

He said in a statement: For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible via coordination with Irans armed forces and with due consideration of technical limitations.

Prior to the conflict, there were no restrictions and it was not clear if Iran would continue to seek to charge ships as it had been doing during the war.

On its 10-point plan for the future, Iran also said the strait would be subject to regulated passage under the coordination of the armed forces of Iran.

In doing so, it would be conferring upon Iran a unique economic and geopolitical standing.

This would appear to be at direct odds with Trumps demand for the shipping route to be fully open to vessels and flags potential future difficulties to overcome.

(PA Graphics)

In the face of ongoing military strikes by the US and Israel, Iran has tightened its grip on the critical shipping route, sending global oil and gas prices skyrocketing and causing global economic uncertainty.

Earlier, ahead of the announced ceasefire, Trump said: A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

I dont want that to happen, but it probably will.

Among those to criticise his ominous threat was Pope Leo XIV, who branded it truly unacceptable.
A French soldier rappels down from a helicopter to the Deyna tanker, suspected of being part of Russia's shadow fleet, in the Mediterranean, in this handout photo provided by the French army on March 20, 2026.

France is to double penalties for ships that fail to fly a flag or refuse to comply, a draft law showed Wednesday, in what an informed source said was a bid to strengthen measures against Russia's "shadow fleet".

The move comes as France has, since September, boarded three ships suspected of being part of the fleet transporting Russian oil in violation of Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine.

Vessels in the "shadow fleet" frequently change the flags they fly, a practice known as flag-hopping, and sometimes sail under invalid flags in an attempt to escape detection and tracking.

France will now punish those who fail to fly the correct flag or refuse to comply with orders to stop the ship with up to two years in prison and a fine of 300,000 ($351,000), according to a draft update to France's military planning law seen by AFP on Wednesday.

That would double the current penalties in place, with sanctions applying to any person  such as the owner, operator, or legally responsible individual  who exercises "power of control or management" over the vessel's operation, it said.

Read moreFrance hands captain of suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' tanker one-year jail sentence

Possible sentences may increase to seven years in prison and a fine of 700,000 should the lives of the individuals boarding the vessel be put at risk.

Parliament is set to debate the draft bill that includes these measures, and then vote on adopting it by July 14.

A source with knowledge of the matter, who requested anonymity, said the toughened measures aimed to ramp up the fight against Russia's "shadow fleet".

They follow a French court ruling last month issuing a one-year jail sentence in absentia and arrest warrant against the Chinese captain of a tanker for failing to comply with orders to stop his ship last year.

The French navy had approached the ship, the "Boracay", in international waters off western France in September over suspicions it was transporting Russian oil to India, without a visible flag.

The captain stalled any boarding, saying he was waiting for authorisation from the ship's owner, until the navy eventually boarded.

Nearly 600 vessels suspected of being part of Russia's "shadow fleet" are subject to European Union sanctions.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
George Clooney has accused Donald Trump of committing a war crime over his threats to Iran.

The U.S. president has been widely criticized for using social media to threaten Iran, after writing on Truth Social: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

According to reports published by the Italian news agency ANSA, Clooney was addressing high school students at an event in Cuneo, Italy when he said: Some say Donald Trump is fine. But if anyone says he wants to end a civilization, thats a war crime.

The 64-year-old actor continued: You can still support the conservative point of view, but there must be a line of decency, and we must not cross it.

The White House shot back in a statement to The Independent, with Communications Director Steven Cheung saying: The only person committing war crimes is George Clooney for his awful movies and terrible acting ability.

George Clooney has accused President Donald Trump of committing a war crime (Getty)

At the same event, Clooney also said he was concerned about the future of NATO, adding: Im worried about NATO. It has ensured that Europe, but also the rest of the world, has been safe. Dismantling an institution like this worries me. Aside from many mistakes, I believe the U.S. [with NATO] has also done many extraordinary things that have stood the test of time.

Clooney and Trump have long traded criticisms and commentary in public.

Last December, the Jay Kelly star told Variety that the pair knew one another, saying: I knew him very well. He used to call me a lot, and he tried to help me get into a hospital once to see a back surgeon. Id see him out at clubs and at restaurants. Hes a big goofball. Well, he was. That all changed.

He went on to criticize media companies for settling lawsuits with the president, adding: If CBS and ABC had challenged those lawsuits and said, Go f*** yourself, we wouldnt be where we are in the country. Thats simply the truth.

In response, 79-year-old Trump took to Truth Social to accuse the actor of being a failed movie star and one of the worst political prognosticators of all time.

Clooney got more publicity for politics than he did for his very few, and totally mediocre, movies, Trump wrote, while referencing how Clooney dumped Joe Biden by urging the former president to drop out of the 2024 election.

He wasnt a movie star at all, he was just an average guy who complained, constantly, about common sense in politics, Trump added.

The president also criticized the news that Clooney and his wife, the human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, had gained French citizenship.
Grand National 2026 (Getty Images)

The pinnacle of the National Hunt racing season is upon us, with the Grand National taking place today at Aintree.

Only three weeks on from the Cheltenham Festival comes another highlight of the British sporting calendar as Liverpool plays host to the worlds most famous steeplechase.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW THE GRAND NATIONAL LIVE!

The three-day meeting is headlined by the feature race, which will include 2024 winner I Am Maximus.

Last years winner Nick Rockett looked set to attempt to become the first back-to-back winner since Tiger Roll in 2019, but was declared as a non-runner on Thursday morning due to coughing, leading to a promotion for first reserve, Gordon Elliott's Pied Piper.

The action at Aintree began on Thursday, followed by Ladies Day on Friday and then the showpiece comes today at 4pm.

Heres everything you need to know...

When is the Grand National 2026?

The 2026 Grand National meeting runs from Thursday, April 9, to Saturday, April 11, with the Grand National steeplechase taking place at 4pm BST on the third day.

A new, earlier time for the feature race of the meeting was introduced in 2024, bringing the race forward by 75 minutes, and remains in place for the 2026 edition.

As ever, the famous Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool will host the race.

Nick Rockett won last years race (Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

How to watch the Grand National 2026?

TV channel: In the UK, the Grand National meeting is being shown live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage starting at 12.45pm BST, today, Saturday.

ITV will broadcast every race bar the final of the day, with subscription channel Racing TV the only place to watch all the action across the three days.

Coverage of the National itself is from 3:15pm BST with the race getting underway at 4pm.

Live stream: The race will also be available to watch live and for free online via the ITVX app and website.

Live blog: You can follow every race live from Grand National Day at Aintree with Standard Sports live blog.

Grand National 2026 weather forecast

The UK has been blessed with sunshine of late, but there is expected to be showers across all three days of the meeting.

Hitting a high of just 12C, expect overcast conditions with occasional sun at Aintree.

Grand National 2026 prize money

The total prize fund for the race is 1 million, the highest amount of money that any race over obstacles is contested for, and it breaks down as follows:

Winner  500,000

Second place  200,000

Third place  100,000

Fourth place  65,000

Fifth place  40,000

Sixth place  30,000

Seventh place  20,000

Eight place   15,000

Ninth place  10,000

Tenth place  5000

Aintree hosts the three-day meeting (Getty Images)

Grand National 2026 latest odds

Panic Attack 7/1

Grangeclare West: 8/1

Jaguar: 8/1

I Am Maximus: 17/2

Jonnywho: 11/1

Montys Star: 12/1

Oscars Brother: 12/1

Iroko: 14/1

Captain Cody: 16/1

Haiti Couleurs: 20/1

Gorgeous Tom: 20/1

Champ Kiely: 25/1

Perceval Legallois: 25/1

Jordans: 25/1

Final Orders: 25/1

Gerri Colombe: 28/1

Stellar Story: 28/1

Quai De Bourbon: 28/1

Banbridge: 33/1

Favori De Champdou: 35/1

Firefox: 40/1

Spanish Harlem: 40/1

Lecky Watson: 40/1

Beauport: 40/1

Twig: 40/1

Imperial Saint: 40/1

High Class Hero: 50/1

Top Of The Bill: 50/1

Three Card Brag: 66/1

Marble Sands: 66/1

Mr Vango: 66/1

The Real Whacker: 66/1

Answer To Kayf: 100/1

Amirite: 100/1

(Odds via Betfair, subject to change.)

Saturday, April 11 racecard

12:45: Hallgarten & Novum Wines Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Mirabad Salvator Mundi Be Aware

13:20: William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

Wade Out Eagle Fang Chart Topper

13:55: Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Bossman Jack Soldier Reeves Ballyfad

14:30: William Hill Handicap Chase (Freebooter) (Premier Handicap)

Mr Hope Street Lookaway Konfusion

15:05: Jet2 Liverpool Hurdle (Grade 1)

Home By The Lee Take No Chances Honesty Policy

16:00: Randox Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

17:00: Weatherbys Nhstallions.co.uk Standard Open National Hunt Flat (Grade 2)

Thursday, April 9 results

13:45: Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1)

Mange Tout Selma De Vary Indian River

14:20: William Hill Manifesto Novices Chase (Grade 1)

Koktail Divin Blueking D'oroux Mambonumberfive

14:55: Racing Welfare Bowl Chase (Grade 1)

Jango Baie Protektorat Pic D'Orhy

15:30: Randox Foxhunters Open Hunters Chase

Barton Snow Lets Go Champ Take All

16:05: William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1)

Brighterdaysahead The New Lion Alexei

16:40: Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

Ryan's Rocket Highlands Legacy Sans Bruit

17:15: Goffs Nickel Coin Mares Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Grade 2)

Nan's Choice Lennon Grove Fairy Park

Friday, April 10 results

13:45: William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)

Wellington Arch Ike Sport Favour And Fortune

14:20: William Hill Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1)

Gold Dancer Regent's Stroll Salver

14:55: Thatprizeguy Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Storming George Sinnatra Baron Noir

15:30: Jcb Melling Chase (Grade 1)

Grey Dawning Solness Heart Wood

16:05: Randox Topham Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)

Will The Wise Ile Atlantique Madara

16:40: Oddschecker Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Zeus Power Catchintsavo Johnny's Jury

17:15: Debenhams Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys & Amateur Riders)

Laafi Melon Harry Lowes

Follow the Grand National live with Standard Sport!
Cheltenham Gold Cup runner-up Jango Baie will seek richly deserved compensation at Aintree on Thursday in the Racing Welfare Bowl Chase.

A winner of the Arkle before placing at this meeting as a novice last term, the seven-year-old has stepped into open company with aplomb this season, following up a stylish winning return at Ascot with honourable runs in defeat in both a King George for the ages and when best of the rest behind Gaelic Warrior last month.

He now bids to end his campaign on a high in a race the Seven Barrows handler has won with both Might Bite (2018) and Shishkin (2023) in the last 10 years.

It would be lovely if he could end his season on a high and he probably deserves one after his runs in the King George and Gold Cup, said Henderson.

He ran a great race at Cheltenham, but then they dont dish out these races because you deserve one.

Hes stepped up this year and has become a member of our A team and he can only do one thing and that is improve.

Interestingly the biggest threat could be provided by Willie Mullins Impaire Et Passe, who finished ahead of Jango Baie here 12 months ago, but did disappoint in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival most recently.

Jimmy Mangans Spillanes Tower is another possible Irish contender, albeit he is also declared for Saturdays Randox Grand National, while Hendersons team know all about Paul Nicholls admirable servant Pic dOrhy who fought out the finish of the Ascot Chase with Jonbon when last seen.

The field of five is complete by Dan Skeltons evergreen Protektorat, who passed the 1million prize-money mark at Windsor when defending his Fleur de Lys Chase crown in January and has since bolted up at Kelso in preparation for this.

Second to Jonbon at this meeting last season and only once outside the top three on Merseyside, Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton is expecting another bold bid.

He said: We missed Cheltenham this year and have come here fresh. Hes getting older, I know, but he doesnt appear to be weakening in his ability.

I think its interesting that were coming here fresh while a few of the others have been to Cheltenham. He looks fantastic, and its a pleasure to be able to run him.

Hes done well at the track in the past, and won a Grade One here. Hes been second in the Melling Chase the past two years, and I think hell go really well.

Ive got a lot of respect for the others and obviously theres a horse that finished second in the Gold Cup in Jango Baie, so youve got to respect them. But I do think Protektorat will run his best race.
The welcome news of a ceasefire in the Israeli-US war against Iran, for a two-week period to open trade through the Persian Gulf while Irans regime reels from an onslaught that Donald Trump threatened would erase a civilisation, suits one man most  Vladimir Putin.

The rest of the world has been left reeling and impoverished by an illegal conflict.

Irans military capacity may have been mangled and its theocratic leadership left cowering in bunkers. But it is the reputation of the United States that has been badly, probably irreparably, mauled.

America is weaker now than it has ever been and the ceasefire is a sign that Trump wants to get out of the Iran mess while that damage is probable and not certain.

Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing indictments at the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity, has agreed to hold off from further bombing of Iran, for now.

From his perspective, the war in Iran is not over. Israels far-right government, which includes ministers who have made genocidal statements against the Palestinians of Gaza, wants to see the end of the Tehran regime and the rule of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

US president Donald Trump has agreed a ceasefire barely hours after threatening to extinguish an entire civilisation (PA)

The IRGC has survived. The ayatollahs remain in charge. And Irans insurgent-style mosaic defence system, which delegates autonomy to low-level commanders, means its plans to survive political decapitation have worked.

But Israel and the US have certainly set back Irans missile programme. Its pre-war capacity was revealed by attacks on Israel that included missiles delivering cluster bombs.

Netanyahu was able to convince Trump to join his war on Iran because, he claimed, Tehran was weeks away from producing a nuclear weapon. That statement was a lie in February. Trump claimed that Irans nuclear capacity had been obliterated last summer. Still, its more obliterated now.

But Israels ultraviolent response to the October 7 atrocities committed by Hamas-led militants and others from Gaza in 2023, with the killing of upwards of 70,000 people in the enclave and the total destruction of infrastructure for 2.2 million people there, shows that Israel believes it is safer to fight a forever war than seek peace.

So Israel has attacked Hezbollah, the vast Lebanese militia that is backed by Iran, in Lebanon. Hezbollah, the Party of God, has no reason to exist in Lebanon except to fight Israel.

The Israel Defence Forces are forcing the population of southern Lebanon to flee their homes and are likely to return to a full-time occupation of the south of the country. That will guarantee Hezbollahs future raison detre.

Iranians celebrate the two-week respite, during which negotiations will take place in Islamabad (AP)

Meanwhile, Israels parliament has brought back the death penalty  for Palestinians who kill Jews. On the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Palestinians are tried by military courts, which have a conviction rate of about 99 per cent.

Which means that those accused of murder will almost certainly hang  a form of jurisprudence associated with despots, not a country that pretends to be a democracy. (A democracy does not deny political rights or citizenship to five million people it has ruled for between 59 and 78 years, based on their ethnicity.)

Americas modern standing in the world reached its height in the single-term administration of a Republican president, George HW Bush (senior).

He shepherded the world through the end of the Soviet Union, German reunification, the Start I nuclear treaty, built the coalition to kick Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait after the Iraqi dictators invasion, began the process that brought the North America Free Trade Area to the US and Mexico, and deposed Manuel Noriega in Panama.

He also co-hosted, with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the Madrid Conference when he used US pressure to bring Arabs and Israelis to talks for the first time, insisting: The time has come to put an end to the Arab-Israeli conflict.

This led to the now-defunct Oslo process during which hope for a peaceful two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians first bloomed, before withering over decades.

Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed that the ceasefire deal does not include Lebanon (Getty)

Above all, he led a multinational UN-sanctioned invasion of an entirely Muslim nation, Somalia, that put an end to the deliberate fatal starvation of hundreds of thousands of people for profit by local warlords. It was a mission of noble intent that succeeded and which, by the way, the UK did not take part in on any level.

Since then, the US reputation for trying to make the world a better, more democratic place has declined through the Iraq war debacle and the Afghan fiasco, but under Trump it has taken a cliff-dive.

Trump has invaded Venezuela and boasted he did so for profit. He has backed Netanyahu in Gaza and even endorsed a proposal to forcibly remove most of the population in an act that would be a crime against humanity.

On Iran he threatened that a whole civilisation will die tonight and his secretary of war has issued orders that are outright incitements to war crimes.

We will keep pressing we will keep pushing, keep advancing. No quarter, no mercy, for our enemies, said Pete Hegseth, as the Iranian campaign got underway.

Key to proving genocide is malice aforethought  a plan, not an outcome, is key to the charge  Trump and Hegseth demonstrated the intent to erase a civilisation and order troops to violate the laws of war (no quarter means take no prisoners nor any surrender). That means theyre open to charges of war crimes and worse.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon continued in the hours after the deal was announced (Reuters)

All this is clear to Americas Nato allies, who are now bracing for the time when Trump leaves the organisation. Many may feel that their nations are far better off standing apart from the madness that has gripped the Oval Office.

Americas Gulf allies now see Washington as a liability. Theyre under fire because they have enormous US military bases on their turf across the Persian, or Arabian, Gulf from Iran and whatever the outcome of the ceasefire, they wont be thanking Trump for starting a war in their manor.

Which leaves Russia. An initial oil price-hike bonanza netted the Kremlin an extra $7-10bn in revenue. By now that figure is likely to be around $15-25bn by my calculations.

Putin sees Nato as the biggest threat to him. His invasion of Ukraine backfired when Finland and Sweden joined the alliance.

Now hes sitting in the Kremlin relishing the threats Trump has made to invade Canada and Greenland (both part of Nato) and to quit the alliance because its members see no point to his war in Iran.

The ceasefire in Iran offers a respite, but not a cure for the end of reason.
Israels continued strikes on Beirut have proved a major issue in the ceasefire - AP Photo/Hassan Ammar

Iran has threatened to restart the war with the US if Israel continues to bomb Lebanon.

The fragile ceasefire, agreed at the 11th hour on Tuesday night, looked to be fracturing on Wednesday after Tehran shut the Strait of Hormuz and attacked a Saudi oil pipeline.

Iran stopped oil tankers heading through the critical sea passage in protest at continued Israeli air strikes on Lebanon. The US and Israel insisted Lebanon was not covered by the ceasefire agreement, but Iran said it was.

The Iran-US ceasefire terms are clear and explicit: the US must choose  ceasefire or continued war via Israel. It cannot have both, said Abbas Aragachi, Irans foreign minister.

A vessel passes through the Strait of Hormuz during a pause in fighting after Tuesday nights ceasefire announcement

He highlighted a statement by Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistans prime minister, which said: The United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon.

On Wednesday night, JD Vance claimed Israel was prepared to check its attacks on Lebanon, even though Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire deal.

The US vice-president, who will travel to Islamabad for peace talks with Iran on Saturday, said: The Israelis, as I understand it ... have actually offered to, frankly, to check themselves a little bit in Lebanon, because they want to make sure that our negotiation is successful.

He put the cracks in the ceasefire down to a legitimate misunderstanding from the Iranians who thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon, and it just didnt.

On Wednesday afternoon, Israel hit 100 targets in 10 minutes during a surprise attack on central Beirut, in what it said was a campaign to root out Iranian-backed Hezbollah forces. Some 112 people died, according to local authorities.

Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday night: The temporary ceasefire with Iran will not include Hezbollah  and we will continue to strike them with all of our might.

Iranian state television said Israel would be punished.

Mr Vance will lead peace talks at the weekend alongside Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

JD Vance is heading to Pakistan for peace talks - Jonathan Ernst/Pool via AP

But Mohammad Ghalibaf, Irans lead negotiator, accused the US of violating the negotiation framework before the meeting by denying Irans right to enrich uranium, sending a drone into Iranian air space and allowing the strikes on Lebanon.

In such a situation, a bilateral ceasefire or negotiations is unreasonable, he said.

The US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday night just 90 minutes before a deadline given by Donald Trump. He had threatened to wipe out Iranian civilisation and bomb it back to the Stone Age by targeting civilian infrastructure if the strait remained closed.

Mr Trump said the ceasefire depended on Iran lifting its effective blockade of the waterway, through which 20 per cent of the worlds oil and liquefied natural gas flows, and halting strikes on Gulf states.

But on Wednesday, Iran attacked an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia and energy sites in Kuwait, in another apparent violation of the ceasefire.

The crucial east-west pipeline allows Saudi Arabia to bypass the Strait of Hormuz by redirecting oil exports via the Red Sea, making it the only outlet for crude exports it can use at the moment.

Riyadh said it had intercepted nine drones over the past few hours while Kuwaits army warned that it was grappling with an intense wave of Iranian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

Pakistans prime minister, who has taken a key role in the mediation process, urged all sides to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire amid mounting concerns that it would collapse altogether.

Mr Sharif, without naming any of the parties responsible, said violations had been reported at a few places across the conflict zone, adding that such incidents threatened the spirit of the peace process.

I earnestly and sincerely urge all parties to exercise restraint and respect the ceasefire for two weeks, as agreed upon, so that diplomacy can take a lead role towards peaceful settlement of the conflict, he said.

Sir Keir Starmer said the temporary ceasefire needed to be turned into a permanent peace.

Its already had an impact on the UK, and its very important we get the Strait of Hormuz open. Theres a lot of work to do there, he said during a visit to British troops in Saudi Arabia.

The White House looked to downplay the incidents, saying ceasefires take time to implement and that it was monitoring the strait minute by minute, hour by hour.

Reports that Iran had closed the Strait of Hormuz were completely unacceptable and contradicted what Tehran has said privately, said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary.

Iranians came on to the streets of Tehran after the ceasefire announcement - ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH/EPA/Shutterstoc

At least 112 people were killed and about 700 wounded in the massive wave of Israeli air strikes across Lebanon, according to the countrys health ministry.

Bombing was reported in the capital Beirut, southern Lebanon and the eastern Bekaa Valley.

Iran had warned earlier that it would abandon Mr Trumps ceasefire if Israeli strikes on Lebanon continued.

An official told Irans Tasnim news agency that the regime considered a halt to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon to be part of the two-week agreement with the US. A separate broadcast on state television said Tehran would punish Israel for what it described as violations of the ceasefire.

Israel and the US have argued that its attacks on Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy group, fall outside the scope of the deal.

A mural in Tehran shows an attack on a US carrier. The safety of ships in the Strait of Hormuz is a key demand of Donald Trump - Arash Khamooshi

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Vance described the ceasefire as fragile.

I think if they negotiate in good faith, we will be able to find a deal. Thats a big if. And ultimately, its up to the Iranians how they negotiate. I hope they make the right decision, he said.

Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said: A ceasefire is a pause and the joint force remains ready, if ordered or called upon, to resume combat operations  with the same speed and precision as weve demonstrated over the last 38 days.
Israel has launched its largest wave of strikes on Lebanon in the war so far, in a ring of fire that has killed more than 250 people and crushed hopes of a ceasefire.

Just hours after Pakistan announced a two-week truce in the region between the US and Iran, massive explosions rained down on Lebanons capital, Beirut, eviscerating buildings and sending towering plumes of smoke across the skyline.

The Israeli military said it had hit 100 targets in just 10 minutes, including military infrastructure for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, densely packed residential neighbourhoods in the capital, the Bekaa Valley to the east and the already devastated south.

Witnesses and the wounded described a ring of fire, as civilians, smeared in blood, were shuttled to hospital on the back of motorcycles and first responders dug desperately through the rubble. Veteran surgeons in overwhelmed hospitals called it an absolute massacre.

In total, the bombings killed at least 254 people and injured more than 1,160 others across the country, according to Lebanons civil defence.

A fireball rises from a building hit by an Israeli airstrike in the area of Abbasiyeh, on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese city of Tyre (AFP/Getty)

People were running through the streets covered in blood, cars were burning and dust choked the air, said Samia, 51, a professor, describing how bombs destroyed the building opposite, as well as nearby residential neighbourhoods, shopping districts, businesses and schools in the heart of the city.

The children in my building were all screaming and crying. In the street, an elderly woman was standing, screaming at the top of her lungs.

It was as if a ring of fire had encircled the entire city. I have never witnessed such a bloody day in my life, not even during the civil war, she added, visibly shaken.

In Baalbek region, in the east of the country, Zainab, a 62-year-old mother of four, spoke to The Independent from hospital, after barely escaping a hit on her family home and neighbourhood. She said they received no warning and did not expect to be targeted as there is no Hezbollah presence in their town.

The moment I heard the explosion, I lost all my hearing and vision, I inhaled all the smoke into my lungs, she said through an oxygen mask.

The neighbours rescued us through the balconies and windows, along with the civil defence volunteers. My husband suffered severe head and back injuries. I was afraid I would lose my son.

We didnt expect our neighbourhood to be bombed. But now nowhere is safe.

First responders stand amid rubble at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts Corniche al-Mazraa neighbourhood (AFP/Getty)

UN human rights chief Volker Turk condemned the massive wave of strikes, saying reports that hundreds  including civilians  had been killed and injured are appalling.

The scale of the killing and destruction in Lebanon today is nothing short of horrific, said the high commissioner. Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians.

Israel launched the ferocious bombardment just hours after Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif announced a ceasefire to suspend six weeks of warfare between the US, Israel and Iran. He said the talks would include Lebanon.

Hezbollah echoed the imminent truce and claimed the group were on the threshold of a major historic victory.

But shortly afterwards, this was contradicted by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the ceasefire did not apply to Lebanon, and vowed the Israeli military would continue operations against the militant group.

Speaking to The Independent, Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Nadav Shoshani said the military was following those orders, bombing dozens of targets, including Hezbollah and Iranian military infrastructure.

In Lebanon, we are continuing our operations against Hezbollah. Thats the current situation right now, in the current guidance weve received [from the political echelon], he said.

We have different plans for different scenarios. As of now, the mission remains to push back [Hezbollah] and keep degrading it.

Lt Col Shoshani claimed the operation was the result of meticulous planning over weeks and that among the areas hit were Hezbollah headquarters, its firepower and its aerial units.

But many of the strikes hit densely packed civilian neighbourhoods not affiliated with Hezbollah.

More than a million Lebanese civilians have been displaced in the conflict so far (Bilal Hussein/AP Photo)

Medics said hospitals were overwhelmed by the wounded.

Speaking from a medical centre in Beirut, Ghassan Abu Sittah, a renowned British-Palestinian surgeon who has treated the wounded in Gaza and Lebanon, called Israels unprecedented bombardment an absolute massacre.

Emergency departments have been flooded across the whole of Beirut. We had the first wave, and now were getting the second wave of people being dug out of the rubble. Its horrendous.

A lot of people are being brought in dead, a lot of children with severe injuries, he told The Independent. Its an absolute massacre, and it happened almost simultaneously, he added.

A journalist on the ground compared the airstrikes to an earthquake (Hussein Malla/AP Photo)

In Baalbek, meanwhile, Zainabs 20-year-old son Mahdi, who had also been rescued from the rubble, said they were given no warning.

We were feeling safe at home, assuming the war was over and waiting for a statement from the Lebanese government announcing it after the ceasefire agreement with Iran was announced in Washington, he said from his hospital bed, where he had received stitches.

In the morning, we celebrated this news, and in the afternoon, Israel destroyed our house. My mother, father, and I were injured, while my sister and her young son, thank God, escaped with very minor injuries."

Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said it was the largest concentrated blow to Hezbollah since September 2024 (Bilal Hussein/AP Photo)

Iran, the United States and Israel had agreed to a two-week ceasefire on Tuesday, an 11th-hour deal that headed off US president Donald Trumps threat to unleash a bombing campaign that would destroy Iranian civilisation.

Hours after the announcement, Israel bombed Lebanon, and Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks on Wednesday, although it was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal.

A source briefed on the Israeli position later told The Independent there was no intention of Lebanon being part of a peace deal.

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on a building in Beirut (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)

We reached most of our targets in Iran. We caused a lot of damage. We set Iran back several years. But now is the time to focus on Hezbollah, the source said, adding that Israelis are disappointed with the ceasefire.

Israel cannot run two huge battlegrounds simultaneously  It would be very hard for Netanyahu to sell a ceasefire with Lebanon at the moment. The entire country just wants the job done.
Emergency personnel at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Beiruts Corniche al-Mazraa neighbourhood on Wednesday. Photograph: AFP/Getty (Photograph: AFP/Getty)

Israel has carried out its largest attack on Lebanon since its war with Hezbollah began, killing at least 254 people and wounding 837, an assault that prompted Iranian officials to warn Tehran could withdraw from the ceasefire agreed with the US overnight.

Warplanes levelled several buildings in the centre of Beirut, filling the skies with smoke in what Israels defence minister said was a surprise strike on the pro-Iranian group Hezbollah.

Related: Middle East ceasefire in serious doubt as Israel assaults Lebanon and Iran blocks oil tankers

The Lebanese capital was filled with cars crumpled by the blasts and the flaming wreckage of buildings that first responders struggled to extinguish, as Israel bombed more than 100 Hezbollah military sites across Lebanon.

The office of Israels prime minister said the two-week Middle East ceasefire did not include Lebanon, contrary to a statement made by mediator Pakistan  while Trump, after initially remaining silent, said Lebanon was a separate skirmish and not part of the deal.

Hospitals in Lebanon put out urgent calls for blood donations , while the ministry of health urged people to clear the streets so ambulances could reach the injured.

People rushed home to check on their families. A man was filmed as he ran towards a struck building in the Chiyah neighbourhood, screaming: There are people inside! Pictures of rubble-covered children circulated on social media as people tried to find their parents.

Related: Explainer: What is in Irans 10-point ceasefire plan and will the US agree to it?

I have a friend in this building  Mahmoud. I dont know where he is. Hes not answering his phone. We need to stop this war, its getting ridiculous, said Shaden Fakih, a 24-year-old calisthenics trainer who was present when an Israeli strike brought down a building in the Barbour neighbourhood of central Beirut.

Iranian sources told Irans Tasnim news agency that the country was ready to exit the ceasefire agreement if Israel persists in violating the truce in Lebanon, and the crisis was discussed by Irans foreign minister and his Pakistani counterpart.

Israel Katz, the Israeli defence minister, said the two theatres  Iran and Lebanon  were separate and that the aim was to change the reality in Lebanon and remove threats from the residents of the north.

The Israeli politician went on to directly threaten Hezbollahs leader. We warned Naim Qassem that Hezbollah will pay a very heavy price for attacking Israel on Irans behalf  and Naim Qassems personal turn will come too, he said.

The Israeli militarys Arabic language spokesperson suggested Israel would begin striking deeper in Beirut, having previously confined most of its strikes to the southern suburbs, where support for Hezbollah is common. The spokesperson said Hezbollah was repositioning itself in mixed neighbourhoods of the city and vowed to pursue Hezbollah fighters no matter their location.

Shortly after the statement, Israel brought down another building in the Tallet al-Khayet neighbourhood of west Beirut, which had not yet been hit in this war.

The suggestion that strikes could hit anywhere in Beirut terrified the citys residents. Where can I go? All of Lebanon is being struck. [Israel] finished with Iran and now they want to start with us, a resident present at the time of the Barbour strike said, asking not to be identified.

The scale of Wednesdays strikes were condemned as horrific by the UN human rights chief, Volker Turk. Such carnage, within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire with Iran, defies belief. It places enormous pressure on a fragile peace, which is so desperately needed by civilians, he said.

The Red Cross said it was outraged by the devastating death and destruction in densely populated areas across Lebanon, adding that the country had been once again plunged into panic and chaos.

Trump said he was aware of the Israeli bombing, and said Lebanon was not included in the deal because of Hezbollah. Asked if the Israeli attacks were acceptable to him, the US president said it was a separate skirmish.

Until the wave of airstrikes by Israel across Lebanon on Wednesday, Hezbollah had not announced any attacks against Israel since the ceasefire announcement  a first since the war between it and Israel began on 2 March.

Initially Shehbaz Sharif, the prime minister of Pakistan, said Iran, the US and their allies had agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere as he announced the ceasefire overnight.

Highways leading south in Lebanon were choked with traffic as dawn broke. Residents were attempting to return to their homes, though Hezbollah urged people not to return to certain villages because Israeli troops remained there.

Irans 10-point peace plan, nominally accepted as a basis for negotiations by Trump, called for an end of the war against all components of the axis of resistance, which, for Tehran, includes Hezbollah.

There were signs on Tuesday that the wider diplomatic conversation, mediated in Pakistan between the US and Iran, had come to a conclusion without Israels immediate input. Trump called Netanyahu to inform the Israeli leader of his decision shortly before making his ceasefire announcement.

The Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu had failed politically and strategically. There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history. Israel wasnt even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security, he posted in the morning.

Later on Wednesday Netanyahu said Israel remained prepared to confront Iran if necessary, as it still had objectives to complete, with the military saying it continued to pursue the goal of disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The five-week war in Lebanon has brought the country to breaking point. More than 1.1 million people have been forcibly displaced, many of whom are left living on the streets. More than 1,530 people had been killed and 4,812 wounded by Israeli airstrikes, Lebanons ministry of health said on Tuesday.

Several air raids on Israel took place in the first part of the night but stopped shortly before 3.30am, about 40 minutes after the Pakistani prime ministers ceasefire announcement. No incoming attacks have been reported since.
Hollywood star James McAvoy has been praised by musician Billy Boyd as a humble, down to earth, genuine guy.

The pair worked together on California Schemin, which is McAvoys directorial debut and tells the tale of two Scottish rappers who pretend to be an American rap duo to secure a record deal before the hoax unravels.

It is based on the story of Boyd and Gavin Bain, from Dundee, who reinvented themselves as Californian rappers Silibil N Brains.

(Left to right) James McAvoy, Samuel Bottomley, Billy Boyd, Gavin Bain and Seamus Mclean Ross (Lucy North/PA) (Lucy North)

Speaking to the Press Association ahead of the gala screening of the musical biographical film, Boyd praised his time working with the award-winning actor.

He said: For so long, I had been told they were going to make a film.

I was at a point where, Ill believe it when I see it, and when it wasnt until I stood on set with James McAvoy, watching him and filming the scenes, I was like, okay, this is maybe really going to happen.

Obviously it gives you massive confidence  hes a Hollywood A-Lister, and he is the most humble, down to earth, genuine guy.

It instilled so much confidence in me.

He said that McAvoy, who grew up in the Drumchapel area of Glasgow, wanted to tell the story from a Scottish point of view, adding: The reality of us not getting those opportunities  thats what the whole film is about.

I think he did a really good job of capturing that, and that made me happy.

California Schemin is McAvoys directorial debut (Lucy North/PA) (Lucy North)

In a career spanning film, TV and stage productions, McAvoys best-known roles include Dr Nicolas Garrigan in the 2006 film The Last King Of Scotland and Professor Charles Xavier in the blockbuster X-Men franchise.

Other major roles in his career have included Robbie Turner in the 2007 adaptation of Atonement and Lord Asriel in the His Dark Materials TV series.

The 46-year-old actor wore a black blazer, matching trousers and patent shoes, accessorised with a black scarf, to the event at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London.

He was also joined on the red carpet by Rebekah Murrell who portrays the hip-hop groups agent Tessa, who wowed crowds wearing a monochrome striped gown.

The actress told PA she has been a life-long fan of McAvoy, and was drawn to the role as she was really fascinated about what his directorial debut would be.

She added: I just havent read a script like that ever. I thought it was really fun.

California Schemin will be released in UK and Irish cinemas by Studiocanal on April 10.
Premium luggage and travel gear design brand taps former TUMI President to lead next phase of growth

NEW YORK, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sustainable travel gear and accessory design brand, Solgaard, announces today the appointment of Rob Cooper as President. Effective immediately, Cooper will lead enterprise-wide strategy and execution across commercial and operational functions, with an emphasis on accelerating growth, enhancing channel performance, and positioning the brand for long-term scalability. In this newly created role as the brand's first dedicated President, Cooper will report to the CEO and founder, Adrian Solgaard.

Rob Cooper, President at Solgaard

Bringing over 30 years of distinguished industry experience, Cooper previously served as CEO of Travelpro, President of TUMI, and in various senior executive positions at Samsonite, where he notably scaled global operations, accelerated omnichannel growth, and led the restructuring and subsequent growth of the direct-to-consumer businesses.

"We've built a strong foundation as a direct-to-consumer brand, and now it's about scaling thoughtfully. Rob brings the experience and category insight to help us expand our reach while staying true to what makes the Solgaard brand special," said Solgaard.

"Solgaard stands out as a purpose-driven brand with excellent traction and a significant runway ahead. As the luggage and travel category continues to premiumize with a shift towards sustainability, the opportunity to build a scaled, differentiated brand is very compelling. I'm excited to work alongside Adrian to help accelerate the growth and create strong long-term value," said Cooper.

About Solgaard Design Inc.

A design-driven brand using business as a force for good. Solgaard's premium luggage and accessories collection is crafted through sustainable innovation. Pioneers of utilizing recycled materials in its fabrics and travel gear, in cooperation with the Solgaard-Nyx Foundation and its network of plastic collection impact partners, Solgaard cleans up 6 lbs. of ocean-bound plastic from coastal communities with every purchase. Relentless in his pursuit to create an economic engine for good, Norwegian Canadian entrepreneur and designer, Adrian Solgaard, founded Solgaard in 2016.

Solgaard is B Corp Certified.

Learn more at: www.solgaard.co and www.solgaard.co/impact.

Media Contact:

Emma Garner / VP of Public Relations / Solgaard / [email protected]

SOURCE Solgaard
Keir Starmer said he welcomed the ceasefire, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world. Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP (Photograph: Frank Augstein/AP)

Keir Starmer has arrived in Saudi Arabia to meet leaders in the Gulf region to discuss diplomatic efforts to support the ceasefire agreed between the US and Iran.

The UK prime ministers visit on Wednesday comes hours after a two-week ceasefire was agreed on Tuesday evening, cancelling a self-imposed deadline by the US president, Donald Trump, for Iran to surrender or face widespread destruction.

Starmer said on Wednesday: I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.

Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and reopen the strait of Hormuz.

Downing Street said the prime minister would discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire to bring a lasting resolution to the conflict, and protect the UK and global economy.

Starmers visit, planned before the ceasefire was announced, comes as he faces mounting pressure to limit US access to British airbases, after Trump warned that a whole civilization will die if Tehran did not comply with his demands and allow commercial shipping to pass through the strait of Hormuz.

A joint statement from world leaders, including the UK, said they would contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz and called on all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon, which Israel hit with a barrage of airstrikes on Wednesday.

We strongly encourage quick progress towards a substantive negotiated settlement, they said. This will be crucial to protect the civilian population of Iran and ensure security in the region.

Signatories to the statement welcoming the ceasefire included France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. Starmer is also expected to thank armed forces from the UK and allied countries who are posted in the region.

Trumps comments were criticised by legal experts, as well as officials from a number of countries and the pope, warning they could constitute war crimes, but they were not directly criticised by Downing Street.

The British foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, is reported to have spoken with the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, after Trumps remarks and is said to have urged a swift end to the conflict, while giving the UKs backing to negotiations and efforts to prevent further escalation.

Cooper and Rubio also discussed international efforts and diplomatic measures to open the strait of Hormuz, including a UK-led meeting chaired by Cooper that brought together more than 40 countries to pursue reopening.

The coalition of countries met in London last week to discuss possible economic and diplomatic measures to press Iran into opening the strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil and gas shipping route closed since US-Israel attacks began.

Despite the provisional ceasefire, attacks continued after the deal, as countries including Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Israel reported missile and drone strikes. By Wednesday morning, oil prices had plunged while stocks had soared after the ceasefire announcement.

Conflicting statements emerged as Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he supported the US decision to suspend attacks against Iran for two weeks, but said the ceasefire did not include fighting against Hezbollah forces in Lebanon.

Pakistans prime minister, Shebaz Sharif, had previously said the ceasefire extended to Lebanon. Pakistan, which shares a border with Iran and whose army chief enjoys a close relationship with Trump, led the last-minute diplomatic intervention on Tuesday.
Keir Starmer meets aircrew members during a visit to airbase in Taif. He reiterated his insistence the UK was not getting drawn into this war. Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP (Photograph: Alastair Grant/AP)

The UK has a job to help reopen the strait of Hormuz, Keir Starmer has said, as Iranian reports said the key shipping route was closed again just hours after a supposed ceasefire.

The prime minister met British and local military personnel at an airbase in Taif, Saudi Arabia, at the start of what is expected to be a wider trip to Gulf allies, one billed as a mirror to his efforts to pull together a plan for how a ceasefire might operate in Ukraine.

While UK officials portrayed the visit as complementary to Pakistan-brokered talks between the US and Iran, Starmer is likely to be viewed in Gulf states as a more predictable and reliable partner than a US led by Donald Trump.

The ceasefire was agreed little more than an hour before a deadline set by the US president, who had threatened that Irans whole civilisation would die if it did not meet US demands. As part of its terms, the strait of Hormuz was intended to be reopened, with Starmers trip aimed at building on a UK-led gathering of military planners on Tuesday as to how this could happen in practice.

But Irans Fars news agency said oil tankers passing through the strait had been blocked again because of what it called a ceasefire breach by Israel, which has intensified its attacks on Lebanon.

On Wednesday night Starmer met Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias crown prince, in Jeddah.

A statement from No 10 after the meeting said the prime minister had welcomed the ceasefire between the US and Iran and that he set out how efforts must now be focused on upholding it and turning it into a lasting peace.

He was clear that it was vital now to continue work to reopen the strait of Hormuz, and discussed the UKs ongoing efforts to convene partners to agree and plan the practical steps required to give shipping the confidence to transit the strait.

It added: The prime minister committed to continue to support Saudi Arabia as a steadfast ally including through the recent deployment of the Sky Sabre air defence system, having met UK personnel deployed to operate it earlier today.

The leaders then discussed how the UK and Saudi Arabia could further deepen their defence industrial cooperation to boost capability and mutual security for the long term, as well as continuing to grow their thriving trade and investment relationship.

Starmers discussions in the Gulf were expected to cover issues such as dealing with Iranian mines and ensuring the tankers that use the strait as a key transport route can be insured.

There are a lot of practicalities about how this might work, and given the situation, there are a lot of moving parts, one UK official said. This isnt the sort of thing that happens at the flick of a switch.

Speaking to broadcasters at the King Fahd airbase earlier in the day, Starmer said that while there was a sense of relief at the ceasefire, it was early days in restoring full shipping traffic.

What people in the United Kingdom want to know, who will share that relief, is that this needs to be permanent, and its our job to work with other countries in the region, not only on the cessation of hostilities, but also on opening the strait of Hormuz, he said.

Because the impact on our energy prices, you can see it on a daily basis over the last 39 days, its our job to make sure that the strait is open, that were able to get the energy that the world needs out and stabilise the prices back in the United Kingdom.

Starmer has provoked the ire of Trump several times during the conflict by refusing to support the initial US-Israeli attack on Iran, and by only allowing US forces to use UK airbases for missions seen as defensive, for example targeting Iranian missile sites.

Speaking on Wednesday, the prime minister reiterated his stance that the UK was not getting drawn into this war. He said: Weve always acted in collective self-defence, but my job is to protect the UK lives, of course, which is what weve been doing here from this place, but also to protect our interests and through our interests, our national interest, to get the strait of Hormuz open.

Starmers timetable for the rest of the visit has not been announced, and it is not known which other Gulf countries he will travel to from Saudi Arabia.

The ceasefire is obviously good news, but we need to make sure that the strait of Hormuz is fully open, as this will have the biggest impact on people at home, one government source said, likening Starmers role to that he had in convening the so-called coalition of the willing, the group of countries that offered to help guarantee any peace in Ukraine. It is also the first opportunity for the PM to visit allies in the region and show that we stand with them.
The so-called "Ketamine Queen", sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in prison over the death of Friends star Matthew Perry, has been making jail calls on side deals for books and trademarks, prosecutors told the court.

In tan prison scrubs, drug dealer Jasveen Sangha appeared emotional as she addressed the beloved Friends stars parents and other family members in the front row of the Los Angeles federal courtroom Wednesday morning.

I take full responsibility for my actions; they were not mistakes, they were horrible choices, Sangha told the packed room. I am so sorry I have had a hand in this tragic outcome.

But despite apologizing, prosecutors said the 42-year-old had been heard making calls from jail to discuss book deals and trademarks.

Sangha was one of five people federally charged after Perry, who played Chandler Bing in the hit show from 1994 to 2004, was found dead in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023. Federal prosecutors had asked for 15 years in prison.

Drug dealer Jasveen Sangha appeared emotional as she addressed the beloved Friends stars parents and other family members in the front row of the Los Angeles federal courtroom Wednesday morning (Instagram/Jasveen Sangha)

Suzanne Morrison, mother of Matthew Perry, walks into court with her husband Keith Morrison Wednesday (AP)

From the courtroom, Sangha accepted that her drug dealing had shattered peoples lives and that of their family and friends.

Youre going to have to show some epic resilience, Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett said to Sangha, repeating back to her a phrase the drug dealer had used.

On Wednesday morning, Perrys mom and stepfather, Suzanne Perry and Keith Morrison, were seen entering the federal courthouse just before 10 a.m. (PT). His family described him as sad, miserable and fabulous as they told the judge the impact of his death on their lives.

Morrison, a Canadian broadcast journalist who works for Dateline, told Sangha that Perrys family actually felt bad for her.

I do not hate you, I am not angry at you, he said in a calm voice. You are a drug dealer and there are many of them around. You supplied an addict and there are millions of addicts across America who are waiting to be supplied.

He added, God, how your family must be feeling? It is so sad. They love you desperately, but it is what it is and the law is the law.

Prosecutors on Wednesday described Sangha as a brazen dealer who had set her mind to dealing drugs for notoriety and personal gratification.

They said that she bragged about her Hollywood connections and claimed to have red carpet motherf*****s in her contact list.

In a court filing ahead of the sentencing, prosecutors wrote that Sangha had displayed a cold callousness and disregard for life.

Her defense lawyer, Mark Geragos told the court that he could not believe his client would receive a longer sentence than all the other defendants combined.

There was nobody who was going to stop Mr Perry from doing what he was going to do, he said.

Sangha and another man named Erik Fleming sold Perrys assistant, Kenneth Iwamasa, 51 vials of ketamine before his death, according to a plea agreement she reached with prosecutors last year.

On December 15 2023, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiners Office declared that Perry had passed away from the acute effects of ketamine. The autopsy report also cited drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine, a drug used to treat opioid use disorder, as contributing to his death.

Prosecutors say that Perry had used ketamine to treat depression and had received ketamine infusion therapy from doctors. But it is claimed the actor began getting the drug from dealers when his doctors refused to prescribe him more doses.

Perrys personal assistant has admitted to injecting him with several doses of the drug on the day he died.

Sangha, of North Hollywood, California, pleaded guilty to five federal criminal charges in August. These included one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury. She had faced up to 65 years in prison.

Sangha was one of five people federally charged after actor Matthew Perry (pictured) was found dead in the hot tub at his Pacific Palisades home on October 28, 2023 (Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for GQ)

Prosecutors say that after she found out Perry had died, she deleted text messages and told Fleming to do the same.

The Department of Justice says that two days after Perrys death, Fleming left Sangha a voicemail on Signal and texted: Please call . . . Got more info and want to bounce ideas off you. Im 90% sure everyone is protected. I never dealt with [Perry]. Only his Assistant. So the Assistant was the enabler. Also they are doing a 3 month tox screening . . . Does K stay in your system or is it immediately flushed out[?].

Prosecutors say that when her home was searched by law enforcement in March 2024, they found 1.7 kilograms of pressed pills containing methamphetamine, 79 vials of liquid ketamine, MDMA (Ecstasy) tablets, counterfeit Xanax pills, baggies containing powdered ketamine and cocaine.

They also found other drug trafficking items such as a gold money counting machine, a scale, a wireless signal and hidden camera detector, drug packaging materials, and $5,723 in cash.

Jasveen Sangha, who has been dubbed the Ketamine Queen by prosecutors (Instagram)

In November, her lawyer, Mark Geragos, filed court papers stating that Sangha had been sober for 17 months and asked for her medical issues, no criminal history, strong family support and advanced education to be taken into consideration at sentencing.

Her sentencing comes after Dr Salvador Plasencia, 44, was jailed in December for 30 months after pleading guilty to four counts of distribution of ketamine. Plasencia apologized directly to Perrys family in the courtroom, telling them: I am just so sorry.

He repeatedly wiped his brow throughout, as he told the court how he would one day have to explain his role to his young son. I failed to protect a mothers son. I failed Mr. Perry, I failed his family and I failed myself, the disgraced doctor said.

Dr Mark Chavez, of San Diego, was also sentenced in December to three years of supervised release and 300 hours of community service for his role in Perrys death.

He pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute ketamine, which is a surgical anesthetic that can be used to curb opioid withdrawal. He admitted obtaining ketamine from his former clinic and from a wholesale distributor where he submitted a fraudulent prescription. The court heard that Chavez provided the ketamine to Plasencia.

"My heart goes out to the Perry family," said Chavez outside the court after his sentencing.

Iwamasa, 60, of Toluca Lake, pleaded guilty to a felony count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine causing death and is scheduled to be sentenced April 22.

Fleming, 55, of Hawthorne, pleaded guilty August 8 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death, admitting that he distributed the ketamine that killed Perry, prosecutors said. He is set to be sentenced on April 29.
Offset attends the 2025 GQ Men Of The Year party at Chateau Marmont on November 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Police are investigating a shooting incident outside a Florida casino on Monday, which left rapper Offset, a former member of the acclaimed hip-hop trio Migos, in hospital. The artist is reported to be in a stable condition following the altercation.

Police have confirmed that two individuals have been detained in connection with the shooting, which reportedly stemmed from a fight at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, just north of Miami. Investigators are actively working to identify other parties involved in the incident.

Offset, whose birth name is Kiari Kendrell Cephus, rose to prominence as one-third of the two-time Grammy-nominated group Migos. The Atlanta-based trio is widely regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop acts of their generation, celebrated for their distinctive rapid-fire triplet flow that significantly shaped modern trap music.

Their career kicked off with the 2013 hit Versace, leading to several multi-platinum selling singles: Bad and Boujee, which went No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart, Stir Fry, Narcos, and T-Shirt among them. Migos released four full-length albums across their career, effectively closing that chapter after Offsets cousin Takeoff, another member of Migos, was shot dead in 2022.

As a solo artist known for his idiosyncratic style  a melodic, aggressive finesse  Offset has released three full-length albums. In 2019 he released Father of Four, and in 2023 he made Set It Off," in what he described to The Associated Press at the time as an effort to bring rap back in a genre currently led by a trend of rappers who sing.

The rapper told AP last year that the song Set It Off was a freedom, and proof that he could shine as a solo artist outside of Migos. His more recent album, 2025's Kiari, by contrast, is me, for what I am, and recognizing who I am," he said.

I feel like sometimes you could get lost in trying to please other people and trying to do what they want you to do, he said. "So, this is like my rebellion. My rebellion album.

Cardi B, left, and Offset arrive at the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons, in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Jan. 25, 2020. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, File) (2020 Invision)

Offsets relationship with rapper Cardi B has also been a source of public interest. The pair were secretly wed in September 2017 in Atlanta.

In 2024, Cardi B announced that she filed for divorce. They have three children together: 7-year-old daughter Kulture Kiari Cephus, 4-year-old son Wave Set Cephus and toddler Blossom. The couple produced numerous songs together as well, like Clout," Jealousy and Icey.

In August 2024, Cardi B asked the courts for primary custody of her children and sought child support from Offset.

FILE - Takeoff, from left, Quavo and Offset, of Migos, appear at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, in Los Angeles, on March 23, 2019. (Photo by Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File) (Invision)

More than three years ago, Migos member Takeoff was shot and killed at a Houston bowling alley.

Police said Takeoff was an innocent bystander when he was shot after a disagreement over a dice game. Takeoffs death was among a string of fatal shootings in recent years that involved hip-hop stars such as Nipsey Hussle, Pop Smoke, PnB Rock and Young Dolph.

Offset embarked on a solo career years before Takeoffs death.

The third member of Migos, rapper Quavo, sought to transform his nephew Takeoffs shooting into a force for change, holding a summit against gun violence in 2024.
Laura Loomer, a right-wing influencer who has sway with President Donald Trump, rejected the administrations two-week ceasefire deal with Iran, claiming it is awful for America and that the U.S. should destroy the regime instead.

Loomer, who has spent much of her online career spreading Islamophobic rhetoric, insisted that a ceasefire in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was a negative for our country and that the U.S. didnt really get anything out of it.

I dont know why people are acting like this is a win, Loomer wrote on X Tuesday. The ceasefire will fail. And Trump will be proven right about how this regime needs to be wiped out. It has already failed. The negotiation has been a failure so those who are celebrating while undermining Trump are misguided.

Her comments followed the presidents announcement of a deal, brokered by Pakistan, after Trump threatened to Iranian civilization in a post on Truth Social.

While others criticized Trump for his apparent threat of genocide against the whole Iranian civilization, Loomer insisted the campaign was 100% America First and appeared to refer to Iranians as Muslim terrorists.

Far-right activist Laura Loomer denounced the two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, insisting it would not hold (Getty Images)

Loomer has previously labeled Islam a cancer on humanity and anti-American while accusing Muslims of being terrorists. She has also said it should be illegal for Muslim people to run for office.

A tenuous ceasefire deal between the U.S. and Iran and brokered by Pakistan would pause the war for two weeks and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping traffic while negotiations continue for an end to the fighting.

When news broke of the temporary ceasefire, Loomer claimed the arrangement would make Iran a threat to the U.S. and Western civilization for another 47 years.

We are already losing the midterms due to the incompetence of GOP Reps who refused to codify President Trumps agenda in my opinion, so you might as well destroy the regime, said Loomer, referencing the prospect of Republicans losing control of Congress after election this fall.

She blamed people in charge of negotiations, not the president, and predicted that the ceasefire would eventually fail.

Trump understands the real danger and threat posed by the Iranian regime, which is why people around him ... stabbed him in the back yesterday by leaking private Situation Room conversations to [the New York Times] to pretend like they were against the war when many of these people are on the record supporting the war themselves, said Loom

Its unclear who exactly Loomer was referring to.

While Loomer is not a federal government employee nor an official member of the administration, she is seen as an influential figure close to the president. Last year, Trump reportedly fired National Security Council staff at the recommendation of Loomer, who alleged they were disloyal to the president.
Luke Humphries expects Luke Littlers recent spat with Gian van Veen to be quickly forgotten as the BetMGM Premier League resumes on Thursday.

World champion Littler got involved in a heated exchange with the Dutchman when the pair met on night nine of the competition in Manchester last week.

Van Veen missed a match dart in their quarter-final, prompting Littler to celebrate in front of his home crowd. The two-time world champion then gestured at his opponent on his return to the oche, only to miss a chance to seal the match himself.

Littler made a cry baby gesture in a bad-tempered end to his clash with Van Veen in Manchester (Peter Byrne/PA) (Peter Byrne)

Van Veen eventually secured a 6-5 victory, but not before Littler produced a cry baby gesture.

The Dutchman later accused Littler of being out of order and said their next meeting may not be very friendly.

That next encounter could come on night 10 in Brighton if Van Veen can beat Michael van Gerwen and Littler sees off Stephen Bunting in their respective quarter-finals.

World number two Humphries, who faces Jonny Clayton in his opener, said: It comes with the territory.

Humphries is hoping to spark his own challenge (Peter Byrne/PA) (Peter Byrne)

Weve seen it many times over many years. Players have done it here and there, and sometimes you probably think oh God, I wish I hadnt done that now.

Its hot news right now isnt it, but in two weeks itll all be forgotten. No-one will remember it and well all move on. Thats my take on it.

Despite last weeks early exit, Littler remains top of the Premier League table with 21 points after winning three events so far. Gerwyn Price and Clayton are behind him on 19 points.

There is then a gap to Van Gerwen (13 points), Van Veen (12) and defending champion Humphries (11), who are in a tight battle for fourth spot.

Gerwyn Price's second nightly win lifts him up to second in the @BetMGMUK Premier League table  pic.twitter.com/u02TfRgYJc  PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) April 2, 2026

Humphries is hoping to kickstart his campaign after successive quarter-final defeats.

He said: People are used to seeing me in that one and two spot with Luke and now Im not, and everybodys like whoa, youre sixth.

But its not really a position that Ill be panicking about because Im two points away, thats just one win.

Ive really not won a night or made many finals, so to still be within two points shows that, if it does happen for me all of a sudden, then Ive got a good chance to really push myself up there.

Humphries will play the winner of Price and Josh Rock should he beat Clayton.
Trump at the White House on Monday. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Pool/Aaron Schwartz - Pool/CNP/Avalon (Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/Pool/Aaron Schwartz - Pool/CNP/Avalon)

Political leaders and many Americans breathed a sigh of relief on Tuesday evening, when Donald Trump announced a provisional ceasefire deal hours after threatening to destroy Irans whole civilization if Tehran failed to reopen the strait of Hormuz by the US presidents deadline.

The announcement of the agreement came roughly 90 minutes before the 8pm ET deadline by which Trump pledged to bomb Irans power plants and bridges in a move legal and military scholars said would be considered a war crime. But a last-minute intervention by Pakistan led Trump to back off, at least temporarily, his ultimatum for widespread destruction.

Subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks, Trump wrote in a post on Tuesday evening.

Related: US and Iran agree to provisional ceasefire with Tehran saying it will reopen strait of Hormuz

Irans foreign minister issued a statement shortly after saying passage through the strait of Hormuz would be allowed for the next two weeks under Iranian military management.

Trump had earlier warned that a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again if Iran failed to allow commercial shipping to pass safely through the strait. The presidents comments were swiftly condemned by Democrats, longtime supporters who have broken with Trump over the war and Pope Leo, the first American pontiff.

Im glad Trump backed off and is desperately searching for any sort of exit ramp from his ridiculous bluster, Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said on Tuesday night, reacting to the news of a two-week provisional ceasefire. Earlier, Schumer called Trump an extremely sick person who was waging a wanton war of choice.

After his increasingly bellicose threats of imminent demolitions, dozens of House Democrats, including the former speaker Nancy Pelosi, had called for Trumps removal, either through impeachment or by invoking the 25th amendment, a constitutional process to declare a sitting president no longer capable of fulfilling his duties. Former Maga allies turned critics, including former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and the far-right media personality Candace Owens, denounced Trumps threats as evil and madness.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive congresswoman from New York, said the two-week agreement changes nothing.

The President has threatened a genocide against the Iranian people, and is continuing to leverage that threat, she said on social media, calling again for his removal from office. We cannot risk the world nor the wellbeing of our nation any longer.

Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, called Trumps behavior unhinged, unpresidential and unconscionable in a Tuesday evening interview on CNN. The American people strongly oppose this reckless war of choice, he said. Hes plunged America into this war without any plan, any objective and any exit strategy.

Democrats will demand that speaker Mike Johnson immediately reconvene the House to move a war powers resolution to bring a permanent end to this conflict, Jeffries said.

While congressional Republicans had been publicly muted in response to Trumps earlier threats, many cheered the presidents acceptance of a short-term ceasefire, casting the move as shrewd and tactical.

Excellent news, Rick Scott, the senator from Florida, said. This is a strong first step toward holding Iran accountable and what happens when you have a leader who puts peace through strength over chaos and weak appeasement policies.

Lindsey Graham, one of the Senates loudest and most aggressive Iran hawks, said on Tuesday evening he shared the hope that we can end the reign of terror of the Iranian regime through diplomacy.

But he added: We must remember that the strait of Hormuz was attacked by Iran after the start of the war, destroying freedom of navigation. Going forward, it is imperative Iran is not rewarded for this hostile act against the world.

Congressman Dan Crenshaw, a Texas Republican who has a history of breaking with Trump, chided the presidents many critics for pearl-clutching over his bombastic rhetoric and for once again taking the commander-in-chief literally.

Take a breath, Crenshaw wrote on X after the presidents announcement.

President Trump speaks in terms of POWER, which is the only language our adversaries understand, he continued. Carefully worded diplomatic statements make the UN feel nice and cozy but also dont get anything done.
Iran said it would halt its own attacks on neighbouring countries if attacks against it stop and that safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz would be possible for two weeks in coordination with Iranian armed forces.
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Madina Camp, close to the city of Baidoa in Somalia, flock around a water delivery in late March 2026 (Mercy Corps)

The start of 2026 has not been easy for the residents of Madina Camp, on the outskirts of the city of Baidoa, in Somalias South West State.

According to Adan Adan Abdi, a sub-camp leader of around 50 people, there is an urgent need for both food and water, with thousands having migrated from rural areas to camps such as his amid a catastrophic drought that has devastated Somalia.

The situation across these camps is the same: The hardship is severe, and people are extremely hungry and thirsty he says. Families have been going day to day without food to cook, he adds, while the only work available at the moment is to head deep into the bush to collect firewood to sell at the market.

Pointing to a water truck that has just delivered water from the Juba Foundation, a local NGO, he adds: The water we received today is the only assistance we have seen. As you can see now, people are fighting to get water from the water trucks.

Internally displaced people in Madina Camp, Baidoa, Somalia bring their jerry cans to the water delivery (Mercy Corps)

According to Adan Adan Abdi, a sub-camp leader of around 50 people, the water delivery was the only aid that had been received for several days (Mercy Corps)

Abdis story - collected exclusively for The Independent via the NGO Mercy Corps - is one of many that have emerged from a climate-driven humanitarian disaster that has swept across Somalia this year, after the country was hit by two consecutive failed rainy seasons.

An estimated 6.5 million people in the country are now facing crisis levels of hunger or worse, which is an increase of 1.7 million people since January. While Somalia has always been water-scarce, the current pattern of droughts hitting every two or three years is not like anything that has been experienced before.

Drought has become a persistent pattern in Somalia over the past 30 years, eroding the resilience of communities and institutions, explains Abdiaki Ainte, the director of climate and food security in the Somali Prime Ministers Office. In the past, drought was concentrated in certain regions. Today, it is spreading across much larger parts of the country, including areas that were not traditionally drought-prone.

For 22-year-old Nurta Sidow Qasim, crisis-level hunger has resulted in the loss of her infant twins, a daughter called Khadija. After falling sick with malnutrition, Khadija was admitted to hospital, but treatment would prove insufficient: The staff gave me tablets, syrup and rehydration salts, Nurta says. But before I could start the treatment, she passed away.

Now Nurta fears for the life of her surviving twin, Mohamed, who remains weak, and who she has been feeding black tea and sometimes powdered milk as a result of food shortages. The children are in very difficult conditions, she says. We are in urgent need of assistance. We need everything.

22-year-old Nurta Sidow Qasim feeds her surviving son Mohamed tea, after losing Mohameds twin, Khadija, to malnutrition (Mercy Corps)

A family sits under a makeshift shelter at the Madina Internally Displaced Persons camp in Somalia (Mercy Coprs)

Funding cuts from international aid partners, which meant that just 29 per cent of humanitarian funding requirements were met last year, have also contributed to the current crisis.

Aid from the UK is set to be cut further in the coming months after the government failed to name Somalia in its list of countries whose aid will be protected during its programme of cuts. The US has also been slashing funding for Somalia , with just $3 million (2.3m) provided in humanitarian aid during the first three months of 2026, compared to $462m over the same period in 2025.

Aid cuts are deeply concerning at a time when vulnerability remains high, Ali Mohamed Omar, Somalias State Minister for Foreign Affairs, tells The Independent. The Somali government is strengthening national disaster response systems and expanding social protection. But the scale of climate shocks means continued international partnership remains essential.

Middle East War turbocharging problems

Famine is thankfully set to be avoided for the time being in Somalia, government sources have confirmed, as a result of a healthy late Spring rains that have been forecast as well as the effective coordination of government authorities, NGOs and communities to prioritise the needs of those most in need.

But experts are now issuing dire warnings that the challenges that Somalia faces around receiving the foreign aid that so many millions depend on are set to be turbocharged by wars ongoing in Lebanon and Iran.

Some of these impacts are practical, with the World Food Programme telling The Independent that supply chain delays stemming from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as well as the closure of Omans Salalah Port have already significantly disrupted aid flows to Somalia, which is a country that depends on imports for 70 per cent of its food supply.

Although the Strait and the port have now reopened, experts are warning that it will take many months for regional trade, and prices, to recover.

Fuel costs in Somalia more than doubled within days of the war starting, while some staple cereals now cost up to 40 per cent more than they did last year. There have also been major delays to the delivery of key nutritional, medical, and sanitation consignments, and there are big concerns around Somalias 30 per cent dependence on fertiliser imports from the Gulf.

Conflicts like this dont stay contained, Mercy Corps CEO Tjada DOyen McKenna has warned. When fuel and fertiliser markets are disrupted, the ripple effects move quickly through food systems  and the people who feel it first are families in fragile countries who were already struggling to put food on the table.

In Baidoa, where Nurta and Adan are, the price of rice has risen from $0.75/kg to $1/kg, according to data tracked by Mercy Corps.

With so many global crises now ongoing around the world, there are also big concerns that Somalia will now slip even further down the list of funding priorities for international partners, many of whom are already grappling with significant donor fatigue around Somalias long-standing humanitarian crisis.

According to one source spoken to by The Independent, senior figures in Arab states - many of whom have in recent years been very involved in the conflicts of the Horn of Africa - are now saying in private that crises will have be dealt with sequentially, with the needs of Iran and Lebanon now the top priority, followed by Palestine, then Sudan, with Somalia only coming after that.

Global crises inevitably compete for attention, but Somalias strategic importance remains clear, argues Ali Mohamed Omar, Somalias State Minister for Foreign Affairs. Stability in Somalia contributes directly to maritime security, counter-terrorism efforts, and regional economic connectivity.

Ironically, while its humanitarian needs may now be increasingly overlooked, Somalia has recently been receiving a huge amount of attention in other areas.

In December, Israel announced its official recognition of the breakaway state of Somaliland, which has for 30 years been operating independently as a self-declared republic. For Israel, the move represented a strategic boost to its footprint in the Red Sea region - but dozens of countries across the Arab League and African Union criticised the surprising move as potentially further compromising an already-unstable region.

Somalias position is clear: Somaliland is part of the sovereign territory of the Federal Republic of Somalia, says Minister Ali Mohamed Omar. Any unilateral recognition would violate Somalias sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Then there is US President Donald Trumps apparent obsession with Somalia and its diaspora, with his regular, racist statements mocking Somalian bandits that steal money, or questioning the IQ of the Somali people. The regular diatribes seem closely linked with his dislike of Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, the high-profile progressive Somali-American politician in Washington.

Development progress unravelling

For those that have worked on Somalias development for many years, there is immense frustration that long-term efforts to build Somalias capacity as a self-sustaining country are now at serious risk of being undone as a result of donors turning away from providing aid to the country.

Somalias big wins include financial reforms that have enabled the countrys external debt to fall from 64 per cent of GDP in 2018 to less than 6 per cent of GDP by the end of 2023. Legislation has been introduced to tackle corruption on both national and regional levels, while a new middle class is emerging in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Over the past decade we have rebuilt institutions, strengthened security cooperation, implemented economic reforms, and achieved historic debt relief, says Minister Ali Mohamed Omar. Somalia is at an important stage in its recovery: Sustained engagement now will help consolidate these gains and allow Somalia to move from crisis management toward long-term development.

Olga Petryniak, senior director for resilience at Mercy Corps East Africa, is among those who are worried that all of this progress could now be undone.

Its really important for the world to realise that Somalia is not - for want of a better term - a basket case, she says. Somalia has a very ambitious national transformation plan and a very ambitious climate target which are both guiding it on a long-term pathway for sustainable development that will ultimately reduce aid dependency.

At the same time, Somalia needs to be able to deal with these frequent humanitarian crises - so if a humanitarian safety net is no longer provided by donor countries, then there is a risk that Somalia is pushed back on its development plan and tremendous progress that has been made is undone.
Adam Nicol expects Minella Study to be an even more potent force at Aintree than he was at the Cheltenham Festival when he bids for Grade One success in the Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle.

While the first of four top-level prizes up for grabs on day one of the Randox Grand National Festival has not attracted surprise Triumph Hurdle hero Apolon De Charnie, several horses who finished behind him at Prestbury Park do take their chance, most notably runner-up Maestro Conti, third home Minella Study and the fourth

Selma De Vary, who is a stablemate of the winner.

Minella Study did his trainer proud with a fantastic effort, beaten just a length and a half after leading at the final flight, and Nicol is excited to see if he can reproduce or even better that performance on Merseyside.

Hes doing fine. Im really happy with him, everything is going good, said the Seahouses handler.

His weights good and hes never missed a meal. Hes been eating really well and weve had a clean prep, so I said to Malcolm (Humble, owner) on Saturday that Id give him a bit of a blow on the gallops and see how he went, and thats when we made the decision.

He has a really big stride, so I think a flat track should benefit him more than going up and down hills.

He obviously handles a bit of cut because they a had fair bit of rain on the night before Cheltenham, but he will appreciate the quick ground.

Maestro Conti had looked every inch a top-class horse in the making in winning his first two starts for Dan Skelton at Kempton and Cheltenham and he pipped Minella Study to second in the Triumph by a short head, teeing up an intriguing rematch.

I dont see any reason to suggest that he will under-run that performance. If anything, I think he can improve, just because hes getting bigger, stronger and generally better, said Ladbrokes ambassador Skelton.

This is a different track, but again I dont think thats a negative for him; he won around Kempton, which is a flat track. I think hes going to go really well in this. There are three or four of them that are closely linked on form, but Id like to put our hat in the ring and say weve got a massive chance here.

The Willie Mullins-trained Selma De Vary is joined on the trip from Ireland by Gordon Elliotts Mange Tout, while Faye Bramley is represented by Winston Junior, who finished second in the Fred Winter at the Festival four weeks ago.

At much bigger odds Warren Greatrex is hoping for a positive showing from Aqua Bleu, who steps up to elite level after a hat-trick of victories at Doncaster, Lingfield and Chepstow.

He said: Hes won his last three and I was umming and ahhing because he could stay a novice next season, but hes got better and better with every run and since the Chepstow run where he had to give a double penalty away, hes just really thrived.

I just thought why not, lets roll the dice. I think hes a very nice horse.

Its a very good race and Im not saying hes nailed on to go and win it, but I definitely think he will outrun his price and I definitely think he will shock a few people because he has a lot of attributes.
Recognitions from Cyber Defense Magazine and the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards highlight MDR leadership and team performance

ATLANTA, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TekStream, a digital resilience company that helps organizations modernize, secure and optimize their technology environments, has been recognized with four top cybersecurity awards, reinforcing its position at the forefront of next-generation MDR and high-impact security operations. The new award recognitions for TekStream underscore what matters most to its clients: proven MDR expertise, faster threat response and a security operations model built to reduce risk across complex environments.

The company received Cyber Defense Magazine's InfoSec Award for Cutting Edge Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Provider, along with top honors from the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, including Gold for Cybersecurity Team of the Year, Gold for MDR and Silver for Cybersecurity Service Provider.

Cyber Defense Magazine recognized Tekstream for its modern, outcome-driven approach to MDR. By combining best-of-breed technologies, including Splunk SIEM & SOAR, Cloudflare, Oracle and AWS, with expert human analysis, TekStream delivers 24/7 monitoring, real-time threat detection and rapid response. This approach helps organizations reduce risk, accelerate response times and stay ahead in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

"Organizations are under constant pressure to move fast, respond smarter and stay resilient in the face of growing cybersecurity complexity," said Rob Jansen, CEO of TekStream. "These recognitions reflect the direction we believe the market is heading and the model we've built to help clients stay ahead of it. Modern cybersecurity must do more than detect threats; it must help organizations operate with greater confidence, agility and control."

The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards further recognized TekStream across three categories, underscoring both the strength of its services and team. Through its digital resilience framework, TekStream helps organizations move beyond reactive security and fragmented toolsets by unifying MDR, co-managed SOC services, cloud modernization and observability into a model designed to improve visibility, accelerate response and support long-term operational resilience.

The awards also highlight TekStream's innovative whole-of-state approach to cybersecurity, particularly in higher education. Through co-managed, student-powered SOCs, TekStream enables institutions to expand protection, alleviate resource constraints and create meaningful pathways for emerging cybersecurity talent.

For more information about TekStream's award-winning work visit https://www.tekstream.com/why-tekstream/#award-winning-it-consulting-recruiting-solutions.

About TekStream

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, TekStream is a digital resilience company that helps organizations modernize, secure and optimize their technology environments. Recognized as a Representative Vendor in the 2025 Gartner Market Guide for Co-Managed Security Monitoring Services, TekStream supports commercial, government and education organizations across complex, hybrid environments. TekStream delivers cloud migration and modernization, managed detection and response (MDR), Security Operations Center (SOC), and workforce consulting services. The company is intentionally vendor-inclusive, integrating and operationalizing the platforms customers already rely on while combining automation with experienced engineering and security teams. TekStream is known for exceptional customer satisfaction and reliable, on-time, and on-budget delivery across hundreds of successful engagements, reflected in a 95+ Net Promoter Score (NPS) and a 98% customer retention rate. In the public sector, TekStream's unique Whole-of-State cybersecurity approach addresses systemic vulnerabilities through collaboration, shared intelligence, and workforce development. The model combines co-managed security operations with workforce development and cost-deferment strategies, enabling organizations to build sustainable programs and maintain long-term ownership of their cybersecurity capabilities.

Media Contact

Brianna LaRouche

Trevelino/Keller

[email protected]

SOURCE TekStream
More than 250 dogs crammed into single property found in devastating rescue: This photo is not AI

More than 250 poodle-cross dogs were rescued from a single property in what animal welfare experts called a shocking example of a growing problem.

The RSPCA posted pictures of the dogs, which were discovered crammed into a single living room space, to social media, but were met with accusations of using artificial intelligence (AI) by aghast viewers.

But the images are real, and rescuers said they showed the staggering reality of what can happen when overbreeding causes owners to become overwhelmed and allow living conditions to spiral.

The dogs were discovered crammed into a single living room (RSPCA)

This shocking image is the reality of many multi-animal cases, and the situation our frontline officers seem to be confronting more and more  with reports of cases involving 10, 20 and even 100 animals on the rise, RSPCA Superintendent Jo Hirst said.

We understand that people are so aghast they don't believe what they are seeing. But this photo is not AI  its real.

Of the 250 dogs found during the rescue, for which a location was not given, the RSPCA took in 87, and the rest went to the Dogs Trust rehoming centre.

It comes as the animal welfare charity has seen a 70 per cent rise in multi-animal incidents involving 20 or more animals across England and Wales since 2021.

Last year, it responded to 4,200 incidents, which involved at least 10 animals found living at the same address across England and Wales.

Stevie and Sandy were among the hundreds of dogs rescued from the property (RSPCA)

The RSPCA said cases of large numbers of animals being kept at one address can be linked to mental health struggles, the cost of living crisis, or breeders operating with poor practices. It said they often begin with well-intentioned owners who lose control of a situation.

It added that a rise in cruelty and neglect cases has caused a six-year high of animals in its care, with almost half in emergency boarding because many of its centres are full to bursting point.

Ms Hirst urged people to consider adopting a pet in a bid to free up space in the RSPCAs crowded centres and support the charity to respond to more multi-animal incidents.

"We urgently need to find suitable homes for countless animals in our care, she said. Adopting from one of our centres or branches can be so rewarding  and wed urge anyone in a position to add a rescue pet to their family to check out our dedicated Find a Pet web pages."
The report calls for a new safeguarding strategy to be implemented for this group of young people. Photograph: baona/Getty Images (Photograph: baona/Getty Images)

More than 50 young asylum seekers in the UK have died in the past decade, the majority by suicide, according to data compiled for the first time.

Of 54 deaths of unaccompanied children and young people who claimed asylum between 2015 and 2024 in the care system, 31 were suicides, seven were homicides and eight were fatal accidents. Six deaths were due to health issues and in two cases the cause of death was unknown.

Related: Record number of asylum seekers died in 2024 while in care of Home Office

Forty-four of the 54 deaths have occurred since 2020. The data shows 2024 was the worst year for deaths, with seven suicides and seven other deaths.

The information was collected by Daaro Youth Project, which supports young asylum seekers. All local authority childrens services departments in England, Scotland and Wales and all health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland were approached for data using freedom of information requests. The Home Office and Department for Education refused to provide this data.

Since 2024, the Office of the Information Commissioner has issued five separate decision notices finding that Home Office wrongly withheld information about asylum seeker deaths. The Home Office is appealing against four of these decisions.

The data obtained from local authorities is likely to be incomplete because the Home Office often disputes the ages given by young asylum seekers, so not all end up in the care system.

Six of the suicides involved children aged 17 or under, 16 were of young people aged 18 to 20 and nine were of 20- to 24-year-olds.

Amir Safi, from Afghanistan, who said he was 16, died in 2024 after becoming very quiet and withdrawn when he was ruled an adult, an inquest heard.

Between November 2017 and February 2019 there were four suicides of Eritrean teenagers who knew each other: Alexander Tekle, Osman Ahmed Nur, Mulubrhane Medhane Kfleyosus and Filmon Yemane.

The report has been sent to ministers including the education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, and the immigration minister, Alex Norris, with an accompanying letter that says: We are deeply concerned about the lack of transparency from the government about these deaths. The Department for Education and Home Office have both withheld requested information.

It adds: We believe that all children and young people matter, regardless of their immigration status, national origin or ethnicity.

The report calls for death data for this group to be published; for a national review of these deaths to be undertaken; and for a new safeguarding strategy to be implemented for this group of young people.

Sarah Robson, the director of the Daaro Youth Project, said: This is the first time this data has ever been compiled  and we find it to be very shocking. Unaccompanied young people, who have been forced to flee their homes and have come to the UK to find safety and sanctuary, are dying by suicide in great numbers.

These young people have been mistreated repeatedly by governments  with children treated as adults by the Home Office  and an asylum system that prioritises deterrence over sanctuary.

A Department for Education spokesperson said: Every death of a young person who has been in care is a tragedy and must be treated as a serious safeguarding failure. Through the childrens wellbeing and schools bill, we are strengthening wellbeing support for children in care and care leavers, and ensuring young people receive ongoing, practical help from trusted professionals as they move into adulthood.

This includes support with housing, accessing services and staying connected rather than becoming isolated. We have also tightened reporting so councils must notify us when a care leaver dies, allowing risks to be identified earlier, lessons to be learned nationally, and action taken to prevent further harm.
After repeatedly threatening to pull out of the alliance over the last several months, Donald Trumps administration now claims NATO turned their backs on the U.S. after its partners refused to join the presidents war in Iran.

While the alliance contends with a possible future without the U.S., NATOs secretary general Mark Rutte  who has spent a year fawning over Trump in an apparent attempt to diplomatically stroke the presidents ego  is tasked with keeping the president close.

Rutte, who referred to Trump as daddy and sent him a swooning text message that the president posted on Truth Social, mounted a charm offensive last year to maintain a frail alliance that Trump has hollowed out with calls to war and insults directed to European allies who dared criticize his actions.

Rutte is now caught between a president who threatens to abandon the alliance and NATO members who have clashed with his own public statements supporting the U.S.-Israeli campaign and public appeals for Americans to get behind their president.

Ive seen the polling, but I really hope the American people will be with him, Rutte told CBS last month. He is doing this to make the whole world safer.

European allies are questioning whether Ruttes approach is working, according to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously to describe private conversations.

NATO secretary general Mark Rutte, pictured with State Secretary Marco Rubio, is facing scrutiny from European leaders as he cozies up to the Trump administration for a charm campaign they dont think is working (Getty Images)

Despite his Trump whisperer reputation, Rutte hasnt been able to rally Trump to Ukraines aid, negotiate a trade agenda that has shocked global markets, or stop a military campaign that has killed hundreds of Iranians while choking off fuel supplies.

Trump, meanwhile, threatened to send Iran back to the stone ages and promised to wipe out a whole civilization in a country of more than 90 million people.

Last week, following Trumps address to the nation on the status of the war, Frances President Emmanuel Macron unloaded on Trumps contradictory and violent rhetoric. When were serious, we dont say every day the opposite of what we said the day before, he told reporters. And, maybe, one shouldnt speak every day.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has repeatedly urged for diplomacy, while Germanys president Frank-Walter Steinmeier was more blunt, calling the war a disastrous mistake that breaches international law.

After Trump announced plans for a two-week ceasefire hours after stating that a whole civilization will die, Spains Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said his government will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket.

Before Trumps Wednesday meeting with Rutte in Washington, D.C., White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt delivered a message on the presidents behalf about NATO: They were tested, and they failed.

Its quite sad that NATO turned their backs on the American people over the course of the last six weeks when its the American people who have been funding their defense, Leavitt said.

The president has discussed U.S. withdrawal from the alliance, she said.

Rutte left the White House after a two-hour meeting with the president. No public remarks were delivered.

Rutte has faced criticism for his deferential relationship with Trump while the president continues to threaten to leave the alliance while bombing Iran despite NATOs objections (AFP via Getty Images)

Europe  bracing for the possibility of a United States that refuses to defend its allies  is exactly what NATOs enemies want to see, former NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu told Bloomberg.

The financial and political blowback from a potential U.S. withdrawal would be devastating, leaving European leaders on the hook for more than $1 trillion in defense support on top of their already-climbing defense budgets, according to a study from the International Institute for Security Studies.

Congress in 2023 passed a law that prevents any U.S. president from withdrawing from the 32-member alliance, which was founded in the aftermath of World War II to counter threats from the Soviet Union.

At the core of the alliance is a mutual defense agreement that stipulates that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. It has been invoked only once, in 2001, after the September 11 terror attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.

Twenty-five years later, that alliance is broken, according to Ivo Daalder, former U.S. ambassador to NATO under Barack Obama.

Europes distance from the Iran war is a reflection of the fact that NATO is deeply damaged, he told Germanys Deutsche Welle.

It reinforces the fundamental reality that Europe no longer trusts the United States, believes the United States is an unreliable ally, and therefore is no longer willing to participate in these kind of operations, he added. That is why this is the worst crisis of NATO.
Lebanon is not included in a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, Benjamin Netanyahu has warned, with strikes continuing after the deal was announced.

Washington dramatically announced a double-sided ceasefire late on Tuesday, which will see strikes suspended against the Iranian regime for two weeks if they reopen the Strait of Hormuz and stop attacks against the United States, Israel and neighbouring countries in the region.

The de-escalation efforts were announced in the eleventh hour after US president Donald Trump had warned a civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again unless Tehran capitulated to his demands for a ceasefire deal on Tuesday night.

The Israeli prime ministers office issued an official statement in support of the ceasefire in Iran, only to caveat that the two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

Shortly after the prime ministers statement, Israels military issued repeated urgent warnings to residents of Tyre in southern Lebanon to evacuate their homes immediately and move north of the Zahrani River. Photos showed smoke rising from explosions in Tyre on Wednesday following an Israeli strike.

Israel supports President Trumps decision to suspend strikes against Iran for two weeks, subject to Iran immediately opening the straits and stopping all attacks on the US, Israel and countries in the region, the statement from Mr Netanyahu read.

Smoke rises from an explosion in Tyre on Wednesday following an Israeli strike (Reuters)

Israel also supports the US effort to ensure that Iran no longer poses a nuclear, missile and terror threat to America, Israel, Iran's Arab neighbours and the world.

The United States has told Israel that it is committed to achieving these goals, shares by the US, Israel and Israel's regional allies, in the upcoming negotiations. The two-weeks ceasefire does not include Lebanon.

Hezbollah halted fire on northern Israel and on Israeli troops in Lebanon in the early hours of Wednesday as part of the ceasefire and is expected to issue a statement outlining its formal position in due course.

Pakistan, which brokered the ceasefire deal, had said it extends to Israel and Hezbollah fighting in Lebanon.

Displaced people wait to receive aid after fleeing Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon (AP)

More than 1,500 deaths have been recorded in Lebanon since Israel and Hezbollah reignited their conflict at the end of February, authorities reported on Tuesday, with more than one million civilians displaced.

French president Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that he welcomed the ceasefire between Iran and the United States, at the start of his meeting on defence with advisers and members of his cabinet, but added the situation in Lebanon remained critical and called for the country to be included in the deal.

France has advocated for Lebanon since the US-Israeli war with Iran began, ramping up aid for the country and even suggesting Paris as a location for Israeli-Lebanese ceasefire negotiations.

Israels opposition leader, Yair Lapid, criticised Mr Netanyahu, stating that Israel wasnt even at the table when decisions were made concerning the countrys national security.

France has ramped up aid for Lebanon since the conflict began (AFP/Getty)

There has never been such a political disaster in all of our history. Israel wasnt even at the table when decisions were made concerning the core of our national security.

The military carried out everything that was asked of it, the public demonstrated amazing resilience, but Mr Netanyahu failed politically, failed strategically, and didnt meet a single one of the goals that he himself set.

It will take us years to repair the political and strategic damage that Mr Netanyahu wrought due to arrogance, negligence, and a lack of strategic planning.

Iran said on Wednesday that negotiations with the US would begin on Friday in Islamabad.
Meg Ryan enjoys a kosher sandwich at Katzs Deli in a scene from When Harry Met Sally... - Alamy

There are few meals as imbued with hope, sorrow, body and soul as Passover. At least, thats what Ive been told. Ive never been to moshiachs meal (or moshiachs seudah, meaning meal of the messiah), the event that marks the end of Passover which falls on Thursday.

I grew up on the Wirral, which has a Jewish population you could fit inside Goldie Hawns wardrobe. But, from my early teens, everything I ever saw or read about Jewish food attracted me in a disproportionately immense way.

I think it stems from there being so little food in my house when I was a kid that I used to sneak to the fridge and eat margarine with my fingers at night because I was so hungry. I didnt grow up in abject poverty, I just had excessively parsimonious parents who thought an extremely active teenage boy didnt need a scrap more food than his 40-something mother and father.

I suspect it was a movie scene (probably a Woody Allen film) that gave me my first sighting of salt beef and pastrami sandwiches on rye, matzo balls and lokshen soup. There was something about the richness and warmth of Jewish dishes that made me salivate. In short, I knew that if my parents were Jewish then I wouldnt have been scraping tubs of Flora with my digits after dark.

When I moved to London, at the age of 22, the very first restaurant I went to was the last surviving branch of Blooms. On my maiden trip to New York, the first meal I ate was at Katzs Deli. Even now, I regularly go to Baker Street to eat a club sandwich at Reubens; the fat and lean of the pastrami and salt beef morphing gloriously with the septum-bruising mustard and Dead Sea saltiness of the pickles.

But these trips have mostly been solo dining experiences. Not many people (apart from the Jewish girlfriends Ive had) knew about my adoration. For years, I didnt talk, thinking people would accuse me of engaging, or even free-loading, on something that wasnt mine.

My death-row meal would definitely include latkes

I realised only recently how stupid this sounds. No Briton who adores sushi is ever likely to be hounded by a Japanese resident of either Tokyo or Tower Hamlets for loving their cuisine. So why should I be bashful any longer about the fact that my death-row meal would definitely include latkes and chopped liver?

Because thats the beauty of food: you can fetishise it and it wont be offended.

As much as I loathe the binary nature of most online debates involving Israel, I feel no choice other than to revert to kindergarten logic in this next bit: hysteria has lowered the IQ threshold on conversation around this topic for us all  even when writing on food.

So lets get this over with quickly: firstly, as a disabled atheist who prefers democracies to autocracies and anarchy, if I had to live anywhere in the Middle East, Id choose Haifa over Homs or Hama, even though Ive visited 23 Muslim-majority countries as a journalist and experienced outstanding hospitality in all of them  except Kuwait, which is the most boring nation on the planet.

Secondly, although I feel splenetic about more than a few of Benjamin Netanyahus positions and actions, Im not planning on running into the arms of Hamas or Hezbollah supporters anytime soon; the potentates they lionise would appear to hate my very existence.

Its perhaps only in the sclerotic sphere of Arab-Israeli politics that such dull rhetoric as the above actually feels mildly iconoclastic.

The main reason I went to Tel Aviv for a week a few years ago was to eat. I still dream of the most luscious hummus on earth, the astonishingly good wine and the unctuous fried chicken livers.

The gang of young Jewish men and women who my then-wife and I befriended (and went on a very late bar crawl with) thought that our gastronomic intentions were a perfectly brilliant reason to visit their city. It was harder work to convince them that we werent in town working for an NGO and that we werent even Jewish. Once our non-credentials were established, the drinks flowed anyway, to our genuine delight.

It was love at first bite: salt beef sandwiches on rye - Christine Boyd

I have since kept alive my goy love affair with schnitzel and salt beef. Now, after being more open about it for a while, Im starting to tire of the conversational fallout.

As Ive discovered first-hand in London this year, discussing poutine with a Left-wing Canadian doesnt make the conversation inevitably swerve into a polemic on Native American rights in Newfoundland. Mention smoked sablefish to a Corbynista, however, and prepare to have your shirt repurposed as an impromptu spittoon, such will be the torrent of verbals about freedom from the river to the sea coming someday soon.

Can you take politics out of food? It seems we can do it most of the time with other nations and cultures. Why is it I can admit to liking goulash and tagine without someone claiming that my preferences put me in league with Viktor Orban or the Moroccan authoritarian monarchy, but I cant do the same with kneidlach?

No more of this from today. Ill just eat more rye bread to restore my energy levels for the inevitable arguments that lie ahead of me for being open about my crush on kosher cuisine. Because if your demagoguery takes precedence over your dinner, then your problems extend far beyond the kitchen table.
Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran - Reuters

As he announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran with just 90 minutes to spare before his deadline, Donald Trump was already claiming victory.

Earlier that day, he had promised Irans entire civilisation would die tonight if they failed to agree to a deal to end the conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm EST (1am GMT) on Tuesday.

We have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, the US president declared as he announced the ceasefire.

But the presidents deal has a hole in it. A giant, nuclear bomb-shaped hole.

At the start of the war on Feb 28, Mr Trump had framed the US-Israeli bombing campaign as an existential fight to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

He had three other main objectives: to destroy the countrys navy, deplete its drone and missile arsenals and wreck its defence systems. Regime change, he insisted, was not an objective  although he initially said the country would be the Iranian peoples to take.

Buried in the rubble at its mountain bases, the Islamic Republic is still thought to possess around 440kg of uranium enriched to 60pc purity, a short step away from weapons-grade material at 90pc.

Iran, in other words, is just as close to developing a nuclear weapon as it was when the war began.

A satellite image of Irans Isfahan nuclear enrichment facility taken in June 2025

On Tuesday night, shortly after agreeing to the ceasefire, Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, said his country fully commits to not seeking possession of any nuclear weapons in a 10-point plan adopted by the regime.

According to Iranian officials, the 10 points were agreed upon by the US president. Indeed, Mr Trump reposted Mr Araghchis statement to his Truth Social page.

However, this has been Irans longstanding position.

The assertion that the country, which has been rumoured to have been secretly enriching uranium and storing it in underground bunkers, does not want a nuclear weapon has always been treated with scepticism by the US.

And within those 10 points agreed upon on Tuesday, Iran appeared to make no promises when it comes to enriching uranium.

Of course, this is just the start of negotiations, not the end  but throughout the conflict, Irans diplomatic hand has been strengthened even as its military was shredded: now it knows it can hurt Mr Trump by closing off the Strait of Hormuz.

Tehran did not have that leverage during previous negotiations, which also failed to yield a breakthrough. When the Iranian diplomats meet their American counterparts at the negotiating table on Friday, they will have new cards to play.

The Americans, on the other hand, appear to be in much the same position they were when they first sat down for talks.

One key question at this stage is why Iran has chosen to let go of the Strait of Hormuz right at the moment of maximum pressure. Is the regime more fragile than it appears?

The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway between Iran and Oman that links the Persian Gulf to the Arabian Sea - Gallo Images

More likely, the answer lies in the kind of concessions and assurances offered to the Islamic Republic as part of the ceasefire. Whether those include an agreement on the level to which uranium can be enriched remains to be seen.

Nevertheless, Mr Trump told AFP that Irans uranium would be perfectly taken care of under the deal, although he did not specify how.

And, without question, the ceasefire deal is significant.

It is the first sign of a possible end to the 39-day war, and for now, Mr Trump, the so-called dealmaker-in-chief, seems buoyed by being released from Irans economic chokehold.

In February, US officials described Irans nuclear deal, handed over following talks in Geneva, as Swiss cheese, given it was so full of holes.

Mr Trump, perhaps, may want to examine his victory a little more closely.
Palestinian girl who lost arm in Israeli attack arrives in UK for treatment after US visa snub

A Palestinian girl who lost her arm during Israels bombardment of Gaza has arrived in the UK for treatment.

Mariam Sabbah, 10, was greeted at Heathrow airport on Tuesday, along with her mother, Fatma Salman, and two brothers, by a small crowd bearing gifts, balloons and bouquets.

The family arrived in London from Egypt after hopes to go to the US for treatment were thwarted when the Trump administration halted visitor visas for all Palestinians in August last year. Mariam is one of more than 11,000 patients who have been evacuated from Gaza since October 2023.

More than 18,500 patients, including approximately 3,800 children, still require urgent medical evacuation for lifesaving treatment unavailable in Gaza, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Mariam suffered from critical abdominal and pelvic injuries and lost her left arm after an Israeli missile tore through her home in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, in the early hours of the morning last March. When the heavy shelling woke her up, she ran to her parents bedroom, but part of the staircase collapsed and she was trapped beneath the rubble.

Mariam lost her arm after an Israeli missile struck her home in Deir al-Balah (Fajr Global)

Her family and rescuers worked for three hours to free her and take her to al-Aqsa Hospital, at the time one of the last functioning in the war-torn Gaza Strip, where the surgical team resolved that if the missing limb could be found, they would attempt to reattach it.

Returning to the rubble, her family were able to find the missing arm, which had been preserved by the cold weather. In a five-hour procedure, surgeons reconnected the blood vessels and nerves.

However, an infection after the operation, caused by the limbs exposure to debris, dust and explosive residue, left the staff with no choice but to amputate.

Gaza has the highest number of child amputees per capita of anywhere in the world, according to UNRWA, with up to 4,000 amputations recorded since October 2023.

Mariam and her family with Project Pure Hope workers on arrival at Heathrow (Fajr Global)

Medical charity FAJR Global, based in the US, evacuated Mariam from Gaza to Egypt and worked to secure specialist reconstructive and rehabilitative care; she requires limb lengthening, a custom prosthesis and advanced paediatric reconstructive surgery to treat her pelvic injuries.

The US Department of State denied the familys visitor visa as part of a ban on all Palestinians travelling to the US. Project Pure Hope (PPH), a UK-based charity, stepped in after they identified Mariam as a candidate for medical evacuation to the UK, where privately funded specialist care could be arranged through their established network of paediatric hospitals.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had announced in July that the UK would evacuate children in urgent need of medical care from Gaza to receive specialist treatment in NHS hospitals across the UK.

The Project Pure Hope charity identified Mariam as a candidate for medical evacuation to the UK (Fajr Global)

A government spokesperson said: The UK government worked with the World Health Organisation and other partners to carry out medical evacuations from Gaza to the UK in autumn 2025. Thanks to the efforts of the NHS and a number of local authorities, 50 children and their immediate families arrived from Gaza and are receiving the quality care they need.

The UK also supports Project Pure Hopes initiative to bring a small number of children from Gaza to the UK for privately funded specialist care.

Following the ceasefire, now is the time to scale up aid and ensure much-needed medicines and medical supplies are getting into Gaza. We continue to play our part, with our support to UK-Meds field hospitals enabling over 1 million patient consultations across Gaza.

Raza Halim, co-founder of Project Pure Hope, said: We cannot forget the children of Gaza. PPH undertook the first medical evacuation of children from Gaza. We showed it can be done, and established the pathway for future evacuations, which formed the blueprint for the government Medevac scheme.

All of our work, and the British publics overwhelming reaction to it, has shown that there is an intense desire to continue to help the most vulnerable and dispossessed in this world. We have to meet the moment. We cannot let up.
Pam Bondi speaks as she attends a dinner for the Japanese prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, at the White House in Washington in March. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters (Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Former US Attorney General Pam Bondi, the former US attorney general, will not appear next week for a scheduled deposition before the House oversight and government reform committee to answer questions about the justice departments handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and its release of the Epstein files, the committee said.

In a statement on Wednesday morning shared with the Guardian, a spokesperson for the House oversight committee said: The Department of Justice has stated Pam Bondi will not appear on 14 April for a deposition since she is no longer attorney general and was subpoenaed in her capacity as attorney general.

The spokesperson added: The committee will contact Pam Bondis personal counsel to discuss next steps regarding scheduling her deposition.

In a letter obtained by the Guardian, Patrick Davis, the assistant attorney general, wrote to James Comer, a Kentucky congressman and chair of the House oversight and government reform committee, telling him that the committee issued the subpoena to Ms Bondi in her official capacity as attorney general.

Ms Bondi no longer holds that office, the letter reads. As a result, because Ms Bondi no longer can testify in her official capacity as attorney general, the departments position is that the subpoena no longer obligates her to appear on 14 April.

The letter adds: We kindly ask that you confirm that the subpoena is withdrawn.

The committees subpoena has not been withdrawn, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Last month, the committee formally subpoenaed Bondi to appear before the panel.

In the subpoena letter, Comer wrote that there were questions regarding the Department of Justices handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and his associates and its compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act.

As attorney general, you are directly responsible for overseeing the departments collection, review, and determinations regarding the release of files pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the committee therefore believes that you possess valuable insight into these efforts, he wrote.

The justice department failed to comply with the acts 19 December deadline to release the relevant Epstein files in its possession, only releasing what it claimed were the full files on 31 January. Many Epstein victims have complained that their sensitive information was exposed in the files.

The formal subpoena followed a 4 March vote in which five Republicans on the committee joined Democrats to approve a motion to issue a subpoena to Bondi. At the time, the justice department under Bondi described the subpoena as completely unnecessary.

The subpoena had requested that Bondi appear for a deposition on 14 April.

But last Thursday, Donald Trump ousted her from her post as attorney general.

A day later, on Friday, a spokesperson for the oversight committee said: Since Pam Bondi is no longer attorney general, Chairman Comer will speak with Republican members and the Department of Justice about the status of the deposition subpoena and confer on next steps.

On Tuesday, the Democratic representative Ro Khanna and Republican representative Nancy Mace, sent a letter to Comer urging him to make clear that Bondi remains obligated to comply with the committees subpoena and appear for her 14 April deposition.

The removal of Pam Bondi as attorney general does not diminish the committees legitimate oversight interests in seeking her sworn testimony or the need for accountability and information, they wrote.

In a statement on Wednesday in response to the news that the justice department has told the committee that Bondi will not appear, Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the House oversight committee, said: Now that Pam Bondi has been fired, shes trying to get out of her legal obligation to testify before the Oversight committee about the Epstein files and the White House cover-up.

He added: Our bipartisan subpoena is to Pam Bondi, whether she is the attorney general or not. She must come in to testify immediately, and if she defies the subpoena, we will begin contempt charges in the Congress. The survivors deserve justice.

Some Epstein victims expressed anger at Bondis intent not to appear. Survivors have waited nearly three decades for answers  how much longer must we wait? said Maria and Annie Farmer in a joint statement. Any further delays only deepen survivors pain and weakens our confidence in the governments willingness to hold accountable those who enabled and perpetrated Epsteins heinous crimes.

Khanna said: The cover-up continues, but we will fight for accountability.
The father of a 21-year-old man who was stabbed to death at a viewpoint on Primrose Hill has spoken of his heartbreak.

Finbar Sullivan, aged 21, was killed when a fight broke out at the beauty spot on Tuesday evening, that witnesses said happened in front of horrified onlookers enjoying the sunshine.

Police have since launched a murder investigation  the fourth in London in six days  with officers probing footage online believed to show the lead-up to the killing.

Finbars father Christopher Sullivan, 65, described his sons death as the worst tragedy I could ever imagine, adding he can never be replaced.

Mr Sullivan, founder of 1980s band Blue Rondo a la Turk and Sohos famous Wag Club, said his son had gone to Primrose Hill that day to do a bit of filming with a new camera hed been gifted for his 21st birthday.

I'm so broken-hearted, I can't believe it. He was the most beautiful, lovely, outgoing, loving boy, he told the Daily Mail.

He was just a really lovely person. And why he was targeted, we have no idea.

Mr Sullivan referred to his son as a groovy 21-year-old who loved movies and making films, saying he would stay at home six-nights a week editing his films.

(ES composite)

Finbars death came less than three hours after a man was fatally stabbed in Shadwell.

Several young men can be seen brawling in a video, while shocked onlookers film with mobile phones.

At one point, one of the thugs appears to pull out a knife and begins threatening another person. He lunges towards them before quickly backing away.

Another video shows paramedics giving medical attention to a male lying on the floor.

An eyewitness said: A big brawl kicked off  people were throwing punches, people were screaming at others to stop.

There were lots of people involved in the initial fight, most of them looked like teenagers about 18 or 19.

Then a group of three people ran off past us and one of them said to the other youve been sheft [slang for stabbed] mate and you could just see this massive red patch on his shirt.

(X)

After that a massive group of people began crowding around someone on the floor where the fight had been and you could see from peoples reactions it was not good.

Lots of people had their head in their hands and just looked very distressed.

Mr Sullivan said he rushed to the scene as soon as he heard his son had been caught up in the violence.

Finbar, who studied at London Screen Academy, primarily produced music videos for rap drill artists under the name Sully Shot It.

The creative arts runs in the Sullivan family. Not only was his father a musician, but Finbars grandfather Michael Seresin is a celebrated cinematographer who worked on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the film adaptation of Angela's Ashes and on 1987's Angel Heart which featured Robert De Niro and Mickey Rourke.

The Wag Club, which was founded by Mr Sullivan in 1982, was the place to be for cutting edge superstars in the 1980s, welcoming Boy George, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Neneh Cherry, Prince, George Michael, Robert De Niro and Madonna through its doors.

David Bowies Blue Jean video was filmed at the club, which boasted a variety of music genres  one for each day of the week.

Artist GGL Wuni last night paid tribute to Finbar, posting: My brother, my family, I will never let your name fade. The most clean-hearted guy I've ever met, always turned up for me without a miss.

Metropolitan Police officers were called at 6.41pm and attended the north London park, which boasts panoramic views of the capital, along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service.

Paramedics treated Mr Sullivan for stab wounds. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His family have been informed and continue to be supported by specialist officers.

Police at scene at Primrose Hill, north London (PA/PA Wire)

Another man, who police believe is in his 20s, was found on nearby Regents Park Road with knife wounds.

He was taken to hospital by paramedics, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

The attack is understood to have happened when the popular north London beauty spot was busy with people enjoying the Spring sunshine with schools still off for the Easter holiday.

No arrests have been made yet and a crime scene remained in place on Wednesday.

Police were called to reports of a fight (Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

Detectives are carrying out a number of urgent enquiries to identify and trace those responsible, including analysing CCTV footage, speaking to witnesses and gathering forensic evidence.

Detective Inspector Andy Griffin, who is leading the investigation, said: Finbars family have suffered a devastating loss and our thoughts are with them as they navigate this very challenging time.

Our investigation is progressing at pace and we are following several lines of inquiry. This incident occurred in a busy, public park and there may be many witnesses who can help us piece together what happened.

We are aware of footage circulating on social media around the time of the incident, and urge anyone who has any information, including photos or videos, which could support the investigation to urgently contact us."

Superintendent Matt Cox said: This is an utterly tragic incident and our thoughts remain with the mans family and loved ones.

(Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

I would like to reassure the local community that the investigation is unfolding at pace and an increased police presence will remain in the area while we carry out inquiries.

I would appeal for anyone who was in the area at the time and has any information that could help my officers to come forward.

The 21-year-old was killed after a bloody Easter Bank Holiday weekend across London.

Eghosa Ogbebor, 14, was gunned down on Lord Warwick Street, Woolwich, at about 3.40pm on Thursday.

A 19-year-old man stabbed in Station Road, Harrow on Friday afternoon remains in a major trauma centre.

Aurelio Mejia, 26, was killed in a triple stabbing outside LAXA Lounge nightclub on Ruby Street, Peckham in the early hours of Monday.

A man believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s died in a double stabbing outside a cafe on Watney Street, Shadwell at 4pm on Tuesday.

Anyone with information that may assist police in Primrose Hill is asked to call 101, quoting CAD 6448/07Apr or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Clay Fuller speaks next to Donald Trump in Rome, Georgia, on 19 February. Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters (Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Republican Clay Fuller supports the war in Iran. Democrat Shawn Harris opposes it. Voters in Marjorie Taylor Greenes former district in north-west Georgia decided that this distinction was not enough to propel a Democrat into a conservative-leaning House seat on Tuesday night.

But Fuller won with 56% of the vote, against Harriss 44%, according to the Associated Press, a result that comes after Greene secured the district by 28 points in 2024 and 32 points two years earlier. Democrats claim the swing to the left in the north-western corner of Georgia is a notable shift thats worth celebrating.

I think its a win in my mind, said Adrienne White Carden, a longtime Democratic political activist now running in a special election for the Georgia state senate in Gwinnett county. Its not an actual win in terms of having a new, well-qualified representative in Georgias 14th district  but it used to be unfathomable there for a Democrat to win  Its incredible gains.

Both men running to replace the former Trump ally turned critic, who resigned from Congress earlier this year, have considerable military credentials. Fuller is an air force reserve lieutenant colonel and military attorney. Harris is a retired brigadier general who has commanded combat troops in Afghanistan, Liberia and elsewhere, with his last active-duty assignment as a military attache in Israel.

On paper, the odds of a Harris win were slim. Georgias 14th congressional district voted for Trump by a two-to-one margin in 2024, which is nearly the same margin Harris lost to Greene in 2024. In line with special elections for Congress since the start of Trumps term, the Democratic candidate overperformed. Harris improved on previous margins by about 25 points, one of the largest gains against Republicans in special elections for congress in this cycle. Harris said he will try again in November with a full congressional term on the table.

Trumps war, which he had threatened to escalate on Tuesday evening before agreeing to a two-week ceasefire, is unpopular, with most Americans opposing the conflict, which Harris hoped to capitalize on in the campaign.

This war that were in right now is a war of choice, Harris said in the sole debate between the two during the campaign. The president was advised not to do it. He did it and now were trying to figure out how are we going to get out of it  We should not put ground troops on the ground because this is not a war we should be in. We should be trying to pull back out of it.

In that debate on 22 March, Fuller expressed his support for Trumps actions. Our country is safer because of what President Trump has done regarding Iran, Fuller said. You see that with just the news over the last couple of days. Iran fired a ballistic missile aimed at Diego Garcia where there are Americans stationed  [Iran] is a death cult that could not be negotiated with.

Republicans currently hold the House with a three-vote margin, with three vacancies. The loss of Greenes seat to a Democrat would have been an unthinkable blow to Republican prospects heading into the November midterm elections, so the contest drew outsized attention. Samuel L Jackson recorded an ad for Harris, and Pete Buttigieg joined Harris on the campaign trail.

Fuller kept a comparably lower profile after placing second in the open jungle primary amid a field of more than a dozen Republican candidates splitting conservative voters. Fuller benefited from his relationship with Trump as a former White House aide and a relationship with voters as the elected prosecutor in north Georgias Lookout Mountain judicial circuit.

Harris significantly out-raised Fuller with $6.5m to Fullers $1.2m. But outside organizations have used nearly $2m in additional spending to attack Harris.

Who runs negative ads against somebody who doesnt have a chance? Harris asked in an interview with the Guardian. Democrats are motivated. Independents are motivated and upset with Trump.

Melita Easters, executive director of Georgia Win List, a political organization supporting women as political candidates, said the race showed that Republicans should be worried about future contests in the state.

Every county in that district shifted more blue with that runoff, she said. If it shifted that much, where Republicans really have to worry are some of the other districts.

Three of Georgias congressional seats held by Republicans have no incumbent running in November. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter are both challenging the US senator Jon Ossoff and representative Barry Loudermilk is retiring.

Additionally, for the first time in 70 years, four of the statewide constitutional offices  governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and attorney general  will be open at once, Easters said. Given the historically tight margins for recent statewide elections, a shift in Democratic results in special elections may presage a break in the Republican hold on state politics, she said.

Its a question of what kind of ground game both sides are able to put together, Easters said. On the Republican side, youve got this nasty, mean governors race, and thats going to be a mean primary. Youve got a fairly contentious US Senate race  How quickly do they put themselves back together again for November, set aside the differences of the primaries for a united front in November.

The results of a less-watched race for an open state senate seat within Georgias 14th congressional district may demonstrate the shift in margins in comparison. Lanny Thomas handily defeated Jack Zibluk by 69-31 on Tuesday, to succeed state senator Colton Moore, who resigned his seat to enter the congressional contest. Moore was a firebrand Trump supporter and controversial figure in office; in his 2024 election he defeated his Democratic opponent 79-21. Thomass margin was about 10 points narrower.

I got a lot of bipartisan support on a personal level, but I also got a lot of gee, youre a great guy, I just wish you didnt have that D after your name, Zibluk said. The brand is so toxic in this part of the world that its a bit of a burden.
LOS ANGELES, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- UPERFECT recently unveiled Soul N1, an AI agent monitor that marks the company's entry into a new category of intelligent display devices. By integrating AI capabilities directly into a portable screen, Soul N1 enables users to generate content, summarize meetings, retrieve information in real time, and access multilingual assistance directly from the display, reflecting a broader industry shift from passive screens to more interactive, context-aware work tools.

Unlike conventional portable monitors that primarily extend screen space, Soul N1 is designed to function as both a display and an AI-powered assistant, exploring how hardware can evolve alongside advances in artificial intelligence.

At its current stage, Soul N1 is available as a working prototype, offering AI-assisted productivity capabilities such as document generation and summarization, real-time information retrieval, and multilingual translation. The device supports a range of real-world professional scenarios. In meetings, it can capture spoken content and convert it into structured notes, summaries, and actionable insights, while also enabling smoother cross-language communication.

"We believe the role of displays is fundamentally changing," said Howard, co-founder of UPERFECT. "Screens should no longer be passive surfaces. With Soul N1, we are exploring how displays can evolve into intelligent systems that understand context, assist in real time, and actively support productivity."

Soul N1 currently operates in two modes: as an extended display when connected to a laptop, and as a standalone AI assistant when used independently.

Looking ahead, UPERFECT aims to enable real-time, context-aware assistance directly on screen, reducing the need for users to switch between devices or workflows.

Soul N1 is currently in a pre-testing phase, with UPERFECT inviting a limited number of users to participate in early access. The company is selecting 50 early users who are interested in exploring AI-powered productivity and are willing to provide feedback to help shape the product's development. Selected participants may receive early access devices and exclusive opportunities to experience upcoming features.

For more information, visit https://uperfect.com/products/soul-n1.

About UPERFECT

UPERFECT is a technology brand focused on portable monitor solutions and next-generation display experiences. The company continues to explore new approaches to portable display technology, including the integration of intelligent features, with the goal of creating more flexible and user-centered tools for modern work environments.

SOURCE UPERFECT
For more than a decade, the Gilgo Beach serial killings baffled investigators. The break came from an unlikely source - a discarded pizza crust.

In January 2023, architect and family man Rex Heuermann threw away a pizza box on Fifth Avenue outside his Manhattan office. Months later, DNA from the leftover crust linked him to a 2010 murder and, later, a string of unsolved killings in a chilling case that has haunted New Yorks Long Island for years.

Prosecutors alleged Heuermann was responsible for the deaths of seven women: Melissa Barthelemy, 24, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, Amber Lynn Costello, 27, Megan Waterman, 22, Sandra Costilla, 28, Jessica Taylor, 20, and Valerie Mack, 24. He initially denied them all.

Heuermann returned to court April 8, 2026, where he switched his plea from not guilty to guilty. He also admitted to an eighth homicide  the 1996 killing of Karen Vergata, a Manhattan mother of two whose remains were found west of Gilgo Beach and on Fire Island, more than a decade apart.

The investigation into the crimes spanned decades, beginning with a 1993 killing and stretching through the 2010 disappearance of another woman that would ultimately expose a burial ground along a desolate stretch of Ocean Parkway. But an arrest wouldnt come for 13 more years.

Rex Heuermann switched his plea from not guilty to guilty in a New York courtroom Wednesday as well as admitting to an eighth homicide (AP)

He also admitted to an eighth homicide  the 1996 killing of Karen Vergata, a Manhattan mother of two whose remains were found west of Gilgo Beach and on Fire Island, more than a decade apart. (AP)

Who is Rex Heuermann?

Rex Heuermann, a longtime Long Island resident, is a married father of two who lived in Massapequa Park. He commuted into Manhattan for his job as an architect at a company he founded, RH Consultants & Associates.

He was arrested on July 13, 2023, near his Midtown office, where authorities said key evidence, including cellphone data and burner phone activity, placed him in contact with several victims.

Heuermann lived about 20 minutes from Gilgo Beach, with his wife, Asa Ellerup, and their adult children. Neighbors described him as a quiet, largely unremarkable family man, though others recalled unsettling encounters.

In his professional life, some acquaintances described him as arrogant or intense. Paul Teitelbaum, who worked with him, said Heuermann had a swagger and an attitude that said: Im the expert, youre lucky to have me.

Interior designer Dominique Vidal recalled repeated, unwanted calls and a creepy voicemail despite no working relationship.

Heuermann has lived on Long Island most of his life and attended Berner High School in Massapequa Park, where classmates described him as shy and socially awkward.

Heuermann lived in Massapequa Park, about 20 minutes from Gilgo Beach, with his wife, Asa Ellerup (center), and their adult children (AP)

DNA belonging to Heuermann's then-wife was found in hair recovered from a belt used to restrain one of his victims. Ellerup was not considered a suspect as she was out of state when Brainard-Barnes was killed (AP)

The Gilgo Beach killings: How the case began

The case that would eventually capture Heuermann began in May 2010 with the disappearance of 23-year-old Shannan Gilbert.

During a 21-minute 911 call, she pleaded for help: Theres somebody after mesomebodys after me, please. She fled a clients home in the early morning hours and vanished.

During a search for Gilbert in a dense thicket close to the beach, police discovered human remains. Within days, four victims had been found. By spring 2011, the number of victims rose to 10.

They first four victims became known as the Gilgo Four  Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Amber Lynn Costello and Megan Waterman. All four of the women were in their 20s and worked as escorts.

Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose bodies were found in 2010 are the Gilgo Four (Suffolk County Police Department)

Investigators uncovered multiple sets of remains  eventually totaling at least 10 victims, including several women, a man and a toddler

Over the next year, investigators uncovered more remains  eventually totaling at least 10 victims, including women, a man and a toddler.

Gilberts body was found in December 2011. But she has not been linked to Heuermann and authorities long maintained her death was accidental. Her family strongly disputed that conclusion.

Who are the victims?

Prosecutors charged Heuermann with the deaths of seven women. Maureen Brainard-Barnes was 25 when she vanished in 2007. Her remains were found at Gilgo Beach in December 2010, police said. DNA belonging to Heuermann's wife was found in hair recovered from a belt used to restrain Brainard-Barnes, according to an indictment. Ellerup was not considered a suspect as she was out of state when Brainard-Barnes was killed.

Melissa Barthelemy, 24, went missing in July 2009. That same year, Barthelemy's sister, Amanda Funderburg, said she had received several taunting phone calls that were believed to be from the killer, according to authorities. Her remains were found in December 2010 along Ocean Parkway near the others.

Megan Waterman, 22, was last seen at a hotel in Hauppauge before her remains were found along Gilgo Beach in December 2010.

Amber Lynn Costello, 27, disappeared in September 2010 after leaving her home to meet a client. A witness described that client as ogre-like and driving a Chevrolet Avalanche, according to prosecutors. Her remains were found in December 2010.

Court records show that Heuermann was linked to the Gilgo Four murders through a tip about his pickup truck, a stash of burner phones, sadistic online searches and phone calls taunting victims families. Email accounts believed to have been used by Heuermann were used to access and/or conduct searches related to pornography, rape, torture, and sex workers several thousand times, prosecutors said.

His DNA was also found on one of the victims, while his wifes hair was found on three of the four women he is connected to, according to prosecutors.

In June 2024, Heuermann was charged with two additional murders. Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor were the first victims of Heuermann who were murdered before 2007.

Costilla, whose remains were found on November 20, 1993, on Cove Road in North Sea, a Southampton town, is the earliest known victim. Investigators suspected that convicted serial killer John Bittrolff was linked to Costillas murder, but he was never charged. He is currently serving a 50-year-to-life sentence at Clinton Correctional Center in Dannemora.

DNA evidence later linked Heuermann to the case.

Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor were the first alleged victims of Heuermann who were murdered before 2007 (Suffolk County DA/Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook page)

Taylor, a 20-year-old Poughkeepsie resident who worked as an escort in New York City, was found dismembered in a wooded area of Manorville, New York, on July 26, 2003. Her torso was found, but other parts were missing.

Those remains, including her head, hands and forearm, were discovered years later  along Ocean Parkway on March 29, 2011  and initially labeled Jane Doe No. 5.

In December 2024, Heuermann was charged with the death of a seventh woman. Valerie Mack, 24, whose remains were first found on Long Island in 2000, had been working as an escort in Philadelphia and was last seen by her family that year in New Jersey.

Some of Macks skeletal remains were initially discovered in Manorville, New York; authorities found more of her remains about 50 miles west, in Gilgo Beach, more than 10 years later. They were unidentified until genetic testing revealed who she was in 2020.

Human hair found with Macks remains was sent for testing earlier this year and found to be a likely match with the genetic profile of Heuermanns daughter, prosecutors said in court papers. His daughter is not accused of any wrongdoing and would have been 3 or 4 years old when Mack died.

After pleading guilty to the seven killings Wednesday, Huermann also admitted that he caused the death of Karen Vergata and transported her body out to a remote spot. Vergata, a Manhattan mother of two, disappeared in 1996. Her remains were found west of Gilgo Beach and on Fire Island more than a decade apart.

How was Rex Heuermann caught?

For years, the Gilgo Beach killings remained unsolved. The investigation was plagued by internal issues, including allegations that former Suffolk County police chief James Burke hindered cooperation with federal authorities. Burke later resigned and served prison time on unrelated charges.

The case gained new momentum in 2018 and again in 2022 with renewed leadership and a dedicated task force.

Early clues pointed to a distinctive vehicle: a first-generation Chevrolet Avalanche seen by a witness in Amber Costellos disappearance. That lead brought investigators to Heuermann.

From there, authorities built a case using cellphone records, burner phone data and location tracking. The phones used to contact victims were traced to areas near Heuermanns home and Midtown office.

Investigators also linked him to the purchase and use of burner phones, including one tied to an online account.

Then came the crucial DNA evidence. Surveillance teams observed Heuermann discarding a pizza box outside his Manhattan office. A lab tested DNA from the leftover crust and matched it to a hair found on burlap used to wrap Megan Watermans body.

Surveillance teams observed Heuermann discarding a pizza box outside his Manhattan office. A lab tested DNA from the leftover crust and matched it to a hair found on burlap used to wrap Megan Watermans body (Suffolk County DA)

On March 14, 2022, the name Rex was first mentioned, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said during a press conference following the arrest.

A New York state investigator was able to identify him in a database and from that point on we used the power of the grand jury, over 300 subpoenas and search warrants, looking into this individuals background to bring us to this day.

The DNA match  combined with digital evidence and witness accounts  led to his arrest in July 2023.

A blueprint of crimes

In 2024, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney revealed that Heuermann kept a blueprint of his crimes on a hard drive in the basement of his Massapequa Park home, which was recently searched for a second time.

Tierney said Gilgo Beach Task Force believed this planning document that was used by Heuermann to plot out his kills with excruciating detail.

His motivations, meticulous planning, and clear intent were obvious, Tierney told reporters following the arraignment. His intent was nothing short but to murder these victims.

Attorney John Ray, who represents some of the victims families, called Heuermann a stalker who took great pleasure in hunting the women he killed.

The twisted document the killer kept in his home, which was released shortly before the hearing began, features a series of checklists with tasks to complete before, during and after the killings, as well as practical lessons for next time. Among the dozens of entries written are reminders to clean the bodies and destroy evidence, to get sleep before hunt and to have story set.

One section, titled things to remember, appears to highlight lessons from previous killings, prosecutors said, such as using heavier rope and limiting noise to maximize play time. A body prep checklist includes, among other items, a note to remove head and hands.

Ray said the digital data was essential to the charges against Heuermann and their quest for justice.

The lives of these women matter, Tierney said at the 2024 press conference. No one understands that more than the families.
While much of the country enjoys a long Easter weekend, its far harder for MPs to switch off. And when they do, they might just end up getting lampooned for it.

This week Keir Starmer was ridiculed for his 5-a-side prowess, while Labour MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy faced criticism for posting a clip of herself dancing at a silent disco.

In the midst of the US Iran war and a deepening cost of living crisis, Helen and Cleo discuss why its so hard for MPs to catch a break and why its always a good idea to think before you post on social media.

New episodes of In The Room drop every Friday. Listen to the new episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch on YouTube.
You soon may be able to enjoy french fries with a little less guilt about your health.

Researchers at the University of Illinois have reportedly developed a method for cooking fries that maintains their crispiness and taste while using less oil.

The answer, apparently, is to use a microwave alongside frying.

According to the researchers, combining traditional frying with microwave use cooks the fries without the need for as much oil, allowing diners to enjoy them without consuming as much fat.

The findings were published in Current Research in Food Science and The Journal of Food Science.

Researchers at the University of Illinois have reportedly found a way to make french fries that absorb less oil  and thus less fat  without losing their taste or crispiness by using a combination of traditional frying and a microwave (Getty Images)

While creating the healthier fry may seem like an odd thing for scientists to focus on, the fact of the matter is that  despite their high levels of fat  people are going to eat french fries. Rather than hoping that our willpower to not indulge wins the day, the researchers instead have sought a means for making fries less harmful.

Consumers want healthy foods, but at the time of purchase, cravings often prevail, Pawan Singh Takhar, the author of one of the studies, said, according to WIRED. The high oil content adds flavor, but it also contains a lot of energy and calories.

Frying food is typically seen as a less healthy way of cooking because the method doesn't stop fats from frying oils from entering the actual food product.

Early in the frying process, the water in the pores of potatoes keeps the oil from entering the fry. But as cooking goes on, the water evaporates, allowing an entry point for the oil.

Unlike frying, which cooks from the outside in, microwaving cooks from the inside out. But microwaving fries without any other means of cooking wouldn't give them the crispiness people typically associate with fries.

Golden and crispy French fries made to perfection in the air fryer (Getty)

"If only microwaving is used, the food turns out mushy," Takhar noted.

Instead, the researchers experimented with both frying and microwaving. They determined a way to heat the fries traditionally just enough to achieve the crispy outside before moving the food into a custom-built microwave to complete the cooking process.

"We propose to combine the two methods in the same device. Traditional heating maintains crispness, while microwave heating reduces oil consumption," the study says.

According to the researchers, the method should produce fries that taste like fries, maintain their texture and feel, but critically have soaked up less oil, and thus less fat.

Unfortunately for the rest of us, custom-built french fry microwave fryers aren't necessarily a kitchen appliance that is readily available, so it may be some time before fry lovers concerned with their health can replicate the experiment in their own homes.
A passenger pushes a cart loaded with suitcases past a Delta counter at the Los Angeles international airport on 26 November 2025. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP via Getty Images (Photograph: Patrick T Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)

Several major US airlines have raised their baggage fees in recent days, blaming ongoing volatility in oil markets caused by the US-Israeli war in Iran that has almost doubled jet fuel prices.

On Tuesday, Delta followed the lead of United Airlines and JetBlue, which announced last week that they were hiking baggage prices because of the ongoing war.

The move from Delta came on the same day that the company announced it expected to record a pre-tax profit of about $1bn in the quarter that will end in June.

Related: United flight narrowly avoids US military helicopter in California

In a statement, a Delta spokesperson said the new fee structure would take effect on Wednesday. The cost of a first and second checked bag on most routes will increase by $10 to $45 and $55, respectively, while a third bag will cost $200, an additional $50.

These updates are part of Deltas ongoing review of pricing across its business and reflect the impact of evolving global conditions and industry dynamics, the spokesperson said.

Delta did not immediately answer if the new rates were intended to be permanent, or would be reduced again when fuel prices retreat after the Iran war is settled.

A press release from Delta on Tuesday acknowledged that the airline, like every other, has been wrestling with soaring jet fuel prices since the US joined Israel in military strikes on Iran starting in February. Iran responded by closing the strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of the worlds oil is transported.

According to the industry advocacy group Airlines for America, the average price of a gallon of jet fuel in four major air hubs  Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York  has increased from $2.50 on 27 February, the day before military action commenced, to $4.81 on Tuesday.

In addition to rising fuel costs, several airlines are facing an increase in the amount of fuel their aircraft use because of extra miles required to avoid flying over the conflict zone.

Even so, Delta said it still expected to declare an industry-leading $1bn profit by the end of the June quarter, and announced on Tuesday it broke its previous March-quarter record with $15.9bn in revenue.

Deltas results underscore the power of our brand and the durability of our financial foundation, Ed Bastian, Deltas chief executive officer, said in a statement.

We delivered earnings that were more than 40% higher than last year, even with a significant increase in fuel costs and operational disruptions across the industry.

Bastian did not address Deltas decision to increase baggage fees, which follows a parallel move by other major airlines in recent days.

On 3 April, United raised the cost of first and second checked bags on most routes by $10 in what the airline said was its first increase in two years. A first bag now costs $45 if booked ahead of time, and $50 within 24 hours of travel; a second checked bag will cost $55 or $60 depending when it was booked.

Some customers, including holders of airline-branded credit cards and qualifying members of loyalty programs, will continue to pay nothing, United said.

Days earlier JetBlue, which operates a sliding scale of baggage fees depending on when tickets are booked, and if the flights are peak or non-peak, also said it was hiking baggage costs. Both airlines cited rising fuel costs as the reason.

While we recognize that fee increases are never ideal, we take careful consideration to ensure these changes are implemented only when necessary, JetBlue said in a statement, reported by NBC News.

Separately, numerous airlines have raised ticket prices to help mitigate the additional expense.

Major international carriers including Qantas, Cathay Pacific and Thai Airways are among those that have imposed fuel surcharges, while British Airways is reportedly partnering with its main pilots union to offer financial incentives to pilots who reduce their aircrafts fuel consumption.
Sir Keir Starmer arrived in the Gulf on Wednesday to meet allies in the region and discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

The prime minister welcomed the news of the agreement reached between Washington and Tehran, saying it will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.

Donald Trump announced the conditional two-week ceasefire in a social media post at around midnight on Wednesday, following his threats to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure if a deal was not reached by 2000 Eastern Time [0100 GMT].

A joint statement by world leaders, including Sir Keir, said they would contribute to ensuring freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement, signed by the leaders of the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the presidents of the European Commission and European Council, welcomed the ceasefire and said: We support these diplomatic efforts. To this end, we are in close contact with the United States and other partners.

It also called upon all sides to implement the ceasefire, including in Lebanon, which Israel has continued to bombard with strikes on Wednesday.

The PM arriving in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (Reuters)

No 10 said Sir Keir will meet leaders of countries who have been on the front line in recent weeks, where he will reiterate unwavering UK support.

Speaking after arriving on Wednesday afternoon, Sir Keir thanked British military personnel for their work at King Fahd Air Base in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

When asked if he believed the US-Iran ceasefire could last for meaningful talks to begin, he said it was early days and theres work to do.

There is a real sense, I think, of relief you can feel it at the base here in Saudi Arabia, for 39 days, theyve been acting in our collective self-defence. You can feel the relief, he told broadcasters.

But what they want to know, what people in the United Kingdom want to know, who will share that relief, is that this needs to be permanent, and its our job to work with other countries in the region, not only on the cessation of possibilities, but also on opening the Strait of Hormuz.

The trip will also involve the prime minister holding talks to ensure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains permanent and protect the UK and global economy from further threats.

Announcing the ceasefire around midnight, Donald Trump declared it a "big day for world peace".

Trump had threatened that a whole civilisation will die tonight if Tehran did not meet his deadline (AP)

"The United States of America will be helping with the traffic buildup in the Strait of Hormuz. There will be lots of positive action! Big money will be made, he wrote on Truth Social.

Mr Trump had threatened to destroy Irans bridges and power plants and warned earlier on Tuesday, a whole civilisation will die tonight if Tehran did not meet his deadline.

But less than two hours before the deadline passed for Iran to agree a deal, the US president said he was suspending his threat to widen the military offensive to power plants and bridges, subject to the strait reopening.

Both the US and Iran have since framed the ceasefire as a victory, with the announcement bringing oil prices plummeting below $100 a barrel for the first time in days.

Sir Keir defended the UKs diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis despite playing no part in the ceasefire talks, telling broadcasters on Wednesday that the foreign secretary had convened a political meeting with 30 countries.

Were here to build that with our allies. Its vital we do so, because my job is to protect the United Kingdom from the impact of this war, he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, former national security adviser Peter Ricketts said the war had been a huge wake-up call for Britain, and warned the government must now completely forget the idea of a special relationship between the UK and US.

The idea of a special relationship we should now completely forget. Its a transactional relationship with Washington as with every other country, Lord Ricketts told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

He said that while he believes officials behind the scenes will still be working together, relations at a top level have been incredibly difficult and choppy.

I think we do have to rethink the idea that the US is a reliable, trustworthy ally on which we can depend in the longer term, he said.

Weve got to get closer to the Europeans, weve got to work out how we live in a world where American interest has moved away from Europe, and we can no longer rely on the kind of relationship weve had with America for my 50 years of involvement in foreign affairs.

Strained relations: Trump and Starmer in slightly happier times (PA)

Sarah Jones, the policing minister, said the government is relieved by the news of the ceasefire, but warned that securing a lasting peace will be difficult.

The detail of that ceasefire is yet to be seen. Of course, we want to see a lasting peace, but there will be challenges, she told Sky News.

The negotiations will be difficult, particularly when it comes to the nuclear assets in Iran. Opening up the strait is hard in terms of making sure the shipping companies, the insurers, are confident that they can get through. So none of these things are easy.

She confirmed that the UK is not playing a role in those peace negotiations, adding that Pakistan has played a leading role.

On Iran potentially gaining nuclear capabilities, she said the UK has always been very uncomfortable" with this and added: Our position on nuclear hasnt changed.

It is understood that Yvette Cooper spoke with US secretary of state Marco Rubio in the hours after Mr Trump warned that a whole civilisation will die.

The foreign secretary and Mr Rubio on Tuesday evening discussed international efforts and diplomatic measures to open the Strait of Hormuz, including a UK-led meeting, which brought together more than 40 countries to pursue reopening.

Ms Cooper is thought to have urged a swift end to the conflict and gave the UKs backing to negotiations and efforts to prevent further escalation.
Sir Keir Starmer with British troops at King Fahd Airbase in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday - Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Saudi Arabia to visit Gulf allies and push for a long-term resolution to the Iran war.

The Prime Minister said the ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran, announced by Donald Trump overnight, would bring a moment of relief to the world.

Mr Trump announced the two-week pause shortly before the deadline he had given the Islamic Republic to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the death of a whole civilisation.

Speaking in Saudi Arabia, Sir Keir said Britain had played a key role in convening a number of countries to co-ordinate further action to get the Strait of Hormuz open.

He added that there was still work to do to ensure that the temporary ceasefire agreed overnight became a permanent one.

Sir Keir Starmer speaks to military personnel after arriving in the Middle East following the ceasefire announcement - Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Sir Keir refused to say whether his relationship with the US president was ruined and defended the UK not getting further involved in the conflict.

Asked by broadcasters whether he believed his relationship with Mr Trump was in tatters, he said: Ive acted as you would expect of a British Prime Minister, which is by being absolutely focused on what is our national interest, and thats why Ive applied my principles and my values throughout.

And my principles and values made sure that our decisions were that we wouldnt get involved in the action without a lawful basis, without a viable, thought-through plan.

Downing Street said Sir Keir would use the visit to make clear the UKs commitment to de-escalation and hold further talks on practical efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The Prime Minister will hold talks with Gulf leaders including Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias de facto ruler, on how best to support the pause in fighting and ensure passage is permanently restored through the key oil and gas shipping route.

Donald Trump hailed the golden age of the Middle East after the agreement of the ceasefire - Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty

Sir Keir, whose relationship with Mr Trump has soured since the start of US strikes in Iran, said the UK must do all we can to sustain the ceasefire.

Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, welcomed the ceasefire on Tuesday, but called for an urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon.

Israel has agreed to halt strikes on Iran, but said the ceasefire did not extend to its operations in Lebanon.

Mr Trumps announcement was made 90 minutes before his deadline to reopen the crucial shipping channel, which expired at 8pm EST (1am BST).

Earlier on Tuesday, the US president pledged: A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will.

The UK, Canada, Pakistan and the Pope were among those calling for de-escalation. The ceasefire deal was brokered by Pakistan.

Munitions near a supersonic B-1B Lancer, which the US has deployed from RAF Fairford - Toby Melville/Reuters

On Wednesday morning, Sir Keir wrote on X: I welcome the ceasefire agreement reached overnight, which will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.

Together with our partners we must do all we can to support and sustain this ceasefire, turn it into a lasting agreement and re-open the Strait of Hormuz.

Announcing the Prime Ministers visit on Wednesday morning, Sarah Jones, the crime and policing minister, told Sky News the UK was not playing a role in peace negotiations between the US and Iran.

She said: Our role is working with our allies, sticking to the principles of what our principles have been throughout this, which is we are not doing any offensive action here. We are very much there, playing a defensive role, but an important one.

Mr Trump, who hailed the golden age of the Middle East on Wednesday morning, has rebuked Sir Keir several times since the start of the war with Iran.

When asked on Monday whether Britain could resurrect its relationship with the US, the president said that they have a long way to go. He compared the Prime Minister to Neville Chamberlain, whose policy of appeasing Nazi Germany in the 1930s failed to prevent the Second World War.

Sir James Cleverly, a former Conservative foreign secretary, said on Wednesday that Mr Trump does not respect Keir Starmer. He said the UK-US relationship had been damaged as a result of the crisis and Sir Keirs indecisiveness.

Sir James added: Its quite clear now that President Trump does not respect Keir Starmer at all. I mean, Keir Starmer was sycophantic initially, waving around that offer of a state visit almost immediately. He did not show strength.

Ms Jones told Times Radio that the Prime Minister would travel to the Gulf to see for himself the defensive action that we are taking in that region, and also to play his role in terms of making sure the Strait is opened up.

The Prime Minister is visiting British troops in the region to thank them for their service.

Tehrans blockage of the strait in early March sent global fuel prices soaring, with around 20 per cent of the worlds oil and gas usually passing through the shipping route.

Oil prices have fallen sharply since the ceasefire announcement, with Brent crude dropping below $100 a barrel.

Tehran agreed to halt its blockade in return for a temporary end to US strikes on Iranian infrastructure and power plants.

In the double-sided agreement, Iran issued a 10-point plan that included the release of Iranian funds and frozen assets held by the US, a full payment of compensation for reconstruction costs and full commitment to lifting sanctions and the complete cessation of war in Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen.

Israel said it had continued its operations in Lebanon, despite an earlier statement by Pakistan and Iran to the contrary.

Ms Cooper said the ceasefire was a vital step towards establishing some security and stability in the region, and getting international shipping and the global economy moving properly again.

She added: I also call for an urgent end to hostilities in Lebanon.
A Strictly Come Dancing star who was arrested on suspicion of rape is to face no charges, police have said.

The man, whose identity is not known, was arrested in October last year in connection with an alleged incident in 2024.

The alleged victim was reportedly not a contestant or professional dancer on the BBC dancing show.

Hertfordshire Police said detectives determined there was insufficient evidence to bring forward criminal charges (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

A Hertfordshire Police statement said: There will be no criminal charges brought against an individual arrested by Hertfordshire Constabulary in London on Monday October 13 2025 on suspicion of rape.

The man, who had his bail extended on Tuesday January 6 until Tuesday April 7 2026, to allow further enquiries to take place, will face no further action.

Early advice was sought from the Crown Prosecution Service, but detectives determined that there was insufficient evidence to bring forward criminal charges.

The show, which airs from September to December, is filmed at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

Strictly contestants compete for the Glitterball trophy (Guy Levy/BBC/PA) (Guy Levy/BBC)

BBC News reports that the arrest was not related to the latest series of Strictly.

The BBC declined to comment on the incident.

It comes after another male star of the BBC show was arrested in August last year on suspicion of rape.

The man in his 30s, who has not been named, was also detained over a separate alleged offence of non-consensual intimate image abuse.

It is not known what role the second man had on the show.
There are many similarities between baby animals of any species and human toddlers. In fact, it's almost funny how alike they can be sometimes. Everything we see in children, from refusing to come inside for dinner to throwing tantrums when things don't go their way, can also be seen in tiny animals, too.

Mars, the baby Pygmy Hippo living at Tanganyika Wildlife Park in Kansas, has kept his caregivers on their toes from the very beginning. He quickly gained a reputation for his evasive maneuvers, such as ducking underwater to hide or slipping past Keeper Sierra when it was time to go into his enclosure for the evening.

It's safe to say that not much has changed over the last 9 months! Mars is still testing the limits and the anxiety level of his caregivers, and he's living his life with exactly zero regrets! In a recent TikTok video, the baby Pygmy Hippo is seen lounging on a rock ledge, and apparently, he's just too close to the edge for Keeper Sierra's liking.

She gently tries to encourage him to come down, but he politely declinesor perhaps just ignores her, which is a more accurate way to describe whats happening between them. As the narrator describes the scene, he says that instead of coming down from the steep rock ledge, Mars "decided to pose like he was paid to appear on the cover of Vogue!"

Related: Baby Hippos Hilarious Underwater Swim-Along Wins the Internet

Eventually, the little hippo's mom, Posie, came over to address the situation, and with a bit more guidance from Sierra, Mars reluctantly stepped down from the rocks. The zoo caretaker quickly took measures to prevent him from climbing the ledge again by placing large sticks across the pathway.

Everyone Is Obsessed With This Little Hippo

From the very beginning, Mars has had a large fan base, and they continue to adore him today. Nearly 100 followers shared their thoughts on this little guy and his sass, including these highlights:

"I have no idea how much Keeper Sierra makes, but it cannot possibly be enough to keep Mars from disaster!"

"Talk about main character energy It's okay cause he totally is the main character!"

"Mama said, 'Stop embarrassing me in front of the humans! Get it together!'

"Rebel without a cause!!! Zoo GQ, get on this! Mars is the next one on the cover!!"

The staff at Tanganyika Wildlife Park has a special way of sharing animals and their daily lives, and it's so fun to get a front-row seat! Can't wait to see what Mars and Keeper Sierra are up to next!

SIGN UP to get pawsitivity delivered right to your inbox with inspiring & entertaining stories about our furry & feathered friends

This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Apr 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
(PA Archive)

The Tate Modern was evacuated amd Millennium Bridge closed following reports of a suspicious package.

Police attended the museum shortly before 11am on Wednesday, with the gallery closed to the public for a brief period.

The Millennium Bridge was also closed from both sides as police investigated the incident.

Something serious happening at Tate Modern. The whole building has been closed off.  pic.twitter.com/y2TxdoOxfq  Tony (@purbrooktony) April 8, 2026

But there was considered to be no danger and the incident was stood down.

It is understood the Tate has since reopened as has the footbridge.

The London Fire Brigade also attended the scene.

A spokesperson said: "Firefighters have been called to assist police at an incident on Bankside.

"The Brigade was called at 11:30am.

"Two fire engines from Dowgate and Soho fire stations are at the scene."

The Metropolitan Police said: Police were called at 10.49hrs on Wednesday, 8 April following a report of a suspicious package outside the Tate Modern.

Officers attended and the incident has now been stood down with no injuries or incidents.
Orla Wates sadly died last Thursday (Wates family)

The daughter of a British building magnate has tragically died in a motorbike accident during her gap year.

Beautiful and funny 19-year-old Orla Wates died of her injuries after she came off a bike in northern Vietnam.

The young Brit, the daughter of a director at the major building firm Wates, was travelling on the Ha Giang Loop in Vietnam when the incident occurred.

Orla had been planning to start her degree course at Durham University following her gap year.

After the accident, Orla was rushed to Ha Nois Viet Durc Friendship Hospital, but died last Thursday with her parents at her bedside.

According to reports, Orlas parents, Andy and Henrietta Wates, agreed for Orlas organs to be donated to other patients at the hospital, potentially saving the lives of five people.

The cause of the accident is unclear, but it is understood that Orla was riding on the back of a motorcycle when the driver lost control. She was thrown to the ground and was run over by an oncoming truck, leading to extensive injuries.

The Wates family with doctors at a gratitude ceremony (Viet Duc Friendship Hospital)

Mr Wates said his daughter was beautiful, independent and very funny, with a sharp wit. He said she loved to look good and lived life to the full.

Her mum said the family could take comfort in the knowledge Orlas organs were living on after transplants.

She told Viet Nam News: We would like to thank Dr Trinh Van ong and the ICU team at the hospital who cared for Orla. At this extremely difficult time for our family, we chose to donate Orla's organs, as we believe that if there were a way to give others the opportunity, this is what Orla would have wanted.

Knowing that she is living on through them brings us great comfort.

Mr Wates, a director at the Wates building firm that the Mail reported is worth around 2.4 billion, said Orla loved Vietnam and giving back to the country was important to the couple.

A spokesperson for the hospital said Orlas parents had made a deeply compassionate decision that transcended nationality and race giving others a chance at life.

They said: The act has moved many, as her gift now offers hope to patients suffering from organ failure in Viet Nam.

One journey has come to an end, but her life continues quietly and resiliently in others who have been given a second chance.

Her liver, two kidneys and two corneas were transplanted to other patients.

Vietnams health minister wrote Orlas parents a letter of condolence and gratitude.
New tint data reveals homeowners are embracing bold nature-inspired hues for increased curb appeal and joy

CLEVELAND, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Valspar, a leading paint and coatings company, today announced its predictions for the most popular exterior paint colors and stains for the upcoming 2026 painting season. Based on proprietary tint data, these trending hues reflect a consumer desire for joy, elegance and nature-inspired warmth at home.

Courtesy of Valspar Courtesy of Valspar

"Every spring, homeowners look for ways to refresh their exteriors through color, whether for their own enjoyment or to increase real estate value," said Sue Kim, director of color marketing at Valspar. "While classic white and other neutrals remain exterior staples, our data shows some surprising hues gaining significant popularity, including sunny yellow paints and modern black stains."

Biophilia Brings a Natural Touch to a Home's Exterior

Classic white, soft neutrals and black (such as Ultra White 7006-24, Swiss Coffee 7002-16 and Dark Kettle Black 4011-2) continue to dominate by tint volume, but current data reveals a significant surge in blues, greens and even a radiant yellow within the top 100 tints. Whether for whole home siding or as a vibrant pop of color on front doors and shutters, Kim predicts these colors will be increasingly prominent on home exteriors for added curb appeal:

"Blues and greens have been gaining popularity among consumers over the past few years as DIYers increasingly lean into biophilic hues to inspire a sense of calm and restoration in their spaces, but the increase in requests for yellow has been a surprise," Kim said. "Bright yellows bring a joyful mood with a playful attitude. When used on the front door, Sunglow instantly turns a house into a warm and welcoming home."

Exterior paint projects require paint prep and specific products based on the type of siding or other material. For DIYers interested in taking on this type of project, Valspar has information on exterior painting basics, including signs it's time for an update, how to prepare for painting and what products are needed.

Exterior paint products that can be tinted to these trending colors include Valspar Defense , Valspar Duramax, Valspar SeasonFlex, Valspar StormCoat and Valspar Porch, Floor & Patio Paints.

Most Popular Stains Reflect Warming Trend

The top five stain colors by tint volume point to a warmer and darker future for wood materials on home exteriors, enhancing architectural features and curb appeal. Kim predicts an increase in projects featuring these stain hues on decks, fences, pergolas, outdoor furniture and more:

"Black has been a consistently popular color for house siding, but Darkest Night is a surprising presence in the top five exterior stain colors. Stains are typically used to enhance wood grain, but we're seeing consumers use dark stains on wood projects as a way to complement other exterior colors and lend a modern design touch to boost curb appeal," Kim said.

Exterior updates with these top five stain colors take just a few easy steps, making projects like staining a fence easier than expected. DIYers can also apply these hues to concrete accents like flowerpots and steppingstones to tie together their overall exterior color scheme. Exterior stain products that can be tinted to these colors include Valspar One-Coat Solid Exterior Wood Stain & Sealer and Valspar Solid Color Concrete Stain.

All Valspar paints and stains are available at Lowe's stores, on Lowes.com and Lowe's mobile app.

Valspar Offers Free Color Tools and Expert Guidance

To help homeowners confidently choose their perfect shade, Valspar provides valuable free resources:

Free Paint Chip Ordering: Explore colors from the comfort of home with paint chips shipped directly to your door, making it easier to test options before committing.

Free Color Consultations: For personalized guidance, connect with Valspar Color Experts to find the ideal shade for any project.

For more information on Valspar paints, stains and tools, visit valspar.com.

About Valspar

Valspar is an industry-leading paint and coatings brand established in 1806 and a part of The Sherwin-Williams Company. Committed to helping DIYers and professional contractors make their next project a success, Valspar offers high-quality interior and exterior paints, durable stains, precision tools and expert advice and assistance to support every step of the process. With an endless selection of colors and a belief that every space is Made for More, Valspar helps bring any vision to life. Valspar is available at Lowe's and independent retailers nationwide. For more information, visit Valspar.com.

About Sherwin-Williams Consumer Brands Group

Sherwin-Williams Consumer Brands Group offers innovative products to meet customers' paint and coating needs. The company manufactures products under well-known brands such as Valspar, HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, Purdy, Krylon, Minwax, Thompson's Water Seal, Cabot and many more. Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers. For more information, visit Sherwin.com

Media Contact

Carmichael Lynch Relate for Valspar: [email protected]

SOURCE Valspar
Three physiotherapy experts weigh in on whether crossing your legs is bad for your body

Most of us were told off at some point for how we sat.

Dont cross your legs, youll ruin your knees.

Youll get varicose veins.

Sit properly.

Sit up straight.

It belongs to that familiar pile of health warnings many of us heard as kids, alongside cracking your knuckles or sitting too close to the television. But is crossing your legs actually bad for you?

For most people, the answer is probably no.

There is little evidence sitting with your legs crossed damages your back, wears out your hips or knees, or causes varicose veins.

There is little evidence sitting with crossed legs is bad for your back (Getty/iStock)

If anything, the bigger issue for many of us is staying in one position for too long, getting stiff or sore, and then assuming discomfort must mean something is wrong with the body.

Where did the idea come from?

Part of it probably grew out of older ideas about posture.

For a long time, sitting properly was treated as a sign of discipline, self-control and good character. Once that kind of thinking takes hold, it is easy for social rules to start sounding like medical facts.

It is also easy (and common) to confuse discomfort with damage. Sitting cross-legged for a while can make you feel stiff, compressed, or ready to move.

But it is usually a cue to change position, not a sign that you are quietly harming your body.

That fits with modern thinking on posture and pain, which has moved away from the idea there is one perfect posture.

What about your back?

Crossing your legs is often lumped into the category of bad posture, as if it twists the spine into trouble.

But research on posture and back pain has not found one ideal sitting position that protects everyone, or one everyday sitting posture that reliably causes harm.

In one study, physiotherapists from different countries were asked to choose the best sitting posture. Their answers varied widely. The researchers concluded that beliefs about ideal sitting posture are shaped by tradition and professional culture as well as evidence.

About the author

Joshua Pate is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy, Bruno Tirotti Saragiotto is an Associate Professor and Head of Physiotherapy and Mark Overton is a Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy. All three work at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article

Posture is still relevant, but your back is strong and adaptable. It is built to tolerate a wide range of positions.

Usually, the bigger problem is being stuck in any one posture for too long, whether thats cross-legged, bolt upright, or slumped over a laptop.

What about hips and knees?

Another common claim is that crossing your legs will wear out your hips or knees.

Again, there is little evidence that this is true.

Your hips and knees cope with much larger forces when you walk up stairs, rise from a chair, run, jump, or carry shopping.

Sitting cross-legged can change joint angles for a short time, but that is a long way from showing it causes arthritis or lasting joint damage.

Studies looking specifically at cross-legged sitting and long-term joint harm are limited, so the evidence is not perfect.

But the evidence we have does not support the old warning.

When clinical guidelines talk about keeping hips and knees healthy, they focus on things such as physical activity, muscle strength, healthy body weight, and managing overall joint load.

They do not focus on avoiding one ordinary sitting habit.

A lot of the narrative about crossing your legs being bad for you is linked to posture (Alamy/PA)

So if crossing your legs feels comfortable, there is little reason to treat it as dangerous.

If it starts to feel awkward or stiff, uncross them.

Does sitting with crossed legs cause varicose veins?

No.

Varicose veins happen when valves inside the veins do not work as well as they should, which can let blood pool and veins enlarge.

Risk is linked more strongly to factors such as age, family history, pregnancy, obesity and some work patterns, including long periods of standing.

Crossing your legs may briefly change blood flow while you are in that position. But that is not the same as causing varicose veins.

The evidence we have does not support crossed-leg sitting as a cause of varicose veins.

Are there times when it does matter?

Sometimes, yes, but usually for specific clinical reasons and often only for a short time.

After some hip replacements, people have traditionally been told to avoid crossing their legs while tissues heal.

But even here, newer research suggests some of these precautions may be more cautious than necessary for many patients, and removing them did not increase early dislocation risk in one trial.

There are also situations where a clinician might suggest avoiding a position for comfort, or because it irritates a sensitive area for a while. That is very different from saying the position is broadly harmful for everyone.

And most of us know the temporary numbness or pins and needles that can come after sitting awkwardly for too long. That usually settles quickly once you move. Again, that is a prompt to change position, not proof of damage.

So what matters?

Movement variety matters more than posture perfection.

The body tends to do well with options. Sit cross-legged if that feels comfortable. Then uncross them. Shift your weight. Lean back. Stand up. Go for a walk.

The healthiest sitting position is often the one you do not hold for the next hour.

Move more, vary your position, and trust that your body is probably a lot less fragile than you were led to believe.
Police were searching for a missing woman in 2010 when they began finding human remains in the scrub along a barrier island parkway near New Yorks Gilgo Beach.

They almost immediately feared some were left by a serial killer.

Over the years, investigators used DNA analysis and other clues to identify a series of victims. In some cases, they were able to connect them to remains found elsewhere on Long Island years earlier.

Here is a timeline of the investigation that led to the arrest of Rex Heuermann, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to murdering seven women and admitted in court that he killed an eighth.

Skeletal remains and few clues

Nov. 20, 1993: Two hunters discover the body of Sandra Costilla, 28, in a wooded area of North Sea, a hamlet in the Hamptons. Costilla had been living in New York City.

Rex Heuermann admitted to eight murders in court on Wednesday, bringing to an end a decades-long investigation (AP)

April 20, 1996: The partial remains of Karen Vergata are discovered on Fire Island, a barrier beach off the coast. Her name remains unknown to investigators until 2022, when new DNA analysis helps them make an identification. Vergata, 34, was involved in sex work when she vanished.

June 28, 1997: The partial remains of a woman are discovered inside a plastic tub in a state park in West Hempstead, New York. Investigators nickname her Peaches after a tattoo on her body. Her identity remains a mystery for many years, but in 2025 police identify her as Tanya Jackson, a U.S. Army veteran who was living in Brooklyn before she disappeared.

September 2000: The partial skeletal remains of Valerie Mack, who had been working as an escort in Philadelphia, are found in a wooded area in Manorville, New York. Mack, 24, was last seen by her family in the spring or summer of that year in Port Republic, New Jersey.

July 26, 2003: The partial skeletal remains of Jessica Taylor are discovered in a wooded area of Manorville. She was 20 when she vanished and had been working as an escort.

July 9, 2007: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, who had traveled to New York from her home in Norwich, Connecticut, for sex work, is last heard from by a friend. She says she is leaving her hotel to meet a client. Investigators later say cellphone records showed her phone was last used on Long Island.

July 10, 2009: Melissa Barthelemy, a 24-year-old sex worker, is last seen at her Bronx apartment. She tells a friend she is going to see a man and will be back in the morning. Phone location data puts her last known location on Long Island. Days later, a man begins using Barthelemys mobile phone to make taunting phone calls to her relatives.

Disappearance leads to police search

May 1, 2010: Shannan Gilbert, a sex worker, disappears in the barrier island community of Oak Beach, New York, after fleeing the house of a client and banging on a neighbors door. In a recorded 911 call, she tells a dispatcher people are after her, but she can also be heard refusing offers of help. Her pimp, the client and his neighbor all tell police she appeared disoriented and ran into the night on her own.

June 6, 2010: Megan Waterman, 22, who had traveled to Long Island from Maine for sex work, is last seen at a motel in Hauppauge, New York.

Sept. 2, 2010: Amber Lynn Costello, 27, is last seen leaving her home in West Babylon to meet with a sex work client. A male friend later tells investigators that person he presumed was the client drove a Chevrolet Avalanche.

The pizza box that led to the Gilgo Beach murderers arrest (Suffolk County DA)

A surprise discovery

Dec. 11, 2010: A police officer and his dog discover human remains while conducting a training exercise along Ocean Parkway. Authorities initially suspect they may have located Gilbert, but are later able to identify the victim as Barthelemy.

Dec. 13, 2010: Police find the bodies of Costello, Brainard-Barnes and Waterman on the same quarter-mile stretch of Ocean Parkway where Barthelemys remains were located.

Dec. 14, 2010: Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer publicly announces the discovery of the bodies and says a serial killer might be to blame. Police expand the search, while still looking for any sign of Gilbert.

March 29, 2011: Some of Taylors remains are discovered along Ocean Parkway.

April 4, 2011: Additional remains of Valerie Mack are found along Ocean Parkway. Near those remains, investigators also find the remains of a 2-year-old girl, later identified through DNA as Jacksons daughter, Tatiana Dykes. Elsewhere on the parkway, investigators discover the remains of an Asian male. Investigators estimate he died five to 10 years earlier and was in his late teens or early 20s. He still has not been identified.

April 11, 2011: Additional remains of Vergata are discovered along Ocean Parkway, several miles west of Gilgo Beach. Police also find additional remains of Jackson along the beach parkway.

Dec. 13, 2011: Gilberts skeletal remains are discovered in a tidal marsh near Oak Beach. After an autopsy, Suffolk Police say she accidentally drowned.

Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor were Heuermanns first victims murdered before 2007 (Suffolk County DA)

His other victims include Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes (Suffolk County Police Department)

A cold case thaws

January 2022: The Suffolk County district attorney convenes a new task force to investigate the Gilgo Beach killings.

July 13, 2023: Investigators arrest Heuermann and charge him with murdering Costello, Waterman and Barthelemy. The key evidence is mobile phone location data suggesting Heuermann and the women were in the same places at some of the same times, and traces of DNA found on the remains.

Jan. 16, 2024: Heuermann is charged in the death of Brainard-Barnes. Prosecutors say a hair found with her corpse is genetically similar to a DNA sample from Heuermanns wife.

May 20, 2024: Investigators launch a new search of Heuermanns home. It lasts nearly a week.

June 6, 2024: Heuermann is charged with murdering Costilla and Taylor.

Dec. 17, 2024: An indictment is unsealed charging Heuermann in Macks death.

Dec. 18, 2025: A Florida man, Andrew Dykes, pleads not guilty to killing Tanya Jackson and Tatiana Dykes. Investigators say Andrew Dykes was Tatianas father and DNA evidence linked him to the crime. While in the end, the case was unconnected to the other Gilgo Beach deaths, the investigation benefited from the extra resources poured into the serial killer investigation, authorities say.

April 8, 2026: Heuermann pleads guilty to seven counts of murder, involving the killings of Barthelemy, Brainard-Barnes, Costello, Costilla, Mack, Taylor and Waterman. He also acknowledges in court that he killed Vergata. His sentencing is set for June 17.
Tom Holland has said one of my proudest achievements as an actor was starring in Christopher Nolans upcoming film The Odyssey.

The 29-year-old stars alongside his fiancee Zendaya, Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway in the film adaptation of the ancient Greek epic, which will be released this summer.

The Odyssey has been written, produced and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Nolan, who is widely hailed as one of the most respected and influential directors in Hollywood.

Christopher Nolans films also include Interstellar and Oppenheimer (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

In an interview with GQ Magazine, Holland revealed how he was so touched to be picked by Nolan to star in the highly anticipated film.

He said: I can tell you that it is an absolute masterpiece, and Im taking myself out of that equation. Chris Nolans movie is fantastic.

Its unlike anything that Ive ever seen before. I think when I saw the movie, I found myself asking a question that I havent asked about a movie for a long time, which is, How did you do that?.

I think with CGI and stuff like that, weve become so accustomed to seeing these amazing things on screen and just kind of having the basic understanding that some very clever people and artistic people are able to do that on a computer.

But Chris is obviously trying to do everything as practically as possible in camera.

Tom Holland has praised the opportunity to work with Nolan (Lauren Hurley/PA) (Lauren Hurley)

Holland continued: There were certain sequences in the movie where Im watching it and Im just sort of thinking like, How on earth has he done that? That has to be CG.

And then after the movie asking him, That was definitely CG, right?. And hes like, No, no, no, thats all in camera effects. Very planned, very prepared.

I think fans are going to be really, really blown away by the set-pieces and sequences throughout the movie, because even as someone that was there on the day and was in the film, I was absolutely blown away by the scale, the scope, (Nolans) ability to navigate such an intricate and heartfelt story in the middle of this insane kind of action movie.

Its one of my proudest achievements as an actor and Im so touched that Chris gave me the opportunity to be in the film. And I really think that people are going to be floored by the film.

Holland also praised the opportunity to work with award-winning actor and producer Damon, who is known for his frequent collaborations with Nolan having starred in Interstellar (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023).

Tom Holland called Matt Damon a legend (Ian West/PA) (Ian West)

He told GQ Magazine: We spent so much time together, and what Im really grateful for with Matt is that he is exactly what I would have hoped he would be like.

He was a leader. This was a very tough movie and no one worked harder than Matt did.

Holland added: There are words of wisdom that hes given me that Ill keep to myself, but theres a lot that I learned from him from just being a spectator on set and watching the legend that is Matt Damon work.
The CIA used a top-secret new technology known as Ghost Murmur to track down and rescue the second U.S. airman shot down over the mountains of Iran over the weekend, according to a report.

The aviator, known only by his Dude 44 Bravo callsign but described by President Donald Trump as a highly-respected Colonel, served as weapons system officer in the F-15E Strike Eagle jet that was brought down Friday southwest of Isfahan, sparking a frantic race for the recovery of the two men on board.

While the pilot ejected safely and was rescued by two military helicopters that same day, the second officer  injured, 200 miles behind enemy lines and armed only with a handgun  had to evade capture in the barren wilderness for 36 hours with a bounty on his head.

The downing of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle (not pictured here) sparked the daring rescue mission (Getty)

Trained in survival, evasion, resistance and escape (SERE) techniques, the airman was able to activate a Boeing-made Combat Survivor Evader Locator beacon just before he took cover in a mountain crevice, but his exact whereabouts remained uncertain as he hid.

He was finally found and retrieved by a team of commandos before dawn Sunday thanks to the new Ghost Murmur technology, sources told the New York Post.

The equipment uses long-range quantum magnetometry  technology that measures magnetic fields  to trace the electromagnetic signals produced by a human heartbeat.

It then pairs the data with AI software in order to isolate it from distracting background noise and pinpoint its source.

Speaking at a White House briefing on the daring operation Monday, Trump praised CIA Director John Ratcliffe for doing a phenomenal job, inviting him to discuss the new tool used in recovering the airman.

Photos from Iranian state media that reportedly show fragments of the downed U.S. jet (Reuters)

It might be classified, in which case Id have to put him in jail if he talks about it and I dont want to put him in jail, the president joked. He doesnt deserve that.

Ratcliffe cautiously obliged without naming the technology or going into detail, saying his agency had used exquisite technologies that no other intelligence service possesses, comparing the rescue effort to hunting for a single grain of sand in the middle of a desert.

According to the Post, the technology was developed by Skunk Works, the secretive advanced development division of aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, and has been tested on Black Hawk helicopters with a view to its future use with F-35 fighter jets.

Its like hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert, the newspapers source said. In the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you.

Donald Trump, alongside CIA Director John Ratcliffe (left), at a press conference on Monday (AFP/Getty)

The source said the remoteness of the Iranian wilderness had proven an ideal first operational use and about as clean an environment as you could ask for, given the absence of much electromagnetic interference, meaning there were almost no competing human signatures, and at night the thermal contrast between a living body and the desert floor.

They continued: Normally, this signal is so weak that it can only be measured in a hospital setting with sensors pressed nearly against the chest.

But advances in a field known as quantum magnetometry  specifically sensors built around microscopic defects in synthetic diamonds  have apparently made it possible to detect these signals at dramatically greater distances.

They also addressed its limitations: The capability is not omniscient. It works best in remote, low-clutter environments and requires significant processing time.
A view of C-Wing at Downview womens prison in Surrey - Andrew Aitchison

We are told we have passed the peak of radical gender ideology and trans activism. The Supreme Court has ruled that sex means biological sex. International sporting bodies are lining up to bar male athletes from female competition. And yet the Government continues to drag its feet.

Consider the case of womens prisons, where some of the most vulnerable women in the country reside. Of course, they are in prison for a reason, having committed serious crimes. But the state has a duty of care towards them, and many female prisoners are themselves victims of sexual and physical abuse.

HMP Downview, a womens prison in Surrey, reportedly houses an inmate who goes by the name of Vivienne Taylor. A biological male who identifies as a trans woman, Taylor was jailed for stalking and harassing the female surgeon who carried out his penile inversion surgery.

Taylor is not alone. At Downview there is an accommodation block, E-Wing, used to house biological males who identify as female. In February, the latest date for which we have statistics, seven male prisoners were held there.

Lord Timpson was recruited despite his belief that only one-third of existing prisoners should be locked up - Ben Whitley/PA

In correspondence, Lord Timpson, the Prisons Minister, claims this is the safe way to handle trans prisoners. Ignoring the risk to women, he insists it is trans prisoners who are vulnerable. But the facts revealed by Ministry of Justice data tell a different story.

In 2024, of the 245 biological males in prison who identified as transgender, 151 had been convicted of sexual offences  62 per cent, compared to 17 per cent for the overall male prison population.

Quite clearly, the transgender prison population poses a much higher risk to women. Ministers may find this an inconvenient and uncomfortable truth, but it is one that must not be ignored.

Think about the case of the serial rapist Karen White  another biological male who identifies as a woman. White was convicted of multiple rapes, and sent to HMP New Hall. In that prison, where female prisoners were supposed to be safe, he sexually assaulted two female inmates.

Yet dangerous men are still being placed in womens prisons. Examples include Sally Ann Dixon, a paedophile who sexually assaulted seven children, Joanna Rowland-Stuart, who stabbed a partner to death with a samurai sword, and Zoe Watts, who tried to make a weapon with the capacity to cause mass casualties.

In Scotland, Isla Bryson, a notorious double rapist, was held in a womens prison too.

The Equality Act means womens prisons should only house biological females. But instead of correcting this failure, ministers obfuscate and delay publishing overdue new guidance on single-sex spaces.

Resorting to sophistry, ministers insist E-Wing is not part of the general womens estate. But it is physically located within HMP Downview, run by the same governor, funded from the same budget, staffed by the same prison officers and supported by the same services. E-Wing residents may sleep separately from the women but they mix freely during the day.

Last September, the Independent Monitoring Board for HMP Downview published its annual report. The board found that the previous requirement for one-to-one supervision for E-Wing prisoners had been removed  leaving female prisoners at risk. Instead of acting on the report, Lord Timpson removed the chair of the board from her role the day after publication.

Lord Timpson was recruited and put in the House of Lords to become Prisons Minister despite  or, knowing Labour, because of  his belief that only one-third of existing prisoners should be locked up. He has overseen the abolition of short-term sentences, meaning criminals such as prolific shoplifters escape jail and the early release of thousands of criminals.

We must ask why he is refusing to act on this serious problem in womens prisons. We know gender ideology has seeped into every nook and cranny of the public sector, silencing dissent. It will take leadership  not weak cowardice and complicity  to put things right.

Yet cowardice and complicity are all we are getting from Lord Timpson and his boss David Lammy, who once claimed a man identifying as a woman was able to grow a cervix. That was wrong, and so is the Government policy he oversees today. Labour need to catch up with the rest of the world, and the law itself, ditch radical gender ideology and act to make womens prisons safe again.

Nick Timothy MP is shadow secretary of state for justice

Rebecca Paul MP is an opposition whip and a member of the Women & Equalities Select Committee
Donald Trump has spent his career railing against elite presidents who did not have the courage to act the way he claims he does.

But judging by Trumps announcement today that he would extend the deadline for his strikes within Iran by two weeks, one has to wonder what the presidents words mean any more. He makes big threats, but quickly becomes the boy who cries wolf and doesnt follow through. While nobody wanted to see him end a civilization, his latest retreat is just more evidence that his big threats mean little and will now carry political consequences.

Trumps decision to back out  commonly referred to as TACO or Trump always chickens out  this time demonstrates a measure of strategic weakness that far outmeasures any previous humiliation that Trump used to criticize from past presidents.

And it means that no world leader ever needs to take Trumps threats seriously.

Donald Trump has backed off his latest Iran threats, bringing back the Trump always chickens out nickname (Getty Images)

Trump knows what happens when presidents make empty threats because he criticized them for it. In 2013, Trump lambasted Barack Obama for walking back from his self-imposed red line that if then-Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would use chemical weapons, the United States would respond.

The only reason President Obama wants to attack Syria is to save face over his very dumb RED LINE statement. Do NOT attack Syria, fix U.S.A. Trump said at the time.

But if Obama refused to impose his artificial red line, Trump did his best matador impression and waved a gigantic red banner in front of the bull that is Iran. He did so over the weekend when he declared Tuesday Power Plant Day and Bridge Day for U.S. armed forces unless Iran would Open the F***in Strait, you crazy b*****ds, lest they be living in Hell.

Trump escalated his threats when he said: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. There is no other way to describe what Trump threatened: war crimes and genocide. Trump brought the world to the brink of disaster and with Congress out of town, had nobody to rein him in, although the Republican-controlled House and Senate refused to do so.

Then, he backed off.

Trump began his attacks against Iran in late February and has continued to bomb the nation (AFP via Getty Images)

Maybe Trump heard pleas from Pakistans prime minister Shehbaz Sharif to extend the deadline for two weeks. Perhaps he got the yips about the idea of engaging in a scorched-earth campaign against another country that would inevitably cost thousands of American lives, thereby turning him into another cog in the war machine against which he railed.

Maybe a phone call from House Speaker Mike Johnson said such a move would cost him the majority in the House and a text from Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned the Senate would go to the Democrats.

Whatever the rationale, Trump backed off the ledge.

But the world cannot breathe easily after this. Opening the option to attack civilian infrastructure cannot be undone. Now, the world will live in constant fear that Trump will carry through with his threats.

This opens the door for any malign actor to escalate. This is not a hypothetical: just months after Obama backed off his red line, Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Crimea. Putin, to say nothing of Chinas Xi Jinping, will look at Trump as weak and find license to do whatever they want, to borrow a Trumpism.

The opposite is also true. Now, every country will see Trump as the Sword of Damocles swinging its way across the globe. Again, this does not require imagination: Canada took Trumps repeated threats to annex it seriously and adopted a more confrontational posture. The rest of the world have to adjust accordingly to a world where the United States can be hostile to international values.

Tehran can continue recovery operations after Trump agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran (AFP via Getty Images)

In addition, Trump seems to have forgotten an adage from his first Defense Secretary James Mattis: the enemy gets a vote. Even if Trump backed down, Iran cannot be seen as taking these threats lying down. It will respond in kind either toward Arab allies of the United States or Israel. Iran will do so to make such a threat as painful as possible and warn the U.S. or other nations not to do so again.

So while, yes, Trump ultimately did not unleash the fury and cause incalculable loss of life, he has forever shifted how the United States relates to the rest of the world, and initiated a new phase of the Iran war.

A common refrain when Trump ran for president in 2016 was to take him seriously, not literally. However, today the world cant afford to decipher when he is bluffing  which he is most of the time.
US President Donald Trump bashed NATO and appeared to renew his threats over Greenland after a closed-door meeting with alliance chief Mark Rutte, during which he was expected to discuss possibly leaving the pivotal security bloc.

Trump's outrage at NATO allies over their failure to join in his war against Iran had prompted fears he would seek to pull the United States out of the nearly eight-decade-old alliance.

However, in his first remarks after the meeting, he simply reiterated his frustration.

"NATO WASN'T THERE WHEN WE NEEDED THEM, AND THEY WON'T BE THERE IF WE NEED THEM AGAIN," he posted on Truth Social.

"REMEMBER GREENLAND, THAT BIG, POORLY RUN, PIECE OF ICE!!!" he added, without any further explanation.

Before Trump launched his war on Iran, his threat to seize the vast Arctic island from NATO ally Denmark was a key issue roiling the alliance.

Read moreNATO anniversary overshadowed by Trumps threats to quit alliance

Rutte  the former Dutch premier dubbed the "Trump whisperer" for his skill in flattering the mercurial US leader  entered the West Wing through a side gate and their meeting was held behind closed doors.

"It was a very frank, it was a very open discussion," Rutte later told CNN in a televised interview.

Asked multiple times if Trump had said if he would leave the alliance, Rutte did not answer directly.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters ahead of the meeting that a possible withdrawal is "something the president has discussed, and I think it's something the president will be discussing in a couple of hours with Secretary General Rutte".

The Wall Street Journal meanwhile reported that Trump was alternatively looking at punishing some NATO members he believed were unhelpful during the conflict by moving US troops out of their countries.

The meeting came one day after the United States and Iran agreed to a fragile two-week ceasefire.

The US president has branded NATO a "paper tiger" for refusing to lead efforts to open the strategic Strait of Hormuz and for limiting US forces from using bases on their territories.

Trump has lashed out at several leaders personally, lambasting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer as "no Winston Churchill" and ridiculing Britain's aircraft carriers as "toys".

The plan reported by the Wall Street Journal would fall short of Trump's oft-hinted threats to pull the United States out of NATO entirely  a move for which he would need the approval of Congress.

'Daddy'

NATO's secretary general, however, boasts a record of pulling Trump back onto his side.

Ahead of the White House visit, Rutte met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to talk about Iran, Russia's war against Ukraine and NATO responsibilities.

"The two leaders discussed Operation Epic Fury, ongoing US-led efforts to bring a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war, and increasing coordination and burden shifting with NATO Allies," said State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott.

Rutte is also expected to meet with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth during his time in Washington.

NATO has been buffeted by crisis after crisis since Trump returned to power last year  most acutely by his threat to seize Greenland.

In recent months he has also pulled the rug out from under Ukraine in its war against Russia and threatened to not protect allies unless they spend more on defense.

Russia and China have been watching with glee as Trump rubbishes the alliance.

Rutte has been central to allied efforts to flatter and mollify the US leader, whom he called "daddy" at a summit last year.

On Iran, he has sought to thread the needle by calling US efforts to degrade Tehran's military capability something to "applaud".

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on Monday. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images (Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images)

It appears Irans whole civilization will not die tonight.

With less than two hours before his self-imposed deadline for Iran to surrender or face annihilation, Donald Trump announced that the US and Iran had agreed to a two-week conditional ceasefire after a last-minute diplomatic intervention led by Pakistan.

Just hours earlier, Trump had written on Truth Social: A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I dont want that to happen, but it probably will. B-52 bombers were reported to be en route to Iran before the ceasefire agreement was announced.

The sudden about-face will allow Trump to step back as the US war in Iran has dragged on for five weeks with little sign that Tehran is ready to surrender or release its hold on the strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of the global energy supply, where traffic has slowed to a trickle.

Donald Trump says he has agreed two-week ceasefire with Iran

Trumps announcement of the ceasefire agreement came less than two hours before the US presidents self-imposed 8pm ET deadline to bomb Irans power plants and bridges in a move that legal scholars, as well as officials from numerous countries and the Pope, had warned could constitute war crimes.

Read the full story

Republicans silent as Democrats call on US cabinet to oust Trump over Iran

As Trump unleashes curse-filled threats against Iran, Democrats are raising alarm over his mental stability and calling for his removal from office  while Republicans remain conspicuously silent.

Democrats are escalating their rebukes as the 79-year-old president delivers rambling, incoherent speeches, hurls puerile insults at US allies and brazenly threatens to commit war crimes. He used an Easter Sunday social media post to warn Iran to Open the Fuckin Strait, you crazy bastards, or youll be living in Hell.

Read the full story

Democrats outraged at Trumps Iran post: A threat to commit a war crime

Trump on Tuesday morning threatened to completely annihilate the entirety of Iranian civilization should their government ignore his 8pm ET deadline to reopen the strait of Hormuz.

The presidents own words, posted publicly and tied to a specific deadline and set of demands, provide unusually direct evidence of intent to violate international law, and is widely being met with shock and dismay by Democrats.

Read the full story

Democrats accuse ICE of creating disappearances on US soil

A group of 36 lawmakers says the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has created disappearances on US soil, due to the increasingly unreliable online system used to track people detained by immigration authorities, according to a letter shared with the Guardian.

Read the full story

Starmer urged to limit US access to UK bases after dangerous Trump threats

UK prime minister Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure to limit US access to British airbases after Trump threatened a whole civilisation would die if Iran ignored his demands, comments that Downing Street has not directly criticised.

Read the full story

DHS secretary calls for US states to lead disaster response instead of Fema

Markwayne Mullin, the US homeland security secretary, used a visit to Asheville, North Carolina to call for a fundamental shift in the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), arguing that states and local governments  not the federal agency  should lead disaster response.

Read the full story

What else happened today:

Catching up? Heres what happened Monday 6 April.
President Donald Trump has executed a dramatic reversal in his stance on Iran, transitioning from threats of "annihilation" to endorsing a "workable" plan that has led to a 14-day ceasefire.

This temporary truce is anticipated to pave the way for an end to the nearly six-week-old conflict.

The significant shift in tone emerged as intermediaries, notably Pakistan, worked intensely to prevent further escalation. China, Iran's primary trading partner and a key economic rival to the United States, also discreetly facilitated efforts towards a ceasefire, according to two officials briefed on the matter who spoke anonymously due to not being authorized to comment publicly.

Announcing the temporary ceasefire via social media, approximately 90 minutes before his deadline for Tehran to open the critical Strait of Hormuz or face the obliteration of its power plants and other vital infrastructure, Trump said: "The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Longterm PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East."

The president is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday, where the emerging ceasefire and the plan to reopen the strait are expected to be central to their discussions.

As the deadline approached, Democratic lawmakers had condemned Trump's threat to wipe out an entire civilization as "a moral failure". Pope Leo XIV also warned that strikes against civilian infrastructure would violate international law, labelling the presidents comments "truly unacceptable."

Trump mimics firing a gun as he speaks about the conflict in Iran in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House (AFP/Getty)

Ultimately, Trump may have retreated from his aggressive posture due to a fundamental reality: escalation risked entangling the United States in the kind of "forever war" that had plagued his predecessors, a scenario he had vowed to avoid if re-elected.

As Trump boasted about U.S. and Israeli military success over the last six weeks, he appeared to be working from the premise that he could bomb Iran into capitulation.

Starting with the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the opening salvos of the war, he seemed to discount that the Iranian leadership could opt for a long, bloody war.

The Islamic Republic over the last 47 years has repeatedly shown it is willing to dig in, even when it appears to America they are working against their own self-interest.

The clerical leadership held Americans hostages for 444 days, from late 1979 to early 1981, at the cost of the countrys international standing. The mullahs allowed the ruinous Iran-Iraq war to go on for years, leaving hundreds of thousands dead. It stood by Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack that spurred a war with Israel that would defang the Iran-backed group in Gaza as well as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and created the conditions that led to the collapse of Tehran-backed Bashar Assad's authoritarian rule in Syria.

Iran's leadership  battered and outgunned  exuded confidence that it could very well bog down the world's superpower in a costly, extended conflict even if it might not defeat a mighty U.S. military.

Iranians react after a ceasefire announcement at the Enqelab square, in Tehran, on April 8 (AFP via Getty Images)

Defense analysts largely agreed that the U.S. military could quickly take control of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow Persian Gulf waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly 20% of the world's oil flows on any given day. But maintaining security over the waterway would require a high-risk, resource-intensive operation that could be a years-long American commitment.

Ben Connable, executive director of the nonprofit Battle Research Group, said securing the strait would require the U.S. military to maintain control of about 600 kilometers (373 miles) of Iranian territory, from Kish Island in the West to Bandar Abbas in the East, to stop Iran from firing missiles at ships passing through the strait. It's a mission that Connable said would likely require three U.S. infantry divisions, roughly 30,000 to 45,000 troops.

This would be an indefinite operation  so, you know, think: be ready to do this for 20 years, said Connable, a retired Marine Corps intelligence officer. We didn't think we were going to be in Afghanistan for 20 years. We didnt think were going to have to be in Vietnam as long as we were, or Iraq.

The two-week ceasefire plan includes allowing both Iran and Oman to charge fees on ships transiting through Hormuz, a regional official said. The official said Iran would use the money it raised for reconstruction. It wasnt immediately clear what Oman would use its money for.

The strait is in the territorial waters of both Oman and Iran. The world had considered the passage an international waterway and never paid tolls before.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said after the ceasefire was announced that Trump was effectively giving Tehran control of the strait and delivering a history-changing win for Iran.

The level of incompetence is both stunning and heartbreaking, Murphy said.

The ceasefire announcement came after Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks to allow diplomacy to advance while also asking Iran to open the strait for two weeks.

Two weeks has become Trumps favorite interval to buy himself time when making major decisions. Last summer, the White House said hed decide about launching an initial bombing campaign against Iran within two weeks  only to have the president order airstrikes that he said obliterated Irans nuclear program before that interval was up.

Trump has also repeatedly used two weeks to set deadlines that ultimately led to very little during negotiations to end Russias war with Ukraine and even going back to his first term, suggesting hed have major policy issues like health care solved over such a timeframe.

Trump has repeatedly made maximalist demands throughout the first 15 months of his second White House term only to dial them back.

The president backed off many of the sweeping Liberation Day tariffs he first announced in April 2025 after they caused the financial markets to go haywire. Perhaps the most spectacular example came during a January meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump insisted that he wanted the U.S. to take control of Greenland including right, title and ownership only to switch course and abandon his threat to impose widespread tariffs on Europe to press his case.

The pretext for backing down that time was Trump saying hed agreed with the head of NATO on a framework of a future deal on Arctic security  even though the U.S. already enjoyed widespread military latitude in Greenland, which is part of the kingdom of Denmark.

The White House celebrated on Tuesday evening with aides crediting the U.S. military's prowess and Trump's maneuvering for setting conditions for the ceasefire.

The success of our military created maximum leverage, allowing President Trump and the team to engage in tough negotiations that have now created an opening for a diplomatic solution and long-term peace, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared. She added, Never underestimate President Trumps ability to successfully advance Americas interests and broker peace.
A destroyed US Air Force aircraft in the aftermath of a projectile strike at Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia in March. An Iranian missile and drone attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia wounded at least 12 US soldiers, two of them seriously (UGC)

Russian satellites have reportedly conducted dozens of detailed imagery surveys of military facilities and critical sites across the Middle East, an action a Ukrainian intelligence assessment suggests was intended to aid Iran in striking US forces and other targets.

The conclusions, which have been reviewed by Reuters, further indicate a collaboration between Russian and Iranian hackers in the cyber domain.

These findings offer the most comprehensive insight yet into Russia's covert support for Iran since the Israel and US assault on 28 February.

According to the undated assessment, Russian satellites carried out at least 24 surveys of areas across 11 Middle Eastern countries between 21 and 31 March.

These operations covered 46 "objects", encompassing US and other military bases, as well as key infrastructure such as airports and oil fields.

The assessment highlights a clear pattern, noting that military bases and headquarters were subsequently targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones within days of being surveyed.

Demonstrators wave Iranian flags during a protest against US military action in Iran near the White House in Washington, DC before the agreed two-week ceasefire (AFP via Getty Images)

This intelligence has been corroborated by a Western military source and a separate regional security source, both of whom confirmed intense Russian satellite activity in the region and the sharing of imagery with Iran.

Nine surveys covered parts of Saudi Arabia, including five over the King Khalid Military City near Hafar Al-Batin, in what appeared to be an effort to locate elements of the U.S.-made THAAD air defence system, the Ukrainian assessment said.

Areas of Turkey, Jordan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates also came under satellite surveillance twice, while places in Israel, Qatar, Iraq, Bahrain and Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia did once, it said.

In an emerging trend, the assessment added, Russian satellites were actively surveying the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for a fifth of global oil and LNG flows where Iran has imposed a de facto blockade to all but "non-hostile vessels".

Permanent communications channel

U.S. space-tracking firm Kayhan Space said analysis of the orbital data it gathers indicated Russian satellites were repeatedly overhead of parts of the Gulf region during the period March 21 to March 31, including some that were capable of Earth observation, reconnaissance, imaging or surveillance.

The company said its analysis suggested Russian satellite activity over the region during the late-March period may have been more extensive than that detailed by the Ukraine assessment, while overhead activity does not confirm that imagery was collected.

White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales said that no external support for Iran from any country was affecting the operational success of the United States. The Iranian foreign ministry had no immediate comment. The defence ministry in Russia, which invaded Ukraine four years ago, did not respond to a request for comment.

A Russian satellite took imagery of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia days before Iran struck the facility on March 27 (UGC)

European leaders pressed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the issue at a G7 meeting last month. Two diplomats said Rubio had not responded to the accusations, although he has publicly dismissed Russian aid to Iran as insignificant.

The Ukrainian assessment said that the exchange of satellite imagery was being organised through a permanent communications channel used by Russia and Iran and could also be facilitated by Russian military spies stationed in Tehran.

The regional security source confirmed a specific incident detailed in the Ukrainian assessment that was disclosed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week.

In that incident, a Russian satellite took imagery of Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia days before Iran struck the facility on March 27, hitting a sophisticated U.S. E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft, the assessment said.

A Russian satellite passed over the same site on March 28 to assess the strike's impact, the assessment said.

'Comprehensive strategic partnership

Russia and Iran have deepened military ties since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In particular, Ukraine and the West say Iran provided long-range Shahed attack drones to Russia, which in turn used them to bomb Ukraine, while also developing its own, more sophisticated variants. Iran denies supplying weapons used against Ukraine.

Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian then signed a Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in January last year.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (AFP/Getty)

Article Four of the Treaty states that "in order to strengthen national security and counter common threats, the intelligence and security services of the Contracting Parties exchange information and experience."

Cyber operations

The Ukrainian intelligence assessment and regional security source said Russia appeared to be providing assistance to Iran in the cyber domain.

Hacking groups controlled by Iran have stepped up operations since late February, targeting mainly critical infrastructure and telecommunications companies in the Gulf, they said.

The Ukrainian assessment said Russian and Iranian hacker groups were interacting via Telegram and noted collaboration between the Russian groups "Z-Pentest Alliance", "NoName057(16)" and "DDoSia Project" and Iran's "Handala Hack".

For example last month, it said groups including Handala Hack published a warning on Telegram about attacks on the information and communication systems of Israeli energy companies.

The Russian groups simultaneously published access credentials to control systems at critical infrastructure facilities in Israel, it said.

Iranian hacker groups have also used some techniques in operations that indicated they had obtained them from Russian military intelligence hackers, it said.

For instance, it said, Iranian hacker groups "Homeland Justice" (UAC-0074) and "Karmabelow80" used ProfitServer, a Russian VPS provider from Chelyabinsk, to register domains.
CHICAGO, April 8, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Ziegler is pleased to announce the successful closing of Presbyterian Living's $32,220,000 Series 2026A Bonds issued through the Illinois Finance Authority. The transaction also includes $29,335,000 of Series 2026B Bonds, which are expected to close on August 4, 2026 (together totaling $61,555,000 and collectively referred to as the "Series 2026 Bonds").

Presbyterian Living is an Illinois 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation that has served older adults in the Chicago metropolitan area since 1904. The Presbyterian Living Obligated Group (PLOG) consists of two communities, Westminster Place, a Life Plan Community located in Evanston, IL, and Lake Forest Place, a Life Plan Community located in Lake Forest, IL. The Obligated Group consists of 506 independent living apartments and villas, 126 assisted living apartments, 20 memory care assisted living apartments, 95 memory care units and 150 skilled nursing beds.

Presbyterian Living also owns and operates The Moorings, a Life Plan community in Arlington Heights, IL, and Ten Twenty Grove, an independent living community located in Evanston, Illinois (neither The Moorings nor Ten Twenty Grove are members of the Obligated Group). Presbyterian Living is #58 on the 2025 LZ 200 listing and consists of a total of 1,396 units/beds across its system. The PLOG's rating of "A-" (Stable) from Fitch was confirmed in connection with the issuance of the Series 2026 Bonds.

This transaction marks Presbyterian Living's fifth financing with Ziegler since 2016. The Series 2026 Bonds are being issued to refund two outstanding series of debt. The tax-exempt Series 2026A Bonds will refund the Series 2021B Floating Rate Notes (FRNs), which have a mandatory tender date of May 1, 2026. The tax-exempt Series 2026B Bonds will refund the fixed rate Series 2016A Bonds on a forward-settle basis ahead of the first call date on November 1, 2026. The Series 2026B Bonds are expected to close on August 4, 2026 (approximately 90 days before the call date). The two refinancings allow the PLOG to address the mandatory tender of the Series 2021B Bonds while also locking in annual debt service savings on the Series 2016A Bonds. These financings, along other existing debt of the PLOG, provide a stable long-term capital structure for the PLOG. These financings occur on the heels of a $162.86 million financing prepared by Presbyterian Living and Ziegler for The Moorings, which closed in December 2025. Proceeds of The Moorings' financing are being used to construct 70 new independent living units and common areas, renovate existing facilities, and refinance certain debt.

Nadim Abi-Antoun, President & CEO of Presbyterian Living, said, "Our long-standing partnership with Ziegler continues to strengthen Presbyterian Living's financial foundation. Their deep understanding of our organization and goals enables them to deliver creative, effective solutions even amid turbulent market conditions. This refinancing ensures stability across our communities and positions us for future growth while maintaining our commitment to exceptional care for older adults."

Will Carney, Managing Director, added, "Ziegler is pleased to have assisted Presbyterian Living with refinancing two series of bonds in the face of turbulent market conditions. These refunding bonds were well received by investors who looked to Presbyterian Living's underlying credit strength ("A-" rated), their strong management team, and their diversified multi-site locations as reasons to support the bond issue. Presbyterian Living has an exciting future of growth and redevelopment, and this completed financing establishes a stable, long-term capital structure for them to build upon going forward."

Ziegler is the nation's leading underwriter of financings for not-for-profit senior living providers. Ziegler offers creative, tailored solutions to its senior living clientele, including investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, seed capital, FHA/HUD, capital and strategic planning as well as senior living research, education, and communication.

For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at www.ziegler.com .

About Ziegler:

Ziegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. It has a unique focus on healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales, underwriting and trading as well as Ziegler Credit, Surveillance and Analytics. To learn more, visit www.ziegler.com.

Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This client's experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.

SOURCE Ziegler
Volodymyr Zelenskyy: The problem is they trust Putin. And its a pity. Photograph: Khalil Hamra/AP (Photograph: Khalil Hamra/AP)

The US has ignored compelling evidence that Russia has been helping Iran to target US bases in the Middle East because it trusts Vladimir Putin, according to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Speaking in an interview with Alastair Campbell on The Rest is Politics podcast, Zelenskyy said he had tried to draw the White Houses attention to the close collaboration between Moscow and Tehran.

He said Russian military satellites had photographed critical energy infrastructure objects in the Gulf states and in Israel, as well as the locations of US army bases across the region. The Kremlin passed details and images to the Iranian regime, he said, to facilitate its attacks.

I said this publicly. Did we hear a reaction from the US to Russia that they have to stop it? Zelenskyy asked rhetorically. He added: The problem is they trust Putin. And its a pity.

Zelenskyy said Donald Trumps team had failed to really understand the details of what Russia wants.

Asked why this was, he said that Trumps two negotiators  Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner  had spent too much time with Putin and his senior officials.

Related: Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv lays out how Russian satellites help Iran in war

The pair travelled to Moscow five times last year and have yet to visit Kyiv. The Trump administration has piled pressure on Ukraine to cede its eastern Donbas region, the scene of intense fighting. Putin has suggested he would agree to a ceasefire if Ukraine gave up the territory.

Zelenskyy said he had a greater understanding of the Russian leaders psychology and actual war aims than the White House. Ukraines president said Putin would not stop if he got the Donbas, and would next try to seize the regional capitals of Dnipro and Kharkiv.

We have to recognise that partially Americans are feeling that [Donbas is] nothing for us, Zelenskyy said.

They dont want to recognise that Putin will lie to them and that he can continue the occupation even after such steps. The Americans are sure that they can trust Putin.

Zelenskyy described the trip by the US vice-president, JD Vance, to Budapest on Tuesday and Wednesday to campaign for Hungarys president, Viktor Orban, as not helpful.

But he said he did not intend to interfere in Sundays elections, saying it was up to the Hungarian people to decide which party to back.

Zelenskyy also suggested that Europe needed to maximise its power at a time when the US was threatening to withdraw from Nato. The EU needed to join forces with Ukraine, the UK, Turkey and Norway, he said, to create a military bloc big enough to deter Russia.

Without Ukraine and Turkey, Europe will not have a similar army that Russia has. With Ukraine, Turkey, Norway and the UK, you will control security on the seas, not one sea, he said, adding that he was sure Kyiv would one day join the EU.
The UK should completely forget the idea of a special relationship with the US and can no longer rely on Washington as an ally, a former national security adviser, Lord Peter Ricketts, has warned.

Sir Keir Starmers relationship with Donald Trump has soured in recent weeks, as the US president repeatedly criticised the prime minister over his response to the war on Iran.

Mr Trumps public remarks have highlighted his increasingly strained relationship with the prime minister, and have now raised questions over Britains diplomatic ties to America.

Lord Ricketts said the war in the Middle East had been a huge wake-up call for Britain, and warned the government must now completely forget the idea of a special relationship between the UK and US.

Lord Ricketts says it is now a transactional relationship between prime minister Keir Starmer and US president Donald Trump (Leon Neal/PA)

The idea of a special relationship we should now completely forget. Its a transactional relationship with Washington as with every other country, he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme.

He said that while he believes officials behind the scenes will still be working together, relations at the top level have been incredibly difficult and choppy.

I think we do have to rethink the idea that the US is a reliable, trustworthy ally on which we can depend in the longer term, he said.

Weve got to get closer to the Europeans, weve got to work out how we live in a world where American interest has moved away from Europe and we can no longer rely on the kind of relationship weve had with America for my 50 years of involvement in foreign affairs.

The relationship between Sir Keir and Mr Trump has grown increasingly strained in recent weeks, following a barrage of scathing remarks made by the US president in response to the UKs refusal to become involved in his offensive operations against Iran.

We should completely forget the special relationship between the UK and the US, says Lord Ricketts (Suzanne Plunkett/PA)

His comments come after President Trump likened Sir Keir to Neville Chamberlain at a White House Easter event on Monday, telling reporters the UK had a long way to go.

He said: We wont want another Neville Chamberlain, do we agree? We dont want Neville Chamberlain.

Last week, he mimicked the prime minister in a speech at the White House, and recounted Sir Keir saying he had to ask his team about sending two old broken-down aircraft carriers to the Middle East, and last month he made another jibe about him, saying he was not dealing with Winston Churchill.

The UK previously granted the US permission to use British military bases including Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean and RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire for defensive strikes on Iranian missile sites.

But Sir Keir has so far not bowed to US pressure, refusing to get directly involved with offensive US strikes.

Sir Keir declined to say whether his relationship with Mr Trump was ruined on a visit to the Gulf on Wednesday, but defended his guiding principles on the Middle East conflict.

Asked whether his relationship with the US President was in tatters, the Prime Minister told broadcasters: Ive acted as you would expect of a British Prime Minister, which is by being absolutely focused on what is our national interest, and thats why Ive applied my principles and my values throughout.

Former foreign secretary Sir James Cleverly said on Wednesday that Mr Trump does not respect Keir Starmer and also warned the UK-US relationship is damaged.

Keir Starmer has not bowed to US pressure, refusing to get directly involved with offensive US strikes (PA)

Its quite clear now that President Trump does not respect Keir Starmer at all, he told GB News.

I mean, Keir Starmer was sycophantic initially, waving around that offer of a state visit almost immediately. He did not show strength.

He was shown to be indecisive, as I say, sycophantic, desperately trying to win favour with the US president when he went to America, then came back to the UK to try and sound tough at the despatch box.

And the thing is, you cant talk out of both sides of your mouth at the same time. The US has seen that.

His personal relationship with the president of the US, I think, is now beyond repair.

The prime minister is travelling to the Gulf on Wednesday (8 April) to meet allies in the region and discuss diplomatic efforts to support and uphold the fresh ceasefire deal between the US and Iran.

Donald Trump announced the conditional two-week ceasefire in a social media post at around midnight, following his threats to destroy Iranian civilian infrastructure if a deal was not reached by Tuesday night.

The prime minister welcomed the news of the agreement between Washington and Tehran, saying it will bring a moment of relief to the region and the world.
If you tuned in to watch Pete Hegseths press briefing after the freshly minted Iran ceasefire, you probably werent expecting much.

Seasoned viewers of Iran war updates from this administration know what to expect: teenage fantasy talk that couldve been copy-and-pasted from the Counter Strike chat feature; desperate sycophantry about how Trump is the best president in the whole world, from any possible timeline; basically no real information, because we cant let our enemies know anything; stuff about how the real enemy is the domestic US media, coupled with attacks on any reporters asking actual questions; and, if youre lucky, a slip-up here or there that shows whats really happening behind the scenes.

This briefing had all of the above.

And so Hegseth was at the podium, here to declare that America had won a capital-V victory (since apparently we now even speak like Trumps Truth Social posts, with their distinctly Germanic habit of capitalizing nouns.) No other president has shown the courage and resolve of President Trump, Hegseth added, long before he mentioned the military men and women whod actually put their lives on the line  or lost their lives entirely  to achieve nobody-quite-knows-what.

Indeed, America has now achieved every single objective, on plan, on schedule, except long after they said that they would, and also with a fragile ceasefire based on a negotiation that guarantees the US will pay a massive amount of compensation to Iran for all that bombing. But anyway, did you see how brave the commander-in-chief was when he posted genocidal threats on Truth Social?!

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths teenage asides seem even to be tiring Pentagon officials (AP)

Tone-wise, so much of this was once again painfully childish. Iran begged for a ceasefire and we all know it, Hegseth told the room, Mean Girls-style. We own their sky, he added, a few moments later, whereas Iran was blowing ammo into fantasyland.

He rattled through a list of people who are now dead, either assassinated by Israel or killed in American air raids: the former ayatollah, IRGC commanders, intelligence minister, the principal navy commander: I skipped over a bunch and I could go on and on and on. Since the US has killed lots of people, Hegseth added, the new regime has signed a deal. Thats because nobody makes a better deal than President Trump  although, of course, God deserves all the glory.

But what of that new regime, asked one reporter during the Q&A section? Because of course, Trump has claimed this is a smart and savvy new group of people, completely different to the former Iranian government, whereas it does look very much from the outside like the U.S. managed to replace the Ayatollah Khamenei with another Ayatollah Khamenei.

Is this not the regime that was at war with us for 47 years? came the tentative question, referencing Hegseths previous claims that America didnt actually start the war because there had been a secret war going on for almost five decades that none of us realized was happening and was started by Iran.

Well, its certainly a new group of people, replied Hegseth, underlining once again that lots of others have been killed, hence why [the new ones] came to the table. So, if you look at it another way, the regime has been changed because it has a different interaction with the U.S.

So, OK, its not changed changed, as in a different outlook or a different way of governing or a different family in charge or any of those small and insignificant factors. Its different because its the same regime but they agreed to a ceasefire with America after threats (and then declared victory themselves to their own population.)

If you cant reconcile that reality with the other kind of objective reality you once believed in, then really, thats your problem. And it absolutely will be your problem, too, because if youre unfortunate to ask a properly challenging question  as an ABC News reporter did later in the briefing, asking how Hegseths claim that Trump showed mercy tallies up with Trumps public threats to quite literally wipe out an entire civilization and whether such threats might put Iranians or Americans at risk  then you face the ire of Pete.

No! he said loudly, an octave higher than before, before adding: I try to be nice about what Im saying up here but you did hear what I said, right? Even after he seemed to move on, he paused to mutter, Of course its ABC, as his eyes alighted on the journalist whod asked the question. General Caine then attempted to address the main points, but Hegseth, still visibly rattled, interrupted him to tell him not to bother since it was an indictment framed as a question.

Was that visible embarrassment on Caines face at Hegseths churlish behavior? Perhaps. Its certainly getting harder and harder, surely, to stand alongside Daddy War and make his pronouncements look halfway legitimate.

The most telling moments here, buried among the reality-isnt-real psychobabble, were in the claims about regime change and in the detailing of the rescue of a downed American pilot. Despite having spent weeks carefully dancing around the idea of boots on the ground and telling the American public that that would absolutely never happen, Hegseth looked straight into the camera today and repeated the phrase for effect.

Describing how the pilot was rescued, he said, quite plainly and deliberately: Boots on the ground. A midnight raid right in the middle of their country. Boots  on  the  ground.

This was presumably intended both as a threat to the Iranians and a bit of light trolling toward those who have silly concerns about things like large-scale Middle East wars and all that. We said we wouldnt do it, but we did it! And we did it right out in the open! I knew about it and you didnt! Ho ho, look at us go!

Never mind that we never keep our word on anything isnt the flex Hegseth thinks it is. Never mind that thats the same kind of semi-strategy that has now alienated former allies across the world. Never mind anything, because Pete Hegseth has something to prove and he will keep coming out and demanding everyones respect until they stop side-eyeing each other in the Pentagon hallways and admit that hes the most warlike Department of War war spokesman ever. War!

Anyway, the Strait of Hormuz is now open (at least temporarily), and the way in which Hegseth delivered this news made it clear that that had been the priority. But right at the end of the briefing, the issue of regime change came up once more, in less than encouraging terms.

I would love to see the Iranian people to take advantage of this opportunity, Hegseth said to the room, once again pushing the tired, clearly deluded line about everyday Iranians  the same ones who were slaughtered by the current regime for peacefully protesting just a couple months ago, now further weakened, demoralized and divided by weeks of bombardment from a foreign entity  rising up to overthrow their own government.

Its an even more unrealistic prospect than it was at the beginning of this campaign, when Israeli intelligence had already assessed that anyone trying to revolt in Iran would simply be slaughtered by a regime showing no signs of cracking.

No matter for the president of peace (Hegseths words, naturally) who, it turns out, wont kill an entire society of people today. Now, the oil prices are trending down and America is negotiating with the new Khameini, son of the old Khameini, who, its clear, is going nowhere. Rise up if you please.

Hegseth walked offstage. Stocks were already soaring.
A former Manhattan architect who for years projected the image of a harmless father next door stood in a packed Suffolk County courtroom Wednesday and calmly admitted to a string of killings that have haunted Long Island for more than a decade.

Rex Heuermann, 62, appeared unemotional as he pleaded guilty to the murders of seven women and admitted to an eighth in the Gilgo Beach serial killings.

The victims include Melissa Barthelemy, 24; Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25; Amber Lynn Costello, 27; Megan Waterman, 22; Sandra Costilla, 28; Jessica Taylor, 20; and Valerie Mack, 24.

The guilty plea brings solace. Finally, a sense of relief, Maureen Brainard-Barness sister Missy said following the hearing. Today is not about the person responsible. Today is about the women' s lives who were stolen. Its about their voices, their futures, and their families, the love that still surrounds them. They are the reason that we are here.

In court, Heuermann also admitted to the 1996 killing of Karen Vergata, a Manhattan mother of two whose remains were discovered years apart on Fire Island and near Gilgo Beach.

Rex Heuermann, 62, appeared unemotional as he pleaded guilty to the murders of seven women and admitted to an eighth in the Gilgo Beach serial killings

The former Massapequa Park resident kept his gaze fixed straight ahead, never turning toward the gallery where victims families  along with his estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, and daughter, Victoria  sat watching in silence.

Heuermann admitted he strangled all eight victims, some of whom were sex workers, dismembered some of them, used burner phones to arrange meetings, and wrapped several bodies in burlap before discarding them in remote areas along Long Islands South Shore.

Heuermann walked among us, playacting as a normal suburban dad, when in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said. He identified these women, lured them into Nassau County, murdered them and left their bodies in Suffolk County.

(AP)

Tierney credited the victims families for their continued pressure and push to get justice.

He thought that by killing them he could silence them forever and get away with murder, Tierney added. But he was wrong.

Family members of some of the victims said they accepted the plea and were glad to move on (Getty Images)

A case that spanned decades

The investigation stretched back to the early 1990s but intensified in 2010, when police searching for missing woman Shannan Gilbert uncovered multiple sets of human remains along a desolate stretch of Ocean Parkway.

Between 2010 and 2011, authorities discovered 11 sets of remains in the Gilgo Beach area, roughly 45 miles from New York City, sparking fears of a serial killer and drawing international attention.

Despite years of investigation, the case remained unsolved until a major breakthrough in 2023. Investigators recovered DNA from a discarded pizza box outside Heuermanns Manhattan office, matching it to evidence found on a victim.

Between 2010 and 2011, authorities discovered 11 sets of remains in the Gilgo Beach area, roughly 45 miles from New York City, sparking fears of a serial killer and drawing international attention

That DNA, along with cellphone data, witness accounts and digital forensics, led to his arrest in July 2023.

Authorities later uncovered what they described as a blueprint for the killings on his computer, including checklists detailing how to commit the crimes and avoid detection.

A sadistic, soulless, murderous monster

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina said the guilty plea shattered the image Heuermann had cultivated since his arrest.

The calm, serene, almost grandfatherly image that Rex Heuermann portrayed since his arrest was a lie and, quite frankly, an insult to law enforcement and, more importantly, the families that had to endure that during every court appearance during the last two and a half years, Catalina said. Today he was exposed for exactly what he is, a sadistic, soulless, murderous monster. And thankfully, everybody today got to see that.

Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents some family members of the victims, said Heuermann thought he had the perfect blueprint for murder, but that he did not take into account the courage and persistence of his victims families.

Some of these murder victims were young mothers, just trying to earn a little extra money to support their children, Allred said. Because many did not have funds to go to college or get a decent job that would help them to provide adequate support for their children, they turned to sex work in order to support their families. It wasn't what they wanted to do, but it was what they felt forced to do, because they had no meaningful alternatives.

Do not give up hope

For victims families, the plea marked a long-awaited turning point after years of uncertainty.

Maureen Brainard-Barnes sister, Melissa Missy, delivered an emotional statement, urging other families still searching for answers not to lose hope.

Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes, whose bodies were found in 2010 are the Gilgo Four (Suffolk County Police Department)

To every family out there still searching, still waiting, still holding on - please do not give up hope. Even when it feels impossible, even when the years pass and the silence grows heavy, keep going. Your loved ones matter. They are not forgotten, and one day, answers can come, she said.

Missy grew emotional as she addressed her sister directly.

Finally, to Maureen. The promise I made to you so long ago was simple - I would never stop searching for justice for you. Through every year, every setback, every unanswered question, I carried you with me. And I kept that promise. And today, it has been done. Justice has finally found its way to you. Your voice was never silenced, your story never forgotten, and your life will always mean more than the tragedy that took you.

This moment is not the end, but a reminder that love endures, truth prevails, and hope never fades. Because even in the darkest moments, justice will find its way.

Sandra Costilla and Jessica Taylor were the first alleged victims of Heuermann who were murdered before 2007 (Suffolk County DA/Remembering Jessica Taylor Facebook page)

Decision to plead guilty

Defense attorney Michael Brown said the decision ultimately came from Heuermann himself.

There came a point in this defense where Rex said, I want to plead guilty, Brown said, noting that his client wanted to spare both the victims families and his own family from a lengthy trial.

Asked whether Heuermann was remorseful, Brown said, I would hope so.  I would expect at sentencing he would have something to say.

As part of the plea agreement, Heuermann will cooperate with the FBIs Behavioral Analysis Unit.

Killers family asks for privacy

Heuermanns estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, asked for privacy following the plea.

My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. Their loss is immeasurable and the focus should be on them in this time, and moment. I ask that you give some privacy to my family as they navigate through this very difficult time, she said.

Heuermanns estranged wife, Asa Ellerup, asked for privacy following the plea (AP)

Her attorney has previously said neither Ellerup nor the couples daughter had any knowledge of or involvement in the crimes.

A measure of closure

The plea comes just five months before the trial was set to begin. Heuermann now faces life in prison.

Prosecutors said he is expected to receive multiple consecutive sentences, including life without the possibility of parole for several of the murders, along with an additional sentence of 100 years to life for others. The admitted killing of Vergata is included in the plea agreement.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 17.

After decades of stalled leads and heartbreak, investigators acknowledged the role victims families played in pushing the case forward.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Ray Tierney said that Rex Heuermann wanted to seem like a harmless father next door' (Raymond Tierney/YouTube)

Were sorry, Tierney said. They inspired us. Theyre the reason why we do what we do. Today was a very special day for us in law enforcement, because it gave us the opportunity to turn to these victims and their families and say, Listen, we told you we were going to work really hard. We told you we were going to do everything we can to bring closure to you. And thats why we work in law enforcement, and we were able to do that to a small measure today. So, were happy for that, and so thankful for them.

For many, the guilty plea does not erase the years of pain  but it marks a long-awaited step toward justice in one of Long Islands most notorious cases.
Chris Taylor won the election for the Wisconsin state supreme court. Photograph: John Hart/AP (Photograph: John Hart/AP)

Wisconsin voters sent another liberal justice to the state supreme court, with Chris Taylor beating the conservative Maria Lazar and giving liberals a 5-2 edge on the high court.

The retirement of Justice Rebecca Bradley, a conservative, gave liberals a chance to further consolidate their hold on the high court ahead of the next presidential election, when the swing state is sure to see challenges to election results.

Taylor, a liberal judge on the states court of appeals who previously served as a Democratic lawmaker, was running against Lazar, who is also on the court of appeals and a former deputy state attorney general.

Taylors win gives liberals a 5-2 bloc on the bench. Taylor is seen as friendly to voting rights, while Lazars views aligned more closely with Republicans, pushing for policies that could hinder voting access and impact. Lazar had continued to defend maps in Wisconsin that were gerrymandered to lead to more Republican victories, which have since been overturned.

Bradley wrote the courts opinion that banned dropboxes, a frequent target of false election fraud claims about mail-in ballots, though liberals overturned that decision once they held control of the court. She has served on the state supreme court since 2015.

The state saw significant shifts to the left in Tuesdays election compared to the 2024 presidential election and the 2025 supreme court election, New York Times data showed.

Democrats gained in local races as well. In Republican-leaning Waukesha, a Milwaukee suburb, Democrat Alicia Halvensleben won the race to replace the incumbent mayor, Shawn Reilly. Reilly was a Republican until the January 6 insurrection, when he left the party and became an independent.

While this years court election has not garnered anywhere near the level of attention as the previous two, advocates for voting rights say voters should continue to stay engaged with the courts makeup.

Wisconsin has been in the crosshairs of extensive litigation in terms of the way the state runs its elections, Victoria Bassetti, a senior adviser to the States United Democracy Center, told Bolts, a news website. While this supreme court race may seem like a sleeper contest, from the democracy perspective, its anything but low-stakes  These issues never go to sleep in Wisconsin.

Though the high courts justices are officially nonpartisan, liberals held a 4-3 majority after flipping the court in 2023 in what was then the most expensive judicial election in US history, according to the Brennan Center. In 2025, Elon Musk got involved, and the supreme court race topped $100m, with Musk himself throwing in several million and groups he supported spending heavily. Susan Crawford, a liberal, ultimately won.

This years race was much quieter  and significantly less expensive  than the previous two state supreme court elections.

Taylor had the money edge in this years race, significantly fundraising more than Lazar. In a sign of the lower profile of this years contest, more than half of voters were still undecided in a March poll by Marquette law school conducted less than a month from election day.

Judicial elections function differently depending on the state. In some, like Wisconsin, justices are directly elected. In others, and at the national level, they are appointed by partisan executive office-holders. Some states appoint judges, then hold retention elections in which voters can decide whether to keep them in their roles. Overall, judicial elections have become much more expensive in recent years.

The race is another gauge of Democrats durability in this years midterms, particularly in a closely watched swing state, though the November ticket and voter turnout will be much different than a court election. Democratic candidates have recently won upset victories throughout the country in places typically held by Republicans, giving them momentum heading into November. Voters often side against the president in midterm elections.

In the final days of campaigning, Lazar attacked Taylor as too partisan for the court, saying at a county Republican party office that the court is not for sale, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.

We actually want someone on that court who is extremely law nerdy and boring, and doesnt care about politics at all, and only cares about the law and the constitution, Lazar said.

Taylor, speaking earlier at the county Democratic headquarters, emphasized the courts ability to push back against the federal government, WPR reported.

We have an opportunity with this election to strengthen a pro-democracy majority on our court thats going to protect our rights and freedoms, thats going to protect our democracy and our elections, and that is going to hold and resist the efforts of the federal government to come into our state and to take away and infringe on our independence as a state, Taylor said.
The sanctioned Russian oil tanker Universal is shadowed by the Admiral Grigorovich in the Channel - Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph

Vladimir Putin has openly defied Sir Keir Starmers threat to seize sanctioned Russian vessels by sending a warship to escort them through the Channel.

The Admiral Grigorovich, a Black Sea fleet frigate, accompanied a pair of shadow fleet ships on Wednesday while a British naval vessel followed behind.

Positioned on the Royal Charlotte, a boat almost 10 miles from Dover, The Telegraph observed Putins flotilla cruising past the south coast while RFA Tideforce, a Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker, trailed in their wake.

Last month, Sir Keir gave special forces the authority to capture the armada of rusted ships illegally ferrying oil to support Russias war in Ukraine, saying he would hit the shadow fleet even harder if they sailed through British waters. However, Britain is yet to seize a single Russian vessel.

The Prime Minister has repeatedly faced criticism regarding the state of the Royal Navy and Britains Armed Forces. After an Iranian-made drone hit RAF Akrotiri, HMS Dragon, Britains only deployable destroyer, was sent to the Middle East, but took three weeks to arrive and has already had to return to port as it suffers water supply issues.

In a speech on Saturday, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, is expected to pile further pressure on Sir Keir, urging him to publish the long-delayed defence investment plan. She will state that there is no plan for rearming Britain.

Donald Trump, the US president, has previously described the Navys two aircraft carriers as toys while his defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, mocked Britains big, bad Royal Navy.

The US first stormed a Russian sanctioned oil tanker in January, prompting pledges from Western nations to seize more ships.

While the French navy has intercepted some tankers in the Mediterranean, dozens of Russian vessels are believed to have passed through the Channel since Sir Keirs threat.

Admiral Grigorovich  a 3,620-ton frigate armed with anti-ship, cruise and surface-to-air missiles  sailed between the two 600ft tankers Universal and Enigma shortly after 9am on Wednesday as they headed west toward Plymouth.

0904 Russian Admiral Grigorovich

Universal reportedly departed from the Russian port of Vysotsk on Jan 18.

The Russian-flagged tanker is believed to be on a mission to deliver crude oil to bolster the Kremlins coffers, which are straining to fund Putins war machine.

In September, she was outlawed in British waters for attempting to destabilise Ukraine or undermine or threaten Kyiv by exporting oil from Russia to fund its invasion.

Meanwhile, the Cameroon-flagged Enigma was bound for Turkey, having left port at Primorsk, north of St Petersburg, on March 29. She was sanctioned by the UK in May last year for pumping money to the Kremlin.

The Cameroon-flagged Enigma was sanctioned by the UK last year for pumping money to Moscow - Julian Simmonds for The Telegraph

On Wednesday, The Telegraph identified two other sanctioned Russian tankers  the Gambia-flagged Desert Kite and the Kousai from Sierra Leone  sailing through the Channel in the opposite direction, having entered on Tuesday evening.

Andrew Fox, a retired major in the Parachute Regiment, said the Russians were seeking to humiliate Britain.

The Russians are desperate to keep that oil flowing and keep the war in Ukraine going, said Mr Fox, a senior fellow at the Henry Jackson Society national security think tank. They are running rings around Starmer right now.

If were really serious about helping Ukraine, we need to clamp down on these shadow fleet ships. That would send a message... It would embarrass Putin. At the moment, were not sending that message.

Britains defence investment plan is still months behind schedule, having missed its autumn due date. It is supposed to outline exactly what will be spent on the military over the next decade.

National scandal

The delays have led to a paralysis within the defence industry, as companies wait to see if they will be awarded money for critical defence projects.

Mrs Badenoch said the delays were a national scandal and accused Labour of having no plan when it came to delivering promised money to the military.

In a speech to the London Defence Conference on Saturday, the Conservative leader is expected to say: Theres no plan for how the Government is going to actually buy the equipment, weapons and munitions. Theres no plan for how to enact the Strategic Defence Review. Theres no plan for rearming Britain.

We havent seen the Defence Investment Plan... because they have no idea how they are going to pay for it.

Keir Starmer is all mouth and no trousers when it comes to defence.

It is believed that Putins shadow fleet of 700 vessels carry about 40 per cent of Russias oil exports, with 544 ships sanctioned by Britain.

Announcing his clampdown in March, Sir Keir said: Putin is rubbing his hands at the war in the Middle East because he thinks higher oil prices will let him line his pockets.

Thats why were going after his shadow fleet even harder, not just keeping Britain safe but starving Putins war machine of the dirty profits that fund his barbaric campaign in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister added: He and his cronies should be in no doubt, we will always defend our sovereignty and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes.

Under the Governments plans, the Royal Navy and the National Crime Agency could be deployed to capture the tankers, using a legal justification from sanctions legislation passed in 2018.

Special forces personnel from the Special Boat Service and SAS could potentially seize tankers, should armed guards be seen. The Royal Marines could board vessels that do not pose a danger.

However, Moscow has warned it would retaliate if the military were deployed to seize the ships.

0904 RFA Tidespring

Andrei Kelin, Russias ambassador to the UK, said measures were being considered. This decision will not go unanswered, he said on Sunday.

The appropriate measures are being developed. Let this come as a surprise to the British people.

Mr Kelin also warned Downing Street to think carefully about the consequences, including legal ones, of taking action against Russian-linked vessels.

The Prime Minister continues to face criticism from Donald Trump, the US president, over the speed at which Britain responded to the joint US-Israel attacks against Iran, which have plunged the Middle East into chaos.

Domestically, Labour has been accused of being too complacent when it comes to defence spending, with critics accusing the Government of being slow to unlock billions of pounds to bolster Britains military.

Labour is planning to rebrand Sir Keir as a global statesman in an attempt to avoid a wipe-out at the local elections next month.

Sources told The Telegraph that Labour was planning to use Sir Keirs stance on Iran to argue for him to remain in No 10.

On Wednesday, the first day of the official pre-election period, Sir Keir travelled to the Middle East to discuss the conflict with regional allies and visit British troops at the King Fahd Air Base in Taif, Saudi Arabia.

Impractical to seize every ship

Since January, more than 300 ships from Putins shadow fleet have sailed through UK waters, according to analysts.

Seizing every ship in the shadow fleet would be impractical for Britain, maritime experts have said.

The authorities would have to commit substantial resources, including troops from either the Royal Marines or the elite Special Boat Service, as well as law enforcement teams.

The vessels would also need to be moored somewhere after being captured and Britain has a limited number of berths in ports capable of holding such large ships, which average about 800ft in length.

On March 30, a group of eight outlawed Russian tankers was able to cruise through the Channel unchallenged. It included the Odune, Vozrozhdeniye, Thron, Primorye, Gelor, Rizvel, Manta and Rimma.

The vessels all passed through the busy waterway just inside French waters, meaning it was unlikely British forces would have been able to board them without approval from Paris first.

Two vessels were flying under Russian flags, while others were flagged to Cameroon and Sierra Leone. Often ships in Putins shadow fleet travel under the guise of another country to avoid sanctions.

Last month, Britain allowed one of Putins shadow fleet tankers carrying oil to Cuba to pass through the Channel relatively unchallenged.

The sanctioned, state-owned vessel was escorted by a Russian warship and shadowed by the Navy for 48 hours as it navigated British waters.

Britain has previously assisted in tanker-boarding operations, providing intelligence on two illegal Russian tankers in the Mediterranean that were later seized by the French navy, and using a surveillance plane to support a US operation in the Atlantic to seize another vessel in January.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said it would not comment on ongoing operations.
The masts of the Richard Montgomery are visible in the Thames - James Bell/Alamy

A Second World War shipwreck laden with explosives is to have its masts removed amid fears it could be a sitting duck for drone attacks.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has set aside 9.5m for a contractor to fund the works on the SS Richard Montgomery, an American Liberty-class cargo ship which ran aground in the Thames estuary off Sheerness, Kent, in August 1944.

Salvage efforts were abandoned a month after the wreck when the vessel flooded completely, and around 1,400 tons of explosives is still thought to be contained in the forward holds.

Last month, The Telegraph reported fears that a drone attack could topple the masts  which protrude above the surface of the water  and disturb the incendiary cargo below.

Most of the ships cargo of explosives is believed to be contained within the wreck still

In October, an ally of Vladimir Putin reportedly told Russian state TV that Moscow should target the ship.

Detonation of the Montgomery could trigger mass damage and loss of life by sending a 5m-high tsunami towards the coast and Britains largest liquefied natural gas terminal on the Isle of Grain, previous government assessments have warned.

Government sources told The Telegraph that the authorities were alert to the prospect of a drone attack on the shipwreck, which lies around 1.5 miles off Sheerness.

In June last year, pilots and drone operators were banned from flying within a radius of one nautical mile of the wreck for reasons of public safety.

Katja Bego, a senior research fellow in the Chatham House think tanks Europe programme, has warned: A bad actor could smuggle more sophisticated drones, or rig with explosives readily available commercial drones, and ... launch an attack from UK soil directly.

She added: The scary thing is that you do not need to be a highly sophisticated state actor to launch a sabotage attack using commercially available drones.

Earlier this year, Lord Beamish, chairman of Parliaments intelligence and security committee, warned that Russia and Iran were actively recruiting people in Britain to launch proxy attacks.

Prof David Alexander, an expert in emergency planning and risk management, said the SS Richard Montgomery was a sitting duck.

An image of the wreck and the surrounding seabed in the Thames estuary - MCA/Penn News

The government announced its intention to remove the vessels three masts six years ago, but the project has been repeatedly delayed.

A DfT spokesman said: Our priority will always be to ensure the safety of the public and to reduce any risk posed by the SS Richard Montgomery.

The condition of the wreck remains stable, experts are continuing to monitor the site, and we have now outlined our intention to choose the Resolve Group to undertake the mast removal project.

The contract awarded to Resolve Salvage and Fire (Europe) Ltd is estimated to run from April 2026 to March 2027, with a possible one-year extension dependent on the weather.

Resolve Marine, the parent company of the salvage operator, is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

A Port of London Authority vessel surveys the wreck - James Bell/Alamy

Founded by Joseph Farrell Jnr, a veteran of the US coast guard and US navy, the company previously led the salvage operation of the MV Dali tanker which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore in 2024, causing the bridge to collapse.

Resolve Marine was also at the forefront of the response to the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.

The SS Richard Montgomery had been bound for Cherbourg with munitions to support the Normandy invasion when her anchor dragged into a sandbank during a storm, causing the hull to crack and buckle.

Annual condition surveys have not indicated that the risk associated with the wreck has increased, according to the department.

Kevin McKenna, the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, has called for one of the masts to be kept on the island.

For many people on Sheppey, the Montgomery masts are far more than wreckage, theyre a cherished landmark linked to an extraordinary wartime story, he said. I fully support their safe removal and believe its vital that part of this iconic structure is preserved for future generations.

Thats why Im calling on the Government to secure one of the Montgomery masts for display in a local museum, so that this islands unique history can be shared and remembered by the people of Sheppey for generations to come.
Sarah Jones, the policing minister, said the UK had a different style of policing to the Continent - Tayfun Salci

Store security guards should not be allowed to carry truncheons or pepper spray to combat shoplifting, the policing minister has said.

Sarah Jones rejected a call by Lord Walker, Icelands boss and the Governments cost of living adviser, for Britain to copy Spain where store detectives are given such weapons.

She said that arming security guards was not the answer, arguing that Britain had a different approach to the Continent of policing by consent. She pointed to legislation creating a new offence of assaulting a shopworker as an alternative approach.

Ms Jones is the first minister to respond to a growing backlash from retailers over the failure of politicians and police to get a grip on the epidemic of violent theft from stores.

Last week, The Telegraph reported concerns from Thinus Keeve, Marks & Spencers retail director, that shoplifters were becoming more brazen, more organised and more aggressive in their attacks on its stores every day.

A video circulating on X on Tuesday showed a shoplifter brazenly stealing food from M&S before shoving staff out of his way and calmly walking out of the store.

Lord Walker argued that security guards should have more powers and be trained to carry defensive weapons. You go to Spain and all the security guards have pepper spray and a truncheon. They dont mess about, he said.

Iceland has offered a job to Walker Smith, a Waitrose employee who was sacked by Waitrose after attempting to stop a shoplifter stealing a bag of Easter eggs. He was dismissed following an altercation with a thief in the supermarkets Clapham Junction branch.

Lord Walker of Broxton, a Labour peer, has urged the Government to copy Spain

Asked whether security staff should be trained to carry batons, Ms Jones said: We have a particular type of policing by consent which is very different from [the Continent]. Here our police dont carry guns. We have a different model of operation so I am not sure that is the answer.

But what I would say is that the problem is very significant and we need to do a lot more to tackle it.

Pressed again on BBC Breakfast, she said: I think security staff should be intervening for sure. I want people to be safe at all times. I dont think giving them weapons is the answer.

She pointed to new laws being introduced by Labour that would scrap the Tories 200 threshold on stolen goods below which the police were not required to investigate.

She also pointed to the new specific offence of assaulting a retail worker, which will carry a maximum sentence of six months in jail, an unlimited fine, or both, because it was completely unacceptable to attack shop staff.

M&S has warned that shoplifters are becoming more aggressive - Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images

Sir James Cleverly, the shadow communities secretary, said there needed to be a whole society response to stop shoplifting.

He told Times Radio: We should all take action. This needs to be a whole society response. Something has changed. The perception that there is now a free for all on the high street has got to change.

Security guards in the UK can be issued with handcuffs, but not usually truncheons. Handcuffs are legal to possess, but their use must be justified as reasonable force during a citizens arrest or detention. Truncheons are considered offensive weapons, making them illegal for private security to carry in public.

Labour claims it is starting to turn the tide with business owners more confident in reporting offences. Ms Jones pointed to data showing the number of people caught and charged was up by 21 per cent in the year up to September 2025 compared with the previous 12 months.

However, official government figures show that fewer than one in five (19.8 per cent) shoplifting offences in England and Wales resulted in a court summons last year. More than half (55 per cent) of cases were abandoned because police could not identify the suspect.

The Metropolitan Police proportionately logged the fewest charges (7.3 per cent) last year, followed by Gloucestershire (7.59 per cent) and Sussex (13 per cent).

The rise in offences reported to police has slowed to around 5 per cent compared with 8 per cent in the previous year. There were 519,381 shoplifting crimes reported to police in the year to September 2025, up from 492,660 in the previous year.

The scale of under-reporting is, however, exposed by the 5.5 million shoplifting incidents recorded by the British Retail Consortium last year.

Ms Jones noted the slowing in the rise in police-recorded crimes, but added: Just one caveat to that which I know doesnt help my case but we do want people to report this crime.

It is not acceptable that it happens and I talk to retailers where they say that sometimes they dont report it so I want them to report it. In that sense I want the numbers to go up because I want every single crime to be reported.
Where is phone theft common overseas?

Global smartphone and pickpocket theft hotspots include London, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, Lisbon, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and Bogota. The ABC reports that around 116,000 phones were stolen in London in 2025.

Smartphone theft is particularly common in at tourist attractions, on public transport, at nightlife areas, around busy streets and shopping districts, and at outdoor restaurants and cafes where phones are left on tables.

Before you leave: essential preparation

Back up your data

Before travelling, ensure your phone is fully backed up. Use cloud storage or a secure computer to save your photos, contacts and important files. If your device is lost or stolen, a recent backup allows you to restore your information quickly. Automatic backups should be enabled, but it's worth manually checking that everything is up to date before departure.

Update your software

Install the latest operating system and app updates. These often include critical security patches that protect against known vulnerabilities. Running outdated software can leave your device exposed to cyber threats.

Enable tracking and remote wipe features

Most smartphones offer built-in tools that allow you to locate, lock or erase your device remotely if it goes missing. Make sure these features are turned on and that you know how to access them from another device.

Set strong authentication

Use a secure passcode or password rather than a simple PIN. Where available, enable biometric authentication such as fingerprint or facial recognition. Avoid easily guessable codes like birthdays or repeating digits.

For additional protection, activate two-factor authentication (2FA) on key apps, including email, banking and cloud storage.

Record key information

Note down your phone's IMEI number (a unique device identifier) and keep it somewhere safe, separate from your phone. This can help your provider block the device if it's stolen.

You can obtain your IMEI number by pressing *#06# on your mobile phone.

It's also useful to store emergency contact details and account recovery information in a secure location.

More: Overseas travel checklist - all the things to do before you go
Talks between Washington and Tehran will take place in Islamabad on Friday after threats of escalation. China has applied pressure, consolidating its influence in the region. Pakistans Field Marshal Asim Munir has played a crucial role. Uncertainties remain regarding the actual reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and the Israeli-Lebanon front. Pakistani Christians tell AsiaNews that they are praying for lasting peace and prosperity.

Islamabad (AsiaNews/Agencies)  US and Iranian delegations are set to meet in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, next Friday after the announcement of a last-minute ceasefire. Pakistan, along with Egypt and Turkey (with Chinas support), has been working for weeks to end hostilities in the Middle East.

Following statements by US President Donald Trump, who had threatened the destruction of Iran's whole civilization, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested a two-week extension to the deadline imposed on Tehran.

Just as the US attack was supposed to start, the Pakistani leader issued a statement saying: With the greatest humility, I am pleased to announce that the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America, along with their allies, have agreed to an immediate ceasefire everywhere including Lebanon and elsewhere, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, noting that meetings have been set for 10 April.

According to Al Jazeera, in Islamabad the two delegations will be led by US Vice President J. D. Vance and the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the same person Axios had already indicated as the interlocutor when news first surfaced that contacts had been made between the two sides to settle the conflict.

Towards the end of March, the foreign ministers of Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan met in Riyadh. The Wall Street Journal reported that Egyptian intelligence had managed to open a channel of communication with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IGRC), the paramilitary group that protects the regime and is (now) the most powerful political force in the country.

According to some observers, Pakistan, despite being home to the world's largest Shia community after Iran, had no direct channels of communication with the Revolutionary Guards, relying primarily on diplomatic relations with the president and the foreign minister.

The Chinese may have helped establish a connection with the IGRC. According to the New York Times, Trump made two phone calls before announcing the truce: one to Asim Munir, Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces, and one to Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu who had pressured the US administration to start this war.

Within Pakistan, Marshal Asim Munir has centralised political power in his hands over the past year, and after meeting Trump in July 2025, has emerged as Washington's main interlocutor.

Following the footsteps of Pope Leo, we have always condemned wars, said Father Khalid Rashid Asi, director of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, speaking to AsiaNews. If Pakistan succeeds in mediation and stops the war, it will have strong status in the region and get more respect from the world, he added.

Echoing this view, Mariyam Kashif, a Catholic peace activist from Karachi, said that, It is indeed a big day for world peace; it is a beginning, not the end of the peace [process] among these great nations.

For Islamabad, this is a huge diplomatic coup, positioning the country within the Middle East security framework (in September, Pakistan signed a mutual defence agreement with Saudi Arabia), while arch-enemy India, an ally of the United States and Israel, has turned out to be once again the loser.

For their part, Russia and China (which is also mediating a peace deal between Pakistan and Afghanistan) yesterday vetoed a United Nations resolution proposed by Bahrain and the Gulf States calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

This can be seen as a rebuff to the United States (and the rest of the international community) by China, which placed itself among the mediating (and victorious) powers in this war.

According to Associated Press sources, China  the Islamic Republic's main trading partner  pushed Irans new rulers to accept the ceasefire; an official reported anonymously that Beijing used its influence with the intermediaries.

All parties need to demonstrate sincerity and quickly end this war that should not have happened in the first place, said Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, yesterday morning, adding that China is gravely concerned about the impact the conflict has had on the global economy and energy security.

We are praying for peace and prosperity. Due to this war, the whole world economy is being disrupted. Even Pakistanis are facing many economic issues as petrol prices are getting higher making everything more expensive and out of reach for poor people, Rev Javed Bashir, pastor of Christ Holiness Church, told AsiaNews.

It is possible that Trump himself has put Shahbaz Sharif in the middle to simply fix the matter, said Raja Saad, a political analyst. The war has stopped for 15 days and next month, in May, Trump is going to visit China before that, the situation must be fixed. But the companies and Trump's personal greed have ended America's superpower status.

It is currently unclear to what extent Iran will guarantee safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, whether it will demand a toll, and if so, whether it will be paid in yuan rather than dollars.

The Gulf countries, whose economies are closely tied to the free transit of gas and oil, have been lobbying heavily on this issue.

It remains to be seen to what extent other areas of active conflict will be contained, particularly Lebanon, which, according to Sharif's statements, appears to be included in the ceasefire, while Israel is excluded, indicating that fighting on this front could continue.

(Shafique Khokhar contributed to this article)
by Melani Manel Perera

A coalition of civil society groups and organisations is calling on Anura Kumara Dissanayake to release at least 10 detainees unconditionally. Some have been in prison for over 30 years without trial. The controversial anti-terrorism law is under scrutiny.

Colombo (AsiaNews) - A broad coalition of prisoners families, civil society organisations, religious leaders, womens groups, trade unions and activists has launched an appeal to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake for the unconditional release of 10 long-detained Tamil political prisoners.

The call for their release is made under Sri Lankas Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), which references the election pledges made by the National Peoples Power (NPP) government, whilst also reiterating the need for broader national reconciliation. In a joint appeal delivered yesterday to the Office of the Head of State and addressed to the President, the signatories explain that the prolonged detention of the prisoners  some for nearly 30 years  constitutes a grave injustice and a failure of the countrys legal and political systems.

The statement also traces the broader context of the history of the state of emergency and repression in Sri Lanka. In particular, successive governments have used emergency regulations and anti-terrorism laws to suppress dissent during the uprisings of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP, of Marxist-Communist inspiration) in the 1970s and 1980s. A similar approach was maintained during the three-decade-long civil war, as well as in the security-driven repression of Muslims following the church bombings on Easter Sunday 2019 and, more recently, in the aftermath of the 2022 Aragalaya protest movement.

The activists appeal notes that of the 10 long-term Tamil political prisoners still detained under the PTA, the trials of Selvarajah Kirupaharan and Thambaiya Pragash, arrested in August 2009, are currently pending and awaiting a final verdict.

This means they have spent almost 20 years of their lives behind bars, even before being convicted! They have lost their entire youth and much of their adult lives whilst awaiting trial. The other eight detainees, although convicted, have spent more than 15 years in prison  two of whom have been in prison for almost 30 years  and have also been subjected to brutal torture and harassment by the police, prison officials and cellmates, as well as arbitrary delays and procedural irregularities. Hence the call for them to be released unconditionally and allowed to reintegrate into society, both as an act of reconciliation and as promised in the NPP governments election manifesto.

The document released by the activist groups also points out that such a measure would not be so unusual and that there are precedents. Among others, it cites a general amnesty granted in November 1977 by then-President J.R. Jayawardene, who ordered the release of JVP members convicted following the 1971 insurrection.

The signatories stated that the current administration, whose leaders have themselves suffered state repression, is ideally placed to take such a step. In addition to calling for the immediate release of the 10 detainees, the appeal sets out several proposals of broader scope, including the accelerated review of all remaining cases relating to the PTA, particularly those arising after the Easter Sunday bombings of 2019. It also urges the authorities to either bring formal charges against the detainees or release them unconditionally.

The coalition also calls for fair and proportionate compensation for those who have been acquitted after spending years  sometimes more than a decade  in detention, and calls for the immediate repeal of the Framework Act on Terrorism. Until the repeal comes into force, the statement urges the government to impose an immediate moratorium on the application of the law.

Finally, the appeal by the activist groups opposes the proposed law on the protection of the state against terrorism (Psta) and calls on the government to withdraw it, committing not to introduce replacement legislation that mirrors the provisions of the Pta.

The document is supported and signed by over 300 individuals and organisations: these include human rights groups, womens movements, religious institutions, farmers and fishermens organisations, youth groups, academics, lawyers and the main trade unions representing teachers, healthcare workers, railway workers and textile industry workers.
by Nirmala Carvalho

A journalistic investigation has revealed two deaths and dozens of cases of illness among the Dalit artisans brought in from Rajasthan to build the spires of Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, the largest Hindu temple in the West. The allegations: wages of less than .20 an hour and inadequate safety measures. The organisation that runs the sacred site defends itself by describing them as volunteers engaged in religious service.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - An investigation published by the British newspaper The Guardian has brought to light serious allegations of exploitation against some 200 Dalit workers from Rajasthan, India, involved in the construction of the largest Hindu temple in the Western Hemisphere, the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham in Robbinsville, New Jersey.

Many of them are now facing the devastating consequences of silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by the inhalation of silica dust. At least two deaths have been confirmed, whilst dozens of other workers are reported to be ill.

The workers had been recruited on religious visas and tasked with hand-carving the temples elaborate stone decorations, a monumental project built between 2015 and 2023 and considered one of the most ambitious examples of Indian craftsmanship outside the subcontinent.

However, according to testimonies gathered from families and activists, the workers were not adequately protected from exposure to the toxic dust produced by cutting and polishing the stone.

The investigation also highlights extremely harsh working conditions: shifts of up to 90 hours a week, wages of less than .20 an hour, insufficient protective equipment and limited access to medical care. Some workers, once they fell ill, were reportedly sent back to India without assistance or compensation.

The allegations have sparked strong outrage among Dalit rights organisations, which speak of a double injustice: people already discriminated against in their country of origin, often excluded from temples, were sent abroad to build one and then abandoned.

A lawsuit filed in the United States in 2021 alleges that the workers were underpaid, had their passports confiscated and were housed in caravans on the construction site. Although federal prosecutors closed the criminal investigation in September 2025, the civil proceedings are still ongoing.

The Gujarat-based organisation BAPS, which is responsible for the project, has rejected all allegations, arguing that the workers were volunteers engaged in religious service.

The case nevertheless highlights a wider crisis in the stone-cutting sector in Rajasthan, where thousands of workers are exposed to silicosis. In some areas, such as Sirohi district, there have been hundreds of deaths among workers in the sector.

Trade unions, both in the United States and in India, are calling for urgent action: compliance with labour laws, the payment of wages owed and a review of the religious visa system, which is considered vulnerable to systematic abuse.
In Indonesia Cardinal Suharyo said that a more sober lifestyle is a moral duty, even more than a response to the energy crisis. In the Philippines Cardinal David spoke about popular reaction that resulted in the mistreatment of an animal. It is right to criticise, but this case should teach how to respect every human life. For Sri Lankas Cardinal Ranjith, even in politics, leadership is service, not domination over others.

Milan (AsiaNews)  During Easter services, many Asian bishops urged the faithful to include the message of life of the Risen Lord and prayers for peace in their daily lives.

In Jakarta, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo called for a more sober lifestyle and greater care for the environment as a fruit of Easter. Speaking to the faithful during the liturgy on the day of Jesus's Resurrection, he emphasised how environmental destruction is a direct consequence of human greed and must be addressed through moral conversion.

Care for the integrity of creation" is one of the themes of the 2026 pastoral guidelines of the Archdiocese of Jakarta, but it takes on particular significance at a time marked by international crises.

We see and feel that the world is in uncertainty. The Israel-United States attack on Iran, followed by retaliation against Israel, has brought the world to the brink of an energy crisis that affects peoples needs, Card Suharyo said. The current wars, with all their horrors, are violations of international law. Their consequences are devastating  not only for the world and the planet, but for humanity itself, he stressed.

For Christians, the task is to respond with gestures of hope. Even in darkness, there is always light, the prelate said, and we are called to rebuild life based on morality rooted in the risen Christ  respecting human dignity, caring for one another, and restoring our shared life.

For the prelate, Integral ecology is not just about electricity, water, waste, or trees. It concerns the entire ecosystem of the world. And greed, by its very nature, is destructive. Hence, the faithful to adopt a sober lifestyle.

Saving energy is a moral obligation. We must do it consistently, without waiting for a crisis, Card Suharyo said. "Any effort that destroys Christian moral values must be opposed  corruption, violence, and policies that neglect the weak and marginalised. Ultimately, we must continue to stand firm in faith, strong in hope, and burning in love.

In the Philippines, a regrettable incident gave Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Kalookan, the opportunity to reflect on respect for life.

People have reacted strongly  and rightly so  to the use of a pigeon in place of a child for the unveiling of the image of the Sorrowful Mother during the Salubong ritual in one of our parishes, especially the way it was bound and released with balloons carrying the black veil. It is regrettable. Had I been aware of this beforehand, I would not have approved, the prelate said.

I share this concern for the care of creation, and I have directed our communities accordingly, he added. At the same time, I cannot help but wish that we showed the same moral urgency and collective outrage for the loss of human life. We have witnessed people killed on mere suspicion of drug use.

We now see innocent civilians  including young students  caught in the violence of war, as conflicts continue to escalate and devastate entire societies, the cardinal lamented. Only when our sense of moral concern becomes whole, and not fragmented, can we truly say that we are defending life in all its dignity.

The theme of peace was also central to the Easter message issued by the Archbishop of Colombo, Cardinal Malcom Ranjith.

"Leadership is service. Leadership is love. Leadership is a good example. But look at what they are doing. Murdering innocent men, women, and children. Bombing indiscriminately, causing starvation to many people, causing all types of economic and social difficulties," the cardinal said.

So, how can you say that you are a Christian if you do that? This is an inward-looking mentality. Jesus Christ did not speak about an inward-looking mentality. He spoke about resurrection, life, joy, and happiness, said Card Ranjith. Instead, We should pray a lot these days for world peace and happiness. We have to ask the Lord to bring peace, to bring thoughts of peace.

Christianity, he added,  is not simply about offering prayers or reading sacred scriptures. It is about living with purpose, showing compassion to neighbours, and serving others. There is a saying that leaders should serve their people. But today, many in power act as rulers rather than servants, driven by the pursuit of power.

(Mathias Hariyadi e Melani Manel Pereira contributed to this article)
by Vladimir Rozanskij

Synod to identify candidates convened for April 3. Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople proposed two names, provoking a furious reaction from the Russians. The Georgian Church was one of the first to adopt a very radical and aggressive stance, withdrawing from the World Council of Churches. Theologian Capnin: The real problem is religious nationalism.

Tbilisi (AsiaNews)  More than three weeks have now passed since the death of the Orthodox Patriarch of Georgia, Ilia II (Gudusauri-Siolasvili), who passed away on 17 March at the age of 93.

He had been elected to the patriarchal throne of Tbilisi in 1977, at the height of the Soviet era, under the total control of the Moscow Council for Religious Affairs. A completely new era is now beginning for the Georgian Church, given that the 80th patriarch remained in office longer than any of his predecessors in history.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew II (Archontonis), has therefore pre-empted discussions on the method of electing his successor by proposing two candidates whom he considers suitable for the solemn office: the Metropolitan of Western Europe, Avraam (Garmelja), and the Metropolitan of Poti and Khobi (in western Georgia), Grigory (Berbicashvili).

This initiative provoked a furious reaction from the Russians, with a statement from Moscows intelligence services claiming that the Phanariot is merely seeking to install people subservient to him to satisfy his thirst for power, invoking a rule of the Second Ecumenical Council of the 4th century, according to which regional bishops must not extend their power beyond the borders of their own region.

There have been no comments so far from the Georgian ecclesiastical hierarchy regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchs proposal, nor from politicians in the ruling party or the opposition, out of respect for the forty days of mourning for Ilia II; however, everything will need to be assessed, given the delicate balance between state and church in present-day Georgia, as well as that between Moscow and Constantinople and, more generally, between tradition and renewal.

The Synod tasked with identifying candidates opened on 3 April with 39 bishops, and reaching a decision will not be straightforward. The website Kavkaz.Realii interviewed two authoritative commentators on the matter: Sergei Chapnin, director of the Centre for Orthodox Studies at Fordham University, and Shoto Kintsurashvili, a theologian at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich.

According to Capnin, at this stage in history, the Orthodox Churches are experiencing a period of great fragmentation; I would say they are in crisis, both in terms of their internal structures and their mutual relations at an international level. The main problem lies in religious nationalism, particularly in the post-Soviet space, with the need to rebuild and reclaim their role in various societies, with few priests and limited theological training, the expert states.

The Georgian Church was one of the first to adopt a very radical and aggressive stance, withdrawing from the World Council of Churches and isolating itself somewhat from the wider Christian world. Patriarch Ilia II failed to manage this phase, yielding significantly to the most active groups in society and allowing what Capnin describes as a rather primitive form of Christian nationalism. The problem now is how the administration of the Church will be organised, as the late patriarch had concentrated it exclusively in his own hands.

Kintsurasvili recalls the important Georgian council of 1995, which had approved the new statute centralising all functions in the patriarchal office. In 1997, this led to an official schism with all the Churches engaged in ecumenical dialogue, which Ilia II defined as heresy.

Since then, Tbilisis isolation has fostered a new generation of priests and bishops, with a strongly anti-ecumenical mindset largely fuelled by Russian theological literature, and an ever-stronger bond with the Moscow Patriarchate in the proclamation of Orthodoxy of traditional values.

Bartholomew IIs move seeks to bring Georgia back into ecclesiastical communion with most of the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches, for which Constantinople remains the fundamental point of reference.